Brake Drum Cooling Conduits for Balanced Thermal Conductance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake drum designs for vehicles, such as trucks and buses, face challenges in controlling cooling effectively, leading to undesirably large cooling in certain areas, which can impact braking performance.

Innovation Solution

A brake drum with a cooling arrangement featuring a set of cooling conduits between the braking surface and the outer surface, with varying axial aggregate thermal conductance between inner and outer cross-sections, allowing for controlled cooling by differing thermal conductance values, ensuring appropriate braking capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ventilation openings are arranged in the brake drum for cooling, then cooling effect is improved, but cooling becomes uncontrolled and certain areas are excessively cooled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrake drum temperatureVSAvoidcooling control

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The brake drum incorporates varying thermal conductance properties at different axial locations. The inner axial cross-section has different thermal conductance than the outer axial cross-section, allowing each region to be cooled at different rates. This local differentiation of thermal properties enables controlled cooling without excessive cooling in specific areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the thermal conductance parameter of the brake drum material or structure at different axial positions. By modifying thermal conductance values between inner and outer cross-sections, the cooling rate is controlled differently in various regions, achieving balanced temperature distribution while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If uniform cooling is applied across the brake drum, then overall temperature reduction is achieved, but braking performance is compromised due to excessive cooling of certain areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrake drum temperatureVSAvoidbraking performance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different axial regions of the brake drum are given different thermal conductance properties. The inner and outer axial cross-sections have distinct thermal conductance values, creating localized thermal zones that prevent excessive cooling in braking-critical areas while still achieving overall temperature reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying uniform cooling throughout the entire brake drum, the invention applies partial cooling action with different intensities at different axial locations. This selective cooling approach ensures that braking surfaces maintain optimal temperature while other areas are cooled as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 enables controlled cooling of the brake drum, maintaining an optimal temperature for braking performance by varying thermal conductance, enhancing braking effectiveness and capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling arrangement, comprising a set of cooling conduits located between the braking surface and the outer surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The material of the brake drum located radially between the set of cooling conduits and the braking surface at the inner axial cross-section has an inner axial aggregate thermal conductance. The material of the brake drum located radially between the set of cooling conduits and the braking surface at the outer axial cross-section has an outer axial aggregate thermal conductance. The inner axial aggregate thermal conductance is different from the outer axial aggregate thermal conductance.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conductance variation: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11719295B2Brake drum

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a brake drum for a drum brake for a vehicle. The brake drum comprises a braking surface adapted to receive at least one brake shoe of the drum brake. The brake drum further comprises a cooling arrangement comprising a set of cooling conduits located between a braking surface and an outer surface.The material of the brake drum located radially between the set of cooling conduits and the braking surface at an inner axial cross-section has an inner axial aggregate thermal conductance and the material of the brake drum located radially between the set of cooling conduits and the braking surface at the outer axial cross-section has an outer axial aggregate thermal conductance.Accordingly, the inner axial aggregate thermal conductance is different from the outer axial aggregate thermal conductance.