Link unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630466-B2
Application number	US-201514847658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2015
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a link unit, in particular for use in utility vehicles, comprising an arm element and a load-bearing element, wherein the arm element has a holding section and the load-bearing element has an engagement section, wherein the holding section and the engagement section can be placed in positively locking engagement such that the load-bearing element is secured against displacement relative to the arm element in at least three holding directions which lie in a holding plane. The invention also relates to a method for producing a link unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A link unit, comprising:
an arm element including one of a projection and a recess; and,
a load-bearing element including the other of the projection and the recess;
wherein the arm element has a holding section and the load-bearing element has an engagement section;
wherein the holding section and the engagement section are configured to be placed in positive locking engagement by inserting the projection into the recess such that the load-bearing element is secured against displacement relative to the arm element in at least three holding directions which lie in a holding plane by the positive locking engagement between the holding section and the engagement section; and
wherein two of the holding directions run parallel to a tube axis of an axle tube configured to support vehicle wheels and that is fixed to the arm element.

2. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein between the holding section and the engagement section, there is formed a welding joint for producing a welded connection between the arm element and the load-bearing element, and wherein the welded connection is separate from the positive locking engagement.

3. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding section comprises the projection on the arm element, and wherein the engagement section comprises the recess with which the holding section can be placed in positive locking engagement.

4. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding section has a first holding surface with which the engagement section can be placed in contact, and wherein the holding surface extends transversely with respect to the holding plane.

5. The link unit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, between the first holding surface and the holding plane, there is formed a holding angle which is less than 91°.

6. The link unit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the holding angle is between 45° and 90°.

7. The link unit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the holding angle is between 75° and 85°.

8. The link unit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the holding surface cooperates with the engagement section to form an undercut which acts transversely with respect to the holding plane.

9. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the extent of the holding section parallel to the tube axis is greater than that transversely with respect to the tube axis.

10. The link unit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the extent of the holding section transversely with respect to the tube axis is 0.1 to 0.85 times the extent of the holding section along the tube axis.

11. The link unit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the extent of the holding section transversely with respect to the tube axis is 0.15 to 0.4 times the extent of the holding section along the tube axis.

12. The link unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the extent of the holding section transversely with respect to the tube axis is 0.2 to 0.3 times the extent of the holding section along the tube axis.

13. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the arm element is, in the region of its pivotable suspension, of plane-symmetrical form with respect to a link central plane,
wherein the holding section is of plane-symmetrical form with respect to a holding central plane which is substantially parallel to the link central plane, and
wherein the holding central plane and the link central plane are spaced apart from one another by an offset.

14. The link unit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the offset is in a ratio of 0.05 to 0.6 in relation to the extent of the arm element transversely with respect to the link central plane in the region of the pivotable suspension of the arm element.

15. The link unit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the offset is in a ratio of 0.01 to 0.5 in relation to the extent of the arm element transversely with respect to the link central plane in the region of the pivotable suspension of the arm element.

16. The link unit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the offset is in a ratio of 0.25 to 0.35 in relation to the extent of the arm element transversely with respect to the link central plane in the region of the pivotable suspension of the arm element.

17. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing element has a support surface which is designed to be supported on the axle tube, and wherein the load-bearing element is held by way of the positive locking engagement on a holding element and the support of the support surface on the axle tube.

18. The link unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first welding section and a second welding section are provided on the arm element, and wherein, in the first welding section and in the second welding section, a welded connection can be produced between the arm element and the axle tube.

19. A method for producing a link unit, comprising:
providing an arm element and a load-bearing element, wherein the arm element has a holding section and wherein the load-bearing element has an engagement section;
providing an axle tube configured to support vehicle wheels and that is cohesively fixed to at least one of the arm element and the load bearing element;
producing positive locking engagement between the holding section and the engagement section; and
producing a cohesive connection between the arm element and the load-bearing element in the region of the holding section and of the engagement section, wherein the positive locking engagement between the arm element and the load bearing element secures the load bearing element against displacement relative to the arm element in at least three holding directions which lie in a holding plane, and wherein the positive locking engagement is separate from the cohesive connection.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the positive locking engagement acts along the holding plane and is produced by displacement of the load-bearing element relative to the arm element transversely with respect to the holding plane.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the cohesive connection is produced by way of a thermal welding process.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein, after the production of the cohesive connection in the region of the holding section and of the engagement section, the axle tube is fixed to at least one of a first welding section and a second welding section of the arm element.

Assignees

• Saf Holland Gmbh

Inventors

• Galazin Gregory

Classifications

• B60G9/003 Primary

  the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device · CPC title

• B60G2206/8201

  by welding · CPC title

• B60G2200/30

  Rigid axle suspensions · CPC title

• B60G2204/4306

  Bracket or knuckle for rigid axles, e.g. for clamping · CPC title