Adjustable spring carrier

Abstract

Adjustable spring carrier (1) comprising a spring plate (41), wherein the spring plate (41) is axially adjustable by means of an actuator (9) and is secured against rotation in the circumferential direction to a longitudinal axis (47) of the spring carrier (1), wherein the actuator is held axially at least indirectly by a cylinder-side support surface, and a housing (11) for a drive unit (19;21) of the actuator (9) and a spring plate support surface are connected to each other, wherein the housing (11) is driven by the actuator (9) for the axial movement of the spring plate and the spring carrier (1) comprises a support cylinder (3) which has an anti-rotation profile formed by a support ring (53) fixed to the support cylinder (3), wherein the connection between the support cylinder (3) and the support ring (53) is designed as a releasable positive-lock connection, characterized in that the housing (11) has a cylindrical outer surface (65) in the area of ​​the positive-lock connection to prevent a rotational movement in the circumferential direction to the support ring (53), which interacts with a concave cutout (67) of the support ring (53).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adjustable spring carrier according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] DE 10 2015 208 787 A1 describes an adjustable spring support comprising a pump unit for a hydraulic actuator that axially displaces a spring plate relative to an outer cylinder of a vibration damper. Particularly with a spring plate inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper, the alignment and fixation of the spring plate in the circumferential direction is important. For this purpose, an anti-rotation device is proposed in which the actuator piston is secured against rotation. In the design according to Fig. 3 and Fig. According to section 4 of DE 10 2015 208 787 A1, the actuator piston has a positive-locking profile with the actuator cylinder. However, this design results in comparatively difficult sealing of the actuator piston.

[0003] From the older DE 10 2016 202 314 A1, an adjustable spring support is known in which the actuator housing is adjustable relative to the vibration damper. The actuator housing supports the circumferentially secured spring plate. The actuator housing is, in turn, positioned circumferentially via a support ring welded to the outer cylinder of the vibration damper in conjunction with an axial guide. In this design, the positive connection using an axial guide is very complex. Furthermore, welding the support ring is not always possible or practical, e.g., with a thin-walled cylinder and the material properties of the cylinder changed by heat input.

[0004] DE 10 2014 226 155 A1 describes a spring support that is adjustable by means of an actuator. A support ring, which is frictionally attached to an outer cylinder of a vibration damper, serves to support the actuator. A positive connection is provided between a support sleeve and an adapter sleeve to prevent twisting.

[0005] In DE 10 2007 004 747 A1, a damper tube as part of a spring support has several circumferentially spaced protrusions for supporting an actuator, the inner sleeve of which has pockets that can engage with the cam-like protrusions. DE 10 2007 059 140 A1 should also be mentioned in this context.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a spring carrier with a spring plate that is secured against rotation in the circumferential direction and in which a welded support ring can be dispensed with.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] The advantage of a force-locking or positive connection is that a support cylinder can be used, which eliminates the need for a welded connection. When manufacturing the spring support, the static weight of the vehicle at the axle is unknown. Consequently, by varying support rings with different heights, it is possible to achieve a simple basic adjustment of the vehicle level by simply replacing the support ring.

[0009] A further advantage is that the housing has a geometry that is very easy to produce using casting or forging technology, meaning that practically no rework is required for the form-fitting connection.

[0010] Alternatively or additionally, the support cylinder can be provided with a radially protruding cam profile for supporting the support ring, into which the support ring engages. In this case, the inner diameter of the support ring can be selected larger than the outer diameter of the support cylinder, since centering is then achieved via the cam profile.

[0011] To achieve an overall slim support ring, the concave cutout is located in a flange area of ​​the support ring. With the flange, material is used only where a function is required.

[0012] During operation, the housing performs an axial stroke relative to the support ring. To prevent dirt from remaining within the positive connection and thus the housing guide, which could impair the working movement of the housing, the flange area is designed with axial dirt removal openings.

[0013] In addition, the support ring has a mount for a protective tube, which is fixed to the housing at its other end. The protective tube is designed to be telescopic, for example, as a bellows or as a multi-part tube in which at least two parts can be pushed together.

[0014] The actuator is powered by external energy. The support ring can be equipped with a cable holder for a supply line.

[0015] Preferably, the actuator has an inner cylinder that is centered at one end by the support ring and at the other end by a centering ring. The actuator can be easily threaded onto the support cylinder via the mounting ring gap, with the mounting ring gap being closed by the centering ring.

[0016] The centering ring can be part of an end cap of the support cylinder. The specific design depends on the axial positioning of the actuator on the support cylinder.

[0017] The centering of the inner cylinder is carried out in a simple manner by creating a press fit between the centering ring and the inner cylinder.

[0018] Depending on the combination of the outer diameter of the support cylinder and the inner diameter of the centering ring, the centering ring engages in an inner diameter area of ​​the inner cylinder or the centering ring overlaps an outer diameter area of ​​the inner cylinder.

[0019] The centering ring also has a support flange for a protective tube between the centering ring and the housing to protect the sliding area of ​​the housing to the support ring.

[0020] To minimize component diversity, the protective tube between the centering ring and the housing, as well as the protective tube between the support ring and the housing, have identical connection contours. This allows identical protective tubes to be used for both protection areas.

[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the figures.

[0022] It shows: Fig. 1 Sectional view of a spring carrier Fig. 2 Detailed view of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 View from below to Fig. 1 Fig. 4 Support ring as individual part Fig. 5 - 9 variants for centering ring according to Fig. 1

[0023] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a spring support 1 with a support cylinder 3, which is part of a vibration damper 5 with a piston rod 6. A wheel support connection 7 is attached to a lower end of the support cylinder 3, via which the spring support 1 is positioned, for example, within a vehicle axle. Positioning, in the broadest sense, refers to the vertical arrangement of the spring support 1 and the rotational alignment of the support cylinder 3 relative to the vehicle axle, and thus within a limited installation space.

[0024] The spring support 1 has an actuator 9 arranged in a housing 11. The housing 11 has two parallel cylinder sections 13; 15 and a cross-section in the shape of a figure eight. A first cylinder section 13 has a first receptacle 17 for a drive 19, which acts on a pump 21 in a second receptacle 23. The pump 21 has two delivery directions and is preferably controllable. An equivalent circuit diagram is included to clarify that the specific structural design of the pump and the drive is subordinate to the invention.

[0025] Both cylinder sections 13; 15 are firmly connected to each other. In this example, the housing 11 is manufactured in one piece. The second cylinder section 15 surrounds the support cylinder 3 and, together with an inner cylinder 25, forms a double-acting cylinder as a pressure-medium-operated actuating cylinder. The housing 11 has fixed ends with bases 27; 29, which, together with a separating web 31 fixed to the inner cylinder 25, form two working chambers 33; 35, which in turn are each connected to the pump 21 via a pressure medium connection 37; 39. Thus, the housing 11 and the inner cylinder 25 form a manageable unit.

[0026] The housing 11 supports a spring plate 41 for a vehicle suspension spring 43. For this purpose, the housing 11 has a support surface 45, and the base 27 has a radial projection 47 that engages a groove 49 of the spring plate 41 to achieve a positive fit in the circumferential ring. This positive fit secures the spring plate 41 and the actuator 9 against rotation. Of course, the positive fit between the housing 11 and the spring plate 41 can also be designed differently.

[0027] The support cylinder 3 has an axial support surface 51 for a support ring 53, on which the housing 11 is supported. The axial support surface 51 can be formed as a circumferential, radially outward-facing bead or by a plurality of individual beads 55. In the Fig. 1 shows several individual beads 55 which are arranged in a common horizontal plane.

[0028] The Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the structure and details of the support ring 53. The support ring 53 has a plastic casing 57 and a metallic inner sleeve that forms a press fit with the support cylinder 3. This creates a detachable frictional connection between the support ring 53 and the support cylinder 3. The forces occurring in the circumferential direction are comparatively easy to control, so the frictional connection is also designed as a detachable connection.

[0029] Optionally, the support ring can also have a bottom-side profile in the direction of the support surface 51, which engages in the free spaces 63 defined by the radially projecting cam profile of the individual beads 55. This also creates a positive connection between the support ring 53 and the support cylinder 3.

[0030] As already described, the first cylinder region 13 of the housing 11 has a cylindrical base surface and thus also a cylindrical outer surface 65. The positive connection between the support ring 53 and the housing 11 is achieved in that the support ring 53 has a concave cutout 67 that interacts with the outer surface 65. Consequently, the housing 11 cannot rotate in the circumferential direction due to the force-locking and / or positive connection between the support ring 53 and the support cylinder 3. The support ring 53 has a sleeve section 69 and an end-side flange region 71, in which the concave cutout 67 is also formed. ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) In the perspective representation of the Fig. 4 shows that the flange area 71 is designed with axial dirt removal openings 73. The plastic casing body 57 simplifies the arrangement of the support ring 53 with a cable holder 75 for the actuator 9.

[0031] In summary, the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows that the support ring 53 has a receptacle 77 for a protective tube 79, which is fixed at its other end to the housing 11. The protective tube 79 is either telescopic or designed as a bellows. This allows a lower stroke range of the housing 11 to the inner cylinder 25 to be covered, which extends from a lower edge of the inner sleeve 25 to the end face 81 of the base 29.

[0032] In the enlargement of the Fig. 2 shows that there is a mounting gap 83 between the support cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 25. To compensate for this mounting gap 83, the inner cylinder 25 is centered at one end by the support ring 53 and at the other end by a centering ring 85 to the support cylinder 3. ( Fig. 1) In the Fig. 2 shows a centering cone 87 of the support ring 53, which is formed by the casing body 57, as the Fig. 5 to 9. The Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the centering ring 85, which, like the Fig. 6, has axial centering ribs that engage in the mounting gap 83 or in an inner diameter region 91 of the inner cylinder. There is a press fit between the centering ring 85 and the inner cylinder 25. The preferred material for the centering ring 85 is a plastic that is radially elastic, particularly in the area of ​​the centering ribs 89.

[0033] The centering ring 85 has a support flange 93 for a protective tube 95 between the centering ring 85 and the housing 11. The protective tube 95 between the centering ring 85 and the housing 11, as well as the protective tube 79 between the support ring 53 and the housing 11, can have identical connection contours. Consequently, the two protective tubes 79, 95 can be designed identically overall, since the stroke between the housing 11 and the centering ring 85 is exactly the same length as between the support ring 53 and the housing 11. Care should be taken to ensure that the sleeve section 69 of the support ring 53 and a pipe socket 97 of the centering ring 85 are at least of a similar length.

[0034] Deviating from the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 the centering ring is according to the Fig. 7 - 9 Component of an end cap 99 of the support cylinder 3. A protective bellows 101 extends from a receiving groove 103 of the housing 11 concentrically to the piston rod 6 and covers it. The end of the protective bellows 101 (not shown) is fixed to the outer end of the piston rod 6 (also not shown).

[0035] The execution according to the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 differs from the variant according to the Fig. 5 to 7 in that the centering ring or the end cap overlaps an outer diameter area 105 of the inner cylinder 25 and thus centers it to the support cylinder 3. In principle, this variant also offers the possibility of separation between the end cap 99 and the centering ring 85 similar to the design according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The end cap rests radially directly on the support cylinder 3 and thus bridges the assembly gap 83. Reference symbol 1 spring carrier 3 support cylinders 5 vibration dampers 6 piston rod 7 Wheel carrier connection 9 Actuator 11 housings 13 first cylinder area 15 second cylinder area 17 first recording 19 Drive 21 Pump 23 second shot 25 inner cylinders 27 Floor 29 Floor 31 Divider 33 work space 35 work space 37 Pressure medium connection 39 Pressure medium connection 41 spring plates 43 Vehicle suspension spring 45 support surface 47 radial projection 49 grooves 51 support surface 53 Support ring 55 bead 57 mantle body 59 inner sleeve 61 Profiling 63 open space 65 cylindrical surface 67 Excerpt 69 Sleeve section 71 Flange area 73 dirt removal openings 75 Cable holder 77 recording 79 Protective tube 81 front side 83 Mounting gap 85 Centering ring 87 Centering cone 89 centering bars 91 inner diameter range 93 Support flange 95 protective tube 97 pipe sockets 99 End cap 101 Protective bellows 103 mounting groove 105 outer diameter range

Claims

[1] An adjustable spring support (1) comprising a spring plate (41), wherein the spring plate (41) is axially adjustable by means of an actuator (9) and is secured against rotation in the circumferential direction relative to a longitudinal axis (47) of the spring support (1), wherein the actuator is held axially at least indirectly by a cylinder-side support surface, and a housing (11) for a drive unit (19; 21) of the actuator (9) and a spring plate support surface are connected to one another, wherein the housing (11) is driven by the actuator (9) for the axial movement of the spring plate, and the spring support (1) comprises a support cylinder (3) having an anti-rotation profile formed by a support ring (53) fixed to the support cylinder (3), wherein the connection between the support cylinder (3) and the support ring (53) is designed as a detachable positive connection, characterized bythat the housing (11) has a cylindrical outer surface (65) in the region of the positive connection to prevent a twisting movement in the circumferential direction to the support ring (53), which cooperates with a concave cutout (67) of the support ring (53). [2] Adjustable spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the support cylinder (3) has a radially projecting cam profile (55) for supporting the support ring (53). [3] Adjustable spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the concave cutout (67) is formed in a flange area (71) of the support ring (53). [4] Adjustable spring support according to claim 3, characterized by that the flange area (71) is designed with axial dirt removal openings (73). [5] Adjustable spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the support ring (53) has a receptacle (77) for a protective tube (79) which is fixed at its other end to the housing (11). [6] Adjustable spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the support ring (53) has a cable holder (75) for the actuator (9). [7] Adjustable spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the actuator (9) has an inner cylinder (25) which is centered at one end by the support ring (53) and at its other end by a centering ring (85) to the support cylinder (3). [8] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that the centering ring (85) is part of an end cap (99) of the support cylinder (3). [9] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that there is a press fit between the centering ring (85; 99) and the inner cylinder (25). [10] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that the centering ring (85; 99) engages in an inner diameter region (91) of the inner cylinder (25). [11] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized bythat the centering ring (85; 99) engages over an outer diameter area (105) of the inner cylinder (25). [12] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that the centering ring (85) has a supporting flange (93) for a protective tube (95) between the centering ring (85) and the housing (11). [13] Adjustable spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that the protective tube (95) between the centering ring (85) and the housing (11) and the protective tube (79) between the support ring (53) and the housing (11) have identical connection contours.

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