Disc Brake Bellows Boot With Elastic Ribs for Fast Caliper Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating caliper brakes face challenges in quickly and reliably returning to a brake release/ready position, especially under demanding conditions, with issues such as unwanted residual friction torque and maintenance requirements, and there is a need for improved manufacturing and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve with a bellows and ribs/grooves design, made of elastomer with shape memory, facilitates a spring-like restoring effect, enabling automatic return of the brake caliper housing without a separate return spring, while providing lubrication and damping, and allowing for easy assembly and automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate return spring assembly is used to generate release movement, then the brake caliper housing can return to release position, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the return spring function with the bellows boot by integrating elastic ribs directly into the bellows structure. The bellows boot serves dual purposes: sealing the guide bolt and providing the restoring force through its elastic ribs, eliminating the need for a separate return spring assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows boot is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the gap between the guide bolt and brake holder, dampens vibrations, and generates the release movement through its elastic ribs. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If traditional guide systems are used without elastic ribs, then the structure is simpler, but the restoring effect for brake release is insufficient under demanding conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elastic ribs into the bellows boot that can deform and store energy during brake application, then release this energy to propel the caliper housing back to the release position. This dynamic mechanism ensures reliable return under all operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic ribs are designed with specific geometric parameters (height, thickness, spacing) that optimize the restoring force. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves sufficient release speed without requiring additional complex components.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bellows boot is made entirely of elastomer, then manufacturing and assembly are easier, but the load-bearing capacity may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows boot combines elastomer material with integrated elastic ribs that provide enhanced structural strength. The elastomer base material ensures ease of manufacture and assembly, while the reinforced rib structure provides the necessary load-bearing capacity for the guiding function.
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 ensures reliable, maintenance-free operation with efficient lubrication, damping of vibrations, and improved assembly, supporting a quick return to the brake release position and reducing assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The cuff (10, 110) enables a spring-like restoring support or an imprinting of a restoring effect for the purpose of generating a release movement when releasing the brake
Implementation Method 2
made of elastomer with shape memory, facilitates a spring-like restoring effect
Implementation Method 3
allowing for easy assembly and automation... providing lubrication and damping
Implementation Method 4
damping of vibrations
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle disc brake (1) with a sleeve (10) produced from elastomer for sealing the gap between a bolt (8) and a brake holder (4). The sleeve (10) has ribs (20) in contact with the bolt (8). The ribs (20) are arranged parallel to the axis of the bolt (8) and there are an odd number of said ribs. A release process of the motor vehicle disc brake (1) is supported by the sleeve (10).