Vibration damper in the chassis of a vehicle

Abstract

Vibration damper (1) in the chassis of a vehicle, the housing (1a) of which is made of a steel material is connected to a support strut (2) made of a light metal alloy, the end of which facing away from the housing (1a) is supported on or forms a wheel guidance element, characterized in that the support strut (2) is connected to the housing (1a) via a friction weld connection.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vibration damper in the chassis of a vehicle, wherein the housing of the vibration damper, made of a steel material, is connected to a support strut made of a light metal alloy, the end of which facing away from said housing is supported on or forms a wheel guidance element. For the prior art, reference is made, by way of example, to DE 10 2012 213 167 B3, DE 30 17 076 A1, and, in addition to DE 10 2006 057 664 A1, in which the support strut mentioned here is formed by a pivot bearing, to DE 10 2010 030 518 B4, where the support strut mentioned here is designated as an axle carrier connection element, whereby the material specifications presented here are not taken from this prior art.

[0002] To reduce weight, light metal alloys are used in the chassis area wherever possible; however, a preferably permanent connection of a light metal component with another component made of a steel material, for example for strength reasons, can be complex, as simple welding is usually not feasible.

[0003] The aim here is therefore to demonstrate an advantageous component connection that can be represented relatively easily in mass production for a connection arrangement between a vibration damper and a support strut according to the preamble of the independent patent claim (= object of the present invention).

[0004] The solution to the problem is achieved by the features of claim 1. The solution to this problem is characterized in that the support strut is connected to the housing via a friction weld. According to a preferred embodiment, an annular projection can be provided on the bottom of the housing, and in particular on the bottom of a receptacle provided on the support strut for the bottom end section of the housing; the receptacle can be cup-shaped.

[0005] A more detailed description will be provided based on the attached documents. Fig. 1 - 3, in which three exemplary embodiments are shown in a section and limited to the essentials.

[0006] Reference numeral 1a always designates the housing of a vibration damper 1, which is only partially depicted. Within this housing, an auxiliary piston 1b is movably guided below an adjusting piston (not shown) that carries a piston rod. However, the internal structure of the vibration damper 1 used in the chassis of a vehicle is irrelevant here. What is essential is a support strut, designated in its entirety by reference numeral 2, which is also only partially depicted, namely with its end section facing the vibration damper 1. With its other end, which faces away from the vibration damper 1 and is not visible in the figures, this support strut 2 is supported on a wheel guidance element in the vehicle's chassis, which is also not shown.The free end of the aforementioned piston rod of the vibration damper 1 is attached to the vehicle body as usual, so that the vibration damper arrangement formed by the vibration damper 1 and the support strut 2 is supported as is generally usual between the vehicle body and a wheel guidance element, which may be a wheel carrier (swivel bearing or the like) in addition to a wheel-guiding link.

[0007] While the housing 1a of the vibration damper 1 is made of a steel material, the support strut 2 is made of a light metal alloy. These two components are to be firmly and permanently connected to each other. For this purpose, the end section of the support strut 2 facing the vibration damper 1 is designed as a suitable receptacle for a friction weld connection with the vibration damper housing 1a and has a so-called base 2a for this purpose, which is aligned parallel to the base 1a* of the vibration damper housing 1a, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper 1 as usual.

[0008] One possible embodiment shows Fig. 1, wherein an annular protrusion E is provided on the base 1a* of the vibration damper housing 1a, i.e., the base 1a* is thicker than usual in the area of ​​this annular protrusion E, or thicker than the rest of the housing 1a. In the center of this protrusion E, however, an opening D is provided in the base 1a*, i.e., the base 1a* is not closed, with the said protrusion surrounding the opening D.

[0009] The aforementioned base 2a of the support strut 2 is similarly designed, i.e., it also features a projection E that significantly extends beyond the wider area of ​​this base 2a. These two annular projections E of base 1a* and base 2a form a friction weld connection RV between the vibration damper 1 and the support strut 2, with the reference arrow "RV" specifically pointing to the weld bead formed during the creation of this friction weld connection. A blind-hole-shaped recess is provided centrally within the projection E of base 2a of the support strut 2, which aligns with the opening D in base 1a*, so that the housing 1a of the vibration damper 1 is effectively closed by base 2a of the support strut 2 (downwards in the figure). Furthermore, a connecting arm 5 for a pendulum support is provided on the outer side of the projection E of base 2a of the support strut 2.

[0010] A significantly simpler design is one that is Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which the housing 1a of the vibration damper 1 no longer has its own base in the lower part of the figure, but is only closed by the base 2a of the support strut 2. Here, the receptacle for the vibration damper housing 1a provided on the support strut 2 is cup-shaped, and the friction weld connection RV is formed between the free end of the vertical wall of the vibration damper housing 1a (as a "protrusion" E) in the figure and the free end of a so-called cup wall section 2b of the receptacle of the support strut 2 (also as a "protrusion" E). On the outside of the cup wall section 2b of the receptacle, which still has a base 2a, a connecting arm for a pendulum support is again provided.Furthermore, it is evident that – as is typical for friction welds between steel and aluminum – the width of the projection E of the steel component, i.e., the vibration damper housing 1a, measured radially with respect to the axis of rotation of this friction weld RV, is slightly larger than that of the projection E of the aluminum component, i.e., the mounting of the support strut 2 or, in this case, the cup wall section 2b. The same applies to the radial dimension of the projections E in the other two embodiments.

[0011] Even in the exemplary embodiment according Fig.In the third embodiment, the receptacle for the support strut 2 is cup-shaped, but its base 2a (apart from the cup wall section 2b) has an annular projection E. Corresponding to this projection E of the base 2a, an annular projection E is provided on the completely closed base 1a* of the vibration damper housing 1a in this embodiment. These two projections E again form the friction weld connection RV between the vibration damper housing 1a and the support strut 2. Looking radially, a space is formed both inside and outside these projections E, into which the weld bead (RV) formed during the creation of the friction weld connection RV can extend – the same applies analogously to the other embodiments. The diameter of this "cup", i.e.,The inner diameter of the circular cylindrical pot wall section 2b of the said receptacle of the support strut 2 is dimensioned such that the cylindrical outer wall of the housing 1a of the vibration damper 1 does not abut this pot wall section 2b, but the gap between this pot wall section 2b and the housing 1a is as narrow as possible.

Claims

[1] Vibration damper (1) in the chassis of a vehicle, the housing (1a) of which is made of a steel material is connected to a support strut (2) made of a light metal alloy, the end of which facing away from the housing (1a) is supported on or forms a wheel guidance element, characterized by , that the support strut (2) is connected to the housing (1a) via a friction weld connection. [2] Vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein for the formation of the friction weld connection on the bottom (1 a*) of the housing (1a) and on the bottom (2a) of a receptacle provided on the support strut (2) for the bottom end section of the housing (1a) an annular elevation (E) is provided in each case. [3] Vibration damper according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle is cup-shaped.

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