Vibration Damper And Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A vibration damper with a piston, a piston rod fastened to the piston, a working chamber divided by the piston into a first working chamber and second working chamber, and a generator drivable by movement of the piston rod. The damping force of the vibration damper can be influenced by energization of the generator. An energizable component part is provided that short-circuits the windings of the generator when unenergized and cancels the short circuit when energized.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A vibration damper comprising: a piston; a piston rod fastened to the piston; a working chamber divided by the piston into a first working chamber and second working chamber; a generator drivable by a movement of the piston rod, wherein a damping force of the vibration damper is influenced by energization of the generator; and an energizable component part that is configured to short-circuit windings of the generator when unenergized and cancels the short circuit when energized.

12. The vibration damper according to claim 11, wherein the energizable component part is a relay.

13. The vibration damper according to claim 11, wherein the energizable component part is arranged at the generator.

14. The vibration damper according to claim 11, wherein an energy supply device is provided that supplies the energizable component part.

15. The vibration damper according to claim 14, wherein the energy supply device is a capacitor (12).

16. The vibration damper according to claim 11, wherein the generator is coupled to a hydraulic motor.

17. The vibration damper according to claim 16, wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed as a pump.

18. The vibration damper according to claim 16, wherein the hydraulic motor has a reversal of rotational direction.

19. The vibration damper according to claim 11, wherein the energizing of the energizable component part can be stopped depending on at least one of an operating parameter and a driving parameter.

20. A motor vehicle comprising: at least one vibration damper comprising: a piston; a piston rod fastened to the piston; a working chamber divided by the piston into a first working chamber and second working chamber; a generator drivable by a movement of the piston rod, wherein a damping force of the at least one vibration damper is influenced by energization of the generator; and an energizable component part that is configured to short-circuit windings of the generator when unenergized and cancels the short circuit when energized.

21. The vibration damper according to claim 12, wherein the energizable component part is arranged at the generator.

22. The vibration damper according to claim 13, wherein an energy supply device is provided that supplies the energizable component part.

23. The vibration damper according to claim 17, wherein the hydraulic motor has a reversal of rotational direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages, details and features follow from the below-indicated figures and embodiment examples. In the drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a vibration damper with a generator;

[0019] FIG. 2 is an alternative arrangement of the generator; and

[0020] FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram with capacitor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a vibration damper 1 with at least one cylinder 2, a piston rod 3 and a piston 4. The piston 4 divides the working chamber of the cylinder 2 into a first working chamber 5 and a second working chamber 6. The vibration damper 1 can also be constructed differently; in particular, it can be constructed as a two-tube damper with an intermediate tube so that the first working chamber 5 and the second working chamber 6 can be connected via the hydraulic motor 7. A movement of the piston 4 in the cylinder 2 causes a flow of fluid from the first working chamber 5 via the hydraulic motor 7 to the second working chamber 6, or vice versa, depending on whether the movement is a rebound movement or compression movement. A generator 8 is connected to the hydraulic motor 7, and the damping force of the vibration damper 1 is also adjustable via the generator 8. Further, an energizable component part 9 is located at generator 8. When the energizable component part 9 is energized, it cancels a short circuit present at the generator or at the windings of the generator, whereas when unenergized it short-circuits the windings of the generator 8.

[0022] The movement of the hydraulic motor 7 is heavily damped as a result of the short circuit so that the flow resistance and, therefore, the damping force of the vibration damper 1 is increased.

[0023] During operation and in the absence of disruption, the energizable component part 9 is energized, which is why, without disruption, the damping force of the vibration damper 1 can be controlled by energization of the generator 8. In this regard, the generator 8 and the energizable component part 9 are supplied through the same power source so that the energizable component part 9 only short-circuits generator 8 when it is unenergized itself.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an alternative configuration in which the generator 8 and the hydraulic motor 7 are arranged in piston 4. In this case, the energizable component part 9 constructed as a relay is located outside of the cylinder 2, but there is an electrical connection to generator 8. The generator 8 is connected to a control device 10 via the energizable component part 9.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a possible further development of the vibration damper 1 in which a capacitor 12 is arranged as energy supply device in the circuit so that the energizable component part 9 is also supplied with power temporarily, particularly for less than one second, when the power supply is interrupted, for example, due to unevenness in the roadway. The capacitor 12 helps to differentiate, so to speak, between roadway unevenness and emergencies.

[0026] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.