Drum Brake Adapter Venting for Integrated Wheel-End Motor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drum brake assemblies for vehicle air braking systems lack an efficient and integrated solution for housing and protecting electric drive motors, while also ensuring effective cooling and easy assembly.
Innovation Solution
A drum brake apparatus comprising a wheel drum, a brake drum adapter that houses an electric drive motor, and a wheel hub, with the adapter providing a structure to interface between the wheel drum and hub, and featuring vent openings for cooling and aligned passages for electrical and coolant lines, along with a method for assembling the components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drum brake assembly is equipped with an electric wheel end drive motor, then the motor can function to propel the vehicle and generate brake torque, but the assembly lacks an efficient and integrated solution for housing and protecting the motor
Solution Approach 1:
The brake drum adapter merges the housing function with the existing brake drum assembly structure. The adapter (150) is coupled to the brake drum (110) and cooperates with it to form an integrated structure that houses the electric wheel end drive motor (190), combining motor housing, brake assembly, and structural support into a unified configuration rather than adding a separate housing component.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake drum adapter serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the motor, acts as a housing for the motor, interfaces with both the brake drum and wheel hub, and contributes to the overall structural integrity of the assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated housing components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electric drive motor is housed within the drum brake assembly, then integration is achieved, but cooling of the motor becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The brake drum adapter acts as an intermediary structure that enables cooling airflow to reach the motor. It incorporates vent openings that allow air to flow through the adapter structure, serving as a mediator between the external environment and the motor interior to facilitate heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake drum adapter incorporates vent openings (166, 168) that function as flexible airflow pathways. These openings allow air to penetrate through the adapter structure and reach the motor, creating flexible channels for thermal management without compromising the structural integrity of the housing.
3Ease of manufacture
If the brake drum and wheel hub are integrated, then assembly is simplified, but routing electrical and coolant lines becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The brake drum adapter serves as an intermediary component with built-in pathways for routing electrical and coolant lines. The adapter includes passages that allow these lines to be routed from the brake drum through the adapter structure to the wheel hub and motor, simplifying the routing process compared to direct integration without an intermediate adapter structure.
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 provides a robust and efficient integration of electric drive motors within the drum brake assembly, ensuring effective cooling and easy assembly, enhancing the performance and reliability of vehicle air braking systems.
Implementation Method 1
The brake drum adapter has a plurality of vent openings through which air can flow to cool a brake component housed within the brake drum adapter
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly method is provided for a vehicle having an axle assembly. The assembly method comprises fastening a drum brake assembly having a brake spider to a brake flange of an axle assembly and routing electrical lines through the brake spider and the brake flange of the axle assembly. The assembly method further comprises coupling an electric drive motor to an axle of the axle assembly, attaching the electrical lines to the electric drive motor and coupling a wheel hub to the axle assembly. The assembly method further comprises disposing the drum brake assembly inside a chamber of a brake drum portion, the brake drum portion located coaxial to the axle and disposing the electric drive motor inside a chamber of a brake adapter portion, the brake adapter portion located coaxial to the axle.