CALIPER MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT

• US 20070137953A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Friction
• Original Assignee: Performance Friction
• Inventors: PAUL, Scott Andrew, BURGOON, Donald Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/73.460
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0008 Brake supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0016 Brake calipers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/228 with a separate actuating member for each side

Abstract

A brake caliper assembly includes a caliper body connected to a torque plate via a mating protrusion and cavity that transfer torque through facing abutment surfaces to reduce twisting of the caliper. The mating protrusion and cavity provide a stiff connection and also allow use of a smaller, lighter connecting bolt. This arrangement eases removal and reinstallation of the caliper.

Claims

1. A brake caliper assembly, comprising:

a caliper body for supporting a brake pad having a braking surface that selectively engages a brake rotor; and

a torque plate connected to the caliper body, the torque plate having a mounting member for connection to a vehicle support,

wherein one of the caliper body and the torque plate includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom and the other of the caliper body and the torque plate includes a cavity that is shaped to correspond to the protrusion and mate therewith so that forces generated during braking are transferred between the caliper body and the torque plate via the protrusion and cavity.

2. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on the caliper body and the cavity is formed in the torque plate.

3. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on the torque plate and the cavity is formed in the caliper body.

4. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion and the cavity each have facing abutment surfaces that are disposed at an angle to the braking surface of the brake pad supported by the caliper body.

5. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion and the cavity each have facing abutment surfaces that are generally perpendicular to the braking surface of the brake pad supported by the caliper body.

6. The caliper assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clip disposed between the protrusion and the cavity.

7. The caliper assembly of claim 6, wherein the clip is made of stainless steel.

8. The caliper assembly of claim 6, wherein the clip is U-shaped.

9. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the protrusion and the cavity is coated or plated with corrosion resistant material.

10. The caliper assembly of claim 9, wherein the material is formed on both the protrusion and the cavity.

11. The caliper assembly of claim 9, wherein the material is formed of zinc-nickel.

12. The caliper assembly of claim 9, wherein the material is formed of zinc-iron.

13. The caliper assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fastener connecting the caliper body to the torque plate.

14. The caliper assembly of claim 13, wherein a bolt hole extends through the protrusion and the cavity.

15. The caliper assembly of claim 1, in combination with a vehicle.

16. The caliper assembly of claim 1, in combination with a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight of at least 11,000 pounds.

17. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a generally rectangular member and the cavity is a generally rectangular channel.

18. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed as a toothed rack and the cavity is formed as a toothed rack and the teeth interlock to form a mating connection.

19. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a boss and the cavity is an indent.

20. The caliper assembly of claim 19, wherein the boss and the indent are generally cylindrical.

21. The caliper assembly of claim 19, wherein the boss and the indent are generally polygonal.

22. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is integrally formed with the caliper body.

23. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is integrally formed with the torque plate.

24. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a separate piece that mates with one of the caliper body and torque plate to function as a protrusion.

25. The caliper assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a bushing and the cavity is a groove.

26. The caliper assembly of claim 25, wherein the bushing is formed as a bar.

27. The caliper assembly of claim 25, wherein the bushing is formed a rod.

28. The caliper assembly of claim 25, wherein the bushing a separate piece that is mounted in a corresponding groove formed in the associated caliper body or torque plate.

29. A caliper assembly for use with a disc brake system for a vehicle, comprising:

a caliper body having a bottom surface and a pair of side walls defining a space therebetween for accepting a portion of a brake rotor;

a torque plate having a top surface that connects with the bottom surface of the caliper body and having a mounting flange for mounting the caliper assembly to a fixed mounting member; and

,

a fastener fixing the caliper body to the torque plate,

wherein one of the bottom surface and the top surface has a protruding member and the other of the bottom surface and the top surface has a corresponding depressed area that mates with the protruding member to form a connection between the caliper body and torque plate through which forces are transferred during braking.

30. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein a corrosion resistant clip is disposed between the protruding member and the depressed area.

31. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein at least one of the protruding member and the depressed area is coated or plated with corrosion resistant material.

32. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member and the depressed area each have abutment surfaces that face each other, wherein the abutment surfaces are oriented at an angle with respect to the mounting flange.

33. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is a generally rectangular member and the depressed area is a generally rectangular channel.

34. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is formed as a toothed rack and the depressed area is formed as a toothed rack and the teeth interlock to form a mating connection.

35. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is a boss and the depressed area is an indent.

36. The caliper assembly of claim 35, wherein the boss and the indent are generally cylindrical.

37. The caliper assembly of claim 35, wherein the boss and the indent are generally polygonal.

38. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is integrally formed with the caliper body.

39. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is integrally formed with the torque plate.

40. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is a separate piece that mates with one of the caliper body and torque plate to function as a protrusion.

41. The caliper assembly of claim 29, wherein the protruding member is a bushing and the depressed area is a groove.

42. The caliper assembly of claim 41, wherein the bushing is formed as a bar.

43. The caliper assembly of claim 41, wherein the bushing is formed a rod.

44. The caliper assembly of claim 41, wherein the bushing a separate piece that is mounted in a corresponding groove formed in the associated caliper body or torque plate.

45. The caliper assembly of claim 29, in combination with a vehicle.