Receptacle for a towing means and method of manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855906-B2
Application number	US-201414889028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

An arrangement is proposed of a receptacle consisting of multiple components for a towing means, especially a towing lug, on a support piece ( 1 ) attachable to the body of a motor vehicle, wherein the support piece is insertable into a receptacle on a cross member of the vehicle, and the support piece is to be joined with the cross member via friction-stir welds.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arrangement of a towing receptacle for a vehicle body comprising:
a cross member defining an interior cavity and having an inner front surface and an inner rear surface;
a support piece disposed in the interior cavity and attached to the cross member by friction-stir welding;
the support piece including a front support surface disposed flush with the inner front surface of the cross member and a rear support surface disposed flush with the inner rear surface of the cross member;
a first borehole extending through both of the cross member and the support piece from the respective front to rear surfaces; and
a towing sleeve disposed in the first borehole.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the support piece extends along an axis A-A′ between a first support end and a second support end, and each support end defining at least one of catches or hook-shaped projections.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the support piece defines at least one second borehole extending through the support piece transverse to the axis A-A′ for the attachment of a crash box to the cross member.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one second borehole is disposed between the towing sleeve and a respective support end of the support piece.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the support piece has an extruded profile.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the support piece is comprised of aluminum.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the support piece is comprised of magnesium.

8. A method for manufacture of a towing arrangement for a vehicle body, the method comprising:
inserting a support piece into an interior cavity of a cross member of the vehicle body;
caulking the support piece into the cross member;
attaching the inserted support piece to the cross member by friction-stir welding;
drilling a first borehole through the cross member and the support piece; and
inserting a towing sleeve into the first borehole.

9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
bending the cross member into a bent end form before or after the support piece is welded to the cross member.

10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said attaching step includes attaching the inserted support piece to the cross member with at least two friction-stir weld points.

11. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
equipping the support piece with at least one second borehole extending perpendicular to the first borehole for the attachment of a crash box to the cross member.

12. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the support piece extends along an axis A-A′ between a first support end and a second support end each defining at least one of catches or hook-shaped projections, and wherein the step of inserting the support piece includes sliding the support piece into the cross member using the catches or hook-shaped projections.

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc

Inventors

• Garnweidner Peter

Classifications

• B29L2031/30

  Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} · CPC title

• B60D1/56

  securing to the vehicle bumper · CPC title

• B60R19/48 Primary

  combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds · CPC title

• B60D1/565

  having an eyelet · CPC title

• B62D25/209

  Arrangements for the mounting of vehicle hitches (vehicle connections in general B60D) · CPC title