Vehicle braking system comprising a heavy-duty connecting clamp

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle braking system (1) comprising a brake pedal (2) with a lever (4) and a brake booster (3) provided with a push rod (5). This push rod (5) is rigidly attached to the lever (4) of the brake pedal (2) by means of a connecting clamp (100) comprising a first fixing component in the form of a rotating shaft (101) passing through the lever (4) of the brake pedal (2) and the push rod (5), and a second fixing component in the form of a clamping zone (102) that closes around the push rod (5). According to the invention, the clamp (100), which includes the first fixing component (101) and the second fixing component (102), is made of plastic, and the rotating shaft (101), which forms the first fixing component (101), comprises a metal insert (110).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle braking system comprising a strong connecting clip. Document EP3015944A1 discloses means for coupling a brake pedal lever arm and an actuating rod, comprising a rod passing through the lever and the actuating rod for rotational coupling of the lever arm and the actuating rod.

[0002] Generally, a vehicle's braking system consists of a brake pedal with a lever arm at the end of which is an actuating pad, and a push rod for a brake booster. The connection between this brake pedal and the brake booster is made by a clip that links the brake pedal lever arm to the booster's push rod. In this way, a driver wishing to brake applies pressure with their foot to the actuating pad, causing the brake pedal lever arm to move. This movement of the lever arm then, via the connecting clip, causes the push rod to move, thus initiating the braking phase.

[0003] To be effective, such a connecting clip must offer a dual level of security, through the presence of: of a rotation axis intended to pass through both the push rod and the lever arm of the pedal, of a clamping zone intended to close around the push rod.

[0004] The double-component safety connecting clips currently used on vehicles are made of metal. However, such a connecting clip has the dual disadvantage of adding weight to the vehicle and requiring regular lubrication.

[0005] A braking system according to the invention includes a connecting clip exhibiting good mechanical resistance while overcoming the disadvantages noted in the prior art.

[0006] The invention relates to a vehicle braking system comprising a brake pedal having a lever arm, and a brake amplifier having a push rod, said push rod being attached to the lever arm of the brake pedal by means of a connecting clip having a first safety component in the form of a rotation axis passing through the lever arm of the brake pedal, and the push rod, and a second safety component in the form of a clamping zone closing around the push rod.

[0007] According to the invention, the clip, including the first and second safety components, is made of plastic, with the pivot point constituting the first safety component and comprising a metal insert. The distinctive feature of a braking system according to the invention is that it comprises a clip, the clamping area of ​​which is entirely made of plastic, and the pivot point of which is also made of plastic and has a metal insert.

[0008] According to one possible feature of the invention, the clip is molded around the metal insert. In this configuration, the clip is made entirely of the same plastic material.

[0009] According to one possible feature of the invention, the push rod terminates in a connecting tab comprising two parallel and widely spaced walls, each of said parallel walls having an opening for the passage of the axis of rotation. In other words, the rod terminates in a piece having an overall U-shape, the space between the two parallel and widely spaced walls of the connecting tab allowing the passage of the brake pedal lever arm. In this way, the axis of rotation of the clip passes through both the two parallel and widely spaced walls of the connecting tab and the brake pedal lever arm. Advantageously, the two walls are elongated and their longitudinal axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod, said two walls extending said rod so as to increase its length.

[0010] According to one possible feature of the invention, the metal insert of the rotation axis passes through the two parallel walls of the connecting lug terminating the push rod. The metal insert is elongated and joins the two parallel and widely spaced walls of the connecting lug, thus providing the rotation axis with good mechanical resistance to the stresses generated by the presence of these two parallel walls.

[0011] According to a possible feature of the invention, the metal insert has a length which is greater than that of the axis of rotation such that one end of said metal insert is flush with one end of said axis of rotation and another end of this insert emerges from another end of this axis of rotation.

[0012] The two ends of the metal insert are considered with respect to a longitudinal axis of said metal insert, and the two ends of the axis of rotation are considered with respect to a longitudinal axis of said axis of rotation. In this configuration, one end of the metal insert and one end of the axis of rotation are aligned, while the other end of the metal insert protrudes from the other end of the axis of rotation. In other words, the protruding end of the metal insert is visible on the clip.

[0013] According to one possible feature of the invention, the rotation axis has a cylindrical end zone having at least one retaining stop preventing the rotation axis from being withdrawn from the connecting clip once said axis has passed through the two parallel walls of the connecting tab terminating the push rod. This at least one retaining stop acts as a non-return element, preventing the rotation axis, once it has been placed in its final position in the braking system according to the invention, from shifting over time and disengaging from the push rod and the pedal lever arm.

[0014] According to one possible feature of the invention, the braking system comprises two deformable and diametrically opposed retaining stops, designed to allow the insertion of the axis of rotation in one direction into the openings in the parallel walls of the connecting tab terminating the rod, and to prevent its withdrawal in the opposite direction. Indeed, a certain force must be applied to insert the two retaining stops into the openings in the two parallel walls so that they can deform elastically; once the two stops have passed through the openings, they return to their initial shape by relaxation, thus preventing withdrawal of the axis of rotation.

[0015] According to one possible feature of the invention, the clamping zone of the connecting clip comprises two elastically deformable tabs whose default spacing is less than the diameter of the rod. These two tabs are initially spread apart to allow the passage of the push rod before closing around it by relaxation. In this configuration, securing the connecting clip requires some effort to spread the two deformable tabs as they pass around the push rod. Once the two tabs have passed the rod, they close around it by natural relaxation.

[0016] The invention also relates to a connecting clip for the implementation of a braking system according to the invention, said clip comprising a first safety component in the form of a rotation axis and a second safety component in the form of a clamping zone.

[0017] According to the invention, said clip including the first safety component and the second safety component is made of plastic material, the axis of rotation constituting the first safety component comprising a metal insert.

[0018] According to one possible feature of the invention, the length of the metal insert is greater than that of the axis of rotation, a first end of the metal insert having an enlarged base and a second end of said metal insert comprising a segment of small diameter ending in an enlarged pin, said metal insert being inserted into the axis of rotation by sliding so that the enlarged pin must forcefully pass through a narrowed section of the axis of rotation before ending up behind said narrowed section to act as a backstop, the enlarged base being flush with a surface of said clip.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method of attaching a brake pedal to a brake amplifier to create a braking system according to the invention, said method being carried out by means of a connecting clip according to the invention.

[0020] According to the invention, the process comprises the following steps: a step of placing the brake pedal lever arm at one end of the push rod, a step of inserting the axis of rotation of the link clip into a terminal area of ​​the push rod of the brake amplifier and into the lever arm of the brake pedal, a step of rotating the link clip around its axis of rotation passing through the push rod and the lever arm of the brake pedal, until the clamping area comes into contact with said push rod, a step of continuing the rotation of the clip accompanied first by a forced separation of two elastically deformable tabs constituting the clamping area to allow the rod to pass between said two tabs, then by a folding of said two tabs around the rod by a natural relaxation of these deformable tabs.

[0021] A braking system according to the invention has the advantage of using a connecting clip that is much lighter than the metal connecting clips currently in use, while still offering good mechanical strength. Furthermore, it eliminates the lubrication step currently required for metal connecting clips, resulting in cost savings and reducing the risk of malfunctions due to omission or improper lubrication.

[0022] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a braking system according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures: [ Fig.1 ] represents a perspective view of a braking system according to the invention, showing a connection area between the brake booster rod and the brake pedal lever arm, [ Fig.2 ] represents a perspective view from another angle of the connection area of ​​the [ Fig.1 ], [ Fig.3 ] represents a perspective view of a connecting clip according to the invention, [ Fig.4 ] represents a schematic cross-section of the clip of the [ Fig.3 ], [ Fig.5 ] represents a side view of a braking system according to the invention during assembly, showing a connection area between the brake booster rod and the brake pedal lever arm.

[0023] By referring to figures 1, 2 And 5A braking system 1 according to the invention comprises a brake pedal 2 and a brake booster 3, connected to each other by means of a connecting clip 100. Schematically, the brake pedal 2 conventionally comprises a lever arm 4 terminating in an actuating pad (not shown in the figures), and the brake booster 3 comprises a push rod 5. The lever arm 4 of the brake pedal 2 is connected to the push rod 5 by means of the connecting clip 100. A driver of the vehicle wishing to brake will apply pressure with their foot to the actuating pad, causing a movement of the lever arm 4. This movement will result in a translation of the push rod 5, thus activating the brake booster 3.

[0024] Referring to the [ Fig.3 The connecting clip 100, linking the lever arm 4 of the brake pedal 2 to the push rod 5, is made of plastic and comprises: a first safety component in the form of a hollow rotation axis 101, and a second safety component in the form of a containment zone 102.

[0025] The clip 100 comprises a flat, elongated main wall 103, one end 104 of which carries the axis of rotation 101 and the other end 105 of which carries the clamping zone 102, said two ends being considered with respect to a longitudinal axis of said main wall 103. The first end 104 is flat and the axis of rotation 101 is cylindrical. This axis of rotation 101 originates at the first end 104 and extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which said first end 104 lies. The axis of rotation 101 is elongated and has an end zone 106, considered with respect to a longitudinal axis of said axis 101, comprising two external profiled stops 107, 108. Each of the stops 107, 108 is elongated and extends along a longitudinal axis of the axis of rotation 101.They are diametrically opposed and each originates on an end edge 109 of the end zone 106 of the rotation axis 101, and extends along said rotation axis 101 towards the first end 104 of the main wall 103 of the clip 100, thickening as they do so. These stops 107, 108 are made of plastic and have elastic deformation properties. The end zone 106 of the rotation axis 101, which has the two external stops 107, 108, has an internal channel 150 with an oblong cross-section.

[0026] Referring to the [ Fig.4 The rotation axis 101, which is made of plastic, includes a metal insert 110 in the form of an elongated cylindrical core, one longitudinal axis of which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rotation axis 101. More precisely, the metal insert 110 is positioned in the rotation axis 101 such that their axes of revolution coincide. The metal insert 110 comprises a first end 141 in the form of an enlarged cylindrical base and a second end 140 in the form of a rounded pin. The enlarged base 141 is extended by a cylindrical main body 142 whose diameter is smaller than that of said base 141, said main body 142 being itself extended by a cylindrical secondary body 143 whose diameter is smaller than that of the main body 142.The secondary cylindrical body 143 is extended by a cylindrical extension 144 whose diameter is smaller than that of the secondary cylindrical body 143. This extension 144 terminates in the rounded pin 140, whose diameter is substantially equal to that of the secondary body 143. The length of the metal insert 110 is greater than that of the axis of rotation 101, so that once placed in said axis of rotation 101, the rounded pin 140 emerges from one end of said axis of rotation 101, while the enlarged base 141 is flush with the other end of said axis of rotation 101. The general shape of the metal insert 110 is determined by its insertion into the axis of rotation 101. Indeed, the metal insert 110 is inserted into the axis of rotation 101 by the end of said channel opposite the end formed by the end zone 106. having the two external stops 107, 108, this introduction being carried out by the rounded pin 140.The metal insert 110 is then moved along the axis of rotation 101 until the rounded pin 140 reaches the internal channel 150 of the end zone 106, which has an oblong cross-section. Since the dimensions of the pin 140 are greater than those of the internal channel 150, the progression of the metal insert 110 along the axis of rotation 101 requires some effort, which ceases instantly as soon as the pin 140 has passed through the internal channel 150 and is outside the axis of rotation 101. This rounded pin 140 acts as a stop, preventing the metal insert 110 from moving back in the opposite direction within the axis of rotation 101 and exiting it.

[0027] By referring to figures 1 And 3The clamping zone 102 consists of two elastically deformable tabs 111, 112, each tab 111, 112 comprising a flat main body 113 extended by a folded secondary segment 114 making an angle of less than 60° with said main body 113. Each secondary segment 114 has a first end 115 which is in contact with the main body 113, and a second free end 116. The two tabs 111, 112 are arranged on the clip 100 such that: Assuming the principal bodies 113 are parallel and separated by facing each other, the secondary segments are located in a space delimited by the two principal bodies 113 and converge towards each other. In other words, the distance separating the first endpoints 115 of these secondary segments 114 is greater than the distance separating the second free endpoints 116 of said secondary segments 114. These second free endpoints 116 maintain a free space between them by default.

[0028] It should be noted that the secondary segments 114 of the two legs 111, 112 are elastically deformable.

[0029] Referring to the [ Fig.2 The push rod 5 of the braking amplifier 3 terminates in a connecting lug 6 comprising two parallel and spaced-apart walls 7, 8, each with an opening, and a connecting wall 9 linking said two parallel walls 7, 8 at a perpendicular angle to them. The push rod 5 terminates in the connecting wall 9 at a perpendicular angle to said connecting wall 9. The two parallel walls 7, 8 are elongated and are positioned so that their longitudinal axes extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the push rod 5. In other words, these two parallel walls 7, 8 tend to increase the length of the push rod 5.

[0030] A method for attaching a brake pedal 2 to a braking amplifier 3 to create a braking system according to the invention comprises the following steps: A step of positioning the lever arm 4 of the brake pedal 2 between the two parallel walls 7, 8 of the connecting tab 6 terminating the push rod 5, a step of inserting the rotation axis 101 of the clip 100 into the openings of the two parallel walls 7, 8 of the connecting tab 6, and into an opening of the lever arm 4. Once this insertion is complete, the metal insert 110 joins the two parallel walls 7, 8 of the connecting tab 6, and the end area 106, comprising the two stops 107, 108, emerges on one side of one of the two parallel walls 7, 8, outside the space between said parallel walls 7, 8. Thanks to the presence of these two elastically deformable stops 107, 108, the rotation axis 101 of the clip 100 can no longer be easily removed from the two walls parallels 7, 8 of the connecting leg 6 terminating the push rod 5.Inserting the rotation axis 101 into the openings of the two parallel walls 7, 8 was achieved with some effort, in particular to force the passage of the two retaining stops 107, 108 into said openings, a step of rotating the connecting clip 100 around its rotation axis 101 as illustrated in the [. Fig.5 ] by arrow 10, until the clamping zone 102 comes into contact with the push rod 5, a step of continuing the rotation of the clip 100 being accompanied first by a forced separation of the two secondary segments 114 of the two elastically deformable legs 111, 112 to allow the rod 5 to pass between said two legs 111, 112 and then by a folding of said two secondary segments 114 around the rod 5 by a natural relaxation, once said rod 5 has passed said two secondary segments 114.

Claims

1. Braking system (1) for a vehicle comprising a brake pedal (2) having a lever arm (4) and a brake booster (3) having a push rod (5), said push rod (5) being secured to the lever arm (4) of the brake pedal (2) by means of a connecting clip (100) including a first safety component in the form of a rotary pin (101) passing through the lever arm (4) of the brake pedal (2), and the push rod (5), and a second safety component in the form of a gripping zone (102) which closes about the push rod (5), characterized in that the clip (100) including the first safety component (101) and the second safety component (102) is made of plastics material, and in that the rotary pin (101) constituting the first safety component (101) comprises a metal insert (110).

2. Braking system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clip (100) is moulded about the metal insert (110).

3. Braking system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the push rod (5) terminates in a connecting lug (6) comprising two parallel spaced-apart walls (7, 8), and in that each of said parallel walls (7, 8) is provided with an opening for the rotary pin (101) to pass through.

4. Braking system according to Claim 3, characterized in that the metal insert (110) of the rotary pin (101) passes through the two parallel walls (7, 8) of the connecting lug (6) terminating the push rod (5).

5. Braking system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the metal insert (110) has a length which is greater than the length of the rotary pin (101) so that one end of said metal insert (110) is flush with one end of said rotary pin (101) and another end of this insert (110) emerges from another end of this rotary pin (101).

6. Braking system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the rotary pin (101) has a cylindrical end zone (106) with at least one retaining stop (107, 108) preventing the rotary pin (101) from being withdrawn from the connecting clip (100), once said pin (101) has passed through the two parallel walls (7, 8) of the connecting lug (6) terminating the push rod (5).

7. Braking system according to Claim 6, characterized in that it comprises two deformable and diametrically opposed retaining stops (107, 108) enabling the rotary pin (101) to be inserted in one direction into the openings in the parallel walls (7, 8) of the connecting lug (6) terminating the rod (5), and preventing it from being withdrawn in the other direction.

8. Braking system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the gripping zone (102) of the connecting clip (100) comprises two elastically deformable lugs (107, 108), the default gap between which is smaller than the diameter of the push rod (5), and in that said two lugs (107, 108) are initially separated to enable the push rod (5) to pass through, before closing about the latter.

9. Connecting clip (100) for producing a braking system (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, said clip (100) comprising a first safety component in the form of a rotary pin (101) and a second safety component in the form of a gripping zone (102), characterized in that said clip (100) including the first safety component and the second safety component (102) is made of plastics material, and in that the rotary pin (101) constituting the first safety component comprises a metal insert (110) .

10. Connecting clip (100) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the length of the metal insert (110) is greater than the length of the rotary pin (101), and in that a first end of the metal insert (110) includes an enlarged base (141) and a second end of said metal insert (110) comprises a segment (144) of small diameter terminating in an enlarged stud (140), said metal insert (110) being slid into the rotary pin (110) in such a way that the enlarged stud (140) has to be forced through a narrowed section (150) of the rotary pin (101) to be positioned behind said narrowed section (150) to act as a non-return stop, the enlarged base (141) being flush with a surface of the clip (100).

11. Method of fastening a brake pedal (2) to a brake booster (3) to produce a braking system (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, said method being carried out by means of a connecting clip (100) according to Claim 9, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of placing the lever arm (4) of the brake pedal (2) at one end of the push rod (5), - a step of inserting the rotary pin (101) of the connecting clip (100) into an end zone (6, 7, 8, 9) of the push rod (5) of the brake booster (3) and into the lever arm (4) of the brake pedal (2), - a step of rotating the connecting clip (100) about its rotary pin (101) passing through the push rod (5) and the lever arm (4) of the brake pedal (2), until the gripping zone (102) comes into contact with said push rod (5), - a step of continuing the rotation of the clip (100) involving firstly a forced separation of two elastically deformable lugs (107, 108) constituting the gripping zone (102) to enable the rod (5) to pass between said two lugs (107, 108), then a return of said two lugs (107, 108) about the rod (5) by a natural relaxation of these deformable lugs (107, 108).

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