Motor vehicle having a vehicle frame and articulation arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9511642-B2
Application number	US-201314409022-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2013
Priority date	Jul 3, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

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

The invention claimed is:

1. 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 articulation arrangement ( 8 ) which is connected, by connecting means ( 11 ) that pass through planar 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 planar contact surface ( 10 ; 10 a ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle (α) other than 90°.

2. The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the axis ( 13 ) of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the planar 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 planar contact surface ( 10 ).

3. The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the axis ( 13 ) of the connecting means ( 11 ) extends through the planar contact surface ( 10 ), through which the connecting means ( 11 ) passes, at an angle of around 45° relative to a vector lying in the planar contact surface ( 10 ).

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

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

6. 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 articulation arrangement ( 8 ) which is connected, by connecting means ( 11 ) that pass through planar 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 planar 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 the planar contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) and apertures for the connecting means ( 11 ).

7. The articulation arrangement ( 8 ) according to claim 6 , wherein for each articulation arrangement ( 8 ), two axially external planar contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) are provided, and the two axially external planar contact surfaces are angled oppositely to one another relatively to a longitudinal axis ( 14 ) of the motor vehicle.

8. The articulation arrangement ( 8 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the planar contact surfaces ( 10 ; 10 a ) are provided with corrugations ( 16 ).

9. 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 articulation arrangement and a support block,
the at least one articulation arrangement being connected to the support block which is fixed to the vehicle axle by connecting elements,
the articulation arrangement and the support block each comprising a planar contact surface and a through bore,
the planar contact surface of the articulation arrangement abutting against the planar contact surface of the support block such that the through bores thereof are coaxially aligned,
the articulation arrangement being coupled to the support block by the connecting elements that extend through the through bores and the planar 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 planar contact surfaces.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60G2200/324

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

• B60G2200/343

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

• B60G2200/315

  at least one of the arms having an A or V shape · CPC title

• B60G2200/34

  Stabilising mechanisms, e.g. for lateral stability · CPC title