TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRING ARRANGEMENT OF A CHASSIS AXLE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A transverse leaf spring arrangement of a chassis axle of a motor vehicle having a transverse leaf spring which is mounted via two outer bearing members on, in each case, one wheel support and via two central bearing members on a vehicle body. The central bearing members have, in each case, one torque generation apparatus, the torque directions of which run parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The torque generation apparatus capable of generating a torque which is variable at least in a manner which is dependent on a deflection at the outer bearing members.

Claims

1. A transverse leaf spring arrangement of a chassis axle of a motor vehicle, said transverse leaf spring arrangement comprising: a transverse leaf spring mounted via two outer bearing members on, in each case, one wheel support the transverse leaf spring remounted via two central bearing members on a vehicle body, the central bearing members having, in each case, one torque generation apparatus, torque directions of which run parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, wherein each torque generation apparatus has means which generate a torque which is variable at least in a manner which is dependent on a deflection at the outer bearing members.

2. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means comprises a rubber bearing with a variable torsional stiffness.

3. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means comprises a torsion bar with a variable torsional stiffness.

4. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means comprises a torsion spring with a variable torsional stiffness.

5. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means comprises an actuator for generating the variable torque, and at least one control apparatus which sets the torque in a manner which is dependent on at least one input variable.

6. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided which adjust the central bearing members in a direction of a vertical axis or a transverse axis of the motor vehicle.

7. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided which adjust the outer bearing members in a direction of a vertical axis or a transverse axis of the motor vehicle.

8. The transverse leaf spring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means comprises a hydromount with a variable torsional stiffness.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be described in greater detail using a drawing, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a motor vehicle having a diagrammatically illustrated transverse leaf spring arrangement,

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the transverse leaf spring arrangement according to aspects of the invention, and

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a diagram which shows the overall torque profile of a transverse leaf spring in the case of different torques.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of a transverse leaf spring arrangement 2 according to aspects of the invention which is a constituent part of a front axle arrangement (not shown in further detail) of a motor vehicle 4. The designations 6, 8 denote two front wheels which are arranged in each case in a known way on wheel supports 10, 12. The wheel supports 10, 12 are connected, inter alia, via diagrammatically shown links 14, 16, 18, 20 to a vehicle body (not shown in detail) of the motor vehicle 4. A transverse leaf spring 22 of the transverse leaf spring arrangement 2 is mounted via central bearing members 24, 26 on the vehicle body of the motor vehicle 4 and via outer bearing members 28, 30 on the wheel supports 10, 12. In a known way, the motor vehicle 4 has a vertical axis 32, a transverse axis 34 and a longitudinal axis 36.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic detailed view of the transverse leaf spring 22 with the central bearing members 24, 26. The outer bearing members 28, 30 are not shown here. The central bearing members 24, 26 in each case have a bearing shell 38, 40; furthermore, torque generation apparatuses 42, 44 are shown diagrammatically which can generate a variable torque. Here, the torque generation apparatuses 42, 44 can have means 46, 48 which generate a variable torque. Said means can be configured as passive means, such as a rubber bearing, in particular a hydromount, a torsion bar or else a torsion spring with variable torsional stiffnesses. In the present exemplary embodiment, however, actuators 46, 48 are provided which are connected to a control apparatus 50 which sets a torque in a manner which is dependent on at least one input variable.

[0018] In the present exemplary embodiment, torques which are directed toward one another are applied to the bearing shells 38, 40, the torques which are directed counter to one another running parallel to the longitudinal axis 36. As a result, the transverse leaf spring 22 is bent with respect to its starting state which is shown using dashed lines, in such a way that a ride level increase of the ends of the transverse leaf spring 22 takes place. The vehicle body of the motor vehicle 4 is therefore lowered, which has an advantageous effect in the case of relatively great loading. The control apparatus 50 provides the torque to be set by way of the actuators 42, 44, in a manner which is dependent on the deflection of the respective wheels 6, 8.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a diagram with the overall torque profile of the overall torque which acts in the transverse leaf spring 22 over its length with the differently applied torques in a manner which is dependent on the deflection of the wheels 6, 8. The first line 52 shows the overall torque profile of a zero deflection. The second line 54 shows the overall torque profile in the case of an average deflection level, and the line 56 shows the overall torque profile in the case of a high deflection.

[0020] It should be clear that many input variables can be used, in order to set the torques of the actuators 42, 44 in the respective operating situations. Moreover, the central bearing members can also be adjusted in the direction of the vertical axis and/or transverse axis of the motor vehicle, and the outer bearing members can be adjusted in the direction of the vertical axis and/or transverse axis of the motor vehicle.