ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR A CHASSIS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND REAR-AXLE STEERING SYSTEM

Abstract

An adjustment device (1) for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The adjustment device has an actuator (2) with a housing (5) and a spindle drive, which has an axially displaceable spindle (10), with a fixed mounting (7) on the vehicle side and a connecting element (4) on the chassis side. The spindle (10) is extended in a direction of its longitudinal axis by an extension piece (11), and the connecting element (4) is attached to the outer end (11b) of the extension piece (11).

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. An adjustment device, for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising: an actuator (2) with a housing (5), a spindle drive, having an axially displaceable spindle (10), with a fixed mounting (7), on a vehicle side, and a connection element (4), on a chassis side, the spindle (10) being extended, in an axial direction, by an extension piece (11), and the connection element (4) being attached to an outer end (11b) of the extension piece (11).

10. The adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein the extension piece (11) is made integrally with the spindle (10).

11. The adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein the extension piece (11) is supported on the vehicle side.

12. The adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein the extension piece (11) is supported by either a slide bearing or a thrust bearing (13, 14).

13. The adjustment device according to claim 12, wherein the slide bearing or the thrust bearing (13, 14) is in a form of a bearing block (3) that is fixable to the vehicle.

14. The adjustment device according to claim 12, wherein the slide bearing or the thrust bearing (13, 14) is arranged in the housing (5) of the actuator (2), and the housing (5) is supported on the vehicle side in an area of the extension piece (11).

15. The adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein the extension piece (11) is either detachably or non-detachably connected to the spindle (10).

16. An adjustment device, for a chassis of a motor vehicle, the adjustment device comprising: an actuator (2) being accommodated within a housing (5), a spindle drive having an axially displaceable spindle (10), the adjustment device being supported, via a fixed mounting (7), on a vehicle side, and being connected, on a chassis side, via a connection element (4), the spindle (10) being extended, in an axial direction, by an extension piece (11), and the connection element (4) being attached to an outer end (11b) of the extension piece (11).

17. A rear axle steering system with an adjustment device for a chassis of a motor vehicle, the adjustment device comprising: an actuator (2) with a housing (5), a spindle drive, having an axially displaceable spindle (10), with a fixed mounting (7), on a vehicle side, and a connection element (4), on a chassis side, the spindle (10) being extended, in an axial direction, by an extension piece (11), and the connection element (4) being attached to an outer end (11b) of the extension piece (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] An example embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below, so that from the description and/or the drawings further features and/or advantages can emerge. The drawings show:

[0018] FIG. 1: A perspective representation of an adjustment device with an actuator and a bearing block, and

[0019] FIG. 2: The adjustment device, partially as viewed and partially sectioned in the area of the bearing block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of an adjustment device 1, which comprises an actuator 2, a bearing block 3 and a connecting element 4 in the form of a fork 4 with apertures 4a. The actuator 2 has a housing 5 in which a spindle drive (not shown) is accommodated, this being able to be driven by an electric motor 6. The adjustment device 1 serves to adjust a movable chassis component (not shown), preferably a track control arm of a rear axle of a vehicle, and is supported by means of a mounting 7 in the form of a rubber mounting 7 on the vehicle, in particular on an auxiliary frame (not shown). The bearing block 3 has two fixing eyes 3a, 3b by means of which it is supported on the vehicle. The fork 4, by means of which the apertures 4a of the track control arm (not shown) is articulated, can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the spindle, represented by a double arrow X. Between the actuator housing 5 and the bearing block 3 is arranged a first bellows 8 and between the bearing block 3 and the fork 4 is arranged a second bellows 9.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows another representation of the adjustment device 1, with the actuator 2 and its electric motor 6 and the rubber mounting 7 viewed from the side and the bearing block 3 shown in section. Theonly partly visiblespindle 10 of the spindle drive of the actuator 2 has a longitudinal or spindle axis a and is extended in the direction of the spindle axis a by an extension piece 11. The extension piece 11, which is preferably of circular-cylindrical shape, has a threaded pin 1 a which at the end is screwed into the spindle 10 so that between the spindle 10 and the extension piece 11 there is formed a firm but releasable connection. Non-releasable connections such as press-fit or welded connections are also possible, but not shown. The bearing block 3, which is fixed to the vehicle, has a through-bore 12 into which the extension piece 11 extends. In the through-bore 12 there are at its respective ends a first slide bearing 13 and a second slide bearing 14, by which the extension piece 11 is guided as it slides in the bearing block 3. At its outer end facing away from the actuator 2, the extension piece 11 is firmly connected to the connecting element 4 in the form of a fork 4 by a screw-bolt 15 which is screwed into a threaded bore 16 in the extension piece 11. Thus, the fork 4 can be adjusted by the spindle 10 in the adjustment direction X by way of the extension piece 11. The extension piece 11, the part of the spindle 10 projecting out of the housing 5 and the two slide bearings 13, 14 are sealed against dirt coming in from the outside by the first bellows 8 and the second bellows 9. Thanks to the use of the extension piece 11 in combination with the bearing block 3 the distance between the mounting point 7 fixed on the vehicle and the connection point 4 on the chassis side is increased. Forces and torques transferred from the moving chassis component to the fork 4 and from there to the extension piece 11, are supported via the bearing block 3 on the vehicle, so that no unacceptable loading of the extension piece 11 and its connection to the spindle 10 takes place.

[0022] The scope of the invention also includes alternative embodiments not shown in the drawing, in which the spindle is made integrally with the extension piece and/or the bearing block is made integrally with the actuator housing.

INDEXES

[0023] 1 Adjustment device [0024] 2 Actuator [0025] 3 Bearing block [0026] 3a Fixing eye [0027] 3b Fixing eye [0028] 4 Connecting element/Fork [0029] 4a Aperture [0030] 5 Housing [0031] 6 Electric motor [0032] 7 Rubber mounting [0033] 8 First bellows [0034] 9 Second bellows [0035] 10 Spindle [0036] 11 Extension piece [0037] 11a Threaded pin [0038] 11b Outer end [0039] 12 Through-bore [0040] 13 First slide bearing [0041] 14 Second slide bearing [0042] 15 Screw-bolt [0043] 16 Threaded bore [0044] a Longitudinal axis of the spindle [0045] X Adjustment direction