Spring system, support body and vehicle for axle construction of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a spring system for a vehicle axle construction, having a coil spring, an additional spring, an additional spring receptacle, an additional spring contact section with an additional spring contact surface for contacting and compressing the additional spring when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved in an elastic movement direction, a support body for pre-tensioned support of the coil spring with a coil spring support surface which is designed behind the additional spring contact surface in the elastic movement direction, and an elastically compressible protection tube which is arranged on the additional spring receptacle, which at least partially surrounds the additional spring and is positioned in a spring volume defined by the coil spring, the support body having a protection tube support section for supporting and compressing the protection tube when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved, and a venting section for venting the protection tube volume when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved. The invention also relates to a support body and a vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a spring system for an axle construction of a vehicle, having a coil spring and an additional spring for protecting the axle construction in the event of excessive forces acting on the axle construction. The invention also relates to a support body for such a spring system and a vehicle having such a spring system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to improve the ride comfort and in order to support the coil spring on the axle construction of a vehicle, in particular to withstand higher loads, a so-called additional spring is provided on almost all axle constructions present on the market. Depending on the axle concept, the additional spring can be designed as a component of a shock absorber or as a separate component of the axle.

[0003] In order to achieve protection against mechanical overload, in the prior art there is generally a focus on direct reinforcement of the additional spring. This can be achieved by material substitution, material modification, geometric modification, local reinforcement by additional reinforcement material on the relevant component and / or by changing the load path. For a spring system with an additional spring on the axle construction, in order to achieve protection against overload of the functional components, the spring travel and the load input should be limited. The elastic movement of the spring system generally results in an arcuate movement of the transmission element. The transmission element has an additional spring contact section, the purpose of which is to compress the additional spring during further elastic movement. A bellows-shaped protection tube is gathered by the elastic movement or the compression process and thus does not hinder the compression process. The protection tube is generally supported in the spring system on both end sides of the protection tube in a form-fit. In the known systems, a stop for the protection tube is designed in the region of the additional spring contact section. It is known, for example from German patent document DE 10 2020 200 090 A1, to have a protection tube with a form-fit which can be fixed on or is fixed on a corresponding form-fit on the outer circumference of the additional spring contact section. In this way, the protection tube can be reliably held in the desired position. However, such a form-fit system requires manual dexterity during the manufacture and installation and / or maintenance of the spring system. SUMMARY

[0004] The invention addresses the technical problem of at least partially solving the aforementioned problems. In particular, the invention addresses the technical problem of providing a simplified, but reliably functioning spring system and a vehicle having such a spring system.

[0005] The aforementioned technical problem is solved by the technical solution of the present application. The aforementioned technical problem is solved in particular by a spring system, by a support body and by a vehicle. Further advantages of the present application result from the description and the figures. Here, the features described in connection with the spring system of course also apply in connection with the support body for a spring system according to the present application and with the vehicle having a spring system according to the present application and vice versa, so that the disclosure for each individual inventive aspect is always referred to and / or can be referred to by the other.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a spring system for a vehicle axle structure is proposed. The spring system has a coil spring, an additional spring, an additional spring receptacle for holding the additional spring, and an additional spring contact section with an additional spring contact surface for contacting and compressing the additional spring when the vehicle axle structure is elastically moved in an elastic movement direction from the additional spring receptacle towards the additional spring contact section. The spring system further has a support body with a coil spring support surface for pre-tensioned support of the coil spring, wherein the coil spring support surface is designed behind or lower than the additional spring contact surface in the elastic movement direction. The spring system further comprises an elastically compressible protection tube, which is arranged on the additional spring receptacle, which at least partially surrounds the additional spring and is positioned within a spring volume defined by the coil spring. The support body further has a protection tube support section for supporting and compressing the protection tube when the vehicle axle structure is elastically moved, and a venting section for venting a protection tube volume defined by the protection tube when the vehicle axle structure is elastically moved.

[0007] The present application differs from known spring systems in particular in that the lower stop for the protection tube is no longer designed on or formed by the additional spring contact section, but is formed by the provision of the support body for the coil spring. The spring system can thus also be realized more simply. Separate support elements and / or form-fit elements can be dispensed with. A logistics advantage when manufacturing the spring system and when commissioning and / or maintaining the spring system is also achieved thereby.

[0008] The core of the present application can essentially be formulated as follows, namely that the support body is formed in a sleeve shape in reverse to the elastic movement direction in order to raise the protection tube support section also above the coil spring support surface. The desired functionality in terms of stops and / or form-fitting for the protection tube and the flow control are both achieved by the support body and not by the additional spring contact section.

[0009] The spring system is designed for use in a vehicle axle arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular in a motor vehicle. The helical spring and the additional spring are thus dimensioned correspondingly large, so that forces of several hundred kilograms can be easily cushioned by the springs. In a preferred embodiment, the additional spring is a stopper cushion. This stopper cushion should be designed in terms of its geometry and material selection such that it has the desired elastic properties. It is desirable here that the stopper cushion designed as an additional spring and the additional spring contact surface have a shape which corresponds to one another at least regionally. Thereby, the impact and compression of the additional spring can be realized as desired. The additional spring can in particular be formed from foamed polyurethane (PUR).

[0010] A further preferred embodiment of the application is that the flow state within the protective tube volume and through the at least one exhaust section is adjusted by the number, shape, size, position, orientation and / or variation of the at least one exhaust channel. Thereby, a large number of small exhaust channels and a smaller number of larger exhaust channels can in principle form substantially the same exhaust area, but in the case of a large number of small exhaust channels more vortexes of the through-flowing air can be generated, which can have a negative effect on the air flow. However, the vortexes can also be desirable in order to, for example, detach and blow away dirt within the protective tube volume.

[0011] If a relatively large exhaust area is formed by means of the size of the exhaust channels and / or the number of exhaust channels, the gas cushion which is to be formed is only provided for a short time or not at all, which can not have sufficient counteracting force. Thereby, it can be determined according to the expected mechanical load in the process of elastic compression and / or rebound that how large the counteracting force should be provided by the gas cushion and how long the counteracting force should be maintained.

[0012] In addition to the number and / or size of the exhaust channels, the flow state is also influenced by the shape and / or orientation of the exhaust channels. Here, the shape relates to the geometric configuration in all three spatial axes. The orientation describes whether the at least one exhaust channel is inclined at an inclination angle or respectively at an inclination angle with respect to the central axis of the bearing body and / or the protective tube. Finally, the position of the at least one exhaust channel can also influence the guidance of the inflowing air and / or the outflowing air during the spring movement in order to purposefully detach and blow away dirt and / or particles from the additional spring arrangement.

[0013] If a plurality of exhaust channels is designed, these exhaust channels do not have to be designed and / or provided identically in all. These exhaust channels can differ from one another with regard to all the aforementioned features in order to purposefully adjust the flow volume, the flow direction and / or the flow speed for the respective vehicle axle arrangement.

[0014] In order to ensure as far as possible that the protective tube contacts the protective tube support section in such a way that the protective tube support section can effectively exert a sealing effect in the contact area and the inflow and / or outflow of air is achieved only through the exhaust section and / or through the at least one exhaust channel, it can be advantageous for the protective tube to be designed with a funnel-shaped opening on the end on the end side. The funnel-shaped opening means that the cross section of the protective tube on the end on the end side on the protective tube support section is enlarged and its radius decreases continuously further away from the protective tube support section. By this it is possible to achieve an as far as possible full-area and effective stop, which is necessary for the elastic compression of the protective tube and the desired flow conditions.

[0015] The protective tube is preferably designed as a bellows, in particular as a folded bellows. In this case, the funnel-shaped design of the end of the protective tube facing the protective tube support section can be achieved by beveling the last folded corrugation of the folded bellows-shaped protective tube.

[0016] In order to avoid dirt, snow and the like from penetrating into the spring volume and / or causing a blockage there through the exhaust section, the exhaust section and / or the at least one exhaust channel of the exhaust section can be designed with a dirt guard which prevents the penetration of dirt. In order not to impair the function of the exhaust section, the dirt guard can have a valve and / or a flap which is designed and arranged in such a way that when the outflowing air hits the flap, the flap opens outwards into the environment of the protective tube volume and when the inflowing air hits the flap, the flap remains closed. This can be achieved, for example, by a skin consisting of plastic, a corresponding cover and / or a correspondingly shaped flappable wing, which remains closed for the inflowing air and which opens for the outflowing air and discharges the air flow. Alternatively or additionally, an air-permeable filling material for filtering dirt can be designed in the exhaust section and / or on the exhaust section. Such an air-permeable filling material can be a felt. The cleaning effect described can also be achieved by a brush or a hairbrush arranged in or on the exhaust section.

[0017] The helical spring support surface is preferably designed as a groove. By this, the helical spring can be stably positioned in the spring system. The protective tube is preferably positioned completely inside the spring volume. That is to say, the helical spring surrounds or encircles the protective tube in the peripheral direction of the protective tube preferably over the entire height of the protective tube. The spring system according to the invention is preferably configured without a guide of the piston rod, i.e. without a piston rod guide.

[0018] It is possible in accordance with a further embodiment of the application for the protection tube bearing section in the spring system to be designed as an integrated and / or integral component of the bearing body. That is to say, the protection tube bearing section is not produced as an additional and / or separate component, but rather, for example, as part of the bearing body, as it were, from a casting. As a result, the protection tube bearing section can be provided in particular simply and also with high stability and durability.

[0019] It is also possible in the spring system in accordance with the application for the exhaust section to be designed in and / or on the protection tube bearing section. That is to say, the exhaust section, for example in the form of at least one exhaust passage and / or exhaust through-hole, preferably extends directly on the protection tube bearing section. As a result, the protection tube bearing section can form the starting contour of the exhaust section. As a result, the system consisting of the exhaust section and the protection tube bearing section is provided in particular compactly.

[0020] It is also possible in the spring system in accordance with the application for the exhaust section to have a plurality of exhaust passages which are designed on a (imaginary) circular track around the additional spring contact section, wherein the circular track extends coaxially to the helical spring bearing surface. That is to say, the circular track extends through the exhaust passages. In other words, the exhaust passages are arranged annularly, wherein the respective exhaust passages do not have an annular shape. As a result, particularly uniform exhaust and accordingly uniform cleaning of the protection tube volume can be achieved. As a result, a homogeneous air cushion is also produced in the protection tube volume on springing of the axle construction.

[0021] It is possible in accordance with a further design variant of the application for the protection tube bearing section in the spring system to be flange-like on the end section of the bearing body facing the protection tube. The bearing body can be designed relatively material-savingly by means of the flange shape, while nevertheless a desired protection tube bearing section can be formed, in which an exhaust section can also be integrated. It is also possible by means of the flange shape for the exhaust section to be designed in particular simply in the region of the protection tube bearing section, for example in the form of at least one through-hole through the flange section of the bearing body.

[0022] It is also possible in the spring system in accordance with the application for the helical spring bearing surface to be designed as an integrated and / or integral component of the bearing body. That is to say, the bearing body together with the helical spring bearing surface and the protection tube contact section can all be produced from a casting. As a result, the protection tube contact section and the helical spring bearing surface can be provided simply, compactly and stably.

[0023] It is furthermore possible for the exhaust section to have at least one through-hole through the support body for the exhaust of a protection tube volume defined by the protection tube. At least one through-hole can thus be provided particularly stably. The through-hole is to be understood as a through-hole produced directly during the production of the support body or as a through-hole drilled later. The through-hole can thus be designed at least partially in the shape of a cylinder. The exhaust section preferably has a plurality of such through-holes. These through-holes can be arranged on a circular track or correspondingly annularly as explained in detail previously.

[0024] It is possible in a further variant embodiment for the support body of the spring system according to the application to have an outer surface with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses designed between the protrusions, wherein the exhaust channels of the exhaust section for the exhaust of the protection tube volume are formed through the recesses and at least a portion of the protection tube support section is designed on the end side of the protrusions. The exhaust channels are thus formed through the special shape of the outer side and / or the outer circumference of the support body, while at the same time the protection tube support section is formed. This solution is particularly simple to produce, compact and durable. The outer surface profile of the support body can have a star shape, for example, when looking at a cross-section of the support body. Alternatively, the outer surface profile can extend in a wave form along the circumference. For the exhaust of the protection tube volume, air from the protection tube volume can flow through the outer surface of the support body in the region of the recesses. The through-holes described previously can additionally be designed in the protrusions.

[0025] A further aspect of the application relates to a support body for the spring system described previously. The support body has a coil spring support surface for pre-tensioned support of a coil spring, wherein the coil spring support surface is designed behind or rather lower than the additional spring contact surface in the direction of elastic movement. The support body also has a protection tube support section for support and compression of a protection tube during elastic movement of the vehicle axle structure and an exhaust section for the exhaust of a protection tube volume defined by the protection tube during elastic movement of the vehicle axle structure. The support body according to the application thus also has the same advantages as described in detail with regard to the spring system according to the application.

[0026] A further aspect of the application relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle and / or a road vehicle, such as a passenger car, a van or a bus, having a vehicle axle structure and a spring system described previously for spring damping of the vehicle axle structure. The vehicle according to the application thus also has the advantages as described previously itself. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Further features of the invention result from the following description of different embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated schematically in the drawings. All features and / or advantages derived from the description or the drawings, including design details and spatial arrangements, can embody the essence of the invention, either individually or in different combinations.

[0028] In the drawings are schematically shown respectively:

[0029] Figure 1 A spring system according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 2 A coil spring for a spring system according to the invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 3 A support body for a spring system according to the invention according to the first embodiment is shown;

[0032] Figure 4 A support body for a spring system according to the invention according to the second embodiment is shown;

[0033] Figure 5 A top view of a protection tube support section according to the invention according to the first embodiment is shown;

[0034] Figure 6 A top view of a protection tube support section according to the invention according to the second embodiment is shown; and

[0035] Figure 7 A vehicle with a spring system according to the invention is shown.

[0036] Elements with the same function and mode of action are each provided with the same reference signs in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 A spring system according to the first embodiment for a vehicle axle construction is shown; Figure 7 A spring system 10 of a vehicle axle construction of a vehicle 100 is shown. The spring system 10 has an additional spring 12, an additional spring accommodation 13 for holding the additional spring 12 and an additional spring contact section 15. The additional spring contact section 15 has an additional spring contact surface 16 for contacting and compressing the additional spring 12 when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved in an elastic movement direction R1 from the additional spring accommodation 13 towards the additional spring contact section 15. The spring system 10 further has a coil spring 11, which is only shown in Figure 1 for a better overview. The coil spring 11 defines a spring volume 20, which is depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in which spring volume there is a protection tube 14. Figure 1The shown protection tube 14 is designed in the form of a bellows and is correspondingly elastically compressible. The protection tube 14 is arranged on the additional spring accommodation 13 and surrounds the additional spring 12. In other words, the additional spring 12 is arranged within a protection tube volume 22. The shown spring system 10 also has a support body 17 which has a coil spring support surface 18 for pre-tensioned support of the coil spring 11, wherein the coil spring support surface 18 is designed behind the additional spring contact surface 16 or rather lower than the additional spring contact surface in the elastic movement direction R1. The support body 17 also has a protection tube support section 19 for supporting and compressing the protection tube 14 upon elastic movement of the axle construction and a venting section 21 for venting the protection tube volume 22 upon elastic movement of the axle construction. Figure 1 The shown spring system 10 is shown in an operating state in which the support body 17 is or has been displaced by a (not shown) transmission element of the type according to the application.

[0038] Figure 3 A detail of the support body 17 of the shown spring system is shown. Figure 1 In particular, it can be seen in Figure 3 that the protection tube support section 19 is designed as an integrated and integral component of the support body 17. The coil spring support surface 18 is also designed as an integrated and integral component of the support body 17. The venting section 21 is designed in the protection tube support section 19. The venting section 21 has a plurality of through-holes 24 through the support body 17 for venting of the protection tube volume 22.

[0039] A support body 17 according to a second embodiment is shown in Figure 4 The shown support body 17 is characterized in particular in that the protection tube support section 19 is designed flange-like on an end section of the support body 17 facing the protection tube 14. A plurality of through-holes extend through the correspondingly formed flange of the support body in the elastic movement direction R1 or rather parallel to the elastic movement direction R1.

[0040] Figure 5 A top view of the protection tube support section 19 of the shown support body 17 is shown. Figure 4 A plurality of through-holes 24 are thus designed within the support body 17, which extend through the support body 17 in the elastic movement direction R1 or rather essentially along the direction of gravity with respect to a resting vehicle 100 and in particular through the flange. The through-holes 24 are designed annularly and thus on a circular track around the additional spring contact section 15.

[0041] Figure 6 A top view of the protection tube support section 19 according to the second embodiment is shown. In the view Figure 6It can be seen that the support body 17 has an outer surface 25 which has a plurality of protrusions 26 and a plurality of recesses 27 designed between these protrusions. The outer surface profile is thus designed as a star when viewed in plan view. The exhaust channels 23 of the exhaust section 21 for venting the protective tube volume 22 are formed through the recesses 27, through which the exhaust air from the protective tube volume 22 can flow These exhaust channels.

[0042] In Figure 7 A vehicle in the form of a passenger car is shown, which has a plurality of spring systems 10 as previously explained in detail for spring-damping the respective axle structure.

[0043] In addition to the embodiments shown, further design possibilities are allowed by the invention. That is, the invention should not be regarded as being restricted to the examples described with reference to the drawings.

[0044] List of reference signs

[0045] 10 spring system

[0046] 11 coil spring

[0047] 12 additional spring

[0048] 13 additional spring accommodation

[0049] 14 protective tube

[0050] 15 additional spring contact section

[0051] 16 additional spring contact surface

[0052] 17 support body

[0053] 18 coil spring support surface

[0054] 19 protective tube support section

[0055] 20 spring volume

[0056] 21 exhaust section

[0057] 22 protective tube volume

[0058] 23 exhaust channel

[0059] 24 through hole

[0060] 25 outer surface

[0061] 26 protrusion

[0062] 27 recess

[0063] R1 elastic movement direction

[0064] 100 vehicle

Claims

1. Spring system (10) for a vehicle axle construction of a vehicle (100), the spring system having: - a coil spring (11), - an additional spring (12), - an additional spring receptacle (13) for holding the additional spring (12), - an additional spring contact section (15) with an additional spring contact face (16) for contacting and compressing the additional spring (12) when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved in a direction of elastic movement (Rl) from the additional spring receptacle (13) towards the additional spring contact section (15), - a coil spring support face (18) designed behind the additional spring contact face (16) in the direction of elastic movement (Rl), and - an elastically compressible protection tube (14) arranged on the additional spring receptacle (13), which at least partially surrounds the additional spring (12) and is positioned within a spring volume (20) defined by the coil spring (11), characterized in that the support body (17) has a protection tube support section (19) for supporting and compressing the protection tube (14) when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved and a venting section (21) for venting a protection tube volume (22) defined by the protection tube (14) when the vehicle axle construction is elastically moved, wherein the support body (17) has an outer surface (25) with a plurality of protrusions (26) and a plurality of recesses (27) designed between the protrusions (26), wherein venting channels (23) for the venting section (21) for venting the protection tube volume (22) are formed by the recesses (27) and at least a portion of the protection tube support section (19) is designed on the end side of the protrusions (26).

2. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protection tube support section (19) is designed as an integrated and / or integral component of the support body (17).

3. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the venting section (21) is designed within and / or on the protection tube support section (19).

4. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the venting section (21) has a plurality of venting channels (23) designed on a circular track around the additional spring contact section (15), wherein the circular track extends coaxially to the coil spring support face (18).

5. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protection tube support section (19) is designed flange-like on an end section of the support body (17) facing the protection tube (14). - a support body (17) having a coil spring support surface (18) for pre-tensionally supporting the coil spring (11), wherein 6. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coil spring support face (18) is designed as an integrated and / or integral component of the support body (17).

7. Spring system (10) according to claim 1, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ characterized in that The exhaust section (21) has at least one through-hole (24) through the support body (17) for venting a protection tube volume (22) defined by the protection tube (14).

8. A support body (17) for a spring system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having a coil spring support surface (18) for pre-tensionally supporting a coil spring (11), wherein The helical spring bearing surface (18) is designed behind the additional spring contact surface (16) in the direction of elastic movement (R1), and the support body has a protection tube bearing section (19) for bearing and compressing the protection tube (14) during elastic movement of the vehicle axle construction and an exhaust section (21) for venting a protection tube volume (22) defined by the protection tube (14) during elastic movement of the vehicle axle construction, wherein the support body (17) has an outer surface (25) with a plurality of protrusions (26) and a plurality of recesses (27) designed between the protrusions (26), wherein the exhaust passage (23) of the exhaust section (21) for venting the protection tube volume (22) is formed by the recesses (27), and at least a portion of the protection tube bearing section (19) is designed on the end side of the protrusions (26).

9. A vehicle (100) with a vehicle axle construction and a spring system (10) for spring-damping the vehicle axle construction according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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