阅读说明：本技术 行程模拟器和包括行程模拟器的制动操作装置 (Stroke simulator and brake operating device including the same ) 是由 横山智宏 于 2021-04-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的课题在于改善行程模拟器,例如在于容易增大触底时的制动操作力。本行程模拟器包括作为能够伴随着连结于与制动操作部件连结的杆的可移动部件的移动而产生弹力的一个以上的橡胶状的部件的橡胶状部件。橡胶状部件的刚性(弹簧常数)通常大于螺旋弹簧的弹簧常数。另外,橡胶状部件与螺旋弹簧相比,容易增大刚性。因此,通过使行程模拟器为具有一个以上的橡胶状部件的部件,与不包括作为弹性部件的橡胶状部件而包括螺旋弹簧的行程模拟器相比,能够容易增大作为在触底时施加于制动操作部件的操作力的制动操作力。(The invention aims to improve a stroke simulator, for example, to easily increase the brake operation force when a brake is touched. The stroke simulator includes a rubber-like member as one or more rubber-like members capable of generating an elastic force in accordance with movement of a movable member coupled to a lever coupled to a brake operation member. The rigidity (spring constant) of the rubber-like member is generally larger than the spring constant of the coil spring. Further, the rubber-like member is more likely to have increased rigidity than the coil spring. Therefore, by making the stroke simulator a member having one or more rubber-like members, the brake operation force as the operation force applied to the brake operation member at the time of bottoming can be easily increased as compared with a stroke simulator not including a rubber-like member as an elastic member but including a coil spring.)

1. A stroke simulator operated by an operation of a brake operating member operated by a driver, wherein,

the stroke simulator includes:

a housing:

a movable member relatively movably held by the housing and coupled to the brake operating member;

a volume change chamber provided in front of the movable member of the housing; and

a plurality of elastic members provided in the volume change chamber and capable of generating an elastic force in accordance with movement of the movable member,

and one or more of the plurality of elastic members are rubber-like members as rubber-like members.

2. The stroke simulator of claim 1, wherein,

the plurality of resilient members are two resilient members,

the two elastic members include one rubber-like member and one coil spring,

the rubber-like member and the coil spring are arranged in series such that the rubber-like member is located forward of the coil spring.

3. The stroke simulator of claim 2, wherein,

the spring constant of the rubber-like member is larger than that of the coil spring.

4. The stroke simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

the rubber-like member includes a main body portion and a front protrusion provided on a front end surface of the main body portion, and is supported by the housing at the front protrusion.

5. The stroke simulator of claim 4, wherein,

the rubber-like member includes an inclined portion provided between the main body portion and the front side protrusion.

6. The stroke simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

the movable member includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and is formed in a shape in which one of a front end surface of the small diameter portion and a front end surface of the large diameter portion protrudes forward from the other.

7. A brake operating device, wherein,

the brake operating device includes:

a brake operation member operated by a driver; and

the stroke simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which operates by operation of the brake operating member.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a stroke simulator for applying a reaction force in accordance with an operation of a brake operating member, and a brake operating device including the stroke simulator.

Background

The stroke simulator described in patent document 1 is operated by movement of an operation lever (hereinafter simply referred to as a lever) coupled to a brake operation member operated by a driver, and includes a movable member coupled to the lever, a volume change chamber whose volume changes with the movement of the movable member, and a coil spring provided in the volume change chamber. The working fluid is contained in the volume changing chamber, and the solenoid valve is connected, so that the relationship between the stroke of the brake operating member and the reaction force can be adjusted by the control of the solenoid valve.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-115724

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to improve a stroke simulator, for example, to easily increase the brake operating force when a brake is touched.

The stroke simulator according to the present invention is a stroke simulator that operates by movement of a lever coupled to a brake operation member operated by a driver, and includes at least one elastic member that can generate an elastic force in accordance with movement of a movable member coupled to the lever, and one or more of the at least one elastic member is a rubber-like member that is a rubber-like member. In the present stroke simulator, a reaction force is imparted by elastic deformation of the rubber-like member accompanying the movement of the rod. The rigidity (spring constant) of the rubber-like member is generally larger than the spring constant of the coil spring. Further, the rubber-like member is more likely to have increased rigidity than the coil spring. Therefore, by configuring the stroke simulator to include one or more rubber-like members, the brake operating force (i.e., the operating force applied to the brake operating member) at the time of bottoming can be easily increased as compared to a stroke simulator that does not include a rubber-like member as an elastic member and includes a coil spring.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a brake operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The brake operation device includes a stroke simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the stroke simulator.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a rubber-like member as a structural element of the stroke simulator described above.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the stroke simulator.

Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the stroke simulator. (A) The brake operation force is equal to or less than the 1 st set value. (B) The brake operation force is greater than the 1 st set value and equal to or less than the 2 nd set value. (C) The brake operation force is greater than the 2 nd set value and equal to or less than the 3 rd set value. (D) The brake operation force is larger than the 3 rd set value.

Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between a stroke and a brake operation force in the stroke simulator.

Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between the stroke and the brake operation force in the stroke simulator.

Fig. 8 is a front view of a rubber-like member different from the rubber-like member, which can be applied to the stroke simulator.

Description of the reference numerals

10 … stroke simulator; 12 … brake pedal; 14 … operating lever; 21 … a movable member; 22 … piston; 26 … coil spring; 28 … rubber components; 40 … a body portion; 42. 44 … protrusions; 50 … rubber component; 60 … a body portion; 62. a 64 … projection; 66. 68 ….

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a vehicle stroke simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present stroke simulator is suitable for a hydraulic brake system of a by-wire type, an electric brake system including an electric brake, and the like. The present stroke simulator is a component of the brake operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[ example 1 ]

As shown in fig. 1, the stroke simulator 10 operates in accordance with movement of an operation lever (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lever) 14 coupled to a brake pedal 12 as a brake operation member. The stroke simulator 10 applies a reaction force to the brake pedal 12 in accordance with the movement of the lever 14. The reaction force corresponds to a brake operation force that is an operation force applied to the brake pedal 12. In the present embodiment, the brake pedal 12 and the stroke simulator 10 are included to constitute a brake operation device 16.

There are wet and dry types in the stroke simulator. In the wet type stroke simulator, the movable member is moved by supplying the working fluid to the main body of the stroke simulator, and for example, the movable member may be provided on the downstream side of the master cylinder. In the case of a dry type stroke simulator, the movable member is moved without supplying the working fluid to the main body of the stroke simulator, and for example, the movable member may be connected to a brake operation member.

The stroke simulator 10 according to the present invention is dry, and as shown in fig. 2 to 4, includes a housing 20, a movable member 21 movably fitted in the housing 20, a volume change chamber 24 provided in front of the movable member 21, a plurality of coil springs 26 as elastic members provided in series in the volume change chamber 24, a rubber member 28 as a rubber-like member, and the like. The volume changing chamber 24 may or may not contain the working fluid.

The case 20 extends in the longitudinal direction, and is held by a vehicle body, not shown, in a posture in which the longitudinal direction extends in the vehicle front-rear direction.

The movable member 21 is coupled to the rod 14, and in the present embodiment, includes a small diameter portion 14s and a piston 22 as a large diameter portion. The piston 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and disposed in a posture in which the bottom portion is located rearward and the opening portion is located forward. The rod 14 penetrates the cover 32 of the housing 20, and penetrates the center portion of the bottom portion 22b of the piston 22 to protrude forward. The front portion of the rod 14 is a small-diameter portion 14s having a smaller diameter than the axial middle portion, the small-diameter portion 14s penetrates the center portion of the piston 22, and the stepped portion 14b abuts against an outer side surface (may also be referred to as a rear end surface) 22c of the bottom portion 22b of the piston 22. In this way, the piston 22 and the rod 14 are coupled so as to be able to advance integrally. The distal end surface 14f of the small diameter portion 14s is located farther forward than the annular distal end surface 22f of the opening of the piston 22 by a distance d 1.

The coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 are provided in series along the longitudinal direction of the housing 20. The rubber member 28 is located forward of the coil spring 26.

As shown in fig. 3, the rubber member 28 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape and has a main body portion 40 with a large diameter and small-diameter convex portions 42 and 44 provided at the center portions of both sides of the main body portion 40. Further, the connecting portions between the main body portion 40 and the convex portions 42 and 44 are formed in an arc shape, and smoothly connect them. In the present embodiment, the convex portion 42 is a rear-side convex portion, and the convex portion 44 is a front-side convex portion.

The rubber member 28 is held by the bottom portion 45 of the housing 20 at the projection 44, but when the movable member 21 is positioned at the retreating end, a gap (distance d2) is provided between the front end surface 40a of the main body portion 40 and the rear end surface 45a of the bottom portion 45 of the housing 20.

The washer 30 is a substantially annular plate-shaped member, and is attached to the rubber member 28 without a gap in a state where the convex portion 42 is fitted in the central hole 30 h. That is, the gasket 30 is attached to the rubber member 28 in a state where there is no gap between the front end surface 30a of the gasket 30 and the rear end surface 40b of the body portion 40. In addition, in the present embodiment, the rear end surface 30b of the washer 30 and the rear end surface 42f of the convex portion 42 are at almost the same position in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction). Further, the coil spring 26 is provided between the inner bottom surface 22h of the piston 22 and the rear end surface 30b of the washer 30.

In the stroke simulator 10 configured as described above, when the brake pedal 12 is at the retreated end position and the movable member 21 is at the retreated end position, the distance d3 between the front end surface 14f of the small diameter portion 14s and the rear end surface 42f of the convex portion 42 of the rubber member 28 is shorter than the distance d4 between the front end surface 22f of the piston 22 and the rear end surface 30b of the washer 30 (d3 < d 4).

When the brake pedal 12 is depressed, the rod 14 advances, and the movable member 21 advances. Accordingly, at least one of the coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 is elastically deformed, and an elastic force corresponding thereto is applied to the brake pedal 12 as a reaction force.

Hereinafter, the operation of the stroke simulator 10 will be described in detail.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), when the brake pedal 12 is operated with an operating force F (≦ FA) equal to or less than the 1 st set value FA, the brake operating force F is applied to the coil spring 26 via the piston 22, and the elastic force of the coil spring 26 is applied to the rubber member 28 via the washer 30. The coil spring 26 can be elastically deformed, and the rubber member 28 can be elastically deformed. Since the coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 are connected in series, the spring constant k (a) of the entire stroke simulator can be expressed by the following equation when the spring constant (N/mm) of the coil spring 26 is ks and the spring constant (stiffness) of the rubber member 28 when the elastic force of the coil spring 26 is applied to the main body portion 40 is ka.

1/K(A)＝1/ks+1/ka···(1)

Since the front end surface 40a of the main body 40 is distant from the rear end surface 45a of the bottom 45 of the housing 20, the rubber member 28 is relatively easily elastically deformed. Therefore, the spring constant ka is relatively small.

The relationship between the brake operation force and the stroke in the case shown in fig. 5a (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "feel characteristic") is a portion corresponding to the region a on the line M in fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 5B, when the brake pedal 12 is operated with an operating force F (FA < F ≦ FB) that is greater than the 1 st set value FA and equal to or less than the 2 nd set value FB, the brake operating force F is applied to the coil spring 26 via the piston 22 and is applied to the rubber member 28 via the small diameter portion 14 s. Further, the elastic force of the coil spring 26 is also applied to the rubber member 28. In the rubber member 28, the convex portion 44 facing the convex portion 42 is supported by the bottom portion 45 of the housing 20, and therefore the rubber member 28 is less likely to be elastically deformed by a force applied through the small diameter portion 14 s. Therefore, the spring constant (stiffness) kb of the rubber member 28 in this case is larger than the spring constant ka in the case shown in fig. 5 (a). The spring constant k (b) of the entire stroke simulator in this case can be expressed by the following equation. The feeling characteristic in the case shown in fig. 5 (B) is a portion corresponding to the region B of the line M in fig. 6.

1/K(B)＝1/ks+1/kb···(2)

By modifying the formulas (1) and (2), it is found that the spring constant K (B) is larger than the spring constant K (A). It is obvious that K (B) > K (A) can be obtained from the change in the slope in the regions A and B of the line M shown in FIG. 6. In fig. 6, in order to clearly show the change in the spring constant, the change in the slope of the line M is described to be larger than the actual value.

As shown in fig. 5C, when the brake pedal 12 is operated with an operating force F (FB < F ≦ FC) that is greater than the 2 nd set value FB and equal to or less than the 3 rd set value FC, the front end surface 22F of the piston 22 abuts against the washer 30. The washer 30 is a rigid body, and therefore the piston 22 moves integrally with the washer 30. The brake operation force F is applied to the rubber member 28 via the small diameter portion 14s and the piston 22. Further, the coil spring 26 is held between the inner bottom surface 22h of the piston 22 and the rear end surface 30b of the washer 30 in a state of being elastically deformed, so that the length of the coil spring 26 is kept constant. Therefore, the spring constant k (c) of the entire stroke simulator in this case is determined by the spring constant kc of the rubber member 28. The feeling characteristic in the case shown in fig. 5 (C) is a portion corresponding to the region C of the line M in fig. 6.

K(C)＝kc···(3)

The spring constant kc of the rubber member 28 is considered to be almost the same as the spring constant kb. Therefore, by modifying equations (2) and (3), it can be seen that the spring constant K (C) is larger than the spring constant K (B). It is obvious that K (C) > K (B) can be obtained from the change in the slope of the regions B and C of the line M shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in fig. 5 (D), when the brake pedal 12 is operated with the operating force F (> FC) greater than the 3 rd set value FC, the spring constant k (D) of the entire stroke simulator is determined by the spring constant kd of the rubber member 28, as in the case shown in fig. 5 (C). The feeling characteristic in the case shown in fig. 5 (D) is a portion corresponding to the region D of the line M in fig. 6.

K(D)＝kd···(4)

The rubber member 28 is supported by the front end surface 40a of the main body 40 abutting against the rear end surface 45a of the bottom 45 of the housing 20. Therefore, the rubber member 28 is less likely to be elastically deformed than in the case of fig. 5 (C), and the spring constant kd is greater than the spring constant kc. Thus, the spring constant K (D) of the stroke simulator is greater than the spring constant K (C). Obviously, this relationship can be derived from the change in the inclination in the regions C, D of the line M shown in fig. 6.

As described above, the 1 st set value FA is the magnitude of the brake operation force when the front end surface 14f of the lever 14 abuts against the rear end surface 42f of the convex portion 42 of the rubber member 28. The 2 nd set value FB is the magnitude of the brake operating force when the front end surface 22f of the piston 22 abuts against the rear end surface 30b of the washer 30. The 3 rd set value FC is the magnitude of the brake operation force when the front end surface 40a of the body portion 40 of the rubber member 28 abuts against the rear end surface 45a of the bottom portion 45. The 1 st set value FA, the 2 nd set value FB and the 3 rd set value FC are increased in the order (FA < FB < FC).

The spring constant of the stroke simulator 10 may be obtained in consideration of the spring constant of the case 20 and the bottom portion 45.

As described above, since the stroke simulator according to the present embodiment is provided with the rubber member 28 as the elastic member, the brake operation force at the time of bottoming can be easily increased.

In addition, the rubber-like member is generally relatively inexpensive as compared to a coil spring. Therefore, the stroke simulator 10 can be made inexpensive by providing the rubber member 28 in the stroke simulator 10 instead of the coil spring.

Further, the rubber member 28 is formed into a stepped shape, so that the spring constant of the stroke simulator 10 can be switched in multiple stages. By switching the contact state of the rubber member 28 with the housing 20, the spring constant can be switched in multiple stages. If the spring constant is switched in a stroke simulator including a coil spring without including a rubber member, a plurality of coil springs need to be provided. On the other hand, if the rubber member 28 is provided in the stroke simulator, the spring constant can be switched in multiple stages without increasing the number of components by designing the rubber member 28 or the like.

In the present stroke simulator 10, the coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 are provided in series in a state where the rubber member 28 is positioned forward of the coil spring 26. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the spring constant of the stroke simulator 10 can be set to be small in a region where the operation force applied to the brake pedal 12 is small, and can be set to be large in a large region. A light feeling is obtained in the initial stage of the operation of the brake pedal 12, and a hard feeling is obtained in the latter half of the operation, so that a good operation feeling can be obtained.

In the feel characteristic shown in fig. 6 (which refers to the relationship between the stroke of the brake pedal 12 and the brake operating force), P (the brake operating force required to activate the brake pedal 12) can be reduced by the design of the coil spring 26 and the design of the cover 32. For example, the operating force P can be reduced by making the coil spring 26 a member having a small set load and reducing the sliding resistance between the cover 32 and the lever 14. By immersing oil in the lid 32 and removing a sealing member or the like that is a component of the lid 32, the sliding resistance can be reduced. Further, in the case where the working fluid is not contained in the volume change chamber 24, the sealing member of the cover 32 is not required. In addition, the cover itself can be removed.

Further, by decreasing the spring constant k1 of the coil spring 26, the inclination of the line M in the area a of fig. 6, that is, the reciprocal (1/KA) of the spring constant KA can be easily increased. The spring constant of the coil spring 26 is determined by the design (design of the diameter and the number of windings) of the coil spring 26, and the like. For example, the spring constant can be reduced by increasing the diameter of the coil spring 26, increasing the number of windings, reducing the wire diameter, and the like.

As shown in fig. 7, in the present stroke simulator 10, the feeling characteristics in the case where the brake operation force is decreased after being increased are indicated by broken lines, and the feeling characteristics in the stroke simulator including two coil springs provided in series are indicated by solid lines. The stroke simulator 10 includes the coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 (or the rubber-like member 50) provided in series, and therefore, the hysteresis H can be reduced (H1 < H2). By hardening the rubber-like member, hysteresis of the rubber-like member can be reduced. In other words, by providing the coil spring 26 and the rubber member 28 in series, the rigidity of the rubber member 28 can be increased, and hysteresis can be reduced.

On the other hand, it is known that it is not certain that the hysteresis becomes 0 as it is, and the feeling with a certain degree of magnitude is better. Normally, it is designed that the magnitude of hysteresis in the case where the brake operation force is F0 approaches the target value. In the present stroke simulator 10, the hysteresis is adjusted in accordance with the design of the rubber member 28, and the hysteresis is more easily adjusted in the case of the design of the rubber member than in the case of the design of the coil spring.

Further, the rubber member can be formed into a shape shown in fig. 8. In the rubber member 50 shown in fig. 8, inclined portions 66 and 68 are provided between the main body portion 60 and the convex portions 62 and 64. By providing the inclined portions 66 and 68, for example, the feeling characteristics can be made as indicated by a broken line N in fig. 6. The change in the slope can be suppressed as compared with the sensory characteristic indicated by the line M, and thus a good sensory characteristic can be obtained.

Further, the shape of the rubber member is not limited, and for example, by providing a cylindrical rubber member in series with a coil spring, the spring constant at the initial stage of the operation can be reduced, and the spring constant at the later stage of the operation can be increased, and the operation force at the time of bottoming can be easily increased as compared with the case where two coil springs are provided in series.

In the above embodiment, two elastic members are provided in the stroke simulator, but 3 or more elastic members may be provided, and two or more elastic members may be rubber members. The shapes of the movable member 21 and the housing 20 can be designed, changed, and the like as appropriate, and the present invention can be implemented in various forms of modification and improvement based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[ claimable invention ]

(1) A stroke simulator operated by an operation of a brake operating member operated by a driver, the stroke simulator comprising: a housing; a movable member that is held in the housing so as to be movable relative to the housing and is coupled to the brake operating member; a volume change chamber provided in front of the movable member of the housing; and a plurality of elastic members provided in the volume change chamber and capable of generating an elastic force in accordance with the movement of the movable member, wherein at least one of the plurality of elastic members is a rubber-like member that is a rubber-like member.

The rubber-like member is made of a material including synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like, and can have rubber-like elastic characteristics. The rubber-like member can also be referred to as an elastic body.

The volume change chamber may or may not contain the working fluid.

(2) The stroke simulator according to the item (1), wherein one or more of the plurality of elastic members are coil springs.

(3) The stroke simulator according to the above (2), wherein the one or more rubber-like members are located forward of the one or more coil springs.

(4) The stroke simulator according to the above (2) or (3), wherein the plurality of elastic members are two elastic members including one rubber-like member and one coil spring, and the rubber-like member and the coil spring are arranged in series such that the rubber-like member is located forward of the coil spring.

(5) The stroke simulator according to the item (4), wherein the coil spring is mainly elastically deformed when the amount of movement of the movable member is small, and the rubber-like member is mainly elastically deformed when the amount of movement of the movable member is large.

Generally, the rubber-like member has a rigidity larger than a spring constant of the coil spring. Further, the rubber-like member is designed to facilitate the production of a member having a high rigidity. Therefore, when the stroke simulator is designed so that the rubber-like member is mainly elastically deformed when the amount of movement of the movable member is large, it is possible to obtain good feeling characteristics and to easily increase the operating force of the brake operating member at the time of bottoming.

(6) The stroke simulator according to any one of the items (2) to (5), wherein the spring constant of the rubber-like member is larger than the spring constant of the coil spring. The spring constant (N/mm) of the rubber-like member can also be referred to as stiffness.

(7) The stroke simulator according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the rubber-like member includes a main body portion and a front protrusion provided on a front end surface of the main body portion, and is supported by the housing at the front protrusion.

At the retreat end position of the movable member, the front end surface of the main body is in a state of being away from the housing at the rubber-like member. In this state, the portion of the distal end surface of the main body portion that is away from the housing is easily elastically deformed. On the other hand, since the front protrusion faces and is supported by the housing, the front protrusion is less likely to be elastically deformed. Further, the rubber-like member may be provided with a rear protrusion as a protrusion on a rear end surface.

(8) The stroke simulator according to the item (7), wherein,

in the retreated end position of the movable member, the main body portion is in a state of being away from the housing.

When the amount of movement of the movable member increases, the distal end surface of the main body portion abuts against the housing. The rubber-like member is less likely to elastically deform in a state where the front end surface of the main body portion is in contact with the housing.

(9) The stroke simulator according to the item (7) or (8), wherein the rubber-like member includes an inclined portion provided between the main body portion and the front side protrusion.

(10) The stroke simulator according to the item (7) or (8), wherein the rubber-like member includes an arc portion provided at a connecting portion between the main body portion and the front protrusion.

(11) The stroke simulator according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the movable member includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and one of a front end surface forming the small diameter portion and a front end surface forming the large diameter portion is formed to protrude forward from the other.

For example, one of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion may contact the rubber-like member before the other. This makes it possible to switch the spring constant of the stroke simulator in multiple stages.

(12) The stroke simulator according to the item (11), wherein the rubber-like member includes a main body portion and a rear side protrusion as a protrusion provided on a rear end surface of the main body portion, the small diameter portion faces the rear side protrusion of the rubber-like member, and the large diameter portion faces the main body portion of the rubber-like member with a plate-like member interposed therebetween.

(13) The stroke simulator according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the rubber-like member is formed in a stepped shape having a main body portion and at least one convex portion.

(14) A brake operating device, wherein the brake operating device comprises: a brake operation member operated by a driver; and the stroke simulator according to any one of the above (1) to (13), which is operated by operation of the brake operating member.