GB2091141A

GB2091141A - Manufacture of axle bracket halves

Info

Publication number: GB2091141A
Application number: GB8201102A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1981-01-20
Filing date: 1982-01-15
Publication date: 1982-07-28
Also published as: GB2091141B; DE3102236A1; IT8125872A0; NL8105686A; ES508532A0; BE891792A; FR2498096B1; ES8302496A1; DE3102236C2; SE448354B; AT376381B; IT1140196B; ATA564281A; FR2498096A1; SE8107501L

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves. According to the invention, an axle bracket half is produced by extrusion moulding of an initial body, in which through changes in the cross- section of the shank region b the moment of resistance of the axle half can be increased with a saving of material. In the method of the invention, first a shank region b and a depression region c are formed from the ingot through hot-extrusion. The depression region c is then expanded and extruded into a rectangular shape and the shank region b formed into a square cross-section. In a final extrusion step the depression region c takes its finished form with local wall thickening. Openings for the drive- and cover side of the axle half can be punched out subsequently. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves for motor vehicles, from a hot-extruded initial workpiece.

Axle bracket halves have been manufactured by the welding of half shells, which were extruded into the finished shape; see German published Application Nos: 2549017 and 1949741. It is also known to manufacture axle brackets from aluminium by extruding it in six forming operations; see French Patent Specification No: 596,950. Further, it is known to work the free ends of axle tubes by foreging; see German published Application No: 22 26304.

The present invention seeks to provide a method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves through extrusion moulding of the initial body, by which through changing the cross-section of the shank region, a saving of material is achieved and, at the same time, an increase in the moment of resistance.

To this end, the method of the invention comprises a) producing an ingot having a stub region, a shank region, and a depression region with a greater wall thickness than the shank region, by hot extrusion; b) cylindrically expanding the depression region, square forming the shank region, and perforating the stub region in the same heating; c) extruding the depression region into a rectangular shape, with the simultaneous punching out of lateral recesses; and d) further extruding the depression region with local wall thickening in a second heating.

Normally, different openings are punched out for the drive and cover side immediately after the further extrusion of the depression region, and in the same heating; and it is also preferred that the inital formation step; step b) is carried out at the same heating stage as the hot extrusion.

Axle bracket halves made in accordance with the invention are usually connected by welding of the two halves in the depression centre through a central seam in a known manner.

The primary advantage of methods according to the invention lies in that the most substantial part of the manufacture takes place in one heating according to the extrusion moulding principle, to which in the second heating only the final formation of the depression shape is added. The square shape of the shank section brings about a considerable saving on material through the reduction in wall thickness in this region with an improved moment of resistance in comparison with the round cross-section.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows the initial workpiece after extrusion moulding of the ingot; Figure 2 and 3 show the workpiece, further formed in stages in the same heating; Figure 4 and 5 show the workpiece after the first and second forming process in the second heating; and Figure 6 shows the finished axle bracket half after punching out the various depression openings.

The workpiece 1, formed in the drawings in successive process steps is subdivided into the stub region a, the shank region b and the depression region c.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the process steps which take place in the first heating, with the alteration of the regions a, band c.

In Figure 1, the stub region a still consists of solid material, and the shank region b and depression region care round.

In the second forming region Figure 2, the stub region a is perforated, the shank region b is pressed square and the depresion region c is expanded round.

In Figure 3 the depression region c becomes rectangular with simultaneous punching out of the recesses.

Figures 4 and 5 show the deformations of the depression region in the second heating with preliminary and final extrusion.

In Figure 6 the finished axle bracket half is shown after the punching out of different openings for the drive- and cover side in the depression region c.

1. A method of manufacturing an axle bracket half, comprising a) producing an ingot having a stub region a shank region, and a depression region with a greater wall thickness than the shank region, by hot extrusion; b) cylindrically expanding the depression region square forming the shank region, and perforating the stub region in the same heating; c) extruding the depression region into a rectangular shape, with the simultaneous punching out of lateral recesses; and d) further extruding the depression region with local wall thickening in a second heating.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein step b) is carried out in the same heating stage as the hot extrusion.

3. A method of manufacturing an axle bracket half substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

4. An axle bracket half manufactured by a method according to any preceding Claim.

5. An axle bracket comprising two halves according to Claim 4 connected to each other by a central welding seam.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves for motor vehicles, from a hot-extruded initial workpiece. Axle bracket halves have been manufactured by the welding of half shells, which were extruded into the finished shape; see German published Application Nos: 2549017 and 1949741. It is also known to manufacture axle brackets from aluminium by extruding it in six forming operations; see French Patent Specification No: 596,950. Further, it is known to work the free ends of axle tubes by foreging; see German published Application No: 22 26304. The present invention seeks to provide a method for the manufacture of axle bracket halves through extrusion moulding of the initial body, by which through changing the cross-section of the shank region, a saving of material is achieved and, at the same time, an increase in the moment of resistance. To this end, the method of the invention comprises a) producing an ingot having a stub region, a shank region, and a depression region with a greater wall thickness than the shank region, by hot extrusion; b) cylindrically expanding the depression region, square forming the shank region, and perforating the stub region in the same heating; c) extruding the depression region into a rectangular shape, with the simultaneous punching out of lateral recesses; and d) further extruding the depression region with local wall thickening in a second heating. Normally, different openings are punched out for the drive and cover side immediately after the further extrusion of the depression region, and in the same heating; and it is also preferred that the inital formation step; step b) is carried out at the same heating stage as the hot extrusion. Axle bracket halves made in accordance with the invention are usually connected by welding of the two halves in the depression centre through a central seam in a known manner. The primary advantage of methods according to the invention lies in that the most substantial part of the manufacture takes place in one heating according to the extrusion moulding principle, to which in the second heating only the final formation of the depression shape is added. The square shape of the shank section brings about a considerable saving on material through the reduction in wall thickness in this region with an improved moment of resistance in comparison with the round cross-section. The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows the initial workpiece after extrusion moulding of the ingot; Figure 2 and 3 show the workpiece, further formed in stages in the same heating; Figure 4 and 5 show the workpiece after the first and second forming process in the second heating; and Figure 6 shows the finished axle bracket half after punching out the various depression openings. The workpiece 1, formed in the drawings in successive process steps is subdivided into the stub region a, the shank region b and the depression region c. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the process steps which take place in the first heating, with the alteration of the regions a, band c. In Figure 1, the stub region a still consists of solid material, and the shank region b and depression region care round. In the second forming region Figure 2, the stub region a is perforated, the shank region b is pressed square and the depresion region c is expanded round. In Figure 3 the depression region c becomes rectangular with simultaneous punching out of the recesses. Figures 4 and 5 show the deformations of the depression region in the second heating with preliminary and final extrusion. In Figure 6 the finished axle bracket half is shown after the punching out of different openings for the drive- and cover side in the depression region c. CLAIMS