Abstract:
A guiding means for a brake lining arrangement of a disc brake, comprising a main part which comprises a guiding portion provided for guiding a guiding projection of the brake lining arrangement and which comprises a fixing portion which is used to fix the guiding means to a brake support. The fixing portion has two contact surfaces and a stop surface which connects the two contact surfaces. At least one elastic retaining bracket is provided on the stop surface, the retaining bracket being in secure engagement with the brake support at least in some sections, and at least the stop surface is provided with a retaining portion which can be brought into contact with the brake support at least in some sections.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/060929 filed May 28, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety, and which claimed priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 010 932.6 filed Jun. 1, 2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a guiding means for a brake pad arrangement of a disk brake, with a base body which comprises a guiding section provided for guiding a guiding protrusion of the brake pad arrangement, and a fixing section which is provided for fixing the guiding means to a brake carrier, wherein the fixing section has two contact surfaces and a stop surface connecting the two contact surfaces, and at least one elastic holding bracket is provided on the stop surface, which holding bracket is in holding engagement with the brake carrier at least in some sections. 
     Such guiding means are known from the prior art and are disclosed for example in the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,090 B1. The document describes a spring element acting as guiding means, the spring element having a first section which can be attached to a support bracket of a disk brake and a second section which can receive a protrusion of a brake pad. The first section has two elastic holding arms which are provided on opposite side edges of the first section. The two holding arms on the sides of the first section of the spring element bear against opposite side faces of a protrusion on the support bracket so as to be able to keep the spring element in its position on the protrusion of the support bracket. To this end, the two holding arms according to the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,090 are bent toward the support bracket at bending sites which are located on the side edges of the spring element, that is to say the holding arms are formed elastically on the spring element. 
     The holding arms of the spring element or of the guiding means are arranged on the support bracket in such a way that they are oriented in the direction of the actuation force of the brake pad arrangement. The holding arms of the spring element are thus loaded when the brake pad arrangement is actuated with the actuation force, since they are intended to keep the spring element in its predetermined position on the protrusion of the support bracket counter to the actuation force of the brake pad arrangement. 
     In order that the holding arms of the spring element can withstand the loads brought about by the actuation force of the brake pad arrangement and also the vibrations that occur during operation of a vehicle, the elastic holding arms of the spring element must be suitably designed, that is to say suitably dimensioned for these loads. 
     One problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a guiding means which has greater stiffness and greater strength while using less material. 
     This problem is solved by a guiding means for a brake pad arrangement according to claim  1 . 
     Preferred embodiments will become apparent from the appended dependent claims  2  to  9 . 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the problem described above, the stop surface of the guiding means according to the invention is provided with a holding section which can be brought into contact with the brake carrier at least in some sections. 
     As a result of being formed in the stop surface, the holding section has a high degree of stiffness so that the strength and stiffness of the guiding means as a whole can be increased without any need for additional material. Furthermore, by providing the stiff holding section—in comparison to the prior art—there is no need for an elastic holding arm. 
     With the guiding means according to the invention, the amount of material required in order to manufacture the guiding means can be considerably reduced, which leads to a reduction in manufacturing costs. 
     The holding section is arranged on the guiding means in such a way that, in the state attached to a brake carrier, the stiffened holding section is loaded by the actuation force of the brake pad arrangement. As a result, the guiding means can be reliably held in its predetermined position on the brake carrier and the lifespan of the guiding means can be increased. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the holding section may comprise at least one holding surface which serves to bear against the brake carrier. 
     The holding surface may run in an angled manner relative to the stop surface in such a way that it extends substantially parallel to the contact surfaces of the fixing section of the guiding means. Depending on the configuration of the brake carrier, the holding section or the holding surface may bear against the brake carrier either in a flat manner or with one of its side edges and can absorb the occurring forces and loads. It is of course possible that the holding surface bears against the brake carrier in a flat manner and with one of its side edges. 
     In this connection, it should also be mentioned that the holding surface is angled along an edge which extends substantially perpendicular to the side edges of the fixing section or to the side edges of the guiding element. The length of the edge at which the holding surface is angled, and the associated size of the holding surface, serve to set the stiffness of the holding section. Since the edge runs parallel to the direction in which the forces and loads occur in the installed state of the guiding element in a brake carrier, that is to say to the direction of the actuation force of the brake pad arrangement, these loads can be absorbed over the length of the edge and the size of the holding surface. Such a holding section provides a very high degree of stiffness without any need for additional material. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding section may extend between the stop surface and at least one of the contact surfaces. The holding surface may in this case be connected to at least one of the contact surface. In other words, the holding section may be formed by a holding surface running parallel to the contact surfaces and by a further surface section running substantially parallel to the stop surface. The further surface section then merges into one of the contact surfaces. 
     Preferably, the holding surface may be provided with a bulge which may help to fix the guiding means on the brake carrier. The bulge on the holding surface may serve for acting on the brake carrier and may engage for example in a depression on the brake carrier. 
     According to one further development of the invention, lateral insertion tabs may be formed on the guiding section. The insertion tabs on the guiding section of the guiding means facilitate the insertion of a guiding protrusion of the brake pad arrangement into the guiding section of the guiding means. For this purpose, the lateral insertion tabs may be configured in an angled manner, so that less precision is required when positioning the guiding protrusion of the brake pad arrangement during the insertion process. The insertion tabs guide or “center” the guiding protrusion in the guiding section. 
     Furthermore, at least one stop tongue may be formed on the guiding means, which stop tongue serves to position the guiding means on the brake carrier. 
     Preferably, the base body of the guiding element may have a substantially S-shaped configuration. 
     According to one preferred embodiment, the guiding means may be made of sheet metal. In this case, the guiding means may be formed in one piece. 
     The present invention further relates to a disk brake for a motor vehicle brake system comprising a brake pad arrangement which has a brake pad carrier and a brake pad attached to the brake pad carrier, which brake pad can be brought into interaction with a brake disk in order to achieve a braking effect, a brake carrier which has at least one receiving region and at least one fixing region, and a guiding means of the type described above which fixes by its fixing section to the fixing region of the brake carrier, wherein the guiding section of the guiding means is received in the receiving region of the brake carrier, and wherein the brake pad carrier has at least one guiding protrusion which is displaceably guided in the guiding section of the guiding means. 
     The at least one fixing region of the brake carrier may be configured in the form of a protrusion. The elastic holding bracket and the holding section of the fixing section of the guiding means may in this case act on opposite side faces of the fixing region of the brake carrier. 
     In order to aid the fixing of the guiding means to the brake carrier, the fixing region of the brake carrier may have, on its opposite side faces, recesses in which the elastic holding bracket and the holding section of the fixing section of the guiding means can respectively engage. 
     Other advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  show perspective views of a guiding means according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a brake carrier according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the brake carrier according to  FIG. 3  with guiding means according to the first embodiment of the invention attached thereto; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a disk brake according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show perspective views of a guiding means according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a brake carrier according to a second exemplary embodiment with guiding means according to the second embodiment of the invention attached thereto; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a disk brake according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  show perspective views of a guiding means according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of a brake carrier according to the third exemplary embodiment with guiding means according to the third embodiment of the invention attached thereto; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a disk brake according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a guiding means  10  according to a first embodiment of the invention. The guiding means  10  has a base body  12  which comprises a guiding section  14  and a fixing section  16 . Together the guiding section  14  and the fixing section  16  define the substantially S-shaped configuration of the base body  12  of the guiding means  10 . The guiding means  10  is formed in one piece. 
     The guiding section  14  is provided for guiding a guiding protrusion of a brake pad arrangement (not shown). The guiding section  14  has a lower guiding surface  14   a  and an upper guiding surface (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) located opposite the lower guiding surface  14   a , these being connected to each other by a connecting surface  14   b . The connecting surface  14   b  extends almost at right angles to the two guiding surfaces  14   a  located opposite each other. 
     The fixing section  16  comprises an upper contact surface  16   a , a lower contact surface  16   b , which are connected to each other via a stop surface  16   c . Again, the stop surface  16   c  extends almost at right angles to the contact surfaces  16   a  and  16   b.    
     A holding bracket  18  is partially visible in  FIG. 1 , the holding bracket being provided laterally on the stop surface  16   c.    
     The stop surface  16   c  is additionally provided with a holding section  20 . The holding section  20  comprising a holding surface  22  which extends substantially parallel to the contact surfaces  16   a  and  16   b  of the fixing section  16 . The holding surface  22  is angled at one edge  24  and therefore runs in an angled manner relative to the stop surface  16   c . The edge  24  extends substantially perpendicular to the side edges  12   a ,  12   b  of the base body  12  of the guiding means  10 . 
     A side edge AK of the holding surface  22  extends perpendicular to the edge  24  and can bear against the brake carrier when the guiding means  10  is attached to the brake carrier (see  FIGS. 3 to 5 ). The length of the edge  24  and the side edge AK determine the size of the holding surface  22  and thus define the area by which the holding section  20  can absorb the forces and loads exerted on the guiding means  10 . 
     According to this embodiment of the invention, the holding section  20  extends between the stop surface  16   c  and the contact surface  16   a , that is to say that, besides the holding surface  22 , the holding section  20  comprises a further section  26  which connects the holding surface  22  to the contact surface  16   a . The holding section  20  thus extends in a stepped manner from the stop surface  16   c  to the contact surface  16   a.    
     The guiding section  14  further comprises insertion tabs  28  and  30  which aid the insertion of a guiding protrusion of a brake pad arrangement (not shown). The guiding tabs  28 ,  30  run in an angled manner relative to the lower guiding surface  14   a  and the connecting surface  14   c.    
     Also provided is a further tab  32  which runs in an angled manner relative to the lower stop surface  16   b  and can act as an insertion tab for a guiding protrusion of a brake pad arrangement (not shown) and additionally as a stop tab for a protrusion of a brake carrier (not shown), which is received in the fixing section  16 . 
     The guiding means  10  has a head section  34 , which extends at right angles to the contact surface  16   a . Formed on the head section  34  is a latching projection  36  which extends in an angled manner from the head section  34  into the contact surface  16   a.    
       FIG. 2  shows once again a perspective view of the guiding means  10  according to the first embodiment of the invention. 
     It is again possible to see in  FIG. 2  the S-shaped configuration of the base body  12  of the guiding means  10  with the guiding section  14  and the fixing section  16 . 
     The holding bracket  18  is shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 . The holding bracket  18  is provided on one side of the stop surface  16   c  or is formed on the side edge  12   b  of the base body  12 . The holding bracket  18  extends substantially parallel to the contact surfaces  16   a  and  16   b  of the fixing section  16 . The holding bracket  18  is bent at one edge  38  in the direction of the head section  34 . The edge  38  runs almost perpendicular to the contact surfaces  16   a  and  16   b  of the fixing section  16 . Due to its design, the holding bracket  18  is elastic and can serve for example for tolerance compensation for manufacturing tolerances during the fixing to a brake carrier (not shown). 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a brake carrier  40  according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
     The brake carrier  40  has a screw-on bracket  42 , in which fixing openings  44  and  46  are formed. The fixing openings  44  and  46  serve for fixing the brake carrier  40  to a wheel carrier (not shown). Besides the screw-on bracket  42 , the brake carrier  40  comprises a longitudinal bracket  48  running parallel to the screw-on bracket  42 . The screw-on bracket  42  and the longitudinal bracket  48  are connected to each other via transverse braces  50  and  52 . Formed in the transverse braces  50  and  52  are receiving openings  54  and  56 , in which guide bolts (not shown) of a floating brake caliper (likewise not shown) can be received. 
     The brake carrier  40  further comprises a receiving region  58  and a fixing region  60  for the guiding means  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The receiving region  58  of the brake carrier  40  can receive the guiding section  14  of the guiding means  10  (not shown). The receiving region  58  is defined by surfaces  58   a  and  58   b  and by the underside (not shown) of the fixing region  60 . 
     The guiding means  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can be fixed to the fixing section  60 . The fixing section  60  is configured in the form of a protrusion and has a recess  62  and  64  on each of its opposite side faces  60   a  and  60   b.    
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the brake carrier  40  according to  FIG. 3  with guiding means  10  attached thereto. 
     The fixing section  16  of the guiding means  10  is placed onto the fixing region  60  of the brake carrier  40 , the fixing region being configured as a protrusion. In other words, the fixing section  16  of the guiding means  10  receives the fixing region  60  of the brake carrier  40  between the surfaces  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  of the holding bracket  18  and the holding section  20 . 
     The holding bracket  18  and the holding section  20  of the fixing section  16  of the guiding means  10  engage in the grooves  62  and  64  on the opposite side faces  60   a  and  60   b  of the fixing region  60 . Since the holding bracket  18  is elastic, manufacturing tolerances on the fixing region  60  of the brake carrier  40  can be compensated via the holding bracket  18 . This is particularly necessary since the holding section  20  of the guiding means  10  is very stiff. 
     The guiding section  14  of the guiding means  10  is received in the receiving region  58  of the brake carrier  40 , so that a guiding protrusion of a brake pad arrangement (not shown) can be guided in the guiding section  14  of the guiding means  10 . 
     The holding section  20  engages in the recess  62  in the fixing region  60 . The holding section  20  is thus adapted with its holding surface  22 , which runs on the edge  24  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in an angled manner relative to the stop surface  16   c , to the shape of the recess  62 . Since the fixing region  60  with the recess  62  is configured in a stepped manner, the holding section  20  with its stepped shape can bear against the recess  62 . In particular, the holding surface  22  and its side edge AK facing toward the fixing region  60  bear against the recess  62  and the side face  60   a , respectively. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a disk brake  100  for a motor vehicle brake system, but in which the brake disk per se is not shown. 
     Shown in  FIG. 5  are brake pad arrangements  66  and  68  which each have a brake pad carrier  70  and a brake pad  72  attached to the brake pad carrier  70 . Provided on the brake pad carrier  70  is a guiding protrusion  74  which is displaceably guided in the guiding section  14  of the guiding means  10 . As already mentioned, the guiding section  14  of the guiding means  10  is received in the receiving region  58  of the brake carrier  40 . In other words, the guiding section  14  bears with its surfaces  14   a  and  14   b  against the boundary surfaces of the receiving region  58  of the brake carrier  40 . 
     The arrow BR in  FIG. 5  indicates the direction of actuation of the brake pad arrangements  66  and  68 , in which the brake pad arrangements  66  and  68  are moved when braking and when releasing the brake. When braking, the brake pad arrangements  66  and  68  are moved toward one another in the direction of the arrow BR, so as to be able to interact with a brake disk (not shown). 
     It is clear from this that, when the brake is actuated, the guiding means  10  or the holding section  20  of the guiding means  10  is loaded with the actuation force from the direction of the arrow BR via the guiding protrusion  74  of the brake pad arrangements  66  and  68 . Even when the brake is not being actuated, vibrations occur during operation of a vehicle, the vibrations acting on the guiding means  10  or the holding section  20  in the direction of the arrow BR. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , the holding section  20  is formed on the guiding means  10  in such a way and the guiding means  10  is positioned on the brake carrier  40  in such a way that the stiff holding section  20  can absorb the actuation force of the brake pad arrangements  66  and  68  in the direction of the arrow BR, which force occurs in particular during actuation of the brake. The length of the edge  24  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and also the side edge AK of the holding surface  22  determine the area by which the holding section  20  can absorb the loads exerted on the guiding means  10 . 
     Since the holding section  20  can reliably absorb the actuation force, the guiding means  10  has a high strength, which leads to a long lifespan of the guiding means  10 . 
     In the embodiments of the invention which are described below, the same reference signs as those used in the first embodiment described above will be used for components which are identical or which act in an identical manner, but with a consecutive number being placed in front of the reference signs. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show perspective views of a guiding means  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Since the structure of the guiding means  110  according to the second embodiment is similar to the structure of the guiding means according to the first embodiment described above, only the differences between the two embodiments will be discussed here. 
     The guiding means  110  once again has a base body  112  having an S-shaped configuration. The base body  112  comprises a guiding section  114  and a fixing section  116 . 
     As can already be seen from  FIG. 6 , the holding section  120  differs from the holding section  20  according to the first embodiment described above. 
     The holding section  120  according to this embodiment is formed only by a holding surface  122 , which is angled at the edge  124 . The holding surface  122  once again runs substantially parallel to the contact surfaces  116   a  and  116   b  of the guiding means  110  and thus perpendicular to the stop surface  116   c.    
     It is possible to see on the holding surface  124  a depression  176  which leads to a bulge (not shown) on the holding surface  124 . The depression  174  or the bulge formed thereby on the holding surface  124  serves to aid the fixing of the guiding element  110  to a brake carrier (not shown). 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a brake carrier  140  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     A receiving region  158  and a fixing region  160  are formed on the brake carrier  140 . 
     The opposite side faces  160   a  and  160   b  of the fixing region  160  are provided with recesses  162  and  164 , in which the guiding element  110  engages with its holding bracket  118  and its stiff holding section  120 . 
     The recess  162  on the fixing region  160 , which fixing region is configured in the form of a protrusion, is adapted to the shape of the holding section  120  of the guiding element  110 . 
     The depression  176  on the holding surface  124  serves to engage in the recess  162  on the fixing region  160 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a disk brake  1100  with a guiding means  110  according to the second embodiment of the invention, which is arranged on a brake carrier  140  according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     The guiding section  174  on the brake pad carrier  170  of the brake pad arrangement  166  is once again displaceably guided in the guiding section  114  of the guiding means  110 , wherein the guiding section  114  is received in the receiving region  158  of the brake carrier  140 , that is to say that the surfaces  114   a  and  114   b  of the guiding section  114  bear against the boundary walls of the receiving region  158  of the brake carrier  140 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show perspective views of a guiding means  210  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     The third embodiment of the guiding means  210  largely corresponds to the second embodiment described above. 
     On the guiding means  210  according to the third embodiment, the lower guiding surface  214   a  is adjoined by a further guiding surface  278 , which runs in an angled manner relative to the guiding surface  214   a.    
       FIG. 12  shows a brake carrier  240  according to a third exemplary embodiment, on which a supporting surface  280  is provided for supporting the guiding means  210 . The guiding surface  278  of the guiding means  210  bears against the supporting surface  280 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a disk brake  2100  with a guiding means  210  according to the third embodiment and a brake carrier  240  according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
     It can be seen here that the brake pad carrier  370  of the brake pad arrangement  366  according to this exemplary embodiment is configured in such a way that it bears with its peripheral edge  282  against the guiding surface  278  of the guiding means  210 , which is supported against the supporting surface  280  of the brake carrier  140 . 
     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 embodiments. 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.