Track brake apparatus with sliding shoes and wear plates for preventing excessive movement of the shoes in the direction of vehicle movement

Abstract

A brake apparatus that is designed to brake a drag race vehicle that is movable within a track of an amusement ride. The braking apparatus includes a pair of braking units that each include movable portions that are movable toward each other so as to clamp onto a guide plate that is being carried by the vehicle as it moves along the track. This clamping onto the guide plate results in slowing and eventual slopping of the vehicle. The braking units are movable by means of inflatable bladders into the braking position. The braking units are mounted on metallic cross beams which are fixedly mounted to the track The movable portions of the braking units are slidably mounted on the metallic cross beams. Longitudinal movement of the movable portions, which occurs during the braking position, is to evenly apply pressure against each of the metallic cross beams. Each of the bring units are continuously spring biased toward the non-braking position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A brake apparatus mounted in conjunction with a track, a structure movable on said track, said brake apparatus comprising: a pair of braking units, a first portion of said braking units being fixed to said track, a second portion of said braking units being movable from a non-braking position to a braking position, said braking position locating said second portion of said braking unit to contact said structure to result in slowing of said structure to achieve eventual stopping of said structure, said non-braking position locating said second portion of said braking units spaced from said structure, said braking units being movable toward each other during movement from said non-braking position to said braking position, a plurality of metallic cross beams fixedly mounted to said track, said second portion of said braking units being slidably mounted on said metallic cross beams, each said metallic cross beam including a removable wear plate, said second portion including contact means to push against said wear plates when said brake apparatus is in said braking position and said second portion is in contact with said structure.   
     
     
       2. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said track being in a straight line.   
     
     
       3. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: each said braking unit being continuously spring biased by a biasing means toward said non-braking position.   
     
     
       4. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein: said biasing means comprising a leaf spring assembly.   
     
     
       5. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: each said second portion of said braking unit being movable to said braking position by means of an inflatable bladder assembly.   
     
     
       6. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said contact means being adjustable thereby dividing the force of said second portion pushing against said wear plates between said metallic cross beams. .Iadd.   
     
     
       7.  A brake apparatus mounted in conjunction with a track, a structure movable in a lineal direction on said track, said brake apparatus comprising: a pair of braking units, each said braking unit having a first portion and a second portion, each said first portion being fixed to said track, each said second portion being movable in the direction transverse to said lineal direction from a non-braking position to a braking position with said second portion of each said braking unit facing each other and being moved toward each other, said braking position locating each said second portion in a location to contact said structure to apply a braking force to result in slowing of said structure along said lineal direction to achieve eventual stopping of said structure, said non-braking position locating each said second portion spaced from said structure; and   braking force dividing means mounted on each said second portion, said braking force tending to cause each said second portion to move in said lineal direction, said braking force dividing means to substantially evenly distribute said braking force along each said braking unit to prevent localized concentration of said braking force at a particular location within each said braking unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein:   
     
     
       said track being in a straight line. .Iaddend..Iadd.9.  The brake apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: each said braking unit being continuously spring biased by a biasing means toward said non-braking position. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein:   said biasing means comprising a leaf spring assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The brake apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein:   each said second portion of said braking unit being movable to said braking   
     
     
        position by means of an inflatable bladder assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.12.  A brake apparatus mounted in conjunction with a track, a structure movable in a lineal direction on said track, said brake apparatus comprising: a pair of braking units, each said braking unit having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of each said braking unit being fixed to said track, said second portion of each said braking unit being movable in a direction transverse to said lineal direction from a non-braking position to a braking position, said braking position locating each said second portion in a location to contact said structure to apply a braking force to result in slowing of said structure along said lineal direction to achieve eventual stopping of said structure, said non-braking position locating each said second portion of said braking unit spaced from each other, said braking units being movable toward each other during movement from said non-braking position to said braking position;   each said second portion including contact means to push against said track to prevent movement of each said second portion in said lineal direction when said brake apparatus is in said braking position and said second portion is in contact with said structure;   each said braking unit being continuously spring biased by a biasing means toward said non-braking position; and   said biasing means comprising a leaf spring assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A brake apparatus mounted in conjunction with a track, a structure movable in a lineal direction on said track, said brake apparatus comprising:   a pair of braking units, each said braking unit having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of each said braking unit being fixed to said track, said second portion of each said braking unit being movable in a direction transverse to said lineal direction from a non-braking position to a braking position, said braking position locating each said second portion in a location to contact said structure to apply a braking force to result in slowing of said structure along said lineal direction to achieve eventual stopping of said structure, said non-braking position locating each said second portion of said braking unit spaced from each other, said braking units being movable toward each other during movement from said non-braking position to said braking position;   each said second portion including contact means to push against said track to prevent movement of each said second portion in said lineal direction when said brake apparatus is in said braking position and said second portion is in contact with said structure; and   each said second portion of said braking unit being movable to said braking   
     
     
        position by means of an inflatable bladder assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.14.  A brake apparatus mounted in conjunction with a track, a structure movable in a lineal direction on said track, said brake apparatus comprising: a pair of braking units, each said braking unit having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of each said braking unit being fixed to said track, said second portion of each said braking unit being movable in a direction transverse to said lineal direction from a non-braking position to a braking position, said braking position locating each said second portion in a location to contact said structure to apply a braking force to result in slowing of said structure along said lineal direction to achieve eventual stopping of said structure, said non-braking position locating each said second portion of said braking unit spaced from each other, said braking units being movable toward each other during movement from said non-braking position to said braking position;   each said second portion including contact means to push against said track to prevent movement of each said second portion in said lineal direction when said brake apparatus is in said braking position and said second portion is in contact with said structure; and   said contact means being adjustable thereby dividing the force of each said second portion pushing against said track. .Iaddend.