Wheel Carrier of a Vehicle With a Press Fit Connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009153-A1
Application number	US-201514793908-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wheel carrier of a vehicle has a press fit connection to a further component, preferably a suspension strut. The wheel carrier includes a screw connection with a screw for clamping the press fit connection, and a lever with a fastening portion and an impact portion. The fastening portion is fastened under a head of the screw or under a nut of the screw connection. The impact portion protrudes from the fastening portion in such a manner that, in the event of a vehicle crash and the associated deformation, a part of the vehicle brings about a force on the impact portion in order at least partially to release the screw connection. The fastening portion is designed in order at least partially to break out from under the head or the nut during the action of force on the lever.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wheel carrier of a vehicle having a press fit connection to a further component, comprising:
a screw connection having a screw, the screw connection being configured to clamp the press fit connection; a lever having a fastening portion and an impact portion, wherein the fastening portion is fastened under a head of the screw or under a nut of the screw connection, the impact portion protrudes from the fastening portion such that, in an event of a crash of the vehicle and associated deformation, a portion of the vehicle causes a force to act on the impact portion in order to at least partially release the screw connection, and the fastening portion is configured to at least partially break out from under the head or under the nut during the action of the force on the lever.

2 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the further component is a suspension strut.

3 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein one or more predetermined breaking points are formed in the fastening portion of the lever to enable the fastening portion to break out from under the head or the nut.

4 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein at least one material tapering or material recess is formed in the fastening portion in order to allow the fastening portion to break out.

5 . The wheel carrier according to claim 4 , wherein
a fastening hole is arranged in the fastening portion of the lever, the screw is inserted in the fastening hole, and the material tapering or material recess is formed as far as an edge of the fastening hole.

6 . The wheel carrier according to claim 4 , wherein the material recess is configured as a longitudinal slot or a groove in the fastening portion.

7 . The wheel carrier according to claim 5 , wherein the material recess is configured as a longitudinal slot or a groove in the fastening portion.

8 . The wheel carrier according to claim 4 , wherein the material tapering or the material recess at least partially extends under the head or under the nut.

9 . The wheel carrier according to claim 5 , wherein the material tapering or the material recess at least partially extends under the head or under the nut.

10 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the impact portion of the lever is inclined relative to the fastening portion by an angle of less than 90°.

11 . The wheel carrier according to claim 10 , wherein one end of the impact portion of the lever and a transition region of the fastener portion into the impact portion lie on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the screw.

12 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein one end of the impact portion of the lever and a transition region of the fastener portion into the impact portion lie on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the screw.

13 . The wheel carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the press fit connection comprises a clip in the wheel carrier, the clip having a slot dividing the press fit connection into first and second portions.

14 . The wheel carrier according to claim 13 , wherein the screw of the screw connection is configured to extend across the slot of the clip.

15 . A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body; a wheel carrier; and a component connecting the wheel carrier to the body, wherein the wheel carrier has a press fit connection to the component, the wheel carrier comprising: a screw connection having a screw, the screw connection being configured to clamp the press fit connection; a lever having a fastening portion and an impact portion, wherein the fastening portion is fastened under a head of the screw or under a nut of the screw connection, the impact portion protrudes from the fastening portion such that, in an event of a crash of the vehicle and associated deformation, a portion of the vehicle causes a force to act on the impact portion in order to at least partially release the screw connection, and the fastening portion is configured to at least partially break out from under the head or under the nut during the action of the force on the lever.

16 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the component is a suspension strut.

17 . The wheel carrier according to claim 16 , wherein one or more predetermined breaking points are formed in the fastening portion of the lever to enable the fastening portion to break out from under the head or the nut.

18 . The wheel carrier according to claim 16 , wherein at least one material tapering or material recess is formed in the fastening portion in order to allow the fastening portion to break out.

19 . The wheel carrier according to claim 17 , wherein one end of the impact portion of the lever and a transition region of the fastener portion into the impact portion lie on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the screw.

20 . The wheel carrier according to claim 19 , wherein the press fit connection comprises a clip in the wheel carrier, the clip having a slot dividing the press fit connection into first and second portions.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Von Hasselbach Johannes
• Boeschl Thomas
• Woelfle Florian
• Wenk Marius

Classifications

• B60G3/01 Primary

  the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide (camber maintaining means B60G3/26) · CPC title

• B60G7/001

  Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G13/005 Primary

  characterised by the mounting on the axle or suspension arm of the damper unit · CPC title

• B60G2206/50

  Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments · CPC title

• B60G2204/4304

  Bracket for lower cylinder mount of McPherson strut · CPC title