GB2584328A

GB2584328A - Connection device for connecting a push-rod to a control member, such as a control pedal of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2584328A
Application number: GB1907712.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Caruso Alessandro; Antonio Cavaglia' Renato
Original assignee: Plastic Components and Modules Automotive SpA
Current assignee: Plastic Components and Modules Automotive SpA
Priority date: 2018-06-05
Filing date: 2019-05-31
Publication date: 2020-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-31
Also published as: BR102019011555A2; FR3081804A1; CN110562217A; GB2584328B; GB201907712D0; IT201800006033A1; FR3081804B1

Abstract

A connection device, suitable for connecting a vehicle brake servo to an operating pedal, comprises a cage 18 integral with a control member 10 and has a ball socket 22 for receiving a ball head (20, Figure 1) of a push-rod (12). A fixing element 26 releasably mountable in the cage has first locking elements 30 for retaining the ball head (20) and second locking elements 32, 36 for retaining the fixing element 26 in the cage 18. Third locking elements 42 may hold the second locking element 32, 36 in such a condition as to prevent disengagement of the fixing element 26 from the cage 18. The second locking elements 32, 36 include elastically deformable first pawls 32 provided on a first side of the fixing element 26 and a pair of elastically deformable second pawls 36 provided on a second opposite side. The third locking elements 42 comprise locking inserts 42 which are made as separate pieces and are slidable relative to the fixing element 26 to be received inside the fixing element 26 to lock respective first and second pawls 32, 36. Locking element 42 may be held inside the element 26 by a detent tooth 48.

Description

Connection device for connecting a push-rod to a control member such as a control pedal of a vehicle The present invention relates in general to a connection device for connecting a push-rod to a control member, such as a control pedal of a vehicle (particularly, although not necessari-ly, a brake pedal).

More specifically, the present invention relates to a connection device as set forth in the preamble of independent claim 1, namely a connection device comprising: a cage structure integral with the control member, the cage structure having a ball socket adapted to receive a ball head provided at an end of the push-rod; a fixing element which is releasably mounted in the cage structure and is provided with first and second elastically deformable locking means, wherein said first locking means are shiftable between an elastically deformed condition, in which they allow the ball head of the push-rod to be inserted into the fixing element, along an insertion direction substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the push-rod, until the ball head engages in the ball socket, and an undeformed condition, in which they retain the ball head of the push-rod in the ball socket and hence in the fixing element, once the ball head is engaged in the ball socket, and wherein said second locking means are shiftable between an elastically deformed condition, in which they allow the fixing element to be inserted into the cage structure along the aforementioned insertion direction, and an undeformed condition, in which they retain the fixing element in the cage structure once the fixing element has been inserted into the cage structure; and third locking means for holding said second locking means in said undeformed condition, thereby preventing disengagement of the fixing element from the cage structure once the ball head of the push-rod is engaged in the ball socket.

A connection device of the above-identified type is known from EP 1 787 878 Al.

According to this known example, the fixing element has a generally parallelepiped shape and the aforementioned second locking means are formed by a pair of elastically deformable pawls provided on two opposite sides of the fixing element, while the aforementioned first locking means are formed by a pair of elastically deformable tabs provided on the other two opposite sides of the fixing element. The aforementioned third locking means are formed by the ball head of the push-rod which, once inserted into the fixing element to engage the respective ball socket, rests against respective faces of the pawls in such a manner as to keep said pawls locked in the undeformed condition in which they retain the fixing element in the cage structure. Each pawl must cooperate with the ball head to be held by the latter in the undeformed condition, and therefore it is positioned substantially in the centre of the respective side of the fixing element, i.e. substantially at the same distance from the other two opposite sides of the fixing element where there are provided the elas- tically deformable tabs for retaining the ball head in the fixing element. Such an arrange-ment of the pawls, however, does not ensure that the fixing element is securely retained in the cage structure, so there is still the risk that the push-rod be disconnected from the cage structure, and hence from the control member, in case high tension forces are applied on the same.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connection device for connecting a push-rod to a control member, such as a pedal of a vehicle, which ensures a more secure connection of the push-rod with the control member than the above-discussed prior art.

This and other objects are fully achieved according to the invention by virtue of a connection device having the features set forth in independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the subject-matter of which is to be intended as forming an integral part of the following de-scription.

In short, the invention is based on the idea of providing a connection device of the above-identified type, wherein the second locking means include a pair of first elastically deform-able pawls on a first side of the fixing element and a pair of second elastically deformable pawls on a second side of the fixing element opposite to the first one, and wherein the third locking means include a pair of locking inserts which are made as separate pieces with re-spect to the ball head of the push-rod and are carried by the fixing element, on opposite sides of the ball head, said locking inserts being slidable relative to the fixing element, in a direction parallel to the aforementioned insertion direction, from a non-working position, in which each locking insert protrudes from the fixing element, to a working position, in which each locking insert is fully received inside the fixing element and holds a respective first pawl and a respective second pawl in the undeformed condition, thereby preventing disengagement of said pawls, and hence of the fixing element, from the cage structure.

By virtue of such a configuration, the connection device according to the present invention ensures a more stable and secure connection of the fixing element with the cage structure

than the prior art.

The invention also relates to a control system, particularly for a motor-vehicle, comprising a control pedal, a push-rod arranged to transmit to an actuation device, such as for example a brake servo of a vehicle braking system, a force imparted by the user (driver) through the control pedal, as well as a connection device arranged to releasably connect the push-rod to the control pedal.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limiting example with ref-erence to the appended drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view showing a portion of a control pedal of a vehicle connected to a push-rod through a connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connection device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the connection device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section view of the control pedal of Figure 1, in the condition in which the push-rod is disconnected from the control pedal; and Figures 5 and 6 show the connection device of Figure 1, with the locking inserts in the non-working position and in the working position, respectively.

With reference to the drawings, numeral 10 generally indicates a control pedal of a vehicle, in particular (although not necessarily) a brake pedal, for controlling an actuation device (not shown), such as for example a brake servo of a vehicle braking system, through a push-rod 12 arranged to transmit to the actuation device the force imparted by the driver on the control pedal 10. The push-rod 12 is releasably connected to the control pedal 10 by means of a connection device, generally indicated at 14.

The connection device 14 comprises a cage structure 18 integral with the control pedal 10. The cage structure 18 may be, for example, made in one piece with the control pedal 10, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings, or be made as a separate piece with respect to the control pedal 10 and then be firmly secured thereto (for example, by welding).

The cage structure 18 has a generally parallelepiped shape, with an open side allowing insertion of an end portion of the push-rod 12 provided with a ball head 20 into the cage structure 18. On the side opposite to the aforementioned open side, the cage structure 18 has a ball socket 22 adapted to partially receive the ball head 20 of the push-rod 12 (as can be seen in Figure 1).

With reference in particular to Figure 3, the ball socket 22 is preferably formed by a suitably shaped bottom element 24, which is made separately from the cage structure 18 and is received inside the cage structure 18 so as to close the side opposite to the aforementioned open side through which the end portion of the push-rod 12, carrying the ball head 20, is inserted into the cage structure 18.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in order to insert the end portion of the push-rod 12 carrying the ball head 20 into the cage structure 18, the push-rod 12 is urged along its longitudinal axis x towards the cage structure 18. The direction of the longitudinal axis x will be hereinafter also referred to as insertion direction.

The connection device 14 further comprises a fixing element, generally indicated at 26, which is made as a separate element with respect to the cage structure 18 and is configured to be inserted into the cage structure 18 and releasably retained therein.

With reference in particular to Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, the fixing element 26 comprises an upper frame 28 of substantially rectangular shape, which in the assembled condition of the fixing element 26 in the cage structure 18 is positioned near the open side of that structure.

The fixing element 26 comprises a pair of elastically deformable tabs 30 which extend from a pair of opposite and parallel sides 28a of the upper frame 28 so as to converge towards the inside of the fixing element 26. The tabs 30 allow, by virtue of their elastic de-formability, the ball head 20 to be inserted into the fixing element 26 until it is engaged in the ball socket 22. Once the ball head 20 is engaged in the ball socket 22, the tabs 30 return back to the undeformed condition (as shown in Figures 1 and 2), where they hold the ball head 20 preventing disengagement of the latter from the ball socket 22 and the fixing element 26. The tabs 30 act therefore as first elastically deformable locking means arranged to retain the ball head 20 of the push-rod 12 in the fixing element 26 once the ball head 20 is engaged in the ball socket 22.

The tabs 30 are advantageously formed n one p ece with the upper frame 28, for example by plastic injection moulding process.

The fixing element 26 further comprises a pair of elastically deformable first pawls 32 which extend parallel to the insertion direction x from one of the aforementioned pair of opposite and parallel sides 28a of the upper frame 28, and are arranged on opposite sides of the tab 30 extending from that side 28a of the upper frame 28. Preferably, the first pawls 32 are connected to each other at their respective free ends by means of a first connecting bridge 34. Likewise, the fixing element 26 comprises a pair of elastically deformable sec-and pawls 36 which extend parallel to the insertion direction x from the other one of the aforementioned pair of opposite and parallel sides 28a of the upper frame 28, and are arranged on opposite sides of the tab 30 extending from that side 28a of the upper frame 28. Preferably, the second pawls 36 are also connected to each other at their respective free ends by means of a second connecting bridge 38. The first and second pawls 32 and 36 are shaped in such a manner as to allow, by virtue of their elastic deformability, the fixing el-ement 26 to be inserted into the cage structure 28 along the insertion direction x until it reaches a final assembled position (shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6), in which the first and second pawls 32 and 36 engage in corresponding seats 40 (shown in Figures 1 and 3) of the cage structure 18 and thus retain (although in a releasable manner) the fixing element 26 in the cage structure 18 The first and second pawls 32 and 36 are thus elastically shiftable between a deformed condition, in which they allow the fixing element 26 to be inserted into the cage structure 18 or removed therefrom, and an undeformed condition, in which they engage in the respective seats 40 of the cage structure 18 to ensure that the fixing element 26 is held in the cage structure 18, and that therefore the fixing element 26, along with the ball head 20 of the push-rod 12, is connected to the control pedal 10.

The first and second pawls 32 and 36, as well as the tabs 30, are also advantageously formed in one piece with the upper frame 28, for example by plastic injection moulding process.

In order to ensure that the first and second pawls 32 and 36 are held in the aforementioned undeformed condition, in which they engage in the respective seats 40 of the cage structure 18, when the fixing element 26 is mounted inside the cage structure 18, the connection device 14 further comprises a pair of locking inserts 42 (preferably made of plastic) arranged to cooperate with the first and second pawls 32 and 36.

With reference in particular to Figures 3, 5 and 6, the locking inserts 42 are carried by the fixing element 26 on opposite sides of the tabs 30, that is to say, on opposite sides of the ball head 22 when the latter is received in the ball socket 22 and retained by the tabs 30.

The locking inserts 42 are slidable relative to the fixing element 26, in a direction parallel to the insertion direction x, along the other pair of opposite and parallel sides (indicated at 28b) of the upper frame 28.

Preferably, in order to reduce the number of parts that have to be moved by the operator during assembly of the connection device, the locking inserts 42 are made in one piece with the fixing element 26, and are each connected to the fixing element 26 by a respective thin connecting portion defining an easily breakable point, so that they can be easily de-tached from the fixing element 26 to be moved relative to that element in a direction parallel to the insertion direction x. Alternatively, the locking inserts 42 may be made as separate pieces with respect to the fixing element 26.

In order to guide the sliding movement of the locking inserts 42 along the fixing element 26, preferably each of the sides 28a of the upper frame 28 of the fixing element 26 has a pair of guide grooves 44 which extend parallel to the insertion direction x and in each of which a respective guide edge 46 of a respective locking insert 42 slidably engages.

Each locking insert 42 is movable relative to the fixing element 26 in the insertion direc-tion x, starting from a non-working position (shown in Figure 5), in which the guide edges 46 of the locking insert 42 start to engage in the respective guide grooves 44 of the fixing element 26, but the locking insert 42 is still almost completely outside the fixing element 26, up to a working position (shown in Figures 2 and 6), in which the locking insert 42 is completely received inside the fixing element 26 and rests with its pair of opposite and parallel sides 42a against a respective one of the first pawls 32 and against a respective one of the second pawls 36, thereby preventing these pawls from elastically deforming to such an extent as to disengage from the respective seats 40 of the cage structure 18. Therefore, as long as the locking inserts 42 are in the aforementioned working position, in which they are completely received inside the fixing element 26, the fixing element 26 cannot be dis-assembled from the cage structure 18, and hence the ball head 20 of the push-rod 12, which is retained in the fixing element 26 by the tabs 30, cannot be disconnected from the control pedal 10 unless a special tool is used to force the tabs 30 away from each other.

Preferably, in order to ensure that the locking inserts 42 are held in the aforementioned working position, each locking insert 42 is provided with a respective elastically deformable detent tooth 48. Each detent tooth 48 is suitably shaped to allow, by virtue of its elastic deformability, the respective locking insert 42 to be inserted into the fixing element 26, but to prevent (obviously, unless it is deformed by an operator by means of a special tool), by resting in abutment against a respective side 28b of the upper frame 28, the respective locking insert 42 from being pulled out of the fixing element 26.

As will be apparent from the above description, the connection device of the present invention allows to quickly, easily and securely connect a push-rod to a control member, such as a control pedal of a vehicle. The locking inserts 42 may advantageously be mounted in advance on the fixing element 26 (as shown in Figure 5), so as to be handled as a single piece with the fixing element 26. In order to retain the fixing element 26 in the cage structure 18, and hence to securely connect the ball head 20 of the push-rod 12 to the control member 10, the operator just needs to push the two locking inserts 42 into the fixing element 26 until they reach the aforementioned working position. In that position, the locking inserts 42 prevent disengagement of the first and second pawls 32 and 36 from the respective seats 40 of the cage structure 18, and therefore the fixing element 26 is firmly and securely retained in the cage structure 18.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining unchanged, the embodiments and the constructional details may vary widely from those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as de-fined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Connection device (14) for connecting a push-rod (12) provided at an end thereof with a ball head (20) to a control member (10), such as a control pedal of a vehicle, the connection device (14) comprising: a cage structure (18) integral with the control member (10), the cage structure (18) having a ball socket (22) adapted to receive at least partially the ball head (20) of the push-rod (12); a fixing element (26) releasably mounted in cage structure (18), the fixing element (26) being provided with first locking means (30) and second locking means (32, 36), wherein said first locking means (30) are elastically shiftable between a deformed condition, in which they allow the ball head (20) of the push-rod (12) to be inserted into the fixing element (26), along an insertion direction (x) substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the push-rod (12), until said ball head (20) engages in the ball socket (22), and an undeformed condition, in which they retain said ball head (20) in the fixing element (26), once the ball head (20) engages in the ball socket (22), and wherein said second locking means (32, 36) are elastically shiftable between a deformed condition, in which they allow the fixing element (26) to be inserted into the cage structure (18) along said insertion direction (x), and an undeformed condition, in which they retain the fixing element (26) in the cage structure (18) once the fixing element (26) has been inserted into the cage struc-ture (18); and third locking means (42) for holding said second locking means (32, 36) in said undeformed condition, thereby preventing disengagement of the fixing element (26) from the cage structure (18), and hence disconnection of the ball head (20) of the push-rod (12) from the control member (10), once said ball head (20) engages in the ball socket (22); characterized in that said second locking means (32, 36) include a pair of elastically deformable first pawls (32) provided on a first side (28a) of the fixing element (26) and a pair of elastically deformable second pawls (36) provided on a second side (28a) of the fixing element (26) opposite to said first side, and in that said third locking means (42) include a pair of locking inserts (42) which are made as separate pieces with respect to the ball head (20) of the push-rod (12) and are carried by the fixing element (26), on opposite sides of the ball head (20), said locking inserts (42) being slidable relative to the fixing element (26), in a direction parallel to said insertion direction (x), from a non-working position, in which they protrude from the fixing element (26), to a working position, in which they are received inside the fixing element and hold each a respective first pawl (32) and a respective second pawl (36) in said undeformed condition, thereby preventing disengagement of said first and second pawls (32, 36), and hence of the fixing element (26), from the cage structure (18).
2 Connection device according to claim 1, wherein said first locking means (30) and said second locking means (32, 36) are made in one piece with the fixing element (26).
3. Connection device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first pawls (32) are connected to each other by a first connecting bridge (34) and wherein said second pawls (36) are connected to each other by a second connecting bridge (38).
4. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing element (26) comprises an upper frame (28) of substantially rectangular shape, with a first pair of opposite sides (28a) and a second pair of opposite sides (28b), and wherein said first and second pawls (32, 36) extend from respective sides of said first pair of opposite sides (28a) of the upper frame (28) of the fixing element (26).
5. Connection device according to claim 4, wherein said first locking means (30) comprise a pair of elastically deformable tabs (30) which extend from said first pair of opposite sides (28a) of the upper frame (28) of the fixing element (26), one tab (30) being in-terposed between said first pawls (32) and the other tab (30) being interposed between said second pawls (36).
6. Connection device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each side of said first pair of opposite sides (28a) of the upper frame (28) of the fixing element (26) has a pair of guide grooves (44) which extend parallel to the insertion direction (x) and in each of which a respective guide edge (46) of a respective locking insert (42) slidably engages.
7. Connection device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein each locking in-sert (42) is provided with a respective elastically deformable detent tooth (48) configured to prevent disengagement of the locking insert (42) from the fixing element (26), resting in abutment against a respective side of said second pair of opposite sides (28b) of the upper frame (28), once the locking insert (42) is in said working position.
8. Control system, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a control pedal (10), a push-rod (12) for transmitting to an actuation device a force imparted by a user through the control pedal (10), the push-rod (12) being provided with a ball head (20) at an end thereof facing towards the control pedal (10), and a connection device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims releasably connecting the push-rod (12) to the control pedal (10).