Brake lining of a disk brake and brake pad set

Abstract

A brake pad for a disk brake for a utility vehicle, includes a pad backplate, which has a pad side with a frictional mass and an application side opposite the pad side. The pad side is provided with a structural arrangement having a plurality of recesses with elevations arranged therein. The structural arrangement of the pad side comprises structural elements which differ in shape and size.

Claims

1. A brake pad for a disk brake for a utility vehicle, comprising: a pad backplate, which has a pad side with a frictional mass and an application side opposite the pad side, wherein the pad side is provided with a structural arrangement having a plurality of recesses with elevations arranged therein, and the structural arrangement of the pad side comprises structural elements which differ in shape and size, wherein a first group of structural elements of the structural elements, which differ in shape and size, of the structural arrangement are arranged in two straight rows, which run parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pad backplate, and in an arrangement running around said rows, and the first straight row has three hexagonal honeycomb structural elements next to one another, and in the second straight row lying thereunder, at least two further honeycomb structural elements are arranged in such a manner that a type of honeycomb structure results.

2. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 24 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 160 cm2, in particular 164 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1050 g, in particular 1000 g.

3. The brake pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structural elements in the two straight rows and in the arrangement running around said rows are arranged in an arrangement which is symmetrical with respect to an axis which runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate.

4. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 20 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 155 cm2, in particular 161 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1050 g, in particular 1000 g.

5. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 19 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 150 cm2, in particular 154-161 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1050 g, in particular 1000 g.

6. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 19 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 140 cm2, in particular 142.5 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1000 g, in particular 950 g.

7. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 13 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 110 cm2, in particular 115 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 950 g, in particular 900 g.

8. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 30 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 185 cm2, in particular 200.7 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1250 g, in particular 1200 g.

9. A brake pad set for a disk brake of a utility vehicle, wherein the brake pad set comprises at least one application-side brake pad and at least one back-side brake pad, and the application-side brake pad is designed as claimed in claim 8.

10. A brake pad set for a disk brake for a vehicle, wherein the two brake pads are designed as claimed in claim 8.

11. The brake pad as claimed in claim 8 wherein the utility vehicle is a truck, a utility vehicle for transporting people, a utility vehicle for emergency personnel, forklift trucks, dumper trucks and/or a tractor.

12. The brake pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in addition to the first group, further groups or individual structural elements of the structural elements, which differ in shape and size, of the structural arrangement are provided in edge regions, in the center and in support regions of the pad backplate.

13. The brake pad as claimed in claim 12, wherein the structural arrangement also has structural elements of the structural elements, which differ in shape and size, with pentagonal, square and/or triangular shapes with rounded corners.

14. The brake pad as claimed in claim 13, wherein the elevations are of circular, oval, triangular, or/and polygonal design, and have depressions.

15. The brake pad as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elevations protrude from a base of a respective recess as far as the height of a respective edge or/and beyond the respective edge.

16. The brake pad as claimed in claim 15, wherein the application side of the pad backplate has protruding pressure portions.

17. The brake pad as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure portions protruding from the application side are connected by at least one web portion.

18. The brake pad as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one web portion runs rectilinearly and parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pad backplate.

19. The brake pad as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pressure portions are of circular ring-shaped design with a recess.

20. The brake pad as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pressure portions are each divided into two semicircular annular segment pressure portions, in the center of which a circular depression is in each case formed, said depression communicating on both sides with a respective rectilinear depression between the associated annular segment pressure portions.

21. The brake pad as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rectilinear depressions run in an imaginary straight connecting line in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate through center points of the annular segment pressure portions.

22. The brake pad as claimed in claim 21, wherein the application side has contact strip portions and supporting strip portions.

23. The brake pad as claimed in claim 22, wherein the contact strip portions are connected to the pressure portions or to the annular segment pressure portions.

24. The brake pad as claimed in claim 23, wherein the pad backplate is produced integrally, in particular monolithically, from a metallic casting.

25. The brake pad as claimed in claim 24, wherein x is the depth of at least one recess of the structural arrangement, and y is the thickness of the pad backplate, wherein the ratio x/y is between 0.25 to 0.6.

26. The brake pad as claimed in claim 25, wherein the width of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement, in particular of at least 50% of all of the webs with a uniform length, is between 1.8 mm and 4 mm.

27. The brake pad as claimed in claim 26, wherein the length of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement, in particular of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement with a uniform width, is between 7 mm and 17 mm.

28. The brake pad as claimed in claim 27, wherein a number of structural elements are more than 8 per 100 cm2 of frictional surface.

29. The brake pad as claimed in claim 28, wherein the structural elements are designed as the recesses, wherein the recesses have the elevations which, in a top view perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the pad backplate, take up between 15 to 50%, in particular between 20% and 30%, of the area of the recess.

30. The brake pad as claimed in claim 29, wherein the recess has a maximum depth by which it is lowered in relation to the plane of the surface wherein maximum depth is between 20 to 60%, in particular 30 to 50%, of the thickness of the pad back disk.

31. The brake pad as claimed in claim 30, wherein the elevations have a height by which they protrude, perpendicularly, from the base surface of the recess, wherein the height is between 80% to 180%, in particular between 120% to 165%, of the depth.

32. The brake pad as claimed in claim 31, wherein at least 50% of the webs along a portion of at least 50% of their main direction of extent a width which is between 70-130% of the depth of the recess.

33. The brake pad as claimed in claim 32, wherein the length of at least 50% of all of the webs along their main direction of extent is between 120% and 300% of the thickness of the pad backplate.

34. The brake pad as claimed in claim 33, wherein at least 50% of all of the webs have a uniform length.

35. The brake pad as claimed in claim 34, wherein the elevations are spaced apart by a minimum distance from the one edge bounding the recess.

36. The brake pad as claimed in claim 35, wherein the web portion runs as the first web portion between the pressure portions with a web width which is between 40-55% of an outer radius of one of the pressure portions.

37. The brake pad as claimed in claim 36, wherein a second web portion runs between the pressure portions and is arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the first web portion, with reference to an imaginary center axis M.

38. The brake pad as claimed in claim 37, wherein the second web portion has a width between 90% and 105%, of the first web portion.

39. The brake pad as claimed in claim 38, wherein a surface of the pad side of the brake pad backplate forms edge region running around the structural arrangement.

40. The brake pad as claimed in claim 39, wherein the edge region on all of the portions has a width between 3 mm and 12 mm.

41. The brake pad as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least 50% of all of the elevations, of the structural arrangement each has at least one depression, in particular a depression arranged centrally in the elevation.

42. The brake pad as claimed in claim 41, wherein the elevations have at least two different geometrical shapes and/or dimensions.

43. The brake pad as claimed in claim 42, wherein each elevation has the geometrical shape of the respective recess in which the elevation is arranged, in such a manner that the elevation is spaced apart at a constant distance from the edge of the recess.

44. The brake pad as claimed in claim 43, wherein a maximum of two elevations are arranged in each recesses.

45. The brake pad as claimed in claim 44, wherein the recesses take up between 55-85% of the surface of the structural arrangement in the top view of the pad side.

46. The brake pad as claimed in claim 45, wherein the recesses take up between 70-90% of the surface of the pad backplate in the top view of the pad side.

47. The brake pad as claimed in claim 46, wherein the structural arrangement takes up between 65% and 75%, of the surface of the pad backplate in the top view of the pad side.

48. A brake pad for a disk brake of a utility vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a form-fitting connection is provided to the frictional mass, and wherein the brake pad is configured for disk brakes with a braking torque of a maximum of 30 kNm and with a frictional surface of the brake pad of more than 180 cm2, in particular 189 cm2, and has a weight of the pad backplate of less than 1100 g, in particular of 1050 g.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a disk brake.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of an application side of an exemplary embodiment of a pad backplate of a brake pad.

(3) FIGS. 3a, 3b show two perspective views of the pad backplate of FIG. 2.

(4) FIGS. 3c-e show further views and sectional views of the pad backplates of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a pad side of a first variant of the pad backplate according to FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a contact surface of the pad backplate from direction IV according to FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view along line V-V of the pad backplate from FIG. 3.

(8) FIG. 7a shows a schematic perspective view of the pad backplate of FIG. 4.

(9) FIG. 7b shows a schematic perspective view of a modification of the pad backplate of FIG. 7a.

(10) FIGS. 8a-8e show a plurality of schematic views and sectional views of the pad side of a second variant of the pad backplate according to FIG. 3.

(11) FIGS. 9-13 show schematic views of the application side of further variants of the pad backplate according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(12) Terms such as top, bottom, right, left, etc. relate to orientations and arrangements in the figures.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a disk brake 1, for example a pneumatic disk brake 1.

(14) The disk brake 1 is, for example, part of the brake system of a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, and comprises the brake disk 2 with a brake disk axis of rotation 2a, a brake carrier 3, a brake caliper 4, and a brake pad set 12 with two brake pads 12a and 12b which are arranged on either side of the brake disk 2.

(15) The brake pads 12a, 12b are acted upon during a braking operation with an application force by means of an application device 11, which is arranged in a portion of the brake caliper 4 (on the right side in FIG. 1), as a result of which they are pressed onto the brake disk 2. One or more bearings 55 for the axial displaceability of the brake caliper in relation to the brake disk can be arranged in one or more further portions, preferably on the edge side with respect to the application device 11.

(16) The application device 11 here comprises two brake plungers 8, 8, which are screwed into a crosspiece 9, and a brake rotary lever 10, which interacts with the crosspiece 9 in order to overcome the working stroke. On account of the two brake plungers 8, 8, the disk brake 1 is a two-plunger disk brake 1. The brake plungers 8, 8 interact with the brake pad 12a, which is also called the application-side brake pad 12a. The respective brake plunger 8, 8 can be designed as an adjustable spindle unit with at least one readjustment spindle in each case. The other brake pad 12b is called the back-side brake pad. With regard to the construction and manner of operation of a disk brake 1 actuated by compressed air, reference is made to the document EP 0 566 008 A1.

(17) The application-side brake pad 12a has a frictional mass 5 and a pad backplate 6. The frictional mass 5 is applied on a pad side 6a of the pad backplate 6 and faces the brake disk 2. The other side of the pad backplate 6 is referred to here as the application side 6b and faces the application device 11. The application device 11 is in each case in contact by means of a brake plunger 8, 8 via a respective pressure piece 7, 7 with the application side 6b of the pad backplate 6 of the application-side brake pad 12a.

(18) During braking operations, the application-side brake pad 12a is acted upon with an application force in the direction of the brake disk axis of rotation 2a by the application device 11. The back-side brake pad 12b is received in a back portion (not denoted specifically) of the brake caliper 4 and has a frictional mass 50 and a pad backplate 60.

(19) The brake pads 12a, 12b are in each case accommodated in the brake carrier 5 in a pad slot between two brake carrier horns in each case and are held in the brake carrier 5. This will be described specifically for the application-side brake pad 12a below. In this case, the application-side brake pad 12a is held with its pad backplate 6 in the brake carrier 3 between two brake carrier horns 3a and 3a so as to be displaceable in the direction of the brake disk axis of rotation 2a. The brake carrier horns 3a, 3a protrude from the brake carrier 3 vertically upward out of the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1. The pad backplate 6 contacts the inner sides of the brake carrier horns 3a, 3a in each case by means of a lateral contact surface 6c, 6c.

(20) The application-side brake pad 12a is in contact in its pad slot with supporting surfaces 6d, 6d (see FIG. 2) having correspondingly assigned supports. A pad retaining clip (not shown) serves for securing the brake pads 12a, 12b.

(21) For better orientation, it is assumed here that the disk brake 1 moves from the bottom upward in the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1 during forward travel of the associated vehicle. In the process, the brake disk 2 rotates about its brake disk axis of rotation 2a in a main direction of rotation. That side of the brake caliper 4 which lies at the bottom in FIG. 1 is therefore referred to as the entry side and the upper side of the brake caliper 4 as the exit side. In a corresponding manner, the brake carrier horn 3a is referred to as the entry-side brake carrier horn 3a and the other of the pad slot of the application-side brake pad 12a as the exit-side brake carrier horn 3a. Unless indicated otherwise, components and assemblies which are assigned to the exit side will be identified below by an apostrophe at the respective reference sign.

(22) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an application side 6b of an exemplary embodiment of the pad backplate 6 of the application-side brake pad 12a. FIG. 3 shows the application side of FIG. 2 in the perspective view such that the elevations and depressions are even more clearly apparent. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the pad side 6a of the pad backplate 6 according to FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a contact surface of the pad backplate 6 from direction IV according to FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view along line V-V of the pad backplate 6 from FIG. 2.

(23) The pad backplate 6 is designed as an integral, in particular monolithical, component, preferably a cast component made from steel, and so as to be reduced in weight. The upper side has partially rounded side surfaces 6i, bevels 6g (FIG. 4) and projections (not denoted specifically) for a pad retaining spring.

(24) The pad backplate 6 extends in a longitudinal direction L which on a plane A, which is defined by a surface 26 of the pad side 6a of the pad backplate 6 and which, in the installed state in the disk brake 1 (FIG. 1), extends in a tangential direction with respect to the brake disk 2. In FIG. 4, the plane A runs in the plane of the drawing and is defined by the vectors x and y. An extension of the pad backplate 6 in the longitudinal direction L is preferably 1.75 times to 2.4 times as large as the extent of the axis S, which is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L and on the plane A of the surface 26. A thickness 40 of the pad backplate 6 is shown in the sectional view along the axis S according to FIG. 6 and, in the installed state of the brake pad 12a, runs in the direction of the brake disk axis of rotation 2a. The thickness 40 of the pad backplate is bounded here by the surfaces 18 and 26.

(25) The contact surfaces 6c and 6c are formed on the two sides of the pad backplate 6, which extend parallel to the axis S, and, in one embodiment, can be machined mechanically. The contact surfaces 6c, 6c are each in contact with an inner side of a brake carrier horn 3a, 3a.

(26) The lower side of the pad backplate 6 has a curved recess 6h (FIG. 4) which extends convexly from the lower side toward the center of the pad backplate 6 and is symmetrical with respect to the axis S. A straight portion of the lower side adjoins each end of the curved recess 6h on each side. Said portions are also symmetrical with respect to the axis S. Each of said portions in each case has the supporting surface 6d, 6d already mentioned above toward the lower side. The supporting surfaces 6d, 6d run in a common plane of the lower side at right angles to the contact surfaces 6c, 6c and in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6. A bevel is in each case arranged between the contact surfaces 6c, 6c and the respective supporting surface 6d, 6d.

(27) In the region of the axis S, the upper side of the pad backplate 6 is provided with a further supporting surface 6e for supporting the abovementioned pad retaining clip. The supporting surface 6e may be re-machined.

(28) Furthermore, the pad backplate 6 can have a clearance (not shown) for the insertion of a pad wear sensor. Said clearance may also be re-machined.

(29) The frictional mass 5 is applied on the pad side 6a. The application side 6b is in contact with the application device 11. The application side 6b will first of all be dealt with further in conjunction with FIG. 2.

(30) The regions of the application side 6b of the pad backplate 6, with which regions the application device 11 is in contact via the pressure pieces 7, 7, are arranged as pressure portions 13, 13, preferably of identical design, on the application side 6b symmetrically with respect to the axis S. In this exemplary embodiment, the pressure portions 13, 13 are of circular ring-shaped design. Each pressure portion 13, 13 protrudes from the application side 6b by a certain extent from a surface 18 of the application side 6b and thus forms a respective elevation with a height 41 (see FIG. 5). The surface 18 forms a main plane of extent of the pad backplate 6. In one embodiment, the height 41 can be, for example, at least 1 mm, preferably 2 mm, particularly preferably 3 mm.

(31) In the installed state of the brake pad 12a in the disk brake 1 (FIG. 1), the center points or center lines, which are perpendicular to the drawing of FIG. 2, of the circular ring-shaped pressure portions 13, 13 run in the center lines of the associated brake plungers 8, 8.

(32) Each circular ring-shaped pressure portion 13, 13 is provided with a recess 13a, 13a, e.g. with a circular cross section, as a result of which a certain annular width 13b, 13b of each circular ring-shaped pressure portion 13, 13 is defined. In one embodiment, the annular width 13b, 13b can be, for example, 1 to 2 cm. The recesses 13a, 13a serve for reducing the weight of the pad backplate 6.

(33) In this exemplary embodiment, the pressure portions 13, 13 are connected in their upper third to a web portion 14. The web portion 14 runs here between the pressure portions 13, 13 in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6 and has a web width 14a which is approximately half of the outer radius of a pressure portion 13, 13. An imaginary center line M of the web portion 14 runs with respect to an imaginary connecting line V of the center points T1 and T2 of the pressure portions 13, 13 at a distance which corresponds here approximately to half the radius of a pressure portion 13, 13.

(34) The web portion 14 forms a type of stiffening rib. Tests have shown that, in this embodiment, the pad backplate 6 can achieve a braking torque of the disk brake 1 of approx. 24 kNm. If a second web portion is additionally arranged in the lower region between the pressure portions 13, 13, the braking torque can be increased, for example, to 27 or 30 kNm. This is illustrated in FIG. 7b, which is otherwise identical to FIG. 7a. The second web portion (114) can likewise preferably have the abovementioned preferred web width and the preferred position in relation to the imaginary center line M.

(35) The web width 14a of the web portion 14 here can be, for example, at least 1 cm.

(36) The web portion 14 protrudes by a certain extent from a surface portion 18a, which lies in the same plane as the surface portion 18. This extent can be equal to the height 41 of the pressure portions 13, 13, or smaller or greater than said height. In one embodiment, the height 41 of the web portion 14 can be at least 1 mm.

(37) In a further development, each pressure portion 13, 13 is connected on its respective side facing the associated side of the pad backplate 6 with the contact surface 6c, 6c to a contact strip portion 16, 16 in each case via a short stiffening portion 15, 15.

(38) In the imaginary connecting line of the center points of the pressure portions 13, 13, the short stiffening portion 15, 15 extends radially from the circular ring-shaped pressure portion 13, 13 as far as the associated contact strip portion 16, 16, which runs at a right angle thereto. The stiffening portion 15, 15 here has a width which approximately corresponds to the web width 14a of the web portion 14.

(39) Each contact strip portion 16, 16 forms a thickening and therefore stiffening of each side with the respective contact surface 6c, 6c in the direction of the thickness 40 of the pad backplate 6. Each contact strip portion 16, 16 extends here over the entire length of the associated side parallel to the axis S in the direction thereof. An extent of each contact strip portion 16, 16 in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6 can be approximately half a web portion width 14a here. The extent of this extent can be, for example, at least 8 mm, preferably 8.4 . . . 8.5 mm, particularly preferably 9 mm. A tolerance of said extent can lie, for example, within the range of 0.4 mm.

(40) The short stiffening portions 15, 15 and the contact strip portions 16, 16 connected thereto are symmetrical with respect to the axis S and protrude by a certain extent from the surface 18. This extent can correspond, for example, to the height 41 of the pressure portions 13, 13.

(41) In the region of the supporting surfaces 6d, 6d, a respective supporting strip portion 17, 17 is provided on the associated portion of the surface 18, said supporting strip portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6 from the respective outer end on the bevel toward the center over approximately three quarters of the length of the supporting surface 6d, 6d.

(42) An extent of each supporting strip portion 17, 17 in the direction of the axis S can be approximately half a web portion width 14a here. The extent of this extent can be, for example, at least 8 mm, preferably 8.4 . . . 8.5 mm, particularly preferably 9 mm. A tolerance of this extent can lie, for example, within the range of 0.4 mm.

(43) The supporting strip portions 17, 17 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis S and, similarly to or in the same manner as the contact strip portions 16, 16, protrude by an identical or different extent from the surface 18.

(44) The contact strip portions 16, 16 together with their outer sides in each case form an enlargement of the lateral contact surfaces 6c, 6c. The supporting strip portions 17, 17 together with their lower sides in each case form an enlargement of the supporting surfaces 6d, 6d. The stiffening portions 15, 15, the contact strip portions 16, 16 and the supporting strip portions 17, 17 also form a stiffening of the pad backplate 6.

(45) The dimensioning and shaping of the web portion 14, of the connecting regions between the latter and the pressure portions 13, 13, of the stiffening portions 15, 15, of the contact strip portions 16, 16 and of the supporting strip portions 17, 17 are formed in a load- and/or noise-optimized manner corresponding to the forces which occur. Use is made for this purpose of measurement results from which force progressions and/or excitation frequencies can be determined.

(46) The pressure portions 13, 13, the web portion 14, the stiffening portions 15, 15, the contact strip portions 16, 16 and the supporting strip portions 17, 17 are each provided with a bevel or a rounded transition to the surface 18, 18a of the pad backplate 6. Said rounded transitions can have a radius, for example, within a range of 3 . . . 8 mm. The contact strip portions 16, 16 and the supporting strip portions 17, 17 are each correspondingly machined on their outer sides in order to enlarge the respectively associated contact surfaces 6c, 6c or supporting surfaces 6d, 6d.

(47) By means of this construction of the application side 6b of the pad backplate 6 of the application-side brake pad 12a, a reduction in weight of the overall weight of the application-side brake pad 12a can be achieved. The material of the pad backplate 6b, which would otherwise be located between the above-described elevation portions 13, 13; 14; 15, 15; 16, 16; 17, 17, has been abraded except for the surface 18, 18a. The structure of the elevation portions 13, 13; 14; 15, 15; 16, 16; 17, 17, the arrangement thereof, in particular in regions of force progressions with high proportions of force, and connection to one another permits a sufficient rigidity and strength for use of the application-side brake pad 12a in different brake embodiments despite the saving on material.

(48) A further possibility for reducing weight while simultaneously maintaining the strength and stability of the application-side brake pad 12a consists in configuring the pad side 6a of the pad backplate 6. This will now be described in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 4.

(49) The pad side 6a has a surface 26, into which a structural arrangement 20 is molded.

(50) The surface 26 forms a preferably flat edge region 66 running around the structural arrangement. The pad backplate 6 has a uniform plate thickness with the thickness 40 over the greatest part of the encircling edge region 66, in particular outside the contact portions 16, 16, 17, 17. However, there are also smaller edge portions which have a material thickness of up to 8.5 cm.

(51) The structural arrangement 20 has a number of different structural elements 21, 21, 29, 30, 30. Portions which have differing width and are branched are arranged between the structural elements 21, 21, 29, 30, 30 and form stiffening portions 27, 27, web stiffening portions 27a-27d, 27a-27d and webs 28, 28.

(52) The structural element 21 has an edge 21a and a recess 21b with a depth 43 (FIG. 6). The recess 21b has a base surface 21c which preferably runs parallel to the surface 26. The edge 21a surrounds the recess 21b in an encircling manner and is provided with a bevel and/or rounding 65. This construction is representative of all of the structural elements 21, 21, 29, 30, 30.

(53) In this exemplary embodiment, most of the structural elements 21, 21, 29, 30, 30 have dome-like elevations 22, 22. The elevations 22, 22 can be round, oval, triangular or polygonal, with a filled core and/or hollow because of depressions 22a, 22a on the inside. The depressions 22a, 22a are open facing toward the frictional mass 5 (FIG. 1). In this exemplary embodiment, the elevations 22, 22 protrude from the base surface 21c of the respective recess 21b, for example as far as the height of the respective edge 21a. In one variant, the elevations 22, 22 can also protrude from the surface 26 by a certain extent beyond the respective edge 21a. This extent can be, for example, within a range of preferably 1 to 2 mm.

(54) In a top view perpendicular to the plane of the surface 26, the elevations 22, 22 in FIG. 4 can take up between 15 to 50%, in particular 20-30%, of the surface of the recess 21b. The surface of the recess here is the surface which the recess takes up on the plane of the surface 26. Surfaces, for example the edge surface, which run perpendicularly to the surface 26 are not taken into consideration here and, in the case of surfaces which run obliquely or in the manner of a curve with respect to the plane of the surface 26, for example in the case of roundings 65, only the vectorial portion, which runs parallel to the plane of the surface 26, is taken into consideration.

(55) The recess 21b has the depth 43 by which said recess is lowered in relation to the plane of the surface 26. This maximum depth can preferably be between 20 to 60% of the plate thickness 40.

(56) As is seen, the elevations 22, 22 also have a differing width 71 and 72.

(57) A minimum distance 95 is defined by the narrowest point or the shortest distance between the elevation 22 and the edge 21a of the recess 21b. It can preferably be at least 50%, particularly preferably 80-400%, of the depth of the recess.

(58) The elevations 22, 22 have a height 70 by which they protrude from the base surface 21c. The height 70 can preferably be between 120% to 165% of the maximum depth 43.

(59) The webs 28, 28 preferably have a width 80 along a portion of at least 50% of their respective main direction of extent. Said width 80 is preferably between 80-130% of the depth 43 of the recess 21b.

(60) The end sides the webs 28, 28 preferably lie together with the surface 26 on a plane A.

(61) The length 90 of at least 50% of all of the webs 28, 28, in particular of at least 50% of all of the webs 28, 28 having a uniform width, along their respective direction of main extent can preferably be between 2.5-7 times the depth 43 of the recess 21b.

(62) At least 50% of all of the webs preferably have a uniform length 90. Uniform means here that the length of the corresponding webs differs from one another by less than 10%. The same applies to the width.

(63) The width 80 of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement, in particular of at least 50% of all of the webs with a uniform length 90, can preferably be at least 1.8 mm, preferably 2-4 mm.

(64) The length 90 of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement, in particular of at least 50% of all of the webs of the structural arrangement with a uniform width 80, can preferably be at least 3 mm, preferably 4-6 mm.

(65) All of the structural elements 21, 21, 30, 30 are of polygonal design, wherein all of the corners are rounded.

(66) The shape of the structural elements and the configurations thereof along the surface 26 and also the shape of the elevations within the recess 21b can be once again seen more clearly in perspective in FIG. 7.

(67) The structural arrangement 20 of the structural elements 21, 21, 29, 30, 30 has two central rows R1, R2 which run in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6. The upper central row R1 here has three hexagonal honeycomb structural elements 30, 30 next to one another. Two further honeycomb structural elements 30 are arranged in the row R2 lying therebelow, thus resulting in a type of honeycomb structure which is symmetrical with respect to the axis S. The axis S runs here through the central honeycomb structural element 30 of the upper row R1 and, below the latter, through a web portion which separates the two honeycomb structural elements 30 of the lower row R2.

(68) A pentagonal structural element is arranged on the right of the one of the two honeycomb structural elements 30 of the lower row R2, the left half of which structural element forms a half honeycomb structural element, wherein the upper corner point of the right half lies further at the top. Further to the right next to said pentagonal structural element, there is arranged a pentagonal structural element which is mirror-inverted with respect thereto and on the right side of which is an irregular square structural element. This arrangement is located symmetrically with respect to the axis S on the left side of the left honeycomb structural element 30 in the lower row R2.

(69) All of the structural elements of the upper and lower row R1, R2 have elevations 22, 22 with depressions 22a, 22a, wherein imaginary lines of the two rows R1, R2 each run through the center points of the elevations 22, 22. The elevations 22, 22 of the outer irregular square structural elements are circular, with the other elevations 22, 22 having a triangular design. The elevations 22, 22 serve not only for stiffening purposes, but also for improving a fastening of the frictional mass 5 on the pad side 6a.

(70) This arrangement of the central rows R1, R2 is surrounded in an encircling manner with the structural elements 21, 21 in an arrangement symmetrical with respect to the axis S. Only one structural element 29 in the upper left region is present as an individual element. Except for three half honeycomb structural elements in the center below the lower row R2 and except for the structural element 29, all of the other structural elements 21, 21 of the surrounding arrangement are each provided with an elevation 22, 22.

(71) In the lateral edge regions, three structural elements 21, 21 of the encircling arrangement are in each case arranged one above another, wherein the uppermost structural element 21, 21 in each case is arranged with two further structural elements 21, 21 on an arc which runs in each case from the edge toward the axis S.

(72) In addition to the respective lower edge region structural element 21, 21, on in each case three structural elements 21, 21 are located on an arc, which is concentric with respect to the curved side surface 6h, on the left and right of a central triangular structural element 21.

(73) The structural elements 21, 21 of the surrounding arrangement each have an edge portion of their respective edge 21a, 21a, which edge portion runs substantially in the same manner as that portion of the edge of the pad backplate 6 which in each case lies next thereto. For example, the outer edge portions 25 of the in lower structural elements 21, 21, which are arranged one above another, in the edge regions each run parallel to the bevels with the side surfaces 6f. The central structural elements 21, 21 of the structural elements 21, 21, which are arranged one above another, in the edge regions have edge portions 25a which run parallel to the edges with the lateral contact surfaces 6c, 6c.

(74) Relatively extensive stiffening portions 27, 27 are formed between the left and the right end honeycomb structural element 30, 30 of the upper row R1 and the structural elements 21, 21 of the surrounding arrangement, said stiffening portions being connected to further web stiffening portions 27a, 27a and 27b, 27b and lying in regions of the pressure portions 13, 13 of the application side 6b of the pad backplate 6, in particular in the region of the outer diameters of the pressure portions 13, 13, on which the brake plungers 8, 8 of the application device 11 act during braking operations and correspondingly high forces can occur. This forms a stiffening which is capable of distributing the occurring forces effectively in the pad backplate 6 in such a manner that a reduction of overloading and risk of fracture and also an increase in a service life can be achieved.

(75) For this purpose, further relatively wide web stiffening portions 27c, 27c and 27d, 27d are also provided between the end structural elements 21, 21 of the lower row R2 and the lateral edge structural elements 21, 21, which are arranged one above other, of the surrounding arrangement.

(76) One web or a plurality of webs 28, 28 for stiffening purposes is or are also provided between edge portions 24 of the structural elements 21, 21, 30, 30 of the two rows R1, R2 one below the other, and between the latter and the structural elements 21, 21 of the lower curved portion of the surrounding arrangement and, in turn, of the edge portions 23 thereof one below the other.

(77) FIGS. 8a-8e illustrate a schematic view of the pad side 6a of a second variant of the pad backplate 6.

(78) In the variant according to FIGS. 4 and 7, the structural arrangement 20 on the pad side 6a of the pad backplate 6 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis S. The structural arrangement 20 here has structural elements 29, 29, 29a, 29a, 31, 31, 31a, 31a, 32, 32, 32a, 32a, 33, 33, 34, 34, 35, 35, 36, 36, 37 and 37 of differing shape and size. As described above, said structural elements can be formed with depressions having encircling edges and with or without inner elevations. The elevations can be shaped here, for example, trapezoidally, or in other ways.

(79) For better clarity, some simplifications have been undertaken within the scope of the designations in FIGS. 8b-8e:

(80) For simplification purposes, the edges of the recesses of the structural elements 29, 29, 29a, 29a, 31, 31, 31a, 31a, 32, 32, 32a, 32a, 33, 33, 34, 34, 35, 35, 36, 36, 37 and 37 are denoted uniformly by 21a.

(81) For simplification purposes, the recesses of the structural elements 29, 29, 29a, 29a, 31, 31, 31a, 31a, 32, 32, 32a, 32a, 33, 33, 34, 34, 35, 35, 36, 36, 37 and 37 are denoted uniformly by 21b.

(82) For simplification purposes, the elevations in the recesses 21b of the structural elements 29, 29, 29a, 29a, 31, 31, 31a, 31a, 32, 32, 32a, 32a, 33, 33, 34, 34, 35, 35, 36, 36, 37 and 37 are denoted uniformly by 22.

(83) The base surface of the recesses 21b are denoted by 21c.

(84) For simplification purposes, the depressions in the elevations 22 are denoted uniformly by 22a.

(85) Each elevation 22 has a minimum distance from the one edge 21a bounding the recess.

(86) Said minimum distance can preferably be at least 50%, particularly preferably 80-400%, of the depth of the recess.

(87) It goes without saying that the geometry and dimension of the depressions 21, the base surfaces 21c and the elevations 22 and/or the depressions 22a located therein can differ from one another in geometry and dimensioning.

(88) In this variant, seven structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a are arranged in a circular manner around a circular structural element 35 on the right half of the pad side 6a. A center point of the inner structural element 35 lies on the axis through the center point of the pressure portion 13 located on the application side 6b and therefore on the axis of the associated brake plunger 8. The arrangement located on the circular line lies in the region of the circular ring of the pressure portion 13.

(89) The circular structural element 35 which is arranged centrally in this manner is surrounded by a hub-like annular web portion 28a. The annular web portion 28a is connected in the manner of spokes to seven spoke web portions 28b which extend radially from the annular web portion 28a and are arranged at essentially identical angular distances from one another. The spoke web portions 28b run here in each case between the circularly arranged structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a and are connected at their outer imaginary end to a further annular web portion 28c. A width of the spoke web portions 28b increases with the distance outward from the inner annular web portion 28a.

(90) The further annular web portion 28c surrounds the circularly arranged structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a. This forms a type of spoke wheel arrangement, wherein the structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a lie in the intermediate spaces of the spoke web portions 28b and annular web portions 28a, 28c.

(91) The shape of each of the circularly arranged structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a is substantially similar to a trapezoid, wherein the edge portions on the annular web portions 28a and 28c each corresponding in a curved manner to the diameter of the respective annular web portion 28a, 28c.

(92) The circular arrangement of the structural elements 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34 and 34a is described with respect to an upper reference spoke web portion 28b1, the imaginary longitudinal axis of which runs obliquely downwards with an extension through the center point of the central circular structural element 35 and thus encloses an angle of approximately 30 with the axis S.

(93) On the left and right of said reference spoke web portion 28b1, the structural elements 31, 31a are arranged symmetrically with respect thereto and are designed in the manner of trapezoids. The imaginary longitudinal axis of the reference spoke web portion 28b1 runs diametrically opposite with an extension through the structural element 33, which is likewise of trapezoidal design and the lower edge portion of which faces the curved recess 6h.

(94) The two structural elements 32, 32a which are likewise symmetrical with respect to a spoke web portion 28b are symmetrical with respect to the opposite two structural elements 34, 34a in addition to being symmetrical with respect to the imaginary longitudinal axis of the reference spoke web portion 28b1.

(95) The structural element 36 is provided in the lateral region of the contact surface 6c. A straight edge portion of the structural element 36 runs in the direction of the axis S parallel to the contact surface 6c. The opposite edge portion is concentric with respect to the outer radius of the structural element 32, which lies next thereto on the circular path, and is separated therefrom by the annular web portion 28c lying inbetween.

(96) In this variant, the pad backplate 6 does not have any bevels, but rather has notches (not denoted specifically) at the lower corners between the contact surfaces 6c, 6c and the supporting surfaces 6d, 6d.

(97) A triangular structural element 37, the lower edge portion of which runs parallel to the supporting surface 6d, is arranged here above the supporting surface 6d. An edge portion facing the structural element 32a, like the corresponding edge portion of the structural element 36, is concentric with respect to the outer radius of the structural element 32a, which lies next thereto on the circular path, and is separated from the latter by the annular web portion 28c lying inbetween.

(98) A relatively extensive structural element 29, 29a is in each case arranged between the structural elements 34 and 34a and the axis S and is separated from the respective structural element 34, 34a by the annular web portion 28c. Those edge portions of the structural elements 29, 29a which face the structural elements 34, 34a are shaped in a manner corresponding to the annular web portion 28c concentrically with respect thereto.

(99) A spoke web portion 28b which widens further as far as the axis S runs between the structural elements 29, 29a and is connected to a central web 28 running on the axis S. The outer edge portions of the structural elements 29, 29a correspondingly run to those edge contours of the pad backplate 6 that are located in their vicinity.

(100) A left upper corner, facing the axis S, of the structural element 19 is recessed because of an opening in the pad backplate 6.

(101) The structural elements 29, 29a, 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34, 34a, 35, 36 and 37 on the left half of the pad side 6a are arranged and constructed in a mirror-inverted manner with respect to the axis S to the structural elements 29, 29a, 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 33, 34, 34a, 35, 36 and 37 of the right half. The above description therefore also applies to the left half.

(102) FIGS. 7-11, except for FIG. 8a, illustrate schematic views of the application side 6b of further variants in the construction of the application side 6b of the pad backplate 6 according to FIG. 2. The above descriptions of the embodiment according to FIG. 2 also apply here and are not mentioned again, unless necessary. Only the differences will be described.

(103) FIG. 9 shows a first variant, in which the web portion 14 between the pressure portions 13, 13 has a slightly curved shape. The transitions of the web portion 14 to the respective pressure portion 13, 13 are provided with larger radii than in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2. This is also the case in the transitions between the pressure portions 13, 13 and the stiffening portions 15, 15.

(104) A second variant in the construction of the application side 6b is illustrated in FIG. 10. The circular ring-shaped pressure portions 13, 13 of the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 are each divided here into two semicircular annular segment pressure portions 38, 38a and 38, 38a. A respective circular depression 38b, 38b is formed in the center thereof and communicates on both sides with a respective rectilinear depression 38c, 38c between the associated annular segment pressure portions 38, 38a and 38, 38a. The rectilinear depressions 38c, 38c run on an imaginary straight connecting line in the longitudinal direction of the pad backplate 6 through the center points of the annular segment pressure portions 38, 38a and 38, 38a.

(105) The upper annular segment pressure portions 38, 38 are each connected on their outer side by a curved web portion 39, 39. The web portion 39, 39 is designed in a bent manner in the center in the region of the axis S about a lower region of an opening (not denoted specifically) in the pad backplate 6 with a web portion 39b and runs in the vicinity of the upper edge arc of the pad backplate 6, but with a smaller arc radius.

(106) The left and right end of the web portion 39, 39 is in each case connected in an upper quarter of the respective contact strip portion 16, 16.

(107) A further, lower web portion 39a, 39a connects the lower annular segment pressure portions 38a, 38a on their lower outer sides and runs concentrically with respect to the convex recess 6h on the lower edge of the pad backplate 6 at a distance which is approximately the same size as the width of the web portion 39a, 39a.

(108) The connecting points of the lower web portion 39a, 39a to the lower annular segment pressure portions 38a, 38a each lie diametrically with respect to the connecting points of the upper web portion 39, 39 to the upper annular segment pressure portions 38, 38. A respective imaginary line through said connections in each case forms an angle of approximately 20 with the axis S.

(109) The left and right end of the lower web portion 39a, 39a is in each case connected in the region of the supporting surfaces 6d, 6d to the respective supporting strip portion 17, 17 and in each case runs in the region of the bevels further than a connection between the respective supporting strip portion 17, 17 and the respective lower end of the associated contact strip portion 16, 16.

(110) A width of the web portions 39, 39, 39a, 39a corresponds here approximately to one third of the width of the annular segment pressure portions 38, 38, 38a, 38a.

(111) Stiffening portions 15, 15 are not present in this variant.

(112) Like the variant according to FIG. 9, the third variant according to FIG. 11 has upper and lower annular segment pressure portions 38, 38, 38a, 38a which are connected to one another by two web portions 14, 14b. In contrast thereto, however, the two web portions are wider, for example almost as wide as the width of the annular segment pressure portions 38, 38, 38a, 38a.

(113) The upper web portion 14 runs here between the two upper annular segment pressure portions 38, 38 substantially concentrically with respect to the edge arc of the pad backplate 6 below the opening (not denoted specifically) of the pad backplate 6.

(114) Each end of the upper web portion 38, 38 penetrates the respective upper annular segment pressure portion 38, 38 and leaves the latter on the outer side in order, in each case as a stiffening portion 15, 15, to connect the respective upper annular segment pressure portion 38, 38 to the associated contact strip portion 16, 16 in the center thereof.

(115) The lower web portion 14b is likewise curved and concentric with respect to the convex recess on the lower side of the pad backplate 6. The lower web portion 14b runs between the lower annular segment pressure portions 38a, 38a, connects the latter, penetrates them and, over the further course of its arc, protrudes again with its respective end as a respective web portion 14c, 14c, which connects the respective lower annular segment portion 38a, 38a to the associated contact strip portion 17, 17.

(116) FIG. 12 shows a fourth variant which corresponds to the third variant according to FIG. 9 except for the absent stiffening portions 15, 15 and web portions 14c, 14c.

(117) FIG. 13 illustrates a fifth variant which corresponds to the fourth variant according to FIG. 10 except for the missing web portions 14, 14b.

(118) The dimensioning and shaping of the web portions 14, 14 . . . , 39, 39, 39a, 39a of the connecting regions between the latter and the pressure portions 13, 13 or annular segment pressure portions 31-37, the stiffening portions 15, 15, the contact strip portions 16, 16 and the supporting strip portions 17, 17 are shaped in a load- and/or noise-optimized manner in accordance with the occurring forces. Use is made for this purpose of measurement results from which force progressions and/or excitation frequencies can be determined.

(119) With the above-described pad backplate 6, it is possible to achieve a weight-reduced application-side brake pad 12a which are used in different brakes, as the following table shows.

(120) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Pad backplate weight and use Weight Area Braking torque Full area [g] [cm.sup.2] [kNm] [cm.sup.2] 1050 189 30 196 950 142.5 19 148 900 115 13 119 1000 164 24 173 1000 161 20 168 1200 200.7 30 208 1000 154-161 19 171

(121) The term full area within the context of the present invention defines an area in the state of wear. In the state of wear, the frictional mass only still has a pad thickness of 2 mm.

(122) The area listed in the table refers to an area with average wear, i.e. when the pad is half worn.

(123) The invention is not restricted by the above-described exemplary embodiments but rather can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

(124) For example, it is conceivable for the supporting strip portions 17, 17 to also be connected to the pressure portions 13, 13 via corresponding stiffening web or ribs.

(125) From the context of the present invention, it goes without saying that the pad backplate 60 together with the frictional mass 50 of the brake pad 12b can preferably be formed analogously to the pad backplate 6 together with the frictional mass 5 of the brake pad 12a, and therefore in particular the weight advantages of the brake pad 12a that are brought about by the structural arrangement are also produced for the brake pad 12b.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(126) 1 Disk brake

(127) 2 Brake disk

(128) 2a Brake disk axis of rotation

(129) 3 Brake carrier

(130) 3a, 3a Brake carrier horn

(131) 4 Brake caliper

(132) 5, 50 Frictional mass

(133) 6, 60 Pad backplate

(134) 6a Pad side

(135) 6b Application side

(136) 6c, 6c Contact surface

(137) 6d, 6c Supporting surface

(138) 6e Supporting surface

(139) 6f-i Side surface

(140) 7, 7 Pressure piece

(141) 8, 8 Brake plunger

(142) 9 Crosspiece

(143) 10 Brake rotary lever

(144) 11 Application device

(145) 12 Brake pad set

(146) 12a, 12b Brake pad

(147) 13, 13 Pressure portion

(148) 13a, 13a Recess

(149) 13b, 13b Annular width

(150) 14, 14b, 14c, 14c Web portion

(151) 14a Web width

(152) 15, 15 Stiffening portion

(153) 16, 16 Contact strip portion

(154) 17, 17 Supporting strip portion

(155) 19 Surface

(156) 18a, 18b Surface portion

(157) 19, 19 Contact region

(158) 19a, 19a Supporting region

(159) 20 Structural arrangement

(160) 21, 21 Structural element

(161) 21a, 21a Edge

(162) 21b, 21b Recess

(163) 21c Base surface of the recess

(164) 22, 22 Elevation

(165) 22a, 22a Depression

(166) 23, 24, 25, 25a Edge portion

(167) 26 Surface

(168) 27, 27 Stiffening portion

(169) 27a-27d, 27a-27d Web stiffening portion

(170) 28, 28 Web

(171) 28a, 28c Annular web portion

(172) 28b, 28b1 Spoke web portion

(173) 29, 29a, 29, 29a Structural element

(174) 30 Honeycomb structural element

(175) 31, 31, 31a, 31a, Annular segment structural element

(176) 32, 32, 32a, 32a,

(177) 33, 33,

(178) 34, 34, 34a, 34a

(179) 35, 35 Annular structural element

(180) 36, 36, 37, 37 Structural element

(181) 38, 38, 38a, 38a Annular segment pressure portion

(182) 38b, 38b, 38c, 38c Depression

(183) 39, 39, 39a, 39b Web portion

(184) 40 Thickness

(185) 41 Height

(186) 42 Excess length

(187) 43 Depth

(188) 50 Frictional mass

(189) 55 Bearing

(190) 60 Pad backplate

(191) 65 Rounding

(192) 66 Edge region

(193) 70 Height

(194) 80 Width of a web

(195) 90 Length of a web

(196) 114 Web portion

(197) R1, R2 Row

(198) S Axis

(199) A Plane of the surface

(200) M Center line

(201) 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.