Actuator for moving a brake booster during a collision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723340-B2
Application number	US-201816020236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2018
Priority date	Jul 4, 2017
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A brake booster is mounted on a forward bulkhead of a motor vehicle having two elements, a first element being securely connected to the brake booster whilst a second element is securely connected to the bulkhead. The two elements are restrained against vertical movement relative to one another by at least one connector which is deformed or fails upon a movement of the brake booster upward relative to the bulkhead. An actuator is movably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a gearbox housing such that rearward movement of the gearbox housing during a frontal collision presses against the actuator and moves the actuator upward to apply pressure to the brake booster, the pressure causing the brake booster to move upward relative to the bulkhead.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising:
a brake booster;
a rear mounting element secured to a vehicle front bulkhead;
a forward mounting element secured to the brake booster and engaging the rear mounting element to mount the brake booster to the bulkhead, the engagement between the rear and forward mounting elements permitting upward movement of the forward mounting element relative to the rear mounting element when upward pressure applied to the brake booster exceeds a limit-value; and
an actuator pivotably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a vehicle component such that rearward movement of the vehicle component during a frontal collision causes the actuator to rotate upward and apply upward pressure to the brake booster exceeding the limit-value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one connector engaging the first and second elements to resist relative movement therebetween until the pressure applied by the actuator to the brake booster exceeds a limit-value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a bolt extending through mutually aligned first and second bores defined by the front and rear mounting elements respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front and rear mounting elements each define a through-hole passing therethrough, the through-holes aligned with one another and with an opening in the bulkhead to permit a brake pedal rod to pass therethrough.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the through-holes are elongated in a direction of movement of the brake booster relative to the bulkhead.

6. Apparatus comprising:
a brake booster mounted to a vehicle forward bulkhead for movement upward relative thereto when upward pressure applied to the brake booster exceeds a limit-value; and
an actuator pivotably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a gearbox housing such that rearward movement of the gearbox housing during a frontal collision causes the actuator to rotate upward and apply upward pressure to the brake booster exceeding the limit-value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a mounting device, the mounting device comprising:
a first element secured to the bulkhead; and
a second element secured to the brake booster and engaged with the first element to mount the brake booster to the bulkhead, the engagement between the first and second elements permitting the second element to move upward along with the brake booster when the actuator applies pressure to the brake booster.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first element and the second element each define a through-hole passing therethrough, the through-holes aligned with one another and with an opening in the bulkhead to permit a brake pedal rod to pass therethrough.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the through-holes are elongated in a direction of movement of the brake booster relative to the bulkhead.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising at least one connector engaging the first and second elements to resist relative movement therebetween until pressure applied by the actuator to the brake booster exceeds a limit-value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises a bolt extending through mutually aligned first and second bores defined by the first and second elements respectively.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second element each define a through-hole passing therethrough, the through-holes aligned with one another and with an opening in the bulkhead to permit a brake pedal rod to pass therethrough.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the through-holes are elongated in a direction of movement of the brake booster relative to the bulkhead.

14. Apparatus comprising:
a brake booster mounted to a vehicle forward bulkhead; and
an actuator movably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a gearbox housing such that rearward movement of the gearbox housing during a frontal collision presses against the actuator and moves the actuator upward to apply pressure to the brake booster, the pressure causing the brake booster to move upward relative to the bulkhead.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is pivotably mounted to the bulkhead and rotates about a pivot axis to apply pressure to the brake booster.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a mounting device, the mounting device comprising:
a first element secured to the bulkhead; and
a second element secured to the brake booster and engaged with the first element to mount the brake booster to the bulkhead, the engagement between the first and second elements permitting the second element to move upward along with the brake booster when the actuator applies pressure to the brake booster.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first element and the second element each define a through-hole passing therethrough, the through-holes aligned with one another and with an opening in the bulkhead to permit a brake pedal rod to pass therethrough.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the through-holes are elongated in a direction of movement of the brake booster relative to the bulkhead.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a connector engaging the first and second elements to resist relative movement therebetween until the pressure applied by the actuator to the brake booster exceeds a limit-value.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the connector comprises a bolt extending through mutually aligned first and second bores defined by the first and second elements respectively.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Meckenstock Daniel
• Sawatzki Marius
• Spurling Michael

Classifications

• B60T13/567 Primary

  characterised by constructional features of the casing or by its strengthening or mounting arrangements · CPC title

• B60T13/00 Primary

  Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems (arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions B60T8/00; valves incorporated in such systems B60T15/00) · CPC title

• B60T7/065

  with means to prevent injuries in case of collision (for vehicle pedals in general by moving them from an operative to an out-of-the way position B60R21/09) · CPC title

• B60T17/00 Primary

  Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features (air compressors per se F04) · CPC title

• B60T13/746

  and mechanical transmission of the braking action · CPC title