ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE FOR A MULTIPLE PISTON CALIPER

• US 20150129371A1
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutelius, Kenneth Eric, Chelaidite, Galus
• Granted Patent: US 9,353,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/72.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0016 Brake calipers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0091 Plural actuators arranged side by side on the same side of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/02 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2123/00 Multiple operation forces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/20 converting rotation to linear movement or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/24 Rack-and-pinion
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/40 Screw-and-nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/46 Rotating members in mutual engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/48 with parallel stationary axes, e.g. spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/225 the braking members being brake pads
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/226 in which the common actuating member is moved axially , e.g. floating caliper disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/228 with a separate actuating member for each side
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 57/002 comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled internal friction, e.g. electrorheological fluid, magnetic powder
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/0068 Brake calipers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/14 Actuating mechanisms for brakes; Means for initiating operation at a predetermined position brake control systems, parts thereof B60T
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/183 with force-transmitting members arranged side by side acting on a spot type force-applying member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears

Abstract

A brake system comprising: (a) a body assembly comprising: (i) an outboard side, (ii) an inboard side, (iii) a bridge extending between and connecting the inboard side and the outboard side, and (iv) two or more piston assemblies located entirely on the outboard side, entirely on the inboard side, or located both on the inboard side and the outboard side; and (b) an electric brake assembly comprising: (i) one or more differential assemblies in communication with the body assembly and each of the two or more piston assemblies; wherein the one or more differential assemblies provide power equally to each of the two or more piston assemblies so that each of the piston assemblies are moved axially in unison until a resistance of one of the two or more piston assemblies becomes higher than a remainder of the two or more piston assemblies and the one or more differential assemblies transfer power from the piston assembly with the higher resistance to the remainder of piston assemblies with a lower resistance so that the piston assembly with the higher resistance ceases to move and additional power is supplied to the remainder of the piston assemblies.

Claims

1. A brake system comprising:

a. a body assembly comprising;

i. an outboard side,

ii. an inboard side,

iii. a bridge extending between and connecting the inboard side and the outboard side, and

iv. two or more piston assemblies located entirely on the outboard side, entirely on the inboard side, or located both on the inboard side and the outboard side; and

b. an electric brake assembly comprising;

i. one or more differential assemblies in communication with the body assembly and each of the two or more piston assemblies;

wherein the one or more differential assemblies provide power equally to each of the two or more piston assemblies so that each of the piston assemblies are moved axially in unison until a resistance of one of the two or more piston assemblies becomes higher than a remainder of the two or more piston assemblies and the one or more differential assemblies transfer power from the piston assembly with the higher resistance to the remainder of piston assemblies with a lower resistance so that the piston assembly with the higher resistance ceases to move and additional power is supplied to the remainder of the piston assemblies.

2. The brake system of claim 1, wherein two or more shafts extend from the one or more differential assemblies and into communication with each of the two or more piston assemblies so that power is supplied from the one or more differential assemblies to the two or more piston assemblies.

3. The brake system of claim 1, wherein the electric brake system provides a parking brake force and/or emergency braking force and the brake system is a hydraulic brake system when the brake system provides a braking force.

4. The brake system of claim 1, wherein a parking brake force and/or emergency braking force is created by the electric brake system and a braking force is created by a hydraulic brake system, and

wherein two or more shafts extend from the one or more differential assemblies and into communication with each of the two or more piston assemblies so that power is supplied from the one or more differential assemblies to the two or more piston assemblies.

5. The brake system of claim 1, wherein a drive gear extends from the one or more differential assemblies and provides power to a first piston assembly and a shaft extends from the one or more differential assemblies through the drive gear to provide power from the one or more differential assemblies to a second piston assembly, and

wherein the drive gear and the shaft are concentric.

6. The brake system of claim 2, wherein the two or more shafts extend from opposing sides of the one or more differential assemblies.

7. The brake system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more piston assemblies are located on the outboard side of the body assembly and at least one of the two or more piston assemblies are located on the inboard side of the body assembly.

8. The brake system of claim 1, wherein all of the two or more piston assemblies are located on the inboard side of the body assembly.

9. The brake system of claim 5, wherein all of the two or more piston assemblies are located on the inboard side of the body assembly.

10. The brake system of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more piston assemblies include a piston and a drive screw that moves the piston when the electric brake assembly provides power to the brake system.

11. The brake system of claim 9, wherein each of the two or more piston assemblies include a piston and a drive screw that moves the piston when the electric brake assembly provides power to the brake system.

12. The brake system of claim 10, wherein the drive screw includes a pushing portion that is connected to an elongated portion and the elongated portion includes threads that axially move the drive screw and the piston to create a parking brake force.

13. The brake system of claim 2, wherein one or more transfer gears are located between one or more of the two or more piston assemblies and one or more of the two or more shafts so that power is indirectly provided from the one or more differential assemblies to the one or more of the two or more shafts through the one or more transfer gears and to the one or more of the two or more piston assemblies.

14. The brake system of claim 6, wherein one or more transfer gears are located between one or more of the two or more piston assemblies and one or more of the two or more shafts so that power is indirectly provided from the one or more differential assemblies to the one or more of the two or more shafts through the one or more transfer gears and to the one or more of the two or more piston assemblies.

15. The brake system of claim 12, wherein a drive gear is in communication with the drive screw and transfers power from the one or more differential assemblies to the drive screw so that the drive screw axially moves the piston.

16. A fixed brake comprising:

a. a body assembly comprising;

i. an outboard side including a piston assembly;

ii. an inboard side including a piston assembly; and

iii. a bridge extending between and connecting the piston assembly on the outboard side to the piston assembly on the inboard side,

wherein the bridge includes a bridge bore that extends between the inboard side and the outboard side;

b. one or more gear clusters in communication with the body assembly; and

c. one or more differential assemblies in communication with the body assembly and the one or more gear clusters;

wherein one or more shafts extend through the bridge bore and connect the piston assembly on the inboard side and the piston assembly on the outboard side to the one or more gear clusters and the one or more differential assemblies so that movement of all or a portion of the one or more differential assemblies actuates the piston assembly on the inboard side and the piston assembly on the outboard side individually, in unison, or a combination of both to create a parking force.

17. The fixed brake of claim 16, wherein the one or more differential assemblies include a housing including two or more side gears that are located in an opposing relationship and two or more pinion gears extend between and connect to the two or more side gears so that when the two or more side gears move independently, the pinion gears are moved, and when the two or more side gears move in unison the two or more pinion gears are free of movement independent of the two or more side gears and move in unison with the two or more side gears.

18. The fixed brake of claim 16, wherein the gear duster includes an outer drive gear that extends coaxially around the one or more shafts so that the outer drive gear and the one or more shafts move independently of each other, in unison, or both.

19. The fixed brake of claim 16, wherein the piston assembly in the inboard side and the piston assembly in the outboard side both include a piston bore that houses a piston, and the piston on the inboard side and the piston on the outboard are movable towards each other to create a braking force, and

wherein the piston on the inboard side and the piston on outboard side are moved by a fluid and a drive screw.

20. The fixed brake of claim 17, wherein the piston assembly in the inboard side and the piston assembly in the outboard side both include a piston bore that houses a piston, and the piston on the inboard side and the piston on the outboard are movable towards each other to create a braking force, and

wherein the piston on the inboard side and the piston on outboard side are moved by a fluid and a drive screw.