Brake Dust Particle Filter, Brake Caliper and Disc Brake Assembly

Abstract

A brake dust particle filter for a brake caliper of a disc brake assembly, wherein the brake caliper comprises a lining inspection opening, closes in a mounted state thereof the lining inspection opening at least partially with precise fit. The brake dust particle filter is provided with a filter medium support that supports a filter medium. A brake caliper provided with the brake dust particle filter in the lining inspection opening is arranged across the brake disc of the disc brake assembly.

Claims

1. A brake dust particle filter for a brake caliper of a disc brake assembly, wherein the brake caliper comprises a lining inspection opening, wherein the brake dust particle filter is configured to close in a mounted state thereof the lining inspection opening at least partially with precise fit.

2. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter is configured at least in sections thereof to be flowed through by a fluid.

3. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter in the mounted state thereof closes at least 60% of the lining inspection opening.

4. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter is configured to be inserted at least with sections thereof into the lining inspection opening.

5. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter comprises a filter medium closing the lining inspection opening at least partially with precise fit in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter.

6. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter comprises a filter medium support configured to be flowed through by a fluid at least in sections thereof, wherein the filter medium support is matched to a shape and dimensions of the lining inspection opening and is configured to be inserted into the lining inspection opening.

7. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter medium support comprises a plurality of through openings configured to be flowed through by the fluid.

8. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter medium support comprises at least one clamping hook configured to hold the filter medium support in the lining inspection opening in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter.

9. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 8, wherein the at least one clamping hook comprises a radial extension matched to a material thickness of the brake caliper in a rim region surrounding the lining inspection opening so that the at least one clamping hook engages from behind the lining inspection opening in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter.

10. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 6, further comprising a filter medium arranged on the filter medium support.

11. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 10, wherein the filter medium is arranged radially inwardly in relation to the filter medium support in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter.

12. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 10, wherein the filter medium is at least at some locations thereof connected to the filter medium support.

13. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 12, wherein the filter medium is welded to the filter medium support.

14. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter medium support comprises at least one stop configured to be supported in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter at the brake caliper.

15. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 14, wherein the at least one stop is configured to be supported at a rim region of the lining inspection opening.

16. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 14, wherein the at least one stop is a radial stop formed as a tongue.

17. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 5, wherein the filter medium comprises or is comprised of a heat-resisting material.

18. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 17, wherein the heat-resisting material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal fiber nonwoven, glass, ceramic, a high temperature resistant plastic material, and combinations thereof.

19. The brake dust particle filter according to claim 1, wherein the brake dust particle filter comprises at least one opening extending in a radial direction with a predetermined axial extension, wherein through the at least one opening at least one indicator can be guided, wherein the indicator, in the mounted state of the brake dust particle filter, is configured to be brought into interaction with at least one brake lining of the brake caliper for detection of a brake lining thickness.

20. A brake caliper for a disc brake assembly, the brake caliper comprising: at least one caliper bridge extending in an axial direction of the brake caliper; a lining inspection opening arranged in the at least one caliper bridge; a brake dust particle filter according to claim 1 arranged in the lining inspection opening and closing the lining inspection opening at least partially with precise fit.

21. The brake caliper according to claim 20, wherein the brake dust particle filter is connected to a brake caliper body of the brake caliper by a pivotable connection assembly.

22. The brake caliper according to claim 21, wherein the pivotable connection assembly comprises at least one hinge.

23. The brake caliper according to claim 20, wherein the brake dust particle filter is connected to the brake caliper body of the brake caliper in a rim region of the lining inspection opening.

24. A disk brake assembly comprising: a brake disc; a brake caliper comprising at least one caliper bridge extending in an axial direction of the brake caliper across the brake disc, wherein the brake caliper comprises a lining inspection opening arranged in the at least one caliper bridge, and wherein the brake caliper further comprises a brake dust particle filter according to claim 1 arranged in the lining inspection opening and closing the lining inspection opening at least partially with precise fit.

25. The disk brake assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a splash guard cover covering at least partially the brake disc circumferentially, wherein the brake dust particle filter of the brake caliper is fastened to the splash guard cover.

26. The disk brake assembly according to claim 25, wherein the brake dust particle filter of the brake caliper is formed integrally as one piece with the splash guard cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a disc brake assembly according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an isometric exploded view of the disc brake arrangement.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a brake dust particle filter according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The disc brake assembly 100 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in an isometric view. It comprises a brake disc 1001 which is engaged across by a brake caliper 10 which is a carrier of two brake linings 103. The brake disc 1001 is mountable on a shaft or an axle support and can then be used in a vehicle (passenger car, truck, rail vehicle) or in a stationary device. The brake caliper 10 comprises an outwardly positioned jaw 104 which extends parallel to the friction surface of the brake disc 1001 wherein through the jaw 104 the brake force can be applied to the friction linings 103. It has a second inner jaw at an end of the brake caliper 10 which cannot be seen in the drawing and is axially facing away. For the invention, it is of no consequence which principle the brake caliper employs for generating the brake force. It can be an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically actuated brake caliper.

[0041] The outer jaw 104 and the inner jaw that is not illustrated are connected for force transmission by a caliper bridge 102 in which a lining inspection opening 101 is provided by means of which in a servicing situation the wear condition of the friction linings 103 can be easily and quickly determined, i.e., without demounting.

[0042] In a conventional disc brake assembly, the lining inspection opening is always open so that a significant proportion of the brake dust which is produced during braking also reaches the environment through this opening; this has been determined by the applicant in experiments.

[0043] According to the invention, the lining inspection opening 101 is closed by a brake dust particle filter 1 which is inserted with precise fit therein. The brake dust particle filter 1 does not project in radial direction past the outer contour of the brake caliper 10 so that it does not require additional installation space. Moreover, its installation is possible very quickly and easily by simple insertion so that this can be done even by an end user.

[0044] The construction of the brake dust particle filter 1 itself can now be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The brake dust particle filter 1 according to the illustrated embodiment is of a two-part configuration: it has (a) a filter medium support 11 and (b) a filter medium 12 which is held by the filter medium support 11. The filter medium support 11 is provided with a plurality of through openings 15 that enable flow through the filter medium 12. The filter medium support 11, with regard to its shape and dimensions, is matched to the lining inspection opening 101 so that it can be inserted with proper fit into it. For fastening the filter medium support 11 in the lining inspection opening 101, it comprises clamping hooks 13 whose length corresponds to the material thickness of the brake caliper 10 wherein the clamping hooks 13 can be locked with their respective angled end section behind the lining inspection opening 101. In order for the brake dust particle filter 1 to not be inserted too far radially (=depth direction) into the lining inspection opening 101, at the filter medium support 11 projecting radial stops 14 embodied as tongues are provided, respectively, which are in contact with the wall surface 105 of the brake caliper 10 in the mounted state (FIG. 1).

[0045] The filter medium 12 is in the present case a flat material, for example, a metal or ceramic nonwoven, which is tailored to the shape and dimensions of the filter medium support 11 and, provided with cutouts 12′ for the clamping hooks 13, connected, for example, welded, to the filter medium support 11. In certain embodiments, the filter medium 12 can also be connected detachably to the filter medium support 11, for example, only frictionally clamped.

[0046] When the brake dust particle filter 1 is to be exchanged, this can be done quickly and simply in the context of the regular wheel change and/or during other servicing work at the brake assembly. In case of a full metal variant (filter medium of metal and filter medium support of metal), a problem-free and resource-saving recyclability is provided in addition.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0047] 10 brake caliper [0048] 101 lining inspection opening [0049] 102 caliper bridge [0050] 103 friction linings [0051] 104 outer jaw [0052] 105 wall surface [0053] 100 disc brake assembly [0054] 1001 brake disc [0055] 1 brake dust particle filter [0056] 11 filter medium support [0057] 12 filter medium [0058] 12′ cutouts of the filter medium for clamping hooks [0059] 13 clamping hook [0060] 14 radial stop [0061] 15 through openings