Steering assembly for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A steering assembly for a motor vehicle has a wheel carrier to which a wheel can be secured, a strut via which the wheel carrier is mounted on a vehicle body in an articulated manner, a first transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner, and a second transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner. The first transverse link and the second transverse link are coupled to one another on their side facing away from the wheel carrier by a connection member. The connection member is rotatably mounted on the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A steering assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a wheel carrier to which a wheel is fastenable; a strut via which the wheel carrier is mounted on a vehicle body in an articulated manner; a first transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner; a second transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner; and a connecting member, wherein the first transverse link and the second transverse link are coupled to each other in each case on their side facing away from the wheel carrier by way of the connecting member, and wherein the connecting member is mounted rotatably on the vehicle body, wherein the first transverse link, the second transverse link and the connecting member lie in a common, substantially horizontally running plane.

2. The steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first transverse link and the second transverse link run substantially parallel and/or are substantially the same length.

3. The steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is coupled to an actuator assembly and is rotatable by the actuator assembly in relation to the vehicle body.

4. The steering assembly according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member is rotatable in relation to the vehicle body substantially about a vertical axis.

5. The steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises: a first connecting arm which connects a body-side bearing of the connecting member to a connecting-member-side bearing of the first transverse link, and a second connecting arm which connects the body-side bearing of the connecting member to a connecting-member-side bearing of the second transverse link.

6. The steering assembly according to claim 5, wherein the connecting-member-side bearing of the first transverse link and/or the connecting-member-side bearing of the second transverse link are ball bearings.

7. The steering assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first connecting arm and the second connecting arm enclose a connecting member angle facing away from the wheel carrier, the connecting member angle is less than 180°, and therefore the body-side bearing of the connecting member is offset in relation to the connecting-member-side bearings of the first transverse link and of the second transverse link in the direction of the wheel carrier in a neutral position of the steering assembly.

8. The steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first transverse link, the second transverse link and the strut are each mounted on the wheel carrier in a manner spaced apart from one another.

9. The steering assembly according to claim 8, wherein a wheel-carrier-side bearing of the first transverse link and a wheel-carrier-side bearing of the second transverse link are spaced apart from each other along a wheel carrier longitudinal direction.

10. The steering assembly according to claim 9, wherein a wheel-carrier-side bearing of the strut is arranged between the wheel-carrier-side bearing of the first transverse link and the wheel-carrier-side bearing of the second transverse link.

11. The steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein a vehicle-body-side bearing of the strut is spaced apart from a vehicle-body-side bearing of the connecting member.

12. A motor vehicle, comprising: a steering assembly comprising: a wheel carrier to which a wheel is fastenable; a strut via which the wheel carrier is mounted on a vehicle body in an articulated manner; a first transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner; a second transverse link mounted on the wheel carrier in an articulated manner; and a connecting member, wherein the first transverse link and the second transverse link are coupled to each other in each case on their side facing away from the wheel carrier by way of the connecting member, and wherein the connecting member is mounted rotatably on the vehicle body; and the wheel is fastened to the wheel carrier, wherein the first transverse link, the second transverse link and the connecting member lie in a common, substantially horizontally running plane.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein two steering assemblies are provided, wherein the two steering assemblies complement each other to form a steerable motor vehicle axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view of a steering assembly according to an embodiment of the invention of a motor vehicle in a neutral position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the steering assembly of a motor vehicle in a turned-in state, wherein the steering assembly interacts with a wheel on the outside of the bend.

(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of the steering assembly of a motor vehicle in a turned-in state, wherein the steering assembly interacts with a wheel on the inside of the bend.

(4) FIG. 4 is a top view of a known steering assembly.

(5) FIG. 5 is a top view of the steering assembly from FIG. 2 in comparison to the known steering assembly from FIG. 4 in a turned-in state, wherein the two steering assemblies each interact with a wheel on the outside of the bend.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of the steering assembly from FIG. 3 in comparison to the known steering assembly from FIG. 4 in a turned-in state, wherein the two steering assemblies each interact with a wheel on the inside of the bend.

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle equipped with two steering assemblies to form a steerable motor vehicle axle according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a steering assembly 10 on which a wheel 12 is mounted. In more precise terms, the wheel 12 is attached to a wheel carrier 14 of the steering assembly 10.

(9) The neutral position shown corresponds here to a straight-ahead position of the steering assembly 10. In this position, the wheel 12 is not turned in.

(10) The wheel carrier 14 is mounted on a vehicle body 18 via a strut 16.

(11) Furthermore, the steering assembly 10 comprises a first transverse link 20 mounted on the wheel carrier 14 in an articulated manner and a second transverse link 22 mounted on the wheel carrier 14 in an articulated manner.

(12) The first transverse link 20, the second transverse link 22 and the strut 16 are each held on the wheel carrier 14 in a manner spaced apart along a wheel carrier longitudinal direction R.

(13) A wheel-carrier-side bearing 16r of the strut 16 lies here between a wheel-carrier-side bearing 20r of the first transverse link 20 and a wheel-carrier-side bearing 22r of the second transverse link 22.

(14) On the side in each case facing away from the wheel carrier 14, the first transverse link 20 and the second transverse link 22 are coupled to each other via a connecting member 24.

(15) The connecting member 24 is fastened rotatably to the vehicle body 18 via a vehicle-body-side bearing 26.

(16) An axis (not illustrated specifically) which is assigned to the vehicle-body-side bearing 26 is arranged substantially vertically here (also see FIGS. 2 and 3). It therefore projects out of the plane of the drawing.

(17) The vehicle-body-side bearing 26 is also spaced apart from a vehicle-body-side bearing 16f of the strut 16.

(18) The first transverse link 20, the second transverse link 22 and the connecting member 24 lie substantially in a common, horizontally running plane. In FIG. 1, this plane corresponds to the plane of the drawing. In reality, this plane runs substantially parallel to a carriageway (not illustrated specifically).

(19) Furthermore, the first transverse link 20 and the second transverse link 22 run substantially parallel. Furthermore, they are substantially the same length.

(20) The connecting member 24 comprises a first connecting arm 24a which connects the body-side bearing 26 of the connecting member 24 to a connecting-member-side bearing 20v of the first transverse link 20. In addition, the connecting member 24 has a second connecting arm 24b which connects the body-side bearing 26 of the connecting member 24 to a connecting-member-side bearing 22v of the second transverse link 22.

(21) The connecting-member-side bearing 22v and the connecting-member-side bearing 20v are designed here as rotary bearings or ball bearings.

(22) The first connecting arm 24a and the second connecting arm 24b enclose a connecting member angle α. The latter is oriented in such a manner that, in the neutral position of the steering assembly 10 that is shown in FIG. 1, the body-side bearing 26 is offset in relation to the connecting-member-side bearings 20v, 22v of the transverse links 20, 22 in the direction of the wheel carrier 14.

(23) The connecting member angle α is smaller than 180°.

(24) For the actuation of the steering assembly 10, the connecting member 24 is coupled to an actuator assembly 28 which is symbolized by a double arrow.

(25) The connecting member 24 can be actively rotated in relation to the vehicle body 18 by way of the actuator assembly 28.

(26) A motor vehicle 30 can be provided with a steering assembly 10.

(27) The motor vehicle 30 preferably comprises two steering assemblies 10 which complement each other to form a steerable motor vehicle axle 32 (see FIG. 7).

(28) Wheels which are denoted by 12a and 12b in FIG. 7 can be attached here to each of the steering assemblies 10.

(29) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the motor vehicle 30 also comprises a non-steerable motor vehicle axle 34 on which wheels 12c, 12d are mounted.

(30) The manner of operation of the steering assembly 10 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

(31) In FIG. 2, the wheel 12 is a wheel on the outside of the bend. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the steering assembly 10 therefore performs a right turn.

(32) For this purpose, the connecting member 24 is pivoted in the clockwise direction via the actuator assembly 28.

(33) This has the result that the connecting-member-side bearing 20v of the first transverse link 20 is pivoted from its neutral position (illustrated by dashed lines) about the bearing 26 in the clockwise direction. The same is true of the connecting-member-side bearing 22v of the second transverse link 22.

(34) The strut 16 is formed passively and follows said movement.

(35) In FIG. 3, the wheel 12 is a wheel on the inside of the bend. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, the steering assembly 10 therefore performs a left turn.

(36) Starting from the neutral position of the steering assembly 10 that is illustrated in FIG. 1, the connecting member 24 is now pivoted about the body-side bearing 26 in the counterclockwise direction.

(37) The connecting-member-side bearings 20v, 22v of the transvers links 20, 22 are therefore also pivoted about the bearing 26 in the counterclockwise direction. The wheel 12 is therefore rotated in the opposite direction in comparison to FIG. 2.

(38) For both movements, for example, an instantaneous center of rotation M of the transverse links 20, 22 is at infinity (cf. FIG. 1).

(39) A virtual kingpin axis S lies in the imaginary insecting point of the strut 16 and the axis lying between the instantaneous center of rotation M and the bearing 26 (see FIG. 1).

(40) In FIGS. 5 and 6, the steering assembly 10 is compared with a known steering assembly 100 which is shown in FIG. 4.

(41) The steering assembly 100 comprises a wheel carrier 114 on which a wheel 112 is mounted, a first and single transverse link 120 via which the wheel carrier 114 is connected to a vehicle body 118, and a strut 116 which likewise connects the wheel carrier 114 to the vehicle body 118.

(42) The steering assembly 100 is actuated via a track rod 122 which is actuable via a linear actuator 128 (illustrated symbolically).

(43) A virtual kingpin axis S of the steering assembly 100 lies at the imaginary intersecting point of the strut 116 and the transverse link 120.

(44) In FIG. 5, both the wheel 12 of the steering assembly 10 according to the invention and the wheel 112 of the steering assembly 100 known from the prior art constitute a wheel on the outside of the bend.

(45) The steering assembly 10 according to the invention is illustrated here in dashed lines and the known steering assembly 100 in solid lines.

(46) The wheels 12, 112 are turned in precisely by the same angle.

(47) It becomes clear here, that, in this state, the wheel 112 lies closer to the vehicle body 18, 118 by a distance D1 than the wheel 12. In other words, the wheel 112 of the steering assembly 100 known from the prior art migrates further by the distance D1 in the direction of a vehicle interior during a turning-in operation than the wheel 12 of the steering assembly 10 according to the invention.

(48) The same is true if the wheels 12, 112 are wheels on the inside of the bend (cf. FIG. 6).

(49) At an identical turning-in angle, the wheel 112 then lies closer by a distance D2 to the vehicle body 18, 118 than the wheel 12. In this situation, the wheel 112 of the steering assembly 100 known from the prior art therefore also migrates further by the distance D2 in the direction of the vehicle interior than the wheel 12 of the steering assembly 10 according to the invention during the turning-in operation.

(50) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.