Vehicle front suspension lower control arm attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333825-B2
Application number	US-201313840458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A number of variations of the invention may include a method including providing a front lower control arm attachment system including a sleeve locator stamping and at least one threaded sleeve extending there through, and attaching the front lower control arm attachment system to a vehicle engine cradle. A number of variations of the invention may include a front lower control arm attachment system including a sleeve locator stamping and at least one threaded sleeve extending through the sleeve locator stamping and secured thereto.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising providing a front lower control arm attachment system including a sleeve locator and at least one first threaded sleeve and at least one second threaded sleeve extending there through, and attaching the front lower control arm attachment system to a vehicle engine cradle so that the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve extend through a portion of the vehicle engine cradle, wherein each of the first threaded sleeve and second threaded sleeve includes an annular flange, the engine cradle including a first portion having a first side and an opposite second side, the sleeve locator on the first side of the first portion and wherein the annular flange of the first threaded sleeve and the annular flange of the second threaded sleeve abut the sleeve locator.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising inserting the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve through a first through hole and a second through hole formed in the sleeve locator and securing the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to the sleeve locator.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein securing the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to the sleeve locator comprises welding the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to the sleeve locator.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve locator comprises a metal stamping.

5. A method comprising
providing an engine cradle comprising a side rail having a front face and a rear face, the side rail having at least one first through hole and at least one second through hole formed therein, a lower control arm attachment assembly secured to a lower control arm having a first elongated portion and a first and a second eyelet connected to the first elongated portion, and a sleeve locator and at least one first threaded sleeve and at least one second threaded sleeve attached thereto, the sleeve locator engaging the rear face of the side rail, and a bracket assembly having at least one first through hole and at least one second through hole formed therein and wherein the bracket assembly engages the front face of the side rail, the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve extending through the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole in the side rail and through the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole in the bracket assembly;
providing the lower control arm for a suspension;
inserting a first threaded bolt thought the first eyelet and a second threaded bolt through the second eyelet and threading the first and the second bolts into the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve.

6. A product comprising a front lower control arm attachment system comprising a sleeve locator and at least one first threaded sleeve and at least one second threaded sleeve extending through the sleeve locator and secured thereto, and wherein the sleeve locator includes a body having a first flange and a second flange which form a slot constructed and arranged to receive an embossment formed in a side rail.

7. The product as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a bracket assembly having at least one first through hole and at least one second through hole formed therein for securing to a front face of the side rail of an engine cradle.

8. The product as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bracket assembly is welded to the front face.

9. The product as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a lower control arm for a suspension having a first elongated portion having a pivot joint attached thereto, at least one eyelet attached to the pivot joint, a threaded bolt extending through the at least one eyelet and threaded in at least one of the first or the second threaded sleeve.

10. A product comprising a first threaded sleeve and a second threaded sleeve, and a sleeve locator having a first through hole formed therein constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the first threaded sleeve, the sleeve locator having a second through hole formed therein constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the second threaded sleeve, and a bracket assembly having a first through hole formed therein constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the first threaded sleeve, the bracket assembly having a second through hole formed therein constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the second threaded sleeve, wherein each of the first threaded sleeve and second threaded sleeve includes an annular flange, the bracket assembly including a first portion having a first side and an opposite second side, the sleeve locator on the first side of the first portion and wherein the annular flange of the first threaded sleeve and the annular flange of the second threaded sleeve abut the sleeve locator.

11. The product as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first threaded sleeve and the second threaded sleeve are each welded to the sleeve locator.

12. The product as set forth in claim 10 wherein the sleeve locator comprises a metal stamping.

13. A method comprising providing a front lower control arm attachment system including a sleeve locator and a bracket assembly, and at least one first threaded sleeve and at least one second threaded sleeve extending through at least one of the sleeve locator or the bracket assembly, and attaching the sleeve locator to a rear face of a vehicle engine cradle and attaching the bracket assembly to a front face of the vehicle engine cradle.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising inserting the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve through a first through hole and a second through hole formed in at least one of the sleeve locator or the bracket assembly, and securing the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to at least one of the sleeve locator or the bracket assembly.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein securing the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to at least one of the sleeve locator or the bracket assembly comprises welding the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve to at least one of the sleeve locator or the bracket assembly.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising;
providing a lower control arm for a suspension, the lower control arm having a first elongated portion and a first eyelet connected to the first elongated portion;
inserting a first threaded bolt thought the first eyelet and threading the bolt into the at least one first threaded sleeve.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the sleeve locator comprises a metal stamping.

18. A method comprising providing a front lower control arm attachment system including a sleeve locator and at least one first threaded sleeve and at least one second threaded sleeve extending there through, and attaching the front lower control arm attachment system to a vehicle engine cradle;
wherein the cradle comprises a side rail having a front face and a rear face, and wherein the side rail has at least one first through hole and at least one second through hole formed therein, inserting the at least one first threaded sleeve and the at least one second threaded sleeve through the at least one first th

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Stockard Michael L

Classifications

• B23P11/00

  Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for  (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• Y10T29/49948

  Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut] · CPC title

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B60G7/001

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