DAMPER UNIT FOR A CHASSIS OF A VEHICLE WITH LEVELLING

Abstract

The invention relates to a damper unit (10) for a chassis (100) of a vehicle with levelling, comprising a hydraulic cylinder (1) having a container tube (2) which is filled with a damper fluid and in which a piston (3) is movably mounted and separates an upper container space (21) from a lower container space (22). The piston (3) comprises a first valve (41) through which the damper fluid flows when the piston (3) moves in a first direction A. The damper unit (10) further comprises an accumulator (5) and a check valve (6), wherein the accumulator (5) is connected to the container tube (2) via the check valve (6) in such a manner that, when the piston (3) moves in at least one direction, damper fluid is pumped through the check valve (6) into the accumulator (5).

Claims

1. Damper unit (10) for a chassis (100) of a vehicle with leveling system, comprising a hydraulic cylinder (1) having a container tube (2) which is filled with damper fluid and in which a piston (3) is movably mounted and separates an upper container space (21) from a lower container space (22), and wherein the piston (3) comprises a first valve (41) through which the damper fluid flows when the piston (3) moves in a first direction (A), which damper unit (10) further comprises a pressure accumulator (5) and a check valve (6), wherein the pressure accumulator (5) is connected to the container tube (2) via the check valve (6) in such a manner that, when the piston (3) moves in at least one direction, damper fluid is pumped through the check valve (6) into the pressure accumulator (5).

2. Damper unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the pressure accumulator (5) is connected to the container tube (2) on the upper container space (21) via the check valve (6) in such a manner that, when the piston (3) moves in the direction of the piston rod (31), damper fluid is pumped through the check valve (6) into the pressure accumulator (5).

3. Damper unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the piston rod (31) is directly or indirectly tensioned against the container tube (2) by means of a spring (7).

4. Damper unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure accumulator (5) comprises a pressure-limiting unit (8).

5. Damper unit (10) according to claim 4, further comprising a reservoir (9), wherein the pressure-limiting unit (8) is arranged between the pressure accumulator (5) and the reservoir (9), and wherein the damper unit (10) comprises an additional switching valve (13) between the reservoir (9) and the container tube (2).

6. Damper unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir (9) is a pressureless reservoir.

7. Damper unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure accumulator (5) is a pneumatic pressure accumulator.

8. Damper unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressure accumulator (5) is a mechanical pressure accumulator.

9. Damper unit (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the pressure-limiting unit (8) is designed in such a way that it has a predetermined opening pressure.

10. Damper unit (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the pressure-limiting unit (8) is designed in such a way that it has an adjustable opening pressure.

11. Damper unit (10) according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the pressure-limiting unit (8) comprises a throttle unit (82) and/or an orifice unit (83).

12. Damper unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a further check valve (61), a further pressure accumulator (51) and a further pressure-limiting unit (81).

13. Damper unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pump unit, wherein the pump unit comprises a pump (23), in particular a hydraulic pump or a pneumatic pump (24).

14. Chassis (100) with several damper units (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each damper unit (10) comprises a pressure accumulator (5) or wherein at least two damper units (10) comprise a single pressure accumulator (5).

15. Chassis (100) according to one of claim 13 or 14, wherein the pressure accumulators (5) and the pressureless reservoirs (9) are each hydraulically connected via valves, throttles or orifices.

Description

[0025] In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail using the figures. The reference signs are identically used in all figures. All variants can be combined with each other. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a damper unit for a chassis of a vehicle with leveling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a variant of the damper unit from FIG. 1 with a throttle unit and an orifice unit;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a variant of the damper unit from FIG. 1 with a pump unit;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows another variant of the damper unit from FIG. 1 with an electrically controlled pump unit;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an additional variant of the damper unit from FIG. 1 with two pressure accumulators; and

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a chassis with two damper units.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a damper unit 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In a motor vehicle, four damper units 10, i.e. one per wheel, can be used to realize a chassis (see FIG. 6) with leveling system.

[0033] The damper unit 10 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 1 having a container tube 2 which is filled with a damper fluid (e.g. hydraulic fluid). A piston 3 is movably mounted in the container tube 2. The piston 3 is guided in a fluid-tight manner on the inner wall of the container tube 2 in such a way that it is (fluidically) separated from the piston 3 moving therein into an upper container space 21 and a lower container space 22.

[0034] A first valve 41 to be flown through by the damper fluid when the piston 3 moves in a first direction A is provided in the piston 3. In the example shown, the first valve 41 is designed in the manner of a throttle valve, which opens downwards when the piston moves in one direction (compression direction) to allow a damper fluid to flow from the lower container space 22 into the upper container space 21.

[0035] The damper unit 10 has a pressure accumulator 5 and a check valve 6, whereby the check valve 6 is connected to the upper container space 21 and connects the same to the pressure accumulator 5. The check valve 6 acts in such a way that it opens upwards with movement of the piston in the direction (traction direction) to allow a damper fluid to flow from the upper container space 21 into the pressure accumulator. In this way, damper fluid is pumped through the check valve 6 into the pressure accumulator 5 while the spring 7 relaxes. The pressure accumulator 5 is a pneumatic pressure accumulator. The damper unit 10 thus provided uses the energy, induced by vehicle movement, in a simple way to actuate a chassis (see FIG. 6) for a vehicle with leveling system.

[0036] In the variant shown, in which the pressure accumulator 5 is connected to the container tube 2 on the upper container space 21 via the check valve 6, in the case of movement of the piston 3 in the downward direction (away from that of the piston rod 31), damper fluid is pumped through the valve 41 into the upper container space and, in the case of upward movement (in the direction of the piston rod 31), is pumped through the check valve 6 into the pressure accumulator 5. In principle, this device also works in the opposite direction if the valves and the pressure accumulator are adjusted accordingly and are connected to the lower container space.

[0037] In the variant shown, the piston rod 31, which is directly attached to the vehicle body, is tensioned against the container tube 2 by means of a spring 7.

[0038] Below the pressure accumulator 5, a pressure-limiting unit 8 is disposed, which is connected to a reservoir 9. In the example shown, the pressure-limiting unit 8 has a predetermined and/or regulated opening pressure at which it opens. This can prevent damage to the pressure accumulator 5 due to overpressure. The opening pressure of the pressure-limiting unit 8 is selected to ensure complete lowering (maximum stroke from a high position of the chassis to a low position of the chassis) of the level-controlled chassis (and vice versa to reach a high level). In this regard, it may be provided that the pressure-limiting unit 8 has an adjustable/regulated opening pressure, which can be selected, for example, in accordance with the payload.

[0039] A variant of the damper unit 10 described above is shown in FIG. 2. The damper unit 10 comprises a pressure accumulator 5 which is connected to the container tube 2 via a check valve 6. The pressure accumulator 5 is connected to a pressure-limiting unit 8 which in turn is connected to a reservoir 9, into which excess damper fluid is introduced when a predetermined pressure in the pressure accumulator 5 has been exceeded. Between the hydraulic valve 8 and the reservoir 9, a throttle unit 82 and/or an orifice unit 83 are disposed. The damper unit 10 includes an additional check valve 13 between the reservoir 9 and the container tube 2.

[0040] In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 two further variants of the above-described damper unit 10 with one pump unit are shown. According to the example in FIG. 3, a pump unit with a pump 23 is generally used, which is installed in a tube branch 231 connecting the upper container space 21 with the lower container space 22. By actuating the pump 23, the depth level/height level can be adjusted even without vibration excitation, for example while being stationary. In FIG. 4 the damper unit 10 comprises a pneumatic (or hydraulic) pump 24 with an (electronic) control unit 241.

[0041] Another variant is shown in FIG. 5, where the damper unit 10 comprises a further (e.g. spring-loaded) check valve 61, a further pressure accumulator 51 and a further (e.g. switchable) pressure-limiting unit 81. The further check valve 61 is arranged between the pressure accumulator 5 and the pressure-limiting unit 8. The further check valve 61 opens at a lower pressure compared to the pressure-limiting unit 8. The further check valve 61 is adjoined by the further pressure accumulator 51, which in turn is connected to the further pressure-limiting unit 81. The further pressure-limiting unit 81 is connected to the upper container space 21. Due to the further pressure accumulator 51, the possibility of storing energy can be increased.

[0042] The aspect of the invention concerning the chassis 100 is shown in FIG. 6, whereby two damper units 10 are shown. Hence, for example, the axle (front axle or rear axle) of a vehicle (not shown) can be realized. The two pressure accumulators 5 are fluidically coupled with each other via a throttle unit 82 (additive or alternative orifice unit). This ensures a uniform pressure, which allows even level adjustment in all damper units. The respective reservoirs 9 are also fluidically coupled with each other, so that the damper fluid can be exchanged. In the representation shown, the reservoirs 9 are coupled with each other via a throttle unit 82.