BRAKE DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE, VEHICLE COMPRISING THE BRAKE DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR BRAKING A ROTATING WHEEL OF A VEHICLE COMPRISING THE BRAKE DEVICE

Abstract

A brake device for a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, in particular for an electric motorcycle or electric scooter, said device comprising a housing for positioning on a wheel axle of the vehicle. The vehicle has a brake disc for introducing braking power into a wheel rim of the wheel and transfer apparatus for transferring the braking power to the brake disc. The transfer apparatus is held in the housing and is operatively connected to the brake disc, said brake disc being formed integrally with the housing.

Claims

1. A brake device for a vehicle having at least one wheel, the brake device comprising: a housing for positioning on a wheel axle of the vehicle, a brake disc for introducing braking power into a wheel rim of the wheel, and a transfer apparatus for transferring the braking power to the brake disc, wherein the transfer apparatus is held in the housing and is operatively connected to the brake disc, wherein the brake disc is formed integrally with the housing.

2. The brake device according to claim 1, wherein the brake disc has an annular surface and a circumferential edge protruding axially from the annular surface, wherein the edge encloses a receiving space with the annular surface.

3. The brake device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer apparatus is designed as a disc, wherein the disc is held in the receiving space concentrically to the brake disc.

4. The brake device according to claim 2, wherein the brake device comprises a hydraulic device for generating the braking power, wherein the hydraulic device is integrated concentrically to the brake disc or to the transfer apparatus in the receiving space.

5. The brake device according to claim 4, wherein the hydraulic device comprises a hydraulically operable annular piston for activating the brake disc by executing a lifting movement against the transfer apparatus.

6. The brake device according to claim 5, wherein the brake device comprises at least one leaf spring for releasing the activated brake disc, wherein the brake disc or the transfer apparatus is elastically mounted on the at least one leaf spring.

7. The brake device according to claim 6, wherein the brake device comprises a plurality of leaf springs which complement each other to form a spring ring, wherein the spring ring is arranged concentrically with the brake disc or with the transfer apparatus.

8. The brake device according to claim 1, wherein the brake device comprises an axle sleeve, wherein the axle sleeve is arranged in a central recess in the housing and wherein the axle sleeve comprises a torque support for support on a wheel fork of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle having at least one wheel and having the brake device according to claim 1.

10. A method for braking a rotating wheel of a vehicle having the brake device according to claim 1, comprises moving the transfer apparatus axially together with the brake disc onto the wheel of the vehicle so that the brake disc is placed on a wheel rim of the wheel or pressed onto it and the rotating wheel is braked as a result.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further features, advantages and effects of the disclosure are set out in the following description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure. In the figures:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle with two wheels, wherein the vehicle is designed as an electric scooter;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows one of the wheels from FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a visible side of a brake device for the wheel from FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows an axial sectional view of the brake device from FIG. 3;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a perspective plan view of a rear side of the brake device from FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Parts that correspond to each other or are identical are marked with the same reference marks in the illustrations.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 50 having a front wheel 51 and a rear wheel 52. The vehicle 50 is designed as an electric scooter, electric pedal scooter or e-scooter. It has a vehicle frame 53 having a wheel fork 54. The vehicle 50 can be driven by an electric motor which is integrated in the wheel, for example. To brake the front wheel 51, the vehicle 50 has a brake device 1, which is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0040] The front wheel 51 of the vehicle 50 is shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective plan view from the side. The front wheel 51 is hereinafter referred to as the wheel 51. The wheel 51 is rotatably mounted on a wheel axle 55. The wheel fork 54 carries the wheel axle 55 and thus the wheel 51. The wheel fork 54 is rotatably mounted and, according to FIG. 1, is connected to a handlebar of the vehicle 50 so that the vehicle 50 can be steered via the wheel 51.

[0041] The wheel 51 has a wheel rim 56 and a tire 58, wherein the tire 58 is arranged on the wheel rim 56. The wheel rim is not visible in FIG. 2 because it is covered by the tire 58. The brake device 1 is arranged on the wheel axle 55 adjacent to the wheel rim 56 and/or on one side of the wheel rim 56.

[0042] In FIG. 3, the brake device 1 is shown in a perspective plan view of a visible side and, in FIG. 5, of a rear side of the brake device 1. An axial sectional view of the brake device 1 is shown in FIG. 4.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the brake device 1 comprises a housing 2, which is arranged on the wheel axle 55, according to FIG. 2. The housing 2 can be designed as a plastic housing or as an aluminum housing. It is essentially disc-shaped and has a central recess 3 for the wheel axle 55.

[0044] For the arrangement on the wheel axle 55, the brake device 1 has an axle sleeve 4. The axle sleeve 4 is formed from a metal alloy, for example from a steel alloy. The axle sleeve 4 is arranged in the central recess 3. It has an inner diameter that essentially corresponds to an outer diameter of the wheel axle 55. In particular, the brake device 1 is fixed in a press fit on the wheel axle 55 via the axle sleeve 4, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] According to FIGS. 4 and 5, the brake device 1 comprises a brake disc 5 and a transfer apparatus 9. The brake disc 5 is designed to introduce braking power into the wheel rim of the wheel 51 and thereby to brake the rotating wheel 51. The transfer apparatus 9 is designed to transfer the braking power to the brake disc 5.

[0046] To generate the braking power, the brake device 1 has a hydraulic device 6. The hydraulic device 6 can be actuated by an actuating device 57 (FIG. 1), for example a hand lever of the vehicle. The hydraulic device 6 comprises a hydraulic chamber 7 and a reciprocating piston 8, which can perform a stroke and a return stroke in the hydraulic chamber 7. The reciprocating piston 8 is sealed off from the hydraulic chamber 7 via a sealing valve 10. When actuating the actuating device 57 (FIG. 1), the sealing valve 10 is opened so that a fluid can flow through a flow channel 13 of the hydraulic device 6 into the hydraulic chamber 7 and trigger the stroke of the reciprocating piston 8. The stroke of the reciprocating piston 8 releases kinematic energy which is used by the brake disc 5 as braking power.

[0047] The brake disc 5 is formed integrally with the housing 2. For this purpose, the brake disc 5 is designed in the manner of a frisbee disc. As can be seen from FIG. 3, it has a disc surface 11 and a circumferential edge 12, wherein the circumferential edge 12 protrudes axially from the disc surface 11 and, together with the disc surface 11, encloses a receiving space. The receiving space of the brake disc 5 at least partially forms a section of the receiving space of the housing 2. The receiving space is open on the wheel axle 55 (FIG. 2) towards the wheel rim 56, whereas an outside of the disc surface 11 is arranged facing away from the wheel rim 56 and forms a visible side of the housing 2 and thus the brake device 1. The brake disc 5 is axially movable towards the wheel rim 56 along the wheel axle 55 (FIG. 2).

[0048] It is advantageous that the outside of the disc surface 11, in particular the visible side of the housing 2 and the brake device 1, can be designed in a visually flexible manner since the housing 2, in particular the brake disc 5, is formed from the plastic material or the aluminum alloy. A desired design of the housing 2, in particular the visible side, can thus be implemented in a simple and inexpensive manner, for example in a forming process or injection molding process. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the visible side has decorative ribs.

[0049] It is also advantageous that the size of the brake device 1 can be adapted to the size of the wheel 51 in that the housing 2 and/or the brake disc 5 integrated in the housing 2 together with the wheel 51 is arranged on the wheel axle 55 (FIG. 2).

[0050] The hydraulic device 6 (FIG. 4) is held and/or integrated in the housing 2. In particular, the hydraulic chamber 7 and the flow channel 13 are molded into the housing 2. The hydraulic chamber 7 is annular in a lateral plan view and runs around the central recess 3 and/or the axle sleeve 4 completely radially. The reciprocating piston 8 is designed as an annular piston for executing the stroke and the return stroke in the hydraulic chamber 7. The annular hydraulic hammer 7 and the annular piston are arranged concentrically with the brake disc 5. They are completely held in the receiving space of the brake disc 5.

[0051] The transfer apparatus 9 is designed as a metal disc and, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, is arranged concentrically with the brake disc 5. The transfer apparatus 9 is axially movable along the wheel axle 55 (FIG. 2). It is completely held in the receiving space of the brake disc 5. In the receiving space, the transfer apparatus 9 is arranged in the same direction as the disc surface 11 of the brake disc 5.

[0052] The transfer apparatus 9 is operatively connected to the brake disc 5. For this purpose, the transfer apparatus 9 is screwed to the brake disc 5 by means of a plurality of screws 14, e.g. three screws. The transfer apparatus 9 and the brake disc 5 are therefore axially movable together, in particular displaceable along the wheel axle 55 towards the wheel rim 56.

[0053] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the transfer apparatus 9 is in an operative connection with the reciprocating piston 8 when the latter executes the stroke in the hydraulic chamber 7. When it executes the stroke, the reciprocating piston 8 presses against the transfer apparatus 9 so that it is axially displaced. In particular, the reciprocating piston 8 transfers the kinematic energy to the transfer apparatus 9.

[0054] Since the transfer apparatus 9 is operatively connected to the brake disc 5, the transfer apparatus 9 transfers kinematic energy to the brake disc 5 so that both are axially displaced together to the wheel rim of the wheel 51 and the brake disc 5 is thereby activated to brake the rotating wheel 51.

[0055] The activated brake disc 5 rests against the wheel rim 56 and/or is pressed against it in order to brake the rotating wheel 51 by means of the friction between the wheel rim 56 and the brake disc 5. In a possible exemplary embodiment, not shown, the brake disc 5 can rest directly against the wheel rim 56, for example with the circumferential edge 12, in order to brake the rotating wheel 51.

[0056] In a preferred exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the brake device 1 comprises a friction plate 15 for contact with the wheel rim 56. The friction plate 15 is designed as a friction ring made of a steel alloy. The friction plate 15 is arranged concentrically with the brake disc 5 and with the transfer apparatus 9 and is fastened to the edge 12 of the brake disc 5 so that the receiving space of the brake disc 5 is partially covered by the friction plate 15. The friction plate 15 is crimped to the edge 12, wherein the edge 12 engages around an outer edge of the friction plate 15 in a form-fitting manner. If the friction plate 15 is provided and/or is connected to the edge 12 of the brake disc 5, it is advantageous if the housing 2 and/or the brake disc 5 is/are formed from the aluminum alloy in order to ensure a secure attachment.

[0057] When the brake disc 5 is activated, the friction plate 15 forms a contact side of the brake disc 5, which rests against the wheel rim and/or is pressed against it in order to brake the rotating wheel 51 by means of friction. The friction plate 15 can advantageously reduce wear on the brake disc 5 when the rotating wheel 51 is braked.

[0058] To release the activated brake disc 5, the brake device 1 comprises at least one leaf spring 16, for example three leaf springs 16. The leaf springs 16 are riveted to the axle sleeve 4. The leaf springs 16 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that they form a ring which radially surrounds the central recess 3 in the housing 2 and/or the axle sleeve 4. In particular, the leaf springs 16 are designed together as a multiple interrupted spring ring, wherein the leaf springs 16 form annular sections of the spring ring. The leaf springs 16 are held in the receiving space of the brake disc 5 and are arranged concentrically with the brake disc 5 and/or with the transfer apparatus 9.

[0059] The brake disc 5 is elastically mounted on the leaf springs 16. When the actuating device 57 (FIG. 1) is no longer actuated, the reciprocating piston 8 executes the return stroke so that the transfer apparatus 9 is no longer axially displaced by the reciprocating piston 8 and the brake disc 5 is no longer pressed against the wheel rim as a result. Due to the elastic mounting on the leaf springs 16, the brake disc 5 is released from the wheel rim and, together with the transfer apparatus 9, is moved back axially along the wheel axle 55 (FIG. 2) into its initial position. As a result, the brake disc 5 is deactivated and the rotating wheel 51 is no longer braked.

[0060] As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the brake device 1 comprises a torque support 17, which is designed to absorb a differential torque between the input and output of the rotating wheel 51. The torque support 17 is arranged on the axle sleeve 4 and protrudes axially therefrom so that it is supported on the wheel fork 54 (FIG. 2) and can introduce the differential torque into it.

[0061] Looking at all of FIGS. 1 to 5 together, it can be seen that the integration of the brake disc 5 into the housing 2 makes it possible to design the brake device 1 with fewer components and in a space-saving manner. Since the transfer apparatus 9, the leaf springs 16, the hydraulic chamber 7 and the annular piston are completely held in the receiving space of the brake disc 5, it is possible to design the brake device 1 to be particularly narrow and to position it next to the wheel 51 on the wheel axle 55.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0062] 1 Brake device [0063] 2 Housing [0064] 3 Recess [0065] 4 Axle sleeve [0066] 5 Brake disc [0067] 6 Hydraulic device [0068] 7 Hydraulic chamber [0069] 8 Reciprocating piston [0070] 9 Transfer apparatus [0071] 10 Sealing valve [0072] 11 Disc surface [0073] 12 Edge [0074] 13 Flow channel [0075] 14 Screws [0076] 15 Friction plate [0077] 16 Leaf springs [0078] 17 Torque support [0079] 50 Vehicle [0080] 51 Front wheel [0081] 52 Rear wheel [0082] 53 Vehicle frame [0083] 54 Wheel fork [0084] 55 Wheel axle [0085] 56 Wheel rim [0086] 57 Actuating device [0087] 58 Tire