DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING ANGLE OF REAR AXLE

• US 20090018724A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Moon, Byungsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,925,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/31 with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/464 Caster angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4306 Bracket or knuckle for rigid axles, e.g. for clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/003 the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device

Abstract

The present invention provides an active mounting apparatus for adjusting an input shaft of a rear axle to make an output shaft of a transmission and the input shaft of the rear axle in a straight line. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket, a rotatable support member, a hydraulic cylinder, a hydro supply unit, a suspension geometry measuring sensor, and a control unit. The rotatable support members are rotatably mounted on mounting bracket. The hydraulic cylinder controlled by the control unit activates a clockwise or counterclockwise position angle of rotatable support member. Therefore, even though the rear axle is moved upward or downward due to the change in load during the driving of a vehicle, an output shaft of a transmission and an input shaft of the rear axle are always aligned with each other on one straight line so as to minimize vibration, noise, and the loss of power.

Claims

1. An active mounting apparatus for aligning an input shaft of a rear axle by actively adjusting a position angle, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting bracket that is mounted on at least a portion of upper surface of a leaf spring;

a rotatable support member that is pivotally mounted in the mounting bracket;

a hydraulic cylinder that is connected to a portion of the rotatable support member and rotates the rotatable support member clockwise or counterclockwise;

a hydro supply unit that supplies or bypasses oil pressure to the hydraulic cylinder;

a suspension geometry measuring sensor that detects an up-and-down movement value of the rear axle; and

a control unit that receives the up-and-down measurement value from the suspension geometry measuring sensor, determines the position angle of the rotatable support member to make an output shaft of a transmission and the input shaft of the rear axle in a straight line, based on the up-and-down measurement value from the suspension geometry measuring sensor, and controls the hydro supply unit to supply an oil pressure to the hydraulic cylinder.

2. The active mounting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises;

a cylindrical retainer including at least a guide groove formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical retainer that the rotatable support member is received and pivotally rotated therein, and a slot formed substantially at an upper portion of the mounting bracket along a portion of a circumference of the cylindrical retainer; and

at least a flange formed at a lower portion of the cylindrical retainer of the mounting bracket and extending outwards substantially in a horizontal direction.

3. The active mounting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the rotatable support member comprises:

a cylindrical body,

at least a boss formed on at least a lateral surface of the cylindrical body,

at least a supporting hole formed at the boss which a distal end portion of the rear axle is inserted into and supported thereon, and

a protrusion formed on a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and protruding from the cylindrical body through the slot of the mounting bracket, wherein a distal end of a cylinder rod of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the protrusion