Articulated fork and rear axle steering

Abstract

A joint fork (1) for a rear axle steering system (10) of a motor vehicle comprises a base body (2) which has an opening (6) for inserting a central screw (7), and two cheeks (8, 9) which can be positioned parallel to each other and at an angle to the base body (2) and which are individually mounted on the base body (2) via a hinge connection (11, 12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a joint fork and a rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle with a joint fork.

[0002] German patent application DE 10 2017 201 352 A1 discloses an actuator intended for use in the rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle, which comprises a joint fork connected to a spindle. The joint fork according to DE 10 2017 201 352 A1 is constructed in multiple parts and has two parallel cheeks and a web connecting the cheeks. One of the two cheeks is integrally connected to the web, while the other cheek is designed as a separate component.

[0003] A flange drive for a universal joint described in DE 100 37 866 A1 comprises two joint fork halves, each joint fork half having a foot part and a bearing part. The joint fork halves can be connected to each other in the area of ​​their foot part to form a flange part.

[0004] German patent application DE 10 2018 129 288 A1 discloses a rear axle steering system for a vehicle with a tie rod assembly. In this system, a connecting section of a fork element is held to a fork connection of the tie rod assembly by means of a screw bolt. The angle between the fork element and the fork connection is variable and can be fixed by means of the screw bolt.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of further developing articulated forks for rear axle steering systems compared to the aforementioned prior art, whereby a particularly assembly-friendly design is sought, if possible largely independent of geometric features of an surrounding structure.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a joint fork with the features of claim 1. According to claim 8, the joint fork is particularly suitable for use in a rear axle steering system.

[0007] The articulated fork as described in the application comprises a base body which has an opening for inserting a central screw. Furthermore, the articulated fork, designed for installation in the rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises two cheeks which can be positioned parallel to each other and at an angle to the base body, and which are individually mounted to the base body via a hinge connection.

[0008] The hinge connections can be designed in such a way that the cheeks can be brought into a position in which it is possible to screw the central screw into a connecting part concentric to the opening of the base body using a conventional tool in a user-friendly manner.

[0009] The hinge connections formed between the base body and each cheek can each include a pin held by a press fit. According to a first group of embodiments, once the pin is inserted, the angular position of the cheek relative to the base body can be fixed, effectively locking the hinge. In other embodiments, the cheek can still pivot, albeit with some resistance, when the pin is inserted. Pivoting of the cheek relative to the base body can be limited by a stop.

[0010] Regarding possible manufacturing methods for the cheeks, a wide variety of well-known processes can be used. For example, the cheeks can be forged. Machining or post-processing of the cheeks is also possible. The base body to which the cheeks are attached can also be manufactured in various ways. For example, the base body can be a turned part. The two cheeks and the base body can be made from the same material or from different materials.

[0011] Regardless of the manufacturing process, the cheeks of the ball joint can each comprise a section near the joint and an adjoining section further away from it, the latter having a thinner wall than the section near the joint. Slotted openings, which allow the insertion of a bolt or screw to fasten an elongated connecting part, such as a tie rod or track rod, can be located, particularly in the sections further away from the joint. The two slots can align with each other when the cheeks are angled in a defined direction relative to the base body. Optionally, the sections further away from the joint terminate in a thickened section, the thickness of which can correspond to the wall thickness of the section near the joint.

[0012] The articulated fork is particularly suitable for use in an electromechanically actuated rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle. It can also be installed, for example, in a steer-by-wire system to steer the front wheels of a vehicle. Stationary applications of the articulated fork, such as in an actuating mechanism of an industrial plant, are also possible.

[0013] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A articulated fork designed for use in a rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle, in perspective view. Fig. 2 a base body of the joint fork and a central screw inserted into the base body, Fig. 3 the joint fork in side view, Fig. 4 the joint fork in top view, Fig. 5 the joint fork in a sectional view.

[0014] A joint fork, designated by reference numeral 1, is intended for use in a rear axle steering system 10 of a motor vehicle. The joint fork 1 comprises a base body 2 to which two cheeks 8, 9 are articulated. A central axis MA of the base body 2 coincides with the longitudinal axis of a central screw 7, which is inserted through a central opening 6 in the base body 2 and screwed into a pushrod (not shown) of an actuator of the rear axle steering system 10. Two flanks 3, 4 of the base body 2 lie in planes between which the central axis MA is located. Furthermore, the base body 2 has an annular section 5, which faces the pushrod. A plane adjacent to the annular section 5 is designated as the reference plane BE. The central axis MA represents a surface normal of the reference plane BE.

[0015] Hinge connections 11, 12 are formed between the base body 2 and the cheeks 8, 9. Each cheek 8, 9 is held to the base body 2 by means of a pin 13, which has bores 20 for this purpose. Stops 14 on the base body 2 define the maximum inclination of the cheeks 8, 9 relative to the base body 2. The length of cheek 8, designated L8, is less than the length L9 of cheek 9. Each cheek 8, 9 has an elongated hole 18, 19, which, in the inclination of the cheeks 8, 9 according to the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The two elongated holes 18, 19 are aligned with each other. A connecting part of the rear axle steering 10, which engages between the cheeks 8, 9, is designated 17.

[0016] Each cheek 8, 9 has a section 15 near the joint and a section 16 adjoining it far from the joint. The wall thickness of the section 15 near the joint is given by d 15, the reduced wall thickness of the section 16 furthest from the joint, with d 16 The elongated holes 18, 19 are located in the sections 16 furthest from the joint. Before mounting the connecting part 17, the Fig. 2 isolated basic bodies 2 to be attached to the push rod, which are arranged according to the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to the right of the articulated fork 1. For this purpose, the two cheeks 8, 9 can be pivoted in a user-friendly manner so that they are at least approximately parallel to the central axis MA. In this configuration, not shown in the figure, the central screw 7 can be easily screwed into the push rod. The cheeks 8, 9 are then pivoted until they reach the stops 14. Access to the central screw 7 is not possible in this configuration, as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be seen in section 5, this is no longer necessary. Reference symbol list 1 joint fork 2 basic shapes 3rd flank 4th flank 5 ring section 6 Opening 7 Central screw 8 Cheek 9 Cheek 10 Rear axle steering 11 Hinge connection 12 hinge connection 13 pen 14 attacks 15. section near the joint 16. distant section 17 Connection part 18 elongated holes 19 elongated holes 20 bore BE reference level d 15 Wall thickness of the section near the joint d 16 Wall thickness of the section furthest from the joint L8 Length of cheek 8 L9 Cheek length 9 MA Central Axis

Claims

[1] Joint fork (1) for a rear axle steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a base body (2) which has an opening (6) for inserting a central screw (7), and comprising two cheeks (8, 9) which can be positioned parallel to each other and at an angle to the base body (2) and which are individually mounted on the base body (2) via a hinge connection (11, 12). [2] Articulated fork (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the hinge connections (11, 12) formed between the base body (2) and each cheek (8, 9) each comprise a pin (13) held by a press connection. [3] Articulated fork (1) according to claim 2, characterized by a stop (14) limiting the deflection of the cheek (8, 9) relative to the base body (2). [4] Articulated fork (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the two cheeks (8, 9) are of unequal length. [5] Articulated fork (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the cheeks (8, 9) are formed as forged parts. [6] Articulated fork (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that each cheek (8, 9) comprises a section near the joint (15) and a section far from the joint (16) adjoining it, wherein the section far from the joint (16) has a lesser wall thickness compared to the section near the joint (15). [7] Articulated fork (1) according to claim 6, characterized by a slot (18, 19) located in the section (16) furthest from the joint of each cheek (8, 9), wherein the two slots (18, 19) are aligned with each other when the cheeks (8, 9) are in a defined inclined position relative to the base body (2). [8] Rear axle steering (10) comprising at least one articulated fork (1) according to claim 1.

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