Disk brake hub assembly
View Patent ↗A brake hub assembly for coupling to a wheel rim includes a hub body and a brake disk coupled to the hub body. The hub body and brake disk are shaped to allow maximum airflow through the brake disk during operation of the vehicle.
1. A brake hub assembly comprising:
a brake hub defining a central axis and including an interior recess defining a bearing seat in which at least a portion of a wheel bearing is received;
a brake disk coupled to the brake hub, the brake disk having: a first plate; a second plate spaced axially from the first plate; and a plurality of ribs extending between the first and second plates to define a plurality of cooling channels therebetween, each channel having an opening with an inboard edge, the first plate being inboard from the second plate and the second plate having a braking surface, a thickness defined between the braking surface and one of the cooling channels, and a plurality of radially extending slots through the thickness of the second plate, the second plate being annular and having a plurality of pilot surfaces in direct contact with the brake hub and alternating with the radially extending slots in a circumferential direction about the central axis, the pilot surfaces defining an inner diameter of the second plate;
a torque member extending from the brake hub and received in one of the radially extending slots of the brake disk, the torque member having an inboard end with a threaded bore therein, wherein the inboard end does not extend axially beyond the inboard edge of the opening;
an axial preload spring for biasing the brake disk towards an axial qualifying surface of the torque member; and
a fastener received within the threaded bore, and extending through the same radial slot in the brake disk in which the torque member is received, for clamping the axial preload spring to the torque member.
2. The brake hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate is annular and has a first inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the second plate is a second inner diameter, and wherein the second inner diameter is less than the first inner diameter.
3. The brake hub assembly of claim 2 , wherein the brake disk and brake hub are co-axially aligned along the central axis, and wherein the pilot surfaces comprise no more than about 15% of the inner circumference of the second plate.
4. The brake hub assembly of claim 2 , wherein the brake disk and brake hub are co-axially aligned along the central axis, and wherein the pilot surfaces comprise no more than about 2% of the inner circumference of the second plate.
5. The brake hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the slots extends radially from the second inner diameter.
6. The brake hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torque member is one of a plurality of torque members, each for transmitting torque between the brake disk and the brake hub and each having an axial qualifying surface; and
wherein the axial preload spring has a plurality of base portions each coupled to a corresponding torque member, and wherein the axial preload spring is configured to bias the brake disk towards the axial qualifying surfaces of the torque members.
7. The brake hub assembly of claim 6 , wherein the axial preload spring also includes a plurality of spring portions, each spring portion positioned between adjacent base portions.
8. The brake hub assembly of claim 7 , wherein each spring portion is substantially “V” shaped.
9. The brake hub assembly of claim 7 , wherein the spring portions contact the brake disk.
10. The brake hub assembly of claim 6 , wherein the axial preload spring is substantially “C” shaped.
11. The brake hub assembly of claim 6 , wherein the brake disk is configured to float along the central axis between the axial preload spring and the axial qualifying surfaces of the torque members.
12. The brake hub assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least two of the torque members include a threaded bore in the inboard end thereof, and wherein the fastener is one of a plurality of fasteners received within the threaded bores for clamping the axial preload spring to the torque members.
13. The brake hub assembly of claim 12 , wherein the fasteners are configured as stand-off screws, and wherein the brake hub assembly further includes a tone ring mounted to the stand-off screws.
14. The brake hub assembly of claim 13 , wherein the stand-off screws mount the tone ring parallel with the brake disk.
15. The brake hub assembly of claim 6 , wherein the axial preload spring is annular.
16. A brake hub assembly comprising:
a brake hub defining a central axis and including an interior recess defining a bearing seat in which at least a portion of a wheel bearing is received;
a brake disk coupled to the brake hub, the brake disk having: a first plate; a second plate spaced axially from the first plate; and a plurality of ribs extending between the first and second plates to define a plurality of cooling channels therebetween, each channel having an opening with an inboard edge, the first plate being inboard from the second plate and the second plate having a braking surface, a thickness defined between the braking surface and one of the cooling channels, and a plurality of radially extending slots through the thickness of the second plate, the second plate being annular and having a plurality of pilot surfaces in direct contact with the brake hub and alternating with the radially extending slots in a circumferential direction about the central axis, the pilot surfaces defining an inner diameter of the second plate, wherein the inner diameter of the second plate defines an inner circumference, and wherein the pilot surfaces comprise no more than about 20% of the inner circumference of the second plate;
a torque member extending from the brake hub and received in one of the radially extending slots of the brake disk, the torque member having an inboard end with a threaded bore therein, wherein the inboard end does not extend axially beyond the inboard edge of the opening;
an axial preload spring for biasing the brake disk towards an axial qualifying surface of the torque member; and
a fastener received within the threaded bore, and extending through the same radial slot in the brake disk in which the torque member is received, for clamping the axial preload spring to the torque member.