Strut for a wheel suspension of motor vehicles

• US 8,205,864 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Michel, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): IRVIN, THOMAS W
• Application Number:
  US12/196,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20090057969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.514, 280/5.515, 280/124.154, 280/124.155, 188/299.1, 267/218, 267/255, 267/177, 267/175
• US Class Current: 267/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/065 characterised by the use of a combination of springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1242 on a damper, e.g. MacPerson strut
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/418 Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/02 Linear motors; Sectional motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/08 Structural association with bearings

Abstract

The invention relates to a strut for a wheel suspension of motor vehicles, comprising a telescoping shock absorber and a support spring which surrounds it, as well as with a vertical adjustment means with a driven driving spindle which is pivoted by way of a body-mounted bearing on the engine housing side, which interacts with a vertically adjustable lifting element which is arranged to be non-rotatable and which bears the spring plate of the support spring. According to the invention, the driving spindle, in addition to the body-mounted bearing, is supported directly or indirectly on the cylinder tube of the shock absorber to be able to pivot and move axially relative to it.

Claims

1. A strut for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicles comprising:

a shock absorber including a cylinder connectable to a wheel suspension component and a rod connectable to a body component of said vehicle;

a first sleeve member supported on said cylinder provided with a first bearing disposed coaxiatly relative to said shock absorber between said first sleeve member and said body component and a second bearing disposed coaxially relative to said shock absorber between, said first sleeve member and said cylinder, allowing rotation of said first sleeve member about the axis of said shock absorber, and a third bearing disposed between said first sleeve and said cylinder allowing said cylinder to displace axially relative to said first sleeve member;

a second sleeve member disposed coaxially relative to said first sleeve member, mounted on mad having a ball and groove connection with said first sleeve member, causing said second sleeve member to display axially upon rotation of said first sleeve member;

means supported on said body component for selectively rotating said first sleeve member, causing it to react through said ball and groove connection and correspondingly axially displace said second sleeve member;

a support spring interposed between a component of said wheel suspension and said second sleeve member; and

a compensating spring interposed between said second sleeve member and said component of said vehicle body.

2. A strut according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively rotating said first sleeve member comprises an electric motor having a stator mounted on a body component of said vehicle and a stator connected to said first sleeve member.

3. A strut according to claim 1 including a third sleeve member interposed between said first sleeve member and said cylinder, wherein said second bearing is interposed between said first and third sleeve member and said third bearing is interposed between said third sleeve member and said cylinder.

4. A strut according to claim 3 wherein said third sleeve member includes an annular, radially projecting portion relative to the axis of said shock absorber, and said second bearing is disposed between said annular, radially projecting portion and said first sleeve member.

5. A strut according to claim 4 wherein said third sleeve member includes a cylindrical portion, and a bearing is provided between said cylindrical portion and said first sleeve member.

6. A strut according to claim 4 wherein said third sleeve member includes a cylindrical portion and a said third bearing is disposed between said cylindrical portion and said cylinder.

7. A strut according to claim 3 wherein said third bearing comprises a set of balls disposed in aligned, recessed tracks in said third sleeve member and a portion of said cylinder.

8. A strut according to claim 3, wherein said first sleeve member includes a first portion mounted on said first bearing and a second portions detachably secured to said first portion thereof and mounted on said second bearing.

9. A strut according to claim 8 wherein said first and second portions of said first sleeve member are detachably secured together by a threaded connection.

10. A strut according to claim 3 wherein said second sleeve member includes an annular, radially disposed plate engaged by said springs.