Reduced drag wet disc brake assembly

A disc brake assembly comprising:

• a stationary member;
• a rotating member supported for rotation with respect to said stationary member and defining an axis of rotation;
• a first set of discs extending axially along said axis of rotation within said stationary member;
• a second set of discs interspaced with said first set of discs;
• and
• a coupler for selectively coupling said second set of discs to said rotating member for rotation therewith about said axis of rotation, said coupler including a first set of clutch teeth and said rotating member including a second set of clutch teeth, said first and second sets of clutch teeth intermeshing to fix said coupler to said rotating member for rotation therewith when brake actuation torque is below a certain predetermined level wherein said first and second sets of clutch teeth are defined by a tooth profile having a base and a distal end, said base being narrower in width than said distal end.

A disc brake assembly comprising:

• a stationary member;
• a rotating member supported for rotation with respect to said stationary member and defining a central axis of rotation;
• a plurality of stationary discs spaced axially along said axis of rotation within said stationary member;
• a plurality of movable discs interspaced with said stationary discs and having a first operating position where there is no relative rotation between said stationary and movable discs and a second operating position where said movable discs rotate with respect to said stationary discs;
• a coupler movable between a non-braking position where there is no relative rotation between said stationary member and said coupler and a braking position wherein said coupler rotates with respect to said stationary member, said coupler for selectively moving said movable discs linearly along said axis of rotation from said first operating position to said second operating position;
• and
• a coupler actuator for selectively moving said coupler from said non-braking position to said braking position when said coupler actuator receives a braking command.

A method of braking a vehicle wheel with a disc brake assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the disc brake assembly with a stationary member, a rotating member supported for rotation with respect to the stationary member and defining a central axis of rotation, a first set of stationary discs spaced axially along the axis of rotation within the stationary member, and a second set of discs interspaced with the first set of discs;
• (b) initiating a braking maneuver;
• (c) coupling the second set of discs with the rotating member such that the second set of discs rotate with respect to the first set of stationary discs by moving the second set of discs linearly along the axis of rotation;
• (d) moving the first set of stationary discs and the second set of discs together to reduce rotation of the rotating member.