Pump Housing of a Hydraulic Assembly Having an Outlet Valve Receiving Means

Abstract

A pump housing of a hydraulic assembly of a vehicle brake system has at least one wheel brake cylinder connection for connecting a wheel brake cylinder to the pump housing, and an outlet valve receiving member associated with the individual wheel brake cylinder connection to receive an outlet valve, which is provided for letting brake fluid out of the wheel brake cylinder into the pump housing. The outlet valve has a valve inlet that can be closed by a closing element with an associated closing force. The outlet valve receiving member has an inlet for letting brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder into the outlet valve. The inlet is adapted for guiding the brake fluid in a flow direction opposite the closing force when letting the brake fluid into the outlet valve, when the outlet valve is received in the outlet valve receiving member.

Claims

1. A pump housing of a hydraulic assembly of a vehicle braking system, the pump housing comprising: at least one wheel brake cylinder connection for connecting a wheel brake cylinder to the pump housing; an outlet valve receiving member at least one wheel brake cylinder connection, the outlet valve receiving member configured to receive for an outlet valve which is provided to discharge brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder into the pump housing and which comprises a valve inlet which is intended configured to be closed with a closure member having an associated closure force, wherein the outlet valve receiving member has an inlet configured for introducing brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder into the outlet valve, and wherein the inlet is configured to guide the brake fluid during introduction into the outlet valve which is directed counter to the closure force when the outlet valve is received in the outlet valve receiving member.

2. The pump housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet valve receiving member has an axis along which the closure force acts when the outlet valve is received in the outlet valve receiving member and the inlet is arranged axially with respect to the axis.

3. The pump housing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the outlet valve, which is received in the outlet valve receiving member and comprises the valve inlet which is closed with the closure member with the associated closure force, the associated closure force is being applied by a resilient element.

4. The pump housing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a motor side configured for arranging a drive motor; and a control device side opposite the motor side and configured for arranging a control device, wherein the inlet is configured such that the flow direction is directed between the motor side and the control device side.

5. The pump housing as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: an inlet valve receiving member associated with the outlet valve receiving member, the inlet valve receiving member configured for receiving an inlet valve that is configured to introduce brake fluid from the pump housing into the wheel brake cylinder, and the inlet valve receiving member has an outlet configured for discharging brake fluid from the inlet valve to the wheel brake cylinder; and a connection line which leads from the outlet of the inlet valve receiving member to the wheel brake cylinder and which is configured such that the inlet valve, when brake fluid is introduced to the wheel brake cylinder, and the outlet valve, when brake fluid is discharged from the wheel brake cylinder, are flowed through in the same flow direction with respect to the axis.

6. The pump housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection line is guided into a region of the outlet valve receiving member facing the wheel brake cylinder.

7. The pump housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection line is guided into a wheel brake cylinder line, which leads from the wheel brake cylinder to the inlet of the outlet valve receiving member.

8. The pump housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection line is configured with a line portion that is oriented obliquely with respect to the axis.

9. The pump housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection line is configured with at least a first line portion and at least a second line portion, wherein the first line portion is guided parallel to the axis and the second line portion is guided at a right-angle with respect to the axis.

10. A vehicle brake system comprising: a hydraulic assembly having a pump housing that comprises: at least one wheel brake cylinder connection for connecting a wheel brake cylinder to the pump housing; an outlet valve receiving member the at least one wheel brake cylinder connection, the outlet valve receiving member configured to receive an outlet valve which is provided to discharge brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder into the pump housing and which comprises a valve inlet which is configured to be closed with a closure member having an associated closure force, wherein the outlet valve receiving member has an inlet configured for introducing brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder into the outlet valve, and wherein the inlet is configured to guide the brake fluid during introduction into the outlet valve in a flow direction which is directed counter to the closure force when the outlet valve is received in the outlet valve receiving member.

Description

[0020] Embodiments of the solution according to the invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a hydraulic plan of a vehicle braking system according to the prior art,

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cut-out of a pump housing of a motor vehicle hydraulic assembly according to the prior art,

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the view according to FIG. 2 of a first embodiment of the pump housing according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic illustration of the first embodiment of the pump housing according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 5 shows the view according to FIG. 4 of a second embodiment of the pump housing according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 6 shows the view according to FIG. 4 of a third embodiment of the pump housing according to the invention, and

[0027] FIG. 7 shows the view according to FIG. 4 of a fourth embodiment of the pump housing according to the invention.

[0028] In this instance, all spatial indications, such as left, right, bottom, top, vertical and horizontal refer to a drawing plane of FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, respectively.

[0029] A vehicle braking system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a brake pedal 12 having a brake force booster 14 and a main cylinder 16 which is connected thereto. The main cylinder 16 is connected to two largely structurally identical brake circuits 18 and 20 which are arranged substantially in a common pump housing 22 of a hydraulic assembly 23 (see in each case as a cut-out in FIG. 2). Only one of these brake circuits, that is to say, the brake circuit 18, will be explained in greater detail below.

[0030] For the brake circuit 18, a line 24 leads from the main cylinder 16 to a high-pressure switching valve 26 and a switching valve 28. A pressure sensor 30 is further connected to the line 24. From the high-pressure switching valve 26, a line 32 leads to the suction side of a pump element 34 and to a non-return valve 36. In this instance, the pump element 34 is coupled to a drive motor 37 so as to transmit force. From the switching valve 28, a line 38 leads to the pressure side of the pump element 34 and to a first inlet valve 40 and a second inlet valve 42. From the non-return valve 36, a line 44 leads to a first outlet valve 46 and a second outlet valve 48. A store 50 is further connected to the line 44. From the first inlet valve 40, a line or wheel brake cylinder line 52 leads by means of a wheel brake cylinder connection 53 to a first wheel brake cylinder 54 and to the first outlet valve 46. From the second inlet valve 42, a line or wheel brake cylinder line 56 leads by means of a wheel brake cylinder connection 57 to a second wheel brake cylinder 58 and to the second outlet valve 48. The inlet valves 40 and 42 and outlet valves 46 and 48 are each protected by a filter element 60 from the introduction of particles to the associated function-relevant components of the valves. The filter elements 60 are located in this instance directly on the valves in each case at the side facing the wheel brake cylinder 54 and 58 in the lines 52 and 56, respectively.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a cut-out of the pump housing 22 of the hydraulic assembly 23 which, as a block-shaped housing or hydraulic block, is formed substantially from one aluminum block in which openings or receiving members are formed by means of drilling or milling. In this instance, for example, only the first inlet valve 40 and the first outlet valve 46 which belong to the first wheel brake cylinder 54 are illustrated. The following explanations apply accordingly to all other inlet valves 42 and associated outlet valves 48 of the hydraulic assembly 23. In this instance, the first inlet valve 40 is referred to below as an inlet valve 40 and the first outlet valve 46 is referred to below as an outlet valve 46.

[0032] The inlet valve 40 is received in a cup-like inlet valve receiving member 62 which is in the form of an inlet valve hole and the outlet valve 46 is received in a cup-like outlet valve receiving member 64 which is in the form of an outlet valve hole. In this instance, the inlet valve receiving member 62 has a longitudinal axis or axis 66, along which the inlet valve 40 is arranged with the longitudinal extent thereof and the outlet valve receiving member 64 has a longitudinal axis or axis 68, along which the outlet valve 46 is arranged with the longitudinal extent thereof.

[0033] Furthermore, the pump housing 22 comprises a motor side 70 for arranging the drive motor 37 and a control device side 72 opposite the motor side 70 on which a control device (Electronic Control Unit (ECU)) which is not illustrated is intended to be arranged. There are provided in the control device side 72 two openings which form the inlet valve receiving member 62 and the outlet valve receiving member 64 whose axes 66 and 68 are orientated parallel with each other and at right-angles with respect to the control device side 72. In addition, there is located to the right on the pump housing 22 another wheel brake cylinder side or side 74 which is not illustrated and in which four wheel brake cylinder openings are provided. The wheel brake cylinder connections 53 and 57 for the wheel brake cylinders 54 and 58 are intended to be received therein in each case. Opposite the side 74 is a side 76 in which two storage openings which are not illustrated for receiving the store 50 are provided.

[0034] There is provided on the inlet valve receiving member 62 at the bottom or on a cup-like base 77 of the inlet valve receiving member 62 or directed toward the motor side 70 an inlet 78 in which the line 38 is guided. Through the inlet 78, brake fluid is guided into the inlet valve 40 through the valve inlet 80 thereof. Furthermore, there is arranged on the inlet valve receiving member 62 laterally at the top or in the direction of the control device side 72 an outlet 82 from which the line 52 leads to the wheel brake cylinder 54.

[0035] From the wheel brake cylinder 54, the line 52 leads into an inlet 84 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 which is arranged laterally at the top or in the direction of the control device side 72 on the outlet valve receiving member 64. Accordingly, there is also arranged on the outlet valve 46 laterally at the top a valve inlet 86 through which by means of the inlet 84 the brake fluid is guided from the line 52 into the outlet valve 46. In order to discharge the brake fluid into the line 44, there is provided on the outlet valve 46 a valve outlet 88 on which an outlet 90 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 is arranged. Both the valve outlet 88 and the outlet 90 are positioned at the bottom or on a cup-like base 91 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 or in the direction of the motor side 70.

[0036] The outlet valve 46 is a solenoid valve which is closed in a current-free manner by means of a mechanical spring or a resilient element 92. With the application of electrical current, the outlet valve 46 can be opened. To this end, the outlet valve 46 comprises a valve tappet 94 which is surrounded by a sleeve 96 and which is resiliently pretensioned by means of the resilient element 92 against a valve seat 98. The resilient element 92 applies a closure force 100 which acts with the force vector thereof along an axis of the outlet valve 46 which in this instance corresponds to the longitudinal axis or axis 68 of the outlet valve receiving member 64. With the closure force 100, a closure member 102 which is coupled to the valve tappet 94 is urged against the valve seat 98. Consequently, the valve inlet 88 or the valve opening which is surrounded by the valve seat 98 is closed. The closure member 102 and the valve tappet 94 can be lifted out of this position off the valve seat 98 by means of an electromagnetic coil which partially surrounds the valve tappet 94 and which is not illustrated in order to provide a flow path through the outlet valve 46. This flow path has a constant opening cross section. Consequently, a brake pressure which is applied to the wheel brake cylinder 54 when brake fluid is discharged from the wheel brake cylinder 54 cannot be reduced in a selectively controlled manner. Instead, overshooting may occur and makes a readjustment using inlet valves 40 which can be controlled in a simple manner necessary. When the magnetic force is switched off, the outlet valve 46 is intended to be closed with the closure force 100 which acts on the closure member 102 by means of the resilient element 92.

[0037] When brake fluid is introduced into the wheel brake cylinder 54, the brake fluid flows from the line 38 in an inlet flow direction 104 through the inlet valve 40. In this instance, the inlet flow direction 104 is determined with the arrangement of the inlet 78 or the valve inlet 80 and the arrangement of the outlet 82 from the motor side 70 to the control device side 72. From the outlet 82, the brake fluid flows horizontally or laterally through the line 52 in the direction of the inlet 84 or the valve inlet 86 of the outlet valve 46. The line 52 acts in this instance as an intermediate connection between the inlet valve receiving member 62 and the outlet valve receiving member 64. When the outlet valve 46 is closed, the brake fluid in this instance flows through the line 52 by means of a branch 105 to the wheel brake cylinder 54 and applies a brake pressure at that location to the associated wheel brake.

[0038] In order to reduce or discharge the brake pressure on the wheel brake cylinder 54 or to discharge the brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder 54, the outlet valve 46 is opened by means of the application of electrical current. The brake fluid then flows from the wheel brake cylinder 54 through the line 52 in an outlet flow direction 106 through the outlet valve 46. In this instance, the outlet flow direction 106 is determined with the arrangement of the inlet 84 or valve inlet 86 and the arrangement of the outlet 90 or valve outlet 88. As a result, the brake fluid flows laterally upward through the inlet 84 or valve inlet 86 of the outlet valve 46 and downward through the valve outlet 88 or outlet 90 into the line 44. The outlet flow direction 106 thus extends with respect to the axis 68 from the control device side 72 to the motor side 70 and consequently counter to the inlet flow direction 104 with respect to the axes 66 or 68. Furthermore, when brake fluid is introduced through the inlet 84 or valve inlet 86 into the outlet valve 46, the brake fluid flows in the outlet flow direction 106 transversely relative to the axis 68 and consequently transversely relative to the closure force 100 which acts by means of the resilient element 92 on the closure member 102. Consequently, the outlet valve 46 cannot be controlled without additional measures, only switched.

[0039] FIGS. 3 to 7 show embodiments of a pump housing 108 which largely has components with identical functions to the pump housing 22. Accordingly, these components are given the same reference numerals.

[0040] In contrast to the pump housing 22, in the pump housing 108 the inlet 84 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 is positioned at the bottom or on the base of the cup-like outlet valve receiving member 64 or in the direction toward the motor side 70. The inlet 84 is in this instance arranged concentrically with respect to the cross section of the outlet valve receiving member 64 and consequently axially with respect to the axis 68. In addition, the inlet 84 is connected to the line 52 in which the brake fluid is guided from the wheel brake cylinder 54 to the outlet valve receiving member 64. Furthermore, in the outlet valve 46 received in the outlet valve receiving member 64, the valve inlet 86 is arranged in accordance with the inlet 84 or on the inlet 84. In a state arranged in this manner, the brake fluid flows when introduced through the valve inlet 86 into the outlet valve 46 along the axis 68 in a flow direction 110 which acts axially counter to the closure force 100. Consequently, the inlet 84 is adapted so that the brake fluid when introduced into the outlet valve 46 is guided so as to act axially counter to the closure force 100 which the resilient element 92 applies to the closure member 102. In this instance, the resilient element 92 is in the form of a helical spring whose spring characteristic line is adapted to discharge the brake pressure in a selectively targeted manner from the wheel brake cylinder 54 by means of the outlet valve 46.

[0041] In order to discharge the brake fluid from the outlet valve 46, the valve outlet 88 and the associated outlet 90 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 is arranged laterally at the top right in the direction toward the control device side 72. Accordingly, the brake fluid flows when discharged from the wheel brake cylinder 54 from the inlet 84 to the outlet 90 in the flow direction 110 or outlet flow direction from the motor side 70 to the control device side 72. In this instance, the flow direction 110 is directed with respect to the axis 68 counter to the closure force 100 during introduction into the outlet valve 46.

[0042] Furthermore, there is provided a connection line 112 or connection hole or a connection channel which leads from the inlet valve receiving member 62 in the direction of the outlet valve receiving member 64. To this end, the connection line 112 leads from the outlet 82 of the inlet valve receiving member 62, which is arranged laterally at the top right or in the direction of the control device side 72, out of the inlet valve 40. In addition, the connection line 112 leads to the wheel brake cylinder 54.

[0043] In a state guided in this manner, when the brake fluid is introduced into the wheel brake cylinder 54, the brake fluid flows through the inlet valve 40 in the inlet flow direction 104 from the motor side 70 to the control device side 72. The brake fluid then flows through the connection line 112 into the wheel brake cylinder 54 and from there through the line 52 through the outlet valve 46 in the outlet flow direction 110 from the motor side 70 to the control device side 72. In this instance, the inlet flow direction 104 and the outlet flow direction 110 are orientated in the same direction at least with respect to the axis 68. Consequently, therefore, the inlet valve 40 and the outlet valve 46 are flowed through by means of the connection line 112 in the same flow direction 104 and 110 with respect to the axis 68.

[0044] To this end, the connection line 112 may have different embodiments which are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 purely schematically and for greater clarity without the outlet valve 40 and inlet valve 46.

[0045] According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection line 112 is configured as a line portion 114 which extends obliquely with respect to the axis 68 of the outlet valve receiving member 64. In this instance, the line portion 114 and the axis 68 define an acute angle 118. In addition, the connection line 112 is guided into a region 116 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 which faces the wheel brake cylinder 54. The region 116 is in this instance arranged at the bottom or on the cup-like base 91. From the region 116, the brake fluid is then directed out of the outlet valve receiving member 64 through the line 52 into the wheel brake cylinder 54 in order to introduce the brake fluid into the wheel brake cylinder 54. In order to discharge the brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder 54, the brake fluid is guided out of the wheel brake cylinder 54 through the same line 52 from the bottom into the outlet valve receiving member 64 and the outlet valve 46 which is arranged therein. Consequently, the connection line 112 is configured as a simple direct oblique hole.

[0046] According to FIG. 5, the connection line 112 is also configured from a line portion 114 which is guided obliquely with respect to the axis 68. In this instance, an acute angle 120 defined between the connection line 112 and the axis 68 is smaller than the acute angle 118. Consequently, the connection line 112 is arranged more steeply than in the embodiment according to FIG. 4. In addition, the connection line 112 is guided at a branch 122 directly into the line 52. Consequently, the connection line 112 is configured as a simple, direct and steeper oblique hole such that the spacing of the inlet valve 40 and the outlet valve 46 is smaller than it can be in the embodiment according to FIG. 4. In this instance, the line 52 is located below the outlet valve receiving member 64 or in the direction toward the motor side 70. Furthermore, the line 52 is in this instance configured as a wheel connection hole or wheel channel.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows the connection line 112 which is configured from the outlet 82 of the inlet valve receiving member 62 with a line portion 114 which is oblique with respect to the axis 68, a first line portion 124 which is arranged parallel with respect to the axis 68 and a second line portion 126 which is arranged at right-angles with respect to the axis 68. In this instance, the second line portion 126 is connected at the branch 122 to the line 52 in a fluid-conducting manner. With respect to FIG. 6, the first line portion 124 extends vertically and the second line portion 126 extends horizontally in this case.

[0048] FIG. 7 shows the connection line 112 which is configured from the outlet 82 with a first horizontal second line portion 126, a vertical first line portion 124 and a second horizontal second line portion 126. In this instance, the second horizontal line portion 126 leads at the branch 122 into the line 52. Furthermore, in this instance, the outlet 82 is directed away from the outlet valve receiving member 64 or arranged on the inlet valve receiving member 62 facing in the direction toward the wheel brake cylinder side 74. Consequently, there is provided between the inlet valve 40 and the outlet valve 46 space in which additional structural elements can be integrated in the pump housing 108, such as, for example, a high-pressure switching valve.

[0049] In this instance, in all the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 to 7, all the line portions 114, 124 and 126 are arranged in a plane and consequently extend in two-dimensional space. In other embodiments which are not illustrated, the line portions 114, 124, 126 extend in three-dimensional space between the outlet 82 and the branch 122 or the region 116.

[0050] In summary, in the pump housing 108 which is configured as a hydraulic block, a bore is changed with particular regard to the connection line 112, the inlet 84 and the outlet 90 of the outlet valve receiving member 64 in such a manner that a simplified and therefore cost-optimized design of a controllable outlet valve 46 is enabled. Additional cost as a result of holes and oblique holes which are required is in this instance easily overcompensated for by the simplified design of the controllable outlet valve 46.