Brakes – Wheel – Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
Patent
1996-07-26
1998-10-13
Oberleitner, Robert J.
Brakes
Wheel
Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
188 719, F16D 5502, F16D 6556
Patent
active
058198857
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a brake and actuator assembly, primarily for a motor vehicle, of the general kind comprising a brake incorporating a shaft operable, in use, to cause friction elements of the brake to be urged against a rotary braking member, and coupling means between the shaft and a power device for operating the brake.
In mechanically actuated reaction type disc brakes, which include a caliper member associated with a rotary shaft and movable relative to a fixed carrier, wear of the friction linings takes place in a direction which is generally longitudinally of the shaft. It is usual for the brake to include adjuster means which compensates for friction lining wear, thereby keeping the rotational operative movement of the shaft to a minimum. Furthermore, wear of the friction linings is accompanied by a displacement of the caliper member and shaft relative to the fixed carrier. This displacement may be typically 20 mm from the new to the fully worn lining condition. Various proposals have been made to accommodate this displacement, such as incorporating a splined connection between components of the mechanism to provide for their relative movement in the shaft longitudinal direction. In some prior arrangements of this type incorporating additional components, further splined connections or other mechanisms are required, leading to complication and high manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an improved brake and actuator assembly which is simpler and more cost effective than the aforesaid prior art arrangements.
According to the invention, the coupling means includes a splined connection between the shaft and the power device, whereby the position along the shaft at which the force from the power device is applied via the coupling device to the shaft is variable to accommodate friction lining wear in the brake, in use.
Conveniently, the shaft is formed with splines, typically on one end portion thereof, forming part of the splined connection.
Preferably, the coupling means includes a hollow circular rotatably mounted boss formed with internal splines complementary to and engaged with those on the shaft, the boss being conveniently rotatably mounted in a housing by way of bearing means and, typically, carrying an operating lever connectable to the power device.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of vehicle disc brake incorporating the actuator assembly of the invention, and
FIG. 2 is a view from above, partly in cross-section, of part of the brake actuator assembly shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates one form of disc brake, illustrated generally at 1, of which a carrier 2 is secured by bolts 3 to an end flange 4 of a vehicle axle 5. The carrier 2 supports a pair of friction pad assemblies 6A, 6B in conventional manner at either side of a rotatable brake disc 7 associated in use with a wheel to be braked (not shown). The brake also includes a caliper 8 slidably mounted on pins 9 and incorporating a brake-actuating mechanism of conventional type, such as a ball and ramp or helical ramp arrangement, of which an adjustable tappet cooperates, usually by way of a spreader plate, with the adjacent directly actuated pad assembly 6A, the other pad assembly being operated indirectly by sliding of the caliper along the pins 9, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
Motive power for brake actuation is provided by an air actuator 10 of conventional type, of which an output rod 11 is coupled, via an input lever 12, to a force input shaft 13, for which a bearing at the brake end thereof is provided within a housing 14 secured by bolts 15 to the caliper 8. The outer end of the shaft 13 is rotatably mounted in brackets 16A, 16B rigidly secured to the axle 5, as by illustrated bolts 16C.
As can be seen more clearl
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patent: 4014411 (1977-03-01), Troester
patent: 4022300 (1977-05-01), Afanador et al.
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patent: 4529067 (1985-07-01), Scott
patent: 4644812 (1987-02-01), Nelson
patent: 5477945 (1995-12-01), Klass et al.
Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
Oberleitner Robert J.
Schwartz Chris
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