Electromechanical brake apparatus and system with adjustment features

An electromechanical brake apparatus, comprising:

• a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween, the housing including a mechanism cavity located longitudinally between the inboard pad and a motor unit;
• an adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receiving torque from the motor unit;
• a spindle for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally, the spindle being operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough, the spindle and adjuster ramp assembly being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• a leading ramp assembly configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween, the leading ramp assembly and at least one ramp ball being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• and
• a spring interposed longitudinally between a surface in the mechanism cavity and a first longitudinal side of the adjuster ramp assembly, the spring biasing the adjuster ramp assembly to a predetermined position, a second longitudinal side of the adjuster assembly engaging the at least one ramp ball;
• wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application and (2) pad wear adjustment functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for both functions;
• wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a first rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with the service brake application function;
• and
• wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a second rotary direction with respect to the spindle, opposite the first rotary direction, and the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction relative to the spindle, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, to assist with the pad wear adjustment function.

An electromechanical brake apparatus, comprising:

• a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween, the housing including a mechanism cavity located longitudinally between the inboard pad and a motor unit;
• an adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receiving torque from the motor unit;
• a spindle for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally, the spindle being operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough, the spindle and adjuster ramp assembly being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• and
• a leading ramp assembly configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween, the leading ramp assembly and at least one ramp ball being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application and (2) pad wear adjustment functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for both functions;
• wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a first rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with the service brake application function;
• and
• wherein to assist with the pad wear adjustment function, the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction with respect to the spindle, opposite the first rotary direction, the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction relative to the spindle, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, and the spindle moves in a second longitudinal direction, opposite a first longitudinal direction, responsive to movement of the adjuster ramp assembly in the second rotary direction.

An electromechanical brake apparatus, comprising:

• a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween, the housing including a mechanism cavity located longitudinally between the inboard pad and a motor unit;
• an adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receiving torque from the motor unit;
• a spindle for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally, the spindle being operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough, the spindle and adjuster ramp assembly being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• a leading ramp assembly configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween, the leading ramp assembly and at least one ramp ball being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
• and
• a boot located longitudinally between the inboard pad and the adjuster ramp assembly, the boot extending between and directly engaging both the spindle and a surface in the mechanism cavity to substantially prevent ingress of material into the mechanism cavity;
• wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application and (2) pad wear adjustment functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for both functions;
• wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a first rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with the service brake application function;
• and
• wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a second rotary direction with respect to the spindle, opposite the first rotary direction, and the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction relative to the spindle, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, to assist with the pad wear adjustment function.