Assembly for adjusting the ride height of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising such an assembly

Abstract

A vehicle ride height adjustment assembly and a vehicle comprising such an assembly. The invention relates to a vehicle ride height adjustment assembly comprising: - a wheel hub (1) capable of supporting a wheel, - a shock absorber of a suspension system, fixed to said wheel hub. According to the invention: - the wheel hub (1) comprises a rack (13) extending substantially vertically relative to said vehicle and comprises at least one oblong hole (15, 17) receiving a fixing member for said shock absorber, - said shock absorber comprises a pinion capable of being driven in rotation by means of an electric motor and mounted in said assembly so as to mesh with said rack (13). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly for adjusting the ride height of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising such an assembly technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of ground connection of a rear axle of a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to an assembly for adjusting the ride length of a motor vehicle.

[0003] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an assembly. Previous technique

[0004] The connection to the ground of a motor vehicle is achieved by means of wheels resting on the ground.

[0005] Each wheel is mounted on a wheel pivot, receiving the wheel hub and supporting the wheel.

[0006] Each wheel pivot is connected to the vehicle body via a shock absorber of a suspension system, fixed to the wheel pivot via a clevis arranged at the lower end of the shock absorber and fixed to the wheel pivot by means of fixing screws.

[0007] The vehicle's ride height, the distance between the ground and a point on the vehicle's chassis, plays a very important role in the vehicle's energy consumption.

[0008] Indeed, by reducing the length of the plate, we reduce the frontal area of ​​the vehicle, which makes it possible to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and consequently to limit the energy consumption of the vehicle.

[0009] It is known to adjust the ride height of a vehicle to adapt to driving conditions, in particular depending on whether the vehicle is moving in town, on highways, on roads, etc.

[0010] The adjustment of the ride height is typically achieved by means of air suspensions.

[0011] However, the cost of this type of air suspension is very high.

[0012] Thus, this type of suspension is only fitted to high-end vehicles. Description of the invention

[0013] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to an assembly for adjusting the ride length of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a wheel pivot capable of supporting a wheel, - a shock absorber of a suspension system, fixed to said wheel pivot, said assembly being remarkable in that: - said wheel pivot comprises a rack extending substantially vertically relative to said motor vehicle when said assembly is mounted on said motor vehicle, said wheel pivot further comprising at least one oblong hole receiving a fixing element for said shock absorber, - said shock absorber includes a pinion capable of being driven in rotation by means of an electric motor and mounted in said assembly so as to mesh with said rack

[0014] Thus, by providing to fix the shock absorber to the wheel pivot by means of fixing members engaging said at least one oblong hole made on the wheel pivot and capable of moving along said at least one oblong hole, the rotation of the pinion causes, via the rack, the vertical translational movement of the shock absorber.

[0015] In this way, a degree of freedom in vertical translation is added to the shock absorber, which makes it possible to create a sliding link of the shock absorber relative to the wheel pivot.

[0016] The whole of the present invention is relatively simple to implement and constitutes an inexpensive solution for adjusting the length of the plate compared to the solutions of the prior art.

[0017] Also, providing a rack and pinion that meshes with it improves the accuracy of controlling the ride length of the vehicle equipped with such an assembly.

[0018] By allowing precise adjustment of the vehicle's height, the vehicle's air resistance is reduced, which improves the vehicle's road handling and consequently improves the vehicle's performance, particularly in terms of energy consumption.

[0019] According to optional features of the assembly according to the invention: - said assembly includes a bracket attached to a lower end of said shock absorber, said bracket supporting said electric motor; - the length of said at least one oblong hole is determined according to the margin of adjustment of the desired plate length; - said assembly is adapted to allow an adjustment of the plate length of approximately 20mm; - said at least one oblong hole extends substantially vertically relative to said motor vehicle; - said wheel pivot comprises a pivot body having an upper part having a mounting plate having a front face, a rear face parallel to said front face and a lateral face defining the thickness of said fixing plate, said rack being supported by said lateral face; - said front face and said rear face each consist of a generally flat surface; - said at least one oblong hole is made on said fixing plate and goes through the fixing plate in its thickness.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a ride length adjustment assembly, remarkable in that said assembly is according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a wheel pivot according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a length adjustment assembly of the seating position of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.3] is a top view of the plate length adjustment assembly of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.4] is an enlargement of zone IV of [Fig.2]. Description of the implementation methods

[0026] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0027] Reference is made to figures 1 to 3 showing respectively a wheel pivot 1 according to the invention seen in perspective, showing a ride length adjustment assembly 3 of a motor vehicle according to the invention seen in perspective and showing the ride length adjustment assembly 3 seen from above.

[0028] Assembly 3 includes a wheel pivot 1 and a shock absorber 5 of a vehicle body suspension system.

[0029] The wheel pivot 1 has a pivot body 7. The pivot body 7 has a bore 9 adapted to receive a hub (not shown) supporting a wheel (not shown) and to receive a bearing (not shown) of the wheel. When the wheel is mounted on the wheel pivot 1, the axle of the wheel and the axis 11 of the bore 9 of the wheel pivot 1 are substantially coaxial.

[0030] According to the invention, the wheel pivot 1 comprises a rack 13, which extends substantially vertically relative to the motor vehicle, that is to say substantially vertically relative to the wheel pivot 1 when the wheel pivot 1 is mounted in the vehicle.

[0031] The wheel pivot 1 further includes one or more oblong holes 15, 17 each receiving a fixing member of the shock absorber 5 and capable of moving along the oblong holes 15, 17.

[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the wheel pivot 1 has two oblong holes 15, 17 adapted to receive the fixing elements of the corresponding shock absorber 5.

[0033] The shock absorber 5 includes a pinion 19 mounted in the ride length adjustment assembly 3 so as to mesh with the rack 13.

[0034] The pinion 19 is capable of being driven in rotation by means of an electric motor 21, so that, when the electric motor 21 is actuation, the rotation of the pinion 19 causes the shock absorber 5 to move in vertical translation.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the electric motor 21 is supported by a clevis 23 attached to the lower end 25 of the shock absorber 5.

[0036] The shock absorber 5 being fixed to the wheel pivot 1 by means of the fixing members which engage the oblong holes 15, 17 and which are capable of moving along the oblong holes 15, 17, the rotation of the pinion 19 causes, via the rack 13, the vertical translational movement of the shock absorber 5.

[0037] The length of the oblong holes 15, 17 is determined according to the margin of adjustment of the desired plate length.

[0038] In one embodiment, the plate length adjustment assembly 3 according to the invention is adapted to allow a plate length adjustment of approximately 20 mm. In one example embodiment, the plate length adjustment assembly 3 is adapted to allow a plate length adjustment of 20 mm.

[0039] For example, when the motor vehicle is travelling on a motorway, the ride length can be reduced by about 20mm compared with the ride length of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is travelling on a road or in town.

[0040] As is the case for the rack 13, the oblong holes 15, 17 extend substantially vertically relative to the motor vehicle, that is to say substantially vertically relative to the wheel pivot 1 when the wheel pivot 1 is mounted in the vehicle.

[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pivot body 7 has an upper part 27 comprising a fixing plate 29.

[0042] Reference is made to [Fig.4] showing an enlargement of zone IV of [Fig.2].

[0043] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rack 13 is carried by the fixing plate 29 of the pivot body 7.

[0044] Similarly, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the oblong holes 15, 17 are made on the fixing plate 29 of the pivot body 7.

[0045] The mounting plate 29 has a front face 31, a rear face 33, parallel to the front face 31, and a side face 35 defining the thickness of the mounting plate 29.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the front face 31 of the mounting plate 29 consists of a generally flat surface.

[0047] Also, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rear face 33 of the mounting plate 29 consists of a generally flat surface.

[0048] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rack 13 is carried by the lateral face 35 of the fixing plate 29.

[0049] Also, the oblong holes 15, 17 are made on the fixing plate 29 and go through the fixing plate 29 in its thickness.

[0050] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this motor vehicle assembly and of this motor vehicle comprising such an assembly, described above solely by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (3) for adjusting the ride length of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a wheel pivot (1) capable of supporting a wheel, - a shock absorber (5) of a suspension system, fixed to said wheel pivot (1), said assembly (3) being characterized in that: - said wheel pivot (1) has a rack (13) extending substantially vertically relative to said motor vehicle when said assembly (3) is mounted on said motor vehicle, said wheel pivot (1) further having at least one oblong hole (15, 17) receiving a fixing member for said shock absorber (5), - said shock absorber (5) has a pinion (19) capable of being driven in rotation by means of an electric motor (21) and mounted in said assembly (3) so as to mesh with said rack (13).

2. Assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a clevis (23) integral with a lower end (25) of said shock absorber (5), said clevis (23) supporting said electric motor (21).

3. Assembly (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the length of said at least one oblong hole (15, 17) is determined as a function of the margin of adjustment of the desired plate length.

4. Assembly (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said assembly (3) is adapted to permit an adjustment of the plate length of approximately 20mm.

5. Assembly (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one oblong hole (15, 17) extends substantially vertically relative to said motor vehicle.

6. Assembly (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said wheel pivot (1) comprises a pivot body (7) comprising an upper part (27) comprising a mounting plate (29) comprising a front face (31), a rear face (33) parallel to said front face (31) and a side face (35) defining the thickness of said mounting plate (29), said rack (13) being carried by said side face (35).

7. Assembly (3) according to claim 6, characterized in that said front face (31) and said rear face (33) each consist of a generally flat surface.

8. Assembly (3) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said at least one oblong hole (15, 17) is made on said fixing plate (29) and passes through the fixing plate (29) in its thickness.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a ride length adjustment assembly (3), characterized in that said assembly (3) is according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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