Disk brake apparatus with cooling fins

Claim 1

In a disk brake for a motor vehicle of the type including an annular brake disk carried by a wheel hub, the hub being rotatably mounted on an axle, and a caliper brake mechanism carried by a stationary support and extended through a central opening of the brake disk, the brake mechanism having brake pads engaging with opposite radial faces of the brake disk upon application of force thereto by a piston and cylinder arrangement, the improvement wherein: said stationary support comprises a cover member directly supported on the axle and secured so as not to rotate, said cover member having a front portion with an air introducing opening therein and a rear portion with a brake mechanism receiving opening therein, the cover member enclosing that face of the brake disk which faces outwardly of the wheel hub, the brake mechanism receiving opening having side edges, the brake mechanism being mounted on the cover member in the receiving opening so as to be axially movable but secured from circumferential movement by engagement with said side edges, and fins are provided on the brake disk at a position radially outwardly of the brake pads and of an outer periphery of said cover member, said fins extending axially and radially of at least one face of the disk and comprise impellers for enhancing flow of air past the disk and for enhancing dissipation of heat from the disk.