Disc Brake Piston Retractions Tool with Threaded Coupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for servicing disc brake pads require significant manual effort to retract pistons within caliper housings, lacking mechanical advantage and ease of use, especially when dealing with various caliper designs.
Innovation Solution
A disc brake piston retractor tool featuring a coupler with internally threaded studs and pressure plates that allow for selective rotation and lateral movement, combined with a reversible ratcheting wrench assembly for efficient piston retraction, enabling easier replacement of brake pads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual piston retraction tools are used, then brake pad replacement can be performed, but significant manual effort is required and mechanical advantage is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic press mechanism to generate the necessary force for piston retraction. The hydraulic system converts small manual input force applied to the pump handle into large output force through fluid pressure multiplication, eliminating the need for significant manual effort while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional purely mechanical leverage systems with a hydraulic force multiplication system. This substitution provides superior mechanical advantage through Pascal's law, where pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its container, enabling easy piston retraction with minimal manual effort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional spreader and brake press tools are used, then piston retraction is possible, but the tools lack adaptability to various caliper housing designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal tool system that can accommodate various caliper housing designs through interchangeable components and adjustable mechanisms. The hydraulic press framework remains consistent while allowing adaptation to different piston configurations, caliper sizes, and mounting arrangements, providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic and adjustable elements in the tool design, such as adjustable positioning mechanisms and flexible mounting options, that allow the tool to adapt to various caliper housing designs. This dynamic adaptability enables the same basic tool to effectively service different brake systems without increasing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If pistons are retracted to accommodate new brake pads, then proper braking force is restored, but the process requires removal and reinstallation of caliper housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary piston retraction to be performed while the caliper housing remains installed on the vehicle. By providing a tool that can access and retract pistons in-situ, the necessary preparatory action is completed before brake pad removal, eliminating the need for complete caliper disassembly and reassembly, thus reducing service time while ensuring proper braking force restoration.
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 tool provides improved mechanical advantage and ease of use in retracting pistons, reducing manual effort and facilitating the replacement of brake pads across different caliper designs, ensuring proper accommodation and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
A coupler having opposite first and second open ends has an inner surface internally threaded to threadably receive the first stud from the first open end and the second stud from the second open end. Selective rotation of the coupler results in threading and unthreading of the first and second studs, and simultaneous lateral movement of the first and second pressure plates towards and away from the coupler
Implementation Method 2
In a preferred embodiment, a reversible ratcheting wrench assembly is connected to the coupler for providing selective rotation of the wrench assembly and coupler relative to the first and second externally threaded studs
Data Source
AI summary
A disc brake piston retractor tool is provided for retracting at least one piston of a caliper assembly. The tool includes first and second pressure plates having respective externally threaded first and second studs. A coupler is internally threaded to threadably receive the first stud and the second stud from opposite open ends of the coupler. Selective rotation of the coupler results in simultaneous lateral movement of the first and second pressure plates towards and away from the coupler between retracted and extended positions. One of the pressure plates is engageable against the at least one piston to retract the piston, and the other of the pressure plates is supported against an interior surface of the caliper assembly opposite the one piston, or is engagable against at least one other piston in the caliper assembly opposite the one piston to retract the other piston.