Brake Pad Spring Geometry for Adjustable Retraction Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle brake pad springs apply uniform elastic forces, limiting their ability to match various braking specifications and are prone to misassembly due to identical design features.
Innovation Solution
The pad springs are designed with varying dimensions and features on different sides of the pad carrier, including different widths, lengths, and thicknesses of retraction bars, along with unique identification parts and guide ribs, to adjust elastic forces and prevent misassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pad springs are designed with identical dimensions and features, then manufacturing is simplified and assembly is easier, but the ability to adjust elastic forces for various braking specifications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pad spring design applies local quality by varying the dimensions (width, length, thickness) of retraction bars at specific locations (inner side vs outer side, leading side vs trailing side) while maintaining a standardized overall structure. This allows different elastic forces to be applied at different positions without redesigning the entire pad spring system, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters (width, length, thickness) of the retraction bars to achieve different elastic force characteristics. By changing these physical parameters rather than the fundamental design, the system can accommodate various braking specifications while maintaining a consistent structural framework.
2Reliability
If pad springs have identical design features, then assembly process is simpler, but misassembly becomes more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies asymmetry by providing different identification parts (protrusions or recesses) at different positions on the pad carrier. These asymmetric features create a unique configuration that must be matched during assembly, preventing misassembly while still allowing for a relatively simple assembly process through feature-based guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification parts are pre-configured on the pad carrier and pad springs during manufacturing, establishing the correct assembly configuration in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when assembly occurs, the correct matching is already predetermined, reducing the cognitive load on assemblers while preventing errors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If uniform elastic forces are applied to all pad plates, then the brake system is simpler to design, but it cannot match various braking specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the elastic force application system by dividing the pad carrier into distinct regions (inner side, outer side, leading side, trailing side) and assigning different retraction bar dimensions to each segment. This segmentation allows independent optimization of elastic forces for each position to match specific braking requirements while maintaining a unified overall system architecture.
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 design allows for adjustable elastic forces to match various braking specifications and prevents misassembly by ensuring correct installation, enhancing braking performance and reducing drag phenomena.
Implementation Method 1
a pad spring configured to apply an elastic force to a pad plate to separate the brake pad therefrom at high speed
Implementation Method 2
a buffer part configured to elastically support the pad plate to prevent the pad plate from colliding with the pad carrier when braking is performed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pad spring for a vehicle brake. To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, there are provided pad springs for a vehicle brake which are installed in a pad carrier to apply elastic forces in directions in which a pad plate including a brake pad is spaced apart from a disc when an operation of a vehicle brake is released, wherein the pad carrier includes a leading side support frame, a trailing side support frame, an inner side support beam, and an outer side support beam, wherein the support beams connect the support frames, and the pad spring is provided on each of the inner side support beam and the outer side support beam, wherein at least one among a width, a length, and a thickness of a retraction bar provided on one of the pad springs is different from that provided on each of the remaining pad springs so that an elastic force is applied to the pad plate.