Switchable bearing bush for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10570978-B2
Application number	US-201615748489-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	Aug 13, 2015
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A bearing bush for a vehicle is disclosed. The bearing bush includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and an elastomer element between the inner and outer rings. An actuator is configured to cause an application of a force on the elastomer element in a radial direction against at least one of the inner ring and outer ring to alter the rigidity of the bearing bushing. This provides a system for mechanically altering the rigidity of the bearing bush, making the bearing bush switchable between at least two rigidity states.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bearing bushing for a motor vehicle, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring; and
an elastomer element disposed radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the bearing bushing can be switched between at least two rigidity states, and wherein the bearing bushing is configured to introduce a preloading force into the elastomer element;
wherein the inner ring is radially elastic, and is disposed on a sleeve via at least two eccentric rings, wherein the at least two eccentric rings are rotatably disposed between the inner ring and the sleeve in order to introduce the preloading force into the elastomer element.

2. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner ring has a tapered and radially elastic design, wherein the sleeve can move axially, in order to introduce the preloading force into the elastomer element, and wherein the inner ring is axially fixed in place, at least at one side.

3. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the outer ring has numerous ramps on an inner circumferential surface, wherein the respective ramps interact radially with a respective tapered element, non-rotatably disposed on the elastomer element.

4. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the outer ring has a circumferential groove on an inner circumferential surface, wherein an annular clamping element is disposed in the groove, and wherein a diameter of the annular clamping element can be reduced, in order to introduce the preloading force into the elastomer element.

5. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element has an eccentric design, wherein at least one further eccentric elastomer element is disposed axially adjacent to the elastomer element, and wherein the elastomer element and the at least one further eccentric elastomer element can rotate independently of one another, in order to introduce the preloading force into at least the one elastomer element.

6. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , wherein a first and second washer are disposed on the inner ring such that they can move axially, wherein the first and second washers can be displaced axially against the elastomer element in order to introduce the preloading force into the elastomer element.

7. The bearing bushing according to claim 6 , wherein the elastomer element has two legs which are at least in part spaced apart from one another.

8. The bearing bushing according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator for changing the rigidity of the bearing bushing.

9. A bearing bushing for a vehicle, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring;
an elastomer element disposed radially between the inner ring and the outer ring; and
an actuator configured to cause an application of a force on the elastomer element in a radial direction against at least one of the inner ring and outer ring to alter a rigidity of the bearing bushing;
wherein the outer ring includes an inner surface defining a circumferential groove, wherein the bearing bushing includes a clamp located in the circumferential groove, and wherein the actuator is configured to force the clamp radially inward to increase the rigidity of the bearing bushing.

10. The bearing bushing of claim 9 , further comprising an axially-displaceable ring coupled to the actuator and configured to displace along a central axis of the bearing bushing.

11. The bearing bushing of claim 10 , wherein the axially-displaceable ring is tapered such that axial displacement of the axially-displaceable ring causes radial compression of the elastomer element to increase the rigidity of the bearing bushing.

12. The bearing bushing of claim 11 , wherein the inner ring is disposed about a sleeve, and the inner ring is radially elastic such that the inner ring deforms radially as the axially-displaceable ring displaces along the central axis.

13. The bearing bushing of claim 10 , wherein the axially-displaceable ring is a washer abutting an axial side of the elastomer element, and axial displacement of the washer compresses the elastomer element in an axial direction.

14. The bearing bushing of claim 13 , further comprising a second ring abutting an opposite axial side of the elastomer element.

15. The bearing bushing of claim 10 , wherein the elastomer element includes two legs axially spaced apart and converging toward one another.

16. A bearing bushing for a motor vehicle, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring; and
an elastomer element disposed radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the bearing bushing can be switched between at least two rigidity states, and wherein the bearing bushing is configured to introduce a preloading force into the elastomer element;
wherein the outer ring has numerous ramps on an inner circumferential surface, wherein the respective ramps interact radially with a respective tapered element, non-rotatably disposed on the elastomer element.

17. The bearing bushing of claim 16 , wherein the outer ring has a circumferential groove on an inner circumferential surface, wherein an annular clamping element is disposed in the groove, and wherein a diameter of the annular clamping element can be reduced, in order to introduce the preloading force into the elastomer element.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Rumpel Peter
• Krehmer Hartmut

Classifications

• F16F1/387 Primary

  comprising means for modifying the rigidity in particular directions {(spherical or conical sleeves F16F1/393)} · CPC title

• F16F2230/18

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• F16F2230/0058

  using inserts or exterior elements, e.g. to affect stiffness · CPC title

• F16F1/3876 Primary

  by means of inserts of more rigid material · CPC title