Disk brake comprising an adjuster module Number:7,182,185 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying the brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and/or disk. The disk brake is characterized in that the adjusting system is configured on one or both sides of the brake disk as a preassembled adjuster module, which has at least the following components: an electromotor, which acts as the drive, or a drive connection to an electromotor and a reduction gear connected downstream of the electromotor, the rotative drive being fitted onto the mounting plate(s).<H comprising, adjuster, Disk, brake, comp, 7182185.html, Patent, pto, 7182185

Title: Disk brake comprising an adjuster module

Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying the brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and/or disk. The disk brake is characterized in that the adjusting system is configured on one or both sides of the brake disk as a preassembled adjuster module, which has at least the following components: an electromotor, which acts as the drive, or a drive connection to an electromotor and a reduction gear connected downstream of the electromotor, the rotative drive being fitted onto the mounting plate(s).

Patent Number: 7,182,185 Issued on 02/27/2007 to Baumgartner, et al.

Inventors: Baumgartner; Johann (Moosburg, DE), Bieker; Dieter (Oberaudorf, DE), Pahle; Wolfgang (Heilbronn, DE)
Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH (Munich, DE)

Appl. No.: 11/188,791

Filed: July 26, 2005

Related U.S. Patent Documents


Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
10344760	Aug., 2003	7086504

Current U.S. Class: 188/195 ; 188/156; 188/72.1

Current International Class: B60T 8/18 (20060101); F16D 65/36 (20060101)

Field of Search: 188/71.8,71.9,195,71.1,72.1,72.7,156-163,196M,196R,196I,196P,196B,196BA,196D

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


3371753	March 1968	Meier
4784244	November 1988	Carre et al.
6234587	May 2001	Gerum et al.
6250434	June 2001	Baumgartner et al.
6293370	September 2001	McCann et al.
6394235	May 2002	Poertzgen et al.
6899204	May 2005	Baumgartner et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


19732168	Jan., 1999	DE
WO-99/60285	Nov., 1999	WO

Primary Examiner: Rodriguez; Pam
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Crowell & Moring LLP

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/344,760, filed Aug.19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,504, which is related to U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/344,768, now abandoned, entitled "DISK BRAKE HAVING AN ADJUSTING SYSTEM"; Ser. No. 10/344,764, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,204, entitled "DISK BRAKE HAVING A BRAKE APPLICATION SYSTEM WITH A ROTARY LEVER"; Ser. No. 10/344,759, entitled "DISK BRAKE"; and Ser. No. 10/344,755, entitled "DISK BRAKE HAVING AN ADJUSTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME".

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A preassembled adjuster module for an adjusting system of an electromechanically- or pneumatically-actuated disk brake for commercial vehicles, comprising: at least one mounting plate having at least one recess adapted to receive one of a thrust piece or adjusting sleeve of the adjusting system; a rotary drive joined to the at least one mounting plate, said rotary drive including an electric motor mounted on the mounting plate; and a reduction gear arranged on the mounting plate operatively engaging the rotary drive and said one of the thrust piece and adjusting sleeve when installed.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein two mounting plates are provided in a mutually spaced manner, the rotary drive and reduction gear being mounted in between said two plates.

3. A preassembled adjuster module for an adjusting system of an electromechanically- or pneumatically-actuated disk brake for commercial vehicles, comprising: at least one mounting plate having at least one recess adapted to receive one of a thrust piece or adjusting sleeve of the adjusting system; a rotary drive joined to the at least one mounting plate; a reduction gear arranged on the mounting plate operatively engaging the rotary drive and said one of the thrust piece and adjusting sleeve when installed; and an electric motor coupled to the rotary drive, the electric motor being a separate component arranged outside the module.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disk brake.

The invention particularly relates to novel constructions of disk brakes, particularly for commercial vehicles, which are actuated pneumatically and/or electromechanically.

According to the principle selected for introducing power, disk brakes can be divided into two basic designs:

1. The generation of power and the wear adjustment on both sides of the brake disk; for example, a hydraulic fixed caliper disk brake with a fixed brake disk relative to the axle, and the generation of power on both sides of the brake disk, and

2. the generation of power and the wear adjustment on one side of the brake disk and the transmission of the actuating power to the side which faces away, according to the reaction power principle; for example, a sliding caliper disk brake, a hinged caliper disk brake, or a fixed caliper disk brake with a slidable brake disk.

Pneumatically actuated disk brakes for heavy commercial vehicles with rim diameters of 15 inches or more normally use the reaction power principle because, as a result of the narrow installation conditions at the vehicle wheel, the arrangement of a pneumatic operating cylinder is only possible on the vehicle interior side of the wheel open toward the vehicle interior. Constructions of these types are shown, for example, in German Patent Document DE 36 10 569 A1, German Patent Document DE 37 16 202 A1, European Patent Document EP 0 531 321 A1 (see particularly the construction of the adjusters along the lines of rotary drives) and European Patent Document EP 0 688 404 A1.

Sliding caliper or hinged caliper disk brakes require a component which is fixed with respect to the axle--generally called a brake anchor plate (carrier)--which holds or guides the brake shoes/brake pads and, when the brake is actuated, absorbs their peripheral forces and carries the caliper which is slidably disposed coaxially to the vehicle axle.

The relative motion carried out by the caliper with respect to the component fixed relative to the axle can be divided into the working stroke and the wearing stroke. The invention makes surprising use of this effect.

The working stroke is carried out with each actuation of the brake in order to overcome the release play of the brake and to compensate for the elasticities of the brake pads and the caliper that result from the application of power. Depending on the extent of the actuating power and the amount of the release play, it is normally <4 mm.

In contrast, the wearing stroke is the wear adjusting travel which the caliper carries out over a large number of brake actuations in order to compensate for the wear on the reaction side of the brake. The wearing stroke is composed of the wear of the outside brake pad and the wear of the brake disk friction surfaces situated on the outside, and normally amounts to up to 25 mm.

In comparison, in the case of the brake design with a fixed caliper and a slidable brake disk, the working stroke and the wearing stroke are generated by sliding the brake disk.

The designs with the sliding caliper or hinged caliper have the disadvantage that the brake anchor plate, fixed relative to the axle, is required for absorbing the peripheral force of the brake pads and the holding and guiding of the caliper. This component results in additional cost and additional weight. Furthermore, the required sliding guidance or hinge system is susceptible to problems.

In the design with the slidable brake disk, in contrast, the problem is in maintaining easy slideability of the brake disk on the guiding area of the hub throughout the entire service life. An effective sealing-off can hardly be implemented because of the narrow installation conditions and the harsh environmental exposure.

It is an object of the invention to, in particular, simplify the construction of the adjusting system.

The invention achieves this task by means of a disk brake having an adjusting system, constructed on one or both sides of the brake disk as an adjuster module, which can be preassembled and which has at least an electric motor, as a rotary drive, or a driving connection to an electric motor, a reduction gear connected behind the electric motor, and wherein the rotary drive is joined to at least one mounting plate.

Accordingly, the adjusting system is constructed on one or both sides of the brake disk as an adjuster module which can be preassembled and has at least: an electric motor, as a rotary drive, or a driving connection to an electric motor, a reduction gear connected behind the electric motor, the rotary drive being joined to the at least one mounting plate.

An electric motor for the adjustment, and a method for its operation, are known from German Patent Document DE 19756 519 A1. International Patent Document WO 99/05428 shows a central arrangement of the adjusting motor between the adjusting spindles. In contrast, the construction of these components as a module-type unit, which can be preassembled, is not known. As a result of the construction as a preassembled adjuster module with an electric motor and a transmission as well as the mounting preform (plate), the manufacturing and the mounting of the adjusting system are clearly facilitated and automated.

According to a variant of the invention, the driving connection to the electric motor is arranged, in particular, mounted on the mounting plate or between the two mutually spaced mounting plates. The electric motor is arranged as a separate component outside the adjusting module and is exchangeable as such as a separate component.

In a particularly space-saving and constructively simple manner, the electric motor and the reduction gear connected behind the electric motor are jointly arranged, in particular, mounted on the mounting plate or preferably between the two mutually spaced mounting plates.

Expediently, the mounting plate(s) have at least one or two shaped-out devices(s) for receiving one, or preferably in each case, two, thrust pieces and/or adjusting sleeves of the adjusting device, so that these elements can also be included in the preassembly. Only the rotary lever still has to be inserted into the caliper and then the caliper has to be closed, preferably screwed closed, by means of one of the mounting plates.

The invention provides a space-saving adjusting module, which can be produced particularly economically, and is suitable for brakes of a conventional construction as well as for brakes of the construction described in the additional subclaims.

Thus, preferably, at least one of the adjuster rotary devices is provided on each side of the brake disk for adjusting the axial distances between the two brake pads and the brake disk. This particularly demonstrates the advantage of a cost-effective adjusting module.

Furthermore, advantageously, the generation of the reaction force on the side of the brake facing away from the application side is carried out by the sliding of the caliper and/or the swivelling of the caliper and/or the sliding of the brake disk.

In each case, as the result of the sliding and/or swivelling motion, essentially only the length of the entire power stroke can be bridged.

The invention combines the advantages of the fixed-caliper principle--such as compact construction and implementation of the wearing stroke by the actuating system--with the advantages of the reaction power principle.

As a result of the additional adjusting device(s) on both sides of the disk brake, it is permitted to further develop the brake such that only a mobility, preferably a slidability and/or a swivellability of the caliper and/or the brake disk have to be ensured, which is dimensioned such that the working stroke during brakings can be bridged in order to apply the brake. In this manner, the sliding and/or rotary bearings and guides can be dimensioned to be correspondingly smaller and less expensive. Additionally, it is ensured that a smooth running takes place along the complete sliding or swivelling path since the latter is bridged during virtually every braking.

The brake disk is preferably constructed as a sliding disk which is slidably guided on a brake disk hub such that, as a result of the sliding, preferably maximally a sliding path can be implemented which is limited to the power stroke.

As an alternative or in addition, the caliper can be constructed as a sliding caliper, which has a sliding caliper bearing which can be fastened directly to the axle flange and which is dimensioned such that preferably only a sliding path can be bridged which is limited to the power stroke.

As an alternative or in addition, the caliper may be constructed as a hinged caliper which has a hinged caliper bearing, which preferably can be fastened directly to the axle flange and can be bridged by means of the swivelling angle which displaces the caliper relative to the brake disk essentially by the amount of the power stroke.

In particular, the disk brake according to the invention makes it possible to continue to arrange the power generating device--such as a pneumatically actuated and/or electric-motor-actuated brake cylinder or an electric drive--only on one side on the brake.

A variant, which can also be considered independently, of the invention solves the problem of the joint adjustment of the adjustable rotary drives on both sides of the disk brake. Here, the adjuster rotary drives on both sides of the brake disk are mutually coupled by means of a synchronizing device. The synchronizing device is preferably constructed as a coupling mechanism or as an electronic coupling system.

Finally, according to another variant of the invention, which can also be considered independently, the construction of the application device itself is simplified. In this case, the application device arranged in the caliper has a rotary lever, which can be operated by a rod, preferably a piston rod. The rotary lever has a recess for receiving the piston rod end on one of its ends, and on its end area facing away from the recess, has recesses on two of its exterior sides. In these recesses, essentially spherical-cap-shaped bearing shells and/or essentially ball-shaped bearing elements or bearing balls can be inserted for bearing the rotary lever. By these means, the rotary lever is disposed directly or by way of additional intermediate elements, on the caliper--lever bearings--and directly or via additional intermediate elements on at least one thrust piece used for displacing the brake pad in the direction of the brake disk--eccentric bearing--.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1a f are section-type schematic diagrams of different types of disk brakes;

FIGS. 2a,b are two partial sectional views perpendicular and parallel to the brake disk of a second embodiment of a disk brake according to the invention;

FIGS. 3a, b are two partial sectional views perpendicular and parallel to the brake disk of a third embodiment of a disk brake according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an adjuster module;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the adjuster module of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6a, b are perspective views of another adjuster module, in FIG. 6, one of the mounting plates having been removed;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an application device and a side view;

FIGS. 8a c; a' c' are additional views and sectional views of the application device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective representation of a part of a rotary lever for application devices of the type of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a top view and four sectional views of the rotary lever of the type of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an application unit which can be preassembled and consists of the adjuster module and the rotary lever;

FIGS. 12, 13 are a perspective view of a reaction-side part of a two part caliper and a perspective view of the application side caliper part;

FIGS. 14, 15 are sectional views of hinged caliper disk brakes;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another disk brake;

FIGS. 17 19 are sectional views of variations of the arrangement of bearing balls at the rotary lever and on the adjoining structural members;

FIGS. 20a f are additional section-type schematic diagrams of the disk brakes of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 20g, h are schematic diagrams of additional variants of disk brakes;

FIG. 21 shows different views and variants of disk brakes of the type of FIG. 20f;

FIGS. 22 26 are views and sectional views of another disk brake;

FIG. 27 is a view of the adjusting module for the brake of FIGS. 22 26.

FIG. 28 is a view of two alternative embodiments of adjusting rotary devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a illustrates a disk brake which has a caliper 1 straddling a brake disk 3 in the disk's upper peripheral area. Brake pads 5, 7 are arranged on both sides of the brake disk 3, which brake pads 5, 7 can be slid in the direction of the brake disk and away from it, that is, perpendicular to the plane of the brake disk 3, and, in a conventional manner, consist of a brake pad carrier 5a, 7a and the pad (friction) material 5b, 7b mounted thereon.

On one side of the brake disk (on the right in FIG. 1a), the caliper 1 can be fastened in its lower section, which lower section extends essentially inward toward the brake disk and perpendicular thereto, by means of at least one or several bolts 9, either directly to the axle flange 11 of the vehicle axle (otherwise not shown here) or, by way of an intermediate flange (not shown here), to the axle flange 11.

The caliper 1 is stationary relative to the axle flange 11; it is therefore a so-called "fixed caliper". Since the caliper 1 cannot be slid relative to the axle flange, it requires application devices 13, 15 on both sides of the brake disk 13 for the application (and release) of the brake pads 5, 7 in the direction of the brake disk 3.

On its upper side, which is on the right in FIG. 1a, the caliper has an opening for a piston rod (not shown here) of a brake cylinder (which is also not shown here and is preferably pneumatic) or an electromechanical driving mechanism (see also FIG. 20a).

The piston rod acts upon a rotary lever 19 which is--preferably eccentrically--disposed on the caliper 1 and is designed (directly by way of corresponding projections or optionally by way of additional structural members which are not shown here but are indicated as examples in the additional figures) for advancing, by means of at least one rotary adjusting device of an adjusting sleeve 21, in which a thrust piece is screwably arranged, a brake pad 7--here, on the right--in the direction of the brake disk 3.

A restoring spring (not shown in FIG. 1) may be used for returning the brake pad.

Since the brake disk 3 as well as the caliper 1 are fixedly or stationarily arranged relative to the vehicle axle, the additional application device 15 is provided on the side of the brake disk 3 situated opposite the first brake application device 13.

This additional application device 15 provided on the left side of the brake disk 3 in FIG. 1a is constructed analogous to the application device 13; that is, it also has a rotary lever 25 which is preferably disposed eccentrically on the interior side of the caliper 1, and which is designed (directly by way of corresponding projections or optionally by way of additional structural members which are not shown here but are indicated as examples in the additional figures) for advancing, by means of at least one adjusting sleeve 27, in which a thrust piece 29 is screwably arranged, the second brake pad 5--here, on the left--in the direction of the brake disk 3. The rotary lever 25 has an eccentricity which is opposite to the eccentricity of the rotary lever 19.

The two rotary levers are directly connected with one another by means of a coupling mechanism, which is constructed here as a bolt 31 coupled in an articulated manner to the upper ends of the rotary levers 19, 25 and connecting the latter with one another. The two rotary levers 19, 25 therefore move synchronously with respect to one another.

In contrast to the state of the art according to FIG. 1c, in FIG. 1a, separate application devices 13, 15 are therefore provided in each case on both sides of the brake disk, which application devices 13, 15 can be jointly operated by means of the coupling mechanism.

An analogous situation exists with respect to the adjusting system of the disk brake of FIG. 1a. The adjusting system of this brake has adjusting devices arranged on both sides of the disk brake. These adjusting devices comprise the mutually screwed-together and therefore also mutually axially adjustable adjusting sleeves 21, 27 and thrust pieces 23, 29, as well as preferably separate adjuster devices (see the additional figures) on both sides of the brake disk 3. As an alternative to the rotary adjusting devices, repositionable pistons or other repositionable devices can also be implemented. As an alternative--see FIG. 28--the thrust pieces 23' and 29' may be provided with a sleeve-type projection 294 which meshes on one side with a bolt 296 provided with an external thread, which bolt 296 is supported at the rotary lever 19 or at the caliper or at another element. The thrust pieces are preferably sealed off twice with respect to the mounting and closing plate 102 (seals 298, 299). It is important that the pressure pieces are constructed to be movable in the direction of the brake disk.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1b, 1d and 1f differ from the embodiment of FIG. 1a in that the caliper has an application device 13 in each case only on one side of the brake disk 3, the generating of the reaction power taking place on the side of the brake facing away from the actuating device by a sliding or swivelling of the caliper 1 and/or by the sliding of the brake disk 3. The wear adjustment on the reaction side, however, is not implemented according to the state of the art (FIG. 1c and FIG. 1e) by sliding or swivelling the caliper or by sliding the brake disk but, as in FIG. 1a, by means of an adjusting device integrated in the caliper on the reaction side. According to FIGS. 20g and h, the generation of the reaction power can be achieved by an elastic deformation of the caliper, the brake disk or of a separate element 292.

In addition to a clear reduction of weight and cost by the elimination of the brake anchor plate (carrier) and of the sliding guidance system of a sliding caliper, as well as an increase in the robustness by the elimination of these structural members, disk brakes constructed in this manner have the advantage that, because of the compulsory wear adjustment, a greater influence can be exercised on a nonuniform wear of the inner and outer brake pads.

Another important advantage of these variants is that the sliding or swivelling travel to be carried out by the caliper 1 and/or the brake disk 3 is limited to the power stroke required for the application of the reaction power, which power stroke amounts to only a small fraction of the wearing stroke; for example, the required power stroke of a pneumatically actuated disk brake for 22-inch wheels amounts to approximately 4 mm, while the wearing stroke amounts to approximately 25 mm.

Like the embodiment of FIG. 1a, the embodiment of FIG. 1b has adjusting devices arranged on both sides of the disk brake. These again comprise the adjusting sleeves 21, 27 and the thrust pieces 23, 29, which can be screwed to one another and can therefore also be axially adjusted relative to one another, as well as preferably also separate adjuster drives (see the additional figures) on both sides of the brake disk 3.

However, in contrast to FIG. 1a, the disk brake of FIG. 1b only has a brake application device 13 on one side of the brake disk 3 (here, on the right side), which clearly reduces the costs of this variant in comparison to that of FIG. 1a since structural members (among others, the rotary lever 25) can be eliminated on the opposite of the brake disk. Instead, it becomes possible to arrange the adjusting sleeve 27 axially but rotatably in a stationary manner on the interior side of the caliper (back of caliper) and, for adjusting the brake pad wear on this side of the brake disk 3, to screw the thrust piece 29 relative to the axially fixed adjusting sleeve 27, so that the axial position of the thrust piece 29 is changed relative to the brake disk 3.

The caliper 1 of the embodiment according to FIG. 1b is, in turn, constructed like the caliper 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 1a as a fixed caliper.

Another characteristic feature of the embodiment according to FIG. 1b is the slidability of the brake disk 3 relative to the wheel axle. For this purpose, the brake disk is preferably provided with a toothing in the area of its hub (not shown here) which is constructed such that a sliding path of, for example, <2 mm can be implemented which is limited to the power stroke.

Slidable brake disks are known per se. A significant difference with respect to the known sliding disk principle, which requires a wearing path of, for example, 25 mm, as the sliding path, consists of the fact that the brake disk 3 of the brake according to FIG. 1b has a sliding path constantly in the range of the brake's working stroke of <2 mm, so that the working stroke sliding path between the brake disk hub and the actual brake disk 3 is kept free of frictional corrosion formations and contamination by the constant movement during the actuation of the brake, by vibration, etc. The brake disk 3 therefore remains constantly easily slidable in the range of its working stroke.

In addition, the small sliding range can be provided with protective measures against the formation of corrosion and against contamination relatively easily.

In comparison, a conventional sliding brake disk gradually changes its working position within the sliding range of, for example, 25 mm as wear increases. The sliding range not constantly used therefore becomes sluggish over time as a result of corrosion and contamination, which may seriously impair the operation of the brake. Moreover, the relatively large sliding range can be provided with protective measures only at high expenditures. These problems do not occur in the case of the inventive solution according to FIG. 1b.

FIG. 1c shows the state of the art of a sliding caliper, in the case of which the caliper 1 is constructed as a sliding caliper with a caliper bearing which is slidable along the path of the power stroke relative to the brake disk, the wheel axle or the brake anchor plate (not shown here) conventionally provided in the case of sliding caliper disk brakes. The application of the brake pad 5 situated opposite the application device 3 takes place on the other side of the brake disk 34 by a reaction-power-caused sliding of the caliper, an adjusting device being provided only on one side of the brake disk, specifically on the side of the application device 13.

Here, the embodiment of FIG. 1d uses a different approach. The construction of the braking mechanism in the interior of the caliper 1 corresponds to that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1b. However, in this case, in contrast to FIG. 1b, not the brake disk but the caliper is "micro-slidable", that is, essentially only by the amount of half the working stroke (<2 mm) but not by the amount of the wear adjusting path. This means that the sliding path of the caliper bearing 33 is only as large as the maximal working stroke and typically amounts to less than 5 mm, for example, 2 to 4 mm.

In order to implement this, the disk brake of FIG. 1d, like the disk brake of FIG. 1b, has separate adjusting devices (here, elements 21, 23 and 27, 29) on both sides of the brake disk 3.

Naturally, a combination of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1b and 1d can also be implemented; thus, a disk brake with a caliper bearing and a slidable brake disk which can, in each case, be slid by approximately half the working stroke. This embodiment is also provided with separate adjusting devices on both sides of the brake disk 3.

FIG. 1e shows a so-called "hinged caliper" disk brake, where the caliper is swivellable by a defined angle disposed on the brake anchor plate or an axle part (pivot bearing 35 with a strut connection 37 to the actual hinged caliper 1).

According to FIG. 1e, this swivelling angle .alpha. is selected to be so large that the entire wear adjusting path can be bridged during the swivelling of the caliper.

In this variant, the basic construction of the application mechanism in the interior of the caliper again corresponds to the application mechanism of FIG. 1c.

In contrast, FIG. 1f shows a disk brake with a swivellable caliper 1, which again has a pivot bearing 39. However, the "hinged caliper", which is disposed on the pivot bearing by way of the strut connection 37, can be swivelled only by an angle .alpha. large enough that the brake pads can be swivelled by half of the length of the working stroke relative to the brake disk 3. This disk brake also again has an application device only on one side of the brake disk but has at least one adjusting device on both sides of the brake disk.

Naturally, a combination of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1b and 1f can also be implemented; thus, a combination of a disk brake with a swivellable caliper and a slidable brake disk. This embodiment is also equipped with separate adjusting devices on both sides of the brake disk 3. In the latter case, the required sliding path in the power stroke can be distributed to the caliper 1 and the brake disk 3.

It should be noted that the invention is suitable for disk brakes, particularly commercial vehicle disk brakes, of many different types. Thus, the idea of providing adjusting devices on both sides of the brake disk can be implemented in the case of brakes which can be applied by an electric motor as well as in the case of pneumatically actuated brakes. Furthermore, the adjusting devices may be coupled with the drive of the brake application device(s) on one or both sides of the brake disk and/or may be provided independently of the application devices with one or several separate electromagnetic drive(s). Here, mixed constructions are also contemplated, for example, with an adjusting device having an electric motor on the reaction side and with an adjusting device mechanically coupled with the rotary lever on the side of the brake application device.

In addition, it is possible to adjust the adjusting rotary devices on both sides of the brake disk 3 by means of a computer and/or microprocessor control separately from one another or, for achieving a joint adjustment, to carry out a mechanical coupling of the adjusting devices on both sides of the brake disk 3.

The forced restoring of the respective slidable or swivellable element--caliper or brake disk--can be carried out by elastic restoring elements (for example, restoring spring(s)) or an active restoring can be carried out by the reaction-side adjuster module.

In addition, the invention is suitable for brakes with only a single adjusting drive on each side of the brake disk as well as for embodiments with two or even more adjusting drives on each side of the adjusting device.

Another variant is illustrated in FIGS. 20g and h. Accordingly, the caliper 1 can be elastically deformed by the amount of half of the entire power stroke. According to FIG. 20g, the caliper has an elastic lower area 290 for fastening to the axle flange 11, and according to FIG. 20h, it is connected with the axle flange 11 by way of a separate elastic element 292 (for example, a leaf spring element) which is screwed between the axle flange and the caliper 1. A caliper bearing is no longer necessary. These variants can optionally also be combined with an elastically deformable brake disk (not shown here) or with a slidable brake disk, in which case the path of the caliper and of the brake disk to be bridged by elasticity may have a particularly small dimension.

Advantageous further developments of the adjusting devices or of the entire adjusting mechanism with the adjusting devices and the adjuster drives are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

According to FIG. 2, an adjuster module 50 is in each case arranged on one side of the brake disk 3 and has an output shaft with an output gearwheel 52 and a free-wheel device and/or an overload coupling device 53.

A synchronization chain 54 for the synchronization as well as the adjusting movements of all adjusting devices meshes with the output gearwheel 52. In the present case, two adjusting rotary devices are respectively arranged on each side of the brake disk 3. The disk brake of FIG. 2 therefore has a total of four adjusting rotary devices (adjusting sleeves 21a, b, 27a, b; thrust pieces 23a, b; 29a, b).

The synchronization chain 54 is situated in a plane perpendicular to the brake disk 3 in the upper interior area of the caliper 3 and is deflected at the caliper 1 on four bolts 56 four times by approximately 90.degree.. In this manner, the chain 54 is guided essentially on a rectangular contour in the caliper 1, the synchronization chain extending around the brake disk 3 in its upper peripheral area.

The output gearwheel 52 drives the chain 54 on the side of the application device or on the side of the introduction of the braking power into the disk brake by way of (partial) ball-socket-shaped bearings (described in greater detail below) and two bearing balls 56a, b on the back of the caliper of the rotary lever 19 disposed at the caliper 1 (which in this area has a closed construction), which rotary lever 19 will be explained in greater detail below by means of the additional figures.

The synchronization chain 54 also meshes with four gearwheels 58a, b, 60a, b, which are each disposed on shafts 59a, b, which have cylindrical worms 62a, b (see FIG. 2b) in the downward direction, which cylindrical worms 62a, b mesh with an external toothing of the adjusting sleeves 21a, b which are provided with an internal thread and are screwed onto the thrust pieces 23a, b provided with an external thread.

As a result of the synchronization device in the form of a synchronization chain 54 guided "around" the brake disk 3, it is therefore possible to drive, as well as synchronize, all four adjusting rotary devices on the two sides of the brake disk by means of only one "adjuster drive".

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the rotations of the two adjusting sleeves 21a, b and 27a, b respectively on each side of the brake disk 3 are in each case synchronized by synchronization chains 68, 70 wound around gearwheels 64a, b and 66a, b, respectively, fitted onto the adjusting sleeves.

A synchronization of the rotary drives on one side of the brake disk is known from German Patent Document DE 42 12 405 A1. In the present case, the synchronization chains 68, 70 mesh on each side of the brake disk but, in addition, also in each case with an output gearwheel 52, which is arranged in the center between the two rotating spindles and to which one automatic free-wheel and/or overload coupling device 53 respectively is assigned.

According to FIG. 3, the synchronization of the adjusting rotary drive on each side of the brake disk 3 therefore takes place by separate synchronization chains 68, 70 arranged on the respective brake disk side (or correspondingly designed--here not shown--synchronization belts). A Bowden cable 72 in the nature of a bendable shaft with a spur gear or cross gear, which Bowden cable 72 is guided in a curve along the lines of a "cable channel" 74 in the caliper 1 around a side of the peripheral edge of the brake disk 3, transmits the driving power from the free-wheel and/or overload coupling device 53 on the side of the power introduction into the disk brake (here, on the left) to the reaction side. The two ends of the cable channel 74 are closed by means of sealing stoppers 76 pulled by way of the Bowden cable.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 has the advantage that a single chain, in the manner of the synchronization chain 54, is not excessively loaded but that, at relatively low constructive expenditures, the loads can be distributed to the two chains 68, 70 on each side of the brake disk 3 and the Bowden cable 72.

The actual adjusting drive according to FIG. 2 as well as according to FIG. 3 is implemented by a driving device 82, which is arranged at the rotary lever 19 and which acts upon a shift fork 84 disposed on the end of the shaft 86, on which the gearwheel 52 is also situated so that, when the disk brake is applied and during the movement of the rotary lever 19 connected therewith, a rotation of the gearwheel 52 is caused, the synchronization chains 68, 70 and the Bowden cable 72 transmitting this rotation to all four adjusting rotary drives.

It can also be easily recognized in FIG. 3 that the caliper 1 has a divided construction approximately in the plane of the brake disk. The two caliper parts 1a and 1b are screwed to one another by means of studs 78, which are guided from one side through the caliper part 1a and engage in bores 80 of the other caliper part 1b, which bores 80 are distributed along the outer circumferences and have an internal thread. The brake application device can be assembled in the caliper 1 or can be mounted as a preassembled application module (for example, in the manner of German Patent Document DE 195 15 063 C1). It is also easily visible in FIG. 3 that the fixed caliper 1 has a relatively light construction; that is, it can be limited to a constructive minimum. The caliper is preferably constructed in one piece and preferably without screws, the insertion of the elements of the application system and of the adjusting devices preferably taking place from the side of the brake disk.

The total transmission ratio of the synchronization mechanisms in FIGS. 2 and 3 is preferably selected such that the advancing movement on the application side and the reaction side takes place in a uniform manner. However, for compensating a systematically occurring wear difference, a stepping-up or stepping-down in the transmission of the adjusting movement between the application side and reaction side may be implemented.

Another characteristic feature of the disk brakes according to the invention with respect to their adjusting and synchronization mechanism is illustrated in the additional FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. These figures each show an "adjuster module" which can be produced in the manner of a preassembled unit and can be inserted into a corresponding clearance of the disk brake, particularly in the area of the application device.

In one of its top views, the adjuster module 100, which can be preassembled, has an elongated, essentially rectangular shape, however, with edges which are rounded and shaped-out according to requirements. It comprises two mutually spaced, mutually parallel and mutually essentially covering mounting plates 102, 104, between which a clearance is situated in which preferably an electric motor 106 as an adjuster drive and a transmission 108 is housed for converting the rotating movements of the drive shaft of the electric motor to an appropriate rotational speed for driving the adjusting rotary devices (spindles).

The mounting plate 102 has slightly larger dimensions than the other mounting plate 104 and is provided in the outer circumferential area with bores 110 for studs (not shown here) to allow fastening to the caliper. The mounting plate 102 is also used as a closing plate for caliper openings (see FIGS. 12 and 13). In contrast, the mounting plate 104 is mainly used for the mounting of the motor 106 and the transmission 108.

On the other mounting plate 104--for example, on its exterior side--the synchronization chain 68 can preferably be mounted which is laid around the gearwheels 64a, b and synchronizes the rotations of the adjusting sleeves 21a, b and thus those of the two adjusting rotary devices.

The adjusting sleeves 21a, 21b, in each case, reach through recesses/indentations/guides (not shown here) of the mounting plates 102, 104.

According to FIGS. 4 and 5, as well as according to FIG. 6, the electric motor 106 is disposed on a type of mounting metal sheet 114, which is fastened to one mounting plate 104 and on/at which spacers 116 and/or bends are provided by which the two mounting plates are fixed in a mutually parallel spaced manner. When an electric motor 106 is used, the use of mechanical free wheels and the use of overload couplings may optionally also be eliminated in the case of a corresponding electronic control system and/or a corresponding automatic electronic control system.

According to FIG. 4, gearwheels 117a, b, which are arranged between the mounting plates 102, 104, take over the transmission of the rotations of the electric motor 106 to the gearwheel 52.

The motor 106 fixed on the mounting metal sheet 114 is situated essentially at a slight angle to the straight line connecting the axes of the two adjusting sleeves. According to FIG. 6b, its output gearwheel 120 meshes with a gearwheel 122, which is disposed on a shaft 124 aligned parallel to the motor 106, which shaft 124 is disposed in recesses of two of the bends 116 of the mounting metal sheet 114. Cylindrical worms 126a, b are in each case applied to the ends of the shaft 124, which cylindrical worms 126a, b mesh with the gearwheels 128a, 128b. Gear wheels 128a, 128b, by way of shafts 130a, 130b penetrating the other mounting plate 104 and at whose ends gearwheels 132a, 132b are arranged, mesh with the gear wheels 64a, 64b on the adjusting sleeves 21a, 21b. The cylindrical worms are constructed such (right-hand construction or left-hand construction) that no different thread directions (right-hand thread/left-hand thread) are required for the thrust pieces. The thrust pieces 23a, 23b can in each case be screwed with their thread inserts in a premountable manner into the adjusting sleeves 21.

Thus, one adjuster drive as well as the adjusting rotary devices, respectively, can be integrated in a space-saving manner in the adjuster module 100, which can be produced in a cost-effective fashion from only a few parts and is easily mountable, on each side of the brake disk as well as its synchronization mechanism.

One of the adjuster modules 100 can be provided on each side of the brake disk 3, in which case the synchronization of the adjusting movements can take place in a mechanically as well as electronically/computerized controlled and/or automatically controlled manner. It is only necessary to lead a power supply cable and/or a data transmission cable to the disk brake and to lead these in the disk brake to the adjuster module 100.

When using an electric adjuster drive with an electric motor 106, it is therefore basically possible to use only one electric motor 106 and to mechanically carry out the transmission of the adjusting movement from the application side to the reaction side, for example, in the manner of FIG. 2 or 3.

However, advantageously, an independent electric adjusting drive is arranged on the reaction side.

Because of coupling and sealing problems, the electric wiring connection of the reaction side with the application side can be implemented more easily than the mechanical transmission synchronization and, because of the possibility of the independent control of the two adjusting systems, additional control/automatic control possibilities of the operating behavior of the brake are obtained.

Thus, individual control of the adjusting rotary drives of the two adjuster modules 100 on both sides of the brake disk 3 permits the following: An individual adjusting of the release play on both sides of the brake disk 3 to its respective occurring position; for example, when a mounted brake disk is used, its installation position may deviate +/-1 mm as a result of component tolerances; an active restoring of the slidable brake disk or of the sliding or hinged caliper into a desired starting position is permitted after each braking; in the event of the occurrence of an uneven brake pad wear, the release play can be adjusted to be unequal on the two sides of the brake disk in order to compensate for the uneven wear during subsequent brakings; when the vehicle is used in off-road driving, the brake shoes/brake pads may be designed to grind slightly in order to keep the friction surfaces free of abrasive dirt; and a minimizing of the required release play and, thus, of the operating energy requirement is permitted.

Specifically, the above-mentioned advantages demonstrate that it is useful to combine the advantageous effects of the ideas of the brakes of FIG. 1 and/or of the synchronization mechanisms according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and/or of the adjuster modules according to FIGS. 4 to 6 to form a fundamentally new type of disk brake.

This will be explained in detail in the following by means of additional embodiments.

It is known (for example, from European Patent Document EP 0 531 321) to provide the rotary lever 19 with an eccentric or eccentric section, which acts directly or by way of additional elements upon a traverse (cross-member) into which the thrust pieces are screwed.

It is also known to provide the rotary lever with lateral projections, which act upon the ends of the thrust pieces or on adjusting sleeves into which the thrust pieces are screwed (German Patent Document DE 36 10 569 A1).

Both concepts for the construction of the rotary lever are utilized. The lever has an approximately semicircular projection which, on the outer diameter, forms the slide-way for a roller bearing, in the interior of the respective semicircular projection, the eccentric is formed by means of a slide bearing half shell as well as a bearing roller accommodated therein.

Particularly in the case of the second described construction, this bearing arrangement makes it possible to keep the reaction forces of the eccentric bearing and of the outer roller bearing congruent in their position on the longitudinal axis of the lever.

As a result, it is possible to avoid bending stress or deformations on the lever as well as the resulting edge movement of the roller bearing and the slide bearing, which may clearly reduce the service life of the bearings.

Although in the case of the construction having a traverse, the deformation of the lever is reduced by means of the traverse, here also an increase of the service life is desirable, particularly by avoiding an edge movement.

A replacement of the roller bearing is also desirable on the side of the larger diameter of the eccentric projection of the rotary lever. The necessity to arrange the outer bearing shell as a semi-cylindrical projection in an enveloping manner around the eccentric necessarily leads to relatively large bearing diameters of the outer bearing. This results in the necessity of using a roller bearing on the outer bearing since, when a slide bearing is used, the higher resistances to friction in conjunction with the large friction diameters may lead to friction losses and application force losses and, as a result, to an undesirably high brake hysteresis.

The brake application device of the rotary lever-operated disk brake therefore is to be further optimized in that an extensive use of slide bearings with small friction diameters is achieved, while the deformations of the rotary lever are simultaneously minimized.

FIG. 7 illustrates the novel construction and bearing of the rotary lever 19.

The rotary lever 19 is constructed as a traverse-type structural member, which makes the use of a separate traverse or cross-member with the rotary lever unnecessary.

The construction of the rotary lever 19 is particularly shown in FIG. 9, which is limited to a sectional representation to the right of the plane of symmetry "S" of the one-piece rotary lever 19 and above another "plane of symmetry", but here only relative to the lower portion of the rotary lever.

The rotary lever 19 has an "upper" recess 150 (hemispherically cup-shaped) for receiving the end of a piston rod of an actuating device (for example, a brake cylinder, electrically and/or mechanically and/or pneumatically operable) (see, for example, also European Patent Document EP 0 531 321). From the area of the upper recess 150, the lever widens in the area of a "triangular" section 152 in the downward direction until it reaches a width exceeding the spacing of the two adjusting sleeves 21a, b and the thrust pieces 23a, 23b. It also widens in the direction (viewed in the installed position) perpendicular to the brake disk.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the area of the triangular section 152, recesses 154, 156 are provided on the two main outer surfaces of the rotary lever 19, which recesses 154, 156 minimize the weight of the rotary lever 19. The strut-type edges 152a of the triangular section 152 of the rotary lever provide the lever, in this area, with an increased stability with respect to bending loads.

The triangular section 152 of the rotary lever, which in the conventional representation of FIGS. 7 and 9, is "situated at the top", is adjoined in its lower area, which faces away from the recess 150, by a traverse-type section 158 of an essentially constant width, which is essentially rectangular in the top view but which in comparison with the triangular section has an essentially step-type clearly enlarging depth (in the installed position, viewed perpendicular to the brake disk plane).

In the rectangular section of the rotary lever, essentially six additional recesses 160a, 162a, b and 164, 165 are constructed, in which case the two outer recesses 160a, b are constructed on the side of the rotary lever 19 situated opposite the recess 150 for receiving the piston rod; the additional recesses 162a, b adjoining the above recesses toward the inside are constructed on the side of the recess 150; and the central recesses 164, 165 are constructed on both sides of the rotary lever 19.

The four recesses 160a, b and 162a, b each have a rectangular construction with tapered, rounded ends. The recesses have an essentially cup-shaped/hemispherical-shell-type design (eccentric domes and lever domes) in their end area, while the center recesses 164, 165 have a narrower oblong shape.

The four recesses 160 and 162 are used for receiving corresponding essentially hemispherical-/partially-spherical-shell-type, cup-shaped slide bearing shells 170a, b, 172a, b (see FIG. 8).

Such hemispherical-/partially-spherical-shell-type, cup-shaped slide bearing shells can also be inserted into the recess 150. The bearing balls 56a, 56b are inserted into the slide bearing shells 172a, b situated on the inside.

These bearing balls can be supported directly on the back of the caliper, on projections of the back of the caliper, or on separate components 174a, b which are fixedly connected with the back of the caliper.

For this purpose, the caliper or the additional components are to be provided with corresponding cup-shaped recesses 176a, b, in which the bearing balls 56 engage. The bearing balls 56 can be fixed in the recesses 176.

Bearing balls or spherically shaped ends 178a, b of intermediate pieces 180a, 180b engage in the outer recesses 160a, b or in the slide bearing shells 170a, b, 172a, b inserted into the latter. The intermediate pieces 180 have a sleeve-type construction on their ends opposite the spherically shaped ends and receive the ends of the thrust pieces 23a, b facing away from the brake disk, if the pads are not yet worn out (see FIG. 8a).

The intermediate pieces 180 are axially, at their ends facing away from the rotary lever, adjoined by the adjusting sleeves 21a, b with the internal thread, which can be inserted into the mounting plate 102 and/or 104. The stud-type ends of the thrust pieces 23, which widen just in front of the brake disk 3, are screwed into the adjusting sleeves 21. By means of the rotation of the adjusting sleeves 21, the axial distance between the thrust pieces and the rotary lever 19 can therefore be changed for adjusting the brake pad wear, in which case the possibility of rotation via a worm gear transmission 108 is outlined purely schematically, which acts upon the external toothing or a gearwheel on the adjusting sleeves 21.

The intermediate pieces 180 are therefore used for the transmission of power from the rotary lever 19 to the thrust pieces 23 during the application of the brake.

According to FIGS. 7 and 8, one pair of bearings, consisting of one lever bearing and eccentric bearing respectively, is arranged on the cross-member type brake or rotary lever 19 on each side of a longitudinal center line. (Line A--A in FIG. 10).

These two bearings each consist of the ball 56, 178 (preferably a roller bearing ball sliding body) as well as of the cup-shaped slide bearing shell 170, 172 engaging with the ball 56, 178, as well as of the cup-shaped indentations/recesses 176, 177, which support the ball, in each case in the component (caliper 1 or intermediate piece 180) which interacts with the ball and which does not receive the slide bearing shell.

The two pairs of bearings are received on both sides of the rotary lever 19 in the rectangular section 158 of the cross-member type rotary lever 19 arranged at a right angle with respect to the lever arm (A--A). The sliding balls 56a, 56b and 178a, 178b are therefore arranged at the rectangular section 158 of the lever on opposite sides of the latter with an opposed pressure direction.

In addition, the sliding balls 56a, 56b and 178a, 178b are spaced away from one another with their ball centers in the longitudinal direction of the traverse-type lever section (thus perpendicular to the lever arm A--A in FIG. 1, parallel to the brake disk 1) as well as transversely to this longitudinal direction.

The spacing "x" transversely to the longitudinal direction defines the eccentricity of the eccentric arrangement causing the power transmission.

In contrast, the spacing "y" in the longitudinal direction is required in order to avoid overlapping of the two bearings or in order to be able to accommodate these bearings jointly in the rotary lever 19.

The bearings, which are in each case situated opposite one another in the traverse-type section 158 of the rotary lever 19, are arranged in this section 158 such that the ball centers are almost, or completely, situated on a connection plane with the pivot of operation on the lever arm (recess 150, see Line "L" in FIG. 10).

However, it is also contemplated that the position of the eccentric bearing for achieving a defined change of the transmission ratio as a function of the lever position deviates by a given amount from the connection plane of the center of the lever operation to the lever bearing centers. The respective upper bearing, that is, the bearing situated on the side of the lever operation, causes the support of the rotary lever 19 against the caliper. The respective lower bearing transmits the operating force to the application-side thrust piece(s).

As in FIG. 8, the slide bearing shells may be arranged in the rotary lever 19 as well as (not shown) in the respective part of the caliper 1 or of the intermediate elements 174 which faces away, or on both sides of the balls 56, 178.

It is particularly advantageous to receive the balls 56, 178 in the component, which in each case faces away from the slide bearing shell, in a cup diameter which is by a defined amount larger than the ball diameter, so that, during the operation of the rotary lever 19, the ball, in addition to the sliding movement in the bearing shell, also carries out a limited rolling movement in the opposite receiving cup and, thus, reduces the necessary sliding movement in the bearing shell for carrying out the lever swivelling stroke and thus also the bearing friction.

The receiving play of the sliding ball in the receiving cup also permits the avoidance of the otherwise necessary tilting movement of the piston. In this case, a compensating movement in the swivel joint is superimposed on the exclusively rotatable driving of the piston.

For achieving a sufficient rolling play in the swivelling direction of the rotary lever 19 with a simultaneously good guidance transversely to the swivelling direction, the lever cup (recess 162) can be provided in a toroidal manner with a larger cup diameter in the swivelling direction than transversely to this swivelling direction.

As a result of the further development of the rotary lever 19 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10, in a particularly uncomplicated manner, the use of particularly simple and cost-effective ball slide bearings is permitted.

The deformation of the rotary lever 19 because of the axial distance of the power introduction into the bearings of a pair of bearings, and the resulting bending moment, can be minimized by the traverse-type further development.

As a result of the spherical shape of the bearing elements, a tilting course of the bearings is completely excluded; that is, also in the event of deformations of the rotary lever, the bearing capacity and the maximally achievable service life of the ball slide bearings will be fully utilized.

Furthermore, the rotary lever 19 is sufficiently fixed by the balls 56 relative to the caliper, so that a further, possibly frictional guiding of the rotary lever is no longer required.

For the special case of a brake having only one adjusting rotary device or only one spindle on each side of the brake disk, or on one side of the brake disk, the rotary lever may be constructed with two lever bearings at the ends of the traverse-type section 158 and with only one eccentric bearing in the center (not shown).

The rotary lever 19 of FIGS. 1 to 10 is suitable for caliper constructions of all types; thus, for virtually all caliper types, particularly also those of FIG. 1 (hinged caliper, sliding caliper, fixed caliper).

It is also contemplated that the essentially spherical bearing elements 158, 160 and the pertaining cups have an elliptical shape which is flattened with respect to the ball geometry.

As examples, FIGS. 12 and 13 show possible caliper geometries of caliper parts 1a and 1b.

The reaction-side caliper part 1b of FIG. 12 has a recess 200 for receiving the adjuster module 100, which recess is provided with two indentations 202a, 202b for receiving the ends of the thrust pieces 29a, 29b. Bores 204 are distributed around the recess 200, to which bores 204 the mounting plate 104 can be screwed.

In contrast, the application-side caliper part 1a of FIG. 13 has a recess 206 open from the caliper wall toward the brake disk 1 (facing the brake disk), into which recess 206 the adjuster module 100 can be inserted. Bores 204 again are distributed around the recess 206, to which bores the mounting plate 104 can be screwed (optionally with an additional surrounding sealing ring).

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a disk brake whose basic principle corresponds to FIG. 1f and which, in addition, utilizes important ideas of the other embodiments.

In contrast, FIG. 1f sho