Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
  • B60G11/32—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds
  • B60G11/48—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds not including leaf springs
  • B60G11/50—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds not including leaf springs having helical, spiral or coil springs, and also torsion-bar springs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
  • B21D53/88—Making other particular articles other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
  • B60G11/14—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having helical, spiral or coil springs only
  • B60G11/16—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having helical, spiral or coil springs only characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G21/00—Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces
  • B60G21/02—Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces permanently interconnected
  • B60G21/04—Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces permanently interconnected mechanically
  • B60G21/05—Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces permanently interconnected mechanically between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
  • B60G21/051—Trailing arm twist beam axles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
  • B60G7/001—Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
  • F16F1/04—Wound springs
  • F16F1/12—Attachments or mountings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
  • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
  • B60G2202/12—Wound spring
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
  • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
  • B60G2202/13—Torsion spring
  • B60G2202/136—Twist-beam type arrangement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
  • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
  • B60G2204/124—Mounting of coil springs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
  • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
  • B60G2204/124—Mounting of coil springs
  • B60G2204/1244—Mounting of coil springs on a suspension arm
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
  • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
  • B60G2204/124—Mounting of coil springs
  • B60G2204/1246—Mounting of coil springs on twist beam axles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/012—Hollow or tubular elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/10—Constructional features of arms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/10—Constructional features of arms
  • B60G2206/11—Constructional features of arms the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/10—Constructional features of arms
  • B60G2206/124—Constructional features of arms the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/20—Constructional features of semi-rigid axles, e.g. twist beam type axles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/30—Constructional features of rigid axles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/80—Manufacturing procedures
  • B60G2206/81—Shaping
  • B60G2206/8107—Shaping by hydroforming

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flexible axle for non-driving rear wheels of a motor vehicle.
• a typical axle consists of the assembly by welding of a plurality of parts, namely essentially two pivoting lateral arms, a transverse connection profile, two spring bearing cups and two rocket support yokes.
• the pivoting arms B are welded to the transverse connection profile A
• each spring bearing cup C is welded to a pivoting arm B and to the transverse profile A
• a rocket support yoke S is welded at the end of each pivoting arm B.
• the assembly thus defined therefore comprises a large proportion of weld junction zones which, of course, require the greatest care as to their production, given the stresses which they will have to undergo.
• This first difficulty is added the problem of the deformation of the structure under the effect of thermal welding stresses, deformation which can seriously affect the manufacturing precision of the axle, to the point of causing numerous rejections.
• axles as described in the two patents t DE 3832181 and DE 19520520 respectively in the name of Benteler erke AG and in the name of Volkswagenwerk AG.
• the present invention therefore proceeds from research into the design of a new flexible rear axle for rear wheels of a motor vehicle, with a view to eliminating these difficulty and problem mentioned above, and optimizing the axle itself.
• a flexible axle for non-driving rear wheels of a motor vehicle comprising pivoting lateral arms for supporting the wheels, a transverse connection between the two lateral arms and a cup associated with each arm to receive the lower end d 'a suspension spring, is characterized according to the invention in that each of said pivoting arms and said cup which is associated with it are produced in the form of a one-piece assembly by forming (hydroforming or similar technique) a starting part tubular.
• said one-piece assembly comprises a bent central part in which said cup is formed and, on either side of said central part, a first part of section substantially in the form of an elongated rectangle transversely leading to the hinge end of said arm, and a second section portion substantially in the form of a vertically elongated rectangle leading to the wheel support end of said arm.
• said cup is formed by completely flattening at the bottom of the corresponding portion of tube, with conservation of two lateral edges in volume so as to preserve longitudinally on each side between said first and second parts a structural continuity necessary for the rigidity of said one-piece assembly.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the prior art by representation of the left half of a flexible axle of conventional rear wheels
• Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a pivoting wheel support arm and a spring bearing cup for a rear wheel axle, formed in one piece in a first embodiment according to the invention
• Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2; Fig.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a pivoting wheel support arm and a spring support cup for a rear wheel axle, formed in one piece in a second embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4
• Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating by way of example a first stage of deformation of a portion of tube with a view to finally obtaining the part of FIG. 2 or of FIG. 4
• Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the left half of an axle formed with the part of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 2 it represents a part P produced by the technique known as hydroforming or a similar technique, by successive deformations of a portion of metal tube.
• the intermediate part Pi shown in FIG. 6 which has a bend 1 substantially in its central part, and a progressive enlargement of its section in the manner of a crescent, from its two end parts where the section of the starting tube has been preserved.
• a cup or bowl 2 is essentially produced at the level of the elbow 1, intended to support a suspension spring R, FIG. 3, and on either side thereof, the first and second parts 3 and 4 constituting a pivoting arm for the wheel support, the first part 3 ending at the articulation end 5 thereof , and the second part 4 ending at its wheel support end 6.
• the boss 7 visible on the side of the first part 3 has its counterpart on the opposite side, aligned transversely with it. Both are planned for form after topping the engagement holes of an anti-roll bar.
• the ends of the first and second parts 3 and 4 are formed and cut out for the purpose of docking thereon of the elements subsequently added by welding, ie respectively a sleeve or hinge ring M and a plate rocket support S, respectively, as shown in Fig. 7.
• the cup 2 is formed by complete flattening at its bottom 20 of the corresponding tubular portion of the intermediate piece Pi, with conservation on each side of an edge in volume, the outer edge 8 side wheel being substantially higher and wider than the inner edge 9, and further defining a flaring ent of the cup from a height substantially corresponding to that of the inner edge 9.
• the edges in volume 8 and 9 are provided in particular to preserve longitudinally on each side between the first and second parts 3 and 4 a structural continuity of the part P necessary for its rigidity.
• the first arm part 3 On either side of the cup 2, the first arm part 3 has a section having substantially the shape, first of a trapezoid, then of a rectangle elongated transversely and which tapers towards the end of joint 5; while the second arm part 4 has its section rapidly evolving towards the approximate shape of a vertically elongated rectangle.
• the part PI can be obtained from the same intermediate part Pi in FIG. 6.
• the cup 2 ′ is formed by partial flattening of the portion of tube corresponding to its bottom 20 ′, that is to say with preservation of an internal spacing d between the bottom 20 ′ and the portion of facing wall 22 ′, which spacing d is moreover a parameter which may vary as a function of the final destination of the piece PI.
• the cup 2 ′ is here only laterally bordered outwards, on the wheel side, the bottom 20 ′ having a central dome 21 ′ for setting the spring R.
• Fig. 7 illustrates in comparison with FIG. 1 the gain in simplicity for assembling an axle with a part P or Pi: the articulation sleeve M and the plate S are attached at its ends shaped for this purpose; and likewise, the parts of the part P or PI on which the transverse section A and the gusset G are attached have suitable profiles to facilitate their docking on junction zones whose extent and shape are favorable to the solidity of the welds. Note further that these are to be carried out in areas of the assembly where the induced thermal stresses will have less harmful effects than in the case of a known axle such as that of FIG. 1

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=8859109

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2001
  • 2001-01-23 FR FR0100845A patent/FR2819754B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-01-18 WO PCT/FR2002/000202 patent/WO2002058950A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-01-18 EP EP02734845A patent/EP1353814A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-01-23 AR ARP020100231 patent/AR032263A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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