ACTUATING UNIT, BRAKE BOOSTER, VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND SUBASSEMBLY THEREFOR

Abstract

An actuating unit for a brake booster of a vehicle is disclosed, the actuating unit having a housing and a force transmission module which is received displaceably in the housing. The force transmission module has a first force transmission element, a second force transmission element which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element so as to transmit force, a spring device which is couplable or coupled to the second force transmission element so as to transmit force and an actuating element which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element. The spring device is configured to exert a spring force on the first and/or second force transmission element such that the first and/or second force transmission element is able to be held at least temporarily in a predetermined initial position. The first and/or second force transmission element is adjustable from the initial position counter to the spring force of the spring device by an adjustment path by a force exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element. The force transmission module is configured to decouple the first force transmission element from the spring device after a defined adjustment path, as well as a brake booster, vehicle brake system and subassembly therefor.

Claims

1. An actuating unit for a brake booster of a vehicle, a housing and a force transmission module which is received displaceably in the housing, wherein the force transmission module has a first force transmission element, a second force transmission element which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element so as to transmit force, a spring device which is couplable or coupled to the second force transmission element so as to transmit force and an actuating element which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element, wherein the spring device is configured to exert a spring force on the first and/or second force transmission element such that the first and/or second force transmission element is able to be held at least temporarily in a predetermined initial position, wherein the first and/or second force transmission element is adjustable from an initial position counter to the spring force of the spring device by an adjustment path by force exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element, wherein the force transmission module is configured to decouple the first force transmission element from the spring device after a defined adjustment path.

2. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second force transmission element is adjustable in a direction of the spring force by a restoring path by the spring force of the spring device exerted and/or transmitted onto the second force transmission element, wherein the force transmission module is configured to couple the first force transmission element to the spring device after a defined restoring path.

3. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the first force transmission element has at least one guide receiver for at least temporarily receiving and/or guiding a rolling body.

4. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the second force transmission element has at least one guide recess for at least temporarily receiving and/or guiding a rolling body.

5. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one holding recess for at least temporarily receiving and/or holding a rolling body.

6. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the first force transmission element and the second force transmission element are displaceable together and/or displaceable relative to one another and/or the first force transmission element is displaceably received at least in some sections inside the second force transmission element.

7. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission module has at least one rolling body which is displaceably receivable or received in an at least one guide receiver of the first force transmission element and/or is displaceably receivable or received in at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element and/or is receivable or received in at least one holding recess of the housing.

8. The actuating unit according to claim 7, wherein the at least one rolling body is displaceably received in an initial position in the at least one guide receiver of the first force transmission element and/or in the at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element, wherein the first force transmission element and/or the second force transmission element are configured to displace the at least one rolling body at least in some sections along the adjustment path counter to the spring force of the spring device during a movement of the first force transmission element and/or the second force transmission element, wherein when a defined coupling position is reached, for decoupling the first force transmission element from the spring device the at least one rolling body is displaced at least in some sections into the at least one holding recess of the housing.

9. The actuating unit according to claim 7, wherein the coupling position and/or during a movement exceeding the coupling position along the adjustment path, the at least one rolling body is held and/or clamped between the second force transmission element and the housing inside the at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element and the at least one holding recess of the housing.

10. The actuating unit according to claim 7, wherein the first force transmission element and/or the second force transmission element are configured to displace the at least one rolling body at least in some sections along the restoring path in the direction of the spring force of the spring device during a movement of the first force transmission element and/or the second force transmission element, wherein when a defined coupling position is reached, for coupling the first force transmission element to the spring device the at least one rolling body is displaced at least in some sections into the at least one guide receiver of the first force transmission element.

11. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide receiver of the first force transmission element and/or a at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element and/or a at least one holding recess of the housing are arranged and/or oriented substantially parallel to one another and/or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis.

12. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide receiver of the first force transmission element is a guide groove and/or an at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element is a guide slot and/or an at least one holding recess of the housing is a holding groove.

13. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring device is couplable or coupled to a support section of the second force transmission element so as to transmit force.

14. The actuating unit (1) according to claim 13, wherein the support section of the second force transmission element is arranged on a side opposing the at least one guide recess of the second force transmission element.

15. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring device has a first spring, and/or a second spring, wherein the first spring has a first spring force-spring path characteristic curve and/or the second spring has a second spring force-spring path characteristic curve, wherein the first and second spring force-spring path characteristic curves differ from one another.

16. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is arranged at least in some sections inside the first force transmission element and/or has at least one tooth row section which is couplable or coupled via a transmission to an electric motor.

17. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission module and/or the first force transmission element is couplable or coupled to a force input member, wherein the force input member is configured to transmit an actuating force exerted by the driver on a brake pedal to the force transmission module and/or the first force transmission element.

18. (canceled)

19. A brake booster for a vehicle brake system having at least one actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the brake booster is an electromechanical brake booster and/or a pneumatic brake booster.

20. A subassembly for a vehicle brake system having at least one brake booster according to claim 19, and at least one brake cylinder which is fluidically couplable to at least one brake circuit of the vehicle brake system.

21. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] Exemplary arrangements of the disclosure are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the figures, in which schematically and by way of example

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an actuating unit;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the actuating unit in a first position;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the actuating unit in a second position;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the actuating unit in a third position;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the actuating unit in a fourth position;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a first sectional view of the actuating unit;

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a second sectional view of the actuating unit;

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a first detailed view of the actuating unit;

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a second detailed view of the actuating unit;

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a third detailed view of the actuating unit;

[0053] FIG. 11 shows a fourth detailed view of the actuating unit in a position; and

[0054] FIG. 12 shows the fourth detailed view of the actuating unit in a further position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIGS. 1 to 5 shows schematically and in perspective an actuating unit 1 for a brake booster of a vehicle in various positions.

[0056] The actuating unit 1 comprises a housing 2 and a force transmission module 3 which is displaceably received in the housing 2. The force transmission module 3 has a first force transmission element 4, a second force transmission element 5 which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element 4 so as to transmit force, a spring device 6 which is couplable or coupled to the second force transmission element 5 so as to transmit force and an actuating element 7 which is couplable or coupled to the first force transmission element 4.

[0057] The spring device 6 is configured to exert a spring force on the first and/or second force transmission element 4, 5 such that the first and/or second force transmission element 4, 5 is able to be held at least temporarily in a predetermined initial position (see FIG. 2), wherein the first and/or second force transmission element 4, 5 can be adjustable from the initial position counter to the spring force of the spring device 6 by an adjustment path 8 by a force exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element 4. The force transmission module 3 is also configured to decouple the first force transmission element 4 from the spring device 6 after a defined and/or predetermined adjustment path 8 (see FIG. 5.)

[0058] Moreover, the first and/or second force transmission element 4, 5 is adjustable in the direction of the spring force by a restoring path 9 by the spring force of the spring device 6 exerted and/or transmitted onto the second force transmission element 5. The force transmission module 3 is configured to couple the first force transmission element 4 again to the spring device 6 after a defined and/or predetermined restoring path 9.

[0059] The first force transmission element 4 has at least one guide receiver 10, in this case four guide receivers 10, for at least temporarily receiving and/or guiding a rolling body 11. The guide receivers 10 are configured as guide grooves 10. The second force transmission element 5 has at least one guide recess 12, in this case four guide recesses 12, for at least temporarily receiving and/or guiding a rolling body 11. The guide recesses 12 are configured as guide slots 12. The housing 2 has at least one holding recess 13, in this case four holding recesses 13, for at least temporarily receiving and/or holding a rolling body 11. The holding recesses 13 are configured as holding grooves 13.

[0060] The first force transmission element 4 and the second force transmission element 5 are displaceable together and/or relative to one another, wherein the first force transmission element 4 is displaceably received at least in some sections inside the second force transmission element 5. The second force transmission element 5 also has a support section 14 to which the spring device 6 is couplable or coupled so as to transmit force. The support section 14 of the second force transmission element 5 is arranged on a side opposing the guide recesses 12 of the second force transmission element 5.

[0061] The force transmission module 3 has at least one rolling body 11, in this case four rolling bodies 11, which in each case are arranged and/or displaceable in some sections and/or temporarily operatively in a guide receiver 10, a guide recess 12 and a holding recess 13. The spring device 6 has a first spring 15, such as a first restoring spring 15. The displacement of the rolling bodies 11 in the direction 9 can be brought about by the spring force of the spring device 6. The displacement of the rolling bodies 11 in the direction 8 can be brought about by an actuating force exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element 4, for example an actuating force transmitted by a force input member. The force transmission module 3 and/or the first force transmission element 4 is couplable or coupled to the force input member, wherein the force input member is configured to transmit an actuating force, exerted by the driver on a brake pedal, to the force transmission module 3 and/or the first force transmission element 4.

[0062] The rolling bodies 11 are displaceably received in the initial position (see FIGS. 2 and 6) in the respective guide receiver 10 of the first force transmission element 4 and in the respective guide recess 12 of the second force transmission element 5. The first force transmission element 4 and the second force transmission element 5 are configured to be displaced counter to the spring force of the spring device 6 during a movement (in the direction 8) of the first force transmission element 4 and/or the second force transmission element 5 in order to displace the rolling bodies 11 at least in some sections along the adjustment path 8, wherein when a defined and/or predetermined coupling position (see FIG. 12) is reached, for decoupling the first force transmission element 4 from the spring device 6 the rolling bodies 11 are displaced at least in some sections in the respective holding recess 13 of the housing 2.

[0063] In the coupling position (see FIG. 12) and/or during a movement exceeding the coupling position along the adjustment path 8, the rolling bodies 11 are held and clamped between the second force transmission element 5 and the housing 2 inside the respective guide recess 12 of the second force transmission element 5 and the respective holding recess 13 of the housing 2.

[0064] The first force transmission element 4 and the second force transmission element 5 are also configured to displace the rolling bodies 11 at least in some sections along the restoring path 9, during a movement (in the direction 9) of the first force transmission element 4 and/or second force transmission element 5 in the direction of the spring force of the spring device 6, wherein when a defined and/or predetermined coupling position (see FIG. 12) is reached, for coupling the first force transmission element 4 to the spring device 6 the rolling bodies 11 are displaced at least in some sections back again into the respective guide receiver 10 of the first force transmission element 4.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a first sectional view of the actuating unit 1 which is arranged in a brake booster 16. The brake booster 16 is designed for use in a vehicle braking system. The actuating unit 1 has a longitudinal axis 17. The guide receivers 10 of the first force transmission element 4 and the guide recesses 12 of the second force transmission element 5 and the holding recesses 13 of the housing 2 are arranged and oriented substantially parallel to one another, wherein they extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 17. They are also arranged and/or arrangeable in the radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17 at least in some sections and/or temporarily substantially one behind the other.

[0066] Moreover, reference is additionally made to FIGS. 1 to 5 and the accompanying description.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows a second sectional view of the actuating unit 1. The actuating element 7 of the actuating unit 1 is arranged at least in some sections inside the first force transmission element 4 and has at least one tooth row section 18 which is couplable or coupled via a transmission to an electric motor.

[0068] Moreover, reference is additionally made in particular to FIGS. 1 to 6 and the accompanying description.

[0069] FIGS. 8 to 12 show detailed views of the actuating unit 1, wherein the first force transmission element 4, the second force transmission element 5 and the rolling bodies 11 are shown in different positions.

[0070] The spring device 6 has a second spring 19 such as a restoring spring 19 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The second restoring spring 19 is also couplable or coupled to the second force transmission element 5. The first restoring spring 15 has a first spring force-spring path characteristic curve and the second restoring spring 19 has a second spring force-spring path characteristic curve. The first and second spring force-spring path characteristic curves can differ from one another. The first restoring spring 15 has a first spring force and the second restoring spring 19 has a second spring force. The first spring force of the first restoring spring 15 can be smaller or larger than the second spring force of the second restoring spring 19, for example with the same spring path. In FIG. 11 a position is shown in which the first force transmission element 4 is operatively coupled to the second force transmission element 5 via the rolling bodies 11 such that a spring force of the spring device 6 can be exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element 4 with a rearward movement in the direction 9 and an actuating force of the force input member can be exerted and/or transmitted onto the second force transmission element 5 with a forward movement in the direction 8. In FIG. 12 a position is shown in which the first force transmission element 4 is decoupled from the second force transmission element 5 and/or the spring device 6 such that an actuating force of the force input member can also be exerted and/or transmitted onto the first force transmission element 4 with a forward movement in the direction 8, but a spring force of the spring device 6 can no longer act on the first force transmission element 4.

[0071] Moreover, reference is additionally made in particular to FIGS. 1 to 7 and the accompanying description.

[0072] Optional features of the disclosure are denoted, for example, by “can”. Accordingly, there are also developments and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention which additionally or alternatively comprise the respective feature or the respective features.

[0073] Isolated features can also be singled out from the presently disclosed combinations of features, if required, and used in conjunction with other features, by breaking up a structural and/or functional relationship potentially existing between the features in order to limit the subject matter of the claims.