Axle carrier with improved load path

Abstract

An axle carrier for a motor vehicle is disclosed having at least two attachment points, a metallic upper shell and a lower shell of fiber composite material coupled to the metallic upper shell. A first load path extending through the metallic upper shell between the at least two attachment points in an edge region, and a second load path shorter that the first load path extending through the lower shell.

Claims

1. An axle carrier for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two attachment points; a metallic upper shell having an inwardly directed recess in an edge region, a lower shell of fiber composite material coupled to the metallic upper shell, the lower shell having a projecting part which projects beyond the inwardly directed recess and is a direct rectilinear connection between the at least two attachment points; a first load path extending through the metallic upper shell between the at least two attachment points in the edge region; and a second load path extending through the projecting part of the lower shell between the at least two attachment points, wherein the second load path is shorter than the first load path.

2. The axle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein fiber strands in the lower shell extend in an oriented manner parallel to the second load path of the lower shell.

3. The axle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower shell is substantially flat and/or wherein the lower shell has ribs and/or reinforcements.

4. The axle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower shell and upper shell are coupled to one another positively and/or in an integrally bonded manner.

5. The axle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two attachment points are configured as body attachment points and/or for coupling to links to form a motor vehicle axle.

6. The axle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic upper shell is a one-piece component made of the same material or wherein the metallic upper shell is a joining component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an axle carrier known from the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an axle carrier according to the invention with a projecting part of the lower shell;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the axle carrier from the prior art;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the sectional view of the axle carrier with lower shell and projecting part; and

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged cross sectional view of the projecting part.

(7) In the figures, the same reference designations are used for identical or similar components, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplicity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates an axle carrier 1 known from the prior art. The axle carrier has an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3. Both upper shell 2 and lower shell 3 each extend areally in the motor vehicle longitudinal direction X and in the motor vehicle transverse direction Y. Considering the motor vehicle vertical direction Z, the upper shell 2 projects relative to the lower shell 3. Furthermore, the tower-like elevations 4 of the upper shell 2 each extend laterally in the motor vehicle vertical direction Z and have body attachment points 5. The attachment points 6 for pivotable coupling to links (not shown in more detail) are illustrated on the plane of the image in the front region. An inwardly directed recess 8 is formed on the upper shell 2 opposite an edge region 7. If a compressive force F is then introduced in the motor vehicle transverse direction Y at the right attachment point 6 with respect to the plane of the image, a load path 9 is obtained essentially through the edge region 7, in particular through the upper shell 2. This load path 9 particularly follows the course through the bending points 10 of the recess 8.

(9) As see in FIG. 2, the lower shell 3 has a projecting part 11. This projecting part 11 projects outwardly a with respect to the recess 8. A portion of the introduced compressive force F extends through a load path 12 through the lower shell 3. This load path 12 is shorter than the load path 9 through the upper shell 2 through which the remaining portion of the introduced compressive force F extends. More specifically, the transverse stiffness of an axle carrier 1 is thus improved by the projecting part 11. The installation space created by the recess 8 in particular in the edge region 7 of the upper shell 2 is only insignificantly compromised, if at all, by the projecting part 11. In the example shown here, the load path 12 according to the invention through the lower shell 3 extends parallel with respect to a direct connecting straight line 13 between the two attachment points 6, in particular being offset downward in the motor vehicle vertical direction Z.

(10) FIG. 3 shows schematically illustrates the axle carrier 1 shown in FIG. 1. The axle carrier can be configures as a front axle carrier 1 or rear axle carrier. A recess 8 is formed inwardly in each of the respective edge regions 7 between two attachment points 6. The recess 8 can be formed on all sides, or else only on one, two or three sides. The load path 9 resulting therefrom in each case between two attachment points in the motor vehicle transverse direction Y or motor vehicle longitudinal direction X thus has an arcuate or curved course. The attachment points 6 can be designed as body attachment points 5 or link attachment points. The attachment points 6 have a spacing 15 from one another. The recess 8 extends over a large part, in particular more than 50% of the spacing 15.

(11) As best seen in FIG. 4, a lower shell 3 of fiber composite material is formed to project outwardly beyond the respective recess 8. The projecting part 11 thus forms a shortened load path 12 between the attachment points 6, the shortened load path 12 then extending through the lower shell 3.

(12) FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged sectional portion of the projecting part 11 shown in FIG. 4. As best seen, the direction of the load path 12 is the enlarged view through the projecting part 11 of the lower shell 3. The fibers 14 contained herein have an orientation which is essentially offset parallel to the course of the load path 12. However, fibers with an orientation at an angle of up to 10, in particular up to 20, to the load path 12 are also understood as being included within the context of this invention. Not all the fibers must have the same orientation. Preferably, more than 50%, in particular more than 60%, preferably more than 70%, and in some cases more than 80% of the fibers 14 have an orientation in the direction of or offset parallel to the load path 12.

(13) The foregoing description of some embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. 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 is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. Further, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.