Fastening device for a flexible element between mobile elements and suspension system for a wheel associated with it

0001The present invention relates to a fixing device between a hose two elements movable relative to each other, the device being adapted particularly for fixing a flexible brake arranged liquid supply between a braking member and the corresponding frame of a vehicle. It relates to also a suspension system equipped with such a fixing device.

0002To ensure ride comfort and handling vehicles cars, wheels of vehicles are generally fixed to the vehicle chassis via suspension devices allowing movements wheel travel. management changes are caused vehicles by rotation of the vehicle steering wheels according to a substantially vertical axis. By Furthermore, the vehicles generally comprise braking devices by friction in which a stationary seal is pressed by means of a brake liquid under pressure against a disc or a drum integral in rotation with the wheel.

0003The braking device is usually supplied with brake fluid from a common brake fluid reservoir and a plurality of wheels secured to the frame, via a hose. The hose is arranged between elements movable relative to each other, respectively integral with the chassis and wheel. The hose is flexible and has sufficient length to accompany suspension movements and possibly direction from the wheel.

0004During movements of the wheel, the hose is subjected to stresses internal, with a stress concentration near the attachment points Flexible on the mobile assembly for attaching the wheel. Given the movements standing of the wheel relative to the chassis, these internal stresses concentrated can cause rapid fatigue of the hose so that the hose must be changed during a maintenance operation to prevent a possible break which render inoperative the braking device of the vehicle.

0005The present invention provides a fixing device between a hose movable elements for limiting the movement of the hose, while limiting internal stresses concentrated in the flexible elements during movements mobile.

0006The invention also provides a fixing device between a hose two moving parts simple and obtainable at low production cost.

0007Such a device for fixing a flexible between the first and second elements movable relative to each other, wherein a first end of hose is secured to the first member and a second end of the hose is integral with the second element comprises a means for fixing the form on the first member and a flexible fixing means of an intermediate portion of Flexible on the first member, carried by the support and having at least one degree of freedom.

0008Fixing a flexible intermediate portion of the first item Mobile limits the movements of the hose so that it does not hit potential adjacent elements. Fixing an intermediate portion with a fixing means having one or more degrees of freedom allows movements of the hose relative to the fixing means or with respect to the first element, so that during the relative movements of the first and second elements, hose adopt a position limiting the concentration of internal stresses in hose. The wear of the hose is thus limited, thereby increasing its duration of life. In the case of a motor vehicle and the conditions of use of vehicle, such as climatic conditions, the hose can possibly stay unchanged throughout the vehicle's lifetime.

0009According to one embodiment, the attachment means permits rotation of the flexible relative to the fixing device according to at least one axis of rotation. By example the fixing means may be of the ball joint type. In this case, a mode possible embodiment is that the fixing means comprises a molded head onto the flexible and a socket.

0010According to one embodiment, the fastening means comprises a cage and a flexible tubular sleeve fixed in the cage and adapted to hold a portion via flexible flexibly in a substantially central position the tubular cage while permitting translational movement and rotation of the flexible with respect to the cage. The sleeve may include a wall provided with longitudinal holes to decrease stiffness.

0011According to one embodiment, the fastening means comprises a cage tubular and a plurality of resilient radial projections extending inwardly from the cage to the hose and adapted to maintain a portion via the latter in a flexible manner in a substantially central position of the tubular cage, while allowing translational and rotational movements flexible with respect to the cage.

0012Advantageously, the mounting bracket is a clamp on the first element. Such a mounting bracket is adapted in the case where the first member is a tubular member such as a component of a damper of a leg integral wheel suspension.

0013The fastening device is adapted to a suspension system of a wheel on the chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising a handset Spring / shock absorber disposed between the wheel and the chassis of said vehicle, a body wheel braking supplied with brake fluid by means of a flexible of which a first end is integral with the braking member, a second end being secured to the vehicle chassis.

0014The present invention and its advantages will be better understood upon consideration of the Detailed description of embodiments taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:<ul><li>Figure 1 illustrates schematically and partially a system suspension of a wheel on a motor vehicle;</li><li>Figure 2 is a side view of a fixing device according to an aspect of the invention;</li><li>Figure 3 is a partial top view of the device according to Figure 2;</li><li>Figure 4 is a side view of a variant of the fixing device according to one aspect of the invention;</li><li>Figure 5 is a partial top view of the device according to Figure 4;</li><li>Figure 6 is a side view of a second variant of the device attachment according to one aspect of the invention; and</li><li>Figure 7 is a partial top view of the device of Figure 6;</li></ul>

0015In Figure 1, a suspension system referenced 1 as a whole, the type strut, includes a hub 2 on which are mounted a rocket 3, a suspension damper 4, a steering rod 5, a drive shaft 6 and a braking member 7.

0016The suspension damper 4, the tie rod 5 and the shaft DRIVE 6 are shown partially for drawing clarity reasons. The 5 rod is connected to a not shown steering system. The tree drive 6 is connected to an output shaft of a system of non-driving represent. The suspension damper 4 is connected to the vehicle chassis by via an unillustrated bump stop.

0017The hub 2 comprises a cylindrical central body 11, an arm 10 extending from the central body 11, axially from a first side, and a second arm 15 extending towards the first side and carrying at a free end a ball joint 16 offset in a direction perpendicular to FIG. The suspension damper 4 9 includes a leg fixed to the arm 10 of the hub 2.

0018The drive shaft 6 is located on the first side of the hub 2 by being connected to the spindle 3 via a link 12 coupling type and an axis of carding transmission 13. The opposite end of the drive shaft 6 is connected so known to an output shaft of a system of training through a second connection type seal not shown gimbal. 3 rocket is on the side 2 of the hub opposite to the drive shaft 6. The transmission shaft 13 passes through the central body 11 of the hub 2. The link 12 is protected against pollution by a 12a bellows. The spindle 3 is rotatably mounted on the hub 2 about an axis of rotation 14 which is the main axis of the transmission shaft 13. The drive shaft 6 allows rotating a wheel attached to the rocket 3, along the axis 14.

0019The 5 rod is connected to the arm 15 of the hub 2 by via the ball joint 16. The steering rod 5 can guide the rocket 3 and a wheel attached to the spindle 3, to cause a change of direction vehicle. A movement of the steering rod 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow F1, substantially in the plane of the figure, makes it possible to cause rotation of the spindle 3 about an axis 17 substantially vertical, oriented downwards and in the plane of FIG.

0020During movements of suspension, and according to the kinematic motion authorized by the suspension system 1, the rocket may pass 3 compared to frame translational movements along the axes 14, 17 and a third axis 22 perpendicular to both axes 14 and 17, combined with rotation movements along the axes 14, 17 and 22.

0021The transmission shaft 6 and the link 12 on the one hand, and the connecting rod management 5 and the ball 16 on the other hand are adapted respectively to drive the rotation of the spindle 3 along the axis 14 and to allow cause orientation a wheel fixed on the spindle 3, despite suspension movements 3 rocket relative to the vehicle chassis.

0022The suspension damper 4 allows to cushion the movement of the rocket 3 and to maintain satisfactory contact between a wheel fixed on the spindle 3 and a road surface. The leg 9 of the suspension damper has a translational movement of main axis substantially collinear with the axis 17, being generally inclined, as the axis 17a, in known manner in the systems of leg suspension force.

0023The brake member 7 comprises a disk 18 integral with the spindle 3 and fittings 19a, 19b integral with the hub 2 a manner not shown and said Fittings 19a, 19b being intended to be pressed into frictional contact with the disc 18 for braking the rotation of the spindle 3 along the axis of rotation 14. A actuator 20 supplied with pressurized brake fluid by a hose 21 allows to exercise the linings of pressure force 19a, 19b on the disk 18. The presence of linings on each side of the disk 18 allows for symmetry of friction forces exerted on the disk 18.

0024The hose 21 comprises a first end 21a secured to the actuator 20, a second end 21b attached to a wall 8 of the fixed frame and represented a intermediate portion 21c fixed to the leg 9 by means of a device 22. As fixing the leg 9 is fixed to the hub 2, the leg 9 and the actuator 20 are fixed relative to each other. By cons, the leg 9 is movable relative the frame and the end 21b of the hose 21 attached to the wall 8 of the frame. We refers static portion 23a by the flexible portion 21 located between the first End 21 and the intermediate portion 21c and dynamic portion 23b portion hose 21 between the second end 21b and the intermediate portion 21c.

0025Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a fixing device 22 comprises a mounting bracket 24 of the leg 9 and a fixing means 25 of the portion via flexible 21c with degrees of freedom.

0026The mounting bracket 24 is here the collar attachment types to allow fastening of the device 22 around the leg 9. Of course, can be used as mounting bracket 24 any known mounting bracket and adapted for mounting the fastening means 25, according to the movable support member of the fastening device 22.

0027The securing means 25 comprises a ball 26 integral with the hose 21 which passes through a bore of the ball 26. The ball 26 is disposed in a cage 28 which is a result of a spherical ring severing a sphere in two plane parallel and located on either side of the center of said sphere. The cage 28 forms socket 26, while allowing rotational movements of the hose 21 and the ball 26. The cage 28 is connected by a pin 29 to the mounting bracket 24.

0028Fixing the intermediate portion 21c of the hose 21 of the leg 9 possible to limit the movements of the flexible 21. The use of a means of fixing 25 of ball joint type frees three degrees of rotational freedom.

0029During movements of suspension and steering of a wheel attached to the rocket 3, accompanied by rotation and linear movements of the leg 9, a rigid fixation of the intermediate portion 21c of the hose 21 of the leg 9 cause the formation of internal stresses within the hose 21, with a stress concentration near the rigid fixing on the leg 9. With fastening means 25 releasing one or more degrees of freedom, the maintenance is ensured the intermediate portion 21c while reducing internal stresses concentrated in the intermediate portion of the hose 21.

0030Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a variant of Figures fastener 2 and 3, the references to similar elements are omitted. The way to fixing 25 includes a tubular cage 30 fixed to the carrier 24 shown partially. A sleeve 31, fixed in the cage 30 includes a bore 32 for the passage of the flexible 21. The sleeve 31 has a wall provided with holes longitudinal 33 extending between the radial end faces 36, 37 of the sleeve 31.

0031The sleeve 31 is made from a flexible material, so that the flexible 21 is held relative to the cage with 30 degrees of freedom. The sleeve 31 allows rotation of the hose 21. Furthermore, the fixing of the hose 21 in the sleeve 31 may be adapted to allow a translation in a some extent flexible 21 relative to sleeve 31, by sliding.

0032The wall provided with longitudinal holes 33 makes it possible to confer a certain flexibility to the sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 is formed by a cylindrical wall inner 31a connected to a cylindrical outer wall 31b by radial walls 31c allowing elastic deformation localized in particular radial walls 31c movements of the inner wall 31a connected to flexible 21 with respect to the outer wall 31b fixed in the cage 30.

0033Of course, a sleeve 31 devoid of longitudinal holes 33, and with sufficient flexibility may be appropriate. It is also conceivable other embodiments of the sleeve 31.

0034Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the fastening device 22. The sleeve 31 is replaced by a link 36 having an outer wall fixed on an inner surface of the tubular cage 30 and provided with radial projections 35 extending inwardly towards the hose 21, to come near or in contact with hose 21.

0035The radial projections 35 can maintain the intermediate portion hose 21 in a central position of the cage 30. The ends 35a of projections 35 are close enough to allow the retention of 21 flexible. The projections 35 are resilient to allow sufficient retention of 21 flexible to restrict its movements, but with degrees of freedom to avoid stress concentration in the intermediate portion 21c of the flexible 21.

0036Of course, any fixing means other than those described above and which allows attachment of the hose 21 with one or more degrees of freedom in translation or rotation is suitable.

0037Thanks to the invention there is provided a fixing device between a hose two mobile elements to limit the movements of the flexible and avoid stress concentration phenomena in the surrounding portions of fasteners of the hose, to prevent rapid wear of the hose.