Disc brake for a commercial vehicle and brake pad set

Abstract

A disc brake includes a brake caliper that engages over a brake disc and is designed as a sliding caliper. The disc brake has two brake pads which are located in the brake caliper, can be moved in opposite directions and each of which has a pad backing plate with a friction lining secured thereon. An action-side or application-side brake pad of the two brake pads can be pressed against the brake disc by a brake application device with the aid of at least one brake plunger. The brake also includes at least one restoring device, by which the brake caliper can be returned after a displacement and release of the brakes caused by a braking action. The restoring device has a spreading device which engages on the brake pads lying opposite one another and which acts with an identical force in opposition to the respective application direction. The spreading device includes spring-loaded spreading elements, each engaging on its respective pad backing plate. The spreading device is located in the central opening and the spreading elements engage directly or indirectly, outside the friction linings, on at least two contact regions of the brake pads, the regions facing each other at a distance from the center. Each contact region has a contact surface and a support surface, on which surfaces the spreading elements are movably located.

Claims

1. A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, comprising: a brake caliper which engages over a brake disc and which is in the form of a sliding caliper and which is fastened to a positionally static brake carrier and which has a central opening over the brake disc, two brake pads which are arranged in the brake caliper and which are movable in opposite directions and which have in each case one pad carrier plate and one friction pad fastened thereto and of which an action-side or application-side brake pad can be pressed against the brake disc by way of an application device via at least one brake plunger, and at least one resetting device by which the brake caliper can be reset after a braking-induced displacement and release of the brake, wherein the at least one resetting device has a spreading device which engages on the opposite brake pads and which acts equally counter to the respective application direction and which has resilient spreading elements which engage on the respective pad carrier plate, the spreading device is arranged in the central opening, the spreading elements engage, outside the friction pads, directly or indirectly on at least two abutment regions, arranged spaced apart from one another relative to the center, of the brake pads, the abutment regions have in each case one abutment surface and one bearing surface on which the spreading elements are movably arranged, the spreading elements are spring arms, of which in each case two bear against an associated pad carrier plate, wherein the spring arms are connected to one another in the central region of the opening, the spring arms are connected to a retaining bow which is attached to the brake carrier, the retaining bow is connected to two brake carrier horns which delimit a pad slot, the retaining bow being of C-shaped form with two mutually oppositely situated end limbs and with a center limb, and the end limbs have in each case one fastening section which is inserted into and fastened in receptacles, which correspond to the fastening section, in the respective brake carrier horn.

2. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spreading elements, proceeding from a central region in the center of the opening, extend from the inside outward to the abutment regions arranged spaced apart from one another with respect to the center.

3. The disc brake as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spreading elements, proceeding from a central region in the center of the opening, extend from the inside outward to the abutment regions arranged uniformly spaced apart from one another with respect to the center.

4. The disc brake as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central region of the opening extends, to both sides of a virtual center of the opening, approximately parallel to the plane of the brake disc over a length in a range from 30 to 50% of a longitudinal axis of the opening.

5. A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, comprising: a brake caliper which engages over a brake disc and which is in the form of a sliding caliper and which is fastened to a positionally static brake carrier and which has a central opening over the brake disc, two brake pads which are arranged in the brake caliper and which are movable in opposite directions and which have in each case one pad carrier plate and one friction pad fastened thereto and of which an action-side or application-side brake pad can be pressed against the brake disc by way of an application device via at least one brake plunger, and at least one resetting device by which the brake caliper can be reset after a braking-induced displacement and release of the brake, wherein the at least one resetting device has a spreading device which engages on the opposite brake pads and which acts equally counter to the respective application direction and which has resilient spreading elements which engage on the respective pad carrier plate, the spreading device is arranged in the central opening, the spreading elements engage, outside the friction pads, directly or indirectly on at least two abutment regions, arranged spaced apart from one another relative to the center, of the brake pads, the abutment regions have in each case one abutment surface and one bearing surface on which the spreading elements are movably arranged, the spreading elements are spring arms, of which in each case two bear against an associated pad carrier plate, wherein the spring arms are connected to one another in the central region of the opening, the spring arms are connected to a retaining bow which is attached to the brake carrier, the retaining bow is connected to two brake carrier horns which delimit a pad slot, the retaining bow being of C-shaped form with two mutually oppositely situated end limbs and with a center limb, the spring arms are formed as two pairs of spring arms, wherein the pairs are arranged opposite one another in a transverse direction of the opening such that they are fastened by way of inner ends, which point toward the center of the opening, to the retaining bow, wherein their outer free ends interact with the pad carrier plate of the brake pads, and the inner ends of each pair of spring arms are connected in each case to a hood-shaped connector, wherein the hood-shaped connectors are bent around a central section of the retaining bow and are attached rotatably and displaceably to the central section, which has a circular cross section.

6. The disc brake as claimed in claim 5, wherein each spring arm is formed, at the end, with a thrust section which, in its longitudinal direction, is formed with an elongated hole which is a guide section of the spring arm of the spreading device.

7. The disc brake as claimed in claim 6, wherein each thrust section lies in each case on the respective bearing surface of the respective pad carrier plate, wherein the elongated holes of each thrust section interact in each case with the respective abutment surface of the pad carrier plate.

8. The disc brake as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a pin fixedly connected to the pad carrier plate at each respective bearing surface, the pin being configured to interact with the respective elongated hole of the respective spring arm guide section, wherein the respective bearing surfaces run in each case tangentially with respect to the brake disc and lie in a plane.

9. A brake pad set, comprising: at least two brake pads with in each case one pad carrier plate and with a friction pad attached to the pad carrier plate, the at least two brake pads being configured to be installed into a brake caliper of disc brake, and a spreading device configured to be arranged in a central opening of the brake caliper and to engage opposite ones of the at least two brake pads and acts equally counter to respective brake pad application directions, the spreading device having resilient spreading elements configured to engage on the respective pad carrier plate, wherein the pad carrier plates have, outside the friction pads and on one side in a center region or at at least two abutment regions arranged spaced apart from one another relative to the central region, in each case one abutment surface and one bearing surface, the spreading elements are configured to engage, outside the friction pads, directly or indirectly on respective ones of the at least two abutment regions of the brake pads, the spreading elements are spring arms, of which in each case two bear against the respective pad carrier plate, wherein the spring arms are connected to one another in the central region of the spreading device, the spring arms are connected to a retaining bow configured to be located on a brake carrier of the disc brake, and the retaining bow is configured to be connected to two brake carrier horns which delimit a pad slot, the retaining bow being of C-shaped form with two mutually oppositely situated end limbs and with a center limb, and the end limbs have in each case one fastening section which is configured to be inserted into and fastened in receptacles, which correspond to the fastening section, in the respective brake carrier horn.

10. The brake pad set as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pad carrier plates are equipped, in the lower region on their thrust sides, with at least one guide element.

11. A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, comprising: a brake caliper which engages over a brake disc and which is in the form of a sliding caliper and which is fastened to a positionally static brake carrier, two brake pads which are arranged in the brake caliper and which are movable in opposite directions and which have in each case one pad carrier plate and one friction pad fastened thereto and of which an action-side brake pad can be pressed against the brake disc by way of an application device via at least one brake plunger, and at least one resetting device by which the brake caliper can be reset after a braking-induced displacement and release of the brake, wherein the at least one resetting device is composed of a spreading device which engages on the mutually oppositely situated brake pads and which acts equally counter to the respective application direction, the spreading device having resilient spreading elements which engage on the respective pad carrier plate, the resilient spreading elements are spring arms, of which in each case two bear against an associated pad carrier plate, wherein the spring arms are connected to one another in the central region of the opening, the spring arms are connected to a retaining bow which is attached to the brake carrier, and the retaining bow is connected to two brake carrier horns which delimit a pad slot, the retaining bow being of C-shaped form with two mutually oppositely situated end limbs and with a center limb, and the end limbs have in each case one fastening section which is inserted into and fastened in receptacles, which correspond to the fastening section, in the respective brake carrier horn.

12. The disc brake as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spreading elements engage, outside the friction pads, on one side in the center region, or at at least two abutment regions arranged spaced apart from one another uniformly relative to the center.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 show perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a disc brake according to the invention with a resetting device;

(2) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first function group of the resetting device of the exemplary embodiment of the disc brake as per FIG. 1;

(3) FIGS. 4-6 show schematic detail illustrations of the first function group as per FIGS. 1-3 in various detail views;

(4) FIGS. 7-8 show perspective views of a second function group of the resetting device of the exemplary embodiment of the disc brake as per FIG. 1;

(5) FIGS. 9-17 show perspective views of variants of the second function group of the resetting device;

(6) FIG. 18 shows a schematic sectional view of a further variant of the second function group of the resetting device; and

(7) FIG. 19 shows a schematic detail sectional view of the disc brake according to the invention as per FIG. 1 with guide elements.

(8) The expressions “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right” relate to the respective arrangements in the figures.

(9) A “top side” and a “bottom side” of a brake pad 3, 3′ or of a pad carrier plate 4 always relate to the installation situation of the respective brake pad 3, 3′. Here, the bottom side of the respective brake pad 3, 3′ is situated closer in a radial direction to a brake disc axis of rotation 2a than the top side of said brake pad 3, 3′, as can be clearly seen for example from FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(10) FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 show perspective views of exemplary embodiments of a disc brake 10 according to the invention with a resetting device, from different viewing angles from above.

(11) A brake caliper 1 engages over a brake disc 2 with a brake disc axis of rotation 2a. The brake caliper 1 is attached, displaceably relative to the brake disc 2 axially in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a, to a brake carrier 6, for which purpose the brake caliper 1 is mounted on guide beams (not illustrated) which are connected to the brake carrier 6 which is held in positionally static fashion on the vehicle.

(12) FIG. 1 shows the brake carrier 6, with the brake disc 2, the brake disc axis of rotation 2a of said brake disc and brake pads 3, 3′, in a view from an application side. A fastening side 6a of the brake carrier 6 is connected to a positionally static component (not shown) of an associated vehicle. Furthermore, the brake carrier 6 has bearing receptacles 6b for the guide beams (not illustrated) for the mounting of the brake caliper 1 and has an application-side, curved bridge connector 6c.

(13) Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a spreading device 8 with four spring arms 20 and with a retaining bow 21. Here, the spreading device 8 is composed of two identical spring arms 20, which are connected to one another in the central region, and to a retaining bow 21, which is fastened by means of stirrups 21a to the brake carrier 6, specifically to the brake carrier horns 25. For the axial securing of the retaining bow 21, securing means 13 are provided on the stirrup 12 so as to clamp the respective end of the retaining bow 21 between them.

(14) Here, the spring arms 20 lie against two mutually oppositely situated end regions of the pad carrier plate 4, specifically in an edge region that protrudes at the top side. The ends of the spring arms 20 are likewise curved, such that sliding on the pad carrier plate surface during the application and release of the brake is possible without problems. Here, spreading of the brake pads 3, 3′ after a release of the brake is possible by way of the preload that is generated during the application movement.

(15) The spreading device 8 will be discussed in detail below in a further embodiment.

(16) The brake caliper 1 comprises an application section 11, a caliper rear section 12 and two tension struts 13. The application section 11 runs with one side parallel to the plane of the brake disc 2 on one side of the brake disc 2. The caliper rear section 12 is arranged on the other side of the brake disc 2, likewise so as to run parallel to the brake disc 2. The caliper rear section 12 is connected to the application section 11 at in each case one end by way of in each case one tension strut 13. Here, the tension struts 13 run substantially at right angles to the application section 11 and to the caliper rear section 12.

(17) The application section 11 has an interior space in which an application device (not shown in this figure; see application device having plunger 75 in FIG. 6) of the disc brake 10 is arranged. An opening of the interior space points toward the brake disc 2 and is closed off by means of a plate, which is referred to as base plate 19 (see FIG. 1).

(18) In this arrangement, the application section 11, the caliper rear section 12 and the tension struts 13 define, between them, a central opening 9 which extends over the brake disc 2. The opening 9 has an imaginary longitudinal central line which lies in the plane of the brake disc 2 and which connects the imaginary centers of the tension struts 13. Furthermore, the opening 9 has a further imaginary transverse central line which connects an imaginary center of the application section 11 to an imaginary center of the caliper rear section 12. The longitudinal central line and the transverse central line intersect at an imaginary center point, which in this case is referred to as the virtual center of the opening 9.

(19) In the brake carrier 6, brake pads 3, 3′ are arranged in the so-called pad slots between the respective two brake carrier horns 25 and lie with sections of the bottom sides thereof on the respective pad slot base 6d. This can be clearly seen in FIG. 1. The brake pads 3, 3′ can, during a braking operation, be pressed against the brake disc 2 at both sides. Here, each brake pad 3, 3′ has a pad carrier plate 4 and, on the side facing toward the brake disc 2, a friction pad 5 fastened to said pad carrier plate on a pad side 4a (see FIG. 4), which friction pad is, during the functional operation thereof, that is to say during a braking operation, pressed against the brake disc 2. The other side of the pad carrier plate 4 will hereinafter be referred to as thrust side 4b (see also FIG. 4).

(20) The brake pads 3, 3′ are accessible, for an exchange and for maintenance, through the central opening 9. Said brake pads can, through said central opening 9, be inserted into their associated pad slots and removed from said pad slots again. The pad slots are defined in each case laterally by brake carrier horns 25, wherein the brake pads 3, 3′ stand in each case with partial sections of their bottom sides on a pad slot base 6d (see FIG. 11).

(21) A rotation arrow about the brake disc axis of rotation 2a indicates a main direction of rotation for forward travel of a vehicle to which the disc brake 10 is assigned. A run-in side ES and, opposite, a run-out side AS, of the disc brake 10 are defined in relation to the main direction of rotation of the brake disc 2. Accordingly, the brake carrier horns 25 on the run-in side ES are referred to as run-in-side brake carrier horns 25, and those on the run-out side AS are referred to as run-out-side brake carrier horns 25.

(22) A pad retaining stirrup 16 is arranged over the brake pads 3, 3′ in a transverse direction of the opening 9 and, in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a, between the application section 11 and the caliper rear section 12. An application-side retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16 is fastened, in a retaining section 14, to the application section 11 of the brake caliper 1, wherein an oppositely situated, rear-side retaining end 16b of the pad retaining stirrup 16 is fixed to a retaining section 15 of the caliper rear section 12. The rear-side retaining end 16b of the pad retaining stirrup 16 is furthermore fastened by means of a clip 18a of a clip element 18 attached to the rear-side brake pad 3′, and is secured against release by means of a securing element 17 (not described in any more detail).

(23) Here, the pad retaining stirrup 16 presses, by way of sections of its bottom side, against the clip elements 18 of the two brake pads 3, 3′ and thus also against their pad retaining springs 7, whereby the brake pads 3, 3′ are held in their pad slots. The pad retaining springs 7 are in each case retained on the pad carrier plates 4 on projections 31.

(24) Braking is performed by way of the application device arranged in a receiving space in the application section 11 of the brake caliper 1, which application device has, for example, a brake lever which is positioned in a dome of the brake caliper 1. The associated brake pad 3, referred to as action-side or application-side brake pad, is the first to make contact with the brake disc 2 during a braking operation. During the further course of the braking operation, reaction forces that occur cause the brake caliper 1 to be displaced in the opposite direction, driving the reaction-side brake pad 3, 3′ along until the latter likewise comes into frictional contact with the brake disc 2. The reaction-side brake pad 3′ is also referred to as rear-side brake pad, and will hereinafter be distinguished from the application-side brake pad 3 by the reference designation 3′.

(25) After a release of the brake, the two mutually oppositely situated brake pads 3, 3′ are, by way of the resetting device, released from the brake disc 2 to such an extent that said brake disc runs freely relative to the brake pads 3, 3′.

(26) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a first function group of the resetting device of the exemplary embodiment of the disc brake as per FIG. 1. FIGS. 4-6 show schematic detail illustrations of the first function group as per FIGS. 1-3 in various detail views.

(27) Here, the resetting device is composed of two function groups. The first function group comprises at least one spreading device 8, wherein the second function group has at least one resetting element. Here, the two function groups are provided jointly and assist one another. It is however also possible for only one of the two function groups to be used.

(28) The first function group engages with the spreading device 8 in the upper region of the pad carrier plates 4 of the mutually oppositely situated brake pads 3, 3′, so as to act equally counter to the application direction. The second function group exerts in each case thrust and/or pulling forces on the brake pads 3, 3′, likewise counter to the application direction, by means of the resetting element(s) in the middle and/or lower region of the pad carrier plates 4 of the mutually oppositely situated brake pads 3, 3′. In this way, the brake pads 3, 3′ are acted on by the resetting device with resetting forces simultaneously both in their upper regions and in their middle and/or lower regions.

(29) The spreading device 8 comprises a retaining bow 21 and two spreading elements, which are two identical pairs of spring arms 20. The retaining bow 21 is positionally static and forms a retainer for the pairs of spring arms 20.

(30) Here, the retaining bow 21 is formed as a C-shaped wire and is designed for example with a circular cross section.

(31) The retaining bow 21 comprises a central section 26a in a central region of the opening 9. The central section 26a is arranged centrally in relation to the thickness of the brake disc 2. The central section 26a is adjoined on each side by a center limb 26 which, like the central section 26a, runs in each case in an arc in a circumferential direction of the brake disc 2, coaxially with respect to the latter. Accordingly, proceeding from the center of the opening 9, the retaining bow 21 extends to both sides in each case as far as a brake carrier horn 25 of the pad slot of the application-side brake pad 3.

(32) To each end of the center limb 26 there is attached an end limb 27 which is bent through 90° relative to the center limb 26 and which runs toward the respective brake carrier horn 25. Each end limb 27 then runs parallel to the brake disc axis 2a and is then bent downward through approximately 90° into in each case one fastening section 27a. Each fastening section 27a is fastened in a bore 25a of each brake carrier horn 25 and thus realizes the retention of the retaining bow 21 with the spreading device 8 in the brake carrier 6.

(33) Here, the retaining bow 21 thus forms a centering device for the brake caliper 1, as the brake carrier 6, to which the retaining bow 21 is fastened, forms a positionally static part which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the brake caliper 1, such that, after a release of the brake and a spreading movement of the spreading device 8, that is to say after the brake pads 3 have been pushed apart, the brake caliper 1 is guided into a centered position.

(34) The two spring arms 20 of each pair of spring arms 20 are formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central section 26 of the retaining bow 21.

(35) The pairs of spring arms 20 are arranged opposite one another in a transverse direction of the opening 9 such that they are fastened by way of inner ends, which point toward the center of the opening 9, to the retaining bow 21, wherein their outer free ends interact with the pad carrier plate 4 of the brake pads 3, 3′. Here, one pair of spring arms 20 is arranged to the right of the central point of the opening 9, wherein the other pair of spring arms 20 is arranged to the left of the central point of the opening 9.

(36) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged illustration of the attachment of the inner ends of a pair of spring arms 20 to the retaining bow 21. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged illustration of a thrust section 22a of a free outer end of a spring arm 20 in interaction with an associated pad carrier plate 4. FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic detailed view of the disc brake 10 in a vertical plane of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a.

(37) The description of one spring arm 20 of the two spring arms 20 of the pair of spring arms 20 applies mirror-symmetrically to the other spring arm 20 of the pair, as clearly emerges from FIGS. 3 and 4.

(38) Each spring arm 20 has a multiple bent body with an inner end and an outer end. The inner ends of the two spring arms 20 of a pair of spring arms 20 are formed as connecting sections 20b which run parallel to one another and which are connected by way of a common hood-type connector 20c, by means of which a fastening of the pair of spring arms 20 to the retaining bow 21 is formed. Here, the intermediate section 26a of the retaining bow 21 runs, in the installed state of the spreading device 8, between the two parallel-running connecting sections 20b. The outer free end of each spring arm 20 has an end section 20d with, attached thereto, a thrust section 20a with an elongated hole 22 for interacting with the pad carrier plate 4, as will be discussed in more detail below.

(39) The hood-type connectors 20c are connected on both sides in each case to the connecting section 20b, which forms in each case an extension of each spring arm 20, and said hood-type connectors are bent into a sleeve-shaped form around the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21. In this way, each hood-type connector 20c together with the two spring arms 20 of said pair of spring arms 20 is mounted rotatably on the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21.

(40) Each hood-type connector 20c has a receiving opening, pointing downwardly toward the brake disc 2, in the longitudinal direction of the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21, which receiving opening communicates with the outer contour of the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21. The spring arms 20, which are connected in pairwise fashion to in each case one hood-type connector 20c, are, by way of their respective hood-type connector 20c, placed onto the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21 from above such that the central section 26a is received in the receiving openings of the hood-type connectors 20c.

(41) The spreading device 8 furthermore has a clamp with a center web, which is referred to here as longitudinal connector 23. The clamp furthermore comprises four bent-over lugs as securing elements 26c, and four hold-down means as widened portions 26b, which are intended to push the spring arms 20 onto the pad carrier plates 4.

(42) The widened portions 26b lie, in each case at both sides at the transition of the central section 26a to the center limb 26 of the retaining bow 21, on the connecting sections 20b of the spring arms 20. In this way, the widened portions 26b prevent a lift-off of the hood-type connectors 20c from the central section 26a. At the same time, the widened portions 26b form an axial stop for the hood-type connectors 20c of the respective pair of spring arms 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the central section 26a, in each case outward from the center of the opening 9 toward the adjacent tension struts 13 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4).

(43) The respective two connecting sections 20b of the spring arms 20 point with their free ends toward the center of the opening 9 and are in each case connected in their end regions to the securing element 26c. The securing element 26c is composed of two bent-over lugs which are fixed in each case with one end in a groove 26d in in each case one end region of the connecting sections 20b. In this way, the securing elements 26c serve to further secure a respective hood-type connector 20c against release from the central section 26a.

(44) The bracing of the spreading elements is ensured by means of the bent-over lugs as securing elements 26c of the clamp, which are bent over during the installation process and engage into the groove 26d. The spreading element is thus secured such that it does not slip in the direction of the center and tilt toward the pad carrier plate 4.

(45) By virtue of the fact that the center web (longitudinal connector 23) of the clamp is furthermore of continuous form, the clamp can also no longer slip axially on the retaining bow 21. It is thus possible to dispense with weld seams or further fixing means. The clamp additionally also serves as a spacer.

(46) The spreading device is thus particularly flexible and adaptable.

(47) The body of each spring arm 20 has multiple bends. Here, proceeding from that end of the connecting section 20b which points towards the associated tension strut 13 of the brake caliper 1, the body runs initially away from the retaining bow 21 in an S-shaped arc, such that the tension-strut-side end of the S-shaped arc is situated with a spacing to the retaining bow 21 which amounts to for example 2.5 times a spacing of the connecting section 20b to the retaining bow. Said end of the S-shaped arc transitions into a further S-shaped arc. The free end of the further S-shaped arc is the end section 20d, and is now spaced apart from the retaining bow 21 by for example 2.5 times the spacing of the end of the first S-shaped arc to the retaining bow 21.

(48) The thrust section 20a is attached to the end section 20d via a connecting section which runs downwardly in an arc. Here, the thrust section 20a lies in a tangential plane relative to the brake disc 2.

(49) The thrust sections 20a are formed, in their respective longitudinal direction, with the elongated hole 22 which serves as a guide section for the spring arms 20 of the spreading device 8. The central longitudinal axes of the elongated holes 22 however run at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the associated pad carrier plate 4, which angle lies in a range of for example greater than 0° and less than 45°. Here, the central longitudinal axes of the elongated holes 22 of the thrust sections 20a intersect a common pad carrier plate 4 at an imaginary intersection point, which lies on that side of the pad carrier plate 4 on which the friction pad 5 is arranged.

(50) In the assembled state of the disc brake 10, the thrust sections 20a interact, by way of their elongated holes 22, in each case with a pin 24, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 5. A pin 24 is fixedly connected to the pad carrier plate 4, for example inserted into a bore, at each end of the pad carrier plate 4. Here, an end, protruding from the pad carrier plate 4, of the pin 24 extends through the associated elongated hole 22 of the respective thrust section 20a of a spring arm 20 of the spreading device 8. Central axes of the pins 24 run parallel to one another and perpendicular to the brake disc axis of rotation 2a. The elongated holes 22 permit relative movements between the spring arms 20 of the spreading device 8 and the brake pads 3, which move in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a. The spring forces of the spring arms 20 make it possible for the brake pads 3 to be released from the brake disc 2 and reset after a braking operation, as already described above.

(51) Here, the fastening sections 20a lie in each case with bearing surfaces 20e on a bearing surface 4c of the respective pad carrier plate 4. The bearing surfaces 4c of the pad carrier plate 4 run tangentially with respect to the brake disc 2 and, in the case of each brake pad 3, lie in a plane.

(52) The spring arms 20, the thrust sections 20a thereof and the connecting sections 20b thereof with the hood-type connectors 20c are formed for example in one piece as punched and bent parts composed of spring steel strip. The spreading elements, that is to say the spring arms 20, may thus for example be formed from inexpensive and geometrically flexible metal sheets.

(53) FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate perspective views of a second function group of the resetting device of the exemplary embodiment of the disc brake as per FIG. 1.

(54) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 of the application-side or inner brake pad 3 with a resetting element 40.

(55) The thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 is that side of the pad carrier plate 4 which does not bear a friction pad 5, and which is in contact either with the application device or with the caliper rear section 12.

(56) The resetting element 40 provides assistance of the resetting movement of the application-side brake pad 3 from the brake disc 2 after a braking process. Here, the resetting element 40 engages with a section in a lower region on the respective pad carrier plate 4 in addition to the engagement point(s) at the top side of the spring arms 20, wherein the resetting element 40 is connected with a different section to a section positionally static relative to the resetting element 40, for example brake caliper 1 and/or brake carrier 6.

(57) For this purpose, the resetting element 40 in the embodiment as per FIG. 7 is fastened, with a section in a lower region of the pad carrier plate 4 on the thrust side 4b thereof, to a retaining peg 32. The retaining peg 32 may self-evidently also be designed in some other form, for example a screw, bolt or the like. Furthermore, the resetting element 40 is attached with a further section in a lower region of the base plate 19 (see also FIG. 1) of the application section 11 of the brake caliper 1.

(58) In this regard, FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective illustration of base plate 19 and transparent pad carrier plate 4 with engagement of the resetting element 40.

(59) Here, the resetting element 40 is a spring element with a central section 41, two spring arms 42 and two fastening sections 43 with in each case one U-shaped lug 44 with a limb 44a. The central section 41 and the spring arms 42 are produced for example from a flat spring steel strip, wherein the fastening sections 43 may be conventional sheet steel.

(60) The central section 41 is connected centrally to the retaining peg 32 by means of a clamping/claw-type connection. At each side, the central section 41 transitions symmetrically into the respective spring arm 42. Each spring arm 42 extends to the left and to the right from the central section 41 in a lower region along the pad carrier plate 4, and is shaped correspondingly to the contour thereof. The ends of each spring arm 42 are connected in each case to the fastening section 43. Each fastening section 43 is shaped such that the bends of the U shapes of the lug 44 and the limbs 44a are aligned with one another and lie in a tangential direction with respect to the brake disc axis of rotation 2a. That limb of the fastening sections 43 which points in each case toward the base plate 19 runs outward as a lug 44 and widens so as to have in each case one fastening bore 44b for the fixing, by means of screws of the base plate 19, to said base plate. The screws may also be existing fastening screws of the base plate 19.

(61) After a braking process, the brake pads 3, 3′ are firstly pushed apart from one another, and thus reset away from the brake disc 2, again by the spring arms 20 of the spreading device 8. At the same time, the resetting element 40, which may also be installed in already prestressed fashion, is stressed during the braking process owing to its positionally static fixing of its fastening sections 43 to the base plate 19, and can, after the braking process, additionally retract the brake pad 3 from the brake disc 2 by application of a pulling force thus stored.

(62) FIGS. 9-17 show perspective views of variants of the second function group of the resetting device.

(63) FIG. 9 shows a first variant of the second function group of the resetting device as per FIG. 8. The fastening sections 43 are identical to those of the embodiment as per FIG. 8. By contrast thereto, the resetting element 40 of said first variant is formed from a spring wire. The spring wire has two spring arms 45 which are connected by way of a central section 45a. The free ends of the spring arms are fixedly connected as end sections 45b to the respective fastening section 43, for example by welding. The central section 45a is in this case a constituent part of the spring wire and is fastened to a retainer 33 on the bottom side of the pad carrier plate 4.

(64) The retainer 33 is in this case formed as a bolt with a head plate, the diameter of which is larger than the bolt body. The retainer 33 is arranged in a recess 33a of the pad carrier plate 4 in the bottom side thereof. Here, the central section 45a is looped around the region of the bolt between the base of the recess 33a and the head plate of the bolt within the recess 33a.

(65) The function of the resetting element 40 is as described in conjunction with the embodiment as per FIGS. 7-8.

(66) FIG. 10 illustrates a second variant of the second function group and furthermore shows the right-hand half of the installed application-side brake pad 3 in its associated pad slot with the brake carrier 6. The brake pad 3 is pushed into the pad slot by the pad retaining stirrup 16, the application-side retaining end 16a of which is visible, via the pad retaining spring 7, which is retained on the projections 31. Here, the brake carrier 6 is illustrated with its fastening side 6a, in which multiple fastening holes (not designated) for the fastening to a positionally static part of an associated vehicle are formed. The right-hand, in this case (see FIG. 1) the run-out side, brake carrier horn 25 with a bearing receptacle 6b arranged therebelow is also shown. The bearing receptacle 6b receives a bearing beam of the longitudinal bearing of the brake caliper 1.

(67) In the second variant, the second function group comprises two resetting elements 46, of which FIG. 10 shows only the right-hand resetting element at the right-hand bottom side of the pad carrier plate 4. The secondary setting element 46 of this second variant is arranged, and correspondingly constructed, at the left-hand bottom side (not shown here, but easily imaginable) of the pad carrier plate 4, mirror-symmetrically with respect to the right-hand resetting element 46.

(68) The resetting element 46 comprises a first spring arm 47 with a clamping end 47a and with a connection, comprises a second spring arm 48 with a connection 48a, and comprises a fastening section 49 with an opening 49a.

(69) The first spring arm 47 is plugged with its clamping end 47a into a retainer 34 and is fastened to the latter, for example by means of a clipping action/indentation action or the like. Here, the retainer 34 protrudes on the right-hand lower corner of the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 and may for example be cast on during the production of the pad carrier plate 4.

(70) The first spring arm 47 extends, in the lower region in front of the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4, from the retainer 34 toward the left in the direction of the center of the pad carrier plate 4, over a length which corresponds to approximately one third of the length of the pad carrier plate 4. Then, the first spring 47 transitions into the connection 47b, which is bent through approximately 180° outward, that is to say toward the application section 11.

(71) The connection 47a in turn then transitions into the second spring arm 48, which extends oppositely to the first spring arm 47 and parallel to the latter as far as over the retainer 34. The connection 48a is formed as a type of cranked formation in the direction of the pad carrier plate 4, and is connected to the fastening section 49.

(72) The fastening section 49 lies with its large opening 49a in front of the opening of the bearing receptacle 6b of the brake carrier 6 and coaxially with respect thereto. After the fastening of the brake carrier 6, it is thus also the case that the fastening section 49 is fixed in a positionally static manner between the fastening side 6a and the positionally static part of the associated vehicle.

(73) FIG. 10 furthermore shows a variant of the retaining bow 21 in which the end limbs 27 on the sides facing toward one another are equipped, in each case on an end section 28, with a lug 29, on which lugs there are held pegs 30 which engage into bores (not designated) of the brake carrier horns 25. The lug 29 lies on a planar face side of the brake carrier horn 25. The peg 30 may be in the form of a rivet and plugged into the bore of the brake carrier horn 25. It is also possible for the peg 30 to be integrally formed on the brake carrier horn 25, or to have already been fixedly inserted as a separate component.

(74) The two resetting elements 46 may be produced for example as punched and bent parts from a flat spring steel material.

(75) The function of the two resetting elements 46 has already been described above, wherein the positionally static section for the fixing of the resetting elements 46 is in this case the brake carrier 6, and the pulling forces are introduced by the retainers 34 at two corner points of the pad carrier plate 4.

(76) FIG. 11 illustrates a third variant of the second function group with a central resetting element 50.

(77) The resetting element 50 is arranged centrally in a vertical direction on the thrust side 4b of the application-side pad carrier plate 4 and is fastened both to the top side and to the bottom side of the pad carrier plate 4, wherein a positionally static fixing of one end of the central resetting element 50 is formed centrally on an application-side bridge connector 6c of the brake carrier 6.

(78) The central resetting element 50 has two lateral longitudinal members 51 which are arranged parallel to one another and the upper ends of which, as gripping sections 51a, engage fixedly as clips around the top side of the pad carrier plate 4 on the left and on the right adjacent to the clip element 18. In the same way, the two longitudinal members 51 are, at their bottom ends, equipped with gripping sections 51b of said type, which engage fixedly as clips around the bottom side of the pad carrier plate 4.

(79) The two longitudinal members 51 are connected, below the upper gripping sections 51a, by means of a transverse connector 52. At the bottom side, the longitudinal members 51 are, above the lower gripping sections 51b, connected to in each case one transverse connector 53, to which in each case one further longitudinal member 54 is attached. The further longitudinal members 54 extend upward in each case parallel to the outer longitudinal members 51 and are connected at their upper ends, below the transverse connector 53, to a further transverse connector 55.

(80) In the center of the further transverse connector 55 there is attached a central longitudinal member 56, which extends downward between the two longitudinal members 54 beyond the gripping sections 51b and ends in a dedicated gripping section 56a. Said central gripping section 56a is fixed centrally in a suitable manner, for example by means of a gripping action, to the positionally static bridge connector 6c of the brake carrier 6.

(81) The function is as described above.

(82) FIGS. 12 to 15 show variants of central resetting elements 50 on the thrust side 4b of the application-side pad carrier plate 4 of the application-side brake pad 3 together with the pad retaining stirrup 16.

(83) The fixing of the resetting elements 50 to the pad carrier plate 4 is arranged in each case in the lower region thereof, wherein the positionally static fixing of the resetting elements 50 is provided in each case on the application-side retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16. The function of the resetting elements 50 has already been discussed above.

(84) The resetting element 50 as per FIG. 12 has a spring body 57 in wire form with two longitudinal members 58 arranged parallel to one another. The longitudinal members 58 are in this case connected at the bottom by means of a transverse connector 58a, which is held centrally under a retaining angle piece 35 in the lower region of the pad carrier plate 4. The longitudinal members 58 and the transverse connector 58a may be produced in one piece from spring wire as a bent part.

(85) An upper end of one longitudinal member 58, in this case the right-hand longitudinal member, is bent through approximately 90° toward the center as an end section 58b, and is attached, in a retainer section 59b of a retainer 59, to the application-side retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16. The upper end of the other (left-hand) longitudinal member 58 is similarly bent through approximately 90° toward the center as an end section 58c and fastened to the retainer 59. This is not shown here but is easily understandable. Here, the bent end sections 58b, 58c are arranged offset with respect to one another in a vertical direction.

(86) Here, the retainer 59 is formed as a punched and bent part with clip-like retainer sections 59a, which engage around sections of the retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16.

(87) The retaining angle piece 35 is, at its bottom side, fastened by means of a limb 35a to the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4, and extends in this case upward approximately over one quarter of the vertical length of the pad carrier plate 4. Here, the transverse connector 58a is retained approximately centrally between the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 and the bottom side of the retaining angle piece 35.

(88) In FIG. 13, the resetting element 50 is designed as in FIG. 12 but is arranged having been rotated through 180°. The transverse connector 58a is attached below the application-side retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16. The end sections 58b and 58c are received, and rotatably fixed, in a block-like retainer 36 in suitable retaining openings 36a. The retainer 36 may be cast on during the production of the pad carrier plate 4.

(89) FIG. 14 shows a further resetting element 50 with a single spring body 60, which is plugged with a lower end section 60a into a retaining opening 37a in a retaining stirrup 37. The upper end of the spring body 60 is designed, in a spring winding, as a fastening section 60b, and is attached to a retainer 59 similar to that described in conjunction with FIG. 12, wherein the attachment may be different; for example, the fastening section 60b is plugged in or is welded to the retainer 59. Here, the spring body 60 is equipped with two bends with relatively large radii. The retaining stirrup 37 may be cast onto the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4.

(90) A further variant is shown in FIG. 15, wherein the resetting element 50 is designed as a spring plate 61. Here, a width of the spring plate 61 corresponds for example to twice a thickness of the pad carrier plate 4 in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a. The spring plate 61 is, by means of an end section 61a, in engagement with a retaining stirrup 38 in the retaining opening thereof, as has already been described above. A fastening section 61b of the spring plate 61 is attached to the retainer 59, already described above, on the application-side retaining end 16a of the pad retaining stirrup 16, for example by being plugged in, hooked in, welded on or the like.

(91) The above examples of the second function group of the spreading device 8 related in each case to the application-side brake pad 3. They may self-evidently also be provided on the rear-side brake pad 3′.

(92) FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate examples of variants of resetting elements for the rear-side brake pad 3′.

(93) FIG. 16 shows a schematic perspective view of the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 of the rear-side brake pad 3′ in its associated pad slot in the brake carrier 6 between the brake carrier horns 25. Furthermore, the pad retaining stirrup 16 is illustrated with its rear-side retaining end 16b, wherein the retaining end 16b is equipped with the clip 18a and the securing element 17 (not discussed in any more detail).

(94) The resetting element 62 comprises a central section 63 with two connecting sections 63a, two spring arms 64 with in each case one spring end 64a, two further connecting sections 65, and two further spring arms 66 with in each case one clip end 66a.

(95) The central section 63 is arranged in a lower edge region of the thrust side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4 and, like said region, is of substantially curved form. At each end of the rounded portion, the central section 63 has, on both sides, the connecting section 63a.

(96) In each case one of the spring arms 64 is attached to each connecting section 63a in the lower region. Each spring arm 64 extends in a tangential direction in relation to the brake disc 2 as far as over a side of the respective brake carrier horn 25, wherein the respective spring end 64a on a side surface of the respective brake carrier horn 25.

(97) Above each spring arm 64, in each case one of the further connecting sections 65 is connected by means of an arm 65a to the respective connecting section 63a. The arms 65a extend, in each case parallel to the spring arms 64, on the thrust side 4b from the associated connecting section 63a as far as the respective side edge of the pad carrier plate 4, and transition into the associated connecting section 65.

(98) The connecting sections 65 are adapted to the external shape of the corner regions of the pad carrier plate 4, are widened and rounded diagonally toward the center of the pad carrier plate 4, and transition in each case upwardly into the spring arm 66.

(99) Each spring arm 66 extends along a side region of the pad carrier plate 4 on the thrust side 4b as far as an oblique upper side section 4d of the pad carrier plate 4. Each upper end of the spring arms 66 is equipped with one of the clip sections 66a, which are in each case fastened, so as to engage over an oblique side section 4d, to the pad carrier plate 4.

(100) It is also possible for the central section 63 to be fastened by means of one or more clip sections (not shown), for example, to the pad carrier plate 4.

(101) In this way, the resetting element 62 is firstly attached by means of the clip sections 66a of the spring arms 66 to the pad carrier plate 4 of the rear-side brake pad 3′, and is secondly fixed in a positionally static manner by means of the spring arms 64, with the spring ends 64a thereof, to the brake carrier horns 25. Said fastening may also already effect a preload of the resetting element 62.

(102) As discussed above, during a braking process, the resetting element 62 is stressed and, by means of the fastening to the pad carrier plate 4, exerts pulling forces on said carrier plate in order to reset the rear-side brake pad 3′ away from the brake disc 2 after a braking process.

(103) FIG. 17 shows a sectional view, in a plane running through the brake disc axis of rotation 2a, of the disc brake with the rear-side or outer brake pad 3′ with a further resetting element 67.

(104) The resetting element 67 is formed as a type of leaf spring with a spring body 68 with in each case one spring end 68a, 68b. One spring end 68a is articulated, in a lower region of the rear-side pad carrier plate 4 on the thrust side 4b thereof, on a retaining stirrup 39. The other spring end 68b, with a suitable design, digs into a retaining section 12a of the caliper rear section 12 of the brake caliper 1. It is possible for the resetting element 67 to be provided centrally, or for two such resetting elements 67 to be provided at the corners, or else for multiple such resetting elements to be provided so as to be distributed over the length of the lower region of the pad carrier plate 4.

(105) FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic sectional view of a further variant of the second function group of the spreading device 8 a resetting element 69 in a sectional view in a plane, running through the brake disc axis of rotation 2a, of the disc brake with the brake pads 3, 3′.

(106) In this variant, the resetting element 69 is of stirrup-like form with are two mutually oppositely situated spring arms 71, 72 in spring form, for example leaf and/or wire springs. Each spring arm 71, 72 is attached by means of its upper end in each case to a central section 70 via a connecting bend 70a, 70b. The central section 70 of the resetting element 69 is fastened to the central section 26a of the retaining bow 21 of the spreading device 8, wherein said central section 70 is for example bent around the central section 26a.

(107) From a lower end of each connecting bend 70a, 70b, each spring arm 71, 72 extends downward in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a as far as into the region of the bottom side of each brake pad 3. Each spring arm 71, 72 has a free end with in each case one thrust-imparting limb 71a, 72a, and is arranged in each case in an elongate intermediate space between friction pad 5 and the pad side 4b of the pad carrier plate 4, wherein the thrust-imparting limbs 71a, 72a are each case in contact with the respective pad carrier plate 4.

(108) In this embodiment, the spring arms 71, 72 of the resetting element 69 each exert a thrust force on the brake pads 3, 3′ in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a pointing away from the brake disc 2, whereby, after every braking process, the brake pads 3 are acted on with a force for a resetting action in the lower region by the spring arms 71, 72 of the resetting element 69 as well as by the spring arms 20 of the spreading device 8.

(109) FIG. 19 shows a schematic detail sectional view of the disc brake 10 according to the invention as per FIG. 1 with guide elements 73.

(110) Each guide element 73 has a fastening section 73a and a guide section 73b fastened thereto. The fastening section 73a is formed as a type of lug and transitions, at its bottom side, firstly into an arm 73c, which is bent out of a plane of the fastening section 73a, of the guide section 73b. Here, the arm 73c is bent up by approximately 45°. Attached to the free end of the downwardly bent-away arm 73c is an end section 73d which is bent up from a plane of the arm 73c by approximately 90° in the same bending direction as the arm 73c, wherein a bearing section 73e is formed.

(111) The guide elements 73 are attached in the lower region of each pad carrier plate 4 of the brake pads 3, 3′ such that the bearing sections 73d thereof lie on the respective pad slot base 6d (see also FIG. 11). Here, the fastening sections 73a are fastened in each case on the thrust side 4b of a respective pad carrier plate 4 by means of a fastening element 74, for example rivet. It may be provided that, on each pad carrier plate 4, a guide element 73 is arranged in the center, or multiple guide elements 73 are arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the pad carrier plate 4.

(112) The guide elements 73 enlarge a bearing surface of the respective pad carrier plate 4 on the pad slot base 6d in the direction of the brake disc axis of rotation 2a. Here, the guide elements 73 do not exert a force on the associated brake pads 3, 3′, but rather in each case define for the brake pads 3, 3′ a certain preferred direction in order to prevent tilting of the brake pads 3, 3′ when the brake pads 3, 3′, for example by means of the spring arms 20 of the spreading device 8, as a result of their exertion of force on the top side of the pad carrier plates 4, are moved back after a braking process as already discussed above.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

(113) 1 Brake caliper 2 Brake disc 2a Brake disc axis of rotation 3, 3′ Brake pad 4 Pad carrier plate 4a Pad side 4b Thrust side 4c Contact surface 4d, e Side section 5 Friction pad 6 Brake carrier 6a Fastening side 6b Bearing receptacle 6c Bridge connector 6d Pad slot base 7 Pad retaining spring 8 Spreading device 9 Opening 10 Disc brake 11 Application section 12 Caliper rear section 12a Retaining section 13 Tension strut 14, 15 Retaining section 16 Pad retaining stirrup 16a, 16b Retaining end 17 Securing element 18 Clip element 18a Clip 19 Base plate 20 Spring arm 20a Thrust section 20b Connecting section 20c Hood-type connector 20d End section 20e Bearing surface 21 Retaining bow 21a Stirrup 21b Securing means 22 Elongated hole 23 Longitudinal connector 24 Pin 25 Brake carrier horn 25a Bore 26 Center limb 26a Central section 26b Widened portion 26c Securing element 26d Groove 27 End leg 27a Fastening section 28 End section 29 Lug 30 Peg 31 Projection 32 Retaining peg 33 Retainer 33a Recess 34 Retainer 35 Retaining angle piece 35a Limb 36 Retainer 36a Retaining opening 37, 38, 39 Retaining stirrup 37a, 38a, 39a Retaining opening 40 Resetting element 41 Central section 42 Spring arm 43 Fastening section 44 Lug 44a Fastening hole 45 Spring arm 45a Central section 45b End section 46 Resetting element 47 Spring arm 47a Clamping end 47b Connection 48 Spring arm 48a Connection 49 Fastening section 49a Opening 50 Resetting element 51, 54, 56 Longitudinal member 51a, 51a, 56a Gripping section 52, 53, 55 Transverse connector 57 Spring body 58 Longitudinal member 58a Transverse connector 58b, 58c End section 59 Retaining means 59a Retainer section 59b Retainer lug 60 Spring body 60a End section 60b Fastening section 61 Spring plate 61a End section 61b Fastening section 62 Resetting element 62 Central section 63a Connecting section 64 Spring arm 64a Spring end 65 Connecting section 65a Arm 66 Spring arm 66a Clip end 67 Resetting element 68 Spring body 68a Clamping end 68b Claw end 69 Resetting element 70 Central section 70a, 70b Connecting bend 71, 72 Spring arm 71a, 72a Thrust-imparting limb 73 Guide element 73a Fastening section 73b Guide section 73c Arm 73d End section 73e Bearing section 74 Fastening element AS Run-out side ES Run-in side

(114) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.