JP2008162425A - Filling up method of brake fluid on vehicle body assembly line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filling up method of a brake fluid on a vehicle body assembly line capable of improving productivity without increasing cost and size of a facility. <P>SOLUTION: In a brake fluid filling up process having a liquid storage part 3 and a liquid filling path 4 after assembling a liquid pressure pipe 2 for a brake to a vehicle body, a vacuum device 18 and a liquid feed device 19 are connected to the liquid storage part 3; the liquid pressure pipe 2 is evacuated by the operation of the vacuum device 18; and the brake fluid is fed to the liquid filling path 4 by the operation of the liquid feed device 19. After storing a brake fluid, which is to be filled in the liquid filling path 4, in the liquid storage part 3, the vacuum device 18 and the liquid feed device 19 are disconnected from the liquid storage part 3, and the vehicle body 1 is shifted to a next process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for filling brake fluid into a hydraulic pipe for brake performed in a vehicle body assembly line.

  In the brake fluid filling process of the vehicle body assembly line, as a brake fluid filling operation for the brake hydraulic piping, a connection operation for connecting the vacuum device and the liquid supply device to the liquid storage part (reserve cup) equipped in the master cylinder, A vacuuming operation for evacuating the hydraulic piping to a vacuum state by the operation of the vacuum device, a brake fluid filling operation for supplying brake fluid to the entire liquid filling path extending between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder by the operation of the liquid supply device, Liquid level adjustment work for removing excess brake fluid from the liquid reservoir so that an appropriate amount of brake fluid is stored in the liquid reservoir by the operation of the vacuum device, and the vacuum device and liquid supply to the liquid reservoir After performing the connection release operation for releasing the connection of the device in that order, the vehicle body is moved to the next process.

  However, since it is difficult to perform such work within a preset tact time of one process, in general, the work of filling the brake fluid is performed in two processes. In this case, however, it is necessary to equip the vehicle body assembly line with a vacuum device and a liquid supply device for two steps, leading to an increase in equipment costs and an increase in equipment size.

Therefore, conventionally, as a filling method of liquid to be filled in a vehicle body assembly line, for example, a cooling liquid filling method for a radiator, a brake liquid filling method for a brake pipe, etc. After injecting a predetermined amount of liquid into the container to be filled with the above injection pressure, the liquid to the container to be filled is controlled by switching to an injection pressure that is equal to or lower than the pressure limit pressure to fill the entire area in the container to be filled. In some cases, the filling time of the liquid can be shortened so that the liquid filling operation can be performed in one step (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-192895

  By the way, the brake fluid is filled into the brake hydraulic piping through a liquid storage path (reserve cup) with a low pressure resistance provided in the master cylinder in a liquid filling path with a high pressure limit pressure extending between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder. Will be done.

  Therefore, when the conventional liquid filling method described above is adopted as a brake fluid filling method in the vehicle body assembly line, the brake fluid is stored at a liquid storage portion at a pressure equal to or higher than the pressure limit pressure of the liquid filling path during the brake fluid filling operation. Since the liquid is supplied to the liquid filling path via the liquid, there is a high possibility that the liquid reservoir is damaged by the pressure during filling. In order to avoid this breakage, it is necessary to reduce the pressure when supplying the brake fluid, so it is difficult to shorten the supply time of the brake fluid.

  In recent years, ABS (anti-lock brake system) control is often adopted in the brake system. In this ABS control, a throttle valve is provided in the liquid filling path in order to stabilize the flow rate of the brake fluid during the control operation. Therefore, in such a brake system, even if the brake fluid is supplied to the brake hydraulic pipe at a pressure higher than the pressure limit pressure, the throttle valve limits the brake fluid supply speed. It will be.

  In other words, in the brake fluid filling process of the vehicle body assembly line, even if the above-described conventional liquid filling method is adopted, the brake fluid filling operation is performed within a predetermined tact time due to an inherent failure unique to the hydraulic piping for brakes. As a result, it is difficult to complete the process, resulting in an increase in equipment cost by dividing the work of filling the brake fluid into two processes and a decrease in productivity due to a longer tact time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method for filling a brake fluid in a vehicle body assembly line that can improve productivity without causing an increase in equipment costs or an increase in equipment size.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention, a brake fluid filling step after assembling a brake hydraulic pipe having a liquid reservoir and a liquid filling path to the vehicle body. A vacuum device and a liquid supply device are connected to the liquid storage section, the inside of the hydraulic pipe is evacuated to vacuum by the operation of the vacuum device, and the liquid filling path is braked by the operation of the liquid supply device. While supplying liquid, and storing in the liquid storage part unfilled brake liquid that is not filled in the liquid filling path, release the connection of the vacuum device and the liquid supply device to the liquid storage part, The vehicle body is moved to the next process.

  According to this characteristic configuration, in the brake fluid filling process, the brake fluid is stored in the liquid reservoir without filling the entire liquid filling path with the brake fluid within the preset tact time. Therefore, the brake fluid can be filled in the entire area of the liquid filling path in another work process that is not equipped with the liquid supply device after the brake fluid filling process.

  That is, the brake fluid filling process does not fill the entire area of the liquid filling path with the brake liquid, but effectively uses the work process after the brake liquid filling process to fill the entire area of the liquid filling path. In order to fill the entire area of the liquid filling path with the brake liquid in the brake liquid filling process, the brake liquid filling operation is divided into two processes, or the brake liquid is supplied to the liquid filling path at a pressure higher than the pressure limit pressure of the liquid filling path. It is no longer necessary to adopt a method such as supply, and as a result, the equipment cost increases due to dividing the brake fluid filling operation into two processes, the equipment size increases, and the pressure exceeds the pressure limit pressure of the liquid filling path. Thus, it is possible to avoid breakage of the liquid storage portion caused by supplying brake fluid to the liquid filling path.

  Therefore, in the brake fluid filling process, the amount of brake fluid required to fill the entire area of the liquid filling path is not filled with the brake liquid in the entire area of the liquid filling path. By changing the concept of securing the brake fluid, the brake fluid filling process can be completed within the tact time set in one step, while the brake fluid is filled throughout the fluid filling path. As a result, it is possible to improve productivity without causing an increase in equipment costs or an increase in equipment size.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the brake pedal is depressed in a step subsequent to the brake fluid filling step.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the unfilled brake fluid stored in the liquid reservoir can be quickly supplied to the liquid filling path at a high pressure by the contraction operation of the master cylinder interlocked with the depression operation of the brake pedal.

  That is, it is possible to quickly supply the brake fluid to the entire area of the liquid filling path without adding a liquid supply device or the like, simply by depressing the brake pedal to the next step of the brake fluid filling step.

  The brake fluid is quickly supplied to the entire area of the liquid filling path, thereby preventing the possibility of air entering the liquid filling path due to the negative pressure action after evacuation due to the time required for the supply. be able to.

  Moreover, since the pressure at this time acts only in the liquid filling path having a high pressure limit pressure across the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder and does not act on the liquid reservoir, it is possible to avoid damage to the liquid reservoir.

  Accordingly, rapid brake fluid is prevented from entering the liquid filling path without causing an increase in equipment cost, an increase in equipment size, and avoiding damage to the liquid reservoir while preventing air from entering the liquid filling path. Can supply.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of a case where the brake fluid filling method in the vehicle body assembly line according to the present invention is applied to the vehicle body assembly line in which ABS (anti-lock brake system) control is adopted in the brake system. .

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a brake hydraulic pipe 2 to be assembled to the vehicle body 1 in the brake hydraulic pipe assembly process in the vehicle body assembly line. As shown in this drawing, the hydraulic pipe 2 for brake is filled with a resin-made reserve cup 3 having a low pressure resistance as a liquid reservoir for storing an appropriate amount of brake fluid, and the brake fluid. And a liquid filling path 4 having high pressure resistance.

  The reserve cup 3 is mounted on a master cylinder 7 to which an operating force for the brake pedal 5 is transmitted via a brake booster 6. The liquid filling path 4 is a liquid having a master cylinder 7, four wheel cylinders 8 for applying a braking force to the corresponding wheel, and two brake fluid pressure paths 9 extending between the master cylinder 7 and the four wheel cylinders 8. The pressure control unit 10 is configured.

  The hydraulic pressure control unit 10 includes two pressure-increasing control valves 11 each composed of a normally-open electromagnetic control valve and two pressure-reducing controls each composed of a normally-closed electromagnetic control valve in each of the two brake fluid pressure paths 9. A valve 12, a reservoir 13 for storing brake fluid via the pressure reducing control valve 12, a pump 15 for pumping the brake fluid stored in the reservoir 13 to the master cylinder 7 by the operation of the motor 14, and a brake during control operation Three throttle valves 16 that stabilize the flow rate of the liquid are provided, and ABS control by a control device (not shown) is possible.

  Although illustration is omitted, the reserve cup 3 is disposed in the liquid filling path 4 in a region above the lower limit line indicating the lower limit amount of the brake fluid formed on the side surface and the upper limit line indicating the upper limit amount of the brake fluid. The throttle valve 16 is formed so as to store the amount of brake fluid required to fill the filling path on the wheel cylinder 8 side.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the brake fluid filling device 17 installed in the work station for the brake fluid filling process in the vehicle body assembly line. In the vehicle body assembly line, the brake fluid filling process is set to be performed after the brake hydraulic pipe assembly process and the parking brake assembly process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the brake fluid filling device 17 includes a vacuum device 18 composed of a vacuum pump, a liquid supply device 19 composed of a filling cylinder equipped with an encoder (not shown), a vacuum device 18 and a liquid supply device 19. A gun 22 connected via a hydraulic pipe 20 and a switching valve 21 and a control device 23 for controlling the operation of the gun 22 are provided. When the vehicle body 1 transported by the transport device (not shown) reaches the work station for the brake fluid filling process, the control device 23 that starts in response to the arrival of the vehicle body 1 controls the brake hydraulic pipe 2. Fill the brake fluid.

  The brake fluid filling operation will be described. First, the brake fluid filling device 17 moves the gun 22 connected to the vacuum device 18 by the switching operation of the switching valve 21 as the vehicle body 1 reaches the work station. 1 is connected to the reserve cup 3 of the hydraulic pipe 2 for brake assembled in 1. When the connection is completed, the vacuum device 18 is operated to evacuate until the brake hydraulic pipe 2 is in a predetermined vacuum state. When the evacuation is completed, the liquid supply device 19 is connected to the gun 22 by the switching operation of the switching valve 21, and after the connection, the liquid supply device 18 is operated to release the brake fluid from the pressure limit pressure of the reserve cup 3. Is supplied to the liquid filling path 4 through the reserve cup 3 at a low pressure. In this supply state, the supplied brake fluid is supplied to each of the liquid filling paths 4 based on the discharge amount of the liquid supply device 19 obtained based on the detection of the encoder and the detection of the pressure sensor 24 provided in the hydraulic pipe 20. It is determined whether or not the throttle valve 16 has been reached. When it is determined that the throttle valve 16 has been reached, the supply of the brake fluid is terminated. After that, the gun 22 is disconnected from the reserve cup 3 and the vehicle body 1 is moved to the next position. Move to the parking brake adjustment process. Note that the reserve cup 3 is full when the supply of the brake fluid is finished.

  And in the parking brake adjustment process of the next process, in order to prevent one pair of brake shoes (not shown) brake-operated by the wheel cylinder 8, the depression operation of the brake pedal 5 is performed. When the depression operation of the brake pedal 5 is performed, the excessive amount of the brake fluid stored in the reserve cup 3 is increased in the liquid filling path 4 by the contraction operation of the master cylinder 7 in conjunction with the operation. Will be supplied quickly. As a result, the brake fluid can be quickly and surely filled in the entire liquid filling path 4, and the brake fluid in the reserve cup 3 can be made into an appropriate amount.

  In the parking brake adjustment step, the depression operation of the brake pedal 5 and the opening operation of each pressure reducing control valve 12 and the driving operation of each pump 15 are performed.

  In other words, in this vehicle body assembly line, the liquid supply device does not fill the entire area of the liquid filling path 4 in the brake liquid filling process until the brake liquid supply speed is limited by the throttle valve 16. The brake fluid is supplied to the liquid filling path 4 by the operation of 19, the unfilled brake liquid not filled in the liquid filling path 4 is stored in the reserve cup 3, and it is always necessary in the parking brake adjustment process immediately after the brake liquid filling process. The brake pedal 5 is effectively used to fill the entire area of the liquid filling path 4 with the brake fluid.

  As a result, the time required for the brake fluid filling operation in the brake fluid filling step can be greatly shortened, and the brake fluid filling operation can be completed within a preset tact time. The entire area of the filling path 4 can be filled with brake fluid.

  In addition, it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated device (for example, an air cylinder for depressing the brake pedal 5) or dedicated work for supplying the brake fluid stored in the reserve cup 3 to the liquid filling path 4. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in equipment costs, an increase in equipment size, and complicated work.

  In addition, in the work process immediately after the brake fluid filling process, the brake fluid is rapidly supplied to the entire area of the liquid filling path 4, so that it takes time to supply the negative pressure after vacuuming. The possibility that air enters the liquid filling path 4 can be effectively prevented.

    [Another embodiment]

[1] As long as the liquid storage unit 3 can store an unfilled amount of brake fluid that is not filled in the liquid filling path 4, the liquid storage unit 3 is filled in the liquid storage unit 3 after the liquid filling path 4 is fully filled. The brake fluid may be out of the proper amount. In this case, the liquid level adjustment of the liquid storage unit 3 is performed after the liquid filling path 4 is fully filled with the brake fluid.

[2] The brake fluid may be supplied to the liquid filling path 4 by the operation of the liquid supply device 19 only during a predetermined time.

[3] A work process other than the parking brake adjustment process is set as the next process of the brake fluid filling process, and in that work process, a brake fluid filling operation is performed by depressing the brake pedal 5 with an air cylinder or the like. Also good.

[4] The brake fluid may be supplied from the liquid storage unit 3 to the liquid filling path 4 after the brake fluid is supplied by the liquid supply device 19 by manual operation of the brake pedal 5.

[5] The supply of the brake fluid from the liquid reservoir 3 after the brake fluid supply by the liquid supply device 19 to the liquid filling path 4 may be performed by a negative pressure action after evacuation.

[6] In the brake fluid filling process, the brake pedal 5 is depressed until the vehicle body 1 is moved to the next process after the brake fluid supply to the liquid filling path 4 by the operation of the liquid supply device 19 is completed. You may make it perform the filling operation | work of brake fluid.

Hydraulic circuit diagram showing the configuration of hydraulic piping for brakes Schematic showing the configuration of the brake fluid filling device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body 2 Hydraulic piping 3 Liquid storage part 4 Liquid filling path 5 Brake pedal 18 Vacuum apparatus 19 Liquid supply apparatus

Claims (2)

In the brake fluid filling process after assembling the brake hydraulic pipe having the liquid storage portion and the liquid filling path to the vehicle body,
A vacuum device and a liquid supply device are connected to the liquid reservoir;
The vacuum apparatus is evacuated to a vacuum state by operating the vacuum device,
After operating the liquid supply device to supply brake fluid to the liquid filling path and storing in the liquid reservoir the unfilled brake liquid that is not filled in the liquid filling path,
A brake fluid filling method in a vehicle body assembly line, wherein the vacuum device and the liquid supply device are disconnected from the liquid storage portion, and the vehicle body is moved to the next process.   2. The brake fluid filling method for a vehicle body assembly line according to claim 1, wherein a stepping operation of a brake pedal is performed in a step subsequent to the brake fluid filling step.

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