Piston roll back device

• US 8,376,101 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brembo SPA (Nuova Fourb Srl)
• Original Assignee: Freni Brembo S.P.A.
• Inventors: Cesani, Paolo, Lenzi, Luca, Crippa, Cristian
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, BRADLEY T
• Application Number:
  US13/132,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20110233008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 188/72.3, 188/72.4, 188/370, 277/553
• US Class Current: 188/370
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/02 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2127/02 Release mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes

Abstract

A brake caliper comprising a piston seat (10) wherein a piston (2) slides with its side surface (11) in contact with a radial surface (13) of an elastic member (12). The member further comprising two axial surfaces (15,16) adapted to be affected by a pressurized fluid and being arranged at the piston coming out side facing the pads respectively. The latter surface facing with a portion (17) thereof, a first chamber (18) arranged in the proximity of the piston side surfaces, with another portion (24) thereof, an abutment surface (19) adapted to support said elastic member when it is urged by the pressurized fluid, said abutment surface being radially retracted so as to be farther from the piston side surface than said first chamber and with a further portion (25) thereof, at least one second chamber (20) arranged radially farther from said piston side surface than said abutment surface.

Claims

1. A piston retracting device for a brake caliper, said brake caliper comprising a caliper body located astride a brake disc having a rotational axis and opposite friction surfaces and pads slidably supported by said caliper body for axial movement relative to the brake disc to engage said opposite friction surfaces, respectively, said caliper body having a piston seat and a piston having a side surface slidably disposed within said piston seat for urging at least one of said pads against said brake disc friction surfaces when brake fluid in said seat is pressurized, wherein said piston retracting device comprises:

at least one elastic member arranged with a first radial surface thereof bearing against said piston side surface, and with a second radial surface thereof bearing against the caliper body;

said elastic member comprising a third axial surface facing away from said pads and adapted to be affected by the brake fluid;

said elastic member comprising a fourth axial surface facing the pads;

said fourth surface facing an abutment surface on the caliper body adapted to support said elastic member when urged by the pressurized fluid,

a portion of said fourth surface facing at least one second chamber arranged radially farther from said piston side surface than said abutment surface,

another portion of said fourth surface facing a first chamber arranged in the proximity of the piston side surface, said first chamber being opened towards said piston side surface; and

said abutment surface being radially farther from the piston side surface than said first chamber; and

further comprising

a ring housed in an annular seat and axially sandwiched between said at least one elastic member and the caliper body at the side opposite the elastic member brake fluid,

said ring having an inner radial dimension greater than that of said piston so as to leave a clearance between said ring and said piston side surface so as to create said first chamber,

said ring comprising a side surface facing said at least one elastic member and providing said abutment surface;

said ring having, in an outer periphery thereof, at least one radial recess axially opened at least at the side facing said at least one elastic member so as to create said at least one second chamber.

2. The piston retracting device according to claim 1, wherein said first chamber is annular and so sized as to receive an elastic member predefined portion which is urged by movement of the piston coming out from its seat, and which, when the braking action stops, returns the piston by a predefined stroke.

3. The piston retracting device according to claim 1, wherein a predefined plurality of second chambers is provided, of a number and dimension adapted to receive portions of the elastic member as the brake fluid reaches a predefined pressure corresponding to a predefined elastic strain of the caliper body.

4. The piston retracting device according to claim 1, wherein said ring is made of elastic material and is provided with a predefined number of bumps or teeth which allow a detectable elastic strain when a predefined stress exerted thereon is reached which, when the braking action stops, determines an elastic return on the elastic member which drags the piston to the seat thereof in a retraction stroke.

5. The piston retracting device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is received in an annular seat, said seat comprising a bottom adapted to be in forcible contact with said elastic member, said bottom comprising an inclined portion so as to reduce the annular seat radial dimension at the side opposite the disc, and a cylindrical portion adapted to define part of the second chamber.

6. A caliper for a disc brake, said brake caliper comprising a caliper body located astride a brake disc having a rotational axis and opposite friction surfaces, pads slidably supported by said caliper body for axial movement relative to the brake disc to engage said opposite friction surfaces, respectively, said caliper body having a piston seat and a piston having a side surface slidably disposed within said piston seat for urging at least one of said pads against said brake disc friction surfaces when brake fluid in said seat is pressurized, wherein said caliper comprises an annular seat adapted to receive a piston retracting device, said piston retracting device comprising:

at least one elastic member arranged with a first radial surface thereof bearing against said piston side surface, and with a second radial surface thereof bearing against the caliper body;

said elastic member comprising a third axial surface facing away from said pads and adapted to be affected by the brake fluid;

said elastic member comprising a fourth axial surface facing the pads;

said fourth surface facing an abutment surface on the caliper body adapted to support said elastic member when urged by the pressurized fluid,

a portion of said fourth surface facing at least one second chamber arranged radially farther from said piston side surface than said abutment surface,

another portion of said fourth surface facing a first chamber arranged in the proximity of the piston side surface, said first chamber being opened towards said piston side surface; and

said abutment surface being radially farther from the piston side surface than said first chamber; and

further comprising

a ring housed in an annular seat and axially sandwiched between said at least one elastic member and the caliper body at the side opposite the elastic member brake fluid,

said ring having an inner radial dimension greater than that of said piston so as to leave a clearance between said ring and said piston side surface so as to create said first chamber,

said ring comprising a side surface facing said at least one elastic member and providing said abutment surface;

said ring having, in an outer periphery thereof, at least one radial recess axially opened at least at the side facing said at least one elastic member so as to create said at least one second chamber.

7. The caliper according to claim 6, wherein said caliper comprises a hub side portion adapted to face a first side of said disc, a wheel side portion adapted to face a second side of said disc, and at least two end bridges connecting said hub side and said wheel side portions, wherein the hub side and wheel side portions, and the at least two end bridges, are manufactured in a single piece.

8. A braking system comprising a caliper as described in claim 6.