Holding element for a spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207369-A1
Application number	US-201414914273-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 6, 2014
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A holding element for a spring, having a spring fastening area ( 10 ) for fastening the leaf spring ( 2 ) to the holding element ( 5 ) and a wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ) for fastening a wheel carrier ( 4 ) to the leaf spring ( 2 ). The holding element ( 5 ) has a deformation zone ( 23 ) through which webs and openings extend for transmission of forces from the spring fastening area ( 10 ) to the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), such that the webs (S 2.1 , S 2:2 , S 3.1 , S 3.2 ) and the openings (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ) are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element.

First claim

1 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . A holding element for a spring, the holding element comprising:
a spring fastening area ( 10 ) for fastening the spring ( 2 ) to the holding element ( 5 ) and a wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ) for fastening a wheel carrier ( 4 ) to the spring ( 2 ), a deformation zone ( 23 ) in which webs and openings extend for the transmission of forces from the spring fastening area ( 10 ) to the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), and the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) and the openings (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ) being formed mirror-symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element.

18 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein an outer contour ( 21 , 22 , 23 ) of the holding element ( 5 ), at least in a front area facing away from a first separating wall ( 34 ), is formed mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis (L).

19 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein the outer contour has two raised areas ( 21 ), facing away from the longitudinal axis, and a depression ( 22 ), between the two raised areas, faces toward the longitudinal axis.

20 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) are arranged between the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ) and the spring fastening area ( 10 ), and the openings (A 2 ) extend at least partially into the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ).

21 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) form a cross, such that two of the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) extend from a common crossing point (K) at first in an approximately vertical direction and then continue in a direction of a second separating wall ( 28 ), merging into the second separating wall, while two of the webs (S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) extend from the crossing point (K) at an angle of approximately 45° toward a first separating wall ( 34 ), and the crossing point (K) is located along the longitudinal axis (L).

22 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical portion of the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) and the webs (S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) that project in a direction toward the first separating wall ( 34 ) are at least approximately of equal material thickness.

23 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 17 , wherein, when a lateral force (FR) acts upon the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), vertical portions of the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) act as tension struts and the webs (S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) projecting in a direction toward a first separating wall ( 34 ) act as compression struts.

24 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 21 , wherein, starting from the crossing point (K) and as far as the first separating wall ( 34 ), an opening (A 3 ) in a shape of an approximately equilateral triangle is formed and one side of the opening (A 3 ) extends approximately vertically and parallel to the first separating wall ( 34 ).

25 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 24 , wherein, on a side of the holding element facing away from the triangular opening (A 3 ) between the second separating wall ( 28 ) and the vertical webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ), a circular-segment opening (A 1 ) is formed and delimited by the second separating wall and the vertical webs, and starting from ends of the vertical webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ), a circular section extends in the direction toward the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ).

26 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 25 , wherein the circular section extends at least one of parallel to the outer contour of the holding element and parallel to an opening ( 11 ) in the wheel carrier fastening area.

27 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 21 , wherein two of the openings (A 2 ) extend from the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), beginning approximately parallel to an outer contour of the holding element, into a deformation zone ( 23 ), so that the two openings (A 2 ) extend as far as an area between the vertical webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) and the webs (S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) that project in a direction toward the first separating wall ( 34 ).

28 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 27 , wherein a stop (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) projects into the two openings (A 2 ) between the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ), the stops (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) are arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis (L), and the stops (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) cooperate with an end area of the respective vertical web (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) when a lateral force (FR) acts upon the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ).

29 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 27 , wherein a stop (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) is functionally connected to an outer web ( 24 , 25 ) and is formed integrally with the outer web, and an outer contour of the stop (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) and an inner contour between the vertical webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 ) and the webs, projecting in a direction toward the first separating wall ( 34 ), extend approximately parallel.

30 . The holding element for the spring according to claim 28 , wherein, when the holding element ( 5 ) is not under load, the stop (A 2 . 1 , A 2 . 2 ) is arranged approximately parallel to the web (S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ), and enclose, with the longitudinal axis (L), an angle of at least approximately 45°.

31 . A holding element in combination in a vehicle axle having a wheel-guiding leaf spring, the holding element comprising:
a spring fastening area ( 10 ) for fastening the leaf spring ( 2 ) to the holding element ( 5 ) and a wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ) for fastening a wheel carrier ( 4 ) to the leaf spring ( 2 ), a deformation zone ( 23 ) in which webs and openings extend for transmission of forces from the spring fastening area ( 10 ) to the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), and the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) and the openings (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ) are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element.

32 . A method for producing a holding element for a leaf spring, the holding element having a spring fastening area ( 10 ) for fastening the spring ( 2 ) to the holding element ( 5 ) and a wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ) for fastening a wheel carrier ( 4 ) to the spring ( 2 ), a deformation zone ( 23 ) in which webs and openings extend for transmission of forces from the spring fastening area ( 10 ) to the wheel carrier fastening area ( 9 ), and the webs (S 2 . 1 , S 2 . 2 , S 3 . 1 , S 3 . 2 ) and the openings (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ) are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis (L) of the holding element, the method comprising:
forming the holding element from continuously-cast light metal.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Krahn Stefan
• Rupflin Thomas

Classifications

• B60G7/001

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

• B60G2206/8101

  by casting · CPC title

• F16F1/3686

  End mountings · CPC title

• B60G2204/143

  on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G7/008 Primary

  Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle (B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence) · CPC title