Abstract:
A disc brake for a motor vehicle brake system and a restoring spring arranged therein, the disc brake comprising the following: a brake support which has at least one receiving region; a brake lining arrangement which has a brake lining support and a brake lining which is attached to the brake lining support and which can be brought into interaction with a brake disc in order to achieve a braking effect, wherein the brake lining arrangement is received in the at least one receiving region in a guided manner via a guiding portion formed on the brake lining support; and at least one restoring spring which engages the brake lining arrangement and biases the brake lining arrangement under elastic deformation into a starting position that does not produce a braking effect. The at least one restoring spring can be plastically deformed in order to compensate for brake lining wear. To improve the wear compensation by means of the restoring spring, rests against the brake support via a base portion and has at least one limb which is connected to the base portion via a connecting region and which is arranged at an angle relative to the base portion, the angle changing under the effect of plastic deformation as the brake lining wear increases.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/067451 filed Aug. 22, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety, and which claimed priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2012 016 737.7 filed Aug. 23, 2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a disc brake for a motor vehicle brake system, comprising a brake support which has at least one receiving region; a brake lining arrangement which has a brake lining support and a brake lining which is attached to the brake lining support and which can be brought into interaction with a brake disc in order to achieve a braking effect, wherein the brake lining arrangement is received in the at least one receiving region in a guided manner via a guiding portion formed on the brake lining support; and at least one restoring spring which engages the brake lining arrangement and biases the brake lining arrangement under elastic deformation into a starting position that does not produce a braking effect, wherein the at least one restoring spring can be plastically deformed in order to compensate for brake lining wear. 
         [0003]    Such disc brakes are prior art. In these disc brakes the brake lining support, after a deflection from its starting position that produces a braking effect whereby it moves into frictional contact with a brake disc, has to be moved back into the starting position in order to separate the brake lining from the brake disc. In order to avoid unnecessary wear and reduce consumption, after the brake lining arrangement has been deflected so as to produce a braking effect it is absolutely necessary to prevent any contact from remaining between brake lining and brake disc and any residual sliding moments from arising. 
         [0004]    However, as is likewise generally known, it is necessary to configure the disc brake in such a way that in the event of wear at the brake linings a wear correction may be effected so that, despite the occurrence of lining wear, the behaviour of the disc brake upon actuation remains substantially constant. Such wear correction entails adjusting the restoring spring in accordance with the wear. For this purpose there are solutions, whereby in the receiving region the restoring spring may effect a sliding adjustment in accordance with the actual wear situation. Other solutions provide that the restoring spring deforms, in particular plastically deforms, in the receiving region in accordance with the actual wear. Such a solution is described for example in the document U.S. Pat. No. 7,318,503 B2. Here, the brake lining arrangement is biased into its starting position by means of a loop-shaped restoring spring, wherein the loop-shaped restoring spring is configured so as also to guarantee a lining wear compensation by means of a plastic deformation component. 
         [0005]    It has however been shown that such solutions do not exhibit reliable behaviour during wear compensation. In particular, it is difficult to predict whether a plastic deformation of the spring curve always corresponds precisely to the actual wear state. A consequence of this is that with progressive brake lining wear in practice the restoring behaviour of the restoring spring may also vary. This may lead to the spring being for example overly deformed, with the result that the remaining elastic deformation component no longer provides an adequate restoring movement and residual sliding moments occur. On the other hand it is equally possible for the spring to be insufficiently plastically deformed, with the result that it provides a greater restoring travel than is desired. This leads to a delayed response behaviour of the brake upon renewed actuation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In contrast to this it is a feature of the present invention to provide a disc brake of the type described in the introduction, the restoring spring of which provides reliable wear compensation combined with constant restoring behaviour. 
         [0007]    This feature is achieved by a disc brake of the type described in the introduction, in which it is provided that the restoring spring rests against the brake support via a base portion and has at least one limb which is connected to the base portion via a connecting region and which is arranged at an angle relative to said base portion, said angle changing under the effect of plastic deformation as the brake lining wear increases. 
         [0008]    Instead of a harmonically round-shaped spring curve the invention provides that in the connecting region a solid formation portion is provided, in which the plastic deformation for wear correction occurs. This allows the plastic deformation behaviour to be adjusted in a more defined manner. 
         [0009]    A development of the invention provides that the restoring spring is configured with at least two limbs disposed at an angle relative to one another, wherein with increasing lining wear the angle between the two limbs varies for the purpose of wear compensation. 
         [0010]    The wear compensation under the effect of plastic deformation of the restoring spring therefore takes place in the at least one connecting region between base portion and the at least one limb and/or—in the case of at least two limbs—additionally or alternatively in the connecting region between the two adjacent limbs, wherein said connecting regions are clearly defined. Consequently, given a suitable configuration of the connecting regions, a more detailed description of which will be given below, the deformation behaviour of the spring may be adjusted purposefully and reliably for wear compensation. 
         [0011]    In principle it is possible to subject the spring to tensile loading, wherein the at least one limb is deformed with simultaneous reduction of the angle that the limb forms with the base portion. If at least two adjacent limbs are provided, these are spread with simultaneous widening of the angle formed thereby. As an alternative to this, according to the invention it is preferably provided that the restoring spring is disposed in such a way between the brake support and the brake lining arrangement that it is subject to compression loading, wherein with increasing brake lining wear the angle between the at least one limb and the base portion becomes larger under the effect of plastic deformation. If two adjacent limbs are provided, the angle between them becomes smaller under the effect of plastic deformation and the adjacent limbs move closer to one another. This variant of the spring that is elastic under compression has the advantage that the adjacent limbs under the effect of increasing wear compensation move closer to one another and finally, given maximum deformation (plastic and elastic), place themselves against one another. Upon release of the brake, a restoring movement within the scope of the elastic deformation component occurs. The plastic (permanent) deformation component is used for wear compensation. 
         [0012]    A development of the invention provides that the restoring spring in the connecting regions between two adjacent limbs or between the at least one limb and the base portion as well as close to said connecting regions is provided in each case with a recess, wherein the limbs remote from the connecting regions are designed free of recesses. By suitably dimensioning the length and/or breadth of the recess in the connecting regions the deformation behaviour in said connecting regions may be purposefully controlled. Larger recesses provide a greater weakening of the connecting regions and hence a lower deformation limit. By deformation limit in the present context is meant the transition from a state of elastic deformation to a state of plastic deformation. Smaller recesses provide a higher deformation limit, i.e. greater forces are needed to obtain a plastic deformation in a connecting region. The designing of the connecting regions with recesses has the further advantage that it allows a purposeful adjustment of the deformation behaviour to be effected with a low manufacturing outlay. In summary it is therefore possible for the desired deformation limit of a connecting region between elastic and plastic deformation to be determinable by dimensioning the size of the recess in the connecting region. 
         [0013]    As regards the structural design of the restoring spring it may be provided that the connecting region of the limb connected to the base portion has a different deformation limit than the connecting region between adjacent limbs. The limb close to the base portion therefore plastically deforms, so to speak, later than the limb disposed further away from the base portion. 
         [0014]    In this connection it may further be provided that the connecting regions between adjacent limbs with increasing spacing from the base portion are configured with a deformation limit of unequal value, preferably of decreasing value. It is however also possible to provide alternating deformation limits in successive connecting regions. 
         [0015]    As regards the structure of the restoring spring it may further be provided that the at least one connecting region is of a substantially harmonically rounded construction, albeit with a small radius. The harmonic rounding prevents an undesirable fracture of the restoring spring and guarantees a long service life. In addition it may be provided that the limbs are of a substantially rectilinear construction. 
         [0016]    According to the invention it is in principle possible that the restoring spring takes the form of a separate component and is fastenable relative to the brake support, preferably by means of a detent connection or a clip connection. This allows easy manufacture as a bent stamping from a spring steel sheet or the like. It is however also possible for the restoring spring to be attached to a guide clip for guiding the brake lining support, which guide clip is accommodated in the receiving region. In this connection it may be provided that the restoring spring is latched and/or clamped on the guide clip by means of a detent connection, wherein the guide clip for this purpose has a recess. Alternatively it is possible for the restoring spring to be formed integrally on the guide clip. This facilitates the handling of restoring spring and guide clip as a unit during assembly and logistics. 
         [0017]    In this connection it may further be provided according to the invention that the unit of restoring spring and guide clip is manufactured by shaping a flat component, wherein the restoring spring and the guide clip are manufactured in each case by shaping an, in the flat state, substantially elongate portion of the flat component, wherein the respective longitudinal axes of the elongate portions run substantially parallel to one another. As a flat component preferably a metal sheet may be considered, which in the course of cutting- or stamping processes is provided with desired contours and recesses and which is then shaped in the course of bending processes. By virtue of the construction according to the invention of restoring spring and guide clip as elongate portions of the flat component and by virtue of parallel arrangements of the respective longitudinal axes of said portions the dimensions of the flat component may be kept extremely small. This accordingly reduces the surface area of material needed to manufacture the flat component and hence the material scrap that arises, with the result that the cost of manufacture may be markedly reduced. 
         [0018]    The invention further relates to a restoring spring for a disc brake of the previously described type, wherein all of the above features pertaining to the restoring spring and the mounting thereof may be provided individually or in any desired combination thereof. 
         [0019]    Other advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the present embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of the disc brake; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a guide clip for guiding the brake lining support; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of the guide clip of  FIG. 2  with a restoring spring according to a first embodiment of the invention fastened thereto; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a component drawing of the restoring spring according to the first embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the restoring spring of  FIG. 5  according to the first embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are rear and front views of a combination of guide clip and restoring spring according to a second embodiment, wherein the viewing axis corresponds to the axis of motion of the brake lining arrangement; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the combination of guide clip restoring spring according to the second embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a view of a flat component for the manufacture by shaping of a combination of restoring spring and guide clip according to the second embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a view of a flat component for the manufacture by shaping of a combination of restoring spring and guide clip according to a third embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the combination of guide clip and restoring spring according to the third embodiment that is manufactured by shaping the flat component of  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a further perspective view of the representation of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    In  FIG. 1  a disc brake according to the invention is shown and denoted generally by  9 . Here, in a U-shaped brake support  10  a brake lining arrangement  11  is disposed and guided in a displaceable manner in a receiving region  12  in the brake support  10 . Inside the receiving region  12  a restoring spring  13  is disposed. In the illustrated embodiment said spring is provided substantially inside a guide clip  15 , which is disposed in the receiving region  12 . The restoring spring  13  abuts a laterally projecting guiding portion  14  of the brake lining arrangement  11 . In order to build up a braking force the brake lining arrangement  11  is moved by components, which are not represented in detail, in an as such known manner in the receiving region  12 . The restoring spring  13  in this case in accordance with the displacement travel of the brake lining arrangement  11  deforms initially elastically in accordance with the forces acting upon it. After cancelling of the actuating force acting upon the brake lining arrangement  11 , the restoring spring  13  may by means of an elastic spring-back move the brake lining arrangement  11  back into the starting position, hereinafter also referred to as restoring position. In the present case, in the opposite region of the brake support  10  a non-illustrated, identical assembly group comprising a corresponding restoring spring  13  is disposed. 
         [0032]    During the service period of the disc brake  9  a brake lining, which is situated on parts of the surface of the brake lining arrangement  11  facing the restoring spring  13 , is eroded by wear. In order that the response behaviour of the disc brake  9  remains constant, such wear is typically compensated by means of a wear correction corresponding to the actual brake lining wear. In this case the brake lining arrangement  11  is permanently displaced forward in the direction of the restoring spring  13  and/or in actuating direction. The starting position and/or restoring position of the brake lining arrangement  11  is likewise to be adapted by means of a wear correction to the increasing brake lining wear and/or to a compensating forward displacement of the brake lining arrangement  11 . This means that the starting position and/or restoring position is likewise to be changed for the purpose of wear compensation. The restoring spring  13  according to the invention solves this problem of wear compensation in that as a result of the plastic deformation following an increased action of force it shifts its point of application on the brake lining arrangement  11  in the elastically non-deformed state and hence the ensuing restoring position in actuating direction of the brake lining arrangement  11 . There now follows a detailed description of this operation with reference to a first embodiment that is represented in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . An increased action of force is achieved for example when, because of the incipient wear, upon a brake actuation a greater movement of the brake lining arrangement  11  occurs and hence the restoring spring  13  is deformed to a greater extent. This deformation comprises a reversible elastic component and a permanent plastic component. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a guide clip  15 , which is disposed in the receiving regions  12  of the brake lining support  10 . Such guide clips are as such prior art. They are used to guide the brake lining arrangement in a defined manner in the brake support. For the disc brake  9  according to the invention the recess  20  is additionally provided. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a first embodiment of the restoring spring  13 , which takes the form of a separate component and is fastened to the guide clip  15 . For this purpose, it engages by means of a detent lug  24  into the recess  20  of the guide clip  15  and embraces a part of the guide clip  15  by means of a clamping portion  21 . In this case the clamping portion  21  interacts in such a way with an adjoining, opposing base portion  22  that said portions are spread elastically upon being pushed onto the retaining region of the guide clip  15 . The restoring spring  13  is therefore clamped firmly on the guide clip  15 . It is alternatively possible for such a fastening of the restoring spring to be effected without a guide clip directly on the brake lining support  10 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the restoring spring  13  according to the first embodiment. Here, the restoring spring has the previously described clamping portion  21 , which verges at an angle of approximately 180° into the base portion  22 , so that these two portions run substantially parallel to one another. Provided in the base portion  22  is a recess  23 , from which a detent lug  24  projects in the direction of the clamping portion  21 . Connected to the base portion  22  by a first connecting region  26  is a first limb  28 . This verges via a connecting region  30  into a second limb  32 . The transitions from the base portion  22  to the limb  28  as well as between the limbs  28  and  32  are denoted respectively by angles α and β, which are produced by bending the limbs  28  and  32  out from an initially flat metal sheet in the direction of the side of the base portion  22  remote from the clamping portion  21 . The resulting transitions are in this case deliberately of a harmonic and not, say, sharp-edged design in order to avoid concentrations of stress. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the restoring spring  13 , wherein the section axis extends parallel to the direction of motion of the brake lining arrangement  11 . The opposing portions  21  and  22  in this case verge in such a way into one another that the spacing between them is smaller than the material thickness of a corresponding counterpart (region of a guide clip  15  or of the brake lining support  10 ). These portions upon being pushed onto the corresponding counterpart are accordingly spread elastically apart and firmly clamp the restoring spring  13  thereon. Opposite the detent lug  24  in the clamping portion  21  a recess  34  is provided so that the detent lug projects through a recess in the counterpart, onto which the restoring spring  13  is pushed, (for example recess  20  of the guide clip  15 ), and hence engages partially into the recess  34 . 
         [0037]    As may be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transitional regions  26  and  30  are denoted in each case by recesses  34 ,  36 . These recesses also project into the immediately adjoining regions of the limbs  28 ,  32  and/or of the base portion  22 . Otherwise, however, the limbs  28 ,  32  are designed free of recesses and substantially rectilinearly. The recesses  34 ,  36  are design features, by means of which the connecting regions  26 ,  32  are purposefully weakened. By said means the deformation limits are determined, which for the respective connecting region  26 ,  30  define the transition from elastic to plastic deformation in dependence upon the effective forces. The recesses  34 ,  36  in the illustrated example are dimensioned in such a way that different deformation limits arise for each connecting region. In the illustrated embodiment the deformation limit of the connecting region  30  is selected so as to be lower than that of the region  26 . It is self-evident that this also means that the degree of elastic deformation in the connecting region  30  is initially greater than that of the connecting region  26 . 
         [0038]    Thus, under the effect of a force F according to the arrow F in  FIG. 6  upon actuation of the disc brake  9 , i.e. upon a movement of the brake lining arrangement  11  in the direction of the arrow F, the angle β between the limbs  28  and  32  is reduced. An increase of the force F, and/or a greater deformation of the restoring spring  13  as a result of an increasing lining wear, results in the deformation limit of the connecting region  30  being exceeded. As a result the angle β between the limbs  28  and  32  is permanently reduced as a consequence of the plastic deformation of the restoring spring  13 . The point of application of the limb  32  on the brake lining arrangement  11  is accordingly also shifted in the direction of the arrow F. The restoring position of the brake lining arrangement that arises as a result of an elastic relaxation of the restoring spring  13  therefore likewise shifts in actuating direction in accordance with the plastic deformation, which is determined by the compensated lining wear. This effect is intensified when the deformation limit of the connecting region  26  is also exceeded. In the illustrated example this occurs only after the limb  32  has been plastically deformed towards the limb  28 . There is then a plastic deformation behaviour for wear compensation, in which parallel in time the angle α increases and the angle β decreases until the two limbs  28  and  32  finally position themselves one against the other in the actuating situation. A further plastic deformation as a rule does not occur. At least two defined limits may therefore be provided, at which the restoring spring  13  plastically deforms in order to compensate brake lining wear. 
         [0039]    It should be noted that the restoring spring  13  following such a deformation substantially retains its elastic spring-back capability and so the value of the restoring travel also remains substantially constant. Only the point of application of the restoring spring  13  on the brake lining arrangement  11  and hence the absolute position of the brake lining arrangement  11  after a completed restoring operation vary in a wear-related manner in that they are shifted in actuating direction. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 7 to 9  show a second embodiment of the restoring spring  13 , wherein in comparison to the first embodiment components of an identical type or effect are provided with the same reference characters. 
         [0041]    The essential difference is that the restoring spring  13  is not designed as a separate component but is formed integrally on the guide clip  15 . The fastening mechanisms by means of the detent lug  24  and the clamping portion  21  therefore no longer apply. The elements crucial to the spring response as well as the recesses  34  and  36  defining the deformation limits are however retained. The spring in this case is initially of a two-dimensional construction and is then bent into the base portion  22  and the limbs  28 ,  32 . 
         [0042]    In the second embodiment the restoring spring  13  and the guide clip  15  are manufactured by shaping from a common, initially flat component. This flat component is represented on its own in  FIG. 10  and denoted by  40 . It is evident that the restoring spring  13  and guide clip  15  initially take the form of substantially elongate portions  44  and  46  of the component  40 . In this case the respective portions  44  and  46  already for the most part have the basic contours and recesses in accordance with the finished combination of restoring spring  13  and guide clip  15  shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 . Thus, for example the previously described recesses  34  and  36  may be seen in the portion  44 . 
         [0043]    To manufacture the unit of restoring spring  13  and guide clip  15  according to the second embodiment the flat component  40  is bent around a plurality of bending axes, the position of which may be gathered from a combined viewing of the finished shaped component shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 . It is self-evident that in this case for example in the course of combined stamping-/bending processes further changes may be made to the contour or further recesses may be introduced. 
         [0044]    In the flat state shown in  FIG. 10  it is evident that the portions  44  and  46 , from which the guide clip  15  and restoring spring  13  are subsequently formed, extend along a respective longitudinal axis L 1  and L 2 . In this case the elongate portion  44  and/or the longitudinal axis L 1  thereof extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis L 2  of the elongate portion  46 . During shaping of the component  40  the portion  44  is therefore bent relative to the portion  46  in particular around a bending axis denoted in  FIG. 10  by z, which runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis L 1  of the portion  44 . It is further evident that the flat component  40  has two main dimensions y and x, which crucially define a material surface area of sheet metal that is needed to manufacture the component  40 . In this case it may be seen from  FIG. 10  that the component  40  takes up only a relatively small proportion of the spread-out material surface area, with the result that the material scrap that arises when the component  40  is cut or stamped out of this surface area is relatively high. 
         [0045]    In comparison to this,  FIG. 11  shows an alternative development of a flat component  40  according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this case the elongate portions  44  and  46  as such are of an identical construction to the example in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, however, the longitudinal axes L 1  and L 2  are aligned parallel to one another. Accordingly the surface area portions  44  and  46  extend substantially in a common direction and the spread-out required material surface area is smaller, particularly in the transverse direction y, than in the previous example of  FIG. 10 . The component  40  according to the third embodiment therefore takes up a comparatively high proportion of the spread-out material surface area and the scrap is markedly reduced. 
         [0046]    The bending axis z, around which the surface area portion  44  is bent relative to the portion  46 , extends in this embodiment at an angle α of 45° relative to the longitudinal axis L 1  of the surface area portion  44 . This enables the restoring spring  13  in the third embodiment also to be aligned in the same manner relative to the guide clip  15  and the actuating direction as in the examples discussed above. 
         [0047]    A finished shaped unit according to the third embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Evident once more are the obliquely extending bending axis z and the portions of the restoring spring  13  that lie adjacent thereto. In order to increase the stiffness of the region bent around the bending axis z and avoid local concentrations of stress, the restoring spring in this region is configured with a curvature  48 , which is likewise produced in the course of the shaping process. 
         [0048]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.