DE202011111025U1 - Support device and strut - Google Patents

Abstract

Support device for supporting a spring element (3) on a damper body (4), in particular for a spring strut (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising a support element (11) with an opening (9) for receiving the damper body (4), a contact area (A) for supporting the spring element (3) and a holding region (B) for supporting the support element (11) on a holding element (18), wherein the support element (11) comprises a plastic material and can be positioned on the damper body (4) by means of the holding element (18) wherein the abutment region (A) has a radial distance (C) to the opening (9) and wherein the holding region (B) has a radial extension away from the opening (9), characterized in that the radial distance (C) of the abutment region (A) to the opening (9) is greater than the radial extent of the holding region (B).

Description

The invention relates to a supporting device for supporting a spring element on a damper body, in particular for a strut of a motor vehicle, comprising a support member having an opening for receiving the damper body, a contact area for supporting the spring element and a holding area for supporting the support element on a holding element, wherein Support member comprises a plastic material and is positionable by means of the holding member to the damper body, wherein the abutment region has a radial distance from the opening and wherein the holding portion has a radial extension away from the opening.

A strut is a component of the chassis of motor vehicles, in particular a front axle, which comprises a spring element, usually in the form of a coil spring, and a vibration damper and decouples the shocks or vibrations of the wheels of the motor vehicle from the rest of the vehicle. The vibration damper comprises a damper body which is usually designed at least in sections as a hollow cylinder and a piston which is movable in the damper body and has a piston rod, the piston rod being fastened to the vehicle body and the damper body to the wheel suspension. The spring element, in particular a helical spring is arranged coaxially with the damper body and the piston rod and encloses the damper body and the piston rod at least in sections. The spring element is mounted, in particular at its end portions, on a first spring plate arranged on the damper body and on a second spring plate arranged on the vehicle body. A relative movement between the suspension and the vehicle body generates on the one hand a relative movement between the piston rod and the piston and the damper body, which is damped by a fluid contained in the damper body, and on the other hand, a counteracting the relative movement of compression or relief of the spring element. The compressive forces acting on the coil spring, determined by the weight of the vehicle body when the vehicle is at rest, and at e.g. Shocks can increase significantly, are transmitted respectively by the first and second spring plate on the vehicle body and the damper body. In particular, for the (lower) spring plate attached to the damper body, which forms a support device for the spring element on the damper body, it is therefore known, this solid, preferably of a steel, form and cohesively, for example by welding, or positively or non-positively To mount by mounting on the damper body. Since the spring element to engage around the damper body has a larger compared to the outer periphery of the damper body circumference and the spring member rests at its lower end along this circumference on the spring plate, acting on the spring plate in the transmission of the spring forces on the damper body not only Pressure, but also bending loads in the form of torques. The known from practice type of support device with a welded and mounted spring plate made of steel has sufficient stability for transmitting these compressive forces and torques on the damper body, but at the same time has a high weight and is expensive and thus expensive to attach to the damper body ,

The DE 199 39 515 A1 describes a generic support device for supporting a coil spring on a damper body, which is formed by a lower in the installed state of the strut spring plate for supporting the coil spring to the damper body. The support device comprises a substantially hollow-cylindrical retaining element made of metal, which has on a first end face an outwardly projecting edge. The damper body of the vibration damper is received in the opening of the hollow cylindrical holding part, wherein the holding part has depressions on its inner surface, which cooperate with projections of the damper body to position the holding part on the damper body. On the projecting edge of the holding part, a support element made of plastic is arranged, which is formed in a substantially annular shape with a central opening and receives the damper body in the opening. The support element has on a first side a contact area for supporting an end portion of the coil spring and rests on its side opposite the contact area on the projecting edge of the support member. On the contact area of the support element, a likewise substantially annular damping element made of a polymer material is applied, which serves to decouple vibrations of the coil spring relative to the support element. The contact area for supporting the coil spring has a radial distance to the opening of the support element, which is determined by the outer diameter of the damper body and the diameter of the coil spring in the end region thereof. The projecting edge of the support member forms a support portion for the support member extending radially from the opening of the support member and thus away from the damper body. The radial extension of the holding region and the radial distance of the contact region to the opening are identical in size, so that compression forces of the coil spring, which are transmitted from this to the support member of the support member exclusively in the form of compressive forces the retaining element to be transferred. The support member formed of a plastic material is thus exposed exclusively to compressive loads, while the retaining member formed of metal transmits the transmitted forces in the form of axial compressive forces, shear stresses and torques on the damper body. A disadvantage of the support device described is that a large, bulky and thus heavy holding element is required to transmit forces exerted by the coil spring forces on the damper body.

DE 295 06 796 U1 describes a strut with an upper, fixed to the vehicle body spring plate made of a plastic material. The spring plate transfers only compressive forces between coil spring and vehicle body.

DE 299 23 896 U1 describes a spring device without vibration damper for a motor vehicle, in which a plastic material comprising a spring plate is arranged on the vehicle body and receives a first end of a coil spring. The spring plate transfers only compressive forces between coil spring and vehicle body.

DE 10 2007 018 160 A1 describes a bearing plate for a coil spring of a shock absorber, which comprises a cup-shaped part made of plastic, which serves to transmit compressive forces between a coil spring and the vehicle body.

It is the object of the invention to provide a support device for supporting a coil spring on a damper body, which has a low weight and at the same time sufficient stability for reliable storage of the coil spring.

This object is achieved according to the invention for an aforementioned supporting device in that the radial distance of the abutment region from the opening is greater than the radial extent of the holding region.

The invention is therefore based on the surprising finding that a mechanically robust and particularly lightweight supporting device can be created by reducing a retaining element formed in particular from a metal and, in particular, shortening it in its radial extension, wherein not only a support element comprising a plastic material Compressive forces, but also bending forces and / or shear forces and / or torques are transmitted directly to the damper housing. The large reduction in the size of the retaining element contributes significantly to a reduction in the weight of the support device. A bending stress of the support element results in particular from the distance that the abutment region of the spring element has in a direction perpendicular to the force direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the spring element, to a Kraftzugsitungsbereich of the support element. For the purposes of the invention, the contact area is understood to be the area in which a force is introduced from the spring element into the support element, in particular the contact area between spring element and support element. Analogously, the region of the holder is understood to be the region in which a force is introduced from the support element into the holding element, in particular thus the contact region between the support element and the holding element. A derivation of the force takes place in particular directly on the damper body along a common contact surface as well as on the holding area on the holding element. Due to the relatively small extent of the retaining element in the radial direction in particular compressive forces in the axial direction of the spring element are introduced into this. It is understood that the radial extent of the holding region is to be dimensioned in particular also with regard to the effectiveness for force dissipation, so that, in particular in the case of an uneven outer shape of the holding element, those regions of the holding element which are not essential for the dissipation of force can be disregarded. However, the retaining element preferably has an overall uniform, particularly preferably symmetrical shape with respect to the damper body.

It is preferably provided that the spring element comprises at least one coil spring, at least one leaf spring, at least one air spring, and / or at least one elastomer spring, an end portion of the spring element in the contact area is supportable and / or the support member is formed entirely of at least one plastic material. It is understood that this can be used for any suitable plastic material, but also a mixture of different plastic materials. Likewise, a mixed material comprising plastic and further, in particular the mechanical properties favorably influencing materials can be used. Preferably, plastic materials with optimized with respect to the transmission of compressive stresses and / or shear stresses properties are used.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element has a rib structure, in particular comprising at least one rib, preferably a plurality of ribs uniformly distributed over the circumference of the support element, for transmitting forces, in particular radial forces and / or shear forces, to the damper body. The ribs thereby enable a reliable power transmission to the damper body at the same time further weight reduction through the remaining between the ribs areas.

Most preferably, the support element has an inner wall which can be applied to the damper body and an outer wall which encloses the damper body at least in some sections radially, the rib in particular being provided between the inner wall and the outer wall. Suitably, the abutment region of the support element for the spring element is formed in a region between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein in particular shear or bending forces by means of the ribs between the inner wall and outer wall are transferable.

It is preferred that the support element has at least predominantly sections of equal wall thickness, in particular consists of sections of equal wall thicknesses. This allows a particularly simple manufacturability of the support element by injection molding, as uniform wall thicknesses a uniform, rapid and stress-free cooling is made possible after the injection molding.

It is preferably provided that the support element in the contact region comprises an elastomeric material and / or damping element, in particular for engagement with the spring element. This advantageously enables a damping of relative movements between the end of the spring element and the support element, which reduces both wear and noise.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element, preferably in the contact area, and / or the damping element has or have a sacrificial anode, in particular made of a material comprising zinc. As a result, rust formation, in particular on the spring element, such as a helical spring, is thereby avoided permanently.

In a preferred embodiment of the support device according to the invention, the holding element is at least partially annular. In particular, the holding element has a uniform radial extent around the damper housing around, so that holding forces are exerted on the support member with a uniform pressure distribution.

In particular, in a cohesive, non-positive and / or positive connection of support member and retaining element is at a heating of the strut during operation by frictional heat by a uniform, preferably symmetrical configuration of the support member and / or the support element favorably even thermal expansion of the support member and / or of the support element, which, in particular when using different production materials for the support element and the holding element, at least reduces mechanical stresses due to different thermal expansion and further contributes to overall high mechanical stability.

Preferably, the retaining element is integrally, positively and / or positively received on the support member. Undesirable relative movements between the holding element and the support element, which can lead to wear and / or noise, are therefore not possible. Further, this allows a simplification of the attachment of the support device to the damper body, in which a separate fastening of the holding element and the support element is omitted.

Preferably, the retaining element consists of a metal, in particular of a steel, and / or comprises a metal.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding element is received in a wall of the support element adjoining the damper body. Particularly preferably, the wall adjacent to the damper body is an inner wall of the support element, which may be connected in particular by means of sections formed as ribs to an outer wall of the support element. The inner wall preferably serves both on the one hand for transmitting compressive forces acting on the retaining element in the axial direction of the damper body and on the other hand for transmitting shear forces and / or tensile stresses and / or bending forces and / or transverse stresses directly transmitted to the damper body itself, in particular by means of the ribs.

Further, according to the invention a strut is provided, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a spring element, a damper body and a support device according to the invention for supporting the spring element on the damper body. Such a shock absorber according to the invention is characterized by a reduced weight compared to conventional struts, low noise during operation and high wear resistance of the support device of the spring element. The suspension strut is provided in particular on the front axle of the motor vehicle, that is to say preferably for the support or support of a vehicle wheel of a front axle of the motor vehicle.

It is preferably provided that the damper body is designed as a cylinder of a vibration damper.

Further, it is preferably provided that the holding element is held by means of a snap ring on the damper body. This allows a simple, quick positioning of the support device on the damper body by arranging the snap ring on the damper body and then introducing the damper body in the support device, wherein expediently the support member is pressed in the axial direction of tension of the coil spring against the snap ring. For attachment of the snap ring to the damper body, the damper body preferably has an at least partially radially encircling groove, into which engages the snap ring in its fixed position. Further, by providing a plurality of axially spaced grooves on the damper body for the snap ring, a simplified adjustability of the effective length of the strut can be achieved in which the snap ring defining the position of the support device can be secured in the various grooves spaced apart in the axial direction.

A method of manufacturing a support element for a spring element for use in a strut comprises the steps of introducing a holding element into a mold opening of an injection mold and at least partially overmolding the holding element with a plastic material to form the support element. The inventive method is based on the surprising finding that a mechanically very stable, particularly easy to assemble support element with particularly low weight can be formed by a particular made of a metal retaining element insoluble, but at least cohesively, positively and / or positively connected is formed with a support member made of plastic. The support element produced by this method also has the advantage that it can be mounted in a particularly simple manner on a damper body of a vibration damper for producing a strut, without the need for a separate mounting of the holding part and support member. It is also advantageous that holding part and support element are connected to each other captive independently of attachment to a vibration damper and can be provided in a simple manner together as a component.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which an embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to schematic drawings.

• 1 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht eines an einem Kraftfahrzeug montierten Federbeins, und
• 2 eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Ausschnitts aus 1, wobei insbesondere eine Stützvorrichtung zur Lagerung der Schraubenfeder des Federbeins zu sehen ist.

Show it

• 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle mounted on a strut, and
• 2 an enlarged view of a section from 1 , wherein in particular a support device for supporting the coil spring of the shock absorber can be seen.

1 shows a mounted in a motor vehicle strut 1 that a vibration damper 2 and a spring element in the form of a helical spring 3 includes. The vibration damper 2 comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical damper body 4 , one in the damper body 4 movably mounted pistons 5 and one with the piston 5 firmly connected piston rod 6 , The piston 5 and the piston rod 6 are common relative to the damper body 4 displaceable, wherein a relative movement between pistons 5 and damper body 4 by a in the vibration damper 2 contained fluid is attenuated. The piston rod 6 is at her from the piston 5 opposite end to an in 1 only schematically illustrated body element 7 stored. The damper body 4 indicates at its from the piston rod 6 opposite end in 1 also only schematically illustrated connection 8th to a suspension of the motor vehicle. A relative movement between the connected vehicle wheel and the vehicle body is therefore due to the vibration damper 2 attenuated.

The coil spring 3 encloses the piston rod 6 and a body-side part of the damper housing 4 and is at her body 7 facing end supported on a body-mounted part. An opposite second end portion of the coil spring 3 is on a support device 10 supported on the damper body 4 of the vibration damper 2 is fixed.

As in particular in 2 can be seen well, includes the support device 10 a formed of a plastic material supporting element 11 in that a substantially annular basic shape having a central opening 9 in which the damper body 4 is included. The support element 11 has an inner wall 12 on, which surrounds the damper body 4 in only a small radial distance annular, and an outer wall 13 that the damping body 4 also in one of the inner wall 12 surrounds a larger radial distance annularly. The inner wall 12 and the outer wall 13 are through one of the coil spring 3 facing bridge 14 connected with each other. Next are the inner wall 12 and the outer wall 13 through a number of ribs 15 connected below the jetty 14 the inner wall 12 , the outer wall 13 and the jetty 14 connect with each other. The vehicle body 7 facing Side of the dock 14 forms an investment area A for the end region of the coil spring 3 , wherein the contact area by continuations of the inner wall 12 and the outer wall 13 is limited in its radial extent. In the investment area is on the support element 11 a consisting of an elastomeric material, in particular an elastic polymer material damping element 16 applied. The damping element 16 serves to dampen relative movements between the coil spring 3 and the support element 11 , Further, on the damping element 16 in the investment area a sacrificial anode 17 made of zinc, which is a rusting of the coil spring 3 permanently prevented. As in particular in 2 is clearly visible, has the support element 11 in the direction of the axial extent of the vibration damper 2 a helical pitch on the slope of the coil spring 3 corresponds, so that the end portion of the coil spring 3 in a whole the damping body 4 radially enclosing area rests.

The inner wall 12 of the support element 11 has at its the damper body 4 facing surface on an annular circumferential groove in which in a holding area B an annular, made of steel retaining element 18 is received in substance and form fit. The damper body 4 has in this area on its outer surface also an annular circumferential groove in which a snap ring 19 is used. The holding element 18 lies on the snap ring 19 on, wherein the inner diameter of the holding element 18 and the outer diameter of the snap ring 19 are matched to one another such that the retaining element 18 the snap ring 19 in the axial direction of the damper body 4 can not happen. The holding element 18 and the support element 11 are thus on the damper body 4 set as a movement of the retaining element 18 in an axial direction away from the snap ring 19 through the coil spring 3 is prevented.

As in 2 through an arrow 20 symbolically shown, the coil spring acts 3 one in the axial direction of the vibration damper 2 acting pressure force on the support member 11. Task of the support device 10 It is there, this compressive force on the damper body 4 to transfer and the coil spring 3 thus on the damper body 4 support. As in 2 through the further arrow 21 is shown, the has the coil spring 3 supporting abutment area a radial distance C to the outer surface of the damper body 4 on. This causes the on the support element 11 acting force 20 not as a pure compressive force on the damper body 4 is transmitted, but that in addition a torque is applied, which as shear stress by the support element 11 through to the damper body 4 is to be transferred. This transmission of the shear stress takes place in the support device 10 especially through the ribs 15 which the applied force 20 from the outside wall 13 on the inner wall 12 and from this on the damper body 4 transfer. A force of the damper element 11 on the holding element 18 However, at least predominantly takes place only as a compressive force in the axial direction of the vibration damper 2 ,

The support element 11 characterized by the formation of a plastic material and by the formation of cavities between the ribs 15 a particularly low weight, at the same time a great stability in terms of by the coil spring 3 exerted pressure and shear stresses is given. Compared to a conventional support device with a holding area extending radially over the entire contact area, there is thus a supporting device for supporting the helical spring 3 on the vibration damper 2 achieved with significantly reduced total weight.

The features illustrated and described in the foregoing description, in the claims and also in the figures can be essential for the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

strut

2

vibration

3

coil spring

4

steamer body

5

piston

6

piston rod

7

body member

8th

connection

9

opening

10

support device

11

support element

12

inner wall

13

outer wall

14

web

15

ribs

16

damping element

17

sacrificial anode

18

retaining element

19

snap ring

20

Arrow (pressure force)

21

arrow

A

plant area

B

holding area

C

distance

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 19939515 A1 [0003]
• DE 29506796 U1 [0004]
• DE 29923896 U1 [0005]
• DE 102007018160 A1 [0006]

Claims (14)

Support device for supporting a spring element (3) on a damper body (4), in particular for a spring strut (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising a support element (11) with an opening (9) for receiving the damper body (4), a contact area (A) for supporting the spring element (3) and a holding region (B) for supporting the support element (11) on a holding element (18), wherein the support element (11) comprises a plastic material and can be positioned on the damper body (4) by means of the holding element (18) wherein the abutment region (A) has a radial distance (C) to the opening (9) and wherein the holding region (B) has a radial extension away from the opening (9), characterized in that the radial distance (C) of the abutment region (A) to the opening (9) is greater than the radial extent of the holding region (B). Support device after Claim 1 , characterized in that the spring element comprises at least one coil spring (3), at least one leaf spring, at least one air spring, and / or at least one elastomer spring, an end portion of the spring element in the contact area is supportable and / or the support element (11) completely at least a plastic material is formed. Support device after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the support element (11) has a rib structure, in particular comprising at least one rib (15), preferably a plurality of ribs uniformly distributed over the circumference of the support element, for transmitting forces, in particular radial forces and / or shear forces, to the Damper body (4). Supporting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting element (11) has an inner wall (12) which can be applied to the damper body (4) and an outer wall (13) which radially surrounds the damper body (4) at least in sections, wherein in particular the rib (FIG. 15) is provided between the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (13). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (11) at least predominantly sections of equal wall thickness, in particular consists of sections of equal wall thicknesses. Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (11) in the abutment region (A) comprises an elastomeric material and / or damping element (16), in particular for abutment against the spring element (3). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (11), preferably in the abutment region (A), and / or the damper element (16) has or have a sacrificial anode (17), in particular comprising a zinc material , Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (18) is at least partially annular. Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (18) is received in a material-locking, non-positive and / or form-fitting manner on the support element (11). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (18) is received in a wall of the support element (11) adjoining the damper body (4). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (18) made of a metal, in particular of a steel, is formed and / or comprises a metal. Suspension strut, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a spring element (3), a damper body (4) and a support device (10) according to one of the preceding claims for supporting the spring element (3) on the damper body (4). Strut after Claim 12 , characterized in that the damper body (4) as a cylinder of a vibration damper (2) is formed. Strut after Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the holding element (18) by means of a snap ring (19) on the damper body (4) is held.

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