Spring Patents (Class 188/73.38)
  • Publication number: 20030010582
    Abstract: A disk brake including a brake disk, a brake caliper and brake linings (2). The brake caliper comprises a lining shaft (18) in which the brake linings (2) and, if appropriate, at least one pressure distributor plate are held down by means of springs (10). Each of the hold-down springs (10) supports themselves on parts of the brake caliper (20) and of the brake lining (2) and, as appropriate, on parts of the at least one pressure distributor plate. Each of the brake linings (2) comprise a supporting plate (6) and at least one friction lining (4) which, in the disk brake according to the invention, is made from the same material. The brake linings (2) further comprise receiving elements (12) for hold-down springs (10) and at least accessory element (16). The brake caliper comprises receiving elements or line elements for the at least one accessory element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Friction Products GmbH
    Inventors: Peter G. Denton, Wilfried Strauss
  • Patent number: 6478122
    Abstract: A disc brake having an anchor member with first and second grooves that receive first and second ears on a backing plate to align a friction surface of a friction pad with a rotor. A first slipper spring is secured to the anchor and located between the first groove and the first ear. A second slipper spring is secured to the anchor and located between the second groove and the second ear. The first and second ears correspondingly slide on the first and second slipper springs in response to an input force being applied to move the backing plate toward a rotor to bring the friction surface into engagement with the rotor during a brake application. Each of the first and second slipper springs is characterized by a base with parallel top and bottom side walls that extends therefrom. The top side wall has a lip thereon that engages the anchor to position the base in a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Edwin Demoise, Jr., Glenn Gustave Brown
  • Patent number: 6457567
    Abstract: A disc brake (10) comprising at least two discs (12, 14), and a hub (16) which is arranged to rotate about an axis (18) thereof. The system (10) also comprises mounting arrangement (20,22) by which the discs (12, 14) are mounted on the hub (16) so that the hub and the discs rotate as a unit about the axis (18) and the discs can perform axial sliding movement on the hub. The system (10) also comprises a plurality of leaf springs (42) mounted on the hub (16) and engaging the discs (12, 14) so that the springs apply force between the discs and the hub. The leaf springs (42) are arranged in groups, one spring in each group acting on each disc, at least one spring in each group being retained in position by a connection (44) to another spring in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth James Bunker
  • Patent number: 6427810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spot-type disc brake for automotive vehicle with a floating caliper (2) displaceably borne on a vehicle-fixed brake support (1) and bridging a brake disc as well as brake pads (7,8) arranged on both sides of the brake disc, where the brake pads (7,8) are axially displaceably guided in the brake support (1). To achieve a particularly radially rattle-free fixation of the brake pads (7,8) as well as the floating caliper (2) on the brake support (1), it is provided to support the floating caliper (2) on its, with respect to the vehicle, outside on the brake support (1) through the outer brake pad (7). To this end, the outer brake pad (7) is radially locked on the brake support (1), and the outer brake pad (7) itself on the corresponding housing leg (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Michael Schorn, Karl Störzel, Rudolf Thiel, Rolf-Dieter Betzer, Ralf Sundheim
  • Patent number: 6425464
    Abstract: A caliper of a disc brake assembly includes a housing with a cavity configured to receive a disc brake of a disc brake assembly. The cavity includes opposing recesses configured to nest first and second friction pad and plate assemblies on opposite sides of the disc. A drive within the caliper housing advances the first friction pad assembly into contact with the disc along an advancement axis. A retaining structure for the first friction pad and plate assembly includes a pad retention clip attached to the housing within the cavity, the pad retention clip defining an elongate track extending along the advancement axis. A retention tab on a plate of the first friction pad and plate assembly is configured to snap fit with the pad retention clip and to move along the advancement axis within the elongate track as the first friction pad and plate assembly is advanced along the advancement axis by the caliper drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Avid LLC
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Publication number: 20020096404
    Abstract: Spot-type Disc Brake with a Retaining Device for a Brake Pad The present invention relates to a spot-type disc brake for automotive vehicles with a retaining device for a brake pad ( 1) on an actuating means ( 2), with the brake pad (1) being additionally clamped to a pad mounting support. These two functions are assumed by two separate spring means ( 4, 13) according to the present invention. A first spring means ( 4) clamps the brake pad ( 1) axially with respect to the actuating means ( 2), especially a brake piston, and a second spring means ( 13) ensures the radially rattle-free clamping engagement of the brake pad ( 1) with respect to an associated pad mounting support. Both spring means ( 4, 13) are active irrespective of each other so that undesirable transverse forces on the actuating means ( 2), i.e., vertically to the axial direction ( 3), are avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Karl Storzel, Holger Krug, Rudolf Platzer
  • Publication number: 20020066625
    Abstract: A disc brake (3) of the kind comprising an axially fixed hub (2) and at least one slidable brake disc (4, 6) comprises resilient means (10) acting between the disc (4, 6) and the hub (2) to control certain aspects of the movement of the brake disc (4, 6) during use. The resilient means (10), is of a leaf spring format, acting between the disc (12, 14) and the hub to control the disc dynamics is mounted on the disc (4, 6). This leads to advantages in terms of spring structure and cost and independence of the resilient bias with respect to disc position and disc (12, 14) relationship to another disc (if present) and with respect to simplicity of mounting and avoidance of dirt entrapment. The mounting of the resilient means comprising clipping the resilient means over a drive key (12) of the disc (4, 6) though an aperture (23) defined within the resilient means (10) and having associated stiffening elements or strips (26a, 26b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: William Anthony Thorpe, Adam Challenor
  • Patent number: 6378665
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pad retraction spring for use in a disc brake assembly. The pad retraction spring is operative to move the friction pads from engagement with the rotor when the friction pads are in a non-braking position. The pad retraction spring is effective to apply a first force against the friction pads when the friction pads are new, and effective to apply a second force against the friction pads when the friction pads are worn. The second force is greater than the first force, and at least one of the first force and the second force by itself is not sufficient to move at least one of the friction pads from engagement with the rotor when the friction pads are in the non-braking condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Christopher O. McCormick, Charles Giacomazza, Brad R. Lethorn, Daniel P. Schneider
  • Patent number: 6378666
    Abstract: A spring clip located in a rail of an anchor of a disc brake to hold a carrier for a friction pad and provide a surface on which a projection on the carrier slides during movement of a the carrier toward a rotor by an input force to effect a brake application. The spring clip is characterized by a base having a surface thereon that substantially matches and covers the rail. A tab that extends from the base engages the anchor to fix the position of the base in the rail with respect to the rotor. An arm that extends inward from the base in plane perpendicular to the base has a lip on the end thereof that extends in a plane parallel with the rail. The projection on the carrier engages the arm whenever wear reduces a thickness of the friction pad to a predetermined thickness such that the projection thereafter engages the arm to bring the lip into engagement with the rotor whenever the first friction pad engages the rotor during a brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Tim Yoko
  • Publication number: 20020043436
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spot-type disc brake (1) with a brake housing (3) straddling a brake disc, with at least one brake lining (5, 6) that is arranged in the brake housing (3) so as to be slidable in the actuating direction and cooperates tribologically with the brake disc upon brake application, with at least one actuating device (4) arranged in the brake housing (3) to apply an actuating force to the brake lining (5), and with a spring assembly for the active adjustment of a clearance between the brake lining (5) and the brake disc after brake application. To simplify the configuration of the spring assembly, the spring assembly comprises exactly one spring (8, 18, 25, 31, 33) which is secured detachably in the spot-type disc brake (1) and is supported on the brake lining (5), on the one hand, and on the brake housing (3), on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Helmut Kast, Rudolf Thiel, Ralf Sundheim, Kurt Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20020038742
    Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6318514
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes an improved pad holder for holding a brake pad in the brake assembly. The pad holder takes the form of a simple spring clip, preferably a wire form, that holds the rear surface of the pad tightly against the front surface of the piston or pistons of the associated caliper to prevent brake drag and brake rattle. The clip is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily installed without removing the disc or the caliper from the brake assembly. Indeed, the pad/pad holder subassembly can be removed from the brake assembly, without using any special tools, simply by imposing sufficient upward vertical retraction forces on the pad/pad holder subassembly to deflect the spring clip and to remove the pad holder from the pistons to which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hayes Brake, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. Hinkens, James A. Buckley, Jeffrey S. Gohr, Lee Pfeil
  • Patent number: 6311806
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved piston construction for use in a braking system. The piston construction employs an insulator at its inner end and a conical aperture at it outer end. Both of these promote increased heat isolation during braking operations. The piston of the present invention also employs an o-ring which is secured within a cylindrical recess. The o-ring ensures a fluid tight seal between the piston and the piston housing. Through the use of the o-ring, air is prevented from entering the brake lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Gonzalez, Roben Wilkie
  • Patent number: 6308807
    Abstract: A disk brake having members for keeping the friction pads in contact with the disk rotor in such a way that the wear of the friction members and the energy loss are kept to a minimum. The disk brake has a disk rotor, friction pads provided opposed to each other on both sides of the disk rotor, a caliper formed with a fluid pressure cylinder at least on one side of the disk rotor, and a piston slidably received in the cylinder for selectively applying braking force to the disk rotor by pushing the friction pads into sliding contact with the disk rotor. A resilient member is disposed between the piston and one of the friction pads provided opposite the piston for biasing the friction pads toward the disk rotor by a predetermined stroke, thereby keeping the friction pads in contact with the disk rotor at a predetermined surface pressure even while the brake is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industrial, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Matsumoto, Yoshiki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 6305510
    Abstract: A disc brake system comprises a hub and a disc. The hub is mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis and the disc is mounted on the hub to rotate therewith. The disc is slidable on the hub in a direction which is parallel to said central rotational axis. The system also comprises a plurality of leaf springs which are mounted between the hub and the disc, the leaf springs acting to apply radially-directed forces to the disc. The leaf springs are arranged so that they extend tangentially of the hub when the disc is not mounted on the hub but are deformed by the presence of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth James Bunker
  • Patent number: 6296085
    Abstract: A disk brake which can effectively suppress brake squeaks both during forward-travel braking and backward-travel braking. Pads having lugs at both ends of their back plates engaged in guide grooves formed in guide portions of a torque member are biased radially outwardly at the disk-leading side and radially inwardly at the disk-trailing side by resilient arms of liners. A torque-bearing portion at the disk-trailing side is disposed on the side near the center of the disk than is the line tangential to the disk and passing the center of a brake cylinder, whereas a torque-bearing portion at the disk-leading side is disposed on the outer side of the disk than is the tangential line to produce counterclockwise angular moment which can cancel clockwise angular moment during backward-travel braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Yukoku
  • Patent number: 6293373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a retaining spring for a housing of a spot-type disc brake, especially an integrated disc brake for motor vehicles, in which a brake carrier of the disc brake is integrated in the steering knuckle of the vehicle, the retaining spring including at least one spring ann extending essentially in circumferential direction and clamping the housing and the brake carrier in relation to each other. In order to install the housing retaining spring in a pre-assembled state on the brake housing without further processing and to fix the outer lining in the foreseen position the present invention teaches attaching the housing retaining spring on a part of the disc brake, especially on the outer brake lining in a swiveling manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co, OHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Elmar Fuchs, Bernd Langner
  • Patent number: 6286636
    Abstract: A disc brake comprises pads, a support member, elastic members, and a caliper. The pads include first engaging portions having first slanted surfaces with a first distance therebetween. The support member straddles the rotor and is supported on a body. The support member includes a pair of second engaging portions having second slanted surfaces. The second slanted surfaces have a second distance therebetween. The elastic member, disposed on the pads, presses the pads in a direction which shortens a third width defined by an adjacent pair of the first and second slanted surfaces, respectively. The first and second distances change gradually along the first and second slanted surfaces. Engaging protrusions are provided to one of the pairs of the first and second engaging portions, each including a first width. Engaging grooves are provided to the other of the pairs of the first and second engaging portions, each including a second width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Iwata
  • Patent number: 6283256
    Abstract: A holding spring arrangement for a spot-type disc brake, in particular an integrated disc brake for automotive vehicles, wherein a brake carrier of the disc brake is integrated into the steering knuckle of the vehicle, and the holding spring includes at least one spring arm which extends generally in a circumferential direction and clamps the housing of the disc brake and the brake carrier to one another in a radial direction. To largely prevent tilting of the outward brake pad, according to the present invention, a holding element is provided for mounting the housing holding spring on the brake pad, which holding element is particularly made of sheet metal and supported on a part of the brake housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Günther Dahlheimer, Uwe Schwalm, Thomas Bender, Michael Meiss, Hans-Dieter Leidecker, Jürgen Musolf
  • Patent number: 6269915
    Abstract: A pad clip for a disc brake including at least one friction pad and a support member. The pad clip comprises a first U-shaped portion, a second U-shaped portion, and a third side portion. The first U-shaped portion includes a first base portion and first side portions, and is disposed between side edge portions of the friction pad and anchor portions of the support member. The second U-shaped portion includes a second base portion, second side portions and a second opening portion, and is connected to one of the first side portions of the first U-shaped portion. The third side portion is connected to the second U-shaped portion, and is disposed substantially rectangularly to one of second side portions of the second U-shaped portion and parallel to the first base portion of the first U-shaped portion. The third side portion is positioned closer to the friction pad than the first base portion of the first U-shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 6223866
    Abstract: This invention related to a multi-layered damped pad spring adapted for use in a disc brake assembly. The disc brake assembly includes an anchor bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle component, a brake caliper adapted to be secured to the anchor bracket, a pair of friction pads carried by the disc brake assembly and adapted to be disposed on opposite axial sides of an associated brake rotor, and actuation means for selectively moving the friction pads into frictional engagement with the rotor. The pad spring is carried by the disc brake assembly and is disposed between the anchor bracket and at least one end of one of the pair of friction pads. In a preferred embodiment, the pad spring is a multi-layered pad spring and includes an outer layer disposed adjacent the friction pad and in contact with at least a portion thereof, and an inner layer disposed adjacent the anchor bracket and in contact with at least a portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Charles Giacomazza
  • Patent number: 6186288
    Abstract: A disc brake which can suppress pad vibration includes an outer pad which while contacting the disc rotor is turned such that the side wall of a guide groove in a support arm on the outer peripheral side abuts with the side face of a projecting section on the outer peripheral side of the pad. A pad support is positioned between the guide groove and the projecting section. The pad support includes a supporting portion, an urging portion and a connecting portion. A projection is provided in the region a little to the bottom of the guide groove on the side face of the projecting section on the outer peripheral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhisa Baba, Yuichi Takeo, Makoto Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6179095
    Abstract: The invention involves a spring for a floating caliper disc brake with a frame jaw caliper which, in the middle section of its axial outer edge, has a side window and on both sides of this window openings for an axial bracket of a fixed brake anchor plate. The caliper is displaceably and axially mounted on the bracket of the brake anchor plate. Brake linings are attached on both sides of the disc brake to the bracket of the brake anchor plate in an axial, displaceable manner and are also overlapped by the frame jaw caliper. The invention includes a onepiece curved wire holding spring, the middle section of which is releasably attached to the axial outer brake lining and which has two springs arms that are essentially placed in a contrary tangential direction to the middle section. The holding spring biases the frame jaw caliper radially against the brake anchor plate and biases the axial outer brake lining axially against the inside of the outer edge of the frame jaw caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Thomas Kirschner, Winfried Gerhardt