Hydraulic brake distributor for motorcycles

Abstract

A hydraulic brake distributor for a motorcycle includes an outer body (11) that defines an internal cavity (12) that houses two movable piston valve elements (30, 40) that are axially movable and telescopically coupled to one another. One of the two piston valve elements (30) has an internal through channel (31).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydraulic brake distributor for two-wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, etc., that can benefit from combined braking. [Background technology]

[0002] A combined (or integral) brake system is known for motorcycles that can distribute the brake force (braking force) to the front and rear wheels simultaneously. Instead of assigning the operation of the front and rear brakes to two separate controls, the combined brake system operates the front and rear brakes simultaneously with one control.

[0003] Patent publication CN102582759B discloses a combined brake system (or integral brake system) consisting of a hydraulic brake distributor having an outer body consisting of two inlets and two outlets for brake fluid. Each of the two inlets is associated with an associated brake control in actuation, and the two outlets are connected in fluid communication with the front wheel brake and the rear wheel brake, respectively. A cylindrical cavity is formed inside the actuator body, which is in communication with the outlet and the inlet. A single piston valve element with a sealing gasket acting on the inner wall of the cylindrical cavity is axially movable within the cylindrical cavity. Activation of a first of the two brake controls causes the valve element to move, resulting in the flow of brake fluid to both the front and rear brakes simultaneously. Activation of the second brake control causes the flow of brake fluid to only one of the brakes, either the front or the rear.

[0004] Patent document CN102745293A discloses a combined brake system comprising a hydraulic brake distributor having an outer body forming a cylindrical cavity communicating with two outlets and two inlets for brake fluid. Two independent valve elements are axially movably mounted in the cylindrical cavity, axially aligned and axially movable in the cavity. The valve elements are provided with a sealing gasket acting on the inner wall of the cylindrical cavity. Activation of a first of the two brake controls causes brake fluid to flow into the cylindrical cavity from an inlet located at an intermediate position between the two piston valve elements. Activation of the first brake control causes both piston valves to move, resulting in brake fluid flowing simultaneously towards both the front and rear brakes. Activation of the second brake control causes brake fluid to flow only to either the front or the rear brake. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic distributor that can apply combined brakes simultaneously to both the front and rear wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle regardless of which brake control is activated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above mentioned objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages which will be better understood hereinafter, are achieved according to one aspect of the present invention by a hydraulic brake distributor having the characteristics defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the distributor are defined in the dependent claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] Some preferred, but non-limiting, embodiments of a hydraulic brake distributor according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section view of a brake distributor in three different operating positions. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal section view of the brake distributor in three different operating positions. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal section view of the brake distributor in three different operating positions. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a distributor taken along a cross section perpendicular to FIGS. 1-3, showing the unlocked state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a distributor taken along a cross section perpendicular to FIGS. 1-3, showing the locked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] 1-3, reference numeral 11 generally designates an outer body of a hydraulic distributor 10 for a combined braking system of a two-wheeled vehicle. The body 11 defines a central longitudinal axis x and has an internal cavity 12 extending in a direction defined herein as longitudinal or axial. As used herein, directional terms and phrases such as "longitudinal" or "axial" and "lateral" or "radial" should be construed as referring to the longitudinal axis x of the distributor body.

[0009] The internal cavity 12 accommodates two axially movable piston valve elements 30, 40. The two piston valve elements 30, 40 are movably connected to each other so as to be able to slide telescopically in the axial direction. As a result of the telescopic connection, the first piston valve element 30 may also be defined as an outer tubular piston valve element, while the second piston valve element 40 may also be defined as an inner piston valve element.

[0010] Overall, the body 11 may have a generally cylindrical shape, extending axially and having two opposite axial ends, in this case defined as the left-hand end and the right-hand end with reference to the figures. For construction reasons, the body 11 is preferably constituted by a body having a substantially tubular shape with an axial end (on the right in the figures) closed by a lateral wall 22 and an opposite axial end (on the left) having an opening 23 hermetically sealed by a plug 13.

[0011] The body 11 comprises a first inlet 14 hydraulically connectable to a first brake control (not shown) of the vehicle and at least one second inlet 15 hydraulically connectable to a second brake control (not shown) of the vehicle. The first inlet 14 comprises at least one inlet hole and an inlet connector 16. More inlet holes 14, for example in the same radial plane (perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 1), may be provided connected to one single connector. Similarly, the second inlet 15 comprises one or more inlet holes and an inlet connector 17.

[0012] The body 11 is also formed with a first outlet 18 hydraulically connectable to a front brake (not shown) of the vehicle, and a second outlet 19 hydraulically connectable to a rear brake (not shown) of the vehicle. Reference numerals 20, 21 denote connectors for the respective outlet holes 18, 19. In general, the brake control that delivers brake fluid to the inlets 14, 15 may be a manually operated lever located on the handlebar of the two-wheeled vehicle, or may be a pedal operated. The specific type of brake control and its location on the two-wheeled vehicle are not considered limiting aspects for the practice of the present invention.

[0013] The interior of the distributor body 11 defines two non-communicating hydraulic chambers 48, 49. The first hydraulic chamber 48 communicates with the first inlet 14 and the first outlet 18 and is bounded by the first section 12a of the internal cavity 12 and the first piston valve element 30. The second hydraulic chamber 49 communicates with the second inlet 15 and the second outlet 19 and is bounded by the second section 12b of the internal cavity 12 and the second piston valve element 40.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the internal cavity 12 has a cavity section 12a having a larger diameter and a cavity section 12b having a smaller diameter, with a radial shoulder 12c between the cavity sections 12a and 12b.

[0015] For assembly reasons, the cavity section 12a having the larger diameter preferably forms the left end opening 23 of the body 11 which receives the plug 13, and the cavity section 12b having the smaller diameter forms the rear lateral wall 22 at the end opposite the left end opening 23 (right side).

[0016] The piston valve element 30 is slidably mounted in the large diameter cavity section 12a and has an axially extending internal through channel 31. The piston valve element 30 defines a large diameter portion 32 which slidably engages the large diameter cavity section 12a and forms a cylindrical cup in this example, and defines a shank portion 33 opposite the plug 13.

[0017] The internal channel 31 opens to partially receive an end or head 41 of a piston valve element 40 forming a cylindrical seat 34 in the large diameter portion 32 .

[0018] The piston valve element 30 has two sliding contact type sealing gaskets 36, 37 mounted thereon for sliding contact against the cylindrical surface of the large diameter cavity section 12a.

[0019] No. 1Large diameter portion of piston valve element 30 32 A first sliding contact type seal gasket 36 is attached to the inner wall of ... Second Facing the piston valve element 40 No. 1 Proximate the end of the piston valve element 30 No. 1 A static gasket, such as an O-ring gasket, is received in an annular groove 38 on the piston valve element 30 .

[0020] A second sliding contact type sealing gasket 37 is attached to the piston valve element 30 so as to be axially spaced from the first sealing gasket 36 and proximate the left end of the cavity. The sealing gasket 37 has a flexible conical lip 39 that flares radially outwardly toward the left end of the cavity 12.

[0021] A piston valve element 30; Hydraulic distributor Between the main body of 10, in this example the plug of the main body, No. 1 The piston valve element 30 internal Towards the opposite end of cavity 12 Second A resilient contrast element 50 is disposed to axially bias the piston valve element 40. The resilient element 50 is preferably No. 1 It is in the form of a helical compression spring attached to the shank portion 33 of the piston valve element 30 .

[0022] The piston valve element 30 is axially movable inside the cavity section 12a between a passive position (Figure 2) in which the elastic element 50 is extended and the piston valve element 30 abuts against the shoulder 12c, and an active position (Figure 3) in which the spring is elastically compressed and the piston valve element 30 abuts against the left rear wall of the body 11, and in particular against the plug 13. Figure 1 shows the unbraked situation in which the piston valve element 30 is in an intermediate equilibrium position between the two opposite passive and active positions mentioned above.

[0023] A piston valve element 40 is slidably mounted in the smaller diameter cavity section 12b and an end portion or head 41 is shaped and sized substantially sufficient to enable the head 41 to be sealably received in the cylindrical seat 34. The end head 41 and the cylindrical seat 34 preferably have correspondingly substantially matching shapes and sizes. A sealing gasket 42 is mounted on the head portion 41 for slidably engaging the cylindrical seat 34.

[0024] The end portion 41 of the second piston valve element and the cylindrical seat 34 of the first piston valve element together define an axially expandable hydraulic chamber 44 which communicates with a first hydraulic chamber 48 .

[0025] The second piston valve element 40 is fitted with two sliding contact type sealing gaskets 43, 45 for sliding against the cylindrical surface of the cavity section 12b having a smaller diameter. The first sliding contact sealing gasket 43, preferably a static O-ring gasket, is received in an annular groove 46 on the piston valve element 40.

[0026] A second sliding contact type sealing gasket 45 is attached to the piston valve element 40 so as to be axially spaced from the first sealing gasket 43 and proximate the right end of the internal cavity 12. The sealing gasket 45 has a flexible conical lip 47 that flares radially outwardly toward the right end of the internal cavity 12.

[0027] Second A piston valve element 40; Hydraulic distributor Between the main body of 10, in this example the rear side wall 22, Second The piston valve element 40 internal A resilient contrast element 51 is positioned to bias axially towards the opposite end of cavity 12 and towards first piston valve element 30. Resilient element 51 is preferably in the form of a helical compression spring attached to second piston valve element 40.

[0028] The second piston valve element 40 is axially movable within the cavity section 12b between a passive position (FIG. 3) in which the spring 51 is extended and the second piston valve element 40 abuts against the first piston valve element 30 (and thereby abuts against the terminal plug 13) and an active position (FIG. 2) in which the spring 51 is compressed and the piston valve element 40 abuts against the right rear lateral wall 22 of the body 11.

[0029] The operation of the brake distributor is as follows: When a two-wheeled vehicle incorporating the brake distributor is moving and the brakes are not applied to the vehicle, the distributor is in the state shown in FIG.

[0030] In the unbraked state (FIG. 1), the piston valve element 30 and the piston valve element 40 are in an intermediate equilibrium position between the two opposite passive and active positions described above. In the unbraked state, the two springs 50, 51 are in equilibrium with respect to each other and keep the piston valve elements 30, 40 biased only one against each other. The axially expandable hydraulic chamber 44 has a minimum volume.

[0031] As a result of a command given to a first brake control, for example by actuating a first manual control lever (not shown) of the brakes mounted on the handlebars of the vehicle and associated with a brake pump (not shown), brake fluid is admitted from a first inlet 14 (FIG. 2) to a first hydraulic chamber 48.

[0032] When brake fluid enters through the inlet 14, a part of the brake fluid that has entered the first hydraulic chamber 48 passes through said chamber and leaves directly through the outlet 18, actuating the rear brake. When the pressure in the first hydraulic chamber 48 increases, the first piston valve element 30 moves to the right and abuts against the shoulder 12c. At the same time, a part of the brake fluid in the first hydraulic chamber 48 passes through the internal channel 31 and reaches the cylindrical seat 34, expanding the expandable hydraulic chamber 44 and moving the second piston valve element 40 to the right. The gasket 42 acting between the two piston valve elements 30, 40 prevents the brake fluid in the circuit of the front brake from mixing with the brake fluid in the circuit of the rear brake. The movement of the second piston valve element 40 to the right increases the pressure of the brake fluid present in the second hydraulic chamber 49, which results in the flow of brake fluid from the outlet 19 towards the rear brake. By moving to the right, the second piston valve element 40 can bring the gasket 47 to a position further to the right of the inlet 15 to prevent brake fluid from flowing back into the inlet 15 of the second hydraulic chamber 49 .

[0033] By actuating a second brake control, for example a second manual control lever (not shown) of the brake mounted on the vehicle handlebars and associated with a brake pump (not shown), brake fluid is admitted from the second inlet 15 to the second hydraulic chamber 49 (FIG. 3).

[0034] When brake fluid arrives from inlet 15 (FIG. 3), some of the brake fluid passes through second hydraulic chamber 49 and directly out outlet 19, thereby actuating the front brakes. The pressure of the brake fluid in the second hydraulic chamber increases. The second piston valve element 40 moves to the left, which in turn pushes the first piston valve element 30 to the left. The movement of the first piston valve element 30 to the left positions the gasket 37 to the left of the inlet 14, preventing backflow of brake fluid into the inlet 14 of the first hydraulic chamber 48.

[0035] When both the first and second brake controls are activated, the two flows of brake fluid from the inlets 14, 15 pass through the respective chambers 48, 49 and emerge towards the respective outlets 18, 19, substantially in accordance with the conventional design of non-combined brake systems. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the two piston valve elements 30, 40 are substantially in equilibrium.

[0036] If one of the two brake controls is activated while the other control is already activated, the flow of brake fluid resulting from the activation of the second control is made possible by the flexibility of the gaskets 37 and 45. For example, when controlling the flow of brake fluid when the piston valve elements 30, 40 are in the position moved to the right (FIG. 2), the introduction of brake fluid from the hole 15 is made possible by the flexibility of the conical lip 47 of the gasket 45, which is inclined in the radially outward and axially outward directions, i.e. towards the end of the cavity in which the gasket 47 is located. The second piston valve element 40 is in fact positioned such that the inlet 15 is located between the static gasket 43 and the sealing gasket 45 with the flexible lip 47. A similar behavior is also observed when the pressure of the brake fluid delivered by one brake control is greater than the pressure of the brake fluid delivered simultaneously by the other control. For example, if the pressure of the fluid reaching the second hydraulic chamber 49 is greater than the pressure in the first hydraulic chamber 48, then both piston valve elements 30, 40 will move to the left, thereby allowing fluid to flow to both rear brakes as a result of the flexibility of the lip 39 of the gasket 37.

[0037] The distribution of the braking force between the front and rear wheels can be varied by selecting elastic elements 50, 51 of different strengths and / or by appropriately dimensioning the diameters of the hydraulic chambers 48, 49, i.e. their cross-sectional areas. For example, a smaller diameter of one hydraulic chamber, while admitting the same amount of brake fluid, will result in a larger linear piston movement and a weaker thrust, due to the smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the hydraulic chamber.

[0038] In some embodiments, when combined braking is not desired, Hydraulic distributor In order to selectively isolate the behavior of Hydraulic distributor 4 and 5, a latch lock element 60 extending radially relative to the longitudinal or axial movement of the piston valve elements 30, 40 may be provided. Hydraulic distributor The second piston valve element 40 is mounted in a substantially central axial position on the main body 11 of the piston valve element 40. A latch lock element 60 is adapted to be mounted in a further radially inward position or to be engaged in a (preferably annular) radial recess 61 in the second piston valve element 40, thereby locking it against axial movement. Hydraulic distributor In the locked position (FIG. 5), both inlets 14, 15 of the hydraulic chambers 48, 49 are in direct fluid communication with the respective outlets 18, 19 in accordance with a non-combined brake arrangement.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the radial movement of the latch-lock element 60 may be controlled by a knob 62 .

[0040] The radial locking recess 61 is advantageously arranged in a dry zone between the sealing gasket 43 and the sealing gasket 36, where the brake fluid of the front and rear brake circuits may not reach.

[0041] Although various aspects and embodiments of the brake distributor have been described, it is understood that each embodiment can be combined with any other embodiment. Moreover, the details of the embodiment and construction can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hydraulic brake distributor (10) for a two-wheeled vehicle, At least one first inlet (14) hydraulically connectable to a first brake control of the vehicle; At least one second inlet (15) hydraulically connectable to a second brake control of the vehicle; At least one first outlet (18) hydraulically connectable to a front brake of the vehicle; At least one second outlet (19) hydraulically connectable to a rear brake of the vehicle; an internal cavity (12) extending axially and defining two opposing axial ends; An outer body (11) forming a first piston valve element and a second piston valve element (30, 40) telescopically and slidably connected to each other and axially movable within said internal cavity (12), a first piston valve element (30) having an axially extending internal through channel (31) and a cylindrical seat (34) at one end thereof, the cylindrical seat (34) communicating with the axially extending internal through channel (31) and opening towards the second piston valve element (40); a second piston valve element (40) having an end (41) in slidable sealing engagement with the cylindrical seat (34) of the first piston valve element (30) and defining an axially expandable hydraulic chamber (44) therewith; a first elastic element (50) axially biasing the first piston valve element (30) towards the second piston valve element (40) and away from a first axial end of the internal cavity (12), and a second elastic element (51) axially biasing the second piston valve element (40) towards the first piston valve element (30) and away from a second axial end of the internal cavity (12); a first pair of axially spaced apart sealing gaskets (36, 37) attached to said first piston valve element (30) and in sliding contact and engagement with a first cylindrical section (12a) of said internal cavity (12); a second pair of axially spaced apart sealing gaskets (43, 45) attached to the second piston valve element (40) and engaging in sliding contact against the second cylindrical section (12b) of the internal cavity (12); two non-communicating hydraulic chambers (48, 49) defined within said internal cavity (12), a first hydraulic chamber (48) in communication with the at least one first inlet (14) and the at least one first outlet (18), the first hydraulic chamber (48) being bounded by the first section (12a) of the internal cavity (12) and the first piston valve element (30) and in communication with an axially expandable hydraulic chamber (44) through the axially extending internal through channel (31); and a second hydraulic chamber (49) in communication with said at least one second inlet (15) and said at least one second outlet and defined by said second cylindrical section (12b) of said internal cavity and said second piston valve element (40); A hydraulic brake distributor (10) for a two-wheeled vehicle comprising:

2. 2. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical section (12a) of the internal cavity (12) is of a larger diameter than the second cylindrical section (12b) of the internal cavity.

3. 3. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 2, wherein the internal cavity (12) includes a radial shoulder (12c) between the first cylindrical section (12a) and the second cylindrical section (12b).

4. 3. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 2, wherein the first large diameter cylindrical section (12a) forms an end opening (23) of the outer body (11) closed by a plug (13).

5. The first pair of sealing gaskets (36, 37) on the first piston valve element (30) a first sealing gasket (36) mounted adjacent an end of the first piston valve element (30) facing the second piston valve element (40); a second sealing gasket (37) axially spaced from the first sealing gasket (36) toward a first axial end of the internal cavity (12) and having a flexible conical lip (39) flaring radially outwardly toward the first axial end of the internal cavity (12); The hydraulic brake distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

6. 6. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 5, wherein said first seal gasket (36) is an O-ring seal gasket.

7. The first piston valve element (30) a large diameter portion (32) in the form of a cylindrical cup providing said cylindrical seat (34); a shank portion (33) in which the axially extending internal through channel (31) is formed; The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 1 .

8. The second pair of axially spaced apart sealing gaskets (43, 45) on the second piston valve element (40) include a first sealing gasket (43) proximate to the first piston valve element (30); a second sealing gasket (45) axially spaced from the first sealing gasket (43) toward the second axial end of the internal cavity (12) and having a flexible conical lip (47) flaring radially outwardly toward the second axial end of the internal cavity (12); The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 1 .

9. 9. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 8, wherein the first seal gasket (43) is an O-ring seal gasket.

10. A lock mechanism is provided for selectively blocking the operation of the hydraulic brake distributor. The locking mechanism includes: A laterally adjustable locking element (60), 2. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 1, having a disengaged position radially spaced from the first and second piston valve elements (30, 40) and a radially engaged position within a radial recess (61) of one (40) of the first and second piston valve elements (30, 40).

11. 11. The hydraulic brake distributor according to claim 10, wherein the radial recess (61) is formed as an annular groove.

12. 12. The hydraulic brake distributor of claim 1, wherein a sealing gasket (42) is attached to an end (41) of the second piston valve element (40) for slidably engaging the cylindrical seat (34) of the first piston valve element (30).

13. an end portion of the second piston valve element carrying a sealing gasket which slidably engages a cylindrical seat within the first piston valve element; The radial recess (61) is located on the second piston valve element (40) in a dry area not reached by brake fluid; one of the first pair of axially spaced sealing gaskets (36, 37) of the first piston valve element (30) and the sealing gasket (42) of the cylindrical seat (34); a second pair of axially spaced apart sealing gaskets (43, 45) on opposite sides of the second piston valve element (40); 13. The hydraulic brake distributor according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the hydraulic brake distributor is disposed between

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