Wide caliper assembly design

Abstract

A disc brake caliper assembly is provided including a support bracket, a pair of slide pins, and a caliper body. The support bracket includes an inboard rail and an outboard rail. The inboard rail defines a pair of engagement bores. The pair of slide pins engage the pair of engagement bores. The caliper body slidably engages the pair of slide pins. The caliper body includes an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The inboard and outboard portions balance each other such that the caliper body has a center of gravity that is substantially axially aligned with the location of engagement between the slide pins and the engagement bores.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A disc brake caliper assembly, comprising: 
 a support bracket;    a pair of slide pins attached to said support bracket; and    a caliper body slidably engaging said pair of slide pins, said caliper body defining a cylinder bore having a central axis disposed in an action plane and a bridge having a central portion disposed on a first side of said action plane and a first circumferential end portion spaced apart from said central portion and at least partially disposed on a second side of said action plane.    
   
   
       13 . The caliper assembly of  claim 12  wherein said bridge further defines a window disposed between said central portion and said first circumferential end portion and a web.  
   
   
       14 . The caliper assembly of  claim 12  wherein said caliper body further includes a second circumferential end portion spaced apart from said central portion opposite said first circumferential end portion and at least partially disposed on said second side of said action plane.  
   
   
       15 . The caliper assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first and second circumferential end portions are at least partially disposed radially inward of said action plane and said central portion is disposed radially outward of said action plane.  
   
   
       16 . The caliper assembly of  claim 12  wherein said bridge includes a maximum radial dimension of 14 millimeters.  
   
   
       17 . The caliper assembly of  claim 12  wherein said support bracket includes an inboard rail and an outboard rail.  
   
   
       18 . The caliper assembly of  claim 17  wherein said slide pins threadably engage a pair of bores in said inboard rail of said support bracket and cantilever axially inboard therefrom.  
   
   
       19 . The caliper assembly of  claim 18  wherein said caliper body includes a center of gravity that is substantially axially aligned with said threaded engagement of said inboard rail and said slide pins.  
   
   
       20 . A disc brake assembly, comprising: 
 a disc having a radial edge, an inboard face, and an outboard face opposite said inboard face;    a support bracket including an inboard rail disposed adjacent said inboard face and an outboard rail disposed adjacent said outboard face;    a pair of slide pins attached to and extending axially inboard from said inboard rail at a location displaced radially inward from said radial edge of said disc; and    a caliper body including an inboard portion slidably engaging said pair of slide pins and defining a cylinder bore having a central axis disposed in a first plane and an outboard portion including opposing circumferential end portions displaced radially inward of said first plane.    
   
   
       21 . The brake assembly of  claim 20  wherein said support bracket further includes a pair of transverse rails extending axially between said inboard and outboard rails across said radial edge of said disc.  
   
   
       22 . The brake assembly of  claim 20  wherein said pair of slide pins threadably engage a pair of blind bores in said inboard rail.  
   
   
       23 . The brake assembly of  claim 22  wherein said inboard and outboard portions of said caliper balance each other to provide a center of gravity that is substantially axially aligned with the location of engagement between said pair of slide pins and said pair of blind bores.  
   
   
       24 . The brake assembly of  claim 19  wherein said pair of slide pins are disposed in a second plane that is substantially parallel to and displaced radially inward from said first plane.  
   
   
       25 . The brake assembly of  claim 24  wherein said opposing circumferential end portions of said outboard portion of said caliper body are displaced radially outward of said second plane.  
   
   
       26 . The brake assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of said slide pins include a central axis disposed in a plane that is located radially inward from the action plane of said cylinder bores.  
   
   
       27 . The brake assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said central portion and said first circumferential end portion are located on opposite sides of the plane formed by the central axis of the slide pins.  
   
   
       28 . The brake assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said central portion is located radially outward of said cylinder bore action plane and said circumferential end portions are located radially inward from said plane formed by the central axis of the slide pins.  
   
   
       29 . The brake assembly of  claim 20 , wherein each of said slide pins include a central axis disposed in a second plane that is located radially inward from the first plane.  
   
   
       30 . The brake assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said circumferential end portions are located radially inward from the second plane.