Caliper body and brake pad assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly of a caliper body and a brake pad. The caliper body includes two cavities that receive the pads. The caliper body includes two elongate elements and at least one central bridge across the two cavities. Each brake pad includes a support plate and a friction material piece having a predetermined radial extension. Each support plate includes a support plate edge portion having an upper edge portion. Each support plate includes at least one protruding portion protruding from an upper edge portion and having a hook shape, defining a plate sliding surface indirectly facing the axis of rotation. Each support plate includes at least one pad support surface arranged substantially orthogonal to the circumferential direction and extending beyond at least half of a predetermined radially extending portion of the friction material piece. The central bridge includes at least two central bridge projections separated by a central bridge window portion that form a caliper body sliding surface facing the plate sliding surface. The caliper body includes at least two caliper support surfaces facing the pad support surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly of a caliper body and a brake pad.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of assembling a brake pad to a brake caliper. Background Art

[0003] In a disc brake, the brake caliper is usually arranged to straddle the outer periphery of a brake disc, the brake disc being adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation XX, which defines an axial direction AA. In the brake disc, a radial direction RR is also defined, which is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction AA, a circumferential direction CC, which is orthogonal to both the axial direction AA and the radial direction RR, and a tangential direction TT, which is orthogonal to the axial direction AA and the radial direction RR locally or in a point manner, i.e. at the intersection of the circumferential direction and the radial direction.

[0004] Current brake calipers for disc brakes present various technical problems related to the presence of a pin, usually made of steel, which is screwed or driven into the caliper and serves to slide and support the pads when braking action is required.

[0005] In particular, there is evidence that the pins can break and / or slip from their proper seats due to the high stresses. Moreover, the presence of such pins generally leaves a lack of space that could be used, for example, to house an effective mass to improve performance from an NVH point of view, or an effective elastic element to minimize residual torque, or even to house various types of sensors (e.g. wear indicators). The presence of the aforementioned steel pins also makes the caliper too heavy.

[0006] Finally, the shape of current disc brake calipers requires an operator to disassemble the brake caliper itself to perform a pad replacement operation, making some brake system maintenance operations difficult and time consuming.

[0007] There are a number of patent documents describing pinless disc brake calipers for sliding pads.

[0008] For example, patent documents US4200173 and US4823920 describe a floating caliper which is supported in a sliding manner on a pin fixed to an anchor plate which is in turn fixed to a fixed part of a vehicle. Such an anchor plate has two arms which extend in the axial direction and support the pad and the pad support plate in a sliding manner by engaging a guide groove formed on the pad support plate with a guide track formed on the anchor plate.

[0009] Furthermore, document EP135696 describes a floating caliper having a bridge provided with an opening defined by a radially arranged edge and two stepped edges spaced circumferentially and extending in the axial direction. The document also describes a gasket plate having an upper convex portion provided with a pair of support surfaces or shoulders supporting a radially outer portion of the gasket on the step of the aforementioned stepped edge.

[0010] Other solutions are known from US4498564A, US3605956A, GB1585159A, CN204200914U, US4200173A, US4823920, EP0135696A1, US4046233A, JP2001323953A, GB1506709A, EP0248385A1 and FR2517399A1.

[0011] In particular, GB1585159A shows a disc brake assembly comprising a rotating disc and a caliper straddling the periphery of the disc and comprising a radial opening through which friction pads can be mounted in the brake on opposite sides of the disc. Each friction pad has opposite sides defining a friction face portion for engaging with the disc and a thrust receiving face portion for receiving force from a brake application device, and has two laterally spaced radial fins protruding from the outer edges of the opposite sides, the lateral dimension between the inner faces of the radial fins at their inner ends being greater than the lateral dimension between the inner faces of the fins at their outer ends to define pairs of spaced recesses. The caliper is provided with a skirt at opposite sides of the radial opening, in which a pair of recesses corresponding to the recesses in the pads are provided, and a side edge of a blade spring extending beyond the periphery of the disc, the blade spring being received in the recess of the pad. When the leaf spring is unbiased, the side edges of the leaf spring are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the recesses of the fins so that the spring is biased to its use position.

[0012] This solution has significant disadvantages in the use of leaf springs which are pre-tensioned and hold the pad pre-loaded both during assembly and especially during use, thereby creating undesirable binding in the pad movement.

[0013] Furthermore, the described prior art document provides a floating caliper having a sliding surface orthogonal to a further surface for releasing the braking torque, said sliding surface being adjacent to said further surface.

[0014] Furthermore, although the known solutions have fixed callipers, none of the known solutions provides a solution that is easy to manufacture, has a small number of parts and is reliable in operation. Summary of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to provide a component of a caliper body and a brake pad.

[0016] These and other objects are achieved by an assembly according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 16 .

[0017] Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0018] By means of the proposed solution it is possible to obtain a machined sliding or supporting surface directly on the caliper body and to make the sliding surface suitable only for sliding a pad supporting plate of a disc brake.

[0019] The present invention also relates to forming appropriate support plate projections or support hooks at an upper portion or radially outer portion of the gasket support plate, the support plate projections or support hooks having a support surface that can slide on the processed surface.

[0020] In particular, such a support hook is made at a central portion of the pad support plate so that such a support hook can be coupled to the machined surface, which is preferably made in the region of the central bridge or above the pad support. The machined surface on the caliper body has an extension to allow the support surface of the pad support plate to slide, so that the pad can be switched from a rest, non-wearing position, in which the pad is not in contact with the brake disc and, together with its support plate, is away from the brake disc, to an operating, maximum wear position, in which the pad is in contact with the brake disc and wears away the friction material due to a braking action required by the user, without the occurrence of a break and / or sliding of the pad support plate from the machined surface.

[0021] The dimensions of this sliding surface are studied by considering the loads that this surface must support. Specifically, the dimensions of the sliding surface are determined by considering the weight of the pad, the accelerations reached during braking action and the sliding surface of the support hooks made on the pad support plate.

[0022] The sliding surface of the support hook is preferably flat to minimize the pressure applied by the support plate to the sliding surface.

[0023] Alternative embodiments provide for a point-type or line-type sliding surface of the support hook.

[0024] Unlike the prior art documents, the proposed assembly is designed so that the braking torque is released onto a radial support surface, shown in the figures as a vertical side surface of the support plate, which is arranged at a distal end position relative to the position of the machined surface made on the caliper body. This ensures a sufficiently large braking torque release surface to minimize the possibility of wear marks (nicks) on the support surface due to the sliding of the pad support plate on the support surface.

[0025] By means of the proposed solution, it is possible to have a disc brake braking system comprising a brake caliper having a pair of pads adapted to apply a braking action to a surface of a disc. Each pad of the pair of pads is supported by a pad support plate. The braking system is characterized in that the brake caliper comprises a central bridge protrusion having a machined surface obtained directly on the caliper body and having a caliper sliding surface adapted only for sliding a pad support plate of a disc brake. The pad support plate comprises at least one pair of pad protrusions or support hooks arranged at an upper portion of the pad support plate. Each of the support hooks comprises a plate sliding surface adapted to slide on the caliper sliding surface of the machined surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] - Figure 1 shows an axonometric view from the outer radial side, i.e. facing the axis of the brake disc, of a caliper comprising an assembly of a caliper body and a brake pad according to the invention, wherein the caliper is arranged to straddle a brake band of the brake disc;

[0028] - Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 an axonometric view of a caliper in FIG. 1 without a brake disc and viewed from the inner radial side, ie away from the axis of the brake disc, on which the caliper is arranged in a straddling manner;

[0029] - Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 An orthogonal top view of the caliper in FIG. 1 , i.e. a view along a radial direction viewed toward the axis of a brake disc, the caliper being arranged in a straddling manner on the brake disc;

[0030] - Figure 4 Shows Figure 1an isometric view of a pair of brake pads of a caliper in FIG. 1 , to which two band springs are associated and on whose plate thrust surfaces plates for vibration prevention, load distribution and thermal shear are arranged;

[0031] - Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 An axonometric view of a pair of brake pads without associated strip springs;

[0032] - Figure 6 Shows Figure 4 an axonometric view of a plate of a brake pad in;

[0033] - Figure 7 Shows Figure 1 An axonometric view of the caliper body only;

[0034] - Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 An axonometric view of the caliper body in the embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane including the radial direction and the circumferential direction and cut along the center line;

[0035] - Fig. 9 Shows Figure 7 An axonometric view of a caliper support surface of a caliper body in a section taken along a plane containing the radial direction and the axial direction, close to a cavity suitable for accommodating a gasket;

[0036] - Fig.10 Shows Figure 7 An axonometric view of the caliper body taken along a plane including the radial direction and the axial direction and cut close to the central bridge;

[0037] - Fig.11 Shows the suitability for Figure 1 an isometric view of one of the band springs used to bias a pair of brake pads of a caliper;

[0038] - Fig.12 Shows the suitability for Figure 1 an isometric view of a pair of strip springs biasing a pair of brake pads of a caliper;

[0039] - Fig.13 Shows that according to Figure 1 The brake pads are assembled in the caliper body of the caliper in three different steps;

[0040] - Fig.14 Shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the caliper in FIG. 1 at the second thrust portion of the strip spring on a plane containing the radial direction and the axial direction, wherein the elastic thrust of the strip spring on the brake pad is highlighted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] According to a general embodiment of the invention, the assembly 1 comprises a caliper body 2 and brake pads 3, 4. The caliper body 2 comprises two cavities 5, 6 receiving the pads 3, 4. The caliper body 2 comprises two elongated elements 201, 202 and at least one central bridge 203 spanning the two cavities 5, 6. Each brake pad 3, 4 comprises a support plate 11, 12 and a friction material piece 13, 14 having a predetermined radial extension MAR. Each support plate 11, 12 comprises a support plate edge 17 having an upper edge portion 18. Each support plate 11, 12 comprises at least one protrusion 19, 20 protruding from said upper edge portion 18 and being hook-shaped, thereby defining a plate sliding surface 21 indirectly facing said rotation axis XX. Each support plate 11, 12 comprises at least one pad support surface 22, which is arranged substantially orthogonal to said circumferential direction CC, which extends over at least half of the predetermined radial extension MAR of said friction material piece 13, 14. Said central bridge 203 comprises at least two central bridge projections 23 separated by a central bridge window 27, which central bridge projections 23 form a caliper body sliding surface 24, which caliper body sliding surface 24 faces said plate sliding surface 21. The caliper body 2 comprises at least two caliper support surfaces 25, 26, which face said pad support surfaces 22.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the assembly 1 comprises a caliper body 2 and brake pads 3 , 4 .

[0043] The caliper body 2 comprises two mutually facing cavities 5 , 6 receiving the two brake pads 3 , 4 such that when the caliper body 2 is arranged to straddle a brake band 7 of a brake disc 8 , the brake pads 3 , 4 face the opposite braking surfaces 9 , 10 of the brake band 7 .

[0044] The braking band 7 comprises opposing braking surfaces 9 , 10 .

[0045] The caliper body 2 comprises a first elongated element 201 and a second elongated element 202 facing the opposing braking surfaces 9 , 10 when the caliper body 2 is arranged to straddle the brake band 7 .

[0046] The caliper body 2 comprises at least one central bridge 203 connecting the first elongated element 201 with the second elongated element 202 in a manner spanning the cavities 5 , 6 .

[0047] The brake disc 8 comprises: a rotation axis XX, which defines an axial direction AA, which is coincident with or parallel to the rotation axis XX; a radial direction RR, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis XX; and a circumferential direction CC, which is orthogonal to the axial direction AA and the radial direction RR.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the brake pads 3 , 4 comprise support plates 11 , 12 adapted to support a pair of friction materials 13 , 14 and to support the brake pads 3 , 4 to the caliper body 2 .

[0049] According to an embodiment, said friction material 13 , 14 comprises a predetermined radial extension MAR.

[0050] According to an embodiment, each support plate 11 , 12 comprises a thrust surface 15 , an opposing friction material support surface 16 , and a support plate edge 17 connecting the thrust surface to the opposing friction material support surface 16 .

[0051] According to an embodiment, said support plate edge 17 comprises an upper edge portion 18 facing towards the opposite side relative to said rotation axis XX.

[0052] According to an embodiment, each support plate 11 , 12 comprises at least one protrusion 19 , 20 which protrudes from said upper edge portion 18 of said support plate edge portion 17 and is hook-shaped, thereby defining a plate sliding surface 21 .

[0053] According to an embodiment, said plate sliding surface 21 faces substantially indirectly towards said rotation axis XX.

[0054] According to an embodiment, each support plate 11 , 12 comprises at least one pad support surface 22 arranged substantially orthogonal to said circumferential direction CC.

[0055] According to an embodiment, said pad support surface 22 extends over at least ½ of the predetermined radial extension MAR of said piece of friction material 13 , 14 .

[0056] According to an embodiment, the at least one central bridge 203 of the caliper body 2 includes at least two central bridge protrusions 23, which form at least two caliper body sliding surfaces 24, and when the brake pads 3, 4 are installed in the caliper body 2, the caliper body sliding surfaces 24 face the plate sliding surfaces 21.

[0057] According to an embodiment, said caliper body 2 comprises at least two caliper support surfaces 25 , 26 facing said pad support surface 22 when brake pads 3 , 4 are mounted in said caliper body 2 .

[0058] According to an embodiment, the at least two central bridge protrusions 23 are separated from each other by at least one central bridge window 27, which allows at least a portion of the at least one protrusion 19, 20 to pass through to allow each of the at least two support plates 11, 12 to be installed in the caliper body 2, so that the plate support surface 21 faces one of the caliper body sliding surfaces 24 and the pad support surface 22 faces one of the caliper support surfaces 25, 26.

[0059] According to an embodiment, said plate sliding surface 21 faces said upper edge portion 18 of the support plate edge 17 .

[0060] According to an embodiment, said plate sliding surface 21 is arranged as an undercut relative to said support plate projections 19 , 20 .

[0061] According to an embodiment, when the caliper body 2 is mounted so as to straddle the brake band 7, said at least one support plate projection 19, 20 is arranged radially outside the friction material 13, 14 of the pads, on the opposite side relative to the rotation axis XX.

[0062] According to an embodiment, said at least one pad supporting surface 22 extends in radial direction and extends at least as much as the piece of friction material having said predetermined radial extension MAR of friction material.

[0063] According to an embodiment, said caliper support surfaces are at least two caliper support surfaces 24 , 25 and are arranged on opposite sides, one for each elongated element 201 , 202 .

[0064] According to an embodiment, the caliper body 2 is a one-piece body. According to an embodiment, the caliper body is made in two pieces, for example joined together by means of studs or bolts.

[0065] According to an embodiment, said central bridge 203 of the caliper body is as a single body with said first elongated element 202 and said second elongated element 202 of the caliper body.

[0066] According to an embodiment, two support plate projections 19 , 20 are provided for each support plate 11 , 12 .

[0067] According to an embodiment, two support plate projections 19 , 20 are provided for each support plate 11 , 12 , and the two support plate projections 19 , 20 face each other or are arranged in a mirror-image manner to each other.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the central bridge 203 includes four central bridge protrusions 23 , and the four central bridge protrusions 23 are arranged in pairs along opposite directions of the central bridge 203 .

[0069] According to an embodiment, the caliper support surfaces 25, 26 comprise at least two caliper support surfaces 25, 26, each caliper support surface being arranged to delimit a cavity 5, 6 of the caliper body to accommodate a corresponding brake pad 3, 4, thereby delimiting a cavity 5, 6 of the caliper body which allows the pad to abut against the caliper body 2 during braking action.

[0070] According to an embodiment, said at least one pad support surface 22 comprises two opposing pad support surfaces 22 to allow the brake pads 3 , 4 to abut against the caliper body 2 during forward and reverse braking actions of a vehicle having said caliper body 2 .

[0071] According to an embodiment, the assembly 1 further comprises at least one strip spring 28 shaped to be arranged astride the brake disc 8 to exert a spring action on at least one of the brake pads 3 , 4 so as to bias the brake pad away from the brake disc 8 .

[0072] According to an embodiment, said at least one brake pad 3 , 4 comprises said support plate 11 , 12 supporting said piece of friction material 13 , 14 , said support plate 11 , 12 comprising said plate edge 17 forming at least one thrust portion 29 .

[0073] According to an embodiment, the strip spring 28 includes a strip-shaped spring body 30 .

[0074] According to an embodiment, the strip spring 28 comprises at least two spring parts 31, 32, at least two of the spring parts 31, 32 are different from each other, namely:

[0075] a first coupling portion 31 suitable for coupling said strip spring 28 to the caliper body 2 ;

[0076] a second thrust portion 32 adapted to exert said spring action on said thrust portion 29 of said at least one brake pad 3, 4 so as to bias said brake pad 3, 4 away from said brake disc 8 at least in axial direction AA and radial direction RR.

[0077] According to an embodiment, the at least one strip spring 28 comprises a first spring body strip 33 comprising a first connecting portion 34 from which two first spring arms 35 extend away.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the second spring body strip 36 comprises a second connecting portion 37 from which two second spring arms 38 extend away.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the first connection portion 34 of the first spring body strip 33 is connected to the second connection portion 37 of the second spring body strip 36 to arrange the two first spring arms 35 orthogonally to the two second spring arms 38 .

[0080] According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion 31 is shaped to be snap-coupled to the caliper body 2 .

[0081] According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion 31 is shaped as a through window 39 formed with the first coupling portion.

[0082] The first coupling portion 31 is shaped to be formed with an independent arm 40 which protrudes in a cantilever manner when the strip spring 28 is not mounted to the caliper body 2 .

[0083] According to an embodiment, when the second thrust portion 32 is supported by the at least one pad 3, 4 under operating conditions, the second thrust portion 32 is arranged to be inclined relative to the axial direction AA and relative to the radial direction RR, so that a predetermined angle A1 is formed between the second thrust portion 32 and the axial direction AA and a predetermined angle A2 is formed between the second thrust portion 32 and the radial direction RR.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the strip spring comprises two strip springs 28 arranged on both sides of the central bridge 203 .

[0085] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a brake pad 3 , 4 to a brake caliper 2 .

[0086] The method comprises the following steps:

[0087] - providing an assembly 1 as defined in any one of the above embodiments;

[0088] - inserting the brake pads 3, 4 into the caliper body 2, substantially in the radial direction RR, on both sides of the central bridge 203, by aligning the at least one plate protrusion 19, 20 with the central bridge window 27, so that the plate protrusions 19, 20 radially exceed the central bridge protrusion 23;

[0089] - by inserting the brake pads 3, 4 into the respective caliper body cavities 5, 6, the brake pads 3, 4 are slid in the axial direction AA so that the plate thrust surfaces 15 of the brake pads 3, 4 face the caliper body, and the at least one plate sliding surface 21 faces the caliper body sliding surface 24, and the at least one pad support surface 22 faces the at least one caliper support surface 25, 26.

[0090] According to another structural variation of the above method, the following additional steps are included:

[0091] - providing a strip spring 28 according to any one of claims 11 to 15;

[0092] The strip spring 28 is inserted by snap-coupling the first coupling portion 31 to the caliper body 2 and supporting the second thrust portion 32 on the thrust portion 29 of the plate edge.

[0093] Reference numerals list

[0094] 1 Caliper body assembly

[0095] 2 Caliper body

[0096] 3 Brake pads

[0097] 4 Brake pads

[0098] 5. The cavity in the caliper body for accommodating the brake pad

[0099] 6 The cavity in the caliper body for accommodating the brake pad

[0100] 7 Brake band

[0101] 8 Brake disc

[0102] 9 Braking surface of the brake band

[0103] 10 Braking surface of the brake band

[0104] 11 Support plate for pad

[0105] 12 Pad support plate

[0106] 13 Friction material of the lining

[0107] 14 Friction material of the pad

[0108] 15 Thrust surface of plate

[0109] 16 Plate friction material support surface

[0110] 17 Support plate edge

[0111] 18 Upper edge portion of the support plate edge portion

[0112] 19 Support plate protrusion

[0113] 20 Support plate protrusion

[0114] 21 Plate sliding surface

[0115] 22 Pad support surface

[0116] 23 Central bridge protrusion

[0117] 24 Caliper body sliding surface

[0118] 25 Caliper support surface

[0119] 26 Caliper support surface

[0120] 27 Central bridge window

[0121] 28 Strip spring

[0122] 29 Thrust part of the support plate edge

[0123] 30 Strip spring body

[0124] 31 First spring connection part

[0125] 32 Second spring thrust part

[0126] 33 first spring body band portion

[0127] 34 First spring connection part

[0128] 35 First spring arm

[0129] 36 Second spring body band portion

[0130] 37 Second connection part

[0131] 38 Second spring arm

[0132] 39 The through window of the first connecting part

[0133] 40 independent arms

[0134] 201 A first elongated element of the caliper body

[0135] 202 second elongated element of the caliper body

[0136] 203 Central bridge of the caliper body

[0137] XX Disc brake disc rotation and symmetry axis

[0138] AA Axial direction

[0139] RR Radial direction

[0140] CC Circumferential direction

[0141] The radial extension of the friction material of the MAR pad.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) of a caliper body (2) and brake pads (3, 4), wherein: The caliper body (2) comprises two cavities (5, 6) facing each other, the cavities (5, 6) receiving the two brake pads (3, 4) so ​​that: in the case where the brake band (7) of the brake disc (8) comprises opposite braking surfaces (9, 10), when the caliper body (2) is arranged to straddle the brake band (7), the brake pads (3, 4) face the opposite braking surfaces (9, 10) of the brake band (7); and wherein the caliper body (2) comprises a first elongated element (201) and a second elongated element (202), when the caliper body (2) is arranged to straddle the brake band (7), the first elongated element (201) and the second elongated element (202) face the opposite braking surfaces (9, 10); and wherein The caliper body (2) comprises at least one central bridge (203), the central bridge (203) connecting the first elongated element (201) and the second elongated element (202) in a manner spanning the two cavities (5, 6); The brake disc (8) comprises: a rotation axis (XX), the rotation axis (XX) defining an axial direction (AA), the axial direction (AA) coinciding with or being parallel to the rotation axis (XX); a radial direction (RR), the radial direction (RR) being orthogonal to the rotation axis (XX); and a circumferential direction (CC), the circumferential direction (CC) being orthogonal to the axial direction (AA) and the radial direction (RR); Each of the brake pads (3, 4) comprises a support plate (11, 12) adapted to support a friction material piece (13, 14) and to support the brake pad (3, 4) at the caliper body (2); and wherein the friction material piece (13, 14) comprises a predetermined radial extension (MAR); Each support plate (11, 12) comprises a thrust surface (15), an opposing friction material support surface (16) and a support plate edge portion (17) connecting the thrust surface (15) to the opposing friction material support surface (16); and wherein The support plate edge portion (17) comprises an upper edge portion (18) facing the opposite side relative to the rotation axis (XX); and wherein Each support plate (11, 12) comprises at least one protrusion (19, 20) protruding from the upper edge portion (18) of the support plate edge portion (17), and the protrusion (19, 20) is hook-shaped, thereby defining a plate sliding surface (21); wherein the plate sliding surface (21) faces substantially indirectly towards the rotation axis (XX); Each support plate (11, 12) comprises at least one pad support surface (22) arranged substantially orthogonal to the circumferential direction (CC); wherein the pad support surface (22) extends over at least 1 / 2 of the predetermined radial extension (MAR) of the friction material piece (13, 14); and wherein At least one of the central bridges (203) of the caliper body (2) comprises at least two central bridge protrusions (23), the central bridge protrusions (23) being formed with at least two caliper body sliding surfaces (24), the caliper body sliding surfaces (24) facing the plate sliding surfaces (21) when the brake pads (3, 4) are mounted in the caliper body (2); and wherein The caliper body (2) comprises at least two caliper support surfaces (25, 26), and when the brake pads (3, 4) are installed in the caliper body (2), the caliper support surface (25) faces the pad support surface (22); At least two of the central bridge protrusions (23) are separated from each other by at least one central bridge window (27), and the central bridge window (27) allows at least a portion of at least one of the bridge protrusions (19, 20) to pass through to allow each of the at least two support plates (11, 12) to be installed in the caliper body (2) so that the plate resting surface (21) faces one of the caliper body sliding surfaces (24) and the pad support surface (22) faces one of the caliper support surfaces (25, 26).

2. The assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein The plate sliding surface (21) faces the upper edge portion (18) of the support plate edge portion (17); or among them The plate sliding surface (21) is arranged as an undercut relative to the support plate projections (19, 20).

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein When the caliper body (2) is mounted so as to straddle the brake band (7), at least one of the support plate projections (19, 20) is arranged radially outwardly of the friction material (13, 14) of the pad on the opposite side relative to the rotation axis (XX).

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein At least one of said pad support surfaces (22) extends in said radial direction and extends at least as much as the piece of friction material having said predetermined radial extension (MAR) of friction material.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The caliper support surfaces are at least two caliper support surfaces (24, 25) and are arranged on opposite sides, one caliper support surface for each elongated element (201, 202).

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The caliper body (2) is a single-piece body; or among them The caliper body (2) is made of two parts; or among them The central bridge (203) of the caliper body is formed as a single body with the first elongated element (201) and the second elongated element (202) of the caliper body.

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Two support plate protrusions (19, 20) are provided for each support plate (11, 12); or Two support plate projections (19, 20) are provided for each support plate (11, 12), and the two support plate projections (19, 20) face each other or are arranged in a mirror-image manner.

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The central bridge (203) includes four central bridge protrusions (23), and the four central bridge protrusions (23) are arranged in pairs along opposite directions of the central bridge (203).

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The caliper support surfaces (25, 26) include at least two caliper support surfaces (25, 26), each caliper support surface being arranged to delimit a caliper body cavity (5, 6) to accommodate a corresponding brake pad (3, 4), thereby delimiting the caliper body cavity (5, 6) allowing the pad to abut against the caliper body (2) during braking action.

10. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The at least one pad support surface (22) includes two opposing pad support surfaces (22) to allow the brake pads (3, 4) to abut against the caliper body (2) during forward and reverse braking applications of a vehicle having the caliper body (2).

11. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The assembly (1) further comprises at least one strip spring (28) configured to straddle the brake disc (8) to apply a resilient action to at least one of the brake pads (3, 4) to bias the brake pad away from the brake disc (8); in - at least one of the brake pads (3, 4) comprises the support plate (11, 12), the support plate (11, 12) supporting the friction material (13, 14), the support plate (11, 12) comprising the plate edge portion (17), the plate edge portion (17) being formed with at least one thrust portion (29); - the strip spring (28) comprises a strip-shaped spring body (30); The strip spring (28) comprises at least two spring parts (31, 32), at least two of the spring parts (31, 32) being different from each other, namely: - a first coupling portion (31) suitable for coupling the strip spring (28) to the caliper body (2); - a second thrust portion (32) adapted to exert said elastic action on said thrust portion (29) of at least one of said brake pads (3, 4) so ​​as to bias said brake pad (3, 4) away from said brake disc (8) at least in an axial direction (AA) and in a radial direction (RR).

12. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein: At least one strip spring (28) comprises a first spring body strip portion (33), the The first spring body band (33) includes a first connecting portion (34), two first spring arms (35) extending away from the first connecting portion (34); and wherein The second spring body strip (36) includes a second connecting portion (37), two second spring arms (38) extending away from the second connecting portion (37); and wherein The first connection portion (34) of the first spring body strip (33) is connected to the second connection portion (37) of the second spring body strip (36) to arrange the two first spring arms (35) to be orthogonal to the two second spring arms (38).

13. Assembly (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The first coupling portion (31) is shaped to be snap-coupled to the caliper body (2); and / or wherein The first coupling portion (31) is shaped as a through window (39) formed with the first coupling portion; or among them The first coupling portion (31) is shaped to be formed with a separate arm (40) which protrudes in a cantilever manner when the strip spring (28) is not mounted to the caliper body (2).

14. Assembly (1) according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein: When the second thrust portion (32) is set onto at least one of the pads (3, 4) under operating conditions, the second thrust portion (32) is arranged to be inclined relative to the axial direction (AA) and relative to the radial direction (RR), so that a predetermined angle (A1) is formed between the second thrust portion (32) and the axial direction (AA) and a predetermined angle (A2) is formed between the second thrust portion (32) and the radial direction (RR).

15. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein: The strip spring comprises two strip springs (28) arranged on both sides of the central bridge (203).

16. A method for mounting a brake pad (3, 4) to a caliper body (2), wherein: The method comprises the following steps: - providing an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15; - inserting the brake pads (3, 4) into the caliper body (2) substantially in the radial direction (RR) on the opposite side of the central bridge (203), aligning at least one of the plate protrusions (19, 20) with the central bridge window (27) so that the plate protrusion (19, 20) radially exceeds the central bridge protrusion (23); - by inserting the brake pads (3, 4) into the corresponding caliper body cavities (5, 6), the brake pads (3, 4) are slid in the axial direction (AA) so that: the plate thrust surfaces (15) of the brake pads (3, 4) face the caliper body, and at least one of the plate thrust surfaces (21) faces the caliper body sliding surface (24), and at least one of the pad support surfaces (22) faces at least one of the caliper support surfaces (25, 26).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The method comprises the following additional steps: - providing a strip spring (28) according to any one of claims 11 to 15; The strip spring (28) is inserted by snap-coupling the first coupling portion (31) to the caliper body (2) and supporting the second thrust portion (32) on the thrust portion (29) of the plate edge.

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