Pre-installation device for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body and system comprising the pre-installation device

Abstract

The invention relates to a pre-installation device for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body and a system comprising the pre-installation device. The pre-installation device (10) is used to pre-install an air spring (6) on a vehicle body (1) having a mounting interface (17), wherein the pre-installation device (10) has a centering piece (11) for centering the pre-installation device (10) at the mounting interface (17) and a connecting piece (7) for connecting to the air spring (6), wherein the pre-installation device (10) further comprises a support (3) extending away from the pre-installation device (10) and a sealing piece (4) arranged on the support (3) for sealing an outlet (2) of the vehicle body (1) arranged at the mounting interface (17), wherein the centering piece (11) is also designed to align the direction of the sealing piece (4) at the outlet (2). The device (10) provides a cheap and simple sealing of the outlet (2) in the area of ​​the mounting interface (17).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a pre-installation device for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body and a system comprising the pre-installation device. Background Art

[0002] The body or body part that is subjected to the cathodic dip coating process (KTL process) has a drain opening for the KTL process. Moisture and / or dirt can enter the area below the drain opening through the drain opening. As a result, these areas can corrode. In order to avoid this corrosion, the drain opening of the body or body part is sealed. There is also a drain opening in the area of ​​the mounting interface for the air spring. At the mounting interface, the seal should be arranged outside the force flow of the connection between the air spring and the body or body part in order to avoid stress on the seal.

[0003] The use of O-rings for sealing openings in the region of the mounting interface is known from CA 2354975 C. However, O-rings are subject to the risk of being lost during installation.

[0004] It is also known to use foam ribs, but they are relatively expensive. It is also known to use sacrificial ribs. However, they are in the force flow between the air spring and the vehicle body, so they are subject to the risk of damage during installation. However, they lose their sealing effect when the air spring is disassembled or in a temporarily pressure-free state, such as in maintenance situations. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which provides an inexpensive and simple sealing of an outlet opening in the region of a mounting interface.

[0006] The present invention relates to a pre-installation device for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body, wherein the vehicle body has a mounting interface, wherein the pre-installation device has a centering piece for centering the pre-installation device at the mounting interface, and also has a connecting piece for connecting to the air spring, wherein the present invention stipulates that the pre-installation device also includes: a supporting piece, which extends away from the pre-installation device; at least one sealing piece arranged on the supporting piece, which seals a vehicle body outlet arranged at the mounting interface, wherein the centering piece is also designed to align the direction of the sealing piece at the outlet.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a pre-installed device with multiple functions. The pre-installed device can be connected to the air spring by means of a connecting piece for connecting to the air spring. Since the air spring is generally at least partially cylindrical, the pre-installed device can be arranged at one end of the cylinder and extend around the cylinder axis of the air spring, and when the pre-installed device is fixed to the air spring, the cylinder axis of the air spring overlaps with the central axis of the pre-installed device. Then, the air spring connected to the pre-installed device is positioned at the installation interface of the vehicle body by means of a centering piece. The term vehicle body here refers not only to the entire vehicle body, but also to parts of the vehicle body, that is, vehicle body parts. The air spring can be pre-installed at the installation interface of the vehicle body by means of the pre-installed device. At the same time, the pre-installed device has a support member, which includes at least one sealing member. The at least one sealing member is arranged by centering the pre-installed device by means of the centering member so that it seals the at least one discharge opening in the area of ​​the installation interface. For this purpose, the support member extends away from the pre-installed device. The support member can, for example, extend away from the central axis of the pre-installed device at least partially in the radial direction. The radial direction should be understood with respect to the central axis of the pre-installed device. The support element here preferably extends radially away from the central axis so that it overlaps with at least one outlet opening. The seal can then be fastened to the support element, for example, in the overlapping position. Thus, with the aid of the invention, an inexpensive and simple sealing of the outlet opening on the vehicle body is provided in the region of the mounting interface. By integrating the sealing function in the pre-assembly device, the overall installation process of the air spring and the sealing of the outlet opening on the vehicle body in the region of the mounting interface are simplified. Thus, no separate seal is required. The outlet opening can now be sealed while the air spring is pre-assembled.

[0008] In one example, it is conceivable that the support element can have a body contact surface and an air spring contact surface opposite the body contact surface, wherein the seal is arranged on the body contact surface.

[0009] In this case, the support element can be designed as a flange or plate, wherein the support element extends radially away from the pre-assembly device and around the central axis of the pre-assembly device. The body contact surface is then arranged on the side of the support element facing the body or body part on which the mounting interface is arranged. The opposite side of the support element then has the air spring contact surface.

[0010] It is also conceivable, for example, that the support element can be designed as a spiral spring.

[0011] In this example, the support element can be concave with a body contact surface and convex with an air spring contact surface in the unstressed state of the pre-installation device and flat in the stressed state. However, it is advantageous in any case to convert the unstressed state into the stressed state by installing the air spring at the installation interface.

[0012] It can also be imagined that for example the mounting interface can be designed to be concave and this support can be flat or can also be slightly raised under a relaxed state. In this example, this support can be designed to match the concave mounting interface under tension.

[0013] The disc spring-like design of the support element allows the support element to be prestressed when the air spring is preinstalled at the mounting interface. During prestressing, the support element is transformed from a truncated cone-shaped state to a disc-shaped state. As a result, the previously concave body contact surface is flattened against the body due to the prestressing of the support element. In this case, the at least one seal is pressed against the body or body part and seals the outlet opening. When the air spring is removed, the prestressing of the support element is eliminated and the support element returns to the disc spring shape. When the air spring is preinstalled again, prestressing is again produced on the support element and the seal arranged on the body contact surface is correspondingly pressed against the body or body part. After the air spring is removed, the sealing of the at least one outlet opening is thus achieved again with the same preinstallation.

[0014] The support element and the at least one sealing element can be designed, for example, in annular form and can extend around a central axis of the preassembly device.

[0015] In another example, it is conceivable that the at least one sealing element can have at least two annular sealing ribs with different radii, which are arranged concentrically on the support element.

[0016] The sealing ribs are arranged on the vehicle body by means of a centering piece in such a way that the outlet opening is arranged radially between two sealing ribs. The sealing rib with the smaller radius seals in the direction of the central axis of the pre-assembly device, which can correspond to the cylindrical axis of the air spring. The sealing rib with the larger radius seals in the direction away from the central axis of the pre-assembly device or the cylindrical axis of the air spring. Since the two sealing ribs can have an annular configuration, the pre-assembly device can be oriented in any rotation about the cylindrical axis at the mounting interface and has a sealing effect in any orientation about the cylindrical axis. This further simplifies the handling of the pre-assembly device.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the seal may have a cover which is arranged above the discharge opening to seal it. Further alternatively, the seal may be designed as a ring, wherein the ring has a diameter designed such that the ring extends around the discharge opening and thus seals it.

[0018] According to one example, the centering piece may have an opening for inserting a centering pin arranged at the mounting interface, wherein the centering pin preferably has at least one locking hook for locking the preassembly device at the mounting interface.

[0019] The air spring can have an opening into which the centering pin can also be inserted. In this way, a simple pre-installation of the air spring on the mounting interface can be performed. The air spring with the pre-installation device is only inserted onto the centering pin for pre-installation.

[0020] Furthermore, the centering element can have, for example, a centering pin for insertion into a centering opening arranged at the mounting interface, wherein the centering pin preferably has at least one locking hook for locking the preassembly device at the mounting interface.

[0021] In this example, the air spring can have only one opening in order to mount the pre-installed device on the air spring with the connecting piece. In addition, the air spring is simply inserted into the opening at the mounting interface with the centering pin for pre-installation. Simple pre-installation can also be performed with the aid of this example.

[0022] For example, it is also conceivable that the pre-installed device may have a first alignment mating body, which is used to cooperate with a second alignment mating body arranged at the mounting interface surface so as to align the direction of the pre-installed device at the mounting interface according to a predetermined orientation, wherein the first alignment mating body is preferably arranged on the centering piece and preferably has a groove for accommodating the second alignment mating body.

[0023] With the help of two alignment mating bodies, the pre-installed device can be automatically arranged at the installation interface in a specific orientation around the cylindrical axis or the central axis. One alignment mating body can be, for example, a pin or a protrusion arranged eccentrically relative to the central axis. The other alignment mating body can also be, for example, an opening or a recess into which a pin can be inserted. If the centering piece has a centering pin and a centering opening, one alignment mating body can be the centering pin and the other can be arranged at the centering opening. One alignment mating body can be a recess on the centering pin or the centering opening, and the other alignment mating body can be a protrusion assembled into the recess and placed on the centering opening or the centering pin. Therefore, the alignment of the pre-installed device or the seal can be carried out at the installation interface by simple means.

[0024] Furthermore, the connecting element can have, for example, at least one locking hook for locking into a locking element connected to the pneumatic spring.

[0025] In this example, the connecting piece can be locked in an opening of the air spring, for example. The connecting piece and the locking hook can extend parallel to the central axis. In addition, the opening of the air spring can extend into the air spring along the cylinder axis. At least one locking element for the locking hook can be arranged in the opening. When the locking hook is inserted into the opening, the locking hook is hooked in the locking element and forms a positive connection when the pre-assembly device is pulled out of the opening along the cylinder axis.

[0026] In another example, the preassembled device may be designed as a body of rotation about a central axis.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a system comprising a vehicle body having at least one mounting interface for an air spring, at least one outlet opening arranged at the mounting interface, an air spring arranged at the mounting interface, and a pre-installed configuration according to the above description, wherein the pre-installed device is connected to the air spring and the mounting interface and the seal seals the outlet opening, wherein the air spring has a force flow element which connects the air spring to the vehicle body separately from the pre-installed device.

[0028] According to one example, it is conceivable that the support element can be designed as a spiral spring.

[0029] Furthermore, the preassembly device can be designed, for example, as a body of rotation about a central axis and the seal can be arranged at a distance perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the outlet openings have the same distance from the central axis.

[0030] The centering piece can be designed, for example, as an opening, and the mounting interface can have a centering pin extending through the opening, wherein the centering pin preferably has at least one latching hook which is latched behind the centering piece.

[0031] In another example, it is contemplated that the pre-installed device may have a first alignment counterpart and the mounting interface may have a second alignment counterpart, wherein the first alignment counterpart and the second alignment counterpart are designed to align the pre-installed device at the mounting interface in a predetermined orientation.

[0032] The advantages, effects and improvements of this system are derived from the advantages, effects and improvements of the pre-installed device described above. Therefore, reference will be made to the previous description in this regard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further features, details and advantages of the invention are derived from the wording of the claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings show:

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view showing an air spring with a pre-assembled device at the mounting interface,

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view showing a pre-assembled device,

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic top view showing a pre-assembled device, and

[0037] Figure 4 A top view showing another example of a schematic diagram of a pre-assembled device.

[0038] Reference numerals list

[0039] 1 Body

[0040] 2 Exhaust port

[0041] 3 Support

[0042] 4 Seals

[0043] 5 Force Flow Elements

[0044] 6 Air springs

[0045] 7 Connectors

[0046] 8 Centering pin

[0047] 9 Hook

[0048] 10 Pre-installed devices

[0049] 11 Centering piece

[0050] 12 First alignment partner

[0051] 13 Second alignment partner

[0052] 14 Air spring contact surface

[0053] 15 Central axis

[0054] 16 Axis

[0055] 17 Mounting interface

[0056] 18 Locking parts

[0057] 19 Body contact surface

[0058] 20 Systems DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Figure 1 A system 20 is shown which comprises a pre-assembly device 10 , an air spring 6 and a vehicle body 1 having a mounting interface 17 for the air spring.

[0060] Arranged at the mounting interface 17 is an outlet opening 2 which is required for the KTL process of the vehicle body 1. The vehicle body 1 can also be a vehicle body component which is built onto the rest of the vehicle body or onto the vehicle body.

[0061] A centering pin 8 extending along the axis 16 is arranged at the mounting interface 17. It also has a locking hook 9 which can be fixed on the centering pin 8.

[0062] Furthermore, the air spring 6 with the pre-assembly device 10 is arranged at the mounting interface 17. The pre-assembly device 10 is connected to the air spring 6 via a connection piece 7 for connecting to the air spring. The connection piece 7 comprises at least one locking hook which can be locked to a locking piece 18 provided on the air spring 6 and connects the pre-assembly device 10 to the air spring 6.

[0063] The pre-installed device 10 also includes a centering piece 11 designed as an opening. The centering pin 8 now cooperates with the centering piece 11, in which the centering pin 8 is inserted through the opening. The opening diameter corresponds to the diameter of the centering pin 8, so that the pre-installed device 10 is placed on the centering pin 8 without any radial clearance. Therefore, the centering pin 8 positions the pre-installed device 10 radially at a predetermined position.

[0064] After the centering pin 8 has been inserted into the opening, the locking hook 9 engages behind the opening and prevents the pre-assembly device 10 from being separated from the centering pin 8. The connection between the pre-assembly device 10 and the centering pin 8 can be separated by pressing in the at least one locking hook 9.

[0065] The pre-installed device 10 further comprises a support member 3 extending away from the pre-installed device 10. The support member 3 extends radially away from the axis 16. When the pre-installed device 10 is installed on the air spring 6, the axis 16 coincides with the central axis 15 of the pre-installed device 10. Figure 2 shown. Figure 2 Here, a section is shown through a plane passing through the central axis 15 of the preassembly device 10 .

[0066] In this example, the pre-installed device 10 is designed as a body of revolution about a central axis 15. It is therefore designed to be rotationally symmetrical about the central axis 15.

[0067] At least one sealing element 4 is arranged on the support element 3, which in this example has two sealing ribs which extend concentrically in an annular manner around the axis 16, such as Figure 3 As shown. The diameters of the annular sealing ribs are different. In addition, the sealing ribs are arranged so that at least one discharge opening 2 is arranged radially between the sealing ribs. Here, one of the sealing ribs seals the discharge opening 2 toward the centering pin 8. The other sealing rib seals the discharge opening 2 in the opposite direction.

[0068] In this example, the channel extends between the sealing ribs in the circumferential direction about the axis 16 , the channel being sealed relative to the air spring 6 and the centering pin 8 by means of two sealing ribs.

[0069] according to Figure 1 , the air spring 6 is connected to the vehicle body 1 or the vehicle body part through the force flow element 5. The force flow between the air spring 6 and the vehicle body 1 or the vehicle body part is carried out through the force flow element 5. The pre-assembly device 10 is located outside the force flow between the air spring 6 and the vehicle body 1 or the vehicle body part. The fixing of the air spring 6 on the vehicle body 1 can be carried out by fixing parts such as screws not shown.

[0070] The pre-assembly device 10 is deformed between the vehicle body 1 and the air spring 6 when the air spring 6 is installed on the installation socket 17. The deformation takes place at the support part 3. Figure 2is shown in Figure 2 The pre-installed device 10 is in an uninstalled state as shown in the figure.

[0071] The support element 3 has a structure similar to a coil spring or a flange. The body contact surface 19 of the support element 3 on which the seal 4 is arranged is concave. The opposite side of the support element 3 includes the air spring contact surface 14. It is convex in the unmounted state or untensioned state.

[0072] When pre-installing the air spring 6 with the pre-installation device 10, the support element 3 in the form of a coil spring is pre-tensioned. It is then in a tensioned state. At this time, the body contact surface 19 is Figure 1 The bearing element 3 is shown flattened so that it extends almost radially away from the central axis 15 or the axis 16 .

[0073] In an alternative example not shown, the support 3 can be preloaded from a flat or slightly convex shape to a concave shape by the mounting interface 17. Here, the mounting interface 17 can have a concave shape against which the support 3 is pressed when mounted.

[0074] The seal 4 is pressed against the vehicle body 1 by the preload and produces a seal.

[0075] Figure 4 Another embodiment of a pre-installed device 10 is shown. In this example, the seal 4 has a plurality of sealing rings or sealing surfaces, which are arranged in a fixed relationship with respect to a first alignment counterpart 12. During pre-installation, the first alignment counterpart 12 cooperates with a second alignment counterpart 13 on a centering pin 8. The centering pin 8 is in this case shown as a cutout in a plane perpendicular to the axis 16 and is arranged in the centering piece 11. The outlet 2 has a corresponding relationship with the second alignment counterpart 13 just like the seal 4 has with respect to the first alignment counterpart 12.

[0076] In this example, the first alignment counterpart 12 is a recess at the opening of the centering piece 11. In this example, the second alignment counterpart 13 is a projection on the centering pin 8. However, the reverse is also possible.

[0077] By means of the two alignment partners 12, 13, the pre-assembled device 10 can only be arranged at the mounting interface 17 in a predetermined orientation. The seal 4 is precisely aligned with the outlet 2 and arranged above the outlet 2 by the cooperation of the two alignment partners 12, 13. The precise alignment direction enables the seal 4 to seal the outlet 2 individually and in a point-precise manner.

[0078] The seal 4 can have a sealing surface which, like a lid, closes the entire associated outlet opening 2. Alternatively, the seal 4 in this example can be designed as a sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring extends around the respectively associated outlet opening 2.

[0079] In both examples, the seal 4 is pressed against the vehicle body 1 or the outlet opening 2 during pre-assembly by the prestressing of the support element 3. This state is maintained during the final installation of the air spring 6.

[0080] Alternatively, the support element 3 can be designed simply as a flange, which, for example, extends in a plate-like manner around the central axis 15 of the pre-assembly device 10. In this example, the flange has at least one conical portion and is compressed during installation between the air spring 6 and the vehicle body 1. The seal 4 is also arranged on the flange and is also pressed against the vehicle body 1 during pre-assembly, thus sealing the outlet 2.

[0081] The sealing element 4 can be formed in one piece with the support element 3. It can be made of the same material.

[0082] Furthermore, the entire preassembled device 10 may be manufactured in one piece from a single material.

[0083] As a further alternative, the support 3 can have a separate arm for each seal 4, which extends to a later position of the outlet 2. The arm can be designed in such a way that it presses the seal 4 against the outlet in the installed state. This can be an advantage in weight or in pressure coordination. The support 3 therefore does not necessarily have to be designed in the form of a disk.

[0084] The invention is not limited to one of the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in many ways. All features and advantages from the claims, the description and the drawings, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be important to the invention both individually and in various combinations.

Claims

1. A pre-installation device (10) for pre-installing an air spring (6) on a vehicle body (1), the vehicle body (1) having a mounting interface (17), wherein: The pre-installation device (10) comprises: - a centering piece (11) for centering the pre-installed device (10) at the mounting interface (17), and - a connecting piece (7), the connecting piece (7) being used to connect to the air spring (6), Characterized in that the pre-installation device (10) further comprises: - a support (3) extending away from the pre-assembly device (10), and at least one seal (4) arranged on the support (3), the seal (4) being used to seal an outlet opening (2) of the vehicle body (1) arranged at the mounting interface (17), The centering piece (11) is also designed to align the direction of the sealing piece (4) at the discharge port (2), wherein the centering piece (11) has an opening for inserting a centering pin (8) arranged at the mounting interface (17), and the centering pin (8) is constructed to lock the pre-installed device (10) at the mounting interface (17).

2. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support element (3) has a body contact surface (19) and an air spring contact surface (14) opposite the body contact surface (19), wherein the seal (4) is arranged on the body contact surface (19).

3. The pre-installed device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The support member (3) is designed in the shape of a coil spring.

4. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support element (3) and the at least one sealing element (4) are designed in an annular shape and extend around a central axis (15) of the preassembly device (10).

5. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one sealing element (4) has at least two annular sealing ribs with different radii, and the sealing ribs are concentrically arranged on the support element (3).

6. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The centering pin (8) has at least one locking hook (9).

7. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The centering piece (11) has a centering pin (8) for being inserted into a centering opening provided at the mounting interface (17).

8. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pre-installed device (10) has a first alignment counterpart, which is used to cooperate with a second alignment counterpart arranged at the mounting interface (17) to align the pre-installed device (10) at the mounting interface (17) in a predetermined orientation.

9. The pre-installed device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting element (7) has at least one locking hook for locking into a locking element (18) connected to the air spring (6).

10. The pre-installed device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pre-installed device (10) is designed as a body of rotation about the central axis (15).

11. The pre-installed device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The centering pin (8) has at least one locking hook (9) for locking the preassembly device (10) at the mounting interface (17).

12. The pre-installed device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first alignment counterpart (12) is arranged on the centering piece (11) and has a receiving groove for accommodating the second alignment counterpart (13).

13. A system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body, the system comprising a vehicle body (1) having at least one mounting interface (17) for an air spring (6), at least one outlet (2) arranged at the mounting interface (17), an air spring (6) arranged at the mounting interface (17), and a pre-installation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The pre-assembly device (10) is connected to the air spring (6) and the mounting interface (17), and the seal (4) seals the outlet opening (2), wherein the air spring (6) has a force flow element (5) which connects the air spring (6) to the vehicle body (1) separately from the pre-assembly device (10).

14. The system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body according to claim 13, characterized in that: The support member (3) is designed in the shape of a coil spring.

15. The system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that: The pre-installation device (10) is designed as a body of rotation about a central axis (15), and the seal (4) is arranged at a distance perpendicular to the central axis (15), wherein the outlet openings (2) have the same distance from the central axis.

16. The system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body according to claim 13, characterized in that: The centering piece (11) is designed as an opening, and the mounting interface (17) has a centering pin (8) extending through the opening.

17. The system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body according to claim 13, characterized in that: The pre-installed device (10) has a first alignment counterpart (12), and the mounting interface (17) has a second alignment counterpart (13), wherein the first alignment counterpart (12) and the second alignment counterpart (13) are designed to align the pre-installed device (10) at the mounting interface (17) in a predetermined orientation.

18. The system for pre-installing an air spring on a vehicle body according to claim 16, characterized in that: The centering pin (8) has at least one locking hook which is locked into the centering piece (11).

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