Abstract
A bearing bushing, for example, for a motor vehicle. The bearing bushing is switchable between a first and a second stiffness stage. The bearing bushing has a first elastomer ring, which is arranged rotationally fixedly on an outer circumferential surface of an inner ring, and a second elastomer ring, which is arranged rotationally fixedly on an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring. Radially between the two elastomer rings, an intermediate ring makes contact in a rotationally fixed manner with the two elastomer rings. To change in stiffness of the bearing bushing, the first elastomer ring can be bridged by the intermediate ring and at least one blocking ring which is arranged on the bearing bushing at an end side.
Claims
1. A bearing bushing for a motor vehicle, comprising: a bearing bushing that is configured to be switchable between a first and a second stiffness stage; the bearing bushing having a first elastomer ring, which is arranged rotationally fixedly on an outer circumferential surface of an inner ring, and a second elastomer ring, which is arranged rotationally fixedly on an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring; and wherein, radially between the two elastomer rings, an intermediate ring makes contact in a rotationally fixed manner with the two elastomer rings, wherein furthermore, for the switch in stiffness of the bearing bushing, the first elastomer ring can be bridged by the intermediate ring and at least one blocking ring which is arranged on the bearing bushing at an end side; wherein the at least one blocking ring has at least three support elements that each radially accommodate an axially formed lug of the intermediate ring; wherein the at least one blocking ring has a first and a second aperture for each lug, which apertures are connected to one another, wherein the first aperture is of substantially complementary form with respect to the lug, and wherein the second aperture is at least radially larger than the first aperture.
2. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking ring is mounted rotatably on the inner ring by a bearing element.
3. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking ring is connected rotationally fixedly to a bolt which is mounted rotatably on the inner ring.
4. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking ring is provided for each of two end faces of the bearing bushing.
5. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one blocking ring includes two blocking rings arranged axially adjacent to one another on at least one of the two end faces of the bearing bushing.
6. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the switch in stiffness of the bearing bushing, the at least one blocking ring is rotatable, by an actuator connected at least indirectly thereto, relative to the intermediate ring.
7. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuator is connected to the at least one blocking ring via a gearing arrangement.
8. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor.
9. A bearing bushing, comprising: a bearing bushing configured to be switchable between a first stiffness and a second stiffness, the first stiffness being different from the second stiffness; a first elastomer ring arranged rotationally fixedly on an outer circumferential surface of an inner ring; a second elastomer ring arranged rotationally fixedly on an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring; and an intermediate ring radially between the two elastomer rings, the intermediate ring making contact in a rotationally fixed manner with the first and second elastomer rings; wherein to switch between the first and second stiffness, the first elastomer ring is configured to be bridged by the intermediate ring and at least one blocking ring which is arranged on the bearing bushing at an end side wherein the at least one blocking ring has at least three support elements that each radially accommodate an axially formed lug of the intermediate ring; wherein the at least one blocking ring has a first and a second aperture for each lug, which apertures are connected to one another, wherein the first aperture is of substantially complementary form with respect to the lug, and wherein the second aperture is at least radially larger than the first aperture.
10. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one blocking ring is mounted rotatably on the inner ring by a bearing element.
11. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one blocking ring is connected rotationally fixedly to a bolt which is mounted rotatably on the inner ring.
12. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one blocking ring is provided for each of two end faces of the bearing bushing.
13. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one blocking ring includes two blocking rings arranged axially adjacent to one another on an end face of the bearing bushing.
14. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 9, wherein, for the switch in stiffness of the bearing bushing, the at least one blocking ring is rotatable, by an actuator connected at least indirectly thereto, relative to the intermediate ring.
15. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 14, wherein the actuator is connected to the at least one blocking ring via a gearing arrangement.
16. The bearing bushing as claimed in claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further measures which improve the disclosure will be presented in more detail below together with the description of embodiments of the disclosure on the basis of the figures. In the figures:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a chassis link for a motor vehicle, wherein the chassis link has a bearing bushing according to an embodiment of the disclosure,
(3) FIG. 2a is a perspective illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure as per a first exemplary embodiment,
(4) FIG. 2b is a perspective detail illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure from FIG. 2a,
(5) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional illustration for illustrating the construction of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure from FIG. 2a together with gearing arrangement and actuator,
(6) FIG. 4a shows a schematic side view of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure as per a second exemplary embodiment,
(7) FIG. 4b is a schematic sectional illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure from FIG. 4a,
(8) FIG. 5a is a schematic detail illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure in a first switching position,
(9) FIG. 5b is a schematic detail illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure in a second switching position,
(10) FIG. 6a is a schematic detail illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure with two axially mutually adjacently arranged blocking rings in a first switching position, and
(11) FIG. 6b is a schematic detail illustration of the bearing bushing according to the disclosure with two axially mutually adjacently arranged blocking rings in a second switching position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) In FIG. 1, a bearing bushing according to the disclosure is arranged in a bore 16, provided for the purpose, on a chassis link 17. The chassis link 17 is installed in a chassis (not illustrated here) of a motor vehicle (not illustrated here). An axle support (not illustrated here) of the motor vehicle is fastened to a bolt 10 of the bearing bushing 1. Furthermore, the chassis link 17 has a further bore 16a in which there is arranged a mechanical, non-switchable bearing bushing 1a. In other words, the bearing bushing 1a is designed as a conventional rubber bearing. A wheel support (not illustrated here) is arranged on a bolt 10a of the bearing bushing 1a.
(13) As per FIG. 2a, a bearing bushing 1 according to the disclosure has a first and a second elastomer ring 3a, 3b. The first elastomer ring 3a is arranged rotationally fixedly on an inner ring 2 illustrated in FIG. 2b. By contrast, the second elastomer ring 3b is arranged radially between an intermediate ring 5 and an outer ring 4. Furthermore, the intermediate ring 5 makes contact with the first elastomer element 3a radially. Furthermore, a blocking ring 6a is arranged on the bearing bushing 1 at an end side, which blocking ring has three support elements 7a-7c for radially accommodating a respective axially formed lug 8a-8c of the intermediate ring 5. The blocking ring 6a is secured axially by a covering element 19 arranged axially thereon. For the change in stiffness of the bearing bushing 1, the first elastomer ring 3a can be bridged via the intermediate ring 5 and the blocking ring 6a. For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 2a, the intermediate ring 5 comes into contact with the blocking ring 6a radially via the three lugs 8a-8c. In this illustrated switching position of the blocking ring 6a, the bearing bushing 1 has a relatively high stiffness.
(14) FIG. 2b is a detail illustration of FIG. 2a, with the covering element 19 not being illustrated. As per FIG. 2b, the bolt 10 is arranged within the inner ring 2. Here, the bolt 10 is connected rotationally fixedly to the blocking ring 6a, wherein three radially formed elements 20a-20c on the blocking ring 6a are connected in positively locking fashion to the bolt 10. Furthermore, the inner ring 2 has three axially formed elements 21a-21c for positively locking connection to the covering element 19. Furthermore, during a rotation of the blocking ring 6a, the axially formed elements 21a-21c on the inner ring 2 are provided as stop surfaces for the radially formed elements 20a-20c on the blocking ring 6a, and thus, in the respective switching position, position the support elements 7a-7c on the blocking ring 6a relative to the lugs 8a-8c on the intermediate ring 5.
(15) As per FIG. 3, the bearing bushing 1 according to the disclosure from FIG. 2a has an actuator 13 which is connected to the blocking ring 6b via a gearing arrangement 14. Consequently, in each case one blocking ring 6a, 6b is provided for each of the two end faces of the bearing bushing 1. Furthermore, the blocking ring 6b is connected rotationally fixedly to the blocking ring 6a via the bolt 10. The bolt 10 is mounted rotatably on the inner ring 2 by means of two plain bearing bushings 18a, 18b. For the change in stiffness of the bearing bushing 1, the two blocking rings 6a, 6b are rotated, via the gearing arrangement 14, by an electric motor 15 of the actuator 13. The electric motor 15 is arranged axially on a housing 22 of the gearing arrangement 14. The electric motor 15 drives the gearing arrangement 14 via a pinion shaft 23. For this purpose, the pinion shaft 23 meshes with an internal gear 24, wherein the internal gear 24 is formed integrally with a sun gear 25. Furthermore, the sun gear 25 meshes with a stepped planetary gear set 26, which is connected to the blocking ring 6b via a bolt 27. For this purpose, the blocking ring 6b has a section of flange-like form, which is simultaneously a planet carrier 28. Furthermore, the stepped planetary gear set 26 also meshes with an internal gear 29 which is formed in the housing 22 and which is fixed so as to be stationary. The first elastomer ring 3a is arranged rotationally fixedly radially between the inner ring 2 and the intermediate ring 5. Furthermore, the second elastomer ring 3b is arranged rotationally fixedly radially between the intermediate ring 5 and the outer ring 4. The outer ring 4 is of sleeve-like form and is pressed into a bore (not illustrated here) of a chassis link (not illustrated here).
(16) As per FIGS. 4a and 4b, in each case one blocking ring 6a, 6b is provided for each of the two end faces of the bearing bushing 1. The intermediate ring 5 has in each case four axially formed lugs 8a-8d to both axial sides, of which however only four lugs 8a-8d are illustrated owing to the side-on illustration of the bearing bushing 1. The two blocking rings 6a, 6b are of identical form. Each blocking ring 6a has a respective first and second aperture 11a-11d, 12a-12d for each lug 8a-8d, which apertures are connected to one another, wherein the respective first aperture 11a-11d is of substantially complementary form with respect to the respective lug 8a-8d. In other words, the respective lug 8a-8d has only minimal play in the respective first aperture 11a-11d, such that, when the bearing bushing 1 is subjected to load, the first elastomer ring 3a is bridged by means of the intermediate ring 5 and the two blocking rings 6a, 6b. Furthermore, the respective second aperture 12a-12d is formed so as to be more than twice as large as the first aperture 11a-11d, such that, when the bearing bushing 1 is subjected to load, a substantially radial displacement of the intermediate ring 5 is permitted, and thus an exertion of load on both elastomer rings 3a, 3b is realized.
(17) As per FIG. 4b, the respective blocking ring 6a, 6b is rotatable by a respective electric motor 15, 15a with respective pinion shaft 23, 23a. For this purpose, the respective blocking ring 6a, 6b is mounted rotatably on the inner ring 2 by a respective bearing element 9a, 9b.
(18) FIGS. 5a and 5b show a partially illustrated switchable bearing bushing 1 according to the disclosure, which is switchable between a first and a second stiffness stage, wherein FIG. 5b illustrates a relatively low stiffness stage and FIG. 5a illustrates a relatively high stiffness stage of the switchable bearing bushing 1. The relatively high stiffness stage is realized in that, when the bearing bushing 1 is subjected to load, the lug 8a of the intermediate ring 5 makes contact in the first aperture 11a of the blocking ring 6a. The relatively low stiffness stage is realized in that, when the bearing bushing 1 is subjected to load, the lug 8a is freely movable in the second aperture 12a.
(19) As per FIGS. 6a and 6b, two blocking rings 6a, 6b are arranged axially adjacent to one another on an end face of the bearing bushing 1. For the change in stiffness of the bearing bushing 1, the two blocking rings 6a, 6b are rotatable relative to one another. For this purpose, the two apertures 11a, 12a and 11b, 12b in the respective blocking ring 6a, 6b are arranged oppositely. FIG. 6b illustrates a relatively low stiffness stage, and FIG. 6a illustrates a relatively high stiffness stage of the switchable bearing bushing 1. A change in stiffness of the bearing bushing 1 from the position illustrated in FIG. 6a into the position illustrated in FIG. 6b is realized by means of a rotation of the first blocking ring 6a clockwise and a rotation of the second blocking ring 6b counterclockwise. The embodiment of the bearing bushing 1 with two axially mutually adjacently arranged blocking rings 6a, 6b offers the advantage in particular that the lug 8a is blocked in a circumferential direction and radially in the respective first aperture 11a, 11b of the two blocking rings 6a, 6b.
(20) It is pointed out that the respective blocking rings 6a, 6b have been illustrated in transparent form in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b.
LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS
(21) 1 Bearing bushing
(22) 2 Inner ring
(23) 3a, 3b Elastomer ring
(24) 4 Outer ring
(25) 5 Intermediate ring
(26) 6a, 6b Blocking ring
(27) 7a-7d Support elements
(28) 8a-8d Lug
(29) 9a, 9b Bearing element
(30) 10 Bolt
(31) 11a-11d First aperture
(32) 12a-12d Second aperture
(33) 13 Actuator
(34) 14 Gearing arrangement
(35) 15, 15a Electric motor
(36) 16, 16a Bore
(37) 17 Chassis link
(38) 18, 18a Bolt
(39) 19 Covering element
(40) 20a-20c Axially formed element
(41) 21a-21c Radially formed element
(42) 22 Housing
(43) 23, 23a Pinion shaft
(44) 24 Internal gear
(45) 25 Sun gear
(46) 26 Stepped planetary gear set
(47) 27 Bolt
(48) 28 Planet carrier
(49) 29 Internal gear
