CAR VIBRATION DAMPER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vibration damper, in particular for a motor vehicle tailgate, with a carrier element which is elastically coupled to a damper body via an elastomer device, and to a method for assembling such a vibration damper.

[0002] Vibration absorbers, also known as vibration dampers, are frequency-tuned resonance dampers and are used primarily in the automotive sector to reduce the movements of specific components, for example, caused by the action of operating forces on the component. These passively operating devices counteract movements or vibrations on and / or within the component by means of a phase-shifted movement of a damper mass provided by the absorber body. Such a vibration absorber can be specifically adapted to the excitation frequency of the respective component.

[0003] The published patent application JP 2006 029549 A relates to a vibration damper with an elongated damper body, which is elastically coupled to two retaining elements via an elastomer device. The elastomer device comprises two elastomer bodies, each having a cap-like portion that surrounds an associated end portion of the damper body. The retaining elements are designed for attachment to a component and have a receptacle for attaching an elastomer body associated with the retaining element.

[0004] US Pat. No. 3,774,730 A relates to a tool holder having a cavity in which a vibration damper is enclosed. This vibration damper is elastically supported by two elastomer bodies in the form of two O-rings on inner wall sections of the tool holder.

[0005] The published patent application KR 2016 0142577 A describes a vibration damper with an elongated damper body, which is elastically coupled to a support element at the front via two elastomer bodies, wherein the support element is designed for attachment to a component.

[0006] Laid-open patent application JP-H-09184538 A describes a vibration damper with an elongated damper mass, to each of whose two end faces an elastic element is attached. The elastic elements have a fastening groove into which a leg of an L-shaped fastening plate associated with the respective elastic element engages, with the other leg of the fastening plate being fastened to the device to be damped by means of a screw connection. Laid-open patent application JP-H-0337447 A relates to a vibration damper with an elongated damper body, to each of whose two end faces an elastomer body element is attached, which is itself vulcanized to a holding element that can be fastened, for example, by screwing, to the device to be damped.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a vibration damper which can be manufactured and assembled cost-effectively and which is easily scalable, i.e. adjustable and adaptable, with regard to its frequency behavior, so that the basic design can be easily adjusted to the specific respective conditions, particularly in the field of motor vehicles. The invention solves this object on the device side with a vibration damper comprising the features of claim 1. The vibration damper according to the invention comprises an elongated damper body, at the end sections of which an elastomer body is arranged with a cap-like section open towards the damper body, with which the respective elastomer body engages over the damper body.The vibration damper according to the invention is characterized in that the carrier element has spaced-apart receptacles for the respective receptacle of one of the elastomer bodies, and wherein a clamping element is provided for clamping the respective elastomer body in the associated receptacle of the carrier element.

[0008] The vibration damper according to the invention is characterized, on the one hand, by a simple structure which, in one embodiment, can comprise comparatively few components, namely the damper body, at least two elastomer bodies and a carrier element, which can simplify manufacture as well as assembly and installation. Furthermore, the vibration damper according to the invention is scalable without great effort, for example by changing the mass of the damper body, without fundamental design features such as the structural design of the connection between the damper body and the elastomer body having to be changed when adjusting the resonance frequency. Furthermore, by changing the elastic properties of the elastomer body, the respective resonance frequency can be influenced without having to change the shape of the components.Furthermore, the vibration damper according to the invention can be easily coupled to a component to be damped, for example by fastening the support element to the component, the movement of which is counteracted by means of a phase-shifted movement of the damper body.

[0009] The vibration damper according to the invention can be used in a variety of technical fields, particularly in the field of motor vehicles and commercial vehicles. For example, the vibration damper according to the invention can be used on doors and / or hatches of motor vehicles and commercial vehicles, but also on axles, on or in the cockpit, or on add-on components or parts of vehicles.

[0010] Further developments of the invention and further features of the invention are specified in the general description, the drawings, the description of the figures and the dependent claims.

[0011] In one embodiment, the elastomer body(s) can be made entirely of an elastomer material. In another embodiment, stable or rigid inserts can also be integrated into the elastomer body to control the characteristic curve of the elastomer body, in particular also in a direction-dependent manner.

[0012] Preferably, it can be provided that the cap-like section of an elastomer body is circumferentially closed to the longitudinal axis of the absorber body, so that the cap-like section completely encloses the absorber body in the respective area, so that a force fit, form fit or material fit can be provided between the respective elastomer body and the absorber body, regardless of the direction of occurring operating forces.

[0013] The term "cap-like section" is to be understood broadly and can, for example, comprise a pot-like receptacle, which can be cylindrical or conical in shape. The connection between the elastomer body within the cap-like section and the damper body can be frictionally or materially bonded, depending on the design. In the latter embodiment, the respective elastomer body can, for example, be vulcanized onto a predetermined longitudinal end section of the damper body, or, in the case of a frictionally coupled connection, can be clamped onto the damper body under prestress and arranged to overlap it, at least in sections.

[0014] The elongated damper body according to the invention can have the largest dimension in its longitudinal extent, ie in the longitudinal direction, ie the end face dimensions are smaller in this embodiment, usually at least by a factor of two smaller compared to its longitudinal extent.

[0015] The term "spaced receptacles of the support element" can be designed in a variety of forms or configurations, for example as U- or V-shaped flanges which can encompass the respective elastomer body.

[0016] In a particular embodiment, it can be provided in particular that the respective receptacle of the carrier element is designed as a fork receptacle which is assigned to a fastening structure on the respective elastomer body, wherein a single one of these fork receptacles can have two fork legs, between which an elastomer body can be arranged in the assembled state of the vibration damper according to the invention.

[0017] The specific design of the support element of the vibration damper according to the invention can be adapted to the component whose movement is to be counteracted by the phase-shifted movements of the damper body. For example, the support element can have a U-shaped frame in which the receptacles, which can in particular be designed as fork receptacles, can be arranged in the end region of the base of the U-shaped frame. In this embodiment, the receptacles can each be arranged or formed in the leg region of the U-shaped frame or each be designed as a leg of the U-shaped frame. In other embodiments, it can also be provided that the support element is integrally formed onto the component whose movement is to be dampened, so that the damper body with elastomer bodies attached thereto can be mounted directly onto the component whose movement is to be dampened.

[0018] It should be emphasized that in the present application, the term "element" such as "support element" or "clamping element" can refer not only to a single component, but also to several individual components that can be joined together. Furthermore, it is also possible for such an element, such as a support element, to form an object that cannot be separated without destruction. For example, the support element, e.g., in the form of a fork mount and designed to receive a composite element comprising a damper body and at least one elastomer body, can be manufactured integrally with the component whose movement is to be damped, such as a motor vehicle tailgate.

[0019] Particularly in those embodiments of the vibration damper according to the invention in which the damper body is elongated and has two end sections spaced apart along the longitudinal extent, the damper body can be cylindrical with cylindrical end sections, onto which cylindrical cap sections of a respective elastomer body can be placed, so that the cap-like sections overlap the cylindrical end sections of the damper body. In this way, a composite element can be formed that can be clamped in the fork receptacles of the support element.In one embodiment, the damper body can be designed to be rotationally symmetrical about its longitudinal axis; in a similar way, the cap-like section of the respective elastomer body can be designed to be rotationally symmetrical, so that the inner circumferential surface of the cap-like section of the elastomer body can bear extensively, in particular completely, against the outer circumferential surface of the associated end section of the damper body. In one embodiment, to improve the frictional connection between the elastomer body and the damper body, it can be provided that the damper body has axially stepped shoulders in the region of the end section, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the cap-like section can be designed with stepped shoulders complementary thereto for the surface contact of the elastomer body and the damper body essentially over the entire longitudinal section within which the respective elastomer body engages over the damper body.

[0020] A purely force-locking connection can be provided for the connection between the elastomer body and the damper body, for example, by elastically expanding the cap-like section in the radial direction and moving it over the associated end section of the damper body, so that after the radial expansion of the elastomer body is removed, it rests fully and force-lockingly against the damper body in the axial end section of the damper body. In a further embodiment, a material bond can also be provided between the damper body and the elastomer bodies, for example, by vulcanizing the elastomer body to the damper body.

[0021] To fasten the elastomer bodies to the carrier element, it can expediently be provided that a longitudinal, in particular rotationally symmetrical, extension is connected to the cap-like section of the respective elastomer body on the longitudinal side facing away from the damper mass in the installed position, said extension having a respective fastening structure for clamping the respective elastomer body in the carrier element. In a particularly simple embodiment, the extension can, for example, be cylindrical in shape and have a circumferential groove for providing at least one radial clamping surface through the groove base. In addition, the fastening structure of the respective elastomer body can also have axial clamping surfaces, for example through axial clamping surfaces connected via the groove base and axially delimiting the groove.It should be noted that the directions given with respect to the clamping surfaces indicate the respective normal direction to the respective clamping surface.

[0022] It can be provided that the said clamping or contact surfaces are designed to interact with associated clamping surfaces on the respective clamping element for clamping the respective elastomer body in the associated receptacle, in particular a fork receptacle of the carrier element.

[0023] The clamping elements of the vibration damper according to the invention can each comprise a passage for providing a particularly cylindrical, radially acting clamping surface for interaction with an associated contact surface of the elastomer body, such as the groove base of a groove in the elastomer body described above, and a respective groove receptacle for guiding and receiving the two fork legs of the receiving fork. Provision can be made for the passage to run approximately centrally through the respective clamping element, wherein the groove receptacle can be arranged radially outward, preferably on the outer circumferential surface of the respective clamping element.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping elements can be designed in a clamp-like manner, in particular in two parts, wherein each of the two clamping element parts can be assigned to a fork leg of the fork receptacle of the support element, to which it can be fastened. The two-part design of the clamping elements enables simple assembly, for example, by first fastening one of the clamping element parts to the fork receptacle, then orienting the composite element relative to the support element, and finally fastening the second clamping element part(s) in the fork receptacle to clamp the respective elastomer body in the associated receptacle of the support element.In another embodiment, assembly can also be provided in such a way that firstly both clamping elements are fastened to the associated elastomer body and then the composite element comprising the elastomer body with mounted clamping elements is oriented to the fork receptacles of the carrier element in such a way that during a subsequent relative movement of the carrier element and composite element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the damper, the fork legs of the carrier element engage in groove receptacles of the clamping elements and are guided by them during assembly, in particular until the fork receptacle and clamping element are locked together.

[0025] In order to ensure simple fixing of the clamping elements to the respective fork leg of the associated fork receptacle, it can be provided that the clamping elements each have a locking element in the region of the boundary surface defining the groove receptacle for locking with a locking element arranged on the associated fork leg of the fork receptacle for fastening each clamping element part to the associated fork leg. The provision of complementary locking elements enables the clamping elements to be connected to the associated fork receptacle in certain embodiments without the need for tools, which can reduce or facilitate the effort required for assembling or mounting the vibration damper according to the invention. In order to ensure that the two complementary locking elements on the clamping element orTo facilitate the locking of the associated fork leg, a boundary surface that secures the groove receptacle on the clamping element and supports the locking element can have a recess in the area of ​​the groove base. This design measure can facilitate elastic deflection of the boundary surface supporting the locking element for locking, wherein the recess can preferably extend over the majority of the length of the groove or the groove receptacle.

[0026] The support element of the vibration damper according to the invention can be specifically adapted to the component whose movement is to be dampened. For attachment to the component, the support element can have a contact flange on the receptacles, in particular the two fork receptacles and offset by approximately 90°, each extending in the longitudinal direction of the support element and in particular over approximately the depth of the fork receptacle, for rigidly attaching the support element to the said component. In this embodiment, it can be provided that in the area of ​​each of the receptacles, a contact flange with associated contact surfaces is provided, with which the element can be rigidly attached to the component.

[0027] In another embodiment, the support element of the vibration damper according to the invention can also be U-shaped, as in the above embodiment, wherein the two spaced-apart legs again provide fork receptacles, and the attachment of the support element to the component whose movement is to be dampened is carried out at the base of the support element, for example by the support element resting against the component with a contact surface of the base and being connectable to it, for example by rigidly screwing it. In a further embodiment, the support element can also be constructed or designed integrally with the component whose movement is to be dampened.

[0028] Conveniently, the damper body may comprise a metal material while the clamping elements may comprise a plastic material, which can preferably be processed by injection molding to produce the clamping elements.

[0029] The object underlying the invention is achieved by a method for assembling a vibration damper, which comprises the following steps: Providing an elongated damper body with two longitudinal end sections; providing two elastomer bodies, each comprising a cap-like section; attaching the elastomer bodies to the damper body, so that a composite element comprising the damper body and the two elastomer bodies attached thereto is provided; providing a support element, in particular a U-shaped one, with two receiving forks extending approximately perpendicularly from a base section and spaced apart from one another; providing two, each two-part clamping elements; clamping the composite element in the fork receptacles of the support element using the two clamping elements, so that the fork receptacles bear against the respective clamping elements, and these, each with a force applied, bear against the respective elastomer body to provide a press fit of the composite element in the fork receptacles of the support element; wherein the step of attaching the elastomer bodies to the damper body comprises the steps of: respective elastic expansion of the cap-like section of the two elastomer bodies in the radial direction and pulling the cap-like section of the respective elastomer body onto a longitudinal end section of the absorber mass assigned thereto, such that the respective elastomer body overlaps the assigned longitudinal end section of the absorber body.

[0030] Preferably, by clamping the composite element in the fork receptacles of the support element, a press fit is provided both in the longitudinal and radial directions, so that the elastomer bodies are connected to the support element in an axially and radially prestressed manner.

[0031] The invention will be explained below by describing an embodiment including variants with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vibration damper according to the invention in an oblique view, Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 specified vibration absorber in an exploded view, Figure 3 the support element of the vibration absorber according to the invention of the Figure 1 , 2 in a perspective individual view, Figure 4a the absorber body of the vibration absorber according to the invention of Figure 1 , 2 in an oblique view, Figure 4b the absorber body according to Figure 4a in a front view, Figure 5a a vibration damper according to the invention of the Figure 1 , 2 inserted elastomer body in a first perspective view, Figure 5b the elastomer body of the Figure 5a in a second perspective view, Figure 6a shows the clamping element for use in the vibration damper according to the invention of Figure 1 , 2in a closed state in a perspective view, Figure 6b the clamping element of the Fig. 6a in an open state in a perspective view, Figure 6c the opened clamping element of the Figure 6a in a bottom view, Figure 7 the support element with attached clamping elements of the vibration damper according to the invention of the Figure 1 , 2 , and Figure 8 shows the vibration damper according to the invention according to Figures 1, 2 in a perspective rear view.

[0032] The Figure 1The vibration damper 1 shown is designed as a vibration damper for a motor vehicle tailgate and has a support element 2 which can be rigidly connected to the motor vehicle tailgate by means of fastening tabs 27a, b. For this purpose, the fastening tabs 27a, b in the described embodiment have bores 28a via which the vibration damper 1 can be screwed to the motor vehicle tailgate. The vibration damper 1 according to the invention is designed as a frequency-tuned resonance damper which has an elastically suspended damper body 3 with a predetermined damper mass in order to counteract the vibrations of the tailgate caused by operating forces by means of a phase-shifted movement of the damper body. In the figure, the movement of the component to be damped, i.e. the motor vehicle tailgate, is indicated by the reference symbol Z.The vibration damper 1 according to the invention comprises a cylindrical damper body 3, to the end faces of which an elastomer body 4 is fastened, which in turn is connected to the carrier element 2 via clamping elements 6 without play.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the structure of the vibration absorber according to the invention of the Figure 1in an exploded view. As can be seen, the identically constructed elastomer bodies 4 have a cup-shaped receptacle with which they overlap the damper body 3 on a respective end face. In the region of an axial extension, the elastomer bodies are each engaged with a clamping element, which is itself inserted into a respective forked receptacle of the carrier element 2 for clamping the composite element, comprising the damper body and the two elastomer bodies attached at the ends. Depending on the embodiment, the elastomer bodies 4 are fastened to the carrier element 2 via the clamping elements 6, prestressed in both the radial and axial directions.

[0034] The one in the Figure 1 , 2The vibration damper according to the invention specified is adaptable and scalable by simple measures. For example, the frequency of the resonance damper according to the invention can be adjusted by changing the weight of the damper body, particularly in the center region, so that no changes to other components of the vibration damper 1 are necessary. Similarly, frequency adjustment can also be achieved by changing the elastic properties of the elastomer bodies 4, for example, by changing the material, without having to change the geometry of the components.

[0035] Figure 3shows the support element 2 of the vibration damper according to the invention in a perspective individual view. In the described embodiment, the support element 2 is essentially U-shaped with a base web 21 extending in the longitudinal direction, with fork receptacles 22 angled at 90° adjoining its ends. These fork receptacles are each formed by two spaced-apart fork legs 23a, 23b, which each have a locking recess 24a, b in the region of their free ends, the function of which is explained below. The support element 2 is designed as a formed sheet 20, with the respective fork receptacle 22 being designed by the formation of a recess in a fork flange adjoining the base web, which provides an outer end face 26a and an inner end face 26b. The respective fork receptacle 22 is limited or fixed by a narrow surface 25a.In the area of ​​the fork flange, a fastening flange 27a, 27b extends on both sides approximately perpendicular to its outer surface 26a in the longitudinal direction of the support element 2, with a . Figure 3 concealed contact surface 29a, b for contact and fastening via the bore 28a on the component whose movement is to be damped, here a vehicle tailgate (not shown).

[0036] The Figures 4a, b show in a single illustration the structure of the absorber body 3 for providing the absorber mass in an oblique view in Figure 4a and a frontal view in Figure 4bIn the described embodiment, the damper body is made of a metal material and has a cylindrical central section 30. Furthermore, it has a plurality of radial steps 32a, 33a, 34a on its two end sections arranged longitudinally to the axis A1, as well as the corresponding steps 32b, 33b, 34b on the opposite side. In an embodiment not shown, the damper body can comprise recesses, particularly in the central region 30, into which partial masses can be inserted if necessary to adjust the frequency of the vibration damper. Depending on the embodiment, these additional masses can be clamped into the damper body or bonded to it, for example by gluing.The axial extension of the damper body 3, starting from the first radial step 32a, 32b to the respective end face 35a, 35b, determines the respective end section of the damper body, to which a respective elastomer body can be fastened in a manner to be described below.

[0037] This elastomer body 4 is shown in two different perspective views in the Figures 5a and 5bshown. This has a hollow cylinder section 40 that is closed on one side and open on one long side, with a cylindrical outer surface 41 and a stepped inner cylinder surface 42, which here is composed of three cylindrical surface sections that follow one another in the longitudinal direction A2 and are separated from one another by two radial steps 43, 44. On the end face opposite the open end of the hollow cylinder section 40, a cylindrical extension 46 that is symmetrical to the axis A2 and ends in an end face 47 adjoins the end ring surface 45. Approximately centrally in the longitudinal direction, the extension 46 has a circumferentially closed clamping groove 48 with a cylindrical groove base 48a and two groove side surfaces 49a, b that axially restrict the groove.

[0038] In the described embodiment, the elastomer body is made of pure elastomer and is formed in one piece. In another embodiment, not shown, rigid inserts can also be provided, particularly in the region of the extension to the elastomer, to adjust the elastic properties of the elastomer body. The stepped cavity provided by the hollow cylinder section 40 is adapted to the two end sections of the absorber body and its steps up to a predetermined excess to provide a frictional connection between the absorber body 3 and the elastomer body 4, i.e. the respective dimensions are essentially identical except for the specified excess.

[0039] The Figure 6a , 6b and 6c show the structure of the clamping elements 6 in different views, Figure 6b in an oblique view with the shell halves separated, Figure 6c in a roughly frontal view from below and Figure 6ain an oblique view in an assembled state of the two shell halves. In the described embodiment, the respective clamping element 6 is designed in a clamp-like manner with a central passage or bore 61, which is provided by joining the two clamping half-shells 60a, 60b. In the specified embodiment, both clamping half-shells 60a, b divide the passage centrally, wherein the clamping half-shells are connected to one another in a captive manner by means of a film hinge 63 and are integrally manufactured in a plastic injection molding process. The cylindrical surfaces 62a, b delimiting the passage 61 act, in a manner to be described below, as clamping surfaces for an associated elastomer body, wherein each of the two clamping half-shells has a receiving groove 64a, b extending radially outward and perpendicular to the axis A3, which, in the assembled state of the clamping element, run parallel to one another with respect to their groove extension.The receiving grooves 64a, b each have a groove base 65a, b and two groove side surfaces 66a, b and 67a, b respectively that delimit the groove. Both grooves have a recess on one of their side surfaces that extends over part of the groove extension, wherein in the embodiment shown in . Figure 6a In the illustration shown, only the recess 68a of the clamping half-shell 60a is visible; the associated recess 68b in the clamping half-shell 60b is hidden in the figure.

[0040] Figure 6b shows that in Figure 6a specified assembled clamping element in an unfolded state, in which the two clamping half-shells 60a, 60b are rotated by 180° relative to each other in the area of ​​the film hinge 63 about the axis A3. For a description of a further detail in the design of the clamping element 6 in the described embodiment of a vibration damper according to the invention, reference is made to Figure 6c which, in contrast to the presentation of the Figure 6bA frontal view from below of the clamping half-shells 60a, b pivoted away from each other by 180° shows a direct view of the two receiving grooves 64a, b. Visibly, a locking element in the form of a locking cam 70a, b protrudes into each of the receiving grooves 64a, b, which extends from a respective groove side surface 67a, 66b towards the opposite groove side surface. Figure 6cIt is further apparent that the respective groove side surface, on which the locking cam 70a, b is arranged, has a recess 68a, b in the direction of the respective groove base 65a, b. In a manner to be described below, the locking cams 70a, b can be locked into the respective locking recesses 24a, b of the fork legs 23a, b for connecting the clamping element to the fork receptacle, wherein the indicated recesses 68a, b enable an elastic deflection of the groove side wall, on which the respective locking cam is arranged, in the axial direction outwards when the complementary locking elements are brought into engagement.

[0041] With reference to Figure 7 The following describes the assembly of the Figure 1 , 2 specified embodiment of a vibration damper according to the invention is explained in more detail, whereby for the sake of clarity of illustration in Figure 7The composite element, comprising the damper body and the two elastomer bodies attached to the ends, is not shown. The vibration damper according to the invention can be used in the Figure 1 be pre-assembled in the form shown, so that it can then be used immediately by placing and fastening the support element to the component whose vibration movement is to be reduced.

[0042] To assemble the vibration damper according to the invention described here, an elastomer body 4 is first placed on the stepped end sections of the damper body of the Figures 4a, 4bengaged so that the elastomer bodies 4 each rest with their stepped inner surface 42 against the stepped outer surface of one of the end regions 31a, b of the damper body 3. The end sections 31a, b of the damper body have a predetermined oversize over their entire surface compared to the stepped inner surface 42 of the hollow cylinder section 40 of the elastomer bodies 4. For assembly, the hollow cylinder section is expanded radially, pulled over the respective end section of the damper body, and then the outwardly acting force is removed so that the hollow cylinder section 40 of the elastomer body 4 rests against the associated end section 31a, b of the damper body 3 under a predetermined radial preload.

[0043] After completion of the composite element, the two clamping elements 6 of the Figures 6a - 6c to the extension 46 of the elastomer body 4. Starting from the Figure 6bIn the unfolded arrangement shown, one of the two halves can be inserted with its radial clamping surface 62a or 62b into the clamping groove 48 of the elastomer body 6, such that the clamping surface 62a, 62b of the respective clamping element 6 rests against the groove base 48a of the clamping groove of the elastomer body 4. The exposed clamping half-shell of the clamping element can then be folded around the film hinge 63 to close the passage 61, see Figure 6a be moved in such a way that the extension 69 of the clamping half-shell 60a engages in a complementary bore on the clamping half-shell 60b, which is not visible in the figures, whereby both clamping half-shells rest with their respective groove base 65a, b on the groove base 48a of the elastomer body 4. The described closed arrangement of the two clamping half-shells 60a, b of the clamping elements corresponds to the Figure 6ashown arrangement, wherein radial areas extending from the clamping surface 62a, b engage in the respective groove 48 of the respective elastomer body 4, see Figure 5a, b , so that the respective clamping element 6 rests against the associated elastomer body 4 in both the axial and radial directions.

[0044] In the following assembly step, the composite element with the two attached clamping elements becomes the support element 2, see Figure 3, aligned so that the fork receptacles 22 are opposite one of the clamping elements 6 such that the fork leg 23b of the carrier element 2 engages in the receiving groove 64b of the clamping element and the fork leg 23a engages in the receiving groove 64a. Thereafter, a relative displacement of the carrier element and the composite element takes place perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the composite element, so that the fork legs 23a, b extend further into the respective receiving groove until the respective tip of the fork leg engages the respective locking cam 70a, b, see Figure 6c so that upon further advancement, the groove wall carrying the locking cam is axially elastically deflected until the respective locking cam engages in the respective locking recess 24a, b of the fork leg 23a, b by the groove wall carrying the respective locking cam 70a, b snapping back into its rest position. This locking situation shows Figure 7, the position of the inner locking cam being indicated by dashed lines on the outside of the lower clamping element for clarity and designated by the reference numeral 70a. It can be seen that the recess 68a, which extends to the groove, is designed to run below the locking cam 70a, so that the groove wall section carrying the locking cam can be deflected in the axial direction when the components are joined together, in order to enable the described locking of the clamping element and the support element.

[0045] In the described embodiment, the clamping surface formed by the semi-cylindrical clamping surfaces 62a, b has, in the assembled state of both clamping half-shells 60a, b, an oversize in both the radial direction and the axial direction relative to the clamping groove 48 of the respective elastomer body 4, so that by engaging the fork legs 23a, b of the carrier element 2 with the receiving grooves 64a, b of the clamping elements 6, a press fit of the elastomer body in the carrier element is realized, i.e. the material providing the clamping groove 48 in the elastomer body 4 is prestressed both in the radial direction and in the axial or longitudinal direction in order to avoid play in the seat of the damper body on the elastomer body and also to avoid stretching of the material which is detrimental to the service life of the elastomer.

[0046] Figure 8 shows the vibration damper according to the invention according to Figure 1 in a rear view with a view of the fastening tabs 27a, b. Reference symbol list

[0047] 1Vibration damper 2Support element 3Absorber body 4Elastomer body 6Clamping element 20Forming plate 21Base web 22Fork holder 23a, bFork leg 24a, bLocking recess 25aNarrow surface 26a, bEnd face 27a, bFastening tab, contact flange 28aBore 29a, bContact surface 30Central section 31a, bEnd section 32a, bStep 33a, bStep 34a, bStep 35a, bEnd face 40Hollow cylinder section 41Outer surface 42Stepped inner surface 43, 44Step 45End ring surface 46Extension 47End face 48Groove, clamping groove 48aGroove base, Radial clamping surface 49a, bGroove side surface 60a, bClamping half-shell, clamping element part 61, passage / bore 62a, bClamping surface 63, film hinge 64a, bReceiving groove 65a, bGroove base 66a, bGroove side surface 67a, bGroove side surface 68a, bRecess 69, projection 70a, bLocking cams A1, A2 A3Longitudinal axis ZDirection of vibration

Claims

1. Vibration damper (1), in particular for a vehicle tailgate, comprising a support element (2) elastically coupled to a damper body (3) via an elastomer device, wherein the damper body (3) is elongated, at the end sections of which an elastomer body (4) is arranged with a cap-like section open toward the damper body (3) with which the respective elastomer body (4) engages over the damper body (3), wherein the support element (2) has spaced receptacles for the respective reception of one of the elastomer bodies (4), characterized in that respective clamping elements (6) are provided for clamping the respective elastomer body (4) into the assigned receptacle of the support element (2).

2. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective receptacle is designed as a fork-like receptacle (22) which is assigned to a fastening structure on the respective elastomer body (4) and comprises at least two fork legs (23a, b).

3. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the damper body (3) and the elastomer bodies (4) which are each connected to the damper body (3) at a respective end section of the damper body (3) form a composite body that is clamped in the receptacles of the support element (2).

4. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cap-like section of the respective elastomer body (4) is adjoined by a longitudinal extension (46) on the longitudinal side facing away in the installed position of the damper body (3), which extension (46) has the respective fastening structure for clamping the respective elastomer body (4) in the support element (2).

5. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the fastening structure of the respective elastomer body (4) comprises a circumferential groove (48) for providing at least one radial clamping surface (48a).

6. Vibration damper (1), at least according to claim 2, characterized in that the clamping elements (6) each have a passage (61) for providing a clamping surface (62a, b) acting in the radial direction for interaction with an associated contact surface of the elastomer body (4), and a respective receiving groove (64a, b) for guiding and receiving the two fork legs (23a, b) of the fork-like receptacle (22).

7. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping elements (6) are of two-part design, wherein each of the two clamping element parts (60a, 60b) is assigned to a fork leg (23a, b) of the fork-like receptacle (22) to which is attached.

8. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the clamping elements (6) each have a latching element in the region of the boundary surfaces defining the receiving groove for latching with a latching element arranged on the assigned fork leg (23a, b) of the fork-like receptacle (22), for fastening each clamping element part (60a, 60b) to the associated fork leg (23a, b).

9. Vibration damper (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a boundary surface of the respective clamping element which defines the receiving groove (64a, b) and carries the latching element has a recess (68a, b) in the region of a groove bottom (65a, b) of the receiving groove.

10. Vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that, on the receptacles and offset by approximately 90 degrees, a bearing flange (27a, b) extending in the longitudinal direction of the support element (2) is formed for rigidly fastening the support element (2) to a surface whose movement is to be damped.

11. Method for mounting a vibration damper (1), comprising the following steps: - providing an elongate damper body (3) having two longitudinal end sections; - providing two elastomer bodies (4), each including a cap-like section; - fastening the elastomer body (4) to the damper body (3) so as to provide a composite element comprising the damper body (3) and the two elastomer bodies (4) fastened to it; - providing two clamping elements (6), each of which can have two clamping element parts, in particular connected via a film hinge; - providing a support element (2) having two fork-like receptacles (22) extending approximately perpendicularly from a base section and at a distance from each other for the respective reception of the elastomer body; - clamping the composite element into fork-like receptacles (22) of the support element (2) using the two clamping elements (6) so that the fork-like receptacles (22) rest against the respective clamping elements (6) and these rest against the respective elastomer body (4), with a force applied in each case for providing a press fit of the composite element in the fork-like receptacles (22) of the support element (2), wherein the step of fastening the elastomer body (4) to the damper body (3) comprises the steps: - respective elastic expansion of the cap-like section of the two elastomer bodies (4) in the radial direction and mounting the cap-like section of the respective elastomer body (4) to a longitudinal end section of the damper mass assigned to it in such a way that the respective elastomer body (4) engages over the assigned longitudinal end section of the damper body (3).

12. Method for mounting a vibration damper (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the support element provided is a U-shaped support element (2).

13. Method for mounting a vibration damper (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the step of clamping the composite element into the fork-like receptacles (22) of the support element (2) comprises the steps: - arranging the composite element in relation to the support element (2) in such a way that the elastomer bodies (4) are aligned with the respective fork-like receptacle (22); - aligning a clamping element part designed as a clamping half-shell (60a, b) with one of the legs (23a, b) of the fork-like receptacle so that the respective leg of the fork-like receptacle engages in an assigned receiving groove (64a, b) of the respective clamping half-shell (60a, b), and moving the clamping half-shell (60a, b) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A3) of the composite element until complementary latching means arranged on the elastomer body (4) and on the clamping half-shell (60a, b) engage with each other.