JP2002264625A - Vehicle stabilizer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stabilizer device capable of suppressing vibrations when a stabilizer is turned on, and preventing problems with the use of a mechanical force transmission cable. SOLUTION: An on/off mechanism 12 provided for a stabilizer body includes a cylinder member 21, a slide member 22, a rod member 30, a lock member 60, and an electric actuator 70 housed in a watertight power source case mounted on a side face 21a of the cylinder member 21. When the rod member 30 and the cylinder member 21 are in neutral positions with respect to each other, the front end 62 of the lock member 60 fits into a recess 23 in the slide member 22. The actuator 70 moves the lock member 60 in the direction to move the front end 62 of the lock member 60 away from the recess 23 when a current is supplied. The front end 62 of the lock member 60 has a tapered surface 65 which tapers toward the front end face. The recess 23 is formed with an inclined surface 25 which makes contact with the tapered surface 65.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stabilizer device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Known stabilizers used to increase the roll rigidity of a vehicle body function to suppress rolling of the vehicle body when turning, but may impair ride comfort when traveling straight on uneven roads with irregularities. is there. For this reason,
There has been developed a stabilizer device provided with a so-called on / off switching mechanism capable of exerting a stabilizer function or eliminating the stabilizer function as required.

[0003] For example, as in a vehicle stabilizer device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-29050 or Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-30494, an on-off device having a clutch that can lock and unlock a piston rod as necessary is provided. An off switching mechanism has been proposed.

Conventionally, as in an on / off switching mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 8, for example, a rod 3 that movably penetrates the inside of a cylinder member 2 in an axial direction and a pin-shaped lock member provided on the cylinder member 2 And a mechanical (mechanical) force transmission cable 5 for operating the lock member 4. As shown in FIG. 8, when the lock member 4 is fitted into the hole 6 of the rod 3 and the rod 3 cannot move with respect to the cylinder member 2, the stabilizer function is turned on.
When the lock member 4 is separated from the hole 6 and the rod 3 becomes movable with respect to the cylinder member 2, the stabilizer function is turned off. The lock member 4 is operated by a power source 7 such as a motor via a force transmission cable 5.

[0005]

As described above, the on / off switching mechanism 1 having a structure in which the lock member 4 is inserted into and removed from the hole 6 is provided so that the lock member 4 can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the hole 6. In addition, the outer diameter of the lock member 4 is smaller than the inner diameter of the hole 6. For example, between the outer peripheral surface of the lock member 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the hole 6, a play A of about several tens μm exists.

If the play A exists between the lock member 4 and the hole 6 as described above, vibration is generated due to the play A when an input is applied to the stabilizer while the vehicle is running. Sometimes. The vibration is amplified while being transmitted to the vehicle body, and may be felt as unpleasant vibration or noise by the occupant of the vehicle. FIG. 9 shows a conventional on / off switching mechanism 1.
In the stabilizer device provided with, the vibration generation state when the arm is vibrated under the conditions of a relative displacement of 79 mm and a sine wave of 1 Hz is shown.

Further, in the stabilizer device provided with the conventional on / off switching mechanism 1, a force transmission cable 5 for operating the lock member 4 is routed over a considerably long range from the suspension portion of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle body. The cable 5 includes an outer tube 5a and a wire 5b.

As a result, not only the number of parts related to the cable is large and the weight becomes heavy, but also the wire 5b may be cut off when the cable 5 vibrates while the vehicle is running. When the wire 5b is cut, the on / off switching mechanism 1 cannot perform its original switching function. In addition, this on / off switching mechanism 1 has a problem that it is difficult to take waterproof measures, and water easily enters the inside of the outer tube 5a.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer device which can suppress the occurrence of vibration when the stabilizer is turned on, and which does not cause the problems as when a force transmission cable is used.

[0010]

An on / off switching mechanism of a stabilizer device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with a hollow cylinder member and a housing inside the cylinder member movably in the axial direction of the cylinder member. A slide member having a concave portion on the side surface, a rod member movable integrally with the slide member in the axial direction of the cylinder member, a power source case provided on a side surface of the cylinder member, and a power source case. And a lock member having a distal end that can advance and retreat in the radial direction of the cylinder member, the distal end fitting into the concave portion when the rod member and the cylinder member are at the neutral position, and the lock member is attached to the concave portion. A biasing means for biasing the lock member in a direction in which the distal end of the lock member is removed from the recess when the current is supplied and accommodated in the power source case. It is equipped with an electric actuator for moving.

When the distal end of the lock member is fitted in the recess, the rod member is stopped from moving with respect to the cylinder member, so that the left and right arms of the stabilizer main body are used as when the vehicle is turning. When there are mutually opposite phases of input, the stabilizer body is twisted by the relative displacement of both arms. Thus, a reaction force in the direction of suppressing rolling of the vehicle body is generated, and the stabilizer function is exhibited.

When the distal end of the lock member is removed from the recess by driving the electric actuator, the rod member can move with respect to the cylinder member. Therefore, in this case, even if the left and right phases are input to the arm of the stabilizer main body, displacement of the arm is permitted by relative movement of the rod member and the cylinder member. In this way, the power to twist the stabilizer body is reduced or eliminated,
It turns off.

In the present invention, the distal end of the lock member has a tapered surface that becomes thinner toward the distal end surface, and the concave portion has an inclined surface that becomes narrower toward the depth of the concave portion. Good. Further, in the present invention, the angle θ1 formed by the tapered surface of the lock member with respect to the axis of the lock member is smaller than the angle θ2 formed by the inclined surface of the recess, and the lock member fits into the recess. In this state, it is preferable that a gap is provided between the distal end surface of the lock member and the slide member. In this case, the tapered surface of the lock member can be in close contact with the inclined surface of the concave portion,
Even if both contact surfaces are worn, no play occurs between them.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The vehicle stabilizer device 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a stabilizer main body 11 made of a spring material such as a bar-shaped steel material, and an on / off switching mechanism 12. The stabilizer body 11 includes a pair of left and right arms 15 and 16, and these arms 15 and 16.
It has a torsion part 17 located in between, a stabilizer link 18 and the like. The torsion portion 17 extends in the width direction of the vehicle body (not shown). An intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the torsion portion 17 is supported by, for example, an axle-side member via a rubber bush 19 or the like. The upper end 18a of the stabilizer link 18 is connected to, for example, a member on the vehicle body side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the on / off switching mechanism 12 has a cylindrical cylinder member 21. A slide member 22 is housed inside the cylinder member 21 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the cylinder member 21 (vertical direction in FIG. 1). An annular concave portion 23 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed on a side surface of the slide member 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the recess 23 has an inclined surface 25 that becomes narrower toward the bottom wall 24 of the recess 23.

A rod member 30 is mounted on the slide member 22. The rod member 30 is a cylinder member 2
1 in the axial direction. The rod member 30 can move in the axial direction of the cylinder member 21 integrally with the slide member 22. A joint member 31 using a universal joint is provided at the tip of the rod member 30. The shaft 32 of the joint member 31 is connected to the end 15 a of the arm 15 of the stabilizer body 11.

The bolt member 4 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder member 21.
0 is fixed. The screw portion 41 of the bolt member 40 is
The arm 15 is fixed to a vehicle body-side member 42 which is an example of a partner member that supports the arm 15 by a nut (not shown) or the like. A first stopper 45 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided inside the vicinity of the upper end of the cylinder member 21.

On the inner side near the lower end of the cylinder member 21,
A seal member 46 and a second stopper 47 made of an elastic material such as rubber are provided. Hole 4 of seal member 46
The rod member 30 is inserted through 6a. The lower end of the cylinder member 21 is covered with a dust cover 48. The dust cover 48 is attached to the rod member 30 so that the dust cover 48 can move relative to the cylinder member 21 in the axial direction and the direction around the axis.

A power source case 50 having a watertight structure is provided on the side surface 21a of the cylinder member 21. The power source case 50 includes a cylindrical guide portion 51 fixed to the side surface 21a of the cylinder member 21 in a liquid-tight manner by welding or the like, and a hollow case body fixed to the guide portion 51 in a liquid-tight manner so as to surround the guide portion 51. 52 and the case body 52
It is composed of a cap member 53 which also serves as a nut for fixing the cap member 1 and the like.

A guide member 51 of the power source case 50 accommodates a lock member 60 and a spring 61. The lock member 60 has a distal end portion 62 that can advance and retreat in the radial direction of the cylinder member 21. When the arms 15 and 16 of the stabilizer main body 11 are in the neutral position with respect to each other, that is, when the cylinder member 21 and the rod member 30 are in the neutral position with each other, the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60
2 to fit into the recess 23.

The distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 is
It has a frusto-conical tapered surface 65 that narrows toward 0a. In this embodiment, the tapered surface 65 is
Are formed over the entire circumference. The spring 61 disposed on the back side of the lock member 60 functions as a biasing unit that constantly biases the lock member 60 toward the slide member 22.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tapered surface 65 of the lock member 60 is inclined at an angle θ1 with respect to the axis X of the lock member 60. On the other hand, the inclined surface 25 of the concave portion 23 is inclined at an angle θ2 with respect to the axis X, and the angle θ1 of the tapered surface 65 is the angle θ of the inclined surface 25 of the concave portion 23.
Less than 2. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the lock member 60 is fitted in the concave portion 23, between the distal end surface 60 a of the lock member 60 and the bottom wall 24 of the concave portion 23.
A gap G is secured.

The electric actuator 7 is mounted on the power source case 50.
0 is stored. One example of the electric actuator 70 is an electromagnetic solenoid. A motor may be used instead of the electromagnetic solenoid. When an electromagnetic solenoid is used for the electric actuator 70, a magnetic material such as an iron-based metal is used for the material of the lock member 60.

A lead wire 71 is connected to the electric actuator 70. The lead wire 71 is connected to a power supply unit such as a vehicle-mounted battery via a switch (not shown). When a current is supplied to the electric actuator 70 through the lead wire 71, the magnetic field generated by the
Of the lock member 6 in the direction in which the tip portion 62 of the
0 moves.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the rod member 30 is at a neutral position with respect to the cylinder member 21. At this time,
The arms 15 and 16 of the stabilizer body 11 are in a neutral state with respect to each other. The positional relationship between the lock member 60 and the concave portion 23 is set such that the position of the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 and the position of the concave portion 23 coincide with each other when the rod member 30 is at the neutral position.

Next, the operation of the stabilizer device 10 having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 fits into the recess 23, the rod member 30 is in a state of being restrained by the cylinder member 21. For this reason, when the left and right phases are input to the arms 15 and 16 of the stabilizer body 11 during turning of the vehicle or the like, the torsion portion 17 is twisted via the arms 15 and 16, and rolling of the vehicle body is prevented. The effect of suppressing occurs. That is, a stabilizer function is exhibited. In this specification, this is called an ON state.

When a current is supplied from a power source such as a vehicle-mounted battery to the electric actuator 70 via a lead wire 71 to separate the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 from the concave portion 23, the slide member 22 is moved to the cylinder as shown in FIG. It becomes movable with respect to the member 21. In this specification, this is called an off state. In the off state, since the cylinder member 21 and the rod member 30 are movable with respect to each other, the stabilizer function is weakened or the stabilizer function is not exhibited.

In the off state, when the input of the right and left opposite phases acting on the arms 15 and 16 of the stabilizer main body 11 increases, the slide member 22 contacts one of the stoppers 45 and 47 according to the moving direction. The larger the input, the more the stabilizer body 11 is twisted. For this reason, when the input of the left and right opposite phases acting on the arms 15 and 16 is large, a reaction force is generated in the stabilizer body 11 based on the torsional torque.

When the current to the electric actuator 70 is cut off, the lock member 60 moves toward the slide member 22 by the elastic force of the spring 61. For this reason, when the stabilizer main body 11 is at the neutral position (when the cylinder member 21 and the rod member 30 have reached the neutral position with each other), the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 is fitted into the concave portion 23, and The member 30 is locked in the neutral position, and returns to the stabilizer on state.

The stabilizer device 10 provided with the on / off switching mechanism 12 can turn the stabilizer function on and off as required. For example, the stabilizer function is turned off when the vehicle is traveling straight on a rough road. As a result, the vibration of the vehicle body is reduced, and the straightness and the riding comfort are improved. In addition, the grounding properties of the wheels are improved, and the running performance is improved. If the stabilizer function is turned on when traveling on a good road, the rolling rigidity of the vehicle body is increased during cornering and steering stability is improved.

In this embodiment, the angle θ1 of the tapered surface 65 of the lock member 60 is equal to the angle θ of the inclined surface 25 of the recess 23.
Less than 2. Moreover, the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60
Is fitted in the recess 23, a gap G is secured between the distal end face 60 a of the lock member 60 and the slide member 22. Therefore, the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 can be in close contact with the inclined surface 25 of the concave portion 23, and the inclined surface 25
Even if the contact portions of the tapered surface 65 and the tapered surface 65 wear, no play occurs between them, and the generation of vibration is suppressed.

FIG. 5 shows a stabilizer device 10 provided with an on / off switching mechanism 12 of the above embodiment, in which the arms 15 and 16 of the stabilizer body 11 are moved relative to each other by 79 m.
The figure shows a state of occurrence of vibration when a vibration is applied under a sine wave vibration condition of m and 1 Hz. The vibration is at a lower level than the vibration of the conventional stabilizer device (shown in FIG. 9).

Further, in the on / off switching mechanism 12 of the embodiment, the power source case 50 is
Since it is directly attached to 1a, it is lighter in weight and easier to waterproof than in the case of using a mechanical force transmission cable as in a conventional device, and it is possible to make it less likely to cause problems due to water intrusion. Moreover, since a thin and lightweight lead wire (conductive wire) is used as compared with a force transmission cable having a large mass, it is advantageous in reducing the weight of the on / off switching mechanism 12, and the number of parts can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, the concave portion 23A is formed only in a part of the slide member 22 in the circumferential direction, and the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 fits into the concave portion 23A.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, a hole 80 penetrating in the radial direction of the slide member 22 communicates with the depth of the concave portion 23B. Also in these second and third embodiments, as in the first embodiment, the distal end portion 62 of the lock member 60 has the distal end surface 60.
Each of the recesses 23A and 23B has an inclined surface 25 that becomes narrower toward the back. And the angle θ1 of the tapered surface 65
Is smaller than the angle θ2 of the inclined surface 25. Further, when the lock member 60 is fitted into the recesses 23A and 23B, a gap G is secured between the distal end surface 60a of the lock member 60 and the slide member 22. Therefore, the tip portion 62 of the lock member 60 can be in close contact with the inclined surface 25 of the concave portions 23A and 23B, and the inclined surface 25 and the tapered surface 6
Even if the contact portions 5 wear, no play occurs between them, and the generation of vibration is suppressed.

In each of the above embodiments, the cylinder member 21 is connected to a counterpart member (for example, the vehicle body-side member 42 shown in FIG. 1) that supports the stabilizer body 11, and the rod member 30 is connected to the stabilizer body 11. ing. However, conversely, the cylinder member 21 may be connected to the stabilizer main body 11 and the rod member 30 may be connected to a member on the other side.

Also, by detecting the vehicle speed or the steering wheel rotation angle, the steering wheel rotation angular speed, and the like, and calculating the lateral acceleration of the vehicle based on the results, the on / off of the electric actuator 70 is automatically performed in accordance with the driving situation. -You may make it perform an OFF operation. Or,
An acceleration sensor may be mounted on the vehicle, and the on / off operation may be performed based on an output signal of the sensor.

In practicing the present invention including these embodiments, a stabilizer body, a cylinder member, a slide member, a concave portion, a rod member, a power source case,
It goes without saying that various elements constituting the present invention, such as an electric actuator and a lock member, can be modified in various ways.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of vibration when the stabilizer is turned on, and to reduce the weight and the number of parts as compared with a case where a mechanical force transmission cable is used. It is possible to provide a stabilizer device that does not cause a problem such as cable disconnection. Further, since the power source case having the watertight structure is directly attached to the side surface of the cylinder member, it is easy to take waterproof measures for the case.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lock member and the slide member can be reliably brought into contact with each other when the stabilizer is turned on, which is more effective in suppressing the generation of vibration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lock member and the slide member can be more reliably brought into contact with each other when the stabilizer is turned on, which is more effective in suppressing generation of vibration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an on / off switching mechanism of a stabilizer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stabilizer device provided with the on / off switching mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the on / off switching mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a lock member of the on / off switching mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is separated from a slide member;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vibration test result of the on / off switching mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a part of an on / off switching mechanism showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a part of an on / off switching mechanism showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a part of a conventional on / off switching mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a vibration test result of a conventional on / off switching mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Stabilizer device for vehicles 11 ... Stabilizer main body 12 ... On / off switching mechanism 15, 16 ... Arm 17 ... Torsion part 21 ... Cylinder member 22 ... Slide member 23, 23A, 23B ... Depression 25 ... Inclined surface 30 ... Rod member 50 ... Power source case 60. Lock member 60a. Tip surface 61. Spring (biasing means) 62. Tip portion 65.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stabilizer body having a pair of left and right arms and a torsion portion located between the arms, and an on / off switching mechanism provided between the arm and a member supporting the arm. A stabilizer device, wherein the on / off switching mechanism includes: a hollow cylinder member connected to one of the arm and the counterpart member; and a movement inside the cylinder member in an axial direction of the cylinder member. A slide member freely housed and having a concave portion on a side surface; and a rod member movable integrally with the slide member in an axial direction of the cylinder member and connected to one of the arm and the other member. A power source case provided on a side surface of the cylinder member; and a power source case accommodated in the power source case and moving in a radial direction of the cylinder member. A locking member having a retractable tip, wherein the tip fits into the recess when the rod member and the cylinder member are in a neutral position; and a biasing member for urging the lock member toward the recess. And an electric actuator that is housed in the power source case and moves the distal end of the lock member away from the recess when current is supplied. . 2. The front end of the lock member has a tapered surface that becomes thinner toward the front end, and the concave portion has
The vehicle stabilizer device according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined surface that becomes narrower toward a depth of the concave portion. 3. An angle θ1 formed by a tapered surface of said lock member with respect to an axis of said lock member is smaller than an angle θ2 formed by an inclined surface of said concave portion with respect to said axis, and 3. The stabilizer device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a gap is secured between a distal end surface of the lock member and the slide member when the lock member is fitted in the recess.