Rotor for disc brake assembly

A brake rotor adapted for use in a disc brake assembly comprising:

• an inner annular mounting flange portion defining a rotational axis of the rotor;
• and
• an outer annular disc portion extending from said inner mounting flange portion and including a pair of friction plates which are connected together by a plurality of posts located about a circumference of the rotor, said plurality of posts divided into a plurality of groups of four posts, said groups of four posts including a first post and a second post radially aligned with one another with respect to a first common bisecting radius which extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis, and a third post and a fourth post radially aligned with one another with respect to a second common bisecting radius which extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis, said first common bisecting radius and said second common bisecting radius extending at a predetermined angle relative to one another;
• wherein said first post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R1 to a predetermined radial distance R3, said second post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R4 to a predetermined radial distance R8, said third post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R2 to a predetermined radial distance R5, and said fourth post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R6 to a predetermined radial distance R7, wherein said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R3 of said first post, said predetermined radial distance R6 of said fourth post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post, said predetermined radial distance R2 of said third post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R1 of said first post and less than said predetermined radial distance R3 of said first post, and said predetermined radial distance R5 of said third post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post and less than said predetermined radial distance R6 of said fourth post.

A disc brake assembly comprising:

• a caliper provided with at least one cylindrical recess formed therein;
• a piston slidably disposed in said recess;
• a rotor including an inner annular mounting flange portion defining a rotational axis of the rotor and an outer annular disc portion extending from said inner mounting flange portion and including a pair of friction plates which are connected together by a plurality of posts located about a circumference of the rotor, said plurality of posts divided into a plurality of groups of four posts, said groups of four posts including a first post and a second post radially aligned with one another with respect to a first common bisecting radius which extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis, and a third post and a fourth post radially aligned with one another with respect to a second common bisecting radius which extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis, said first common bisecting radius and said second common bisecting radius extending at a predetermined angle relative to one another;
• a pair of brake shoes carried by the disc brake assembly and disposed on opposite sides of said friction plates of said rotor, each of said brake shoes including a backing plate and a friction pad;
• and
• actuation means carried by said caliper for selectively moving said brake shoes between a non-braking position, wherein each of said friction pads is spaced apart from the adjacent side of said friction plates of said rotor, and a braking position, wherein said each of said friction pads frictionally engages the adjacent side of said friction plates of said rotor;
• wherein said first post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R1 to a predetermined radial distance R3, said second post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R4 to a predetermined radial distance R8, said third post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R2 to a predetermined radial distance R5, and said fourth post extends radially outwardly from said rotational axis a predetermined radial distance R6 to a predetermined radial distance R7, wherein said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R3 of said first post, said predetermined radial distance R6 of said fourth post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post, said predetermined radial distance R2 of said third post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R1 of said first post and less than said predetermined radial distance R3 of said first post, and said predetermined radial distance R5 of said third post is greater than said predetermined radial distance R4 of said second post and less than said predetermined radial distance R6 of said fourth post.