Master Cylinder Reservoir Layout Asymmetry
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing master cylinder apparatuses for vehicle brake systems have limited flexibility in layout due to the complex shape requirements needed to accommodate a reservoir without compromising space around the base body, restricting the installation freedom and efficient use of available space.
Innovation Solution
The master cylinder apparatus features a reservoir with a fluid supply hole connected to the master cylinder, where the reservoir's union port is positioned off-center relative to the master-cylinder hole, allowing for a simpler shape and increased lateral space utilization, and includes a communication hole that facilitates easy formation and placement, thereby enhancing installation flexibility and cable management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reservoir is mounted by forming its shape to avoid a housing of an ECU mounted on a master cylinder, then the reservoir can be positioned on the base body, but the shape of the reservoir becomes complicated and the layout properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies asymmetry by positioning the reservoir union port off-center relative to the master-cylinder hole. Specifically, the reservoir union port is positioned on one side of the base body while the master-cylinder hole remains centrally located. This asymmetric arrangement allows the reservoir to be mounted on the base body without requiring complicated shaping to avoid the ECU housing, thereby simplifying the reservoir shape while maintaining layout freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes dimensional arrangement by establishing a specific spatial relationship between the reservoir union port and master-cylinder hole through offset positioning. The reservoir union port is positioned at a location that is laterally displaced from the master-cylinder hole, creating effective use of three-dimensional space around the base body. This dimensional arrangement enables simple reservoir shaping while ensuring proper mounting and cable routing space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reservoir is positioned to ensure large lateral space, then the degree of freedom of layout increases, but the communication between reservoir union port and master cylinder hole becomes more difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dimensional positioning by offsetting the reservoir union port from the master-cylinder hole in a lateral direction. This spatial arrangement ensures that the reservoir is positioned on one side of the base body, creating large lateral space on the other side for cable routing and ECU mounting. The communication hole is then formed connecting these two offset positions, achieving both layout freedom and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating different functional zones in the base body: the reservoir union port area on one side for fluid supply, the master-cylinder hole area for piston operation, and the lateral space for cable routing. The communication hole is locally positioned to connect the reservoir union port to the master cylinder hole while maintaining the off-center arrangement that provides lateral clearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the center axis of the reservoir union port overlaps with the master-cylinder hole, then the communication hole can be formed in the axial direction, but the lateral space utilization around the base body is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention deliberately introduces asymmetry by positioning the reservoir union port off-center relative to the master-cylinder hole. The center axis of the reservoir union port does not overlap with the center axis of the master-cylinder hole, but is instead offset to one side. This asymmetric positioning maximizes lateral space utilization around the base body while the communication hole connects these offset positions through the base body thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
A master cylinder apparatus A1 includes a master cylinder 1 and a reservoir 3. The master cylinder 1 transduces an input to a brake operator into a brake fluid pressure. The reservoir 3 includes a fluid supply hole 3a that is connected to the master cylinder 1. A base body 10 of the master cylinder 1 includes a first cylinder hole 11a into which a piston is inserted, a reservoir union port 13a to which the fluid supply hole 3a is connected, and a communication hole 13d. The communication hole 13d has one end opening in a bottom surface of the reservoir union port 13a, and the other end opening in an inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder hole 11a. A center axis O3 of the reservoir union port 13a passes through a position being apart from a center axis O1 of the first cylinder hole 11a.