Sistemi Sospensioni S.p.a.

Marelli Suspension Systems Italy S.p.a.

Andrea Santini

Piero Monchiero

Guido Borgna

Armando D'Aponte

Massimo Trinchera

Marco Goia

Guido Sebastiano Alesso

Salvatore Sottile

Mauro Zucca

Elena Fortunato

Fabio Pulina

Guido Alesso

Lorenzo Castagno

Cross-member for a motor-vehicle front suspension, comprising a first structure of metal, a second structure of composite material joined to the first structure and a plurality of mounting members connected to each other by the first structure to allow mounting of one or more components of the front suspension onto the cross-member, wherein the second structure comprises a base body wholly made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and at least one reinforcement element securely connected to the base body in predetermined areas thereof to contribute to the mechanical strength and stiffness of the whole cross-member whereby the second structure includes a main portion extending in a transverse direction, a pair of longitudinal appendages projecting rearwards from the opposite ends of the main portion, and a pair of struts extending upwards each from a respective longitudinal appendage.

Metal cross member with composite fibre subframe

A method for manufacturing a structural element comprises steps of providing separate first and second half-shells made of at least one layer of composite material including a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix, providing a core made of ductile material, joining the core to the first half-shell such that at least one cavity is defined inside the structural element, and joining the second half-shell to the first half-shell.

Composite structural element, particularly for a vehicle suspension, and method for manufacturing the same

The cross-member () comprises first and second beam elements () having an open cross-section and firmly secured to each other so as to enclose a closed cross-section chamber () having such shape and sizes as to provide the cross-member () with the desired torsional stiffness. A free edge () of the first beam element () is firmly secured to the outer surface of an intermediate portion () of the second beam element () and a free edge () of the second beam element () is firmly secured to the inner surface of an intermediate portion () of the first beam element (). The two beam elements () are advantageously made as stamped sheet metal pieces.

Cross-member for a twist-beam axle rear suspension for a motor vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Collegno, Italy

Andrea Santini