Disc brake

Abstract

A brake carrier for an air-actuated disc brake. The brake carrier may have first and second carrier portions that may include a mounting arrangement and a recess. The recess may define a circumferential abutment surface for restraining motion of a brake pad in a circumferential direction and a radial abutment surface for restraining motion of the brake pad in a radially inward direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brake carrier arrangement for an air-actuated disc brake, the brake carrier arrangement comprising:
 a brake carrier that includes:
 a mounting arrangement for mounting the brake carrier to an axle or a steering component; 
 a circumferential abutment surface for restraining motion of a brake pad in a circumferential direction; 
 a radial abutment surface for restraining motion of the brake pad in a radially inward direction, wherein the circumferential abutment surface and the radial abutment surface cooperate to at least partially define a recess; and 
 a guide sleeve projecting a side of the brake carrier to enable a caliper to slide thereon in an inboard-outboard direction, wherein the guide sleeve and brake carrier are integrally formed as a single component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the brake carrier has a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion, wherein the first and second carrier portions are separate components not physically connected to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 2  wherein a main body of each of the first and second carrier portions is generally planar and the mounting arrangement and recess are formed in the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the recess terminates adjacent the radial abutment surface. 
     
     
         5 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a support wing arranged to extend in an outboard direction from the brake carrier and arranged to circumferentially support a caliper with respect to the brake carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the mounting arrangement further comprises a bore for receiving a complimentary fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the bore is arranged in the inboard-outboard direction. 
     
     
         8 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the bore is arranged in a chordal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the first and second carrier portions do not have any abutment surfaces to support a further brake pad to be mounted at an outboard location. 
     
     
         10 . The brake carrier arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the first carrier portion has mirror symmetry with the second carrier portion. 
     
     
         11 . A disc brake comprising:
 a brake carrier that includes:
 a mounting arrangement for mounting the brake carrier to an axle or a steering component; 
 a circumferential abutment surface for restraining motion of a brake pad in a circumferential direction; and 
 a radial abutment surface for restraining motion of the brake pad in a radially inward direction, wherein the circumferential abutment surface and the radial abutment surface cooperate to at least partially define a recess; 
 a guide sleeve projecting from a side of the brake carrier to enable a caliper to slide thereon in an inboard-outboard direction, wherein the guide sleeve and brake carrier are integrally formed as a single component; and 
   a brake caliper mounted on the brake carrier.   
     
     
         12 . The disc brake of  claim 11  further comprising an outboard brake pad mounted to and restrained from movement by engagement only with the brake caliper. 
     
     
         13 . The disc brake of  claim 11  wherein the brake caliper has a complementary formation to be guided on a wing of the brake carrier, the wing being arranged to extend in an outboard direction from the brake carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a brake carrier arrangement for an air-actuated disc brake, the method comprising:
 casting a brake carrier that has a circumferential abutment surface for restraining motion of a brake pad in a circumferential direction, a radial abutment surface for restraining motion of the brake pad in a radially inward direction, and a guide sleeve that projects from a side of the brake carrier and is adapted to enable a caliper to slide thereon in an inboard-outboard direction, wherein the guide sleeve and brake carrier are a single casting.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the brake carrier further comprises a mounting arrangement for mounting the brake carrier to an axle or a steering component.