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US 6,524,681 B1Granted
Patterned surface friction materials, clutch plate members and methods of making and using same
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDavid S. Seitz, Elizabeth C. Edblom, Karl T. McKeague
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction material for a friction facing member useful for transmitting torque includes a backing having a front surface and a rear surface. A plurality of precisely shaped friction composites defining patterned friction coating are attached to the front surface of the backing. The precisely shaped friction composites include a plurality of friction particles dispersed in a binder. In one embodiment, the friction material has an elastic modulus of about 107 dynes/cm2 or less.
Claims35
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 precisely shaped friction composites per square centimeter, each of the precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder,
- wherein the friction member is operatively adapted to form a portion of an apparatus for transmitting torque between two elements of a vehicle, where the apparatus is a component of the vehicle, the two elements are (i) two rotatable elements or (ii) a non-rotatable element and a rotatable element, and the friction member is operatively adapted to form a part of one of the elements that contacts and transmits torque therebetween, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of clutches, brakes, transmissions, synchronizer rings, and train tracks.
An apparatus for transmitting torque comprising:
- two elements operatively adapted for contacting and transmitting torque therebetween, the elements being (i) two rotatable elements or (ii) a non-rotatable element and a rotatable element;
- a substrate forming part of one of the elements;
- and
- a friction member comprising a layer of material fixed to the substrate, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 precisely shaped friction composites per square centimeter, each of the precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder;
- wherein the friction member forms a part of one of the elements that contacts the other of the elements to transmit torque therebetween.
2 more elements
An apparatus for transmitting torque, comprising:
- a first plate member having a major surface;
- a second plate member having a mating surface and positioned adjacent to the major surface of the first plate member;
- a backing;
- a friction member comprising a layer of material fixed to the backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface defined by a plurality of precisely shaped friction composites, each of the precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder, with the backing being interposed between the major surface of the first plate member and the layer of material and the friction member being interposed between the major surface of the first plate member and the mating surface of the second plate member;
- and
- a rotating member capable of rotating the first plate member or the second plate member,
- wherein the friction member is interposed between the first plate member and the second plate member so that the first plate member and the second plate member are able to transmit torque between the major surface and the mating surface.
4 more elements
A method of transmitting power in a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a friction member on a surface of a substrate forming part of a vehicle, the friction member comprising a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 precisely shaped friction composites per square centimeter, each of said precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder;
- and
- transmitting torque with the friction member to an adjacent element of the vehicle.
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 precisely shaped friction composites per square centimeter, each of said precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder, wherein the layer of material defines a portion of an apparatus selected from the group consisting of clutches, brakes, transmissions, synchronizer rings, and train tracks.
A friction member adapted to form a portion of an apparatus for transmitting torque, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of clutches, brakes, transmissions, synchronizer rings, and train tracks, the friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 composites per square centimeter, each having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, where each composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder.
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having at least 120 composites per square centimeter, each having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, where each composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder, wherein the friction member is operatively adapted to form a portion of an automobile torque transmitting device.
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having a non-random pattern of at least 120 composites per square centimeter, each comprising at least one flat surface, where each composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder, and wherein the friction member is operatively adapted to form a portion of an apparatus selected from the group consisting of clutches, brakes, transmissions, synchronizer rings, and train tracks.
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing comprising a fibrous material, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having a plurality of precisely shaped friction composites, each of the precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder,
- wherein the friction member is operatively adapted to transmit torque between two elements, where the two elements are (i) two rotatable elements or (ii) a non-rotatable element and a rotatable element, and the friction member is operatively adapted to form a part of one of the elements that contacts and transmits torque therebetween, wherein the two elements form part of an apparatus selected from the group consisting of clutches, brakes, transmissions, synchronizer rings, and train tracks.
A friction member comprising:
- a layer of material fixed to a backing, the layer of material comprising a friction surface having a plurality of precisely shaped friction composites, each of the precisely shaped friction composites having a cross-sectional or three dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of parallelepipeds, rectangles, cones, truncated pyramids, semicircles, circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, pyramids, octagons, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the precisely shaped friction composites further has precisely the same shape as that of a cavity on a forming tool, where each precisely shaped friction composite comprises friction particles dispersed in a binder,
- wherein the friction member is operatively adapted to form a portion of an apparatus for transmitting torque between two elements of a vehicle, where the apparatus is a component of the vehicle, the two elements are (i) two rotatable elements or (ii) a non-rotatable element and a rotatable element, and the friction member is operatively adapted to form a part of one of the elements that contacts and transmits torque therebetween, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of clutches, transmissions, and synchronizer rings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.