Abstract:
A spring plate for supporting a coil spring of a vibration damper includes a metal base body and a plurality of discrete insulating segments positioned on the base body. Each insulating segment has a contact surface which contacts an end of the coil spring, and an edge part which prevents the spring from migrating radially. Each insulating segment can be replaced independently of the other insulating segments.

Description:
TECHNICAL AREA 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to a spring plate for a vibration damper according to the introductory clause of Claim  1 . 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    A spring plate for a vibration damper is known from EP 1 443 238 A1, which represents the prior art. This spring plate has a plurality of contact surfaces for a vehicle suspension spring. There is a certain circumferential gap between the contact surfaces, so that free spaces are present, which, under certain conditions, accommodate any dimensional deviations which may be present in the suspension spring and thus can compensate for them. In addition, the division of the contact surface into parts minimizes the amount of noise which the suspension spring generates as a result of frictional movement against the contact surface. 
         [0003]    Two different possibilities of realizing the contact surfaces are described. First, it is possible for the spring plate to have webs extending in the radial direction, on which the contact surfaces are formed. These webs also have outer edge parts, which are intended to prevent the vehicle suspension spring from migrating radially across the contact surface. Alternatively, a spring plate can be provided all the way around with a closed circumferential edge as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , for example, and a plastic support with segmented contact surfaces can be used. The outer edge is formed by the metal support surface provided for the plastic support. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The task of the present invention is to realize a spring plate with a plurality of contact surfaces for a vehicle suspension spring, where the spring plate is very light in weight but can still be subjected to heavy loads. 
         [0005]    According to the invention, this task is accomplished in that at least some of the contact surfaces are designed as individual segments, each of which can be replaced independently of adjacent contact surfaces. 
         [0006]    The great advantage is that, through the use of individual segments with a few basic forms, it is possible to accommodate a very wide spectrum of variations with respect to the shape of the final turn of the vehicle suspension spring. In addition, a large volume of material is eliminated—material which, according to the prior art, is necessary between the contact surfaces. 
         [0007]    To obtain a spring plate with the lowest possible weight, the support body has radially oriented webs, on which the individual segments are arranged. The web-like design of the support body also makes it possible to use a much smaller steel sheet billet. 
         [0008]    According to a subclaim, the radially oriented webs have retaining surfaces for the individual segments. The retaining surfaces are formed by web elements extending in the circumferential direction, which fit into grooves in the individual segments. This ensures that the individual segments are held in place in the radial direction. 
         [0009]    In addition, the individual segments are supported in the circumferential direction at least on one side against the radially oriented webs of the support body. 
         [0010]    So that the individual segments are captured especially during the installation phase, the support body is provided with through-openings for fastening elements on the individual segments. 
         [0011]    The contact surfaces are designed as troughs, which guide the suspension spring radially in both directions. 
         [0012]    In addition, one contact surface is designed with an end stop for the vehicle suspension spring. 
         [0013]    So that the suspension spring can be guided even after its breaks, a spring capture surface is provided on each individual segment radially to the contact surface. 
         [0014]    When the spring breaks, the webs of the support body also help to provide guidance, in that they are designed with support surfaces, at least some of which have essentially the same radial dimension as the spring capture surfaces of the individual segments. 
         [0015]    To save weight, each of the support surfaces of the support body is provided with at least one through-opening. 
         [0016]    To achieve maximum strength, at least some of the webs of the support body have a U-shaped cross section. In addition, at least one trough-like connecting segment can be present between two of the webs of the support body adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of the following description of the figures: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the support body of the inventive spring plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the spring plate; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section through the spring plate according to  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Consideration of  FIGS. 1-3  together reveals a spring plate  1  with a metal support body  3  ( FIG. 2 ), which is shaped from a sheet metal blank. The support body comprises a sleeve-like base body  5 , which is attached to the cylinder of a vibration damper (not shown). Radial webs  7  are arranged around the circumference. At least some of these webs have a U-shaped cross section, opening downward. Between two circumferentially adjacent webs, e.g.,  7   a  and  7   b , there is a trough-like connecting element  8   a - 8 . Overall, the connecting elements and the webs form a wave-like cross-sectional profile. 
         [0022]    Individual segments  9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d , which are independent of each other and replaceable, are arranged on the webs  7  of the support body and are provided with contact surfaces  11   a - 11   d . For this purpose, the radially oriented webs have attachment surfaces in the form of web elements  13   a - 13   d , extending in the circumferential direction. The individual segments are also supported in the circumferential direction on at least one side by lateral surfaces  15   a - 15   c  of the radial webs  7   a - 7   d , which terminate at angled edge parts  17   a - 17   d.    
         [0023]    The contact surfaces  11   a - 11   d  are designed as troughs. In addition, a contact surface  11   a  has an end stop  19  for the vehicle suspension spring. In an offset parallel plane, spring capture surfaces  21   a - 21   d  are provided on the individual segments  9   a - 9   d  radially to the contact surfaces  11   a - 11   d ; these capture surfaces are bounded radially on the outside by circumferential edge parts  23   a - 23   d , which prevent the suspension spring from moving away in the event of breakage. 
         [0024]    On the edge parts  17   a - 17   d , support surfaces  25   a - 25   d  are formed, at least some of which are of the same dimension as the spring capture surfaces  21   a - 21   d  of the individual segments  9   a - 9   d  and lie in the same horizontal plane. The support surfaces  25   a - 25   d  can be provided with through-openings  27   a - 27   d.    
         [0025]    When the spring plate  1  is assembled, the individual segments  9   a - 9   d  are placed on the webs  7   a - 7   d  of the support body  3  as a function of the geometry of the final turn of the vehicle suspension spring. The web elements  13   a - 13   d  fit into grooves, e.g.,  29   b  in  FIG. 3 , in the individual segments and thus provide support in the radial direction. In addition, the webs  7   a - 7   d  also have through-openings  31   a ,  31   b  for pin-like fastening elements such as  33   b  ( FIG. 3 ) at the end of the segments  9   a - 9   d , so that the components cannot come apart. 
         [0026]    Overall, a very light-weight but very strong spring plate is obtained, the individual segments of which can accept vehicle suspension springs of various sizes.