ASSEMBLY FOR A HYDRAULICALLY SUSPENDED VEHICLE AXLE

Abstract

An assembly for a hydraulically suspended vehicle axle may have a central housing, and at least two hydraulic suspension components supported on the central housing and fluidly connected to one another by a fluid line extending at least partially through the central housing.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An assembly for a hydraulically suspended vehicle axle, the assembly comprising: a central housing, and at least two hydraulic suspension components supported on the central housing and fluidly connected to one another by a fluid line extending at least partially through the central housing.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least a section of the fluid line is formed by the central housing.

17. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the hydraulic suspension components are rigidly connected to the central housing.

18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the hydraulic suspension components includes a valve.

19. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the hydraulic suspension components includes an accumulator.

20. The assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a suspension cylinder fluidly connected or selectively fluidly connected to one or both of the hydraulic suspension components.

21. The assembly according to claim 20, further comprising a suspension control arm pivotally connected to the central housing, wherein a first end of the suspension cylinder is connected to or supported on the central housing and a second end of the suspension cylinder is connected to or supported on the suspension control arm.

22. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the hydraulic suspension components are arranged at different sides of the central housing.

23. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the central housing has, with respect to a forward driving direction of the vehicle, a front section and a rear section, wherein both hydraulic components are arranged within one of the front section and the rear section.

24. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein a mechanical interface for connecting to a suspension control arm is provided on at least one side of the central housing, and in that at least one of the hydraulic components is arranged on said same side.

25. The assembly according to claim 15, further comprising an axle differential disposed within or at least partially disposed within the central housing.

26. The assembly according claim 15, further comprising a drive shaft disposed within or at least partially disposed within the central housing.

27. A hydraulically suspended vehicle axle, comprising: the assembly according to claim 15; and at least one suspension link member that is connected to the central housing of the assembly.

28. A central housing for forming the assembly according to claim 15.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0046] Embodiments of the presently proposed assembly, central housing and vehicle suspension system are described in the following with reference to the attached schematic drawings. Same features may be marked with same reference signs throughout the figures.

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically shows a circuit diagram of an assembly of the presently proposed type;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembly schematically illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 2 to illustrate an integrated fluid line;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the assembly of FIG. 2; and

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a vehicle axle comprising the assembly according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a circuit diagram of a hydraulic suspension system 10 comprised by an embodiment of an assembly 12 of the presently proposed type. The assembly 12 is comprised by a vehicle axle 100 that is discussed below with reference to FIG. 5. Here and in all of the following, features recurring in different figures are designated with the same reference signs.

[0053] The hydraulic suspension system 10 comprises two hydraulic suspension cylinders 24 that are each connected to non-illustrated suspension control arms of the vehicle axle 100 (see FIG. 5 for further details). The suspension cylinders 24 are also connected to a non-illustrated central housing 30 of the axle 100 and assembly 12 (see FIG. 2).

[0054] The hydraulic suspension system 10 comprises a central valve unit 16 that includes a number of single valves (not illustrated). The valve unit 16, which may likewise be referred to as a manifold, is connected to a non-illustrated hydraulic pressure source such as a pump. The valve unit 16 may be subdivided into a number of single valve blocks and/or may generally be an assembly including a plurality of single valve blocks. Also, there may be a plurality of respective valve units. The exact configuration of the valve unit 16 is not a central subject of the presently disclosed solution.

[0055] The hydraulic suspension system 10 also comprises a number of damping units 18. Said damping units 18 each comprise a damping valve 20 and an accumulator 22. By means of the damping valve 20, a hydraulic volume within the accumulator 22 may be adjusted. Generally, the damping units 18 may be configured according to known systems and may provide known functions.

[0056] In the embodiment depicted here, each damping unit 18 is connected to a hydraulic chamber 26, 27 of one of the suspension cylinders 24. More precisely, each rod chamber 27 and piston chamber 26 of a suspension cylinder 24 is connected to one of the damping units 18. Suspension characteristics of the suspension cylinders 14 and of the hydraulic suspension system 10 may be adjusted in a generally known manner.

[0057] As indicated by dotted lines, the hydraulic connections between the damping units 18 and the piston chambers 26, 27 extend through and/or are at least partially provided by the valve unit 16. In the merely schematic illustration of FIG. 1, the interior configuration of the valve unit 16, which does not form a central part of the disclosed solution, is not specifically illustrated. Accordingly, the hydraulic connections within the valve unit 16 may comprise various valves to only selectively connect the damping unit 18 to the chambers 26, 27 and/or to a non-illustrated hydraulic pressure source.

[0058] Returning to the damping unit 18 and, in the illustrated embodiment to the left and right upper damping units 18, a fluid connection between the accumulators 22 and the damping valves 20 is formed by a fluid line 28. In the illustrated embodiment and as further shown in FIGS. 2-5, it is this fluid line 28 that extends at least partially through and that may be formed by and/or that may be integrated in a central housing 30 of the assembly 12.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 2 in the following, a perspective view of the assembly 12 comprising the hydraulic suspension system 10 is shown. The assembly 12 comprises the central housing 30 which may be a one-piece metallic structure produced by casting. The central housing 30 has an upper side 32 which comprises bolt holes 34 for fixing the central housing 30 to an underside of a non-depicted vehicle frame. An underside 35 of the central housing 30 facing away from the viewer faces an underground of the vehicle. A frontside 38 faces in a forward driving direction F whereas a rear side 40 is oriented oppositely thereto. Still further, side faces 42, 44 face towards non-depicted wheels.

[0060] The central housing 30 is configured to house a driveshaft 70 and an axle differential 71 of the vehicle, both of which are hidden from view in FIG. 2. The driveshaft 70 comprises driving interfaces 46 extending through apertures in each side face 42, 44 (see FIG. 3) for connecting to axle shafts 45 (indicated in FIG. 5) each of which may drive a vehicle wheel.

[0061] As is further evident from FIGS. 2 and 3, a number of mechanical interfaces 50 (not each of which is marked with a distinct reference sign) is provided at each side face 42, 44. As a mere example, these are formed as projections with bolt holes. The mechanical interfaces 50 allow connecting suspension components such as one end 27 of a suspension cylinder 24 or a suspension control arm 53 thereto (see FIG. 5).

[0062] In the following, the arrangement of the hydraulic suspension system 12 at the central housing 30 is discussed. The valve unit 16 is fixed to the top side 34 and in the illustrated embodiment to a recessed portion of the central housing 30. The depicted valve unit 16 comprises two separate blocks 17, 19 which, however, is merely optional.

[0063] The upper two damping units 20 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged at a front section 52 of the central housing 30 near the front side 38. More precisely, both damping valves 20 of said damping units 18 are fixed to the top side 34 of the central housing 30, whereas the accumulators 22 are rigidly connected to the side faces 42, 44 (one per respective side face 42, 44).

[0064] As is further evident from the sectional view of FIG. 4, the fluid line 28 connecting each damping valve 20 to an accumulator 22 comprises a first pipe section 29 extending between the damping valve 20 an the central housing 30. Further, a section 31 of the fluid line 28 extends through the central housing 30 and fluidly connects the pipe section 29 to the accumulator 22. The section 31 is integrally formed within and thus confined and shaped by the central housing 30. In this way, the hydraulic fluid flows directly through the central housing 30 and comes into contact therewith. Note that the fluid line 28 of the adjacent damping unit 18, which is not depicted in FIG. 4, may be configured in the same manner or in a similar manner.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 3, a view on the rear face 40 of the central housing 30 is shown. At said face 40 (i.e. in a rear section 41 of the central housing 30), the lower damping units 20 of FIG. 1 are positioned. The damping valves 18 are again positioned at the upper side 32 but could also be integrated in the block 19 to which the accumulators 22 are attached. In this latter case, a fluid line connecting the accumulators 22 and damping valves 20 may directly be formed in the block 19. When said damping valves 20 are positioned at the upper side 32 of the central housing 30, pipes that are guided along the outside of the central housing 30 may be connected to the block 19 to provide the fluid line. However, there may also be a section 31 of the fluid line extending through the central housing 30 as detailed above.

[0066] FIG. 5 depicts a vehicle axle 100 comprising the assembly 12 according to FIGS. 2-4. The vehicle axle 100 comprises control arms 53, driven axle shafts 45 as well as wheel carriers 54. The control arms 53 are attached to the mechanical interfaces 46 of the central housing 30 and to second ends 25 of the suspension cylinders 24.

[0067] As a mere example, each wheel carrier 54 is supported by two respective control arms 53, said control arms 53 being examples of suspension link members 33. When viewed along a height axis H, the accumulators 22 at the front section 52 of the central housing 30 are positioned between the control arms 53. An overlap between the control arms 53 and said accumulators 22 may also be present when viewed along a longitudinal axis L (corresponding to a horizontal axis). Differently put, said accumulators 22 may at least partially be positioned within a space that extends between the control arms 53. This provides a particularly space-efficient design and places the accumulators 22 and damping valves 20 close to one another which limits pressure losses.