Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1999-06-11
2000-10-17
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280124146, B62D 718, B60T 106
Patent
active
061319325
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention is concerned with a suspension and braking assembly for a wheel of a vehicle.
A conventional suspension and braking assembly comprises a suspension link, and a hub mounted on the suspension link for rotation relative thereto, the hub providing a mounting for the wheel. In order to enable the wheel to be braked, the assembly also comprises a disc brake comprising a brake disc mounted for rotation with the hub, friction material pads arranged on opposite sides of the disc, and at least one piston and cylinder assembly operable to urge the pads into engagement with opposite side surfaces of the disc to brake the hub and hence the wheel. Conventionally, in order to mount the piston and cylinder assembly of the braking system, a slide is bolted to the suspension link and the piston of said piston and cylinder is slidably mounted on this slide. The disc is conventionally rigidly fixed to the hub and wear of the pads and/or disc is accommodated by the sliding movement of the cylinder.
Conventionally, a suspension link also comprises top and bottom mountings for supports of the link. The top mounting may receive a strut of the McPherson type which defines an axis about which the link can be pivoted to turn a wheel mounted on the hub about said axis. Alternatively, the top mounting may receive a top wishbone. The bottom mounting may receive a bottom wishbone. Where the wheel is used to steer the vehicle, the arm also conventionally comprises an arm for connection to a track rod of a steering system of the vehicle by operation of which the link can be turned to steer the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,221 discloses a suspension and braking assembly which is largely fabricated from sheet metal. The assembly comprises a piston and cylinder assembly having its cylinder welded to a suspension link. The assembly also comprises a brake disc which can slide on a hub of the assembly. However, this assembly would require excessive time to manufacture and has nothing to control the movement of its brake disc on its hub so that it is doubtful whether it would operate well.
The conventional suspension and braking assembly described above operates well but is a relatively heavy item. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension and braking assembly which is easy to manufacture and has a reduced weight.
The invention provides a suspension and braking assembly for a wheel of a vehicle, the assembly comprising a suspension link which comprises top and bottom mountings for supports of the link, and a hub mounted on the suspension link for rotation relative thereto, the hub providing a mounting said wheel, the assembly also comprising a brake disc mounted for rotation with the hub, said disc also being mounted for limited movement on the hub in a direction generally parallel to the axis about which the hub rotates, the assembly also comprising friction material pads arranged on opposite sides of the disc, and a piston and cylinder assembly operable to urge the pads into engagement with opposite side surfaces of the disc to brake the hub and hence the wheel, characterised in that the suspension link also comprises the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly which is formed integrally with the remainder of the link, and in that the assembly also comprises resilient force applying means acting between the hub and the brake disc to control the movement of the disc on the hub.
In a suspension and braking assembly according to the invention, the cylinder of the piston and cylinder assembly is integral with the suspension link avoiding the slide and mountings for a cylinder on the slide. It is found that this arrangement enables a significant reduction in weight to be achieved, eg a 25% reduction has been found to be possible with one design. The assembly's cost is also reduced. The movement of the disc on the hub accommodates wear of the pads or the disc. The resilient force applying means acts to prevent the disc from slewing on the hub, to take up slack caused by greater thermal expansi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2823770 (1958-02-01), Helvern
patent: 2940549 (1960-06-01), Hause et al.
patent: 3146860 (1964-09-01), Wilson
patent: 3183999 (1965-05-01), Buyze et al.
patent: 3584708 (1971-06-01), Heck
patent: 3758129 (1973-09-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 3788429 (1974-01-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 3940159 (1976-02-01), Pringle
patent: 3941221 (1976-03-01), Pringle
patent: 3958653 (1976-05-01), Arning et al.
patent: 4223903 (1980-09-01), Grabb et al.
patent: 4674760 (1987-06-01), Goulart
patent: 4705145 (1987-11-01), Goulart
Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
Rice Kenneth R.
LandOfFree
Suspension and braking assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Suspension and braking assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Suspension and braking assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-460944