Height adjustment on a wheel suspension for motor vehicles

• US 7,784,800 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Michel, Wifried
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/326,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20090146385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.514, 280/5.515, 280/5.519, 280/43, 280/43.17, 280/6.15, 280/6.157, 267/175, 267/177, 267/221
• US Class Current: 280/5.514
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/54 with rubber springs arranged within helical, spiral or coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/063 characterised by the mounting of the spring on the damper B60G15/065, B60G15/066 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/418 Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4191 Planetary or epicyclic gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4502 using resilient buffer
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/04 Buffer means for limiting movement of arms stops limiting fluid passage in fluid dampers F16F9/49; stroke-limiting stops for fluid dampers F16F9/58
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/121 adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/58 Stroke limiting stops, e.g. arranged on the piston rod outside the cylinder F16F9/49 takes precedence

Abstract

A height adjustment on a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, having a shock absorber which has a piston rod, which shock absorber is dynamically connected to the vehicle body, and to which shock absorber a helical spring is coaxially assigned which is clamped between two spring plates that can be changed in their active distance and that determine the spring deflection and rebound path relative to a normal level, the body-side end of the shock absorber being assigned a shock absorber cap which influences the free spring path “s” of the helical spring and which is made adjustable at the same time with the adjustable spring plate.

Claims

1. A height adjustable strut for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a shock absorber including a cylinder connectable at a lower end thereof to a component of a wheel suspension system of said vehicle, a cap threaded on an upper end of said cylinder and a piston mounted on said cylinder having a rod extendable through an opening in said cap, provided with an elastomeric body connectable to the body of said vehicle;

a ball screw including a rotatable component coaxially mounted on said cylinder, an axially displaceable component cooperating with said rotatable component and means operatively interconnecting said rotatable component and said cap for transferring the rotary motion of said rotatable component to said cap;

means for selectively rotating said rotatable component; and

a spring disposed coaxially with said cylinder, interconnecting said axially displaceable component and said body of said vehicle.

2. A strut according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the pitch of the threads of said cap to the pitch of the threads of said ball screw is 1:

1.

3. A strut according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the pitch of the threads of said cap to the pitch of the threads of said ball screw varies from 1:

1.

4. A strut according to claim 1 wherein said axially displaceable component of said ball screw includes an annular surface disposed coaxially relative to said cylinder on which said spring is seated.