Brake rotor having an array of grooves formed thereon

Abstract

A rotor has an array of grooves formed on the brake pad contact surface. The array is preferably formed as a repeating pattern of regularly spaced grooves. The repeating pattern of grooves creates a plurality of radially and circumferentially offset rings of grooves. The rings can radially overlap. The rotor is preferably ventilated having two brake pad contact surfaces separated by a plurality of vanes. The grooves are preferably arranged on the brake pad contact surfaces between the vanes. The grooves can have various configurations and shapes. The array of grooves increases friction between a brake rotor and brake pads, and decreases the thermal gradient and thermal distortion on the brake pad contact surfaces.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rotor comprising: 
 a ring shaped brake pad contact surface bounded by an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the brake pad contact surface including an array of grooves formed therein; the array of grooves being formed of a plurality of groove segments, each groove segment having a length less than the radial distance measured on the surface between the inner circumference and the outer circumference; and    an attachment portion.    
     
     
         2 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the array of grooves in the brake pad contact surface includes a first ring of circularly arranged groove segments.  
     
     
         3 . The rotor of  claim 2 , wherein the array of grooves in the brake pad contact surface includes at least a second ring of circularly arranged groove segments concentrically arranged and radially offset with respect to the first ring.  
     
     
         4 . The rotor of  claim 3 , wherein each groove segment in the second ring of groove segments is circumferentially offset with respect to an adjacent groove segment in the first ring of groove segments.  
     
     
         5 . The rotor of  claim 3 , wherein each groove segment has a first end and an opposed second end, wherein the first ring of groove segments is arranged such that the groove segments in the first ring each have a first end disposed adjacent to the inner edge and a second end radially outwardly spaced therefrom, and the second ring of groove segments is arranged such that the groove segments in the second ring have a first end disposed radially inwardly of the second end of the groove segments in the first ring and a second end disposed radially outwardly spaced therefrom, thus forming a radial overlap between the first ring and the second ring.  
     
     
         6 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the array of grooves in the brake pad contact surface includes a plurality of groove segments arranged in a plurality of rings, with each groove segment being radially and circumferentially offset with respect to an adjacent groove segment.  
     
     
         7 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated straight segment.  
     
     
         8 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated arcuate segment.  
     
     
         9 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the brake pad contact surface has a central axis of rotation and each groove is angled with respect to a radial line extending from the central axis.  
     
     
         10 . The rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the brake pad contact surface is a first brake pad contact surface and further comprising a second brake pad contact surface spaced from the first brake pad contact surface by a plurality of circumferentially disposed vanes; and wherein the second brake pad contact surface includes an array of grooves formed therein.  
     
     
         11 . The rotor of  claim 10 , wherein each groove segment in the first brake pad contact surface is disposed between two adjacent vanes.  
     
     
         12 . The rotor of  claim 10 , wherein a groove is disposed on each brake pad contact surface between each pair of adjacent vanes.  
     
     
         13 . A ventilated rotor assembly, comprising: 
 a first brake pad contact surface formed as a ring with a radial width and an array of grooves formed thereon; and    a second brake pad contact surface formed as a ring with a radial width and an array of grooves formed thereon, the second brake pad contact surface being connected to and spaced from the first brake pad contact surface by a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes,    wherein each array of grooves includes a repeating pattern of a plurality of groove segments regularly spaced along a circumferential length of each brake pad contact surface, wherein each groove segment has a length less than the radial width of the respective ring.    
     
     
         14 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the grooves are further arranged as a plurality of rings of groove segments.  
     
     
         15 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each ring of groove segments is radially and circumferentially offset from an adjacent ring.  
     
     
         16 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 15 , wherein groove segments in adjacent rings radially overlap with each other.  
     
     
         17 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each groove segment is positioned on each brake pad contact surface between two adjacent vanes.  
     
     
         18 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a groove segment is disposed on each brake pad contact surface between each pair of adjacent vanes.  
     
     
         19 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 17 , further including pairs of adjacent vanes where no groove is disposed on a brake pad contact surface.  
     
     
         20 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated straight segment.  
     
     
         21 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated arcuate segment.  
     
     
         22 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the rotor assembly has a central axis of rotation and each groove segment is disposed at an angle with respect to a radius drawn from the central axis.  
     
     
         23 . A ventilated rotor assembly, comprising: 
 a first brake pad contact surface formed as a ring with a radial width and an array of grooves formed thereon; and    a second brake pad contact surface formed as a ring with a radial width and an array of grooves formed thereon, the second brake pad contact surface being connected to and spaced from the first brake pad contact surface by a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes,    wherein each groove is disposed on the brake pad contact surfaces between adjacent vanes, and at least one groove is disposed on each brake pad contact surface between adjacent vanes.    
     
     
         24 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the grooves are further arranged on each brake pad contact surface as a plurality of rings of groove segments.  
     
     
         25 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each ring of groove segments is radially and circumferentially offset from an adjacent ring.  
     
     
         26 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 25 , wherein groove segments in adjacent rings radially overlap with each other.  
     
     
         27 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 23 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated straight segment.  
     
     
         28 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 23 , wherein each groove segment is an elongated arcuate segment.  
     
     
         29 . The ventilated rotor assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the rotor assembly has a central axis of rotation and each groove segment is disposed at an angle with respect to a radius drawn from the central axis.