The present invention relates to a braking arrangement. The invention also relates to an attachment member and a corresponding method for interconnecting a brake liner to a backing plate by means of the attachment member. The invention is applicable on vehicles, in particularly heavy duty vehicle such as e.g. trucks or buses. However, although the invention will mainly be described in relation to a truck, the invention is of course also applicable for other type of vehicles using drum brakes, such as e.g. cars or working machines, etc.
In connection to the field of braking arrangements for vehicles, an often used braking arrangement is a drum brake. When the drum brake is activated, i.e. when the vehicle is braking, a brake liner of the drum brake is forced in a radially outward direction of the drum brake where it is abutting a friction material of the vehicle wheel, which thus reduces the speed of the vehicle. Hence, the brake liner of the drum brake is a wearing part which has to be replaced within predetermined time intervals.
The brake liner is often connectable to a backing plate of the drum brake. The interconnection between the brake liner and the backing plate can be made in a number of different fashions. A relatively normal procedure is to interconnect the brake liner to the backing plate by means of a rivet or the like such that a tight and secure fit between the two parts are achieved.
US 2002/0121412 describes a braking arrangement comprising brake lining segments which are connectable to a brake shoe of a drum brake by means of keying element. The braking arrangement in US 2002/0121412 strives to improve the interconnection between the brake lining segments and the brake shoe such as to prevent detachment of the lining segments from the brake shoe during use.
However, the braking arrangement in US 2002/0121412 is still in need of further improvements in terms of e.g. simplified service procedure when exchanging the brake lining segments.
It is desirable to provide a braking arrangement having a brake liner which is simpler to assemble to a backing plate in comparison to the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a braking arrangement comprising a brake liner, a backing plate and an attachment member for interconnecting the brake liner to the backing plate, wherein the brake liner comprises a recess in a surface facing the backing plate, wherein the backing plate comprises a through hole associated to the recess of the brake liner; wherein the attachment member comprises a first portion engaging the recess of the brake liner, wherein the attachment member further comprises a second portion extending from the first portion of the attachment member and forming a one-piece unit with the first portion, and wherein the second portion extends into the through hole of the backing plate and engages with the backing plate.
The wording “through hole associated to the recess” should in the following and throughout the entire description be interpreted as the through hole and the recess are arranged in connection to each other such that the attachment member can engage both the brake liner and the backing plate. The through hole can be arranged in alignment with the recess or it can be arranged slightly offset to the recess. Hence, the wording “through hole associated to the recess” should not be construed as limited to an arrangement where the through hole and the recess are arranged in absolute alignment with each other since certain tolerances may be considered acceptable.
Furthermore, the wording “forming a one-piece unit with the first portion” should in the following and throughout the entire description be interpreted as an attachment member where the first and second portions are integrally formed with each other, i.e. the first portion and the second portion are arranged as an integral part.
This braking arrangement creates conditions for a simplified assembly of the attachment member when interconnecting the brake liner to the backing plate, since the use of additional assembly components, such as e.g. screws or bolts, are no longer necessary. In more detail, the second portion of the attachment member is hence used as an attachment means for interconnecting the brake liner to the backing plate. A pressing machine or the like can be used when assembling the components such that a tight fit is achieved.
Advantages of the present invention is thus that a braking arrangement is provided which comprises fewer components in comparison to the prior art. Also, assembly of the braking arrangement is simplified and more time efficient since it does not require any attachment by means of screws or bolts, which attachment methods are time consuming and more difficult to automatize, since it requires a visual determination that the threaded holes of the attachment members are arranged in alignment with the holes of the backing plate. The present invention on the other hand merely needs to position the attachment member in the recess and the through hole; whereby the pressing machine can press the attachment member in place.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may extend through the through hole of the backing plate and engage with a surface of the backing plate located on an opposite side of the backing plate in relation to the brake liner.
Hereby, the engagement between the second portion and the backing plate is further improved, i.e. the interconnection between the second portion of the attachment member and the surface of the backing plate provides for a connection to a well defined surface which connection further prevents the brake liner to be detached during use of the braking arrangement.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may engage the surface of the backing plate on opposite sides of the through hole.
An advantage is that a more or less symmetric engagement of the attachment member is provided which efficiently distributes the upcoming force from the braking procedure.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may comprise a pair of legs. The pair of legs is advantageous since they can be arranged on opposite sides of the above described through hole. Also, the pair of legs is advantageous during assembly, since a pressing machine, having a tapering end portion to press the second portion, will more or less automatically press the legs to opposite sides of the through hole.
According to an example embodiment, each of the legs of the second portion of the attachment member may comprise an end portion having a J-formed flange, wherein the J-formed flanges are facing away from each other.
Hereby, the J-formed flanges will provide for a circumferentially arranged force on the backing plate by means of the leg portion, as well as a support in the radial direction of the braking arrangement by means of the J-formed flanges.
According to an example embodiment, the recess may be elongated and extend in an axial direction of the brake liner from an axial end portion of the brake liner towards a center portion thereof. An advantage is that the braking arrangement is further improved in relation to an assembly perspective, whereby the attachment member can be provided to the brake liner and the backing plate from a side portion thereof and thereafter pressed to provide the final braking arrangement. Having access to the recess of the brake liner from an axial end portion of the braking arrangement is advantageous since the attachment member will be easily accessible during service of the braking arrangement.
According to an example embodiment, the brake liner may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses. Hereby, the interconnection between the brake liner and the backing plate is further secured. According to an example embodiment, the backing plate may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced through holes associated to the recesses.
According to an example embodiment, the first portion of the attachment member may comprise a dovetail shaped portion. The dovetail shaped portion prevents the attachment member from moving in the radial direction of the braking arrangement.
According to an example embodiment, the recess of the brake liner may comprise a dovetail shaped portion. Hereby, the dimensions of the dovetail shaped portion of the attachment member may correspond to the dovetail shape of the recess for providing an improved fit there between. However, providing a dovetail shaped recess does not have to imply that also the first portion of the attachment member comprises a dovetailed shaped portion.
According to an example embodiment, the recess of the brake liner may be formed as a through hole having a protruding portion at a side of the brake liner facing the backing plate.
According to an example embodiment, the through hole may be positioned at a predetermined non-zero distance from an axial end portion of the brake liner.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a braking arrangement comprising a brake liner, a backing plate and an attachment member for interconnecting the brake liner to the backing plate, wherein the brake liner comprises a recess in a surface facing the backing plate, wherein the backing plate comprises a through hole associated to the recess of the brake liner; wherein the attachment member comprises a first portion engaging the recess of the brake liner, wherein the attachment member further comprises a second portion extending from the first portion of the attachment member, wherein the second portion comprises a pair of legs extending into the through hole of the backing plate and engages with the backing plate.
An advantage of the second aspect of the present invention is that the attachment member can be made in a two-piece configuration, i.e. as two separate components which are interconnected to each other by means of a e.g. a screw, a bolt, etc. Hereby, the first portion can engage the recess of the brake liner and the second portion can engage the through hole, where after the first and second portions of the attachment members are interconnected to each other.
Further effects and features of this second aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment member configured to interconnect a brake liner to a backing plate, wherein the attachment member comprises a first portion configured to engage a recess of the brake liner, wherein the attachment member further comprises a second portion extending from the first portion and forming a one-piece unit with the first portion, wherein said second portion is configured to extend into a through hole of the backing plate and engage with the backing plate when the attachment member interconnects the brake liner to the backing plate.
Hereby, an attachment member is provided which is arranged in such a way as to provide for a simplified interconnection between the brake liner and the backing plate.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may be configured to extend through the through hole of the backing plate and engage with a surface of the backing plate located on an opposite side of the backing plate in relation to the brake liner.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may comprise a pair of legs.
According to an example embodiment, each of the legs of the second portion may be configured to be formed in a J-formed flange when the attachment member interconnects the brake liner to the backing plate, wherein the J-formed flanges are configured to face away from each other.
According to an example embodiment, the first portion may comprise a dovetail shaped portion.
According to an example embodiment, the first portion may comprise a protruding portion extending from outer end portions of the dovetail shaped portion towards a longitudinal center plane of the attachment member and in a direction away from the extension of the second portion.
An advantage is that the protruding portion may be designed such that it, when the brake liner interconnects with the backing plate, is arranged in abutment with an inner portion of the recess, providing a tight fit between the first portion of the attachment member and the recess of the brake liner.
According to an example embodiment, the second portion may be configured to be deformed from a first, non-operative state, to a second, operative state, in which the second portion engages with the backing plate. Hereby, the second portion is deformable such that the attachment member will engage with the backing plate.
According to an example embodiment, the legs may be arranged in a first mutual position in the first, non-operative state, and configured to be arranged in a second mutual position in the second, operative state, wherein the legs are configured to be arranged in a diverging mutual position in the second, operative state.
Further effects and features of the third aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first and second aspects of the present invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment member configured to interconnect a brake liner to a backing plate, wherein the attachment member comprises a first portion configured to engage a recess of the brake liner, wherein the attachment member further comprises a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the second portion comprises a pair of legs configured to extend into a through hole of the backing plate and engage with the backing plate when the attachment member interconnects the brake liner to the backing plate.
According to an example embodiment, the pair of legs may form a one-piece unit with the first portion.
Effects and features of the fourth aspect are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum brake comprising a pair of brake shoes, which are movably arranged in relation to each other in a radial direction of the drum brake and a braking arrangement according to any one of the above described example embodiments, wherein the backing plate is attached to one of the brake shoes.
Effects and features of the fifth aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a braking arrangement according to any one of the above described example embodiments in relation to the first aspect of the present invention, or a drum brake according to the above described fifth aspect of the present invention.
Effects and features of the sixth aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first, second, third, fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for interconnecting a brake liner to a backing plate by means of an attachment member, the method comprising the steps of positioning the brake liner on an outer surface of the backing plate such that a recess of the brake liner is associated with a through hole of the backing plate; providing the attachment member to the brake liner and the backing plate such that a first portion of the attachment member is positioned in the recess of the brake liner and a second portion of the attachment member, extending from the first portion and forming a one-piece unit with the first portion, is positioned in the through hole of the backing plate; and pressing the second portion in a direction towards the brake liner for engaging the second portion with the backing plate.
Hereby, a method is provided which simplifies the interconnection between the brake liner and the backing plate. Hence, when the brake liner is worn out, switching to a new brake liner is made in a time efficient and secure manner. According to an example embodiment, the attachment member may be provided to the brake liner and thereafter provided to the backing plate.
According to an example embodiment, the step of providing the attachment member to the brake liner and the backing plate may be executed by means of directing the attachment member from an axial end portion of the backing plate towards a center portion thereof.
Further effects and features of the seventh aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the other aspects of the present invention.
Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.
With particular reference to
Turning to
When the drum brake 200 is activated, i.e. when the brakes are applied for reducing the vehicle speed, the brake actuating arrangement forces the brake shoes 202, 204 with the backing plate 208, attachment members 212 and brake liner 210 in the radial direction of the drum brake 200. The brake liner 210 is thus forced in the radial direction of the drum brake 200 and will eventually get in contact with a friction element (not shown) of the vehicle wheel such that a relative motion between the drum brake and the vehicle wheel is reduced. When the drum brake is deactivated, the springs 206 will bring the braking shoe to their non-braking position.
Since the brake liner 210, during activation of the drum brake, is forced in contact with the friction element of the vehicle wheel, the brake liner 210 will be more and more worn down, i.e. the material thickness of the brake liner 210 will be slightly reduced for each time the drum brake 200 is activated. Eventually, the brake liner 210 needs to be replaced with a new brake liner in order for the drum brake 200 to achieve proper braking functionality for the vehicle.
Reference is therefore made to
Firstly, the backing plate 208 comprises a plurality of through holes 302. The through holes 302 are arranged as elongated through holes which are extending axially from an axial end portion 304 towards a center portion of the backing plate 208. More specifically, the through holes 302 are open in the axial direction of the backing plate at the axial end portion 304. As depicted in
Turning now to the brake liner 210 depicted in
In order to describe the recess 306 of the brake liner 210 in further detail, reference is made to the cut-out portion depicted in
The attachment member 212, which cross-section according to an example embodiment of the present invention is depicted in further detail in
The first portion 322 of the attachment member 212 comprises a dovetail shaped portion 326. The dovetail shaped portion 326 is advantageous since it, when the first portion 322 of the attachment member 212 is directed into dovetail shaped recess 306 of the brake liner 210, has a shape that correspond to the dovetail shape of the recess. Hereby, a tight fit between the attachment member 212 and the brake liner 210 is provided. In detail, the attachment member 212 is, by means of the dovetail shape 326, prevented from being moved in the radial direction of the braking arrangement 100. Furthermore, the first portion of the attachment member 212 comprises a protruding portion 328. The protruding portion 328 extends from outer end portions 330, 332 of the dovetail shaped portion 326 and in a direction away from the second portion 324 of the attachment member 212. An advantage with the protruding portion 328 is that, when the first portion 322 of the attachment member 212 is provided into the recess 306 of the brake liner 210, the fit between the first portion 322 and the recess 306 can be further improved by means of the connection between the protruding portion 328 and the bottom recess wall 316 of the recess.
Moreover, the second portion 324 of the attachment member 212 comprises a pair of legs 334, 336. The pair of legs 334, 336 extends in a direction away from the first portion 322 of the attachment member 212 and is arranged approximately in parallel with each other. The invention is thus not limited to parallel legs; the legs 334, 336 may equally as well be inclined in relation to each other. The pair of legs 334, 336 will, when the braking arrangement 100 is assembled, be formed in a J-shaped form, which will be illustrated and described in further detail below. It should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to any particular size and shape of the pair of legs 334, 336. These parameters are of course depending on the specific application of the braking arrangement, e.g. the size of the drum brake, the number of attachment member used, etc.
Reference is now made to
During assembly of the braking arrangement 100, i.e. when interconnecting the brake liner 210 with the backing plate 208 by means of the attachment member 212, the top anvil 402 is arranged in abutment with the surface 312 of the brake liner 210 facing away from the backing plate 208. The bottom press 404 is provided from a non-engaging state, as illustrated in
Turning to
Moreover, the braking arrangement 500 depicted in
When assembling the braking arrangement 500 depicted in
Although the above description has been related to an attachment member 212 with a second portion 324 comprising a pair of legs 334, 336, other configurations of the attachment member are also conceivable. Reference is therefore made to
In order to describe a still further example embodiment of the attachment member 712 according to the present invention, reference is made to
Now, reference is made to
The method for assembling the braking arrangement 500 depicted in
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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5597/CHE/2014 | Jun 2014 | IN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2015/075146 | 10/29/2015 | WO | 00 |