COVER FOR A CHASSIS CONTROL ARM

Abstract

A cover is disclosed for a chassis control arm which includes at least one bearing mount for a control arm bearing. The cover is formed separately from the chassis control arm and covers in the installed state at least part of the underside of the chassis control arm. Arranged on the cover is an extension which is intended as buffer and extends from the cover in the direction of the control arm bearing.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A cover for a chassis control arm including at least one bearing mount for a control arm bearing, said cover being formed separately from the chassis control arm and covering in an installed state at least part of an underside of the chassis control arm, said cover having arranged thereon an extension to form a buffer, said extension dimensioned to extend from the cover in a direction of the control arm bearing and having a spatial shape which matches an outer contour of the control arm bearing, said extension resting in part upon the control arm bearing.

12. The cover of claim 11, wherein the extension is configured to be deformable in response to an external force.

13. The cover of claim 11, wherein the extension has a rib-like structure.

14. The cover of claim 11, wherein the cover is made of a plastic.

15. The cover of claim 11, wherein the extension is formed integrally on the cover.

16. The cover of claim 11, wherein the extension is secured as a separate component on the cover.

17. The cover of claim 11, wherein the extension is made of a light metal.

18. A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one chassis control arm including at least one bearing mount for a control arm bearing; a cover arranged on the at least one chassis control arm and formed separately from the chassis control arm, said cover being configured to cover in an installed state at least part of an underside of the chassis control arm; and an extension arranged on the cover to form a buffer, said extension dimensioned to extend from the cover in a direction of the control arm bearing and having a spatial shape which matches an outer contour of the control arm bearing, said extension resting in part upon the control arm bearing.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the extension is configured to be deformable in response to an external force.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the extension has a rib-like structure.

21. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the cover is made of a plastic.

22. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the extension is formed integrally on the cover.

23. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the extension is secured as a separate component on the cover.

24. The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the extension is made of a light metal.

Description

[0020] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0021] It is shown in:

[0022] FIG. 1 a cover with a first embodiment of an extension;

[0023] FIG. 2 a detailed view of a second embodiment of the extension;

[0024] FIG. 3 a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the extension;

[0025] FIG. 4 a chassis control arm with the cover.

[0026] According to FIG. 1, the cover 1 is formed as air guiding device from a plastic. The cover 1 is hereby formed in travel direction F with a raised front wall, which also provides protection against impact from rocks. The cover 1 can be attached to the chassis control arm 2, illustrated in FIG. 4, via two fastening portions 7. Provided on the wheel-side outer edge in the installed state is an extension 3 as first embodiment of the invention which is formed integrally with the cover 1. The extension 3 has a toroidal topside which cooperates with the complementary control arm bearing 4 shown in FIG. 4. In addition to the part of the extension 3 that extends far out, provision is made on both sides for grooves 8 into each of which a web of the bearing mount 2a of the chassis control arm 2 fits.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the extension 3 in detail. The provision of, i.a., the rib-like structure becomes especially readily apparent here. The second embodiment is characterized by the placement of an insert 9 of a harder material than the remainder of the extension 3, preferably of metal such as aluminum, in a bay of the extension 3. As another alternative, the insert 9 may also be injected into the extension. 3 The insert 9 additionally improves the protective effect of the extension 3 for the bearing mount 2a. Also, this extension 3 has a toroidal topside that cooperates with the complementary control arm bearing 4 shown in FIG. 4. In addition to the part of the extension 3 that extends far out, provision is made on both sides for grooves 8 into each of which one of the bearing mounts 2a of the chassis control arm 2 fits.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the extension 3, which can be attached as a separate component to the cover 1. For this purpose, the extension 3 includes a mouth 10, which can receive the bottom of the cover 1. Using suitable fasteners 6, the extension 3 is secured to the cover 1.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a cover 1, which has been connected to a chassis control arm 2 (installation state). The chassis control arm 2 is embodied here as a shaped extruded profile (of aluminum), which has a downwardly open U-shaped profile cross-section. The chassis control arm 2 has on the wheel-side end of its main extension direction a bearing mount 2a which is formed by two parallel webs. The bearing mount 2a has two concentric bores (one in each one of the webs), in which a control arm bearing 4 formed as a rubber-metal sleeve bearing, is placed. The cover 1 covers a major part of the bottom and front side of the chassis control arm 2, with the extension 3 cooperating with the outer sleeve of the control arm bearing 4 as a buffer.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0030] F travel direction [0031] 1 cover [0032] 2 chassis control arm [0033] 2a bearing mount [0034] 3 extension [0035] 4 control arm bearing [0036] 6 fastener [0037] 7 fastening section [0038] 8 groove [0039] 9 insert [0040] 10 mouth