A brake element is sensorized by at least one piezoceramic sensor arranged between a metallic support element and a block of friction material of a brake element, the sensor being completely embedded within the block. An electrical voltage signal generated by at least one piezoceramic sensor, without the need for a power supply, is picked up by an electrical circuit integrated into the metallic support element. The electrical voltage signal is processed in the form of equal length of samples per unit of time of the detected signal by successively processing in real time each sample of equal length of time sample of the signal by applying an algorithm. The algorithm is selected from at least one of a sequence of integrations of voltage values in the sample carried out in an interval of time in the order of milliseconds; FFT voltage data sample; and integral of the voltage data sample.

Provided is a caliper unit for a brake of a vehicle, in particular, a compact caliper unit capable of reducing a size, a weight, and a production cost of a component and improving fuel efficiency. The caliper unit for the brake includes an inner pad and an outer pad, which press both surfaces of a disc to generate braking force, a torque member fixed to a vehicle body and coupled to be movable forward and backward so that the inner pad and the outer pad press the disc, or the pressing of the inner pad and the outer pad to the disc is released, a caliper housing including a cylinder to which a brake hydraulic pressure is applied and a reaction force support part configured to press the outer pad to the disc, and a piston installed in the cylinder and moving forward and backward depending on a state of the brake hydraulic pressure applied to the cylinder to press the inner pad to the disc. Each of the inner pad and the outer pad has a circular shape, and a contact surface of the piston, which is in contact with the inner pad to press the inner pad during braking, has a circular shape.

Technologies are generally described for a composition for an under-layer of a brake pad of a brake disc rotor. The composition may include a fiber pack, a powdered rubber, at least one binder, and at least one filler, wherein the fiber pack includes aramid fibers up to about 3 wt %.

Method wherein at least one piezoceramic sensor (15) and an electric circuit (18) to collect an electric signal emitted by the piezoceramic sensor (15) when subjected to a mechanical stress and possibly processing it are made as a unit electrically insulated (118) equipped with at least a branching (119) ending with respective electric contacts (20,21) having connected the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15), where the electric circuit (18) and the at least one sensor (15) are mechanically fixed integral with a first surface (13) of a supporting metal element (11) of a brake pad (1) and branching (119) is formed so as to position the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15) at a predetermined point of the first surface (13).

A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor and an electric circuit to collect an electric signal emitted by the piezoceramic sensor when subjected to a mechanical stress and possibly processing it are made as an electrically insulated unit. The unit is equipped with at least a branching ending with respective electric contacts and having the connected at least one piezoelectric sensor. The electric circuit and the at least one sensor are mechanically fixed integral with a first surface of a supporting metal element of a brake pad. Branching is formed so as to position the at least one piezoelectric sensor at a predetermined point of the first surface.

A friction pad including a friction pad body including an annular base defining an aperture down a central axis, and first and second opposing major surfaces, where the friction pad body includes a low friction material, and where at least one of the major surfaces includes a plurality of grooves adapted to retain lubricant.

A coated backing plate for a brake pad and method of manufacturing a brake pad having a coated backing plate, where the coating for the backing plate includes a bond layer. The bond layer includes an inboard surface, an outboard surface, a closed pore network toward the outboard surface that faces the inboard surface of the reinforcement plate, and an open pore network at the inboard surface of the bond layer. The open pore network includes a recessed topology having a plurality of craters configured to interlock a friction material of a friction pad or one or more intermediate layers, such as a transition layer and/or a thermal barrier layer.

A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

A piston assembly for a multi-disk system may comprise an adjustor sleeve and a piston configured to telescope relative to the adjustor sleeve. A puck may be located at an end of the piston. The piston assembly may include a multi-layer insulator. The multi-layer insulator may comprise a first insulator layer contacting the puck or the piston, and a second insulator layer contacting the first insulator layer. The first and second insulator layers may each comprise a solid disk.