Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stabilizer link for automobile suspensions, comprising: a tubular body (1), having at one end a pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) configuring a leak-tight closure of a first inner cavity (9) of the tubular body (1) located between both flattened areas (2, 2); and a first covering (4) made of polymeric material coupled, during the forming process thereof, on the end of the tubular body (1) such that it surrounds the pair of first flattened areas (2, 2), and wherein said covering (4) comprises a first articulation (6).

Claims

1. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions, characterized in that it comprises: a tubular body (1) having ends, having at one of its ends a pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) configuring a leak-tight closure of a first inner cavity (9) of the tubular body (1) located between both flattened areas (2, 2); a first covering (4) made of polymeric material coupled, during a forming process thereof, on one of the ends of the tubular body (1) such that it surrounds the pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) and wherein said covering (4) comprises a first articulation (6).

2. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 1, comprising a pair of second flattened areas (3, 3), located at the end opposite the end where the first flattened areas (2, 2) are placed and jointly configuring a second inner cavity (10) of the tubular body (1) and a third inner cavity (11) of the tubular body (1), arranged between the flattened areas (2, 3), said second flattened areas (3, 3) being surrounded by a second covering (5) made of polymeric material that is coupled during the forming process and comprises a second articulation (7).

3. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the coverings (4, 5) comprises a slide bushing in which one of the articulations (6, 7) is housed.

4. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, comprising a flattened area (2) located in proximity of the first flattened area (2) and configuring a leak-tight, fourth inner cavity (9) of the tubular body (1).

5. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 4, comprising a flattened area (3) located in proximity of the second flattened area (3) and configuring a leak-tight fifth inner cavity (10) of the tubular body (1).

6. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the flattened areas (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) has at least one through hole (2a, 3a).

7. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the ends of the tubular body (1) is shot-blasted or sand-blasted from the flattened area (2, 3) farthest away from the end to the end of the tubular body (1).

8. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein the coverings (4, 5) form a single body surrounding at least part of an outer surface of the tubular body (1).

9. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein the tubular body (1) has at least one perimetral groove (2b, 3b) located in proximities of the flattened areas (2, 3) of said tubular body (1).

10. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein the pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) and the pair of second flattened areas (3, 3) each define a flattening plane, wherein said planes are parallel to one another.

11. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein the pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) and the pair of second flattened areas (3, 3) each define a flattening plane, wherein said planes form an angle with one another.

12. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 2, wherein the tubular body has free ends, and at least one free end of the tubular body (1) comprises a concave recess configured for being coupled to an articulation (6, 7).

13. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body has free ends, and at least one of the free ends of the tubular body (1) is open.

14. Stabilizer link for automobile suspensions according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body (1) comprises a central cross section which is circular or polygonal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a series of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following has been depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a two-dimensional view of an embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 1(A) is a cross-section taken along section line A-A in FIG. 1(B), and where FIG. 1(B) is an elevational view.

(3) FIG. 2 shows two three-dimensional detail views of one end of the tubular body of the stabilizer link object of the invention in another embodiment in which at least one of the flattened areas has a through hole and in which a pair of perimetral grooves are located in the vicinity of said flattened areas.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional detail view of one end of the tubular body of the stabilizer link object of the invention in another embodiment in which at least one of the free ends has a concave recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) In a first embodiment, the stabilizer link for automobile suspensions object of the invention comprises: a tubular body (1) which has a pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) located at one end of said tubular body (1) configuring a leak-tight closure of a first inner cavity (9) of the tubular body (1) located between both flattened areas (2, 2); a first covering (4) made of polymeric material coupled, during the forming process thereof, on the end of the tubular body (1), surrounding said pair of first flattened areas (2, 2) and wherein said covering (4) comprises an articulation (6).

(6) A second embodiment is then observed, in which the tubular body (1) has second flattened areas (3, 3) located at the opposite end of the tubular body (1) and surrounded by a second polymeric covering (5) comprising a second articulation (7), thereby configuring three leak-tight inner cavities of the tubular body (1): the first inner cavity (9) of the tubular body (1) located between the first flattened areas (2, 2); a second inner cavity (10) of the tubular body (1) located between the two second flattened areas (3, 3); and a third inner cavity (11) of the tubular body (1) located between the first flattened area (2) located at the first end and the second flattened area (3) located at the second end.

(7) It is also possible to arrange, in the vicinities of the flattened areas (2, 3), a third flattened area (2) and a fourth flattened area (3) configuring, respectively, a fourth inner cavity (9) and a fifth inner cavity (10), arranged respectively between the first flattened area (2) and the third flattened area (2), and between the second flattened area (3) and the fourth flattened area (3).

(8) The possibility of performing a machining process, such as machining or shot-blasting, on at least one of the ends of the tubular body (1) is contemplated, said machining spanning from at least the flattened area (2, 3) farthest away from the free end of the tubular body (1) to said free end of the tubular body.

(9) It is also possible to arrange a slide bushing in the polymeric coverings (4, 5) before the articulations (6, 7).

(10) The option of making flattened areas in any of the preceding embodiments such that the ends of the tubular body (1) are left free, i.e., open, is contemplated, this being a solution similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but in which there is excess material at the ends of the tubular body (1) itself.

(11) It can in turn be seen how each flattened area (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) can have, respectively, one or more through holes (2a, 3a) which are configured to allow the coupling of the polymeric coverings (4, 5) thereon, since each covering (4, 5) is coupled to its respective flattened area through both coverings (4, 5) surrounding each through hole (2a, 3a) of said flattened areas.

(12) In order to increase the binding and gripping capacity of the polymeric coverings (4, 5) on the tubular body (1), FIG. 2 shows how the tubular body (1) can have a series of perimetral grooves (2b, 3b) configured for being surrounded by each polymeric covering (4, 5), and wherein said perimetral grooves (2b, 3b) are located in the proximities of the flattened areas (2, 3) of said tubular body (1).

(13) Both the first pair of flattened areas (2, 2) and the second pair of flattened areas (3, 3) defining a flattening plane, wherein said planes are parallel to one another, and wherein both flattening planes coincide with the axis of symmetry of the tubular body (1), can also be contemplated as a possibility.

(14) According to the embodiments that have been described, the processes of manufacturing said stabilizer links for automobile suspensions can be described, wherein the method comprises the following steps in the first embodiment:

(15) a) cutting the tubular body (1) to a predetermined length;

(16) b) making the pair of flattened areas (2, 2) at the first end of said tubular body (1);

(17) c) coupling a mold covering said flattened areas (2, 2) of the tubular body (1), wherein said mold has an inner cavity suitable for being filled with a polymeric material;

(18) d) pouring the polymeric material into said mold, said polymeric material surrounding the flattened areas (2, 2);

(19) e) removing the mold once the polymeric material therein solidifies, resulting in a polymeric covering (4) at the flattened end; and

(20) f) coupling the articulation (6) in the polymeric covering (4), each articulation (6) being configured for being coupled either in the stabilizer bar or in the suspension system.

(21) In the case of the second embodiment, it is necessary to add in step b), making the second pair of flattened areas (3, 3) at the second end of the tubular body (1), such that the three cavities (9, 10, 11) mentioned above are obtained. For this case, steps c), d), e) and f) will take place as described but configuring two polymeric coverings (4, 5), each housing an articulation (6, 7).

(22) Finally and according to another possible embodiment, three flattened areas (2, 2, 2) are made in step b) at the first end of the tubular body (1), there being the option of making three other flattened areas (3, 3, 3) at the second end of the tubular body (1).

(23) In view of this description and set of drawings, the person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the embodiments of the invention that have been described can be combined in many ways within the object of the invention. The invention has been described according to several preferred embodiments thereof, but for the person skilled in the art it will be obvious that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.

PARTS LIST

(24) The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:

(25) TABLE-US-00001 Parts Number Description 1 tubular body 2 one of pair of first flattened areas .sup.2 one of pair of first flattened areas 2 third flattened area 2a hole 2b perimetral groove 3 one of pair of second flattened areas .sup.3 one of pair of second flattened areas 3 fourth flattened area 3a hole 3b perimetral groove 4 first covering 5 second covering 6 first articulation 7 second articulation 9 first inner cavity .sup.9 fourth inner cavity 10 second inner cavity 10 fifth inner cavity 11 third inner cavity

(26) All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

(27) The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.