FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OF FRICTION LINING ELEMENTS IN BRAKE LININGS

Abstract

To provide a brake lining for a disc brake of a vehicle, in which at least one friction lining element is arranged movably relative to the backing plate and to this end the at least one friction lining element is arranged on the backing plate by means of a spring system, with a particularly favourable force-deflection behaviour, a high degree of damping and a stable thermal behaviour, it is proposed for the spring system to have a plurality of spring elements or to consist of a plurality of spring elements.

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A brake lining for a disc brake of a vehicle, having a backing plate and at least one friction lining element, the friction lining element being arranged on the backing plate such that, when the brake is operated, a first side face of the friction lining element can be pressed against a brake disc, the friction lining element being arranged movably relative to the backing plate, a spring system being arranged between the backing plate and the friction lining element, characterised in that the spring system has or consists of a plurality of spring elements.

23. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the friction lining element is connected to the backing plate by means of a fastening means, wherein the spring elements are arranged in at least some regions around the fastening means, wherein the fastening means is designed to produce a pre-loading of the spring system.

24. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements are substantially planar.

25. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements are designed such that the spring system has a different spring behaviour in a pre-loading range than in a working range, that is, when the brake is operated.

26. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements are stacked parallel to each other.

27. The brake lining according claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements have different stiffnesses.

28. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements have different thicknesses.

29. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements have different spring heights.

30. The brake lining according claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements are in the form of Belleville washers.

31. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that at least one spring element has cut-outs (17) along the inner circumference and/or outer circumference thereof.

32. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring system has at least one wound or layered wave spring having a plurality of turns, wherein each spring element is formed by one turn.

33. The brake lining according to claim 32, characterised in that the spring system has a plurality of wave springs, wherein a first wave spring is arranged around a second wave spring.

34. The brake lining according to one of claim 32, characterised in that the individual turns are formed like Belleville washers.

35. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring system is arranged between the backing plate and the friction lining element in such a manner that the spring elements bear with a first edge (22) against a first bearing face (25) formed by a first flange (24) or a raised portion, wherein the first flange (24) or the raised portion protrudes from a second side face (13) of the friction lining element, wherein the second side face (13) faces the backing plate.

36. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the backing plate has a depression and/or a second flange protruding from the backing plate, wherein the spring system is arranged between the backing plate and the friction lining element in such a manner that the spring elements bear with a second edge against a second bearing face, wherein the second bearing face is formed by a lip (31) running around the depression and/or by the second flange.

37. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring elements have, at least in some regions, a coating containing a friction-increasing material for increasing the friction at contact faces between the spring elements and the backing plate and/or the friction lining element.

38. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the friction lining element is connected by means of a connection having a socket arranged in a bore through the backing plate.

39. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the friction lining element has a substantially round, oval, triangular, square, rectangular or trapezoidal basic shape.

40. The brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that several, preferably more than three, friction lining elements are arranged on the backing plate.

41. A spring system having a plurality of spring elements for arrangement between a backing plate and a friction lining element of a brake lining according to claim 22, characterised in that the spring system has at least one wound or layered wave spring having a plurality of turns, wherein each spring element is formed by one turn and the individual turns are formed like Belleville washers.

42. A disc brake for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, according to claim 22 characterised in that the disc brake has a brake lining that comprises the friction lining element is connected to the backing plate by means of a fastening means, wherein the spring elements are arranged in at least some regions around the fastening means, wherein the fastening means is designed to produce a pre-loading of the spring system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In the figures:

[0040] FIG. 1: schematically shows a perspective view of a brake lining,

[0041] FIG. 2: schematically shows a sectional diagram through a region of a brake lining,

[0042] FIGS. 3a and b: schematically show a spring system with the individual spring elements in the form of Belleville washers,

[0043] FIG. 4: schematically shows a spring system with the individual spring elements in the form of Belleville washers with cut-outs,

[0044] FIGS. 5a and b: schematically show a spring system with the individual spring elements in the form of wave washers,

[0045] FIGS. 6a and b: schematically show a spring system formed by a wave spring,

[0046] FIG. 7: schematically shows a spring system with an anti-rotation means, and

[0047] FIG. 8: schematically shows a diagram with curves for different profiles of the force-deflection spring curve.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a brake lining 100. Individual friction lining elements 11 are movably arranged on the backing plate 10 of the brake lining 100. To this end, the individual friction lining elements 11 are mounted on the backing plate 10 by means of a spring system 14 (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a sectional diagram through a region of the brake lining 100 of FIG. 1. The region in which a friction lining element 11 is fastened to the backing plate 10 by means of a fastening means 16 is shown here. The fastening means 16 is in the form of a bolt. A socket 21 is arranged in a bore through the backing plate 10. The fastening means 16 in the form of a bolt is inserted into the socket 21 and is held by a fixing means.

[0050] A spring system 14 is arranged around the fastening means 16 between the backing plate 10 and the friction lining element 11. The spring system 14 has three planar spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c arranged one above the other. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the spring system 14 is shown in the pre-loaded state. The spring system 14 is pre-loaded when the fastening means 16 is introduced into the socket 21.

[0051] The individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c of the spring system 14 are stacked parallel to each other. A depression 26 is arranged in the backing plate 10 to receive the spring system 14. A first flange 24 is arranged around the fastening means 16 on the underside, that is, on the second side face 13, of the friction lining element 11. This first flange 24 forms a first bearing face 25 for supporting a first edge 22 of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c. A second bearing face 27 for supporting a second edge 23 of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c is formed by the lip 31 running around the depression 26 in the backing plate 10. The spring system 14 is thus guided in the depression 26 in the backing plate 10 on the outside. In the inner diameter of the spring system 14, it is supported against a substantially cylindrical step or on the first flange 24 on the friction lining element 11.

[0052] The desired particularly favourable force-deflection behaviour of the spring system 14 is characterised by a relatively small pre-loading force with a long pre-loading deflection and a large final force with a short working deflection. This is achieved by a progressive spring behaviour of the spring system 14. To this end, the spring system 14 has several spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c, which are substantially planar and are stacked parallel to each other. Furthermore, a progressive spring behaviour is achieved in that the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c have different stiffnesses. FIGS. 3 to 6 show, by way of example, arrangements of spring systems 14 having several planar spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c, the spring systems 14 being designed such that they have a progressive spring behaviour.

[0053] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a spring system 14 in which the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c are in the form of Belleville washers. Here, the top Belleville washer has a smaller thickness than the other two Belleville washers and a different spring height or a different spring deflection. This produces a multi-flexible spring curve (cf. FIG. 8). During mounting and during pre-loading, the top Belleville washer acts with a shallow spring curve in the pre-loading range. A small pre-loading force can be combined with a relatively long pre-loading deflection thereby. During operation, the middle Belleville washer is effective in addition to the top Belleville washer in the working range, and the bottom Belleville spring is also effective on further deformation. The spring curve is thereby steeper in some sections; a large final force can thus be achieved after a relatively small deflection. The spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c in the form of Belleville washers act as a parallel stack as soon as they come into planar contact.

[0054] FIG. 4 likewise shows a spring system 14 in which the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c are in the form of Belleville washers. The different stiffnesses are in this case achieved by cut-outs 17 in the inner circumference or along the first edge 22 of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c. During mounting and pre-loading of the spring system, the inner tabs 18 of the Belleville washers substantially bend. This region can be relatively flexible depending on the width and depth of the cut-outs 17, which makes the spring curve initially relatively shallow. The pre-loading force thus remains small. With increasing deformation, the outer region of the spring system 14 in the form of a Belleville washer stack acts like a conventional Belleville washer stack with a large inner diameter to outer diameter ratio and thus relatively stiffly. This region is the working range of the spring system 14. In principle, the cut-outs 17 can be arranged along the first edge 22 (along the inner circumference) and/or along the second edge 23 (along the outer circumference) of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a spring system 14 in which the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c are in the form of wave washers. What are known as wave washers combine the washer shape of a Belleville washer with the waves of a wave spring. At the start of deformation, that is, in the pre-loading range, the spring system 14 acts like a Belleville washer stack. The spring force is small owing to a relatively small sheet thickness, for example within the range between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm. As soon as the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c of the spring system 14 in the form of a wave washer are pressed into a flat state, the spring system 14 acts like a wave spring with a linearly rising curve. A small sheet thickness is advantageous for reducing the bending stress which can rapidly reach impermissibly high values in the case of thick sheets.

[0056] The spring system 14 shown in FIG. 5 has spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c with the same wave heights at the inner and outer diameters. To adjust the stiffness of the waves, the wave height can also be different on the inside and outside. The wave height of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c is preferably smaller at the inner diameter than in the region of the outer diameter, since the stresses in the spring system can also be reduced thereby.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a spring system 14 in the form of a wave spring. Each turn of the spring system 14 in the form of a wave spring forms a spring element 15a, 15b, 15c. The spring system 14 shown in FIG. 6 consists, by way of example, of two regions of different turn heights. In the pre-loading range of the spring system, the region of greater wave height is substantially effective, in this example the top two turns (corresponds to the spring elements 15a and 15b). Since only a few layers are deformed, the stiffness and thus the pre-loading force are relatively small. As soon as all the layers lie on each other, the stiffness of the spring system 14 increases. All the turns or all the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c are then deformed in the working range.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a spring system 14 with an anti-rotation means. To this end, the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c have grooves 32 on the second edge 23 thereof or along the outer circumference. Alternatively to the grooves, protruding tabs could also be provided. The grooves 32 are arranged such that they engage in corresponding mating pieces on the friction lining element 11 or on the backing plate 10. The anti-rotation means thus ensures that individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c do not rotate relative to each other and thus a parallel stack of the individual spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c is maintained. For example, pin-like raised portions on the backing plate 10 could engage in the grooves 32 arranged on the outer circumference of the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c and thus prevent rotation.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows different profiles of a force-deflection spring curve of different spring systems. On the x axis, the pre-loading deflection 41 is shown in the left-hand half and the working deflection 40 is shown in the right-hand half. The spring force 42 is shown on the y axis. FIG. 8 shows three different spring curves 44, 45, 46. A linear spring curve 44 is shown using a dotted line. A degressive spring curve 45 is shown using a dash-dotted line. The solid curve shows the profile of the spring system 46 according to the invention; the number of regions of different gradient depends on the design of the spring system. The intersections of the curves with the y axis show the necessary pre-loading force 42 for the respective spring system.

[0060] A small pre-loading force 43 ensures that the spring system 14 can deform even under small jaw forces. Large pre-loading forces 43, however, allow a spring system to act rigidly under small jaw forces, which is associated with negative consequences for temperature distribution on the backing plate and the progression of friction coefficients. In addition, the small pre-loading forces 43 place less stress on fastening means 16. A long pre-loading deflection 41 is associated with a relatively shallow force-deflection curve, which helps to compensate setting phenomena in the spring system 14 or an unfavourable tolerance stackup of the fastening means 16 with a shortened pre-loading deflection 41. Both effects result in only low pre-loading losses in this case. If a spring system with a sharply increasing curve in the pre-loading range is used, setting of the spring system and/or a short pre-loading deflection 41 can rapidly lead to a loose connection and rattling.

[0061] A large spring force in the end position means that the spring system 14 can still deform and does not behave rigidly under large jaw forces. A short working deflection to the end position is applied to comply with installation space requirements, for example for standardised brake lining thicknesses.

[0062] A high degree of damping, that is, a pronounced hysteresis, helps to suppress noise in addition to a possible non-degressive curve. Therefore, no additional damping elements are necessary for a high degree of damping. The multi-layered spring system 14 has a high degree of intrinsic mechanical damping.

[0063] A stable thermal behaviour means that elastic deformability is maintained in the event of thermal overloading. The temperature resistance and the ability to tolerate overloading are improved by the multi-layered structure of the spring system 14. The multi-layered spring system or the spring elements 15a, 15b, 15c of the spring system 14 do not generally lie fully on each other. Remaining gaps act as obstacles to thermal conduction and result in lower temperatures in the spring layers remote from the friction lining elements 11.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0064] 100 Brake lining [0065] 200 Disc brake [0066] 10 Backing plate [0067] 11 Friction lining element [0068] 11a Friction lining element support [0069] 12 First side face of friction lining element [0070] 13 Second side face of friction lining element [0071] 14 Spring system [0072] 15, 15a, 15b, 15c Spring elements [0073] 16 Fastening means [0074] 17 Cut-out [0075] 18 Tab [0076] 19 Turns of a wave spring [0077] 20 Bore through backing plate [0078] 21 Socket [0079] 22 First edge of spring elements [0080] 23 Second edge of spring elements [0081] 24 First flange [0082] 25 First bearing face [0083] 26 Depression in backing plate [0084] 27 Second bearing face [0085] 28 First side face of backing plate [0086] 29 Second side face of backing plate [0087] 30 Second flange [0088] 31 Lip [0089] 32 Groove [0090] 40 Working deflection [0091] 41 Pre-loading deflection [0092] 42 Spring force [0093] 43 Pre-loading force [0094] 44 Linear spring curve [0095] 45 Degressive spring curve [0096] 46 Curve of spring system according to the invention