WO2007033626A1

WO2007033626A1 - Spring device, in particular for a driver's seat

Info

Publication number: WO2007033626A1
Application number: PCT/DE2005/002096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Wessely
Original assignee: Phoenix Traffic Technology Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-09-22
Filing date: 2005-11-23
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: DE102005045251A1

Abstract

Spring device (3) comprising at least: - an upper structure and a lower structure (4, 5), wherein the upper structure is connected to a driver's seat; a scissors-type link system comprising two scissors-type links (5) which run parallel and each have an intersecting and central articulation point (X); an air spring arrangement (14) comprising two end regions (A, B), wherein, in addition to the scissors-type link system, there is a toggle lever system, two toggle levers (12) running parallel and each having a central articulation point (Y), and the two intersecting and central articulation points (X) of the scissors-type links (6) and the two central articulation points (Y) of the toggle levers (12) are each connected to each other by a yoke, wherein all of the articulation points (X, Y) come to lie on a transverse centre plane (Z) situated between the upper structure and lower structure (4, 5); and the two yokes are used as fastening brackets for the two end regions (A, B) of the air spring arrangement (14) which runs horizontally.

Description

Spring device, in particular for a driver's seat

description

The invention relates to a spring device consisting at least of:

- An upper and lower structure, which are arranged at a variable height distance from each other, the upper and lower frame are each formed as a frame or plate, again the superstructure with a support body, in particular in the form of a driver's seat, is in communication during the substructure mounted on a foundation;

- A scissor handle system comprising two parallel scissor arms, each with a crossing and middle hinge point, wherein the two scissor arms are fastened on two opposite sides of the upper and lower structure so that the height distance is adjustable; such as

- An air spring assembly, comprising two end portions, which are equipped with connection possibilities, and an air spring bellows made of elastomeric material, which encloses a loop forming a volume-elastic air chamber, wherein the loop corresponds to the free outer surface of a rolling piston in the context of the rebound and rebound.

A generic spring device is presented in European patent EP 0 988 512 B1 (FIG. 1). An air spring arrangement with the air spring (air spring module) referred to basic components air spring bellows, cover and rolling piston extends from the superstructure to the base of the spring device. In addition to this air spring an external controllable damper (vibration damper) is also available, which also extends from the superstructure to the substructure, wherein in the region of the upper and lower ball joints, comprising mostly spherical hinge eyes and pins, are available. The spring device is also equipped with a position sensor. With regard to the procedure, reference is made to the block diagram (Fig. 2, 3) of the patent cited above. A disadvantage of a such spring device is that it is prone to failure, so that optionally the spring as well as damping effect is no longer sufficient.

In addition, it is known that in a generic spring device, the air spring arrangement to act only within the range of substructure and the intersection and middle pivot point of the scissor handle system. The disadvantage of such a construction is that the air spring does not move in a straight line, but executes a pivoting movement, which entails a heavy burden. In addition, when using an additional vibration damper also ball joints must be used here, since dampers can only perform a rectilinear motion. However, ball joints are susceptible to wear, especially since the vibration damper is subjected to constant angle changes in the course of the rebound and rebound.

In addition, pneumatic spring arrangements are widely used in vehicle construction (passenger cars, utility vehicles and rail vehicles), and in the context of a wide variety of designs. In addition to the simple air spring design, comprising the above-mentioned basic components, while an air spring assembly as air spring damper unit (LFD unit) is used. With regard to the relevant air spring or LFD technology, reference is made, for example, to the following documents: DE 36 41 623 C2, DE 199 32 717 A1, DE 199 52 919 A1, DE 100 01 018 A1, DE 103 47 934 A1, DE 103 14621 A1, EP 0 866 759 B1, EP 0 897 489 B1 and WO 2004/109149 A1

In a further development, the object of the invention is to provide a generic spring device, in particular for a driver's seat, based on a simple as well as trouble-free concept.

The task is solved by the fact that

- In addition to the scissor handle system, a toggle lever system comprising two parallel toggle lever, each with a central pivot point, is present, the two toggle are arranged side by side with the two scissor arms and are also attached to the upper and lower structure, that the height distance adjustable is; - The two intersection and middle pivot points of the scissor arms and the two central pivot points of the toggle are each connected by a yoke, all hinge points come to rest on a between the upper and lower structure located transverse center plane; and that

- The two yokes serve as mounting brackets for the two end portions of the horizontally extending air spring assembly, without the air bag is disturbed in its rebound and rebound, the two yokes in the region of the hinge points in the fully rebound state the farthest distance with the same height distance and in the Fully compressed state have the shortest path with the lowest height difference between the top and bottom.

The air spring arrangement is preferably designed as an air spring damper unit (LFD unit) in that the air spring and the damper act as integrated components in the axial direction of the air spring arrangement, in contrast to the embodiment according to EP 0 988 512 B1 (FIG ). The following variants are of particular importance in this connection:

- The LFD unit includes a concentric vibration damper inside the air spring. This concept is often referred to as Luftfederbein.

- The LFD unit comprises a concentrically arranged hydraulic vibration damper, which is equipped in particular with an adjustable damper characteristic.

- The LFD unit includes a concentric gas damper. The gas is mostly air. The gas damper communicates directly with the air chamber of the air spring and operates at the same working pressure as the air spring. Air and damper chamber come as an n-chamber system

(n> 2) for use, for example in the form of an air chamber and two damper chambers. The individual chambers are separated in particular by valve plates from each other. As an alternative to this, the gas damper is separated from the air chamber of the air spring by low-friction sealing elements so that a higher pressure within the gas damper than within the air chamber is adjustable. In this constellation, the gas damper optionally also serves as a reservoir for feeding the air spring.

The gas spring damper combinations presented here have the short nomenclature GFD.

Regardless of the variants presented here, the LFD unit works with automatic level control based on default values. Alternatively, this can also work with externally adjustable variable level position.

The air bag is cylindrical, conical or contoured with respect to its meridian section and includes a static and dynamic range (loop area). The air spring bellows in each case has an embedded, in particular thread-like reinforcement, in particular again in the form of cords, to form an air-tight and pressure-tight Belginnenschicht, a single or multi-layer reinforcing layer and a bellows outer layer. With regard to the course of the filamentary reinforcement, the following two variants are used:

- The thread-like strength member runs such that with respect to two layers, a crossing angle is formed. Such a bellows is also called Kreuzlagenbalg. The crossing angles are constant or inconstant, which is the case in particular in the case of a contoured air spring bellows. The crossing angle is usually chosen to provide a self-stabilizing effect of the "limit angle" with respect to a maximum diameter, however, if the crossing angle is chosen so that this stabilizing limit angle is not achieved, a supporting outer diameter limiting guide is required.

- The thread-like reinforcement runs in axial Balgrichtung. Such a bellows is also referred to as Axialbalg. At this Reinforcement constellation is usually used a supporting outer guide.

The two bellows ends are in particular by means of clamping rings, clamps, clamping plate or the like on the lid on the one hand and on the rolling piston on the other hand attached. For reinforcing the bellows can be thickened (EP 0 839 676 A1). Separate elastomer rings are also used (EP 0 929 759 B1). The scorching of the bellows ends on the cover or rolling piston is also possible (DE 40 11 517 A1).

The invention will now be explained by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

1 shows a spring device for a driver's seat.

2a shows a spring device with an LFD unit, comprising a concentrically arranged hydraulic vibration damper, in the fully rebound state;

FIG. 2b shows a spring device with an LFD unit, comprising a concentrically arranged hydraulic vibration damper, in the fully spring-loaded state; FIG.

3a shows a spring device with an LFD unit, comprising a concentrically arranged gas damper, in the fully rebound state;

FIG. 3b shows a spring device with an LFD unit, comprising a concentrically arranged gas damper, in the fully spring-loaded state.

Fig. 1 shows a driver's seat 1 with a spring device 2, which is shown here only simplified, without details of the air spring assembly, which is now shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and Fig. 3a, 3b in detail.

According to Fig. 2a, the spring device 3 comprises a superstructure 4 and substructure 5, which are arranged in the fully rebound state at a height distance H to each other. Upper and lower frame are each formed as a four-sided frame. The superstructure is in communication with the driver's seat 1 (Figure 1) while the substructure is mounted on a foundation.

The scissor handle system comprises two parallel scissor arms 6, each with a crossing and middle pivot point X, the two scissor arms on two opposite sides (here one-sided view) of the upper and lower structure are fixed so that the height distance H is adjustable, under the point of view of effective rebound and rebound. For this purpose, the one end of the arm 7 within the side region of the superstructure 4 fixed, but rotatably fixed (mounting and joint position 8). At its other end, the handlebar 7 is slidably fixed within the side region of the substructure 5 by means of a slide rail 9 (fixing and sliding position 10). With the handlebar 11, the connection to the upper and lower structure in the same manner as the handlebar 7, but under the inverse of the two positions 8 and 10.

In addition to the scissor-type steering system, there is a toggle lever system comprising two parallel toggle levers 12 each having a central pivot point Y, the two toggle levers being arranged side by side with the two scissor arms 6. The attachment of the toggle lever at the other end of the upper and lower structure is again such that the height distance H is adjustable. For this purpose, the two ends of the toggle lever within the side region of the upper and lower structure fixed, but rotatably fixed (mounting and joint position 13).

The two intersection and middle articulation points X of the scissor arms 6 and the two middle articulation points Y of the toggle 12 are each connected by a yoke, all hinge points X and Y come to lie on a between the upper and lower structure located transverse center plane Z to lie. The two yokes are designed in particular as U-shaped pressed and stiffened components. The two yokes and the hinge points X and Y are arranged at an adjustable distance S to each other, also from the viewpoint of an effective buckling and rebound. The two yokes now serve as mounting brackets for the two end regions A and B of the horizontally extending air spring assembly 14 with air spring bellows 15 with a substantially cylindrical Meridianschnitt, cover 16, rolling piston 17 with free outer surface 18 and outer guide 19. The air spring assembly is as an LFD unit with a concentrically arranged hydraulic vibration damper 20 equipped. A housing 21 in this case comprises the end region of the rolling piston. The end portion A of the air spring assembly, formed from the cover and outer guide, is here with the yoke (crossing and hinge point X) of the scissor handle system in conjunction. In the case of an air spring bellows without external guide, in particular a cup-shaped cover takes over the connection. On the other hand, the end portion B formed substantially from the housing 21 is connected to the yoke (hinge point Y) of the bellcrank system. Instead of the housing can also serve an extended rolling piston or a tubular damper component for connection.

In the fully rebound state shown in FIG. 2a, the two yokes in the region of the hinge points X and Y have the farthest distance S at the same time the greatest height distance H of the superstructure 4 and substructure. 5

According to FIG. 2b, the air spring arrangement 14 is in the fully spring-loaded state, with the two yokes having the shortest distance S 'in the region of the articulation points X and Y, while at the same time the smallest height distance H' of the superstructure 4 and substructure 5. The air spring bellows 15 corresponds to the free outer surface 18 (FIG. 2 a) of the rolling piston, to form a loop 22.

According to Fig. 3a, the spring device 23 is equipped with the same scissor link and joint system as in Fig. 2a with an air spring assembly 24, which is equipped in this embodiment as LFD unit with a concentrically arranged gas damper 25. The end portion A of the air spring assembly is here a cup-shaped cover 26, while the end portion B consists of a housing with integrated rolling piston 28, which in turn has a free outer surface 29. Between the two end regions A and B, the air spring bellows 30, which during compression coincides with the free outer surface of the rolling piston, forming a loop 32 (FIG. 3b). The rolling piston has a diameter extension 31 within its circulation area. Here is also the final position the loop 32. In this position, the air spring experiences the greatest achievable actuating force with which the knee lever are finally pushed apart again. When rebounding the required force falls with the flattening position of the toggle. However, the toggle lever should still maintain a certain inclination (basic inclination) in its predetermined by the required seat height end position, so that no self-locking of the spring device occurs.

With the exception of the air spring bellows and optionally sealing elements and buffers, all of which are made of elastomeric material, all other components of the air spring assembly of metal or plastic are formed with metal-like properties. The plastic is in particular glass fiber reinforced (EP 1 110 010 B1). In this way, an effective connection of the end regions formed from these materials A and B of the air spring assembly is ensured to the two yokes.

In the two exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 3 a, 3 b, the end region A facing the cover forms the connection to the yoke of the scissor steering system, while the end region B facing the rolling piston assumes the connection to the yoke of the toggle lever system. This is the usual constellation. But also a reversal conception is possible. Thus, in the automotive industry, the cover of an air spring assembly is usually connected to the body, while the rolling piston or a Dämpferbaubeil is provided with a chassis connection. However, air spring assemblies with a cover connection to the chassis and a rolling piston connection to the body are increasingly being used here as well.

Bezugszeichenhste

driver's seat

spring device

superstructure

substructure

Scissor handlebar (scissor handle system)

handlebars

Mounting and joint position

slide

Mounting and sliding position

handlebars

Knee lever (toggle lever system)

Mounting and joint position

Air spring arrangement

suspension bellows

cover

Rolling piston (plunger) free outer surface (rolling surface)

External guide hydraulic vibration damper

casing

Loop (rolled fold)

spring device

Air spring arrangement

gas damper

Cover (air spring pot)

casing

Rolling piston (plunger) free outer surface (rolling surface)

suspension bellows 31 Diameter enlargement of the rolling piston

32 loop (rolled fold)

A end portion of the air spring assembly

B end portion of the air spring assembly

H maximum height difference

H 'smallest height difference

S widest distance of the yokes

S 'shortest distance of the yokes

X Intersection and middle pivot point of the scissors steering system

Y middle pivot point of the toggle lever system

Z transverse center plane

Claims

claims

1. spring device (2, 3, 23) consisting at least of:

- An upper and lower structure (4, 5), which are arranged at a variable height distance (H, H ') to each other, the upper and lower frame are each formed as a frame or plate, in turn, the superstructure with a support body, in particular Form of a driver's seat (1), communicating while the substructure is mounted on a foundation;

- a scissor-type steering system comprising two parallel scissor arms (6), each with a crossing and middle articulation point (X), the two scissor arms being fastened on two opposite sides of the upper and lower structure (4, 5) such that the height distance ( H, H ') is adjustable; such as

- An air spring assembly (14, 24) comprising two end portions (A, B), which are equipped with connection possibilities, and an air spring bellows (15, 30) of elastomeric material, which encloses a loop forming a loop (22, 32) a volume-elastic air chamber , wherein the loop in the context of the rebound and rebound with the free outer surface (18, 29) of a rolling piston (17, 28) corresponds;

characterized in that

in addition to the scissor-type steering system, a toggle lever system comprising two parallel toggle levers (12) each having a central pivot point (Y) is provided, wherein the two toggle levers are arranged side by side with the two scissor arms and likewise with the upper and lower frame ( 4, 5) are fixed, that the height distance (H, H ') is adjustable;

- The two intersection and middle pivot points (X) of the scissor arms (6) and the two middle pivot points (Y) of the toggle (12) are each connected by a yoke, all hinge points (X, Y) on a lying between upper and lower structure (4, 5) located transverse center plane (Z) come to rest; and that

- The two yokes as mounting brackets for the two end regions (A, B) of the horizontally extending air spring assembly (14, 24) serve, without the air bag (15, 30) is disturbed in its rebound and rebound, the two yokes in the area the hinge points (X, Y) in the fully rebound state the farthest distance (S) at the same time the greatest height distance (H) and in the fully compressed state the shortest distance (S ') at the same time the lowest height distance (H') of the upper and lower structure ( 4, 5).

2. Spring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air spring arrangement (14, 24) forms an air spring-damper unit by the air spring and the damper in the axial direction of the air spring arrangement act as integrated components.

3. Spring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the air spring damper unit comprises a concentrically arranged vibration damper within the air spring.

4. Spring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the air spring damper unit comprises a concentrically arranged hydraulic vibration damper (20).

5. Spring device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydraulic vibration damper is equipped with an adjustable damper characteristic.

6. Spring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the air spring damper unit comprises a concentrically arranged gas damper (25).

7. Spring device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gas damper is directly in communication with the air chamber of the air spring and operates at the same working pressure as the air spring.

8. Spring device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gas damper is separated by low-friction sealing elements of the air chamber of the air spring, that within the gas damper, a higher pressure than within the air chamber is adjustable.

9. Spring device according to claim 8, characterized in that the gas damper serves as a reservoir for feeding the air spring.

10. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 9, in particular in conjunction with one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the air spring assembly, in particular the air spring-damper unit, works with automatic, based on default values leveling.

11. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 9, in particular in conjunction with one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the air spring assembly, in particular the air spring-damper unit operates with externally adjustable variable level position.

12. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the air spring bellows (15, 30) is designed with respect to the meridian section cylindrical, conical or contoured.

13. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the air spring bellows (15, 30) has an embedded strength member, in particular thread-like reinforcement, in particular again in the form of cords, to form an air and pressure-tight bellows inner layer, a single or multi-layer strength layer and a bellows outer layer.

14. Spring device according to claim 13, characterized in that the thread-like strength member extends so that with respect to two layers, a crossing angle is formed.

15. Spring device according to claim 13, characterized in that the thread-like strength member extends in the axial Balgrichtung.

16. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 15, in particular in conjunction with claim 15, characterized in that the air spring bellows (15) is provided with a supporting outer guide (19).

17. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the rolling piston (17, 28) experiences within its outlet region a diameter extension (31).

18. Spring device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the two yokes are formed as U-shaped pressed and stiffened components.