Twist-beam axle for the rear suspension of a motor vehicle and method for its production
AssigneeSistemi Sospensioni S.p.A.
InventorsGuido Sebastiano Alesso, Daniele Bussolino
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Abstract
The twist-beam axle (10) comprises a central cross-member (11) compliant to torsion and a pair of trailing arms (12) fixed to side end portions (11a) of the cross-member (11) for articulated connection of the axle to the vehicle body and for support of the rear wheels. Each trailing arm (12) is formed by a pair of first, transversely inner half-shells (18, 19), that is, a front half-shell and a rear half-shell, respectively, securely connected to each other and to the respective end (11a) of the cross-member (11), and by a second transversely outer half-shell (20), securely connected to the pair of first half-shells (18, 19) so as to form therewith a structure having a closed cross-section.
Claims11
Twist-beam axle for the rear suspension of a motor vehicle, comprising a central cross-member (11) and a pair of trailing arms (12) fixed to respective side end portions (11a) of the cross-member (11), wherein each trailing arm (12) comprises a pair of front and rear transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) fixed to the respective side end portion (11a) of the cross-member (11) and a transversely outer half-shell (20) securely connected to the transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) so as to form therewith a rigid body having a closed cross-section, characterised in that the transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) are separate components from the cross-member (11) and are securely connected to each other and to the respective side end portions (11a) of the cross-member (11).
A method for the production of a twist-beam axle (10) for the rear suspension of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a cross-member (11) having side end portions (11a) adapted to engage a pair of trailing arms (12);
- b) providing, for each side end portion (11a) of the cross-member (11), a pair of front and rear transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) adapted to be securely connected to each other and to the side end portion (11a) of the cross-member (11), and a transversely outer half-shell (20) adapted to be securely connected to the pair of transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) so as to form therewith a rigid body of closed cross-section;
- c) securely connecting the pairs of transversely inner half-shells (18, 19) onto the respective side end portions (11a) of the cross-member (11);
- d) securely connecting the transversely outer half-shells (20) onto the respective pairs of transversely inner half-shells (18, 19).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.