Abstract:
In order to improve a hand-actuated transmitter unit for vehicles, in particular for handlebar-controlled vehicles, comprising a housing, an actuating lever which is movable relative to the housing and is coupled to a transmission element such that an actuation of the actuating lever is transmitted by means of the transmission element to a slave unit, such that further functions of a vehicle can be controlled, it is proposed that a detector unit which detects with at least one detector a transition of the actuating lever from a non-actuated state to an actuated state and vice versa is associated with the transmitter unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims the benefit of German application No. 10 2014 111 917.7, filed Aug. 20, 2014, the teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hand-actuated transmitter unit for vehicles, in particular for handlebar-controlled vehicles, comprising a housing, an actuating lever which is movable relative to the housing and is coupled to a transmission element such that an actuation of the actuating lever is transmitted by means of the transmission element to a slave unit. 
     Hand-actuated transmitter units of this type are known from the prior art. 
     With these transmitter units, it is a requirement, in addition to the actuation of the slave unit, to control further vehicle functions. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to improve a transmitter unit of the aforementioned type such that further functions of a vehicle can be controlled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is achieved with a transmitter unit of the aforementioned type in that a detector unit which detects with at least one detector a transition of the actuating lever from a non-actuated state into an actuated state and vice versa is associated with the transmitter unit. 
     The advantage of the solution according to the invention lies in that by means of the detector, a possibility for detecting the non-actuated and/or actuated state of the actuating lever has been created which is independent of the influence on the transmission element and of the influence on the slave unit. 
     In particular, electronic functional units can be controlled with such a detector unit in a simple way by an actuation of the actuating lever. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the detector unit has a detector output at which an electrically detectable state signal is available on request for an external functional unit. 
     The possibility therefore exists with the transmitter unit according to the invention, in addition to the transmission of the actuation of the actuating lever, also to control electrical control units by means of the transmission element. 
     Functional units of this type can be, for example, drive switch-off units or recuperator circuits or other circuits which are activated particularly when the transmitter unit is used to actuate a brake as the slave unit, in order to support the braking effect. 
     The electrically detectable state signal could be, for example, a resistance value. 
     The state signal can be utilised for an electrical control unit in a particularly simple manner if the detector unit converts the respectively detected state of the actuating lever into an electrical switching state forming the state signal. 
     An electrical switching state of this type is either a switch-on state or a switch-off state. 
     For this reason, it is provided, for example, that the electrical switching state corresponds to an open switch. 
     Alternatively or additionally thereto, it is also conceivable that the electrical switching state corresponds to a closed switch. 
     With regard to the influence on the detector, it is preferably provided that the actuating lever influences the at least one detector at least in one of the two actuation states, that is in the non-actuated state and/or in the actuated state. 
     The influence can take place directly on the detector. 
     However, another advantageous solution provides that the actuating lever influences the at least one detector by means of a transmission element. 
     In the context of the solution according to the invention, it is essentially possible to operate with a single detector. 
     However, it is advantageous if a plurality of detectors are used. 
     A favourable solution provides that the detector unit comprises at least two detectors. 
     Particularly in the case of the use of two detectors, a particularly favourable solution provides that the detector unit comprises a rocker which transmits an influence to the detectors and which acts on each of the detectors alternatingly. 
     A rocker of this type has the advantage, with its alternating influence, that thereby an influence acts either on one of the two detectors or on the other of the two detectors. 
     This is favourable particularly in the cases in which the state signals of the detectors are evaluated redundantly, that is, both state signals of both detectors are evaluated, wherein on use of a rocker of this type, the evaluation can always assume that one of the detectors must emit the actuated state signal and the other of the detectors must emit the non-actuated state signal, regardless of how the influence acts on the rocker. 
     With regard to the configuration of the detectors, no detailed indications have been given in the context of the description above of the solution according to the invention. 
     Thus a particularly advantageous solution provides that the at least one detector is a tactile detector, since with a tactile detector an influence can be detected in a simple manner and a tactile detector also has the great advantage that it operates very robustly and reliably, particularly in a vehicle setting. 
     A particularly favourable solution provides that the at least one detector is configured as a tactilely actuatable electric switching contact. 
     In the context of the above description of the individual embodiments of the invention, no detailed indications of how the at least one detector is arranged at the transmitter unit have been given. 
     Thus a particularly advantageous solution provides that the at least one detector is arranged on the housing of the transmitter unit such that the actuating lever influences said detector in the actuated or the non-actuated position. 
     The at least one detector can also, in principle, be arranged directly on the housing. 
     A particularly favourable solution provides that the at least one detector is associated with a reach adjust device arranged on the housing for the actuating lever. 
     Through the association of the detector with the reach adjust device, the possibility exists that different settings of the reach by means of the reach adjust device do not themselves influence the actuation of the detector by the actuating lever, but rather that the detector is always actuated in the same way by means of the actuating lever with differently set reaches. 
     It is herein particularly favourable if the at least one detector is associated with an adjustment element of the reach adjust device, and particularly is arranged on the adjustment element, so that thereby a setting of the reach by the adjustment element does not influence the actuation of the detector, since the detector is always moved together with the adjustment element. 
     Preferably, the at least one detector is arranged such that a contact arm of the actuating lever influences it. 
     It is particularly favourable therein if the contact arm influences the at least one detector in every position of the adjustment element in its respective starting position, particularly indirectly or directly. 
     Alternatively or in addition to the arrangement of the at least one detector on the housing of the transmitter unit, another advantageous solution provides that the at least one detector is arranged on the actuating lever. 
     In this case, it is preferably provided that the actuating lever comprises a first lever arm and a second lever arm and that the lever arms are movable relative to one another between an actuation starting position existing in a non-actuated state of the actuating lever and an actuation position existing in an actuated state. 
     This means that with this solution the relative movement of the lever arms is used in order to act on the at least one detector. 
     In principle, herein the lever arms can carry out highly varied movements relative to one another. 
     A particularly simple solution provides however that the lever arms are pivotable relative to one another between the actuation starting position and the actuation position. 
     Alternatively to the provision of the pivotability of the lever arms relative to one another, a further advantageous solution provides that the lever arms are connected to one another and movable relative to one another by means of elastic regions. 
     This means that in this case the lever arms represent a continuous part, preferably a one-piece part, wherein one of the lever arms is movable relative to the other lever arm in that an elastic region, for example, a connecting region of reduced cross-section is provided between said lever arms. 
     An elastic region of this type can be manufactured by highly varied forming methods. 
     A particularly favourable solution provides that an elastic region of this type is formed by elastic struts between one lever arm and the other lever arm. 
     In order to actuate the detector unit, it is preferably provided that the lever arms have arm portions arranged facing one another and that arranged on one arm portion is the at least one detector which the other of the arm portions influences in the actuation starting position or in the actuation position. 
     A suitable solution provides that the at least one detector is arranged co-operating with one of the arm portions and engages in the other of the arm portions, wherein for example, the latter acts upon the at least one detector. 
     It is particularly favourable if the at least one detector is arranged in a receptacle of one of the arm portions and the other of the arm portions overlaps the receptacle so that the detector is arranged protected by the two arm portions in the actuating lever. 
     In order to ensure in such an actuating lever comprising the first lever arm and the second lever arm that these assume a defined position relative to one another for the detectors in the non-actuated position, it is preferably provided that the first lever arm and the second lever arm are acted upon relative to each other by a resilient element in the direction of the actuation starting position so that the lever arms are always in a defined position relative to one another in the actuation starting position. 
     In the event that both lever arms are connected to one another by an elastic region, this elastic region can preferably simultaneously also be used so that in the non-actuated state, the lever arms lie in the actuation starting position relative to one another and therefore the detector utilised is in the non-actuated position. 
     In a transmitter unit of the exemplary embodiments described above, a reach adjust device for the actuating lever is provided particularly on the housing, with which apparatus a respective starting position of the actuating lever can be pre-set. 
     The advantage of this solution is to be found therein that, by means of such a reach adjustment, the respective user of the hand-actuated master cylinder device can set the starting position favourable for him, in particular a starting position of the actuating lever relative to the handlebar that is favourable for a hand of the user. 
     Preferably, such a reach adjust device is configured so that it comprises an adjustment element which is movable relative to the housing and with which the respective starting position is settable. 
     The adjustment element can be arranged or mounted on the housing to be movable in highly varied ways. 
     For example, it is conceivable to mount the adjustment element rotatable on the housing, so that by rotating the adjustment element, different starting positions of the actuating lever can be pre-set. 
     A solution that is advantageous with regard to the design and particularly the space requirement provides that the adjustment element is displaceably arranged on the housing. 
     Such a displaceable arrangement of the adjustment element relative to the housing has the advantage that with this arrangement, the space requirement for the reach adjust unit can be kept small. 
     A particularly favourable solution provides that the adjustment element can be brought into different positions relative to the pivot axis of the actuating lever, having different spacings from the pivot axis, which define the different starting positions which themselves correspond to different reaches. 
     With regard to the configuration of the adjustment element itself, no detailed indications have so far been given. 
     In particular, no detailed indications have been given regarding the cooperation of the adjustment element with the actuating lever for setting the different starting positions. 
     Thus, an advantageous solution provides that the adjustment element has at least one stop surface for a contact arm of the actuating lever. 
     In this regard, the at least one stop surface could be configured so that it is a surface that is continuously varying and particularly therefore defining different angular spacings of the actuating lever from a holding unit, on which surface the contact arm abuts for setting the different starting positions on different surface regions. 
     A particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the adjustment element has different stop surfaces which particularly set different angular spacings of the actuating lever from a holding unit and which are associated with different starting positions of the actuating lever. 
     For example, such different stop surfaces can be configured as surfaces or surface regions offset relative to one another and with which the contact arm cooperates in each starting position. 
     In this case, it is suitably provided that by means of the movement of the adjustment element, one of the respective stop surfaces can be brought into an active position cooperating with the contact arm in which a setting of the respective starting position of the actuating lever takes place. 
     With regard to the definition of the different positions of the adjustment element for reaching the different starting positions of the actuating lever, no detailed indications have been given in the context of the description above of the individual exemplary embodiments. 
     For example, it is conceivable to provide a self-locking adjusting device. 
     Another possibility is to fix the adjustment element in different positions, for example, with a screw. 
     A particularly favourable solution provides that the adjustment element of the reach adjust device is fixable in the different positions by means of a locking device. 
     The advantage of this solution lies therein that a tool-free reach adjustment is possible particularly easily since the locking device can be configured so that it permits the achievement of the different positions in tool-free manner and thus purely manually. 
     In particular it is herein provided that the locking device comprises two cooperating locking elements of which one is connected to the housing and another to the adjustment element, so that thereby the adjustment element can be fixed relative to the housing in the different positions in a particularly simple manner. 
     The locking elements can be configured in widely varying ways. 
     An advantageous solution provides that a first locking element has a projection and that a second locking element has different locking surfaces for fixing the different positions of the adjustment element. 
     In this configuration of the locking elements, the projection preferably cooperates with one of the respective locking surfaces to fix the relevant position and, in order to achieve different positions, the projection is moved to the different locking surfaces. 
     With regard to the execution of the locking movement, no detailed indications have been given in the context of the configuration of the locking elements. 
     Thus, it is suitably provided that one of the locking elements comprises a resilient tongue which enables the locking elements to move relative to one another from one locking position into another locking position. 
     Preferably, in the solution according to the invention, the second locking element is connected to the adjustment element and the first locking element is connected to the housing. 
     It is suitably further provided that the second locking element comprises the resilient tongue which carries the plurality of locking surfaces. 
     Furthermore, no detailed indications have been given in the context of the above solution also concerning the arrangement of the adjustment element on the housing. 
     Thus, an advantageous solution provides that the adjustment element is guided by means of a guide on the housing and is thus movable in a defined manner in a guide direction relative to the housing. 
     For example, the guide is configured so that it comprises, firstly, guide bodies and, secondly, guide grooves, wherein the guide direction is pre-defined by the guide grooves. 
     For example, it is provided that the adjustment element, the guide bodies and the guide grooves are arranged on the housing. 
     With regard to the guide direction for the movability of the adjustment element, no detailed indications have so far been given. 
     Thus a particularly compactly designed solution provides that the adjustment element is movable in a guide direction by means of the guide approximately parallel to the master cylinder, so that the housing can be configured small and compact. 
     Approximately parallel should be understood herein to mean that the deviation of the guide direction from a parallel course is 20° or less. 
     With regard to the exemplary embodiments described so far, no details have been given concerning how the actuating lever should be held in each starting position. 
     In this regard, it is particularly advantageous if the actuating lever is spring-loaded in the direction of the respective starting position and is thereby held in said position in the non-actuated state, which means that, in the non-actuated state, the actuating lever always transfers automatically into the starting position. 
     For this purpose, a separate spring unit which moves the actuating lever automatically into the respective starting position can be provided. 
     However, a particularly advantageous solution provides that the actuating lever is acted upon by the master cylinder in the direction of the starting position and thus the master cylinder acts upon the actuating lever such that the actuating lever assumes the respective starting position. 
     This solution has the further advantage that thereby the respective starting position of the actuating lever simultaneously represents a starting position for the master cylinder. 
     Thus the starting position of the actuating lever is always associated with a corresponding starting position of the master cylinder. 
     However, this starting position of the master cylinder can also be set by means of the adjustability of the plunger. 
     In particular, such an influence of the master cylinder on the actuating lever can be realised in that the master cylinder is provided with a resilient element which acts constantly upon the master cylinder in its direction guiding the actuating lever into the starting position. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject matter of the following description and of the illustration in the drawings of some exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a transmitter unit according to a first exemplary embodiment mounted on a portion of a handlebar; 
         FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section through the transmitter unit in  FIG. 1  in a sectional plane parallel to the drawing plane in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a pressure arm of the actuating lever in the direction of the arrow A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an enlarged longitudinal section through the actuating lever in the region of the pressure arm, but without the plunger; 
         FIG. 5  shows a section similar to  FIG. 4  with the plunger; 
         FIG. 6  shows a section along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows an enlarged longitudinal section similar to  FIG. 2  through a housing of the transmitter unit together with part of the actuating lever and a plunger provided thereon and a reach adjust device in a position corresponding to a maximum reach; 
         FIG. 8  shows a section according to  FIG. 7  with the reach adjust device in a position corresponding to a relatively small reach; 
         FIG. 9  shows a representation according to  FIG. 7  with the reach adjust device in a position corresponding to a minimum reach; 
         FIG. 10  shows a section similar to  FIG. 2  in a position of the reach adjust device corresponding to a middle position according to  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows a section similar to  FIG. 2  in a position of the reach adjust device with a minimum reach according to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows an enlarged partial representation of the reach adjust device according to the position at maximum reach according to  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 13  shows an enlarged representation of the reach adjust device in a position corresponding to the middle reach according to  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 14  shows an enlarged representation of the reach adjust device in a position corresponding to the minimum reach according to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of an adjustment element of the reach adjust device; 
         FIG. 16  shows a section along the line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 17  shows a representation similar to  FIG. 12  with the actuating lever actuated; 
         FIG. 18  shows an exploded representation of an actuating lever of a transmitter unit according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  shows a longitudinal section through the actuating lever of the transmitter unit according to the second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  shows a perspective representation of an actuating lever of a transmitter unit according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 21  shows a longitudinal section through the actuating lever of the transmitter unit according to the third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  shows a section along the line  22 - 22  in  FIG. 21  and 
         FIG. 23  shows a section along the line  23 - 23  in  FIG. 21 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary embodiment of a transmitter unit  10  according to the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , for vehicles, particularly handlebar-controlled vehicles, comprises a housing  14  mountable on a handlebar  12  of the vehicle, said housing having a holding unit  16  which is clampingly fixable on the handlebar  12 . 
     The housing  14  further comprises a housing body  18  on which an actuating lever  22  is mounted pivotable about a pivot axis  24 , wherein the actuating lever  22  has a manually actuatable handle arm  26  with a handle surface  28  for manual actuation of the actuating lever  22 , wherein a manual pressure on the handle surface  28  leads to pivoting of the actuating lever  22  in an actuating direction  32  about the pivot axis  24  starting from a starting position. 
     As  FIGS. 1 and 2  show, as well as the handle arm  26 , the actuating lever  22  also comprises a pressure arm  36  on which a plunger identified altogether as  42  is mounted. 
     A master cylinder  44  which is mounted in the housing body  18  is actuable by the plunger  42 . 
     The master cylinder  44  is preferably formed by a cylinder housing  46  arranged, in particular integrally, in the housing body  18 , in which cylinder housing a piston  48  is arranged movable in a movement direction  52 , wherein the cylinder housing  46  and the piston  48  delimit a cylinder chamber  54  the volume of which varies depending on the position of the piston  48  so that in the event that a hydraulic medium is provided in the cylinder chamber  54 , the master cylinder  44  operates as a hydraulic master cylinder by which the hydraulic medium can be fed via a hydraulic line  55  to a slave unit, for example, for actuating a brake unit. 
     In order to move the piston  48  in the movement direction  52 , it is provided with a pressure surface  56  on which the plunger  42  acts with a plunger head  58 . 
     Furthermore, the piston  48  is acted upon in the direction of an end position defining a maximum volume of the cylinder chamber  54  by a compression spring  62  arranged in the cylinder chamber  54  which therefore constantly displaces the piston  48  toward an enlargement of the cylinder chamber  54 , so that the piston preferably acts constantly with the pressure surface  56  against a rounded plunger head surface  64  of the plunger head  58  and constantly pivots the actuating lever  22  until a contact arm  66  abuts a reach adjust device  72  which is also provided in the housing  14  and which defines the starting position of the actuating lever  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , provided in the pressure arm  36  itself is an internal thread  82  in which an external thread  84  of the plunger  42  engages so that the internal thread  82  of the pressure arm  36  and the external thread  84  of the plunger  42  together form a threaded guide  86  by means of which the plunger  42  is rotatable and displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis  88  thereof which is simultaneously the central axis of the threaded guide  86 , in order to be able to set the spacing of the plunger head  58  from the pressure arm  36 . 
     In order to turn the plunger  42 , it is provided at its end remote from the plunger head  58  with a rotary control element  92  which is held non-rotatably on an end portion  94  of the plunger  42  opposite to the plunger head  58 . 
     The threaded guide  86  and the pressure arm  36  thus lie between the plunger head  58  and the rotary control element  92 . 
     The rotary control element  92  is herein provided peripherally, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , with grip recesses  96  which lie respectively between raised portions  98  of the rotary control element  92 . 
     Due to the arrangement of the internal thread  82  of the threaded guide  86  directly in the pressure arm  36 , the orientation of the longitudinal axis  88  of the plunger  42  relative to the actuating lever  22  is also pre-determined, so that the plunger  42  is always oriented in a defined manner relative to the actuating lever  22  and particularly also to the handle arm  26 . 
     For this reason, the plunger head  58  is preferably provided with the rounded head surface  64  which acts on the pressure surface  56  of the piston  48 . 
     In order to prevent the free rotatability of the plunger  42  in the threaded guide  86 , a locking element  102  is preferably provided which has a locking nose  104  which can be brought into engagement with the grip recesses  96  of the rotary control element  92  in order thereby to fix the rotary control element  92  in a rotary position. 
     The locking nose  104  is herein preferably mounted on a tongue  106  which is elastically movable relative to the actuating lever  22 , particularly relative to the handle arm  26  of the actuating lever  22 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating lever  22  is provided in the region of the handle arm  26  with a recess  116  lying between side cheeks  112  and  114  of the handle arm  26 , and extending as far as the tongue  106  with the locking nose  104 , wherein a U-shaped slit  118  which extends round the tongue  106  and the locking nose  104  is provided which frees the tongue  106  with the locking nose  104 , so that consequently the tongue  106  is connected on one side only by a tongue root  122  to the handle arm  26  ( FIG. 3 ) and thus can move resiliently in a springing direction  124  in the recess  116 , particularly thereinto. 
     This design enables the tongue  106  with the locking nose  104  to be configured as one part integrally with the handle arm  26  if the actuating lever  22  is manufactured, for example, with the handle arm  26  as a plastics part. 
     If, however, the actuating lever  22  is configured with the handle arm  26  as a metal part, the tongue  106  bearing the locking nose  104  is to be configured as a resilient element and is to be connected to the actuating lever  22 , in particular the handle arm  26 . 
     By means of the locking of the rotary control element  92  in the different positions, a setting of the plunger  42  once pre-determined by means of the threaded guide  86  and thus the position of the piston  48  pre-determined by the plunger  42  in the starting position of the actuating lever  22  pre-determined by the reach adjust device  72  can thus be maintained without any change in the position of the plunger  42  taking place independently. 
     In this way, in particular, adaptations of the master cylinder  44  to slave-side changes, for example, changes of brake linings through wear can be carried out. 
     As mentioned above, with the transmitter unit  10  according to the invention, by means of the reach adjust device  72  in cooperation with the contact arm  66 , the starting position of the actuating lever  22  and thus a reach, that is, the spacing of the handle arm  26  from the handlebar  12  can also be set. 
     For this purpose, as shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , arranged in the housing body  18  an adjustment element  132  is provided which is movable relative thereto and which, as shown enlarged in  FIGS. 12 to 15 , has altogether three stop surfaces  134 ,  136 ,  138 , each of which can be brought by means of a movement of the adjustment element  132 , for example, by means of linear displacement thereof in a displacement direction  142  into an active position in which said stop surfaces delimit a pivoting of the actuating lever  22  contrary to the actuating direction  32  in that the contact arm  66  comes to rest on the respective stop surface  134 ,  136 ,  138  which is in the active position, wherein by this means a fixing of the respective starting position of the actuating lever  22  takes place. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 2 , a first stop surface  134  is provided for a maximum reach, that is, a maximum spacing of the handle arm  26  from the handlebar  12  and the contact arm  66  can be placed on said stop surface when the adjustment element  132  is situated in a first position in which it has a maximum spacing from the pivot axis  24 , so that the contact arm  66  abuts the first stop surface  134  lying closest to the pivot axis  24 . 
     This first stop surface  134  is arranged so that it permits a starting position of the handle arm  26  which, relative to the pivot axis  24 , represents a maximum angular spacing W 1  from the holding unit  14 , as  FIG. 2  shows. 
     The second stop surface  136  is effective when the adjustment element  132  is displaced, starting from the first position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 2 , into a second position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10  and lying closer to the pivot axis  24 , so that the contact arm  66  abuts against this second stop surface  136 , wherein this second stop surface is arranged so that when the contact arm  66  abuts thereon, the handle arm  26  has an angular spacing W 2  from the holding unit  16  which is smaller than the angular spacing W 1 . 
     In order to move the third stop surface  138  into its active position, the adjustment element  132  is to be displaced in the direction of the pivot axis  24  far enough so that the adjustment element assumes the position closest to the pivot axis  24 . 
     The third stop surface  138  is herein arranged so that the angular spacing W 3  between the handle arm  26  and the holding unit  16  is smaller than the angular spacing W 2  ( FIGS. 9 and 11 ). 
     In order to be able to position the adjustment element  132  reliably in the different positions corresponding to the different angular spacings W 1 , W 2 , W 3  in which the different stop surfaces  134 ,  136  and  138  are effective, the adjustment element  132  is lockable relative to the housing body  18  with a locking device identified overall as  152 , as shown in  FIGS. 12 to 16 . 
     The locking device  152  herein comprises a first locking element  154  which is connected, for example, to the housing body  18  and can be configured as a cam or a pin, and comprises a second locking element  156  which has a plurality of locking surfaces  162 ,  164  and  166  with which the first locking element  154  can cooperate in order to fix the adjustment element  132  in the different positions corresponding, for example, to the angular spacings W 1  or W 2  or W 3  relative to the housing body  18 . 
     Preferably, the second locking element  156  is configured as a resilient tongue  168  formed onto the adjustment element  132 . 
     In order to guide the adjustment element  132  in the housing body, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , provided lying laterally on the adjustment element  132  are guide bodies  172  and  174  which engage in corresponding guide grooves  176  and  178  of the housing body  18  and thus guide the adjustment element  132  displaceably in the displacement direction  142  between the different positions fixable by the locking device  152 . 
     Also associated with the adjustment element  132  is a detector unit identified overall as  182 , which is arranged in a recess  184  of the adjustment element  132 . 
     The detector unit  182  comprises a detector carrier  186  on which two detectors  192  and  194  are arranged spaced apart from one another. 
     The detector unit  182  generates electrically detectable state signals corresponding to an influence on the detectors  192  and  194 , which can be interrogated, for example, by means of a detector line  188 . 
     Each of the detectors  192  and  194  is provided with a tactilely actuatable element  196 ,  198  on which an influence is exerted by means of a transmission element  202 . 
     The transmission element  202  is configured, for example, as a rocker  204  which is pivotable about a pivot axis  206 , wherein the pivot axis  206  is formed, as shown for example in  FIG. 15 , by projections  208  formed onto the adjustment element  132  on each side, each of which engages in a recess  212  of a side cheek of the rocker  204 , wherein side cheeks  214  of this type with recesses  212  are arranged on both sides of the rocker  204 . 
     Preferably, the pivot axis  206  of the rocker  204  lies between the two detectors  192  and  194 . 
     The rocker  204  further comprises two arched influencing surfaces  216 ,  218  wherein the influencing surface  216  influences the tactilely actuatable element  196 , whilst the influencing surface  218  influences the tactilely actuatable element  198 . 
     The rocker  204  is further arranged relative to the detectors  192  and  194  so that it either influences the tactilely actuatable element  196  with the influencing surface  216  or influences the tactilely actuatable element  198  with the influencing surface  218  so that an actuation state signal is generated by the respective detector  192  or  194 . 
     Furthermore, the rocker  204  is provided with a tongue  222  which extends along the adjustment element  132  in the region of the stop surfaces  134 ,  136 ,  138  so that with the contact arm  66  acting upon one of the stop surfaces  134 ,  136  or  138 , an influence acts upon the tongue  222  and thus an influence acts upon the rocker  204 , specifically such that the rocker influences the tactile element  196  so that the detector  192  generates an actuation state signal. 
     This influence on the tongue  222  of the rocker  204  simultaneously leads, as for example  FIG. 12  shows, for example, to no influence acting on the tactile element  198  to generate the actuation state signal. 
     If, however, as shown in  FIG. 17 , an actuation of the actuating lever  222  takes place, the contact arm  66  lifts off the corresponding stop surface  134 ,  136 ,  138  of the adjustment element  132  and therefore, no longer acts upon the tongue  222 . 
     In this case, a spring element  224  is associated with the rocker  204 , said spring element being arranged, for example, in a receptacle  226  of the adjustment element  132  and acting, for example, on the tongue  222  in a direction opposite to the influencing direction of the contact arm  66  so that when the contact arm  66 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , no longer acts on the tongue  222 , the tongue  222  moves in the direction of the contact arm  66  and thus the rocker acts with the influencing surface  218  on the tactilely actuatable element  198  of the detector  194  which therefore generates an actuating state signal, whilst the influencing surface  216  no longer influences the tactilely actuatable element  196  of the detector  192 , so that said detector no longer generates the actuating state signal. 
     With the solution according to the invention, the detectors  192  and  194  can be configured in widely varying ways. 
     For example, the detectors can be configured as capacitive sensors. 
     A particularly simple and robust solution provides, however, that the detectors  192 ,  194  are configured as electrical switching contacts wherein the tactilely actuatable elements  196  and  198  either close or open the electrical switching contacts, that is they are capable, in order to generate the actuation state signal, of generating a defined electrical switching state, specifically open or closed. 
     If no actuation of the relevant element  196  and  198  takes place, then the respective other switching state exists and a non-actuation state signal can be associated therewith. 
     These state signals corresponding to the switching states of the detectors  192  and  194  are read by an external functional unit  232 . 
     The fact that two detectors  192 ,  194  are provided which are actuatable by means of the switching rocker  204 , that always only one of the detectors  192 ,  194  generates the actuating signal, whilst the other of the detectors  194 ,  192  generates no actuating signal can be utilized in widely differing ways. 
     For example, the detectors  192  and  194  can be connected to external functional units  232  so that the actuating signals of the detectors  192 ,  194  are transmitted to different external functional units  232 . 
     However, the detectors  192  and  194  can also be connected as redundant detectors so that the external functional unit  232  is always capable of checking whether a malfunction of one of the detectors  192 ,  194  has occurred or whether both detectors  192 ,  194  function reliably, specifically in that a check is always performed of whether the actuating state signal of one of the detectors  192 ,  194  is correspondingly present with the non-actuation state signal of the other of the detectors  194 ,  192 . 
     As the external functional units  232 , for example, drive circuits are provided, particularly when the transmitter unit according to the invention is used to actuate a braking unit as the slave unit. 
     It can thus always be ensured when the braking unit is actuated that a drive switch-off takes place and thus that the drive of the handlebar-controlled vehicle does not operate against the effect of the brake. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, however, the functional unit  232  can also be provided as a drive of a recuperator for energy recovery. 
     In a second exemplary embodiment of a transmitter unit  10  according to the invention  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the detector unit  182  is integrated into the actuating lever  22 ′ which is also an actuating lever  22 ′ of a transmitter unit  10  which otherwise corresponds, for example, to the transmitter unit of the first exemplary embodiment. 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, all those elements which are identical with the first exemplary embodiment are identified with the same reference signs so that reference is made to the statements relating to this exemplary embodiment. 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, the actuating lever  22 ′ has, as shown particularly in  FIG. 18 , a first lever arm  242  which is pivotable about the pivot axis  24  and a second lever arm  244  forming the handle arm  26 . 
     The lever arms  242  and  244  have arm portions  246 ,  248  facing one another which are also mounted pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis  252 . 
     If it is assumed that the actuating lever  22 ′ is in its starting position described, for example, in relation to the first exemplary embodiment, then the first lever arm  242  is arranged in the defined starting position and the second lever arm  244  is pivotable relative to the first lever arm about the pivot axis  252 , as shown particularly in  FIG. 19 , through a limited pivot angle S, wherein the pivot angle S is delimited on one side in that the arm portions  246  and  248  abut against one another, for example, in the non-actuated position of the actuating lever  22 ′ with first side regions  254  and  256  and, in the actuated position, with second side regions  262  and  264 , so that the limited pivot angle is defined by the side regions  254  and  256  as well as  262  and  264  which can be placed against one another. 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, the whole detector unit  182  is held with the detector carrier  186  and the two detectors  192  and  194  on one of the lever arms  242 ,  244 , for example, on the arm portion  248  of the second lever arm  244  and extends with the detectors  192  and  194  into a recess  272  in the arm portion  296 , wherein on the base side of the recess, influencing surfaces  216 ′ and  218 ′ which act upon the tactilely actuatable elements  196  and  198  are provided. 
     In this case, the first arm portion  246  of the first lever arm  242  forms a rocker which is pivotable about the pivot axis  252  relative to the detector unit  182  which is firmly held on the second arm portion  248  and therefore influences the tactilely actuatable elements  196 ,  198 , specifically also alternatingly as described in relation to the first exemplary embodiment, so that either the actuating state signal is generated in one of the detectors  192 ,  194 , whilst in the other of the detectors  194 ,  192 , no actuating state signal or a non-actuation state signal is generated. 
     Furthermore, between the arm portions  246  and  248 , a spring element  274  is effective which presses the arm portions  246  and  248  relative to one another such that they always abut against one another with the side regions  254  and  256  when, in an actuation starting position, no actuation of the handle lever  26 ′ takes place. Thus, on actuation of the handle lever  26 ′, the second lever arm  244  moves about the pivot axis  252  relative to the first lever arm  242  and thus also the second arm portion  248  moves relative to the first arm portion  246  contrary to the force effect of the spring element  274  so that in an actuation position, the side regions  262  and  264  contact one another. 
     This leads to an influence on the detector unit  182  such that in this case, for example, the detector  192  transitions from the non-actuated state into the actuated state, whilst the detector  194  transitions from the actuated state into the non-actuated state and generates the corresponding state signals. 
     Only when the side regions  262  and  264  of the arm portions  246 ,  248  abut against one another, on further influence on the handle lever  26 ′, does pivoting of the actuating lever  22 ′ take place in the actuating direction  32  and thus a movement of the whole actuating lever  22 ′ from the starting position into an actuated position. 
     In a third exemplary embodiment of a transmitter unit  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 20 to 23 , the detector unit  182  is integrated into the actuating lever  22 ″ which is also an actuating lever  22 ″ of a transmitter unit  10  which also corresponds, for example, to the transmitter unit of the first exemplary embodiment. 
     In the third exemplary embodiment also, all those elements which are identical with the exemplary embodiments described above are identified with the same reference signs so that reference is made to the statements relating to these exemplary embodiments. 
     In the third exemplary embodiment, the actuating lever  22 ″ has, as shown in  FIG. 21 , a first lever arm  242 ′ which is pivotable about the pivot axis  24  and a second lever arm  244 ′ comprising the handle arm  26 . 
     The lever arms  242 ′ and  244 ′ have arm portions  246 ′,  248 ′ facing one another which are movable relative to one another, wherein the movability does not result from a joint which connects the arm portions  246 ′ and  248 ′ which are movable relative to one another. 
     Rather, the lever arms  242 ′ and  244 ′ are manufactured as an integral part. As shown, for example, in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the actuating lever  22 ″ comprises a lever base  282  which is pivotable about the pivot axis  24  and in which, for example, the internal thread  82  for a threaded guide of a plunger (not shown) is provided. 
     The lever base  282  transitions directly to the first lever arm  242 ′ which is integrally connected to the lever base  282  via the two web regions  284  and  286  and, due to the two web regions  284  and  286 , forms a rigid unit with the lever base  282 . 
     The two web regions  284  and  286  transition, as shown in  FIG. 23 , into the arm portion  246 ′ which has a U-shaped cross-sectional form in section, as shown in  FIG. 23 , wherein a central web  292  is present to which two side webs  294  and  296  which include between them a groove  298  are attached. 
     Herein, the two side webs  294  and  296  extend starting from the central web  292  in the direction of the arm portion  248 ′ so that the groove  298  has a groove opening  302  facing toward the arm portion  248 ′, wherein in the groove  298 , opposite the groove opening  302 , a groove bottom  304  is formed. 
     The second lever arm  244 ′ is also held on the lever base  282 , specifically outer elastic struts  312  and  314  extend from the lever base  282  to the arm portion  248 ′ which, in the non-actuated state extends at a distance from the side webs  294  and  296  of the arm portion  246 ′ and thus also extends at a distance from the groove opening  302 . 
     The arm portion  248 ′ also comprises, for example, a central web  322  which is adjoined by stabilising side webs  324  and  326  which extend, for example, in the direction of the arm portion  246 ′ and accept the arm portion  246 ′ with its upper end regions  334  and  336  between them. 
     Furthermore, the central web  322  carries on its side facing toward the arm portion  246 ′ the detector carrier  186 ′ on which, for example, a detector  192 ′ is placed which is arranged so that, although it is held by the detector carrier  186 ′, it extends through the groove opening  302  into the groove  298  and rests with its tactilely actuatable element  196  on the groove bottom  304  when the arm portion  248 ′ moves, due to the elastic behaviour of the struts  312  and  314  in the direction of the arm portion  246 ′, which occurs when a manual intervention on the handle arm  26  to actuate the actuating lever  22 ″ takes place. 
     Preferably, the lever base  282  is provided on a side facing away from the pivot axis  24  with a recess  342  for guiding the detector cable  188 , which recess guides the detector cable  188  round the internal thread  82  and then transitions to a free space  344  which is formed between the elastic struts  312  and  314 , holding the struts apart from one another and also providing a separation between the arm portion  248 ′ and the arm portion  246 ′ in order to bind the arm portion  248 ′ of the second lever arm  244 ′ exclusively by means of the struts  312  and  314  to the lever base  282 , by means of which an integral connection to the first lever arm  242 ′ again comes about. 
     Furthermore, the free space  344  is dimensioned so that the detector carrier  186 ′ can be introduced with the detector  192 ′ between the arm portion  246 ′ and the arm portion  248 ′, wherein the detector  192 ′ engages through the groove opening  302  into the groove  298  and can be inserted therealong together with the detector carrier  186 ′ into a functional position shown in  FIG. 21 , which has a sufficiently large spacing from the elastic struts  312  and  314  wherein, for example, this position of the detector  192 ′ is pre-determined by the extent of the groove  298  in the direction away from the elastic struts  312  and  314 . 
     In the third exemplary embodiment, as soon as a manual influence acts on the handle arm  26 , said handle arm acts on the arm portion  248 ′ of the lever arm  244 ′ which is rigidly connected to it and thus the arm portion  248 ′ moves by means of the elastic struts  312  and  314  relative to the arm portion  246 ′ of the second lever  242 ′ disposed in the starting position of said arm portion, said second lever  242 ′ remaining static due to the starting position, pre-determined by the transmitter unit. 
     By this means, the detector  192 ′ is moved deeper into the groove  298  so that the tactilely actuatable element  198  is located against the groove bottom  304  and thus transitions the detector  192 ′ from the non-actuated state into the actuated state. 
     In order to protect the detector  192 ′, the first arm portion  246 ′ is provided at an end region  352  facing away from the elastic struts  312  and  314  with a support surface  354  on which the arm portion  248 ′ abuts with a contact surface  356  in the actuated state of the detector  192 ′ so that the actual force for actuating the transmitter unit can be transmitted from the arm portion  248 ′ via the contact surface  356  and the support surface  354  to the arm portion  246 ′ in order to actuate the transmitter unit itself. 
     As soon as the influence on the handle region  26  is ended, the arm portion  246 ′ moves, due to the tendency of the elastic struts  312  and  314  to transition to their starting state, away from the arm portion  246 ′ again so that thereby the detector  192 ′ is again moved away from the groove bottom  304  and actuation of the tactilely actuatable element  196 ′ is ended.