Bearing unit for a suspension strut of a motor vehicle and method for installing a bearing unit on a motor vehicle body part
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsJürgen Hilbinger, Jens Dungs, Harald Kohlmann, Gerhard Meyer, Rainer Lutz, Arno Wolf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing unit (1) for a suspension strut (2) of a motor vehicle (3), has at least the following components: a guide ring (4) having a guide axis (5) for a wheel spring (6); a cap (7) with a damper holder (8) for a damper block (9); a bumpstop holder (10) for a bumpstop (11); an axial bearing (12) with a bearing pitch circle (13) for supporting the guide ring (4) on the cap (7) and for low-friction rotation about the guide axis (5) relative to the cap (7). The bumpstop holder (10) is formed integrally by the cap (7).
Claims13
A bearing unit for a suspension strut of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a guide ring having a guide axis for a wheel spring;
- a cap with a damper holder for a damper block;
- a bumpstop holder for a bumpstop, the bumpstop holder formed integrally with the cap;
- and
- an axial bearing with a bearing pitch circle for supporting the guide ring on the cap and for low-friction rotation about the guide axis relative to the cap, wherein:
- the cap comprises an insert made of a metal;
- the insert comprises an integrally formed body connection formed by cold forming, the body connection disposed radially offset from the guide axis;
- and
- the body connection comprises internal nut threads for receiving an axial screw connection thereby forming a direct connection of the bearing unit to a body part.
A method for installing a bearing unit on a body part of a motor vehicle, wherein the bearing unit comprises:
- a guide ring having a guide axis for a wheel spring;
- a cap with a damper holder for a damper block and an insert comprising an integrally formed body connection comprising internal nut threads, the body connection disposed radially offset from the guide axis;
- a bumpstop holder for a bumpstop;
- and
- an axial bearing with a bearing pitch circle for supporting the guide ring on the cap and for low-friction rotation about the guide axis relative to the cap;
- the method comprising:
- assembling the guide ring, cap, bumpstop holder and axial bearing to form the bearing unit;
- after assembling the bearing unit, inserting the damper block into the damper holder;
- after assembling the bearing unit, fastening the cap to the body part with a screw connection into the internal nut threads;
- and
- after inserting the damper block, inserting a piston rod of a suspension strut into the damper block and connecting said piston rod to said damper block.
A suspension strut comprising:
- a guide ring having a guide axis for a wheel spring;
- a cap with a damper holder for a damper block and with a bumpstop holder for a bumpstop, the bumpstop holder comprising a securing device with recesses or elevations for holding the bumpstop captive;
- and
- an axial bearing with a bearing pitch circle for supporting the guide ring on the cap and for low-friction rotation about the guide axis relative to the cap, wherein the cap comprises a metal insert having an integrally formed body connection disposed radially offset from the guide axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.