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US 6,749,360 B2Granted
Automobile component
AssigneeZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
InventorOlaf Abels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for motor vehicle suspension arms or subframes is provided. A motor vehicle apparatus and method is used with frame components. The motor vehicle component includes frame parts of lightweight design that have complementary profiles that can be inserted one another to create a locking connection between the frame parts. The invention frame parts may be designed as extruded profiles. The motor vehicle component allows for the individual frame parts to be manufactured separately from one another and combined wherein the number and cross section of the stiffening ribs are selectable in a load dependant way in the form a modular system and different materials may be used for individual components.
Claims26
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a frame part;
- another frame part, said frame parts each having a plurality of complementary profiles that can be inserted into one another for establishing a positive-locking connection of said frame parts, said complementary profiles include guides including one of flat guides, dovetail guides or prismatic guides, said first frame part having a shape cooperating with a shape of said second frame part to form a motor vehicle suspension arm, with said frame parts in said positive locking connection;
- and
- a clamp, said frame parts being braced against one another by means of said clamp arranged on and around two of said plurality of complementary profiles with one of said two profiles engaging the other.
1 more element
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a first frame part;
- a second frame part, said first and second frame parts having a shape to form a suspension arm for a motor vehicle;
- a frame protruding portion with a profile, said frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- a frame recess portion with a profile, said frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said frame protruding portion being inserted into said frame recess portion, said frame protruding portion profile and said frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said frame protruding portion inserted into said frame recess portion;
- another frame protruding portion with a profile, said another frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- another frame recess portion with a profile, said another frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said another frame protruding portion being inserted into said another frame recess portion, said another frame protruding portion profile and said another frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said another frame protruding portion inserted into said another frame recess portion.
3 more elements
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a first frame part;
- a second frame part;
- a frame protruding portion with a profile, said frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- a frame recess portion with a profile, said frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said frame protruding portion being inserted into said frame recess portion, said frame protruding portion profile and said frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said frame protruding portion inserted into said frame recess portion;
- another frame protruding portion with a profile said another frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- another frame recess portion with a profile, said another frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said another frame protruding portion being inserted into said another frame recess portion, said another frame protruding portion profile and said another frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said another frame protruding portion inserted into said another frame recess portion, said first frame part having a shape cooperating with a shape of said second frame part to form a motor vehicle suspension arm, with said frame parts in said positive locking—complementary connection.
3 more elements
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a frame part;
- another frame part;
- a plurality of frame profile pairs connecting said frame parts, each of said frame profile pairs having a first profile part and second profile part complementary to said first profile part, said second profile part being receivable of said first profile part to lock said first profile part in said second profile part, one of said first profile part and said second profile part being arranged on one of said frame part and said another frame part;
- a plurality of stiffening ribs in the form of a latticework structure arranged between said frame parts;
- a plurality of rib profile pair connecting said ribs to said frame parts, each of said rib profile pairs having a first profile part and second profile part complementary to said first profile part, said second profile part of said rib profile pairs being receivable of said first profile part to lock said first profile part in said second profile part, said second profile part of one of said rib profile pain being arranged on one of said frame part and said another frame part, said first profile part of said one rib profile pair being arranged on one of said plurality of stiffening ribs.
2 more elements
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a frame part;
- another frame part, said frame parts having a plurality of complementary profiles that can be inserted into one another for establishing a positive-locking connection of said frame parts, said complementary profiles include guides including one of flat guides, dovetail guides or prismatic guides, said frame parts are braced against one another by means of a clamp;
- one part of said complementary profiles are oversized with respect to another part of said complementary profiles, said one and another complementary profile parts being press fit together, said first frame part having a shape cooperating with a shape of said second frame part to form a motor vehicle suspension arm, with said first frame part connected to said second frame part by said press fit.
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a frame part;
- another frame part, said frame parts having a plurality of complementary profiles that can be inserted into one another for establishing a positive-locking connection of said frame parts, said complementary profiles include guides including one of flat guides, dovetail guides or prismatic guides, said frame parts are braced against one another by means of a clamp;
- stiffening ribs in the form of a latticework structure inserted between said frame parts.
A motor vehicle component comprising:
- a first frame part;
- a second frame part;
- a frame protruding portion with a profile, said frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- a frame recess portion with a profile, said frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said frame protruding portion being inserted into said frame recess portion, said frame protruding portion profile and said frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said frame protruding portion inserted into said frame recess portion;
- another frame protruding portion with a profile, said another frame protruding portion being connected to one of said first frame part and said second frame part;
- another frame recess portion with a profile, said another frame recess portion being connected to the other of said first frame part and said second frame part, said another frame protruding portion being inserted into said another frame recess portion, said another frame protruding portion profile and said another frame recess portion profile being complementary for establishing a positive-locking complementary connection as to two orthogonal directions for maintaining a connection of said first frame part and said second frame part to prevent disconnection of said first frame part and said second frame part with respect to said two orthogonal directions with said another frame protruding portion inserted into said another frame recess portion;
- stiffening ribs in the form of a latticework structure inserted between said frame parts.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.