Ramana V Kappagantu

US Patent:

8505699, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

Feb 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/367110

Inventors:

Ramana Kappagantu - Canton MI, US
Eric Denys - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Material Sciences Corporation - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

F16D 69/00
F16D 65/04

US Classification:

188250D, 188 731, 188 7336

Abstract:

A brake pad assembly provided for a disc brake apparatus. The brake pad assembly comprises a backing plate having a flat inner face and a flat outer face oriented opposite to the inner face, a friction member fixed to the inner face of the backing plate, and an anti-squeal shim attached to the outer face of the backing plate. The anti-squeal shim includes a flat support plate attached to the outer face of the backing plate and a straight flat flange plate. The support plate of the anti-squeal shim has a peripheral edge including opposite outer and inner edges and opposite side edges. The flange plate is in the form of a flexible cantilever formed integrally with the support plate of the anti-squeal shim and extends away from one of the outer, inner and opposite side edges of the support plate of the anti-squeal shim.

US Patent:

8511440, Aug 20, 2013

Filed:

Jan 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

11/968769

Inventors:

Ramana Kappagantu - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Material Sciences Corporation - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

F16D 65/38

US Classification:

188 7337, 188218 XL

Abstract:

A rotor is provided for use with a vehicle brake assembly that includes a forcing member operable to urge a friction member into mechanical communication with the rotor to thereby oppose movement of the same. The rotor includes a rotor body with an annular rim portion having first and second opposing contact faces. One or more loose-mass damper systems are interposed between the first and second contact faces, and operable to dissipate kinetic energy directly therefrom. Each of the loose-mass damper systems includes at least one mass operable to repeatedly impact against first and second inner faces respectively opposing the first and second contact faces to reduce oscillation of the rotor. Reducing oscillation of the rotor is independent of temperature and pressure. The loose-mass damper systems are preferably oriented proximate to an outer peripheral edge of the annular rim portion generally circumferentially equidistant from one another.

US Patent:

20090255766, Oct 15, 2009

Filed:

Apr 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/103148

Inventors:

Ramana Kappagantu - Canton MI, US
Eric Denys - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

MATERIAL SCIENCES CORPORATION - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

F16D 69/00
F16D 55/22

US Classification:

188 7337, 188250 E

Abstract:

A shim structure is provided for damping vibration and attenuating noise in a brake system. The brake system includes a forcing member operable to urge a friction member against a rotating member to slow or stop the same. The shim structure includes a shim body that is adapted to be interposed within the brake system. The shim body includes one or more tabs that are configured to oscillate out-of-phase with vibrations generated by the brake system during urging of the friction member against the rotating member to thereby dissipate vibrational energy generated by the brake system. The dimensions, orientation, and/or location of each tab are selected or engineered to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation. A mass may be attached to each tab. The geometry, location, and/or size of each mass may be selectively modified to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation.