Rigid segmented brake disk

Claim 2

A segmented brake disk, comprising; a plurality of segments, a gap existing between said segments, said segments having two end portions, a periphery, and a width, said segments having a tongue and a swept area, said tongue having an axial width less than said segment width, said tongue extending from one of said segment end portions, said swept area having inherent high thermal expansion and contraction forces, a recess having an axial width less than said segment width, said recess located in said remaining segment end portions, said tongue residing in said recess, said tongue located at said periphery of one of said end portions substantially outside said swept area on said segment, said recess located at said periphery of said remaining end portion substantially outside said swept area on said segment, and at least two separate fastening means for securing each said tongue to each said segment end portion having said recess to form a rigid connection substantially outside said swept area of said segment so that said connection is outside said high thermal expansion and contraction forces.

Claim 3

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said recess corresponds to the shape of said tongue.

Claim 4

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said disk is made from metal.

Claim 5

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said disk is made from a carbon composite material.

Claim 6

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said carbon composite material is made from a laminate of a carbon-based material and a carbon cloth.

Claim 7

A segmented brake disk according to claim 5, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized coal tar pitch.

Claim 8

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said disk is a rotor.

Claim 9

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said gap between said segments is formed by the combination of said segments having groove portions on each end portion.

Claim 10

A segmented brake disk according to claim 8, wherein said groove portions are located at least closer to said segment end portion than the points where said fastening means secures said tongue to said recess.

Claim 11

A segmented brake disk according to claim 8, wherein the shape of said recess corresponds to the shape of said tongue.

Claim 12

A segmented brake disk according to claim 8, wherein said tongue is located in the central axial portion of said segment and said groove is located in the central axial portion of said segment.

Claim 13

A segmented brake disk according to claim 9, wherein said fastening means are rivets or spot welds.

Claim 14

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said tongue has a radial surface, a curvilinear portion and an inwardly tapered surface, said tongue radial surface being contiguous with said curvilinear portion and said curvilinear portion being contiguous with said inwardly tapered surface, said recess having a radial portion, a curvilinear portion, and an inwardly tapered surface, said recess radial surface being contiguous with said curvilinear portion and said curvilinear portion being contiguous with said inwardly tapered surface, and at least two separate fastening means for securing each said tongue to each said segment end portion having said recess to form a rigid segmented brake disk.

Claim 15

A segmented brake disk, comprising; a plurality of segments, said segments having two end portions, a periphery, and a width, each said end portion having a groove portion, a gap existing between said segments, each said segment end portion having a slot, an axial width, and a swepth area, said slot located at said periphery of and entirely within said axial width of said end portion substantially outside said swept area on said segment, said slot having an axial width less than and entirely within said segment width, and having a radial height, said swept area having inherent thermal expansion and contraction forces, a clip, said clip having a radial height and having an axial width less than said segment width, said clip having one end residing in one said slot, and the other end residing in said slot on an adjacent said segment, at least two separate fastening means for securing each end of each said clip to said segment peripheral end portions having one said slot to form a rigid connection outside said swept area of said segment so that said connection is substantially outside said thermal expansion and contraction forces, and said groove portions being located at least closer to said segment end portion than the points where said fastening means secures said clip to said slot.

Claim 16

A segmented brake disk, comprising; a plurality of segments, said segments having two end portions, a periphery, and a width, each said end portion having a groove portion, a gap existing between said segments, each said segment end portion having a slot, an axial width, and a swepth area, said slot located at said periphery of and entirely within said axial width of said end portion substantially outside said swept area on said segment, said slot having an axial width less than and entirely within said segment width, and having a radial height, said swept area having inherent thermal expansion and contraction forces, a clip, said clip having a radial height and having an axial width less than said segment width, said clip having one end residing in one said slot, and the other end residing in said slot on an adjacent said segment, at least two separate fastening means for securing each end of each said clip to said segment peripheral end portions having one said slot to form a rigid connection outside said swept area of said segment so that said connection is substantially outside said thermal expansion and contraction forces, and said groove portions being located at least closer to said segment end portion than the points where said fastening means secures said clip to said slot.

Claim 17

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein the shape of said slot corresponds to the shape of said clip and said end portions have an expansion and assemblage clearance between said slot radial height and said clip radial height.

Claim 18

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein said disk is made from metal.

Claim 19

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein said disk is made from a carbon composite material.

Claim 20

A segmented brake disk according to claim 17, wherein said carbon composite material is a laminate of a carbon-based material and a carbon cloth.

Claim 21

A segmented brake disk according to claim 18, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized coal tar pitch.

Claim 22

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein said disk is a rotor.

Claim 23

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein said gap between said segments is formed by the combination of said segments having groove portions on each end portion.

Claim 24

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein the shape of said slot corresponds to the shape of said clip.

Claim 25

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, including a central axial portion of said segment wherein said slot is located in said central axial portion of said segment and said clip is located in said central axial portion of said segments.

Claim 26

A segmented brake disk according to claim 23, wherein said fastening means are rivets or spot welds.

Claim 27

A segmented brake disk according to claim 14, wherein said clip has a radial surface, a curvilinear portion and an inwardly tapered surface, said clip radial surface being contiguous with said curvilinear portion and said curvilinear portion being contiguous with said inwardly tapered surface, said slot having a radial portion, a curvilinear portion, and an inwardly tapered surface, said slot radial surface being contiguous with said curvilinear portion and said curvilinear portion being contiguous with said inwardly tapered surface, and at least two separate fastening means for securing each said clip to each said segment end portion having said slot to form a rigid segmented brake disk.

Claim 28

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized petroleum pitch.

Claim 29

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized polyacrylonitrile.

Claim 30

A segmented brake disk according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized furan resin.

Claim 31

A segmented brake disk according to claim 18, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized petroleum pitch.

Claim 32

A segmented brake disk according to claim 18, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized polyacrylonitrile.

Claim 33

A segmented brake disk according to claim 18, wherein said carbon-based material is pyrolized furan resin.