Apparatus with vibration-damped component, especially a brake

• US 20010042661A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Treyde, Torsten
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/73.37
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2129/12 Electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/00 Parts or details similar members for clutches F16D13/58
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/0012 Active vibration dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/08 for internally-engaging brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/092 for axially-engaging brakes, e.g. disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00

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.

Claims

1. A floating caliper or floating frame brake having at least one piezoelectric element, which is deformed by mechanical vibrations or parts of the brake and generates a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied with such a phase to the piezoelectric element or to another piezoelectric element that the mechanical vibrations are damped.

2. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein the brake includes at least two piezoelectric elements disposed at a distance in a peripheral direction of the brake.

3. The brake according to

claim 2

wherein one piezoelectric element is disposed at the run-in side of the brake and another piezoelectric element is disposed at the run-out side of the brake.

4. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein by means of an inductor a phase relationship is adjusted between the generated periodic voltage and the voltage applied for damping purposes.

5. The brake according to

claim 4

wherein the inductor is integrated in or mounted on or in a component of the brake.

6. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein the voltage generated by one piezoelectric element is applied for damping purposes to another piezoelectric element, optionally after amplification and/or phase displacement.

7. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein at least one piezoelectric element is inserted as a capacitive element in at least one electric resonant circuit, and that said resonant circuit has a resonant frequency which is tuned to the mechanical vibration frequency which is to be damped.

8. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein at least two piezoelectric elements are inserted in a resonant circuit which is tuned in such a way that the damping effect of at least one of the piezoelectric elements is at its maximum in the region of the mechanical vibration frequency which is mainly to be damped.

9. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed in the force flux of a brake amplification force of the brake.

10. The brake according to

claim 1

wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed close to an antinode of the mechanically vibrating component.

11. A drum brake having at least one piezoelectric element, which is deformed by mechanical vibrations of parts of the brake and generates a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied with such a phase to the piezoelectric element or to another piezoelectric element that the mechanical vibrations are damped.

12. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein by means of an inductor a phase relationship is adjusted between the generated periodic voltage and the voltage applied for damping purposes.

13. The brake according to

claim 12

wherein the inductor is integrated in or mounted on or in a component of the brake.

14. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein at least one piezoelectric element is inserted as a capacitive element in at least one electric resonant circuit, and that said resonant circuit has a resonant frequency which is tuned to the mechanical vibration frequency which is to be damped.

15. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein the voltage generated by one piezoelectric element is applied for damping purposes to another piezoelectric element optionally after amplification and/or phase displacement.

16. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein at least two piezoelectric elements are inserted in a resonant circuit which is tuned in such a way that the damping effect of at least one of the piezoelectric elements is at its maximum in the region of the mechanical vibration frequency which is mainly to be damped.

17. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed in the force flux of a brake amplification force of the brake.

18. The brake according to

claim 11

wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed close to an antinode of the mechanically vibrating component.

19. A brake pad for a disk brake having at least one piezoelectric element, which is deformed by mechanical vibrations of parts of the brake and generates a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied with such a phase to the piezoelectric element or to another piezoelectric element that the mechanical vibrations are damped.

20. A brake shoe for a drum brake having at least one piezoelectric element, which is deformed by mechanical vibrations of parts of the brake and generates a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied with such a phase to the piezoelectric element or to another piezoelectric element that the mechanical vibrations are damped.

21. An anchor plate for a drum brake having at least one piezoelectric element, which is deformed by mechanical vibrations of parts of the brake and generates a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied with such a phase to the piezoelectric element or to another piezoelectric element that the mechanical vibrations are damped.