BRAKE PAD GUIDE TO REDUCE FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE IN A BRAKE CALIPER

Abstract

A brake pad guide (20) for reducing frictional resistance in a brake caliper for a vehicle brake, the vehicle brake comprising: a brake caliper (13) in which a portion of a brake disc (12) rotates together with a wheel; and brake pads (14) each pressing both surfaces of the brake disc in the brake caliper (13) when a brake pedal is operated, the brake pad guide (20) having elastic members (24) extending obliquely from the brake pad guide (20) and coming into oblique contact with ends of the brake pads (14) such that the brake pads (14) are spaced apart from the brake disc (12) when the operation of the brake pedal is completed, wherein the brake pad guide (20) is arranged within the brake calliper (13) and provides a spring force such that the brake pads (14) are spaced from the brake disc (12), wherein the brake pad guide (20) further comprises: a main body (21); and extension parts (22) extending from the main body (21) and spaced from the main body (21), and wherein the elastic parts are formed on the extension parts, characterized in that each of the elastic parts (24) is formed by cutting the extension parts (22) in a width direction of the brake pad guide to form a U-shaped notch in a central portion of the extension part (22), and by obliquely bending each of the elastic parts (24) to an inner side of the brake pad guide (20) to provide the elastic force to return the brake pads (14), and wherein an upper portion of the space between the extension part (22) and the main body (21) is closed and a lower portion of the space between the extension part (22) and the main body (21) is open to discharge foreign particles introduced thereinto.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a brake pad guide that separates brake pads from a brake disc of a vehicle brake. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper, which provides a restoring force such that brake pads are separated from a brake disc after a braking operation and prevents foreign particles generated during the braking operation from being deposited therein.BACKGROUNDBrakes used for a vehicle include a disc brake that serves to brake a wheel in which brake pads 14 grip a brake disc 12 that rotates with the wheel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The disc brake includes a piston 15 fixed to a caliper 13 and driven by a hydraulic pressure generated when a driver operates a brake pedal. The piston 15 presses the brake pads 14 installed in the caliper 13 toward the brake disc 12. The brake pads 14 operated by the piston 15 engage with the brake disc 12 rotating together with the wheel in which the brake disc 12 and the wheel are connected to the same axle 11 in the brake caliper 13, whereby the rotation of the wheel is stopped by frictional force between the brake pads 14 and the brake disc 12.When the braking operation is completed, it is necessary to separate the brake pads 14 from the brake disc 12 and form gaps between the brake pads 14 and the brake disc 12 while the piston 15 is retracted to a home position such that the wheel can rotate without undergoing frictional resistance due to the contact between the brake pads 14 and the brake disc 12.However, a frictional resistance phenomenon occurs according to a side stroke or a change in thickness of the brake disk 12, that is, a phenomenon in which the brake pads 14 interfere with the rotation of the brake disk 12 occurs because the restoring force of the brake pads 14 is insufficient.In order to prevent the above-mentioned frictional resistance phenomenon, a pad guide 121 or 122 serving as a spring is installed in the caliper 13 as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the brake pad guide 121 or 122 allows the brake pads 14 to be completely separated from the brake disc 12 when a hydraulic pressure for braking is taken from the brake disc.However, the conventional brake pad guide 121 or 122 obstructs the brake disc 12 due to separation from the brake caliper 13 and does not prevent foreign particles generated during the braking operation from depositing therein or corrosion.For example, the brake pad guide 121 shown in FIG. 3 supports the brake disks 14 by a constant force and provides a restoring force to the brake pads 14. The brake pad guide 121 is fixed into the caliper 13 in a clamped shape or is coupled to the caliper 13 to form a locking protrusion at an upper portion of the caliper. However, when the brake pad guide 121 is not completely attached to the caliper 13, the brake pad guide 121 disengages from the caliper 13, thereby interfering with the brake disc 12.In addition, the brake pad guide 122 shown in FIG. 4 includes elastic parts 122 ato thereby increase the restoring force of the brake pads 14 with respect to the caliper 13. However, when foreign particles are deposited in the elastic members 122 a, the pads 14 do not press the brake disc 12 during the braking operation. For this reason, the brake pad guide 122 cannot provide sufficient braking force.FIG. 5 shows the decomposition of the linings and the brake lining guides from FIG. 4.US 2012 / 0 205 205 A1 discloses features which fall within the preamble of claim 1. US 2011 / 0 168 503 A1, KR 10 2013 0 003 932 A and JP 2009-228 831 A are further prior art.SUMMARYThe invention is defined by claim 1.An aspect of the present inventive concept is directed to a brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a brake caliper, which is capable of providing a restoring force such that brake pads are spaced apart from a brake disc when braking is completed, thereby reducing travel resistance due to interference between the brake pads and the brake disc.Another aspect of the present inventive concept is directed to a brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper, which is capable of preventing disengagement from a caliper after the brake pad guide is installed in the caliper without using a separate locking structure.Another aspect of the present inventive concept is directed to a brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper, which allows foreign particles generated by braking or corrosion to be easily discharged to the outside.Other objects and advantages of the present inventive concept can be understood from the following description and will be apparent from the embodiments of the present inventive concept. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the present inventive concept belongs that the objects and advantages of the present inventive concept can be realized by the claimed means and combinations thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a partial perspective sectional view illustrating a typical disc brake. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an operation principle of the brake of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a brake pad guide according to an example of the related art, illustrating a commercially available brake pad guide. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a brake pad guide according to another example of the related art, illustrating another commercially available brake pad guide. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating degradation of pads and the pad guides of FIG. 4.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating degradation of pads and pad guides for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIGS. 9 and 10 are views schematically illustrating a restoring force depending on whether or not a hydraulic pressure is applied. FIG. 11 is a view schematically illustrating a structure in which the brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the embodiment of the present inventive concept supports the brake pads.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONA brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present inventive concept can be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments listed here. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present inventive concept.Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, a vehicle brake includes a brake caliper 13 for receiving a part of a brake disc 12 that rotates together with a wheel. Brake pads 14 are installed to respectively press both surfaces of the brake disc 12 into the brake caliper 13 when a brake pedal is operated. A brake pad guide 20 for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the present inventive concept is installed in the caliper 13 to provide a spring force such that the brake pads 14 are spaced apart from the brake disc 12. The brake pad guide 20 includes elastic members 24 that extend obliquely and that come into oblique contact with ends of the brake pads 14 such that the brake pads 14 are spaced apart from the brake disc 12 when the operation of the brake pedal is completed.As shown in FIG. 6, the pad guide includes a main body 21, extension parts 22 extending from the main body 21, and elastic parts 24 obliquely extending away from the extension parts 22.The main body 21 may include other components in the brake pad guide 20. For example, the extension parts 22 extend from the main body 21. The main body 21 may include pad locking parts 21 aor the like formed at a middle portion in a length direction, and each of the pad locking parts 21 ais bent in a U-shape such that the associated brake pad 14 is coupled to the brake pad guide 20.Each of the extension parts 22 extends from an upper end of the main body 21 and is spaced apart from the main body 21 by a predetermined distance.Upper ends of the extension parts 22 are connected to the upper end of the main body 21 through a connection part 23. A cross section connecting the main body 21, the connection part 23, and the extension parts 22 has an inverse U shape as shown in FIG. 7. Each extension part 22 extends downward from the connection part 23 in an opposite side of the main body 21.Specifically, a lower portion of the space between the extension part 22 and the main body 21 is open. Therefore, when foreign particles are introduced into the extension part 22 and the main body 21, these foreign particles are immediately discharged (see FIG. 7 ).In addition, the extension parts 22 are connected to an end portion of the connection part 23. The end portion of the main body 21 is a portion in which the brake disk 12 is installed and rotates, and the extension parts 22 are not directly connected to the main body 21, thus supporting side surfaces of the brake pads 14.The extension parts 22 generate a pressing force by supporting the brake pads 14 on an upper side of the brake pad guide 20, thus preventing the brake pad guide 20 from coming off due to a braking operation, vibration, and the like.Each of the resilient members 24 extends obliquely away from one side of the associated extension member 22. One end of each elastic member 24 is connected to the extension member 22, and another end of the elastic member extends from one end of the elastic member 24 and is not connected to the extension member 22. That is, the elastic members 24 are inclined with respect to the extension members 22 by a predetermined angle, thereby exhibiting spring force.The elastic part 24 may be formed by cutting the extension part 22 in a width direction of the pad guide 20. That is, the elastic member 24 can be formed by forming a U-shaped notch at a central portion of the extension member 22 and by bending obliquely.One end of the elastic member 24 is located on an outer side of the brake pad guide 20, and the other end thereof is located in the brake pad guide 20.The elastic parts 24 are formed such that the brake pads 14 are spaced apart from the brake disc 12 when the elastic parts 24 are installed in the caliper 13.The brake pad guide 20 has a space in which the brake disk 12 rotates, and the brake pad guide 20 has a left-right symmetrical structure around this space.In addition, both ends of the brake pads 14 have the brake pad guide 20, respectively. that is, in the caliper 13 of the vehicle brake, the brake pad guides 20 are arranged such that friction surfaces of the brake pads 14 are opposed to both surfaces of the brake disc 12, respectively, and the friction surfaces of the brake pads 14 are opposed to the brake disc 12, respectively.Therefore, two brake pads 14 and two brake pad guides 20 are provided in a caliper 13.Next, an operation of the brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the present invention will be explained.FIGS. 9 and 10 show respective states during a braking operation and a release of the brake.First, a brake operation state will be described with reference to FIG. 9. When a driver operates the brake pedal, a hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the caliper 13. A piston 15 is pressed toward the brake disk 12 by the hydraulic pressure, and the brake pads 14 grip the brake disk 12, thereby generating braking force. In this case, a restoring force by the brake pad guides 20 for returning the brake pads 14 between the elastic members 24 and the brake pads 14 and a restoring force by a seal 15 athat seals a gap between the piston 15 and the caliper 13 act in the opposite direction of the hydraulic pressure. However, since the hydraulic pressure is larger than the above-mentioned restoring force, the brake pads 14 are pressed toward the brake disc 12 so that the braking force is generated.FIG. 10 shows a state with the brake released. When the driver does not operate the brake pedal, the hydraulic pressure does not act on the piston 15, in this case, the spring force acts as a restoring force by the elastic parts 24 of the brake pad guide 20 to return the brake pads 14, so that the brake pads 14 are completely spaced apart from the brake disc 12. In addition, the pads 14 are completely spaced apart from the brake disc 12 because the restoring force also acts on an installation portion of the gasket 15 a, thereby preventing the phenomenon of frictional resistance due to interference between the brake pads 14 and the brake disc 12.In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the extension part 22 is formed in the pad guide 20 such that the extension part 22 is spaced apart from the main body 21. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign particles generated by abrasion of the brake pads 14 and the brake disc 12 during the braking operation from being introduced into the brake. In addition, it is possible to prevent foreign particles, which are produced by corrosion of the components of the brake, from being deposited in the brake pad guide 20. That is, the foreign particles introduced into the brake pad guide 20 are easily discharged to the outside of the brake pad guide 20, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 7. Thus, the foreign particles do not deposit in the brake pad guide 20.By preventing foreign particles from being deposited in the brake pad guide 20, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the brake in which the brake pad guide 20 is not properly operated due to the foreign particles. Therefore, the brake can have improved reliability.FIG. 11 shows a detachment preventing structure of the pad guide 20. Thus, a generated load force (b) weakens a moment (e) formed by a load force (d) generated by a pad spring force (c) that causes detachment of the brake pad guide 20, thereby preventing detachment of the brake pad guide 20.According to the brake pad guide for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper according to the exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the elastic members provide spring force to the brake pads only in a direction in which the brake pads are spaced apart from the brake disc. Therefore, the brake pads are completely spaced from the brake disc when hydraulic pressure is removed after completion of the braking operation. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a frictional resistance phenomenon due to interference between the brake pads and the brake disc.In addition, since a main body and extension parts are disposed spaced apart from each other in the brake pad guide and spaces formed therebetween are open downward, foreign matters generated due to a running or braking operation or corrosion can be easily discharged to the outside. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent generation of brake troubles caused by deposition of foreign particles in the brake pad guide during the braking operation.In addition, since the brake pad guide has a structure in which the upper-side extension parts of the brake pad guide support side surfaces of the pads, the detachment of the brake pad guide from a caliper is prevented by the pressing force directed against the force with which the extension parts support the side surfaces of the pads. Since the brake pad guide can be fixed to the caliper without using a separate lock structure, it is possible to prevent interference between the brake pads and the brake disc when a mounting error is caused, and easily perform installation.

Claims

A brake pad guide (20) for reducing frictional resistance in a caliper for a vehicle brake, the vehicle brake comprising: a caliper (13) in which a portion of a brake disc (12) rotates together with a wheel; and brake pads (14) that respectively press both surfaces of the brake disc in the brake caliper (13) when a brake pedal is operated, wherein the brake pad guide (20) has elastic parts (24) that extend obliquely from the brake pad guide (20) and come into oblique contact with ends of the brake pads (14) such that the brake pads (14) are spaced apart from the brake disc (12) when the operation of the brake pedal is completed, wherein the brake pad guide (20) is disposed inside the brake caliper (13) and provides a spring force such that the brake pads (14) are spaced apart from the brake disc (12), wherein the brake pad guide (20) further comprises: a main body (21); and extension parts (22) extending from the main body (21) and spaced apart from the main body (21), and wherein the elastic parts are formed on the extension parts, characterized in that each of the elastic parts (24) is formed by cutting the extension parts (22) in a width direction of the brake pad guide to form a U-shaped notch in a central portion of the extension part (22), and obliquely bending each of the elastic parts (24) toward an inside of the brake pad guide (20) to provide the elastic force to restore the brake pads (14), and wherein an upper portion of the space between the extension part (22) and the main body (21) is closed and a lower portion of the space between the extension part (22) and the main body (21) is open to discharge therein introduced foreign particles.The brake pad guide (20) according to claim 1, further comprising a connection part (23) that connects an upper end of the main body (21) to upper ends of the extension parts (22), and wherein the extension parts (22) are connected to the end of the connection part (23) in a width direction of the brake pad guide (20).The brake pad guide (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the elastic members (24) is inclined with respect to the associated extension member (22) by a predetermined angle.The brake pad guide (20) according to claim 3, wherein each of the elastic parts (24) is inclined with respect to the extension parts to be further spaced from the extension parts (22) toward an inner side of the brake pad guide (20).The brake pad guide (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic member (24) is formed by obliquely bending a central portion thereof.The brake pad guide (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the extension parts (22) is spaced apart from the main body (21) by a predetermined distance.The brake pad guide (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the extension parts (22) support side surfaces of the brake pads (14) such that the brake pads (14) are spaced apart from the brake disc (12) when the extension parts (22) press the side surfaces of the brake pads (14) with a constant force.The brake pad guide according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main body includes pad locking parts (21a) bent in a U-shape at a central portion of the main body and fixed to side surfaces of the brake pads (14).

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