Caliper Brake Pad Spring Structure for Stable Pad Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional caliper brakes for vehicles require multiple parts, including pins and clips, which increase assembly time and complexity, and do not efficiently support pad return functionality, leading to residual drag and noise during brake release.
Innovation Solution
A caliper brake design that eliminates pins and clips by using a pad spring with guide supports and returners to stabilize and guide the movement of inner and outer pad plates, allowing for smooth pad return and reduced assembly time, featuring concave bent portions and protrusions for sliding movement and elastic support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pins and clips are used to support pad plates, then structural stability is improved, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pad spring integrates multiple functions previously performed by separate pins and clips into a single component. The guide supports provide stabilization while the returners enable automatic return, combining structural support and return functionality in one element, thereby reducing part count while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The pad spring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a guide support for pad plate movement, provides elastic return force to push pads away from the disc, and replaces the need for separate pins and clips. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components while maintaining structural integrity
2Stability of the object's composition
If pins and clips are used to support pad plates, then structural stability is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the functions of pins and clips into the single pad spring component, the assembly process is simplified. Instead of installing multiple separate parts, the pad spring can be installed as one unit, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining the same structural stability functions
3Ease of operation
If conventional pad support structure is used, then pad return functionality is provided, but residual drag and noise occur during brake release
Solution Approach 1:
The pad spring with returners provides self-powered pad return functionality using elastic deformation. When the brake is released, the compressed returners automatically push the pad plates away from the disc without requiring external power or additional mechanisms, ensuring complete separation and eliminating residual drag and noise
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic properties of the pad spring material and the geometry of the returners are optimized to provide sufficient return force to completely separate the pads from the disc. This parameter optimization ensures that the pads return to their initial positions without contact, eliminating residual drag and noise during brake release
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 design reduces the number of parts and assembly time, enhances pad return functionality, decreases residual drag, and improves vehicle fuel efficiency by stabilizing pad plate movement and reducing noise during brake release.
Implementation Method 1
a returner configured to elastically support one of the inner and outer pad plates to return to an original position
Data Source
AI summary
A caliper brake includes: a housing; pistons respectively disposed on opposite sides in the housing; inner and outer pad plates at least partially disposed on the opposite sides in the housing and configured to be movable by each of the pistons; friction pads respectively disposed on the inner and outer pad plates; and a pad spring configured to guide a movement of the inner and outer pad plates in the housing, wherein each of the inner and outer pad plates includes protrusions on its opposite sides, the pad spring includes two guide supports configured to guide the movement of the inner and outer pad plates, each of the guide supports includes: a concave bent portion into which one of the protrusions of the inner and outer pad plates is inserted; and a returner configured to elastically support one of the inner and outer pad plates to return to an original position.