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  Wide caliper assembly designUSPTO Application #: 20070272498Title: Wide caliper assembly design Abstract: A disc brake caliper assembly is provided including a support bracket, a pair of slide pins, and a caliper body. The support bracket includes an inboard rail and an outboard rail. The inboard rail defines a pair of engagement bores. The pair of slide pins engage the pair of engagement bores. The caliper body slidably engages the pair of slide pins. The caliper body includes an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The inboard and outboard portions balance each other such that the caliper body has a center of gravity that is substantially axially aligned with the location of engagement between the slide pins and the engagement bores. (end of abstract)
Agent: Dobrusin & Thennisch PC - Pontiac, MI, US Inventors: Sean Christopher Barrett, Philip Nathanael Jedele USPTO Applicaton #: 20070272498 - Class: 18801800A (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070272498. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/564,517, filed on Apr. 22, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a disc brake caliper assembly and, more particularly, to a disc brake caliper assembly designed to reduce radial packaging space. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Disc brake systems include a disc, often referred to as a rotor, and a caliper assembly. The disc is typically fixed to a wheel of a vehicle. The caliper assembly is disposed on or near an edge of the disc. The caliper assembly includes a pair of brake pads. The brake pads are operable to engage the disc and apply a torque to the disc in a direction opposite to its rotation. The radial position at which the sum of frictional forces created at the pad-to-disc interface is called the effective radius. Increasing the effective radius increases the torque generated by the brake. The effective radius can be increased by providing a larger diameter disc and/or by positioning the pad centroid closer to the outer radial edge of the disc. [0004] Most brake caliper assemblies can be categorized as either Frame calipers or Fist calipers. Fist calipers typically include a support bracket, a caliper body, and a pair of connecting pins. In one known device, the support bracket is fixed to a component of the vehicle such as an axle. The brake pads are positioned on opposite sides of the disc and are typically slidably disposed on the support bracket or the caliper body. The caliper body is slidably supported by the connecting pins on the support bracket. The caliper body may include a bridge that extends axially from an inboard surface of the disc to an outboard surface of the disc. Most bridges are slightly arc-shaped to receive the radial edge of the disc. Upon actuation of the brake system, the bridge typically translates axially inboard and causes the brake pads to frictionally engage opposite sides of the disc. This often places the bridge in bending, which is an inefficient use of mass. Connecting pins generally extend over the rotor between the inboard and outboard sides of the support bracket. Minimum casting is required around the perimeter of the connecting pins. Casting clearance is also required to the wheel and rotor. Thus the rotor size is limited by these parameters as well as the connecting pin diameter. [0005] Frame calipers generally include a support bracket, a caliper body, and a pair of connecting pins. The caliper body generally has an inboard side, an outboard side, and a caliper bridge having two sides. The Frame caliper bridge is typically thinner than a Fist caliper bridge. This allows for a larger diameter rotor within a given wheel compared to a Fist caliper. Connecting pins are generally on the inboard side of the rotor for Frame calipers due to the reduced radial packaging that a larger diameter rotor provides, which does not allow for the connecting pins to extend over the rotor. The outboard side is generally thicker than a Fist caliper outboard side. Frame calipers require more outboard packaging space which is not suitable for front brake applications where other vehicle parameters dictate wheel and rotor position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A disc brake caliper assembly is provided including a support bracket, a pair of slide pins, and a caliper body. The support bracket includes an inboard rail and an outboard rail. The inboard rail defines a pair of engagement bores. The pair of slide pins engage the pair of engagement bores. The caliper body slidably engages the pair of slide pins. The caliper body includes an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The inboard and outboard portions balance each other such that the caliper body has a center of gravity acting in a vertical plane that is substantially axially aligned with the pair of engagement bores of the inboard rail. [0007] Another aspect of the present invention provides a disc brake caliper assembly including a support bracket, a pair of slide pins, and a caliper body. The pair of slide pins are attached to the support bracket. The caliper body slidably engages the pair of slide pins. The caliper body includes a continuous bridge. The circumferential end portions are adapted to be loaded in tension. The central portion is adapted to be loaded in bending. [0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides a disc brake assembly including a disc, a support bracket, a pair of slide pins, and a caliper body. The disc includes a radial edge, an inboard face, and an outboard face. The inboard face is opposite the outboard face. The support bracket includes an inboard rail and an outboard rail. The inboard rail is disposed adjacent the inboard face of the disc. The outboard rail is disposed adjacent the outboard face of the disc. The pair of slide pins are attached to and extend axially inboard from the inboard rail at a location displaced radially inward from the radial edge of the disc. The caliper body slidably engages the pair of slide pins. [0009] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 is an outboard view of a disc brake assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 2 is an inboard view of the disc brake assembly of FIG. 1; [0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of a caliper assembly of the disc brake assembly of FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the caliper assembly of FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional outboard view of the caliper assembly of FIG. 1 taken through line V-V of FIG. 4; [0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the caliper assembly of FIG. 1 taken through line VI-VI of FIG. 3; and [0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the caliper assembly of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or its uses. Continue reading... Full patent description for Wide caliper assembly design Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Wide caliper assembly design patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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