Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Matthias Quaing

Jens Eismann

Friedhelm Langhorst

Holger Bublies

Eike Helm

Daniel Wolf

Manfred Buhl

Thomas Eifflaender

Felix Haeusler

Matthias Gercke

Markus Steffens

Andreas Gartner

Karl Lorenz

Frank Anna

Michael Schauer

Kerstin Lahmann

Anna Frank

A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.

Four-point link

A suspension system for the resilient/damped suspension of a driver's cab of a motor vehicle relative to the vehicle chassis. The suspension system has a spring/damper arrangement and a hydraulic arrangement with hydraulic cylinders on the right and left sides, relative to the driving direction. The hydraulic cylinders are connected in a cross-over manner to form a roll stabilizing device. The suspension system has an upper cross-bridge that is arranged on the driver's cab and a lower cross-bridge that is arranged on the vehicle chassis. The spring/damper arrangement and the hydraulic arrangement are positioned between and connected to the upper and lower cross-bridges.

Driver's cab suspension device with roll stabilizing means

A suspension device for a springy suspension of a mass body relative to an understructure, for instance suspension of a driver cabin of a truck relative to a vehicle chassis. The suspension device comprises a spring-/damping configuration, located between the mass body and the understructure, for the damping shock and/or vibration and comprising a Watt linkage configuration with two parallel positioned Watt linkages. A length of at least one of the linkage arms, of the Watt linkage, is adjustable by an actuator. The suspension device is low-maintenance, free of play, and is suitable for determining of the levels of freedom of motion, for instance of a driver cabin, as well as for damping or eliminating unwanted movement of the driver cabin. At the same time, roll motions of the driver cabin, with respect to the understructure or the chassis, can be actively prevented.

Suspension device having active watt linkage

A suspension device for suspending a mass relative to a substructure. The suspension device comprises a spring/damper arrangement which is disposed between the mass and the substructure and dampens vibrations, and comprises at least one Watt's linkage. At least one of the pivot points of the Watt's linkage is movably connected to the mass and the substructure. The relative position between the pivot point, the mass and the substructure can be adjusted by at least one substantially linearly acting actuator. The suspension device is robust and suitable for determining the vertical degree of freedom of movement of a truck driver's cab, and for damping or preventing undesired movement of the driver's cab. At the same time, undesired rolling or tilting motion of the driver's cab can be actively controlled or prevented by using the actuators.

Suspension device having anti-roll compensation

A four-point link for suspending a vehicle axle () on a vehicle frame () of a vehicle (). The four-point link includes four link arms (and) which are fixed to one another by a central region () and which extend away from the central region () to form a cross. Two first link arms () may be connected, in an articulated manner, to the vehicle frame () and two second link arms () may be connected, in an articulated manner, to the vehicle axle (). Each of the link arms () has an H-shaped profile () which is open transverse or vertically with respect to the cross plane ().

Growing community of inventors

Emsburen, Germany

Matthias Quaing