WHEEL SUSPENSION FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20090051135A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Lohmuller, Holger, Klank, Michael, Spratte, Joachim, Haeusler, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/92 Tools or equipment used for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/93 Tools used for adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/051 Angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/172 Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/021 Determination of steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/023 by measuring on the king pin
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/02 Bearings or suspensions for moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket

Abstract

Wheel suspension for a vehicle (7), with a carrier element (5), with a wheel carrier (1), which is arranged at a spaced location from the carrier element (5) and which is pivotable about a steering axle (30), with a wheel (14) mounted rotatably on the wheel carrier (1), with a steering wheel (58), which is mounted rotatably on the carrier element (5) at least indirectly and by means of which the wheel carrier (1) is pivotable about the steering axle (30), with at least one joint (8), which is connected to the wheel carrier (1) and which has a housing (26), a pivot pin (25) mounted pivotably in same and an angle-measuring device with a magnet (27) and with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit (28), and with at least one guide means (2), via which the joint (8) is connected to the carrier element (5). A deflection (ω) of the pivot pin (25) relative to the housing (26) can be determined by means of the angle-measuring device in at least two different directions in space, and the magnetization (M) of the magnet (27) is oriented such that it extends at right angles to the steering axle (30).

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A wheel suspension for a vehicle, the wheel suspension comprising:

a carrier element;

a wheel carrier arranged at a spaced location from said carrier element, said wheel carrier being pivotable about a steering axle;

a wheel mounted rotatably on said wheel carrier;

a steering wheel connected rotatably to said carrier element such that said wheel carrier pivots about said steering axle when said steering wheel is turned;

a joint connected to said wheel carrier, said joint having a housing, a pivot pin mounted pivotably in said housing and an angle-measuring device having a magnet and a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit, said magnet having a magnetization oriented such that said magnetization extends obliquely to said steering axle, said angle-measuring device detecting a deflection of said pivot pin in relation to said housing in at least two different directions in space; and

a guide means for connecting said joint to said carrier element.

26. A wheel suspension in accordance with claim 25, wherein an angle between the magnetization and said steering axle is greater than or equal to 5°

and less than or equal to 15°

.

44. A process for determining a steering angle of a wheel or of a steering wheel mounted rotatably on a vehicle body of a vehicle, the process comprising the steps of:

connecting a steering wheel to a wheel such that said wheel is pivoted about a steering axle;

connecting said wheel to a vehicle body via a joint, said joint having an angle-measuring device with a magnet and a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit, said joint being installed in said vehicle body such that a magnetization of the magnet is always oriented obliquely to the steering axle;

recording a performance graph;

measuring a deflection of said joint with said angle-measuring device, wherein said deflection of said joint is determined in at least two different directions in space; and

determining a steering wheel angle based on the measured deflection and the recorded performance graph.

45. A process in accordance with claim 44, further comprising the step of determining a spring compression position of said wheel relative to said vehicle body based on the recorded performance graph and the measured deflection.

46. A process in accordance with claim 44, wherein said recording of said performance graph comprises the following steps:

1. Setting of different spring compression positions of said wheel relative to said vehicle body at a constant steering angle, wherein the deflection of said joint is determined in at least two different directions in space for each spring compression position; and

2. repeating step 1 with another steering angle.

47. A process in accordance with claim 44, wherein said recording of said performance graph comprises the following steps:

1. Setting of different steering angles at constant spring compression position of said wheel relative to said vehicle body, wherein said deflection of said joint is determined in at least two directions in space for each steering angle; and

2. repeating step 1 with another spring compression position.

48. A wheel suspension for a vehicle, the wheel suspension comprising:

a carrier element;

a wheel carrier arranged at a spaced location from said carrier element, said wheel carrier being pivotable about a steering axle;

a wheel mounted rotatably on said wheel carrier;

a steering wheel connected rotatably to said carrier element such that said wheel carrier pivots about said steering axle when said steering wheel is turned;

a joint connected to said wheel carrier, said joint having a housing, a pivot pin mounted pivotably in said housing and an angle-measuring device including a magnet and a magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit, said magnet having a magnetization oriented such that said magnetization extends obliquely to said steering axle, said magnetic field-sensitive sensor assembly unit having a first sensor and a second sensor, said first sensor detecting a first deflection of said pivot pin relation to said joint housing in a first direction, said second sensor detecting a second deflection of said pivot pin in relation to said joint housing in a second direction, said first direction being different than said second direction; and

a guide means for connecting said joint to said carrier element.