Patent Publication Number: US-2022227197-A1

Title: Stabilizer bar for a chassis of a vehicle, pendulum support for such a stabilizer bar, and method for producing such a stabilizer bar or such a pendulum support

Description:
This application is a National Stage completion of PCT/EP2020/055790 filed Mar. 5, 2020, which claims priority from German patent application serial no. 10 2019 206 726.3 filed May 9, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a stabilizer for a chassis of a vehicle, having a curved stabilizer body that forms a torsion spring, with a pendulum support and with a connecting section, the said connecting section being made of a metal and connecting the stabilizer body to the pendulum support, wherein the connecting section and the stabilizer body are joined to one another by means of a snap-in or a latch connection. In addition, the invention relates to a pendulum support for such a stabilizer and to a method for producing such a stabilizer and such a pendulum support. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such a stabilizer and such a pendulum support are known from DE 10 2016 205 916 A1. According to that document, the stabilizer has a curved basic body that forms a torsion spring which is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, and also has at least one connecting section arranged at its end for connecting the basic body to a pendulum support, wherein the connecting section is joined to the basic body by means of a snap-in connection. In this case, the basic body corresponds to the stabilizer body mentioned earlier. 
     Stabilizers of the type mentioned at the start are also called torsion-bar springs. Stabilizers or torsion-bar springs are widely known in automotive technology, in particular chassis engineering, for use as roll stabilizers. They are components which can be loaded in torsion, which reduce the rolling movements of a vehicle. To stabilize the rolling of vehicle bodies, stabilizers can be arranged between the wheels on an axle of a vehicle. During alternate deflection of the wheels on an axle, stabilizers distribute the axle load and thus ensure a uniform axle load distribution. Thereby, the driving behavior of a vehicle can be influenced in a positive manner in such a way that, for example, the coefficients of adhesion of the wheels arranged on an axle can always be kept almost identical and at a good level. 
     The free ends of known stabilizers can, in each case, usually be arranged on and/or supported by pendulum supports on a separate component, for example a wheel-guiding element such as a wheel carrier or a wheel-guiding control arm. In that case, the pendulum supports can be separate components. The connecting section joins the stabilizer body and the pendulum support to one another. Thus, the connecting section can be in the form of an intermediate part between the pendulum support, on the one hand, and the stabilizer, on the other hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of the present invention is to develop further a stabilizer and a method of the type mentioned at the start, so as to reduce the assembly effort and, at the same time, so that the stabilizer can be connected to the pendulum support securely and simply. Preferably, the number of individual components, when fitting the stabilizer into a chassis of a vehicle, should be reduced. In particular, an alternative embodiment should be provided. 
     The objective on which the invention is based is achieved with a stabilizer and a pendulum support according to the independent claims. Preferred further developments of the invention are indicated in the subordinate claims and in the description that follows. 
     The stabilizer is designed for use in a chassis of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. In this case, the stabilizer has a curved stabilizer body that forms a torsion spring. In particular, in the context of the present application a stabilizer body is understood to mean an elongated, strand-like, rod-like and/or tube-like body. Thus, the stabilizer body can be hollow or tubular, or made of solid material. In particular, the stabilizer body is in the form of a tubular rod or a solid rod. Owing to the curved design of the stabilizer body, it can essentially be U-shaped, C-shaped or curved in some other way. The stabilizer body can be made of more than one part. In particular, the stabilizer is designed as an active roll stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer body can comprise an actuator. The stabilizer body can be made in part or in full of a metal and/or a fiber-plastic composite. Furthermore, the stabilizer comprises at least one pendulum support and at least one connecting section. In particular, the stabilizer has two pendulum supports and two connecting sections, and, in each case, a pendulum support and a connecting section can be arranged at a free end of the stabilizer body. In particular, the stabilizer body has two ends remote from one another at each of which a pendulum support is arranged by way of a connecting section. 
     The connecting section is made of a metal. In particular, the connecting section is made of aluminum. Alternatively, from the prior art it is known to make the connecting section of plastic. However, in combination with a snap-in and/or latch joint for connecting the connecting section to the stabilizer body, it has been shown that with components made of plastic, such a snap-in and/or latch connection does not withstand higher loads and/or meet rigidity requirements to a sufficient extent. By means of a connecting section made of metal, or aluminum, however, the snap-in and/or latch connection withstands even strict demands for load-bearing ability and/or rigidity. 
     By means of the snap-in and/or latch connection, the connecting section and the stabilizer body can be connected to one another at the same time securely and simply. In particular, by virtue of the snap-in and/or latch connection a form-enclosed joint between the connecting section and the stabilizer body is produced. Depending on the structure of the snap-in and/or latch connection, the formed joint can optionally be releasable or permanent. In the case of a releasable joint, it is also simple to dismantle the stabilizer and/or the stabilizer body. The snap-in and/or latch connection can basically be made in various ways, wherein on at least one of the two elements, namely the connecting section or the stabilizer body, an elastically deformable securing element is provided which, when the two elements are joined together, detachably or permanently hooks and/or latches onto the respective other element. There is an interlock between the connecting section and the stabilizer body in the hooked and/or latched condition. The advantages of the snap-in and/or latch joint are simple and secure assembly on account of the fewer components to be joined, and the resulting cost savings. Moreover, dismantling is simple if a detachable snap-in and/or latch joint is used. With an appropriate design of the snap-in and/or latch joint assembly and/or dismantling can even be carried out without tools. 
     The connecting section has an opening in which a bearing shell of plastic for the movable fitting of a joint ball is arranged. 
     Here, it is advantageous that, by virtue of the plastic bearing shell, the pendulum support can be articulated directly to the connecting section in a simple manner. In particular, a movable and/or articulated fitting of the joint ball into the bearing shell means that the joint ball can pivot, tilt and/or rotate. Preferably, the co-operation of the joint ball and the bearing shell produces an articulated joint or hinge joint between the pendulum support and the connecting section. In particular, an articulated joint or hinged joint between two components denotes a connection between the two components by means of a joint of such a type that the two components, in this case the connecting section and the pendulum support, can be rotated relative to one another about at least one rotation axis. Thus, articulated or hinged joints can have exactly one rotation axis, exactly two rotation axes or exactly three rotation axes. Preferably, an articulated or hinged joint does not allow any translational movement of the two components relative to one another. 
     According to a further development, the bearing shell is held with interlock onto a rim of the said opening. In particular, the rim of the opening is circular or round. The bearing shell can essentially be shaped as part of a ball. In particular, an inner and/or an outer side of the bearing shell is shaped as part of a ball or sphere. The bearing shell can hold the rim of the opening and/or surround it with interlock. In particular, the rim of the opening is held with interlock in a groove-like seating of the bearing shell. In that way, the bearing shell is firmly connected to the rim of the opening, or the bearing shell is held onto the rim. Preferably, the rim of the opening has at least one notch into which the plastic of the bearing shell extends. By virtue of the at least one notch, twisting of the bearing shell within the opening, particularly about a central longitudinal axis of the opening, is impeded or blocked. Thus, a twist-resistant structure is formed with the notch in the edge of the opening and in combination with the bearing shell. Preferably, the rim of the opening has two notches, which can be arranged opposite one another or mirror-symmetrically to one another. 
     Preferably, the bearing shell has a bearing shell opening. The pendulum support, in particular the joint ball and/or a joint pin of the pendulum support connected to the joint ball, can extend out of the bearing shell opening. In particular, the joint ball is held captive inside the bearing shell. For that purpose, the bearing shell can extend beyond an equator of the joint ball, outward in the direction of the pendulum support and/or the joint pin. The size of the bearing shell opening is so as to ensure sufficient joint mobility, in particular pivoting and/or tilting mobility of the pendulum support. An opening rim of the bearing shell opening can have an all-round holding groove for receiving a rim of a sealing bellows. In that way, the articulated or hinged connection between the pendulum support and the connecting section can be protected by means of a sealing bellows against environmental influences such as contaminants, moisture, mechanical influences and the like. To fulfill that function, the sealing bellows can be formed from a flexible, in particular elastic material, preferably an elastomer, as a sleeve-like flexible body with two open ends. In this case, at an axial end facing toward the connecting section the sealing bellows can have a rim on the connecting section side, at an opposite end facing toward the pendulum support a rim on the pendulum support side, and a sheath connecting the said two ends. In principle, the sheath can be in various forms but, to ensure the mobility of the joint a contour, can be chosen so as to be both compressible and stretchable, such as a bulbous contour and/or a contour provided with folds. In the latter case, one speaks of a so-termed folding bellows, or if many folds are present, a multi-fold bellows. 
     In another further development, the bearing shell has a plurality of stiffening ribs on its outer circumference. The stiffening ribs can extend radially outward from a side of the bearing shell. In particular, the plurality of stiffening ribs are distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction around the bearing shell. The stiffening ribs are supported on the connecting section. In particular, the stiffening ribs are arranged on a side of the bearing shell facing away from the bearing shell opening and/or the connecting section. In other words, the stiffening ribs can be located on a side of the connecting section facing away from the pendulum support. Preferably, the stiffening ribs are made integrally with the bearing shell. 
     In a further development, the connecting section is made from at least one shaped sheet-metal element. In particular, an aluminum sheet is used as the metal sheet. The connecting section can comprise a first connecting area for connecting to the pendulum support and a second connecting area for connecting to the stabilizer body. The connecting section functions as an interface between the stabilizer body and the pendulum support, while the connecting section can, at the same time, serve to transmit force between the stabilizer body and the pendulum support. The connecting section can be made in one piece. Preferably, the connecting section is made from more than one piece. 
     In particular, the first connecting area comprises the opening for receiving the bearing shell. Here, the said first connecting area can be essentially flat, planar or even. Moreover, at least the first connecting area can be single-layered. That enables simple and inexpensive production from a metal sheet, so that at least to form the first connecting area no complex deformations are needed. Preferably, the first connecting area has bent-up rims in order to stiffen the connecting section, in particular the first connecting area. The said bent-up rims can extend transversely or perpendicularly to a surface of the first connecting area that contains the opening. Such bent-up rims can be produced comparatively easily by a suitable deformation process, and they result in substantial stiffening. The bent-up rim areas can extend from the first connecting area to the second connecting area. 
     In particular, the second connection area is of tube-shaped and/or tubular form. In this case, an inside diameter of the second connection area can correspond to an outside diameter of an end of the stabilizer body. The inside diameter of the second connection area and the outside diameter of the stabilizer body can then match one another so that the second connection area can be plugged onto the free end of the stabilizer body in a form-enclosing manner. Preferably, the second connection area has at least one securing element for forming the snap-in and/or latch joint with the stabilizer body. In particular, the said securing element is made elastically deformable. An advantageous design provides that the securing element is designed as a snap-tongue and/or a retaining hook. Such a securing element can engage in a suitably designed holding structure of the stabilizer body in order to prevent the connecting section from being detached from the stabilizer body. With an elastically deformable securing element, this will be deformed during the joining process so that when the joining process is completed, an interlocked connection, between the connecting section and the stabilizer body, is formed by spring-back (“snap-in”, or “latching”). Preferably, this takes place as the securing element hooks or latches into a holding structure formed on the stabilizer body. Depending on the design and in particular the accessibility of the securing element from outside, it can be possible to undo the snap-in and/or latch joint again, so that a releasable joint is provided. The holding structure of the stabilizer body can be in the form of a depression in the stabilizer body that corresponds to the securing element. In particular, the second connecting area and the end of the stabilizer body can have matching contours and/or sections, which, by virtue of their co-operation, prevent any twisting and/or rotation of the connecting section about the end of the stabilizer body. The end of the stabilizer body can also be called the ‘stabilizer body end’. 
     According to a further development, the connecting section is formed from a first sheet-metal element and a second sheet-metal element. In particular, the first sheet-metal element forms the first connecting area for joining to the pendulum support. Thus, the first sheet-metal element has the opening for receiving the bearing shell. Preferably, the second connecting area is designed to be connected to the stabilizer body by virtue of a combination of the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element. The tube-shaped or tubular form of the second connecting area can be produced by virtue of the said combination of the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element. Thus, the first sheet-metal element can be designed in its first part to form the first connecting area on the one hand, and the second sheet-metal element can, on the other hand, be in the form of a half-shell. 
     Preferably, the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element are connected to one another in a material-merged manner. In particular, the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element are joined to one another by welding. Thus, the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element are permanently joined together. The two sheet-metal elements can be prefabricated separately or independently of one another, and in particular in that way, by means of the two sheet-metal elements the tubular form of the second connecting area is simpler to produce. Preferably, the first sheet-metal element and the second sheet-metal element have contact webs that correspond with one another. The contact webs can, at the same time, be rim sections of the first sheet-metal element and/or of the second sheet-metal element. Preferably, the first sheet-metal element comprises the contact webs in the section for forming the first connecting area. The contact webs of the second sheet-metal element can extend over the full length of the second sheet-metal element. The contact webs of the two sheet-metal elements can be in contact with one another and be joined to one another in a material-merged manner. Such contact webs can be produced simply by a suitable deformation of the sheet-metal elements. By virtue of the contact webs, a sufficiently large area of contact between the two sheet-metal elements can be produced, which favors the production of a cohesive joint. 
     According to a further development, the connecting section has a stop to limit a plug-on movement for plugging the connecting section onto an end of the stabilizer body, in particular, in order to produce the snap-in and/or latch connection. In particular, the stop, the securing element and the holding structure are matched to one another in such a manner that when the securing element reaches the stop, it latches and/or snaps into the holding structure. The stop can be in the form of a bent up sheet tab. Such a stop can be produced simply and effectively by a suitable deformation. In particular, the stop is associated with or arranged on the second sheet-metal element. Preferably, the stop extends on the second sheet-metal element in the direction toward the first sheet-metal element. In that case, the stop can be arranged on a side of the second sheet-metal element that faces toward the connecting section. 
     To be arranged on a stabilizer, in particular in accordance with the forgoing description, a pendulum support, according to the invention, is connected to a connecting section which is made of a metal and is designed to be connected to the stabilizer body by means of a snap-in and/or latch connection. In this case, the connecting section has an opening in which a plastic bearing shell is arranged for the mobile fitting of a joint ball of the pendulum support. 
     Particularly advantageous is a method for producing a stabilizer according to the invention and/or a pendulum support according to the invention. In this method, the connecting section is arranged in an injection-molding die and the bearing shell is produced by an injection-molding process. During its production or injection-molding, the bearing shell is, at the same time, arranged and, in particular, fixed in the opening of the connecting section. Thus, after the injection-molding of the bearing shell a hybrid components is produced, comprising the metallic connecting section and the plastic bearing shell. In particular, the bearing shell is restricted to the area of the opening in the connecting section. Preferably, apart from the formation of the bearing shell, the connecting section is not overmolded with any more of the plastic. Thus, the use of plastic is limited to the formation of the bearing shell. 
     Preferably, at least the joint ball, in particular the pendulum support and/or a joint pin of the pendulum support, is arranged in the injection-molding die together with the connecting section. In this case the joint ball is located in the opening of the connecting section. The bearing shell is produced by the injection-molding process, whereby the bearing shell is joined, at the same time, to the connecting section and the joint ball is held in the bearing shell. In particular, during injection-molding plastic is injected between the rim of the opening and the joint ball to form the bearing shell. After the injection-molding process and the extraction from the injection-molding die, the pendulum support can, if necessary, be finish-processed. The pendulum support can comprise a connection component at an end remote from the connecting section. At the end of the pendulum support or connection component, remote from the connecting section, a further articulated joint can be arranged. The connection component and/or the further articulated joint of the pendulum support can be connected to a chassis component, for example a wheel carrier or a control arm. The connecting section and the pendulum support can be prefabricated as an assembly. This assembly can be connected to the stabilizer body by the snap-in and/or latch joint. 
     In particular, a connecting area of the connecting section is plugged onto an end of the stabilizer body to form the snap-in and/or latch connection, wherein at least one securing element of the connecting section latches and/or snaps into a holding structure of the stabilizer body. 
     In particular, the stabilizer and/or the pendulum support produced, according to the invention, is/are a stabilizer and/or a pendulum support as described earlier, produced in accordance with the method according to the invention. Preferably, the method is developed further in accordance with all the features explained in connection with the stabilizer and/or the pendulum support, according to the invention, described herein. Furthermore, the stabilizer or the pendulum support described herein can be developed further in accordance with all the features explained in connection with the said method. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Below, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. In these, the same indexes denote the same, similar, or functionally equivalent components or elements. The figures show: 
         FIG. 1 : A perspective front view of a stabilizer according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2 : A detail from the perspective front view of a stabilizer according to the invention, shown in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3 : A sectioned side view of the detail shown in  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 4 : A perspective side view of two sheet-metal elements for forming a connecting section for a stabilizer according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , 
         FIG. 5 : A perspective side view of the connecting section shown in  FIG. 4 , before being connected to a joint ball of a pendulum support, 
         FIG. 6 : A perspective side view of the connecting section shown in  FIG. 5 , after being connected to a joint ball of a pendulum support, 
         FIG. 7 : A perspective side view of a second connecting section, 
         FIG. 8 : A sectioned perspective side view of the second connecting section shown in  FIG. 7 , and 
         FIG. 9 : A perspective side view of a further connecting section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a stabilizer  1  according to the invention. This is a torsion spring device loaded in torsion, which can be used in the chassis of a vehicle for avoiding rolling movements of the vehicle. The stabilizer  1  has a stabilizer body  2 . The stabilizer body  2  is in the form of a bar or rod. Moreover, the stabilizer body is curved. In this case, two ends of the stabilizer body  2  or two stabilizer body ends  3 ,  4 , remote from one another, are arranged so that the stabilizer body  2  is essentially U-shaped. At the same time, the two stabilizer body ends  3 ,  4  form the limbs of the essentially U-shaped design of the stabilizer body  2 . In this example embodiment, the stabilizer body  2  is made from a fiber-reinforced plastic or a fiber-reinforced plastic composite. For example, continuous glass or carbon fibers can be used as the fiber material, which are embedded in a duroplastic or thermoplastic matrix. In this case, the stabilizer body  2  can be made hollow or tubular, or made from solid material. 
     The stabilizer  1  has two pendulum supports  5 ,  6 . In this case, the pendulum support  5  is associated with the stabilizer body end  3  and the pendulum support  6  with the stabilizer body end  4 . 
     Furthermore, the stabilizer  1  has two connecting section  7 ,  8 . Here, the connecting section  7  is associated with the stabilizer body end  3  and the connecting section  8  with the stabilizer body end  4 . In detail, the connecting sections  7 ,  8  are respectively arranged between the stabilizer body ends  3  and  4  and the associated pendulum supports  5  and  6 . Thus, the connecting sections  7 ,  8  serve, as it were, as an interface for force transfer and/or for forming a connection between the stabilizer body  2  and the respective pendulum supports  5  and  6 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a detail of the perspective front view of the stabilizer  1  according to the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . To be specific, the stabilizer body end  3  with the pendulum support  5  and the connecting section  7  are shown in this case. The following explanations of this also analogously apply to the stabilizer body end  4 , the pendulum support  6  and the connecting section  8 . 
     The connecting section  7  has a first connecting area  9 . The connecting section  7  is joined to the pendulum support  5  by means of this first connecting area  9 . Moreover, the connecting section  7  has a second connecting area  10 . The connecting section  7  is joined to the stabilizer body end  3  by means of the second connecting area  10 . Here, the connecting section  7  or the second connecting area  10  is connected to the stabilizer body end  3  with interlock, by virtue of a snap-in and/or latch joint (not shown). For this, the second connecting area  10  is plugged onto the stabilizer body end  3 . 
     The first connecting area  9  and the second connecting area  10  together form the connecting section  7  and merge directly or integrally into one another. In the longitudinal direction of the connecting section  7 , the two connecting areas  9 ,  10  form two ends of the connecting section  7  that face away from one another. The connecting section  7  is made from a metal, in this example embodiment aluminum. 
     In the first connecting area  9  the connecting section  7  has a bearing shell  11 . The bearing shell  11  is made of a plastic and is firmly connected to the first connecting area  9 . A first end  12  of the pendulum support  5  is fitted in the bearing shell  11  in an articulated manner. A second end  13  of the pendulum support  5 , remote from the first end  12 , has a connection component  14 . The connection of the first end  12  to the connecting section  7  is in the form of an articulated joint  15 . In this example embodiment, the articulated joint  15  is in the form of a ball joint  15 . In the area of the second end  13 , a further articulated joint  16  is provided. In this example embodiment, the said further articulated joint  16  is also in the form of a ball joint. In this case, according to the example embodiment shown here, a pin section  17  extends out of the connection component  14 . The pin section  17  can be connected to a chassis component (not shown), for example a wheel carrier or a control arm. 
       FIG. 3  shows a sectioned side view of the detail according to  FIG. 2 . The second connecting area  10  is tubular. An inner diameter or inner contour of the second connecting area  10  is made to match an outer diameter or outer contour of the stabilizer body end  3 , with a view to forming a form-enclosing joint. 
     The connecting section  7  or second connecting area  10  has an elastically deformable securing element  18 . In this example embodiment, the securing element  18  is in the form of a snap-in or latching hook. The stabilizer body end  3  has a holding structure  19  designed to co-operate with the securing element  18 . In this example embodiment, the holding structure  19  is in the form of a depression in the outer surface of the stabilizer body end  3 . By virtue of the co-operation of the securing element  18  and the holding structure  19 , the snap-in and/or latch joint of the connecting section to the stabilizer body  2  is formed. For this, the securing element  18  is latched or snapped into the holding structure  19 . 
     Furthermore, the connecting section  7  has a stop  20 . By means of the stop  20  a plug-on movement of the connecting section  7 , for plugging the second connecting area  10  onto the stabilizer body end  3 , is limited. In this example embodiment, the stop  20  is arranged on the second connecting area  10 . In this case, a front face  21  of the stabilizer body end  3  encounters the stop  20 . Here, the stop  20  is in the form of a bent-up sheet tab. 
     In the first connecting area  9 , the connecting section  7  has an opening  22 . The bearing shell  11  is fitted into the said opening  22 . The outside and the inside of the bearing shell  11  are essentially in the shape of a spherical section. Within the bearing shell  11  a joint ball  23  is fitted and can move. In this case, the bearing shell  11  surrounds the joint ball  23  in such a manner that the joint ball  23  is securely held inside the bearing shell  11 . 
     The bearing shell  11  has a bearing shell opening  24 , out of which part of the joint ball  23  and a joint pin  25 , attached to the joint ball  23 , extend. The joint pin  25  connects the first end  12  of the pendulum support  5  to the second end  13  thereof. A sealing bellows  26  is associated with the first end  12 . The articulated joint  15  is protected against environmental influences by means of the sealing bellows  26 . In this example embodiment, the bearing shell  11  has, on a side facing toward the sealing bellows  26 , a holding groove  27 . A sealing bellows rim  28  of the sealing bellows  26  is arranged and held in the holding groove  27 . 
     On a side facing away from the pendulum support  5 , the bearing shell  11  has a plurality of stiffening ribs  29 . In the sectioned representation shown here, only one stiffening rib  29  can be seen. The stiffening rib  29  is supported on a side or surface  30  of the connecting section  7  that faces away from the pendulum support  5 . 
     The bearing shell  11  has a groove-like slot  31  for receiving a rim  32  of the opening  22 . Thus the bearing shell  11  grips the rim  32  so that the bearing shell  11  is held onto the opening  22  or the rim  32  in a form-enclosed manner. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective side view of two sheet-metal elements  33 ,  34  for forming the connecting section  7  or  8  for the stabilizer  1  according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The first sheet-metal element  33  comprises the first connecting area  9 . In this representation, the bearing shell  11  has not yet been fitted into the opening  22  as it is in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The rim  32  of the opening  22  is essentially circular. 
     In this example embodiment, the rim  32  has notches  35  and  36 . In particular, the notches  35 ,  36  are in the form of cut-outs in the rim  32 . In this case, as an example, the notches  35 ,  36  are formed opposite or mirror-symmetrically relative to one another. While the bearing shell  11  is being made and arranged as in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plastic of the bearing shell  11  penetrates into the notches  35 ,  36 . This prevents or blocks any twisting or rotation of the bearing shell  11  about the mid-point of the opening  22 . 
     The first sheet-metal element  33  has two bent-up rim areas  37 ,  38 . In this example embodiment, the bent-up rim areas  37 ,  38  extend perpendicularly to the surface  30  of the first connecting area  9  in which the opening  22  is arranged. The bent-up rims areas  37 ,  38  stiffen the first sheet-metal element  33  and the connecting section  7 , particularly, in the first connecting area  9 . 
     The second connecting area  10  of the connecting section  7 , shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is formed by virtue of a combination or co-operation of the two sheet-metal elements  33 ,  34 . To produce the tubular second connecting area  10 , the second sheet-metal element  34 , and a section of the second sheet-metal element  34  provided for forming the second connecting area  10 , are in each case designed as a half-shell. The first sheet-metal element  33  has contact webs  39 ,  40  in the section for forming the second connecting area  10 . For this, the second sheet-metal element  34  has contact webs  41 ,  42  designed to correspond with the said webs  39 ,  40 . In this case, the contact webs  39  to  42  each, at the same time, form a rim section. 
     To form the connecting section  7  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the two sheet-metal elements  33  and  34  are positioned one over the other in such a manner that the contact webs  39  to  42  are in contact with one another. In detail, here, on the one hand, the contact webs  39  and  41  and, on the other hand, the contact webs  40  and  42  are in contact. Then, the first sheet-metal element  33  and the second sheet-metal element  34  are joined in a material-merged way, for example by a welded joint. The material-merged connection is made in the area of the contact webs  39  to  42 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective side view of the connecting section  7  after the two sheet-metal elements  33  and  34  have been joined together, as in  FIG. 4 , but before the connection to the joint ball  23  of the pendulum support  5 . To produce the stabilizer  1  and the pendulum support  5  in combination with the connecting section  7 , the connecting section  7  together with the joint ball  23  are arranged in an injection-molding die (not shown). In this example embodiment, the joint ball  23  is connected to the joint pin  25 . As indicated by the arrow  43 , the joint ball  23  is inserted into the opening  22  of the connecting section  7 . The connecting section  7  and the joint ball  23  are positioned relative to one another in such a manner that those components are orientated relative to one another as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . After the connecting section  7  and the joint ball  23  have been so arranged in the injection-molding die, the bearing shell  11  is made by an injection-molding process. In this case, the bearing shell  11  is, at the same time, arranged or injection-molded in the opening  22  and on the rim  32  of the connecting section  7 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective side view of the connecting section  7 , as in  FIG. 5 , after its connection to the joint ball  23  of the pendulum support  5 . Correspondingly, the bearing shell  11  is here formed by the injection-molding process. It can also be seen that, after the injection-molding of the bearing shell  11 , the pendulum support  5  has been completed. In addition, the connecting component  14  is formed with the articulated joint  16  at the second end  13  of the pendulum support  5 . Thus, the pendulum support  5  in combination with the connecting section  7  form an assembly. This assembly comprising the connecting section  7  and the pendulum support  5  is then plugged onto the stabilizer body end  3 , as indicated by the arrow  44 . For this, the second connecting area  10  is pushed onto the stabilizer body end  3  far enough for the front  21  of the stabilizer body end  3  to encounter the stop  20  and for the securing element  18  to latch or snap into the holding structure  19 , shown in  FIG. 3 , to form the snap-in and/or latch connection. 
     The stabilizer body end  3  has a flattened area  45  on its outer periphery. The flattened area  45  co-operates with a correspondingly shaped inner contour of the second connecting area  10  of the connecting section  7 . Thereby a rotation-opposing feature is formed, which prevents any relative movement of the connecting section  7  in the circumferential direction about the stabilizer body end  3 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective side view of a second connecting section  46 . The second connecting section  46  can be used as an alternative to the connecting section  7  or  8  shown in the previous  FIGS. 1 to 6 . The essential structure of the second connecting section  46  corresponds to the structure of the connecting section  7  or  8 . Accordingly, reference should be made to the previous description. The same features as before are given the same indexes. 
     An essential difference is that the connecting section  46  is formed from a single sheet-metal element. In this case, the sheet metal of the connecting section  46  is deformed in such a manner that the connecting section  46  is produced in a double layer in the first connecting area  9 . 
     Furthermore, in this second connecting section  46 , the second connecting area  10  has a second securing element  47 . The second securing element  47  is formed correspondingly or mirror-symmetrically to the securing element  18 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As an example, the bearing shell  11  is, in this case, shown without stiffening ribs  29 . Alternatively, the bearing shell  11  for the second connecting section  46  can have stiffening ribs, as in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a sectioned perspective side view of the second connecting section  46  shown in  FIG. 7 . It is easy to see the double-layered structure of the sheet-metal element for forming the connecting section  46  in the first connecting area  9 . Furthermore, it is easy to see that the two securing elements  18  and  47  are arranged opposite one another or mirror-symmetrically relative to one another. 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the second connecting section  46  is shown with the bearing shell  11 , but without the joint ball  23 . In fact, however, when the bearing shell  11  has been formed the joint ball  23  is movably arranged within it. In this case, the bearing shell  11  and the connection between the joint ball  23  and the second connecting section  46 , by means of the bearing shell  11 , are produced in accordance with the method explained with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Owing to the omission of the joint ball  23 , the structure of the bearing shell  11  and the co-operation with the first connecting area  9 , as already explained with reference to the previous  FIGS. 2 to 6 , can be seen clearly. 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective side view of a further connecting section  48 . This further connecting section  48  corresponds in its structure essentially to the previously described connecting sections  7 ,  8  and  46 . Accordingly, reference should again be made to the previous description. The same features as before are given the same indexes. As already in the second connecting section  46  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the said further connecting section  48  too is formed from a single sheet-metal element. In this case, however, the sheet metal of the further connecting section  48  is shaped in such a manner that in the first connecting area  9  it has a single-layered structure. For the sake of greater clarity, in this representation too the joint ball  23  has been omitted. 
     INDEXES 
     
         
           1  Stabilizer 
           2  Stabilizer body 
           3  Stabilizer body end 
           4  Stabilizer body end 
           5  Pendulum support 
           6  Pendulum support 
           7  Connecting section 
           8  Connecting section 
           9  First connecting area 
           10  Second connecting area 
           11  Bearing shell 
           12  First end 
           13  Second end 
           14  Connecting component 
           15  Articulated joint 
           16  Articulated joint 
           17  Pin section 
           18  Securing element 
           19  Holding structure 
           20  Stop 
           21  Front face 
           22  Opening 
           23  Joint ball 
           24  Bearing shell opening 
           25  Joint pin 
           26  Sealing bellows 
           27  Holding groove 
           28  Sealing bellows rim 
           29  Stiffening rib 
           30  Surface 
           31  Groove-like seating 
           32  Rim 
           33  First sheet-metal element 
           34  Second sheet-metal element 
           35  Notch 
           36  Notch 
           37  Bent-up rim area 
           38  Bent-up rim area 
           39  Contact web 
           40  Contact web 
           41  Contact web 
           42  Contact web 
           43  Arrow 
           44  Arrow 
           45  Flattened area 
           46  Second connecting section 
           47  Securing element 
           48  Further connecting section