Parking brake and wear adjustment means

Claim 2

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on the caliper; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for movement relative thereto; actuating means mounted on the outer housing to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means and to transmit that force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; a plurality of radially independently expandable means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the Stem for engaging the radially expandable means.

Claim 3

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on the caliper; an actuating piston movable mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston and to transmit that force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore and to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings.

Claim 4

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on the caliper; an actuating piston movable mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston and to transmit that force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore and to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings.

Claim 5

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on and externally of the caliper bore; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem including: a first portion mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means; a second portion extending into the caliper bore and engaging the hydraulically actuated piston slidable therein; an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions for transmitting the force applied to the first portion to the second portion whereby the second portion applies the force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; a plurality of radially independently expandable means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem at the first portion thereof for engaging the radially expandable means.

Claim 6

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on and externally of the caliper bore; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem including: a first portion mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means; a second portion extending into the caliper bore and engaging the hydraulically actuated piston slidable therein; an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions for transmitting the force applied to the first portion to the second portion whereby the second portion applies the force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; a plurality of radially independently expandable means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem at the first portion thereof for engaging the radially expandable means.

Claim 7

The disc brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjusting stem comprises an elongated member having the radially outwardly extending shoulder portion thereon for receiving the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means.

Claim 8

The disc brake assembly of claim 4, wherein the means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear comprises a plurality of radially expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem.

Claim 9

The disc brake assembly of claim 5, wherein the rings comprise an open ring portion substantially resilient for radial expansion thereof and including a first terminal extension extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion and a second terminal extension radially spaced from the first extEnsion and extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion a greater distance than the first extension.

Claim 10

The disc brake assembly of claim 6, wherein: the actuating piston includes a first bore formed therein for receiving a portion of the adjusting stem and also includes a second bore formed therein for receiving the stacked plurality of rings therein, the stacked rings providing a passageway formed therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem, the actuating piston further including first and second radially spaced slots extending radially outwardly from the second bore and terminating externally of the actuating piston and extending axially along the length of the second bore for receiving the first and second terminal extensions, respectively, of the stacked rings.

Claim 11

The disc brake assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer housing includes a key fixedly mounted therein for abutment with the second terminal extension of the rings.

Claim 12

The disc brake assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuating piston is rotatable relative to the outer housing for radially expanding the rings when the second terminal extension abuts the key and the first terminal extension engages the first groove for relative rotation therewith.

Claim 13

The disc brake assembly of claim 3, wherein the means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear comprises a plurality of rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for slidingly accommodating the intermediate portion of the adjusting stem.

Claim 14

The disc brake assembly of claim 10, wherein the adjusting stem first portion comprises the radially outwardly extending shoulder portion thereon for receiving the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means.

Claim 15

The disc brake assembly of claim 11, wherein the rings are substantially resilient for radial expansion thereof to permit the shoulder portion of the adjusting stem to pass through the passageway formed by the stack of rings whereby the adjusting stem is axially displaced relative to the actuating piston.

Claim 16

A parking brake including a wear compensating device for a disc brake assembly comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting on a disc brake assembly; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply force thereto to move the piston relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means and to transmit that force to the disc brake assembly; a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from use of the disc brake assembly by permitting axial displacement of the adjusting stem relative to the actuating piston; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings.

Claim 17

A parking brake including a wear compensating device for a disc brake assembly comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting on a disc brake assembly; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply force thereto to move the piston relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means and to transmit that force to the disc brake assembly; a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from use of the disc brake assembly by permitting axial displacement of the adjusting stem relative to the actuating piston; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings.

Claim 18

A parking brake including a wear compensating device for a disc brake assembly comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting on a disc brake assembly; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem including; a first portion mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means; a second portion extending into the disc brake assembLy for engagement therewith; an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions for transmitting the force applied to the first portion to the second portion whereby the second portion applies the force to the disc brake assembly to actuate the assembly for a braking operation; a plurality of radially independently expandable means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking operations of the disc brake assembly; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem at the first portion thereof for engaging the radially expandable means.

Claim 19

A parking brake including a wear compensating device for a disc brake assembly comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting on a disc brake assembly; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem including; a first portion mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means; a second portion extending into the disc brake assembLy for engagement therewith; an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions for transmitting the force applied to the first portion to the second portion whereby the second portion applies the force to the disc brake assembly to actuate the assembly for a braking operation; a plurality of radially independently expandable means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking operations of the disc brake assembly; and a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem at the first portion thereof for engaging the radially expandable means.

Claim 20

The parking brake of claim 14, wherein the means provided within the actuating piston for compensating for wear comprises a plurality of rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for slidingly accommodating the intermediate portion of the adjusting stem.

Claim 21

The parking brake of claim 15, wherein the adjusting stem first portion comprises the radially outwardly extending shoulder portion thereon for receiving the force applied to the actuating piston by the actuating means.

Claim 22

The parking brake of claim 16, wherein the rings are substantially resilient for radial expansion thereof to permit the shoulder portion of the adjusting stem to pass through the passageway formed by the stack of rings whereby the adjusting stem is axially displaced relative to the actuating piston.

Claim 23

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on the caliper; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston and to transmit that force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore and to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; and a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings and for receiving the force applied to the actuating piston; the rings comprising an open ring portion substantially resilient for radial expansion thereof and including a first terminal extension extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion and a second terminal extension radially spaced from the first extension and extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion a greater distance than the first extension; a first bore formed in the actuating piston for receiving a portion of the adjusting stem; a second bore formed in the actuating piston for receiving the stacked plurality of rings therein, first and second radially spaced slots in the actuating piston, the slots extending radially outwardly from the second bore and terminating externally of the actuating piston and extending axially along the length of the second bore for receiving the first and second terminal extensions, respectively, of the stacked rings; a key fixedly mounted in the outer housing for abutment with the second terminal extension of the rings; and the actuating piston being rotatable relative to the outer housing for radially expanding the rings when the second terminal extension abuts the key and the first terminal extension engages the first groove for relative rotation therewith.

Claim 24

In a caliper disc brake assembly of the type including a hydraulically actuated piston wherein the piston is slidable in a caliper bore and is actuated upon introduction of hydraulic fluid pressure forces to urge the piston and associated brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc, the improvement comprising: an outer housing mounted on the caliper; an actuating piston movably mounted within the outer housing for relative movement therewith; actuating means mounted on the outer housing for relative movement therewith to engage the actuating piston and to apply a force thereto to move the piston linearly relative to the housing; an adjusting stem mounted within the actuating piston and provided to receive the force applied to the actuating piston and to transmit that force to the piston slidable in the caliper bore and to urge the brake pad assembly into braking engagement with the disc; and a plurality of radially independently expandable rings in relatively stacked relationship provided within the actuating piston forming a passageway therethrough for accommodating the adjusting stem and for compensating for wear resulting from repeated braking engagement of the brake pad assembly and the disc; a single radially outwardly extending shoulder portion annularly disposed about the stem and intermediately of the length of the stem for engaging the radially expandable rings and for receiving the force applied to the actuating piston; the rings comprising an open ring portion substantially resilient for radial expansion thereof and including a first terminal extension extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion and a second terminal extension radially spaced from the first extension and extending radially outwardly from the open ring portion a greater distance than the first extension; a first bore formed in the actuating piston for receiving a portion of the adjusting stem; a second bore formed in the actuating piston for receiving the stacked plurality of rings therein, first and second radially spaced slots in the actuating piston, the slots extending radially outwardly from the second bore and terminating externally of the actuating piston and extending axially along the length of the second bore for receiving the first and second terminal extensions, respectively, of the stacked rings; a key fixedly mounted in the outer housing for abutment with the second terminal extension of the rings; and the actuating piston being rotatable relative to the outer housing for radially expanding the rings when the second terminal extension abuts the key and the first terminal extension engages the first groove for relative rotation therewith.