# US 2014/0225343 A1 · Method of producing a chassis control arm, and control arm for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0225343 A1 - Document ID: US20140225343A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/173,537 - Filed: 2014-02-05 - Published: 2014-08-14 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-14 - Assignees: Audi AG - Applicants: Audi AG - Inventors: Roland Hudler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140225343A1 ## CPC - B60G 7/001: {Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B23P 11/005: {by expanding or crimping} - B60G 7/00: Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof (means for maintaining substantially constant wheel camber during suspension movement B60G3/26; {articulations for wheels B60G5/00; leaf spring attaching means B60G11/10, B60G11/12; trailing arm twist beam axle attaching means B60G21/052; articulations in general F16C}) - B60G 7/02: Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - F16C 7/08: made from sheet metal - F16F 1/3849: {Mounting brackets therefor, e.g. stamped steel brackets; Restraining links} - B21D 15/06: annularly {(with thinning B21C37/205)} - B21D 39/06: of tubes in openings, e.g. rolling-in - B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards - B23P 2700/14: Suspension elements of automobile vehicles - B60G 2206/017: forming an eye for the bushing - B60G 2206/10: Constructional features of arms - B60G 2206/14: the arm forming a U-shaped recess for fitting a bush - B60G 2206/16: the arm having a U profile and/or made of a plate - B60G 2206/722: Plates - B60G 2206/82: Joining - B60G 2206/8208: by hemming or seaming, e.g. by folding of the rim - B60G 2206/8209: by deformation - F16C 9/04: Connecting-rod bearings; Attachments thereof - F16C 2326/05: Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In a method of producing a chassis control arm, at least one end of a blank is provided with at least two webs which are arranged in spaced-apart relation and define a clearance there between. Each of the webs is formed with a bearing opening, with the bearing opening of one web and the bearing opening of the other web aligned in coaxial relation to provide a bearing zone. A bearing sleeve is placed into the bearing openings, and the bearing sleeve is peripherally expanded at least in one region such as to project radially into the clearance. The at least one peripheral expansion can be formed to directly abut at least one of the webs in an axial direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a chassis control arm, comprising the steps of: providing an end of a blank with at least two webs in spaced-apart relation to define a clearance there between; forming each of the webs with a bearing opening, with the bearing opening of one web and the bearing opening of the other web aligned in coaxial relation to provide a bearing zone; placing a bearing sleeve into the bearing openings; and peripherally expanding at least one region of the bearing sleeve to form at least one peripheral expansion sized to project radially into the clearance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral expansion is sized to directly abut at least one of the webs in an axial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising collaring at least one end of the bearing sleeve so as to project beyond an adjacent one of the webs in the axial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the expanding and collaring steps are executed at a same time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bearing opening is formed by a stamping process or boring process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has a diameter which is greater than a remaining region of the bearing sleeve, with the at least one region of the bearing sleeve extending about the bearing sleeve over its entirety. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bearing sleeve is peripherally expanded in the at least one region radially about an entire circumference or intermittently. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein each of the webs forms a form fit with the bearing sleeve when the at least one region is peripherally expanded and the at least one end is collared. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding step includes inserting an expanding mandrel in the bearing sleeve. ### Claim 10 A chassis control arm, comprising: a bearing zone having at least two webs in spaced-apart relation to define a clearance there between, each of the webs having a bearing opening, with the bearing opening of one web and the bearing opening of the other web aligned in coaxial relation; and a bearing sleeve received in the bearing openings and having at least one region which is peripherally expanded so as to project radially into the clearance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the at least one peripheral expansion is formed to directly abut at least one of the webs in an axial direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the bearing sleeve has a tubular configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has a diameter which is greater than a remaining region of the bearing sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has a fold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The chassis control arm of claim 14, wherein the fold extends in axial or radial extension of the bearing sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has an elevation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chassis control arm of claim 16, wherein the elevation extends in axial or radial extension of the bearing sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The chassis control arm of claim 10, wherein the webs extend parallel to one another. ### Claim 19 A vehicle, comprising a chassis control arm including a bearing zone having at least two webs in spaced-apart relation to define a clearance there between, each of the webs having a bearing opening, with the bearing opening of one web and the bearing opening of the other web aligned in coaxial relation; and a bearing sleeve received in the bearing openings and having at least one region which is peripherally expanded so as to project radially into the clearance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one peripheral expansion is formed to directly abut at least one of the webs in an axial direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has a diameter which is greater than a remaining region of the bearing sleeve. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one region of the bearing sleeve has a fold or an elevation in axial or radial extension of the bearing sleeve.