Hydraulic Brake-Clutch Actuation with Direct Idle Stroke Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic actuation devices for vehicle brakes and clutches face challenges in efficiently adjusting the idle stroke, often requiring complex designs that affect kinetic properties and are dependent on other adjustments, such as ratio adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The actuation device incorporates an idle stroke adjustment device with a nut-shaped adjusting body directly connected to the piston, allowing for direct and efficient adjustment of the piston's resting position, independent of other adjustments, and enabling quick replacement of lever assemblies without re-adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stroke free play adjustment device is actuated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of thrust, then the adjustment can be performed indirectly through the control lever assembly, but the kinetic properties of the device are affected and forces are generated in perpendicular directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional adjustment approach by actuating the adjustment device in the same direction as the thrust (longitudinal direction) rather than perpendicular to it. This reversal eliminates perpendicular force components and simplifies the kinetic analysis while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the actuation direction parameter from perpendicular to parallel with the thrust direction. This parameter change optimizes the force transmission path and improves the kinetic properties by eliminating unnecessary perpendicular force components that complicate the device behavior.
2Ease of operation
If the adjustment of the piston position is carried out indirectly through many components, then the stroke free play can be adjusted, but the design and manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the chain of tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adjustment function from the complex indirect mechanism and implements it directly on the piston through a dedicated adjustment device. This extraction eliminates the chain of intermediate components (abutment surface, eccentric rod, portion hub, element for transmitting thrust, push rod seat) and their associated tolerance accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a direct intermediary adjustment device that connects to the piston and enables direct position adjustment. This new intermediary replaces the complex indirect transmission path, reducing the number of components and minimizing the cumulative tolerance effects while maintaining adjustment capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stroke free play adjustment device is located between the control lever assembly and the pump assembly, then the adjustment can be integrated, but the performance depends on the control lever assembly and affects other parameter adjustments such as ratio adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment functions by providing a dedicated idle stroke adjustment device that is independent from the control lever assembly and ratio adjustment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each function to be adjusted independently without affecting the others, reducing interdependence and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal adjustment capability by designing the idle stroke adjustment device to function independently of the control lever assembly. This allows the adjustment device to operate autonomously without being constrained by or affecting other adjustment parameters, providing greater versatility and independence.
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuation device for hydraulically actuating a brake or a clutch of a vehicle, comprising a pump assembly (2) and an idle stroke adjustment device (3). A piston (23) is configured to slide inside a chamber (22) disposed within a pump body (21) along a pump actuating direction (X-X). The piston (23) is at least movable from a resting position (P1) to an operating position (P2), between which is defined a stroke free play (d1). The idle stroke adjustment device (3) comprises an idle stroke adjusting body (31) connected to the piston (23), movable along an idle stroke adjusting direction (X'-X') which is parallel to the pump actuating direction (X-X), wherein the movement of the idle stroke adjusting body (31) along the idle stroke adjusting direction (X'-X') causes the movement of the piston (23) along the pump actuating direction (X-X) to increase or decrease the stroke free play (d1).