Transverse control arm, and method for producing a transverse control arm

• US 9,233,587 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Original Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Inventors: Korte, Frederic, Meyer, Stephan, Rackow, Volker, Rieskamp, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/910,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.134, 298/972, 722/54
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/90 axle-housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/11 the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/722 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8103 by folding or bending
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/40 Linear dimensions, e.g. length, radius, thickness, gap
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/60 Thickness, e.g. thickness of coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/70 Diameters; Radii
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/05 Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/02 Constructions of connecting-rods with constant length
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/08 made from sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A transverse control arm for installation in a motor vehicle is being configured as a single-piece malleable structure of uniform material and includes two bearing mounts for receiving elastic bearings and an arcuate center portion which extends between the bearing mounts and has a hollow cross section. The center portion includes in cross section a web and side panels respectively extending from the web in spaced-apart confronting relationship, in particular in parallel relationship.

Claims

1. A transverse control arm for installation in a motor vehicle, said transverse control arm being configured as a single-piece malleable sheet metal part of uniform material and comprising:

a maximum of two bearing mounts spaced apart along a longitudinal extent of the transverse control arm;

elastic bearings received in the bearing mounts, respectively; and

an arcuate center portion extending between the bearing mounts, said center portion including a web which in a longitudinal cross section has an arcuate configuration along a longitudinal extent to thereby form the center portion with an open hollow cross section, said web.

2. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the bearings are rubber bearings or rubber-metal bearings.

3. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the side panels extend from the web in parallel spaced-apart confronting relationship.

4. The transverse control arm of claim 3, wherein the side panels have ends disposed in opposing relationship to the web and having at least one region provided with a reinforcing edge, with the reinforcing edge of one of the opposing ends and the reinforcing end of the other one of the opposing ends preferably oriented in a direction towards one another.

5. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein each of the bearing mounts is configured in the form of a mounting eye.

6. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein each of the bearing mounts is configured in the form of two mounting eyes in parallel relationship.

7. The transverse control arm of claim 5, wherein the mounting eye includes a through-passage formed with a collar.

8. The transverse control arm of claim 6, wherein the mounting eyes have each a through-passage formed with a collar, with the collar of one of the mounting eyes and the collar of the other one of the mounting eyes oriented in a same direction or in opposite direction.

9. The transverse control arm of claim 5, wherein the mounting eye has an opening plane oriented in a plane with the side panels.

10. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the center portion has a recessed zone to define a valley having a low point lying below the bearing mounts.

11. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the single-piece malleable structure is a steel member.

12. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the single-piece malleable structure has a wall thickness which varies at least in part at least in one direction selected from the group consisting of axial direction and radial direction.

13. The transverse control arm of claim 4, wherein the side panels of the center portion have at least one of recesses, openings, and reinforcing geometries.

14. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein the bearings are press-fitted in the bearing mounts.

15. The transverse control arm of claim 1, wherein each of the bearing mounts is configured in the form of a circular mounting eye.

16. The transverse control arm of claim 11, wherein the steel member is a hot-formed and press-hardened part.

17. The transverse control arm of claim 11, wherein the single-piece malleable structure is a light metal member.

18. The transverse control arm of claim 4, wherein the side panels of the center portion have embossments.