ADAPTER BODY FOR A BRAKE APPLICATION DEVICE OF A VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapter body for a brake application device of a vehicle braking system. The adapter body has a first bearing surface which is designed to bear against a bulkhead of a vehicle, and a second bearing surface which is designed to bear against the brake application device, wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are at a predetermined distance from one another. A receiving means for a portion of at least one fastening bolt for fastening the brake application device to a vehicle is configured in the adapter body.

Claims

1. An adapter body (10) for a brake application device (100) of a vehicle braking system comprising: a first bearing surface (12) which is designed to bear against a bulkhead of a vehicle, a second bearing surface (14) which is designed to bear against the brake application device (100), wherein the first bearing surface (12) and the second bearing surface (14) are at a predetermined distance (A) from one another, wherein a receiving means (18) for a portion of at least one fastening bolt (114, 118) for fastening the brake application device (100) to a vehicle is configured in the adapter body (10).

2. The adapter body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving means (18) also has a region for receiving a portion of a force input unit (102) of the force application device (100).

3. The adapter body as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving means (18) has at least one opening (22, 24) for passage of a portion of the at least one fastening bolt (114, 118) and/or a recess (26) for passage of a portion of the force input unit (102) of the brake application device (100).

4. The adapter body as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a connection portion (16) which connects the first bearing surface (12) and the second bearing surface (14) to one another and sets the predetermined distance (A) between the first bearing surface (12) and the second bearing surface (14).

5. The adapter body as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first bearing surface (12) and the second bearing surface (14) are configured at opposite ends (16a, 16b) of the connection portion (16).

6. The adapter body as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first bearing surface (12) extends outwardly from one end (16a) of the connection portion (16) and the connection portion (16) encloses the second bearing surface (14) with its other end (16b).

7. The adapter body as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the connection portion (16) and the second bearing surface (14) define the receiving means (18), the second bearing surface (14) forming the base of the receiving means (18).

8. The adapter body as claimed in one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the at least one opening (22, 24) and the at least one recess (26) are formed in the second bearing surface (14).

9. The adapter body as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the receiving means (18) has a first opening (22) for the passage of a portion of at least a first fastening bolt (114) for fastening the brake application device (100) to a vehicle and a second opening (24) for the passage of a portion of at least a second fastening bolt (118) for fastening the brake application device (100) to a vehicle.

10. The adapter body as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first opening (22), the second opening (24) and the recess (26) each have a center axis (M.sub.22, M.sub.24, M.sub.26), the center axes (M.sub.22, M.sub.24, M.sub.26) of the first opening (22), the second opening (24) and the recess (26) lie in one and the same plane (G).

11. An adapter unit (116) having at least one adapter body (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10 and at least one fastening bolt (114, 118) for fastening the brake application device (100) to a vehicle, wherein a portion of the at least one fastening bolt (114, 118) is received in the receiving means (18) of at least one adapter body (10).

12. The adapter unit as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one nut (120, 122) for screwing to the at least one fastening bolt (114, 118).

13. A brake application device (100), comprising: a force input unit (102) which can be coupled with a brake pedal of a vehicle, and at least one adapter body (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10 or an adapter unit (116) as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein at least one fastening bolt (114, 118) is fixedly connected to the brake application device (100) and extends through the receiving means (18) of the adapter body (10).

14. The brake application device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a braking pressure generation unit (104).

15. The brake application device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a master brake cylinder (106) which can be coupled with the braking pressure generation unit (104).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the figures:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter body;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the adapter body from FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the adapter body from FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the adapter body from FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a brake application device with an adapter body arranged thereon; and

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a brake application device with the adapter body arranged thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter body 10. The adapter body 10 has a first bearing surface 12 and a second bearing surface 14 only recognizable sectionally in FIG. 1. The first bearing surface 12 and the second bearing surface 14 are connected to one another via a connection portion 16. The adapter body 10 has a receiving means 18 which is defined by the second bearing surface 14 and the connection portion 16. The connection portion 16 forms the wall and the second bearing surface 14 the base of the receiving means 18. The first bearing surface 12 is configured on a flange-like projection 20 of a first end region 16a of the connection portion 16. The second bearing surface 14 is configured on a second end region 16b of the connection portion 16 and extends completely within the second end region 16b of the connection region 16.

[0030] The first, in this case annular, bearing surface 12 is designed to bear against a bulkhead of a vehicle and extends at right angles from the connection region 16a, in this case radially outwardly, and runs parallel to the second bearing surface 14. The adapter body 10 is configured overall with a cup-shaped or pot-shaped design. The outer contour of the adapter body 10 may be adapted to the shape of the corresponding bearing surfaces of the bulkhead (not shown) of a vehicle and a brake application device 100 (see FIG. 5). The first bearing surface 12 forms an inner circumferential edge which surrounds the connection portion 16 and at the same time forms the edge of the receiving means 18 configured therein.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the adapter body 10 with the first bearing surface 12, the second bearing surface 14 and the receiving means 18. The receiving means 18 is provided with a first opening 22 and a second opening 24. The first opening 22 and the second opening 24 may each receive a fastening bolt 114, 118 (see FIG. 6) which is used for fastening a brake application device not shown in FIG. 2 to a vehicle. The receiving means 18 also has a recess 26 which receives a portion of a force input unit 102 (see FIG. 6) of the brake application device which is not shown. The first opening 22, the second opening 24 and the recess 26 are configured in the second bearing surface 14 which forms the base of the receiving means 18. The inner side 28 of the second bearing surface 14 which forms the base surface of the receiving means 18 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0032] The recess 26 has a larger internal diameter than the first opening 22 and the second opening 24. The first opening 22 and the second opening 24 have an identical internal diameter in this case. The inner contour of the first annular bearing surface 12, and therefore that of the adapter body 10, is adapted to the internal diameter of the openings 22, 24 and the recess 26. The adapter body 10 has a larger cross section in its center region, in which the recess 26 is arranged, than in the regions in which the first opening 22 and the second opening 24 are formed.

[0033] The first opening 22, the second opening 24 and the recess 26 each have a center axis M.sub.22, M.sub.24, M.sub.26 running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter body 10. The center axes M.sub.22, M.sub.24, M.sub.26 of the openings 22, 24 and the recess 26 lie in a common plane G which at the same time forms a plane of symmetry of the adapter body 10. The recess 26 is arranged centrally between the first opening 22 and the second opening 24. In addition, the cross section of the adapter body 10 increases starting from the region with the opening 22 until it reaches its greatest cross section level with the center axis M.sub.26 of the recess 26. From this point, the cross section of the adapter body 10 diminishes again up to the region in which the opening 24 is arranged.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the adapter body 10. The connection portion 16 which sets a predetermined distance A between the first bearing surface 12 and the second bearing surface 14 extends between the first bearing surface 12 and the second bearing surface 14. The first bearing surface 12 extends from the first end 16a of the connection portion 16 at right angles radially outwardly. The second bearing surface 14 extends within the connection portion 16. The second bearing surface 14 has an outer side 30 which is designed to bear against a brake application device 100 (see FIG. 5). The first bearing surface 12 and the outer side 30 of the second bearing surface 14 are therefore formed on opposite sides of the adapter body 10 and extend parallel to one another here.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the adapter body 10. The adapter body 10 is configured as a hollow shaped body, i.e. the adapter body 10 is cup-shaped or pot-shaped. The adapter body 10 may be an aluminum injection-molded part. The adapter body 10 has a receiving means 18 which is delimited by the connection portion 16 and the second bearing surface 14. The second bearing surface 14, more accurately the inner side 28 thereof, therefore forms the base of the receiving means 18. The openings 22, 24 and the recess 26 are formed in the second bearing surface 14. The recess 26 has an inclined circumferential wall 32 extending into the receiving means 18. The circumferential wall 32 is adapted to a complementary portion of the outer contour of a force input unit of the brake application device which is not shown here. The circumferential wall 32 may bear against this portion if this portion of the force input unit is received by the recess 26.

[0036] The first bearing surface 12 extends outwardly from the end region 16a of the connection portion 16. The second bearing surface 14 extends inwardly from the second end region 16b of the connection portion 16. The first bearing surface 12 and the second bearing surface 14 are at a predetermined distance A from one another. By means of the adapter body 10, a predetermined distance between a bulkhead (not shown) of a vehicle and a brake application device 100 (see FIG. 5) can be set. The outer side 30 of the second bearing surface 14 is designed to bear against a corresponding bearing surface of the brake application device 100. The first bearing surface 12 which surrounds the receiving means 18 is designed to bear against a corresponding bearing surface of a bulkhead of a vehicle.

[0037] Fastening bolts 114, 118 (see FIG. 6) which are used to fasten the brake application device to a vehicle may extend through the openings 22, 24. The fastening bolts 114, 118 penetrate the adapter body 10 through the openings 22, 24 and extend through the entire receiving means 18. The same applies to the force input unit 102 of a brake application device not shown in FIG. 4. This extends through the recess 26 into the receiving means 18 and through the entire receiving means 18, so that it can be mechanically coupled with a brake pedal of a vehicle.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the brake application device 100 with the adapter body 10 arranged thereon. The brake application device 100 comprises a force input unit 102 and a brake pressure generation unit 104. The brake pressure generation unit 104 is coupled with a master brake cylinder 106. A container 108 for hydraulic fluid is arranged on the master brake cylinder 106, which container supplies hydraulic fluid to the brake circuits connected to the master brake cylinder 106.

[0039] The force input unit 102 has a force input member 110 and a bellows 112 which sectionally encloses the force input member 110 and seals the force input unit 102. The force input member 110 may be mechanically coupled with a brake pedal. The force input unit 102 extends through the adapter body 10, wherein the force input member 110 projects from the adapter body 10 along with the bellows 112.

[0040] In addition, a fastening bolt 114 is shown in FIG. 5 which is fixedly connected to the brake application device 100. The fastening bolt 114 creates an adapter unit 116 along with the adapter body 10. The fastening bolt 114 is used to fasten the brake application device 100 to a vehicle (not shown). The adapter body 10 lies with its second bearing surface 14 against the brake application device 100 or the braking pressure generation unit 104. The connection portion 16 of the adapter body 10 extends from the second bearing surface 14 in the direction of the force introduction member 110. At the end of the connection portion 16 opposite the second bearing surface 14, the first bearing surface 12 can be seen which is designed to bear against a bulkhead of a vehicle. Like the force input unit 102, the fastening bolt 114 also extends through the receiving means 18 of the adapter body 10 which is defined by the connection portion 16 and the bearing surface 14.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the brake application device 100 with the adapter body 10 arranged thereon. Fastening bolts 114 and 118 and also the force input unit 102 of the brake application device 100 extend in the receiving means 18 of the adapter body 10. The recess 26 in the second bearing surface 14 of the adapter body 10 lies with its circumferential wall 32 against the outer contour of the force input unit 102. The circumferential wall 32 of the recess 26 projects axially conically into the receiving means 18. The adapter body 10 lies with the outer side 30 of the second bearing surface 14 on the brake application device 100 or on the braking pressure generation unit 104. The fastening bolts 114, 118 and also the force input unit 102 extend within the receiving means 18 of the adapter body 10 through the adapter body 10.

[0042] The adapter unit 116 is provided with nuts 120 and 122 which are screwed using the fastening bolts 114, 118. Using the nuts 120, 122, the adapter body 10 can be held in its predetermined position on the brake application device 100. The nuts 120, 122 bear against the inner side 28 of the second bearing surface 14 for this purpose. The nuts 120, 122 press the second bearing surface 14 against the brake application device 100. Washers may be located between the inner side 28 of the bearing surface 14 and the nuts 120, 122.

[0043] The fastening bolts 114, 118 have a thread at their ends 124, 126. Using this thread, the fastening bolts 114, 118 can be attached to the bulkhead of a vehicle. For this purpose, the fastening bolts 114, 118 are inserted through openings in the bulkhead of the vehicle (not shown) and the first bearing surface 12 of the adapter body 10 is moved into abutment with the bulkhead. On the side of the bulkhead facing away from the brake actuation device 100 and the adapter body 10, nuts are screwed onto the end portions 124, 126 of the fastening bolts 114, 118 provided with a thread, in order to fasten the brake application device 100 to the vehicle. By tightening these nuts (not shown), tensile forces are exerted on the fastening bolts 114, 118. The fastening bolts 114, 118 are coupled fixedly and in a tensile force-transmitting manner, for example screwed, with the brake application device 100 at their ends opposite the end portions 124, 126. The fastening bolts 114, 118 therefore act as tensioning bolts.

[0044] Tensile forces occurring during assembly of the brake application device 100 are not transmitted to the adapter body 10, as the fastening bolts 114, 118 extend through the adapter body 10 and the adapter body 10 is only held in a clamping manner between the brake application device 100 and the bulkhead of the vehicle which is not shown.

[0045] The brake application device 100 may be actuated via a brake pedal (not shown) by a driver of a vehicle. The brake pedal in the vehicle interior is coupled with the force input member 110. The force input member 110 transmits the application force exerted by the driver on the brake pedal to the force input unit 102 which in turn actuates the brake pressure generation unit 104. Via the brake pedal and the force input member 110 of the force input unit 102, pressure forces are transmitted to the brake application device 100 when the brake is actuated. Since, however, the brake application device 100 is fastened to the vehicle via the fastening bolts 114, 118, the fastening bolts 114, 118 are exposed to tensile forces when the brake is applied. Since no tensile force-transmitting connection exists between the adapter body 10 and the vehicle and the fastening bolts 114, 118 and the force input unit 102 extend through the receiving means 18 of the adapter body 10, no tensile forces act on the adapter body 10 during a brake application. This means that the adapter body 10 permanently retains its shape and has a longer service life.