Method and apparatus for retracting piston actuator by configured clutch plates
A method and apparatus for reducing wear in a piston actuated brake or clutch pack assist retraction of the piston by configuring the friction discs. Preferably, a core is shaped with waves that generate axial force during brake release.
1 . A method for retracting a piston actuator for a friction pack having a plurality of friction discs, the method comprising:
configuring at least one friction disc with a wave.
2 . The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one friction disc includes a plurality of openings and wherein said configuring comprises peaking said wave intermediate adjacent openings in said disc.
3 . The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said configuring includes aligning said wave circumferentially around said at least one friction disc.
4 . The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said configuring includes tapering said wave radially across said at least one friction disc.
5 . The invention as described in claim 3 wherein said aligning said wave includes cycling at least three phases.
6 . The invention as described in claim 5 wherein said cycling includes at least five phases.
7 . The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said openings include slots, and cycling said wave in a plurality of phases corresponding in number to a fraction or multiple of a number of said slots.
8 . A friction pack for engagement by a piston that improves retraction of the piston comprises:
at least one friction dis configured with a wave,
an end plate, and
a piston actuator for displacing said at least one friction disc toward said end plate.
9 . The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said friction disc includes a plurality of openings and wave peaks intermediate adjacent openings.
10 . The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said wave is aligned circumferentially around said at least one friction disc.
11 . The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said wave is tapered radially across said at least one friction disc.
12 . The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said wave cycles through at least three phases.
13 . The invention as described in claim 12 wherein said wave cycles through at least five phases.
14 . The invention as described in claim 9 wherein said openings include slots and said wave cycles through a plurality of phases corresponding in number to a fraction or multiple of a number of said slots.