Thyssenkrupp Automotive Ag

Thyssenkrupp Umformtechnik Gmbh

Klaus Runte

Udo Wächter

Matthias Kröger

Ulf Sudowe

A link rod with a U-shaped profile made from a one-piece sheet metal shell including two part shells and a back connecting said part shells. Bearing eyes are formed from a pair of aligned holes in the part shells. To obtain outer collars having inner bearing support surfaces for the bearing eyes with a slim-shaped construction of the link rod, the forming is performed stepwise by firstly producing the holes and bending the edges thereof to form the collars on one of the part shells which have not yet been brought parallel to each other by bending. Only then is what is to become the second part shell bent such as to be parallel to the first part shell. The holing and the bending of the edges of the holes on the second part shell is then carried out through the holes of the first part shell.

Method for production of a link rod with U-shaped cross section from sheet metal for a car multi-link axle

A wishbone for an automotive suspension and comprising two sheet metal halves, for attaching the front wheels of a motor vehicle. The wishbone is provided with two points of articulation on the chassis, one behind the other along the direction of travel and representing a horizontal axis () for the wishbone () to tilt around. The wishbone is also provided with one point () of attachment for the suspension. The object is a simpler and hence more cost-effective wishbone. At least one of the points (&) of articulation is accordingly a hollow hexagonal cross-section bolt () comprising two halves (&) that engages a bearing housing and is an integral component of the wishbone halves (&).

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Tönning, Germany

Klaus Runte