Patent Description:
As the importance of environmental protection is emphasized, environmental friendliness has become a big issue in the automobile industry, and regulations on pollutants emitted from automobiles are also being continuously strengthened.

<CIT> discloses a brake dust collector of the state of the art externally mounted to a brake calliper and comprising a collecting tank provided with a filter.

Meanwhile, pollutants emitted from vehicles may be largely classified into pollutants emitted from an exhaust system and pollutants emitted from a non-exhaust system. The pollutants emitted from the exhaust system are pollutants contained in exhaust gas, which is generated when an engine of a vehicle is driven, and are already subject to regulations, while the pollutants emitted from the non-exhaust system are expected to be subject to corresponding regulations.

Specifically, among the pollutants emitted from the non-exhaust system, dust generated due to abrasion caused by a frictional force between a brake pad and a disc during vehicle braking contains a large number of harmful substances, so that a method for minimizing the dust is required in line with the fact that regulations on harmful dust and fine dust are gradually tightening.

In addition, since a fixed-type caliper brake including a monoblock caliper usually provides relatively stable braking power even in high-speed repetition, vehicle models to which the fixed-type caliper brake is applied are relatively high-performance vehicles and a large amount of dust is generated between discs and brake pads, and thus a method of reducing the emission of dust is required all the more urgently.

Meanwhile, in order to meet the requirement, a conventional dust collector is provided as a separate device for dust collection on one side of a caliper housing, which reduces aesthetics and also reduces maintainability because the device body should be removed from the vehicle to clean or replace the filter.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a brake dust collector capable of effectively reducing dust that is generated by a friction force between a disc and a brake pad and discharged to the outside of a housing.

To this end, the present invention provides brake dust collector in accordance with claim <NUM>.

Advantageous embodiments will be set forth in the dependent claims, in the description which follows and in the drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a brake dust collector includes a pair of brake pads that are respectively disposed on both sides of a disc rotating together with a wheel and are in close contact with or separated from the disc, e.g., according to a forward and backward movement of a piston, a housing having the brake pads embedded therein and provided to cover at least a part of the disc, a main fastening portion having a main fastening hole formed to penetrate a trailing portion of the housing in a radial direction, and a main filter module including a main filter provided in the main fastening hole and a main filter cover through which at least one main flow hole is formed to penetrate and which supports the main filter, and the main filter module is provided to be detachable from the main fastening portion.

Since the main filter module is detachably mounted to the main fastening portion, the brake dust collector is capable of improving maintainability of a filter by forming a filter module to be detachable.

It is another advantage of the present invention that the brake dust collector is capable of reinforcing stiffness of a housing itself and also preventing the deterioration in aesthetics of a caliper due to a filter module since the filter module is formed to be detachable from a portion formed to extend to a trailing portion side of the housing.

It is yet another advantage of the present invention that the brake dust collector is capable of facilitating management of a filter by enabling the filter to be cleansed by washing liquid and the like even in a state where a filter module is mounted, since the main flow hole allows water to flow towards the main filter.

The main filter module may be bolted to the main fastening portion.

The main fastening portion may further include a fastening bracket formed to protrude in the radial direction and a fastening hole formed to penetrate the fastening bracket in a forward and backward direction of the brake pads so that a bolt member passes therethrough, and the main filter module and the fastening bracket may be bolted with the bolt member in the forward and backward direction of the brake pads.

The main filter may be made of a metal with corrosion resistance such as, for example, stainless steel.

The main filter cover may be mounted with an end side at a predetermined space from the housing or the main fastening portion. For example, the main filter cover may be positioned such that a gap extends between an edge of the main filter cover and at least a part of the main fastening portion, e.g., to allow passage of air therethrough.

The main filter cover may include an outer circumferential portion formed in a direction parallel to an outer circumferential surface of the disc and a pair of planar portions disposed in a direction parallel to both side surfaces of the disc, and the main flow hole may be formed to penetrate at least one of the outer circumferential portion or the pair of planar portions.

In addition, the housing may be formed as a monoblock.

Meanwhile, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a brake dust collector includes a pair of brake pads that are respectively disposed on both sides of a disc rotating together with a wheel and are in close contact with or separated from the disc according to a forward and backward movement of a piston, a housing having the brake pads embedded therein and provided to cover at least a part of the disc, a main fastening portion having a main fastening hole formed to penetrate a trailing portion of the housing in a radial direction, a main filter module provided to be detachable from the main fastening portion and including a main filter provided in the main fastening hole and a main filter cover through which at least one main flow hole is formed to penetrate and which supports the main filter, a sub fastening portion having a sub fastening hole formed to penetrate a window of the housing in the radial direction, and a sub filter module provided to be detachable from the sub fastening portion and provided as a sub filter provided in the sub fastening hole, and a sub filter cover configured to support the sub filter.

It is an advantage of this embodiment that the brake dust collector may improve filter efficiency and extending filter life by providing the sub filter module on the window side.

The main filter module and the sub filter module may be bolted to the main fastening portion and the sub fastening portion, respectively.

The sub filter cover may further include a rib formed to protrude from an outer surface and a fastening hole formed to penetrate the rib so that a bolt member passes therethrough, and the sub filter module and the rib may be coupled to each other as the bolt member penetrates the fastening hole and is bolted to the housing or the sub fastening portion.

Each of the main filter and the sub filter may be made of a metal with corrosion resistance and/or heat resistance such as, for example, stainless steel.

The sub filter cover may be mounted with an end side at a predetermined space from the housing or the sub fastening portion. In particular, a bottom surface of the sub filter cover that faces the housing, i.e., the sub fastening portion, may be comprise one or more portions that are positioned spaced to the housing or the sub fastening portion, for example, to allow air to pass therebetween.

The sub filter cover may further include a flow passage formed to be recessed on a bottom surface and formed to extend from a leading portion to a trailing portion. It is an advantage of providing the flow passage that heat dissipation performance in exhausting heat caused by friction between a disc and a brake pad to the outside of a housing can be further improved.

The main filter cover may include an outer circumferential portion formed in a direction parallel to an outer circumferential surface of the disc and a pair of planar portions disposed in a direction parallel to both sides of the disc, and the main flow hole may be formed to penetrate at least one of the outer circumferential portion or the pair of planar portions.

The main flow hole provided in the outer circumferential portion may be formed to be tilted downward from an inner side to an outer side of the main filter cover. Thereby, the brake dust collector is capable of collecting dust through a tangential air flow generated by rotation of a disc without a separate flow control element for dust guide. Generally, the central axes of the main flow hole may be inclined so that a non-perpendicular angle exists between the central axis and a tangent to the circumferential surface of the disc at a position where the central axis intersects the circumferential surface of the disc. Optionally, the central axis of the main flow hole may be inclined in a direction away from the leading portion. In other words, an angle at a side of the central axis facing the trailing portion may be smaller than <NUM>°, while an angle at a side of the central axis facing the leading portion <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>°.

The housing may be formed as a monoblock.

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

The following embodiments are provided to fully convey the present invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but may be embodied in other forms. The drawings may omit the illustration of parts not related to the description in order to clarify the present invention, and slightly exaggerate the size of the components to help understanding.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a brake dust, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state where the brake dust collector is coupled.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a brake dust collector includes a brake pad <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, and a main filter module <NUM>.

More specifically, the brake pad <NUM> includes a piston <NUM>, a guide pin <NUM>, and a pad spring <NUM> disposed on both sides of a disc D. The disc D rotates together with a wheel, and the brake pad <NUM> is movable into close contact with or to be separated from both sides of the disc D by means of the piston <NUM>. When the brake pad <NUM> is in contact with the disc D, it provides a braking force to the disc D.

Herein, the piston <NUM> may move the brake pad <NUM> in a forward direction and a backward direction, that is, towards and away from the disc D. In this regard, various methods including a hydraulic method or an electromechanical method may be employed, and although <FIG> illustrates that the piston <NUM> is coupled to the brake pad <NUM>, the piston <NUM> may be installed by being inserted into a groove provided inside the housing <NUM>.

In addition, the guide pin <NUM> is coupled to the brake pad <NUM> by penetrating both the upper sides of the brake pad <NUM>. The guide pin <NUM> is longitudinally placed in the forward and backward direction of the brake pad <NUM>, and thus guides the forward and backward movement of the brake pad <NUM>.

In addition, although the guide pin <NUM> is illustrated to be coupled to the brake pad <NUM> in <FIG>, the guide pin <NUM> may be actually formed, as illustrated in <FIG>, with one end penetrating the housing <NUM> and supported inside the housing <NUM> and the other end supported by being exposed to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

Herein, the guide pin <NUM> may be fixed by a fastener such as a fixing clip <NUM> to be prevented from being separated from the housing <NUM>.

In addition, the pad spring <NUM> may be a leaf spring where a plurality of bent portions are formed. The pad spring <NUM> is installed on each of both ends of the brake pad <NUM> to cover a part of the guide pin <NUM> and support a lower part of the brake pad <NUM>. Thus, the pad spring <NUM> not only supports the brake pad <NUM>, but also enables the smooth forward and backward movement of the brake pad <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the brake pad <NUM> is not limited to the above-described configuration and structure but may apply various methods of providing a braking force to the disc D by simultaneously being in close contact with or separated from both sides of the disc D.

In addition, the brake pad <NUM> may apply brake structures with various response types.

Meanwhile, the housing <NUM> has a cover shape capable of covering a part of the disc D, while the brake pad <NUM> is installed on an inner side or accommodated in the housing <NUM>. and the housing <NUM> includes a first or leading portion <NUM> formed on one side, a second or trailing portion <NUM> formed on the other side, and a window <NUM> formed between the leading portion <NUM> and the trailing portion <NUM>. For example, the housing <NUM> may be formed in an arc shape extending along a circumferential direction, wherein the leading portion <NUM> is formed in a first end region of the housing <NUM> with respect to the circumferential direction, and the trailing portion is formed in an opposite second end region of the housing <NUM> with respect to the circumferential direction.

In addition, the housing <NUM> may be formed in various structures including a monoblock type where the leading portion <NUM>, the trailing portion <NUM>, and the window <NUM> are integrally formed.

More specifically, if the disc D rotates in a predefined rotation direction, e.g., in the counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in <FIG>, a point on the circumference of the disc D enters the housing <NUM> at the leading portion <NUM>, passes the window <NUM>, and exits the housing <NUM> at the trailing portion <NUM>. In the view illustrated in <FIG>, the leading portion <NUM> and the trailing portion <NUM> are on the right side and the left side, respectively, and the window <NUM> is formed between the leading portion <NUM> and the trailing portion <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the trailing portion <NUM> is formed to extend in a lower left direction. Generally, the trailing portion <NUM> includes a main fastening portion <NUM> to which the main filter module <NUM> is fastened.

The main fastening portion <NUM> includes a main fastening hole 221a, which is formed to penetrate toward the disc D, and a fastening bracket 221b for mounting the main filter module <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the main fastening hole 221a forms an opening in the trailing portion <NUM> exposing the disc D.

In addition, although the fastening bracket 221b may be embodied in various shapes, when the housing <NUM> is mounted in a vehicle and the like, the fastening bracket 221b may be formed on one side, in particular, a lateral side of the main fastening hole 221a in order to be prevented from exposure to the outside.

Meanwhile, the main filter module <NUM> includes a main filter <NUM>, which covers the main fastening hole 221a and has a cover shape corresponding to a shape of the trailing portion <NUM>. A main filter cover <NUM> may be configured to support and protect the main filter <NUM>.

In addition, although various known materials are applicable, the main filter <NUM> may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal material and/or heat resistant metal material to minimize deformation due to an external force. For example, the main filter <NUM> may be made of stainless steel.

In addition, the main filter cover <NUM> includes a multiple number of main flow holes <NUM>, which are formed on an overall surface. The main filter cover <NUM> may be formed of a metal material to protect and support the main filter <NUM>. The main filter cover <NUM> may, for example, have substantially an arc shape. As exemplarily shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the main filter cover <NUM> may include an outer circumferential portion, which may, for example, be arc shaped, and planar portions protruding from the outer circumferential portion, wherein the planar portions extend parallel to each other and transverse to the outer circumferential portion. When mounted to the housing <NUM>, the outer circumferential portion extends parallel to an outer circumferential surface of the disc D, and the planar portions extend in a direction parallel to both side surfaces of the disc D.

Herein, the main flow holes <NUM> may be formed to have a sufficient area so that various fluids can smoothly pass therethrough.

In addition, when the main flow holes <NUM> are formed in an outer circumferential portion that is a surface located on an outer circumferential surface of the disc D, the main flow holes <NUM> may be formed to be tilted downward from the inner side to the outer side. That is, assuming that an inner surface of the outer circumferential portion and an outer surface of outer circumferential portion are parallel, a central axis of the main flow holes <NUM> extends non-perpendicular to the inner and outer surface of the outer circumferential portion. More generally, the central axes of the main flow holes <NUM> may be inclined so that a non-perpendicular angle exists between the respective central axis and a tangent to the circumferential surface of the disc D at a position where the central axis intersects the circumferential surface of the disc D. In particular, the central axes of the main flow holes <NUM> may be inclined in a direction away from the leading portion <NUM>. In other words, an angle at a side of the central axis facing the trailing portion <NUM> may be smaller than <NUM>°, while an angle at a side of the central axis facing the leading portion <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>°. Therefore, the main flow holes <NUM> may correspond to a direction of an air flow generated by the rotation of the disc D so that heat generated by the braking operation may be discharged more effectively.

In addition, a bush structure (not illustrated) may be applied to a location corresponding to the fastening bracket 221b in order to bolt the main filter cover <NUM> to the fastening bracket 221b. Generally, the main filter cover <NUM> may be mounted to the housing <NUM>, in particular, detachably mounted to the housing <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the main filter cover <NUM> may be mounted to the main fastening portion <NUM>. Irrespective of how the main filter cover <NUM> is fixed, the main filter cover <NUM> may be mounted such that an end side of the main filter cover <NUM> is positioned at a predetermined distance from the housing <NUM> or the main fastening portion <NUM>. For example, the main filter cover <NUM> may be positioned such that a gap extends between an edge of the main filter cover <NUM> and at least a part of the main fastening portion <NUM>, as schematically shown in <FIG>.

In addition, in order to sufficiently discharge heat generated by friction between the brake pad <NUM> and the disc D to the outside, when the main filter module <NUM> is mounted on the main fastening portion <NUM>, a predetermined gap may be formed so that each of the upper and lower ends does not come into close contact with the main fastening portion <NUM>.

Accordingly, in the brake dust collector, the main filter module <NUM> may be easily detached from the housing <NUM>, and the main filter <NUM> may also be cleansed by high-pressure washing liquid flowing into the main flow holes <NUM>, while the main filter module <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM>.

In addition, in the brake dust collector, since the main filter module <NUM> is mounted on the side of the trailing portion <NUM>, although a separate air flow control element is omitted as illustrated in <FIG>, the air flow generated by the rotation of the disc D effectively guides dust, which is generated by friction between the brake pad <NUM> and the disc D, to the inner side of the main filter <NUM>, so that dust collection efficiency may be improved.

In addition, in the brake dust collector, the stiffness of the housing <NUM> may be further improved since the trailing portion <NUM> is formed to extend to mount the main filter module <NUM> and the main filter module <NUM> is bolted thereto.

Meanwhile, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a further brake dust collector. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a state where the brake dust collector is coupled. <FIG> is a side view illustrating a state where the brake dust collector is coupled.

Referring to <FIG>, the brake dust collector may further include a sub filter module <NUM> and has the same or similar configuration to the above-described embodiment.

To this end, in the housing <NUM>, a sub fastening portion <NUM> detachable from the sub filter module <NUM> is additionally formed by including a sub fastening hole 231a formed to penetrate to the side of the disc D in the window <NUM>. That is, the window <NUM> of the housing <NUM> includes the sub fastening hole 231a through which the disc D is exposed.

More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the brake pad <NUM> may be installed in the housing <NUM> more easily since the sub fastening hole 231a is formed above the brake pad <NUM> embedded or accommodated in the housing <NUM>. In other words, the sub fastening hole 231a is formed on a circumferential position corresponding to the position of the brake pad <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the sub filter module <NUM> includes a sub filter <NUM>, which covers the sub fastening hole 231a and has a cover shape corresponding to the shape of the window <NUM>. The sub filter module <NUM> also includes a sub filter cover <NUM> configured to support and protect the sub filter <NUM>.

Herein, although various known materials are applicable, the sub filter <NUM> may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal or heat-resistant metal material to minimize deformation due to an external force. For example, the sub filter <NUM> may be made of stainless steel.

In addition, the sub filter cover <NUM> includes a multiple number of sub flow holes <NUM> formed on an overall surface and a flow passage <NUM>. The sub filter cover <NUM> is formed on a lower side to extend to be recessed in a direction from the leading portion <NUM> to the trailing portion <NUM>. The sub filter cover <NUM> is formed of a metal material to protect and support the sub filter <NUM>, and may be bolted to the sub fastening portion <NUM>.

Herein, the sub flow holes <NUM> may be formed to have a sufficient area so that various fluids can pass through smoothly. For example, the sub flow holes <NUM> may be in the form of longitudinal slits extending substantially along the circumferential direction of the housing <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. As further shown in <FIG>, the optional flow passage <NUM> may be defined by a recess or formed in a surface of the sub filter cover <NUM> facing the window <NUM>, e.g., in a bottom surface of the sub filter cover <NUM>. Generally, the sub filter cover <NUM> may be mounted with at least part of the bottom surface of the sub filter cover <NUM> at predetermined distance from the housing <NUM> or the sub fastening portion <NUM>.

In addition, through the flow passage <NUM>, the sub filter module <NUM> does not completely close the sub fastening hole 231a but forms a predetermined gap on the side of the leading portion <NUM> and on the side of the trailing portion <NUM>. As a result, the heat dissipation performance may be further improved for heat generated during friction between the brake pad <NUM> and the disc D.

Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, the brake dust collector may reduce dust generated by friction between the brake pad <NUM> and the disc D more effectively through the main filter module <NUM> and the sub filter module <NUM>.

In addition, in the brake dust collector, the main filter module <NUM> and the sub filter module <NUM> may be easily detached from the housing <NUM>, and the main filter <NUM> and the sub filter <NUM> may also be cleansed by high-pressure washing liquid flowing into the main flow holes <NUM> and the sub flow holes <NUM>, while the main filter module <NUM> and the sub filter module <NUM> are mounted on the housing <NUM>, so that filter life extension and efficiency improvement may be expected.

A brake dust collector in accordance with the present invention can effectively collect dust that is generated by a friction force between a disc and a brake pad and discharged to the outside of a housing.

The brake dust collector described above can collect dust through a tangential air flow generated by rotation of a disc without a separate flow control element for dust guide.

The brake dust collector described above can improve maintainability by forming a filter module to be detachable.

The brake dust collector described above can not only reinforce stiffness of a housing itself but also prevent the deterioration in aesthetics due to a filter module since the filter module is formed to be detachable from a portion formed to extend to a trailing portion side of the housing.

The brake dust collector described above can improve filter efficiency and extend filter life by providing an additional filter module on a window side.

The brake dust collector described above can prevent decline of filter efficiency by enabling a filter to be cleansed by washing liquid and the like even in a state where a filter module is mounted. the brake dust collector described above can further improve heat dissipation performance in exhausting heat caused by friction between a disc and a brake pad to the outside of a housing.

Claim 1:
A brake dust collector comprising:
a pair of brake pads (<NUM>) that are respectively disposed on both sides of a disc (D) configured to rotate together with a wheel, the pair of brake pads (<NUM>) being movable into contact with or to be separated from the disc (D);
a housing (<NUM>) accommodating the brake pads (<NUM>) and being configured to cover at least a part of the disc (D); the brake dust collector being characterised by
a main fastening portion (<NUM>) having a main fastening hole (221a) formed to penetrate a trailing portion of the housing (<NUM>) in a radial direction; and
a main filter module (<NUM>) including a main filter (<NUM>) provided in the main fastening hole (221a) and a main filter cover (<NUM>) through which at least one main flow hole (<NUM>) is formed to penetrate and which is configured to support the main filter (<NUM>),
wherein the main filter module (<NUM>) is configured to be detachable from the main fastening portion (<NUM>).