US 7,469,910 B2
Spring carrier with adustable spring collar
Martin Münster, Friedrichshafen (Germany); Ulrich Mair, Friedrichshafen (Germany); and Detlef Baasch, Friedrichshafen (Germany)
Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen (Germany)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/333,185.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2005 001 744 (DE), filed on Jan. 14, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0163787 A1, Jul. 27, 2006
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60G 17/00 (2006.01); B60G 15/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 280—5.514  [280/5.515; 280/124.147] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spring carrier for mounting a spring strut to a vehicle body, the carrier comprising:
a vibration damper comprising a cylinder and a piston rod which is axially guided in the cylinder;
a first spring collar, a second spring collar, and a spring located between the spring collars;
an actuator comprising a nut and a threaded spindle surrounding the piston rod, the actuator being driven to change the relative axial position of the spring collars;
a guide tube extending coaxially between the piston rod and the threaded spindle, the guide tube being configured to support the threaded spindle in a fixed axial position relative to said guide tube;
a first resilient mount fixed to the guide tube for mounting the guide tube to the vehicle body; and
a second resilient mount between the piston rod and the guide tube, whereby the piston rod can move relative to the first resilient mount.