DAMPER DEVICE

Abstract

A damper device may include a damper tube and a backpack valve arrangement. The damper tube comprises an outer wall with a first passage opening. The backpack valve arrangement may be arranged in a backpack housing, and the backpack housing may have a second passage opening. The first passage opening and the second passage opening may be connected via a first duct of a connecting element. The damper tube may have a main extension axis, and the first and second passage openings may be offset from one another in a direction of the main extension axis. In some cases the connecting element is non-integral with the damper tube, and the connecting element is non-integral with the backpack housing.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A damper device comprising: a damper tube with an outer wall with a first passage opening; a backpack valve arrangement; a backpack housing in which the backpack valve arrangement is disposed, wherein the backpack housing includes a second passage opening; and a connecting element with a first duct, wherein the first and second passage openings are connected via the first duct of the connecting element.

14. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the damper tube has a main extension axis, wherein the first and second passage openings are offset from one another in a direction of the main extension axis.

15. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the connecting element is formed separately from and non-integral with the damper tube, wherein the connecting element is formed separately from and non-integral with the backpack housing.

16. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the outer wall includes a third passage opening, wherein the backpack housing includes a fourth passage opening, wherein the third and fourth passage openings are connected via a second duct of the connecting element.

17. The damper device of claim 16 wherein the third passage opening and the fourth passage opening are disposed offset from one another in the direction of the main extension axis of the damper tube.

18. The damper device of claim 16 wherein the first and third passage openings exhibit a first spacing in the direction of the main extension axis, wherein the second and fourth passage openings exhibit a second spacing in the direction of the main extension axis, wherein the first and second spacings are the same size.

19. The damper device of claim 16 wherein the second duct has a first end region that is connected to the third passage opening, wherein the second duct has a second end region that is connected to the fourth passage opening, wherein the second end region is circular and the first end region is oval-shaped.

20. The damper device of claim 16 wherein the damper tube comprises: a piston that is movable in and out; and a first and a second working chamber, wherein the first passage opening is disposed at the first working chamber, wherein the third passage opening is disposed at the second working chamber.

21. The damper device of claim 16 wherein the backpack housing comprises a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber, wherein the second passage opening is disposed at the first hydraulic chamber and the fourth passage opening is disposed at the second hydraulic chamber.

22. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the first duct is configured to deflect a first hydraulic flow, wherein the second duct is configured to deflect a second hydraulic flow.

23. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the first duct has a first end region that is connected to the first passage opening, wherein the first duct has a second end region that is connected to the second passage opening, wherein the first end region is circular and the second end region is oval-shaped.

24. The damper device of claim 13 wherein the connecting element includes a wall that comprises sheet metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] FIG. 1 schematically shows an illustration of a damper device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 schematically shows an illustration of a damper device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 schematically shows an illustration of a connecting element according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional illustration of a connecting element according to one embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference signs and are therefore as a rule also each only mentioned once.

[0027] FIG. 1 schematically shows an illustration of a damper device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The damper device 1 comprises in this case a damper tube 10 with an outer wall 11. Arranged in the damper tube 10 is a piston, which subdivides the interior into two working chambers. The piston is in this case typically able to move in and out in an oscillating manner. Furthermore, the damper device 1 comprises a backpack valve arrangement 20, which is arranged in a backpack housing 21. Arranged between the damper tube 10 and the backpack housing 21 is a connecting element 30.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic illustration of a damper device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The connecting element 30 is arranged between the damper tube 10 and the backpack housing 21. The shape of the connecting element 30, or the wall 33 thereof, is configured such that it can be fitted between the cylindrical damper tube 10 and the cylindrical backpack housing 21. The damper tube 10 comprises a first passage opening 12 in its outer wall 11. Connected to this first passage opening 12 is a first end region 31′ of a first duct 31 of the connecting element 30 (for example in the form of a flange connection). The backpack housing 21 comprises a second passage opening 22. A second end region 31″ of the first duct 31 is connected to this second passage opening 22 (for example in the form of a flange connection). Therefore, by way of the first duct 31 and the first and second passage openings 12, 22, an (in particular hydraulic) connection is established between a first working chamber of the damper tube 10 and a first hydraulic chamber of the backpack valve 20 or of the backpack housing 21. With the aid of the connecting piece 30, it is in particular possible for the first passage opening 12 and the second passage opening 22 to be spaced apart from one another in the direction of the main extension axis 100 (illustrated by the arrow 100) of the damper tube 10. This would not be possible in the case of a direct connection of the first passage opening 12 and the second passage opening 22 (i.e. in the case of a connection without a connecting element 30). In particular, the first duct 31 is therefore configured to deflect a hydraulic flow (which can flow through it). Furthermore, the damper tube 10 comprises a further first passage opening 13 in its outer wall 11. Connected to this further first passage opening 13 is a further first end region 32′ of a second duct 32 of the connecting element 30 (for example in the form of a flange connection). The backpack housing 21 comprises a further second passage opening 23. A further second end region 32″ of the second duct 32 is connected to this further second passage opening 23 (for example in the form of a flange connection). Therefore, by way of the second duct 32 and the further first and further second passage openings 13, 23, an (in particular hydraulic) connection is established between a second working chamber of the damper tube 10 and a second hydraulic chamber of the backpack valve 20 or of the backpack housing 21. By way of the connecting element 30 it is therefore likewise possible for the further first passage opening 13 and the further second passage opening 23 to be spaced apart from one another in the direction of the main extension axis 100. This therefore results in a wide variety of possibilities for the relative arrangement of the damper tube 10 and backpack housing 21 with respect to one another, wherein pre-existing damper tubes 10 and backpack housings 21 can be used in a modular manner with connecting elements 30.

[0029] FIG. 3 schematically shows an illustration of a connecting element 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The connecting element 30 comprises a wall 33 with a sheet-metal component 34, and a first and a second duct 31, 32, which each extend from one side of the connecting element 30 to the opposite side. The first duct 31 comprises a first end region 31′ and a second end region 31″ on the opposite side. The second duct 32 comprises a further first end region 32′ and a further second end region 32″ on the opposite side. In the present embodiment, the illustrated further second end region 32″ is formed in a circular manner and the second end region 31″ is formed in an oval manner.

[0030] FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional illustration of a connecting element 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The first duct 31 comprises a first end region 31′ and a second end region 31″ on the opposite side. The second duct 32 comprises a further first end region 32′ and a further second end region 32″ on the opposite side.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0031] 1 Damper device

[0032] 10 Damper tube

[0033] 11 Outer wall

[0034] 12 First passage opening

[0035] 13 Further first passage opening

[0036] 20 Backpack valve arrangement

[0037] 21 Backpack housing

[0038] 22 Second passage opening

[0039] 23 Further second passage opening

[0040] 30 Connecting element

[0041] 31 First duct

[0042] 31′ First end region

[0043] 31″ Second end region

[0044] 32 Second duct

[0045] 32′ Further first end region

[0046] 32″ Further second end region

[0047] 33 Wall

[0048] 34 Sheet-metal component

[0049] 100 Direction of the main extension axis