DE102018214173A1 - Bellows for an auxiliary or foreign power steering system in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an improved bellows or an improved steering, which has an increased robustness against environmental influences. It is essential for the invention that at least two different types of materials are used (separation of functions), the first type of material being primarily intended to provide a barrier against moisture, steam, gas, water (protection against corrosion) and the second type of material is primarily intended to absorb mechanical energy (impact energy of foreign bodies) that can act on the system and thus on the material from the environment, as well as to create a mechanical barrier against biting, stabbing, cutting, etc. and a mechanical tearing submissions.

Description

State of the art

Bellows for auxiliary or foreign power steering are intended to prevent the ingress of foreign substances (liquid and solid substances) into the interior of a steering gear housing.

Bellows made of a flexible, elastic rubber material are known from the prior art.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an improved bellows or an improved steering available, which has an increased robustness / resistance to environmental influences. In particular, this is intended to be used for autonomous driving.

It is essential for the invention that at least two different types of materials are used (separation of functions), the first type of material being mainly intended to provide a barrier to moisture, steam, gas, water (protection against corrosion) and the second type of material is mainly intended to absorb mechanical energy (impact energy of foreign bodies) that can act on the system and thus on the material from the environment, as well as to create a mechanical barrier against biting, stinging, cutting, etc .. and a mechanical barrier Prevent tearing.

• - Ein zäh-elastisch verformbarer Kunststoff, Polymer-Blends, Copolymere, Elastomere wie z.B. Gummi (NR, HNBR), Kautschuk, thermoplastische Elastomere (TPE's), Polyurethane, usw...

The "Material Type 1" comes from the group:

• - A tough-elastically deformable plastic, polymer blends, copolymers, elastomers such as rubber (NR, HNBR), rubber, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE's), polyurethanes, etc ...

• - Faser-Textilien, organisch und anorganisch
• - Polyamide (PA), insbesondere aromatische Polyamide (= Aramide) („Kevlar“ oder ähnlichen Materialen), bevorzugt in „Faser+Matrix“-/ Textil-Bauweiseumgesetzt, sowie auch ultra-hochmolekulare Polyethylenfasern (PE-UHMW)
• - Metall-Fasern, Metallgestricke, Metallgewebe (Stahl o. ähnlichen Materialien)
• - Weitere, aus dem Stand der Technik für diesen Anwendungsfall geeignete Faser+Matrix und Garn-basierte Verbundwerkstoffe.

The "Material Type 2" comes from the group:

• - fiber textiles, organic and inorganic
• - Polyamides (PA), in particular aromatic polyamides (= aramids) ("Kevlar" or similar materials), preferably in "fiber + matrix" - / textile construction implemented, as well as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers (PE-UHMW)
• - metal fibers, metal knits, metal fabrics (steel or similar materials)
• Other fiber + matrix and yarn-based composites suitable for this application from the state of the art.

Furthermore, both types of material can be impregnated with foaming agents (denaturants) in order to further protect the system bellows against animal biting.

• - 1-teiliges Faser-Kunststoff-Verbund- Bauteil (mindestens ein „2K“-Bauteil) ausgeführt sein, („Faser + Matrix“), oder
• - mehrteilig, aus mindestens 2 separaten Materialien wobei dem ersten und zweiten überwiegend einer der beiden zueinander komplementären Eigenschaften/Funktionen nach Typ-1 und Typ-2 zugeordnet werden kann, (Enden der Materialen sind miteinander physikalisch/chemisch verbunden, verschweißt oder verklebt) oder
• - in „2K-Sandwich“-Bauart, Schichtbauweise, mit mindestens 2 Lagen/Schichten aus Material-Typ-1 als 1. Schicht und mindesten Material-Typ-2 als 2. Schicht. Die Schichten sind dabei miteinander physikalisch/chemisch verbunden (verschweißt oder verklebt oder geeignetes Verfahren).

The bellows can as

• - 1-piece fiber-plastic composite component (at least one "2K" component) be executed, ("fiber + matrix"), or
• - In several parts, from at least 2 separate materials wherein the first and second predominantly one of the two mutually complementary properties / functions according to type 1 and type 2 can be assigned, (ends of the materials are physically / chemically bonded to each other, welded or glued) or
• - in "2-component sandwich" construction, with at least 2 layers / layers of material type 1 as 1st layer and at least material type 2 as 2nd layer. The layers are physically / chemically bonded together (welded or glued or suitable method).

Other use cases

All similar applications in the field of steering technology in vehicle, rail, ship and aircraft construction and plant and process engineering.

Various embodiments will be described with reference to the figures.

1 shows a bellows 5 with an inside coat 6 and an outer coat 7 , The two mantles are arranged one above the other according to the "matroschka" principle. The inside coat 6 consists of the material type 1 to create a waterproof barrier and serves to protect against corrosion. The outer coat 7 consists of material type 2 to create a mechanical barrier against biting, stabbing, cutting, impact, etc. Between the two coats is a gas space filled with air.

The bellows 5 is with mounting clamps 4 on the housing 1 and at the tie rod 3 attached. The tie rod 3 is with the rack 2 connected.

2 shows a bellows 5 , where the one-piece coat 8th is made of a 2K mixed material, which exhibits the essential characteristics of the type 2 Material and the type 1 Has material.

3 shows a bellows 5 , which consists of a layer composite (sandwich) of at least two layers 9 . 10 is constructed. Preferably, the outer jacket is made 9 from the material type 1 and the inner coat 10 from the material type 2 , But it is also possible that the outer jacket 9 from the material type 1 and the inner coat 10 from the material type 2 consists. It can be provided additional layers / layers, which have different properties in terms of strength, elasticity or force orientation.

Claims (4)

A bellows (5) for a motor vehicle steering system, characterized in that the bellows (5) is constructed of at least two different types of material, wherein a first type of material provides a barrier to moisture, steam, gas, water to protect against corrosion, and wherein a second type of material provides a mechanical barrier against external influences. Bellows (5) for a motor vehicle steering to Claim 1 , characterized in that the bellows (5) of an inner jacket (6) and an outer jacket (7) is constructed, each jacket (6, 7) consists of a different type of material. Bellows (5) for a motor vehicle steering to Claim 1 , characterized in that bellows (5) is designed as a one-piece jacket (8) which consists of a 2K mixed material, wherein the 2K mixed material is made of two different types of material. Bellows (5) for a motor vehicle steering to Claim 1 , characterized in that bellows (5) of a layer composite with at least two layers (9, 10), wherein each layer (9,10) consists of a different type of material.

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