Torsion bar system for a vehicle axle of a two track vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9434230-B2
Application number	US-201414767947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2014
Priority date	Feb 16, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A torsion bar system for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, includes first and second rotary actuators, each of which is associated with a vehicle side, for an active suspension control. Each rotary actuator has at least one motor/gear unit with which torques can be generated and transmitted as actuating forces onto a wheel suspension element via an output lever. The motor/gear units of both rotary actuators are arranged in a common housing which is rotationally fixed to the vehicle body. The housing has at least two attachment points for bracing the vehicle body, wherein the attachment points are spaced from one another across a bearing distance, and the housing is mounted on the vehicle body in a rigid assembly via said attachment points.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination,
a vehicle body having a subframe comprised of two longitudinal members and at least one cross member which is connected to the longitudinal members, said cross member having an attachment point for a drive component; and
a torsion bar system for a vehicle axle of a two-track vehicle, said torsion bar system comprising:
first and second rotary actuators, respectively associated with a vehicle side, for an active suspension control, each rotary actuator including at least a motor-gear unit to allow generation of a torque, and an output lever configured to transmit the torque as actuating force onto a wheel suspension element, and
a housing mounted in fixed rotative engagement to the vehicle body and accommodating the motor-gear unit of the first rotary actuator and the motor-gear unit of the second rotary actuator, said housing having for stiffening the vehicle body at least two attachment points which are spaced from one another by a bearing distance and via which the housing is mounted rigidly to the subframe of the vehicle body, said housing being arranged in a vertical direction in alignment entirely below the cross member of the subframe, thereby forming a double support, in which the housing is mounted as an additional crossbeam on the subframe, said attachment point of the cross member for the drive component being arranged in a vehicle transverse direction between the attachment points of the housing.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle axle is a rear axle.

3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein each of the rotary actuators comprises a torsion spring element for adjusting a spring rate of the torsion bar system, at least one of the torsion spring elements being arranged within the housing.

4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the housing has in the vehicle transverse direction lateral housing openings for passage of the output levers, respectively, said housing openings forming pivot points which define a rotation axis of the torsion bar system.

5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the cross member and/or the two longitudinal members have bearing points for fastening the housing with its two attachment points.

6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the cross member provides a first load path via which an operating force is introducible into the longitudinal members of the subframe, said housing providing a second load path via which the operating force is introducible into the longitudinal members.

7. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the subframe has a further cross member which is connected to the longitudinal members so that the subframe has a closed configuration.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Schmitt Joachim
• Schindler Andreas
• Isakiewitsch Christian

Classifications

• B60G2200/422

  Driving wheels or live axles · CPC title

• B60G2200/18

  Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements · CPC title

• B60G2204/419

  Gears · CPC title

• B60G2202/42

  Electric actuator · CPC title

• B60G21/0551 Primary

  Mounting means therefor · CPC title