Spring Seat Body for a Rigid Axle of a Motor Vehicle and Rigid Axle for a Motor Vehicle With a Spring Seat Body

Abstract

A spring seat body for connection to a rigid axle of a motor vehicle, including an upper spring seat surface, a lower seat surface, lateral edge surfaces which lie between the spring seat surface and the lower seat surface, and holding means for holding tensioning means for fastening at least one spring to the spring seat body. The lateral edge surfaces include a first edge surface and a second edge surface which face away from one another and, in the mounted state of the spring seat body on the rigid axle, run transversely with respect to the rigid axle, the first edge surface, in the mounted state of the spring seat body on the rigid axle, lying closer to an end of the rigid axle which bears a vehicle wheel than the second edge surface, and the first edge surface having an edge course which, in the mounted state of the spring seat body on the rigid axle, lies in overlap with the rigid axle. In order for the spring seat body to offer improved robustness, in particular increased fatigue strength in its connection to a generic rigid axle and thereby enable a reduction in the overall weight of the rigid axle, the invention provides that said edge course, viewed from above, is at least partially formed as an outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course, the apex or vertex lies in a region of the first edge surface which runs along a central length range of the upper spring seat surface running transversely to the rigid axle, said central length range being less than one third, preferably less than one quarter, particularly preferably less than one fifth of the length of the upper spring seat surface. In particular, the invention relates to a rigid axle for a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, with such a spring seat body.

Claims

1) A spring seat body for connection to a rigid axle of a motor vehicle, having an upper spring seat surface, a lower seat surface, lateral edge surfaces located between the spring seat surface and the lower seat surface, and holding means for holding tensioning means for fastening at least one spring to the spring seat body, said lateral edge surfaces comprising a first edge surface and a second edge surface facing away from each other and extending transversely to said rigid axle when said spring seat body is mounted on said rigid axle, wherein the first edge surface is closer to an end of the rigid axle carrying a vehicle wheel than the second edge surface when the spring seat body is mounted on the rigid axle, and the first edge surface having an edge course which, in the mounted state of the spring seat body on the rigid axle, lies in overlap on the rigid axle, wherein said edge course, viewed from above, is at least partially formed as an outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course, the apex or vertex of which lies in a region of the first edge surface which runs along a central length range of the upper spring seat surface extending transversely to the rigid axle, wherein said central length range being less than one third, preferably less than one quarter, more preferably less than one fifth of the length of the upper spring seat surface.

2) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein the second edge surface having an edge course which, in the mounted state of the spring seat body on the rigid axle, lies in overlap on the rigid axle, wherein this edge course, viewed from above, is at least partially formed as an outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course, the apex or vertex of which lies in a region of the first edge surface which runs along a central length range of the upper spring seat surface extending transversely to the rigid axle, wherein said central length range being less than one third, preferably less than one quarter, more preferably less than one fifth of the length of the upper spring seat surface.

3) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein the spring seat body is carried-out as a forged part, preferably as a forged steel part.

4) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein the first edge surface and/or the second edge surface each has/have a fillet-shaped, preferably concave edge course along its sections that do not overlap with the rigid axle when viewed from above.

5) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein in that the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course does not project beyond a tangent which touches the sections of the first or second edge surface which are not in overlap with the rigid axle.

6) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein at least one recess is formed in the lower seating surface, which recess opens out at said edge course of the first edge surface, preferably opens out substantially centrally at said edge course of the first edge surface.

7) The spring seat body according to claim 1, wherein the spring seat surface and the holding means are designed to hold tensioning means for fastening at least one leaf spring.

8) A rigid axle for a motor vehicle, with at least one spring seat body according to claim 1.

9) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein the spring seat body is connected to the rigid axle by a substance-to-substance connection.

10) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein the rigid axle has a flattened or substantially flat connecting surface or outer side at which the spring seat body is connected to the rigid axle.

11) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein the rigid axle has, in its region where the spring seat body is connected to the rigid axle, a cross-sectional profile comprising at least two mutually parallel outer sides, preferably two pairs of mutually parallel outer sides.

12) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein the spring seat body is welded to the rigid axle by forming one or more weld seams at least partially along the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course of the first edge surface and/or at least partially along the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course of the second edge surface.

13) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein the rigid axle is designed as a non-driven rigid axle, the rigid axle preferably being formed from an axle tube.

14) The rigid axle according to claim 8, wherein wheel carriers are attached to the ends of the rigid axle, each wheel carrier being supported on the rigid axle by means of a strut, preferably a substantially triangular hollow body strut, the strut being arranged on the same side as the respective spring seat body on the rigid axle at a distance from the spring seat body.

15) The rigid axle according to claim 14, wherein the strut is welded to the respective wheel carrier and a main beam of the rigid axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The terms Fig., Figs., Figure, and Figures are used interchangeably in the specification to refer to the corresponding figures in the drawings.

[0029] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing illustrating several embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a rigid axle according to the invention for a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, with spring seat bodies attached thereto, in a perspective view;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a section (details II) of the rigid axle shown in FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the section of the rigid axle shown in FIG. 2;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the section of the rigid axle shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective view from below;

[0034] FIG. 5a shows a spring seat body according to the invention in a perspective bottom view;

[0035] FIG. 5b shows the spring seat body shown in FIG. 5a in a further perspective view;

[0036] FIG. 5c shows the spring seat body shown in FIG. 5a in bottom view; and

[0037] FIG. 5d shows the spring seat body shown in FIG. 5a in top view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The rigid axle 1 according to the invention shown in the drawing is intended for a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, for example a van, minibus or small transporter. The rigid axle 1 is preferably designed as a non-driven rigid axle. It has a flattened or substantially flat upper surface 3.1, which serves as a connecting surface. The rigid axle 1 is made, for example, from a tube 3 which has a closed, essentially rectangular or square hollow profile with rounded edges. The tube 3 may also be referred to as an axle tube or axial main beam. It is preferably made of steel.

[0039] Wheel carriers 4, 4 are arranged at the ends of the rigid axle 1 and are connected to the tube (axial main carrier) 3 by weld seams. The wheel carriers 4, 4 can be designed as a metal casting or forged steel part. They each have a connecting section 4.1 which projects beyond the outer surfaces of the main beam 3. The respective end of the main beam 3 and the wheel carrier 4 or 4 attached thereto define a circumferential fillet. Accordingly, the weld seam 5 there is designed as a fillet weld, for example as a circumferential fillet weld.

[0040] Adjacent to the connecting section 4.1 of the wheel carrier 4, 4 welded to the main beam 3 is a fastening section 4.2 which projects upwards relative to the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3. A wheel bearing (not shown) having a wheel hub or axle journal can be detachably mounted on the fastening section 4.2. For this purpose, the fastening section 4.2 has several threaded holes and/or through holes 6 for receiving fastening screws (not shown). The connecting section 4.1 and the fastening section 4.2 are formed together as a one-piece component.

[0041] The wheel carrier 4 or its fastening section 4.2 is supported on the rigid axle 1 by means of a strut 7. The strut 7 is, for example, in the form of a substantially triangular hollow body strut. The hollow-body strut 7 is preferably made of a sheet-metal molding. It has a back 7.1 which connects two legs 7.2 extending parallel to one another, each of which has two edges 7.21, 7.22 extending at right angles to one another. The lower edge 7.21 is materially connected, preferably welded, to the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3, while the other or vertically extending edge 7.22 is materially connected, preferably welded, to the fastening section 4.2 of the wheel carrier 4. Furthermore, the lower end of the back 7.1 of the strut is materially connected, preferably welded, to the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3. The upper end of the back 7.1 ends at a distance from the fastening section 4.2 of the wheel carrier 4. The edges 7.21, 7.22 of the respective leg 7.2, which extend at right angles to one another, are provided with a recess (free cut) 8 which faces the fillet defined by the main beam 3 and wheel carrier 4. Furthermore, a recess (free cut) 9 is formed on the lower edge 7.21 of the respective leg 7.2 in the area of the lower end of the back 7.1. This recess 9 allows the lower section 7.11 of the back 7.1as clearly shown in FIG. 2to be arcuate and to merge into a lower edge section 7.12, which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3. The weld seams 10, 11 and 12 are designed as fillet welds.

[0042] A spring seat body 13 is arranged on the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1 immediately adjacent to the respective wheel carrier 4, 4 or strut 7, which serves to connect at least one leaf spring (not shown). The spring seat body (leaf spring seat body) 13 is arranged on the same side as the strut 7, namely on the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3 at a distance from the strut 7.

[0043] Furthermore, the rigid axle 1 is provided with fork-shaped mounts 14 for articulated mounting of the lower end of shock absorbers (not shown) and optionally with plate-shaped spring mounts (spring plates) 15 for mounting auxiliary springs (not shown), for example air springs or coil springs. The spring plates 15 are also arranged on the upper side 3.1 of the main beam 3. The respective spring plate 15 is spaced significantly further from the wheel carrier 4, 4 than the nearest spring seat body 13 (cf. FIG. 1). The fork-shaped mounts 14 for articulated mounting of the shock absorbers are welded to the underside 3.2 and the rear side 3.3 of the main beam 3. Viewed along the longitudinal center axis of the main beam 3, they are positioned between the spring seat body 13 and the spring plate 15 (see FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0044] In addition, brackets 16, 17 for attaching brake system elements (not shown) or other chassis components (not shown) may be attached to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle (cf. FIG. 3).

[0045] The spring seat body 13 has an upper spring seat surface 13.1, a lower seat surface 13.2 and lateral edge surfaces 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6 which lie between the spring seat surface 13.1 and the seat surface 13.2. Furthermore, the spring seat body 13 is provided with holding means for holding tensioning means (not shown) for fastening at least one leaf spring to the spring seat body 13. The holding means are in the form of four through-holes 18, which serve in pairs to receive clamping brackets (not shown). The ends of the respective clamping bracket are in the form of threaded rods onto which nuts are screwed. A further through-hole 19 is preferably formed between the through-holes 18 receiving the clamping brackets. This through hole 19, which is arranged, for example, centrally on the longitudinal center axis of the spring seating surface 13.1, can serve to align the at least one leaf spring or a leaf spring support.

[0046] The seating surface 13.2 of the spring seat body 13 is defined by underside projections 13.21, 13.23 which, in the manner of a frame, delimit a depression or recess 13.22 on the underside of the spring seat body 13. The underside projections further comprise web-shaped projections 13.23 connecting dome-shaped or bushing-shaped projections 13.24. Through-holes 18 are formed in the projections 13.24 to receive the clamping means (clamping brackets). The sides of the web-shaped projections 13.23 facing each other rest against the parallel outer sides 3.3, 3.4 of the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1 when the spring seat body 13 is in the mounted state.

[0047] The lateral edge surfaces of the spring seat body 13 comprise a first lateral edge surface 13.3 and a second lateral edge surface 13.4, which face away from each other and extend transversely to the rigid axle 1 in the mounted state of the spring seat body 13 on the rigid axle 1. The first lateral edge surface 13.3 is closer to the end of the rigid axle carrying a vehicle wheel than the second lateral edge surface 13.4 when the spring seat body 13 is mounted to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1 (cf. FIG. 3).

[0048] The first edge surface 13.3 has an edge course 13.31 which, in the fastened state of the spring seat body 13, lies in overlap with the rigid axle 1. As shown in particular in FIG. 3, this edge course 13.31viewed from aboveis formed as an outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course, the apex or vertex 13.32 of which lies in a region of the first edge surface 13.3 which runs along a central length range L13.31 of the upper spring seat surface 13.1 running transversely to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1. This length range L13.31 marked by a double arrow in FIG. 3 is, for example, less than one third, preferably less than one quarter, particularly preferably less than one fifth of the length L13.1 of the upper spring seat surface 13.1 also marked by a double arrow.

[0049] The second lateral edge surface 13.4 of the spring seat body 13 has an edge course 13.41 which is preferably formed in accordance with the edge course 13.31 of the first lateral edge surface 13.3. As shown in FIG. 3, the edge courses 13.31, 13.41 of the first edge surface 13.3 and of the second edge surface 13.4 can be formed axially symmetrically (mirror-symmetrically) with respect to one another. In particular, the spring seat surface with the through openings can be designed to be axisymmetrical.

[0050] The first edge surface 13.3 and the second edge surface 13.4 of the spring seat body 13 each have a fillet-shaped, preferably concave edge course 13.33, 13.43 along their sections that do not overlap with the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1 as viewed from above. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5d that the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course 13.31, 13.41 of the lateral edge surface 13.3 or 13.4 does not project or projects only slightly, for example less than 10 mm, beyond a tangent T which touches the sections of the first edge surface 13.3 or second edge surface 13.4 that are not lying in overlap with the rigid axle 1.

[0051] At least in the region at which the respective spring seat body 13 is connected to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1, the latter has a cross-sectional profile which preferably comprises two mutually parallel outer sides 3.3, 3.4, particularly preferably two pairs of mutually parallel outer sides 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, 3.4.

[0052] The spring seat bodies 13 are carried-out as forged parts, preferably as forged steel parts. They are materially connected to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle. The material connection can be realized, for example, as an adhesive connection. Preferably, however, this material connection is implemented as a welded connection.

[0053] According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the spring seat body 13 is welded to the main beam 3 of the rigid axle 1 in that one or more weld seams 20, 21 are formed at least partially along the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course 13.31 of the first edge surface 13.3 and at least partially along the outwardly projecting, preferably convex edge course 13.41 of the second edge surface 13.4. The weld seams 20, 21 are implemented as fillet welds.

[0054] In FIGS. 2 and 5a to 5c it can be seen that recesses 22 are formed in the seating surface 13.2 of the spring seat body 13, which open at the edge course 13.31 of the first edge surface 13.3 and at the edge course 13.41 of the second edge surface 13.4. Preferably, the recesses 22 open substantially centrally at the respective edge course 13.31, 13.41 of the first edge surface 13.3 and second edge surface 13.4, respectively. The recesses 22 are formed in the shape of a groove, preferably a groove with an arcuate cross-sectional profile. The weld seams (fillet welds) 20, 21 are interrupted at the recesses 22, i.e. separated from each other.

[0055] The implementation of the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawing. Rather, numerous embodiments are conceivable which make use of the invention as described herein or in one of the subclaims even if the design deviates from the examples shown. For example, it is also within the scope of the invention to design the rigid axle 1 according to the invention as a drive axle, in which case the rigid axle is preferably formed from an axle housing.