Cover for a bearing point of a vibration damper

Abstract

Cover for a bearing point of a vibration damper, bridging an annular space between a piston rod of the vibration damper and an edge of a receiving opening within the bearing point, wherein the cover has an annular basic shape and a cylindrical surface of a through-hole for the piston rod forms a contact surface for the piston rod, wherein the contact surface has a clamping profile and a sealing surface for the piston rod, wherein the clamping profile engages in a groove of the piston rod of the vibration damper at the through-hole.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cover for a bearing point of a vibration damper according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From KR 10 2 160 468 A1, a receiving housing for a connecting cable inside a hollow piston rod is known. In this specific application example, a piston rod with an adjustable damping valve attached to it constitutes the piston rod. The receiving housing is a multi-part design and has a hinged lid. It covers a vibration-damping bearing for the piston rod and a connector with the connecting cable. During assembly, a quick-connect coupling attached to the connecting cable is placed onto a receiving coupling of a cable inside the hollow piston rod. A second end of the connecting cable is then pushed through a receiving grommet in the receiving housing. The receiving housing can then be placed onto a bearing of the piston rod and secured. The multi-part housing is relatively complex. Furthermore, additional components may be required.Corrective movements must be performed on the plug connector to establish the intended closing contact. The plug connector housing has a multi-sedge profile on its outer surface, which must be inserted into a corresponding end profile on the piston rod. However, it is possible that the two profiles may lock against each other, requiring a twisting movement of the plug connector housing relative to the piston rod to insert it into the piston rod's profile. Access for this movement is restricted by the housing wall that encloses the connecting cable.

[0003] DE 10 2014 210 928 A1 describes a vibration damper with a cover for a bearing point of the vibration damper. An annular space between a piston rod of the vibration damper and an edge of a receiving opening within the bearing point is bridged by a disc-shaped cover, the inner surface of which forms a contact surface for the piston rod.

[0004] In DE 10 2018 101 521 A1, a functionally similar cover is used, but it does not rest directly against the piston rod on the inside. The same applies to the cover according to US 2017 0291 464 A1, which is held in place on the inside by a clamping nut, just as in JP S60 - 66 504 U.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to solve the assembly problem of the plug-in coupling known from the prior art due to the limited spatial access.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0007] By eliminating the need for a complete housing with a cylindrical section and a cover, access to the plug connector is virtually unobstructed. The cover is functionally reduced to its bare essentials, making it a simple component.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the contact surface has a clamping profile. Additional fastening means such as clamping screws or similar are not required to fix the cover in the direction of the piston rod.

[0009] Furthermore, the clamping profile may have a sealing surface for the piston rod. This prevents the ingress of foreign substances such as moisture or dirt into the bearing.

[0010] Preferably, the cover has a clamping profile on its outer edge that engages with a component edge defining the receiving opening. The cover can be mounted at the bearing point without tools.

[0011] According to an advantageous dependent claim, the clamping profile on the outer edge is also designed as a sealing profile. This ensures a complete seal of the bearing point.

[0012] To compensate for relative movements of the piston rod to the bearing point and thus to the cover, it has a ring-shaped surface area with a fold structure.

[0013] The pleat arrangement is deliberately chosen so that the first, inner pleat of the pleat structure, relative to the passage opening for the piston rod, is designed as an annular groove. This provides particularly good protection for the piston rod against dirt ingress, as the annular groove acts as a dirt trap.

[0014] To ensure a secure connection between the cover and the piston rod, the clamping profile at the through-opening engages in a groove on the piston rod of the vibration damper. This creates a positive-locking connection between the cover and the piston rod.

[0015] The groove in the piston rod is not only intended for connection with the cover, but also accommodates a pull-out protection device for a connector housing.

[0016] This makes it possible for the connector housing to cover the sealing surface at the through-hole and thus provide a protective function for the connection between the cover and the piston rod.

[0017] The following description of the figures will be used to explain the invention in more detail.

[0018] It shows: Fig. 1 bearing point for a vibration damper in a sectional view Fig. 2 plugs with hollow piston rod for Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Hollow piston rods as individual parts for Fig. 1 Fig. 4 Coverage in a sectional view

[0019] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a bearing point 1 of a hollow piston rod 3 in the application of a vibration damper. Such a vibration damper is known by way of example from DE 198 22 448 A1. The bearing point 1 can, for example, be supported on a vehicle body (not shown) and comprises a support housing 5 in which an elastomer element 7, in conjunction with a support ring 9, holds the piston rod 3 within the support housing 5. For this purpose, an outer shoulder 11 is provided on the piston rod 3 by way of example, on which the support ring 9 is fastened by means of a screw nut 13.

[0020] An upper annular cover 15 clamps the elastomer element 7 to a base 17 at the opposite ends of the support housing 5. The piston rod 3 extends beyond the bearing point 1 and passes through the annular cover 15. Between the cover 15 and the piston rod 3 is an annular space 16, which serves as a tool engagement point for the screw nut.

[0021] The vibration damper and the associated bearing point 1 are usually installed as a component at the vehicle manufacturer's assembly station between the axle and the body.

[0022] In conjunction with the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows that a line 19 extends inside the piston rod 3 over the entire length of the piston rod 3 and that a rotatable plug coupling 21 is located at an externally accessible end of the line 19, which has an orientation connection 23, which is described in detail, for example, in DE 10 2021 201 888 A1. Fig. 2 It is further evident that the outer end of the piston rod 3 has an inner multi-tooth profile as an anti-rotation profile 25, into which a plug 27 is inserted according to the Fig. 2 engages. For this purpose, the plug 27 has a counter-profile 31 on an outer surface 29, which engages in the anti-rotation profile 25 of the piston rod 3 when the plug 27 is properly aligned with the piston rod 3.

[0023] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows the plug 27 with a connecting cable 33 in a simplified representation. Furthermore, the figure shows Fig. 1. A cover 35 having an annular shape. A lateral surface 37 of a through-opening 38 of the cover 35 for the piston rod 3 forms a contact surface for the piston rod 3. Fig. 4) The contact surface is part of a clamping profile 39 with a contact surface designed as a sealing surface for the piston rod 3. The sealing surface 37 prevents the ingress of dirt and / or moisture into the bearing point 1, which would impair the service life of the bearing point 1.

[0024] The cover also has a clamping profile 43 on its outer edge 41, forming a connection to a component edge that defines a receiving opening 42, in this case the annular cover 15. The clamping profile 43 on the outer edge is also designed as a sealing profile, so that the annular space 16 between the cover 15 and the piston rod 3 is completely sealed.

[0025] An annular surface area 45 of the cover 35 has a pleated structure 47. At least one pleat runs concentrically to the outer surface 37 of the through-opening 38. A first, inner pleat of the pleated structure 45, relative to the through-opening for the piston rod, is designed as an annular groove 49. Any dirt particles are retained there and do not reach the sealing surface 37.

[0026] The clamping profile 39 at the through-opening engages in a groove 51 of the piston rod 3 of the vibration damper. The same groove 51 in the piston rod receives a pull-out safety device 53 of a connector housing 55. The pull-out safety device 53 is formed, for example, by at least one snap hook of the connector housing 55. The connector housing 55, in turn, covers the sealing surface 37 at the through-opening, so that this contact area between the cover 35 and the piston rod 3 is particularly well protected.

[0027] During assembly, the assembly consisting of the vibration damper and bearing point 1 is fixed in the vehicle. The cover 35 can already be fixed to the bearing point 1. Then, the connector 27 is inserted into the hollow piston rod 3, thereby closing the electrical contact. If necessary, the connector 27 can be moved circumferentially to engage the splined profiles 25 and 31 on the connector 27 and the hollow piston rod 3. This assembly movement is not affected in any way by the cover 35. Reference sign 1 storage location 3 Piston rod 5 carrier housings 7 Elastomeric element 9 Support ring 11th section of the piston rod 13 Screw nut 15 lids 16 annular space 17 Floor 19 Management 21 Plug connector 23 Orientation connection 25 anti-rotation profile 27 plugs 29. Connector sheath area 31 Counter-profile 33 Connection cable 35 Cover 37 Surface area / Sealing surface 38 Passage opening 39 clamping profile 41 outer edge 42. Intake opening in the lid 43 clamping profile 45 area 47 fold structure 49 Ring ditch 51 Groove in the piston rod 53 Train protection 55 connector housings

Claims

[1] Cover (35) for a bearing point (1) of a vibration damper, bridging an annular space (16) between a piston rod (3) of the vibration damper and an edge of a receiving opening (42) within the bearing point (1), wherein the cover (35) has an annular basic shape and a cylindrical surface (37) of a through-opening (38) for the piston rod (3) forms a contact surface for the piston rod (3), wherein the contact surface has a clamping profile (39) and a sealing surface (37) for the piston rod (3), characterized by , that the clamping profile (39) engages in a groove (51) of the piston rod (3) of the vibration damper at the through-opening (38). [2] Cover (35) according to claim 1 , characterized by , that the cover (35) has a clamping profile (43) on its outer edge (41) to a component edge that limits the receiving opening (42). [3] Cover (35) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the outer edge clamping profile (43) is designed as a sealing profile. [4] Cover (35) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that a ring-shaped surface area (45) of the cover (35) has a fold structure (47). [5] Cover (35) according to claim 4, characterized by , that a first, inner fold of the fold structure (47) with respect to the passage opening (38) for the piston rod (3) is designed as an annular groove (49). [6] Cover (35) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the groove (51) in the piston rod (3) accommodates a pull-out safety device (53) of a plug housing (55). [7] Cover (35) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the connector housing (55) covers the sealing surface (37) at the through-hole (38).

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