BRAKE LINING IN DISC BRAKES, IN PARTICULAR OF VEHICLES, HAVING A GROOVE CONFIGURATION IN THE FRICTION LINING

Abstract

The invention relates to a brake lining for disc brakes, in particular for vehicles, having a groove configuration in the friction lining. The groove extends from the entry side to the exit side of the brake lining and converges towards the exit side.

Claims

1. A brake lining for disc brakes for motor vehicles, comprising: a friction lining (3) arranged on a lining mounting plate (9), said friction lining (3) having a lining surface (2) with an entry side (4) and an exit side (5), and defining in its lining surface (2) at least one groove (1) that extends over the lining surface (2) in the rotational direction of a friction counterpart with which the friction lining (3) interacts during a braking operation, from the entry side (4) of the friction lining (3) to the exit side (5) and converges with the lining surface (2) towards the exit side (5).

2. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove depth (14) that varies from the entry side (4) to the exit side (5) of the friction lining (3).

3. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove depth (14) that decreases from the entry side (4) to the exit side (5) of the friction lining (3).

4. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove depth (14) that on the entry side (4) extends to a mounting plate (9) of the brake lining (3).

5. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove depth (14) that on the entry side (4) extends to a mounting plate (9) of the brake lining (3) while maintaining a distance of at least approximately 2 mm to 3 mm from the mounting plate (9).

6. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) extends over the lining surface (2) diagonally or horizontally or in a circular-segmented layout from the entry side (4) to the exit side (5).

7. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove width (15) that varies from the entry side (4) to the exit side (5).

8. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a groove width (15) that tapers from the entry side (4) to the exit side (5).

9. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) has a V-shaped or U-shaped cross section.

10. The brake lining according to claim 1, wherein the groove (1) is is formed in the lining surface (2) of the brake lining (8) on the piston side facing the friction counterpart and/or on the side (7) of a sliding-caliper brake (10) that is opposite from the piston.

11. A brake lining for disc brakes for motor vehicles, comprising: a friction lining having a lining surface and a surface opposite from the lining surface adapted for joining the friction lining to a lining mounting plate, said lining surface having an entry side and an exit side, said friction lining defining in its lining surface at least one groove that extends from the entry side to the exit side and converges with the lining surface towards the exit side.

12. The brake lining of claim 11, wherein the groove has a groove depth that is deeper on the entry side than a groove depth on the exit side

13. The brake lining of claim 11, wherein the groove has a groove width that varies from the entry side to the exit side.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The following is shown:

[0021] FIGS. 1 a-1c a perspective view of the brake lining with a groove configuration that extends horizontally over the entire lining surface, in side views and in a top view;

[0022] FIGS. 2a-2c a view according to FIG. 1 but with a diagonal groove configuration;

[0023] FIGS. 3a-3c a view according to FIG. 1 but with a circular-segmented groove configuration;

[0024] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the brake lining with a horizontal groove configuration and a constant groove width; and

[0025] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a sliding caliper brake lining with a horizontal groove configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a brake lining with a mounting plate 9 and a friction lining 3 arranged thereupon. The friction lining 3 has the groove 1 formed on the lining surface 2 facing a friction counterpart, especially a brake disc.

[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 1a, this groove 1 extends approximately horizontally over the lining surface 2 from an entry side 4 of the friction lining 3 to an exit side 5. The groove depth varies 14, preferably tapering from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5 of the friction lining 3.

[0028] As can be seen in FIGS. 1a to 1c, the groove width 15 also tapers steadily from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5. Owing to this configuration of the groove 1 on the surface 2 of the friction lining 3, it is possible to avoid an undesired residual torque that acts upon the brake disc. Residual torques occur in that the brake is not completely lifted at the end of a braking operation, that is to say, the lining is not completely released.

[0029] Due to the rotation of the brake disc when the motor vehicle is moving, when the brake is released, such a groove configuration allows the air-flow conditions to be utilized to press the friction lining towards the outside and thus release it, thereby reducing the residual torques. As a result, the air cushion effect is enhanced even further, thereby reducing residual torques. According to FIGS. 1a to 1c, when the motor vehicle is moving forward, the groove 1 extends in the rotational direction of the brake disc approximately horizontally over the lining surface 2 from the entry side 4 towards the exit side 5. A reduction of the residual torque has the positive effect of reducing the fuel consumption and CO.sub.2 emissions of motor vehicles.

[0030] FIGS. 2a to 2c show an alternative embodiment of the groove 1 on the surface 2 of the friction lining 3. Here, the groove 1 extends approximately diagonally over the friction lining 3 from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5 of the friction lining 3.

[0031] The axial force that results from the configuration of further improved air-flow conditions and that presses the friction lining 3 away from the brake disc becomes more uniform, as a result of which a defined release of the friction lining 3 from the brake disc is ensured and no undesired tilting of the friction lining 3 occurs.

[0032] As can be seen in FIGS. 3a to 3c, it can also be provided that the groove 1 extends over the lining surface 2 in a somewhat circular-segmented or semi-circular segmented layout from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5. Also in this embodiment, the groove depth 14 and the groove width 15 vary in that they decrease steadily from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5. This embodiment is advantageous because it allows a further improvement of the air-flow conditions.

[0033] Due to the tapering of the groove depth 14 and of the groove width 15, a greater dynamic air pressure can build up between the brake lining and the brake disc when the brake is released. This brings about a greater axial force between the brake lining and the brake disc, so that residual torques are reduced and the friction lining 3 is released.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the groove 1 over the lining surface 2 of the friction lining 3 which differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that, even though the groove depth 14 varies from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5, the groove width 15 remains constant over the lining surface 2 of the friction lining 3. Naturally, a combination of a constant groove width 15 with a diagonal or circular-segmented configuration of the groove 1 extending over the lining surface 2 from the entry side 4 to the exit side 5 is likewise conceivable. This embodiment of the groove 1 is also able to further improve the air-flow conditions.

[0035] In another embodiment of the groove 1, it can be provided that the groove 1 has a V-shaped or U-shaped cross section. Due to wear and tear of the friction lining 3, the groove width 15 in V-shaped or U-shaped grooves decreases.

[0036] This is compensated for by the fact that the compressibility of the friction lining 3 decreases. After all, under an identical braking force, worn linings deform axially to a lesser extent since the compressibility of worn and thus softer linings is higher.

[0037] FIG. 5 schematically shows a sliding caliper brake 10. In sliding caliper brakes 10, an axial braking force causes an inner brake lining to be pressed by a brake piston and causes an outer brake lining to be pressed onto a brake lining by a moving caliper. The reaction force that is brought to bear by the brake caliper causes the outer brake lining to be pressed onto the brake disc with the same axial force as the inner brake lining. For this reason, the inner brake lining can be released earlier, that is to say, can come away from the brake disc. Thanks to the formation of the groove 1 on the outer brake lining 7 and/or on the inner brake lining, the residual force and thus the residual torque are reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0038] 1 groove [0039] 2 lining surface [0040] 3 friction lining [0041] 4 entry side [0042] 5 exit side [0043] 6 groove surface/groove top [0044] 7 outer brake lining [0045] 8 brake lining on the piston side [0046] 9 mounting plate [0047] 10 sliding caliper [0048] 11 diagonal groove [0049] 12 horizontal groove [0050] 13 circular-segmented groove [0051] 14 groove depth [0052] 15 groove width