SUSPENSION STRUT FORK AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SUSPENSION STRUT FORK

Abstract

A suspension strut fork that has an upper portion which is constructed in an integral, materially uniform manner in the form of a suspension strut receiving member. Members and fork arms protrude therefrom in an integral, materially uniform manner. A gap is provided between the members. Via this gap, the members can be moved toward each other so that a resilient and/or damper element which is arranged in the suspension strut receiving member is securely clamped.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A suspension strut fork for a motor vehicle axle, the suspension strut fork comprising an integral materially uniform component, the integral materially uniform component comprising: an upper central suspension strut receiving member; and fork arms which connect integrally to the suspension strut receiving member, wherein the suspension strut receiving member is cylindrical, wherein the suspension strut receiving member has a longitudinal slot between two mutually parallel members, and wherein the parallel members protrude integrally and in a materially uniform manner from the suspension strut receiving member and bend outward, so that a resilient or damper element is insertable in the suspension strut receiving member and is retainable in the suspension strut receiving member in a non-positive-locking manner by a securing element engageable through the parallel members.

12. The suspension strut fork according to claim 11, wherein the integral materially uniform component comprises an aluminum alloy.

13. The suspension strut fork according to claim 11, wherein an inner covering face of the suspension strut receiving member or a gap between the parallel members is mechanically reprocessed.

14. The suspension strut fork according to claim 11, wherein the fork arms in an upper length portion have a semi-circular cross-section.

15. The suspension strut fork according to claim 11, further comprising a metal insert arranged on at least one connection location of the fork arms.

16. A method of producing a suspension strut fork according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises: processing a tubular member using cutting technology into two semi-finished products, wherein each of the two semi-finished products has a cylindrical upper portion and two arms protruding from the upper portion, and for a semi-finished product of the two semi-finished products, producing an outer fold on the upper portion by reducing a diameter of the upper portion, to obtain the two parallel members protruding from the upper portion, separating the two parallel members, and processing the arms into the fork arms using bending technology.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising producing the tubular member by extrusion from a light metal material.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the tubular member comprises a circular cross-section.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the processing of the arms using the bending technology comprises at least one of shaping the arms over a longitudinal extent thereof, or shaping a cross-section of the arms.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising reprocessing, in a machining manner, faces of the parallel members which face each other.

21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising reprocessing individual faces or holes of the suspension strut fork.

22. A method of producing a suspension strut fork, the method comprising: cutting a tubular member into two semi-finished products, wherein each of the two semi-finished products has a cylindrical upper portion and two arms protruding from the upper portion, and for a semi-finished product of the two semi-finished products, producing an outer fold on the upper portion by reducing a diameter of the upper portion, to obtain two parallel members protruding from the upper portion, separating the two parallel members, and bending the arms into fork arms, to obtain the suspension strut fork.

23. The suspension strut fork according to claim 15, wherein the metal insert comprises steel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Other features, properties and aspects of the present disclosure are set out in the following description. These Figures serve to provide a simple understanding of the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a suspension strut fork according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure as two different perspective views,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the introduction of an insert according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure,

[0038] FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E show the sequence of a production method according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure,

[0039] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a shaping tool during the production of an outer fold according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for components which are identical or similar, even if the description is not repeated for reasons of simplification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The suspension strut fork 1 has a central suspension strut receiving member 2 which is located at the top with respect to the subsequent installation position. The suspension strut receiving member 2 itself is constructed in a cylindrical manner. This member has an inner covering face 3 in order to receive at that location a resilient and/or damper element which is not illustrated in greater detail. Two webs or members 4 protrude laterally from the cylinder shape. A gap 5 is formed between the members 4. The members 4 have receiving holes 6. A securing means which is not illustrated in greater detail, for example, a screw bolt, may be inserted so as to engage through the receiving holes 6 and consequently the members 4. By tightening the screw bolt, the members 4 are then moved toward each other and a resilient and/or damper element which is arranged in the suspension strut receiving member 2 is/are additionally fixed in a non-positive-locking manner. The inner covering face 3 itself may be reprocessed mechanically so that a higher level of precision is predetermined, for example, reprocessed in a machining manner.

[0042] The members 4 are constructed integrally in a materially uniform manner on the suspension strut receiving member 2. The same applies for two fork arms 7. The fork arms 7 extend in the longitudinal direction L from the suspension strut receiving member 2. The fork arms 7 are also constructed integrally in a materially uniform manner on the suspension strut receiving member 2. In an upper portion, consequently in a portion which begins directly on the suspension strut receiving member 2, the fork arms 7 themselves are constructed substantially in the form of a semi-circular portion. At a lower end 8 of the fork arms 7, the fork arms 7 are constructed to be flat in cross-section. The inserts 9 which are illustrated in this instance may be provided, for example, comprising a steel material, so that for receiving or coupling to a suspension strut which is not illustrated in greater detail a higher level of robustness is provided here.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows by way of example the introduction of such an insert 9 in the region of the lower end 8 of a fork arm 7. The insert 9 may, for example, be constructed from a steel material.

[0044] The production method is illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E. Firstly, a tubular member 10 is provided. The tubular member 10 may itself be constructed as a circular pipe and, for example, be produced, by means of extrusion, from an aluminum alloy. A technical cutting processing operation is then carried out in order to form two semi-finished products 11 illustrated in FIG. 4B. In this instance, a respective upper portion 12 and two arms 13 which extend from the upper portion 12 are cut out. Two semi-finished products 11 are produced in a mirror-symmetrical manner from a tubular member 10.

[0045] The length L10 of the tubular member is in this instance defined by twice the length of the upper portion 12 and the length of an arm 13 and where applicable the cutting width of the separation gap produced in order to cut out the arms 13.

[0046] The placement in a shaping tool illustrated in FIG. 4D is then carried out. In FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E, the production progress on the component which is intended to be produced is shown. The shaping tools actually used are not illustrated for reasons of simplicity. The component consequently represents a production progress during or after completion of the production step described. In this instance, the upper portion 12 is reduced in terms of its diameter and an outer fold 14 is produced. The diameter of the tubular member 10 is consequently greater than the diameter of the upper portion 12. The diameter reduction consequently forms the possibility for producing the outer fold. The upper portion 12 is consequently bent over to form the suspension strut receiving member 2. The outer fold 14 is subsequently, but as not yet shown in FIG. 4D and FIG. 4E, separated at the outer end 15 thereof so that the two members 4 are constructed. The arms 7 are processed using shaping technology so that the fork arms 7 are produced. According to FIG. 4E, there is then carried out another technical cutting processing operation, for example, of the ends 8 in order to produce connection locations 18.

[0047] FIG. 4D and FIG. 4E further illustrate in each case the direct further processing of the two semi-finished products 11 to form two suspension strut forks 1. However, after the production of two semi-finished products 11, only one semi-finished product 11 can also always be further processed. After FIG. 4E, other method steps are carried out but are not illustrated. These are the separation of the outer end 15 of the outer fold 14 so that, as a result of the double layer of the outer fold 14, the two members 4 are constructed. There is also another, for example, machining processing operation and the production of a connection location 18 by the subsequent members, which is, however, not illustrated for reasons of simplicity.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a combined shaping tool for processing the semi-finished product 11 using shaping technology. The front upper portion 12 is in this instance provided with an inner feeder 16 in such a manner that two external jaws 17 are pressed together, which is illustrated in FIG. 6, and consequently the outer fold 14 by reducing the diameter of the upper portion 12 is produced in the form of two outwardly protruding members 4. A visible rear portion of the shaping tool 19 is subsequently moved together again so that the arms are processed using shaping technology to form the fork arms 7.

[0049] The foregoing description of some embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The specifically described embodiments explain the principles and practical applications to enable one ordinarily skilled in the art to utilize various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.