JP2007190943A - Suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension device capable of securing a space of a cabin or a baggage room without giving an influence on the kinetic performance of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This suspension device in which a coil spring 21 and an absorber are provided in parallel with each other is characterized by having a lower arm 3 connecting a wheel 2 and a vehicle body to each other and free to oscillate in the vertical direction, a first spring seat 24b fixed to the lower arm 3 freely to oscillate, a second spring seat 24a fixed to the vehicle body freely to oscillate and a coil spring 21 supported roughly vertically on the first and second spring seats. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension device for an automobile or the like, and more particularly to the arrangement of its spring.

  There is known a suspension device that uses a shock absorber and a coil spring in combination to absorb an impact received by a vehicle from a road surface. As a suspension device, there is a coil spring provided on the upper end side of the shock absorber, but there is a device in which the coil spring is arranged below the floor of the vehicle body in order to secure a space of a vehicle compartment or a trunk room (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  FIG. 3A shows an example of a conventional suspension device. In the suspension device of FIG. 3A, the upper part of the coil spring 102 is fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower part is fixed to the spring seat on the lower arm 101. The shock absorber 103 is connected to the strut mount of the vehicle, suspends the vehicle body together with the coil spring 102, and the lower arm 101 is swingably connected to the vehicle body member.

  In the suspension device configured as shown in FIG. 3A, when the suspension strokes, the lower part of the coil spring 102 swings as the lower arm 101 swings. However, since the upper part of the coil spring cannot be swung because it is attached to the vehicle body, a large angle difference is created between the upper part and the lower part of the coil spring 102. This angular difference causes a knee action in which the inside of the coil spring 102 is compressed from the outside or the outside is compressed from the inside.

  Because of this knee action, it is necessary to increase the number of turns of the coil spring so that the strength of the coil spring 102 can be ensured. For this reason, the coil wire length becomes long and the weight increases.

Therefore, a suspension device as shown in FIG. 3B has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). 3B, the coil spring 102 is disposed between the upper arm 104 and the lower arm 101, and the attachment position of the coil spring 102 of the upper arm 104 is more inward of the vehicle than the attachment position of the lower arm 101. Is provided. In the suspension apparatus as shown in FIG. 3B, when the suspension strokes and the lower arm 101 swings, the upper arm 104 also swings. At this time, since the upper arm side mounting portion is located inside the vehicle relative to the lower arm side mounting portion, the amount of movement of the upper arm side mounting portion is smaller than that of the lower arm side mounting portion. Thereby, the knee action of the coil spring 102 can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-119415 JP 7-32834 A

  However, in the suspension device described in Patent Document 2, since the coil spring 102 is disposed obliquely in the standard state, a force is input in the arm axial direction of the arm bush, which affects the motion performance of the vehicle.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension device that can secure a space in a passenger compartment or a trunk room without affecting the motion performance of the vehicle.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a suspension device in which a coil spring and an absorber are arranged side by side, which connects a wheel and a vehicle body, and is swingably connected to the lower arm and swingable to the lower arm. The first spring seat, a second spring seat that is swingably connected to the vehicle body, and a coil spring that is supported substantially perpendicular to the first and second spring seats.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the suspension apparatus which can ensure the space of a vehicle interior or a trunk room, without affecting the exercise | movement performance of a vehicle can be provided.

  Further, in one embodiment of the suspension device of the present invention, a predetermined space is provided between the first spring seat and the lower arm, and a substantially central portion of the first spring seat is connected via an elastic body. A predetermined space is provided between the seat and the vehicle body, and the approximate center of the second spring seat is connected via an elastic body.

  According to the present invention, since the first and second spring seats swing around the elastic portion that connects the spring seat and the vehicle body or the lower arm, it is possible to suppress the knee action when the wheel strokes.

  In one form of the suspension device of the present invention, the connection position of the first spring seat and the lower arm is above the vehicle relative to the support position where the first spring seat supports the coil spring, and the second spring seat And the elastic body is characterized in that the second spring seat is closer to the lower arm than the support position where the second spring seat supports the coil spring.

  According to the present invention, the center of swing of the first and second spring seats is located inside the coil spring relative to the support position of the coil spring, so that it is easy to provide a space for the first and second spring seats. It is easy to secure the swing amount.

  It is possible to provide a suspension device that can secure a space in a vehicle compartment or a trunk room without affecting the motion performance of the vehicle.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment. The wheel 2 is rotatably supported by an axle carrier 4. An upper arm 8 is connected to the upper portion of the axle carrier 4 via a ball joint 5, and the upper arm 8 is connected to a vehicle body via a bush 9. Yes. A lower arm 3 is connected to the lower portion of the axle carrier 4 via a ball joint 6, and the lower arm 3 is connected to the vehicle body via a bush 11. The wheel 2 can swing in the vertical direction by the ball joints 5 and 6 and the bushes 9 and 11. The ball joint 6 that connects the lower arm 3 and the lower side of the axle carrier 4 is located slightly below the ball joint 11 that connects to the vehicle body.

  Further, a lateral link 13 is connected to the axle carrier 4 via a ball joint 12. The lateral link 13 is connected to the vehicle body via a bush 14 and can swing in the vertical direction. The lateral link 3 plays an auxiliary role for ensuring the steering rigidity of the vehicle.

  The lower arm 3 is provided with a spring portion 7 that is fixed substantially vertically. The upper side of the spring portion 7 is fixed to a vehicle body such as a vehicle body or a trunk room.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the spring portion 7. The spring portion 7 includes a coil spring 21 of a push spring that shrinks while supporting the sprung weight, and a pair of spring support portions 20 a and 20 b that interpose the coil spring 21. In FIG. 2, the coil spring 21 has a constant coil diameter, but a non-linear spring having a large or small diameter at the center in the vertical direction may be used.

  As shown in a plan view, the spring support portions 20a and 20b have a substantially circular shape, and have a cup shape that is recessed so that the center portions of the spring support portions 20a and 20b face each other. The spring support portion 20a includes a spring seat 24a that supports the coil spring 21, and an elastic body 23a that connects the approximate center of the spring seat 24a to the vehicle body.

  The spring support 20a is engaged and fixed with a male screw provided on the vehicle body, and the spring support 20b is engaged and fixed with a male screw provided on the lower arm 3.

  In addition, a predetermined clearance CL is provided between the spring seat 24a and the vehicle body except for a central portion connected to the vehicle body. By supporting the central portion by the elastic body 23a and having the clearance CL, the spring seat 24a swings around the rotation center 25a.

  Similarly, the spring support portion 20b includes a spring seat 24b that supports the coil spring 21, and an elastic body 23b that connects the approximate center of the spring seat 24b to the vehicle body.

  Further, a predetermined clearance CL ′ is provided between the spring seat 24 b and the lower arm 3 except for the central portion connected to the lower arm 3. By supporting the central portion by the elastic body 23b and having the clearance CL ', the spring seat 24b swings around the rotation center 25b.

  The elastic bodies 23a and 23b enable the spring seats 24a and 24b to swing, and are made of, for example, rubber, rubber metal, resin, or the like. In addition, you may comprise the center parts 25a and 25b with a bush or a pillow ball. The spring sheets 24a and 24b are formed of metal such as iron or aluminum, fiber reinforced resin, or the like.

  The rotation center 25a is located closer to the lower arm 3 than the support position 26a at which the spring seat 24a supports the coil spring 21. Similarly, the rotation center 25b is closer to the vehicle body than the support position 26b where the spring seat 24b supports the coil spring 21.

  The clearances CL and CL ′ may be the same, or CL> CL ′ or CL <CL ′. The size of the clearance CL or CL 'is set to such an extent that the coil spring 21 contracts straight without causing a knee action when the suspension device 1 has a full stroke.

  According to the suspension device 1 of the present embodiment, the lower arm 3 swings upward when the suspension device 1 strokes upward as the wheel 2 moves upward. When the lower arm 3 swings, the spring support portion 20b fixed to the lower arm 3 also swings upward. However, since the spring support portion 20b has the clearance CL ′, the outer clearance CL ′ is centered on the central portion 25b. Is small and the spring seat 24b is rotated so that the inner clearance CL ′ is large.

  Since the spring seat 24a is connected to the spring seat 24b via the coil spring 21, it rotates according to the amount of rotation of the spring seat 24b. If the outer clearance of the spring seat 24b becomes narrower and the inner clearance becomes wider, the outer clearance of the spring seat 24a becomes wider and the inner clearance becomes narrower. That is, since the spring seats 24a and 24b rotate according to the stroke amount, the coil spring 21 can be contracted straight even if the lower arm 3 swings.

  In the suspension device 1 of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to set the design maximum stress of the coil spring 21 low in order to suppress the knee action, so that the coil spring wire length can be designed to be short and the weight can be reduced. Similarly, since the number of turns of the coil spring can be reduced, the height of the spring can be reduced, and it is easy to secure the size of the vehicle compartment and the trunk room. In addition, since the coil spring 21 is arranged vertically even in the standard state, no extra force is input to the arm bush.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given based on the rear wheel suspension device 1 of the vehicle. However, for example, the lateral link 13 can be replaced with a tie rod arm, and can be suitably applied to a front wheel suspension device.

It is a top view of a suspension apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a spring part. It is a figure which shows the conventional suspension apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

2 Wheel 3 Lower arm 4 Axle carrier 5, 6, 9, 11, 14 Bush 7 Spring part 8 Upper arm 20a, 20b Spring support part 23a, 23b Elastic body 24a, 24b Spring seat 25a, 25b Rotation center 26a, 26b Spring support position

Claims (3)

In the suspension device in which the coil spring and the absorber are arranged in parallel,
A lower arm that connects the wheel and the vehicle body and can swing in the vertical direction;
A first spring seat pivotably coupled to the lower arm;
A second spring seat pivotably coupled to the vehicle body;
A coil spring supported substantially vertically on the first and second spring seats;
A suspension device comprising: A predetermined space is provided between the first spring seat and the lower arm, and an approximate center of the first spring seat is connected via an elastic body,
A predetermined space is provided between the second spring seat and the vehicle body, and a substantially center of the second spring seat is connected via an elastic body.
The suspension device according to claim 1. The connection position of the first spring seat and the elastic body is above the vehicle than the support position where the first spring seat supports the coil spring,
The connection position of the second spring seat and the elastic body is closer to the lower arm than the support position at which the second spring seat supports the coil spring.
The suspension device according to claim 2.

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