Multi-point link for an undercarriage of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12138983-B2
Application number	US-202017609051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2020
Priority date	May 6, 2019
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

The invention is directed to a multipoint link (1) for an undercarriage of a vehicle, comprising a core element (5) formed from a foamed material and at least one roving (10) of bundled continuous filaments wound around the core element (5), wherein the at least one roving (10) winding around the core element (5) in at least one layer forms an outer layer of the multipoint link (5), wherein the core element (5) is constructed as a hollow body which comprises at least two shell elements (11, 12).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multipoint link ( 1 ) for an undercarriage of a vehicle, comprising:
a core element ( 5 ) formed from a foamed material and at least one roving ( 10 ) of bundled continuous filaments wound around the core element ( 5 ),
1 wherein the at least one roving ( 10 ) winds around the core element ( 5 ) in at least one layer and forms an outer layer of the multipoint link ( 5 ),
1 wherein the core element ( 5 ) is constructed as a hollow body that comprises at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ),
1 wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ), which are mated together to form the core element ( 5 ), are formed with walls ( 13 , 14 ) substantially parallel to one another and which delimit an outer contour,
1 wherein the walls ( 13 , 14 ) have complementary undercuts ( 29 ) formed as projections in the form of steps at abutment surfaces facing one another such that the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are positively engageable in one another in portions, wherein each projection is substantially parallel to at least one wall,
1 wherein each of the walls ( 13 , 14 ) have an inner side and an outer side that are completely parallel to each other and the undercuts ( 29 ) connect the inner side to the outer side, and
1 wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are connected to one another by material bonding by gluing the abutment surfaces such that the hollow body forming the core element is constructed fluid-tight.

2. The multipoint link ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are connected to one another by frictional engagement.

3. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the core element ( 5 ) has portions ( 7 ) arranged at distal ends thereof for receiving load introduction elements ( 9 ).

4. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are formed so as to be symmetrical.

5. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) have an internal supporting structure ( 19 ).

6. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are connected by positive engagement and/or frictional engagement by the supporting structure ( 19 ).

7. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the internal supporting structure ( 19 ) is formed as a material accumulation ( 20 ) extending in portions over a two-dimensional plane of the respective shell element ( 11 , 12 ).

8. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the material accumulation ( 20 ) forms a framework-like structure.

9. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein at least one separate roving ( 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ) is provided to wind in portions around the at least two mated shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) in order to join the at least two mated shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) to form the core element ( 5 ).

10. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein separate rovings ( 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 ) are arranged in the interior and/or exterior of the core element ( 5 ) in guide channels ( 26 ) for strengthening the core element ( 5 ).

11. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are constructed fluid-tight in a joined position so that a hollow space enclosed by the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) is fillable with a fluid.

12. The multipoint link ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein a functional element is insertable into the core element ( 5 ) formed as hollow body prior to winding.

13. A method for producing a multipoint link ( 1 ) for an undercarriage of a vehicle according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
producing the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) from a foamed material;
joining the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) to form the hollow core element ( 5 ); and
winding around the core element ( 5 ) with at least one roving ( 10 ) of bundled continuous filaments.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising temporarily pressurizing the hollow space in the core element during winding through an internal pressure by a fluid, a liquid or a gas.

15. The multipoint link ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two shell elements ( 11 , 12 ) are connected to one another by complementary connection elements arranged in a hollow space enclosed by the at least two shell elements.

16. The multipoint link ( 5 ) according to claim 15 , wherein the complementary connection elements are hollow-cylindrical portions and cylindrical pins.

17. The multipoint link ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein an adhesive for the gluing is applied to both abutment surfaces.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Müller Ingolf
• Heimann Jens
• Stieglitz Andre
• Sohl Carsten
• Hörtdörfer Valentin

Classifications

• B60G2206/12

  with two attachment points on the sprung part of the vehicle · CPC title

• F16C7/026

  made of fibre reinforced resin · CPC title

• B60G2206/85

  Filament winding · CPC title

• B60G2206/821

  by gluing · CPC title

• B60G2206/7101

  Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] · CPC title