Patent ID: 12251982

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A control arm according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For clarity and convenience in description, thicknesses of lines, sizes of constituent elements, and the like may be illustrated in a non-exact proportion in the drawings.

In addition, terms defined by considering the meanings thereof in the present disclosure will be used below and may vary according to the user's or manager's intention or to practices in the art. Therefore, these terms should be contextually defined in light of the present specification.

FIG.1is a perspective view schematically illustrating a control arm according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a pre-assembly perspective view schematically illustrating the control arm according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3is a perspective view schematically illustrating a first panel portion100and a second panel portion200according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.4is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating circular portion “A” ofFIG.3.FIG.5is a top view schematically illustrating the control arm according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.6is a perspective view schematically illustrating a reinforced panel portion300according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.7is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating circular portion “B” ofFIG.6.FIG.8is a partially enlarged schematic perspective cross-sectional view taken along line D-D onFIG.7.FIG.9is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating elliptical portion “C” ofFIG.6.FIG.10is a pre-assembly perspective view schematically illustrating mounting of the reinforced panel portion300to the first panel portion100.FIG.11is a partially enlarged schematic perspective cross-sectional view taken along line E-E onFIG.10.FIG.12is a pre-assembly perspective view schematically illustrating mounting of the second panel portion200on the first panel portion100on which the reinforced panel portion300is mounted.FIG.13is a perspective view schematically illustrating the control arm assembled in the order as indicated inFIGS.10to12.FIG.14is a partially enlarged schematic perspective cross-sectional view taken along line F-F onFIG.13.FIG.15is a partially enlarged schematic perspective cross-sectional view taken along line G-G onFIG.13.

With reference toFIGS.1to15, the control arm according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include the first panel portion100, the second panel portion200, the reinforced panel portion300, and bushes400.

The first panel portion100has a first assembly hole111and may be coupled to the second panel portion200. The second panel portion200has a second assembly hole211and may be coupled to the first panel portion100. The reinforced panel portion300is interposed between the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200and may be coupled to the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211. The reinforced panel portion300is interposed between the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200and can enhance the rigidity (strength) of the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200.

The bushes400may be mounted into the reinforced panel portion300. The bushes400are mounted into both end portions, respectively, of the reinforced panel portion300and thus can reinforce the rigidity of both end portions of the reinforced panel portion300. The bushes400are mounted directly into the reinforced panel portion300without the use of a separate member, thereby being integrally coupled thereto. This mounting contributes to a reduction in the weight of the control arm, thereby leading to a reduction in the manufacturing cost and consequently an improvement in productivity.

The first panel portion100may include a first panel body110, a first panel extension portion120, and first hole flanges130. The first panel body110may have the first assembly hole111in the center portion. One of reinforced panel protrusions313of the reinforced panel portion300may be coupled to the first assembly hole111by being pressed thereinto.

The first panel extension portion120may extend laterally from the first panel body110in a manner that faces toward the second panel portion200and may be coupled to the second panel portion200. The first panel extension portion120may be coupled to a second panel extension portion220of the second panel portion200by being pressed thereinto. Alternatively, the first panel extension portion120may be coupled, by welding, to the second panel extension portion220of the second panel portion200.

The first hole flanges130are formed in both end portions, respectively, of the first panel body110in a manner that passes therethrough. The bushes400may be mounted into the first hole flanges130, respectively. The first hole flange130may be formed, by hole flanging, in the first panel body110in a manner that faces toward the second panel portion200. The first hole flange130may be formed to face a second hole flange230of the second panel portion200.

The second panel portion200may include a second panel body210, a second panel extension portion220, and the second hole flange230. The second panel body210may extend laterally from the second panel body210in a manner that faces toward the first panel portion100and may be coupled to the first panel portion100. The second panel extension portion220may be coupled to the first panel extension portion120of the first panel portion100by being pressed thereinto. Alternatively, the second panel extension portion220may be coupled, by welding, to the first panel extension portion120of the first panel portion100.

The second hole flanges230are formed in both end portions, respectively, of the second panel body210in a manner that passes therethrough. The bushes400may be mounted into the second hole flanges230, respectively. The second hole flange230may be formed, by hole flanging, in the second panel body210in a manner that faces toward the first panel portion100. The second hole flange230may be formed to face a first hole flange130of the first panel portion100.

The first panel portion100and the second panel portion200may be formed of the same material. The first panel portion100and the second panel portion200may be formed of a metal material. The first panel portion100and the second panel portion200may be formed of metal material including aluminum, steel, and the like. In addition, the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200may be formed of an engineering plastic material.

The reinforced panel portion300may include a reinforced panel main portion310and reinforced panel accommodation portions320. The reinforced panel main portion310may be interposed between the first panel body110and the second panel body210and may be coupled to the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211.

The reinforced panel main portion310may include a reinforced panel body311and the reinforced panel protrusions313. The reinforced panel body311may be interposed between the first panel body110and the second panel body210.

The reinforced panel protrusions313may be protrusively formed on both lateral surfaces, respectively, of the reinforced panel body311and may be coupled to the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211by being pressed thereinto, respectively. The reinforced panel protrusions313may be formed in such a manner that sizes thereof correspond to sizes, respectively, of the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211.

The reinforced panel protrusions313may be formed in such a manner that widths thereof become narrower toward the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively. The reinforced panel protrusions313are formed on the reinforced panel body311in a stepped manner. The reinforced panel protrusions313formed in a stepped manner may be mounted into the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively.

The reinforced panel protrusions313are formed in such a manner that the widths thereof become narrower toward the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively. This formation facilitates the insertion of the reinforced panel protrusions313into the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively. The reinforced panel protrusions313have such snap-fit structures that they can be prevented from deviating from the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively, after coupled thereto by being inserted and pressed thereinto.

The reinforced panel main portion310may further include a reinforced panel through-hole315. At least one reinforced panel through-hole315may be formed in the reinforced panel body311in a manner that passes therethrough. The formation of the reinforced panel through-hole315in the reinforced panel body311in a pass-through manner can contribute to a reduction in the weight of the control arm, thereby enhancing the rigidity thereof. Equal numbers of reinforced panel through-holes315may be formed on both sides, respectively, of the center of the reinforced panel body311.

The reinforced panel main portion310may further include reinforced panel elastic portions317. The reinforced panel elastic portions317are mounted on outer surfaces, respectively, of the reinforced panel protrusions313and, when coming into contact with the first panel body110and the second panel body210, respectively, elastically deformable. The reinforced panel clastic portion317may be formed of elastically deformable rubber, silicone, or the like.

The reinforced panel elastic portions317may be mounted on the outer surfaces, respectively, of the reinforced panel protrusion313. The reinforced panel protrusions313may be inserted into the first assembly hole111and the second assembly hole211, respectively. When coming into contact with the first panel body110and the second panel body210, the reinforced panel elastic portions317mounted on the outer surfaces of the reinforced panel protrusions313, may be elastically deformed, thereby reducing the occurrence of friction joints between the first panel body110and the second panel body210.

The reinforced panel accommodation portions320are formed in both end portions of the reinforced panel main portion310and the bushes400may be mounted into the reinforced panel accommodation portions, respectively. The reinforced panel accommodation portion320may include a reinforced panel accommodation body321, a reinforced panel accommodation bush323, and a reinforced panel accommodation rib325.

The reinforced panel accommodation bodies321may be formed on both end portions, respectively, of the reinforced panel main portion310. The reinforced panel accommodation bush323is formed inside the reinforced panel accommodation body321in a manner that is spaced apart from the reinforced panel accommodation body321. The bush400may be mounted into the reinforced panel accommodation bush323. The reinforced panel accommodation rib325may connect the reinforced panel accommodation body321and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323to each other.

The first hole flange130and the second hole flange230may be coupled to the reinforced panel accommodation body321and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323by being pressed therebetween. The first hole flange130and the second hole flange230are integrally coupled to the reinforced panel accommodation body321and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323by being pressed therebetween. This integral coupling can simplify the assembly and enhance the rigidity.

The reinforced panel portion300may be formed of an engineering plastic material. The reinforced panel portion300formed of an engineering plastic material can realize the reduced weight of the control arm and thus improve vehicular fuel efficiency.

Examples of engineering plastic of which the reinforced panel portion300is formed include polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polybutylene terephtalate (PBT), and the like.

The bush400may include a bush body410and a bush clastic portion420. The bush body410may be formed in the shape of a cylinder and may be arranged inside the reinforced panel accommodation bush323. The bush body410may be coupled to the first hole flange130and the second hole flange230by being pressed therebetween. The pressing of the bush body410between the first hole flange130and the second hole flange230for coupling can enhance the rigidity of the bush body410, thereby preventing the bush body410from deviating therefrom.

The bush elastic portion420is positioned between an outer surface of the bush body410and an inner surface of the reinforced panel accommodation bush323and is elastically deformable. The bush clastic portion420may be coupled to the bush body410and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323by being pressed between the outer surface of the bush body410and the inner surface of the reinforced panel accommodation bush323, thereby being elastically deformed. This elastic deformation can prevent the bush elastic portion420from deviating from between the bush body410and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323.

The bush400may be mounted directly into the first panel portion100, the second panel portion200, and the reinforced panel portion300without the use of a separate member, thereby leading to a reduction in the weight of the control arm. Thus, an improvement in productivity can be achieved by a reduction in the manufacturing cost.

A process of assembling the control arm according to the present disclosure is described.

With reference toFIGS.10and11, the bush400may be coupled to the reinforced panel accommodation portion320in the reinforced panel portion300by being pressed thereinto. The bush400may be coupled to the reinforced panel accommodation portion320in the reinforced panel portion300by being pressed thereinto, thereby being integrated with the reinforced panel portion300.

The reinforced panel protrusion313of the reinforced panel portion300may be coupled to the first assembly hole111in the first panel portion100by being pressed thereinto.

The reinforced panel clastic portion317may be mounted on the outer surface of the reinforced panel protrusion313. When coming into contact with the first panel body110, the reinforced panel elastic portion317may be elastically deformed, thereby reducing the occurrence of friction joints when connected to the first panel body110.

The first hole flange130of the first panel body110may be coupled to an end portion of the bush body410of the bush400by being pressed thereinto.

With reference toFIGS.12and13, the second panel portion200may be arranged in a manner that faces the first panel portion100. The reinforced panel portion300may be arranged between the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200.

The reinforced panel protrusion313of the reinforced panel portion300may be coupled to the second assembly hole211in the second panel portion200by being pressed thereinto.

When coming into contact with the second panel body210, the reinforced panel elastic portion317may be elastically deformed, thereby reducing the occurrence of friction joints when connected to the second panel body210.

The second hole flange230of the second panel body210may be coupled to an end portion of the bush body410of the bush400by being pressed thereinto.

With reference toFIG.14, the first panel extension portion120of the first panel portion100and the second panel extension portion220of the second panel portion200may be coupled to each other by being pressing thereinto.

In the control arm according to the present disclosure, the reinforced panel portion300is coupled to the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200by being interposed therebetween. This coupling can enhance the rigidity of the first panel portion100and the second panel portion200.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the reinforced panel portion300is formed of engineering plastic. The use of this material can realize the reduced weight of the control arm and improve the vehicular fuel efficiency.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the reinforced panel elastic portions317are mounted on the outer surface of the reinforced panel protrusion313, and, when coming into contact with the first panel body110and the second panel body210, are elastically deformed. This elastic deformation can reduce the occurrence of friction joints between the first panel body110and the second panel body210.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the first hole flange130of the first panel portion100and the second hole flange230of the second panel portion200are integrally coupled to the reinforced panel accommodation body321and the reinforced panel accommodation bush323by being pressed therebetween. This integral coupling can simplify the assembly and enhance the rigidity.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the bush400may be mounted directly into the first panel portion100, the second panel portion200, and the reinforced panel portion300without the use of a separate member. This direct mounting can contribute to a reduction in the weight of the control arm. Thus, an improvement in productivity can be achieved by a reduction in the manufacturing cost.

The specific embodiment of the present disclosure is described above. The technical idea of the present disclosure and the scope thereof are not limited to the specific embodiment. It would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that various modifications and alterations are possibly made to the specific embodiment within the scope that does not depart from the subject matter of the present disclosure that is defined in the claims.