Handwheel-actuated brake for light vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a handwheel-actuated brake for light vehicles, based on a brake that is activated by means of a braking handwheel (2) located downstream of a steering wheel (1) of the light vehicle, wherein a shaft (10) rotates on steering bearings (14), with a connecting piece (3) being connected to the braking handwheel (2) where the brake is activated, and a rotating piece (4) rotates on said connecting piece (3), a bearing (12) being disposed between the two pieces (3 and 4), said rotating piece (4) being connected to an actuator (7) comprising two screws with anti-friction bushings that allow the transfer of force. The actuator (7) pivots on a pivot shaft (11) located in the body of a brake pump (9), which is anchored to the mounting base (8) which is in turn joined to the chassis.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Steering wheel brake for light vehicles

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a steering wheel brake for light vehicles that is integrated with a traditional automotive steering wheel, for cargo bikes with 3, 4 or more wheels and also light quad bikes, which cannot have brakes on the driver's feet or handlebars like traditional bicycles.

[0005] The braking system developed is for a specific category of vehicles called EPAC, as defined in the EN 15194 standard.

[0006] A major innovation of the system in this patent application is that by applying a force of 180N on the braking system, it allows an EPAC vehicle of 600kg maximum mass moving at 25km / h to achieve a minimum deceleration of 3.4 m / s2.

[0007] Additionally, to optimize the operation of the brake system, we have developed an internal bearing system that reduces friction when the brake is applied, ensuring that the force applied to the brake system is transmitted fully to the brake pump, with minimal friction losses.

[0008] It offers the following technical and ergonomic advantages:

[0009] The system is now more reliable and robust.

[0010] It transmits force better when applied asymmetrically to the steering wheel. 2 It withstands use and wear better.

[0011] It is more resistant to dirt and moisture.

[0012] It's easier to maintain

[0013] Increase maintenance periods.

[0014] It also reduces the total number of parts and the manufacturing cost. The industrial application of this invention lies within the sector of electric-assisted, hand-steered bicycles, and more specifically, bicycles equipped with a hand-brake.

[0015] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0016] There is a national patent application number 202300078 entitled Steering wheel brake system for light vehicles on which internal priority is requested by this application.

[0017] The written opinion considers the patent JP 2009173162 A (KAWAMURA CYCLE KK) 06 / 08 / 2009 to be of particular relevance in determining the lack of inventive activity of said previous patent.

[0018] In said written opinion, the document called D01 discloses (the references in parentheses correspond to D01) a steering wheel brake system for light vehicles (specifically, a bicycle with pedal assist), comprising a traditional steering wheel, a circular brake cam, concentric to the steering wheel and moving parallel to it when actuated, a body where the circular cam is anchored which houses a linear bearing, a shaft where the steering wheel transmits the torque force; a steering column with bearings that allows the rotation of the shaft that transmits the steering torque; actuators that transmit the movement of the brake cam; springs, such that the brake cable is not under tension at rest, so that no unwanted force is applied to the system when the driver does not brake.

[0019] Furthermore, the system in document D01 expressly contemplates the option that the cam has two degrees of freedom with respect to the steering wheel, being able to move axially and also rotate with respect to the steering wheel.

[0020] Thus, it was concluded that document D01 disclosed a bicycle that uses the traditional steering system of cars, keeping the brakes in the area near the hands, and also does not include a system for linking the brakes to the vehicle's pedals. Regarding novelty, the written opinion considers that since none of the prior art documents appear to disclose identically all the technical features of claim 1, independent claim 1, and consequently dependent claims 2-4, would meet the novelty requirement.

[0021] However, with regard to inventive step, it considered that the difference between what was disclosed in document D01, considered the closest prior art document, and claim 1, lay primarily in the fact that the braking system of claim 1 uses a hydraulic activation mechanism. However, this difference is merely an alternative mode of implementation, which does not form part of the essence of the invention, and which would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, independent claim 1 would not meet the inventive step requirement (Art. 8.1 LP 24 / 2015).Note that, in the technical field of brakes for light vehicles, mechanical and hydraulic brake activation mechanisms are well known, and for an expert in the field it would have been obvious to replace the mechanical cable activation mechanism of the brake system of document D01 with a hydraulic activation mechanism as proposed in claim 1.

[0022] In that written opinion it was argued by way of note that although the presence of a body housing an axial bearing was not expressly mentioned in document D01, as seen previously, the option was contemplated that the cam has two degrees of freedom with respect to the flywheel, being able to move axially and also rotate with respect to the flywheel.

[0023] With regard to dependent claims 2-4, in light of the prior art, it is considered that they do not meet the requirements of Article 8.1 of Law 24 / 2015, and therefore, claims 2-4 also fail to meet the inventive step requirement (Article 8.1 of Law 24 / 2015). Note that the technical features of claim 2 are already included in claim 1; that the technical features of claim 3 (grooving) would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art; and that the embodiment of claim 4 is already described in document D01. In conclusion, claims 1-4 meet the requirements of novelty and industrial applicability, but do not meet the inventive step requirement.

[0024] To solve the problem of lack of inventive step, the present invention is requested with internal priority, highlighting the changes made to the invention to meet the inventive step requirement.

[0025] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention of a steering wheel brake for light vehicles is claimed to have improvements in the reduction of the number of components and the simplification of the mechanisms that transmit motion between the bodies, as well as increased reliability and durability against wear or oxidizing agents in the environment such as humidity and salt spray. The description of a preferred embodiment details the number of components that have been reduced, which mechanisms transmitting motion between the bodies have been simplified and how they have been reduced, and which mechanisms have been simplified and how the increased reliability and durability against wear or oxidizing agents in the environment such as humidity and salt spray are achieved, thus obtaining these improvements that differentiate the present invention from the prior Chinese invention.

[0027] The goal is to reduce the likelihood of jamming during prolonged use over time and to use inexpensive, standard bearings available on the market.

[0028] As a safety system designed to reduce vehicle speed, durability and reliability are the primary objectives to maximize, followed by the reduction of complexity and component costs, as described later in the preferred embodiment section.

[0029] Throughout the description and claims, the word "comprises" and its variations are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components, or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent partly from the description and partly from the practice of the invention.

[0030] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] For a better understanding of the present description, drawings are included that represent a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention:

[0032] Figure 1. Side view showing the components.

[0033] Figure 2: Conventional perspective view of a brake flywheel of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 3: Side view in the opposite direction to Figure 1, in which the same components can be seen.

[0035] Figure 4: Conventional perspective view of a brake steering wheel of the present invention, showing a top cross-section view on the steering column axis where the internal components are visible.

[0036] Figure 5: Conventional perspective view of a brake steering wheel of the present invention, showing a cross-sectional view of the steering column axis where the internal components are visible.

[0037] Figure 6: Conventional perspective view of a brake steering wheel of the present invention, showing a side view in section on the axis of the steering column where the internal components are visible.

[0038] Figure 7: Perspective view showing the body (3 and 4) in detail next to the bearing that joins them.

[0039] Figure 8: Conventional perspective view of the brake flywheel of the present invention showing a detail of the assembly, highlighting the option of installing a seal on the joining piece (3) to increase the protection against water and dust of the system if necessary and further increase its service life.

[0040] Figure 9: Cross-sectional view showing the connecting piece (3) and the body (4) together, and the bearings (13) that roll on the mast (10). These are attached to the connecting piece (3) with screws that fit into the bearing shaft.

[0041] Figure 10: Conventional perspective section view of the same joining piece (3) but from a different angle.

[0042] Figure 11: Conventional perspective view of the same joining piece (3) without section.

[0043] The numerical references appearing in these figures correspond to the following constituent elements of the invention:

[0044] 1. Steering wheel

[0045] 2. Brake wheel

[0046] 3. Joining piece

[0047] 4. Rotating part

[0048] 5. Reference number 5 is not found in any of the figures because it refers to a component of the previous patent that no longer exists, and to maintain the correlation of components in this new patent and to facilitate the explanation between these patents

[0049] 6. Reference number 6 is also not found for the same reason.

[0050] 7. Actuator

[0051] 8. Pump mounting base

[0052] 9. Pump

[0053] 10. Mast

[0054] 11. Pivoting steering shaft between the actuator (7) and the pump (9)

[0055] 12. Swivel bearing

[0056] 13. Brake bearings

[0057] 14. Steering bearings

[0058] 15. Pivots DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0059] A preferred embodiment of the steering wheel brake for light vehicles of the present invention, with reference to the numerical references, may be based on a vehicle with a main steering wheel (1) and a brake steering wheel (2) that remain the same as those of the prior patent, while the mast (10) rotates on steering bearings (14), with a connecting piece (3) attached to the second steering wheel (2) where the brake is activated, and the rotating piece (4) rotates on said connecting piece (3), with a bearing (12) between them. These two pieces (3 and 4) have been modified by the bearing (12) between them and because the rotating piece (4) connects to the actuator (7) with two screws with antifriction bushings allowing the transfer of force.

[0060] The actuator (7) pivots on a pivoting shaft (11) located in the brake pump body (9).

[0061] The brake pump (9) is anchored to the mounting base (8) which is attached to the chassis.

[0062] The actuator (7) receives the motion and force from the rotating part (4).

[0063] The rotating part (4) transmits the force to the actuator (7) via 2 screws located at opposite points on the rotating part (4) so ​​that the force is balanced and symmetrical.

[0064] The actuator (7) comprises eyelets that allow the linear displacement of the pivots (15) apart from their rotation necessary to roll through the eyelets and allow displacement on 2 axes of the pivots (15).

[0065] The slewing mast (10) rests on the steering bearings (14)

[0066] A bearing (12) connects the rotating part (4) and the connecting part (3)

[0067] The connecting piece (3) rests on 8 brake bearings (13) although only 4 appear in the cross-section drawing.

[0068] These brake bearings (13) roll smoothly and without bending on the steering mast (10) when the forces on the brake wheel (2) are neither parallel nor symmetrical to the steering mast (10). The actuator (7) has been modified to absorb the functions of the bodies (5 and 6) of the previous patent, its geometry having been changed, housing instead of pin housings, eyelets through which the pivots (15) can move to transfer the movement of the rotating part (4) to the pump (9).

[0069] In the previous patent the steering mast (10) consisted of a tube with two bearings (14) at the ends that held the steering shaft (11), in this case the steering shaft is held inside ball bearings (14) with screw-on bases that are anchored to the vehicle chassis with screws.

[0070] The pivots (15) make the actuator (7) work correctly and simulate the extinct parts 5 and 6.

[0071] The connecting piece (3) houses the brake bearings (13) which allow the brake to work more reliably, preventing seizures between the connecting piece (3) and the mast (10) when they become worn or when dirt or rust appears.

[0072] The brake bearings (13) are sealed and offer greater strength than the previous steering bushings or linear bearings that appeared inside the connecting piece (3)

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles based on a brake that is activated on a brake wheel (2) located after a steering wheel (1) of the light vehicle, characterized in that a mast (10) rotates on steering bearings (14), a connecting piece (3) being attached to the brake wheel (2) where the brake is activated, and on said connecting piece (3) a rotating piece (4) rotates, there being a bearing (12) between both pieces (3 and 4), connecting said rotating piece (4) with an actuator (7) consisting of two screws with anti-friction bushings that allow the transfer of force. 2.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (7) pivots on a pivoting shaft (11) located in the body of a brake pump (9), which is anchored to the clamping base (8) attached to the chassis. 3.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the actuator (7) receives the movement and force from the rotating part (4). 4.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotating piece (4) transmits the force to the actuator (7) by means of two screws located at opposite points of said rotating piece (4) so ​​that the force is balanced and symmetrical. 5.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator (7) comprises eyelets that allow the linear displacement of pivots (15) that rotate through said eyelets. 6.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the turning mast (10) rests on the steering bearings (14). 7.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a bearing (12) joins the rotating piece (4) and the joining piece (3). 8.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting piece (3) rests on 8 brake bearings (13) although in figure 9 in section only 4 appear. 9.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said brake bearings (13) roll on the steering mast (10) smoothly and without bending when the forces on the brake wheel (2) are not parallel or symmetrical to the steering mast (10). 10.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the actuator (7) has been transformed to absorb the functions of the duplicated bodies (5) of the previous patent, having changed its geometry, housing instead of housings for pins, in this case it has eyelets through which the pivots (15) can move to transfer the movement of the rotating part (4) to the pump (9).

11. Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the steering mast (10) which in the previous patent consisted of a tube with two bearings (14) at the ends that held the steering shaft (11), in this instance the steering shaft is supported by means of ball bearings (14) with screw bases that are anchored to the vehicle chassis with screws. 12.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pivots (15) make the actuator (7) work correctly, guaranteeing the transmission of movement. 13.- Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the connecting piece (3) houses the brake bearings (13) which allow the brake to function more reliably, preventing seizures between the connecting piece (3) and the mast (10) when they suffer wear or dirt or rust appears.

14. Steering wheel brake for light vehicles according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the brake bearings (13) are sealed and offer greater resistance than the previous steering bushings or linear bearings that appeared inside the connecting piece (3)

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