Air spring with bellows

Abstract

A bellows air spring (1, 101) having at least one waist ring (2, 112, 122), wherein the bellows air spring (1, 101) can be tilted about a rotation axis (6, 106). The basic object of the invention is to provide a bellows air spring (1, 101) for kinematic application cases with tilting, which can still be operated in a norm-compliant and reliable manner even under adverse conditions by reliably preventing buckling when the connections (4, 5, 100 4, 105) are tilted. This object is achieved in that the waist ring (2, 112, 122), or in the case of a plurality of waist rings (2, 112, 122) the waist rings (2, 112, 122) respectively, is / are articulated by means of a lever (7, 117, 127), wherein the articulation-rotation axis (10, 110, 120) of the respective lever (7, 117, 127) differs from the rotation axis (6, 106) of the bellows air spring (1, 101).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a swivel-type air spring having at least one waist ring, wherein the swivel-type air spring is tiltable about a rotation axis. Background Technology

[0002] A sac-type air spring with two or more bends has a waist-shaped contraction between the bends. This contraction is formed by a reinforcing ring that ensures the elastic rubber sac does not inflate like a balloon when pressure is applied. The reinforcing ring is referred to below as the waist ring.

[0003] The symmetrical structure of the bends (about the central cross-sectional plane) ensures that during operation with internal pressure, there is a symmetrical force ratio in the flexible bladder wall, so that during axial deformation, two or more bends are "automatically" proportionally distributed along the length of the air bladder, provided that the opposite connecting parts are arranged symmetrically to each other.

[0004] The possible range of axial deformation is limited by the block height (i.e., the height obtained by the sum of the thicknesses of the pressed-together bladder walls and waist rings and the height of the connecting portion) during contraction and by the maximum stretch length of the reinforcing cords of the textile during extension.

[0005] Bellows-type air springs are designed for applications where, during actuation, the fastening surfaces move along a curved path, causing opposing fastening surfaces to tilt at different angles relative to each other. This is, for example, an application where two connecting surfaces are connected by a rotating shaft. The larger the bend, the greater the potential torsion. Bellows-type air springs with multiple bends connected in series (“double-bellows” or “triple-bellows”) can thus achieve multiple times the torsion of a single-bellows spring. However, bellows-type air springs with at least two bends and at least one waist ring are considered only.

[0006] For example, such air springs are disclosed in DE 126 48 78 B or DE 69 61 34 22 T2.

[0007] DE 126 48 78 B discloses a sac-type air spring in which the metal waist ring is implemented as a separate component, and DE 69 61 34 22 T2 describes an embodiment in which the metal reinforcement consists of multiple wound metal wires directly embedded in the sac's elastomer. Therefore, the waist ring is not a separate component.

[0008] During operation, when the connecting part of the breech-loaded air spring is displaced in a non-parallel manner (i.e., twisted or tilted), the breech-loaded air spring may buckle.

[0009] This buckling is a fault that can lead to non-compliant operation, such as exceeding the specified structural space or causing the force to exceed the specified range due to a change in the direction of force caused by lateral displacement of the waist ring. During contraction, lateral displacement of the waist ring may also increase the block size.

[0010] In the cases listed here, increased wear or even complete failure of the spool air spring is common.

[0011] Therefore, solutions exist to prevent buckling of the bellows-type air spring. For example, a simple solution is disclosed in DE 457 626 A, in which one of the waist rings should prevent buckling of the bellows-type air spring by means of a hinged plate hinged to the vehicle frame. However, such a solution is not satisfactory.

[0012] Figures 3a to 3c The kinematic system of a breech-type air spring according to prior art DE 475 626 A is shown.

[0013] If the guidance of the waist ring described herein is achieved via the hinge 3.7 on the rotating shaft 3.6 of the sac joints 3.4 and 3.5, this may prevent buckling. However, from Figure 3b and Figure 3c It can be seen that the sac 3.1 cannot occupy its natural curved longitudinal axis 3.9. The center point 3.3 of the waist ring 3.2 may be displaced by an amount d1 or d2 relative to the curved longitudinal axis 3.9. The hinge of the waist ring shall at least ensure, in the symmetrical structure at positions 3.4 and 3.5, the following angles are applicable: γ1 = ½ × α1 or γ2 = ½ × α2. like Figure 3c As shown, when stretched to the maximum extent, the available stroke of the sac is reduced by d2 because the waist ring is "squeezed out". Summary of the Invention

[0014] The basic objective of this invention is to provide a slug-type air spring for kinematic applications with tilting, which, by reliably preventing buckling when the connection is tilted, can still operate reliably and in accordance with specifications even under adverse conditions.

[0015] This objective is achieved by the following method: the waist ring, or in the case of multiple waist rings, is respectively hinged by means of levers, wherein the lever's axis of rotation is different from that of the sac-type air spring, and - In a sac-type air spring with two bends and a waist ring, the lever rotation axis is defined by the intersection of two virtual auxiliary lines. One is the first auxiliary line, which, in the initial posture of the sac-type air spring, extends perpendicular to the main axis of the sac-type air spring and, when viewed in the axial direction, passes through the center of the adjacent sac bend. In a sac-type air spring with three bends and two waist rings, the lever axis is defined by the intersection of three virtual auxiliary lines: the second and third auxiliary lines. In the initial orientation of the sac-type air spring, these auxiliary lines extend perpendicularly to the main axis of the sac-type air spring, and when viewed in the axial direction, these auxiliary lines extend through the center of the corresponding outermost sac bend. - It has a fourth virtual auxiliary line, which extends parallel to the main axis of the sluice air spring and passes through the rotation axis of the sluice air spring.

[0016] With this hinged connection, the hinged waist ring or multiple hinged waist rings correspondingly describe the annular path, such that even in an inclined state and therefore when the main axis of the pleated air spring is bent, the center point of the waist ring is always located on the main axis of the pleated air spring. Attached Figure Description

[0017] With the aid of the accompanying drawings, examples of the invention will now be described in more detail. In the drawings: Figures 1a to 1c A sluice-type air spring with two bends and a waist ring, and a hinged connection according to the invention, is shown. Figures 2a to 2b A sac-type air spring with three bends and two waist rings, and a hinged connection according to the invention, is shown. Figures 3a to 3c A breech-type air spring with a kinematic system according to the prior art is shown.

[0018] 1,101 Curved Air Spring 2,112,122 waist ring 3, 113, 123 The center point of the waist ring 4,104 Upper end of 1,101, a curved air spring 5,105 Lower end of the 1,101 curved air spring 6,106 Rotary shaft of 1,101 Bellows-type air spring 7,117,127 Leverage Planar intersections of 8.1, 8.2, and 108 connection points 9,109 Curved main axis 10, 110, 120 lever rotation axis 11 First Auxiliary Line 111 Second Auxiliary Line 121 Third Auxiliary Line 12, 132 Fourth Virtual Auxiliary Line 13,133 Main axis of the curved air spring 1,101 14, 140 connecting rods, component parts Detailed Implementation

[0019] exist Figure 1a The diagram shows a bellows-type air spring 1 according to the invention, with a waist ring 2, in its initial position. The waist ring 2 has a center point 3, which is located on the main axis 13 of the bellows-type air spring 1. The bellows-type air spring 1 has two connecting parts, namely an upper end 4 and a lower end 5, which are fixedly and gas-tightly connected to corresponding adjacent bends of the bellows-type air spring 1. Furthermore, each connecting part is connected to a component (not shown in detail) that can elastically apply to each other; these components are indicated here only in principle by a link 14. This component may be, for example, the body of a motor vehicle. Each bend of the bellows-type air spring 1 has a height H. The bellows-type air spring 1 is tiltable about the bellows-type air spring rotation axis 6. The waist ring 2 is hinged to the lower end 5 of the dispensed bellows air spring 1 by means of a lever 7, wherein the lever 7 is supported in a manner rotatable about a lever rotation axis 10, and the lever rotation axis 10 is defined by the intersection of a first auxiliary line 11 and a fourth virtual auxiliary line 12, the former extending perpendicularly to the main axis 13 through the center of the bend at the lower end of the dispensed bellows air spring 1, and the latter extending parallel to the main axis 13 through the bellows air spring rotation axis 6. In this illustration, the bellows air spring rotation axis 6 and the lever rotation axis 10 are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

[0020] exist Figure 1b The diagram shows a slack-type air spring 1 in a compressed, tilted state. In this state, the slack-type air spring 1 has a bent main axis 9. The upper end 4 and lower end 5 of the slack-type air spring 1 form a tilt angle α1, which is formed by the imaginary extension of the connecting plane of the upper end 4 and lower end 5 at the intersection point 8.1, or by the angle of the upper end 4 relative to the vertical line. For the tilt angle γ1 of the waist ring 2 relative to its original horizontal position, γ1 ≠ ½ × α1 applies, which is given by the different positions of the slack-type air spring rotation axis 6 and the lever rotation axis 10. However, the difference between these two angles is small and is compensated for by the elasticity of the bent portion of the slack-type air spring 1.

[0021] exist Figure 1cThe diagram shows a curved air spring 1 in a stretched, tilted state. In this state, the main axis 9 of the curved air spring bends in the opposite direction to its compressed state. Here, the upper end 4 and the lower end 5 also form a tilt angle α2, which is formed by the imaginary extension of the connecting plane of the upper end 4 and the lower end 5 at the intersection point 8.2. For the tilt angle γ2 of the waist ring 2 relative to its original horizontal position, the principle γ2 ≠ ½ × α2 also applies, which is also given by the different positions of the curved air spring rotation axis 6 and the lever rotation axis 10. Here, the difference between these two angles is also small and is compensated for by the elasticity of the bent portion of the curved air spring 1.

[0022] exist Figure 2a The diagram shows a bellows-type air spring 101 according to the invention, having two waist rings 112 and 122, in its initial position. The bellows-type air spring 101 has an upper connecting portion and a lower connecting portion, as well as a main axis 133. The upper end 104 and the lower end 105 are each assigned to an elastic component not shown in detail herein, wherein the component is indicated in principle by a link 140. The upper end 104 and the lower end 105 can be tilted relative to each other by means of the bellows-type air spring rotation axis 106. The waist ring 112 is hinged to the component assigned to the upper end 104 by means of a lever 117 about a lever rotation axis 110, and the waist ring 122 is hinged to the component assigned to the lower end 105 by means of a lever 127 about a lever rotation axis 120. The lever rotation axes 110 and 120 are each defined by the intersection of two virtual auxiliary lines: the intersection of the second auxiliary line 111 and the fourth virtual auxiliary line 132, the former extending perpendicularly to the main axis and passing through the center of the bend in the upper part 104 of the plenum air spring 101, and the latter extending parallel to the main axis 133 and passing through the plenum air spring rotation axis 106 of the plenum air spring 101; and the intersection of the third auxiliary line 121 and the fourth virtual auxiliary line 132, the former extending perpendicularly to the main axis and passing through the bend in the lower part 105 of the plenum air spring 101.

[0023] exist Figure 2b The diagram illustrates a three-curved air spring 101 according to the invention, tilted at an angle α1. The upper end 104 and lower end 105 of the curved air spring 101 form an angle α1, which is formed by the imaginary extension of the connecting plane of the upper end 104 and lower end 105 at the intersection point 108, or by the angle of the upper end 104 relative to a vertical line. The angle β1 formed between the upper end 104 and the waist ring 123 and the angle δ1 formed between the lower end 105 and the waist ring are of the same size, but β1 ≠ ⅓ α1 Λ δ1 ≠ ⅓ α1 applies. Here, this inconsistency is compensated for by the elasticity of the curved portion of the curved air spring 101.

Claims

1. A sac-type air spring (1, 101) having at least one waist ring (2, 112, 122), wherein the sac-type air spring (1, 101) is tiltable about a sac-type air spring rotation axis (6, 106). Its features are, The waist ring (2), or in the case of multiple waist rings (112, 122), is respectively hinged by means of levers (7, 117, 127), wherein the lever rotation axis (10, 110, 120) of the respective lever (7, 117, 127) is different from the bladder air spring rotation axis (6, 106) of the bladder air spring (1, 101), and - In a sac-type air spring (1) having two bends and a waist ring (2), the lever rotation axis (10) is defined by the intersection of two virtual auxiliary lines, namely, the first auxiliary line (11) and the fourth virtual auxiliary line (12). In the initial posture of the sac-type air spring (1), the first auxiliary line (11) extends perpendicularly to the main axis (13) of the sac-type air spring (1), and when viewed in the axial direction, the first auxiliary line (11) extends through the center of one of the adjacent sac bends. - In a sac-type air spring (101) having three bends and two waist rings (112, 122), the lever rotation axis (110, 120) is defined by the intersection of three virtual auxiliary lines, namely, the second and third auxiliary lines intersect with the fourth virtual auxiliary line (132). In the initial posture of the sac-type air spring (101), the second and third auxiliary lines extend perpendicularly to the main axis (133) of the sac-type air spring (101), and when viewed in the axial direction, the second and third auxiliary lines extend through the center of the corresponding outermost sac bend. - The fourth virtual auxiliary line (12, 132) extends parallel to the main axis (13, 133) of the sluice air spring (1, 101) through the sluice air spring rotation axis (6, 106) of the sluice air spring (1, 101).

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