SUSPENSION ARM CLAMPING PROCESS CONSISTING OF TWO LASER-WELDED, FORMED PARTS

Abstract

An application of the laser welding process in the joining of shaped and machined components for the production of a front suspension lower swing arm of automotive vehicles. This arm is composed of two shaped parts (4, 5), a tube with a larger circular section (9) for implantation of a cylindrical rubber bushing (2) coupled to a flanged region (6), a cylindrical pin (8) fixed to a cylindrical tube with a smaller circular section (7) to ensure connection of the pin with the shaped parts (4, 5), a bushing with fixing flanges (1), and one socket joint (3). Alternatively, a rubber bushing fixed in the vertical form (15), fixed by pressure in the housing in the already laser welded plates (4, 5) may be used instead of the cylindrical pin (8) fixed in a tube with smaller circular section (7) and a bushing with fixing flanges (1).

Claims

1) A suspension arm clamping procedure consisting of two formed and laser-welded parts, comprising two symmetrical cold formed sheets (4, 5) fixed by laser welding (11) in a coupling region; a cylindrical pin (8), fixed to a tube of smaller circular cross-section (7) by laser welding (14), which in turn is fixed to the two symmetrical formed sheets by laser welding (12); a tube of larger circular cross-section (9), which is fixed to the two symmetrical formed sheets by laser welding (13), between the tube (9) and a flanged region at one end of the formed sheets (6);

2) The suspension arm clamping procedure consisting of two formed and laser-welded parts according to claim 1, wherein the flanged region (6) of the formed sheets that attaches to the tube of larger circular section (9), has its extremity lengthened so that the fixation device of the components, through laser welding, makes the correct positioning without the presence of empty space.

3) The suspension arm clamping procedure consisting of two formed and laser-welded parts according to claim 1, wherein by the clamping procedure, the cylindrical pin (8), the tube of smaller circular cross-section (7) wrapped around the pin, the tube of larger circular cross-section (9) are used as housing for a cylindrical shaped rubber bushing (2), a socket joint (3), and a bushing with clamping flanges (1).

4) The suspension arm clamping procedure consisting of two formed and laser-welded parts according to claim 1, wherein alternatively, and without altering the laser welding process, a rubber bushing fixed in the vertical form (15), fixed by pressure in housing in the already welded laser plates (4,5) is used instead of the cylindrical pin (8) fixed in a tube with a smaller circular section (7) and a bushing with fixing flanges (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The method of fixing the two-piece laser-welded shaped swing arm, object of this invention patent, can be better understood by referring to the accompanying figures, which are part of this specification and contain numerical references in conjunction with the description of its technical characteristics. Such figures do not restrict their configuration as to their dimensions, proportions and occasional types of materials inserted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the swing arm, where one may view each of its components.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the arm indicating where laser welding should take place.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the arm and its already laser welded components.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the arm and its already laser-welded components.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cylindrical pin (8) attached to a tube of smaller circular cross-section (7) by laser welding (14).

[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the suspension arm, in which it is possible to visualize its components, where alternatively, and without changing the laser welding process, a rubber bushing in a vertical form (15), by pressure in the housing on the shaped laser-welded plates (4,5), may also be used in the coupling region, replacing the cylindrical pin (8) fixed to a tube with a smaller circular cross-section (7), and a bushing with fixing flanges (1).

[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the arm and its already laser-welded components, using the alternative form of rubber bushing fixed in the vertical form.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a view of the horizontal sectional cut, in which it is possible to see the coupling area between the two formed sheets (4, 5).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With the application of this process, it was necessary to change the shape of the product to adapt the necessary requirements for the correct execution of the weld. Thus, there was an increase in the coupling area (10) between the two sheets formed to ensure a smaller empty space between the components. The tube with a smaller circular section (7) was created to intermediate and facilitate the joining process between the pin (8) and the formed sheets (4, 5). The flanged region (6) at one of the ends of the formed plates, which connects to the tube with a larger circular section (9), had its end lengthened so that the device to fix the components by means of welding could make the correct positioning, without there being empty space.

[0019] Alternatively, and without changing the laser welding process, the cylindrical pin (8) fixed to the tube with a smaller circular section (7) and a clamping flange bush (1) may be replaced with a rubber bush fixed in the vertical form (15), fixed by pressure in the already laser welded housing flanges (4, 5).

[0020] The resulting components of the forming process have dimensional and geometric tolerances that do not always match the requirements for the correct application of the laser welding process. Laser welding, as it is an autogenous joining process, requires a coupling of plates with low permissiveness of empty spaces. Thus, it is necessary to use devices that compensate for the dimensional variations resulting from the forming process so that the joining process is correctly executed. These devices are blocks machined in the nominal form of the part, compressed under the components themselves by high load actuators, forcing them to take the appropriate form for the application of welding, without the presence of voids.

[0021] The suspension arm is composed of two cold formed plates (4, 5), with a flanged region (6) in one of its extremities, a cylindrical pin (8), a tube of smaller circular section (7) wrapped to the aforementioned pin, a tube of larger circular section (9), laser welded (11, 12, 13, 14), used as housing for a cylindrical rubber bushing (2), a socket joint (3), and a bushing with clamping flanges (1), or optionally, in place of the cylindrical pin (8), a smaller circular cross-section tube (7) and a bushing with clamping flanges (1), a vertically clamped rubber bushing (15) can be used in the two already laser-welded shaped plates (4, 5). These components together form the final product, which is connected at two anchor points on the vehicle's crossbar and at one anchor point on the vehicle's baseplate, working in vertical oscillatory movements during its use.