# US 12,179,547 B2 · Suspension component with a measuring device and method for producing a suspension component of this kind > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,547 B2 - Document ID: US12179547B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/771,224 - Filed: 2020-09-23 - Published: 2022-11-17 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-24 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Artur Berger; Josef Holtheide; Julian Stratmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179547B2 ## CPC - B60G 7/02: Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60G 7/001: {Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60G 7/005: {Ball joints (B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06)} - B60G 17/019: characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof {(B60G17/01941 takes precedence)} - F16F 1/38: with a sleeve of elastic material between a rigid outer sleeve and a rigid inner sleeve or pin {, i.e. bushing-type (hydraulically-damped bushes F16F13/14; suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of elastomeric spring members between rotating elements, driveline torque being transmitted therebetween F16F15/126, by making use of a dynamic damping mass attached to a rotating element by means of elastomeric springs F16F15/14; pivots per se F16C11/00; elastic or yielding bearings or bearing supports F16C27/00; parts of sliding-contact bearings, e.g. bushes F16C33/04)} - B60G 2204/1162: directly mounted on the suspension arm - B60G 2204/416: Ball or spherical joints - B60G 2206/10: Constructional features of arms - B60G 2400/05162: the element being a suspension arm - B60G 2401/17: Magnetic/Electromagnetic - F16C 41/007: {Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles} - F16F 2230/08: Sensor arrangement - G01P 3/443: {mounted in bearings (bearings F16C)} - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract Disclosed is a chassis component (1, 38) having a measuring device (9) for determining a relative position of two chassis components connected movably with one another. For example, a first chassis component is a joint (2) with at least one rotation axis (8) and a second chassis component is a structural component (3), the structural component (3) being mounted by means of the joint (2) so that it can pivot around the rotation axis (8) of the joint (2). The measuring device (9) has a signal emitter (13) and a sensor device (10, 28) with a signal receiver (21), where the sensor device (10, 28) is arranged on the structural component (3) and the signal emitter (13) is arranged on the joint (2). To improve an arrangement of the sensor device (10, 28) on the structural component (3), the sensor device (10, 28) extends through a through-opening (11). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chassis component with a measuring device for determining a relative position of two chassis components movably connected to one another, wherein a first chassis component is a joint with at least one rotation axis, and a second chassis component is a structural component, and the structural component is mounted by the joint to pivot about the rotation axis of the joint, the measuring device comprising a signal emitter and a sensor device with a signal receiver, the sensor device is arranged on the structural component and the signal emitter is arranged on the joint, and the sensor device extends through a through-opening defined through the structural component and the sensor device has a first end section and a second end section, and the signal receiver senses the signal from the signal emitter through a side section of the sensor device, which is located between the first and second end sections. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chassis component according to claim 1, wherein the through-opening has a first through-section formed in the structural component and a second through-section formed in the joint, and the second through-section is arranged inside the first through-section and together form the through-opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The chassis component according to claim 2, wherein the signal receiver of the sensor device is arranged inside the second through-section of the joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The chassis component according to claim 2, wherein the second through-section is formed in a joint housing of the joint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chassis component according to claim 1, wherein the through-opening extends transversely or perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the joint. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The chassis component according to claim 5, wherein the through-opening extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structural component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The chassis component according to claim 1, wherein the first end section and the second end section are arranged outside the through-opening, and the second end section has a connection for connection to an evaluation device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The chassis component according to claim 7, wherein the sensor device comprises fixing means for fixing the sensor device onto the structural component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The chassis component according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first end section of the sensor device and the second end section of the sensor device has the fixing means, and the fixing means is configured to fasten the sensor device onto the structural component in an interlocked manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The chassis component according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an interlocking and rotationally fixed connection is formed between the sensor device and the through-opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chassis component of claim 10, wherein the sensor device is of a rod-like or a strut-like shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The chassis component of claim 11, wherein the sensor device has an out-of-round outer circumference and the through-opening has an out-of-round inner circumference. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The chassis component according to claim 1, wherein the joint is in the form of one of a ball and socket joint, a ball pin joint, or a rubber mounting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The chassis component according to claim 13, wherein the structural component is in the form of one of a control arm, a wheel carrier, a flange joint, or a track-rod. ### Claim 15 A chassis component with a measuring device for determining a relative position of first and second chassis components movably connected to one another, wherein the first chassis component is a joint with at least one rotation axis, and the second chassis component is a structural component, and the structural component is mounted by the joint to pivot about the rotation axis of the joint, the measuring device comprises a signal emitter and a sensor device with an associated signal receiver, wherein the sensor device is arranged on the structural component and the signal emitter is arranged on the joint, and the sensor device has a first end section and a second end section, the sensor device extends completely through a through-opening, which has opposed first and second apertures defined in the structural component, so that the signal receiver is positioned inside the through-opening and spaced from both the first aperture in the structural component and the second aperture in the structural component as well as spaced from both the first end section and the second end section of the sensor device, and the signal receiver senses the signal from the signal emitter through a side section of the sensor device located between the first and the second end sections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The chassis component according to claim 15, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture face away from one another. ### Claim 17 A method for producing a chassis component having a measuring device for determining a relative position of two chassis components connected movably to one another, wherein a first chassis component is a joint with at least one rotation axis and a second chassis component is a structural component, the structural component being mounted by the joint to pivot about the rotation axis of the joint, the measuring device comprising a signal emitter and a sensor device with a signal receiver, the sensor device is arranged on the structural component and the signal emitter is arranged on the joint, and the sensor device extends through a through-opening defined in the joint and/or in the structural component, the method comprising: forming a through-opening in the chassis component to have a first aperture and an opposed second aperture; and inserting the sensor device into the through-opening, in such a manner that a first end section of the sensor device faces away from a second end section of the sensor device and the signal receiver is positioned inside the through-opening spaced from both the first aperture and the second aperture so as to measure a signal through a side section of the sensor device which is located between the first and second end sections; and arranging the first end section and the second end section outside the through-opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, comprising: arranging the joint in a joint holder of the structural component; forming the through-opening; and arranging the sensor device in the through-opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, comprising: forming a first through-section in the structural component; forming a second through-section in the joint; arranging the joint in a joint holder of the structural component; arranging the second through-section inside the first through-section in order to form the through-opening; and arranging the sensor device in the through-opening so that the sensor device is supported by both the first through-section in the structural component and the second through-section in the joint.