U.S. patent application number 08/723889 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-06 for disk brake.
This patent application is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Ichikawa , Shoji, Matsuoka , Yoshinori.
Application Number | 20010019000 08/723889 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17277900 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010019000 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuoka , Yoshinori ; et
al. |
September 6, 2001 |
Disk Brake
Abstract
A solid disk of a disk brake has a hat and a disk element which
are joined to each other by a junction. The junction has a
plurality of communication holes defined therein which provides
communication between opposite sliding surfaces of the disk
element. First cooling air flows along one of the sliding surfaces
of the disk element, and second cooling air flows smoothly through
the communication holes along the opposite sliding surface of the
disk element for effectively cooling the disk element in its
entirety.
Inventors: |
Matsuoka , Yoshinori; (
Saitama-ken, JP) ; Ichikawa , Shoji; ( Saitama-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph P. Carrier
William D. Blackman
Carrier, Blackman & Associates, P.C.
24101 Novi Road Suite 100
Novi
Michigan
48375
US
cba@home.msen.com
248-344-4422
248-344-1096
|
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha
1-1, Minami Aoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku
Tokyo
107
|
Family ID: |
17277900 |
Appl. No.: |
08/723889 |
Filed: |
October 1, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
08723889 |
Oct 1, 1996 |
|
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08/723,889 |
199 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
188/218XL |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16D 2065/1392 20130101;
F16D 2065/1376 20130101; F16D 2065/1328 20130101; F16D 65/12
20130101; F16D 2065/1384 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
188/218.0XL |
International
Class: |
F16D 065/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 1995 |
JP |
7-255375 |
Claims
Claims
1. A disk brake rotor for a brake having a disk caliper, the rotor
comprising:a hat for accommodating a hub unit which supports a
wheel;a disk element spaced apart from said hat, and including
opposite sliding surfaces slidingly engagable by said disk caliper
for receiving braking force applied by said disk caliper;a
plurality of junction members joining an inner end face of said hat
to a radially inner periphery of said disk element; anda plurality
of communication passages being defined between said junction
members and providing communication between said sliding
surfaces.
2. A disk brake comprising:a disk caliper for applying a braking
force; anda disk rotor having a hat for accommodating a hub unit
which supports a wheel and a disk element for receiving the braking
force applied by said disk caliper, adjacent edges of said hat and
said disk element being spaced from each other in radial and axial
directions relative to said rotor, said adjacent edges being joined
to each other by a junction, said disk element having opposite
sliding surfaces slidingly engagable by said disk caliper;said disk
rotor having plurality of communication passages defined in said
junction and providing communication between said sliding
surfaces;said disk rotor comprises a solid disk; andsaid junction
between said hat and disk element has a plurality of communication
holes defined therein as said communication passages.
3. A disk brake according to claim 2, wherein said hat has a
central through hole defined axially therein, said communication
holes being defined at equal angular intervals around said through
hole.
4. A disk brake according to claim 2, wherein said communication
holes have portions extending radially and axially of said solid
disk.
5. A disk brake according to claim 3, wherein said communication
holes have portions extending radially and axially of said solid
disk.
6. A disk brake rotor according to claim 1, wherein said rotor
comprises a ventilated disk, said disk element comprising:first and
second annular circular plates spaced axially from each other and
extending parallel to each other, said first and second annular
circular plates having respective confronting side surfaces; anda
plurality of cooling fins interconnecting said confronting side
surfaces and said junction members are bases of said cooling
fins.
7. A disk brake rotor according to claim 6, wherein said cooling
fins are spaced at angular intervals and extend radially between
the circular plates, defining a plurality of radially extending
cooling passages between said cooling fins and said first and
second annular circular plates.
8. A disk brake rotor according to claim 6, wherein the junction
members and the communication passages extend both radially and
axially of the rotor.
9. A disk brake rotor for a brake having a disk caliper, the rotor
comprising:a raised central portion for accommodating a hub unit;a
disk element spaced apart from said raised central portion, and
including opposite sliding surfaces slidingly engagable by said
disk caliper for receiving braking force applied by said disk
caliper;a plurality of junction members joining an inner end face
of said raised central portion to a radially inner periphery of
said disk element; andcooling means for cooling said opposite
sliding surfaces of said disk element as it is rotated, said
cooling means comprising a plurality of communication passages
defined between said junction members and providing communication
between said opposite sliding surfaces.
11. A disk brake rotor according to claim 9, wherein said
communication passages are defined at equal angular intervals
around said central raised portion.
13. A disk brake comprising:a disk caliper for applying a braking
force;a disk rotor having a raised central portion for
accommodating a hub unit and a disk element for receiving the
braking force applied by said disk caliper, adjacent edges of said
raised central portion and said disk element being joined together
by a junction, said disk element having opposite sliding surfaces
slidingly engagable by said disk caliper;cooling means for cooling
said opposite sliding surfaces of said disk element as it is
rotated:said cooling means comprising a plurality of communication
passages defined in said junction and providing communication
between said opposite sliding surfaces;each said communication
passage having portions which extend radially and axially of said
disk element; andsaid disk element is a solid disk, said junction
between said raised central portion and disk element comprising a
plurality of spaced rims connecting said adjacent edges of said
raised central portion and said disk element of the disk rotor, and
said communication passages are defined between adjacent ones of
said spaced rims.
14. A disk brake rotor according to claim 9, wherein said disk
element is a ventilated disk having first and second annular
circular plates spaced axially from each other and extending
parallel to each other, said first and second annular circular
plates having respective confronting side surfaces, and a plurality
of cooling fins interconnecting said confronting side surfaces;said
junction members comprise base portions of said cooling fins.
15. A disk brake rotor according to claim 14, wherein said cooling
fins are spaced at angular intervals and extend radially, defining
a plurality of radially extending cooling passages between said
cooling fins and said first and second annular circular plates.
17. A disk brake rotor according to claim 9, wherein said junction
members extend in both radial and axial directions relative to the
rotor.
18. A disk brake according to claim 4, wherein each of said
communication holes have portions which extend axially and radially
of said solid disk.
19. A disk brake according to claim 5, wherein each of said
communication holes have portions which extend axially and radially
of said solid disk.
20. A disk brake rotor according to claim 1, wherein the junction
members are the sole connection between said disk element and said
hat.
21. A disk brake rotor according to claim 9, wherein the junction
members are the sole connection between said disk element and said
raised central portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Field of the Invention:
[0002] The present invention relates to a disk brake having a disk
rotor which can be braked by a brake caliper.
[0003] Description of the Related Art:
[0004] Disk brakes which have a disk rotor which can be braked by a
brake caliper are well known in the art as a brake system for a
motor vehicle such as an automobile or the like. The disk rotor may
be a solid disk which comprises a single circular plate or a
ventilated disk which comprises two annular circular plates with a
cooling air passage defined therebetween.
[0005] FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings schematically shows a
disk brake having a disk rotor in the form of a ventilated disk
which is in general use. As shown in FIG. 7, when a braking force
is applied from a brake caliper 2 to a ventilated disk 1, the speed
of rotation of a wheel 4 which is fastened to the ventilated disk 1
by wheel bolts 3 is reduced.
[0006] The ventilated disk 1 comprises a hat 6 which accommodates a
hub unit 5 supporting the wheel 4 and a disk element 7 for
receiving a braking force from the brake caliper 2. The disk
element 7 has first and second annular circular plates 8, 9
extending parallel to each other, with cooling fins 10 and a
cooling passage 11 interposed therebetween. The second annular
circular plate 9 is integrally joined to the hat 6.
[0007] When a braking force is applied from the brake caliper 2 to
the disk element 7 while the wheel 4 is in rotation, the disk
element 7 generates a considerable amount of heat by frictional
contact with the brake caliper 2. At this time, cooling air 12
flows through the cooling passage 11 between the first and second
annular circular plates 8, 9, causing the cooling fins 10 to cool
the disk element 7.
[0008] The ventilated disk 1 is disposed in the wheel 4. Therefore,
while an inner sliding surface 8a of the first annular circular
plate 8 is cooled by cooling air 13, an outer slide surface 9a of
the second annular circular plate 9 is not exposed to much cooling
air, and cannot sufficiently be cooled.
[0009] Solid disk brake systems also suffer the same problem as
with the ventilated disk 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is a major object of the present invention to provide a
disk brake which is capable of uniformly and effectively cooling a
disk element as a whole that receives a braking force from a brake
caliper.
[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention
are shown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a disk brake
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a solid
disk of the disk brake shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the solid
disk as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow III in FIG.
2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a disk brake
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a
ventilated disk of the disk brake shown in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the solid
disk as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow VI in FIG.
5; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional
disk brake.
[0019]
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows in vertical cross section a disk brake 20
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the disk brake 20 comprises a solid disk
24 as a disk rotor which rotates in unison with a wheel 22 and a
brake caliper 26 for applying a braking force to the solid disk 24
to reduce the speed of rotation of the wheel 22.
[0023] The solid disk 24 has an integral unitary structure which
comprises a hat 28 and a disk element 30 which can be contacted by
pads (not shown) of the disk caliper 26. The hat 28 has a central
through hole 34 defined axially therein which receives a hub unit
32. The hat 28 also has a plurality of first holes 36 and a
plurality of second holes 38 defined therein at given angular
intervals around the through hole 34 (see also FIG. 2).
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, screws 40 are threaded through the
respective first holes 36 into the hub unit 32, thereby fastening
the hub unit 32 to the hat 28. Wheel bolts 42 mounted on the hub
unit 32 are inserted through the respective second holes 38, and
wheel nuts 44 are threaded over the respective wheel bolts 42,
thereby integrally fastening a wheel body 46 of the wheel 22 to the
hat 28 and the hut unit 32. A spindle (not shown) is inserted in
the hub unit 32, and a spindle nut 48 is threaded over the
projecting tip end of the spindle.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the solid disk 24 has a
plurality of communication holes 52 defined in a junction 50
between the hat 28 and the disk element 30 and providing
communication between opposite first and second sliding surfaces
30a, 30b of the disk element 30. The communication holes 52 are
spaced at equal angular intervals around the through hole 34 and
have portions extending radially and axially of the solid disk 24.
The communication holes 52 are circumferentially spaced by narrow
rims 54 of the solid disk 24. The rims 54 function as junction
members joining an inner end face of the hat 28 (the face directed
inwardly of the wheel body 46) and a radially inner periphery of
the disk element 30.
[0026] Operation of the disk brake 20 according to the first
embodiment will be described below.
[0027] When a braking force is applied to the disk element 30 of
the solid disk 24 from the brake caliper 26 while the wheel 22 is
in rotation, it reduces the speed of rotation of the solid disk 24
and the wheel 22 which are fastened to the hub unit 32 by the wheel
bolts 42 and the wheel nuts 44.
[0028] The first and second sliding surfaces 30a, 30b of the disk
element 30 produce a considerable amount of heat because pads of
the brake caliper 26 are held in frictional contact with the first
and second sliding surfaces 30a, 30b. At this time, since the solid
disk 24 is rotating, air flows radially outwardly from the center
toward the outer edge of the solid disk 24 under centrifugal
forces. Specifically, first cooling air 60 flows radially outwardly
along the first sliding surface 30a of the disk element 30, cooling
the first sliding surface 30a.
[0029] As described above, the communication holes 52 are defined
in the junction 50 between the hat 28 and the disk element 30 and
provide communication between the first and second sliding surfaces
30a, 30b of the disk element 30. Accordingly, air flows through the
communication holes 52 radially outwardly toward the outer edge of
the solid disk 24. Specifically, second cooling air 62 flows
radially outwardly along the second sliding surface 30b of the disk
element 30, cooling the second sliding surface 30b.
[0030] The second sliding surface 30b, which is positioned closely
to the wheel body 46 and hence would otherwise not be exposed to
much air, is therefore effectively cooled by the second cooling air
62, with the result that the disk element 30 can be cooled
uniformly. Since any temperature difference between the first and
second sliding surfaces 30a, 30b is minimized, preventing the solid
disk 24 from being thermally deformed. Consequently, the disk brake
20 can be prevented from producing noise or shudder.
[0031] A disk brake 80 according to a second embodiment of the
present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4
through 6. Those parts of the disk brake 80 which are identical to
those of the disk brake 20 according to the first embodiment are
denoted by identical reference numerals and will not be described
in detail below.
[0032] The disk brake 80 has a ventilated disk 82 as a disk rotor
which comprises a hat 84 and a disk element 86. The disk element 86
comprises first and second annular circular plates 88, 90 spaced
axially from each other in the direction indicated by the arrow X
in FIG. 4 and extending parallel to each other, and a plurality of
cooling fins 92 interconnecting confronting side surfaces 88a, 90a
of the first and second annular circular plates 88, 90 and
integrally joined to the hat 84.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cooling fins 92, which are in
the form of a relatively thin wall, are angularly spaced at given
angular intervals and extend radially. Between the cooling fins 92
and the first and second annular circular plates 88, 90, there are
defined a plurality of cooling passages 94 which extend radially.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, only bases of the cooling fins 92 are
present between inner circumferential edges of the first and second
annular circular plates 88, 90 and the hat 84, i.e., in the
junction between the disk element 86 and the hat 84 the fin bases
function as junction members. In the junction between the disk
element 86 and the hat 84, the cooling fins 92 define therebetween
communication passages 96 which provide communication between a
sliding surface 88b, opposite to the side surface 88a, of the first
annular circular plate 88 and a sliding surface 90b, opposite to
the side surface 90a, of the second annular circular plate 90.
[0034] In operation, the side surfaces 88a, 90a of the first and
second annular circular plates 88, 90 are cooled by first cooling
air 98 flowing through the radial cooling passages 94. The sliding
surface 88b of the first annular circular plate 88 is cooled by
second cooling air 100 which flows radially outwardly along the
sliding surface 88b. Third cooling air 102 smoothly flows through
the communication passages 96 defined between the cooling fins 92
at the junction between the hat 84 and the disk element 86 and
along the sliding surface 90b of the second annular circular plate
90, for thereby effectively cooling the sliding surface 90b with
the third cooling air 102.
[0035] Therefore, the side surfaces 88a, 90a and the sliding
surfaces 88b, 90b of the first and second annular circular plates
88, 90 are reliably cooled, thus uniformly cooling the disk element
86 in its entirety.
[0036] Since the disk element 86 is integrally joined to the hat 84
by the cooling fins 92 which interconnect the first and second
annular circular plates 88, 90, the disk element 86 is supported at
its substantially central region by the hat 84 and hence kept in a
structure which is highly resistant to thermal deformation. The
disk element 86 is thus reliably prevented from producing noise or
shudder. With the structure of the disk brake according to the
present invention, as described above, inasmuch as the
communication passages are defined in the junction between the hat
and the disk element and provide communication between the sliding
surfaces of the disk element, the sliding surfaces are reliably
supplied with cooling air for uniformly cooling the disk element as
a whole.
[0037] If the disk rotor comprises a solid disk, then communication
holes may be defined as the communication passages in the junction
between the hat and the disk element. If the disk rotor comprises a
ventilated disk, then the cooling fins interconnecting the first
and second annular circular plates of the disk element may be
integrally joined to the hat, defining the communication passages
in the junction between the cooling fins and the hat for providing
communication between the sliding surfaces of the disk element
through the cooling fins. Because the disk element is supported at
its substantially central region by the hat through the cooling
fins, the disk element is effectively prevented from being
thermally deformed.
[0038] Although certain preferred embodiments of the preinvention
have been shown and described in detail, it should be understood
that various changes and modificamay be made therein without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *