Fastening component and vibration damper for a chassis of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening component (4) which is intended for fastening a stabilizer to a vibration damper and which comprises a first part (6) and a second part (8). The first part (6) is provided with an opening (5) on a fastening section (9), at which opening the stabilizer can be fastened to the fastening component (4). The first part (6) is connected to the second part (8), and the fastening section (9) protrudes from a base section of the second part opposite an outer side (7) of the second part (8). A welded connection can be made between the fastening component (4) and a damper tube of the vibration damper, and the fastening section has an inner side (14) in addition to the outer side (7).The inner side (14) of the second part (8) is provided for the second part (8) to rest on the damper tube (2) and, for this purpose, is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube (2) present in the resting area. The second part (8) forms, at least on an edge section (18) which delimits the base section (15) predominantly longitudinally to the fastening section (9), an abutment surface (21), which is provided for forming a fillet weld (23) of the welded connection. The edge section (18) has a convexly curved profile.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening component which is provided for fastening a stabilizer to a vibration damper and which comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is provided with an opening on a fastening section, at which opening the stabilizer can be fastened to the fastening component, wherein the first part is connected to the second part and the fastening section protrudes on a base section of the second part relative to an outer side of the second part, at which base section a welded connection between the fastening component and a damper tube of the vibration damper can be produced and which has an inner side in addition to the outer side, and wherein the inner side of the second part is provided for the second part to rest on the damper tube and is designed for this purpose as a counterpart of an outer contour of the damper tube present in the region of the rest.Furthermore, the invention relates to a vibration damper with an aforementioned fastening component.

[0002] Stabilizers are commonly used in motor vehicle chassis. These stabilizers generate restoring moments around the roll axis during roll movements of a vehicle body, thereby reducing body tilt. A stabilizer typically consists of stabilizer legs and a stabilizer back connecting them. The stabilizer back is usually connected to the vehicle body, and each stabilizer leg is then attached to the respective vehicle axle. In some cases, the individual stabilizer leg is also attached to a respective vibration damper, for which purpose a fastening component is provided on a damper tube of the respective vibration damper.

[0003] JP 3695726 B2 discloses a fastening component for fastening a stabilizer to a vibration damper. The fastening component has a first part and a second part, of which the first part serves to fasten the stabilizer at an opening, while the second part fastens the fastening component to a damper tube of the vibration damper. The second part is designed to rest with an inner side on the damper tube of the vibration damper, for which purpose the inner side of the second part is formed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube, while the first part protrudes like a tab relative to an outer side of the second part. The fastening component is fastened to the damper tube via a welded connection, which in one variant of JP 3695726 B2 is produced at corner points of the second part.Specifically, this is done by projection welding the inside of the second part to the damper tube of the vibration damper.

[0004] Based on the prior art described above, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a fastening component which serves to fasten a stabilizer to a vibration damper and can be fastened to a damper tube of the vibration damper via a welded connection, wherein this welded connection can be produced with low effort and in a resilient manner.

[0005] This object is achieved based on the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The dependent claims that follow each of these claims provide advantageous developments of the invention. A vibration damper, to whose container tube a fastening component according to the invention is attached via a welded connection, is further the subject of claim 14.

[0006] According to the invention, a fastening component which is provided for fastening a stabilizer to a vibration damper comprises a first part and a second part. The first part is provided with an opening at a fastening section, at which opening the stabilizer can be fastened to the fastening component. In addition, the first part is connected to the second part, wherein the fastening section protrudes at a base section of the second part relative to an outer side of the second part, at which a welded connection between the fastening component and a damper tube of the vibration damper can be made and which has an inner side in addition to the outer side. The inner side of the second part is provided for the second part to rest on the damper tube and is designed as a counterpart of an outer contour of the damper tube present in the rest area.

[0007] The fastening component according to the invention is thus designed to establish a connection between a stabilizer and a vibration damper, wherein the fastening component is fastened to a damper tube of the vibration damper via a welded connection, while the stabilizer is fastened to the fastening component at an opening in the fastening component. The opening is formed on a fastening section of a first part of the fastening component according to the invention, so that the stabilizer is fastened to the first part of the fastening component. The stabilizer is preferably fastened detachably by passing a fastening element of the stabilizer through the opening, which can be achieved, for example, via a screw connection.In the welded state of the fastening component on the damper tube, the fastening section of the first part of the fastening component is oriented in particular substantially in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the vibration damper.

[0008] The welded connection between the fastening component and the damper tube of the vibration damper, however, is created on a second part, with which the fastening component is placed on the damper tube for welding and remains there even after the weld has been established. For this purpose, the second part of the fastening component is equipped with an inner side that is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour with which the damper tube is provided in the contact area of the fastening component. The first part then also connects to the second part on an outer side facing away from the inner side, with the first part protruding with its fastening section relative to the second part.

[0009] The invention now includes the technical teaching that the second part forms an abutment surface at least at an edge portion that delimits the base portion predominantly longitudinally to the fastening portion, which abutment surface is provided for forming a fillet weld of the welded joint. The edge portion has a convexly curved profile.

[0010] In other words, an abutment surface is defined on the second part at least over an edge portion, over which the base portion of the second part is delimited, running predominantly longitudinally to the fastening portion. The abutment surface serves to create a fillet weld for the welded connection between the second part of the fastening component and the damper tube. Furthermore, the edge portion is convex, i.e., curved outward.

[0011] Such a design of a fastening component has the advantage that, due to the formation of the abutting surface at the edge of the second part in combination with the resting surface on the damper tube, a weld seam connecting the fastening component and the damper tube can be produced with little effort. This is because the abutting surface at the edge creates a lap joint with the damper tube, at which the fastening component can be welded to the damper tube via a fillet weld. The convex curvature of the edge section and thus the abutting surface formed thereby also ensures a high load-bearing capacity of the weld seam formed at the abutting surface.

[0012] Preferably, the edge portion is part of an edge of the second part, wherein the particularly circumferential edge preferably defines a shape of the second part of the fastening component.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first part has a C-shape in that the first part is equipped with two legs next to the fastening section, each of which is oriented transversely to the intermediate fastening section and each of which also protrudes beyond the outer side of the second part. This C-shape can significantly increase the rigidity of the first part and thus, in the installed state, increase the load-bearing capacity of the fastening component. When the fastening section is oriented substantially in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the vibration damper, the legs of the first part then preferably run substantially transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vibration damper.Preferably, the fastening section and the respective leg each enclose an obtuse angle, although alternatively or additionally, an acute angle can also be included between one leg or both legs and the fastening section.

[0014] In a further development of the aforementioned embodiment, the legs are each configured with a first height in the region of a respective transition into the fastening section, wherein the legs each reduce from the first height to a second height starting from the region of the respective transition. In particular, the first height of the legs corresponds to a height of the fastening section. Alternatively or additionally, the reduction of the first height to the second height is carried out continuously for the respective leg, preferably in a linear manner.

[0015] According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the second part has a C-shaped configuration, with leg sections oriented transversely thereto connecting to the intermediate base section. Particularly in combination with a C-shaped configuration of the first part, this allows for a suitable and resilient design of the fastening component for attachment to the damper tube. Preferably, the transversely oriented leg sections each connect to the base section in an at least predominantly straight manner.

[0016] Most preferably, the abutting surface is formed adjacent to the edge portion by edge portions delimiting the leg portions. This allows the abutting surface and thus also the weld seam to be designed to be correspondingly long, thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity of the welded joint. In particular, the abutting surface extends along an outer side of the C-shaped configuration of the second part. Within the scope of the invention, however, an abutting surface could also be formed additionally at least on an edge portion of an inner side of the C-shaped configuration of the second part.

[0017] In particular, both the first part and the second part are each C-shaped, wherein the legs of the first part are then designed to protrude from one of the leg sections of the second part.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, the second part and the first part are designed as a single piece, thereby forming the fastening component in one piece. This allows the fastening component to be manufactured as a formed part with minimal effort. Preferably, the second part transitions into the first part via a rounded transition section, which advantageously increases the rigidity of the fastening component.

[0019] One embodiment of the invention provides a through-hole for the aperture. This allows for easy connection of the stabilizer.

[0020] The invention also relates to a vibration damper for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The vibration damper comprises a container tube, to which a welded connection is made with a fastening component according to one or more of the preceding variants. The vibration damper is preferably a telescopic damper, which can be designed as a single- or twin-tube damper.

[0021] An advantageous embodiment of the invention, which is explained below, is illustrated in the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vibration damper according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 to 5 different views of a fastening component of the vibration damper from Fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 another perspective view of the vibration damper from Fig. 1.

[0022] Out of Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vibration damper 1, which is designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and intended for use in the chassis of a motor vehicle. The vibration damper 1 is designed as a telescopic damper and comprises a damper tube 2, from which a piston rod 3 extends at one end. The vibration damper 1 is designed, in particular, as a twin-tube damper and has a structure known in principle to those skilled in the art.

[0023] A fastening component 4 is attached to the damper tube 2, which is designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and serves to attach a stabilizer to the vibration damper 1. The fastening component 4 is attached to the damper tube 2 via a welded connection and has an opening 5 to which the stabilizer can be attached.

[0024] The fastening component 4 is in the Fig. 2 to 5 in different views and formed in one piece, wherein the fastening component 4 has been produced in particular as a formed part. The fastening component 4 comprises a first part 6, which projects relative to an outer side 7 of a second part 8 of the fastening component 4 and is provided, in addition to a fastening section 9, with two legs 10 and 11 respectively connected thereto. The fastening section 9 is equipped with a through-bore 12 forming the opening 5 and, as shown in particular in Fig. 3, each of the legs 10 and 11 forms an obtuse angle, giving the first part 6 of the fastening component 4 a C-shaped configuration. Fig. 5 it can also be seen that the individual legs 10 or 11 of the first part 6 are continuously reduced from a first height of the fastening section 9 to a second height.

[0025] In addition, Fig. 3 that the second part 8 of the fastening component 4 also has a C-shaped configuration. This C-shaped configuration is defined by a circumferential edge 13. In addition to the outer side 7, the second part 8 also has an inner side 14, on which the fastening component 4 rests on the damper tube 2 of the vibration damper 1, for which purpose the inner side 14 is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube 2 in the region of the contact. The outer side 7 also has a shape corresponding to the inner side 14, whereby the second part 18 is designed as a partial segment of a hollow cylinder. This is particularly evident from a summary of the Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 can be recognized.

[0026] The C-shaped configuration of the second part 8 comprises a base section 15, to which two leg sections 16 and 17 extend transversely thereto. The base section 15 and the two leg sections 16 and 17, together with associated edge sections 18, 19 and 20, define an outer side of the C-shaped configuration of the second part 8, said outer side forming an abutment surface 21 for producing a fillet weld of the welded connection with the damper tube 2. While the edge sections 19 and 20 are essentially straight and thus also define predominantly straight configurations of the leg sections 16 and 17, at least on the outer side of the C-shaped configuration, the edge section 18, which delimits the base section 15 predominantly longitudinally to the fastening section 9, is convexly curved.

[0027] As further shown by the Fig. 2 to 5, the first part 6 and the second part 8 merge into one another via an intermediate transition section 22, this transition section 22 being rounded.

[0028] Finally, Fig. 6 another view of the vibration damper 1 from Fig. 1, wherein the fillet weld 23 executed along the abutting surface 21 of the fastening component 4 can be seen, via which the fastening component 4 is welded to the damper tube 2 of the vibration damper 1 in an overlap joint. This allows the weld seam between the fastening component 4 and the damper tube 2 to be produced with little effort, and the convexly curved edge section 18 also results in a high load-bearing capacity of the welded connection produced.

[0029] By means of the design of a fastening component according to the invention, a resilient welded connection can be realized with little effort. Reference symbol 1 vibration damper 2 damper tube 3 piston rod 4 Fastening component 5 Breakthrough 6 First Part 7 Outside 8 Second Part 9 Fastening section 10 legs 11 legs 12 through holes 13 Edge 14 Inside 15 Base section 16 leg section 17 leg section 18 edge section 19 edge section 20 edge section 21 Impact surface 22 Transition section 23 Fillet weld QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 3695726 B2

[0003]

Claims

[1] Fastening component (4) which is provided for fastening a stabilizer to a vibration damper (1) and which comprises a first part (6) and a second part (8), wherein the first part (6) is provided with an opening (5) on a fastening section (9), to which opening the stabilizer can be fastened to the fastening component (4), wherein the first part (6) is connected to the second part (8) and the fastening section (9) protrudes at a base section of the second part opposite an outer side (7) of the second part (8), at which a welded connection between the fastening component (4) and a damper tube (2) of the vibration damper (1) can be made and which has an inner side (14) in addition to the outer side (7),and wherein the inner side (14) of the second part (8) is provided for the second part (8) to rest on the damper tube (2) and is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube (2) present in the region of the rest, , characterized by that the second part (8) forms, at least on an edge section (18) which delimits the base section (15) predominantly longitudinally to the fastening section (9), an abutment surface (21) which is provided for forming a fillet weld (23) of the welded connection, and that the edge section (18) has a convexly curved profile. [2] Fastening component (4) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the first part (6) has a C-shaped configuration, in that the first part (6) is provided with two legs (10, 11) next to the fastening section (9), which are each connected transversely to the intermediate fastening section (9) and each also protrude relative to the outer side (7) of the second part (8). [3] Fastening component (4) according to claim 2, characterized by that the fastening section (9) and the respective leg (10, 11) each enclose an obtuse angle. [4] Fastening component (4) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the legs (10, 11) are each designed with a first height in the region of a respective transition into the fastening section (9), wherein the legs (10, 11) are each reduced from the first height to a second height starting from the region of the respective transition. [5] Fastening component (4) according to claim 4, characterized bythat the first height of the legs corresponds to a height of the fastening section (9). [6] Fastening component (4) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the reduction of the first height to the second height is carried out continuously for the respective leg (10, 11). [7] Fastening component (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second part (8) has a C-shaped configuration, in that leg sections (16, 17) oriented transversely thereto are attached to the intermediate base section (15). [8] Fastening component (4) according to claim 7, characterized by that the leg sections (16, 17) each connect to the base section (15) in an at least predominantly straight manner. [9] Fastening component (4) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the abutting surface (21) is formed next to the edge portion (18) by edge portions (19, 20) delimiting the leg portions (16, 17). [10] Fastening component (4) according to one of claims 7 to 9 and one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by that the legs (10, 11) are designed to protrude on each of the leg sections (16, 17). [11] Fastening component (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second part (8) and the first part (6) are made in one piece. [12] Fastening component (4) according to claim 11, characterized by that the second part (8) merges into the first part (6) via a rounded transition section (22). [13] Fastening component (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the opening (5) is designed as a through hole (12). [14] Vibration damper (1) for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising a container tube (2) on which a welded connection with a fastening component (4) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13 is made.

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