Back to results
US 2009/0120740 A1Published application
Brake support plate
AssigneeSAF-HOLLAND GmbH
InventorOlaf Drewes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake support plate secures a caliper for disk brakes or the components of a drum brake to a wheel suspension or to a wheel axle. The brake support plate includes an axle opening with a snug-fit section for receiving an axle element, wherein the snug-fit section is slightly smaller than a corresponding section of the axle element. A circumference of the axle opening includes at least one discontinuation, such as, for example, a slot where the snug-fit section can be expanded for assembly. A securing element is disposed in such a manner as to decrease the discontinuation so that the snug-fit section returns to substantially its original size.
Claims16
(canceled)
2:
- An assembly for vehicles, comprising:
- an axle defining an outer surface portion having an original size when the axle is in a substantially unstressed state;
- a brake support plate configured to support at least one brake component, the brake support plate having a variable size axle opening defining an engagement surface, the axle opening defining an original size and a periphery having at least one discontinuation permitting a size of the axle opening to be increased from the original size to an enlarged size;
- an engagement member operably interconnected with the brake support plate whereby movement of the engagement member generates a force tending to return the axle opening to the original size from the enlarged size;
- and wherein:
- the axle is positioned in the axle opening of the brake support plate with the outer surface portion in frictional contact with substantially the entire engagement surface of the axle opening, with the engagement member generating a force such that the axle opening is substantially the same as its original size and the outer surface portion of the axle is reduced from its original size whereby the brake support plate is fixed to the axle.
3 more elements
3:
- The assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- the axle opening is substantially circular.
4:
- The assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- the axle opening defines an axis;
- and
- the brake support plate includes first and second segments defined by a pair of discontinuations that are offset relative to the axis of the axle opening whereby the first segment of the brake support plate encloses the axle by more than 180 degrees.
1 more element
5:
- The assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- the axle opening defines an axis;
- and
- the brake support plate includes first and second segments formed by first and second discontinuations extending generally parallel to each other, and wherein an imaginary prolongation of the discontinuations extends through the axis of the axle opening such that segments of the brake support plate formed by the discontinuations enclose the axle by about 180 degrees.
1 more element
6:
- The assembly of claim 1, wherein:
- the periphery of the axle opening includes a first engagement structure;
- the axle includes a second engagement structure engaging the first engagement structure and positioning the brake support plate relative to the axle.
7:
- The assembly of claim 6, wherein:
- the first engagement structure comprises a recess that at least partly receives the second engagent structure.
8:
- The assembly of claim 7 wherein:
- the first engagent structure comprises a substantially spherical recess that at least partly receives the second engaging structure.
9:
- The assembly of claim 2, including:
- a plurality of fastening openings in the brake support plate configured to secure brake components to the brake support plate.
10:
- The assembly of claim 9, wherein:
- the fastening openings are threaded.
11:
- The assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- the brake support plate includes a pair of arms which are spaced apart from each other to facilitate installation of brake linings between the fork arms.
12:
- The assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- the outer surface portion of the axle defines a first diameter when the outer surface is in a substantially unstressed state, and the axle opening defines a second diameter when the axle opening is its original size, wherein the second diameter is about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm smaller than the first diameter of the axle.
13:
- A method for the production and mounting of a brake support plate, the method comprising:
- providing an axle defining an outer surface portion having an original size when the axle is in a substantially unstressed state;
- fabricating a brake support plate blank including an axle opening having a size and defining a periphery;
- machining the axle opening to form an engagement surface;
- providing a discontinuation at the periphery of the axle opening in at least one place:
- increasing the size of the axle opening;
- positioning the axle in the axle opening;
- reducing the size of the axle opening to an assembled size such that a frictional connection is achieved over substantially the entire engagement surface, and the surface portion of the axle is reduced from its original size to the assembled size of the axle opening.
5 more elements
The method of claim 13, wherein:
- the brake support plate is interrupted at two places to form a brake support plate comprising two segments.
The method of claim 13, further including:
- forming at least one engagement structure at the periphery of the axle opening;
- forming a second engagement structure on the axle;
- engaging the first and second engagement structures to position the brake support plate relative to the axle.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.