Brake system for a motor vehicle
View Patent ↗An improved brake system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a rotor attached to a rim of a wheel and a caliper assembly mounted to a hub of the wheel. The caliper is arranged to retain a friction element and operatively engage the friction element against the rotor.
1. A vehicle brake system comprising:
a first wheel including a first concave surface disposed on an outboard side of the first wheel, a first convex surface disposed on an inboard side of the first wheel, a first hub providing an axis of rotation for the first wheel, and a first tire-supporting portion, the first concave surface and the first convex surface extending between and connecting the first tire-supporting portion and the first hub;
a second wheel disposed adjacent to the first wheel and including a common axis of rotation, the second wheel further including a second concave surface disposed on an outboard side of the second wheel and a second convex surface disposed on an inboard side of the second wheel, the second concave surface and the second convex surface extending between and connecting a second tire-supporting portion and a second hub, the second convex surface opposing the first convex surface;
a first rotor attached to the first wheel proximate to a first axially outboard edge of the first wheel and disposed adjacent to the first tire-supporting portion;
a first caliper assembly arranged to retain and operatively engage a first friction element against the first rotor;
a second rotor attached to the second wheel proximate to a second axially outboard edge of the second wheel and disposed adjacent to the second tire-supporting portion; and
a second caliper assembly arranged to retain and operatively engage a second friction element against the second rotor.
2. The vehicle brake system of claim 1 , wherein the first friction element includes a plurality of friction elements and wherein the first caliper assembly is arranged to retain and engage a respective one of the friction elements against each of an outward and inward face of the first rotor.
3. The vehicle brake system of claim 1 , wherein the brake system further comprises a master brake cylinder mounted to a base plate of a steering mechanism arranged to rotate with the steering mechanism.
4. The vehicle brake system of claim 3 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises a handle bar coupled to a rotateable shaft, the base plate being coupled to rotate with the shaft, and wherein the brake system further comprises a brake actuation lever mounted to the handle bar and coupled to the master brake cylinder.
5. The vehicle brake system of claim 1 , wherein the first rotor extends away from the first axially outboard edge and toward the first concave surface.
6. The vehicle brake system of claim 1 , wherein the first wheel includes a first tire and the second wheel includes a second tire respectively supported by the first tire-supporting portion and the second tire-supporting portion.
7. The vehicle brake system of claim 6 , wherein the first tire opposes the second tire.
8. The vehicle brake system of claim 1 , wherein the second rotor extends away from the second axially outboard edge and toward the second concave surface.