brake disc

Abstract

The present invention describes a brake disc that rotates about its own axis of rotation (1a), the brake disc comprising a brake band (2), a support element (3) for supporting the brake band (2), and a plurality of first connecting elements (4) for connecting the brake band (2) to the support element (3), the plurality of first connecting elements (4) being elastically deformable to allow relative movement of the brake band (2) relative to the support element (3). The support element (3) includes at least a first component (7) and a second component (8) connected to the brake band (2) via the first connecting elements (4). A plurality of second connecting elements (9) of the first component (7) and the second component (8) are elastically deformable to allow relative movement between the first component (7) and the second component (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a brake disc.

[0002] More specifically, the brake disc according to the invention is preferably used in bicycles or motorcycles having two or more wheels, without limiting the scope of the invention. Background Technology

[0003] It is known from the prior art that the brake band of a brake disc is subjected to a high level of heating during braking and is particularly sensitive to thermal expansion due to its thickness, which is considered small relative to the considerable extent of its surface.

[0004] This heating can cause deformation of the brake band in both the diametrical and axial directions of the disc, thus creating considerable problems in the mechanics of braking.

[0005] These problems are particularly evident in the systems of high-performance motorcycles and racing motorcycles. To overcome these problems, so-called "floating" and "semi-floating" brake discs are used. They typically include an internal support, an external brake band, and an elastic system for attaching the support to the brake band. This elastic system allows the brake band to move or deflect relative to the support in the diametrical direction, the axial direction, or both directions. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To improve the compliance of the connection between the brake band and the support, it is necessary to manufacture a brake disc that rotates about its own axis of rotation. The brake disc includes a brake band, a support element for supporting the brake band, and a plurality of first connecting elements for connecting the brake band to the support element. The plurality of first connecting elements are elastically deformable to allow relative movement of the brake band relative to the support element.

[0007] The support element includes at least a first component designed to connect to the hub of the rotating element, and at least a second component connected to the brake band via the first connecting element.

[0008] The multiple second connecting elements of the first and second components are elastically deformable to allow relative movement between the first and second components.

[0009] Advantageously, the elastic connectors are divided into at least two groups connected in series, and under the same compliance condition of all elastic connectors, the compliance of the connectors is doubled in the radial direction and quadrupled in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The features of the brake disc according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred, and not limiting, embodiments of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings:

[0011] - Figure 1 This is a schematic front view of a first embodiment of the brake disc according to the present invention;

[0012] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the details of the brake disc, with some parts cut off to better show the others. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a brake disc according to the present invention.

[0014] The brake disc 1 rotates about its axis of rotation 1a.

[0015] Brake disc 1 includes brake band 2.

[0016] In the described embodiment, the brake band 2 of the brake disc 1 is an annular band, the thickness of which is defined by the distance between the end faces (preferably parallel), which defines the area for contact with a friction device (not shown) that brakes or transmits torque by friction.

[0017] It should be noted that the brake band 2 can have a specific shape, such as a "wavy" shape.

[0018] The brake disc 1 includes a support element 3 for supporting the brake band 2. The support element 3 is configured to be centrally keyed to the hub of the rotating element or the wheel of a vehicle (a bicycle, motorcycle or other type of vehicle not shown).

[0019] The brake disc 1 includes a plurality of first connecting elements 4 for connecting the brake band 2 to the support element 3.

[0020] The brake band 2 has a plurality of seats 14, each of which partially accommodates a corresponding first connecting element 4.

[0021] The first connecting element 4 is elastically deformable to allow the brake band 2 to move relative to the support element 3.

[0022] In this sense, the brake disc 1 according to the present invention is a so-called "floating" brake disc.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figure, each first connecting element 4 includes a cylindrical pawl 5.

[0024] According to the present invention, the support element 3 includes at least a first component 7 and a second component 8.

[0025] The plurality of second connecting elements 9 of the first component 7 and the second component 8 are elastically deformable to allow relative movement between the first component 7 and the second component 8.

[0026] The first component 7 has a plurality of seats 16, each of which partially accommodates a corresponding second connecting element 9.

[0027] The second component 8 has a plurality of seats 17, each of which partially accommodates a corresponding second connecting element 9.

[0028] Each second connecting element 9 is partially housed in a corresponding seat 16 of the first component 7 and partially housed in a corresponding seat 17 of the second component 8 of the support element 3.

[0029] Preferably, each second connecting element 9 includes a cylindrical pawl 10.

[0030] The second component 8 is connected to the brake band 2 via the first connecting element 4.

[0031] The second part 8 of the support element 3 has a plurality of seats 15, each of which partially accommodates a corresponding first connecting element 4.

[0032] It should be noted that, according to the embodiment shown, for the second component 8, the seat 15 for partially accommodating the corresponding first connecting element 4 and the seat 17 for partially accommodating the corresponding second connecting portion are positioned alternately.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, it is possible that, for the second component 8, one or more seats 15 for partially accommodating the corresponding first connecting element 4 and one or more seats 17 for partially accommodating the corresponding second connecting element 9 are positioned alternately.

[0034] The seat 15, which is used to partially accommodate the corresponding first connecting element 4, faces the brake band 2.

[0035] The seat 17, which is used to partially accommodate the corresponding second connecting element 9, faces the first component 7.

[0036] Each of the first connecting elements 4 is partially housed in the corresponding seat 14 of the brake band 2 and partially housed in the corresponding seat 15 of the second part 8 of the support element 3.

[0037] Advantageously, the elastic connectors are divided into at least two groups connected in series, and under the same yieldable connection conditions, the compliance of the connectors is doubled in the radial direction and quadrupled in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0038] It should be noted that, for stiffness in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the stiffness of a known type of floating disc having 10 connecting elements, each with an equal elastic constant k, is equal to Ktot = 10k. According to the invention, the stiffness of the brake disc 1 having 5 first connecting elements 4, each with an equal elastic constant k, and 5 second connecting elements 9, each with an equal elastic constant k, is 1 / Ktot = 1 / 5k + 1 / 5k = 2 / 5k, that is, Ktot = 5k / 2 = 2.5k. According to the first variant embodiment, the first connecting element 4 allows for corresponding axial movement of the brake band 2 relative to the second component 8 of the support element 3, parallel to the axis of rotation 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0039] According to the first variant embodiment, the second connecting element 9 allows the second component 8 to move axially relative to the first component 7, parallel to the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0040] According to the second variant, the first connecting element 4 allows the brake band 2 to move radially relative to the second component 8 of the support element 3 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0041] According to the second variant, the second connecting element 9 allows the second component 8 to move radially relative to the first component 7 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0042] According to the third variant embodiment, i.e. the preferred embodiment, the first connecting element 4 allows the brake band 2 to move radially and axially relative to the second component 8 of the support element 3 and relative to the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1, and the second connecting element 9 allows the second component 8 to move radially and axially relative to the first component 7 and relative to the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0043] Advantageously, the presence of the first connecting element 4 positioned between the brake band 2 and the second part 8 of the support element 3 and the second connecting element 9 positioned between the second part 8 of the support element 3 and the first part 7 makes the compliance of the brake disc 1 in the axial direction (i.e., in the direction of the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1) quadruple with the same connecting elements, and makes the compliance in the radial direction relative to the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1 double with the same connecting elements.

[0044] According to the described embodiment, the first connecting element 4 and the second connecting element 9 are positioned along the same circumference centered on the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0045] Advantageously, the possibility of maintaining the same number of connecting elements (the sum of the first and second connecting elements) positioned along the same circumference of a known type of floating brake disc allows for the overall interchangeability of the brake disc 1 according to the invention and a known type of floating brake disc.

[0046] In order to prepare the first connecting element 4 and the second connecting element 9 along the same circumference centered on the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1, the second component 8 has a plurality of protrusions 12, wherein each protrusion has a seat 17 that partially accommodates the corresponding second connecting element 9, and the first component 7 has a plurality of spokes 13, wherein each spoke 13 partially accommodates the corresponding second connecting element 9 at the corresponding end.

[0047] Advantageously, the shape of the second component 8 allows it to be obtained from a support element 3 that is the same semi-finished element as known types of floating brake discs; thus, there is no increase in the cost of the brake disc 1 due to the use of additional raw materials.

[0048] Alternatively, it should be noted that the first connecting element 4 and the second connecting element 9 may be positioned along different circumferences relative to the rotation axis 1a of the brake disc 1.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that, compared with the existing floating disk solutions, double the compliance is achieved when the number of elastic connecting elements is the same, the circumference of all elastic connecting elements is the same, and therefore the equipment used for processing the parts is the same (same tools, same procedures, same equipment) and the equipment used for assembling the disk is the same (same assembly procedures, same small parts, same assembly mask).

Claims

1. A brake disc that rotates about its own axis of rotation (1a), the brake disc comprising a brake band (2), a support element (3) for supporting the brake band (2), and a plurality of first connecting elements (4) for connecting the brake band (2) to the support element (3), the plurality of first connecting elements (4) being elastically deformable to allow relative movement of the brake band (2) relative to the support element (3); Its features are, The support element (3) includes at least a first component (7) and a second component (8) connected to the brake band (2) via a first connecting element (4). A plurality of second connecting elements (9) of the first component (7) and the second component (8) are elastically deformable to allow relative movement between the first component (7) and the second component (8).

2. The brake disc according to independent claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting element (4) allows the brake band (2) to move axially relative to the second component (8) of the support element (3), parallel to the axis of rotation (1a) of the brake disc (1).

3. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second connecting element (9) allows the second component (8) to move axially relative to the first component (7) along the axis of rotation (1a) of the brake disc (1).

4. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first connecting element (4) allows the brake band (2) to move radially relative to the second component (8) of the support element (3) and relative to the axis of rotation (1a) of the brake disc (1).

5. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second connecting element (9) allows the second component (8) to move radially relative to the first component (7) and relative to the axis of rotation (1a) of the brake disc (1).

6. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first connecting element (4) and the second connecting element (9) are positioned along the same circumference centered on the rotation axis (1a) of the brake disc (1).

7. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each first connecting element (4) includes a cylindrical pawl (5).

8. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each second connecting element (9) includes a cylindrical pawl (10).

9. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each second connecting element (9) is partially housed in a corresponding seat (16) of the first component (7) and partially housed in a corresponding seat (17) of the second component (8) of the support element (3).

10. The brake disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each first connecting element (4) is partially housed in the corresponding seat (14) of the brake band (2) and partially housed in the corresponding seat (15) of the second part (8) of the support element (3).

11. The brake disc according to claim 9, characterized in that, For the second component (8), at least one seat (15) for partially accommodating the corresponding first connecting element (4) and at least one seat (17) for partially accommodating the corresponding second connecting element (9) are positioned alternately.

12. The brake disc according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second component (8) has a plurality of protrusions (12), each protrusion having a seat (17) that partially accommodates a corresponding second connecting element (9), and the first component (7) has a plurality of spokes (13), each spoke (13) partially accommodating a corresponding second connecting element (9) at a corresponding end.

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