SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR A CHASSIS, VEHICLE CHASSIS COMPRISING A SPRING ASSEMBLY, METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE CHASSIS AND USE OF A SPRING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A spring assembly for a vehicle chassis may include a spring that features a coating, a spring support, and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer can be arranged between the spring and the spring support. The intermediate layer may be at least materially connected to the spring, in particular to the coating on a side facing the spring. The intermediate layer lies entirely or partially against the spring support on a side facing away from the spring and is connected to the spring support by a connection other than a material connection.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to spring assemblies for a chassis, to vehicle chassis comprising a spring assembly, and to methods for producing a spring assembly for a vehicle chassis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of one example spring assembly.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in a region of the spring support according to the example shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example spring support with additional spacers.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example spring support with additional cavities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although certain example methods and apparatuses have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that reciting “a” element or “an” element in the appended claims does not restrict those claims to articles, apparatuses, systems, methods, or the like having only one of that element, even where other elements in the same claim or different claims are preceded by “at least one” or similar language. Similarly, it should be understood that the steps of any method claims need not necessarily be performed in the order in which they are recited, unless so required by the context of the claims. In addition, all references to one skilled in the art shall be understood to refer to one having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A spring assembly for a vehicle chassis, comprising: a spring that has a coating, a spring support, and an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is arranged between the spring and the spring support, wherein the intermediate layer is at least materially connected to the coating on a side facing the spring, wherein the intermediate layer lies entirely or partially against the spring support on a side facing away from the spring and is connected to the spring support by a connection other than a material connection, wherein the connection is a positive connection, wherein the positive connection is configured with a positive element and a negative receptacle that receives the positive element, wherein either the intermediate layer is received as the positive element in cavities of the spring support that form the negative receptacle, orprojections with undercuts of the spring support form the positive element, with the positive element being received in the negative receptacle, wherein cavities in the intermediate layer form the negative receptacle.

17. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the connection is the positive connection and a nonpositive connection.

18. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the spring support is comprised of a flexible plastic selected from a group of polyurethane, acrylonitrile-butadiene acrylate, acrylonitrile-chlorinated polyethylene styrene, acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, fluororubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyisobutylene, polyvinylbutyral, silicone rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, vinyl chloride-ethylene, vinyl chloride-ethylene methacrylate, or a combination thereof.

19. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the intermediate layer is an elastic sealant and/or an elastic adhesive, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a composition that is selected from a group of acrylates, epoxy resins, polyurethanes, silicones, silane hybrid systems, polysulfides, or a combination thereof.

20. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein a hardness of the intermediate layer is less than a hardness of the coating of the spring.

21. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein a hardness of the intermediate layer is at most 70 Shore D.

22. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the intermediate layer has an elongation at break of at least 50%.

23. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness in a range of 0.1 mm to 10.0 mm.

24. The spring assembly of claim 16 comprising spacers by way of which a surface of the coating and a surface of the spring support are held at a distance from one another, wherein a space formed between the surface of the coating and the surface of the spring support is filled with the intermediate layer.

25. The spring assembly of claim 24 wherein the spacers are distributed such that the spring and the spring support are aligned relative to one another in an axial direction and/or in a radial direction with respect to a spring axis.

26. The spring assembly of claim 25 wherein the spacers are configured as projections that project from the surface of the spring support.

27. The spring assembly of claim 16 wherein the spring support is configured such that when viewed in cross section through a spring wire the spring is received in the spring support over a contact angle range of at least 30° and is connected positively to the spring support by the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer has a constant thickness in a contact region at the spring support.

28. A vehicle chassis comprising the spring assembly of claim 16.

29. A method for producing a spring assembly for a vehicle chassis, the method comprising: a) providing a spring that has a coating;b) providing a spring support that has an adhesive-repellent supporting region for supporting the spring;c) providing a filler;d) applying the filler to the spring and/or to the adhesive-repellent supporting region of the spring support;e) producing an intermediate layer between the spring and the spring support by bringing into contact i) the spring with the adhesive-repellent supporting region of the spring support, to which supporting region the filler has been applied,ii) the spring, to which the filler has been applied, with the adhesive-repellent supporting region of the spring support, oriii) the spring, to which the filler has been applied, with the adhesive-repellent supporting region of the spring support, to which supporting region the filler has been applied; andf) forming a material, adhesive connection between the intermediate layer produced in step (e) and the spring, wherein a connection other than a material connection is formed between the adhesive-repellent supporting region of the spring support and the intermediate layer produced in step (e).