CN111981053A

CN111981053A - Brake device and vehicle comprising same

Info

Publication number: CN111981053A
Application number: CN201910422543.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周远祥; 维尔德·斯特凡
Original assignee: Shanghai Brose Electric Motors Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taicang Brose Automotive Parts Co.,Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-05-21
Filing date: 2019-05-21
Publication date: 2020-11-24

Abstract

The invention provides a brake device and a vehicle including the same. The brake apparatus includes a support housing having an inner bore and defining a longitudinal axis; a friction element disposed in the bore; a slider cooperating with the friction element; and a spring configured to apply a biasing force to the slider along the longitudinal axis to enable the slider to slide along the friction element on the longitudinal axis under the action of the biasing force, the slider and the friction element having tapered mating surfaces along the longitudinal axis that press against each other, configured to convert the biasing force of the spring into a radial force that is transmitted to the friction element such that the friction element is in frictional contact with the bearing housing or a component connected to the bearing housing. According to the brake device of the present invention, it is possible to compensate for a decrease in friction force due to wear of the friction element, and it is easy to change the generated friction force by changing the spring force.

Description

Brake device and vehicle comprising same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vehicles. In particular, in one aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle brake device, in particular for a holding function of a tailgate. In another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising the braking device.

Background

A brake device for a vehicle, in particular for a tailgate of the vehicle, is known from EP3037289a1, wherein the tailgate is pivotable relative to the vehicle body between an open position and a closed position. The opening and closing of the tailgate is realized, for example, by a spindle drive arrangement comprising a motor, a spindle and a nut arranged on the spindle, wherein the spindle nut is movable along the spindle by rotating the spindle by means of the motor to realize the tailgate opening and closing.

In order to keep the tailgate in a specific position, an optional braking device is usually also provided (by means of friction) to achieve the tailgate holding function. However, the conventional brake device has the following disadvantages. Play exists in the brake (e.g., torsion spring brake, manufactured by boze, germany), resulting in rough operation; the components of the braking device wear over time, resulting in a reduction in friction; friction generates a loud noise (as the permanent brakes and torsion spring brakes produced by boze, germany) especially for permanent brakes, where the friction brake is active over the entire stroke of the tailgate opening/closing movement. Furthermore, permanent braking devices also present heating problems, particularly when operating at higher speeds.

Furthermore, the friction forces generated by current braking devices have considerable tolerances during their service life due to wear, which is undesirable.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the above disadvantages. To this end, the invention provides a braking device for a vehicle, for example a spindle drive arrangement for a tailgate, to achieve a retaining function of the tailgate.

According to a first aspect, a braking device is used to brake movement of a first vehicle component relative to a second vehicle component to maintain the first vehicle component in a particular position relative to the second vehicle component (e.g., an open or closed position of a tailgate of a vehicle). The brake apparatus includes a support housing having an inner bore and defining a longitudinal axis; a friction element disposed in the bore; a slider cooperating with the friction each other; and a spring configured to apply a biasing force to the slider along the longitudinal axis to enable the slider to slide along the friction element on the longitudinal axis under the action of the biasing force, wherein the slider and the friction element have tapered mating surfaces along the longitudinal axis that press against each other, configured to transfer the biasing force of the spring into a radial force to the friction element such that the friction element is in frictional contact with the bearing housing or a component connected to the bearing housing. With this arrangement, when the friction force is reduced due to wear of the material of the friction element, the slider slides along the friction element on the longitudinal axis due to the biasing force, which presses the tapered mating surfaces of the slider and the friction element more against each other, thereby increasing the frictional contact between the friction element and the bearing housing or the component connected to the bearing housing, so that the reduced friction force can be compensated for. Further, by changing the biasing force of the spring, the generated frictional force can be changed. According to the invention, the friction force may vary between 200N and 400N.

Preferably, the friction element is an annular member, and the slider is provided with an annular recess at an outer periphery thereof, the friction element being fitted in the annular recess. It is further preferred that the annular recess is provided with a projection in the circumferential direction and that the friction element is provided with a groove at the corresponding location. With this arrangement, the friction member is prevented from coming off the slider.

According to an embodiment, the spring is a compression spring or a wave spring.

According to an embodiment, the spring is conical, cylindrical, or partly conical and partly cylindrical.

According to an embodiment, the first vehicle component is a tailgate and the second vehicle component is a body. The tail gate can be a manual tail gate or a power tail gate.

According to an embodiment, the braking device has a first end side and an opposite second end side along the longitudinal axis, the slider being mounted at the first end side, the spring being positioned between the second end side and the slider along the longitudinal axis.

The first and second end sides are configured as a motor interface and a spindle interface, respectively, for engagement with a motor and a spindle, respectively, of a spindle drive arrangement. Preferably, the motor interface and/or the spindle interface is provided with gripping jaws for facilitating engagement of the motor and/or the spindle. With this arrangement, during operation of the spindle drive arrangement, the friction element rotates as a result of motor actuation or manual operation of the spindle drive arrangement, while the bearing housing remains stationary, whereby relative movement between the friction element and the bearing housing generates friction.

Preferably, the motor interface and the spindle interface are each constructed as separate components, with the two components being engaged with one another. With this arrangement, the same interface member as the existing brake device can be used to engage with the motor and the spindle, reducing manufacturing costs.

Preferably, the motor interface portion is provided with a projection extending along the longitudinal axis, and the slider is provided with a matching groove. Or a convex part is arranged on the sliding block, and a matching groove is arranged on the motor interface part. With this arrangement, it is advantageous to guide the sliding movement of the slider along the friction element, so that the operation is smooth.

According to an embodiment, the braking device further comprises a bearing bracket fixed on the first end side and abutting against the friction element. Preferably, the support bracket has a portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the portion being positioned between the support housing and the friction element. With this arrangement, the friction element is prevented from moving relative to the first end side during operation of the braking device.

According to an embodiment, the motor interface is inserted through the spindle interface, wherein the brake device further comprises a compression washer mounted on a portion of the motor interface that passes through the spindle interface. With this arrangement, the motor interface and the spindle interface are prevented from disengaging from each other.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including the brake device described above.

According to the brake device of the present invention, a reduction in friction force due to wear of the friction element can be compensated for. Furthermore, the braking device can be connected to the components of the spindle drive arrangement using the same interface components as existing braking devices, and thus is easily used in existing drive arrangements, saving manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the friction surface can be made larger than in known braking devices, so that heating problems are less pronounced. Also, the friction force generated is easily changed by changing the spring force, and assembly is easy.

Drawings

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown simplified for clarity. Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a brake apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support housing;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a slider;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spring;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spindle interface portion;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a support shelf;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a motor interface portion;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a compression washer; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a friction element.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

The braking device 1 is used for braking the movement of the tail gate of the vehicle relative to the vehicle body to hold the tail gate in an open or closed position relative to the vehicle body. As shown in fig. 1, the braking device 1 comprises a support housing 10 having an internal bore (see fig. 2, not identified) and defining a longitudinal axis X; a slider 20; a spring 30; a spindle interface 40 for engagement with a spindle of a spindle drive arrangement; a support frame 50 fixed to the motor interface 60 and abutting against the friction member 80; a motor interface 60 for engagement with a motor of the spindle drive arrangement; a compression washer 70; and a friction element 80 disposed in the bore.

The slider 20 and the friction element 80 have tapered mating surfaces 21 and 81 (see fig. 3 and 9) that press against each other along the longitudinal axis X such that the slider 20 and the friction element 80 cooperate with each other to convert the biasing force of the spring 30 into a radial force that is transmitted to the friction element 80.

The spring 30 is positioned along the longitudinal axis X between the spindle interface 40 and the slider 20 to apply a biasing force to the slider 20 along the longitudinal axis X such that the slider 20 can slide along the friction element 80 on the longitudinal axis X under the biasing force.

In this example, the spindle interface 50 and the motor interface 60 are each constructed as separate components, with the motor interface 60 being inserted through the spindle interface 40 to engage one another. The compression washer 70 is an annular member (see fig. 8) that is mounted on the portion of the motor interface 60 that passes through the spindle interface 40 to prevent the two components from disengaging from each other.

As shown in fig. 3 and 9, the friction element 80 is an annular member, and the slider 20 is provided with an annular recess 22 at the outer periphery, and the friction element 80 is fitted to the annular recess 22. Furthermore, the annular recess 22 is provided with a projection 23 in the circumferential direction and the friction element 80 is provided with a groove 82 at a corresponding location.

As shown in fig. 4, the spring is a conical helical compression spring. In this example, the spring wire diameter is 1.8 mm and the length in the unloaded state is 98 mm. In the loaded (assembled) state, a 400N biasing force is generated for a spring length of 17.5mm and a 420N biasing force is generated for a spring length of 16 mm.

As shown in fig. 5, the spindle interface 40 is provided with gripping jaws 41 at the location to be engaged with the spindle to facilitate engagement of the spindle.

As shown in fig. 6, the support bracket 50 comprises a longitudinal extension 51 extending along the longitudinal axis X, which is positioned between the support housing 10 and the friction element 10.

As shown in fig. 7, the motor interface portion 60 is provided with a projection 61 extending along the longitudinal axis X, and the slider 20 is provided with a matching recess 24 (see fig. 3). Further, similar to the spindle interface 40, the motor interface 60 is also provided with clamping jaws (not visible) to facilitate engagement of the motor.

The embodiments discussed in the detailed description and illustrated in the figures are merely illustrative exemplary embodiments. For example, in the embodiment, the brake device is used for the holding function of the tailgate spindle drive arrangement, but the brake device may also be used for other vehicle components. In some cases, the features disclosed in the present invention may be used independently of other features. On the other hand, when necessary, the features disclosed in the present invention may be combined to provide various combinations.

List of reference numerals

1 braking device

10 support shell

20 sliding block

21 conical mating surfaces

22 annular recess

23 bulge

24 groove

30 spring

40 Main shaft interface

41 clamping jaw

50 supporting rack

51 longitudinal extension

60 electric machine interface

61 projection

70 pressure washer

80 Friction element

81 conical mating surfaces

82 groove

X longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A brake device for braking movement of a first vehicle component relative to a second vehicle component to maintain the first vehicle component in a particular position relative to the second vehicle component includes a support housing having an interior bore and defining a longitudinal axis; a friction element disposed in the bore; a slider cooperating with the friction element; and a spring configured to apply a biasing force to the slider along the longitudinal axis to enable the slider to slide along the friction element on the longitudinal axis under the action of the biasing force, wherein the slider and the friction element have tapered mating surfaces along the longitudinal axis that press against each other, configured to transfer the biasing force of the spring into a radial force to the friction element such that the friction element is in frictional contact with the bearing housing or a component connected to the bearing housing.

2. A braking apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the friction element is an annular member and the slide is provided with an annular recess at the periphery on which the friction element is fitted.

3. A braking apparatus in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the annular recess is provided with projections in the circumferential direction and the friction element is provided with grooves at corresponding positions.

4. A braking apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the spring is a compression or wave spring.

5. A braking apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the spring is conical, cylindrical or partly conical and partly cylindrical.

6. A braking apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first vehicle component is a tailgate and the second vehicle component is a vehicle body.

7. A braking apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the braking apparatus has a first end side and an opposite second end side along the longitudinal axis, the slider being mounted at the first end side, the spring being positioned between the second end side and the slider along the longitudinal axis.

8. A braking apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the first and second end sides are configured as a motor interface and a spindle interface, respectively, for engagement with a motor and a spindle, respectively, of a spindle drive arrangement.

9. A brake arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the motor interface and/or the spindle interface is provided with clamping jaws.

10. The brake apparatus of claim 8, wherein the motor interface and the spindle interface are each configured as separate components that engage one another.

11. A brake arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the motor interface is provided with a projection extending along the longitudinal axis and the slide is provided with a cooperating recess.

12. A braking apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the braking apparatus further comprises a support bracket fixed on the first end side and abutting the friction element.

13. The brake apparatus of claim 12, wherein the support bracket has a portion extending along the longitudinal axis that is positioned between the support housing and the friction element.

14. The brake apparatus of claim 8, wherein the motor interface is inserted through the spindle interface, and wherein the brake apparatus further comprises a compression washer mounted on a portion of the motor interface that passes through the spindle interface.

15. A vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle comprises a braking device according to any one of claims 1-14.