Disc Brake Boot Seal Retention Against Debris Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electro-mechanical brake (EMB) systems face issues with debris accumulation on the boot seal, leading to potential disengagement of the inner peripheral edge of the boot seal from the brake pad footing groove, which compromises the sealing effectiveness and can lead to safety concerns due to the ingress of foreign materials like dust, solids, liquids, and dirt.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly with a boot seal having an inner peripheral edge portion that includes a bead configured for a snap fit within a brake pad footing groove, and an outer peripheral edge portion secured to the caliper, formed from a resilient material that extends between a collapsed and extended configuration, and a bellows section to accommodate movement, ensuring robust sealing against foreign materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the boot seal is made extensible to accommodate brake pad movement, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the boot seal may unintentionally disengage from the brake pad footing groove due to debris accumulation and grease
Solution Approach 1:
The boot seal is designed with dynamic extensibility to accommodate the movement of brake pads during braking operations. The seal can extend when the brake pad moves toward the rotor and retract when the brake pad moves away, maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the operational range while preventing disengagement through its resilient material properties
Solution Approach 2:
The boot seal is constructed as a flexible membrane made from resilient material that can deform and extend without losing its structural integrity. This flexible shell design allows the seal to adapt to brake pad movement while maintaining its sealing function and preventing debris ingress into the brake pad footing groove
2Ease of manufacture
If the inner peripheral edge portion of the boot seal is inserted into the brake pad footing groove with lubricant, then the ease of installation is improved, but the boot seal becomes more prone to disengagement due to grease reducing friction
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad footing groove is divided into two functional zones: an insertion region that accepts the boot seal during assembly and a retention region with protrusions that mechanically lock the seal in place. This segmentation allows the seal to be easily installed with lubricant while ensuring reliable retention through the protrusion-based locking mechanism that prevents disengagement
3Quantity of substance
If debris accumulates on the boot seal, then the sealing surface area is increased, but the weight of debris causes the boot seal to slip out of the groove
Solution Approach 1:
The retention protrusions are pre-configured in the brake pad footing groove to counteract the forces that would cause boot seal disengagement. These protrusions create mechanical interlocking that resists the downward force of accumulated debris on the boot seal, preventing slippage before it can occur during normal operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sealing assembly effectively prevents unintentional disengagement of the boot seal from the brake pad footing, maintaining a robust seal against debris and ensuring the integrity of the brake system by retaining the boot seal within the groove, even with worn brake pads, thereby enhancing the system's operational reliability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The boot seal is formed from a resilient material and is extensible between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration responsive to movement of the brake pad assembly
Implementation Method 2
The inner peripheral edge portion is received with a snap fit in the brake pad footing groove of the brake pad footing
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly for a vehicle disc brake apparatus is provided. The vehicle disc brake apparatus includes a caliper and a brake pad assembly movably coupled to the caliper. The sealing assembly includes a brake pad footing having an outer peripheral wall with a brake pad footing groove therein, and a boot seal attached to the brake pad footing via the brake pad footing groove. The boot seal includes an inner peripheral edge portion and an outer peripheral edge portion. The inner peripheral edge portion is received in the brake pad footing groove of the brake pad footing. The brake pad footing is secured to the brake pad assembly and the outer peripheral edge portion of the boot seal is secured to the caliper. The boot seal is extensible between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration responsive to movement of the brake pad assembly.