DISPOSITIVO DE FIXAÇÃO PARA SUPORTES EM VIGAS DE TORÇÃO TRASEIRAS E VEÍCULO

Description

1 / 7 FASTENING DEVICE FOR SUPPORTS ON REAR TORSION BEAMS AND VEHICLES Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention is situated in the field of fastening devices for supports on rear torsion beams in automotive vehicles, more specifically in the development of solutions aimed at simplifying and standardizing assembly methods in different designs and production lines. Background of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is situated in the field of mechanical engineering, focusing on the development of structural components for automotive suspension systems, particularly rear twist beams. These components play a fundamental role in the structure and performance of vehicles, providing structural rigidity and support for other elements of the suspension system, such as brakes and wheels.

[0003] In traditional systems currently in use, the brackets are fixed to the torsion beam by welding, which has been a well-established practice due to its initial simplicity and structural robustness. However, this approach presents a number of technical and operational limitations. The main limitation is related to the need to adapt the brackets to meet the different specifications of vehicle models.

[0004] Additionally, the welding process demands constant adjustments to the production lines, which negatively impacts manufacturing time, operating costs, and industrial flexibility. Each support variant requires specific welding configurations, which not only increases setup time but also reduces efficiency in cases where multiple vehicle models share the same torsion beam but require different supports. Furthermore, the use of welded supports can generate additional costs when certain supports are not used in certain applications, resulting in wasted material and resources.

[0005] Another important disadvantage of the welding method is its contribution to increasing the environmental impact of the production process. Welding, in many cases, implies higher energy consumption and gas emissions, which goes against current trends of sustainability and reducing environmental footprints in vehicle manufacturing. Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 9 / 21 2 / 7

[0006] Faced with these challenges, the need for an innovative solution to overcome the described limitations is evident. Ideally, this solution should eliminate the reliance on welding for support fastening, promoting a modular approach that allows for the standardization of torsion beams and the customized assembly of supports according to the specific needs of each project. This would not only reduce production costs and complexity but also increase assembly line flexibility and meet the requirements of sustainability and industrial efficiency.

[0007] Therefore, the development of alternative methods for attaching supports to the rear torsion beam represents a significant evolution in the state of the art, with positive impacts on both the production process and the performance of the resulting vehicles.

[0008] Some prior art documents have attempted to solve this problem, as can be seen below:

[0009] IN202221018427 - This prior art discloses a system and method for aligning the rear wheels in torsion beam type suspensions of a vehicle. A threaded bushing component, with external and internal threads, is positioned between the axle and the axle support assembly, engaging in threaded holes in the camber plate. Adjusting the length of the threaded bushing allows variation of the toe and camber angles for rear wheel alignment.

[0010] CN106004316 - The prior art discloses a rear torsion beam for vehicles and a vehicle equipped with such beam. The torsion beam comprises a main beam, a torsion beam support, a side wheel support, and an adjustment assembly. The torsion beam support is fixed to the main beam and has a housing for adjustment. The side wheel support is attached to the torsion beam support by means of a threaded fastening element. The adjustment assembly includes an adjustment screw and an adjustment wheel, where the wheel is mounted on the screw and rotates together with it. The adjustment screw passes through the side wheel support and the torsion beam support, being fitted into the adjustment housing. By turning the screw, the adjustment wheel also rotates, allowing the side wheel support to rotate around the central axis of the threaded fastening element, adjusting the camber angle of the torsion beam type rear suspension.

[0011] Existing solutions have limitations in providing fastening devices for supports on rear torsion beams that combine flexibility in assembly, Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 10 / 21 3 / 7 Standardization across different vehicle designs and adequate strength to withstand dynamic loads. Furthermore, these solutions often require complex manufacturing processes, such as welding, which increase production costs and hinder adjustments or replacements during assembly, compromising the efficiency and sustainability of the industrial process. Objectives of the Invention

[0012] The main objective of the present invention is to propose a solution for fixing supports to rear torsion beams that eliminates the need for welding, promoting greater standardization and flexibility in vehicle manufacturing.

[0013] Another objective of the invention is to reduce the complexity and costs associated with the production line, enabling the use of a single torsion beam variant for different vehicle designs, regardless of the support specifications.

[0014] Additionally, the aim is to optimize the production process, minimizing assembly line setup time and reducing material waste, contributing to the sustainability and efficiency of automotive manufacturing. Brief Description of the Invention

[0015] The present invention discloses a fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams, comprising a torsion beam. Said torsion beam comprises threaded rivets and supports fastened by screws.

[0016] The aforementioned threaded rivets are configured to allow for modular fastening of the brackets. These brackets are configured to be installed according to the needs of different vehicle designs. And the aforementioned screws allow for disassembly and replacement of the brackets without the need for welding.

[0017] Threaded rivets are fixed to the torsion beam by means of a crimping process.

[0018] Furthermore, the supports are made of metallic material, more specifically hot-rolled steel.

[0019] The screws are configured to allow controlled torque during the assembly process.

[0020] The threaded rivets are positioned at the lateral ends of the torsion beam.

[0021] Still the supports of the fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 11 / 21 4 / 7 can be configured to allow for the attachment of auxiliary components.

[0022] The aforementioned fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams is configured to reduce the need for different torsion beam variants between projects.

[0023] And the said fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams can also be configured to allow the supports to be reused in different design configurations.

[0024] Regarding the fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams, it is configured to withstand dynamic forces during vehicle operation of up to 500 N.

[0025] The present invention further discloses a vehicle comprising a fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams as described in any of the preceding claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] The present invention will be described in more detail after the presentation of the figures, which contain a preferred configuration. The Figures show: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention installed in a vehicle. Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the present invention installed in a vehicle. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention disconnected from a vehicle.

[0027] The reference elements present in the figures are: 100 - fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams; 1 - torsion beam; 2 - threaded rivets; 3 - supports; 4 - screws. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0028] Before the invention is detailed, it is important to understand that it is not limited to the specific components of the described device, as these may vary. It is also relevant to emphasize that the terminology employed serves only to describe particular embodiments and should not be seen as limiting. It should be noted that, as used in this descriptive report and in the associated claims, the singular forms a, an, and may refer to both singular and plural elements, unless the context indicates otherwise. Furthermore, when ranges of numerical parameters are provided, they are considered to include limiting values.

[0029] It should also be understood that the modalities presented here should not Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, p. 12 / 21 5 / 7 can be viewed in isolation or disconnected. The characteristics described for one modality are also applicable to the other modalities mentioned. If a specific characteristic is mentioned in one modality but not in another, the specialist in the field would understand that this does not necessarily imply that the characteristic should not be considered for the other modality. The specialist would understand that the objective of this request is to reveal the characteristic also for other modalities, but, for the sake of clarity and conciseness, this has not been explicitly stated in each case.

[0030] The present invention discloses a fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams 100 comprising a torsion beam 1, wherein said torsion beam 1 comprises threaded rivets 2 and supports 3 fastened by screws 4.

[0031] The aforementioned threaded rivets 2 are configured to allow modular fastening of the supports 3 and the aforementioned supports 3 are configured to be installed as needed for different vehicle designs.

[0032] It is further revealed that the aforementioned screws 4 allow the disassembly and replacement of the supports 3 without the need for welding.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rivets 2 are fixed to the torsion beam 1 by means of a crimping process.

[0034] The present invention also contemplates, in an alternative configuration, the threaded rivets 2 being fixed to the torsion beam 1 by means of friction welding or structural adhesion, depending on the characteristics of the material used.

[0035] In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the screws 4 are configured to allow controlled torque during the assembly process.

[0036] The present invention further discloses that, preferably, the threaded rivets 2 are positioned at the lateral ends of the torsion beam 1. The present invention further discloses that, in another configuration, the threaded rivets 2 can be distributed along the entire length of the torsion beam 1.

[0037] In a preferred configuration of the present invention, said supports (3) are configured to allow the attachment of auxiliary components, such as brake lines or sensors.

[0038] Preferably, the fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams 1 is configured to reduce the need for different variants of torsion beams 1 between projects. Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 13 / 21 6 / 7

[0039] The aforementioned fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams 100 is still configured to allow the reuse of the supports 3 in different design configurations.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supports 3 are manufactured from metallic material, more specifically S355MC (DIN EN 10149-02).

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supports 3 are configured to withstand an axial force of up to 500 N.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded rivets 2 are dimensioned to withstand shear forces of up to 1500 N.

[0043] In another preferred configuration, the fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams 100 is designed to withstand dynamic forces during vehicle operation of up to 500 N.

[0044] The present invention further discloses a vehicle comprising a fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams 100 as described earlier in this descriptive report.

[0045] The present invention fulfills the proposed objectives by offering an innovative and efficient solution for attaching supports to rear torsion beams, eliminating the need for welding and allowing standardization of the main component, regardless of design variations. By integrating threaded rivets and screws as modular elements, the invention significantly reduces production complexity, manufacturing costs, and material waste. Furthermore, the modular approach provides greater flexibility to meet different vehicle configurations, improving industrial efficiency and contributing to more sustainable production, aligned with the demands of the automotive market.

[0046] All combinations of elements that perform the same function in a substantially similar manner, using equivalent methods and producing the same results as the elements specified in the claims, are encompassed within the scope of this invention. This means that even if a variation of elements performs the function in a slightly different way, as long as the result is essentially the same, these variations are also protected by the patent. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that the scope of protection conferred by this invention is not limited only to the literal content of the claims described, but also includes variations or modifications. Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 14 / 21 7 / 7 that can be considered equivalent.

[0047] It is necessary to observe that the attached drawings, although representing the ideas and concepts of the invention, have not necessarily been drawn to scale and serve only to illustrate conceptually the possible configurations of the elements. This choice aims only to facilitate the understanding of the invention and not to restrict the interpretation of the claims to a specific or exact dimension. Furthermore, all combinations of elements that perform the same function in an essentially equivalent way, even if they operate slightly differently, are protected by the scope of the invention. The patent protection, therefore, covers a wide range of potential variations that may differ in their specific characteristics, but which achieve the same results.This flexibility allows the invention to protect not only the exact forms described, but also other possible variations and modifications, including so-called equivalents, which fall within the broader scope of the claims. Petition 870250006317, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 15 / 21

Claims

1 / 2 Claims 1. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), characterized by comprising a torsion beam (1); wherein said torsion beam (1) comprises threaded rivets (2) and supports (3) fixed by screws (4); wherein said threaded rivets (2) are configured to allow modular fastening of the supports (3); wherein said supports (3) are configured to be installed according to the needs of different vehicle designs; wherein said screws (4) allow disassembly and replacement of the supports (3) without the need for welding.

2. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to claim 1, characterized in that the threaded rivets (2) are fixed to the torsion beam (1) by means of a crimping process.

3. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports (3) are made of metallic material, more specifically S355MC (DIN EN 10149-02).

4. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screws (4) are configured to allow controlled torque during the assembly process.

5. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded rivets (2) are positioned at the lateral ends of the torsion beam (1).

6. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports (3) are configured to allow the fastening of auxiliary components.

7. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by being configured to reduce the need for different variants of torsion beams (1) between designs.

8. Fixing device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by being configured to allow the reuse of the supports (3) in different design configurations.

9. Fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured to withstand dynamic forces during vehicle operation of up to 500 N.

10. Vehicle characterized by comprising a fastening device for supports on rear torsion beams (100) as described in any of the preceding claims. Petition 870250006317, dated 27 / 01 / 2025, pp. 17 / 21

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