Flexible Brake Pad with Elastic Neck for Railway Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rigidity of stud mounting on brake linings in railway vehicles leads to premature and irregular wear of friction materials, intense stresses, and strident noises due to defects in flatness and parallelism between friction surfaces and brake discs, along with inadequate cooling and wear debris evacuation.

Innovation Solution

A friction pad design featuring a base with a fixing support, attachment interfaces, and elastic necks that allow for translational and rotational movements, minimizing stress transmission and incorporating force and torque absorption reliefs, along with a sintered friction material and curved fixing support to accommodate the brake disc shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the stud mounting is rigid to ensure stable friction material fixation, then the fixation stability is improved, but the wear uniformity deteriorates due to defects in flatness and parallelism between friction surfaces and brake disc

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation stabilityVSAvoidwear uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid fixed connection with a flexible connection that allows dynamic adjustment. The elastic lamella in the base enables the stud to move and adapt its position during braking, compensating for flatness and parallelism defects between the friction material and brake disc surfaces, thereby achieving uniform wear while maintaining stable fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the stud mounting is rigid to ensure structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the stress intensity deteriorates in the friction materials and fixing elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidstress intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the beforehand cushioning principle by incorporating an elastic lamella in the base that acts as a stress-absorbing element. This elastic component预先 cushions the stresses generated during braking, preventing intense stress concentration in the friction materials and fixing elements while maintaining overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Area of stationary object

If the friction elements are closely spaced to maximize friction surface area, then the friction area is improved, but the thermal imaging quality deteriorates and cooling efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction surface areaVSAvoidthermal imaging quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the segmentation principle by dividing the friction pad into multiple independent studs rather than a single continuous friction surface. This segmentation creates spaces between individual friction elements, allowing better thermal radiation (improving thermal imaging quality) and enhanced cooling airflow while maintaining adequate total friction surface area through the distributed stud configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 stress on friction materials and fixing elements, minimizes noise, enhances thermal imaging and cooling, and facilitates efficient wear debris evacuation, thereby extending the lifespan of brake linings and improving braking performance.

Implementation Method 1

at least a first neck extending parallel to the first plane, forming an elastic lamella between the fixing support and the first attachment interface, to allow the fixing support to accommodate translational and rotational movements in all directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2659157B1Flexible friction pad and brake lining provided with such a pad
Publication Date: 2016.02.03 FAIVELY TRANSPORT SA
  • EP2659157B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2659157B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4
  • EP2659157B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates a friction pad (1) intended to be mounted on a brake lining, including a base (11) and at least one first friction material (12), the first friction material (12) being attached to at least one portion of said base (11), the base (11) and the first friction material (12) defining a first plane at the interface thereof. The base (11) has: a mounting bracket (111) to which at least the first friction material (12) is attached, at least one first hooking interface (112) distant from the mounting bracket (111) in a direction parallel to the first plane, for directly or indirectly attaching the pad (1) to the brake lining, and at least one first neck (113) extending parallel to the first plane, thereby forming a resilient leaf between the mounting bracket (111) and the first hooking interface (112), in order to enable the mounting bracket (111) to accommodate translational and rotational movements in every direction.