Wheel suspension for a vehicle body

Abstract

Wheel suspension (10) for a vehicle body (20), with the following features: - the wheel suspension (10) includes an upper wishbone (12), - the upper control arm (12) includes an actuator (14) and - the actuator (14) is arranged on the upper control arm (12) such that the upper control arm (12) is adjustable with respect to the vehicle body (20) in a vertical direction and a transverse direction of the vehicle body (20) extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, when the vehicle body (20) carries the wheel suspension (10), characterized by the following features: - the actuator (14) is an eccentric and - The eccentric includes a large worm gear and a worm and has an external bearing surface for mounting the control arm and - the worm gear has the bearing surface on the outside and is toothed with the worm on the inside.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel suspension for a vehicle body according to the preamble features of claim 1. State of the art

[0002] In automotive engineering, every component of the chassis that connects the body of a land vehicle to its wheels is collectively referred to as the wheel suspension. In addition to statically supporting the payload, the functions of the wheel suspension include transmitting dynamic forces. For this purpose, conventional wheel suspensions form a kinematic mechanism that allows the wheels a structurally predetermined, primarily vertical movement relative to the body.

[0003] DE 198 57 394 C2 discloses the subject matter of the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] DE 10 2006 055291 A1 relates to an independent wheel suspension for a motor vehicle for multiple articulation of a rear wheel carrier to a substructure of a vehicle body. The independent wheel suspension comprises a rear wheel carrier with a trailing arm section extending substantially in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, wherein the trailing arm section is pivotally mounted at a pivot point on the substructure by means of a link bearing. The independent wheel suspension is characterized by the provision of an actuator which interacts with the pivot point of the trailing arm section via an adjustment mechanism such that the position of the pivot point can be changed in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a wheel suspension for a vehicle body that enables adjustment in the Z and Y directions with a restrictive coupling and less effort on the wishbone bearings, more easily than with two separate actuators. This object is achieved according to claim 1.

[0006] One advantage of this solution lies in the favorable driving dynamics of the land vehicle equipped with a wheel suspension according to the invention. The proposed approach is based on the insight that the power transmission between the vehicle and the road via the tires has a significant influence on driving dynamics. Regardless of the tire choice, chassis-related measures must ensure that the tire is pressed onto the road with the correct force by the wheel and that the wheel is always aligned with the correct position and kinematic support by the wheel suspension.

[0007] Correctly positioning individual wheels in this way offers the advantage of allowing the optimal camber and slip angle to be set. In combination with adjustable stabilizers for roll compensation, the contact force can also be adjusted. This allows the handling to be adjusted within physical limits.

[0008] Correct kinematic support in the above sense offers the advantage that adverse restoring forces, vibrations, etc. occur only to a limited extent and are transmitted to the steering wheel. Furthermore, driving behavior can also be positively influenced to a certain extent.

[0009] In particular, adjusting the caster angle on the front axle has the potential to improve the driving experience through advantageous driving dynamics.

[0010] The adjustment of the wishbone pivot points relative to the vehicle body, enabled by the invention, in a vertical direction corresponding to the Z-axis of the vehicle coordinate system and a transverse axis corresponding to the Y-axis of the vehicle coordinate system, can thus modify the anti-squat compensation and the roll behavior around the X-axis. Furthermore, it allows, to a lesser extent, the adjustment of the track width and wheelbase.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the eccentric comprises a circumferential worm gear and a worm. The worm gear has a bearing surface on the outside and is toothed with the worm on the inside. The worm drive implemented in this way provides a self-locking mechanism. Short description of the drawings

[0012] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Fig. 1 shows the section of a wheel suspension in a first plane orthogonal to the X-axis of a vehicle coordinate system. Fig. 2 shows a detail of the Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 3 shows the section of the same wheel suspension in a second plane orthogonal to the Z-axis of the vehicle coordinate system. Fig. 4 shows the top view of an actuator in the form of an extender. Embodiments of the invention

[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates the basic design features of a first embodiment of the invention using the steered front axle of a sports car (not shown in its entirety in the drawing). The wheel suspension (10), in a design initially familiar to those skilled in the art, comprises an upper wishbone (12) and a lower wishbone (13). On the left side of the illustration, the upper wishbone (12) and the lower wishbone (13) are each connected by a support joint (15) to the wheel carrier carrying a wheel (11). On the right side of the illustration, however, the upper wishbone (12) and the lower wishbone (13) are each connected to the vehicle body (20) by a bearing bush.

[0014] As the detail according to Fig. 2 using the example of the lower wishbone (13), an eccentric is arranged on each bearing bush. Rotation of the eccentric about an axis of rotation running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body (20) allows - indicated graphically by double arrows in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 - to adjust the upper wishbone (12) or the lower wishbone (13) in the vertical and transverse directions relative to the vehicle body (20). Fig. 3 by a further double arrow (16), an indirect displacement of the wheel carrier is possible in this way, even parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0015] Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention using the upper wishbone (12), which is designed here as a triangular link. The eccentric is not located on the vehicle-side bearing bush, but rather on the ball joint (15) of the upper wishbone (12). As can be seen, the outer surface of the eccentric also serves as the bearing surface of the ball joint. The inner surface of the shell, designed as a worm wheel, is meshed with a worm (not shown in the drawing for reasons of simplicity) to form a worm gear, which allows for a required change between four different eccentric settings.

[0016] The Fig.The normal position shown in Figure 4 provides the wheel suspension (10) with a comparatively large caster angle, while in a second position (22) the wheel suspension (10) has a smaller caster angle. Finally, a third position (23) and a fourth position (24) allow the selection between a positive or negative camber angle of the wheel suspension (10).

Claims

[1] Wheel suspension (10) for a vehicle body (20), having the following features: - the wheel suspension (10) comprises an upper wishbone (12), - the upper wishbone (12) comprises an actuator (14) and - the actuator (14) is arranged on the upper wishbone (12) in such a way that the upper wishbone (12) is adjustable with respect to the vehicle body (20) in a vertical direction and a transverse direction of the vehicle body (20) extending transversely to the vertical direction when the vehicle body (20) carries the wheel suspension (10), characterized by following features: - the actuator (14) is an eccentric and - the eccentric comprises a circumferential worm wheel and a worm and has an external bearing surface for supporting the wishbone and - the worm wheel has the bearing surface on the outside and is toothed with the worm on the inside. [2] Wheel suspension (10) according to claim 1, characterized by following feature: - the upper wishbone (12) further comprises an upper bearing bush for connecting the upper wishbone (12) to the vehicle body (20) and - the actuator (14) is arranged on the upper bearing bush. [3] Wheel suspension (10) according to claim 2, characterized by following features: - the wheel suspension (10) further comprises a lower wishbone (13), - the lower wishbone (13) comprises a further actuator (14) and a lower bearing bush for connecting the lower wishbone (13) to the vehicle body (20) and - the further actuator (14) is arranged on the lower bearing bush in such a way that the lower wishbone (13) is also adjustable in the vertical direction and the transverse direction with respect to the vehicle body (20) when the vehicle body (20) carries the wheel suspension (10). [4] Wheel suspension (10) according to claim 1, characterized by following features: - the upper wishbone (12) is a triangular link, - the wishbone further comprises a support joint (15) for connecting the wishbone to a wheel carrier and - the actuator (14) is arranged on the support joint (15). [5] Wheel suspension (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by following feature: - the actuator (14) is configured such that the wishbone can assume a first position (21) in which the wheel suspension (10) has a large caster angle. [6] Wheel suspension (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by following feature: - the actuator (14) is configured such that the wishbone can assume a second position (22) in which the wheel suspension (10) has a small caster angle. [7] Wheel suspension (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by following feature: - the actuator (14) is configured such that the wishbone can assume a third position (23) in which the wheel suspension (10) has a positive camber angle. [8] Wheel suspension (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by following feature: - the actuator (14) is configured such that the wishbone can assume a fourth position (24) in which the wheel suspension (10) has a negative camber angle.

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