Abstract:
A disk brake for a vehicle having a bracket which is fixed with respect to the vehicle and on which brake linings and at least one brake caliper are mounted so as to be movable in an axial direction is disclosed. The bracket and the brake caliper engage around at least one brake disk, and the brake caliper includes a housing limb with at least one actuating device, a further housing limb with at least one housing finger, and a housing bridge. A spring arrangement which generates an elastic preload between the brake caliper and the bracket is provided in such a way that the preload is aligned substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of the brake caliper. The spring arrangement comprises a spring element and a protective panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. national phase application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2007/054474, filed May 9, 2007, which claims priority to German Patent Application No.: DE102006022699.2, filed May 12, 2006 and German Patent Application No.: DE102006025304.3, filed May 31, 2006, the contents of such applications being incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a disk brake having a protective panel, having a bracket which is fixed with respect to the vehicle and on which brake linings and at least one brake caliper are mounted so as to be movable in an axial direction, with the bracket and the brake caliper engaging around at least one brake disk, and with the brake caliper having a housing limb with at least one actuating device, a further housing limb with at least one housing finger, and a housing bridge, having a spring arrangement which generates an elastic preload between the brake caliper and the bracket, in such a way that the preload is aligned substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of the brake caliper, and with the spring arrangement comprising a spring element and a protective panel. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Disk brakes on vehicles are subjected to very high loading on account of their proximity to the road surface and as a result of numerous factors, and must therefore be of extremely robust design. Particularly loose objects on the road surface may cause sensitive impact marks on the individual components of the brake, such that under some circumstances, said components become damaged or non-functional. Furthermore, it is increasingly important for customers to known that they have a visually appealing and harmonized and compact brake installed on the vehicle. EP 1 227 260 A2 discloses a disk brake which has a spring arrangement with a spring element and a cover. Here, the spring element performs the primary function of fixing the sliding-caliper-side brake lining. The cover is connected to the spring element in such a way that said cover serves for the axial support of the spring arrangement on the brake caliper. This necessitates an awkward design of the cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to specify a disk brake which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and which provides an improved alternative, in particular by means of expedient coverage of the components of the disk brake. 
     The object is achieved according to aspects of the invention by means of the invention described herein, in that the housing finger, the spring element and the protective panel are arranged axially with respect to one another in such a way that the spring element is positioned between the housing finger and the protective panel. The protective panel thus functions as a caliper panel and advantageously covers a significant part of the spring arrangement. Here, the disk brake is particularly well protected if the caliper panel covers a significant part of the brake caliper. 
     One advantageous development of the invention comprises that the spring arrangement is fixed to the brake caliper by means of a fastening device, since in this way, a spacing between the caliper panel and brake caliper is constant, and the components cannot collide with one another. As a result, wear of the brake linings does not lead to a movement of the protective panel. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the spring arrangement is fixed to the bracket by fastening means, wherein the spring element may be formed in multiple parts from a spring piece and a support element. 
     Alternatively, the spring element may be attached to the caliper panel in such a way that the force flow of the preload F v  runs, in sections, through the caliper panel. 
     In order to protect the components of the disk brake in a particularly effective and complete manner, it is proposed that a bracket panel be provided which is fixedly connected to the bracket. The positive effect is particularly pronounced if the bracket panel serves, in interaction with the caliper panel, as a multi-part protective panel, and covers a significant part of the disk brake. 
     An alternative solution to the problem relates to a disk brake having a bracket, which is fixed with respect to the vehicle, and having a brake caliper, with at least two brake linings being mounted in the disk brake so as to be movable in an axial direction, and with the brake caliper engaging around at least one brake disk which can be acted on axially by the brake linings, and with the brake caliper having a housing limb with at least one actuating device and a housing bridge, and also comprising at least one protective panel. The object stated above is achieved here in an alternative manner by means of the features disclosed hereinafter in that the protective panel is provided on the disk brake in such a way that most of the brake disk is covered. 
     Here, the protective panel may expediently either serve as a caliper panel and be fixed to the brake caliper by means of a fastening device, or be embodied as a bracket panel and be fixed to the bracket by fastening means. Both variants have proven to be advantageous and serve for the protection and visual harmonization of the disk brake. It is also conceivable for the bracket panel and the caliper panel to function in combination as a protective panel. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the protective panel of the disk brake is produced from plastic. The use of plastic provides a high level of corrosion resistance and cost-effective production of the protective panel. 
     Furthermore, the spring element of the spring arrangement may be arranged at least partially in the material of the caliper panel, as a result of which that region of the spring element which is enclosed by plastic is stiffened. This may be implemented for example by means of a simple injection-molding process. 
     In order to exchange the caliper panel quickly and easily on the vehicle, and to renew the protection and appearance of the brake, the spring element and the caliper panel may be connected by means of a form-fitting and detachable mechanism. 
     These and other aspects of the invention are illustrated in detail by way of the embodiments and are described with respect to the embodiments in the following, making reference to the Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the spring arrangement with a caliper panel for a disk brake, 
         FIG. 2  shows a disk brake with a mounted spring arrangement as per  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a disk brake as per  FIG. 2  with an additional bracket panel, 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a disk brake having two brake calipers with in each case one caliper panel for the brake calipers, and a common bracket panel, 
         FIG. 5  shows a disk brake having a frame caliper and a further embodiment of a spring arrangement with a caliper panel, 
         FIG. 6  shows the spring arrangement from  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  shows the spring element of the spring arrangement from  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment of the spring element of the spring arrangement from  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 9   a ) shows a further embodiment of the spring arrangement from  FIG. 5 , with
           b ) and  c ) showing in each case one refinement of the spring element,       
         FIG. 10   a ) and  b ) show a detail section through the brake caliper from  FIG. 5 , showing the interaction of the spring element and brake caliper, and 
         FIG. 10   c ) shows the fastening of the spring arrangement to the bracket in a detail section, 
         FIG. 11  shows a disk brake having a frame caliper and a spring arrangement in a further embodiment, and 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the spring arrangement from  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  show a first basic embodiment of a spring arrangement  5 , 45 , 55  with a caliper panel  7 , 47 , 57 , with  FIG. 1  illustrating an individual spring arrangement  5  and  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4  illustrating the spring arrangement  5 , 45 , 55  in the installed state in different disk brakes  1 , 41 , 51 . The spring arrangement  5  substantially comprises two fastening sections  10 , a central section  11  and two spring arms  12 .  FIG. 2  shows that the spring arms  12  press with in each case a ball-shaped finger  13  against a bracket  3  which is fixed with respect to the vehicle, with in each case one link  14  producing the connection to the central section  11  and substantially generating a preload F v . The central section  11  merges into the fastening sections  10 , which comprise in each case one hook-in device  15  and one support  17 . Since the central section  11  and the fastening sections  10  are perpendicular to the spring arms  12 , the elastic deformation of the spring arms  12  is a multiple greater than that of the fastening sections  10  and of the central section  11 . The fastening devices  15  extend through bores  9  in that caliper limb of the brake caliper  2  which is remote from the vehicle, and press the brake caliper  2  against the bracket  3  by means of radial contact surfaces  18 . The force flow of the preload F v , which runs here through the brake linings  4 , serves to fix the brake linings  4  in a radial direction  8  in relation to a rotational axis of a brake disk (not illustrated). The special bending of the fastening devices  15  has the effect that the contact between the fastening device  15  and brake caliper  2  takes place not via an edge  19  with the thickness S of the spring arrangement  5 , but rather via the larger, slightly ball-shaped contact surface  18 . In order that the spring arrangement  5  acts in a captively retained fashion on the disk brake  1 , the fastening devices  15  have in each case one hook  16  which, in the installed and preloaded state, bears against an inner side, which faces away from the brake disk, of the caliper limb, and thereby prevent the spring arrangement  5  from sliding out axially. Two recesses  20  are situated in the central section  11 , which recesses  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , serve to receive connecting means  21  of the caliper panel  7 . Rivets or screws are conceivable as connecting means  21 . The caliper panel, and also a protective panel for a disk brake generally, has the purpose of keeping dirt and other spurious influences away from the brake disk. The caliper panel may also serve to standardize the appearance of the disk brake and to harmonize the overall visual impression by covering individual components. In addition to this advantageous dual effect, the protective panel may also be designed graphically and in an application-specific manner, for example with a name or type designation. Here, the protective panel is designed so as to cover a significant part of the brake caliper, that is to say said protective panel forms a defined surface on that side of the disk brake which faces away from the vehicle. Here, said protective panel may either cover only the brake caliper or the entire disk brake. It is advantageous that the caliper panel can be easily exchanged, and the disk brake can thereby be visually upgraded in a simple manner. 
       FIG. 2  shows the positive effect of the recesses  20  in the central section  11 . The preload force F v  which acts between the bracket  3  and the brake caliper  2  flows from the fingers  13  via the links  14  through the central section  11  via the support  17  into the fastening devices  15 . In order that said force flow is harmonized and uniform and to avoid stress peaks, the transition between the links  14 , the central section  11  and the fastening devices  15  is rounded. Said geometric design has the effect that the stresses are concentrated uniformly in the edge region of the transition  22 . The recesses  20  in the central section x also have the effect that the force flow is conducted away from the corners  23  of the recess  24 . 
     The disk brake in  FIG. 3  is, with regard to the spring arrangement  45 , of the same basic design as in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, in addition to the caliper panel  47  for the brake caliper  42 , a bracket panel  48  is provided which is adapted geometrically to the caliper panel  47 . As a result of the interaction of the bracket panel  48  and caliper panel  47 , the disk brake  41  has a complete protective covering on the side facing away from the vehicle. This may however also be achieved by virtue of a specially designed bracket panel by virtue of said bracket panel extending over the entire disk brake  41 , and a separate protective panel for the brake caliper  42  therefore being superfluous. The bracket panel  48  and/or the protective panel  47  may be produced from a metallic material or from plastic, which has proven to be particularly corrosion-resistant here. This may also be realized by means of a suitable coating or paint layer on the protective panel and/or of the bracket panel. 
     The disk brake  51  illustrated in  FIG. 4  comprises in each case two brake calipers  52  and two pairs of brake linings  54  in order to increase braking power. Said brake linings  54  are movably mounted on a common bracket  53  which is fixed with respect to the vehicle. Here, similarly to the disk brake  41  shown in  FIG. 3 , one caliper panel  57  and one common bracket panel  58  are installed per brake caliper  52 . The bracket panel  58  extends over the entire bracket  53  and engages around the caliper panel  57 , such that the entire surface, which faces away from the vehicle, of the disk brake  51  is protected and visually harmonized. 
     With regard to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , it should be noted that the geometric design with regard to the arrangement of the spring arrangements  5 , 45 , 55  in the respective disk brake  1 , 41 , 51 , in particular with regard to the contact points of the spring arrangement  5 , 45 , 55  to the brake components, may also be designed differently. For example, a spring arrangement may be designed in such a way that the preload is realized not by tension but rather by compression. 
       FIGS. 5 to 10  describe a further embodiment with different configuration variants of a spring arrangement  65 , 75  with a spring element  46 , 56 , 66 , 76  and a caliper panel  76 , 77 . The basic design of the spring arrangements  65 , 75  is selected here such that the spring arrangements  65 , 75  are fixed to the bracket  63  and the spring element  46 , 56 , 66 , 76 , with a spring arm  32 , 33 , builds up a preload F v  with respect to the brake caliper  62 .  FIG. 5  shows a spring arrangement  65 , 75  of said type in the installed state on a disk brake  61  with a brake caliper  62  which is designed as a frame caliper.  FIG. 6  clearly shows the way in which the spring arrangement  65  is composed of the spring element  46  and the caliper panel  67 , which are fastened to the frame caliper by common fastening means  25 . Since the fastening points on the bracket  63  may be subjected to different elastic deformation during a braking process, compensating means  26  are provided on the spring element  46  ( FIG. 7 ). Whether the common fixing of the caliper panel  67  and of the spring element  46  to the bracket  63 , compensating means are also provided on the caliper panel  67 , which compensating means compensate the different deformation of the bracket  63 . In a further refinement, the spring element  56  of the spring arrangement  65  is formed in a plurality of parts from a spring piece  34 , composed of spring steel, and of a support plate  27  ( FIG. 8 ). The two components may be riveted to one another or connected in a form-fitting manner. As shown in  FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c , it is possible to dispense entirely with the support plate by virtue of the caliper panel  77  assuming the function of said support plate. Here, the remaining spring element  66 , 67  is attached to the caliper panel  77  by means of a fastening device  28 , and may be produced either from sheet metal ( FIG. 9   b ) or from spring wide ( FIG. 9   c ). 
     The variants of a spring arrangement shown in  FIGS. 5 to 9  are fixedly connected to the bracket  63  ( FIG. 10   c ) and generate a preload F v  with respect to the brake caliper  62  by means of the spring arm  32  of the spring element  46 , 56 , 66 , 76 . Since the spring arm  32  bears against the brake caliper  62 , the contact point  30  of the spring arm  32  and brake caliper  62  moves depending on the wear state of the brake lining  64  ( FIG. 10   a,b ). 
     An additional embodiment of a spring arrangement  85  is illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Said spring arrangement  85  is composed of a wire spring element  86  and a caliper panel  87  composed of plastic. The present example describes a variant for a disk brake  81  having a brake caliper  82  which is embodied as a frame caliper. The preload F v  is imparted substantially by the spring arms  88  between the bracket arms  89  of the bracket  83  and the frame  29  of the frame caliper. Here, the spring element  86  is bent in such a way that suitable contact points  30 , 35 , 36  are formed, and a section  31  of the spring arrangement  85  is surrounded by the material of the caliper panel  87 . Said section  31  is stiffened by the plastic encapsulation. 
     The caliper panel  87  is preferably integrally cast on the spring element  86 . Also conceivable are detachable connecting methods, such as for example a clip mechanism. Instead of the wire, the spring element  86  may, as in the previous exemplary embodiments, be shaped from a metal sheet. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.