DE102012021289B4 - Vehicle axle for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle with such a vehicle axle - Google Patents

Abstract

Vehicle axle (2) for a motor vehicle (1), with at least one wheel carrier (9) which is made of plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic and has a metal axle journal (8) for the rotatable mounting of a wheel (3) of the motor vehicle (1). , characterized in that the wheel carrier (9), in addition to the connection point (16a) provided for the axle journal (8), has one or more further connection points (16b-f, h) for a cross member (7) connecting two trailing arms (6), for a Brake caliper (13b) of a disc brake device (13), for a brake cover plate (12) arranged on the wheel carrier (9) on the wheel side for shielding the wheel carrier (9) from heat generated by the disc brake device (13) and for a reinforcement plate ( 14), wherein the brake cover plate (12) has a collar (23), by means of which the brake cover plate (12) is pressed onto a peripheral collar (20) of the axle journal (8) and axially onto the wheel-side material thickenings (18) of the wheel carrier (9) is supported, and wherein the reinforcement plate (14) is supported on an edge web (25) of the wheel carrier (9) and on material thickenings (19) of the wheel carrier (9) on the cross carrier side, or the reinforcement plate (14) has an axial extension (14a) which is on the cross carrier side is inserted or pressed into an opening (17) in the wheel carrier (9).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle axle for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1 of the invention. According to patent claim 8 of the invention, this also relates to a motor vehicle with such a vehicle axle.

From practice, vehicle axles for motor vehicles are known in a wide variety of embodiments. For example, so-called torsion beam rear axles are known for front-wheel drive passenger cars. The wheel suspension consists of two trailing arms coupled at one end to the vehicle body, which in turn are firmly connected to one another at the other end by means of a cross member. On both sides of the vehicle, a wheel carrier with an axle journal for the rotatable mounting of a wheel is fixedly arranged on said assembly.

That's how she describes it DE 10 2011 009 040 A1 an axle module in the form of a torsion beam axle with two rigid and torsionally rigid trailing links, with a rigid and torsionally flexible cross member connecting the same to one another and with one wheel carrier rigidly connected to each of the links. The wheel carriers of the torsion beam axle are each formed by a so-called accommodation provision for accommodating a drive in the form of a wheel hub electric motor. This publication also proposes reducing the weight while at the same time increasing the load capacity of the axle module by constructing at least part of the axle module, preferably the link and/or the mounting device, from a lightweight material such as a light metal or a plastic, in particular glass-fibre reinforced plastic, or from a sheet metal construction.

With the DE 103 46 280 A1 Furthermore, a wheel carrier made of steel or a light metal with several link connection points is proposed in which, to improve its strength properties, at least one link connection point is bridged by a strut that is integral with the wheel carrier, so that the wheel carrier forms a through opening at this link connection point.

From the DE 198 53 636 A1 a wheel suspension with a so-called spring link is known, which in turn is non-rotatably attached to a wheel carrier with its rear end and extends forward from the wheel carrier in the direction of travel and is attached to the vehicle body with its front end. The wheel carrier has a mount for a vehicle axle, in particular a rigid axle, and is designed as an aluminum casting.

From the DE 10 2010 036 949 A1 In addition, a cross member for a torsion beam axle made of a material containing plastic, in particular a fiber composite material, or made of a steel material is known, which is elastically deformable to reduce the oversteering of the motor vehicle when cornering and to improve the driving dynamics and comfort properties and has a structure which is designed in such a way that an elastic torsional deformation, which occurs as a result of a torsional moment acting about the longitudinal axis, causes an elastic bending deformation of the cross member.

From the DE 10 2010 033 851 A1 a rear axle for a motor vehicle is known, which in turn has a one-piece cross member and two trailing arms made of a solid plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic. The trailing arms and the cross strut form open hollow profiles with a plurality of stiffening ribs.

From the generic DE 10 2012 001 671 A1 a motor vehicle rear axle with a wheel carrier is known, which consists of a plastic and has an axle journal made of metal for the rotatable mounting of a wheel of the motor vehicle.

From the DE 37 21 737 A1 a bearing device for a driven motor vehicle wheel is known, a bearing comprising an inner and an outer bearing ring made of steel being arranged between a wheel hub and a wheel carrier. The inner bearing ring is designed in the form of a sleeve and is connected to the wheel carrier at the inner end of the sleeve that extends out of the wheel hub. The sleeve end on the outside of the wheel, which is arranged in the wheel hub, carries the other bearing ring, which is firmly connected to the wheel hub. Furthermore, it is provided that the bearing rings made of steel are connected to parts made of light metal or a glass fiber reinforced plastic, such as the wheel carrier and wheel hub.

From the DE 295 06 571 U1 a torsion beam axle body for motor vehicles is known, consisting of two trailing arm parts and a composite part connecting them, the trailing arm parts having an eye for connection to the vehicle at one end and a receptacle for a wheel axle at the other end. The axle body is made in one piece from a composite material consisting of a matrix made of plastic or light metal and tensile and transverse strands embedded therein, in particular glass fibers, carbon fibers or steel wires. The inclusion of the wheel axle can be a metallic molded part that can be wrapped with a suitable shape and should allow a rigid connection of an axle carrier or wheel carrier.

From the DE 10 2007 053 120 A1 a vehicle wheel carrier is known which essentially consists of a fiber composite material and has several load introduction elements introduced into the basic structure of the wheel carrier or attached to it, for example for connecting the wheel hub and/or as a wheel bearing seat, made of a metal material, ceramic material or fiber composite material.

The object of the invention is to create an alternative vehicle axle with regard to the prior art, which is lightweight while ensuring the necessary driving dynamics properties, requires little installation space and can be produced easily and inexpensively. Furthermore, it is the object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with such a vehicle axle.

Based on a vehicle axle for a motor vehicle, with at least one wheel carrier, which consists of a plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic and has an axle journal made of metal for the rotatable mounting of a wheel of the motor vehicle, the task is solved in that the wheel carrier, in addition to the Axle journal provided connection point has one or more further connection points for a cross member connecting two trailing arms, for a brake caliper of a disc brake device, for a brake cover plate arranged on the wheel carrier on the wheel side for shielding the wheel carrier against heat generated by the disc brake device and for a reinforcement plate arranged on the wheel carrier, the brake cover plate has a collar, by means of which the brake cover plate is pressed onto an edge collar of the axle journal and is supported axially on the wheel-side material thickenings of the wheel carrier, and the reinforcement plate is supported on an edge web of the wheel carrier as well as on the cross-member-side material thickenings of the wheel carrier, or the reinforcement plate has an axial extension, which is inserted or pressed into an opening of the wheel carrier on the cross member side.

This measure advantageously combines the wheel carrier, which consists of the inexpensive lightweight material plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic, with a wear-resistant axle journal made of metal.

The dependent claims describe preferred developments or refinements of the invention.

According to this, in a further development of the invention, it is provided that the fastening of the metal axle journal in the area of a connection point of the wheel carrier is effected in such a way that the axle journal is either pressed into the opening of the wheel carrier or during the production of the wheel carrier from plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic according to a plastic Casting process, in particular plastic injection molding process, is poured into the same. This measure enables a simple, inexpensive and functionally reliable connection of the axle journal to the wheel carrier.

It is also advantageously provided that the wheel carrier, which is made of the inexpensive lightweight material plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic, can be clamped between the said brake cover and reinforcement plate, so that a vehicle axle with a sufficiently strong and dimensionally stable wheel carrier is created with minimized weight, which is also easy to assemble. Furthermore, the forces introduced into the assembly of components can be better absorbed as a result.

Furthermore, it is provided that at least one of the connection points of the aforementioned add-on parts is formed by a receiving sleeve in the form of a push-through or threaded sleeve made of metal for receiving a mechanical fastening element, which is either pressed into a prepared opening in the wheel carrier or during the production of the plastic wheel carrier a plastic molding process, in particular plastic injection molding process, is cast into the same. These joining techniques allow an extremely strong connection between the wheel carrier and the corresponding add-on parts.

As the invention further provides, at least some of the connection points of the wheel carrier are arranged coaxially opposite one another. This has the advantage of minimizing the required connection points on the wheel carrier and the mutual support of the add-on parts among themselves.

In order to shield the wheel carrier made of plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic even more effectively from heat generated by the disk brake device, it is also provided that the brake cover plate is fastened to the wheel carrier at an axial distance from it. This creates an air slot between the wheel carrier and the brake cover plate, which enables improved heat dissipation.

A functionally reliable as well as simple and inexpensive connection of the wheel carrier to the cross member is achieved in that the connection point of the wheel carrier for the cross member by means of a socket arranged on the side of the wheel carrier facing away from the wheel and designed in one piece with the wheel carrier for receiving a free end of the Cross member is formed. This measure enables a firm joint connection between the two joining partners by means of a non-positive, positive and/or material connection.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a rear axle of the type described above.

• 1 ein mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Fahrzeugachse, vorliegend beispielgebend mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Hinterachse ausgestattetes Kraftfahrzeug in einer Heckansicht,
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung der Anbausituation eines Längslenkers an einem
• Querträger der Hinterachse,
• 3 einen hinteren linken Radträger der Hinterachse des Kraftfahrzeugs im Zusammenbau mit einem Querträger und diversen weiteren Anbauteilen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht entgegen der Fahrtrichtung des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• 4a-g die Darstellung einzelner Montageschritte zur Komplettierung des Radträgers nach 2 mit besagten Anbauteilen,
• 5a-b perspektivische Teilschnittdarstellungen der Anbindung eines Anbauteils in Form eines Verstärkungsbleches an den Radträger,
• 6a-c die Darstellung einer ersten Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger,
• 7a-b die Darstellung einer zweiten Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger,
• 8a-c die Darstellung einer dritten Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger,
• 9a-c die Darstellung einer vierten Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger,
• 10 die Darstellung einer fünften Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger, und
• 11 die Darstellung einer sechsen Variante zur Festlegung des Querträgers der Hinterachse an einem Radträger.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown schematically in the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a rear view of a motor vehicle equipped with a vehicle axle designed according to the invention, in this case, for example, with a rear axle designed according to the invention,
• 2 a schematic representation of the mounting situation of a trailing arm on a
• rear axle cross member,
• 3 a rear left wheel carrier of the rear axle of the motor vehicle assembled with a cross member and various other add-on parts in a perspective view against the direction of travel of the motor vehicle,
• 4a-g the representation of individual assembly steps to complete the wheel carrier 2 with said attachments,
• 5a-b Perspective partial sectional views of the connection of an add-on part in the form of a reinforcement plate to the wheel carrier,
• 6a-c the representation of a first variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier,
• 7a-b the representation of a second variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier,
• 8a-c the representation of a third variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier,
• 9a-c the representation of a fourth variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier,
• 10 the representation of a fifth variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier, and
• 11 the representation of a sixth variant for fixing the cross member of the rear axle to a wheel carrier.

1 shows first extremely schematically a motor vehicle 1 in a rear view, with a vehicle axle 2 designed according to the invention in the form of a rear axle, in particular a torsion beam rear axle, over which two rear wheels 3 are guided and supported on a vehicle body 4 .

According to 2 said vehicle axle 2 or rear axle has on both sides of the motor vehicle 1 a trailing arm 6 extending essentially in the direction of travel 5 of the motor vehicle 1 and a cross member 7 connecting the same to one another. For the sake of simplicity, only a section of the rear axle with the rear left trailing arm 6 is shown here. A wheel carrier 9 having an axle journal 8 for the rotatable mounting of a wheel 3 is arranged at both ends of the cross member 7 and is firmly connected to the cross member 7 . The cross member 7 is formed by a tubular profile, for example. Any other suitable profile, be it a hollow profile with a closed or open cross-section or also closed solid profiles, is of course also covered by the invention. The cross member 7 is made of a plastic, a composite material, or a metal, in particular steel, but preferably made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, since this material allows a simple and inexpensive design of the cross member 7 with regard to certain desired driving dynamics properties.

Again 2 can be seen further, according to this exemplary embodiment, each trailing arm 6 is connected at one end to the cross member 7 in an axially fixed and non-rotatable manner adjacent to the wheel carrier 9 as seen toward the inside of the vehicle. At the other end, the trailing arm 6 has a support element 10, which in the present case is shoe-shaped and can be fixed to the vehicle body 4 by means of mechanical fastening elements (not shown in the drawing), in particular fastening screws. However, the invention is not limited to this specific arrangement or support of the trailing arm 6 on the cross member 7, but also includes a trailing arm 6 which is fixed at one end instead of on the cross member 7 on the wheel carrier 9 (not shown in the drawing).

In the present case, the trailing arm 6 is formed by a double longitudinal leaf spring, which in turn allows a specific longitudinal elasticity of the rear axle in the center of the wheel to improve the comfort and the driving dynamics of the motor vehicle 1 . The connection of this trailing arm 6 to the cross member 7 is accomplished according to this embodiment in adaptation to the tubular cross-section of the cross member 7 by two annular end portions 11, which in turn are threaded onto the cross member 7 and firmly connected to the same. For the fixed connection of said end sections 11 of the trailing arm 6 to the cross member 7, any suitable non-positive, material and/or positive joining measures known per se can be used. So e.g. B. a press connection, an adhesive connection and / or a connection by means of mechanical fasteners such as screws can be provided.

3 shows the left area of the rear axle in more detail, ie in particular the wheel carrier 9 completed by a plurality of add-on parts and consisting of a plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic. The illustration of the trailing arm 6 was omitted for better clarity. The wheel carrier 9 preferably consists of a fiber-reinforced polyamide, which has high strength and toughness and good chemical resistance. Said wheel carrier 9, which in turn has an essentially plate-shaped structure in the present case, is also preferably produced using a plastic injection molding process known per se.

Various add-on parts are fastened to the wheel carrier 9, in this case, in addition to the cross member 7 and the axle journal 8 on the wheel side, a plate-shaped brake cover plate 12, which shields a brake disc 13a of a disc brake device 13 from the wheel carrier 9, as well as a brake caliper 13b, which in turn is known to be connected to the brake disc 13a can be brought into effective connection. The brake caliper foot 13c, by means of which the brake caliper 13b of the disc brake device 13 is supported on the wheel carrier 9, is arranged between the wheel carrier 9 and the brake cover plate 12. A reinforcement plate 14 and one end of a vibration damper 15 are also fastened to the wheel carrier 9 on the cross member side. For this purpose, the wheel carrier 9 according to 4a via a plurality of connection points 16 for said add-on parts.

The connection point 16a for the axle journal 8 protruding from the wheel carrier 9 on the wheel side is formed by an opening 17 in the wheel carrier 9 produced during the production of the wheel carrier 9 from plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic. The opening 17 is cylindrical in shape complementary to the axle journal 8 . However, the invention is not limited to said cylindrical cross-section, but also covers a cross-section z. B. already causes a non-rotatable connection between the wheel carrier 9 and the axle journal 8 simply by positive locking. Thus, for example, mutually complementary polygonal cross-sections can be used for the opening 17 and for the journal 8 (not shown in the drawing). Both on the wheel and on the cross member side, an axially protruding thickened portion 18, 19 of material is formed on the wheel carrier 9 in the area of said opening 17, which will be discussed in more detail below (cf. esp. 4a , 4e ).

The axle journal 8 is made of a metal, in particular formed of a steel and has according to the 4b-d a collar 20 which, in assembly with the wheel carrier 9, is supported axially on the end face of the wheel-side material thickening 18 of the wheel carrier 9 on the same. According to this exemplary embodiment, the axle journal 8 is pressed into said opening 17 . In contrast, it is also possible and accordingly covered by the invention to cast the axle journal 8 into the wheel carrier 9 during the manufacture of the wheel carrier 9 from plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular using a plastic injection molding process. It can also prove to be expedient to design the axle journal 8 to be screwed to the wheel carrier 9 or to glue the axle journal 8 to the wheel carrier 9 alone or in combination with one of the above joining measures (not shown in the drawing).

The connection points 16b-d, which serve to connect the brake cover plate 12 to the wheel carrier 9 on the wheel side, are formed by receiving sleeves 21 in the form of push-through or threaded sleeves made of metal, inserted into prepared bores in the wheel carrier 9, for receiving mechanical fastening elements 22, such as fastening screws ( see esp. 4a , 4c ). Threaded sleeves are preferably selected, into which corresponding bores of the brake cover plate 12 passing through fastening screws can be screwed. The receiving sleeves 21 are either pressed into said bores or cast into the wheel carrier 9 during the manufacture of the wheel carrier 9 from plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular using a plastic injection molding process. Furthermore, these connection points 16b-d also have material thickenings 18 on the wheel side, with their end face lying in a common plane with the end face of the wheel-side thickened material 18 in the region of the axle journal 8 . The plane spanned by the end faces of the wheel-side material thickenings 18 is preferably arranged parallel to the plane of the wheel carrier 9 .

The brake cover plate 12 has a collar 23, by means of which the brake cover sheet metal 12 is pressed onto the wheel-side collar 20 of the axle journal 8 . The brake cover plate 12 is supported axially on the end faces of the above-described wheel-side material thickenings 18 of the attachment points 16a-d, 16g, whereby an air gap is formed between the wheel carrier 9 and the brake cover plate 12, which ensures improved heat dissipation.

The brake caliper foot 13c of the brake caliper 13b of the disc brake device 13 is inserted into the space formed or into said air gap between the wheel carrier 9 and the brake cover plate 12 and is fixed to the wheel carrier 9 via two further connection points 16e-f of the same ( 3 ). The connection points 16e-f are also formed by bores each equipped with a receiving sleeve 21 and at the same time serve to further fasten the brake cover plate 12 to the wheel carrier 9. Push-through sleeves are selected here instead of threaded sleeves. One fastening element 22 each in the form of a fastening screw passes through the brake cover plate 12, the brake caliper foot 13c and the wheel carrier 9 and is fixed or can be fixed axially by means of a nut 24.

Like the one in particular 3 , 4c-f can be seen further, a connection point 16g for the vibration damper 15 is also provided on the wheel carrier 9, which is also formed by a bore equipped with a receiving sleeve 21. The receiving sleeve 21 is formed by a threaded sleeve into which a fastening element 22 in the form of a fastening screw is screwed or can be screwed. A thickened material portion 18, 19 is provided both on the wheel side and on the cross member side, with the thickened material portion 18 on the wheel side being oriented in its axial extension to the thickened material portions 18 described above.

With regard to the brake cover plate 12, it should be emphasized as particularly advantageous with regard to this exemplary embodiment that, in addition to the classic task of covering the brake disc 13a, it also fulfills other functions in combination with the wheel carrier 9 and the reinforcement plate 14, namely supporting the axle journal 8, supporting the brake caliper 13b, supporting the vibration damper 15 and keeping the brake heat away from the wheel carrier 9 made of plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic.

As far as the reinforcement plate 14 already mentioned above, which is arranged on the cross carrier side of the wheel carrier 7, is concerned, the already existing connection points 16a, 16e-g are advantageously used to fasten it to the wheel carrier 7. The reinforcement plate 14 is presently designed as a frame-shaped surface element, but the invention is not limited to this specifically selected design, but covers any suitable, in particular space-saving design, for example a closed surface, which may also have the same reinforcing contours, such as beads, etc. ( not shown graphically). Furthermore, the invention is not limited to a reinforcement plate 14 made of a metal material. Reinforcement plate 14 is therefore also understood in the context of this invention to mean a reinforcement plate 14 made of another material, for example a plastic or a composite material, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic such as glass-fiber-reinforced plastic, or a combination of metal and plastic.

According to the 4e , 4f the connection points 16e-f for the disc brake device 13 are part of an edge web 25 of the wheel carrier 9, which is turned towards the cross member 7. Since the reinforcement plate 14 is thus supported on said edge web 25, the material thickenings 19 of the connection points 16a and 16g on the cross member side, on which the reinforcement plate 14 is also supported and fixed, an axial extent corresponding to that of the edge web 25.

It should also be pointed out that the reinforcement plate 14 in the area of the connection point 16a is attached to the axle journal 8 indirectly via a threaded sleeve 26 which is arranged coaxially to the axle journal 8 and preferably takes up the axial extension of the material thickening 19, in that a through hole 27 of the axle journal 8 is separated from the The fastening screw 28 passing through the wheel side is screwed or can be screwed into the threaded sleeve 26, which in turn passes through a corresponding bore in the reinforcement plate 14. The threaded sleeve 26 has a radial flange 29 on the cross member side, which, when assembled, fixes the reinforcement plate 14 axially against the wheel carrier 9. Said fastening screw 28 is also used to fasten a wheel hub 30 with a bearing for the wheel 3 (cf. esp. 4b , 4f-g ).

The 5a and 5b show an alternative possibility of connecting the reinforcement plate 14 in the area of the connection point 16a to the wheel carrier 9 in two different views. Thereafter, the reinforcement plate 14 has an axial extension 14a, which is preferably designed as a hollow cylinder. The axial extension 14a is inserted into the opening 17 of the wheel carrier 9 on the cross member side, preferably pressed into it, as a result of which a firm joint connection is produced between the wheel carrier 9 and the axial extension 14a. In contrast, of course, other joining measures, such as Kle ben, apply. This connection variant of the reinforcement plate 14 to the wheel carrier 9 in the area of the connection point 16a can also be advantageously combined with the above-described connection variant using a threaded sleeve 26 and fastening screw 28 and is therefore covered by the invention (not shown in the drawing).

According to 3 The connection point 16h of the wheel carrier 9 for the cross member 7 is designed as a plug-in sleeve 31 with a round cross-section and in one piece with the wheel carrier 7 based on the tubular cross section of the same. However, the invention is not limited to said tubular cross-section, but covers any suitable cross-section for the cross member 7, which can be inserted into a socket 31 of the wheel carrier 9 with the same shape (not shown in the drawing). The 5a-c , 6a-b , 7a-c and 8a-c now show six variants for fixing the cross member 7 of the rear axle 2 to the wheel carrier 9.

Variant 1 (Fig. 6a-c)

After that, the socket 31 formed has a draft 32 such that an inner cone running towards the wheel 3 is formed ( 6a ). A cone angle “α” of about 0.5° to about 10° is preferably selected. The associated free end of the cross member 7 has an outer contour which is complementary to the inner contour of the plug-in socket 31 and is therefore designed in accordance with the draft bevel 32 ( 6b ). The socket 31 and the free end of the cross member 7 are dimensioned such that by axial insertion ( 5c ) of the crossbeam 7 in said socket 31 a press fit is realized, which ensures an axially fixed and non-rotatable joint connection between the joining partners.

Variant 2 (Fig. 7a-b)

Variant 2 differs from variant 1 described above in that a press fit that is realized between socket 31 and cross member 7 is combined with an anti-twist device by means of a positive fit. In this respect, one or more recesses 33 are provided on the end face of the cross member 7, preferably distributed evenly over the circumference of the cross member 7 ( 7a ), each of which has a projection 34 ( 7b ) grip inside the receptacle 31. According to the 7a and 7b the joining partners are designed to complement each other with a cylindrical outer or inner contour. On the other hand, it can also prove to be advantageous and is therefore also covered by the invention, based on the variant according to FIG 1 form the joining partners with a complementary shape with a conical outer or inner contour (not shown in the drawing). This measure further improves the joining connection between the joining partners.

Variant 3 (Fig. 8a-c)

This joint connection between the socket 31 and the cross member 7 is characterized in that a circumferential groove 36 corresponding to the wall thickness of the cross member 7 is provided within the end wall 35 of the socket 31 formed by the wheel carrier 9 ( 8a ), into which the tubular cross member 7 is inserted axially. The crossbeam 7 also has one or more recesses 37, preferably distributed evenly over the circumference of the crossbeam 7 ( 8b ), into which in each case a fastening screw 39 penetrating the end wall 35 of the receptacle 31 axially through a respective bore 38 is/is screwed. The respective fastening screw 39 is designed with a self-tapping thread and designed in such a way that the core diameter of the fastening screw 39 fits into the associated recess 37, but the thread engages both in the material of the wheel carrier 9 and in the material of the cross member 7 ( 8c ). Furthermore, the recesses 37 and the thread are dimensioned such that when the fastening screws 39 are screwed in, the segments formed by the recesses 37 expand radially against the socket 31 of the wheel carrier 9 and thus increase the force and form fit. Here, too, the joining partners can, as in the present case, be designed with a cylindrical or complementary shape with a conical outer or inner contour (not shown in the drawing).

Variant 4 (Fig. 9a-c)

Based on variant 3, this variant of a joint connection between the piece sleeve 31 and the cross member 7 is characterized in that a circumferential groove 36 corresponding to the wall thickness of the cross member 7 is also provided within the end wall 35 of the socket 31 formed by the wheel carrier 9 ( 9a ), into which the cross member 7 is inserted axially ( 9b ). In contrast to variant 3, one or more bores 38, preferably arranged evenly distributed over the circumference of groove 36, are provided in end wall 35 of socket 31 formed by wheel carrier 9, which are designed in such a way that their diameter corresponds to the core diameter of a bore 38 passing through Fastening screw 39 correspond and essentially affect the circumferential groove 36 radially on the outside. If the fastening screw 39 is screwed into the bore 38, its thread engages both in the material of the wheel carrier 9 and in the material of the outer surface of the cross member 7 ( 9c ).

Variant 5 (Fig. 10)

This variant of a joint connection between the piece sleeve 31 and the cross member 7 is characterized in that a press fit (step 40) stepped radially inwards toward the wheel carrier 9 is provided with a cylindrical outer and inner contour of the joint partners. This joint connection can be used on its own or can be used in accordance with 10 based on 2 be combined with an anti-twist device by positive locking, in that recesses 33 are also provided here, distributed evenly over the circumference of the crossbeam 7, each of which grips within the socket 31 via a projection 34 (not shown in the drawing) formed in one piece with the socket 31.

Variant 6 (Fig. 11)

This variant of a joint connection between the sleeve piece 31 and the cross member 7 differs from the variant shown in FIG 10 in particular to the extent that a step 41 directed radially inward toward the wheel carrier 9 is provided in the outer contour of the cross member 7, which is arranged at an axial distance from a step 41a of the inner contour of the piece sleeve 31 directed radially inward toward the wheel carrier 9. As a result of this measure, an annular space 43 is formed between the outer contour of the cross member 7 and the inner contour of the socket 31, which is filled or can be filled with an adhesive 44, whereby in particular a bond between wheel carrier 9 and cross member 7 is effected. According to 6 can said material connection based on 2 be combined with an anti-twist device by positive locking, in that recesses 33 are also provided here, distributed evenly over the circumference of the crossbeam 7, each of which grips within the socket 31 via a projection 34 (not shown in the drawing) formed in one piece with the socket 31.

The invention was explained in more detail above on the basis of some preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it is not limited to this, but covers all of the configurations defined by the patent claims.

Thus, the above exemplary embodiments are based in particular on a vehicle axle 2 in the form of a rear axle. However, the invention also includes a front axle with a wheel carrier 9 which consists of a plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic and has an axle journal 8 made of metal for the rotatable mounting of a wheel 3 of the motor vehicle 1 . Such a vehicle axle 2 may also have one or more connection points 16 for selected add-on parts of the type described above, such as brake cover plate 12 and reinforcement plate 14, between which the wheel carrier 9 made of inexpensive lightweight material can advantageously be clamped, which in turn allows it to withstand increased forces ( not shown graphically).

Reference List

1

motor vehicle

2

Vehicle axle (example rear axle)

3

Wheels

4

vehicle body

5

driving direction

6

trailing arm

7

cross member

8th

stub axle

9

wheel carrier

10

support element

11

end sections

12

brake cover plate

13

disc brake device

13a

brake disc

13b

caliper

13c

caliper foot

14

reinforcement plate

14a

axial process

15

vibration damper

16

connection points

16a

Connection point (pivot 8)

16b

Connection point (brake cover plate 12)

16c

Connection point (brake cover plate 12)

16d

Connection point (brake cover plate 12)

16e

Connection point (brake caliper 13b)

16f

Connection point (brake caliper 13b)

16g

Connection point (vibration damper 15)

4 p.m

Connection point (cross member 7)

17

breakthrough

18

Material thickening (wheel side)

19

Material thickening (cross member side)

20

collar (pivot 8)

21

receiving sleeve

22

fastener

23

collar (brake cover plate 12)

24

Mother

25

Edge web (wheel carrier 9)

26

threaded sleeve

27

through hole

28

mounting screw

29

radial flange

30

wheel hub

31

receptacle

32

draft

33

recess (cross member 7)

34

Projection (socket 31)

35

Front wall (socket 31)

36

groove

37

recess

38

drilling

39

mounting screw

40

Step

41

Step

42

Step

43

annulus

44

adhesive

"a"

cone angle

Claims (8)

Vehicle axle (2) for a motor vehicle (1), with at least one wheel carrier (9) which is made of plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic and has a metal axle journal (8) for the rotatable mounting of a wheel (3) of the motor vehicle (1). , characterized in that the wheel carrier (9), in addition to the connection point (16a) provided for the axle journal (8), has one or more further connection points (16b-f, h) for a cross member (7) connecting two trailing arms (6), for a Brake caliper (13b) of a disc brake device (13), for a brake cover plate (12) arranged on the wheel carrier (9) on the wheel side for shielding the wheel carrier (9) from heat generated by the disc brake device (13) and for a reinforcement plate ( 14), wherein the brake cover plate (12) has a collar (23), by means of which the brake cover plate (12) is pressed onto a peripheral collar (20) of the axle journal (8) and axially onto the wheel-side material thickenings (18) of the wheel carrier (9) is supported, and wherein the reinforcement plate (14) is supported on an edge web (25) of the wheel carrier (9) and on material thickenings (19) of the wheel carrier (9) on the cross carrier side, or the reinforcement plate (14) has an axial extension (14a) which is on the cross carrier side is inserted or pressed into an opening (17) in the wheel carrier (9). Vehicle axle (2) after claim 1 , characterized in that the fastening of the metal axle journal (8) in the area of a connection point (16a) of the wheel carrier (9) is effected in such a way that the axle journal (8) is either pressed into the opening (17) of the wheel carrier (9) or is cast into the wheel carrier (9) from plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic using a plastic casting process during manufacture. Vehicle axle (2) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that at least one of the connection points (16b-f) is formed by a receiving sleeve (21) in the form of a push-through or threaded sleeve made of metal for receiving a mechanical fastening element (22), which is either inserted into a prepared opening in the wheel carrier (9th ) is pressed in or cast into it during the manufacture of the wheel carrier (9) from plastic using a plastic casting process. Vehicle axle (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that at least some of the connection points (16b-f) of the wheel carrier (9) are arranged coaxially opposite one another. Vehicle axle (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the brake cover plate (12) spaced axially from the wheel carrier (9) is attached to the same. Vehicle axle (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the connection point (16h) of the wheel carrier (9) for the cross member (7) is formed by a socket (31 ) is formed for receiving a free end of the cross member (7). Vehicle axle (2) after claim 6 , characterized in that the cross member (7) within the socket (31) is non-positively, positively and / or firmly fixed. Motor vehicle (1) with a vehicle axle (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 .

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