Vehicle Disc Brake Asymmetrical Bolt Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle disk brakes with electric parking brakes face challenges in compact vehicles due to limited space, making it difficult to fit the additional parking brake unit and complicating assembly/disassembly, especially with smaller wheel diameters.
Innovation Solution
The design modifies the placement of guide and fastening bolts to create an asymmetrical quadrangle configuration, allowing more space for the parking brake assembly and improving accessibility by positioning one bolt closer to the axis of rotation, reducing mechanical load and diameter, and enabling a smaller footprint for the parking brake unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an electric parking brake unit is added to the brake caliper, then the brake can function as both service brake and immobilizing brake, but the size of the brake assembly increases and space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor and electronic control components of the parking brake unit are integrated within the existing brake caliper housing, nesting the additional functionality inside the existing structure rather than adding external components. This allows dual brake functionality while minimizing overall assembly size.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake caliper is designed to perform multiple functions: hydraulic service braking and electric parking brake immobilization. The same caliper housing and friction lining structure serves both braking modes, eliminating the need for separate brake assemblies and reducing overall space requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the parking brake unit is built onto the brake caliper, then immobilizing brake function is achieved, but access to guide bolts and fastening bolts is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly is segmented into modular components: the brake caliper housing containing the parking brake mechanism, the friction linings, and the guide bolt assembly. This segmentation allows guide bolts to be accessed and removed independently from the caliper housing, facilitating maintenance while maintaining integrated parking brake functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide bolts are extracted as separate, independently accessible components that can be removed from the brake anchor plate without disassembling the entire caliper assembly. This extraction allows maintenance personnel to access and service guide bolts even when the parking brake unit is installed on the caliper.
3Stability of the object's composition
If symmetric bolt configuration is used, then structural balance is maintained, but space for parking brake assembly is insufficient in compact vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The brake anchor plate uses an asymmetric bolt configuration where guide bolts are positioned at different radial distances from the brake disk axis. This asymmetric arrangement creates unequal spacing that accommodates the electric parking brake unit within the limited space of compact vehicle wheels, while still maintaining sufficient structural stability through strategic bolt placement.
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 configuration enables the installation of a smart actuator-based parking brake in compact vehicles, enhancing space utilization and simplifying maintenance access without significant modification to existing components, while ensuring sufficient brake application force.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic pressure is introduced under pressure into a hydraulic chamber, one boundary wall of which is formed by the brake piston. The pressure in the hydraulic chamber then leads to the displacement of the brake piston and hence of the friction lining in the direction of the brake disk.
Implementation Method 2
friction linings that are pressed against a rotating brake disk... the friction lining is pressed by means of a brake piston by hydraulic pressure against a brake disk in order to brake the rotation thereof
Implementation Method 3
electric parking brakes that may be operated with so-called smart actuators. Here, as a rule by a smart actuator is meant an assembly that comprises an electric motor
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle disk brake designed as a service brake and as a parking- or immobilizing brake, having a brake anchor plate, which is to be fastened to the chassis of a motor vehicle by at least one screw bolt and in which two guide bolts are accommodated in order to guide a brake caliper displaceably relative to the brake anchor plate, and having a hydraulic chamber, in which a brake piston is accommodated in order to bring friction linings into and out of frictional engagement with a brake disk. A separately manipulable assembly is built onto the vehicle disk brake and has an electric motor as well as an electronic control and power device in order, independently of a hydraulic actuation of the brake piston, to actuate the brake piston via a rotary-to-linear motion converter in the sense of bringing the friction linings into and out of engagement with the brake disk. In order to create the extra space required by the use of a smart actuator for the parking brake unit in the internal wheel contour of compact vehicles, modifications to existing and tried-and-tested components are undertaken, which simultaneously improve the accessibility for maintenance purposes.