ACTUATING APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKE
20200247376 · 2020-08-06
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60T13/145
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60T13/686
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60T7/042
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60T13/745
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B60T8/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60T13/14
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60T13/68
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
An actuating device for a motor vehicle brake may include an actuating device/brake pedal, a pressure supply device driven by an electric motor, a (master) piston-cylinder unit that may be actuated by the actuating device, and which is connected hydraulically with a fluid reservoir, a valve assembly for wheel-specifically adjusting brake pressures and for connecting or disconnecting the wheel brakes to/from the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit, an electronic control unit, and one or more sensor devices that may be used to provide sense various conditions and to provide inputs to the electronic control unit.
Claims
1. An actuating apparatus for a motor vehicle brake, comprising the following components: an actuating device, a pressure supply device, driven by an electric motor drive, a piston-cylinder unit, comprising a main cylinder, that can be actuated using the actuating device, that is connected hydraulically with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and that forms at least two pressure chambers that are connected with hydraulic brake circuits, a valve assembly including valves arranged to adjust brake pressures in a wheel-specific manner and to disconnect or connect the wheel brakes from or to the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit, an electronic control unit, and one or more sensor devices, respectively having one or more sensors or evaluation elements and a sensor target, configured to sense a movement of a device component, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors or evaluation elements of the sensor device is arranged in the electronic control unit, on a system printed circuit board of the electronic control unit or is connected with the electronic control unit, and wherein one device component is a piston of the piston-cylinder unit or of a brake pedal connected to the piston of the piston-cylinder unit, wherein the movement of the piston of the piston-cylinder unit or of a brake pedal connected to the piston of the piston-cylinder unit is transmitted to the electronic control unit either via a sensor actuating device, wherein at least one sensor target is actuated via a pinion or a device configured to convert the translational movement of the piston of the piston-cylinder unit or of the brake pedal connected to the piston of the piston-cylinder unit into a rotational movement of the target, or via a sensor target connected with the device component and magnetic flux-conducting components based on ferromagnetic materials.
2. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or evaluation elements of at least one of the one or more sensor devices, or of a group of the one or more sensor devices, are arranged on the system printed circuit board arranged in the electronic control unit.
3. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the one or more sensor or evaluation elements of a sensor device of the one or more sensor devices that is relevant in terms of dynamic function with critical reliability and accuracy is/are arranged in the electronic control unit, on the system printed circuit board.
4. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor device, of the one or more sensor devices, is configured to determine movement travel of a piston of the piston-cylinder unit or of a brake pedal connected to the piston-cylinder unit, wherein at least one sensor target is arranged on the piston, and wherein transmission to the associated sensor or evaluation element of the sensor is effected by means of flux-conducting components.
5. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gearing is arranged in a separate housing on or in the motor drive, and a frictional coupling with a target drive is provided.
6. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor device of the one or more sensor devices is configured to determine motor or rotor movement, wherein at least one sensor target is arranged on the rotor or on an element connected to the rotor, and transmission to the electronic control unit is effected by means of flux-conducting components.
7. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor device of the one or more sensor devices is configured to determine movement of a level sensor is provided in a float of a reservoir, wherein a sensor target is arranged on a moveable part of the level sensor, and transmission from the sensor target to the sensor or evaluation element is effected by means of flux-conducting components.
8. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the sensor target or the flux-conducting components from a respective sensor or evaluation element is less than 5 mm.
9. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensor or evaluation elements is a Hall element, wherein external and protective circuitry of the Hall element is arranged on the system printed circuit board.
10. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor target is actuated via a pinion.
11. The actuating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a play compensation is provided on the pinion, having an elastic shaft that in particular has an elastic shaft.
12. The actuating apparatus for a motor vehicle brake according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device has at least a first and a second housing unit, wherein the first housing unit accommodates all pistons of the piston-cylinder unit and the pressure supply unit, and wherein the second housing unit accommodates the valve assembly.
13. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is arranged in a third housing unit that is mounted directly on the second housing unit and is connected with the second housing unit.
14. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the motor is connected with the first housing unit or the pressure supply device.
15. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the motor of the drive is attached to the first housing unit, wherein a motor axis is oriented at an angle of less than 30 relative to a longitudinal axis of the first housing unit.
16. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an actuation axis or longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit runs substantially perpendicular to an actuation axis or longitudinal axis of the pressure supply device.
17. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a reservoir is arranged at a side of the first housing unit and the second housing unit as well as the electronic control unit and is connected with a suction intake of the pressure supply unit.
18. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor actuating device is arranged partially in the first or/and the second housing unit and/or a motor housing or is passed through the first and/or the second housing unit and/or the motor housing.
19. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising redundant pedal travel sensors actuated by means of gear racks, wherein the redundant travel pedal sensors are coupled with a brake pedal via a piston plate.
20. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pedal travel sensors are configured to detect a translational movement of a brake pedal of the actuating device, wherein the translational movement is converted into a rotational movement of a target, wherein the target is realised as a N/S permanent magnet.
21. The actuating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor actuating device has a device configured to change a direction of movement, perpendicular to an actuation direction.
22. An actuating apparatus for a motor vehicle brake, comprising: an actuating device, a pressure supply device configured to be driven by an electric motor drive, a piston-cylinder unit, comprising a main cylinder, that can be actuated using the actuating device, that is connected hydraulically with a pressure medium reservoir, and that forms at least two pressure chambers that are connected with hydraulic brake circuits, a valve assembly with valves for adjusting brake pressures in a wheel-specific manner and for disconnecting or connecting the wheel brakes from or to the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit and possibly further valves and a valve assembly including valves arranged to adjust brake pressures in a wheel-specific manner and to disconnect or connect the wheel brakes at least from or to the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit, an electronic control unit, and sensors, including pedal travel sensors, wherein at least all sensor elements of the pedal travel sensors are arranged on a system printed circuit board, wherein sensor actuators are arranged in a first housing unit or/and in a second housing unit, and movements of the actuating device and of a rotor of the electric motor drive are transmitted to a sensor target, and wherein an evaluation element of an associated sensor is arranged on a system printed circuit board in the control unit, and wherein the sensor target is actuated via a pinion and/or redundant pedal travel sensors are configured to be actuated by means of gear racks that are coupled with a brake pedal or a piston plate.
23. An actuating apparatus for a motor vehicle brake, comprising the following components: an actuating device, a pressure supply device, driven by an electric motor drive, a piston-cylinder unit, comprising a main cylinder, that can be actuated using the actuating device, that is connected hydraulically with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and that forms at least two pressure chambers that are connected with hydraulic brake circuits, a valve assembly including valves arranged to adjust brake pressures in a wheel-specific manner and to disconnect or connect the wheel brakes from or to the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit, an electronic control unit, and one or more sensor devices, respectively having one or more sensors or evaluation elements and a sensor target, configured to sense a movement of a device component, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors or evaluation elements of the sensor device is arranged in the electronic control unit, on a system printed circuit board of the electronic control unit or is connected with the electronic control unit, and wherein one device component is a rotor of a motor, (from old claim no. 6) wherein the movement of the motor or rotor is transmitted to the electronic control unit via a sensor target connected with the device component and magnetic flux-conducting components based on ferromagnetic materials.
24. The actuating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein at least one sensor actuating device has a device configured to change a direction of movement, perpendicular to an actuation direction.
25. The actuating apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a motor housing having an extension for collecting leaking fluid, wherein a sensor configured to detect leaking fluid is provided in the extension.
26. An actuating apparatus for a motor vehicle brake, comprising the following components: an actuating device, a pressure supply device, driven by an electric motor drive, a piston-cylinder unit, comprising a main cylinder, that can be actuated using the actuating device, that is connected hydraulically with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and that forms at least two pressure chambers that are connected with hydraulic brake circuits, a valve assembly including valves arranged to adjust brake pressures in a wheel-specific manner and to disconnect or connect the wheel brakes from or to the pressure supply device and the piston-cylinder unit, an electronic control unit, and one or more sensor devices, respectively having one or more sensors or evaluation elements and a sensor target, configured to sense a movement of a device component, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors or evaluation elements of the sensor device is arranged in the electronic control unit, on a system printed circuit board of the electronic control unit or is connected with the electronic control unit, and wherein one device component is a level sensor of a reservoir, wherein either the movement of the level sensor is transmitted to the electronic control unit via a sensor target connected with the device component and magnetic flux-conducting components based on ferromagnetic materials, wherein the magnetic-flux of the target is passed via the flux-conducting components to the sensor element which is mounted on the system printed circuit board, or a sensor target is connected with the float in the reservoir, wherein a sensor element which is mounted on the system printed circuit board is arranged to sense the magnetic-flux of the sensor target.
27. The actuating apparatus according to claim 26, wherein at least one sensor actuating device has a device configured to change a direction of movement, perpendicular to an actuation direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0062] In the drawings:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0074]
[0082] The interaction with the driver takes place starting from the brake pedal, which acts on the TMC piston via the pedal interface. At all times, the pedal travel is measured by means of two sensors housed in the system for this purpose. The displaced volume from the TMC piston passes on into the hydraulic unit (HCU), which contains solenoid valves (MV) and a pressure sensor. All valves and the pressure sensor as well as all sensor connections are connected with the electrical control unit and combined and enclosed in the housing of the electrical control unit. The connected sensors in the ECU include a motor position sensor, two pedal travel sensors, a pressure sensor, a filling level sensor and, optionally, an electrode for leakage flow detection, with a correspondingly small container, which is for example integrated in the HCU or ECU housing. The housing is fixed to the hydraulic unit (HCU) by means of screws. A sealing ring between the two components (HCU and ECU) prevents the penetration of various foreign bodies. The energy supply and the external communication with other control devices is effected via a plug on the brake system. The system also has a pressure supply, which is driven by an electric motor. This pressure supply can take different forms, which are for example described in DE 10 2014 117 726. In order to supply the whole brake system with the necessary brake fluid, a reservoir or supply container is situated on the system.
[0083]
[0084] The drive of a sensor target is mounted in the housing GH2; these are illustrated in detail in
[0085] To the side or also to the front there is a connecting element 1 (main plug) with the wiring harness 2 leading to the vehicle's electrical system. Attached on the underside of the motor housing is a housing extension in which the aforementioned electrode for leakage detection is housed. A possible leakage flow is for example conducted from the piston into a bowl on the spindle and downwards through a spindle bore. If the direction of the pedal interface is considered as the axis of rotation, the system can be installed in the vehicle rotated by +/90. Naturally, the position of the brake pedal remains the same; however, the aforementioned collecting container must be rearranged accordingly. Possible positions would be next to the GH1 or even in the ECU.
[0086] Alternatively to the embodiment shown, other conceivable variants of 1-box brake systems exist (for example as described in DE102012213216A1). In this embodiment too, due to the limiting conditions for installation, the motor and pedal stroke or piston travel is arranged in immediate proximity to the PCB of the ECU and a plurality of sensors is to be connected with the ECU. In other words, also in this approach, and in alternative approaches to packaging solutions, the flexible connection of sensor signals via mechanical transmission members or flux-conducting components according to the invention is advantageous and avoids complicated contacting, reduces costs and increases reliability.
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[0088] A gear wheel housing is fixed inside the motor housing that contains the bearings of the drive gear wheel on both sides. The knurled shaft is adequately secured against rotation in the resilient flange of the gear wheel 18, which substantially only needs to withstand the slight bearing friction and moment of inertia during acceleration of the motor. The motor with gear drive can thus also be tested during the final testing of the motor, by plugging a shaft into the measuring device. During the final installation of the assemblies, the shaft 19 with its bearings is fixed in the GH2 and the sensor tested in the assembled state.
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[0092] In terms of construction design, different options exist for minimising the air gap, for example in
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[0097] This sensor concept, in which the sensor element of preferably all the sensors is mounted on the system printed circuit board (PCB) 25, represents an economical solution with a great deal of latitude in terms of constructive design.
[0098] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0099] 1 connecting element (main plug) [0100] 2 wiring harness [0101] 3 sensor element for pedal travel [0102] 3a actuation target for pedal travel sensor [0103] 4 sensor element for motor rotation [0104] 4a actuation target for motor travel sensor [0105] 5 sensor element for filling level [0106] 5a target for filling level sensor [0107] 6 float in the reservoir [0108] 7 extended motor housing or leak collector [0109] 8 electrode [0110] 9 drive for target actuation of motor encoder in front of the motor rotor [0111] 9a drive for target actuation of motor encoder behind the motor rotor [0112] 10 TMC piston [0113] 10a piston seal [0114] 11 pump or pump piston [0115] 12 electrical connecting element to motor with several cables [0116] 13 flange for mounting on front wall [0117] 14 motor mounting [0118] 15 hydraulic connection to wheel brake [0119] 16 connection to pump suction valve [0120] 17 drive gear wheel [0121] 18 output gear wheel [0122] 19 shaft 1 [0123] 19a/b shaft 2 and 3 [0124] 20 anti-rotation lock (knurl) [0125] 21 bearing bush [0126] 21a bearing bush [0127] 22 target holder [0128] 22a target holder [0129] 23 target (magnet) [0130] 23a target (magnet) [0131] 24 sensor element [0132] 24a sensor element [0133] 25 system printed circuit board PCB [0134] 26 gear rack 1 [0135] 26a gear rack 2 [0136] 27 pedal tappet [0137] 28 pedal plate [0138] 29 piston plate [0139] 30 spring for force-displacement measurement [0140] 31 piston [0141] 32 sealing and bearing bush [0142] 33 pressure chamber for piston [0143] 34 gear wheel 1 [0144] 34a gear wheel 2 [0145] 35 ECU housing [0146] 36 thermally conductive strip [0147] 37 E/E construction units [0148] 38 assemblies, for example air conditioning [0149] 39 front wall [0150] 40 cable compartment [0151] 41 limit stop ring [0152] 42 gear wheel housing [0153] 43 flux-conducting components [0154] 43a back iron flux-conducting component a [0155] 43b ditto b [0156] 44 housing [0157] 45 rod/slider [0158] 46 float [0159] 47 rotor [0160] 48 magnet ring [0161] GH1 first housing unit [0162] GH2 second housing unit [0163] VB brake fluid reservoir [0164] PI pedal interface [0165] MV solenoid valves [0166] LL left-hand drive [0167] RL right-hand drive [0168] PCB circuit board [0169] K.sub.SP magnet coil connection [0170] D seal