Spring-Based Disc Brake Pad Cushions
OwnerPhilip Herbert Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cushions for disc brake pads are disposed between the brake pads and their caliper pistons or caliper fingers. The cushions possess such characteristics of resilience that, during braking action, brake pads follow irregularities and ride over high spots on rotor faces. This action significantly reduces uneven frictional drag, which lowers braking temperature increasing braking efficiency and brake system longevity. Each cushion comprises a resilient body which is further comprised of either a material, such as an elastomeric pad, or a structure such as a compressible spring or other apparatus.
Claims20
A cushion for reducing uneven frictional drag between a disc brake pad and a disc brake rotor caused by irregularities on a friction face of the disc brake rotor, the cushion comprising:
- a cushion shape, said cushion shape allowing said cushion to fit between a force producing element of the disk brake assembly and a brake pad backing plate;
- said cushion placed between said force producing element and said brake pad backing plate, said cushion positioned to prevent said force producing element from directly contacting said brake pad backing plate;
- said cushion having a thickness to accommodate lateral movement of said brake pad as said brake pad passes said irregularities on said friction face with said accommodation being made by elastic deformation of said cushion without plastic deformation of said cushion;
- said cushion being a metallic spring having a resilient response at frequencies from about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz to accommodate said lateral movement as said disk brake pad passes said irregularities of said friction face;
- and
- said cushion preventing generation of excessive heat cause by the uneven frictional drag arising from the interaction between said irregularities and said brake pad.
A cushion for reducing uneven frictional drag between a disc brake pad and a disc brake rotor caused by irregularities on a friction face of the disc brake rotor, the cushion comprising:
- a metallic spring placed between said force producing element and said brake pad backing plate, said metallic spring positioned to prevent said force producing element from directly contacting said brake pad backing plate;
- said metallic spring having sufficient thickness to accommodate lateral movement of said brake pad as said brake pad passes said irregularities on said friction face by elastic deformation;
- said metallic spring having a resilient response at frequencies from about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz to accommodate said lateral movement as said disk brake pad passes said irregularities of said friction face;
- and
- said metallic spring preventing generation of excessive heat cause by the uneven frictional drag arising from the interaction between said irregularities and said brake pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.