Vehicle suspension control arm and method
AssigneeBenteler Automotive Corporation
InventorKenneth A. Weise
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control arm for vehicle suspension systems has first and second rigid arm plates having first and second apertures extend laterally through opposing faces of the body adjacent opposite ends thereof. The arm plates are disposed in a mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship. The first apertures are generally concentric and the second apertures are generally concentric. First and second spacers each have a rigid body with opposite ends and a central bushing aperture extending therebetween. The spacers are disposed between the arm plates adjacent opposite ends thereof. The central bushing aperture of the spacers is positioned generally concentrically with the apertures. Also included is a related method for making vehicle suspension links from ultra high strength steel.
Claims18
A method for making a vehicle suspension link, comprising:
- providing a sheet of ultra high strength steel;
- stamping from the sheet of ultra high strength steel first and second link plates, each with a similarly shaped, rigid, generally planar body and first and second laterally extending bushing apertures disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof;
- forming first and second spacers each having a rigid body with a central bushing aperture;
- rigidly attaching opposite ends of the first and second spacers with the first and second link plates with the central bushing apertures arranged concentric with the first and second apertures in the first and second link plates to fixedly retain the first and second link plates in a mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship to define the vehicle suspension link;
- heating the vehicle suspension link to a predetermined temperature sufficient for heat treating the ultra high strength steel;
- quenching the vehicle suspension link to harden the ultra high strength steel;
- and
- mounting bushings in the first and second bushing apertures in the vehicle suspension link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.