Brake Caliper Guide Layout to Prevent Inclination During Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brake caliper devices are prone to inclination due to the weight of the positioning frame and brake pads, leading to a less smooth or nonfunctional braking process.

Innovation Solution

The brake caliper device features a positioning unit with upper and lower guiding members that maintain axial stability, a main body unit with movable seats, and an actuating unit using hydraulic pistons to generate a counterforce, ensuring the main body unit moves stably and prevents inclination during braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the positioning frame extends through the upper portion of the first seat, then the brake caliper can be mounted to the vehicle body, but the positioning frame becomes easily inclined due to its own weight and the weights of the brake pads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking functionVSAvoidpositioning frame stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single guiding member configuration to a multi-dimensional guiding system with upper and lower guiding members positioned at different vertical levels. This spatial arrangement creates a stable triangular support structure that prevents the positioning frame from inclining under gravitational load, thereby resolving the contradiction between mounting capability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The lower guiding member acts as an intermediary support element that mediates between the positioning frame and the vehicle body. By introducing this intermediate support point, the system distributes the gravitational load more effectively and prevents the positioning frame from becoming inclined, thus maintaining braking reliability while improving stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the positioning frame is fixed to the vehicle body with guiding members, then the brake caliper can be positioned, but the braking process becomes less smooth or nonfunctional when the frame inclines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking smoothnessVSAvoidbraking function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By adding the lower guiding member at a different vertical dimension, the system creates a rigid spatial framework that maintains the correct orientation of the brake caliper during braking operations. This prevents inclination-induced operational issues and ensures smooth, reliable braking performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design ensures smooth and stable movement of the brake caliper during braking, preventing inclination and maintaining effective brake function.

Implementation Method 1

an actuating unit which is mounted to the first seat and operable to push the first lining member to abut against the first side surface of the brake disk

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

push the first lining member to abut against the first side surface of the brake disk, so as to generate a counterforce

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3640491B1Brake caliper device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 LIAO CHIH HSIEN
  • EP3640491B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3640491B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3640491B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A brake caliper device (100) adapted to be used with a brake disk (2) includes a positioning unit (10), a main body unit (20), a lining unit (30), and an actuating unit (40). The positioning unit (10) includes a positioning member (11) that is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body (1), two upper guiding members (12) and a lower guiding member (13) that is lower than the upper guiding members (12). The upper and lower guiding members (12, 13) are connected to the positioning member (11) and extend along an axial direction parallel to a central axis (L) of the brake disk (2) . The main body unit (20) is movably connected to the upper and lower guiding members (12, 13). The actuating unit (40) is operable to move the main body unit (20), thereby driving the lining unit (30) to clamp the brake disk (2).