Patent Application
20190285111
This application claims priority to German Patent Application Ser. No. 102018203762.0, filed Mar. 13, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to an arrangement or system for the vibration isolation of Bowden cable-actuated components.
Due to their flexibility and robustness, Bowden cables are used in vehicles for controlling various mechanical functions. However, undesired vibrations can be transferred via the Bowden cable to a transmitter element provided for actuating the Bowden cable. This can lead, in turn, to disruptive vibrations being transferred into a driver's environment in the vehicle, in which the transmitter element is spatially located.
Thus, there is a need for an arrangement for vibration isolation that is adapted for use with Bowden cable-actuated components and the like.
In the present disclosure, one embodiment of the vibration isolation of Bowden cable-actuated components includes a Bowden cable, an actuation element that is attached on one end to the Bowden cable and has a mounting eye, a damping element arranged in a positive-fit connection in the mounting eye, and a transmitter element supported within the damping element such that it can be deflected for actuating the Bowden cable, wherein the damping element is constructed as an elastic grommet with a recess lying in a specified deflection direction of the transmitter element such that, in the non-actuated state, the transmitter element assumes a centered position within the elastic grommet and can be brought into contact with the mounting eye with the effect of a deflecting actuation force under compression of the elastic grommet in the area of the recess.
In other words, the transmitter element is held at a distance from the actuation element on all sides in the non-actuated, consequently force-free state of the elastic grommet so that the possibility of vibrations being transferred via the attached Bowden cable to the transmitter element is essentially ruled out. For the case of its deflection, in contrast, the transmitter element can press directly on the actuation element due to the applied tensile or compressive force for actuating the Bowden cable within the mounting eye, which leads to a precisely defined compression point. The deflection of the transmitter element can be realized here by means of a control element or the like connected to the transmitter element.
The arrangement or system can be used, for example, in connection with Bowden cable-actuated vehicle components that are in a non-tensioned state while driving, because the Bowden cable and the connected transmitter element are typically free of forces in such a case. In particular, the transmitter element can be part of a control element constructed as a hand or foot lever for a vehicle, wherein this control element is provided for actuating an immobilization brake or parking brake that is to be released while driving.
A collar surrounding each end side of the mounting eye can be constructed on the elastic grommet. The surrounding collar is used for the axial centering of the elastic grommet within the mounting eye.
To implement rotational locking or radial centering of the elastic grommet within the mounting eye, it is possible to provide on one end side of the mounting eye at least one projection that engages in an associated recess in the collar of the elastic grommet. The projection can be a spring pin that is pressed with excess length on both sides into a through hole formed on the end sides on the mounting eye and extends into openings in the collar of the elastic grommet aligned with the through hole.
In addition or as an alternative, there is the possibility that the elastic grommet has an outer contour corresponding to an asymmetric inner contour of the mounting eye, whereby a rotational locking or radial centering of the elastic grommet within the mounting eye is likewise implemented. For this purpose, transverse pockets running along the asymmetric inner contour of the mounting eye can be constructed, in which the transverse brackets formed on the outer contour of the elastic grommet can engage in a positive-fit connection.
With respect to achieving the highest possible damping effect, the elastic grommet can be made from a rubber mixture with a hardness in the range from 20 to 90 Shore A. Because the elastic grommet is essentially free of forces in the non-actuated state of the transmitter element and is thus non-compressed or released from tension, there is the possibility of using a relatively soft rubber mixture with correspondingly high capacity for vibration damping.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.
In one example, the transmitter element 20 has the shape of a cylindrical pin 22, which is part of a control element (not shown in
The actuation element 14 includes a flattened head 30, in which the mounting eye 16 is formed, as well as a cylindrical fastening section 32 for attaching the Bowden cable 12. The attachment of the Bowden cable 12 is realized by producing a press-fit connection within an end-side receptacle opening 34 of the cylindrical fastening section 32. The actuation element 14 is a forged part made from a suitable steel alloy or a high-strength plastic part. A plastic sheathing 36 is used to protect the Bowden cable 12 consisting of a plurality of steel wire strands from external damage.
Accordingly, the damping element 18 is constructed as an elastic grommet 38 with a recess 40 lying in the specified deflection direction 28 of the transmitter element 20. Here, the transmitter element 20 assumes a centered position in the non-actuated state within the elastic grommet 38 and is brought into contact with the mounting eye 16 with the effect of a deflecting actuation force Fb exerted by means of the hand or foot lever under compression of the elastic grommet 38 in the area of the recess 40. The latter arrangement is shown in
In the present case, another recess 42 arranged opposite the recess 40 with respect to the specified deflection direction 28 is provided, so that the transmission of tensile and also compressive forces occurring with the actuation of the transmitter element 20 can be equally taken into account.
In other words, the transmitter element 20 is held at a distance from the actuation element 14 on all sides in the non-actuated, consequently force-free state of the elastic grommet 38, so that the possible transfer of vibrations via the attached Bowden cable 12 to the transmitter element 20 is essentially ruled out, reduced or eliminated. Due to the deflection of the hand or foot lever, in contrast, the transmitter element 20 can press directly on the actuation element 14 due to the tensile or compressive force applied for actuating the Bowden cable 12 within the mounting eye 16, which leads to a precisely defined pressure point.
In addition, on the elastic grommet 38, a collar 48, 50 is formed surrounding each end side 44, 46 of the mounting eye 16 (see
For implementing a rotational or axial locking of the elastic grommet 38 within the mounting eye 16, there are two projections 52, 54 on adjacent sides on the two end sides 44, 46 of the mounting eye 16 (see
With respect to the rest of the function of arrangement 10, reference is made to the description above with respect to the first embodiment.
While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102018203762.0 | Mar 2018 | DE | national |
