HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR DAMPING CONTROL

Abstract

A hydraulic system for the preferably active damping control of a motor vehicle. The system includes at least one damper, with which a damper shutoff member is associated and to which at least one hydraulic line is hydraulically connected. In order to simplify the assembly of the hydraulic damper, an end of the hydraulic line facing the damper is equipped with a line shutoff member, wherein the line shutoff member at the end of the hydraulic line facing the damper is integrated into a line connection block, which is secured in a hydraulically sealed but releasable manner to a damper connection block by the damper shutoff member being merged, along with a filling member, into a combined filling valve which is integrated into the damper connection block.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system for active damping control of a motor vehicle, said system comprising: at least one damper, with which a damper shutoff member is associated and to which at least one hydraulic line is hydraulically connected, wherein an end of the hydraulic line facing the damper includes a line shutoff member, wherein the line shutoff member at the end of the hydraulic line facing the damper is integrated into a line connection block, wherein the line connection block is secured in a hydraulically sealed but releasable manner to a damper connection block by the damper shutoff member, wherein the damper shutoff member is merged, along with a filling member, into a combined filling valve which is integrated into the damper connection block.

2. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein, in closed positions of the damper shutoff member and the line shutoff member, the damper shutoff member and the line shutoff member constitute metallic seals.

3. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein the damper shutoff member and the line shutoff member are shutoff screws.

4. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein the damper shutoff member comprises a central through-hole, which constitutes the filling member in the combined filling valve.

5. The hydraulic system according to claim 4, wherein the central through-hole is sealed by a sealing screw in a hydraulically sealed but releasable manner at an end of a filling organ projecting from the damper connection block.

6. The hydraulic system according to claim 5, further comprising an outer multi-edge profile at an end of the filling member, the outer multi-edge profile projecting from the damper connection block, wherein the sealing screw includes an outer multi-edge profile.

7. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein when the damper connection block is secured to the line connection block, the damper connection block and the line connection block restrict a fluid passage that is restricted by the line shutoff member and the damper shutoff member when the line shutoff member and the damper shutoff member assume closed positions.

8. A motor vehicle comprising the hydraulic system of claim 1.

9. In a hydraulic system comprising at least one damper, with which a damper shutoff member is associated and to which at least one hydraulic line is hydraulically connected, wherein an end of the hydraulic line facing the damper includes a line shutoff member, wherein the line shutoff member at the end of the hydraulic line facing the damper is integrated into a line connection block, wherein the line connection block is secured in a hydraulically sealed but releasable manner to a damper connection block by the damper shutoff member, and wherein the damper shutoff member is merged, along with a filling member, into a combined filling valve which is integrated into the damper connection block, a method for assembling the hydraulic system comprises the step of: prefilling with a hydraulic medium a hydraulic line volume of the hydraulic line and a hydraulic damper volume of the damper before the damper and/or the hydraulic line are preassembled or assembled.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the hydraulic line volume of the hydraulic line and the hydraulic damper volume of the damper are filled with a hydraulic medium only after preassembly or assembly of the damper and/or the hydraulic line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention arise from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawing.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a hydraulic damper with a hydraulic line hydraulically connected thereto;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an axis of a motor vehicle comprising a hydraulic actuator apparatus, which is hydraulically connected via hydraulic lines to two hydraulic dampers, each associated with one wheel on the axle of the motor vehicle;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a hydraulic system comprising the damper and two hydraulic lines prior to assembly;

[0020] FIG. 4 depicts the hydraulic system in FIG. 3 in the assembled state;

[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged and detailed illustration of a section in FIG. 4 with a line shutoff member; and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a further enlarged and detailed section from FIG. 4 with a combined filling valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In FIG. 2, two wheels 1, 2 of an axis of a motor vehicle are indicated only by two circles. Rectangles indicate two hydraulic dampers 3, 4 that are associated with the two wheels 1, 2. The hydraulic dampers 3, 4, in combination with a hydraulic actuator apparatus 5, are used to constitute a hydraulic system 10 for active damping control during operation of the motor vehicle.

[0024] The hydraulic actuator apparatus 5 comprises two hydraulic pumps 7, 8, which can be controlled separately via a common electrical controller 6. The hydraulic pump 7 is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic damper 3 (also abbreviated as damper) via hydraulic lines 11, 12. The hydraulic pump 8 is hydraulically connected in a similar manner to the damper 4 via the hydraulic lines 13, 14.

[0025] FIG. 1 also schematically shows how the hydraulic damper 3 is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic line 12 during assembly. The hydraulic connection between the damper 3 and the hydraulic line 12 is illustrated by way of a connection device 20. The connection device 20 is attached to the damper 3.

[0026] The connection device 20 comprises, e.g., a connection valve block. The connection valve block comprises, e.g., a shutoff valve having a shutoff member 23. Using the shutoff member 23, a damper volume 21 including a hydraulic medium can be enclosed in the damper 3.

[0027] The end of the hydraulic line 12 connected to the connection device 20 further comprises a shutoff valve comprising a shutoff member 24. Using the shutoff member 24, a line volume 22 can be hydraulically enclosed in the hydraulic line 12.

[0028] The hydraulic line 12 is, e.g., fluidically connected to the connection means 20 of the damper 3 via a plug-in connector. An intermediate volume 25 is enclosed between the two shutoff members 23, 24 insofar as the two shutoff members 23, 24 are closed.

[0029] In FIG. 1, the damper volume in the damper 3 is indicated by a rectangle 21. A further rectangle indicates an assembly overfill volume 26 in the damper 3. The assembly overfill volume 26 is greater than the damper volume 21 of the damper 3.

[0030] As indicated, the damper 3 is overfilled with more hydraulic medium in order to generate a hydraulic pressure in the prefilled damper 3 that is greater than a hydraulic pressure in hydraulic line 12, which was also prefilled. The desired differential pressure is generated by means of a differential volume 27 in the damper 3, which is preferably precisely measured. It is also possible, e.g., given very soft hoses and a very low intermediate volume, to overfill the hydraulic lines or a line assembly comprising the motor pump unit with more hydraulic medium.

[0031] The damper 3 comes prefilled from a first supplier and is sealed by the shutoff member 23. The damper 3 is filled with the same hydraulic medium as the hydraulic line 12.

[0032] The actuator apparatus (designated as 5 in FIG. 2), along with the hydraulic line 12, is filled with the hydraulic medium by a second supplier. However, after prefilling the hydraulic line 12, the hydraulic pressure is less than the hydraulic pressure in damper 3. The hydraulic line 12 is closed after prefilling at the second supplier by the shutoff assembly 24.

[0033] Assembly of the damper 3 and the actuator apparatus having the hydraulic line 12 is performed by the vehicle manufacturer. First, for example, the actuator apparatus comprising the hydraulic lines, including the hydraulic line 12, is assembled in the motor vehicle. The damper 3 is then, e.g., assembled in the motor vehicle. The shutoff members 23, 24 are closed in this case.

[0034] The intermediate volume 25 contains air. After a hydraulic connection achieved by, e.g., mating the hydraulic line 12 via the connection device 20 with the damper 3, the intermediate volume 25 containing air is enclosed between the closed shutoff devices 23 and 24.

[0035] By opening the shutoff members 23, 24, the intermediate volume 25 filled with air can be compensated for upon completion of assembly. The air present in the intermediate volume 25 passes into solution in the hydraulic medium. This compensation procedure is advantageously achieved by means of the differential volume 27 and the associated greater hydraulic pressure in the damper 3.

[0036] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the hydraulic system 10 comprising the damper 3 and the two hydraulic lines 11, 12 are shown schematically before assembly and in the assembled state. The individual hydraulic components of the hydraulic system 10 are indicated only by rectangles. The intermediate volume (designated in FIG. 2 as 25) is indicated by an ellipse 28.

[0037] Provided on the damper 3 is a damper connection block 30, in which two combined filling valves 31, 32 are integrated. The term integrated with respect to the combined filling valves 31, 32, means that they are partially arranged inside the damper connection block 30. A part of the combined filling valves 31, 32 projects from the damper connection block 30, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0038] At their ends facing the damper 3, the hydraulic lines 11, 12 each comprise a line connection block 41, 42. A line shutoff member 43, 44 is integrated into each of the line connection blocks 41, 42. In this context, the term integrated also means that part of the line shutoff members 43, 44 are arranged in the respective line connection block 41, 42. Another part of the line shutoff organs 43, 44 project from the respective line connection block 41, 42, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0039] The hydraulic components 3 and 11, 12 of the hydraulic system 10 can be prefilled prior to assembly. In this case, the hydraulic components are advantageously sealed by means of the shutoff members 31, 32 and 43, 44. During assembly, the line connection blocks 41, 42, for example, are fixedly and tightly secured to the damper connection block 30 by means of screw connections. A fluid passage between the respective hydraulic line 11, 12 and the damper 3 is thereby sealed by the shutoff members 31, 32 and 43, 44. The intermediate volume 28 is released upon opening of the shutoff members 31, 32 and 43, 44.

[0040] As seen in FIG. 5, the line connection block 41 is provided at one end 49 of the hydraulic line 11. At the top of FIG. 5, the line shutoff member 43 projects from the line connection block 41. At the bottom of FIG. 5, a connection nipple 48 projects from the line connection block 41. The connection nipple 48 is used to connect the line connection block 41 to the damper connection block 30 in a hydraulically sealed manner.

[0041] During assembly, the line connection block 41 is releasably secured to the damper connection block 30 by means of the screw connection 45 (indicated only by dashes). The line shutoff member 43 is designed as a shutoff screw 46. The shutoff screw 46 can be manually actuated via an inner hexagonal tool 47.

[0042] The combined filling valves 31, 32 each comprise a damper shutoff member 33, which is designed as a shutoff screw. The combined filling valve 31, 32 also enables filling of the damper or hydraulic lines when connected to the damper.

[0043] It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the damper shutoff member 33 in the combined filling valve 31 is combined with a filling member 35. The damper shutoff member 33 is equipped as a shutoff screw 36 having an outer multi-edge profile 40. To constitute the filling member 35, the shutoff screw 36 is equipped with a central through-hole 37.

[0044] The central through-hole 37 is tightly sealed by a valve insert in the filling member 35. This valve insert counteracts the system pressure. The valve insert in the central through-hole 35 is protected from environmental factors by a sealing screw 38. The sealing screw 38 can therefore also be referred to as a dust protection cap. The sealing screw 38 can be actuated via an outer multi-edge profile 34.

[0045] The sealing screw 38 having the outer multi-edge profile 34 is designed to have a small diameter small enough that the outer multi-edge profile 40 can be reached with a tool, even when the closing screw 38 is assembled. In addition, the geometry of the combined filling valve 31 is selected such that a filling adapter can be attached, even in the closed position.

[0046] As seen in FIG. 6, the combined filling valve 31 projects far enough from the damper connection block 30 that both the outer multi-edge profile 40 and the outer multi-edge profile 34 are accessible by a suitable actuating tool.