Abstract: In some examples a piston-bushing assembly includes a bushing with an opening and a piston slidably disposed within the bushing. The piston includes a bottom end disposed within the bushing and an exterior end extending a distance outward from the opening of the bushing. The exterior end of the piston is configured to engage with a disc stack of a brake assembly. The piston-bushing assembly also includes an adjuster tube including a first end of the adjuster tube, wherein, when the piston-bushing assembly is in an unactuated state, a length between the first end of the adjuster tube and the bottom end of the piston defines a step-back gap.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a wheel configured to rotate around an axis and a brake system configured to reduce a rotation of the wheel. The brake system includes a disc stack having a rotor disc rotationally coupled to the wheel and a stator disc, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate relative to the stator disc. The brake system includes an actuator configured to compress the disc stack. The brake system is configured to exert a reaction force on the disc stack when the actuator compresses the disc stack. The assembly includes a mechanical stop configured to encounter the brake system, wherein the mechanical stop is configured to limit a linear displacement between the actuator and the disc stack.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a heat sink, a piston, and a retraction plate. The retraction plate defines a lumen. The piston is mechanically separated from the retraction plate and configured to extend through the lumen defined by the retraction plate to contact the heat sink during a braking operation. The piston is configured to contact the heat sink prior to the retraction plate contacting the heat sink during the braking operation.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a rotor drive key configured to fit around a wheel boss defined by a wheel of a vehicle. The rotor drive key includes a support member. The assembly further comprises a fastener configured to extend through the wheel boss and the support member in a substantially axial direction of the wheel when the rotor drive key is fit around the wheel boss. A fastening member is configured to engage with a portion of the fastener extending beyond the support member.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert comprises a clip and a retainer. The clip is configured to be slidable over a surface adjacent to a drive slot of a brake disc in a tangential direction of the brake disc. The retainer is configured to be slidable over the clip when the clip is positioned over the surface to secure the clip to the brake disc. In some examples, the clip may comprise a body section and first and second arms extending from the body section. The retainer may comprise first and second legs configured to contact the first arm and the second arm of the clip when the retainer is positioned over the clip. The first and second legs may be resiliently biased to provide an inward clamping force on the clip when the retainer is positioned over the clip.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert comprises a first clip, a second clip, and a retainer. The first clip is configured to be slidable over a first surface adjacent to a first drive slot of a brake disc in a first tangential direction of the brake disc. The second clip is configured to be slidable over a second surface adjacent to a second drive slot of the brake disc in a second tangential direction of the brake disc. The retainer is configured to be slidable over the first clip and the second clip when the first clip and second clip are positioned one the brake disc secure the first and second clips to the brake disc.

Abstract: In some examples, a rotor drive key assembly configured to be positioned on a wheel includes an insert and a rotor drive key. The insert is configured to mate with a wheel boss of the wheel and mechanically connect the rotor drive key with the wheel boss. The rotor drive key is configured to mate with the insert such that the insert limits movement of the rotor drive key relative to the wheel boss in at least a radial direction of the wheel. In some examples, the rotor drive key includes a tab having a tab aperture configured to receive a fastener extending in an axial direction of the wheel and engaging the wheel boss.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a wheel configured to rotate around an axis and a brake system configured to reduce a rotation of the wheel. The brake system includes a disc stack having a rotor disc rotationally coupled to the wheel and a stator disc, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate relative to the stator disc. The brake system includes an actuator configured to compress the disc stack. The brake system is configured to exert a reaction force on the disc stack when the actuator compresses the disc stack. The assembly includes a mechanical stop configured to encounter the brake system, wherein the mechanical stop is configured to limit a linear displacement between the actuator and the disc stack.

Abstract: In some examples, a brake disc assembly including a single continuous core portion defining a core of the brake disc assembly; and a friction portion adjacent the core portion. The friction portion defines the friction surface of the brake disc assembly during a braking operation. The friction portion includes a carbon composite material. The core portion includes a core material that is not a carbon composite material, and the core portion is configured as a heat sink for the brake disc assembly for heat generated during the braking operation.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert comprises a first clip, a second clip, and a retainer. The first clip is configured to be slidable over a first surface adjacent to a first drive slot of a brake disc in a first tangential direction of the brake disc. The second clip is configured to be slidable over a second surface adjacent to a second drive slot of the brake disc in a second tangential direction of the brake disc. The retainer is configured to be slidable over the first clip and the second clip when the first clip and second clip are positioned one the brake disc secure the first and second clips to the brake disc.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.

Abstract: In some examples, a rotor drive key assembly configured to be positioned on a wheel includes an insert and a rotor drive key. The insert is configured to mate with a wheel boss of the wheel and mechanically connect the rotor drive key with the wheel boss. The rotor drive key is configured to mate with the insert such that the insert limits movement of the rotor drive key relative to the wheel boss in at least a radial direction of the wheel. In some examples, the rotor drive key includes a tab having a tab aperture configured to receive a fastener extending in an axial direction of the wheel and engaging the wheel boss.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert comprises a clip and a retainer. The clip is configured to be slidable over a surface adjacent to a drive slot of a brake disc in a tangential direction of the brake disc. The retainer is configured to be slidable over the clip when the clip is positioned over the surface to secure the clip to the brake disc. In some examples, the clip may comprise a body section and first and second arms extending from the body section. The retainer may comprise first and second legs configured to contact the first arm and the second arm of the clip when the retainer is positioned over the clip. The first and second legs may be resiliently biased to provide an inward clamping force on the clip when the retainer is positioned over the clip.

Abstract: In some examples, a brake disc assembly including a single continuous core portion defining a core of the brake disc assembly; and a friction portion adjacent the core portion. The friction portion defines the friction surface of the brake disc assembly during a braking operation. The friction portion includes a carbon composite material. The core portion includes a core material that is not a carbon composite material, and the core portion is configured as a heat sink for the brake disc assembly for heat generated during the braking operation.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a rotor drive key configured to fit around a wheel boss defined by a wheel of a vehicle. The rotor drive key includes a support member. The assembly further comprises a fastener configured to extend through the wheel boss and the support member in a substantially axial direction of the wheel when the rotor drive key is fit around the wheel boss. A fastening member is configured to engage with a portion of the fastener extending beyond the support member.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a first annular component, a second annular component configured to be separable from the first annular component and mechanically connected to and aligned with the first annular component about an axis of rotation of the wheel, and a plate. In some examples, when the first and second annular components are mechanically connected, the first and second annular components are configured to receive a tire and define a recess along an annular surface of the first and second annular components, the recess being configured to receive the plate. In addition, in some examples, when the plate is received in the recess, the plate inhibits relative rotation between the first annular component and the second annular component about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a first annular component, a second annular component configured to be separable from the first annular component and mechanically connected to and aligned with the first annular component about an axis of rotation of the wheel, and a plate. In some examples, when the first and second annular components are mechanically connected, the first and second annular components are configured to receive a tire and define a recess along an annular surface of the first and second annular components, the recess being configured to receive the plate. In addition, in some examples, when the plate is received in the recess, the plate inhibits relative rotation between the first annular component and the second annular component about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A brake actuator includes a carrier (10) having a centerline (11), a periphery and a radial slot (16) in the periphery, and an EMA (20), including an electric motor (30) having a longitudinal centerline (31) and a ram (34) having a longitudinal centerline (35) operatively connected to the electric motor (30), where the electric motor (30) is designed to move the ram (34) in the direction of the ram longitudinal centerline (35), the EMA (20) being mounted on the carrier (10) in the slot (16) with the ram longitudinal centerline radially (35) inward of the periphery and the motor longitudinal centerline (31) radially outward of the periphery. Also the EMA (20) used in the brake actuator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to connect a brake disc to a brake are disclosed. A brake disc torque pad is received in a complementary shaped opening in the brake disc and the torque pad engages a tab of the brake to connect the brake disc to the brake.