EP1718482A1

EP1718482A1 - Assembled wheel control radius arm

Info

Publication number: EP1718482A1
Application number: EP05715034A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jürgen Schmitz; Frank Nachbar; Bernhard Eilers; Jörg TUMOSEIT; Martin Wellerding; Karl-Heinz Kallwass; Toralf HÜTTNER; Luzian Kobier; Rafael Teijeiro Castro; José Ramón IZQUIERDO NUNEZ
Original assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Current assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Priority date: 2004-02-25
Filing date: 2005-02-25
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Also published as: US20080001378A1; DE102004009723A1; KR20070029672A; JP2007523790A; CN100564082C; CN1930010A; WO2005082649A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a radius arm (12), especially for the wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. Said radius arm (12) comprises at least two connection points (13, 14, 15) for pivotably connecting the radius arm (12) to a body structure and to a wheel controlling component, and a strut arrangement that connects the connection points. The inventive radius arm is characterised in that the strut arrangement consists of at least two strut devices (17, 18, 19) which are embodied as separate profiled parts with an essentially plane or open cross-section. The invention enables a modular system to be created for the design and production of any form of radius arm for axle systems and wheel suspensions of motor vehicles. The production of variants or novel structural forms of radius arms does not incur any considerable tool costs. As a result of the multiple applicability and the simple shaping of the modular components, a large and predictable number of said components can be produced at an extremely favourable cost.

Description

Built wheel control arm

description

The invention relates to a handlebar, for example wishbone arm, in particular for the wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Handlebars of the type mentioned are used in almost all types of motor vehicles and in almost all wheel suspensions of motor vehicles. Such control arms, for example wishbones, but also trailing arms, control arms of space control axles and the like have the task on the motor vehicle to connect the respectively associated wheel or the wheel carrier of the associated wheel to the body structure in such a way that the wheel or wheel carrier merely has the degrees of freedom provided by the design remain. These mostly consist essentially of free movement of the wheel or wheel carrier in the vertical direction, in order to be able to compensate for the wheel movements due to uneven ground.

In the vast majority of cases, such wheel guide links are essentially formed in one piece, in particular as one-piece die-forged parts, as one-piece cast components or as one- or two-shell deep-drawn sheet metal components.

Given the complexity and variety of the motor vehicles on the market today, however, almost every motor vehicle type requires different types, designs, dimensions, materials and qualities of wheel control arms. Frequently, even within one and the same series of a motor vehicle, due to different equipment levels, different motorization, different drive concepts, Different track width, or due to different additional units or installation conditions, wheel control handlebars with equally different properties, load capacities, materials and / or dimensions required.

However, this means that the manufacturer or supplier of

Wheel control arm is forced to design and manufacture or keep a variety of different wheel control arms. In the case of the essentially one-piece wheel control arms which are customary in the prior art, however, this has the particular consequence that different tools are required for producing the respective wheel control arms for each individual type of wheel control arm. Since wheel control arms are relatively large, but also complicatedly shaped and extremely heavily loaded components made of high-quality and resistant materials, the tools for producing one-piece wheel control arms are usually correspondingly complex, complicated and therefore both expensive and tend to be vulnerable.

However, the increasing pressure on costs and deadlines in the design, production and provision of components and systems on motor vehicles is forcing the search for cost-effective, flexible solutions for wheel control handlebars.However, due to customer requirements, the required high quality of wheel control handlebars must be maintained or even increased ,

With this background, it is the object of the present invention, a

To create handlebars with which the disadvantages mentioned can be overcome. The handlebar should in particular be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and the extremely high tool costs for the production of the wheel control arm, which are customary in the prior art, should not be incurred. In addition, the wheel control arm should also be able to be manufactured efficiently in relatively small quantities and with high cost-effectiveness, while at the same time if possible short time spans between specification, sampling and production should be feasible.

This object is achieved by a handlebar with the features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The handlebar according to the present invention comprises, in a manner known per se, at least two attachment points which are movable

Connection of the handlebar on the one hand to a body structure of a motor vehicle and on the other hand to a wheel guide component. The wheel guide component can be, for example, a steering knuckle, a wheel carrier, or a spring strut. In a manner also initially known per se, the handlebar comprises a strut arrangement. The strut arrangement serves to connect the at least two mounting points of the handlebar.

According to the invention, the handlebar is characterized in that the strut arrangement is composed of at least two strut devices. The strut devices are designed as separate profile parts with an essentially flat or open cross-sectional shape.

In other words, this means that the handlebar does not have a one-piece strut arrangement, but rather the strut arrangement of the handlebar is composed of at least two separate strut devices, the strut devices being in the form of geometrically relatively simple profile parts. The strut devices or profile parts can thus be produced separately from one another by means of relatively simple, standardized and therefore inexpensive tools. However, the invention in particular also has the decisive advantage that the strut devices, which are in the form of separate profile parts, have no significant change to the profile parts or strut devices, and without any significant changes can be used on the production tools for the strut devices to create a variety of different handlebars.

For example, thanks to the invention it is possible to produce control arms with different geometries, with different dimensions or with different track widths without any modification to the strut devices which the control arms comprise. Rather, the profile parts or strut devices of the handlebar are connected to each other in different arrangements or in different relative positions for the production of such different control arms from unchanged individual parts.

In this context, it is advantageous, as is also provided according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, if the strut devices can be connected to one another in at least two different relative positions or relative angles. In this way, handlebars with at least two different geometries or at least two different dimensions can be produced using the same strut devices. In the case of handlebars which comprise more than two strut devices which can each be connected to one another in at least two different relative positions or relative angles, the number of variants which can be produced in this way increases accordingly.

According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the strut devices can be connected to one another within a range of adjustment in several different relative positions or relative angles. In this way, an even larger number of variants of links can be produced with the same strut devices, again without changes to the tools on which the strut devices are based. For example, it will also be possible to produce handlebar designs that have different dimensions, for example different track widths of different types of a motor vehicle series can be set.

A basic, arbitrarily large number of different variants of wheel guide links can be produced within a variant range, as is also provided by a further preferred embodiment of the invention, if the strut devices can be connected to one another in an adjustable range in continuously selectable relative positions or relative angles. In this way, fine adjustment of the axle geometry or the track width, for example, can also be carried out on the basis of corresponding changes in the relative position of the strut devices of the handlebar.

In this context, it is advantageous, as is also provided by a further preferred embodiment of the invention, if the handlebar has a latching device with a plurality of latching steps which snap in resiliently or elastically. By means of the latching device, the strut devices can be brought into position with respect to one another at predetermined intervals before the strut devices are finally connected to one another. Such a locking device facilitates the assembly of the strut devices and leads to better reproducibility of the intended relative position of the strut devices within a handlebar design.

For the invention, it is initially not essential in what way the connection of the individual strut devices and thus the final determination of the geometry, design and dimension of the handlebar is finally carried out, as long as the connection can withstand the loads occurring during the operation of the handlebar. The individual strut devices can thus be connected to one another in particular in a force-fitting, form-fitting or material-locking manner.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however,

Strut devices releasably connectable. This is advantageous both with regard to a subsequent adjustment of the relative position of the strut devices, For example, for a change in the track width or the axle geometry, as well as in relation to the repair of the handlebar or the replacement of individual handlebar components or strut devices due to damage or wear.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the strut devices of a handlebar are integrally connected to one another. The cohesive connection of the strut devices, in particular the welding, is to be used with advantage if a subsequent change in the geometry or dimensions of the handlebar is out of the question, which is the case, for example, in the series production of a certain handlebar design for a certain motor vehicle.

According to a further, likewise preferred embodiment of the invention, the strut devices are caulked to one another without filler material. This type of connection of the strut devices is particularly advantageous, since neither a tendentially harmful thermal load on the components as occurs during welding, nor does it require the production of relatively complex screw or rivet connections. Rather, in this embodiment of the invention, the strut devices are connected, for example, by the so-called toxin, in which the metal sheets to be connected are connected by means of a special

Tool rivet-like by means of punctiform interlocking forming, but are connected to each other without additional material. The caulking can also be carried out without filler material, for example in the form of the known flanging or clamping.

For the invention, it is initially not essential in what way the strut devices are positioned relative to one another before the final connection of the strut devices is established. For example, it is conceivable to position the strut devices against one another by means of a device, and then to connect the strut devices in the position fixed in this way, for example, in a cohesive or form-fitting manner. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, at least two strut devices of the handlebar can be pushed into one another in the manner of a link or telescope. On the one hand, this design facilitates the pre-assembly and pre-fixing of the strut devices before they are finally connected to one another. On the other hand, the strut devices can be brought into different relative positions in the simplest possible way, so that handlebars with different geometries or different dimensions can be produced in a simple manner. In addition, the link-like or telescopically insertable shape of the profile parts forming the strut devices also increases the bending and torsional rigidity and the buckling strength of the strut or strut arrangement thus formed.

According to a further embodiment of the invention there are at least two

Strut devices of the handlebars telescopically or telescopically along a circular arc. In addition to the advantages of the backdrop-like or telescope-like design already mentioned, this design also has the advantage that curved handlebar geometries and more complex adjustability of a handlebar can also be represented in this way.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two strut devices are connected to one another by means of interlocking press-in collars. This type of connection of the strut devices is particularly advantageous in that the press-in collars or

Press-in openings can be produced extremely easily by deep drawing, and as a result, a connection of the strut devices that is both extremely robust and also particularly easy to manufacture and additionally adjustable in angle is made possible.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two strut devices are by means of at least one further strut device connectable with each other. In this way, diverse designs of links, in particular also wishbones and the like, can be represented and produced.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings which merely show exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of two strut devices of a first embodiment of a handlebar according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a cross section through the strut devices according to FIG. 1;

3 shows a schematic illustration of a cross section through the strut devices of a further embodiment of a handlebar according to the invention; 4 shows a schematic illustration of a cross section through the strut devices of a third embodiment of a handlebar according to the invention; 5 shows, in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, two strut devices of a fourth embodiment of a handlebar according to the present invention; 6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a wishbone according to the invention; FIG. 7 shows a schematic, enlarged illustration of the cross section A-A through the handlebar according to FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 7 shows the cross section B-B through the handlebar according to FIG. 6.

Fig. 1 shows schematically two profile parts 1, 2 or strut devices 1, 2 of a handlebar with the features of the invention. The two profile parts 1, 2 are connected to one another by means of the elongated hole 3 and screw 4, as is also shown by the cross section through the profile parts 1, 2 shown in FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The profile parts 1, 2 thus form part of the strut arrangement a wheel control arm shown only partially here, for example a stabilizer arm or a triangular wishbone.

It can be seen that the profile parts 1, 2 of the handlebar according to the invention, in contrast to the prior art, are in the form of profiles 1, 2 which can be produced relatively simply by folding or deep drawing. The bore 5 in the profile part 1 serves to connect the handlebar, for example by means of a ball joint or elastomeric joint, to a body structure or to a wheel guide component, for example to a steering knuckle, a wheel carrier or a shock absorber.

Already from the illustration in FIG. 1 it can be seen that a wheel control handlebar constructed in accordance with the invention can be adapted to different requirements, for example for different track gauges of different types of motor vehicles within a motor vehicle series. A wheel control arm constructed according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has the additional advantage that the handlebar can in principle also be adjusted subsequently even in the operating state of the motor vehicle, for example in order to adapt the axle geometry.

3 shows the cross section through the strut devices or profile parts 6, 7 of a further embodiment of a handlebar designed according to the invention. With this handlebar, the connection between the profile parts 6, 7 takes place at the time of the production of the handlebar once in a non-detachable manner by means of a rivet connection 8. However, in this case too, various handlebars with different dimensions or with different shapes can be produced with the same strut devices or profile parts 6, 7 by placing the holes for the rivet 8 or for other existing rivets accordingly.

4 shows the cross section through the strut devices or profile parts 9, 10 of a further embodiment of a handlebar according to the invention. It can be seen that the profile part 9 is folded in such a way that it is a prismatic one Forms a guide into which the profile part 10 can be inserted in the manner of a link or telescope. On the one hand, this facilitates the pre-assembly of the two profile parts 9, 10 before the final connection of the profile parts 9, 10 in the manufacture of the handlebar, and on the other hand increases the bending and torsional rigidity and the buckling strength of the strut or strut arrangement of the handlebar thus formed.

The profile parts 9, 10 according to FIG. 4 can be connected to one another for example by clamping or flanging, as can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 5. It can be seen that after the profile part 10 has been inserted into the prismatic guide formed by the profile part 9 and after the final one

Positioning of the profile part 10 in the profile part 9 by pressing the edges of the prismatic guide at 11 creates a permanent connection between the two profile parts 9, 10.

6 shows a further embodiment of a handlebar 12 according to the present invention. It is a triangular wishbone 12 for a motor vehicle, the handlebar having a total of three mounting points 13, 14, 15. From the connection points, the two connection points 13, 14 serve, for example, to accommodate rubber-metal bearings for connecting the wishbone 12 to a body structure, while the third connection point 15 serves to accommodate, for example, a ball joint that can be connected to a wheel carrier, the bolt or ball socket of which at 15 for example, can be pressed in or welded in.

It can be clearly seen that the handlebar 12 according to FIG. 6 has a completely modular structure, the individual components of the handlebar 12 according to FIG. 6 being able in particular to come from an extensive modular system based on the invention, the components of which include the problem-free design and production of handlebars enable practically any shape, shape and size. 6 comprises a strut arrangement initially formed from two struts 16, 17, the two struts 16, 17 enclosing an angle of 45 degrees in the exemplary embodiment shown. The strut 16 is here again composed of two strut devices or profile parts 18, 19 which are connected to one another by rivets 20, 21 in a manner similar to that already shown in FIG. 3. 3 means that this strut 16, formed by riveting two profile parts 18, 19, can initially be formed with different lengths without changing its basic components by merely placing the holes for rivets 20, 21 accordingly become.

The strut 16 composed of the two profile parts 18, 19 is initially connected to the other strut 17 by means of interlocking press-in collars 22, 23, as is schematically illustrated by the section along the line A-A in FIG. 6 shown in FIG. 7, enlarged. A summary of FIGS. 6 and 7 shows how the press-in collars 22, 23 formed on the two struts 16, 17 engage in one another and thus form an extremely robust, but initially still angle-adjustable connection of the two struts 16, 17 with one another ,

The task of fixing the two struts 16, 17, which are connected to one another by means of the press-in collars 22, 23, with respect to the intended angle between the two struts 16, 17, is assumed by a further component 24 of the handlebar that originates from the handlebar modular system. This stabilizing component 24 is in turn connected to the two struts 16, 17, for example by rivets 25, 26 and thus leads to an angular fixation and stabilization of the two struts 16, 17. The connection formed by the press-in collars 22, 23 can be used to additionally stiffen the handlebars of the two struts 16, 17 are additionally permanently fixed, for example by pressing or welding the two intermeshing press-in collars 22, 23.

The ring-shaped component 27 additionally recognizable in FIG. 7 serves as a spacer between the two handlebar struts in accordance with the distance between the two Handlebar struts 16, 17, which is required due to the further stabilizing component 24 arranged between the two struts 16, 17.

As a result, it is clear that the invention makes it possible to design and produce a practically any variety of handlebars, in particular for axle systems and wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, without incurring any noteworthy tool costs for producing a further variant. Due to the multiple usability of the same modular components for the production of a wide range of handlebars, as well as the comparatively simple shape of the handlebar components, the resulting low amount of waste and the associated relatively simple tools, these components can be produced in extremely large, predictable quantities at extremely low costs.

In this way, the greatest possible variety of handlebars with flexible geometry can be achieved with just a few basic elements.

The invention thus makes a very important contribution to improving productivity in the field of wheel suspensions and axle systems. At the same time, thanks to the invention, it is possible to react faster, easier and more flexibly to customer requirements.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 2 profile part

3 slot

4 screw

5 holes

6, 7 profile part

8 rivet

9, 10 profile part

11 press fit

12 handlebars

13, 14, 15 connection point

16, 17 strut

18, 19 profile part

20, 21 rivet

22, 23 press-in collar

24 component

25, 26 rivet

27 component

Claims

Built wheel control handlebar

1. Handlebar (12), in particular for the wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, the handlebar (12) comprising at least two attachment points (13, 14, 15) for pivotably connecting the handlebar (12) to a body structure and to a wheel guide component, and one which at least strut arrangement connecting two attachment points (13, 14, 15), characterized in that the strut arrangement is composed of at least two strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19), the strut devices being formed as separate profile parts (1, 2; 17, 18 , 19) are formed with a substantially flat or open cross-sectional shape.

2. Handlebar according to claim 1, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) can be connected to one another in at least two different relative positions or relative angles.

3. Handlebar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) can be connected to one another within a range of adjustment in several different relative positions or relative angles.

4. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) can be connected to one another within an adjustment range in continuously selectable relative positions or relative angles.

5. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a latching device with a plurality of resiliently or elastically latching latching steps for pre-fixing the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) in the intended relative positions.

6. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) are releasably connectable.

7. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) are integrally connected.

8. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) are caulked together without filler material.

9. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least two strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) are telescopically slidable.

10. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least two strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) along a circular arc are telescopically slidable.

11. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least two strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) are interconnected by means of interlocking press-in collars (22, 23).

2. Handlebar according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least two strut devices (1, 2; 17, 18, 19) can be connected to one another by means of at least one further strut device (24).