VACUUM SYSTEM FOR A BRAKE BOOSTER

Abstract

A vacuum system for the brake booster of a motor vehicle includes a demand-driven vacuum pump and a vacuum line connected on one end to the vacuum chamber of the brake booster and connected on another end to an intake port of the demand-driven vacuum pump. The vacuum system may include a discharge device arranged on an exhaust air opening of the vacuum system for ensuring bidirectional air volume flow between the external surroundings of the discharge device and the exhaust air opening of the vacuum system, which preventing liquids from reaching the exhaust air opening of the vacuum system as an air volume flows from the exterior surroundings into the exhaust air opening of the vacuum system. The vacuum system may also include a check valve arranged between the intake port of the demand-driven vacuum pump and the connection to a vacuum chamber of the brake booster.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A vacuum system for a brake booster of a motor vehicle comprising: a demand-driven vacuum pump having an intake port; a vacuum line having a first end in fluid communication with the intake port and a second end configured to connect to a vacuum chamber of the brake booster; and a discharge device arranged on an exhaust port of the vacuum system for enabling bidirectional air volume flow between the exhaust port and an adjacent surrounding of the discharge device and preventing liquids from reaching the exhaust port while an air volume flows from the adjacent surrounding into the vacuum system.

16. The vacuum system according to claim 15, wherein the vacuum line further comprises a check valve disposed between the intake port and the vacuum chamber.

17. The vacuum system according claim 17, wherein the discharge device comprises a housing having an enclosed chamber.

18. The vacuum system according to claim 18, wherein the enclosed chamber comprises a first volume, which is greater than or equal to a second volume corresponds to a working volume between the check valve and the exhaust air outlet of the vacuum system.

19. The vacuum system according claim 15, wherein the discharge device comprises a housing having an enclosed chamber.

20. The vacuum system according to claim 19, further comprising an exhaust air line having a first end in fluid communication with an exhaust port of the demand-driven vacuum pump and a second end in fluid communication with the discharge device.

21. The vacuum system according to claim 20, further comprising a connector arranged on a first side of the housing and connected to the exhaust air line for providing fluid communication with the exhaust port of the demand-driven vacuum pump.

22. The vacuum system according to claim 19, wherein the housing has at least one opening formed in a second side of the housing providing fluid communication between the enclosed chamber and the adjacent surroundings of the discharge device.

23. The vacuum system according to claim 19, wherein the housing of the discharge device comprises a hollow-cylindrical housing section.

24. The vacuum system according to claim 23, wherein the second side of the housing is defined by a base of the hollow-cylindrical housing section and a cylinder wall of the hollow-cylindrical housing adjacent the base has at least one opening formed therein providing fluid communication between the enclosed chamber and the adjacent surroundings of the discharge device.

25. The vacuum system according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of openings are arranged in the cylinder wall such that they are uniformly spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the hollow-cylindrical housing.

26. The vacuum system according to one of claims 24, further comprising a cover inserted into the hollow-cylindrical housing section for closing the second side of the housing.

27. The vacuum system according claim 23, further comprising a conically tapered housing section connected to the hollow-cylindrical housing section on the first side of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a fluidic diagram of a vacuum system with a brake booster;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a discharge device of the vacuum system; and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a discharge device of the vacuum system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a fluidic diagram with a vacuum brake booster, which is simply referred to as brake booster 50 below, and with a vacuum system 1, which is connected to the brake booster 50 in order to generate a vacuum in a vacuum chamber 51 by an electric vacuum pump 30. Instead of using the electric vacuum pump 30, it would also be possible to provide a different type of demand-driven vacuum pump such as a mechanical vacuum pump, which can be coupled to a drive unit by a controllable coupling element.

[0031] A vacuum connection or fluidic connection between the vacuum chamber 51 and the electric vacuum pump 20 is produced by a vacuum line. In the present exemplary embodiment, the vacuum line includes two piecesa first vacuum line section 41 and a second vacuum line section 42, which are connected to one another by a check valve 30. The vacuum line or the two vacuum line sections 41, 42 may be respectively realized, for example, in the form of a vacuum hose.

[0032] As an alternative to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the check valve 30 may also be arranged on the intake port 21 of the electric vacuum pump 20 or on a connector of the vacuum chamber 51 for connecting the vacuum line. The intake port 21 of the electric vacuum pump 20 and the vacuum chamber 51 of the brake booster 50 are connected to one another by a one-piece or multi-piece vacuum line 41, 42 and at least one check valve 30. The check valve 30 is configured to allow an air volume flow in the flow direction from the brake booster 50 to the electric vacuum pump 20 and for blocking an air volume flow in the opposite flow direction.

[0033] The electric vacuum pump 20 may include a positive-displacement pump such as a reciprocating pump or a diaphragm pump that is driven by an electric motor. The electric vacuum pump 20 is configured to convey an air volume from the intake port 21 to the exhaust port 22. A vacuum available for boosting a brake force is generated in the vacuum chamber 51 during the at least partial evacuation of the air volume contained in the vacuum chamber 51 of the brake booster 50.

[0034] An exhaust air line 10 is connected to the exhaust port 22 with its first end 11 and preferably realized in the form of an exhaust air hose. The exhaust air line 10 may be routed from the exhaust port 22 of the electric vacuum pump 20 to a desired location in the engine compartment such that the air evacuated from the vacuum chamber 51 by the electric vacuum pump 20 can be discharged into the engine compartment at this location through the second end 12 of the exhaust air line 10.

[0035] A discharge device 60 is arranged on the second end 12 of the exhaust air line 10 and configured to ensure a bidirectional air volume flow between the external surroundings and the exhaust air line 10. Bidirectional means that an air volume conveyed by the electric vacuum pump 20 can flow from the exhaust air line 10 into the surrounding atmosphere. In addition, an air volume can also flow from the surrounding atmosphere into the exhaust air line 10 after the electric vacuum pump 20 has been deactivated such that the vacuum system 1 is ventilated in a section between the discharge device 60 and the check valve 30. In other words, a vacuum is equalized in front of the intake port 21 of the electric vacuum pump 20.

[0036] An exemplary embodiment of the discharge device 60 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The discharge device 60 includes a housing 68 with a cylindrical base body. The cross section according to FIG. 2 shows that a chamber 66 is formed in the interior of the housing 68. The housing 68 includes a hollow-cylindrical section with a cylindrical wall 67. A conically tapered section is provided on the first side 61 of the housing 66 and tapered from the diameter of the cylinder wall 67 to the diameter of a connection piece 63.

[0037] The connection piece 63 may be realized in the form of a hose connector, to which an exhaust air line 10 in the form of an exhaust air hose can be or is attached. The connection piece 63 ensures a fluidic connection between the exhaust air line 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the chamber 66. A different connecting point to the opening on the first side 61 housing 68, which ensures a connection between the chamber 66 and the interior of the exhaust air line 10, would basically also be sufficient.

[0038] The second side 62 of the housing 68 is closed with a cover 64 that is inserted into the hollow-cylindrical housing section. According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 64 may be clipped into the hollow-cylindrical section of the housing by a tongue-and-groove joint. Alternatively, a screw-type cover and/or an adhesive cover may also be provided in this case.

[0039] FIG. 3, in particular, shows that the second side 62 of the housing 68 is provided with a plurality of openings 65 that are arranged in the cylinder wall 67. The openings 65 are uniformly spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical housing section and border on the cover 64. The openings 66 provide a fluidic connection between the chamber 66 and the external surroundings of the separating device, i.e. the surrounding atmosphere of the separating device and of the entire vacuum system.

[0040] An air volume is evacuated from the vacuum chamber 51 by the electric vacuum pump 20 as soon as the vacuum system 1 is activated, for example, by a vacuum switch or pressure sensor on the brake booster 50. The resulting air volume flow is conveyed through the exhaust air line 10 and reaches the chamber 66 through the connection piece 63 on the first side 61 of the housing 68. The air volume conveyed into the chamber 66 can escape into the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, i.e. into the atmosphere, through the openings 65 on the second side 62 of the housing 68.

[0041] The air volume flow conveyed by the electric vacuum pump 20 ceases as soon as the vacuum system 1 is deactivated by a vacuum switch or pressure sensor on the brake booster 50. At such a deactivation moment, a vacuum prevails at the outlet 32 of the check valve 30, whereas atmospheric pressure prevails at the openings 65 of the discharge device 60. The pressure gradient between the openings 65 of the discharge device 60 and the outlet 32 of the check valve 30 attempts to generate a volume flow that is directed opposite to the pumping direction of the electric vacuum pump 30 until the pressure gradient is compensated and the vacuum system 1 is ventilated in the section between the openings of the discharge device 60 and the check valve 30.

[0042] During this ventilation process, air is taken in from the surrounding atmosphere through the openings 65 of the discharge device 60. The discharge device 60 is arranged in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle and therefore exposed to splash water, which can enter the engine compartment, for example, in heavy rain or while driving through water. Under these circumstances, water may also be taken in through the openings 65 of the discharge device 60 during the intake of the air for ventilating the vacuum system 1 and therefore reach the chamber 66 of the discharge device 60.

[0043] The volume of the chamber 66 is dimensioned in such a way that it stores a sufficient air volume for ventilating a section of the vacuum system 1, which is respectively formed between the second end of the exhaust air line or the connection piece 63 of the discharge device 60 and the outlet 32 of the check valve. The ventilation process can be completed with the air volume stored in the chamber before the water taken into the chamber reaches the exhaust air line.

[0044] The chamber volume of the chamber 66 preferably corresponds to the volume, which is altogether enclosed by the exhaust air line 10, the working volume of the electric vacuum pump 20 and the first section of the vacuum line 41. In this way, complete ventilation can also be ensured if all of the openings 65 of the discharge device 60 are exposed to or submersed in water. No further air volume flow takes place as soon as the pressure gradient in the vacuum system 1 has been compensated after the completion of the ventilation process. Any water taken into the chamber 66 of the discharge device 60 can subsequently drain through at least one of the openings 65 of the discharge device 60 under the force of gravity. Air from the atmosphere for compensating the drained water volume can simultaneously reach the chamber 66 through at least one other opening 65 in the discharge device 60 such that a sufficient air volume for another ventilation process is once again available in the chamber 66. In addition, any potentially remaining water in the chamber 66 can be ejected through the openings 65 in the discharge device 60 when the electric vacuum pump is activated again.

[0045] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.