Electromechanical brake booster for a vehicle braking system and method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a vehicle braking system

Abstract

Electromechanical brake booster for a vehicle's braking system with: a boost case (12); and a valve body (14) which is adjustably arranged in a through receiving opening (16) of the boost housing (12) and has a through central opening (18) within which a valve piston (20) is adjustably arranged or can be arranged in relation to the valve body (14) such that a driver braking force can be transmitted from an input rod (22) arranged or can be arranged directly or indirectly at a first end of the valve piston (20) to an output rod (24) arranged or can be arranged directly or indirectly at a second end of the valve piston (20); characterized by the fact that a spherical segment (26) is arranged or formed on the valve body (14), which contacts a conical seat of a disc (28) of the electromechanical brake booster, which is adjustable between the spherical segment (26) and the boost housing (12) in relation to the boost housing (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electromechanical brake booster for a vehicle's braking system. The invention also relates to a braking system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a vehicle's braking system. State of the art

[0002] FR 2 947 228 A1 describes a braking system with an electromechanical brake booster. The electromechanical brake booster comprises a boost housing adjustable by means of an electric motor. This housing has a continuous receiving opening for a valve body that is adjustable within it and moves in conjunction with the boost housing. The valve body also has a continuous central opening within which a valve piston can be adjusted relative to the valve body by means of a driver braking force applied to it. By means of the adjustment movements of the valve body and / or the valve piston, an output piston can be adjusted to increase the brake pressure present in at least one pressure chamber of a master brake cylinder. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The invention provides an electromechanical brake booster for a vehicle braking system with the features of claim 1, a braking system with the features of claim 9, and a method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a vehicle braking system with the features of claim 10. Advantages of the invention

[0004] Due to the electromechanical brake booster's design, which incorporates a spherical segment in contact with the disc's conical seat, any misalignment of the booster mounted in the brake system, caused by tolerances, can be (automatically) compensated for. Even with a relatively large misalignment, the force generated by the booster's motor can still be used to increase brake pressure. Simultaneously, despite the relatively large misalignment, the valve piston remains easily adjustable by the driver's braking force.In summary, it can be stated that, by means of the present invention, even with a comparatively large tilt of the electromechanical brake booster, it can still be used advantageously.

[0005] Since the present invention allows for the reliable and relatively simple compensation of tolerance-related misalignment of the mounted electromechanical brake booster, no special care is required during the assembly process. The present invention thus contributes to simplifying the assembly of an electromechanical brake booster.

[0006] In an advantageous embodiment, the valve body has a step between a first section that can be arranged in the through-hole and a second section that projects from the through-hole towards the output rod, wherein the spherical segment is arranged or formed on a surface of the step facing away from the output rod. Any misalignment of the electromechanical brake booster due to tolerances can thus be reliably compensated for by means of a radial movement of the disc.

[0007] Preferably, the disc is arranged within a receiving bore formed in the boost housing. Therefore, unwanted slippage of the disc is not a concern.

[0008] The valve body and the spherical segment can, for example, be formed in one piece. This eliminates the step of attaching a separately manufactured spherical segment to the valve body. However, it should be noted that a spherical segment manufactured separately from the valve body can also be used to implement the present invention.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment, the electromechanical brake booster has a rigid output rod. This allows the use of a comparatively inexpensive output rod for the electromechanical brake booster. In particular, this eliminates the conventional need to attach a more complex output rod with an anti-skew element to an electromechanical brake booster. Therefore, during operation of the electromechanical brake booster, there is no risk of undesirable lateral forces caused by the anti-skew element of the more complex output rod.

[0010] Advantageously, the ball segment can be made of plastic and / or the disc of plastic and / or steel. In particular, injection-molded plastic parts can be used for the ball segment and / or the disc. The ball segment and the disc are therefore easy to design / manufacture. Specifically, the ball segment can be easily injection-molded onto the valve body.

[0011] Preferably, the valve body has at least one projection on its outer surface facing the boost housing, which is guided along a guide located at the through-hole of the boost housing. In particular, the at least one projection and the guide can be formed in a first region of the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted facing the input rod, wherein in a second region of the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted facing the output rod, the through-hole of the boost housing has clearance between the boost housing and the valve body. The free movement of the part of the boost housing located in the second region radially to the valve body, or...The radial movement of the part of the valve body located in the second area to the boost housing enables an advantageous compensating movement to compensate for even a comparatively large tolerance-related misalignment.

[0012] The advantages outlined above are also guaranteed with a braking system that uses such an electromechanical brake booster.

[0013] A corresponding method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a vehicle's braking system also realizes the advantages described above. It should be noted that the method can be further developed according to the embodiments of the electromechanical brake booster according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] Further features and advantages of the present invention are explained below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic partial representation of an embodiment of the electromechanical brake booster; and Fig. 2 a flowchart to explain one embodiment of the method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a braking system for a vehicle. Embodiments of the invention

[0015] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic partial representation of an embodiment of the electromechanical brake booster.

[0016] The in Fig. One partially schematically depicted electromechanical brake booster can be used on and / or in a vehicle's braking system. It should be noted that the usability of the electromechanical brake booster is not limited to a specific type of braking system, in particular not to a specific design of the master brake cylinder, the at least one brake circuit, or the brake actuation element / brake pedal.

[0017] The in Fig. The electromechanical brake booster, shown in part, is rotationally symmetrical about its engagement axis 10 (e.g., the central longitudinal axis). However, the rotationally symmetrical design of the electromechanical brake booster is only meant to be interpreted as an example. The electromechanical brake booster comprises a boost housing 12 and a valve body 14, which is adjustable relative to the boost housing 12 in a continuous receiving opening 16 of the boost housing 12. The valve body 14 has a continuous central opening 18, within which a valve piston 20 of the electromechanical brake booster is arranged, or a valve piston 20 interacting with the electromechanical brake booster can be arranged.

[0018] The valve piston 20 is adjustable relative to the valve body 14 by means of a driver braking force. For this purpose, an input rod 22 of the electromechanical brake booster is arranged directly or indirectly at a first end of the valve piston 20, or an input rod 22 cooperating with the electromechanical brake booster can be arranged. When the input rod 22 moves along the braking axis 10 in a braking direction, the driver braking force can be transmitted to the valve piston 20 in such a way that the valve piston 20 is also adjustable. Furthermore, an output rod 24 of the electromechanical brake booster is arranged directly or indirectly at a second end of the valve piston 20, or an output rod 24 cooperating with the electromechanical brake booster can be arranged, to which the driver braking force can be transmitted.Additionally, the boost housing 12 can be adjusted, at least in the braking direction, by means of a motor (integrated into the brake booster or external) connected directly or indirectly to it (essentially along the braking axis 10). In this way, the valve body 14, which is at least temporarily in contact with the boost housing 12, can also be adjusted. An adjustment movement of the valve body along the braking axis 10 in the braking direction, effected in this way, can trigger an additional adjustment movement of the output rod 24. The adjustment movement caused by the driver's braking force and / or the motor can increase the brake pressure in a master brake cylinder (not shown) arranged directly or indirectly on the output rod 24. The electromechanical brake booster of the... Fig. 1 thus fulfills at least the functions of a conventional brake booster. Since a variety of control strategies are possible for the motor of the electromechanical brake booster, these will not be discussed here.

[0019] A spherical segment 26 is also arranged or formed on the valve body 14. The spherical segment 26 contacts a conical seat of a disc 28 of the electromechanical brake booster, which is adjustably arranged between the spherical segment 26 and the boost housing 12. In particular, the disc 28 arranged between the spherical segment 26 and the boost housing 12 can be radially displaceable with respect to the braking axis 10. This can be understood to mean that the disc 28 is displaceable in a direction oriented (essentially) perpendicular to the braking axis 10. Such an adjustment movement of the disc 28 causes a sliding movement of the spherical segment 26 on the conical seat, which frequently leads to the tilting movement of the valve body 14, the valve piston 20, and / or the output rod 24 with respect to the boost housing 12, as schematically represented by arrow 30.In this way, any tolerance-related misalignment of the boost housing 12 in all directions can be compensated for, and ideal alignment of the valve body 14, the valve piston 20, and / or the output rod 24 with respect to the master brake cylinder and the boost housing 12 can be achieved. The in . Fig. The schematically represented electromechanical brake booster thus effects the advantageous compensating movement to compensate for even a comparatively large misalignment of the electromechanical brake booster. This increases the application possibilities of the electromechanical brake booster and reduces the effort required for its installation.

[0020] In the embodiment of the Fig. 1 The valve body has a step 32 between a first subsection that can be arranged in the continuous receiving opening 16 and a second subsection projecting from the continuous receiving opening 16. The ball segment 26 is arranged or formed on a surface 34 of the step 32 that points away from the output rod 24. In the embodiment of Fig. In this case, the spherical segment 26 is a component manufactured separately from the valve body 14. Alternatively, the valve body 14 and the spherical segment 26 can also be formed as a single piece. This allows the spherical segment 26 to be easily formed in a preferred mounting position on the valve body 14. A work step for arranging the spherical segment 26 in this preferred mounting position can thus be eliminated.

[0021] The disc 28 with the conical seat can, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the disc 28 is arranged within a receiving bore 36 formed in the boost housing 12. In particular, a rear surface 38 of the disc 28, facing away from the conical seat, can contact a bottom surface of the receiving bore 36. By means of such an arrangement of the disc 28, unwanted slippage of the disc 28 out of the electromechanical brake booster can be reliably prevented.

[0022] The ball segment 26 (or the valve body 14 with the ball segment 26) and the disc 28 are preferably made of plastic. Thus, the elements 26 and 28 can be manufactured using a simple and cost-effective injection molding process. Alternatively, the disc 28 can also be made of steel.

[0023] In the embodiment of the Fig. Figure 1 shows that the electromechanical brake booster also includes an input rod seat 40, a papilla 42, a reaction disc 44, an output rod base 46, and a spring 48, by means of which the valve piston 20 is supported by the valve body 14. The input rod seat 40 is located between the input rod 22 (only partially shown) and the valve piston 20. The driver's braking force is transmitted from the valve piston 20 to the output rod 24 via the papilla 42, the reaction disc 44, and the output rod base 46. However, it should be noted that the inclusion of elements 40 to 48 in the electromechanical brake booster is merely an example.

[0024] The electromechanical brake booster has a rigid output rod 24. Due to the advantageous ability to compensate for tolerance-related misalignments of the electromechanical brake booster, it is not necessary to equip the output rod 24 with a misalignment compensation element or to make it flexible. Instead, a cost-effective rigid output rod 24 can be used for the electromechanical brake booster. The rigid design of the output rod 24 also has the advantage that no lateral forces, which would be present if equipped with a misalignment compensation element, occur during operation of the electromechanical brake booster.

[0025] Advantageously, the electromechanical brake booster of the Fig. 1 also includes a valve body 14, which has at least one protrusion 50 on its outer surface oriented towards the boost housing 12. In the embodiment of the Fig. In Figure 1, the protrusion 50 is a circular segment. However, this configuration of the at least one protrusion 50 is to be interpreted as an example. The at least one protrusion 50 is guided along a guide 52 located at the through-hole 16 of the boost housing 12. The guide 52 can, for example, be at least one contact surface of the at least one protrusion 50 and / or at least one guide groove. Preferably, the at least one protrusion 50 and the guide 52 are formed in a first region of the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted aligned with the input rod 22. In a second region of the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted aligned with the output rod 24, the through-hole 16 of the boost housing 12 preferably has a clearance between the boost housing 12 and the valve body 14.Adjacent to the output rod 24, the position of the valve body 14 in relation to the boost housing 12 can thus be changed radially to the braking axis 10. At the same time, contact between components 12 and 14 is still ensured due to the features 50 and 52.

[0026] The advantages of the electromechanical brake booster described above are also guaranteed in a braking system equipped with one. Since realizing these advantages does not require a specific design of the braking system, no examples of a braking system equipped with an electromechanical brake booster are described here.

[0027] Fig. Figure 2 shows a flowchart to explain one embodiment of the method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a braking system for a vehicle.

[0028] The method comprises at least one process step S1 and one process step S2. In process step S1, a boost housing of the electromechanical brake booster is assembled. In process step S2, a valve body of the electromechanical brake booster is assembled, wherein the valve body is adjustably positioned relative to the boost housing in a through-hole of the boost housing. Furthermore, a spherical segment arranged on or formed by the valve body is brought into contact with a conical seat of a disc of the electromechanical brake booster, which is adjustably positioned between the spherical segment and the boost housing relative to the boost housing.

[0029] Process steps S1 and S2 can be performed in any order or simultaneously. For example, at least some components of the electromechanical brake booster described above can be used to perform process steps S1 and S2. However, it should be noted that the feasibility of the process is not limited to the use of these components. Furthermore, it is reiterated that the process for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on a wide variety of different brake system types can be carried out.

Claims

[1] Electromechanical brake booster for a braking system of a vehicle with: a boost case (12); and a valve body (14) which is adjustably arranged in a through receiving opening (16) of the boost housing (12) and has a through central opening (18) within which a valve piston (20) is adjustably arranged or can be arranged in relation to the valve body (14) such that a driver braking force can be transmitted from an input rod (22) arranged or can be arranged directly or indirectly at a first end of the valve piston (20) to an output rod (24) arranged or can be arranged directly or indirectly at a second end of the valve piston (20); characterized by , that a spherical segment (26) is arranged or formed on the valve body (14), which contacts a conical seat of a disc (28) of the electromechanical brake booster, which is adjustable between the spherical segment (26) and the boost housing (12) in relation to the boost housing (12). [2] Electromechanical brake booster according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (14) has a step (32) between a first partial section that can be arranged in the through receiving opening (16) and a second partial section projecting from the through receiving opening (16) in the direction of the output rod (24), and wherein the spherical segment (26) is arranged or formed on a surface (34) of the step (32) that is directed away from the output rod (24). [3] Electromechanical brake booster according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the disc (28) is arranged within a receiving bore (36) formed on the boost housing (12). [4] Electromechanical brake booster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (14) and the ball segment (26) are formed in one piece. [5] Electromechanical brake booster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical brake booster has a rigid output rod (24) as the output rod (24). [6] Electromechanical brake booster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ball segment (26) is made of plastic and / or the disc (28) is made of plastic and / or steel. [7] Electromechanical brake booster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (14) has at least one projection (50) on its outer surface oriented towards the boost housing (12), which is guided along a guide (52) located at the continuous receiving opening (16) of the boost housing (12). [8] Electromechanical brake booster according to claim 7, wherein the at least one bulge (50) and the guide (52) are formed in a first area of ​​the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted aligned with the input rod (22), and wherein in a second area of ​​the electromechanical brake booster, which can be mounted aligned with the output rod (24), the continuous receiving opening (16) of the boost housing (12) has a clearance between the boost housing (12) and the valve body (14). [9] Braking system with an electromechanical brake booster according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Method for mounting an electromechanical brake booster on and / or in a braking system for a vehicle comprising the step: Mounting a boost housing (12) (S1) and a valve body (14) of the electromechanical brake booster, wherein the valve body (14) is arranged adjustably in relation to the boost housing (12) in a continuous receiving opening (16) of the boost housing (12) (S2); characterized by , that a spherical segment (26) arranged or formed on the valve body (14) is brought into contact with a conical seat of a disc (28), which is adjustable between the spherical segment (26) and the boost housing (12) in relation to the boost housing (12).

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