# US 9,751,564 B2 · Spring support for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,564 B2 - Document ID: US9751564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/940,312 - Filed: 2015-11-13 - Published: 2016-03-10 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-16 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Mark Muehlhausen; Thomas Ritschel; Sebastian Goldschmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751564B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B62D 25/088: {Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers} - B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)} - B62D 29/005: {preformed metal and synthetic material elements being joined together, e.g. by adhesives} - B62D 65/12: the sub-units or components being suspensions, brakes or wheel units - B60G 13/003: {characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the damper unit} - B60G 15/068: {specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A spring support for a motor vehicle has a spring strut cup made of a metallic material and three shell-shaped components made of a fiber composite material. The parts are specifically arranged to stabilize the spring support which protects against corrosion and for saving weight such that the spring strut cup is connected in the shell shaped components in the following manner: a first shell-shaped component stretches in an arc from an outer side of an engine bracket to a lower side of a support bracket and the spring strut cup is secured by the edge thereof from under the first shell-shaped component, a second shell-shaped component joins together an upper side of the support bracket, an upper side of the first shell-shaped component and an outer upper side of the spring strut cup, and a third shell shaped component is secured to an inner side of the engine support bracket, an upper side of the engine support bracket, an inner side of the first shell-shaped component and an inner upper side of the spring strut cup. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spring support for a motor vehicle, comprising: a spring strut cup composed of a metallic material; three shell components composed of a fiber composite material, wherein the spring strut cup is connected in the three shell components such that: (i) a first of the three shell components spans an arc from an outer side of an engine bracket to a lower side of a support bracket, the spring strut cup being fastened at an edge thereof from below to the first shell component, (ii) a second of the three shell components connects an upper side of the support bracket, an upper side of the first shell component and an outer upper side of the spring strut cup to one another, and (iii) a third of the three shell components is fastened to an inner side of the engine bracket, an upper side of the engine bracket, an inner side of the first shell component and an inner upper side of the spring strut cup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spring support according to claim 1, further comprising adhesive bonds used to connect the spring strut cup to the shell components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spring support according to claim 1, wherein the first shell component and the third shell component together form a substantially vertical profile which is closed at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup and at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spring support according to claim 1, wherein the spring strut cup, the first shell component and the second shell component are connected to one another such that a substantially rectangular profile is formed between an outer side of the spring strut cup, an inner side of the support bracket, the first shell component which is joined from below to the support bracket and the second shell component which is joined to an upper side of the support bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spring support according to claim 4, wherein the first shell component and the third shell component together form a substantially vertical profile which is closed at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup and at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spring support according to claim 1, wherein the spring support is configured for connection with a spring damper unit of a front axle of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spring support according to claim 6, wherein the front axle of the motor vehicle is a McPherson front axle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spring support according to claim 1, wherein the fiber composite material is a carbon fiber composite material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The spring support according to claim 2, further comprising adhesive bonds used to connect the spring strut cup to the shell components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The spring support according to claim 9, wherein the spring strut cup, the first shell component and the second shell component are connected to one another such that a substantially rectangular profile is formed between an outer side of the spring strut cup, an inner side of the support bracket, the first shell component which is joined from below to the support bracket and the second shell component which is joined to an upper side of the support bracket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The spring support according to claim 6, wherein the first shell component and the third shell component together form a substantially vertical profile which is closed at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup and at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket. ### Claim 12 A method for producing a spring support for a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: providing a spring strut cup composed of a metallic material, and three shell components composed of a fiber composite material; fastening a first shell component to an outer side of an engine bracket and to a lower side of a support bracket such that the first shell component spans an arc, fastening an edge of the spring strut cup from below to the first shell component, fastening a second shell component to an upper side of a support bracket, an upper side of the first shell component and an outer upper side of the spring strut cup, and fastening a third shell component to an inner side of an engine bracket and an upper side of the engine bracket and to an inner side of the first shell component and an inner upper side of the spring strut cup. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein: the third shell component, together with the first shell component, form a substantially vertical profile, and the substantially vertical profile is closed at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket and at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the fastening acts are carried out such that: the spring strut cup is joined to the first shell component, which is joined from below to a lower side of the support bracket, the second shell component is joined from above to an upper side of the support bracket and to the spring strut cup, wherein a substantially rectangular profile is formed between an outer side of the spring strut cup, an inner side of the support bracket, the first shell component which is joined from below to the support bracket, and the second shell component which is joined to the upper side of the support bracket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein: the third shell component, together with the first shell component, form a substantially vertical profile, and the substantially vertical profile is closed at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket and at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the spring strut cup and the three shell components are adhesively bonded to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein: the third shell component, together with the first shell component, form a substantially vertical profile, and the substantially vertical profile is closed at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket and at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the fastening acts are carried out such that: the spring strut cup is joined to the shell component, which is joined from below to a lower side of the support bracket, the second shell component is hoibed from above to an upper side of the support bracket and to the spring strut cup, wherein a substantially rectangular profile is formed between an outer side of the spring strut cup, an inner side of the support bracket, the first shell component which is joined from below to the support bracket, and the second shell component which is joined to the upper side of the support bracket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the third shell component, together with the first shell component, form a substantially vertical profile, and the substantially vertical profile is closed at a lower end thereof by the engine bracket and at an upper end thereof by the spring strut cup.