DE102010063101B4 - Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung for a vibration damper - Google Patents

Abstract

Spring plate mounting arrangement (10) for a vibration damper, comprising • a spring plate (20) which - a contact portion (21) which encloses a damper tube (40) in the circumferential direction, - one of the contact portion (21) axially and radially spaced receiving portion (22 ), and - one of the abutment portion (21) axially spaced support portion (23), wherein the support portion (23) with its substantially plate-shaped radial extent a support spring (50) axially supported, • further comprises the spring seat mounting assembly (10) a A spacer element (60) enclosing the damper tube (40) and disposed inside the receiving portion (22) of the spring plate (20) and comprising a first outer portion (61c), a second outer portion (61d) and a central portion (62 ), wherein - the outer portions (61c, d) with their radially outer surface (61b) on the radially inner Fl (21a) of the spring plate (20) in its receiving portion (21) come to rest - and wherein the central portion (62) axially between the two outer portions (61c, d) is executed and with its radially inner surface (62a) the damper tube (40) comes to rest, - wherein the outer portions (61c; 61d) of the spacer have a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the central portion (62) of the spacer (60), - wherein the outer portions (61c; 61d) have the same or a different axial extent - and wherein the spacer element (60) regardless of the axial position of the outer portions (61c, 61d) relative to the central portion (62) is mountable to the damper tube and wherein the Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung (10) has a securing element (70) which surrounds the damper tube (40) and wherein the securing member (70) is disposed radially between the damper tube (40) and the radially inner surface (61a) of one of the outer portions (61c, d) of the spacer member (60) and secures the spring cup attachment assembly (10) against axial loading.

Description

The invention relates to a spring plate mounting arrangement for a vibration damper according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

A generic spring cup mounting assembly for a vibration damper is well known in the automotive industry.

At the present time, the requirements for comfort in a motor vehicle have increased enormously. Furthermore, today's solutions must be highly variable, cost-effective and meet the highest security standards.

In order to meet the comfort requirements, the individual vehicle components must be precisely matched to each other.

For example, should be used in vehicles of the same series, but with different engine a suspension spring whose spring force makes it possible to meet the comfort requirements of different vehicle model variants. This can be done by using different suspension springs. That would drive up production costs. Another way to change the spring force would be to preload the suspension spring. Furthermore, a possibility must be created to use the same damper with the same suspension spring in different vehicle model variants.

The DE 4340494 C2 describes a generic Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung. This spring cup mounting arrangement comprises a sleeve, which surrounds the damper tube radially and is connected to the damper tube by circumferential welds. The sleeve has a profiled portion which serves as a locking means for a retaining ring. The spring plate is supported axially on the retaining ring and is thus secured against axial loads. Since the profiled section of the sleeve offers latching possibilities in several axial positions, the axial position of the spring plate can be selected variably.

The attachment of the sleeve to the damper tube by means of welding. This step must be carried out very precisely and therefore requires time that is usually scarce in production and costs money. In addition, it is known that the welds must be reworked and protected against rust.

A very high variability characterizes the in the DE 4340494 C2 certainly described Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung. However, the described simplicity with which the retaining ring offset and the spring tension can be adjusted, does not exclude the possibility that the end user itself can very easily change the spring force of the suspension spring. The changed spring force also changes the driving behavior of the vehicle, which under certain circumstances can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle and thus to a traffic accident. From this point of view, the construction described may not be able to meet today's high safety requirements.

The DE 198 51 019 C1 discloses a method of assembling a spring carrier comprising a carrier with a spring plate which is operatively connected to a carrying sleeve portion. The sleeve portion extends in the axial direction of the carrier and is supported at least indirectly on the carrier. The spring plate is fixed in response to a spring force of a spring welce is supported on the spring plate in its axial position to the carrier. An embossing tool exerts a radial working movement for fixing the spring plate, thereby producing a form-locking connection between the carrier and the sleeve section of the spring plate.

The object of this invention is to further develop a spring plate mounting arrangement for a vibration damper so that the variability requirements and safety requirements can be met as economically as possible.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a spring seat mounting arrangement according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

By using a spacer element, which surrounds the damper tube and is arranged in the interior of the receiving portion of the spring plate, the axial position of the spring plate and thus also the desired spring tension can be determined. The size of the spring tension is dependent on the length of the spacer. By choosing a specific spacer element from a defined amount of the spacer elements, which are designed to be different lengths, the required spring tension can be set. The other components of the spring cup mounting arrangement according to the invention remain unchanged. If the vibration damper including the suspension spring mounted on the vehicle, so it is not possible for the end user without a major effort to change the specified spring tension.

The spacer comes with the radially outer surface of its axially outer portions on the radially inner surface of the receiving portion of the spring plate to the plant. With the radially inner surface of the central portion, which is executed axially between the two outer portions, the spacer element comes to the damper tube for conditioning. Thus, the spacer element supports the spring plate relative to the damper tube and prevents unwanted axial displacement, or a tilted position of the spring plate relative to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper. As a result, the contact portion of the spring plate can be made very short, which means a saving of material in the production of the spring plate. The securing element, which surrounds the damper tube, secures the spring plate mounting arrangement against axial loads, which arise due to the prestressed suspension spring and by the operation of the vibration damper. In this case, the securing element is arranged radially between the damper tube and the radially inner surface of one of the outer portions of the spacer element and is held radially fixed by one of the outer portions of the spacer element.

A series of a few spring plates with different lengths of receiving sections in combination with a series of different length spacers means that almost all imaginable axial positions of a spring plate on a damper tube and thus installation space for the suspension spring can be provided. Consequently, many vehicle types can be equipped with similar components.

According to an advantageous variant, the two outer portions of the spacer have a same axial extension, which promotes error-free mounting of the spacer significantly.

If the two outer portions of the spacer have different axial extents, the spring plate may occupy different axial position on the damper tube depending on the mounting position of the spacer. The selection of the axial position then depends on which of the two outer portions of the spacer is positioned in the direction of the abutment region of the spring plate.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the spacer element is designed such that the radially inner region of a respective outer portion of the spacer element has a larger diameter than the radially inner region of the central portion of the spacer element. Thereby, the radially arranged between the damper tube and the radially inner surface of one of the outer portions of the spacer securing element can be held radially fixed by one of the outer portions of the spacer.

Advantageously, the spacer can be made in one piece, which makes this particularly robust. Due to the simplicity of the manufacturing process, a distance element designed as a sheet-metal forming part can be produced particularly inexpensively.

It can be provided that the spacer element has an axial gap, as has been proposed in a further advantageous variant. Such a design allows a much easier installation of the spacer on the damper tube.

It is advantageous to provide the spring plate with a protective insert, which protects the spring plate against mechanical stresses, such as stone chipping, and against contamination.

In operation, the suspension spring is subjected to a load which introduces a spring force oppositely directed clamping force in the suspension spring. If the clamping force is so great that the suspension spring is compressed, the spring plate equipped with the protective insert is at least partially covered by a protective bellows. In this case, it may happen that the protective bellows with its end facing the spring plate at least indirectly comes to rest on the spring plate. Most is located between the spring plate and the protective bellows running from a rubber-like material protective insert. The air in the protective bellows is trapped and compressed. If the spring seat side bearing surface is strong enough so that the trapped air can not escape, then the trapped air exerts a high pressure on the walls of the bellows, as well as on the damper tube. This can lead to undesirable deformation of the protective bellows and in extreme cases to its bursting. If the protective insert lying between the spring plate and the protective bellows is made of such a flexible material that the trapped air can escape, a negative pressure is created when the suspension spring relaxes inside the protective bellows. The protective liner is then subjected to high tensile forces, which would destroy the protective liner over time.

To avoid this, in a further advantageous variant, at least one of the components of the spring seat mounting arrangement has an opening which connects the atmosphere with the interior of the protective bellows. This opening is used for Diverting the air trapped inside the protective bellows.

With reference to the following figures, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example.

Show it:

1 a sectional view of a Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung invention;

2 a sectional view of a Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung invention with a shortened contact portion of the spring plate, and a running from a metal sheet spacer;

3 a sectional view of a spacer element according to the invention;

4 a top view of a spacer element according to the invention;

5 a sectional view of an integrally formed from a sheet metal blank according to the invention spacer.

The 1 shows a Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung invention 10 for a vibration damper. This includes a spring plate 20 , which is a damper tube 40 circumferentially enclosing contact section 21 having. Furthermore, the spring plate 20 one from the plant section 21 axially and radially spaced receiving portion 22 on, as well as one of the investment section 21 axially spaced support portion 23 , The support section 23 it supports with its substantially plate-shaped radial extent a suspension spring 50 axially. Furthermore, in the 1 as well as in the 2 a one-piece spacer 60 pictured, which is the damper tube 40 also encloses and inside the receiving section 22 of the spring plate 20 is arranged. That in the 2 and 5 illustrated spacer element 60 is designed as a sheet metal forming part.

In the 3 - 5 is particularly good at recognizing that the spacer element 60 , two outer sections 61c , d and a middle section 62 and an axial gap 63 has, wherein the middle section 62 axially between the two outer sections 61c , d is executed. The outer sections 61c , d of the spacer element 60 touch in the in the 1 and 2 illustrated embodiments with their radially outer surface 61b the radially inner surface 21a of the spring plate 20 in its receiving section 21 , Furthermore, the middle section encloses 62 of the spacer element 60 the damper tube 40 and is supported at least indirectly with its radially inner surface 62a at this. In the 1 - 5 is shown that the inner diameter of the outer section 61c , d of the spacer element 60 is greater than the inner diameter of the middle section 62 of the spacer element 60 ,

In the in the 1 as well as in the 2 shown embodiments of the spring cup mounting arrangement according to the invention 10 have the outer sections 61c , d of the spacer element 60 an equal axial extent. An embodiment with different axial extent of the outer sections 61c , d of the spacer element 60 is not shown in the figures, but is also possible. If the two outer sections 61c , d of the spacer element 60 have different axial extent, the spring plate 20 depending on the mounting position of the spacer 60 different axial position on the damper tube 40 taking.

In the 1 and 2 It can be seen that the spring seat mounting assembly 10 a fuse element 70 having, which radially between the damper tube 40 and the radially inner surface 61a one of the outer sections 61c , d of the spacer element 60 is arranged and the damper tube 40 encloses. The fuse element 70 serves to secure the spring cup mounting arrangement 10 against axial load. A series of a few spring plates with different lengths of receiving sections 22 in combination with a series of different length spacers 60 This results in almost all imaginable axial positions of a spring plate 20 on a damper tube 40 and thus installation space for the suspension spring 50 can be provided. Consequently, many vehicle types can be equipped with similar components.

The 1 and 2 show that the spring plate 20 a protective insert 30 may have, which is the suspension spring 50 facing surface of the spring plate 20 at least partially covering. Furthermore, the spring seat mounting assembly 10 a protective bellows 80 exhibit. The Indian 1 and the 2 illustrated bellows 80 encloses the damper tube 40 partially covers those from the spring plate 20 and the protective insert 30 formed unit. In this case, the protective insert 30 in the illustrated variant an opening 31 on which the atmosphere with the interior of the bellows 80 combines.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Spring plate mounting arrangement

20

spring plate

21

contact section

22

receiving portion

22a

radially inner surface of the receiving portion

23

union section

30

protection insert

31

opening

40

steamer pipe

50

suspension spring

60

spacer

61c

first outside section

61d

second outside section

61a

radially inner surface of the outer portion

61b

radially outside surface of the outer section

62

middle section

62a

radially inner surface of the middle section

62b

radially outside surface of the middle section

63

gap

70

fuse element

80

bellows

Claims (5)

Spring seat mounting arrangement ( 10 ) for a vibration damper, comprising • a spring plate ( 20 ), which - an attachment section ( 21 ) having a damper tube ( 40 ) in the circumferential direction, - one of the contact section ( 21 ) axially and radially spaced receiving portion ( 22 ), and - one of the plant section ( 21 ) axially spaced support portion ( 23 ), wherein the support section ( 23 ) with its substantially plate-shaped radial extent a suspension spring ( 50 ) axially supported, • further comprises the spring seat mounting assembly ( 10 ) a spacer element ( 60 ), which the damper tube ( 40 ) and inside the receiving section ( 22 ) of the spring plate ( 20 ) and from a first outer section ( 61c ), a second outer section ( 61d ) and a middle section ( 62 ), wherein - the outer sections ( 61c , d) with its radially outer surface ( 61b ) on the radially inner surface ( 21a ) of the spring plate ( 20 ) in its receiving section ( 21 ) and the middle section ( 62 ) axially between the two outer sections ( 61c , d) is executed and with its radially inner surface ( 62a ) on the damper tube ( 40 ), - the outer sections ( 61c ; 61d ) of the spacer have a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the central portion ( 62 ) of the spacer element ( 60 ), - the outer sections ( 61c ; 61d ) have an identical or a different axial extent - and wherein the spacer element ( 60 ) regardless of the axial position of the outer sections ( 61c . 61d ), referring to the middle section ( 62 ) is mountable to the damper tube • and wherein the Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung ( 10 ) a fuse element ( 70 ), which the damper tube ( 40 ) and wherein the securing element ( 70 ) radially between the damper tube ( 40 ) and the radially inner surface ( 61a ) one of the outer sections ( 61c , d) the spacer element ( 60 ) is arranged and the Federtellerbefestigungsanordnung ( 10 ) secures against axial load. Spring seat mounting arrangement ( 10 ) for a vibration damper according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer element ( 60 ) is made in one piece. Spring seat mounting arrangement ( 10 ) for a vibration damper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacer element ( 60 ) is designed as a sheet metal forming part. Spring seat mounting arrangement ( 10 ) for a vibration damper according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spacer element ( 60 ) an axial gap ( 63 ) having Spring seat mounting arrangement ( 10 ) for a vibration damper according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring plate ( 20 ) a protective insert ( 30 ), which corresponds to that of the suspension spring ( 50 ) facing surface of the spring plate ( 20 ) at least partially covers and that the spring seat mounting assembly ( 10 ) a protective bellows ( 80 ), wherein the protective bellows ( 80 ) the damper tube ( 40 ) and wherein the protective bellows ( 80 ) one from the spring plate ( 20 ) and the protective insert ( 30 ) formed unit at least partially covered, wherein at least one of the components of the spring seat mounting assembly ( 10 ) an opening ( 31 ), which the atmosphere with the interior of the protective bellows ( 80 ) connects.

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