connecting strut

Abstract

Connecting strut (10) of a motor vehicle, with a hollow body (11) formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic, with a first bearing body (12) positioned at a first end of the hollow body (11), with a second bearing body (13) positioned at a second end of the hollow body (11), with bands (16) to absorb at least tensile forces acting on the connecting strut (10) during operation, wherein the belts (16) are guided on the bearing bodies (12, 13), wherein the bands (16) extend from a respective bearing body (12, 13) along the hollow body (11) in the direction of a respective opposite bearing body (13, 12), with an outer shell (17) made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the outer shell (17) surrounds the hollow body (11), the bearing bodies (12, 13) and the belts (16) at least partially on the outside, wherein in the area of ​​the two opposite ends of the hollow body (11) between the bands (16) which are guided on the bearing bodies (12, 13) and extend along the hollow body (11) and the outer shell (17) or externally adjoining the outer shell (17) groove pieces (27) made of fiber reinforced plastic are positioned, each forming a groove (24) for the engagement of a sealing element (25) of a protective cap (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting strut of a motor vehicle.

[0002] DE 10 2013 007 284 A1 discloses a connecting strut for a motor vehicle, which is used, for example, as a chassis component, in particular as an anchor, stabilizer, or the like. The connecting strut known from this prior art has a rod section, with both ends of the rod section forming bearing eyes, each of which runs transversely to a longitudinal axis of the rod section. The connecting strut of DE 10 2013 007 284 A1 is made at least partially of a fiber-reinforced plastic, which is at least partially formed by prepregs.

[0003] US 4,841,801 A shows a connecting strut with a solid central section made of solid material and bearing bodies at its lateral ends. Layers of a composite material extend along the solid central body and along the bearing bodies.

[0004] DE 10 2012 211 019 A1 discloses further prior art.

[0005] There is a need to improve a connecting strut of a motor vehicle, particularly one designed as a chassis link, so that it can more effectively absorb tensile and compressive forces. The object of the invention is to create a novel connecting strut. This object is achieved by a connecting strut according to claim 1.

[0006] The connecting strut according to the invention has a hollow body which is formed from a fibre-reinforced plastic.

[0007] The connecting strut according to the invention further comprises bearing bodies, wherein a first bearing body is positioned at a first end of the hollow body and a second bearing body is positioned at a second end of the hollow body.

[0008] The connecting strut according to the invention further comprises bands for absorbing at least tensile forces, wherein the bands are guided on the bearing bodies and extend from a respective bearing body along the hollow body in the direction of a respective opposite bearing body.

[0009] The connecting strut according to the invention further comprises an outer shell which is formed from a fibre-reinforced plastic and which surrounds the hollow body, the bearing bodies and the bands at least in sections.

[0010] In the area of ​​the two opposite ends of the hollow body between the bands, which are guided on the bearing bodies and extend along the hollow body, and the outer shell or externally adjacent to the outer shell, groove pieces made of fiber-reinforced plastic are positioned, each forming a groove for the engagement of a sealing element of a protective cap.

[0011] The connecting strut according to the invention consisting of the hollow body, the bearing bodies, the bands and the outer shell can optimally absorb tensile forces and compressive forces acting on the connecting strut during operation.

[0012] Preferably, the hollow body has a vaulted cross-section. This allows compressive forces acting on the connecting strut during operation to be absorbed particularly effectively.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the fibers of the hollow body are provided by at least 70% and a maximum of 90% unidirectional fibers, with the remainder being made up of fibers from a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric. Fibers of the outer shell are provided by at least 40% and a maximum of 60% unidirectional fibers, with the remainder being made up of fibers from a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric. The bearing bodies are designed as metallic elements wrapped with unidirectional fibers and / or unidirectional tapes. With such a design of the connecting strut, tensile and compressive forces acting on the connecting strut during operation can be optimally absorbed.

[0014] According to a further development, inserts made of fiber-reinforced plastic are positioned between the ends of the hollow body and the bearing bodies, with the fibers of the inserts being provided by fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric, and with the bands guided on the bearing bodies and extending from a respective bearing body along the hollow body overlapping the inserts at least in sections. The inserts serve to optimally transmit compressive forces into the hollow body.

[0015] According to a further development, the hollow body and the outer shell, as well as any inserts present, are each made of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. The bands are each made of carbon fiber. This allows compressive forces acting on the connecting strut during operation to be absorbed particularly effectively.

[0016] Preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Herein: Fig. 1 a plan view of a first connecting strut according to the invention; Fig. 2 a cross-section through the connecting strut of the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 the detail III with force arrows; Fig. 4 the detail IV; Fig. 5a-5g different manufacturing steps in the assembly of the connecting strut of the Fig. 1 to 4; Fig. 6 a plan view of a second connecting strut according to the invention; Fig. 7 the connecting strut of the Fig. 6 in a top view rotated by 90°; Fig. 8 a detail of a third connecting strut according to the invention; and Fig. 9 the detail of the Fig. 8 in perspective view.

[0017] Fig. 1 to 4 show different views and details of a first connecting strut 10 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, which is preferably designed as a control arm of a chassis.

[0018] The connecting strut 10 of the Fig. 1 to 4 has a hollow body 11 which is made of a fibre-reinforced plastic.

[0019] Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-like hollow body 11, a first bearing body 12 is positioned from a first end of the hollow body 11 and a second bearing body 13 is positioned at an opposite second end of the hollow body 11.

[0020] The bearing bodies 12, 13 provide bearing eyes 14. Bearing bolts 15 extend through the bearing eyes 14 of the bearing bodies 12, 13, which serve to connect the connecting strut 10 to components (not shown) of a motor vehicle, in particular a chassis of a motor vehicle.

[0021] In addition to the hollow body 11 and the bearing bodies 12, 13, the connecting strut 10 has unidirectional bands or UD bands 16, which serve at least to absorb tensile forces acting on the connecting strut 10 during operation.

[0022] The bands 16 are guided on the bearing bodies 12, 13 and extend from a respective bearing body 12, 13 along the hollow body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof in the direction of the respective opposite bearing body 13, 12.

[0023] Furthermore, the connecting strut 10 has an outer shell 17. The outer shell 17 is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic. The outer shell 17 surrounds the hollow body 11, the bearing bodies 12, 13, and the strips 16, at least in sections. The outer shell 17 leaves the bearing eyes 14 free in the area of ​​the bearing bodies 12, 13 for the passage of the bearing pins 15.

[0024] As already explained, the hollow body 11 of the connecting strut 10, at the opposite ends of which a bearing body 12, 13 is arranged, is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0025] The fibers of this hollow body 11 are provided to a minimum of 70% and a maximum of 90% by unidirectional fibers, with the remainder being made up of fibers from a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric. Particularly preferably, the fibers of the hollow body 11 are provided to a maximum of approximately 80% or 80% by unidirectional fibers, and the remainder to a maximum of 20% or approximately 20% by fibers from a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric. These fibers are embedded in a plastic matrix material.

[0026] The unidirectional fibers preferably all extend in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body 11 and thus of the connecting strut. The fibers of the multidirectional fiber fabric or knitted fabric intersect each other and preferably run transversely to the longitudinal direction.

[0027] The hollow body 11 is provided by wrapping a core made of, for example, a foam material with the fibers intended to provide the hollow body 11, said fibers being embedded in a matrix material made of plastic.

[0028] Subsequently, the foam core is removed through an opening 11a in the hollow body 11, leaving a cavity 11b in the hollow body 11. The opening 11a is closed by a plug 11c.

[0029] The bearing bodies 12, 13, which are positioned at both ends of the hollow body 11, are preferably designed as metallic elements made of preferably stainless steel, which are wrapped by unidirectional fibers and / or unidirectional bands 18.

[0030] The bearing bodies 12, 13 are formed by metallic rings which have a groove 19 on their outer side for receiving preferably unidirectional bands 18.

[0031] According to Fig. 5d, which shows a cross section through Fig. As shown in Figure 5c, several layers of unidirectional bands 18 are positioned in the groove 19 of the bearing bodies 12, 13 designed as metallic rings, all of which circulate in the circumferential direction of the respective bearing body 12, 13.

[0032] The outer shell 17 of the connecting strut 10, which is also made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, completely surrounds the hollow body 11 on the outside, the bearing bodies 12, 13 are wrapped in sections by the outer shell 17 on their circumference, leaving the bearing eyes 14 free.

[0033] The fibers of this outer sheath 11 are provided to a minimum of 40% and a maximum of 60% by unidirectional fibers, with the remainder being fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric. Preferably, 50% or approximately 50% of the fibers of the outer sheath 17 are unidirectional fibers, and the remainder are fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric.

[0034] As already explained, the fibers of the multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knitted fabric are fibers that form a woven or knitted fabric.

[0035] The fibers of the fiber fabric or fiber knit in the outer shell 11 cross each other, run transversely to the longitudinal direction and enclose an angle of greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably an angle of 45° or approximately 45°, with the longitudinal direction of the connecting strut 11.

[0036] The hollow body 11 has a vault-like contour in cross-section. At its two opposite ends, in the region of which the bearing bodies 12, 13 are positioned, vault-like converging boundary walls 20 enclose an angle ⌷ of between 40° and 60°, preferably 50° or approximately 50°. This is particularly preferred for the absorption of compressive forces.

[0037] Fig. Figure 3 visualizes the tensile forces acting on the connecting strut 10 with first arrows I and the corresponding compressive forces with second arrows II. Tensile forces I are primarily absorbed by the bands 16, which preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting strut 10. Compressive forces II are transferred to the hollow body 11 via the arch-like contoured ends of the hollow body 11, which are acted upon by the bearing bodies 12, 13.

[0038] In order to support the introduction of compressive forces from the bearing bodies 12, 13 into the hollow body 12, inserts 21 are positioned between the ends of the hollow body 11 and the bearing bodies 12, 13.

[0039] Preferably, two such inserts 21 are arranged in the region of each end of the hollow body 11 between the respective end of the hollow body 11 and the respective bearing body 12, 13 (see in particular Fig. 5a), wherein the inserts 21 fill cavities between the arch-like contoured ends of the hollow body 11 and the ring-like bearing bodies 12, 13.

[0040] The inserts 21 are made of a fiber-reinforced material, wherein the fibers of the inserts 21 are provided by fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric, preferably 100% by fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric.

[0041] The inserts 21 can be arranged in the area of ​​the ends of the hollow body 11 via unidirectional bands 22 (see Fig. 5b). These unidirectional bands 22 preferably form an angle of 90° with the longitudinal direction of the connecting strut 10. These unidirectional bands 22 wrap around the ends of the hollow body 11 and the inserts 21 on the outside, at least in sections.

[0042] The unidirectional bands 16, which extend over the hollow body 11 and over the bearing bodies 12, 13 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting strut (see Fig. 5e), cover both the inserts 21 and the unidirectional bands 22 in sections.

[0043] In the example of Fig. 1 to 4, in the region of one end of the connecting strut 10, namely in the region of one of the two opposite ends of the hollow body 11, a thickening 23 with a groove 24 for the entry of a sealing element 25 of a protective cap 26 is formed.

[0044] The material thickening 23 is provided by at least one grooved piece 27, which is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic and is positioned in the region of the respective end of the hollow body between the bands 16, which are guided on the bearing bodies 12, 13 and extend along the hollow body 11, and the outer shell 17. In contrast, such a grooved piece 27 can also be applied externally to the outer shell 17. The respective grooved piece 27 is provided by fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric, preferably 100% by fibers of a multidirectional fiber woven or knitted fabric.

[0045] The hollow body 11, the outer shell 17, and any inserts 21 and grooved pieces 27 are preferably made of a carbon fiber-reinforced material. The bands 16, 19, and 22 are preferably made of carbon fiber.

[0046] In Fig. 1 to 4, the bearing bodies 12, 13 have an identical alignment, and the axes of the bearing eyes 14 are therefore parallel. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shows an embodiment in which the bearing bodies 12, 13 and thus the bearing eyes 14 provided by the bearing bodies are rotated by 90° relative to each other, so that the axes of the bearing eyes 14 are not parallel but perpendicular to each other. Regarding the remaining details, however, reference can be made to the above explanations.

[0047] In the example of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 engages a protective cap 26 at both ends of the connecting strut 10, so that at both ends of the connecting strut 10 adjacent to the ends of the hollow body 11 there are groove pieces 27 for forming the respective material thickening 23 providing the respective groove 24.

[0048] Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show a detail of a connecting strut 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention, which, in contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 4 and Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 has no inserts 21. Due to the omission of the inserts 21, pocket-like depressions 28 then form in the transition region between the ends of the hollow body 11 and the bearing bodies 12, 13. The bands 16, which are guided on the bearing bodies 12, 13 and extend along the hollow body 11 in the direction of the respective opposite bearing body 13, 12, then extend into these pocket-like depressions 28.

[0049] How Fig. 5a to 5g can be taken, is used to produce the Fig. 1 to 4, the procedure is such that first the hollow body 11 is provided and in the area of ​​its opposite ends two inserts 21 are arranged (see Fig. 5a). The inserts 21 are attached to the hollow body 11 via the unidirectional bands 22 (see Fig. 5b), which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow body 11. Subsequently, the metallic, ring-like bearing bodies 12, 13 are provided, which are preferably wrapped circumferentially with several unidirectional bands 18 (see Fig. 5c, Fig. 5d), which serve to improve the connection of the bearing bodies 12, 13 with the hollow body 11 and the unidirectional bands 16.

[0050] Subsequently, the unidirectional bands 16 are provided (see Fig. 5e), which extend from the bearing bodies 12, 13 across the hollow body 11 in the direction of the respective opposite bearing body 13, 12. The bands 16 can extend only partially across the hollow body 11, preferably along the shortest path starting from one bearing body 12, 13 in the direction of the respective other bearing body 13, 12. The bands 16 primarily absorb tensile forces I. Compressive forces II are transmitted from the bearing bodies 12, 13 preferably via the inserts 21 to the arch-like contoured ends of the hollow body 11.

[0051] The outer shell is then formed (see Fig. 5f). The outer shell 17, which is also made of a fiber-reinforced plastic and comprises both unidirectional fibers and fibers of a multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knit, which preferably form an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with the longitudinal direction of the hollow body 11, serves to distribute the load and increase the transverse tensile strength. The groove pieces 27 can be applied externally to the outer shell 17 (see Fig. 5g).

[0052] The connecting strut 10 according to the invention is lightweight and can safely and reliably absorb high tensile and compressive forces acting on the connecting strut 10 during operation. The connecting strut 10 is preferably a chassis component, in particular a chassis link.

Claims

[1] Connecting strut (10) of a motor vehicle, with a hollow body (11) made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, with a first bearing body (12) positioned at a first end of the hollow body (11), with a second bearing body (13) positioned at a second end of the hollow body (11), with bands (16) for absorbing at least tensile forces acting on the connecting strut (10) during operation, wherein the bands (16) are guided on the bearing bodies (12, 13), wherein the bands (16) extend from a respective bearing body (12, 13) along the hollow body (11) in the direction of a respective opposite bearing body (13, 12), with an outer shell (17) made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the outer shell (17) surrounds the hollow body (11), the bearing bodies (12, 13) and the bands (16) at least in sections, wherein in the region of the two opposite ends of the hollow body (11) between the bands (16) which are guided on the bearing bodies (12, 13) and extend along the hollow body (11), and the outer shell (17) or externally adjacent to the outer shell (17), groove pieces (27) made of fiber-reinforced plastic are positioned, each forming a groove (24) for the engagement of a sealing element (25) of a protective cap (26). [2] Connecting strut according to claim 1, characterized by that fibers of the hollow body (11) are provided to at least 70% and to a maximum of 90% by unidirectional fibers and the remainder by fibers of a multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knit. [3] Connecting strut according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the hollow body (11) has a vault-like contour in cross-section. [4] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat fibers of the outer shell (17) are provided to at least 40% and to a maximum of 60% by unidirectional fibers and the remainder by fibers of a multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knit. [5] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the bearing bodies (12, 13) are designed as metallic elements which are wrapped by unidirectional fibers and / or unidirectional bands (18). [6] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that inserts (21) made of fiber-reinforced plastic are positioned between the ends of the hollow body (11) and the bearing bodies (12, 13). [7] Connecting strut according to claim 6, characterized by that fibers of the inserts (21) are provided by fibers of a multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knit. [8] Connecting strut according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the bands (16) which are guided on the bearing bodies (12, 13) and which extend from a respective bearing body (12, 13) along the hollow body (11) cover the inserts (21) at least in sections. [9] Connecting strut according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by that the inserts (21) are held on the hollow body (11) via unidirectional fibers and / or unidirectional bands (22) which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the connecting strut. [10] Connecting strut according to claim 9, characterized by that fibers of the groove pieces (27) are provided by fibers of a multidirectional fiber fabric or fiber knit. [11] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the hollow body (11) and the outer shell (17) and the optionally present inserts (21) and groove pieces (27) each consist of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. [12] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the bands (16) each extend along the shortest path along the hollow body (11) between the bearing bodies (12, 13). [13] Connecting strut according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the bands (16, 18, 22) each consist of carbon fibers.

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