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US 6,742,632 B2Granted
Apparatus with vibration-damped component, especially a brake
AssigneeLucas Industries Limited
InventorTorsten Treyde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to the damping of mechanical vibrations of components in apparatuses. In particular, the invention relates to the damping of components of brakes. For this purpose, at least one piezoelectric element is provided, which is in engagement with the vibrating component and electrically excited in such a way that it damps vibrations of the component.
Claims17
A vehicle floating caliper disc brake assembly comprising:
- a brake caliper, said caliper including a first portion that has a bore formed therein and a second portion extending from said first portion;
- a single actuating piston disposed within said bore;
- a first brake pad mounted upon an end of said actuating piston;
- a second brake pad mounted upon said second portion of said brake caliper opposite from said actuating piston;
- a single piezoelectric element mounted between said second brake pad and said second portion of said brake caliper;
- and
- an inductor electrically connected directly to said single piezoelectric element to form a passive resonant circuit whereby said single piezoelectric element is deformed by mechanical vibrations of said second brake pad and, upon being deformed by such mechanical vibrations, said piezoelectric element generates a voltage that is applied to said inductor, said inductor causing a phase shift of said voltage, said phase shifted voltage then being applied to said single piezoelectric element with said phase shift only such that the mechanical vibrations of said second brake pad are damped.
4 more elements
A vehicle brake component comprising:
- a single brake member;
- a first piezoelectric element mounted upon said single brake member;
- a second piezoelectric element also mounted upon said single brake member;
- and
- an inductor electrically connected directly to said first piezoelectric element and forming a passive resonant circuit therewith whereby the first piezoelectric element is deformed by mechanical vibrations of a part of said brake member and, upon said vibrations, said first piezoelectric element generates a voltage that is applied to said inductor that forms said passive resonant circuit with said first piezoelectric element and that said passive resonant circuit shifts the phase of said generated voltage, said phase shifted generated voltage being applied to said second piezoelectric element with such a phase shift that said second piezoelectric element vibrates such that the mechanical vibrations of said part of said brake member are damped.
2 more elements
A drum brake assembly comprising:
- an anchor plate;
- a pair of brake shoes movably mounted upon said anchor plate;
- a brake cylinder mounted upon said anchor plate between the ends of said pair of brake shoes, said brake cylinder operative to urge said brake shoes away from one another;
- a return spring connected to said brake shoes, said return spring operative to urge said brake shoes toward one another;
- and
- a single piezoelectric element mounted directly upon said anchor plate, said single piezoelectric element being deformed by mechanical vibrations of said anchor plate and, upon such mechanical vibrations, said piezoelectric element generates a voltage, wherein said generated voltage is applied to said single piezoelectric element with a phase shift only such that the mechanical vibrations of said anchor plate are damped.
3 more elements
A drum brake assembly comprising:
- an anchor plate;
- a pair of brake shoes movably mounted upon said anchor plate;
- a brake cylinder mounted upon said anchor plate between the ends of said pair of brake shoes, said brake cylinder operative to urge said brake shoes away from one another;
- a return spring connected to said brake shoes, said return spring operative to urge said brake shoes toward one another;
- and
- a single piezoelectric element mounted directly upon one of said brake shoes, said single piezoelectric element being deformed by mechanical vibrations of said brake shoe and, upon such mechanical vibrations, said piezoelectric element generates a voltage, wherein said generated voltage is applied to said same single piezoelectric element mounted upon said brake shoe with a phase shift only such that the mechanical vibrations of said brake shoe are damped.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.