IP Library Granted Patent US 6,951,341
Granted Patent B1
US 6,951,341 · App. 09/980,898 · Granted Oct 4, 2005

Stabilizer for a motor vehicle

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,951,341
App. No.
09/980,898
Granted
Oct 4, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

The invention relates to a stabilizer for a motor vehicle. Known one-piece stabilizers are designed either solely for operation in road traffic or solely for off-road operation. Two-piece stabilizers that comprise an engaging and disengaging clutch have disadvantages regarding quality and safety. The invention provides a clutch, drivers ( 14, 17 ) of which form at least two adjustable gaps in the peripheral direction. The gaps can be filled by at least two locking elements ( 25 ) that can be displaced to a certain extent. The locking elements ( 25 ) and said drivers ( 14, 17 ) are constantly in positive engagement with one another in the peripheral direction and are adjusted to one another in such a manner that the locking elements ( 25 ) and the drivers ( 14, 17 ) are interlocked without play in the locked final position and that they can be rotated towards one another across a limited angle in the unlocked final position.

Claims (48)

1. Stabilizer for a motor vehicle comprising two stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) aligned parallel to an axle ( 2 ), wherein the stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) are each connected at a wheel suspension of one wheel ( 1 ) and to a vehicle body through a bearing position ( 6 ) and wherein the two stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) are connectable to each other through a switchable and shape matching coupling, characterized in that

the coupling is furnished with at least one first catch ( 14 ) and with at least one second catch ( 17 ), wherein the two catches form at least two changeable intermediate spaces in a circumferential direction, and

the intermediate spaces can be filled by at least two locking elements ( 25 ) shiftable to a limited extent for force transmission, wherein

the locking elements ( 25 ) and the catches ( 14 , 17 ) are standing in continuous positive covering in circumferential direction and are tuned to each other such that the locking elements ( 25 ) and the catches ( 14 , 17 ) are geared to each other without play in a locked end position and are standing in positive covering relative to each other in a released end position and are rotatable relative to each other over a limited angle region in the released end position.

2. Stabilizer according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first catch ( 14 ) and the at least one second catch ( 17 ) are disposed fixed and non-relocatable relative to the stabilizer part in a direction parallel to the axle ( 2 ).

3. Stabilizer for a motor vehicle comprising two stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) aligned parallel to an axle ( 2 ), wherein the stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) are each connected at a wheel suspension of one wheel ( 1 ) and to a vehicle body through a bearing position ( 6 ) and wherein the two stabilizer parts ( 4 , 5 ) are connectable to each other through a switchable and shape matching coupling, characterized in that

the coupling is furnished with at least one first catch ( 14 ) and with at least one second catch ( 17 ), wherein the two catches form at least two changeable intermediate spaces in a circumferential direction, and

the intermediate spaces can be filled by at least two locking elements ( 25 ) shiftable to a limited extent for force transmission, wherein

the locking elements ( 25 ) and the catches ( 14 , 17 ) are standing in continuous positive covering in circumferential direction and are tuned to each other such that the locking elements ( 25 ) and the catches ( 14 , 17 ) are geared to each other without play in a locked end position and are standing in positive covering relative to each other in a released end position and are rotatable relative to each other over a limited angle region in the released end position, and wherein

the catches ( 14 , 17 ) are directed radially inwardly and are disposed in a radial plane and wherein the locking elements ( 25 ) are associated with a pressure loaded locking piston ( 18 ), wherein the catches ( 14 , 17 ) and the locking piston ( 18 ) are disposed on a common axis.

4. Stabilizer according to claim 3 characterized in that side contact faces of the catches ( 14 , 17 ) and the locking element ( 25 ) are formed as conical faces ( 26 ) with a smaller angle and wherein radial stops are formed at the catches ( 14 , 17 ) for the locking element ( 25 ).

5. Stabilizer according to claim 4 characterized in that the radial stops are disposed at free ends of the catches ( 14 , 17 ).

6. Stabilizer according to claim 5 characterized in that conical faces ( 27 ) with a larger angle are furnished as radial stops, wherein the axial length of the conical faces ( 27 ) with a larger angle are smaller relative to the length of the conical faces ( 26 ) with a smaller angle.

7. Stabilizer according to claim 6 characterized in that the conical faces ( 26 ) with the smaller angle have an angle which maintains an axial force component of a radial introduced outer force smaller than a force acting on a floor side of the locking piston ( 18 ).

8. Stabilizer according to claim 7 characterized in that the catches ( 14 , 17 ) and the locking piston ( 18 ) are disposed in a common cylindrical casing ( 8 ), wherein the at least one second catch ( 17 ) is formed at the casing ( 8 ) and wherein the at least one first catch ( 14 ) is formed at a shaft ( 15 ) supported in the casing ( 8 ) and penetrating to the outside and wherein the locking piston ( 18 ) separates the internal space of the cylindrical casing ( 8 ) into a compression spring chamber ( 19 ) and an oppositely disposed pressure chamber ( 20 ).

9. Stabilizer according to claim 8 characterized in that a floor ( 9 ) of the cylindrical casing ( 8 ) on the side of the compression spring is formed as a stroke limitation for the locking piston ( 18 ). fixed and non-relocatable relative to the stabilizer part in a direction parallel to the axle ( 2 ).

10. Stabilizer according to claim 3 characterized in that the locking piston ( 18 ) is charged by a compression spring ( 21 ) in the direction of the catches ( 14 , 17 ) and is impactable by a pressure medium in an opposite direction.

11. Stabilizer according to claim 10 characterized in that the compression spring is supported by a hydraulic force.

12. A stabilizer for a motor vehicle comprising a first stabilizer part ( 4 ) aligned parallel to an axle ( 2 ), wherein the first stabilizer part ( 4 ) is to be connected at a first wheel suspension of a first wheel ( 1 ) and to a vehicle body through a first bearing position ( 6 ); a second stabilizer part ( 5 ) aligned parallel to the axle ( 2 ), wherein the second stabilizer part ( 5 ) is to be connected at a second wheel suspension of a second wheel ( 1 ) and to the vehicle body through a second bearing position ( 6 );

a switchable and shape matching coupling for connecting the first stabilizer part ( 4 ) to the second stabilizer part ( 5 );

a first catch ( 14 ) furnished at the coupling;

a second catch ( 17 ) furnished at the coupling, wherein the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 ) form a first changeable intermediate space in a circumferential direction and a second changeable intermediate space in a circumferential direction;

a first locking element ( 25 ) filling the first changeable intermediate space and shiftable to a limited extent in a direction parallel to the axle ( 2 ) for force transmission;

a second locking element ( 25 ) filling the second changeable intermediate space and shiftable to a limited extent in a direction parallel to the axle ( 2 ) for force transmission, wherein

the first locking element ( 25 ), the second locking element ( 25 ), the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 ) are standing in continuous positive overlap in a circumferential direction and are tuned to each other such that the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second locking element ( 25 ) are geared to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) without play in a locked end position and wherein the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second locking element ( 25 ) are standing in positive overlap relative to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) in a released end position and wherein the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second locking element ( 25 ) are rotatable relative to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) over a limited angle region in the released end position.

13. The stabilizer according to claim 12 further comprising

a stroke limitation ( 31 ) furnished to the second stabilizer part ( 5 ) for limiting shifting of the first locking element ( 25 ) to the released end position.

14. The stabilizer according to claim 12 further comprising

a compression spring ( 21 ) biasing the first locking element ( 25 ) toward the locked end position.

15. The stabilizer according to claim 12 further comprising

a cylindrical casing ( 8 ) surrounding the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second locking element ( 25 );

a pressure chamber ( 20 ) formed between the first locking element ( 25 ) and the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 );

a pressure spring chamber ( 19 ) disposed between the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second stabilizer part ( 5 );

an outer sealing element ( 24 ) for hydraulically sealing the pressure chamber ( 20 ) against the pressure spring chamber ( 19 ).

16. The stabilizer according to claim 12 further comprising

a cylindrical casing ( 8 ) surrounding the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second locking element ( 25 );

a pressure chamber ( 20 ) formed between the first locking element ( 25 ) and the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 );

a pressure spring chamber ( 19 ) disposed between the first locking element ( 25 ) and the second stabilizer part ( 5 );

an inner sealing element ( 24 ) for hydraulically sealing the pressure chamber ( 20 ) against the pressure spring chamber ( 19 ).

17. A stabilizer for a motor vehicle comprising

a first stabilizer part ( 4 ) aligned parallel to an axle ( 2 ), wherein the first stabilizer part ( 4 ) is to be connected at a first wheel suspension of a first wheel ( 1 ) and to a vehicle body through a first bearing position ( 6 );

a second stabilizer part ( 5 ) aligned parallel to the axle ( 2 ), wherein the second stabilizer part ( 5 ) is to be connected at a second wheel suspension of a second wheel ( 1 ) and to the vehicle body through a second bearing position ( 6 );

a switchable and shape matching coupling for connecting the first stabilizer part ( 4 ) to the second stabilizer part ( 5 );

a first catch ( 14 ) furnished at the coupling;

a second catch ( 17 ) furnished at the coupling, wherein the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 ) form a first changeable intermediate space in a circumferential direction and a second changeable intermediate space in a circumferential direction;

a first locking element ( 25 ) filling the first changeable intermediate space and shiftable to a limited extent in a direction parallel to the axle ( 2 ) for force transmission;

wherein

the first locking element ( 25 ), the first catch ( 14 ) and the second catch ( 17 ) are standing in continuous positive overlap in a circumferential direction and are tuned to each other such that the first locking element ( 25 ) is geared to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) without play in a locked end position and wherein the first locking element ( 25 ) in standing in positive overlap relative to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) in a released end position and wherein the first locking element ( 25 ) is rotatable relative to the first catch ( 14 ) and to the second catch ( 17 ) over a limited angle region in the released end position.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2004
From: PNP LUFTDERSYSTEME GMBH
To: ZF LEMFORCLER METAILWAREN AG
Reel/Frame 016059/0863 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2003
From: PNP LUFTFEDERSYSTEME GMBH
To: ZF LEMFORDER METALLWAREN AG
Reel/Frame 014078/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2002
From: BEETZ, STEFAN; REICHEL, KLAUS
To: PNP LUFTFEDERSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 012593/0569 →