Actively adjustable wheel suspension for the wheels of an axle of a motor vehicle

Abstract

An actively adjustable wheel suspension for the wheels of an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein each wheel is articulated on the body side of the motor vehicle via a plurality of wheel control elements, includes for each wheel on the axle a rotary actuator which is supported on the body side and includes a torsion bar. The two rotary actuators can be activated for active adjustment via a control unit, with the rotary actuators and the torsion bars of the rotary actuators being oriented in motor vehicle longitudinal direction. The rotary actuators include each at least one strut, which is oriented in motor vehicle transverse direction, for torque support.

Claims

1. An actively adjustable wheel suspension for a wheel of an axle of a motor vehicle, comprising a first rotary actuator operatively connected to the wheel and supported on a body of the motor vehicle, said first rotary actuator including a torsion bar and at least one strut which is provided for torque support, with the first rotary actuator and the torsion bar being oriented in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and with the at least one strut being oriented in a vehicle transverse direction; and a control unit configured to activate the first rotary actuator for active adjustment, wherein the at least one strut of the first rotary actuator is designed in the shape of a housing, with the control unit being integrated in the at least one strut.

2. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 1, further comprising a subframe including two longitudinal members oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a rear cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, and a front cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said front cross member having an open cross section to form a stabilizer lane oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, with the control unit being arranged in the stabilizer lane.

3. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 1, further comprising a second rotary actuator operatively connected to another wheel of the axle of the motor vehicle, and a subframe including two longitudinal members oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a rear cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, and a front cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said front cross member having an open cross section to form a stabilizer lane oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said at least one housing-shaped strut, said control unit integrated in the at least one strut, and at least one strut of the second rotary actuator being arranged in the stabilizer lane.

4. An actively adjustable wheel suspension for a wheel of an axle of a motor vehicle, comprising a first rotary actuator operatively connected to the wheel and supported on a body of the motor vehicle, said first rotary actuator including a torsion bar and at least one strut which is provided for torque support, with the first rotary actuator and the torsion bar being oriented in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and with the at least one strut being oriented in a vehicle transverse direction; a second rotary actuator operatively connected to another wheel of the axle of the motor vehicle, and a subframe including two longitudinal members oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a rear cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, and a front cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said front cross member having an open cross section to form a stabilizer lane oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, wherein at least one strut of the second rotary actuator is arranged in the stabilizer lane, and a control unit configured to activate at least one of the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator for active adjustment, said control unit affixed on the subframe.

5. An actively adjustable wheel suspension for a wheel of an axle of a motor vehicle, comprising a first rotary actuator operatively connected to the wheel and supported on a body of the motor vehicle, said first rotary actuator including a torsion bar and at feast one strut which is provided for torque support, with the first rotary actuator and the torsion bar being oriented in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and with the at least one strut being oriented in a vehicle transverse direction; a second rotary actuator operatively connected to another wheel of the axle of the motor vehicle, said at least one strut of the first rotary actuator and at least one strut of the second rotary actuator being configured as a single-part housing structure in which the control unit is integrated; and a control unit configured to activate at least one of the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator for active adjustment.

6. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 5, wherein the single-part housing structure, the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator form a single-part structural unit.

7. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 5, further comprising a subframe including two longitudinal members oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a rear cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, and a front cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said front cross member having an open cross section to form a stabilizer lane oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said housing structure with the integrated control unit being arranged in the stabilizer lane.

8. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 5, further comprising a subframe including two longitudinal members oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a rear cross member oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, said housing structure with the integrated control unit being secured to the two longitudinal members, with the housing structure being dimensioned such that the subframe can be formed in an absence of another cross member.

9. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 5, wherein the single-part housing structure, the first rotary actuator, and the second rotary actuator are of multipart configuration, further comprising fasteners configured to secure the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator to the single-part housing structure.

10. The actively adjustable wheel suspension of claim 9, wherein the fasteners lie in a plane of symmetry of the first and second rotary actuators or extend in perpendicular relation to the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

(2) In the description, in the claims, and in the drawing, the terms used in the below list of reference signs and associated reference signs are used.

(3) In the drawing, it is shown in:

(4) FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the components rotary actuators, torsion bars and control unit necessary for an active wheel suspension

(5) FIG. 2 the components of FIG. 1 in the assembled state on a subframe;

(6) FIG. 3 the components for an active suspension system according to another embodiment;

(7) FIG. 4 the components of FIG. 3 in the assembled state on a subframe;

(8) FIG. 5 the components for an active suspension system according to another embodiment;

(9) FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment of the components shown in FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 7 the components of FIG. 5 in the assembled state on a subframe, and

(11) FIG. 8 the components of FIG. 5 in the assembled state on a differently configured subframe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) To avoid repetitions, the following description and the figures identify same structures and components by same reference numerals, so long as no further differentiation is necessary or useful.

(13) FIG. 1 shows by way of a first embodiment, the components to be associated to a wheel of an axle for realization of an active wheel suspensionsubsequently designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10.

(14) A rotary actuator 12 with torsion bar 14 is associated to each wheel. The unit of rotary actuator 12 with torsion bar 14 further includes at least one strut 16 for torque support and a lever element 18. The torsion bars 14 respectively interact with the wheel via the lever element 18 so that the rolling motion, body motion, curve slope, pitching motion of the motor vehicle can be influenced through appropriate adjustment of the torsion bars 14. Further illustrated is a control unit 20 via which the rotary actuators 12 can be activated in a targeted manner.

(15) FIG. 2 shows by way of a bottom view a subframe, generally designated by reference numeral 22 for attachment of the components of FIG. 1. For reasons of clarity, illustration of wheel control elements and wheels has been omitted.

(16) The subframe 22 has two longitudinal members 24 oriented in vehicle longitudinal direction FL, and a rear cross member 26 oriented in vehicle transverse direction FQ as well as a front cross member 28 oriented in vehicle transverse direction FQ.

(17) As is clearly apparent from FIG. 2, the front cross member 28 has hereby an open profile in cross section, so that a stabilizer lane 30 is formed in motor vehicle transverse direction FQ. A conventional wheel suspension has arranged therein a conventional torsion bar stabilizer in such a stabilizer lane 30.

(18) As is further apparent from FIG. 2, the two rotary actuators 12 and the torsion bars 14 of the rotary actuators 12 are formed in motor vehicle longitudinal direction FL. The control unit 20, via which the two rotary actuators 12 are activated, is disposed in the stabilizer lane 30 in a space-saving manner. A torque support of the rotary actuators 12 is ensured via the strut 16, essentially oriented in vehicle transverse direction FQ and respectively articulated to the rear cross member 26.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a further configuration of the components rotary actuators 12, torsion bars 14, and control unit 20, necessary for the active wheel suspension. While the unit, shown on the right-hand side and comprised of rotary actuator 12, torsion bar 14, lever element 18 and strut 16, corresponds essentially to the arrangement described above with reference to FIG. 1, the control unit 20 is integratedas can be seen in FIG. 3in the strut 16 with respect to the other opposite rotary actuators 12. To this end, the strut 16 is formed in the shape of a housing so as to provide respective installation space for integration of the control unit 20.

(20) FIG. 4 shows the components of FIG. 3 in the assembled state upon a subframe 22. The subframe 22 corresponds hereby to the one illustrated in FIG. 2, in particular, the front cross member 28 again includes a stabilizer lane 30. In the assembled state, the housing-shaped strut 16 with integrated control unit 20 of the one rotary actuator 12 and the strut 16 of the other rotary actuator 12 are arranged in the stabilizer lane 30.

(21) In the configuration of the components of rotary actuators 12, torsion bars 14, and control unit 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the two struts 16 form a single-part housing structure 32 oriented in motor vehicle transverse direction. In addition to the support of the rotary actuators 12, the control unit is also integrated in this housing structure 32, so that single-part housing structure 32 and the rotary actuators 12 form a single-part structural unit 34.

(22) According to FIG. 6, the two struts form again a single-part structural unit 32 in which the control unit 32 is integrated. In contrast to FIG. 5, the rotary actuators 12 are not directly supported in the housing structure 32, i.e. rotary actuators 12 and housing structure 32 do not form a single-part structural unit, rather the housings of the rotary actuators 12 are secured by fastening means 36 upon the housing structure 32. As FIG. 6 further shows, the fastening means 36 are hereby oriented in direction of the torsion bars 14 of the rotary actuators 12.

(23) FIG. 7 shows the components of FIG. 5 in the assembled state upon a subframe 22 which corresponds to the afore-described subframe. I.e. the subframe 22 has again two longitudinal members 24 oriented in vehicle longitudinal direction FL and two cross members 28 oriented in vehicle transverse direction FQ, with the front cross member 28 having an open cross section, so that a stabilizer lane 30 is formed in motor vehicle transverse direction FQ. The rotary actuators 12, torsion bars 14, which are oriented in motor vehicle longitudinal direction FL, and the control unit 20, which is oriented in motor vehicle transverse direction 32, are secured on the subframe 22. The housing structure 32 is hereby dimensioned such as to be positionable and securable in the open cross section of the front cross member 28, i.e. in the stabilizer lane 30.

(24) In contrast thereto, the embodiment of the subframe 32, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is configured in the absence of a front cross member. For this purpose, the housing structure 32, oriented in motor vehicle transverse direction FQ and secured to the longitudinal members 24, is configured and dimensioned such that the housing structure 32 is able to absorb acting forces and torques. This ensures that the housing structure 32 assumes the function of the front cross member. I.e. the subframe 22 mayas shown in FIG. 7be formed without front cross member.