Vibration damper for a drum brake
AssigneeSumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
InventorsYukio Nishizawa, Hironobu Saka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to effectively damp the vibration of the drum of a drum brake, which is a main cause of brake squeals, a vibration detector and a vibrator are provided and operated separately from each other. The vibration damping control is carried out directly mechanically, or in a non-contact manner to improve durability of the device. A piezoelectric element, magnetic sensor or acceleration sensor is used to detect the vibration of the drum. The detected vibration is converted to an electric signal. After adjusting its phase and amplitude, the electric signal is converted to vibration force and outputted through a piezoelectric element or magnetic actuator as the vibrator to suppress brake squeals.
Claims21
A vibration damping system for use with a wheel of a vehicle, said vibration damping system comprising:
- a drum adapted to rotate together with the wheel of the vehicle;
- a pair of brake shoes;
- a biasing device operable to press said brake shoes against said drum;
- a vibration detector operable to detect vibrations of said drum and to provide an output indicative of the vibrations of said drum;
- a vibrator operable to apply vibration force to said drum, wherein said vibrator operates separately from said vibration detector;
- and
- a control circuit operable to suppress the vibration of said drum by controlling said vibrator based on the output of said vibration detector.
A vibration damping system for use with a wheel of a vehicle, said vibration damping system comprising:
- a drum adapted to rotate together with the wheel of the vehicle;
- a pair of brake shoes;
- a biasing device connected to said pair of brake shoes and operable to press said brake shoes against said drum;
- a vibration detector, located near said drum, operable to detect vibrations of said drum and to provide an output indicative of the vibrations of said drum;
- a vibrator, located near said drum, operable to apply vibration force to said drum, wherein said vibrator operates separately from said vibration detector;
- a communication link;
- and
- a control circuit, operably linked to said vibration detector and said vibrator via said communication link, operable to suppress the vibration of said drum by controlling said vibrator based on the output of said vibration detector.
A vibration damping system for use with a wheel of a vehicle, said vibration damping system comprising:
- a drum adapted to rotate together with the wheel of the vehicle;
- a pair of brake shoes;
- biasing means for pressing said brake shoes against said drum;
- vibration detection means for detecting vibrations of said drum and for providing an output indicative of the vibrations of said drum;
- vibrator means for applying vibration force to said drum, wherein said vibrator means operates separately from said vibration detection means;
- and
- control means for suppressing the vibration of said drum by controlling said vibrator based on the output of said vibration detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.