Regulator for automatically adjusting the length of an actuating link

Abstract

A regulator ( 27 ) automatically adjusts a drive cable ( 3, 4 ) or Bowden cable ( 15 ) to drive a vehicle brake by means of a drive element such as a brake lever or a handbrake lever ( 21 ), the regulator ( 27 ) comprising two pivotally supported resetting arms ( 1, 9 ) prestressed by at least one spring element ( 13 ) and which can be connected each to the drive cable ( 3, 4 ) resp. leading to the brakes, further comprising a blocking system ( 28 ) to block the pivoting motion about a common pivot axis ( 19 ) of the resetting arms ( 1, 9 ) in case of actuation of the drive element coupled by a Bowden cable ( 15 ) to the resetting arms ( 1, 9 ). At least one guidance inset ( 7 ) is seated in irrotational manner in a clearance ( 5 ) of a resetting arm ( 1 ) as a pivot bearing for the other resetting arm ( 9 ), the latter being supported at the guidance inset ( 7 ) so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis ( 19 ) and the blocking system ( 28 ) is supported at or in the guide inset ( 7 ) so as to be radially displaceable about the pivot axis ( 19 ).

1. A regulator ( 27 ) automatically controlling length adjustment of a cable ( 3 ,  4 ,  15 ) to drive a vehicle brake by means of a drive element, said regulator ( 27 ) comprising:
 first and second pivotally supported resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) biased by at least one spring element ( 13 ) and having a common pivot axis ( 19 ), each resetting arm ( 1 ,  9 ) being connectable to the cable said second resetting arm ( 9 ) comprising a radially inwardly facing abutment surface;  
 a blocking means ( 28 ) for at least one of snap fitting and friction fitting engagement with said abutment surface and for blocking relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) upon actuation of said drive element;  
 wherein the blocking means ( 28 ) is displaceable in a radial direction relative to said pivot axis between a blocking and an unblocking position and wherein said blocking means is disposed on said first resetting arm ( 1 ) to rotate with said first resetting arm;  
 wherein the blocking means in the blocking position automatically stops a relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms;  
 wherein the blocking means in the unblocking position automatically permits a relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms in both directions of rotation about said pivot axis.  
 
     
     
       2. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocking means ( 28 ) is integrated into a clearance ( 30 ) of a guidance inset ( 7 ). 
     
     
       3. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocking means ( 28 ) comprises a blocking segment ( 8 ) with outer toothing ( 10 ), said blocking segment being displaceably guided along said first resetting arm ( 1 ) in a direction radial to the pivot axis ( 19 ). 
     
     
       4. The regulator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second resetting arm ( 9 ) comprises inner toothing ( 11 ) which, upon actuation of the drive element will engage the outer toothing ( 10 ). 
     
     
       5. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocking means ( 28 ) is connected to a fastening means ( 31 ) for fastening said blocking element to the drive element. 
     
     
       6. The regulator as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein play is provided between the resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) and the fastening means ( 31 ) to permit relative translational movement therebetween. 
     
     
       7. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) each are fitted with a lock means for locking said first and second resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) against relative rotation to permit ease of assembly of said regulator. 
     
     
       8. The regulator as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said lock means comprises a borehole ( 14 ) in each of said first and second resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ), wherein said resetting arms are affixable in a factory-delivery position by means of a stop pin inserted into the borehole ( 14 ) against the force of a spring element ( 13 ). 
     
     
       9. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a stop mean is associated with the regulator ( 27 ) for disengaging the blocking means ( 28 ) when the drive elements is inactivated. 
     
     
       10. The regulator as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said stop means is disposed adjacent said regulator to abuts said regulator when the drive element is inactivated. 
     
     
       11. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said drive element is one of a brake lever and a handbrake lever ( 21 ). 
     
     
       12. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one guidance inset is fixedly received in a clearance ( 5 ) of said first resetting arm ( 1 ). 
     
     
       13. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one guidance inset is irrotationally fixed with respect to said first resetting arm to act as a pivot bearing for the second resetting arm, the second resetting arm being supported by the guidance inset so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis with respect to said first resetting arm. 
     
     
       14. The regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocking means comprises a blocking element; wherein said blocking element being claimed in the blocking position against a wall of said resetting arm. 
     
     
       15. The regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein said blocking means moves along a straight line in said radial direction. 
     
     
       16. The regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein said blocking means is disposed between said resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ). 
     
     
       17. The regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) circumscribes said blocking means. 
     
     
       18. A regulator ( 27 ) automatically controlling length adjustment of a cable ( 3 ,  4 ,  15 ) to drive a vehicle brake by means of a drive element, said regulator ( 27 ) comprising:
 first and second pivotally supported resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ) biased by at least one spring element ( 13 ) and having a common pivot axis ( 19 ), each resetting arm ( 1 ,  9 ) being connectable to the cable;  
 a blocking means ( 28 ) for blocking relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms ( 1 ,  9 ), said blocking means shares said common pivot axis with said resetting arms in one of a blocking position and an unblocking position and is displaced relative to said pivot axis upon actuation of said drive element; wherein the blocking means ( 28 ) is displaceable relative to said pivot axis between said blocking and said unblocking position;  
 wherein the blocking means in the blocking position stops a relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms; and  
 wherein the blocking means in the unblocking position permits a relative pivoting motion of the resetting arms in both directions of rotation about said pivot axis.