ENERGY SUPPLY UNIT FOR ACTIVE CHASSIS SYSTEM

Abstract

A device for supplying hydraulic energy in a chassis system of a vehicle, including a first and a second motor-pump unit which are mechanically firmly connected to each other, the two motor-pump units preferably being designed identical in structure.

Claims

1. A device for supplying hydraulic energy, in particular in a chassis system of a vehicle, comprising: a first and a second motor-pump unit which are mechanically firmly connected to each other, wherein the two motor-pump units preferably are designed identical in structure.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor-pump units respectively comprise a hydraulic pump with a pump port, in particular an internal gear pump, an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump, and an control unit for controlling the electric motor, which preferably form a structural unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the motor-pump units the hydraulic pump and the electric motor, and preferably also the control unit are respectively arranged in a row or along a longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis of the motor-pump unit, which is preferably defined by a motor axle shaft of the electric motor.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor-pump units respectively have a total length in the range between 15 and 40 cm.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor-pump units or at least the hydraulic pump and electric motor thereof together have a completely or substantially cylindrical outer shape or housing, preferably with a diameter in the range between 60 and 150 mm.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power of the electric motor of the motor-pump units is in the range between 0.1 and 5 kW.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor-pump units respectively have a control port and a power port, in particular a high-voltage port.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the motor-pump units are four-quadrant-capable and/or in the motor-pump units the electric motor is respectively configured as an electric motor generator.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of both motor-pump units lie on a common axis, which form a longitudinal axis of the device, and/or the hydraulic pumps respectively face away from each another.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the two motor-pump units have a distance of 0 to 10 cm.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device has a total length in the range between 20 and 90 cm.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of both motor-pump units are parallel and/or the motor-pump units are aligned parallel or anti-parallel, preferably in such a way that the two motor-pump units are arranged shifted or flush.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically firm connection of the motor-pump units is created via one or several connecting components, preferably connecting rods or screws, particularly preferably three, four, six or eight connecting rods or screws, or via a common support, preferably a common housing, particularly preferably a sealing housing.

14. A kit for supplying the device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second motor-pump unit as well as one or several connecting components or a support for connecting the two motor-pump units and/or a housing.

15. A chassis system for a vehicle, comprising: at least a first and second hydraulically controllable shock absorber which are preferably assigned to a common chassis axle or are arranged at a common chassis axle, as well as a device according to claim 1, wherein the first motor-pump unit hydraulically connects pressure chambers of the first shock absorber and the second motor-pump unit hydraulically connects pressure chambers of the second shock absorber, and preferably the device is arranged at the chassis axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings are merely schematic representations and the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment examples shown.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment example of the device according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a chassis system having a device according to the first embodiment example.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment example of the device according to the invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment example of the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment example of a device 1 for supplying hydraulic energy in an active chassis system 2 of a vehicle. The device comprises a first 10 and a second 20 motor-pump unit, which are identical in structure or are designed identically and respectively comprise a hydraulic internal gear pump 11, 21, an electric motor or electric motor generator 12, 22 and an electronic control unit 13, 23 (ECU). Each of the motor-pump units 10, 20 forms a structural unit with a continuously closed, splash-proof outer shell or outer housing in which the pump 11, 21, the electric motor 12, 22 and the control unit 13, 23 are respectively arranged in a row along a longitudinal direction of the respective motor-pump unit 10, 20, so that the electric motor 12, 22 is respectively arranged between pump 11, 21 and control unit 13, 23. The longitudinal direction of a motor-pump unit 10, 20 is here defined by an inside straight motor axle shaft not shown, with which the electric motor 12, 22 drives the respective pump 11, 21. The pumps 11, 21 each have a pump port 19, 29 with two line ports, into which in the present embodiment examples two port lines 14, 24 are inserted respectively, which are provided for the coupling to the two pressure chambers of a shock absorber 16, 26 of an active chassis system 2, respectively.

[0029] In the first embodiment example, the two motor-pump units 10, 20 are arranged in an axial arrangement, that is, their respective longitudinal axes coincide and define the common longitudinal axis of the device 1 of the invention. In the first embodiment example, the two motor-pump units 10, 20 are firmly connected to each other by means of four connecting rods 30. Alternatively, for configuring the device according to the invention, instead of the connecting rods 30 there may also be provided a support 30 schematically shown in FIG. 2, for example in the form of a common housing. In the embodiment example shown, further, receiving means 15, 25 are provided for attaching the device according to the invention in a vehicle, for example in the vicinity of or at a vehicle axle or chassis axle 3.

[0030] In the first embodiment example, the device 1 according to the invention has a total length, from a pump port 19 to the opposing pump port 29, of 59 cm along the common longitudinal axis and, apart from fastening means, a substantially cylindrical outer shape with a diameter of approx. 120 mm. Furthermore, the control units 13, 23 of the two motor-pump units 10, 20 are opposite each other and respectively have a flat front face perpendicular to the longitudinal axes and spaced apart from each other approx. 30 mm Here, advantageously, the longitudinal axis of the device 1 according to the invention is parallel to the chassis axle 3 or to a connecting line of the wheels 18, 28 assigned to a chassis axle. On the one hand, this reduces the distance of the pump ports 19, 29 to the respective shock absorbers and, on the other hand, ensures sufficient cooling of the opposing control units 13, 23.

[0031] In FIG. 2, a chassis system 2 having a device 1 according to the invention is schematically represented according to the first embodiment example. Herein, the respectively two hydraulic lines 14, 24 respectively starting from the pumps 11, 21 are connected with the two pressure chambers of respectively one shock absorber 16, 26, which pressure chambers in the simplest case are separated by a piston 17, 27 adapted to axially travel in a damper cylinder. In the embodiment example shown, the cylinders of the shock absorbers 16, 26 are connected with the spring-suspended mass of the vehicle or body, while the piston 17, 27 is connected or coupled with the unsuspended mass of the vehicle or a wheel 18, 28 and, where applicable, also to a chassis axle 3, if present. However, this can also be designed vice versa. Furthermore, in the schematic diagram in FIG. 2, the spring elements usually provided in addition, such as an air and/or steel spring element, have been omitted.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment example of the device 1 according to the invention, in which the longitudinal axes of both motor-pump units 10, 20 lie parallel, but in contrast to the first embodiment example do not coincide. The two motor-pump units 10, 20 here are arranged flush and anti-parallel, that is, the pumps 11, 21 point to opposite sides facing away from each other. It is advantageous to arrange the device 1 according to the invention in the vehicle or chassis system 2 in such a way that the parallel longitudinal axes of the two motor-pump units 10, 20 are also parallel to the chassis axle 3. However, in comparison with the first embodiment example, here the total length of the device 1 according to the invention along the longitudinal axis is reduced, substantially to the length of a motor-pump unit 10, 20 and thus halved, whereby, where applicable, an installation space available in the vehicle can be better utilized.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment example of the device 1 according to the invention, in which the longitudinal axes of both motor-pump units 10, 20 are again parallel and do not coincide. The two motor-pump units 10, 20 are also aligned flush but parallel. Accordingly, the pump-side ends of the two motor-pump units 10, 20 are arranged in a first plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two motor-pump units 10, 20, while the control-unit-side ends of the motor-pump units 10, 20 are arranged in a further common plane which is also perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the motor-pump units 10, 20. Here, the longitudinal axes of the two motor-pump units 10, 20 advantageously are aligned perpendicular to a chassis axle 3.