Operating device for a braking system

Abstract

An operating device (1) for a brake system (2) having an operable master brake cylinder (10), the operating device (1) having a transmission (12) with a slidably supported transmission member (13), an electric motor (8) for driving the transmission (12), and a slidably supported pressure transmission body (20) coupled to an input rod (24) such that the pressure transmission body (20) is slidable by the input rod (24), the master brake cylinder (10) being operable by sliding of the transmission member (13) and also by sliding of the pressure transmission body (20), and having a sensor (30) having a first sensor portion (32) slidable with the pressure transmission body (20) and a second sensor portion (33) slidable with the transmission member (13). **Solution**: It is intended that the first and second sensor portions (32, 33) are slidably supported on a common support member (31) of the sensor (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device for a brake system having an operable master brake cylinder, comprising a transmission having a slidably supported transmission member, an electric motor for driving the transmission, and a slidably supported pressure transmission body coupled to an input rod such that the pressure transmission body is slidable by the input rod, wherein the master brake cylinder is operable by both the slide of the transmission member and the slide of the pressure transmission body, and a sensor having a first sensor portion slidable with the pressure transmission body and a second sensor portion slidable with the transmission member.

Background Art

[0002] An automotive hydraulic brake system typically has a plurality of friction brake devices hydraulically connected to a master brake cylinder of the brake system. When the master brake cylinder is operated, the working fluid moves to the slave cylinder of the friction brake device, thereby causing the friction brake device to generate a friction braking torque. At this time, typically, there is an operating device for operating the master brake cylinder. As the electrification of automobiles progresses, the operating device of the brake system is also becoming more electrified. The type of operating device described at the beginning is known, for example, from Patent Document 1. This operating device has a transmission device having a transmission member supported slidably. The transmission device can be driven by an electric motor of the operating device. Further, this operating device has a slidable pressing force transmission body. The pressing force transmission body is coupled to an input rod such that the pressing force transmission body is slidable by the input rod. When this operating device is assembled to the brake system according to its application, the master brake cylinder can be operated either by the slide of the transmission member or by the slide of the pressing force transmission body. Further, the operating device has a sensor having a first sensor portion slidable together with the pressing force transmission body and a second sensor portion slidable together with the transmission member. By this sensor, the slide position of the pressing force transmission body can be detected relative to the slide position of the transmission member. In the operating device known from Patent Document 1, the first sensor portion is a measurement value detector of the sensor. The second sensor portion is a receiver of the sensor. At this time, the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion are attached to the pressing force transmission body or the transmission member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The operating device according to the present invention has the constituent features of claim 1, and is characterized in that a first sensor part and a second sensor part are slidably supported on a common support member of the sensors. Since both the first sensor part and the second sensor part are supported on the common support member, each element of the sensor can be easily handled jointly as a module. Thereby, the assembly of the sensor to the operating device and the removal of the assembled sensor are clearly simplified as compared with known solutions. The support member is preferably made of plastic.

[0005] In one preferred embodiment, the support member is configured in a frame shape, and it is intended that the first and second sensor parts are slidably supported in the frame openings of the support member. By being supported in the frame openings, the first and second sensor parts are protected from damage by the support member. The frame-shaped support member preferably has two first sides facing the sliding direction of the sensor unit and two second sides facing perpendicular to the sliding direction, whereby the frame is configured in a rectangle. It is particularly preferred that the sensor part is slidably supported by the first side of the frame-shaped support member. That is, the first side contributes to the support of the sensor part.

[0006] In one preferred embodiment, at least one guide rod, particularly made of metal, is attached to the support member, and it is intended that the first sensor part and the second sensor part are slidably supported by the guide rod. By means of the guide rod, a mechanically particularly robust support of the first sensor part and the second sensor part is realized. The first and second sensor parts are preferably fitted or externally fitted to the guide rod. It is particularly preferred that a plurality of guide rods arranged parallel to each other are attached to the support member, in which case the first sensor part and the second sensor part are slidably supported by the plurality of guide rods.

[0007] The first and second sensor portions are preferably supported by the support member in a front - to - back relationship in the sliding direction. By arranging the sensor portions of such a type, a sensor with a short width can be embodied. In an alternative embodiment, each sensor portion is arranged side - by - side, for example, in the sliding direction.

[0008] In one preferred embodiment, the operating device has a housing in which a transmission member and a pressing - force transmitter are at least partially arranged, and the sensor is intended to be attached to the housing. An embodiment of such an operating device is mechanically particularly robust. In particular, the sensor is attached to the housing by a support member. The sensor is preferably detachably attached to the housing. Thereby, the replacement of the assembled sensor is facilitated. The sensor is particularly preferably attached to the housing by a detachable screw connection.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment, it is intended that the sensor is inserted into a break - out portion of the outer wall of the housing. By inserting into the break - out portion, not only the mechanical connection between, on the one hand, the pressing - force transmitter or the transmission member and the first and second sensor portions, but also the electrical connection to a control device arranged outside the housing can be technically easily embodied. The sensor is preferably inserted into the break - out portion such that the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion face the inside of the housing.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment, a first follower member is attached to the pressing force transmission body, and the first follower member is intended to be coupled to the first sensor portion by form-fitting. By the form-fitting, it is realized that the first sensor portion reliably slides together with the pressing force transmission body, and for this purpose, the form-fitting is configured to transmit at least the force acting in the sliding direction of the pressing force transmission body to the first sensor portion. At this time, the first follower member may be attached to the pressing force transmission body either directly or indirectly. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the operating device preferably has a second follower member attached to the transmission member, and the second follower member is coupled to the second sensor portion by form-fitting.

[0011] The first follower member preferably cooperates with a fork-shaped holding structure of the first sensor portion to form a form-fitting. By such a type of form-fitting, it is reliably ensured that the first sensor portion slides together with the pressing force transmission body. Furthermore, the form-fitting can be easily formed, that is, it can be easily formed by inserting the first follower member into the fork-shaped holding structure. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the second follower member cooperates with a fork-shaped holding structure of the second sensor portion to form a form-fitting.

[0012] In one preferred embodiment, the first follower member is intended to be attached to the first sensor portion by a locking connection or a clamping connection. Thereby, a mechanically particularly robust connection is ensured between the first follower member and the first sensor portion, whereby this connection can withstand, for example, the vibrations of the operating device. Furthermore, the locking connection or the clamping connection can be easily established when mounting the sensor to the operating device, for example, by fitting the first follower member and the first sensor portion together. The locking connection or the clamping connection is preferably removable. This has the advantage that the sensor can be easily replaced. The second follower member is preferably attached to the second sensor portion by a particularly removable locking connection or by a particularly removable clamping connection.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the sensor has a wiring board on the support member, on which at least one receiving coil is configured. That is, the receiving coil is constituted by the strip conductors of the wiring board. Such a construction form of the receiving coil can be embodied technically simply and at low cost. By attaching the wiring board to the support member, for example, the electrical connection of the wiring board or the receiving coil to the control device is simplified. If the wiring board or the receiving coil is slidably supported on the support member, the electrical connection to the control device becomes at least difficult. By means of the receiving coil, a contactless detection of the sliding positions of the first sensor part and the second sensor part can be embodied. The sensor is preferably configured as an inductive sensor. The wiring board particularly preferably has one transmitting coil and two receiving coils. As described above, the support member is preferably configured in a frame shape. In that case, the wiring board is preferably arranged so as to cover or close the frame opening of the support member.

[0014] In one alternative embodiment, the first sensor part or the second sensor part is configured as a receiver. In that case, the second sensor part or the first sensor part is configured as a measured value detector.

[0015] In one preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the wiring board has at least one conductive contact small plate for electrical contact with the control device. Such a contact small plate can be contacted technically simply, for example, by a conductive contact spring on the control device side. As described above, the sensor preferably has one transmitting coil and two receiving coils. In that case, the wiring board preferably has six conductive contact small plates, and two contact small plates are respectively assigned to each coil. It is particularly preferred that the contact small plates are arranged in a row one after another.

[0016] In one preferred embodiment, the first sensor part has a conductive material and is arranged such that the voltage of the receiving coil can be affected by the sliding position of the first sensor part, and / or the second sensor part has a conductive material and is arranged such that the voltage of the receiving coil can be affected by the sliding position of the second sensor part. Thereby, a particularly preferred inductive sensor is embodied. The first and / or second sensor parts preferably each have a body made of plastic, and the conductive material is arranged on the side of the body facing the receiving coil.

[0017] The operating device preferably has a control device arranged in the housing of the operating device such that the control device covers the sensor. With such an arrangement of the control device of this type, the sensor is protected from external influences by the control device. Further, since the control device is in the immediate vicinity of the sensor, the connection of the sensor to the control device is simplified. The control device is preferably electrically connected to the wiring board. This electrical connection is particularly preferably embodied by a contact spring on the control device side that comes into contact with the contact small plate on the wiring board side described above. The control device is preferably configured to drive and control an electric motor depending on the sensor signal of the sensor.

[0018] In one preferred embodiment, the control device has a control device housing, and the sensor is intended to be arranged at a break in the outer wall of the control device housing. Thereby, the protection of the sensor against external influences is further improved, and the connection of the sensor to the control device is also further simplified. The sensor preferably penetrates into the control device such that the wiring board of the sensor is arranged inside the housing of the control device housing.

[0019] Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show the following.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an operating device 1 for a brake system 2 of an automobile (not shown in detail). The operating device 1 has a housing 3. The housing 3 is configured in a tubular shape, and in that sense, it has a circumferential outer wall 4 that surrounds the interior 5 of the housing 3. Further, the operating device 1 has a drive unit 6 disposed in the housing 3. The drive unit 6 has an electric motor 8 disposed in a motor housing 7 and thus not visible in FIG. 1. Further, the operating device 1 has a control device 9. The control device 9 is disposed in the housing 3 on the side of the housing 3 facing away from the drive unit 6. The control device 9 is configured to drive and control the electric motor 8. A master brake cylinder 10 is disposed on the end face of the housing 3, and in this example, two hydraulic pistons 11 are slidably supported therein. When the operating device 1 is assembled to the brake system 2 according to its intended use, the master brake cylinder 10 is fluid-technically connected to the slave cylinder of the friction brake device of the brake system 2.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the operating device 1. The operating device 1 has a transmission device 12. The transmission device 12 is operatively connected to an electric motor 8 so that the transmission device 12 can be driven by the electric motor 8. The transmission device 12 has a transmission member 13 supported slidably, and the transmission member 13 is at least partially arranged in the housing 3. The transmission member 13 is slidable in a first direction 14 and in a second direction 15 opposite to the first direction 14. In this example, the transmission member 13 is a threaded spindle 13 which is part of a spindle drive 16. The spindle drive 16 has, in addition to the threaded spindle 13, a spindle nut 17 rotatably supported. The internal teeth of the spindle nut 17 engage with the external teeth of the threaded spindle 13. In order to ensure that when the spindle nut 17 rotates, the threaded spindle 13 slides rather than rotates together with the spindle nut 17, an anti-rotation device 18 is attached to the threaded spindle 13. For this purpose, there is an anti-rotation member 19 attached to the end of the threaded spindle 13 which is attached to the threaded spindle 13 and faces the master brake cylinder 10 in this example. The anti-rotation member 19 cooperates with the housing 3 to constitute the anti-rotation device 18. In this example, a cup-shaped thrust body 26 is attached to the anti-rotation member 19.

[0023] Furthermore, the operating device 1 has a pressing force transmission body 20 which is supported so as to be slidable relative to the transmission member 13, and the pressing force transmission body 20 is also at least partially arranged in the housing 3. The pressing force transmission body 20 is slidable in the first direction 14 and the second direction 15. In this example, the pressing force transmission body 20 is supported by the breaking part 21 of the transmission member 13. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pressing force transmission body 20 is composed of multiple parts. For this reason, the pressing force transmission body 20 has a rod-shaped area 22 arranged in the breaking part 21. In addition to this, the pressing force transmission body has a pressure cap 23 arranged at the end of the pressing force transmission body 20 facing the master brake cylinder 10. The pressure cap 23 is attached to the rod-shaped area 22 by flange joining in this example. The end of the pressing force transmission body 20 facing away from the master brake cylinder 10 is coupled to the input rod 24, whereby the pressing force transmission body 20 is slidable by the input rod 24. In this example, the pressing force transmission body 20 is coupled to the input rod 24 by a ball joint 25. The end of the input rod 24 facing away from the pressing force transmission body 20 is attached to a brake pedal (not shown).

[0024] The master brake cylinder 10 can be operated by the sliding of the transmission member 13 or by the sliding of the pressing force transmission body 20. The operation of the master brake cylinder 10 is understood to be the sliding of the hydraulic piston 11 in the first direction 14. When the operating device 1 is assembled to the brake system 2 according to the application, the working fluid thereby moves from the master brake cylinder 10 to the slave cylinder of the friction brake device, whereby the friction brake device generates a friction brake torque. In this example, the transmission member 13 and the pressing force transmission body 20 can be operatively connected to or are operatively connected to the hydraulic piston 11 by a connecting member 27. The connecting member 27 has an elastically deformable connecting disk 28 and a rigid pressing rod 29. When the master brake cylinder 10 is operated by the electric motor 8, the electric motor 8 acts on the hydraulic piston 11 by means of the transmission member 13, the anti-rotation member 19, the thrust body 26, and the connecting member 27. When the master brake cylinder 10 is operated by the operation of the brake pedal, the brake pedal acts on the hydraulic piston 11 by means of the input rod 24, the pressing force transmission body 20, and the connecting member 27.

[0025] Furthermore, the operating device 1 has a sensor 30. The sensor 30 is configured to monitor the sliding position of the pressing force transmission body 20 as well as the sliding position of the transmission member 13. In the following, the structure of the sensor 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. For this purpose, FIGS. 3 and 4 each show a perspective view of the sensor 30. FIG. 5 shows the sensor 30 together with other members of the operating device 1.

[0026] The sensor 30 has a support member 31. The support member 31 is made of plastic. A first sensor portion 32 and a second sensor portion 33 are slidably supported on the support member 31. As is apparent from each drawing, the sensor portions 32 and 33 are arranged one behind the other in the sliding direction.

[0027] In the embodiments shown in the respective drawings, the support member 31 is configured in a frame shape, whereby the support member 31 has a frame opening 34. The support member 31 has two first sides 35 facing each other in parallel and two second sides 36 facing each other in parallel, and the second side 36 faces perpendicular to the first side 35. The first side 35 is longer than the second side 36, whereby the support member 31 is configured to be vertically long as a whole. The sides 35 and 36 jointly form or define the frame opening 34. The sensor portions 32 and 33 are slidably supported within the frame opening 34, whereby the sensor portions 32 and 33 are protected by the support member 31. Two metal guide rods 37 are attached to the support member 31. The guide rods 37 extend through the frame opening 34 and face parallel to the first side 35. As is apparent from each drawing, the sensor portions 32 and 33 are supported by the guide rods 37. For this purpose, the sensor portions 32 and 33 each have two breaking portions and are fitted or externally fitted to the guide rods 37.

[0028] The sensor 30 is configured as an inductive sensor 30. For this purpose, in this example, it has a vertically long wiring board 38, on which a coil structure 40, which only suggests in the drawing and has at least one receiving coil 41, is configured. In this example, the coil structure 40 has one transmitting coil and two receiving coils 41. Each coil of the coil structure 40 is configured as a strip conductor on the wiring board 38. The wiring board 38 is attached to the support member 31 by two attachment means 39 in this example. Here, the wiring board 38 is arranged so as to cover or close the frame opening 34. Furthermore, the wiring board 38 has a contact device having a plurality of conductive wiring small plates 42. The wiring small plates 42 are arranged on the side of the wiring board 38 facing away from the sensor portions 32 and 33. There are six wiring small plates 42 in this example, and the wiring small plates 42 are arranged in sequence in the sliding direction of the sensor portions 32 and 33. Each of the coils is electrically connected to two different wiring small plates 42.

[0029] The sensor portions 32 and 33 each have a main body 43 to 44 made of plastic. The main bodies 43 and 44 each have one conductive material on the side facing the wiring board 38. The sensor portions 32 and 33 are arranged so as to be able to affect, or be affected by, the voltage of the receiving coil 41 depending on the slide positions of the sensor portions 32 and 33.

[0030] To monitor the sliding positions of the pressing force transmission body 20 and the transmission member 13, the sensor portions 32 and 33 are operatively connected to the pressing force transmission body 20 or the transmission member 13. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 5. A first follower member 45 attached to the pressing force transmission body 20 is operatively connected to the first sensor portion 32 by a first form fit 46 so that the first sensor portion 32 can slide together with the pressing force transmission body 20. In this example, the first follower member 45 is integrally formed with the pressure cap 23. The first form fit 46 is formed by inserting the first follower member 45 into the fork-shaped holding structure 47 of the first sensor portion 32. The first follower member 45 and the holding structure 47 are shaped such that the holding structure 47 exerts a clamping force on the first follower member 45. Due to this clamping force, the first follower member 45 is held by the holding structure 47. However, with a sufficiently large force, the first follower member 45 can be pulled out of the holding structure 47 to release the form fit 46. That is, the first form fit 46 is manufactured as a removable clamping connection 46. A second follower member 48 attached to the transmission member 13 is operatively connected to the second sensor portion 33 by a second form fit 49 so that the second sensor portion 33 can slide together with the transmission member 13. In this example, the second follower member 48 is integrally formed with the anti-rotation member 19, whereby the second follower member 48 is indirectly attached to the transmission member 13. The transmission member 13 itself is not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity of the drawing. The second form fit 49 is formed by inserting the second follower member 48 into the fork-shaped holding structure 50 of the second sensor portion 33. The second follower member 48 and the holding structure 50 are shaped such that the holding structure 50 exerts a clamping force on the second follower member 48. Due to this clamping force, the second follower member 48 is held by the holding structure 50. However, with a sufficiently large force, the second follower member 48 can be pulled out of the holding structure 50 to release the form fit 49. That is, the second form fit 49 is manufactured as a removable clamping connection 49. In yet another embodiment, it is preferred that the first and / or second form fits 46, 49 are manufactured as removable locking connections.

[0031] In the following, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the arrangement of the sensor 30 on the housing 3 will be described in detail. For this purpose, FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the housing 3. FIG. 7 shows another perspective view of the operating device 1, and the control device 9 is shown semi-transparent in FIG. 7.

[0032] As is apparent from FIG. 6, the outer jacket wall 4 has a break portion 51. The break portion 51 is configured to be shape-conformed to the sensor 30 or the support member 31 such that the support member 31 can be inserted into the break portion 51 with at least substantially no clearance. When the sensor 30 is inserted into the break portion 51 as shown in FIG. 7 and thus assembled to the operating device 1 for its intended use, the sensors 32 and 33 face the inside 5 of the housing 3 of the housing 3. In particular, the holding structures 47 and 50 project into the inside 5 of the housing. The sensor 30 is attached to the housing 3 by two attachment means 52 configured as screws 52 in this example. As is apparent from FIG. 7, the control device 9 is arranged to cover the sensor 30 when the operating device 1 is assembled for its intended use. The outer jacket wall 53 of the control device housing 54 of the control device 9 has a break portion not visible in FIG. 7, and the sensor 30 is arranged therein. That is, the wiring board 38 directly faces the inside of the control device housing 54. The control device 9 is electrically connected to the wiring board 38 by the contact pads 42. For this purpose, the control device 9 has a number of conductive contact springs corresponding to the number of contact pads 42, and the contact springs are not visible in the drawing. Each contact spring makes contact with a different contact pad 42.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1 Operating device 3 Housing 4 Outer jacket wall 9 Control device 10 Master brake cylinder 12 Transmission 13 Transmission member 20 Pressing force transmission body 24 Input rod 30 Sensor 31 Support member 32 First sensor portion 33 Second sensor portion 34 Frame opening 37 Guide rod 38 Wiring board 41 Receiver coil 42 Contact small plate 45 First transfer member 46 Shape joint 47 Holding structure 48 Second transfer member 49 Shape joint 50 Holding structure 51 Breaking part 54 Control device housing

Claims

1. An operating device for a braking system having an operable master brake cylinder (10), comprising a transmission (12) having a slidably supported transmission member (13), an electric motor (8) for driving the transmission (12), and a slidably supported pressure transmission body (20) coupled to the input rod (24) such that the pressure transmission body (20) is slidable by the input rod (24), wherein the master brake cylinder (10) is operable by sliding of the transmission member (13) and also by sliding of the pressure transmission body (20), and having a sensor (30) having a first sensor portion (32) slidable with the pressure transmission body (20) and a second sensor portion (33) slidable with the transmission member (13), in the operating device, characterized in that the first and second sensor portions (32, 33) are slidably supported on a common support member (31) of the sensor (30).

2. The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support member (31) is configured in a frame shape, and the first and second sensor portions (32, 33) are slidably supported at a frame opening (34) of the support member (31).

3. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one guide rod (37) is attached to the support member (31), and the first and second sensor portions (32, 33) are slidably supported by the guide rod (37).

4. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first and second sensor portions (32, 33) are supported on the support member (31) in a front - rear relationship in the sliding direction.

5. The operating device (1) has a housing (3), in which the transmission member (13) and the pressing force transmission body (20) are at least partially arranged, and the sensor (30) is detachably attached to the housing (3), in particular. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The sensor (30) is inserted into a breakage part (51) of an outer jacket wall (4) of the housing (3). The operating device according to claim 5.

7. A first follower member (45) is attached to the pressing force transmission body (20), and the first follower member (45) is coupled to the first sensor part (32) by a form fit (46), and / or a second follower member (48) is attached to the transmission member (13), and the second follower member (48) is coupled to the second sensor part (33) by a form fit (49). The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The first follower member (45) cooperates with a fork-shaped holding structure (47) of the first sensor part (32) to form the form fit (46), and / or the second follower member (48) cooperates with a fork-shaped holding structure (50) of the second sensor part (33) to form the form fit (49). The operating device according to claim 7.

9. The first follower member (45) is attached to the first sensor part (32) by a particularly detachable locking connection or a particularly detachable clamping connection (46), and / or the second follower member (48) is attached to the second sensor part (33) by a particularly detachable locking connection or a particularly detachable clamping connection (49). The operating device according to any one of claims 7 and 8.

10. The sensor (30) has a wiring board (38) attached to the support member (31), and at least one receiving coil (41) is configured thereon. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that.

11. The wiring board (38) has at least one conductive contact plate (42) for electrical contact with the control device (9). The operating device according to claim 12, characterized in that.

12. The first sensor portion (32) has a conductive material and is arranged such that the voltage of the receiving coil (41) can be affected by the sliding position of the first sensor portion (32), and / or the second sensor portion (33) has a conductive material and is arranged such that the voltage of the receiving coil (41) can be affected by the sliding position of the second sensor portion (33). The operating device according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that.

13. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it has the control device (9) arranged in the housing (3) of the operating device (1) so that the control device (9) covers the sensor (30).

14. The control device (9) has a control device housing (54), and the sensor (30) is arranged at a break portion of the outer wall of the control device housing (54). The operating device according to claim 13, characterized in that.

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