SPRING STRUTS IN SHEET METAL CONSTRUCTION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spring link in sheet metal construction for a motor vehicle wheel suspension, comprising a spring link shell with a first and only end section for connection to the vehicle body and a second end section for connection to the wheel, as well as a central section with a profile cross-section that is open upwards in the installed position and is arranged between the aforementioned end sections, a closing part that is fastened to the central section of the spring link shell and bridges the upwardly open profile cross-section thereof, wherein the closing part has a closing part base for supporting a wheel spring and a spring dome that is raised relative to the closing part base, and at least one bulkhead plate within the spring link shell.

[0002] A generic spring link constructed according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example, from DE 10 2016 100 666 A1. In this case, a component referred to as a reinforcement plate is arranged in and / or on the opening of the spring link shell, at least in longitudinal sections, for the purpose of optimizing the stiffness requirements.

[0003] Further spring control arms are known from EP 2 818 342 A1, CN 104 494 385 A, and DE 10 2013 009 426 A. EP 2 818 342 A1 proposes stiffening a spring control arm shell in the region of its first end section using a bulkhead plate that connects the opposite side limbs of the spring control arm shell profile. CN 104 494 385 A proposes supporting a wheel spring not on the locking part, but on the base of the spring control arm shell. Notches on the base and on the locking part are stiffened by bulkhead plates angled to the longitudinal direction of the spring control arm shell, which connect the base and locking part. Similarly, a stiffening sleeve is welded around the wheel spring between the base and the locking part to reinforce the support of the wheel spring on the base. DE 10 2013 009 426 A teaches a bulkhead plate which connects opposite side legs of a spring link made of an extruded profile.

[0004] Furthermore, from CN 205 632 004 U a two-shell wishbone is known, which has a supporting tube piece below a spring support between its upper shell and its lower shell.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a spring link that can support heavy loads and that can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively with a small installation space requirement and low component weight. In particular, the invention aims to demonstrate alternatives to the solution known from DE 10 2016 100 666 A1.

[0006] This object is achieved by a spring link according to patent claim 1. The spring link according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the at least one bulkhead plate is arranged between a rear side of the locking part facing the spring link shell and facing away from the wheel spring and the spring link shell.

[0007] This creates a compact spring link that combines high rigidity with low component weight and ease of manufacture.

[0008] Such a spring link is particularly suitable for the rear axle of an electric vehicle.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of further patent claims. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one partition plate adjoins the rear side of the closing part and has at least one wall section perpendicular to the rear side of the closing part.

[0010] For example, such a bulkhead plate can be additionally connected to the spring link shell in order to provide additional support for the locking part against the spring link shell and thereby achieve high rigidity in the area of ​​the spring support and counteract breathing of the spring link shell under load.

[0011] According to the invention, the spring link shell has a U-shaped profile cross-section with two opposing side legs and a web connecting them. At least one said bulkhead plate, which is connected to the spring link shell, can be supported on the web of the spring link shell.

[0012] However, it is also possible to support a bulkhead plate on one of the side legs of the spring arm shell.

[0013] If a bulkhead plate is supported on one of the side legs, the side leg can have a slotted hole. In this case, the bulkhead plate can be welded particularly easily to the side leg of the spring link shell in the area of ​​the slotted hole.

[0014] The bulkhead plate can either be formed integrally with the locking part or be designed as a separate component. The latter allows for greater flexibility in the arrangement. Preferably, the bulkhead plate is welded to the locking part.

[0015] Furthermore, in order to improve the support and / or weldability, at least one said partition plate can have notches and / or angled edges in the region of its connection to the spring link shell and / or in the region of its connection to the closing part.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one said bulkhead plate can have a T-shaped profile cross-section in the area of ​​connection to the spring link shell and / or in the area of ​​connection to the locking part. This enables improved support against the respective component. Furthermore, this allows for particularly simple fastening by plug welding or slot welding. Corresponding openings are provided in the spring link shell or the locking part.

[0017] In a further embodiment, it is provided that at least one said partition plate extends into the rear of the spring dome, whereby the latter is additionally stiffened, so that, in particular when the spring dome is manufactured separately, the spring dome and / or the shell can be designed with a thinner wall thickness or higher degrees of deformation can be permitted on the spring dome and / or on the shell.

[0018] In one design variant, at least one of said bulkhead plates lies in a plane spanned by the longitudinal center axis of the spring link shell and a perpendicular to the rear side of the locking part. In such a case, a single bulkhead plate may be sufficient to achieve adequate stiffening. This keeps the number of required components and joining operations very low.

[0019] Furthermore, it is possible to form at least one of said partition plates by wall projections of the locking part, which extend from the locking part into the spring link shell. This completely eliminates the need for an additional component. A wall projection can, for example, be welded to a side leg of the spring link shell. However, it is also possible to weld such a wall projection to a web of the spring link shell connecting the side legs of the spring link shell.

[0020] According to the invention, the bulkhead plate is designed as a substantially flat sheet metal element.

[0021] In a variant not according to the invention, however, it is also possible to provide such a device with a profiling.

[0022] In a variant not according to the invention, at least one of said bulkhead plates has a U-shaped profile cross-section that extends in the longitudinal direction of the spring link shell and is attached to the rear side of the locking part by the free ends of its legs. Ideally, the stiffening effect is so great that support of the bulkhead plate against the spring shell is unnecessary. In principle, however, such a bulkhead plate can also be additionally supported against the spring shell.

[0023] For further stiffening, the locking part base can form cantilevered arms which are extended along the upper edges of the side legs of the spring link shell and overlap them.

[0024] Furthermore, the locking part base can have material folds on its edges in the direction of the spring link shell, which extend into the profile cross-section of the spring link shell.

[0025] Furthermore, in all of the aforementioned design variants and regardless of the use of a bulkhead plate, it is possible to design the locking part in two parts, such that the locking part base has a support surface for the wheel spring, the spring dome is inserted into the locking part base from the rear side opposite the support surface and is fastened to it, preferably welded. However, the spring dome can also be placed on the support surface of the wheel spring and welded there. This makes it possible to manufacture the locking part base from a high-strength sheet material with which the degrees of deformation required for a spring dome would not be possible or would only be possible with great effort. The spring dome, for its part, primarily serves to guide the wheel spring laterally and can therefore be made from a material that is more advantageous in terms of forming technology.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a spatial representation of a first embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a front view of the spring link from Figure 1 , Figure 3 a longitudinal section view of the spring link from Figure 1 in the area of ​​the wheel spring support, Figure 4 a spatial representation of a second embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 5 a longitudinal sectional view of the spring link from Figure 4 in the area of ​​the wheel spring support, Figure 6 a spatial representation of a third embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 7 a longitudinal sectional view of the spring link from Figure 6in the area of ​​the wheel spring support, Figure 8 a spatial representation of a fourth embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 9 a longitudinal sectional view of the spring link from Figure 8 in the area of ​​the wheel spring support, Figure 10 a spatial representation of a fifth embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 11 a view from below of the spring link according to Figure 10 , Figure 12 a spatial representation of a sixth embodiment of a spring link according to the invention, Figure 13 a cross-sectional view of the spring link from Figure 12 , and in Figure 14 a side view of the spring link from Figure 12 in the area of ​​the wheel spring support.

[0027] The exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures each relate to a spring link 1 for a motor vehicle wheel suspension. Such a spring link 1 serves to support a wheel carrier against a vehicle body or a subframe attached thereto. Furthermore, the support of a wheel spring or a spring strut is characteristic of a spring link 1.

[0028] The spring control arms 1 of the exemplary embodiments are each constructed from sheet metal and accordingly each comprise a spring control arm shell 2 made from a sheet metal blank, with a first end section 3 for connection to the vehicle body and a second end section 4 for connection to the wheel. Furthermore, the spring control arm shell 2 comprises a central section 5, which is arranged between the aforementioned end sections 3 and 4 and connects them to one another.

[0029] The spring link shell 2 with sections 3, 4 and 5 is designed as a sheet metal part, which has a profile cross-section open at the top. The profile cross-section of the spring link shell 2 in the area of ​​the central section 5 is, for example, Figures 2 and 13 shown in more detail.

[0030] Such as the Figures 2 and 13 As can be seen, the profile cross-section of the spring link shell 2 is essentially U-shaped and opens upwards, i.e., in this case, towards the wheel spring side. In the illustrated embodiments, two side legs 6 and 7 of the profile are connected to one another by a web 8. The side legs 6 and 7 can be arranged essentially parallel to one another, but can also have a small angle of incidence, which facilitates the demolding of the spring link shell 2 from the mold.

[0031] The free ends of the side legs 6 and 7 of the U-shaped profile cross-section can each be bent outwards to form, particularly in the central region 5, widened support surfaces 9 and 10 for a locking part 11, which will be explained in more detail below and which bridges the open side of the profile cross-section. In the profile cross-section according to the Figures 2 and 20, the support surfaces 9 and 10 extend approximately at a right angle to the side legs 6 and 7. Outer edges 12 and 13 of the support surfaces 9 and 10 can, if necessary, be bent towards the web 8.

[0032] Furthermore, the profile cross-section of the spring link shell 2 can be symmetrical, at least in the region of the central section 5, with respect to a profile center plane E, which is spanned by the longitudinal direction of the spring link shell in this region and a perpendicular to the closing part 11. The profile center plane E extends equally spaced between the side legs 6 and 7 in the longitudinal direction A of the spring link shell 2, which is also understood here as the profile center axis.

[0033] In particular, the effective direction W of the wheel spring can coincide with the profile center plane E. Preferably, the effective direction W of the wheel spring is perpendicular to the locking part 11.

[0034] This locking part 11 is attached to the central section 5 of the spring link shell 2. It bridges the open profile cross-section of the spring link shell 2. The locking part 11 rests with its rear side 14 facing away from the wheel spring on the support surfaces 9 and 10 of the central section 5. It is connected there to the spring link shell 2, preferably by welding or crimping.

[0035] On the upper side of the locking part 11 facing the wheel spring, a support surface 15 is provided for supporting a wheel spring.

[0036] Welding of the locking part 11 with the spring link shell 2 is preferably carried out from the rear side 14 of the locking part 11 and the spring link shell 2, as shown in Figure 11 This can be clearly seen from the weld seams 16 and 17. In this case, the weld seams 16 and 17 can be located below the support surface 15 for the wheel spring.

[0037] The locking part 11, which is attached to the central section of the spring link shell 2, has a locking part base 18 and a spring dome 19. While a wheel spring is axially supported on the locking part base 18, the spring dome 19 extends into the wheel spring.

[0038] The locking part base 18 and the spring dome 19 can, in principle, be manufactured from a single sheet metal plate. However, it is also possible to first manufacture both components separately and then join them together, for example, by welding.

[0039] The spring dome 19 can be placed on the support surface 15 for the wheel spring and secured there. However, it is also possible to insert the spring dome 19 into the striker base 18 from the rear side opposite the support surface 15 and secure it there. This allows a sheet metal plate made of high-strength material to be used for the striker base 18 to achieve high rigidity in the center region of the spring link, while still allowing high degrees of deformation to be achieved on the spring dome 19.

[0040] Furthermore, all exemplary embodiments have at least one partition plate 20, which extends into a space between the rear side 14 of the closing part 11 and the spring link shell 2. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, in the sense of the present invention, this space is axially limited to the extent of the closing part 11, i.e., limited to the area that lies vertically below the closing part 11 when viewed from above. The extent of the partition plate 20 can remain limited to this space. However, the partition plate 20 can also extend out of this space. With respect to the wheel spring, the at least one partition plate 20 is arranged below the closing part 11.

[0041] The bulkhead plate 20 can be designed either as a separate component or as a section formed onto the closing part 11.

[0042] Such a bulkhead plate 20 can be used to provide additional stiffening of the spring link 1 in the area of ​​the wheel spring support.

[0043] Such stiffening can be achieved, for example, by stiffening the rear side of the locking part 11, in particular the locking part 11 alone.

[0044] Furthermore, an increase in rigidity can be achieved by internally stiffening the spring link shell 2, in particular the spring link shell 2 alone.

[0045] Furthermore, an additional increase in rigidity can be achieved by additionally supporting the closing part 11 against the spring link shell 2 by connecting the two together with the bulkhead plate 20. In addition to the support on the side legs 6 and 7, this provides additional vertical support for the closing part 11 in the area between the side legs 6 and 7.

[0046] In the following, particularly advantageous variants for such additional stiffening of the spring link 1 are presented, which can be used alone or in combination with a spring link 1 of the type explained above.

[0047] As in the first embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 3 can be removed, the bulkhead plate 20 connects to the rear side 14 of the locking part 11 facing the spring link shell 2 and facing away from the wheel spring.

[0048] In this case, it is installed upright and is supported by a lower edge 21 on the spring link shell 2, in particular its web 8.

[0049] The bulkhead plate 20 is designed as a completely or at least predominantly flat plate which is arranged on the longitudinal axis A of the spring link shell 2 and is spaced, preferably equally spaced, from the side legs 6 and 7 thereof.

[0050] The bulkhead plate 20 can be welded at its lower edge 21 to the spring link shell 2 and at its upper edge 22 to the rear side 14 of the locking part 11. The bulkhead plate (20) runs, as in Figure 1 can be seen under the spring dome 19.

[0051] The second embodiment in the Figures 4 and 5 shows a modification of the first embodiment, in which the partition plate 20, arranged centrally between the side legs 6 and 7, is connected only on one side to the rear side 14 of the closing part 11. The lower edge 21 of the partition plate 20 is spaced from the spring link shell 2 and is not connected to it.

[0052] The third embodiment in the Figures 6 and 7shows a further modification of the first exemplary embodiment, in which the lower and upper edges 21 and 22 of the bulkhead plate 20 are modified compared to the first exemplary embodiment in order to improve support and weldability. In the present case, a notch 23 or 24 is located in a central section of the respective lower and upper edges 21 and 22, so that the bulkhead plate 20 contacts the rear side 14 of the closing part 11 and the web 8 of the spring link shell 2 only with end sections 25 and 26 of the respective edges 21 and 22, but is otherwise spaced from the respective component. Preferably, said end sections 25 and 26 of the edges 21 and 22 are located below the support surface 15 for the wheel spring, so that vertical force support of wheel spring forces W towards the spring link shell 32 is possible without force deflection.

[0053] Furthermore, as in Figure 6For the lower edge 22 of the bulkhead plate 20, as shown by way of example, the edges 21 and 22 are angled to create a larger contact surface with the spring link shell 2 or the closing part 11 for welding. Such an angled portion 27 can be attached to a sheet metal plate without great effort.

[0054] The fourth embodiment in the Figures 8 and 9 As a further modification, it is possible to provide a T-shaped profile 29 on the lower and / or upper edges 21 and 22 of the bulkhead plate 20 for connection to the spring link shell 2 and / or the rear side of the closing part 11. In addition, recesses 28 can be provided on a wall section extending vertically or perpendicularly to the rear side 14 of the closing part 11 to save weight.

[0055] In the fourth embodiment, the fastening of the bulkhead plate 20 to the spring link shell 2 and / or the closing part 11 is preferably carried out by plug welding.

[0056] The fifth embodiment in the Figures 10 and 11 essentially corresponds to the fourth embodiment. In contrast to this, the bulkhead plate 20 has a widened T-shaped profile 29 along its lower edge 21. As Figure 11 can be removed, the connection to the spring link shell 2 is made here by a slot weld 30. Furthermore, the weld seams 16 and 17 for connecting the closing part 11 to the side legs 6 and 7 of the spring link shell 2 can also be designed as slot welds from the underside of the spring link shell 2.

[0057] Instead of a single bulkhead plate 20, two or more bulkhead plates 20 can also be arranged between the rear side 14 of the locking part 11 and the spring link shell 2.

[0058] The Figures 12 to 14 show, in the context of a sixth exemplary embodiment, the possibility of providing two separate partition plates 20, each of which has at least one wall section perpendicular to the rear side 14 of the closing part 11 in order to additionally stiffen and support the closing part 11 in the effective direction W of the wheel spring.

[0059] The two bulkhead plates 20 of the sixth embodiment are arranged completely beneath the closing part 11. They are each supported flat against one of the side legs 6 and 7 and with an upper edge 22 against the rear side 14 of the closing part 11. In principle, it is also possible to support the lower edges 21 of the two bulkhead plates 20 against the web 8 of the spring link shell 2. The connection is preferably made by welding.

[0060] How Figure 13can be removed, the partition plates 20 run essentially parallel to the side legs 6 and 7 and extend from there into the spring dome 19 of the closing part 11. Preferably, the partition plates 20 are each welded to the rear side 14 and optionally also to the spring dome 19, as indicated by the reference numeral 31 in Figure 12 is indicated.

[0061] For connection to the side legs 6 and 7, the latter can be provided with slot-like recesses 32, to which the bulkhead plates 20 are each fastened by slot welds 33.

[0062] The invention has been explained in more detail above using exemplary embodiments and further modifications. The exemplary embodiments and modifications serve to demonstrate the feasibility of the invention. Individual technical features explained above in the context of further individual features can also be implemented independently of these and in combination with other individual features, even if not expressly described, as long as this is technically feasible. The invention is therefore expressly not limited to the specifically described exemplary embodiments and modifications, but encompasses all configurations defined by the patent claims. List of reference symbols

[0063] 1 Spring control arms 20 bulkhead plate 2 Spring handlebar shell 21 bottom edge 3 final section 22 top edge 4 final section 23 Notch 5 Middle section 24 Notch 6 side legs 25 final section 7 side legs 26 final section 8 web 27 Angulation 9 Support surface 28 recess 10 Support surface 29 T-profile 11 Locking part 30 Long hole welding 12 outer edge 31 Weld seam 13 outer edge 32 slot 14 back 33 Long hole welding 15 Support surface A Longitudinal axis 16 Weld seam E Middle level 17 Weld seam W Direction of action of the spring force 18 Locking part base 19 Spring dome

Claims

1. Spring link (1) in a sheet metal construction for a motor vehicle wheel suspension, said spring link (1) comprising: a spring link shell (2) having a first and only end portion (3) for attachment on the vehicle body and a second end portion (4) for attachment on the wheel, as well as a central portion (5) having a profile cross-section that is open upwards in the fitting position and is arranged between the aforementioned end portions (3, 4), the spring link shell (2) having a U-shaped profile cross-section that has two opposite side legs (6, 7) and a bridging element (8) connecting them, a closing part (11) which is only fastened to the central portion (5) of the spring link shell (2) and bridges the upwardly open profile cross-section thereof, the closing part (11) having a closing part base (18) for supporting a wheel spring and a spring dome (19) which is raised relative to the closing part base (18), and at least one bulkhead plate (20) within the spring link shell (2), characterized in that the at least one bulkhead plate (20) in the form of a completely or at least predominantly flat plate is arranged between a rear side (14) of the closing part (11), the rear side facing the spring link shell (2) and facing away from the wheel spring and the spring link shell (2) and runs longitudinally to the spring link shell (2) and perpendicularly to the rear side (14) of the closing part (11) under the spring dome (19), the at least one bulkhead plate (20) being spaced from the side legs (6, 7), and the at least one bulkhead plate (20) adjoining the rear side (14) of the closing part (11) and having at least one wall portion perpendicular to the rear side (14) of the closing part (11); or in that the two bulkhead plates (20) are each arranged between a rear side (14) of the closing part (11), the rear side facing the spring link shell (2) and facing away from the wheel spring and the spring link shell (2), the two separate bulkhead plates (20) each having at least one wall portion perpendicular to the rear side (14) of the closing part (11) in order to additionally stiffen and support the closing part (11) in the effective direction (W) of the wheel spring, the two bulkhead plates (20) being arranged completely below the closing part (11) and each being supported flatly on one of the side legs (6, 7) and being supported with an upper edge (22) on the rear side (14) of the closing part (11), and the two bulkhead plates (20) running substantially in parallel with the side legs (6, 7) and each extending therefrom into the spring dome (19) of the closing part (11).

2. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the first variant according to the invention, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20) is connected to the spring link shell (2) in order to provide additional support for the closing part (11) against the spring link shell (2).

3. Spring link (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20), which is connected to the spring link shell (2), is supported on the bridging element (8).

4. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the second variant according to the invention, characterized in that the side legs (6, 7) have an elongated hole (32) and the two bulkhead plates (20) are welded to the relevant side leg (6, 7) in the region of the elongated hole (32).

5. Spring link (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20) has notches (23, 24) and / or angled edges (21,22) in the region of its attachment on the spring link shell (2) and / or in the region of its attachment on the closing part (11).

6. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the first variant according to the invention or according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20) has a T-shaped profile cross-section (29) in the region of the attachment on the spring link shell (2) and / or in the region of the attachment on the closing part (11).

7. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the first variant according to the invention or according to any of claims 2 or 6, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20) extends rearward into the spring dome (19).

8. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the first variant according to the invention or according to any of claims 2, 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one said bulkhead plate (20) lies in a plane (E) which is spanned by the longitudinal central axis (A) of the spring link shell (2) in the central portion (5) and a perpendicular to the rear side (14) of the closing part (11).

9. Spring link (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with the second variant according to the invention or according to claim 4, characterized in that the two bulkhead plates (20) are each welded to the rear side (14) or each to the rear side (14) and the spring dome (19).

10. Spring link (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing part base (18) forms projecting arms (40, 41) which are extended along the upper edges of the side legs (6, 7) of the spring link shell (2) and overlap these and / or the closing part base (18) has material folds (44, 45) on its edges in the direction of the spring link shell (2), which material folds extend into the profile cross-section of the spring link shell (2).

11. Spring link (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the closing part base (18) has a support surface (15) for the wheel spring and the spring dome (19) is inserted into the closing part base (18) from the rear side (14) opposite the support surface (15) and is fastened thereto, preferably welded, or the spring dome (19) is placed on the support surface (15) and fastened thereto, preferably welded.