Chassis component with at least one connecting section for connecting to a fastening section of a chassis element

Abstract

Chassis component with at least one connecting section (8, 9) for connecting to a fastening section (2) of a chassis element (3), and with at least one positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) for automatically positioning the fastening section (2) for mounting the chassis element (3) on the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is designed as a one-piece component of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), characterized in that the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) has an arcuate or circular segment-shaped contact surface (16, 17) for positioning and for the form-fitting reception of a cylindrical element and / or a cylindrical outer surface (6) of the fastening section (2), and the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by means of an embossing in the material a section of the chassis component (1, 18, 21,22) and is formed exclusively by forming without cutting the material.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a chassis component having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a chassis component is known from DE 10 2013 005 292 A1.

[0003] In addition, the applicant is aware of a chassis component having at least one connecting section for connecting to a fastening section of a chassis element, and having at least one positioning and force introduction device for automatically positioning the fastening section for mounting the chassis element on the chassis component, as described in Fig. 1 as prior art. Here, the positioning and force introduction device is formed by a separate component in the form of a V-shaped metal sheet that is attached to the chassis component. This attachment of the V-shaped metal sheet to the chassis component can be achieved, for example, by clinching. Specifically, the chassis component has two such positioning and force introduction devices, designed as V-shaped metal sheets, which are arranged opposite one another and mirror-symmetrically to one another.

[0004] The disadvantage here is that the production of the V-shaped sheet as a separate component and the necessary joining step for connecting the separate component to the chassis component leads to undesirable effort and costs in the production of the chassis component.

[0005] The object underlying the invention is to further develop a chassis component of the type mentioned above in such a way that the complexity and / or costs involved in manufacturing the chassis component can be reduced. In particular, an alternative embodiment is to be provided.

[0006] The object underlying the invention is achieved with a chassis component according to claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and in the following description.

[0007] The chassis component has at least one connecting section for connecting to a fastening section of a chassis element. In particular, the fastening section of the chassis element is arranged or formed at a free end of the chassis element. The fastening section of the chassis element can cooperate with the connecting section of the chassis component to fasten the chassis element to the chassis component. The chassis element is preferably designed as a spring device, as a spring strut, as a shock absorber, or as an air spring. Furthermore, the chassis component has at least one positioning and force introduction device for automatically positioning the fastening section for mounting the chassis element on the chassis component. In particular, the connecting section and the positioning and force introduction device are designed as independent components and / or sections of the chassis component.Preferably, when the chassis element is mounted on the chassis component, the positioning and force introduction device results in automatic positioning of the fastening section such that the fastening section of the chassis element can be connected to the connecting section of the chassis component in a simple manner or without further position correction. In particular, automatic positioning of the fastening section results from inserting the fastening section of the chassis element into the positioning and force introduction device. Preferably, when the chassis element is mounted on the chassis component, the fastening section is guided by means of the positioning and force introduction device such that, in an end position of the fastening section in the positioning and force introduction device, the fastening section and the connecting section are aligned with one another to establish a connection.Preferably, during intended use of the chassis component in a vehicle's chassis, forces are introduced into the chassis component via the chassis element and the positioning and force introduction device. The positioning and force introduction device is designed as an integral part of the chassis component.

[0008] The advantage here is that a separate component for forming the positioning and force introduction device is omitted. Furthermore, a work step required for connecting the separate component to the chassis component is eliminated when the positioning and force introduction device is designed as a separate component. By designing the positioning and force introduction device as a one-piece component of the chassis component, the effort and thus the costs involved in manufacturing the chassis component can be reduced.

[0009] The positioning and force introduction device is preferably formed by means of a material incision and / or by means of a deformation of a, in particular an incised, section of the chassis component. Thus, the positioning and force introduction device is formed and / or manufactured using the material of a section of the chassis component. In particular, the material of the section of the chassis component is deformed to form the positioning and force introduction device. A material incision can be made before the material of the section of the chassis component is deformed. Due to the material incision, the subsequent deformation to form the positioning and force introduction device can be facilitated. The material incision can be arc-shaped or shaped like a circular segment.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, the positioning and force introduction device forms a projection for positioning the fastening section. In particular, the positioning and force introduction device and / or the projection has a support for positioning the fastening section and / or forms such a support. Preferably, the fastening section rests against and / or on the support in an end position to establish a connection between the fastening section and the connecting section of the chassis component.

[0011] According to the invention, the positioning and force introduction device is formed by means of an embossing in the material of a section of the chassis component. The embossing and / or compression mold can be V-shaped, C-shaped, or U-shaped. A positioning and force introduction device shaped in this way enables automatic positioning of the fastening section for mounting the chassis element on the chassis component. The fastening section of the chassis element automatically moves to an end position in which the fastening section can be connected to the connecting section of the chassis component without further position adjustment.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, the positioning and force introduction device is formed by a formed tab, preferably a sheet metal tab. The tab is preferably formed from a section of the chassis component. In particular, the formed tab has a U-shaped cross-section. A free end face of the formed tab can form a support for positioning the fastening section.

[0013] According to the invention, the positioning and force introduction device has an arcuate and / or circular-segment-shaped contact surface for positioning and positively receiving a cylindrical element and / or a cylindrical outer surface of the fastening section. The cylindrical element can be designed as a cylindrical outer surface of an inner joint part of the fastening section of the chassis element. The interaction of the arcuate or circular-segment-shaped contact surface with the cylindrical element of the fastening section enables the automatic positioning of the fastening section during assembly of the chassis element to the chassis component.

[0014] According to a further development, the connecting section of the chassis component is designed as a through-opening for passing through a separate fastening means and for connecting to the fastening section of the chassis element. The through-opening can be realized as a hole or a bore. The separate fastening means can be designed as a screw or a bolt.

[0015] The chassis component preferably has a U-shaped cross-section. Two connecting sections and two positioning and force introduction devices are formed on two spaced-apart side walls. In particular, the two side walls extend parallel to one another and / or mirror-symmetrically to one another from a base surface of the chassis component. The base surface connects the two side walls to one another. In particular, the chassis component is designed as a sheet metal link. Thus, the chassis component can be produced cost-effectively from sheet metal material by forming. This creates the U-shaped cross-section of the chassis component. In particular, a first side wall has a first connecting section and a first positioning and force introduction device. A second side wall has a second connecting section and a second positioning and force introduction device.The base surface may have a material opening in the area of ​​the chassis element's fastening section and / or adjacent to the positioning and force introduction devices. The material opening creates an opening into or through which the chassis element and / or the chassis element's fastening section can extend at least partially.

[0016] Preferably, the two positioning and force introduction devices are mirror-symmetrical to each other. The positioning and force introduction devices can extend toward each other and / or into an interior space of the chassis component. In particular, the interior space is formed by the U-shaped cross-section of the chassis component, preferably between the two side walls.

[0017] A chassis component according to the invention is particularly advantageous, comprising a chassis element, wherein the fastening section of the chassis element is arranged between a first connecting section and a second connecting section of the chassis component. A separate fastening means extends through the two connecting sections and through an inner joint part of the fastening section of the chassis element. Furthermore, the inner joint part is partially supported on a first positioning and force introduction device and on a second positioning and force introduction device.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Like reference numerals refer to like, similar, or functionally identical components or elements. They show: Fig. 1 a section of a chassis component according to the state of the art, Fig. 2 a perspective section of a sectioned first chassis component not according to the invention, Fig. 3 a sectional front view of the first chassis component not according to the invention according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4 a section of a sectional side view of the first chassis component not according to the invention according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a sectional front view of a second chassis component according to the invention, Fig. 6 a section of a sectional perspective side view of the second chassis component according to the invention according to Fig. 5, Fig. 7 a sectional front view of a third chassis component according to the invention, Fig. 8 a section of a sectional perspective side view of the third chassis component according to the invention according to Fig. 7, Fig. 9 a sectional front view of a further chassis component according to the invention, and Fig. 10 a section of a sectional perspective side view of the further chassis component according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a section of a perspective view of a chassis component 100 according to the prior art. In this exemplary embodiment, the chassis component 100 is a link formed from sheet metal. The chassis component 100 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. Accordingly, the chassis component 100 has two spaced-apart side walls 101 and 102. A base surface 103 is arranged between the side walls 101, 102, from which the side walls 101, 102 extend.

[0020] The chassis component 100 has a first connecting section 104 in the region of the first side wall 101 and a second connecting section 105 opposite it in the region of the second side wall 102 for connecting to a fastening section of a chassis element (not shown in detail here). Such a chassis element can be designed, for example, as a spring strut. The two connecting sections 104, 105 are each designed as through-openings.

[0021] Furthermore, the chassis component 100 has a first positioning and force introduction device 106 on the first side wall 101. A second positioning and force introduction device 107, designed correspondingly thereto, is arranged on the second side wall 102 (not shown in detail here). The positioning and force introduction device 106 or 107 is each designed as an independent and separate component, which in this exemplary embodiment is connected to the side wall 101 or 102 by means of clinching.

[0022] Thus, to form the positioning and force introduction device 106 or 107, a separate component must first be manufactured and connected to the side wall 101 or 102 in a separate work step. This results in undesirable additional effort and expense.

[0023] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective section of a partially sectioned first chassis component 1 not according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the chassis component 1 is designed as a sheet metal link. The chassis component 1 is designed to be connected to a fastening section 2 of a chassis element 3. The fastening section 2 is arranged in the region of a free end of the chassis element 3. The chassis element 3 is designed here as a spring strut.

[0024] In this exemplary embodiment, the fastening section 2 has a joint 4. Accordingly, the fastening section 2 or the joint 4 has an inner joint part 5. The inner joint part 5 extends out of the joint 4 on two opposite sides. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the inner joint part 5 has a cylindrical outer surface 6, at least in the region extending out of the joint 4. The inner joint part 5 has a through-channel 7, which in this exemplary embodiment is hollow-cylindrical.

[0025] The fastening section 2 or the chassis element 3 is arranged here in an end position relative to the chassis component 1 and for mounting the chassis element 3 on the chassis component 1. In this end position, the through-channel 7 is aligned with a first connecting section 8 and a second connecting section 9 (not shown in detail here) of the chassis component 1. The two connecting sections 8, 9 are located opposite each other.

[0026] Furthermore, the chassis component 1 has a first positioning and force introduction device 10 and a second positioning and force introduction device 11, not shown in detail here. The structure and function of the two positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a sectional front view of the first chassis component 1 not according to the invention according to Fig. 2. The landing gear component 1 has a substantially U-shaped or U-like cross-section. The landing gear component 1 has two side walls 12, 13 that are spaced apart from one another and connected to one another by a base surface 14 arranged between the two side walls 12, 13. The two side walls 12, 13 extend parallel to one another and away from the base surface 14 essentially at right angles to the latter.

[0028] The two positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 serve to automatically position the fastening section 2 for mounting the chassis element 3 on the chassis component 1. Additionally, during intended use of the chassis component 1 in a vehicle's chassis, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 serve to introduce forces that are introduced into the chassis component 1 via the chassis element 3 and the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11. The positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed as a one-piece component or section of the chassis component 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed by means of a material incision and by forming a cut-out section of the chassis component 1. The positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are mirror-symmetrical to one another and are formed toward one another and into an interior space 15 of the chassis component 1. Thus, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 each form a projection for positioning the fastening section 2.

[0030] The positioning and force introduction device 10 or 11 each has an arcuate or circular segment-shaped contact surface 16 or 17, respectively. The cylindrical outer surface 6 of the inner joint part 5 rests against the contact surface 16 or 17, respectively. This results in the end position of the fastening section 2 or the chassis element 3 with respect to assembly on the chassis component 1. In this end position, the through-channel 7 and the two connecting sections 8, 9 are arranged in alignment with one another, so that a separate fastening means (not shown in detail here) can be inserted through the two connecting sections 8, 9 and through the through-channel 7 to mount the fastening section 2 on the chassis component 1.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a section of a sectional side view of the first chassis component 1 not according to the invention according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The aligned arrangement of the first connecting section 8, designed as a through-opening, with the through-channel 7 is clearly visible. Furthermore, the circular segment-shaped design of the system 16 can be seen.

[0032] Fig. Figure 5 shows a sectional front view of a second chassis component 18 according to the invention. Identical features bear the same reference numerals as before. In this respect, reference is also made to the preceding description.

[0033] In this embodiment, an additional fastening means 19 is shown, which extends through the two connecting sections 8, 9 and the through-channel 7 of the inner joint part 5 to connect the fastening section 2 to the chassis component 1. The fastening means 19 is designed in this embodiment as a screw, which is secured by means of a separate nut 20. Such a fastening means 19 can also be used in a chassis component according to Fig. 2 to 4 are used.

[0034] In contrast to the execution according to Fig. 2 to 4, in this exemplary embodiment, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are formed exclusively by forming a respective section of the chassis component 18. A material incision is omitted here. The positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed as an embossed portion in the material of the respectively formed section of the chassis component 18.

[0035] Fig. 6 shows a section of a sectional perspective side view of the second chassis component 18 according to the invention according to Fig. 5 without the fastening section 2. It can be clearly seen here that the positioning and force introduction device 10 and, correspondingly, the positioning and force introduction device 11 (not shown in detail here) are each designed as a substantially V-shaped embossing in the material of the side wall 12 or 13.

[0036] Fig. Figure 7 shows a sectional front view of a third chassis component 21 according to the invention. Identical features bear the same reference numerals as before. In this respect, reference is also made to the preceding description.

[0037] In this exemplary embodiment, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are each formed by means of a deformed tab. In other words, the positioning and force introduction device 10 or 11 is produced by deforming a section of the chassis component 21, namely a section of the side wall 12 or 13. The positioning and force introduction device 10, 11 or the respective deformed tab has a U-shaped cross-section. A free end face of the positioning and force introduction device 10, 11 or the respective deformed tab forms the abutment 16 or 17 for positioning the fastening section 2.

[0038] Fig. 8 shows a section of a sectional perspective side view of the third chassis component 21 according to the invention according to Fig. 7 without the fastening section 2. The circular section-shaped system 16 for the positively locking reception of the cylindrical outer surface 6 of the inner joint part 5 according to Fig. 7.

[0039] Fig. Figure 9 shows a sectional front view of a further chassis component 22 according to the invention. Identical features bear the same reference numerals as before. In this respect, reference is also made to the preceding description.

[0040] In this embodiment, the positioning and force introduction devices 10, 11 are formed as an embossing in the material of a section of the chassis component, namely in a section of the side wall 12 or 13.

[0041] Fig.10 shows a section of a sectional perspective side view of the further chassis component 22 according to the invention without the fastening section 2. It can be clearly seen that the system 16 of the positioning and force introduction device 10 and, correspondingly, the system 17 of the positioning and force introduction device 11 (not shown in detail), are designed to be rectilinear, in contrast to the previous exemplary embodiments. Reference symbol 1 chassis component 2 fastening section 3 chassis element 4 joint 5 inner joint part 6 cylindrical outer surface 7 Through channel 8 first connecting section 9 second connecting section 10 first positioning and force introduction device 11 second positioning and force introduction device 12 first side wall 13 second side wall 14 floor space 15 Interior 16 Appendix 17 Appendix 18 Chassis component 19 Fasteners 20 mother 21 Chassis component 22 Chassis component 100 chassis components 101 Side wall 102 side wall 103 floor space 104 first connecting section 105 second connecting section 106 first positioning and force introduction device 107 second positioning and force introduction device

Claims

[1] Chassis component with at least one connecting section (8, 9) for connecting to a fastening section (2) of a chassis element (3), and with at least one positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) for automatically positioning the fastening section (2) for mounting the chassis element (3) on the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), wherein the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is designed as an integral part of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), characterized bythat the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) has an arcuate or circular segment-shaped system (16, 17) for positioning and for the positively locking reception of a cylindrical element and / or a cylindrical outer surface (6) of the fastening section (2), and the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by means of an embossing in the material of a section of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22) and exclusively by means of forming without a material incision. [2] Chassis component according to claim 1, characterized by that the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by means of a material incision and / or by means of a deformation of a, in particular incised, section of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22). [3] Chassis component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) forms a projection for positioning the fastening section (2), wherein the projection has a support (16, 17) for positioning the fastening section (2). [4] Chassis component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the embossing is V-shaped, C-shaped or U-shaped. [5] Chassis component according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the positioning and force introduction device (10, 11) is formed by means of a deformed tab, preferably a sheet metal tab, in particular the tab is U-shaped in cross-section and / or a free end face of the tab forms a support (16, 17) for positioning the fastening section (2). [6] Chassis component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the connecting section (8, 9) is designed as a through-opening for passing through a separate fastening means (19) and for connecting to the fastening section (2) of the chassis element (3). [7] Chassis component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a U-shaped cross-section, wherein two connecting sections (8, 9) and two positioning and force introduction devices (10, 11) are formed on two spaced-apart side walls (12, 13), in particular the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22) is designed as a sheet metal link. [8] Chassis component according to claim 7, characterized by that the two positioning and force introduction devices (10, 11) are mirror-symmetrical to one another and / or that the positioning and force introduction devices (10, 11) extend towards one another and / or into an interior space (15) of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22). [9] Chassis component according to one of the preceding claims and with a chassis element (3), wherein the fastening section (2) of the chassis element (3) is arranged between a first connecting section (8) and a second connecting section (9) of the chassis component (1, 18, 21, 22), a separate fastening means (19) extends through the two connecting sections (8, 9) and an inner joint part (5) of the fastening section (2) of the chassis element (3), and the inner joint part (5) is partially supported on a first positioning and force introduction device (10) and on a second positioning and force introduction device (11).

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