Stabilizer Arrangement for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20070267825A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Ersoy, Metin, Haeusler, Felix, Hammelmaier, Ullrich, Westphal, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.502
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0555 including an actuator inducing vehicle roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering

Abstract

A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle has a stabilizer (1), which is connected to the vehicle chassis and which is connected to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part on each side of the vehicle by a piston-cylinder unit (4; 4′) each. Each of the piston-cylinder units (4, 4′) is formed of at least one piston (8, 8′) arranged movably in a cylinder (7, 7′), and each is connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to one end of the stabilizer (1) and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part. The piston-cylinder units (4, 4′) are connected to a hydraulic pump (20). A stop (13, 13′), against which the respective piston (8, 8′) can be moved, is assigned to each of the cylinders (7, 7′). By an arrangement of valves, it is made possible for the pistons (8, 8′) to move out of each position in a purposeful manner against the stop (13, 13′) and to hold there in a defined position in order to restore the stabilizer action in a purposeful manner and effectively from any position of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle the stabilizer arrangement comprising:

a stabilizer, which is connected to the vehicle chassis;

piston-cylinder units, each of said piston-cylinder units including a piston arranged movably in a cylinder, and each of said piston-cylinder units being connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to one end of said stabilizer and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part;

a hydraulic pump, said piston-cylinder units being connected to said hydraulic pump;

a stop associated with each said piston, against which a respective said piston can be moved, a respective first cylinder chamber being arranged on the side of said respective piston facing away from said stop and a respective second cylinder chamber being arranged on the side of said respective piston facing towards said stop, said first cylinder chamber being connected to said hydraulic pump via a hydraulic line;

a first valve arranged between said respective first cylinder chamber and said hydraulic pump said first valve, in a first switch position, blocking the flow from said, respective first cylinder chamber in the direction of said hydraulic pump and in a second switch position making possible a flow from said hydraulic pump in the direction of said respective first cylinder chamber and vice versa;

a second valve arranged on the side of each said first valve facing away from said piston-cylinder unit, said second valve, in a first switch position, preventing the flow from said respective first cylinder chamber of said piston-cylinder units in the direction of said second cylinder chamber arranged on the side of said respective piston facing towards said stop, and in a second switch position, making possible a connection between said respective first cylinder chamber and said respective second cylinder chamber.

2. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said respective first valve is designed as a 2/2-way valve that can be actuated electromagnetically, which represents the function of a nonreturn valve in the first switch position.

3. A stabilizer arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one second valve is arranged between said respective first valve and said hydraulic pump, whereby, in the first switch position, a flow is made possible from said hydraulic pump in the direction of said piston-cylinder units.

4. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one second valve is connected to both said first valves via a branching hydraulic line.

5. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a tank, wherein said second valve is designed as a 3/2-way valve that can be actuated electromagnetically, which, in a second switch position, blocks the flow from said hydraulic pump in the direction of said piston-cylinder units and also makes possible the flow from said piston-cylinder units to said tank and vice versa.

6. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hydraulic pump is the power steering pump of the motor vehicle.

7. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein when said first valve and said second valve are in the respective first switch position, said respective pistons of said piston-cylinder units can be moved at the same time against said assigned stop.

8. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein when said respective first valve and said at least one second valve are in the respective second switch position, said respective first cylinder chambers arranged on the side of said piston facing away from said stop can be connected to a respective second cylinder chamber arranged on the side of said piston facing towards said stop via the hydraulic lines and said tank.

9. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein a pressure relief valve is provided in the hydraulic circuit.

10. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first valve and another first valve for first valves that can be actuated together, but separately from said second valve.

11. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein said valves can be actuated manually.

12. A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said piston-cylinder units are designed as synchronous cylinders.

13. A motor vehicle stabilizer arrangement comprising:

a stabilizer connected to a vehicle chassis;

a hydraulic pump;

a first piston-cylinder unit with a first unit piston arranged movably in a first unit cylinder, said first piston-cylinder unit being articulated, at one end, to a first end of said stabilizer and articulated, at another end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part, said first piston-cylinder unit having a first unit stop, against which said first unit piston can be moved, and having a first unit first cylinder chamber arranged on a side of said first unit piston facing away from said first unit stop and having a first unit second cylinder chamber arranged on a side of said first unit piston facing towards said first unit stop, said first unit first cylinder chamber being connected to said hydraulic pump via a hydraulic line;

a second piston-cylinder unit with a second unit piston arranged movably in a second unit cylinder, said second piston-cylinder unit being articulated, at one end, to a second end of said stabilizer and articulated, at another end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part, said second piston-cylinder unit having a second unit stop, against which said second unit piston can be moved, and having a second unit first cylinder chamber arranged on a side of said second unit piston facing away from said second unit stop and having a second unit second cylinder chamber arranged on a side of said second unit piston facing towards said second unit stop, said second unit first cylinder chamber being connected to said hydraulic pump via a hydraulic line;

a first unit first valve arranged between said first unit first cylinder chamber and said hydraulic pump, said first unit first valve having a first switch position blocking flow from said first unit first cylinder chamber in a direction of said hydraulic pump and having a second switch position making possible a flow from said hydraulic pump in a direction of said first unit first cylinder chamber and vice versa;

a second unit first valve arranged between said second unit first cylinder chamber and said hydraulic pump, said second unit first valve having a first switch position blocking flow from said second unit first cylinder chamber in a direction of said hydraulic pump and having a second switch position making possible a flow from said hydraulic pump in a direction of said second unit first cylinder chamber and vice versa;

a second valve arranged on a side of each said first valve facing away from said piston-cylinder unit and having a first switch position, preventing flow from said first unit first cylinder chamber or from said second unit first cylinder chamber in the direction of said first unit second cylinder chamber or said second unit second cylinder chamber, and in a second switch position, making possible a connection between said first unit first cylinder chamber and said first unit second cylinder chamber or between said second unit first cylinder chamber and said second unit second cylinder chamber.