DE102018117090A1 - Pedal force simulator and assembly method of a pedal force simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal force simulator (1) for force simulation on an actuating element of a motor vehicle, having a housing (2) in which a piston (3) can be arranged to be axially displaceable, the piston (3) being connected to a piston rod (4). which is displaceable against the restoring force of a spring (5) relative to the housing (2) in order to force the axial displacement of the piston (3), the spring (5) having a support area (6) remote from the piston, which is thus provided with an abutment component (6). 7) cooperates, that the spring (5) on the abutment member (7) is supported, wherein the stop member (7) is fixed in the operating state on the piston rod (4), wherein the stop member (7) and the piston rod (4) so matched are that the stop member (7) for the mounting state of a radial projection (8) of the piston rod (4) is moved past and is fixed thereto in the operating state. Furthermore, the invention relates to an assembly method of such a pedal force simulator (1), wherein in a first step, a piston rod (4) is attached to a piston (3), wherein in a second step following the first step, a spring (5) via the piston rod ( 4), wherein in a third step following the second step a stop component (7) is pushed onto the piston rod (4) via a radial projection (8) and wherein in a fourth step following the third step the stop component (7) is positively locked, non-positively and / or materially attached to the radial projection (8) of the piston rod (4) is attached.

Description

The invention relates to a pedal force simulator for force simulation on an actuating element, in particular an electrically actuated clutch or brake, a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle simulation, for example in the entertainment industry, with a housing in which a piston can be arranged axially displaceable, wherein the piston connected to a piston rod is, which is displaceable against the restoring force of a spring relative to the housing to force the axial displacement of the piston, wherein the spring has a piston remote support portion, such as a distal end, which cooperates with a stop member, that the spring is on the stop member supported, wherein the stop member is fixed in the operating state on the piston rod. Furthermore, the invention relates to an assembly method for such a pedal force simulator of a motor vehicle.

For example, the WO 2017/032371 A2 a device for force simulation on an actuating element of a vehicle. Also reveals the WO 2016/146117 A1 a device for force simulation on an actuating element of a vehicle, with a piston which is connected via a piston rod to the actuating element, which moves the piston when actuated within a cylindrical housing against a spring force of a return spring axially, wherein upon actuation of the piston, the relatively axially to each other movable components within the housing are subjected to a lubricant.

In addition, the DE 10 2014 225 996 A1 a system for pedal force simulation, wherein the pedal is actuated with a pedal force and is operatively connected to a in a housing against a restoring force of a return spring axially displaceable piston, and the position of the pedal via a sensor detected and forwarded to the coupling actuation actuators, wherein the piston is operatively connected to at least one further resilient element, which provides a hysteresis with increasing and decreasing force curve.

In the above-mentioned pedal force simulators, the spring for returning the piston is disposed within the housing. A disadvantage of a placement of the spring within the housing, however, is that the sensor integration, namely the setting of a target (magnets) on the piston, is difficult. In addition, the assembly of the pedal force simulator with arranged in the housing spring is complex, since a certain, relatively unfavorable mounting order must be met. So to realize a sensor integration to determine the pedal position, it has been proposed to arrange the spring outside the housing.

This is from the WO 2017/032367 A1 a device for force simulation on an actuating element of a vehicle, in which the spring for returning the piston outside of the housing is arranged on the piston rod, so that it is supported with the one end on the outside of the housing and with the other end on an axial stop serving radial projection of the piston rod, wherein the piston rod is formed in several parts and the parts of the piston rod are connected to each other via a nut.

However, the prior art always has the disadvantage that when an attachment of the spring outside the housing, a stop for the spring is formed on the housing, but the structural design of the other axial stop for the spring can be realized only with great effort. In order to mount the spring, the piston rod must therefore be designed in several parts, so that the spring is first pushed onto the one part of the piston rod and then the second part of the piston rod is connected to the first part of the piston rod, for example via a nut.

It is therefore the object of the invention to avoid or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a pedal force simulator is to be developed in which the spring is arranged outside of the housing on the piston rod, wherein in particular the stop for a piston remote end of the spring on the piston rod is realized easily and easily assembled.

The object of the invention is achieved in a generic device according to the invention in that the stop member and the piston rod are coordinated so that the stop member in the assembled state at a radial projection of the piston rod is moved past and fixed in the operating state.

This has the advantage that the connection of the spring to the piston rod and the design of a stop for the spring is simplified and at the same time the mountability and the assembly sequence is optimized. The fact that the stop member can be pushed in the assembled state on the radial projection for fixing the stop member of the piston rod, but is fixed in the operating state of this radial projection, the spring can be pushed during assembly on the radial projection of the piston rod on the already mounted piston rod. Subsequently, the stop member can be pushed over the radial projection on the piston rod and fixed to the piston rod, so that it stops forms for the spring. It is therefore no longer necessary that the piston rod must be mounted with already inserted spring, since the stop for the spring is subsequently mounted on the piston rod.

Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the subclaims and are explained in more detail below.

In addition, it is expedient if the stop member can be attached to the piston rod already mounted on the piston rod. This has the advantage that the spring can be mounted after the piston rod, so that the assembly is greatly facilitated by the change of the mounting sequence.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the stop member is positively, non-positively and / or cohesively connected to the piston rod. In particular, the stop member should be positively, non-positively and / or cohesively connectable to the radial projection of the piston rod. As a result, the restoring force of the spring can be adjusted.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the stop member and the piston rod can be connected via a bayonet closure. As a result, therefore, the stop member in a state, namely the mounting state, on the piston rod, in particular via the radial projection of the piston rod, are pushed. In another state, however, namely the operating state, the stop member is rotated so that it can not be pushed over the radial projection of the piston rod, so that the stop member is axially fixed to the radial projection. As a result, therefore, the stop member after the assembly of the piston rod, so subsequently attachable.

It is also advantageous, because the position of the radial projection and / or the geometry of the stop member are matched to the length of the piston rod or the distance formed on the housing abutment surface for the piston-facing end of the spring and / or the spring that the stop surface is set for the spring at a desired axial position, so that a desired spring bias of the spring is generated.

A favorable embodiment is also characterized in that the stop member is formed in several parts, d. h., That the stop member in the unmounted state consists of several components / components and is assembled during assembly so that it forms a stop member. This has the advantage that the assembly of the stop member is facilitated and the stop member can be fixed to the radial projection of the piston rod.

Further, it is advantageous if individual components of the stop member in the assembled state via a positive connection, in particular a clip connection or a snap hook connection, are interconnected. As a result, it is thus possible to form a releasable positive connection between the components of the stop component that is easy to disengage, which can be released for mounting and is positively connected to the piston rod in the operating state.

It is also advantageous if the piston rod is formed in one piece. As a result, the production cost of the piston rod can be reduced and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is expedient if two components of the stop member are formed in the manner of half-shells, which are then connected to each other in the assembled state and form the stop member. Thus, a favorable compromise between the lowest possible number of components and a simplification of the assembly can be achieved.

In addition, it is advantageous if the components of the stop member surround the radial projection of the piston rod on both sides in the axial direction.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method of assembling such a pedal force simulator of a motor vehicle, wherein in a first step, a piston rod is attached to a piston, wherein in a second step downstream of the first step, a spring is pushed over the piston rod, wherein in a second step downstream third step a stop member for axially positioning the spring on the piston rod on the radial projection pushed / arranged, and wherein in a third step downstream fourth step, the stop member axially positive, frictionally and / or materially secured to the radial projection of the piston rod becomes.

This has the advantage that an optimized assembly sequence is realized, which improves the mountability of the pedaling force simulator.

In particular, it is advantageous if the spring is mounted on the piston after assembly of the piston rod.

In other words, the invention relates to a new construction, which simplifies the spring connection between the piston rod and the housing with respect to the manufacturability of the connection geometries. In particular, therefore, the geometries of the piston rod and the bearing surface / Stop surface or the stop members for the spring can be simplified without restricting functionality. In addition, the new design simplifies assembly by optimizing assembly sequence and mountability.

The connection of the spring (at a piston remote end / Abstützbereich) to the piston rod is thus realized via a support surface, which is not axially positioned as before by a stop on one piston rod half and by a nut on the other piston rod half, but at a realized in one piece piston rod. In addition to the stop in the one-piece piston rod design can be mounted in the constructive implementation of already mounted piston rod both the support surface for the spring, so the stop member, as well as the spring in the last assembly step. This means that the piston rod can be easily mounted in a previous assembly step without an intermediate spring. Subsequently, the spring can be slid over the piston rod and placed on the housing support surface / stop on the housing.

For mounting the second bearing surface / the second stop member for the spring to produce a desired biasing force of the spring and to realize the force application upon actuation of the pedaling force simulator, a stop member is subsequently mounted on the piston rod. This can be z. Example, be realized by a bayonet embodiment in which the bayonet geometry of the stop member is pushed over the piston rod, then rotated and placed in position, so that the spring is biased. In the rotated state, the stop member can not be pushed over the piston rod or via a radial projection on the piston rod, so that the axial stop for the spring is formed.

In the assembly process, therefore, the stop member is pushed over the piston rod and the radial projection of the piston rod in the direction of the housing, so that the previously mounted on the piston rod spring is biased. Now, the stop member is rotated and placed in position so that the bayonet geometry can not be pushed over the radial projection. Due to the bayonet geometry on the stop member and the counter-geometry on the piston rod, so the radial projection, the stop member for the spring is positioned axially fixed.

Another possible embodiment is that the support surface / the abutment member consists of two half-shells, which from the side to the intended position on the piston rod z. B. non-positively or positively connected to each other and thus form the axial stop for the spring. In the assembled state, therefore, the spring is supported on the one axial side on the housing and on the other side of the spring on the stop member.

• 1 eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines Pedalkraftsimulators mit außerhalb eines Gehäuses angebrachter Feder mit einem Anschlagsbauteil in einer ersten Ausführungsform,
• 2 bis 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Montageschritte des Anschlagsbauteils in der ersten Ausführungsform an einer Kolbenstange des Pedalkraftsimulators,
• 6 eine Querschnittsansicht des Pedalkraftsimulators mit dem Anschlagsbauteil in einer zweiten Ausführungsform, sowie
• 7 bis 8 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Montageschritte des Anschlagsbauteils in der zweiten Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained below with the aid of drawings. Show it:

• 1 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal force simulator having a spring mounted outside a housing with a stop member in a first embodiment;
• 2 to 5 a perspective view of the mounting steps of the stop member in the first embodiment on a piston rod of the pedal force simulator,
• 6 a cross-sectional view of the pedaling force simulator with the stop member in a second embodiment, as well as
• 7 to 8th a perspective view of the mounting steps of the stop member in the second embodiment.

The figures are merely schematic in nature and are for the sole purpose of understanding the invention. The same elements are identified by the same reference numerals. The features of the different embodiments can be interchanged arbitrarily.

1 shows a pedal force simulator 1 for power simulation on an actuating element of a motor vehicle. The pedal force simulator 1 has a housing 2 on, which encloses a cylindrical cavity and in which a piston 3 is arranged axially displaceable. The piston 3 is with a piston rod 4 connected, which counter to the restoring force of a spring 5 opposite the housing 2 can be displaced substantially axially displaceable. With an axial displacement of the piston rod 4 becomes the axial displacement of the piston 3 enforced.

The feather 5 is outside the case 2 arranged and has a piston remote / piston remote support area 6 , preferably a distal end, attached to a stop member 7 supported. Here is the stop component 7 in operating condition on the piston rod 4 established. The piston rod 4 has a radial projection 8th on, on which the stop member 7 is determined axially. The feather 5 also has a piston facing / piston near support area 9 , preferably a proximal end, on which abuts against a stop 10 on the housing 2 supported.

2 to 5 shows the assembly of the stop member 7 on the piston rod 4 , The stop component 7 has in cooperation with the radial projection 8th a bayonet lock 11 on. This means that the stop member has a recess 14 having the negative shape of the radial projection 8th corresponds to or slightly larger than the radial projection 8th is. Both are the radial projection 8th as well as the recess 14 not rotationally symmetrical. So it is only possible, the stop member 7 over the radial projection 8th to push, if a certain relative orientation or an alignment area in the circumferential direction of the two component 7 . 8th is maintained to each other.

As in 2 to recognize so the stop member 7 over the radial projection 8th pushed. As in 3 to see the stopper component 7 over the radial projection 8th out towards the piston 3 pushed out, leaving the spring 5 is compressed. In this area, the piston rod points 4 a smaller outer circumference than in the region of the radial projection 8th on. Thereafter, the stopper component 7 relative to the piston rod 4 twisted (compare 4 ), for example by 90 ° or in a range between 45 ° and 135 °, until the recess 14 and the radial projection 8th no longer be in flight. In 5 It can be seen that the spring preload of the spring 5 the stop component 7 axially in the direction away from the piston 3 shifted until the stopper component 7 at the radial projection 8th is applied and thereby fixed to this in the axial direction. The thicker the stopper component 7 or the closer the radial projection to the piston 3 is positioned, the greater the biasing force of the spring 5 ,

6 shows the pedal force simulator 1 with the stop component 7 in a second embodiment. The stop component 7 surrounds the radial projection 8th in the axial direction on both sides. The stop component 7 is formed in two parts and has two components 12 in the operating state via a positive connection 13 connected to each other. At the stop member is a circumferential flange 15 formed, which is a stop surface 16 for the spring 5 forms.

7 and 8th show the assembly steps of the stop member 7 , At the components 12 of the stop component 7 are each two snap hooks 17 formed, which deform elastically during assembly and in the assembled state, a projection on the other component 12 of the stop component 7 engage behind, so that the positive connection 13 between the components 12 is created.

The stop component 7 has a recess 18 on that in a middle area 19 is designed so that it has the radial projection 8th encloses. In axially adjacent outer areas 20 of the middle area 19 is the recess 18 designed to hold the piston rod 4 encloses, but not axially over the radial projection 8th slidable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Pedal force simulator

2

casing

3

piston

4

piston rod

5

feather

6

non-piston end / support area

7

stop component

8th

radial projection

9

piston-facing end / support area

10

attack

11

bayonet catch

12

Components of the stop component

13

Positive connection

14

recess

15

flange

16

stop surface

17

snap hooks

18

recess

19

middle area

20

outer area

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2017/032371 A2 [0002]
• WO 2016/146117 A1 [0002]
• DE 102014225996 A1 [0003]
• WO 2017/032367 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Pedal force simulator (1) for force simulation on an actuating element of a motor vehicle, with a housing (2) in which a piston (3) is axially displaceable, wherein the piston (3) is connected to a piston rod (4), which counter to the restoring force a spring (5) relative to the housing (2) is displaceable in order to force the axial displacement of the piston (3), wherein the spring (5) has a piston remote support region (6), which cooperates with a stop member (7), in that the stop element (7) is fixed to the piston rod (4) in the operating state, characterized in that the stop element (7) and the piston rod (4) are matched to one another in that the mounting element (7) for the mounting state is movable past a radial projection (8) of the piston rod (4) and is fixed thereto in the operating state. Pedal force simulator (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the stop member (7) on the piston (3) already mounted piston rod (4) is attachable. Pedal force simulator after one of Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the stop member (7) is positively, non-positively and / or materially connected to the piston rod (4) connectable. Pedal force simulator (1) after one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the stop member (7) and the piston rod (4) via a bayonet closure (11) are connectable. Pedal force simulator (1) after one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the stop member (7) is formed in several parts. Pedal force simulator (1) after Claim 5 , characterized in that individual components (12) of the stop member (7) in the assembled state via a positive connection (13) are interconnected. Pedal force simulator (1) after one of Claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that the piston rod (4) is integrally formed. Pedal force simulator (1) after one of Claims 6 or 7 , characterized in that the components (12) of the stop member (7) engage around the radial projection (8) of the piston rod (4) on both sides. Assembly method of a pedal force simulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8th in which, in a first step, a piston rod (4) is fastened to a piston (3), wherein in a second step following the first step a spring (5) is pushed over the piston rod (4), in a second step downstream the third step, a stop member (7) on the piston rod (4) via a radial projection (8) is pushed and wherein in a third step downstream fourth step, the stop member (7) positively, non-positively and / or materially connected to the radial projection (8) Piston rod (4) is attached. Mounting method according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the spring (5) after assembly of the piston rod (4) on the piston (3) is mounted.

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