Independent suspension

Abstract

The invention relates to an independent suspension for a wheel (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel carrier (1) for rotatably receiving a wheel (2), which wheel carrier has two wishbone receptacles (12, 14), each for one wishbone (3, 5), and has a tie rod receptacle (13) for a tie rod (4), wherein fastening means for fastening the wishbones (3, 5) and the tie rod (4) are arranged, characterised in that the fastening means of at least one wishbone receptacle (12, 14) and / or tie rod receptacle (13) comprise an eccentric arrangement (6), wherein the eccentric arrangement (6) comprises at least one adjusting disc (61) which is mounted eccentrically rotatably about an axis of rotation and which has an arcuate slot (611) through which an adjusting bolt (7) for a wishbone (3) or a tie rod (4) is guided, wherein recesses are present on the adjusting disc (61) for the form-fitting engagement of an arranged fixing element (64).

Description

[0001] Lawyer's file 25238

[0002] 27.1 1.2025

[0003] Independent suspension

[0004] The invention relates to an independent wheel suspension for a wheel of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Camber and toe changes in a vehicle's suspension have a significant impact on its lateral stability. Camber (or wheel camber) indicates the angle between the wheel's center plane and the perpendicular to the road surface. It is a key parameter for determining the optimal contact patch of the tire with the road. Positive camber causes the wheel to be loaded on the outside even before entering a curve. This intensifies the centrifugal force acting on the vehicle, increasing tire wear. It also reduces the tire's lateral grip. With negative camber, the tire is tilted inwards. The outer edge of the tire lifts slightly, and the main load is concentrated on the inside. Negative camber is used, particularly in motorsports, to achieve better cornering.

[0006] From DE 10 2022 1 15 373 A1, an independent wheel suspension is known in which the wheel carrier is connected to the vehicle body via several control arms. The control arms are connected to the wheel carrier by fasteners comprising two eccentric bolts, each of which is rotationally fixed to two eccentric discs. These discs interact with a bearing bracket provided with elongated holes, enabling camber and height adjustment. DE 10 2019 134 789 B4 describes a wheel suspension in which the wheel carrier is connected to the damper tube of a strut via a component, with the camber adjustment being achieved by means of an eccentric bolt.

[0007] With previously known solutions, adjusting the camber proves to be complex. Furthermore, these solutions require a relatively large amount of installation space. This is where the present invention comes in. The invention is based on the objective of providing an independent wheel suspension for a single wheel of a motor vehicle that is compact and allows for effortless adjustment of the wheel camber. According to the invention, this objective is achieved by an independent wheel suspension with the features of claim 1.

[0008] The invention provides a compact independent wheel suspension for a single wheel of a motor vehicle, enabling effortless adjustment of the wheel camber. The eccentric arrangement comprises at least one adjusting disc, which is rotatably mounted eccentrically about an axis of rotation and has an arcuate slot through which an adjusting bolt for a control arm or tie rod is guided. The adjusting disc also features recesses for the positive engagement of a locking element. This allows for simple adjustment of the wheel camber by rotating the adjusting disc about the axis. Rotating the adjusting disc about the axis results in a linear displacement of the adjusting bolt and the tie rod or control arm connected to it, thereby effecting camber adjustment.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the adjusting disc has a tool engagement for its rotation by means of a tool that can be positively connected to it. This facilitates the rotation of the adjusting disc by means of a tool. The tool engagement can, for example, be designed in the form of an external polygon or an internal polygon.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, a guide disc is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the adjusting disc. The guide disc has an arcuate slot that aligns with the slot in the adjusting disc and through which the adjusting bolt is guided. The guide disc is rotationally fixed to the adjusting disc via a synchronizing strut, which forms the axis of rotation. This ensures stable guidance of the adjusting bolt. The synchronizing strut is advantageously designed in the form of a bolt. Preferably, the synchronizing strut has a tool engagement. Alternatively, the guide disc can also have recesses for the positive engagement of an arranged locking element, since it is fixedly connected to the adjusting disc via the synchronizing strut. In this case, the arrangement of the locking element described below, interacting with recesses in the adjusting disc, is transferred to the guide disc.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recesses are arranged in a grid pattern, with the recesses being located in the adjusting disc or at the edge of the adjusting disc. This allows the adjusting disc to be fixed in different rotational positions by the locking element.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, the locking element is spring-mounted on the wheel carrier and biased towards the adjusting disc, wherein the locking element is designed such that, when the adjusting disc is rotated, it automatically moves from one recess into an adjacent recess. This results in the adjusting disc being automatically fixed in a set rotational position.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the recesses are formed at the edge of the adjusting disc such that an external toothing is created, wherein the locking element has a detent element that engages in a recess of the external toothing against which it is preloaded. This ensures continuous fixation of the adjusting disc during rotation.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the recesses are provided in the adjusting disc in the form of a series of indentations or holes, wherein the locking element has at least one axially spring-mounted pin that engages in the indentations or holes. This also ensures continuous fixation of the adjusting disc during rotation. Preferably, the at least one pin is spherically segmented at its end facing the indentations or holes. This facilitates the sliding in and out of the at least one spring-mounted pin in and out of a indentation or hole. Alternatively, the at least one pin can also be provided with a rotatably mounted ball at this end.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, a locking element is arranged by means of which movement of the locking element can be blocked. This enables the locking element to be fixed in its engagement position in a desired rotational position, thereby preventing unintentional rotation of the adjusting disc.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the wheel carrier has a sliding surface on at least two opposite sides of at least one of the control arm mounts and / or the tie rod mount, wherein the adjusting disc rests against a first of the two sliding surfaces and the guide disc rests against the second sliding surface. This ensures a stable movement of the adjusting disc and the guide disc and thus a defined movement of the adjusting bolt guided through their elongated holes.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wheel carrier has at least one sliding bushing in which the adjusting bolt is preferably guided in a linearly displaceable manner. This further supports a defined movement of the adjusting bolt.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, the fastening means of the tie rod end and of a first of the two control arm ends comprise an eccentric arrangement, wherein the fastening means of the second control arm end are formed by a retaining bolt fixedly arranged in the second control arm end. This allows camber adjustment via a defined displacement of the tie rod and the control arm received by the first control arm end via the adjusting bolt guided in the respective eccentric arrangement. In an embodiment of the invention, the eccentric arrangement includes means for indicating the rotational position of the adjusting disc. This facilitates a defined adjustment of the wheel camber.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the means for indicating the rotational position of the adjusting disc comprise a scale arranged on the adjusting disc, wherein a cover plate is arranged that at least partially covers the adjusting disc and has a window through which a defined area of ​​the scale is visible. This allows the set rotational position of the adjusting disc to be read directly from the respective scale value visible through the window. Alternatively, a recess with a marking can also be arranged in the cover plate, through which an area of ​​the scale is visible.

[0020] Other embodiments and configurations of the invention are specified in the remaining dependent claims. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is described in detail below. The drawings show:

[0021] Figure 1: a schematic representation of an independent wheel suspension:

[0022] Figure 2: The schematic representation of the upper wishbone mounting of the independent wheel suspension from Figure 1 a) in a three-dimensional view; b) in a top view; c) in longitudinal section AA;

[0023] Figure 3: The schematic representation of the tie rod mounting of the independent wheel suspension from Figure 1 a) in spatial view; b) in top view; c) in longitudinal section BB;

[0024] Figure 4: the wheel carrier of the independent suspension from Figure 1 with eccentric arrangement of the upper control arm mount and the tie rod mount in exploded view; Figure 5: the schematic representation of the eccentric arrangement of the upper control arm mount and the tie rod mount from Figure 4 a) in adjustable position (with movable locking element) b) in fixed position (with fixed locking element);

[0025] Figure 6: schematic representations of the upper wishbone mounting with three different rotation positions of the adjusting disc from Figure 2 in top view (left without cover disc, right with cover disc).

[0026] The independent wheel suspension chosen as an exemplary embodiment comprises a wheel carrier 1 to which a wheel 2 is attached and which is connected to two opposing control arms 3, 5 and a tie rod 4.

[0027] The wheel carrier 1 has a centrally located axle passage 11 equipped with a bearing bushing. Above the axle passage 11, and spaced apart from it, a first control arm mount 12 projects in the direction opposite to the wheel 2 and has a substantially rectangular hollow cross-section. This mount has a first sliding surface 121 on its upper surface facing away from the axle passage and a second sliding surface 122 on its opposite lower surface. Laterally spaced and vertically offset from the first control arm mount 12, a tie rod mount 13 is located, also with a substantially rectangular hollow cross-section. The tie rod mount 13 also has a first sliding surface 131 on its upper surface facing the first control arm mount 12 and a second sliding surface 132 on its opposite lower surface.Opposite the first control arm mounting 12, below the axle passage 1 1, there is a second control arm mounting 14, which also has an essentially rectangular hollow cross-section.

[0028] The first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13 are each provided with an eccentric assembly 6 comprising an adjusting disc 61 and a guide disc 62 arranged parallel to it, which are rigidly connected to each other via an eccentrically arranged synchronizing strut 63. On the upper side of the adjusting disc 61, the synchronizing strut 63 has a hexagonal head 631 for the engagement of a wrench.

[0029] The adjusting disk 61 is provided with an arcuate slot 611, which aligns with an arcuate slot 621 provided in the guide disk 62. A toothed section 612 is provided on the outer edge of the adjusting disk 61. Spaced apart from the toothed section 612, a scale 613 is located on the adjusting disk 61, which in the exemplary embodiment is formed by ascending numbers, each number corresponding to a valley of the toothed section 612.

[0030] On the first sliding surfaces 121, 132 of the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13, an adjusting disc 61 is located, and on the second sliding surfaces 122, 132 of the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13, a guide disc 62 of an eccentric arrangement 6 is located, wherein the respective synchronization strut 63 is guided through the control arm mount 12 or the tie rod mount 13, in which it is rotatably but axially fixed. The first control arm mounting 12 and the tie rod mounting 13 each have a straight elongated hole 123, 133 penetrating the first and second sliding surfaces 121, 122, 131, 132, extending transversely to the arcuate elongated holes 611, 621 of the adjusting disc 61 and the guide disc 62, into which an elongated sliding bushing 15 corresponding to the elongated hole 123, 133 is inserted.

[0031] Adjacent to the first sliding surface 121, 131, a locking element 64 is arranged on each of the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13. The locking element 64 comprises a pivot arm 641, which is pivotably connected to the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13 about an axis 642. At its end, the pivot arm 641 has a locking head 643 with a locking element 644 for engaging the teeth 612 of the adjusting disc 61. In the exemplary embodiment, the locking element 644 has several locking teeth for engaging the teeth 612 of the adjusting disc 61. The locking head 643 is provided centrally with a bore 645 for the passage of a locking pin 65, which can be inserted into a locking sleeve 124, 134 arranged for this purpose in the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13, respectively. The swivel arm 641 is pre-tensioned against the adjusting disc 61 by a spring 646.In the exemplary embodiment, the spring 646 is integrally formed with the locking element 64.

[0032] Through the elongated holes 611, 621 of the adjusting disc 61 and the guide disc 62, an adjusting bolt 7 is guided through the sliding bushings 15 of the first control arm mount 12, which is guided by a

[0033] The first control arm 3, which is mounted on the first control arm 3, is guided by an eyelet 31 arranged at its end. The adjusting bolt 7 has a head 71 at its end, with which it rests on the adjusting disc 61. At its end opposite the head 71, the adjusting bolt 7 is axially secured by a nut 72.

[0034] Accordingly, an adjusting bolt 7 is guided through the elongated holes 611, 621 of the adjusting disc 61 and the guide disc 62 through the sliding bushings 15 of the tie rod receptacle 13, which is guided by a

[0035] 13 the tie rod 4 is guided by the eyelet 41 arranged at the end and which rests with its head 71 on the adjusting disc 61 and is axially secured by a nut 72 screwed onto the end.

[0036] Overlapping the adjusting disc 61, a cover disc 66 is attached to the first control arm mount 12 and the tie rod mount 13 by means of spacers 661. The cover disc 66 is provided with a window 662 in the area of ​​the scale 613 of the adjusting disc 61. The window 662 is dimensioned such that it is slightly larger than a digit of the scale 613, so that the number on the scale 613 located below the window 662 is clearly visible in every rotation position of the adjusting disc 61 (see Figure 1). In the exemplary embodiment, the spacing of the numbers on the scale 613 is selected such that a change in the number appearing below the window 662 occurs with each rotation of 0.5 degrees. A retaining bolt 8 is firmly inserted into the second control arm mount 14, which is guided by an eyelet 51 arranged at the end of the second control arm 5 which is received by the second control arm mount 14.In the exemplary embodiment, the retaining bolt 8 is formed by a screw which is screwed through the second control arm mount 14 and into the wheel carrier 1. The second control arm 5 is thus fixedly connected to the wheel carrier 1.

[0037] To adjust the camber of wheel 2, the synchronizing strut 63 of the eccentric assembly of the first control arm mount 12 and / or the tie rod mount 12 is rotated by means of a wrench encompassing its hexagonal head 63, thereby rotating the adjusting and guide discs 61, 62 which are rigidly connected to the synchronizing strut 63. The rotation of the adjusting and guide discs 61, 62 moves the adjusting bolt 7, guided by their arcuate elongated holes 611, 621, linearly within the sliding bushings 15 of the first control arm mount 12 or the tie rod mount 12, thereby displacing the control arm or tie rod encompassing the adjusting bolt 7.

[0038] During the rotation of the adjusting disk 61, the detent head 643 of the locking element 64, which is biased against the adjusting disk 61 by the spring 646, slides along the outer toothing 612 of the adjusting disk 61, with the detent teeth of the detent element 644 of the detent head 643 alternating from valley to valley along the toothing 612. Simultaneously, the scale 613 of the adjusting disk 61 moves beneath the stationary cover plate 66, with the individual numbers on the scale 613 visible through the window 662. The actual rotation of the adjusting disk 61 can thus be read through the window 662 based on the visible number on the scale 613.

[0039] Once the desired rotation of the adjusting and guide discs 61, 62 has been achieved, the locking pin 65 is inserted through the bore 645 of the locking element 64 into the detent sleeve 124, 144 of the first control arm mount 12 or the tie rod mount 13. This fixes the detent head 643 in its position, thereby preventing the adjusting disc 61 from rotating due to the detent teeth of the detent element 644 of the detent head 643 engaging in the toothing 612.

Claims

Patent claims 1 .Independent wheel suspension for one wheel (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising an arranged locking element (64) and a wheel carrier (1) for rotatably receiving a wheel (2), which has two control arm mounts (12, 14) for each control arm (3, 5) and a tie rod mount (13) for a tie rod (4), wherein fastening means for fastening the control arms (3, 5) and the tie rod (4) are arranged, characterized in that the fastening means of at least one of the control arm mounts (12, 14) and / or the tie rod mounts (13) comprise an eccentric arrangement (6), wherein the eccentric arrangement (6) comprises at least one adjusting disc (61) which is rotatably mounted eccentrically about an axis of rotation and which has an arcuate elongated hole (611) through which an adjusting bolt (7) for a control arm (3) or a tie rod (4) is guided, wherein the adjusting disc (61) Recesses are provided for the positive engagement of the arranged locking element (64).

2. Independent wheel suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting disc (61) has a tool engagement for its rotation by means of a tool which can be positively connected to it.

3. Independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a guide disc (62) is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the adjusting disc (61), the guide disc having an arcuate elongated hole (621) which is aligned with the elongated hole (611) of the adjusting disc (61) and through which the adjusting bolt (7) is guided, the guide disc (62) being non-rotatably connected to the adjusting disc (61) via a synchronization strut (63) which forms the axis of rotation, the adjusting disc (61) preferably having the tool engagement.

4. Independent wheel suspension according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses are arranged in a grid pattern. are, wherein the recesses are arranged in the adjusting disc (61) or on the edge of the adjusting disc (61).

5. Independent wheel suspension according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (64) is resiliently mounted on the wheel carrier (1) and is biased in the direction of the adjusting disc (61), wherein the locking element (64) is designed such that it automatically moves from one recess into an adjacent recess when the adjusting disc (61) is rotated.

6. Independent wheel suspension according to claim 5, characterized in that the recesses are provided in the adjusting disc (61) such that a toothing (612) is formed, wherein the locking element (64) has a detent element (644) which engages in at least one recess of the toothing (612) against which it is preloaded.

7. Independent wheel suspension according to claim 5, characterized in that the recesses are provided in the adjusting disk (61) in the form of a recess or row of holes, wherein the locking element has at least one axially spring-mounted pin which engages in a hole of the recess or row of holes.

8. Independent wheel suspension according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a locking element is arranged by means of which a movement of the locking element (64) can be blocked.

9. Independent wheel suspension according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the wheel carrier (1 ) has a sliding surface (121 , 122, 131 , 132) on at least two opposite sides of one of the control arm mounts (12, 14) and / or the tie rod mount (13), wherein the adjusting disc (61 ) rests on a first (121 , 131 ) of the two sliding surfaces and the guide disc (62) rests on the second sliding surface (122, 132).

10. Independent wheel suspension according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel carrier (1 ) has at least one sliding bushing (15) in which the adjusting bolt (7) is preferably guided in a linearly displaceable manner. 1 1 . Independent wheel suspension according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means of the tie rod receptacle (13) and of a first (12) of the two control arm receptacles comprise an eccentric arrangement (6), wherein the fastening means of the second control arm receptacle (14) are formed by a retaining bolt (8) fixedly arranged therein.

12. Independent wheel suspension according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eccentric arrangement (6) comprises means for indicating the rotational position of the adjusting disc (61).

13. Independent wheel suspension according to claim 12, characterized in that the means for indicating the rotational position of the adjusting disc (61) comprise a scale (613) arranged on the adjusting disc (61), wherein a cover disc (66) is arranged which at least partially covers the adjusting disc (61) and which has a window (662) through which a defined area of ​​the scale (613) is visible.

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