Fork leg for rotating a wheel of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11458789-B2
Application number	US-201917259315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Jul 18, 2018
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A fork leg for rotating a wheel of a motor vehicle is provided with a fastening flange for the coaxial, torque-proof fastening of a steering rod, an extension region protruding from the fastening flange substantially perpendicularly to the steering axis for bridging a lateral distance to the wheel, a coupling point for the articulated connection of a rocker which is connected to the wheel and a connection piece which is connected integrally to the extension region and to the coupling point, wherein the connection piece is shaped to accommodate a large steering angle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fork leg for rotating a wheel of a motor vehicle, the fork leg comprising:
a fastening flange for a coaxial, torque-proof fastening of a steering rod which is rotatable about a steering axis,
an extension region protruding from the fastening flange substantially perpendicular to the steering axis, the extension region configured for bridging a lateral distance to the wheel,
a coupling point for an articulated connection of a rocker configured to be connected to the wheel, and
a connection piece which is connected integrally to the extension region and to the coupling point,
the connection piece having;
a bridging region running downwards substantially parallel to the steering axis from the extension region, and
a transmission region configured to be connected to the bridging region and to the coupling point, and

a receiving angle defining a receiving angle arc configured for extending around a wheel face of a wheelhouse of the motor vehicle in a maximally deflected extreme position of the wheel, the receiving angle formed between the bridging region and the transmission region, and the receiving angle arc is configured to correspond with an arc of the wheel face.

2. The fork leg according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving angle arc extends downward toward the coupling point and a first end of the receiving angle are closet to the extension region is taller than a second end of the receiving angle arc closet to the coupling point.

3. A wheel module for a motor vehicle, the wheel module comprising:
a wheel for moving the motor vehicle,
the fork leg of claim 1 ,
a shock absorber connected to the rocker and the fork leg for damping vibrations of a relative movement of the wheel,
wherein the transmission region of the fork leg partially protrudes laterally from the wheelhouse in the maximally deflected extreme position of the wheel.

4. The wheel module according to claim 3 , wherein a radial distance of the transmission region to the wheel face in the maximally deflected extreme position of the wheel in a region of the receiving angle is substantially a same size over an angular range.

5. The wheel module according to claim 3 , wherein a horizontal distance of the bridging region to the wheel face in the maximally deflected extreme position of the wheel in a region of the receiving angle is substantially a same size over an angular range.

6. The wheel module according to claim 3 , wherein the wheel face is semicircular.

7. The wheel module according to claim 3 , wherein the steering rod is rotatable by a total steering angle δ where 120°≤δ≤360°.

8. The wheel module according to claim 7 , wherein 135°≤δ≤200°.

9. The wheel module according to claim 7 , wherein 150°≤δ≤180°.

10. The wheel module according to claim 7 , wherein 165°≤δ≤175°.

11. The wheel module according to claim 3 , wherein the wheel in at least one maximally deflected extreme position to a starting position provided for forward driving can be rotated by a steering angle Δδ where 85°≤Δδ≤100°.

12. The wheel module according to claim 11 , wherein 90°≤Δδ≤95°.

13. A fork leg for rotating a wheel of a motor vehicle, the fork leg comprising:
a fastening flange configured for fastening of a steering rod which is rotatable about a steering axis,
an extension region protruding from the fastening flange substantially perpendicular to the steering axis, the extension region configured for bridging a lateral distance to the wheel,
a coupling point for an articulated connection of a rocker configured to be connected to the wheel, and
a connection piece which is connected integrally to the extension region and to the coupling point, the connection piece having:
a bridging region running downwards substantially parallel to the steering axis from the extension region, and
a transmission region configured to be connected to the bridging region and to the coupling point, and
a receiving angle defining a curved depression configured for extending around a wheel face of a wheelhouse of the motor vehicle in a maximally deflected extreme position of the wheel, the receiving angle formed between the bridging region and the transmission region, and the curved depression configured to correspond with an arc-shape of the wheel face.

14. The fork leg of claim 13 , wherein the curved depression extends downward toward the coupling point and a first end of the curved depression closest to the extension region is taller than a second end of the curved depression closest to the coupling point.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Wuebbolt-Gorbatenko Benjamin
• Mersmann Simon
• Harkort Christian
• Wöllner Andreas
• Hoffmann Axel

Classifications

• B60G3/14 Primary

  the arm being rigid · CPC title

• B60G2300/37

  Vehicles having steerable wheels mounted on a vertically moving column · CPC title

• B60G2200/44

  steerable · CPC title

• B60G3/20 Primary

  all arms being rigid · CPC title

• B60G2200/132

  with a single trailing arm · CPC title