# US 9,752,635 B2 · Clutch for a parking brake system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,635 B2 - Document ID: US9752635B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/833,383 - Filed: 2015-08-24 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-24 - Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd - Inventors: Aurelian Bahmata; Galus Chelaidite - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752635B2 ## CPC - F16D 65/18: adapted for drawing members together {, e.g. for disc brakes} - F16D 55/225: the braking members being brake pads - F16D 55/226: in which the common actuating member is moved axially {, e.g. floating caliper disc brakes} - F16D 65/183: {with force-transmitting members arranged side by side acting on a spot type force-applying member} - F16D 2121/24: using motors - F16D 2123/00: Multiple operation forces - F16D 2125/40: Screw-and-nut - F16D 2125/48: with parallel stationary axes, e.g. spur gears - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A brake system is disclosed, which comprises a parking brake system and an inboard brake pad. The parking brake system includes a first actuator assembly, a second actuator assembly, a motor, and a clutch. The clutch selectively communicates power from the motor to the first actuator assembly so that a first end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to a brake rotor. The clutch selectively communicates the power from the motor to the second actuator assembly so that a second end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor. The clutch selectively communicates the power from the motor to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly so that both the first and the second ends of the inboard brake pad are moved relative to the brake rotor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brake system comprising: i. a first actuator assembly, ii. a second actuator assembly, iii. a motor, and iv. a clutch comprising a coupler; and v. an inboard brake pad; wherein during a first condition, the coupler is moved to a first position so that the clutch communicates power from the motor only to the first actuator assembly so that a first end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to a brake rotor, wherein during a second condition, the coupler is moved to a second position so that the clutch communicates the power from the motor only to the second actuator assembly so that a second end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor, and wherein during a third condition, the coupler is moved to a third position so that the clutch communicates the power from the motor to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly so that both the first end of the inboard brake pad and the second end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brake system of claim 1, wherein the brake system includes: vi. a first gear in communication with the first actuator assembly; vii. a second gear in selective communication with the second actuator assembly; and viii. a third gear in communication with the second actuator assembly, wherein during the first condition, the coupler engages the second gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to the first gear and then to the first actuator assembly, wherein during the second condition, the coupler disengages the second gear and engages the third gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to the second actuator assembly, and wherein during the third condition, the coupler engages both the second gear and the third gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brake system of claim 2, wherein a transfer gear is located between the second gear and the first gear so that during the first condition when the coupler engages the second gear, the power from the motor is communicated to the first gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The brake system of claim 1, wherein the clutch comprises a a solenoid, wherein during the first condition, an electrical signal is communicated to the solenoid, which then moves the coupler towards a second gear so that the coupler disengages a third gear and engages the second gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to the first actuator assembly, wherein during the second condition, an electrical signal is communicated to the solenoid, which then move the coupler towards the third gear so that the coupler disengages the second gear and engages the third gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to the second actuator assembly, and wherein during the third condition, an electrical signal is communicated to the solenoid, which then moves the coupler to a location between the second gear and the third gear so that the couple engages both the second gear and the third gear so that the power from the motor is communicated to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The brake system of claim 4, wherein the clutch includes a biasing member that biases the coupler towards the second gear when the electrical signal is not being communicated to the solenoid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The brake system of claim 1, wherein during a brake apply, the clutch first communicates the power from the motor to the first actuator assembly before communicating the power to the second actuator assembly so that the first end of the inboard brake pad moves towards the brake rotor before the second end of the inboard brake pad moves towards the brake rotor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The brake system of claim 1, wherein during release of a brake apply, the clutch first communicates the power from the motor to the first actuator assembly before communicating the power to the second actuator assembly so that the first end of the inboard brake pad moves away from the brake rotor before the second end of the inboard brake pad moves away from the brake rotor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The brake system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator assembly includes a first spindle and a first nut in communication with a first piston, and the second actuator assembly includes a second spindle and a second nut in communication with a second piston, wherein: i. during the first condition when the power from the motor is communicated to the first actuator assembly, the first spindle rotates which causes the first nut and the first piston to move axially so that the first end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor, ii. during the second condition when the power from the motor is communicated to the second actuator assembly, the second spindle rotates which causes the second nut and the second piston to move axially so that the second end of the inboard brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor, and iii. during the second condition when the power from the motor is communicated to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly, the first and the second spindles rotate which cause the corresponding first and second nuts and the first and second pistons to move so that the first and second ends of the inboard brake pad are moved relative to the brake rotor. ### Claim 9 An assembly comprising: a. a brake caliper including: i. a brake pad; and b. a parking brake system including: i. a first actuator assembly in communication with a first end of the brake pad; ii. a second actuator assembly in communication with a second end of the brake pad; iii. a motor gear unit in communication with the first actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly, or both, and iv. an electromechanical clutch comprising a coupler and a solenoid, wherein electrical power is sent to the solenoid so that the coupler moves in a first direction and engages a second gear so that power from the motor gear unit is communicated only to the first actuator assembly so that the first end of the brake pad is moved relative to a brake rotor, and wherein electrical power is sent to the solenoid so that the coupler moves in a second direction and engages a third gear so that the power from the motor gear unit is communicated only to the second actuator assembly so that the second end of the brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein electrical power is sent to the solenoid so that the coupler moves to a location between the second gear and the third gear so that the first actuator assembly moves the first end of the brake pad relative to the brake rotor and the second actuator assembly moves the second end of the brake pad relative to the brake rotor at generally the same time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the electromechanical clutch includes a biasing member that biases the coupler towards the second gear when the electrical power is not being sent to the solenoid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein during a parking brake apply, the electrical power is sent to the solenoid so that the first actuator assembly is moved before the second actuator assembly is moved so that the first end of the brake pad is moved towards the brake rotor before the second end of the brake pad is moved towards the brake rotor, wherein the first end of the brake pad is a leading end of the brake pad, and the second end of the brake pad is a trailing end of the brake pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein during release of a parking brake apply, the electrical power is sent to the solenoid so that the first actuator assembly is moved before the second actuator assembly is moved so that the first end of the brake pad is moved away from the brake rotor before the second end of the brake pad is moved away from the brake rotor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein a first gear is in communication with the first actuator assembly, wherein when the coupler engages the second gear, the power from the motor gear unit is communicated only to the first gear which moves the first actuator assembly so that the first end of the brake pad moves relative to the brake rotor, and wherein a transfer gear is located between the second gear and the first gear so that the power from the motor gear unit is communicated from the second gear to the first gear. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: moving a coupler into a first position so that power from a motor is communicated to a first actuator assembly so that a first end of a brake pad is moved relative to a brake rotor; moving the coupler into a second position so that the power from the motor is communicated to a second actuator assembly so that a second end of the brake pad is moved relative to the brake rotor; and moving coupler into a third position so that the power from the motor si communicated to both the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly so that both the first end of the brake pad and the second end of the brake pad are moved relative to the brake rotor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of communicating the power from the motor to the first actuator assembly is before the step of communicating the power from the motor to the second actuator assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of communicating the power to the first actuator assembly comprises engaging the coupler with a second gear that is in communication with a first gear that is in communication with the first actuator assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of communicating the power to the second actuator assembly comprises engaging the coupler with a third gear that is in communication with the second actuator assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of communicating the power to the first actuator assembly comprises sending an electrical signal to a solenoid, which causes the coupler to move and engage a gear that is in communication with the first actuator assembly; and wherein the step of communicating the power to the second actuator assembly comprises sending an electrical signal to the solenoid, which causes the coupler to moves and engage another gear that is in communication with the second actuator assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of communicating the power to the first actuator assembly is done at substantially the same time as the step of communicating the power to the second actuator assembly.