Rockwell announces new brake for Europe
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A NEW brake manufacturing and assembly operation in the UK and Germany has been announced by the Rockwell International Automotive Operations -Europe. The plan is to develop further the business obtained by the company since its formation in Europe two years ago. Headquarters for the Group will be at Wolverhampton.
Rockwell (claiming to be the world's largest manufacturer of axles and brakes for heavy duty trucks, trailers and buses) also announces that for the first time the Stopmaster II twin wedge brake will be available in Europe. This design has been available in the US and the company is confident that it will take over from the "technically inferior and heavier cam brake".
The brake has four main components — the air or hydraulic power unit, the actuating assembly, the brake shoe and the drum.
When the brakes are applied the power unit pushes the wedge between the rollers held in position by the roller retaining cage. This pushes the rollers further apart, forcing the two plungers outward and in, turn pushing the brake shoes' against the drum to stop the vehicle.
Because there are two sets of actuators (one at each end of the shoes) both shoes are pushed out equally from each end giving a balanced application of brake forces over the entire braking surface. When the brake is released the wedge spring returns the wedge, chamber, push-rod, and diaphragm to the off position, and the shoe return springs pull the, brake shoes back to a rest position and reseat the plungers in the housing.
An automatic adjustment mechanism constantly maintains a predetermined lining to drum clearance. During brake application the adjustment pawl mechanism senses adjusting sleeve travel. Should the sleeve travel more than 0.060", the pawl, acting on the sleeve teeth, drops into the next tooth and automatically causes the adjustment bolt to adjust outward the right amount. When the brake is released, it maintains the approximate 045 in clearance or less no adjustment is made. Once set the automatic adjustment mechanism should need no further attention until it is time to reline the brake.
The units have been designed to be operationally compatible with cam brakes, so that balanced braking may still be achieved. Rockwell claims that the Stopmaster II brakes have a weight saving of up to 35 per cent.
The company also announces that it will be offering the entire range of systems, including mechanical brakes and the Skid-Trol anti-wheel lock device that was shown at last year's Commercial Motor Show.