Twist-axle with longitudinally-varying wall thickness

摘要

The invention relates to a twist-axle that includes a cross-beam member and two trailing arms, each trailing arm rigidly secured to the cross-beam member in one of two connection regions of the cross-beam member or formed integrally with and extending from one of the two connection regions. The cross-beam member is formed from a tubular blank and has a torsionally elastic central portion and two torsionally stiff connection regions. The cross-beam member has a wall thickness that varies longitudinally along the length of the cross-beam member from the torsionally elastic central portion to each of the torsionally stiff connection regions.

主权项

1. A method of making a unitary tubular cross-beam member for use in a twist-axle of a vehicle, the cross-beam member having two connection regions defining a longitudinal direction and a central section formed between the connection regions, the central section being torsionally elastic and having a generally open transverse profile, the connection regions being torsionally stiff in at least a portion thereof, the cross-beam member having a wall thickness that is generally uniform circumferentially and varying longitudinally from the torsionally elastic central section to each of the torsionally stiff connection regions, the method comprising: a) cold forming an initial tubular blank of uniform wall thickness to obtain a tubular blank of variable wall thickness, the tubular blank having a central region corresponding to the central section, the variable wall thickness of the tubular blank corresponding to the wall thickness of the cross-beam member, and b) deforming the central region of the tubular blank to conform with the generally open transverse profile of the central section to obtain the cross-beam member.