Brake Actuating Assembly Layout for Compact E-Axle Disc Brakes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle disc brakes require significant installation space, particularly in electrically driven vehicles, leading to conflicts with other components, especially in E-axles.

Innovation Solution

A braking member actuating assembly that reduces installation space by using a driving member with a driving lever to transfer rotational movement, allowing for a compact design through the use of gears, wedges, or cams to actuate braking members, and incorporating piston actuators for efficient braking and release mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional pneumatic actuated disc brake is used, then reliable braking force is achieved, but installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking forceVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the driving member driving lever and the driving member into a single integrated assembly where the driving lever is operatively connected to the driving member. This merging eliminates the need for separate actuation mechanisms and reduces the overall installation space while maintaining reliable braking force transmission through the integrated lever-system connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driving member driving lever is positioned and connected within the structural envelope of the driving member assembly, with the lever rotational axis arranged to engage with the driving member in a nested configuration. This nesting allows the actuation mechanism to be contained within the existing brake assembly footprint, reducing required installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the driving member driving lever rotational axis is offset from the driving member rotational axis, then operational flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidaxis arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement where the driving member driving lever rotational axis is offset from the driving member rotational axis by a predetermined distance. This asymmetric positioning provides operational flexibility in terms of engagement geometry and force application, while the offset distance is carefully controlled to avoid excessive complexity in the connection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4180684A1Braking member actuating assembly, brake assembly and vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP4180684A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4180684A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4180684A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a braking member actuating assembly for actuating at least one braking member (3a, 3b) to apply a braking force on at least one brake member (2a, 2b), comprising: at least one driving member (4a, 4a', 4a") configured to actuate the at least one braking member (3a, 3b), and at least one driving member driving lever (4c, 4c', 4c", 4d, 4d") operatively connected to or operatively engageable with the at least one driving member (4a, 4a', 4") to drive the at least one driving member (4a, 4a', 4a"), wherein the braking member actuation assembly (4, 4', 4") is configured to transfer a rotational movement of the at least one driving member driving lever (4c, 4c', 4c", 4d, 4d") about a respective driving member driving lever rotational axis into a rotational movement of the at least one driving member (4a, 4a', 4a") about a respective driving member rotational axis.