CHASSIS COMPONENT WITH AT LEAST ONE CONNECTING SECTION FOR CONNECTING TO A MOUNTING SECTION OF A CHASSIS ELEMENT

Abstract

A chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22) with at least one connecting feature (8, 9) for connecting to a mounting section (2) of a chassis element (3) and including at least one positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) for automatic positioning of the mounting section (2) for the mounting of the chassis element (3) on the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22). To reduce the complexity and/or the costs for producing the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) of the component is formed as an integral part of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A chassis component comprising: at least one connecting feature (8, 9) for connecting to a mounting section (2) of a chassis element (3), at least one positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) for automatic positioning of the mounting section (2) for mounting the chassis element (3) on the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), and the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) being in a form of an integral part of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22).

12. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by at least one of a cut in a material of the chassis component and a deformation of a cut section of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22).

13. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) forms a projection for positioning the mounting section (2), and the projection has a contact area (16, 17) for positioning the mounting section (2).

14. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by one of a V-shaped, a C-shaped ora U-shaped embossment and/or pressed molding in a material of a section of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22).

15. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by a deformed sheet-metal strip, and the sheet-metal strip has at least one of a U-shaped cross-section and a contact area (16, 17) formed by a free end face of the sheet-metal strip for positioning the mounting section (2).

16. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) has a curved or circular-section shaped contact area (16, 17) for positioning and/or for interlocked holding of a cylindrical element and/or a cylindrical outer surface (6) of the mounting section (2).

17. The chassis component according to claim 11, wherein the connecting feature (8, 9) is in a form of a through-going opening for passing a separate fastening means (19) through and for connecting to the mounting section (2) of the chassis element (3).

18. The chassis component according to claim 11, further comprising U-shaped cross-section, wherein two connecting feature (8, 9) and two positioning and force introduction devices (10, 11) are formed on two sidewalls (12, 13) and spaced apart from one another, and the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22) is in the form of a sheet-metal control arm.

19. The chassis component according to claim 18, wherein the two positioning and force introduction devices (10, 11) at least one of: are formed mirror-symmetrically to one another, or extend over one another at least one of toward and into an inside space (15) of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22).

20. The chassis component according to claim 11, having the chassis element (3), the mounting section (2) of the chassis element (3) is arranged between a first connecting feature (8) and a second connecting feature (9) of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), a separate fastening means (19) extends through the first and second connecting features (8, 9) and through an inner joint portion (5) of the mounting section (2) of the chassis element (3), and the inner joint portion (5) is partially supported on a first positioning and force introduction device (10) and on a second positioning and force introduction device (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Below, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. In these, the same indexes denote the same, similar or functionally equivalent components or elements. The figures show:

[0018] FIG. 1: A detail of a chassis component according to the prior art,

[0019] FIG. 2: A perspective view of a detail of a sectioned first chassis component according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 3: A sectioned front view of the first chassis component according to the invention, shown in FIG. 2,

[0021] FIG. 4: A detail of a sectioned side view of the first chassis component according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,

[0022] FIG. 5: A sectioned front view of a second chassis component according to the invention,

[0023] FIG. 6: A detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the second chassis component according to the invention, shown in FIG. 5,

[0024] FIG. 7: A sectioned front view of a third chassis component according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 8: A detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the third chassis component according to the invention, shown in FIG. 7,

[0026] FIG. 9: A sectioned front view of a further chassis component according to the invention, and

[0027] FIG. 10: A detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the further chassis component according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a perspective view of a chassis component 100 according to the prior art. In this example embodiment the chassis component 100 is a control arm made from sheet metal. The chassis component 100 has an essentially U-shaped cross-section. Accordingly, the chassis component 100 has two sidewalls 101 and 102 a distance apart from one another. Between the sidewalls 101, 102 is arranged a base surface 103, away from which the sidewalls 101, 102 extend.

[0029] In the area of the first sidewall 101, the chassis component 100 has a first connecting feature 104 and opposite it, in the area of the second sidewall 102, there is a second connecting feature 105 for connecting with a mounting section (not shown here) of a chassis element. Such a chassis element can for example be in the form of a suspension strut. The two connecting features 104, 105 are in this case each in the form of through-going openings.

[0030] Furthermore, on the first sidewall 101 the chassis component 100 has a first positioning and force introduction device 106. A correspondingly formed second positioning and force introduction device 107 is arranged on the second sidewall 102 but cannot be seen here. The positioning and force introduction device 106 or 107 is in each case formed as an independent and separate component, which in this example embodiment is connected to the sidewalls 101 or 102 by clinching.

[0031] Thus, to form the positioning and force introduction device 106 or 107 a separate component must first be made and connected to the sidewall 101 or 102 in an independent working step. This results in undesired additional effort and undesired added cost.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows in perspective a detail of a partially sectioned first chassis component 1 according to the present invention. In this example embodiment the chassis component 1 is in the form of a sheet-metal control arm. The chassis component 1 is designed to be connected to a mounting section 2 of a chassis element 3. The mounting section 2 is arranged in the area of a free end of the chassis element 3. In this case the chassis element 3 is in the form of a suspension strut.

[0033] In this example embodiment the mounting section 2 consists of a joint 4. Accordingly, the mounting section 2 or joint 4 has an inner joint portion 5. The inner joint portion 5 extends out of the joint 4 on two sides remote from one another. Furthermore, at least in the area that extends out of the joint 4, the inner joint portion 5 has a cylindrical outer surface 6. The inner joint portion 5 has a through-going passage 7 which, in this example embodiment, is of hollow-cylindrical form.

[0034] The mounting section 2 or chassis element 3 is shown here in an end position relative to the chassis component 1 and is arranged for mounting of the chassis element 3 on the chassis component 1. In the said end position the through-going passage 7 is aligned with a first connecting feature 8 and a second connecting feature 9 (not visible here) of the chassis component 1. In this case the two connecting features 8 and 9 are opposite one another.

[0035] In addition, the chassis component 1 has a first positioning and force introduction device 10 and a second positioning and force introduction device 11 (not visible here). The structure and functional mode of the two positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are described in greater detail in the figures that follow.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a sectioned front view of the first chassis component 1 according to the invention as it is illustrated in FIG. 2. The chassis component 1 has an essentially U-shaped or U-like cross-section. The chassis component 1 has two sidewalls 12, 13 a distance apart from one another, and are connected to one another by means of a base surface 14 arranged between the two sidewalls 12, 13. The two sidewalls 12, 13 extend parallel to one another and essentially perpendicularly away from the base surface 14.

[0037] The two positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 serve for the automatic positioning of the mounting section 2 for the mounting of the chassis element 3 on the chassis component 1. In addition, during the intended use of the chassis component 1 in a chassis of a vehicle the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 serve to transmit forces introduced into the chassis component 1 by way of the chassis element 3 and the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11. In this case the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each in the form of an integral part or section of the chassis component 1.

[0038] In this example embodiment the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed by means of a cut in the material and by means of a deformation of an cut section of the chassis component 1. The positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to one another and shaped toward one another and into an inside space 15 of the chassis component 1. In that way the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 each form a projection for positioning the mounting section 2.

[0039] The positioning and force introduction device 10 or 11 each has a curved or circular-section shaped contact area 16 or 17, respectively. The cylindrical outer surface 6 of the inner joint portion 5 rests on the said contact areas 16 and 17. This determines the final position of the mounting section 2 or chassis element 3 when mounting it on the chassis component 1. In this final position the through-going passage 7 and the two connecting features 8, 9 are aligned with one another, so that a separate fastening means (not shown here) can be passed through the two connecting features 8, 9 and through the through-going passage 7 in order to mount the mounting section 2 onto the chassis component 1.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a sectioned side view of the first chassis component 1 according to the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The aligned arrangement of the first connecting feature 8 with the through-going passage 7 can be seen clearly. Moreover, the circular-section shaped structure of the contact area 16 can be seen.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a sectioned front view of a second chassis component 18 according to the invention. The same features are given the same indexes as before. Accordingly, reference should be made to the previous description.

[0042] In this example embodiment an additional fastening means 19 is shown, which extends through the two connecting features 8, 9 and the through-going passage 7 of the inner joint portion 5 in order to connect the mounting section 2 to the chassis component 18. The fastening means 19 in this example embodiment is in the form of a bolt secured by a separate nut 20. Such a fastening means can also be use with a chassis component according to FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0043] In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 to 4, in this example embodiment the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are formed exclusively by deforming in each case a section of the chassis component 18. Here, there is no need to cut through the material. Thus, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each in the form of embossed areas of the material of the respectively deformed section of the chassis component 18.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the second chassis component 18 according to the invention, as in FIG. 5 but without the mounting section 2. Here, it can be seen clearly that the positioning and force introduction device 10 and, corresponding thereto, the positioning and force introduction device 11 (which cannot be seen in this case) are each formed as an essentially V-shaped embossment in the material of the sidewalls 12 and 13 respectively.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a sectioned front view of a third chassis component 21. The same features are again given the same indexes as before, and accordingly reference should be made to the previous description.

[0046] In this example embodiment the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed by a deformed strip. In other words, the positioning and force introduction devices 10 and 11 are produced by deforming a section of the chassis component 21, namely a section of the sidewalls 12 and 13. The positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 or the respective deformed strips are U-shaped in cross-section. Free end faces of the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11, or of the correspondingly deformed strips, form the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 or the respective contact areas 16 and 17 for positioning the mounting section 2.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the third chassis component 21 according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, without the mounting section 2. Clearly to be seen is the circular-section shaped contact area 16 for the interlocked holding of the cylindrical outer surface 6 of the inner joint portion 5 shown in FIG. 7.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a sectioned front view of a further chassis component 22 according to the invention. The same features are again given the same indexes as before, and accordingly reference should be made to the previous description.

[0049] In this example embodiment the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are in the form of an embossed area in the material of a section of the chassis component, namely a section of the sidewalls 12 and 13 respectively.

[0050] FIG. 10 shows a detail of a sectioned perspective side view of the said further chassis component 22 according to the invention, without the mounting section 2. It can be seen clearly that the contact area 16 of the positioning and force introduction device 10 and, correspondingly, the contact area 17 (not visible) of the positioning and force introduction device 11 is straight, otherwise than in the previous example embodiments.

INDEXES

[0051] 1 Chassis component

[0052] 2 Mounting section

[0053] 3 Chassis element

[0054] 4 Joint

[0055] 5 Inner joint portion

[0056] 6 Cylindrical outer surface

[0057] 7 Through-going passage

[0058] 8 First connecting feature

[0059] 9 Second connecting feature

[0060] 10 First positioning and force introduction device

[0061] 11 Second positioning and force introduction device

[0062] 12 First sidewall

[0063] 13 Second sidewall

[0064] 14 Base surface

[0065] 15 Inside space

[0066] 16 Contact area

[0067] 17 Contact area

[0068] 18 Chassis component

[0069] 19 Fastening means

[0070] 20 Nut

[0071] 21 Chassis component

[0072] 22 Chassis component

[0073] 100 Chassis component

[0074] 101 Sidewall

[0075] 102 Sidewall

[0076] 103 Base surface

[0077] 104 First connecting feature

[0078] 105 Second connecting feature

[0079] 106 First positioning and force introduction device

[0080] 107 Second positioning and force introduction device