Brake Hood Pressure Balancing for Accurate Wear Debris Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to accurately measure wear debris generated in brake devices due to leakage and contamination issues, as they cannot effectively seal the gaps between the brake device and external air, leading to inaccurate quantification of wear debris.

Innovation Solution

A wear debris collection device and system that uses pressure control to equalize internal and external air pressures, preventing airflow through gaps and ensuring all generated debris is collected without external contamination, utilizing a blower, HEPA filter, and air sampler to capture and analyze wear debris.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a highly airtight cover or hood is used to cover the brake device, then wear debris collection efficiency is improved, but sealing gaps for rotation shaft coupling become difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear debris collection accuracyVSAvoidsealing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible seal ring is installed around the rotation shaft penetration portion of the hood to seal the gap between the hood internal space and external environment, allowing the rotation shaft to pass through while maintaining airtightness for accurate wear debris collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

A suction device is introduced as an intermediary component to actively draw wear debris particles toward the rotation shaft area and guide them into the collection container, solving the problem of debris escape through rotation shaft gaps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If gaps are created to allow rotation shaft coupling with external devices, then ease of operation is improved, but dust infiltration and wear debris leakage occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation shaft couplingVSAvoiddust infiltration and debris leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible seal ring is installed around the rotation shaft penetration portion of the hood to seal the gap between the hood internal space and external environment, allowing the rotation shaft to pass through while maintaining airtightness for accurate wear debris collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

A suction device is introduced as an intermediary component to actively draw wear debris particles toward the rotation shaft area and guide them into the collection container, solving the problem of debris escape through rotation shaft gaps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing sealing techniques are applied to prevent dust entry, then dust infiltration is reduced, but wear debris leakage outside the hood increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust preventionVSAvoidwear debris loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A suction device is introduced as an intermediary component to actively draw wear debris particles toward the rotation shaft area and guide them into the collection container, solving the problem of debris escape through rotation shaft gaps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction device creates a controlled negative pressure environment that actively manages airflow direction, ensuring wear debris is drawn inward toward the collection container rather than escaping outward, providing active control over particle movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Accurately measures and collects all wear debris generated in brake devices by preventing leakage and contamination, allowing for precise quantification of wear debris through real-time analysis of particle size and concentration.

Implementation Method 1

a blower 71 that feeds air into the inner space of the brake hood 50

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a high efficiency air filter (HEPA filter) 72 that removes particles from air to be fed into the brake hood 50

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

an air sampler 60 that collects wear debris particles contained in air flowing out from the brake hood 50

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3783332B1Abrasive powder collection device, analysis system, abrasive powder collection method, and analysis method
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 AKEBONO BRAKE IND CO LTD
  • EP3783332B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3783332B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3783332B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention makes it possible to collect all wear debris generated in a brake (11) that includes a rotor (14) and calipers (12), the exterior of the brake (11) being covered by a brake hood (50). An air current (58) is caused to flow using a blower (71) and an air sampler (60) inside the brake hood (50), and the wear debris suspended in the air is collected by the air sampler (60). In order to prevent leakage of the wear debris and/or intrusion of dust through a gap, the flow rate of the blower (71) or the air sampler (60) is automatically controlled by a control unit (80) so that a pressure differential between an internal air pressure (Pin) and an external air pressure (Pout) is eliminated. A pressure sensor (73) for sensing the internal air pressure (Pin) is disposed at a position above and upstream from the calipers (12), and the effect of generated heat is reduced. A connection part of the brake hood (50) is sealed on the outer side of bearings for supporting a shaft connected to the rotor (14).