Tension stop limit holder for a vibration damper

Details Tension stop limit holder for a vibration damper Tension stop limit holder for a vibration damper

1999-07-22

2001-08-07

Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)

Brakes

Internal-resistance motion retarder

Including means connecting thrust member to load

C188S322190, C267S220000, C280S124145

Reexamination Certificate

active

06269920

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a tension stop limit holder for limiting the extension of a vibration damper of a vehicle suspension.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art vibration damper, more specifically a spring strut for a motor vehicle suspension, is disclosed in German reference DE 195 47 591 A1 with an essentially U-shaped tension stop limit holder which is fastened to a container tube of the vibration damper and which contacts a supporting surface on the body side of the vibration damper during a rebound or deflection of a vehicle axle. The prior art tension stop limit holder comprises a base plate with side walls and the entire tension stop limit holder is formed of an individual bent part. The base plate, in its blank state, has an elongation relative to the side walls which is shaped, as a finished part, in such a way that the elongation extends between the side walls proceeding from the base plate as a back plate. Reference is also had in this connection to German reference DE 43 21 036 A1 and PCT reference WO 91/06438 which show prior art variations of this device.
The construction of the prior art tension stop limit holder according to DE 195 47 591 has a cutout which is adapted to the outer contour of the container tube of the vibration damper. A stop plate is additionally provided proceeding from the base plate which contacts the container tube in the installed position of the tension stop limit holder. A number of difficulties arise with respect to assembly of this prior art device. For one, the prior art tension stop limit holder must be clamped to the container tube for the process of welding to the container tube. The tension stop limit holder will not maintain its intended position by its own weight. Further, only a weld with a weld thickness a determined by the sheet metal thickness of the tension stop limit holder can be used.
Vehicle axles are very often outfitted with a stabilizer. Another problem in the prior art references is that a stabilizer link must be provided which is fastened to the vibration damper for this stabilizer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a tension stop limit holder which solves the problem aspects of the prior art.
According to the invention, this object is met in that at least one of the side walls has a stabilizer receptacle for connection to a stabilizer link. The inventive tension stop limit holder has several advantages. The receptacle is generally a punched opening which may be used for a holding pin for the welding device. In contrast, the prior art tension stop limit holders sometimes have surfaces which extend at a slight inclination and which can be used as clamping surfaces only under very specific conditions.
Further, the stabilizer receptacle economically obviates the need for a separate stabilizer holder. Comparison measurements have shown that a reduction in mass of about 130 g per vibration damper may be achieved.
In addition, an exact alignment of the stabilizer with respect to the vehicle axle is achieved. In the case of extreme deflection movements of the vehicle axle—e.g., when the vehicle is lifted on a lifting platform or car lift—the tension stop limit holder limits the deflection movement, in principle, in that the tension stop limit holder contacts a stop which is in a fixed position relative to the vehicle body. This stop is in turn a component part of the non-springing part of the vehicle axle. When the tension stop limit holder is exactly aligned with the vehicle axle, the stabilizer link is positioned in one work step. The punched openings can be carried out in a very precise manner.
To minimize expenditure on different tension stop limit holders for the left and right sides of the vehicle, both side walls may include a receptacle. Therefore, one construction can be used for both installation positions of the vibration damper. In addition, a second fastening point for the welding device is achieved, making possible an extremely accurate alignment of the tension stop limit holder.
In an optional embodiment, at least one side wall has an elongation in which the receptacle is formed. The advantage of this embodiment is that a fastening screw for the stabilizer in the receptacle is accessible from the bottom and from the top because the base plate does not block access.
Depending on the axle construction, it may be necessary to arrange the stabilizer spaced to the side relative to the tension stop limit holder. For such applications, the elongation extends radially with respect to a contour of the base plate.
In order to strengthen the tension stop limit holder with respect to the introduction of force via the stabilizer, a connection piece may be provided between the radially extending elongation and the side wall.
Strength is increased in particular in that the connection piece extends between the upper edges of the side wall and the elongation. The elongation, connection piece and side wall form a half-open box which is very stable, particularly because these structural component parts are formed from one piece.
To be able to arrange the weld thickness such that it is independent from the material thickness of the tension stop limit holder, the weld connecting the tension stop limit holder with the container tube is formed at the transition of the lateral surface to the elongation.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4944524 (1990-07-01), Achenbach
patent: 5401051 (1995-03-01), Ivory
patent: 5622242 (1997-04-01), Handke et al.
patent: 5893435 (1999-04-01), Handke et al.
patent: 43 21 036 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 195 47 591 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 91/06438 (1991-05-01), None

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