strut bearing

Abstract

Strut bearing (1) with a cap (2) and with a guide ring (3) rotatably mounted relative to the cap (2) about an axis of rotation (D) and at least one seal (6), wherein a bearing (4) is arranged between the cap (2) and the guide ring (3) and that a shock absorber spring (8) is assigned to the guide ring (3), characterized in that the guide ring (3) and the shock absorber spring (8) are formed in one piece.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a suspension strut bearing, with a cap and with a guide ring mounted relative to the cap so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and with at least one seal, wherein a bearing is arranged between the cap and the guide ring and a shock absorber spring is assigned to the guide ring. Background of the invention

[0002] Strut mounts are part of the wheel suspension in independent wheel suspensions. The wheel suspension supports the desired driving safety and ride comfort, as well as easy and precise steering of the wheels. The wheel suspension should isolate road noise from the body and be as lightweight as possible. Depending on the design, the strut mount guides the shock absorber spring and forms a support surface for the shock absorber's end stop. The strut mount absorbs the radial and axial forces transmitted via the shock absorber spring or shock absorber and ensures that the shock absorber spring rotates with low friction and tension during steering and compression, thus operating without restoring torque.

[0003] Strut mounts are often part of so-called McPherson struts. The strut itself comprises a telescopic shock absorber with a piston rod movably guided in a cylinder, and a shock absorber spring surrounding the shock absorber, which serves as the vehicle's suspension spring. The strut mount is equipped with a cap attached to the chassis-side strut tower, as well as a guide ring on which the shock absorber spring is supported and guided. The guide ring is mounted so it can rotate relative to the cap. The bearing allows the spring to rotate relative to the body when steering, since the entire strut rotates when the steering wheel is turned.

[0004] DE 10 2011 085 554 A1 discloses a strut bearing comprising a cap and a guide ring that can rotate relative to the cap. A bearing is arranged between the cap and the guide ring. The guide ring has a sleeve-shaped extension that serves to support a shock absorber spring.

[0005] DE 10 2012 215 911 A1 describes a strut mount with a cap and a guide ring mounted rotatably relative to the cap. The guide ring has a surface with a damping element on which a shock absorber spring rests. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a strut mount which has a lower mass and is of simple construction.

[0007] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a strut bearing with a cap and with a guide ring mounted relative to the cap so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and with at least one seal, wherein a bearing is arranged between the cap and the guide ring and that a shock absorber spring is assigned to the guide ring, wherein the guide ring and the shock absorber spring are formed in one piece.

[0008] Strut mounts consist of a cap and a guide ring that is securely connected to the cap, for example, by a snap connection. A bearing is located between the cap and the guide ring. Spring forces from the shock absorber spring are transmitted via the guide ring into the cap and from there via the top mount into the vehicle body.

[0009] The invention is based on the finding that a separately formed shock absorber spring can be dispensed with by forming the shock absorber spring directly with the guide ring. This has the advantage, on the one hand, of reducing the number of components to be assembled, and on the other hand, the guide ring and the shock absorber spring are manufactured as an integral component, thereby achieving the desired mass savings. The guide ring directly forms the shock absorber spring with a corresponding number of coils on the lower side facing away from the cap. The strut bearing according to the invention thus has a single, integral guide ring, which, on the one hand, assumes the function of the shock absorber spring and, on the other hand, the function of the guide ring attached to the bearing.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide ring is made of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. Preferably, the shock absorber spring is made of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. Because these two components are made of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic, it is possible to manufacture the component in a single step. For example, the guide ring with the integrated shock absorber spring can be manufactured in a single production step. It is also possible to manufacture the guide ring in a first production step and, in a second production step, to injection-mold the shock absorber spring onto the guide ring in order to obtain a single component. The glass-fiber-reinforced plastic ensures the necessary stability and rigidity of the guide ring. A polyamide, for example PA66-GF, can be provided as the glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. The plastic can be reinforced with short or long glass fibers.The advantage of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic is that it is resistant to environmental influences such as corrosion or chemicals. It is also possible to use another plastic or metal with similar properties. This is advantageous for achieving the desired weight savings. By eliminating denser materials such as steel or aluminum, significant weight savings can be achieved without any expected limitations in usability.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bearing is designed as a rolling bearing.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bearing is designed as a plain bearing.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the plain bearing is connected to the cap and / or to the guide ring in a form-fitting, material-fitting, or force-fitting manner. This prevents any rotational movement of the cap and the plain bearing and / or the guide ring and the plain bearing relative to one another. Such a configuration prevents the plain bearing from twisting or rotating relative to the cap and / or the plain bearing relative to the guide ring, or vice versa, when large forces act on the cap or the guide ring. If the plain bearing is injection-molded onto the cap and / or the guide ring, this means that the cap / guide ring and the plain bearing together form a single component. This component is designed as a two-component component. The two-component component is manufactured, for example, using a two-component injection molding process in which the two components, i.e.the cap / guide ring and the plain bearing are materially bonded to one another. For this purpose, the cap / guide ring is injection-molded in a first step and in a second step the plain bearing is injection-molded or integrally molded onto the cap / guide ring. By designing the strut bearing in this way, it is possible to reduce the total number of components of the strut bearing, i.e. from three components to two components. This has the advantage that material and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Secondly, assembly is simplified because only the cap and guide ring have to be put together. Positioning errors that can arise during assembly are avoided. In addition, greasing of such a strut bearing is only necessary between the plain bearing and the cap / guide ring.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the seal is designed as a labyrinth seal.

[0015] A further alternative embodiment of the invention provides for the seal to be designed as a sliding seal. Short description of the drawing

[0016] Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated below with reference to two figures. They show: Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through a suspension strut bearing according to the invention according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through a strut bearing according to the invention according to a second embodiment. Detailed description of the drawings

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a strut mount 1 according to the invention. The strut mount 1 has a cap 2 and a guide ring 3, which is mounted relative to the cap 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis D. The cap 2 is connected to the guide ring 3 by means of a snap connection 3a. The cap 2 is attached to a strut mount (not shown) of a motor vehicle chassis.

[0018] The guide ring 3 is mounted axially in the direction of the rotation axis D on the cap 2 via a bearing 4. The bearing 4 is designed as a rolling bearing 5 and serves to transmit forces acting along the rotation axis D from the guide ring 3 to the cap 2.

[0019] Between the guide ring 3 and the cap 2, a seal 6 is provided, which is designed as a sliding seal 7.

[0020] As from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the guide ring 3 of the strut mount 1 also performs the function of the shock absorber spring 8 or has it integrally formed. For this purpose, a first coil of the coil spring 8 is provided on a side of the guide ring 3 facing away from the cap 2. Spring forces from the shock absorber spring are transmitted via the guide ring 3 into the cap 2 and from there into the strut mount (not shown in detail).

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a strut mount 1 according to the invention. To simplify the description, identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the previous figure. Fig. 1. The description is limited to the distinguishing features of the Fig. 1.

[0022] The guide ring 3 is mounted on the cap 2 axially in the direction of the rotation axis D via a bearing 4, which is designed as a plain bearing 9. The plain bearing 9 serves to transmit forces acting along the rotation axis D from the guide ring 3 to the cap 2. The plain bearing 9 can be connected to the cap 2 and / or the guide ring 3 in a force-fitting, form-fitting or material-fitting manner. As can be seen from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the plain bearing 9 is injection-molded onto the guide ring 3.

[0023] A seal 6 is provided between the guide ring 3 and the cap 2. This seal 6 is designed as a labyrinth seal 10.

[0024] Also in Fig. 2, the guide ring 3 of the strut bearing 1 takes over the function of the shock absorber spring 8 or has this integrally formed. List of reference symbols D axis of rotation 1 strut bearing 2 caps 3 Guide ring 3a Snap connection 4 camps 5 rolling bearings 6 Seal 7 sliding seal 8 shock absorber spring 9 plain bearings 10 Labyrinth seal

Claims

[1] Suspension strut bearing (1) with a cap (2) and with a guide ring (3) mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (D) relative to the cap (2) and at least one seal (6), wherein a bearing (4) is arranged between the cap (2) and the guide ring (3) and that a shock absorber spring (8) is assigned to the guide ring (3), characterized by that the guide ring (3) and the shock absorber spring (8) are formed in one piece. [2] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide ring (3) is made of a glass fiber reinforced plastic. [3] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber spring (8) is formed from a glass fiber reinforced plastic. [4] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing (4) is designed as a rolling bearing (5). [5] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing (4) is designed as a plain bearing (9). [6] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to claim 5, wherein the sliding bearing (9) is connected to the cap (2) in a form-fitting, material-fitting or force-fitting manner and / or wherein the sliding bearing (9) is connected to the guide ring (3) in a form-fitting, material-fitting or force-fitting manner. [7] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (6) is designed as a labyrinth seal (10). [8] Suspension strut bearing (1) according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the seal (6) is designed as a sliding seal (7).

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