Adjuster unit for a vehicle disc brake, and disc brake having the same

1. An adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) for a vehicle disc brake ( 1 ; 1 ′) of a commercial vehicle, the disc brake ( 1 ) having a brake caliper ( 3 ), the brake caliper having a thrust piece ( 5 ; 205 ), a pair of brake pads ( 9 ), a disc ( 11 ) positioned in between the brake pads ( 9 ), the adjuster unit ( 100 ) comprising:

a threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ′) adapted to be operatively coupled with one of the brake pads ( 9 ), and to engage a threaded bore ( 7 ) provided in the brake caliper ( 3 ) such that by rotation in a first direction, the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) moves the brake pad ( 9 ) towards the disc ( 11 ), and by rotation in a second direction opposite of the first direction, the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) moves the brake pad away from the disc ( 11 );

an actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) rotatable about the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 );

a wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) helically wound around the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) and operatively coupling the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) with the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ), and

a stop ( 117 ; 217 ) for engaging the wrap spring ( 109 , 209 );

wherein during rotation of the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) in the first direction, the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ) and the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) are non-rotatably connected to one another, and

wherein during rotation of the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) in the second direction, the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) rotates about the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 );

wherein the wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) is positioned on the adjuster unit, to engage the stop ( 117 ; 217 ) upon rotation of the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) in the second direction, causing the diameter of the wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) to increase;

wherein the adjuster unit further comprises a support clip ( 111 ), the support clip ( 111 ) holding the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) and being adapted to be non-rotatably mounted to the brake caliper ( 3 ), wherein the support clip ( 111 ) engages the wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) upon rotation of the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) in the second direction.

2. The adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) is located between the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ) and the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ).

3. The adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the stop ( 217 ; 117 ) is non-rotatably positioned in a location where it engages an end portion ( 209 b ; 109 b ) of the wrap spring ( 209 ; 109 ) when the threaded adjustment spindle ( 201 ; 101 ) rotates in the second direction.

4. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the stop ( 117 ) is formed as a protrusion on the support clip ( 111 ).

5. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the support clip ( 111 ) is formed as an open ring.

6. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the support clip ( 111 ) holds the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ) in a snap-fit, and is axially fixed to the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ).

7. The adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) comprises a pivot lever ( 119 ; 219 ) acting upon the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis (A) of the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ), causing the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) to rotate in the first direction.

8. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support clip ( 111 ) is made of spring steel.

9. A vehicle disc brake ( 1 ) for a commercial vehicle, the disc brake ( 1 ) comprising:

a brake caliper ( 3 ),

a pair of brake pads ( 9 ),

a disc ( 11 ) positioned in between the brake pads ( 9 ), and

the adjuster unit ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 .

10. The adjuster unit of claim 1 , wherein the wrap spring ( 109 ; 209 ) is positioned on the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ; 201 ).

11. The adjuster unit of claim 1 , wherein the support clip ( 111 ) holding the actuator ring assembly ( 107 ; 207 ) is adapted to be non-rotatably mounted to the thrust piece ( 5 ).

12. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the support clip ( 111 ) comprises at least one spring element ( 118 ), the spring element ( 118 ) being adapted to elastically support the adjuster unit ( 100 ) against the thrust piece ( 5 ) in the transverse direction of the threaded adjustment spindle ( 101 ).

13. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 12 ,

wherein the spring element ( 118 ) extends radially outwards from the support clip ( 111 ).

14. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support clip ( 111 ) comprises at least one form-lock connection element ( 120 , 120 a,b ) for positively securing the support clip ( 111 ) to the brake caliper ( 3 ).

15. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) of claim 14 ,

wherein the form-lock connection element ( 120 , 120 a,b ) is formed as a tab extending radially outwards from the support clip ( 111 ).

16. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) according to claim 14 ,

wherein at least one of the stop ( 117 ), the spring element ( 118 ) and the form-lock connection element ( 120 , 120 a,b ) are integrally formed with the support clip ( 111 ).

17. The adjuster unit ( 100 ) according to claim 16 ,

wherein at least one of the stop ( 117 ), the spring element ( 118 ) and the form-lock connection element ( 120 , 120 a,b ) are formed on the support clip ( 111 ) by at least one of cutting or bending.