Master cylinder with guide sleeve for a sealing lip of the snifter system

Abstract

The invention relates to a master cylinder for an actuating device of a clutch or a brake of a motor vehicle, including a cylinder housing having a pressure cylinder section, as well as a piston mounted movable relative to the cylinder housing, wherein the piston is arranged inside the pressure cylinder section in an actuation state in order to control a fluid pressure in a fluidically sealed pressure chamber by a sealing device on the piston side, and is arranged in a pressureless state such that the pressure cylinder section is fluidically connected to a retention system, wherein a seal of the sealing device is configured, and attached to the piston, such that it rests on a seal protection area of a stop element at least in a parking position in the pressureless state; as well as a method for mounting such a master cylinder.

Claims

1. A master cylinder for an actuating device of a clutch or a brake of a motor vehicle, comprising a cylinder housing with a pressure cylinder section, a piston supported in a manner displaceable in reference to the cylinder housing, a sealing device connected to the piston, with the piston in an actuated state being arranged inside the pressure cylinder section in order to control a fluidic pressure in a pressure chamber sealed fluidically by the piston via the sealing device, and arranged in a pressureless state such that the pressure cylinder section is fluidically connected to a retention system, the sealing device having a seal that is embodied and fastened to the piston such that at least in a parking position, in the pressureless state, the seal contacts a seal protecting section of a stop element connected to the cylinder housing.

2. The master cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the stop element is a part that is separate from the cylinder housing.

3. The master cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the stop element is a cold formed part.

4. The master cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the seal protecting section is formed at an interior circumferential side of the stop element, with an interior circumferential area that comprises, in proximity to the seal protection area, a first diameter remaining constant along the circumference.

5. The master cylinder according to claim 4, wherein the first diameter of the seal protecting section is greater than a second diameter of the pressure cylinder section.

6. The master cylinder according to claim 5, wherein the cylinder housing comprises a transitional section, in an axial direction conically expanding from the stop element away from the pressure cylinder section and comprises several radial grooves connected to the retention system.

7. The master cylinder section according to claim 1, wherein the seal is annular with a sealing lip of the seal being embodied such that it contacts the seal protecting section as well as the pressure cylinder section.

8. The master cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the stop element comprises a clamp-shaped holding section at a radial exterior side, which in an operating state is inserted in a receptacle of the cylinder housing in a radially fixed, but axially displaceable fashion.

9. The master cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the stop element is pre-stressed by a disk spring in a direction of the pressure cylinder section.

10. A method for the assembly of the master cylinder according to claim 1, comprising the following successively performed steps: a) inserting the piston into the stop element such that the seal is inserted into the stop element at the seal protecting section. b) inserting the stop element with the piston into a receptacle in the cylinder housing until it contacts a contact area of the stop element at a counter stop area of the cylinder housing, and c) fastening at least one lid element to the cylinder housing with simultaneously an axial pre-stressing of the stop element in a direction of the pressure cylinder section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following the invention is explained in greater detail based on figures.

(2) Shown are:

(3) FIG. 1 a longitudinal cross-section of a master cylinder according to the invention in a first embodiment, with particularly the pressure cylinder section, the retention system, as well as the piston of the master cylinder cooperating with the pressure cylinder section being shown,

(4) FIG. 2 a detail of the longitudinal cross-section already shown in FIG. 1 in the proximity of the piston as well as the stop element, with the piston being in a parking position of the pressureless state and a transitional section being discernible, connecting the pressure cylinder section via radial grooves to the retention system,

(5) FIG. 3 a detailed longitudinal cross-section of the master cylinder in the proximity of the piston as well as the stop element similar to FIG. 2, with in FIG. 3 the piston as well as the stop element being sectioned in an area offset from the radial grooves,

(6) FIG. 4 an isometric illustration of the cylinder housing of the master cylinder in the proximity of the pressure cylinder section, with the transition section and its radial grooves being clearly discernible,

(7) FIG. 5 an isometric illustration of the stop element, with its longitudinal sectional area being indicated and shown from a side which in the operating state faces away from the pressure cylinder section,

(8) FIG. 6 a longitudinal cross-section of an assembly between the stop element and the piston and/or the piston head thereof, which accepts the seal of the sealing device,

(9) FIG. 7A a longitudinal cross-section of a master cylinder, with the section of the piston accepting the seal as well as the stop elements being shown, and with the piston including the stop element being displaced into a referencing position/reference position,

(10) FIG. 7B a longitudinal cross-section of the master cylinder according to FIG. 7A, with the piston including the stop element being in a parking position,

(11) FIG. 7C a longitudinal cross-section of the master cylinder according to FIGS. 7A and 7B, with the piston being displaced out of the stop element in the direction of the pressure cylinder section such that the seal with its external side contacts the pressure cylinder section with its exterior, at a snifter point, just before completely sealing it, but a fluidic connection is still given between the pressure cylinder section to the retention system, and

(12) FIG. 7D a longitudinal cross-section of the master cylinder, as already illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C, with the piston being in the actuating state in which it is inserted into the pressure cylinder section and the seal contacts the interior surface of the pressure cylinder section in a sealing fashion.

(13) The figures are only of a schematic nature and exclusively serve to explain the invention. Identical elements are marked with the same reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) FIG. 1 shows in a clear fashion a first embodiment of the master cylinder 1 according to the invention. The master cylinder 1 is provided for the use in a hydraulic actuator device, not shown in greater detail for reasons of clarity, of a clutch in a drivetrain or in a brake of a motor vehicle. Preferably the master cylinder 1 is however embodied as a hydraulic master cylinder. The hydraulic master cylinder 1 is here preferably inserted as the actuating element in a hydraulic clutch actuator. Alternatively it is also possible though to insert the hydraulic master cylinder 1 in an actuating device, which is embodied as a modular clutch actuator. The master cylinder 1 is designed according to the so-called snifter system.

(15) The master cylinder 1 comprises a pressure cylinder section 2, which is arranged in a cylinder housing 3 of the master cylinder 1. The pressure cylinder section 2 is formed essentially circularly with regards to its cross-section and extends cylindrically. At a first axial end section the pressure cylinder section 2 comprises a connection 11, which connection 11 is hydraulically connected to the element of the actuating device respectively to be operated, for example a clutch actuator bearing (engagement or disengagement bearing) or a brake piston (in the operating state). At a second axial end section, which is located opposite the first axial end section, the pressure cylinder section 2 has an opening through which a piston 4 can be inserted into the pressure cylinder section 2.

(16) The piston 4 (also called pressure piston) is supported in a displaceable fashion in the axial direction of the pressure cylinder section 2 in reference to the cylinder housing 3. The piston 4 is arranged coaxially in reference to the pressure cylinder section 2. The piston 4 is arranged in an operating state of the master cylinder 1 inside the pressure cylinder section 2, i.e. inserted in the pressure cylinder section 2. The piston 4 comprises a sealing device 5, which cooperates in the operating state with the pressure cylinder section 2 such that the piston 4 and the pressure cylinder section 2 form a sealed pressure chamber 6. As a function of the axial position/axial displacement position of the piston 4 within the pressure cylinder section 2 here the pressure is controlled inside the pressure chamber 6 and thus also in the proximity of the connection 11. In a pressureless state of the master cylinder 1 the piston 4 is placed in reference to/outside the pressure cylinder section 2 such that the pressure cylinder section 2 is connected fluidically to the restraint system 7 (also called restraint storage or reservoir) in a fluidic/hydraulic fashion. The sealing device 5 comprises a seal 8, which seal 8 is arranged in the axial direction/axially fixed to the piston 4. The piston 4 is here at least in a parking position of the master cylinder 1, in the pressureless state, inserted in a stop element 9, with the seal 8 contacting the seal protecting section 10.

(17) It is furthermore clearly discernible in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 that the pressure cylinder section 2 showing a circular cross-section (hereinafter called second diameter) transfers at its second axial end section into a transitional section 12. The transitional section 12 is embodied/connected integrally to the pressure cylinder 2. The transitional section 12 therefor follows in the axial direction to a side of the pressure cylinder section 2 facing away from the connection 11. The transitional section 12 comprises a conically extending internal circumferential side 13, which is enlarged in its diameter from the pressure cylinder section 2 in the axial direction away from the pressure cylinder section 2. The transitional section 12 therefore shows at the axial end, facing away from the pressure cylinder section 2, a third diameter which is greater than the second diameter.

(18) The embodiment of the transitional section 12 is particularly clearly discernible in FIG. 4. The transitional section 12 is essentially formed in a circular fashion. Several radial grooves 14 are inserted in the transitional section 12 at a front area facing away from the pressure cylinder section 2. Due to the fact that the transitional section 12 is embodied integrally with the pressure cylinder section 2, the radial grooves 14 are therefore inserted in the cylinder housing 3. The radial grooves 14 are open towards the interior circumference 13 and connect the radial interior of the transitional section hydraulically/fluidically to the retention system 7, which in turn is connected via at least one connection groove 15 to the radial grooves 14.

(19) At the axial end of the transitional section 12, facing away from the pressure cylinder section 2, the transitional section 12 also extends essentially annularly and is embodied in the form of a facial groove. The receptacle 16 serves to accept the stop element 9. In the actuating state the stop element 9 is inserted into the receptacle 16 and contacts with an axial stop area directly a counter stop area of the transitional section 12. In this context FIG. 2 shows in a particularly illustrating fashion a parking position of the master cylinder 1, with the stop element 9 being formed via a clamp-like and annular restraint system 17, which is preferably formed by beading, inserted into the receptacle 16. The radial interior circumference of the receptacle 16 and the exterior circumference of the restraint system 17 abutting it are here with regards to their diameters adjusted to each other such that the stop element 9 is held in the radial direction in reference to the cylinder housing 3, however still allows displacement in the axial direction.

(20) The stop element 9 (also called guide sheath), essentially embodied like a cup, further comprises a first step 18 extending in the radial direction, at which a disk spring 19 is arranged at the axial side, facing away from the pressure cylinder section 2, so that the stop element 9 is held in the cylinder housing 3 protected from getting lost. The seal protecting section 10 is formed directly by an interior circumferential area 20 of the stop element 9. The interior circumferential area 20 comprises a circular, planar/flat surface area. Additionally, the interior circumferential area 20 shows a diameter, namely a first diameter, which is also greater than the second diameter, i.e. the diameter of the pressure cylinder section 2. The first diameter is however embodied smaller than the third diameter. A second radial step 21, which is arranged radially inside the first radial step 18 as well as the interior circumferential area 20, is further provided for the purpose to serve as a stop for the piston 4. The second step 21 therefore prevents the piston 4 from being pulled out in the axial direction, away from the pressure cylinder section 2.

(21) The further embodiment of the stop element 9 is particularly clearly discernible in FIGS. 5 and 6 as well. Here it is also clearly shown that the seal 8 is embodied as a lip seal and has the sealing lip 22, which when seen in the longitudinal cross-section extends from a base section 23 in the radial direction as well as the axial direction towards the pressure cylinder section 2. The base section 23 abuts flat along the circumference of an exterior of a piston head of the piston 4. The seal 8 is embodied continuously along the entire circumference, i.e. embodied in an annular fashion. The sealing lip 22 contacts in its parking position, as shown in FIG. 2, preferably at the seal protecting section 10. As furthermore clearly discernible in connection with FIG. 3 as well as in connection with FIG. 5 the stop element shows in a radial section between the retention system 17 and the second step 21 several compensation openings distributed evenly over the circumference in the form of penetrating bores, via which an additional pressure is released, which may develop perhaps behind the sealing lip 22, i.e. in an axial direction facing away from the pressure cylinder section 2.

(22) Furthermore, the various shifting states of the master cylinder 1 are shown in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 7A to 7D. The piston 4 is a part of a spindle drive, which is not shown in greater detail for reasons of clarity. Consequently a rotary motion of a spindle causes the axial displacement of the piston 4 in the direction of the pressure cylinder section 2, into it or out of it. FIG. 7A shows a reference position/referencing position of the master cylinder 1. In this reference position the piston 4 is retracted in the axial direction away from the pressure cylinder section 2 such that its disk spring 19 comes to contact a secondary reference stop 25. In this referencing point, based on the embodiment of the master cylinder 1 without a path sensor, the initial position of the piston 4 is metrologically checked such that it can be securely assumed that the piston 4 is positioned in the desired position in the further displacement range, in the pressureless state as well as the actuated state.

(23) In this reference position, based on the stop of the disk spring 19 at the reference stop 25 and the axial displacement of the disk spring 19, the stop element 9 is slightly pulled out of the receptacle 16 in reference to the parking position according to FIGS. 2 and 7B, however still guided in the radial direction in the receptacle 16. After the metrological detection/determination/checking of the reference position/referencing position a start position is allocated to the piston 4, from which the piston 4 then is moved back into the parking position according to FIG. 7B. In the parking position the retention system 17 contacts with its axial face (also called contact area), facing the pressure cylinder section 2, in the axial direction the receptacle 16 (also called counter contact area). In this parking position once more the axial support of the stop element 9 and the spring-elastic pre-stressing in the direction of the pressure cylinder section 2 is provided via the disk spring 19.

(24) Finally, if the pressure chamber 6 shall be impinged with a certain hydraulic pressure in order to actuate a clutch or a brake, according to FIG. 7C the piston 4 is inserted into the pressure cylinder section 2. Due to the fact that the first diameter is smaller than the third diameter and the interior circumference 13 of the transitional section 12 extends in a conically tapering fashion from the receptacle 16 to the pressure cylinder section 2, the sealing lip 22 is particularly carefully inserted into the pressure cylinder section 2 with the axial motion in the pressure cylinder section 2. By a sealing contact of the sealing lip 22 at the pressure cylinder section 2, according to FIG. 7D further any arbitrary pressure can be generated in the pressure chamber 6. If during operation, for example due to temperature fluctuations, undesired pressure peaks develop, the piston 4 is again via the drive withdrawn from the pressure cylinder section 2 to such an extent that the sealing lip 22 contacts in a so-called snifter point at the level of the transitional section 12 according to FIG. 7C. In this snifter point it is ensured that the sealing lip 22 is still essentially contacting/compressed on the radial level of the second diameter, however a brief opening of the pressure chamber 6 to the restraint reservoir 7 is ensured via the radial grooves 14. This way brief pressure compensation can occur. If finally the actuating process is completed, the piston 4 is once more brought into the pressureless state, with the pressureless state representing the state in which the pressure cylinder section essentially shows the same pressure as the retention system. The parking position in this pressureless state (see FIG. 7B) shows the piston 4 in the pushed-back state.

(25) Based on the improved design of the stop element 9 as well as the piston 4 including the sealing device 5 the assembly of the master cylinder 1 is also possible in a particularly simple fashion. For this purpose, as clearly discernible in FIG. 6, initially the piston 4 is inserted such that the sealing lip 22 already contacts the seal protecting section 10 and is compressed to the first diameter. Then the assembly of the stop element 9 and the piston 4 is inserted into the cylinder housing 3, leading to the retention system 17 contacting the receptacle 16, which receptacle 16 therefore forms a type of counter stop area. Subsequently then a lid element 26 is fastened at the cylinder housing 3 such that the stop element 9 is positioned in the cylinder housing 3 via the disk spring 19 in a spring-elastic fashion and protected from getting lost.

(26) In other words, with the master cylinder 1 according to the invention a primary seal 8 is provided, which sits in a parking position on a closed annular area, namely the interior circumferential area 20. This annular area 20 can be placed fixed to the housing/fixed to the cylinder housing or floating on a stop element 9 for referencing/plausibility checking. The stop element 9 is advantageously centered in reference to the hydraulic housing/cylinder housing 3 (via transitional sections 12 in the actuated state). The actual pre-stressing (caused by the disk spring 19) of the stop element 9 ensures the reduction/minimization of a gap between the closed park area/annular area (interior circumferential area 20) and the snifter groove section (equivalent to the transitional section 12). The assembly of the primary seal 8 in the hydraulic housing 3 is simplified, with initially the piston 4 being preassembled in the parking position.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(27) 1 master cylinder

(28) 2 pressure cylinder section

(29) 3 cylinder housing

(30) 4 piston

(31) 5 sealing device

(32) 6 pressure chamber

(33) 7 restraint system

(34) 8 seal

(35) 9 stop element

(36) 10 seal protecting section

(37) 11 connection

(38) 12 transitional section

(39) 13 internal circumferential side

(40) 14 radial groove

(41) 15 connection groove

(42) 16 receptacle

(43) 17 retention system

(44) 18 first step

(45) 19 disk spring

(46) 20 internal circumferential area

(47) 21 second step

(48) 22 sealing lip

(49) 23 base section

(50) 24 compensation opening

(51) 25 reference stop

(52) 26 lid element