JP2009030664A - Upper support assembling object and its assembling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an upper support assembling object which improves durability, and anti-falling out force from the inside of inner tube hardware of stopper hardware advantageously. <P>SOLUTION: The assembling object is constituted in that a tube wall 58 of cylindrical stopper hardware 14 with bottom having a stiffness higher than that of the inner tube hardware 16 of an upper support 12 is profiled in a step shape in which opening side is larger in diameter than bottom side, in that the inner tube hardware 16 is deformed plastically to be a first large-diameter section 64 enlarging in diameter in connection that a small-diameter section of the tube wall 58 is processed in press fitting inside the inner tube hardware 16 of the stopper hardware 14, and in that a large-diameter section of opening side of the tube wall 58 is formed to be a second large-diameter section 66 further enlarged in diameter by elastically deforming an enlarged-diameter section of the inner tube hardware 16 enlarged in diameter in connection with a press fitting of the first large-diameter section 64. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an upper support assembly and an assembly method thereof, and more particularly, to an upper support in which an inner cylinder fitting and an outer fitting spaced apart in the radial direction are connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body. In contrast, the present invention relates to an improved structure of an upper support assembly in which stopper fittings are integrally assembled and an advantageous method of assembling such an upper support assembly.

  Conventionally, there are various types of upper support for vibration-proof coupling of the shock absorber piston rod to the vehicle body. One type of the upper support is an inner cylindrical bracket and a radially outer portion around the inner cylindrical bracket. It is known that outer metal fittings spaced apart from each other are connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body interposed therebetween.

  Also, in such an upper support, generally, the upper part of the piston rod of the shock absorber is inserted, and the bottom part to be attached and the outer flange-like stopper part extending radially outward are integrally formed on the opening side end part. A stopper metal fitting having a cylindrical shape with a bottom provided as a whole and having a cylindrical wall portion arranged around is configured as a so-called upper support assembly that is press-fitted into the inner cylinder fitting and assembled. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 below). As a result, when the excessive vibration load in the axial direction is input between the piston rod of the shock absorber and the vehicle body when the upper support is attached to the vehicle body, The excessive relative displacement between them is prevented, and the durability of the upper support is improved.

  By the way, in vehicles such as automobiles, in addition to the upper support, an anti-vibration device having a basic structure similar to the upper support, in which an inner cylindrical metal fitting and an outer metal fitting are connected by a main rubber elastic body, for example, It is installed as an engine mount, suspension mount (suspension bush), differential mount, body mount, and the like. Of these anti-vibration devices, if the outer metal fitting is composed of a single cylindrical metal fitting having a simple cylindrical shape larger in diameter than the inner cylindrical metal fitting, the outer cylindrical metal fitting is often used. On the other hand, pre-compression is applied to the main rubber elastic body interposed between the inner cylinder fitting and the outer fitting by performing a diameter reduction process such as an eight-way drawing. Thus, the residual stress of the main rubber elastic body caused by vulcanization molding and the stress generated during elastic deformation of the main rubber elastic body due to vibration input between the inner and outer tube fittings are possible. As a result, the durability of the main rubber elastic body, and hence the vibration isolator as a whole, is improved.

  However, in the conventional upper support assembly, due to limitations in mounting and strength, etc., the outer metal fitting is often not a simple cylindrical shape but a relatively complicated shape or a plurality of metal fittings. It is composed of a combination. Therefore, in such an upper support assembly, it is not easy to reduce the diameter of the outer metal fitting, and it may not even be possible in some cases. Therefore, the main rubber elastic body is reduced by the reduced diameter of the outer metal fitting. It was extremely difficult to improve the durability of the main rubber elastic body, and thus the entire upper support assembly, by applying pre-compression.

  In addition, in such an upper support assembly, in order to pre-compress the main rubber elastic body, a stopper fitting having a rigidity higher than that of the inner cylindrical fitting and sufficiently larger than its inner diameter is used. By press-fitting this into the inner cylinder fitting, the inner cylinder fitting is plastically deformed and expanded in diameter, so that the main rubber elastic body can be pre-compressed by the amount that the inner cylinder fitting has been expanded. Conceivable. However, in that case, since the inner cylinder fitting is plastically deformed, the resistance force against the axial pull-out force of the stopper fitting from the inner cylinder fitting acting between the inner cylinder fitting and the stopper fitting. In other words, the resistance of the stopper fitting to come out from the inner cylinder fitting becomes insufficient.

JP 2006-298077 A

  Here, the present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the problem to be solved is that the stopper fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical fitting of the upper support and assembled. In the upper support assembly, it is possible to sufficiently secure the resistance of the stopper metal from coming out of the inner cylindrical metal fitting, and the main rubber elastic body is pre-compressed to effectively improve the durability. It is to provide an improved structure. Further, in the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous method for assembling such an upper support assembly.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the problem relating to the upper support assembly, the gist of the present invention is that the inner cylindrical metal fitting is separated from the inner cylindrical metal fitting in the radially outward direction. The outer metal fittings arranged in this way are connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body interposed therebetween to constitute an upper support, and the inner metal fittings of the upper support are provided in the inner cylindrical metal fittings. A stopper fitting, which has a bottom cylindrical shape and is integrally provided with an outer flange-like stopper extending radially outward at the opening side end, is press-fitted into the upper support. An upper support assembly that is assembled, wherein the stopper fitting has higher rigidity than the inner tubular fitting, and the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting has a larger diameter on the opening side than on the bottom side. The first widened portion having a small diameter portion on the bottom side of the cylindrical wall portion is expanded in diameter by plastically deforming the inner cylindrical fitting as the stopper fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical fitting. On the other hand, the large-diameter portion on the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion is elastically deformed on the expanded-diameter portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting whose diameter has been expanded by the press-fitting of the first expanded-diameter portion. Further, the upper support assembly is characterized in that it is a second diameter-expanded portion that further expands in diameter.

  According to one of the preferred embodiments of the upper support assembly according to the present invention, the bottom side portion of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical portion of the stopper fitting is formed on the cylindrical wall portion. While the first guide portion is provided with a first guide surface comprising a tapered surface or a convex curved surface that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening side, the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting is stepped. A stepped portion positioned between the first enlarged diameter portion and the second enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting is a tapered surface that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion or The second guide portion includes a second guide surface made of a convex curved surface.

  Further, according to another advantageous aspect of the upper support assembly according to the present invention, an inner corner portion of the end portion of the inner tube fitting on the side where the stopper fitting is press-fitted is chamfered. The

  And, in the present invention, in order to solve the problem relating to the method of assembling the upper support assembly, the inner cylinder fitting and the inner cylinder fitting are arranged so as to be spaced radially outward from each other. The inner metal fittings of the upper support formed by connecting the outer metal fittings to each other by the main rubber elastic body interposed therebetween, have a bottomed cylindrical shape, and at the opening side end. When the stopper bracket is assembled to the upper support by press-fitting a stopper bracket integrally formed with an outer flange-shaped stopper portion extending radially outward, the inner cylinder bracket is used as the stopper bracket. The cylindrical wall portion has a stepped shape in which the opening side is larger in diameter than the bottom side, and the small diameter portion on the bottom side of the cylindrical wall portion is the first enlarged diameter portion. , Large diameter part on the opening side of the cylindrical wall part Is used as a second enlarged diameter portion, and the first enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting made of the cylindrical fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical fitting, and the inner cylindrical fitting is plastically deformed to expand. The second expanded portion of the stopper metal fitting is press-fitted into the expanded diameter portion of the expanded inner cylinder fitting while the diameter is increased, and the expanded diameter portion of the inner cylinder fitting is elastically deformed to further expand the inner cylinder fitting. Upper support assembly, wherein the stopper bracket is assembled to the upper support so that the stopper bracket is held by the inner cylinder bracket based on the restoring force of the inner cylinder bracket by the diameter. The body assembly method is also the gist.

  That is, in the upper support assembly according to the present invention, the inner cylindrical fitting is plastically deformed and expanded in diameter as the first enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical fitting. Thus, pre-compression can be reliably applied to the main rubber elastic body in an amount corresponding to the expanded diameter of the inner cylindrical fitting.

  In addition, in the upper support assembly according to the present invention, it is accompanied by the press-fitting of the second expanded diameter portion of the stopper metal fitting into the expanded diameter portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting expanded in the first expanded diameter portion. The diameter-expanded portion is elastically deformed to further expand the diameter. For this reason, the second enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting, which is positioned in a press-fitted state inside the elastic deformation portion of such an inner cylindrical fitting, is firmly based on the restoring force at the elastic deformation portion of the inner cylindrical fitting. And it can be held securely. Therefore, in such an upper support assembly, the stopper metal has a resistance to slipping out from the inner cylinder fitting at substantially the same level as the conventional upper support assembly, that is, the stopper fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylinder fitting. Accordingly, the inner cylinder fitting is not elastically deformed, but is simply elastically deformed and expanded in diameter, so that the stopper fitting is held by the inner cylinder fitting based on its restoring force. Can be advantageously secured in a size approximately the same as.

  Therefore, in the upper support assembly according to the present invention as described above, a sufficient resistance to the stopper metal from being pulled out from the inner cylindrical metal fitting can be secured, and the main rubber elastic body can be pre-compressed. The durability can be effectively improved. As a result, sufficient vibration isolation performance can be stably exhibited over a longer period.

  Further, in such an upper support assembly according to the present invention, the bottom side portion of the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting is a first guide portion, and the first enlarged portion and the second enlarged portion. When the part between the enlarged diameter part is used as the second guide part, or when the inner corner of the end of the inner cylinder fitting where the stopper fitting is press-fitted is chamfered, By being guided by the chamfered portions provided in the first and second guide portions and the inner cylindrical fitting provided, the first enlarged diameter portion and the second enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting are within the inner cylindrical fitting, It can be press-fitted more smoothly and reliably. As a result, pre-compression can be more reliably applied to the main rubber elastic body, and the diameter-expanded portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting that has been expanded at the first diameter-expanded portion is even smoother. The stopper metal fitting can be more securely held based on the restoring force of the expanded diameter portion. Accordingly, it is possible to further advantageously improve the resistance to the stopper metal from coming out of the inner cylindrical metal fitting and the durability of the entire assembly.

  In the method of assembling the upper support assembly according to the present invention, for example, without using any special jig or device such as a tube expansion rod, the first expanded portion of the stopper metal and the first expanded portion Efficient and low-cost operation because the inner cylindrical fitting is plastically deformed and then elastically deformed to expand the diameter simply by press-fitting the two enlarged diameter parts into the inner cylindrical fitting. Thus, pre-compression can be applied to the main rubber elastic body, and the stopper fitting can be securely and firmly held inside the inner barrel fitting based on the restoring force of the elastically deformed portion of the inner barrel fitting.

  Therefore, according to the method of assembling the upper support assembly according to the present invention as described above, the stopper metal can be sufficiently secured from being pulled out from the inner cylindrical metal fitting, and the durability can be effectively improved. The upper support assembly that can be obtained is very easily and economically advantageous.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show an upper support assembly attached to a shock absorber of an automobile suspension mechanism as an embodiment of an upper support assembly having a structure according to the present invention. It is shown in the form and the form which expanded a part of longitudinal section, respectively. As is clear from these drawings, the upper support assembly 10 of the present embodiment has an upper support 12 and a stopper fitting 14, and the stopper fitting 14 is press-fitted into the upper support 12 and assembled. Has been. That is, the upper support assembly 10 is an integrated assembly of the upper support 12 and the stopper fitting 14.

  More specifically, the upper support 12 includes an inner cylinder fitting 16, an outer fitting 18 that is spaced around the inner cylinder fitting 16 in the radially outward direction, and the inner cylinder fitting 16 and the outer fitting 18. The inner rubber fitting 20 and the outer fitting 18 are integrally connected to each other with the main rubber elastic body 20 interposed therebetween.

  The inner tubular fitting 16 constituting the upper support 12 has a relatively thin cylindrical shape having a predetermined height as a whole. And, as is apparent from FIG. 3, in this inner cylindrical metal fitting 16, the inner corners of both end portions in the height direction corresponding to the vertical direction in FIG. 3 are chamfered, and in particular, in FIG. The upper end portion is an inner guide portion 24, and the inner peripheral surface portion is an inner guide surface 22 formed of a tapered surface that gradually increases in diameter upward. In the following, for convenience, the side on which the inner side guide portion 24 of the inner tubular fitting 16 is formed will be referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the lower side.

  On the other hand, the outer metal fitting 18 has an upper metal fitting 26 and a lower metal fitting 28, which are overlapped with each other and integrally joined together. And the upper metal fitting 26 which comprises this outer metal fitting 18 consists of a comparatively thick flat metal fitting which exhibits the triangular shape by which the corner | angular part was rounded as a whole, and the outer diameter of the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 is formed in the center part. A circular hole 30 having a diameter larger than a predetermined dimension is provided. Further, in the upper metal fitting 26, one bolt hole 32 is formed in each of the outer peripheral portions corresponding to the triangular top portion, which is the overall shape, and the outer peripheral edge portion is further downward. It is bent at a substantially right angle.

  Further, in the upper metal fitting 26, a portion of the inner peripheral portion that provides the peripheral portion of the opening of the circular hole 30 is an upper circular plate portion 34 that spreads in the horizontal direction. A portion that surrounds and is located outside the annular plate portion 34 is a tapered cylindrical portion 36 that gradually decreases in diameter upward. The tapered cylindrical portion 36 is provided with a plurality of concave portions 38 that are recessed inward in the radial direction at a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction.

  On the other hand, the lower metal fitting 28 has a cylindrical portion 40 having a low height and having a thickness substantially the same as that of the upper metal fitting 26 and an inner diameter substantially the same as the circular hole 30 of the upper metal fitting 26. Further, a lower annular plate portion 42 extending in a substantially horizontal direction is integrally formed at the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 40 with an outer flange shape that protrudes radially outward and continuously extends in the circumferential direction. . Further, an outer flange portion 44 that protrudes radially outward and continuously extends in the circumferential direction is formed on the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 40, but is slightly smaller than the upper metal fitting 26, but is substantially the same triangular plate shape. And are provided integrally so as to spread in the horizontal direction. Further, in the outer flange portion 44, one bolt hole 46 is formed in each outer peripheral portion corresponding to the triangular top portion of the overall shape.

  Then, the upper metal fitting 26 and the lower metal fitting 28 having the above-described structure position the circular hole 30 and the cylindrical portion 40 coaxially, and correspond to the three bolt holes 46 and the three bolt holes 32, respectively. In the state of being positioned and superposed vertically, the outer metal fitting 18 is formed by, for example, being integrally fixed (joined) by welding or the like.

  Thus, in the outer metal fitting 18, a cylindrical portion 48 composed of the tapered cylindrical portion 36 of the upper metal fitting 26 and the cylindrical portion 40 of the lower metal fitting 28 is provided at the substantially central portion thereof. An upper annular plate portion 34 and a lower annular plate portion 42 are integrally formed at the upper end portion and the lower end portion, and further, radially outward at an intermediate portion in the axial direction (height direction) of the cylindrical portion 48. A mounting flange portion 50 in the form of an outer flange extending in the direction is integrally formed by the outer peripheral portion of the upper metal fitting 26 and the outer flange portion 44 of the lower metal fitting 28 which are fixed to each other.

  The main rubber elastic body 20 interposed between the outer metal fitting 18 and the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 has a substantially thick cylindrical shape as a whole, and the inner cylinder metal fitting is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. 16 and the cylindrical portion 48 of the outer metal fitting 18 are vulcanized and bonded to the outer peripheral surface. That is, here, the main rubber elastic body 20 is formed as an integrally vulcanized molded product in which the inner cylinder fitting 16 and the outer fitting 18 are respectively vulcanized and bonded to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces thereof. The upper support 12 is composed of a sulfur molded product.

  Further, in the upper support 12 made of such an integrally vulcanized molded product, the upper ring plate portion 34 provided on the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 48 of the outer metal fitting 18 is provided on the upper surface and the lower end portion thereof. An upper stopper rubber portion 52 and a lower stopper rubber portion 54 are respectively formed integrally with the main rubber elastic body 20 with respect to the lower surface of the lower annular plate portion 42. Further, a large-diameter cylindrical positioning rubber portion 56 is formed integrally with the main rubber elastic body 20 on the inner peripheral portion of the lower surface of the mounting flange portion 50 (the outer flange portion 44 of the lower metal fitting 28). As will be described later, the positioning rubber portion 56 is in a state in which the upper support assembly 10 in which the stopper bracket 14 is assembled to the upper support 12 is interposed between the piston rod of the shock absorber and the vehicle body. In order to position the bearing held between the coil spring extrapolated to the piston rod and the mounting flange portion 50 of the upper support 12 when mounted on the automobile.

  The upper support assembly 10 of the present embodiment is assembled by the stopper fitting 14 being press-fitted and assembled into the inner tubular fitting 16 of the upper support 12 having the above-described structure through its upper opening. Although configured, the stopper fitting 14 has a special structure not seen in the prior art.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stopper fitting 14 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape as a whole, and the substantially cylindrical cylindrical wall portion 58 and the disc-shaped bottom wall portion 59 are integrated. Have. And the whole wall thickness including those cylinder wall parts 58 and the bottom wall part 59 is made sufficiently thicker than the wall thickness of the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 of the upper support 12 (refer FIG. 1), The rigidity (hardness) of the entire stopper fitting 14 is sufficiently higher than that of the inner tubular fitting 16.

  Further, at the opening side end portion of the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14, a stopper portion 60 having an outer flange shape protruding radially outward at a predetermined height and continuously extending in the circumferential direction is thick. It has an annular plate shape and is integrally formed. Further, an insertion hole 62 is formed in a substantially central portion of the bottom wall portion 59. As will be described later, when the upper support assembly 10 is interposed between the piston rod of the shock absorber and the vehicle body and is attached to the automobile, the insertion hole 62 has an upper end portion of the piston rod. Is to be inserted. Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 63 denotes a projection stopper for welding a second stopper metal (not shown) that is superimposed on the outer surface of the bottom of the stopper metal 14 from the lower side when the stopper metal 14 is assembled to the upper support 12. It is a protrusion.

  In the stopper fitting 14, the cylindrical cylindrical wall portion 58 has a stepped shape in which the opening portion side is larger in diameter by a predetermined dimension than the bottom wall portion 59 side. The small diameter portion on the side is the first large diameter portion 64, while the large diameter portion on the opening side is the second large diameter portion 66. Further, here, the axial length (height) of the second enlarged diameter portion 66 is sufficiently longer than the axial length (height) of the first enlarged diameter portion 64, thereby Most of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 58 is occupied by the outer peripheral surface of the second enlarged diameter portion 66.

In the present embodiment, in particular, the outer diameter R ₁ of the first enlarged diameter portion 64 of the stopper fitting 14 is the inner cylindrical fitting of the upper support 12 before the stopper fitting 14 is press-fitted (inserted). 16 and larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 and the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 so that the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 is plastically deformed and expanded in diameter. It is set as the magnitude | size which can expand the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 in a plastic deformation area | region. It should be noted that the specific dimension of the outer diameter R ₁ of the first enlarged diameter portion 64 is as large as possible without causing processing defects such as cracks in the inner tubular fitting 16. As long as it is plastically deformed and can be expanded in diameter, it is determined as appropriate based on the size of rigidity derived from the material and thickness of the inner tube fitting 16, the inner diameter of the inner tube fitting 16, and the like. is there.

Further, the outer diameter R ₂ of the second enlarged portion 66 of the stopper fitting 14 is larger than the outer diameter R _{1 of} the first enlarged portion 64, and the first enlarged portion 64 is press-fitted. The diameter-enlarged portion of the inner tubular metal fitting 16 that has been plastically deformed and expanded in diameter is elastically deformed by the press-fitting of the second expanded-diameter portion 66 into the inside thereof, in other words, the size of the expanded diameter. For example, the diameter-enlarged portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 that has been plastically deformed can be expanded in the elastic deformation region. Note that the specific dimension of the outer diameter R ₂ of the second enlarged diameter portion 64 is such that the inner tubular fitting 16 is elastically deformed so as to be as large as possible without causing plastic deformation. Thus, within a range where the diameter can be expanded while maintaining a sufficient restoring force, based on the size of rigidity derived from the material and thickness of the inner tube fitting 16, the inner diameter size of the inner tube fitting 16, etc. It is determined appropriately.

  In such a stopper fitting 14, the cylindrical wall portion 58 is stepped on the first diameter expansion portion 64 on the small diameter side and the second diameter expansion portion 66 on the large diameter side, and the first diameter expansion portion 64. A stepped portion of the cylindrical wall portion 58 located between the first and second enlarged diameter portions 66 is an upper guide portion 68 as a second guide portion. In addition, the upper guide portion 68 gradually increases in diameter from the first enlarged diameter portion 64 side toward the second enlarged diameter portion 66 side (from the bottom wall portion 59 side of the stopper fitting 14 toward the opening side). From the taper surface which has a taper cylinder shape, and the outer peripheral surface of such an upper guide part 68 is gradually enlarged from the 1st diameter expansion part 64 side to the 2nd diameter expansion part 66 side by it. The upper guide surface 70 as a second guide surface.

  Further, in the stopper metal fitting 14, a portion of the cylindrical wall portion 58 located closer to the bottom wall portion 59 than the first enlarged diameter portion 64, specifically, formed between the cylindrical wall portion 58 and the bottom wall portion 59. A lower corner portion of the cylindrical wall portion 58 is a lower guide portion 72 as a first guide portion. The lower corner portion constituting the lower guide portion 72 is a curved corner portion that protrudes outward, so that the outer peripheral surface of the lower guide portion 72 faces radially outward. The lower guide surface 74 as a first guide surface is a convex curved surface that is convex.

  Thus, in the upper support assembly 10 of the present embodiment, the stopper fitting 14 having such a structure is formed by being press-fitted into the inner tubular fitting 16 of the upper support 12 and assembled. In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the first enlarged-diameter portion 64 of the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14 passes through the upper opening portion of the stopper fitting 14 to form the inner cylinder. It is press-fitted into the metal fitting 16.

  At this time, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, it is located below the first enlarged diameter portion 64 (on the bottom wall portion 59 side), and between the cylindrical wall portion 58 and the bottom wall portion 59. The lower guide surface 74 of the lower guide portion 72 to be formed and the inner side guide surface 22 of the inner side guide portion 24 provided at the upper end portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 are slid together to form the first expansion. The diameter portion 64 is easily and smoothly press-fitted into the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16.

As to above, the stopper member 14, which has a greater rigidity sufficiently than the inner cylinder member 16, the outer diameter of the first diverging section 64: R ₁ is a inner cylinder member 16 in the plastic deformation region Since the diameter can be increased, the portion of the inner tubular member 16 where the first expanded portion 64 is press-fitted is plastically deformed as the first expanded portion 64 is pressed. And expanded in diameter. In addition, the main rubber elastic body 20 interposed between the inner cylinder fitting 16 and the outer cylinder fitting 18 thereby increases the diameter of the inner cylinder fitting 16: W ₁ (the outer diameter of the first enlarged portion 64). : Half of the difference between R ₁ and the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 before diameter expansion), and the main rubber elastic body 20 is pre-compressed.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the second enlarged diameter portion 66 of the cylindrical wall portion 58 in the stopper metal fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16. In that case, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the upper guide surface 70 of the upper guide portion 68 provided between the first enlarged diameter portion 64 and the second enlarged diameter portion 66 of the cylindrical wall portion 58. And the inner guide surface 22 of the inner guide 24 in the inner tube fitting 16 are slid with each other, and the second enlarged diameter portion 66 is easily and smoothly press-fitted into the inner tube fitting 16. The

As described above, the outer diameter: R ₂ of the second enlarged diameter portion 66 of the stopper fitting 14 having sufficiently greater rigidity than the inner tubular fitting 16 is plastically deformed by press-fitting the first enlarged diameter portion 64. In addition, since the diameter-enlarged portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 that has already been expanded is sized so as to be expanded in the elastic deformation region, the inner cylinder is accompanied by the press-fitting of the second expanded-diameter portion 66. The diameter-expanded portion of the metal fitting 16 is elastically deformed and further expanded in diameter.

As a result, the main rubber elastic body 20 is further expanded with the inner diameter of the inner tubular fitting 16 being increased in diameter: W ₂ (outer diameter of the second expanded diameter portion 66: R ₂ and the first expanded diameter section 64. The inner rubber fitting 16 is compressed by an amount corresponding to half the difference from the inner diameter of the expanded portion of the inner cylindrical metal member 16, and the main rubber elastic body 20 is further pre-compressed.

  At the same time, the second diameter-expanded portion 66 of the stopper metal fitting 14 is pressed into the second diameter-expanded portion 66 of the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 based on the restoring force due to the elastic deformation of the inner cylinder metal fitting 16 ( With the press-fitting of the second diameter-expanded portion 66, it is pressed radially inward at a portion further expanded in diameter). As a result, the second enlarged diameter portion 66 is firmly and reliably held in the inner tubular fitting 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the substantially entire cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14 is press-fitted into the inner tubular fitting 16, the outer wall integrally formed with the upper end portion of the cylindrical wall portion 58 is formed. The flange-shaped stopper portion 60 is opposed to the upper annular plate portion 34 of the outer metal fitting 18 with a predetermined distance therebetween, with the upper stopper rubber portion 52 provided on the upper surface thereof interposed therebetween. Thus, the stopper fitting 14 is assembled to the upper support 12 to form the upper support assembly 10.

  And although such an upper support assembly 10 is not shown in the figure, a reverse cup-shaped second stopper fitting is formed on the bottom of the bottom wall 59 of the stopper fitting 14 at the bottom, as in the prior art. Overlaid and welded, it is placed on top of the piston rod of the shock absorber. In this arrangement, the upper end portion of the piston rod is inserted into the insertion hole 62 of the bottom wall portion 59 of the stopper fitting 14 and fixed with a nut or the like, while the mounting flange portion 50 (lower portion of the outer fitting 18 is fixed. Bolts are secured to the vehicle body or the like by mounting bolts that are inserted and fixed in bolt holes 46 and 32 provided in the outer flange portion 44 of the metal fitting 28 and the outer peripheral portion of the upper metal fitting 26, so that the piston rod and the vehicle body It is designed to be attached to an automobile with it interposed between them.

  Thus, in the upper support assembly 10, vibrations in the vertical direction (axial direction), the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction (axial perpendicular direction) input between the piston rod and the vehicle body in the state of being attached to the vehicle. The load can be absorbed based on the elastic deformation of the main rubber elastic body 20.

  When an excessive vibration load upward is input to the upper support assembly 10, the upper annular plate portion 34 of the stopper portion 60 of the stopper fitting 14 and the outer fitting 18 of the upper support 12. The upper stopper rubber portion 52 is compressed and deformed between them, or the stopper portion 60 and the upper annular plate portion 34 are brought into contact with each other under the compression deformation state of the upper stopper rubber portion 52. Thus, excessive relative displacement between the outer tubular fitting 18 and the inner tubular fitting 16 of the upper support 12 is prevented, and sufficient durability of the upper support 12 and the upper support assembly 10 can be secured. Yes.

  On the other hand, when an excessive vibration load downward is input to the upper support assembly 10, the lower annular plate of the stopper portion of the second stopper fitting (not shown) and the outer fitting 18 of the upper support 12 (not shown). The lower stopper rubber portion 54 is compressed and deformed between the portion 42 and the stopper portion of the second stopper fitting and the lower annular plate under the compression deformation state of the lower stopper rubber portion 54. The parts 42 are brought into contact with each other, and this also prevents an excessive relative displacement between the outer tubular fitting 18 and the inner tubular fitting 16 of the upper support 12, so that the upper support 12 and the upper support assembly 10 can be sufficiently provided. Durability can be secured.

  Thus, in the upper support assembly 10 of the present embodiment, the stopper metal fitting 14 is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 of the upper support 12, so that the inner tube without using any special tube expansion jig or the like is used. The cylindrical metal fitting 16 is plastically deformed and expanded in diameter, and the main rubber elastic body 20 is pre-compressed, and the portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 expanded in diameter in the plastically deformed state is further elastically deformed and expanded. The stopper metal fitting 14 can be firmly and securely held by the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 on the basis of the restoring force from the elastic deformation state thereof.

  Therefore, in the upper support assembly 10 of the present embodiment having such a structure, when the stopper bracket 14 is assembled to the upper support 12, there is no need for troublesome work or work that requires extra cost. Without being performed, a sufficient resistance to coming out of the stopper metal 14 from the upper support 12 (inner tube metal 16) can be secured, and the main rubber elastic body 20 is pre-compressed, thereby improving durability. It can be easily and economically advantageous. As a result, sufficient vibration-proof performance can be exerted extremely advantageously and stably over a longer period of time.

  In the upper support assembly 10, the press fitting operation of the stopper fitting 14 into the inner tubular fitting 16 is performed on the lower and upper guide portions of the tubular wall 58 of the stopper fitting 14 and the upper end of the inner tubular fitting 16. By sliding with the inner side guide part 20, it can be implemented more smoothly. Therefore, along with the smooth press-fitting of the stopper fitting 14 into the inner tubular fitting 16, pre-compression to the main rubber elastic body 20 can be applied more reliably, and the stopper fitting 14 is in an elastically deformed state. In the inner cylindrical metal fitting 16 portion expanded in diameter, the restoring force can hold it more reliably. As a result of these, it is possible to further advantageously improve the resistance to slipping of the stopper metal 14 from the upper support 12 (inner tube metal fitting 16) and the durability of the entire upper support assembly 10. Become.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the axial length (height) of the second enlarged diameter portion 66 in the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14 is greater than the axial length (height) of the first enlarged diameter portion 64. Is sufficiently long so that most of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 58 is occupied by the outer peripheral surface of the second enlarged diameter portion 66. As a result, the contact area of the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14 with respect to the inner tubular fitting 16 that is expanded in an elastically deformed state and exhibits a restoring force is sufficiently increased. The metal fitting 16 can be held more securely and firmly. As a result, the resistance to detachment of the stopper fitting 14 from the upper support 12 can be more effectively enhanced.

  As mentioned above, although one typical embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it is merely an example, and the present invention is interpreted in a limited manner by a specific description in such an embodiment. Not.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the stopper metal 14 is thicker than the inner cylinder metal fitting 16, so that the rigidity of the stopper metal fitting 14 is higher than the rigidity of the inner cylinder metal fitting 16. The rigidity of the stopper fitting 14 can be made higher than the rigidity of the inner tubular fitting 16 by changing the material of the metal material forming the inner tubular fitting 16.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the lower and upper guide portions 72 and 68 as the first and second guide portions are provided on the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14, while the upper and lower guide portions 72 and 68 are provided on the upper end portion of the inner tubular fitting 16. The inner side guide portion 24 having the chamfered inner corner portion of the inner metal fitting 16 is provided. However, if the press fitting operation of the stopper fitting 14 into the inner tubular fitting 16 can be smoothly performed, the lower and upper guides thereof are provided. Either one or both of the portions 72 and 68 and the inner side guide portion 24 may be omitted.

  When the lower and upper guide portions 72 and 68 and the inner guide portion 24 are provided, the lower and first guide surfaces formed by the outer peripheral surfaces of the lower and upper guide portions 72 and 68 The side and upper guide surfaces 74 and 70 and the inner side guide surface 22 formed of the inner peripheral surface of the inner side guide portion 24 are located upward (on the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion 58 of the stopper fitting 14 and the stopper of the inner barrel fitting 16). It is configured by a tapered surface or a convex curved surface that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening 14 into which the metal fitting 14 is press-fitted. In addition, an outer flange portion extending radially outward is integrally provided at an end portion of the inner tube fitting 16 on the side where the stopper fitting 14 is press-fitted, and this is configured as an inner side guide portion 24. The inner surface of the corner portion formed between the inner side guide portion 24 and the inner cylinder fitting 16 is a tapered surface that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening side into which the stopper fitting 14 of the inner cylinder fitting 16 is press-fitted, or This may be the inner guide surface 22 as a convex curved surface.

  Further, the specific structure of the outer metal fitting 18 of the upper support 12 is not limited to the illustrated one. For example, even if the outer metal fitting 18 is formed of one cylindrical metal fitting, Even if two or more plate fittings are overlapped with each other and integrally joined, there is no problem.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the specific example of what applied this invention to the upper support assembly body attached to the shock absorber of the suspension mechanism for motor vehicles, and its assembly method was shown, this invention is for motor vehicles. Needless to say, the present invention can be advantageously applied to any of the upper support assembly attached to the shock absorber other than the above and the assembly method thereof.

  In addition, although not listed one by one, the present invention can be implemented in a mode with various changes, modifications, improvements, and the like based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It goes without saying that any one of them falls within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a longitudinal section explanatory view showing one embodiment of an upper support assembly which has a structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the upper support assembly shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a partial semi-collision in FIG. 1. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the stopper metal fitting which the upper support assembly | attachment body shown by FIG. 1 has. It is a plane explanatory view of the stopper metal fitting shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows one process example at the time of assembling the stopper metal fitting shown in FIG. 4 to an upper support, and forming an upper support assembly | attachment, Comprising: The 1st diameter expansion part of the cylindrical wall part of a stopper metal fitting is upper. It shows a state in which it is press-fitted into the inner tube fitting of the support. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a process implemented following the process shown by FIG. 6, Comprising: The 1st enlarged diameter part and 2nd enlarged diameter part of the cylinder wall part of a stopper metal fitting are the inner cylinder metal fittings of an upper support. The state where it is press-fitted is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Upper support assembly 12 Upper support 14 Stopper metal fitting 16 Inner cylinder metal fitting 18 Outer metal fitting 20 Main body rubber elastic body 24 Inner side guide part 52 Upper stopper rubber part 54 Lower stopper rubber part 58 Cylindrical wall part 64 1st enlarged diameter part 66 Second enlarged diameter portion 68 Upper guide portion 72 Lower guide portion

Claims (4)

An inner cylinder fitting and an outer fitting arranged around the inner cylinder fitting and spaced radially outward are connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body interposed therebetween, An upper support is configured, and a bottomed cylindrical shape is formed in the inner cylindrical metal fitting of the upper support, and an outer flange-like stopper portion extending radially outward is integrally formed around the opening side end portion. An upper support assembly in which the stopper fitting is assembled to the upper support by press-fitting the provided stopper fitting,
The stopper fitting has higher rigidity than the inner tubular fitting, and the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting has a stepped shape with a larger diameter on the opening side than on the bottom side, and the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall portion The small-diameter portion on the side is a first diameter-expanded portion that expands the diameter by plastically deforming the inner cylindrical fitting as the stopper fitting is press-fitted into the inner cylindrical fitting. The large-diameter portion on the opening side is a second enlarged-diameter portion that is further expanded by elastically deforming the expanded-diameter portion of the inner tubular metal fitting that has been expanded with the press-fitting of the first enlarged-diameter portion. An upper support assembly characterized by that.   A first portion comprising a tapered surface or a convex curved surface in which the bottom side portion of the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting is gradually increased in diameter toward the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion. The first guide portion provided with a guide surface is stepped on the cylindrical wall portion of the stopper fitting, and is positioned between the first enlarged diameter portion and the second enlarged diameter portion of the stopper fitting. The stepped portion to be fastened is a second guide portion having a second guide surface comprising a tapered surface or a convex curved surface that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion. The upper support assembly according to 1.   The upper support assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner corner portion of an end portion of the inner cylindrical metal fitting on the side where the stopper metal fitting is press-fitted is chamfered. An inner cylinder fitting and an outer fitting arranged around the inner cylinder fitting and spaced radially outward are connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body interposed therebetween. In the inner cylindrical fitting of the upper support, a stopper fitting that has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is integrally provided with an outer flange-like stopper portion extending radially outward at the opening side end is press-fitted. When assembling the stopper bracket to the upper support,
As the stopper metal fitting, the cylinder wall portion has a stepped shape having a larger diameter on the opening side than the bottom portion side, and has a smaller diameter portion on the bottom side of the cylindrical wall portion, while having higher rigidity than the inner cylinder fitting. The first expanded diameter of the stopper fitting comprising the cylindrical fitting is a cylindrical fitting in which the large diameter portion on the opening side of the cylindrical wall portion is the second enlarged diameter portion. The inner diameter of the stopper metal fitting is expanded into a diameter-enlarged portion of the stopper metal fitting while the inner cylinder metal fitting is plastically deformed and expanded in diameter. The stopper fitting is held by the inner cylindrical fitting based on the restoring force of the inner cylindrical fitting by press-fitting the portion, elastically deforming the expanded diameter portion of the inner cylindrical fitting and further expanding the diameter. The stopper fitting is assembled to the upper support as described above. The method of assembling the port assembly body.

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