METHODS FOR PRODUCING SAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/389,890, entitled "WISHBONE STYLE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND METHODDS FOR PRODUCING SAME" and filed on April 19, 2019, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for manufacturing vehicle components, and more specifically to wishbone-style control arm assemblies and methods for producing the same.

Background

[0002] Control arms are hinged links that couple a vehicle frame to the suspension, such as through the steering knuckle that holds the wheel. Different shapes and configurations of control arms are available. Depending on various factors like the frame and suspension types, multiple control arms may be implemented in a single vehicle.

[0003] Conventionally, wishbone-style control arms are manufactured using complex machining operations that result in a significant amount of material waste. For example, large blocks of material may be machined down to ultimately form the links or segments. A significant amount of residual material is often left over, which may be discarded or may result in recycling and other costs.

[0004] Furthermore, conventional wishbone-style control arm members are connected using mechanical connectors and fasteners, adhesives, welds, and other more complex connection methods. The use of these mechanical components, and sophisticated assembly techniques add complexity to the part. Fasteners and other mechanical connection methods also result in the undesirable addition of mass to the part. Conventional control arm assemblies are relatively heavy and unwieldy, and can adversely affect performance and fuel consumption requirements. [0005] As demands for increased fuel economy and superior driving efficiency are continually increasing, so too is the need for manufacturers to minimize the size and mass of constituent parts of a vehicle without sacrificing structural and functional integrity.

SUMMARY

[0006] Various aspects of a wishbone-style control arm assembly are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method for assembling a control arm for a vehicle includes providing a first segment having a first connecting feature and a second segment having a second connecting feature, aligning the first and second connecting features to form an aperture, press-fitting a bushing into the aperture, and swaging the press- fitted bushing, wherein the press-fitting and the swaging maintain, via the bushing, an independent connection between the first and second segments sufficient to accommodate expected operating loads when the control arm is assembled into the vehicle.

[0007] In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for assembling a control arm for a vehicle includes additively manufacturing a first segment comprising a first connection feature and a second segment comprising a second connection feature, aligning the first and second connection features in a manner that causes an aperture to extend at least partially through the first and second connection features, press-fitting a bushing into the aperture; and swaging the press-fitted bushing, wherein the press-fitting and the swaging maintain, via the bushing, an independent connection between the first and second segments sufficient to accommodate expected operating loads when the control arm is assembled into the vehicle.

[0008] In another aspect of the disclosure, a control arm assembly for a vehicle includes a first segment comprising a first connection feature at one end, a second segment comprising a second connection feature, the first and second segments being engaged together to form an aperture extending at least partially through the first and second connection features, and a bushing press fit and swaged through the aperture to thereby form a generally wishbone shaped base at the one end, the bushing being configured to provide an independent connection between the first and second segments sufficient to accommodate expected operating loads when the control arm is assembled into the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a three-piece wishbone-style control arm according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0010] FIG 2. is a perspective illustration of the three-piece wishbone-style control arm separated into its constituent parts.

[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view which shows the integration of the two segments and the bushing to form a connecting portion of the wishbone-style control arm member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] This disclosure presents three-piece wishbone-style control arms for vehicles that overcome the above-referenced obstacles, and methods for assembling the same. Two elongated control arm segments are manufactured with connecting features at respective ends of the segments. A connecting feature on an end of one segment is aligned with a complementary connecting feature on an end of the other segment to form an aperture that extends at least partially through the aligned connecting features. A third stabilizing structure, such as a bushing, is press fit into the aperture (or plurality thereof) defined by the aligned connecting features. The bushing is then swaged to form a permanent, wishbone-shaped connection between the two segments. The result is a streamlined control arm having a generally simple configuration that requires minimal mass and that is conducive to providing axial load paths in a vehicle while minimizing out-of-plane loads (with respect to the control arm geometry).

[0013] The disclosed control arm assembly reduces or altogether eliminates the necessity of separate mechanical fasteners or additional mounting points. The assembly also eliminates the requirement of stiffening ribs and the resulting mass penalty that may otherwise be necessary to accommodate adhesive-based connections. In an embodiment, the segments and corresponding connection features are additively manufactured. Additively manufacturing the segments provides significant flexibility for effecting design changes and for adding design characteristics such as ridges or recesses to maximize the fidelity of press-fitting or swaging operations. [0014] Conventional wishbone-style control arms use two control arm members along with mechanical connectors to couple the chassis to the suspension. One of the control arm members may be connected to the frame using bushings, and the other control arm member may be connected to the steering knuckle via a ball joint. Bushings are cylindrical linings that reduce friction and allow vertical up-and-down movement of the suspension while holding the knuckles, spindles, and axles firmly onto the vehicle. Ball joints may function as a pivot between the wheels and the suspension to facilitate the up-and-down movement. Control arms synchronize the wheel motion with the vehicle body while concurrently preventing excessive forward/rearward or other out- of-plane movement with respect to the control arm geometry that may otherwise occur as the vehicle encounters potholes, bumps and other obstacles.

[0015] Conventional control arm assemblies have excessive mass as noted above. Some of these assemblies involve a single, integral chunk of metal in a generally“V” or wishbone shape that include a number of sophisticated mechanical fasteners, bearings, and/or bushings. These larger metal structures can be unduly bulky and are generally not streamlined, and as such they add mass to the vehicle. In conventional embodiments where the control arm assemblies have separate links or segments, the links/segments are often large and cumbersome, and rely on welding and potentially heavy mechanical fasteners to interconnect with each other.

[0016] Further, where welding is used to connect the members of the control arm assembly, heat-affected zones (HA Z) may reduce the strength and integrity of the components. HAZ refers to a non-melted area of metal adjacent the weld that has experienced weakening in its material properties as a result of exposure to welding’s high temperatures. To mitigate the adverse effects of HAZ, parts incorporating welding often include additional physical components to reinforce HAZ or to distribute HAZ away from the critical load paths. The incorporation of these components into the control arm results in additional mass and occupies additional space. Likewise, where adhesives are used, the control arm members are typically fitted with additional mechanical structures to ensure fidelity of the adhesive bonds.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a three-piece wishbone-style control arm 100 according to an aspect of the disclosure. The control arm 100 includes a first segment, 102, a second segment 104 and a bushing 106 that is press fit and swaged at the aperture created by the alignment of the first and segment segments 102, 104, which may be located at or near the respective ends of the first and second segments 102, 104. More specifically, the ends of segments 102, 104 that form the wishbone base include connecting features that when aligned, define an aperture that acts as a receptacle for the bushing 106. The aperture may extend through the connection features, for example, in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the segments. At the opposite end of each segment 102 and 104, respective circular structures 101 and 103 can be used to provide connecting features at those ends to interface with the relevant structures of the vehicle (e.g., the frame and suspension components). In other embodiments, structures 101 and 103 may include different types of geometrical structures for interfacing with the vehicle. In an embodiment, structures 101 and 103 have generally simple interfaces, such as elliptical loops composed of the segments’ material, to minimize the mass and complexity of the control arm 100.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the three-piece wishbone-style control arm

200 separated into its constituent parts. As is apparent from the illustration of the separate elements of FIG. 2 and the combined elements of FIG. 1, the elongated segments 202 and 204 are configured to be assembled together like a clevis and tang in a clevis type fastener. Segment 202 includes connection feature 208. More specifically, the segment 202 having the pair of opposing elliptical/circular rings 208 bound at one portion to the body of segment 202 may be analogous to a clevis. Segment 204 includes a corresponding connection feature 210. The segment 204 having the single elliptical/circular ring 210 bound to the body of segment 204 (e.g., via a ridge 216 extending vertically from the segment) may be analogous to a tang. As described below, the first and second segments 202 and 204 are properly aligned to form an aperture running through connection features 208 and 210, and then connected via the bushing 206, the latter of which may be analogous to a clevis pin. The connection features may alternatively be manufactured to form other shapes or alternative connection types other than the clevis-tang connection type described herein.

[0019] A method for assembling the control arm according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is described. First, segments 202 and 204 (FIG. 2) are assembled. In one embodiment, the segments 202 and 204 are machined from bulk metal sections comparable in size to the segment. Thus, when the segment is machined, the amount of remaining scrap metal is kept to a minimum. [0020] In other embodiments, the segments 202, 204 may be additively manufactured using powder bed fusion (PBF) or any other suitable 3-D printing technology. The use of AM to manufacture the segments 202, 204 accords the manufacturer significant flexibility to customize its parts. That is, the manufacturer can determine the segments’ optimal sizes, mass, and material density and can easily modify these properties using computer-aided design (CAD) files to represent the 3-D control arm assembly. The manufacturer can develop individual attributes for the segments like the precise desired length and thickness of the segments at different points and can modify the corresponding CAD files when a different design is desired. The connectors and recesses may be strategically deployed in a manner that facilitates the effectiveness of the press-fitting and swaging operations and that is optimal for the vehicle into which the control arm will be assembled. Further, while the segments may generally benefit from their simplicity, the use of AM can allow the manufacturer to incorporate lattice elements or other supports to branch out from the segments for distributing the expected load more efficiently.

[0021] The ends of each segment that are determined to form the base of the wishbone may be additively manufactured to produce connection features such as the clevis-like structure and the tang, for mating with the clevis, as generally described above and as shown in FIG. 2 using the respective double and single circular rings 208 and 210. While the embodiment of FIG. 2 shows one configuration of the clevis-tang connection features, other configurations are also possible and the end connectors may be designed to vary from the circular rings. For example, square, elliptical, or arbitrary shapes may be used. In another embodiment, the clevis-like connector may be fork-shaped, or the connection features may adopt a configuration different from that of a clevis-tang connection.

[0022] After the segments 202, 204 are manufactured, they are then assembled together.

Segment 202 includes a pair of opposed circular members 208 that extend from the body 212 of segment 202. In an embodiment, the circular members 208 are integrally formed with the body 212 such that both components are part of the same structure as originally assembled. Segment 204 includes a single circular member 210 that extends from the body 214 of segment 204. The circular member 210 is connected to a ridge 216, where the ridge abuts the body 214 of segment 204. In an embodiment, the circular member 210 is integrally formed with the body 214. [0023] The connection features 208 and 210 that form the base of the wishbone may be aligned to form the aperture into which the bushing 206 is press fit. The connection feature, e.g., circular member 210, is inserted into and aligned between circular members 208, such that a generally flush and open cylindrical shape is created inside the joined circular members 208 and 210. As is shown in more detail in the cross- sectional view of the interface between members 202 and 204 of FIG. 3, the interior surface of one or more of circular members 208 and 210 may be manufactured to include indentations, recesses or other features that are integrated within these elements to increase the effectiveness of the subsequent press-fitting and swaging operations.

[0024] The circular members 208, 210 are pinned together using bushing 206. In an embodiment, following the alignment of the circular members 208 and 210, the bushing 206 is press-fit into the generally cylindrical area internal to the circular members 208 and 210. Advantageously, the press-fit operation relies on pressure and friction without the need for adhesive or other mechanical components that would otherwise add undesired mass and complexity to the system.

[0025] After press-fitting, the bushing 206 is swaged using a suitable swage tool. Using swaging, the bushing’s 206 dimensions are changed by forcing the bushing into the cylindrical area internal to the circular members 208 and 210. The swaging secures the connection between the two segments 202, 204. Swaging is a time-efficient process that provides a secure and permanent connection between segments 202 and 204 without adding additional mass or mechanical connectors to the control arm 200.

[0026] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view which shows the integration of the three structures 206, 208, and 210 to form a connecting portion of the wishbone-style control arm member. That is, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wishbone base of the control arm of FIG. 2, in which the newly-shaped bushing 206 is press-fit and swaged into the aperture defined by the internal surface of circular members 208 and 210. As seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the bushing 206 may include ridges 206a, external portion 217a, and upper recess 222a The internal surface of members 208 and 210 may receive the bushing as it is press-fit into place. Thereafter, the bushing may be swaged to form a simple, streamlined, yet permanent connection between the segments or links 204 (FIG. 2) and 206. In some embodiments as discussed above, members 208 and 210 correspond to a clevis-tang connection or similar interface for enabling the segments to form a strong link without undue complexity. An internal portion of member 208 may include a recess 315 to accommodate a geometrically complementary shape or ridge extending from portion 217a of bushing 206. The recess 315 may be present to receive the ridge to provide for a more secure connection between bushing 206 and member 208. In other embodiments, additional recesses may be present or a different recess may be used in member 210. During swaging or press-fitting, the ridge may be compressed into the recess to increase the overall strength of the connection. These details depend on the geometry of the bushing, the material(s) used in the bushing and corresponding connections, and therefore may vary.

[0027] The streamlined wishbone architecture described above advantageously provides axial load paths such that the forces on the control arm as installed in a vehicle are substantially parallel to the respective longitudinal axes of segments 202 and 204. This configuration minimizes loads paths that are out of the plane with respect to the control arm geometry defined by the segments 202, 204, which in turn reduces or eliminates moments. By contrast, in conventional control arms using mechanical fastening or adhesive bonds, additional components may be assembled with the control arm to mitigate out-of-plane loads. These additional components add yet additional mass to the part.

[0028] The above-described control arm assembly provides the additional benefit of optimized material placement relative to other components in the vehicle. Because the control arm geometry is selectively positioned relative to the suspension and frame of the vehicle, and the mass is minimized, these factors free up design space that can be used to package suspension components or position other structures, as necessary.

[0029] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to the exemplary embodiments presented throughout this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the concepts disclosed herein may be applied to other objects besides vehicles. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments presented throughout the disclosure, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the exemplary embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f), or analogous law in applicable jurisdictions, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase“means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase“step for.”