Transverse link on a motor vehicle

• US 8,651,504 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gerhards, Thomas, Frantzen, Michael Johannes, David, Wolfgang, Beyer, Martina, Sander, Karsten, Klostermeier, Karsten, Simon, Marc, Scheper, Frank, Wohlers, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US13/139,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20110272911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.134, 280/124.135, 280/124.136, 280/124.153
• US Class Current: 280/124.134
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/1424 the lateral arm having an L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/41 Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/016 allowing controlled deformation during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/122 the arm having L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/7102 Aluminium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8101 by casting
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (3) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region (6) for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body (2) having at least one wheel limb (8).

In order largely to avoid destruction of the journal connection of the transverse link to a hub carrier if the wheel hits a curbstone, for example, the proposal is to provide a transitional region (19), which is arranged between the wheel limb (8) and the further fixing region (6), the transitional region (19) being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone (21) acting in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the wheel limb (8) is formed.

Claims

1. A transverse link having a main body, which has at least one first fixing region for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body having at least one wheel limb, the transverse link comprising:

a transitional region, which is arranged between the wheel limb and the further fixing region, the transitional region being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone acting in the longitudinal direction of the wheel limb is formed,

wherein the transitional region tapers continuously without a step to a limiting cross-sectional area from the side of said region oriented toward the wheel limb in the direction of the further fixing region.

2. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body has raised webs surrounding a flat base, with the result that the main body has an H-profile when viewed in cross section, the raised webs being continued into the transitional region and tapering to a limiting cross-sectional area in the direction of the further fixing region.

3. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transitional region is embodied with a curved profile, having a first web and a second web adjoining the first web, a zenith being arranged between the two webs.

4. The transverse link as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first web of the transitional region deviates from a base plane, and the adjoining second web of said region returns in the direction of the base plane.

5. The transverse link as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transitional region is of v-shaped design, the two webs thereof being oriented in opposite direction.

6. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transitional region is embodied in such a way that the center line of the further fixing region is arranged at an angle to a center line of the wheel limb.

7. The transverse link as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angle is an acute angle.

8. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1, which is formed from a relatively light metal.

9. The transverse link as claimed in claim 8, wherein the link is formed from aluminum.

10. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side of the region oriented toward the wheel limb has a relatively greater cross-sectional area and the transitional region tapers in the direction of the further fixing region to the region having the limiting cross-sectional area, the limiting cross-sectional area having a relatively smaller cross-sectional area.

11. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transition region has a first portion extending from the wheel limb away from a center line of the wheel limb, and a second portion connected to an end of the first portion and extending back toward the center line and toward the further fixing region.

12. The transverse link as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transitional region also tapers in a transverse direction of said transitional region.

13. A transverse link having a main body, which has at least one first fixing region for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body having at least one wheel limb, the transverse link comprising:

a transitional region, which is arranged between the wheel limb and the further fixing region, the transitional region being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone acting in the longitudinal direction of the wheel limb is formed,

wherein the transitional region tapers to a limiting cross-sectional area in the region of a first web of the transitional region and, after reaching the limiting cross-sectional area, the transitional region is continued with this cross-sectional area in the direction of the further fixing region.

14. The transverse link as claimed in claim 13, wherein the main body has raised webs surrounding a flat base, with the result that the main body has an H-profile when viewed in cross section, the raised webs being continued into the transitional region and tapering to a limiting cross-sectional area in the direction of the further fixing region.

15. A transverse link having a main body, which has at least one first fixing region for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body having at least one wheel limb, the transverse link comprising:

a transitional region, which is arranged between the wheel limb and the further fixing region, the transitional region being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone acting in the longitudinal direction of the wheel limb is formed, wherein the main body has raised webs surrounding a flat base, and wherein the raised webs taper uniformly in the transitional region and in a direction toward the further fixing region, to a fraction of an original web height on one or both sides of the base.