Multi-point link for a chassis of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11485185-B2
Application number	US-201917266364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2019
Priority date	Aug 8, 2018
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A multi-point link for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The multi-point link has at least one hollow profile portion including fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one load introduction element including a metallic material. The hollow profile portion, when viewed in cross section, has at least one hollow space formed as a circumferentially closed chamber. The hollow profile portion and the load introduction element are connected to one another in a common connection portion via a nondetachable glued plug-in connection. At least one stiffening element, which is fixedly connected to the hollow profile portion, is arranged in the chamber to increase the stiffness of the multi-point link.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-point link for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one hollow profile portion, which when viewed in cross section has at least one hollow space formed as a circumferentially closed chamber, and comprising fiber-reinforced plastic;
at least one load introduction element comprising a metallic material;
at least one stiffening element formed as a circumferentially closed tubular profile is fixedly connected to the at least one hollow profile portion and arranged in the circumferentially closed chamber in order to increase a stiffness of the multi-point link; and
a common connection portion configured to connect the at least one hollow profile portion and the at least one load introduction element via a nondetachable glued plug-in connection,
wherein the at least one stiffening element engages in a respective one of the plug-in connections.

2. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stiffening element at least substantially completely fills the circumferentially closed chamber of the at least one hollow profile portion when viewed in cross section.

3. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stiffening element is connected by material bonding to an inner circumferential surface of the circumferentially closed chamber.

4. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the circumferentially closed chamber of the at least one hollow profile portion viewed in cross section has narrow thickened portions projecting inward from an inner circumferential surface.

5. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stiffening element is secured in the circumferentially closed chamber by frictional engagement.

6. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow profile portion is a multiple-chamber hollow profile portion.

7. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow profile portion when viewed in cross section has at least one outwardly protruding rib for increasing bending stiffness and/or torsional stiffness and/or buckling stiffness.

8. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein an end portion of a load introduction element has a spline with teeth extending at least substantially in longitudinal direction of the at least one hollow profile portion.

9. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein each of two ends of the at least one hollow profile portion is connected by a nondetachably glued plug-in connection to a load introduction element, respectively, and the at least one stiffening element is arranged between the two plug-in connections and, at the same time, at a distance from the two plug-in connections.

10. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein each of two ends of the at least one hollow profile portion is connected by a nondetachable glued plug-in connection to a load introduction element, respectively, and in that the at least one stiffening element extends uninterruptedly over an entire length between two plug-in connections without engaging in the plug-in connections.

11. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stiffening element extends in one piece over an entire length of the at least one hollow profile portion.

12. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein components of a damage detection system are integrated in at least one of the circumferentially closed chamber and the at least one stiffening element.

13. The multi-point link according to claim 1 , wherein an outer stiffening element is connected by material bonding to an outer circumferential surface of the at least one hollow profile portion in order to further increase the stiffness of the multi-point link.

14. The multi-point link according to claim 3 , wherein the material bonding is glue.

15. The multi-point link according to claim 5 , wherein the frictional engagement is an interference fit.

16. A multi-point link for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one hollow profile portion, which when viewed in cross section has at least one hollow space formed as a circumferentially closed chamber, and comprising fiber-reinforced plastic;
at least one load introduction element comprising a metallic material;
at least one stiffening element fixedly connected to the at least one hollow profile portion and arranged in the circumferentially closed chamber in order to increase a stiffness of the multi-point link; and
a common connection portion configured to connect the at least one hollow profile portion and the at least one load introduction element via a nondetachable glued plug-in connection,
wherein the at least one stiffening element is formed as a circumferentially closed multiple-chamber profile.

17. A multi-point link for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one hollow profile portion, which when viewed in cross section has at least one hollow space formed as a circumferentially closed chamber, and comprising fiber-reinforced plastic;
at least one load introduction element comprising a metallic material;
at least one stiffening element fixedly connected to the at least one hollow profile portion and arranged in the circumferentially closed chamber in order to increase a stiffness of the multi-point link; and
a common connection portion configured to connect the at least one hollow profile portion and the at least one load introduction element via a nondetachable glued plug-in connection,
wherein an end portion of a load introduction element has a spline with teeth extending at least substantially in longitudinal direction of the at least one hollow profile portion,
wherein the tubular profile at least partially circumferentially surrounds teeth of the spline.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Stieglitz Andre
• Müller Ingolf

Classifications

• B60G2206/7101

  Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] · CPC title

• B60G2206/012

  Hollow or tubular elements · CPC title

• B60G7/001 Primary

  Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16C7/026

  made of fibre reinforced resin · CPC title

• B60G2206/11

  the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link · CPC title