Lightweight control arm

Abstract

The utility model discloses a lightweight control arm, and belongs to the technical field of automobile parts. The lightweight control arm comprises a control arm body, the control arm body adopts an H-shaped design, and a hollow structure with a complete cavity inside is formed through a hollow casting process; based on double consideration of mass and automobile stability, the control arm body of the light-weight control arm is obliquely arranged, namely, the front mounting point and the rear mounting point are of an oblique structure, and the front mounting point is higher than the rear mounting point, so that the overall weight of the control arm can be decomposed by half to the sprung, the unsprung mass is reduced, the light weight is guaranteed, and meanwhile the service life of the control arm is prolonged. The control performance of the automobile is also considered; by adopting the control arm, the unsprung mass can be reduced, the vehicle driving controllability and comfort are further improved, the driving energy consumption is reduced, the structure and principle are simple, manufacturing and implementation are convenient, and the good application and popularization value is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of automobile parts, and in particular relates to a lightweight control arm. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the automobile industry, consumers have higher and higher requirements for automobile performance, especially the comfort and handling of the whole vehicle have become the key factors in car purchase decisions. This trend has prompted automobile manufacturers to continuously seek technological innovation to enhance the market competitiveness of their products. As a key component of the automobile, the chassis suspension directly determines the comfort and handling performance of the whole vehicle through its structural form.

[0003] The design goal of the chassis suspension is to effectively filter road vibrations and improve ride comfort, while also having good control response to ensure that the vehicle can maintain a stable driving state under complex road conditions. The multi-link independent suspension structure has gradually become an important choice for improving vehicle performance due to its unique advantages; this suspension structure can achieve precise control of the wheels through a precise combination of multiple links, shock absorbers and shock springs, thereby significantly enhancing the vehicle's handling performance while improving ride comfort. Among the multi-link independent suspensions, the H-arm structure stands out for its unique restraint ability. Through its unique design, the H-arm structure can effectively restrain the up and down movement of the wheels, ensuring that the toe angle of the rear wheels can be controlled within a reasonable range when the vehicle turns, thereby avoiding the lateral instability problem caused by excessive camber of the rear wheels. This feature significantly improves the lateral stability of the vehicle, allowing the driver to be more calm when facing curves or emergency lane changes. However, most H-arm bodies on the market currently generally adopt solid cast aluminum or cast steel structure. Although the above structure has high strength and durability, it also brings heavier unsprung mass. The increase in unsprung mass will not only affect the vehicle's handling performance, making the driver feel less flexible and agile when operating the vehicle, but also increase the vehicle's driving energy consumption, which is not conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction and green travel.

[0004] It can be seen that the existing H-arm structure adopts a solid structure design, which increases the mass under the spring and affects the handling performance of the vehicle. Utility Model Content

[0005] The utility model provides a lightweight control arm to solve the technical problem that the existing H-arm structure adopts a solid structure design, which increases the mass under the spring and affects the control performance of the car.

[0006] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical contents:

[0007] A lightweight control arm comprises an H-shaped control arm body;

[0008] The control arm body as a whole adopts a hollow structure, forming a complete cavity inside;

[0009] The control arm body is arranged to be inclined from one side to the other side.

[0010] Furthermore, four vertices of the control arm body are respectively provided with connection points for connecting with the entire vehicle.

[0011] Further, the two connection points located on the inner side of the control arm body adopt a first bushing outer tube and a second bushing outer tube;

[0012] A first rubber bushing is press-fitted inside the outer tube of the first bushing;

[0013] A ball head bushing is press-fitted inside the outer tube of the second bushing.

[0014] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first bushing outer tube is 2-3 times that of the second bushing outer tube.

[0015] Further, centers of the first bushing outer tube and the second bushing outer tube are located on the same axis.

[0016] Furthermore, two connection points located on the outside of the control arm body adopt a third bushing outer tube and a fork-shaped structure; wherein a second rubber bushing is pressed inside the third bushing outer tube; and the fork-shaped structure is used to connect the spherical bushing on the steering knuckle.

[0017] Furthermore, a shock-absorbing spring mounting point for mounting a shock-absorbing spring is integrated on the control arm body.

[0018] Furthermore, a leakage hole is provided on the bottom surface of the control arm body.

[0019] Furthermore, a grid structure is arranged on the outer surface of the control arm body.

[0020] Furthermore, the control arm body is made of aluminum alloy with a wall thickness of 5-11 mm; the height of the grid structure is 0.5-1 mm.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The utility model provides a lightweight control arm, which comprises a control arm body, wherein the control arm body adopts an H-shaped design, and a hollow structure with a complete cavity inside is formed through a hollow casting process; based on the dual considerations of quality and automobile stability, the lightweight control arm adopts an inclined setting for the control arm body, that is, the front mounting point to the rear mounting point is an inclined structure, and the front mounting point is higher than the rear mounting point, so that the overall weight of the control arm can be decomposed into half to the spring, thereby reducing the unsprung mass, ensuring lightweight while taking into account the handling performance of the automobile; the use of the control arm can reduce the unsprung mass, further improve the vehicle's driving controllability and comfort, reduce driving energy consumption, and has a simple structure and principle, is easy to manufacture and implement, and has good promotion and application value.

[0023] In addition, the utility model provides a lightweight control arm, in which the control arm body adopts a hollow structure with a complete cavity and has the characteristic of eliminating noise, thereby improving the NVH performance of the entire vehicle and thus ensuring the driving experience of the car.

[0024] Preferably, in the present invention, the four vertices of the control arm body are respectively provided with connection points connected to the entire vehicle, which can ensure effective connection with the steering knuckle and the subframe.

[0025] Further preferably, in the utility model, the first rubber bushing is pressed into the interior of the first bushing outer tube, which facilitates the control arm to be connected to the subframe by bolts; the ball head bushing is pressed into the interior of the second bushing outer tube, which also facilitates the control arm to be connected to the subframe by bolts, thereby ensuring effective force transmission.

[0026] Further preferably, in the utility model, the inner diameter of the first bushing outer tube is set to 2-3 times that of the second bushing outer tube. This can play an absolute guiding role in the transmission of lateral force, build up lateral force faster, make the equivalent lateral stiffness of the rear suspension relatively large, and ensure the stable performance of vehicle handling.

[0027] Preferably, in the utility model, a shock-absorbing spring mounting point is integrated on the control arm body for mounting the shock-absorbing spring. The design of the shock-absorbing spring mounting point reserves an installation space for the shock-absorbing spring, which facilitates the installation and fixation of the shock-absorbing spring.

[0028] Preferably, in the present invention, a grid structure is arranged on the outer surface of the control arm body, and the grid structure acts as a reinforcing rib, which can improve the overall strength and rigidity of the control arm.

[0029] Further preferably, in the utility model, the control arm body is made of aluminum alloy and has a wall thickness of 5-11 mm; the optimal lightweight effect is achieved while ensuring that the strength meets the requirements; at the same time, the grid structure is designed with a height of 0.5-1 mm, which can effectively strengthen the structure of the parts of the control arm body with smaller wall thickness, effectively ensuring the strength of the overall structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a lightweight control arm provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0031] Figure 2 A rear view of a lightweight control arm provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0032] Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of a lightweight control arm provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0033] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the inner connection point structure of a lightweight control arm provided by an embodiment of the utility model, wherein (a) is a schematic diagram of a first rubber bushing; (b) is a schematic diagram of a ball bushing;

[0034] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the inner connection point structure of a lightweight control arm provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0035] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the internal hollow structure of a control arm body of a lightweight control arm provided in an embodiment of the utility model.

[0036] Reference numerals:

[0037] Control arm body-1, first bushing outer tube-2, second bushing outer tube-3, third bushing outer tube-4, first rubber bushing-5, ball head bushing-6, second rubber bushing-7, shock absorber spring mounting point-9, shock absorber spring-10; leakage hole-11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects solved by the utility model more clear, the following specific embodiments further describe the utility model in detail. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the utility model, and are not used to limit the utility model.

[0039] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the embodiments of the utility model clearer, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the utility model described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0040] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to be protected, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that if the terms "upper", "lower", "horizontal", "inner", etc. indicate an orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the utility model product is usually placed when in use, it is only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0043] In addition, if the term "horizontal" appears, it does not mean that the component must be absolutely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" only means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical", which does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0044] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "set", "install", "connect", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0045] The utility model is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0046] Example 1

[0047] As mentioned in the background technology, most H-arm bodies on the market currently generally adopt solid cast aluminum or cast steel structure. Although the above structure has high strength and durability, it also brings about heavier unsprung mass. The increase in unsprung mass will not only affect the vehicle's handling performance, making the driver feel less flexible and agile when operating the vehicle, but also increase the vehicle's driving energy consumption, which is not conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction and green travel.

[0048] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose and solve the above-mentioned problem, the present embodiment provides a lightweight control arm. With the present control arm, under the premise of ensuring the original assembly connection mode, an H-arm body is designed as a hollow structure formed by integral die-casting, thereby achieving lightweight while improving the product mode; thereby, the H-arm connects the steering knuckle and the subframe to transmit force, while greatly reducing the weight of the H-arm body, that is, ensuring the normal contribution of the H-arm structure to driving control, and effectively reducing the unsprung mass, improving the controllability, and reducing driving energy consumption.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, this embodiment provides a lightweight control arm, including a control arm body 1, wherein the control arm body 1 as a whole adopts an H-shaped hollow structure with a complete cavity inside; based on considerations of strength and rigidity, the control arm body 1 is preferably made of aluminum alloy; in this embodiment, the wall thickness of the control arm body 1 is 5-11 mm.

[0050] like Figure 2 As shown, the control arm body 1 adopts a high-to-low structural design from the front mounting point to the rear mounting point, that is, from one side of the control arm body 1 to the other side, that is, it has a certain inclination, and its side shape is similar to a slide; this design method reduces the unsprung mass and moves the weight to the spring, which ensures lightweight while further improving the handling performance of the car.

[0051] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the control arm body 1 has four connection points, the two inner connection points are the first bushing outer tube 2 and the second bushing outer tube 3; the two outer connection points are the third bushing outer tube 4 and the fork structure; wherein the fork structure is used to connect the spherical bushing on the steering knuckle.

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the centers of the first bushing outer tube 2 and the second bushing outer tube 3 are located on the same axis; Figure 4 As shown in (a), the first rubber bushing 5 is pressed inside the first bushing outer tube 2; it is connected to the subframe by bolts; specifically, Figure 4As shown in (b), the ball bushing 6 is press-fitted inside the second bushing outer tube 3 and connected to the subframe by bolts.

[0053] The inner diameter of the first bushing outer tube 2 is 2-3 times that of the second bushing outer tube 3. This is because the overall structural rigidity of the H-arm parts is very high, especially the lateral rigidity. The H-arm is connected to the steering knuckle through four bushings. Considering the durability, the bushing rigidity is generally above 20KN, and some even reach 30KN. Such rigidity is almost at the level of hard connection. The design that the inner diameter of the first bushing outer tube 2 is 2-3 times that of the second bushing outer tube 3 plays an absolute guiding role in the transmission of lateral force, and the lateral force is established faster. In this way, the two KC indicators of lateral force flexibility steering and return torque steering of the rear suspension of the H-shaped control arm are both small, which makes the equivalent lateral stiffness of the rear suspension relatively large.

[0054] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the second rubber bushing 7 is press-fitted inside the third bushing outer tube 4, connected to the bridging gasket by bolts, and then connected to the steering knuckle.

[0055] It can be seen that the lightweight control arm includes a control arm body, wherein the control arm body adopts an H-shaped design, and a hollow structure with a complete cavity inside is formed through a hollow casting process; based on the dual considerations of quality and vehicle stability, the lightweight control arm adopts an inclined setting for the control arm body, that is, the front mounting point to the rear mounting point is an inclined structure, and the front mounting point is higher than the rear mounting point, so that the overall weight of the control arm can be decomposed by half to the spring, thereby reducing the unsprung mass, ensuring lightweight while taking into account the vehicle's handling performance; the use of this control arm can reduce the unsprung mass, further improve the vehicle's driving handling and comfort, and reduce driving energy consumption; the control arm body adopts a hollow structure with a complete cavity, and also has the characteristics of low noise, which improves the NVH performance of the entire vehicle, thereby ensuring the driving experience of the vehicle.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] This embodiment also provides a lightweight control arm, the basic structure of which is the same as that of the embodiment 1, and is optimized and improved on the basis of the embodiment 1, specifically including:

[0058] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the control arm body 1 is provided with a grid structure 8 which acts as a reinforcing rib. The design of the grid structure 8 can improve the overall strength and rigidity of the control arm. The height of the grid structure 8 is 0.5-1mm, which plays an effective structural reinforcement role, especially for the relatively thin-walled part of the control arm body 1 with a wall thickness of 5-11mm, thereby effectively ensuring the strength of the overall structure and achieving the best lightweight effect while ensuring that the strength meets the requirements.

[0059] It should be noted that Figure 2 In the figure, the blank area in the middle of the grid is the product information marking area, which is used to identify the relevant information of the product.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the surface of the control arm body 1 is integrated with a shock-absorbing spring mounting point 9 for mounting a shock-absorbing spring 10. The design of the shock-absorbing spring mounting point 9 reserves an installation space for the shock-absorbing spring 10, which is convenient for the installation and fixation of the shock-absorbing spring 10. The integrated design improves the subsequent installation efficiency.

[0061] Another example Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the hollow structure of the control arm body 1 is taken into consideration. Mud, water, sand, etc. may enter the hollow structure. A leakage hole 11 is designed on the bottom surface of the control arm body 1. The opening of the leakage hole 11 prevents liquid accumulation and meets the structural requirements of lightweight products.

[0062] In this embodiment, the integral control arm body 1 adopts a hollow casting process, and combined with the stress characteristics of the product, the internal hollow structure can be flexibly designed, thereby achieving an ultimate structural design and a significant reduction in weight.

[0063] In summary, the utility model provides a lightweight control arm, which has the following advantages compared with the existing H-arm structure:

[0064] This lightweight control arm is a perfect combination of lightweight design, structural strength and functionality. First, by adopting a hollow H-shaped control arm body, not only the overall weight is significantly reduced, the unsprung mass of the vehicle is reduced, thereby improving the vehicle's economy and handling performance, but also sufficient structural strength is maintained to cope with complex and changeable driving conditions; secondly, the design of the bushing outer tube at different positions on the control arm body, especially the first and second bushing outer tubes used on the inner side, are respectively pressed with the first rubber bushing and the ball head bushing, which not only meets the specific needs of different connection points, such as the ball head bushing provides a more flexible connection method, but also ensures the stability and accuracy of the connection by adjusting the inner diameter and center axis position of the bushing outer tube. In addition, the integrated design of the shock-absorbing spring mounting point enables the control arm to directly participate in the shock-absorbing function of the suspension system, improving the overall efficiency of the suspension system; and the leakage holes opened on the bottom surface help to remove possible accumulated liquids, keeping the control arm clean and stable in performance; finally, the grid structure arranged on the outer surface combined with the application of aluminum alloy material not only further reduces the weight, but also enhances the heat dissipation performance and surface strength of the control arm. The high design of the grid structure also ensures sufficient structural support and aesthetics. In summary, this lightweight control arm achieves the dual goals of lightweight and high performance through a series of innovative designs, which is of great significance to improving the overall performance and driving experience of the vehicle.

[0065] The above embodiment is only one of the implementation methods that can realize the technical solution of the utility model. The scope of protection required by the utility model is not limited only to this embodiment, but also includes within the technical scope disclosed by the utility model, any changes, replacements and other implementation methods that can be easily thought of by any technician familiar with the technical field.

Claims

1. A lightweight control arm, characterized in that: It comprises an H-shaped control arm body (1); The control arm body (1) as a whole adopts a hollow structure, forming a complete cavity inside; The control arm body (1) is arranged to be inclined from one side to the other side.

2. A lightweight control arm according to claim 1, characterized in that: The four vertices of the control arm body (1) are respectively provided with connection points for connecting with the entire vehicle.

3. A lightweight control arm according to claim 2, characterized in that: Two connection points located on the inner side of the control arm body (1) adopt a first bushing outer tube (2) and a second bushing outer tube (3); A first rubber bushing (5) is press-fitted inside the first bushing outer tube (2); A ball head bushing (6) is press-fitted inside the second bushing outer tube (3).

4. A lightweight control arm according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the first bushing outer tube (2) is 2-3 times that of the second bushing outer tube (3).

5. The lightweight control arm according to claim 3, characterized in that: The centers of the first bushing outer tube (2) and the second bushing outer tube (3) are located on the same axis.

6. A lightweight control arm according to claim 2, characterized in that: Two connection points located outside the control arm body (1) adopt a third bushing outer tube (4) and a fork-shaped structure; wherein a second rubber bushing (7) is pressed inside the third bushing outer tube (4); and the fork-shaped structure is used to connect the spherical bushing on the steering knuckle.

7. The lightweight control arm according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control arm body (1) is integrated with a shock absorbing spring mounting point (9) for mounting a shock absorbing spring (10).

8. The lightweight control arm according to claim 1, characterized in that: A liquid leakage hole (11) is provided on the bottom surface of the control arm body (1).

9. The lightweight control arm according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the control arm body (1) is provided with a grid structure (8).

10. A lightweight control arm according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control arm body (1) is made of aluminum alloy with a wall thickness of 5-11 mm; the height of the grid structure (8) is 0.5-1 mm.

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