JP2003002025A - Suspension arm structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension arm structure with high stiffness and a low cost for manufacturing a suspension arm by jointing two or more plates. SOLUTION: In a suspension arm 5, an arm body 9 arranged in an upper side and a sub plate 17 arranged in a lower side are overlapped to form a closed section between the same. Flange parts 14, 23 are formed so as to correspond to the arm body 9 and the sub plate 17. A finished suspension arm 5 is formed by overlapping and caulking the flange parts 14, 23 to joint the arm body 9 and the sub plate 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension arm structure made of sheet metal for an automobile, which is effective for improving rigidity in a limited space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a suspension portion 4 for suspending a wheel 2 of a tire 1 and a vehicle body side 3. The suspension portion 4 is provided with a suspension arm 5 that functions to control the movement of the wheel 2.
As the suspension arm 5, there are a pressed steel plate and a cast product, but the pressed one is mainly used. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the suspension arm 5 formed by press molding. In this suspension arm 5, a ball joint mounting portion 6 and rubber bush mounting portions 7 and 8 made of a pipe and an annular member are fixed to an arm body 9 by welding, and a ball joint mounting portion provided on one end side of the suspension arm 5. The portion 6 is fixed to the knuckle 12 mounted on the wheel 2 side via the ball joint mounting hole 10 and the ball joint 11. Two bush attachment portions 7 and 8 provided on the other end side of the suspension arm 5 are attached to the vehicle body side 3 via rubber bushes, respectively.

The suspension arm 5 shown in FIG. 7 is formed by pressing or sheet-forming a single plate, and various methods have been conventionally disclosed to ensure the rigidity of the suspension arm 5. For example, as shown in A of FIG. 8, as shown in a cross section of the arm body 9 on the side of the ball joint attachment portion 6 (see FIG. 7), the cross section is substantially a U-shape (or U-shape). There is one in which both end portions 13 extend laterally toward the outside of the arm body to form flange portions 14 to increase rigidity. In addition, JP-A-8-31
According to the suspension arm 5 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 8722, as shown in FIG. 8B, both ends 13 of the suspension arm 5 having a U-shaped cross section are bent upward inward to form a bent portion 15 to improve rigidity. Making it big.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-264624 shown in FIG. 8C.
In the suspension arm 5 disclosed in the publication, both ends 13 form a winding part 16 wound inside the suspension arm 5 to increase rigidity. FIG. 9 shows another suspension arm 5, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the suspension arm 5 on the side of the ball joint mounting portion 6. A sub-plate 17 as a reinforcing plate is attached to the lower back surface of the arm body 9 that is press-molded or sheet-metal molded, and both ends 13 of the arm body 9 and the sub-plate 17,
A closed cross section 19 is formed by superimposing 18 on each other, and both ends 13, 18 are welded a to increase rigidity (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 8-197922 and 9-92222).
-169204).

[0005]

The suspension arm formed of a single plate as shown in FIG. 7 has a small number of parts, but has an open cross section and is not suitable as a structure for improving torsional rigidity. Also, as shown in FIG.
Since the suspension arm formed by using two or more plates has a closed cross section, it is possible to increase torsional rigidity in a relatively small space, but since welding is performed, the number of welding processes increases. There are disadvantages in terms of cost and quality.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension arm structure which is rigid and does not cost much to manufacture a suspension arm by joining two or more plates. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is to suspend a wheel side and a body side of an automobile,
In a suspension arm structure manufactured by forming a plate member, the plate member has one plate member and the other plate member made of one or more members, and the end portions formed on the one plate member and the other plate member are overlapped with each other. By combining them, a closed cross section is formed between one plate member and the other plate member, and the end portions of these plate members are bent and crimped while overlapping each other. Further, in the above invention, the caulking process is performed by extending the end portion of the other plate material outward from the end portion of the one plate material and bending the end portion side of the one plate material inside. Further, in the above invention, the cross-sectional shape of the one plate member is a U-shape, and both ends of the U-shaped cross section are outwardly formed to form a flange shape, and the other plate member is formed. It was formed into a flat plate shape, and the ends of these plate materials were overlapped and caulked. Further, the other plate member is superposed on the lower side of the one plate member, and the end portions of these plate members are bent downward and inwardly to perform caulking.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A suspension arm structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that parts similar to those of the conventional technique are designated by the same reference numerals, and parts of which description is omitted have the same structure as the conventional structure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an A-type suspension arm 5 according to the present invention. Yes, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view before the completion. The suspension arm 5 includes an arm body 9 that is divided into three directions in each direction
The sub-plate 17 disposed on the back side of the sub-plate 17 and the ball-joint mounting portion 6 mounted on the tip end of each of the three-fold shape
And rubber bush mounting portions 7 and 8.

The arm body 9 is formed by press molding or sheet metal molding of one flat plate, and has an upper surface 20 and a side wall 21 provided between the mounting portions 6, 7, and 8, and is a three-dimensional shape. Each tip of the shape has a U-shaped cross section.
As shown in FIG. 2, the suspension arm 5 has a flange portion 14 extending outward from the lower edge portion of the side wall 21 between the mounting portions 6, 7, and 8 before the sub-plate 17 is assembled. . The flat plate-shaped sub-plate 17 is provided with a plate main body 22 having a shape substantially along the lower edge of the side wall 21 of the arm main body 9.
When they are overlapped with each other, the flange portion 23 is provided at each of the positions corresponding to the flange portion 14 formed on the arm body 9.
Are formed.

In the suspension arm 5, when the upper arm body 9 and the lower sub plate 17 are superposed on each other, their flange portions 14 and 23 are superposed and abutted, and a closed cross section is formed at an intermediate portion thereof. To be done. To assemble the arm body 9 and the sub-plate 17, the flange portions 23 and 23 are outwardly bent, and the flange portions 14 and 23 are spirally bent upward and inward, and as shown in A of FIG. The tip of the flange portion 23 of the arm body 9
The arm body 9 and the sub-plate 17 are joined by bending until they come into contact with the side surface of the side wall 21. This caulking process is performed along the lower edge of the side wall 21 which is located at three places between the mounting portions 6, 7, and 8 of the suspension arm 5. The flange portions 14 and 23 may be caulked so as to be wound into a circular curve as shown in FIG. 3B. As described above, in the present embodiment, since welding is not used to join the arm body 9 and the sub plate 17, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Also,
Since the mounting portions 6, 7 and 8 of the suspension arm 5 are swaged and swaged, the torsional rigidity is increased.

FIG. 4 shows a suspension arm structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows only a portion corresponding to a cross section taken along the line CC of FIG. The arm body 9 of the suspension arm 5 has the same shape as that of the first embodiment, and the sub-plate 17 has the same shape as that of the above embodiment with respect to the plate body 22. As shown in FIG. 4A, the sub-plate 17 is extended so that the flange portion 23 provided at the end portion 18 thereof projects outward from the flange portion 14 of the arm body 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the flange portions 14 and 23 of the arm body 9 are inwardly squared so that the flange portions 14 and 23 are inwardly upward and substantially square (or polygonal) in cross section. It is bent into. Regarding the flange portions 14 and 23, as shown in C of FIG.
You may caulk so that it may be rolled into a circular curve. As described above, in the present embodiment, since welding is not used to join the arm body 9 and the sub plate 17, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the mounting portions 6, 7, 8 (see FIG. 1) of the suspension arm 5 are caulked together, the torsional rigidity is increased.

FIG. 5 shows a suspension arm structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows only a portion corresponding to a cross section taken along the line CC of FIG. The arm body 9 and the plate body 22 of the suspension arm 5
Both have no flanges on the ends 13 and 18,
In addition, both are U-shaped in cross section. The outer width of the plate main body 22 is formed so as to correspond to the inner width of the arm main body 9, and the both ends 13, 18 of the plate main body 22 are overlapped with each other so that the plate main body 22 fits inside the arm main body 9. It is matched. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the end portions 13 of the arm body 9 among the both end portions 13 and 18 are bent inward so that both end portions 13 are on the outer side and are inside the side wall 21. ing. The both end portions 13 and 18 may be caulked so as to be wound in a circular curve as shown in C of FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the swaged portion is provided on the inner side, there is an advantage that the width of the suspension arm 5 does not increase. Other effects are the same as those in the above embodiment.

Although the respective embodiments of the present invention have been described above, of course, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. For example, as for the suspension arm, as long as it has a closed cross section, it can be applied to A type, I type and other shapes.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a suspension arm structure produced by suspending the wheel side and the body side of an automobile and forming a plate material, one plate material and one or more plate materials are formed. The other plate member is formed, and by overlapping the ends formed on the one plate member and the other plate member with each other, a closed cross section is formed between the one plate member and the other plate member. Since the end portions of the plate materials are bent and crimped while being overlapped with each other, it is possible to form a closed cross section in the entire suspension arm without welding. Further, the above invention, the end portion of the other plate member is extended outward from the end portion of the one plate member,
When the caulking process is performed by bending one plate member with the end side inward, the deviation of the tip end caused by the difference in the radius of curvature between the plate member positioned on the outside and the plate member positioned on the inner side is reduced, and the joint rigidity is further improved. Can be improved. Furthermore, in the above invention, the cross-sectional shape of the one plate member is a U-shape, and both ends of the U-shaped cross section are directed outward, and the one end is formed into a flange shape. When the plate members are formed in a flat plate shape and the end portions of these plate members are overlapped and caulked, the other plate member has a substantially flat plate shape, which facilitates the processing. Still further, in the above invention, when the other plate member is superposed on the lower side of the one plate member and the end portions of these plate members are bent downward and inward, the caulking portion is outside the suspension arm ( A compact suspension arm structure that does not protrude in the width direction).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension arm adopting a suspension arm structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the suspension arm shown in FIG.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1 in which both the arm main body of the suspension arm and both flange portions of the sub-plate are bent into a square shape. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 1 in which both flange portions are bent in a circle.

FIG. 4A is a second embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flange portion of the sub-plate is extended outward from the flange portion of the arm body. B is A
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flange portions of both main bodies shown in FIG. C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flange portions of both main bodies shown in A are bent into a circular shape.

FIG. 5A is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention and showing a state in which the flange portion of the sub-plate is extended outward from the flange portion of the arm body. B is A
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the flange portions of both main bodies shown in FIG. C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flange portions of both main bodies shown in A are bent into a circular shape.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a position of a suspension portion of an automobile.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a suspension arm formed by using one arm main body.

FIG. 8A is a view of an arm body in which a flange portion is formed at an end portion thereof for reinforcing a conventional suspension arm.
2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, B is a cross-sectional view of a sub-plate whose end is bent inward, and C is a cross-sectional view of an arm main body having a circular end.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional suspension arm formed by a plurality of plates of an arm body and a sub plate.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 suspension arms 9 arm body 13,18 Edge 14,23 Flange 17 sub plate 19 closed section 21 Side wall 22 Plate body

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A suspension arm structure produced by suspending a wheel side and a body side of an automobile and forming a plate material, the suspension arm structure having one plate material and another plate material composed of one or more plates, and By overlapping the respective end portions formed on the plate material and the other plate material with each other, a closed cross section is formed between the one plate material and the other plate material,
Suspension arm structure characterized by bending and crimping the ends of these plates while overlapping each other. 2. The caulking process is performed by extending an end portion of the other plate member outward from an end portion of the one plate member and bending the end portion side of the one plate member inside so as to be bent. The suspension arm structure according to Item 1. 3. The one plate member has a U-shaped cross-section, and both ends of the U-shaped cross section are outwardly oriented to form a flange shape and the other plate member is a flat plate. The suspension arm structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suspension arm structure is formed in a shape, and ends of these plate members are overlapped and caulked. 4. The suspension according to claim 3, wherein the other plate member is superposed on the lower side of the one plate member, and the end portions of these plate members are bent downward and inward and caulked. Arm structure.