DE102019119719A1 - Steering head bearing arrangement for mounting a wheel module - Google Patents

Abstract

A steering head bearing arrangement for mounting a wheel module (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering rod (14) connectable to a steering actuator (12) and a fork leg (20); a bearing flange (40) which can be connected directly or indirectly to a support frame (18) of the motor vehicle for the passage of the handlebar (14); a first roller bearing (42) arranged in the bearing flange (40) for mounting the handlebar (14) in the bearing flange (40); a second roller bearing (44) arranged in the bearing flange (40) for mounting the handlebar (14) in the bearing flange (40); and at least one measuring device arranged on the first roller bearing and / or on the second roller bearing for measuring the bearing forces occurring on the first roller bearing (42) and / or on the second roller bearing (44).

Description

The present invention relates to a steering head bearing arrangement for mounting a wheel module of a vehicle and to a vehicle comprising a wheel module with such a steering head bearing arrangement.

Steering head bearing arrangements with the aid of which a steering rod of a wheel module can be rotatably mounted for a vehicle are known in principle in the prior art. For example, describes the CN 206679065 U a vehicle with a wheel module that allows the wheels to rotate at 90 °.

It has been found that there is a further need to improve the steering head bearing arrangements, particularly in the case of wheel modules which are intended to provide a large angle of rotation of the wheels.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to specify an improved steering head bearing arrangement for mounting a wheel module. These and other objects, which are still mentioned on reading the following description or can be recognized by the person skilled in the art, are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the central concept of the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

A steering head bearing arrangement according to the invention for mounting a wheel module for a motor vehicle comprises: a steering rod which can be connected to a steering actuator and a fork leg; a bearing flange that can be connected directly or indirectly to a support frame of the motor vehicle for the passage of the handlebar; a first roller bearing arranged in the bearing flange for mounting the handlebar in the bearing flange; a second roller bearing arranged in the bearing flange for mounting the handlebar in the bearing flange; and at least one measuring device arranged on the first roller bearing and / or on the second roller bearing for measuring the bearing forces occurring on the first roller bearing and / or on the second roller bearing.

In other words, the present invention proposes to detect the bearing forces that occur in one or both rolling bearings, so that the bearing forces that occur or the bearing loads are available as possible control and regulation variables. For example, this makes it possible to record the occurring bearing loads in a memory unit and to read them from this so that, for example, the service intervals of the vehicle or the steering head bearing arrangement can be optimized in the light of the bearing load. In this context, there is also the possibility of being able to detect possible bearing damage at an early stage, so that a total failure of the steering head bearing arrangement during driving can be prevented as far as possible. In addition, the load on the chassis of the vehicle can be derived from the recorded bearing load. These characteristic values can be used, for example, in a control and regulating device of the vehicle in order to further increase driving comfort, for example by adapting corresponding manipulated variables on the vehicle / chassis as part of the driving dynamics control. In addition, the bearing forces that occur allow conclusions to be drawn about the condition of the road. This road condition information can be recorded centrally, for example, by means of a communication interface, for example a mobile communication interface or a cloud interface. It is also possible to transmit this information to other vehicles so that, for example, a bad or dangerous road condition can be pointed out or a control and regulating device of another vehicle can adjust damping and / or other manipulated variables, for example.

The steering head bearing arrangement preferably also comprises a retaining ring screwed onto the steering rod for bracing the second roller bearing against the first roller bearing. With the retaining ring screwed onto the handlebar, the second roller bearing can be pressed towards the first roller bearing, whereby the roller bearings form a recessed bearing in which the roller bearings are braced against one another without axial play. For this purpose, for example, the first roller bearing can be supported with an outer bearing ring radially on the outside on a shoulder of the bearing flange, while an inner bearing ring of the first roller bearing can be supported on a shoulder of the handlebar inserted into the bearing flange. An outer bearing ring of the second roller bearing can be supported radially on the outside on a shoulder that is spaced far enough apart in the axial direction from the first roller bearing. The retaining ring screwed on, in particular in the manner of a shaft nut, can, after a certain screw length, abut an inner bearing ring of the second roller bearing and take the inner bearing ring of the second roller bearing with it when it is screwed on further. Axial play between the roller bearings can thereby be eliminated. Here, the handlebar, in particular against gravity, can be pulled by the retaining ring in the direction of the bearing flange, whereby the first roller bearing can be clamped between the handlebar and the bearing flange without play. The bearing flange is particularly preferably designed with the support frame, in particular a longitudinal beam and / or a cross member of the support frame, to be attached. As a result, the bearing flange can easily have an axial extension which corresponds to the thickness of the support frame or exceeds the thickness of the support frame, in particular in the vertical direction. This axial extension of the bearing flange enables a comparatively large axial distance between the roller bearings. The large axial distance between the roller bearings minimizes tilting of the steering rod in the bearing flange, for example due to radial play. For this purpose, the roller bearings are designed in particular as angular contact ball bearings, tapered roller bearings or conical needle bearings. By bracing the roller bearings, which are clearly spaced apart from one another, with the help of the screwed-on retaining ring, radial and axial play of the steering rod in the bearing flange can be largely eliminated, which means that high-wear peak stresses can be avoided and a robust mounting of a steering rod of a motor vehicle is made possible.

In particular, a rotation angle sensor for detecting a rotation angle of the handlebar is arranged on a rear side of the retaining ring facing away from the roller bearings. After the screwed-on retaining ring has eliminated axial play in the rolling bearings, a shaft end of the handlebar protruding from the retaining ring remains. The axial extension of the shaft end of the handlebar is selected to be long enough to allow the retaining ring to be screwed on and preferably to be able to bring about a connection, in particular a form-fitting, with a steering actuator. This free axial stretch of the shaft end of the handlebar can be used to provide the rotation angle sensor. The angle of rotation sensor can be provided in an axial region of the handlebar, which is present anyway and in which sufficient installation space is reserved in the radial direction for the angle of rotation sensor. The angle of rotation sensor can thus be installed essentially in a space-neutral manner. The rotation angle sensor can in particular optically detect a rotation angle position of the rotatable handlebar relative to the stationary bearing flange. The angle assumed by the wheel of the wheel module relative to a straight-ahead position essentially corresponds to the rotational angle position of the handlebar and / or can be determined from the rotational angle position of the handlebar. This makes it easy to control a desired steering position of the wheel via the handlebar.

The rotation angle sensor preferably has a scanning direction aligned in the axial direction of the handlebar. The angle of rotation sensor therefore does not need to be aligned in the radial direction in order to optically scan a lateral surface of the handlebar. Scanning errors of the rotation angle sensor due to an external thread for the retaining ring formed on the lateral surface of the handlebar can thereby be avoided. Instead, the angle of rotation sensor can scan a component protruding radially from the handlebar.

The angle of rotation sensor is particularly preferably connected to the bearing flange, the angle of rotation sensor optically scanning the rear of the retaining ring. This makes use of the knowledge that the retaining ring is screwed non-rotatably onto the handlebar after the roller bearings are braced, so that the angular position of the retaining ring relative to the bearing flange corresponds to the angular position of the steering rod relative to the bearing flange. In addition, the back of the retaining ring is not required for bracing the roller bearings, so that it is possible without any problems to attach optical markings to the back of the retaining ring, which can be recognized by the scanning direction of the rotation angle sensor. The retaining ring can thereby simultaneously also fulfill a function in the measurement of the angle of rotation. A separate sensor disk can be saved, whereby manufacturing costs and installation space can be saved.

The handlebar is preferably oriented essentially vertically, with a steering head angle α of a steering axis of the handlebar to a horizontal surface 70 ° α 95 °, in particular 75 ° α 93 °, preferably 80 ° α 90 ° and particularly preferred 85 ° ≤ α ≤ 88 °. Due to the particularly steep alignment of the steering axis, particularly large steering angles can easily be achieved. This enables particularly tight curves to be driven. It is even easily possible to drive the motor vehicle not only essentially in the longitudinal direction, but even in the transverse direction. This makes it possible to park in a particularly narrow parking space without a maneuvering distance in the longitudinal direction.

The measuring device advantageously comprises at least one inductive or capacitive sensor element, set up to measure a distance between an outer bearing ring and an inner bearing ring of the first roller bearing or of the second roller bearing. In this context, it is preferred that the inductive or capacitive sensor element is arranged on the bearing outer ring or on the bearing inner ring. An inductive or capacitive sensor element can be provided on an outer bearing ring or on an inner bearing ring on one or both rolling bearings, for example on an outer edge or in a recess / bore. In an alternative embodiment, an inductive or capacitive sensor element can also be an integral part of one of the bearing rings. In this context, it is only important that the distance between the bearing outer ring and the bearing inner ring can be detected by the inductive or capacitive sensor element. so that conclusions can be drawn about the bearing forces. In the inductive measurement, a material can also be applied to the moving parts that changes the magnetic induction of the inductive sensor element, or the moving parts themselves can be made of a corresponding material.

The measuring device preferably comprises at least one strain gauge, which is arranged on an outer bearing ring or an inner bearing ring of the first roller bearing or the second roller bearing, the at least one strain gauge being arranged and set up in such a way as to measure a deformation of the bearing outer ring and / or the bearing inner ring. In this context it is preferred that the at least one strain gauge is set up to measure a deformation of the bearing outer ring or the bearing inner ring in one direction, preferably in at least two directions and particularly preferably in three directions. On the basis of the deformation of the bearing rings measured by the at least one strain gauge, conclusions can again be drawn as to the bearing load. As an alternative or in addition, a piezo force transducer element can be used in addition to a strain gauge, which is preferably arranged on the bearing inner ring or on the bearing outer ring of the first roller bearing and / or the second roller bearing. With a piezo force transducer element it is also possible to measure a pressure load that is exerted on a bearing ring, so that conclusions can be drawn about the bearing load based on the pressure load.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the measuring device comprises at least one magnetic field sensor, set up for inductive interaction with a magnetic element. In this context, it is preferred that the magnetic element is designed as a magnetic ring, which is preferably arranged on an inner diameter of a bearing inner ring. The magnetic ring can, for example, fill the entire width of the bearing or only part of the bearing. The magnetic ring can, for example, form an interference fit with the bearing inner ring, clipped into an undercut, glued or, for example, welded to the bearing inner ring. The magnetic field sensor can, for example, be arranged adjacent in the flange with the Hirth coupling or at another suitable location. Alternatively or additionally, however, a magnetic ring can also be provided on the outer diameter of the bearing outer ring, in which case the at least one magnetic field sensor is preferably arranged in the flange for connecting the steering actuator / subframe. In this exemplary embodiment, the change in the position of the magnetic ring, which can be detected by the at least one magnetic field sensor, can be used to deduce a corresponding change in position and thus the bearing load.

Finally, it is preferred that the first roller bearing and / or the second roller bearing is / are designed as angular contact ball bearings, tapered roller bearings or conical needle bearings

The present invention further relates to a vehicle comprising at least one wheel module with a steering head bearing arrangement as described above.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Radmoduls;
• 2 eine schematische Ansicht des Radmoduls aus 1 ;
• 3 eine schematische Schnittansicht des Radmoduls aus 1 ;
• 4 eine schematische Ansicht eines Wälzlagers im unbelasteten und belasteten Zustand;
• 5 eine schematische Ansicht einer ersten Alternative einer Messeinrichtung mit einem induktiven oder kapazitiven Sensorelement;
• 6 eine schematische Ansicht einer zweiten Alternative einer Messeinrichtung mit einem Magnetfeldsensor und einem Magnetelement; und
• 7 eine schematische Ansicht einer dritten Alternative einer Messeinrichtung mit einem Dehnungsmeßstreifen oder einem Piezo-Kraftaufnehmer-Element.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention emerge from the following description, the exemplary embodiment and the figures. It shows:

• 1 a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a wheel module according to the invention;
• 2 a schematic view of the wheel module 1 ;
• 3 a schematic sectional view of the wheel module 1 ;
• 4th a schematic view of a roller bearing in the unloaded and loaded state;
• 5 a schematic view of a first alternative of a measuring device with an inductive or capacitive sensor element;
• 6th a schematic view of a second alternative of a measuring device with a magnetic field sensor and a magnetic element; and
• 7th a schematic view of a third alternative of a measuring device with a strain gauge or a piezo force transducer element.

This in 1 wheel module shown 10 for a motor vehicle configured as a multi-lane passenger car, one of a steering actuator 12 rotating handlebar 14th on. The handlebar 14th can have a steering head bearing arrangement 16 on a support frame 18th of the motor vehicle can be directly or indirectly rotatably mounted, in particular the handlebar 14th in the axial direction of the handlebar 14th is immovably mounted for example by an axial bearing. With the handlebar 14th is a wishbone 20th attached, which is at the horizontal level of an axis of rotation 38 of a wheel to be steered 22nd of the wheel module 10 a hub 24 trains. At the focal point 24 is a swing arm 26th tied pivotably mounted, the rocker arm 26th at its other end articulated and coaxial with the wheel 22nd connected is. On the bike 22nd and / or on the swing arm 26th is a shock absorber 28 attached to the its other end to the handlebar 14th and / or with the fork leg 20th is attached. In the illustrated embodiment is between the shock absorber 28 and the handlebar 14th a level control device 30th intended. The wheel 22nd can in particular from a wheel hub drive 32 driven and / or braked.

As in 2 can be shown by the handlebar designed as a hollow shaft 14th a fastening approach 34 protrude radially with which the shock absorber 28 and possibly also the wishbone 20th is attached. This makes it possible to use the shock absorber 28 and / or the wishbone 20th axially next to the wheel 22nd to arrange. In particular, a steering axis that runs essentially vertically 36 runs completely in front of the axis of rotation 38 of the wheel 22nd so that even with different diameters of the wheel 22nd the steering axle 22nd in front of the axis of rotation 38 as a secant through the wheel 22nd runs. This creates a positive caster for the wheel 22nd ensured. When the steering actuator 12 the wheel 22nd turns, the one next to the wheel can 22nd Space-saving arranged shock absorbers 28 be taken so that a steering angle of the handlebar 14th not through the shock absorber 28 is limited. The wheel 22nd can therefore in principle execute any number of revolutions.

In the 3 steering head bearing arrangement shown in detail 16 has one with the support frame 18th attached bearing flange 40 on where the handlebar 14th is rotatably mounted. For this purpose there is a lower first roller bearing 42 and an upper second roller bearing 44 provided, each in the bearing flange 40 are pressed in. On to the steering actuator 12 pointing shaft end of the handlebar 14th is a retaining ring 46 screwed on the second rolling bearing 44 on the first roller bearing 42 to pushes and thereby the roller bearings 42 , 44 braced against each other without play. This is also done at the lower end of the bearing flange 40 a paragraph of the handlebar 14th on the bearing flange 40 pulled against gravity, so that the first roller bearing 42 between the handlebar 14th and the bearing flange 40 can be jammed without play and the bearing flange 40 and the relatively rotatable handlebar 14th a labyrinth seal 48 can train. On one of the rolling bearings 42 , 44 groundbreaking back of the retaining ring 46 is something in the axial direction of the retaining ring 46 spaced one from a sensor receiving ring 50 recorded rotation angle sensor 52 intended. The angle of rotation sensor can be aligned in the axial direction and on the back of the retaining ring 46 Scan attached optical markings, for example with the help of a photo element. With the top of the bearing flange 40 is a mounting flange 54 screwed, with the help of which the steering actuator 12 can be centered and / or fastened. The mounting flange 54 can at least partially use the sensor mounting ring 50 and the rotation angle sensor 52 cover like a lid. The steering actuator 12 has an electric motor 56 on, which has a gear stage 58 an output shaft 60 can drive, which in turn via a Hirth coupling 62 form-fitting with the handlebar 14th is coupled to the wheel 22nd of the wheel module 10 by one of the rotation angle sensor 30th to be able to rotate the monitored steering angle.

4th shows a schematic view of the first or second roller bearing 42 , 44 in the unloaded (left view) and loaded state (right view). The roller bearing 42 , 44 includes a bearing inner ring 70 and a bearing outer ring 71 and a rolling element arranged therebetween 72 . The roller bearing 42 , 44 is preferably designed as angular contact ball bearings, tapered roller bearings or conical needle bearings. As in 4th clearly visible, the bearing loads occurring during driving can lead to the bearing inner ring 70 and the bearing outer ring 71 move relative to each other or can move the bearing rings 70 , 71 be deformed. By means of a measuring device according to the invention, this movement to one another or deformation of the bearing rings is intended 70 , 71 are recorded so that the corresponding bearing load can be inferred.

According to the invention, different sensors, devices and measuring principles can be used to detect the bearing load, the sensors and devices explained below only being exemplified on a roller bearing 42 , 44 explained. The sensors and devices explained below can be used on the first roller bearing as desired 42 and / or on the second roller bearing 44 , as well as on the bearing inner ring 70 and / or on the bearing outer ring 71 to be ordered.

5 shows a schematic view of a first alternative of a measuring device with an inductive or a capacitive sensor element 80 that, for example, on the bearing outer ring 71 is arranged such that this is the distance to the bearing inner ring 70 can detect, which changes accordingly under load, so that conclusions can be drawn about the bearing load.

6th shows a schematic view of a second alternative of a measuring device with a magnetic field sensor 85 and a magnetic element 86 . The magnetic element 86 is as a magnetic ring 86 formed and on the inner diameter of a bearing inner ring 70 arranged. The magnetic ring 86 fills the entire bearing width. The magnetic ring 86 can for example with the bearing inner ring 70 Form an interference fit, possibly clipped into an undercut, glued or, for example, with the bearing inner ring 70 be welded. The magnetic field sensor 85 is arranged in the preferred embodiment shown adjacent in the flange with the Hirth toothing. Alternatively or additionally, a magnetic ring 86 however, also on the outer diameter of the bearing outer ring 71 are provided, in which case the at least one magnetic field sensor 85 is preferably arranged in the flange for connecting the steering actuator / subframe. In this exemplary embodiment, by changing the position of the magnetic ring 86 by the magnetic field sensor 85 can be detected, a corresponding change in position and thus the bearing load can be concluded.

7th shows a schematic view of a third alternative of a measuring device with a strain gauge 90 or a piezo force transducer element 100 . As in 7th shown by way of example, one or more strain gauges 90 on the bearing inner ring 70 or on the bearing outer ring 71 be arranged to a corresponding deformation of the bearing rings 70 , 71 or a pressure load acting on this can be detected in order to be able to infer the bearing load. In 7th is an example of a possible attachment of a strain gauge in the two figures on the left 90 and in the two right-hand figures an example of a possible attachment of a piezo force transducer element 100 shown.

However, the present invention is not restricted to the previously preferred exemplary embodiment, as long as it is covered by the subject matter of the following claims. In particular, those in the 5 to 7th sensors / devices shown can be combined with one another as desired, in particular several of the sensors / devices can form a measuring device according to the invention, the sensors / devices also at different positions on or in the first roller bearing 42 and / or on or in the second roller bearing 44 are arranged.

List of reference symbols

10

Wheel module

12th

Steering actuator

14th

Handlebar

16

Steering head bearing assembly

18th

Support frame

20th

Wishbone

22nd

wheel

24

Hub

26th

Swing arm

28

Shock absorbers

30th

Level control device

32

Wheel hub drive

34

Fastening approach

36

Steering axle

38

Axis of rotation

40

Bearing flange

42

first roller bearing

44

second roller bearing

46

Retaining ring

48

Labyrinth seal

50

Sensor mounting ring

52

Rotation angle sensor

54

Mounting flange

56

Electric motor

58

Gear stage

60

Output shaft

62

Hirth coupling

70

Bearing inner ring

71

Bearing outer ring

72

Rolling elements

80

capacitive or inductive sensor element

85

Magnetic field sensor

86

Magnetic element

90

Strain gauges

100

Piezo force transducer element

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• CN 206679065 U [0002]

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle comprising: a handlebar (14) connectable to a steering actuator (12) and a fork leg (20); a bearing flange (40) which can be connected directly or indirectly to a support frame (18) of the motor vehicle for the passage of the handlebar (14); a first roller bearing (42) arranged in the bearing flange (40) for mounting the handlebar (14) in the bearing flange (40); a second roller bearing (44) arranged in the bearing flange (40) for mounting the handlebar (14) in the bearing flange (40); and at least one measuring device arranged on the first roller bearing and / or on the second roller bearing for measuring the bearing forces occurring on the first roller bearing (42) and / or on the second roller bearing (44). Steering head bearing arrangement according to Claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises at least one inductive or capacitive sensor element (80), set up to measure a distance between an outer bearing ring (71) and an inner bearing ring (70) of the first roller bearing (42) or the second roller bearing (44). Steering head bearing arrangement according to Claim 2 , wherein the inductive or capacitive sensor element (80) is arranged on the bearing outer ring (71) or on the bearing inner ring (70). Steering head bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one strain gauge (90) which is arranged on an outer bearing ring (71) or an inner bearing ring (70) of the first roller bearing (42) or the second roller bearing (44), the at least a strain gauge (90) is arranged and set up in such a way as to measure a deformation of the bearing outer ring (71) and / or the bearing inner ring (70). Steering head bearing arrangement according to Claim 4 , wherein the at least one strain gauge (90) is set up to measure a deformation of the bearing outer ring (71) or the bearing inner ring (70) in one direction, preferably in at least two directions and particularly preferably in three directions. Steering head bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one magnetic field sensor (85), set up for inductive interaction with a magnetic element (86). Steering head bearing arrangement according to Claim 6 , wherein the magnetic element (86) is designed as a magnetic ring (86) which is preferably arranged on an inner diameter of an inner bearing ring (70). Steering head bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one piezo force transducer element (100), which is preferably attached to an inner bearing ring (70) or outer bearing ring (71) of the first roller bearing (42) and / or the second roller bearing (44) is arranged. Steering head bearing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first roller bearing (42) and / or the second roller bearing (44) is / are designed as angular contact ball bearings, tapered roller bearings or conical needle bearings Vehicle comprising at least one wheel module with a steering head bearing arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 .

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