Disc brake suspension for improved turning circle

• US 6,223,863 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology Ltd. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bunker, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,102
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 188/18 A, 188/71.5, 188/73.38, 188/218 XL, 188/264 AA, 188/264 A, 280/93.512, 192/70.17-70.22
• US Class Current: 188/18.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/142 with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/129 Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/368 combined with other mechanical components, e.g. pump units, master cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4266 having an electro-mechanically actuated expansion unit, e.g. solenoid, electric motor, piezo stack
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0008 Brake supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0012 integral with vehicle suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0062 Partly lined, i.e. braking surface extending over only a part of the disc circumference
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0091 Plural actuators arranged side by side on the same side of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1316 radially segmented
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1348 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1368 with relative movement both radially and axially
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1384 to wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1392 Connection elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1396 Ancillary resilient elements, e.g. anti-rattle or retraction springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/20 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/32 actuated by a fluid-pressure device arranged in or on the brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/36 Brakes with a plurality of rotating discs all lying side by side
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/40 actuated by a fluid-pressure device arranged in or one the brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/0977 : Springs made from sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/12 : Discs; Drums for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/123 : comprising an annular disc secured to a hub member; Discs characterised by means for mounting

Abstract

A reduction in size and weight of a vehicle wheel suspension is achieved by locating a brake force applicator at a top portion of a stub axle and adjacent a wheel turning axis and providing a pair of axially slidable brake discs engageable by four floating brake pads. Preferably, the force applicator is disposed within an opening or bore in a top portion of the stub axle adjacent the vertical turning axis which also passes through the stub axle. This is in contrast to the conventional sliding caliper that is mounted at either the front or the rear of a fixed brake disc and projects substantially further outward with respect to the vertical turning axis. The inclusion of the brake force applicator such as a hydraulically operated piston in the stub axle and the use of the pair of slidable brake discs provides better operational characteristics in addition to lighter weight, decreased size, and decreased turning circle relative to a conventional sliding caliper, fixed brake disc assembly

Claims

1. A vehicle front wheel suspension and braking assembly for providing a reduced turning circle comprising:

a stub axle having a cast metal body and having therein a hub for mounting a wheel for turning and rotating and a substantially vertical, wheel turning axis through the stub axle;

a top support suspension member on the suspension connected to and supporting an upper portion of the stub axle for turning about the substantially vertical turning axis;

a bottom support suspension member on the suspension connected to and supporting a lower portion of the stub axle for turning about the substantially vertical turning axis;

a steering member on the wheel suspension connected to the stub axle to turn the stub axle to turn the front wheel about the substantially vertical, turning axis;

at least two slidable brake discs mounted on the hub for axial sliding movement along the hub;

a brake force applying and clamping assembly having slidable brake pads and a fixed brake pad for cooperating with the slidable brake discs, to clamp against opposite sides of the brake discs during a braking operation;

the brake force and clamping assembly including a fixed, rigid support bridge projecting outwardly from the stub axle at a top portion of the stub axle and carrying the slidable brake pads;

an outer portion of the rigid support bridge carrying the fixed brake pad; and

a force actuator mounted in an opening in the upper portion of the cast metal body of the stub axle adjacent to a wheel turning axis passing through stub axle, the fixed support bridge being located adjacent the force actuator at the upper portion of the cast metal body to reduce the wheel turning circle and to increase a locking angle before the braking assembly fouls against a suspension assembly.

2. A vehicle front wheel suspension in accordance with claim 1 wherein the brake force applying and clamping assembly comprises:

the outer portion of the rigid bridge support being a distal end of the fixed support bridge carrying the fixed brake pad and having a limited projection toward a suspension member for engagement therewith during a steering of the suspension to a lock angle position.

3. A vehicle front wheel suspension in accordance with claim 1 wherein the force actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston;

and

springs mounting the slidable brake discs to float on the hub and thereby to limit the exertion of fall-back forces on the piston during side loading on the brake discs during cornering of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle front wheel suspension and a braking assembly for providing a reduced turning circle comprising:

a stub axle having a cast metal body and having therein a hub for mounting a wheel for turning and rotating about a wheel turning axis through the stub axles;

a top support suspension member on the suspension connected to and supporting an upper portion of the stub axle for turning about wheel turning axis;

a bottom support suspension member on the suspension connected to and supporting a lower portion of the stub axle for turning about the wheel turning axis;

a steering member on the wheel suspension connected to the stub axle to turn the stub axle to turn the front wheel about the wheel turning axis;

at least two slidable brake discs mounted on the hub for axial sliding movement along the hub;

a substantially horizontal, cylindrical opening in the upper portion of the stub axle defining a cylinder for containing brake liquid and being adjacent to the wheel turning axis;

a piston mounted in the horizontal cylinder movable by the brake liquid for shifting the slidable brake pads;

a rigid brake pad support fixedly mounted to the upper portion of the stub axle and extending outwardly therefrom;

a fixed brake pad on an outer end portion of the brake pad support for braking engagement with an outer face of a slidable brake disc; and

the brake pad support, the cylinder and the piston being mounted on the upper portion of stub axle adjacent the wheel turning axis through the stub axle to position the brake disc and brake pad support to reduce the wheel turning circle and to increase a locking angle for the suspension.

5. A vehicle front wheel suspension in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

three slidable brake pads are mounted on the fixed brake support.

6. A suspension in accordance with claim 4 wherein the stub axle comprises a substantial horizontal-projecting portion on the upper portion of the stub axle with a bore therein located on the vertical turning axis;

the horizontal cylinder opening in the upper portion of the stub axle being located in a plane above the horizontal projecting portion.

7. A vehicle front wheel and brake assembly comprising:

a stub axle having a hub mounting a wheel for rotation;

a plurality of suspensions member supporting the stub axle and connected thereto to turn the stub and the wheel through a predetermined locking angle about a substantially vertical, turning axis;

a cast body for the stub axle having laterally-extending, integral portions each connected to one of the suspension members;

an upper integral portion on the stub axle body;

a brake pad support fixed to the upper portion of the stub axle and having slide surfaces thereon;

slidable brake pads slidably mounted on the support slide surfaces and one fixed brake pad fixed to the brake pad support adjacent sliding movement;

a brake pad force applicator fixed to the upper portion of the stub axle and having a hydraulic cylinder and piston for sliding the slidable brake pads along the slidable surfaces of the brake pad support;

slidable brake discs mounted on the hub of the stub axle engageable with the brake pads;

a top portion of the slidable brake discs being engageable by the brake pads during a braking operation;

spring force applicators for exerting a spring force between the hub and the brake discs to limit the exertion of fall back forces on the piston during side loading on the brake discs during cornering of the vehicle; and

the brake support and cylinder and piston being located adjacent the wheel turning axis to reduce the wheel turning circle and to increase the locking angle, the spring force applicators for the brake pads exerting forces thereon to position them normal to the rotational axis in order to reduce residual torque.

8. A vehicle front wheel and brake assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

a second spring force applicator acts between the slidable brake pads and the brake pad support to bias the brake pads into planes normal to the wheel axis to reduce residual torque and to have only random contact with the brake discs when in an off-brake position; and

a cylindrical, horizontal bore in the upper portion of the stub axle'"'"'s cast body contains the brake pad force applicator.

9. A vehicle front wheel and brake assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein a piston and hydraulic fluid are provided in the cylindrical, horizontal bore.

10. A vehicle front wheel and brake assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein the brake pad force applicator comprises an electrical actuator is mounted in the cylindrical, horizontal bore.

11. A vehicle front wheel and brake assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

an upper arm on the stub axle is connected to an upper one of the suspension members; and

the horizontal bore is located in a horizontal plane closely adjacent the upper arm of the stub axle.