Four-point link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555683-B2
Application number	US-201214234208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2012
Priority date	Jul 22, 2011
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A four-point link for an axle suspension of a rigid axle of a vehicle, the four-point link comprising:
four bearing seats ( 3 ) of which two bearing seats ( 3 ) are pivotable on the axle and two bearing seats ( 3 ) are pivotable on a frame of the vehicle, at least one of the four bearing seats is aligned in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
a twistable link body ( 1 , 2 ) having lateral side edges and a laterally intermediate region centrally located between the side edges, the link body is substantially inscribed by a trapezoid formed by the four bearing seats ( 3 ), and the link body ( 1 , 2 ) being a fiber-composite arrangement formed of a fiber material in which at least three quarters of a mass of fibers of the fiber material are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the link body having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface that are spaced from one another such that a space between the upper and the lower surfaces in the intermediate region is at least as great as a space between the upper and the lower surfaces at the side edges of the link body,
the fiber-composite arrangement comprising two longitudinal fiber arrangements ( 10 , 11 ), each of which is dedicated to at least one bearing seat ( 3 ), and each of the two longitudinal fiber arrangements ( 10 , 11 ) encases at least along half a circumference of the at least one bearing seat ( 3 ) and extends along at least part of the link body ( 1 , 2 ), and
the link body ( 1 , 2 ) forms, when viewed from above relative to the vehicle, either a substantially single-piece, cross-shaped or X-shaped configuration having a central body portion ( 1 ) and four peripheral suspension arms ( 2 ) which each support one of the bearing seats ( 3 ), the suspension arms ( 2 ) are designed as flexible supports ( 2 ), the central body portion and the four peripheral suspension arms are formed by the two longitudinal fiber arrangements that are wound over each other in alternation and the bearing seats.

2. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber-composite arrangement comprises first and second longitudinal fiber arrangements ( 10 , 11 ), the first longitudinal fiber arrangement ( 10 , 11 ) is dedicated to a first one of two bearing seat pairs ( 3 ) and the second longitudinal fiber arrangement ( 10 , 11 ) is dedicated to a second one of the two bearing seat pairs ( 3 ) such that the first and the second longitudinal fiber arrangements ( 10 , 11 ) are disposed diagonally opposite one another.

3. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinal fiber arrangements ( 10 , 11 ) are dedicated to all four of the bearing seats ( 3 ), or an entirety of the link body ( 1 , 2 ) is formed by the two longitudinal fiber arrangements.

4. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the link body ( 1 , 2 ) forms a profile having an opening that passes, in the longitudinal direction, completely through the four-point link between the lateral side edges and the upper and the lower surfaces.

5. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the upper and the lower surfaces are formed by opposing walls, and the link body ( 1 , 2 ) comprises at least one stem which connects the opposing walls ( 6 , 7 ) of the link body ( 1 , 2 ) to one another in a shear-resistant manner.

6. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the link body ( 1 , 2 ) is filled, at least in regions, with a filling body made of a shear-resistant filler material, and the fibers of the fiber material comprise at least one of carbon fibers and glass fibers, and the fiber-composite arrangement is formed by either a fiber fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a knitted fabric.

7. The four-point link according to claim 6 , wherein the upper and the lower surfaces are formed by opposing walls, and the filling body is connected to the opposing walls ( 6 , 7 ) of the link body ( 1 , 2 ) in a shear-resistant manner.

8. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the link body ( 1 , 2 ) forms a profile that is open and forms a passage that extends completely through the four-point link in a lateral direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

9. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein either a bearing sleeve or an elastomeric bearing, as a prefabricated part, is laminated into a respective one of the bearing seats ( 3 ).

10. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein a bearing sleeve, as a prefabricated part, is laminated into a region of at least one of the bearing seats ( 3 ) and the at least one bearing sleeve is formed as a single piece with either the link body or the suspension arms ( 2 ).

11. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein at least one bearing seat ( 3 ) is designed to accommodate a non-elastic, rotational joint for connecting the four-point link to either the axle or the frame of the vehicle.

12. The four-point link according to claim 11 , wherein either the link body ( 1 , 2 ) or the suspension arms ( 2 ) are designed to be flexurally resilient in a region of at least one of the bearing seats ( 3 ).

13. The four-point link according to claim 12 , wherein the flexurally resilient region of either the link body ( 1 , 2 ) or the suspension arms ( 2 ) are designed as laminate, and the laminate comprises at least one laminate layer made of an elastomeric material.

14. The four-point link according to claim 1 , wherein either at least one of the bearing seats ( 3 ) or at least one of the suspension arms ( 2 ) connects the four-point link, in a non-articulated manner, to either the axle or the frame of the vehicle.

15. A four-point link for an axle suspension of a rigid axle of a vehicle, the four-point link comprising:
four bearing seats ( 3 ) of which two bearing seats ( 3 ) are pivotable on the axle and two bearing seats ( 3 ) are pivotable on a frame of the vehicle, at least one of the four bearing seats is aligned in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
a twistable link body ( 1 , 2 ) having lateral side edges and a laterally intermediate region centrally located between the side edges, the link body is substantially inscribed by a trapezoid formed by the four bearing seats ( 3 ), and the link body ( 1 , 2 ) being a fiber-composite arrangement formed of a fiber material in which at least three quarters of a mass of fibers of the fiber material are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the link body having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface that are spaced from one another such that a space between the upper and the lower surfaces in the intermediate region is at least as great as a space between the upper and the lower surfaces at the side edges of the link body,
the fiber-composite arrangement comprising at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement ( 10 , 11 ) which is dedicated to at least one bearing seat ( 3 ), and the at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement ( 10 , 11 ) encases at least along half a circumference of the at least one bearing seat ( 3 ) and extends along at least part of the link body ( 1 , 2 ), and
the link body ( 1 , 2 ) forms a profile having a first open passage that extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle completely through the four-point link between the upper and the lower surfaces, and a second open passage that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle completely through the four-point link between the lateral side edges and the upper and the lower surfaces.

16. A four-point link for an axle suspension of a rigid axle of a vehicle, t

Assignees

• Eismann Jens
• Quaing Matthias
• Helm Eike
• Bublies Holger
• Gercke Matthias
• Eifflaender Thomas
• Wolf Daniel
• Steffens Markus
• Anna Frank
• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Eismann Jens
• Quaing Matthias
• Helm Eike
• Bublies Holger
• Gercke Matthias
• Eifflaender Thomas
• Wolf Daniel
• Steffens Markus
• Anna Frank

Classifications

• B60G2206/7101

  Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] · 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

• B60G9/00

  Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels {(the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08)} · CPC title

• B60G2206/121

  the arm having an H or X-shape · CPC title

• B60G9/022

  the axle having an imaginary pivotal point · CPC title