Wheel-guiding forward axle air spring strut
A wheel-guiding forward axle spring strut includes a spring and a shock absorber ( 6 ) integrated axially therein. The spring includes two end members ( 8, 10 ) and a spring element is disposed between these end members. The shock absorber ( 6 ) includes a shock absorber cylinder ( 20 ) and a shock absorber rod ( 18 ) connected to the chassis ( 24 ) via a non-rotatable shock absorber bearing ( 22 ) The end member ( 8 ) is connected by a rotational bearing ( 28 ) to the chassis. The lower spring end member ( 10 ) is fixedly connected to the shock absorber cylinder ( 20 ) and thereby in common to the forward axle. The upper spring end member is an air spring cover and the lower spring end member is an air spring piston ( 10 ) and an air spring flexible member ( 12 ) is mounted between the cover ( 8 ) and the piston ( 10 ) so as to be pressure-tight and tension-tight. The bearing ( 28 ) and a seal ( 30 ) are arranged between the air spring cover ( 8 ) and the non-rotatable component The bearing ( 28 ) and the seal ( 30 ) can be loaded in rotation in correspondence to a wheel moved to steer a vehicle.
1. A forward axle air spring strut for guiding a wheel in a motor vehicle having a chassis, the air spring strut comprising:
an air spring including: an air spring cover defining a longitudinal axis; an air spring piston; and, an air spring flexible member connected pressure-tight and tension-tight between said air spring cover and said air spring piston;
a shock absorber integrated axially into said air spring;
said shock absorber including: a shock absorber cylinder; and, a shock absorber rod axially displaceable and rotatable in said shock absorber cylinder;
a non-rotatable elastic support connected to said chassis and said shock absorber rod being articulately connected to said chassis via said non-rotatable elastic support;
said non-rotatable elastic support and said air spring cover conjointly defining an interface;
a rotational bearing for connecting said air spring to said chassis separately from said shock absorber;
said rotational bearing being mounted at said interface so as to permit said air spring to rotate about said longitudinal axis relative to said non-rotatable support and said shock absorber;
a seal also mounted at said interface;
said rotational bearing and said seal being mounted so that said bearing and said seal can be subjected to torsion when the wheel is turned for steering said motor vehicle;
said cover, said piston and said air spring flexible member conjointly defining a pressure space;
said seal being mounted above said rotational bearing; and,
said rotational bearing being mounted in said pressure space of said air spring.
2. The air spring strut of claim 1 , wherein said seal is configured as an annular element having a circular cross section.
3. The air spring strut of claim 1 , wherein said seal is configured as a shaft seal.
4. The air spring strut of claim 1 , wherein said rotational bearing is a plastic slide bearing.
5. The air spring strut of claim 4 , wherein said seal is integrated into said slide bearing.
6. A forward axle air spring strut for guiding a wheel in a motor vehicle having a chassis, the air spring strut comprising:
an air spring including: an air spring cover defining a longitudinal axis; an air spring piston; and, an air spring flexible member connected pressure-tight and tension-tight between said air spring cover and said air spring piston;
a shock absorber integrated axially into said air spring;
said shock absorber including: a shock absorber cylinder; and, a shock absorber rod axially displaceable and rotatable in said shock absorber cylinder;
a housing fixedly connected to said chassis;
an elastic support non-rotatably seated in said housing so as to be non-rotatable with respect to said housing and said chassis;
said shock absorber rod being articulately connected to said chassis via said non-rotatable support and said housing;
said housing and said air spring cover conjointly defining an interface;
a rotational bearing for connecting said air spring to said chassis separately from said shock absorber via said housing;
said rotational bearing being mounted at said interface so as to permit said air spring to rotate about said longitudinal axis relative to said non-rotatable support and said shock absorber;
a seal also mounted at said interface;
said rotational bearing and said seal being mounted so that said bearing and said seal can be subjected to torsion when the wheel is turned for steering said motor vehicle;
said cover, said piston and said air spring flexible member conjointly defining a pressure space;
said seal being mounted above said rotational bearing; and,
said rotational bearing being mounted in said pressure space of said air spring.
7. The air spring strut of claim 6 , wherein said seal is configured as an annular element having a circular cross section.
8. The air spring strut of claim 6 , wherein said seal is configured as a shaft seal.
9. The air spring strut of claim 6 , wherein said rotational bearing is a plastic slide bearing.
10. The air spring strut of claim 9 , wherein said seal is integrated into said slide bearing.