JP2007112184A - Toe-in angle/camber angle variable mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism capable of changing a toe-in angle and a camber angle in a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: This toe-in angle/camber angle variable mechanism is constituted by having a wheel supporting member 10 to support a wheel 6 free to relatively rotate, a first member 8 supporting one end on a car body 1 and a first inclined cut surface 8a inclined against a vertical surface on the other end and a second inclined cut surface 9a opposed to the first inclined cut surface on the one end. In this case, it is furnished with a second member 9 connected to the wheel supporting member 10 on the other end and a rotating device K connecting the second member 9 free to rotate along the first inclined cut surface 8a of the first member 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mechanism that can easily change a toe angle and a camber angle of a vehicle.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, in order to be able to control camber and toe individually for each wheel by an actuator, a ball joint 33 for supporting an axle 32 supporting a wheel at one point with respect to the vehicle body, an axle First and second actuators 34 for supporting two points in the vehicle front-rear direction, which are above and below the support point by the ball joint 33 in 32, and individually displace these two support points in the vehicle width direction, 35 and the two support points are relatively displaced in the vehicle width direction to change the wheel toe, and / or the two support points are displaced in the same direction in the vehicle width direction to change the wheel. There is a vehicle suspension device 31 provided with a control means for controlling the first and second actuators 34 and 35 so as to change the camber (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-122932 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, the toe angle and the camber angle are changed using two actuators for one wheel, so the structure is complicated, the weight is increased, and high cost is required. It becomes.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism that allows the toe angle and the camber angle to be changed with a simple structure.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism capable of changing a toe angle and a camber angle of a wheel, a wheel support member that supports the wheel so as to be relatively rotatable, one end supported by the vehicle body, and the other end. A first member having a first inclined cutting surface inclined with respect to a vertical surface, a second inclined cutting surface opposed to the first inclined cutting surface at one end, and a second member coupled to the wheel support member at the other end Two members and a rotating device that rotatably connects the second member along the first inclined cut surface of the first member are provided.

  The rotating device includes a rotor and a stator.

  Further, the rotating device has a rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of the second member.

  Also, a third member is provided between the first member and the second member via the rotating device, and the third member has a third inclined cut surface with one end facing the first inclined cut surface. The other end is provided with a fourth inclined cut surface facing the second inclined cut surface.

  Further, the rotating device has a rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of the third member.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism capable of changing a toe angle and a camber angle of a wheel, a wheel support member that supports the wheel so as to be relatively rotatable, one end supported by the vehicle body, and the other end A first member having a first inclined cutting surface inclined with respect to a vertical surface, a second inclined cutting surface opposed to the first inclined cutting surface at one end, and coupled to the wheel support member at the other end Since the second member and the rotating device that rotatably connects the second member along the first inclined cut surface of the first member are provided, the toe angle and the camber angle can be changed with a simple structure. Can be possible.

  In addition, since the rotating device includes a rotor and a stator, the rotating device can rotate with a smooth motion without using a hydraulic actuator, and can smoothly rotate during traveling, thereby being compact.

  Moreover, since the said rotation apparatus has a rotation angle detection means which detects the rotation angle of said 2nd member, exact operation | movement can be achieved.

  Also, a third member is provided between the first member and the second member via the rotating device, and the third member has a third inclined cut surface with one end facing the first inclined cut surface. In addition, since the fourth inclined cut surface facing the second inclined cut surface is provided at the other end, the toe angle and camber angle can be controlled independently, so that a finer setting is possible.

  Moreover, since the said rotation apparatus has a rotation angle detection means which detects the rotation angle of the said 3rd member, it can achieve an exact operation | movement.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S of this embodiment, and FIG. S is a toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism, T is a wheel drive transmission unit, A is a toe angle / camber angle varying unit, K is a rotating device, B is a bearing, 1 is a vehicle body, 2 is a driving means, and 3 is a first axle. 4 is a second axle, 5 is a universal joint, 6 is a wheel, 7 is a tire, 8 is a first cylindrical body as an example of a first member, 8a is a first inclined cut surface, and 9 is an example of a second member. The second cylindrical body, 9a ... second inclined cut surface, 10 is a wheel support member, 11 is a stator support member, 11a is a support portion, 11b is a stator support portion, 11c is a ball bearing support portion, 12 is a stator, 13 is A rotor, 14 is a rotation angle detecting means, 15 is a ball bearing base, and 16 is a ball bearing.

  The toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S includes a wheel drive transmission unit T and a toe angle / camber angle varying unit A, and a bearing B such as a ball bearing therebetween. The wheel drive transmission unit T includes a drive means 2, a first axle 3, a second axle 4, a universal joint 5, a wheel 6, and a tire 7, and the axles 3 and 4 and the universal are connected from the drive means 2 such as the engine of the vehicle body 1. This is a mechanism for transmitting rotation to the wheel 6 and the tire 7 through the joint 5. The axles 3 and 4 are divided into a first axle 3 on the vehicle body 1 side and a second axle 4 on the wheel 6 side, and are connected by a universal joint 5. The wheel 6 is connected to the second axle 4, and a tire 7 is installed on the outer periphery of the wheel 6.

  The toe angle / camber angle variable portion A includes a first cylinder 8, a second cylinder 9, a wheel support member 10, and a rotating device K. The toe angle / camber angle of the wheel 6 and the tire 7 is determined. This is the part to change. The first cylindrical body 8 and the second cylindrical body 9 are cylindrical members that support and store the axles 3 and 4 inside the cylindrical body by a bearing B such as a ball bearing. One end of the first cylindrical body 8 is supported by the vehicle body 1 and the other end is a first inclined cut surface 8a. One end of the second cylindrical body 9 is a second inclined cut surface 9a and the other end is supported by a wheel. It is connected to the member 10. The center of the universal joint 5 is disposed at the intersection of the center line between the first and second inclined cut surfaces 8a and 9a and the center line of the axles 3 and 4.

  The rotating device K includes a stator support member 11, a stator 12, a rotor 13, a rotation angle detection unit 14, a ball bearing base 15, and a ball bearing 16. The stator support member 11 is a substantially L-shaped member extending inward from the inner circumference of the first cylindrical body 8 along the first inclined cut surface 8a at the other end of the first cylindrical body 8. Part 11a, stator support part 11b, and ball bearing support part 11c. One end of the support portion 11a is coupled to the first cylindrical body 8, and the other end is connected to the stator support portion 11b. The stator support portion 11b is a portion that is bent and extends substantially perpendicularly from the other end of the support portion 11a to the second cylindrical body 9 side, and supports the stator 12. The ball bearing support portion 11 c supports the ball bearing 16 together with the ball bearing base 15 extending from the second cylindrical body 9 at the tip end portion of the support portion 11 a that is bent and extended at a substantially right angle from the other end.

  The stator 12 is disposed on the stator support portion 11 b of the stator support member 11. The rotor 13 is disposed to face the stator 12 from one end of the second cylindrical body 9 toward the inside. The rotation angle detection means 14 is disposed between the rotor 13 and the ball bearing base 15 in close proximity.

  By applying such a rotating device K, it is possible to rotate with a smooth movement, and to rotate smoothly while traveling. Further, by applying the rotation angle detection means 14, an accurate operation can be achieved.

  Next, the operation of the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S having this structure will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the toe angle / camber angle varying unit A. In FIG. 3, I is an input means, C is a control means, A is a toe angle / camber angle variable section, and 14 is a rotation angle detection means. First, by operating the input means I, a signal is input to the control means C, a signal according to the operation amount of the input means I is output from the control means C, and the toe angle / camber angle variable unit A is controlled. The control amount is detected by the rotation angle detection means 14 and the detection value is output to the control means C. The control means C compares the input signal of the input means I with the detection value of the rotation angle detection means 14 to control the toe angle / camber angle variable unit A.

  Specifically, the operation of the toe angle / camber angle variable portion A will be described. First, when a power means such as a power source (not shown) applies power, the stator 12 and the rotor 13 of the toe angle / camber angle variable portion A are relatively rotated. Then, the second cylindrical body 9 rotates around the universal joint 5 along the second inclined cut surface 9a. The relative rotation of the stator 12 and the rotor 13 is stopped when the rotation angle detection unit 14 detects that the rotation has been made to the angle corresponding to the operation of the input unit I, and the toe angle and the camber angle corresponding to the operation of the input unit I are reached. A wheel 6 and a tire 7 are arranged.

  4 is a schematic diagram of the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S when not rotating, and FIG. 5 is a front view (FIG. 5a) and a top view (FIG. 5b) of the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S when rotating 90 degrees. FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view (FIG. 6A) and a top view (FIG. 6B) of the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S during 180 ° rotation. 4 to 6, reference numeral 17 denotes a first cover, 17a denotes a first cover inclined cut surface, 18 denotes a second cover, and 18a denotes a second cover inclined cut surface. The first cover 17 covers the other end of the first cylindrical body 8, and the second cover 18 covers one end of the second cylindrical body 9. The first cover 17 has a first cover inclined cut surface 17a, and the second cover 18 has a second cover inclined cut surface 18a. The first cover inclined cut surface 17a and the second cover inclined cut surface 18a are arranged so as to eliminate a gap as much as possible, so that dust or the like enters the first cylindrical body 8 and the second cylindrical body 9. To prevent.

  The toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S at the time of non-rotation in FIG. 4 is a state applied when the first cylinder 8 and the second cylinder 9 are arranged in a straight line and go straight on a flat road. . In the wheel drive transmission portion T inside the first and second cylindrical bodies 8 and 9, the first axle 3 and the second axle 4 are arranged on a straight line.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the second cylindrical body 9 is rotated by 90 degrees, the first axle 3 and the second axle 4 are bent at the universal joint 5 of the wheel drive transmission portion T, and the second cylindrical body 9 is rotated by 90 degrees. Thus, the toe angle and the camber angle of the tire 7 are changed. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the second cylindrical body 9 is rotated by 180 degrees. The first axle 3 and the second axle 4 are bent at the universal joint 5 of the wheel drive transmission portion T, and the camber angle is changed. In the present embodiment, regardless of the rotation of 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the rotation can be stopped at an appropriate angle, and the toe angle / camber angle can be changed with a simple structure.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment. In FIG. 7, 19 is a third cylindrical body, 19a is a third inclined cut surface, 19b is a fourth inclined cut surface, and 20 is a third axle. This second embodiment is a form in which a plurality of rotation devices K of the first embodiment are provided, and a third cylindrical body 19, a third axle 20, a universal joint 5 and a rotation device K are further added to the first embodiment. Is. The third cylindrical body 19 is provided between the first cylindrical body 8 and the second cylindrical body 9, and the third cylindrical body 19 has a third inclined cut surface 19 a facing the first inclined cut surface 8 a at one end. The other end has a fourth inclined cut surface 19b facing the second inclined cut surface 9a. Between the first cylindrical body 8 and the third cylindrical body 19 and between the second cylindrical body 9 and the third cylindrical body 19, a rotating device K similar to that of the first embodiment is provided. The third axle 20 is provided between the first axle 3 and the second axle 4. Universal joints 5 similar to those in the first embodiment are provided between the first axle 3 and the third axle 20 and between the second axle 4 and the third axle 20. Since the structure of the rotating device K and the universal joint 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is an operation diagram of the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, 21 is a third cover, 21a is a third cover inclined cut surface, 22 is a fourth cover, and 22a is a fourth cover inclined cut surface. The third cover 21 is provided between the first cylindrical cover 8 and the second cylindrical body 9, and the third cylindrical body 19 has a third inclined cut surface 19a facing the first inclined cut surface 8a at one end. The other end has a fourth inclined cut surface 19b facing the second inclined cut surface 9a. The third cover 21 covers one end of the third cylinder 19, and the fourth cover 22 covers the other end of the third cylinder 19. The third cover 21 has a third cover inclined cut surface 21a, and the fourth cover 22 has a fourth cover inclined cut surface 22a. By adopting such a configuration, the toe angle and camber angle can be controlled independently, so that finer settings can be made.

  In the present embodiment, the axle power transmission type vehicle has been described. However, the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S of the present invention may be used for an in-wheel motor type vehicle.

  In the present embodiment, the first cylindrical body 8, the second cylindrical body 9, and the third cylindrical body 19 are applied. However, a plurality of cylindrical bodies having the same structure can be applied.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the 1st member and the 2nd member were made into the cylindrical shape, members, such as a mere axis | shaft, may be sufficient. In that case, a plurality of members having the same structure can be applied.

  The rotating device is a motor having a rotor and a stator, but another mechanism such as a gear may be used.

  Further, the toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism S of the present embodiment is not used only at the time of wheel alignment setting, but can be used as a travel control device during vehicle travel and a steering device during turning. In that case, a steering device such as a vehicle running state detecting unit or a steering is applied as the input unit I of the present embodiment, and the toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism S is operated in conjunction with the running state detecting unit or the steering device. Control is performed by the control means C.

The figure which shows 1st embodiment of the toe angle | corner angle variable mechanism of this invention. Enlarged view of the rotation device of the first embodiment Block diagram of the first embodiment Diagram showing toe angle and camber angle variable mechanism when not rotating Diagram showing toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism rotated 90 degrees Diagram showing toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism rotated 180 degrees The figure which shows 2nd embodiment of this invention Operational diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention Diagram showing conventional technology

Explanation of symbols

  S ... Toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism, T ... Wheel drive transmission unit, A ... Toe angle / camber angle variable unit, K ... Rotating device, B ... Bearing, I ... Input means, C ... Control means, 1 ... Car body, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Drive means, 3 ... 1st axle, 4 ... 2nd axle, 5 ... 1st universal joint, 6 ... Wheel, 7 ... Tire, 8 ... 1st cylindrical body as an example of 1st member, 8a ... 1st Inclined cut surface, 9 ... Second cylindrical body as an example of the second member, 9a ... Second inclined cut surface, 10 ... Wheel support member, 11 ... Stator support member, 11a ... Support portion, 11b ... Stator support portion, 11c DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Ball bearing support part, 12 ... Stator, 13 ... Rotor, 14 ... Rotation angle detection means, 15 ... Ball bearing stand, 16 ... Ball bearing, 17 ... First cover, 18 ... Second cover, 19 ... Third cylinder , 19a ... Third inclined cutting , 19b ... fourth inclined cut surface, 20 ... third axle 21 ... third cover, 21a ... third cover inclined cut surface 22 ... fourth cover, 22a ... fourth cover inclined cut surface

Claims (5)

In a mechanism capable of changing a toe angle and a camber angle of a wheel, a wheel support member that supports the wheel in a relatively rotatable manner, a first inclined cut surface that supports one end on a vehicle body and tilts the other end with respect to a vertical plane A first member having a second inclined cutting surface opposite to the first inclined cutting surface at one end and coupled to the wheel support member at the other end, and the first member of the first member A toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism comprising: a rotation device that rotatably connects the second member along an inclined cut surface. The toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotating device includes a rotor and a stator. The toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotation device includes a rotation angle detection unit that detects a rotation angle of the second member. A third member is provided between the first member and the second member via the rotating device, and the third member has a third inclined cut surface with one end facing the first inclined cut surface, 4. The toe angle / camber angle variable mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth inclined cut surface facing the second inclined cut surface at an end. 5. The toe angle / camber angle varying mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the rotating device has a rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of the third member.

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