AIR SPRING SYSTEM, VEHICLE HAVING AN AIR SPRING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AN AIR SPRING SYSTEM

Abstract

An air spring system for a vehicle axle includes a link element which can be pivotably arranged on a vehicle frame for mounting the vehicle axle, an air spring which can be arranged on the link element and has a piston, and an additional reservoir, the link element having an upper side which faces the vehicle frame and a lower side which faces away from the vehicle frame, the additional reservoir being configured to be mounted on the lower side of the link element, and the air spring being configured to be mounted on the upper side of the link element.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An air spring system for a vehicle axle, comprising: a link element configured to be pivotably arranged on a vehicle frame for mounting a vehicle axle; an air spring configured to be arranged on the link element and including a piston; and an additional reservoir; the link element having an upper side which substantially faces the vehicle frame and a lower side which substantially faces away from the vehicle frame; and the additional reservoir being configured to be mounted on the lower side of the link element, and the air spring being configured to be mounted on the upper side of the link element, the additional reservoir being mounted exchangeably on the lower side of the link element via a reversibly releasable coupling mechanism.

17. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the additional reservoir and the air spring being attached to the link element via a fastening member.

18. The air spring system as claimed in claim 17, the fastening member comprising a screw.

19. The air spring as claimed in claim 17, the fastening member engaging through the additional reservoir and/or the link element.

20. The air spring system as claimed in claim 19, the upper side including an interface region, on which the air spring is mounted, the lower side including an interface region, on which the additional reservoir is mounted, the interface region of the upper side and the interface region of the lower side lying opposite one another on the link element.

21. The air spring system as claimed in claim 20, the additional reservoir and the air spring lying at least partially above one another, in the mounted state, in a direction which runs perpendicularly with respect to the upper side and/or perpendicularly with respect to the lower side of the link element.

22. The air spring system as claimed in claim 21, the air spring and the additional reservoir being connected to one another for a gas exchange via a channel which reaches through the link element.

23. The air spring system as claimed in claim 22, further comprising: a valve controlling the gas exchange.

24. The air spring system as claimed in claim 23, the additional reservoir and the air spring being arranged in an end region as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the link element.

25. The air spring system as claimed in claim 24, the link element having side walls, the additional reservoir configured to be inserted at least partially, in a positively locking manner into a hollow region which is defined by the lower side of the link element and the side walls.

26. The air spring system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising: a seat configured for mounting the vehicle axle forming a boundary for the hollow region, a shape of the additional reservoir being adapted on one side to the boundary predefined by the seat.

27. The air spring system as claimed in claim 26, the additional reservoir configured such that the additional reservoir projects with respect to the side walls as viewed in a direction which runs perpendicularly with respect to the lower side of the link element.

28. The air spring system as claimed in claim 27, the additional reservoir being mounted on the link element via belts which are fastened to the link element.

29. The air spring as claimed in claim 16, the fastening member engaging through the additional reservoir and/or the link element.

30. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the upper side including an interface region, on which the air spring is mounted, the lower side including an interface region, on which the additional reservoir is mounted, the interface region of the upper side and the interface region of the lower side lying opposite one another on the link element.

31. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the additional reservoir and the air spring lying at least partially above one another, in the mounted state, in a direction which runs perpendicularly with respect to the upper side and/or perpendicularly with respect to the lower side of the link element.

32. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the air spring and the additional reservoir being connected to one another for a gas exchange via a channel which reaches through the link element.

33. The air spring system as claimed in claim 32, further comprising: a valve controlling the gas exchange.

34. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the additional reservoir and the air spring being arranged in an end region as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the link element.

35. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the link element having side walls, the additional reservoir configured to be inserted at least partially, in a positively locking manner into a hollow region which is defined by the lower side of the link element and the side walls.

36. The air spring system as claimed in claim 35, further comprising: a seat configured for mounting the vehicle axle forming a boundary for the hollow region, a shape of the additional reservoir being adapted on one side to the boundary predefined by the seat.

37. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the additional reservoir configured such that the additional reservoir projects with respect to the side walls as viewed in a direction which runs perpendicularly with respect to the lower side of the link element.

38. The air spring system as claimed in claim 16, the additional reservoir being mounted on the link element via belts which are fastened to the link element.

39. A vehicle that includes the air spring system as claimed in claim 16.

40. A method for mounting the air spring system as claimed in claim 16 on a vehicle, comprising: arranging the additional reservoir on the lower side of a link element; arranging the air spring on the upper side of the link element; and fastening the additional reservoir to the lower side of the link element via the reversibly releasable coupling mechanism, and fastening the air spring to the upper side of the link element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages and features result from the following description of preferred embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention with reference to the appended figures. Individual features of the individual embodiments can be combined with one another here within the context of the invention.

[0031] In the figures:

[0032] FIGS. 1a and 1b: show diagrammatic illustrations of an air spring system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a perspective view (1a) and a sectional view (1b); and

[0033] FIG. 2: shows a detailed view of an air spring system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same designations and will therefore as a rule also be named or mentioned in each case only once.

[0035] FIGS. 1a and 1b diagrammatically show a perspective view (1a) and a sectional view (1b) of an air spring system 1 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In particular, this is an air spring system 1 which is provided for a vehicle axle. Here, the vehicle axle is mounted in a link element 2, preferably on a link element 2 which runs in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the link element 2 in turn being articulated on a vehicle frame 9 at a first end such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 10. The air spring 5 is arranged at a second end which lies opposite the first end as viewed in the longitudinal direction. A seat 7 is preferably provided in the link element 2 between the first end and the second end, in particular in a half of the longitudinal carrier 2 which faces the second end, through which seat 7 the vehicle axle engages in the mounted state or in which seat 7 the vehicle axle is mounted rotatably. In order to bring about a cushioning action on the pivoting movement of the link element 2 and therefore on the vehicle axle which is mounted in the link element, the air spring 5 connects the link element 2 to the vehicle frame 9 (not shown here). In particular, the air spring 5 connects the link element 2 to a region on the vehicle frame 9, which region is arranged substantially above the attachment of the air spring 5 on the link element 2, that is to say above the second end of the link element 2, as viewed in the vertical direction. Essential constituent parts of the air spring 5 are a piston 8 and an air bellows 4, it being possible for the air bellows 4 and the piston 8 to be displaced relative to one another, in particular along the vertical direction. Here, the air bellows 4 comprises a cylindrical shell which is manufactured from an elastic material and performs a folding movement during pushing together of the air bellows 4 and the piston 8. Here, the cylindrical shell is connected to an outer side of the piston 8 at one end, for example via a clamping ring, whereas the other end of the air bellows 4 is connected to a lower side of the vehicle frame 9. Here, a damping action is generated by way of a fluid, such as air, in the working space between the piston 8 and the air bellows 4. Furthermore, it is provided that the piston 8 is mounted directly on an upper side of the link element 2 which faces the vehicle frame 9. In addition, an additional reservoir 6 is provided, by way of which a filling quantity of the fluid in the working space between the piston 8 and the air bellows 4 can be controlled or can be introduced into the air from the working space. It is provided here according to the invention that the additional reservoir 6 is arranged on a lower side 12 of the link element 12, which lower side 12 faces away from the vehicle frame 9. It is advantageously possible by way of said arrangement to replace the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 separately, without it being necessary for the entire system comprising the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 to be dismantled. In particular, it proves advantageous that the air spring 5, in particular the air bellows 4, with its service life which is on average shorter, can be removed from the air spring system 1 without it being necessary for the additional reservoir 6 to be removed. In order to ensure a fluid exchange between the air spring 5 and the additional reservoir 6, a channel 13 is provided, in particular a channel 13 which reaches through the link element 2. Said channel 13 preferably comprises a valve, by way of which the fluid exchange between the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 can be controlled or regulated. The additional reservoir 6 is mounted, in particular, below the air spring 5 on the lower side 12 of the link element 2 for a distance which is as short as possible and has to be bridged between the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 for the fluid exchange. The link element 2 preferably forms a dividing wall between the air spring 5 and the intermediate reservoir 6. As a result, an additional feed line can advantageously be dispensed with. It is provided, furthermore, that the additional reservoir 6 is arranged within a hollow region which is open toward one side and is formed by substantially vertically running side walls 14 and the lower side 12. As a result, the additional reservoir 6 is protected by way of the side walls 14. In addition, the side walls 14 provide the seat for the vehicle axle and stabilize the link element 2. Furthermore, the additional reservoir 6 is preferably shaped in such a way that it can be inserted into the hollow region with an accurate fit. For example, the hollow region is delimited on one of its sides by way of a seat for the vehicle axle, and the additional reservoir 6 is shaped accordingly on that side, for example by way of a correspondingly complementary curved configuration. For simple access to the additional reservoir 6, the additional reservoir 6 is configured in such a way that it projects with respect to the side walls 14. Furthermore, a belt 15 is provided which can be mounted on the side walls 14 of the link element 2 and runs around a lower side of the additional reservoir 6, which lower side faces away from the vehicle frame 9, in such a way that the additional reservoir 6 is protected from below by the belt 15. A plurality of belts 15 which are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal direction preferably serve as a mounting aid or an additional stabilizing fastening, whereas a fastening means 3 which engages through the additional reservoir 6, for example a screw which serves for a central screw connection, attaches the additional reservoir 6 to the link element 2. The fastening means 3 is preferably arranged in a region, in which the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 lie above one another in a direction which runs perpendicularly with respect to the upper side of the link element 2.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of an air spring system 1 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is a detailed illustration of the fastening means 3, by way of which the additional reservoir 6 is fastened to the link element 2. The link element 2 preferably has a cutout, through which the fastening means 3 engages and which is utilized for attaching the piston 8 of the air spring 5. In other words, both the additional reservoir 6 and the air spring 5 can be fastened to the link element 2 by way of a common fastening means 3 which engages through the link element 2. Here, the additional reservoir 6 is preferably placed onto the link element 2 first of all, and the air spring 5 is placed onto it subsequently. Finally, the permanent attachment takes place by way of the fastening means 3, in particular by way of a fastening means 3 which comprises steel.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0037] 1 Air spring system [0038] 2 Link element [0039] 3 Fastening means [0040] 4 Air bellows [0041] 5 Air spring [0042] 6 Additional reservoir [0043] 7 Seat [0044] 8 Piston [0045] 9 Vehicle frame [0046] 10 Pivot axis [0047] 11 Upper side [0048] 12 Lower side [0049] 13 Channel [0050] 14 Side wall [0051] 15 Belt