Wheel Module for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A wheel module for a motor vehicle is provided with a wheel, a steering rod which can be rotatably mounted on a supporting frame of the motor vehicle for transmitting a steering motion to the wheel, a wishbone connected to the steering rod for forming an articulation point radially offset relative to the wheel, a rocker articulated to the articulation point of the wishbone and to the wheel, and a shock absorber connected to the rocker and the wishbone for damping vibration of a relative movement of the wheel. The shock absorber, in particular including a chassis spring, is arranged to be axially offset in the axial direction of the wheel relative to the wheel. With the shock absorber connected to the wheel and the wishbone and arranged next to the wheel, a large steering angle for a motor vehicle is possible with a small installation space.

Claims

1. A wheel module for a motor vehicle, the wheel module comprising: a wheel for moving the motor vehicle: a steering rod rotatably mountable on a support frames of the motor vehicle for transmitting a steering motion to the wheel: a wishbone connected to the steering rod to form an articulation point radially offset from the wheel: a rocker articulated to the articulation point of the wishbone and to the wheel; and a shock absorber connected to the rocker and the wishbone for damping vibrations of a relative movement of the wheel, the shock absorber being arranged axially offset in an axial direction of the wheel from the wheel.

2. The wheel module according to claim 1 wherein a fastening lug projecting in a radial direction of the steering rod is fastened to the steering rod, the wishbone and/or the shock absorber.

3. The wheel module according to claim 1 wherein a steering head angle of a steering axis of the steering rod to a horizontal base is at least 70 and at most 95.

4. The wheel module according claim 1 wherein a steering axis of the steering rod is offset and/or angled to an axis of rotation of the wheel to form a positive caster, wherein the steering axis is arranged completely in front of the axis of rotation in direction of travel.

5. The wheel module according to claim 1 further comprising an electrically drivable wheel hub drive between the rocker and the wheel, the rocker being arranged to be axially offset with respect to the wheel hub drive in the axial direction of the wheel.

6. The wheel module according to claim 1 wherein the rocker is connected to the wheel in an articulated manner essentially coaxially to an axis of rotation of the wheel, the shock absorber being connected to the rocker in an articulated manner at a lever distance from the axis of rotation of the wheel.

7. The wheel module according to claim 1 further comprising a level control device, at least indirectly connected to the shock absorber via a suspension spring, for adjusting a vertical relative position of the wheel and/or the suspension spring.

8. The wheel module according to claim 1 further comprising a coaxially arranged steering actuator for initiating a steering motion, connected to the steering rod.

9. The wheel module according to claim 1 wherein the steering rod is rotatable through a steering angle of at least 135.

10. A motor vehicle comprising: a support frame; a first wheel module according to claim 1 connected to the support frame; and a second wheel module according to claim 1 offset to the first wheel module in a transverse direction; wherein the first wheel module and the second wheel module are independently operable.

11. The wheel module according to claim 1 wherein the shock absorber includes a coil spring.

12. The wheel module according to claim 3 wherein the steering head angle of the steering axis of the steering rod to the horizontal base is at least 75 and at most 93, preferably 8090 and particularly preferably 8588.

13. The wheel module according to claim 3 wherein the steering head angle of the steering axis of the steering rod to the horizontal base is at least 80 and at most 90.

14. The wheel module according to claim 3 wherein the steering head angle of the steering axis of the steering rod to the horizontal base is at least 85 and at most 88.

15. The wheel module according to claim 7 wherein the level control device is actuated electrically.

16. The wheel module according to claim 7 wherein the level control device is actuated hydraulically.

17. The wheel module according to claim 7 wherein the level control device is actuated pneumatically.

18. The wheel module according to claim 8 wherein the steering actuator is an electric machine.

19. The wheel module according to claim 9 wherein the steering angle is at least 180 and at most 330.

20. The wheel module according to claim 9 the steering angle is at least 270 and at most 300.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following, the wheel module is explained by way of example with reference to the attached drawings using preferred exemplary embodiments. In the following:

[0020] FIG. 1: shows a schematic diagram of a wheel module and

[0021] FIG. 2: shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the wheel module from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The wheel module 10 shown in FIG. 1 for a motor vehicle designed as a multi-track passenger car has a steering rod 14 which can be rotated by a steering actuator 12. The steering rod 14 can be directly or indirectly rotatably mounted via a steering head bearing 16 on a support frame 18 of the motor vehicle, the steering rod 14 in particular being immovably mounted in the axial direction of the steering rod 14, for example by an axial bearing. A wishbone 20 is attached to the steering rod 14 and forms an articulation point 24 on the horizontal level of an axis of rotation 38 of a wheel 22 of the wheel module 10 to be steered. At the articulation point 24 a rocker 26 is connected to the wheel 22 in a pivoted manner, whereby the rocker 26 is connected at the other end thereof in an articulated and coaxial manner to the wheel 22. A shock absorber 28 is attached to the wheel 22 and/or to the rocker 26 and a suspension spring is attached directly or indirectly to the wheel 22, which is attached at the other end thereof to the steering rod 14 and/or to the wishbone 20. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a level control device 30 is provided between the shock absorber 28 at the upper foot point of the suspension spring and the steering rod 14. The wheel 22 can in particular be driven and/or decelerated by a wheel hub drive 32.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, a fastening lug 34 can protrude radially from the steering rod 14, which is designed as a hollow shaft, to which the shock absorber 28, the suspension spring and if necessary, also the wishbone 20 is attached. This makes it possible to arrange the shock absorber 28, the suspension spring and/or the wishbone 20 axially next to the wheel 22. A steering axis 36, which in particular is essentially vertical, runs completely in front of the axis of rotation 38 of the wheel 22, so that even with different diameters of the wheel 22, the steering axis 22 runs as a secant through the wheel 22 in front of the axis of rotation 38. This ensures a positive caster for the wheel 22.

[0024] When the steering actuator 12 rotates the wheel 22, the shock absorber 28 arranged next to the wheel 22 to save space and the suspension spring can be carried along, so that a steering angle of the steering rod 14 is not limited by the shock absorber 28 or the suspension spring. In principle, the wheel 22 can therefore perform any number of revolutions.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0025] Wheel Module [0026] 12 Steering Actuator [0027] 14 Steering Rod [0028] Steering Head Bearing [0029] 18 Support Frame [0030] 20 Wishbone [0031] 22 Wheel [0032] 24 Articulation Point [0033] Rocker [0034] 28 Shock Absorbers [0035] 30 Level Control Device [0036] 32 Wheel Hub Drive [0037] 34 Fastening Lug [0038] 36 Steering Axle [0039] 38 Axis of Rotation