GB2352698A

GB2352698A - A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2352698A
Application number: GB0019065A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rudiger Henze; Roland Kasaj
Original assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
Current assignee: Daimler AG
Priority date: 1999-08-03
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-03
Also published as: GB0019065D0; GB2352698B; FR2797808A1; FR2797808B1

Abstract

A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle for the coupling of two wheels of a vehicle axle line, has first and second stabilizer parts (2,3) assigned to each of the wheels, and also with an actuator (4) which couples the stabilizer parts (2,3) and which makes it possible to prestress the stabilizer parts (2,3). The stabilizer parts (2,3) in each case are connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an actuator connection (5). At least one of the stabilizer parts (2) is connected to the associated actuator connection (5) indirectly via a coupling member (9) connected to the stabilizer part (2). The coupling member (9) is an internally toothed clamping bush (9), the associated actuator connection being an externally toothed shaft (5), onto which the clamping bush (9) is slipped in order to make the connection. A slot or slots (19) in the clamping bush (9) providing the means by which the stabilizer part (2) becomes prestressed.

Description

1 2352698 Stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle The invention relates

to a stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle, particularly but not exclusively a passenger car, for the coupling of two wheels of a vehicle axle with a first stabilizer part assigned to one wheel and with a second stabilizer part assigned to the other wheel and also with an actuator which couples the stabilizer parts and which makes it possible to brace the stabilizer parts, the first stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a first actuator connection, the second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a second actuator connection, and at least one of the stabilizer parts being connected to the associated actuator connection indirectly via a coupling member connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the stabilizer part. The invention relates, ftirthermore, to a method for producing a stabilizer arrangement of this type.

A stabilizer serves, as a rule, for improving the lateral rolling behaviour in a vehicle, such a stabilizer arrangement being capable, in principle, of being used both in a road vehicle and in a rail vehicle. DEC 11 05 290 discloses a stabilizer arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction, which has a first stabilizer part assigned to one wheel and a second stabilizer part assigned to the other wheel. An actuator designed in the manner of a rotor/stator assembly couples the two stabilizer parts, the first stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a first actuator connection, for example to the rotor, and the second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a second actuator connection, for example to the stator. As a result of controlled rotation between the rotor and stator, bracing or prestressing of the stabilizer parts can be applied in a directed way, with the consequence that roll stabilization of the vehicle can be achieved. Moreover, by means of such a stabilizer arrangement, it is possible, in principle, also to influence the pitch behaviour of the vehicle. Furthermore, a stabilizer arrangement of this type may also have the function of a level-adjusting device or of ajack.

In the known stabilizer arrangement mentioned above, the rotationally fixed connection between the actuator and the respective stabilizer part is made in each case via a toothing. In this instance, an external toothing formed at the respective end of the stabilizers engages into an internal toothing formed on the respective actuator connection. In order to form such an external toothing on the stabilizer end, the stabilizer end must first be upset in order to achieve a thickening of material. Only then can the toothing be formed by means of corresponding cutting machining. Such a procedure is relatively costly and is unsuitable for use in large series production.

2 The formation of such an axially running toothing for the rotationally fixed coupling of the stabilizer parts to the actuator is also shown in DE 44 43 809 Al and in DE 44 42 223 C2.

In DE 43 37 771 Al, the rotationally fixed coupling of a stabilizer part to the actuator is achieved in that on that end of the stabilizer part which is to be connected to the actuator is formed a flattened push-in plate which is introduced into a corresponding receiving slot in the respective actuator connection, clamping screws being provided which pass through the pushin plate transversely to the plate plane and brace it together with the actuator connection. This embodiment, too, is relatively costly for use in large series.

It is known from DE 43 37 813 Al to form on the respective end of the stabilizer part a disc-shaped flange which is then connected to the rotor of the actuator by means of an annular weld seam. For the connection of the stator, a disc-shaped flange is connected to the latter by means of an annular weld seam, to which flange is fastened a matching flange formed at the respective end of the associated stabilizer part. The production of weld joints of this kind is also relatively complicated.

The German Patent Application still unpublished on the filing date of the present invention and having the official file No. 199 30 444.0 of 02.07. 1999 solves the problem of specifying, for a stabilizer arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction, an embodiment which is suitable for production within the framework of large-series manufacture. For this purpose, at least one of the stabilizer parts is connected to the associated actuator connection indirectly via a coupling member connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the stabilizer part.

A particular advantage of this stabilizer arrangement may be seen in that differently constructed, shaped and designed stabilizer parts can always be connected to the same coupling members or to the same actuator connections, so that, in that respect, the multiplicity of parts can be reduced. These measures, in particular, make the logistics easier in large-series manufacture. It is considerably less expensive to produce the suitable coupling members, for example a flange or a profiled tenon, separately from corresponding blanks and to attach them to the end of the stabilizer part, for example by means of a friction-welding method, than first to provide at the end of the stabilizer part, by means of an upsetting method or the like, the preconditions for forming a coupling member integrally shaped on the stabilizer part. Overall, therefore, production time and production costs can be saved, and this has a particularly advantageous effect within the framework of large-series manufacture.

3 The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying, for a stabilizer arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction, an embodiment with a particularly expedient coupling member which makes it possible for the stabilizer part equipped with it to be mounted on and demounted from the actuator in a simple way.

According to the invention there is provided a stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle for the coupling of two wheels of a vehicle axle, with a first stabilizer part assigned to one wheel and with a second stabilizer part assigned to the other wheel and also with an actuator which couples the stabilizer parts and which makes it possible to brace the stabilizer parts, the first stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a first actuator connection, the second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a second actuator connection, and at least one of the stabilizer parts being connected to the associated actuator connection indirectly via a coupling member connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the stabilizer part, wherein the coupling member comprises a clamping bush with a radially inward-projecting axially extending internal toothing, the associated actuator connection comprising a shaft with a radially outward-projecting axially extending external toothing, onto which the clamping bush is engaged The present invention also provides a method for producing a stabilizer arrangement according to the invention, a first and a second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an actuator, at least one coupling member being produced separately from the associated stabilizer part and subsequently being fastened fixedly in terms of rotation to the associated stabilizer part, and thereafter the subassembly formed from the stabilizer part and built-on coupling member being connected to the actuator, wherein at least one of the coupling members comprises a clamping bush which has an axial internal toothing, the subassembly formed from the stabilizer part and built-on clamping bush being slipped onto a shaft which forms an actuator connection and which has a complementary axial external toothing.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a coupling member coupling member for a stabilizer arrangement according to the invention, wherein the coupling member comprises a clamping bush which on one axial side has a connecting plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the clamping bush and which on the other axial side has an axially running internal toothing.

By the coupling member being designed as a clamping bush which is capable of being slipped onto a complementarily designed shaft of the actuator, the rotationally fixed connection of the coupling member and therefore of the stabilizer part equipped with it can be 4 carried out relatively quickly and simply. Relatively simple demounting is likewise possible. In this case, the rotationally fixed connection is made by intermeshing, in which an internal toothing of the clamping bush cooperates with radially inward-projecting and axially extending teeth and a corresponding external toothing of the shaft cooperates with radially outward-projecting and axially extending teeth. The clamping connection is, in this instance, designed in such a way that a relatively large overlap is obtained during intermeshing, so that the coupling member and the shaft cooperating with it have a relatively short size in the axial direction, whilst, at the same time, an improved introduction of force is achieved. In order to produce a clamping action, the toothing mating is expediently produced with relatively small play.

Preferably, the stabilizer arrangement is designed in such a way that the clamping bush has an axial slot which is open towards the actuator and which extends axially and passes radially through the clamping bush. Tension means are also provided, which act on the clamping bush and introduce a tension force into the clamping bush which prestresses the slot edges, located opposite one another in the circumferential direction, towards one another. By virtue of this measure, the transmission of force between the coupling member and actuator connection is increased, whilst, in turn, the overlap of the toothing is increased, so that the axial overall length can be kept relatively short.

A particularly effective clamping action is obtained if the clamping bush has two axial slots which are arranged radially in line with one another, that is to say on a diameter. By corresponding tension means, symmetrical and high-quality force transmission can thereby be achieved between the clamping bush and shaft.

Expediently, the tension means have at least one tension screw which cooperates with a screw thread, for example in a nut, the tension screw being assigned to one slot edge and the screw thread to the other slot edge. An embodiment of this type has a construction which can be produced particularly simply and, moreover, can be actuated manually in a relatively simple way, thus making it easier to mount and demount the stabilizer part.

By the clamping bush being connected to the associated stabilizer part with the aid of a materially integral joint, for example by means of a friction-welding joint or by means of a laser-welding joint, a highstrength connection technique is proposed, which can be employed to a particular extent within the framework of large-series production. This is because, for example in friction welding or laser welding, prefabricated coupling members can be connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the respective stabilizer part, without, for example, upsetting of the stabilizer part being necessary for this purpose. Also, a friction-welding joint can be made relatively quickly. The unreleasable, materially integral and high-strength connection of the clamping bush to the stabilizer part results in a one-piece subassembly which can be connected, complete, to the actuator. By a materially integral joint is meant, here, a connection in which material interlocking by crosslinking, diffusion, fasion or melting together of the components involved takes place in a connection zone.

A friction-welding method is distinguished from other welding methods, for example, in that even high-alloy steels can be joined together, free of cracks, without preheating and reheating. Moreover, even already tempered parts can be connected to one another by means of friction welding. Furthermore, by means of a friction-welding method, it is possible to connect different metals or metal alloys to one another inseparably and in a materially integral manner. For example, a high- grade costly spring steel can consequently be used for producing the stabilizer parts, whilst the coupling part integrally shaped in one piece on them consists of another, less expensive steel.

According to a particularly expedient production method, the method for making the materially integral joint, for example friction welding, can be controlled in such a way that, in order to terminate the friction- welding operation, rotation between the parts to be welded to one another is stopped, so as to provide a predetermined relative position between the coupling member and stabilizer part, in order thereby to obtain a desired relative position between the actuator and the stabilizer part subsequently fastened to it. Additional measuring operations can be avoided in this way.

Further important features and advantages of the stabilizer arrangement according to the invention and of the method according to the invention may be gathered from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the accompanying description with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

In the drawings, in each case diagrammatically, Figure 1 shows a view of a stabilizer arrangement, two stabilizer parts not yet being connected to an associated actuator, Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a coupling member designed according to the invention as a clamping bush, 6 Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section, similar to that in Figure 2, but of another embodiment, Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section, similar to that in Figure 2, but of a further embodiment, and Figure 5 shows a cross section through the clamping bush from Figure 4 corresponding to the sectional line V in Figure 4.

According to Figure 1, a stabilizer arrangement I according to the invention consists of a first stabilizer part 2 which is assigned to a wheel, not illustrated, of a motor vehicle, likewise not illustrated. Moreover, the stabilizer arrangement I has a second stabilizer part 3 which is assigned to another wheel, likewise not illustrated, belonging to the same vehicle axle line. Furthermore, the stabilizer arrangement I comprises an actuator 4 which is designed preferably as a rotor/stator assembly. For the rotationally fixed connection of the stabilizer parts 2 and 3 to actuator connections, specifically a first actuator connection 5 and a second actuator connection 6, those ends 7 and 8 of the stabilizer parts 2 and 3) which face the actuator 4 are provided in each case with a coupling member, specifically a first coupling member 9 and a second coupling member 10.

In the present embodiment, the second coupling member 10 is formed by an, in particular, disc-shaped flange. For example, the flange-like second coupling member 10 is attached to the second actuator connection 6 which, for example, is a stator component, fixedly in terms of rotation by means of a corresponding screw connection.

In contrast to this, the first coupling member 9 is designed as a clamping bush which is connected fixedly in terins of rotation to the first stabilizer part 2 on an axial side facing the said stabilizer part and which, on an axial side facing the first actuator connection 5, has an internal toothing I I which possesses radially inward-projecting and axially extending teeth. The clamping bush 9 is designed to be essentially rotationally symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis 14. For the rotationally fixed connection of this clamping bush 9 to the actuator 4, the first actuator connection 5 of the latter is designed as a shaft which is provided with an external toothing 12 complementary to the internal toothing I I of the clamping bush 9. In this case, the shaft 5 forms, for example, a rotor component of the actuator 4. The clamping bush 9 and shaft 5 are slipped coaxially one onto the other. The internal toothing I I and the external toothing 12 are preferably coordinated with one another in such a way that a releasable press fit is formed.

In the present embodiment, the clamping bush 9 is connected to the first stabilizer part 2 by means of a friction-welded joint 13 which is identified, in Figure 1, by a line 7 symbolizing a friction-weld bead which is formed when a friction-welding method is carried out.

Alternatively to friction welding, the clamping bush 9 may also be connected to the associated stabilizer part 2 by means of any other materially integral joint, for example a laser-welding method. Depending on the existing material combinations, a soldered joint, an adhesive bond or a clamping connection may also be used.

The flange 10, too, may be connected to the associated second stabilizer part 3 by means of a materially integral joint, such as, for example, by means of a friction-welding method or laser-welding method. The flange may likewise be produced by means of the forming of the stabilizer end 8 on the stabilizer part 3. Whilst, in the embodiment illustrated, the stabilizer parts 2 and 3 are in each case connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the actuator 4 indirectly via the associated coupling member 9, 10, in another embodiment it may be perfectly appropriate to connect the second stabilizer part 3 directly to the associated second connection 6 of the actuator 4, in which case, for example, a friction-welded joint is made in a corresponding way between the second stabilizer part 3 and the second actuator connection 6.

According to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the clamping bush 9 can be divided with respect to its longitudinal axis 14 into two axial portions 15 and 16 which are identified in Figures 2 and 4 by braces. In contrast to the variants of Figures 2 and 4, in which the clamping bush 9 is formed in one piece, the variant according to Figure 3 shows a two-part construction, according to which the clamping bush 9 of Figure 3 is composed of two separately produced components (15, 16) forming the abovementioned axial portions 15 and 16. The two components 15 and 16 are connected to one another at 17, for example by means of a frictionwelded joint, in order to produce the clamping bush 9.

The axial portion 15 (Figures 2 and 4) or component 15 (Figure 3) assigned to the stabilizer part 2 has, on its axial side facing the stabilizer part 2, a connecting plane 18 which runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 14 of the clamping bush 9. The cross section of this connecting plane 18 corresponds expediently to the cross section of a complementary connecting plane formed at the axial end 7 of the stabilizer part 2, with the result that, for example, a friction-welding method can be carried out in order to connect the clamping bush 9 to the associated stabilizer part 2.

The axial portion 16 or component 16 assigned to the actuator 4 contains the internal toothing I I and at least one axial slot 19 which passes radially through the clamping bush 9, extends over the entire axial length of the internal toothing I I and is open towards the 8 actuator 4. The axial slot 19 has two slot edges 20 and 21 which run parallel to the longitudinal axis 14 and are located opposite one another in the axial slot 19 in the circumferential direction of the clamping bush 9.

With the aid of corresponding tension means, which are not illustrated for the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, a tension force can be introduced into the clamping bush 9 and prestresses the slot edges 20 and 21 towards one another in the circumferential direction. This results, with the clamping bush 9 slipped onto the shaft 5, in a reinforcement of the clamping action of the toothing 11, 12. The clamping bush 9 and therefore the stabilizer part 2 connected to it are then held captive on the associated actuator connection (shaft 5), and, due to the positive and, in particular, non-positive coupling between the clamping bush 9 and shaft 5, reliable torque transmission can be ensured.

The clamping bush 9 according to Figure 2 contains a depression 22 following the internal toothing 11. In this case, this depression 22 forms the leading end of a blind-hole bore introduced into a cylindrical blank which is subsequently formed, for example by cold forming, to produce the clamping bush 9 illustrated in Figure 2.

In the variant according to Figure 3, such preliminary work can be dispensed with, since, here, the clamping bush 9 consists of two assembled structural parts 15 and 16. The component 16 containing the internal toothing I I may, in principle, be connected directly to the associated stabilizer part 2, even without the component 15, and, here too, a frictionwelding method or a laser-welding method can be employed.

According to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the diameter of the toothing 11, 12 is greater than the diameter of the stabilizer end 7 to which the clamping bush 9 is connected, so that relatively high torques can be transmitted between the actuator 4 and stabilizer part 2. In order to implement torque transmission without peaks of stress and of force, the clamping bushes 9 of Figures 2, 3 and 4 have in each case an axial transitional portion 2') which matches up to one another the different outside diameters of the ends of the clamping bush 9 which are located opposite one another.

in the variant according to Figure 3, this transitional portion 23 may also be formed directly on the stabilizer part 2, by the corresponding stabilizer part end 7 being upset accordingly.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, two axial slots 19 are provided, which are arranged in line with one another, so that the two axial slots 19 lie in a longitudinal mid-plane of the clamping bush 9. The tension means for introducing the tension force are formed here, for example, by four tension screws 24 which pass through the axial slots 19, the tension 9 screws 24 extending perpendicularly to that longitudinal mid-plane of the clamping bush 9 in which the axial slots 19 lie. A bearing seat 25 is formed in each case for the tension screws 24 in the tubular-cylindrical axial portion 16, a screw head 26 of the tension screws 24 being supported on the said bearing seat. Each screw 24 has a shank 27 cooperating with a screw thread 28 which is likewise formed in the axial portion 16. As regards each tension screw 24, the bearing seat 25 is assigned to one slot edge 21 and the screw thread 28 to the other slot edge 20, so that a tightening of the tension screws 24 generates a tension force which seeks to move the slot edges 20 and 21 towards one another in the circumferential direction of the clamping bush 9.

The embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 ensures particularly simple mounting and demounting of the stabilizer part 2 on the actuator 4 which can be carried out quickly.

According to the invention, the production of the stabilizer arrangement I can proceed as follows:

The stabilizer parts 2 and 3 and the actuator 4 and also the coupling members 9 and 10 are in each case produced separately, the coupling members 9 and 10 preferably being finished completely or, according to one alternative, also being produced without the respective fastening means, for example the toothing or screw-connection bores.

Before the stabilizer parts 2 and 3 are fastened to the actuator 4, the coupling members 9 and 10 are attached to the respective stabilizer part 2 or 3 in a materially integral manner by means of a friction-welding method. In so far as the respective fastening means mentioned above are not yet produced on the coupling members 9 and 10, the latter are attached in a subsequent machining step, in which case care must additionally be taken to ensure the desired relative position between the actuator 4 and the stabilizer parts 2 and 3 subsequently fixed to it. If the coupling members 9 and 10 are already finished, that is to say if the coupling members 9, 10 are already equipped with the respective fastening means, the friction-welding method is preferably carried out in such a way that the structural parts rotating relative to one another during friction welding are halted or stopped so as to result, between the stabilizer part 2 or 3 and the associated coupling member 9 or 10, in a defined relative position correlated to that relative position which is desired for connecting the stabilizer part 2 or 3 to the actuator 4.

It is clear that the stabilizer part may likewise also be connected directly to the associated connection of the actuator 4, in which case the friction-welding method is then carried out in a correspondingly adapted way. A tempering method, for example by heat treatment, can subsequently be carried out.

A weld bead which forms within the friction-welded joint can be removed by means of a punch in order to conclude the friction-welding method.

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Claims

Claims

I A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle for the coupling of two wheels of a vehicle axle, with a first stabilizer part assigned to one wheel and with a second stabilizer part assigned to the other wheel and also with an actuator which couples the stabilizer parts and which makes it possible to brace the stabilizer parts, the first stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a first actuator connection, the second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a second actuator connection, and at least one of the stabilizer parts being connected to the associated actuator connection indirectly via a coupling member connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the stabilizer part, wherein the coupling member comprises a clamping bush with a radially inward-projecting axially extending internal toothing, the associated actuator connection comprising a shaft with a radially outward-projecting axially extending external toothing, onto which the clamping bush is engaged in order to make the rotationally fixed connection between the clamping bush and shaft.
2. A stabilizer arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the clamping bush has at least one axial slot open towards the actuator, and tension means are provided, which act on the clamping bush and introduce into the clamping bush a tension force which prestresses towards one another the slot edges of the axial slot which are located opposite one another in the circumferential direction.
3. A stabilizer arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the tension means have at least one tension screw which cooperates with a screw thread, the tension screw being assigned to one slot edge and the screw thread to the other slot edge.
4. A stabilizer arrangement according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the clamping bush has two axial slots which are arranged radially in line with one another.
5. A stabilizer arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 4, wherein the rotationally fixed connection of the clamping bush to the stabilizer part is made by means of a materially integral joint.

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6. A stabilizer arrangement according to one of Claims I to 5, wherein the clamping bush has an axial transitional portion which, at one end, has the same outside diameter as an end of the.clamping bush which is connected to the stabilizer part and, at the other end, has the same outside diameter as an end of the clamping bush which contains the internal toothing.
7. A stabilizer arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 6, wherein the clamping bush is formed from two separately produced components, of which one contains the internal toothing and the other is connected to the stabilizer part, the two components being connected to one another by means of a materially integral joint.
8. A stabilizer according to claim 5 or claim 7, wherein, the materially integral joint is a friction-welded joint or laser-welded joint
9. A method for producing a stabilizer arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 8, a first and a second stabilizer part being connected fixedly in ten-ns of rotation to an actuator, at least one coupling member being produced separately from the associated stabilizer part and subsequently being fastened fixedly in terms of rotation to the associated stabilizer part, and thereafter the subassembly formed from the stabilizer part and built-on coupling member being connected to the actuator, wherein at least one of the coupling members comprises a clamping bush which has an axial internal toothing, the subassembly formed from the stabilizer part and built-on clamping bush being slipped onto a shaft which forms an actuator connection and which has a complementary axial external toothing.
10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the rotationally fixed connection of the coupling member to the stabilizer part is made by means of a connection technique for producing a materially integral joint
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the materially integral joint is formed by a friction-welding method or laser-welding method.
12. A coupling member for a stabilizer arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling member comprises a clamping bush which on one axial side has 13 a connecting plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the clamping bush and which on the other axial side has an axially running internal toothing.
13. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle for the coupling of two wheels of a vehicle axle, substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14. A method for producing a stabilizer arrangement as claimed in claim 13, substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.