Articulated joint for a vehicle chassis with a first chassis component and a second chassis component, and a chassis with such an articulated joint

Abstract

The invention relates to a joint connection (14) for a vehicle chassis comprising a first chassis component (9) and a second chassis component (10), wherein the first chassis component (9) and the second chassis component (10) are movably connected to each other by a joint. In order to avoid friction effects and the resulting wear as completely as possible, the joint connection (14) is characterized in that the movable connection between the first chassis component (9) and the second chassis component (10) is realized by means of a spherical bending joint (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a joint connection for a vehicle chassis comprising a first chassis component and a second chassis component, wherein the first chassis component and the second chassis component are movably connected to each other by a joint. The invention further relates to a chassis with such a joint connection.

[0002] Such a joint connection is known from DE 10 2018 220 954 A1. In this joint connection, the joint connection is designed as a conventional ball bearing with a ball stud, wherein a ball of the ball stud is movably mounted in a bearing shell that is fixed in a joint housing. This results in frictional contact between the ball and the bearing shell, whereby a lubricant can be used between the bearing shell and the ball to reduce friction. However, even with the lubricant, frictional effects and thus friction-based wear still occur during the continuous operation of such a joint connection.

[0003] The object underlying the invention is to further develop a joint connection of the type mentioned above in such a way that friction effects and the resulting wear can be avoided as completely as possible. In particular, an alternative embodiment is to be provided.

[0004] The problem underlying the invention is solved by means of a joint connection according to claim 1 and by means of a chassis according to claim 10. Preferred embodiments of the invention are found in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0005] Accordingly, a joint connection for the chassis of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, is designed with a first chassis component and a second chassis component. Such a joint connection is used, in particular, for the movable mounting of the chassis component. Specifically in the chassis, such joint connections serve to connect chassis components such as control arm components, wheel carriers, tie rods, or the like, to each other or to the vehicle body or an axle carrier attached to it. The first chassis component and the second chassis component are thus movably connected to each other.

[0006] According to the invention, this joint-movable connection between the first chassis component and the second chassis component is realized by means of a spherical bending joint.

[0007] The advantage here is that, due to the design of the joint as a spherical bending joint, no components rub against each other directly or indirectly. In other words, the joint connection between the first and second chassis components is realized without any physical contact between moving components. Because of the spherical bending joint, no friction occurs at the joint, and therefore no friction-induced wear.

[0008] In particular, a spherical bending joint represents an equivalent to a conventional ball joint. Preferably, the joint mobility of the spherical bending joint results from elastic bending and / or deformation of elements and / or sections of the bending joint and / or the first chassis component and / or the second chassis component. In particular, these elements and / or sections are designed such that they allow joint mobility analogous to a conventional ball joint, thereby forming the spherical bending joint. Preferably, the elements and / or sections are made of spring steel.

[0009] The basic principle of a spherical flexure joint, as well as exemplary designs of spherical flexure joints, are known from "A new type of spherical flexure joint based on tetrahedron elements", Precision Engineering 71 (2021) 130-140. However, a specific application, particularly in the chassis of a vehicle, is not disclosed therein.

[0010] As an alternative to using a spherical joint in a vehicle's chassis, a spherical joint can be used at another suitable location in a vehicle to movably connect two components. In particular, a spherical joint can be used as a replacement for a conventional ball joint or rubber bushing in a motor vehicle, wheelchair, or bicycle. Furthermore, a spherical joint can serve as a replacement for a ball joint or rubber bushing in a controller or operating device.

[0011] According to a further development, the spherical bending joint has tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements. These elements can be sections of the first chassis components and / or the second chassis components. In particular, each tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like element has three bending plates with a trapezoidal shape. Preferably, the tetrahedral-like element is formed from three trapezoidal bending plates.

[0012] The tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements can be arranged in a series. In particular, the tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements can be nested within each other. In this case, adjacent tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements transition directly into one another.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the pivot point of the spherical bending joint and / or the joint connection, about which the first chassis component and / or the second chassis component can be rotated and / or pivoted, is realized as a purely virtual center of rotation. This requires less installation space than a conventional ball joint. Furthermore, material and / or weight savings are achievable.

[0014] In particular, the pivot point of the spherical bending joint and / or the articulated connection, about which the first landing gear component and / or the second landing gear component can be rotated and / or pivoted, is located outside, and especially outside, the material structure of, the first landing gear component and / or the second landing gear component. This allows for significantly more and different designs of the articulated connection as well as of the first and / or second landing gear component.

[0015] According to a further development, the spherical bending joint is at least partially filled with an elastic material. This can increase the stiffness and / or load-bearing capacity of the spherical bending joint. In particular, sections of the spherical bending joint defined by bending sheets are partially or completely filled with the elastic material. For example, the interior of at least one tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like element can be partially or completely filled with the elastic material. The elastic material can be a rubber material.

[0016] The first chassis component and the second chassis component can jointly form a chassis link. In particular, this chassis link features a spherical bending joint.

[0017] The first chassis component can have a first connection section, preferably facing away from the second chassis component, for connecting to a first vehicle component. Preferably, the first connection section is designed as a joint or ball joint.

[0018] The second chassis component can have a second connection section, particularly one facing away from the first chassis component, for connecting to a second vehicle component. Preferably, a purely virtual center of rotation of the spherical bending joint is assigned to the second connection section. In particular, the first connection section is connected to the second connection section by means of the spherical bending joint. For this purpose, the spherical bending joint is arranged and / or formed between the first and second connection sections.

[0019] The second connection section of the second chassis component can be designed as a bearing receptacle or a bearing eye. In this case, the second vehicle component is fixed or can be fixed in relation to the second chassis component within the bearing receptacle or bearing eye.

[0020] Preferably, the spherical bending joint and / or the joint connection includes a sensor device. In particular, the relative position of the two components, especially the first chassis component in relation to the second chassis component, can be determined or ascertained by means of the sensor device. Preferably, the spherical bending joint has an open design with at least one or more free spaces. A sensor element of the sensor device can be arranged in at least one free space of the spherical bending joint.

[0021] A chassis of a vehicle with a joint connection according to the invention is particularly advantageous.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Reference numerals refer to identical, similar, or functionally equivalent components or elements. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective side view of a spherical bending joint for a joint connection according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic, semi-transparent, perspective side view of a joint connection according to the invention with the spherical bending joint according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic, semi-transparent, side view of the joint connection according to the invention Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a schematic, semi-transparent top view of the joint connection according to the invention Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic, perspective side view of a spherical bending joint 1 for a joint connection according to the invention. Here, the spherical bending joint 1 or the joint connection is shown initially without further representation of a first chassis component and a second chassis component.

[0024] A first chassis component can be rigidly connected to the spherical bending joint 1 by means of a first connecting section 2. A second chassis component can be rigidly connected to the spherical bending joint 1 by means of a second connecting section 3.

[0025] The spherical bending joint 1 has several, in this embodiment three, tetrahedral elements 4, 5, 6. Each tetrahedral element 4, 5, 6 has three bending plates 7 with a trapezoidal shape. For the sake of clarity, not all bending plates 7 are labeled with a reference numeral. The tetrahedral elements 4, 5, 6 are each formed from three trapezoidal bending plates 7.

[0026] In this embodiment, the tetrahedral elements 4, 5, 6 are nested within each other. For example, successive elements 4 and 5, or 5 and 6, transition directly into one another from the inside out.

[0027] The first connecting section 2 is formed on an outside of the innermost element 4, while the second connecting section 3 is formed on an outside of the outermost element 6.

[0028] A schematically indicated pivot point 8 of the spherical bending joint 1 is realized as a purely virtual center of rotation. For better illustration, the second connecting section 3 is extended here in a rod-like manner up to the pivot point 8. However, this is not necessary for the function of the spherical bending joint 1 or for realizing the virtual, non-material pivot point 8.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic, semi-transparent, perspective side view of a joint connection 14 according to the invention with the spherical bending joint 1 according to Fig. 1. Identical features bear the same reference symbols as before. Here, a first chassis component 9 and a second chassis component 10 are schematically indicated.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first chassis component 9 and the second chassis component 10 together form a chassis link 11. The chassis link 11 has a pivot connection designed as a spherical bending joint 1. Here, the spherical bending joint 1 of the pivot connection 14 connects the first chassis component 9 to the second chassis component 10. For this purpose, the first chassis component 9 is rigidly connected to the first connecting section 2, which is not shown in detail here. The second connecting section 3, which is also not shown in detail here, is rigidly connected to the second chassis component 10. The two chassis components 9 and 10 are designed such that relative movement between them is possible due to the spherical bending joint 1.

[0031] The pivot point 8 or the virtual center of rotation of the spherical bending joint 1, about which the second chassis component 10 can be rotated and / or pivoted in this embodiment, is realized outside of a material embodiment of the second chassis component 10.

[0032] The first chassis component 9 has a first connection section 12, facing away from the second chassis component 10, for connecting to a first vehicle component (not shown in detail here). In this embodiment, the first connection section 12 is designed as a joint receptacle for a ball stud (not shown in detail) and thus forms a ball joint.

[0033] The second chassis component 10 has a second connection section 13, facing away from the first chassis component 9, for connecting to a second vehicle component (not shown in detail here). In this embodiment, the pivot point 8, or the virtual center of rotation of the spherical bending joint 1, or the joint connection 14, is assigned to the second connection section 13.

[0034] In this embodiment, the second connection section 13 of the second chassis component 19 is designed as a bearing eye. The second vehicle component can be fixed in the bearing eye in relation to the second chassis component 10.

[0035] Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic, semi-transparent, side view or top view of the joint connection 1 according to the invention. Fig. 2. Reference sign 1 spherical bending joint 2 first connecting section 3 second connecting section 4 tetrahedral element 5 tetrahedral element 6 tetrahedral element 7 Bending sheet 8 pivot point 9 first chassis component 10 second chassis component 11 suspension control arms 12 first connection section 13 second connection section 14 Joint connection QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2018 220 954 A1

[0002] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] A new type of spherical flexure joint based on tetrahedron elements“, Precision Engineering 71 (2021) 130 - 140

[0009]

Claims

[1] Articulated joint for a vehicle chassis comprising a first chassis component (9) and a second chassis component (10), wherein the first chassis component (9) and the second chassis component (10) are articulated to be connected to each other, characterized by , that the joint-movable connection between the first chassis component (9) and the second chassis component (10) is realized by means of a spherical bending joint (1). [2] Joint connection according to claim 1, characterized by , that the spherical bending joint (1) has tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements (4, 5, 6), in particular each tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like element (4, 5, 6) has three bending leaves (7) with a trapezoidal shape. [3] Joint connection according to claim 2, characterized by, that the tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements (4, 5, 6) are arranged in a row and / or nested within each other, with adjacent tetrahedral or tetrahedral-like elements (4, 5, 6) transitioning directly into each other. [4] Joint connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a pivot point (8) of the spherical bending joint (1), about which the first chassis component (9) and / or the second chassis component (10) can be rotated and / or pivoted, is realized as a purely virtual center of rotation. [5] Joint connection according to claim 4, characterized by , that the pivot point (8) of the spherical bending joint (1), about which the first landing gear component (9) and / or the second landing gear component (10) is rotatable and / or pivotable, is outside, in particular the material design, of the first landing gear component (9) and / or the second landing gear component (10). [6] Joint connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spherical bending joint (1) is at least partially filled with an elastic material, in particular sections of the spherical bending joint (1) bounded by means of bending sheets (7) are partially or completely filled with the elastic material. [7] Joint connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first chassis component (9) and the second chassis component (10) form a chassis link (11), preferably the first chassis component (9) has a first connection section (12) for connecting to a first vehicle component, in particular facing away from the second chassis component (10), preferably the first connection section (12) is designed as a joint or ball joint. [8] Joint connection according to claim 7, characterized by, that the second chassis component (10) has a second connection section (13) for connecting to a second vehicle component, in particular facing away from the first chassis component (9), preferably a pivot point (8) of a virtual center of rotation of the spherical bending joint (1) is assigned to the second connection section (13). [9] Joint connection according to claim 8, characterized by , that the second connection section (13) of the second chassis component (10) is designed as a bearing receptacle or a bearing eye, wherein the second vehicle component is fixed or can be fixed in the bearing receptacle or bearing eye in relation to the second chassis component (10). [10] Chassis of a vehicle with an articulated joint (14) according to any of the preceding claims.

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