Integrally Formed Brake Shoe with Spherical Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake shoe support systems for drum brakes are heavy, complex, and costly due to multiple components and assembly requirements, leading to increased manufacturing and assembly outlay.
Innovation Solution
A shoe element comprising a web segment and a support segment, where the support segment is a spherical segment designed for pivoted support on a bearing geometry, and the web segment is either integrally formed with the shoe web or designed for interlocking engagement, allowing for a single forming process and reduced component count, enabling lightweight and easy production with enhanced material properties through strain hardening and stiffening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional bearing seats with ball are used for pivoted support, then multidimensional pivoting movements are achieved, but the number of components, weight, and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearing seat and the shoe element into a single integrated component. The support segment of the shoe element directly forms the pivoting support on the back plate assembly, eliminating the need for separate bearing seats and balls. This integration maintains the pivoting capability while reducing component count and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe element's support segment serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables pivoting movement, and acts as the bearing interface with the back plate assembly. By making the support segment multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated bearing components while maintaining all necessary mechanical functions.
2Ease of operation
If conventional bearing seats with ball are used for pivoted support, then multidimensional pivoting movements are achieved, but the weight of the arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing functionality is merged into the shoe element itself through the support segment's spherical interface with the back plate assembly. This eliminates the weight of separate bearing seats and balls, reducing the overall weight of the brake shoe assembly while maintaining pivoting capability.
3Ease of operation
If conventional bearing seats with ball are used for pivoted support, then multidimensional pivoting movements are achieved, but manufacturing and assembly outlay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support segment is designed to be integrally formed with the web segment, creating a single piece component. This eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble separate bearing seats and balls, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly outlay while maintaining the pivoting support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe element is divided into functional segments (support segment and web segment) that are integrally formed. This segmentation allows for optimized manufacturing processes while maintaining the functional benefits of a integrated design, reducing both manufacturing and assembly complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If web segment is integrally formed with support segment, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different brake shoe designs may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support segment is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate different brake shoe designs and configurations. Its spherical geometry and integration method allow it to work with various web segment designs, maintaining adaptability while benefiting from integral formation that simplifies manufacturing.
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 results in a lightweight, easy-to-produce brake shoe support system that reduces assembly outlay and manufacturing costs, while providing stable and durable performance with improved material characteristics and flexibility for various brake shoe designs.
Implementation Method 1
the support segment comprises a spherical segment, wherein the spherical segment of the shoe element is designed for pivoted support on a corresponding bearing geometry, for example a bearing seat of a back plate assembly
Implementation Method 2
The advantage to folding the web segment is firstly that a strain hardening of the material occurs in the area that is formed by this process
Implementation Method 3
secondly that the sheet-metal areas extending approximately at right angles to one another provide stiffening to counter torsion
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe element for use in a drum brake includes a web segment and a support segment, wherein the support segment includes a spherical segment, the web segment includes a web-side engagement segment for interlocking engagement with a shoe web or is integrally formed with a shoe web, and wherein the web segment and the support segment are integrally formed with one another.