Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Michael Glanzer

Ludwig Seethaler

Roland Schmidt

Hubert Scholz

Reidar Fleck

Tilo Meister

A single-pivot suspension strut axle for a passenger car, includes a wheel carrier/pivot bearing carrying the wheel and a brake disk non-rotatably connected with the wheel relative to a rotational axis thereof. A suspension strut is fastened to the wheel carrier/pivot bearing and, at another end, is supported at the vehicle body. The wheel carrier/pivot bearing is guided by a supporting joint situated close to the wheel center plane by a lower control arm, representing an A-arm, and by a tie rod. A section of the control arm connected with the supporting joint projects through the ring-shaped brake disk. A leaf spring element oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle provides proportional support for the vehicle body on the wheel, and is supported, on one side, at the control arm and, on another side, directly or indirectly, at the vehicle body.

Single-pivot type suspension strut axle

A swivel bearing of a wheel suspension is connected to a longitudinal control arm via two joints at different heights viewed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in an articulated manner such that the joints determine a steering axis of rotation extending primarily perpendicularly when viewed from the side, and which has a negative scrub radius. Each transverse control arm is attached to the longitudinal control arm via one rubber mount or joint having a minimal degree of rotary freedom. The swivel bearing is guided by a tie rod, which is supported on a soft rubber bearing. The tie rod is connected to an actuator adjuster element, whose actuator is arranged substantially in a center of the vehicle and acts for the two rear wheels thereof. The tie rod is moveable substantially in the transverse direction to minimally steer the rear wheel.

Independent wheel suspension of an at least slightly steerable rear wheel of a double-track vehicle

An auxiliary power assisted steering system of a motor vehicle is provided. When a power limit for the system supplying the auxiliary power assist (or a limit for the specified steering angle) is exceeded, at least when considered over time, the gear ratio between the steering angle selected by the driver and the travel of the tie rod pivot point is adjusted to be more indirect in comparison with the preselected gear ratio. The superimposing unit may superimpose an additional steering angle acting in the opposite direction on the driver's steering angle, so that the displacement speed of the tie rod pivot point is reduced or the travel of the tie rod pivot point may be readjusted to the steering angle selected by the driver with a time delay.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Michael Glanzer