Aluminum casting alloy

Abstract

An aluminum casting alloy contains Si: 3.0 wt.-% to 3.8 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to 0.35 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%,
and is supplemented to 100 wt.-%, in each instance, with Al.

Claims

1. A cast component produced from an aluminum casting alloy that contains the following alloy components Si: more than 3.3 wt.-% to less than 3.7 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to less than 0.30 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al, wherein the cast component has at least one of a tensile yield strength R.sub.p0.2 of 300 MPa to 325 MPa and a tensile strength R.sub.m of 350 MPa-375 MPa.

2. The cast component of claim 1, wherein the contaminants in the aluminum casting alloy are <0.005 wt.-%.

3. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Mg is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.5 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-%.

4. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Fe is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.01 wt.-% to 0.15 wt.-%.

5. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Mn is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.01 wt.-% to 0.05 wt.-%.

6. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Ti is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.05 wt.-% to 0.15 wt.-%.

7. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Cu is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.001 wt.-% to 0.005 wt.-%.

8. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Sr is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.015 wt.-% to 0.025 wt.-%.

9. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Zr is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.001 wt.-% to 0.005 wt.-%.

10. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein Zn is contained in the aluminum casting alloy at a content of 0.001 wt.-% to 0.005 wt.-%.

11. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum casting alloy is a low-pressure aluminum casting alloy.

12. The cast component according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum casting alloy is a low-pressure/counter-pressure (CPC) aluminum casting alloy.

13. A method for the production of a cast component composed of an aluminum casting alloy, wherein the aluminum casting alloy contains the following alloy components Si: more than 3.3 wt.-% to less than 3.7 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to less than 0.30 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al, wherein a low-pressure casting method is used to produce the cast component, and wherein the cast component has at least one of a tensile yield strength R.sub.p0.2 of 300 MPa to 325 Mpa and a tensile strength R.sub.m of 350 MPa-375 MPa.

14. A method for the production of a cast component composed of an aluminum casting alloy, wherein the aluminum casting alloy contains the following alloy components Si: more than 3.3 wt.-% to less than 3.7 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to less than 0.30 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al, wherein squeeze casting, gravity die casting or pressure casting is used to produce the cast component, and wherein the cast component has at least one of a tensile yield strength R.sub.p0.2 of 300 MPa to 325 Mpa and a tensile strength R.sub.m of 350 MPa-375 MPa.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein thixo, rheo, or low-pressure sand casting is used to produce the cast component.

16. A method for the production of a cast component composed of an aluminum casting alloy, wherein the aluminum casting alloy contains the following alloy components Si: more than 3.3 wt.-% to less than 3.7 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to less than 0.30 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al, wherein a low-pressure/counter-pressure casting method is used to produce the cast component, and wherein the cast component has at least one of a tensile yield strength R.sub.p0.2 of 300 MPa to 325 Mpa and a tensile strength R.sub.m of 350 MPa-375 MPa.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component is subjected, after the casting process, to a two-stage heat treatment comprising solution annealing and subsequent artificial aging.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the cast component is quenched between the solution annealing and the artificial aging.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is solution-annealed between 530° C. and 550° C. for 6 hours to 10 hours.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is solution-annealed between 540° C. and 550° C. for 7 hours to 9 hours.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is solution-annealed for 8 hours to 9 hours.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is solution-annealed between more than 540° C. and 550° C. for 7 hours to 9 hours.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is solution-annealed for 8 hours to 9 hours.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered between 180° C. and 210° C. for 1 hour to 8 hours.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered for 1 hour to 6.5 hours.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered between 180° C. and 190° C. for 1 hour to 6.5 hours.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered for 4 hours to 6.5 hours.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered between 180° C. and less than 190° C. for 4 hours to 6.5 hours.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the cast component, after the casting process, is tempered for 5 hours to 6.5 hours.

30. A heat-treated component for a chassis part of a motor vehicle comprising an aluminum casting alloy that contains the following alloy components Si: more than 3.3 wt.-% to less than 3.7 wt.-% Mg: 0.3 wt.-% to 0.6 wt.-% Cr: 0.25 wt.-% to less than 0.30 wt.-% Fe: <0.18 wt.-% Mn: <0.06 wt.-% Ti: <0.16 wt.-% Cu: <0.006 wt.-% Sr: 0.010 wt.-% to 0.030 wt.-% Zr: <0.006 wt.-% Zn: <0.006 wt.-% Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al wherein the heat-treated component has at least one of a tensile yield strength R.sub.p0.2 of 300 MPa to 325 Mpa and a tensile strength R.sub.m of 350 MPa-375 MPa.

31. The heat-treated component according to claim 30, wherein the chassis part comprises a wheel-guiding component.

32. The heat-treated component according to claim 30, wherein the chassis part comprises a wheel mount.

33. The heat-treated component according to claim 30, wherein the chassis part comprises a pivot bearing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front side of the pivot bearing according to the invention for the left steerable wheel of a double transverse control arm front axle,

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the pivot bearing according to the invention, according to FIG. 1, and

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front longitudinal side, viewed in the direction of travel, of the pivot bearing according to FIG. 1, according to the invention.

(6) When the same reference symbols are used in FIGS. 1 to 3, these reference symbols also refer to the same parts or regions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) Referring now in detail to the drawings, the pivot bearing 10 according to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, is produced from the aluminum alloy according to the invention, using counter-pressure chill casting (CPC).

(8) The pivot bearing 10, which is advantageously provided for a double transverse control arm front axle for steerable wheels of a motor vehicle, comprises an accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating a wheel bearing and accommodations or recesses 14, 16, 18, 20 for attachment of the wheel bearing on the pivot bearing 10, two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of a brake caliper, which accommodations or recesses 22, 24 are disposed, viewed in the direction of travel FR, in front of the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, an accommodation or recess 26 for fastening of a steering link, which accommodation or recess 26 is disposed, viewed in the direction of travel FR, behind the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, an accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of a lower transverse control arm, which accommodation or recess 28 is disposed underneath the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, an accommodation or recess 30 for fastening of a support arm that essentially absorbs the longitudinal wheel forces, particularly in the form of a tension strut or pressure strut or of a suspension arm, which accommodation or recess 30 is disposed underneath the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing and, viewed in the direction of travel FR, behind the accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of the lower transverse control arm, but in front of the accommodation or recess 26 for fastening of the steering link, and an accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of an upper transverse control arm, which accommodation or recess 32 is disposed above the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, and is connected with this accommodation or recess 12, proceeding from this recess 12, by way of a neck-like section 34,
whereby the pivot bearing 10 is produced as a component that is cast in one piece with these accommodations or recesses 12, 14, 26, 28, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, etc., and connects them with one another.

(9) The pivot bearing 10 has a bulge 36 on its back side, which faces toward the opposite pivot bearing, not shown here, of the same axle in the installed state of the pivot bearing 10, which bulge extends in part from the neck-like section 34, over the back side of the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, all the way to the accommodations or recesses 26, 28, 30 for fastening of the steering link, of the lower transverse control arm and of the support arm that essentially absorbs the longitudinal wheel forces, in other words the pressure strut or tension strut or suspension arm.

(10) The bulge 36 is delimited, on its rear longitudinal side, viewed in the direction of travel, by a reinforcement rib 38 that extends, starting at the neck-like section 34, all the way to the accommodation or recess 26 for fastening of the steering link.

(11) The bulge 36 is delimited, on its front longitudinal side, viewed in the direction of travel, by a further reinforcement rib 40 that extends, starting at the neck-like section 34, all the way to the accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of the lower transverse control arm.

(12) The two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, are disposed, viewed in the direction of travel FR, in front of the reinforcement rib 40 that delimits the bulge 36 at its front longitudinal side, viewed in the direction of travel.

(13) The pivot bearing 10 has a reinforcement collar, at least in part, on at least one of its narrow sides, for example on the longitudinal sides.

(14) A reinforcement collar 42 extends, at least in part, along the neck-like section 34, from the upper accommodation or recess 22 of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, in the direction of the accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm.

(15) The width of the reinforcement collar 42 that extends at least in part along the neck-like section 34, from the upper accommodation or recess 22 of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, in the direction of the accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm, decreases in the direction of the accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm.

(16) Two reinforcement collars 44, 46 that run toward one another extend, at least in part, between the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper. The width of these reinforcement collars 44, 46 decreases, proceeding from the accommodation or recess 22, 24, in each instance, of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, in the direction of the other accommodation or recess 22, 24, in each instance, of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper

(17) The reinforcement collars 44, 46 extend, proceeding from the accommodation or recess 22, 24, in each instance, of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, at least in part in the direction of the back side of the pivot bearing 10, in other words toward the side facing the opposite pivot bearing 10, not shown here, of the same axle, in the installed state of the pivot bearing 10, whereby each of the reinforcement collars 44, 46 has a wave shape in the longitudinal side view. This wave shape is particularly well evident in FIG. 3.

(18) A further reinforcement collar 48 extends, at least in part, from the lower accommodation or recess 24 of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, in the direction of the accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of the lower transverse control arm. The width of the reinforcement collar 48 that extends from the lower accommodation or recess 24 of the two accommodations or recesses 22, 24 disposed vertically at a distance from one another, for fastening of the brake caliper, in the direction of the accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of the lower transverse control arm, decreases in the direction of the accommodation or recess 28 for fastening of the lower transverse control arm.

(19) The accommodation or recess 32 disposed on the end side on the neck-shaped section 34, for fastening of the upper transverse control arm, is configured in sleeve-like manner.

(20) The neck-shaped section 34 that connects the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing with the accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm, is provided, on the front side of the pivot bearing 10, in other words on the side facing away from the opposite pivot bearing, not shown here, of the same axle, in the installed state of the pivot bearing 10, with at least two reinforcement ribs 50, 52 disposed at a distance from one another in the direction of travel FR, which ribs extend, proceeding from the accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, along the longitudinal side of the pivot bearing 10, in each instance, at least in part in the direction of the accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm.

(21) Two accommodations or recesses 54, 56 are disposed on the neck-shaped section 34 of the front side of the pivot bearing 10, for fastening of a sensor cable holder. There, two reinforcement ribs 58, 60 are furthermore disposed, which extend, proceeding from the accommodation 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing, namely from a common starting point 62 provided at approximately the same distance from the longitudinal sides of the pivot bearing 10, in the direction of the two accommodations or recesses 54, 56 for fastening of the sensor cable holder, namely directly all the way to the accommodations or recesses 54, 56 for fastening of the sensor cable holder.

(22) The accommodation or recess 12 for accommodating the wheel bearing comprises a flange surface or spanning surface that edges the accommodation or recess 12. The flange surface has multiple, preferably four screw passage openings 14, 16, 18, 20 passing through it, for attachment of the wheel bearing unit. These screw passage openings 14, 16, 18, 20 are preferably disposed so that they are distributed on the circumference of the flange surface or spanning surface, uniformly spaced apart from one another.

(23) The accommodation or recess 32 for fastening of the upper transverse control arm has a sleeve shape provided with a longitudinal slot, whereby the accommodation or recess 32 has an accommodation for a clamping screw for attachment of the upper transverse control arm in the accommodation or recess 32 on its outside, disposed on both sides of the longitudinal slot.

(24) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.