Method and device for capturing particles ejected by the friction braking elements of a disk brake system

1. Method for capturing particles ejected by the friction braking elements ( 2 ) of a braking system ( 1 , 2 ) with brake discs ( 1 ) of a vehicle, comprising:

equipping said braking system ( 1 , 2 ) with a capture conduit ( 3 ):

provided with an upstream air inlet face ( 3 a ) and a downstream air outlet face ( 3 b ) and having a form adapted to accommodate the friction braking elements ( 2 ), and to conduct, when the vehicle is moving, an air flow for cooling said friction braking elements between the upstream face ( 3 a ) and the downstream face ( 3 b ),

integrating a shutter ( 6 ) with a plate ( 6 a ) positioned between the upstream face ( 3 a ) and the friction braking elements ( 2 ),

integrating means ( 5 ) for capturing particles ejected by the friction braking elements ( 2 ),

controlling the shutter ( 6 ) so as to move the plate ( 6 a ) between a position for closing the conduit ( 3 ), set for vehicle travel speeds lower than a predefined threshold speed Vs, and at least one position for at least partially opening the conduit ( 3 ), for vehicle travel speeds higher than the threshold speed Vs.

2. Capture method according to claim 1 , wherein when the vehicle is traveling at speeds higher than the threshold speed Vs and lower than a predefined ceiling speed Vp, the shutter ( 6 ) is controlled so as to move the plate ( 6 a ) into a position of maximum opening for said ceiling speed Vp of vehicle travel, and into positions of partial opening, which determine variations in the cooling air flow proportional to the variations in vehicle speed, for vehicle travel speeds between the threshold speed Vs and the ceiling speed Vp.

3. Capture method according to claim 2 , wherein for vehicle travel speeds higher than the ceiling speed Vp, the shutter ( 6 ) is controlled so as to move the plate ( 6 a ) into a predefined position of partial opening of the conduit ( 3 ).

4. Capture method according to claim 3 , wherein when the vehicle is traveling at speeds higher than the threshold speed Vs and lower than the ceiling speed Vp, the shutter ( 6 ) is controlled so as to move the plate ( 6 a ) into a position of maximum opening during at least a deceleration ΔV/ΔT greater than a predefined threshold.

5. Capture method according to claim 4 , wherein the conduit ( 3 ) integrates capture means composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of said conduit, arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

6. Capture method according to claim 3 , wherein the conduit ( 3 ) integrates capture means composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of said conduit, arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

7. Capture method according to claim 2 , wherein when the vehicle is traveling at speeds higher than the threshold speed Vs and lower than the ceiling speed Vp, the shutter ( 6 ) is controlled so as to move the plate ( 6 a ) into a position of maximum opening during at least a deceleration ΔV/ΔT greater than a predefined threshold.

8. Capture method according to claim 7 , wherein the conduit ( 3 ) integrates capture means composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of said conduit, arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

9. Capture method according to claim 2 , wherein the conduit ( 3 ) integrates capture means composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of said conduit, arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

10. Capture method according to claim 1 , wherein the conduit ( 3 ) integrates capture means composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of said conduit, arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

11. Capture method according to claim 10 , wherein the filtration elements take the form of a removable and interchangeable cassette ( 5 ).

12. Device for capturing particles ejected by the friction braking elements ( 2 ) of a braking system ( 1 , 2 ) with brake discs ( 1 ) of a vehicle, comprising:

a capture conduit ( 3 ) provided with an upstream air inlet face ( 3 a ) and a downstream air outlet face ( 3 b ) and having a form adapted to accommodate the friction braking elements ( 2 ), and to conduct an air flow for cooling said friction braking elements between the upstream face ( 3 a ) and the downstream face ( 3 b ), said conduit integrating:

a shutter ( 6 ) with a plate ( 6 a ) adapted to be positioned between the upstream face ( 3 a ) and the friction braking elements ( 2 ),

means ( 5 ) for capturing particles ejected by the friction braking elements ( 2 ),

a control unit ( 7 ) for the shutter ( 6 ), programmed to move the plate ( 6 a ) between a position for closing the conduit ( 3 ), set for vehicle travel speeds lower than a predefined threshold speed Vs, and at least one position for at least partially opening the conduit ( 3 ), for vehicle travel speeds higher than the threshold speed Vs.

13. Capture device according to claim 12 , wherein the capture means are composed of filtration elements ( 5 ) of dimensions matching the section of the conduit, adapted to be arranged between the friction braking elements ( 2 ) and the upstream face ( 3 b ).

14. Capture device according to claim 13 , wherein the filtration elements

consist of a removable and interchangeable cassette ( 5 ).