Air spring with multiple bearings, automobile suspension and mounting method

Abstract

The invention discloses an air spring with multiple bearings, an automobile suspension and an installation method.The air spring comprises a bearing installation base and a lower installation base, the lower installation base is arranged at the bottom of the bearing installation base, an automobile body installation base is arranged outside the bearing installation base, and a first bearing is arranged at the top of the bearing installation base; by the adoption of the air spring with the multiple bearings, the design requirement for bearing lateral force and torsional force of the air spring is met, and the sealing performance is reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of automotive suspensions. Specifically, the present invention relates to an air spring with multiple bearings, an automotive suspension, and an installation method. Background Art

[0002] In the process of the development of the automotive industry, people's pursuit of comfort and intelligence has been increasing. Under this trend, traditional metal helical springs have gradually been replaced by air springs. With the elasticity of compressed air, air springs exhibit ideal non-linear elastic characteristics, which can greatly improve riding comfort, optimize vehicle handling performance, and better meet the advanced needs of the current automotive industry.

[0003] The MacPherson suspension system is an independent suspension system widely used in the front wheels of automobiles. It mainly consists of a helical spring, a shock absorber, and a lower control arm. The shock absorber is combined with the spring, and there are also columns, etc. The form of the lower control arm is diverse. The MacPherson suspension has a compact layout and limited space. The air spring assembled therein has to bear great lateral force and torsional force. The design of traditional air springs has limitations and is difficult to meet such strict performance requirements.

[0004] The utility model patent with the publication number of CN 215334122U discloses an air spring on December 28, 2021, which includes: a piston, an airbag, and an end cap. The two ends of the airbag are respectively sleeved on the outer walls of the piston and the end cap, and the three jointly form a sealed chamber; it also includes: a bearing for bearing torsional force, a bearing seat for connecting the vehicle body; the bearing seat is clamped with the piston; the bearing is placed between the bearing seat and the piston and abuts against the bearing seat and the piston at the same time. This air spring also cannot solve the technical problems described above. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to address the deficiencies of the prior art and provide an air spring with multiple bearings, an automotive suspension, and an installation method that meet the design requirements of air springs to bear lateral force and torsional force and have reliable sealing performance.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] The air spring with multiple bearings includes a bearing mounting seat and a lower mounting seat. The lower mounting seat is provided at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat. A vehicle body mounting seat is provided outside the bearing mounting seat. A first bearing is provided at the top of the bearing mounting seat. A second bearing is provided between the bearing mounting seat and the vehicle body mounting seat.

[0008] A limiting groove is provided at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat, and a limiting boss is provided at the top of the lower mounting seat. The limiting boss and the limiting groove are in interference fit.

[0009] It also includes a piston and a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes an outer shock absorber cylinder and a shock absorber piston rod. The top end of the shock absorber piston rod extends into the bearing mounting seat and is connected with a locking nut to a top rubber block. A dust cover is connected between the lower mounting seat and the bottom of the piston. A bladder is provided between the lower mounting seat and the top of the piston. Buckle rings are provided at both ends of the bladder.

[0010] A top rubber block and a sealing cover are provided in the bearing mounting seat. The top of the top rubber block abuts against the sealing cover. A buffer block is sleeved on the shock absorber piston rod. A clamping protrusion is provided at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat. The clamping protrusion is clamped with the bottom of the buffer block.

[0011] The cross-section of the sealing cover is a U-shaped structure. A reinforcing plate is sleeved in the middle of the sealing cover. The end of the reinforcing plate contacts the end of the sealing cover. A retaining ring is also provided in the bearing mounting seat. The retaining ring abuts against the end of the reinforcing plate.

[0012] A first mounting groove is provided on the sealing cover. A first sealing ring is provided in the first mounting groove. The first sealing ring is located between the sealing cover and the inner side of the bearing mounting seat. The bearing mounting seat is provided with a second mounting groove. A second sealing ring is provided in the second mounting groove. The second sealing ring is located between the bearing mounting seat and the inner side of the lower mounting seat.

[0013] A third sealing ring and a gasket are sleeved on the outer shock absorber cylinder. A tray is fixedly welded to the outside of the outer shock absorber cylinder. The third sealing ring, the gasket and the tray are arranged in sequence. The inner side of the piston abuts against the end of the tray. Both sides of the gasket abut against the third sealing ring and the tray respectively.

[0014] A pressure maintaining valve is provided inside the piston. The bottom end of the pressure maintaining valve extends out of the piston. A fourth sealing ring is provided between the pressure maintaining valve and the piston.

[0015] An automotive suspension includes the above air spring with multiple bearings.

[0016] The installation method of the air spring with multiple bearings includes the following steps:

[0017] Step 1: Install the shock absorber and the piston, and install a buffer block on the shock absorber piston rod;

[0018] Step 2: Install a first bearing, a second bearing and a body mounting seat on the outside of the bearing mounting seat in sequence, fit the limit boss and the limit groove, and seal and connect the lower mounting seat and the bearing mounting seat;

[0019] Step 3: Connect the buffer block with the bearing mounting seat, extend the shock absorber piston rod into the bearing mounting seat and fix it with a locking nut, and use the sealing cover and the reinforcing plate to seal the middle of the bearing mounting seat;

[0020] Step 4: Use buckle rings to lock both ends of the bladder, and clamp and fix both ends of the dust cover;

[0021] Step 5: Connect to the vehicle body through the vehicle body mounting seat.

[0022] The technical effect of the present invention is as follows: By using the air spring with multiple bearings of the present invention, two bearings are designed on the upper and lower sides of the bearing mounting seat, allowing relative rotation between the bearing mounting seat and the vehicle body mounting seat or the vehicle body, meeting the design requirements that the air spring needs to bear lateral force and torsional force. At the same time, it avoids the torsional failure of the bladder, improves the service life of the air spring. The bearing mounting seat and the lower mounting seat limit the radial torsion between them through the interference fit of the limit groove and the limit boss. Multiple sealing rings are arranged inside the air spring, having reliable sealing performance. Description of the Drawings

[0023] This specification includes the following drawings, and the shown contents are respectively:

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air spring with multiple bearings of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the air spring with multiple bearings of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the air spring with multiple bearings of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the limit boss and the limit groove of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sealing cover and the reinforcing plate of the present invention.

[0029] The marks in the figure are: 1. Bearing mounting seat; 2. Lower mounting seat; 3. Vehicle body mounting seat; 4. First bearing; 5. Second bearing; 6. Piston; 7. Outer shock absorber cylinder; 8. Shock absorber piston rod; 9. Top rubber block; 10. Buffer block; 11. First sealing ring; 12. Second sealing ring; 13. Third sealing ring; 14. Fourth sealing ring; 15. Dust cover; 16. Bladder; 17. Clamping ring; 18. Limit boss; 19. Limit groove; 20. Sealing cover; 21. Reinforcing plate; 22. Retaining ring; 23. Gasket; 24. Tray; 25. Working chamber; 26. Pressure maintaining valve; 27. First mounting groove; 28. Locking nut; 29. Clamping protrusion; 30. Second mounting groove. Detailed Embodiments

[0030] The following is a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention by referring to the drawings and describing the embodiments, aiming to help those skilled in the art have a more complete, accurate and in-depth understanding of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, and contribute to its implementation.

[0031] As shown Figure 1 in the figure, the air spring with multiple bearings includes a bearing mounting seat 1 and a lower mounting seat 2. The lower mounting seat 2 is arranged at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat 1. A vehicle body mounting seat 3 is arranged outside the bearing mounting seat 1. A first bearing 4 is arranged at the top of the bearing mounting seat 1. A second bearing 5 is arranged between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body mounting seat 3. The vehicle body mounting seat 3 is arranged between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2 and is used for connecting with the vehicle body. The first bearing 4 is arranged between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body, allowing relative rotation between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body and bearing axial force, lateral force and torsional force. The second bearing 5 is arranged between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body mounting seat 3, allowing relative rotation between the bearing mounting seat and the vehicle body mounting seat 3 and bearing axial force and torsional force, avoiding torsional failure of the bladder 16 and improving the service life of the air spring.

[0032] The air spring includes a bearing assembly, a spring assembly and a shock absorber. The bearing assembly and the spring assembly are axially constrained by the shock absorber, and the bearing assembly, the spring assembly and the shock absorber form a working chamber. The bearing assembly includes, from top to bottom: a first bearing 4, a bearing mounting seat 1, a second bearing 5 and a vehicle body mounting seat 3. The spring assembly includes a top rubber assembly and a buffer block 10, and both the top rubber assembly and the buffer block 10 are installed in the bearing mounting seat 1.

[0033] As shown Figure 4 in the figure, a limiting groove 19 is arranged at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat 1, and a limiting boss 18 is arranged at the top of the lower mounting seat 2. The limiting boss 18 is in interference fit with the limiting groove 19. The above structure is used to limit the radial torsion between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2 through the interference fit between the limiting groove 19 and the limiting boss 18.

[0034] As shown Figures 1 to 3 in the figure, the shock absorber of the air spring with multiple bearings includes a shock absorber outer cylinder 7 and a shock absorber piston rod 8. The top end of the shock absorber piston rod 8 extends into the bearing mounting seat 1 and is connected with a top rubber block 9 by a locking nut 28. A dust cover 15 is connected between the lower mounting seat 2 and the bottom of the piston 6. A bladder 16 is arranged between the lower mounting seat 2 and the top of the piston 6, and snap rings 17 are arranged at both ends of the bladder 16. One end of the dust cover 15 is sleeved on the lower mounting seat 2, and the other end is sleeved on the piston 6. One end of the bladder 16 is fixed on the lower mounting seat 2 through the snap ring 17 to realize the sealed connection between the lower mounting seat 2 and the bladder 16. The other end of the bladder 16 is fixed on the piston 6 through the snap ring 17 to realize the sealed connection between the piston 6 and the bladder 16. The diameter of the bladder 16 fixed at the lower mounting seat 2 end is relatively large, and the diameter change between the free state and the inflated state is not obvious. The diameter of the bladder 16 fixed at the piston 6 end is smaller and is folded along the piston 6.

[0035] As shown Figure 2As shown in the figure, a rubber mounting block 9 and a sealing cover 20 are provided inside the bearing mounting seat 1. The top of the rubber mounting block 9 abuts against the sealing cover 20. A buffer block 10 is sleeved on the shock absorber piston rod 8. A clamping protrusion 29 is provided at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat 1, and the clamping protrusion 29 is clamped with the bottom of the buffer block 10. The rubber mounting block 9 is fixedly connected to the shock absorber piston rod 8 through a locking nut 28. The clamping protrusion 29 is in the shape of a barb, which can firmly connect the buffer block 10 to the bearing mounting seat 1. When the vehicle is driving on an uneven road surface, the rubber mounting block 9 can buffer the impact between the vehicle body, reduce the tire noise generated by the friction between the tire and the ground, reduce the transmission of noise, and improve the comfort of driving and riding. The buffer block 10 can limit the moving limit position of the shock absorber piston rod, avoid the impact of the shock absorber on the air chamber of the working cavity 25, prevent damage to the shock absorber and its internal components, and at the same time absorb the compression impact force caused by the upward jump of the wheel, improve the riding smoothness, and enhance the driving comfort.

[0036] As Figure 5 shown, the cross-section of the sealing cover 20 is in a U-shaped structure. A reinforcing plate 21 is sleeved in the middle of the sealing cover 20, and the end of the reinforcing plate 21 is in contact with the end of the sealing cover 20; a retaining ring 22 is also provided inside the bearing mounting seat 1, and the retaining ring 22 abuts against the end of the reinforcing plate 21. There is also a reinforcing plate 21 at the upper end of the sealing cover 20. A retaining ring 22 of the sealing cover 20 is provided at the upper end of the reinforcing plate 21 for fixing the sealing cover 20 and the reinforcing plate 21; a first sealing ring 11 is used to achieve a sealed connection between the sealing cover 20 and the bearing mounting seat 1. An opening is provided in the middle of the reinforcing plate 21 to fit the middle convex part of the sealing cover 20. The end of the reinforcing plate 21 is in contact with the end of the sealing cover 20, and the retaining ring 22 limits the position of the reinforcing plate 21, improving the installation stability and sealing stability of the sealing cover 20.

[0037] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, a first mounting groove 27 is provided on the sealing cover 20, and a first sealing ring 11 is provided in the first mounting groove 27. The first sealing ring 11 is located between the sealing cover 20 and the inner side of the bearing mounting seat 1; the bearing mounting seat 1 is provided with a second mounting groove 30, and a second sealing ring 12 is provided in the second mounting groove 30. The second sealing ring 12 is located between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the inner side of the lower mounting seat 2. The bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2 are sealed and connected through the second sealing ring 12, and the lower mounting seat 2 abuts axially against the bearing mounting seat 1.

[0038] As Figure 3As shown in the figure, a third sealing ring 13 and a gasket 23 are sleeved on the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber. A tray 24 is fixedly welded to the outside of the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber. The third sealing ring 13, the gasket 23 and the tray 24 are arranged in sequence. The inner side of the piston 6 abuts against the end of the tray 24. The two sides of the gasket 23 respectively abut against the third sealing ring 13 and the tray 24. The piston gasket 23 is sleeved on the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber and abuts against the shock absorber tray 24. The third sealing ring 13 is sleeved on the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber and abuts against the piston gasket 23. The piston 6 is sleeved on the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber and abuts against the piston gasket 23, realizing the sealed connection between the piston 6 and the outer cylinder 7 of the shock absorber.

[0039] As Figure 3 shown in the figure, a pressure maintaining valve 26 is arranged inside the piston 6. The bottom end of the pressure maintaining valve 26 extends out of the piston 6. A fourth sealing ring 14 is arranged between the pressure maintaining valve 26 and the piston 6. When the air spring pipeline is disconnected or leaks, it can ensure that a certain air pressure remains inside the air spring, avoiding the situation that the vehicle driving becomes unstable due to the instantaneous loss of air pressure. The pressure maintaining valve 26 can also be connected to the lower mounting seat 2 end, without specific limitation.

[0040] An automotive suspension includes the air spring with multiple bearings as described above.

[0041] The installation method of the air spring with multiple bearings includes the following steps:

[0042] Step 1: Install the shock absorber and the piston 6, and install a buffer block 10 on the shock absorber piston rod 8;

[0043] Step 2: Install a first bearing 4, a second bearing 5 and a body mounting seat 3 on the outside of the bearing mounting seat 1 in sequence, and mate the limit boss 18 with the limit groove 19 to seal and connect the lower mounting seat 2 and the bearing mounting seat 1;

[0044] Step 3: Connect the buffer block 10 with the bearing mounting seat 1, extend the shock absorber piston rod 8 into the bearing mounting seat 1 and fix it with a lock nut 28, and use a sealing cover 20 and a reinforcing plate 21 to seal the middle part of the bearing mounting seat 1;

[0045] Step 4: Use a clamping ring 17 to lock both ends of the bladder 16, and snap and fix both ends of the dust cover 15;

[0046] Step 5: Connect with the vehicle body through the body mounting seat 3.

[0047] The specific installation method is as follows: Fix the pressure-holding valve 26 to the piston 6 in advance. Then, use the third sealing ring 13, gasket 26, and tray 27 to seal and connect the shock absorber and the piston 6 in sequence. Connect and fix the bottom of the bearing mounting seat 1 to the buffer block 19. Install the first bearing 4 and the second bearing 5 on the upper and lower sides of the bearing mounting seat 1 respectively. Then install the lower mounting seat 2, and limit the radial torsion between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2 through the cooperation of the limit boss 18 and the limit groove 19. Use a sealing ring to seal and connect the bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2. Connect the shock absorber piston rod 17 to the bearing mounting seat 1, and install the sealing cover 20 to seal the bearing mounting seat 1. Use two clamping rings 17 to press the threaded sections at both ends of the bladder 16 onto the lower mounting seat 2 and the piston 6 respectively, and snap and fix both ends of the dust cover 15 onto the lower mounting seat 2 and the piston 6 respectively. After completing the installation of the above components, perform inspection and inflation operations. After ensuring that the performance of the air spring is normal, it can be connected to the vehicle body through the vehicle body mounting seat 3.

[0048] The above installation method is easy to operate with low difficulty. The operation process does not increase the use of connecting parts, which is beneficial to improving the assembly efficiency, enabling the entire system to be designed more compactly in the radial dimension, so as to adapt to complex or narrow installation areas, make full use of the axial space, and achieve the purpose of relative rotation between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body and the vehicle body mounting seat 3.

[0049] This air spring with multiple bearings allows relative rotation between the bearing mounting seat 1 and the vehicle body and the vehicle body mounting seat 3 by designing two bearings on the upper and lower sides of the bearing mounting seat 1, meeting the design requirements that the air spring needs to bear lateral force and torsional force. At the same time, it avoids the torsional failure of the bladder 16, improves the service life of the air spring. The bearing mounting seat 1 and the lower mounting seat 2 limit the radial torsion between them through the interference fit of the limit groove 19 and the limit boss 18. Multiple sealing rings are arranged inside the air spring, which has reliable sealing performance.

[0050] The present invention has been described exemplarily in combination with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited by the above methods. As long as various non-substantive improvements are made by adopting the method concept and technical solution of the present invention; or without improvement, the above concept and technical solution of the present invention are directly applied to other occasions, they are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air spring with multiple bearings, characterized in that: The invention comprises a bearing mounting seat (1) and a lower mounting seat (2), wherein the lower mounting seat (2) is arranged at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat (1), a vehicle body mounting seat (3) is arranged outside the bearing mounting seat (1), a first bearing (4) is arranged at the top of the bearing mounting seat (1), and a second bearing (5) is arranged between the bearing mounting seat (1) and the vehicle body mounting seat (3).

2. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the bearing mounting seat (1) is provided with a limiting groove (19), and the top of the lower mounting seat (2) is provided with a limiting boss (18), and the limiting boss (18) and the limiting groove (19) are interference fit.

3. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It also includes a piston (6) and a shock absorber, wherein the shock absorber includes a shock absorber outer tube (7) and a shock absorber piston rod (8), the top end of the shock absorber piston rod (8) extends into the bearing mounting seat (1) and is connected to the top rubber block (9) by a locking nut (28), a dust cover (15) is connected between the lower mounting seat (2) and the bottom of the piston (6), a bladder skin (16) is provided between the lower mounting seat (2) and the top of the piston (6), and buckling rings (17) are provided at both ends of the bladder skin (16).

4. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 3, characterized in that: A top rubber block (9) and a sealing cover (20) are provided in the bearing mounting seat (1), the top of the top rubber block (9) is in contact with the sealing cover (20), a buffer block (10) is sleeved on the shock absorber piston rod (8), and a clamping protrusion (29) is provided at the bottom of the bearing mounting seat (1), and the clamping protrusion (29) is clamped with the bottom of the buffer block (10).

5. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sealing cover (20) has a cross-sectional structure of an "X" shape. A reinforcing plate (21) is sleeved on the middle of the sealing cover (20), and the end of the reinforcing plate (21) contacts the end of the sealing cover (20). A retaining ring (22) is also provided in the bearing mounting seat (1), and the retaining ring (22) abuts against the end of the reinforcing plate (21).

6. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sealing cover (20) is provided with a first mounting groove (27), a first sealing ring (11) is provided in the first mounting groove (27), and the first sealing ring (11) is located between the sealing cover (20) and the inner side of the bearing mounting seat (1); the bearing mounting seat (1) is provided with a second mounting groove (30), a second sealing ring (12) is provided in the second mounting groove (30), and the second sealing ring (12) is located between the bearing mounting seat (1) and the inner side of the lower mounting seat (2).

7. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 6, characterized in that: The shock absorber outer tube (7) is sleeved with a third sealing ring (13) and a gasket (23); a tray (24) is welded and fixed to the outside of the shock absorber outer tube (7); the third sealing ring (13), the gasket (23) and the tray (24) are arranged in sequence; the inner side of the piston (6) abuts against the end of the tray (24); and the two sides of the gasket (23) respectively abut against the third sealing ring (13) and the tray (24).

8. The air spring with multiple bearings according to claim 3, characterized in that: A pressure-maintaining valve (26) is provided inside the piston (6), the bottom end of the pressure-maintaining valve (26) extends out of the piston (6), and a fourth sealing ring (14) is provided between the pressure-maintaining valve (26) and the piston (6).

9. An automobile suspension, characterized in that: An air spring with multiple bearings comprising the air spring according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for installing an air spring with multiple bearings, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: Install the shock absorber and the piston (6), and install the buffer block (10) on the shock absorber piston rod (8); Step 2: Install the first bearing (4), the second bearing (5) and the vehicle body mounting seat (3) on the outside of the bearing mounting seat (1) in sequence, match the limiting boss (18) with the limiting groove (19), and seal and connect the lower mounting seat (2) and the bearing mounting seat (1); Step 3, connect the buffer block (10) to the bearing mounting seat (1), extend the shock absorber piston rod (8) into the bearing mounting seat (1) and fix it with a locking nut (28), and seal the middle of the bearing mounting seat (1) with a sealing cover (20) and a reinforcing plate (21); Step 4: Use the buckling ring (17) to lock the two ends of the bladder skin (16) and clamp the two ends of the dust cover (15) together; Step 5: Connect with the vehicle body through the vehicle body mounting seat (3).

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