It is known that in the brake sector, and in particular in the disk brake sector, it is felt that there is a need to produce brakes that are capable of combating undesired vibration phenomena which, in addition to causing irritating noise and accelerating wear phenomena, are interpreted by the user as a symptom of a malfunction of the brake.

Numerous constructions known in the sector aim to combat the occurrence of such vibration phenomena by resorting to many and various solutions since even today there is no unequivocal and well defined explanation for the occurrence of these phenomena, and consequently no unequivocal solutions for combating them.

The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a disk brake pad which has structural and functional characteristics such as to satisfy the above- mentioned requirements, exhibiting unusually beneficial effects with regard to the combating of vibration phenomena.

The problem is solved by a pad according to claims 1 and 21. The dependent claims describe variants.

The characteristics of the pad according to the invention will emerge from the description given hereinafter of a preferred and non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which: Figure la is a side view of a caliper; Figures 1b and Ic show, respectively, a front end view (region of entry of the disk or head region) and a rear end view. (region of exit of the disk or tail region) of the caliper of Figure la; Figure Id is a plan view of the caliper of Figure la ; Figure 2 is a partly sectioned view, taken on the section line A-A of Figure ld, of the caliper of Figure la which accommodates a pad according to a first variant; Figure 3 is a partly sectioned view of a caliper which accommodates a pad according to a further variant; Figure 4 is a partly sectioned view of a caliper which accommodates a pad according to a further variant; Figure 5 is a partly sectioned view of a caliper which accommodates a pad according to a further variant.

In the course of the description, reference will be made to the terms"circumferential","tangential"and "radial"with regard to directions and axes which are to be understood with reference to the disk of the disk

brake which can be associated with the caliper suitable for co-operating with the pad.

With reference to the appended Figures, 1 generally indicates a disk brake caliper which can be associated with a brake disk (not shown).

The disk brake has a disk comprising an annular braking band connected to the wheel hub of a vehicle, on which the disk brake is mounted, for example, by means of a connecting bell.

In an assembled configuration of the disk brake, the caliper 1 straddles the disk.

During normal use of the vehicle, the disk rotates about an axis of rotation X-X.

The caliper 1 comprises a caliper body 2 connected to a fixed portion of the vehicle chassis and provided with at least one housing 4 for accommodating a pad 6.

In a variant, the caliper body 2 is composed of a first half-body 2a and of a second half-body 2b, each of the half-bodies having a housing for accommodating a respective pad 6,6a.

According to this variant, connecting portions 7 provided on the half-body 2a are suitable for connecting the caliper body 2 to the fixed portion of the vehicle chassis.

The caliper 1 also comprises thrust means suitable

for acting on the pad 6 to cause it to abut the braking surface of the disk.

According to a preferred embodiment, the thrust means comprise an hydraulic circuit and at least one piston which, acted upon by brake fluid placed under pressure by the user during braking, acts on the pads 6, 6a, causing them to abut the braking band of the disk in order to perform the braking operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the caliper 1 is of the fixed type. In a further variant, the caliper is of the floating type.

The pad 6 comprises a plate 8, having a rear surface 10, on which the piston of the thrust means acts, and a front surface 12 which, in an assembled configuration of the disk brake, faces the braking surface of the disk.

The plate 8 also comprises a lower surface 13a which, in an assembled configuration of the disk brake. in which the pad 6 is accommodated in the housing 4, faces the axis of rotation X-X of the disk, and an upper surface 13b opposite the lower surface 13a.

In other words, the upper surface 13b of the plate 8 is further away from the axis of rotation X-X of the disk than is the lower surface 13a.

Also in other words, when the pad 6 is accommodated

in the caliper body 2, the upper surface 13b of the plate 8 means the surface visible from outside the caliper body, looking at the plate through the openings in the caliper body in the portion remote from that having the portions for connection to the vehicle chassis.

The plate 8 comprises a plate body 14 which extends substantially in a circumferential or tangential direction of the disk of the disk brake.

According to one configuration, the plate body 14 is substantially rectangular. In a variant, the plate body is shaped in such a manner that it substantially follows the curvature of the braking band of the disk.

The plate 8 also has a protuberance 16 which extends from the plate 8, forming a seat 18 for a pin 20 for suspending the pad 6 from the caliper body 2.

In other words, the seat 18 co-operates with the suspension pin 20 provided in the caliper body 2 in order to connect or to constrain in a removable manner the pad to the caliper body.

In a-preferred embodiment, the seat 18 for the suspension pin 20 is an eyelet.

Preferably, the eyelet 18 is coupled to the suspension pin 20 of the caliper body 2 with play.

The plate 8 also has a support portion 22 at the

location of the lower surface 13a of the plate 8, which portion is suitable for co-operating with a support protuberance 24 provided on the caliper body 2.

In particular, the support portion 22 bears on the support protuberance 24 by way of a bearing surface 22a.

In other words, the plate body 14 has a portion which is provided to bear on the support protuberance 24 of the caliper body 2.

The pad 6, accommodated in the caliper body 2, is suspended by the protuberance 16 from the caliper body 2 and bears by way of the support portion 22 on the support protuberance 24.

Also in other words, the pad co-operates with the caliper body at the location of the seat 18 for the suspension pin 20 and at the location of the support portion 22, while the upper surface 13b of the plate 8 does not bear on the caliper body 2.

Advantageously, this arrangement produces a functioning of the pad during braking which has reduced vibration phenomena.

The pad 6 also comprises friction material 26., 28 supported on the front surface 12 of the plate 8.

Once the brake disk has been set in rotation, in an assembled configuration of the brake, the friction material 26,28 defines a swept surface on the rotating

disk, in particular on the braking band of the disk.

The seat 18 for the suspension pin 20, and the support portion 22 of the lower surface 13b of the plate 8 are positioned outside the surface swept by the friction material.

Preferably, the seat 18 for the suspension pin 20, and the support portion 22 of the lower surface 13b of the plate 8 are located on the side remote from the friction material.

In a preferred embodiment, the friction material comprises separate islands 26,28 of friction material, preferably two, which are arranged circumferentially side by side.

In a further variant, the friction material is composed of a single continuous element, which is preferably notched, if necessary, or of three or more islands of material.

The friction material 26, 28 is supported on the front surface 12 of the plate 8, being contained within an area between an outer peripheral surface 30 and an inner peripheral surface 32.

In an assembled configuration of the disk brake in which the caliper straddles the disk and the pad 6 is accommodated in the housing 4 of the caliper body 2, with respect to the axis of rotation X-X of the disk,

the inner peripheral surface 32 is radially closer to the axis of rotation X-X of the disk than is the outer peripheral surface 30.

In other words, the friction material 26,28 is contained within an area of action 34 determined by the outer peripheral surface 30 and by the inner peripheral surface 32 which intersect to delimit the area of action 34.

In particular, the outer peripheral surface is represented by the cylindrical surface which has an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation X-X of the disk and which is defined by the extent along said axis of the outer peripheral edge of the braking band.

In other words, in an assembled configuration of the brake, the braking band of the disk has an outer circular edge which defines the outer peripheral surface of the action area of the friction material.

The inner peripheral surface is represented by a flat surface on which the edge of the support portion 22 of the plate 6 lies.

The cylindrical outer peripheral surface 30 and the flat inner peripheral surface 32 intersect to delimit the area of action 34, which is substantially in the form of a segment of a circle.

Preferably, the seat 18 of the protuberance 16 of

the plate 8 is located outside the action area 34 determined by the peripheral surfaces 30,32, in particular radially further away from the axis of rotation X-X of the disk than is the outer peripheral surface 30 of the action area 34.

Also preferably, the support portion 22 of the plate 8 is located outside the action area 34 determined by the limit surfaces 30,32, in particular radially closer to the axis of rotation X-X of the disk than is the inner peripheral surface 32 of the action area.

In particular, the friction material 26,28 is located above the plane 32 defined by the bearing surface 22a of the support portion 22 on the support protuberance 24.

The seat 18 of the protuberance 16 and the support portion 22 of the plate 8 are located along a straight line R-R which extends through the action area 34, while the said seat 18 and the said support portion remain outside the action area on the side remote therefrom.

In an assembled configuration of the brake, a radial axis, called the median radial axis M-M, extends through the circumferential centre line of the plate body 14 and through the centre of the brake disk.

In a preferred embodiment, the straight line R-R along which the seat 18 and the support portion 22 are

located, is inclined relative to the median radial axis M-M by a predetermined angle B of from 35° to 80°, or preferably from 45° to 75°, or preferably equal to 47° or to 70°.

In a variant, the pad 6 also comprises a reaction region 36 which is suitable for co-operating with a rib 38 of the caliper body 2 in order to transfer the braking force generated during braking from the friction material 26,28 to the caliper body 2 and, finally, to the fixed portion of the vehicle chassis.

The reaction region 36 preferably comprises a portion of the plate body 14.

The reaction region 36 of the plate 8 extends at the location of a circumferential end of the plate 8, substantially parallel with the median radial axis M-M.

The reaction region 36, together with the rib 38 of the caliper body 2, represents a preferred embodiment of reaction means suitable for transferring the braking force generated during braking from the friction material 26,28 to the fixed portion of the vehicle chassis.

In a further variant, the reaction means comprise the seat 18 and the suspension pin 20 (Figure 3).

The caliper body 2 is suitable for accommodating the pad 6 in the housing 4.

The caliper body has the suspension pin 20 which engages with the seat 18 of the protuberance 16 of the pad 6, and the support protuberance 24 on which the support portion 22 of the pad bears.

The suspension pin 20 is located above the plane 32 defined by the bearing surface 22a of the support portion 22 of the plate 8 on the support protuberance 24.

Preferably, the suspension pin 20 and the support protuberance 24 are located outside the action area 34 of the pad 6, in a configuration where the pad is accommodated in the caliper body.

In a variant, the caliper body 2 has the rib 38 which is suitable for co-operating with the reaction region 36 of the pad in order to oppose the braking force generated in the course of a braking operation.

Preferably, the caliper body 2 has an insertion/withdrawal opening 40 suitable for the passage of the pad 6.

In one embodiment of the caliper body 2, the opening 40 is located at the front of the caliper body, circumferentially on the opposite side relative to the rib 38 of the caliper body.

In the assembled configuration of the disk brake, with the vehicle in motion, the disk rotates about the

axis of rotation X-X, in accordance with a travelling direction of rotation, indicated in the appended Figures by the arrow C.

In the course of rotation, the disk passes through the caliper body 2, entering by a first region, the head region 42 of the caliper body 2, and exiting by a second region, the tail region 44.

In the said assembled configuration of the disk brake, the protuberance 16 of the pad 6 provided with the seat 18 for the suspension pin 20 is located at the head region 42 of the caliper body 2, while the support portion 22 is located at the tail region 44.

Correspondingly, the suspension pin 20 of the caliper body 2 is located at the head region 42 of the caliper body 2, while the support protuberance 24 is located at the tail region 44.

The reaction region 36 of the pad 6 is located at the tail region 44 of the caliper body 2, with respect to the direction of rotation C of the disk during normal travel of the vehicle.

Correspondingly, the rib 38 of the caliper body 2 is located at the tail region 44 of the caliper body 2.

In the course of a braking operation, in a first variant, the pad 6 is caused by the braking force generated by the friction material 26,28 to abut the

rib 38 by way of the reaction region 36, while remaining stably bearing on the support protuberance 24.

The seat 18 of the protuberance 16, coupled with play to the suspension pin 20, advantageously enables the pad to discharge substantially the entire braking force onto the rib 38, while it protects the pad from undesired wobbling movements and lateral instability which are held to cause vibration phenomena.

In a further variant, the braking force generated by the friction material 26,28 is absorbed by the suspension pin 20, the pad remaining stably bearing on the support protuberance 24.

In the course of a servicing intervention to replace a pad, the protuberance 16 is disengaged from the suspension pin 20, for example, by previously removing the pin 20 from the caliper body 2.

Once the pad has been gripped, it is withdrawn from the caliper body 2, passing through the opening 40 provided at the front of the caliper body 2.

In other words, the withdrawal of the. pad 6 takes place in accordance with a tangential and/or circumferential movement relative to the disk.

The disk brake pad according to the invention, provided with a support portion located beneath the bearing plane, has demonstrated unusually beneficial

effects with regard to the occurrence of vibration phenomena.

In particular, the support portion represents an efficacious bearing for the pad while the eyelet engages with the eyelet pin in such a manner as to stabilise the pad as a whole, for example, with regard to lateral instability and wobbling phenomena.

It has been found that the arrangement of the eyelet and the support portion outside the action. region defined makes it possible to optimise the location of the resultant forces acting on the pad as a consequence of the braking force acting thereon.

Furthermore, the location of the eyelet outside the outer peripheral surface and of the support portion outside the inner peripheral surface makes it possible to increase the size of the reaction couples produced by these resultant forces and to oppose phenomena such as wobbling and lateral instability.

In addition, the arrangement of the eyelet at the head region of the caliper and of the support portion at the tail region thereof has demonstrated improved behaviour with regard to vibration phenomena generated by stick-slip phenomena and the like.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the eyelet, acting as the only support of the pad, enables

the braking force to be transmitted to the rib of the caliper in an optimum manner, that is to say, in such a manner that the reaction region of the pad abuts the rib provided in a stable manner.

The caliper, which is suitable for accommodating the pad, has a caliper body of advantageously limited dimensions, which is particularly suitable for uses in which the space available for mounting the caliper is limited, such as, for example, in the case of calipers for motorcycle use.

The eyelet-pin system and the support portion- protuberance system, being located outside the action region of the friction material, permit the formation of a front opening for the insertion and/or withdrawal of the pad.

The caliper body is therefore constructed around the pad so as to envelop it, thus reducing the overall volume of the caliper body.

Also advantageously, the caliper body is light in weight.

According to a further advantageous aspect,. the caliper body can be produced simply and rapidly since couplings with play between the eyelet and the eyelet pin permit the performance of machining operations without tight tolerances in respect of the position of

the rib of the caliper body.

In addition, the caliper body removes the necessity to machine some surfaces, such as the abutment surface of the rib, which is put to use in its cast form.

It will be appreciated that a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, can introduce numerous modifications and variants to the pad and the caliper described above, which are all to be regarded as contained within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.