disc brake device

Abstract

A retainer (72) of a disc brake device (10) comprises: abutment portions (72b, 72f) for pressing a pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) inward in the radial direction of a brake disc (16); connection portions (72c, 72e) connected to the abutment portions (72b, 72f); and widened portions (72g, 72h) provided in the connection portions (72c, 72e) and alleviating stress concentration at the connection portions (72c, 72e) by being formed to be wider in the axial direction (W) of the brake disc (16) than any other position in the connection portions (72c, 72e).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a disc brake device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a disc brake device, a pair of brake pads housed in a brake caliper clamps a brake disc. As a result, the pair of brake pads brake the brake disc. JP 2004-183904 A discloses a disc brake device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or tricycle. In this disc brake device, the pair of brake pads are pressed radially inward of the brake disc by a pad spring (retainer). As a result, the pair of brake pads are held in the brake caliper. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The pad spring has a plurality of contact portions and a connecting portion. The plurality of contact portions press the pair of brake pads radially inward of the brake disc. The connecting portion connects the plurality of contact portions. The axial width of the brake disc at the connecting portion is narrower than the axial width of the brake disc at the plurality of contact portions. This may cause stress concentration at the connecting portion. In this case, it is possible to change the load at the stress concentration point at the connecting portion by changing the plate thickness or material of the pad spring. This will disperse the stress concentration at the connecting portion. However, this method is costly.

[0004] In view of the above problems, it is desirable to be able to change the load at the stress concentration point and disperse the stress concentration without changing the plate thickness, material, etc. of the retainer and without incurring additional costs.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] A disc brake device according to one aspect of the present invention is a disc brake device comprising: a brake disc; a brake caliper arranged to straddle the brake disc; a pair of brake pads housed in the brake caliper and clamping the brake disc; and a retainer arranged on the brake caliper and abutting against the pair of brake pads to hold the pair of brake pads to the brake caliper, wherein the retainer comprises abutment portions that abut against the pair of brake pads to press the pair of brake pads radially inward of the brake disc, a connecting portion connected to the abutment portions, and a wide portion arranged on the connecting portion and formed wider in the axial direction of the brake disc than other portions of the connecting portion, thereby alleviating stress concentration at the connecting portion.

[0007] According to this configuration, by providing a wide portion at the connecting portion, the load at the stress concentration point at the connecting portion can be changed and the stress concentration can be dispersed without changing the plate thickness or material of the retainer and without incurring any costs.

[0008] If the entrance side of the brake caliper in the rotation direction of the brake disc is the disc rotation entrance side and the exit side in the rotation direction is the disc rotation exit side, the abutment portion is arranged to press the pair of brake pads radially inward and toward the disc rotation exit side, the connecting portion is connected to the disc rotation entrance side of the abutment portion, and the wide portion is formed adjacent to the abutment portion at the connecting portion.

[0009] According to this configuration, a wide portion is formed adjacent to the abutment portion. This prevents the occurrence of abnormal noise such as squealing that occurs at the sliding portion between the pair of brake pads and the brake disc when the abutment portion presses the pair of brake pads radially inward and toward the disc rotation side, and also reduces uneven wear of the pair of brake pads. It also helps to disperse stress concentration.

[0010] The retainer comprises a plurality of abutment portions arranged at arbitrary intervals in the rotation direction, and a plurality of connecting portions connected to the abutment portions in the rotation direction and having wide portions, and the wide portion of the plurality of wide portions on the disk rotation side is wider in the axial direction than the wide portion on the disk rotation side.

[0011] According to this configuration, the plurality of contact portions are connected by the plurality of connecting portions, and the plurality of connecting portions each have a wide portion formed thereon, which allows for efficient distribution of stresses of different magnitudes that are generated at the connecting portions when the plurality of contact portions press the pair of brake pads radially inward and toward the disc rotation side.

[0012] In addition, the abutment portion on the disc rotation side presses the pair of brake pads from the disc rotation side toward the disc rotation side. Therefore, the connecting portion that connects the disc rotation side to the abutment portion on the disc rotation side experiences greater stress concentration than other connecting portions. Therefore, in this configuration, the axial width of the wide portion on the disc rotation side is made wider than the axial width of the wide portion on the disc rotation side. This allows for effective distribution of stress concentration that occurs in the connecting portion on the disc rotation side.

[0013] The wide portion is provided with an arbitrary mark.

[0014] According to this configuration, marks indicating the direction in which the retainer is to be assembled relative to the brake caliper can be suitably provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a right side view of the front wheel portion of a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with a disc brake device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the disc brake device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of the disc brake device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the disc brake device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the disc brake device 10 according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle as a wheel brake device. Fig. 1 illustrates, as an example, a case where the disc brake device 10 is applied to a brake device for a front wheel 14 of a two-wheeled vehicle 12. In addition, in the description of this embodiment, the forward direction of the two-wheeled vehicle 12 (to the right in Fig. 1) is defined as the front, and the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions will be described. Note that the disc brake device 10 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1. The disc brake device 10 can be provided on a wheel (front wheel 14 or rear wheel) of various vehicles such as a unicycle, tricycle, or four-wheeled vehicle.

[0017] In the following description, among the components of the disc brake device 10, components on the left side may be described by adding the letter "L" after the reference numeral. Components on the right side may be described by adding the letter "R" after the reference numeral. Furthermore, components on the front side may be described by adding the letter "F" after the reference numeral. Furthermore, components on the rear side may be described by adding the letter "B" after the reference numeral.

[0018] The disc brake device 10 includes a brake disc 16. The brake disc 16 is an annular, plate-shaped member made of metal. The brake disc 16 is provided on the right side of the front wheel 14. The brake disc 16 is connected to the front wheel 14 so as to be substantially coaxial with an axle 22 of the front wheel 14. Therefore, the brake disc 16 rotates integrally with the front wheel 14. The disc brake device 10 also includes a brake caliper 20. The brake caliper 20 is attached to a front fork 18 on the right side of the front wheel 14. An axle support 24 is provided at the tip of the front fork 18. The axle support 24 supports the axle 22. A bracket 26 is connected to the axle support 24, extending rearward on the right side of the front wheel 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 , the brake caliper 20 is supported by the bracket 26 so as to straddle the brake disc 16.

[0019] 1 to 5, the double-headed arrow C indicates the circumferential direction of the front wheel 14 and the brake disc 16. The arrow Cr indicates the rotational direction of the front wheel 14 and the brake disc 16. One end side of the brake caliper 20 (one end side in the rotational direction Cr) is called the disc rotation-in side 28. The other end side of the brake caliper 20 (the other end side in the rotational direction Cr) is called the disc rotation-out side 30. The disc rotation-in side 28 is the side (entrance side) where the brake disc 16 enters the brake caliper 20 when the two-wheeled vehicle 12 moves forward. In other words, when the front wheel 14 rotates while the two-wheeled vehicle 12 is moving forward, the brake disc 16 enters the disc rotation-in side 28. The disc rotation-out side 30 is the side (exit side) where the brake disc 16 exits the brake caliper 20 when the two-wheeled vehicle 12 is moving forward. That is, when the front wheel 14 rotates while the two-wheeled vehicle 12 is moving forward, the brake disc 16 moves out from the disc rotation exit side 30 .

[0020] The brake caliper 20 is supported by a bracket 26 on the right rear side of the front wheel 14. The brake caliper 20 extends in a substantially vertical direction along the brake disc 16. Because the brake caliper 20 is located behind the front wheel 14, the lower side of the brake caliper 20 is the disc rotation inlet side 28. The upper side of the brake caliper 20 is the disc rotation outlet side 30. For example, if the brake caliper 20 is disposed on the right front side of the front wheel 14, the lower side of the brake caliper 20 is the disc rotation outlet side 30. In this case, the upper side of the brake caliper 20 is the disc rotation inlet side 28. In the following explanation, a case where the brake caliper 20 is disposed as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 will be described.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the brake caliper 20 has a pair of acting portions 32L, 32R, one bridge portion 34B, and the other bridge portion 34F. As shown in FIG. 2, the brake disc 16 is disposed on the center line CL of the brake caliper 20. The pair of acting portions 32L, 32R are disposed on both the left and right sides of the brake disc 16. One bridge portion 34B connects the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R on the radially outer side of the brake disc 16. One bridge portion 34B connects the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R on the disc rotation entry side 28. The other bridge portion 34F connects the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R on the radially outer side of the brake disc 16. The other bridge portion 34F connects the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R on the disc rotation exit side 30.

[0022] The pair of acting portions 32L, 32R extend in a substantially arcuate shape along the brake disc 16. Therefore, the brake disc 16 fits into a gap 35 between the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R. The brake disc 16 rotates in the rotational direction Cr at a middle position in the left-right direction of the gap 35. The left-right direction of the gap 35 also corresponds to the axial direction of the brake disc 16, the axial direction of the front wheel 14, and the vehicle width direction of the motorcycle 12. The middle position is located on the center line CL of the brake caliper 20.

[0023] Insertion holes 36B and 36F are formed on the disc rotation entrance side 28 and the disc rotation exit side 30 of the right-side action part 32R, respectively. The right-side action part 32R is fixed to the bracket 26 by two mounting bolts (not shown) that pass through the insertion holes 36B and 36F, respectively.

[0024] Each bridge portion 34B, 34F protrudes radially outward from the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R of the brake disc 16. Each bridge portion 34B, 34F also connects the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R. Therefore, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, an opening 40 that opens rearward is formed by the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R and the two bridge portions 34B, 34F.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R are formed with protrusions 42L, 42R that bulge rearward. The two protrusions 42L, 42R are formed in the center (the center in the circumferential direction C) of the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R. In other words, the two protrusions 42L, 42R are formed in the middle of the two bridge portions 34B, 34F. A hanger pin 44 extending in the left-right direction passes through the two protrusions 42L, 42R.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the disc brake device 10 further includes a plurality of pistons 46L, 46R and a pair of brake pads 48L, 48R. The plurality of pistons 46L, 46R and the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are housed in the brake caliper 20. That is, a gap 35 between the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R forms a brake pad accommodating chamber 50. The pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are housed in the brake pad accommodating chamber 50. In addition, the plurality of pistons 46L, 46R are housed in the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R.

[0027] Specifically, two cylinder holes (not shown) are formed in the left acting portion 32L. The two cylinder holes extend in the left-right direction. The two cylinder holes are open toward the brake disc 16. One cylinder hole is formed between the protruding portion 42L and one bridge portion 34B. The other cylinder hole is formed between the protruding portion 42L and the other bridge portion 34F. In other words, the two cylinder holes are formed on the front and rear sides of the left acting portion 32L, respectively. A piston 46L is housed in each cylinder hole. A hydraulic chamber (not shown) is formed between each cylinder hole and each piston 46L.

[0028] Similarly, two cylinder holes (not shown) are formed in the right-side acting portion 32R. The two cylinder holes extend in the left-right direction. The two cylinder holes are open toward the brake disc 16. One cylinder hole is formed between the protrusion 42R and one bridge portion 34B. The other cylinder hole is formed between the protrusion 42R and the other bridge portion 34F. In other words, the two cylinder holes are formed on the front and rear sides of the right-side acting portion 32R, respectively. A piston 46R is housed in each cylinder hole. Note that a hydraulic chamber (not shown) is formed between each cylinder hole and each piston 46R.

[0029] Thus, the brake caliper 20 is an opposed-piston four-pot caliper. The pair of brake pads 48L, 48R brake the brake disc 16 due to the operation of the respective pistons 46L, 46R. Therefore, the number of respective pistons 46L, 46R housed in the brake caliper 20 may be any number.

[0030] The brake pad accommodating chamber 50 is formed by the inner surfaces of the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R facing the brake disc 16, the mutually facing inner surfaces of the two bridge portions 34B, 34F, and a bottom portion 56 of the brake caliper 20 radially inward of the brake disc 16. The mutually facing inner surfaces of the two bridge portions 34B, 34F are side surfaces that are perpendicular to the circumferential direction C and extend in the left-right direction. The bottom portion 56 of the brake caliper 20 extends from the bottom portions of the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R (portions of the pair of acting portions 32L, 32R that are located radially inward of the brake disc 16) toward the brake disc 16.

[0031] Each of the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R includes a friction material 58L, 58R and a backing plate 60L, 60R. Each of the friction materials 58L, 58R has a contact surface (a side surface facing the brake disc 16) that contacts the side surface of the brake disc 16. Each of the friction materials 58L, 58R extends in an arc shape along the circumferential direction C. The contact surface of each of the friction materials 58L, 58R slides against the brake disc 16. Each of the backing plates 60L, 60R is attached to the back surface (a side surface away from the brake disc 16) opposite the contact surface of the friction material 58L, 58R. Each of the backing plates 60L, 60R is a metal plate that is approximately arc-shaped. One surface of each of the backing plates 60L, 60R is attached to the back surface of the friction material 58L, 58R. The other surface of each back plate 60L, 60R faces the piston 46L, 46R.

[0032] The bottom surface (radially inner surface) of each back plate 60L, 60R is in contact with the bottom 56 of the brake caliper 20. The side surface of the disc rotation entrance side 28 of each back plate 60L, 60R can be in contact with the inner surface of one bridge portion 34B. The side surface of the disc rotation exit side 30 of each back plate 60L, 60R can be in contact with the inner surface of the other bridge portion 34F.

[0033] Each back plate 60L, 60R is formed with a plurality of protrusions 62L, 62R, 64L, 64R, 66L, 66R, 68L, and 68R (see FIG. 5). The plurality of protrusions 62L, 62R, 64L, 64R, 66L, 66R, 68L, and 68R are formed on the back surface (radially outer surface) of each back plate 60L, 60R. The plurality of protrusions 62L, 62R, 64L, 64R, 66L, 66R, 68L, and 68R protrude rearward of the brake disc 16 (radially outward of the brake disc 16). Furthermore, the plurality of protrusions 62L, 62R, 64L, 64R, 66L, 66R, 68L, and 68R protrude rearward of each friction material 58L, 58R (radially outward of the brake disc 16). 2, 3, and 5, protrusions 70L, 70R are formed in the central portion (central portion in the circumferential direction C) of the back surface of each back plate 60L, 60R. Each protrusion 70L, 70R corresponds to the protrusions 42L, 42R of each acting portion 32L, 32R. A hanger pin 44 passes through each of the protrusions 70L, 70R.

[0034] Specifically, each of the protrusions 62L, 62R is located at the end of the back plate 60L, 60R on the disc entry side 28. Each of the protrusions 62L, 62R protrudes radially outward from the back surface of each of the back plates 60L, 60R. Each of the protrusions 62L, 62R is capable of contacting the inner surface of one of the bridge portions 34B.

[0035] Each protrusion 64L, 64R is located at the end of the back plate 60L, 60R on the disc rotation side 30. Each protrusion 64L, 64R protrudes from the back surface of each back plate 60L, 60R radially outward of the brake disc 16. Each protrusion 64L, 64R is capable of contacting the inner surface of the other bridge portion 34F.

[0036] Furthermore, each protrusion 66L, 66R is located on the disc rotation inlet side 28 (upstream side in the circumferential direction C and the rotation direction Cr) relative to the central protrusions 70L, 70R of each back plate 60L, 60R. Each protrusion 66L, 66R protrudes radially outward from the back surface of each back plate 60L, 60R. The amount of protrusion of each protrusion 66L, 66R radially outward from the brake disc 16 is smaller than the amount of protrusion of each protrusion 70L, 70R radially outward from the brake disc 16. Furthermore, the tip surface (radially outer back surface) of each protrusion 66L, 66R is inclined toward the tip of the protrusion 70L, 70R.

[0037] Furthermore, each protrusion 68L, 68R is located on the disc rotation outlet side 30 (downstream in the circumferential direction C and rotation direction Cr) with respect to the central protrusions 70L, 70R of each back plate 60L, 60R. Each protrusion 68L, 68R protrudes radially outward from the back surface of each back plate 60L, 60R. The amount of protrusion of each protrusion 68L, 68R radially outward from the brake disc 16 is smaller than the amount of protrusion of each protrusion 70L, 70R radially outward from the brake disc 16. Furthermore, the tip surface (radially outer back surface) of each protrusion 68L, 68R is inclined toward the tip of the protrusion 70L, 70R.

[0038] In this manner, the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are positioned in the circumferential direction C by the back plates 60L, 60R (protrusions 62L, 62R, 64L, 64R) coming into surface contact with the inner surfaces of the two bridge portions 34B, 34F. Furthermore, in the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R, the back plates 60L, 60R come into surface contact with the bottom portion 56 of the brake caliper 20. Furthermore, the back plates 60L, 60R are pivotally supported by the hanger pin 44. As a result, the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are positioned in the radial direction of the brake disc 16. In this manner, the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are accommodated in the brake pad accommodating chamber 50.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the brake caliper 20 further includes a retainer 72. The retainer 72 elastically biases a pair of brake pads 48L and 48R. The pair of brake pads 48L and 48R are held on the bottom portion 56 of the brake caliper 20 by the biasing force from the retainer 72. The retainer 72 is a leaf spring member (pad spring) extending along the circumferential direction C. The retainer 72 is located outside the brake disc 16 in the radial direction and covers the gap 74 between the friction materials 58L and 58R. Here, let the width of the retainer 72 in the left-right direction (the width in the axial direction W which is the direction orthogonal to the center line CL) be Wr. In the following description, the width of each part of the retainer 72 in the axial direction W may be described with a lowercase letter following Wr.

[0040] The retainer 72 has an arcuate portion 72a. The arcuate portion 72a is locked to the central portion of the hanger pin 44. The hanger pin 44 locks the arcuate portion 72a at the portion inside the brake disc 16 in the radial direction of the hanger pin 44. The following components are sequentially connected to the portion on the disc entry side 28 of the arcuate portion 72a.

[0041] An abutting portion 72b is connected to the arcuate portion 72a. The abutting portion 72b is located on the disc entry side 28 with respect to the arcuate portion 72a. The abutting portion 72b is a wide (width Wrb) portion that curves and abuts against the protrusions 66L and 66R of the back plates 60L and 60R.

[0042] A connecting portion 72c is connected to the abutting portion 72b. The connecting portion 72c is located on the disc entry side 28 with respect to the abutting portion 72b. The connecting portion 72c is formed in a flat plate shape. The width of the connecting portion 72c is narrower than the width Wrb of the abutting portion 72b. Specifically, the portion on the disc exit side 30 of the connecting portion 72c is connected to the abutting portion 72b. This connecting portion is a relatively wide wide portion 72g of the connecting portion 72c. The width Wrc1 of the wide portion 72g is narrower than the width Wrb of the abutting portion 72b (Wrc1 < Wrb). Also, the width Wrc2 of the portion on the disc entry side 28 of the connecting portion 72c is narrower than the width Wrc1 of the wide portion 72g (Wrc2 < Wrc1).

[0043] The rotation-side end 72d is connected to the connecting portion 72c. The rotation-side end 72d is located on the disk rotation side 28 with respect to the connecting portion 72c. The width Wrd of the rotation-side end 72d is Width Wrc2 Abbreviated as With A recess 76 is formed in the center of the inner surface of one bridge portion 34B (the center in the axial direction W). The rotation-side end portion 72d is engaged with the recess 76.

[0044] The following components are connected in order to the disc rotation outlet side 30 of the arc-shaped portion 72a.

[0045] A connecting portion 72e is connected to the arc-shaped portion 72a. The connecting portion 72e is located on the disc rotation outlet side 30 relative to the arc-shaped portion 72a. The connecting portion 72e is formed in a flat plate shape. The width Wre of the connecting portion 72e is approximately the same as that of the arc-shaped portion 72a. An abutting portion 72f is connected to the connecting portion 72e. The abutting portion 72f is located on the disc rotation outlet side 30 relative to the connecting portion 72e. The abutting portion 72f is a wide portion that abuts against the protrusions 64L, 64R of each back plate 60L, 60R in a curved state. The abutting portion 72f is the rotation outlet side end of the retainer 72. The width Wrf of the abutting portion 72f is approximately the same as the width Wrb of the abutting portion 72b (Wrf ≒ Wrb > Wre).

[0046] The contact portions 72b of the retainer 72 contact the protrusions 66L, 66R of the back plates 60L, 60R. The contact portions 72f of the retainer 72 contact the protrusions 64L, 64R of the back plates 60L, 60R. This biases the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R radially inward of the brake disc 16. The pair of brake pads 48L, 48R are also biased toward the disc rotation side 30. As a result, even if there is some play between the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R and the brake caliper 20, the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R accommodated in the brake pad accommodating chambers 50 can be held by the brake caliper 20.

[0047] When the rider of the motorcycle 12 operates a brake lever (not shown) while the front wheel 14 is rotating in the rotation direction Cr, the pistons 46L, 46R move axially inward (toward the brake disc 16). When the pistons 46L, 46R move axially inward, they press the back plates 60L, 60R that constitute the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R. As a result, the friction materials 58L, 58R connected to the back plates 60L, 60R are pressed against the brake disc 16. As a result, the brake disc 16 and the front wheel 14 are braked by the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R.

[0048] In this case, the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R slide in the circumferential direction C (rotational direction Cr) due to the rotational force of the brake disc 16. As a result, the protrusions 64R, 64L of each back plate 60R, 60L abut against the inner surface of the bridge portion 34F. Therefore, the inner surface of the bridge portion 34F functions as a surface that receives the torque acting on the pair of brake pads 48L, 48R.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the connecting portions 72c, 72e has a relatively narrow width in the axial direction W. Therefore, stress may be concentrated locally at each of the connecting portions 72c, 72e. In this case, it is possible to change the thickness or material of the retainer 72 to change the load at the stress concentration points at each of the connecting portions 72c, 72e. This would disperse the stress concentration at each of the connecting portions 72c, 72e. However, this method is costly. Therefore, in the disc brake device 10 according to this embodiment, stress concentration is dispersed at low cost without changing the thickness or material of the retainer 72. For this reason, the disc brake device 10 employs the following characteristic configuration for the structure of the retainer 72.

[0050] That is, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, wide portions 72g and 72h are provided on the two connecting portions 72c and 72e, which are connected to the two contact portions 72b and 72f. The two wide portions 72g and 72h are connected to the two contact portions 72b and 72f. The two wide portions 72g and 72h are formed wider in the left-right direction (axial direction W) than other portions of the two connecting portions 72c and 72e. By providing the two wide portions 72g and 72h, stress concentration at the two connecting portions 72c and 72e is alleviated.

[0051] Specifically, the portion of the connecting portion 72c that is connected to the abutting portion 72b (portion with width Wrc1) becomes the wide portion 72g.

[0052] Furthermore, the portion of the connecting portion 72e that is connected to the contact portion 72f is tapered so that its width gradually increases toward the contact portion 72f. This tapered portion (the portion that is connected to the contact portion 72f) becomes the wide portion 72h with a width Wrh (Wrh>Wre).

[0053] In this manner, connecting portion 72c is connected to abutting portion 72b. In this case, wide portion 72g is formed adjacent to abutting portion 72b at connecting portion 72c. Meanwhile, connecting portion 72e is connected to abutting portion 72f. In this case, wide portion 72h is formed adjacent to abutting portion 72f at connecting portion 72e.

[0054] Furthermore, the retainer 72 has a plurality of abutment portions 72b, 72f spaced at regular intervals in the rotational direction Cr. Accordingly, the plurality of connecting portions 72c, 72e connect these abutment portions 72b, 72f in the rotational direction Cr. In this case, the width Wrc1 of the wide portion 72g of the connecting portion 72c is wider in the left-right direction (axial direction W) than the width Wrh of the wide portion 72h of the connecting portion 72e (Wrc1>Wrh).

[0055] Moreover, an optional mark 80 is provided on the radially outer surface of the wide portion 72g. As an example, in Figures 2 and 4, an arrow and the letter "UP" are provided to indicate the assembly direction of the retainer 72 to the brake caliper 20.

[0056] The invention that can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below.

[0057] A disc brake device (10) including a brake disc (16), a brake caliper (20) provided so as to straddle the brake disc (16), a pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) accommodated in the brake caliper (20) and clamping the brake disc (16), and a retainer (72) provided on the brake caliper (20) and abutting against the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) to hold the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) on the brake caliper (20), ) includes abutment portions (72b, 72f) that abut against the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) and press the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) radially inward of the brake disc (16), connecting portions (72c, 72e) that are connected to the abutment portions (72b, 72f), and wide portions (72g, 72h) that are provided on the connecting portions (72c, 72e) and are formed wider in the axial direction (W) of the brake disc (16) than other portions of the connecting portions (72c, 72e), thereby alleviating stress concentration at the connecting portions (72c, 72e).

[0058] According to this configuration, by providing a wide portion at the connecting portion, the load at the stress concentration point at the connecting portion can be changed and the stress concentration can be dispersed without changing the plate thickness or material of the retainer and without incurring any costs.

[0059] When the inlet side of the brake disc (16) of the brake caliper (20) in the rotation direction (Cr) is defined as the disc rotation inlet side (28) and the outlet side of the rotation direction (Cr) is defined as the disc rotation outlet side (30), the abutment portions (72b, 72f) are arranged to press the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) radially inward and toward the disc rotation outlet side (30), the connecting portions (72c, 72e) are connected to the disc rotation inlet side (28) of the abutment portions (72b, 72f), and the wide portions (72g, 72h) are formed adjacent to the abutment portions (72b, 72f) at the connecting portions (72c, 72e).

[0060] According to this configuration, a wide portion is formed adjacent to the abutment portion. This prevents the occurrence of abnormal noise such as squealing that occurs at the sliding portion between the pair of brake pads and the brake disc when the abutment portion presses the pair of brake pads radially inward and toward the disc rotation side, and also reduces uneven wear of the pair of brake pads. It also helps to disperse stress concentration.

[0061] The retainer (72) comprises a plurality of abutment portions (72b, 72f) arranged at arbitrary intervals in the rotation direction (Cr), and a plurality of connecting portions (72c, 72e) connected to the plurality of abutment portions (72b, 72f) in the rotation direction (Cr) and having the wide portions (72g, 72h), and of the plurality of wide portions (72g, 72h), the wide portion (72g) on ​​the disc rotation inlet side (28) is wider in the axial direction (W) than the wide portion (72h) on the disc rotation outlet side (30).

[0062] According to this configuration, the plurality of contact portions are connected by the plurality of connecting portions, and the plurality of connecting portions each have a wide portion formed thereon, which allows for efficient distribution of stresses of different magnitudes that are generated at the connecting portions when the plurality of contact portions press the pair of brake pads radially inward and toward the disc rotation side.

[0063] In addition, the abutment portion on the disc rotation side presses the pair of brake pads from the disc rotation side toward the disc rotation side. Therefore, the connecting portion that connects the disc rotation side to the abutment portion on the disc rotation side experiences greater stress concentration than other connecting portions. Therefore, in this configuration, the axial width of the wide portion on the disc rotation side is made wider than the axial width of the wide portion on the disc rotation side. This allows for effective distribution of stress concentration that occurs in the connecting portion on the disc rotation side.

[0064] The wide portions (72g, 72h) are provided with an optional mark (80).

[0065] According to this configuration, marks indicating the direction in which the retainer is to be assembled relative to the brake caliper can be suitably provided.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A disc brake device (10) comprising: a brake disc (16); a brake caliper (20) provided so as to straddle the brake disc (16); a pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) accommodated in the brake caliper (20) and clamping the brake disc (16); and a retainer (72) provided on the brake caliper (20) and abutting against the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) to hold the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) to the brake caliper (20), The retainer (72) abutment portions (72b, 72f) that abut against the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) to press the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) radially inward of the brake disc (16); connecting portions (72c, 72e) connected to the abutting portions (72b, 72f); wide portions (72g, 72h) that are provided in the connecting portions (72c, 72e) and are formed wider in the axial direction (W) of the brake disc (16) than other portions of the connecting portions (72c, 72e), thereby alleviating stress concentration at the connecting portions (72c, 72e); Equipped with When an inlet side of the brake caliper (20) in a rotation direction (Cr) of the brake disc (16) is defined as a disc rotation inlet side (28) and an outlet side of the brake caliper (20) in the rotation direction (Cr) is defined as a disc rotation outlet side (30), the abutment portions (72b, 72f) are arranged to press the pair of brake pads (48L, 48R) radially inward and against the disc rotation outlet side (30), The connecting portions (72c, 72e) are connected to the disk rotation sides (28) of the abutting portions (72b, 72f), The wide portions (72g, 72h) are formed adjacent to the abutment portions (72b, 72f) in the connecting portions (72c, 72e), the retainer (72) includes a plurality of the abutment portions (72b, 72f) provided at arbitrary intervals in the rotational direction (Cr), and a plurality of the connecting portions (72c, 72e) connected to the plurality of the abutment portions (72b, 72f) in the rotational direction (Cr) and provided with the wide portions (72g, 72h), A disc brake device (10) characterized in that, among the plurality of wide portions (72g, 72h), the wide portion (72g) on ​​the disc rotation side (28) is wider in the axial direction (W) than the wide portion (72h) on the disc rotation side (30).

2. 2. The disc brake device (10) according to claim 1, The disc brake device (10) is characterized in that an arbitrary mark (80) is provided on the wide portions (72g, 72h).

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