# US 9,517,797 B2 · Support structure and method of producing a support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,797 B2 - Document ID: US9517797B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/759,431 - Filed: 2013-11-18 - Published: 2015-12-10 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-24 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Daniel Wolf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517797B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B29C 53/06: Forming folding lines by pressing or scoring - B62D 29/041: {Understructures} - B29K 2105/20: Inserts - B29L 2031/30: Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A support structure (1), in particular an axle support for a motor vehicle, which is made as a single-shell or multi-shell frame element (7) of fiber-reinforced plastic. The frame element (7) has at least one elastic connection point (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) for connection to an aggregate such that the at least one elastic connection point (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) is formed integrally with the frame element (7). Additionally, a method for producing such a support structure (1) is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support structure (1) comprising: a frame element (7) having at least one shell made of fiber-reinforced plastic; the frame element (7) having at least one force transfer point (12, 12′, 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) formed of folds of the frame element (7) which are formed from areas compressed during deformation, and the at least at least one force transfer point (12, 12′, 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) comprising: at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) facilitating connection of the frame element (7) to an aggregate, the at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) being formed integrally with the frame element (7), and the at least one fold (12, 12′) and the at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) being formed by textile folding of the fiber-reinforced plastic so that the at least one fold (12, 12′) extends from an edge toward a central region of the support structure (1) and the at least one fold (12, 12′) having through-going fiber structure of long or continuous fibers in the fiber-reinforced plastic of the support structure (1). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame element (7) is a two-shell assembly having an upper shell (2) and a lower shell (3) such that a hollow space (6) is formed and enclosed between the upper shell (2) and the lower shell (3). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shell of the frame element (7) is a single-shell in which the frame element (7) has an S-shaped cross-section with an open profile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shell of the frame element (7) is an assembly of first and second shells, and each of the first and the second shells is shaped such that the frame element (7) has a substantially S-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) are substantially elastic in a direction of a longitudinal axis (L) of a motor vehicle and substantially rigid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic is reinforced with at least one of long-fiber and continuous fiber plastic fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame element (7) has a tapering shape in an area of the at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame element (7) has a substantially rectangular body with four corner sections (8, 8′, 8″, 8′″), and one of the at least two elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) projects from each corner section (8, 8′, 8″, 8′″) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis (L) of a motor vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame element (7) has two elastic connection points (9, 9′″) which are connected by a bracket element (11). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (1) is made with reinforcing ribs (13), and the reinforcing ribs (13) are made of fiber-reinforced thermoplasts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The support structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the upper shell (2) and the lower shell (3) are connected to one another by one of adhesive bonding, riveting, screwing and welding. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The support structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the hollow space (6) is filled with one of a low-density material, a foam, a honeycomb material and balsa-wood. ### Claim 13 A method for producing a support structure (1) having a frame element (7) which is made as either a single-shell or a multi-shell frame element of fiber-reinforced plastic, the frame element (7) has at least one elastic connection point (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) for connection to an aggregate, and the at least one elastic connection point (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) is formed integrally with the frame element (7), and the at least one elastic connection point (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) is formed by textile folding of the fiber-reinforced plastic, the method comprises steps of: producing either a textile semifinished product or a semifinished product made of textile-reinforced plastic for forming the support structure (1) with the frame element (7), having at least two corner sections; deforming the textile semifinished product or the semifinished product made of textile-reinforced plastic, from an initial, first circumference to a smaller, second circumference relative to a reference plane of the semifinished product or the semifinished product made of textile-reinforced plastic; and forming folds (12, 12′, 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) from areas that were compressed, during the deformation step, to form four elastic connection points (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″) and further force transfer points formed by folds (12, 12′). ### Claim 14 An axle support structure for a motor vehicle, the axle support structure comprising: a frame element having an S-shaped cross-section, the frame element being formed from an upper frame shell and a lower frame shell fixed to each other, the upper frame shell and the lower frame shell being made from fiber-reinforced plastic, the frame element having at least one force transfer point, and the at least one force transfer point comprising: at least one fold extending from a peripheral edge toward a central region of the support structure such that the at least one fold is parallel to the S-shaped cross-section, four elastic connection points for connecting the frame element to an aggregate, and the four connection points being formed integrally with the frame element and formed by folded deformed compressed areas of the fiber-reinforced plastic of the upper frame shell and the lower frame shell.