With Means To Adjust For Wear Of Brake Patents (Class 188/71.7)
  • Publication number: 20090000880
    Abstract: A disc brake shim plate including a metal plate and a rubber section formed on at least one side of the metal plate. The rubber section includes an elastomer and carbon nanofibers having an average diameter of 0.5 to 500 nm and dispersed in the elastomer; the rubber section in uncrosslinked form has a first spin-spin relaxation time (T2n), measured at 150° C. by a Hahn-echo method using a pulsed NMR technique with 1H as an observing nucleus, of 100 to 3000 microseconds, and a fraction (fnn) of components having a second spin-spin relaxation time (T2nn) of less than 0.2; and the elastomer is one material selected from a natural rubber, an ethylene-propylene rubber, and a nitrile rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Noguchi, Akira Magario
  • Publication number: 20090000881
    Abstract: A disc brake is provided for a commercial vehicle, having a brake caliper and brake pads, which make contact with a brake disc. At least one brake pad, together with a carrier plate and a friction lining fixed on the latter, can be pressed against the brake disc by a brake application device via at least one rotatable control spindle and a pressure piece which is operatively connected to the latter and is connected fixedly to the carrier plate. A folding bellows, which is fastened such that it cannot rotate to the brake caliper and bears freely for the unimpeded rotation of the control spindle and yet in a sealing manner against said control spindle, is provided for sealing the outlet region of the control spindle out of the brake caliper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Franz GASSLBAUER
  • Patent number: 7422091
    Abstract: A disc brake, particularly for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper that overlaps a brake disc, a tensioning device for tensioning brake pads, and an adjusting system for compensating for wear to the brake pads and/or brake disc. The adjusting system has at least one electric motor that serves as a drive. The at least one electric motor is mounted on the brake caliper in a manner that permits it to be accessed from the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker
  • Patent number: 7424358
    Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting the play between the brake linings and the brake disc of a pneumatically actuated disc brake by way of at least one or several adjustment devices actuated by electric motors. The method sensorlessly determines the play caused by braking with the aid of a computer by use of a computer prognosis, wherein the prognosis includes wear caused by braking and the brake component variations in time produced by energy released by the braking, and the thus determined variations are adjusted at predetermined time intervals on at least one adjustment device by a corresponding adjustment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Baumgartner
  • Publication number: 20080128222
    Abstract: A disk brake mechanism is described, comprising one of a pneumatic and electromechanical actuator having a brake piston, a brake application device for actuating the disk brake mechanism, and a fixed-type brake caliper attached to an axle, for moving a reaction-side brake lining against a brake disk during application. The mechanism also includes a pivoting lever of the brake application device, operatively connected to the brake piston for pressing an application-side brake lining during application, the pivoting lever being supported on one side on the brake caliper, and a supporting part forming, after a predefined stroke portion of an application stroke of the brake piston, an abutment for the pivoting lever between a pressure region of the application-side brake lining on the pivoting lever, and a support of the pivoting lever on the brake caliper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Franz-Josef BIRKENEDER
  • Publication number: 20080121471
    Abstract: By rotating a regulating bolt about an axis thereof to move forward/backward with respect to a protrusion portion, a lever is rotated about a shaft portion of an adjusting member. Therefore, the shaft portion of an adjusting member is rotated together with the lever to adjust a gap formed between a disk and a piston. After the gap is adjusted, the regulating bolt is fastened owing to a lock nut and a screw hole of the protrusion portion to thereby fix an forward/backward position of the regulating bolt with respect to the protrusion portion. In addition, a fixing bolt is screwed into a screw hole of a second housing portion to thereby fix a rotational position of the lever. Accordingly, the rotational position of the lever is double-locked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nishihara, Teruo Sanada
  • Patent number: 7367433
    Abstract: A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, operated pneumatically or by electric motor, comprising a brake caliper, an application device and at least one adjuster device arranged with the brake caliper, is characterized in that both adjuster elements of the at least one adjuster device are fixed in a non-rotating manner to a common connector plate in the region thereof facing the brake lining and/or a single- or multi-piece thermal insulation layer is at least partly applied to the connector plate or parts connected thereto on the side thereof facing the relevant braking lining to form a region like a pressure piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Bieker, Johann Baumgartner, Robert Trimpe
  • Patent number: 7345871
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for locking a movable appendage (e.g., a display) of an electronic device (e.g., a tablet computer) comprising a rotational lock interfaced with a display hinge assembly of the display, and a docking member disposed to engage at least a portion of the rotational lock when the electronic device is interfaced with an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lev, Earl W. Moore
  • Publication number: 20070235267
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing a running clearance position for an electromechanical actuator, wherein the running clearance is based on an actuator ram position attained during an advancement of the actuator ram using a current limit that is less than a current limit used for the application of braking force to a brake stack. Generated is a commandable running clearance position as a function of the position value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Liebert
  • Patent number: 7178645
    Abstract: A brake apparatus having an automatic clearance adjusting mechanism with an overadjustment preventer constituted such that a piston is constituted by a structure of being divided in a plug piston 16 and a ring piston 14. The plug piston 16 is integrated with an adjusting nut 20, a bearing 21, a bearing support plate 22 and a spring holder 23. An outer side claw portion 23a of the holder is locked by an outer side groove 16 of the plug piston. The plug piston 16 integrated with the respective parts is inserted to fit to the ring piston 14 to thereby prevent the outer side claw portion 23a of the holder from being detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Maehara
  • Patent number: 7168528
    Abstract: In the invention there is provided a disk brake stack having disks with available wear portions of a first thickness, a second thickness and a third thickness. The disk(s) having an initial available wear portion of a first thickness are of a thickness so that at the first overhaul, the available wear portion of such disks are only partly worn away and disks are about equal to disks having an initial available wear portion of a second thickness. The disks having an initial available wear portion of a second thickness at the first overhaul are only partly worn away and such disks are about equal to the disks having an initial available wear portion of a third thickness. The disks initially having an available wear portion of a third thickness at the first overhaul are substantially fully worn and are replaced by new or refurbished disks having an available wear portion of a first, second or third thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Lowell D. Bok, Frank D. Edmisten
  • Patent number: 7134532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and or disk, by adjusting the distance between the brake pad and the brake disk. The adjusting system has an adjusting rotative device. The disk brake is characterized in that at least one of the adjusting rotative devices is provided on each side of the brake disk for adjusting the axial distances between the two brake pads and the brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker, Wolfgang Pahle
  • Patent number: 7123472
    Abstract: A common pivot arrangement mounted on a base member with first and second locating holes is disclosed to include a hinge unit having first through holes corresponding to the second locating holes of the base member and second through holes, and a rotary device, which has a mount with through holes corresponding to the first locating holes and a wheel with mounting holes corresponding to the second through holes. For use in a notebook computer, the first through holes of the hinge unit are respectively fastened to the second locating holes of the base member with screws. For use in a tablet PC and the notebook computer, the second through holes of the hinge unit are respectively fastened to the mounting holes of the wheel with screws, and then the through holes of the mount are respectively fastened to the first locating holes of the base member with screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Tatung Co., LTD
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chin-Ku Chuang, Chi-Hsuan Hung
  • Patent number: 7104366
    Abstract: A method of increasing carbon disc utilization in aircraft carbon brakes. A brake (10) is initially assembled with a heat stack (16) of alternating thick rotors (R1–R4) and thin stators (S1–S3). When the piston (20) is fully extended, it is retracted and a spacer (30) is inserted between the piston (20) and the original heat stack (16). The brake (10) is then subjected to a another half tour. After this half tour, the brake (10) is overhauled, and the now-thin discs (S1–S3, PP and BP) are replaced with thick discs to form another heat stack (50). For the next half tour, no spacer is used between the piston (20) and the heat stack (50). At the end of this half tour and the piston (20) is fully extended, a spacer (70) is inserted between the piston (20) and the heat stack (50). The heat stack (50) remains unchanged. For the next half tour, it is accomplished with the spacer (70). When this half tour is completed, the worn out rotors are replaced with new thick rotors and the process can be repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International
    Inventors: David D. McAfee, Slawomir T. Fryska
  • Patent number: 7034673
    Abstract: Method for monitoring an electrohydraulic braking system. The volume uptake is determined by the elasticity within the wheel brake that is subjected to certain fluctuations, on the one hand, and to a much greater degree by the clearance that is present, on the other hand. To make a reliable statement relating to the air charge, an estimation of the current clearance is first made, taking three ranges into consideration. If there is a normal clearance, a top evaluation threshold is taken as a basis, which assumes the clearance lies at the upper end of the normal range. When said evaluation threshold is exceeded, an alarm is triggered. If the clearance is assumed to lie at the bottom limit of the normal range, a bottom evaluation threshold applies, however, an alarm is only triggered in this case this situation has occurred several times in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Centinental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Gunther Buschmann, Robert Schmidt, Thorsten Ullrich
  • Patent number: 6997291
    Abstract: A disc brake for a vehicle having a housing with a cavity therein that is divided by a thrust plate into a fluid chamber and an atmospheric chamber. A converter located in the fluid chamber includes a fixed reaction plate and a sliding plate that are separated by a plurality of balls located in variable depth grooves in the sliding plate and a reaction plate. A rotary input applied to an input shaft caused the sliding plate to rotate and move linearly as the balls move within the grooves to provides a force that acts through the thrust plate to moves a piston that is located in the atmospheric chamber to effect a mechanical brake application. Pressurized fluid supplied to the fluid chamber acts on the thrust plate that moves thrust plate and moves the piston to effect a hydraulic brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Boisseau
  • Patent number: 6896106
    Abstract: A method of accommodating wear in an electrically operated brake assembly includes setting a home position when a brake shoe engages a brake drum. A stepper motor drives the brake shoes into engagement with the drum. Upon engagement of the brake shoes with the drum, the stepper motor slips. Slipping of a stepper motor indicates that a home position has been reached. Upon release of the brake, the brake shoe is moved away from the drum a fixed distance. The fixed distance is an optimal distance between the friction member and the rotating member such that regardless of wear, the distance relationship between the brake shoe and drum is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Kramer
  • Patent number: 6871728
    Abstract: A vehicle brake device having a hydraulic pressure generating source is proposed which can reliably prevent dragging and ensure the initial response of brakes during braking. In a brake fluid supply passage from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinder, a brake fluid circulating passage having a hydraulic pressure generating source is provided. A detector for detecting whether the brake pedal is being operated, and a detector for detecting dragging of the brake pads are provided, and only when dragging is detected while the brake pedal is not being operated, the hydraulic pressure generating source is actuated for a predetermined time with a supply valve provided in the brake fluid circulating passage closed and a return valve open to suck brake fluid in the wheel cylinder and increase the distances between the brake pads and the disk rotor, thereby reliably preventing dragging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Kamiya, Hiroshi Kondo, Shin Sasaki, Daizo Oba
  • Patent number: 6854572
    Abstract: An electrically operated disc brake includes a ball/ramp mechanism operable to convert rotary motion of an electric motor to linear motion and transmit the linear motion to a piston so that the piston is advanced to urge a pair of friction pads against opposite sides of a disc rotor to produce a barking force. The disc brake also includes a pad wear adjusting mechanism operable to threadably move the piston relative to an axially movable member of the ball/ramp mechanism in response to the amount of pad wear. The axially movable member has a female thread along its full length. The piston includes a piston head and a piston rod joined to the piston head. The piston rod has a male thread or threaded section. The threaded section has a length such that the piston can safely be moved together and relative to the axially movable member. The piston also has a smooth section extending from the threaded section toward the disc rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tokico Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Usui
  • Patent number: 6851761
    Abstract: A control process can be carried out during parking braking by way of a parking brake arrangement. The brake is applied by way of a service brake cylinder, and a position of a piston rod is fixed by rotation of a self-locking rotating spindle and application of the rotating spindle to the piston rod or an element connected in front of the piston rod. By additionally rotating the rotating spindle during parking braking, compensation can be made for shrinkages, particularly of a brake disk and/or brake linings, which occur during brake cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse System Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Wolfgang Pahle, Dirk Ganzhorn
  • Publication number: 20040262101
    Abstract: An electromechanically actuatable disk brake with a self-boosting device includes a wear readjusting device which can for instance be adjusted by means of an electric motor as an actuator, to compensate for wear of a restoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik
  • Publication number: 20040188189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a A disk brake apparatus with a readily—releasable wear adjuster, including equipped with a brake caliper (1), which overlaps a brake disk, with a tensioning device for tensioning brake pads and with an adjusting system for compensating for brake pad wear, where the adjusting system includes. Said disk brake eomprises at least one adjusting rotating device with an electric motor drive for adjusting the brake pad clearance (5). A and a release device that assists in releasing the adjusting rotating device is used in addition to when the electric motor drive retracts the brake pads to for adjusting the specified air clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Knorr-Bremse System Fur Nutz-Frahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Baumgartner
  • Publication number: 20040144602
    Abstract: A disc brake for a vehicle has a caliper bracket fixed to a vehicle body, a pair of caliper support arms striding an outer periphery of a disc rotor in a disc axial direction, pad guide grooves formed in the caliper support arms so as to be opposed to each other, friction pads disposed on both sides of the disc rotor, the friction pads having ears projected from both side portions of a back plate thereof, and pad retainers disposed on the pad guide grooves, the ears of the friction pads being movably supported by the pad guide grooves via the pad retainers, wherein pad retainers each has pad returning portions for urging the friction pads away from the disc rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Takashi Ono
  • Publication number: 20040124041
    Abstract: A brake head positioning means for railcar braking systems. The brake head positioning means is comprised of an attachment means that is engageable with a railcar hanger arm for attaching such brake head positioning means to such railcar hanger arm. An extension means that is engageable with and extends substantially perpendicular to and outwardly from such attachment means is also included. The extension means provides sliding engagement and enables a biasing force to be achieved. Also included is a variable distancing means which is disposed for sliding engagement with and is substantially perpendicular to such extension means adjacent a first end thereof, and is engageable with a brake head adjacent a second end thereof. A biasing means, disposed around and slideably engageable with such extension means for providing a bias to such variable distancing means during service is further included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Korleski, Roland S. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040065516
    Abstract: An electrically operated brake assembly includes a drum and brake shoes. A stepper motor drives the brake shoes into engagement with the drum. Upon engagement of the brake shoes with the drum, the stepper motor slips. Slipping of a stepper motor indicates that a home position has been reached. Upon release of the brake, the brake shoe is moved away from the drum a fixed distance. The fixed distance is an optimal distance between the friction member and the rotating member such that regardless of wear, the distance relationship between the brake shoe and drum is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Dennis Kramer
  • Publication number: 20040045776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and/or disk. Said disk brake is characterized in that the adjusting system is configured on one or both sides of the brake disk as a preassembled adjuster module, which has at least the following components: an electromotor, which acts as the drive, or a drive connection to an electromotor and a reduction gear connected downstream of the electromotor, the rotative drive being fitted onto the mounting plate(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker, Wolfgang Pahle
  • Publication number: 20040026181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particularly for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and/or disk, by adjusting the distance between the brake pad and the brake disk. Said disk brake is characterized in that at least one or several adjusting rotative devices are provided on each side of the brake disk for adjusting the axial distances between the two brake pads and the brake disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker, Wolfgang Pahle
  • Patent number: 6684982
    Abstract: A bicycle cable disc brake is provided a disc brake pad adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the friction pads. Basically, the cable disc brake has a first caliper housing portion containing a cable actuated mechanism, and a second caliper housing portion containing the disc brake pad adjustment mechanism. The disc brake pad adjustment mechanism has a caliper housing portion, an adjusting axle, an adjusting plate and an adjustment biasing member. The adjusting axle movably is coupled to the caliper housing portion to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle. The adjusting plate is coupled to the adjusting axle to move axially along the longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle upon rotation of the adjusting axle relative to the caliper housing portion. The adjustment biasing member is operatively disposed between the caliper housing portion and the adjusting axle and arranged to axially urge the adjusting axle against the caliper housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Osamu Kariyama
  • Patent number: 6679356
    Abstract: The invention provides a brake caliper backdrive apparatus and method of backdriving a brake caliper. The apparatus includes a brake caliper, a motor including a shaft operably attached to the brake caliper and, a biasing member operably attached to the shaft. The biasing member backdrives the motor thereby releasing the brake caliper. The method includes rotating a shaft to clamp the brake caliper, storing energy in a biasing member responsive to the shaft rotation, and reversing the shaft rotation using the stored energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Hageman, Harald Klode, Paul Rymoff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6662906
    Abstract: With electromechanically or electromotively operated brakes, adjusting a clearance presents a problem because with this type of brakes self-actuating reset means of the type provided for hydraulic brakes cannot be used. For adjustment, a neutral position of the actuator must first be determined in which at least one of the friction linings is in close proximity. To this end, the present invention provides for the change in the actuator current (IAkt) and the change in the actuator position (&phgr;Akt) to be evaluated so as to determine the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Böhm, Ralf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6626269
    Abstract: A disc brake caliper assembly has a housing with a bore. A piston in the bore is movable between applied, retracted and knock-back positions. The piston is activatable by hydraulic pressure to move from the retracted position to the applied position; and a retracting seal is effective in the absence of the hydraulic pressure to move the piston from the applied position to the retracted position. A linkage adjacent the piston carries a stop; and an actuator is responsive to an end of brake activation signal to cause the linkage to engage the stop with the piston when the piston is retracted from its applied position to its retracted position so as to prevent the piston from moving from the retracted position to the knock-back position. The actuator is preferably a comparatively weak electric motor that stalls as the stop engages the piston; and the stall is sensed to end motor activation. The end of brake activation signal is preferably provided by a brake position or pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Schuyler Scott Shaw, Bryan Peter Riddiford, John Benjamin Hageman, Donald Edward Schenk, David Bernard Drennen
  • Publication number: 20030173164
    Abstract: An adjuster assembly for compensating for brake lining wear in a brake unit. The brake unit has a housing for accommodating the adjuster assembly, a brake lever journalled to the housing, and a force transmitter for transmitting displacement of the brake lever to at least one brake lining. The adjuster assembly includes a support shaft, sensing means for cooperation with the brake lever, a drive ring assembly cooperating with the sensor, and an adjuster gear. The adjuster gear cooperates with the drive ring assembly. To prevent unwanted release of the adjuster assembly, the engagement surface is provided with rotation a rotation preventer adapted for releasable engagement with engagement member cooperating with the housing for preventing rotation of the transmission ring assembly in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Dan Angerfors
  • Patent number: 6536562
    Abstract: With electromechanically or electromotively operated brakes, adjusting a clearance presents a problem because with this type of brakes self-actuating reset means of the type provided for hydraulic brakes cannot be used. For adjustment, a neutral position of the actuator must first be determined in which at least one of the friction linings is in close proximity. To this end, the present invention provides for the change in the actuator current (IAkt), the change in the actuator position (&phgr;Akt), and the rigidity of the system as derived from the actuator force as a function of actuator position to be evaluated so as to determine the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Böhm, Ralf Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20020175030
    Abstract: A disc brake device includes a brake disc having a peripheral portion received in a housing, two brake shoes disposed beside the brake disc, A bolt is threaded in the housing, and a control ferrule is rotatably secured to the housing and coupled to the bolt for rotating the bolt to adjust the brake shoe relative to the brake disc. A ring is threaded in the housing, and a knob is rotatably secured to the housing and coupled to the ring for rotating the ring to adjust the other brake shoe. The brake shoes may be easily adjusted with the control ferrule and the knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Mu Kai Lee
  • Patent number: 6481542
    Abstract: A brake adjuster is provided for a vehicle brake such as for heavy duty vehicle. The brake adjuster includes a brake module that produces an electrical signal for adjusting the vehicle brake. The heavy duty vehicle brake typically includes a pair of pistons each having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another. A friction element or brake pad is arranged proximate to the second portion and is movable from a desired position to a worn position as the brake pads wear during operation of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second portions are slip fit within a sleeve assembly. At least one adjustment member is arranged between the first and second portions. The adjustment member is constructed from a material which expands in response to an electrical signal, such as a magnetostrictive or a piezoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC.
    Inventors: Wilfried Giering, Roy Lee Hayford, Neil Williams, Juergen Dreher, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Gerald D. Anderson, David L. Brademeyer
  • Publication number: 20020117360
    Abstract: A brake rotor for a vehicle is provided with one or more visual wear indicators on brake contact surfaces to allow easy visual inspection of brake rotor condition without the need for measurement tools. The inventive visual wear indicator system is not obtrusive and as such removes only a relatively small amount of brake contact surface to form a recessed surface at a depth of a predetermined minimum useable rotor thickness. With this inventive rotor, one can visually inspect the condition of a brake rotor and readily determine whether the rotor requires replacement or remachining. The visual wear indicator is provided on a brake contact surface of the rotor solely within a brake contact region so as to provide an accurate reflection of the condition of the rotor in areas where wear will occur. The visual indicator may be provided on only one, but preferably both, sides of the rotor and may take numerous forms, such as a cylindrical bore, a more complex shape, an annular groove or even an eccentric groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: BRAKE PARTS INC.
    Inventor: Dennis E. Toby
  • Publication number: 20020084151
    Abstract: An automatic compensation mechanism for brake unit, to automatically make up for the extent of wear on the brake pad, the brake unit involving mainly a push unit that is driven by a swing member inside an outer casing, to push the brake block to the brake disc for braking operation. This invention is characterized in that, in the push unit is an automatic compensation mechanism, composed of a floating member, a shaft rod and a driving plate. The brake block is screwed to the floating member, to drive the floating member by means of the automatic compensation mechanism, so that after the brake block is worn, the floating member will be rotated to push out the brake block to make up for the extent of wear. Therefore, not only the service life of the brake block can be extended, a constant brake force can be maintained to upgrade safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Chin Ch?apos;eng Chang
  • Patent number: 6374957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake cylinder (100) and a hydraulic rim brake comprising a unit for receiving a brake pad (103). With known brake cylinders, it is difficult to remove the running wheel if the tire mounted on the wheel rim (6) is substantially wider than the wheel rim (6), since the wheel has to be moved through the gap between the two brake pads arranged on the brake cylinder. The brake cylinder according to the invention should have a simple structure and permit easy removal of the running wheel. The brake cylinder (100) according to the invention has a connecting member (302) for the arrangement of the brake cylinder (100) on a frame part (2″) in a manner rotatable about an axis, the axis being essentially orthogonal to the receiving unit for the brake pad (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Markus Krumbeck, Stefan Ruckh, Joachim Hujer, Ludwig Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 6340074
    Abstract: A disc brake caliper includes a housing containing a pair of opposing brake pad assemblies configured to reside on opposite sides of a disc operatively associated therewith. At least one of the brake pad assemblies is advanced and retracted relative to the disc by a drive mechanism along an advancement axis to effect braking. A pad wear compensation apparatus is operatively associated with at least one of the brake pad assemblies to advance the brake pad assembly along the advancement axis as it wears. The pad wear compensation apparatus includes an adjustment knob attached to the housing for rotation about a rotation axis and fixed against axial movement. A rotary to linear linkage between the at least one brake pad assembly and the knob provides axial advancement of the brake pad assembly relative to the housing upon axial rotation of the knob in a select direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Avid LLC
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 6340077
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical wheel brake device, having a screw link actuator, which is supported in a floating caliper. The screw link actuator can be driven by an electric motor, and can press a frictional brake lining against one side of a brake disc and can press a second frictional brake lining against another side of the brake disc by means of a reaction force by way of the floating caliper. In order to permit a release of the wheel brake device in the event of a malfunction, brake device embodies the screw link actuator as selflocking-free, supporting a spindle nut and a threaded spindle in rotary fashion, and securing the threaded spindle against rotation by means of a releasable rotation prevention device. The threaded spindle is connected in a rotationally secured and axially mobile fashion by means of a positive engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfram Schaffer
  • Patent number: 6340075
    Abstract: In the invention there is provided a disk brake stack having disks with predetermined available wear portions of a first thickness, a second thickness and a third thickness. In the initial configuration a first group of disks is interleaved with a second group of disks. The first group of disks comprises thick disks and the second group of disks comprises thin disks which have an available wear portion approximately one third of the thickness of the thick disks. At the first overhaul, the thin disks are substantially fully worn and are removed. The second group of disks is replaced with mid-thickness disks which have an available wear portion of about two thirds of the initial thickness of the wear portion of thick disks. At the second overhaul, the remaining wear portion of the first group of disks is approximately the thickness of the wear portion of the thin disks. The second group of disks are removed and replaced with thick disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Lowell D. Bok, Eric J. Reed, Mark W. Prenger
  • Patent number: 6334513
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly for a bicycle includes a connecting bar and a brake disc each mounted on a bicycle. The connecting bar includes a pivot hole defined in one end and a lug extending from the other end. The lug has a bore defined therein. A casing with two brake pads is movably attached to the connecting bar. An ear extends from the casing and has a threaded hole defined therein corresponding to the pivot hole of the connecting bar. Another ear extends from the casing and has a hole defined therein corresponding to the bore of the lug of the connecting bar. An adjusting device is mounted on the casing and connected to the connecting bar. Rotating the adjusting device can adjust the distance of the casing and the connecting bar. Furthermore, the gaps between the brake disc and the brake pads are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Yih Cherng Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bang-Shiong Chern
  • Patent number: 6250434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wear adjusting device for a motor vehicle disk brake and a method for controlling the device. A brake actuated rotating lever primarily effects a slidable element which actuates at least one adjusting spindle. The spindle presses a brake lining in the direction of a brake disk. According to the invention, the adjustment device consists of an electric drive which adjusts at least one of the adjusting spindles through rotary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker
  • Patent number: 6238011
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a wheel brake in open-loop, which is provided with an electrically controllable control device. The control, in particular the clearance adjustment, is effected as a function of the change tendency of a braking-force or braking-torque signal over a path signal which represents a measure for the path covered by the brake pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Heckmann
  • Patent number: 6230850
    Abstract: In a brake caliper for a bicycle disk brake, a crank lever is driven to pull two cam shafts in achieving a braking operation, the crank lever having a substantially U-shaped head fastened to the brake cable of the bicycle, two arms respectively coupled to the two cam shafts, two shoulders respectively connected between the arms and two opposite ends of the U-shaped head, a screw hole and a recessed locating hole respectively provided at the shoulders, a screw rod threaded into the screw hole and having one end inserted into the recessed locating hole, and an adjustment nut threaded onto the screw rod and rotated to adjust the pitch between the shoulders of the crank lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Bill Huang
  • Patent number: 6206149
    Abstract: A caliper disk brake includes a brake disk having at least one set of brake pads disposed on opposite sides thereof and connected to a pair of caliper arms. The caliper arm are interconnected with a magnetic actuator consisting of an armature slidingly received by a magnet body. A spring interposed between the armature and magnet body actuates the brake, while an electromagnetic coil releases it. A sealed cavity is provided between the armature and magnet body with a metered and valved vent in communication with the cavity to allow for controlled brake application and instantaneous release. A wear adjustment bolt received a trunion connected to one of the caliper arms and has an end thereof received within a bore of the magnet body maintaining the spring. Coaxially aligned with the wear adjustment bolt a torque adjustment bolt which secures a second trunion receiving the other caliper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Power Transmission Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Heidenreich, Michael O. Culbertson