Ventilated disc brake

A ventilated disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle, The disc has a first radial planar friction surface and a first brake shoe is provided adjacent the first friction surface movable. The first brake shoe is a radial annular plate having at least a planar surface to engage the first planar friction surface. A movable spring abutment is mounted for axial movement within the housing between the intermediate wall and a housing wall such that the intermediate wall is between the movable spring abutment and the first brake shoe. Rigid pusher link members extend between the spring abutment and the first brake shoe. Springs are arranged in an annular array and extend between the housing wall and the spring abutment such that the springs urge against the spring abutment to press the first brake shoe against the first friction surface of the disc. A first annular radially extending fluid bladder is provided between the intermediate wall and the spring abutment whereby the first bladder, when expanded, forces the spring abutment to overcome the spring to release the first brake shoe from the first friction surface of the disc, and the brake assembly being provided with conduit for directing a cooling gas to the ventilated discs in order to dissipate heat therefrom.

We claim:

1. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and a first annular radial disc having first and second radial planar braking surfaces and at least a second annular radial disc having at least a third radial planar friction surface, and intermediate annular brake lining is provided between the first and second radial discs, and means are provided for restraining the intermediate brake lining from rotating with the discs but allowing axial movement thereof and means for mounting the first and second radial discs includes an adapter sleeve fixed to the wheel and provided with axial splines such that at least the first radial disc is capable of axial movement, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular member having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the first radial disk, movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided on the housing for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the housing and the first brake shoe, the first bladder, when expanded, forcing the first brake shoe against the first braking surface of the first radial disc, causing the first radial disc to move axially on the adapter sleeve such that the second braking surface of the first radial disc contacts the intermediate brake lining which in turn moves axially to contact the third braking surface of said second radial disc.

2. A disc brake assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second radial disc is provided with a fourth radial braking surface on the other side of the second radial disc relative to the first radial disc, and a second annular brake shoe is mounted to the housing adjacent the fourth braking surface of the second radial disc, whereby the second brake shoe is restrained from rotation with the second radial disc, the adapter sleeve provided with the axial splines such that the first and second radial discs are capable of axial movement, thereby allowing the second radial disc to move axially such that the fourth braking surface of the second radial disc comes into frictional contact with the second brake shoe when fluid is allowed to expand the bladder.

3. A disc brake assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second radial disc is provided with a fourth radial braking surface on the other side of the second radial disc relative to the first radial disc, and a second annular brake shoe is mounted within the housing adjacent the fourth friction surface of the disc; the adapter sleeve fixed to the wheel and provided with axial splines enables the first and second radial discs to be capable of axial movement.

4. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and at least an annular radial disc within the housing and means mounting the disc to the wheel, the disc having at least a first radial planar braking surface, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular member having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the radial disc movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the housing wall whereby the first bladder, when expanded, forces the first brake shoe toward the first braking surface of the disc, wherein at least a shallow groove is defined across the first braking surface of at least the radial disc generally radially thereof whereby and air cushion can be provided between the rotor disc and the braking surface of the brake shoe when the rotor disc is rotating and the brake shoe means is released from the braking surface of the disc and the groove provides a drainage channel for removing debris from between the brake shoe means and the braking surface of the disc.

5. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and at least an annular radial disc within the housing and means mounting the disc to the wheel, the disc having at least a first radial planar braking surface, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular member having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the radial disc movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the housing whereby the first bladder, when expanded, forces the first brake shoe toward the first braking surface of the disc, wherein the braking surface of at least the radial disc is provided with a coating chosen from a composition including ceramic and aluminum particles, silicon carbide, titanium carbo-nitride, DLC, whereby heat is dissipated from the surface and wear resistance is enhanced.

6. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and at least an annular radial disc within the housing and means mounting the disc to the wheel, the disc having at least a first radial planar braking surface, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular plate having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the radial disc movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, an annular intermediate wall member mounted within the housing and fixed thereto extending parallel with the radial disc and located such that the first brake shoe moves axially between the intermediate wall and the radial disc, a movable spring abutment means mounted for axial movement within the housing between the intermediate wall and a housing wall such that the intermediate wall is between the movable spring abutment means and the first brake shoe, rigid pusher link members extending between the spring abutment means and the first brake shoe pass the intermediate wall; a spring means arranged in an annular array and extending between the housing wall and the spring abutment means such that the spring urges against the spring abutment means to press the first brake shoe against the first braking surface of the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the intermediate wall and the spring abutment means whereby the first bladder, when expanded, forces the spring abutment means to overcome the spring means to release the first brake shoe from the first braking surface of the disc, wherein a temperature sensor is provided on the intermediate wall in order to determine the temperature of the brake assembly and means are provided for communicating the data.

7. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and at least an annular radial disc within the housing and means mounting the disc to the wheel, the disc having at least a first radial planar braking surface, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular plate having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the radial disc movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the housing and the first brake shoe, the first bladder, when expanded, forces the first brake shoe toward the first braking surface of the radial disc, characterized in that a temperature sensor is provided at the first housing wall near the disc in order to determine the temperature of the brake assembly and means are provided for communicating the data.

8. The brake assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein a warning device means is provided on a vehicle to warn the operator of the temperature of the brake assembly.

9. The brake assembly as defined in 7 wherein a warning device means is provided on a vehicle to warn the operator of the temperature of the brake assembly.

10. A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle, the disc brake assembly is within the confines of the wheel and concentric with the axle, the disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle and at least an annular radial disc within the housing and means mounting the disc to the wheel, the disc having at least a first radial planar braking surface, a first brake shoe in the form of a radial annular plate having at least a planar braking surface provided adjacent the first planar braking surface of the radial disc movable axially towards and away from the first braking surface of the disc for friction engagement therewith and release thereof, means provided for restraining the first brake shoe from rotating with the disc, an annular intermediate wall member mounted within the housing and fixed thereto extending parallel with the radial disc and located such that the first brake shoe moves axially between the intermediate wall and the radial disc, a movable spring abutment means mounted for axial movement within the housing between the intermediate wall and a housing wall such that the intermediate wall is between the movable spring abutment means and the first brake shoe, rigid pusher link members extending between the spring abutment means and the first brake shoe pass the intermediate wall; a spring means arranged in an annular array and extending between the housing wall and the spring abutment means such that the spring urges against the spring abutment means to press the first brake shoe against the first braking surface of the disc, a first annular radially extending fluid bladder being provided between the intermediate wall and the spring abutment means whereby the first bladder, when expanded, forces the spring abutment means to overcome the spring means to release the first brake shoe from the first friction surface of the disc, wherein the end of the rigid pusher link members are provided with a slight beveled angle.

11. A brake assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the first brake shoe is provided with a backing plate that is constructed with a slight flare in the direction of the rigid pusher link members.