Suspension element for a pump element in a pump housing, pump arrangement, vehicle seat, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension element (1) for a pump element (7), in particular a pneumatic pump element, in a pump housing (8), in particular of an adjustable lumbar support of a vehicle seat. According to the invention, the suspension element (1) has a receiving ring (2) into which the pump element (7) can be inserted, and at least two fastening elements (3) which protrude radially from the receiving ring (2), in particular are arranged such that they are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the receiving ring (2), are formed in one piece with the receiving ring (2) and are designed to be elastically deformable at least in certain regions for the pump element (7) to be mounted in the pump housing (8) in a floating and vibration-damping manner.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Suspension element for a pump element in a pump housing, pump arrangement, vehicle seat, motor vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a suspension element for a, in particular pneumatic, pump element in a pump housing, in particular an adjustable lumbar support of a vehicle seat.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention relates to a pump arrangement with such a suspension element, a vehicle seat with such a pump arrangement and a motor vehicle with such a vehicle seat.

[0005] Suspensions for pump elements consisting of several elements are known from the prior art. For example, the published patent application DE 10 2019 109 928 A1 discloses a suspension with a ring element arranged around a pump motor, which has two radially opposite projections. The projections each lie opposite pocket-shaped fixing elements in a pump housing. Each end turn of a coil spring is accommodated in the fixing elements, which encloses one of the projections on the other side. The coil springs serve as support elements to radially support the pump motor in the pump housing. Additional damping elements, in particular made of foam, are arranged on the inside of the pump housing to prevent a collision between the pump motor and the pump housing.

[0006] Also known are pneumatic lumbar support assemblies, for example for vehicle seats of motor vehicles, which enable adjustment of the lumbar support (lordosis) for a user-specific, natural contour of the spine in the lumbar region (S-shaped spine contour) by filling air cushions or air bladders, which overlap in particular in certain areas. The air supply is usually provided by such a pump motor. Filling, venting, and maintaining the air pressure are controlled via control devices and valve arrangements. The object of the invention is to provide an improved suspension for such a pump motor, in particular for use in such a lumbar support assembly, which has reduced complexity and the number of components.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is achieved by a suspension element having the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the suspension element has a receiving ring into which the pump element can be inserted, and at least two fastening elements that project radially from the receiving ring and are arranged, in particular, evenly distributed over the circumference of the receiving ring. These fastening elements are designed as one piece with the receiving ring and are elastically deformable at least in regions in order to support the pump element in the pump housing in a suspended and vibration-damping manner. A suspension element designed in this way creates an advantageous one-piece solution for radially and axially supporting the pump arrangement compared to the solutions known from the prior art mentioned at the outset, which are always multi-part. The separate damping elements mentioned at the outset can also be dispensed with.Alternatively, at least one damping element is provided, which is also formed integrally with the receiving ring, so that the integral design is always ensured. The one-piece design of the suspension element also creates a particularly advantageous possibility for the joint production of the receiving ring and fastening elements, in which, in particular, no additional production step is required for the manufacture of the fastening elements.

[0008] Overall, this creates a solution that ensures particularly simple assembly. In particular, the pump element and suspension element form a particularly advantageous pre-assembly unit. The pump element in particular has a pump motor or is designed as a pump motor. The suspension element in particular has an elastomer or is designed as an elastomer. The pump element is held firmly in the receiving ring, in particular by force or friction. The geometry of the fastening elements, in particular their radial length, is selected such that the pump assembly never touches the pump housing. This advantageously ensures that vibrations from the pump assembly are not transmitted to the pump housing and are thus decoupled. The NVH behavior of the pump assembly is thus advantageously optimized with just a single component, the suspension element.Preferably, the suspension element is designed, at least with respect to its outer contour, to be substantially rotationally and / or mirror-symmetrical to its longitudinal center axis. According to a preferred development of the invention, the fastening elements each have a fastening section that is C-shaped in cross-section, with their ends each being arranged on the receiving ring, so that a hollow space is formed between the fastening element and the receiving ring. This results in the advantage that, by deforming the fastening section, relative movements of the pump element to the pump housing within the hollow space are possible, for example, caused by vibrations during operation of the pump element, without the pump element striking the pump housing.

[0009] Particularly preferably, a fastening means for a housing opening of the pump housing is formed on a surface of the respective fastening section facing away from the receiving ring. Such a fastening means advantageously ensures that the suspension element with the pump element is securely held to the pump housing.

[0010] According to a preferred development of the invention, a mounting bracket is provided axially adjacent to the receiving ring, on which at least one axially projecting, further elastically deformable fastening element is provided perpendicular to the fastening elements. Such a mounting bracket provides the advantage that the suspension element provides additional support for the pump element in the axial direction.

[0011] Particularly preferably, the additional fastening element comprises a further fastening means for a further housing opening of the pump housing. Such a fastening means advantageously ensures that the suspension element with the pump element is also securely held to the pump housing in the axial direction.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the fastening means comprises a rear engagement element. The rear engagement element provides the advantage that the suspension element is held in a form-fitting manner with the pump element on the pump housing.

[0013] The pump assembly with the features of claim 7 comprises a pump element, in particular a pneumatic one, and a pump housing, in particular an adjustable lumbar support of a vehicle seat. It is characterized in that the pump element is mounted in the pump housing by the suspension element according to the invention. This results in the aforementioned advantages.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the pump housing comprises at least two housing parts, and at least one fastening element of the suspension element is partially mounted in a housing opening in each of the two housing parts. This ensures a particularly advantageously simple assembly of the suspension element before joining the two housing parts.

[0015] The vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with the features of claim 9 is characterized in that the pump assembly according to the invention is arranged in or on, in particular, a seat frame of the vehicle seat, in particular a backrest. This also results in the aforementioned advantages. The same advantages arise when the vehicle seat is used in other means of transportation, in particular aircraft, as well as when the pump assembly according to the invention is used in seats not installed in means of transportation, for example, massage seats.

[0016] The motor vehicle with the features of claim 10 is characterized by at least one vehicle seat according to the invention. This also results in the aforementioned advantages. In particular, the motor vehicle has the vehicle seat as the driver's seat.

[0017] Further advantages and preferred features and combinations of features emerge in particular from the above description and from the claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figures 1A and 1B advantageous suspension elements,

[0019] Figures 2A and 2B show the suspension elements mounted in a pump assembly, and

[0020] Figure 3 is a sectional view of the pump arrangement.

[0021] Figures 1A and 1B show a first and second exemplary embodiment of an advantageous suspension element 1 for a pump element, in particular a pneumatic one, in a pump housing. The suspension element 1 has a receiving ring 2 into which the pump element can be inserted. Furthermore, the suspension element 1 has two fastening elements 3 that protrude radially from the receiving ring 2 and are distributed uniformly around the circumference of the receiving ring 2. The fastening elements 3 are each formed integrally with the receiving ring 1 and are elastically deformable at least in some regions in order to mount the pump assembly in the pump housing in a suspended and vibration-damping manner.

[0022] In the second embodiment shown in Figure 1B, a fastening bracket 4 with a U-shaped cross-section is provided axially adjacent to the receiving ring 2, on which a further, axially projecting, elastically deformable fastening element 5 is provided perpendicular to the fastening elements 3. The fastening bracket 4 is arranged with its two ends on the receiving ring 2 and is formed integrally with the receiving ring 2.

[0023] Figure 2A shows the suspension element 1 from Figure 1A, and Figure 2B shows the suspension element 1 from Figure 1B, mounted in a pump assembly 6. The pump assembly 6 each comprises a pump element 7 and a pump housing 8. The pump element 7 is mounted in the pump housing 8 by the respective suspension element 1.

[0024] Figure 3 shows a sectional view along a section plane AA, which is shown in Figures 2A and 2B, respectively. It can be seen that the fastening elements 3 each have a fastening section 9 with a C-shaped cross-section, with their ends 10 each being arranged on the receiving ring 2, so that a cavity 11 is formed between the fastening element 3 and the receiving ring 2.

[0025] The fastening elements 3 also have two damping elements 21 which are C-shaped in cross section and which are each offset by 90°, i.e. arranged at right angles to the fastening elements 3 on the circumference of the receiving ring 2, so that the fastening elements 3 and the damping elements 21 are arranged uniformly distributed over the circumference of the receiving ring 2.

[0026] The damping elements 21 are not connected to the pump housing 8 in this respect, but rather, through the additional cavity 22 formed therebetween, ensure that upon a corresponding movement of the pump element 7, only the damping elements 21 rest against the pump housing 8 and are elastically deformed, but the pump element 7 does not come into direct contact with the pump housing 8. On a surface 12 of the respective fastening section 9 facing away from the receiving ring 2, a fastening means 13 for a housing opening 14 of the pump housing 8 is formed. The fastening means 13 has a respective engagement element 15.

[0027] As can be seen in Figures 2A and 3A, the fastening element 5 also has a further fastening means 16 for a further housing opening 17 of the pump housing 8. The fastening means 16 has a further rear engagement element 18.

[0028] As can be seen in Figure 3, the pump housing 8 has two housing parts 19, 20 which can be connected to one another, wherein at least the fastening elements 3 are partially mounted in each of the two housing parts 19, 20 in order to facilitate the insertion of the fastening means 13 into the pump housing 8.

[0029] The housing openings 14 are thus each formed as, in particular, semicircular, recesses in each of the housing parts 19, 20, so that they form a, in particular, circular, through-hole. The respective engagement element 14 is thus located outside the pump housing 8.

[0030] List of reference symbols

[0031] Suspension element Retaining ring Fastening element Fastening bracket Additional fastening element Pump arrangement Pump element Pump housing

[0032] Mounting section end

[0033] cavity

[0034] surface

[0035] Fastening means Housing opening Rear grip element Further fastening means Further housing opening Further rear grip element Housing part

[0036] Housing part damping element additional cavity

Claims

Patent claims 1. Suspension element (1) for a, in particular pneumatic, pump element (7) in a pump housing (8), in particular an adjustable lumbar support of a vehicle seat, characterized in that the suspension element (1) has a receiving ring (2) into which the pump element (7) can be inserted, and at least two fastening elements (3) which project radially from the receiving ring (2) and are arranged in particular uniformly distributed over the circumference of the receiving ring (2), which fastening elements are designed in one piece with the receiving ring (2) and are elastically deformable at least in regions in order to mount the pump element (7) in the pump housing (8) in a floating and vibration-damping manner.

2. Suspension element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements (3) each have a fastening section (9) which is C-shaped in cross section, wherein they are each arranged with their ends (10) on the receiving ring (2), so that a hollow space (11) is formed between the fastening element (3) and the receiving ring (2).

3. Suspension element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fastening means (13) for a housing opening (14) of the pump housing (8) is formed on a surface (12) of the respective fastening section (9) facing away from the receiving ring (2).

4. Suspension element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fastening bracket (4) is provided axially adjoining the receiving ring (2), on which at least one axially projecting, further elastically deformable fastening element (5) is provided perpendicular to the fastening elements (3).

5. Suspension element according to claim 4, characterized in that the further fastening element (5) has a further fastening means (16) for a further housing opening (17) of the pump housing (8).

6. Suspension element according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the fastening means (13, 16) has a rear grip element (15, 18).

7. Pump arrangement (6), with a, in particular pneumatic, pump element (7), and with a pump housing (8), in particular an adjustable lumbar support of a vehicle seat, characterized in that the pump element (7) is mounted in the pump housing (8) by a suspension element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Pump arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the pump housing (8) has at least two housing parts (19, 20), and that at least one fastening element (3) of the suspension element (1) is mounted partially in a housing opening (14) in each of the two housing parts (19, 20).

9. Vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, characterized in that a pump arrangement (6) according to one of claims 7 and 8 is arranged in or on, in particular a seat frame, of the vehicle seat, in particular a backrest.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized by at least one vehicle seat according to claim 9.

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