Releasable caliper retaining means for a disc brake

Claim 2

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor member, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a housing member straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor member, said housing member having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor member having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said housing member having first and second housing portions, said first housing portion directly engaging said first support portion, releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion, said releasable retaining means in combination with saiD direct engagement of said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said housing member radially inwardly and radially outwardly, said releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key comprising a rigid key engaging one of said second portions, said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and the other of said second portions, said spring clip being constructed to prevent the axial displacement of said key relative to said other second portion, said key and spring clip being releasable from their interposed position whereby said housing member may be removed from said anchor member, said spring clip being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said housing member in a circumferential direction and said first housing portion into direct engagement with said first support portion.

Claim 3

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor member, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a housing member straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor member, said housing member having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor member having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said housing member having spaced apart first and second housing portions, said first housing portion directly engaging said first support portion, said second housing portion being circumferentially spaced from said second support portion, the minimum distance between said first and second support portions being less than the maximum width of said housing member between said first housing portion and said second housing portion, resilient releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said housing member radially inwardly and radially outwardly, said resilient releasable retaining means being secured against axial displacement relative to one of said second portions and slidably engaging the other of said second portions, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key comprising a rigid key slidably engaging said other second portion, said anchor member and said housing member being constructed so that when said resilient releasable retaining means is removed from its interposed position between said second portions a gap of sufficient size is provided between said second support portion and said second housing portion whereby said housing member may be displaced radially outwardly away from said rotor, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said housing member in a circumferential direction and said first housing portion into direct engagement with said first support portion.

Claim 4

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor member, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a housing member straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor member, said housing member having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor member having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said housing member having spaced apart first and second housing portions, said first housing portion directly engaging said first support portion, said second housing portion being circumferentially spaced from said second support portion, the minimum distance between said first and second support portions being less than the maximum width of said housing member between said first housing portion and said second housing portion, resilient releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said housing member radially inwardly and radially outwardly, said resilient releasable retaining means being secured against axial displacement relative to one of said second portions and slidably engaging the other of said second portions, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key comprising a rigid key slidably engaging said other second portion, said anchor member and said housing member being constructed so that when said resilient releasable retaining means is removed from its interposed position between said second portions a gap of sufficient size is provided between said second support portion and said second housing portion whereby said housing member may be displaced radially outwardly away from said rotor, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said housing member in a circumferential direction and said first housing portion into direct engagement with said first support portion.

Claim 5

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor member, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a housing member straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor member, said housing member having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor member having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said housing member having spaced apart first and second housing portions, said first housing portion directly engaging said first support portion, said second housing portion being spaced apart from said second support portion, releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion, said releasable retaining means in combinatiOn with said direct engagement of said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said housing member radially inwardly and radially outwardly, said releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key engaging one of said second portions, said spring engaging the other of said second portions, said spacing between said second portions being of sufficient size so that when said retaining means is removed from its interposed position between said second portions a gap of sufficient size is exposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion whereby said housing member may be displaced radially outwardly of said rotor and said anchor member, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said housing member in a circumferential direction and said first housing portion into direct engagement with said first support portion.

Claim 6

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor member, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a housing member straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor member, said housing member having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor member having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said housing member having spaced apart first and second housing portions, said first housing portion directly engaging said first support portion, said second housing portion being spaced apart from said second support portion, releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion, said releasable retaining means in combinatiOn with said direct engagement of said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said housing member radially inwardly and radially outwardly, said releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key engaging one of said second portions, said spring engaging the other of said second portions, said spacing between said second portions being of sufficient size so that when said retaining means is removed from its interposed position between said second portions a gap of sufficient size is exposed between said second support portion and said second housing portion whereby said housing member may be displaced radially outwardly of said rotor and said anchor member, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said housing member in a circumferential direction and said first housing portion into direct engagement with said first support portion.

Claim 7

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 and including: said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said other second portion and constructed to exert a spring force in a circumferential direction tending to separate said key and said other second portion.

Claim 8

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 and including: said spring being constructed to prevent the axial displacement of said key relative to said other second portion.

Claim 9

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 and including: the minimum distance between said first and second support portions being less than the maximum width of said housing member between said first housing portion and said second housing portion.

Claim 10

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor, said caliper having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said caliper having a first caliper portion directly slidably engaging said first support portion, said caliper having a second caliper portion circumferentially spaced from said second support portion, resilient releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second caliper portion, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said caliper radially outwardly and radially inwardly, said resilient releasable retaining means being secured against axial displacement relative to one of said second portions and slidably engaging the other of said second portions, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only spring, said key comprising an axially extending rigid key slidably engaging said other second portion, said anchor and said caliper being constructed so that when said resilient releasable retaining means is removed from its connection with said second portions said caliper may be removed from its engagement with said anchor, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said caliper in a circumferential direction and said first caliper portion into direct engagement with said integral first support portion.

Claim 11

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a pair of brake shoe and lining assemblies disposed adjacent said rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and connected to said anchor, said caliper having means constructed to urge said brake shoe and lining assemblies into frictional engagement with the sides of said rotor, said anchor having circumferentially spaced apart integral nonresilient first and second support portions, said caliper having a first caliper portion directly slidably engaging said first support portion, said caliper having a second caliper portion circumferentially spaced from said second support portion, resilient releasable retaining means interposed between said second support portion and said second caliper portion, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said first portions being constructed to provide the sole means preventing displacement of said caliper radially outwardly and radially inwardly, said resilient releasable retaining means being secured against axial displacement relative to one of said second portions and slidably engaging the other of said second portions, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only spring, said key comprising an axially extending rigid key slidably engaging said other second portion, said anchor and said caliper being constructed so that when said resilient releasable retaining means is removed from its connection with said second portions said caliper may be removed from its engagement with said anchor, said spring being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force urging said caliper in a circumferential direction and said first caliper portion into direct engagement with said integral first support portion.

Claim 12

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 7 and including: said spring being interposed between said key and said anchor, said spring being constructed to exert a spring force tending to separate said key and said anchor.

Claim 13

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 7 and including: said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said anchor, said spring clip being constructed to eXert a spring force tending to separate said key and said anchor, said spring clip being constructed to prevent the axial displacement of said key relative to said anchor.

Claim 14

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 7 and including: the minimum distance between said integral first and second support portions being less than the maximum width of said caliper between said first caliper portion and said second caliper portion.

Claim 15

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 7 and including: said key being disposed outwardly of the periphery of said rotor.

Claim 16

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 10 and including: said key having a pair of flat diverging sides.

Claim 17

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and slidably engaging said anchor, a first brake shoe and lining assembly slidably supported by said anchor and disposed adjacent one side of said rotor, a second brake shoe and lining assembly secured to said caliper and disposed adjacent the other side of said rotor, said caliper having a hydraulic motor situated on one side of said rotor and constructed to move both of said assemblies into engagement With said rotor, said anchor having a nonresilient guide member integral therewith situated radially outwardly of the periphery of said rotor and extending in an axial direction, said caliper having a portion slidably engaging said guide member, said anchor having a guide support integral therewith spaced circumferentially from said guide member, resilient releasable retaining means connected to said guide support and slidably engaging said caliper, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the engagement between said caliper portion and said guide member being constructed to provide the sole means preventing said caliper from being displaced radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said anchor, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key comprising a rigid key slidably engaging said caliper, said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said guide support of said anchor, said spring clip being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force tending to separate said key and said guide support of said anchor, said caliper and said anchor being constructed so that when said key and said clip are removed said caliper may be displaced outwardly from said rotor and said anchor, said caliper being spaced apart from said guide support and said spring clip, said guide support being spaced apart from said key.

Claim 18

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and slidably engaging said anchor, a first brake shoe and lining assembly slidably supported by said anchor and disposed adjacent one side of said rotor, a second brake shoe and lining assembly secured to said caliper and disposed adjacent the other side of said rotor, said caliper having a hydraulic motor situated on one side of said rotor and constructed to move both of said assemblies into engagement With said rotor, said anchor having a nonresilient guide member integral therewith situated radially outwardly of the periphery of said rotor and extending in an axial direction, said caliper having a portion slidably engaging said guide member, said anchor having a guide support integral therewith spaced circumferentially from said guide member, resilient releasable retaining means connected to said guide support and slidably engaging said caliper, said resilient releasable retaining means in combination with the engagement between said caliper portion and said guide member being constructed to provide the sole means preventing said caliper from being displaced radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said anchor, said resilient releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key comprising a rigid key slidably engaging said caliper, said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said guide support of said anchor, said spring clip being constructed to exert a circumferentially directed spring force tending to separate said key and said guide support of said anchor, said caliper and said anchor being constructed so that when said key and said clip are removed said caliper may be displaced outwardly from said rotor and said anchor, said caliper being spaced apart from said guide support and said spring clip, said guide support being spaced apart from said key.

Claim 19

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 13 and including: said spring clip having a pair of bowed side portions, said side portions being interconnected adjacent their ends by integral means, said side portions and said integral means forming a saddle upon which said key is seated, inwardly directed locating tabs disposed adjacent one end of said clip and engaging one side of said guide support, resiliently deflectable locating members disposed adjacent the other end of said clip and engaging the other side of said guide support.

Claim 20

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 13 and including: said key comprising an elongated member of generally V-shape in cross section.

Claim 21

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and slidably engaging said anchor, said anchor having a nonresilient guide member integral therewith situated radially outwardly of the periphery of said rotor and extending in an axial direction, said caliper having a portion directly slidably engaging said guide member, said anchor having a guide support integral therewith and circumferentially spaced from said guide member, releasable retaining means connected to said guide support and slidably engaging said caliper, said reLeasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said caliper portion and said guide member being constructed to provide the sole means preventing said caliper from being displaced radially inwardly and radially outwardly relative to said anchor, said releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key having a generally V-shape, said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said guide support of said anchor, said caliper having a first pair of surfaces slidably engaging said guide member, said caliper having a second pair of surfaces slidably engaging said key, said caliper being spaced apart from said guide support and said spring clip, said guide support being spaced apart from said key, said anchor and said caliper being constructed so that when said key and said spring clip are removed a gap of sufficient size is provided between said guide support and said caliper whereby said caliper may be pivoted about said guide member and displaced radially outwardly away from said rotor.

Claim 22

A disc brake for a motor vehicle having a stationary anchor, a rotatable rotor, a floating caliper straddling said rotor and slidably engaging said anchor, said anchor having a nonresilient guide member integral therewith situated radially outwardly of the periphery of said rotor and extending in an axial direction, said caliper having a portion directly slidably engaging said guide member, said anchor having a guide support integral therewith and circumferentially spaced from said guide member, releasable retaining means connected to said guide support and slidably engaging said caliper, said reLeasable retaining means in combination with the direct engagement between said caliper portion and said guide member being constructed to provide the sole means preventing said caliper from being displaced radially inwardly and radially outwardly relative to said anchor, said releasable retaining means comprising only one key and only one spring, said key having a generally V-shape, said spring comprising a spring clip interposed between said key and said guide support of said anchor, said caliper having a first pair of surfaces slidably engaging said guide member, said caliper having a second pair of surfaces slidably engaging said key, said caliper being spaced apart from said guide support and said spring clip, said guide support being spaced apart from said key, said anchor and said caliper being constructed so that when said key and said spring clip are removed a gap of sufficient size is provided between said guide support and said caliper whereby said caliper may be pivoted about said guide member and displaced radially outwardly away from said rotor.

Claim 23

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 16 and including: said spring clip having a pair of bowed side portions, said side portions being interconnected adjacent their ends by integral means, said side portions and said integral means forming a saddle upon which said key is seated, inwardly directed locating tabs disposed adjacent one end of said clip and engaging one side of said guide support, resiliently deflectable locating members disposed adjacent the other end of said clip and engaging the other side of said guide support.

Claim 24

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 16 and including: a first brake shoe and lining assembly slidably supported by said anchor and disposed adjacent one side of said rotor, a second brake shoe and lining assembly secured to said caliper and disposed adjacent the other side of said rotor, said caliper having a hydraulic motor situated on one side of said rotor and constructed to move both of said assemblies into engagement with said rotor.

Claim 25

A disc brake for a motor vehicle according to claim 16 and including: the minimum distance between said guide member and said guide support being less than the maximum width of said caliper between said first and said second pairs of surfaces.