Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Philipp Bronswick

Manfred Sieve

Jan Pabst

Sven Kuhlmann

A joint () with first and second joint components () are movably connected to one another. The first joint component () has a spherical joint body () and the second joint component () rotatably and pivotably holds the joint body (). A sensor device, for determining the position of the first and second joint components () relative to one another, is arranged on the joint (). The sensor device has at least one sensor element () which can be integrated in a housing () that is produced by an assembly overmolding process. The joint housing () forms the second joint component () in which the joint body () is directly supported.

Joint, link for a wheel suspension and method for assembling a joint

A chassis component for a wheel suspension which has a strut arrangement with at least one strut which is in the form of a profile component with an open cross-section. The at least one strut has a profile base and two wall sections that extend away from the profile base. An articulation point is provided, at least at one end of the strut, for receiving two joint components movably connected to one another, namely, a first joint component having a spherical joint body and a second joint component that rotatably and/or pivotably holds the joint body. In the area of the at least one articulation point, the wall sections have first and second joint accommodation apertures arranged opposite one another. A cylindrical sleeve is pressed in between the first joint accommodation aperture and the second joint accommodation aperture and keeps the opposite wall sections apart from one another.

Chassis component for a wheel suspension and method for producing a chassis component

A chassis component for a wheel suspension, having a strut arrangement with at least one strut which has a profile with an open cross-section. The at least one strut has a profile base and two wall sections which extend away from the base. An end of the strut has an articulation point that receives a first joint component having a spherical joint body and a second joint component which holds the joint body so as to rotate and/or pivot. A first joint accommodation aperture and a second joint accommodation aperture are arranged, in the area of the articulation point, opposite one another. The joint body is positioned via a circular-segment-shaped fastening element arranged on the joint body between the joint accommodation apertures. The joint accommodation apertures and the joint body positioned between them are integrated in a joint housing produced by overmolding, which forms the second joint component.

In order to reduce both the weight and the production costs in the case of vehicle chassis components consisting of at least two parts, a first part is made as a sheet component by press hardening and the second part is produced by a conventional production method, which does not include press hardening. The part produced by press hardening forms a structural component, whereas the other component serves to stiffen the part produced by press hardening.

Method for producing a component

A structural component for a motor vehicle, with a component body () made from a sheet, which includes at least one shell-shaped body portion () formed from the sheet and at least one receiving bush () formed from the sheet that extends along its circumference between first and second circumferential ends (), which at the first circumferential end () merges into the shell-shaped body portion () and at the second circumferential end () merges into a strengthening strip () formed from the sheet and attached to the shell-shaped body portion (). The strengthening strip () completes the shell-shaped body portion () to form an at least partially closed hollow section ().

Growing community of inventors

Ostercappeln, Germany

Philipp Bronswick