Disc brake containing reinforced carbon bodies

Claim 1

At least one internally indented annular friction disc, having a shape which comprises a. an inner perimeter provided with indentations adapted to bear circumferential stress; b. an outer perimeter; and c. two opposite faces, each face adjoining both the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter, at least one face being substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the friction disc; 2. at least one coaxially aligned externally indented annular friction disc, having a shape which comprises a. an inner perimeter; b. an outer perimeter provided with indentations adapted to bear circumferential stress; and c. two opposite faces, each face adjoining both the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter, at least one face being substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the mutual axis of the friction discs; 3. an externally indented coacting element, coaxially aligned with the friction discs, having indentations which interfit between and engage the indentations of the internally indented friction discs, yet allow free rotation of the externally indented friction discs; 4. an internally indented coacting element; coaxially aligned with the friction discs and with the externally indented coacting element, having indentations which interfit between and engage the indentations of the externally indented friction discs, yet allow free rotation of the internally indented friction discs; and 5. means for axially urging the friction discs into mutual contact, whereby to arrest rotary motion of one coacting element relative to the other coacting element; wherein the improvement comprises 1. the internally indented friction discs each comprising a. an underlying network of reinforcing carbon fibers, comprising fibers which are successively circumferentially wound, axially compressed, and radially overlapped throughout the circumference of the disc in each cross-sectional plane containing the axis of the disc; the circumferentially wound reinforcing fibers adjacent to the inner perimeter conforming substantially to the shape of said inner perimeter; and b. a matrix of carbonized binder binding together the underlying network of reinforcing fibers; and 2. the externally indented friction discs each comprising a. an underlying network of reinforcing carbon fibers, comprising fibers which are successively circumferentially wound, axially compressed, and radially overlapped throughout the circumference of the disc in each cross-sectional plane containing the axis of the disc; the circumferentially wound reinforcing fibers adjacent to the outer perimeter conforming substantially to the shape of said outer perimeter; and b. a matrix of carbonized binder binding together the underlying network of reinforcing fibers.