JPH06270789A - Braking device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To assemble a master cylinder and a reservoir with simple constitution and desirable work performance. CONSTITUTION:A braking device for a vehicle is provided with a master cylinder 1, a reservoir 2 provided in the upper position of the master cylinder 1, and a level sensor 5 provided in the lower position of the reservoir 2. In this case, the level sensor 5 is fittingly inserted and fixed to a fitting part 24, formed at the lower end part of the reservoir 2, from the side part of the fitting part 24. At the same time, an engaging member 53 extended in the fittingly inserted direction of the level sensor 5 and engaged with the master cylinder 1 at the time of fittingly inserting and fixing the level sensor 5 to the reservoir 2 so as to connect the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 to each other is formed at the appropriate place of the level sensor 5. With this constitution, the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 are fixedly connected by the engaging member 53 simultaneously with the fitting time of the level sensor 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle brake device equipped with a master cylinder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicular brake system having a master cylinder is provided with a reservoir above the master cylinder for the purpose of supplementing the master cylinder with hydraulic fluid. In this case, the master cylinder and the reservoir are provided. It is customary to use a special connecting member arranged between them for connection (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-107377).

On the other hand, when the amount of the working fluid stored in the reservoir falls below a predetermined amount, it is detected and a predetermined alarm is issued to prompt the occupant to replenish the working fluid. , A float with a magnet is arranged in the reservoir, and a level sensor that is activated by the magnetic force of the float when the float approaches a predetermined amount or more is arranged on the lower surface side of the reservoir, and the remaining amount of the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir. Are monitored (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-107273). In this case, the level sensor usually has a mounting structure in which the reservoir is fitted and fixed from the side of the reservoir into a fitting hole provided in the bottom wall portion of the reservoir, as shown in the known example.

[0004]

However, the connecting member for connecting the master cylinder and the reservoir arranged above it and the level sensor arranged on the lower surface side of the reservoir are separated from each other. If a member is used, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and it is necessary to assemble them separately, so that the assembling work becomes complicated and the workability cannot be improved.

Therefore, the present invention has been made as a provision of a vehicle brake device in which a master cylinder and a reservoir can be assembled with a simple structure and good workability.

[0006]

In the present invention, as a concrete means for solving such a problem, a master cylinder, a reservoir provided above the master cylinder, and a lower portion of the reservoir are provided. In a vehicle brake device including a level sensor, the level sensor can be fitted and fixed from a side of a mounting portion formed at a lower end portion of the reservoir, and the level sensor can be mounted at an appropriate place. It is characterized in that an engaging member is formed which extends in the fitting direction and engages with the master cylinder when the level sensor is fitted into and fixed to the reservoir so as to connect the master cylinder and the reservoir to each other.

[0007]

In the vehicle brake device of the present invention, the level sensor, which is fitted and fixed to the mounting portion formed at the lower end of the reservoir, is integrally provided with the engaging member. The engaging member engages with the master cylinder at the same time when it is fitted into and fixed to the mounting portion of, and the master cylinder and the reservoir are coupled to each other.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the vehicle brake device of the present invention, the level sensor fitted and fixed to the lower end of the reservoir and the engaging member for connecting and fixing the reservoir and the master cylinder are integrally formed. Since they are formed, the number of parts is smaller than in the case where they are formed separately as in the conventional case, and when the level sensor is fitted and fixed to the mounting portion of the reservoir, it is simultaneously formed by the engaging member. Since the master cylinder and the reservoir are connected to each other, the master cylinder and the reservoir can be easily assembled, and the workability in the assembling work can be improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The vehicle brake device of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the essential parts of the vehicle brake device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a master cylinder, and 2 is a reservoir 2 arranged above the master cylinder 1.

The master cylinder 1 has an upper surface 1a.
The two connection ports 1 with a predetermined gap in the axial direction.
1 and 12 are formed as openings, and the respective connection ports 11 and 12 are formed.
A bracket 13 protruding upward is formed at an intermediate position.

The reservoir 2 is formed in a closed container shape by a reservoir main body 3 having an open upper end surface and a reservoir cover 4 abuttingly fixed to the open end of the reservoir main body 3. The inside of the reservoir 2 serves as a liquid storage chamber 21 for storing the hydraulic fluid to be replenished in the master cylinder 1, and a guide wall 22 for guiding the vertical movement of the float 6 to be described later is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. It is formed upward from the bottom wall portion 23.

Further, the bottom wall portion 23 of the reservoir body 3
At both ends of each of the connection ports 1 on the master cylinder 1 side.
A pair of connection ports 31 and 32 are formed so as to project downward at the same intervals as 1 and 12, and these connection ports 31 and 3 are formed.
The master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 are connected to each other by inserting 2 into the connection ports 11 and 12 of the master cylinder 1 from above with the seal members 15 and 15 interposed therebetween. The two liquid storage chambers 21 and the working liquid chamber (not shown) of the master cylinder 1 communicate with each other so that the working liquid can be replenished from the reservoir 2 side to the master cylinder 1 side.

However, in this state, the master cylinder 1
The reservoir 2 and the reservoir 2 are not fixed, and therefore need to be fixed in the above-described connected state. Therefore, at a position corresponding to the bottom wall portion 23 of the reservoir body 3 and the bracket 13 of the master cylinder 1. A pair of brackets 33, 33 are provided so as to sandwich the bracket 13 from both sides thereof, and the fitting insertion hole 14 of the bracket 13 and the fitting insertion hole 34 of the bracket 33 are concentrically overlapped with each other.

On the other hand, the bottom wall portion 23 of the reservoir body 3
Of the brackets 1 and 2 at positions directly above the brackets 33, 33 and corresponding to the inside of the guide wall 22.
Electrode chamber 24 extending in the axial direction of the insertion holes 14 and 34 of 3, 33
And a large-diameter main body mounting portion 2 continuous with the outer end of the electrode chamber 24.
5 is formed (the electrode chamber 24 and the main body mounting portion 25 constitute the mounting portion in the claims). Then, the level sensor 5 including the sensor body 51 and the electrode 52 extending outward from the end face of the sensor body 51 was inserted into the electrode chamber 24 in the body mounting portion 25. It is fixed in the state.

Further, in the level sensor 5, a rod-shaped engaging member 53 is integrally formed in the sensor main body 51 portion so as to be appropriately separated from the electrode 52 and extend in parallel therewith. The tip of the engaging member 53 has an engaging member 54 having a slit 53b and a wedge-shaped claw 54a.
It is said that. And, the formation position of this engaging element 54 is
When the level sensor 5 is fitted and fixed on the reservoir 2 side, the following relationship is set. That is, in the axial direction of the level sensor 5 (that is, the fitting insertion direction), the engagement element 54 is set so as to correspond to the fitting insertion holes 34, 34 of the brackets 33, 33. Further, in the radial direction of the level sensor 5 (that is, in the direction in which the electrode 52 and the engaging element 54 are separated from each other), the engaging element 54 is inserted into the fitting hole 1 of the bracket 13 on the master cylinder 1 side.
4 and the fitting insertion holes 34 of the bracket 33 on the side of the reservoir 2 are respectively set.

The operation of fixing the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 in the case where the engaging member 53 is integrally formed on the sensor main body 51 of the level sensor 5 with such a positional relationship will be described. When fixing to the reservoir 2, the level sensor 5
First, the connection ports 31 and 32 of the reservoir 2 are fitted and inserted into the connection ports 11 and 12 of the master cylinder 1 from the upper side in a state where they are not attached. Next, the electrode 52 of the level sensor 5 and the sensor main body 51 are fitted into the electrode chamber 24 and the main body mounting portion 25 of the reservoir 2 from the side, and the level sensor 5 is attached to the reservoir 2 side. In this case, the engaging element 54 of the engaging member 53 is elastically fitted into the fitting insertion holes 14 and 34 of the brackets 13 and 33 at the same time when the level sensor 5 is fitted and inserted, and its claw portion is located at the end of the fitting direction. 54a protrudes outward from the bracket 33 on the front side in the fitting direction so that the engaging member 5
3 is prevented from coming off, and by extension, the level sensor 5 is prevented from falling off from the reservoir 2.

As described above, in this embodiment, the engaging member 53 is formed integrally with the level sensor 5,
Since the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 can be coupled and fixed by the engaging member 53 at the same time when the level sensor 5 is attached to the reservoir 2,
For example, the workability is markedly improved as compared with the conventional case where the work of mounting the level sensor 5 and the work of fixing the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 have to be performed separately. Further, in this case, the workability can be improved also by the small number of parts and the easy handling thereof.

In this embodiment, as described above,
By the engagement element 54 of the engagement member 53, the master cylinder 1
Side bracket 13 and reservoir 2 side bracket 33
The master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 are fixed by coupling with each other. However, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a bracket is not provided on the reservoir 2 side and the above engagement is performed. The engaging element 54 of the member 53 is directly fitted into the fitting hole 14 of the bracket 13 on the master cylinder 1 side, and the master cylinder 1 and the reservoir 2 are fixedly coupled together via the engaging member 53 and the sensor body 51 of the level sensor 5. It may be done.

By the way, in this embodiment, in addition to the above-described novel structure, a structure for making the brake device applicable to a plurality of types of vehicles is also provided. That is,
The first is the configuration of the float 6. This float 6
Is to move up and down according to the elevation of the hydraulic fluid level in the liquid storage chamber 21 of the reservoir 2. However, depending on the type of vehicle to which the brake device is applied, the mounting angle of the brake device with respect to the vehicle body is different. Along with this, the inclination angle of the guide wall 22 that guides the float 6 also changes. Therefore, when the inclination angle with respect to the perpendicular becomes large (that is, when the guide wall 22 approaches the horizontal direction), especially the float 6
Is a conventional slide structure (for example, the actual open flat 3-10
7273), the float 6 may not operate well due to its own weight. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the float 6 is composed of a ball-shaped float main body 7 and a ball-shaped magnet 8 arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral surface thereof.
With such a configuration, even if the inclination angle of the guide wall 22 becomes large and it is difficult for the float 6 to slide down due to its own weight, the float 6 rolls down to ensure good followability to changes in the working liquid level of the float 6. It is what is done. Therefore, the brake device can be easily applied to various types of vehicles having different mounting angles, and the versatility thereof can be enhanced.

The second is the structure of the cap 40 provided on the upper surface side of the reservoir 2.
This structure is also intended to increase the versatility of the brake device, as in the case of the float 6. That is,
In the reservoir 2, in order to allow the cap 40 portion to have an air breather function, a structure is adopted in which the reservoir chamber 21 of the reservoir 2 and the outside are communicated with each other via a communication passage in a state where the cap 40 is closed (for example, , Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-107273).

However, as described above, the mounting angle of the braking device changes depending on the vehicle type to which the braking device is applied. For example, when the mounting inclination angle of the reservoir 2 becomes large, the reservoir 2 is passed through this communication passage. It is conceivable that the working fluid easily leaks out of the liquid storage chamber 21 of the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. The base portion 37 has a small diameter and an end portion 38 having a diameter larger than that of the base portion 37, and is formed in a stepped tubular shape. On the other hand, in the cap 40, this is composed of a cap body 41 screwed to the end portion 38 of the cap mounting portion 36, and an inner member 42 fixed to the axial center portion on the inner surface side of the cap body 41. At the same time, an annular seal contact portion 43 is integrally formed on the inner surface of the cap body 41. Further, the inner member 42 is provided with a support part 47 fixedly supported by the support part 47, and a first lip part 45 and a second lip part 46 extending vertically from the support part 47, respectively. Valve member 4
4 is attached.

Then, when the cap 40 is screwed onto the cap mounting portion 36 of the reservoir 2, the first lip portion 45 of the check valve member 44 has the seal contact portion 43 of the cap body 41. In addition, the second lip portion 46 is formed on the inner surface 37 of the base portion 37 of the cap attachment portion 36.
a and abut the check valve member 44 and the end portion 38 of the cap mounting portion 36, and a liquid storage chamber 49 of a predetermined size.
Are formed. The check valve member 44
The first lip portion 45 allows only the working fluid or air to flow from the inner chamber 48 side formed on the inner surface side of the cap body 41 to the liquid reservoir chamber 49 side, and the second lip portion 46. The respective lip shapes are set so as to allow only the flow of the working liquid or the air from the liquid reservoir 49 to the injection port 35 side. Further, in this case, the liquid storage chamber 49 is communicated with the outside through a communication passage 62 formed in a screwed portion of the cap body 41 and the end portion 38.

With this structure, the working fluid and the air are formed from the liquid injection port 35 to the inner member 42, pass through the communication passage 61 and reach the inner chamber 48, and further the inner chamber 48.
When flowing into the liquid reservoir chamber 49 through the first lip portion 45, the working liquid is stored in the liquid reservoir chamber 49, and only air is discharged to the outside from the communication passage 62, and the working liquid is discharged to the outside. Leakage is surely prevented. Further, the working fluid stored in the liquid storage chamber 49 pushes the second lip portion 46 open due to its own weight when the stored amount exceeds a predetermined value, and again from the second lip portion 46 to the liquid injection port 35 side. It will be returned. Therefore, even if the mounting angle of the brake device to the vehicle body is steep, it is possible to reliably prevent the hydraulic fluid from leaking out, so that the types of vehicles to which this brake device can be applied are expanded and its versatility is enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a vehicle brake device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a vehicle brake device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a master cylinder, 2 is a reservoir, 3 is a reservoir body, 4 is a reservoir cover, 5 is a level sensor, 6
Is a float, 7 is a float body, 8 is a magnet, 11 is a connection opening, 12 is a connection opening, 13 is a bracket, 14 is a fitting hole,
15 is a seal member, 21 is a liquid storage chamber, 22 is a guide wall,
23 is a bottom wall portion, 24 is an electrode chamber, 25 is a main body mounting portion, 31
Is a connection port, 32 is a connection port, 33 is a bracket, 34 is a fitting hole, 35 is a liquid injection port, 36 is a cap attachment part, 37 is a base part, 38 is an end part, 40 is a cap, 41 is a cap body, 42 Is an inner member, 43 is a seal contact portion, 44 is a check valve member, 45 is a first lip portion, 46 is a second lip portion, 4
7 is a support part, 48 is an inner chamber, 49 is a liquid storage chamber, 51 is a sensor main body, 52 is an electrode, 53 is an engaging member, 54 is an engaging element, 6
Reference numeral 1 is a communication passage 61, 62 is a communication passage.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroo Shimoe 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle brake device comprising a master cylinder, a reservoir provided above the master cylinder, and a level sensor provided at a lower position of the reservoir, wherein the level sensor is the While being fitted and fixed from the side to the mounting part formed at the lower end of the reservoir,
The level sensor extends in the fitting direction of the level sensor, and engages with the master cylinder when the level sensor is fitted into and fixed to the reservoir to connect the master cylinder and the reservoir to each other. A vehicle brake device, wherein an engagement member is formed.