Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connecting element ( 40, 60 ) for releasably connecting a first component ( 10 ) and a second component ( 20 ), particularly for releasably connecting an actuator with a pedal of a motor vehicle, wherein forces parallel to the assembly direction are transmitted by the connecting element. The connecting element ( 40, 60 ) comprises a connecting means ( 40 ) which is attached to the second component ( 20 ) and a sled ( 60 ), which can receive a fatening end ( 30 ) of said first part ( 10 ) and which latches in the connecting means ( 40 ) in its fastening position. The connecting means ( 40 ) is preferably configured in one-piece-form as a housing ( 40 ), wherein the sled ( 60 ), which is connected to the actuating means ( 10 ), is connected to the housing ( 40 ) in fastened condition and wherein the sled ( 60 ) can be released by means of a tool.

Description:
1. TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a connecting element for releasable connecting a first component with a second component, for instance a modulator with an operating element. In particular, the present invention relates to a connecting element for releasable connecting an actuator linkage with a pedal in a vehicle.  
       2. PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     Linked and releasable connecting of two components by means of an appropriate connecting element is a problem in many fields of mechanical engineering. The construction of vehicles is such a field. Here, usually the applied force to the brake or clutch pedal and the thereby generated torque is transmitted via a movably attached linkage of bars or modulator to the brake or clutch system, respectively. Such releasable connections have the following advantages: The moving direction of the two connected components can be turned round, the transmitted torques and forces can be changed by exploiting the lever principle and the aspect of safety is taken into account by indirectly operated technical elements. Airplane construction or the general mechanical engineering are further fields of application in which releasable connections of two movable components are required.  
         [0003]     The following essential requirements have to be fulfilled especially because of the application of connecting elements in the field of vehicle construction. In the case of using the connecting element for connecting the brake pedal with the brake linkage a stable, long wearing and lasting construction is necessary which transmits considerable cyclic loading of compressive and tensile stresses over the whole working life of a motor vehicle. The stability is realized on the one hand by cooperating positive and non-positive connections and on the other hand by using appropriate materials as for instance plastic materials with reinforcing elements.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, it is desirable, that the connection produced by the connecting element is connectable and again releasable with low technical and time effort. This is only possible if the connecting element consists of components with limited constructive complexity. In consideration of the mentioned aspects the production costs as well as the later assembling cost during assembly and disassembly of the connecting element and the use of the connecting element, respectively, can be reduced whereby a profitable and technically useful connecting element is provided.  
         [0005]     The prior art provides connecting elements of different embodiments which are characterized by a certain stability under load which several times exceeds the assembling force for producing the connection.  
         [0006]     According to the document DE 198 13 721 a connecting element can comprise for instance the following arrangement. A first component has a spherical head which is received by a dome shaped sled complimentary shaped to the spherical head. During insertion or installation, respectively, of the spherical head in the sled the lateral sides of the sled in the opening region of the spherical cap are pressed apart and are closed again after the spherical head has been completely inserted into the sled. In this way a positive and a non-positive connection between the spherical head and the sled is produced. This sled comprises two resilient extensions at its outside with snapping hook-like projections at their sides opposite to the spherical head. The resilient extensions with the snapping hook-like projections provide a permanent connection and latching with a second component by engaging therein if the sled with the spherical head slides into a second component (receptacle) for producing a definitive connection. The second component circumferentially compasses the sled and prevents in that way a bending up of the dome shaped sled and a disengaging of the spherical head. The connection between sled and second component is facilitated by a suitably shaped female element in the second component. In that way, a connection with a simultaneous engaging of the connection is produced by moving the spherical head in the direction of the dome shaped sled. The connecting element withstands mechanical loads acting perpendicular to the assembling direction of the connecting element whereby these mechanical loads can by far exceed the mechanical assembling effort.  
         [0007]     A further development of the until then known and explained connecting elements provides the document DE 199 18 911. In this connecting element the resilient extensions with a snapping hook-like projection of the sled are shaped so that they stick out on one side of the second component, i.e. project when the sled is set in and engaged in the second component. Nevertheless, the sled can be disengaged from the second component by manually pressing the projecting ends without using any additional tools. Thus, a connecting element is provided which can be manually assembled as well as released and although withstands high mechanical loading.  
         [0008]     Furthermore, the sled provides simultaneously fastening and latching means by its dome shaped female element for the spherical head of the first component and by the resilient extensions for latching in the second component. The material of the sled is elastically deformable in order to enable the function of the resilient extensions. The mechanical deformability additionally however causes that the sled deforms under the influence of mechanical loading. Though, the sled is deformed because the mechanical loading of the connecting element acts perpendicular to the assembling direction as described above in the prior art, nevertheless that does not cause a disengagement of the spherical head from the sled and thereby a failure of the connecting element.  
         [0009]     However, it has to be noted that only forces perpendicular to the assembling direction appear during use of the known connecting elements, described before. Strictly speaking, the load acts during the intended use substantially perpendicular to the assembling direction of the first component which is moved together with the dome shaped sled into the second component during assembling. Thus, the holding forces in assembling direction have not to be and are not high in the known connecting elements. Additionally, the construction of the known connecting elements is unsuitable for mechanical loads acting in assembling direction because their elastical deformability of the sled material would lead to a fast wear of the bearing area and therefore to a disengagement of the spherical head.  
         [0010]     Finally, the snapping hook-like latching means perform the supporting parts of the connecting element during acting mechanical loading in assembling direction. However, these supporting areas are too small to withstand permanent tensile or tensile/compressive cyclic loading.  
         [0011]     It is therefore the problem of the present invention to provide a connecting element for two components that permanently withstands mechanical loading parallel to the assembling direction. Thereby the connecting element is to be of simple construction and made of low-cost materials.  
         [0012]     A further problem related to the known connecting elements and solved by the present invention is that the connecting element comprises high stability and is to be nevertheless easily releasable without negatively affecting the stability and working life.  
       3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The above problems are solved by the subject matters of the independent claims  1  and  9 .  
         [0014]     In detail, the present invention relates to a connecting element for connecting a first part and a second part comprising a connecting means connected to the second part, a sled arranged in said connecting means which is displaceable from an assembly position to a mounting position wherein said sled is configured in such a way that it can receive a fastening end of said first part and that it moveably and releasably latches said fastening end by means of a lever like tilting mechanism after displacing said sled together with said fastening end in said mounting position.  
         [0015]     The connecting element according to the invention is made of two parts wherein preferably according to the invention one connecting means is rigidly installed in a first part or it is integrally formed within the same. For connecting the first part with a second part comprising a fastening end, according to the invention a sled is used. This sled is configured in such a way that it can receive a fastening end of the second part and that it can be fixed in said connecting means. The receiving and latching of said fastening end of said second part is carried out by means of a lever like tilting mechanism which is capable to moveably and releasably latch and fix fastening ends having different shapes and size. The mounting of said fastening end of said second part is executed by the displacement of said sled from an assembly position to a mounting position. In this mounting position, the sled is fixed in said connecting means as well as said fastening end is fixed in said sled. Without the destruction of the sled, the same can again be released from the connecting means and, thus, the whole connection between the first and the second part is also released.  
         [0016]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lever like tilting mechanism of the sled latches in two stages the fastening end of said first part in said mounting position by means of a first and a second lever.  
         [0017]     Preferably according to the invention, on the one end said hollow cylindrically shaped sled comprises at least two different lever like constructions which form the basis for the two-stage tilting mechanism. These levers show a different radial extension and in this manner they realize a two stage latching of the fastening end. While displacing the sled from said assembly position in said fastening position, the lever like construction contributes to the fact that the space in which said fastening end is received is specifically made smaller and in this manner it encloses and latches said fastening end.  
         [0018]     According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said sled can receive and latch fastening ends having different shape and size.  
         [0019]     The sled according to the invention comprises a sufficient large opening in assembly position so that fastening ends having a different shape and size can be received therein. First the displacement of the sled from said assembly position to said fastening position leads to a specifically minimizing of this opening and in this manner to an enclosing of a defined volume. In this volume, spherical, pyramidal, cubic and other conceivable structures of fastening ends can be received and, thus, effectively latched. Said latching is supported by an adaptation of the inner shape of the sled to the shape of the fastening end to be received. Accordingly, a spherically shaped fastening end and a suitably shaped sled serve for providing a connection having many degrees of freedom. A fastening end having other shapes or structures serves for example for the provision of an axial connection with no degree of freedom.  
         [0020]     Based on a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said lever like tilting mechanism guarantees a security release of said fastening end from said sled.  
         [0021]     The two different lever like constructions of said lever like tilting mechanism according to the invention support within said connecting means as soon as said sled containing said fastening end has been displaced from said assembly position in said fastening position. In this fastening position, at least one of said lever like constructions acts like a spring which supports at the connecting means. The spring force of said lever like construction is defined by the material of said sled and by the size of said lever like construction. In case of a mechanical overload of said first part or collectively of the connection via said connecting element according to the invention, it is possible that said resilient lever like construction yields and that in this manner the fastening end of said first part is released from said sled. A security release of the fastening end is realized in this way.  
         [0022]     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said fastening end is spherically or egg shaped and said sled is complementary configured to this fastening end.  
         [0023]     To guarantee a limited movability of said parts connected by said connecting element according to the invention, said fastening end of said first part is according to the invention egg shaped or spherically configured. The movability as well as the positive connection realized by said sled is supported in such a way that said sled is complementary configured to the shape of the fastening end of the first part.  
         [0024]     According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said sled is latched in said connecting means by means of a latching mechanism wherein said latching mechanism comprises at least two latching hooks.  
         [0025]     The present invention further provides a connecting element for connecting a pedal and an actuator or the like comprising a connecting means connected with said pedal and a sled arranged in said connecting means which is displaceable from an assembly position to a fastening position wherein said sled can be releasably connected by means of latching and an unlatching means with said connecting means.  
         [0026]     Preferably according to the invention, said connecting element is used for connecting a pedal and an actuator for example in the manufacture of motor vehicles. Based on the simplicity in the motor vehicle production, the modular construction is used wherein it is practically effective to connect for example a pedal and an actuator by means of the connecting element according to the invention by a few procedure steps. Preferably according to the invention, said sled is fixed in said connecting means via latching and unlatching means wherein said connecting means is in turn mounted in said pedal. Since the connection is preferably according to the invention releasable, the connecting element and, thus, the complete connection can be released for example for executing of repairs.  
         [0027]     According to a preferred embodiment, the sled is such configured that it can receive a fastening end of said actuator and that it movably and releasably latches said fastening end by means of a lever like tilting mechanism after being displaced in said fastening position containing said fastening end.  
         [0028]     According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wall at the end of the sled directed to said connecting means is divided in at least two lever like resilient wall portions which comprise at least one unlatching means and at least one latching means.  
         [0029]     Preferably according to the invention, said sled is latched in said connecting means of said pedal by means of a lever like resilient wall portion. These wall portions comprise unlatching means and latching means which can be realized by different shapes. It is furthermore conceivable that the unlatching means according to the invention are releasable either manually or by means of tools.  
         [0030]     According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said latching means is formed by a snapping hook on the radial outer wall of said wall portion and said unlatching means is formed by a section of said wall portion extending beyond said snapping hook in axial direction of said sled.  
         [0031]     By the use according to the invention of snapping hooks as latching and unlatching means, said sled is releasably mounted in said connecting means of the pedal. For realizing a space saving construction of said connecting element, said latching means are preferably according to the invention arranged at the radial outer wall of said wall portion. Said unlatching means extend beyond said snapping hook in axial direction of said sled. It is conceivable that on the one hand these unlatching means also extend beyond said connecting means in said pedal so that it can be manually released at this position. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that said unlatching means terminate with said connecting means in order to release them at this position by means of tools.  
         [0032]     According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said connecting means comprises on one side an opening for receiving said sled and on one side opposite to said opening at least two openings for receiving said wall portions of said sled as well as at least one fixing means for fixing at said pedal.  
         [0033]     Preferably according to the invention, the edges of said openings are sharp-edged so that they support said latching means. 
     
    
     4. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]     At present preferred embodiments of the present invention are exemplarily shown in the drawing:  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  the single components of the connecting element according to the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2 ( a ) a sectional drawing of the connecting element according to the present invention corresponding to a preferred embodiment with said sled in assembly position or initial position; 
        ( b ) a sectional drawing of the connecting element according to the invention of  FIG. 2   a  with said sled in the fastening position or assembled position;          
         [0038]      FIG. 3 a  modular pedal system of a motor vehicle wherein both the brake and the clutch pedals are connected with their actuator linkages via the connecting element according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0039]     In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are in detail described with reference to the drawing.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the connecting element  40 ,  60  according to the invention for connecting a first part  10  (preferably a brake or a clutch linkage) with a second part  20  (preferably a pedal) comprises connecting means  40  and a sled  60  arranged in said connecting means  40 . Said sled  60  serves for receiving a fastening end  30  of said first part  10  to be subsequently latched in said connecting means  40 .  
         [0041]     Said connecting means  40  is preferably according to the invention made of one piece and is formed by a housing  40  which is connected to said second part  20  or which is integrated therein. It is possible according to the first embodiment of the present invention to configure said connecting means  40  in such a way that it can latchably receive said sled  60 .  
         [0042]     Preferably according to the invention, said sled  60  comprises a hollow cylindrical shape having two opposed ends. The one end of said sled  60  serves for receiving and mounting said fastening end  30 . The other end serves for fastening said sled  60  in said connecting means or housing  40 . Preferably according to the invention, the opposed ends of said sled  60  thus have latching mechanisms which realize the respective mounting. Additionally, the connection according to the invention of said both parts  10 ,  20  is carried out by the cooperation of said connecting means or said housing  40  and said sled  60 . By the displacement of said sled  60  from an assembly position or initial position in a fastening position or assembled position, on the one hand said sled  60  is latched in said housing  40 . On the other hand, the latching of said first part  10  is realized by means of a lever like tilting mechanism which cooperates with the inner walls of an opening  44  of the housing  40 .  
         [0043]     The fastening end  30  of the first part  10  is according to a preferred embodiment spherically or egg shaped configured. Other shapes are also conceivable as for example conical, pyramidal, cubic or plane fastening ends  30 . According to said preferred shapes, different connections are achieved having different degrees of freedom. For example a spherical fastening end  30  is movably connected to said sled  60  having three degrees of freedom in a solid angle α. For example, a plane shaped fastening end  30  is appropriate for realizing a connection with no degree of freedom to a correspondingly shaped sled  60 . In an assembly position of said sled  60 , preferably according to the invention said fastening end  30  is inserted in said sled  60 . The one end of said sled  60  is furthest opened in this position so that the insertion of said fastening end  30  is relieved. Preferably according to the invention, the end of said sled  60  in which the fastening end  30  is inserted is complementary shaped to the fastening end  30 .  
         [0044]     The installation of the fastening end  30  in the sled  60  in said assembly position shows  FIG. 2   a . The front part of the fastening end  30  is nearly completely surrounded by said sled  60 . In the mounting position which is shown in  FIG. 2   b , said first part  10  is positively and non-positively and moveably in a solid angle α connected to said connecting means  40 . By the movability around said solid angle α, it is possible to compensate tolerances in the orientation of said first part  10  and said second part  20  to each other without effecting the function of the connection provided according to the invention.  
         [0045]     To facilitate the assembly of said connecting element and the provision of a connection according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a groove  45  is realized at the inner walls of said opening  44 . Said groove  45  slightly latches said sled  60  in said assembly position or initial position. Accordingly, said sled  60  cannot fall out of said part  40  and said opening  44  which facilitates the subsequent installation of said fastening end  30  in said sled  60 . After insertion of said fastening end  30  in said sled  60 , said sled  60  is pushed by said fastening end  30  in the direction of said fastening position or assembled position and thus released from said slightly latching by passing said groove  45 . Further pushing of said fastening end  30  realizes a final latching or clipping of said sled  60  in said housing  40  in the fastening position described below.  
         [0046]     The end of said sled  60  for receiving said fastening end  30  comprises preferably according to the invention a lever like tilting mechanism which is formed by the lever like construction  50 ,  52 . To this end, said hollow cylindrical wall of said sled  60  at this end is divided in at least two wall portions  56  by slots in axial direction. The number of said wall portions  56  can vary dependent on the fastening element  30  to be received so that two to eight wall portions  56  can exist.  
         [0047]     Said wall portions  56  comprise respectively preferably according to the invention at least two lever like constructions  50 ,  52 . Said lever like constructions  50 ,  52  cooperate with the inner walls of said opening  44  of said housing  40  during displacement of said sled  60  from an assembly position in a fastening position in such a way that they abut and support thereon. Thus, it is preferred according to different embodiments of the present invention to provide said opening  44  having different defined shapes for the control of insertion loads of said sled  60  containing said fastening end  30 . Said opening  44  can for example be shaped cylindrically or conically. Accordingly, the sled  60  can be adapted to said opening shape if necessary. Said lever like structures  50 ,  52  extend according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention peripherally around said hollow cylindrical sled  60  along said wall portions  56 . It is also possible to form said lever like constructions  50 ,  52  only in subsections of said wall portion  56 . In the following, said lever like constructions  50 ,  52  are indicated as levers  50 ,  52 .  
         [0048]     Said wall portion  56  comprises preferably according to the invention respectively at least two levers  50 ,  52 . In this context it is also conceivable that said levers  50 ,  52  are arranged only at every second wall portion  56  as far as the function of said connecting element is not affected thereby. The first lever  50  extends radially outwardly and it is nearly vertically oriented in view of the longitudinal axis of said sled  60 . The first lever  50  serves for radially inwardly pressing the respective wall portion  56  by abutting at the inner wall of the housing  40  in the fastening position so that a positive and a non-positive connection between said fastening end  30  and said sled  60  is formed. To improve the displacement of the wall portions, each wall portion  56  comprises a tapering  58 . The respective wall portion  56  supports at said fastening end  30  so that the first lever  50  is clamped between the inner wall of the housing  40  and the fastening end  30 . Based on the radially inwardly directed movement of said wall portion  56  during the displacement of said sled  60  from said assembly position to said fastening position, said first lever  50  is now inclined with respect to the sled axis (see  FIG. 2   b ).  
         [0049]     According to a further preferred embodiment, said sled  60  comprises a second lever  52  which is arranged axially displaced from said first lever  50 . Said second lever  52  also extends radially outwardly, however, not so far as said first lever  50 . By the displacement of the sled  60  in the fastening position, said wall portions  56  are moved radially inwardly via said second lever  52  by means of supporting at the inner walls of the opening  44  of the housing  40 . In the fastening position, it is guaranteed by means of said first  50  and said second lever  52  that possible forces are deviated via both levers  50 ,  52 . Furthermore, an adaptation of the volume enclosed by the sled  60  at the one end to the shape of the fastening end  30  of the first part  10  is carried out by the length adaptation of the levers  50 ,  52 .  
         [0050]     The lever like tilting mechanism, thus, works preferably according to the invention in two stages via the first  50  and the second lever  52  which are arranged at the wall portion  56 . In this context, it is also conceivable to configure a three or multistage mechanism as far as this contributes to an increase of the stability of said connecting element.  
         [0051]     By the arrangement of said first  50  and said second lever  52  it is also possible to receive spherical and egg-shaped fastening ends  30  having different size and shape in said sled  60 . The inner shape of said sled  60  is adapted to said fastening ends  30  to guarantee a reliable connection. Based on the resilient support of the first lever  50  at the inner wall of the housing  40 , tolerances are compensated following from the shape and size variation of said sled  60  and said fastening end  30 . Therefore, it is also possible to receive other shapes of the fastening end  30  and to sufficiently fastening the same in the sled  60  as long as they correspond to each other.  
         [0052]     Further according to the present invention, a security release of said fastening end  30  from the sled  56  is guaranteed by the above described lever like constructions  50 ,  52  in case of a mechanical overload. Should said connecting element be excessively stressed by a tensile load, the fastening end  30  is released from the sled  60  against the force of pressure of the levers  50 ,  52 . The strength of the necessary mechanical overload for security release is defined by the configuration of the levers  50 ,  52  and by the material of said sled  60 . The levers  50 ,  52  thus act as a security spring which yields in case of exceeding an adjustable mechanical load value and which release the connection in this way.  
         [0053]     Furthermore, the present invention provides according to a further preferred embodiment a connecting element for releasably connecting a pedal  20  and an actuator  10 , particularly in motor vehicles (see  FIG. 3 ). The importance of such a connecting element according to the present invention follows from the fabrication of motor vehicles from single modules. For instance the brake and the clutch pedal, shown in  FIG. 3 , present a pedal module which is delivered to the automobile manufacture by a special supplier. For example, in order to connect the brake pedal  20  with the brake system via an actuator  10 , a pedal with the releasable connecting element  40 ,  60  according to a further preferred embodiment is delivered. The brake system is connected with the pedal  20  via the connecting element  40 ,  60  and the actuator  10  wherein this connection can be again released in case of a damage or repair. The same applies for the application of the connecting element according to the invention to the clutch pedal.  
         [0054]     The according to the invention preferred connecting element  40 ,  60  for connecting a pedal  20  and an actuator  10  is comprised of a one piece connecting means  40  which is formed by a housing  40  and a sled  60 . Said housing  40  is rigidly connected to said pedal  20  and said sled  60  is connected to said actuator  10 .  
         [0055]     Said releasable connection between said pedal  20  and said actuator  10  is realized by said sled  60  which cooperates with said housing  40 . It is however also possible to form said housing  40  directly in said pedal  20 .  
         [0056]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said sled  60  is hollow cylindrically shaped wherein at one of its ends the wall is divided in at least two lever like resilient wall portions  62 . According to  FIG. 2   a , said wall portions  62  comprise snapping hook like projections  66  at their radial outer walls which serve as latching means  66  in the housing  40 . Said snapping hook like projections  66  can vary in their shape as far as they functionally form a positive connection with the cooperating wall of the housing  40  which releasably connects the housing  40  and the sled  60 .  
         [0057]     Unlatching means  64  are formed by the extension of the wall portions  62  beyond the snapping hook like projection  66  in axial direction of said hollow cylindrically configured sled  60 . Said unlatching means  64  are configured as resilient levers by means of which the snapping hooks  66  can be released from their latching position. Depending on the material from which the sled  60  is made, a tool has to be used to actuate said unlatching means  64  or it can be executed manually.  
         [0058]     Said housing  40  comprises on one side an opening  44  for receiving said sled  60 . Preferably according to the invention, said opening  44  is only as deep so that said sled  60  can be completely received therein. At the side of the housing  40  opposite to the opening  44 , at least two openings  46  for receiving said wall portions  62  of said sled  60  are configured. At the sharp-edged radial outer edges of said openings  46 , said latching means  66  of said sled  60  are latched. The unlatching means  64  preferably according to the invention extend beyond said housing  40  and, if necessary beyond the corresponding part of the pedal  20  so that they can be taken and operated by means of a tool or manually.  
         [0059]     By the above described configuration of said housing  40  and said sled  60 , a connection between a pedal  20  and an actuator  10  is realized which can only again be released via the operation of said unlatching means  64 . For mounting said housing  40  in said pedal  20 , said housing  40  comprises suitable fixing means  41 .  
         [0060]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the components of the connecting element are made corresponding to claim  1  and claim  9  of stiff plastic materials as for example polyamide. It is also possible to manufacture the single components from other materials and thereby realizing the function of a connecting element.  
       List of Reference Numbers  
       [0000]    
       
           10  First part, actuator  
           20  Second part, pedal  
           30  Fastening end  
           40  Housing, connecting means  
           41  Fixing means  
           44  Opening for receiving the sled  
           45  groove  
           46  Opening for receiving wall portions of said sled  
           50  First lever  
           52  Second lever  
           56  Wall portions of said sled  60   
           58  Tapering  
           60  Sled  
           62  Wall portions of said sled  
           64  Unlatching means of said sled  
           66  Latching means of said sled  
           68  Snapping hook like projections in said sled  
          α Solid angle