Multi-link rear axle for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Multi-link rear wheel axle for a motor vehicle for connecting a wheel carrier (4) to a vehicle body (5) with steering arms (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) arranged in an upper link plane (8) and in a lower link plane (6), wherein in the upper link plane (8) a steering arm (18) is designed as a tie rod, characterized in that in the upper link plane (8) two steering arms (14, 18) are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, which each have articulation points (13, 15) for the wheel carrier (4) and the vehicle body (5), wherein the front wishbone (18) is designed as a tie rod and wherein a steering arm (16) designed as a longitudinal link connects the rear wishbone (14) via an articulation point (22) arranged near the wheel carrier (4) to the front wishbone (18) via an articulation point the vehicle body arranged articulation point (24), wherein in the lower control arm level (6) two steering arms (10,12) are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, each having articulation points (13, 15) for the wheel carrier (4) and the vehicle body (5), such that the rear and front wishbones (10, 12) form a virtual pole (20) in the lower control arm plane (6), which pole lies outside the lower control arm plane (6) and behind the axis of the wheel carrier (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multi-link rear wheel axle for a motor vehicle for connecting a wheel carrier to a vehicle body with steering arms arranged in an upper steering plane and in a lower steering plane, wherein in the upper steering plane a steering arm is designed as a tie rod.

[0002] Multi-link rear axles are well known, for example from DE 44 23 126 A1, DE 101 33 424 A1, DE 102 07 654 A1 and DE 10 2007 063 545 A1. A generic multi-link rear axle is known from DE 100 05 472 A1. In this case, so-called steering arms, which are arranged in a lower steering plane and in an upper steering plane, are used to accommodate, as far as possible, five of the six degrees of freedom of a body in space. Only one degree of freedom remains for the bump and rebound springing of the vehicle wheel. Such a construction should of course go hand in hand with a maximum possible driving comfort, whereby it must be ensured that when any longitudinal and lateral forces act on the vehicle, the vehicle remains on the desired track. In particular, so-called five-link rear axles are known, in which five individual steering arms establish a connection from the vehicle body to the wheel carrier.Although this type of multi-link rear axle offers a very high level of comfort and a very high degree of variability in terms of the adjustability of the wheel carrier, it requires a much larger installation space and therefore a higher assembly effort than multi-link rear axles that use triangular steering arms, for example.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a multi-link rear wheel axle which has the functionality of a true five-link rear wheel axle while requiring less installation space and less assembly effort.

[0004] This object is achieved in that in the upper control arm plane two steering arms are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, which each have articulation points for the wheel carrier and the vehicle body, wherein the front wishbone is designed as a tie rod and wherein a steering arm designed as a longitudinal control arm connects the rear wishbone to the front wishbone via an articulation point arranged near the wheel carrier via an articulation point arranged near the vehicle body, wherein in the lower control arm plane two steering arms are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, which each have articulation points for the wheel carrier and the vehicle body, such that the rear and front wishbones form a virtual pole in the lower control arm plane, which pole lies outside the lower control arm plane and behind the axis of the wheel carrier.In this way, one pivot point is saved on the wheel carrier and on the vehicle body, while the multi-link rear axle still offers the comfort of a five-link rear axle, with the wheel moving in toe-in during braking and under lateral force.

[0005] In order to be able to adjust the track adjustment in specific driving situations and thus ensure the highest level of comfort and driving safety in every driving situation, the tie rod can be designed as an active tie rod. The pivot point of the trailing arm in the rear wishbone can advantageously be mounted in an adjustable bushing, whereby the longitudinal elasticity of the multi-link rear wheel axle can be adjusted via this bushing. Furthermore, an adjustable bushing is advantageously provided in the front wishbone in the upper control arm level, via which the lateral force stiffness of the multi-link rear wheel axle can be adjusted. Both bushings can be arranged and adjusted in such a way that no relative movements are required during spring movements. Due to the optimally adjusted lateral force stiffness, the wheel also toe-in under lateral load when cornering, and the handling is stabilized.Advantageously, the pivot point of the trailing arm for the front wishbone is designed as an eccentric, via which the toe-in can be adjusted using a tool.

[0006] The invention will be explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 a plan view of a multi-link rear wheel axle according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a perspective exploded view of a lower control arm plane and an upper control arm plane of the multi-link rear wheel axle according to the invention.

[0007] For the sake of clarity, a multi-link rear wheel axle 2 according to the invention is described below with reference to Fig. 1 and at the same time Fig. 2 explained.

[0008] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a multi-link rear wheel axle 2 for a motor vehicle for connecting a wheel carrier 4 to a vehicle body, which is not shown here for the sake of clarity. As can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, steering arms 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 are provided in a lower steering level 6 and in an upper steering level 8.

[0009] Two control arms 10, 12 designed as wishbones are arranged in the lower control arm plane. The front control arm 12 in the direction of travel has a significant longitudinal component and can thus absorb longitudinal forces, while the rear control arm 10, viewed in the direction of travel, is arranged essentially in the transverse direction. Both control arms 12 form a virtual pole 20. This pole 20 lies in the lower control arm plane 6 outside the plane and behind the axis of the wheel carrier 4. This allows the wheel to rotate in toe-in during braking and when subjected to lateral force. Both control arms 10, 12 are also movably connected to the wheel carrier 4 via pivot points 13 and to the body 5 via pivot points 15.

[0010] In the upper control arm plane 8, the steering arm 14 and the steering arm 18 are also designed as wishbones, with the front wishbone 18 in the direction of travel being designed as a tie rod. In the present exemplary embodiment, the tie rod 18 is designed as an active tie rod with an activator 21. A further steering arm 16, designed as a trailing arm, is coupled to both wishbones 14, 18. A first pivot point 22 of the trailing arm 16 is coupled to the wishbone 14 near the wheel carrier 4. With a second pivot point, designed here as an eccentric 24, the trailing arm 16 is arranged near the vehicle body on the wishbone 18.

[0011] In the present embodiment, the pivot point 22 is mounted in an adjustable bushing 26, which makes it possible to adjust the longitudinal elasticity of the multi-link rear axle 2. The eccentric 24 is also arranged in an adjustable bushing 28 such that rotating the eccentric 24 influences the lateral force stiffness of the multi-link rear axle 2. For easy adjustability, the eccentric 24 can have a molded-on external Torx 30, which allows precise adjustment using a corresponding Torx tool. The bushing 28 is provided in the front wishbone 18 and has a support point 32 of the trailing arm 16.

Claims

[1] Multi-link rear wheel axle for a motor vehicle for connecting a wheel carrier (4) to a vehicle body (5) with steering arms (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) arranged in an upper steering plane (8) and in a lower steering plane (6), wherein in the upper steering plane (8) a steering arm (18) is designed as a tie rod, characterized bythat in the upper control arm plane (8) two steering arms (14, 18) are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, each having articulation points (13, 15) for the wheel carrier (4) and the vehicle body (5), wherein the front wishbone (18) is designed as a tie rod and wherein a steering arm (16) designed as a longitudinal control arm connects the rear wishbone (14) via an articulation point (22) arranged near the wheel carrier (4) to the front wishbone (18) via an articulation point (24) arranged near the vehicle body, wherein in the lower control arm plane (6) two steering arms (10, 12) are designed as rear and front wishbones, viewed in the direction of travel, each having articulation points (13, 15) for the wheel carrier (4) and the vehicle body (5), such that the rear and front wishbones (10, 12) form a virtual pole (20) in the lower link plane (6),which is located in the lower control arm plane (6) outside the same and behind the axis of the wheel carrier (4). [2] Multi-link rear wheel axle according to claim 1, characterized by that the tie rod is designed as an active tie rod. [3] Multi-link rear wheel axle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the articulation point (22) of the longitudinal control arm (16) in the rear wishbone (14) is mounted in an adjustable bushing (26), wherein a longitudinal elasticity of the multi-link rear wheel axle (2) can be adjusted via this bushing (26). [4] Multi-link rear wheel axle according to claim 3, characterized by that an adjustable bushing (28) is provided in the front wishbone (18) of the upper control arm level (8), via which a lateral force stiffness of the multi-link rear wheel axle (2) can be adjusted. [5] Multi-link rear wheel axle according to claim 4, characterized bythat the articulation point (24) of the longitudinal control arm (16) for the front wishbone (18) is designed as an eccentric, via which the toe-in can be adjusted by means of a tool.

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