motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1, 18), in the configuration as an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle, which has at least one traction battery (6) installed on the floor for supplying electric drive units of the motor vehicle, with a trailing arm rear axle (4) with independent wheel suspensions (5), wherein each independent wheel suspension (5) has a wheel carrier (7), a trailing arm (10) rigidly connected to the wheel carrier (7) and articulated to a vehicle body (2) with lateral longitudinal members (3) of the motor vehicle (1, 18), and lateral control arms (12, 13, 14) articulated on one side to the wheel carrier (7) and on the other side to a subframe (11) connected to the lateral longitudinal members (3), and wherein a wheel rotation axis (15) oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle runs through the wheel carriers (7), and wherein the subframe (11) is arranged offset at the rear with respect to a longitudinal axis (16) of the vehicle relative to the wheel rotation axis (15),wherein the control arm (12) is a lower control arm arranged geodesically lower than the wheel axis of rotation (15), a further control arm (13) is a camber link, and a further control arm (14) is a track link, wherein the camber link is shorter than the lower control arm and the track link, and wherein the control arms (12, 13, 14) are arranged completely rearward of the wheel axis of rotation (15) with respect to the longitudinal axis (16) of the motor vehicle (1, 18), and wherein a pivot point at which the respective control arm (12, 13, 14) is articulated to the subframe (11) is arranged rearward of the longitudinal axis (16) of the motor vehicle (1, 18) with respect to the pivot point at which this control arm (12, 13, 14) is articulated to the wheel carrier (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle.

[0002] A vehicle according to US 2016 / 0 347 137 A1 has a frame, driver and passenger seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels and an engine connected to at least two wheels.Each rear suspension assembly includes a trailing arm having a forward end pivotally connected to the frame; a steering knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm; a lower arm having a lateral outboard end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a lateral inboard end pivotally connected to the frame; an upper arm having a lateral outboard end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a lateral inboard end pivotally connected to the frame; and a toe link having a lateral outboard end pivotally connected to the steering knuckle and a lateral inboard end pivotally connected to the frame: US 2016 / 0 347 137 A1 deals with a rear wheel suspension of off-road vehicles having an open cockpit, a cage, and a steering wheel.The driving conditions of such vehicles cannot be compared with those of normal road vehicles, although such vehicles are also narrower and shorter than normal road vehicles.

[0003] DE 10 2013 210 575 A1 proposes designing a rear axle support as a housing and arranging energy storage within it. Only one embodiment mentions a lower control arm, a camber control arm, an upper control arm, and also a sword control arm. Fasteners are welded to the rear axle support to secure the wheel-guiding control arms.

[0004] A motor vehicle may be equipped with a trailing arm rear axle with independent suspension for each rear wheel. Each independent suspension comprises a wheel carrier on which the respective rear wheel is rotatably mounted via a wheel bearing. In addition, each independent suspension comprises a trailing arm, also called a sword trailing arm, rigidly connected to the respective wheel carrier and articulated to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle at the front in front of the wheel carrier so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis. Furthermore, each independent suspension comprises a wishbone in the form of a lower wishbone, which is arranged geodetically lower or on the ground below a wheel rotation axis running through the wheel carriers and aligned in the vehicle's transverse direction, a wishbone in the form of a camber arm, and a wishbone in the form of a toe link.Each wishbone is hinged on the one hand to the respective wheel carrier and on the other hand to the vehicle body or to a subframe connected to the vehicle body.

[0005] To cushion the vehicle body, a coil spring is arranged on each independent wheel suspension. This spring can be supported on the one hand by the vehicle body and on the other hand by a spring plate connected at least indirectly to the respective wheel carrier. In addition, at least one vibration damper, also called a shock absorber, can be arranged on each independent wheel suspension, which can dampen vibrations of the vehicle body relative to the respective wheel carrier. The vibration damper can be supported on the one hand by the vehicle body and on the other hand at least indirectly by the respective wheel carrier.

[0006] In principle, an upper wishbone, which is positioned geodetically higher than a wheel pivot axis running through the wheel carriers, and a lower wishbone, which is positioned geodetically lower than the wheel pivot axis, can be of equal length. However, this changes the track width of the rear axle during suspension compression, and each rear wheel follows the respective lateral inclination of the vehicle body. To avoid this, the upper wishbone can be made shorter than the lower wishbone, resulting in negative camber during suspension compression, which counteracts any rolling motion of the vehicle body, for example when cornering. Due to the use of a short and a long wishbone, this design of independent wheel suspension is also referred to as SLA ("short and long arm").

[0007] US 6,945,547 B2 relates to a multi-link suspension arrangement for a vehicle wheel, comprising a wheel carrier, an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a toe control arm, and a trailing arm. The wheel carrier is aligned along a vehicle longitudinal axis. The upper control arm and the lower control arm are aligned near the wheel center along a vehicle transverse axis and pivotally connected to the wheel carrier. The toe control arm is aligned behind the wheel center along the vehicle transverse axis and pivotally connected to the wheel carrier. The trailing arm is aligned along the vehicle longitudinal axis and pivotally connected to the wheel carrier in front of the wheel center and pivotally connected to the lower control arm near the wheel center.

[0008] US 2007 / 0 007 742 A1 and US 7 325 820 B2 each disclose an independent rear suspension for a vehicle having a body, at least two solid frame rails, and at least one cross member attached to both frame rails. The suspension comprises: a wheel suspension including a joint aligned with a mathematical axle axis; a trailing arm extending from a point on the frame rail forward of the mathematical axle axis to the wheel suspension joint; an upper link extending from a point on the frame rail above the mathematical axle axis to the wheel suspension joint; a track link attached to the frame rail below the mathematical axle axis and extending between the frame rail and the trailing arm;a lower control arm extending from one of the cross members to the joint, the lower control arm being attached to the cross member within the frame rail, adjacent the wheel suspension joint to the wheel suspension joint, the lower control arm being more than twice as long as the track link to allow a shock ratio of less than or equal to 1.3:1; a shock absorber attached to the lower control arm and the frame; and a spring attached to the shock absorber and the frame.

[0009] DE 10 2013 210 338 A1 relates to a multi-link rear axle for a vehicle, which comprises a wheel suspension on each side of the vehicle, each having at least one lower wishbone, one upper wishbone and one sword link, wherein the wishbones and the sword link are each arranged with one of their ends on a wheel carrier, wherein a leaf spring is provided which is arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle between the wheel suspensions, is arranged running below the upper wishbone and is connected at the end to the wheel carrier via at least one link element.

[0010] US 9 579 942 B2 relates to an independent wheel suspension for a rear axle of a vehicle, comprising a wheel carrier provided for the rotatable mounting of a road wheel, which is designed to be connected to a subframe or body of the vehicle via individual control arms. The control arms comprise a lower support arm, a camber arm, and a toe arm. The support arm has a single connecting section on the road wheel side, via which the wheel carrier is articulated directly and exclusively to the support arm.

[0011] US 7 891 684 B1 relates to a decoupled five-link independent rear wheel suspension arranged at a rear wheel corner adjacent to a body support of a motor vehicle, comprising: a wheel support; a camber arm connected to the wheel support; a toe arm connected to the wheel support; a spring arm connected to the wheel support; a lower trailing arm connected to the wheel support; and an upper trailing arm connected to the wheel support; wherein the lower and upper trailing arms are arranged substantially longitudinally with respect to the motor vehicle and are arranged outwardly with respect to the adjacent body support, such that the adjacent body support is free from a movement envelope of the lower and upper trailing arms during operation of the motor vehicle.

[0012] JP 2017 - 19 458 A relates to a rear body for a vehicle in which a battery pack is to be brought into a state in which the battery pack can be protected from a load acting on the rear of the vehicle without requiring a rear underbody space. The battery pack is loaded onto the upper parts of a pair of rear side members. A front end of a subframe faces a rear suspension cross member of a multi-link axle, on which a suspension arm is mounted with a space therebetween. A load acting on the rear of the vehicle is transferred from the subframe to the rear suspension cross member and distributed from the rear side member forward via the multi-link axle.

[0013] EP 0 899 133 B1 relates to an independent wheel suspension for a rear wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a trailing arm, at least one lower front wishbone, and a lower rear wishbone. The rear wheel is mounted on a wheel carrier that is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle body via the trailing arm and the wishbones. The trailing arm and the lower rear wishbone are each connected to the wheel carrier via a bearing arranged behind the wheel axle in the direction of travel. The lower front wishbone is connected to the wheel carrier via a bearing arranged in front of the wheel axle. The bearings for the trailing arm and the lower front wishbone on the wheel carrier are arranged essentially at the same height, and the trailing arm has a recess through which the lower front wishbone is guided.

[0014] US 7 431 315 B2 relates to a suspension system for a vehicle having a frame and wheels on which the vehicle is suspended relative to the frame.The suspension system comprises: a wheel carrier to which the wheels of the vehicle are mounted, a lower control arm bushing and an upper control arm bushing mounted to the carrier; an upper control arm connected to the upper control arm bushing, a lower control arm connected to the lower control arm bushing, the upper control arm and the lower control arm being connected to the frame and extending in a generally transverse direction between the carrier and the frame; a trailing arm extending in a generally longitudinal direction from a location on the frame forward of the carrier to the carrier, the trailing arm having a flexible blade member attached to the carrier, the blade member at least partially forming a bow mount; and a tie rod attached between the frame and the bow mount.

[0015] The invention is based on the object of creating additional installation space for the arrangement of a traction battery of a motor vehicle.

[0016] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1.

[0017] A motor vehicle is shown, in the embodiment as an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle, which has at least one traction battery installed on the floor for supplying electric drive units of the motor vehicle, with a trailing arm rear axle with independent wheel suspensions, wherein each independent wheel suspension has a wheel carrier, a trailing arm rigidly connected to the wheel carrier and articulated to a vehicle body with lateral longitudinal members of the motor vehicle, and wishbones articulated on the one hand to the wheel carrier and on the other hand to a subframe connected to the lateral longitudinal members, and wherein a wheel rotation axis aligned in the vehicle transverse direction runs through the wheel carriers, and wherein the subframe is arranged offset to the wheel rotation axis at the rear with respect to a vehicle longitudinal axis, wherein the wishbone is a lower wishbone arranged geodetically lower than the wheel rotation axis,another wishbone is a camber arm and another wishbone is a toe arm, wherein the camber arm is shorter than the lower wishbone and the toe arm, and wherein the wishbones are arranged completely offset to the rear of the vehicle's longitudinal axis relative to the wheel rotation axis, and wherein a pivot point at which the respective wishbone is pivoted to the subframe is arranged offset to the rear of the vehicle's longitudinal axis relative to the pivot point at which this wishbone is pivoted to the wheel carrier.

[0018] The subclaims disclose advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0019] It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

[0020] The wishbones of each independent wheel suspension are arranged completely offset to the rear of the vehicle's longitudinal axis, relative to the wheel rotation axis, which runs through the wheel carriers and is aligned in the vehicle's transverse direction. This frees up space between the wheel carriers that is conventionally occupied by wishbones. A section of a traction battery and / or a motor vehicle's power electronics system can be arranged in the freed-up space. This creates additional space for the arrangement of the traction battery and / or for the arrangement of other power electronics components of the motor vehicle. This allows, for example, larger traction batteries to be installed, which can increase the range of the motor vehicle. The trailing arm rear axle according to the invention is thus more compact than a conventional trailing arm rear axle.The wheel rotation axis refers to an axis around which the rear wheels arranged on the trailing arm rear axle can rotate in order to be able to run or roll on a surface.

[0021] As mentioned above, the motor vehicle can in particular be an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which has at least the traction battery installed on the floor for supplying the electric drive units of the motor vehicle. The traction battery is preferably partially arranged in the installation space freed up between the wheel carriers by the invention.

[0022] The trailing arm of each independent wheel suspension can be connected to the respective wheel carrier via a mechanical connecting means and / or by a material bond. Alternatively, the trailing arm can be manufactured monolithically with the wheel carrier. The trailing arm is articulated at its front end to the vehicle body of the motor vehicle and is pivotally connected to the vehicle body about a horizontal pivot axis. For this purpose, a bearing eye can be formed at the front end of the trailing arm, in which a damping element, in particular a rubber sleeve, is arranged, through which a bearing bolt connected to the vehicle body is guided. This reduces the transmission of vibrations from the trailing arm to the vehicle body in order to reduce driving noise in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. In addition, the articulation of the longitudinal member to the vehicle body is given more degrees of freedom.

[0023] Of the three wishbones, as mentioned above, one wishbone is a lower wishbone arranged geodetically lower than the wheel rotation axis, another wishbone is a camber arm and another wishbone is a toe arm. The camber arm is, as described above, shorter than the lower wishbone and the toe arm, whereby the trailing arm rear axle is designed as an SLA trailing arm rear axle. Each wishbone can be connected to the wheel carrier via a ball joint and to the vehicle body or the subframe connected to the vehicle body via a further ball joint. A damping element for damping the transmission of vibrations can be arranged on each ball joint. The subframe is preferably indirectly connected to the vehicle body via damping elements in order to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the subframe to the vehicle body.

[0024] As already mentioned above, a pivot point at which the respective wishbone is pivoted to the vehicle body or subframe is arranged offset at the rear with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal axis from a pivot point at which this wishbone is pivoted to the wheel carrier. As a result, each wishbone runs transversely to the vehicle's longitudinal axis and transverse direction. This frees up even more space for the arrangement of the traction battery and / or other power electronics components. If the wishbones are pivoted to a subframe connected to the vehicle body, this subframe is arranged offset at the rear with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, relative to the wheel's rotational axis.

[0025] An advantageous embodiment provides for at least one coil spring to be arranged on each independent wheel suspension, which is supported on one side by a lower wishbone of the wishbones and on the other side by the vehicle body or subframe. The lower wishbone is positioned geodetically lower than the wheel's axis of rotation. The coil spring is designed as a helical spring and can be combined with a vibration damper. The coil spring can be made of a metallic material or a composite material.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the motor vehicle comprises at least one transverse leaf spring running in the vehicle's transverse direction, which is fastened in a central region to the vehicle body or the subframe and which is connected at each end directly or indirectly to the respective wheel carrier, the respective trailing arm, or one of the respective wishbones. By using a transverse leaf spring instead of coil springs to cushion the vehicle body, the trailing arm rear axle can be designed more compactly. The transverse leaf spring is preferably fastened to the vehicle body or subframe at two positions arranged symmetrically to the vehicle's longitudinal center axis. The transverse leaf spring can be made of a metallic material or a fiber composite material.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the transverse leaf spring is indirectly connected at each end to the respective wheel carrier, the respective trailing arm, or one of the respective wishbones via at least one coupling element. This increases the design freedom regarding the arrangement of the transverse leaf spring. The coupling element can be connected in an articulated manner to the transverse leaf spring on the one hand and to the respective wheel carrier, the respective trailing arm, or one of the respective wishbones on the other, and can run vertically.

[0028] As mentioned above, the motor vehicle comprises at least one traction battery, which is partially arranged between the wheel carriers. The traction battery comprises a plurality of battery cells, which may be configured, for example, as lithium-ion battery cells.

[0029] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the following description of the figures. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a schematic bottom view of a further embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention in the form of an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle. Only a rear section of the motor vehicle 1 is shown.

[0032] The motor vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 with lateral longitudinal members 3. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 has a trailing arm rear axle 4 with independent wheel suspensions 5 and a traction battery 6.

[0033] Each independent wheel suspension 5 has a wheel carrier 7, on which a wheel bearing 8 is arranged, via which a rear wheel 9 is rotatably mounted on the wheel carrier 7. Furthermore, each independent wheel suspension 5 has a trailing arm 10 that is rigidly connected to the wheel carrier 7 and articulated to the vehicle body 2 of the motor vehicle 1, the trailing arm being manufactured monolithically with the wheel carrier 7. Furthermore, each independent wheel suspension 5 has three wishbones 12, 13, and 14 that are articulated on the one hand to the wheel carrier 7 and on the other hand to a subframe 11 connected to the vehicle body 2. The wishbone 12 is a lower wishbone, the wishbone 13 is a camber arm, and the wishbone 14 is a toe link. A wheel rotation axis 15, aligned in the transverse direction of the vehicle, runs through the wheel carriers 7 of the trailing arm rear axle 4.

[0034] The wishbones 12, 13 and 14 are arranged completely offset to the rear of the vehicle relative to the wheel rotation axis 15 with respect to a vehicle longitudinal axis 16. In this case, a pivot point at which the respective wishbone 12, 13 or 14 is pivoted to the subframe 11 is arranged offset to the rear of the vehicle longitudinal axis 16 with respect to a pivot point at which this wishbone 12, 13 or 14 is pivoted to the respective wheel carrier 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The articulation point of the wishbones 12, 13, and 14 to the respective wheel carrier 7 is, as can be seen, also offset at the rear relative to the wheel rotation axis 15. The traction battery 6 is partially arranged between the wheel carriers 7.

[0035] On each independent wheel suspension 5, a spring 17 is arranged, which is supported on the one hand on the lower wishbone 12 of the wishbones 12, 13 and 14 and on the other hand on the vehicle body 2.

[0036] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 18 according to the invention in the form of an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle. Only a rear section of the motor vehicle 18 is shown.

[0037] The motor vehicle 18 differs only in this respect from the one in Fig.1, no coil springs are present and instead the motor vehicle 18 has a transverse leaf spring 19 running in the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is fastened in a central region to the subframe 11 in a manner not shown and which is connected in a manner not shown in each case directly or indirectly to the respective wheel carrier 7, the respective trailing arm 10 or one of the respective wishbones 12, 13 and 14. In this case, the transverse leaf spring 19 can be connected in each case indirectly via at least one coupling element (not shown) to the respective wheel carrier 7, the respective trailing arm 10 or one of the respective wishbones 12, 13 and 14. The transverse leaf spring 19 has tapered end sections. The wishbones 12 and 14 are arranged on the bottom side of the transverse leaf spring 19, while the wishbone 13 runs above the transverse leaf spring 19. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 Vehicle body 3 longitudinal members 4 trailing arm rear axle 5 Independent suspension 6 Traction battery 7 wheel carriers 8 wheel bearings 9 Rear wheel 10 trailing arms 11 subframe 12 lower wishbone 13 wishbones (camber arms) 14 wishbones (track control arms) 15 Wheel rotation axis 16 Vehicle longitudinal axis 17 spring 18 Motor vehicle 19 Transverse leaf spring

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1, 18), in the design as an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle, which has at least one traction battery (6) installed on the floor for supplying electric drive units of the motor vehicle, with a longitudinal control arm rear axle (4) with independent wheel suspensions (5), wherein each independent wheel suspension (5) has a wheel carrier (7), a longitudinal control arm (10) rigidly connected to the wheel carrier (7) and articulated to a vehicle body (2) with lateral longitudinal members (3) of the motor vehicle (1, 18), and transverse control arms (12, 13, 14) articulated on the one hand to the wheel carrier (7) and on the other hand to a subframe (11) connected to the lateral longitudinal members (3), and wherein a wheel rotation axis (15) aligned in the transverse direction of the vehicle runs through the wheel carriers (7), and wherein the subframe (11) is offset at the rear with respect to a vehicle longitudinal axis (16) relative to the wheel rotation axis (15) is arranged,wherein the wishbone (12) is a lower wishbone arranged geodetically lower than the wheel rotation axis (15), a further wishbone (13) is a camber link, and a further wishbone (14) is a toe link, the camber link being shorter than the lower wishbone and the toe link, and wherein the wishbones (12, 13, 14) are arranged completely offset to the rear of the wheel rotation axis (15) with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal axis (16) of the motor vehicle (1, 18), and wherein a pivot point at which the respective wishbone (12, 13, 14) is pivotally connected to the subframe (11) is arranged offset to the rear of the vehicle's longitudinal axis (16) with respect to the pivot point at which this wishbone (12, 13, 14) is pivotally connected to the wheel carrier (7). [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one coil spring (17) is arranged on each independent wheel suspension (5), which is supported on the one hand on a lower wishbone (12) of the wishbones (12, 13, 14) and on the other hand on the vehicle body (2) or the subframe (11). [3] Motor vehicle (18) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one transverse leaf spring (19) extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is fastened in a central region to the vehicle body (2) or the subframe (11) and which is connected at each end directly or indirectly to the respective wheel carrier (7), the respective longitudinal control arm (10) or one of the respective transverse control arms (12, 13, 14). [4] Motor vehicle (18) according to claim 3, characterized by that the transverse leaf spring (19) is connected at each end indirectly via at least one coupling element to the respective wheel carrier (7), the respective longitudinal control arm (10) or one of the respective transverse control arms (12, 13, 14). [5] Motor vehicle (1, 18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one traction battery (6) is partially arranged between the wheel carriers (7).

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