Plug for adjustable damper

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug for a shock absorber, comprising a plug housing which is inserted into an open end of a piston rod of the shock absorber, the plug housing forming a form-fitting connection with the piston rod, the plug housing being inserted into the open end of the piston rod by moving a locking sleeve from a plug mounting position into a locking position. According to the invention, the locking sleeve is used to lock the form-fitting connection, and an axially acting forced guide is provided between the locking sleeve and the plug housing, such that a displacement movement of the locking sleeve towards the hollow piston rod is associated with a push-in movement of the plug housing into the hollow piston rod.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a plug for an adjustable shock absorber. Background Technology

[0002] A plug and its mechanical connection to a hollow piston rod are known from document DE 10 2017 221 842 A1, the piston rod having a receiving profile for a plug housing at its end facing the plug. This receiving profile, together with an outer profile on the plug housing, prevents torsion between the plug and the piston rod.

[0003] The rotatable plug sleeve inside the hollow piston rod serves the electrical connection. When the plug sleeve makes axial contact with the plug housing, it aligns with the plug housing in the circumferential direction and ensures that the pins inside the plug housing are correctly aligned with the cables inside the plug sleeve.

[0004] Therefore, a double connection must be formed between the plug housing and the piston rod. Figure 1 A plug conforming to the connection principle of document DE 102017 221 842 A1 is shown. Furthermore, in Figure 1 As can be seen, the plug has an axially movable retaining sleeve that locks the plug in its final assembly position on the piston rod. This retaining sleeve locks the connection when the mechanical connection between the plug housing and the piston rod is formed. Therefore, the plug housing and the retaining sleeve must be operated axially separately during the assembly process. Because the mounting surface on the plug housing is relatively small and is restricted by the annular retaining sleeve, the possibility that the retaining sleeve may have already shifted before the plug reaches its final position in the piston rod cannot be ruled out, which could interfere with further assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the assembly problems known in the prior art.

[0006] The purpose is achieved by forming an axially acting forced guide between the stop sleeve and the plug housing, thereby linking the displacement of the stop sleeve toward the hollow piston rod with the pushing motion of the plug housing into the hollow piston rod.

[0007] This prevents the retaining sleeve from occupying its stop position relative to the plug housing before a form-fit connection is formed between the plug housing and the piston rod. Therefore, there is no need to painstakingly disassemble the retaining sleeve.

[0008] It is proposed here that the retaining sleeve is axially supported on the bearing edge of the plug housing. The connection between the bearing edge and the retaining sleeve, for example, forms a forced guide.

[0009] Preferably, the bearing edge is formed on the shape-fitting sleeve of the plug housing. This advantageously directs the assembly force to an area of ​​the plug housing relatively far from the wire, thus protecting it from damage.

[0010] To ensure appropriate assembly force, the form-fit sleeve is constructed radially elastically. When the stop sleeve is in the active state, the form-fit sleeve is subjected to only a low mechanical load.

[0011] According to an advantageous dependent claim, the form-fit sleeve carries at least one form-fit surface that interacts with the piston rod. For this purpose, the piston rod has, for example, an annular groove or an annular flange on its outer surface as a form-fit element.

[0012] Here, at least one form-fitting surface is alternately arranged on the inner and outer walls of the form-fitting sleeve to form a form-fitting connection with the piston rod and the bearing edge. For the release movement of the stop sleeve, the form-fitting surface of the form-fitting sleeve, and consequently the plug housing, is additionally preloaded in the direction reinforcing the form-fitting connection. Thus, the plug remains securely inserted into the piston rod until the stop sleeve is released.

[0013] To optimize the operating force during the closing motion of the plug, the stop sleeve is constructed radially elastically.

[0014] One advantageous feature for forming the forced guide section is that the retaining sleeve has a bottom that covers the center end face of the plug housing. During assembly, assembly force can be applied very easily to the plug housing, wherein the force is always introduced through the retaining sleeve.

[0015] By having a sliding surface on the edge side of the central closed surface at the bottom of the stop sleeve, it is beneficial to introduce central force during assembly movement. The sliding surface is designed, for example, with rounded inner corners (Hohlkehle).

[0016] Optionally, the stop sleeve may have a radially oriented force-transmitting web. This force-transmitting web can, for example, be used to support the stop sleeve within an outer housing in the area of ​​the vehicle's roof (Fahrzeugdom) for a shock absorber. Furthermore, the force-transmitting web can also be used to introduce a pushing motion toward the release position of the stop sleeve.

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The attached diagram shows:

[0019] Figure 1 The prior art for the plug on the shock absorber is shown;

[0020] Figure 2The plug is shown according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0021] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The movements that occur during assembly are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 2 The plug 1 for the adjustable damper 3 is shown. Only the piston rod 5 is shown for the damper 3, because the further structural principles of the adjustable damper, on which an adjustable damping valve device is fixed, can be learned from numerous published documents. See, for example, document DE 10 2019203 898A1.

[0023] The plug 1 includes a plug housing 7 with a torsion profile 9 that rests against a sliding guide 11 of a plug sleeve 13 that can be twisted in the circumferential direction. The axial movement of the plug housing 7 relative to the open end of the piston rod 5 is converted into the torsional movement of the plug sleeve 13 through the sliding connection between the torsion profile 9 and the sliding guide 11, thereby causing the pins (not shown) in the plug housing 7 and the plug sleeve 13 to make conductive contact as specified.

[0024] The hollow piston rod 5 has a spline profile 15 at its open end. When the pins are sufficiently rotated and aligned, a torsion stop profile 17 on the outer surface of the plug housing 7 is inserted into this spline profile. Therefore, a torsion stop acting in the circumferential direction is created between the plug housing 7 and the piston rod 5. Furthermore, the plug housing can still be further pushed axially into the hollow piston rod.

[0025] When the pushing motion that causes the plug housing 7 to enter the hollow piston rod 5 ends, the plug housing 7 and the piston rod 5 form a shape-fitting connection 18 (see...). Figure 3B This shape, when fitted with the connecting part, functions along the extraction direction of the plug housing 7 from the piston rod 5. Figure 2 , Figure 3A and Figure 3B It can be clearly seen that the plug housing 7 supports the form-fitting sleeve 19. At least one form-fitting surface 21 is provided on the inner wall of the form-fitting sleeve 19. For example, this form-fitting surface can also be designed in segments. This form-fitting surface is aligned with the surrounding external groove 23 in the piston rod 5.

[0026] The plug housing 7 carries the stop sleeve 25 on its outer side. In the initial position, the stop sleeve 25 is supported by at least one support segment 27, but preferably by a plurality of support segments 27 arranged in the same plane on the inner side, on a bearing edge 29 arranged on the outer wall of the form-fit sleeve 19. The stop sleeve 25 is slidably guided on the plug housing 7, but at least in the area outside the support segments 27, there is an annular gap relative to the form-fit sleeve 19.

[0027] The stop sleeve 25 is preferably connected to the bottom 33 of the center end face 31 of the cover plug housing 7. The bottom 33 completely covers the plug housing 7 from the end side, so that there is practically no direct axial force input surface. Thus, the stop sleeve 25 and the bottom 33 form a locking cover 35.

[0028] exist Figure 3A In this configuration, the plug housing 7 is partially pushed into the hollow piston rod 5. Mechanical contact is already established between the torsion profile 9 and the sliding guide 11 of the plug sleeve 13. The locking cover 35 is supported on the bearing edge 29 of the form-fitting sleeve 19 of the plug housing 7. This bearing edge 29 and the form-fitting surface 21 are alternately arranged on the form-fitting sleeve 19. A distance A exists between the bottom 33 of the locking cover 35 and the end face 31 of the plug housing 7, which corresponds at least to the locking displacement of the locking cover 35.

[0029] The axial assembly force acting on the plug housing 7 can actually only be guided to the plug housing 7 through the outer closing surface 37 located on the bottom of the locking cover 35, because the locking cover 35 preferably has a sliding surface 39 at the edge of the central closing surface 37 at the bottom 33, which is convex, but preferably concave.

[0030] As the plug housing 7 is further pushed into the hollow piston rod 5, the form-fitting surface 21 of the form-fitting sleeve 19 slides into the groove 23 of the piston rod 5. To support this radial locking movement, the form-fitting sleeve 19 is radially elastically constructed. The locking cap's stop sleeve is also radially elastically constructed, thereby facilitating the sliding of the form-fitting surface 21 into the groove 23 of the piston rod 5.

[0031] Before the form-fitting surface 21 is inserted into the groove 23 of the piston rod 5, this connection forms an axially acting forced guide between the stop sleeve 25 and the plug housing 7, so that the displacement movement of the stop sleeve 25 toward the hollow piston rod 5 is always associated with the pushing movement of the plug housing 7 into the hollow piston rod 5. When the form-fitting connection 18 is established between the piston rod 5 and the form-fitting sleeve 19, an electrical connection is also established between the plug 1 and the plug sleeve 13 in the piston rod 5.

[0032] As the locking cap 35 undergoes further axial displacement relative to the plug housing 7 and piston rod 5, at least one support segment 27 slides along the bearing edge 29 of the form-fit sleeve, causing the stop sleeve 25 to widen radially, thereby locking the resulting electrical and mechanical connections. The inner diameter of the stop sleeve 25 is slightly smaller in the longitudinal section between the support segment 27 and the lower side of the bottom 33 than its inner diameter in the longitudinal section between the support segment and the end face 43 of the stop sleeve. The stop sleeve 25 prevents the widening movement of the form-fit sleeve 19.

[0033] The locking cover 35 has a radially oriented force-transmitting web 43, which is used, for example, to connect the locking cover 35 to an outer housing that may be provided for covering the end of the piston rod, or from [the following configuration / location]... Figure 3B The locking cover 35 is pulled axially to the stop position to release the form-fit connection 18 between the form-fit sleeve 19 and the piston rod 5. At this time, the support section 27 moves axially along the bearing edge 29 of the plug housing 7.

[0034] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0035] 1. Plug

[0036] 3. Vibration dampers

[0037] 5 Piston rod

[0038] 7. Plug housing

[0039] 9. Torsion profiles

[0040] 11 Sliding guide section

[0041] 13. Plug sleeve

[0042] 15 Spline profile

[0043] 17 Torsion-stop profile

[0044] 18. Shape-fitting connection part

[0045] 19. Shape-fitting sleeve

[0046] 21 Shape mating surfaces

[0047] 23. Groove in the piston rod

[0048] 25 Stop sleeve

[0049] 27 Support Section

[0050] 29 Bearing Edge

[0051] 31. End face of the plug housing

[0052] 33 Bottom

[0053] 35. Sealing cap

[0054] 37 Closed surface

[0055] 39 Slip surface

[0056] 41 End face

[0057] 43. Force-transmitting web.

Claims

1. Plug (1) for a shock absorber (3), comprising a plug housing (7) which is inserted into an open end of a piston rod (5) of the shock absorber (3), wherein The plug housing (7) forms a form-fit connection (18) with the piston rod (5), the form-fit connection being locked by means of a stop sleeve (25) by moving the stop sleeve (25) from a plug assembly position into a stop position, characterized in that an axially acting forced guide is formed between the stop sleeve (25) and the plug housing (7), such that a displacement movement of the stop sleeve (25) towards the hollow piston rod (5) is associated with a push-in movement of the plug housing (7) into the hollow piston rod (5).

2. Plug (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The stop sleeve (25) is axially supported on a bearing edge (29) of the plug housing (7).

3. Plug (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The bearing edge (29) is configured on a form-fit sleeve (19) of the plug housing (7).

4. Plug (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The form-fit sleeve (19) is configured radially elastically.

5. Plug (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The form-fit sleeve (19) carries at least one form-fit surface (21) which cooperates with the piston rod (5).

6. Plug (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The at least one form-fit surface (21) is arranged alternately on an inner wall and an outer wall of the form-fit sleeve (19) in order to form a form-fit connection (18) with the piston rod (5) and the bearing edge (29).

7. Plug (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The stop sleeve (25) is configured radially elastically.

8. Plug (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The stop sleeve (25) has a bottom (33) which covers a central end face (31) of the plug housing (7).

9. Plug (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The stop sleeve (25) has a sliding surface (39) on a central closure face (37) of the bottom (35) on the edge side.

10. Plug (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The stop sleeve (25) has a radially oriented force transmission web (43).

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