CN109080395B

CN109080395B - Suspension arm for a vehicle wheel suspension unit

Info

Publication number: CN109080395B
Application number: CN201810311190.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃里克·伦纳德·布兰格; 安德列斯·卡利茨; 延斯·特辛; 法比奥·缪拉
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2017-04-12
Filing date: 2018-04-09
Publication date: 2023-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-09
Also published as: DE102017206342B4; CN109080395A; DE102017206342A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension arm (1, 18) for a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, the suspension arm (1, 18) comprising at least one bearing receptacle (2), a rubber bearing (3, 12, 19) fixedly held in the bearing receptacle (2) having a rubber-elastic bushing (5, 13, 20) fixedly surrounding an inner sleeve (4, 15, 21), wherein the inner sleeve (4, 15, 21) comprises a fastening hole (7, 16, 22). The fastening holes (7, 16, 22) are arranged relative to the bearing receptacle (2) such that the central axis (8) of the fastening holes (7, 16, 22) has an offset (10) relative to the central axis (9) of the bearing receptacle (2).

Description

Suspension arm for a vehicle wheel suspension unit

Technical Field

The invention relates to a suspension arm for a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one bearing receptacle, a rubber bearing fixedly held in the bearing receptacle with a rubber-elastic bushing fixedly surrounding an inner sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve comprises a fastening hole.

Background

By using common wheel suspension components such as suspension arms, wheel frames, brackets, etc., the development of a vehicle platform representing the technical basis for constructing externally different vehicle models is to be able to achieve different driving dynamics, for example in a specific vehicle model, thus reducing the choice of a specific change or adaptation of the vehicle to the wheel suspension unit. However, if such different drive dynamics of the vehicle production line are to be implemented, different suspension arms, wheel frames, brackets, etc. have to be provided, which significantly increases the production costs and the installation effort.

Suspension arms having at least one rubber bearing for the articulated connection of the control arm to the vehicle structure, to the subframe and/or the wheel frame or bracket of the vehicle structure, etc. are generally known. Thus, for example, DE 10 2014 205 632A1 discloses an independent wheel suspension unit for a vehicle rear axle, which has different suspension arms (e.g. cross arms, arc arms, tie rods, etc.), which are attached to the vehicle structure, a subframe and/or a wheel carrier connected to the vehicle structure by means of respective rubber-metal bearings.

An independent wheel suspension unit for a similarly designed vehicle rear wheel is also disclosed in US 8,585,068 B2.

Similarly, in DE 34 26 942 A1 a longitudinal arm-rear wheel suspension unit for a vehicle is disclosed, among other things, for attaching a control arm into a vehicle structure.

Furthermore, US 8,109,528 B2 discloses a suspension arm for a wheel suspension unit of a motor vehicle, which suspension arm has a plurality of attachment points, one of which attachment points is provided with a rubber bearing, which rubber bearing is arranged offset in the axial direction from the attachment point.

CN 2885630Y discloses a control arm of a wheel suspension unit, which is configured to be substantially elongated and in each case has a bearing housing at the end side. The bearing housing portions are respectively formed of through holes and flanges adjacent to the circumferences of the respective through holes, the flanges protruding from a planar base material forming the control arms and extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the through holes.

Further, in KR 2008-0109965A, a multi-arm rear wheel suspension unit is disclosed in which the camber angle and toe angle of a wheel held by the rear wheel suspension unit can be changed by a specific bearing bush. The bearing bushing has in each case an elastically deformable bearing portion surrounding an inner sleeve with a through-hole. Two chambers that can be filled with a fluid are configured in the elastic bearing portion such that the inner sleeve can be displaced in a radial direction around the elastic bearing portion relative to the outer sleeve by applying pressure to at least one of the two chambers.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension arm for a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, whereby different driving dynamics of the wheel suspension unit can be achieved, so that the costs with respect to the structure or the components are not substantially increased, thereby reducing the production and assembly costs.

This object is achieved by a suspension arm having the features set forth in the description.

It should be mentioned that the features set forth solely in the description below may be combined together in any technically suitable manner and disclose further embodiments of the invention. The description characterizes and designates the present invention in particular with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the invention, a suspension arm for a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle comprises at least one bearing receptacle, a rubber bearing fixedly held in the bearing receptacle with a rubber-elastic bushing fixedly surrounding an inner sleeve. In this case, a rubber-elastic tubular element is generally understood to be a rubber-elastic bushing which receives an inner sleeve, which can be formed, for example, from metal, in a precisely fitting and fixing manner. The rubber elastic bushing may be fixedly connected to the inner sleeve of the control arm and/or the bearing housing, for example by vulcanization. The inner sleeve also contains fastening holes, by means of which the inner sleeve can be fastened to another vehicle element (e.g. a vehicle structure, a subframe connected to a vehicle structure, a wheel carrier, a bracket, another control arm of a wheel suspension unit, etc.) for example by means of bolts. According to the present invention, the fastening hole is provided with respect to the bearing housing portion such that the central axis of the fastening hole has an offset amount with respect to the central axis of the bearing housing portion. In other words, the fastening hole of the rubber bearing is eccentrically disposed with respect to the bearing receiving portion of the control arm. As a result, by mounting the rubber bearings of different rotational directions in the bearing housing of the two otherwise identical (identical) control arms without additional costs with respect to the structure or components, the effective length of the control arms, which are fixed by the fastening holes of the respective rubber bearings, can be changed in the wheel suspension unit, and thus different geometric points of the wheel suspension unit are produced by the same control arm in order to achieve different driving dynamics of the wheel suspension unit. If the control arm is used, for example, as a toe control arm in a wheel suspension unit, the length of the toe control arm can be predetermined in a variable manner by means of a rubber bearing (in particular by means of the relative position of the fastening hole of the rubber bearing with respect to the bearing housing of the control arm), the camber angle of the wheel attached to the wheel suspension unit can be predetermined in a variable manner and the driving dynamics of the vehicle can thus be fixed in a variable manner. Therefore, the number of parts required for the otherwise identical wheel suspension units does not increase, and even the assembly effort is reduced.

The rubber elastic bushing may be configured to be substantially solid (i.e., may be formed of a solid material) so as to ensure a sufficiently rigid support of the inner sleeve on the control arm.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inner sleeve has a rotationally symmetrical outer contour, the fastening holes being arranged eccentrically with respect to the inner sleeve. The eccentricity of the fastening hole with respect to the bearing receptacle of the control arm can thus be achieved only by the eccentric arrangement of the fastening hole in the inner sleeve.

The rubber elastic bushing can advantageously be configured rotationally symmetrical. In other words, the rubber-elastic bushing has a substantially always identical wall thickness along the periphery of the rubber-elastic bushing between the outer circumferential surface of the rubber-elastic bushing and the inner circumferential surface of the rubber-elastic bushing that the inner sleeve is supported against, so that the support of the inner sleeve that is symmetrical in terms of elasticity can be ensured in the bearing accommodation of the control arm.

The rubber elastic bushing may also be fixedly surrounded by an outer sleeve fixedly held in the bearing housing, and the outer sleeve may be formed in a similar manner to the inner sleeve made of metal. The rubber elastic bushing may be fixedly connected with the outer sleeve, for example by vulcanization. The outer sleeve may be pressed into the bearing housing of the control arm to achieve a fixed connection between the rubber bearing and the bearing housing of the control arm and a simple assembly of the rubber bearing on the control arm.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention proposes that the fastening hole comprises at least one groove extending in the radial direction of the hole. This groove can advantageously be used as a visual aid, among other things, when aligning the rubber bearing with the bearing receptacle of the control arm, so that the desired length of the control arm can be fixed correctly in a simple manner by the eccentricity of the correspondingly aligned fastening holes. Other marking elements on the inner sleeve, preferably in front of the inner sleeve, are also conceivable, such as notches, lettering, etc. Preferably, the marking may be provided, for example, in an offset direction fixed by the position of the central axis of the fastening hole of the inner sleeve relative to the central axis of the bearing housing of the control arm, or in a direction perpendicular to the offset direction.

According to a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rubber elastic bushing comprises at least one slot extending in the radial direction of the bushing. Advantageously, as mentioned above, the slot may be used as an index, among other things, that simplifies the correct mounting of the rubber bearing in the bearing housing of the control arm. The slot may penetrate completely through the rubber elastic bushing in the radial direction. Preferably, the front surfaces of the rubber elastic bushings facing the slot are spaced apart from each other in the disassembled state of the rubber bearing and abut each other in the state of being mounted in the bearing housing of the control arm. In other words, a specific pretensioning of the rubber-elastic bushing after pressing the rubber bearing into the bearing receptacle of the control arm is thereby achieved, whereby a highly aligned rigid connection of the control arm is achieved by the rubber bearing on the vehicle structure, subframe, further wheel suspension component, etc.

As described above, in the case of a rubber-elastic bushing surrounded by an outer sleeve which is fixedly held in the bearing receptacle and which has a slot extending in the radial direction, this slot advantageously also extends through the outer sleeve, so that a pretensioning of the rubber bearing in the bearing receptacle of the control arm can be performed in the manner described above.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radial extension direction of the slot is inclined 45 ° with respect to the offset direction from the central axis of the bearing housing. Thus, the slots of the rubber bearings in the mounted state on the control arm are prevented from being located in the main direction of the force on the control arm, so that the rubber-elastic bearings of the control arm are not negatively affected by the slots.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the suspension arm has a substantially rod-shaped design, wherein it is understood that the control arm cross section is thus not limited to a circular or rectangular shape, but rather to a control arm of rectangular and/or elongated design, wherein the length of the control arm is considerably greater than the width of the control arm. In this case, one bearing receiving portion and one rubber bearing are respectively provided at both end portions of the control arm, respectively, held in the bearing receiving portions, wherein the central axes of the respective fastening holes are offset with respect to the central axes of the respective bearing receiving portions. Thus, by a specific setting of the offset of the two rubber bearings in the respective bearing housing on the control arm, in particular by a variable rotational orientation of the rubber bearings in the respective bearing housing, a change of the effective length of the control arm fixed by the fastening holes of the respective rubber bearings in the wheel suspension unit can be achieved, which length corresponds approximately to four times the offset of each individual rubber bearing. For example, the rubber bearings may be mounted in the respective bearing housing portions such that the offset directions of the two rubber bearings face each other or are away from each other.

Drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are disclosed from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which should not be construed as limiting, and are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a wheel suspension unit arm according to the present invention,

figure 2 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a rubber bearing mounted in the control arm of figure 1,

figure 3 shows a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a rubber bearing for use in a control arm according to the present invention,

fig. 4 shows three side views (a), (b) and (c) of a further exemplary embodiment of a suspension arm according to the invention, each having two differently rotationally oriented rubber bearings.

Detailed Description

In the various figures, components of the same function are always provided with the same reference numerals, so that they are generally described only once.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a suspension arm 1 according to the present invention. The control arm 1 shown in fig. 1 is an arcuate arm of a wheel suspension unit of a motor vehicle (not shown) which is also not shown in detail. The arcuate arms are used in a manner known per se to fix the camber angle of a wheel attached to the wheel suspension unit. As can be seen from fig. 1, the control arm 1 has a substantially rod-shaped design, with bearing receptacles 2 for receiving rubber bearings 3 being provided on the two opposite ends of the control arm 1.

In fig. 2, the rubber bearings 3 pressed into the two bearing receptacles 2 of the control arm 1 of fig. 1 are shown enlarged in a side view. In particular, the rubber bearing 3 in fig. 2 is shown in a state of being detached from the bearing housing portion 2.

As can be seen from fig. 2, the rubber bearing 3 has an inner sleeve 4 fixedly surrounded by a rubber-elastic bushing 5. Furthermore, the rubber elastic bushing 5 is fixedly surrounded by an outer sleeve 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the rubber-elastic bushing 5 is fixedly connected to the inner sleeve 4 and the outer sleeve 6 by vulcanization. Moreover, the inner sleeve 4 and the outer sleeve 6 of the rubber bearing 3 are formed of metal, and thus the rubber bearing 3 may also be denoted as a rubber-metal bearing. As can be seen from fig. 1, the outer sleeve 6 of the rubber bearing 3 is fixedly held and/or pressed into the corresponding bearing receptacle 2 of the control arm 1.

As can be seen clearly in fig. 2, the inner sleeve 4 has fastening holes 7, by means of which the inner sleeve 4 can be fixed (e.g. by means of bolts (not shown)) to a vehicle element (e.g. a vehicle structure, a subframe, a wheel carrier, a bracket, etc. connected to the vehicle structure). As can be clearly determined by looking at fig. 2 and 1 together, the fastening hole 7 is arranged relative to the bearing housing 2 concentrically around the outer sleeve 6 of the rubber bearing 3 such that the central axis 8 of the fastening hole 7 has an offset 10 relative to the central axis 9 of the bearing housing 2. In other words, the fastening hole 7 is arranged eccentrically on the bearing receptacle 2 of the control arm 1 and/or the outer sleeve 6 of the rubber bearing 3. In particular, the offset amounts 10 of the two rubber bearings 3 in the control arm 1 shown in fig. 1 coincide such that the offset directions 23, which are fixed by the position of the central axis 8 of the fastening hole 7 of the inner sleeve 4 relative to the central axis 9 of the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 1, are at a distance from each other which corresponds to the maximum possible length of the control arm 1 determining the point of geometry of the wheel suspension unit of the motor vehicle, which is fixed by the distance between the central axes 8 of the fastening holes 7 of the two rubber bearings 3. The shortest length of the control arm 1 can be set by the offset directions 23 of the two rubber bearings 3 facing each other, so that the length of the control arm 1 as a whole can be varied, which corresponds to four times the offset 10 to the individual rubber bearing 3.

As is clear from fig. 2, in the embodiment shown the inner sleeve 4 of the rubber bearing 3 has a rotationally symmetrical outer contour, with respect to which the fastening hole 7 is arranged eccentrically. Moreover, the rubber elastic bushing 5 is also configured to be substantially rotationally symmetrical. In particular, the rubber elastic bushing 5 in the embodiment shown is solid, i.e. consists of a solid material. In this respect, the eccentricity of the fastening hole 7 is provided only by the inner sleeve 4.

It can also be seen in fig. 2 that both the rubber-elastic bushing 5 and the outer sleeve 6 are penetrated by radially extending slots 11. In the disassembled state of the rubber bearing 3 shown in fig. 2, the front surfaces of the rubber elastic bushing 5 facing the slot 11 and the outer sleeve 6 are spaced apart from each other. As can be taken from fig. 1, however, these front surfaces abut each other in the state mounted in the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 1, as the slot 11 shown in fig. 1 is shown closed. In this way, a specific preload of the rubber-elastic bushing 5 can be achieved, in particular, when the rubber bearing 3 is pressed into the bearing receptacle 2 of the control arm 1.

In the rubber bearing 3 shown in fig. 2, the radial extension direction of the slot 11 is inclined 45 ° with respect to the direction of the offset 10 from the central axis 9 of the bearing housing 2, so that the slot of the rubber bearing in the mounted state on the control arm 1 (fig. 1) is prevented from being located in the main direction of the force on the control arm 1. The slot 11 can be used particularly advantageously as a visual marker for the correct calibration of the offset 10 in the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 1.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a rubber bearing 12, for example for use in a control arm 1 according to fig. 1. In contrast to the rubber bearing 3 shown in fig. 2, the rubber bearing 12 has no slot 11, so that the rubber-elastic bushing 13 and the outer sleeve 14 of the rubber bearing 12, which likewise fixedly encloses the rubber-elastic bushing 13, are configured to close in an annular manner. The inner sleeve 15 of the rubber bearing 12, which is fixedly surrounded by the rubber-elastic bushing 13, also has a fastening hole 16, which fastening hole 16 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the bearing receptacle 2 of the control arm 1 and/or the outer sleeve 14 of the rubber bearing 12.

As is clear from fig. 3, the rubber-elastic bushing 13 is constructed completely rotationally symmetrical, and thus the rubber-elastic bushing 13 has substantially the same wall thickness along the circumference of the rubber-elastic bushing 13 between the outer circumferential surface of the rubber-elastic bushing 13, which is supported opposite the outer sleeve 14, and the inner circumferential surface of the rubber-elastic bushing 13, which is supported opposite the inner sleeve 15, so that a symmetrical bearing of the inner sleeve 15 can be ensured in the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 1 with respect to elasticity as long as this is desired.

In the exemplary embodiment of the rubber bearing 12 shown in fig. 3, the fastening hole 16 has two grooves 17 extending in the radial direction of the hole 16 and the two grooves 17 are radially arranged in the hole 16. The groove 17 can be used in a similar manner to the slot 11 (shown in fig. 2) of the rubber bearing 12 as a visual aid when aligning the rubber bearing 12 to the bearing receiving portion 2 (fig. 1) of the control arm 1 in order to be able to fix the desired length of the control arm 1 correctly in a simple manner by corresponding alignment of the eccentricity (offset 10) of the fastening hole 16. As can be taken from fig. 3, the recess in the rubber bearing 12 is arranged perpendicular to the offset direction 23, the offset direction 23 being fixed by the position of the central axis 8 of the fastening hole 16 of the inner sleeve 15 relative to the central axis 9 of the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 1 shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows three side views (a), (b) and (c) of another exemplary embodiment of a suspension arm 18 according to the invention with rubber bearings 19 having two different rotational orientations in different cases but otherwise identical. Furthermore, the suspension arms 18 shown in the different figures (a), (b) and (c) are identically constructed.

As can be seen from fig. 4, the suspension arm 18 is configured substantially in the shape of a rod, and the rubber bearing 19 is provided in each case and fixed in the respective bearing receptacle 2 on the respective end of the suspension arm 18. The rubber bearing 19 may be configured as shown in fig. 2 or 3, for example. However, the design of the rubber bearing 19 is not limited thereto. However, each rubber bearing 19 has at least one inner sleeve 21, which inner sleeve 21 is fixedly surrounded by a rubber-elastic bushing 20 and in turn has fastening holes 22. The rubber-elastic bushing 20 is in turn fixedly held in the bearing housing 2 of the control arm 18, optionally by insertion of an outer sleeve (e.g. similar to the outer sleeve 6 in fig. 2 or similar to the outer sleeve 14 in fig. 3) fixedly surrounding the rubber-elastic bushing 20.

In fig. 4 (a), it can be seen that the offset directions 23 of the offsets 10 of the respective rubber bearings 19 face away from each other, whereas in fig. 4 (b) they face each other. As a result, the effective length of the suspension arm 18, which is determined by the distance of the two fastening holes 22 of the two rubber bearings 19 from each other, is largest in fig. 4 (a) and smallest in fig. 4 (b).

In fig. 4 (c), the offset direction 23 of the offset 10 of the two rubber bearings 19 is oriented parallel to the ground. As a result, the effective length of the suspension arm 18, which is determined by the distance between the two fastening holes 22 of the two rubber bearings 19 in fig. 4 (c), corresponds to the average length between the maximum achievable length in fig. 4 (a) and the minimum achievable length in fig. 4 (b).

The offset direction 23 is only fixed by the rotational orientation of the respective rubber bearing 19 in the bearing receptacle 2 on the control arm 18. Of course, further combinations of different offset directions 23 which are not shown in fig. 4 and which can be fixed by means of the respective rubber bearings 19 are likewise possible.

The suspension arm according to the invention described above is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but also includes other embodiments that function similarly. In particular, the suspension arm as the arc arm is not limited to the arc arm, but may be, for example, a butt control arm, a longitudinal arm, a diagonal arm, a cross arm, or the like. It is particularly preferred that the arm is essentially a rod-shaped control arm having two engagement points on the end side formed by respective bearing receptacles for receiving the rubber bearings, respectively, the central axis of the respective fastening holes of the inner sleeve of the rubber bearings being offset relative to the central axis of the respective bearing receptacles. In a preferred embodiment, the suspension arm according to the invention is used in a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, in particular in a motor vehicle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the suspension arm according to the invention is used as an arcuate arm for adjusting the camber angle of a wheel in a rear wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, in particular in a motor vehicle.

List of reference numerals

1 suspension arm

2 bearing housing

3 rubber bearing

4 inner sleeve

5 rubber elastic bushing

6 outer sleeve

7 fastening hole

8 7. 16, 22 central axis

9 2 central axis

10 Offset between 8 and 9

11 slots

12 rubber bearing

13 rubber elastic bushing

14 outer sleeve

15 inner sleeve

16 fastening hole

17 groove

18 suspension arm

19 rubber bushing

20 rubber elastic bushing

21 inner sleeve

22 fastening hole

23 offset direction

Claims

1. Suspension arm for a wheel suspension unit of a vehicle, comprising at least one bearing receptacle (2), a rubber bearing (3, 12, 19) fixedly held in the bearing receptacle (2) with a rubber-elastic bushing (5, 13, 20) fixedly surrounding an inner sleeve (4, 15, 21), wherein the inner sleeve (4, 15, 21) comprises a fastening hole (7, 16, 22),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the fastening holes (7, 16, 22) are arranged relative to the bearing housing (2) such that a central axis (8) of the fastening holes (7, 16, 22) has an offset (10) relative to a central axis (9) of the bearing housing (2);

the rubber-elastic bushing (5) comprises at least one slot (11) extending in a radial direction of the bushing (5), the radial extension direction of the slot (11) being inclined 45 ° with respect to the direction of the offset (10) from the central axis (9) of the bearing housing (2).

2. The suspension arm according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the inner sleeve (4, 15, 21) has a rotationally symmetrical outer contour, and the fastening hole (7, 16, 22) is arranged eccentrically with respect to the inner sleeve (4, 15, 21).

3. The suspension arm according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the rubber elastic bushings (5, 13, 20) are rotationally symmetrical.

4. The suspension arm according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the rubber-elastic bushing (5, 13, 20) is fixedly surrounded by an outer sleeve (6, 14) which is fixedly held in the bearing receptacle (2).

5. The suspension arm according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the fastening hole (16) comprises at least one groove (17) extending in a radial direction of the hole (16).

6. The suspension arm according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the rubber-elastic bushing (5) is surrounded by an outer sleeve (6) held in the bearing housing (2), wherein a slot (11) extending through the bushing (5) in the radial direction also extends through the outer sleeve (6).

7. The suspension arm according to any of the preceding claims,

characterized by comprising

The rod-shaped design is provided with a bearing receptacle (2) at each end of the suspension arm, a respective rubber bearing (3, 12, 19) being held in the bearing receptacle (2), wherein the central axis (8) of the respective fastening hole (7, 16, 22) is offset relative to the central axis (9) of the respective bearing receptacle (2).