Field of the Invention ■ This invention relates to a disc brake calliper, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a disc brake calliper of a vehicle for reducing accelerated wear of braking components.

Background of the Invention

It is well known to provide disc brakes on vehicles,- and there has been a move toward the use of disc brakes over recent years as they are considered to provide improved braking performance when compared to drum brakes. Disc brakes are now standard equipment on most performance cars, and also on passenger cars, at least on the front wheels, and motorbikes. '

However, the use of disc brakes on heavy vehicles such as road transport vehicles and the like has been slow, and many road transport vehicle operators prefer to operate vehicles having drum brakes rather than disc brakes, owing to maintenance costs. The applicant has determined that it would be beneficial for there to be provided an advancement which would reduce the maintenance costs of disc brakes, particularly when used on large road transport vehicles.

The applicant has identified that previously proposed disc brake callipers may be disadvantageous as they make it difficult and time consuming to remove and replace a disc brake rotor. More particularly, the applicant has identified that in previous disc brake systems, it is necessary to remove the brake calliper and booster from the axle in order to remove and replace the disc brake rotor, and that this is a time consuming procedure. Examples of the present invention seek to provide a disc brake calliper which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more disadvantages associated with previous disc brake systems. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disc brake calliper including an anchor mounting component for anchoring the disc brake calliper relative to an axis about which a disc rotor rotates, the anchor mounting component having a first brake pad for bearing against one side of the rotor, and a distal component having a second brake pad for bearing against an opposite side of the rotor, wherein the distal component is able to be locked in an operable configuration relative to the anchor mounting component for operation of the disc brake calliper whereby the rotor is sandwiched between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the distal component is able to be selectively freed from the operable position to facilitate access for servicing/removal of the rotor.

Preferably, the distal component is adapted to be separated and removed from the anchor mounting component. Preferably, one of the anchor mounting component and the distal component has a protrusion, and the other a corresponding receptacle for receiving the protrusion, for positively locating the components in the operable configuration. More preferably, the protrusion and the corresponding receptacle are adapted for transferring engagement forces of the disc brake calliper between the distal component and the anchor mounting component.

Preferably, the distal component has at least one aperture and the anchor mounting component has at least one aperture which communicates with the aperture in the distal component when in the operable configuration such thai a coupling is able to be driven into the apertures to lock the components in position. More preferably, the coupling is a fastener. In one form, the distal component has a plurality of apertures and the anchor mounting component has a corresponding plurality of apertures which communicate with the apertures in the distal component when in the operable configuration such that a coupling is able to be driven into each pair of communicating apertures to lock the components in position.

Preferably, the anchor mounting component includes a support structure which is adapted to support the calliper relative to said axis about which the rotor rotates, against deflection out of a plane of the rotor during application of the disc brake, and wherein the support structure allows linear movement between the calliper and an anchor fixed relative to a host vehicle structure to facilitate operation of the disc brake.

More preferably, the anchor is adapted for securing the support structure relative to an axle associated with the disc brake. Even more preferably, the disc brake calliper is for braking a wheel of the host vehicle, and the anchor is adapted for securing the support relative to an axle of the wheel.

In one form, the anchor includes a bracket for fixing relative to the axle.

Preferably, the. support structure includes a sliding arrangement which provides lateral support to prevent said deflection of the calliper relative to the axis out of the plane of the disc during application of the disc brake, and wherein the sliding arrangement pemiits longitudinal sliding of the calliper relative to the anchor to allow said linear movement between the calliper and the anchor to facilitate operation of the disc brake.

More preferably, the support structure includes a guide member extending substantially parallel to said axis about, which the disc rotates, and the anchor mounting component includes a sleeve in sleeved arrangement over the guide. In one form, the sleeve is integrally formed within a main body of the anchor mounting component. Preferably, the calliper is made from lightweight material. More preferably, the calliper is made from aluminium and/or carbon fibre.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a disc brake calliper in accordance with an example of the present in vention; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the disc brake calliper of Figure 1.

Detailed Description

·

With reference to Figure 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a disc brake calliper 10 having an inner part on one side of a disc rotor 12 and an outer part on the other side of the disc rotor 12. Advantageously, as the disc brake calliper 10 is formed of two separate parts which are able to be locked together for use or freed for servicing/maintenance, the calliper 10 allows the rotor 12 to be replaced without having to remove the calliper 10 and its associated booster 14 from the axle 16 as is required presently. The applicant has determined that this may have a significant effect on the efficiency of maintenance and downtime within the transportation industry. More particularly, the disc brake calliper 10 includes an anchor mountingcomponent 18 for anchoring the disc brake calliper 10 relative to an axis 20 about which the disc rotor 12 rotates. The anchor mounting component 18 forms the inner part of the disc brake calliper 10. The anchor mounting component 18 has a first brake pad 22 for bearing against one side of the rotor. The disc brake calliper 10 also includes a distal component 24 which forms an outer part of the calliper 10. The distal component 24 has a second brake pad 26 for bearing against an opposite side of the rotor 12. The distal component 24 is able to be locked in an operable configuration relative to the anchor mounting component 18 for operation of the disc brake calliper 10 whereby the rotor 12 is sandwiched between the first brake pad 22 and the second brake pad 26. The distal component 24 is able to be selectively freed from the operable configuration to facilitate access for servicing/removal of the rotor 12.

In the examples shown in Figures 1 and 2, the distal component 24 is adapted to be separated and removed from the anchor mounting component 18. In alternative examples, the distal component 24 may be freed so as to move away from the anchor mounting component 18, without actually being separated from the anchor mounting component 18. In this way, the disc brake calliper 10 may be moved from the operable configuration to facilitate access for servicing/removal of the rotor 12, without dismantling the cal liper 10. The anchor mounting component 18 has a protrusion 28, or alignment ridge, and the distal component 24 has a corresponding receptacle 30 for receiving the protrusion 28, so as to positively locate the components 18, 24 in the operable configuration. The protrusion 28 and the corresponding receptacle 30 are adapted for transferring engagement forces of the disc brake calliper 10 between the distal component 24 and the anchor mounting component 18. These engagement forces can be extremely high during application of the disc brake, and the protrusion 28/receptacle 30 coupling provides a strong interface for these forces to be transferred, to avoid unwanted relative movement of the calliper components 18, 24. The distal component 24 has a plurality of apertures 32 and the anchor mounting component 18 has a corresponding plurality of apertures 34 which communicate with the apertures 32 when in the operable configuration such that a coupling is able to be driven into each pair of communicating apertures 32, 34 to lock the components 18, 24 in position. Each of the couplings may be in the form of a fastener. More particularly, the distal component 24 has four apertures 32, and the anchor mounting component 18 has four corresponding apertures 34. It will be appreciated by referring to the drawings that the apertures 32, 34 are brought into communication from the configuration shown by moving the distal component 24 toward the anchor mounting component 18 so as to lock the components 18, 24 in the operable configuration. The anchor mounting component 18 includes a support structure 36 which is adapted to support the calliper 10 relative to the axis 20 about which the rotor 12 rotates. The support structure 36 supports the calliper 10 against deflection out of a plane of the rotor 12 during application of the disc brake, and allows linear movement between the calliper 10 and an anchor 38 which is fixed relative to a host vehicle structure to facilitate operation of the disc brake. Where the disc brake calliper 10 is for braking a wheel of the host vehicle, the anchor 38 may be adapted for securing the support structure 36 relative to the axle 16 associated with the disc brake. The anchor 38 includes a bracket 40 for fixing relative to the axle 16. The support structure 36 includes a sliding arrangement 42 which provides lateral support to prevent deflection of the calliper 10 relative to the axis 20 out of the plane of the disc during application of the disc brake, The sliding arrangement 42 permits longitudinal sliding of the calliper 10 relative to the anchor 38 to allow the linear movement between the calliper 10 and the anchor 38 to facilitate operation of the disc brake. The sliding arrangement 42 may comprise a guide member 44 extending substantially parallel to the axis 20 about which the disc rotor 12 rotates, and a sleeve 46 in sleeved arrangement over the guide member 44. The sleeve 46 may be integrally formed within a main body 48 of the anchor mounting component 18. Advantageously, as the calliper 10 eliminates or at least alleviates the cause of accelerated wear, the calliper components 18, 24 can be manufactured from lightweight materials such as aluminium or carbon fibre. This weight reduction may effect the profitability of the transport industry as it means that every kilogram in weight reduction of the brake callipers is an extra kilogram that can be carried as cargo. The reduction in weight together with the reduction in downtime during the servicing/maintenance may equate to significant additional revenue in the transportation industry. By incorporating the sleeve 46 as an integral part of the main body 48 of the anchor mounting component 18, the wear reducing calliper 10 is able to be provided as standard equipment on a vehicle rather than providing an after-market wear reducing product.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.