Cyclic-force brake caster assembly
A brake mechanism for a brake caster is disclosed. In various embodiments, the brake mechanism includes a shaft; a guide plate having a roller; and a slider plate having a first axial facing surface with a slider plate trough and a slider plate peak, the slider plate configured to slide on the shaft in response to the roller interacting with the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak.
1. A brake mechanism for a brake caster, comprising:
a shaft;
a guide plate having a roller; and
a slider plate having a first axial facing surface with a slider plate trough and a slider plate peak, the slider plate configured to slide on the shaft in response to the roller interacting with the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak.
2. The brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the guide plate is configured for rotational engagement with a roller cylinder.
3. The brake mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the slider plate is rotationally stationary with respect to the shaft.
4. The brake mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the slider plate is coupled to a brake subassembly configured to cycle between a maximum brake force and a minimum brake force in response to axial movement of the slider plate.
5. The brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a second axial facing surface opposing the first axial facing surface, the second axial facing surface having a flange trough and a flange peak.
6. The brake mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the guide plate is disposed intermediate the first axial facing surface and the second axial facing surface.
7. The brake mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the slider plate is configured to slide on the shaft in response to the roller interacting with the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak and the flange trough and the flange peak.
8. The brake mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak define a first periodic function.
9. The brake mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the flange trough and the flange peak define a second periodic function.
10. The brake mechanism of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first periodic function and the second periodic function define a sine wave.
11. The brake mechanism of claim 9 , wherein one or more of the slider plate trough, the slider plate peak, the flange trough and the flange peak include a portion defined by a flat surface configured to generate a constant maximum brake force or a constant minimum brake force during a period of cyclic-brake force.
12. The brake mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a stationary plate configured for attachment to a flange on the shaft, the stationary plate having a second axial facing surface opposing the first axial facing surface, the second axial facing surface having a stationary plate trough and a stationary plate peak.
13. The brake mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the guide plate is disposed intermediate the first axial facing surface and the second axial facing surface.
14. A brake caster, comprising:
a base; and
a brake mechanism connected to the base, the brake mechanism comprising a brake subassembly coupled to a slider disk subassembly, the brake subassembly configured to provide a cyclic-brake force in response to axial movement of a slider plate within the slider disk subassembly.
15. The brake caster of claim 14 , wherein the slider disk subassembly includes a shaft, a guide plate having a roller and the slider plate, the slider plate having a first axial facing surface with a slider plate trough and a slider plate peak, the slider plate configured to slide on the shaft in response to the roller interacting with the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak, the first axial facing surface characterized by a first periodic function.
16. The brake caster of claim 15 , further comprising a second axial facing surface opposing the first axial facing surface, the second axial facing surface characterized by a second periodic function.
17. The brake caster of claim 16 , wherein the second axial facing surface is provided by one of a flange attached to the shaft or a stationary plate disposed adjacent the flange.
18. The brake caster of claim 14 , wherein the base is configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a conveyor plane.
19. A slider disk subassembly, comprising:
a guide plate having a roller; and
a slider plate having a first axial facing surface with a slider plate trough and a slider plate peak, the slider plate configured to slide on a shaft in response to the roller interacting with the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak.
20. The slider disk subassembly of claim 19 , wherein the slider plate trough and the slider plate peak define a first periodic function over at least a portion of the first axial facing surface.