MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROL ARM, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROL ARM

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle control arm, like a wishbone, having an integral main body configured in a materially integral manner. A first bearing receptacle is connected to the main body. The main body has a first end portion having a second bearing receptacle, and a second end portion having a third bearing receptacle. The main body comprises a central portion. Said central portion connects the first and the second end portion. The central portion is configured as a cavity profile. The second and the third bearing receptacle are configured integrally and in a materially integral manner from the main body.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A motor vehicle control arm, comprising: an integral main body configured in a materially integral manner, a first bearing receptacle connected to the main body, wherein the main body comprises a first end portion having a second bearing receptacle, and a second end portion having a third bearing receptacle, and a central portion connecting said first and second end portions, and wherein the second and the third bearing receptacles are configured integrally and in a materially integral manner from the main body, and the central portion has a cavity profile.

25. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein the main body has two flanges for receiving the first bearing receptacle, the two flanges projecting in a parallel and mutually spaced apart manner from the cavity profile.

26. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein the first bearing receptacle comprises a material that is dissimilar to that of the main body.

27. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein the main body has a curved shape.

28. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 25, wherein the flanges are provided on a convex side of the main body.

29. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, further comprising a band connecting the second and the third bearing receptacles and provided on a concave side of the main body.

30. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the second and the third bearing receptacles is a receptacle for a ball joint.

31. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the second and the third bearing receptacles is a receptacle for a rubber bearing.

32. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the second and the third bearing receptacles is configured as a post.

33. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 24, wherein the main body is produced from an extruded profile.

34. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 33, wherein the extruded profile comprises at least three portions that are mutually contiguous transversely to the extruding direction.

35. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 34, wherein the at least three portions of the extruded profile comprise: a first portion having two collars which are disposed in a mutually parallel and spaced apart manner and which have free ends thereof pointing away from the extruded profile, a second portion which has at least one cavity chamber, and a third portion which is configured as a solid block.

36. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 25, wherein the flanges are configured from the collars.

37. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 35, wherein the cavity profile is configured from the at least one cavity chamber.

38. The motor vehicle control arm according to claim 35, wherein the second and the third bearing receptacles are configured from the solid block.

39. A process for producing a motor vehicle control arm, the process comprising: extruding a continuous aluminum profile which, transversely to the extruding direction, comprises the following mutually contiguous portions: a first portion having two collars which are disposed in a mutually parallel and spaced apart manner and which have free ends thereof pointing away from the extruded profile, a second portion which has at least one cavity chamber, and a third portion which is configured as a solid block; cutting the profile to length; bending the cut profile such that the first portion is curved in a concave manner, and the third portion is curved in a convex manner; and mechanically machining the bent profile for configuring a main body of the control arm.

40. The process according to claim 39, wherein the main body having a first end portion having a second bearing receptacle, and a second end portion having a third bearing receptacle, and a central portion connecting said first and second end portions, is configured upon said cutting.

41. The process to claim 40, wherein the second and the third bearing receptacles are configured from the solid block of the third portion, at least one of the second bearing receptacle or the third bearing receptacle is configured as a recess or a post, the central portion is configured from the at least one cavity chamber of the second portion, and flanges for receiving a first bearing receptacle are configured from the collars of the first portion.

42. The process according to claim 39, further comprising: non-releasably coupling a first bearing receptacle to the main body.

43. The process according to claim 39, wherein a band connecting the second and the third bearing receptacles are configured from the solid block.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] For an understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wishbone in a first perspective;

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a wishbone in a second perspective;

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a wishbone;

[0051] FIG. 4 shows an extruded profile for producing a wishbone according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the extruded profile superimposed with the provided main body of the motor vehicle control arm.

[0053] In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components, even though a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] A control arm (1) which is produced from an extruded aluminum profile (16) is illustrated in FIG. 1. Said control arm (1) has a main body (2) to which a first bearing receptacle (3) is non-releasably coupled. The coupling is enabled by two parallel and mutually spaced apart flanges (4) which are connected integrally and in a materially integral manner to the main body (2) on the convex side of the latter. Said flanges (4) have at least one aperture (5) for fixing the bearing receptacle (3). The aperture is then penetrated by a screw, a bolt, or another connection element. The bearing receptacle (3) can be made of a material other than that of the main body.

[0055] The control arm has a first end portion (6) having a second bearing receptacle (7), and a second end portion (8) having a third bearing receptacle (9). The end portions (6, 8) are formed from a solid material. A solid material here describes a region which in terms of the entire volume thereof is made of the extruded material and does not have any cavities. The bearing receptacles (7, 9) are incorporated in the control arm (1) by cutting, milling, punching, or boring. The end portions (6, 8) are adapted to the respective installation space in the vehicle by way of final mechanical machining. The end portions (6, 8) are connected to one another in an integral and materially integral manner by way of a central portion (10). The central portion (10) is formed from a cavity profile (12) and on the concave side has a band (11), likewise made of the solid material.

[0056] Such a control arm (1) from FIG. 1 is shown in a rear view in FIG. 2. It can be readily seen here that the central portion (10) comprises a cavity profile (12) and has a curved shape. A band (11) from the solid material, which is connected to the central portion in a materially integral and integral manner, is provided on the concave side of the central portion. Two parallel and mutually spaced apart flanges (4) are disposed on the convex side in the region of the saddle point, and a first bearing receptacle (3) can be non-releasably coupled between said flanges. At least one aperture (5) in the flanges serves for fixing the first bearing receptacle. On account thereof, the first bearing receptacle (3) can be coupled to the main body (2) with the aid of screws, bolts, and/or rivets. The first bearing receptacle has a cylindrical hollow shape (3.1) in which a bearing is incorporated. The cylindrical hollow member (3.1) in a materially integral and integral manner is equipped with a connection region (3.2). Said region is brought between the flanges (4) and there is non-releasably coupled to the main body.

[0057] The central portion (10) is cut so as to be oblique in the direction of the end portions (6, 8) such that the cavity profile (12) extends across the central portion, and the solid material is present in the end portions (6, 8).

[0058] For reducing weight, the control arm (1) has recesses (13) in the region of the central portion (10). The recesses (13) of this type can also be incorporated in the band (11) in the regions of the end portions (20), this not being illustrated in more detail here. Said recesses (13) are generated by punching, milling, or boring. The incorporation of corrugations (14) in the central portion (10) is also possible for additional reinforcement.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a further example embodiment of the control arm (1). Said control arm (1) has the same features as the control arm (1) illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. By contrast thereto, the third bearing receptacle (9) in the second end portion (8) is however embodied as a post (15). Said post (15), made of solid material, serves as a bearing pin.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows the extruded profile (16) according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure from which the control arm (1) is made. Said extruded profile (16) transversely to the extrusion direction has three mutually contiguous portions. A first portion (17) has two collars (4.1, 4.2) which are disposed in a mutually parallel and spaced apart manner and which by way of the free end thereof point away from the extruded profile and in the case of the control arm (1) form the flanges (4) for coupling the first bearing receptacle (3). The collars (4.1, 4.2) are made of material protrusions which across the entire length of the extruded profile (16) are disposed in a mutually parallel manner and mutually spaced apart so as to correspond to the height of the extruded profile. The individual collars have a diameter of 3 to 18 mm, or 5 to 17 mm, or 6 to 15 mm.

[0061] A second portion (18) is configured from at least one cavity chamber and thus forms the cavity profile (12) for the main body (2). The walls of the at least one cavity chamber herein have diameters of 2.5 to 9 mm, or 3 to 8 mm, or 4 to 7 mm.

[0062] The collars of the first portion thus have a greater wall thickness than the walls of the at least one cavity chamber of the second central portion.

[0063] A third portion (19) is configured as a solid material. Said third portion (19) in the finished control arm (1) forms the two end portions (6, 8) and the connecting band (11). Solid material here means that no cavity chambers are enclosed across the entire volume of the third portion (19), and the third portion (19) is made of one material. The wall thickness of the third portion has a diameter of 8 to 20 mm, or 9 to 19 mm, or 10 to 18 mm.

[0064] The third portion thus has a greater wall thickness than the walls of the first portion and/or than the walls of the second portion.

[0065] The profile (16) is continuously extruded and cut to length according to requirements. Aluminum alloys of the type 6000 and 7000 are used for extruding.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows the extruded profile (16) which is already bent such that the first portion (17) is convexly curved and the third portion (19) is concavely curved. The extruded profile (16) is superimposed with the main body (2) of the control arm (1) according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. It becomes obvious in this illustration how the main body (2) is created from the extruded profile (16). To this end, the extruded profile (16) is mechanically machined so as to correspond to the envisaged shape of the main body (2), that is to say punched, milled, or cut. Besides the main shape (2), the recesses (13) in the cavity profile (12) are already indicated here. Potential recesses (20) in the region of the end portions (6, 8) are also ready illustrated. In comparison to other approaches, which lies in that the main body is established by way of a few steps is demonstrated here. The production is thus simple and readily reproducible in comparison to the other approaches.

[0067] After the production of the main body (2) and the coupling of the first bearing receptacle (3), the control arm (1) is post-machined, and bearings are incorporated in the bearing receptacles (3, 7, 9) of the control arm in a materially integral and/or form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner herein.

[0068] The foregoing description of some embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It 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. It should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.