Vibration damper.

Abstract

The invention relates to a vibration damper (10) for damping the vibrations of a part of a motor vehicle, having a holding device (12) that can be fixed to the part of the motor vehicle, a damping mass (14) that can vibrate relative to the holding device (12) and a spring device (16) that clamps the damping mass (14) to the holding device (12) so that it can vibrate, where the damping mass (14) includes at least one disappearance and / or path limiting device (18) acting together with the holding device (12) to limit the deflection of the damping mass (14) relative to the holding device (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration damper for damping vibrations of a motor vehicle part, in particular a tailgate or roof of a motor vehicle, comprising a holding device attachable to the motor vehicle part, a damper mass which is capable of oscillation relative to the holding device, and a spring device which couples the damper mass to the holding device in a oscillating manner.

[0002] Vibration dampers of the type mentioned above are used to dampen the vibrations of vehicle components in order to decouple these disruptive vibrations from the passenger compartment and thus improve ride comfort. Conventional vibration dampers consist of a spring assembly and a damping mass, which is coupled to the vehicle component to be damped via the spring mass. When the vehicle component connected to the vibration damper begins to vibrate, the damping mass vibrates along with it after a certain delay, thereby damping the vibrations via the spring assembly. Such a vibration damper is used, for example, to dampen vibrations in the area of ​​a tailgate or roof of a vehicle.

[0003] DE 195 47 715 C1 discloses a vibration damper comprising a damping mass connected to a mounting flange by at least one spring element made of elastomeric material, wherein the damping mass and the mounting flange are captive and fixed to one another by at least one captive locking device. The captive locking device is essentially T-shaped in cross-section and rigidly connected to the damping mass. The captive locking device penetrates a recess in both the spring element and the mounting flange, with the disc-shaped end face of the captive locking device acting as a stop and positioned at a distance adjacent to the side of the mounting flange facing away from the damping mass.

[0004] Furthermore, US 2008 / 0197549 A1 discloses a vibration-damping device comprising a mass element that is elastically supported by a spring element designed as a metal leaf spring on a vibrating element to be damped, forming a secondary vibrating system. The mass element has a mounting plate, each end of which is provided with elastic coverings, the ends of the mass element, together with the coverings, projecting into recesses of the holder, thus limiting relative movement of the mass element relative to the holders.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 10 2013 104 034 A1 discloses a vibration damper comprising a base rigidly coupled to a vibrating component, a damper mass, and a spring element arranged between the base and the damper mass. To limit the axial movement of the damper mass, the base has stop flanges that interact with a stop flange of the damper mass and an inner flange inserted into the damper mass.

[0006] From JP H09 184538 A, a vibration damper with an elongated damping mass is known, which has a pin element at both ends. An elastomer element is mounted on each pin element. The damping mass is inserted into a receiving eye of a holder element by means of these elastomer elements. By deformation of the elastomer element, the damping mass can be deflected transversely to its longitudinal axis and can also oscillate longitudinally between the holder elements.

[0007] CN 104 696 409 A specifies a vibration damper with a damping mass and two end-faced pins. Each of the two pins passes through a receiving eye in a retaining element. Radially spaced from each pin, an elastomer spring is vulcanized between the damping mass and the retaining elements. These elastomer springs also extend through the receiving eyes with a collar, thus forming a damped stop for the pins.

[0008] Furthermore, US 2004 / 149531 A1 discloses a vibration damper with a damping mass, at each end face of which a pin element is located, interacting with a transverse stop formed by a collar of a receiving eye. A hollow cylindrical elastomer spring extends between the damping mass and the receiving eye, its first end forming a form-fitting lining of the receiving eye and its other end abutting the outer circumference of the damping mass. At maximum displacement, the pin element abuts the elastomer spring on the inner circumference of the receiving eye.

[0009] The present invention is based on the objective of creating a vibration damper that has a long service life and is also cost-effective to manufacture.

[0010] To solve the problem, a vibration damper with the features of claim 1 is proposed.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the vibration damper are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] The vibration damper for damping vibrations of a motor vehicle part, in particular a tailgate or roof of a motor vehicle, comprises a mounting device attachable to the motor vehicle part, a damper mass which is capable of oscillation relative to the mounting device, and a spring device which couples the damper mass to the mounting device in a oscillating manner, wherein the damper mass has at least one loss and / or travel limiting device which cooperates with the mounting device to limit a deflection of the damper mass relative to the mounting device.

[0013] The loss and / or travel limiting device prevents overloading of the spring assembly by limiting the displacement of the damper mass relative to the mounting bracket. Specifically, the loss and / or travel limiting device ensures that the damper mass can only move freely within predetermined ranges to dampen vibrations, without excessively stressing or damaging the spring assembly. This eliminates the need for complex safety measures intended to restrict the damper mass's displacement. Consequently, the vibration damper has a long service life. Furthermore, in the event of a spring assembly failure, the loss and / or travel limiting device prevents the damper mass from completely detaching from the mounting bracket. This prevents damage to vehicle components and the loss of the damper mass.Furthermore, the vibration damper is simple and cost-effective to manufacture, as the spring assembly can be produced separately from the damping mass and the mounting device. Consequently, a modular system can be created that can be combined with different damping masses and / or mounting devices. Additionally, the vibration frequency of the damper can be adjusted by changing the stiffness of the spring assembly and / or its geometry.

[0014] The vibration damper is advantageously used to dampen vibrations occurring at the tailgate or roof of a motor vehicle, and is not limited to these vehicle parts. The vibration damper is attached to the vehicle part via the mounting device. The vibrations of the vehicle part are transmitted to the damper mass via the mounting device and the spring assembly. This causes the damper mass to be deflected relative to the mounting device and excited into vibrations. These vibrations are then damped by the spring assembly. Consequently, the vibrations resulting from the vehicle part are effectively damped, thus increasing driving comfort. According to the invention, the loss and / or travel limiting device limits the deflection of the damper mass relative to the mounting device.

[0015] According to the invention, the loss and / or travel limiting device comprises pin elements that interact with stop devices integrated into the holding device. This allows the deflection of the damper mass relative to the holding device to be limited, thus effectively preventing overloading of the spring device and, in the event of a spring device failure, the release of the damper mass. Furthermore, a loss and / or travel limiting device designed as pin elements is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the pin elements are connected to the damping material by a positive fit, a force fit, and / or a material bond. The pin elements can be designed as studs that are manufactured from the same material as the damping material. For this purpose, the studs can be turned from a section of the damping material. Furthermore, the pin elements can be manufactured separately, and a section of the pin elements can be connected to the damping material by a positive fit, a force fit, and / or a material bond. For example, the sections of the pin elements can be pressed into openings created in the damping material. In addition, the sections of the pin elements can be material-bonded to the damping material, for example, by welding. Finally, the sections of the pin elements can be designed as threaded studs that can be screwed into threaded holes created in the damping material.

[0017] Advantageously, a pin element is arranged on each end face of the damping mass. In particular, each pin element is positively, frictionally, and / or materially bonded to each end face of the damping mass. This allows the deflection of the damping mass relative to the holding device to be limited, thus effectively preventing overloading of the spring device and, in the event of spring device failure, preventing the damping mass from coming loose. Specifically, the pin elements are arranged on the end faces of the damping mass such that their longitudinal axes are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the damping mass.

[0018] According to the invention, the stop device is designed as receiving eyes, with the pin elements engaging in the receiving eyes. In particular, the receiving eyes are integrated into the holding device. The receiving eyes can be designed as openings provided in the holding device. Furthermore, the openings can be provided with sleeve-like extensions. According to the invention, the inner diameter of the receiving eyes is larger than the outer diameter of the pin elements, so that the pin elements can move within the receiving eyes relative to the holding device over a predetermined distance when the damping mass is deflected. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the receiving eyes and the outer diameter of the pin elements determine the maximum deflection of the damping mass.

[0019] According to the invention, the loss and / or path limiting device limits the deflection of the damper mass perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the damper mass.

[0020] According to the invention, the spring device comprises two elastomer springs. The vibrations introduced by the motor vehicle component are dampened by the elastomer springs. Advantageously, a first elastomer spring is connected at one end to the damper mass and at the other end to the holding device, and a second elastomer spring is connected at one end to the damper mass and at the other end to the holding device. Furthermore, the vibration frequency of the damper can be adjusted by the hardness of the elastomer springs and / or the design of the elastomer spring geometries.

[0021] Advantageously, the elastomer springs are positively and / or force-fit connected to the damping mass and the holding device. According to the invention, the elastomer springs are vulcanized separately and then connected to the damping mass and, optionally, the holding device. This means that the vulcanization tool is no longer dependent on the geometry of the damping mass, so that no new vulcanization tool needs to be created for further variants with modified damping mass geometries. Thus, the manufacturing costs for a vibration damper with separately vulcanized elastomer springs are reduced. Furthermore, the separate vulcanization creates a modular system that can be combined with different damping masses and / or holding devices. According to the invention, the separately vulcanized elastomer spring is positively and / or force-fit connected to the receiving eye integrated in the holding device.For this purpose, the elastomer spring can have a circumferential locking lug at its end, by means of which the elastomer spring can be engaged, in particular clipped, into the receiving eye. A separately vulcanized elastomer spring is advantageously connected to the damping material in a form-fit and / or force-fit manner. A separately vulcanized elastomer spring can be pre-tensioned during attachment to the damping material to prevent it from detaching when the damping material moves.

[0022] According to the invention, the elastomer springs are designed as hollow cylinders, wherein the hollow cylinders have through-openings within which the loss and / or travel limiting device is arranged. Since the loss and / or travel limiting device is arranged within the through-openings, according to the invention, the loss and / or travel limiting device abuts the elastomer springs at maximum deflection of the damper mass, so that the resulting noises are dampened and thus driving comfort is increased.

[0023] According to the invention, the loss-prevention and / or travel-limiting device secures the spring assembly to the damping mass. This is particularly advantageous when the spring assembly is manufactured separately from the damping mass. For this purpose, the spring assembly can have a radially inwardly projecting projection that interacts with a collar radially circumferential on the loss-prevention and / or travel-limiting device. Advantageously, the spring assembly is pre-tensioned on the damping mass by means of the loss-prevention and / or travel-limiting device in order to prevent the elastomer spring from detaching from the damping mass when the damping mass moves.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the spring assembly is provided with ring-shaped structures at each end. For example, one of the ring-shaped structures can be designed as a ring, and the other as an L-shaped ring in cross-section. In an unclaimed embodiment, the ring-shaped structures can be metallurgically bonded to the spring assembly. For instance, the ring-shaped structures can be vulcanized to the spring assembly, which is designed as an elastomer spring. Preferably, one ring-shaped structure is arranged on each end face of the elastomer spring. Thus, the ring-shaped structure can be arranged on the end face of the elastomer spring facing the damping material, while the L-shaped ring-shaped structure can be arranged on the end face of the elastomer spring facing the holding device.The ring-shaped structures can be made of plastic or steel.

[0025] Advantageously, the spring assembly is secured to the holding device and / or the damping mass by means of the ring-shaped structures. The ring-shaped structure, designed as an L-ring, can be pressed into the receiving eye of the holding device. The ring-shaped structure can also be secured to the damping mass by means of the pin element. For this purpose, the ring can have a smaller inner diameter than the through-hole formed in the elastomer spring, with a collar circumferentially encircling the ring on the loss and / or travel limiting device to secure the elastomer spring to the damping mass.

[0026] The damping material can be cylindrical. A cylindrical damping material is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the damping material can also have any other conceivable shape. For example, the damping material can have a rectangular, square, or circular cross-section. It can also have a tapered cross-section.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the retaining device is designed as a retaining plate, wherein the retaining plate comprises a support plate and two legs projecting from the support plate. The retaining plate is fastened to the vehicle part via the support plate. For this purpose, the support plate may have openings into which fastening elements can be inserted. Furthermore, the support plate may also be bonded to the vehicle part by a material bond. The legs projecting from the support plate can be formed by bending over the two end sections of the support plate. The legs may also be referred to as tabs.

[0028] Advantageously, the damping mass is arranged between the legs, with the legs having the stop devices. In particular, the receiving eyes forming the stop devices are incorporated into the legs, into which the pin elements project and with which the spring devices are positively, frictionally, and / or materially connected.

[0029] The vibration damper, along with its other features and advantages, will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments, which are schematically illustrated in the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a vibration damper according to a first embodiment, which is not within the scope of claim 1, showing a partial view in the area of ​​a damper mass, a spring device, and a receiving eye; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a vibration damper according to a second embodiment, showing a partial view in the area of ​​a damper mass, a spring device, and a receiving eye; and Fig. 3 an enlarged perspective view of the Figure 2 shown partial section with a vibration damper according to a third embodiment.

[0030] In Figure 1A vibration damper 10 according to a first embodiment is shown, which serves to dampen vibrations of a motor vehicle part not shown, in particular a tailgate or roof of a motor vehicle. This embodiment is not within the scope of claim 1, but contains information for understanding the further embodiments.

[0031] The vibration damper 10 comprises a holding device 12 that can be attached to the motor vehicle part, a damper mass 14 that is capable of oscillating relative to the holding device 12, and a spring device 16 that couples the damper mass 14 to the holding device 12 in a way that allows it to oscillate.

[0032] The damping mass 14 has the shape of a cylinder and features a loss and / or travel limiting device 18 which interacts with the holding device 12 to limit a deflection of the damping mass 14 relative to the holding device 12.

[0033] As in Figure 1As can be seen, the loss and / or travel limiting device 18 has pin elements 22, one of which is arranged on a first end face 24 of the damping mass 14, and the other pin element 22 is arranged on a second end face 28 of the damping mass 14. In this case, the two pin elements 22 are designed as pins that are turned from end sections of the damping mass 14 or inserted into an opening provided in the end faces 24, 28. The pin elements 22 are arranged on the end faces 24, 28 such that the longitudinal axes of the pin elements 22 are aligned with the longitudinal axis L of the damping mass 14.

[0034] The holding device 12 is designed as a retaining plate 30 comprising a support plate 32, a first leg 34 projecting from the support plate, and a second leg 36 projecting from the support plate 32. The first leg 32 has a first stop 37, and the second leg 34 has a second stop 39, which interact with the pin elements 22 to limit the deflection of the damper mass 14 relative to the holding device 12. The vibration damper 10 is attached to the vehicle part (not shown) via the support plate 32. For this purpose, the support plate 32 may be provided with openings (not shown) into which fastening elements, such as screws, can be inserted.

[0035] The two legs 34, 36 are formed by bending the end sections of the support plate 32. The first leg 34 has a first receiving eye 38 and the second leg has a second receiving eye 40. The two receiving eyes 38, 40 form the stop devices 37, 39. Each of the receiving eyes 38, 40 consists of an opening provided in the legs 34, 36 and a sleeve-like extension projecting from the two legs 34, 36.

[0036] The spring device 16 comprises a first elastomer spring 42, which couples the damper mass 12, in particular the first end face 24, with the first receiving eye 38, and a second elastomer spring 44, which couples the damper mass 14, in particular the second end face 28, with the second receiving eye 40. For this purpose, the two elastomer springs 42, 44 are vulcanized to the end faces 24, 28 as well as to the legs 34, 36 and the inner surfaces of the receiving eyes 38, 40.

[0037] As in Figure 1 Furthermore, it can be seen that the elastomer springs 32, 34 are designed as hollow cylinders 46, wherein the pin elements 22 extend within a through-opening 48 formed in the hollow cylinder 46, so that the elastomer springs 32, 34 surround the pin elements 22.

[0038] The following explains the operation of the vibration damper 10. The vibrations of a vehicle component connected to the vibration damper 10 are transmitted to the damper mass 14 via the mounting device 12 and the spring assembly 16. This causes the damper mass 14 to deflect relative to the mounting device 12 and begin to oscillate. The vibrations are damped by the two elastomer springs 42, 44 and thus decoupled from the passenger compartment. As a result, no rattling noises from the vehicle component are perceived in the passenger compartment. The loss and / or travel limiting device 18, in particular the pin elements 22, limit the deflection of the damper mass 14 relative to the mounting device 12 by striking the elastomer springs 42, 44 arranged within the receiving eyes 38, 40.This actively prevents overloading of the elastomer springs 42, 44, thus ensuring a long service life for the vibration damper 10. Furthermore, the pin elements 22 act as a retaining device, preventing the damper mass 14 from detaching from the holding device 12 in the event of failure of the elastomer springs 42, 44. In addition, the elastomer springs 42, 44 arranged within the receiving eyes 38, 40 dampen the noise generated when the pin elements 22 strike the mounting surface.

[0039] Further embodiments of the vibration damper 10 are described below, using the reference numerals for identical or functionally equivalent parts that have already been used previously.

[0040] In Figure 2A second embodiment of a vibration damper 10 is shown, which differs from the first embodiment in the design of the pin elements 22 and the elastomer springs 42, 44 as well as the attachment of the elastomer springs 42, 44 to the damper mass 14 and the receiving eyes 38, 40.

[0041] The pin elements 22 have a loss-prevention and / or travel-limiting section 50, a fastening section 52, and a radially circumferential collar 54 that separates the two sections 50 and 52. The loss-prevention and / or travel-limiting section 50 extends through the through-opening 48 into the receiving eye 38 and serves to prevent loss and / or limit the travel of the damping mass 14. The pin element 22 is fastened to the damping mass 14 via the fastening section 52. In this case, the fastening section 52 is inserted, in particular pressed into, a bore 56 in the damping mass 14.

[0042] The elastomer springs 42, 44 are vulcanized separately and fixed to the damper mass 14 by means of the pin elements 22 and tied into the receiving eyes 38, 40, in particular clipped in.

[0043] To attach the elastomer springs 42, 44 to the damper mass 14, the elastomer springs 42, 44 each have a radially inwardly projecting projection 58 against which the collar 54 rests.

[0044] To fasten the elastomer springs 42, 44 in the receiving eyes 38, 40, the elastomer springs 42, 44 are each provided at their end with a circumferential locking lug 59 which engages behind a circumferential edge of the receiving eyes 33, 40, in particular the sleeve-like extensions.

[0045] In Figure 3A third embodiment of the vibration damper 10 is shown, which differs from the second embodiment in that the receiving eyes 38, 40 do not have sleeve-like extensions and that the elastomer springs 42, 44 are each provided at their ends with ring-shaped structures 60, 62.

[0046] The ring-shaped structures 60, 62 are vulcanized to the elastomer springs 42, 44 and can be made of plastic or steel.

[0047] A first ring-shaped structure 60 is designed as a ring 64. The elastomer spring 42 is attached to the damping mass 14 via the ring 64. As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the ring 64 has a smaller inner diameter than the through-opening 48. The collar 54 rests against the ring 64 to secure the elastomer spring 42 to the damper mass 14.

[0048] A second ring-shaped structure 64 is designed as an L-shaped ring 66 in cross-section, which is engaged at its end by the circumferential locking lug 59. The elastomer spring 42 is secured in the receiving eye 38 via the L-shaped ring 64 by pressing the L-shaped ring 66 into the receiving eye 38. Reference symbol list

[0049] 10 Vibration damper 12 Holding device 14 Damper mass 16 Spring device 18 Loss and / or travel limiting device 20 Cylinder 22 Pin element 24 First end face 28 Second end face 30 Retaining plate 32 Support plate 34 First leg 36 Second leg 37 First stop device 38 First receiving eye 39 Second stop device 40 Second receiving eye 42 First elastomer spring 44 Second elastomer spring 46 Hollow cylinder 48 Through opening 50 Loss and / or travel limiting section 52 Mounting section 54 Radially circumferential collar 56 Bore 58 Projection 59 Detent lug 60 First annular structure 62 Second annular structure 64 Ring 66 L-shaped ring Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Vibration damper (10) for damping vibrations of a motor vehicle part, comprising a holding device (12) which can be attached to the motor vehicle part, a damper mass (14) which is capable of vibrating relative to the holding device (12), and a spring device (16) which couples the damper mass (14) in a vibration-capable manner to the holding device (12), wherein the damper mass (14) has at least one loss and / or travel limiting device (18) which cooperates with the holding device (12) to limit deflection of the damper mass (14) relative to the holding device (12), wherein the loss and / or travel limiting device (18) comprises pin elements (22) which interact with stop devices (37, 38) integrated in the holding device (12), wherein the spring device (16) comprises two elastomer springs (42, 44) and the elastomer springs (42, 44) are designed as hollow cylinders (46), wherein the hollow cylinders (46) have through openings (48) within which the loss and / or travel limiting device (18) is arranged, so that the loss and / or travel limiting device (18) strikes the elastomer springs (42, 44) when the damper mass (14) is deflected to its maximum extent, wherein the stop devices (37, 39) are designed as receiving eyes (38, 40), wherein the pin elements (22) engage in the receiving eyes (38, 40), wherein an inner diameter of the receiving eyes (38, 40) is greater than an outer diameter of the pin elements (22), so that the pin elements (22) can move over a predetermined distance within the receiving eyes (38, 40) relative to the holding device (12) when the damper mass (14) is deflected, wherein the loss and / or travel limiting device (18) limits the deflection of the damper mass (14) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the damper mass (14) and relative to the holding device (12), characterised in that the elastomer springs (42, 44) are vulcanised separately and then connected to the damper mass (14), wherein the separately vulcanised elastomer spring (42, 44) is connected in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner to the receiving eye (38, 40) integrated in the holding device (12), whereby the loss and / or travel limiting device (18) secures the spring device (16) to the damper mass (14) .

2. Vibration damper (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pin elements (22) are connected to the damper mass (14) in a form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

3. Vibration damper (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that one pin element (22) is arranged on each end face (24, 26) of the damper mass (14).

4. Vibration damper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spring device (16) is provided with annular structures (60, 62) at each end.

5. Vibration damper (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that the spring device (16) is fixed to the holding device (12) and / or to the damper mass (14) by the annular structures (60, 62).

6. Vibration damper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding device (12) is designed as a retaining plate (30), wherein the retaining plate (30) has a support plate (32) and two legs (34, 36) projecting from the support plate.

7. Vibration damper according to claim 6, characterised in that the damper mass (14) is arranged between the legs (34, 36), wherein the legs (34, 36) have the stop devices (37, 39).