Linkage component

• US 4,887,486 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Wood, Ruey E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US07/158,927
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 74/588, 74/579 R, 74/586, 74/587, 403/56, 403/377, 403/139, 403/43, 403/141, 403/122, 403/132, 403/140, 403/77, 29/156.5 A, 280/95 R
• US Class Current: 74/588
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/422 Links for mounting suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/012 Hollow or tubular elements
• 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 2206/1112 Manually, for alignment purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/722 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/81 Shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8208 by hemming or seaming, e.g. by folding of the rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/20 Links, e.g. track rods means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0619 the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/05 Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns in general B62D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/02 Constructions of connecting-rods with constant length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32786 Divided socket-type coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2142 Pitmans and connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2153 Sheet metal type

Abstract

A linkage component includes a rod portion. The rod portion of the linkage component includes a tubular inner layer and a tubular outer layer which is coaxial with and encloses the tubular inner layer. An inner surface of the tubular outer layer circumferentially abuts an outer surface of the tubular inner layer along at least a major portion of the axial extent of the rod portion. The double-layered rod portion of the linkage component has a relatively large section modulus.

Claims

1. A component for use in a vehicle linkage, said component comprising:

a joint portion, said joint portion including a housing and a stud which is at least partially enclosed by said housing, means in said housing for supporting said stud for pivotal movement relative to said housing, said housing including a first side section and a second side section which is connected to said first side section, said first and second side sections having flange portions one of which is folded over the other to interconnect said first and second side sections, said stud extending through an opening in one of said side sections; and

a rod portion having a double-layered wall over a major portion of its circumferential extent and including a tubular inner layer and a tubular outer layer which is coaxial with said tubular inner layer, said tubular outer layer defining a substantially closed chamber therein and enclosing said tubular inner layer in said chamber, said tubular outer layer of said rod portion and said first side section of said housing comprising one piece, and said tubular inner layer of said rod portion and said second side section of said housing comprising one piece.

2. A component as set forth in claim 1 further including a second joint portion, said second joint portion including a second housing and a second stud, means in said second housing for supporting said second stud for pivotal movement relative to said second housing, said second housing including a third side section and a fourth side section which is connected with said third side section, said third and fourth side sections having flange portions one of which is folded over the other to interconnect said third and fourth side sections, said tubular inner layer of said rod portion being formed as one piece with said fourth side section of saId second housing and said tubular outer layer of said rod portion being formed as one piece with said third side section of said second housing, said second stud extending through an opening in one of said side sections of said second housing.

3. A component as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second stud includes a second head end and a second shank extending from said second head end through said opening in one of said side sections of said second housing.

4. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular inner layer has a cylindrical inner side surface area which is at least partially threaded.

5. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular outer layer has a cylindrical outer side surface area which is at least partially threaded.

6. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular inner layer includes an outer side surface and said tubular outer layer includes an inner side surface, said outer side surface of said tubular inner layer being disposed in abutting engagement with said inner side surface of said tubular outer layer for at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion.

7. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular inner layer has a cylindrical configuration throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion and said outer layer has a cylindrical configuration throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion.

8. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular inner layer has arcuate, major side surfaces and a pair of flat, minor side surfaces which are disposed in a side-by-side relationship throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion, said tubular outer layer having arcuate, major side surfaces and a pair of flat, minor side surfaces which are disposed in a side-by-side relationship throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion and are disposed on a side of said rod portion opposite from said minor side surfaces of said tubular inner layer.

9. A component as set forth in claim 8 wherein one of said arcuate, major side surfaces of said tubular inner layer is disposed in abutting engagement with one of said arcuate, major side surfaces of said tubular outer layer from said minor side surfaces of said tubular inner layer to said minor side surfaces of said outer layer.

10. A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular inner and outer layers are cylindrical throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion, at least a major portion of said tubular inner layer being enclosed by said tubular outer layer throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion.

11. A component for use in a vehicle linkage, said component comprising:

a first pivot joint, said first pivot joint including a first housing, said first housing including a first side section and a second side section which is connected with said first side section, said first and second side sections having flange portions one of which is folded over the other to interconnect said first and second side sections, said first pivot joint further including a first stud which is at least partially enclosed by said first housing and means in said first housing for supporting said first stud for pivotal movement relative to said first housing, said first stud including a head end and a shank extending from said head end through said first side section of said first housing;

a second pivot joint, said second pivot joint including a second housing, said second housing including a third side section and a fourth side section which is connected with said third side section, said third and fourth side sections having flange portions one of which is folded over the other to interconnect said third and fourth side sections, said second pivot joint further including a second stud which is at least partially enclosed by said second housing and means in said second housing for supporting said second stud for pivotal movement relative to said second housing, said second stud including a head end and a shank extending from said head end through said third side section of said second housing; and

a rod portion having a double-layered wall over a major portion of its circumferential extent and including a tubular inner layer and a tubular outer layer which is coaxial with and encloses at least a major portion of said tubular inner layer throughout at least a major portion of the axial extent of said rod portion, said tubular outer layer defining a substantially closed chamber therein and enclosing said tubular inner layer in said chamber, said tubular inner layer of said rod portion being formed as one piece with a first one of said first and second side sections of said first housing and with a first one of said third and fourth side sections of said second housing, said tubular outer layer of said rod portion being formed as one piece with a second one of said first and second side sections of said first housing and with a second one of said third and fourth side sections of said second housing.