ES367742A1 - Brake block - Google Patents

Abstract

A brake block comprises at least two lobes having a plurality of projecting formations thereon forming a braking surface. As shown in Fig. 1, a brake block 10 includes a single piece of brake material 11 formed with two lobes 18, 20 defining between them a recess 22. Each lobe has a curved braking surface 24 or 26 formed by projecting undulating angular formations in the form of parallel ridges 28 (see also Fig. 4). Each ridge has equal sides 30, 32, defining between them an angle of approximately 60 degrees. The brake material 11 may be moulded on to a reinforcing backplate 12, holes 39 being provided to assist attachment. Securing- and locating-lugs 14, 16 may also be provided. The brake block 40 of Fig. 4 has two separate lobes 42, 44. The braking surface with which the brake blocks are used may be cylindrical, or frustoconical. The frusto-conical surface may be that of a rail wheel, having, for example, a taper of 1 in 20. Alternatively the braking surface may be the flat side of a disc. Preferably a complete brake assembly incorporating brake blocks of the invention is so mounted that the projecting formations lie transverse to the direction of movement of the surface being braked. Thereby the bedding down of the brake blocks is facilitated and made more rapid because the formations wear away more easily than a uniform surface. Furthermore, where two separate lobes are provided, as in Fig. 4, slight deformation of the block is possible, facilitating circumferential bedding down cooling also results. The material 11 may be heat-resistant, and in all cases the valleys 38 between the ridges 28 assist the dissipation of heat. One side of the brake block may be painted yellow and the other side red, to indicate correct and incorrect fitting respectively, especially where a slight taper on the block has to be matched with a slight taper on the braking surface. The colouring also assists in determing the degree of wear of the block on mere visual examination.