Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

Robert P Uhlig

James C Savage

Brian D Dwyer

Stephen M Leitner

Danet Suryatama

Cheryl A Fry

Mark D Likich

A brake drum includes a generally cylindrical sidewall that is open at one end and at least partially closed by an endwall at its other end. The sidewall preferably has a thickness that vanes along its axial length and preferably is thickest at the end closest to the endwall. In one implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally frustum shaped in cross section with a straight radially tapered outer wall. In another implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally concave or sloped from the first end to a second end spaced from the endwall. In another implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally convex.

Brake drum

A mounting arrangement for an engine/transmission combination in a front wheel drive vehicle including a bearing support at either end of the engine/transmission and a pair of elongated torque struts between the vehicle structure and the engine/transmission. The two torque struts extend substantially parallel to one another and are positioned substantially in a vertically extending plane. The torque struts restrain torsionally induced rolling movements of the engine/transmission.

Engine/transmission combination mounting system

A method for measuring the vibration damping of a part. The method comprises the steps of vibrating the part with a contactless vibrator, measuring the output vibrations of the part with a contactless measuring device, determining an input frequency for testing the part, the input frequency being a frequency which uses the smallest gain to cause the part to produce vibrations having an output amplitude equal to a predetermined target amplitude, providing an input to the part with the contactless vibrator such that the part vibrates at the input frequency, simultaneously interrupting the input and using the contactless measuring device to measure as a function of time an output amplitude of vibrations in the part, and determining the rate at which the vibrations in the part are damped.

Brake pad assembly damping and frequency measurement methodology

The vibration damping capability of a test part can be computed by vibrating the test part at different frequencies, and measuring the amplitude of the vibrational wave generated in the test part at each input frequency. The test data can be used to generate a measurement curve plotting vibration amplitude against frequency.

Method of measuring the vibration damping capability

The vibration damping properties of brake rotors and drums can be represented accurately and repeatably by a single factor obtained from a curve fitting based on an eighth order sine function. A series of test points taken only around one or more vibrational antinodes is used to measure resonant frequencies and vibration decay times around the periphery of a part. This data is then used to determine Q-factors, which are found to vary sinusoidally around an annular brake part.

Method and apparatus for measuring vibration damping

A brake drum has an axially extending cylindrical flange formed with a radially outer surface and a radially inner braking surface. To reduce, if not entirely eliminate brake drum howling and squealing when the brakes are applied, a plurality of stabilizing sections are cast on the radially outer surface of the flange. The stabilizing sections are arranged in equally circumferentially spaced apart relation. Each stabilizing section is slotted or notched to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations to increase flexibility.

Serrated tuned brake drum

In order to minimize instability and significantly reduce braking noise, especially at low speeds, a disc brake's hydraulic piston and piston bore (or other brake actuating element), is angled away from the normal direction perpendicular to the pad backing plate and to the rotor. The brake-applying forces are directed in an inward angled direction, generally toward the rotor and toward the leading edge of the brake pads. Such an arrangement results in reactive forces exceeding or at least equaling the magnitude of force couples caused by the thickness of the brake pads thus causing the pads to exert a greater compressive force on the rotor at the trailing edge of the brake pads than at the leading edge of the brake pads when the vehicle is traveling in a to forward direction. This significantly increases stability when the brakes are applied and minimizes braking noise, especially at low vehicle speeds when such brake noise is typically most significant.

Disc brake with angled piston bore

The vibration damping properties of a brake rotor (or other vibration-prone component) can be measured by vibrating the component part at its resonant frequency, using a magnetic coil that is excited by an A.C. signal having a frequency that is one half the frequency of the vibrating wave generated in the component. The A.C. signal crosses the zero current axis twice per current cycle, so that the magnetic flux in the coil core reverses polarity at the frequency selected for vibrating the part.

Method for measuring vibration damping

The vibration damping properties of brake rotors and drums can be represented accurately and repeatably by a single factor obtained from a curve fitting based on an eighth order sine function. A series of test points is used to measure resonant frequencies and vibration decay times around the periphery of a part. This data is then used to determine Q-factors which are found to vary sinusoidally around an annular brake part.

Method and apparatus for measuring vibration damping of brake parts

A mounting assembly for a disc brake pad is disclosed. The disc brake pad has a first end portion provided with a finger engaged in a slot of a reaction block to partially restrain the disc brake pad. The disc brake pad has a substantially unrestrained second end portion which is cantilevered from the first end portion. Braking forces are reacted virtually exclusively against the reaction block which is located externally of and separated from the disc brake caliper assembly.

Disc brake system with unitary support

A mounting assembly for a disc brake pad which has a first end portion provided with a finger engaged with a reaction surface in a slot of a reaction block to partially restrain the disc brake pad when it is applied against a rotor. The reaction surface is machined at an angle or in an arc to counterbalance the couple which forces the leading end of the disc brake pad inwardly against the rotor. The disc brake pad has a substantially unrestrained second end portion which is cantilevered from the first end portion. Braking forces are reacted virtually exclusively against the reaction block which is located externally of and separated from the disc brake caliper assembly.

Twin ramp brake pad reaction member

A cable noise and vibration isolator arrangement for use with an actuator cable assembly having a cable core extending through an outer sheath passageway adapted to interconnect an input actuator with an actuated mechanism. A reactive housing of the arrangement includes an aft larger diameter annular portion and a forwardly extending smaller diameter tubular portion having an axial through-bore terminating in the annular portion with an internal truncated conical surface. A rubber isolator includes a large diameter aft end portion interconnected to a forwardly extending barrel portion by an intermediate body portion formed with an outer truncated conical surface and an inner truncated conical socket. The isolator socket is of sufficient size to receive the truncated conical head portion of the sheath in a conforming self-centered manner. The reactive housing tubular portion is sized to telescopically receive the isolator barrel portion therethrough while the housing truncated internal conical surface surrounds the isolator external truncated conical surface. The isolator, by virtue of being sandwiched between the reactive housing internal conical surface and the sheath exterior conical surface, is subjected to both compression and shear cable core loads thereby providing improved vibration and noise damping of energy received by the cable assembly from the mechanism.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Robert P Uhlig