GB2192967A - Vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles - Google Patents

Vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2192967A
GB2192967A GB08715524A GB8715524A GB2192967A GB 2192967 A GB2192967 A GB 2192967A GB 08715524 A GB08715524 A GB 08715524A GB 8715524 A GB8715524 A GB 8715524A GB 2192967 A GB2192967 A GB 2192967A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
piston rod
insert
shift device
vibration damper
damping force
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08715524A
Other versions
GB8715524D0 (en
Inventor
Franz Nagler
Edwin Karch
Hans Fliege
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
Original Assignee
Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH filed Critical Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
Publication of GB8715524D0 publication Critical patent/GB8715524D0/en
Publication of GB2192967A publication Critical patent/GB2192967A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16FSPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F9/00Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium
    • F16F9/32Details
    • F16F9/44Means on or in the damper for manual or non-automatic adjustment; such means combined with temperature correction
    • F16F9/46Means on or in the damper for manual or non-automatic adjustment; such means combined with temperature correction allowing control from a distance, i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall
    • F16F9/463Means on or in the damper for manual or non-automatic adjustment; such means combined with temperature correction allowing control from a distance, i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall characterised by electrical connections
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60GVEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G17/00Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load
    • B60G17/015Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
    • B60G17/0152Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
  • Gear-Shifting Mechanisms (AREA)

Abstract

A vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles comprises for the variation of the damping force a changeover device which is in operative connection with an electrically actuatable shift device (3) arranged in the interior of a piston rod (1), the shift device (3) being connected with electric conductors (9, 10) conducted out of the piston rod (1). Between the shift device (3) and the outer end of the piston rod (1) in the interior of the piston rod (1) there is arranged an insert (4) carrying the electric conductors (9, 10) in outwardly sealing manner, preferably consisting of insulating material and sealed at (15) in relation to the inner wall of the piston rod (1), which insert comprises contact parts (7, 8) for electric connection with the shift device (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles The invention relates to a vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles which comprises for the variation of the damping force a changeover device which is in operative connection with an electrically actuatable shift device arranged in the interior of a piston rod, the shift device being connected with electric conductors which are conducted out of the piston rod.
Such a vibration damper, which comprises for the variation of the damping force a changeover device which is in operative connection with an electrically actuatable shift device arranged in the interior of the piston rod and in which the shift device is connected with electric cables conducted out of the piston rod, is of complicated assembly which must be carried out with great care so that the function of the shift device is ensured. For the sealing of the cavity of the piston rod to the exterior it wss proposed to arrange a stopper carrying contacts. The assembly of the electrically operated shift device and its electric connection with the motor vehicle electric network or a control appliance is quite problematical as ever.
It is the problem of the present invention, for a shift device arranged in s piston rod of a vibration damper of variable damping force, to produce a simple electric connection suitable for motor vehicles which with easy and problem-free production and assembly guarantees high operational reliability of the shift device.
In accordance with the invention this problem is solved in that between the shift device and the outer end of the piston rod, in relation to a cylinder, in the interior of the piston rod there is arranged an insert accqmmodating the electric conductors in outwardly sealing manner, preferably consisting of insulating material, and sealed off from the inner wall of the piston rod, which insert comprises contact parts for electric connection with the shift device. By such an insert the electric conductors are conducted at least over a certain length in the cavity of the piston rod and at the same time a simple connection with the shift device is rendered possible. The insert, preferably produced from insulating material, is very simple in construction and guarantees a problemfree and functionally reliable assembly of the shift device in the cavity of the piston rod.
In further development of the invention the insert comprises for rotation-fast connection with the shift device at least one projection of dog form which engages in a correspondingly formed depression of the shift device. Especially in the case of a shift device formed as electric motor thus a position-orientated, rotation-fast arrangement of the shift device in relation to the insert is obtsined in a simple manner.
In order to obtain a pre-assembled construction unit consisting of shift device, insert and electric connection parts, the insert can comprise in further development of the invention a retaining fitting grasping around the shift device. A very advantageous form of embodiment is here achieved in that the retaining fitting comprises at least one radially inwardly pointing projection of hook form which forms a snap connection with the shift device. A construction unit preassembled in such a way guarantees both easy pre-assemblability and problem-free assembly in the cavity of the piston rod. To simplify assembly according to another form of embodiment of the invention the contact parts arranged between the shift device and the insert are formed as plug contact parts. The electric connection of the shift device is then produced simply by pushing of the shift device into the insert.
In further development of the invention the insert is provided with a projection engaging in rotation-securing manner in a corresponding recess of the piston rod, for the rotation-fast and position-orientated connection with the piston rod.
According to a further feature of the invention the insert extends as far as the outer end, in relation to a cylinder, of the piston rod and is there provided with a plug connection.
This renders possible a functionally reliable electric connection of the shift device with the electric system of the motor vehicle and/or with a control appliance, parts of the plug connection already being incorporated into the damper manufacture. In further development of the invention a plug body of a connector cable is secured with a cap nut which can be screwed on to the end of the piston rod. This renders possible a secure but easily disengageable electric connection of the vibration damper with the control appliance.
To seal off the interior of the piston rod from the exterior the insert preferably hss a ring groove in which there is arranged a gasket lying on the inner wall of the piston rod. On the other hand the seal to the exterior can also be guaranteed in that the insert is formed integrally with a surrounding seal.
A very simple and easily handled embodiment of the insert is obtained in that the latter consists of synthetic plastics material in which the electric conductors, the contact parts and possibly plug connection parts are embedded by moulding.
The invention will be explained in greater detail below by reference to the forms of embodiment illustrated in the drawing, wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a partial s ection through a vibration damper of variable damping force; FIGURE 1a shows a piston rod of the vibration damper with a shift device arranged in its interior; FIGURE 1b shows a detail at I in Figure 1a; FIGURE 2 shows a detail of Figure 1a at II; FIGURE 3 shows a cross-section through the piston rod corresponding tothe section lying Ill-Ill in Figure 2 and FIGURE 4 shows a modified form of embodiment where an insert arranged in the piston rod comprises a retaining fitting for the shift device.
In Figure 1 the cylinder of a vibration damper is designated by 50. A hollow piston rod 1 is introduced into this cylinder 50. On the inner end of the hollow piston rod 1 there is seated a damping piston unit 51 with a damping piston 51a which comprises damping valves 51b and with a further damping piston 51c which comprises damping valves 51d.
The damping piston unit 51 can be bridged over by a by-pass passage 52. On the piston rod there are arranged an upper rotary slide valve 53 and a lower rotary slide valve 54.
The rotary slide valves 53 and 54 serve for the connection according to choice of the bypass passage 52 with a working chamber 55 and/or a working chamber 56. The interspace 57 between the two damping pistons 51a and 51c is in communication through an opening 58 with the by-pass passage 52. When the upper rotary slide valve 53 is in the open position and the lower rotary slide valve 54 is in the closed position (as iliustrated), then the upper damping valves 51b are bridged over and only the lower damping valves 51d are effective. When the upper rotary slide valve 53 is in the closed position and the lower rotary slide valve 54 is in the open position, the lower damping valves 51d are bridged over and only the upper damping valves 51b are effective.When both rotary slide valves 53, 54 are in the closed position, the by-pass passage 52 is shut off at both ends and the damping valves 51b and 51d are effective, namely in series connection.
For shifting the rotary slide valves 53, 54 into the positions just described above there serves a shift device 3 in the form of an electric motor which is connected through a shaft 59 with the rotarv slide valves 53 and 54. According to Figures 1 and la the piston rod 1 has an interior space formed by bores 2 and 5 of stepped diameters. The shift device 3, preferably formed as electric motor with gearing, is in communication with an insert 4 which has a section 6 with larger diameter the lower end face of which comes to abut on the shift device 3. In the section 6 of the insert 4 there are provided contact sleeves 7 and 8 into which contact pins 7a and 8a of the shift device 3 are pushed.The electric conductors 9 and 10 are connected with the contacts 7 and 8 and conducted through the insert 4 as far as the upper end of the piston rod 1 and there connected by a plug connection 11 through a connection cable 12 with the electric system of the motor vehicle and/or with a control appliance.
In Figure 1 b there is represented the upper end of the piston rod Iwith the slender part of the insert 4 in which the electric conductors 9 and 10 are embedded by moulding. These conductors 9 and 10 are attached at their upper ends to contact pins 60, 61 which are fixed, for example also embedded by moulding, in the insert 4. A plug body 63 having contact sleeves 60a and 61a for fitting on to the contact pins 60 and 61 is inserted into a recess 62 at the upper end of the piston rod 1. A cable 12 is anchored in the plug body 63 either by clamping effect or by embedding by moulding. This cable 12 comprises a cable sheath 12a and conductors 64, 65. The conductors 64, 65 are electrically connected to the contact sleeves 60a and 61a.A cap nut 13 is secured by means of a threading 13a on the upper end of the piston rod 1 and secures the plug body 63 against its traction.
The electric conductors 64 and 65 lead to the electric system and/or a control device. The entirety of the parts at the upper end of the piston rod 1 is called plug connection 11.
The entirety of the rotary slide valves 53 and 54 as represented in Figure 1 is called changeover device U.
To seal off the insert 4 from the interior of the piston rod 1 the section 6 of the insert 4 is provided with a ring groove 14 in which a gasket 15 is arranged which places itself against the inner wall formed by the bore 5.
A connection of the insert 4 fast in rotation with the shift device 3 is obtained by projections 16 of dog form of the insert 4 which engage in correspondingly formed depressions 16a of the shift device 3. By appropriate arrangement of these projections 16 of dog form and of the depressions 1 6a the object can be achieved that engagement of the projections 16 of dog form in the depressions 1 6a is possible only in one specific position of the shift device 3 in relation to the insert 4.
By way of example only one projection 16 of dog form and one corresponding depression 1 6a can be provided.
The depressions 1 6a and the projections 16 of dog form are so dimensioned in the longitudinal direction that they come into engage ment before the contact pins 8a engage in the contact sleeves 8. In this way it is ensured that the insert 4 assumes the correct angle.
position in relation to the shift device 3 before the contact sleeves 8 and the contact pins 8a are pushed into one another.
In the illustration according to Figures 2 and 3 the position-orientated rotation-fast connection of the insert 4 and the shift device 3 in relation to the piston rod 1 is shown. For this purpose the insert 4 has at the transition to the section 6 provided with larger diameter a projection 17 which engages in a correspond ing recess 18 of the piston rod 1. For the sealing of the insert 4 against the inner wall of the piston rod 1 in place of the gasket 15 arranged in the ring groove 14 the section 6 can be formed integrally with a surrounding seal. The connection of the insert 4 with the shift device 3 takes place through the projections 16 of dog form which engage in corresponding depressions 1 6a of the shift device 3 and by firm seating constitute a connection.
Thus the shift device 3 can be assembled into a construction unit with the insert 4 and the pertinent electric connection elements before fitting in the piston rod 1 and thus assembly can be substantially simplified.
In Figure 4 there is shown a variant of embodiment in which the insert 4 comprises a retaining fitting 19 grasping around the shift device 3, which fitting has at its free end resilient projections 20 of hook form which form a snap connection with the shift device 3. In this way an easily produced connection which is not disengageable in the installed condition is produced between insert 4 and shift device 3. Moreover a secure connection is rendered possible in pre-assembly between shift device 3 and insert 4, so that errors of assembly are precluded from the outset.The insert 4 is advantageously formed by a component consisting of synthetic plastics material in which the electric conductors 9 and 10, the contact sleeves 7 and 8 and the pertinent parts of the plug connection 11 are embedded by moulding, so that the insert guarantees an extremely operationally reliable electric connection, suitable for motor vehicles, with the shift device 3.
Regarding Figure 1 b it should also be added that the cap nut 13 can also be rotatably and axially fixedly connected with the plug body 63. In this case however it will be necessary to provide for securing the plug body 63 in rotation in relation to the piston rod 1 so that the contact sleeves 60a, 61a are in alignment with the contact pins 60, 61. Alternatively it is also possible to form the plug connections as concentric plug connections in relation to the axis of the piston rod 1.

Claims (12)

1. Vibration damper of variable force for vehicles, which comprises for the variation of the damping force a changeover device (U) which is in operative connection with an electrically actuatable shift device (3) arranged in the interior of a piston rod (1), the shift device (3) being connected with electric conductors (9, 10) conducted out of the piston rod (1), characterised in that between the shift device (3) and the outer end, in relation to a cylinder (50), of the piston rod (1) in the interior of the piston rod (1) there is arranged an insert (4) receiving the electric conductors (9, 10) in outwardly sealing manner, consisting preferably of insulating material and seaied in relation to the inner wall of the piston rod (1), which insert comprises contact parts (7, 8) for electric connection with the shift device (3).
2. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to Claim 1, characterised in that for the rotation-fast connection of the insert (4) with the shift device (3) the latter comprises at least one projection (16) of dog form which engages in a correspondingly formed depression (16a) of the shift device (3).
3. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the insert (4) comprises a retaining fitting (19) grasping around the shift device (3).
4. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to Claim 3, characterised in that the retaining fitting (19) comprises at least one radially inwardly pointing projection (20) of hook form which forms a snap connection with the shift device (3).
5. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that plug contact connections (7, 8; 7a, 8a) are provided between the shift device (3) and the insert (4).
6. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the insert (4) is provided, for rotation-fast and position-orientated connection with the piston rod (1), with a projection (17) which engages in rotation-securing manner in a corresponding recess (18) of the piston rod (1).
7. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the insert (4) extends as far as the outer end of the piston rod (1) and is there provided with a plug connection (11).
8. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to claim 7, characterised in that a plug body (63) of a connection cable (12) is provided with a cap nut (13) which can be screwed on to the end of the piston rod (1).
9. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the insert (4) comprises a ring groove (14) in which there is arranged a gasket (15) resting on the inner wall of the piston rod (1).
10. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the insert (4) is formed integrally with a surrounding seal for abutment on the inner wall of the piston rod (1).
11. Vibration damper of variable damping force according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the insert (4) is formed by a component consisting of synthetic plastics material in which the electric conductors (9, 10), the contact parts (7, 8) and possibly parts of the plug connection (11) are embedded by moulding.
12. Vibration damper as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompany ing drawings.
GB08715524A 1986-07-05 1987-07-02 Vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles Withdrawn GB2192967A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19863622634 DE3622634A1 (en) 1986-07-05 1986-07-05 DAMPING FORCE CHANGEABLE VIBRATION DAMPER FOR VEHICLES

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8715524D0 GB8715524D0 (en) 1987-08-12
GB2192967A true GB2192967A (en) 1988-01-27

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GB08715524A Withdrawn GB2192967A (en) 1986-07-05 1987-07-02 Vibration damper of variable damping force for vehicles

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DE (1) DE3622634A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2192967A (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5316272A (en) * 1986-09-12 1994-05-31 Richard J. Meyer Liquid spring vehicular suspension system and associated control apparatus
US6305673B1 (en) 1994-07-26 2001-10-23 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Vibration control system
US6598885B2 (en) 2001-10-23 2003-07-29 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Single valve control of damping and stiffness in a liquid spring system
US6679504B2 (en) 2001-10-23 2004-01-20 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Seamless control of spring stiffness in a liquid spring system
FR2846390A1 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-30 Donerre Amortisseur Motor vehicle suspension damper has housing containing sub pistons defining upper, lower and middle damping chambers
WO2004040164A2 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-05-13 Amortisseur Donerre Damper hydraulic bump stop for vehicle, damping system and method for using same
US7641181B2 (en) 2003-01-24 2010-01-05 Liquid Spring Technologies, Inc. Distributed power suspension system

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL9001426A (en) * 1990-06-21 1992-01-16 Du Pont Nederland CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY, ESPECIALLY FOR USE WITH AN ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBER.
DE4116805A1 (en) * 1991-05-23 1992-11-26 Bilstein August Gmbh Co Kg ADJUSTABLE VIBRATION DAMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
DE102006059297A1 (en) * 2006-12-15 2008-06-19 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag vibration
CN102808890B (en) * 2011-06-02 2014-12-24 北京长城博创科技有限公司 Composite damper with electrical connection function
DE102016201615A1 (en) * 2016-02-03 2017-08-03 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft vibration
DE102017221647A1 (en) * 2017-12-01 2019-06-06 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Contacting device for a valve disposed within a vibration damper electrically controllable valve
JP6986957B2 (en) * 2017-12-27 2021-12-22 日立Astemo株式会社 Buffer

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2168455A (en) * 1984-12-18 1986-06-18 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Vibration damper with variable damping force
EP0186355A2 (en) * 1984-12-24 1986-07-02 General Motors Corporation Hydraulic damper

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2168455A (en) * 1984-12-18 1986-06-18 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Vibration damper with variable damping force
EP0186355A2 (en) * 1984-12-24 1986-07-02 General Motors Corporation Hydraulic damper

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5316272A (en) * 1986-09-12 1994-05-31 Richard J. Meyer Liquid spring vehicular suspension system and associated control apparatus
US6305673B1 (en) 1994-07-26 2001-10-23 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Vibration control system
US6598885B2 (en) 2001-10-23 2003-07-29 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Single valve control of damping and stiffness in a liquid spring system
US6679504B2 (en) 2001-10-23 2004-01-20 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Seamless control of spring stiffness in a liquid spring system
US7891673B2 (en) 2001-10-23 2011-02-22 Liquidspring Technologies, Inc. Seamless control of spring stiffness in a liquid spring system
FR2846390A1 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-30 Donerre Amortisseur Motor vehicle suspension damper has housing containing sub pistons defining upper, lower and middle damping chambers
WO2004040164A2 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-05-13 Amortisseur Donerre Damper hydraulic bump stop for vehicle, damping system and method for using same
WO2004040164A3 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-09-10 Amortisseur Donerre Damper hydraulic bump stop for vehicle, damping system and method for using same
US7641181B2 (en) 2003-01-24 2010-01-05 Liquid Spring Technologies, Inc. Distributed power suspension system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8715524D0 (en) 1987-08-12
DE3622634A1 (en) 1988-01-14

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