Disk braking device comprising a passage for brake pads formed between a disk support ring and a side support

Abstract

The invention relates to a braking device comprising an annular brake disk (1) and a support ring (2) for the brake disk (1). The support ring (2) is external to and coaxial with the brake disk (1) and is rigidly attached to a side support (3). The braking device comprises a brake caliper (8) that acts on the brake disk (1) via an inner side of the brake disk (1), wherein the brake pads (9) are interposed between the caliper (8) and the brake disk (1). The braking device comprises a passage (15) for the brake pads (9), which is formed between the support ring (2) and the side support (3).

Description

[0001] TITLE: Disc braking device comprising a passage for brake pads formed between a disc support ring and a lateral support

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The invention relates to a disc braking device.

[0004] The invention also relates to a wheel motor equipped with such a braking device as well as a motor vehicle equipped with such a wheel motor or such a braking device.

[0005] Previous techniques

[0006] Conventional disc brake systems have certain limitations, particularly in terms of maintenance, especially when replacing brake pads.

[0007] The main disadvantage of traditional systems in which the calipers attack the brake disc from the outside, lies in the need to disassemble the caliper to access the brake pads. This process is not only time-consuming, but also requires specific technical expertise, thus increasing maintenance costs for the end user. In addition, frequent disassembly of the caliper increases the risk of premature wear of its components, potentially affecting the overall safety of the vehicle.

[0008] Furthermore, in configurations where the calipers engage the disc from the inside, it is often necessary to disassemble the caliper and, in some cases, the brake disc itself. This process, although slightly different, shares the same drawbacks in terms of complexity and intervention time, with the same implications in terms of cost and wear potential.

[0009] Additionally, when a conventional braking system is combined with an in-wheel motor, access to the brake components, and in particular the brake pads, is often hampered by the presence of the in-wheel motor, making the replacement process more laborious and technical, and may even require the disassembly of the in-wheel motor. This increased complexity can lead to prolonged vehicle downtime and requires specialized technical skills, thus increasing maintenance costs.

[0010] Statement of the invention

[0011] To overcome the problems posed by the state of the art, the invention aims to propose a disc braking device compatible with use with wheel motors and allowing easy access to the brake pads, thus reducing the time required for their replacement or installation.

[0012] The subject of the invention is a braking device comprising an annular braking disc and an external support ring coaxial with the braking disc and fixed securely to a lateral support.

[0013] The braking device further comprises a brake caliper engaging the brake disc from an inner side of the brake disc, and brake pads interposed between the caliper and the brake disc.

[0014] The braking device comprises a passage for the brake pads formed between the support crown and the lateral support.

[0015] Such a configuration allows easy access to the brake pads. In addition, when the braking device is combined with a wheel motor, this configuration further facilitates access to the brake pads because it does not require the wheel motor to be disconnected from the brake disc-caliper assembly, thus reducing the duration and cost of the maintenance operation.

[0016] Preferably, the passage comprises a notch formed on a first front face of the crown, the notch being arranged axially on the side of the lateral support and extending over a predetermined angular sector of the circumference of the support crown. Such a configuration makes it possible to control the dimensions, position and shape of the passage.

[0017] According to one feature, the braking device comprises removable means for closing the passage. Such a braking device makes it possible to control the closing of the passage.

[0018] According to another characteristic, the removable closing means are arranged between the support crown and the lateral support.

[0019] Preferably, the removable closure means comprises a rod fixed to the support crown and to the side support.

[0020] Advantageously, the support crown is axially offset on the side of said lateral support relative to the brake disc. Such a configuration facilitates the manufacture of the braking device.

[0021] According to another advantageous characteristic, the support ring is provided on the first front face with a first group of secondary notches spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring and arranged axially on the side of said lateral support. Such a support ring benefits from reduced weight while improving the ventilation of the disc.

[0022] According to an advantageous characteristic, the support ring is provided on a second front face with a second group of secondary notches spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring and arranged axially on the side of the brake disc. Such a support ring further improves the weight of the ring and the ventilation of the disc.

[0023] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a wheel motor for a motor vehicle provided with a braking device as defined above, in which the lateral support forms part of a rotor of the wheel motor.

[0024] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one braking device as defined above or comprising at least one wheel motor as defined above.

[0025] Brief description of the drawings

[0026] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig 1] is a perspective view of a wheel motor equipped with a braking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0028] [Fig 2] is a sectional view along axis II-II of figure 1;

[0029] [Fig 3] is a partial perspective view of the wheel motor of Figure 1; and

[0030] [Fig 4] is a partial side view of the wheel motor of Figure 1.

[0031] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0032] Figures 1 to 4 show a wheel motor for an electrically powered motor vehicle. A wheel motor is an assembly that incorporates an electric traction motor capable of propelling a vehicle.

[0033] The wheel motor comprises a braking device comprising an annular braking disc 1 and a support ring 2 external and coaxial with the braking disc 1.

[0034] The outer support ring 2 is securely attached to a lateral support 3 and is connected to the brake disc 1. The lateral support 3 is here part of a rotor 4 of the wheel motor 5. In an embodiment not shown, the lateral support 3 may be part of a wheel rim.

[0035] The lateral support 3 is coaxial with the brake disc 1 and has an annular outer surface 3b arranged radially at the same level as an outer surface 2c of the support ring 2. In other words, the outer surface 3b of the lateral support 3 is radially external to the brake disc 1 and the brake disc 1 is supported from the outside, by means of the support ring 2.

[0036] As illustrated in Figure 2, the support ring 2 is connected to the brake disc 1 by means of several connecting elements 6 arranged on a circumference of the support ring 2 and extending in a radial direction. It should be noted that identical or similar elements bear the same numerical references from one figure to another.

[0037] Each connecting element 6 is fixed integrally to the support crown 2 and is housed in an associated cavity 7, so as to be able to slide therein.

[0038] Preferably, each connecting element 6 comprises an anchoring part embedded in the support ring 2 and a protuberance integral with the anchoring part and extending radially towards the brake disc 1. Each cavity 7 has a shape complementary to that of the radial protuberance of the associated connecting element 6 and is formed radially inside the brake disc 1. Such a configuration allows free radial thermal deformations of the disc.

[0039] Preferably, the anchoring parts of the connecting elements 6 are overmolded with the support ring 1, so as to guarantee their immobile fixing. The radial protrusions of the connecting elements 6 comprise rods or tubes intended to be housed in the cavities 7.

[0040] Alternatively, it is of course still possible to make the support ring and the brake disc integral by any means known to those skilled in the art, for example with screw-nut assemblies.

[0041] The braking device further comprises a braking caliper 8 engaging the braking disc 1 via an inner side of the disc 1, and brake pads 9 interposed between the braking caliper 8 and the braking disc 1.

[0042] The brake disc here is of the ventilated type. Alternatively, it is still possible for the brake disc to be solid and / or in one piece.

[0043] The brake disc 1 comprises first and second annular plates 1a, 1b which are opposite and coaxial. The first annular plate 1a comprises an inner surface 10a arranged opposite an inner surface 10b of the second annular plate 1b. Each annular plate 1a, 1b comprises on its inner surface 10a, 10b a plurality of ribs 11a, 11b spaced from each other in the circumferential direction and extending radially from an outer surface of each plate.

[0044] The ribs 11a of the first plate 1a are arranged opposite the ribs 11b of the second plate 1b. The ribs 11a and 11b together form the cavities 7 housing the connecting elements 6.

[0045] In order to facilitate the fixing, the support ring 2 is axially offset on the side of the lateral support 3, relative to the brake disc 1. The support ring 2 comprises a first front face 2a which is in axial contact with a front face 3a of the lateral support 3. The support ring 2 is fixedly fixed to the lateral support 3 by means of fixing means 12 such as screws or bolts. The support ring 2 also comprises a second front face 2b opposite the first front face 2a. The two front faces 2a and 2b delimit the axial thickness of the support ring 2.

[0046] The support ring 2 is here provided on the second front face 2b with a second group of secondary notches 13 spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring 2. The secondary notches 13 are arranged axially on the side of the brake disc, so as to promote its ventilation. Preferably, the secondary notches 13 release the passage of air from and to the interior of the brake disc 1.

[0047] The support ring 2 is here provided on the first front face 2a with a first group of secondary notches 14 spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring 2. The secondary notches 14 are arranged axially on the side of the lateral support.

[0048] Alternatively, it remains possible not to provide secondary notches 13 and / or secondary notches 14.

[0049] As particularly visible in Figure 3, the braking device comprises a passage 15 formed between the support ring 2 and the lateral support 3 and intended to allow the passage of the brake pads 9, in particular during maintenance operations.

[0050] Here, the passage 15 comprises a notch 16 formed on a first front face 2a of the support ring 2. More precisely, the notch 16 is arranged axially on the side of the lateral support 3 and extends over a predetermined angular sector a of the circumference of the support ring 2. The shape and dimensions of the notch 16 allow the brake pads 9 to pass through the notch 16 and in particular their radial extraction from the braking device through the passage 15.

[0051] Preferably, the braking device comprises removable means 17 for closing the passage 15. Here, the removable means 17 are arranged between the support ring 2 and the lateral support 3 and comprise a tube 18 fixed to the support ring 2 and to the lateral support 3 and axially passing through the passage 15. In a particular embodiment, the tube 18 is crossed by a screw housed in a hollow central zone of the tube 18. Preferably, the removable means 17 participate in ensuring the connection and in maintaining a predetermined spacing between the support ring 2 and the lateral support 3. As particularly visible in FIG. 4, the tube 18 is centered on the notch 16, so as to divide the notch 16 into two parts of substantially equal length. Alternatively, it remains possible that the tube 18 is not centered on the notch 16. In this case, the notch 16 is divided into two parts of unequal length.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Braking device comprising an annular braking disc (1) and a support ring (2) for the braking disc (1), said support ring (2) being external and coaxial with the braking disc (1) and fixedly attached to a lateral support (3), said braking device comprising a braking caliper (8) engaging the braking disc (1) by an inner side of the braking disc (1), and brake pads (9) interposed between the caliper (8) and the braking disc (1), said braking device being characterized in that it comprises a passage (15) for the brake pads (9) formed between the support ring (2) and the lateral support (3).

2. Braking device according to claim 1, wherein said passage (15) comprises a notch (16) formed on a first front face (2a) of the crown (2), said notch (16) being arranged axially on the side of the lateral support (3) and extending over a predetermined angular sector (a) of a circumference of the support crown (2).

3. Braking device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising removable means (17) for closing said passage (15).

4. Braking device according to claim 3 in which the removable closing means (17) are arranged between the support ring (2) and the lateral support (3).

5. Braking device according to claim 4, wherein the removable closing means (17) comprise a tube (18) fixed to the support crown (2) and to the lateral support (3).

6. Braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 5, wherein the support ring (2) is axially offset on the side of said lateral support (3) relative to the brake disc (1).

7. Braking device according to any one of claims 2 to 5. 6, in which the support ring (2) is provided on the first front face (2a) with a first group of secondary notches (14) spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring (2) and arranged axially on the side of said lateral support (3).

8. Braking device according to any one of claims 2 to 5. 7, in which the support ring (2) is provided on a second front face (2b) with a second group of secondary notches (13) spaced from each other on the circumference of the support ring (2) and arranged axially on the side of the brake disc (1).

9. Wheel motor for a motor vehicle provided with a braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the lateral support (3) forms part of a rotor (4) of the wheel motor.

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one braking device according to one of claims 1 to 8 or comprising at least one wheel motor according to claim 9.

Images