Welded, multiple piece cast control arm
A control arm includes a first component having a first perimeter, a second component having a second perimeter, wherein the first and second components are cast and wherein the first and second components are welded at the first and second perimeters. A control arm includes an upper component, a lower component, and a vertical component disposed between the upper and lower components, wherein the vertical component is welded to the upper and lower components. A method of fabricating a control arm includes casting a first component having a first perimeter and a seat disposed on the first perimeter, casting a second component having a base and a wall, and coupling the first component to the second component, wherein the wall is welded to the seat.
1 . A control arm comprising:
a first component having a first perimeter;
a second component having a second perimeter, wherein the first and second components are cast and wherein the first and second components are welded at the first and second perimeters.
2 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first component is substantially flat.
3 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a flange at the first perimeter.
4 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises a base surrounded by a generally vertical wall at the second perimeter.
5 . The control arm of claim 4 , wherein the wall comprises a seat.
6 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a flange at the first perimeter and the second component comprises a wall having a seat, and wherein the seat is configured to couple to the flange.
7 . The control arm of claim 6 , wherein the flange is welded on to the seat at the first and second perimeters.
8 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second perimeters are welded using gas tungsten arc welding.
9 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are fabricated using high pressure die casting techniques.
10 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are fabricated using High-Q-Cast die casting.
11 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the second component is substantially hollow.
12 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are fabricated from molten metal squeeze casting.
13 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are fabricated from semi-solid metal slurry.
14 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components form an “I” shape.
15 . The control arm of claim 1 , wherein the first and second components form a “U” shape.
16 . A control arm, comprising:
an upper component;
a lower component; and
a vertical component disposed between the upper and lower components, wherein the vertical component is welded to the upper and lower components.
17 . The control arm of claim 16 , wherein the upper component has an upper seat and the lower component has a lower seat, wherein the upper and lower seats are configured to be welded to the vertical component.
18 . The control arm of claim 16 , wherein the vertical component is hollow.
19 . The control arm of claim 16 , wherein the upper, low and vertical components are fabricated using die casting techniques.
20 . A method of fabricating a control arm, comprising:
casting a first component having a first perimeter and a seat disposed on the first perimeter;
casting a second component having a base and a wall; and
coupling the first component to the second component, wherein the wall is welded to the seat.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the wall further comprises a flange that is welded to the seat.
22 . A system of fabricating a control arm, comprising:
means for casting a first component having a first perimeter and a seat disposed on the first perimeter;
means for casting a second component having a base and a wall; and
means for coupling the first component to the second component, wherein the wall is welded to the seat.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the wall further comprises a flange that is welded to the seat.