Patent ID: 6619533
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B23K,B23P,B60G,B62D,F16C

Abstract:
A method of fabricating at least one link arm for use in a link arm suspension system, said method comprising:extruding a first unitary block having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes an eye section with a hollow eye interior and the second end includes a welding edge; extruding a second unitary block having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes an eye section with a hollow eye interior and the second end includes a welding edge; placing the welding edge of the first block adjacent to the welding edge of the second block to form a seam there between; joining the first block to the second block to form a joined block by moving a first rotating tool of a first friction stir welder along the seam so that a friction stir welded joint is formed; and cutting through the joined block at least once in a direction generally perpendicular to the stir welded joint so that the at least one cut separates at least one portion of the joined block having a predetermined width approximately equal to the desired width of a link arm, said at least one portion of the joined block defining at least one link arm.