Compressed coolant hydraulic brake rotor

• US 5,439,081 A
• Filed: 08/31/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas V. Glass
• Original Assignee: Thomas V. Glass
• Inventors: Glass, Thomas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US08/299,825
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 188/218 XL, 188/264 R, 188/264 AA, 188/264 D, 188/264 F, 188/264 CC
• US Class Current: 188/264.0CC
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/784 the coolant not being in direct contact with the braking surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/128 characterised by means for cooling

Abstract

A compressed coolant hydraulic brake rotor is provided for reducing heat energy build-up, thereby minimizing warping and deterioration of the rotor and brake pads. The rotor provides an enclosed volume and a valve assembly used for insertion of a fluid coolant medium, such as freon, within the enclosed volume, which houses a plurality of interior surface support fins. The rotor is "enclosed" in order to contain and govern the fluid coolant medium. As the rotor is engaged and begins to rotate, centrifugal force pressurizes the coolant medium within the enclosed volume and causes the fluid coolant medium to compress. The compressed coolant medium functions as a heat sink to draw heat energy away from the rotor, therefore to cool the rotor by heat energy transfer therefrom. The rotor may be used in any type of vehicle that functions with brakes. Advantages of the present invention include: a reduction of excessive heat build-up on the rotor, thereby extending brake pad and rotor life; and compatibility with all disk brake systems.

Claims

1. A rotor for an automotive hydraulic brake system which presses a brake pad against a rotating surface mounted to an axle of an automobile, wherein the rotor comprises:

a first and a second circular flat plate having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, wherein a plate width is defined therebetween;

a plurality of supporting fins having a fin length smaller than said plate width and a fin width, wherein said fins connect said first and second circular flat plates in a spaced cylindrical relationship defined by said fin width, and wherein said fins are fixedly attached between said first and second circular flat plates in order to define a plurality of fin channels therebetween said plurality of supporting fins, an inner circumference channel along said inner circumference, and an outer circumference channel along said outer circumference, whereby said plurality of fin channels is interconnected with said inner circumference channel and said outer circumference channel, thereby to define a plurality of continuous pathways between said inner circumference and said outer circumference of said first and second circular flat plates;

an inner wall approximating said fin width attached along said inner circumference of said first and second circular flat plates;

an outer wall approximating said fin width attached along said outer circumference of said first and second circular flat plates, wherein said outer wall and said inner wall define an enclosed volume within said first and second circular flat plates;

a coolant medium;

coolant injection means mounted on said rotor for injecting said coolant medium under pressure into said enclosed volume, wherein said coolant medium flows around each of said plurality of supporting fins throughout said plurality of continuous pathways, thereby to fill said enclosed volume,

mounting means for mounting said rotor to the axle of the automobile, wherein said mounting means is attached to said inner wall along said inner circumference, and wherein said coolant injection means is a valve having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position permits injection of said coolant medium therethrough and into said enclosed volume, and wherein said closed position seals said coolant medium inserted under pressure into said enclosed volume against removal therefrom.

2. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein said coolant medium comprises a fluid substance.

3. The rotor according to claim 2, wherein said fluid substance is freon.

4. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein said fin width ranges from 0.125 inches to 1.5 inches.

5. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein said coolant medium is injected into said enclosed volume at a pressure approximating 1.5 pounds per square inch.

6. A rotor for an automotive brake system wherein a brake pad is pressed against a rotating surface mounted to an axle of an automobile, wherein the rotor comprises:

(a) a first and second circular discs mounted for rotation to an axle of an automobile and spaced apart a predetermined distance, said discs defining an outer surface against which a brake pad may be urged;

(b) an inner wall and an outer wall affixed between said first and second circular discs to define an enclosed internal volume therebetween;

(c) a quantity of coolant fluid sufficient to fill said volume;

(d) valve means for permitting selective ingress and egress of said coolant fluid within said enclosed volume said valve means having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position permits injection of said coolant fluid therethrough and into said enclosed volume, and wherein said closed position seals said coolant fluid inserted under pressure into said enclosed volume against removal therefrom during rotation; and

(e) means affixed to said first and second discs for inducing compression and decompression of said coolant fluid within said enclosed volume responsive to rotation of said rotor.

7. A rotor as in claim 6, wherein said means for inducing compression comprises a plurality of fins interconnected between said first and second discs, defining a plurality of radial segments in fluid communication with an inner and outer annular open volume between said fins and said inner and outer walls, respectively.

8. A rotor as defined in claim 7, wherein said fins and said outer wall are made from a thermally transmissive material.

9. The rotor according to claim 6, wherein said coolant fluid is injected into said enclosed volume at a pressure approximating 1.5 pounds per square inch.

10. A rotor for an automotive hydraulic brake system, wherein the rotor is mounted to an axle of an automobile and has dual parallel disks which are perpendicular to the axle and supported by a plurality of heat-dissipating fins, and wherein the hydraulic brake system presses a brake pad against at least one of the disks, wherein the rotor comprises:

a coolant medium;

an enclosed volume between said dual parallel disks for receiving and housing said coolant medium;

said plurality of heat-dissipating fins positioned within said enclosed volume to permit a flow of said coolant medium therebetween;

coolant injection means mounted on said rotor for injecting said coolant medium under pressure into said enclosed volume, wherein said coolant medium flows around each of said plurality of heat-dissipating fins, thereby to fill said enclosed volume,

mounting means for mounting the rotor to the axle of the automobile, and wherein said coolant injection means is a valve having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position permits injection of said coolant medium therethrough and into said enclosed volume, and wherein said closed position seals said coolant medium inserted under pressure into said enclosed volume against removal therefrom.

11. The rotor according to claim 10, wherein said coolant medium comprises a fluid substance.

12. The rotor according to claim 11, wherein said fluid substance is freon.

13. The rotor according to claim 10, wherein said coolant medium is injected into said enclosed volume at a pressure approximating 1.5 pounds per square inch.