A method adjusts the slack of a brake assembly having a brake disc, a brake pad, an actuator with an output shaft driven in a forward direction to bring the brake pad and brake disc into frictional engagement defining a braking position and a reverse direction to disengage the brake pad and brake disc and to move the brake pad into a rest position, and a slack adjuster for adjusting a predetermined axial slack distance between the brake pad and the brake disc. The brake pad is moved from the rest position in the reverse direction into a predetermined reference position, and an adjustment of the axial slack distance between the brake pad and brake disc is initiated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a brake control device and a brake system capable of braking with a shortened braking response when shifting from non-braking to braking. A brake control device 10 includes a command value calculation unit 4 that calculates an operation command value required to make a pressing force by which a brake pad 11a is pressed against a brake disc 11b reach a target thrust value. The command value calculation unit 4 includes: a clearance command calculation unit 43 that calculates a command value required for contact between the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b; and a thrust command calculation unit 40 that calculates a command value required for reaching the target thrust from a state where the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b are in contact with each other. When calculating the operation command value from a state where the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b are separated, the command value calculation unit 4 calculates the operation command value by integrating the command value calculated from the clearance command calculation unit 43 and the command value calculated from the thrust command calculation unit 40.

An electric brake including: a brake mechanism configured to transmit a thrust force generated through drive of an electric motor to a piston, the piston being configured to move brake pads to be pressed against a disc rotor; a thrust force sensor configured to detect the thrust force transmitted to the piston; and an ECU for rear electric brake configured to control, based on a detection value obtained by the thrust force sensor, the drive of the electric motor in accordance with a brake command. The ECU for rear electric brake is configured to learn, as a reference point of a piston thrust force, a detection value obtained by the thrust force sensor when the electric motor is driven to move the piston in a direction for pressing the piston against the disc rotor in a range in which the brake pads are not in contact with the disc rotor.

A brake assembly has an auto-adjustment mechanism including an adjusting link that is rotatable to adjust an unloaded state position of a brake shoe, and an adjusting lever that operates to rotate the adjusting link during a release of the braking assembly to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoe. The auto-adjustment mechanism includes a pivot point mounted on a brake back plate about which the adjusting lever rotates, and an adjusting spring attached to the adjusting lever. The adjusting lever rotates in a first direction against the spring force when the brake assembly is actuated, and the adjusting spring by operation of the spring force rotates the adjusting lever in a second direction when the brake assembly is released. During the brake release, as the adjusting lever rotates back the adjusting lever catches the adjusting link in a ratchet fashion to rotate the adjusting link to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoes.

A brake assembly has an auto-adjustment mechanism including an adjusting link that is rotatable to adjust an unloaded state position of a brake shoe, and an adjusting lever that operates to rotate the adjusting link during a release of the braking assembly to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoe. The auto-adjustment mechanism includes a pivot point mounted on a brake back plate about which the adjusting lever rotates, and an adjusting spring attached to the adjusting lever. The adjusting lever rotates in a first direction against the spring force when the brake assembly is actuated, and the adjusting spring by operation of the spring force rotates the adjusting lever in a second direction when the brake assembly is released. During the brake release, as the adjusting lever rotates back the adjusting lever catches the adjusting link in a ratchet fashion to rotate the adjusting link to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoes.

An adjuster for an air disc brake includes an over-torque clutch arrangement that includes an adjuster drive plate having ramped detents, and a ball-carrying plate having pockets for retaining ball bearings. Ball bearings are carried and retained in the ball-carrying plate, and transmit rotation between the adjuster drive plate and the ball-carrying plate below a torque threshold. Above a torque threshold, the balls move axially away from the adjuster drive plate against the force of a spring, and ride up the ramped detents. Above the torque threshold, rotation is not transmitted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a brake control device and a brake system capable of braking with a shortened braking response when shifting from non-braking to braking. A brake control device 10 includes a command value calculation unit 4 that calculates an operation command value required to make a pressing force by which a brake pad 11a is pressed against a brake disc 11b reach a target thrust value. The command value calculation unit 4 includes: a clearance command calculation unit 43 that calculates a command value required for contact between the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b; and a thrust command calculation unit 40 that calculates a command value required for reaching the target thrust from a state where the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b are in contact with each other. When calculating the operation command value from a state where the brake pad 11a and the brake disc 11b are separated, the command value calculation unit 4 calculates the operation command value by integrating the command value calculated from the clearance command calculation unit 43 and the command value calculated from the thrust command calculation unit 40.

A method adjusts the slack of a brake assembly having a brake disc, a brake pad, an actuator with an output shaft driven in a forward direction to bring the brake pad and brake disc into frictional engagement defining a braking position and a reverse direction to disengage the brake pad and brake disc and to move the brake pad into a rest position, and a slack adjuster for adjusting a predetermined axial slack distance between the brake pad and the brake disc. The brake pad is moved from the rest position in the reverse direction into a predetermined reference position, and an adjustment of the axial slack distance between the brake pad and brake disc is initiated.

A lining wear adjustment device for a disc brake with a brake application device having a brake actuating lever, which can preferably be inserted into an adjustment spindle of the disc brake, includes an adjusting shaft with an external bearing, a rotary drive element and a clutch device for switchable coupling of the rotary drive element to the adjusting shaft. The clutch device is an electrically controllable solenoid clutch with at least one electromagnetic coil.

A lining wear adjustment device for a disc brake with a brake application device having a brake actuating lever, which can preferably be inserted into an adjustment spindle of the disc brake, includes an adjusting shaft with an external bearing, a rotary drive element and a clutch device for switchable coupling of the rotary drive element to the adjusting shaft. The clutch device is an electrically controllable solenoid clutch with at least one electromagnetic coil.