Ball Screw Braking Device Solid Spindle Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake devices for hydraulic motor vehicle brake systems are complex, expensive to produce, and heavy due to the need for a large-diameter piston rod and hollow spindle, while also requiring direct driver intervention in case of failures, which complicates the design and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A brake device with a ball screw having an outer pot with external teeth driven by a belt or gear drive, where the ball screw nut is secured against rotation and has a non-round outer contour, allowing direct driver intervention without a cost-intensive hollow spindle, using a lighter solid spindle and adjustable spring elements for haptic feedback, and incorporating a sensor device for position detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hollow spindle with a long piston rod is used to allow direct driver access to the cylinder piston, then direct driver intervention is enabled, but the radial expansion, weight, and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect driver accessVSAvoidweight of amplifier stage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the functions of the spindle: the solid spindle only transmits force, while a separate piston rod (extending through the amplifier housing) provides direct driver access. This segmentation eliminates the need for a hollow spindle, reducing weight and manufacturing cost while maintaining both amplification and direct access capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The piston rod acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the driver's pedal input and the cylinder piston, allowing direct force transmission without requiring the spindle to be hollow. The reaction force is transmitted through this intermediary structure, enabling direct driver intervention while using a simpler solid spindle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a hollow spindle is used to allow direct driver access, then driver intervention is possible, but manufacturing cost increases due to the complexity of manufacturing hollow spindles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect driver accessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the force transmission function from the access function: the solid spindle handles force transmission from the ball screw mechanism, while a separate piston rod provides the access path for direct driver intervention. This segmentation uses standard solid shaft manufacturing processes, eliminating the costly hollow spindle manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the expensive hollow spindle with a combination of a simple solid spindle and a separate piston rod, using cheaper, easier-to-manufacture components that achieve the same functional result

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If a large outer diameter piston rod is used to ensure sufficient rigidity, then rigidity is improved, but the radial expansion increases, increasing the size of the hollow spindle and overall dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigidity of piston rodVSAvoidradial expansion of amplifier stage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the rigid force transmission function (handled by the solid spindle with adequate diameter for rigidity) from the access function (handled by the piston rod). This allows the solid spindle to be optimized for rigidity without the constraint of needing to accommodate a hollow passage, reducing the required radial space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention resolves the spatial conflict by extending the piston rod axially through the amplifier housing rather than requiring radial space for a hollow spindle. This dimensional reorganization allows the solid spindle to maintain necessary rigidity with smaller radial dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces the radial expansion and weight of the amplifier stage, allows for cost-effective and adaptable haptic feedback, and simplifies the design by eliminating the need for a hollow spindle, enabling efficient and direct driver intervention while maintaining comfortable pedal feedback.

Implementation Method 1

A braking device with a ball screw drive is known from DE 10 2008 038 320 A1. The amplifying force is introduced into the cylinder piston by a hollow spindle of the ball screw drive.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The amplifier stage is driven by a drive unit with a rotating drive shaft and uses a ball screw drive to convert the rotary motion of the drive shaft into a translational motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall screw drive: Screw

Implementation Method 3

the ball screw drive has an outer pot with external teeth, which is set in rotation by the drive unit via the external teeth - for example by means of a belt drive or gear drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBelt drive:

Implementation Method 4

the ball screw drive has an outer pot with external teeth, which is set in rotation by the drive unit via the external teeth - for example by means of a belt drive or gear drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear drive: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3455112B1Braking device for a hydraulic motor vehicle braking system having a ball screw drive
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP3455112B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3455112B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3455112B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a braking device (1) for a hydraulic motor vehicle braking system having an electromagnetically driven amplifier stage (2) and a ball screw drive (5). In order to provide a braking device (1) that is particularly compact, cost-effective, and has low weight, short pedal strokes, and an easily adjustable pedal characteristic curve, at the same time enabling effective direct action in case of failure of the amplifier stage and comfortable haptic response on the pedal during normal operation, according to the invention, the actuating force (Fb) from a piston rod (10) is introduced into the spindle (7), wherein the piston rod (10) is movable relative to the spindle (7) in an axially limited manner and a spring element (11) is connected in the flow of force of the actuating force (Fb) between the piston rod (10) and the spindle (7), which is axially compressed upon initiation of the actuating force (Fb).