Brake fluid reservoir for a hydraulic brake actuator of vehicles

Abstract

A brake fluid reservoir for a hydraulic brake actuator of vehicles, which is coupled at its lower base to the upper side of the hydraulic module of the hydraulic brake actuator. The reservoir includes at its lower base a mechanical anchor, which fastens it to the hydraulic module and includes a single anchoring point, which is centered at the lower base of the reservoir in the longitudinal direction. The reservoir also includes several connecting nipples, which may be connected to the hydraulic module with the aid of sealing washers, which generate a torque on the reservoir in relation to the mechanical anchor. The reservoir includes a compensation seal, which is situated in a receptacle of its lower base in such a position that it generates an additional torque in relation to the mechanical anchor, which compensates for the torque generated by the plurality of connecting nipples.

Claims

1. A brake fluid reservoir for a hydraulic brake actuator of a vehicle, which is configured to couple at a lower base of the brake fluid reservoir to an upper side of a hydraulic module of the hydraulic brake actuator, the brake fluid reservoir comprising: a mechanical anchor, at the lower base, configured to fasten the brake fluid reservoir to the hydraulic module and including a single anchoring point, which is centered at the lower base of the brake fluid reservoir in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of connecting nipples, at the lower base, configured to be connected to the hydraulic module using respective sealing washers mounted on the connecting nipples, the connecting nipples together with the respective sealing washers generating a torque on the reservoir in relation to the mechanical anchor; a compensation seal, situated in a receptacle of the lower base in such a position that the compensation seal generates an additional torque on the reservoir in relation to the mechanical anchor, which compensates for the torque generated by the plurality of connecting nipples together with the respective sealing washers; wherein the compensation seal is identical to the connecting nipples together with the respective sealing washers, and is situated in the receptacle in inverted position relative to that of the connecting nipples.

2. The brake fluid reservoir as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one fastening point of the compensation seal situated in the receptacle, the at least one fastening point configured to support and fasten the compensation seal.

3. The brake fluid reservoir as recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting nipples include: a first connecting nipple which is configured to connect to a first fitting of the hydraulic module on a primary chamber of a main brake cylinder; a second connecting nipple which is configured to connect to a second fitting of the hydraulic module on a secondary chamber of the main brake cylinder; and a third connecting nipple configured to connect to a third fitting of the hydraulic module on a chamber of a brake pump.

4. The brake fluid reservoir as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical anchor of the reservoir includes: a pin configured to be fastened in a transverse direction at the hydraulic module by at least one fastening tab, which is situated at the lower base of the reservoir.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) One specific example embodiment of the present invention is described illustratively and non-restrictively hereafter with reference to a series of figures to facilitate the understanding of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a reservoir according to the related art situated above a hydraulic module of a hydraulic brake actuator of a vehicle.

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows the connection of the connecting nipples to the hydraulic module of the reservoir of the related art from FIG. 1.

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a perspective view of one specific embodiment of the mechanical anchor of the reservoir of the related art of the above figures.

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically show the torque which is exerted by the connecting nipples on the reservoir of the related art of the above figures.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one specific embodiment of a reservoir, which is the subject matter of the present invention, and shows the compensation seal.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one specific embodiment of a reservoir, which shows the compensation seal and the fastening point thereof.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a detail of a compensation seal in its receptacle in the reservoir.

(9) Reference is made to a set of elements in these figures, these elements being the following: 1. hydraulic module of a hydraulic brake actuator 2. brake fluid reservoir 3. lower base of the reservoir 4. upper side of the hydraulic module 5. first connecting nipple of the reservoir 6. first fitting of the hydraulic module to the primary chamber of the main brake cylinder 7. second connecting nipple of the reservoir 8. second fitting of the hydraulic module to the secondary chamber of the main brake cylinder 9. third connecting nipple of the reservoir 10. third fitting of the hydraulic module to the chamber of the brake pump 11. mechanical anchor of the reservoir 12. compensation seal of the reservoir 13. receptacle of the compensation seal 14. fastening point of the compensation seal 15. pin of the mechanical anchor of the reservoir 16. fastening tabs for the pin of the mechanical anchor sealing washer 17. sealing washer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(10) The subject matter of the present invention is a brake fluid reservoir for a hydraulic brake actuator of vehicles.

(11) As the figures show, brake fluid reservoir 2 is designed for coupling at its lower base 3 to upper side 4 of hydraulic module 1 of the hydraulic brake actuator.

(12) Reservoir 2 includes at its lower base 3 a mechanical anchor 11 for its fastening to hydraulic module 1. Mechanical anchor 11 includes a single anchoring point centered at lower base 3 of reservoir 2 in the longitudinal direction.

(13) The figures show how mechanical anchor 11 of reservoir 2 preferably includes a pin 15, which is fastened in the transverse direction to hydraulic module 1 by at least one fastening tab 16 (which could also be two or more), which is situated at lower base 3 of reservoir 2.

(14) After the present invention has been described comprehensively, it is to be noted that the above-described specific embodiments are receptive to modifications in detail, presuming that they do not change the foundations and the essence of the present invention.

(15) As is apparent in the figures, the reservoir additionally includes a plurality of nipples 5, 7, 9, which may be connected with the aid of sealing washers (see, e.g., FIG. 7, sealing washer 17) to hydraulic module 1, for the passage of the brake fluid of the reservoir to the various fittings of hydraulic module 1 on each of the chambers independent of the brake actuator.

(16) According to one preferred specific embodiment, which is shown in the figures, reservoir 2 includes three connecting nipples 5, 7, 9. A first connecting nipple 5 connects reservoir 2 to first fitting 6 of hydraulic module 1 on the primary chamber of the main brake cylinder. A second connecting nipple 7 connects reservoir 2 to second fitting 8 of hydraulic module 1 on the secondary chamber of the main brake cylinder. And a third connecting nipple 9 connects reservoir 2 to third fitting 10 of hydraulic module 1 on the chamber of the brake pump.

(17) These nipples 5, 7, 9 generate a torque on reservoir 2 in relation to mechanical anchor 11, as is schematically apparent in FIGS. 4a and 4b. This torque has the tendency to rotate reservoir 2 around mechanical anchor 11, which may result in instability and displacement of reservoir 2 from its position above hydraulic module 1.

(18) To avoid this rotation of reservoir 2, according to the present invention, it includes a compensation seal 12, which is situated in a receptacle 13 of its lower base 3 in such a position that it generates an additional torque on reservoir 2 in relation to mechanical anchor 11, which compensates for the torque generated by connecting nipples 5, 7, 9.

(19) As is apparent in FIG. 6, reservoir 2 includes, according to one preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, at least one fastening point 14 of compensation seal 12 to support and fasten compensation seal 12 situated in receptacle 13 thereof, to thus avoid its rotation within the receptacle. Compensation seal 12 is preferably identical to those of connecting nipples 5, 7, 9, although it is situated in receptacle 13 in inverted position relative to that of connecting nipples 5, 7, 9. In this way, compensation seal 12 remains in the interior, instead of protruding beyond lower base 3 of reservoir 2, as connecting nipples 5, 7, 9 do, whereby machine-manufactured recesses or additional receptacles in upper side 4 of hydraulic module 1 are avoided. Moreover, the fact that they are identical to those of connecting nipples 5, 7, 9 facilitates the manufacturing thereof. FIG. 7 shows this compensation seal in inverted position to that of connecting nipples 5, 7, 9 in detail.