Patent ID: 12233826

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Features which are the same and similar and which are shown in the individual figures are denoted by the same reference signs.

FIG.1shows a hydraulic transmitter system100with a hydraulic fitting10according to aspects of the disclosure in a perspective view andFIG.2shows the hydraulic transmitter system100ofFIG.1in plan view.

The hydraulic fitting10comprises a main body which forms a housing12and in which the individual elements of the hydraulic brake system according to the disclosure are configured, as is described in more detail below with reference toFIGS.3to5.

Additionally a fastening portion70is configured on the main body, a fastening of the hydraulic fitting10, for example to the handlebars of a bicycle or another handlebar-steered vehicle, being possible thereby. The fastening can be carried out in a manner known per se, as shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, for example by means of a clamp arrangement72.

Moreover, the hydraulic transmitter system100comprises an actuating lever60, such as for example a brake lever, which is articulated to the hydraulic fitting10, an actuation of the system being able to be carried out thereby as described in more detail hereinafter.

In particular, a cavity forming a fluid reservoir16and a cylinder bore18are configured in the housing12(seeFIGS.3to5). The fluid reservoir16is closed relative to a housing surroundings by a cover element14which is fastened by means of screws15to the housing12. A membrane17, which is known per se, is incorporated between the cover element14and the fluid reservoir16for the purposes of pressure equalization in the hydraulic system.

A piston32is axially displaceably arranged in the cylinder bore18and operatively connected to the actuating lever60in a manner known per se. The cylinder bore18defines a cavity20which is filled with hydraulic fluid, such as for example brake fluid. The piston32has a piston cavity34which is open in the direction of the cavity20. The piston cavity34serves in a manner known per se for receiving a restoring spring (not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity) which is supported on a wall19of the cylinder bore18opposing the piston32.

At one end of the cylinder bore18opposing the piston32, for example as shown on the wall19, the cylinder bore18feeds into a line connecting bore28for connecting the hydraulic fitting10to a fluid line (not shown), such as for example a brake line or a clutch line. To this end, as visible from the figures, a line connecting member30can be inserted into the line connecting bore28. The line connecting bore28, however, can also be configured to feed into the cylinder bore18at another suitable point in the housing12.

A venting bore22is also configured in the main body of the housing12, the venting bore feeding with a feed portion23into the pressure chamber20of the cylinder bore18. The venting bore22produces a connection between the pressure chamber20and the housing surroundings, as illustrated in the open position or venting position V ofFIG.5by the arrow P1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the venting bore22produces a direct connection between the pressure chamber20and the housing surroundings but embodiments with an indirect connection are also possible, as is shown and described hereinafter, for example, in connection with the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS.6and9.

During operation, the venting bore22is closed by means of a closure member24with an O-ring/sealing ring25in a manner known per se, as shown inFIG.3. In this closed position or operating position III, a closed hydraulic system is present. The closure member24can be configured, for example, as a screw plug which can be screwed into a correspondingly provided internal thread of the venting bore22, as in the exemplary embodiment shown. Other design options, such as for example a sealing plug or the like, are readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

A constituent part of the hydraulic system shown is a fluid connection, which is also known per se, between the cylinder bore18(and thus the pressure chamber20) and the fluid reservoir16. To this end, for example, a supply bore38is provided, the supply bore connecting the fluid reservoir16to an annular channel39which is configured in the cylinder bore18. Thus fluid passes from the fluid reservoir16into the cylinder bore18via the supply bore38and the annular channel39. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the piston32is located in the region of the annular channel39such that fluid flowing from the supply bore38comes into contact with an outer wall of the piston32and is introduced between this outer wall of the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder bore18. Thus the fluid also forms a sliding film for the piston movement. A seal41can be inserted into the annular channel39—as shown.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown, fluid flowing from the fluid reservoir16flows via one or more bores36distributed over the circumference of the piston32, so-called snifting bores, into the piston cavity34which is open on the pressure chamber side.

An annular groove40which receives a further seal42can be provided in the cylinder bore18, as shown, downstream of the flow of re-suppled fluid through the supply bore38and the annular channel39. A remaining cavity adjacent to the further seal42forms a circumferential blind hole44. Other embodiments of the fluid connection are possible between the fluid reservoir16and the pressure chamber20. Thus, for example, as an alternative to the described embodiment with a fixed seal42and the snifting bores36in the piston32, a seal which is movable relative to the cylinder bore can be provided on the piston, during the stroke movement the seal passing over one or more supply bores which are provided in the cylinder wall and which connect the pressure chamber to the fluid reservoir (principle of kinematic reversal).

According to aspects of the disclosure, a further temporarily openable fluid connection is provided between the cylinder bore18and the fluid reservoir16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fluid connection comprises a connecting passage26which connects the fluid reservoir16via the venting bore22to the pressure chamber20. To this end, the connecting passage26feeds therein slightly above a feed portion23which connects the venting bore22to the pressure chamber20and which represents the end of the venting bore22on the pressure chamber side.

As already described above, in the operating position III the venting bore22is fully closed for normal operation. As is also shown inFIG.3, in this operating position III the connection between the connecting passage26and the pressure chamber20is also interrupted since the closure member (or the screw plug)24sealingly protrudes into the feed portion23. The closure member24thus serves at the same time as the closure element46for the connecting passage26.

In the operating position III, a movement of the piston32is brought about by actuating the actuating lever60, whereby a hydraulic pressure is built up, the hydraulic pressure acting in the direction of the hydraulic line (not shown) which is connected via the line connecting member30. If required (for example with increasing brake pad wear in the case of use in a brake system) fluid can be re-supplied from the fluid reservoir16via the fluid connection of the supply bore38, when the piston32during its stroke movement travels back into the resting position with its snifting bores36upstream of the further seal41. In this position, the snifting bores36(and thus also the pressure chamber20) are fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir16via the connecting bore38.

If air should pass undesirably into the closed hydraulic system, the disclosed hydraulic fitting provides the user with the possibility of a simple and uncomplicated “rapid venting”. To this end, the closure member24is slightly loosened and thus moved into the intermediate position or rapid venting position IV shown inFIG.4. In this rapid venting position IV the connecting passage26feeding into the venting bore22is opened up and thus a connection is produced via the feed portion23between the venting bore22and the pressure chamber20. If the actuating lever60is now (repeatedly) actuated by the user and thus a piston movement is produced, fluid and undesired air contained therein is forced via the feed portion23and the connecting bore26into the fluid reservoir16. Undesired air can thus be collected in the fluid reservoir16. The piston movement can be repeated multiple times until the system is substantially free of air in the pressure chamber20(at least free of air to the extent that safe operation can take place). Subsequently the closure member24is tightened again and thus moved into the operating position III so that the hydraulic fitting is again ready for use.

The disclosed embodiments of a hydraulic fitting also have the advantage that air, which has collected in an undesirable manner in the above-described blind hole44adjacent to the further seal42, can also be removed by the snifting bores36repeatedly passing over the blind hole44during the (repeated) reciprocal movement of the piston32and can be supplied to the fluid reservoir16via the additional fluid connection of the connecting passage26.

The rapid venting according to aspects of the disclosure does not replace a standard full venting of the hydraulic system and the filling thereof with hydraulic fluid, since the undesired air is “only” “temporarily stored” in the fluid reservoir16. For standard venting in a manner known per se, the closure member24is entirely removed (as shown inFIG.5) or at least opened such that a connection is produced between the pressure chamber20and the housing surroundings (for example closure members with a central continuous bore, which can be opened as required, are known to a person skilled in the art). In the venting position V of the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG.5, a venting tool with a correspondingly shaped connecting piece can be inserted with an accurate fit into the venting bore22and then the fluid reservoir and the pressure chamber are vented at the same time.

FIGS.6to10show in a highly schematic view further variants of the hydraulic fitting according to the disclosure, wherein elements which are the same or comparable are denoted by the same reference signs.FIGS.6to10show only a highly schematic detail of the view ofFIGS.3to5; naturally the further elements which are not shown, but which have been shown and described in connection withFIGS.2to5, such as in particular the piston32and the fluid connection formed by the supply bore38and the annular channel39, are also a constituent part of the variants shown inFIGS.6to10.

FIG.6shows an embodiment with a direct connection between the pressure chamber20and the fluid reservoir16, i.e. the connecting passage26is directly configured between the fluid reservoir16and the pressure chamber20. In the exemplary embodiment shown ofFIG.6, the venting bore22′ is configured so as to be aligned with the connecting passage26in the cover element14of the fluid reservoir16and thus connects the pressure chamber20indirectly via the fluid reservoir16to the housing surroundings. The closure member24is extended such that it extends through the fluid reservoir16into the connecting passage26and in the closed position (shown) sealingly closes this connecting passage by means of an O-ring25′ arranged on the closure member24. The closure member24thus also serves at the same time as a closure element46for the connecting passage26.

To produce the intermediate position according to the disclosure, for the purposes of rapid venting the closure member is sufficiently loosened that the fluid connection is opened up between the fluid reservoir16and the pressure chamber20. To produce the venting position, the closure member24is entirely removed and the system can be fully vented via the open connection to the pressure chamber20via the connecting passage26.

FIG.7shows a variant which is similar to the basic construction of the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.6, in which the venting bore22and the connecting passage26are also configured to be aligned with one another. The difference is that the closure member24and the closure element46are configured separately from one another. In order to be able to undertake a rapid venting according to the disclosure, initially the closure member24is entirely removed from the venting bore22. Subsequently, the closure element46, which closes the connecting passage26by means of an O-ring47, is sufficiently loosened until a fluid connection is opened up between the fluid reservoir16and the pressure chamber20. Preferably, the venting bore22is then closed again before the rapid venting according to the disclosure is carried out by (repeated) actuation of the actuating lever60. The usual venting can take place with the closure member24removed.

In a similar manner to the embodiment ofFIG.6,FIG.8shows an embodiment in which a closure element46, through an opening48provided therefor in the cover element, sealingly engages through the fluid reservoir16into a bore50which is configured so as to be aligned with the opening48. Moreover, a venting bore22, which directly connects the pressure chamber to the housing surroundings independently of the connecting passage, is provided in the housing12. In the operating position shown, the venting bore22is closed by a suitable closure member24, as known and described. To produce the intermediate position according to the disclosure, for the purposes of rapid venting the closure element46is sufficiently loosened (for example until the closure element46comes to bear with a protruding stop element54, which is provided therefor, against a counter stop56which is correspondingly configured on the cover element14) that the fluid connection between the fluid reservoir16and the pressure chamber20is opened up. To this end, the connecting passage26—as shown—can feed transversely from the fluid reservoir16into a lower region52of the aligned bore50on the pressure chamber side. Alternatively, the closure element and the bore can also be designed such that the aligned bore undertakes the function of the connecting passage.

To produce the venting position, the closure member24is entirely removed and the system can then be fully vented via the open connection to the pressure chamber20. The connecting passage26can be selectively closed or opened for the venting. Venting is possible via the above-described fluid connection, which is present due to the supply bore38and the annular channel39, but is facilitated by an opening of the connecting passage26which in this regard also represents an advantage of the disclosed hydraulic fitting.

FIG.9shows an embodiment with a connecting passage26, a closure element46and an aligned bore50, shown and described according to the embodiment ofFIG.8, but with a venting bore22′ incorporated in the cover element14and the closure member24′ inserted therein. In this variant, the connection to the housing surroundings is produced via the fluid reservoir16, thus an indirect connection of the pressure chamber20to the housing surroundings. It is also advantageous for the venting, in addition to an unscrewing/removal of the closure member24′, to loosen the closure element46in order to open up the connecting passage26to the pressure chamber20.

The embodiment ofFIG.10finally shows a combination of the two variants shown inFIG.8or9. Venting can be carried out here via the venting bore22to the pressure chamber20and/or the venting bore22′ to the fluid reservoir16. The venting is facilitated by opening the closure element46, i.e. opening the connecting passage, to produce the additional fluid connection according to the disclosure.

It should be emphasized once again that the venting bore does not necessarily have to provide a direct connection of the pressure chamber to the housing surroundings but a venting of the system is possible due to the conventionally existing fluid connection and is also facilitated by the additional fluid connection according to the disclosure with a venting bore implementing an indirect connection of the pressure chamber to the housing surroundings.

The disclosed hydraulic fitting can be used in all hydraulic systems in which there is a need for rapid venting according to the disclosure. In particular, the disclosed hydraulic fitting can be used for handlebar-steered vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, and the like, such as for example in open or closed hydraulic brake systems or hydraulic clutch systems. Fields of use other than those described are possible. Design geometries other than those explicitly described are readily apparent to a person skilled in the art within the scope of the inventive principle defined in the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10Hydraulic fitting12Housing14Cover element15Screws16Fluid reservoir17Membrane18Cylinder bore19Wall20Pressure chamber22Venting bore to pressure chamber22′ Venting bore to fluid reservoir23Feed portion24Closure member, closure screw24′ Closure member, closure screw25O-ring25′ O-ring26Connecting passage28Line connecting bore30Line connecting member32Piston34Piston cavity36Bores, snifting bores38Supply bore39Annular channel40Annular groove41Seal42Further seal44Blind hole46Closure element47O-ring48Opening50Aligned bore52Lower region54Stop element60Actuating lever, brake lever70Fastening portion72Clamp arrangement100Hydraulic transmitter systemP1ArrowP2ArrowP3ArrowIII Closed position or operating positionIV Intermediate position or rapid venting positionV Open position or venting position