FLUID CONTAINER WITH A SHUT-OFF VALVE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly for generating brake pressure in a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system with a fluid reservoir, according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0002] Such generic fluid reservoirs have one or more, usually two, connecting pieces assigned to the individual brake circuits, each equipped with an internal hydraulic connection channel, which are inserted into corresponding receiving seats directly on the associated brake unit or a separate interface adapter. For safety reasons in particular, it is obvious that it is necessary to prevent the flammable brake fluid from accidentally escaping from the fluid reservoir, especially when the connecting pieces are not in the designated receiving seats. This can occur, for example, when dismantling the filled fluid reservoir for servicing or when the fluid reservoir becomes loose due to an unintended event such as a crash.

[0003] For this purpose, it is generally known to use check valves in the connecting channels of the connection pieces.

[0004] For example, DE 10 2014 207 839 A1 discloses a check valve that is installed directly in the connecting channel. DE 10 2014 213 709 A1 discloses another check valve of the same type, which is designed as a separate valve module for insertion into the connecting channel.

[0005] Like an actuating element known from DE 3912110 A1 for actuating a valve closing body, such shut-off valves have a shaft-like, extended valve closing body that protrudes outward from the connection piece, thus protruding from the fluid container, when the valve is closed. When inserted into the receiving seat, the valve closing body rests against the base of the receiving seat, is thereby forcibly pushed into the fluid container, and thus opens the valve.

[0006] A disadvantage is that in extreme cases such a valve could also be actuated unintentionally, for example by bending, breaking off or otherwise damaging the valve closing body or by its unintentional support on some other object.

[0007] From the subsequently published EP 3418141 A1, it is known to mold an integrated projection into the base of the receiving seat, which engages with the connecting channel of the connecting piece when the reservoir is inserted, thereby allowing the valve closing body to be shortened. However, such a solution requires modification or re-production of casting tools and is therefore considered costly. Furthermore, it is not suitable for modifying existing brake units.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of offering an improved solution against unintentional emptying of the fluid container, which could be realized cost-effectively and, if possible, as a subsequent modification.

[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention by a hydraulic unit with a fluid container having the feature combinations according to independent claims 1 or 2. Subclaims specify further embodiments and developments according to the invention.

[0010] The unit may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a brake master cylinder or a hydraulic brake booster, a hydraulic brake pressure modulation device, or any combination of the foregoing.

[0011] To solve this problem, the invention proposes providing the check valve as a separate component, which is positioned separately in the receiving seat prior to assembly of the fluid container. This solution offers the particular advantage that existing products can be adapted to the improved fluid container through simple reworking or slight modification.

[0012] According to a first, particularly cost-effective and easily modifiable embodiment, a particularly conical recess is provided in the bottom of the receiving seat, into which the support means designed as a ball is inserted.

[0013] According to a second embodiment of the invention, which can also be easily subsequently modified, a separate fastening bore is formed in the base of the receiving seat and a fastening pin is formed on the support means, which engages in a fastening bore in a force-locking manner for fixing.

[0014] A further development of the second embodiment provides that the support means is rounded on the valve closing body side and preferably has a substantially point-like contact point with the valve closing body. This reduces friction with the valve closing body and consequently its incorrect actuation, for example, due to tilting. At the same time, the flow resistance for the brake fluid flowing through during operation is also reduced and optimized.

[0015] Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments of the invention. These show, in sectional view: Fig.1 Partial view of a known generic fluid container with a known non-inventive design of a shut-off valve. Fig.2 Partial view of an embodiment of the fluid container with the check valve and a support means integrated in the receiving seat. Fig.3 Partial view of a first embodiment of the fluid container according to the invention with the check valve and a support means that can be inserted into the receiving seat. Fig.4 Partial view of a second embodiment of the fluid container according to the invention with the check valve and a support means fastened in the receiving seat. Fig.1

[0016] The functional principle is explained in Fig.1 using a fluid container 1 designed as a brake fluid container with a known shut-off valve in the installed state.

[0017] The fluid reservoir 1 has a connection piece 3 formed on its reservoir bottom, which is inserted into a receiving seat 4 of the unit 2, in this case a master brake cylinder, and is sealed against the inner surface of the receiving seat 4 by means of a shaped seal 15.

[0018] The connecting piece 3 is essentially tubular with an internal connecting channel 5. A shut-off valve 7 is arranged in the connecting channel 5. The brake fluid flows from the reservoir interior into the unit 2 via the connecting channel 5 and a passage 19 provided in the receiving seat 4.

[0019] The check valve 7 has a shaft-like, extended valve closing body 8 that is axially displaceable in the connecting channel 5. At its upper end, directed toward the container interior 6, a sealing element 17 is arranged on the valve closing body 8, which, in a closed state of the check valve 7 (not shown here), is pressed against a valve seat 18 by the valve spring 16, thus blocking the connecting channel 5.

[0020] The lower end 20 of the valve closing body 8 directed towards the receiving seat 4 projects outwards beyond the outer axial edge 9 of the connecting piece 3 and rests against the bottom 11 of the receiving seat 4. As a result, the valve closing body 8 is pushed into the connecting piece 3 in the direction of the container interior 6 and the sealing element 17 is lifted from the valve seat 18. Fig.2

[0021] Fig.2 shows a further embodiment of the fluid container 1. In contrast to the embodiment described above, the valve closing body 8 is designed to be so short that its lower end 20 directed towards the receiving seat 4 is located completely within the connecting channel 5 even when the shut-off valve 7 is closed and does not protrude outwards beyond the contour formed by the outer edge 9 of the connecting piece 3.

[0022] In order to nevertheless displace the valve closing body 8 towards the container interior 6 and to hydraulically release the connecting channel 5, a separate support means 10 is provided in the receiving seat 4.

[0023] In the embodiment shown, the support means 10 is designed as a projection integrally formed on the base 11 of the receiving seat 4 and extending axially toward the connecting piece 3. To improve the flow behavior of the brake fluid and simultaneously reduce friction with the valve closing body, the projection is essentially conical with a rounded end, so that a substantially point-shaped contact point exists with the valve closing body 8.

[0024] In the installed state, the support means 10 engages directly into the connecting channel 5 of the connecting piece 3 and thus displaces the valve closing body 8 shortened according to the invention in the direction of the container interior 6 and the sealing element 17 from the valve seat 18. Fig.3

[0025] Fig.3 shows a first embodiment of the fluid container 1 according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig.2 The support means 10 is provided as a ball that is inserted into the receiving seat 4. To ensure correct positioning of the ball and its contact with the valve closing body 8, a recess 12 is provided in the base 10 of the receiving seat. In the example shown, the entire base 11 is designed in a conical, trough-shaped manner, whereby a ball inserted therein is forcibly self-centered solely by the effect of gravity. Fig.4

[0026] Fig.4 shows a second embodiment of the fluid container 1 according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig.2 the support means 10 is provided as a separate insert part, which, however, in contrast to the embodiment according to Fig.3 is fixed in the receiving seat 4.

[0027] For this purpose, a fastening bore 13 is formed in the base 11 of the receiving seat 4, and a corresponding fastening pin 14 is provided on the support means 10, which is inserted into the fastening bore 13 in a force-fitting manner. A reverse principle as well as a positive connection, for example by means of a thread, or a material connection by means of adhesive bonding are possible and permissible at any time within the invention.

[0028] To improve the flow behavior of the brake fluid and at the same time reduce friction with the valve closing body, the insert part is spherically rounded on the valve closing body side. List of reference symbols

[0029] 1 Fluid container 2 Unit 3 Connection piece 4 Receptacle seat 5 Connecting channel 6 Container interior 7 Check valve 8 Valve closing body 9 Rim 10 Supporting element 11 Bottom 12 Trough 13 Mounting hole 14 Mounting pin 15 Molded seal 16 Valve spring 17 Sealing element 18 Valve seat 19 Passage 20 End

Claims

1. Assembly for generating brake pressure in a hydraulic motor-vehicle brake system (2) with a fluid container (1) for supply thereof with a brake fluid, comprising at least one connector piece (3) for insertion into a receiving seat (4) of the assembly (2), in the connector piece (3) a connecting channel (5) for hydraulically connecting a container interior space (6) to the assembly (2), and a shut-off valve (7) which is arranged in the connecting channel (5) and serves for blocking the connecting channel (5), wherein the shut-off valve (7) has a displaceable valve closure body (8) which, upon insertion of the connector piece (3) into the receiving seat (4), automatically transfers the shut-off valve (7) into an open state by action of force and which, upon removal of the connector piece (3) from the receiving seat (4), transfers said shut-off valve into a closed state, wherein, in the closed state of the shut-off valve (7), the valve closure body (8) is received in the fluid container (1) completely within a contour formed by an outer edge (9) of the connector piece (3), wherein the assembly (2) has in the receiving seat (4) a supporting means (10) which, in the inserted state, at least regionally engages into the connecting channel (5), and wherein the valve closure body (8) is configured to be moved into the connecting channel (5) in the inserted state by the supporting means (10) in the receiving seat (4) of the assembly (2), wherein the supporting means (10) is provided as a separate insert part, characterized in that the receiving seat (4) has a bottom (11) with a depression (12) and the supporting means (10) is in the form of a ball placed into the depression (12).

2. Assembly for generating brake pressure in a hydraulic motor-vehicle brake system (2) with a fluid container (1) for supply thereof with a brake fluid, comprising at least one connector piece (3) for insertion into a receiving seat (4) of the assembly (2), in the connector piece (3) a connecting channel (5) for hydraulically connecting a container interior space (6) to the assembly (2), and a shut-off valve (7) which is arranged in the connecting channel (5) and serves for blocking the connecting channel (5), wherein the shut-off valve (7) has a displaceable valve closure body (8) which, upon insertion of the connector piece (3) into the receiving seat (4), automatically transfers the shut-off valve (7) into an open state by action of force and which, upon removal of the connector piece (3) from the receiving seat (4), transfers said shut-off valve into a closed state, wherein, in the closed state of the shut-off valve (7), the valve closure body (8) is received in the fluid container (1) completely within a contour formed by an outer edge (9) of the connector piece (3), wherein the assembly (2) has in the receiving seat (4) a supporting means (10) which, in the inserted state, at least regionally engages into the connecting channel (5), and wherein the valve closure body (8) is configured to be displaced into the connecting channel (5) in the inserted state by the supporting means (10) in the receiving seat (4) of the assembly (2), wherein the supporting means (10) is provided as a separate insert part which is fastened in the receiving seat (4), characterized in that the receiving seat (4) has a bottom (11) with a fastening bore (13) formed therein and the supporting means (10) comprises a fastening pin (14) for insertion into the fastening bore (13).

3. Assembly (2) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the supporting means (10) has a substantially punctiform contact location with respect to the valve closure body (8).

4. Assembly (2) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the supporting means (10) is formed so as to be rounded towards the valve closure body (8).