Subframe for a motor vehicle axle and method for producing a subframe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764764-B2
Application number	US-201414902318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A subframe for a motor vehicle axle optimized for stiffness and weight is provided. Such a subframe may comprise a base member, a cross member, and a stiffening element. The base member may have an upper shell, a lower shell connected to the upper shell, and a connecting point formed on one of the shells for a pendulum bearing of a pendulum bar. The cross member may extend in a transverse direction, be attached to the base member, and have mounts for longitudinal members of the motor vehicle. The stiffening element may be connected to at least one shell in a region of the connecting point. Also described is a production method for a subframe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subframe for a motor vehicle axle, comprising:
a base member, the base member comprising an upper shell, a lower shell connected to the upper shell, and a connecting point, wherein the connecting point is located on at least one of said shells and configured for a pendulum bearing of a pendulum rod;
a cross member, the cross member extending in a transverse direction and attached to the base member, the cross member arranged upstream from at least the upper shell of the base member relative to a forward direction of travel of a motor vehicle, the cross member having mounts, the mounts configured to couple with longitudinal members of the motor vehicle;
bearing mounts for control arms of a wheel suspension, at least one of the bearing mounts arranged downstream from the cross member relative to the forward direction of travel, the hearing mounts formed at least in part by the base member; and
a stiffening element, the stiffening element connected to at least one of said shells in a region of the connecting point.

2. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the connecting point is formed on the upper shell.

3. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the mounts are connected by a cross member part of the cross member, the cross member part being manufactured in one piece.

4. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has at least predominantly a cross section, the cross section having a first dimension in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle that is smaller than a second dimension in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle.

5. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the cross member is manufactured by a shell construction method and comprises a front shell, the front shell forming a cross member part and connected to at least one rear shell.

6. The subframe of claim 5 , wherein the at least one rear shell is designed in one piece with the upper shell and/or the lower shell.

7. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element is designed in the form of a stiffening element shell, wherein an intermediate space is formed between the stiffening element and the shell to which the stiffening element is connected at least adjacent to the connecting point.

8. The subframe of claim 7 , wherein the cross member has a front vent opening arranged in front of the stiffening element in the direction of travel, the front vent opening capable of communication with the intermediate space.

9. The subframe of claim 7 , wherein the base member has a rear vent opening arranged behind the stiffening element in the direction of travel, the rear vent opening capable of communication with the intermediate space.

10. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the cross member and/or the base member has/have at least one recess.

11. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the shell on which the connecting point is formed has at least one profile structure running radially and/or concentrically with the connecting point.

12. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element has at least one profile structure running radially and/or concentrically with a second connecting point for the pendulum bearing formed on the stiffening element.

13. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein at least one bearing mount for at least one control arm of a wheel suspension is arranged upstream from the cross member in the direction of travel.

14. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein at least one bearing mount is partially enclosed by the cross member and partially enclosed by at least one attached element arranged upstream from the cross member.

15. The subframe of claim 14 , wherein the lower shell is guided beneath the at least one attached element and the cross member, the at least one attached element being at least partially connected to the lower shell from above.

16. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the bearing mounts for control arms of a wheel suspension are formed at least in part by the cross member.

17. The subframe of claim 1 , wherein the lower shell of the base member extends beyond the cross member in the direction of travel.

Assignees

• Kirchhoff Automotive D Gmbh

Inventors

• Irle Carolin
• Meisterjahn Christoph
• Bartzik Josef

Classifications

• B62D21/11 Primary

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

• B62D21/04 Primary

  single longitudinal type · CPC title

• B62D65/024

  Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title