Fastening component and vibration damper

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening component (4) which is provided for fastening a wheel carrier to a damper tube (2) of a vibration damper and comprises a U-shaped holder (6) which is formed by two leg sections (7, 8) and a base section (9) located between the leg sections (7, 8). The leg sections (7, 8) are provided with openings (10, 11, 12, 13) which are aligned in pairs with one another and form at least one fastening point for fastening the fastening component (4) to the wheel carrier via the holder (6). In addition, the fastening component (4; 38; 41) on a rear side (17) of the holder (6) is designed to be fastened to the damper tube (2) via a welded connection.In order to reduce the manufacturing effort, the fastening component (4) is divided into two parts (26, 27) along a parting plane (25) running through the base section (9) of the holder (6), which parts are placed against one another on mutually facing contact surfaces (28, 29) to form the fastening component (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening component according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Independent suspensions with damper struts and spring struts are common in motor vehicle chassis, often referred to as McPherson suspensions. In these independent suspensions, a damper tube of a vibration damper is connected to a wheel carrier in a rotationally fixed manner, and a piston rod of the vibration damper is rotatably mounted on the vehicle body. The rotationally fixed connection of the damper tube to the wheel carrier is typically established via a fastening component, which is often welded to the damper tube and to which the wheel carrier is attached.

[0003] Such a fastening component is disclosed in JP 2002 - 130 360 A. This fastening component is designed, on the one hand, to be fastened to a damper tube of a vibration damper via a welded joint and, on the other hand, to be connected to a wheel carrier, thus ultimately securing the wheel carrier to the damper tube of the vibration damper. In addition to a support, on which the fastening component is placed on the damper tube in the assembled state and welded to the damper tube, in a variant of JP 2002 - 130 360 A, the fastening component also has a U-shaped bracket, which is connected to the support and forms fastening points for securing the wheel carrier at openings.The U-shape of the bracket is formed by two leg sections and a base section located between the leg sections, with the openings being designed in pairs in alignment with each other on the leg sections.

[0004] DE 10 2022 203 397 A1 and DE 10 2022 203 398 A1 each describe a fastening arrangement for fastening a vibration damper to a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle. This arrangement comprises at least two separate fastening components, each fastening component having a shell-shaped connecting section defining a longitudinal axis for connecting the fastening arrangement to a damper tube of the vibration damper, as well as a fastening section projecting radially from the connecting section for fastening to a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle. The inner contour of the connecting section is adapted to the outer contour of the damper tube of the vibration damper.

[0005] Based on the prior art described above, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a fastening component by means of which a wheel carrier can be fastened to a damper tube of a vibration damper, wherein this fastening component should be characterized by the lowest possible manufacturing costs.

[0006] 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 12.

[0007] According to the invention, a fastening component intended for fastening a wheel carrier to a damper tube of a vibration damper, in particular a vibration damper of a spring or damper strut independent wheel suspension, comprises a U-shaped bracket formed by two leg sections and a base section located between the leg sections. The leg sections are provided with pairs of aligned openings, to which the fastening component can be fastened to the wheel carrier via the bracket. Furthermore, the fastening component is designed on a rear side of the bracket to be fastened to the damper tube via a welded connection.

[0008] The fastening component according to the invention is thus designed to establish a connection between a wheel carrier and a damper tube of a vibration damper, wherein the fastening component is fastened to the damper tube of the vibration damper via a welded connection, while the wheel carrier is fastened to the fastening component at openings in a holder of the fastening component.

[0009] The holder of the fastening component is U-shaped, i.e., has a U-shaped configuration. This configuration is defined by two leg sections and an intermediate base section, wherein the leg sections of the holder extend at least approximately parallel to one another, while the base section extends between the leg sections. The individual leg section of the holder is preferably designed to extend at least predominantly straight, wherein the intermediate base section, in particular, has a convex, i.e., outwardly curved, profile between the leg sections.

[0010] The openings provided for fastening the wheel carrier are formed on the leg sections of the bracket, with two openings lying in alignment each forming a fastening point for the wheel carrier. Particularly preferably, the openings are each designed as through-holes, with the through-holes being aligned with one another and serving to pass through a fastening means, such as a screw or a bolt, for a positive connection to the wheel carrier placed between the leg sections. Very particularly preferably, the bracket forms exactly two fastening points for the wheel carrier, so that the leg sections of the bracket are then provided with a total of four openings, each of which is aligned in pairs.

[0011] Between adjacent openings, the individual leg section is also provided in particular with a bulge each, which projects relative to the surrounding area of ​​the individual leg section in the direction of an outer side of the U-shape of the bracket and increases the rigidity of the individual leg section of the bracket. Alternatively or additionally, the individual leg section is preferably designed with a greater extension at the level of the respective opening in the depth direction of the U-shaped bracket, i.e. in the direction from a rear side of the bracket to a front side of the bracket, than in areas not covered by a respective opening. This increases the rigidity of the individual leg section in the area of ​​the respective opening and thus the respective fastening of the wheel carrier.The rear side of the bracket is the side in the depth direction of the U-shaped bracket that faces the damper tube of the vibration damper when the mounting component is attached, while the front side is the opposite side of the bracket and faces away from the damper tube when attached. If the bracket forms exactly two attachment points for the wheel carrier, the leg sections each have their greatest extension in the depth direction, particularly at the level of the openings provided adjacent to the base section.

[0012] The base section can have a concavity near each transition into the respective leg section, with which the base section protrudes toward an inner side of the U-shape of the bracket. This allows for an increase in the rigidity of the bracket in the area of ​​each transition.

[0013] The welded connection between the fastening part and the damper tube is produced on the back of the bracket, for which purpose the fastening component is preferably provided with at least one abutment surface on the back of the bracket, on each of which a weld seam can be formed between the fastening part and the damper tube.

[0014] The invention now comprises the technical teaching that the fastening component is divided into two parts along a dividing plane running through the base section of the holder, which parts are placed against each other along mutually facing contact surfaces to form the fastening component. In other words, the fastening component is not manufactured in one piece, but is composed of two parts that together form the fastening component. For this purpose, the two parts have contact surfaces that are designed to face each other. The fastening component is divided into the two parts along a dividing plane, which in the case of the fastening component runs through the base section of the holder.

[0015] This type of fastening component design has the advantage that, by dividing the fastening component into two parts, manufacturing costs are reduced, as the two individual parts of the fastening component are easier to manufacture. By placing the two parts together, the fastening component can then easily be formed into the desired U-shape, at the latest when attaching it to the damper tube. The U-shaped design of the bracket also enables reliable attachment of the wheel carrier.

[0016] The parting plane of the fastening component running through the base section of the holder also runs in particular in the depth direction of the holder, i.e. in a direction spanning between the back of the holder and the front of the holder. The contact surfaces form abutting surfaces at least in sections, to which the parts placed against one another are welded together. The parts forming the fastening component are therefore welded to one another after being placed against one another at least at sections of their contact established via the contact surface, as a result of which the two parts are then reliably held relative to one another in the position forming the fastening component. Within the scope of the invention, these abutting surfaces can be formed over the entire length of the contact surfaces or only over a partial length of the contact surfaces.

[0017] According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the contact surfaces are formed, at least in sections, on base section parts, each of which is assigned to one of the parts and which, when the parts are placed against one another, together form the base section of the holder. Thus, the contact surfaces, on which the two parts of the fastening component are placed against one another to form the fastening component, are formed at least in part by section parts, which, when placed against one another, then form the base section of the holder.

[0018] When combining the two aforementioned variants, the abutting surfaces are formed at least partially on the base section parts. Welding of the two parts is thus carried out at least partially on the base section parts, in that the abutting surfaces intended for establishing the welded connection between the parts are formed at least over a partial length of the contact surfaces formed by the base section parts. Most preferably, the contact surfaces formed by the base section parts serve as abutting surfaces over their entire length, to which the two parts of the fastening component are welded together after being placed against one another.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the base section is provided with a recess which is defined between base section parts, wherein the base section parts are each provided for the individual part and, when the parts are in contact with one another, together form the base section of the bracket. This has the advantage that it can be used to easily reduce stress in the fastening component when fastening the wheel carrier, in that the base section has a certain degree of flexibility due to the recess. In particular, the recess tapers from a front side of the bracket towards the rear side of the bracket, wherein this taper is more preferably designed in a wedge-like manner.

[0020] According to the invention, a support is provided on the rear side of the bracket, on which the welded connection between the fastening component and the damper tube can be established and on which the bracket protrudes. A side of the support facing away from the bracket is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube present in the support area. This allows the fastening component for attachment to the damper tube to be placed on the damper tube with a large contact surface and to be reliably welded to the damper tube.

[0021] In a further development of the aforementioned design option, the support is U-shaped and has legs and an intermediate section connecting the legs, with one of the leg sections of the holder being built on each leg, and the base section of the holder being built on the intermediate section, and with the parting plane additionally extending through the intermediate section of the support. This advantageously allows for a suitable and compact design of the fastening component overall, with the fastening component also being suitably divided into the two parts along the parting plane to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0022] Further preferably, the contact surfaces are configured, at least in sections, on intermediate section parts which are provided for each individual part and which, when the parts are in contact with one another, together form the intermediate section of the support. Thus, the two parts also come into contact with one another at the support of the fastening component, thereby increasing the contact area between the parts forming the fastening component. This variant can be combined with the design option of the invention in which the contact surfaces, at least in sections, form abutting surfaces for welding the parts placed against one another. The abutting surfaces can also be implemented over at least a partial length of the contact surfaces formed by the intermediate section parts.Alternatively, abutting surfaces can also be deliberately recessed in the area of ​​the contact surfaces formed by the intermediate section parts in order to prevent an overlap of a weld seam produced between the parts with a weld seam formed between the fastening component and the damper tube.

[0023] Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned variant, the base section and the intermediate section form an obtuse angle between them on an outer side of the bracket. This increases the rigidity of the fastening component.

[0024] Most preferably, the support forms, at least in sections, a butt joint on an outer circumference, which is provided for forming a fillet weld of the welded connection between the fastening component and the damper tube. This configuration has the advantage that the welded connection between the fastening component and the damper tube can thus be easily realized with a lap joint, thereby reducing the manufacturing effort of a vibration damper constructed with the fastening component. If the support has a U-shape, the fillet weld for creating the welded connection between the fastening component and the damper tube can be drawn with little effort on an outer side of the U-shape of the support.

[0025] In the U-shaped configuration of the fastening component support, the legs each define at least predominantly a straight portion of the butt joint intended for the formation of the fillet weld, whereas the intermediate section forms a convexly curved portion of the butt joint intended for the formation of the fillet weld. This has proven advantageous with regard to the load-bearing capacity of the welded joint thus formed.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the parting plane is a plane of symmetry of the fastening component. This also results in the two parts of the fastening component being mirrored to each other and forming halves of the fastening component.

[0027] The invention also relates to a vibration damper for a chassis of a motor vehicle, wherein this vibration damper is preferably a vibration damper of a spring or damper strut independent wheel suspension. The vibration damper comprises a damper 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 particularly preferably designed as a telescopic damper, whereby the vibration damper can be specifically designed as a single-tube or twin-tube damper.

[0028] In the welded state of the fastening component on the damper tube, the fastening component is preferably oriented in the longitudinal direction of the damper tube, wherein for this purpose the base section of the holder of the fastening component points in the direction of an end of the damper tube at which a piston rod of the vibration damper is led out of the damper tube.

[0029] Advantageous embodiments of the invention, which are explained below, are illustrated in the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a vibration damper according to the invention; Fig. 2 a detailed view of the vibration damper from Fig. 1, in the region of a fastening component designed according to a first embodiment; Fig. 3 a detailed view of the fastening component from Fig. 2, shown before assembly of the fastening component; Fig. 4 shows a detail of a vibration damper with a fastening component according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 5 a detail of a vibration damper with a fastening component according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Out of Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a vibration damper 1, which is designed according to an embodiment of the invention and is intended for use in the chassis of a motor vehicle with a spring or damper strut independent wheel suspension. The vibration damper 1 is designed as a telescopic damper and can specifically be designed as a single- or twin-tube damper with a structure known in principle to those skilled in the art. The vibration damper 1 comprises a damper tube 2, wherein, in addition to a spring plate 3, a fastening component 4 is fastened to the damper tube 2. The fastening component 4 is designed according to a first embodiment of the invention and is fastened to the damper tube 2 via a welded connection. This welded connection is created via a fillet weld 5, which has been designed between the damper tube 2 and the fastening component 4, which is placed on the damper tube 2 with an overlap joint.

[0031] The fastening component 4 is intended for fastening a wheel carrier in order to connect the wheel carrier to the damper tube 2 due to the existing welded connection. For connecting the wheel carrier, the fastening component 4 has, as shown in particular in Fig. 2, via a U-shaped holder 6, which is defined by two leg sections 7 and 8 and a base section 9 located between these leg sections 7 and 8. While the leg sections 7 and 8 run essentially straight and parallel to one another, the intermediate base section 9 has an outwardly curved shape.

[0032] The two leg sections 7 and 8 are each provided with two openings 10 and 11 and 12 and 13, respectively. In the parallel leg sections 7 and 8, the openings 10 and 12 and the openings 11 and 13 are each aligned with one another and each define a fastening point for the wheel carrier. For fastening, the wheel carrier is inserted on an inner side of the U-shaped bracket 6 between the leg sections 7 and 8 and is fixed to the fastening component 4 in a form-fitting manner by passing a fastening means, such as a bolt or a fastening screw, through the aligned openings 10 and 12 and 11 and 13.

[0033] Between the respective openings 10 and 11 or 12 and 13, each individual leg section 7 or 8 also has a bulge 14 or 15, which is triangular in shape and protrudes from the remaining leg section 7 or 8 on an outer side of the U-shaped bracket 6. Furthermore, each individual leg section 7 or 8 is designed with a greater extent at the level of the associated openings 10 and 11 or 12 and 13 in a depth direction of the bracket 6, i.e. in a direction which runs between a front side 16 of the bracket 6 facing away from the damper tube 2 to a rear side 17 facing the damper tube 2, than in adjacent areas. This greater extent and also the bulges 14 and 15 increase the rigidity of each individual leg section 7 or 8.

[0034] In the area of ​​its respective transition into the respective leg section 7 or 8, the base section 9 is provided with indentations 18 and 19, by means of which the rigidity of the holder 6 in the area of ​​the base section 9 is increased.

[0035] The bracket 6 is built on a support 20 of the fastening component 4, wherein the support 20 is provided on the rear side 17 of the bracket 6. The fastening component 4 rests on the support 20 on the damper tube 2 and is also welded to the support 20 with the damper tube 2. The support 20 is also U-shaped and, on a side facing away from the bracket 6, is designed as a counterpart to an outer contour of the damper tube 2, wherein the support 20 rests on the damper tube 2 on this side.

[0036] To realize its U-shape, the support 20 of the fastening component 4 is formed by two legs 21 and 22 and an intermediate section 23 connecting the legs 21 and 22. While the leg section 7 is built on the leg 21 and the leg section 8 is built on the leg 22, the base section 9 of the holder 6 is designed to build on the intermediate section 23, with the base section 9 and the intermediate section 23 enclosing an obtuse angle on the outside of the holder 6. The legs 21 and 22 of the support 20 each have a substantially straight course, whereas the intermediate section 23 is curved outwards. In addition, the legs 21 and 22 and the intermediate section 23 form an abutment surface 24 on an outer side of the U-shaped support 20, on which the fillet weld 5 is formed when producing the welded connection between the fastening component 4 and the damper tube 2.Transitions from the support 20 to the holder 6 are also rounded in order to increase the load-bearing capacity of these transitions.

[0037] In order to reduce the manufacturing effort involved in the manufacture of the fastening component 4, the fastening component 4 is arranged along a Fig. 2 indicated dividing plane 25 into two parts 26 and 27, which are Fig. 3 in a spaced-apart state and prior to assembly to form the fastening component 4. To form the fastening component 4, the two parts 26 and 27 are placed against one another on mutually facing contact surfaces 28 and 29. Due to the division of the fastening component 4 into the two parts 26 and 27, both the base section 9 and the intermediate section 23 are also divided, with part 26 forming, in addition to the leg section 7 and the leg 21, a base section part 30 and an intermediate section part 31, whereas part 27 forms, in addition to the leg section 8 and the leg 22, a base section part 32 and an intermediate section part 33.

[0038] The contact surfaces 28 and 29 also form a butt surface 34 and 35 respectively along their entire length, to which the two parts 26 and 27 are welded after being placed against one another with a butt joint using a weld seam 36 which is Fig. 2. This secures the two parts 26 and 27 together in the position forming the fastening component 4.

[0039] The parting plane 25 is also a plane of symmetry of the fastening component 4, so that the parts 26 and 27 at the parting plane 25 are mirrored to each other and form halves of the fastening component 4.

[0040] Fig. Figure 4 shows a detailed view of a vibration damper 37, to whose damper tube 2 a fastening component 38 is attached via a welded connection according to a second embodiment of the invention. This vibration damper 37 and also the fastening component 38 largely correspond to the preceding variant according to the Fig. 1 to 3, with the difference that a weld seam 39 between the parts 26 and 27 is now only produced over a partial length of the contact surfaces 28 and 29 of the parts 26 and 27. In this case, the contact surfaces 28 and 29 also form abutting surfaces for the realization of the weld seam 39 only over a respective partial length, namely essentially in the area of ​​the holder 6. Otherwise, the design according to Fig. 4 of the variant according to the Fig. 1 to 3, so that reference is made to what has been described therein.

[0041] Finally, Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of a vibration damper 40 in the area of ​​a fastening component 41, which is realized according to a further embodiment of the invention and is fastened to a damper tube 2 of the vibration damper 40 via a welded connection. The variant according to Fig. 5 corresponds essentially to the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 3, with the difference that parts 42 and 43, into which the fastening component 41 is divided along the parting plane 25, are not welded to one another, but are merely placed against one another to form the fastening component 41. The two parts 42 and 43 form base section parts 44 and 45 of a base section 46 of a holder 47 of the fastening component 41, wherein the base section parts 44 and 45 define a recess 48 in the holder 47. This recess 48 tapers wedge-like from the front side 16 of the holder 47 towards the rear side 17. In addition, contact surfaces 49 and 50 of the parts 42 and 43 are now only formed on the intermediate section parts 31 and 33 of the intermediate section 23, which is part of the U-shaped support 20. Within the scope of the invention, however, the contact surfaces 49 and 50 could also form abutting surfaces for forming a welded connection between the parts 42 and 43.Otherwise the embodiment corresponds to . Fig. 5 of the variant according to the Fig. 1 to 3, so that reference is made to what has been described therein.

[0042] By means of the embodiments according to the invention, a fastening component for fastening a wheel carrier to a damper tube of a vibration damper can be realized with low manufacturing costs. Reference symbol 1 vibration damper 2 damper tube 3 spring plates 4 Fastening component 5 fillet weld 6 Bracket 7 leg section 8 leg section 9 Base section 10 Breakthrough 11 Breakthrough 12 Breakthrough 13 Breakthrough 14 Bulging 15 Bulging 16 Front 17 Back 18 Vaulting 19 Vaulting 20th edition 21 legs 22 legs 23 Intermediate section 24 Impact surface 25 Parting plane Part 26 Part 27 28 contact surface 29 contact surface 30 base section part 31 Intermediate section 32 base section part 33 Intermediate section 34 Impact surface 35 Impact surface 36 Weld seam 37 vibration dampers 38 Fastening component 39 Weld seam 40 vibration dampers 41 Fastening component Part 42 Part 43 44 Base section part 45 Base section part 46 Base section 47 Bracket 48 recess 49 contact surface 50 contact area 51 Intermediate section 52 Intermediate section 53 Intermediate section

Claims

[1] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) which is provided for fastening a wheel carrier to a damper tube (2) of a vibration damper (1; 37; 40), in particular a vibration damper (1; 37; 40) of a spring or damper strut independent wheel suspension, and comprising a U-shaped holder (6; 47) which is formed by two leg sections (7, 8) and a base section (9; 46) lying between the leg sections (7, 8), wherein the leg sections (7, 8) are provided with openings (10, 11, 12, 13) lying in pairs in alignment with one another, which form at least one fastening point for fastening the fastening component (4; 38; 41) via the holder (6; 47) on the wheel carrier, and wherein the fastening component (4; 38; 41) on a rear side (17) of the holder (6; 47) is designed to be fastened to the damper tube (2) via a welded connection, wherein the fastening component (4; 38; 41) is arranged along a line defined by the base section (9;46) of the holder (6; 47) is divided into two parts (26, 27; 42, 43) which are placed against one another on mutually facing contact surfaces (28, 29; 49, 50) to form the fastening component (4; 38; 41), the contact surfaces (28, 29) at least in sections forming abutting surfaces (34, 35) on which the mutually placed parts (26, 27) are welded together, ; characterized by that on the rear side (17) of the holder (6; 47) a support (20) is formed, on which the welded connection between the fastening component (4; 38; 41) and the damper tube (2) can be produced and on which the holder (6; 47) protrudes, wherein a side of the support (20) facing away from the holder (6; 47) is designed as a counterpart of an outer contour of the damper tube (2) present in the support region. [2] Fastening component (4; 38) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the contact surfaces (28, 29) are designed at least in sections on base section parts (30, 32), which are each assigned to one of the parts (26, 27) and which, when the parts (26, 27) are placed against one another, together form the base section (9) of the holder (6). [3] Fastening component (4; 38) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the abutting surfaces (34, 35) are formed at least in sections on the base section parts (30, 32). [4] Fastening component (41) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the base section (46) is provided with a recess (48) which is defined between base section parts (44, 45), wherein the base section parts (44, 45) are each provided at the individual part (42, 43) and, when the parts (42, 43) are placed against one another, together form the base section (46) of the holder (47). [5] Fastening component (41) according to claim 4, characterized bythat the recess (48) tapers from a front side (16) of the holder (47) towards the rear side (17) of the holder (47). [6] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to claim 1, characterized by in that the support (20) is U-shaped and for this purpose has legs (21, 22) and an intermediate section (23) connecting the legs (21, 22), wherein one of the leg sections (7, 8) of the holder (6; 47) is built on each of the legs (21, 22) and the base section (9; 46) of the holder (6; 47) is built on the intermediate section (23), and wherein the parting plane (25) additionally runs through the intermediate section (23) of the support (20). [7] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the contact surfaces (28, 29; 49, 50) are designed at least in sections on intermediate section parts (31, 33), which are provided in each case for each individual part (26; 27; 42; 43) and which, when the parts (26, 27; 42, 43) are placed against one another, together form the intermediate section (23) of the support (20). [8] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the base section (9; 46) and the intermediate section (23) enclose an obtuse angle between them on an outer side of the holder (6; 47). [9] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the support (20) forms at least in sections on an outer circumference an abutment surface (24) which is provided for forming a fillet weld (5) of the welded connection between the fastening component (4; 38; 41) and the damper tube (2). [10] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to one of claims 6 to 8 and according to claim 11, characterized by that the legs (21, 22) each define a part of the abutment surface (24) provided for the formation of the fillet weld (5) at least predominantly straight, whereas the intermediate section (23) forms a part of the abutment surface (24) provided for the formation of the fillet weld (5) in a convexly curved manner. [11] Fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the parting plane (25) is a plane of symmetry of the fastening component (4; 38; 41). [12] Vibration damper (1; 37; 40) for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising a damper tube (2) on which a welded connection is made with a fastening component (4; 38; 41) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11.

Images