The present invention relates to a technical field of a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, used in various devices, such as negative-pressure boosters, fluid-pressure boosters, etc., in which an input applied to input means is boosted by power to be output, and more particularly, to a technical field of a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, capable of suppressing an abnormal noise generated by vibrations in a mounted state, and a booster using the same.
In a brake system for automobiles, a fluid-pressure booster, in which a fluid pressure boosts a pedal treading force to generate a large output force, is frequently adopted in order to enable obtaining a large braking force even with a small pedal treading force. As one of such fluid-pressure boosters, there is well known a negative-pressure booster, in which a negative pressure as power boosts a pedal treading force to obtain a large output force.
In the negative-pressure booster 1, a negative pressure is introduced through the negative-pressure introducing pipe 22 into the constant-pressure chamber 7 at all times. In a state, in which the negative-pressure booster 1 is not operated, the atmosphere valve seat 12 of the control valve 15 abuts against the control-valve body 14 and the control-valve body 14 is slightly separated from the negative-pressure valve seat 13, so that the control valve 15 is put in a non-operating state. Accordingly, the variable pressure chamber 8 is cut off from the atmosphere and communicated to the constant-pressure chamber 7 through a clearance between the passage holes 17, 16 and the control-valve body 14 and the negative-pressure valve seat 13, and through the passage hole 18, and so a negative pressure is introduced into the variable pressure chamber 8.
When a brake pedal (not shown) is trodden from such non-operating state, the input shaft 10 makes a stroke forward (leftward in
Since a reaction force produced by the braking pressure of the brake master cylinder causes the output shaft 19 to push the reaction disk 21, the reaction disk 21 is pressingly interposed between the valve body 9 and the output shaft 19 to be elastically deformed to abut against the valve plunger 11. Then, a force produced by the elastic deformation of the reaction disk 21 is transmitted as a reaction force to a brake pedal through the valve plunger 11 and the input shaft 10.
As the variable pressure chamber 8 is increased in pressure, an output of the power piston 6 is increased to cause the valve body 9 to advance further, so that the control-valve body 14 abuts against the atmosphere valve seat 12 while maintaining a state of being seated on the negative-pressure valve seat 13. Thereby, the atmosphere is not further introduced into the variable pressure chamber 8 and so a pressure in the variable pressure chamber 8 becomes one corresponding to an input (a force related to a pedal treading force) applied to the input shaft 10. An output of the power piston 6 at this time becomes a large output obtained by boosting the pedal treading force, with the result that a master cylinder generates a braking pressure corresponding to an input of the input shaft 10. A brake is actuated by the braking pressure of the master cylinder. A braking force at this time becomes one obtained by boosting the pedal treading force.
When the brake pedal is released, both the input shaft 10 and the valve plunger 11 retreat and the control-valve body 14 is unseated from the negative-pressure valve seat 13. Then, the variable pressure chamber 8 is communicated to the constant-pressure chamber 7 and the atmosphere introduced into the variable pressure chamber 8 is discharged from the negative-pressure introducing pipe 22 through the passage holes 17, 16, a clearance between the control-valve body 14 and the negative-pressure valve seat 13, the passage hole 18, and the constant-pressure chamber 7. Thereby, the variable pressure chamber 8 is decreased in pressure and a spring force of the return spring 20 causes all the valve body 9, the power piston 6, and the output shaft 19 to retreat to come to a non-operating position and the control valve 15 is put in a non-operating state shown in the figure. Thus, with the negative-pressure booster 1, a large output can be obtained by a small pedal treading force.
By the way, a coil spring is generally used for the return spring 20 of the negative-pressure booster 1. The coil spring is normally formed from a spring wire material to comprise seat winding portions (portions of a first turn) wound substantially one turn at both ends in a plane perpendicular to a length direction of the coil spring and a coil portion wound spirally and continuously between the seat winding portions. Ordinarily, with a coil spring of this kind, minute clearances are produced between portions of the seat winding portions and portions of second turn portions.
In this manner, when minute clearances are produced between portions of the seat winding portions and portions of second turn portions, a spring property of the return spring 20 vibrates the power piston 6 when the negative-pressure booster 1 operates with the brake pedal being trodden to cause the power piston 6 to advance. Since vibrations of the power piston 6 are transmitted to the brake pedal through the reaction disk 21, the valve plunger 11, and the input shaft 10, there is caused a problem that a pedal feeling is deteriorated. Also, the coil spring vibrates due to vibrations of the power piston 6, and when the coil spring vibrates, there is caused a problem that an abnormal noise generates since portions of the seat winding portions and portions of second turn portions, which are separated from each other with minute clearances therebetween, contact with each other.
Hereupon, for example, JP-A-2006-341790 and JP-A-2006-77904 propose boosters, in which portions in predetermined ranges of second turns of a coil spring are brought into close contact with seat winding portions to prevent an abnormal noise from being generated upon contact and separation between portions of the second turns and portions of the seat winding portions even when the coil spring vibrates.
In that structure, in which portions in predetermined ranges of second turns of a coil spring are brought into close contact with seat winding portions as described above, however, it is difficult to surely damp vibrations of the coil spring. Besides, in order to effectively prevent the generation of an abnormal noise due to vibrations of the coil spring, it is necessary to accurately and strictly control an extent of close contact between portions of the second turns and the seat winding portions and dimensions of closely contacted regions, or the like. Therefore, there is caused a problem that a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring is not so much favorable in productivity and high in cost.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, which can be improved in productivity while damping vibrations of the coil spring to suppress the generation of an abnormal noise, and a booster using the same.
Also, it is a further of the invention to provide a booster that damps vibrations caused by a coil spring, which constitutes a return spring of a power piston, to enable making an operating feeling favorable.
In order to attain the object, a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, includes a coil spring having seat winding portions at both ends and a coil portion provided continuously between the seat winding portions, and a spring retainer supporting one of the seat winding portions, the spring retainer including a pair of holding portions, which hold one of the seat winding portions.
Also, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that one holding portion of the pair of holding portions holds at least an outer peripheral side of the seat winding portion of the coil spring and the other holding portion holds at least an inner peripheral side of the seat winding portion of the coil spring.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that an opposite surface of the spring retainer to a surface thereof toward the coil spring is supported on a spring retainer supporting member both in an axial direction and in a radial direction.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that the spring retainer includes a first retainer and a second retainer, one holding portion of the pair of holding portions is provided on the first retainer, and the other holding portion of the pair of holding portions is provided on the second retainer.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that one holding portion of the first retainer holds at least an outer peripheral side of the seat winding portion of the coil spring and the other holding portion of the second retainer holds at least an inner peripheral side of the seat winding portion of the coil spring.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that the other holding portions are provided at equal intervals in a predetermined number of locations in a circumferential direction.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that openings being the same in number as the other holding portions are formed at equal intervals on the first retainer in a circumferential direction and the other holding portions extend through the corresponding openings from an opposite side to the coil spring.
Further, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, has a feature in that the second retainer is supported on a spring retainer supporting member both in an axial direction and in a radial direction and the first retainer is supported on the spring retainer supporting member in a radial direction.
On the other hand, the booster according to the invention includes at least a power piston actuated by the action of power corresponding to an input to boost the input to output the same, and a return spring that biases the power piston toward a position of non-operation, the booster being characterized by including that vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, which prevents vibrations of the coil spring, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring being the coil spring according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
With the vibration isolation mechanism of the invention for a coil spring thus structured in this manner, the pair of holding portions provided on the spring retainer hold the seat winding portion of the coil spring, so that even when the coil spring vibrates, vibrations thereof can be forcedly damped. Accordingly, even when a minute clearance is produced between the seat winding portion and a second turn portion of the coil spring, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of an abnormal noise.
Also, it does not matter whether a minute clearance is produced between the seat winding portion and a second turn portion of the coil spring, it gets along without accurately and strictly controlling an extent of close contact between the second turn portion and the seat winding portion and dimensions of closely contacted regions, or the like, so that a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring can be improved in productivity and decreased in cost.
On the other hand, with the booster according to the invention, a return spring of a power piston includes a coil spring and vibrations caused by the coil spring in operation are damped to enable suppressing the generation of an abnormal noise, so that it is possible to make an operating feeling of the booster favorable and to decrease the booster in cost.
A best mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A booster, to which a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the example, is applied, is a negative-pressure booster 1 used in a brake booster, etc. The negative-pressure booster 1 is different only in a partial construction from the conventional negative-pressure booster 1 shown in
As shown in
As shown in
A predetermined number (eight in the example as shown) of openings 29 are formed circumferentially at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion 27b of the stepped, annular disk portion 27. Also, an annulus flange 30 projecting forward is formed on an outer peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 27b. The flange 30 includes an annulus holding portion 30a, which holds an outer peripheral side of the seat winding portion 20a of the return spring 20, and an annular guide portion 30b, which is in the form of a frustum to project divergingly forwardly of the holding portion 30a.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The annulus flange 32 of the holding retainer 26 is fitted onto an outer periphery of a large-diameter forward end 9a of the valve body 9 and the annulus step 27c of the pedestal retainer 25 is fitted onto a small-diameter forward end 9b of the valve body 9, whereby the spring retainer 24 is assembled to the valve body 9.
In this manner, in a state, in which the spring retainer 24 is assembled to the valve body 9, an annulus holding space is formed between the holding portion 30a of the flange 30 and the holding portions 31a of the holding pawls 31. Then, an end of the return spring 20 toward the valve body 9 is fitted between the guide portion 30b of the flange 30 and the guide portions 31b of the holding portions 31a of the holding pawls 31 rearward in an axial direction from the front. Then, the holding pawls 31 are elastically spread, so that the seat winding portion 20a of the return spring 20 enters into the holding space between the holding portion 30a and the holding portions 31a as shown in
Thereby, even when the power piston 6 vibrates, vibrations of the return spring 20 are forcedly damped, so that the generation of an abnormal noise is effectively suppressed even when a minute clearance is generated between the seat winding portion and the second turn portion of the return spring 20. In this manner, the vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, according to the invention, includes the holding portion 30a of the pedestal retainer 25 and the holding portions 31a of the holding retainer 26.
Also, an inner peripheral surface of the annulus step 27c of the pedestal retainer 25 is supported radially on an outer periphery of the small-diameter forward end 9b of the valve body 9 and an opposite surface of the pedestal retainer 25 to the return spring 20 is supported on a surface of the holding retainer 26 toward the return spring 20 in an axial direction of the return spring 2, so that the pedestal retainer 25 is positioned radially and axially relative to the valve body 9 (In addition, the pedestal retainer 25 is positioned axially through the holding retainer 26). Accordingly, the valve body 9 constitutes a spring retainer supporting member of the invention.
Further, an inner peripheral surface of the annulus flange 32 of the holding retainer 26 is supported radially on an outer periphery of the large-diameter forward end 9a and an opposite surface of the holding retainer 26 to a surface of the return spring 20 is supported on the valve body 9 in axial directions of the return spring 2 and the valve body 9, so that positioning is accomplished both in a radial direction and in an axial direction.
With the vibration isolation mechanism, according to the example, for the return spring 20, the seat winding portion 20a of a coil spring, which constitutes the return spring 20, is held between the holding portion 30a of the pedestal retainer 25 and the holding portions 31a of the holding retainer 26, so that even when the power piston 6 vibrates, it is possible to forcedly damp vibrations of the return spring 20. Accordingly, even when a minute clearance is generated between the seat winding portion and the second turn portion of the return spring 20, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of an abnormal noise caused by vibrations of the return spring 20.
Also, since it does not matter whether a minute clearance is generated between the seat winding portion and the second turn portion of the return spring 20, it gets along without accurately and strictly controlling an extent of close contact between the second turn portion and the seat winding portion and dimensions of closely contacted regions, or the like, so that the vibration isolation mechanism for the return spring 20 can be improved in productivity and decreased in cost.
Further, with the negative-pressure booster 1 provided with the vibration isolation mechanism of the example for the return spring 20, the return spring 20 of the power piston 6 includes a coil spring and vibrations caused by the coil spring in operation are damped to enable suppressing the generation of an abnormal noise, so that it is possible to make an operating feeling of the negative-pressure booster 1 favorable and to decrease the negative-pressure booster 1 in cost.
Other constitution, functions, and effects of the negative-pressure booster 1 according to the example are the same as those in the conventional negative-pressure booster 1 shown in
While the spring retainer 24 in the example described above includes two members, that is, the pedestal retainer 25 and the holding retainer 26, with a vibration isolation mechanism, according to the present example, for a coil spring, a spring retainer 24 includes a single member, that is, a pedestal retainer 25.
As shown in
With the vibration isolation mechanism of the example for a coil spring, thus structured in this manner, the pedestal retainer 25 is assembled to a valve body 9 and an output shaft 19 of the negative-pressure booster 1 in the same manner as in the example described above. In the same manner as in the example described above, the seat winding portion 20a of the return spring 20 toward the valve body 9 is elastically and firmly held between a holding portion 30a and the holding portions 31a.
With the vibration isolation mechanism of the example for a coil spring, the spring retainer 24 is composed of only a single member, that is, the pedestal retainer 25, so that it is possible to reduce parts in number to achieve a decrease in cost and to assemble the spring retainer 24 simply.
Other constitution, functions, and effects of the negative-pressure booster 1 provided with the vibration isolation mechanism of the example for a coil spring are the same as those in the negative-pressure booster 1 of the example described above and in the conventional negative-pressure booster 1 shown in
The vibration isolation mechanism, according to the invention, for a coil spring can be preferably made use of for a vibration isolation mechanism for a coil spring, which is mounted in a state of being applied by a preset compressive set load and on which an externally operating force is exerted.
Also, the booster according to the invention can be preferably made use of for a booster system and a booster, in which an operating force of an operator is boosted to be used, as well as for a booster of a brake system.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-087138 | Mar 2007 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2008/056730 | 3/28/2008 | WO | 00 | 9/28/2009 |