STATUS DISPLAY

Abstract

A status display, in particular for use on the wheel suspension of a vehicle, includes a first reference unit and a second reference unit, wherein the first and the second reference unit are mounted or fastened to one another via a holding unit, wherein the first reference unit has a first reference geometry, wherein the second reference unit has a second reference geometry, the position of the first reference geometry relative to the second reference geometry being able to be determined optically or haptically by a user, at least in a wear condition of the holding unit.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A status display for use on the wheel suspension of a vehicle, comprising: a first reference unit; and a second reference unit; wherein the first and second reference units are mounted or fastened to one another via a holding unit; wherein the first reference unit has a first reference geometry; wherein the second reference unit has a second reference geometry; wherein at least in a wear condition of the holding unit a position of the first reference geometry relative to the second reference geometry is configured to be determined optically or haptically; wherein the wear condition includes a permanent deformation of the holding unit due to wear; and wherein the status display is configured to determine the wear condition of the holding unit.

17. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the first reference geometry is formed as a recess through which the second reference geometry is visible in the wear condition.

18. The status display according to claim 17, wherein the second reference geometry is exclusively visible in the wear condition in the first reference geometry.

19. The status display according to claim 17, wherein the second reference geometry is formed as a notch or mark on a component of the second reference unit.

20. The status display according to claim 19, wherein the first and/or the second reference geometry comprise a scale configured to allow determination of the position of the second reference unit relative to the first reference unit.

21. The status display according to claim 20, wherein the second reference geometry includes a portion of an outer surface of a solid body which is fixed to the second reference unit.

22. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the second reference geometry is formed as a notch or mark on a component of the second reference unit.

23. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the first and/or the second reference geometry comprise a scale configured to allow determination of the position of the second reference unit relative to the first reference unit.

24. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the second reference geometry includes a portion of an outer surface of a solid body which is fixed to the second reference unit.

25. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the second reference geometry includes a protrusion and is configured to permanently deform the first reference geometry upon reaching the wear condition, and wherein the deformed condition of the first reference geometry signals a presence of the wear condition to a user.

26. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the first reference unit comprises a bearing block of a chassis, wherein the second reference unit comprises a steering element pivotally suspended from the bearing block, and wherein the holding unit comprises a bolt element and a bushing which are configured to support the steering element relative to the bearing block.

27. The status display according to claim 26, wherein the first reference geometry is arranged on a leg of the bearing block between the fastening area of the bearing block to a frame of a vehicle and the receiving area of the bolt element on the bearing block, and wherein the second reference geometry is displaced in the wear condition due to a weight force of the vehicle in such a way that its position on or in the first reference geometry is configured to be read haptically or optically.

28. The status display according to claim 26, wherein the second reference geometry includes an outer surface of a bearing eye of the steering element.

29. The status display according to claim 26, wherein the second reference geometry includes an outer surface of a disc element disposed between the bearing block and the steering element and retained by the bolt element.

30. The status display according to claim 16, wherein the first and/or the second reference geometry have a signal colour.

31. A status display for use on the wheel suspension of a vehicle, comprising: a first reference unit; and a second reference unit; wherein the first and second reference units are mounted or fastened to one another via a holding unit; wherein the first reference unit comprises a bearing block and wherein the second reference unit comprises an arm; wherein the first reference unit has a first reference geometry; wherein the second reference unit has a second reference geometry; wherein a change of a wear condition of the holding unit changes the position of the first reference geometry relative to the second reference geometry; wherein the position of the first reference geometry relative to the second reference geometry is an expression of a certain wear of the holding unit, which is indicated by a display unit.

32. The status display according to claim 31, wherein the display unit comprises at least one sensor adapted to determine the relative position of the first reference geometry to the second reference geometry.

33. A method for determining the wear condition of a wheel suspension of a vehicle, comprising: providing a first reference unit, a second reference unit and a holding unit, wherein the first and second reference units are mounted or fixed to each other via the holding unit, wherein the first reference unit comprises a bearing block and the second reference unit comprises an arm, wherein the first reference unit has a first reference geometry and the second reference unit has a second reference geometry; optically or haptically determining the position of the first reference geometry relative to the second reference geometry; and inferring a wear condition of the holding unit, wherein the wear condition includes a permanent deformation of the holding unit due to wear.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Further advantages and features of preferred embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of a status display according to the invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is the embodiment of the status display shown in FIG. 1 in the wear condition;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a further preferred embodiment of the status display according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a further schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the status display according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 5A is a side elevation schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the status display according to the invention; and

[0024] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional end side of the status display of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] In the preferred system of an embodiment with a status display according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the first reference unit 2 and the second reference unit 4, which is movably mounted with respect thereto, are shown. The first reference unit 2 comprises a bearing block 24, which can be fixed to the frame of a vehicle by means of a fastening area 25 on its upper side. Furthermore, the bearing block 24 has an area in which a steering element 44 of the second reference unit 4 can be pivotably fixed by means of a bolt element 62. In this case, the steering element 44 is preferably mounted on the bolt element 62 via a bushing (not shown). In the enlarged view of the area above the fastening of the bolt element 62 shown on the right, it is shown that a first reference geometry 22 is formed on the bearing block 24, which in the present embodiment is introduced as a circular hole in the material of the bearing block 24. In the condition shown in FIG. 1, no outer surface of the second reference unit can be seen through the first reference geometry 22. This means that the chassis system of FIG. 1 is not in the wear condition V.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the chassis system of FIG. 1 in the wear condition V. Here, analogous to the parts of the chassis system described in FIG. 1, it can be seen in the enlarged representation of the first reference geometry 22 that the steering element 44 has moved upwards there relative to the first reference unit 2 and its corresponding outer surface is visible through the second reference geometry 22. This signals to the user of the status display that the holding unit 6 is worn in such a way that the proper bearing of the steering element 44 on the bearing block 24 is no longer guaranteed. In the presence of the condition shown in FIG. 2, the user would therefore be advised to carry out a maintenance measure on the vehicle's chassis system.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a further preferred embodiment in which the first reference unit 2 also has a bearing block 24, the first reference geometry 22 being introduced as a rectangular elongated hole in the material of the bearing block 24. In addition, the first reference geometry 22 has a scale 26 by means of which the exact positioning of the second reference unit, in particular of the second reference geometry 42 in the first reference geometry 22, can be read. The bearing eye 45 of the steering element 44 preferably provided on the second reference unit 4 is shown dashed.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the status display according to the invention in two states. The left side of the Figure shows the state in which there is no excessive wear on the holding unit 6. In this case, the first reference geometry 22 is implemented as a nose-shaped section on the material of a sheet-metal-like component of the first reference unit 2. The second reference geometry 42 is designed as a projection, which is preferably made in one piece on one of the components of the second reference unit 4. Advantageously, the corresponding component of the second reference unit 4 is a steering element 44. In the state shown on the left in the Figure, the second reference geometry 42 is out of engagement with the first reference geometry 22. Only when increasing wear occurs on the bushing 64 of the holding unit 6 and a corresponding secure mounting of the second reference unit 4 is no longer ensured, is the second reference geometry 42 displaced relative to the first reference unit 2 in such a way that the second reference geometry 42 permanently deforms or deflects the first reference geometry 22 so that the latter is pivoted to the right in the Figure. This deformed or deflected state of the first reference geometry 22 allows a user to haptically determine the wear condition V on the chassis, as the position of the first reference geometry 22 can be determined by simply feeling a corresponding area on the first reference unit 2. As an alternative to the plastic deformation shown in FIG. 4, the first reference geometry 22 can also be characterized, for example, by a pivotable suspension, which allows a specific section of the first reference geometry 22 to be simply pivoted out, whereby after completion of the corresponding maintenance work on the chassis, the first reference geometry 22 pivots back to its state in which it does not signal a wear condition V.

[0029] FIGS. 5A and 5B show another preferred embodiment of the status display according to the invention, wherein the second reference geometry 42 is provided on an additional component, a disc element 66 fixed to the bolt element 62.

REFERENCE SIGN

[0030] 2—first reference unit

[0031] 6—holding unit

[0032] 4—second reference unit

[0033] 22—first reference geometry

[0034] 24—bearing block

[0035] 25—fastening area

[0036] 26—scale

[0037] 42—second reference geometry

[0038] 44—steering element

[0039] 45—bearing eye

[0040] 62—bolt element

[0041] 64—bushing

[0042] 66—disc element

[0043] V—wear condition