GB2295127A

GB2295127A - Support member for a vehicle front suspension

Info

Publication number: GB2295127A
Application number: GB9423170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kiyomi Nakata; Masaaki Watakabe; Hiroshige Ooyabu; Sadao Onoyama
Original assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-11-17
Filing date: 1994-11-17
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-17
Also published as: GB9423170D0; GB2295127B

Abstract

The support member comprises a pair of front and rear cross meters (1, 2) spaced apart and bridging left and right side members 6; a pair of left and right reinforcements (3) spaced apart and bridging the cross members (1, 2) at the longitudinal midway portions; and a plate (10) bridging the reinforcements (3). Suspension arms (7) are pivotally connected to the cross member (2) and a steering gear assembly (8) is disposed above the plate (10). The support member provides good support rigidity for the suspension arms (7) and the plate (10) protects the steering gear (8) from eg kicked-up stones. <IMAGE>

Description

A SUPPORT MEMBER FOR A FRONT SUSPENSION OF A VEHICLE This invention relates to a support member for a front suspension of a vehicle.

Conventionally, a support member for supporting a front suspension of a vehicle, having a frame-like shape as viewed in a plan view, comprises a pair of front and rear cross frames spaced apart a predetermined distance and a pair of left and right side frames for connecting the cross frames at the longitudinal opposite ends, as disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Publication No. Hei 3-43077. The side frames are fixedly assembled at their longitudinal opposite ends to side members arranged on left and right opposite sides of a body of a vehicle. Suspension arms are pivotally supported at the opposite ends of the rear cross frame.

A steering gear assembly is disposed between the cross frames and is fixedly secured to brackets provided at the longitudinal midway portions of the cross frames.

In the support member, the cross frames and the side frames are subjected to a large load inputted to the suspension arm, for example, at the time of bouncing of the vehicle or at the time of acute turning thereof.

However, since the cross frames are merely connected at their longitudinal opposite ends to the longitudinal opposite end portions of the side frames, it is difficult for the support member to obtain a sufficient rigidity.

Thus, the conventional type support member involves a drawback in that the whole of the support member is apt to be deflected by a load inputted from the suspension arm and can insufficiently withstand the load.

Further, in the above support member, since the steering gear assembly is vulnerably disposed between the cross frames, the steering gear assembly is often damaged by stones and the like kicked up by the vehicle during running.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support member for a front suspension of a vehicle which can have a satisfactory supporting rigidity for a suspension arm and can fully protect a steering gear assembly from kicked up stones and the like.

According to the invention, in order to accomplish the abovementioned objects, a support member for a front suspension of a vehicle, bridging side members arranged on left and right opposite sides of a body of a vehicle, comprises a pair of front and rear cross members spaced apart a predetermined distance and bridging the both side members; a pair of left and right reinforcements spaced apart a predetermined distance and bridging the both cross members at the longitudinal midway portions; and a plate member bridging the reinforcements substantially all along the whole longituginal lengths of the reinforcements, wherein suspension arms for supporting wheels are pivotally connected to longitudinal opposite end portions of one of the cross members, and a steering gear assembly is disposed above the plate member.

Preferably, the cross members are formed of pipe members or pressed members having simple cross-sectional configurations.

In the support member for the front suspension of the present invention, since the plate member bridging the reinforcements substantially all along the whole longitudinal lengths of the reinforcements serves as a base member; both the reinforcements are strongly connected through the plate member substantially all along the whole longitudinal lengths thereof; and the cross members are fixedly assembled to these reinforcements strongly connected through the plate member as mentioned above, a satisfactory rigidity for the whole of the support member is obtained. Therefore, even when a large load acts on the support member through the suspension arm, the support member can fully sustain the load and be prevented from deflection.

Besides, according to the present invention, since the steering gear assembly is disposed above the plate member, the steering gear assembly can be protected by the plate member from its being hit by stones and the like kicked up by the vehicle during running.

Advantageously, the cross members is formed of pipe members in that the support member for the front suspension can be made readily and inexpensively.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent when considered with the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a condition that suspension arms and a steering gear assembly are fixedly assembled to a support member for a front suspension of a vehicle according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing only the support member for the front suspention of the vehicle thereof.

Fig. 2 shows the whole structure of a support member for a front suspension of a vehicle according to the invention. The support member M is provided with a first cross member 1 formed of a round pipe, arranged on a front side in an advancing direction of the vehicle, and a second cross member 2, formed of a square pipe, arranged substantially in parallel to the first cross member 1, with spaced apart a predetermined distance behind the first cross member 1. A pair of left and right reinforcements 3 having hat-like cross sections bridge the cross members 1, 2 at the longitudinal midway portions thereof.Specifically, each the reinforcements 3 is provided, at its front end lower portion, with an arcuate, fitting aperture 31 for receiving therein the first cross member 1, and, at its rear end upper portion, with a stepped, fitting portion 32 for mounting thereon the second cross member 2. The reinforcements 3 are fixedly secured to the first and second cross members 1 and 2, with the fitting aperture 31 fitting around an outer periphery of the member 1 and with the stepped, fitting portion 32 mounting the member 2 thereon. The cross members 1, 2 are thus integrally connected with each other through the reinforcements 3.

The first and second cross members 1 and 2, which are formed of pipe members of closed cross sections in the preferred embodiment, may be formed of pressed members of a simple shape in section such as a hat-like shape and other proper shape.

First brackets 4, extending upwardly and having attachment holes 41 at their upper parts, are fixedly secured to the first cross member 1 at the longitudinal opposite ends. Second brackets 5, extending upwardly and having attachment holes 51 formed at their upper parts, are fixedly secured to the second cross member 2 at the longitudinal opposite ends. With the upper parts of the brackets 4, 5 being in contact with lower parts of side members 6 which are located on left and right sides of a vehicle body and extend in the front and rear direction, the support member M is fixedly assembled to the lower parts of the side members 6 by joining with bolts the side members 6 and the brackets 4, 5 at the attachment holes 41, 51.

Further, in this embodiment, there is separately provided a plate member 10 of a rectangular shape as viewed in a plan view having a plurality of through-holes 11. The plate member 10 is fixed at the opposite end portions to the lower surfaces of the reinforcements 3, such that it bridges the reinforcements 3 substantially all along the entire longitudinal lengths thereof.

As mentioned above, the support member M simply comprises the first and second cross members 1, 2, the reinforcements 3 integrally connecting the cross members 1, 2 , and the plate member 10 bridging the reinforcements 3 substantially all along the entire longitudinal lengths of the reinforcements 3. Therefore, the support member M can be manufactured in a simplified manner and with reduced costs.

Further, as shown in Fig. 1, a pair of left and right suspension arms 7 for supporting wheels (not illustrated) are supported through pivot pins 71 to the second brackets 5 disposed on the longitudinal opposite sides of the second cross member 2, in such a manner as to swing vertically.

A steering gear assembly 8 is arranged behind and in parallel to the first cross member 1 and is located on the upper parts of the reinforcements 3. The steering gear assembly 8 comprises a rack housing 81, a rack bar (not shown) housed in the rack housing 81 and a pinion 82 in mesh with the rack bar. The rack housing 81 of the steering gear assembly 8 is fixedly secured to the reinforcements 3 at a position behind the first cross member 1. In detail. a pair of left and right fixing brackets 9 are mounted on the upper parts of the reinforcements 3 at a position behind the first cross member 1, via which brackets the rack housing 81 is so fixedly secured as to be behind and in parallel to the first cross member 1.

Thus, in the abovesaid support member M for the suspension, the plate member 10 bridging the reinforcements 3 substantially all along the entire longitudinal lengths of the reinforcements 3 serves as a base member; the reinforcements 3 are strongly connected to the plate member 10 at the opposite sides substantially all along the entire longitudinal lengths; and the first and second cross members 1, 2 are fixedly assembled to the reinforcements 3 strongly connected through the plate member 10, as discussed above. This structure of the support member provides a highly improved rigidity of the whole of the support member. Consequently, even when a large load acts on the support member M through the suspension arms 7 during running of the vehicle, the support member M can fully withstand the load and can be prevented from deflection.

Besides, since the rack housing 81 is disposed above the plate member 10, it is protected by the plate member 10 from its being hit by the stones and the like kicked up by the vehicle during running.

It is to be noted that the suspension arms 7 , which are supported on the side of the second cross member 2 in the illustrated embodiments, may be supported on the side of the first cross member 1. Further, the steering gear assembly 8, which is disposed above the reinforcements 3 and behind the first cross member 1, may be disposed along the second cross member 2.

It is to be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A support member for a front suspension of a vehicle, bridging side members arranged on left and right opposite sides of a body of a vehicle, said support member comprising: a pair of front and rear cross members spaced apart a predetermined distance and bridging said side members; a pair of left and right reinforcements spaced apart a predetermined distance and bridging said cross members at the longitudinal midway portions; and a plate member bridging said reinforcements substantially all along the entire longitudinal lengths of said reinforcements, wherein suspension arms for supporting wheels are pivotally connected to a longitudinal opposite end portions of one of said cross members, and a steering gear assembly is disposed above said plate member.

2. A support member for a front suspension of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cross members are formed of pipe members.

3. A support member for a front suspension of a vehicle, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.