GB2031081A

GB2031081A - Cover for motor-vehicle disc brake

Info

Publication number: GB2031081A
Application number: GB7930494A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BP PLC
Current assignee: BP PLC
Priority date: 1978-09-01
Filing date: 1979-09-03
Publication date: 1980-04-16

Abstract

A cover for the disc of a motor vehicle (e.g. a motor cycle) disc- brake comprising two or more sections (2, 3, 4, 5) securable together, eg by bolts (6) and tubular spacers (7), to form a disc-housing shaped to surround a major part of the sides and periphery of the disc (1) the housing having a cut-away portion in its periphery to allow access of a brake caliper and a cut- away portion on each side to accommodate the disc mounting and/or wheel axle and means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle (e.g. fork 9 of the motor cycle). The housing is preferably fabricated from non-corrodible metals or from plastics. Drainage holes may be provided in the cover, which may also have ventilation slots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle accessory The present invention relates to a cover for a motor vehicle disc-brake.

Present trends in motor vehicle braking system design favours the use of disc-brakes in preference to conventional drum brakes. Modern motor cycles are frequently fitted with a front disc-brake, and in some cases, both front and rear disc-brakes.

A disadvantage associated with disc-brakes fitted to motor vehicles is that under wet weather conditions the discs and brake pads become wet and braking friction is reduced.

Continued braking results in drying out of the system and "snatching" or "locking" of the brakes. Dust and grit particles from the road can also stick to the pads and discs thereby causing scoring of the disc or other damage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for the disc of a disc-brake to reduce the exposure thereof to the weather.

Accordingly the present invention provides a cover for the disc of a motor vehicle discbrake comprising two or more sections securable together to form a disc-housing shaped to surround a major part of the sides and periphery of the disc in spaced relationship thereto, the housing having (1) a cut-away portion in its periphery to allow access of a brake caliper to the disc, (2) a cut-away portion on each side to accommodate the disc mounting and/or wheel axle and (3) means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle to hold said housing in spaced relationship to the disc.

The disc-housing comprises two or more sections which are securable together to surround the disc. Preferably the housing is fabricated in two or more mutually engageable sections which can be secured together for example by bolting, by snap-action or by adhesives. Most preferably the sections are dismantleable to permit inspection or cleaning of the disc.

The housing preferably has a substantially circular shape.

The housing is preferably fabricated from non-corrodible metals or from plastics materials. Examples of preferred materials are aluminium, stainless steel; polyolefins, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene; high impact polystyrene, ABS, PVC; or glass reinforced thermosets such as glass fibre reinforced polyester. Examples of suitable fabrication techniques for making the disc-housing from thermoplastics are vacuum forming or injection moulding. For the thermosetting composition such as glass fibre reinforced polyester, hot press moulding or hand lay-up methods are preferred.

The housing preferably contains means to allow exit of any water or other fluid which may collect therein. The means may comprise, for example, one or more drain holes in the periphery of the housing.

During heavy use, disc brakes generate considerable heat and a preferred embodiment of the present invention contains, for example, slots or holes in the cover to provide ventilation. Some ventilation may also be provided by forming one or more of the cut-away portions so that a gap occurs between the edge of said portion and the brake caliper, disc mounting or wheel axle as the case may be, the gap being of sufficient size to allow adequate ventilation.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows an elevation of a disc cover according to the present invention fitted in position over the disc-brake of a motor cycle. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the line A-A of the cover shown in Fig. 1 reviewed from above and omitting details of the wheel hub assembly. Fig. 3 shows the sections of the obverse side of the cover depicted in Fig. 1. The cover for the disc 1 of the motor cycle disc-brake comprises a substantially circular disc-housing comprising four sections 2, 3, 4 and 5. The sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 are bolted together using bolts 6 and tubular spacers 7. The disc-housing has a cutaway portion in its periphery in section 2 between a and e and in section 3 between m and n.There is also a cut-out bounded by b, c, d and e for accommodating the wheel hub 8 and fork member 9. Section 5 generally covers the gap between section 2 and sections 3 and 4 except at the part bounded by m, f, g, n where the brake caliper (not shown) finds access to the disc 1. Section 5 has a flange 10 which is located (and is thus secured) between section 2 and the tubular spacers 7. Alternatively section 5 can be secured by other means or be an integral part of sections 2, 3 and 4.There is a cut-away portion 11 between sections 3 and 4 to accommodate the disc-mounting 1 2. The cover further comprises means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle (in this case the motor cycle fork 9) provided by holes near the edge of the cut-out portion b, c, d through which bolts 1 3 are threaded to secure the housing to lugs 14 on fork 9. Drainage holes are provided in the lowest part of the cover 15.

Additional strengthening struts can be employed if desired. In the absence of integral lugs 1 4 being provided on the fork, the housing may be secured, for example, via a fabricated fixture attached to the fork or wheel axle.

1. A cover for the disc of a motor vehicle disc-brake comprising two or more sections securable together to form a disc-housing

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle accessory The present invention relates to a cover for a motor vehicle disc-brake. Present trends in motor vehicle braking system design favours the use of disc-brakes in preference to conventional drum brakes. Modern motor cycles are frequently fitted with a front disc-brake, and in some cases, both front and rear disc-brakes. A disadvantage associated with disc-brakes fitted to motor vehicles is that under wet weather conditions the discs and brake pads become wet and braking friction is reduced. Continued braking results in drying out of the system and "snatching" or "locking" of the brakes. Dust and grit particles from the road can also stick to the pads and discs thereby causing scoring of the disc or other damage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for the disc of a disc-brake to reduce the exposure thereof to the weather. Accordingly the present invention provides a cover for the disc of a motor vehicle discbrake comprising two or more sections securable together to form a disc-housing shaped to surround a major part of the sides and periphery of the disc in spaced relationship thereto, the housing having (1) a cut-away portion in its periphery to allow access of a brake caliper to the disc, (2) a cut-away portion on each side to accommodate the disc mounting and/or wheel axle and (3) means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle to hold said housing in spaced relationship to the disc. The disc-housing comprises two or more sections which are securable together to surround the disc. Preferably the housing is fabricated in two or more mutually engageable sections which can be secured together for example by bolting, by snap-action or by adhesives. Most preferably the sections are dismantleable to permit inspection or cleaning of the disc. The housing preferably has a substantially circular shape. The housing is preferably fabricated from non-corrodible metals or from plastics materials. Examples of preferred materials are aluminium, stainless steel; polyolefins, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene; high impact polystyrene, ABS, PVC; or glass reinforced thermosets such as glass fibre reinforced polyester. Examples of suitable fabrication techniques for making the disc-housing from thermoplastics are vacuum forming or injection moulding. For the thermosetting composition such as glass fibre reinforced polyester, hot press moulding or hand lay-up methods are preferred. The housing preferably contains means to allow exit of any water or other fluid which may collect therein. The means may comprise, for example, one or more drain holes in the periphery of the housing. During heavy use, disc brakes generate considerable heat and a preferred embodiment of the present invention contains, for example, slots or holes in the cover to provide ventilation. Some ventilation may also be provided by forming one or more of the cut-away portions so that a gap occurs between the edge of said portion and the brake caliper, disc mounting or wheel axle as the case may be, the gap being of sufficient size to allow adequate ventilation. The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows an elevation of a disc cover according to the present invention fitted in position over the disc-brake of a motor cycle. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the line A-A of the cover shown in Fig. 1 reviewed from above and omitting details of the wheel hub assembly. Fig. 3 shows the sections of the obverse side of the cover depicted in Fig. 1. The cover for the disc 1 of the motor cycle disc-brake comprises a substantially circular disc-housing comprising four sections 2, 3, 4 and 5. The sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 are bolted together using bolts 6 and tubular spacers 7. The disc-housing has a cutaway portion in its periphery in section 2 between a and e and in section 3 between m and n.There is also a cut-out bounded by b, c, d and e for accommodating the wheel hub 8 and fork member 9. Section 5 generally covers the gap between section 2 and sections 3 and 4 except at the part bounded by m, f, g, n where the brake caliper (not shown) finds access to the disc 1. Section 5 has a flange 10 which is located (and is thus secured) between section 2 and the tubular spacers 7. Alternatively section 5 can be secured by other means or be an integral part of sections 2, 3 and 4.There is a cut-away portion 11 between sections 3 and 4 to accommodate the disc-mounting 1 2. The cover further comprises means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle (in this case the motor cycle fork 9) provided by holes near the edge of the cut-out portion b, c, d through which bolts 1 3 are threaded to secure the housing to lugs 14 on fork 9. Drainage holes are provided in the lowest part of the cover 15. Additional strengthening struts can be employed if desired. In the absence of integral lugs 1 4 being provided on the fork, the housing may be secured, for example, via a fabricated fixture attached to the fork or wheel axle. CLAIMS

1. A cover for the disc of a motor vehicle disc-brake comprising two or more sections securable together to form a disc-housing shaped to surround a major part of the sides and periphery of the disc in spaced relationship thereto, the housing having (1 ) a cutaway portion in its periphery to allow access of a brake caliper to the disc, (2) a cut-away portion on each side to accommodate the disc mounting and/or wheel axle and (3) means to secure the housing to a static part of the vehicle to hold said housing in spaced relationship to the disc.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two or more sections are mutually engagable.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the two or more sections are securable together by bolts or by snap-action.

4. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the two or more sections are fabricated so that they are securable together by means of adhesive.

5. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing has a substantially circular shape.

6. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is fabricated from aluminium, stainless steel, ABS, polypropylene, polyethylene or glass reinforced polyester resin.

7. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing contains means to allow exit of fluid which may collect therein.

8. A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means to allow exit of fluid comprise one or more drain holes in the periphery of the housing.

9. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing contains ventilation slots.

10. A cover for the disc of a motor vehicle disc-brake substantially as described with reference to 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims fitted to a motor vehicle.