HOLDER FOR A SUSPENSION STRUT

Abstract

A holder (1) for a shock-absorber element, in particular for a suspension strut of a motor vehicle. The holder has a supporting mounting (7) for the shock-absorber element. The holder (1) and the supporting mounting (7) are made integrally with one another as an organic sheet component (1a).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A holder (1) for a shock-absorber element of a motor vehicle, the holder comprising: a supporting mounting (7) for the shock-absorber element, the holder (1) and the supporting mounting (7) being made integrally as an organic sheet component (1a).

12. The holder (1) according to claim 11, wherein an area of the organic sheet component (1a), that forms the supporting mounting (7), is made elastically resilient in a direction of a spring deflection of the shock-absorber element held in the holder (1).

13. The holder (1) according to claim 11, wherein an area of the organic sheet component (1a) forming the supporting mounting (7) has an uneven surface.

14. The holder (1) according to claim 13, wherein the area of the organic sheet component (1a), forming the supporting mounting (7), is either circular or annular and has an undulating surface, with undulations running concentrically around a mid-point of the area of the organic sheet component of the holder (1) that forms the supporting mounting (7).

15. The holder (1) according to claim 13, wherein the area of the organic sheet component (1a), forming the supporting mounting (7), is either circular or annular and has at least one corrugation (8), which runs concentrically around a mid-point of the area of the organic sheet component of the holder (1) that forms the supporting mounting (7).

16. The holder (1) according to claim 11, wherein a rigidity of an area of the organic sheet component (1a), forming the supporting mounting (7), is lower than a rigidity of at least one other area of the organic sheet component (1a).

17. The holder (1) according to claim 11, wherein the organic sheet component (1a) has two different reinforcing fibers such that an area of the organic sheet component (1a), forming the supporting mounting (7), contains fibers which are less rigid than reinforcing fibers present in at least one other area of the organic sheet component (1a).

18. The holder (1) according to claim 17, wherein the more rigid reinforcing fibers are in a form of at least one of carbon fibers and graphite fibers.

19. The holder (1) according to claim 11, wherein a plastic inner component is injected onto an inner side of the holder (1) such that the plastic inner component coats the inner side of the holder (1).

28. The holder (1) according to claim 19, wherein the plastic inner component comprises at least one of: at least one reinforcing rib (15); or at least one cable guide (16).

21. A holder for a motor vehicle suspension strut which moves in a spring deflection direction, the holder comprising: an outer wall having a first wall section and a second wall section, the first wall section having a supporting mount which supports an end of the suspension strut such that the spring deflection direction is substantially perpendicular to the first wall section, the supporting mount having concentric undulations which alter a spring function of the holder, and the supporting mount and at least the first wall section of the outer wall being integrally formed from an organic sheet component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Below, an example embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the drawings, which illustrate in schematic form:

[0021] FIG. 1: A perspective view of the outside of a suspension strut holder according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG, 2: A perspective view of the inside of the suspension strut holder shown in FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3: A cross-section through the suspension strut holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A suspension strut holder 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an outer wall 2, which has a first section 3 extending transversely to the spring deflection of a suspension strut and a second section 4 that extends almost perpendicularly thereto. Between the first and second sections 3, 4 there are lateral sections 5, which increases the rigidity of the suspension strut holder 1. The first and second sections 3, 4 have assembly aids 6 by means of which the suspension strut holder 1 can be fixed onto transverse or longitudinal support members (not shown) of a body of a motor vehicle.

[0025] Into the first section 3 is integrated a suspension strut supporting mounting 7, i.e. the outer wall 2 of the suspension strut holder 1 and the suspension strut supporting mounting 7 are made integrally from organic sheet and form an organic sheet component 1a. The suspension strut supporting mounting 7 comprises a wall 9 provided with corrugations 8, the corrugations 8 extending concentrically around a through-hole 10 for a piston rod 11 of the suspension strut. In other words, the wall 9 has an uneven, in particular undulating surface with the corrugations running concentrically around the through-hole 10. When the piston rod 11 moves along the spring deflection direction, this structure supports expansion and contraction of the wall 9. Thus, by virtue of the corrugations 8, the spring properties of the suspension strut supporting mounting 7 can be influenced or adjusted.

[0026] Furthermore, the suspension strut holder 1 comprises a compression buffer 12 in a stop pot 13. The compression buffer 12 serves as an end stop for the spring deflection and is designed to be compressed in the stop pot 13.

[0027] On the inside of the suspension strut holder 1 is arranged a plastic injection-molded component 14. The injection-molded component 14 covers the whole inner side of the outer wall 2. In the area of the suspension strut supporting mounting the injection-molded component 14 has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 15 perpendicular to one another. The injection molded component 14 also comprises connecting or assembly components such as cable guides 16, and in addition ridge-like webs 17 that extend parallel to the lateral sections 5. Between the lateral sections 5 and the webs 17 are arranged metallic inserts 18 with additional assembly aids.

[0028] In addition the suspension strut holder 1 comprises a thrust bearing 19 for a spring (not shown) of the suspension strut. The thrust bearing 19 consists of plastic and is arranged on the inside of the section 3 in a cover-like pressure distributor 20 made of metal. The pressure distributor can be screwed to the outer wall 2 in the area of the first section. In the thrust bearing 19 is arranged a ball bearing 21, which in a McPherson front axle serves to enable steering movements relative to a fixed body connection.

INDEXES

[0029] 1 Suspension strut holder, holder [0030] 1a Organic sheet component [0031] 2 Outer wall [0032] 3 First section [0033] 4 Second section [0034] 5 Lateral section [0035] 6 Assembly aids [0036] 7 Suspension strut supporting mounting [0037] 8 Corrugations [0038] 9 Wall [0039] 10 Through-hole [0040] 11 Piston rod [0041] 12 Compression buffer [0042] 13 Stop pot [0043] 14 Injection-molded connect [0044] 15 Reinforcing ribs [0045] 16 Cable guides [0046] 17 Ridge-like webs [0047] 18 Metal inserts [0048] 19 Thrust bearing [0049] 20 Pressure distributor [0050] 21 Ball bearing