Twist beam axle and method of producing same

US6099084A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• VAW aluminium AG · DE
• Thyssen Umformtechnik GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Bungarten · Neustadt, DE
• Olaf Elsner · Bonn, DE
• Herbert Linden · Rheinbach, DE
• Karl-Heinz von Zengen · Bonn, DE
• Peter Harbig · Werther, DE
• Joachim Lowen · Bielefeld, DE
• Franz Steimmel · Wennigsen (Deister), DE
• Walther Hasenpatt · Lengerich, DE
• Kai-Uwe JENTSCH · Moers, DE
• Jörg Ebert · Buchs, CH
• Michael Hellenkamp · Wesseling, DE
• Gerhardt Sollner · Sankt Augustin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 8, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60G2206/82014
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an integral motor vehicle rear axle of the twist-beam axle type, which comprises an opposed pair of longitudinal control arms (2) of a high flexural strength and torsional stiffness for carrying a wheel carrier for a wheel, and a transverse strut (3) which is resistant to bending but resilient relative to torsional stress and which comprises a profiled cross-section changing the position of the shear center. The transverse strut (3) consists of an extruded aluminum profile with an extrusion structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the transverse strut. A method of producing a motor vehicle rear axle of the twist-beam axle type using transverse struts and longitudinal control arms consists in joining the longitudinal control arms (2) with a transverse carrier or strut (3) which, at each end, comprises a bore, opening or bonding surface extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, and in connecting said longitudinal control arms in a form-fitting and force-locking way, such as by hydro-forming, welding or similar methods.