Electromechanical brake apparatus and system with adjustment features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511715-B2
Application number	US-202016835438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2020
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

An electromechanical brake apparatus includes a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween. An adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receives torque from the motor unit. A spindle is provided for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally. The spindle is operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough. A leading ramp assembly is configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween. A predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application and (2) service brake release functions. The electromechanical brake apparatus is operative, at different times, for both functions.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electromechanical brake apparatus, comprising:
a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween, the housing including a mechanism cavity located longitudinally between the inboard pad and a motor unit;
an adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receiving torque from the motor unit;
a spindle for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally, the spindle being operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough, the spindle and adjuster ramp assembly being located substantially within the mechanism cavity; and
a leading ramp assembly configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween, the leading ramp assembly and at least one ramp ball being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application, (2) pad wear adjustment and (3) pad replacement functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for all three functions;
wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a first rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with the service brake application function;
wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a second rotary direction with respect to the spindle, opposite the first rotary direction, and the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction relative to the spindle, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, to assist with the pad wear adjustment function; and
wherein to assist with the pad replacement function, the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in the first rotary direction with respect to the spindle, the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the first rotary direction, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, and the spindle moves in a first longitudinal direction, responsive to movement of the adjuster ramp assembly in the first rotary direction.

2. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spindle is threadably connected with the adjuster ramp assembly.

3. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , including a boot located longitudinally between the inboard pad and the adjuster ramp assembly, the boot extending between and directly engaging both the spindle and a surface in the mechanism cavity to substantially prevent ingress of material into the mechanism cavity.

4. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 3 , including a shield interposed longitudinally between the boot and the inboard pad, the shield being connected to the spindle for longitudinal travel therewith and the shield facilitating egress of material from between the boot and the inboard pad.

5. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly are mechanically biased longitudinally toward each other with the ramp balls interposed longitudinally therebetween.

6. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with a service brake release function.

7. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application, (2) service brake release, (3) pad wear adjustment, and (4) pad replacement functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for all four functions.

8. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spindle is threadably connected with the adjuster ramp assembly and wherein the spindle moves longitudinally due to the threadable connection, responsive to movement of the adjuster ramp assembly in the second rotary direction.

9. The electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor unit includes a brushless direct current (“BLDC”) motor and a reducing gear unit, the reducing gear unit stepping down a shaft output speed from the BLDC.

10. A system including the electromechanical brake apparatus of claim 1 , the system comprising a controller, the controller being configured to selectively control actuation direction and magnitude of torque applied to the electromechanical brake apparatus by the motor unit.

11. The system of claim 10 , including a position sensor associated with the motor unit, the position sensor providing motor unit position information to the controller, the controller determining a pad wear value responsive to the motor unit position information, and the controller controlling the motor unit to selectively adjust a longitudinal position of the spindle responsive to the pad wear value.

12. An electromechanical brake apparatus, comprising:
a housing supporting an inboard brake pad and an oppositely facing outboard brake pad for selective frictional contact with a rotor interposed longitudinally therebetween, the housing including a mechanism cavity located longitudinally between the inboard pad and a motor unit;
an adjuster ramp assembly indirectly receiving torque from the motor unit;
a spindle for selectively moving the inboard brake pad longitudinally, the spindle being operatively connected with the adjuster ramp assembly to indirectly receive torque from the motor unit therethrough, the spindle and adjuster ramp assembly being located substantially within the mechanism cavity;
a leading ramp assembly configured to transmit applied torque from the motor unit to the adjuster ramp assembly via at least one ramp ball longitudinally interposed therebetween, the leading ramp assembly and at least one ramp ball being located substantially within the mechanism cavity; and
a spring interposed longitudinally between a surface in the mechanism cavity and a first longitudinal side of the adjuster ramp assembly, the spring biasing the adjuster ramp assembly to a predetermined position, a second longitudinal side of the adjuster assembly engaging the at least one ramp ball;
wherein a predetermined amount and direction of torque is applied to each of the adjuster ramp assembly and the leading ramp assembly to assist with a selected one of (1) service brake application and (2) pad wear adjustment functions, the electromechanical brake apparatus being operative, at different times, for both functions;
wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a first rotary direction with respect to the spindle and the adjuster ramp assembly moves substantially longitudinally to assist with the service brake application function; and
wherein the leading ramp assembly at least partially moves in a second rotary direction with respect to the spindle, opposite the first rotary direction, and the adjuster ramp assembly at least partially moves in the second rotary direction relative to the spindle, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation by the leading ramp assembly, to assist with the pad wear adjustment function.

13. An electromechanical brake apparatus

Assignees

• Zf Active Safety Us Inc

Inventors

• Gerber Kraig E
• Chelaidite Galus

Classifications

• B60T13/741

  acting on an ultimate actuator · CPC title

• F16D55/226

  in which the common actuating member is moved axially {, e.g. floating caliper disc brakes} · CPC title

• F16D2125/36

  Helical cams, Ball-rotating ramps · CPC title

• F16D65/183

  with force-transmitting members arranged side by side acting on a spot type force-applying member · CPC title

• B60T8/282 Primary

  using ball and ramp · CPC title