Brake Caliper Guide Device for Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disc brakes in commercial vehicles experience vibrations and increased wear, leading to heavy loading of fastening regions and reduced service life, particularly when traversing poor road conditions, due to the movement of the brake caliper towards the vehicle center as pad and disc wear increase.

Innovation Solution

A guide device is introduced that supports and stabilizes the brake caliper using a pad-retaining clip and springs, which guides the brake caliper relative to the brake carrier, increasing the guide length and providing additional stability and vibration damping, without requiring additional components beyond those in a standard commercial vehicle sliding caliper disc brake.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the brake caliper is allowed to move freely on bearing struts during pad and disc wear, then the brake caliper can accommodate wear, but the lever length increases and vibrations heavily load the fastening regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of pad and disc wearVSAvoidloading on fastening regions of bearing struts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device segments the support function by introducing additional contact points between the brake caliper and brake carrier through the pad-retaining clip assembly. This distributes the load from the bearing struts to multiple locations, reducing the stress concentration on fastening regions while maintaining wear accommodation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pad-retaining clip acts as an intermediary element that transfers and distributes forces between the brake pads, brake carrier, and brake caliper. By introducing this intermediate component, the system reduces direct loading on the bearing strut fastening regions while maintaining the necessary mechanical connection and wear compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If additional guide components are added to support and guide the brake caliper, then stability and vibration damping improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of brake caliperVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pad-retaining clip is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it retains the brake pads in the carrier, guides the brake caliper movement, and provides vibration damping. By making this existing component multi-functional, the system achieves improved stability without adding separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide function is merged with the existing pad-retaining clip and spring assembly rather than being implemented as a separate component. This integration combines the retention and guidance functions into a single structural element, avoiding increased device complexity while achieving the desired stability improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the brake caliper is stabilized with additional guide device, then service life of brake components increases, but manufacturing costs may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of brake componentsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device utilizes the existing pad-retaining clip and spring assembly to provide stabilization and vibration damping functions. By making the existing components serve additional functions, the system extends service life without requiring additional manufacturing steps or components that would increase production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the functional parameters of existing components rather than adding new components. By modifying how the pad-retaining clip and spring assembly function to include guidance and stabilization, the system achieves extended component life while maintaining the same bill of materials and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 guide device enhances the stability and service life of the brake caliper by distributing loads more evenly and reducing vibrations, thereby extending the service life of brake components while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

an application-side pad-retaining spring (11) which is acted upon with a tensile force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a back-side pad-retaining spring (12) which interacts with the pad-retaining clip (10) in such a manner that said back-side pad-retaining spring (12) exerts a compressive force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the brake caliper can additionally be stabilized on the brake carrier by support via the brake pads and guidance with respect to the brake carrier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3374658B1Disc brake and set of brake pads
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
  • EP3374658B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3374658B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3374658B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A disc brake for a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle, is provided. The disc brake includes a guide device that increases the guide length of the brake caliper by applying spring-loaded tensile force to an application-side brake pad form-fitting in a supporting brake carrier and compressive force to a back-side brake pad. A corresponding set of brake pads is provided.