GB2497209A - A supporting element for a structure of a vehicle - Google Patents
A supporting element for a structure of a vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2497209A GB2497209A GB1223121.3A GB201223121A GB2497209A GB 2497209 A GB2497209 A GB 2497209A GB 201223121 A GB201223121 A GB 201223121A GB 2497209 A GB2497209 A GB 2497209A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- supporting element
- supporting
- tubular
- text
- tubular parts
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
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
- B60G11/14—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
- 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
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
Abstract
A supporting element 16 for a structure 10 of a vehicle is provided. The supporting element 16 comprises: a supporting part 20 which has a receptacle 22 for supporting a coil spring 18 of a suspension of the vehicle; a first tubular part 24 which extends from the supporting part 20 and is connected to the supporting part 20; a second tubular part 26 which extends from the first tubular part 24 and is connected to the first tubular part 24 via an intermediate part 28 of the supporting element 16. The intermediate part 28 is arranged between and connected to the respective tubular parts 24, 26 and has an outer diameter that is larger than a respective outer diameter of the tubular parts 24, 26. The supporting part 20, the tubular parts 24, 26 and the intermediate part 28 are manufactured as separate components 32, 34, 36, 38 which are connected to one another, wherein the tubular parts 24, 26 are formed by respective tubes 39, 40 in the form of straight hollow cylinders.
Description
Supporting Element for a Structure of a Vehicle The invention relates to a supporting element for a structure of a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1 Such supporting elements for structures of vehicles are known for instance from the serial production of motor vehicles. Figs. ito 3 show such a supporting element according to the prior art. Fig. 1 shows in a schematic perspective view a section of a structure in the form of a body-in-white 10 of a passenger vehicle. The body-in-white 10 comprises a rear longitudinal member 12 having a surface 14 which in the vertical direction of the passenger vehicle faces downwards.
As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, a supporting element 16 is attached to the surface 14 and thus to the body-in-white 10 via the longitudinal member 12. As can be gathered from an overall view of Figs. 2 and 3, the supporting element 16 serves for supporting a coil spring iS of a rear independent suspension of the passenger vehicle. For this purpose, the supporting element 16 comprises a supporting part 20, which has a receptacle 22 for supporting the coil spring 18. The receptacle 22 serves for guiding the coil spring 18 and for transferring a load from the coil spring 18 to the body-in-white 10.
The supporting element 16 also comprises a first tubular part 24, which in the direction of its longitudinal extension extends from the supporting part 20 and is connected to the supporting part 20. The supporting part 20 and the first tubular part 24 are formed in one piece which, for example, can be manufactured by deep-drawing. Moreover, the * -supporting element 16 comprises a second tubular part 26! which in the direction of its longitudinal extension extends from the first tubular part 24 and is connected to the first * .**** tubular part 24 via an intermediate part 28 of the supporting element 16. The second tubular part 26 can also be manufactured by deep-drawing. The intermediate part 28 in the respective direction of the longitudinal extensions of the tubular parts 24,26 is arranged between and connected to the respective tubular parts 24, 26. In the present case this connection is realized by spot welding, which is illustrated in Fig. 3 by schematically shown welding spots 30. Further, the intermediate part 28 has an outer diameter that is larger than a respective cuter diameter of the tubular parts 24, 26.
The design of the supporting element 16 shown in Figs. ito 3 results in very high manufacturing costs, in particular because of the complex manufacturing of the tubular parts 24, 26. Such a supporting element can also be gathered to be known from EPO 261 17361.
It therefore is the task of the present invention to provide a supporting element of the previously mentioned kind, which can be manufactured in particularly cost-effective way.
This task is solved by a supporting element having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments are indicated in the remaining claims.
In order to provide a supporting element for structure of a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1, which supporting element can be manufactured in a particularly cost-effective way, according to the invention the supporting part, the tubular parts and the intermediate part are manufactured as separate components which are connected to each other, wherein the tubular parts are formed by respective tubes in the form of straight hollow cylinders. It can be envisaged that the the supporting part, the tubular parts and the intermediate part are welded together, Thus, for the manufacturing of the supporting element cheap tubes in the form of straight hollow cylinders can be used to form the tubular parts. The usage of deep-drawn components forming at east the tubular parts can be avoided. This results in particularly low overall manufacturing costs for the supporting element. Moreover, the weight of the supporting element can be reduced compared to the usage of deep-drawn components.
Simultaneously, a particularly high stiffness of the supporting element can be realized, * thus allowing a very good transfer of load from the coil spring to the structure. Further, by using the tubes, different variants of the supporting element, the different variants respectively having different sizes of the tubes, in particular different outer diameters of 0* the tubes, can be realized in a very easy and cost-effective way.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the supporting part, the tubular parts and the intermediate part respectively the components are welded together by C02-welding. C02-we[ding can be carried out in a very time-and cost-effective way, which results in very low overall manufacturing costs for the supporting element. Besides, an expensive spot welding gun for manufacturing the supporting element isn't required, thus tooling costs can be kept to a minimum.
Further advantages features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not only in the respective indicated combination, but also in any other combination or taken alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention.
The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a supporting element for supporting a coil spring of a suspension of a vehicle according to the prior art, which supporting element is attached to the structure of the vehicle; Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the supporting element according to the prior art; Fig. 3 a schematiG longitudinal section view of the supporting etement according
to the prior art;
Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the supporting element in a further embodiment, the supporting element having a supporting part, two tubular parts and an intermediate part, which are manufactured as separate components which are welded together, wherein the tubular parts are formed by respective tubes in the form of straight hollow cylinders.
Fig. 5 a schematic and perspective view of the supporting element according to Fig. 4; and * *.*** * * Fig. 6 a schematic longitudinal section view of the supporting element according to Figs. 4 and 5. * .
* * In the figures same elements or elements having same functions are equipped with same reference signs.
Figs. ito 3 show a supporting element 16 according to the prior art, whereas Figs. 4 to 6 show the supporting element 16 in a further embodiment. The supporting element 16 according to Figs. 4 to 6 is different from the supporting element 16 according to Figs. 1 to 3 particularly with regard to the tubular parts 24, 26. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 6, the supporting part 20, the tubular parts 24, 26 and the intermediate part 28 are manufactured as separate components 32, 34 36, 38 which are welded together, wherein the tubular parts 24, 26 respectiveLy the components 34, 36 are completely formed by respective tubes 39, 40 in the form of respective straight hollow cylinders. In Fig. 6, a common Longitudinal axis 42 of the hollow cylinders respectively of the tubes 39, 40 is shown.
In this embodiment, the respective tubes 39, 40 respectively the tubutar parts 24, 26 are completely formed by standard electric resistance welded pipes, so-called ERW-pipes. In order to manufacture such an ERW-pipe, a plate is rolled to become a pipe and welded using an electric resistance welding process. Thus, the tubes 39, 40 have very low manufacturing casts and procurement costs, which lead to particulaTly low overall manufacturing casts for the supporting element 16. The intermediate part 28 is formed by a circular ring and thereby can be manufactured in a very cost-effective way.
As can be seen from Fig. 6, the receptacle 22 is formed partly by the tube 39 and partly by a collar 44 of the component 32, which collar 44 extends in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the tube 39 from a circular ring 46 of the component 32. Therein, the collar 44 and the circular ring 46 are formed in one piece. The component 32 can be manufactured in a very cost-effective way, too.
As can be gathered from an overall view of Figs. 4 to 6, the supporting element 16 has a particularly simple design and thereby can be manufactured with particularly low tooling * * costs and material costs. By using the standard ERVV-pipes, a very high stiffness of the * supporting element 16 can be realized. Simultaneously, the respective wall thickness or the tubes 39, 40 can be kept to a minimum, which results in a very low weight of the supporting element, Comparing to the usage of deep-drawn components forming the tubular parts 24, 26 the weight of the supporting element 16 can be reduced by at least 15%. * . ***. * n.s.a
* The components 32, 34, 36, 38 in the present embodiment are welded together by C02-welding forming respective weld seams 48 between the components 32, 34, between the components 34, 38 and between the components 36, 38. Thereby, costly spot welding and the usage of a costly spot welding gun can be avoided. 0.0 * 0 * *
* ***.* * 0 *0**S * 0 * * 0*** * 0*ø * 4*. 0. * *
Claims (1)
- <claim-text>Claims A supporting element (16) for a structure of a vehicle, the supporting element (16) comprising: -a supporting part (20), which has a receptacle (22) for supporting a coil spring (18) of a suspension of the vehicle, -a first tubular part (24), which in the direction of its longitudinal extension extends from the supporting part (20) and is connected to the supporting part (20), -a second tubular part (26), which in the direction of its longitudinal extension extends from the first tubular (24) part and is connected to the first tubular part (24) via an intermediate part (28) of the supporting element (16), which intermediate (28) part in the respective direction of the longitudinal extensions is arranged between and connected to the respective tubular parts (24, 26) and has an outer diameter that is larger than a respective outer diameter of the tubular parts (24, 26), characterized in that the supporting part (20), the tubular parts (24, 26) and the intermediate part (28) are manufactured as separate components (32, 34, 36, 38) which are connected to one another, wherein the tubular parts (24, 26) are formed by respective tubes (39, 40) in the form of straight hollow cylinders.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The supporting element (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that * the supporting part (20), the tubular parts (24, 26) and the intermediate part (28) are welded together, in particular by Corwelding. *1I</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The supporting element (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective tubes (39, 40) are formed by electric resistance welded pipes.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The supporting eLement (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate part (28) is formed by a circular disc, in particular by a circular ring. *. ** * . * * .S * SS * SS $54 * S *t'SSS a</claim-text>
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1223121.3A GB2497209A (en) | 2012-12-20 | 2012-12-20 | A supporting element for a structure of a vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1223121.3A GB2497209A (en) | 2012-12-20 | 2012-12-20 | A supporting element for a structure of a vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201223121D0 GB201223121D0 (en) | 2013-02-06 |
| GB2497209A true GB2497209A (en) | 2013-06-05 |
Family
ID=47682363
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1223121.3A Withdrawn GB2497209A (en) | 2012-12-20 | 2012-12-20 | A supporting element for a structure of a vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2497209A (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6109653A (en) * | 1997-10-30 | 2000-08-29 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Vehicle body structure at a rear portion of a vehicle |
| EP1462343A1 (en) * | 2003-03-28 | 2004-09-29 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC, A subsidary of Ford Motor Company | Wheel suspension for a motor vehicle |
| US20050225051A1 (en) * | 2004-04-12 | 2005-10-13 | Bennett Kyle J | Vehicle suspension lift spacer |
-
2012
- 2012-12-20 GB GB1223121.3A patent/GB2497209A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6109653A (en) * | 1997-10-30 | 2000-08-29 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Vehicle body structure at a rear portion of a vehicle |
| EP1462343A1 (en) * | 2003-03-28 | 2004-09-29 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC, A subsidary of Ford Motor Company | Wheel suspension for a motor vehicle |
| US20050225051A1 (en) * | 2004-04-12 | 2005-10-13 | Bennett Kyle J | Vehicle suspension lift spacer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201223121D0 (en) | 2013-02-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |