DRIVE AXLE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A drive axle (1) and a motor vehicle having the drive axle (1) are proposed. The drive axle (1) includes an axle body (2) in which at least one axle shaft (3) extends. The drive axle (1) has at least one wheel carrier (5), which is arranged on a wheel-side end (4) of the axle body (2), and at least one steering assembly (6). The drive axle (1) is preferably in the form of a rigid axle and the axle body (2) has a receiving structure (7) for accommodating a drive unit (8), and the steering assembly (6) is directly connected to the axle body (2).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A drive axle (1) for a motor vehicle, the drive axle comprising: an axle body (2) in which at least one axle shaft (3) extends, at least one wheel carrier (5), the wheel carrier (5) being arranged on a wheel-side end (4) of the axle body (2), at least one steering assembly (6), the axle body (2) comprising a receiving structure (7) for accommodating a drive unit (8), and the steering assembly (6) being directly connected to the axle body (2).

17. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the drive axle (1) is a rear axle.

18. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the axle body (2) has at least one fork joint (12) which is arranged at the wheel-side end (4).

19. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the steering assembly (6) comprises an actuator (15).

20. The drive axle (1) according to claim 19, wherein the actuator (15) is an electric motor.

21. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the steering assembly (6) comprises at least one spindle transmission (16).

22. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein when the drive axle (1) is arranged as intended and when the drive axle (1) is viewed from a lateral side, the steering assembly (6) is located behind the axle shaft (3) in relation to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

23. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the steering assembly (6) is arranged on the receiving structure (7).

24. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the axle shaft (3) is a cardan shaft such that the axle shaft (3) has at least one articulated joint (13).

25. The drive axle (1) according to claim 24, wherein the at least one articulated joint (13) is one of a universal joint, a double-universal joint or a constant-velocity joint.

26. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, further comprising at least one spring device (18).

27. The drive axle (1) according to claim 26, wherein the at least one spring device (18) is at least one leaf spring.

28. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, further comprising at least one damper (19), which is arranged on the axle body (2).

29. The drive axle (1) according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit (8) is arranged in the receiving structure (7).

30. The drive axle (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive unit (8) comprises at least one electric motor (9).

31. The drive axle (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive unit (8) is attached to the axle body (2) by rubber mountings (11).

32. The drive axle (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive unit (8) comprises a distributor gear system (10).

33. The drive axle (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive axle is a rigid axle.

34. A motor vehicle with a drive axle (1), wherein the drive axle (1) includes: an axle body (2) in which at least one axle shaft (3) extends, at least one wheel carrier (5), the wheel carrier (5) being arranged on a wheel-side end (4) of the axle body (2), at least one steering assembly (6), the axle body (2) comprises a receiving structure (7) for accommodating a drive unit (8), and the steering assembly (6) is connected directly to the axle body (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following example embodiment. The sole FIGURE shows an isometric view of a drive axle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] The drive axle 1 is basically designed in accordance with the foregoing description. The example embodiment shows a drive axle 1 in the form of a rigid axle. The drive axle 1 has an axle body 2 in which an axle shaft 3 extends. In this case the axle body 2 has two wheel-side ends 4, on each of which a wheel carrier 5 is arranged. The wheel carriers 5 serve to support wheels (not shown). In addition the drive axle 1 comprises a steering assembly 6. The drive axle 1 is characterized in that it comprises a receiving structure 7 for accommodating a drive unit 8, and the steering assembly 6 is connected directly to the axle body 2. Thus, the steering assembly 6 is in any case attached to the axle and in particular is not designed to be arranged on a body of a motor vehicle.

[0037] In this example the drive unit 8 is arranged in the receiving structure 7. The receiving structure 7 is for example a trough-like widened and recessed part of the axle body 2. The drive unit 8 comprises for example an electric motor 9 and a distributor gear system 10. The drive unit 8 is attached to the axle body 2 by means of rubber mountings 11. In that way the drive unit 8 and the axle body 2 are acoustically decoupled.

[0038] At its wheel-side ends 4 the axle body 2 has in each case a fork joint 12. The fork joints 12 enable a well-defined steering movement of the wheel carriers 5. The axle shaft 3 passes through the fork joints 12 to the wheel carriers 5. In order to enable on the one hand the steering movement of the wheel carriers 5 and on the other hand torque transmission to the wheels, the axle shaft 3 is designed as a cardan shaft with a respective articulated joint 13 in the area of each wheel-side end 4 of the axle body 2. The joint 13 is for example in the form of a universal joint or cardan joint.

[0039] In this example embodiment the steering assembly 6 is arranged on the receiving structure 7. The steering assembly 6 comprises a through-going track-rod 14 by means of which it is connected to the wheel carriers 5. The steering assembly 6 comprises an actuator 15 and a spindle transmission 16 which converts a rotational movement of the actuator 15 into a translation of the track-rod 14. In turn, the translation of the track-rod 14 brings about the steering movement of the wheel carrier 5 about the rotational axes defined by the fork joints 12. The length of the track-rod 14 is for example adjustable in the direction of the two wheel carriers 5, so that a track adjustment of the drive axle 1 can be carried out. The track-rod is connected to the wheel carriers 5, for example by means of rotary joints.

[0040] The drive axle 1 also comprises two spring devices 18, which in this case are in the form of leaf springs. The spring devices 18 are arranged immediately adjacent to the wheel-side ends 4 on the axle body 2. The spring devices 18 serve to provide a connection to a body of a vehicle (not shown) and vibration isolation between the body and the axle drive 1. To dampen the oscillations produced by the spring devices 18, the drive axle 1 also has two dampers 19 which are arranged on the axle body 2 immediately adjacent to the spring devices 18. The dampers 19 are for example in the form of hydraulic dampers 19.

[0041] To improve the stability of the drive axle 1, the receiving structure 7 has for example stiffening ribs 20. On the wheel carriers 5 there are also, for example, brake devices 21.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the example embodiment illustrated and described. Deviations within the scope of the claims are likewise possible, as also is a combination of its features.

INDEXES

[0043] 1 Drive axle [0044] 2 Axle body [0045] 2 Axle shaft [0046] 4 Wheel-side end [0047] 5 Wheel carrier [0048] 6 Steering assembly [0049] 7 Receiving structure [0050] 8 Drive unit [0051] 9 Electric motor [0052] 10 Distributor gear system [0053] 11 Rubber mounting [0054] 12 Fork joint [0055] 13 Articulated joint [0056] 14 Track-rod [0057] 15 Actuator [0058] 16 Spindle transmission [0059] 17 Rotary joint [0060] 18 Spring device [0061] 19 Damper [0062] 20 Stiffening ribs [0063] 21 Brake device