Pad-and-spring assembly for a brake caliper

A pad-and-spring assembly has a supporting plate supporting friction material. The supporting plate has a disc facing surface, a plate back, and facing thrust structure. The friction material has a radially inner edge, and a radially outer edge, radially opposite to the radially inner edge, and defining the outer radial dimension level of the friction material with its tangential extension on the disc facing surface. The disc facing surface has a free surface located radially inside with respect to the tangential extension of the radially outer edge of the friction and having a through opening edge delimiting a through opening. An elastic device of the assembly has a body having at least one connecting portion, connecting to the body of the brake caliper and a supporting portion, axially crossing the through opening to apply elastic biasing action directly in axial direction to the through opening edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2019/060550, having an International Filing Date of Dec. 9, 2019, which claims priority to Italian Application No. 102018000020572 filed Dec. 20, 2018, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pad-and-spring assembly for a brake caliper.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a brake caliper for a disc brake comprising said assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

In a disc brake, the brake caliper is generally arranged straddling the outer peripheral margin of a brake disc, adapted to rotate about a rotation axis defining an axial direction (X-X). In a disc brake, a radial direction (R-R), which is substantially orthogonal to said axial direction (X-X), and a tangential (T-T) or circumferential direction (T-T), orthogonal to both said axial direction (X-X) and said radial direction (R-R), is further defined.

Brake pads generally comprise a pad onto which friction material is fixed, adapted to press against a facing braking surface of the braking band of the brake disc. The plate may comprise auditory wear indicators, sometimes embedded in the friction material, which have the function of emitting a sound, by rubbing against the brake band of the disc when the friction material has thinned axially due to prolonged use.

The axial (X-X), radial (R-R) and tangential (T-T) or circumferential (T-T) directions are defined on a brake pad, also when it is in a configuration not installed on a brake caliper and it is, for example, associated with at least one elastic device.

A known type of pad is the so-called pad of the type hanging on pins, which provides eyelets made in the pad plate and adapted to receive pins specifically envisaged in the body of the caliper and intended to sustain the pad, in which the braking action is transmitted from the material to the plate which surrounds said eyelets to the caliper body.

A different type of pad is the so-called pad of the type resting on the caliper body, which is accommodated in a specific pocket obtained in the caliper body, in which the braking action is transmitted by a side of the pad plate to the caliper body when said plate side abuts against a facing abutment surface of the caliper body pocket, at the beginning of the vehicle braking action. The pins associated with this type of pads act as sliding axial guides, to guide the approaching movement of the pads to the disc and the distancing of the pads from the disc.

Typically, the caliper body is made of metal, such as aluminum, or aluminum alloy, such as aluminum and lithium, or steel, and can be obtained by casting, but also by machining by chip forming techniques, as well as by forging.

In floating caliper bodies associated with fixed discs, a floating portion of the caliper body has a cylinder, or cylinders, adapted to accommodate hydraulic pistons capable of applying a thrust action on the pads facing it, making it abut against the braking surface of the disc, while it slides on the bracket, or fixed portion of the caliper, and acts on the second clutch pad making it abut against the opposite brake disc surface to apply the braking action on the vehicle.

In the known caliper bodies associated with fixed discs, a cylinder or cylinders is or are present on both the axially opposite sides of the caliper body adapted to accommodate pistons, preferably hydraulic pistons, capable of applying a thrust action on the brake pads to make them abut against the respective facing disc braking surfaces to apply the braking action on the vehicle.

The pressure applied by the vehicle driver on the brake pedal applies a brake fluid pressure which through a pipe is applied to the brake fluid present in the hydraulic circuit placed inside the caliper body to reach the cylinders, where the pressure is applied onto the bottom surface of the pistons, thus forcing them to close against the brake pads, which in turn abut against the braking surfaces of the disc.

The caliper body deforms as a function of the torque applied by the action of the pistons which make the pads abut against the braking surfaces of the disc, applied in directions which form torque arms with respect to the fixing points of the caliper body to its support. These torques deform the caliper body also in a tangential and radial direction with respect to the disc, as well as axially, causing an increase in the piston stroke and therefore an increase in the stroke of the brake system control pedal.

When the braking action ceases, the caliper body returns to its undeformed configuration, approaching the braking surfaces of the disc and at the same time the piston of the cylinder-piston assembly receives a thrust away from the disc by means of the action of piston retraction devices, usually seals integrated in the dust boot of the piston as shown in documents US-2013-192936 and US-2014-231190 by the Applicant.

Typically, such piston retraction devices (known as roll-back devices) are provided at the interface between piston and respective cylinder and are designed to retract the piston inside its cylinder by a limited predefined amount, moving away from the respective pad when the braking control ceases.

In this situation, the approaching of the caliper body to the disc is undesired because it determines a contact, albeit minor, between brake pads and disc braking surfaces, which determines continuous minor friction and thus a braking action, also known as residual braking torque, also when the braking command ceases.

Such a residual braking torque is often considered undesired because it generates noise, albeit minor, caused by the friction action between pads and disc braking surfaces, an undesired wear of the pads and of the brake disc, and implies more frequent maintenance for their replacement, and a minimum fuel consumption for feeding the drive unit with the energy, even if minimum, needed to overcome this residual torque.

For such a reason, it is known to associate spring brake pads which, by cooperating with parts of the brake caliper body, apply a direct bias in axial direction (X-X) on the brake pads to move them away from the brake disc when the braking action ceases, making them abut against the pistons already retracted by the roll-back devices. During the step of braking, such a biasing action away from the disc is overcome by the thrust action applied by the pistons. On the other hand, during the step of releasing, i.e. when the braking action ceases, such springs apply an axial thrust (X-X) aimed at moving the pads away from the braking surfaces of the brake disc, thereby avoiding the contact between the pads and the brake disc when no braking action is required.

For example, document WO-2015-155708 by the Applicant shows a cross-shaped spring solution coupled on top to the bridge of the caliper body arranged straddling the disc and provided with favorably inclined portions adapted to press against radially outer portions of the brake pads to move them away from the disc. Such a spring exploits the same inclined portions also to push the brake pad radially by acting on the radially outer edge of the brake pad. Cross-shaped springs coupled to the caliper bridge of this type require to act on the radially outer edge of the brake pad, necessarily providing a localized axial thrust which may cause a misalignment of the pads with respect to the braking surfaces of the disc facing them which, in order to be compensated, generates an uneven wear of the friction material of the pads, thus limiting the service life of the brake pads.

Solutions of springs working on side extensions which extend tangentially from the sides of the brake pad, are also known, as shown for example in document US-2014-0305753, in which the spring leaf is folded so as to couple the brake pad with one end and the body of the caliper with the opposite end, extending with the portion folded tangentially to the side of the plate. Such solutions require an increased dimension in the tangential direction next to the pad both to accommodate the ears of the pad and to accommodate the folded portion of the spring, necessarily requiring to reserve volumes of free space in the body of the caliper tangentially next to the pad.

Another known type of spring, shown for example in EP-0716246 and WO-92-18785, is located on the back of the brake pad and comprises a leaf-shaped body which alternatively couples to the piston or undercut against an elongated vehicle-wheel-facing portion of the caliper body of a floating brake caliper. For example, document US-2002-096404 shows a leaf-shaped spring solution adapted to be coupled in undercut manner against walls of an annular groove provided in the piston.

A further spring solution which can be associated by positive coupling with the piston is shown in document US-2015-323024 by the Applicant, which discloses a spring solution comprising a plurality of petals adapted to press, when they are inserted into a respective substantially cylindrical lightening cavity of the piston, against the axial walls of such a cavity.

Spring solutions coupled to the piston body have the advantage of providing an elastic biasing action to the brake pad applied in the back zone of the pad in which it presses the one or more pistons, and therefore offer the possibility of acting substantially on the barycenter of the brake pad.

However, such known solutions are by no means free from drawbacks, because they reduce the contact area between the back of the brake pad and the facing thrust means, e.g. a piston of a cylinder-piston assembly. Furthermore, such springs coupled to the piston necessarily limit the cooling capacity of the piston and thus of the brake fluid housed in the cylinder. Furthermore, such springs can damage the dust boot which protects the cylinder-piston assembly from the penetration of dust and impurities, thus requiring frequent maintenance.

The need is strongly felt to provide a spring solution to move the brake pad away from the braking surface of the disc when the braking action ceases and to make it abut against the piston which is adapted to keep the pad substantially parallel to the braking surface of the brake disc and which at the same time avoids imposing permanent coupling or connections to the piston body.

The need is therefore felt to provide a spring solution to eliminate or at least minimize the residual braking torque at the same time adapted to reduce the risk of misalignments between brake pad and braking surface of the disc facing it to promote an even wear of the friction material even in conditions of prolonged use.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to solve the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a solution to the needs described hereto with reference to the prior art.

These and other objects are achieved by an assembly and a brake caliper as described and claimed herein.

Some advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a general embodiment, a pad-and-spring assembly1or assembly1for a brake caliper10for disc brake is provided.

Said assembly1comprises at least one brake pad2and at least one elastic device5.

In a disc brake, an axial direction X-X is defined either coinciding with or parallel to the rotation axis of the disc (not shown) of said disc brake, a radial direction R-R orthogonal to the axial direction X-X, and a tangential direction T-T, orthogonal to both the axial direction X-X and to the radial direction R-R. Preferably, the radial direction R-R is incident to the rotation axis of the brake disc.

Said radial direction R-R defines a radially inward direction RI, directed towards the rotation axis of the brake disc, and a radially outward direction RO, opposite to the radially inward direction RI.

The axial X-X, radial R-R and tangential T-T directions, as well as said radially inward direction RI and said radially outward direction RE, are also defined on a brake pad2when it is considered not associated with the brake caliper10, and when said brake pad2is considered associated with at least one elastic device5.

Said at least one brake pad2comprises friction material3, adapted to press against an exposed braking surface of the disc brake disc to apply the braking action, and a supporting plate4which supports said friction material3.

Said at least one elastic device5is adapted to apply an elastic biasing action directed in axial direction X-X to said brake pad2to move it away from the brake disc when the braking action ceases. In this manner, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of undesired residual braking torque.

Said supporting plate4comprises a surface facing the disc6, intimately associated with said friction material3, and a plate back7, axially opposite to said surface facing the disc6and adapted to face, either directly or indirectly, thrust means8of the brake caliper10which can be associated with said assembly1. Preferably, said surface facing the disc6is partially covered with at least one layer of friction material3.

Preferably, said thrust means8of the brake caliper10comprise at least one piston8of at least one cylinder-piston assembly. Preferably, the at least one cylinder of said at least one cylinder-piston assembly associated with said piston8is formed entirely in the caliper body40of the brake caliper10. Said at least one piston8may be actuated hydraulically and/or electromechanically.

Said friction material3comprises a radially inner edge, adapted to face the rotation axis of the brake disc, and a radially outer edge13, radially opposite to said radially inner edge.

Said radially outer edge13of the friction material3defines the at least one outer radial dimension level of the friction material3with its tangential extension13′ on a plane which contains said surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4. In other words, said surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4defines a lying plane which contains it, although said supporting plate4has discontinuities, such as through holes and/or through slots. In other words, the outer radial dimension level of the friction material3is meant defined on a plane coincident with and parallel to the surface facing the disc6of the plate, even though the surface facing the disc6has discontinuities, such as through openings17.

According to an embodiment, said outer radial dimension level of the friction material3is defined by drawing at least one tangential extension13′ parallel to the tangential direction T-T from the radially outer edge13of the friction material3evaluated in its length which is furthest from the rotation axis of the brake disc which can be associated with said assembly1. In other words, the outer radial dimension level of the friction material is given by the radially outermost portion of friction material3.

According to a preferred embodiment, said disc facing surface6of the supporting plate4comprises at least one free portion9or free surface9, which is free from the contact with the friction material3and adapted to face a braking surface of the brake disc which can be associated with said assembly1, said free portion9is located radially inside with respect to said at least one tangential extension13′ of the radially outer edge13of the friction material3. In other words, said at least one free portion9of the surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4of the brake pad2is delimited in the radially outward direction RO by said radially outer edge13and/or at least one of its tangential extensions13′, and preferably by the tangential extension13′ of said radially outer edge. In other words, said friction material3has at least one recess, so as to face said at least one free portion9of the disc facing surface6of the supporting plate4, said friction material recess defining on said friction material3at least one recess edge surface15facing in radially outward direction RO and located at an innermost radial height than said tangential extension13′ of the radially outer edge of the friction material3.

Advantageously, said free surface9of the surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4of brake pad2comprises at least one through opening edge16which at least partially delimits a through opening17in axial direction X-X through said supporting plate4of brake pad2. In this manner, said brake pad2comprises at least one through opening17which axially connects said plate back7with said free surface9. Preferably, said through opening17is through across said brake pad2. Preferably, said through opening17opens at said friction material recess3.

According to a preferred embodiment, said free surface9of the supporting plate4comprises an opening margin surface, which at least partially surrounds said through opening edge16, and preferably surrounds said through opening edge16in radially inner manner, i.e. in the radially inward direction RI. In this manner, the supporting portion22is prevented from interfering with the friction material3under operating conditions, e.g. during braking.

According to an embodiment, as shown for example inFIG.10, said through hole17is a through hole surrounded by a closed periphery.

Preferably, said closed periphery of the through opening17is partially described on said free surface9. In other words, the closed periphery of the through opening17crosses the tangential extension13′ of the radially outer edge13of the friction material3.

According to an embodiment, as shown for example inFIG.13, said through opening17is a through slot surrounded by an open periphery, and preferably said open periphery of the through opening17leads to a radially outward direction RO.

With further advantage, said at least one elastic device5has a body comprising at least one connecting portion21,21′, adapted to connect to the body of the brake caliper10which can be associated with said assembly1, and at least one supporting portion22, which rests against said opening edge16of the free surface9of the supporting plate4axially crossing said passing opening17of the supporting plate4. In other words, said at least one supporting portion22extends at least in axial direction X-X, and preferably also in radial direction R-R, through said through opening17to abut against said through opening edge16described on the free portion9of the surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4of the brake pad2.

In this manner, it is possible to apply an elastic biasing action on said brake pad2in axial direction X-X to move the brake pad2away from an associable brake disc.

When, under operating conditions, during the braking action, said brake pad2is pushed by thrust means8to abut against an approachable braking surface of a brake disc, concurrently applying an axial thrust action against the support portion22of the elastic device5, which deforms itself by charging elastically. Preferably, during the braking action the through opening edge16slides on said supporting portion22of the elastic device5, thereby deforming it elastically in the radially outward direction RO while remaining in contact therewith. When the braking control ceases, the spring supporting portion22applies said elastic biasing action to move the brake pad2away from the disc.

Preferably, said through opening edge16is facing in radially outward direction RO. Preferably, said through opening edge16delimits said through opening17in radially inward direction RI.

Preferably, said at least one elastic device5has a body further comprising at least one arm23which extends, preferably in radial direction R-R, between said supporting portion22and said connecting portion21,21′ of the body of the elastic device5.

In this manner, it is possible to apply a direct elastic biasing action in axial direction X-X between said caliper body40of the brake caliper10and said brake pad2aimed at moving the brake pad2away from an associable brake disc.

Not necessarily, said at least one arm23directly connects said supporting portion22to said connecting portion21,21′, if it can do so, but still allows said elastic device5to apply a direct elastic biasing action at least in axial direction X-X between the body of the brake caliper10and the brake pad2.

According to an embodiment, said at least one arm23extends for at least one portion thereof either facing and/or in contact with said plate back7of the supporting plate6of the brake pad2.

According to an embodiment, said at least one arm23extends radially outwards with respect to said tangential extension13′ of the radially outer edge13of the friction material3. According to an embodiment, the body of said elastic device5comprises at least one further connecting portion25,25′, e.g. an arm, which connects said connecting portion21,21′ to said at least one arm23, thereby forming a preferably arch-shaped path, so as to take said connecting portion21,21′ to an axial level comprised between the radial extensions of the braking surfaces of the brake disc associated with said assembly1. According to an embodiment, said elastic device5comprises a cross-shaped body, and at least two axially opposite arms23, each ending with at least one supporting portion22, so as to bias two opposite brake pads2in the axial direction X-X away from the brake disc. In this manner, said assembly1further comprises at least one further opposite brake pad2so as to comprise two opposite brake pads2, adapted to press against opposite braking surfaces of a brake disc which can be associated with said assembly1.

According to an embodiment, said assembly1comprises a further separate elastic device5, so as to comprise two elastic devices5arranged tangentially side-by-side both acting with their resting portions22on the same brake pad2and/or on the same pair of opposite brake pads2.

According to an embodiment, said at least one arm23extends in radially outward direction RO from said supporting portion22of the elastic device5between said plate back7and the body of the brake caliper10which can be associated with said assembly1.

According to a preferred embodiment, said through opening edge16comprises an arch-shaped resting length18, so as to allow the resting portion22of the elastic device5to rest in a minimum contact area, ideally coinciding with a single point of contact between elastic device5and through opening edge16. In this manner, it is possible to apply a ready axial elastic bias on the brake pad.

According to an embodiment, as shown for example inFIG.23, said through opening edge16is associated with a slide11which extends between said plate back7and said free surface9of the supporting plate4. Preferably, said slide11is inclined with respect to the axial direction X-X by a predefined inclination angle. According to a preferred embodiment, said slide11is inclined towards the rotation axis of the brake disc which can be associated with said assembly1. According to a preferred embodiment, said slide11is inclined in the radially inward direction RI towards said opening edge16, in other words, it is inclined in the radially inward direction RI moving along the axial direction X-X from said plate back7to said free surface9of the surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4. Preferably, said predetermined inclination angle is substantially equal to said angle20formed between said supporting portion22and said arm23of the elastic device5.

According to an embodiment, said through opening17is surrounded by an eyelet19having a radially outward eyelet side30.

According to an embodiment, said eyelet19being axially offset with respect to the plate back7is preferably axially offset towards the brake disc which can be associated with said assembly1, thus forming a resting portion seat38adapted to receive a portion of said support portion22of the elastic device5.

According to an embodiment, said supporting portion22comprises a radially inner surface46which goes into abutment onto said through opening edge16, and an opposite radially outer surface47. Preferably, said radially outer surface47goes into abutment against said radially outer edge30of said eyelet19.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one arm23of the elastic device5ends with a free end24defining said supporting portion22. According to a preferred embodiment, said free end24defining said supporting portion22at least axially protrudes from said arm23. In this manner, it is possible for said supporting portion22to go into abutment against said through opening edge16placed radially internally with respect to said tangential extension13′ of the radially inner edge13of the friction material3without because of this interfering with the footprint of the pistons on the plate back7of the brake pad2.

The term “footprint of the piston” means one or more areas in which, during the braking action, the piston8acts, either directly or indirectly, on the plate back7of the supporting plate of brake pad2. In other words, at least one footprint of piston8is defined axially at the area of brake pad2on which the thrust means8act during the braking action.

As shown, for example inFIG.19, preferably a radial dimension piston band27defined by the radial dimension of the piston footprint is defined on said plate back7of the supporting plate4of the brake pad2. According to an embodiment, said piston footprint defines an outer radial piston level28substantially coinciding with the extension parallel to the tangential direction T-T on the plate back7of the radial height of the piston footprint evaluated in the farthest point thereof from the rotation axis of the disc. According to an embodiment, said piston footprint defines an inner radial piston level29substantially coinciding with the extension parallel to the tangential direction T-T on the plate back7of the radial height of the piston footprint evaluated in the closest point thereof to the rotation axis of the disc. According to an embodiment, said radial dimension piston band27is delimited in radial direction R-R by said outer radial piston level28and said inner radial piston level29.

Said radial dimension piston band27, said outer radial piston level28and said inner radial piston level29are also defined on said surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4, by means of their axial extension through the supporting plate4.

Preferably, said through opening edge16of the free surface9of the supporting plate4of the brake pad2on which said supporting portion22of the elastic element5rests is radially inside said outer radial piston level28, and preferably is comprised in said radial dimension piston band27.

According to an embodiment, said free end24protrudes in axial direction X-X from said arm23, thus forming an angle20with said arm23. According to a preferred embodiment, said angle20is greater than 90°. Preferably, said angle20is comprised between 120° and 180°, preferably said angle20is substantially equal to 135°.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one arm23of the elastic device5is made in the form of a leaf, preferably made of spring steel.

Preferably, said arm23and said supporting portion22are made in a single piece.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one connection portion21,21′ of elastic device5is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the brake caliper body2which can be associated with said assembly1, and preferably at least one brake caliper bridge of said brake caliper body10.

According to an embodiment, said supporting plate4of the brake pad2comprises a plate radially inner edge31, adapted to face the rotation axis of an associated disc brake disc, and an opposite plate radially outer edge32, opposite to said plate radially inner edge31. Preferably, said radially outer plate edge32which defines a radially outer plate edge portion33on said surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4, radially between the radially outer plate edge13of the friction material3and the radially outer plate edge32. According to an embodiment, said plate radially outer edge32delimits at least one wear sensor seat34adapted to receive at least one portion of a friction material wear signaling device. According to an embodiment, said plate radially outer edge33delimits at least one damper seat35, adapted to receive at least one portion of a device for adjusting the vibration frequency of the brake pad, such as for example, an additional mass.

According to an embodiment, said portion of plate radially outer edge33delimits at least one pin seat36adapted to receive at least one sliding pin37of said brake caliper10adapted to guide the movement of brake pad2with respect to the brake caliper body10both during the braking action and when the braking action ceases. Preferably, said at least one sliding pin37also acts as a radial constraint to a radial elastic biasing action applied by said elastic device5. According to an embodiment, said supporting portion22of the elastic device applies on said through opening edge16also a direct biasing action in the radially inward direction RI. Preferably, said direct biasing action in the radially inward direction RI is contrasted by virtue of the provision of said sliding pins37that cooperate with the walls of said pin seat36.

According to an embodiment, said friction material3further comprises at least one side edge14facing tangential direction T-T and adapted to face the brake caliper10associated with said assembly1.

According to an embodiment, said at least one side edge14defines the outer radial dimension level of the friction material3with its tangential extension14′ on said surface facing the disc6of the supporting plate4. According to an embodiment, said extension14′ can also not be parallel to the radial direction R-R but parallel to a definable middle axis brake pad2.

According to an embodiment, said free surface9is delimited in radially outward direction RO by said outer radial dimension level and in tangential direction T-T by said outer tangential dimension of the friction material3and by said friction material3.

In accordance with an embodiment, said free surface9is delimited in radially outward direction RO by said outer radial dimension level and tangentially T-T by said friction material3.

According to a general embodiment, a disc brake10is provided comprising a caliper body40, adapted to be arranged straddling a brake disc which can be associated with the brake caliper10and at least one pad-and-spring assembly1, according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

Preferably, said brake caliper10further comprises thrust means8adapted to press at least one brake pad2against the facing braking surfaces of the brake disc which can be associated with said brake caliper10. Preferably, said thrust means comprise at least one piston8, actuated hydraulically and/or electro-mechanically, said at least one piston8being associated with at least one retraction device12, or roll-back device12, adapted to retract by a predefined entity said piston8with respect to the caliper body40when the braking command ceases. Preferably, said retraction device12also acts as a knock-back device to extract, if necessary, said piston8from the body of the caliper40by a predetermined entity.

According to an embodiment, said thrust means8of the brake caliper10define said footprint of the piston and said radial dimension piston band27.

Said caliper body40comprises a pair of opposing elongated portions41,42, each adapted to face, either directly or indirectly by means of at least one brake pad2, one of the opposite braking surfaces of a brake disc which can be associated with said brake caliper10.

Said caliper body40further comprises at least one caliper bridge43,44, which connects said elongated portions41,42together being arranged straddling an associable disc brake.

Preferably, said at least one caliper bridge43or44are at least three caliper bridges, in which said at least three caliper bridges delimit caliper body radial openings45between them.

Preferably, said at least three caliper bridges comprise at least one central bridge43and at least one pair of side bridges44, tangentially opposite to said central bridge43.

According to an embodiment, said at least one connecting portion21,21′ of at least one elastic device5of the assembly1is coupled to at least two caliper bridges43and44, and preferably a central bridge43and a side bridge44, being arranged inside said at least one radial caliper opening45. Preferably, two separate elastic devices5are provided placed tangentially side by side, so as to couple both to the central bridge43and also to couple each to one of the end bridges44.

According to a preferred embodiment, said caliper body40is a fixed-type caliper body having opposite thrust means8for brake pads housed in said opposite elongated portions41,42.

By virtue of the features described above, either mutually separately or jointly in particular embodiments, it is possible to obtain an assembly which at the same time satisfies the aforesaid mutually contrasting needs and the aforesaid desired advantages, and in particular:it is possible to bias the brake pad away from the disc in a balanced manner, thereby avoiding misalignments between the brake pad and the braking surfaces of the brake disc;it is possible to bias the brake pad away from the disc avoiding to place springs between the brake pad and the piston, in order to increase the heat exchange properties of the piston;it is possible to avoid encumbering volume of space between the pads with springs.

The person skilled in the art may make many changes and adaptations to the embodiments described above or may replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent in order to satisfy contingent needs without however departing from the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES