A friction part includes a friction surface with a first row of first friction lining pieces arranged radially inwardly, a second row of second friction lining pieces arranged between the first friction lining pieces and a third row of third friction lining pieces, and the third row of third friction lining pieces arranged radially outwardly. Stem grooves are formed between adjacent pairs of the first friction lining pieces. Radially inner branch grooves emerge from the stem grooves and are delimited by the adjacent pairs of the first friction lining pieces and by the second friction lining pieces. Radially outer branch grooves are delimited by the second friction lining pieces and the third friction lining pieces. The radially inner branch grooves and the radially outer branch grooves are connected to each other by offset grooves with a tangential offset between the radially inner branch grooves and the radially outer branch grooves.

Example bicycle disc brake rotors are described herein. An example disc brake rotor described herein includes a core having a brake surface core portion and a single-piece brake track coupled to the brake surface core portion. The brake track is constructed of stainless steel. The brake track includes a first track on a first side of the brake surface core portion, a second track on a second side of the brake surface core portion, and a connecting portion extending over a peripheral edge of the brake surface core portion between the first and second tracks.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a brake pad, which are configured to stabilize quality of the brake pad. The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a brake pad including a friction material and a backing plate which are coupled to each other, the method including: a preliminary process of preparing friction material powder and the backing plate; a forming process of forming the friction material powder in the form of the friction material and attaching the friction material to one surface of the backing plate; a quality stabilization process of heating and pressing the friction material after the forming process is completed; a heat treatment process of heating the brake pad at a predetermined temperature after the quality stabilization process is completed; and a grinding process of grinding the friction material.

A friction material comprising a Fe part; a coating layer formed over a surface of the Fe part; and a friction part formed on a surface of at least a part of the coating layer wherein: the coating layer comprises a first coating layer and a second coating layer in order from Fe part side, the first coating layer is constituted of an alloy containing Cu, Ni and Fe such that Fe content be not less than 10 atom %, the second coating layer is constituted of an alloy containing Cu and Ni, or an alloy containing Cu, Ni and Fe such that Fe content be less than 10 atom %, an average thickness of the first coating layer is not less than 1.0 m and not more than 6.0 m; and an average thickness of the second coating layer is not less than 9.5 m and not more than 24.0 m.

A brake pad includes a friction material and a backing plate which are coupled to each other. An apparatus for manufacturing the brake pad includes a forming device forming friction material powder in the form of the friction material and attaching the formed friction material to the backing plate in a forming process, a quality stabilization device heating and pressing the friction material, and a heat treatment unit heating the brake pad at a predetermined temperature.

A clutch plate assembly includes a central axis, a clutch plate with a first friction surface and a radially outer depressed portion, and a friction material ring. The friction material ring is bonded to the first friction surface and extends radially outside of the first friction surface such that an outer portion of the friction material ring is axially aligned with the clutch plate radially outer depressed portion. In an example embodiment, the first friction surface is disposed at an acute angle to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. In some example embodiments, the first friction surface is conical. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is conical and axially offset from the first friction surface. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is manufactured by machining, stamping, or coining.

A brake pad 10 can brake a rotation of a disc 200. The brake pad 10 includes a friction material 12 provided on the side of the disc 200 and a back plate 11 bonded to the friction material 12 on the opposite side of the disc 200. A thickness of a central region of the back plate 11 in a rotational direction of the disc 200 is larger than thicknesses of both end regions of the back plate 11 in the rotational direction of the disc. In the case where a minimum value of the thicknesses of the end regions of the back plate 11 is defined as h.sub.1 [mm] and a maximum value of the thickness of the central region of the back plate 11 is defined as h.sub.2 [mm], h.sub.1 and h.sub.2 preferably satisfy a relationship of h.sub.2h.sub.1<3.

A clutch plate assembly includes a central axis, a clutch plate with a first friction surface and a radially outer depressed portion, and a friction material ring. The friction material ring is bonded to the first friction surface and extends radially outside of the first friction surface such that an outer portion of the friction material ring is axially aligned with the clutch plate radially outer depressed portion. In an example embodiment, the first friction surface is disposed at an acute angle to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. In some example embodiments, the first friction surface is conical. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is conical and axially offset from the first friction surface. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is manufactured by machining, stamping, or coining.