Floating Calliper Brake Guide with External Closing Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guides for floating callipers in vehicle disc brakes face issues with the removal of closing elements, which can lead to damage and loss, compromising the barrier against foreign matters, and are prone to irreparable damage during maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A guide design where the closing element is arranged externally to the bushing, allowing for safer and easier removal by distributing the force over a larger surface, and incorporating a cup body with teeth and notches for secure snap-fit engagement, ensuring retention even if the head is torn, and a bushing with a corrugated inner profile to reduce friction and prevent foreign matter entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the closing element is provided with an enlarged head for manual removal, then the closing element can be grasped and removed, but the removal operation can easily lead to damaging the closing element irreparably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval of closing elementVSAvoidintegrity of closing element
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closing element is divided into two functional parts: a head portion for grasping and removal operations, and a body portion that remains retained on the bushing. This segmentation allows the head to be removed separately without compromising the integrity of the retaining body, resolving the contradiction between ease of removal and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head of the closing element is extracted as a separable component that can be removed from the bushing without removing the entire closing element. This allows maintenance operations to access and remove the head for cleaning or replacement while the body remains secured, eliminating the risk of irreparable damage to the entire closing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the closing element is provided with an enlarged head for manual removal, then the closing element can be grasped and removed, but the head may be torn leaving the closing element fitted into the bushing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval of closing elementVSAvoidcomplete removal of closing element
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The closing element is segmented into a removable head and a retained body portion. The head can be completely separated from the bushing without tearing, while the body remains secured. This segmentation ensures that removal operations cannot leave partial fragments embedded in the bushing, as the design explicitly provides for complete separation of the head portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If only the closing element prevents entrance of foreign matters, then the barrier capability is provided, but should the closing element be accidentally removed, the guide would remain exposed to foreign matters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of guide structureVSAvoidbarrier capability against foreign matters
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure incorporates a redundant barrier mechanism that is always active, regardless of the closing element's position. The bushing's corrugated inner profile creates a physical barrier that prevents foreign matter entry even when the closing element is removed, providing beforehand protection that compensates for potential closing element failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The bushing incorporates a corrugated inner profile that acts as a flexible barrier structure. This corrugated design creates multiple physical obstructions that prevent foreign matter from entering the guide, providing continuous protection independent of the closing element's presence or integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 facilitates safer and more efficient removal of the closing element, reduces the risk of damage, and maintains effective barrier capabilities against foreign matters, even in the event of accidental loss, while being cost-effective to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

The bushing (30) comprises a corrugated inner profile defined by a plurality of annular grooves (35) suitable for reducing the contact surface between the bushing and the pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction through corrugated surface: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The closing element (40) is provided with a cup body (41) suitable for receiving at least partly the second tubular portion (32) of bushing (30) therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSnap-fit engagement: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2198178B1Guide for floating callipers of a vehicle disc brake
Publication Date: 2016.11.09 FRENI BREMBO SPA
  • EP2198178B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2198178B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2198178B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

Guide for floating callipers of a vehicle disc brake, intended for being arranged between a support structure B of a disc brake and a floating calliper A, comprising: - a pin 20, intended for being fixed by a coupling portion 21 to the support structure B or to the floating calliper A, and for being slidingly guided with a sliding portion 22 inside a sliding seat C obtained in the floating calliper A or in the support structure B; - a bushing (30) intended for being inserted into the sliding seat C and for receiving internally in sliding relation the sliding portion 22; and - a closing element 40 removably associated to bushing 30 in opposite position relative to the coupling portion 21 for preventing the entrance of foreign matters into said guide 1. The invention is characterised in that the closing element 40 is arranged completely external to bushing 30.