Patent ID: 6378666
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A disc brake having an anchor fixed to a housing, said anchor having first and second rails that respectively receive first and second projections that extend from first and second carrier members to align a first friction pad attached to said first carrier member and a second friction pad attached with said second carrier member with a rotor, first spring clip means located in said first rail and second spring clip means located in said second rail, said first and second spring clip means engaging and urging said first and second carrier members into engagement with said anchor to attenuate vibratory movement of said first and second friction pads, said first and second carrier members responding to actuation forces by respectively axially sliding on said first and second spring clip means to bring said first and second friction pads into engagement with the rotor and produce a braking force to effect a brake application, said first and second friction pads having an initial first thickness that is reduced in size over a period of time by wear engagement with said rotor to a second thickness, said first spring clip means being characterized by a first base; at least a first tab that extends from said first base and engages said anchor to fix said first base on said anchor whereby said first base substantially covers said first rail; and a first arm that extends inward in plane perpendicular to said base, said first arm having a first lip on the end thereof that extends in a plane parallel with said first rail, said first projection on said first carrier engaging said first arm whenever said first friction pad reaches said second thickness to bring said first lip into engagement with said rotor and when said first friction pad engages said rotor during a brake application, said first lip on engagement with said rotor causing said first arm to vibrate and thereby creating a first audible sound to alert an operator that optimum braking may thereafter be impaired.