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DE-102014212788-B4 - Air expansion tank

DE102014212788B4DE 102014212788 B4DE102014212788 B4DE 102014212788B4DE-102014212788-B4

Abstract

A container (10, 50, 60) designed as an air equalization volume of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is provided with connection points (30, 32) located in a first plane of the container and designed for connection to a structure of the vehicle, wherein the container (10, 50, 60) is designed as a load-bearing component, and has further connection points in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane, which are designed for connection to the structure of the vehicle, wherein inside the container (10, 50, 60) a reinforcing profile part (40) stiffening the container (10, 50, 60) is provided, which has four legs (42, 44, 46, 48) arranged in the form of an “X”.

Inventors

  • Ingo Lauer
  • Marc Erdmann
  • Gerhard Zeller

Assignees

  • BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20140702

Claims (8)

  1. A container (10, 50, 60) designed as an air equalization volume of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is provided with connection points (30, 32) located in a first plane of the container and designed for connection to a structure of the vehicle, wherein the container (10, 50, 60) is designed as a load-bearing component, and has further connection points in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane, which are designed for connection to the structure of the vehicle, wherein inside the container (10, 50, 60) a reinforcing profile part (40) stiffening the container (10, 50, 60) is provided, which has four legs (42, 44, 46, 48) arranged in the form of an “X”.
  2. Containers (10, 50, 60) after Claim 1 , in which a first tab (12) and a second tab (14) are provided, wherein the first tab (12) projects forward from the front of the container (10, 50, 60) and the second tab (14) projects backward from the rear of the container (10, 50, 60), the first tab (12) has two holes (18, 20) designed as further attachment points and the second tab (14) has two holes (22, 24) designed as further attachment points, and the four holes (18, 20, 22, 24) form the four corners of a rectangle.
  3. Containers (10, 50, 60) after Claims 1 or 2 , which has the shape of a flat cuboid rounded at the front and rear ends, whose width (B) is twice its height (H), and whose length (L) is about three to four times its height (H).
  4. Containers (10, 50, 60) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , which is provided with a strut mount (16) through which forces acting from an axle of the vehicle are introduced into the container (10, 50, 60).
  5. Containers (10, 50, 60) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , which has an upper half-shell (52) and a lower half-shell (54).
  6. Containers (10, 50, 60) after Claim 5 , in which the upper half-shell (52) and the lower half-shell (54) of the container (10, 50, 60) are connected by a circumferential weld seam (56).
  7. Longitudinal beam (26) of a vehicle, wherein the longitudinal beam (26) has a recess for receiving a container (10, 50, 60) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 exhibits, and the container (10, 50, 60) at its connection points (30, 32) provided in the first level of the container (10, 50, 60) and at its further connection points provided in the second level to the longitudinal beam (26), so that the container (10, 50, 60) bridges the recess in the longitudinal beam (26) and thus forms a load-bearing belt.
  8. Method for manufacturing a container (10, 50, 60) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , comprising the following steps: - providing an upper half-shell (62) and a lower half-shell (64) of the container (10, 50, 60); - wherein the upper half-shell (62) and the lower half-shell (64) are designed to be telescopically displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the height (H) of the container (10, 50, 60); - telescopically displacing the upper half-shell (62) and the lower half-shell (64) relative to each other until a desired air equalization volume is reached inside the container (10, 50, 60); and - joining the upper half-shell (62) with the lower half-shell (64) to form a pressure-tight container (10, 50, 60) by means of a circumferential weld (56).

Description

The invention relates to a container designed as an air equalization volume of a vehicle, a vehicle carrier for receiving a container and a method for manufacturing a container. The US 2010 / 0 327 573 A1 Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle frame with parallel longitudinal frame members and at least one cross member designed as a tube, the opposite ends of which are tightly closed by first and second mounting plates to form a sealed, closed space for storing fluids, the mounting plates being directly adjacent to the longitudinal frame members and serving to connect the cross member to the vehicle frame. The US 2004 / 0 150 209 A1 Figure 1 shows a structural element intended for a vehicle body and frame arrangement with an integrated air tank for supplying an auxiliary unit such as an active vehicle suspension with compressed air, wherein the air tank can be designed as an essentially cup-shaped component with a closed end section, several side sections and an outwardly projecting flange at the open end section, which is attached to a first section of a closed channel structural element to form an airtight chamber, wherein the chamber is designed for optionally receiving, storing and releasing a pressurized fluid and can alternatively be realized by an opening in the structural element or by a flexible bladder for fluidic connection and formation of the airtight chamber. The DE 102 00 632 A1 The figure shows an air spring strut for motor vehicles with a rolling diaphragm that can be rolled on a rolling sleeve and encloses a gas chamber, and with a hydraulic vibration damper arranged within the rolling diaphragm and/or the rolling sleeve, having an oscillating piston rod whose end is elastically attached directly or indirectly to the vehicle body in the axial direction, wherein the air spring strut is designed such that, in order to relieve the shock absorber when a stiff wheel suspension is required, a further gas chamber is provided that can be connected to the first gas chamber, the connection to the first gas chamber of which can be completely or partially closed via a valve. The US 2 226 605 A shows a pneumatic cushion or pneumatic bellows of the type used in conjunction with wheel suspensions, and a method for its manufacture. The DE 10 2007 060 273 A1 Figure 1 shows an oil pan with a base body having a main oil chamber and a wall, wherein at least one additional oil chamber is provided for easy adaptation to different required oil collection volumes, which is connected to the main oil chamber of the base body via a through-opening formed in the wall. Vehicles, especially motor vehicles, typically have an axle system. If the axle system is equipped with air suspension, a reservoir is required to serve as an air equalization volume. However, such a container requires installation space that is also needed for supporting structures of the vehicle's body. Up to now, the container has been bolted to a structure or supporting frame of the body in such a way that the forces from the wheel suspension could be transferred to the body. The lack of supporting structures due to the presence of the container negatively impacts the vehicle's stiffness and strength. Therefore, appropriate compensatory measures must be implemented elsewhere, which, however, entail increased costs and/or weight. The object underlying the invention is to provide a container designed as an air equalization volume, which is improved in such a way that the effort required for compensation measures is reduced. The problem is solved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. With the container according to the invention, the integration of the container as a load-bearing part for the body stiffness can be achieved by means of further connection points or fastening points in a second plane. This results in savings in terms of weight and costs, a reduction in the required installation space, and an increase in the trunk volume of a motor vehicle. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in drawings, from which further advantages and features will become apparent. Terms such as "front", "back", "top", "bottom" are to be understood in relation to a normal motor vehicle which is on a level road and whose normal direction of travel is forward. The figures show: 1 a view from below of a container according to the invention, which is designed as an air equalization volume; 2 a longitudinal section along AA of 1 ; 3 a 2 a corresponding, schematically simplified section to illustrate how the container is screwed onto a longitudinal beam of a motor vehicle; 4 a perspective view of the container, which has a reinforcing profile section with four legs; 5 a longitudinal section through a container with an upper and a lower half-shell; 6 a longitudinal section through a preliminary stage of a container with an upper and a lower half