Subframe for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540046-B2
Application number	US-201414910942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a subframe for a motor vehicle, comprising two front node elements ( 1 ) for connecting to a vehicle body, which node elements are spaced from each other in a vehicle transverse direction (y) and are connected to each other by means of a front subframe cross member ( 3 ), and comprising at least one functional part ( 28 ), in particular a rotary actuator, which extends adjacently to the subframe cross member ( 3 ) in a vehicle transverse direction (y), by means of which functional part a torsion can be applied to torsion springs that act on the vehicle wheel suspension. According to the invention, the subframe cross member ( 3 ) has an opening, which provides an additional installation space, in which the functional part ( 28 ) at least partially protrudes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A subframe for a motor vehicle, comprising:
two front node elements arranged in a vehicle transverse direction in spaced-apart relation for connection to a vehicle body;
a front subframe cross member configured to connect the two front node elements;
at least one functional part configured as a rotary actuator extending in the vehicle transverse direction adjacent to the subframe cross member and having torsion spring bars which act on a vehicle wheel suspension and are subjectable to a torsion;
said subframe cross member having an opening which provides installation space such that the functional part protrudes at least in part without contact to thereby define a clearance between the functional part and the opening of the subframe cross member; and
said torsion spring bars of the functional part configured as a rotary actuator being arranged in spaced-apart relation in a vehicle longitudinal direction and overlaps with the subframe cross member.

2. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the subframe cross member is constructed in the form of an upright profile having at least one cross member wall, said opening being formed in the cross member wall.

3. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the subframe cross member is configured to delimit the opening in the shape of a closed frame having upper and lower wall frame parts in a vertical direction and lateral wall frame parts in the vehicle transverse direction.

4. The subframe of claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower wall frame parts and the lateral wall frame parts are all made of same material and/or formed in one piece in the cross member wall.

5. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the subframe cross member has a front cross member wall and a rear cross member wall, as viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, to define a cavity.

6. The subframe of claim 5 , wherein the opening is formed in one of the front and rear cross member walls, the other one of the front and rear cross member walls defining also an opening.

7. The subframe of claim 6 , wherein the functional part has an outer circumference which is substantially circular in shape, each said opening defining a height which is variably dimensioned to suit a contour of the protruding functional part.

8. The subframe of claim 5 , wherein one of the front and rear cross member walls is arranged in closer proximity to the functional part in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the other one of the front and rear cross member walls and has an upper frame wall part and a lower frame wall part, with at least one of the upper and lower frame wall parts being folded obliquely at an angle of incline.

9. The subframe of claim 8 , wherein the obliquely folded frame wall part forms with the other one of the front and rear cross member walls a closed hollow profile.

10. The subframe of claim 9 , wherein the obliquely folded frame wall part is welded with the other one of the front and rear cross member walls.

11. The subframe of claim 5 , wherein the subframe cross member defines a hollow profile which is delimited in a vertical direction by an upper flange and a lower flange, between which the cross member walls are arranged.

12. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the subframe cross member has at least one frame wall part which is folded obliquely at an angle of incline.

13. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the functional part extends transversely on one side of the subframe cross member, and further comprising a second transversely extending functional part on another side of the subframe cross member, said subframe cross member being arranged in a clearance between the two functional parts.

14. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the second transversely extending functional part is a steering gear.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Kramer Tobias
• Bosch Jakob

Classifications

• B60G2204/15

  Mounting of subframes · CPC title

• B60G2204/1222

  Middle mounts of stabiliser on vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G11/181

  arranged in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60G2204/122

  Mounting of torsion springs · CPC title

• B60G21/0555

  including an actuator inducing vehicle roll · CPC title