Coupling device for a vehicle suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696124-B2
Application number	US-201816052764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2018
Priority date	Aug 16, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a coupling device for a stabilizer of a suspension. The coupling device has a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion that is supported thereon. One coupling portion has a connection location for the stabilizer and another coupling portion has a connection location for a wheel suspension. and the coupling device also has a locking device, which, in a locking position, limits a relative movement of the second coupling portion with respect to the first coupling portion in a first direction. In order to better protect a stabilizer from overload, the locking device is configured in a release position to release the relative movement when a first force acting between the connection locations exceeds a threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling device for a vehicle suspension comprising:
a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion supported on the first coupling portion, wherein the first coupling portion has a connection location for a stabilizer and the second coupling portion has a connection location for a wheel suspension, the second coupling portion including a piston portion displaced inside a cylinder portion of the first coupling portion; and
a locking device that limits, in a locking position, a relative movement of the second coupling portion with respect to the first coupling portion in a first direction, wherein the locking device is configured, in a release position, to release the relative movement responsive to a first force, acting between the connection locations, exceeding a threshold value, wherein the locking device has a flange portion protruding transversely relative to the first direction on the second coupling portion and cooperating with at least one locking element on the first coupling portion, the locking element being resiliently redirected, transversely relative to the first direction, and wherein the flange portion has, at a side facing the first direction, a first chamfered portion that redirects the at least one locking element.

2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking device is displaced into the release position by the first force.

3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second coupling portion is supported on the first coupling portion such that the second coupling portion is displaced in translation.

4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flange portion is arranged on the piston portion, and the at least one locking element is arranged on the cylinder portion.

5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second coupling portion is returned by an action of a second force that acts between the connection locations counter to the first direction into a starting position, wherein the locking device can be displaced by action of the second force into the release position.

6. The coupling device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the flange portion has, at a side facing counter to the first direction, a second chamfered portion that redirects the at least one locking element.

7. The coupling device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first chamfered portion is inclined with respect to the first direction compared to the second chamfered portion.

8. A vehicle comprising:
a coupling, connected between a stabilizer and wheel suspension, having a second coupling portion supported on a first coupling portion; and
a lock that limits, in a locked position, movement of the second coupling portion relative to the first coupling portion in a first direction, wherein the lock is configured, in a released position, to release the movement responsive to a first force, acting on the coupling, exceeding a threshold, wherein the lock has a flange having a first chamfered portion that transversely protrudes relative to the first direction on the second coupling portion, and cooperates with a lock element on the first coupling portion, the lock element being resiliently redirected, transversely relative to the first direction.

9. The vehicle as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second coupling portion is returned by an action of a second force that acts on the coupling counter to the first direction into a starting position, wherein the lock is displaced by action of the second force into the released position.

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the flange has, at a side facing counter to the first direction, a second chamfered portion that redirects the lock element.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first chamfered portion is inclined with respect to the first direction compared to the second chamfered portion.

12. A vehicle suspension comprising:
a coupling, connected between a stabilizer and wheel suspension, having cylinder and piston portions, wherein the piston is supported in the cylinder; and
a lock that limits, in a locked position, movement of the piston relative to the cylinder in a first direction, wherein the lock is configured, in a released position, to release the movement responsive to a first force, acting on the coupling, exceeding a threshold, wherein the lock has a flange with a first chamfer that transversely protrudes relative to the first direction on the piston, and cooperates with a lock element on the cylinder, the lock element being resiliently redirected, transversely relative to the first direction.

13. The vehicle suspension as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the piston is returned by an action of a second force that acts on the coupling counter to the first direction into a starting position, wherein the lock is displaced by action of the second force into the released position.

14. The vehicle suspension as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the flange has, at a side facing counter to the first direction, a second chamfer that redirects the lock element.

15. The vehicle suspension as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first chamfer is inclined with respect to the first direction compared to the second chamfer.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Keuser Joerg

Classifications

• B60G21/055 Primary

  Stabiliser bars · CPC title

• B60G21/10 Primary

  not permanently interconnected, e.g. operative only on acceleration, only on deceleration or only at off-straight position of steering · CPC title

• B60G21/0551 Primary

  Mounting means therefor · CPC title

• B60G21/0556

  including a releasable coupling (B60G21/0555 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2206/427

  Stabiliser bars or tubes · CPC title