Brake caliper, disc brake, vehicle, and temperature adjustment method and apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicles, and provided thereby are a brake caliper, a disc brake, a vehicle, and a temperature adjustment method and apparatus. The brake caliper (1) comprises a caliper body (11), a piston (12), an elastic ring (13), and a heating element (14). The caliper body (11) is provided with a piston cavity (111), and the piston (12) is located in the piston cavity (111). The elastic ring (13) surrounds the piston (12) and is used to drive the piston (12) to return. The heating element (14) is located in the piston cavity (111) and is used to heat the elastic ring (13). When the vehicle is in low temperature working conditions, the heating element (14) can heat the elastic ring (13), thereby ensuring the rebound performance of the elastic ring (13) and reducing drag torque between the brake caliper (1) and a brake disc (2) in low temperature working conditions.

Description

Brake caliper, disc brake, vehicle, temperature regulation method and device Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a brake caliper, a disc brake, a vehicle, and a temperature adjustment method and device. Background Art

[0002] The disc brake consists of a brake caliper and a brake disc. The brake caliper is installed on the chassis of the vehicle, and the brake disc is fixedly connected to the wheel and rotates with the wheel.

[0003] A brake caliper consists of a caliper body, a piston, and an elastic ring. The piston is in sliding connection with the caliper body, while the elastic ring surrounds the piston and is connected to both the piston and the caliper body. When a disc brake is applied, driven by a power source, the piston presses against the brake disc via the friction pad, applying service or parking braking. During this process, the elastic ring undergoes elastic deformation. Once braking is complete, the power source's driving force is removed, causing the elastic ring to rebound and drive the piston back into position, releasing the friction pad from the brake disc.

[0004] After braking is completed, if the stroke for the elastic ring to drive the piston back is short, the friction plate cannot be completely separated from the brake disc, resulting in a large drag torque between the friction plate and the brake disc.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a brake caliper, a disc brake, a vehicle, and a temperature control method and device. The brake caliper is equipped with a heater for heating an elastic ring. This heater can heat the elastic ring when the vehicle is operating in low-temperature conditions, ensuring that the elastic ring maintains good rebound performance even in low-temperature conditions and reducing the drag torque generated between the brake caliper and the brake disc. The technical solutions for the brake caliper, disc brake, vehicle, temperature control method, and device are as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a brake caliper comprising a caliper body, a piston, an elastic ring, and a heater. The caliper body has a piston cavity, in which the piston is located. The elastic ring surrounds the piston and is used to drive the piston back. The heater is located in the piston cavity and is used to heat the elastic ring.

[0008] The piston can be counteracted by the friction pad against the brake disc. When the piston's return stroke shortens, the friction pad cannot completely separate from the brake disc due to the piston's resistance, resulting in a large drag torque between the friction pad and the brake disc. In one possible implementation, the brake caliper provided by the present disclosure also includes the friction pad.

[0009] The elastic ring can also be called a sealing ring, a rectangular sealing ring, or a return ring. The elastic ring can be interference-fitted with both the piston cavity and the piston. In one possible implementation, the inner wall of the piston cavity has a first annular groove, into which the elastic ring is embedded. The elastic ring can be made of rubber, such as ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM). When the temperature of the elastic ring is low, its resilience deteriorates, shortening the stroke required to drive the piston back into position.

[0010] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure provides a heating element for heating the elastic ring in the brake caliper, so that the temperature of the elastic ring can still be relatively high under low-temperature working conditions. That is, the elastic ring still has better rebound performance under low-temperature working conditions, thereby reducing the drag torque between the brake caliper and the brake disc.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the brake caliper is a floating caliper brake caliper, and the caliper body is capable of floating. The caliper body has a piston accommodating cavity, and the piston is located in the piston accommodating cavity.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper is a fixed-caliper type. The caliper body is fixed and has two piston-accommodating cavities. Two pistons are located in each of the two cavities, one on each side of the brake disc. Two elastic rings are provided, each surrounding the two pistons and driving the pistons back. Two heating elements are provided, each heating element heating the two elastic rings. This ensures that both elastic rings have good rebound performance even under low-temperature operating conditions.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper further includes a motor and a linear transmission mechanism, wherein the motor is used to drive the piston to extend out of the piston chamber through the linear transmission mechanism; the heating element draws power from the motor, and the first controller of the motor is used to control the heating element.

[0014] The linear transmission mechanism may be a ball screw mechanism or a screw-nut mechanism, etc., which can convert the rotation of the motor into linear motion. The first controller of the motor may be integrated into the motor. The voltage of the power supply of the heating element may be 12V or 48V.

[0015] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure is that for a brake caliper that uses an electric motor as a power source, the heating element can reuse the power supply of the motor, and the first controller of the motor can control whether the heating element is heated, thereby solving the power supply and control problems of the heating element and being relatively easy to implement.

[0016] In a possible implementation manner, the heating element is electrically connected to a power supply line of the motor.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner, the heating element is electrically connected to the motor.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the brake caliper is an electric park brake (EPB) brake caliper.

[0019] EPB refers to a technology that integrates temporary braking during driving (i.e., service braking) and long-term braking after parking (i.e., parking braking) functions, and implements parking braking through electronic control. Specifically, the service brake and parking brake share the same brake caliper. EPB brake calipers generally have two power sources: an electric motor (for parking braking) and a hydraulic source (for service braking). The heating element can reuse the power supply of the electric motor, and the first controller of the motor can control whether the heating element is heated.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper is an electromechanical brake system (EMB) brake caliper. The EMB brake caliper uses a motor as a power source to drive the piston to clamp the brake disc. The heating element can reuse the motor's power supply, and the motor's first controller can control whether the heating element is heated.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the heating element is controlled jointly by a first controller of the brake caliper and a second controller of the vehicle, wherein the second controller of the vehicle may be a vehicle control unit (VCU).

[0022] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper is powered solely by a hydraulic source. The caliper body has a port for oil flow, which communicates with the piston chamber and interfaces with the hydraulic source. The hydraulic source injects oil into the piston chamber through the port, propelling the piston. Furthermore, in this scenario, the heating element requires power from other vehicle components, and heating must be controlled by a second controller in the vehicle, such as the vehicle's VCU.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the heating element is in contact with the elastic ring, thereby improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the heating element to the elastic ring.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the heating element includes a resistance wire, which heats the elastic element when the heating element is powered on, and stops heating when the heating element is powered off. The resistance wire may also be referred to as an electric heating wire.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the heating element is annular and surrounds the piston. In this way, the annular heating element faces the annular elastic ring, so that when the heating element heats the elastic ring, the temperature of each part of the elastic ring can rise evenly and quickly.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the heating element is located inside the elastic ring. In this way, pollutants in the piston cavity, such as oil in the piston cavity, are not easy to contaminate the heating element, thereby improving the reliability of the heating element.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the elastic ring is injection-molded on the outside of the heating element. In other words, the elastic ring and the heating element are integrally injection-molded.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the elastic ring has a second annular groove, and the heating element is located in the second annular groove.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the heating element is located on the side of the elastic ring closest to the brake disc. Oil is present on the side of the elastic ring farther from the brake disc. Placing the heating element on the side of the elastic ring closest to the brake disc prevents contamination of the heating element by the oil, thereby improving the reliability of the heating element.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the heating element is located on a side of the elastic ring away from the brake disc. In this way, when the elastic ring is deformed, the heating element will not be squeezed, thereby ensuring the resilience of the elastic ring.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the outer side of the elastic ring is coated with a thermal insulation layer. The thermal insulation layer insulates the elastic ring and reduces the efficiency of heat dissipation from the elastic ring, thereby reducing the rate of temperature drop of the elastic ring after the heating element stops heating.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the brake caliper further includes a temperature sensor, which is used to detect the temperature of the elastic ring.

[0033] The temperature sensor may be electrically connected to a first controller of the brake caliper and may also be electrically connected to a second controller of the vehicle.

[0034] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure provides a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the elastic ring in the brake caliper, so that the first controller or the second controller can more reasonably control the heating element based on the temperature of the elastic ring detected by the temperature sensor.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the temperature sensor is located between the outer wall of the elastic ring and the inner wall of the piston cavity.

[0036] In a possible implementation, a portion of the inner wall of the piston cavity opposite to the elastic ring has a groove, and the temperature sensor is located in the groove.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper further includes a first controller configured to: obtain a heating indication, where the heating indication is triggered by the temperature of the elastic ring being lower than a first temperature threshold, and then control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0038] The temperature of the elastic ring may be detected by the temperature sensor. The first temperature threshold may be greater than -10°C and less than 5°C.

[0039] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure controls the heating element to heat the elastic ring when the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold, so that the temperature of the elastic ring does not fall too low, thereby ensuring the rebound performance of the elastic ring and reducing the drag torque generated between the brake caliper and the brake disc under low-temperature conditions.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the heating instruction is determined by the first controller itself. That is, when the first controller determines that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than the first temperature threshold (the heating instruction is obtained at this time), it controls the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first controller receives a heating instruction sent by the second controller of the vehicle. When the second controller of the vehicle determines that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold, it sends a heating instruction to the first controller.

[0042] In one possible implementation, after controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the first controller is further configured to: obtain a heating stop indication, where the heating stop indication is triggered by the temperature of the elastic ring exceeding a second temperature threshold. Thereafter, controlling the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0043] The second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold, and the second temperature threshold may be greater than 5°C and less than 20°C.

[0044] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure prevents the elastic ring from being damaged or having its performance deteriorated due to excessive temperature by controlling the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring when the temperature of the elastic ring rises to a second temperature threshold.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the heating stop instruction is determined by the first controller itself. That is, when the first controller determines that the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than the second temperature threshold (at this time, the heating stop instruction is obtained), the first controller controls the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the first controller receives a stop heating instruction sent by the second controller of the vehicle. When the second controller of the vehicle determines that the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than a second temperature threshold, it sends a stop heating instruction to the first controller.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the brake caliper further includes a first controller configured to: obtain a heating indication, the heating indication being triggered by an ambient temperature outside the vehicle being lower than a third temperature threshold, and then control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0048] The ambient temperature outside the vehicle can be detected by an existing ambient temperature sensor in the vehicle. The third temperature threshold can be the same as the first temperature threshold, for example, the third temperature threshold can be greater than -10°C and less than 5°C.

[0049] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure uses a method in which the temperature of the elastic ring tends to be consistent with the ambient temperature after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time. Therefore, when the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is below a third temperature threshold, the temperature of the elastic ring is generally considered to be lower. At this point, the heating element can be controlled to heat the elastic ring, preventing it from cooling too low. This ensures the elastic ring's resilience and reduces the drag torque generated between the brake caliper and brake disc under low-temperature conditions.

[0050] Furthermore, by controlling the heating element based on the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, there is no need to specifically provide a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the elastic ring, which reduces the cost and implementation difficulty of the brake caliper.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the heating instruction is determined by the first controller itself. That is, when the first controller determines that the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is lower than the third temperature threshold (the heating instruction is obtained at this time), the first controller controls the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the first controller receives a heating instruction sent by the second controller of the vehicle. When the second controller of the vehicle determines that the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is lower than a third temperature threshold, it sends a heating instruction to the first controller.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the heating instruction carries a target duration. When controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the first controller is configured to control the heating element to heat the elastic ring for the target duration.

[0054] The target duration may be determined by a first controller of the brake caliper or by a second controller of the vehicle.

[0055] The target duration may be determined by the first controller or the second controller based on the ambient temperature. The lower the ambient temperature, the lower the temperature of the elastic ring is generally, and the longer the target duration for heating the elastic ring is.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the first controller or the second controller is configured to determine a target heating time for the elastic ring based on the ambient temperature, the heating efficiency of the heating element, and the second temperature threshold.

[0057] The second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the third temperature threshold, and the second temperature threshold is the temperature that the elastic ring needs to reach during this heating. The second temperature threshold can be greater than 5°C and less than 15°C.

[0058] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a disc brake, comprising a brake caliper and a brake disc, wherein the brake caliper is the brake caliper as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0059] The disc brake may be a fixed-caliper disc brake or a floating-caliper disc brake. It may be an EPB brake, an EMB brake, or a brake driven by a hydraulic source. It may be a service brake, a parking brake, or a brake that integrates both service and parking brakes.

[0060] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a vehicle, comprising the disc brake according to the second aspect.

[0061] The vehicle may be a fuel vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

[0062] In a possible implementation, the vehicle has a second controller configured to: obtain the temperature of the elastic ring; determine that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold; and control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0063] In a possible implementation, when controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the second controller is configured to send a heating instruction to the first controller of the brake caliper, where the heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller to control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0064] In a possible implementation, after controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the second controller is further configured to: determine that the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than a second temperature threshold, and control the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0065] In one possible implementation, when controlling the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring, the second controller is configured to send a stop heating instruction to the first controller of the brake caliper, where the stop heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller to control the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the vehicle has a second controller configured to: obtain an ambient temperature outside the vehicle; determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; and control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0067] In a possible implementation, when controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the second controller is configured to send a heating instruction to the first controller of the brake caliper, where the heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller to control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0068] In a possible implementation, when controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the second controller is configured to: determine a target heating time for the elastic ring based on the ambient temperature, and control the heating element to heat the elastic ring for the target heating time.

[0069] The target duration may be included in the heating instruction.

[0070] In one possible implementation, the second controller is a VCU of the vehicle.

[0071] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a temperature regulation method, which is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring of the brake caliper as described in any one of the first aspects, and the temperature regulation method includes: obtaining the temperature of the elastic ring; determining that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold; and controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0072] The temperature adjustment method may be executed by a first controller included in the brake caliper, or by a second controller in the vehicle, or may be executed jointly by the first controller and the second controller.

[0073] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure controls the heating element to heat the elastic ring when the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold, so that the temperature of the elastic ring does not fall too low, thereby ensuring the rebound performance of the elastic ring under low-temperature conditions and reducing the drag torque generated between the brake caliper and the brake disc.

[0074] In one possible implementation, the temperature adjustment method includes: a second controller obtaining a temperature of the elastic ring; the second controller determining that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold; and the second controller sending a heating instruction to the first controller. The first controller obtains the heating instruction and controls a heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0075] In one possible implementation, after controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the temperature regulation method further includes: determining that the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold; and controlling the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0076] In one possible implementation, the temperature adjustment method further includes: the second controller determining that the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than a second temperature threshold; the second controller sending a stop heating instruction to the first controller; the first controller receiving the stop heating instruction and controlling the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0077] In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure provides a temperature regulation method, which is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring of the brake caliper as described in any one of the first aspects, and the temperature regulation method includes: obtaining the ambient temperature outside the vehicle; determining that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; and controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0078] The temperature adjustment method may be executed by a first controller of the brake caliper, or by a second controller in the vehicle, or may be executed jointly by the first controller and the second controller.

[0079] The technical solution provided by the present disclosure uses a method in which the temperature of the elastic ring tends to be consistent with the ambient temperature after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time. Therefore, when the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is below a third temperature threshold, the temperature of the elastic ring is generally considered to be lower. At this point, the heating element can be controlled to heat the elastic ring, preventing it from cooling too low. This ensures the elastic ring's resilience and reduces the drag torque generated between the brake caliper and brake disc under low-temperature conditions.

[0080] Furthermore, by controlling the heating element based on the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, there is no need to specifically provide a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the elastic ring, which reduces the cost and implementation difficulty of the brake caliper.

[0081] In one possible implementation, the temperature adjustment method includes: a second controller obtaining an ambient temperature outside the vehicle, determining that the ambient temperature is below a third temperature threshold, and sending a heating instruction to a first controller. The first controller obtains the heating instruction and controls a heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0082] In a possible implementation, controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring includes: determining a target heating time for the elastic ring based on the ambient temperature; and controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring for the target heating time.

[0083] In a possible implementation, the target duration is included in the heating instruction.

[0084] In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure provides a temperature regulating device, the temperature regulating device being used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring in the brake caliper according to any one of the first aspects, the temperature regulating device comprising:

[0085] A first acquisition module, configured to acquire the temperature of the elastic ring;

[0086] a first determining module, configured to determine that the temperature of the elastic ring is lower than a first temperature threshold;

[0087] The first control module is used to control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0088] In one possible implementation, after controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring, the first determination module is further used to determine whether the temperature of the elastic ring is higher than a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold; the first control module is further used to control the heating element to stop heating the elastic ring.

[0089] In a seventh aspect, the present disclosure provides a temperature regulating device, the temperature regulating device being used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring in the brake caliper according to any one of the first aspects, the temperature regulating device comprising:

[0090] The second acquisition module is used to obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle;

[0091] a second determining module, configured to determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold;

[0092] The second control module is used to control the heating element to heat the elastic ring.

[0093] In a possible implementation, the second control module is configured to: determine a target heating time for the elastic ring based on the ambient temperature; and control the heating element to heat the elastic ring for the target heating time.

[0094] In an eighth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores at least one instruction, and the at least one instruction is loaded and executed by a controller to implement the temperature regulation method as described in any one of the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect.

[0095] In a ninth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer program product, comprising at least one instruction, wherein the at least one instruction is executed by a controller so that the controller implements the temperature regulation method as described in any one of the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect.

[0096] In the tenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a chip, which includes a controller, and the controller is used to call and run instructions stored in the memory from the memory, so that the electronic control unit equipped with the chip executes the temperature regulation method described in any one of the fourth or fifth aspects above.

[0097] In the eleventh aspect, the present disclosure provides another chip, which includes: an input interface, an output interface, a controller and a memory, wherein the input interface, the output interface, the controller and the memory are connected through an internal connection path, and the controller is used to execute the code in the memory. When the code is executed, the controller is used to execute the temperature control method described in any one of the fourth or fifth aspects above.

[0098] In the twelfth aspect, the present disclosure provides an electronic control unit, which includes a controller coupled to a memory; at least one instruction is stored in the memory, and the at least one instruction is loaded and executed by the controller to implement the temperature control method as described in any one of the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0099] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a floating caliper disc brake in a related art according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0100] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a floating caliper disc brake in a related art according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0101] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a floating caliper disc brake in a related art according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0102] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a floating caliper disc brake provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0103] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a fixed-caliper disc brake provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0104] FIG6 is a partial schematic diagram of a disc brake provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0105] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an elastic ring provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0106] FIG8 is a cross-sectional view of an elastic ring provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0107] FIG9 is a cross-sectional view of an elastic ring provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0108] FIG10 is a partial schematic diagram of a disc brake provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0109] FIG11 is a partial schematic diagram of a disc brake provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0110] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a deformation process of an elastic ring during braking provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0111] FIG13 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elastic ring and a heating element provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0112] FIG14 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elastic ring and a heating element provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0113] FIG15 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elastic ring and a heating element provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0114] FIG16 is a partial schematic diagram of a disc brake provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0115] FIG17 is a flow chart of a temperature adjustment method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0116] FIG18 is a flow chart of another temperature adjustment method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0117] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of a temperature regulating device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0118] FIG20 is a schematic diagram of another temperature regulating device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0119] FIG21 is a schematic diagram of an electronic control unit provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] Legend: 1. Brake caliper, 10. Friction plate, 11. Caliper body, 111. Piston chamber, 1111. First annular groove, 1112. Third annular groove, 12. Piston, 13. Elastic ring, 130. Second annular groove, 131. Inner wall, 132. Outer wall, 133. First side wall, 134. Second side wall, 14. Heating element, 15. Motor, 16. Linear transmission mechanism, 17. Insulation layer, 18. Temperature sensor, 19. Controller, 20. Dust cover; 2. Brake disc. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] As new energy vehicles become increasingly popular, their range is attracting increasing attention. Factors influencing a new energy vehicle's range include not only its battery capacity but also the resistance it encounters while driving. The drag torque generated by the vehicle's disc brakes is a significant component of this resistance.

[0122] The following explains why disc brakes generate drag torque:

[0123] As shown in Figures 1-3, a floating caliper disc brake comprises a brake caliper 1 and a brake disc 2. The brake caliper 1 is mounted on the vehicle's chassis, and the brake disc 2 is fixed to the wheel. When the vehicle brakes, the brake caliper 1 clamps the brake disc 2 (as shown in Figure 3), causing resistance to the rotation of the brake disc 2, thereby achieving service braking or parking braking. When the vehicle brakes, the brake caliper 1 releases the brake disc 2 (as shown in Figure 1). The rotation of the brake disc 2 no longer encounters resistance from the brake caliper 1, and the vehicle can start and drive normally.

[0124] As shown in Figures 1-3, a brake caliper 1 in the related art includes a caliper body 11, a piston 12, and an elastic ring 13. The caliper body 11 defines a piston cavity 111, within which the piston 12 is located. The elastic ring 13 surrounds the piston 12 and is connected to the inner wall of the piston cavity 111 and the piston 12, respectively. Furthermore, two friction plates 10 are positioned on the piston 12 and the caliper body 11, respectively, and on either side of the brake disc 2. These two friction plates 10 are used to clamp the brake disc 2 under the force of the piston 12 and the caliper body 11.

[0125] Taking a hydraulically powered disc brake as an example, during braking, as shown in Figures 1-2, liquid (high-pressure oil, with a maximum pressure of 180 bar) flows into piston chamber 111 and pushes piston 12 toward brake disc 2 until friction pad 10 on piston 12 abuts against brake disc 2. Subsequently, as shown in Figures 2-3, because piston 12 is blocked, the liquid flowing into piston chamber 111 pushes caliper body 11 in the opposite direction until friction pad 10 on caliper body 11 abuts against brake disc 2. In this way, the two friction pads 10 clamp the brake disc 2, and the vehicle is braked. Furthermore, during this movement of piston 12 and caliper body 11, elastic ring 13 deforms.

[0126] When the brake is released, the liquid in the piston chamber 111 flows out and the piston chamber 111 is depressurized. Since the elastic ring 13 is in a deformed state, it has a tendency to change to a natural state, and the elastic ring 13 will drive the piston 12 and the caliper body 11 to return to their original positions, and accordingly, the two friction plates 10 will also return to their original positions.

[0127] Ideally, after the caliper 11 and piston 12 return to their original positions, a clearance of 0.1 mm exists between the friction pad 10 and the brake disc 2, completely separating the two. However, due to assembly errors and factors such as the flatness of the disc surfaces, contact between the friction pad 10 and the brake disc 2 may occur. This creates a resistance torque between the friction pad 10 and the brake disc 2, hindering wheel rotation. At room temperature, this resistance torque is relatively low, approximately 0.8 N·m to 1 N·m. N·m is a unit of torque, also known as a Newton·meter.

[0128] However, at low temperatures, the relaxation of the elastic ring 13 slows dramatically, increasing its hardness, modulus, and intramolecular friction, significantly reducing its elasticity. This deteriorates the elastic ring 13's resilience (or elasticity). This shortens the return stroke of the piston 12 and caliper 11, tightening the contact between the friction plate 10 and the brake disc 2. This increases the drag torque generated between the two, significantly impacting the vehicle's range. For example, at temperatures below -10°C, the drag torque decreases to 2.5 N·m. Assuming a 700 km driving distance at low temperatures, the vehicle's range will be reduced by approximately 24 km, assuming all four wheels are affected by this increased drag torque.

[0129] Therefore, how to reduce the drag torque generated between the brake caliper 1 and the brake disc 2 under low temperature conditions is a key technical issue.

[0130] In view of the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a brake caliper 1. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the brake caliper 1 includes a caliper body 11, a piston 12, an elastic ring 13, and a heater 14. The caliper body 11 has a piston cavity 111, in which the piston 12 is located. The elastic ring 13 surrounds the piston 12 and is used to drive the piston 12 back to its original position. The heater 14 is located in the piston cavity 111 and is used to heat the elastic ring 13.

[0131] The piston 12 can be abutted against the brake disc 2 via the friction pad 10. When the return stroke of the piston 12 shortens, the friction pad 10 cannot completely separate from the brake disc 2 due to the resistance of the piston 12, resulting in a large drag torque between the friction pad 10 and the brake disc 2. In some examples, the brake caliper 1 provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure also includes a friction pad 10.

[0132] The elastic ring 13 can also be called a sealing ring, a rectangular sealing ring, or a return ring. The elastic ring 13 can be interference-connected with both the piston cavity 111 and the piston 12. In some examples, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the inner wall of the piston cavity 111 has a first annular groove 1111, into which the elastic ring 13 is embedded. The elastic ring 13 can be made of rubber, for example, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM).

[0133] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the brake caliper 1 further includes a dust cover 20 , which is used to prevent external dust from entering the piston cavity 111 .

[0134] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, by providing a heating element 14 for heating the elastic ring 13 in the brake caliper 1, can prevent the temperature of the elastic ring 13 from being too low, so that the elastic ring 13 still has excellent rebound performance under low temperature conditions, and reduces the drag torque generated between the brake caliper 1 and the brake disc 2. The drag torque of the disc brake can be kept stable under various ambient temperatures and always at a low value.

[0135] The brake caliper 1 provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be a floating caliper brake caliper or a fixed caliper brake caliper. The following are exemplary descriptions of each:

[0136] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 4 , the brake caliper 1 is a floating caliper brake caliper. The caliper body 11 of the brake caliper 1 is capable of floating. The caliper body 11 has a piston accommodating chamber 111 , and the piston 12 is located in the piston accommodating chamber 111 .

[0137] The principles of braking and releasing the floating caliper brake caliper can be found in the above content and will not be repeated here.

[0138] In other examples, as shown in Figure 5, the brake caliper 1 is a fixed-caliper type brake caliper. The caliper body 11 of the brake caliper 1 is fixed and has two piston-accommodating cavities 111. Two pistons 12 are respectively located in the two piston-accommodating cavities 111, and the two pistons 12 are respectively located on either side of the brake disc 2. Two elastic rings 13 are provided, each surrounding the two pistons 12 and used to drive the two pistons 12 back to their original positions. Two heating elements 14 are provided, each used to heat the two elastic rings 13, thereby ensuring that both elastic rings 13 have good rebound performance under low-temperature conditions.

[0139] When the fixed-caliper brake caliper brakes, the power source drives the two pistons 12 to move toward the brake disc 2 until the friction plates 10 on the two pistons 12 clamp the brake disc 2. During the movement of the two pistons 12, the two elastic rings 13 will be deformed.

[0140] When the brake is released, the piston 12 loses the support of the power source. Since the two elastic rings 13 are in a deformed state, the two elastic rings 13 tend to change to a natural state. Then the two elastic rings 13 will respectively drive the two pistons 12 to return to their positions, and accordingly, the two friction plates 10 will also return to their positions.

[0141] The following is an exemplary description of the power source and control body of the heating element 14:

[0142] In some examples, as shown in FIG6 , the brake caliper 1 further includes a motor 15 and a linear transmission mechanism 16 . The motor 15 is configured to drive the piston 12 to extend out of the piston chamber 111 via the linear transmission mechanism 16 . The heater 14 can be powered by the motor 15 (illustratively, the heater 14 is electrically connected to a power supply of the motor 15 ), and a first controller 17 of the motor 15 can be configured to control the heater 14 .

[0143] The linear transmission mechanism 16 may be a ball screw mechanism or a screw nut mechanism, etc., which can convert the rotation of the motor 15 into linear motion. The first controller 17 of the motor 15 may be integrated into the motor 15. The voltage of the power supply of the heating element 14 may be 12V or 48V.

[0144] In some examples, as shown in Figure 6, the linear transmission mechanism 16 includes a screw 161 and a nut 162. The motor 15 is used to drive the screw 161 to rotate, and the nut 162 is looped around the screw 161. When the screw 161 rotates, the nut 162 moves and can push the piston 12 out of the piston chamber 111.

[0145] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is that for the brake caliper 1 using the motor 15 as the power source, the heating element 14 can reuse the power supply of the motor 15, and the first controller 17 of the motor 15 can control whether the heating element 14 is heated, thereby solving the power supply and control problems of the heating element 14 and being relatively easy to implement.

[0146] In some examples, the brake caliper 1 is an electric park brake (EPB) brake caliper. EPB refers to a technology that integrates temporary braking during driving (i.e., service braking) and long-term braking after parking (i.e., parking braking) functions, and implements parking braking through electronic control. Specifically, the service brake and parking brake share the same brake caliper.

[0147] EPB brake calipers generally have two power sources, one is a motor (for implementing parking brakes) and the other is a hydraulic source (for implementing service brakes). The heating element 14 can reuse the power supply of the motor 15, and the first controller 17 of the motor 15 can control whether the heating element 14 is heated.

[0148] In other examples, the brake caliper 1 is an electromechanical brake system (EMB) brake caliper. The EMB brake caliper uses a motor 15 as a power source to drive the piston 12 to clamp the brake disc 2. The heating element 14 can reuse the power of the motor 15, and the first controller 17 of the motor 15 can control whether the heating element 14 is heated.

[0149] In other examples, the brake caliper 1 uses only a hydraulic source as a power source. As shown in FIG4 , the caliper body 11 of the brake caliper 1 has an interface for oil flow, which is connected to the piston chamber 111 and is used to connect to the hydraulic source. The hydraulic source can inject oil into the piston chamber 111 through the interface to push the piston 12 to move. In this case, the heating element 14 needs to introduce power supply from other components of the vehicle, and a second controller in the vehicle needs to control whether the heating element 14 is heated, wherein the second controller can be the vehicle control unit (VCU) of the vehicle.

[0150] Below, the relevant features of the heating element 14 are exemplarily described:

[0151] In some examples, the heating element 14 is a resistance wire (or called an electric heating wire). When the heating element 14 is powered on, the heating element 14 heats the elastic ring 13 . When the heating element 14 is powered off, the heating element 14 stops heating the elastic ring 13 .

[0152] In some examples, as shown in Figures 4-6, the heating element 14 is annular and surrounds the piston 12. In this way, the annular heating element 14 faces the annular elastic ring 13, so that when the heating element 14 heats the elastic ring 13, the temperature of each part of the elastic ring 13 can rise more evenly and quickly.

[0153] In some examples, the heating element 14 is in contact with the elastic ring 13 , thereby increasing the efficiency of heat transfer from the heating element 14 to the elastic ring 13 .

[0154] In some examples, as shown in Figures 4-6 and 9-10, the heating element 14 is located inside the elastic ring 13. The heating element 14 can be disposed inside the elastic ring 13 in the following two ways:

[0155] In some examples, the elastic ring 13 is injection molded outside the heater 14, or in other words, the elastic ring 13 and the heater 14 are integrally injection molded. In this way, contaminants in the piston cavity 111, such as oil in the piston cavity 111, are less likely to contaminate the heater 14, thereby improving the reliability of the heater 14.

[0156] In other examples, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the elastic ring 13 has a second annular groove 130 , and the heating element 14 is located in the second annular groove 130 .

[0157] Next, the location of the second annular groove 130 will be described.

[0158] As shown in FIG7 , the elastic ring 13 has an inner wall 131 , an outer wall 132 , a first side wall 133 and a second side wall 134 , wherein the first side wall 133 is away from the brake disc 2 , and the second side wall 134 is close to the brake disc 2 .

[0159] In some examples, as shown in FIG8 , the second side wall 134 of the elastic ring 13 has a second annular groove 130 , so that the oil on the other side of the elastic ring 13 is not easy to enter the second annular groove 130 , thereby ensuring the reliability of the heating element 14 .

[0160] In other examples, the first side wall 133 of the elastic ring 13 may also have a second annular groove 130 .

[0161] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 9 , the outer wall 132 of the elastic ring 13 has a second annular groove 130 .

[0162] In other examples, the inner wall 131 of the elastic ring 13 may also have a second annular groove 130 .

[0163] In addition to arranging the heating element 14 inside the elastic ring 13 , in other examples, as shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 , the heating element 14 is located outside the elastic ring 13 .

[0164] In some examples, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the heating element 14 is located on the side of the elastic ring 13 close to the brake disc 2. Since there is oil on the side of the elastic ring 13 away from the brake disc 2, by arranging the heating element 14 on the side of the elastic ring 13 close to the brake disc 2, contamination of the heating element 14 by the oil can be avoided, thereby improving the reliability of the heating element 14.

[0165] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG10 , a third annular groove 1112 is formed on the inner wall of the piston cavity 111 . The third annular groove 1112 is located on a side of the first annular groove 1111 close to the brake disc 2 , and the heating element 14 is located in the third annular groove 1112 .

[0166] As another example, as shown in FIG11 , the elastic ring 13 and the heating element 14 are both located in the first annular groove 1111 , and the heating element 14 is closer to the brake disc 2 relative to the elastic ring 13 .

[0167] In other examples, as shown in Figure 12, the heating element 14 can also be located on the side of the elastic ring 13 away from the brake disc 2. In this way, when the elastic ring 13 is deformed, the heating element 14 will not be squeezed, and the heating element 14 will not hinder the movement of the elastic ring 13, so that the heating element 14 will not affect the rebound performance of the elastic ring 13.

[0168] In some examples, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the outer side of the elastic ring 13 is coated with an insulation layer 18. The insulation layer 18 has an insulation effect on the elastic ring 13, which can reduce the efficiency of the elastic ring 13 dissipating heat to the outside, thereby reducing the temperature drop rate of the elastic ring 13 after the heating element 14 stops heating.

[0169] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 13 , when the heating element 14 is located inside the elastic ring 13 , the outer side of the elastic ring 13 is coated with a thermal insulation layer 18 .

[0170] In some examples, as shown in FIG14 , when the heating element 14 is located outside the elastic ring 13 , the portion of the elastic ring 13 opposite to the heating element 14 is not coated with the thermal insulation layer 18 , thereby facilitating the heat transfer of the heating element 14 to the elastic ring 13 .

[0171] In some examples, as shown in Figure 15, when the elastic ring 13 is provided with a second annular groove 130 and the heating element 14 is located in the second annular groove 130, the inner wall of the second annular groove 130 is not coated with the thermal insulation layer 18, thereby facilitating the heat of the heating element 14 to be conducted to the elastic ring 13.

[0172] In some examples, to more accurately control whether the heating element 14 is heated, the brake caliper 1 further includes a temperature sensor 19, as shown in FIG16 . The temperature sensor 19 is used to detect the temperature of the elastic ring 13. In this way, the controller can more accurately control the heating element 14 based on the temperature of the elastic ring 13 detected by the temperature sensor 19.

[0173] The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the specific position of the temperature sensor 19 . In some examples, as shown in FIG. 16 , the temperature sensor 19 is located between the outer wall of the elastic ring 13 and the inner wall of the piston cavity 111 .

[0174] In some examples, the inner wall of the piston cavity 111 has a groove, and the temperature sensor 19 is located in the groove.

[0175] Of course, the brake caliper 1 may not be provided with the temperature sensor 19 , and the controller may detect the ambient temperature outside the vehicle based on existing sensors in the vehicle and control the heating element 14 based on the ambient temperature.

[0176] The heating element 14 provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is controlled by a controller to control whether to heat or not, wherein the controller can be the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1, or the second controller in the vehicle, for example, the vehicle control unit (VCU) in the vehicle, or a combination of the above-mentioned first controller 17 and the second controller.

[0177] The following is an exemplary description of the control logic of the controller controlling the heating element 14 to heat:

[0178] (1) In some examples, the controller is configured to: obtain the temperature of the elastic ring 13 , determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold, and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0179] The temperature of the elastic ring 13 may be detected by the temperature sensor 19. The first temperature threshold may be greater than -10°C and less than 5°C.

[0180] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 when the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold, so that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 does not fall too low, thereby ensuring the rebound performance of the elastic ring 13 and reducing the drag torque generated between the brake caliper 1 and the brake disc 2 under low temperature conditions.

[0181] In some examples, when the controller is a combination of the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller can obtain the temperature of the elastic ring 13, determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than the first temperature threshold, and then send a heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 obtains the heating instruction and controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13.

[0182] In some examples, after controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the controller is further configured to: determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than a second temperature threshold, and control the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13 .

[0183] The second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold, and the second temperature threshold may be greater than 5°C and less than 20°C.

[0184] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure prevents the elastic ring 13 from being damaged or having its performance deteriorated due to excessive temperature by controlling the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13 when the temperature of the elastic ring 13 rises to a second temperature threshold.

[0185] In some examples, when the controller is a combination of the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller may determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than the second temperature threshold, and then send a stop heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 receives the stop heating instruction and controls the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13.

[0186] In some examples, before controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the controller is further configured to: obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, and compare and verify the ambient temperature with the temperature of the elastic ring 13 .

[0187] The ambient temperature outside the vehicle can be detected by an existing ambient temperature sensor in the vehicle. The comparison verification can be performed by the first controller 17 or the second controller.

[0188] If the verification passes, indicating that both the acquired ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 are correct, the heater 14 can be controlled based on the temperature of the elastic ring 13. If the verification fails, indicating that at least one of the acquired ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is incorrect, the heater 14 can be controlled based on the temperature of the elastic ring 13, rather than initially controlling the heater 14 based on the temperature of the elastic ring 13. Instead, the user can be notified of a vehicle malfunction. Once the malfunction is resolved, the heater 14 can be controlled based on the temperature of the elastic ring 13. Alternatively, rather than immediately notifying the user, the malfunction can be recorded. The next time the vehicle is started, the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 can be compared and verified again. If the number of recorded malfunctions reaches a certain threshold (e.g., three), the user can be notified again.

[0189] The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific method for verifying the comparison between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13. In some examples, when the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 meet the target relationship, the verification is determined to be successful; otherwise, the verification is determined to be unsuccessful.

[0190] The target relationship may be determined by an experimenter based on the detected ambient temperature outside the vehicle and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 .

[0191] In some examples, considering that after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time, under the influence of the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, the temperature of the elastic ring 13 will tend to be consistent with the ambient temperature, the controller is configured to: when the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is greater than the target threshold, determine that the verification fails.

[0192] For example, if the ambient temperature is -30°C and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is 0°C, and the difference between the two is large, it means that the verification fails.

[0193] Furthermore, considering that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 has not yet dropped when the vehicle is parked and may be significantly higher than the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, the comparison and verification of the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring 13 can be performed only after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time. Accordingly, the controller can be configured to obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle and compare the ambient temperature with the temperature of the elastic ring 13 when the vehicle has been parked for a target parking duration. The parking duration can be the time between the current vehicle power-up and the last vehicle power-up.

[0194] Alternatively, it may be configured that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is compared and verified with the ambient temperature only when the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold.

[0195] (2) In some examples, the controller is configured to: obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold, and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0196] The ambient temperature outside the vehicle can be detected by an existing ambient temperature sensor in the vehicle. The third temperature threshold can be the same as the first temperature threshold, for example, the third temperature threshold can be greater than -10°C and less than 5°C.

[0197] The technical solution provided by the disclosed embodiments is that after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time, the temperature of the elastic ring 13 tends to be consistent with the ambient temperature under the influence of the ambient temperature outside the vehicle. Therefore, when the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is below the third temperature threshold, it is generally believed that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is also low. At this time, the heating element 14 can be controlled to heat the elastic ring 13 to prevent the temperature of the elastic ring 13 from being too low, thereby ensuring the rebound performance of the elastic ring 13 and reducing the drag torque generated between the brake caliper 1 and the brake disc 2 under low-temperature conditions.

[0198] Furthermore, by controlling the heater 14 based on the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, there is no need to specifically provide a temperature sensor 19 to detect the temperature of the elastic ring 13 , which reduces the cost and implementation difficulty of the brake caliper 1 .

[0199] In some examples, when the controller is a combination of the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller may obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold, and then send a heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 obtains the heating instruction and controls the heater 14 to heat the elastic ring 13.

[0200] In some examples, when controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the controller is configured to: determine a target heating time for the elastic ring 13 based on the ambient temperature, and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 for the target heating time.

[0201] The lower the ambient temperature, the lower the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is generally, and the longer the target heating time of the elastic ring 13 is. The target heating time can be included in the heating instruction.

[0202] In some examples, the controller is configured to determine a target heating time for the elastic ring 13 based on the ambient temperature, the heating efficiency of the heating element 14 , and the second temperature threshold.

[0203] The second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the third temperature threshold, and the second temperature threshold is the temperature that the elastic ring 13 needs to reach during this heating. The second temperature threshold can be greater than 5°C and less than 20°C.

[0204] In other examples, considering that the heating element 14 consumes very little energy for heating, in order to simplify the control logic, a fixed target duration can be set. After the vehicle is powered on, as long as the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is lower than the third temperature threshold, the heating element 14 is controlled to heat for the fixed target duration.

[0205] By adopting this control logic and reasonably setting the target time, although it cannot guarantee that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is a specific temperature value after each heating, it can ensure that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is within a reasonable range after each heating, and can still improve the rebound performance of the elastic ring 13 under low temperature conditions.

[0206] In other examples, given the frequent start-stop cycles of vehicles, controlling the heater 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 each time the vehicle is started may result in energy waste. To address this technical issue, the controller may be configured to control the heater 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 only when it determines that the ambient temperature is below a third temperature threshold and that the time since the heater 14 last heated the elastic ring 13 exceeds a set time threshold.

[0207] Next, the power consumption required by the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 is calculated. For example, the calculation can be performed using Q=cmΔt:

[0208] Where Δt is the temperature rise of elastic ring 13. Assuming the initial temperature of elastic ring 13 is -10°C and needs to be heated to 15°C, Δt = 25°C. c is the specific heat capacity of elastic ring 13, which is 1700 J / (kg·°C). m is the mass of elastic ring 13, assuming m is 0.1 kg.

[0209] Based on the vehicle having four wheels, the heat Q consumed by the four elastic rings 13 is 17000 J = 17 kJ. As 1 kWh = 3600 kJ, the four heating elements 14 consume a total of 0.0047 kWh of electricity each time they are heated. Therefore, the amount of electricity consumed by the heating elements 14 is relatively small.

[0210] In addition, after the vehicle is running, the heat generated on the brake disc 2 will be transferred to the elastic ring 13. Therefore, in fact, the heating element 14 is only needed to heat the elastic ring 13 at the beginning of the vehicle startup phase. It can be seen that the power consumption of the heating element 14 is relatively small.

[0211] The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a disc brake, which includes the above-mentioned brake caliper 1 and a brake disc 2.

[0212] The disc brake may be a fixed-caliper disc brake or a floating-caliper disc brake. It may be an EPB brake, an EMB brake, or a brake driven by a hydraulic source. It may be a service brake, a parking brake, or a brake that integrates both service and parking brakes.

[0213] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a vehicle, which includes the above-mentioned disc brake.

[0214] The vehicle may be a fuel vehicle or a new energy vehicle, which may be a pure electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

[0215] In some examples, the vehicle has a second controller configured to: obtain the temperature of the elastic ring 13; determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold; and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13. The second controller may be a VCU.

[0216] In some examples, when the second controller controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the second controller may directly control the heating element 14 to be energized.

[0217] In other examples, when the second controller controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the second controller may send a heating instruction to the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1 , where the heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller 17 to control the heating element 14 to heat.

[0218] In some examples, after controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13, the second controller is further configured to: determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than a second temperature threshold; and control the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13. The second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0219] In some examples, the second controller controls the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13 , and the second controller may directly control the heating element 14 to cut off power.

[0220] In other examples, the second controller controls the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13 , and the second controller may send a stop heating instruction to the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1 , and the stop heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller 17 to control the heating element 14 to stop heating.

[0221] In some examples, the vehicle has a second controller configured to: obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle; determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13. The second controller may be a VCU.

[0222] In some examples, when the second controller controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the second controller may directly control the heating element 14 to be energized.

[0223] In other examples, when the second controller controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the second controller may send a heating instruction to the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1 , where the heating instruction is used to instruct the first controller 17 to control the heating element 14 to heat.

[0224] In some examples, when controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the second controller is configured to: determine a target heating time for the elastic ring 13 based on the ambient temperature; and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 for the target heating time.

[0225] The target duration may be included in the heating instruction, so that the first controller 17 controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 for the target duration.

[0226] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a temperature regulation method, which is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring 13 of the brake caliper 1. The temperature regulation method can be executed by the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1, or by the second controller of the vehicle, or by the first controller 17 and the second controller together.

[0227] As shown in FIG17 , the temperature adjustment method includes the following steps:

[0228] In step 1701 , the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is obtained.

[0229] In step 1702 , it is determined whether the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold.

[0230] In step 1703 , the heating element 14 is controlled to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0231] In some examples, when the temperature adjustment method is jointly performed by the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller may obtain the temperature of the elastic ring 13, determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold, and then send a heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 obtains the heating instruction and controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13.

[0232] In some examples, after controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13, the temperature regulation method further includes: determining that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold; and controlling the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13.

[0233] In some examples, when the temperature adjustment method is jointly performed by the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller may determine that the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than the second temperature threshold, and then send a stop heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 receives the stop heating instruction and controls the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13.

[0234] It should be noted that, for the specific content of the temperature adjustment method, reference can be made to the relevant content of the aforementioned brake caliper 1 part, which will not be repeated here.

[0235] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a temperature regulation method, which is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring 13 of the above-mentioned brake caliper 1. The temperature regulation method can be executed by the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1, or by the second controller of the vehicle, or by the first controller 17 and the second controller together.

[0236] As shown in FIG18 , the temperature adjustment method includes the following steps:

[0237] In step 1801 , the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is obtained.

[0238] In step 1802 , it is determined that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold.

[0239] In step 1803 , the heating element 14 is controlled to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0240] In some examples, when the temperature adjustment method is jointly executed by the first controller 17 and the second controller, the second controller may obtain the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold, and then send a heating instruction to the first controller 17. The first controller 17 obtains the heating instruction and controls the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13.

[0241] In some examples, when controlling the heater 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , first, based on the ambient temperature, a target heating time for the elastic ring 13 is determined, and then the heater 14 is controlled to heat the elastic ring 13 for the target heating time.

[0242] The target duration may be calculated by the second controller and carried in the heating instruction.

[0243] It should be noted that, for the specific content of the temperature adjustment method, reference can be made to the relevant content of the aforementioned brake caliper 1 part, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] The disclosed embodiment further provides a temperature regulating device for regulating the temperature of the elastic ring 13 in the brake caliper 1 . The temperature regulating device may be located in the first controller 17 of the brake caliper 1 or in the second controller of the vehicle.

[0245] As shown in FIG19 , the temperature regulating device includes:

[0246] The first acquiring module 1901 is configured to acquire the temperature of the elastic ring 13 .

[0247] The first determining module 1902 is configured to determine whether the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is lower than a first temperature threshold.

[0248] The first control module 1903 is used to control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0249] In some examples, after controlling the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 , the first determination module 1902 is further configured to determine whether the temperature of the elastic ring 13 is higher than a second temperature threshold, where the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0250] The first control module 1903 is further configured to control the heating element 14 to stop heating the elastic ring 13 .

[0251] In some examples, before controlling the heating element to heat the elastic ring 13 , the first acquisition module 1901 is further configured to acquire the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0252] The temperature regulating device further comprises a verification module, which is used to compare and verify the ambient temperature and the temperature of the elastic ring.

[0253] It should be understood that the above-described device, when implementing its functions, is merely illustrated by the division of the above-described functional modules. In actual applications, the above-described functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. In addition, the device provided in the above embodiment and the method embodiment shown in FIG17 are based on the same concept. The specific implementation process is detailed in the method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0254] The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a temperature regulating device for regulating the temperature of the elastic ring 13 in the brake caliper 1 . The temperature regulating device may be located in the first controller 17 in the brake caliper 1 or in the second controller of the vehicle.

[0255] As shown in FIG20 , the temperature regulating device includes:

[0256] The second acquisition module 2001 is used to acquire the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0257] The second determining module 2002 is configured to determine whether the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold.

[0258] The second control module 2003 is used to control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 .

[0259] In some examples, the second control module 2003 is configured to determine a target heating time for the elastic ring 13 based on the ambient temperature, and control the heating element 14 to heat the elastic ring 13 for the target heating time.

[0260] It should be understood that the above-mentioned device, when implementing its functions, is only illustrated by the division of the above-mentioned functional modules. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. In addition, the device provided in the above embodiment and the method embodiment shown in Figure 18 are based on the same concept. The specific implementation process is detailed in the method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0261] The present disclosure also provides an electronic control unit (ECU), comprising a controller (or processor) coupled to a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one instruction, which is loaded and executed by the controller to implement the temperature adjustment method described above. The ECU may be the ECU where the first controller 17 is located, or the ECU where the second controller is located.

[0262] Referring to FIG. 21 , FIG. 21 shows a schematic structural diagram of an electronic control unit 2100 provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0263] As shown in FIG. 21 , the electronic control unit 2100 includes at least one processor 2101 (or controller), a memory 2102 , and at least one communication interface 2103 .

[0264] The processor 2101 is, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor (NP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural-network processing unit (NPU), a data processing unit (DPU), a microcontroller, or one or more integrated circuits for implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the processor 2101 includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The PLD is, for example, a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 2101 can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microcontrollers, a combination of a DSP and a microcontroller, and the like.

[0265] In some examples, the electronic control unit 2100 also includes a bus. The bus is used to transmit information between the components of the electronic control unit 2100. The bus can be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, PCIe, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, among others. Buses can be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, and so on. For ease of illustration, FIG21 shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0266] The memory 2102 is, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 2102 is, for example, independent and connected to the processor 2101 via a bus. The memory 2102 can also be integrated with the processor 2101.

[0267] The communication interface 2103 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, and the communication network can be Ethernet, a radio access network (RAN), or a wireless local area network (WLAN). The communication interface 2103 can include a wired communication interface and a wireless communication interface. Specifically, the communication interface 2103 can be an Ethernet interface, a fast Ethernet (FE) interface, a gigabit Ethernet (GE) interface, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface, a WLAN interface, a cellular network communication interface, or a combination thereof. The Ethernet interface can be an optical interface, an electrical interface, or a combination thereof. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication interface 2103 can be used for the electronic control unit 2100 to communicate with other devices.

[0268] In some examples, processor 2101 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG21 . Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0269] In some examples, the electronic control unit 2100 may include multiple processors, such as processor 2101 and processor 2104 shown in FIG21. Each of these processors may be a single-core controller or a multi-core controller. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0270] In some examples, the electronic control unit 2100 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 2101 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device communicates with the processor 2101 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0271] In some examples, the memory 2102 is used to store program code 2110 for executing the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the processor 2101 can execute the program code 2110 stored in the memory 2102. The program code 2110 can include one or more software modules. Alternatively, the processor 2101 itself can also store program code or instructions for executing the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0272] Among them, each step performed by the temperature adjustment method shown in Figure 17 or Figure 18 is completed by the integrated logic circuit of the processor 2101 or the instruction in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiment of the present disclosure can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware controller, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the controller. The software module can be located in a mature storage medium in the field such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory, register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the controller reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0273] The present disclosure also provides another electronic control unit, comprising a transceiver, a memory, and a controller. The transceiver, the memory, and the controller communicate with each other via an internal connection path. The memory is used to store instructions, and the controller is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory to control the transceiver to receive signals and control the transceiver to send signals. When the controller executes the instructions stored in the memory, it performs the temperature adjustment method described above.

[0274] It should be understood that the controller described above may be a central controller, or other general-purpose controller, digital signal controller, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. The general-purpose controller may be a microcontroller or any conventional controller, etc. It is worth noting that the controller may be a controller that supports the Advanced Reduced Instruction Set Machine (ARM) architecture.

[0275] Furthermore, in some examples, the memory may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the controller. The memory may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store device type information.

[0276] The memory may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a ROM, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a RAM, which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available. For example, static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0277] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which at least one instruction is stored. The at least one instruction is loaded and executed by a controller to enable the controller to implement the above-mentioned temperature adjustment method.

[0278] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a computer program product. When the computer program product is executed by an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit can execute the corresponding steps and / or processes in the above method embodiments.

[0279] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a chip, which includes a controller. The controller is used to call and execute instructions stored in the memory from the memory, so that an electronic control unit equipped with the chip executes the above-mentioned temperature adjustment method.

[0280] An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides another chip, including: an input interface, an output interface, a controller and a memory, wherein the input interface, the output interface, the controller and the memory are connected via an internal connection path, and the controller is used to execute the code in the memory. When the code is executed, the controller is used to execute the above-mentioned temperature adjustment method.

[0281] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer (electronic control unit), the process or function described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is generated in whole or in part. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrations. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive Solid State Disk), etc.

[0282] To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the above description has generally described the steps and components of each embodiment according to their functions. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0283] The computer program code for implementing the method of the disclosed embodiment can be written in one or more programming languages. These computer program codes can be provided to a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable controller so that when the program code is executed by the computer or other programmable controller, the functions / operations specified in the flow chart and / or block diagram are implemented. The program code can be executed entirely on a computer, partially on a computer, as an independent software package, partially on a computer and partially on a remote computer or entirely on a remote computer or server.

[0284] In the context of the embodiments of the present disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus, or controller to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer-readable media, and the like. Examples of signals may include electrical, optical, radio, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals, such as carrier waves, infrared signals, and the like.

[0285] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices and modules can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0286] In the several embodiments provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the modules is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or modules, or can be an electrical, mechanical or other form of connection.

[0287] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0288] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into a single processing module, or each module may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The aforementioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules.

[0289] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used to distinguish between identical or similar items having substantially the same function and effect. It should be understood that "first," "second," and "nth" do not have a logical or temporal dependency, nor do they limit the quantity or order of execution. It should also be understood that although the following description uses the terms "first," "second," and the like to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one element from another.

[0290] It should also be understood that in the various embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the serial number of each process does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0291] The term "at least one" in the present disclosure means one or more, and the term "plurality" in the present disclosure means two or more.

[0292] It should be understood that the terminology used in the description of the various examples herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various examples and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0293] It will also be understood that the term “comprise” (also known as “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and / or “comprising”) when used in this specification specifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0294] It should also be understood that, depending on the context, the phrase “if it is determined that…” or “if [stated condition or event] is detected” may be interpreted to mean “upon determining…” or “in response to determining…” or “upon detecting [stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [stated condition or event]”.

[0295] It should be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A. B can also be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0296] It should also be understood that references throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "some examples," or "a possible implementation" mean that specific features, structures, or characteristics associated with an embodiment or implementation are included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the appearance of "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," "in some examples," or "a possible implementation" throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0297] The above descriptions are merely optional embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the principles of the present disclosure shall be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A brake caliper, characterized in that: It comprises a caliper body (11), a piston (12), an elastic ring (13) and a heating element (14); The caliper body (11) has a piston cavity (111), and the piston (12) is located in the piston cavity (111); The elastic ring (13) surrounds the piston (12), and the elastic ring (13) is used to drive the piston (12) to return to its original position; The heating element (14) is located in the piston cavity (111), and the heating element (14) is used to heat the elastic ring (13).

2. The brake caliper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brake caliper further comprises a motor (15) and a linear transmission mechanism (16), wherein the motor (15) is used to drive the piston (12) to extend out of the piston chamber (111) via the linear transmission mechanism (16); The heating element (14) draws power from the motor (15), and the first controller (17) of the motor (15) is used to control the heating element (14).

3. The brake caliper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The heating element (14) is ring-shaped and surrounds the piston (12).

4. The brake caliper according to claim 3, characterized in that: The heating element (14) is located inside the elastic ring (13).

5. The brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The outer side of the elastic ring (13) is coated with a heat-insulating layer (18).

6. The brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The brake caliper also includes a temperature sensor (19), and the temperature sensor (19) is used to detect the temperature of the elastic ring (13).

7. The brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The brake caliper further comprises a first controller (17), wherein the first controller (17) is configured to: obtaining a heating indication, wherein the heating indication is triggered by the temperature of the elastic ring (13) being lower than a first temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

8. The brake caliper according to claim 7, characterized in that: After controlling the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13), the first controller (17) is further configured to: Obtaining a heating stop indication, wherein the heating stop indication is triggered by the temperature of the elastic ring (13) being higher than a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to stop heating the elastic ring (13).

9. The brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The brake caliper further comprises a first controller (17), wherein the first controller (17) is configured to: obtaining a heating indication, wherein the heating indication is triggered by an ambient temperature outside the vehicle being lower than a third temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

10. The brake caliper according to claim 9, characterized in that: The heating instruction corresponds to a target duration, and when controlling the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13), the first controller (17) is configured to: The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13) for the target time period.

11. A disc brake, characterized in that: The disc brake comprises a brake caliper (1) and a brake disc (2), and the brake caliper (1) is a brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle has the disc brake according to claim 11.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that The vehicle has a second controller configured to: Obtaining the temperature of the elastic ring (13); Determining that the temperature of the elastic ring (13) is lower than a first temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that After controlling the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13), the second controller is further configured to: Determining that the temperature of the elastic ring (13) is higher than a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is higher than or equal to the first temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to stop heating the elastic ring (13).

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that The vehicle has a second controller configured to: Get the ambient temperature outside the vehicle; Determining that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that When controlling the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13), the second controller is configured to: Based on the ambient temperature, determining a target heating time for the elastic ring (13); The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13) for the target time period.

17. A temperature adjustment method, characterized in that: The temperature regulation method is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring (13) of the brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the temperature regulation method comprises: Obtaining the temperature of the elastic ring (13); Determining that the temperature of the elastic ring (13) is lower than a first temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

18. A temperature adjustment method, characterized in that: The temperature regulation method is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring (13) of the brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the temperature regulation method comprises: Get the ambient temperature outside the vehicle; Determining that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; The heating element (14) is controlled to heat the elastic ring (13).

19. A temperature regulating device, characterized in that: The temperature regulating device is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring (13) in the brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the temperature regulating device comprises: A first acquisition module, used for acquiring the temperature of the elastic ring (13); A first determination module, used to determine whether the temperature of the elastic ring (13) is lower than a first temperature threshold; The first control module is used to control the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13).

20. A temperature adjustment device, characterized in that: The temperature regulating device is used to regulate the temperature of the elastic ring (13) in the brake caliper according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the temperature regulating device comprises: The second acquisition module is used to acquire the ambient temperature outside the vehicle; A second determining module, configured to determine that the ambient temperature is lower than a third temperature threshold; The second control module is used to control the heating element (14) to heat the elastic ring (13).

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: At least one instruction is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and the at least one instruction is loaded and executed by the controller to implement the temperature adjustment method as claimed in claim 17 or 18.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes at least one instruction, and the at least one instruction is executed by a controller so that the controller implements the temperature adjustment method according to claim 17 or 18.

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