IP Library Granted Patent US 12,358,348
Granted Patent B2
US 12,358,348 · App. 18/284,100 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Bearing assembly for supporting a unit of a motor vehicle on a structural component of the motor vehicle

Inventors: Frank Albertz (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, DE); Peter Genender (Woerthsee, DE); Ulrich Theuersbacher (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60H1/3229F16C27/00
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 12,358,348
App. No.
18/284,100
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bearing assembly for supporting a unit of a motor vehicle on a structural component of the motor vehicle includes four bearings with an elastic center. The four bearings are arranged on the structural component of the motor vehicle such that the elastic centers of the bearings together define a two-dimensional surface on which the center of mass of the unit to be supported is located.

Claims (29)

1. A bearing assembly for supporting a unit of a motor vehicle on a structural component of the motor vehicle, comprising:

four bearings, each with an elastic center,

wherein the four bearings are arrangeable on the structural component of the motor vehicle such that the elastic centers thereof together span a two-dimensional area in which a center of mass of the unit to be supported is located;

wherein the spanned two-dimensional area comprises two axes of symmetry running orthogonally with respect to one another and intersecting at the center of mass of the unit to be supported;

wherein the four bearings have a same bearing stiffness; and

wherein the unit is connected directly to the structural component via the four bearings.

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

respective ones of the four bearings which lie opposite one another in relation to the center of mass of the unit to be supported are attached to the same structural component of the motor vehicle.

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the four bearings are attached to the same structural component of the motor vehicle.

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a sum of the bearing locations is an even number.

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the two-dimensional area is a rectangle, a square, a rhombus or a polygon with an even number of corners.

6. A bearing assembly for supporting a unit of a motor vehicle on a structural component of the motor vehicle, comprising:

four bearings, each with an elastic center,

wherein the four bearings are arrangeable on the structural component of the motor vehicle such that the elastic centers thereof together span a two-dimensional area in which a center of mass of the unit to be supported is located;

wherein the four bearings are arranged with their elastic centers spanning a two-dimensional area which comprises at least two axes of symmetry with respect to the unit, and which run orthogonally with respect to one another, and which intersect at the center of mass of the unit,

wherein a first bearing of the four bearings is arranged, relative to the other bearings of the four bearings, displaced in the direction of the center of mass of the unit or away from the center of mass of the unit,

wherein the bearing stiffness of the four bearings is designed such that oscillations of the vehicle structure that are produced by forces which are introduced into the vehicle structure by way of the bearing assembly and which result from a rotational movement of the unit cancel one another out; and

wherein the unit is connected directly to the structural component via the four bearings.

7. The bearing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

the bearing stiffness of the four bearings is greater the closer they are to the center of mass of the unit.

8. The bearing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

respective ones of the four bearings which lie opposite one another in relation to the center of mass of the unit to be supported are attached to the same structural component of the motor vehicle.

9. The bearing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

the four bearings are attached to the same structural component of the motor vehicle.

10. The bearing assembly according to claim 8 , wherein a sum of the bearing locations is an even number.

11. The bearing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

the two-dimensional area is a rectangle, a square, a rhombus or a polygon with an even number of corners.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2023
From: ALBERTZ, FRANK; GENENDER, PETER; THEUERSBACHER, ULRICH
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 065052/0763 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 114 991.6 · Jun 10, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240149646A1 · May 9, 2024
References Cited (39)
US 2086370A · Taub · 1937 [cited by applicant]
US 3841426A · Nemschoff · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 5839295A · Lehmann · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 7018102B1 · Brotz · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 9045029B2 · Mair et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10048599B2 · Peijster · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20040172942A1 · Gregory · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20070151819A1 · Schmidt et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20110085152A1 · Nishino et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110210631A1 · Siegl · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20140138171A1 · Mair et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140190189A1 · Kowsky et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140217664A1 · Willems · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150122452A1 · Iino et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150122970A1 · Platus · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150369326A1 · Modrezejewski · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180339716A1 · Tanaka · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20210080835A1 · Jacobs · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20230332607A1 · Shibata et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240175478A1 · Albertz et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CA 2249311A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
DE 2358103A · 1974 [cited by applicant]
DE 20020829U1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
DE 69713579T2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011080037A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018131998A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 0891886B1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 9123770A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP 9150635A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006070558A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
U.S. Non-Final Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 18/284,103 dated Jun. 20, 2024 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2022/064311 dated Oct. 25, 2022 with English translation (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2022/064311 dated Oct. 25, 2022 with English translation (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Search Report issued in German Application No. 10 2021 114 991.6 dated Mar. 22, 2022 with partial English translation (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2022/064312 dated Oct. 25, 2022 with English translation (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2022/064312 dated Oct. 25, 2022 with English translation (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Search Report issued in German Application No. 10 2021 114 994.0 dated Mar. 22, 2022 with partial English translation (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
Dahl., “Die Kopplungsfreie, Elastische Lagerung von Motoren mit Hilfe von Gummielementen”, Dipl.-Ing. M. Dahl, Continental-Gummi-Werke A.G., 1969, pp. 266-271, vol. 8, (6 pages). [cited by applicant]
U.S. Notice of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 18/284,103 dated Nov. 13, 2024 (9 pages) [cited by applicant]