Pendulum support for supporting an aggregate in a motor vehicle

Abstract

Pendulum support for supporting an assembly in a motor vehicle, comprising: a first connection section (1), a second connection section (2) which is spaced from the first connection section (1), a support arm (3) extending between the first and second connecting sections (1, 2), and a vibration damper mechanism (4) for at least partially damping mechanical vibrations of the support arm (3), which has an absorber mass (5) and an absorber spring (6, 7) supporting it elastically and is connected to the support arm (3), characterized in that the vibration damper mechanism (4) is detachably coupled to the support arm (3) and is designed as an assembly which is screwed to the support arm (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pendulum support for supporting an assembly in a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The assembly can in particular be an internal combustion engine or a transmission.

[0002] A pendulum support is known from DE 197 31 128 A1. In this case, a bushing element is provided in the area of ​​a first connection section, which supports an insert made of an elastomer material. In the area of ​​a second connection section, a support surface is formed, via which the pendulum support can be supported on a bearing block, which in turn is made of an elastomer material. A support arm, made of cast aluminum, extends between the two connection sections.

[0003] A generic pendulum support with a vibration damper mechanism is also known from WO 02 / 042 660 A1 and JP 4 801 034 B2.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating an alternative pendulum support for supporting an assembly in a motor vehicle, which is characterized by a cost-effective construction and offers advantages from an acoustic point of view.

[0005] This object is achieved by a pendulum support having the features of patent claim 1 and by a pendulum support having the features of patent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of further patent claims.

[0006] By incorporating the vibration damper mechanism into the pendulum support, it is advantageously possible to support an internal combustion engine or a transmission on the body, an engine mount, or in particular, a subframe of a motor vehicle, while at the same time achieving, via the pendulum support, at least a substantial reduction in vibrations in acoustically critical frequency ranges that would otherwise be transmitted to the body area via the pendulum support. The integration of the vibration damper mechanism into the pendulum support can be achieved with advantageous use of hollow, internal, and / or immediately surrounding spaces of the support arm, so that the total space requirement of the pendulum support according to the invention is not, or at least only slightly, greater than the installation space requirement of the support arm itself.

[0007] The inventive concept of integrating a vibration damper into a pendulum support, particularly into its support arm, can advantageously reduce interior noise and / or the transmission of other vibrations at a specifically selected speed and load when used in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, it becomes possible to design any elastic coupling systems provided in the area of ​​the vehicle-side and engine-side connection for other vibration events, thus achieving a decoupling of an overall broader spectrum of unwanted vibrations and an even better overall tuning of the pendulum support's transmission behavior.

[0008] In the pendulum support according to the invention, the damper mass together with the damper spring forms a vibration-capable system whose natural frequency is adjusted to the vibration frequency of the assembly to be eliminated, i.e., the internal combustion engine or transmission. At this frequency, the damper mass can perform large deflections. The forces at the attachment point on the support arm therefore also become large, and at this frequency, the vibration damper extracts vibration energy from the support arm for its own vibrational movements. The vibration damper mechanism according to the invention can be designed to primarily dampen vibrations that occur in a specific spatial direction.Thus, the vibration damper mechanism can be designed to dampen vibrations that, for example, primarily run in the direction of a support axis extending between the first and second connection sections. However, the inventive concept also enables effective dampening of vibrations in other spatial directions, particularly spatial directions oriented perpendicular to the support axis. Furthermore, the vibration damper mechanism according to the invention can also be designed to dampen or reduce vibrations of different frequencies and / or amplitudes in different spatial directions.For example, the damper mechanism according to the invention can be designed such that it damps or reduces vibrations at a specific frequency in the direction of a structurally defined axis, while damping vibrations at a different frequency in a different axial direction is achieved. Furthermore, the damper mechanism can also be configured such that it damps or reduces torsional vibrations of the support arm.

[0009] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the damper spring is made of an elastomer material and supports the damper mass against the support arm.

[0010] The support arm has a first and a second side wall extending in the direction of the support axis. The two side walls are spaced apart from each other, and the damper mass is accommodated in a space defined between the two side walls. The support arm can be formed, in particular, as a formed sheet metal part or as a cast component, in particular made of a light metal alloy.

[0011] Furthermore, a first and a second bracket are provided on the support arm, each of which can be formed on the support arm or welded thereto. The damper spring has a first elastomer element and a second elastomer element, with the first elastomer element being connected to the first bracket and the second elastomer element being connected to the second bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket are designed to connect the two side walls to each other.

[0012] When the pendulum support is designed as a sheet metal formed part, the brackets can be provided as structures formed integrally by forming or can also be formed as elements fixed to the support arm, for example by welding points.

[0013] The damper mass is also arranged in a receiving space defined between the two mounts and, in turn, between the two elastomer elements. The damper mass can also be guided through wall sections of the support arm. The damper mass can also be designed as a multi-part structure, for example, comprising several sections connected by elastomer elements.

[0014] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pendulum support according to the invention can be designed such that the support arm extends along a support axis running between the first connecting section and the second connecting section and comprises a base layer which also extends in the direction of the support axis and connects the two side cheeks to one another. The support arm is then designed, for example, as a U-profile. This design is particularly advantageous for implementing the pendulum support as a formed sheet metal part. A receiving space can be defined via the side cheeks, in which the damper mass can be inserted in conjunction with the damper spring. The damper spring can be manufactured as a geometrically complex shaped molded part which, in addition to its function as a spring, also functions as a connecting component via which the damper mass is elastically coupled to the support arm.The damper spring can be designed such that, with temporary elastic deformation, the damper mass can be inserted into an interior space of the damper spring. The assembly thus formed can then be inserted into a designated interior area of ​​the support arm. Fixing structures are provided via the damper spring to anchor or secure the damper spring to the support arm. The support arm can also be designed to have an H-shaped cross-section, O-shaped cross-section, or another cross-section that allows for advantageous and space-saving connection of the damper mechanism. It is also possible to attach multiple vibration damper mechanisms to the support arm, each designed for different frequencies and / or different vibration directions.

[0015] The pendulum support can further be designed such that the two side cheeks form a forked structure in one end region of the support arm, and the first connection section is located in the region of this forked structure. A bushing arrangement can then be accommodated in the forked structure to create the first connection section, which in turn provides an elastic coupling of the pendulum support to the assembly, in particular the internal combustion engine or the transmission. The pendulum support can also advantageously be designed such that the side cheeks and the base layer are connected to a bushing section, whereby this bushing section can then, for example, form the second connection section.

[0016] The vibration absorber mechanism can be designed to also include a damping device. This damping device can be configured, in particular, to accommodate a viscous medium, and the damping effect is achieved by displacing this viscous medium within a chamber or sponge system. Thus, a fluid chamber system can be formed, in which this viscous medium is accommodated, particularly through appropriate design of the absorber mass and the support arm. Sealing of this fluid chamber system can be achieved via the absorber spring made of an elastomer material.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the vibration damper mechanism can be designed so that it can be selectively locked. This locking can be achieved, in particular, by locking mechanisms that comprise a locking element that can be electromechanically moved into a locked or released position. It is possible to detect the damping behavior of the vibration damper mechanism using signals and to influence its operation by means of electronic signal processing. The vibration damper mechanism can also be designed as an active vibration damper, which is controlled in a manner tailored to the amplitude and phase position of the disturbing vibration.

[0018] In the pendulum support according to the invention, the damper is located as an internal mechanism in the pendulum support and is thus connected directly downstream of the "disturber". The internal damper can be implemented with virtually no space requirements for conventional pendulum supports. The internal damper integrated into the pendulum support can also be used for a purely damping effect. The internal damper can also be designed to reduce vibration transmission in several spatial directions, i.e. the damper can be designed to absorb vibrations in several directions, if necessary even at different frequencies.

[0019] The damper mass can advantageously be vulcanized into the pendulum support, so that the pendulum support comprises a vulcanized spring-mass system. Alternatively, the vibration damper mechanism can also be designed so that it can be arranged on or around the pendulum support, provided sufficient space is available.

[0020] Furthermore, the vibration damper mechanism can also be mounted on the pendulum support in the area of ​​a round / oval bearing formed on the pendulum support.

[0021] Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a pendulum support according to the invention with a vibration damper mechanism integrated therein with a damper mass and two damper spring elements which are formed from an elastomer material; Fig. 2 a view of the interior of the pendulum support according to Fig. 1 to further illustrate its structure; Fig. 3 a diagram illustrating the transmission characteristics of acoustically relevant mechanical vibrations of a pendulum support according to the invention in comparison to the transmission characteristics of a pendulum support in a conventional design.

[0022] The representation according to Fig. Figure 1 shows, in perspective, an embodiment of a pendulum support according to the invention for supporting an assembly in a motor vehicle. The pendulum support comprises a first connection section 1, a second connection section 2 spaced apart from the first connection section 1, and a support arm 3 extending between the first and second connection sections 1, 2.

[0023] The support arm 3 is manufactured as a formed sheet metal part and has a U-profile cross-section in a sectional plane E aligned essentially radially to a support axis X connecting the two connection sections.

[0024] The pendulum support according to the invention is characterized in that a vibration damper mechanism 4 is connected to the support arm 3 for at least partially damping mechanical vibrations of the support arm. The vibration damper mechanism 4 comprises a damper mass 5 and a damper spring 6, 7 that elastically supports the damper mass. In the illustrated embodiment, the damper spring 6, 7 is made of an elastomer material and supports the damper mass 5 relative to the support arm 3.

[0025] The support arm 3 comprises a first and a second side cheek 8, 9 running in the direction of the support axis X, wherein the two side cheeks 8, 9 are spaced apart from one another and the damper mass 5 is accommodated in a space defined between the two side cheeks. A first and a second holder 10, 11 are formed on the support arm 3. The damper spring 6, 7 has a first elastomer element 6a and a second elastomer element 7a, wherein the first elastomer element 6a is connected to the first holder 10 and the second elastomer element 7a is connected to the second holder 11. The elastomer elements 6a, 7a are each vulcanized via a first and a second vulcanization zone to a screw connection inserted into the holders 10, 11 and are thus connected to the support arm 3 via the holders 10, 11.

[0026] The damper mass 5 is arranged in a receiving space defined between the two brackets 10, 11, between the two elastomer elements 6a, 7a. The first bracket 10 and the second bracket 11 each connect the two side walls 8, 9 to each other. The support arm 3 extends along the support axis X running between the first connection section 1 and the second connection section 2 and comprises a base layer 12, which also extends in the direction of the support axis X and connects the two side walls 8, 9 to each other.

[0027] In the area of ​​the first connection section 1, the two side walls 8, 9 end in a fork structure, the prongs 8a, 9a of which then form the first connection section 1. The second connection section 2 can be realized, as shown here, by, for example, connecting the side walls 8, 9 and the base layer 12 to a bushing section 13, in particular by welding them to it, which then represents the second connection section 2.

[0028] Although not further illustrated here, it is possible to design the vibration damper mechanism 4 such that it includes a damping device. This damping device can, for example, accommodate a viscous medium, in which case the damping effect can be achieved by throttling the displacement of that viscous medium.

[0029] The support arm 3 can also be manufactured as a sheet metal formed part in such a way that the bushing section 13 results from the forming process as a workpiece section formed integrally with the side walls 8, 9 from the starting material.

[0030] The damper mass, for example, has a mass in the range of 80 to 200 g. The vibration amplitude relative to the support arm is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 1.5 mm. When tuning the vibration damper mechanism 4, the coupling properties of the elastomer systems provided in the two connection sections 1, 2 are preferably taken into account.

[0031] In the illustration according to Fig. Figure 2 further illustrates the structure of the pendulum support according to the invention. As already explained, the vibration damper mechanism 4 is at least partially accommodated in a pendulum support interior defined between the side walls 8, 9 and the base layer 12. The brackets 10, 11 are welded to the side walls 8, 9 of the pendulum support via welds 14, 15, for example. The integration of the vibration damper mechanism 4 into the pendulum support can also be accomplished in a structurally different manner. Thus, the brackets 10, 11 can be manufactured by forming certain sections of the pendulum support. It is also possible to form recesses in the pendulum support and guide the damper mass 5 into these recesses via elastomeric intermediate elements. Finally, it is also possible to simply provide holes in the pendulum support, through which the vibration damper mechanism 4 can be screwed to the support arm 3 as a prefabricated assembly.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, two rigid support cones 4a, 4b are formed on the damper mass 4, which engage in complementary recesses in the elastomer elements 7a, 6a. The elastomer elements 6a, 7a are vulcanized onto screw studs 6b, 7b, which are inserted into corresponding holes in the brackets 10, 11 and secured with nuts 6c, 7c. The brackets 10, 11 are designed to transmit the forces generated by the vibration damper mechanism 4 into the support arm 3.

[0033] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is a test variant. The vibration damper mechanism 4, which partially protrudes beyond the interior of the pendulum support, can also be designed such that it is essentially completely accommodated in an interior space defined between the side walls 8, 9. Particularly when the pendulum support is designed as a rod- or tube-like structure, the vibration damper mechanism 4 can also be located on or within this structure. The vibration damper mechanism 4 can also be designed as an active vibration damper mechanism 4.

[0034] The damper mass 5, together with the two-part damper spring 6, 7, forms a vibratory system whose natural frequency is adjusted to the vibration frequency of the unit to be eliminated, i.e., the internal combustion engine or the transmission, in particular in one. At this frequency, the damper mass 5 oscillates with a large amplitude, out of phase with the excitation in the first connection section 1. Forces therefore act on the brackets 10, 11, through which the vibration damper 4 extracts vibration energy from the support arm 3 for its own vibration movements. These vibration movements preferably occur primarily in the direction of the support axis X extending between the first and second connection sections 1, 2.

[0035] The representation according to Fig.Figure 3 shows a measurement diagram illustrating the influence of the vibration damper mechanism integrated into a pendulum support according to the invention on the transmission behavior. Graph G1 shows the oscillation acceleration of the pendulum support according to the invention as a function of the speed of an internal combustion engine causing the excitation vibrations in a direction transverse to the support axis. Graph G2 shows the oscillation acceleration in a direction transverse to the support axis for a conventional pendulum support. In a statistically dominant operating speed range of 2500 rpm to 4000 rpm, the pendulum support according to the invention results in a significant reduction in the transverse oscillation acceleration of the support arm compared to a conventional pendulum support.

[0036] The invention has been explained in more detail above using an exemplary embodiment and further modifications. In particular, individual technical features explained above in the context of further individual features can be implemented independently of these and in combination with other individual features, even if not expressly described, as long as this is technically possible. The invention is therefore expressly not limited to the described exemplary embodiment, but encompasses all configurations defined by the patent claims. List of reference symbols 1 connection section 2 connection section 3 support arm 4 Vibration absorber mechanism 5 absorber mass 6 absorber spring 6a Elastomer element 6b screw stud 6c nuts 7 absorber spring 7a Elastomer element 7b Screw stud 7c nuts 8 sidewall 9 Sidewall 10 Bracket 11 Bracket 12 Floor layer 13 Socket section 14 Welding point 15 Welding point G1 Graph G2 Graph X support axis

Claims

[1] Pendulum support for supporting an assembly in a motor vehicle, comprising: a first connection section (1), a second connection section (2) which is spaced from the first connection section (1), a support arm (3) extending between the first and second connecting sections (1, 2), and a vibration damper mechanism (4) for at least partially damping mechanical vibrations of the support arm (3), which has an absorber mass (5) and an absorber spring (6, 7) supporting it elastically and is connected to the support arm (3), characterized by , that the vibration damper mechanism (4) is detachably coupled to the support arm (3) and is designed as an assembly which is screwed to the support arm (3). [2] Pendulum support according to claim 1, characterized bythat the damper spring (6, 7) is made of an elastomer material and supports the damper mass (5) relative to the support arm (3). [3] Pendulum support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by in that the support arm (3) comprises a first and a second side cheek (8, 9) extending in the direction of the support axis (X), wherein the two side cheeks (8, 9) are spaced apart from one another and the absorber mass (5) is received in an intermediate space defined between the two side cheeks (8, 9). [4] Pendulum support according to claim 3, characterized bythat a first and a second holder (10, 11) are formed on the support arm (3) or a first and a second holder (10, 11) are welded to the side cheeks (8, 9) of the pendulum support via welds (14, 15), and that the damper spring (6, 7) has a first elastomer element (6a) and a second elastomer element (7a), wherein the first elastomer element (6a) is connected to the first holder (10) and the second elastomer element (7a) is connected to the second holder (11). [5] Pendulum support according to claim 4, characterized by that the first holder (10) and the second holder (11) connect the two side cheeks (8, 9) to one another and the absorber mass (5) is arranged in a receiving space defined between the two holders (10, 11) between the two elastomer elements (6a, 7a). [6] Pendulum support according to claim 5, characterized bythat the support arm (3) extends along the support axis (X) running between the first connecting section (1) and the second connecting section (2) and has a base layer (12) which extends in the direction of the support axis (X) and connects the two side cheeks (8, 9) to one another. [7] Pendulum support according to claim 6, characterized by that the side walls (8, 9) and the base layer (12) are connected to a bushing section (13) and this bushing section (13) forms the second connection section (2). [8] Pendulum support according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the two side walls (8, 9) form a fork structure and the first connection section (1) is located in the area of ​​this fork structure. [9] Pendulum support according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the vibration damper mechanism (4) comprises a damping device, and that the damping device accommodates a viscous medium and the damping effect can be brought about by displacement of that viscous medium. [10] Pendulum support according to claim 1 or the preamble of claim 1, wherein the support arm (3) has a first and a second side cheek (8, 9) extending in the direction of a support axis (X), wherein the two side cheeks (8, 9) are spaced apart from each other to form a gap between them, wherein the damper mass (5) is received in the gap defined between the two side cheeks (8, 9) and the damper spring (6, 7) is formed by elastomer elements, wherein a first holder (10) and a second holder (11) are provided on the support element, and wherein the damper mass (5) is arranged in a receiving space defined between the two holders (10, 11) and is connected to the first holder (10) via a first elastomer element (6a) and to the second holder (11) via a second elastomer element (6a), characterized by , that the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (11) each connect the two side cheeks (8, 9) to each other.

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