JP2006168641A - Suspension arm of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To weld an arm base end part and a pivot supporting cylinder without specially largely forming a recessed part for an assembling work provided on an inside surface of the arm base end part, in a suspension arm of an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: The arm base end part 3 and an arm part 4 are constituted into a closed sectional structural body by mutually welded lower half member 20 and upper half member 21. In the lower half member 20 and upper half member 21, each of front side supporting part 27 and rear side supporting part 28 arranged with an interval on front and rear sides to abut on one side of an outer peripheral surface of a pivot supporting cylinder 5 is formed. Each abutting part of the front side supporting part 27, the rear side supporting part 28 and the pivot supporting cylinder 5 is welded on a vehicle body front side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an arm base end portion supported by a vehicle body via a front pivot shaft and a rear pivot shaft arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and an arm portion that extends outward from the arm base end portion to support a knuckle. A pivot support tube that is pivotally supported by a front pivot shaft fixed to the vehicle body and is welded to the front end portion of the arm base end portion. The present invention relates to an improvement in a suspension arm of an automobile, which is formed with a recess for assembly work facing a rear end surface of a support cylinder.

Such a suspension arm of an automobile is already known as disclosed in Patent Document 1.
JP 2002-219918 A

  In the conventional suspension arm of such an automobile, a support portion having a U-shaped cross section that abuts on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the pivot support tube is formed at the front end of the arm base end portion. Because the welding area was welded around, it was necessary to deepen the recess for assembly work formed on the inner surface of the arm base end for the welding work, but deepen the recess for assembly work. This is not preferable because it reduces the moment of inertia of the cross section of the arm base end.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to provide an automotive vehicle capable of firmly welding an arm base end portion and a pivot support tube without forming the recess for assembly work in a particularly deep manner. An object is to provide a suspension arm.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an arm base end supported on a vehicle body via a front pivot shaft and a rear pivot shaft arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the arm base end portion to the vehicle body outer side. An arm portion that extends to support the knuckle, and a pivot support tube that is pivotally supported by a front pivot shaft that is fixed to the vehicle body is welded to the front end portion of the arm base end portion. In the suspension arm of the automobile, the base end portion and the arm portion are welded to each other by a lower half member and an upper half member that are welded to each other. The lower half member and the upper half member are configured with a closed cross-section structure. The lower half member and the upper half member have a front support portion and a rear support portion arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pivot support cylinder and arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. Is formed, the first, characterized in that each abutment of these front support and the rear support portion and the pivot support tube was welded at the vehicle front side.

  In addition to the first feature of the present invention, the arm base end of the upper half member is formed in a channel shape having an open bottom surface, and projects from the lower end of the inner side wall to the inside of the vehicle body to form the rear support portion. A second feature is that a thick reinforcing rib is formed by forming a flange continuous to the lower end and overlaying and welding the flat portion of the lower half member on the lower surface of the flange.

  According to the first feature of the present invention, when the rear side support portion and the front side support portion formed on the upper half member and the lower half member, respectively, are welded to the pivot support cylinder, the upper half member and the lower half member are individually connected before being joined. Since it can be welded from the front, the recess for assembly work behind the pivot support cylinder can be formed as shallow as possible considering only the rear mounting of the front pivot shaft to the pivot support cylinder. It is possible to minimize the reduction in the moment of inertia of the section.

  In addition, since both the arm portion and the arm base end portion are formed into a closed cross-section structure by the lower half member and the upper half member that are welded to each other, it is possible to secure a sufficient moment of inertia in cross section by itself.

  Further, since the front support portion and the rear support portion are individually formed on the lower half member and the upper half member, the front and rear support intervals with respect to the pivot support cylinder of both the support portions can be freely set, and the pivots by both support portions can be set. The support rigidity of the support cylinder can be effectively increased.

  Further, according to the second feature of the present invention, the rear support portion is connected to the reinforcing rib of the arm base end portion and is given rigidity, so that the support rigidity of the pivot support cylinder by both the support portions is further increased. Can be effectively increased.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a front suspension apparatus for an automobile equipped with a suspension arm according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the suspension arm, FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the suspension arm with the reinforcing member removed, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the suspension arm, and FIG. 8 to 11 are sectional views taken along lines 8-8, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11 in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are lines 12-12 and 13- in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows 13 lines.

  FIG. 1 shows a front suspension device S on the left side of the automobile, and the right side is symmetrical to it, and is omitted in the drawing. This front suspension device S has a suspension arm 1 supported by a sub-frame F constituting a part of a vehicle body of an automobile and capable of swinging in a vertical direction, and a knuckle connecting hole 17 at a swing end of the suspension arm 1 in a ball. The knuckle N is connected through a joint, and the strut type damper 2 is connected between the knuckle N and the vehicle body above the knuckle N and cushions the vertical swing of the suspension arm 1.

  The suspension arm 1 includes an arm base end portion 3 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and an arm portion 4 extending from the arm base end portion 3 toward the outer side of the vehicle body, and has a substantially L shape. A pivot support cylinder 5 is attached to the front end of the arm base end 3 so that the axis is directed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The front pivot shaft 6 is attached to the pivot support cylinder 5 as follows. .

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer cylinder 10 that concentrically surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the front pivot shaft 6 is coupled via the elastic bush 11. A flange 10 a is formed at the rear end of the outer cylinder 10, and a stopper flange 6 a that is opposed to the flange 10 a with an elastic bush 11 behind is formed integrally with an intermediate portion of the front pivot shaft 6. ing.

  Both ends of the front pivot shaft 6 projecting from the front and back of the pivot support cylinder 5 are formed as flat plate-like attachment portions 6f and 6r having bolt holes 12 and 12, respectively. Are fastened to the subframe F by bolts 13 and 13 inserted through the bolt holes 12 and 12.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, a rear pivot shaft 7 aligned with the front pivot shaft 6 is welded to the rear end portion of the arm base end portion 3, and an elastic bush (not shown) is attached to the rear pivot shaft 7. ) Is fixed to the subframe F with bolts 15.

  The arm portion 4 has a knuckle connecting hole 17 at the tip thereof, and a knuckle N that supports the front wheel W so as to be steerable is connected to the knuckle connecting hole 17 via a ball joint (not shown). The The outer surface of the arm base end portion 3 and the back surface of the arm portion 4 are formed as a continuous concave curved surface 19, and the space S inside the curved surface 19 receives the rear portion of the front wheel W to be steered. Space for front wheels.

  On the inner side surface of the arm base end portion 3, a recess 23 for assembly work is formed from the front end to the intermediate portion, and the front pivot shaft 6 is attached to the pivot support cylinder 5 by the recess 23 for assembly work. It has become.

  Now, the structure of the suspension arm 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the suspension arm 1 includes a substantially L-shaped lower half member 20 and an upper half member 21 having portions corresponding to the arm base end portion 3 and the arm portion 4, and an upper half member 21. The lower half member 20, the upper half member 21, and the reinforcing member 22 are all formed by press-molding a steel plate.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, in the arm portion 4, the lower half member 20 and the upper half member 21 are formed in a channel shape, and both the half members 20 and 21 face the open surface so that the upper half member 21 faces outward. Are fitted together and the side walls are welded together. The tip of the upper half member 21 protrudes longer than the lower half member 20, and the connecting hole 17 is provided in the protruding portion. Thus, the arm portion 4 is formed in a closed cross-section structure over substantially the entire length thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 10, the upper half member 21 is formed in a channel shape with the open surface facing downward at the arm base end portion 3 and from the lower end of the inner side wall toward the inside of the vehicle body. Thus, a flange portion 21a that projects horizontally is formed, and the flange portion 21a is curved so as to define the recess 23 for assembly work. Similarly, in the arm base end portion 3, the lower half member 20 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. The flat lower half member 20 is disposed so as to close the open surface of the upper half member 21 while overlapping the lower surface of the flange portion 21a of the channel-like upper half member 21, and the outer wall inner surface and the flange portion of the upper half member 21. Welded to 21a. Thus, the arm base end portion 3 is formed in a closed cross-section structure over substantially the entire length thereof, and is formed from the lower portion of the closed cross-section structure into the vehicle body by the flange portion 21a and the overlapping portion 20a of the lower half member 20 therewith. A thick reinforcing rib 25 is formed projecting outward.

  At the rear end portion of the arm base end portion 3, the rear pivot shaft 7 is fitted between the upper half member 21 and the lower half member 20, and is fixed by welding (see FIG. 11).

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 13, the lower half member 20 and the upper half member 21 abut on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the pivot support cylinder 5 and are arranged at a distance in the front and rear directions. The rear support portion 28 is formed, and the abutment portions of the front support portion 27 and the rear support portion 28 and the pivot support cylinder 5 are welded on the front side of the vehicle body. Welding of the abutting portion between the rear support portion 28 formed on the upper half member 21 and the pivot support cylinder 5 on the front side of the vehicle body is performed before the upper half member 21 is coupled to the lower half member 20. In addition, welding of the abutting portion between the front support portion 27 and the pivot support cylinder 5 formed on the lower half member 20 on the front side of the vehicle body is performed after the lower half member 20 and the upper half member 21 are joined.

  At the lower end of the rear support portion 28, the flange portion 21a of the upper half member 21, and thus the reinforcing rib 25, is continued.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 8, and 10, the reinforcing member 22 is joined to the outer surface of the upper half member 21 from the middle portion of the arm portion 4 to the rear end portion of the arm base end portion 3. . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the reinforcing member 22 has a channel shape with the open surface facing downward, and is welded between the upper half member 21 and the side walls.

  At that time, in particular, the portion of the side wall of the upper half member 21 facing the front wheel space S that is welded to the reinforcing member 22 is a recess 30 that is recessed by the thickness of the reinforcing member 22. The step formed at the boundary between the portion of the upper half member 21 where the reinforcing member 22 is not present and the reinforcing member 22 is reduced as much as possible, and the stress concentration generated at the boundary can be alleviated. Reduction of the space S can be avoided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, at the arm base end portion 3, the reinforcing member 22 is welded with the inner wall abutting perpendicularly to the upper surface of the flange portion 21a.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the reinforcing member 22 is formed with an upper support portion 29 that covers the front and rear support portions 27 and 28 and is welded to the upper surface of the pivot support cylinder 5. The

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  While the vehicle is running, the vertical vibration of the front wheel W is allowed by the suspension arm 1 swinging around the front and rear pivot shafts 5 and 6 while twisting and deforming the elastic bush 11.

  During forward travel, the brake device operates to apply a backward braking force from the front wheel W to the suspension arm 1, and accordingly, a backward braking force is also applied to the pivot support cylinder 5. While the bush 11 is subjected to shear deformation, its rear end is brought into contact with the stopper flange 6a of the front pivot shaft 6 together with the flange 10a of the outer cylinder 10, so that the rear pivoting force is received by the front pivot shaft 6. be able to.

  Thus, in order to receive the rear end of the pivot support cylinder 5 by the stopper flange 6a, the front pivot shaft 6 needs to be attached to the pivot support cylinder 5 from the rear when the suspension arm 1 is manufactured. On the inner side surface of the arm base end portion 3, an assembly work recess 23 is formed so that the rear end of the pivot support tube 5 faces. In this assembly work recess 23, the front pivot shaft 6 is connected to the pivot support tube 5. Easy mounting, that is, the outer cylinder 10 of the elastic bush 11 is press-fitted into the pivot support cylinder 5, and the stopper flange 6a is opposed to the rear end surface of the pivot support cylinder 5 across the flange 10a of the outer cylinder 10. it can.

  By the way, the assembling recess 23 is desirably formed as shallow as possible because it reduces the moment of inertia of the cross section of the arm base end 3.

  Therefore, when the rear side support portion 28 and the front side support portion 27 formed on the upper half member 21 and the lower half member 20 are welded to the pivot support cylinder 5, the assembly operation recess 23 is not used but it is performed individually from the front. Accordingly, the recess 23 for assembly work can be formed as shallow as possible within a range that allows only the rear mounting of the front pivot shaft 6 to the pivot support cylinder 5 without considering the welding. A decrease in the moment of inertia of the cross section of the base end portion 3 can be minimized.

  Further, since both the arm portion 4 and the arm base end portion 3 are formed into a closed cross-section structure that is continuous over substantially the entire length by the lower half member 20 and the upper half member 21 that are welded to each other, the cross section 2 that is sufficient by itself. The next moment can be secured. In addition, at the arm base end portion 3, a thick-walled reinforcement projecting inward from the lower portion of the closed cross-section structure body by the flange portion 21a of the upper half member 21 and the overlapping portion 20a of the lower half member 20 therewith. Since the rib 25 is configured, the cross-sectional secondary moment of the arm base end portion 3 can be further increased, and the reduction of the cross-sectional secondary moment due to the recess 23 for assembly work can be compensated.

  Further, since the reinforcing member 22 is joined to the upper half member 21 from the middle of the arm portion 4 to the rear end portion of the arm base end portion 3, the middle portion of the arm portion 4 reaches the rear end portion of the arm base end portion 3. The portion can be a double closed cross-section structure, and the second moment of the portion can be further increased.

  Thus, the arm portion 4 and the arm base end portion 3 of the suspension arm 1 can sufficiently withstand a large bending moment received during the braking.

  Further, since the front support part 27 and the rear support part 28 coupled to the pivot support cylinder 5 are individually formed on the lower half member 20 and the upper half member 21, the front and rear supports of the both support parts 27 and 28 with respect to the pivot support cylinder 5 are provided. The interval can be set freely large, and the rear support portion 28 is connected to the reinforcing rib 25 and is provided with rigidity, so that the support rigidity of the pivot support cylinder 5 by both the support portions 27 and 28 is effective. And can sufficiently withstand the torsional force that the pivot support cylinder 5 receives from various directions during braking.

  Further, the upper support portion 29 of the reinforcing member 22 that covers the front and rear support portions 27 and 28 is overlapped and welded to the upper surface of the pivot support tube 5, so that the pivot support tube 5 has three locations, front and rear and upper portions. The support rigidity can be increased more effectively.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

The top view of the front suspension apparatus of the motor vehicle provided with the suspension arm of this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. The top view of the said suspension arm. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the suspension arm with the reinforcing member removed. The bottom view of the suspension arm. FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 4; FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 5 (the reinforcing member is removed). FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 5 (the reinforcing member is removed).

Explanation of symbols

F ... Body (subframe)
N ... Knuckle W ... Front wheel 1 ... Suspension arm 3 ... Arm base end 4 ... Arm 5 ... ..Pivot support cylinder 6 ... Front pivot shaft 7 Rear pivot shaft 20 Lower half member 21 Upper half member 23 Assembly work Recess 25 for reinforcing rib 27 front support 28 rear support

Claims (2)

An arm base end (3) supported by the vehicle body (F) via a front pivot shaft (6) and a rear pivot shaft (7) arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body (F), and the arm base end portion (3 ) From the vehicle body (F) to the outside of the vehicle body (F) and supporting the knuckle (N), and the front end of the arm base end (3) is fixed to the vehicle body (F). Pivot support cylinder (5) pivotally supported on the pivot shaft (6) is welded, and the rear end surface of the pivot support cylinder (5) faces the inner surface of the arm base end (3). In the suspension arm of an automobile formed with a recess (23) for
The lower half member (20) and the upper half member (21) that are welded to each other constitute the arm base end portion (3) and the arm portion (4) in a closed cross-section structure, and the lower half member (20) and the upper half member (21 ) Are formed with a front support part (27) and a rear support part (28) which are abutted on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the pivot support cylinder (5) and are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. A suspension arm for an automobile, wherein the abutment portions of the portion (27) and the rear support portion (28) and the pivot support cylinder (5) are welded on the front side of the vehicle body. The automobile suspension arm according to claim 1,
The arm base end portion (3) of the upper half member (21) is formed in a channel shape with the lower surface opened, and protrudes inward from the lower end of the inner side wall of the upper half member (21) to the lower end of the rear support portion (28). The portion (21a) is formed, and the flat portion (20a) of the lower half member (20) is overlapped on the lower surface of the flange portion (21a) and welded to form a thick reinforcing rib (25). , Car suspension arm.

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