Abstract
A bearing device for mounting an axle guide for commercial vehicles includes a first connector which has an axial direction of extension, and a first axial centre in the axial direction of extension, a damping unit, having an outwardly peripheral retaining surface, and a second connector being fixed to the retaining surface, wherein the second connector extends along the axial direction of extension, wherein the second connector has a boundary surface on which an axle guide can be fixed, wherein the boundary surface has a second axial centre in the axial direction of extension, and wherein the first and the second axial centre are offset from each other along a vector of the axial direction of extension.
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. A bearing device for mounting an axle guide for commercial vehicles, comprising: a first connector which has an axial direction of extension and a first axial centre in the axial direction of extension, wherein the first connector forms an outwardly peripheral circumferential surface; a damping unit fixed to the circumferential surface, wherein the damping unit at least partially peripherally surrounds the circumferential surface, and wherein the damping unit has an outwardly peripheral retaining surface; and a second connector fixed to the retaining surface; wherein the second connector extends along the axial direction of extension; wherein the second connector has a boundary surface on which an axle guide is configured to be fixed in a supporting manner; wherein the boundary surface has a second axial centre in the axial direction of extension; wherein the first and second axial centres are offset from each other along a vector of the axial direction of extension; wherein the second connector comprises a positioning portion; wherein the boundary surface has a first extension length in the axial direction of extension of the boundary surface; wherein the positioning portion has a second extension length in the axial direction of extension of the positioning portion; and wherein the ratio of the second to the first extension length is between 0.01 and 0.4.
17. The bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the positioning portion includes a stop surface configured to effect positional locking of the axle guide.
18. The bearing device according to claim 17, wherein the positioning portion and the second connector comprise one piece.
19. The bearing device according to claim 17, wherein the positioning portion and the second connector comprise multiple pieces, and wherein the multiple pieces are connected to each other in a detachable or non-detachable manner.
20. The bearing device according to claim 19, wherein the positioning portion and the second connector are connected to each other by a force-locking, friction-locking, form-locking and/or material-locking connection.
21. The bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the first connector and/or the second connector and/or the damping unit are coaxially to each other.
22. The bearing device according to claim 21, wherein the first connector has a recess for attachment to a retaining bracket, the recess extending along the axial direction of extension.
23. The bearing device according to claim 23, wherein the second connector has a second positioning portion, and wherein the second positioning portion has a second stop surface configured to secure an axle guide in position.
24. The bearing device according to claim 23, wherein the second stop surface is substantially parallel to the stop surface.
25. The bearing device according to claim 24, wherein the vector between the first and second axial centres is symmetrical to the ratio of the first and second extension lengths.
26. The bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the first connector has a recess for attachment to a retaining bracket, the recess extending along the axial direction of extension.
27. The bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the second connector has a second positioning portion, and wherein the second positioning portion has a second stop surface configured to secure an axle guide in position.
28. The bearing device according to claim 27, wherein the second stop surface is substantially parallel to the stop surface.
29. The bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the vector between the first and second axial centres is symmetrical to the ratio of the first and second extension lengths.
30. An axle suspension, comprising: an axle guide; and a retaining bracket, the axle guide fixed to the retaining bracket by the bearing device according to claim 16, the bearing device securing an axial centre of the retaining bracket to an axial centre of the axle guide.
31. The axle suspension according to claim 30, further comprising: an air spring having a centre in the axial direction of extension, the axial centre of the air spring spaced from the axial centre of the retaining bracket.
32. The axle suspension according to claim 31, wherein the bearing device rests on the retaining bracket, and wherein the axle guide is spaced from the retaining bracket.
33. The axle suspension according to claim 30, wherein the bearing device rests on the retaining bracket, and wherein the axle guide is spaced from the retaining bracket.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The invention shall now be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the figures, the same or corresponding elements are marked with the same reference signs. It is shown in:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a bearing device according to a first embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a bearing device with a retaining bracket and an axle guide according to a second embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a retaining bracket with a part of a bearing device according to a third embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a retaining bracket with a bearing device according to a fourth embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a bearing device according to a fifth embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of an axle suspension according to a sixth embodiment; and
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of a bearing device according to a seventh embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the bearing device 1. The bearing device 1 comprises a first connecting means 5, a damping unit 13 and a second connecting means 17. The first connecting means 5 has an axial direction of extension 7. The first connecting means 5 has a first axial centre point 9, which is located on the axial direction of extension 7. The first axial centre 9 is defined by the first connecting means 5 by providing the first axial centre 9 centrally between the end points 63 of the first connecting means in the axial direction of extension 7. The first connecting means 5 has a circumferential surface 11, which is formed by the outside of the first connecting means 5. The circumferential surface 11 is partially enclosed by a damping unit 13. The damping unit 13 has a retaining surface 15 to which the second connecting means 17 is fixed. The second connecting means 17 can completely or partially enclose the retaining surface 15. The extension length of the second connecting means 17 is defined by the two end points 65 on the axial direction of extension 7. The second connecting means 17 has a boundary surface 19, which is designed to fix an axle guide 3. The second connecting means 17 also has a positioning portion 25, which has a stop surface 27. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the stop surface 27 is orthogonal to the boundary surface 19. The stop surface 27 is used to secure an axle guide 3, which is not shown in FIG. 1, in its position. In particular, the stop surface 27 serves to limit an axle guide 23 against slipping in one direction. Furthermore, the first connecting means 5 has a recess 29. The recess 29 is designed so that a retaining bolt of a retaining bracket 31 can be fixed to it. Furthermore, the second connecting means 17 has a first extension length 33, which is defined by the projection surface of the limiting surface 19 along the axial direction of extension 7. Furthermore, the boundary surface 19 has a second axial centre 21. The second axial centre is defined by the end points 67 of the boundary surface 19, the second axial centre being located centrally between the end points 67 of the boundary surface 19 in the axial direction of extension 7. The first axial centre 9 and the second axial centre 21 are offset from each other by means of a vector 23. The distance between the first 9 and the second 21 axial centre can be described by means of the vector 23, so that an offset of an axle guide by means of the bearing device 1 takes place. Furthermore, the positioning portion 25 has a second extension length 35, which is defined by its end points along the axial direction of extension 7. Preferably, the second extension length is exactly the same length as the vector 23. In an alternative embodiment, the second extension length 35 can also have a different length as the vector 23.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a retaining bracket 31 with a retaining bolt 32, a bearing device 1 and an axle guide 3, with the bearing device 1 being attached to the retaining bracket 31 by means of the retaining bolt 32. The bearing device 1 is preferably provided with an axle guide 3. The axle guide 3 is fixed to the second connecting means 17 and is offset by means of the positioning portion 25. Offset preferably means that the centre of the axle guide is at a distance from a centre of the first connecting means or the retaining bracket 31. In addition, the first and second connecting means as well as the damping unit 13 have an axial direction of extension 7, which is coaxial with the retaining bracket 32. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a section of an axle suspension 41.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a mounting bracket 31, comprising a mounting bolt 51, which serves to fix a damper not shown, and a mounting bolt 32, to which a first connecting means 5 is fixed. The first connecting means 5 has a peripheral circumferential surface 11 against which a damping unit 13 can be placed.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a retaining bracket 31 with a bearing device 1. The retaining bracket 31 comprises a retaining bolt 32, to which a first connecting means 5 is attached. The first connecting means 5 is surrounded by a damping unit 13, to which a second connecting means 17 is attached. The second connecting means 17 has an outer peripheral boundary surface 19 and a positioning portion 25. The positioning portion 25 is designed to secure an axle guide in a position, wherein the axial centre of the retaining bracket 31 is spaced from an axial centre of the axle guide or the second axial centre.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a bearing device according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the positioning portion 25 and the second connecting means 17 are designed to be detachable in several parts. The second connecting means 17 has a connection 53, which connects the second connecting means 17 with the positioning portion 25, which is designed as a kind of nut. The connection 53 is preferably designed as a kind of screw connection, wherein the positioning portion 25 has a kind of thread on its inside, which can engage in a counterpart provided for this purpose on the second connecting means 17. In addition, the second connecting means 17 has a boundary surface 19, which forms a second axial centre 21. The second axial centre 21 is spaced along a vector 23 from the first axial centre 9. The first axial centre 9 is defined by the first connecting means 5. The first connecting means 5 has a third extension length 27 which is defined by the end points of the connecting means along the axial direction of extension 7. The first axial centre is in the middle of the third length 37, which is defined by the end points 65 of the second connecting means 17. Preferably, the second connecting means 17 has a fourth extension length 39, wherein preferably the fourth extension length 39 is smaller than the third extension length 37. This has the advantage that the second connecting means 17 is at a distance from the retaining bracket 31. Furthermore, the boundary surface 19 has a first extension length 33, which is limited by the width along the axial direction of extension 7 of the boundary surface 19. The positioning portion 25 has a second extension length 35, which is defined by the width of the positioning portion 25 along the axial direction of extension 7. Preferably, the second extension length 35 is the same length as the vector 23. In a preferred embodiment, the second connecting means 17 is cast and then a thread is cut by means of a thread cutter, so that a positioning portion 25 can be applied to the thread of the connecting means 17, which is formed by a nut or a nut-like component. The positioning portion, which is designed as a nut or nut-like component, has a stop surface 27, which is preferably designed orthogonal to the boundary surface 19. The stop surface 27 secures the position of the axle guide 3 along at least one direction of the axial direction of extension 7.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of an axle suspension. The retaining bracket 31 forms an axial centre 45. In addition, the retaining bracket 31 defines a bearing device 1. The bearing device 1 has a positioning portion 25, which offsets an axle guide 3. The axle guide 3 has an axial centre which corresponds to the second axial centre 21 of the boundary surface 19. The second axial centre 21 is spaced from the first axial centre or the axial centre of the retaining bracket 45. An air spring 43 is also provided on the axle guide 3. The air spring also has an axial centre 47, which is at a distance from the axial centre of the retaining bracket 45. The distance 49 is shown schematically in FIG. 6 between the axial centre of the retaining bracket 45 and the axial centre of the air spring 47.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the bearing device 1, wherein the bearing device 1 has a first connecting means 5, a damping unit 13 and a second connecting means 17. The second connecting means comprises a first positioning portion 25 and a second positioning portion 55, the first positioning portion 25 having a first stop surface 27 which is orthogonal to the boundary surface 19. The first positioning portion 25 and the second connecting means 17 are designed in one piece. The second positioning portion 55 and the second connecting means 17 are made in multi-pieces, which are connected to each other by means of the connection 59. The connection 59 is preferably a screw connection, wherein the second positioning portion 55 and the second connecting means 17 each have a thread which can engage in each other. The second positioning portion 25 forms a second stop surface 57, on which an axle guide 3 can be positioned and secured. Preferably the second stop surface 57 secures the axle guide in at least one direction, preferably hitting against it. In addition, the second positioning portion 55 has an extension length 61 along the axial direction of extension 7. The extension length 61 influences the extension length 33 of the boundary surface 19 and thus the second axial centre 21. In addition, an axle guide 3 can be secured three-dimensionally with the first and second positioning portion and the second connecting means 17, since all degrees of freedom are secured by these three elements.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0037] 1—bearing device [0038] 3—axle guide [0039] 4—Centre of axle guide [0040] 5—first connecting means [0041] 7—axial direction of extension [0042] 9—first axial centre [0043] 11—circumferential surface [0044] 13—damping unit [0045] 15—retaining surface [0046] 17—second connecting means [0047] 19—boundary surface [0048] 21—second axial centre [0049] 23—vector [0050] 25—positioning portion [0051] 27—stop surface [0052] 29—recess [0053] 31—retaining bracket [0054] 32—retaining bolt [0055] 33—first extension length [0056] 35—second extension length [0057] 37—third extension length [0058] 39—fourth extension length [0059] 41—axle suspension [0060] 43—air spring [0061] 45—axial centre of the retaining bracket [0062] 47—axial centre of the air spring [0063] 49—distance between the axial centre of the retaining bracket and the air spring [0064] 51—mounting bolts [0065] 53—connection [0066] 55—second positioning portion [0067] 57—second stop face [0068] 59—connection of second positioning portion [0069] 61—extension length of second positioning portion [0070] 63—end points of first connecting means [0071] 65—end points of second connecting means [0072] 67—end points of boundary surface
