BRAKE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A brake assembly with a first brake disc and with a second brake disc, which are arranged spaced apart from one another and connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner and can be arranged such that they can rotate about a common axis of rotation, in particular on a wheel carrier. A brake caliper with brake pistons is arranged axially between the two brake discs, wherein at least one first brake piston is provided, by way of which pressure can be applied to a first arranged brake pad to press it against the first brake disc, and wherein optionally at least one second brake piston is provided, by way of which pressure can be applied to a second arranged brake pad to press it against the second brake disc.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A brake assembly of a wheel of a motor vehicle, said brake assembly comprising: a first brake disc and a second brake disc which are spaced apart from one another, connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner, and arranged to rotate about a common axis of rotation on a wheel carrier; a brake caliper having brake pistons that is axially arranged between the first and second brake discs, wherein the brake caliper comprises a base body and/or lid that extends radially outward over the first and second brake discs and shields a spatial region between the first and second brake discs from outside; at least one first brake piston configured for applying pressure onto a first arranged brake pad to press the first arranged brake pad against the first brake disc; and at least one second brake piston configured for applying pressure onto a second arranged brake pad to press the second arranged brake pad against the second brake disc.

12. The brake assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first and second brake discs comprise inner surfaces which face toward one another and outer surfaces which face away from one another, wherein the first and second brake pads are pressed by the first and second brake pistons only against the inner surfaces of the first and second brake discs which face toward one another.

13. The brake assembly according to claim 12, further comprising ribs disposed on the outer surface of one of the first and second brake discs to cool and/or increase a flexural rigidity of said one of the first and second brake discs.

14. The brake assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a counter bearing that engages on the outer surface of at least one of the first and second brake discs for axially for limiting axial bending of said at least one of the first and second brake discs.

15. The brake assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a labyrinth seal disposed between the base body and/or the lid and a radial outer region of the first and second brake discs to seal the spatial region between the first and second brake discs.

16. The brake assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base body and/or the lid and/or the brake caliper have cooling air channels and/or cooling air openings for passing cooling air into the spatial region.

17. The brake assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a brake dust collection and storage assembly disposed on the base body and/or on the lid or adjacent thereto for collecting and/or storing brake dust.

18. The brake assembly according to claim 17, wherein the brake dust collection and storage assembly is either (i) fastened to the base body, the lid and/or the wheel carrier by way of at least one holder or (ii) formed by the base body and/or the lid.

19. The brake assembly according to claim 17, wherein the brake dust collection and storage assembly comprises a replaceable metal braid.

20. The brake assembly according to claim 17, wherein the brake dust collection and storage assembly comprises a replaceable collecting plate extending substantially in circumferential direction and/or radially.

21. A brake assembly of a wheel of a motor vehicle, said brake assembly comprising: a first brake disc and a second brake disc which are spaced apart from one another, connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner, and arranged to rotate about a common axis of rotation on a wheel carrier; a brake caliper having brake pistons that is axially arranged between the first and second brake discs, wherein the brake caliper comprises a base body and/or lid that extends radially outward over the first and second brake discs and shields a spatial region between the first and second brake discs from outside; and at least one first brake piston configured for applying pressure onto a first arranged brake pad to press the first arranged brake pad against the first brake disc, wherein the at least one first brake piston is further configured to indirectly apply pressure onto a second arranged brake pad to press the second arranged brake pad against the second brake disc.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention is described in detail in the following on the basis of an embodiment example with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0018] FIG. 1 a schematic partial sectional view of a first embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0019] FIG. 2 a schematic partial sectional view of a second embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 3 a further schematic partial sectional view of the second embodiment example of the brake assembly according to the invention as shown in FIG. 2,

[0021] FIG. 4 a schematic partial sectional view of a third embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0022] FIG. 5 a schematic partial sectional view of a fourth embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0023] FIG. 6 a schematic illustration of an outer surface of a brake disc with a rib design and cooling channels,

[0024] FIG. 7 a schematic partial sectional view of a fifth embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 8 a schematic partial sectional view of a sixth embodiment example of a brake assembly according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 9 a schematic, unwound illustration of cooling air openings and cooling air channels,

[0027] FIG. 10 a schematic, unwound illustration of cooling air openings and cooling air channels and their throughflow,

[0028] FIG. 11 a schematic view of an embodiment example of a brake disc in section, and

[0029] FIG. 12 a side view of the brake disc of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In a schematic partial sectional view, FIG. 1 shows a brake assembly 1 of a wheel of a motor vehicle, wherein a rim 3 of a wheel 4 can be seen on the wheel carrier 2.

[0031] The motor vehicle is in particular a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine with a purely electric drive (BEV) or configured as a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as the drive motors (HEV, PHEV). PHEV stands for plug-in hybrid vehicle.

[0032] The brake assembly 1 comprises a first brake disc 5 and a second brake disc 6, which are arranged spaced apart from one another and are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner and can be arranged such that they can rotate about a common axis of rotation, in particular on a wheel hub 29.

[0033] Between the two brake discs 5, 6 there is a spatial region 7, in which the brake caliper 8 with the brake pistons 9 is arranged. A brake caliper 8 with at least one brake piston 9, in particular multiple brake pistons 9, is accordingly arranged axially between the two brake discs 5, 6. At least one first brake piston 9 is provided, by means of which pressure can be applied to a first arranged brake pad 10 to press it against the first brake disc 5, and also at least one second brake piston 9 is provided, by means of which pressure can be applied to a second arranged brake pad 11 to press it against the second brake disc 6. The brake caliper 8 is supported by the wheel carrier 2.

[0034] A respective back plate 12 is provided between the brake pistons 9 and the respective brake pad 10, 11 to equalize the pressing force from the brake pistons 9 onto the brake pad 10, 11.

[0035] The brake caliper 8 also comprises a base body 13 and/or lid 14, which extends radially outward over the two brake discs 5, 6 like a lid and shields the spatial region 7 between the brake discs 5, 6 from the outside. This protects the spatial region 7 with the aggregates and components arranged therein from weather, dirt and climate and makes it difficult for brake dust to escape. However, this type of encapsulation also concentrates the generated friction heat. The base body 13 and the lid 14 can optionally also be combined.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows that the brake discs 5, 6 comprise inner surfaces 15 which face toward one another and outer surfaces 16 which face away from one another, wherein the brake pads 10, 11 are pressed by the brake pistons 9 only against the inner surfaces of the brake discs 5, 6 which face toward one another. An axial force consequently acts on the brake discs 5, 6 from the inside out, which would cause said brake discs to bend outward.

[0037] It is therefore advantageous if the outer surfaces 16 of the brake discs 5, 6 or at least one outer surface 16 of a brake disc 5, 6 serve to cool and/or increase the flexural rigidity of the brake disc 5, 6 in that ribs 17 are provided on the outer surface 16 of the brake disc 5, 6 to improve cooling and/or increase the flexural rigidity of the brake disc 5, 6.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows an alternative illustration without ribs, wherein a counter bearing 18 engages on the outer surface 16 of at least one of the brake discs 5, 6 or both brake discs 5, 6 for axially supporting the brake disc 5, 6 against axial bending. The counter bearings 18 are supported on the brake caliper 8 or on the base body 13 of the brake caliper 8. The counter bearing 18 can be configured as a floating caliper, for example. The design with counter bearing 18 can, however, also be provided in combination with the ribs 17 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 1 also shows that a labyrinth seal 19 is provided between the base body 13 and/or the lid 14 and the radial outer region of the brake discs 5, 6 or at least one brake disc 5, 6 to seal the spatial region 7 between the two brake discs 5, 6.

[0040] FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7 to 10 show different embodiment examples of brake assemblies 1 in different illustrations, in which the base body 13 and/or the lid 14 and/or the brake caliper 8 are provided with cooling air channels 20 and/or cooling air openings 21 or are configured to pass cooling air in and/or through. Air can thus pass through the brake caliper 8 into the spatial region 7 and flow through or past the brake pad 10, 11, the brake disc 5, 6, and the brake caliper 8 itself to effectively cool the brake fluid. The fluid path of the air can be approximately S-shaped, see FIG. 7 or 8.

[0041] According to FIGS. 9 and 10, the air can flow into different cooling air openings 21 and then be combined and directed into cooling air channels 20. The lid 14 can be configured such that cooling air channels 20 can be bypassed or additional manifolds 28 can be used.

[0042] Grooves 30 which allow cooling air to flow through can be provided in the brake discs 5, 6 as well, see FIG. 6 for example. The grooves 30 are separated from one another by webs 22, wherein the grooves 30 or the webs 22 can be configured and arranged such that they are forward-curved, backward-curved, radial or concentric. The webs 22 create an air conveyance effect in order to let the cooling air flow through the grooves 30. The webs 22 and the grooves 30 can be provided on one side of the brake discs 5, 6 or on both sides of the brake discs 5, 6.

[0043] This also makes it possible to prevent nonetheless penetrating water or dirt from entering the region of the brake pads 10, 11 and the corresponding friction surfaces.

[0044] In one advantageous embodiment example, see FIG. 5 for example, a brake dust collection and storage assembly 23 can be provided on the base body 13 and/or on the lid 14 or adjacent thereto, by means of which brake dust can be collected and stored.

[0045] It is also expedient, see FIG. 5, if the brake dust collection and storage assembly 23 is fastened to the lid and/or the wheel carrier by means of at least one holder 27 or is formed by the wheel carrier or the lid.

[0046] The brake dust collection and storage assembly 23 can optionally comprise a braid 24, in particular a metal braid, which is in particular configured such that it can be replaced, in order to store the brake dust.

[0047] The brake dust collection and storage assembly 23 can also comprise a collecting plate 25 extending substantially in circumferential direction, which is in particular configured such that it can be replaced, in order to collect the brake dust. The collecting plate 25 advantageously closes off the spatial region 7 radially and axially to the outside and rests tightly against the brake caliper 8 on a sealing surface 26 or sealing surfaces 26.

[0048] The brake pistons 9 advantageously act only in response to pressure and can be implemented in a multi-piston fixed caliper configuration or in a floating piston configuration with primarily one brake piston 9 or with multiple brake pistons 9. It is also advantageous that the brake caliper 8 can radially seal a subsegment of the friction pairing work space between the brake disc 5, 6 and the brake pad 10, 11 as a type of labyrinth seal, so that the emission of brake dust is further limited.

[0049] FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment example of a brake disc 5, 6, which is configured such that it has annularly arranged webs 22 that separate grooves 30 from one another on its outer side, so that a fluid stream 32 can flow from radially inside in axial direction and radially outward along the brake disc 5, 6 through the grooves 30 between the webs 22. An annular cover part 31 is provided radially on the outside of the brake disc 5, 6 and arranged spaced apart from the brake disc 5, 6, so that the fluid stream 32 can flow off radially outward between the cover part 31 and the brake disc 5, 6. In FIG. 11, it can be seen that the cover part 31 is conical and approaches the brake disc 5, 6 from radially inside to radially outside and nonetheless leaves a gap or space radially on the outside to allow the fluid stream 32 to flow out. The webs 22 are advantageously forward-curved or alternatively backward-curved or radially aligned.

[0050] The cover part 31 is optionally configured and/or connected in a thermally conductive manner for improved heat dissipation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0051] 1 Brake assembly [0052] 2 Wheel carrier [0053] 3 Rim [0054] 4 Wheel [0055] 5 Brake disc [0056] 6 Brake disc [0057] 7 Spatial region [0058] 8 Brake caliper [0059] 9 Brake piston [0060] 10 Brake pad [0061] 11 Brake pad [0062] 12 Back plate [0063] 13 Base body of the brake caliper [0064] 14 Lid [0065] 15 Inner surface [0066] 16 Outer surface [0067] 17 Rib [0068] 18 Counter bearing [0069] 19 Labyrinth seal [0070] 20 Cooling air channel [0071] 21 Cooling air opening [0072] 22 Groove [0073] 23 Brake dust collection and storage assembly [0074] 24 Braid [0075] 25 Collecting plate [0076] 26 Sealing surface [0077] 27 Holder [0078] 28 Manifold [0079] 29 Wheel hub [0080] 30 Web [0081] 31 Cover part [0082] 32 Fluid stream