Device for adjusting the height of a vehicle body

• US 9,707,819 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Dobre, Florin, Husu, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/912,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/062 the spring being arranged around the damper B60G15/061, B60G15/067, B60G15/07 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 2202/442 Rotary 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 2204/419 Gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45 Stops limiting travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/41 Dampers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/56 Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005

Abstract

A device (1) for adjusting the height of a vehicle body, including two components (3, 4) that can be moved longitudinally between adjustment positions in relation to each other, a ball screw (5), which sets the adjustment positions and which has a spindle (9) and a spindle nut (8), wherein the spindle (9) is connected to the one component (3) in an axially fixed manner and the spindle nut (8) is connected to the other component (4) in an axially fixed manner. A switchable axial stop (17) is operatively arranged between the two components (3, 4) and mechanically bypasses the ball screw (5) in at least one of the adjustment positions.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting a height of a vehicle body comprising first and second components that are displaceable longitudinally between adjustment positions (I, II, III) relative to each other and with a ball screw that sets the adjustment positions (I, II, III) and has a spindle and a spindle nut, the spindle is connected to one component in an axially fixed manner and the spindle nut is connected to the other component in an axially fixed manner, at least one switchable axial stop operatively arranged between the two components mechanically bypasses the ball screw in at least one of the adjustment positions (I, III), wherein the at least one switchable stop comprises a switching device with a cam ring that is supported for rotation about a spindle axis (a) of the spindle and is supported on the spindle in an axially fixed manner, and the cam ring includes cams arranged distributed around a circumference around the spindle axis (a).

2. The device according to claim 1, the second component supported on the spindle nut in an axially fixed manner is provided with longitudinal grooves arranged along the spindle axis (a) and arranged distributed around a circumference around the spindle axis (a) and with recesses, the cams of the cam ring engage in a first rotational position of the cam ring relative to the second component in the longitudinal grooves, and, in at least one of the adjustment positions (III), the cams engage in another rotational position of the cam ring in the recesses and form a first axial, switchable stop.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the switching device further comprises a control ring that is connected rigidly to the second component and is arranged around the spindle axis (a) and is provided with ramps arranged distributed around the circumference, the cam ring rotates under its axial displacement relative to the control ring about the spindle axis (a) so far that the cams of the cam ring are displaced along the ramps, and the cam ring is rotated from a first rotational position in a direction of the other rotational position by said rotation about the spindle axis (a).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the cam ring is displaced axially relative to the second component under actuation of the ball screw, the cam ring is displaced axially relative to the second component without relative rotation during engagement of the cams in the longitudinal grooves of the second component and the cam ring is rotated with the cams outside of said engagement for contact on the ramps of the control ring.

5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising another stop that mechanically bypasses the ball screw provided between the components at a lower adjustment position (I) for minimally displaced components.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the recesses and the longitudinal grooves have insertion bevels that are complementary to an insertion profile of the cams and displace the cams slightly in the circumferential direction during a mounting process.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal grooves and the recesses are provided in a sleeve part connected rigidly to the second component.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the other stop is formed between the spindle and a base part of the sleeve part.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the spindle is rotationally locked relative to the second component by a bolt engaging in the longitudinal grooves.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spindle nut is held so that it rotates in a housing connected to the second component, and the housing holds a rotary drive for the spindle nut.