Radial Spring Design for Uniform Brake Pad Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radial springs for brake pads are bulky and exhibit non-uniform sliding movement in the yoke housing during braking and return, affecting brake response time and sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A radial spring design featuring a clamp with a fixed straight arm, an elastic hinge, and a supporting loop with specific bend radii, facilitating easy installation and providing stability and reduced friction during braking and return movements by maintaining the lug and pad parallel to each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional radial springs are used, then the brake pad can be held in the yoke housing, but the sliding movement is not uniform and the structure is bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The radial spring is divided into distinct functional segments: a clamp portion with fixed and movable arms for engaging the lug, and a supporting loop portion for sliding in the yoke housing. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function, achieving uniform sliding movement while reducing overall bulkiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring incorporates a movable arm connected by an elastic hinge that allows dynamic adaptation during braking and return movements. This dynamic structure enables the spring to maintain consistent sliding characteristics throughout the full range of motion while using minimal material, resolving the contradiction between reliability and compactness.
2Speed
If the guide mechanism is made more flexible for sensitive return, then the brake response time improves, but the spring becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring uses local quality variations through different arm configurations - the fixed straight arm provides stable positioning while the movable arm with elastic hinge provides the necessary flexibility for sensitive return. This localized differentiation achieves high response speed without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic hinge and Z-shaped movable arm configuration change the mechanical parameters of the spring, providing heightened sensitivity for the return movement. These parameter changes enable rapid response time while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not significantly increase device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the clamp opening is made larger for easier installation, then the installation ease improves, but the clamping force may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed straight arm with flared extremity is designed to engage the lug face first during installation, preliminarily positioning the clamp before the movable arm closes. This preliminary action allows for easier installation with a larger effective opening while ensuring that full clamping force is achieved once the movable arm engages and secures the lug.
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
Enhances the flexibility and regularity of the guide mechanism, allowing for sensitive return of the brake pad to its non-contact position with minimal travel, thereby improving brake response time and reducing friction.
Implementation Method 1
a movable arm connected to the bottom by an elastic hinge and closing the opening of the clamp
Implementation Method 2
The large guide surface constituted by the pad reduces friction and promotes ease of slippage during braking and return movements
Data Source
AI summary
A radial spring for a disk brake pad and brake pads and brakes provided with such radial springs, in which the radial spring is for the lug of a brake pad. The spring includes a clamp and a supporting loop. The clamp is formed of a straight arm, an undulating bottom, and an arm in the shape of a Z, followed by the loop connected by a bend, followed by a bend with a large radius of curvature connected to the pad terminated by a turn that is almost at a right angle to the extremity of the pad.