US-12617382-B2 - Brake assembly and method of supplying lubricant in a brake assembly

Abstract

A brake assembly includes a housing configured to contain lubricant at a lubricant level, a shaft disposed in the housing, an annular brake pack disposed in the housing and around the shaft, an annular piston disposed in the housing and around the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake pack, a spring disposed in the housing and around the shaft, abutting the piston, configured to act against the piston, and including a lower portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level and an upper portion of the spring configured to be disposed above the lubricant level, and an annular lubricant absorber disposed at the spring and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.

Inventors

• Kevin M. Allen
• MARTIN L. MEEK, JR.
• Shantanu S. Joshi
• Galen R. Love

Assignees

• DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230713

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A brake assembly for a work vehicle, the assembly comprising: a housing configured to contain lubricant at a lubricant level; a shaft disposed in the housing; an annular brake pack disposed in the housing and around the shaft; an annular piston disposed in the housing and around the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake pack; a spring disposed in the housing and around the shaft, abutting the piston, configured to act against the piston, and comprising a lower portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level and an upper portion of the spring configured to be disposed above the lubricant level; and an annular lubricant absorber disposed at the spring and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.
2. 2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises at least one conical spring washer.
3. 3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spring comprises two conical spring washers axially stacked to act together against the piston.
4. 4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lubricant absorber is disposed between the two conical spring washers and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the two conical spring washers of the spring.
5. 5 . The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a spacer positioned between the two conical spring washers to separate the two conical spring washers.
6. 6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the spacer comprises an annular wire disposed at an inner edge of each of the two conical spring washers of the spring.
7. 7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant absorber is deformed by the spring upon the spring acting against the piston to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.
8. 8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a first bearing and a second bearing supporting the shaft and being disposed in the housing such that the annular brake pack is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing.
9. 9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring is preloaded with a spring force that acts against the piston.
10. 10 . The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a hydraulic brake release operable to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston.
11. 11 . A method of supplying lubricant in a brake assembly, the method comprising: containing lubricant with a housing of the brake assembly at a lubricant level; positioning a shaft in the housing; positioning an annular brake pack in the housing and around the shaft; positioning an annular piston in the housing and around the shaft; positioning a spring in the housing and around the shaft; applying a spring force with the spring against the piston; positioning a lower portion of the spring below the lubricant level; positioning an upper portion of the spring above the lubricant level; positioning a lubricant absorber at the spring; and moving lubricant with the lubricant absorber to the upper portion of the spring.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: moving the piston axially against the spring; compressing the spring upon movement of the piston axially against the spring; and moving lubricant with the lubricant absorber from the lower portion of the spring to the upper portion of the spring upon compression of the spring and movement of the piston axially against the spring.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the spring in the housing and around the shaft comprises stacking two conical spring washers axially to act together against the piston in the housing and around the shaft.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the lubricant absorber at the spring comprises positioning the lubricant absorber between the two conical spring washers.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising separating the two conical spring washers with a spacer.
16. 16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising deforming the lubricant absorber with the two conical spring washers upon compression of the spring and movement of the piston axially against the spring.
17. 17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: supporting the shaft with a first bearing and a second bearing; and positioning the first bearing and the second bearing in the housing such that the annular brake pack is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing.
18. 18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising preloading the spring with the spring force that acts against the piston.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising selectively counteracting the spring force of the spring with a hydraulic brake release by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston.

Description

BACKGROUND Vehicles, including work vehicles, may utilize a brake that may be engaged with a drivetrain component of the vehicle to prevent or inhibit movement of the vehicle. The brake may include a piston that is controllably moved with a spring and hydraulic mechanism to selectively apply pressure to an assembly of alternating friction discs and separator plates to generate a braking force for the vehicle. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a brake assembly for a work vehicle includes a housing configured to contain lubricant at a lubricant level, a shaft disposed in the housing, an annular brake pack disposed in the housing and around the shaft, an annular piston disposed in the housing and around the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake pack, a spring disposed in the housing and around the shaft, abutting the piston, configured to act against the piston, and comprising a lower portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level and an upper portion of the spring configured to be disposed above the lubricant level, and an annular lubricant absorber disposed at the spring and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring. The spring may include at least one conical spring washer. The spring may include two conical spring washers axially stacked to act together against the piston. The lubricant absorber may be disposed between the two conical spring washers and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the two conical spring washers of the spring. The assembly may include a spacer positioned between the two conical spring washers to separate the two conical spring washers. The spacer may include an annular wire disposed at an inner edge of each of the two conical spring washers of the spring. The lubricant absorber may be deformed by the spring upon the spring acting against the piston to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring. The assembly may further include a first bearing and a second bearing supporting the shaft and being disposed in the housing such that the annular brake pack is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing. The spring may be preloaded with a spring force that acts against the piston. The assembly may further include a hydraulic brake release operable to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of supplying lubricant in a brake assembly includes containing lubricant with a housing of the brake assembly at a lubricant level, positioning a shaft in the housing, positioning an annular brake pack in the housing and around the shaft, positioning an annular piston in the housing and around the shaft, positioning a spring in the housing and around the shaft, applying a spring force with the spring against the piston, positioning a lower portion of the spring below the lubricant level, positioning an upper portion of the spring above the lubricant level, positioning a lubricant absorber at the spring, and moving lubricant with the lubricant absorber to the upper portion of the spring. The method may include moving the piston axially against the spring, compressing the spring upon movement of the piston axially against the spring, and moving lubricant with the lubricant absorber from the lower portion of the spring to the upper portion of the spring upon compression of the spring and movement of the piston axially against the spring. The method may further include positioning the spring in the housing and around the shaft comprises stacking two conical spring washers axially to act together against the piston in the housing and around the shaft. Positioning the lubricant absorber at the spring may further include positioning the lubricant absorber between the two conical spring washers. The method may further include separating the two conical spring washers with a spacer. The method may further include deforming the lubricant absorber with the two conical spring washers upon compression of the spring and movement of the piston axially against the spring. The method may further include supporting the shaft with a first bearing and a second bearing, and positioning the first bearing and the second bearing in the housing such that the annular brake pack is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing. The method may further include preloading the spring with the spring force that acts against the piston. The method may further include selectively counteracting the spring force of the spring with a hydraulic brake release by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston. Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 is a perspective part