DISC BRAKE CALIPER BODY

Abstract

A caliper body having first and second braking surfaces, a bracket connecting to a caliper support provided in a vehicle and a floating element supported by the bracket to move along the axial direction. The floating element has a first floating element portion facing the first braking surface. The first floating element portion has a biasing device housing to accommodate a biasing device. The floating element has a first floating element bridge protruding straddling the brake disc and a plate-shaped portion extending on a plane along circumferential and radial directions. The plate-shaped portion has end portions protruding from opposite sides with respect to the first floating element bridge, a second inner plate-shape portion side facing the biasing device, two plate-shaped portion projections protruding from the plate-shaped portion side and having thrust surfaces biasing a second pad against the second braking surface and forming with the plate-shaped portion a ventilation channel.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A caliper body of a disc brake caliper of the floating type, wherein said caliper body is adapted to be arranged straddling a brake disc having first and second opposite braking surfaces adapted to rotate about a rotation axis (X-X) defining an axial direction (A-A), radial directions (R-R) orthogonal to said axial direction (A-A) and passing through said rotation axis (X-X), a circumferential direction (C-C) orthogonal to each of said radial directions (R-R) and to said axial direction (A-A), and, in a specific point, a tangential direction (T-T) orthogonal to the axial (A-A) and radial (R-R) directions passing through said specific point, wherein: said caliper body comprises a bracket adapted to connect to a caliper support provided in a vehicle; said caliper body comprises a floating element slidingly supported by said bracket so as to move relative to the bracket along said axial direction (A-A); said floating element comprises a first floating element portion adapted to face said first braking surface either directly or indirectly; said first floating element portion comprises at least one biasing device housing adapted to accommodate a biasing device capable of applying a biasing force to a first brake pad facing said first braking surface to apply a braking action on said brake disc; said floating element comprises at least one first floating element bridge supported by said first floating element portion and protruding straddling said brake disc; said floating element comprises a plate-shaped portion overhangingly supported by said at least one first floating element bridge which extends with a first outer plate-shaped portion side thereof, arranged opposite to said biasing device, on a plane extending along circumferential (C-C) and radial (R-R) directions; wherein said plate-shaped portion comprises plate-shaped portion end portions overhangingly protruding from opposite sides and in circumferential direction (C-C) with respect to said at least one first floating element bridge; said plate-shaped portion comprises a second inner plate-shaped portion side facing said biasing device and opposite said first outer plate-shaped portion side; said plate-shaped portion comprises at least two plate-shaped portion projections overhangingly protruding from said second inner plate-shaped portion side; said at least two plate-shaped portion projections comprise thrust surfaces adapted to bias a second brake pad against said second braking surface; said at least two plate-shaped portion projections, mutually, and with said plate-shaped portion, form a plate-shaped portion ventilation channel mainly extending in radial direction (R-R).

15. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said at least two plate-shaped portion projections form opposite side ventilation channels mutually and externally, along a circumferential direction (C-C) and away from said at least two plate-shaped portion projections, with said two opposite plate-shaped portion end portions.

16. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said plate-shaped portion substantially and completely covers said second brake pad in axial direction (A-A).

17. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein: said plate-shaped portion ventilation channel comprises an enlarged channel portion with enlarged portion side walls mutually diverging away from said at least one first floating element bridge.

18. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said floating element comprises a first and a second floating element bridges supported by said first floating element portion and protruding straddling said brake disc.

19. The caliper body of claim 18, wherein said first and second floating element bridges are joined to said at least two plate-shaped portion projections.

20. The caliper body of claim 18, wherein said first and second floating element bridges mutually form a central radial window.

21. The caliper body of claim 20, wherein said central radial window allows said plate-shaped portion ventilation channel to open outside the caliper body.

22. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said at least one first floating element bridge and said plate-shaped portion form two opposite end openings.

23. The caliper body of claim 22, wherein said two opposite end openings allow said opposite side ventilation channels to open outside the caliper body.

24. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein: said plate-shaped portion comprises an upper plate-shaped portion edge, a lower plate-shaped portion edge and opposite lateral plate-shaped portion edges, said upper plate-shaped portion edge is arched in shape with a concavity facing the lower plate-shaped portion edge; and said lateral plate-shaped portion edges have at least one rectilinear edge portion and mutually converge passing from said upper plate-shaped portion edge to said lower plate-shaped portion edge.

25. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein: said floating element is made in two parts mutually connected by at least one stud bolt; and/or wherein said at least one first floating element bridge comprises two parallel ribs joining said at least one first floating element bridge to said first floating element portion mutually forming a connecting element housing adapted to accommodate said at least one stud bolt.

26. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said first outer plate-shaped portion side comprises an outer flat surface adapted to affix indications.

27. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said bracket is shaped as a cradle at least partially accommodating said first and said second brake pads.

28. The caliper body of claim 14, wherein said bracket comprises two bracket bridges, substantially directed axially (A-A), mutually connected by two bracket crosspieces, directed substantially circumferentially (C-C), by means of bracket uprights directed substantially radially (R-R).

29. A brake caliper comprising a caliper body adapted to be arranged straddling a brake disc having first and second opposite braking surfaces adapted to rotate about a rotation axis (X-X) defining an axial direction (A-A), radial directions (R-R) orthogonal to said axial direction (A-A) and passing through said rotation axis (X-X), a circumferential direction (C-C) orthogonal to each of said radial directions (R-R) and to said axial direction (A-A), and, in a specific point, a tangential direction (T-T) orthogonal to the axial (A-A) and radial (R-R) directions passing through said specific point, wherein said caliper body comprises a bracket adapted to connect to a caliper support provided in a vehicle; said caliper body comprises a floating element slidingly supported by said bracket so as to move relative to the bracket along said axial direction (A-A); said floating element comprises a first floating element portion adapted to face said first braking surface either directly or indirectly; said first floating element portion comprises at least one biasing device housing adapted to accommodate a biasing device capable of applying a biasing force to a first brake pad facing said first braking surface to apply a braking action on said brake disc; said floating element comprises at least one first floating element bridge supported by said first floating element portion and protruding straddling said brake disc; said floating element comprises a plate-shaped portion overhangingly supported by said at least one first floating element bridge which extends with a first outer plate-shaped portion side thereof, arranged opposite to said biasing device, on a plane extending along circumferential (C-C) and radial (R-R) directions; wherein said plate-shaped portion comprises plate-shaped portion end portions overhangingly protruding from opposite sides and in circumferential direction (C-C) with respect to said at least one first floating element bridge; said plate-shaped portion comprises a second inner plate-shaped portion side facing said biasing device and opposite said first outer plate-shaped portion side; said plate-shaped portion comprises at least two plate-shaped portion projections overhangingly protruding from said second inner plate-shaped portion side; said at least two plate-shaped portion projections comprise thrust surfaces adapted to bias a second brake pad against said second braking surface; said at least two plate-shaped portion projections, mutually, and with said plate-shaped portion, form a plate-shaped portion ventilation channel mainly extending in radial direction (R-R).

30. The brake caliper of claim 29, wherein said caliper comprises a ratio motor operatively connected to said biasing device.

Description

FIGURES

[0026] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description provided below of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a vehicle side axonometric view of a brake caliper according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a wheel side axonometric view of the caliper in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a wheel side axonometric view of a brake caliper provided with a caliper body according to the present invention and free from the actuating actuator of the biasing device of the pads;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a vehicle side axonometric view of the caliper in FIG. 3;

[0031] FIGS. from 5 to 10 show the six orthogonal views (frontal, first side, rear, second side, from above and from below) of the brake caliper in FIG. 3;

[0032] FIG. 11 shows a wheel side axonometric view of a part of the floating element of the caliper body intended to arranged straddling the disc and reach the braking surface of the disc facing the vehicle wheel;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a vehicle side axonometric view of the floating element in FIG. 11;

[0034] FIGS. from 13 to 18 show the six orthogonal views (frontal, first side, rear, second side, from above and from below) of the part of the floating element of the brake caliper.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] According to a general embodiment, a caliper body 1 of disc brake caliper 2 of the floating type is provided.

[0036] Said caliper body 1 is adapted to be arranged straddling a brake disc 3 having first and second opposite braking surfaces 4, 5 adapted to rotate about a rotation axis X-X which defines an axial direction A-A, radial directions R-R orthogonal to said axial direction A-A and passing through said rotation axis X-X, as well as a circumferential direction C-C orthogonal to each of said radial directions R-R and to said axial direction A-A, as well as specifically a tangential direction T-T orthogonal to the axial A-A and radial R-R directions passing through said point.

[0037] Said caliper body 1 comprises a bracket 6 adapted to connect to a caliper support provided in a vehicle.

[0038] Said caliper body 1 comprises a floating element 7 slidingly supported by said bracket 6 so as to move relative to the bracket 6 along said axial direction A-A.

[0039] Said floating element 7 comprises a first floating element portion 8 adapted to face said first braking surface 4 either directly or indirectly.

[0040] Said first floating element portion 8 comprises at least one biasing device housing 9 adapted to accommodate a biasing device capable of applying a biasing force to a first brake pad 11 facing said first braking surface 4 to apply a braking action on said brake disc 3.

[0041] Said floating element 7 comprises at least a first floating element bridge 12; 13 supported by said first floating element portion 8 and which protrudes straddling said brake disc 3.

[0042] Said floating element 7 comprises a plate-shaped portion 14 overhangingly supported by said at least a first floating element bridge 12;13 which extends with a first outer plate-shaped portion side 23 thereof, arranged opposite to said biasing device 10, substantially on a plane extending along circumferential C-C and radial R-R directions.

[0043] Advantageously, said plate portion 14 comprises plate-shaped portion end portions 15, 16 which overhangingly protrude from opposite sides and in circumferential direction C-C with respect to said at least a first floating element bridge 12; 13.

[0044] Said plate-shaped portion 14 comprises a second inner plate-shape portion side 17 facing said biasing device 10 and opposite said first outer plate-shaped portion side 23.

[0045] Said plate-shaped portion 14 comprises at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19 which overhangingly protrude from said plate-shaped portion side 17.

[0046] Said at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19 comprise thrust surfaces 20, 21 adapted to bias a second pad 22 against said second braking surface 5;

[0047] Said at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19, mutually and with said plate-shaped portion 14, form a plate-shaped portion ventilation channel 24 mainly extending in radial direction R-R.

[0048] According to an embodiment, said at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19 form opposite side ventilation channels 25, 26 mutually and externally, i.e. along a circumferential direction C-C and away from said at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19, and with said two opposite plate-shaped portion end portions 15, 16.

[0049] According to an embodiment, said plate-shaped portion 14 substantially and completely covers said second pad 22 in axial direction A-A.

[0050] According to an embodiment, said plate-shaped portion ventilation channel 24 comprises an enlarged channel portion 27 with enlarged portion side walls 28, 29 mutually diverging away from said at least one first floating element bridge 12; 13.

[0051] According to an embodiment, said floating element 7 comprises at least a first and a second floating element bridge 12; supported by said first floating element portion 8 and which protrude straddling said brake disc 3;

[0052] According to an embodiment, said first and second floating element bridges 12, 13 are joined to said at least two plate-shaped portion projections 18, 19;

[0053] According to an embodiment, said first and second floating element bridges 12, 13 mutually form a central radial window 30;

[0054] According to an embodiment, said central radial window 30 allows said plate-shaped portion ventilation channel 24 to open outside the caliper body 1.

[0055] According to an embodiment, said at least a first floating element bridge 12; 13 and said plate-shaped portion 14 form two opposite end openings 31, 32.

[0056] According to an embodiment, said two opposite end openings 31, 32 allows said two opposite side ventilation channels 25, 26 to open outside the caliper body 1.

[0057] According to an embodiment, said plate-shaped portion 14 comprises an upper plate-shaped portion edge 33, a lower plate-shaped portion edge 34 and opposite lateral plate-shaped portion edges 35, 36, wherein

[0058] said upper plate-shaped portion edge 33 is arched in shape with the concavity facing the lower plate-shaped portion edge 34; and wherein

[0059] said lateral plate-shaped portion edges 35, 36 have at least one rectilinear edge portion and mutually converge passing from said upper plate-shaped portion edge 33 to said lower plate-shaped portion edge 34.

[0060] According to an embodiment, said floating element 7 is made in two parts which are mutually connected by means of at least one stud bolt 45; 46;

[0061] According to an embodiment, said at least one first floating element bridge 12 comprises two parallel ribs 47 which joined it to said first floating element portion 8 mutually forming a connecting element housing 48 adapted to accommodate said stud bolt 45; 46.

[0062] According to an embodiment, said first outer plate-shaped portion side 23 comprises an outer flat surface 50 adapted to affix indications.

[0063] According to an embodiment, said bracket 6 is shaped as a cradle which at least partially accommodates said first and said second brake pads 11, 22;

[0064] According to an embodiment, said bracket 6 comprises two bracket bridges 37, 38, substantially directed axially A-A, mutually connected by two bracket crosspieces 39, 40, directed substantially circumferentially C-C, by means of bracket uprights 41, 42, 43, 44 directed substantially radially R-R.

[0065] The present invention further relates to a brake caliper comprising at least one caliper body according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0066] According to an embodiment, the caliper brake comprises a ratio motor 49 operatively connected to said biasing device 10.

[0067] The present invention also relates to a disc brake comprising said caliper.

[0068] Those skilled in the art may make many changes and adaptations to the embodiments described above or may replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent in order to meet contingent needs without however departing from the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0069] 1 caliper body [0070] 2 disc brake caliper [0071] 3 brake disc [0072] 4 first braking surface [0073] 5 second opposite braking surface [0074] 6 bracket [0075] 7 floating element [0076] 8 first portion of floating element [0077] 9 biasing device housing [0078] 10 biasing device [0079] 11 first brake pad [0080] 12 first floating element bridge [0081] 13 second floating element bridge [0082] 14 plate-shaped portion [0083] 15 plate-shaped portion end portion [0084] 16 plate-shaped portion end portion [0085] 17 second inner plate-shaped portion side [0086] 18 plate-shaped projection [0087] 19 plate-shaped projection [0088] 20 thrust surface [0089] 21 thrust surface [0090] 22 second brake pad [0091] 23 first outer plate-shaped portion side [0092] 24 plate-shaped ventilation channel [0093] 25 side ventilation channel [0094] 26 side ventilation channel [0095] 27 enlarged channel portion [0096] 28 enlarged side channel portion [0097] 29 enlarged side channel portion [0098] 30 central radial window [0099] 31 opposite end openings [0100] 32 opposite end openings [0101] 33 upper plate-shaped portion edge [0102] 34 lower plate-shaped portion edge [0103] 35 lateral plate-shaped portion edge [0104] 36 lateral plate-shaped portion edge [0105] 37 bracket bridge [0106] 38 bracket bridge [0107] X-X rotation axis [0108] 40 bracket crosspiece [0109] 41 bracket upright [0110] 42 bracket upright [0111] 43 bracket upright [0112] 44 bracket upright [0113] 45 stud bolt connecting two parts of the floating element [0114] 46 stud bolt connecting two parts of the floating element [0115] 47 parallel ribs [0116] 48 connecting element seat [0117] 49 ratio motor [0118] 50 outer flat surface [0119] A-A axial direction parallel to X-X [0120] R-R radial direction orthogonal to A-A [0121] C-C tangential direction punctually orthogonal to A-A and R-R [0122] C-C circumferential direction orthogonal to axial direction A-A and radial direction R-R