Motor Vehicle Suspension Link Mounting Arrangement Welding Distortion Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Welding distortions in motor vehicle wheel suspension mounting arrangements lead to increased tolerances between elongated holes and stops, causing accuracy issues and costly rework in existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the provision of a subframe with bearing flanges, welding a pre-product console to the subframe, forming a slot by stamping, and creating stops by embossing, which compensates for welding distortions and ensures accurate alignment of stops relative to holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a pre-product console is welded to the subframe before forming slots and stops, then the mounting arrangement can be assembled, but welding distortions cause increased tolerances and accuracy issues between elongated holes and stops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidalignment accuracy between holes and stops
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming the slots and stops on the pre-product console before welding it to the subframe. This sequence allows the console to be pre-formed with precise features, and any welding distortions that occur afterward do not affect the already-formed slot and stop geometry, thereby maintaining alignment accuracy while enabling assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional manufacturing sequence by forming the slots and stops before welding rather than after. This reversal ensures that the critical alignment features are established when the pre-product is still stable and accessible, avoiding the problem of welding distortions affecting the precision of these features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If welding is performed to attach the console to the subframe, then the mounting arrangement is secured, but welding distortions require costly rework to compensate for tolerance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidproduction cost and rework
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the slot and stop forming operations before welding, so that the critical features are already in place when the joint is made. This eliminates the need for costly rework to compensate for welding distortions, as the features are formed when the pre-product is still stable and accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If slots and stops are formed after welding, then the console is already attached to the subframe, but welding distortions have already caused tolerance increases that affect alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent forms the slots and stops on the pre-product console before welding it to the subframe. This preliminary action ensures that the critical alignment features are established with high precision before any welding distortions occur, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If the pre-product is stamped and embossed after welding, then the console structure is already fixed, but welding distortions cannot be compensated and additional rework is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidstop alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the stamping and embossing operations to form slots and stops before welding the pre-product to the subframe. This sequence allows the features to be formed with high precision when the pre-product is still stable, and any subsequent welding distortions do not affect the already-formed features, eliminating the need for additional rework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method achieves high accuracy and reduces costly rework by compensating for welding distortions, saving production time and eliminating the need for additional compensation measures.

Implementation Method 1

c) materially bonded connection of the pre-product to a bearing flange of the subframe by welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

d) Formation of a slot in the pre-product by stamping the same

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStamping: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

e) formation of at least one stop on the pre-product for an adjustment cam for chassis adjustment by embossing the pre-product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmbossing: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3500444B1Method for producing a link mounting arrangement of a motor vehicle, and mounting arrangement
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3500444B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3500444B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3500444B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

What is proposed, inter alia, is a method for producing a mounting arrangement for a motor vehicle wheel suspension link (9, 9a) which is mounted or can be mounted pivotably on a subframe (1) of the motor vehicle, with the following steps: a) providing the subframe (1) which has a first and a second bearing flange (10, 11) for mounting the link (9, 9a), b) providing at least one preliminary product (23) of a bracket (22), c) connecting the preliminary product (23) to a bearing flange (11) of the subframe (1) in an integrally bonded manner by welding, d) forming a slot (8b) in the preliminary product (23) by punching the latter, and e) forming at least one stop (19, 20) on the preliminary product (23) for an adjustment eccentric (15) for chassis adjustment by embossing the preliminary product (23).