Brian J Dennis

US Patent:

7040462, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Sep 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/939845

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Howard H. Baldeosingh - St. Joseph MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

B61H 13/00

US Classification:

188 59, 188166, 188 722, 188 7345

Abstract:

A brake () for a wheel of a vehicle is slidably mounted to a vehicle frame by mounting sleeves (). The brake () includes a stationary actuator () which has a plurality of depressions () adapted to receive a plurality of balls (). The stationary actuator () further has a pin hole () which receives a pin () which correspondingly defines a pivot axis (). Adjacent to the stationary actuator () is a rotating actuator () which rotates about an axis () and includes a plurality of depressions () which are axially aligned with the depressions () while in an un actuated state. The brake () is actuated by rotation of the rotating actuator () which correspondingly moves the balls () to progressively more shallow portions of the depressions () which acts upon a washer () and one or more shims () to force a first stator () and a second stator () together and into contact with a rotor (). The stators () are biased apart by the bridge springs () and are axially located by a pair of bridge sleeves () such that the axes of the bridge sleeves () are coplanar with the axis ().

US Patent:

7258208, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Jan 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/337997

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Peter J. Pozivilko - Saint Joseph MI, US
Ray F. Schnell - Saint Joseph MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

F16D 65/24

US Classification:

188170, 188 715

Abstract:

A brake () which is adapted to be rotationally coupled with an output shaft includes a housing (). An inner shaft () is adapted to be attached to the output shaft for rotation therewith. A disc assembly () includes a plurality of stationary discs () carried by the housing () and a plurality of rotating discs () carried by the inner shaft (). The rotatable discs () are positioned to be engaged by the stationary discs (). A least one spring () biases the stationary discs () to engage the rotatable discs (). A piston () is movable to oppose the force of the spring (). A spacing assembly () is positioned on the inner shaft () and rotatable therewith. The spacing assembly () includes a plurality of o-rings () to separate the rotating discs () a predetermined axial distance from an adjacent rotating disc ().

US Patent:

7353921, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Aug 25, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/210285

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Kenneth A. Dodd - Dowagiac MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbour MI

International Classification:

F16D 55/00

US Classification:

188 7332, 188 715

Abstract:

A brake () for the drive shaft of a vehicle or machine includes a housing () having an open end () which is adapted to be attached to the vehicle. A shaft is received in the housing () and is adapted to be attached to the vehicle drive shaft for rotation therewith. The shaft has a splined outer surface. A disc assembly () includes a plurality of rotatable discs () carried by the splined surface of the shaft, a plurality of stationary discs () which alternate with the rotatable discs () and a primary stationary disc () located at the end of the disc assembly (), proximate to the open end () of housing (). As mounted, a plurality of springs () cause the stationary discs () to engage the rotatable discs () to apply a braking torque to the shaft. A piston () is moveable to oppose the spring force and allow free rotation of the rotating discs (). Prior to mounting, a plurality of shipping bolts () hold the disc assembly () together and axially aligned.

US Patent:

7597178, Oct 6, 2009

Filed:

May 6, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/151287

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Kenneth A. Dodd - Dowagiac MI, US
Norman D. Crawford - Saint Joseph MI, US
Peter J. Pozivilko - Saint Joseph MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

F16D 55/228

US Classification:

188 724, 188 7344

Abstract:

A hydraulic caliper brake includes a housing formed by two halves. A pair of bores are provided in each housing half, and a piston is positioned in each bore. An end cap closes off each bore and is sealed by an O-ring positioned around the periphery of each end cap. A ring retains each end cap within each bore. Each housing half has a pair of holes aligned with the holes of the other half. A pair of recessed areas are located on opposing ends of the housing, one of the recessed areas being positioned adjacent to one housing half and the other being positioned adjacent to the other housing half. A pair of stator plates each have a first ear with an outer shape having a flattened area positioned within one of said recessed areas in said housing, and a second ear with a continuously curved outer shape. Each ear has a hole therethrough aligned with the holes of the housing halves, and a pin is positioned in the aligned holes. An easily bleedable fluid network supplies fluid to the pistons.

US Patent:

8235183, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jan 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/321476

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Howard H. Baldeosingh - St. Joseph MI, US
Brett A. Starr - Michigan City IN, US
Kenneth A. Dodd - Dowagiac MI, US
David Alley - Granger IN, US
Peter J. Pozivilko - Saint Joseph MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

F16D 55/36

US Classification:

188 715, 188 70 B, 188 717, 188 727, 188264 E, 188264 D

Abstract:

A ball ramp brake including a housing, a disc assembly within the housing, and an annular rotatable actuator to actuate the brake by compressing the disc assembly. The rotatable actuator includes a plurality of depressions oriented circumferentially therein which become progressively shallower in a first circumferential direction. A plurality of depressions are circumferentially oriented in a surface of the housing and become progressively shallower in a second circumferential direction. The depressions in the actuator and the depressions in the housing each have a first angle of depression that is steeper than a second angle of depression. A boot seal may be provided between the fluid chamber of an actuating cylinder and the inner area within the housing to prevent fluid leakage. In addition, a cooling chamber may be provided in the housing to improve the brakes efficiency.

US Patent:

8272484, Sep 25, 2012

Filed:

Apr 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/387333

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US
Kenneth A. Dodd - Dowagiac MI, US
Norman D. Crawford - Saint Joseph MI, US
Peter J. Pozivilko - Saint Joseph MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

F16D 55/228
B60T 11/10

US Classification:

188 725, 188 7347, 188352

Abstract:

A hydraulic caliper brake including a housing having a first half and a second half and a bridge connecting the housing halves. Each half of the housing includes a bore having a fluid chamber and a piston therein. The caliper brake also includes a fluid network having an inlet port and a bleed port in the first half of the housing, a first channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the inlet port and the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing, and a second channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing and the bleed port. A dual-flow passage is provided and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the first half of the housing and the second channel. The fluid chamber in the first half is not in fluid communication with the first channel.

US Patent:

8360215, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Jan 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/319620

Inventors:

Edward L. Chandler - St. Joseph MI, US
Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US

Assignee:

Ausco Products, Inc. - Benton Harbor MI

International Classification:

F16F 9/00
F16D 55/08

US Classification:

188317, 188 724, 18832215

Abstract:

A two-stage slave cylinder including a housing and a bore extending within the housing. An outer piston is slidably positioned within the bore in the housing, and an outer piston chamber is defined by the bore and the outer piston. The outer piston chamber is connected to a hydraulic fluid source by a fluid passageway. A biasing mechanism acts to bias the outer piston in an unactuated position unless a force is exerted on the outer piston that is greater than the biasing force. A bore is provided in the outer piston, and an inner piston is slidably positioned therein. An inner piston chamber is defined by the bore and the inner piston, and an opening is provided in the outer piston to connect the outer piston chamber to the inner piston chamber. A valve assembly is provided within the opening in the outer piston to control the flow of fluid between the outer piston chamber and the inner piston chamber.

US Patent:

20090095581, Apr 16, 2009

Filed:

Sep 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/284292

Inventors:

Brian P. Dennis - Kalamazoo MI, US

International Classification:

F16D 55/226
F16D 65/20

US Classification:

188 7343, 188 721

Abstract:

A floating disc brake assembly including a housing, a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical cavities within the housing, and an end cover positioned over the opening and having an aperture therethrough. A shaft with an axis of rotation is positioned within the aperture with an end of the shaft positioned within the housing. The shaft includes a splined surface that mates with the splined surface on the interior of a bore of a disc shaped rotor mounted on the shaft. A pair of diametrically opposed stationary liners are attached to the end cover and positioned between the end cover and the rotor. A piston is positioned within each cylindrical cavity in the housing opposed to the stationary stators, and an axially slidable piston side liner is positioned between the rotor and each of the pistons, with the rotor being axially slidable over the shaft and the pistons being biased to cause the piston side liners to force the rotor against the stationary liners to create a braking force.