Sealing device for a dynamic reservoir

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744992-B2
Application number	US-201815980372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2018
Priority date	May 15, 2018
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A reservoir includes at least a container, a cap, a diaphragm, and a sealing device. The container includes a neck portion that extends from a body of the container. The neck portion includes an opening that provides access to an interior of the container. The cap is structured to interact with the neck portion. The cap includes a vent for pressure balancing of the reservoir. The diaphragm includes a slit that communicates with the vent. The sealing device includes a sealed vessel and a holder. The sealed vessel includes a sealing member sealed by a seal. The sealed vessel is movable to at least a first position such that the sealed vessel physically contacts the diaphragm to seal the slit. The sealed vessel is movable to a second position such that the sealed vessel is spaced from the diaphragm to unseal the slit. The holder is configured to bold the sealed vessel in alignment with the cap. The holder maintains a fixed position within the container when the sealed vessel moves from the first position to the second position. The holder maintains a fixed position within the container when the sealed vessel moves from the second position to the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reservoir comprising:
a container including a neck portion that extends from a body of the container, the neck portion including an opening that provides access to an interior of the container;
a cap structured to interact with the neck portion, the cap including a vent for pressure balancing of the reservoir;
a diaphragm including a slit in communication with the vent; and
a sealing device including
a sealed vessel that includes a sealing member sealed by a seal, the sealed vessel being movable to at least a first position such that the sealed vessel physically contacts the diaphragm to seal the slit and a second position such that the sealed vessel is spaced from the diaphragm to unseal the slit, and
a holder that is configured to hold the sealed vessel in alignment with the cap and maintain a fixed position within the container when the sealed vessel moves from the first position to the second position and when the sealed vessel moves from the second position to the first position.

2. The reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a rim portion that is structured to mate with a groove of the cap such that the holder is secured to the cap.

3. The reservoir of claim 2 , wherein a cross-section of the holder is smaller than a cross-section of the neck portion such that there is clearance between an outer sidewall of the holder and an inner sidewall of the neck portion.

4. The reservoir of claim 2 , wherein:
the holder includes a guide slot to hold the sealed vessel; and
a width of the rim portion of the holder is wider than a width of a portion of the holder that includes the guide slot.

5. The reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a rim portion that is structured to engage with inner surface portions of the container such that the holder is secured to the container.

6. The reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes at least one passageway to enable fluid flow and pressure balancing via the slit and the vent.

7. The reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the sealed vessel is buoyant such that the sealed vessel is configured to move in accordance with variations in fluid levels of fluid within the container.

8. The reservoir of claim 1 , further comprising:
a filter to prevent foreign particles from contaminating the reservoir;
wherein:
the sealed vessel is disposed between the filter and the cap, and
the holder is disposed between the filter and the cap.

9. A braking system comprising:
at least one braking device; and
a reservoir connected to the at least one braking device, the reservoir including:
a container including a neck portion that extends from a body of the container, the neck portion including an opening that provides access to an interior of the container;
a cap structured to interact with the neck portion, the cap including a vent for pressure balancing of the reservoir;
a diaphragm including a slit in communication with the vent; and
a sealing device including
a sealed vessel that includes a sealing member sealed by a seal, the sealed vessel being movable to at least a first position such that the sealed vessel physically contacts the diaphragm to seal the slit and a second position such that the sealed vessel is spaced from the diaphragm to unseal the slit, and
a holder that is configured to hold the sealed vessel in alignment with the cap and maintain a fixed position within the container when the sealed vessel moves from the first position to the second position and when the sealed vessel moves from the second position to the first position.

10. The braking system of claim 9 , wherein the holder includes a rim portion that is structured to mate with the groove of the cap such that the holder is secured to the cap.

11. The braking system of claim 10 , wherein a cross-section of the holder is smaller than a cross-section of the neck portion such that there is clearance between an outer sidewall of the holder and an inner sidewall of the neck portion.

12. The braking system of claim 10 , wherein:
the holder includes a guide slot to hold the sealed vessel; and
a width of the rim portion of the holder is wider than a width of a portion of the holder that includes the guide slot.

13. The braking system of claim 9 , wherein the holder includes a rim portion that is structured to engage with inner surface portions of the container such that the holder is secured to the container.

14. The braking system of claim 9 , wherein the holder includes at least one passageway to enable pressure balancing via the slit and the vent in accordance with a change in fluid level within the reservoir.

15. The braking system of claim 9 , wherein the sealed vessel is buoyant such that the sealed vessel is configured to move in accordance with variations in fluid levels of fluid within the container.

16. The braking system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a filter to prevent foreign particles from contaminating the reservoir;
wherein the sealing device is disposed between the filter and the cap.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Macy Josh
• Martinez Alejandro

Classifications

• B60T11/26 Primary

  Reservoirs (integral with master controls B60T11/22) · CPC title

• B60T17/06 Primary

  Applications or arrangements of reservoirs · CPC title

• F16J15/02

  between relatively-stationary surfaces (F16J15/46, F16J15/48 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D57/00

  Liquid-resistance brakes; {Brakes using the internal friction of fluids or fluid-like media, e.g. powders (for braking drums, barrels or ropes of cranes, lift hoists or winches B66D5/026)} · CPC title