Cover for a support section of a damper

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover for a bearing point of a shock absorber, which cover spans an annular space between a piston rod of the shock absorber and an edge of a receiving opening in the bearing point, the cover having an annular basic shape, and a side surface for a through opening of the piston rod forming a contact surface for the piston rod.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a cover for a bearing point of a shock absorber. BACKGROUND

[0002] From document KR 102160468 A1 a housing for a connection line in a hollow assembly rod is known. In this specific application example the piston rod on which an adjustable damping valve is fixed is the assembly rod mentioned above. The housing is designed in multiple parts and has a flip-open lid. The lid covers the vibration-capable bearing of the piston rod and a plug of the connection line. In assembly the male connection of the connection line is placed on the female connection of the line in the hollow piston rod. Then the second end of the connection line is pushed through a receiving sleeve of the housing. After this the housing can be placed and fixed on the bearing of the piston rod. This multiple-part housing is relatively complex. Furthermore, in some cases a correction movement has to be performed on the male connection in order to be able to establish a closed contact as prescribed. The outside of the plug housing of the male connection has a spline profile which has to be moved into a corresponding profile on the end side of the piston rod. However, it can happen that the two profiles lock into each other and a torsional movement of the plug housing relative to the piston rod has to be performed in order to be able to insert the plug housing into the profile of the piston rod. In this case, however, the housing wall surrounding the connection line restricts the access to the relevant components. SUMMARY

[0003] The object of the invention is to solve the problem of the known prior art of the difficult accessibility of the male connection due to the narrow space.

[0004] The object is achieved in that the cover has a ring-like basic shape and the side of the through-opening for the piston rod forms a contact surface for the piston rod.

[0005] By dispensing with the complete housing with the cylindrical portion and the lid, the male connection can be accessed almost unhindered. The cover is functionally maximally simplified and is therefore a simple component.

[0006] In a further design of the invention the contact surface has a clamping profile. Along the direction of the piston rod an additional fixing for fixing the cover, such as a clamping screw or the like, can be dispensed with.

[0007] Furthermore, the clamping profile can have a sealing surface relative to the piston rod. Thereby the intrusion of moisture or dirt or the like into the bearing point is prevented.

[0008] Preferably, the cover has a clamping contour on its outer edge, which clamps against the edge of the component defining the receiving opening. In summary, the cover can be fitted on the bearing site without tools.

[0009] According to an advantageous subclaim, the clamping contour on the outer edge is also designed as a sealing contour. Thereby, the bearing site is completely sealed.

[0010] In order to compensate for the relative movement of the piston rod with respect to the bearing site and thus with respect to the cover, the cover has an annular surface area with a relief structure.

[0011] The arrangement of the reliefs is deliberately chosen such that a first relief in the relief structure, which is located inwardly with respect to the through-opening for the piston rod, is designed as an annular groove. Thereby, the piston rod is very well protected from dirt ingress, since the annular groove acts as a dirt trap.

[0012] In order to ensure a secure connection between the cover and the piston rod, the clamping contour at the through-opening engages into a groove of the piston rod of the shock absorber. Thereby, a form-fit connection between the cover and the piston rod is formed.

[0013] The groove in the piston rod is not only provided for the connection with the cover, but additionally also accommodates a pull-in locking of the plug-in housing.

[0014] This makes it possible for the plug-in housing to cover the sealing surface at the through-opening and thus to provide protection for the connection between the cover and the piston rod. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The application will be explained in more detail below with the aid of the following drawings.

[0016] The drawings show:

[0017] Figure 1 a sectional view of a bearing site for a shock absorber is shown,

[0018] Figure 2 a plug-in connector and a hollow piston rod in Figure 1 are shown,

[0019] Figure 3 a hollow piston rod in Figure 1 is shown alone,

[0020] Figure 4 a sectional view of a cover is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1A bearing point 1 for a hollow piston rod 3 used in a damper is shown. Such a damper is known, for example, from the document DE 198 22 448 A1. The bearing point 1 can be supported, for example, on a vehicle body structure not shown and comprises a carrier housing 5 in which an elastomer element 7 together with a support ring 9 holds the piston rod 3 within the carrier housing 5. To this end, an outer shoulder 11 is provided, for example, on the piston rod 3, onto which the support ring 9 is fixed by means of a nut 13.

[0022] An annular cover 15 located above presses the elastomer element 7 together with a bottom 17 on the opposite end of the carrier housing 5. The piston rod 3 projects out of the bearing point 1 and here through the annular cover 15. Between the cover 15 and the piston rod 3 there is an annular space 16 which serves for access to the nut by means of a tool.

[0023] In the assembly station of the vehicle manufacturer, the damper and the bearing point 1 connected thereto are usually installed as an assembly between the vehicle axle and the vehicle body.

[0024] In combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can be seen that the line 19 extends within the piston rod 3 along the entire length of the piston rod 3 and is provided at the externally accessible end of the line 19 with a rotatable plug-in coupling 21 which has a directional connection 23 described in detail, for example, in the document DE 10 2021 201 888 A1. In Figure 2 It can also be seen in that the externally located end of the piston rod 3 has an internally located multi-tooth profile which acts as an anti-twist profile 25 into which a plug-in coupling 27 according to Figure 2 is engaged. To this end, the plug-in coupling 27 has a corresponding profile 31 on the outer side 29 which engages into the anti-twist profile 25 of the piston rod 3 when the plug-in coupling 27 is oriented relative to the piston rod 3 in the prescribed manner.

[0025] The plug-in coupling 27 and the connection line 33 according to Figure 1 are shown in simplified form in Figure 2 . In addition, Figure 1 a cover 35 having an annular basic shape is also shown. The side 37 of the cover 35 for the through-opening 38 of the piston rod 3 forms a contact surface for the piston rod 3. Figure 4 This contact surface is part of a clamping profile 39 whose contact surface is designed as a sealing surface relative to the piston rod 3. This sealing surface 37 prevents the ingress of dirt and / or moisture into the bearing point 1 which would shorten the service life of the bearing point 1.

[0026] The cover also has a clamping contour 43 on its outer edge 41, which clamps against the edge of the component that defines the receiving opening 42, in this case the annular lid 15. The clamping contour 43 on the outer edge is also designed as a sealing contour, so that the annular space 16 between the lid 15 and the piston rod 3 is completely closed off.

[0027] The annular surface region 45 of the cover 35 has a relief structure 47. At least one relief extends concentrically with respect to the lateral face 37 of the through-opening 38. A first relief in the relief structure 47, which is located inward with respect to the through-opening for the piston rod, is designed as an annular groove 49. Any dirt particles are retained there and do not reach the sealing face 37 at all.

[0028] The clamping contour 39 at the through-opening engages into a groove 51 of the piston rod 3 of the shock absorber. The same groove 51 in the piston rod accommodates a pull-in locking portion 53 of a plug-in housing 55. The pull-in locking portion 53 is formed, for example, by at least one catch of the plug-in housing 55. The plug-in housing 55 in turn covers the sealing face 37 at the through-opening, so that this contact area between the cover 35 and the piston rod 3 is particularly well protected.

[0029] In assembly, the structural unit consisting of the shock absorber and the bearing point 1 is fixed in the vehicle. The cover 35 can already be fixed on the bearing point 1. The plug-in connector 27 is then introduced into the hollow piston rod 3 and an electrical contact is produced thereby. If necessary, the plug-in connector 27 can be moved in the circumferential direction in order to bring the spline contour 31 on the plug-in connector 27 into engagement with the spline contour 25 on the hollow piston rod 3. This assembly movement is not negatively affected by the cover 35.

[0030] List of reference signs:

[0031] 1 bearing point

[0032] 3 piston rod

[0033] 5 carrier housing

[0034] 7 elastomer element

[0035] 9 support ring

[0036] 11 shoulder of the piston rod

[0037] 13 nut

[0038] 15 lid

[0039] 16 annular space

[0040] 17 bottom

[0041] 19 line

[0042] 21 plug-in coupling

[0043] 23 directional connection

[0044] 25 anti-twist contour

[0045] 27 plug-in connector

[0046] 29 side of plug-in connector

[0047] 31 counter contour

[0048] 33 connection line

[0049] 35 cover

[0050] 37 side / sealing surface

[0051] 38 through opening

[0052] 39 clamping contour

[0053] 41 outer edge

[0054] 42 receiving opening in lid

[0055] 43 clamping contour

[0056] 45 surface area

[0057] 47 relief

[0058] 49 annular groove

[0059] 51 recess in piston rod

[0060] 53 pull-in lock

[0061] 55 plug-in connector housing

Claims

1. Cover (35) for a bearing point (1) of a shock absorber, which cover bridges an annular space (16) between a piston rod (3) of the shock absorber and an edge of a receiving opening in the bearing point (1), characterized in that The cover (35) has a ring-like basic shape and a side (37) for a through-opening (38) of the piston rod (3) forms a contact surface for the piston rod (3).

2. The cover (35) according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact surface has a clamping contour (39).

3. The cover (35) according to claim 2, characterized in that The clamping contour (39) has a sealing surface relative to the piston rod (3).

4. Cover (35) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The cover (35) has a clamping contour (43) on its outer edge (41), which clamps relative to an edge of a component which defines the accommodation opening.

5. The cover (35) according to claim 4, characterized in that The clamping contour (43) on the outer edge is designed as a sealing contour.

6. Cover (35) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A ring-like surface area (45) of the cover has a relief structure (47).

7. The cover (35) according to claim 5, characterized in that A first relief in the relief structure (47) which is located inward relative to the through-opening for the piston rod (3) is designed as a ring-like groove (49).

8. The cover (35) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The clamping contour (39) at the through-opening (38) engages into a groove (51) of the piston rod (3) of the shock absorber.

9. The cover (35) according to claim 8, characterized in that The groove (51) in the piston rod (3) accommodates a pull-in locking (53) of a plug-in housing (55).

10. The cover (35) according to claim 9, characterized in that The plug-in housing (55) covers the sealing surface (37) at the through-opening (38).

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