Patent Publication Number: US-2021190157-A1

Title: Lining carrier for a disc brake

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a lining carrier for a disc brake, in particular for commercial vehicle disc brakes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lining carriers for disc brakes are known. Lining carriers are plate-shaped and made from sheet metal or as a cast component and, in particular, are used in disc brakes for commercial vehicles. 
     Brake linings for disc brakes have, for example, a lining carrier (also called a brake lining carrier). A friction material (also called a friction lining in the following text) is arranged on the lining carrier. Lining carriers of this type that are equipped with a friction lining are arranged, for example, in pneumatically and/or electromechanically actuable disc brakes. 
     Here, the brake force is, as a rule, introduced in the case of brake application via a surface of the friction lining, which surface faces away from the brake disc, by the lining carrier being displaced in the axial direction of the disc brake and, as a result, being pressed with the friction lining against the brake disc. In the case of the brake lining bearing against the brake disc, circumferential brake forces are introduced into the disc brake, such as the brake carrier, via the edge region. 
     Therefore, various significant issues are related to said edge regions within the disc brake. The edge regions are subject to various loads. In the rest state, that is to say in the case of a non-actuated disc brake, the edge regions lie against or on support faces of the brake carrier and are subjected to vibrations during driving operation. In the case of braking and as the lining wear increases, the edge regions are displaced axially in the direction of the brake disc or axially in the opposite direction to the direction of the brake disc. The edge regions transmit the circumferential brake forces to the disc brake. In the case of brake release, the edge regions have to be released from the brake disc again smoothly, in order to avoid residual grinding. 
     Further details related to brake linings can be gathered, for example, from EP0694707A2. In order for it to be possible for the various requirements in the case of braking and in the case of the release of the disc brake to be fulfilled, very high requirements exist for the quality of the edge faces. Destruction, wear, tilting in the guides, and damage to the guide faces of the stationary part must be prevented. In this context, in particular, high requirements must be made for the dimensional accuracy, in order to avoid rattling noises and/or to ensure the displacement capability of the brake lining in every operating position. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to increase the service life of the friction lining that is arranged on the lining carrier and of the lining carrier with a low material outlay. 
     The object is achieved by an edge face of a lining carrier having a reinforcing rib axially over a width of the lining carrier, in the region of a recess. The reinforcing rib reduces stresses in the lining carrier during a brake application operation of the disc brake. During a brake application operation of the disc brake, a pressure ram presses centrally against a rear side of the lining carrier plate and presses the lining carrier with the friction lining against the brake disc. 
     In a further aspect, in relation to the lining carrier, the reinforcing rib flattens tangentially in the direction of the outer side of the lining carrier. To this end, the reinforcing rib has side regions. The flatter the transition of the side regions of the reinforcing rib into the recess, the more stresses are dissipated to the outside in the direction of the edge region of the lining carrier from the lining carrier center during a brake application operation of the disc brake. 
     In addition, it has been shown that the reinforcing rib is preferably arranged centrally in the region of half a length of the recess. The advantage is that the reinforcement of the brake carrier takes place locally only in that region of the brake carrier where the brake ram presses against the lining carrier plate. A displacement of the reinforcing rib to the left on the outside of the lining carrier or to the right on the outside of the lining carrier would have the disadvantage that the stresses in the brake carrier are not dissipated correctly during a brake application operation of the disc brake and material fatigue can occur in the lining carrier. 
     In a further aspect, the lining carrier has a width of greater than or equal to 9 mm. It has been shown that the service life increases exponentially in the case of lining carrier plates with an additional reinforcing rib with a width of greater than or equal to 9 mm of the lining carrier plate. 
     Moreover, it has proven to be an advantage that the lining carrier is configured as a cast part. Cast components are comparatively inexpensive to produce in comparison with milling and punching methods, because the casting method requires only a small amount of finishing work or no finishing work. 
     In a further aspect, the reinforcing rib extends beyond a radius of the recess of the lining carrier, insofar as the proportions of the disc brake allow this. 
     In another aspect, the reinforcing rib is configured as one piece with the lining carrier. The reinforcing rib is preferably configured with the lining carrier as a cast part. In comparison with a separate piece for the reinforcing rib, the single-piece embodiment is less expensive to produce, since no additional working steps are required, such as the production of a welded seam, in order to arrange the reinforcing rib on the lining carrier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following description, selected exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a lining carrier which is arranged in a lining carrier shaft of a brake carrier, with a friction lining, 
         FIG. 2  shows a lining carrier from the underside, 
         FIG. 3  shows a laterally sectioned view of a lining carrier, 
         FIG. 4  shows a lining carrier from the rear side, 
         FIG. 5  shows a lining carrier from the rear side in a further embodiment of the reinforcing rib. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a brake carrier  7  with a lining carrier shaft  6 . A lining carrier  1  which is provided with a friction lining  2  is arranged in the lining carrier shaft  6 . The friction lining  2  is arranged on a front side  3  of the lining carrier  1 . In addition, the lining carrier  1  is supported radially (vertically) on two supporting faces  11 ,  11   a  in the lining carrier shaft  6  by way of an edge face  5  which extends around a perimeter of the lining carrier  1 . The lining carrier  1  is guided laterally by way of the edge face  5  via two brake carrier horns  12 ,  12   a . The carrier horns  12 ,  12   a  prevent the lining carrier  1  from twisting laterally out of the lining carrier shaft  6 . 
     The edge region  5  that is arranged in the direction of the supporting faces  11 ,  11   a  of the lining carrier shaft  6  has a region  8 , in which the lining carrier  1  has a recess  9 . A reinforcing rib  10  is arranged centrally on the recess  9 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an underside of the lining carrier  1  according to  FIG. 1  in a rotated perspective, where a rear side  4  of the lining carrier  1  and an underside  13  of the lining carrier  1  are visible. The configuration of the recess  9  and the arrangement and configuration of the reinforcing rib  10  can be seen particularly clearly. The reinforcing rib  10  extends axially along an axis A of the lining carrier  1  over an entire width B (or thickness) of the lining carrier  1 . The reinforcing rib  10  is arranged centrally in the region of half a length L 2  of the lining carrier  1  (or in the region of the midpoint of the overall length of the lining carrier  1 ). The overall length of the lining carrier  1  is defined by a length L. The reinforcing rib  10  divides the recess  9  into two part regions  14 ,  14   a  and, starting from the lining carrier  1 , flattens tangentially in the direction of supporting faces  16 ,  16   a  of the lining carrier  1 . There is therefore no step between the reinforcing rib  10  and the part regions  14 ,  14   a  of the recess  9 . Furthermore, the reinforcing rib has two side regions  15 ,  15   a  which form the transition between the reinforcing rib  10  and the part regions  14 ,  14   a  of the recess  9 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the lining carrier  1  according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a sectioned side view.  FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement of the reinforcing rib  10  in the recess  9  of the lining carrier  1  from the side. 
       FIG. 4  shows the lining carrier  1  according to  FIGS. 1-3  completely from the rear side  4 . In particular, the flat transition from the reinforcing rib  10  to the part regions  14 ,  14   a  of the recess  9  is shown once again. 
       FIG. 5  shows, apart from a modified embodiment of the reinforcing rib  10   a , a lining carrier  1  according to  FIGS. 1-4  from the rear side. The reinforcing rib  10   a  extends beyond a radius R of the recess  9  of the lining carrier  1 . 
     While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.