Brakes – Elements – Cooling and lubricating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-11-13
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Elements
Cooling and lubricating
C301S006300, C188S071600, C188S26400E
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315091
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a brake cooling system, and more particularly, to a brake cooling system which channels air to vehicle brake elements to dissipate heat energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional vehicles, such as automobiles, brake elements are used to slow and stop vehicle movement. These brake elements many times comprise a rotor, attached to the vehicle's wheels, having calipers positioned in a clamping arrangement about surfaces of the rotor. When stopping is desired, hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder element is supplied to the caliper, thereby causing the caliper to clamp the rotor element. This clamping causes brake pads positioned between the rotor element and the caliper to frictionally engage the rotor, thereby creating resistance on the rotor. This resistance slows the rotation of the rotor and attached wheel, thereby slowing the vehicle. While this type of braking device satisfactorily slows the vehicle's movement, the frictional engagement of the brake pads against the rotor generates an enormous amount of heat energy. This heat energy causes heating of the brake element. If this heat is not properly dissipated from the brake element, severe damage to the braking system can ensue.
Manufacturer's have attempted to overcome this problem by providing air passages in the vehicle to channel air to the brake element. This channeling acts to blow air across the brake element, thereby dissipating the heat buildup in the brake element. One such channeling device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,747 entitled “Arrangement for Supplying Cooling Air to a Brake Disk” which is hereby incorporated by reference. This reference generally discloses a duct configuration which channels air from the lower part of a vehicle to a vehicle's brake element. While this device does provide enhanced cooling characteristics of the brake element, it has several drawbacks.
First, the '747 duct construction draws air from the bottom of the vehicle and does not utilize the high pressure air acting on the front of the vehicle to divert substantial air velocity for channeling across the vehicle brakes. Second, the '747 invention requires extra duct work to be constructed and installed for its channeling device. This extra construction increases the overall cost of the vehicle. Moreover, its placement in the vehicle reduces the amount of available room for other components to be positioned therein. The present invention was developed in light of these drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a brake cooling system which utilizes the ram air affect of the front of a vehicle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a brake cooling system having a duct work configuration constructed to channel air to a brake system while reducing the number of additional parts to be manufactured for the vehicle.
To accomplish these and other objects, the present invention provides a brake cooling system for cooling vehicle brakes having a fascia for mounting in a front area of the vehicle. The fascia has at least one aperture therein for allowing air to pass therethrough. The aperture has a first aperture side opposing a second aperture side. The brake cooling system further has a channel structure communicating with the aperture to allow the air to pass through the channel structure. The channel structure extends back from the fascia and has a first channel side opposing a second channel side. The channel structure is constructed to channel air from the aperture to the vehicle brakes when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Frascaroli Stefano
Johnson Brian R
Nesbitt Bryan E
Nilsen Steven A
Swartz Mark A
Butler Douglas C.
Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Siconolfi Robert A.
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