DE20100887U1 - Spring element - Google Patents

Description

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008.· Q,Z. 0050/52100 DE

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t I

Spring element

Description
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The invention relates to spring elements based on a hollow cylindrical damping element (i) based on polyisocyanate polyaddition products, preferably based on cellular polyurethane elastomers, which may optionally contain polyurea structures, particularly preferably based on cellular polyurethane elastomers, preferably with a density according to DIN 53420 of 200 to 1100, preferably 300 to 800 kg/iti3, a tensile strength according to DIN 53571 of > 2, preferably 2 to 8 N/mm ² , an elongation according to DIN 53571 of > 300, preferably 300 to 700% and a tear resistance according to DIN 53515 of > 8, preferably 8 to 25 N/mm, with a height (v) of 117 to 119 mm, preferably 118 to 118.5 mm, particularly preferably 118.2 mm and a diameter (vi) of 51 mm, the cavity in (i) having a diameter (vii) of 12 to 14 mm, preferably 13 mm. The invention further relates to spring structures comprising a damping element (i) and also a pot (ii) in which the upper part of (i) is located, a ring (iii) inserted in a part of the cavity of (i) and a protective tube (iv). The invention also relates to automobiles comprising the spring elements or spring structures according to the invention.

Suspension elements made from polyurethane elastomers are used in automobiles, for example in the chassis, and are well known. They are used in particular in motor vehicles as vibration dampers or spring elements. The spring elements in today's wheel suspensions connect the shock absorber to the body. Such an elastic coupling increases driving comfort and ensures the highest level of driving safety.

Due to the very different characteristics and properties of individual car models, the spring elements must be individually adapted to the various car models in order to achieve ideal chassis tuning. For example, when developing the spring elements, the weight of the vehicle, the chassis of the specific model, the intended shock absorbers and the desired spring characteristics can be taken into account. In addition, individual solutions tailored to the construction must be invented for different cars due to the space available for the shock absorber connection.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008,. 9..Z. 0050/52100 DE

For the reasons mentioned above, the known solutions for the design of individual spring elements cannot generally be transferred to new automobile models. With each new development of an automobile model, a new form of spring element must be developed that meets the specific requirements of the model.

The object of the present invention was therefore to develop a suitable connection of the shock absorber to the body for a special, new automobile model, which meets the specific requirements of this model and ensures the best possible driving comfort and excellent driving safety.

The spatial design of the spring elements, i.e. their three-dimensional shape, has a decisive influence on their function in addition to their material. The shape of the spring elements is used to specifically control the spring travel in the damper's tension and compression directions and radial direction, as well as the corresponding damper characteristics. This three-dimensional shape of the spring element must therefore be developed individually for each automobile model.

These requirements are met by the spring elements presented at the beginning. The spring elements according to the invention are shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In all figures, the dimensions given are given in [mm]. This three-dimensional shape in particular proved to be particularly suitable for meeting the specific requirements of the special automobile model, particularly with regard to the specific spatial requirements and the required spring characteristics.

Particularly preferred are spring elements in which (i) on the outer surface there are constrictions at a height of (viii) 98 mm to a diameter of (ix) 32 mm, at a height of (x) 79 mm to a diameter (xi) of 34 mm, at a height of (xii) 59 mm to a diameter (xiii) of 3 6 mm, at a height of (xiv) mm to a diameter (xv) of 39 mm and at a height of (xvi) 9 mm to a diameter (xvii) of .45.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a damping element (i). It can be seen from the figures that (i) is completely hollow. This cavity, which preferably has a round cross-section, is used, for example, to accommodate body or chassis parts.

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BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 . .. O.ZU 0Q50/5210Q DE

Preferably, the damping element (i) is located in a spring construction which additionally contains a pot (ii) in which the upper part of (i) is located, a ring (iii) inserted in a part of the cavity of (i), and a protective tube (iv). Such a spring construction is shown in Figures 1 and 2, with Figure 2 sketching the spring construction in a test arrangement.

In the spring construction, the upper part of (i) including the first constriction at a height (xvi) of 9 mm is preferably encompassed, preferably clamped, by the pot (ii). The pot (ii), which is shown as an example in Figure 7, is preferably a molded part based on conventional metals or plastics, preferably metals, for example aluminum, steel or copper, wherein the pot (ii) preferably has a wall thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 mm. Due to the upper constriction in (i) and the corresponding design of (ii), (i) can be fixed in (ii). The height of (ii) is preferably 21 to 23 mm.

The ring (iii) outlined in Figure 8 is preferably a molded part based on conventional metals, for example aluminum, steel or copper, which preferably has a bore with a diameter of 9.5 to 10.5 mm, preferably 9.7 to 10.3 mm, a height of 6.5 to 6.9 mm and a total diameter of 21.8 to 22.2 mm. Preferably, (iii) has a recess with a depth of 1.7 mm, with which (iii) is fitted into the bore in (ii), (iii) is located in the spring construction preferably at the upper end of (i) in the cavity of (i), wherein (iii) is fixed in the cavity of (i) by the pot (ii).

Figure 9 shows the protective tube (iv) as an example. As can be seen in detail X of Figure 9 and in Figures 1 and 2, the lower edge of (ii) is preferably surrounded and fixed by (iv). The protective tube (iv) usually has a wall thickness of 0.6 to 1 mm, preferably 0.8 mm, and is usually based on plastics, for example polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or metals, for example aluminum, steel or copper.

The preferred spring construction preferably has a height (xviii) of 250 to 255 mm and a diameter (xix) of 70 to 75 mm.

The damping elements according to the invention are preferably based on elastomers based on polyisocyanate polyaddition products, for example polyurethanes and/or polyureas, for example

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008, .. &Ogr;.&zgr;, 0Q50/5210Q DE

polyurethane elastomers, which may optionally contain urea structures. The elastomers are preferably microcellular elastomers based on polyisocyanate polyaddition products, preferably with cells having a diameter of 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.15 mm. The elastomers particularly preferably have the physical properties described at the beginning. Elastomers based on polyisocyanate polyaddition products and their production are generally known and described in many different ways, for example in EP-A 62 835, EP-A 36 994, EP-A 250 969, DE-A 195 48 770 and DE-A 195 48 771.

The production is usually carried out by reacting isocyanates with compounds that are reactive towards isocyanates.

The elastomers based on cellular polyisocyanate polyaddition products are usually produced in a mold in which the reactive starting components are reacted with one another. Generally common molds can be used as molds, for example metal molds, which, due to their shape, ensure the three-dimensional shape of the spring element according to the invention.

The polyisocyanate polyaddition products can be prepared by well-known methods, for example by using the following starting materials in a one- or two-stage process:

(a) isocyanate,

(b) compounds reactive towards isocyanates, (c) water and, if appropriate,

(d) catalysts,

(e) propellants and/or

■ (f) Auxiliary and/or additives, for example polysiloxanes

and/or fatty acid sulfonates.
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The surface temperature of the inner mold wall is usually 40 to 95 ⁰ C, preferably 50 to 90 ⁰ C.

The production of the molded parts is advantageously carried out at an NCO/OH ratio of 0.85 to 1.20, wherein the heated starting components are mixed and introduced into a heated, preferably tightly closing mold in an amount corresponding to the desired molded part density.

The molded parts are cured after 5 to 60 minutes and can therefore be demolded.

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BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 , ., OZ _it 0Q50/5210Q DE

The amount of reaction mixture introduced into the mold is usually such that the molded bodies obtained have the density already shown.

The starting components are usually introduced into the mold at a temperature of 15 to 120 ⁰ C, preferably 30 to 110 ⁰ C. The degrees of compaction for producing the molded bodies are between 1.1 and 8, preferably between 2 and 6.

The cellular polyisocyanate polyaddition products are advantageously produced by the one-shot process using low-pressure technology or, in particular, reaction injection molding (RIM) in open or preferably closed molds. The reaction is carried out in particular with compression in a closed mold. The reaction injection molding technique is described, for example, by H. Piechota and H. Röhr in "Integralschaumstoffe", Carl Hanser-Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1975; D.J. Prepelka and J.L. Wharton in Journal of Cellular Plastics, March/April 1975, pages 87 to 98 and U. Knipp in Journal of Cellular Plastics, March/April 1973, pages 76-84.

When using a mixing chamber with several inlet nozzles, the starting components can be fed in individually and mixed intensively in the mixing chamber. It has proven advantageous to work according to the two-component process.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, a prepolymer containing NCO groups is first prepared in a two-stage process. For this purpose, component (b) is reacted with (a) in excess, usually at temperatures of 80 ⁰ C to 160 ⁰ C, preferably 110 ⁰ C to 150 ⁰ C. The reaction time is calculated to achieve the theoretical NCO content.

Accordingly, the production of the moldings according to the invention is preferably carried out in a two-stage process in which, in the first stage, a prepolymer containing isocyanate groups is prepared by reacting (a) with (b) and, in the second stage, this prepolymer is reacted in a mold with a crosslinking component optionally containing the other components described at the outset.

To improve the demoulding of the vibration dampers, it has proven advantageous to coat the inner surfaces of the mould with conventional external

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 _> ..0.Z. 0Q50/5?10p EN

Mould release agents, for example wax or silicone based or in particular with aqueous soap solutions.

Depending on the size and geometry of the molded part, the mold life is on average 5 to 60 minutes.

After the molded parts have been produced in the mold, the molded parts can preferably be tempered for a period of 1 to 48 hours at temperatures of usually 70 to 120 ⁰ C. 10

The following can be stated regarding the starting components generally known to the person skilled in the art for the preparation of the polyisocyanate polyaddition products:

Generally known (cyclo)aliphatic and/or aromatic polyisocyanates can be used as isocyanates (a). Aromatic diisocyanates are particularly suitable for producing the composite elements according to the invention, preferably 2,2 ^l -, 2,4'- and/or 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate (NDI), 2,4- and/or 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 3,3'-dimethyl-diphenyl-diisocyanate, 1,2-diphenylethane diisocyanate, phenylene diisocyanate and/or aliphatic isocyanates such as 1,12-dodecane, 2-ethyl-1,4-butane, 2-methyl-1,5-pentane, 1,4-butane diisocyanate and preferably 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate and/or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates e.g. cyclohexane-1,3- and 1,4-diisocyanate, 2,4- and 2,6-hexahydrotoluylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-, 2,4'- and 2,2*-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, preferably l-isocyanato-3,3,S-trimethyl-S-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane and/or polyisocyanates such as polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates. The isocyanates can be used in the form of the pure compound, in mixtures and/or in modified form, for example in the form of uretdiones, isocyanurates, allophanates or biurets, preferably in the form of reaction products containing urethane and isocyanate groups, so-called isocyanate prepolymers. Preference is given to using optionally modified 2,2'-, 2,4'- and/or 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate (NDI), 3,3'-dimethyldiphenyl diisocyanate, 2,4- and/or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) and/or mixtures of these isocyanates.

Generally known polyhydroxyl compounds can be used as compounds (b) reactive towards isocyanates, preferably those with a functionality of 2 to 3 and preferably a molecular weight of 60 to 6000, particularly preferably up to 6000, in particular 800 to 5000. Preferred as (b) are

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 . .. &Ogr;.&Zgr;_&Lgr; 00.50/5J210Q EN

Polyether polyols, polyester polyalcohols and/or hydroxyl-containing polycarbonates are used.

Polyester polyalcohols, also referred to below as polyester polyols, are preferably used as (b). Suitable polyester polyols can be prepared, for example, from dicarboxylic acids having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and dihydric alcohols. Examples of suitable dicarboxylic acids are: aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid, and aromatic dicarboxylic acids, such as phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid. The dicarboxylic acids can be used individually or as mixtures. To prepare the polyester polyols, it may be advantageous to use the corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives, such as carboxylic acid esters having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alcohol residue, carboxylic acid anhydrides or carboxylic acid chlorides, instead of the carboxylic acid. Examples of dihydric alcohols are glycols having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, butanediol-1,4, pentanediol-1,5, hexanediol-1,6, decanediol-1,10, 2-methylpropane-1,3-diol, 2,2-dimethylpropanediol-1,3, propanediol-1,3 and dipropylene glycol. Depending on the desired properties, the dihydric alcohols can be used alone or, if appropriate, in mixtures with one another.

Preferably used polyester polyols are ethanediol polyadipate, 1,4-butanediol polyadipate, ethanediol-butanediol polyadipate, 1,6-hexanediol-neopentyl glycol polyadipate, 1,6-hexanediol-1,4-butanediol polyadipate, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol-1,4-butanediol polyadipate and/or polycaprolactones.

Suitable polyoxyalkylene glycols containing ester groups, essentially polyoxytetramethylene glycols, are polycondensates of organic, preferably aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, in particular adipic acid with polyoxymethylene glycols having a number-average molecular weight of 162 to 600 and optionally aliphatic diols, in particular butanediol-1,4. Also suitable polyoxytetramethylene glycols containing ester groups are those polycondensates formed from polycondensation with e-caprolactone.

Suitable polyoxyalkylene glycols containing carbonate groups, essentially polyoxytetramethylene glycols, are polycondensates of these with alkyl or aryl carbonates or phosgene. 45

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 . .. O.Z.. 0Q50/52100 DE

Examples of components (b) are given in DE-A 195 48 771, page 6, lines 26 to 59.

In addition to the components already described which are reactive towards isocyanates, it is also possible to use low molecular weight chain extenders and/or crosslinking agents (bl) having a molecular weight of less than 500, preferably 60 to 499, for example selected from the group of di- and/or trifunctional alcohols, di- to tetrafunctional polyoxyalkylene polyols and alkyl-substituted aromatic diamines or mixtures of at least two of the chain extenders and/or crosslinking agents mentioned.

As (bl), for example, alkanediols having 2 to 12, preferably 2, 4 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g. ethane-, 1,3-propane-, 1,5-pentane-, 1,6-hexane-, 1,7-heptane-, 1,8-octane-, 1,9-nonane-, 1,10-decanediol and preferably 1,4-butanediol, dialkylene glycols having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, such as diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol and/or di- to tetrafunctional polyoxyalkylene polyols.

However, branched-chain and/or unsaturated alkanediols with usually no more than 12 carbon atoms are also suitable, such as 1,2-propanediol, 2-methyl-, 2,2-dimethyl-propanediol-1,3, 2-butyl-2-ethylpropanediol-1,3, butene-2-diol-1,4 and butyne-2-diol-1,4, diesters of terephthalic acid with glycols with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, such as terephthalic acid bis-ethylene glycol or butanediol-1,4, hydroxyalkylene ethers of hydroquinone or resorcinol, such as 1,4-di-(b-hydroxyethyl)-hydroquinone or 1,3-di(b-hydroxyethyl)-resorcinol, alkanolamines with 2 to 12 carbon atoms, such as ethanolamine, 2-Aminopropanol and 3-amino-2,2-dimethylpropanol, N-alkyldialkanolamines, such as N-methyl- and N-ethyl-diethanolamine.

Examples of higher-functional crosslinking agents (bl) include tri- and higher-functional alcohols, such as glycerin, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and trihydroxycyclohexanes, as well as trialkanolamines, such as triethanolamine.

The following can be used as chain extenders: alkyl-substituted aromatic polyamines with molecular weights preferably from 122 to 400, in particular primary aromatic diamines which have at least one alkyl substituent in the ortho position to the amino groups, which reduces the reactivity of the amino group by steric hindrance, which are liquid at room temperature and react with the higher molecular weight, preferably at least difunctional compounds (b) under the conditions

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 . ... 0.2t, 00.50/5310Q DE

working conditions are at least partially, but preferably completely miscible.

To produce the moldings according to the invention, the technically readily accessible 1,3,5-triethyl-2,4-phenylenediamine, l-methyl-3,5-diethyl-2,4-phenylenediamine, mixtures of 1-methyl-3,5-diethyl-2,4- and -2,6-phenylenediamines, so-called DETDA, isomer mixtures of 3,3'-di- or 3,3',5,5'-tetraalkyl-substituted 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethanes with 1 to 4 C atoms in the alkyl radical, in particular 3,3',5,5'-tetraalkyl-substituted 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethanes containing methyl, ethyl and isopropyl radicals, and mixtures of the aforementioned tetraalkyl-substituted 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethanes and DETDA can be used.

To achieve special mechanical properties, it may also be expedient to use the alkyl-substituted aromatic polyamines in a mixture with the aforementioned low molecular weight polyhydric alcohols, preferably di- and/or trihydric alcohols or dialkylene glycols.

However, aromatic diamines are preferably not used. The products according to the invention are therefore preferably prepared in the absence of aromatic diamines.

The preparation of the cellular polyisocyanate polyaddition products can preferably be carried out in the presence of water (c). The water acts both as a crosslinker to form urea groups and as a blowing agent due to the reaction with isocyanate groups to form carbon dioxide. Due to this dual function, it is listed separately from (e) and (b) in this document. By definition, components (b) and (e) therefore do not contain any water, which by definition is listed exclusively as (e).

The amounts of water which can be used are advantageously from 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.3 to 3.0% by weight, based on the weight of component (b). The water can be used completely or partly in the form of the aqueous solutions of the sulfonated fatty acids.

To accelerate the reaction, generally known catalysts (d) can be added to the reaction mixture both during the preparation of a prepolymer and optionally during the reaction of a prepolymer with a crosslinking component. The catalysts <d) can be added individually or in admixture with one another. These are preferably metal-

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008. ,. O.&zgr;, 0Q50/52100 DE

organic compounds such as tin(II) salts of organic carboxylic acids, e.g. tin(II) dioctoate, tin(II) dilaurate, dibutyltin diacetate and dibutyltin dilaurate and tertiary amines such as tetramethylethylenediamine, N-methylmorpholine, diethylbenzylamine, triethylamine, dimethylcyclohexylamine, diazabicyclooctane, N,N'-dimethylpiperazine, N-methyl,N'-(4-N-dimethylamino)butylpiperazine, &Ngr;,&Ngr;,&Ngr;',N" ,&Ngr;''-pentamethyldiethylenediamine or similar.

Other possible catalysts are: amidines, such as:

2,3-Dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine, tris-(dialkylaminoalkyl)-s-hexahydrotriazines, in particular tris-(ν,ν-dimethylaminopropyl)-s-hexahydrotriazine, tetraalkylammonium hydroxides, such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide, alkali hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, and alkali alcoholates, such as sodium methylate and potassium isopropylate, and alkali salts of long-chain fatty acids with 10 to 20 C atoms and optionally pendant OH groups.

Depending on the reactivity to be set, the catalysts (d) are used in amounts of 0.001 to 0.5 wt.%, based on the prepolymer.

If necessary, blowing agents(s) customary in polyurethane production can be used. Suitable examples are low-boiling liquids which evaporate under the influence of the exothermic polyaddition reaction. Suitable liquids are those which are inert towards the organic polyisocyanate and have boiling points below 100 ^° C. Examples of such liquids that are preferably used are halogenated, preferably fluorinated hydrocarbons, such as methylene chloride and dichloromonofluoromethane, per- or partially fluorinated hydrocarbons, such as trifluoromethane, difluoromethane, difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane and heptafluoropropane, hydrocarbons, such as n- and iso-butane, n- and iso-pentane and the technical mixtures of these hydrocarbons, propane, propylene, hexane, heptane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane and cyclohexane, dialkyl ethers, such as dimethyl ether, diethyl ether and furan, carboxylic acid esters, such as methyl and ethyl formate, ketones, such as acetone, and/or fluorinated and/or perfluorinated, tertiary alkylamines, such as perfluorodimethylisopropylamine. Mixtures of these low-boiling liquids with one another and/or with other substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbons can also be used.

The most suitable amount of low-boiling liquid for the production of such cell-containing elastic moldings from elastomers containing urea groups depends on the

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 20010008 _{&bgr; it} OZ 0Q50/5210Q DE

Density that is to be achieved and the amount of water preferably used. In general, amounts of 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 2 to 11% by weight, based on the weight of component (b), give satisfactory results. It is particularly preferred to use only water (c) as a blowing agent.

In the production of the molded parts according to the invention, auxiliary substances and additives (f) can be used. These include, for example, generally known surface-active substances, hydrolysis inhibitors, fillers, antioxidants, cell regulators, flame retardants and dyes. Suitable surface-active substances are compounds which serve to support the homogenization of the starting materials and are optionally also suitable for regulating the cell structure. Examples of additional compounds with an emulsifying effect in addition to the emulsifiers according to the invention include the salts of fatty acids with amines, e.g. diethyl oleate, diethanolamine stearic acid, diethanolamine ricinoleic acid, salts of sulfonic acids, e.g.

Alkali or ammonium salts of dodecylbenzene or dinaphthylmethanedisulfonic acid. Foam stabilizers such as ethoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, paraffin oils, castor oil or ricinoleic acid esters, Turkey red oil and peanut oil and cell regulators such as paraffins and fatty alcohols can also be used as (f). Polysiloxanes and/or fatty acid sulfonates can also be used. Generally known compounds can be used as polysiloxanes, for example polymethylsiloxanes, polydimethylsiloxanes and/or polyoxyalkylene silicone copolymers. The polysiloxanes preferably have a viscosity at 25°C of 20 to 2000 MPas.

Generally known sulfonated fatty acids, which are also commercially available, can be used as fatty acid sulfonates. Sulfonated castor oil is preferably used as the fatty acid sulfonate.

The surface-active substances are usually used in amounts of 0.01 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of components (b).
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Claims (8)

1. Spring element based on a hollow cylindrical damping element (i) based on polyisocyanate polyaddition products with a height (v) of 117 to 119 mm and a diameter (vi) of 51 mm, wherein the cavity in (i) has a diameter (vii) of 12 to 14 mm. 2. Spring element according to claim 1, characterized in that (i) on the outer surface has constrictions at a height of (viii) 98 mm to a diameter of (ix) 32 mm, at a height of (x) 79 mm to a diameter (xi) of 34 mm, at a height of (xii) 59 mm to a diameter (xiii) of 36 mm, at a height of (xiv) 38 mm to a diameter (xv) of 39 mm and at a height of (xvi) 9 mm to a diameter (xvii) of 45. 3. Spring element according to claim 1 based on cellular polyurethane elastomers. 4. Spring element according to claim 1 based on cellular polyurethane elastomers with a density according to DIN 53420 of 200 to 1100, a tensile strength according to DIN 53571 of 2 N/mm ² , an elongation according to DIN 53571 of ≥ 300% and a tear resistance according to DIN 53515 of ≥ 8 N/mm. 5. Spring construction comprising a damping element (i) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and furthermore a pot (ii) in which the upper part of (i) is located, a ring (iii) inserted in a part of the cavity of (i) and a protective tube (iv). 6. Spring construction according to claim 5 having a height (xviii) of 250 to 255 mm and a diameter (xix) of 70 to 75 mm. 7. Automobiles containing spring elements according to one of claims 1 to 4. 8. Automobiles comprising a spring construction according to claims 5 or 6.