Disc brake, in particular for commercial vehicles, and holding unit for a cable of such disc brake

Abstract

A system for mounting a signal cable to a disc brake includes a cover plate, an actuator opening in a region of the cover plate configured to allow passage of an actuation device, and a signal cable fixation member (80) for mounting the signal cable to the cover plate, the signal cable fixation member (80) including an attachment part (82) and a signal cable guiding part (84). The attachment part (82) engages with the cover plate and the signal cable guiding part (84) guides the signal cable towards a side edge of the cover plate. A connecting part (86) between the attachment part (82) and the signal cable guiding part (84) spaces apart a signal cable guide axis A of the signal cable guiding part (84) from an engagement axis B of the attachment part (82) by an offset d.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a signal cable (20) to a disc brake (2), the system comprising: a cover plate (70) configured to be fastened to or constituting an actuation side of the disc brake (2) in an accommodation space of a brake caliper (4), the cover plate including an actuator opening (72) in a region of the cover plate (70) configured to allow passage of an actuation device therethrough; and a signal cable fixation member (80) for mounting the signal cable (20) to the cover plate (70), the signal cable fixation member (80) including an attachment part (82) and a signal cable guiding part (84), the attachment part (82) being sized and configured to connect with an attachment counterpart (74, 74′, 74a) of the cover plate (70) and the signal cable guiding part (84) being configured to guide the signal cable (20) towards a side edge of the cover plate (70), wherein the system comprises a connecting part (86) operatively coupling the attachment part (82) and the signal cable guiding part (84), the connecting part (86) spacing apart a signal cable guide axis (A) of the signal cable guiding part (84) from an engagement axis (B) of the attachment part (82) by an offset (d); wherein the attachment counterpart (74, 74′, 74a) comprises an opening (74, 74′, 74a) in the cover plate (70); wherein the attachment part (82) comprises a first elongated attachment element (82a) and a second elongated attachment element (82b); wherein the first elongated attachment element (82a) has a different size and/or shape than the second elongated attachment element (82b) and the opening (74, 74′) is correspondingly shaped or sized.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting part (86) has an essentially arched or sigmoidal shape.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal cable guiding part (84) is loop-shaped.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal cable fixation member (80) is elastically deformable and bendable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a connection between the attachment part (82) and the attachment counterpart (74, 74′, 74a) is non-rotatable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment part (82) extends through the opening (74, 74′, 74a) and is fastened by non-positive fit or positive fit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first elongated attachment element (82a) and the second elongated attachment element (82b) are approachable against an elastic restoring force so as to allow them to be inserted into the opening of the attachment counterpart upon forcing the elongated attachment elements (82a, 82b) towards each other, and to be urged against an inner contour (75) of the opening (74, 74′, 74a) in the cover plate (70) by the elastic restoring force.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first elongated attachment element (82a) and the second elongated attachment element (82b) have hook-shaped ends facing away from each other so as to be retained by a surface of the cover plate (70).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting part (86) comprises a first connecting element (86a) extending from the first elongated attachment element (82a) and connecting to one end of the signal cable guiding part (84), and a second connecting element (86b) extending from the second elongated attachment element (82b) and connecting to another end of the signal cable guiding part (84), wherein one of the first and second connecting elements (86a, 86b) is longer, and one or both of the first and second connecting elements (86a, 86b) is bent so as to produce the offset (d) between the signal cable guide axis (A) and the engagement axis (B).

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pad wear warning indication system (16) including a pad wear sensor for assessing the wear of a brake pad (8, 8′) and the signal cable (20) connected to the pad wear sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising the disc brake (2) including the brake caliper (4) and brake pads (8, 8′) defining a space for a rotor in between the brake pads (8, 8′) accommodated in an accommodation space (10) of the brake caliper (4).

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal cable fixation member (80) is attachable to the attachment counterpart (74, 74′) in only a single predetermined orientation.

13. A signal cable fixation member (80) for mounting a signal cable (20) to a cover plate (70) of a disc brake (2), the signal cable fixation member (80) comprising: a signal cable guiding part (84) configured to guide the signal cable (20) towards a side edge of the cover plate (70), an attachment part (82) configured to engage with an attachment counterpart (74, 74′, 74a) in or on the cover plate (70), a connecting part (86) between the attachment part (82) and the signal cable guiding part (84), the connecting part (86) configured to space apart a signal cable guide axis (A) of the signal cable guiding part (84) from an engagement axis (B) of the attachment part (82) by an offset (d); wherein the attachment part (82) includes a first elongated attachment element (82a) and a second elongated attachment element (82b); wherein the first elongated attachment element (82a) has a different size or shape than the second elongated attachment element (82b) for orienting the signal cable fixation member (80) in a predetermined orientation.

14. The signal cable fixation member (80) of claim 13, wherein the first elongated element (82a) has a width greater than the second elongated attachment element (82b).

15. A signal cable fixation member (80) for mounting a signal cable (20) to a cover plate (70) of a disc brake (2), the signal cable fixation member (80) comprising: a signal cable guiding part (84) configured to guide the signal cable (20) towards a side edge of the cover plate (70), an attachment part (82) configured to engage with an attachment counterpart (74, 74′, 74a) in or on the cover plate (70), a connecting part (86) between the attachment part (82) and the signal cable guiding part (84), the connecting part (86) configured to space apart a signal cable guide axis (A) of the signal cable guiding part (84) from an engagement axis (B) of the attachment part (82) by an offset (d); wherein the attachment part (82) includes a first elongated attachment element (82a) and a second elongated attachment element (82b); wherein the connecting part (86) comprises a first connecting element (86a) extending from the first elongated attachment element (82a) and connecting to one end of the signal cable guiding part (84), and a second connecting element (86b) extending from the second elongated attachment element (82b) and connecting to another end of the signal cable guiding part (84), wherein one of the first and second connecting elements (86a, 86b) is longer, and one or both of the first and second connecting elements (86a, 86b) is bent so as to produce the offset (d) between the signal cable guide axis (A) and the engagement axis (B).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects, features and/or technical effects will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disc brake including an embodiment of a system for mounting a signal cable to a disc brake according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover plate used in an embodiment of the disc brake as shown in FIG. 1, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the cover of FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective of a system for mounting a signal cable to a disc brake having a cover plate as shown in FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is a different perspective view of a system for mounting a signal cable to a disc brake comprising a cover plate as shown in FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a signal cable fixation member for mounting a signal cable to a disc brake as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a disc brake including a conventional clip for mounting a signal cable to a cover plate of a disc brake according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cover plate used in the disc brake shown in FIG. 7 according to an aspect of the disclosure;

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a disc brake as shown in FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a disc brake as shown in FIG. 7; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a clip for mounting a signal cable to a cover plate of a disc brake as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(13) FIG. 1 shows a disc brake 2 comprising a system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for mounting a signal cable 20 to a surface of the disc brake 2. The disc brake 2 sits on a brake carrier 6, which is mountable to a corresponding receiving section of a vehicle. The disc brake 2 comprises a brake caliper 4, which forms an accommodation space for, among other components, brake pads 8, 8′ and, during operation, a rotor, which is not shown in FIG. 1, in between the brake pads 8, 8′.

(14) The brake pads 8, 8′ are held in position by a spring hanger 12. The spring hanger 12 is connected to the caliper 4 by a spring hanger seat 24 on one side and by spring hanger fixation device 22 on the other side. After releasing the spring hanger fixation device 22 and guiding the spring hanger 12 out of its seat 24, the spring hanger 12 may be removed. When the spring hanger 12 is removed, the brake pads 8, 8′ may be removed likewise and be exchanged.

(15) To assess the degree of wear of the brake pads 8, 8′, the disc brake 2 includes a pad wear warning indication system 16. This pad wear warning indication system 16 includes wear sensors, a signal cable 20, a mounting device 14 for mounting the signal cable 20 to the spring hanger 12, a system including a cover plate 70 and a signal cable fixation member 80 for mounting the signal cable 20 to the cover plate 70, and a connector 56. Instead of mounting the signal cable 20 to the cover plate 70, the signal cable fixation member 80 could be directly fixed to the outer surface of the brake caliper 4 on an actuation side of the disc brake in an accommodation space of the brake caliper 4, such that the outer surface of the brake caliper 4 itself would then constitute the cover plate as disclosed herein. Typically, each wear sensor is associated with one brake pad 8, 8′. As the wear sensors need to be connected to a vehicle data system, the connector 56 is located in the proximity of the region of the caliper 4 on a vehicle side (actuation side), the connector 56 being configured to be connectable to a vehicle. Especially for the wear sensor associated with brake pad 8′ (located on the side opposite the vehicle side/actuation side), there arises a need to guide the signal cable 20 from the proximity of brake pad 8′ towards the connector 56.

(16) To achieve this, a mounting device 14 is mounted onto the spring hanger 12. The mounting device 14 includes a cable guide 30, to which the signal cable 20 is fastened. With the help of this, the signal cable 20 is guided along the spring hanger 12 towards the wear sensor, which is associated with brake pad 8.

(17) To bridge the distance between an end of spring hanger 12 on the actuation side (near brake pad 8) to the connector 56, the present invention provides for cover plate 70 and signal cable fixation member 80. The cover plate 70 extends over the whole of an inner surface of the caliper 4 on an actuation side of the disc brake 2 and projects beyond the upper periphery of the brake caliper 4. In the projecting region, there are provided one or more attachment counterparts.

(18) In the shown embodiment, one opening 74 is provided in the upper right region of the cover plate 70 and one opening 74′ is provided in the upper left region of the cover plate 70, which can be best seen in FIG. 2. Further, the preferably sheet-like metal cover plate 70 has an actuation opening 72 in a central region of the cover plate 70 that is configured to allow passage of an actuation device from an actuation unit in the interior of the caliper 4 during operation in order to actuate the disc brake 2.

(19) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the opening 74 shown in FIG. 2. The opening 74 has a lower region with a width w.sub.1 and an upper region with a width w.sub.2, wherein width w.sub.2 is smaller than width w.sub.1. However, while the depicted opening 74 is preferred due to the advantages associated with it, in particular when combined with a signal cable fixation member as described herein (cf. e.g. FIG. 6), it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to a particular shape of the opening 74 or 74′. Therefore, also circular openings as shown in the known cover plate of FIG. 8 could be principally used according to an aspect of the disclosure.

(20) In the enlarged view of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the signal cable fixation member 80 is inserted into the opening 74 so that the attachment part, which in this example is formed as two hook-shaped attachment elements 82a, 82b, is retained by a surface of the cover plate 70. In addition, elastic restoring forces urge the attachment elements 82a, 82b against the boundary or inner contour 75 (shown in FIG. 3) of the opening 74.

(21) FIG. 5 provides a different view, where the signal cable guiding part 84 of the signal cable fixation member 80 is viewed from a front side. The signal cable guiding part 84 has a tubular shape so that a longitudinal section of the signal cable 20 is encircled by the signal cable guiding part 84. A signal cable guide axis A essentially coincides with a longitudinal axis of the signal cable 20 and is spaced apart from an engagement axis B, which coincides with a central axis of the opening 74. The signal cable 20 comes to lie on or adjacent to a surface of the cover plate 20 in a region that is shifted towards the lower edge 76 of the cover plate 20 relative to the opening 74.

(22) FIG. 6 shows the signal cable fixation member 80 of FIGS. 4 and 5. As can be seen, the signal cable guide axis A, which essentially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the signal cable 20 is spaced apart from the engagement axis B, which coincides with the central axis of the opening 74a by an offset d. Put another way, the axis A is offset below the axis B. Further, the attachment part 82 is formed as a first elongated attachment element 82a having a first width w.sub.1′ and a second elongated attachment element 82b having a second width w.sub.2′, both of which have hook-shaped ends extending in opposite directions. The widths w.sub.1′, w.sub.2′ are configured to fit in the corresponding regions in the opening 74a. Thereby, a single predetermined orientation is obtained.

(23) The connecting part 86 is formed as a first connecting element 86a extending from the first elongated attachment element 82a and connecting to one end of the signal cable guiding part 84, and a second connecting element 86b extending from the second elongated attachment element 82b and connecting to the other end of the signal cable guiding part 84. Further, one of the first and second connecting elements 86a, 86b is longer, and both of the first and second connecting elements 86a, 86b are bent so as to produce the offset d between the signal cable guide axis A and the engagement axis B. To put it simply, the signal cable guiding part 84 is displaced from the attachment part 82 towards the lower edge 76 of the cover plate 70. In the signal cable fixation member 80, a signal cable 70 can be introduced from the open end of attachment part 82. From this end, a signal cable introduction space 88 extends through the connecting part 86 to the signal cable guiding part 84.

(24) FIGS. 7 to 11 depict a conventional disc brake 2. The disc brake 2 shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 largely corresponds to the disc brake 2 detailed above in FIGS. 1-6, except that it features a clip 90 for mounting a signal cable 20 to a cover plate 70 having circular openings 74a, rather than the signal cable fixing member 80. As mentioned above, it is principally possible to use a cover plate 70 having circular openings 74a in the present disclosure, such as those best seen in FIG. 8. The trajectory of the signal cable 20 runs over the opening in the cover plate 70. As can be understood from FIGS. 9 to 11, the clip 90 lacks a connecting part that is configured to space apart the signal cable guide axis A of the signal cable guiding part 84 from an engagement axis B of the attachment part 82. Instead, the engagement axis B generally intersects signal cable guide axis A.

(25) While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.