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US 5,501,306 AGranted
Brake rotor with a heat-resistant ceramic coating
OwnerGerald Martinoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake rotor having a brake ring, first and second opposing braking surfaces, and inner and outer peripheral surfaces connecting the braking surfaces. A plurality of apertures are disposed through the brake ring and extend between the two braking surfaces. A ceramic coating, for providing thermal insulation, is disposed at least on the two braking surfaces.
Claims20
A racing car brake rotor comprising:
- a solid brake ring;
- said brake ring comprising means for connecting to a racing car braking system;
- said means for connecting having at least one connection portion, each of said at least one connection portion having at least one physical dimension configured for connection with a hub of a braking system;
- said brake ring having first and second opposing braking surfaces, said first and second braking surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another;
- said first and second braking surfaces having means for being contacted by friction pads of a braking system;
- said brake ring defining a central rotational axis being generally perpendicular to said first and second braking surfaces;
- said brake ring having:
- an inner peripheral surface, disposed towards said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- and
- an outer peripheral surface, disposed away from said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- a plurality of apertures being disposed through said brake ring, said plurality of apertures extending through said brake ring between said first and second braking surfaces;
- said plurality of apertures being configured for dissipating heat during a braking operation of said rotor;
- a ceramic coating disposed at least on said first and second braking surfaces, said ceramic coating being configured for providing thermal insulation for said brake rotor
- said plurality of apertures comprise:
- a set of smaller apertures and a set of larger apertures;
- each of said set of smaller apertures being disposed radially closer to said outer peripheral surface than are said larger apertures;
- a plurality of sets of two apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of two apertures comprises two of said larger apertures;
- and
- a plurality of sets of three apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of three apertures comprises at least one of said larger apertures and at least one of said smaller apertures.
16 more elements
A racing car steel brake rotor comprising:
- a brake ring, said brake ring being formed from steel;
- said brake ring comprising means for connecting to a racing car braking system;
- said means for connecting having at least one connection portion, each of said at least one connection portion having at least one physical dimension configured for connection with a hub of a braking system;
- said brake ring having first and second opposing braking surfaces, said first and second braking surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another;
- said first and second braking surfaces having means for being contacted by friction pads of a braking system;
- said brake ring defining a central rotational axis being generally perpendicular to said first and second braking surfaces;
- said brake ring having:
- an inner peripheral surface, disposed towards said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- and
- an outer peripheral surface, disposed away from said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- a plurality of apertures being disposed in said brake ring, said plurality of apertures being configured for dissipating heat during a braking operation of said rotor;
- a ceramic coating disposed at least on said first and second braking surfaces, said ceramic coating being configured for providing thermal insulation for said brake rotor;
- said plurality of apertures comprise:
- a set of smaller apertures and a set of larger apertures;
- each of said set of smaller apertures being disposed radially closer to said outer peripheral surface than are said larger apertures;
- a plurality of sets of two apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of two apertures comprises two of said larger apertures;
- and
- a plurality of sets of three apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of three apertures comprises at least one of said larger apertures and at least one of said smaller apertures.
15 more elements
A method of making a brake rotor, such a brake rotor comprising:
- a brake ring;
- said brake ring having first and second opposing braking surfaces, said first and second braking surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another;
- said brake ring defining a central rotational axis being generally perpendicular to said first and second braking surfaces;
- said brake ring having:
- an inner peripheral surface, disposed towards said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces, and an outer peripheral surface, disposed away from said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- a plurality of apertures being disposed in said brake ring, said plurality of apertures being configured for dissipating heat during a braking operation of said rotor;
- a heat-reflecting ceramic coating disposed on said first and second braking surfaces;
- and said ceramic coating consisting essentially of a composition comprising at least about 5 percent nickel by volume;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a brake ring;
- configuring said brake ring to have first and second opposing braking surfaces, said first and second braking surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another;
- defining a central rotational axis to be generally perpendicular to said first and second braking surfaces;
- said step of providing said brake ring comprising:
- providing an inner peripheral surface, disposed towards said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- and
- providing an outer peripheral surface, disposed away from said central rotational axis and generally connecting said first and second braking surfaces;
- disposing a plurality of apertures in said brake ring;
- configuring said plurality of apertures for dissipating heat during a braking operation of said rotor;
- providing a heat-reflecting ceramic coating and disposing said ceramic coating on said first and second braking surfaces;
- configuring said ceramic coating to consist essentially of a composition comprising at least about 5 percent nickel by volume;
- configuring said plurality of apertures to comprise:
- a set of smaller apertures and a set of larger apertures;
- each of said set of smaller apertures being disposed radially closer to said outer peripheral surface than are said larger apertures;
- a plurality of sets of two apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of two apertures comprises two of said larger apertures;
- and
- a plurality of sets of three apertures, wherein each set of said plurality of sets of three apertures comprises at least one of said larger apertures and at least one of said smaller apertures.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.