Motor vehicle having a vehicle frame and articulation arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185172-A1
Application number	US-201314409022-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2013
Priority date	Jul 3, 2012
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame ( 2 ) and at least one vehicle axle ( 5 ) supported relative to the vehicle frame ( 2 ) by one or more connecting rods ( 6; 7 ). The connecting rod or rods ( 6; 7 ) is/are linked to the vehicle axle ( 5 ) by at least one articulated arrangement ( 8 ) which is connected, by connecting elements ( 11 ) that pass through contact surfaces ( 10; 10 a ), to a support block ( 12 ) fixed on the axle ( 5 ). The axis ( 13 ) of each connecting element ( 11 ) extends through the contact surface ( 10; 10 a ), through which the respective connecting element ( 11 ) passes, at an angle (α) different from 90°.

First claim

1 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle frame ( 2 ) and at least one vehicle axle ( 5 ) supported relative to the vehicle frame ( 2 ) by at least one connecting rod ( 6 ; 7 ),
the at least one connecting rod ( 6 ; 7 ) being linked to the vehicle axle ( 5 ) by at least one articulated arrangement ( 8 ) which is connected, by connecting means ( 11 ) that pass through contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ), to a support block ( 12 ) fixed on the vehicle axle ( 5 ), an axis ( 13 ) of each of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the contact surface ( 10 ; 10 a ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle (α) other than 90°.

10 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the axis ( 13 ) of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the contact surface ( 10 ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle (α) of between 30° and 60° relative to a vector lying in the contact surface ( 10 ).

11 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the axis ( 13 ) of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the contact surface ( 10 ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle of around 45° relative to a vector lying in the contact surface ( 10 ).

12 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the connecting means ( 11 ) comprise countered screw or bolts.

13 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein, when viewed from above, the contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) are positioned at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis ( 14 ) of the vehicle and relative to a transverse axis ( 15 ) of the vehicle.

14 . An articulation arrangement ( 8 ) for use in a motor vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a vehicle frame ( 2 ) and at least one vehicle axle ( 5 ) supported relative to the vehicle frame ( 2 ) by at least one connecting rod ( 6 ; 7 ),
the at least one connecting rod ( 6 ; 7 ) being linked to the vehicle axle ( 5 ) by at least one articulated arrangement ( 8 ) which is connected, by connecting means ( 11 ) that pass through contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ), to a support block ( 12 ) fixed on the vehicle axle ( 5 ), an axis ( 13 ) of each one of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the contact surface ( 10 ; 10 a ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle (α) different from 90°, the articulation arrangement ( 8 ) is in a form of a paw with an axle body ( 9 ) comprising a ball-shaped portion, and the axle body ( 9 ) being provided, axially on an outside thereof, with contact the surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) and apertures for the connecting means ( 11 ).

15 . The articulation arrangement ( 8 ) according to claim 14 , wherein for each articulation arrangement ( 8 ), two axially external contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) are provided, and the two axially external contact surfaces are angled oppositely to one another relatively to a longitudinal axis ( 14 ) of the vehicle.

16 . The articulation arrangement ( 8 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) are provided with corrugations ( 16 ).

17 . A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle frame and at least one vehicle axle that is supported relative to the vehicle frame by at least one connecting rod,
the vehicle frame defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, a pair of connecting rods being linked to the vehicle axle by at least one articulated arrangement and a support block, the at least one articulated arrangement being connected to the support block which is fixed to the vehicle axle by connecting elements, the articulated arrangement and the support block each comprising a contact surface and a through bore, the contact surface of the articulated arrangement abutting the contact surface of the support block such that the through bores thereof are coaxially aligned, the articulated arrangement being coupled to the support block by the connecting elements that extend through the through bores and the contact surfaces thereof, and each of the connecting elements defining an axis that extends at an angle that is either greater than or less than 90° relative to the contact surfaces.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Scheper Frank
• Eismann Jens
• Langhorst Friedhelm
• Knopp Soren

Classifications

• B60G2200/324

  with a single pivot point and a triangular "T" or "U"-shaped axle, e.g. DeDion arrangement · CPC title

• B60G2206/124

  the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone · CPC title

• B60G2206/123

  the arm having T-shape · CPC title

• B60G2200/344

  with an axle suspended by two pivoted rods in an inverted "V"-arrangement, the rods being coupled at its apex · CPC title

• B60G9/02 Primary

  the axle or housing being pivotally mounted on the vehicle {, e.g. the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (B60G9/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title