DE102015226589A1 - suspension structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheel suspension arrangement (1) for a wheel (2) of a vehicle comprises a wheel carrier (3), a transverse link (4) which is pivotally connected to the wheel carrier (3), an arcuate guide track (5) with which the transverse link (4 ) and which has at least one body connection point (6), and a wheel drive shaft. The wheel suspension assembly (1) comprises an electric machine (7) for driving the wheel (2), the electric machine (7) having an output connected to the wheel drive shaft. The electric machine (7) is mounted on the body side.

Description

The present invention relates to a wheel suspension arrangement for a wheel of a vehicle with the above-mentioned features according to claim 1.

In conventional front axles, for example in double wishbone design or McPherson design, the wheels of the front axle are guided by means of the control arms. The lower arm are based on the body and transmit the occurring during a driving operation of the vehicle longitudinal and lateral forces. When steering the vehicle in a curve creates a steering angle. This is limited due to the construction of the axle assembly to a certain maximum angle, common, for example, 50 °.

From the not yet published German application 102014225599.6 a wishbone arrangement is known, by means of which a steering angle of at least 90 ° can be adjusted on a wheel which is connected to the wishbone arrangement. Here, a control arm is slidably mounted on a circular arc-shaped guideway and can be pivoted about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the plane which is spanned by the guideway.

The present invention is based on the prior art, the object to propose a suspension arrangement, which allows a wheel that is connected to this suspension arrangement to drive individually and to realize a steering angle of at least +/- 90 ° on the wheel. These steering angles are to be achieved without a collision of the wheels, d. H. The tire including the rims, to cause with the wishbone, so that maneuverability of the vehicle is significantly increased.

The present invention proposes, starting from the above object, a wheel suspension assembly for a wheel of a vehicle with the features of claim 1 before. Further advantageous embodiments and developments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

A wheel suspension assembly for a wheel of a vehicle includes a wheel carrier, a control arm pivotally connected to the wheel carrier, an arcuate track to which the control arm is movably connected and which has at least one body joint, and a wheel drive shaft. The wheel suspension assembly includes an electric machine for driving the wheel, the electric machine having an output connected to the wheel drive shaft and the electric machine supported on the body side. The vehicle is preferably a passenger car, but may alternatively be another land vehicle, e.g. As a truck, or commercial vehicles.

The wheel carrier has a body-side end and a roadside end. The body-side end of the wheel carrier faces the vehicle body when the suspension structure is used in a vehicle, and may be connected to, for example, suspension and tethered to a vehicle body. The roadside end of the wheel carrier is the body-side end opposite end of the wheel carrier. The road-side end faces a roadway when the suspension structure is used in a vehicle. The wheel also has a material-free implementation through which z. B. a drive shaft for the wheel can be performed.

The wishbone is hinged to the wheel carrier. The joint is connected to the roadside end of the wheel carrier with the wheel and on one of the guideway facing side of the control arm with the wishbone. The joint may be, for example, a swivel, a ball joint, a ball head, or a sliding bearing. The wishbone is preferably formed in the manner of an unresolved triangular wishbone and has, for example, two wishbone struts. The wishbone has on its side facing the guideway and thus the side facing away from the wheel at least one bearing, which allows the wishbone to move along the guideway. This at least one bearing may for example be a sliding bearing, a roller bearing or a ball bearing. Preferably, each wishbone strut has such a bearing at its guide rail end.

The guideway is arcuate, preferably in the form of a circle segment, configured. The length of the guideway depends on the steering angle, which is to be adjustable at most on the wheel which is connected to the wheel carrier when using the suspension arrangement in a vehicle. If the guideway is made longer, the wishbone along the guideway on to avoid further than a short guideway. The guideway preferably has a circular cross section, but may alternatively have an elliptical, polygonal, rectangular or other suitable cross section. In addition, the guideway has at least one body connection point. By means of this body connection point, the guideway can be mounted on a vehicle body when the suspension arrangement in a vehicle is used. Thus, the wishbone can be stored on the track on the body.

The suspension arrangement comprises the wheel drive shaft. This wheel drive shaft is for driving a wheel of a vehicle when the suspension structure is used in the vehicle. To connect to the wheel, which is connected to the wheel suspension assembly in a vehicle when using the suspension arrangement, a large steering angle, for. B. 90 ° adjust, deviates the wishbone along the guideway. The wishbone slides so the guideway to the required position along. That is, the greater the steering angle that is set on the wheel, the farther the wishbone moves away from its home position, which may correspond to a grade ride and a design attitude, as well as the realization of small steering angles. The wishbone can thus dodge continuously. In its initial position, the transverse link is preferably arranged centrally on the guide track.

The suspension assembly includes the electric machine for driving the wheel, the electric machine having an output connected to the wheel drive shaft. The electrical machine can be designed either as an internal rotor or as an external rotor. Preferably, the electric machine is operated as an electric motor, but can be operated for recuperation purposes as a generator. When the suspension assembly is used in a vehicle, the electric machine may directly drive the wheel connected to the suspension assembly via its output connected to the wheel drive shaft. The electric machine is therefore arranged with a small distance to the wheel carrier and thus to the wheel, when using the suspension arrangement in a vehicle, but not close to the wheel. A Radnahe arrangement means that the electric machine z. B. is arranged in the wheel hub or directly on the wheel carrier. The connection between the output of the electric machine and the wheel drive shaft can be either direct, d. H. take place without intermediate elements, or take place via one or more intermediate elements. The intermediate elements are on the one hand operatively connected to the output of the electric machine and on the other hand with the wheel drive shaft. Intermediate elements may be, for example, further shafts, side shafts, a gear stage, a gear precursor or a clutch.

The electric machine is mounted on the body side. That is, the electric machine can be connected to the body of the vehicle by means of a bearing when the suspension structure is used in a vehicle. The electric machine is also arranged such that, if on the wheel a large steering angle, z. B. 90 °, is not blocked the wheel or prevents adjustment of this steering angle. In other words, the electric machine does not get in the way of the wheel. By the body-side mounting of the electric machine, the unsprung mass is reduced compared to an unsprung mass in a near-wheel arrangement of the electric machine. Thus, a steering angle of at least +/- 90 ° may be adjusted on the wheel connected to the suspension assembly when using the suspension assembly in a vehicle, and the wheel may be driven individually and directly.

In one embodiment, the electric machine is pivotable along a pivot track. In this case, in the geometric sense, the swivel path is the path along which the swiveling movements of the electric machine are carried out. The swivel path is a geometric axis, which may correspond in shape to the arc of the arcuate guideway. The swivel path is perpendicular to a pivot axis about which the pivoting movement takes place. The pivot axis preferably runs longitudinally through the wheel carrier and the joint connected to the wheel carrier, by means of which the wishbone is connected to the wheel carrier. The electric machine preferably executes the same pivotal movement that executes the wishbone along the guideway. This means that the electric machine is moved from its initial position by the same circular segment as the wishbone from its initial position. The starting position of the electric machine is preferably centered on the pivot track. Alternatively, the electric machine can perform a smaller or larger pivotal movement than the wishbone.

By pivoting the electric machine along the pivot axis to realize a steering angle on the wheel connected to the suspension assembly when using the suspension assembly in a vehicle, there is a deflection angle between the wheel drive shaft and either the associated output of the electric machine or the associated intermediate element. This bending angle is lower than in a near-wheel arrangement of the electric machine.

According to a further embodiment, the electric machine is mounted on the transverse link. The electric machine is connected to the wishbone, z. B. arranged on this. The electric machine and the control arm are hereby two different components. By storing the electrical machine to the wishbone lead the electric machine and the wishbone same pivoting movements through. The electric machine thus slides along with the control arm along the guideway. The pivoting path of the electric machine corresponds to the guideway along which the control arm moves. When using the suspension assembly in a vehicle on the wheel which is connected to the suspension arrangement, a steering angle is set, which makes it necessary to avoid the deflection of the control arm, deviates the wishbone together with the electric machine from the wheel, so that the wheel with the wishbone and / or the electric machine collided. As a result, the deflection angle remains within a permissible range.

According to a further embodiment, the electric machine is integrated in the control arm. The electric machine is arranged within the wishbone and mounted on this. The wishbone and the electric machine can form an entire component. For example, the electric machine between the two wishbone struts of the formed as a wishbone control arm can be arranged in the same plane as the wishbone struts themselves. By integrating the electric machine in the wishbone space can be saved. In addition, the electrical machine performs the same pivoting movements through this integration as the wishbone. The electric machine and the control arm are mounted together on the body side and can move along the guideway. The swivel path in this case corresponds to the guideway along which the control arm moves.

According to a further embodiment, the electric machine is movably mounted on a further arcuate guide track, which is arranged parallel to the arcuate guide track. This further guideway may be uniformly shaped to the guideway. Alternatively, the further arcuate guideway may have a longer or a shorter arc than the arcuate guideway. Additionally or alternatively, the further arcuate guideway may have a smaller or a larger radius than the arcuate guideway. The further guide track is arranged at a distance from the guide track. Preferably, the further guide track is arranged offset in the direction of the body-side end of the wheel carrier to the guide track. The electric machine is preferably arranged centrally in the starting position on the further guideway, but may alternatively be arranged outside the center on the further guideway.

The electric machine is connected by means of at least one bearing movable with the other arcuate guideway. This camp can z. B. be formed as a plain bearing, a roller bearing or a ball bearing. The further guideway has at least one body connection point, by means of which the further guideway can be connected in the use of the suspension arrangement in a vehicle with a vehicle body. Thus, the electric machine is mounted on the body side via the further guide track. Is set to the wheel, which is connected to the use of the suspension arrangement in a vehicle with the suspension arrangement, a steering angle that makes it necessary to avoid the deflection of the control arm along the track, z. B. 90 °, the electric machine deviates along the pivot path, which corresponds to the arc of the other guideway, and slides along the other guideway. On the electric machine, starting from its initial position, an angle can be set, which is due to the avoidance. For example, this angle may be uniform to an angle set on the control arm compared to the starting position of the control arm. Of course, these angles can also be different from each other. By storing the electric machine on the other guideway unsprung masses are lower than in a near-wheel arrangement of the electric machine.

According to a further embodiment, the wheel suspension arrangement has a gear stage and the electric machine is connected by means of its output to the gear stage, wherein the gear stage is connected to the wheel drive shaft. The gear stage may be formed as a planetary gear, a spur gear, bevel gear, or other suitable gear shape. The output of the electric machine is connected to the gear stage, so that a torque can be introduced directly into the gear stage. After translation by the gear, this is forwarded to the wheel drive shaft, which is connected to the transmission stage via the transmission output. The gear stage is thus an intermediate element between the output of the electric machine and the wheel drive shaft. Of course, the output of the electric machine by means of a shaft, the z. B. is a side shaft, are connected to the gear stage and / or the gear stage by means of an additional shaft with the wheel drive shaft.

According to a further embodiment, the gear stage is mounted on the wheel carrier side. This means that the electric machine and the gear stage are separated from each other. The gear stage is mounted on the wheel carrier side of the wheel and therefore arranged close to the wheel. The electric machine is mounted on the body side. As a result, the unsprung masses of the suspension arrangement are lower than in a close-coupled arrangement of the electric machine and the gear stage.

According to a further embodiment, the output of the electric machine is connected to a gear precursor, which is mounted on the body side, wherein the gear precursor is connected to the gear stage by means of an intermediate shaft. The gear stage is also stored wheel carrier side and arranged close to the wheel. The gear precursor is mounted on the body side and connected directly to the output of the electric machine. The gear precursor may be formed as a planetary gear, as a spur gear, bevel gear, or other suitable gear shape. The transmission precursor is connected to the gear stage by means of an intermediate shaft. This intermediate shaft is preferably a side shaft. The gear precursor is connected, for example, via the guideway or via the further guideway to a vehicle body when the wheel suspension assembly is used in a vehicle. As a result, the unsprung mass of the suspension assembly, as opposed to a complete wheel carrier bearing the gear stage and the gear precursor is slightly increased, but occur in the intermediate shaft lower moments than in the shaft connecting the output of the electric machine with the gear stage.

According to a further embodiment, the output of the electric machine and / or the output of the gear stage is arranged in the same plane as the wheel drive shaft. For example, the transmission output is disposed in a structural position in the same vertical plane or in nearly the same vertical plane as the wheel drive shaft. Alternatively or additionally, the output of the electric machine is disposed in a structural position in the same vertical plane or in nearly the same vertical plane as the wheel drive shaft. When the suspension assembly engages or disengages when used in a vehicle, the angles of deflection caused by the springs of the wheel carrier to the vehicle body remain in an acceptable range.

A vehicle with a wheel-individual drive has at least one wheel suspension arrangement which has already been described in the previous description, wherein the at least one wheel suspension arrangement is connected by means of its wheel drive shaft to the driven wheel of the vehicle. Of course, each wheel of the vehicle may have such a suspension arrangement. For example, only the wheels of a driven axle of the vehicle may have such suspension arrangements.

With reference to the figures explained below, embodiments and details of the invention are described in more detail. Show it:

1 a schematic overview of a suspension arrangement in a straight-ahead position according to an embodiment,

2 a schematic overview of the suspension arrangement according to the embodiment of 1 with a steering angle of 90 °.

1 shows a schematic overview of a suspension arrangement 1 in a straight-ahead position according to an embodiment. The suspension assembly 1 has a wheel carrier 3 , a wishbone 4 , an arcuate guideway 5 , an electric machine 7 , a wheel drive shaft, which can not be seen here, and a shaft 11 on. There is also a bike 2 with a rim 8th shown, which with the wheel carrier 3 and the unrecognizable wheel drive shaft is connected. The wheel carrier 3 has a body-side end 16 , an end opposite this end, on which a hinge 13 is arranged, and an implementation 15 on. The implementation 15 Here is a material-free area of the wheel carrier 3 , The body-side end 16 limits the wheel carrier 3 to a first page. Will the suspension assembly 1 used in a vehicle, for example, at the body-side end 16 of the wheel carrier 3 a suspension arranged and with the wheel carrier 3 be operatively connected, the wheel carrier 3 about its body-side end 16 can be connected to a vehicle body. At its body-side end 16 opposite end, the wheel carrier 3 the hinge 13 on, with the wheel carrier 3 is actively connected. The swivel joint 13 may be formed, for example, as a ball head. The swivel joint 13 defines a pivot axis 12 to which the wishbone 4 can be swiveled. Around this pivot axis 12 can thus the wheel carrier 3 and the associated bike 2 be panned.

The wishbone 4 is formed in the manner of a triangle wishbone. The wishbone 4 is by means of the swivel joint 13 with the wheel carrier 3 operatively connected. Therefore, the wishbone points 4 a Radträgerseitiges end and a body-side end on. The wheel carrier end of the wishbone 4 is defined by the hinge 13 , The body-side end of the wishbone 4 is defined by two plain bearings 14 , These two plain bearings 14 are uniform and limit the wishbone 4 , By means of these plain bearings 14 is the wishbone 4 with the arcuate guideway 5 operatively connected. By means of these plain bearings 14 can the wishbone 4 along this arcuate guideway 5 slide. This means that the wishbone 4 from its initial position shown here, both a movement about the pivot axis 12 to the right and to the left.

The guideway 5 is formed arcuate. This arc shape corresponds to a circular arc, wherein the center of the arc is defined by the pivot axis 12 , The guideway 5 has two body joints 6 on which the guideway 5 limit to a first and to a second side. When using the suspension assembly 1 in a vehicle, the guideway 5 by means of their body joints 6 be connected to a vehicle body. Thus, both the guideway 5 as well as the associated with her wishbone 4 stored on a vehicle body.

The electric machine 7 is with the wishbone 4 connected and arranged on this. The electric machine 7 can thus along the guideway 5 together with the wishbone 4 slide. The electric machine 7 thus performs a movement along a swivel path 9 passing through the curved shape of the guideway 5 is fixed. Due to the connection between the electric machine 7 and the wishbone 4 is both the electric machine 7 , as well as the wishbone 4 , mounted on the body side. Furthermore, the electric machine 7 arranged such that its output, which is not visible here, with the shaft 11 is connected, the output of the electric machine 7 and the wave 11 lie in one plane and in the straight ahead position shown here and starting position on a Raddrehachse 10 are arranged. The wave 11 this is a side wave. The wave 11 is arranged so that they are in the implementation 15 of the wheel carrier 3 ends and there with the wheel drive shaft, which is not visible here, is connected. The wave 11 transmits the torque generated by the electric machine 7 is provided by the output of the electric machine 7 on the wheel drive shaft. Thus, the wheel 2 be driven individually.

In the straight-ahead position shown here, no steering angle is set on the wheel. The wishbone 4 is in its starting position in the middle of the guideway 5 , The electric machine 7 is due to its connection to the wishbone 4 also in its starting position in the middle of the guideway 5 , This starting position retains the wishbone 4 and the electric machine 7 as long as, until an evasion of the wishbone 4 and the electric machine 7 along the guideway 5 or along the swivel path 9 is necessary. This is the case when on the wheel 2 a steering angle with a certain size should be set, for example 90 °. For small steering angles up to, for example, 45 ° is a deflection of the wishbone 4 and the electric machine 7 along the guideway 5 or the swivel path 9 not yet necessary.

2 shows a schematic overview of the suspension arrangement 1 according to the embodiment 1 with a steering angle of 90 °. Shown is the same suspension arrangement 1 as in 1 , Compared to 1 rejects the wheel 2 a steering angle of 90 °. To the steering angle of 90 ° on the wheel 2 to realize is the wishbone 4 together with the electric machine 7 along the guideway 5 or the swivel path 9 dodged. By means of its plain bearings 14 is the wishbone 4 along the guideway 5 in the direction of the body joint 6 dodged the wheel turning direction of the wheel 2 is opposite. The wheel 2 has a pivoting movement about the pivot axis 12 carried out. In contrast to 1 is the wave 11 no longer on the axis of rotation 10 arranged of the wheel. Despite leaving the starting position by the wishbone 4 and the electric machine 7 is a wheel-individual drive of the wheels 2 nevertheless possible. By the body-side storage of the electric machine 7 are the unsprung masses of the suspension assembly 1 less than in a near-wheel arrangement of the electrical machine 7 , In addition, an occurrence of the bending angles by the arrangement of the shaft 11 in the same vertical plane as the wheel drive axle (not shown) at the acceptable range as opposed to a different type of arrangement. In addition, the deflection angle of the shaft remain 11 in an acceptable range because the electric machine 7 on the wishbone 4 arranged and connected to this.

The examples shown here are only examples. For example, the electric machine can be integrated in the control arm. For example, it may be located between the two wishbone struts within the wishbone. In addition, the electric machine can slide along its own further arcuate guide track and be mounted by means of this body side. Furthermore, the suspension arrangement may have a gear stage, which is connected to the output of the electric machine, but which is mounted separately from the electric machine and wheel carrier side. Furthermore, the guideway or the further guideway can be shaped differently than shown here. For example, the circle segment may be larger or smaller than shown here. In addition, the other guideway different from the guideway be configured and cover, for example, a larger or smaller circle segment with a larger or smaller radius. The further guide track may be arranged at a distance from the guide track. In addition, the wishbone may be formed in a different manner than shown here, for example, have only one bearing for connection to the guideway. Furthermore, the guideway may have only one body joint or multiple body joints.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

suspension structure

2

wheel

3

wheel carrier

4

wishbone

5

guideway

6

Body junction

7

electric machine

8th

rim

9

pivot path

10

axis of rotation

11

wave

12

swivel axis

13

swivel

14

bearings

15

execution

16

body-side end

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102014225599 [0003]

Claims (10)

Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) for a wheel ( 2 ) of a vehicle comprising a wheel carrier ( 3 ), a wishbone ( 4 ), which articulates with the wheel carrier ( 3 ), an arcuate guideway ( 5 ), with which the wishbone ( 4 ) is movably connected and which at least one body joint ( 6 ), and a wheel drive shaft, characterized in that the wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) an electric machine ( 7 ) to drive the wheel ( 2 ), wherein the electric machine ( 7 ) has an output connected to the wheel drive shaft, and wherein the electric machine ( 7 ) is mounted on the body side. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric machine ( 7 ) along a pivot track ( 9 ) is pivotable. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric machine ( 7 ) on the wishbone ( 4 ) is stored. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the electric machine ( 7 ) in the wishbone ( 4 ) is integrated. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the electric machine ( 7 ) at a further arcuate guideway, which parallel to the arcuate guideway ( 5 ) is arranged, is movably mounted. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) has a gear stage and the electric machine ( 7 ) is connected by means of its output to the gear stage, wherein the gear stage is connected to the wheel drive shaft. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) According to claim 6, characterized in that the gear stage is mounted wheel carrier. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the output of the electric machine ( 7 ) is connected to a transmission precursor, which is mounted on the body side, wherein the transmission precursor is connected to the gear stage by means of an intermediate shaft. Wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of the electric machine ( 7 ) and / or the output of the gear stage is arranged in the same plane as the wheel drive shaft. Vehicle with a wheel-individual drive, characterized in that the vehicle has at least one wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one wheel suspension arrangement ( 1 ) is connected by means of its wheel drive shaft to the driven wheel of the vehicle.

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