A wheeled work vehicle (1) comprises a forward chassis part (4) and a rearward chassis part (5) pivotally connected about a substantially vertically extending primary pivot axis (7) for steering thereof. A pair of forward ground engaging wheels (29) are carried on a forward suspension unit (32), and a pair of rearward ground engaging wheels (30) are carried on a rearward suspension unit (33). The forward suspension unit (32) is pivotally connected to the forward chassis part (4) by a pair of main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) pivotally coupled to the forward chassis part (4) by corresponding main forward pivot mountings (65). The main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) defines a main forward transverse pivot axis (59) about which the forward suspension unit (32) is pivotal relative to the forward chassis part (4). The forward suspension unit (32) comprises a pair of spaced apart trailing arms (35) which are joined by a torsion shaft (68) of tubular steel, which is rigidly connected to the trailing arms (35). The torsion shaft (68) defines a torsional axis (70), and permits limited upward and downward pivotal type torsional deflection of the trailing arms (35) relative to each other. The rearward suspension unit (33) is substantially similar to the forward suspension unit (32) and is coupled to the rearward chassis part (5) about a pair of main rearward transverse pivot shafts (87) in a similar manner as the forward suspension unit (32) is coupled to the forward chassis part (4).

A traverse strut for use in a twist beam axle assembly is provided. The traverse strut extends along a length and presents a central section; a pair of end sections; and a pair of intermediate sections between the central section and the respective end sections. At least a portion of the central section has a first wall thickness, at least a portion of each end section has a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness and at least a portion of each intermediate section has a third wall thickness that is greater than the second wall thickness. Additionally, at least two of the central, intermediate and end sections is work hardened. The transverse strut has improved performance and lower weight as compared to other known transverse struts.

A torsion beam suspension capable of preventing an abrupt rigidity change in a connection part between a trailing arm and a torsion beam is provided. The present invention is characterized in that in a torsion beam suspension 100 in which to right and left trailing arms 50 extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body and swinging vertically, a torsion beam 16 extending in a right and left direction of the vehicle body is joined, two or more types of rigidity adjustment portions 15, 18, 24 and 25 which adjust a rigidity from the trailing arms to the torsion beam are disposed with positions of the rigidity adjustment portions displaced from each other.

The twist axle assembly includes a twist beam which is made of a single integral piece and extends along a length between opposite ends. The twist beam has a middle portion which extends in a first direction and a pair of end portions which extend at least partially in a second direction that is generally transverse to the first direction to reduce twisting stresses within the end portions during operation of the twist axle assembly.

A motor vehicle body has an underbody and a link, which at one end is pivotably connected to the underbody and at another end carries a wheel. The connection to the underbody includes an underbody-side bearing support, in which a link-side pin engages.

A method for producing a torsional profile from a tubular hollow profile, the torsional profile being provided, over its entire length, with spaced-apart walls, is provided. The method includes placing the tubular hollow profile into a first deformation die, positioning the ends of the tubular hollow profile in the first deformation die by means of in each case one tapering first mandrel which extends into a torsional region, positioning the tubular hollow profile over its longitudinal extent in the first deformation die, deforming the tubular hollow profile over its longitudinal extent in the torsional region by means of a first punch, with a reduction in the tube cross-sectional area in the torsional region, and removing the first punch and the first mandrels.

The invention relates to a twist-axle that includes a cross-beam member and two trailing arms, each trailing arm rigidly secured to the cross-beam member in one of two connection regions of the cross-beam member or formed integrally with and extending from one of the two connection regions. The cross-beam member is formed from a tubular blank and has a torsionally elastic central portion and two torsionally stiff connection regions. The cross-beam member has a wall thickness that varies longitudinally along the length of the cross-beam member from the torsionally elastic central portion to each of the torsionally stiff connection regions.

The twist axle assembly includes a pair of spaced apart trailing arms and a twist beam which is made of a single piece and is operably connected with the trailing arms. The twist beam has a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls. The twist beam presents a pair of end portions which are bent to present edges that face towards one another when viewed in cross-section, and the twist beam presents a middle portion which extends between the end portions. The middle portion has an opening with a generally elliptical shape formed into the bottom wall for reducing a torsion stiffness of the middle portion of the twist beam in comparison to the end portions.

A motor vehicle component is disclosed. The component is manufactured by hot forming die quenching a sheet metal blank made of a hardenable steel alloy, and the motor vehicle component is made of a triple-layer laminated steel and including a central layer of hardenable steel ally, and the outer layers of a stainless steel alloy.

A drivable torsion beam axle (2) with a transverse profiled element and trailing arms (1) connected, at each end, to the profiled element is described, within which, at least in some areas, a drive-train (7) is arranged in each case and by which the torsion beam axle (2) can be connected to a vehicle body. The trailing arms (1) are, in each case, made as two-component housing castings with a housing plane of division extending in the longitudinal direction.