Beam mounted friction pads for use in friction brakes and clutches

A multimode friction element engaging a relatively moving surface in two or more distinct modes, the multimode friction pad comprising:

• a carrier, the carrier having a plurality of recesses formed therein;
• a plurality of sets of friction pads, each set of friction pads consisting of friction pads which include a pad portion and a support portion, the pad portion being supported only by the support portion and the support portion being capable of deflection under load so that the pad moves with respect to the carrier;
• and the friction pads of each set being mounted in the recesses in the carrier such that a separate pad is mounted in each recess and each pad is mounted in only one recess and the pad portions of each friction pad are supported by the support portion and by the carrier, the support of the pad portions of the friction pads of each set of friction pads being substantially identical to that of the other friction pads in its set but different than the support of the pad portions of the friction pads of other sets, such that each set of friction pads has pad portions which are supported by the support portions of the pads and the carrier for a distinct characteristic deflection, and whereby the pad portions are mounted such that each set of friction pads engages the relatively rotating surface for rotation in the mode for which it designed.

A multimode friction element adapted to engage a relatively moving surface in two or more distinct steps, the multimode friction element comprising:

• a one-piece carrier having a plurality of spaced pad support surfaces, each of the pad support surfaces being provided in recesses formed in the carrier, the carrier further comprising at least two groups of support structures for supporting at least two distinct groups of pad support surfaces, each of the groups of support structures having substantially different degrees of flexibility in a predetermined direction;
• one friction pad mounted in each recess, each of the friction pads being mounted in only one recess and including a pad surface and a surface in contact with the pad support surface of the carrier;
• whereby the pads mounted on the most flexible support surfaces engage the surface to be engaged first and are then deflected away from the shaft in response to contact with the surface to be engaged so that the pads mounted on the more rigid support surface can engage the surface to be engaged.

A friction element for engaging a relatively moving surface, the friction element comprising:

• a carrier, the carrier comprising a plurality of beam mounted pad support recesses and a unitary support structure for supporting each of the pad support recesses, the support structure being formed with a plurality of cuts and grooves so that each of the beam mounted pad support recesses are flexibly mounted;
• a friction pad mounted in each pad support recess, each friction pad being supported in only one of the beam mounted support recesses and each of the friction pads including a pad surface and a support surface which is mounted in the pad support recesses of the carrier;
• the carrier supporting the pads such that under load, the pad surfaces are oriented so as to engage the surface to be engaged so as to minimize heat build-up across the surface of the pad.

A friction pad for use in a friction engagement device, the friction pad comprising:

• a layer of high friction material having a friction surface;
• a generally planar friction material support surface having parallel first and second sides separated from one another by an edge, the support surface supporting the friction material on the first side thereof;
• and a flexible support structure extending from the second side of the support surface for supporting the high friction material and the friction material support surface for pivoting about a predetermined pivot point so as to orient the pad under load, the pivot point being selected to cause uniform wear and uniform temperature distribution across the surface so as to minimize wear, the flexible support structure comprising a portion which is conically tapered toward the pivot point and expands outwardly away from the second side of the support surface.

A friction pad comprising:

• a layer of high friction material having a geometric center;
• and a one-piece support member for supporting the layer of high friction material for pivoting about a predetermined point located proximate the geometric center of the layer of high friction material, the support member comprising a substantially planar friction material support surface having first and second sides separated by an edge, the first side underlying the layer of high friction material, a flexible frustoconical support portion formed integrally with an extending outwardly from the second side of the friction material support surface, the frustoconical section being tapered toward the pivot point and a dog leg portion formed integrally with the wide end of the frustoconical section, the support member permitting movement of the layer of high friction material to accommodate unequal loads and misalignment.

A friction element comprising:

• a carrier formed with a plurality of recesses, each recess having a bottom wall and a side wall;
• a friction pad fit into each recess, each friction pad having a base having a bottom surface in contact with the bottom wall of the recess and a side surface shaped to conform to the side wall of the recess, a frustoconical portion having a wide end extending from said base and a narrow end, and a planar friction piece supported on the narrow end for pivoting about an apex of the frustoconical portion.

A friction pad comprising, a pad portion having first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface being substantially planar, a support structure for resiliently supporting the pad portion, the support structure comprising a frustoconical section and a cylindrical section, the frustoconical section having a narrow end extending from the second surface of the pad portion and a wide end spaced from the pad portion, the cylindrical section extending from the wide end of the frustoconical section, whereby the support structure supports the pad portion for movement about an apex of the frustoconical section.