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Title: Band brakes
Claims: I claim: 1. A band brake system comprising a brake drum having an annular flange, a flexible band arranged about the annular flange of said drum, said flexible band having overlapping ends and including a friction element for engaging said annular flange, each overlapping end of said flexible band having a plurality of band elements extending therefrom, the band elements of one overlapping end intermeshing with the band elements of the other overlapping end of said flexible band, fluid actuator means operatively connected to each overlapping end of said flexible band for substantially simultaneously moving said overlapping ends in opposite directions whereby, upon actuation of said actuator means, said friction element is radially contracted to engage said annular flange. 2. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein said band is formed of a resiliently flexible material deformed about the annular flange of said drum, said resiliently flexible material biasing said friction element into radially spaced relation with said annular flange. 3. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein said band elements comprise a plurality of resiliently flexible cores, each core extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the friction element of said flexible band. 4. A band brake system according to claim 3, including a plurality of load distribution wires extending through at least a portion of the friction element of said flexible band and transversely of said band elements. 5. A band brake system according to claim 1, including guide means arranged about the circumference of said flexible band for controlling the expansion of the flexible band into a predetermined positional relationship with said annular flange. 6. A band brake system according to claim 5, wherein said guide means include protrusions extending outwardly from said flexible band and guide members having slots therein for movably receiving said protrusions, said slots being aligned in the direction of motion of said flexible band. 7. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein the band elements of each overlapping end of said flexible band are affixed to a respective load distribution plate and including a brake lever pivotally connected intermediately of its length to each load distribution plate, one end of each brake lever being pivotable about a fixed jaw, the other end of each brake lever being connected to a respective actuator means. 8. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein said friction element has outer and inner circumferential surfaces, said inner circumferential surface confronting said annular flange and said outer circumferential surface comprising a substantial portion of the outermost surface of said flexible band. 9. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein said friction element has inner and outer circumferential surfaces and is formed of a material having frictional and structural constituents, the proportions of which vary through its thickness, the proportion of the frictional constituents being greater at the inner circumferential surface of said friction element. 10. A band brake system according to claim 1, wherein said flexible band comprises a substantially flat sheet of flexible material of a predetermined length, said sheet having a plurality of said band elements in transversely spaced relation formed at each end of said sheet such that the band elements at one end of said sheet are substantially longitudinally aligned with the spaces between the band elements at the other end of said sheet. 11. A band brake system according to claim 10, wherein said sheet is provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, said friction element having outer and innter circumferential surfaces, and including a plurality of bosses on the outer circumferential surface of said friction element, said bosses extending radially through the openings in said sheet. 12. A band brake system according to claim 11, including a plurality of heat conducting elements extending substantially through the thickness of said friction element from the outer to the inner circumferential surfaces thereof for conducting heat from the inner portions of said friction element. 13. A band brake system according to claim 12, wherein said heat conducting elements extend through the openings in said sheet to the outermost surfaces of said bosses, said outermost surfaces comprising cooling surfaces of said friction element. Other info: Inventors: Hinderks, Mitja Victor (London NW., EN) Application Number: 353735 Filing Date: 1973-04-23 Publication_date: 1976-05-11 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 188/77R 188/242 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Reger, Duane A. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Wigman & Cohen |
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