FR2973738A1 - Element for guiding positioning of spring for MacPherson type suspension device of car on cup for maintaining spring when mounting suspension device, has removable fixing unit and clamping unit for removable attachment to cup - Google Patents

Abstract

The element (20) has a surface for guiding an end of a spring, a removable fixing unit that is utilized for removable attachment to the spring, and a clamping unit for removable attachment to a cup (11). A recess is arranged for allowing installation of the element on the cup. A spring maintenance unit includes a fixed part, and receives the end of the spring. A moving part covers the end of the spring for maintaining end of the spring on the element. An independent claim is also included for a method for assembly of suspension device of a car.

Description

The present invention relates to a guide element for positioning a spring of a suspension device of a motor vehicle on a holding cup of this spring. The invention also relates to a method of mounting a suspension device of a motor vehicle and a suspension device of a motor vehicle obtained by this method. The invention applies in particular to Mac Pherson type suspension devices.

Document EP 0 780 250, for example, discloses a motor vehicle suspension device of the Mac Pherson type.

A suspension device of the Mac Pherson type mainly comprises a strut essentially comprising a damper participating in guiding a wheel. The damper comprises a body and a rod. The upper end of the rod is supported on the vehicle body at a point of articulation materialized in general by an elastic joint. A helical spring is mounted prestressed between an upper cup integral with the body, possibly by means of an elastic filtering, and a lower cup integral with the body of the damper. The upper cup is also supported on the vehicle body, usually also through an elastic filtering.

Furthermore, the body of the damper is secured to a hub carrier. A lower arm is hinged on one side to the vehicle body and on the other to the hub carrier. The hub carrier supports a hub, on which is mounted a wheel comprising a rim and a tire.

The cups, and in particular the lower cup, are shaped so as to provide a bowl receiving the spring. The lower cup may, in some cases, include a tongue or tab for guiding the spring during its mounting on the cup. This tab is formed by cutting and then folding a portion of the sheet forming the cup.

The aim of this invention is to provide a plurality of functions, some of which are not provided by the known solution of the prior art: 1) guiding the spring during assembly of the strut, 2) maintaining the spring protective sheath once in place, 3) improving the corrosion resistance of the cup and the spring.

It has been noted that the solution known from the prior art does not always allow good guidance of the spring near the stop during the assembly of the strut. This can have several consequences: a) the tab can be folded and the spring incorrectly positioned, b) the tab and / or the spring and / or the cup can be assaulted during assembly by metal-metal contacts under load, and, consequently, the tab and / or the spring and / or the cup may subsequently corrode.

In some cases, the pre-positioning of the spring is sufficient to respond to these problems. However, in other cases, the geometry of the strut does not ensure a good pre-positioning of the spring during the assembly operation.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a spring guide element during assembly of the suspension device, the element overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above and improves the guiding elements known from the prior art. In particular, the invention provides a simple guiding element to ensure good guidance, improve the corrosion resistance of the suspension device at the cup and the spring and maintain in position the sheath of the spring.

The present invention is achieved by a guide element for positioning a spring of a suspension device of a motor vehicle on a holding cup of this spring during assembly of the suspension device, characterized in that it comprises at least one guide surface of the end of the spring and detachable fastening means to the spring or detachable fastening means to the cup. -

According to other features of the invention: The removable fastening means comprise a light shaped to receive a portion of the material forming the cup and in that the removable fastening means are arranged relative to the at least one surface of so that, once the guide element is mounted on the cup, the at least one guide surface extends at least substantially in the direction of compression of the spring on the side of the cup against which the spring is intended to come in support. The guide member comprises a spring holding means. The detachable fastening means comprise an opening shaped to receive the end of the spring and in that the removable fastening means are arranged with respect to the at least one guiding surface so that, once the element With the spring-mounted guide bar, the at least one guide surface extends at least substantially in the direction of compression of the spring towards the cup so as to pass therethrough once the spring is in place on the cup. The guide member comprises a weakened section to facilitate a sectional action of the element during mounting of the suspension device or after mounting of the suspension device. The guide element is made of synthetic material. The present invention also relates to a method of mounting a suspension device of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: providing a cup, providing a spring, fixing a guide element as previously described on the cup or on the spring, put in position the spring on the cup. Advantageously, the mounting method comprises a step in which the guide element is removed or in which the guide element is cut off after the step of positioning the spring on the cup.

The present invention also relates to a suspension device of a motor vehicle obtained by the previously described method.

The appended drawing shows, by way of example, two embodiments of a guide element according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a suspension device according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a first embodiment of a guide member according to the invention.

Figures 4 to 6 are views of this first embodiment of a guide member, shown mounted on a cup. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first variant of the first embodiment of a guide member, shown mounted on a cup.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second variant of the first embodiment of a guide member.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a guide member according to the invention, shown mounted on a spring.

A suspension device 1 according to the invention is described with reference to FIG. 1. For example, it is a suspension device of the Mac Pherson type mainly comprising a strut 10 essentially comprising a shock absorber 62 participating in FIG. guiding a wheel 2. The damper comprises a body 7 and a rod 8. The upper end of the rod is supported on the vehicle body at a point of articulation materialized in general by an elastic hinge. A helical spring 60 is mounted prestressed between an upper cup 9 integral with the body, possibly by means of an elastic filtering, and a lower cup 11 integral with the body 7 of the damper. The upper cup 9 also bears on the vehicle body, for example by means of an elastic filtering.

Furthermore, the body 7 is secured to a hub carrier 6. A lower arm 64 is articulated on one side to the vehicle body and the other on the hub carrier 6. The hub carrier 6 supports a hub 5, on which is mounted a wheel 2 comprising a rim 4 and a tire 3.

The cups, and in particular the lower cup, are shaped so as to provide a bowl receiving the spring 60.

The invention also applies to any other suspension device structure provided that this structure comprises a prestressed spring bearing on a cup. To assemble or mount the strut or, more generally, to assemble or mount the suspension device according to the invention, a spring positioning guide element is used on the cup on which it is to bear. A first embodiment of a guide element 20 is described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. The element mainly comprises a surface 23 for guiding the end 70 of the spring and means 25 for detachable attachment. to the cup, such as a clipping means.

For example, the guide member may have a square shape, the guide surface being embodied by a face of a first wing 21 of the bracket and the means 25 for removable attachment to the cup being provided on a second wing 22 of the square. To ensure the rigidity of the element, the two wings may have a rib 24. The cup intended to be assembled to the guide element comprises complementary removable fixing means for cooperating with the removable fastening means provided on the guiding element.

The invention also relates to such a cup.

The removable attachment means to the cup comprise for example a slot 25 extending on the second wing. In this case, the cup intended to receive the guide member comprises a tongue formed for example by the sheet constituting the cup, this tab being intended to penetrate the light. The adjustment between the tongue and the light is, for example, tight. A recess 95 may be provided around the tongue to allow or facilitate the introduction of the guide element on the cup.

The removable fixing means are arranged relative to the guide surface so that the guide surface extends at least substantially in the direction of compression of the spring and towards the spring.

In a first variant shown in Figure 7, the guide member 20c differs from the guide element described above in that it comprises a means 30 for maintaining the spring. This holding means comprises for example a fixed part 31 integral with a guide element and shaped to receive the end 70 of the spring 60, a movable part 32 shaped to cover the end of the spring and a clamping means 33 for tighten the fixed part and the moving part around the end of the spring. In this way, the end of the spring can be held at the guide member after mounting the spring. The spring comprises a steel wire covered with a sheath to prevent corrosion of the wire and the possible contacts of metal parts against the wire during large deflections of suspension. The holding method makes it possible to maintain the sheath at the end of the spring and to avoid migration phenomena thereof, such phenomena being observed on the suspension structures known from the prior art.

In a second variant shown in FIG. 8, the guide element 20a differs from the guide element described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 in that it comprises a breakable part 40. To do this, the wing 21a forming the guide surface 23a comprises a precut 40 preferably made at least substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the guide surface extends. This precut weakens the wing that can be cut at this level after the spring has been put in place. Indeed, after the installation of the spring, the guide surface has no function and its size and location can be troublesome during the compression of the spring, a turn thereof can abut against the wing 21a.

The section of the wing can be realized in different ways. In particular, it can be performed by an operator during assembly or it can be done by action of a spring turn on the wing during a first compression of the spring.

The characteristics of the first and second variants can be combined.

In a third variant, the removable fastening means may be such that an action of a spring turn on the wing during a first compression of the spring disengages the guiding element of the cup. A second embodiment of a guide element 20b is described below with reference to FIG. 9. The element mainly comprises a tab 50 forming two surfaces 81, 82 for guiding the end 70 of the spring 60 and means 51 for releasably fixing the guide element to the spring.

For example, the removable attachment means of the spring guide member comprises a portion 51 in which is formed a bore 90. The end of the spring is intended to enter this bore. For example, the adjustment between the end of the spring and the bore is of the tight type. Preferably, the removable fastening means are arranged with respect to the guide surfaces so that these guide surfaces extend at least substantially in the direction of compression of the spring and through the cup once the spring is in place. on the cup.

The tab 50 is intended to pass through a slot in the cup. The surfaces 81 and 82 cooperate with the edges of this light to guide the spring during its assembly. The cup intended to be assembled to a spring comprising guiding means as described above is therefore provided with a shaped light to allow the passage of the tab 50. The invention also relates to such a cup. To assemble or assemble a suspension device of a motor vehicle with the aid of a guide element according to the first described embodiment, the procedure is as follows: a spring is provided, a cup is provided, a guide element is fixed according to the first embodiment on the cup, the spring is put in place on the cup, during this phase of introduction, the end 70 of the spring slides along the surface 23 until To come into contact with the cup, it is possible, if necessary, to fix a means for holding the end of the spring on the guide element or to remove the guide element and / or to cut off the guide element. It will be noted that, since the guide element is preferably made of a flexible material such as a synthetic material and in particular a plastic material, during the guiding phase of the end of the spring on the surface, the latter is not altered. . Thus, its subsequent resistance to corrosion is not affected. Similarly, if the end of the spring in place on the cup rests on the guide member, its resistance to corrosion, as well as that of the cup, is not affected.

To assemble or assemble a suspension device of a motor vehicle with the aid of a guide element according to the second embodiment described, the procedure is as follows: a spring is provided, a cup is provided; fixes a guide element according to the second embodiment on the spring, - the spring is placed on the cup, during this phase of implementation, the tab 50 of the guide element, and in particular the surfaces 81 and 82, slide into a slot provided in the cup until the spring comes into contact with the cup. - optionally, the guide element is removed and / or the guide element is cut off.

Note that, the guide element is preferably made of a flexible material such as a synthetic material and in particular a plastic material, during the guiding phase of the end of the spring on the surface, it is not altered. Similarly, the cup is not altered. Thus, their subsequent resistance to corrosion is not affected. Similarly, if the end of the spring in place on the cup rests on the guide member, its resistance to corrosion, as well as that of the cup, is not affected.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS: 1. Element (20; 20a; 20b) for guiding the positioning of a spring (60) of a device (1) for suspending a motor vehicle on a cup (11) for holding the spring during the mounting of the suspension device, characterized in that it comprises at least one surface (23; 81, 82) for guiding the end (70) of the spring and means (51) for detachably fixing the spring or means ( 25) removable attachment to the cup. 2. Guiding element (20; 20a) according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable fixing means comprise a slot (25) shaped to receive a portion of the material forming the cup and in that the removable fixing means are arranged with respect to the at least one guide surface (23) so that, once the guide element is mounted on the cup, the at least one guide surface extends at least substantially in the compression direction of the spring of the side of the cup against which the spring is intended to bear. 3. Element (20c) guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a means (30) for holding the spring. 4. Element (20b) guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable fixing means comprise an opening (90) shaped to receive the end (70) of the spring and in that the removable fixing means are arranged relative to the at least one guide surface (81, 82) so that, once the guide element is mounted on the spring, the at least one guide surface extends at least substantially in the direction decompression of the spring towards the cup so as to cross it once the spring in place on the cup. 5. Guiding element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a weakened section (41) to facilitate a sectional action of the element during mounting of the suspension device or after mounting of the device . suspension. 6. Guiding element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of synthetic material. 7. A method of mounting a suspension device of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - provide a cup, provide a spring, fix a guide member according to one of the preceding claims on the cup or on the spring, put in position the spring on the cup. 8. Mounting method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step in which the guide element is removed or in which the guide element is cut after the step of positioning the spring on the cup. 9. Suspension device for a motor vehicle obtained by the method of claim 7 or 8.25