Abstract: A hub rotor assembly includes a hub, a rotor supported by the hub and a plurality of fasteners that connect the rotor to the hub. The hub includes a wheel mounting flange and rotor mounting flange to which a flange of the rotor is attached. The rotor mounting flange has a larger diameter than the wheel mounting flange, or other hub elements outboard of the rotor mounting flange, so that the rotor can be easily removed from the hub. Features of the invention also include floatation elements associated with a fastener to fasten the rotor to the hub while allowing the rotor to move or float relative to the hub. A spring clip may be used with the floatation elements to prevent the rotor from rattling. The assembly is particularly suited for commercial highway vehicles and high performance vehicles.

Abstract: A rotor has an array of grooves formed on the brake pad contact surface. The array is preferably formed as a repeating pattern of regularly spaced grooves. The repeating pattern of grooves creates a plurality of radially and circumferentially offset rings of grooves. The rings can radially overlap. The rotor is preferably ventilated having two brake pad contact surfaces separated by a plurality of vanes. The grooves are preferably arranged on the brake pad contact surfaces between the vanes. The grooves can have various configurations and shapes. The array of grooves increases friction between a brake rotor and brake pads, and decreases the thermal gradient and thermal distortion on the brake pad contact surfaces.

Abstract: A hub rotor assembly includes a hub, a rotor supported by the hub and a plurality of fasteners that connect the rotor to the hub. The hub includes a wheel mounting flange and rotor mounting flange to which a flange of the rotor is attached. The rotor mounting flange has a larger diameter than the wheel mounting flange, or other hub elements outboard of the rotor mounting flange, so that the rotor can be easily removed from the hub. Features of the invention also include floatation elements associated with a fastener to fasten the rotor to the hub while allowing the rotor to move or float relative to the hub. A spring clip may be used with the floatation elements to prevent the rotor from rattling. The assembly is particularly suited for commercial highway vehicles and high performance vehicles.

Abstract: A hub rotor assembly includes a hub, a rotor supported by the hub and a plurality of fasteners that connect the rotor to the hub and allow relative movement between the rotor and the hub. The hub rotor assembly of the invention focuses on a brake hub and rotor assembly that uses a floatation element associated with a fastener to fasten the rotor to the hub while allowing the rotor to move or float relative to the hub. The rotor thus fastened is permitted to move or float in a limited manner with respect to the hub. This reduces the need for precise balancing due to float self-balancing. Such floatation reduces first and second order thermal distortion by allowing the rotor to thermally expand and also accommodates and significantly reduces the temperature variation and thermal distortion across the rotor surface during braking. The assembly is particularly suited for commercial highway vehicles.