Twist beam axle assembly with lateral adjustability

• US 10,549,597 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Langworthy, Kevin Richard, Burris, Sten Ermond
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Keith J
• Application Number:
  US15/326,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 280124116, 280124166, 280124128
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/00 Axle units; Parts thereof steerable vehicle stub axles B62D ; Arrangements for lubrication of axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/004 Mounting arrangements for axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/006 with mounting plates or consoles fitted to axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/051 Trailing arm twist beam axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/053 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/21 Trailing arms connected by a torsional beam, i.e. twist-beam axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/22 Trailing arms connected by a straight torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/23 Trailing arms connected by a U-shaped torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/136 Twist-beam type arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/1362 including a second torsional element, e.g. second beam, stabiliser bar or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1226 on the trailing arms of a twist beam type arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1246 on twist beam axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/012 Hollow or tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/201 with detachable cross beam and/or torsion stabiliser bar/tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/203 with outwardly bent trailing arms to increase the width of the support or wheelbase
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8201 by welding

Abstract

A twist axle assembly (20) of a vehicle includes a pair of trailing arms (22) and a twist beam (24) having a base portion (46) extending along an axis (A) between first and second twist beam ends (42, 44). The twist beam (24) includes a pair of side walls (48) extending downwardly from the base portion (46) and each disposed in spaced relationship with the trailing arms (22). At least one mounting bracket (54) extends from a first mounting bracket end (56) disposed in abutting relationship with a respective trailing arm (22) to a second mounting bracket end (58) disposed in overlaying relationship the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) for allowing the mounting bracket to axially slip or slide along the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) and provide for lateral or axial adjustment of the twist axle assembly (20) during the manufacturing process.

Claims

1. A twist beam axle assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a pair of trailing arms;

a twist beam having a base portion extending along an axis between first and second twist beam ends disposed in overlaying relationship with a respective trailing arm;

said twist beam including a pair of side walls extending downwardly from said base portion and disposed in continuously spaced relationship with said pair of trailing arms between said base portion and a bottom edge of said pair of side walls to define a gap extending axially between said side walls of said twist beam and said pair of trailing arms; and

at least one mounting bracket extending from a first mounting bracket end disposed in abutting relationship with one of said trailing arms to a second mounting bracket end disposed in overlaying relationship with said side walls of said twist beam to cover said gap.

2. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting bracket includes a pair of side plates each disposed in abutting relationship with a respective side wall of said twist beam and each extending from said respective side wall in spaced and parallel relationship to one another between said first and second mounting bracket ends.

3. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one mounting bracket includes a base plate integral with and extending transversely between said pair of side plates to maintain said spaced and parallel relationship of said pair of side plates.

4. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said side plates include a notch disposed at said first mounting bracket ends in abutting or nesting relationship with a respective trailing arm.

5. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said pair of trailing arms each include a side portion and a bottom portion and said notch is L-shaped to define a vertical mounting surface disposed in abutting relationship with said side portion of a respective trailing arm and a horizontal mounting surface disposed in abutting relationship with said bottom portion of said respective trailing arm.

6. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a first weld extending along each of said first and second twist beam ends to secure said overlaid base portion of said twist beam with said trailing arms.

7. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a second weld extending along said first mounting bracket end to secure said at least one mounting bracket to said respective trailing arm; and

a third weld extending along said second mounting bracket end to secure said at least one mounting bracket to said pair of side walls for indirectly interconnecting said pair of trailing arms and said twist beam by way of said at least one mounting bracket to minimize a number of welding joints which extend directly between said twist beam and said pair of trailing arms.

8. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said side walls of said twist beam are tapered from said base portion to a bottom edge of said twist beam, and each of said side plates of said at least one mounting bracket are also tapered from said first mounting bracket end to said second mounting bracket end.

9. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said side walls extend transversely or perpendicularly from said base portion to a bottom edge of said twist beam.

10. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said side plates are U-shaped and overlay said side walls of said twist beam in concave relationship from said first mounting bracket end to said second mounting bracket end.

11. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a torsion bar disposed between said pair of side walls and extending in spaced and parallel relationship along said axis between a first torsion bar end and a second torsion bar end.

12. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a lower bracket attached to said pair of side plates and defining an opening for receiving said torsion bar therethrough.

13. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 12, where each of said trailing arms define a mounting orifice and said first and second ends of said torsion bar each are disposed in aligned and mating relationship with a respective mounting orifice to secure said torsion bar to said twist beam axle assembly.

14. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base portion presents an arcuate shape.

15. A twist beam axle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting bracket includes a pair of mounting brackets each extending from a first mounting bracket end disposed in abutting relationship with a respective trailing arm to a second mounting bracket end disposed in overlaying relationship with said side walls of said twist beam for allowing each of said pair of mounting brackets to axially slip or slide along said side walls of said twist beam when said pair of mounting brackets are initially mated therewith.