FR2864495A1 - Brake actuator pedal for motor vehicle, has inner housing applying component of force that is applied to pedal to spherical end of drive shaft along longitudinal axis and including slot for passage of elongated unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The pedal has a brake pedal (2) with a device (D) to fasten a drive shaft (14) to the pedal. An inner housing (18) receives a spherical end (12) of the shaft. The housing is rigid along a longitudinal axis (X) and applies a component of force that is applied to the pedal to the spherical end along the axis. The housing has a slot for the passage of an elongated unit connected to the spherical end. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a brake actuating assembly having a pedal and drive shaft (B) a method for fabricating the brake actuating assembly.

Description

ACTUATING PEDAL, ACTUATION ASSEMBLY COMPRISING

  Such an assembly and method for manufacturing such an assembly. The present invention mainly relates to an actuating pedal, in particular to a brake pedal, to an assembly comprising such a pedal and to a method of manufacturing such a set. .

  Known connection devices between a brake pedal and an actuating rod of a pneumatic brake booster, for example EP 0896162 in which the connecting device is a snap-fastening device integral with the brake pedal and having radially elastic tongues deviating to allow a spherical end of the actuating rod to pass and resuming their initial rest position after passage of this spherical end. The radially elastic tabs then form axial retention means of the actuating rod along the axis of the actuating rod.

  On the one hand, the attachment between the brake pedal and the actuator rod of the servomotor must allow a rotulante link substantially without play between the end of the actuating rod and the edale due to the movement of the lever of the actuator. brake pedal. And on the other hand, the legislation requires that the connection between the brake pedal and the actuator actuator rod is capable of withstanding a pullout force of about 5000 Newtons. In the device described above, the tongues are made of plastic material, so that they can ensure the resistance to tearing stress and the swivel connection between the pedal and the actuating rod, it is necessary to provide a specific plastic and a shape for the relatively complex tabs to achieve, for example by molding. Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of motorists, it requires a device with a high cost.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting device between an actuating rod and a pedal providing high security.

  It is also an object of the present invention to provide a connection between an actuating rod and a pedal for a quick connection between the rod and the pedal.

  It is also an object of the present invention to provide a low cost device.

  These objects are achieved by an actuating pedal comprising a housing for receiving an end of an actuating rod provided with an orifice allowing the introduction of the spherical end of the actuating rod into the housing, said orifice not being aligned with the direction after mounting of the actuating rod and said housing being rigid in the direction of the actuating rod.

  In other words, the direction of insertion of the spherical end of the actuating rod into the housing is not the same as the direction of tearing forces may be applied to the pedal.

  The rigid term applied to an element means in the present application in the sense of an indeformable element in the range of forces applied to a pedal, in particular to a brake pedal during operation in normal conditions.

  The main subject of the present invention is an actuating pedal, in particular a pedal for actuating brakes for a motor vehicle, comprising a first end through which said pedal is rotatably mounted in the motor vehicle and a second end opposite the first end comprising an element for applying a force, said pedal comprising a ball jointing device between said pedal and a substantially spherical end of an actuating rod, said longitudinal axis actuating rod comprising an elongated element according to the X-axis connecting to the substantially spherical end and transverse dimensions smaller than the diameter of the spherical end, said connecting device comprising a transverse axis receiving housing of the spherical end provided with an opening for the inserting said spherical end into the cavity, characterized in that the receiving housing is rigid along the longitudinal axis X and applies to the spherical end a component along the longitudinal axis X of a force applied to the pedal and in that the housing comprises a slot for the passage of the element elongated connecting to the spherical end, larger in size than the transverse dimensions of the elongate member.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that said housing is of Y axis perpendicular to the axis of the rod.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that said connecting device also comprises a means closing the opening applying to the spherical end a component in the direction of the pedal along the orthogonal axis of the effort applied to the pedal.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that said means is a radially resilient means closing in a first position the opening of the cavity.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the elastic means has the shape of a pin provided with a first and second strand, at least one strand being mounted in a groove axis longitudinal opening into said cavity so as to close in a first position the opening.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the distance along the Y axis of the cavity separating the bottom of the cavity and the strands, the elastic means is less than the diameter of the spherical end of so that a constraint along the axis of the cavity and oriented towards the bottom of the cavity is permanently applied to the spherical end.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the two strands are substantially parallel, the distance separating the first and second strands being less than the diameter of the substantially spherical end of the actuating rod. .

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the first and second strands are respectively disposed in grooves, of longitudinal axis facing one another and opening into the cavity.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the first and second strands are connected to a first longitudinal end by a bend.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the elbow and the ends of the strands opposite the first ends connected by said elbows are folded orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis in the direction of the pedal. The present invention also relates to an actuating pedal characterized in that the opening of the cavity is bordered by a truncated cone oriented towards the inside of the cavity.

  The present invention also relates to a pedal characterized in that the receiving cavity of the spherical end of the actuating rod is formed in a substantially cylindrical body axis orthogonal to an average plane P of the pedal. The present invention also relates to a pedal characterized in that the body is fixed to the pedal by riveting.

  The present invention also relates to a pedal characterized in that the brake pedal has substantially the shape of a blade contained in the average plane P of the pedal parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the actuating rod.

  The present invention also relates to a pedal characterized in that the blade has a recessed portion relative to the average plane P of the pedal for receiving the body of the connecting device so that the axis of the rod of actuation is closer to the average plane P of the blade.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating assembly comprising a pedal and an actuating rod provided at a first longitudinal end with a substantially spherical end characterized in that said pedal is a pedal according to the present invention.

  The present invention also relates to an actuating assembly characterized in that the pedal is a brake pedal and in that the rod actuates a master cylinder.

  The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the actuating assembly characterized in that it comprises among others the following steps: - establishment of the spherical end of the actuating rod opposite the opening entrance to the cavity; application of a force along the orthogonal axis Y on the actuating rod towards the bottom of the cavity, the force being sufficient to separate at least one strand, along the Z axis outwards; - Implementation of the spherical end of the actuating rod in the cavity so that the strands, approach one another and exert a force on the spherical end 20 in the direction of the pedal .

  The present invention also relates to a method characterized in that it also comprises as final step, the step of: plastic deformation of the elbow and the ends of strands opposite the c orde the Y axis in the direction of the pedal.

  The present invention has the advantage of allowing attachment of the actuating rod to the brake pedal requiring a low force since the force applied to the attachment is different from the binding force along the axis of the rod. actuation between the pedal and the actuating rod.

  The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows and the appended figures for which the front and the rear respectively correspond to the left part and to the right part and in which: FIG. 1 is a view of three quarters before a device of a first example according to the present invention before mounting a spherical end of an actuating rod; - Figure 2 is a rear three-quarter view of the device according to the present invention in which is mounted the spherical end of the actuating rod; Figure 3 is a detail view of Figure 2; FIG. 4 is a three-quarter view before a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

  In Figure 1, we can see a pedal 2 provided with a device D for hooking a pedal actuating rod according to the present invention. In the example shown, the pedal 2 is formed by a spring 7 secured to a first upper end of a fixed part of the vehicle (not shown) so as to have a rotational movement with respect to the vehicle and provided at its lower end with a force application element by a motor driver (not shown).

  In the example shown, the device D comprises a body 4 of substantially cylindrical shape and Y axis substantially orthogonal to an average plane P containing the blade of the pedal 2. The device D is fixed to the pedal by a first longitudinal end 6 of the body 4 to a first face 8 of the edal blade 2, for example by welding or by riveting. The device D comprises at a second longitudinal end 10 of the body 4 opposite to the first end 6 of the body 4, a substantially circular opening 16 and of internal diameter at least equal to the diameter of a substantially spherical end 12 of a rod. actuation 14.

  The body 4 also comprises an inner receiving housing 18 of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod 14 of s securely cylindrical shape, of internal diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod. . Thus, on the one hand, the swiveling connection between the actuating rod 14 and the brake pedal 2 is ensured and, on the other hand, the maintenance of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod 14 in the body 4 of the device D along the X axis is substantially without play.

  The actuating rod 14 comprises at a first longitudinal end 141 the spherical end 12 and at a second end 142 opposite the first end 141, a shape adapted to be received in a servomotor. The first and second ends 141, 142 are connected by an elongated rigid element 143, advantageously cylindrical, of outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod.

  In the example shown, the diameter of the opening 16 is advantageously greater than the diameter of the receiving housing 18, said opening 16 being connected by a truncated cone 17 to the receiving housing 18, thus facilitating the penetration of the spherical end. 12 in the receiving accommodation 18.

  In FIG. 2, we can see a longitudinal slot made along a generatrix of the body 4 of the device D and putting the cavity 18 in communication with the external environment so as to allow the passage of the cylindrical element 142 of the rod 14 when the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod is disposed in the cavity 18.

  In the example shown, the periphery of the body 4 surrounding the slot 20 is advantageously bevelled longitudinally to deflect the control rod during assembly of the booster in the engine compartment.

  The device D also comprises a means 24 mounted at the entrance of the cavity 18 and partially closing said cavity inlet.

  In the example shown, the means 24 is an elastic means capable of having a first position closing the inlet of the cavity 18 and a second position allowing the passage of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod 14. means 24 fades under the application of a force along the Y axis sufficient, then allowing the insertion or the output of the cavity 18 of the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod. The mechanical characteristics of the means 24 are chosen so that the insertion force is advantageously between 20 Newtons and 50 Newtons.

  In the example shown, the elastic means 24 is formed by a pin provided with two branches 26 and 28 movable along an axis Z perpendicular to the Y axis of the cavity 18 and the X axis of the actuating rod 14 The two branches 26, 28 are connected by a first longitudinal end by a bend 29.

  In the example shown, the pin is made with a spring steel wire folded substantially in the middle so as to form a U. Each of the branches 26, 28 are housed in a first 32 and a second 34 grooves made in the 4. In the example shown, the grooves have axes perpendicular to the Y axis and parallel to the X axis, however, a different orientation can be provided.

  Said grooves 32, 34 are formed in the body 4 of the device D so as to open into the cavity 18 and to allow each of the branches 26, 28 to come into contact with the spherical end and thus to define the longitudinal dimension according to FIG. X axis of the receiving cavity 18 of the spherical end 12 in order to eliminate the transverse clearance along the Y axis between the housing 18 and the spherical end 12.

  In other words, the distance separating the grooves 32 and 34 from the bottom of the housing 18 is at most equal to the diameter of the end 12 of the actuating rod 14, advantageously substantially smaller so that the branches 26, 28 are constantly urged outwardly of the cavity along the axis Z in order to apply a force on the end 12 in the direction along the orthogonal axis Y towards the bottom of the cavity 18 and thus to ensure a maintenance without transverse clearance along the Y axis of the spherical end 12.

  In the example shown, the end of the pin provided with the elbow 29 is folded perpendicularly to the axis X on the outer periphery of the body 4 of the device D and the ends of the branches. In this exemplary embodiment, the elastic means 24 can not be dismantled, because in order to be able to separate the actuating rod from the brake pedal 2, the elastic means must be plastically deformed. To re-attach the actuating rod 14 to the pedal 2, the elastic means 24 must be replaced by a non-deformed elastic means.

  We will now describe the method of mounting the actuating rod on the pedal.

  The actuating rod 1 4 of X axis is approximated to the device D along the axis Y so as to bring the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod into contact with the opening 16 of the device D, then an effort along the axis Y (according to the arrow F) sufficient to spread outward along the Z axis the first 26 and second 28 strands of the pin is applied to the spherical end 12 of the actuating rod 14, the spherical end 12 then enters the cavity 18. The branches 26, 28 return to a position close to their initial position and exert a permanent force on the spherical end 12. Then, the elbow 29 of the pin 24 as well as the ends of the opposite branches at the ends r are connected by 1 or Yde, are folded along the Y axis on the outer periphery of the body 4 of the device D. The actuating rod is then secured to the pedal and the retention of the rod d 'pedal operation along the X axis is realized by the body 4, and not by the resilient means which in turn prevents the spherical end 12 to have a transverse displacement along the Y axis outwardly of the receiving housing of the device D by applying a component according to the Y axis of the force applied to the brake pedal.

  The device D then ensures both the retention along the X axis and the Y axis of the spherical end relative to the pedal 2 and the swivel connection between the actuating rod 14 and the pedal 2.

  The shape of the elastic means is of course not limited to that shown in Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 4, we can see a second example of a pedal according to the present invention comprising a device D as described above and provided with an elastic means 142 having substantially the shape of a pin provided with a first substantially rectilinear strand 126 and a second strand 128 in a substantially circular arc shape, the first strand 126 being disposed in a groove; X axis opening into the cavity, the second strand 1 28 in an arc cooperating with the outer periphery of the body 4 of the device D. During assembly, only the first strand 126 rectilinear is moved along the Z axis, the second strand 128 in the form of a circular arc holding the pin along the Z axis on the body 4 of the device D. It is understood that the axis of the device D is not necessarily perpendicular to an average plane P containing the pedal 2 and that it is envisaged the to provide a device whose longitudinal axis forms a non-right angle relative to the plane of the pedal. However, it is advantageous for the plane defined by the axis X of the actuating rod and the longitudinal axis X of the device D to form a plane perpendicular to the median plane P of the pedal 2.

  It is advantageous that the average plane P of the pedal and the actuating rod 14 are aligned, that is to say that the axis X of the actuating rod is contained in the average plane P of the pedal 2 For this, the present invention provides that the portion of the blade on which the device D is fixed is set back from the average plane P of the pedal on the opposite side to the opening 18 of the device D. Thus, the axis X is actually contained in the average plane P of the pedal 2, the average plane P of the pedal containing the upper end of the pedal fixed to the apron of the vehicle and the application element of the driver effort. In the example shown, this part, artificially delimited by dotted lines, is advantageously made by stamping the blade made of sheet steel. However one can imagine for a pedal for example made of molded material (for example plastic) that this recessed part is made directly by molding.

  It is of course also conceivable to use a pedal of known type, as shown in EP 0 896 162, that is to say a pedal formed by a sheet steel strip folded so as to have a In this embodiment, it is necessary to provide a light made in a folded portion of the sheet and forming a branch of the U facing the opening of the cavity 18 in order to allow the insertion of the spherical end of the rod 14. The device as described above is the same.

  It is also understood that the fact of mounting a means 24 of lateral retention of the spherical end 12 of the control rod after the introduction of the end of the control rod in the housing 18 does not leave the frame of the present invention and that therefore can be provided a shutter member of the opening 16 rigid.

  The present invention has the advantage of using a closure means 24 of reduced mechanical strength, since the force received by this sealing means is relatively low.

  The present invention applies in particular to the automotive industry.

  The present invention applies mainly to the braking industry for motor vehicles and in particular to the braking industry for passenger cars.

Claims (19)

claims   1. An actuating pedal, in particular a pedal for actuating brakes for a motor vehicle, having a first end through which said pedal is rotatably mounted in the motor vehicle and a second end opposite to the first end comprising an applicator element. a force, said pedal comprising a device (D) of ball joint connection between said pedal (2) and a substantially spherical end (12) of an actuating rod (14), said longitudinal axis actuating rod (X) having an elongated element (143) along the axis (X) connecting to the substantially spherical end (12) and of transverse dimensions smaller than the diameter of the spherical end (12), said connecting device comprising a receiving housing (18) having a transverse axis (Y) of the spherical end (12) having an opening (16) for insertion of said spherical end (12) into the cavity (18), characterized in that the receiving housing (18) is rigid along the longitudinal axis (X) and applies to the spherical end (12) a component along the longitudinal axis (X) of a force applied to the pedal and in that the housing comprises a slot (20) for the pageing of the elongated element (143) connecting to the spherical end, larger in size than the transverse dimensions of the elongated element.   2. Pedal actuator according to claim 1 characterized in that said housing (18) is of axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis (X) of the rod.   3. Pedal actuator according to claim 2 characterized in that said connecting device (D) also comprises a means (24) closing the opening (16) applying to the spherical end (12) a component in the direction of the pedal along the orthogonal axis (Y) of the force applied to the pedal.   4. Pedal actuator according to claim 3 characterized in that said means (24) is a radially resilient means closing in a first position the opening (16) of the cavity.   5. Pedal actuator according to claim 4 characterized in that the elastic means (24) has the shape of a pin provided with a first and a second strands (26, 126 28, 128), at least one strand being mounted in a groove of longitudinal axis (X) opening into said cavity so as to close in a first position the opening (16).   6. Pedal actuation according to the preceding claim characterized in that the distance along the axis (Y) of the cavity (18) separating the bottom of the cavity (18) and the strands (26,126,28,128) of the elastic means is less than the diameter of the spherical end (12) so that a stress along the axis (Y) of the cavity (18) and oriented towards the bottom of the cavity is permanently applied to the spherical end (12).   7. Pedal actuator according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that the two strands (26, 28) are substantially parallel, the distance separating the first and second strands (26, 28) being smaller than the diameter of the end substantially spherical (12) of the actuating rod (14).   8. Pedal actuator according to the preceding claim characterized in that the first and second strands (126, 128) are respectively disposed in grooves (32, 34) of longitudinal axis (X) facing one of the other and opening into the cavity.   9. An actuating pedal according to claim 5 to 8 characterized in that the first and second strands (26, 126, 28, 128) are connected to a first longitudinal end by a bend.   10. Pedal actuator according to the preceding claim characterized in that the elbow and the ends of the strands opposite the first ends connected by said elbows are folded orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) in the direction of the pedal.   11. Actuating pedal according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the opening (16) of the cavity (18) is bordered by a truncated cone (17) oriented towards the inside of the cavity.   12. Pedal according to the preceding claim characterized in that the cavity (18) for receiving the spherical end (12) of the actuating rod (14) is formed in a body (4) of substantially cylindrical axis (Y) orthogonal to an average plane (P) of the pedal.   13. Pedal according to the preceding claim characterized in that the body (4) is fixed to the pedal by riveting.   14. Pedal according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the brake pedal has substantially the shape of a blade (7) contained in the middle plane (P) of the pedal parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis (X) of the actuating rod.   15. Pedal according to the preceding claim characterized in that the blade (7) has a recessed portion relative to the mean plane (P) of the pedal for receiving the body (4) of the connecting device so that the axis of the actuating rod (14) is closer to the mean plane (P) of the blade.   16. An actuating assembly comprising a pedal (2) and an actuating rod (14) provided at a first end 1 with a longitudinal end of a substantially spherical end (12) characterized in that said pedal (2) is a pedal according to any one of the preceding claims.   17. An actuating assembly according to the preceding claim characterized in that the pedal is a brake pedal and in that the rod actuates a master cylinder.   18. A method of manufacturing the actuating assembly according to one of claimsl6 or 17 characterized in that it comprises among others the following steps: - establishment of the spherical end (12) of the actuating rod ( 14) facing the inlet opening (16) of the cavity (18); applying a force along the orthogonal axis (Y) on the actuating rod (14) towards the bottom of the cavity (18), the force being sufficient to move at least one strand (26, 29, 128 ) along the axis (Z) towards the outside; placing the spherical end (12) of the actuating rod (14) in the cavity (18) so that the strands (26, 126, 28, 128) move closer to one another other and exert a force on the spherical end (12) in the direction of the pedal.   19. Method according to the preceding claim characterized in that it also comprises as final step, the step of: - plastic deformation of the elbow and the ends of strands opposite the c orde along the axis (Y) in the direction of pedal.