AT522819A2 - Brake assist device, hydraulic brake system and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a brake assistance device (100) for a hydraulic brake system (30), with a volume adjustment unit (40), in which the volume adjustment unit (40) has a brake line (32), a reservoir (36), a transmitter (36) and / or is hydraulically connected or connectable to a slave of the brake system (30), is set up to controllably vary a volume available to a brake fluid (37) of the brake system (30), and for this purpose at least one volume control element (50) with or from an electromagnetic one Has shape and / or volume active material (51).

Description

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description

Title brake assist device, hydraulic braking system and vehicle

State of the art

The present invention relates to a brake assist device, a hydraulic brake system and a vehicle.

The present invention relates in particular to a brake assistance device for a hydraulic brake system, in particular for a vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and / or with motor power, a bicycle, electric bike, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, moped or for a scooter, a hydraulic brake system for a muscle power and / or a vehicle that can be driven by motor power, and a vehicle as such that can be driven by muscle power and / or by motor power, in particular a bicycle, electric bike, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, moped or scooter.

Hydraulic brake systems are often used to brake wheels on vehicles. For safety reasons, brake assistance devices, for example in the sense of anti-lock protection (ABS), are increasingly being used in such brake systems. In this case, braking assistance devices of this type are intended to prevent a braked wheel from locking in order to achieve the shortest possible braking distance and / or the highest possible degree of directional stability when braking.

In particular in the area of vehicles that can be driven with muscle power and / or with motor power, for example in the area of bicycles, electric bicycles or the like, previous braking assistance devices can only be used to a limited extent due to their complexity and their energy consumption.

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Disclosure of the invention

The brake adjustment device according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1 has the advantage that a brake assistance function can be implemented with comparatively simple means and with comparatively low energy requirements. This is achieved according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1 in that a brake assistance device is created for a hydraulic brake system, which is designed with a volume adjustment unit and in which the volume adjustment unit (i) with a brake line, a reservoir, a transmitter and / or a The slave of the brake system is hydraulically connected or connectable, (ii) is set up to controllably vary a volume available to a brake fluid of the brake system, and (iii) for this purpose has at least one volume control element with or made of an electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material. By providing a volume control element with or made of an electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material, the free volume for a brake fluid in the brake system can be adapted without great expenditure in terms of equipment and energy in order to influence different braking states.

The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

In an advantageous development of the brake assist device according to the invention, a particularly simple structure results from the fact that at least one component of the brake fluid itself is formed with or from the electromagnetically shape and / or volume-active material and thus functions in particular as a volume control element.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that, according to another exemplary embodiment of the brake assist device according to the invention, the volume adjustment unit and in particular the volume control element is or are set up for direct or indirect fluid mechanical interaction with the brake fluid, in particular through direct mechanical contact with the brake fluid. As a result, the volume available for the brake fluid can be adapted in a particularly simple and loss-free, namely direct manner.

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This can be achieved with different concrete measures.

For example, according to another advantageous embodiment of the braking assistance device according to the invention, it is conceivable that the volume control element has or forms at least one displacement body. During operation, for example, this is located directly in the volume of the brake fluid, so that a change in volume that is caused on or in the displacement body has a direct effect on the free volume for the brake fluid.

It can also be considered that the displacement body is designed as a bulk body or float.

Alternatively or additionally, according to another preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the volume control element can have or form at least one element of a volume adjustment vessel.

In addition, it can be envisaged that the volume control element forms or has, for example, a wall element, a support structure, preferably between wall elements, or the like, or a part thereof in connection with a volume adjustment vessel.

Furthermore, the volume control element can alternatively or additionally have or form at least one element of a safety device or a - in particular mechanical - coupling with such a safety device, in particular as part of or in connection with a safety valve, a check valve or the like.

Furthermore, according to another advantageous embodiment of the braking assistance device according to the invention, it is provided that the volume control element has or forms a plurality and in particular a plurality of displacement bodies.

These can, for example, be suspended in the brake fluid, in particular as grains or particles.

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It is also conceivable that the majority of the multiplicity of displacement bodies, in particular in the manner of grains or particles, are contained in a volume adjustment vessel containing part of the brake fluid and / or through which part of the brake fluid flows, in particular with one or more filters for retaining Displacers in the volume adjustment vessel.

The volume adjustment vessel can in particular be part of the volume adjustment unit or alternatively or additionally as part of an underlying brake line.

Particularly simple conditions with regard to the operation of the volume adjustment unit arise when, according to another preferred embodiment of the brake assistance device according to the invention, the volume adjustment unit has an electromagnetic application unit or a connection to an electromagnetic application unit.

It is conceivable that the electromagnetic application unit is set up to apply an electromagnetic field or a change in an electromagnetic field to the volume control element, at least in part, in a controlled manner, in order to adapt the volume of the volume control element, in particular in the manner of an electrode arrangement and / or a coil arrangement.

Alternatively or additionally, in a further development of the brake assistance device according to the invention, an evaluation and control unit can be configured which is configured to control the state of the volume adjustment unit and in particular the volume control element, in particular on the basis of values recorded by at least one sensor.

The braking assistance device according to the invention is in principle versatile and applicable in various technical areas, in particular in the area of a hydraulic brake system for a vehicle that can be driven by muscle power and / or motor power, a bicycle, electric bicycle, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, moped, quad or scooter .

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Also with regard to the electromagnetically shape and / or volume-active material, there are various possibilities, namely the use of a positive or negative or inverse electrostrictive, magnetostrictive and / or positive or negative or inverse piezoelectric material, which forms at least part of the volume adjustment element.

The present invention also provides a hydraulic brake system for a vehicle or the like that can be driven by muscle power and / or motor power and is designed with a brake, with a brake line for hydraulic connection to the brake via a brake fluid and with a brake assist device designed according to the invention.

Finally, a vehicle that can be driven by muscle power and / or by motor power is created which has at least one wheel and a brake system designed according to the invention for braking the at least one wheel.

The vehicle can in particular be designed as a bicycle, electric bicycle, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, small motorcycle, quad or as a scooter.

Furthermore, a method is to be claimed which controls the braking assistance device described, in particular for implementing an ABS function in the context of a hydraulic brake system.

Brief description of the figures

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 to 4 schematically show, in the manner of a respective block diagram, embodiments of a hydraulic brake system designed according to the invention using a brake assistance device designed according to the invention.

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Preferred embodiments of the invention

Embodiments of the invention and the technical background are described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Identical and equivalent as well as identically or equivalent acting elements and components are denoted by the same reference symbols. The detailed description of the designated elements and components is not given in every case of their occurrence.

The features and further properties shown can be isolated from one another in any form and combined with one another as desired without departing from the core of the invention.

First, an electric bicycle as a preferred embodiment of the vehicle 1 according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As an electric bicycle, the vehicle 1 comprises a frame 12 on which a front wheel 9-1, a rear wheel 9-2 and a crank drive 2 with two cranks 7, 8 with pedals 7-1 and 8-1 are arranged. An electric drive 3 is integrated in the crank drive 2. A pinion 6 and possibly a gear shift are arranged on the rear wheel 9-2. Crank drive 2 and electric drive 3 form drive 80 of vehicle 1.

A drive torque, which is provided by the driver and / or by the electric drive 3, is transmitted from a chainring 4 on the crank drive 2 via a chain 5 to the pinion 6.

A control unit 10, which is connected to the electric drive 3, is also arranged on the handlebar of the vehicle 1. In or on the frame 12 or luggage rack, a battery 11 is also formed, which is used to supply power to the electric drive 3.

A crank bearing 13 or bottom bracket, which has a crankcase 14 and a crankshaft 15, is also integrated in the frame 12 or in a drive unit.

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In the area of a brake system 30, by means of which access to the brake disks 34 can be initiated via brake lines 32 when the brake lever 31 is actuated, an embodiment of the brake adjustment device 100 according to the invention is also provided, either for one of the brakes 33 or for both brakes 33 In FIG. 1, the brake system 30 has its own brake assistance device 100 in the area of each of the brakes 33 for the individual modulation of the braking force of the respective brake 33 to implement a brake assistance function, in particular in the sense of an ABS. However, this is not mandatory.

Figures 2 to 4 show schematically in the manner of a respective block diagram embodiments of a hydraulic brake system 30 designed according to the invention using a brake assistance device 100 designed according to the invention, with Figures 3 and 4 showing the same brake system 30 with the same brake assistance device 100 in two different operating states.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the brake system 30 is designed with a brake 33 with a brake disk 34. The brake system 30 furthermore has a brake line 32 which fluid-mechanically couples the brake 33 with the brake lever 31 and the reservoir 36 by means of a brake fluid 37.

Upstream of the brake 33 is an inlet valve 91, which can be part of a conventional ABS system 90, for example.

The brake assistance device 100 according to the invention is formed between the inlet valve 91 and the brake 33.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the brake assistance device 100 has a volume adjustment unit 40 with a volume adjustment vessel 41 in fluid-mechanical communication with the brake line 32. On the inlet side and outlet side, the volume adjustment vessel 41 is made of an electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material 51, each with a filter 42 to hold back the displacement body 52 located in the vessel 41 and suspended in the brake fluid 37 - here in the form of grains or in the form of a powder.

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The housing 43 of the volume adjustment vessel 41 of the volume adjustment unit 40 of the brake assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment of the invention is designed in its outer circumferential area with an electromagnetic application unit 45 - for example in the manner of an electrode arrangement or a coil arrangement.

The electromagnetic application unit 45 is set up to apply an electromagnetic field or a change in an electromagnetic field to the interior of the vessel 41 and thus the housing 43 and thus also the material 51 of the displacement body 52, which according to the invention form the volume adjustment element 50, and thus due to the electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active nature of the material 51 on which it is based, to bring about a change in volume by means of which the free volume available to the brake fluid 37 is modulated in order to thereby reduce a pressure drop or possibly also a pressure build-up in the brake line 32 independently of the actuation of the brake lever 31, in order to implement an ABS function, in particular via a pressure drop.

To control such a function, an evaluation and control unit 70 is provided, which via a control and measuring line 72 on the one hand with a sensor 75 in the area of the brake 33 and in particular a wheel 9-1, 9-2 of the vehicle 1 and on the other hand via other Control and measurement lines 71 and 73 are connected to the electromagnetic application unit 45 and the inlet valve 91, respectively.

The system of the brake assistance device 100 according to the invention according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 has an inlet valve 91 as a further core element, which is able to fluidically separate the driver from the brake caliper 35 of the brake 33 of the brake system 30 via the brake line 32.

In addition, there are 37 particles in the brake fluid in this embodiment

with or made of a magnetostrictive material. At an upper and a lower end of the line 32 and in particular in that there

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Filters 42 are attached to the fluid-mechanically integrated vessel 41 in order to limit the position of the magnetostrictive particles in the brake line 32, in particular to the area of the vessel 41 which is formed by the housing 43 of the volume adjustment unit 40.

The brake line 32 is surrounded or sheathed by a coil with a plurality of windings, which acts as an electromagnetic application unit 45 and is able to generate a magnetic field and impress it on the material 51.

In the inactive state, the inlet valve 91 is open and no current flows in the coils 45. Thus, the driver can operate the brake 33 of the brake system 30 normally.

As soon as the system detects that the wheel 9-1, 9-2 is blocked, it closes the inlet valve 91 and an electrical excitation current is generated in the electromagnetic application unit 45 and its coils. A magnetic field is generated by the current, which acts on the magnetostrictive particles. These particles function as displacement bodies 52, that is to say as a result of the magnetic field, the particles reduce their own volume as displacement bodies 52 and thus increase the free volume available to the brake fluid 32.

The brake pressure on the brake caliper 35 is reduced accordingly until the wheel 9-1, 9-2 returns to the stable range with no or reduced slip.

In order to build up the brake pressure, the current in the coils of the electromagnetic application unit 45 is reduced. As a result, the magnetic field strength decreases and the volume of the magnetostrictive particles increases.

Since the coil can run along and follow the brake line 32, it is possible

to realize a system with a very small diameter, whereby the integration in a bicycle frame is simplified.

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In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, instead of the inlet valve 91, a safety device 60 in the form of a non-return valve is designed, specifically in cooperation with a pin acting as a safety element 61, which mechanically connects to the displacement body 52 made of the electromagnetically shape- and volume-active material 51 of the volume adjustment element 50 is coupled, so that a change in volume also causes the change in the positioning of the pin 61, as shown in the transition between FIGS. 3 and 4.

The system of the brake assist device 100 according to the invention according to this embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 has, as a further core element, the non-return valve 60 as a safety device, which is able to fluidically separate the driver from the brake caliper 35.

In the inactive state, the check valve 60 is kept open by the pin 61 as a safety element because this pin 61 is coupled to the active material 51 of the displacer 52 as a volume adjustment element 50 in the storage chamber 41 of the volume adjustment unit 40, which is formed by the housing 43.

The active material 51 is located in the storage chamber 41 and is able to interact with the magnetic and / or electric field which can be generated by the electromagnetic application unit 45 and thereby reduce its own volume.

It can be, for example, an electroactive polymer, magnetostrictive materials, piezo materials and the like.

Alternatively or additionally, the use of ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel or cobalt is also conceivable or the use of pseudo-binary materials based on rare earth-iron compounds and / or Tersenol-D2 materials.

Depending on the active material 51, this is the volume adjustment element

50 encased, for example, by a coil with several windings, which is able to generate a magnetic field in a controlled manner.

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Alternatively, two opposing plates as electrodes can also surround the vessel 41 and housing 43, the plates then being able to generate an electrical field in a controlled manner.

In the inactive state, the check valve 60 is or is kept open by the pin 61, which is coupled to the active material. The driver can thus normally operate the brake 33 of the brake system 30 via the lever 31 by means of fluid mechanical coupling via the brake line 32.

As soon as the system detects that the wheel 9-1, 9-2 is running unstably, a magnetic or electric field is generated - namely depending on the nature of the active material 51 - so that the volume of the active material 51 is reduced.

This also moves the pin 61, namely retracted. The movement of the pin 61 closes the check valve 60 and the driver is separated from the brake caliper 35 by fluid-mechanical means.

By reducing the volume in the vessel 41 due to the volume reduction of the active material 51, the free volume of the storage chamber 41 available for the brake fluid 37 increases, consequently the pressure in the brake line 32 and thus the brake pressure on the brake caliper 35 and on the wheel 9 -1, 9-2 lowered.

The brake pressure on the brake caliper 35 is accordingly reduced until the wheel 9-1, 9-2 comes back into a stable range with no or reduced slip.

In order to build up the brake pressure again, the magnetic or electric field is reduced. As a result, the volume of the active material 51 increases again, and the pressure in the brake fluid 37 and thus in the brake line 32 increases.

The advantages of the procedure according to the invention result in the possibility of realizing an ABS control with a practically infinite number of work cycles in connection with a very compact system which can be integrated in a simple and reliable manner, for example in a bicycle.

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According to the invention, the braking assistance device is controlled by means of a method which carries out the method steps described above. In particular, it can be provided here that the method is used to implement an ABS control, for example in a hydraulic brake system on a two-wheeler, in particular on an electric bicycle.

Claims (11)

10 15 20 25 30 35 R.383495 "13 - claims 1. Brake assistance device (100) for a hydraulic brake system (30), with a volume adjustment unit (40), in which the volume adjustment unit (40) - Is hydraulically connected or connectable to a brake line (32), a reservoir (36), a transmitter (36) and / or a slave of the brake system (30), - Is set up to controllably vary a volume available to a brake fluid (37) of the brake system (30), and - To this end, has at least one volume control element (50) with or made of an electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material (51). 2. Brake assistance device (100) according to claim 1, in which at least a component of the brake fluid (37) is formed with or from the electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material (51) and thus functions in particular as a volume control element (50). 3. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding Claims, in which the volume adjustment unit (40) and in particular the volume control element (50) is or are set up for direct or indirect fluid-mechanical interaction with the brake fluid (37), in particular through direct mechanical contact with the brake fluid (37). 4. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding Claims, in which the volume control element (50) - has or forms at least one displacement body (51) which is designed in particular as a bulk body or float, - has or forms at least one element of a volume adjustment vessel (41), in particular a wall element, a support structure, preferably between wall elements, or the like and / or 15th 20th 25th 30th 35 R.383495 "14 - - has or forms at least one element (61) of a safety device (60) or a - in particular mechanical - coupling with such an element (61), in particular as part of or in connection with a safety valve, a check valve (62) or the like. 5. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the volume control element (50) has a plurality and in particular has a large number of displacement bodies (51) or forms which in particular - are suspended in the brake fluid (37), - Are designed as grains or particles or have grains or particles and / or - In a volume adjustment vessel (41) containing part of the brake fluid (37) and / or through which part of the brake fluid (37) flows, in particular with one or more filters (42) for retaining displacement bodies (51) in the volume adjustment vessel (41), as part of the volume adjustment unit (40) and / or as part of the brake line (32). 6. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding Expectations, - in which the volume adjustment unit (40) has an electromagnetic loading unit (45) or a connection to an electromagnetic loading unit (45), - the electromagnetic application unit (45) being set up in particular to apply an electromagnetic field or a change in an electromagnetic field to the volume control element (50) at least in part in a controlled manner in order to adapt the volume of the volume control element (50), in particular in the manner of an electrode arrangement and / or a coil arrangement. 7. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding Claims, with an evaluation and control unit (70) which is designed to control the state of the volume adjustment unit (40) and in particular the volume control element (50), - 15 - in particular on the basis of values recorded by at least one sensor (75). 8. Brake assistance device (100) according to one of the preceding 5 claims, - which for a hydraulic brake system (30) for a with muscle power and / or a motorized vehicle (1), a bicycle, electric bicycle, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, moped, quad or scooter is set up and / or 10 - in which the electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material (51) is or has a positive or negative or inverse electrostrictive, magnetostrictive and / or positive or negative or inverse piezoelectric material. 15th 9. Hydraulic brake system (30) for a vehicle (1) that can be driven with muscle power and / or with engine power, with: - a brake (33), - a brake line (32) for hydraulic connection with the brake (33) via a brake fluid ( 32) and 20 - a braking assistance device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8. 10. Vehicle (1) that can be driven by muscle power and / or by motor power - with at least one wheel (9-1, 9-2) and 25 - with a brake system (30) according to claim 9 for braking the at least one wheel (9- 1, 9-2), - which is designed in particular as a bicycle, electric bicycle, eBike, pedelec, motorcycle, moped, quad or scooter. 30th 11. A method for controlling a brake assist device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8 or a hydraulic brake system according to claim 9, in which the volume adjustment unit (40) - with a brake line (32), a reservoir (36), a transmitter (36 ) and / or is hydraulically connected or connectable to a slave of the brake system (30), the method varying a volume available to a brake fluid (37) of the brake system (30), and - 16 - wherein the at least one volume control element (50) with or from an electromagnetically shape- and / or volume-active material (51).