阅读说明：本技术 带驻车制动功能的对置式制动钳 (Opposed brake caliper with parking brake function ) 是由 娄刚 奥瑞连·巴马塔 于 2021-02-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：制动器总成、制动系统以及应用制动的方法。制动器总成包括固定钳系统和滑动钳系统。固定钳系统和滑动钳系统二者在制动操作期间一起操作以产生夹紧力。通用制动操作可以是行车制动操作、驻车制动操作或两者。(A brake assembly, a brake system and a method of applying a brake. The brake assembly includes a fixed caliper system and a sliding caliper system. Both the fixed and sliding caliper systems operate together during a braking operation to generate a clamping force. The universal braking operation may be a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both.)

1. A brake assembly comprising:

a fixed jaw system; and

a sliding jaw system;

wherein both the fixed caliper system and the sliding caliper system operate together to generate a clamping force during a first braking operation.

2. The brake assembly of claim 1 wherein only the sliding caliper system operates during a second braking operation.

3. The brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the brake assembly includes an inner brake pad and an outer brake pad; and

wherein both the fixed caliper system and the sliding caliper system operate to move the inner brake pad and the outer brake pad during a first braking operation.

4. The brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the brake assembly includes an inner side and an outer side; and

wherein the inner side comprises one or more brake pistons than the outer side, or the outer side comprises one or more brake pistons than the inner side.

5. The brake assembly of claim 4 wherein the inboard side includes an inboard brake piston and the outboard side is free of a brake piston opposite the inboard brake piston.

6. The brake assembly of claim 4, wherein the braking system includes a rear end and a front end;

wherein the inner side comprises an inner rear end brake piston and an inner front end brake piston; and

wherein the outer face side includes an outer face rear end brake piston opposite the inner face rear end brake piston, and the outer face side is free of a brake piston opposite the inner face front end brake piston.

7. The brake assembly of claim 4, wherein the braking system includes a rear end and a front end;

wherein the inner side comprises an inner rear end brake piston and an inner front end brake piston; and

wherein the outer face side includes an outer face front end brake piston opposite the inner face front end brake piston and the outer face side is free of brake pistons opposite the inner face rear end brake piston.

8. The brake assembly of claim 2 wherein the first brake operation is a service brake operation and the second brake operation is a parking brake operation.

9. The brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the fixed caliper system includes two or more brake pistons that move by pressurizing hydraulic fluid during the first braking operation and the sliding caliper system includes at least one brake piston that moves by pressurizing hydraulic fluid during the first braking operation.

10. The brake assembly of claim 1 wherein said fixed caliper system includes two brake pistons that move by pressurizing hydraulic fluid during said first braking operation and said sliding caliper system includes one brake piston that moves with an electromechanical system during said first braking operation.

11. The brake assembly of claim 10, wherein the brake assembly is devoid of a brake piston opposite the brake piston of the sliding caliper system.

12. A braking system, comprising:

brake caliper, comprising

The inner side and

an outer side, and

a plurality of brake pistons; and is

Wherein the inner face side has at least one more brake piston than the outer face side.

13. The braking system of claim 12, wherein during a first braking operation, at least one of the brake pistons is moved by a hydraulic system and at least one of the brake pistons is moved by an electromechanical system.

14. The braking system of claim 13, wherein the braking system includes an outer brake pad; and

wherein one end of the outer brake pad moves with at least one of the brake pistons that is moved with the hydraulic system and the other end of the outer brake pad moves with the electromechanical system.

15. The braking system of claim 13, wherein the braking system comprises:

a rear end having two brake pistons moved by the hydraulic system, an

A front end having a brake piston moved by an electromechanical system.

16. A method of applying brakes using the braking system of claim 12, the method comprising:

moving a first end of a brake pad with a hydraulic system, an

Moving the second end of the brake pad with the electromechanical system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein during a second braking operation, the brake pads are moved only with the electromechanical system.

18. A method of applying braking with the brake assembly of claim 1, the method comprising:

moving a first end of a brake pad using the fixed caliper system, an

Moving a second end of the same brake pad using the sliding caliper system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the brakes are applied during a service braking operation.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the brake is applied during a parking brake operation.

Technical Field

The present teachings relate generally to brake assemblies and methods of operating brake assemblies.

Background

An opposed piston disc brake system includes one or more brake pistons and brake pads on each side of a brake disc. During service braking operations, the opposing brake pistons move relative to each other, which moves the opposing brake pads into contact with both sides of the brake disc, thereby generating a clamping force that decelerates or stops the moving vehicle.

Opposed piston disc brake systems typically include an electromechanical parking brake system that operates separately from a hydraulic service brake system. Some electromechanical parking brake systems are constructed on a portion of the brake assembly that is spaced apart from the hydraulic service brake system. These types of brake assemblies suffer from being oversized, being overly heavy, having increased construction complexity, or any combination thereof.

It would be desirable to improve upon the prior art by providing an improved opposed piston disc brake system. It may be desirable to provide an opposed-disc brake system in which an electromechanical parking brake system is integrated with a hydraulic service brake system. It may be desirable to provide an opposed piston disc brake system in which the electromechanical and hydraulic systems cooperate in operating a service brake operation, a parking brake operation, or both. It may be desirable to provide an opposed-disc brake system that utilizes one system and/or structure to perform multiple braking operations, such that the size, weight, and construction complexity of the brake assembly may be reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure is directed to a brake assembly that may address at least some of the needs identified above, the brake assembly comprising: fixed jaw systems and sliding jaw systems; and wherein both the fixed caliper system and the sliding caliper system operate during a service brake operation to generate a clamping force, and only the sliding caliper system operates during a parking brake operation.

The present disclosure is directed to a braking system that may address at least some of the needs identified above, the braking system comprising: a brake caliper including an inner side and an outer side; and a brake piston; and wherein the inner side comprises at least one more brake piston than the outer side.

The present disclosure relates to a method for applying service brakes that may address at least some of the needs identified above, the method comprising: the method includes moving a first end of a brake pad with a hydraulic braking system and moving a second end of the brake pad with an electromechanical braking system.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brake assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A.

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the brake assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A.

Fig. 4A is a plan view of a brake assembly performing a braking operation.

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the brake assembly performing another braking operation.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line B-B.

Detailed Description

The present teachings relate to brake assemblies and/or methods of operating brake assemblies during braking operations. The brake operation may be during a service brake application and/or during a parking brake application. The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, their principles, and their practical application. Those skilled in the art may modify and apply the present teachings in their various forms to best suit the requirements of a particular application. Accordingly, the particular embodiments of the present teachings set forth are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible, as will be derived from the appended claims, which are also incorporated herein by reference.

The teachings provide a brake assembly (which may also be referred to herein as a braking system). The brake assembly may function to generate a clamping force to slow the vehicle, stop the vehicle, hold the vehicle in a stopped (e.g., parked) position, or any combination thereof. The brake assembly may function to perform a service braking operation (i.e., the brakes applied during normal driving operations to slow or stop the vehicle), a parking braking operation (i.e., the brakes applied when the vehicle is in a parking lot or when an emergency stop must be made), or both. Preferably, the brake assembly can perform both a service braking operation and a parking braking operation.

The brake assembly may include a fixed caliper system, a sliding caliper system (which may also be referred to as a floating caliper system), or both. The fixed jaw system and the sliding jaw system may be integrated together into a universal assembly that may be attached to a vehicle. In other words, the brake assembly may include a universal caliper on which the features of the sliding caliper and the features of the fixed or opposing caliper are integrated.

Both the fixed and sliding caliper systems may be operated together or simultaneously during one or more braking operations. The one or more braking operations may include a service brake application or operation, a parking brake application or operation, or both. In some configurations, only the sliding caliper system may operate during a parking brake operation. In some configurations, only the sliding clamp may be operated during a service braking operation. In some configurations, only the fixed caliper system operates during a parking brake operation. In some configurations, only the fixed caliper system operates during a service braking operation.

The brake assembly may include one or more fixed caliper systems. The fixed caliper system may function to decelerate the vehicle, stop the vehicle, or hold the vehicle in a stopped position by moving the brake piston and brake pads into engagement with the brake disc. The fixed caliper system may perform a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both. The fixed caliper system may include a caliper that is fixedly attached to the vehicle (e.g., to the steering knuckle). The caliper may have a unitary construction (e.g., formed from a single casting) or a binary construction (e.g., two or more sections coupled together). The fixed-caliper system may also include one or more caliper apertures, one or more brake pistons. Hydraulic fluid (e.g., a hydraulic system) may move one or more brake pistons of the fixed caliper system by applying pressure to the brake pistons. A rotary to linear mechanism and an electric motor (e.g., an electromechanical system) may move one or more brake pistons of the fixed-caliper system. The fixed caliper system can be located on the rear end of the brake assembly, the front end of the brake assembly, the outer face side of the brake assembly, the inner face side of the brake assembly, or any combination thereof.

The brake assembly may include one or more sliding caliper systems. The sliding caliper system may function to slow the vehicle, stop the vehicle, or maintain the vehicle in a stopped position by moving the brake piston and brake pads into engagement with the brake disc. The sliding caliper system may perform a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both. Preferably, the sliding caliper system performs both a service brake operation and a parking brake operation. The sliding caliper system can be located on the rear end of the brake assembly, the front end of the brake assembly, the outer face side of the brake assembly, the inner face side of the brake assembly, or any combination thereof. Hydraulic fluid (e.g., a hydraulic system) may move one or more brake pistons of a sliding caliper system by applying pressure to the brake pistons. The rotation to linear mechanism and the motor (e.g., electromechanical system) may move one or more brake pistons of the sliding caliper system.

The sliding jaw system may be integrated therewith (i.e., integrated means that the sliding jaw system may use or interact with one or more components of the fixed jaw system). For example, a sliding caliper system may use one or more brake pistons, one or more caliper apertures, or both of a fixed caliper system to generate a brake application. For example, a sliding caliper system may include a brake piston that interacts with a caliper bore formed in a fixed caliper system. The sliding caliper system, or at least a portion thereof, may be fixedly attached to a brake caliper of the fixed caliper system.

The sliding jaw system may be removably attached to the fixed jaw system. The fixed jaw system may include one or more of pins, bolts, slides, surfaces, components, any other suitable features, or any combination thereof that cooperate with one or more mating features on the sliding jaw system. The caliper system may be integrated into or attached to the inboard and/or outboard sides of the brake assembly. The caliper system may be integrated into or attached to the front and/or rear end of the brake assembly. The sliding jaw system may comprise one or more parts. For example, the bridge and fingers of the sliding clamp may be formed from a single, unitary component. In some configurations, the bridge and one or more fingers of the sliding clamp may be formed from two or more separate pieces that are connected or fastened together via one or more fasteners such as bolts, screws, pins, welds. The bridge and the one or more fingers may be formed from the same material. The bridge and one or more fingers may be formed of different materials. The bridge and one or more fingers may be formed of different materials to provide the desired stiffness in the sliding jaw system.

The brake assembly may include an interior side that faces or is configured to face a proximal portion of the vehicle or is positioned closer to a centerline of the vehicle. The brake assembly may include an outer face side opposite the inner face side. The inner side may be located on one side (e.g., the inner side) of the brake disc and the outer side may be located on the other side (e.g., the outer side) of the brake disc. The brake assembly may include a rear end that is an end facing the rear of the vehicle and a front end that is an end facing the front of the vehicle.

The clamping force may be a force that, when applied to the braking surface with the brake pads or friction members, acts to create a drag force to slow, stop, and/or prevent movement (e.g., rotation) of the brake disc and/or vehicle. The clamping force may be generated during a parking brake operation (i.e., a parking brake force) and/or during a service brake operation (i.e., a service brake force). One or more brake pads may be used to generate the clamping force. The same brake pads may be used to perform service brake operations and/or parking brake operations to generate the clamping force. In other words, a set of brake pads (i.e., an inner pad and an outer pad) may be used during one or more braking operations (service and/or braking) to generate a clamping force. In other words, the braking system may not have one or more brake pads for only one braking operation (service or braking) and another one or more brake pads for only another braking operation (the other of service or braking).

By frictionally engaging the brake pads with one or more sides of the brake disc, the clamping force may be generated by converting kinetic energy of the brake disc and/or the vehicle into thermal energy. The desired clamping force may be achieved by a degree of brake pedal movement, a degree of handbrake movement, an ECU setting (e.g., a desired clamping force preset for activating the electronic parking brake), or any combination thereof.

The brake assembly may include one or more brake pads. One or more brake pads may include a friction material and a pressure plate. The brake pads may be supported on the brake assembly such that the friction material faces one side of the brake disc. The pressure plate may be opposite the friction surface.

The brake pistons, fingers, or both may face and/or may communicate with (i.e., directly physically interact with) the pressure plate of the respective brake pad. The brake pistons, fingers, or both may face and/or communicate with the ends (e.g., front and rear ends) of the brake pads, a central or substantially central portion of the brake pads, or both. The brake piston may be in contact with a pressure plate of an inner brake pad, the brake piston may be in contact with an outer brake pad, the finger may be in contact with a pressure plate of an inner brake pad, the finger may be in contact with a pressure plate of an outer brake pad, or any combination thereof. During a service braking operation and/or during a parking braking operation, the brake piston and/or fingers may push, pull, or otherwise move all or an end of the respective brake pad to cause the respective friction material to engage the respective side of the brake disc to generate the clamping force. The brake pads may be moved by a hydraulic system, an electromechanical system, or both. For example, the inner brake pad may move with at least one brake piston that moves with a hydraulic braking system and with at least one brake piston that moves with an electromechanical system; the outer brake pad is movable with at least one brake piston moved with the hydraulic braking system and with at least one finger moved by the electromechanical braking system; or vice versa.

The teachings herein provide a method of operating a brake. The method may be used for service brake operation, parking brake operation, or both. The method may include one or more of the following steps. Some steps may be repeated, deleted or eliminated, rearranged relative to other steps, combined into one or more steps, separated into two or more steps, or a combination thereof. The method may include moving a first end of the brake pad with a hydraulic system and moving a second end of the brake pad with an electromechanical system, or vice versa. The first end and the second end may move substantially simultaneously; the first end may move before the second end moves and vice versa; or the first and second ends are alternately moved until a desired clamping force is achieved.

The brake assembly may include one or more brake discs. The brake disc may be used in communication with a component of a brake assembly (e.g., a brake pad) to generate a clamping force. The brake disc may comprise an inner face side and an opposite outer face side. The brake pads may be located on an inboard side of the rotor (i.e., the inboard brake pads), an outboard side of the rotor (i.e., the outboard brake pads), or both. The inboard side of the brake assembly may be located on the inboard side of the brake disc and the outboard side of the brake assembly may be located on the outboard side of the brake disc, or vice versa.

The brake assembly may include one or more caliper apertures. Each caliper aperture may define a hollow area in the brake assembly or caliper. The caliper apertures may be used to receive and support respective brake pistons. The caliper apertures may be located on the inboard side of the brake assembly, the outboard side of the brake assembly, or both. Each side of the brake disc may face a respective caliper aperture. A brake piston received and supported within the caliper bore is axially movable within the caliper bore to generate or release a clamping force during a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both.

The brake assembly may include one or more brake pistons. The brake piston may be used to move the brake pad or the respective end of the brake pad toward the brake disc to generate the clamping force. The brake piston may be movable along an axis that is collinear or substantially collinear with the axis of the caliper bore.

During a service brake operation, a parking brake operation, or both, the brake piston may be moved and/or a clamping force may be generated. For example, during a service braking operation and/or a parking braking operation, one or more brake pistons may be axially moved in a first direction by pressurizing hydraulic fluid (e.g., brake fluid), and/or one or more other brake pistons may be axially moved in a first direction by a rotary-to-linear stage mechanism connected to an electric motor or gear train. When service brake operation, parking brake operation, or both are discontinued, one or more brake pistons may be moved and clamping force released. For example, upon cessation of a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both, the one or more brake pistons may be moved axially in the second direction by depressurizing the hydraulic fluid and allowing the brake piston to be pulled into the caliper bore and/or the one or more brake pistons may be moved axially in the second direction by rotating to a linear stage mechanism and an electric motor, or allowing the electric motor to drive slightly backwards and allow the brake piston to be pulled into the caliper bore. The movement of the brake piston in the second direction during service or parking braking may be caused by a spigot (i.e. a rubber seal) connected to both the caliper bore and the brake piston. As the brake piston is moved axially in a first direction, the sleeve flexes and stores elastic potential energy. As the service brake operation and/or the parking brake operation is stopped, the brake piston is moved in the second direction by the stored elastic potential energy, which is converted into kinetic energy.

The brake piston may be a component of a fixed caliper system, a sliding caliper system, or both. For example, in one contemplated system, two or more brake pistons may be moved by a hydraulic brake system (i.e., a fixed caliper system) and one or more brake pistons may be moved by an electromechanical brake system (e.g., a sliding caliper system). However, in other systems, any number of brake pistons may be moved by a fixed system and any number of brake pistons may be moved by a sliding system.

The outer side of the brake assembly may include a different number of brake pistons than the inner side of the brake assembly. The inner side may comprise at least one more brake piston than the outer side and vice versa. For example, the inner side of the brake assembly may comprise two brake pistons and the outer side of the brake assembly may comprise one brake piston.

One or more brake pistons on the outer side can be opposite one or more brake pistons on the inner side; one or more brake pistons on the outer face side may be offset from one or more brake pistons on the inner face side; or both. By relative it may be meant that the brake pistons are aligned along a common axis. The brake pistons may move along axes that are angled relative to each other and may still be opposite (e.g., the centers of mass of the two brake pistons are aligned along a common axis). Offset may mean that the brake pistons are not aligned along a common axis, or in other words, one brake piston is located further forward, rearward, above, below, or at an angle relative to the other brake piston. The brake pistons of the brake caliper system can be located on the inner side, while the outer side can be free of brake pistons which are opposite the inner brake piston. The brake assembly may be devoid of a brake piston as opposed to a rotary to linear stage mechanism.

The brake assembly may include a brake piston on the rear end, the front end, or both. For example, the outer face side may include a rear end brake piston and may not have a front end brake piston; and the inner side may comprise a rear brake piston and a front brake piston.

One or more of the brake pistons may include a piston bore. The piston bore may define an open end of the brake piston. The piston bore may be used to receive at least a portion of a sliding jaw system (e.g., a nut and/or a spindle that rotates to a linear stage mechanism). The piston bore may be a cup or recess formed in the open end of the brake piston. The piston bore may include a surface at or near a terminal wall (closed end) of the piston bore. One or more of the brake pistons may include a piston bore. Some brake pistons may not have a piston bore. A gap may be defined between a corresponding surface on the nut and a surface at the terminal wall. During a braking operation (service or parking brake), the clearance can be compensated by moving the rotary-to-linear stage mechanism in a direction toward the brake pads. After the clearance is compensated, further movement of the rotary to linear stage mechanism may cause the rotary to linear stage mechanism to press against the end wall and then move the brake piston and/or brake pad against the brake disc, thereby generating a clamping force.

The inner diameter of the one or more piston bores may be larger than the outer diameter of the rotary to linear stage mechanism (e.g., nut). As discussed in further detail below, a brake piston operated solely by an electromechanical brake system may not have a seal between the rotary to linear stage mechanism and the piston bore. Thus, the weight of the brake piston and brake assembly may be reduced by increasing the size of the piston bore and/or decreasing the size of the rotary to linear stage mechanism.

The brake assembly may include one or more seals between the brake piston and the caliper bore, between the nut and the caliper bore, or both. The seal may be located in a seat formed in the brake piston. The seal may function to prevent fluid (e.g., brake fluid) leakage, pressure loss, or both. The seal may be included in a fixed jaw system, a sliding jaw system, or both. The seal may be particularly useful for brake pistons that are acted upon by a hydraulic brake system or by a hydraulic brake system and an electromechanical brake system. The sliding caliper system of the present disclosure may be an electromechanical braking system only, and thus, the sliding caliper system may be devoid of seals at the interface of the brake piston and the rotary to linear stage mechanism, at the interface of the rotary to linear stage mechanism and the caliper bore, or both. Eliminating the need for one or more seals may reduce the manufacturing complexity of the brake assembly.

The electromechanical system may comprise one or more electric motors. The sliding jaw system may include one or more electric motors. The fixed jaw system may include one or more motors. The motor may be moved to provide torque to the rotation-to-linear stage mechanism and rotate the rotation-to-linear stage mechanism. The electric motor may actuate, turn on, or initiate a braking operation, whether service braking, parking braking, or both. The torque may cause the rotary to linear stage mechanism, the brake piston, the bridge, the fingers, the brake pads, or any combination thereof to move, directly or indirectly. The motor may be attached to the sliding caliper system or to a remote location on the vehicle (e.g., the chassis of the vehicle). When a user (e.g., a driver) desires to operate a service brake operation, a parking brake operation, or both, the electric motor may be turned on as desired. The motor may be automatically turned on to perform a parking brake operation when the vehicle is stopped, brought to a stop, turned off, or any combination thereof. The electric motor may be automatically turned on to release the parking brake operation when the vehicle is in gear and/or on.

The electromechanical system may include one or more rotary to linear mechanisms. The sliding jaw system may include one or more rotary to linear mechanisms. The fixed jaw system may include one or more rotary to linear mechanisms. The rotary to linear mechanism may function to receive torque (i.e., rotational force) and convert the torque to axial force (i.e., linear force). The rotation to linear stage mechanism may be a spindle and nut, a screw and nut, a ball and ramp assembly, or any combination thereof. The rotation to linear stage mechanism may move the brake piston, and thus the brake piston moves the brake pad. The rotary to linear stage mechanism may be located at least partially within the fixed jaw system. The rotary to linear stage mechanism may be located on the outside face side of the brake assembly, the inside face side of the brake assembly, the front end of the brake assembly, the rear end of the brake assembly, or any combination thereof.

The rotary to linear stage mechanism may include a spindle and a nut. The spindle may be coupled to a motor. The spindle may be coupled directly to the output of the motor, or indirectly via one or more gears, gear trains, or other transmission mechanisms. The torque of the motor may cause the spindle to rotate axially in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The nut may be removably coupled (e.g., threaded) to the spindle. The nut can be connected directly to the brake piston.

The rotary to linear stage mechanism may include one or more of a ball screw and nut, a roller screw and nut, or both. Examples of suitable ball screws may be those that utilize ball bearings as load transfer elements between the nut and the ball screw. During movement of the ball screw, the ball bearings may circulate along a race or groove between the ball screw and the nut. A roller screw (otherwise referred to as a planetary gear screw) is similar to a ball screw except that the roller screw uses rollers as the load transfer elements between the nut and the ball screw. The load on the ball screw, the roller screw or both is distributed over a large number of ball bearings or rollers, respectively, by means of the roller thread, so that each ball or roller rolls when subjected to a force, whereby the friction is reduced, which may equate to a high efficiency. Thus, less force or torque may be required to move the screw and nut in a ball screw or roller screw in the operating direction, the release direction, or both.

The rotary to linear stage mechanism may include one or more ball and ramp assemblies. The ball and ramp assembly may function to generate a clamping force during a service brake operation, a parking brake operation, or both. The ball and ramp assembly may include a rotating side (e.g., a first ramp plate) and a stationary side (i.e., a second ramp plate) with rolling elements (e.g., balls) interposed therebetween. Each ramp plate may include a respective ramp, each ramp having a deep end and a shallow end. For example, during operation, when the rotating side rotates to move the balls from the deep end to the shallow end of the ramp, the balls provide an axial force to the stationary side, which causes the rotating side to also move axially from the stationary side. The ball and ramp assembly may be located between the motor and the brake piston.

The rotary to linear stage mechanism may include a spindle that engages the brake piston without the use of a nut. In this configuration, the brake piston may be restricted or prevented from rotating in the caliper bore. The spindle may threadingly engage the brake piston. Thus, rotation of the spindle causes the brake piston to move axially.

The sliding jaw system includes one or more bridges and one or more fingers. The bridge and fingers may act to move the brake pad against the brake disc to create a clamping force. The bridge member may extend from the inner side of the brake assembly to the outer side of the brake assembly and vice versa. The fingers may extend from one end of the bridge. The bridge and fingers may move (e.g., slide) during a service brake operation, a parking brake operation, or both. For example, when the inner brake piston moves in a first direction and causes the inner brake pad to move against the brake disc to generate a clamping force, the force may cause the bridge and fingers to move in opposite directions so that the fingers may pull the outer brake pad against the brake disc. The bridge and fingers may be movably supported on pins or other suitable features on the caliper such that the bridge and fingers may move the brake pads against the brake disc during a service braking operation, a parking braking operation, or both. The fingers may communicate directly with the pressure plate of the brake pad or with a bracket located between the pressure plate and the fingers. The bridge and fingers may be a single integral component, or the bridge and fingers may be separate components connected together by one or more suitable fasteners.

The following illustration provides an example of one or more elements of the brake assembly and its components. It should be understood that one or more of these elements may be repeated, eliminated, and/or combined with one or more other elements disclosed herein. Some of the elements described herein are not necessarily shown in the figures. These elements remain part of the present disclosure and may be added, repeated, eliminated, and/or combined with one or more other elements disclosed herein.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brake assembly 10. Brake assembly 10 includes a fixed caliper system 50 and a sliding caliper system 30.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A. The brake assembly 10 includes an inner face side 14 and an outer face side 16. The brake assembly 10 includes a front end 18 and a rear end 20. Brake assembly 10 includes an inner brake pad 60 and an outer brake pad 62. A sliding caliper system 30 is located at the front end 18 of the brake assembly 10. The fixed caliper system 50 is located at the rear end 20 of the brake assembly 10.

The sliding jaw system 30 of fig. 2 may include an electromechanical system, which may include a motor 32 and a rotary-to-linear mechanism 34. The rotation-to-linearity mechanism 34 may include a spindle 36 coupled to the motor 32 and a nut 38 threaded to the spindle 36. The spindle 36 may be directly connected to the output of the motor 32, or one or more mechanisms, gears, or gear trains may be provided between the motor output and the spindle 36. One or more mechanisms, gears or gear trains may function to increase and/or decrease the torque output from the motor 32. During a brake application, the motor 32 drives the spindle 36, causing the nut 38 to move axially, which moves the brake piston. The brake application may be a service brake application and/or a parking brake application.

The sliding caliper system 30 of fig. 2 includes a caliper bore 22 and a brake piston 24, the brake piston 24 being located within the caliper bore 22 and movable within the caliper bore 22. The nut 38 engages the brake piston 24 and axially moves the brake piston 24 during brake application. The brake application may be a service brake application or operation 70 and/or a parking brake application or operation 72, discussed below in fig. 4A and 4B. The brake assembly 10 has no brake piston or does not include a brake piston opposite the brake piston 24.

The sliding jaw system 30 of fig. 2 includes a bridge 40 and fingers 42. A bridge 40 that slides relative to the brake caliper 12 during or after brake application extends between the inboard side 14 of the brake assembly 10 and the outboard side 16 of the brake assembly 10. Fingers 42 extend from bridge 40 and engage outer brake pad 62. When the electric motor 32 is operating during a service brake operation 70 or a parking brake operation 72 (see fig. 4A and 4B), the brake piston 24 moves axially to some extent until the brake piston 24 encounters a resistive force through the inner brake pad 60 (e.g., the inner brake pad moves toward and contacts the inner side of the brake rotor). The opposing reaction force then causes the bridge 40 to move or slide relative to the caliper 12. The fingers 42 coupled to the bridge 40 move towards the inner side of the caliper 12, moving the outer brake pad 62 towards the outer side of the disc and then into contact with the outer side of the disc.

In some configurations, the sliding clamp system 30 may be devoid of an electromechanical system (i.e., devoid of a motor, a rotary to linear mechanism, or both). Alternatively, the brake piston of the sliding caliper system 30 may be moved via the hydraulic system by pressurizing hydraulic fluid.

The fixed caliper system 50 of fig. 2 includes opposed caliper apertures 22 ', 22 "and brake pistons 24', 24". The brake pistons 24 ', 24 "are located within and movable within the respective caliper apertures 22', 22". The fixed caliper system 50 includes a hydraulic braking system. The hydraulic brake system means or includes hydraulic fluid 52, 52 ' within the caliper bores 22 ', 22 "that is pressurized, which causes the brake pistons 24 ', 24" to move axially during a braking operation 70 shown in fig. 4A.

The brake piston 24 of the sliding caliper system 30 of fig. 2 is located on the rear side 14 and front end 18 of the brake assembly 10. The brake assembly 10 is free of caliper bores and brake pistons on the outer side 16 of the front end 18 opposite the brake pistons 24 and caliper bores 22 on the inner side 14.

The brake piston 24' of the fixed caliper system 50 of fig. 2 is located on the rear side 14 and rear end 20 of the brake assembly 10. The brake pistons 24, 24' are opposite each other. The brake pistons 24, 24' may be aligned along a common axis a; however, in some configurations, the brake pistons 24, 24' may be offset or misaligned along the common axis a (see, e.g., fig. 5). During a braking operation 70 shown in fig. 4A, both brake pistons 24, 24' move the inner brake pad 60. The brake piston 24 "of the fixed caliper system 50 is located on the outer face side 16 and the rear end 20 of the brake assembly 10. Fingers 42 are located on the outer face side 16 and front end 18 of brake assembly 10. The finger 42 is opposite the rotary-to-linear mechanism 34. During a braking operation 70 shown in fig. 4A, brake piston 24 "and fingers 42 move outer brake pad 62. During a braking operation 72 shown in fig. 4B, brake piston 24 and fingers 42 move both inner brake pad 60 and outer brake pad 62.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A. The brake assembly 10 includes an inner face side 14 and an outer face side 16 and a front end 18 and a rear end 20. Brake assembly 10 is similar to brake assembly 10 shown in fig. 2, except that a sliding caliper system 30 is located on rear end 20 of brake assembly 10 and a fixed caliper system 50 is located on front end 18 of brake assembly 10.

The brake piston 24 of the sliding caliper system 30 of fig. 3 is located on the rear side 14 and rear end 20 of the brake assembly 10. The fingers 42 of the sliding caliper system 30 are located on the outer face side 16 and the rear end 20 of the brake assembly 10. The brake assembly 10 is free of caliper bores and brake pistons on the outer side 16 of the rear end 20 opposite the caliper bores and brake pistons 24 on the inner side 14.

The brake piston 24' of the fixed caliper system 50 of fig. 3 is located on the rear side 14 and front end 18 of the brake assembly 10. The brake piston 24 "of the fixed caliper system 50 is located on the outer face side 16 and the front end 18 of the brake assembly 10.

Fig. 4A is a plan view of the brake assembly 10 performing a braking operation 70. The brake operation 70 may be a service brake application or operation. However, it should be understood that the following operations may additionally or alternatively be performed during a parking brake application or operation. During a braking operation 70, both the opposing braking system 50 and the sliding braking system 30 move the brake pistons 24, 24 ', 24 "in the application directions 80, 80', and then move the respective inner and outer brake pads 60, 62 toward the rotor.

A method is described herein in which a first end 64, 64 'of a brake pad 60, 62 and a second end 66, 66' of the brake pad 60, 62 move substantially simultaneously or alternately until a desired clamping force is achieved. With respect to the alternating movement, the first ends 64, 64 'may move before the second ends 66, 66' move, and vice versa.

Fig. 4B is a plan view of the brake assembly 10 performing another braking operation 72. The brake operation 72 may be a parking brake application or operation. However, it should be understood that the following operations may additionally or alternatively be performed during a service braking operation. During a braking operation 72, the electromechanical braking system 30 moves the brake piston 24 and fingers 42 in the application directions 80, 80', and then moves the respective inner and outer brake pads 60, 62 toward the brake disc.

Fig. 5 shows the brake assembly 10. Brake assembly 10 may include one or more of the features described above and/or below; therefore, for the sake of brevity, similar features will not be received.

The inboard side 14 of the brake assembly 10 of FIG. 5 includes a brake piston 24' extending along an axis A1, while the outboard side 16 includes a brake piston 24 "extending along an axis A2. The axes a1 and a2 are not aligned or common. In other words, although the brake pistons 24 ', 24 "are opposite one another, they are not aligned along a common axis as the brake pistons 24', 24" in FIG. 2 described above. In fig. 5, the brake piston 24 'is moving closer to the rear end 20 and the brake piston 24' is closer to the front end 18. In some configurations, this may be reversed, and the brake piston 24 "may be moved closer to the front end 18, and the brake piston 24' may be moved closer to the rear end 20. In some configurations, when opposing brake pistons are aligned along a common axis (e.g., fig. 2) or not aligned along a common axis (e.g., fig. 5), the opposing brake pads may still be directly opposite each other, or one brake pad may be moved toward one end or the other of the brake assembly. In other words, the brake pads may be opposite each other, but one brake pad may move closer to the rear end 20 or the front end 18 relative to the other brake pad.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 taken along line B-B. The sliding jaw system 30 may include an electromechanical system that may include a motor 32 (fig. 1) and a rotary-to-linear mechanism 34. The rotation to linear mechanism 34 may include a spindle 36 coupled to a motor and a nut 38 threaded to the spindle 36. The spindle 36 may be directly connected to the output of the motor, or one or more mechanisms, gears or gear trains may be provided between the motor output and the spindle 36. During a brake application, the motor 32 drives the spindle 36 to move the nut 38 axially, which moves the brake piston 24. The brake application may be a service brake application or operation 70 and/or a parking brake application or operation 72 discussed in fig. 4A and 4B.

The sliding jaw system 30 of fig. 6 includes a bridge 40 and fingers 42. Fingers 42 extend from bridge 40 and engage outer brake pad 62. When the electric motor 32 is operating during a service brake operation 70 or a parking brake operation 72 (see fig. 4A and 4B), the brake piston 24 moves axially to some extent until the brake piston 24 encounters a resistive force through the inner brake pad 60 (e.g., the inner brake pad moves toward and contacts the inner side of the brake rotor). The opposing reaction force then causes the bridge 40 to move or slide relative to the caliper. The fingers 42 coupled to the bridge 40 move towards the inner side of the caliper 12, moving the outer brake pad 62 towards the outer side of the disc and then into contact with the outer side of the disc.

Any numerical value recited herein includes all values from the lower value to the upper value, in increments of one unit, provided that there is an interval of at least 2 units between any lower value and any upper value. These are only examples of what is specifically intended, and all possible combinations of numerical values between the minimum and maximum values recited should be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints.

The terms "substantially" or "substantially" describing the angular measurement may mean about +/-10 or less, about +/-5 or less, or even about +/-1 or less. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" describing the angular measurement may mean about +/-0.01 or greater, about +/-0.1 or greater, or even about +/-0.5 or greater. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" describing a linear measurement, percentage, or ratio may mean about +/-10% or less, about +/-5% or less, or even about +/-1% or less. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" describing a linear measurement, percentage, or ratio may mean about +/-0.01% or greater, about +/-0.1% or greater, or even about +/-0.5% or greater.

The term "consisting essentially of" in describing combinations is intended to include the indicated elements, components, or steps, as well as other elements, components, or steps, which do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms "comprising" or "including" to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of, or consist of the elements, ingredients, components or steps.

A plurality of elements, components, groups or steps may be provided by a single integrated element, component, group or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step may be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of "a" or "an" to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to exclude other elements, ingredients, components or steps.

Reference numerals

10 brake assembly/braking system

12 brake caliper

14 inside of brake assembly

16 outside face side of brake assembly

18 front end of brake assembly

20 rear end of brake assembly

22 holes for pliers

24 brake piston

30 sliding caliper system/electromechanical brake system

32 electric motor

34 rotary to linear mechanism

36 mandrel

38 nut

40 bridge piece

42 finger-shaped element

50 fixed caliper system/hydraulic brake system

52 hydraulic fluid

60 inner brake pad

62 outer brake pad

64 first end

66 second end

70 service brake operation

72 parking brake operation

80 clamping force