JP2008133901A - Insulator and its installing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an insulator and its installing structure capable of preventing the infiltration of muddy water or the like into an inside by preventing the floating of a seating surface from a support member to prevent the formation of a clearance between the insulator and the support member. <P>SOLUTION: The insulator 1 is interposed between a coil spring 55 arranged in a suspension device and the support member 56 supporting the upper end of the coil spring 55, formed into a ring-platelike shape by a rubber elastic body, and coupled to and integrally formed with a dust cover 2 formed into a bellows cylindrical shape. A spacer 12 arranged in a state that it projects into a space formed on an extension line extending in a peripheral direction from the end of a coil wire by forming the spirally extending end of the coil wire of the coil spring 55 into a stepped shape, and abuts on the peripheral surface of the coil wire is provided on the lower surface of the insulator 1 opposite to the axial upper end surface of the coil spring 55. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an insulator that is interposed between a coil spring disposed in, for example, a suspension device of an automobile and a support member that supports an end of the coil spring, and performs vibration isolation between the two members and the assembly thereof. Concerning the structure.

  Conventionally, in an automobile suspension device, a shock absorber, a coil spring, a rubber mount, etc. are usually incorporated in order to absorb vibration transmitted from the road surface to the vehicle body through tires to improve the ride comfort. . For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the shock absorber (the body portion is not shown), the upper end portion of the piston rod 51 is elastically attached to the body panel (not shown) by the nut 52 via the rubber mount 53, the bearing member 54, and the like. It is connected and fixed, and its lower end is fixed to a support member (not shown) provided on the wheel side.

  The coil spring 55 coaxially disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shock absorber is held at the tip of the piston rod 51 of the shock absorber and supported at the upper end thereof by an upper support member 56 provided on the body side. At the same time, it is attached so that its lower end is supported by a lower support member (not shown) provided on the wheel side.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an elastic material such as rubber is used between the coil spring 55 and the upper and lower support members 56 in order to prevent noise and wear. An insulator 61 formed in a disc shape or a ring plate shape is interposed in the body, and the insulator 61 performs vibration isolation between the members 55 and 56. As such an insulator 61, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the insulator 61 is disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the piston rod 51 of the shock absorber, and dust on the sliding portion of the piston rod 51 is disposed. It is also known that it is integrally formed by being connected to a cylindrical dust cover 62 that prevents intrusion of water.

  By the way, the coil spring 55 is usually manufactured by spirally winding a steel wire or the like, and therefore, at the end portion in the axial direction of the coil spring 55, the coil wire finally makes a spiral. A step portion is formed by the axial end surface of the coil wire terminal extending in a shape. Therefore, on the axial end surface of the coil spring 55, a “deviation” having a length corresponding to the stepped portion in the axial direction of the coil spring 55 is formed on an extension line extending in the circumferential direction from the axial end surface of the coil wire terminal. It becomes.

  The “displacement” formed on the axial end surface of the coil spring 55 is processed so as to eliminate the spiral inclination of the portion where the coil wire finally makes a round at the axial end portion, or the end portion of the coil wire. The thickness can be reduced by cutting obliquely so that the thickness becomes thinner as it approaches the terminal, and processing so as to eliminate the axial end surface of the coil wire terminal. However, if these processes are performed in order to eliminate the “deviation” completely, special equipment and equipment are required, which leads to a significant increase in manufacturing cost. It is often stopped.

  For this reason, when the insulator 61 is disposed in the suspension device employing the coil spring 55 in which such “displacement” is formed on the axial end face, as shown in FIG. In the region where the “displacement” is formed, the insulator 61 does not sit in contact with the upper support member 56 and is lifted up from the upper support member 56, and there is a gap between the insulator 61 and the upper support member 56. There arises a problem that A is formed. When the gap A is formed in this way, the muddy water enters the inside of the insulator 61 from the gap A, and further, the muddy water also enters the sliding portion of the dust piston rod 51.

  The phenomenon that the gap A is formed by the seat surface floating from the upper support member 56 of the insulator 61 is formed between the axial end surface of the coil spring 55 and the insulator 61 due to the “displacement” of the coil spring 55. Not only is the insulator 61 bent into the space due to its own weight, but a large load is applied only to a portion where the coil spring 55 is not “displaced” with respect to the insulator 61, so the distortion is irregular. It is thought that the main cause is that the insulator 61 is irregularly elastically deformed due to concentration. Therefore, also in the case of an insulator interposed between the lower end portion of the coil spring 55 and the lower support member that supports the lower end portion, the clearance A is caused by the seat surface floating from the lower support member as described above. The phenomenon that can be formed can occur.

JP 2000-186731 A JP 2005-16641 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents the occurrence of floating of the seating surface from the support member so that no gap is formed between the support member and the like such as muddy water to the inside. It is an object to be solved to provide an insulator and an assembly structure thereof that can prevent intrusion.

  An insulator according to the present invention that solves the above problems is formed in a ring plate shape by an elastic body, and is interposed between a coil spring and a support member that supports an end surface in the axial direction of the coil spring. Insulator that performs insulation, on the axial end surface of the coil spring, a terminal portion of a coil wire that extends in a spiral shape has a stepped shape, thereby forming a space formed on an extension line extending in a circumferential direction from the terminal A spacer portion that protrudes and is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil wire is provided on a surface facing the axial end surface of the coil spring.

  The insulator according to the present invention is interposed between a coil spring formed so that the end of a coil wire spirally extending on an axial end face has a stepped shape and a support member that supports the axial end face of the coil spring. Is done. At this time, the spacer portion provided on the facing surface of the insulator facing the axial end surface of the coil spring is formed on an extension line extending in the circumferential direction from the end of the stepped coil wire on the axial end surface of the coil spring. And is disposed in a state of coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil wire located outwardly in the axial direction of the coil spring. Accordingly, even when a large load is irregularly applied to the insulator and the insulator is irregularly elastically deformed, the spacer portion prevents the seat from floating from the support member of the insulator. Therefore, a gap is surely prevented from being formed between the insulator and the support member, so that it is possible to prevent muddy water or the like from entering the inside of the insulator.

  As a preferable aspect of the insulator of the present invention, the protruding tip of the spacer portion is set to be inclined in the circumferential direction corresponding to the inclination angle of the spirally extending coil wire. Since the spacer portion is set in this manner, the protruding tip comes into contact with the coil wire in the entire region of the spacer portion, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent the seat surface from floating from the support member of the insulator. One spacer portion may be provided continuously in the circumferential direction, or a plurality of spacer portions may be provided at a distance in the circumferential direction.

  As another preferable aspect of the insulator of the present invention, a seal lip that protrudes in the axial direction toward the support member and extends in the circumferential direction is provided at least at a portion corresponding to the spacer portion at the inner peripheral end. If it does in this way, it can prevent more reliably that a clearance gap is formed between an insulator and a support member by a seal lip press-contacting to a support member. In addition, although it is preferable to provide this seal lip over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral end, it is possible to obtain a sufficient effect even if it is provided only in a portion corresponding to the spacer portion.

  Moreover, as a preferable aspect when the seal lip is provided as described above, a recess that allows the seal lip to fall is formed on the inner peripheral side of the seal lip. If it is made like this, when the seal lip is pressed against the support member and elastically deformed, the seal lip easily falls to the inner peripheral side, and a good pressure contact state with the support member can be obtained. The sealing function can be exhibited more reliably.

  As still another preferred aspect of the insulator of the present invention, dust is applied to the sliding portion of the piston rod which is disposed so as to cover the piston rod of the shock absorber disposed on the inner peripheral side of the coil spring from the outer peripheral side. It is integrally formed by being connected to a cylindrical dust cover that prevents intrusion. If it is made like this, since the insulator and the dust cover formed by vulcanization molding can be efficiently formed simultaneously by one vulcanization molding, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced. Further, the dust cover is integrally formed with the insulator of the present invention, thereby more reliably preventing intrusion of muddy water or the like into the sliding portion of the piston rod disposed on the inner peripheral side of the dust cover. be able to.

  And the assembly structure of the insulator according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is characterized in that the insulator is coaxially disposed on the outer periphery side of the shock absorber in the suspension device and the piston of the shock absorber. It is characterized by being interposed between the support member held at the tip of the rod.

  Since the insulator assembly structure according to the present invention is the one in which the insulator is assembled with respect to the suspension device provided with the sliding portion of the piston rod that requires countermeasures against the intrusion of muddy water, the insulator of the present invention It is possible to effectively exhibit the effect of preventing the intrusion of muddy water and the like.

  The insulator according to the present invention protrudes into a space portion formed on an extension line extending in the circumferential direction from the end of the coil wire extending in a spiral shape on the end surface in the axial direction of the coil spring, thereby protruding the coil wire. Since the spacer portion arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring is provided on the surface facing the axial end surface of the coil spring, it is supported so that no gap is formed between the spacer and the support member. Occurrence of floating of the seat from the member can be prevented, and muddy water can be reliably prevented from entering the insulator.

  Also, the insulator assembly structure of the present invention is a coil in which the insulator described above, which can prevent the occurrence of floating of the seating surface from the support member, is coaxially disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shock absorber in the suspension device. Since a gap is not formed between the insulator and the support member because it is interposed between the upper end of the spring and the support member held at the tip of the piston rod of the shock absorber, the insulator Infiltration of muddy water into the inside and further into the sliding portion of the piston rod can be reliably prevented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction of an insulator with a dust cover according to the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the insulator. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the insulator, FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main part of the insulator according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembly structure in which the insulator is assembled.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the insulator 1 of the present embodiment is interposed between a coil spring 55 disposed in a suspension device of an automobile and an upper support member 56 that supports the upper end portion of the coil spring 55. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the rubber material is vulcanized and formed, and is integrally formed with a dust cover 2 formed in a bellows cylindrical shape.

  The insulator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body portion 11 formed in a ring plate shape, a spacer portion 12 provided on a lower surface of the main body portion 11 (a surface facing the upper end surface in the axial direction of the coil spring 55), and a main body portion. 11 and a seal lip 13 provided at the inner peripheral end. The main body 11 is formed in a ring plate shape having a substantially constant width over the entire circumference. An annular recess 11a is provided in a range from the substantially central portion in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the main body 11 to the upper end so as to be recessed radially outward from the inner peripheral surface and to make one round in the circumferential direction. Yes. The upper surface of the main body 11 is provided with a plurality of recesses 11b formed in a substantially rectangular shape at a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction so as to spread from a position close to the inner peripheral end side to the outer peripheral end from the center in the width direction. ing.

  The spacer portion 12 protrudes in the axial direction from the lower surface of the main body portion 11 and is formed in an arc shape extending in the circumferential direction with substantially the same width as the main body portion 11. (An angle range of about 75 ° in FIG. 2). The protruding tip of the spacer portion 12 is set so as to be inclined in the circumferential direction corresponding to the inclination angle of the coil wire extending spirally of the coil spring 55 (see FIG. 4).

  In this case, the spacer portion 12 is provided adjacent to the base end portion 12a and the base end portion 12a provided on the one end side in the circumferential direction and having a flat protruding tip surface, and away from the base end portion 12a in the circumferential direction. Along with (in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2), the projecting tip end surface is composed of an inclined portion 12b that is inclined so as to gradually become lower. The base end portion 12 a is provided in a range of about 1 / 3.5 of the circumferential length of the spacer portion 12. That is, the spacer portion 12 is formed on an extension line extending in the circumferential direction from the terminal end of the coil wire extending in a spiral shape on the upper end surface in the axial direction of the coil spring 55 by forming a step shape on the end surface of the coil wire. It is configured so as to protrude into the space and to be in contact with the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the coil wire.

  The seal lip 13 protrudes in the axial direction from the inner peripheral end of the upper surface of the main body 11 toward the upper support member 56, and is provided over the entire periphery so as to continuously extend along the inner peripheral end. On the inner peripheral side of the seal lip 13, the annular recess 11a is provided adjacent to the base of the seal lip 13 so as to allow the seal lip 13 to fall into the inner peripheral side.

  The dust cover 2 integrally formed with the insulator 1 includes a cylindrical connecting portion 21 having an upper end connected to an inner peripheral side end portion of the lower surface of the main body portion 11 of the insulator 1, and a connecting portion 21. It is comprised from the bellows cylindrical cover main-body part 27 connected with the lower end. An annular bottom wall portion 23 is provided at the lower portion of the connecting portion 21 so as to extend radially inward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 22 and to make a round in the circumferential direction with a predetermined width.

  On the inner peripheral side of the annular bottom wall portion 23, an inner peripheral wall portion 24 rising upward from the inner peripheral end is provided so as to make one round in the circumferential direction. As a result, an annular groove 25 is formed inside the annular bottom wall portion 23 so as to make a round in the circumferential direction along the annular bottom wall portion 23. The annular groove 25 is provided with a plurality of drain holes 26,..., 26 that pass through the annular bottom wall portion 23 and open to the lower surface of the annular bottom wall portion 23 at a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction. Rainwater or the like that has entered the groove 25 is discharged to the outside of the dust cover 2 through the drain holes 26,. The upper end of the bellows cylindrical cover body 27 is connected to the inner peripheral end of the annular bottom wall 23.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the insulator 1 with the dust cover 2 of the present embodiment configured as described above is coaxial with the outer peripheral side of a shock absorber (a body portion is not shown) in the suspension device of an automobile. The coil spring 55 is disposed between the upper end portion of the coil spring 55 and the upper support member 56 held at the tip end portion of the piston rod 51 of the shock absorber for use. In this case, the dust cover 2 connected to the lower end of the insulator 1 is disposed so as to cover the sliding portion of the piston rod 51 of the shock absorber from the outer peripheral side. The suspension device shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the conventional suspension device shown in FIG. 7, and therefore, the same members are only given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  And when the insulator 1 is arrange | positioned as mentioned above, the spacer part 12 provided in the opposing surface of the insulator 1 which opposes the axial direction upper end surface of the coil spring 55 is in the axial direction upper end surface of the coil spring 55, The coil wire enters the space formed on the extended line extending in the circumferential direction from the end of the coiled wire, and is on the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the coil wire located on the outermost side (upper side) in the axial direction of the coil spring 55. It arrange | positions in the state contact | abutted. Accordingly, even when a large load is irregularly applied to the insulator 1 and the insulator 1 is irregularly elastically deformed, the spacer portion 12 causes the seat surface to float from the upper support member 56 of the insulator 1. Is prevented. Therefore, a gap is reliably prevented from being formed between the insulator 1 and the upper support member 56, so that muddy water or the like can be prevented from entering the inside of the insulator 1.

  On the other hand, when the seal lip 13 provided on the inner peripheral end of the upper surface of the main body 11 of the insulator 1 is elastically deformed by being pressed against the lower surface of the upper support member 56, an annular recess 11a is provided on the inner peripheral side thereof. As a result, it easily falls to the inner peripheral side and is in a good pressure contact with the upper support member 56. Therefore, a good sealing function by the seal lip 13 is surely exhibited.

  As described above, the insulator 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the spacer portion 12 on the facing surface (the lower surface of the insulator 1) facing the upper end surface in the axial direction of the coil spring 55. Occurrence of floating of the seat surface from the upper support member 56 can be prevented so that a gap is not formed between the member 56 and the infiltration of muddy water into the insulator 1 can be reliably prevented. . Further, since the protruding tip of the spacer portion 12 is set so as to be inclined in the circumferential direction corresponding to the inclination angle of the coil wire extending spirally of the coil spring 55, it protrudes in the entire circumferential direction of the spacer portion 12. Since the tip comes into contact with the coil wire, it is possible to more reliably prevent the seat surface from floating on the upper support member 56 of the insulator 1.

  Moreover, since the insulator 1 of this embodiment is provided with the seal lip 13 protruding in the axial direction at the inner peripheral end of the main body 11 so as to go to the upper support member 56, the seal lip When the pressure contact 13 is in pressure contact with the upper support member 56, it is possible to more reliably prevent a gap from being formed between the insulator 1 and the upper support member 56. Further, since an annular recess 11 a that allows the seal lip 13 to fall is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 11 that is the inner peripheral side of the seal lip 13, the seal lip 13 is connected to the upper support member 56. When elastically deforming by pressure contact, the seal lip 13 easily falls to the inner peripheral side, so that the sealing function by the seal lip 13 can be more reliably exhibited.

  In addition, although the spacer part 12 employ | adopted in this embodiment is comprised by the one thing of the circular arc shape continuously extended in the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. The plurality of spacer portions 15a, 15b, 15c formed in the above may be arranged at a distance in the circumferential direction. In this case, the protruding heights of the spacer portions 15a, 15b, and 15c are appropriately set so that the protruding ends of the spacer portions 15a, 15b, and 15c are inclined in the circumferential direction in accordance with the inclination angle of the coil wire that extends spirally of the coil spring 55.

It is sectional drawing which follows the axial direction of the insulator with a dust cover which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the II sectional view taken on the line in FIG.2 and FIG.3. It is a bottom view of an insulator with a dust cover concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of an insulator with a dust cover concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the insulator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the insulator which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the assembly structure with which the insulator with a dust cover which concerns on embodiment of this invention was assembled | attached. It is sectional drawing which shows the assembly structure in which the insulator with a conventional dust cover was assembled | attached.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 61 ... Insulator, 11 ... Main-body part, 11a ... Annular recessed part, 11b ... Recessed part, 12, 15a, 15b, 15c ... Spacer part, 12a ... Base end part, 12b ... Inclined part, 13 ... Seal lip, 2, 62 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Dust cover, 21 ... Connection part, 22 ... Cylindrical part, 23 ... Annular bottom wall part, 24 ... Inner peripheral wall part, 25 ... Annular groove, 26 ... Drain hole, 27 ... Cover main body part, 51 ... Piston rod, 52 ... Nut, 53 ... rubber mount, 54 ... bearing member, 55 ... coil spring, 56 ... upper support member.

Claims (6)

An insulator that is formed into a ring plate shape by an elastic body, is interposed between a coil spring and a support member that supports the axial end surface of the coil spring, and performs vibration isolation between the two members.
On the end face in the axial direction of the coil spring, the end of the coil wire extending in a spiral shape has a stepped shape so that it protrudes into a space formed on an extension line extending in the circumferential direction from the end, and the outer peripheral surface of the coil wire An insulator, wherein a spacer portion disposed in contact with the coil spring is provided on a surface facing the axial end surface of the coil spring.   2. The insulator according to claim 1, wherein a protruding tip of the spacer portion is set to be inclined in a circumferential direction corresponding to an inclination angle of the coil wire extending in a spiral shape.   The insulator according to claim 1, wherein a seal lip that protrudes in the axial direction toward the support member and extends in the circumferential direction is provided at least at a portion corresponding to the spacer portion at the inner peripheral end.   The insulator according to claim 3, wherein a recess that allows the seal lip to fall is formed on an inner peripheral side of the seal lip.   A shock absorber disposed on the inner peripheral side of the coil spring is disposed so as to cover the piston rod from the outer peripheral side, and is connected to a cylindrical dust cover that prevents dust from entering the sliding portion of the piston rod. The insulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insulator is integrally formed.   The insulator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is held at an upper end portion of the coil spring and a tip end portion of a piston rod of the shock absorber that are coaxially disposed on an outer peripheral side of the shock absorber in the suspension device. An insulator assembly structure, wherein the insulator assembly structure is interposed between the support member and the support member.

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