CASING CONFIGURATION FOR MPE AXLE SET

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying hydraulic energy in a chassis system of a vehicle including at least three construction groups, which are arranged in an overall casing constructed of at least three partial casings. The three partial casings respectively adjoin each other and are closed there with a sealing adhesive.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying hydraulic energy in a chassis system of a vehicle, comprising: a first motor-pump group, comprising a first hydraulic pump and a first electric motor for driving the first hydraulic pump, a second motor-pump group, comprising a second hydraulic pump and a second electric motor for driving the second hydraulic pump, and an electronic unit for controlling the first and second motor-pump groups, wherein the construction groups are arranged in an overall casing that is constructed of at least three partial casings, and wherein the three partial casings respectively mutually adjoin each other and are closed with a sealing adhesive at least or exactly there.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overall casing preferably has an at least substantially cuboid outer area, and/or casing separation lines between the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings, do not extend along edges of the overall casing and/or edges of the overall casing intersect exclusively at an angle that is different from zero, preferably perpendicularly.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings have respectively corresponding engagement regions, preferably abutment edges, which mutually engage along casing separation lines of the overall casing, preferably abut on each other, and/or which form the boundary of the partial casings.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings respectively all engagement regions or abutment edges are disposed in exactly one plane or in exactly two or exactly three planes, which intersect and are preferably disposed perpendicularly to each other.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial casings have a closed, preferably integral or single-piece outer area or exterior side and/or are electroconductive and preferably comprise cast aluminum or consist thereof.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first motor-pump group is arranged in a first partial casing of the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings and a drive shaft of the first electric motor defines a longitudinal axis of the first motor-pump group and of the first partial casing, wherein the first partial casing has an at least substantially U-shaped cross section and/or continuously surrounds the first motor-pump group on at least or exactly three sides and/or wherein the engagement regions of the first partial housing extend in exactly two planes that are disposed perpendicularly to each other, and/or that the second motor-pump group is arranged in a second partial casing of the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings and a drive shaft of the second electric motor defines a longitudinal axis of the second motor-pump group and of the second partial casing, wherein the second partial casing has a U-shaped or an at least substantially U-shaped cross section and/or continuously surrounds the second motor-pump group on at least or exactly three sides and/or wherein the engagement regions of the second partial housing extend in exactly two planes that are disposed perpendicularly to each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is arranged in a third partial casing of the at least three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings, which preferably spans a cuboid space and/or has a U-shaped cross section.

8. The apparatus according claim 1, wherein along or on the casing separation lines on the exterior side of the overall casing a depression or a groove is provided for receiving the sealing adhesive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is a common electronic unit for both motor-pump groups.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum power of the electric motors of the first and the second motor-pump group is respectively in the range between 0.1 and 5 kW, and/or wherein the electric motors of the first and the second motor-pump group are formed in a four-quadrant-capable manner and/or as electric motor generator, and/or wherein the pumps of the first and the second motor-pump group are formed as internal gear pumps.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the partial casings of both motor-pump groups are disposed on a common axis, which forms a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and/or that the pumps of both motor-pump groups respectively face away from each other, and/or that the apparatus has a total length in the range between 20 and 90 cm.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the partial casings of both motor-pump groups are disposed mutually in parallel and/or both motor-pump groups have the same orientation, wherein preferably the partial casings of both motor-pump groups are arranged flush, and/or the partial casing of the electronic unit is arranged on a side of the partial housings of the motor-pump groups that faces away from the pump.

13. A chassis axle comprising an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chassis axle is preferably pre-mounted and/or has two actuatable shock absorbers which are particularly preferably hydraulically connected with the pumps of the motor-pump groups.

14. A chassis system for a vehicle, comprising at least a first and a second hydraulically actuatable shock absorber, which are preferably allocated to a common chassis axle or arranged on a common chassis axle, and an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first motor-pump group hydraulically connects pressure chambers of the first shock absorber and the second motor-pump group hydraulically connects pressure chambers of the second shock absorber and the apparatus is preferably arranged on the chassis axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The invention will hereinafter be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings are merely schematic representations and the invention is not limited to the specific represented embodiment examples.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment example of an axle set according to the invention in the not yet assembled state,

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment example of an axle set according to the invention in the assembled, closed state,

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment example of an axle set according to the invention in the fully mounted, sealed state,

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment example,

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment example,

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment example, and

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a chassis system with an axle set according to the invention, according to the first embodiment example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] The FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively show a perspective view of a first embodiment example of an apparatus according to the invention in the form of a substantially cuboid axle set 1, respectively in the not yet assembled state, in the assembled, closed state and in the fully mounted, sealed state. The axle set 1 consists of two motor-pump groups 11, 21 arranged in the respective casings 10, 20, and an electronic unit 31 (concealed in the figures) which is presently arranged completely in the interior space spanned by the electronic casing or the electronic lid 30. The respectively identically constructed motor-pump groups 11, 21 are arranged substantially within the interior space spanned by the respective motor-pump casing 10, 20 and are thus embedded, wherein the respectively terminally arranged pumps of the motor-pump groups 11, 21 project over the motor-pump casing 10, 20 through a planar, flat, front-side opening in said casing and are covered in sealing manner there by flange-mounted pump lids 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″. In the represented embodiment example the motor-pump groups 11, 21 are arranged completely within the interior space spanned by the respective motor-pump casings 10, 20 and the pump lids 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″ flange-mounted thereon. The motor-pump casings 10, 20 serve as carriers for the respective motor-pump group 11, 21, i.e. the motor-pump groups 11, 21 are permanently mounted or pre-mounted in the respective motor-pump casings 10, 20. The electronic lid 30 likewise serves as a carrier for the electronic unit 31, which is provided as a common electronic unit for controlling both motor-pump groups 11, 21 in the present embodiment example. The electronic lid 30 correspondingly has only exactly one actuation connector and exactly one power supply connector (which are not represented individually).

[0066] In the axle set 1 of the first embodiment example is it provided that with the two motor-pump casings 10, 20 and the electronic lid 30 exactly three partial casings respectively adjoin each other, so that in the closed overall casing (consisting of the two motor-pump casings 10, 20, the electronic lid 30 and the pump lids 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″) there result, presently at a branching-off point 2 in the form of a T-joint, branching-off casing separation lines 3 between the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30. The two motor-pump casings 10, 20 and the electronic lid 30 have corresponding abutment edges 4, along which two casings abut on each other continuously in each case.

[0067] Further, at least the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30 consist of electroconductive die-cast aluminum, so that there results a continuously electroconductive connection between the partial casings 10, 20, 30 at the mutually contacting abutment edges 4, i.e. continuously along these casing separation lines 3. Thereby, an efficient electromagnetic or EMC-conforming casing shielding of the axle set 1 is achieved. Advantageously, all partial casings 10, 10′, 10″, 20, 20′, 20″, 30, thus also the pump lids 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″, of the axle set 1 consist of electroconductive die-cast aluminum and there is a continuous, electroconductive connection between all partial casings 10, 10′, 10″, 20, 20′, 20″, 30.

[0068] In order to join the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30, these are permanently interconnected via screw connections 5 (see FIG. 2). Subsequently, the casing separation lines 3 of the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30 are continuously adhesively bonded by machine with a sealing adhesive, in that a sealing adhesive 6 is applied from the outside to the now mutually abutting abutment edges 4. Along the mutually abutting abutment edges 4 of the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30, along the circumference in each case, a reduced wall thickness of the partial casings 10, 20, 30 is provided, so that in the assembled, closed state of the axle set 1 or of the overall casing there results an outer groove 7 in which the sealing adhesive 6 is introduced.

[0069] Presently, employing a sealing adhesive 6 (and also providing the abutment edges 4) and also providing branching-off points like in the present T-joints 2, permits greater degrees of freedom with respect to the configuration of the partial casings 10, 20, 30 and of the resulting casing separation lines 3. Presently, the abutment edges 4 of the two motor-pump casings 10, 20 (at the casing separation lines 3 of the three respectively mutually adjoining partial casings 10, 20, 30) are disposed in exactly two planes disposed perpendicularly to each other, which correspondingly form the openings towards the interior space of the axle set 1. The two motor-pump groups 11, 21 therefore do not have to be accommodated in an integral, dish-shaped casing, for example, but—prior to joining—can be pre-mounted independently in two separate carrier casings 10, 20. Correspondingly, there results a good accessibility also to the electric motors disposed mutually opposite in the mounted axle set 1 of the respective motor-pump groups 11, 21, which are arranged respectively on sides of the motor-pump groups 11, 21 facing away from the pump.

[0070] In the first embodiment example represented in the FIGS. 1 to 3, the two motor-pump groups 11, 21 are arranged on a common longitudinal axis. This means that the respective, not represented, inwardly disposed drive shafts mechanically connecting the electric motors with the pumps in the motor-pump groups 11, 21 and defining the longitudinal axis of the respective motor-pump group 11, 21, are disposed on a common axis. This is represented schematically again in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 also the housing separation lines 4 between the motor-pump casings 10, 20 and the electronic lid 30, which are closed with the sealing adhesive 6, are indicated by bold lines. Likewise, the pump lids 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″ provided in each case on the motor-pump casings 10, 20 are represented only schematically as respectively one pump lid 10′, 20′.

[0071] In contrast, it is provided in a second embodiment example that the motor-pump groups 11, 21 are arranged with longitudinal axes respectively disposed in parallel, as schematically represented in FIG. 5. The pumps or pump lids 10′, 20′ of the respective motor-pump group 11, 21 are arranged in the respective motor-pump casings 10, 20 on the same side of the axle set 1 that continues to be substantially cuboid. In contrast, an electronic lid 30 covers the sides of the motor-pump casings 10, 20 or the electric motors that are disposed next to one another and face away from the pump. Correspondingly—like also in the first embodiment example—there result casing separation lines 3 branching off at a T-joint 2, which are again indicated in FIG. 5 by increased line widths. This results in an improved accessibility to the electric motors of the motor-pump groups 11, 21 mounted in the respective motor-pump casings 10, 20.

[0072] In FIG. 6 a third embodiment example of the axle set 1 is represented schematically. In contrast to the first embodiment example, not only three, but exactly four partial casings 10, 20, 30, 40 are arranged in respectively mutually adjoining manner, wherein the casing separation lines 3 resulting therefrom are again closed with a sealing adhesive 6. In the third embodiment example—in contrast to the first and the second embodiment example—there are not only two T-joints or branching-off points 2, but four. Correspondingly, for example the spacing between the two motor-pump groups 11, 21 or between the respective motor-pump casings 10, 20 can be increased by a further partial casing 40 (or possibly a multiplicity of further partial casings) and thus, for example, the construction space on the inside of the axle set 1 can be increased.

[0073] In FIG. 7 a chassis system 50 with an axle set 1 according to the invention, according to the first embodiment example, is represented schematically. The respectively two hydraulic lines 14, 24 extending from the pumps of the motor-pump groups 11, 21 in each case are connected with the two pressure chambers of respectively one shock absorber 13, 23, said pressure chambers in the simplest case being separated by a piston 14, 24 that can travel axially in a damper cylinder. In the represented embodiment example the cylinders of the shock absorbers 13, 23 are connected with the suspended mass of the vehicle or the chassis, while the pistons 14, 24 are connected or coupled with the unsuspended mass of the vehicle or respectively one wheel 15, 25 and possibly, if present, also with a chassis axle 51. However, this can also be configured the other way around. Further, in the schematic representation of FIG. 7 usually additionally provided suspension elements, for example an air suspension element and/or a steel suspension element, have been omitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074] 1 axle set, apparatus [0075] 2 branching-off point, T-joint [0076] 3 casing separation line [0077] 4 abutment edge [0078] 5 screw connections [0079] 6 sealing adhesive [0080] 7 outer groove [0081] 10, 20 motor-pump casing [0082] 10′, 10″, 20′, 20″ pump lid [0083] 11, 21 motor-pump group [0084] 12, 22 hydraulic lines [0085] 13, 23 shock absorber [0086] 14, 24 piston [0087] 15, 25 wheel [0088] 30 electronic lid [0089] 31 electronic unit [0090] 40 further partial casing [0091] 50 chassis system [0092] 51 chassis axle