T-shaped connecting sleeve for torsional axle tubular parts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting sleeve (34) for connecting two tubular pieces (32, 42) of a torsional axle structure at a T-junction. One (42) of said two tubular pieces has a free end (40), while the other (32) of said two tubular pieces has a cylindrical wall. The sleeve (34) has a tubular end adapted to be mounted around said free end (40) of one of said two tubular pieces and, opposite it, a Y-shaped end adapted to receive said cylindrical wall of the other of said two tubular pieces. The sleeve comprises two concave half-pieces, each having two opposing axial edges. These two concave half-pieces are joined together opposite each other by their opposing axial edges to form said tubular end and said opposing Y-shaped end. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: T-shaped connecting sleeve for tubular parts of a twisting axle

[0001] The present invention relates to a sleeve for connecting two tubular parts of a twistable axle structure in a T-shape.

[0002] The twist axle structures comprise two parallel suspension arms connected to each other by a cross member. The two arms have a front end mounted articulated on an anchor point of the vehicle body and, on the opposite side, a rear end equipped with a wheel support. The rear end of the suspension arms extends towards the rear of the vehicle, while the front end extends towards the front of the vehicle. And the wheel supports receive the rear wheels of the vehicle.

[0003] Furthermore, the suspension arms are also connected to the body by means of elastically compressible members, for example helical springs.

[0004] The front end of the arms is equipped with a socket extending transversely relative to the arm so as to be able to receive, for example, a “Silentbloc®”, which is then crossed by a rod secured to the body. Also, the front end of the arm is notched and the socket is welded into the notch by means of a weld bead made at the junction of the external cylindrical wall of the socket and the end of the arm.

[0005] As regards the crosspiece, it has two notched ends which are applied to the cylindrical wall of the arms respectively. And in the same way, the cylindrical wall of the arms is welded into the notches of the ends of the crosspiece.

[0006] In certain circumstances, in order to produce different models of twistable axles, the length and / or diameter of the arms may vary. Therefore, T-shaped connecting sleeves of different dimensions have been designed while retaining certain parts of the axle as standard.

[0007] It is known to produce T-shaped connecting sleeves from a tubular element. The end of the tubular element is then split axially so as to form two portions facing each other. The two portions are notched on each side along the grooves and they are then moved substantially apart from each other to form a Y-shaped end.

[0008] Thus, the opposite tubular end of the sleeve can receive the free end of a tubular member or a cross member, while the Y-shaped end can accommodate the cylindrical surface of a socket or an arm.

[0009] However, the implementation of such sleeves is expensive because it requires a large number of shaping steps.

[0010] Also, a problem that arises and that the present invention aims to solve is to provide less expensive T-connection sleeves.

[0011] For this purpose, according to a first object, there is proposed a connecting sleeve for connecting in T two tubular parts of a twistable axle structure, one of said two tubular parts having a free end, while the other of said two tubular parts has a cylindrical wall, said sleeve having a tubular end adapted to be mounted around said free end of one of said two tubular parts and opposite, a Y-shaped end adapted to receive said cylindrical wall of the other of said two tubular parts. The sleeve comprises two concave half-parts each having two opposite axial edges. And said two concave half-parts are joined together facing each other respectively by their opposite axial edges, to form said tubular end and said opposite Y-shaped end.

[0012] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the production of two concave parts which are to be assembled by welding in order to form the sleeve. The two concave parts can be assembled prior to the connection between the two tubular parts or in situ during assembly.

[0013] In addition, thanks to the connecting sleeve, a more rigid connection is obtained between the two tubular parts.

[0014] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said two concave half-pieces are obtained by a process of cutting and stamping a metal plate. In this way, the two concave half-pieces are obtained at very advantageous costs. And even if it is necessary to assemble them afterwards to form the sleeve, the total cost is lower compared to a sleeve shaped from a tubular element.

[0015] Continuous high-speed cutting and stamping processes for a metal strip make it possible to produce large series of parts at advantageous costs.

[0016] According to a first embodiment, each of said two concave half-pieces has two opposite wings curved towards each other and terminated by said two opposite axial edges. Thus, the two concave half-pieces are intended to be adjusted opposite each other, axial edges against axial edges respectively. The two times two axial edges are then welded together to connect the two concave half-pieces and form the sleeve.

[0017] Also, and in a particularly advantageous manner, each of said two concave half-pieces has a middle part connecting said two wings and a pointed part extending axially in the extension of said middle part. In this way, the two pointed parts of the two assembled concave half-pieces will form said Y-shaped end, while on the other hand, the two times two wings respectively connected together by their middle part, together form the tubular end of the sleeve.

[0018] Advantageously, each of said two concave half-pieces has two opposite curved edges extending from said pointed part respectively to the axial edges of the two wings. As will be explained in more detail below, thanks to these curved edges, the Y-shaped end of the sleeve forms a seat capable of receiving a cylindrical surface with a circular directrix curve.

[0019] Preferably, said middle part of one of said two concave half-pieces has an axial reinforcing rib. Such a rib makes it possible to increase the quadratic moment of the half-piece.

[0020] According to a second embodiment, each of said two concave half-pieces has a notched transverse edge to be able to form said Y-shaped end. Said Y-shaped end is formed after the two concave half-pieces have been assembled by their axial edges. Conversely, the two concave half-pieces form said tubular end.

[0021] Advantageously, said transverse edge of each of said two concave half-pieces has a notch of substantially circular symmetry. For example, the notch is semicircular, so that the two notches opposite the two half-pieces form a seat adapted to receive the socket. The latter is held in a fixed position in the notch by means of weld beads made at the joint.

[0022] According to another object, there is proposed, in accordance with the invention, a twistable axle structure for a motor vehicle comprising a pair of arms connected to each other by a crosspiece and adapted to connect the two wheels and the body of a motor vehicle, each of said arms comprising: a tubular member having two ends opposite each other; a connecting sleeve as described above where each of said two concave half-pieces has a notched transverse edge, one of said two opposite ends of said tubular member being fitted into said tubular end of said connecting sleeve; and, a connecting bushing installed in said Y-shaped end of said connecting sleeve, said bushing being adapted to be connected to said body.

[0023] In other words, the axis of symmetry of the socket extends in a transverse direction relative to the arm.

[0024] It will be observed that the useful length of the arms can be modulated according to the length of the sleeve. Therefore, pairs of concave half-pieces of different lengths are provided to be able to produce short arms or long arms depending on the type of motor vehicle being built on an assembly line.

[0025] According to yet another object, there is provided a twistable axle structure of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of arms connected to each other by a cross member and adapted to connecting the two wheels and the body of a motor vehicle. The axle structure comprises a pair of sleeves as described above, where each of said two concave half-pieces has two opposite wings curved towards each other, to be able to connect the arms and said crossmember together.

[0026] Thus, the free ends of the crosspiece are fitted into the tubular end of the sleeve, while on the opposite side, the Y-shaped end forms a seat and accommodates the cylindrical surface of the arm. The sleeve is then welded to both the crosspiece and the arm. Thanks to the sleeve, a perfectly rigid connection is obtained between the arms and the crosspiece.

[0027] Furthermore, it will be observed that the crosspiece can be connected to arms of different diameters by providing connecting sleeves of different dimensions. Only the tubular end of the sleeves has the same section. On the other hand, the Y-shaped ends have pointed parts more or less spaced from each other to be able to adapt to the different arm diameters.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0029] [Fig.l] is a schematic exploded perspective view of the object of the invention according to a first variant embodiment;

[0030] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view from above of the object of [Fig.l] after assembly;

[0031] [Fig.3] is a schematic side view of the object of [Fig.2] supplemented by another element in accordance with the invention;

[0032] [Fig.4] is a schematic exploded perspective view of the object of the invention according to a second variant of implementation;

[0033] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of the object of [Fig.4] after as assembly;

[0034] [Fig.6] is a partial schematic top view of a conforming axle structure to the invention according to the second embodiment variant; and,

[0035] [Fig.7] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig.5] fitted to an element of the axle structure.

[0036] [Fig.l] shows a first right concave half-piece 10 extending opposite a first left concave half-piece 12. The first left concave half-piece 12 has two first opposite left axial edges, an upper edge 14 and a lower edge 16 on the one hand, and an arcuate transverse left edge 18, towards the rear, opposite a notched transverse left edge 20, towards the front, on the other hand.

[0037] Also, the notched transverse left edge 20 defines a left circular shape 22, open along a chord opposite the arcuate transverse left edge 18. Thus, the circular shape has a radius R and defines a circular segment between 180° and 270°.

[0038] Conversely, the first right concave half-piece 10 has two first opposite right axial edges, a right upper edge 24 and a right lower edge 26. It also has an arcuate right transverse edge 28, towards the rear, opposite a notched right transverse edge 30 oriented towards the front and receiving a sleeve 32.

[0039] The notched right transverse edge 30 defines a right circular shape identical to the left circular shape 22 and having the same radius R.

[0040] The sleeve 32 has an external radius close to the radius R of the notched right transverse edge 30 so that it can be engaged through and, as will be explained below, also through the notched left transverse edge 20.

[0041] Also, the two concave half-pieces 10, 12 are obtained at an advantageous cost according to a method of cutting / stamping a metal strip.

[0042] Thus, the two concave half-pieces 10, 12 are paired in such a way that the first lower left axial edge 16 comes to bear against the first lower right axial edge 26, and that the first upper left axial edge 14 comes to bear against the first upper right axial edge 24, while the sleeve 32 also extends through the notched left transverse edge 20.

[0043] A weld bead is then applied to the joint of the first two upper axial edges 14, 24 and to the joint of the first two lower edges 16, 26 to secure them to each other and form a first sleeve 34 then appearing in [Fig.2],

[0044] Also, the first arcuate left transverse edge 18 and the first arcuate right transverse edge 28 together delimit a first substantially cylindrical fitting end 36. Conversely, the two first notched transverse edges 20, 30 form a first Y-shaped end 38 which then traps the sleeve 32.

[0045] Also, two circular weld beads are applied to the joint of the sleeve 32 and the right concave half-piece 10 and the left concave half-piece 12 respectively. In this way, the sleeve 32 is completely secured to the sleeve 34 and it extends transversely projecting from the two concave half-pieces 10, 12 of substantially the same length.

[0046] Furthermore, it will be observed that the first fitting end 36 extends in a fitting direction E to which the generatrices of this end extend parallel. The two first concave half-pieces being substantially curved, the first Y-shaped end 38 extends in a receiving direction H, then inclined relative to the fitting direction E.

[0047] Therefore, the axis A of the sleeve 32 is itself inclined in the fitting direction E by an angle of less than 90°.

[0048] [Fig. 3] thus illustrates a first end 40 of a longitudinal tubular member 42, fitted into the sleeve 34 shown in [Fig. 2]. And they are then secured by means of a weld bead applied to the joint between the first end 40 and the first transverse arc-shaped edges 18, 28 of the sleeve 34.

[0049] The first fitting end 36 has a cross section substantially identical to the cross section of the first end 40 of the longitudinal tubular member 42.

[0050] More precisely, the internal cylindrical surface of the first fitting end 36 has a section identical to the external cylindrical surface of the first end 40 so as to be able, with functional clearance, to fit the first end 40 inside the first fitting end 36.

[0051] The longitudinal tubular member 42 has a second end 44, opposite the first end 40. Also, the second end is equipped with a motor vehicle wheel support 46.

[0052] The first sleeve 34 has a length LL. In this way, a first left suspension arm 48 is obtained having a first length DI measured between the center C of the wheel support 16 and the center A of the bushing 32.

[0053] Also, a right suspension arm is produced in the same way. The right arm and the left arm are not completely identical, in the sense that they are not superimposable. Also, basically, the tubular member intended to produce the left arm is not identical to the tubular member intended to produce the right arm. On the other hand, the right tubular member is symmetrical to the left tubular arm with respect to a median plane.

[0054] Advantageously, the same sleeve 34 can be installed at the end of the left tubular member 42 and at the end of a right tubular member, not shown. To do this, the sleeve 34 is then turned 180° relative to its fitting axis E to be able to receive the end of the right tubular member.

[0055] Also, the two suspension arms, left and right thus produced, are then connected together by means of a crosspiece not shown. The two opposite ends of the crosspiece are then welded in a T shape to the tubular members respectively, upstream of the sleeves.

[0056] Thus, the two suspension arms are rigidly connected to each other. It will then be observed that the sleeves 34 diverge substantially from each other.

[0057] Also, the bushings 32 then make it possible to pivotally connect the end of the suspension arms to the body by means of “Silentbloc®”.

[0058] It will also be observed that the diameter of the notched edges 20, 30 can be adjusted to receive a socket of a different diameter. Thus, a silentbloc® corresponding to the diameter of the socket is adjusted to filter the vibrations differently.

[0059] The interest is also to design at least a second sleeve, in two half- parts, but of a length greater than that of the first sleeve 34 in order to produce arms of greater length with tubular members and crosspieces of standard dimensions.

[0060] The design and production of a second type of sleeve according to a second variant embodiment will now be described with reference to [Fig.4] to [Fig.7].

[0061] [Fig.4] shows a second lower concave half-piece 50 extending opposite a second upper concave half-piece 52.

[0062] The second lower concave half-piece 50 has two opposite lower wings 54, 56 curved upwards towards each other. The two opposite lower wings 54, 56 end in two opposite lower axial edges 58, 60.

[0063] Furthermore, the second lower concave half-piece 50 has a lower middle portion 62 from which the two lower wings 54, 56 extend laterally opposite one another. Also, a lower pointed portion 64 extends axially in the extension of the lower middle portion 62.

[0064] In addition, the second lower concave half-piece 50 has two curved lower edges 66, 68 extending respectively from the opposite lower axial edges 58, 60 into the lower pointed portion 64.

[0065] Also, the two lower wings 54, 56 are symmetrical to each other with respect to an axial median plane.

[0066] Similarly, the second upper concave half-piece 52 has two opposite upper wings 74, 76 curved towards each other, but in an opposite direction, downwards. The two opposite upper wings 74, 76 end in two opposite upper axial edges 78, 80.

[0067] The second upper concave half-piece 52 has an upper middle portion 82 from which the two upper wings 74, 76 extend laterally opposite one another. Also, an upper pointed portion 84 extends axially in the extension of the upper middle portion 82.

[0068] In addition, the second upper concave half-piece 52 has two curved upper edges 86, 88 extending respectively from the opposite upper axial edges 78, 80 into the upper pointed portion 84.

[0069] Furthermore, the upper middle portion 82 has an axial reinforcing rib 90.

[0070] Furthermore, the two lower 50 and upper 52 concave half-pieces are also obtained at an advantageous cost using a process of cutting / stamping a metal strip.

[0071] Thus, as illustrated in [Fig.5] the two concave half-pieces 50, 52 are connected together facing each other by means of their axial edges 58, 60; 78, 80.

[0072] In this way, a second connecting sleeve 92 is obtained having a second tubular end 94 opposite a second Y-shaped end 96.

[0073] It will be observed that the upper pointed portion 84 and the lower pointed portion 64 can be substantially deformed and moved apart from each other to provide a more or less large seat for a cylindrical wall, while the second tubular end 94 remains of the same section.

[0074] As illustrated in [Fig.7] the Y-shaped end 96 of the second connecting sleeve 92 is applied against the cylindrical wall of a second left suspension arm 98. The Y-shaped end is applied perfectly against the cylindrical wall and is made integral with it by means of a weld bead extending at the junction of the connecting sleeve 92 and the cylindrical wall of the arm 98.

[0075] The second tubular end 94 of the connecting sleeve 92 can then receive the cylindrical end 100 of a crosspiece 102 as illustrated in [Fig.6]. The cylindrical end 100 of the crosspiece 102 is then welded to the second tubular end 94 of the sleeve 92 by means of a weld bead made at the joint between the two.

[0076] Thus, the inexpensive connecting sleeves make it possible to connect the same cross member and suspension arms of different diameters together easily while providing the assembly with perfect rigidity.

Claims

Claims

1. Connecting sleeve (34; 92) for connecting in a T-shape two tubular pieces (32, 42; 98, 102) of a twistable axle structure, one (42; 102) of said two tubular pieces having a free end (40; 100), while the other (32; 98) of said two tubular pieces has a cylindrical wall, said sleeve (34; 92) having a tubular end (36; 94) adapted to be mounted around said free end (40; 100) of said one of said two tubular pieces and opposite, a Y-shaped end (38; 96) adapted to receive said cylindrical wall of the other of said two tubular pieces, characterized in that it comprises two concave half-pieces (10, 12; 50, 52) each having two opposite axial edges (24, 26, 14, 16; 58, 60, 78, 80); and in that said two concave half-pieces (10, 12; 50, 52) are joined together facing each other respectively by their opposite axial edges (24, 26, 14, 16;58, 60, 78, 80), to form said tubular end (36; 94) and said opposite Y-shaped end (38; 96).;

2. Connecting sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that said two concave half-pieces (10, 12; 50, 52) are obtained by a process of cutting and stamping a metal plate.

3. Connecting sleeve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said two concave half-pieces (50, 52) has two opposite wings (54, 56; 74, 76) curved towards each other and terminated by said two opposite axial edges (58, 60; 78, 80).

4. Connecting sleeve according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said two concave half-pieces (50, 52) has a middle part (62; 82) connecting said two wings (54, 56; 74, 76) and a pointed part (64; 84) extending axially in the extension of said middle part (62; 82).

5. Connecting sleeve according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said middle part (82) of one of said two concave half-pieces has an axial reinforcing rib (90).

6. Connecting sleeve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said two concave half-pieces (10; 12) has a notched transverse edge (20; 30) to be able to form said Y-shaped end.

7. Connecting sleeve according to claim 6, characterized in that that said transverse edge (20; 30) of each of said two concave half-pieces (10; 12) has a notch of substantially circular symmetry.

8. A twistable axle structure for a motor vehicle comprising a pair of arms connected to each other by a cross member and adapted to connect the two wheels and the body of a motor vehicle, characterized in that each of said arms comprises: - a tubular organ having two ends opposite each other; - a connecting sleeve according to claim 6 or 7, one of said two opposite ends of said tubular member being fitted into said tubular end of said connecting sleeve; and, - a connecting socket installed in said Y-shaped end of said connecting sleeve, said socket being adapted to be connected to said body.

9. A twistable axle structure for a motor vehicle comprising a pair of arms connected to each other by a cross member and adapted to connect the two wheels and the body of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a pair of sleeves according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to be able to connect the arms and said cross member together.

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