Brake Assembly Damping Element for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brake devices without vacuum boosters have low self-damping, leading to high-speed return of the cylinder piston and actuating rod, resulting in annoying noise due to hard mechanical impact when the brake pedal is released quickly.

Innovation Solution

A damping element with reversible deformation is introduced to mechanically decouple the actuating rod unit from the cylinder piston in the release direction, allowing for controlled energy dissipation and reduced noise through axial deformation, which can be implemented using elastomeric or metallic materials, and secured within the cylinder piston for space efficiency and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a mechanical stop is provided to define the zero point for position detection, then the zero point detection accuracy is improved, but the noise emissions during rapid return stroke increase due to hard mechanical impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezero point detection accuracyVSAvoidnoise emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the actuating rod unit and the cylinder piston. This damping element absorbs the impact energy during rapid return stroke, preventing direct hard mechanical impact between the actuating rod unit and the mechanical stop, thereby reducing noise emissions while maintaining zero point detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping element is pre-installed in the cylinder piston to provide cushioning before the actuating rod unit returns. This beforehand cushioning prepares the system to absorb impact energy during rapid return stroke, preventing noisy mechanical impact while preserving the mechanical stop's function for zero point definition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Device complexity

If the actuating rod unit is rigidly connected to the cylinder piston, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the noise emissions increase due to inability to dissipate impact energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidnoise emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the actuating rod unit and the cylinder piston is segmented into two functional parts: a rigid connection for normal operation and a damping element for impact absorption. This segmentation allows the system to maintain structural simplicity while adding noise reduction capability through the separable damping function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a damping element is introduced to reduce noise, then the noise emissions are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element is merged into the existing cylinder piston structure, utilizing the piston's internal space and integration capabilities. This merging approach incorporates the noise reduction function without requiring separate external damping components, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping element serves multiple functions: it absorbs impact energy during rapid return stroke, defines the mechanical zero position, and provides a reference point for position detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, offsetting the complexity increase with functional consolidation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 damping element effectively reduces noise emissions by dissipating energy as heat, maintaining the zero position accuracy and simplifying the detection of the zero point, while minimizing the number of components and assembly complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a damping element (7) connected between the actuating rod unit (6) and the cylinder piston (4), which can be reversibly deformed by building up a prestressing force and which deforms in the axial direction only when the cylinder piston (4) moves in the release direction (L)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Due to the deformation of the damping element (7), the forces introduced therein are partially converted into heat and passed on to the cylinder piston (4) and the housing (2) only to a reduced extent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy dissipation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3515766B1Brake assembly for a vehicle hydraulic brake system
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP3515766B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3515766B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a brake device (1) for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system without a vacuum booster, comprising a housing (2) with at least one pressure chamber (3) arranged therein, comprising a cylinder piston (4) which can be axially moved in an actuation direction (B) by means of an actuation rod unit (6) coupled to the cylinder piston (4) in order to generate brake pressure, wherein a rigid stop (14) is provided for the cylinder piston (4) which defines the unactuated starting position of the cylinder piston (4). In order to provide an improved brake device (1) of the above-mentioned type, which permits simple and reliable detection of the zero point, and simultaneously has reduced noise emission in the return, according to the invention, a damping element (7) is provided which permits a mechanical decoupling of the actuation rod unit (6) from the cylinder piston (4) in a release direction (L) opposite the actuation direction (B) by means of a reversible deformation.