Chassis of a vehicle with a tension spring

Abstract

Chassis of a vehicle, comprising a suspension spring (18) by which the vehicle body (12) is ultimately partially supported on a wheel of the vehicle, wherein a damper (19) is connected in parallel to the suspension spring (18), for whose rebound stage a rebound stop spring is provided, which is not effective in the neutral position of the suspension spring (18) as well as in the compression stage of the damper (19) and only engages after a certain travel distance, and wherein the rebound stop spring is arranged as an independent rebound stop spring assembly (1) away from the damper (19) and has a support element (2) that carries or is carried by a spring element (3), which is ultimately supported either on the vehicle wheel or on the vehicle body (12) and is designed such that a so-calledThe moving component (4) of the rebound stop spring assembly (1) in the rebound stage of the damper (19) only comes into contact with the spring element (3) after a certain distance, wherein the moving component (4) is guided telescopically with respect to the support part (2) and the support part (2) is gimbal-mounted on a wheel-guiding link (13), or that the support part (2) is designed in a bow shape and the moving component (4) is guided through the space enclosed by the bow-shaped support part (2) in the form of a wheel-guiding link (14), characterized in that the rebound stop spring assembly (1) is arranged inside the suspension spring (18).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a chassis of a vehicle, with a suspension spring by which the vehicle body is partially supported on a wheel of the vehicle, wherein a damper is connected in parallel to the suspension spring, for whose rebound stage a rebound stop spring is provided, which is not effective in the neutral position of the suspension spring as well as in the compression stage of the damper and only engages after a certain distance, in particular towards the end of the available damper travel.

[0002] An arrangement of a rebound spring with these features (of the preamble of claim 1) is well known to those skilled in the art; the rebound spring is usually arranged in or on the housing of the damper (= so-called shock absorber), which is essentially designed to be telescopic in the axial direction of the supporting spring, which is designed as a coil spring. The aim is to keep the installation space required by the aforementioned elements in the chassis area of ​​a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, as small as possible, e.g., in order to create a large trunk volume in this area. With this in mind, the aforementioned damper can be designed in the form of a rotary damper, in which, however, a rebound spring cannot be accommodated as easily as in linearly telescopic dampers.

[0003] For a vehicle chassis according to the preamble of claim 1, a tension stop spring arrangement is to be shown which allows greater freedom with regard to the overall required installation space and can, for example, also be used in conjunction with a rotary damper (= object of the present invention).

[0004] The solution to this problem is characterized in that the tension stop spring is arranged as an independent component separate from the damper, which is designed in particular as a rotary damper. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] A rebound spring in the form of a self-contained assembly can be positioned practically anywhere in the vicinity of a vehicle wheel or wheel guide, depending on the available space. This greater design freedom offers greater possibilities for optimizing installation space, and in particular, a rotary damper can also be incorporated. In a preferred embodiment, the rebound spring assembly has a support element that carries or is supported by a spring element, which is ultimately supported either on the vehicle wheel or on the vehicle body and is designed such that a so-called moving component of the assembly, which is ultimately connected either to the vehicle body or the vehicle wheel, only engages after a certain distance during the rebound stage of the damper. especially towards the end of the available travel of the damper, where it comes into contact with the spring element. The so-called support element can also provide any necessary guidance for the spring element, which functions as a tension stop spring.

[0006] The aforementioned support element and / or the so-called moving component can be at least partially articulated and ultimately supported on the vehicle body or the vehicle wheel in order to react to the relative movements occurring in the wheel suspension of the chassis. For example, a cardanic suspension of the tension stop spring assembly is possible on a suitably designed link, which can be similar to the known design supporting the suspension spring, as is implemented in a preferred embodiment. To further minimize the installation space, the aforementioned tension stop spring assembly can be arranged essentially within the suspension spring – in this context, but expressly not limited to this.

[0007] The relatively large travel distances that the vehicle body can make relative to the respective wheel, which, starting from a neutral position of the spring, correspond to the compression stage plus the rebound stage of the damper, can be advantageously implemented or kept free or made available with regard to a rebound stop spring if the so-called moving component of the rebound stop spring assembly is guided telescopically with respect to the supporting part of the same.

[0008] Further embodiments in which the support part is designed in a U-shape and the so-called moving component is preferably guided through the space enclosed by the U-shape support part in the form of a wheel-guiding link, so that a simple design is realized with functional reliability and very low installation space requirements, are (also) shown in the form of exemplary embodiments and are explained in more detail below.

[0009] This shows

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a partial spatial view of the wheel suspension of the left rear wheel of a passenger car with a first embodiment of a tension spring assembly,

[0011] Fig. 2 shows a partial section through the tension stop spring assembly from Fig. 1,

[0012] Fig. 3a shows a schematic section through a second embodiment of a tension stop spring assembly according to the invention,

[0013] Fig. 3b shows section AA from Fig. 3a,

[0014] Fig. 4a shows a schematic section through a third embodiment of a tension stop spring assembly,

[0015] Fig. 4b shows view B from Fig. 4a.

[0016] In all figures, identical or comparable components are identified by the same reference numeral and all features described in more detail can be essential to the invention.

[0017] A so-called rebound spring assembly, designated by reference numeral 1, is functionally arranged in parallel with a shock absorber / damper in the chassis of a vehicle or in a wheel suspension thereof and is ultimately supported between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel. This is best seen in Fig. 1, in which the wheel carrier 11 of the wheel (not shown) can be seen, as well as five links 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 that guide this wheel carrier 11 with respect to the vehicle body 12, and a partial section of a suspension spring 18 designed as an air spring between the vehicle body 12 and the link 13. The rebound spring assembly 1 is also supported between this link 13 and the vehicle body 12, next to or parallel with the suspension spring 18. One of these functionally parallel dampers 19 is designed as a rotary damper and is suitably arranged between these two elements in the pivot area of ​​this linkage 13 on the wheel carrier 12.

[0018] It should be expressly noted at this point that a tension stop spring assembly 1 according to the invention does not necessarily have to be supported between a link (here the link 13) and the vehicle body 12, whereby the respective linkage can preferably be articulated, e.g. by means of a rubber joint or a ball joint or in another articulated manner, but the tension stop spring assembly 1 can also be supported directly between the wheel carrier 11 and the vehicle body 12, or instead of support on the vehicle body 12, support on an axle carrier can also be provided, on which the vehicle body is then supported.

[0019] The tension stop spring assembly 1 shown in Fig. 1 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2, specifically in a partial longitudinal section. This shows a so-called support part 2, consisting of a circular cylindrical tube 2a, closed at the bottom by a plug 2f, to the lower end section of which a spring plate 2b for a spring element 3 in the form of a helical spring is attached. The latter is arranged concentrically to the tube 2a and is guided in the region of the upper tube end by a cover part 2c which is arranged on the outer wall of the tube so as to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the tube 2a. Several (here three) supporting struts 2d, running essentially parallel to the tube axis downwards, are attached to this cover part 2c distributed around its circumference, and these struts carry a cardan suspension 2e at their ends, via which the supporting part 2 of the tension stop spring assembly 1 is pivotally suspended on or in the link 13, more precisely in an opening of the same.

[0020] Within the tube 2a, a so-called moving component 4 of the tension stop spring assembly 1 is guided longitudinally displaceably in the manner of a piston rod, specifically at its end by a sleeve 4a at the lower end of this moving component 4, which rests against the inner wall of the tube and is mounted on a rod-shaped section 4b of the moving component 4. This rod-shaped section 4b is guided in the upper tube cover 2f, which has a through-opening for the rod-shaped section 4b. At its upper end, this moving component 4, or rather its rod-shaped section 4b, is pivotally connected to the vehicle body (12), for example, via a rubber bearing.

[0021] The function of this rebound spring assembly 1 is thus clearly evident: In the so-called rebound stage of the damper 19, i.e., when the vehicle body 12 moves vertically upwards (see Fig. 1) away from the wheel or wheel carrier 11, the moving component 4 is also moved upwards relative to the tube 2a (also shown in Fig. 2) until its sleeve 4a comes to rest against the tube cap 2f from below. A further upward movement of the moving component 4 consequently carries the tube 2a upwards with it, compressing the spring element 3, so that from the moment the piston-shaped extension 4a rests against the tube cap 2f, which is stationary relative to the control arm 13, this spring element 3 acts like a conventional rebound spring in a vehicle wheel suspension.

[0022] However, during compression, i.e., when the vehicle body (12) and the moving element 4 of the tension spring assembly 1 move downwards (in the installed position and in Fig. 2), whereby the support spring 18 is compressed from its neutral position (see also Fig. 1), the spring element 3 does not come into effect. Naturally, a corresponding clearance of the moving component 4 or its piston-shaped extension 4a relative to the tube 2a must be provided for this purpose.

[0023] The further embodiments shown in Figs. 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b are only illustrated in principle. In both, the so-called support element 2 is designed in a U-shape, and the moving component 4' is a wheel-guiding link, which, as usual, is articulated at one end to the wheel carrier 11 and at the other end to the vehicle body 12 (possibly with an intermediate axle carrier), and is guided through the space enclosed by the U-shaped support part 2. With regard to the moving component 4', this thus presents an advantageous A functional combination in front of, or an already existing, linkage (e.g. with reference numeral 14 in Fig. 1) simultaneously takes over the function of the moving component 4 in an inventive tension stop spring assembly 1 .

[0024] In the embodiment according to Figs. 3a and 3b, the support element 2, designed as a U-shaped bracket, is attached to the vehicle body 12 with the free ends of its two legs. The moving component 4', in the form of a wheel-guiding linkage, passes between these two legs. A spring element 3, designed as a helical compression spring and functioning as a tension stop spring, is supported on the inside of the so-called base of the support element 2, which connects the two legs. A support element 4c, serving for force distribution and noise reduction, is provided (optionally) on the underside section of the moving element 4' facing this spring element 3.

[0025] When the suspension spring 18 (see Fig. 1) is relieved and thus the vehicle body 12 extends, or the wheel and wheel carrier 11 move downwards in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 12, the wheel-guiding link 14 and thus the moving component 4' of the tension stop spring assembly 1 also moves downwards, both in the installed state and in the illustration according to Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b. This refers to the rebound stage of the damper (see reference numeral 19 in Fig. 1), towards the end of which the moving component 4' (via the support element 4c) comes into contact with the spring element 3 and compresses it in this direction during the further course of movement. This spring element 3 thus acts like a conventional rebound spring in a vehicle wheel suspension, whereby for the reverse movement between wheel and vehicle body, i.e. when the moving component 4' (and thus the link 14) moves upwards (in the installed position as well as in Fig. 3a, Fig. 3c)3b) when the spring element 3 is moved and the support spring 18 is compressed from its neutral position (see also Fig. 1), the spring element 3 does not come into effect. Naturally, a corresponding clearance of the moving component 4' relative to the U-shaped support element 2 must be provided for this purpose.

[0026] In the embodiment according to Figs. 4a and 4b, the support element 2 essentially has the form of a closed bracket, and an intermediate element 4d, which receives the moving component 4' or is itself guided on the moving component 4', is movably guided on its two legs, which extend essentially in the vertical direction. For mounting this unit of support element 2 and intermediate element 4d on the moving component 4', the intermediate element 4d can be designed to be divisible in a vertical plane, while the bracket-shaped support element 2 can be designed like a carabiner hook with a corresponding closable opening (not shown) for inserting the moving component 4' and the intermediate element 4d.

[0027] As shown, the support element 2 is suspended from the vehicle body 12 by a spring element 3 designed as a coiled tension spring and is thus movable relative to it in the vertical direction (both in the installed position and in the figured representation). When the support spring 18 (see Fig. 1) is unloaded and thus the vehicle body 12 extends, or the wheel and wheel carrier 11 move downwards in the vertical direction relative to the vehicle body 12, the wheel-guiding link 14 and thus the moving component 4' of the tension spring assembly 1 also move downwards, both in the installed state and in the representation according to Figs. 4a and 4b. This is the rebound stage of the damper (see reference numeral 19 in Fig. 1), towards the end of which the intermediate element 4d with the moving component 4' comes to a stop at the lower end of the support part 2 and in the further course of movement moves this downwards, so that the spring element 3 is (further) tensioned.This spring element 3 thus acts like a conventional tension spring in a vehicle wheel suspension, whereby for the reverse movement between the wheel and the vehicle body, i.e., when the moving component 4' (and thus the link 14) moves upwards (in the installed position as well as in Fig. 4a, Fig. 4b) and the suspension spring 18 is compressed from its neutral position (see also Fig. 1), the spring element 3 does not come into effect. Naturally, a corresponding clearance of the moving component 4' relative to the U-shaped support part 2 must be provided for this purpose.

[0028] Not shown in the figure is a simplest embodiment of a tension spring assembly, which is also covered by the currently valid patent claims, namely a simple telescopic guide of a helical spring element in a tubular housing and thus a basic structure like conventional linear shock absorbers, but without a damping medium, whereby it should also be noted that a multitude of details may be designed differently from the above explanations without departing from the content of the patent claims.

Claims

[1] Running gear of a vehicle, with a suspension spring (18) via which the vehicle body (12) is ultimately supported proportionally on one wheel of the vehicle, with the suspension spring (18) having a damper (19) connected in parallel for its rebound stage a tension stop spring is provided, which is not effective in the neutral position of the suspension spring (18) and in the compression stage of the damper (19) and only comes into action after a certain distance, in particular towards the end of the available damper travel, characterized in that the tension stop spring as an independent Rebound stop spring assembly (1) is arranged apart from the damper (19), which is designed in particular as a rotary damper. [2] Vehicle chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the tension stop spring assembly (1) has a spring element (3) carrying or carried by this support part (2) which ultimately either on the vehicle wheel or on the vehicle body ( 12) is supported and designed in such a way that a so-called moving component (4) of the structural unit (1), which is ultimately connected either to the vehicle body (12) or to the vehicle wheel, in the rebound stage of the damper (19) only after a certain distance, particularly towards the end of the available damper travel on the spring element (3). [3] Vehicle chassis according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting part (2) and / or the so-called. Moving component (4) is supported at least partially articulated ultimately on the vehicle body (12) or on the vehicle wheel . [4] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the so-called. Moving component (4) is guided telescopically with respect to the supporting part (2). [5] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting part (2) is gimballed to a wheel-guiding link (13). [6] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tension buffer spring assembly (1) is arranged substantially within the suspension spring (18). [7] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (2) is designed in the shape of a bow and the so-called moving component (4) is preferably in the form of a wheel-guiding link (14) through the space enveloped by the bow-shaped support part (2). is passed through. [8] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the so-called support part (2) of the tension stop spring assembly (1) is ultimately suspended on the vehicle body (12) via the associated spring element (3) designed as a tension spring element and essentially has the shape of a closed bracket, on which an intermediate element (4d) receiving the moving component (4) is displaceably guided. [9] Vehicle chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tension buffer spring assembly (1) is supported between the wheel carrier (11) or a wheel-guiding link (13, 14) and the vehicle body (12) or an axle carrier is.

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