Sensor holding means, sensor unit and vibration damping device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor holding means (13) which is provided for holding a sensor element on a damper tube in a position detection device of a vibration damping device, comprising a receiving portion (17) which is used to captively fasten the sensor element. On an inner face (21) with which the sensor holding means (13) faces the damper tube when arranged in the vibration damping device, a fastening portion (14) is additionally provided, which defines precisely one receiving opening and is provided for fastening the sensor holding means to the damper tube, for which purpose the receiving opening of the fastening portion (14) opens out on the inner face (21) and is designed for introducing, from the inner face (21), a fastening means secured to the damper tube. Furthermore, towards an outer side (24) lying opposite the inner side (21), the receiving opening in the fastening portion (14) is covered by a receiving region (32) of the receiving portion (17), in which region the sensor element is intended to be disposed when it is fastened to the receiving portion (17).

Description

[0001] Sensor holder, sensor unit and vibration damper device

[0002] The invention relates to a sensor holding device which is provided for holding a sensor element on a damper tube in a position detection device of a vibration damper device, comprising a receiving section which serves for a captive fastening of the sensor element, wherein on an inner side, with which the sensor holding device faces the damper tube when arranged in the vibration damper device, a fastening section is also provided which defines exactly one receiving opening and is provided for fastening the sensor holding device to the damper tube, for which purpose the receiving opening of the fastening section opens out on the inner side and is designed for the insertion from the inner side of a fastening means fixed to the damper tube.Furthermore, the invention relates to a sensor unit in which an aforementioned sensor holding device is used, as well as to a vibration damper device.

[0003] Vibration dampers in the form of telescopic dampers are mostly used in motor vehicle chassis. These are sometimes designed as mono-tube dampers, but predominantly as twin-tube dampers. In both a mono-tube and a twin-tube telescopic damper, a piston is movably guided, by which the interior of a working cylinder is divided into two working chambers and which is connected to a piston rod. The piston rod, which is also axially movable, also has one end extending from a damper tube and forms a fastening point for the respective telescopic damper at the extended end. A further fastening point for the telescopic damper is then usually designed at one end of the damper tube.

[0004] Some vibration dampers are also equipped with a position detection device, which can be used to detect the relative position of the piston rod to the damper tube. This makes it possible to determine the current state of a wheel or axle suspension of a vehicle's chassis. In a position detection device, a sensor unit is typically attached to the damper tube, while another part of the position detection device is often arranged on a protective tube that surrounds the damper tube and is movable relative to the damper tube together with the piston rod.

[0005] DE 10 2021 213764 A1 discloses a vibration damper device in which a vibration damper designed as a telescopic damper is equipped with a position detection device. Part of the position detection device is a sensor unit consisting of a sensor element designed as a permanent magnet and a sensor holding device. In the vibration damper device, the sensor holding device is provided for attaching the sensor element to a damper tube of the vibration damper. For this purpose, the sensor holding device, on the one hand, captively supports the sensor element on a receiving section and, on the other hand, is attached to the damper tube with a fastening section.According to DE 102021 213 764 A1, the fastening section located longitudinally adjacent to the receiving section can be equipped with precisely one receiving opening, to which the fastening on the damper tube side is effected by inserting a cylindrical fastening means attached to the damper tube into the receiving opening. In a preferred variant of DE 10 2021 213764 A1, however, the fastening section has receiving openings configured on both sides of the intermediate receiving section in order to be able to fix the sensor holding device to two cylindrical fastening means on the damper tube side.

[0006] Based on the prior art described above, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a sensor holding device which is suitable for implementing a position detection device in a vibration damper device in a compact and at the same time reliable manner.

[0007] This object is achieved based on the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The dependent claims that follow therefrom each represent advantageous developments of the invention. A sensor unit comprising a sensor holding device according to the invention is also the subject of claims 13 and 14. Furthermore, claim 15 relates to a vibration damper device.

[0008] According to the invention, a sensor holding device, which is provided for holding a sensor element on a damper tube in a position detection device of a vibration damper device, comprises a receiving section which serves for captively fastening the sensor element. On an inner side, with which the sensor holding device faces the damper tube when arranged in the vibration damper device, a fastening section is also provided, which defines precisely one receiving opening and is intended for fastening the sensor holding device to the damper tube. For this purpose, the receiving opening of the fastening section opens on the inner side and is designed for the insertion from the inner side of a fastening means fixed to the damper tube.

[0009] The sensor holding device according to the invention is thus designed to fix a sensor element to a damper tube of a vibration damper device in order to implement a position detection device in the vibration damper device. The sensor holding device has a receiving section and a fastening section, of which the receiving section serves to fasten the sensor element to the sensor holding device, while the fastening section is used to fasten the sensor holding device to the damper tube when the sensor holding device is used in the vibration damper device. As a result, when the sensor holding device according to the invention is used in the vibration damper device, the sensor element is subsequently also fixed to the damper tube, whereby a position detection device can be implemented in the vibration damper device.This position detection device is preferably provided to determine a relative position of the sensor element in the translational direction to another sensor part which is motion-coupled to a piston rod of the vibration damper device. The receiving section of the sensor holding device according to the invention is designed to captively fasten the sensor element to be fastened to the damper tube to the sensor holding device. In this case, “captively” is to be understood as meaning that the receiving section prevents the sensor element from unintentionally leaving the target position when the sensor element is arranged in a target position on or in the sensor holding device. The receiving section can be designed for a non-detachable attachment of the sensor element, for example for a materially integral connection of the sensor element to the sensor holding device at the receiving section.Preferably, however, the receiving section is designed for a detachable attachment of the sensor element, for example, to advantageously also allow for a replacement of the sensor element. The receiving section is then designed for a force-fitting and / or form-fitting connection with the sensor element.

[0010] The fastening section provided for attaching the sensor holding device to the damper tube is equipped with precisely one receiving opening, to which, when used in the vibration damper device, the sensor holding device is attached by inserting a fastening means that is fixed on the side of the damper tube. Since the fastening section has precisely one receiving opening, the sensor holding device can then only be attached to the damper tube using one fastening means. The receiving opening is particularly preferably designed for inserting and receiving a substantially cylindrical fastening means of the damper tube. The fact that the fastening means is "fixed" to the damper tube means, within the meaning of the invention, a rigid arrangement of the fastening means on the damper tube.

[0011] In this case, the fastening section on the sensor holder is formed on an inner side, with which the sensor holder faces the damper tube when used in the vibration damper device. The fastening means can also be inserted into the receiving opening of the fastening section from the inside, for which purpose the receiving opening opens on the inside of the sensor holder.

[0012] The fastening section is furthermore particularly designed to prevent the fastening means from accidentally moving out of this fastening position after the fastening means has been inserted into the receiving opening into a fastening position by the fastening section directly at the receiving opening. This would otherwise result in the sensor holder device accidentally moving away from the damper tube. Alternatively or additionally, the fastening section could also be designed away from the receiving opening for fastening on the damper tube side.

[0013] The sensor holding device is preferably designed as a single piece, so that the receiving section and the fastening section, as well as any other components of the sensor holding device, are formed as a single piece. The sensor holding device is particularly preferably made of a plastic material, and could be manufactured as an injection-molded part using an injection-molding process. The plastic design also has the advantage that when the sensor holding device is used in an inductive position detection device, the sensor holding device itself does not cause a change in the magnetic field.

[0014] The invention now includes the technical teaching that the receiving opening of the fastening section is covered by the receiving section toward an outer side, which is opposite the inner side, with a receiving region in which the sensor element is to be arranged when fastened to the receiving section. In other words, the receiving opening of the fastening section, viewed from an outer side, which is opposite the inner side in the sensor holding device, is covered by a receiving region in which the sensor element is arranged when fastened to the receiving section.

[0015] The inventive design of a sensor holding device has the

[0016] The advantage is that the design of the fastening section with precisely one receiving opening enables compact fastening and thus also arrangement of the sensor holding device in a position detection device of a vibration damper device. This compact design is further enhanced by the fact that precisely one receiving opening overlaps with the receiving section of the receiving area, whereby the receiving opening is then pushed under the sensor element when the sensor element is fastened, viewed from the outside. The receiving opening and the receiving section are thus arranged in a nested manner, which allows the sensor holding device to be implemented more compactly and thus requires less installation space overall when used in the vibration damper device.This overlapping design of the receiving opening with the receiving area has the additional advantage that the sensor element subsequently conceals the receiving opening and thus also the fastening means inserted therein from the outside when it is attached to the receiving section. This can reduce or even completely eliminate any disruptive influence of the fastening means on measurements via the position detection device, which operates inductively in particular.

[0017] Essential to the invention is that, on the one hand, the receiving opening and thus the area for receiving the fastening means, and, on the other hand, the receiving area and thus the area for attaching the sensor element, are positioned relative to each other on the sensor holding device in such a way that the receiving opening is covered by the receiving area from the outside. For this purpose, the receiving area lies between the receiving opening and the outside of the sensor holding device.

[0018] The receiving section of the sensor holding device is preferably designed to face the outside. When arranged in the vibration damper device, the sensor holding device points with its outside in particular in the direction of a sensor part with which the sensor element within the position detection device has to interact for position determination. In this case, when installed in the vibration damper device, the sensor holding device is oriented in particular with its inside facing radially inward and with its outside facing radially outward. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastening section and the receiving section are arranged in a longitudinal direction between two support sections located on either side thereof, which each extend in a curved manner at least on the inside transverse to the longitudinal direction and form contact surfaces on the inside for supporting the sensor holding device on the damper tube.Advantageously, this allows a sufficiently large support surface for positioning the sensor holder on the damper tube to be easily realized. Due to the orientation of the support sections transverse to the longitudinal direction and their curved shape, support on the damper tube can also be achieved at the support sections. Preferably, stiffening ribs are provided in the area of ​​a respective connection of each individual support section on the side of the fastening section and the receiving section, which extend towards the outside between the respective support section and receiving section and fastening section.

[0019] Preferably, the respective curved profile of the respective support section is oriented along an outer contour of the damper tube. This allows the support sections located on both sides to be used to center the position of the sensor holding device on the damper tube by selecting a respective curvature of the respective support section depending on the cylindrical outer contour of the damper tube and accordingly designing it as a section of an inner cylinder. The respective curvature of the respective support section can be selected such that the respective support section forms a counterpart of the outer contour of the damper tube on the inside of the sensor holding device.If the support sections on both sides are designed to be aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction, the sensor holding device is correctly positioned on the damper tube and the longitudinal direction of the sensor holding device is aligned parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the damper tube.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, each individual support section is designed to be resilient and is intended to generate a preload toward the outside when the sensor holder is attached to the damper tube. This can then generate a preload of the sensor holder toward its outside during the attachment of the sensor holder to the damper tube, thus achieving a play-free attachment of the sensor holder to the damper tube. When this variant is combined with the further development described above, the support sections then preferably have a greater curvature in an unloaded state than a curvature of the outer contour of the damper tube.When the sensor holder is placed on the damper tube, an elastic deformation of the support sections occurs, which, on the one hand, creates the preload and, on the other hand, causes the support sections to nestle against the contact surfaces on the damper tube. Preferably, the support sections each have a leaf spring-like shape.

[0021] According to a further possible embodiment of the invention, the receiving opening is surrounded by locking elements, each of which is designed to be resilient transverse to a profile of the receiving opening and protrudes into the receiving opening in order to preload the fastening means against the fastening means when the fastening means is inserted into the receiving opening. This advantageously allows a force-fitting and / or form-fitting fixation between the fastening section and the fastening means inserted into the receiving opening to be realized. Very particularly preferably, after the fastening means has been inserted into a fastening position in the receiving opening, the locking elements preload against a region of the fastening means which lies behind a circumferential collar of the fastening means in the insertion direction. This can prevent the fastening means from accidentally moving out of the receiving opening via the locking elements in a form-fitting manner.

[0022] In a further development of the aforementioned design option, each individual locking element is formed by resilient legs that define a hook-like shape of the respective locking element with a V-shaped cross-section. Thus, the individual locking element is designed as a locking hook, which allows for suitable fixation of the fastening means in the receiving opening. With the V-shaped cross-section of each individual locking element, a respective tip, at which the respective legs are connected to one another, is oriented in particular toward the inside of the sensor holding device.

[0023] In particular, one of the legs has a free end, with which the respective locking element protrudes into the receiving opening. The free end is intended to ensure that the respective locking element is supported on the fastening means when the fastening means is inserted into the receiving opening, thereby preventing the fastening means from moving out of the receiving opening. This can be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner if the respective free end of the fastening means is supported on a support shoulder, which is implemented by a circumferential collar of the fastening means.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fastening section forms a lead-out of the receiving opening for the fastening means, facing away from the inside, wherein this lead-out is visible from the outside through at least one window. This allows a simple check via the at least one window to determine whether the fastening means has been pushed far enough into the receiving opening for proper fastening. Preferably, the at least one window is provided as a passage running transversely to the inside and to the outside.

[0025] In a further development of the aforementioned embodiment, the fastening section on the side of the lead-out is also provided with webs which extend to a desired dimension to which the fastening means must be led out of the lead-out for proper fastening of the sensor holding device to the damper tube. Advantageously, this makes it even easier to visually check via the at least one window whether the fastening means has been pushed in sufficiently far. When combining this variant with the inventive design option for locking elements, the webs can advantageously be formed on the free ends of the legs of individual locking elements. According to a further design option of the invention, the sensor holding device is equipped with at least one passage running longitudinally through the sensor holding device on the inside.This allows a drainage to be realized through which liquids or even ice can be removed when the sensor holding device is used in the vibration damper device.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the receiving area on the receiving section is formed by a support facing the outside, which forms a support surface for the sensor element. In a further development of this embodiment, the receiving section also defines contact surfaces on both sides of the support, which are provided for the contact and fastening of legs of a U-shaped sensor element. As a result, the receiving opening of the fastening area is reliably surrounded by the U-shaped sensor element. Furthermore, by fastening the sensor element to the transverse sides, a reliable, captive fastening of the sensor element can be achieved. Particularly preferably, recesses are defined on the transverse sides of the receiving section, into which retaining tabs of the U-shaped sensor element can be inserted for positive fixing.

[0027] The invention also relates to a sensor unit which, in addition to a sensor element, comprises a sensor holding device according to one or more of the variants described above. The sensor element is then attached to the receiving section of the sensor holding device. In particular, the sensor element is a metallic component, which generates eddy currents in a generated magnetic field.

[0028] The sensor element is preferably designed as a U-shaped sheet metal part, which is fastened to the receiving section, which is provided with transverse sides lying on both sides of the support. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a vibration damper device comprising a damper tube to which a sensor unit according to the invention of a position detection device is fastened. In particular, a further sensor part of the position detection device is fastened to a protective tube, which is displaceable together with a piston rod inserted into the damper tube and surrounds the damper tube. Thus, the sensor unit in the vibration damper device is then located radially between the damper tube and the protective tube.The fastening of the protective tube to the piston rod is preferably carried out at one end of the piston rod with which the piston rod is guided out of the damper tube, wherein the piston rod receives a displaceably guided piston at an opposite end within the damper tube.

[0029] An advantageous embodiment of the present invention, which is explained below, is illustrated in the drawings. It shows:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned view of a vibration damper device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0031] Fig. 2 is a further sectional view of the vibration damper device from Fig. 1;

[0032] Fig. 3 is a further sectional view of the vibration damper device from Figs. 1 and 2, shown in the region of a sensor unit of a position detection device according to the invention;

[0033] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sensor unit of Fig. 3;

[0034] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the sensor unit from Fig. 3;

[0035] Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of a sensor holding device of the sensor unit from Fig. 3, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 is an end view of the sensor unit in the vibration damper device from Figs. 1 to 3.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned view of a vibration damper device 1, which is designed for use in the chassis of a motor vehicle and is configured in the manner of a telescopic damper. For connection within the chassis, the vibration damper device 1 is equipped with two connection points in the form of bearing eyes 2 and 3, of which the bearing eye 2 is attached to one end of a damper tube 4.

[0037] The other bearing eye 3 is attached to one end of a piston rod 5, which is guided into the damper tube 4 at an opposite end and carries a piston of the vibration damper device 1 at this opposite end—not shown in detail here. As can also be seen in conjunction with the further sectional view of the vibration damper device 1 in Fig. 2, the damper tube 4 is in the form of a container tube that surrounds a working cylinder 6 and, together with this working cylinder 6, defines an intermediate compensation chamber 7.

[0038] The piston rod 5, together with the piston, is guided for displacement relative to the damper tube 4 and the working cylinder 6, with displacements being hydraulically or pneumatically damped in a manner known in principle to those skilled in the art. In the vibration damper device 1, the piston rod 5 is also rigidly connected to a protective tube 8, which radially surrounds the damper tube 4 and, due to the rigid connection, moves together with the piston rod 5.

[0039] In order to determine the relative position of the piston rod 5, and thus also of the piston arranged thereon, to the damper tube 4 and the working cylinder 6, and thus also to draw conclusions about the current state of an associated wheel or axle suspension of the motor vehicle, a position detection device 9 is provided in the vibration damper device 1. This position detection device 9, which preferably operates in the manner of an inductive sensor, is composed of a sensor unit 10 attached to the side of the damper tube 4 and a sensor part 11 arranged on the side of the protective tube 8. The sensor part 11 is designed as a sensor board, wherein this sensor board is placed on the protective tube 8, as can be seen in particular in Fig. 2, circumferentially overlapping and radially surrounding the sensor unit 10.The sensor board runs axially on the protective tube 8 in a region which corresponds to a possible axial movement range of the radially inner sensor unit 10 during relative movements of the damper tube 4 and the protective tube 8 to one another.

[0040] As can be seen in Fig. 3 and also in particular in Figs. 4 and 5, the sensor unit 10 is composed of a sensor element 12 and a sensor holding device 13, which is designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and by means of which the sensor element 12 is held captively on the damper tube 4. For this purpose, the sensor holding device 13 is equipped on the one hand with a fastening section 14, to which the sensor holding device 13 is fastened in the vibration damper device 1 to a fastening means 15. This fastening means 15 is welded in place on the side of the damper tube 4, projecting radially outwards, wherein the fastening means 15 has a cylindrical shape which is widened at its end facing away from the damper tube 4 to form a circumferential collar 16. This can be seen in particular in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0041] On the other hand, the sensor holding device 13 is provided with a receiving section 17 to which the sensor element 10 is fastened. The sensor element 10 is, as can be seen particularly in Fig. 5, in the form of a U-shaped sheet metal part, wherein the sensor element consists in particular of a metallic material, preferably aluminum.

[0042] The sensor holding device 13 is made in one piece from a plastic material and, in addition to the fastening section 14 and the receiving section 17, also has two support sections 18 and 19, which can be seen in Fig. 4 and 5 as well as in the individual view of the sensor holding device 13 in Fig. 6. The two support sections 18 and 19 are provided in the sensor holding device 13 in a longitudinal direction 20 of the sensor holding device 13, indicated in Fig. 6, on both sides of the fastening section 14 and the receiving section 17, which thus lie in the longitudinal direction 20 between the two support sections 18 and 19. The support sections 18 and 19 each extend transversely to the longitudinal direction 20 and each have a curved profile.

[0043] As can be seen from the support section 19 in Fig. 6, the support sections 18 and 19 of the sensor holding device 13 are each equipped with contact surfaces 22 and 23 on an inner side 21 with which the sensor holding device 13 faces the damper tube 4 in the vibration damper device 1. When the sensor holding device 13 is attached to the fastening means 15, the sensor holding device 11 rests on the cylindrical outer contour of the damper tube 4 at the contact surfaces 22 and 23 of the respective support section 18 and 19. The support sections 18 and 19 are designed like leaf springs and are resilient, with the curved profile of the respective support section 18 and 19 being designed with a greater curvature than the curvature of the outer contour of the damper tube 4.When the sensor holding device 13 is placed on the damper tube 4 and fastened to the fastening means 15, this results in a pre-tension of the sensor holding device 13 in the direction of an outer side 24, which in the case of the sensor holding device 13 faces away from the inner side 21 and is located within the vibration damper device 1 facing the sensor part 11.

[0044] In order to be able to fasten it to the fastening means 15 of the damper tube 4, the fastening section 12 of the sensor holding device 11 is designed on the inner side 21 and defines exactly one receiving opening 25, which can be seen in particular in Figs. 2 and 3, into which the fastening means 15 is inserted for fastening. The receiving opening 25 then also opens on the inner side 21 of the sensor holding device 13 and is funnel-shaped. On the fastening section 14, the receiving opening 25 is surrounded by a plurality of locking elements 26, which are designed as resilient locking hooks of the fastening section 14. As can be seen in particular in Fig. 3, each individual locking element 26 has a V-shaped cross-section, the tip of which in the sensor holding device 13 is aligned towards the inner side 21 and which is formed by two legs 27 and 28.The respective legs 27 and 28 are resiliently configured transversely to the receiving opening 25, with a respective free end 29 of one leg 28 projecting into the receiving opening 25. Upon insertion of the fastening means 15 into the receiving opening 25 during the fastening of the sensor unit 10 to the damper tube 4, the locking elements 26 are increasingly elastically pressed back by the collar 16 of the fastening means 15, causing the respective legs 27 and 28 of each individual locking element 26 to move toward one another. In doing so, the respective leg 28 of the respective locking element 26 prestresses its respective end 29 against the collar 16 of the fastening means 15. As soon as the fastening means 15 with the collar 16 is guided out of a guide 30 with which the receiving opening 25 is provided facing the outer side 24, the locking elements 26 snap back with the legs 28 and engage behind the collar 16 with the ends 29.As a result, the fastening section 14 of the sensor holding device 13 is prevented from moving away from the fastening means 15 by the interaction of the ends 29 with the collar 16 in a form-fitting manner.

[0045] When fastening the sensor unit 10 to the damper tube 4, the support sections 18 and 19 ensure, when placing the sensor holding device 13 on the damper tube 4, on the one hand, due to their curved shape, a parallel alignment of the sensor holding device 13 with its longitudinal direction 20 to a longitudinal center axis 31 of the damper tube 4. As the fastening means 15 is pushed into the receiving opening 25, the support sections 18 and 19 also pre-tension the sensor holding device 13 towards its outer side 24 and thus in the direction of the sensor part 11, so that after the fastening means 15 with the collar 16 moves out of the lead-out 30, a pre-tensioning of the locking elements 26 with the ends 29 against the collar 16 is also ensured. This also means that the sensor holding device 13 and thus also the sensor unit 10 are held on the damper tube 4 without play.The receiving section 17 of the sensor holding device 13 forms, as can be seen in particular in Figs. 5 and 6, a receiving area 32 in which the sensor element 12 is placed when fastened with a cover side 33 on the outer side 24 of the sensor holding device 13. A support 34 is configured on the receiving area 32, which forms a support surface facing the outer side 24 for the cover side 33 of the sensor element 12. The receiving area 32 covers the receiving opening 25 of the fastening section 14 towards the outer side 24, so that the cover side 33 of the sensor element 12 lies above the receiving opening 25 when the sensor element 12 is fastened to the sensor holding device 13.This results in the cover side 33 of the sensor element 12 being located radially between the fastening means 15 inserted into the receiving opening 25 and the sensor part 11, whereby the fastening means 15 itself does not generate eddy currents and thus interfere with the position measurement. Furthermore, the resulting nesting of the fastening section 14 beneath the receiving area 32 ensures compact mounting of the sensor unit 10.

[0046] The receiving section 17 also defines transverse sides 35 and 36, which adjoin the support 34 on both sides transversely to the longitudinal direction 20. This can be seen in particular in Figs. 5 and 6. The transverse sides 35 and 36 serve to support legs 37 and 38 of the U-shaped sensor element 12 and, as can be seen from the transverse side 35 in Figs. 5 and 6, are each equipped with recesses 39 and 40, into which retaining tabs 41 of the legs 37 and 38 can be pressed under plastic deformation after the sensor element 12 has been placed. As a result, the sensor element 12 is then held in a form-fitting manner on the receiving section 17 of the sensor holding device 13. This fastening of the sensor element 12 to the sensor holding device 13 is carried out in advance of fastening the sensor holding device 13 to the damper tube 4, so that the sensor unit 10 is designed as a pre-assembled module.

[0047] 5 and 6, windows 42 and 43 are provided in the sensor holding device 13, through which windows the lead-out 30 can be viewed from the outside of the sensor holding device 13. This makes it possible to check whether the holding means 15 has been pushed sufficiently far into the receiving opening 25 during the assembly of the sensor unit 10 on the damper tube 4. As shown in Fig. 7 using an end view of the sensor unit 10, the collar 16 of the fastening means 15 is then visible in the respective window 42 or 43. In addition, individual locking elements 26 are provided with webs 44, which each extend from the respective end 29 of the respective leg 28 in the direction of the outer side 24 to a desired dimension, up to which the fastening means 15 with its collar 16 is to be led out of the lead-out 30.This allows a simple visual check of the correct seating of the sensor unit 10 on the fastening means 15.

[0048] Finally, as can be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the sensor holding device 13 is penetrated on the inner side 21 by a passage 45 in the longitudinal direction 20, this passage 45 acting as a drainage through which liquids or even ice can be drained from the area of ​​the sensor unit 10.

[0049] By means of the embodiment according to the invention, a sensor holding device can be created by means of which a position detection device can be realized in a vibration damper device in a compact and at the same time reliable manner.

[0050] Reference symbol

[0051] 1 vibration damper device

[0052] 2 bearing eyes

[0053] 3 bearing eye

[0054] 4 Damper tube

[0055] 5 Piston rod

[0056] 6 working cylinders

[0057] 7 Compensation space

[0058] 8 Protective tube

[0059] 9 Position detection device

[0060] 10 Sensor unit

[0061] 11 Sensor part

[0062] 12 Sensor element

[0063] 13 Sensor holder

[0064] 14 Fastening section

[0065] 15 fasteners

[0066] 16 fret

[0067] 17 Recording section

[0068] 18 support section

[0069] 19 support section

[0070] 20 Longitudinal direction

[0071] 21 Inside

[0072] 22 contact surface

[0073] 23 contact surface

[0074] 24 Outside

[0075] 25 Receiving opening

[0076] 26 locking elements

[0077] 27 legs

[0078] 28 legs

[0079] 29 End

[0080] 30 Lead-out

[0081] 31 Longitudinal center axis 32 Recording area

[0082] 33 Cover page

[0083] 34th edition

[0084] 35 short side

[0085] 36 short side

[0086] 37 legs

[0087] 38 legs

[0088] 39 Deepening

[0089] 40 Deepening

[0090] 41 retaining tabs

[0091] 42 windows

[0092] 43 windows

[0093] 44 bridges

[0094] 45 passage

Claims

Patent claims 1. A sensor holding device (13) which is provided for holding a sensor element (12) on a damper tube (4) in a position detection device (9) of a vibration damper device (1), comprising a receiving section (17) which serves for a captive fastening of the sensor element (12), wherein on an inner side (21), with which the sensor holding device (13) faces the damper tube (4) when arranged in the vibration damper device (1), a fastening section (14) is also provided, which defines exactly one receiving opening (25) and is provided for fastening the sensor holding device (13) to the damper tube (4), for which purpose the receiving opening (25) of the fastening section (14) opens on the inner side (21) and is designed for the insertion of a fastening means (15) fixed to the damper tube (4) from the inner side (21), characterized in that marked,that the receiving opening (25) of the fastening section (14) is covered by the receiving section (17) towards an outer side (24), which is opposite to the inner side (21), with a receiving area (32) in which the sensor element (12) is to be arranged when fastened to the receiving section (17).

2. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening section (14) and the receiving section (17) are arranged in a longitudinal direction (20) between two support sections (18, 19) located on both sides thereof, which each extend in a curved manner transversely to the longitudinal direction (20) at least on the inner side (21) and form contact surfaces (22, 23) on the inner side (21) for supporting the sensor holding device (13) on the damper tube (4).

3. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective curved course of the respective support section (18, 19) is oriented on an outer contour of the damper tube (4).

4. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each individual support section (18, 19) is designed to be resilient and is provided to generate a prestress in the direction of the outer side (24) when the sensor holding device (13) is fastened to the damper tube (4).

5. Sensor holding device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving opening (25) is surrounded by locking elements (26) which are each designed to be resilient transverse to a course of the receiving opening (25) and protrude into the receiving opening (25) in order to prestress against the fastening means (15) when the fastening means (15) is introduced into the receiving opening (25).

6. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 5, characterized in that each individual locking element (26) is formed by resilient legs (27, 28) which define a hook-like shape of the respective locking element (26) with a V-shaped cross section.

7. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the legs (27, 28) has a free end (29) with which the respective locking element (26) projects into the receiving opening (25), wherein the free end (29) is provided to ensure that the respective locking element (26) is supported on the fastening means (15) when the fastening means (15) is inserted into the receiving opening (25) and thereby to prevent the fastening means (15) from migrating out of the receiving opening (25).

8. Sensor holding device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving opening (25) has a lead-out (30) for the fastening means (15) facing away from the inner side (21), wherein this lead-out (30) is visible from the outside of the sensor holding device (13) via at least one window (42, 43).

9. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening section (14) on the side of the lead-out (30) is also provided with webs (44) which extend to a desired dimension to which the fastening means (15) is to be led out of the lead-out (30) for proper fastening of the sensor holding device (13) to the damper tube (4).

10. Sensor holding device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one passage (45) passing through the sensor holding device (13) on the inside (21) in the longitudinal direction (20).

11. Sensor holding device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving area (32) on the receiving section (17) is formed by a support (34) facing the outer side (24), which forms a support surface for the sensor element (12).

12. Sensor holding device (13) according to claim 11, characterized in that the receiving section (17) also defines contact surfaces on transverse sides (35, 36) on both sides of the support (34), which are provided for contact and fastening of legs (37, 38) of a U-shaped sensor element (12).

13. Sensor unit (10) comprising a sensor element (12) which is attached to a sensor holding device (13) according to one or more of claims 1 to 12.

14. Sensor unit (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor element (12) is designed as a U-shaped sheet metal part which is fastened to the receiving section (17) of the sensor holding device (13) designed according to claim 12.

15. Vibration damper device (1), comprising a damper tube (4) to which a sensor unit (10) according to claim 13 or 14 of a position detection device (9) is attached.

Images