BEARING SHOE FOR THE MOUNTING OF A LEAF SPRING END OF A LEAF SPRING

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a bearing shoe for mounting a leaf spring end of a leaf spring on a vehicle body of a motor vehicle, with a receiving recess configured to house the leaf spring end; a bearing opening configured to mount the bearing shoe on the vehicle body, wherein the bearing opening is confined by an inner wall; and an elastomer bearing disposed in the bearing opening, wherein the elastomer bearing comprises an inner sleeve and an elastomer disposed between the inner sleeve and the inner wall of the beating opening and directly contacts the inner wall of the bearing opening.

Claims

1. A bearing shoe for mounting a leaf spring end of a leaf spring on a vehicle body of a motor vehicle, comprising: a receiving recess configured to house the leaf spring end; a bearing opening configured to mount the bearing shoe on the vehicle body, wherein the bearing opening is confined by an inner wall; and an elastomer bearing disposed in the bearing opening, wherein the elastomer bearing comprises an inner sleeve and an elastomer disposed between the inner sleeve and the inner wall of the bearing opening and directly contacts the inner wall of the bearing opening.

2. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is cohesively bonded to the inner wall by means of a vulcanization bonding, or wherein the elastomer is pressed into the beating opening or wherein the elastomer is bonded to the inner wall in a. force-locking or form-fitting manner.

3. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is cohesively bonded to an outer wall of the inner sleeve.

4. The bearing shoe according to claim 3, wherein the outer wall of the inner sleeve is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins configured to prevent a twisting of the inner sleeve relative to the elastomer, or wherein the inner wall of the bearing opening is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins to prevent a twisting of an outer sleeve relative to the elastomer.

5. The bearing shoe according to claim 3, wherein the elastomer is fixed immovably in the bearing opening by over-molding or pressing onto the inner wall of the bearing opening or onto the outer wall of the inner sleeve.

6. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the bearing opening comprises one of a circular, a longitudinal, an oval, or a rectangular cross section.

7. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve comprises one of a circular, a longitudinal, an oval, or a rectangular cross section.

8. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve comprises a longitudinal cross section, wherein the bearing opening comprises a longitudinal cross section, wherein the inner sleeve is twistable relative to the bearing opening in the bearing opening by compression, of the elastomer, and wherein the elastomer is configured to exert an increasing counterforce counteracting the twisting, with increasing degree of twisting of the inner sleeve.

9. The hearing shoe according to claim 6, wherein the hearing opening is shaped longitudinally, and wherein a long axis of the bearing opening extends parallel or angled with respect to an extension direction of the receiving recess.

10. The bearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises a uniform thickness circumferentially, or wherein the elastomer comprises a first elastomer section with a first thickness and a second elastomer section with a second thickness circumferentially, wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are different.

11. The hearing shoe according to claim 10, wherein the first elastomer section faces the receiving recess, and wherein the second elastomer section connects to the first elastomer section circumferentially, wherein the first elastomer section and the second elastomer section are circumferentially adjacent elastomer sections.

12. The hearing shoe according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring end is insertable into the receiving recess and/or attachable to the receiving recess in a force-locking or clampable manner.

13. A leaf spring assembly, comprising: a leaf spring comprising a leaf spring end; and a hearing shoe configured to mount the leaf spring end on a vehicle body of a motor vehicle, wherein the bearing shoe comprises: a receiving recess configured to house the leaf spring end; a bearing opening configured to mount the bearing shoe on the vehicle body, wherein the bearing opening is confined by an inner wall; and an elastomer bearing disposed in the bearing opening, wherein the elastomer bearing comprises an inner sleeve and an elastomer disposed between the inner sleeve and the inner wall of the bearing opening and directly contacts the inner wall of the bearing opening.

14. The leaf spring assembly according to claim 13, wherein an outer wall of the inner sleeve is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins configured to prevent a twisting of the inner sleeve relative to the elastomer, or wherein the inner wall of the bearing opening is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins to prevent a twisting of an outer sleeve relative to the elastomer.

15. The leaf spring assembly according to claim 13, wherein an outer wall of the inner sleeve is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins to prevent a twisting of the inner sleeve relative to the elastomer, or wherein the inner wall of the bearing opening is contoured axially and comprises longitudinal grooves or longitudinal fins to prevent a twisting of an outer sleeve relative to the elastomer.

16. A method for manufacturing a bearing shoe for the mounting of a leaf spring end of a leaf spring on a vehicle body of a motor vehicle, comprising: providing a basic bearing shoe with a receiving recess configured to mount the leaf spring end and with a bearing opening configured to mount the bearing shoe on the vehicle body, wherein the beating opening is confined by an inner wall; inserting an inner sleeve into the bearing opening, wherein the inner sleeve comprises an outer wall; and introducing an elastomer between the inner sleeve and the inner wall of the bearing opening to create an elastomer bearing.

17. The method for manufacturing according to claim 16, wherein the elastomer is over-molded during a step of injecting onto the inner wall of the bearing opening and onto the outer wall of the inner sleeve.

18. The method for manufacturing according to claim 16, wherein the elastomer is vulcanized onto the inner wall of the bearing opening.

19. The method for manufacturing according to claim 16, wherein the elastomer is pressed into the bearing opening.

20. The method for manufacturing according to claim 16, wherein the elastomer is bonded in a force-locking, or form-fitting manner to the inner wall of the bearing opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Examples of the principles of this disclosure are described in detail in relation to the enclosed figures.

[0034] FIGS. 1-8 show examples of the bearing shoe;

[0035] FIG. 9 shows an inner sleeve;

[0036] FIG. 10 shows a bearing shoe cross section; and

[0037] FIGS. 11a and 11b show elastomer bearing cross sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a bearing shoe 100 for the mounting of a leaf spring end 101, illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1, of a leaf spring 103.

[0039] The bearing shoe 100 comprises a receiving recess 105 for the housing of the leaf spring end 103. The receiving recess 105 is confined by the opposing ridges 105-1, 105-2. which can for example define the receiving recess 105. The receiving recess 105 can be open laterally. The ridges 105-1, 105-2 can for example run parallel to each other so that the leaf spring end 101 is insertable into the receiving recess 105. In at least one of the ridges 105-1, 105-2 bores 105-3 can be provided which can serve for receiving the fastening screws for the force-locking attachment of the leaf spring end 101 in the receiving recess 105.

[0040] A bearing opening 107 which is confined by a bearing sleeve 109 is arranged downstream of the receiving recess 105. The bearing sleeve 109 can comprise a cylindrical form and have for example a circular cross section. The bearing opening 107 is confined by the inner wall 111 of the bearing sleeve 109. An elastomer bearing 113 with an elastomer 115 is arranged inside the bearing opening 107. The elastomer 115 is bonded cohesively to the inner wall 111 of the bearing opening 107, for example by means of a vulcanization bonding and/or by pressing into the bearing opening 107. Thereby the elastomer bearing 113 is integrated into the bearing shoe 100.

[0041] Furthermore, the elastomer 115 can surround an inner sleeve 117 whose outer wall 119 can cohesively be bonded, for example by means of a vulcanization bonding or by in-pressing, to the elastomer 115. Moreover, the outer wall 119 of the inner sleeve 117 can comprise longitudinal profiles, which are not shown in FIG. 1, and which extend in the direction of longitudinal extension of the inner sleeve 117.

[0042] The inner sleeve 117 serves as a housing of a bearing bolt, not shown in Fig with which the bearing shoe 100 can be mounted on a vehicle body, not shown in FIG. 1 for example a vehicle body component.

[0043] The bearing shoe 100 further comprises a balance groove 121 which is formed in the bearing sleeve 109 between the ridges 105-1, 105-2. A circumference of the bearing opening 107 can be reduced by the balance groove 121 to account for a shrinking of the elastomer 115 after vulcanization.

[0044] The bearing shoe 100 shown in FIG. 1 can for example be intended for a rear mounting of the leaf spring end 101.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows one example of the bearing shoe 100, which can be intended for a front mounting of the leaf spring end 101.

[0046] The bearing shoe 100 depicted in FIG. 2 comprises, according to one example, an impact area 201, which is disposed between the receiving recess 105 and the sleeve-shaped bearing sleeve 1109. The impact area 201 serves for example to receive impact energy and is optional.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the bearing shoe 100 depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 along the central longitudinal axis 301. The elastomer 115 is disposed between the inner sleeve 117 and the bearing sleeve 109 and comprises optional side collars 303, which engage at least partially around the front walls 109-1, 109-2 of the bearing sleeve 109. The bearing sleeve 109 is thereby at least partially protected from lateral impacts.

[0048] The elastomer 115 can circumferentially comprise a constant thickness. According to one example the elastomer 115 can circumferentially vary in thickness. This example is shown in FIG. 4 as an illustration of the bearing shoe 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The radial thicknesses a, b, c, d of the elastomer 115 depicted in FIG. 4 can be equal however they do not have to be all equal.

[0049] According to one example the thickness a and d, on the one hand, as well as the thicknesses b and c, on the other hand, can respectively be equal. The thickness b of the elastomer section 401 facing the receiving recess 105 can, however, be smaller than the thickness a of the second elastomer section 403 adjoining the first elastomer section 401. For example the bearing stiffness in a spring longitudinal direction can thus be increased.

[0050] According to one example the thickness b of the first elastomer section 401 can be greater than the thickness a of the second elastomer section 403. A softer tuning is thereby achieved, which can possibly lead to more comfort.

[0051] Moreover, in FIG. 4, longitudinal grooves 405 are illustratively depicted, which are formed in the inner wall 107 of the beating sleeve 109. These examples are illustratively shown in the subsequent figures.

[0052] In FIG. 5, one example of the bearing shoe 100 is shown, in which the bearing opening 107 is formed ovally and/or in the direction of an oblong hole. A long axis of the bearing opening 107 extends, for example, in the direction of the X-axis 505, which for example forms the horizontal axis. The X-axis 505 is perpendicular to the Z-axis 507, which can form a vertical axis.

[0053] In the illustrative example shown in FIG. 5, the inner sleeve 117 has a circular cross section. The elastomer 115 with an oval form in the bearing opening 107 has thus elastomer sections which have different thicknesses, for example first elastomer sections 509 and second elastomer sections 511, which are respectively disposed opposite to each other. The first elastomer sections 509 can for example be thicker than the second elastomer sections 511, whereby for example more suspension comfort is achieved, The first elastomer sections 509 can, however, be less thick than the second elastomer sections 511, whereby the bearing stiffness is increased.

[0054] The bearing shoe shown in FIG. 5 can for example be intended for the front mounting of the leaf spring end 101.

[0055] In FIG. 6 one example of the bearing shoe 100 for the rear mounting of the leaf spring end 105 is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the bearing opening 107 is formed in the shape of the oblong hole depicted in FIG. 5 whose long axis extends in the direction of the X-axis 505.

[0056] In FIG. 7 a cross section through the bearing shoe 100 is shown in which, as opposed to the example shown in FIG. 5, the bearing opening 107 is formed ovally with a long axis which extends in direction of the Z-axis 507.

[0057] FIG. 8 a cross section through the bearing shoe 100 is shown in which, as opposed to the example shown in FIG. 6, the bearing opening 107 is formed ovally with a long axis which extends in direction of the Z-axis 507.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner sleeve 117 can have a circular cross section. According to one example the inner sleeve 117 can circumferentially have an oval cross section which follows the oval form of the bearing opening 107. This example is illustratively shown in FIG. 7. In contrast to the examples of the bearing shoe 100 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the long axis of the bearing shoe shown in FIG. 7 extends in the direction of the Z-axis 507 also for example in the vertical direction.

[0059] The inner sleeve 117 thereby has an oval outer shape, wherein the bearing bore 701 of the inner sleeve 117 can have a circular cross section. The inner sleeve 117 can thereby circumferentially have different thicknesses as shown in FIG. 9.

[0060] The inner sleeve 117 depicted in FIG. 9 comprises opposing first sleeve sections 901-1, 901-2 which are thicker than the lateral sections 903-1, 903-2 which are disposed along the X-axis 507 in the installed position.

[0061] In FIG. 10 a cross section through the bearing shoe 100 according to the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown. For example, a circumferentially constant thickness of the elastomer 115, as shown in FIG. 7, follows from the oval profile of the outer contour and/or the inner sleeve 117.

[0062] In FIG. 11a and 11b a cross section through the elastomer bearing 113 is shown. The inner sleeve 117 and the bearing opening 107 have an elongated cross section which is rectangular with rounded corners, as shown in FIG. 11a and 11b. The inner sleeve 117 is twistable in the bearing opening 107 by deformation, for example compression, of the elastomer 115 relative to the bearing opening 107. With an increasing degree of twisting of the inner sleeve 117, the elastomer 115 is increasingly compressed, whereby an increasing counter force, for example a counter force counteracting the twisting, is exerted. A progressively increasing bearing stiffness can thereby be achieved.

[0063] The inner sleeve 117 is for example bolted to a vehicle body. With a spring compression/deflection of the wheel, the elastomer 115, which can be a rubber material, twists. Tension in the elastomer is thereby built up so that the more the inner sleeve 117 twists relative to the bearing shoe 100, the stiffer the elastomer bearing 113 gets. Consequently, an elastomer beating 113 with a progressive stiffness is obtained. The progression occurs when the bearing opening 107 (bearing eye) and the inner sleeve 117 are elongated for example similarly oval or rectangular. The longitudinal axes of the oval forms can thereby extend perpendicular, i.e. in direction of the Z-axis 507. Such a mounting can be provided in the front as well as in the rear bearing shoe 100 or in both bearing shoes 100 so that the tension can advantageously be distributed over two bearing shoes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0064] 100 bearing shoe

[0065] 101 leaf spring end

[0066] 103 leaf spring

[0067] 105 receiving recess

[0068] 105-1 ridge

[0069] 105-2 ridge

[0070] 107 bearing opening

[0071] 109 walling

[0072] 109-1 front wall

[0073] 109-2 front wall

[0074] 111 inner wall

[0075] 113 elastomer bearing

[0076] 115 elastomer

[0077] 117 inner sleeve

[0078] 119 outer wall

[0079] 121 balance groove

[0080] 201 impact area

[0081] 301 central longitudinal axis

[0082] 303 side collar

[0083] 401 first elastomer section

[0084] 403 second elastomer section

[0085] 405 longitudinal groove

[0086] 505 X-axis

[0087] 507 Z-axis

[0088] 509 first elastomer section

[0089] 511 second elastomer section

[0090] 701 bearing sleeve

[0091] 901-1 sleeve section

[0092] 901-2 sleeve section

[0093] 903-1 side section

[0094] 903-2 side section

[0095] a, b, c, d thickness