Protective Device for a Shock Absorber

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device for a shock absorber, in particular a commercial vehicle shock absorber, comprising a first base area and a second base area, wherein the first base area and the second base area are connected to one another in such a way that via a swivel axis they can be swiveled in relation to one another between an assembly state and an operating state, and wherein the first base area and the second base area in the operating state substantially form a hollow cylindrical shape.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A protective device for a shock absorber, comprising: a first base area; and a second base area; wherein the first base area and the second base area are connected to one another such that via a swivel axis the first base area and the second base area are configured to swivel in relation to one another between an assembly state and an operating state; wherein the first base area and the second base area in the operating state substantially form a hollow cylindrical shape; and wherein an axially projecting strap is provided on one of the base areas, the strap having a free end configured to be brought into engagement with the other base area.

17. The protective device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first base area and the second base area are at least one of one, single piece, and connected via a hinge.

18. The protective device as claimed in claim 17, where the hinge comprises a film hinge.

19. The protective device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the swivel axis lies one of parallel and perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the hollow cylindrical shape.

20. The protective device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising: at least one receiving portion for receiving a bearing area of the shock absorber, which bearing area protrudes through the receiving portion, and wherein ate least one of the first base area and the second base area includes a receiving portion.

21. The protective device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the receiving portion includes at least one of a recess and an opening, extending into at least one of the base areas.

22. The protective device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the recess and/or opening is at least one of curved and sectorial shape.

23. The protective device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is on an axially running edge of at least one of the first base area and the second base area.

24. The protective device as claimed in claim 23, wherein two opposing receiving portions are provided on at least one of the base areas.

25. The protective device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the receiving portion comprises an edge protruding radially outwards.

26. The protective device as claimed in claim 25, wherein in the operating state the receiving portion of the first base area and the receiving portion of the second base area adjoin one another in such a way that the first base area and the second base area form a peripherally closed opening, through which the bearing area of the shock absorber is configured to at least partially protrude.

27. The protective device as claimed in claim 26, wherein one of the base areas comprises at least one latching element and the other base area at least one catch, in which the latching element is configured to engage to keep the protective device in the operating state.

28. The protective device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the latching element and the catch are each formed on one or on both axially running edges of the base areas.

29. The protective device as claimed in claim 28, wherein at least one of the first base area and the second base area has the configuration of a dish.

30. The protective device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the swivel axis lies one of parallel and perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the hollow cylindrical shape.

31. The protective device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: at least one receiving portion for receiving a bearing area of the shock absorber, which bearing area protrudes through the receiving portion, and wherein ate least one of the first base area and the second base area includes a receiving portion.

32. The protective device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the receiving portion includes at least one of a recess and an opening, extending into at least one of the base areas.

33. The protective device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the recess and/or opening is at least one of curved and sectorial shape.

34. The protective device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the receiving portion is on an axially running edge of at least one of the first base area and the second base area.

35. The protective device as claimed in claim 31, wherein two opposing receiving portions are provided on at least one of the base areas.

36. The protective device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the receiving portion comprises an edge protruding radially outwards.

37. The protective device as claimed in claim 31, wherein in the operating state the receiving portion of the first base area and the receiving portion of the second base area adjoin one another in such a way that the first base area and the second base area form a peripherally closed opening, through which the bearing area of the shock absorber is configured to at least partially protrude.

38. The protective device as claimed in claim 16, wherein one of the base areas comprises at least one latching element and the other base area at least one catch, in which the latching element is configured to engage to keep the protective device in the operating state.

39. The protective device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the latching element and the catch are each formed on one or on both axially running edges of the base areas.

40. A shock absorber arrangement, comprising: a shock absorber having a piston portion and a cylinder portion, which are at least one of longitudinally moveable in relation to one another and displaceable in one another; and a protective device as claimed in claim 14; wherein the protective device can be arranged on the shock absorber in such a way that in the operating state the first base area and the second base area enclose the piston portion; wherein the first base area and the second base area of the protective device axially extend over the entire part of that piston portion which in the extended state lies outside the cylinder portion; wherein the protective device in the fully extended state covers a remote end of the cylinder portion facing the piston portion; and wherein the inside diameter of the hollow cylinder formed by the first base area and the second base area in the operating state is 1.01 to 1.3 times greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder portion of the shock absorber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments, referring to the figures attached, wherein individual features of individual embodiments may be combined with one another to form new embodiments. In the drawings:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a protective device according to the invention in the operating state;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the protective device according to FIG. 1 in the operating state;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a protective device according to the invention in the assembly state;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the protective device according to FIG. 3 in the operating state;

[0025] FIGS. 5 show a preferred embodiment of a shock (a) and (b) absorber arrangement according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a further preferred embodiment of a shock absorber arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In FIGS. 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a protective device according to the invention is represented: in the assembly state (not shown) and in the operating state (FIGS. 1 and 2). The protective device comprises a first base area 2 and a second base area 4, which can be swiveled in relation to one another via a swivel axis x.

[0028] The first base area 2 and the second base area 4 each have axially running edges 6, wherein the axially running edges 6 of the base areas 2, 4 lie substantially side by side or against one another or opposite one another in the operating state. When the first base area 2 and the second base area 4 are in the operating state they form, at least in areas, a hollow cylindrical shape, which defines a longitudinal or cylinder axis y. It is particularly suitable if the axially running edges 6 run substantially parallel to the cylinder axis y.

[0029] In order to configure the first base area 2 so that it can be swiveled or displaced in relation to the second base area 4, a hinge 8, which more advantageously may be embodied as a film hinge, is provided between them. In order to keep the protective device in the operating state, the first base area comprises a plurality of latching elements 10 on one of its axially running edges 6, which engage in corresponding catches 12.

[0030] The hollow cylinder formed by the base areas 2, 4 has an open end 14 at one of its end faces. A receiving portion 16, which serves for receiving a bearing area of the shock absorber, is formed on an area situated opposite the open end 14, in particular also at a remote end. As can be seen, the receiving portion 16 is formed on each of the base areas 2, 4 and on each of their axially running edges 6. The receiving portion 16 in each case has a sectorial geometry and is formed with an edge 18 projecting radially outwards in order to strengthen the receiving portion 16.

[0031] In order to further increase the operating reliability of the protective device, a strap 20, which comprises corresponding means of engagement at its free end 22, allowing it to engage with means of engagement on the second base area 4, is formed at the end of the first base area 2 situated opposite the open end 14. For this purpose, the strap 20 is more suitably of flexible formation, in order that it may be bent towards the second base area 4 (cf. FIG. 2).

[0032] In the embodiment of the protective device according to the invention represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, the swivel axis x does not lie parallel to the cylinder axis y but instead lies perpendicular to the cylinder axis y. In order to allow the base areas 2, 4 to swivel, a hinge 24 is therefore provided, which is formed not on the axially running edges 6 but at the at least partially closed end of the base areas 2, 4 situated opposite the open end 14.

[0033] A further difference compared to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the receiving portions 16 are formed exclusively on the axially running edges 6 of the base areas 2, 4, and do not extend into the remote end of the base areas 2, 4. As shown in FIG. 5, in the operating state of the protective device the receiving portions 16 therefore form a peripherally closed opening 26.

[0034] FIG. 5 represents one embodiment of a shock absorber arrangement according to the invention. The shock absorber arrangement comprises a shock absorber 50, which has a piston portion, which is capable of retracting and extending in a cylinder portion 52. In order to fix the shock absorber 50 to the frame and chassis of the vehicle, the piston portion comprises a bearing area 54 and the cylinder portion 52 comprises a bearing area 56, which are usually embodied as mounting eyes.

[0035] In order to protect the piston portion, the first base area 2 and the second base area 4 of a protective device corresponding to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 enclose the piston portion in the operating state. This serves to prevent foreign bodies getting into and onto the piston portion. As can be seen, the inside diameter of the hollow cylinder formed by the first base area 2 and the second base area 4 is greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder portion 52, at least in the area of the piston portion which is able to immerse in the cylinder portion 52.

[0036] FIG. 6 represents a further embodiment of a shock absorber arrangement according to the invention. Here the first base area 2 and the second base area 4 of a protective device corresponding to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 3 and 4 enclose the piston portion in the operating state.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0037] 2 first base area [0038] 4 second base area [0039] 6 axially running edge [0040] 8 hinge [0041] 10 latching element [0042] 12 catch [0043] 14 open end [0044] 16 receiving portion [0045] 18 edge [0046] 20 strap [0047] 22 free end [0048] 24 hinge [0049] 26 opening [0050] 50 shock absorber [0051] 52 cylinder portion [0052] 54 bearing area [0053] 56 bearing area [0054] x swivel axis [0055] y cylinder axis