The present invention relates to a ball screw. Ball screws convert rotational movements into translatory movements. The present invention also relates in particular to an actuating device for a brake, in particular parking brake of a motor vehicle, having such a ball screw.
EP 1058795 B1, for example, discloses an actuating device for a parking brake of a motor vehicle, in which actuating device a ball screw is provided.
The threaded spindle, which is driven by an electric motor, effects a relative axial displacement between the threaded nut and the threaded spindle, wherein the threaded nut, in its feed direction, exerts a pressure force on a friction pad of a disk brake via further connected machine parts. When the threaded spindle is driven counter to the feed direction, the threaded nut travels back in the direction of an end of the threaded spindle. A circumferential stop for the threaded nut is provided at said end. Said stop is designed as a projection on a stop part arranged on the threaded spindle for conjoint rotation therewith. The threaded nut, on its side facing toward the stop part, is likewise provided with a second projection which abuts against the projection. Performing a screw-motion relative rotation, the threaded nut moves toward the stop part; the second projection finally abuts against the projection and a further relative rotation between the threaded spindle and the threaded nut is prevented owing to a positively locking connection of the threaded nut to the threaded spindle via the stop part provided with the projection. The interaction of the parts involved in the abutment is determined by the pitch provided in the ball screw and by the rotational position of the stop part on the threaded spindle; for every full rotation of the threaded spindle, the threaded nut moves towards the stop part by exactly the pitch dimension. The stop takes effect shortly before the threaded nut abuts against the stop part. The rotational position of the stop part is essential to the correct functioning of the circumferential stop. The circumferential stop accordingly takes effect before the threaded nut can be braced axially with the stop part fastened to the threaded spindle.
In the ball screw application described here, a circumferential stop of said type is important for correct functioning of the ball screw. Without a circumferential stop of said type, it would undesirably be possible for the threaded nut to be axially braced in the manner of a tightened screw nut, and a release of said axial bracing action would be possible only by imparting a considerable torque.
If, for example in the case of the known parking brake described, the stop part with the projection were fastened to the threaded spindle in a different rotational position, a situation could arise in which the threaded nut abuts against the stop part before the projection engages into the recess and prevents a further relative rotation. The threaded nut and the stop part would then be axially braced.
During the manufacture of the threaded spindles and of the threaded nuts, the ball grooves end at a run-in end and at a run-out end. The position of said run-in ends and run-out ends ultimately also determines the rotational position in which the stop should be arranged on the threaded spindle. In the example described, the rotational position of the stop part is adapted to the rotational position of the threaded nut in its stop position; if the run-in ends and the run-out ends are situated at changed points on the circumference of the threaded spindle and of the threaded nut, a changed rotational position of the threaded nut in its stop position is to be expected.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to specify a ball screw in which correct functioning of the circumferential stop is ensured in a simple manner.
This object is achieved by the ball screw according to the invention. Since the stop part and the threaded nut are provided in each case with a marking for determining a rotational position of the stop part relative to the threaded spindle in which the stop part should be arranged on the threaded spindle, the correct rotational position of the stop part on the threaded spindle can be determined without problems.
Said markings are arranged in a certain position relative to one another, preferably in alignment with one another, when the threaded nut is in the stop position. For example, if the threaded nut is moved into its stop position on the threaded spindle, it is sufficient for the stop part to be arranged on the threaded spindle in such a way that the markings assume their predetermined position relative to one another; for example, if it is provided that the markings are in alignment in the predetermined position, it is sufficient for the stop part to be rotated until the markings correspond. In said rotational position of the stop part on the threaded spindle, the stop part can be fixed on the threaded spindle, or on a portion of the threaded spindle, for the purpose of transmitting torques.
For automated assembly, it may be advantageous for said markings to be formed on the outer circumference of the threaded nut and of the stop part. If said markings are formed for example by notches or other recesses, that is to say are visually identifiable, said markings may be detected by means of suitable sensors which may be arranged above the threaded nut and the stop part. When said markings come into alignment with one another, a next assembly step, in which the stop part is arranged on the threaded spindle for the purpose of transmitting torques, may be initiated for example by means of a suitable controller.
For the determination of the correct rotational position of the stop part relative to the threaded spindle, it is not necessary for the threaded nut to be moved into its stop position: this is because the marking of the threaded nut is still aligned with the marking of the stop part when the threaded nut—proceeding from its stop position—has been screwed several complete rotations away from the stop part.
There is preferably a positively locking connection between the stop part and the threaded spindle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the stop part relative to the threaded spindle. Said positively locking connection may be realized for example by a toothing or by means of a polygon connection. If a toothing is selected, then corresponding to the given pitch of the toothing, a multiplicity of rotational positions are possible in which the stop part can be meshed in a positively locking fashion with the threaded spindle.
If a polygon connection is selected as a positively locking connection, it is possible for an internal polygon to be formed on the stop part and for an external polygon to be formed on a portion of the threaded spindle. The internal polygon and the external polygon should be provided in each case with at least eight edges distributed uniformly over the circumference in order to permit a sufficiently large number of possible rotational positions of the stop part on the threaded spindle. The more edges are provided in said polygon connection, the more rotational positions are possible.
During the assembly of the stop part, the stop part can initially be held at an axial distance from an external toothing provided on the threaded spindle until a rotational position has been determined in which the two markings are preferably arranged in alignment with one another. The stop part can then be pushed axially onto the external toothing, wherein an internal toothing provided on the stop part engages into the external toothing of the threaded spindle.
An actuating device of a parking brake of a motor vehicle may expediently be provided with a ball screw according to the invention. In such an actuating device, the stop part may be formed by a support disk via which the threaded spindle can be supported in the axial direction on an axial bearing. In the case of parking brakes, the threaded nut may for example interact with a piston which ultimately presses brake linings against a brake disk. The axial forces occurring here are conducted via the threaded nut and the threaded spindle via the axial bearing into a housing of the parking brake. In a known way, a projection may be formed on said support disk, which projection engages into a recess on the threaded nut.
Suitable visual markings are indentations, depressions, recesses or projections, which can be easily identified.
Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. In the drawing:
The threaded nut 10, for its part, is coupled to a piston 14, and the said piston rests on the front end edge of the threaded nut 10, that is to say is supported there. The movable brake pad 5 is arranged on the piston 14. If the drive motor (not shown in any more detail) is now activated, by actuation of a suitable actuating element on the vehicle, in order to actuate the brake device and hence to fix the brake disk 2, the threaded spindle 8 is moved by the drive motor and rotates, with the result that the threaded nut 10 travels along the threaded spindle 8, being guided by the balls 9 in the process, that is to say moves to the left in
As
The threaded spindle 8, for its part, has a first, convex bearing surface 23. It is therefore evident in this case also that a movable bearing arrangement is achieved since, here too, the first bearing surface 23 rests on the second bearing surface 22 only along a line but not over an area. The effect is that the threaded spindle 8 can tilt slightly relative to the positionally fixed axial bearing 13, specifically relative to the positionally fixed bearing disk 19, lubrication likewise being provided. This tilting is made possible by the fact that the threaded spindle 8 is likewise accommodated with a certain play in the radial bearing 12, or the radial bearing, a plastic plain bearing for example, allows a certain tilting. During operation, when the caliper expands owing to the forces that are acting, the tilt angle is in a range of significantly<0.5° per movable bearing location and, as a result, the plain bearing 12 is not subjected to significant loads.
Of course, it is possible with both bearing locations to implement the crowning on the respective other guide surface or to make both guide surfaces crowned.
Thus, in the brake device 1 according to the invention, two movable bearing locations are implemented, namely in the region of the seating of the piston 14 on the nut 10 on the one hand, and in the region of the seating of the threaded spindle 8 on the axial bearing 13 on the other hand. The effect is then that tilting of the relevant axes, which is present in known brake devices and results in high bearing loads that can lead to premature bearing failure, can be compensated to a large extent, thus making it possible to significantly reduce bearing loads.
In the unloaded position shown in
If the motor (not shown) is now used to activate the threaded spindle 8 and, by means of the latter, the piston 14 and with it the brake pad 5 is pressed against the brake disk 2, the brake caliper 3 is expanded or spread apart to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the contact force, as shown in
By virtue of the two separate instances of mobility or movable bearing arrangements that are implemented, however, this severe angular offset can be effectively split up and the load acting on the axial bearing can be significantly reduced. This is because, on the one hand, the tilting of the brake caliper 3, that is to say its spreading apart, has the effect that the piston 14 tilts slightly relative to the nut 10, this being obtained by means of the movable seating of the piston 14 on the nut 10 via the guide surfaces 15, 16, as shown in detail in
Where components illustrated here correspond to those of the exemplary embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are used.
The ball screw 24 according to the invention with the axial bearing 25 is shown clearly in section in
The spindle axis S is indicated in
a, 9b, 9c show the support disk 33 in two views and in longitudinal section. In
It can be seen from
In the axial direction, the recess 45 is delimited by a base 54 formed in one piece with the threaded nut 26. The recess is delimited in the radial direction by a circumferential wall 55 formed in one piece with the threaded nut 26.
Said stop 43 prevents the threaded nut 26 from being able to be clamped axially to the support disk 33. This is because, before end surfaces, which face toward one another, of the threaded nut 26 and of the support disk 33 come into contact with one another, the projection 44 abuts against the first stop surface 47 of the tooth 46.
The recess 45 extends over a circumferential angle of greater than 180°, such that the projection 44, upon a screw-type relative rotation with respect to the threaded nut 26, protrudes into said recess 45.
The circumferential stop 43 is designed such that, in the stop situation, a minimum spacing a is maintained between the threaded nut 26 and the support disk 33, such that at any rate axial clamping between the threaded nut 26 and threaded spindle 28 is prevented.
In particular, it can be seen from
To prevent radial forces being generated owing to the abutment in the stop situation, in the stop position, a second stop surface 48 formed on the projection 44 and the associated first stop surface 47 of the tooth 46 are arranged in a common plane which contains the spindle axis.
The recess 45, which in the exemplary embodiment is formed on the end side of the threaded nut 26, extends in the circumferential direction over an angle formed from a quotient of the ratio of the abovementioned axial overlap to the pitch of the threaded spindle, multiplied by 360°, wherein to determine the angle, the axial overlap and the pitch of the threaded spindle are both designated using the same unit of length.
It can also be seen from
For correct functioning of the stop 43, the rotational position of the support disk 33 with respect to the threaded spindle 28 is of significance. For example, if, in the exemplary embodiment, the support disk 33 were arranged rotated counterclockwise about the threaded spindle by 90°, a situation could arise in which the threaded nut 26 and the support disk 33 abut against one another at the end side before the stop 43 has taken effect in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, correct rotational positioning of a stop part 51 with respect to the threaded spindle 28 is of significance. In the exemplary embodiment, the stop part 51 is formed by the support disk 33.
It can be seen from
A tooth flank angle a of the external toothing 52 or of the internal toothing 53 is designed to be as small as possible, such that the steepest possible tooth flanks are formed. Steep tooth flanks facilitate the tilting mobility, described further above, of the support disk 33 with respect to the threaded spindle 28. The finer the toothing, the more rotational positions can be set.
For assembly of the ball screw 24, the threaded nut 26 may firstly be screwed onto the threaded spindle 28 until the threaded nut 26 has reached its intended stop position. The support disk 33 may then be placed onto the spindle portion 29 and rotated relative to the threaded spindle 28 and the threaded nut 26 until the two markings 49, 50 are arranged in alignment with one another. The support disk 33 may then be pushed axially further in the direction of the threaded nut 26, wherein the internal toothing 53 engages into the external toothing 52. It is also conceivable for two markings to be provided for example on the support disk 33, between which the marking 49 of the threaded nut 26 should be arranged. In this way, an angle is defined within which an admissible rotational position for the support disk 33 relative to the threaded spindle 28 is provided.
The assembly depicted here may take place in an automated fashion, wherein the markings 49, 50 can be detected by means of suitable measurement sensors. When said markings 49, 50 are in alignment with one another, by means of suitable control, the next assembly step can be triggered and the support disk 33 can be pushed with its internal toothing 53 onto the external toothing 52 of the spindle portion 29.
The ball screw may be formed without a ball return facility. This means that the balls are arranged in a non-endless ball channel and can merely roll back and forth between the ends of said ball channel. In the exemplary embodiment, a helical compression spring may be inserted into the ball channel, one end of which spring is supported against the tooth 46 and the other end of which spring is loaded against the final ball. During load-free ball screw operation, all the balls can be spring-loaded in the direction of the end of the ball channel under the action of a spring force of the helical compression spring. Alternatively, a ball screw may also be used which has, as is known, a ball return facility: the balls circulate in a continuous manner in endless ball channels. The ball channel is formed from a load portion, in which the balls roll under load on ball grooves of the threaded nut and of the threaded spindle, and a return portion, in which the balls are returned from an end to a beginning of the load portion. The return portion may be formed, in a known way, by a diverting pipe on the outer circumference of the threaded nut, or else by diverting pieces which are inserted in the wall of the threaded nut. Said diverting pieces connect an end of a common winding of the load portion to the beginning thereof.
In the exemplary embodiment, the threaded nut 26 with the recess 45 and the tooth 46 is formed from a case-hardened steel in the semi-hot state. Semi-hot forming is carried out in a temperature range from 750° C. to 950° C. For semi-hot forming, prefabricated untreated parts may be inductively heated and formed on partially multi-stage presses.
Here, the ball groove is produced in a cutting process by turning. Alternatively or in addition, the ball groove may also be produced by thread rolling. The finished threaded nut is subsequently case-hardened.
The support disk 33 is likewise produced in a non-cutting process, in particular in the semi-hot forming process. It can be seen in particular from
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102009036887.6 | Aug 2009 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2010/060444 | 7/19/2010 | WO | 00 | 12/12/2011 |