US 4,903,801 A · Segmented brake disc

Abstract

An internally air cooled brake disc assembly of the invention is manufactured by casting in small pieces to eliminate problems associated with casting large discs with integral air cooling passages. The assembly has a main disc member and a plurality of disc segments secured to the main disc member. The disc segments are separate entities and can expand and contract independently of each other, thus reducing distortion from thermal effects. Assembled outer surfaces of each disc segment are generally flat and provide an annular surface to be swept by brake pads. Inner surface of each disc segment has a plurality of ridges and at least one groove which spaces apart the ridges. The ridges contact the main disc member so that at least one passage is formed between the disc segment and the disc member to receive a flow of cooling air. When the disc segments are secured on each side of the main disc member, the disc assembly has a plurality of cooling passages on each side of the main disc member. An optional external fan means can be provided adjacent inner ends of each disc segment to provide a forced flow of air over the outer surfaces of the disc.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Brake disc assembly, comprising:

(a) a main disc member rotatable on an axis and including first and second main surfaces disposed normal to said axis;
(b) a plurality of adjacently disposed complementary segments, each segment shaped as a truncated sector of a circle and each segment including an outer surface and an inner surface and a plurality of radially disposed ridge means extending from said inner surface for defining a plurality of grooves;
(c) a plurality of means extending parallel to said axis through each segment for releasably and removably securing each segment to one of said main surfaces so that each ridge means seats on the associated main surface and said grooves thereby form radially extending cooling channels and further so that each segment may move relative to the adjacent segments and to said disc member for causing thermally induced distortion to be reduced when said segments are frictionally engaged by a brake pad means;
(d) at least some of said ridge means include a plurality of radially aligned and spaced ridges;
and,
(e) each of said securing means is disposed between a radially aligned and spaced two of said ridges.

3 more elements

A brake disc assembly for high horsepower loads, comprising:

(a) a steel main disc member rotatable on an axis and including first and second parallel surfaces disposed normal to said axis, said member having a diameter of no less than 0.5 meters;
(b) a plurality of adjacently disposed complementary cast braking segments, each segment shaped in plan as a truncated sector of a circle and each segment including an outer braking surface having a plurality of spaced parallel first grooves disposed non-tangentially to the segment circumferences and further including a plurality of radially disposed ridge means extending from an inner surface thereof for defining a plurality of second grooves;
(c) a plurality of means extend parallel to said axis through each segment for releasably and movably securing each segment to one of said first and second surfaces so that each ridge means seats on the associated member surface and said second grooves thereby form radially extending cooling channels and further so that each segment may move along the associated member surface relative to the adjacent segments and thereby reduce distortion caused by thermally induced expansion and contraction as braking means engage said braking surfaces;
(d) at least some of said ridge means include a plurality of radially extending and spaced ridges;
and,
(e) each of said securing means extending between a radially associated and spaced two of said ridges.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Segmented brake disc

Life of this patent

Segmented brake disc

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17