Compressed-air disk brake

• US 6,234,587 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fur Nutzfahrzeuge GMBH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fur Nutzfahrzeuge GMBH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Theiss, Armin, Gerum, Eduard, Bieker, Dieter, Baumgartner, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US09/330,013
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 188/72-- 7, 188/170, 188/153, 188/1.11, 188/156-158, 188/162, 188/73.31, 303/118.1, 303/DIG.10, 303/71, 303/119.1, 303/9.76, 303/119.2, 303/115.3, 303/28, 303/29, 303/30, 303/119.3, 303/166, 303/DIG.4, 303/DIG.3, 303/127-136, 303/69, 303/68, 303/123, 303/7-9, 92/5.R, 92/63, 921/30.A
• US Class Current: 303/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/327 Pneumatic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3675 integrated in modulator units
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/368 combined with other mechanical components, e.g. pump units, master cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/386 driven electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/02 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/12 for releasing a normally applied brake, the type of actuator being irrelevant or not provided for in groups F16D2121/04 - F16D2121/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2123/00 Multiple operation forces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/28 Cams; Levers with cams
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/28 arranged apart from the brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/567 for mounting on a disc brake
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/03 Electrical pressure sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/10 Valve block integrating pump, valves, solenoid, accumulator

Abstract

A compressed-air disk brake for vehicles comprises an actuating device for applying brake blocks in the direction of a brake disk and a brake cylinder, which, on arrival of the compressed air, initiates a braking action via the actuating device. At least one control module, comprising individual pneumatic and electronic components, is incorporated into the brake and/or the associated brake cylinder. For example, the control module may be formed directly on the brake cylinder housing section which encloses the ventilation chamber.

Claims

1. A compressed-air disk brake for vehicles comprising:

a) an actuating device for applying brake blocks in the direction of a brake disk

b) a brake cylinder which, when acted upon by compressed air, initiates a braking by way of the actuating device, and

c) at least one control module including electronic and pneumatic-mechanical individual components and being integrated in the disk brake.

2. A disk brake according to claim 1, wherein the brake cylinder and the actuating device form a constructional unit.

3. A disk brake according to claim 1 including a caliper integral with the brake cylinder.

4. A disk brake according to claim 1 including a caliper having essentially three partial areas, specifically

a first partial area which forms the outer housing of the brake cylinder,

a second partial area which is molded to the first partial area and in which the actuating device is arranged, and

a third partial area which is molded to the second partial area and which comprises the brake disk and the two brake blocks and which is used for transmitting the application forces from an actuating side to a reaction side of the brake disk.

5. A disk brake according to claim 4, wherein the control module is integrated in the first and/or second partial area of the caliper.

6. A disk brake according to claim 1, wherein the control module (8′

) has a a supporting body on which the individual components are arranged and the supporting body is within the interior of a housing of the disk brake.

7. A disk brake according to claim 6 wherein the supporting body is round or elliptical, and the individual components, with respect to their functions, are arranged in a sector-type manner on the supporting body.

8. A disk brake according to claim 7 wherein the components include one or more of a solenoid, an outlet sound absorber, two switching valves, a pressure control valve, a pressure sensor and a wear sensor arranged on the supporting body.

9. A disk brake according to claim 6 wherein the supporting body is in a first partial area of the housing with the brake cylinder and the individual components project at least partially from the first partial area into a second partial area of the housing with the actuating device.

10. A disk brake according to claim 9 wherein the individual elements are arranged on the supporting body and project into the second partial area such that a central section of the second partial area remains free as a space for the movement of a piston rod of the cylinder as well as for the movement of a rotary lever for the operation of an application element, of the actuating device.

11. A disk brake according to claim 9 wherein a compressed-air connection and an electric connection are constructed at a head end of the first partial area.

12. A disk brake according to claim 1 wherein the control module also includes an electric adjusting motor coupled to the brake block.

13. A disk brake according to claim 1 including a separate spring-loaded cylinder adjoining the brake cylinder.

14. A disk brake according to claim 1 including a ventilation system having a secondary chamber ventilation system which receives afterflowing air from a compressed-air feed pipe and emits outflowing air into the environment.

15. A disk brake according to claim 1 wherein the brake cylinder is a piston cylinder.

16. A disk brake as in claim 1, wherein the brake cylinder further comprises

at least two housing sections, one of the housing sections enclosing a ventilation chamber, and

at least one control module is arranged directly on or in one of the housing sections of the brake cylinder.

17. A disk brake according to claim 16, wherein at least one control module is molded directly to the housing section or is integrated in the housing section which encloses the ventilation chamber.

18. A disk brake according to claim 17, wherein the cylinder is one of a diaphragm-type cylinder or as a piston cylinder with a cover section and a bottom part, and the control module is arranged on the cover section.

19. A brake disk according to claim 17 wherein the cylinder is a combination cylinder with a cover section, an intermediate section and a housing section, and at least one control module is arranged on the intermediate section.

20. A disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module includes electronic and pneumatic-mechanical control sections.

21. A disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module is designed such that it can control the pressure into the brake cylinder and can lower the pressure.

22. A disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module includes a relay valve and several solenoids.

23. A disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module has at least one electric connection and at least one compressed-air connection.

24. A compressed-air disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module includes a pressure sensor.

25. A disk brake according to claim 16 including at least one lining wear sensor connected respectively to at least one control module.

26. A disk brake according to claim 16 wherein at least one control module has a central structure section which is constructed in one piece with one of the housing sections and which comprises recesses, and pneumatic and electric elements of the control module fitting into these recesses.

27. A disk brake according to claim 26, wherein the central structure section is closed off toward the outside by the connector plate and by a closure body.

28. A disk brake according to claim 16, wherein at least one control module is in the ventilation chamber.