SPRING SUPPORT CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE A COIL SPRING OF A MOTOR-VEHICLE SPRING SYSTEM, MOTOR-VEHICLE SPRING SYSTEM, AND USE OF A SPRING SUPPORT

Abstract

The invention relates to a spring support (1, 1, 1) configured to receive a coil spring (50) of a motor-vehicle spring system (100), where the coil spring (50) has a length in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) that is variable between a state of minimal compression and a state of maximal compression, and said coil spring comprises a terminal coil section (51) that rests on an annular surface of the spring support (1, 1). An elastically deformable projecting element (18) is arranged between the annular surface of the spring support and the coil spring, and is configured to maintain contact with the terminal coil section (51) of the coil spring (50) during both maximal and minimal compression of the coil spring (50).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A spring support, which is configured to receive a coil spring of a motor-vehicle spring system, wherein the coil spring has a length in a direction of a longitudinal axis 04 that is variable between a state of minimal compression and a state of maximal compression, and wherein the coil spring comprises a terminal coil section that rests on an annular surface of the spring support, wherein an elastically deformable projecting element is arranged between the annular surface of the spring support and the coil spring, and is configured to maintain contact with the terminal coil section of the coil spring during both maximal and minimal compression of the coil spring; and wherein the elastically deformable projecting element comprises a support ring segment pivotably connected to a main body and positioned between the coil spring and a spring element when the coil spring is in place.

17. The spring support of claim 16, wherein the spring support comprises a main body composed partially or entirely of a hard component.

18. The spring support of claim 16, wherein the elastically deformable projecting element comprises a spring element made of a soft component.

19. The spring support of claim 17, wherein the elastically deformable projecting element and the main body are connected by friction, form tit or material joining.

20. The spring support of claim 18, wherein the spring element is a ring segment, and has a constant material thickness or an increasing material thickness in a circumferential direction.

21. The spring support of claim 18, wherein the spring element is positioned such that when the coil spring is in place, the spring element directly contacts the coil spring.

22. The spring support of claim 16, wherein the support ring segment and the main body are composed of the same hard component.

23. The spring support of claim 16, wherein the support ring segment and the main body are integrally formed with a film hinge.

24. The spring support of claim 16, wherein the spring element is in the form of one or more helical compression springs.

25. The spring support of claim 17, wherein the main body comprises a recess into which the spring element is inserted.

26. The spring support of claim 25, wherein the recess has a pitch relative to the annular surface.

27. The spring support of claim 25, wherein the recess comprises a drainage aperture.

28. The spring support of claim 16. wherein the spring support comprises a lateral guide on its radial periphery that extends from the annular surface in the direction of the coil spring and is configured to keep the elastically deformable projecting element from deviating from its intended radial position.

29. A motor-vehicle spring system comprising a coil spring and at least one spring support which holds the coil spring, wherein the coil spring has a length in a direction of a longitudinal axis (L) that is variable between a state of minimal compression and a state of maximal compression, and the coil spring comprises a terminal coil section that rests on an annular surface of the at least one spring support, wherein the at least one spring support comprises the spring support of claim 16.

30. The spring support of claim 17, wherein the hard component is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a polypropylene (PP), a polyoxymethylene (POM), a polycarbonate (PC), and a polyamide (PA).

31. The spring support of claim 18, wherein the soft component is a volume-compressible material.

32. The spring support of claim 31, wherein the volume-compressible material is an elastomer based on a cellular or microcellular polyisocyanate-polyaddition product.

33. The spring support of claim 32, wherein the cellular or microcellular polyisocyanate-polyaddition product is based on a microcellular polyurethane elastomer and/or a thermoplastic polyurethane.

34. The spring support of claim 33, wherein the microcellular polyurethane elastomer and the thermoplastic polyurethane comprise polyurea structures.

35. The spring support of claim 21, wherein the spring element nestles up against the coil spring.

Description

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail under reference to preferred embodiments as well as the enclosed figures. Herein:

[0045] FIGS. 1a-c show various three-dimensional views of a first embodiment of a spring support,

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an example of a spring element for the spring support of FIGS. 1a-c,

[0047] FIGS. 3a-c show various three-dimensional views of a second embodiment of a spring support,

[0048] FIG. 4 shows an example of a spring element for the spring support of FIGS. 1a-c or 3a-c,

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional depiction of a third preferred embodiment of a spring support, and

[0050] FIGS. 6a-b show various three-dimensional views of a preferred embodiment of a motor-vehicle spring system.

[0051] FIGS. 1a-c show a first embodiment of a spring support 1 of the invention. The spring support comprises a main body 2 with an annular surface 3. The annular surface 3 comprises a plurality of recesses 5 provided for draining purposes in the annular surface 3. At the radially inner margin of the annular surface 3, there is a sleeve 7 extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis L. Provided on the sleeve 7 is an external profile 9 intended to receive a correspondingly shaped terminal coil section 51 of a coil spring 50 (cf. FIGS. 6a, b). The draining recesses 5 extend radially outwards from sleeve 7 across the annular surface 3 against which the terminal coil section 51 is supposed to rest.

[0052] The following is to be understood relating to the coil spring and to the circumferential sections described below. It could also be possible that, received on the annular surface 3 in the same fashion, there is a coil spring which does not comprise a coil section running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L, but instead comprises only an end face running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the coil spring. It would likewise be possible that, received on the annular surface 3, there is a coil spring which comprises no face element at all running perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis L, but instead by way of example is, as far as the end of its terminal coil section, purely helical. In the last-mentioned case, the coil section and the corresponding circumferential section would respectively be reduced to a point or a line. In all cases, however, the coil spring would be in contact, even if only point contact, with the annular surface 3 of the coil spring. The invention is not restricted to this embodiment of division of the annular surface into circumferential sections or to the use of a particular type of coil spring.

[0053] The annular surface 3 is divided into a first circumferential section 11 and a second circumferential section 13. The first circumferential section 11 is intended to receive a contact surface of the coil spring in a first coil section. In turn, the second circumferential section 13 is configured to receive a second coil-spring section which proceeds away from the contact surface at an angle.

[0054] In the second circumferential section 13 there is a recess 15 provided which is configured to receive an elastically deformable projecting element 18. The recess 15 has a pitch relative to the annular surface 3 of the first circumferential section 11. At a radially external location adjacent to the recess 15, and in circumferential direction adjacent to the first circumferential section 11, the spring support 1 comprises a lateral guide 17 which is configured to prevent radial outward displacement of the elastically deformable projecting element 18 away from its intended position.

[0055] The elastically deformable projecting element 18 comprises a spring element 19, preferably composed of a soft component, particularly preferably of a volume-compressible material as in one of the preferred embodiments described above. By virtue of the volume-compressibility of the spring element 19, the entirety of the second coil section 55 of a coil spring 50 can nestle up against the spring element 19 in a manner such that no gap arises between the spring support 1 and the coil spring (cf. FIGS. 6a, b).

[0056] On the sleeve 7, there is, above the annular surface 3 on the spring support 21, a projecting element 23 which in essence extends radially outward and serves as stop for the first coil section of the terminal coil section of a coil spring.

[0057] The recess 15 comprises a drainage aperture 25 configured to conduct liquid out of the spring support 1, away from the coil spring.

[0058] FIG. 2 exemplarily depicts the spring element 19 from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-c. The spring element (19) is configured as ring segment and comprises material of constant thickness 21 in circumferential direction.

[0059] FIGS. 3a-c show a spring support 1 of a second embodiment of the invention. Significant constituents of the spring support 1 are the same as those of the spring support 1 in FIGS. 1a-c. In respect of identical reference signs, reference is made to the descriptions above.

[0060] The spring support 1 differs from the spring support 1 in figures la-c in that the former comprises, in the second circumferential section 13, a recess 29 that exhibits no pitch relative to the annular surface 3 in the first circumferential section 11, but instead is oriented substantially parallel to the annular surface 3. Arranged in the recess 29 there is a spring element 27, which is configured as ring segment, but differs from the spring element 19 in FIG. 2 in that it comprises an increasing material thickness 31 in circumferential direction. The invention provides the use of the spring element 19 in place of the spring element 27, and equally provides a design of the recess 29 with a pitch as in FIGS. 1a-c.

[0061] The spring supports 1 and 1 in FIGS. 1a-3c were characterized in that the spring element 19, 27 of the elastically deformable projecting element 18 is intended for direct contact with the coil spring 50. The third embodiment of the invention, depicted in FIG. 5, differs therefrom. FIG. 5 shows a spring support 1. Significant constituents of the spring support 1 have the same function as those of the spring support in FIGS. 1a-c and 3a-c. Identical reference signs relate to identical elements, and here again therefore reference is made in this connection to the descriptions above. The elastically deformable projecting element 18 in the spring support 1 differs from that in the spring supports 1 and 1 in the above figures in that it comprises a supportive ring segment 35 joined to the spring support 1 by means of a film hinge 37. It is preferable that the supportive ring segment 35 and the main body 2 of the spring support 1 are composed of the same hard component.

[0062] The support ring segment 35 can be pivoted by means of the film hinge 37 in order to follow the compressive motion of the coil spring at all times. The restoring force is applied by the spring element 19, which is placed below the support ring segment 35 and positioned in a cutout 33 provided within the second circumferential section 13.

[0063] The support ring segment 35 has a concave profile 39 which corresponds to the cross section of the coil-spring section and is configured to nestle up against the coil spring.

[0064] FIGS. 1a-5 have shown various embodiments of the actual spring supports 1, 1 and 1, and FIGS. 6a, b are now directed to illustration of the mode of action of the spring supports as they interact with a coil spring 50 in a motor-vehicle spring system 100. The terminal coil section 51 of the coil spring 50 in the motor-vehicle spring system 100 has been received by the spring support 1. It would of course also be possible in the invention to provide one of the other spring supports 1, 1 in place of the spring support 1, which corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 1a-c. The elements shown in the figures with respect to spring supports 1 and 1 are to be understood as optional features of spring support 1, as well.

[0065] A first coil section 53 of the terminal coil section 51 is in contact with the annular surface 3 of the spring support t In a second coil section 55, the terminal coil section 51 extends, at its particular angle, away from the annular surface 3 of the spring support 1. Between the terminal coil section 51 and the annular surface 3 of the spring support 1, the invention provides an elastically deformable projecting element 18 with a spring element 19, this spring element 19 nestling up against the coil spring 50. Whereas the main body 2 of the spring support 1 consists of a hard component and substantially undeformable, at least when subjected to the forces exerted by the coil spring 50, the spring element 19 is concurrently compressed whenever the coil spring 50 is compressed, and thus can provide constant contact with the coil spring 50 in a manner that prevents entry of any particles or substantial quantities of liquid between spring support 1 and coil spring 50 in the region of the terminal coil section 51. This provides reliable avoidance of abrasive damage to the coating of the coil spring 50.