Brake Disc Flange Cooling via Intermediate Drum Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting a wheel rim to a brake disc in commercial vehicles fail to effectively cool both the brake disc and the bearing, leading to overheating issues during intense braking, which can compromise the operation of both components.
Innovation Solution
A connection flange assembly that includes a disc with a drum having an outer surface for receiving a bearing, an inner ring coupled with the disc, and an outer ring coupled with the wheel rim, featuring intermediate flange openings that allow for the evacuation of cooling fluid between the drum and the bearing, thereby cooling both the disc and the bearing directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the brake disc is directly connected to the wheel rim, then maintenance is simplified, but heat from the bearing directly affects the rim
Solution Approach 1:
The flange serves as an intermediary component between the brake disc and the wheel rim. This intermediate structure allows the disc to be maintained or replaced independently while preventing direct thermal contact between the hot bearing/drum assembly and the wheel rim, thus protecting the rim from excessive heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: the flange for disc mounting and maintenance, the drum for bearing support and cooling, and the rim for wheel attachment. This segmentation allows independent maintenance of the disc while isolating the rim from bearing heat through the intermediate flange-drum structure.
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 solution effectively dissipates heat from both the brake disc and the bearing, preventing overheating and ensuring proper operation, while allowing for easy maintenance and replacement of the brake disc without separating the flange from the rim.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation of a cooling fluid in a gap defined between the drum and the bearing received therein
Implementation Method 2
evaporation of a cooling fluid in a gap defined between the drum and the bearing received therein, for cooling the bearing
Implementation Method 3
evaporation of a cooling fluid in a gap defined between the drum and the bearing received therein, for cooling the bearing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An assembly comprises a flange (1) and a disc (3), wherein the disc (3) has a brake band (22) and a drum (25), said drum having an outer drum surface (49), said drum (25) being suitable for receiving a bearing (11) inside said drum, said disc (3) being arranged between the bearing (11) and said flange (1), and wherein the flange (1) comprises an inner ring (5) coupled with the disc (3) and an outer ring (12) able to be coupled with a wheel rim (2), said flange (1) also comprising an intermediate portion (18) having flange through openings (19) defined by an opening edge (20), said opening edge comprises a radially most inner edge portion (21), wherein at least one portion of the outer surface (49) of the drum of the disc is arranged radially outside of the edge portion (21) of the flange opening arranged most radially inside.