Power plants – Pressure fluid source and motor – Pulsator
Patent
1999-02-19
2000-06-27
Ryznic, John E.
Power plants
Pressure fluid source and motor
Pulsator
605471, F15B 700
Patent
active
060792078
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle actuating unit including a master cylinder which is attached to a wall in the motor vehicle.
In particular in crashes which cause deformations to the front part of the motor vehicle, there is the risk that parts which are positioned in this area, in particular the actuating unit of the hydraulic brake system located at the splashboard, will reduce the space available directly in front of the driver so that injuries are imminent. Therefore, German patent No. 43 04 565, for example, discloses the provision of means which simulate increased fluid requirements of the brake system in a crash with deformations at the front part of the motor vehicle and, thus, permit extending the actuating travel of the actuating unit. Hydraulic valves are provided in this arrangement which must be operated in the case of a crash to achieve the desired effect.
A disadvantage of this known arrangement is that relatively high demands must be placed on the valves because they must function correctly and quickly in the case of a crash, but remain unoperated in the normal case, usually for years.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to disclose a motor vehicle actuating unit which is appropriate to reduce by simple means the risk of injury in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle when a crash occurs.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the provision of means which permit a deflecting movement of the master cylinder from its longitudinal axis in a crash causing deforming impacts on the front part of the motor vehicle. Because a deflecting movement of this type is effected to a large extent without force being transmitted to the wall, component parts which are inserted in front of the master cylinder in the direction of the passenger compartment will not intrude into the passenger compartment, or only to a very small degree. This minimizes the risk of injuries in the leg room. A deflecting movement of this type can be achieved by low-cost passive measures.
The wall can be the splashboard of the motor vehicle or the front wall of a brake force booster. The master cylinder can be mounted in a hydraulic brake system or for the clutch actuation, for example.
Preferably, the master cylinder is attached to the wall by a fastening element made up of two parts which permit a tilting movement relative to each other in the event that forces caused by a crash act on the master cylinder.
Favorably, the two-part fastening element is made up of a bead which is arranged on the master cylinder and abuts on the wall, on the one hand, and on a mounting plate, on the other hand. The mounting plate forms the other part of the flange. The bead is rigidly connected to the master cylinder, and the mounting plate is attached to the wall, by screws, for example. The advantage is that the mounting plate, exactly as the conventional flange of a master cylinder, can be attached to the wall, in particular the wall of a hydraulic brake force booster, without the need for special modifications of the wall.
Thus, the actuating unit according to the present invention can be adapted with simple means to achieve an accident-proof actuating unit. Such an adaption includes slight modifications to the fastening element of the master cylinder and maintaining a conventional brake force booster. It is also possible to make the wall of the brake force booster thinner in part. This facilitates the deflecting movement and still further reduces the amount of displacement of the brake force booster into the passenger compartment.
It is especially favorable that the bead has the shape of a circular segment, as viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the master cylinder, and the mounting plate has a matingly shaped hollow chamber, against which the bead bears, in its front area which is remote from the wall. The hollow chamber is spaced from the bead in the rear area. The curved surfaces of the bead and the mounting plate which a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4410212 (1983-10-01), Sturtz
patent: 5634337 (1997-06-01), Gautier et al.
patent: 5797264 (1998-08-01), Verbo et al.
patent: 5890358 (1999-04-01), Verbo et al.
patent: 5927821 (1999-07-01), Bauer et al.
Bergelin Klaus
Bischoff Gilbert
Bohm Peter
Konig Harald
Low Albin
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Ryznic John E.
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