Brakes – Operators – Electric and mechanical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-05-15
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Operators
Electric and mechanical
C188S157000, C188S161000, C188S162000, C303SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230854
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an electromechanically operable disc brake for automotive vehicles which includes a brake caliper, as well as an actuating unit arranged on the brake caliper, two friction linings which cooperate with each one lateral surface of a brake disc and are arranged in the brake caliper so as to be displaceable within limits, wherein one of the friction linings is directly movable into engagement with the brake disc caused by the actuating unit by way of an actuating element, and the other friction lining is movable into engagement with the brake disc by the effect of a reaction force generated by the brake caliper, and wherein the actuating unit includes an electric motor that is arranged coaxially relative to the actuating element and a reduction gear interposed between the motor and the actuating element in terms of effect.
An electromechanically operable disc brake of this type is disclosed in European Patent No. 0 394 238, for example. The actuating unit of the prior art disc brake includes an electric motor which cooperates with a planetary gear having planet wheels which drive a ring wheel. The rotation of the ring wheel is transmitted by way of bearing means onto an actuating sleeve, or causes axial displacement of the sleeve by which the friction lining associated with the actuating unit is moved into engagement with the brake disc. The electric motor and the planetary gear are arranged side by side in the actuating direction of the disc brake. The prior art electromechanically operable disc brake suffers especially from the disadvantage that when equipping an automotive vehicle, wherein at least two brakes of this type are integrated in a control circuit, it is impossible to associate a defined value of the clamping force applied to the linings with the control quantity ‘electric current supplied to the electric motor’. Uneven brake torques on the vehicle axles result therefrom due to the fluctuating mechanical efficiency.
An object of the present invention is to improve upon an electromechanically operable disc brake of the above-mentioned type to such effect that, when it is used in a control circuit, a defined allocation between the clamping force and the electric current supplied to the electric motor is achieved.
This object is achieved by the present invention because a force-measuring device is interposed in the flux of force between the actuating element and the friction lining associated therewith, and the output signals of the force-measuring device are adapted to be sent to a control circuit which influences the current supplied to the electric motor and/or the voltage. These provisions permit a control of the required brake force on each individual wheel.
In preferred embodiments of the object of the present invention, the force-measuring device is arranged in the caliper or in a bearing in which the reduction gear is mounted and which accommodates the clamping force produced by the actuating unit. Another possibility includes the arrangement of the force-measuring device between the actuating element and the friction lining associated with it, or between the brake caliper and the friction lining operable by the effect of the reaction force that is produced by the brake caliper.
To render the idea of the present invention more precise, the reduction gear has a threaded nut on which the force-measuring device is arranged.
In a preferred aspect of the object of the present invention, the force is transmitted between the reduction gear and the friction lining by way of a push rod on which the force-measuring device is arranged.
It is especially appropriate that the force-measuring device is configured as a force-measuring element which includes at least one wire strain gauge, or as a pressure gauge.
Further preferred aspects of the present invention become apparent from the subclaims 9 to 11 and 13 to 19.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the force-measuring device is arranged at the end of the spindle, preferably, is provided in a bottom which closes a through-bore of the spindle.
In a design variation of the present invention which has especially compact dimensions, the force-measuring device is provided by areas of the bottom having a reduced material thickness which cooperate with wire strain gauges to evaluate their deformation.
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Kilian Peter
Kranlich Holger
Schmitt Stefan
Schwarz Ralf
Semsch Martin
Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
Pezzlo Benjamin A.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Schwartz Christopher P.
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