System for attaching the backing plate of a drum brake to a hub carrier of an automotive axle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for fixing a drum brake support plate (10) on a wheel hub carrier of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one pair of holes, each comprising a first circular hole (13) provided in said support plate, and a second circular hole provided in said wheel hub carrier and intended to overlap said first hole so as to allow the insertion of a screw through said first and second holes and then its screwing onto a corresponding nut; characterized in that it also comprises at least one slide comprising a female rail (11) and a male rail adapted to cooperate in sliding in translation and being provided respectively on said support plate and on said wheel hub carrier or vice versa, said slide(s) being further configured so as to restrict the mechanical connection between said support plate and said wheel hub carrier to this single translational movement.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: System for fixing the support plate of a drum brake onto a hub carrier of a motor vehicle axle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of drum brakes for motor vehicles. It relates in particular to a system for fixing the support plate of such a drum brake to a hub carrier of a motor vehicle axle. Previous technique

[0002] In a motor vehicle, the function of the service brake is to slow down a vehicle and bring it to a stop. In most current motor vehicles, the service brake is provided by drum brakes, disc brakes, or by a combination of disc brakes on the front axle and drum brakes on the rear axle.

[0003] A drum brake conventionally consists of a first part intended to be fixed on the bearing hub of a wheel of the running gear of the motor vehicle, and a second part intended to be fixed on a hub carrier of an axle of this running gear.

[0004] The first part comprises a drum having an annular side wall while the second part comprises a metal plate whose inner wall forms a support for two shoes each equipped with a brake lining (these shoes being commonly referred to as "segments") and movable radially by at least one actuation means such as for example a hydraulic receiving cylinder or "wheel cylinder".

[0005] The segments are arranged in a centered position on the support plate, which generally implies an operation called recentering of these segments before the operation of covering the support plate with the drum.

[0006] When the brake is actuation, these shoes are moved radially apart from each other so that their respective linings rub against the inner face of the annular side wall of the drum.

[0007] This friction transforms the mechanical energy of rotation of the drum into heat energy and brakes the wheel of the vehicle.

[0008] As described, for example, by document FR 3 109 971 A1 and so as to ensure a stable and play-free attachment, the attachment of the support plate of such a drum brake to the hub carrier of a running gear axle is conventionally ensured by via four pairs of orifices, each comprising a first circular orifice made in said support plate and a second circular orifice made in said hub carrier and intended to be superimposed on said first orifice so as to allow the insertion of a screw through said first and second orifices and then its screwing onto a corresponding nut.

[0009] Although ensuring a reliable and precise fixing of the support plate of such a drum brake on a running gear axle, such a fixing system requires a relatively long assembly time for the operator, especially since this fixing step must be carried out twice for each running gear equipped with such drum brakes.

[0010] Moreover, the cost of such a fastening system is relatively high due to the large number of screws and nuts required for mounting these support plates on each rolling axle. Description of the invention

[0011] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0012] For this purpose, it proposes a system for fixing a drum brake support plate on a wheel hub carrier of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one pair of holes, each comprising a first circular hole provided in said support plate, and a second circular hole provided in said wheel hub carrier and intended to overlap said first hole so as to allow the insertion of a screw through said first and second holes and then its screwing onto a corresponding nut; characterized in that it also comprises at least one slide including a female rail and a male rail capable of cooperating in translational sliding and being provided respectively on said support plate and on said hub carrier or vice versa, said slide(s) being further configured so as to restrict the mechanical link between said support plate and said hub carrier to this single translational movement.

[0013] The fastening system according to the invention thus makes it possible to reduce the time spent by an operator mounting a drum brake support plate on a wheel hub carrier of a motor vehicle.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention also ensures a significant reduction in assembly costs by limiting the number of screws and nuts required.

[0015] According to preferred characteristics of said fastening system according to the invention: - it comprises two said slides whose male rails arranged parallel and opposite each other are arranged to cooperate simultaneously in translation each with a corresponding female rail; - said rails provided on said support plate are arranged symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of said support plate; - said female rails each have a U-shaped section forming a receiving groove, the openings of said receiving grooves of these two female rails being turned in opposite directions; - said male rails each comprise a proximal section projecting transversely from a face of said hub carrier or said support plate and a distal section extending along a plane parallel to the average plane of said hub carrier or said support plate, said distal sections being turned towards each other and shaped to insert simultaneously by sliding into the grooves of said female rails; - said female rails are formed in and along the two lateral edges of an overthickness provided on one face of said support plate or said hub carrier; - said system comprises two said pairs of orifices, the first of which orifices provided in said support plate are arranged symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of said support plate; - said system also includes stop means to prevent further sliding movement of the female rail(s) relative to the male rail(s) beyond a pre-assembly configuration in which the first and second orifices of each pair of orifices overlap; and / or - said stop means include, for each male rail, a shoulder resting against one end of the male rail so as to constitute a stop for the respective end of a corresponding female rail.

[0016] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising at least one drum brake support plate fixed to a wheel hub carrier of a running gear by means of such a fixing system. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a support plate for a drum brake fixed to a hub carrier of the axle of a rear running gear of a motor vehicle, by means of the fixing system according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view taken from the inner side of the support plate of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] represents in perspective of the external side of the lateral part of the axle of [Fig.1] including the hub carrier on which the support plate is fixed; and - [Fig.4] is an enlarged perspective view of the hub carrier of the lateral part of the axle receiving the support plate. Description of the implementation methods

[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates a support plate 10 of a drum brake fixed on a hub carrier 20 of the axle of a rear running gear of a motor vehicle, by means of the fixing system according to the invention.

[0019] In the following description, when certain constituent elements of the support plate 10 and the hub carrier 20 are described with terms of absolute position (such as the terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc.), relative positioning (such as the terms "above", "below", "superior", "lower", etc.) or orientation (such as the terms "vertical", "horizontal", etc.), reference will be made to the mounting position of this support plate 10 and this hub carrier 20 on such a vehicle.

[0020] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle. The element closest to this plane will thus be described as internal, as opposed to the other element further from this same plane, which will be described as external.

[0021] Having a circular shape and classically made of steel or cast iron, the support plate 10 has an external face, intended to face the drum not shown, and serving as a support for two jaws, not visible in the figures, each fitted with a brake lining and radially movable by at least one actuation means, also not visible in the figures, such as for example a hydraulic receiving cylinder or "wheel cylinder".

[0022] The hub carrier 20 is fixed in this case on a suspension arm 30, partially visible in Figures 1 and 3, of a rear axle with a deformable crossmember of the vehicle via several weld beads C, some of which are visible in these Figures 1 and 3.

[0023] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the hub carrier 20 could be fixed on another type of motor vehicle axle such as, for example, a rigid axle with leaf springs.

[0024] This hub carrier 20 is in the form of a metal plate, in this case of substantially square shape and intended to be positioned opposite the support plate 10.

[0025] The fixing system according to the invention comprises two slides each comprising a female rail 11 and a male rail 21 capable of cooperating in vertical translation sliding, these female rails 11 and male rails being provided respectively on the support plate 10 and on the hub carrier 20.

[0026] Arranged parallel to each other, the male rails 21 are arranged to cooperate simultaneously in translation each with a corresponding female rail 11.

[0027] These two slides are also configured so as to restrict the mechanical link between the support plate 10 and the hub carrier 20 to this single vertical translation movement.

[0028] Extending preferably along a vertical orientation, the two female rails 11 provided on the support plate 10 are formed, advantageously by machining, in and along the two lateral edges of a rectangular or square overthickness 12 provided on the inner face of this support plate 10.

[0029] These female rails 11 are further arranged preferentially symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of this support plate 10.

[0030] Each of them in this case has a U-shaped section forming a receiving groove 11A. The openings of the receiving grooves 11A of these two female rails 11 are turned in opposite directions (forward for one and backward for the other).

[0031] Extending vertically along and near the two lateral edges of the hub carrier 20, the two male rails 21 have an L-shaped cross-section and each include a proximal section 21A projecting transversely from the external face of this hub carrier 20, and a distal section 21B extending along a plane parallel to the middle plane of this hub carrier 20.

[0032] Turned towards each other, these distal sections 21B are shaped to slide simultaneously into the grooves 1 IA of the female rails 11.

[0033] The fastening system according to the invention further comprises at least one pair of holes each comprising a first circular hole 13 provided in the support plate 10 at the level of the overthickness 12 and between the two female rails 11, as well as a second circular hole 23, of the same dimension as the first hole 13, provided in the hub carrier 20.

[0034] The two orifices 13, 23 of each said pair of orifices are arranged so as to overlap one another after the pre-mounting by sliding of the support plate 10 on the hub carrier 20 via the slides, so as to allow the insertion of a screw V (see [Fig.1]) through these orifices 13, 23 and then its screwing onto a corresponding nut not visible in the figures.

[0035] The presence of this or these pairs of holes 13, 23 thus makes it possible to ensure by bolting the final locking of the support plate 10 on the hub carrier 20.

[0036] As illustrated in figures 2 to 4 and in order to avoid any play between the support plate 10 and the hub carrier 20 after bolting, the fixing system advantageously includes two said pairs of holes 13, 23.

[0037] The orifices 13 provided in this support plate 10 are furthermore arranged preferentially symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of the support plate 10.

[0038] With further reference to [Fig. 1] and in order to reinforce the mechanical strength of the hub carrier 20 at the level of the orifice(s) 23, a reinforcing plate 24 is advantageously attached permanently by welding against the inner face of this carrier. hub 20. This reinforcement plate 24 then has one or more orifices overlapping with the orifice(s) 23 so as to allow the passage of the screw(s) V.

[0039] Furthermore, and as can be seen in figures 3 and 4, the fastening system according to the invention also includes stop means to prevent the continuation of the sliding insertion movement of the male rails 21 vis-à-vis the female rails 11 beyond the pre-assembly configuration in which the orifices 13, 23 of each said pair of orifices come to overlap.

[0040] These stop means are in this case constituted by a bar 25, projecting transversely and horizontally from the external face of the hub carrier 20. Each lateral end 25A of this bar 25 forms a shoulder resting against the upper end of a respective male rail 21, so as to constitute a stop for the upper end of a corresponding female rail 11.

[0041] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the fastening system according to the invention could comprise only one slide.

[0042] Furthermore, the male and female rails of each slide could be arranged respectively on the hub carrier and on the support plate.

[0043] The orientation of the rails defining the sliding axis of the slide(s) could also be different and for example transverse.

[0044] The fastening system according to the invention could furthermore include only one pair of holes (the hole provided in the support plate being then advantageously centered on the plane of symmetry of the two rails present on this support plate).

[0045] Many other variants are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all variants of execution within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. A system for fixing a drum brake support plate (10) to a wheel hub carrier (20) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one pair of holes (13, 23) each comprising a first circular hole (13) provided in said support plate (10), and a second circular hole (23) provided in said wheel hub carrier (20) and intended to overlap said first hole (13) so as to allow the insertion of a screw (V) through said first and second holes (13, 23) and then its screwing onto a corresponding nut;characterized in that it also comprises at least one slide including a female rail (11) and a male rail (21) capable of cooperating in translational sliding and being provided respectively on said support plate (10) and on said hub carrier (20) or vice versa, said slide(s) being further configured so as to restrict the mechanical connection between said support plate (10) and said hub carrier (20) to this single translational movement.;

2. A fastening system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two said slides whose male rails (21) arranged parallel and opposite each other are arranged to cooperate simultaneously in translation each with a corresponding female rail (11).

3. Fixing system according to claim 2, characterized in that said rails (11) provided on said support plate (10) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of said support plate (10).

4. A fastening system according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said female rails (11) each have a U-shaped section forming a receiving groove (11A), the openings of said receiving grooves (11A) of these two female rails (11) being turned in opposite directions.

5. A fastening system according to claim 4, characterized in that said male rails (21) each comprise a proximal section (21A) projecting transversely from a face of said hub carrier (20) or said support plate (10) and a distal section (21B) extending along a plane parallel to the mean plane of said hub carrier (20) or this support plate (10), said distal sections (21B) being turned towards each other and shaped to slide simultaneously into the grooves (11 A) of said female rails (11).

6. A fastening system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said female rails (11) are formed in and along the two lateral edges of an overthickness (12) provided on one face of said support plate (10) or of said hub carrier (20).

7. A fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises two said pairs of orifices (13, 23) of which said first orifices (13) provided in said support plate (10) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a diametrical plane of said support plate (10).

8. A fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it also comprises stop means (25A) enabling the continuation of the sliding movement of the female rail(s) (11) vis-à-vis the male rail(s) (21) beyond a pre-assembly configuration in which said first and second orifices (13, 23) of each said pair of orifices come to overlap.

9. A fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said stop means comprise, for each said male rail (21), a shoulder (25A) resting against one of the ends of this male rail (21) so as to constitute a stop for the corresponding female rail (11).

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one drum brake support plate (10) fixed to a wheel hub carrier (20) of a running gear by means of a fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.