JP2008221946A - Elastic member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic member having satisfactory performances of water-proofing and dust-proofing. <P>SOLUTION: The elastic member 7 of the present invention is interposed between a buffering means 4 composing a suspension device 1 and a support means 6 for supporting an upper end part of the buffering means 4. The elastic member 7 is characterized by comprising a circular projection 7a projecting upward on the inner peripheral side of a circular part abutted to the support means 6 of the elastic member 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an elastic member suitable for being applied to a suspension device of a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, and a bus.

  A spring constituting a suspension device of a vehicle is, for example, a strut type suspension device formed and arranged so as to swirl a shock absorber, and a lower end of the spring is joined to a strut outer shell of the shock absorber. While being supported by the seat, the upper end portion thereof is supported by an upper spring seat connected to the rod of the shock absorber.

By the way, the upper spring seat is formed in a substantially disc shape, and the lower surface side thereof is provided with a protrusion that fits on the inner peripheral side of the coil constituting the spring, and on the outer peripheral side of the protrusion. An annular plane portion that supports the upper end of the spring is provided. Between the upper spring seat and the upper end of the coil, an elastic member as described in Patent Document 1, that is, an upper spring insulator is interposed, and the upper spring insulator has a bellows portion and has a shock absorber By integrally forming a dust cover that covers up to the upper part of the strut outer shell, muddy water and dust are prevented from entering the rod of the shock absorber and the upper end of the strut outer shell.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-49396

  However, in the upper spring insulator described in Patent Document 1, the upper end portion of the spring that comes into contact with the annular flat surface portion of the upper spring seat is wound in a spiral shape constituting the spring. Since the coil has an end face that is broken in a plane perpendicular to the winding center, there is a portion where the coil is not present in the circumferential direction, and immediately above the portion where the coil of the spring is not present, The upper spring insulator is not biased upward from below by the upper end of the spring.

  For this reason, the upper spring insulator that is not urged upward from below by the upper end of the spring hangs down due to gravity and the reaction of the spring that is urged upward, and the annular shape of the upper spring insulator and the upper spring seat There is a gap between the flat part of the two parts, and muddy water and dust enter the shock absorber rod and the upper end of the strut outer shell from this gap, ensuring sufficient waterproof and dustproof performance. Absent.

  An object of this invention is to provide the elastic member which has sufficient waterproof and dustproof performance in view of the said problem.

In order to solve the above problem, the elastic member according to the present invention is:
An elastic member interposed between the buffer means constituting the suspension device and the support means for supporting the upper end portion of the buffer means,
An annular protrusion that protrudes upward is provided on the innermost circumferential side of the annular portion that contacts the support means of the elastic member.

  Here, the buffer means constituting the suspension device specifically refers to a spring, and the support means specifically refers to an upper spring seat that supports the upper end portion of the spring. The elastic member specifically refers to an upper spring insulator interposed between a spring and an upper spring seat.

  Here, it is preferable that the elastic member includes radial protrusions extending radially at the annular portion, and the protrusion amount of the annular protrusion is equal to or greater than the protrusion amount of the radial protrusion.

  Usually, the elastic member has a function of preventing intrusion of muddy water and dust into the shock absorber rod and the upper end of the strut outer shell from the gap between the buffer means and the support means. In order to adjust the spring constant of the entire suspension device together with the spring constant of the means, a radial protrusion is provided on the annular portion of the elastic member that contacts the support means.

  Even in such a case, when the amount of protrusion of the annular protrusion is equal to or greater than the amount of protrusion of the radial protrusion, when the elastic member is sandwiched between the buffer means and the support means, The annular protrusion is surely brought into contact with the support means, and there is no gap between the elastic member and the support means. From this gap, the rod of the shock absorber and the upper end of the strut outer shell On the other hand, it is possible to reliably prevent muddy water and dust from entering.

  In addition, since the annular protrusion functions as a wall for blocking the muddy water and dust on the path where the muddy water and dust enter the shock absorber rod and the upper end of the strut outer shell from the outside, the elastic member and the Even if a gap is generated between the support means and the annular projection, the annular protrusion can prevent muddy water and dust from entering.

  Furthermore, by providing such an annular protrusion, the rigidity of the elastic member in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, that is, in the direction of gravity can be increased. Therefore, the buffer means is configured at the upper end of the buffer means. Even when the elastic member cannot obtain a sufficient supporting force from the lower side to the upper side immediately above the portion where the coil does not exist, specifically, the coil does not exist, the high rigidity makes the elastic member It can be prevented from dropping due to gravity and a reaction by the spring of the upwardly biased portion, thereby creating a gap between the elastic member and the support means, and the shock absorber rod from the outside It is possible to prevent muddy water and dust from entering the upper end portion of the strut outer shell.

  Further, since the annular protrusion is provided on the elastic member even immediately above the portion of the elastic member at the upper end of the buffer means where the member constituting the buffer means does not exist, the annular protrusion is provided. The amount of protrusion of the portion can prevent a gap from being generated between the elastic member and the support member, so that muddy water and dust can be externally applied to the shock absorber rod and the upper end of the strut outer shell. Intrusion can be prevented.

  In addition, by providing the annular protrusion on the innermost peripheral side, the elastic member is applied to the support means by the urging force from the lower side to the upper side from the buffer means on the outer peripheral side of the annular protrusion. Due to the fact that the annular protrusion protrudes from the other portions of the elastic member, the elastic member on the outer peripheral side is relatively higher than the annular protrusion. The buffer means is pressed against the support means. As a result, the annular protrusion of the elastic member is further pressed against the support means, and the gap between the elastic member and the support means is eliminated, and the rod of the shock absorber and the strut outer shell are externally provided. It is possible to prevent muddy water and dust from entering the upper end portion of the.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an elastic member that is applied to a suspension device and has sufficient waterproof and dustproof performance.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an upper spring insulator integrated dust cover according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension device 1 to which the upper spring insulator of this embodiment is applied includes a knuckle mounting bracket 2, a shock absorber 3, a spring 4, a lower arm (not shown), a lower spring seat 5, An upper spring seat 6 and an upper spring insulator 7 are provided.

  The knuckle mounting bracket 2 is for mounting a knuckle (not shown) that rotatably supports a tire and a wheel (not shown), and a knuckle lower end (not shown) is arranged in the vehicle width direction of an A arm-shaped lower arm (not shown) via a ball joint The upper end portion is connected to the outer end portion, and the upper end portion is connected to the lower end portion of the strut outer shell 3 a constituting the cylinder of the shock absorber 3.

  The shock absorber 3 has an upper end portion of the rod 3b connected to the vehicle body side via a bush, and a lower end portion of the strut outer shell 3a connected to an upper end portion of a knuckle (not shown) to remove a knuckle (not shown) from a tire and a wheel. The knuckle mounting bracket 2 is prevented from continuing to vibrate due to the vibration from the road surface transmitted to the knuckle mounting bracket 2 through the damping force, and the knuckle mounting bracket 2 is coupled to the vehicle body side.

  The spring 4 is provided in a disc shape on the side of the vehicle body near the upper end of the rod 3b and the lower spring seat 5 provided in the shape of a disc near the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the strut outer shell 3a of the shock absorber 3. It is sandwiched between the upper spring seat 6 and formed so as to swirl around the rod 3b, so that vibration transmitted from the tire and the wheel to the vehicle body side via the knuckle mounting bracket 2 is reduced.

  The upper spring seat 6 has an annular flat surface that supports the upper end portion of the spring 4, and includes an annular protrusion 6 a that is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the spring 4, and the spring 4 is compressed. When the upper spring seat 6 is moved closer to the lower spring seat 5 in the direction in which the spring 4 is moved, a stronger force is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the spring 4.

  Here, the lower arm (not shown) is configured by a so-called A arm that extends in the vehicle width direction and is formed so that the inner side in the vehicle width branches into a bifurcated shape. The apex side is connected to the lower end of the knuckle (not shown) via a ball joint, and the two inward in the vehicle width direction, that is, on the opposite side to the apex side of the A arm, can be swung to the vehicle body side via a bush. They are connected to connect a knuckle (not shown) and the vehicle body.

  The upper spring insulator 7 is composed of rubber rubber interposed between the spring 4 and the upper spring seat 6, and is the outermost portion of the annular portion of the upper spring insulator 7 that faces the upper spring seat 6. An annular protrusion 7a protruding upward is provided on the inner peripheral side. In addition, the outer peripheral side of the annular spring projection 7 a of the upper spring insulator 7 is formed in an annular shape, and this portion is interposed between the spring 4 and the upper spring seat 6.

  Further, the inner peripheral side of the upper spring insulator 7 with respect to the annular protrusion 7a is formed as a bellows-like dust cover portion 7c extending downward and enclosing the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end portion of the strut outer shell 3a. The lower end of the dust cover portion 7c is in contact with the lower spring seat 5 or the lower spring insulator 5a.

  This upper spring insulator 7 has a function of preventing muddy water and dust from entering the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end portion of the strut outer shell 3a from the outside, and preventing the damping function of the shock absorber 3 from being lowered. .

  In addition, the upper spring insulator 7 has a function of preventing noise due to relative movement between the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the strut outer shell 3a from leaking to the outside, thereby preventing an increase in noise.

  Furthermore, as will be described later, a portion of the upper spring insulator 7 that is located on the outer peripheral side of the annular protrusion 7 a and is sandwiched between the spring 4 and the upper spring seat 6 matches the spring constant of the spring 4. Thus, it also has a function of adjusting the spring constant of the suspension device 1 as a whole.

  The shock absorber 3 constitutes a damping means of the suspension device 1, the spring 4 constitutes a buffer means, and the upper spring seat 6 constitutes a support means. Further, the upper spring insulator 7 constitutes an elastic member. Hereinafter, the upper spring insulator 7 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the upper spring insulator 7 of the suspension device 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the upper spring insulator 7 shown in FIG. 1 in a cross section including the central axis along with the upper spring seat 6. FIGS. 4 to 6 are schematic views showing how the upper spring insulator 7 shown in FIG. 3 contacts the upper spring seat 6. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the spring 4 of the suspension device 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an annular projecting portion 7 a that protrudes upward is provided on the innermost peripheral side of the annular portion of the upper spring insulator 7 that faces the upper spring seat 6. In addition, the upper spring insulator 7 includes radial protrusions 7 b that extend radially at an annular portion facing the upper spring seat 6.

  Along with this, the protruding amount of the annular protrusion 7a is set to be equal to or larger than the protruding amount of the radial protrusion 7b. The radial protrusions 7b are configured in a rib shape extending radially from the inner periphery side to the outer periphery side, for example, from 12 locations on the circumference of the annular protrusion 7a. Thus, by providing the radial protrusions 7b on the annular portion of the upper spring insulator 8 that faces the upper spring seat 6, the spring constant of the suspension device 1 as a whole is adjusted together with the spring constant of the spring 4. .

  Even when the upper spring insulator 7 includes the radial protrusions 7b as described above, the upper spring insulator 7 is allowed to have the spring 4 and the upper spring by making the protrusion amount of the annular protrusion 7a equal to or greater than the protrusion amount of the radial protrusion 7b. When sandwiched between the upper and lower seats 6, the annular protrusion 7 a is surely brought into contact with the upper spring seat 6, eliminating the gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent muddy water and dust from entering the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end of the strut outer shell 3a from this gap.

  Moreover, since the outer peripheral side wall surface of the annular projection 7a functions as a wall that blocks the path on the path where muddy water and dust enter the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end of the strut outer shell 3a from the outside, Even if there is a gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6, the outer peripheral side wall surface of the annular projection 7a can prevent entry of muddy water and dust.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 7, the spring 4 constituting the suspension device 1 has a spiral shape that constitutes the spring 4 at the upper end portion that abuts against the annular flat portion of the upper spring seat 6 and thus the upper spring insulator 7. Since the end surface 4a of the form which fractured | ruptured the coil wound by 1 in the plane perpendicular | vertical with respect to the winding center C exists, the part R which a coil does not exist exists in the circumferential direction.

  However, in the upper spring insulator 7, by providing the annular protrusion 7 a as described above, the sectional moment in the circumferential section of the upper spring insulator 7 is increased, and the circumferential direction of the upper spring insulator 7 is increased. The bending rigidity with respect to the vertical direction, that is, the gravity direction can be increased.

  For this reason, in the upper end portion of the spring 4, in the portion R where the coil constituting the spring 4 does not exist, the upper spring insulator 7 cannot obtain a sufficient supporting force from below to above by the spring 4. Due to the high rigidity of the spring insulator 7, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper spring insulator 7 immediately above the portion R where no coil exists is deformed and hangs down due to gravity and the reaction of the spring 4 at the portion biased upward. This can be prevented. Thereby, a clearance gap arises between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6, and it can prevent that muddy water and dust penetrate | invade.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an annular protrusion 7 a is provided on the upper spring insulator 7 even immediately above a portion R of the upper end of the spring 4 where the coil constituting the spring 4 does not exist. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 due to the protruding amount of the annular protrusion 7a, and thereby the rod of the shock absorber 3 from the outside. It is possible to prevent muddy water and dust from entering the upper ends of 3b and the strut outer shell 3a.

  At the same time, the occurrence of a gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 prevents the noise caused by the relative motion between the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the strut outer shell 3a from leaking to the outside. And the function of preventing an increase in noise can be enhanced.

  In addition, by providing the annular protrusion 7a on the innermost peripheral side of the upper spring insulator 7, the upper spring insulator 7 is separated from the spring 4 on the outer peripheral side of the annular protrusion 7a as shown in FIG. It is pressed against the upper spring seat 6 by the urging force from below to above.

  As a result, the upper spring insulator 7 positioned on the outer peripheral side of the annular protrusion 7a is urged upward from below by the upper end of the spring 4, and is pressed against the upper spring seat 6, so that the annular protrusion 7a is Due to the protrusion of the upper spring insulator 7 other than the other portions, the annular protrusion 7a is pressed against the upper spring seat 6 with a stronger force.

  Thereby, the clearance gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 can be eliminated, and intrusion of muddy water and dust into the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end of the strut outer shell 3a can be prevented. In addition, the occurrence of a gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 prevents the noise caused by the relative motion between the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the strut outer shell 3a from leaking to the outside. It is possible to enhance the function of preventing noise from increasing.

  Further, since the upper spring seat 6 of the suspension device 1 of this embodiment is of an inner peripheral restraint type that restrains the inner peripheral side of the spring 4, it is interposed between the upper spring seat 6 and the spring 4. By providing the annular protrusion 7a that protrudes upward on the innermost circumferential side of the annular portion that contacts the upper spring seat 6 of the upper spring insulator 7, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, when the spring 4 is compressed, that is, when the upper spring seat 6 is displaced toward the lower spring seat 5, a large force acts on the inner peripheral side of the spring 4 from the protrusion 6 a of the upper spring seat 6. Therefore, the annular projection 7a is sufficiently compressed by this force, and the gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 can be further effectively eliminated.

  This also prevents muddy water and dust from entering the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the upper end of the strut outer shell 3a, and prevents the gap between the upper spring insulator 7 and the upper spring seat 6 from being generated. By doing so, it is possible to prevent noise due to relative movement between the rod 3b of the shock absorber 3 and the strut outer shell 3a from leaking to the outside, and to further effectively prevent an increase in noise.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. be able to.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the suspension device 1 to which the upper spring insulator 7 is applied is of a strut type. However, in the suspension device using the spring 4, the gap between the spring 4 and the upper spring seat 6 is used. Any suspension device may be used as long as it is necessary to prevent muddy water and dust from entering.

  Further, in this embodiment, the upper spring insulator 7 is provided with the radial protrusions 7b. However, when it is not necessary to adjust the spring constant of the suspension device 1 as a whole, such radial protrusions 7b are used. Can be omitted.

  Further, the annular protrusion 7a provided on the upper spring insulator 7 may have the same protrusion amount on the outer peripheral side portion, and is positioned immediately above the portion R where the coil at the upper end portion of the spring 4 does not exist. It is good also as a thing of the form which makes a protrusion amount larger in the part to perform than the part which is not located on it.

  Further, the width of the annular protrusion 7a provided on the upper spring insulator 7 may be uniform on the circumference, or in the portion located immediately above the portion R where the coil at the upper end of the spring 4 does not exist. It is good also as what has a bigger width | variety than the part which is not located directly above.

  The present invention relates to a spring insulator that is suitable for use in a vehicle suspension device. Due to a relatively simple configuration and minor changes, muddy water and dust are applied to the shock absorber rod and the upper end of a strut outer shell. Since intrusion can be prevented, it is useful in enhancing safety by applying to various vehicles such as ordinary passenger cars, trucks, and buses.

It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a suspension device to which a spring insulator concerning the present invention is applied. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a spring insulator concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a spring insulator concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a spring insulator concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a spring insulator concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a spring insulator concerning the present invention. It is the schematic diagram showing the spring shape in the suspension apparatus with which the spring insulator which concerns on this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suspension apparatus 2 Bracket for knuckle installation 3 Shock absorber 3a Strut outer shell 3b Rod 4 Spring 5 Lower spring seat 5a Lower spring insulator 6 Upper spring seat 6a Projection 7 Upper spring insulator 7a Circular projection 7b Radial projection 7c Dust cover Part

Claims (2)

An elastic member interposed between the buffer means constituting the suspension device and the support means for supporting the upper end portion of the buffer means,
An elastic member comprising an annular protrusion protruding upward on the innermost peripheral side of an annular portion that contacts the support means of the elastic member.   2. The elasticity according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member includes radial protrusions extending radially in the annular portion, and a protrusion amount of the annular protrusion is equal to or more than a protrusion amount of the radial protrusion. Element.

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