Sliding Caliper Brake Locking for Pad Retraction and Vibration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake assemblies for heavy commercial vehicles face issues with brake pads unintentionally contacting the rotor due to uneven wear and vibrations, leading to reduced efficiency, increased fuel consumption, and premature wear of brake pads.
Innovation Solution
A brake assembly with a lock arrangement that includes a friction element and a retaining cage, allowing selective inhibition of relative sliding between the caliper and brake carrier, preventing unintended contact and dampening vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the caliper is allowed to slide freely on the guide pin, then the brake pads can be pushed away from the rotor during non-braking operations, but the brake pads may contact the rotor unintentionally due to vibrations or cornering forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin assembly allows dynamic adjustment between free sliding mode during braking operations and locked mode during non-braking operations. The lock arrangement can be selectively activated to inhibit caliper movement when pad retraction is not needed, preventing unintended contact while maintaining braking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the friction parameter between the caliper and guide pin based on operational state. During non-braking operations, the lock arrangement increases friction to prevent sliding; during braking, the lock is released to allow free sliding and pad retraction.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a lock arrangement is introduced to prevent unintended contact, then brake pad wear is reduced, but the complexity of the brake assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin assembly serves multiple functions: it guides caliper movement during braking, provides a locking mechanism to prevent unintended contact, and dampens vibrations. By combining these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate elements, the overall complexity is minimized.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism between the caliper and guide pin, selectively engaging to prevent harmful contact while allowing necessary movement. This intermediary approach adds minimal complexity compared to more comprehensive locking systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lock arrangement inhibits relative sliding between caliper and brake carrier, then vibrations are dampened and pad contact is prevented, but the caliper cannot adjust to differential wear between inboard and outboard pads
Solution Approach 1:
The lock arrangement operates periodically rather than continuously - engaging during non-braking operations to dampen vibrations and prevent contact, and disengaging during braking operations to allow pad adjustment. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction by applying the locking function only when needed.
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 solution effectively prevents brake pad contact with the rotor outside of braking operations, ensuring even wear and reducing vibrations, thereby enhancing vehicle efficiency and extending brake pad life.
Implementation Method 1
the lock arrangement is operable to selectively apply a force to the friction element in order to increase friction between the guide sleeve and the guide bore and inhibit relative sliding between the caliper and the brake carrier
Implementation Method 2
The friction element may be configured to be deformed by the force applied by the lock arrangement. The friction element may be configured to be compressed in the axial direction and expanded in a radial direction by the force applied by the lock arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A brake assembly that includes a caliper that has a guide bore, a brake carrier, a guide pin having a guide sleeve, and a lock arrangement. The lock arrangement has a friction element and is operable to selectively apply a force to the friction element to increase friction between the guide sleeve and the guide bore and inhibit relative sliding between the caliper and the brake carrier.