Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02597493 2007-08-10
BRAKE-LINING SUPPORT PLATE
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a brake-lining support plate to hold a friction
lining,
especially for installation in a vehicle brake system, with holding structures
for the friction
lining arranged on the lining side in rows, each holding structure having a
recess and a
protrusion, the protrusion being produced by material displacement in the
surface during
formation of the recess and engaging with the friction lining, and the
protrusion and recess
lying one behind the other in the direction of the rows, according to the
preamble of
claim 1. The invention also concerns a brake-lining support plate with the
features of the
preamble of claim 1, in which the rows run essentially across the longitudinal
axis of the
brake-lining support plate, according to the preamble of claim 6.
Background of the Invention
There is a danger in brake-lining support plates that so-called edge lifting
of the
friction lining will occur on the brake-lining support plate, which can lead
to shearing off
of the brake-lining support plate during high braking torques. Edge lifting is
understood to
mean loosening of the friction lining on its outer contour or in the area of
its edges from
the brake-lining support plate, which is triggered by penetration of moisture,
water,
saltwater, etc., into this area and possibly rusting of the brake-lining
support plate caused
by this.
Edge lifting in known brake-lining support plates is mostly promoted by the
recesses of the holding structures present in the edge region of the friction
lining on the
brake-lining support plate related to the manufacture. Moisture, water,
saltwater, etc., can
collect in them and thereby reach the area between the friction lining and
brake-lining
support plate.
A brake-lining support plate of the type discussed here is known from
EP 1,484,524 Al. The brake-lining support plate has holding structures
arranged in rows,
each having a protrusion and a corresponding recess, the rows running
essentially across
the longitudinal axis of the brake-lining support plate. The known brake-
lining support
plate, however, has recesses in the laterally arranged rows in the edge region
of the friction
lining, which are still arranged in front of the first protrusion in the row.
Collection of
moisture in the recesses can therefore occur precisely in the critical edge
regions of the
brake lining, so that edge lifting is favored by this.
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A similar brake-lining support plate is known from WO 00/49 308 Al. However,
the holding structures here, arranged in rows and each having a protrusion,
are arranged in
the direction of the longitudinal axis of the brake-lining support plate.
Such an arrangement of the holding structures in the direction of the
longitudinal
axis is also provided in the brake-lining support plate of US 4,569,424. In
this brake-lining
support plate, the holding structures also do not lie on the brake-lining
support plate in
such a way that the edge-lifting effect is avoided. Since a recess in the form
of a groove or
channel must be incorporated into the brake-lining support to produce the
protrusions of
the holding structures, a recess is present in the rows running in the
longitudinal direction
at least at the beginning or end of a row, in which moisture can collect
between the lining
support plate and the brake lining, and therefore produce an edge-lifting
effect. By
alignment of the rows in the longitudinal direction, the transverse edges of
the brake lining
that are particularly loaded during braking are also affected by edge lifting,
so that the
danger of shearing off of the brake lining from the brake-lining support plate
is thereby
particularly high.
Brake-lining support plates with holding structures having protrusions and
recesses
are also known from US 4,799,579 Al, which are arranged in rows in the
direction of the
longitudinal axis of the brake-lining support plate. The danger of an edge-
lifting effect
also exists here, in which moisture can collect in the recesses arranged on
the edge area of
the brake lining.
Summary of the Invention
With this as point of departure, the underlying task of the invention is to
provide a
brake-lining support plate of the above-mentioned type, in which the danger of
loosening
of the friction lining from the brake-lining support plate is reduced,
especially in the edge
area of the brake lining.
To solve this task, it is proposed according to the invention that the holding
structures be arranged in rows, so that a protrusion is found on the outward-
facing end or
ends of each row. Because of this, it is possible to adjust the holding
structures to the outer
contour of the friction lining, without beginning or ending the rows with
recesses.
Collection of moisture in front of the first protrusion at the beginning of
the rows or after
the last protrusion at the end of the rows is thereby counteracted.
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According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the
holding
structures have at least two sections with opposite arrangement of the
protrusion and
recess in the holding structures. If the opposite sections are arranged on
opposite ends of
the rows, it is possible, in terms of manufacture, to satisfy the condition
that a protrusion
or crimp is found at the beginning and end of each row in a simple way. In
addition, a
higher load-bearing capacity of the holding connection is achieved by the
holding
structures between the brake-lining support plate and the friction lining. It
can thereby
accommodate a friction lining with a higher breaking force, without the
friction lining
being sheared off from the brake-lining support plate. If the free ends of the
protrusions or
crimps point forward or rearward, for example, in the manner of a chip, the
friction lining
can also absorb higher forces acting in a direction perpendicular to the
surface of the
friction lining, which occur, for example, when the brakes are lifted.
Another embodiment of the invention consists of the fact that the rows run
essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the brake-lining
support plate. To
this extent, the rows are arranged in or opposite the direction of the
shearing forces acting
on the brake-lining support plate or the friction lining. This step achieves a
situation in
which a recess is not present at the beginning and end of the rows, but always
a protrusion
precisely at the particularly stressed edges of the friction lining running in
the transverse
direction, and an edge-lifting effect is therefore prevented. Shearing off of
the friction
lining from the brake-lining support plate is therefore counteracted
particularly effectively.
As an alternative, it is possible that the rows run essentially across the
longitudinal axis of
the brake-lining support plate. This type of arrangement is simple to
accomplish in terms
of manufacturing, and it also permits adjustment of the holding structures to
the contour of
the friction lining in the critical edge areas of the friction lining, without
the rows
beginning or ending with recesses. In particular, an arrangement of the
holding structures
on the brake-lining support plate that guarantees optimal holding conditions
for the
friction lining is achieved in this way.
To solve the task, it is proposed, in a brake-lining support plate with rows
running
essentially across its longitudinal axis, that the rows be arranged in a fan
shape in their
longitudinal direction. The contour of the friction lining in the usual disk
brakes is
therefore taken into account.
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By making the rows diverge outward in the radial direction (with respect to
the
installation position of the brake-lining support plate), it is possible to
make rows running
essentially in the transverse direction of the brake-lining support plate.
Because of this,
favorable holding conditions for the friction lining are obtained, especially
in ordinary disk
brakes, since the holding structures are less stressed during braking and the
danger of the
friction lining being sheared off is therefore reduced.
Naturally, it can also be specified that the rows be arranged in a fan shape
running
in the longitudinal direction of the brake-lining support plate.
According to a modification of the invention, it is proposed that the
positions of the
protrusions and recesses of the holding structures alternate between adjacent
rows. If the
free ends of the protrusions point in one direction, i.e., in the
manufacturing direction of
the holding structures of the corresponding row to the next or preceding
holding structure,
the protrusions of adjacent rows face each other in this case. Because of
this, so-called
edge lifting can also be effectively counteracted, since a protrusion of the
adjacent row is
always arranged on both edge areas of the friction lining, in which the rows
extend with
their two ends, in addition to a recess.
An advantageous modification consists of the fact that with oppositely
arranged
holding structures of adjacent rows, viewed in the manufacturing direction of
the holding
structures, the beginning of each row is shifted with respect to the end of
the
corresponding adjacent row in the direction toward the center of the brake-
lining support
plate. In this way, it is possible for no recesses (viewed in the
manufacturing direction) to
lie in the edge region of the friction lining, but only protrusions.
It is thereby possible to arrange the holding structures of adjacent rows
offset with
respect to one another, in which case a protrusion of an adjacent row
preferably comes to
lie in the region of the a recess of a row. Because of this, a situation in
which the recesses
of adjacent rows come to lie directly next to each other and a continuous
creep path for
moisture, dirty water, saltwater, etc., is present is therefore avoided.
An alternative embodiment of the invention proposes that the brake-lining
support
plate has at least two areas with rows of holding structures aligned in a fan
shapes running
one onto another, whereby the holding structures of one area are aligned
opposite the
holding structures of the other area. Because of this, a lifting out of the
holding structures,
which spares the brake-lining support plate, is possible, since the forces
acting on one area
to produce the holding structures and the forces acting on the other area
largely cancel
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each other out. This is particularly the case if the two areas are arranged
with mirror
symmetry to the center transverse axis and/or the center longitudinal axis of
the brake-
lining support plate.
It is possible to making the rows of the two areas diverge in the opposite
direction.
Because of this, particularly large brake-lining support plates can be
provided in simple
manner with the holding structures, in which the holding structures of one
area can first be
produced in two consecutive working steps, and then the rows of the second
area can be
produced in the device that produces the protrusions after the brake-lining
support plate is
reset.
The alternative step of causing the rows of the two areas to diverge in the
direction
toward the middle of the brake-lining support plate has the same objective.
According to another alternative step, it can also be prescribed that the rows
of the
two areas diverge in the same direction.
In this case, it is worthwhile if the rows have essentially the same center of
convergence. This is particularly advantageous if the rows of the two areas
are produced
simultaneously in one working cycle, since the tool required to produce these
rows can be
produced in a simple manner.
It is then advantageous if the two areas overlap in the edge area of their
facing
sides, so that the ends of the row of one area lie between the ends of
adjacent rows of the
other area. A high holding effect of the friction lining on the brake-lining
support plate is
thereby guaranteed, because of the large number of protrusions precisely in
the area of the
brake-lining support plate that is stressed particularly strongly during
braking.
Production of the tool for machining of the brake-lining support plate is
configured
particularly simply if the holding structures of adjacent rows bordering each
other each lie
on one radius.
It is also advantageous if the holding structures are arranged at least in the
edge
area of the friction lining. To avoid the edge-lifting effect, it is already
sufficient if the
holding structures are present in the edge region of the friction lining. It
is no longer
necessary, for this purpose, also to provide the inner surface of the brake-
lining support
plate fully with holding structures. However, a higher accommodation of
braking forces is
additionally achieved by arranging of the holding structures over the entire
surfaces.
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It is advantageous if the protrusions have a height h from 1.40 mm to 1.8 mm,
preferably 1.6 mm. Particularly good joining of the friction lining on the
brake-lining
support plate can be achieved in this range and an edge-lifting effect can be
counteracted.
The step of aligning the protrusions at an angle a from about 80 to 84 to
the
surface of the brake-lining support plate, preferably in the direction of the
corresponding
recess, has the same objective.
Designing the brake-lining support plate curved or essentially flat is
worthwhile.
Because of this, the brake-lining support plate can be used not only in a disk-
brake system,
but also in a drum-brake system.
Additional objectives, advantages, features and application possibilities of
the
present invention can be seen from the following description of several
embodiment
examples, with reference to the drawings. All features described and/or shown,
in
themselves or in any reasonable combination, then form objects of the present
invention,
also independently of whether they are summarized or refereed back to in the
claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a possible variant of a brake-lining support plate according to
the invention for holding a friction lining, in a perspective view,
Figure 2 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 1, in a top
view,
Figure 3 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 1, in a side
view,
Figure 4 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 4 in a
sectional view along line A-A according to Figure 2,
Figure 5 shows the holding structure of the brake-lining support plate
according to Figure 1 in a view of detail B according to Figure 4,
Figure 6 shows another embodiment example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view,
Figure 7 shows a modification of the brake-lining support plate according to
Figure 6, in a top view,
Figure 8 shows another practical example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a perspective view,
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Figure 9 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 8, in a top
view,
Figure 10 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 8, in a
section along line A-A according to Figure 9,
Figure 11 shows the holding structure of the brake-lining support plate
according to Figure 8, in a view of detail B according to Figure 10,
Figure 12 shows another embodiment example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view,
Figure 13 shows the brake-lining support plate according to Figure 12, in a
sectional view along line A-A,
Figure 14 shows the holding structure of the brake-lining support plate
according to Figure 12, in a depiction of detail B according to
Figure 13,
Figure 15 shows another embodiment example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view,
Figure 16 shows another embodiment example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view,
Figure 17 shows another embodiment example of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view, and
Figure 18 shows another alternative variant of a brake-lining support plate
according to the invention, in a top view.
Detailed Description
A brake-lining support plate 1 for holding a friction lining is shown in
Figures 1
to 4, as used, for example, in a vehicle brake system. This brake system can
be a disk
brake. In principle, the brake-lining support plate can also be used in a drum
brake or other
type of brake system.
The brake-lining support plate 1 has holding structures 15 arranged in row 6
on the
lining side 2 for the friction lining (not shown). Each holding structure 15
contains a
protrusion 3 and a recess 4, the protrusion 3 being produced during formation
of recess 4
by material displacement in surface 5 and engaging with the friction lining
(not shown).
The rows 6 run essentially across the longitudinal axis 7 of the brake-lining
support
plate 1 and are arranged in a fan shape in such a way that the rows 6 (with
respect to the
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installation position of the brake-lining support plate 1) diverge radially
outward in the
brake system. The holding structures 15 of adjacent rows 6 bordering one
another also lie
on a radius 11.
In the present embodiment example, the holding structures 15 are arranged in
rows 6, in such a way that a protrusion 10 is located at the beginning 8 and
at the end 9 of
each row 6. The rows 6 also have two sections 12, 13 in which the positions of
the
protrusions 3 and recesses 4 of the holding structures 15 are opposite or
alternated. The
individual rows 6, with holding structures 15, are also arranged so that they
border the
edge of the friction lining (not shown).
According to an embodiment example not shown here, it is naturally also
possible
that the holding structures 15 are only arranged in the edge region of the
friction lining.
In the embodiment example according to Figure 1, the protrusions are formed as
crimps 3, the free ends of the crimps being bent back or directed toward the
corresponding
recess 4.
As can be seen from Figures 5 and 11, the crimps or protrusions 3 can have a
height h of about 1.6 mm and are at an angle a of about 80 to 84 to the
surface 5 of
brake-lining support plate 1 in the direction toward the corresponding recess
4. Naturally,
the protrusions 3 can also have other heights and can be designed differently,
for example,
in the form of pins, teeth, chips, etc.
Another embodiment example of the brake-lining support plate I is shown in
Figure 6. It differs from the embodiment example according to Figure 1, among
other
things, in that the positions of the protrusions 3 and the recesses 4 of the
holding
structures 15 alternate between adjacent rows 6. The rows 6, beginning with a
recess 4
related to the manufacture, in the edge region of the friction lining, border
a protrusion 3
(viewed in the manufacturing direction of the holding structures) on the end
of each
adjacent row. Recesses 4 and protrusions 3 therefore alternate at the
beginning and end of
row 6.
A modification of the embodiment example of the brake-lining support plate 1
according to Figure 6 is shown in Figure 7. The brake-lining support plate 1
shown there
differs, among other things, from the embodiment example according to Figure 6
in that,
viewed in the manufacturing direction of the holding structures 15, the
beginning 8 of each
row 6 is displaced with respect to the end 9 of the adjacent row 6 in the
direction toward
the center 14 of the brake-lining support plate 1.
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According to another embodiment example not shown here, it is also possible
that
the holding structures 15 of adjacent rows 6 are arranged offset with respect
to each other,
so that a protrusion of the adjacent row 6 comes to lie in the region of a
recess 4 of a row.
Figures 8 through 11 again show another embodiment example of the brake-lining
support plate 1. Elements of the brake-lining support plate 1 that are the
same as those of
the embodiment examples mentioned above of the brake-lining support plates are
provided
with the same reference numbers, to the extent that the description refers to
the previous
embodiment examples. The embodiment example according to Figures 8 through 11
differs from the preceding embodiment examples according to Figures 1, 6, and
7, among
other things, in that the rows 6 run in fan shape, essentially in the
direction of the
longitudinal axis 7 of the brake-lining support plate 1. The brake-lining
support plate 1 is
then divided into two areas 16, 17, each with rows 6 arranged in a fan shape
with holding
structures 15, the two areas 16, 16 [should by: 17] having an opposite
arrangement of
protrusions 3 and recesses 4 of the holding structures 15. Unlike the
embodiment example
according to Figure 1, the rows 6 of the two areas 16, 17 diverge in this
embodiment
example in the direction toward the center 14 of the brake-lining support
plate 1.
Figures 12 to 14 show a modification of the embodiment example of the brake-
lining
support plate 1 according to Figures 8 through 11. The same elements are again
provided
with the same reference numbers; the comments concerning Figures 8 through 11
are
referred to, to this extent. The embodiment example according to Figures 12
through 14
differs from the embodiment example according to Figures 8 through I 1 in that
the rows 6
of the two areas 16, 17 diverge in the same direction, having essentially the
same center of
convergence. The two areas 16, 17 also overlap in the edge region 18 of their
facing
sides 19, so that between the ends of adjacent rows 6 of one area 16, the ends
of the rows 6
of the other area 171ie. For example, the overlap in the edge region 19 can
include two
holding structures 15 of rows 6 of areas 16, 17. It is also possible that more
or fewer
holding structures 15 of areas 16, 17 overlap.
Figure 15 shows another embodiment example of the brake-lining support plate
1.
Parts of the brake-lining support plate 1 that are the same as parts of the
preceding variants
according to Figures 1 through 14 are provided with the same reference
numbers. The
descriptions of the preceding embodiment examples are referred to to this
extent.
In the variant according to Figure 15, the brake-lining support plate 1, as in
the
variants according to Figures 8 through 14, also has two areas 16, 17 that are
aligned in a
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CA 02597493 2007-08-10
fan shape in their longitudinal direction. The rows 6 of areas 16, 17 then run
in the
direction toward a longitudinal axis 7 of the brake-lining support plate 1.
The holding
structures 15 formed by the protrusions 3 and recesses 4, are aligned in the
rows 6 of one
area 16 opposite the holding structures 15 of the rows 6 of the other area 17.
The rows 6 of
the two areas 16, 17, aligned in a fan shape, then diverge in the same
direction.
As already shown in the embodiment example according to Figures 12 through 14,
it is also specified in the embodiment example according to Figure 15 that the
two
areas 16, 17 overlap in the edge region 18 of their facing sides 19.
Preferably, in the
overlapping area, the ends of the adjacent rows 6 of one area 16 come to lie
between the
ends of the rows 6 of the other area 17. The holding structures 15 in the rows
6 are
arranged so that a protrusion 10 is found on the outward-facing ends 8, 9 of
each row 6.
The rows 6 of both areas 16, 17, each of which begins in the area of the
center 14 of the
brake-lining support plate 1, have a recess there. In the present fan-shaped
alignment of
the rows, the angle (3 between adjacent rows lies between about 0 and about
15 .
The dashed-dotted line 22 shows the contour of the friction lining, up to
whose
edge area, holding structures 15 extend. In this respect, there is a
difference here in regard
to the embodiment example according to Figures 12 and 13, in which an
arrangement of
the holding structures is provided for a friction lining of a different
contour.
In addition the variants of the brake-lining support plate 1 according to
Figures 1
to 7, Figure 16 shows another embodiment example of the brake-lining support
plate 1.
The rows 6, with the holding structures 15, are also arranged there
essentially across the
longitudinal axis 7 of the brake-lining support plate 1, in which the rows 6
are preferably
aligned in a fan shape in their longitudinal direction. The rows 6 then
diverge outward in
the radial direction, with respect to the installation position of the brake-
lining support
plate 1. In this variant, a protrusion 10' is only present in the inward-
facing ends of each
row 6 in the radial direction. On the other hand, on the outward-facing ends
of each row 6
in the radial direction, a recess 21' is present. The positions of protrusions
3 and recesses 4
of the holding structures 15 do not alternate between adjacent rows 6 in this
variant, but
are directed in the same direction. The brake-lining support plate 1 has an
oval opening 20
in the area of the center 14.
Figure 17 shows another embodiment example of the brake-lining support plate
1,
which differs from the variant according to Figure 16, among other things, in
that two
essentially circular openings 24 are provided there, which are arranged with
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CA 02597493 2007-08-10
symmetry and at a spacing to each other with respect to the transverse axis 23
of the
brake-lining support plate 1. The holding structures 15 are arranged on the
brake-lining
support plate 1 in such a way that a friction lining with a different contour
22 than in the
variant according to Figure 16 can be inserted.
Figure 18 shows another variant of the brake-lining support plate 1. It shows
a sort
of modification of the variants according to Figures 16 and 17, in which the
holding
structures 15 are configured in the edge area, so that a different friction-
lining contour can
be inserted with the brake-lining support plate 1. This variant of the brake-
lining support
plate 1 also shows an alternative outer contour for installation in different
vehicles.
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List of reference numbers
1 Brake-lining support plate
2 Lining side
3 Protrusion, crimp
4 Recess
5 Surface
6 Rows
7 Longitudinal axis
8 Beginning
1 o 9 End
Protrusion
10' Protrusion
11 Starting point
12 Section
13 Section
14 Center
15 Holding structures
16 Area
17 Area
18 Edge area
19 Sides
20 Opening
21' Recess
22 Contour of the friction lining
23 Transverse opening
24 Opening
h Height
a angle
(3 angle
12
