JP2003118341A - Spring seat rubber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spring seat rubber with a new structure capable of preventing an upward curl in an arm member due to oscillation and keeping a stable installation condition between a coil spring and the arm member in an oscillating type arm suspension mechanism having an input-separation type coil spring arrangement structure. SOLUTION: In this spring seat rubber, a regulating projection part 36, which is protruded to the outer circumference side of the coil spring 110 in the farthest position from an oscillation center axis 88 in the arm member 72 at least, is integrally formed toward the outer circumference part of an annular plate part 32 arranged between axial opposed faces of the arm member 72 in the suspension mechanism and the coil spring 110.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spring seat rubber which is mounted on an arm member which constitutes a suspension mechanism of an automobile and which is interposed at a mounting portion of a coil spring for elastically connecting the arm member to a body side member. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a kind of vehicle suspension mechanism, an arm member that supports a wheel is attached to a body-side member of the vehicle so as to be swingable around a predetermined swing center axis, and a shock absorber and a coil spring are provided. There is known one connected to the body side member. For example, a torsion beam suspension that is classified as an axle suspension system, a trailing arm suspension, a semi-trailing suspension that is classified as an independent suspension system (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "swing arm suspension"). , That's it.

By the way, in such a swing arm type suspension, the coil spring can be externally mounted on the shock absorber and disposed between the cylinder and the piston of the shock absorber, but it is also necessary to arrange the space and the vehicle. In consideration of required characteristics and the like, a so-called input separation type structure may be adopted in which the shock absorber is independently arranged at a position different from the shock absorber. In that case, generally, as shown in FIG. 10, fitting convex portions 14 and 16 that are convex in the facing direction are formed in portions of the body side member 10 and the arm member 12 that face each other. The coil spring 18 is disposed between the body-side member 10 and the arm member 12 by fitting and positioning the upper and lower ends of the coil spring 18 in the fitted state with respect to the fitting convex portions 14 and 16. It has a strict structure. Further, in order to reduce the vibration transmission from the arm member 12 to the body side member 10 through the coil spring 18 due to the surging of the coil spring, the spring seat rubber 2 is provided on each fitting convex portion 14, 16.
0 and 22 are externally arranged and interposed between the upper and lower end portions of the coil spring and the body side member 10 and the arm member 12.

However, the present inventor conducted many experiments,
As a result of examination, in such a suspension structure, the spring seat rubber 22 attached to the arm member 12 is turned up due to the swinging of the arm member 12 during traveling of the automobile, and the coil spring 18 is directly attached. It has been newly recognized that there is a possibility that the arm member 12 may come into contact with the arm member 12 to be mounted, and the vibration state and the abnormal noise generation state of the vehicle may be deteriorated accordingly.

[0005]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a swing arm having an input separation type coil spring arrangement structure. A spring seat with a new structure in which the arm member is prevented from curling up due to rocking and a stable interposed state between the coil spring and the arm member can be maintained by being adopted in the type suspension mechanism. To provide rubber.

[0006]

Aspects of the present invention made to solve such problems will be described below. The constituent elements used in each of the following aspects can be used in any combination as much as possible. Further, the aspects and technical features of the present invention are not limited to those described below, but are described in the entire specification and the drawings, or the invention idea that can be understood by those skilled in the art from those descriptions. It should be understood that it is recognized based on this.

First, as a result of the present inventor's examination of the above-described phenomenon of spring sheet rubber curling up, when the arm member 12 is oscillated and displaced as shown by the phantom line in FIG. , Coil spring 1
The distance between the facing surfaces of the periphery of the fitting protrusion 14 of the body-side member 10 to which the upper end of 8 is attached and the periphery of the fitting protrusion 16 of the arm member 12 to which the lower end of the coil spring 18 is attached are , A position closest to the swing center axis 24 of the arm member 12: α and a position farthest from the swing center axis 24: β
The difference in the distance between the facing surfaces is: | β-
When α | becomes large, the compressive force exerted on the position: α near the swing center axis 24 of the coil spring 18 is exerted on the position far from the swing center axis 24: β, so that the swing center axis 24
A position far away from the arm member 12, β is displaced so as to float up from the arm member 12, and at that time, the spring seat rubber 22 interposed between the fitting convex portion 16 of the arm member 12 and the coil spring 18 causes the coil spring 18 to move. And the spring seat rubber 22 is not completely returned to its original position due to repeated swing displacement of the arm member 12, and such a fitting convex portion 16 is ejected. Feeding in the direction of exit from 16 is spring seat rubber 22
When the spring seat rubber 22 is eventually turned up, the spring seat rubber 22 eventually slips out from the axially opposed surfaces of the coil spring 18 and the arm member 12 toward the inner peripheral side. The present invention has been completed as a result of earnest studies based on the newly obtained knowledge.

Here, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber and a coil which are attached to a body side member of an automobile so as to be swingable around a predetermined swing center axis and are arranged independently of each other. The coil is attached to an arm member for suspension connected to the body side by a spring, and is externally arranged on a fitting protrusion formed on the arm member for positioning the lower end of the coil spring. A spring seat rubber interposed between a spring and the arm member, wherein the arm member is provided at an inner peripheral edge portion of an annular plate portion disposed between axially facing surfaces of the arm member and the coil spring. While integrally forming an inner peripheral side cylindrical portion disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex portion and the inner peripheral surface of the coil spring in the radial direction, the annular portion In the outer peripheral edge parts, that are integrally formed at least the regulating protrusion protruding on the outer circumferential side of the coil spring at the position farthest from the swing center axis,
Characterize.

In this aspect of the invention, the restricting convex portion that rises substantially from the outer peripheral edge portion toward the coil spring side with respect to the portion that is most distant from the swing center axis and is likely to turn up is formed. Since the coil spring is formed, when the coil spring is lifted from the arm member as described above, even when the feed force in the slip-out direction is exerted on the inner peripheral side cylindrical portion and the annular plate portion, the restriction projection Based on the rigidity of the bent rising portion of the portion, the resistance force against the feed in the pulling-out direction can be exerted. Moreover,
Even if the inner peripheral side tubular portion and the annular plate portion are sent in the direction of withdrawal, the rising portion of the restricting convex portion from the annular plate portion is directly brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring, thereby The above-mentioned feeding in the exit direction is prevented.

Therefore, in the spring seat rubber having the structure according to the present embodiment, even if the arm member is repeatedly swung and displaced about the swing center axis, the arm member and the coil due to the curling up. It is possible to prevent the springs from coming out from between the springs, and to stably intervene between the arm members and the coil springs, so that the intended cushioning effect and soundproofing effect are stable over a long period of time. It can be demonstrated.

Further, in this embodiment, since the regulation convex portion for preventing the above-mentioned curling up is integrally formed with the annular plate portion or the inner peripheral side cylindrical portion by the rubber elastic body, excellent manufacturing is possible. It is possible to manufacture with stability and performance stability.

The spring seat rubber according to this aspect can be attached to any of the arm members constituting the trailing arm type suspension mechanism having various concrete structures as described above. The specific structures and shapes of the shock absorbers and coil springs to be adopted can be appropriately selected according to the installation space, vehicle required characteristics, etc., and are not limited in any way. Furthermore, the rubber material forming the spring seat rubber according to this aspect is not particularly limited, and in consideration of the required spring characteristics and damping characteristics, ozone resistance, load bearing strength, etc. Various known rubber materials can be appropriately adopted. In order to improve the load bearing strength and the rigidity of the regulation convex portion, a rigid resin or metal reinforcing material may be vulcanized and adhered or fixed by embedding, or a coil when swinging the arm member. It is also possible to employ a self-lubricating rubber having an oil bleeding property in order to reduce the feeding force in the slip-out direction due to the drag of the spring.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the spring seat rubber according to the first aspect, the radius of curvature of the connecting portion between the annular plate portion and the inner peripheral side tubular portion is set to the element of the coil spring. It is characterized in that the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the wire is made substantially equal to the surface of the wire of the coil spring is brought into close contact with the connecting portion.
In this aspect, while preventing the spring seat rubber from curling up, the lower end portion of the coil spring can be accurately and accurately inserted through the spring seat rubber to the fitting protrusion protruding from the arm member. Positioning can be stably performed, and the swinging operation of the arm member can be stabilized. In order to more stably position the lower end portion of the coil spring with respect to the fitting convex portion of the arm member, the fitting convex portion of the arm member is formed over substantially the entire inner peripheral side tubular portion of the spring seat rubber. It is desirable to arrange them closely. Further, the inner peripheral side tubular portion is only required to be in close contact with the surface of the wire of the coil spring at the connection portion with the annular plate portion, and the protruding tip end portion of the inner peripheral side tubular portion is the coil. It does not have to be intimate with the spring.

A third aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to the first or second aspect,
It is characterized in that the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral side tubular portion is a tapered surface whose diameter gradually decreases as it goes upward. In this aspect, since the drag force of the coil spring when swinging the arm member suppresses the component force of the feeding force exerted in the withdrawal direction with respect to the inner peripheral side tubular portion, the spring seat rubber is turned up. The rise can be suppressed more advantageously.

Further, a fourth aspect of the present invention is that, in the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to third aspects, the regulating projection is located away from the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring. , Characterized. In this aspect, when the coil spring is lifted from the spring seat rubber at the position farthest from the swing center axis when the arm member is swung, and when the coil spring is seated on the spring seat rubber again, the projecting tip of the regulating projection is The contact of the coil spring with the portion can be effectively avoided, and the occurrence of a problem such as the regulation convex portion being pressed by the coil spring to promote the curling up of the sponge sheet rubber can be prevented. It should be noted that the radial gap between the restriction projection and the coil spring should be such that it can be formed as a single product before assembly, and the load of the coil spring when mounted on an automobile In the extended state, the regulating projection may come into contact with the coil spring due to the elastic deformation of the annular plate or the like, and even in that case,
The technical effects of this aspect as described above can be effectively exhibited.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the radius of curvature at the rising portion of the regulating projection from the annular plate portion is It is characterized in that the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the wire of the coil spring is made smaller so that the rising portion is located away from the surface of the wire of the coil spring. In this aspect, the pushing force of the coil spring is prevented from being exerted on the inner peripheral surface of the rising portion of the regulating projection when the swinging of the arm member is repeated, so that the spring seat rubber is turned up. Can be prevented more effectively.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the regulating projection is substantially perpendicular to the annular plate portion. The feature is that it is a vertical surface that stands up. In this aspect of the invention, the force of the spring seat rubber in the direction preventing the feeding of the arm member from the fitting protrusion of the spring seat rubber is prevented by the contact of the regulating protrusion with the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring. The parts can be made to work more efficiently. It should be noted that the inner peripheral surface of the regulation convex portion in this aspect may be substantially vertical in the state of a single product before assembly, and it is under the condition that the load of the coil spring is applied under the condition of being mounted on the automobile. Then, the restriction projection may be tilted toward the coil spring side by transmitting the elastic deformation of the annular plate portion. By thus tilting the restriction projection toward the coil spring side, As described above, the feed preventing force of the spring seat rubber in the direction in which the arm member is pulled out from the fitting convex portion is more effectively acted.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the protrusion height of the regulating projection from the annular plate portion is set to the coil height. It is characterized in that the outer diameter of the wire of the spring is set to 1/2 or more. In this aspect as described above, the restricting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring.
The spring seat rubber can be brought into contact with the arm member in a direction in which it can be more efficiently prevented from being fed in the direction of coming out of the fitting projection of the arm member, and it is advantageously prevented from entering between the coil spring and the arm member. As a result, the desired prevention of the spring seat rubber from curling up can be achieved more advantageously.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the circumferential length of the regulating projection is the circumferential length of the annular plate portion. It is characterized in that it is 1/2 or less. In this aspect, since the regulating projection can be formed only in the region of the spring seat rubber corresponding to the position where the coil spring is largely lifted from the arm member due to the swing of the arm member as described above, It is possible to reduce the material cost of the spring seat rubber while fully enjoying the desired effect of preventing the spring seat rubber from curling up. In addition, the regulation convex portion is only capable of effectively preventing the desired curling up based on the shape rigidity of the regulation convex portion itself including the connecting portion with the annular plate portion and the contact with the coil spring. It suffices to have a circumferential length, which varies depending on the material, size, shape, etc., but in general, the circumferential length is equal to or greater than the maximum thickness dimension of the spring seat or equal to or greater than the protruding height of the restriction projection. desirable.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the spring seat rubber according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which the circumferential position with respect to the arm member is specified and the position with respect to the arm member is specified. It is characterized in that a positioning mechanism for limiting relative displacement in the circumferential direction is provided. In this aspect, it is possible to set the position of the restricting convex portion of the spring seat rubber accurately and stably with respect to the portion where the curling up is likely to occur. It is possible to stably obtain the effect of preventing the curling up. The positioning mechanism may be, for example, a structure in which irregularities corresponding to the irregularities provided on the arm member are provided on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces or the seating surface of the spring seat rubber to engage them, or the fitting convex portion of the arm member and the spring. A structure in which an engaging portion such as a two-sided width or unevenness is provided between the fitting convex portion of the sheet rubber and the extrapolating mounting surface can be suitably adopted.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in order to more specifically clarify the present invention.

First, FIGS. 1 to 6 show a spring seat rubber 30 as an embodiment of the present invention. The spring seat rubber 30 includes an annular plate portion 32 having a substantially annular plate shape.
An inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 having a substantially cylindrical shape and projecting to one side in the axial direction is formed at the inner peripheral edge portion of the, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the annular plate portion 32 has one side in the axial direction. A restriction protrusion 36 is formed so as to protrude in the direction. The spring seat rubber 30 includes the annular plate portion 32 and the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34.
Also, it is formed as an integrally vulcanized molded article of a rubber elastic body made of an appropriate rubber material such as natural rubber (NR) having the regulation convex portion 36. In the following description, the vertical direction means the vertical direction in FIG. 4 in principle.

More specifically, the annular plate portion 32 is approximately 3/4.
A constant diameter portion 38 is formed with a substantially constant inner and outer diameter dimension over the circumference and extends in the circumferential direction with a substantially constant radial width dimension.
The radius of curvature of the inner and outer peripheral edge portions of the remaining approximately 1/4 circumference gradually increases from one side in the circumferential direction to the other side, and gradually extends outward in the radial direction. It is the enlarged diameter portion 40. As a result, at one location on the circumference, a step in the radial direction is formed at an integrally connected portion of the constant diameter portion 38 and the circumferential end portion of the expanded diameter portion 40 that extends most outward in the radial direction. The part 42 is formed. In addition,
The inner and outer diameter dimensions of the constant diameter portion 38 and the enlarged diameter portion 40 are set according to the shape of the coil spring to be mounted, which will be described later.

In addition, the annular plate portion 32 starts from the connecting portion of the constant diameter portion 38 having the step portion 42 and the enlarged diameter portion 40, and also extends from the one end portion in the circumferential direction of the constant diameter portion 38 to the enlarged diameter portion 40. The end of the radially projecting side end of the constant diameter portion 38 and the enlarged diameter portion 40.
An appropriate lead angle is set so as to gradually become higher in the axial direction in the spiral shape over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction including. As a result, the upper surface 54 of the annular plate portion 32 spreads in the direction perpendicular to the axis in the axial cut surface including the central axis 44, but in the circumferential direction, an inclined surface inclined at a substantially constant lead angle over the entire circumference. In the connection portion between one end in the circumferential direction of the lowest constant diameter portion 38 and one end in the circumferential direction of the highest diameter expanded portion 40, the same circumference as the step portion 42 in the radial direction described above is provided. At the upper position, an axial step portion 46 is formed. The lead angle of the upper surface 54 of the annular plate portion 32 is
It is set corresponding to the shape of the coil spring to be mounted, which will be described later. For example, in the mounted state in which the vehicle body supporting load is exerted, the end of the coil spring is attached to the annular plate portion 32 at a circumferential length portion of approximately one round. The annular plate portion 32 is seated so as to be seated.
The lead angle of the upper surface 54 of the is set.

Furthermore, the radial width dimension and the axial wall thickness dimension of the annular plate portion 32 are substantially constant over the whole including the constant diameter portion 38 and the enlarged diameter portion 40. That is, since the thickness dimension of the annular plate portion 32 is substantially constant over the entire circumference, the annular plate portion 32 is not limited to the upper surface 54,
The lower surface 56 is also a spiral inclined surface inclined in the circumferential direction at substantially the same lead angle as the upper surface 54. In addition, the annular plate portion 32
The lower surface 56 has a shape corresponding to the supporting surface so that the lower surface 56 can be mounted in close contact with the supporting surface formed on the trailing arm described later. Further, on the lower surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32, a lightening recess 47 that extends in the radial direction with a predetermined width from the inner peripheral edge portion to the outer peripheral edge portion in the radial direction.
However, a plurality (eight in this embodiment) are formed at a predetermined distance from each other in the circumferential direction, and the spring characteristics of the annular plate portion 32 are adjusted by these lightening recesses 47.

Further, an inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral edge portion of the annular plate portion 32. The inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 has an inner peripheral edge portion of the annular plate portion 32 that is curved, and is raised upward in the axial direction with substantially the same wall thickness dimension as the annular plate portion 32. It has a cylindrical shape with a taper that decreases in diameter toward.
In addition, at the connecting portion between the inner peripheral edge of the annular plate portion 32 and the lower peripheral edge of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34, the inner radius surface 5 of the corner portion is formed.
3, the radius of curvature is set to be substantially the same as the outer peripheral surface shape of the strand of a coil spring to be mounted, which will be described later, and the outer diameter dimension of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 is It is set to be almost the same as the inner diameter of the winding.
In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 with respect to the central axis 44 extending in the direction orthogonal to the lower surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32.
The inclination angle of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces is substantially constant over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

Further, in the inner peripheral side cylindrical portion 34, portions which are opposed to each other in one radial direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) are thickened radially inward. Thus, a pair of opposing surfaces 48, 48 having a width across flat and extending a predetermined length in the circumferential direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface. The height dimension of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 from the annular plate portion 32 is
The portion located at the inner peripheral edge of the constant diameter portion 38 has a constant height, and the protruding tip surface thereof is a circumferential inclined surface 50 having substantially the same inclination angle as the constant diameter portion 38, and at the same time, it is expanded. In the portion located on the inner peripheral edge of the diameter portion 40,
The protrusion height is gradually reduced by a dimension corresponding to the lead set in the diameter-enlarged portion 40 as it goes to the protrusion-side tip portion of the diameter-enlarged portion 40, and the protrusion tip surface expands into a flat surface 52 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis. As a result, the height of protrusion upward is suppressed. Also, in the portion of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 that forms the flat surface 52 and is located at the inner peripheral edge portion of the enlarged diameter portion 40, the outer diameter dimension of the enlarged diameter portion 40 gradually increases in the circumferential direction. As it protrudes outward in the radial direction, it is made thicker and protrudes outward in the radial direction substantially parallel to the outer peripheral edge portion of the expanded diameter portion 40, whereby the radial width of the expanded diameter portion 40. The dimensions are substantially constant over the entire length excluding the tip portion.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral edge of the annular plate portion 32,
The regulation convex portion 36 is integrally formed over a predetermined length on the circumference. The restriction projection 36 has an outer peripheral edge portion of the annular plate portion 32 bent and rises upward in the axial direction, and the annular plate portion 32 has a constant diameter that continuously forms an inclined surface in the circumferential direction. The annular portion 32 is continuously formed over the continuous region of the portion 38 and the enlarged diameter portion 40 over a length of about 1/4 to 1/3 of the annular plate portion 32 in the circumferential direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, one end portion in the circumferential direction of the restriction convex portion 36 is positioned at a portion that does not slightly reach the circumferential end portion (the step portion 42) where the protruding amount of the expanded diameter portion 40 is maximum. ing.

Further, the restriction convex portion 36 extends radially outward on the same plane as the lower surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32.
Like the plate surface 56 of the plate, the bottom surface 58 inclined in the circumferential direction is provided, and the thickness in the radial direction at the base end portion of the restriction projection 36, in other words, the width in the radial direction of the bottom surface 58 is the annular plate. It is set to be substantially the same as or thicker than the axial thickness dimension of the portion 32. Furthermore, the axial protruding height of the restriction convex portion 36 is substantially constant over the entire length, and the protruding tip surface 62 thereof is also inclined in the circumferential direction like the plate surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32. ing. Further, the outer diameter dimension of the restriction protrusion 36 is gradually reduced from the middle portion in the height direction toward the upper end, whereby the outer peripheral surface of the protruding tip portion of the restriction protrusion 36 becomes the tapered outer peripheral surface 60. Has been done. On the other hand, the inner peripheral surface 64 of the regulation convex portion 36 rises substantially vertically from the upper surface 54 of the annular plate portion 32 in the upward direction.

Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface 64 of the restriction projection 36 is
With respect to the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34, the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring is radially opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the mounted coil spring with a radial separation distance larger than the outer diameter of the strand.
The inner diameter dimension of the inner peripheral surface 64 of the regulation convex portion 36 is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the winding of the coil spring to be mounted. In addition, at the connection portion between the outer peripheral edge of the annular plate portion 32 and the lower peripheral edge of the restriction projection 36, the inner radius surface 66 of the corner is more than the outer peripheral surface of the wire of the coil spring to be mounted. A small radius of curvature is set. In the present embodiment, the protruding height of the restriction convex portion 36 is set to be equal to or smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the strand of the coil spring to be mounted and more than half the outer diameter dimension.

The spring seat rubber 30 having the above-mentioned structure is assembled and attached to the suspension mechanism of the automobile. Particularly, in this embodiment, the rear wheel suspension of the automobile as shown in FIG. The case of assembling to the torsion beam type suspension mechanism 70 of the axle type suspension system adopted in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 7, only the left rear wheel side of the suspension mechanism 70 is shown as a schematic plan view with the spring seat rubber not attached, but the right rear wheel has the same structure.

The suspension mechanism 70 includes a pair of left and right trailing arms 7 extending substantially in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
The intermediate beam type structure is formed by integrally connecting 2 and 72 fixedly to each other by a cross beam 74 linearly extending in the vehicle width direction at each intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. Further, the left and right trailing arms 72, 72 are both
A curved metal pipe 76 extending substantially in the front-rear direction of the vehicle,
It is configured to include a metal plate 78 that is arranged so as to spread inward in the vehicle width direction from the metal pipe 76, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the metal plate 78 is welded to the metal pipe 76 and the cross beam 74. It is integrated. Further, an arm eye 80 is welded to each of the left and right metal pipes 76, 76 at an end portion on the front side of the vehicle, and a suspension bush 82 is attached to the arm eye 80.
Is press-fitted and assembled.

The tip portions of the left and right metal pipes 76, 76 are fixed to the vehicle body directly or indirectly via a sub-frame or the like, and a pair of left and right brackets 84,
The suspension bushes 82, 82 are elastically connected to and attached to the 84, so that the pair of left and right trailing arms 7 is attached.
2, 72 and the cross beam 74 suspension member 86,
The pivot 9 of both trailing arms 72, 72 located on the central axis of the left and right suspension bushes 82, 82.
Swing central shaft 8 extending in the vehicle width direction so as to connect 0 and 90
It is swingable around 8, and is connected and attached to the vehicle body. The trailing arm 72,
The rocking actuation of 72 can be understood by reference to FIG. 10 which illustrates the prior art.

A bracket 92 protruding outward in the vehicle width direction is welded near the rear end of the metal pipe 76 forming each trailing arm 72, and the wheel 94 is mounted by this bracket 92. While being supported, a support pin 96 for an absorber is fixedly provided so as to protrude from the vicinity of the rear end of the metal pipe 76 inward in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the cylinder member of the shock absorber 98 is attached to and supported by the support pin 96, and the upper end of the piston rod of the shock absorber 98 is attached to a member on the vehicle body side (not shown). As a result, the shock absorber 98 causes the vehicle body side member and the trailing arm 7 to move.
The trailing arm 72 is disposed so as to straddle between the two.
The piston is operated with the swing of the.

Further, a seat portion 100 for receiving a coil spring is formed at a substantially central portion of the metal plate 78 constituting each trailing arm 72. In this seat portion 100, a fitting convex portion 102 that projects upward in the central portion is integrally press-formed. The outer peripheral surface 104 of the fitting convex portion 102 is
It has a tapered tubular shape whose diameter decreases upward, and a pair of width across flats is set at portions facing each other in the vehicle width direction. Further, around the fitting convex portion 102, a step portion 106 is formed on the inside of the fitting convex portion 102 in the vehicle width direction, and the step portion 106 is deepest at the front side of the vehicle, and from there, from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle. A concave groove-shaped inclined groove 108 having a bottom surface inclined in the circumferential direction, which becomes gradually shallower as it goes around in the circumferential direction, is formed.

Then, as shown in FIGS.
The spring seat rubber 30 having the specific structure as described above is mounted and assembled to the seat 100 from above. There, the fitting convex portion 1 of the seat portion 100
02, the inner peripheral side cylindrical portion 34 of the spring seat rubber 30 is externally inserted and fitted, and the seat portion 10
The spring seat rubber 3 with respect to the inclined groove 108 of 0
The annular plate portions 32 of 0 are arranged so as to overlap each other. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 of the spring seat rubber 30 includes the facing surfaces 48, 48 and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex portion 102 of the seat portion 100 over the entire surface. At the same time, the lower surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32 of the spring seat rubber 30 is in close contact with the inclined groove 108 of the seat portion 100 over the entire surface thereof except the portion where the lightening recess 47 is formed. Furthermore, in the annular plate portion 32 of the spring seat rubber 30, the lower surface of the step portion 46 is engaged with the step portion 106 formed at the circumferential end portion of the inclined groove 108 of the seat portion 100, so that the spring Seat rubber 30
Are circumferentially positioned on the seat 100.

Thus, the seat portion 1 of the trailing arm 72
On the spring seat rubber 30 placed on 00,
The lower end portion of the coil spring 110, which is disposed straddling between the trailing arm 72 and a vehicle body side member (not shown), is placed and supported, whereby the trailing arm 72 is placed on the body side. It is elastically swingably connected to the member. The elastic connection structure of the trailing arm 72 to the body side member by the coil spring 110 is shown in FIG.
It can be understood by referring to 0.

Here, as the coil spring 110, any of a straight type, a taper type, a staggered type, an unequal pitch type, a conical type and the like can be appropriately adopted, but particularly in the present embodiment, it is more preferable than the central portion. A barrel type coil spring or a big tail end type coil spring whose end portions at both ends in the axial direction have a small diameter is suitably adopted. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the axial tip end portion of the coil spring 110 has a non-grinding open end structure, and the tip end face in the winding direction of the wire sandwiches the step portion 46 of the spring seat rubber 30 and the trailing arm 72. Seat 100
Is positioned in the circumferential direction by being brought into contact with the stepped portion 106 of the coil spring 110, and the strand of the coil spring 110 extends from the tip end in the winding direction to slightly less than one round in the circumferential direction. The ring-shaped plate portion 32 is mounted in a state of being in contact with the upper surface 54.

The end portion of the wire of the coil spring 110 mounted on the annular plate portion 32 of the spring seat rubber 30 is located outside the large diameter side end portion of the inner peripheral tubular portion 34 of the spring seat rubber 30. It is wound in the circumferential direction with an inner diameter dimension slightly smaller than the diameter dimension and an outer diameter dimension slightly smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the inner peripheral surface 64 of the regulation convex portion 36, whereby it is clearly shown in FIGS. As described above, the end portion of the wire of the coil spring 110 extends over substantially the entire length of the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 including the inner rounded surface 53 rising from the annular plate portion 32 in the spring seat rubber 30. And a small gap 112 in the radial direction is formed between the end portion of the wire of the coil spring 110 and the restriction projection 36. As a result, the coil spring 110
The lower end portion of the is positioned and supported by the fitting convex portion 102 via the spring seat rubber 30, and is attached to the trailing arm 72.

Under such a mounted state, the restricting convex portion 36 of the spring seat rubber 30 is positioned on the opposite side of the swing center shaft 88 with the central shaft of the spring seat rubber 30 interposed therebetween. The restriction projections 36 are located over the regions extending on the both sides in the circumferential direction with predetermined lengths, with the point located on the rearmost side of the vehicle being located at the outer peripheral edge of the.

As a result, the swing center shaft 8 of the suspension member 86 is
As shown in FIG. 9, the trailing arm 72 is oscillated and displaced in the arm oscillating direction in accordance with the oscillating operation about eight times, and the coil spring 110 is displaced by the displacement toward the rebound side (downward). At the same time that the rear portion of the vehicle floats up from the trailing arm 72, the inner peripheral side tubular portion 34 of the spring seat rubber 30 is sent upward along the outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex portion 102 (see FIG.
(See 0), and when the trailing arm 72 swings to the bounding side thereafter, the operation of returning only the coil spring 110 to the seated state is repeated, so that the portion of the spring seat rubber 30 positioned rearward of the vehicle gradually. When the spring seat rubber 30 is to be displaced in the direction of flipping up, the restriction convex portion 36 provided on the outer peripheral edge portion of the spring seat rubber 30 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring 110, so that the spring seat rubber 30 The above-mentioned feed in the flip-up direction can be prevented, so that the spring seat rubber 30 is stably held in an intervening state between the seat portion 100 of the trailing arm 72 and the contact surface of the coil spring 110. In addition, the desired cushioning effect and noise prevention effect are produced with excellent durability and reliability. It's been can be.

Moreover, such spring seat rubber 3
At 0, the restricting protrusion 36 has the coil spring 110.
Since the coil spring 110 lifted up from the trailing arm 72 is seated again, the restriction projection 3
There is also no possibility of sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of 6 and exerting as a frictional force a feed force in a direction that promotes the curling up of the spring seat rubber 30. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the inner radius surface 66 of the rising portion of the regulation convex portion 36 has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface of the wire of the coil spring 110, and is kept in a state of being separated from the coil spring 110. Therefore, the rising portion of the regulation convex portion 36 is not pressed by the coil spring 110 when the coil spring 110 is seated, so that the spring seat rubber 30 is not subjected to the feed force in the flip-up direction.

Further, such a spring seat rubber 30
In the above, since the regulating projection 36 having a large thickness and relatively large rigidity is integrally formed with the outer peripheral edge portion thereof,
Even before the regulating protrusion 36 directly contacts the coil spring 110, the swinging operation of the trailing arm 72 as described above is performed by the shape retaining action based on the rigidity of the outer peripheral edge portion of the spring seat rubber 30 and the regulating protrusion 36. As a result, it is possible to exert an effective suppressing effect on the feed of the spring seat rubber 30 in the rising direction.

Furthermore, the regulating projection 36 of the spring seat rubber 30 is provided on the annular plate portion 32 by the coil spring 11.
By transmitting the elastic deformation caused by the application of the contact load of 0, as shown in FIG. 9, the projecting tip portion is slightly elastically deformed in the direction inclined inward in the radial direction. Therefore, when the coil spring 110 is in the seated state, the restriction protrusion 36 is brought closer to the coil spring 110, and the restriction protrusion 36 comes into contact with the coil spring 110. While the effect of suppressing the feed in the flip-up direction as described above can be effectively exhibited, the trailing arm 7 as described above can be effectively displayed.
When the coil spring 110 is lifted from the spring seat rubber 30 in accordance with the swing operation of 2, the contact load on the annular plate portion 32 is released, and the radially inwardly inclined state of the restriction projection 36 is released. By increasing the inner diameter of the restriction projection 36, the contact of the restriction projection 36 with the projecting tip surface 62 when the coil spring 110 is seated again can be advantageously avoided. As a result, the phenomenon of accelerating the feed in the swelling direction due to the contact of the coil spring 110 with the protruding tip surface 62 of the regulation convex portion 36 can be effectively avoided.

Further, in the spring seat rubber 30 of the present embodiment, since the outer peripheral surface of the tip end of the restricting convex portion 36 is the tapered outer peripheral surface 60, the winding radius of the wire becomes gradually larger as described above. Also in the shape of the coil spring 110, the contact of the wire with the restriction projection 36 at the time of full bound can be advantageously avoided.
The suspension characteristics are not adversely affected.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention should not be construed to be limited to the specific description of the embodiment. .

For example, in the above embodiment, one specific example of applying the present invention to the spring seat rubber used in the intermediate beam type suspension mechanism has been shown. However, the present invention relates to an input separation type coil spring. It is widely applicable to the spring seat rubber used in the swing arm type suspension mechanism equipped with the arrangement structure, and is considered to be an input separation type in addition to the trailing arm type suspension and the semi-trailing type suspension as described above. Also applicable to spring seat rubber for double wishbone suspension.

The specific overall shape and end structure of the coil spring employed are not limited in any way, and can be set appropriately according to the required suspension characteristics and the like. The coil spring of No. 3 is also dealt with by appropriately adjusting the circumferential inclination angle and the circumferential curvature of the annular plate portion 32, the circumferential length and the axial height of the regulation convex portion 36, etc. as necessary. You can

Furthermore, the regulating projection 36 may be divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, or may be formed continuously over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

Further, the thinning recess 47 on the lower surface 56 of the annular plate portion 32, the tapering structure on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the restricting convex portion 36, etc. are not essential in the present invention, and further, the coil to be adopted. Depending on the structure of the spring, the annular plate portion 32 may be formed with a constant inner and outer diameter dimension over the entire circumference, or the upper and lower surfaces 54, 56 may be formed as flat surfaces that are not inclined in the circumferential direction. Is.

Although not listed one by one, the present invention is
The present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various changes, modifications, improvements, etc. are added based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, and such a mode does not depart from the gist of the present invention.
It goes without saying that both are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, in the spring seat rubber having the structure according to the present invention, the shape retaining action based on the rigidity of the regulating projection integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge portion and the regulation. Based on the abutting action of the convex portion on the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring, the upward movement of the suspension arm member due to swinging is suppressed, whereby the abutting portion between the suspension arm member and the coil spring is suppressed. Can be stably intervened between
The desired anti-vibration effect and noise prevention effect can be realized with excellent durability and stability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a spring seat rubber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the spring seat rubber shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the spring seat rubber shown in FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

5 is a view taken along the line VV in FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

7 is a plan view schematically showing a suspension mechanism to which the spring seat rubber shown in FIG. 1 is attached.

8 is a view corresponding to a VIII-VIII cross section of FIG. 7, showing a state in which the spring seat rubber shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle.

9 is a view corresponding to the IX-IX cross section of FIG. 7, showing a state in which the spring seat rubber shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional explanatory view for explaining a state in which a spring seat rubber having a conventional structure is mounted on a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 Spring seat rubber 32 annular plate 34 Inner peripheral side tubular portion 36 Control convex part 44 central axis 70 Suspension mechanism 72 Trailing arm 88 swing center axis 98 shock absorber 100 seats 102 Convex part for fitting 110 coil spring 112 gap

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kojiro Yoshii             Nissan, Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Nissan             Inside the automobile corporation F-term (reference) 3D001 AA17 AA19 BA03 BA04 BA46                       DA01 DA07                 3J069 AA69 CC02 DD40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A suspension for connecting to a body side member of an automobile by a shock absorber and a coil spring which are mounted so as to be swingable around a predetermined swing center axis and are arranged independently of each other. Is mounted on an arm member of the coil spring and is externally arranged on a fitting projection formed on the arm member for positioning the lower end portion of the coil spring. A spring seat rubber, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex portion of the arm member is provided at an inner peripheral edge portion of an annular plate portion disposed between axially opposing surfaces of the arm member and the coil spring. While integrally forming an inner peripheral side tubular portion arranged between the inner peripheral surface of the coil spring and a radial opposing surface, at the outer peripheral edge portion of the annular plate portion,
A spring seat rubber, wherein at least a farthest position from the swing center axis is integrally formed with a restricting convex portion projecting to an outer peripheral side of the coil spring. 2. The radius of curvature of the connecting portion between the annular plate portion and the inner peripheral side tubular portion is made substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the wire of the coil spring, and the coil is connected to the connecting portion. The spring seat rubber according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the wire of the spring is closely contacted. 3. The outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral side tubular portion is a tapered surface whose diameter gradually decreases as it goes upward.
Alternatively, the spring seat rubber described in 2. 4. The spring seat rubber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the restriction convex portion is located away from the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring. 5. The radius of curvature of the rising portion of the restricting convex portion from the annular plate portion is made smaller than the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the wire of the coil spring, and the rising portion is formed in the element of the coil spring. The spring seat rubber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is located away from the surface of the wire. 6. The spring seat rubber according to claim 1, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the regulation convex portion is a vertical surface which rises substantially vertically from the annular plate portion. 7. The height of protrusion of the regulating projection from the annular plate portion is 1 / the outer diameter of the wire of the coil spring.
The spring seat rubber according to claim 1, wherein the spring seat rubber has two or more. 8. The spring seat rubber according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential length of the restriction projection is ½ or less of a circumferential length of the annular plate portion. 9. The spring seat rubber according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism that specifies a circumferential position with respect to the arm member and limits relative displacement in the circumferential direction with respect to the arm member. .