Wheel suspension for a vehicle.

p0001The invention relates to a wheel suspension for vehicles with an existing fiber-reinforced plastic, resilient wheel guide element.

p0002In the general endeavor to reduce the weight of vehicles through the use of plastic parts, has also been attempted to manufacture parts of the suspension from plastic. So already a formed of fiber-filled plastic twist-beam axle for motor vehicles (DE-OS 30 04 194), with the two at least approximately extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction lateral arm parts are connected in a form resistant manner by a tordierbares and resistant to bending in all directions transverse member. The link parts are fitted to their body-side ends with bearings for articulation on the vehicle body and at their free ends with the wheels carrying axles. Here, the arm portions and the cross member of two thin-walled, profiled half shells are formed, which are connected in a dividing plane by adhesive bonding or welding form firmly together. This design is intended for the production of such components since conventional Blechformtechnik borrowed and the plastic material used only partially accessible. The embedded in the plastic material fibers are misaligned and therefore give only mean strength values. Only in the area of ​​the formed at the edges of the shells Flanges, this construction allows the embedding of aligned fibers in the plastic material.

p0003It is also known to produce a leaf spring for vehicles made of a fiber-reinforced plastic (DE-OS 34 37 375). The leaf spring consists of a plurality of longitudinally extending, substantially continuous strands of faserrigem, impregnated with a thermosetting resin material which are wound in a loop configuration by two bushes and then brought by molding and curing in their final form. This known leaf spring as conventional leaf springs made of steel by means of pins and Gelenkemit the bodywork and the axles of the vehicle.

p0004It is also already known, with spring-loaded tie rod of glass-fiber reinforced, resilient plastic produce a resilient rod axis (DE-GM 19 04 380) to make the fitting of particular suspension devices between the axle and the chassis of a vehicle unnecessarily. However, this approach leads to unfavorable movements of the vehicle wheels during compression with strong camber and toe changes and is therefore not practical.

p0005The invention has for its object to provide a wheel suspension for vehicles with an existing fiber-reinforced plastic, resilient wheel guide, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is characterized by a long service life and good wheel location and suspension properties.

p0006This object is achieved in that the wheel guide element consists of at least one arranged upright, closed ring consists of extending a plurality of longitudinally, substantially continuous strands containing fibrous reinforcement material, which are placed by winding in a ring shape. With the invention of a new type of wheel guide is created which unites the means of suspension and guiding a vehicle wheel in itself and which can be produced particularly easily after the winding process of fiber reinforced plastic. By standing ring form two superimposed handlebars are formed which permit precise wheel guidance and ensure a favorable reception of the attacking forces on a vehicle. The wheel guide according to the invention is due to its elastic properties without joints and special elastic bearings to the body and a wheel connected, so that the costs are reduced for the suspension and simplifies its installation.

p0007By varying its cross-sectional shape of the ring may have according to another proposal of the invention, zones of different stiffness. The designer thus has the possibility to adjust the guide and spring properties of the ring in the required manner the respectively given applications. So may be resilient and stiff in the horizontal direction in the vertical direction, for example, the arm portions of the ring. Zones of different stiffness can also be achieved according to the invention, that the stiffening elements are attached to the ring. Preferably, the attachments of the ring to the body and to the wheel carrier are formed as a stiffener.

p0008In a preferred embodiment the ring has a substantially rectangular cross-section, the size of the cross-sectional area at any point of its circumference at different height-width ratio is substantially constant. This has the advantage that despite the different cross-sectional shapes, the material structure at all points of the ring is largely homogeneous and predetermined elasticity and strength values ​​are complied with the neces sary accuracy.

p0009According to another proposal of the invention, the ring may have approximately the shape of a trapezoid form which extends in the horizontal direction sides upper and lower control arms and the legs of the body and a wheel attached. It may also be expedient that two rings together connect a wheel carrier to the body. The rings may both side by side and one behind the other can be arranged.

p0010A high stiffness of the suspension in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis is achieved by an arrangement disposed at the two rings at an angle to each other and are connected by a wheel carrier with each other at the apex of the angle. This an upper and a lower wishbone is formed by two rings.

p0011According to the invention may also consist of two rings the wheel guide element, which are combined into one component. This can advantageously be achieved by an intimate connection between the two rings, that the fibrous reinforcing material in both rings from one-of-eight wound bundle of strands.

p0012An advantageous suspension according to a further proposal of the invention also be provided that a stretched, across the width of the vehicle erstrekkender ring on each side carrying a wheel and mounted with its transverse to the longitudinal axis arm portions in the center of the vehicle to the body is. Here, the ring forms a one-piece, resilient axle, for example, for the two rear wheels of a vehicle, which is characterized by low construction costs and low weight and yet the besteh the requirements for precise wheel is sufficient. Preferably, in this axle, the fastening points of the two handlebar portions to the vehicle body in the vehicle longitudinal direction are offset from each other in order to obtain a greater rigidity of the wheel guide in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the invention can lower the arm section is bent toward its center upward with its attachment point at about the same height as the mounting point of the upper portion Lender gives more ground clearance can be achieved.

p0013Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing.

p0014Show it<ul><li>Fig. 1 is embodied as a ring wheel guide element, whose cross-sectional dimensions vary over the circumference,</li><li>FIG. 2 a polymer formed from two rings wheel guide,</li><li>FIG. 3 shows a two combined to form a component rings wheel guide element,</li><li>Fig. 4 is a view from below of an annular Radführungselements for the two wheels of an axle,</li><li>Fig. 5 is a view from behind of Radführungselements according to FIG. 4,</li><li>Fig. 6 is a front view, partly in section, of a wheel suspension with a wheel guide according to FIG. 3 and </li><li>Fig. 7 is a plan view of the wheel guiding the suspension of FIG. 6.</li></ul>

p00151 shows a rectangular ring, which forms a resilient wheel guide element for a vehicle wheel. 2 and 3, the two horizontal portions of the ring 1, 4 and 5 are referred to its two vertical portions. Sections 2, 3 have approximately the shape of a trapezoid and fulfill the function of the spring and an upper and lower arm. Sections 4 and 5 are rectangular. At section 4, a wheel is attached, which carries the bearing for a vehicle wheel. The section 5 serves for fixing of the ring 1 to the vehicle body and is for this purpose provided with holes 6th

p0016The ring 1 is made of strands of substantially endless, fibrous material, which is wound in several superposed layers to form an annular fiber bundle. The strands may be composed of any suitable type of fibrous material. There may be used synthetic fibers, mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, metal fibers such as steel wire, carbon or graphite fibers or whiskers. Prior to winding the strands with a liquid, curable resin is impregnated, for example, a polyester or epoxy resin.

p0017After the completion of the winding operation, the annular fiber bundle is shaped into the ring 1 shown in Figure 1, and during the molding process is determined by the action of heat the resin cured, whereby the ring 1 is given its final, rigid and elestische structure.

p0018Although the size of the cross-sectional area of ​​the ring 1 in all of the sections 2 to 5 is substantially equal to obtain the individual sections 2 to 5 during the forming process, and may partially also already during the winding process a different cross sectional shape so that the ring 1 acquires the physical properties that he needed as a wheel guide. Thus, the cross-section 7 of the section 4 to which the wheel carrier is mounted, relatively narrow and thick in order to achieve the necessary rigidity in this area in the directions a and b. The small width of the section 4 further contributes to the fact that sufficient space for be housed in the wheel area aggregates such as brakes, steering arm and the like is available.

p0019The horizontal sections 2, 3 take in width from section 4 starting to Section 5 out steadily. In the thickness accordingly they propose decreases steadily. The ratio of length to width of its cross section is therefore to Section 5 ever greater. The cross section 8 shown in the drawing illustrates the dimension of the portion 2 has approximately in its center. This shaping gain, the sections 2, 3 the necessary elastic flexibility in the directions of movement d and the rigidity required for accommodating the engaging in the directions B on the ring 1 forces. The transfer of forces and the required spring work is done here in two sections 2, 3 roughly equal parts.

p0020The section 5 is essentially constructed as a square plate of constant width and thickness, the thickness is approximately equal to the thickness of the sections 2, 3 at the transition to section. 5 By its fastening to the body of the section 5 is additionally reinforced and the rigidity thereof increases particularly in the direction a.

p0021Due to the described embodiment of the ring 1 forms a resilient double arm suspension for the wheel of a vehicle, which is characterized by great simplicity and light weight. By the elastic deformability of the portions 2, 3 and the curved transition regions between the individual sections 2 to 5 no conventional hinge connections are required. Thereby is obtained a great uniformity in the material structure by manufacturing the ring 1 according to the described winding process, so that the desired deformation behavior of the ring 1 with the required accuracy can be predetermined.

p00222 shows a wheel suspension element for the suspension of a vehicle, which is composed of two elastic rings 9, 10 made of a fiber reinforced plastic. The two rings 9, 10 are arranged at an angle x to each other and at the apex of the angle x to the side edges, their vertical sections 11, 12 against one another. The outer surfaces of the sections 11, 12 lie in a common plane and form the bearing for the disk of a wheel carrier, not shown, with which the sections 11, 12 are screwed together when installed in a vehicle and through which the sections 11, 12 are connected to each other. With the vertical portions 13, 14 the rings 9, 10 are connected to the body. This arrangement is characterized by a particularly high rigidity in the direction b in geringenm weight. Furthermore, the rings 9, 10 can be produced easily, since its width over the entire cross-section is equal.

p0023The wheel guide element 15 shown in Figure 3 is a further development according to FIG 2, wherein the two to one another at an angle y arranged annular elements 16, 17 are combined into a one-piece component. In the vertex of the angle y which form separate the remainder of the ring members 16, 17 is an approximately square, rigid, vertically oriented plate 18 which serves for screwing of a wheel carrier. With the sections 19, 20 are the ring elements 16, 17 screwed to the body of a vehicle. To an intimate connection of the ring members 16, 17 to achieve, both ring members 16, 17 made of a single fiber bundle, which is a gewichelt eight in shape, with the individual strands in the region of the plate 18 intersect respectively. For example, a fiber strand from the upper portion 21 of the ring member 16 extends through the plate 18 to the lower section 22 and continue through the sections 20, 23 again to the plate 18 and through the lower portion of the ring member 16 and the section 19 back to its upper portion and so on. Through this winding the strands of reinforcing fibers a special rigidity of the plate 18 is achieved. Furthermore, a favorable course of the reinforcing fibers results in the highly stressed point of transition from the plate 18 in the individual ring members 16, 17, which counteracts delamination of the fibers in the elastic deformation of Radführungselementes 15th

p0024In the embodiment illustrated in the figures 4 and 5 produced in a winding process Ring 24 is provided as a wheel location of fiber reinforced plastic or as forthe axle two wheels of a vehicle axle. The ring 24 has an elongated, transversely extending to the longitudinal axis across the width of the vehicle shape with a lower portion 25, two lateral portions 26, 27 and an upper portion 28. The upper portion 28 is at the points 29, 30 to the chassis or the bodywork of a vehicle. Between the points 29, 30 of the portion 28 extends straight and then bends on both sides symmetrically each at an angle of about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, until it, 27 ends in the lateral portions 26th The sections 26, 27 extend approximately perpendicular to the standing plane of the vehicle and are each equipped with a wheel carrier 32, 33 is connected, at each of which a vehicle wheel 34, 35 is rotatably mounted. the section 25 is adjoined by the lower ends of the sections 26, 27, which is bent into a lying in the center attachment point 31 toward upward. The lateral regions of the portion 25 also run symmetrically at an angle of about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, but in the opposite direction as the lateral regions of the section 25. This results in a distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the fastening points 29, 30 at the upper portion 28 and the fastening point 31 at the lower portion 25, whereby the ring 24, the rigidity required for the wheel guide gets in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The formation of the ring 24 is particularly suitable as a suspension for non-driven rear wheels of a vehicle. Here, by the position of the attachment points 29, 30, 31, which even more attachment points can be added, the suspension behavior of the wheels can be varied in the desired manner.

p0025Figure 6 shows a wheel suspension for a steerable Vorderrrad a vehicle with a resilient wheel guide 36, which corresponds in its basic construction, the wheel guide element illustrated in FIG. 3 The wheel guide element 36 consists of two combined to form a component rings 37, 38 which are manufactured by the winding method described above, made of fiber-reinforced plastic. Both rings 37, 38 have, seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the shape of a trapezium. The parallel sides of the trapezium form two upper, shorter arm 39 and two lower, longer arm 40. The trapezium sides lying on the vehicle outer side are combined to form a plate 41, on which a stub axle 42 is fixed. The other two trapezoid legs 43 are connected to an axle bolster 44 of a vehicle body. At the juncture of the axle bolster 44 is reinforced by an interior plate 45 with threaded holes are screwed into the fastening screws 46 pass through the bores in the legs 43 and an outer legs 43 resting on the stiffening plate 47th This configuration of the compound such stiffening of the legs 43 is achieved that accurately be defined bending axes of the arcuate crossing points to the arms 39, 40 result.

p0026The attachment of the steering knuckle 42 to the plate 41 is similarly configured. Through holes in the steering knuckle 42 and the plate 41 fastening screws engage in threaded holes 48 a arranged on the inside of the plate 41 bearing plate 49 a. The steering knuckle 42 and the bearing plate 49 thus form an additional reinforcement for the plate 41 of Radführungselements 36. The bearing plate 49 is additionally provided with an arm 50, 40 therethrough reaches down through the gap between the lower control arms and the lower secured end of a shock absorber 51st With its upper end the Stoßdaämper 51 is connected in the usual manner on a axle bolster 44 formed by the support 52 above the upper arm. 39 The shock absorber 51 engages between the upper arms 39 therethrough.

p0027In the Achschenkelträger 42 two ball joints 53, 54 are used in the customary manner, which pivot pins are bolted to a steering knuckle 55, which serves for mounting of a front wheel.

p0028The rings 37, 38 of the 36 Radführungselements have, as can be from 6 in conjunction with Figure 7, a rectangular cross section whose size over the entire circumference of the rings is substantially constant. This form is the preparation of the Radführungselements adjusted according to the winding method described above, and allows an easy shaping before curing the plastic. The two rings 37, 38 are constructed and arranged so that the wheel guide element 36 can be installed on both sides of a vehicle, symmetrically to one another.