LINK ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A link assembly for a vehicle, comprising a longitudinal link which has an upper link element and a lower link element, and at least one bushing receptacle for receiving a bearing bushing, wherein the bushing receptacle is at least partially integrated in at least one of the link elements, or is connectable as a separate part to the upper link element and the lower link element.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A link assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinal link which has an upper link element and a lower link element; and at least one bushing receptacle configured to receive a bearing bushing; wherein the bushing receptacle is a single-piece with one of the link elements, which is formed as a cast part, and is connectable to the other link element.

12. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bushing receptacle is completely integrated in one of the link elements.

13. The link assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bushing receptacle is integrated in the upper link element and, in the mounted state, is connected to the lower link element.

14. The link assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bushing receptacle has a curved outer surface, and the lower link element has a correspondingly curved abutment surface for placing against the curved outer surface of the bushing receptacle.

15. The link assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bushing receptacle has a curved outer surface, and the upper link element has a correspondingly curved abutment surface for placing against the curved outer surface of the bushing receptacle.

16. The link assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the link elements surround an inner clearance in a curved manner and are connectable to each other in the region of the bushing receptacle via the bushing receptacle.

17. The link assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bushing receptacle is integrated in the lower link element and is connectable to the upper link element.

18. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bushing receptacle is integrated in the upper link element and, in the mounted state, is connected to the lower link element.

19. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bushing receptacle has a curved outer surface, and the lower link element has a correspondingly curved abutment surface for placing against the curved outer surface of the bushing receptacle.

20. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bushing receptacle has a curved outer surface, and the upper link element has a correspondingly curved abutment surface for placing against the curved outer surface of the bushing receptacle.

21. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the link elements surround an inner clearance in a curved manner and are connectable to each other in the region of the bushing receptacle via the bushing receptacle.

22. The link assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bushing receptacle is integrated in the lower link element and is connectable to the upper link element.

23. A link assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinal link which has an upper link element and a lower link element; and at least one bushing receptacle configured to receive a bearing bushing; wherein the bushing receptacle is a single, integral piece in at least one of the link elements, which is formed as a cast part; and wherein the bushing receptacle includes multiple parts and has an upper shell and a lower shell.

24. The link assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one of the upper shell of the bushing receptacle is integrated in the upper link element and the lower shell of the bushing receptacle is integrated in the lower link element.

25. The link assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the link elements surround an inner clearance in a curved manner and are connectable to each other in the region of the bushing receptacle via the bushing receptacle.

26. The link assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the link elements surround an inner clearance in a curved manner and are connectable to each other in the region of the bushing receptacle via the bushing receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a link assembly according to the invention in a partially disassembled state;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the link assembly according to FIG. 1 in a mounted state;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a link assembly according to the invention in a partially disassembled state;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the link assembly according to FIG. 3 in a mounted state, and

[0024] FIG. 5 shows an axle assembly with two link assemblies arranged on a vehicle axle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Elements which are identical or act in an identical manner are identified in all of the figures with the sane reference signs.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first preferred embodiment of a link assembly 10 with a longitudinal link 20 which is formed by an upper link element 30 and a lower link element 40. The link elements 30, 40 can be formed as cast parts and are each of curved design.

[0027] A bushing receptacle 60 for receiving a bearing bushing (not illustrated) is formed at a first end 22 of the upper link element 30, said bushing receptacle bounding an opening 32 for the bearing bushing with a cylindrical cross section. The bushing receptacle 60 comprises a cylindrical wall 62 with a cylindrical outer surface 64 and a likewise cylindrical inner surface 66. Link webs 34 extend from the cylindrical outer surface 64 in the direction of a second end 24 of the link element 30 or longitudinal link 20. The link webs 34 and the cylindrical wall 62 are formed as an integral cast part or welded to each other. At the second end 24, the upper link element 30 has a recess 36 (cutout, indentation) for receiving a vehicle axle 12. The vehicle axle 12 is, for example, a cylindrical axle tube. The recess 36 correspondingly preferably has a circular-arc-shaped contour. Furthermore, a receptacle 26 for receiving a damping and/or spring element is formed at the second end 24 of the link assembly 10.

[0028] The lower link element 40 has an abutment surface 43 at its first end 22 for bearing against the cylindrical outer surface 64 of the bushing receptacle 60. The in particular circular-arc-shaped abutment surface 43 is adapted to the curvature of the outer surface 64. A recess 46 (cutout, indentation) for receiving the vehicle axle 12 is formed at the opposite second end 24. In the joined-together state of the link elements 30, 40, the recesses 36 and 46 form a circumferentially closed opening for the vehicle axle 12, preferably with a cylindrical cross section. Curved link webs 44 extend between the first end 22 and the second end 24.

[0029] For the connection of the upper link element 30 to the lower link element 40, connecting or joining regions 38 and 48 are respectively formed on the upper link element 30 and on the lower link element 40 in the region of the second end 24 along the vehicle axle 12. The link elements 30, 40 are in contact in the region of the connecting regions 38, 48 and are preferably connected to each other there in an integrally bonded manner. A second connection of the link elements 30, 40 takes place in the region of the first end 22 by means of a preferably integrally bonded connection of the abutment surface 43 to the outer surface 64 of the wall 62 of the bushing receptacle 60. The link elements 30, 40 can thereby be fixedly connected to each other at their opposite longitudinal ends, while a clearance 14 is formed in an inner region between the link elements 30, 40 without contact of the link elements 30, 40.

[0030] The bushing receptacle 60 serves for receiving a bearing bushing, preferably a plastic bushing or rubber bushing which can be designed, for example, as what is referred to as a 3D bushing (three-dimensional bushing). The bearing bushing can be designed, for example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,353, the disclosure of which is included to this extent by reference. The bearing bushing can be mounted on a bearing journal 16 which defines a pivot axis 18. The link assembly 10 or the longitudinal link 20 is thereby mounted rotatably about the pivot axis 18.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an axle unit with two link assembles 10 which are arranged opposite each other or next to each other and substantially correspond to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The respective upper link elements 30 face the vehicle, while the lower link elements 40 face the ground or face away from the vehicle.

[0032] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of a link assembly 10 according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bushing receptacle 60 is designed as a separate part which can be secured in the region of the first end 22 both to the upper link element 30 and to the lower link element 40. The bushing receptacle 60 has a cylindrical wall 62 with a cylindrical outer surface 64 and a cylindrical inner surface 66. The upper link element 30 has a curved abutment surface 33 for bearing against the cylindrical outer surface 64 of the sleeve-shaped bushing receptacle 60. The abutment surface 33 extends as a curved plate with a circular-arc-shaped contour between two link webs 34 which run next to each other and extend in the direction of the second end 24.

[0033] The lower link element 40 is designed substantially analogously to the upper link element 30. The link element 40 has a curved abutment surface 43 for bearing against the cylindrical outer surface 64 of the sleeve-shaped bushing receptacle 60. The abutment surface 43 extends as a curved plate with a circular-arc-shaped contour between two link webs 44 which run next to each other and extend in the direction of the second end 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0034] 10 Link assembly [0035] 12 Vehicle axle [0036] 14 Clearance [0037] 16 Bearing journal [0038] 18 Pivot axis [0039] 20 Longitudinal link [0040] 22 First end [0041] 24 Second end [0042] 26 Receptacle [0043] 30 Upper link element [0044] 32 Opening [0045] 33 Abutment surface [0046] 34 Link web [0047] 36 Recess [0048] 38 Connection region [0049] 40 Lower link element [0050] 43 Abutment surface [0051] 44 Link web [0052] 46 Recess [0053] 48 Connecting region [0054] 60 Bushing receptacle [0055] 62 Wall [0056] 64 Outer surface [0057] 66 Inner surface