IP Library › Granted Patent US 12669158
Granted Patent B2
US 12669158 · App. 18/316,093 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Brake assembly

Inventors: William E Pajak (Chesterton, IN); Jonathan T. Beehler (Bremen, IN)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
F16D65/52F16D55/24F16D65/0006F16D65/18F16D65/78F16D2121/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669158
App. No.
18/316,093
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brake assembly includes a heat sink, a piston, and a retraction plate. The retraction plate defines a lumen. The piston is mechanically separated from the retraction plate and configured to extend through the lumen defined by the retraction plate to contact the heat sink during a braking operation. The piston is configured to contact the heat sink prior to the retraction plate contacting the heat sink during the braking operation.

Claims (37)

1 . A brake assembly comprising:

a heat sink;

a piston comprising a first end proximate the heat sink and a second opposite end;

a piston cap covering the first end of the piston, the piston cap including a shoulder extending radially from the piston; and

a retraction plate defining a lumen and a recess;

wherein:

the piston is mechanically separated from the retraction plate,

the piston is configured to extend through the lumen defined by the retraction plate to contact the heat sink during a braking operation,

the piston is configured to contact the heat sink prior to the retraction plate contacting the heat sink during the braking operation, and

the shoulder of the piston cap is configured to seat within the recess of the retraction plate such that the retraction plate is displaced toward the heat sink with the piston during the braking operation.

2 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adjuster system configured to retract the piston from the heat sink by means of the retraction plate when the brake assembly is not in a braking operation.

3 . The brake assembly of claim 2 , wherein the adjuster system comprises a spring.

4 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic system configured to drive the piston to contact the heat sink during a braking operation.

5 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein the

piston cap is configured to be disposed between the piston and the heat sink during the braking operation.

6 . The brake assembly of claim 5 , wherein the piston cap comprises steel or titanium.

7 . The brake assembly of claim 5 , wherein the shoulder extends radially, relative to a central axis of the brake assembly, from the piston.

8 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises at least one of steel, carbon, or a ceramic material.

9 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein the brake assembly comprises a plurality of pistons.

10 . The brake assembly of claim 9 , wherein the brake assembly defines a central axis, wherein the plurality of pistons are distributed radially about the central axis.

11 . The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retraction plate is configured to not contact the heat sink during a time period of the braking operation when the piston contacts the heat sink, such that vibration from the heat sink does not propagate from the heat sink through the retraction plate, thus reducing or eliminating impacts of vibration during the braking operation.

12 . A method of making a brake assembly, the method comprising:

positioning a retraction plate adjacent to a heat sink, wherein the retraction plate defines a lumen and a recess;

positioning a piston adjacent to the retraction plate, the piston defining a first end proximate the heat sink and a second opposite end; and

covering the first end of the piston with a piston cap, the piston cap including a shoulder extending radially from the piston; wherein:

the piston is mechanically separated from the retraction plate,

the piston is configured to extend through the lumen defined by the retraction plate to contact the heat sink during a braking operation prior to the retraction plate contacting the heat sink, and

the shoulder of the piston cap is configured to seat within the recess of the retraction plate such that the retraction plate is displaced toward the heat sink with the piston during the braking operation.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising mechanically supporting the retraction plate with an adjuster system, wherein the adjuster system is configured to retract the piston from the heat sink when the brake assembly is in a non-braking operation.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising positioning a spring within the adjuster system.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising fluidically connecting a hydraulic system configured to drive the piston to contact the heat sink during a braking operation.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the piston cap is configured to be disposed between the piston and the heat sink during the braking operation.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the piston cap comprises steel or titanium.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the heat sink comprises at least one of steel, carbon, or a ceramic material.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the brake assembly comprises a plurality of pistons.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the brake assembly defines a central axis, and

wherein the plurality of pistons are distributed radially about the central axis.