Chassis part consisting of fibre-reinforced plastics, equipped with an integrated sensor

• US 20040046380A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Original Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Inventors: Spratte, Joachim, Schonhoff, Stefan, Kruse, Jochen, Graber, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,083,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/782
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/00 Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs single wheel suspension by pivoted arm resilient in itself B60G3/00; adjusting spring characteristic B60G17/00; springs per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/112 longitudinally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1162 directly mounted on the suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/10 Constructional features of arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/7101 Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/10 Acceleration; Deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/64 Wheel forces, e.g. on hub, spindle or bearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/10 Piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/144 Fiber optic sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/042 Monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/366 made of fibre-reinforced plastics, i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a chassis part for connection and force transmission between a vehicle chassis of at least one wheel, consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics or plastic composite systems, preferably for a passenger car or utility vehicle.

The present invention is characterized in that at least one means for measuring forces acting on the chassis parts is integrated in the plastic portions of the chassis parts.

Claims

1. Chassis part for connection and force transmission between a vehicle chassis and at least one wheel of a motor vehicle, consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics or plastic composite systems,

characterized in that

at least one means for measuring forces acting on the chassis part is integrated in the plastic portion of the chassis part.

2. Chassis part in accordance with claim 1 above,

characterized in that

at least one means for measuring the acting forces is a wire strain gauge, a piezo element, an acceleration sensor or a fiber-optic light guide embedded in the plastic of the chassis part.

3. Chassis part in accordance with one of the above claims,

characterized in that

the means for measuring the acting forces are arranged such that they can record forces along at least two and preferably three independent axes.

4. Vehicle with a chassis part having the features in accordance with one of the above claims, characterized in that at least one means for measuring the acting forces is coupled with an electronic control device for stabilizing the driving and/or the position of the vehicle, especially by action on driving or braking elements (e.g., ESP).

5. Vehicle in accordance with the preamble of claim 4 above or in accordance with claim 4 above, characterized in that at least one means for measuring the acting forces is coupled with an electronic documentation device for the measured forces.

6. Vehicle in accordance with claim 5 above, characterized in that the electronic documentation device is integrated within the electronic control device for stabilizing the driving and/or the position of the vehicle.

7. Vehicle in accordance with one of the claims 5 or 6 above, characterized in that the documentation device has means for warning when preset maximum loads and/or the service life are exceeded.

8. Vehicle in accordance with one of the claims 5 through 7 above, characterized in that the documentation device has means for locking the vehicle when preset maximum loads are exceeded.

9. Use of means integrated in chassis parts made of plastic or composite materials for measuring forces acting on the chassis parts, preferably in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 3 above, for checking the service life of these chassis parts and for collecting measured values for electronic control devices, especially for the headlight leveling control and/or for the stabilization of the driving and the position of a vehicle.