JP2010083450A - Suspension member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension member having the function of absorbing impact force in the vehicle longitudinal direction, having rigidity required for connecting a link or an arm of a suspension device, and capable of also securing fatigue strength. <P>SOLUTION: This suspension member 1 has a pair of right-left vehicle longitudinal directional members 2, and one or more of vehicle width directional members 3 for connecting the pair of right-left vehicle longitudinal directional members 2, and is characterized in that the vehicle longitudinal directional members 2 include a vehicle front side member 4, a vehicle rear side member 5 and an elastic member 6 for connecting the vehicle front side member 4 and the vehicle rear side member 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension member suitable for being applied to vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses.

  In a suspension device applied to a vehicle, a knuckle that rotatably supports a wheel is connected to a suspension member on a chassis side via an arm or link, and the knuckle or arm or link is connected to a body side via a shock absorber and a spring. The structure connected to is adopted.

  In such a suspension member, the front and rear left and right bushes are connected to the pair of left and right side members constituting the chassis via four bushes in the front and rear and left and right. A direction member, the other vehicle front-rear direction member connecting the bushes of the right front bush and the left rear bush, and one or more vehicle width direction members connecting one and the other vehicle front-rear direction members.

  Such a suspension member is applied to the front side or the rear side of the vehicle, respectively. In particular, in the suspension member applied to the rear side, the rigidity required to connect the link or arm of the suspension device is sufficient. Both the ability to absorb impact force when another vehicle collides behind the vehicle is required.

For this purpose, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a low-rigidity portion is provided on the front side of the left rear bushing and the right rear bushing of the vehicle front-rear direction member described above, so as to reduce the impact force. It has been proposed to absorb.
JP-A-2005-14728

  However, in the suspension member described in Patent Document 1 described above, in order to absorb the impact force as described above while securing the rigidity of the vehicle longitudinal member necessary for connecting the link or arm of the suspension device. Therefore, there is a problem in that an appropriate suspension member configuration cannot be realized in order to secure fatigue strength because stress concentrates on the low rigidity portion.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention has a function of absorbing impact force in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has rigidity necessary for connecting a link or an arm of a suspension device, and can ensure fatigue strength. An object is to provide a suspension member.

In order to solve the above problem, the suspension member according to the present invention is:
A pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members and one or more vehicle width direction members connecting the pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members, the vehicle front-rear direction member comprising a vehicle front side member, a vehicle rear side member, An elastic member for connecting the vehicle front side member and the vehicle rear side member is included.

  The suspension device connected to the suspension member may be any of a double wishbone type, a multi-link type, a strut type, and a trailing arm type. The elastic member is a bush.

  According to this, when another vehicle collides with the rear of the vehicle and an impact force directed from the rear to the front of the vehicle is input to the suspension member, the impact force is applied by the elastic member included in the vehicle longitudinal member. Can be absorbed.

  Accordingly, the components of the vehicle longitudinal member other than the elastic member, i.e., the vehicle front side member and the vehicle rear side member can be increased in rigidity. The rigidity necessary for connecting the arms can be more easily ensured.

  Furthermore, as in the prior art, it is possible to eliminate the configuration in which any portion of the vehicle longitudinal member is provided with a portion having a lower rigidity than the other portions, so that stress concentrates on the portion having a low rigidity. Thus, it is possible to prevent the fatigue strength from being lowered, whereby the fatigue strength can be secured more easily.

  In addition, in the vehicle front-rear direction member constituting the suspension member, the vehicle front side member and the vehicle rear side member share a function of securing rigidity necessary for connecting the link or arm of the suspension device. The elastic member is assigned the function of absorbing the impact force when another vehicle collides with the vehicle, and the function sharing of each component is made clearer, so the strength required for each component The design itself can be made easier by making the analysis easier.

Here, in the suspension member,
The elastic member is formed in an annular column shape, and includes an inner peripheral support structure that supports an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member on the rear side of the vehicle front side member, and the elastic member is provided on the front side of the vehicle rear side member. It is preferable to provide an outer peripheral support structure that supports the outer peripheral surface.

  The elastic member may be configured to include an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, or may not be configured. Further, the inner peripheral support structure forms a pin-shaped portion that is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the annular columnar elastic member and protrudes toward the rear side to support the inner peripheral surface, The support structure forms a hollow cylindrical portion that is fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the annular columnar elastic member and supports the outer circumferential surface.

  According to this, the elastic member can be firmly supported by the vehicle rear side member and the vehicle front side member in positioning the elastic member at the middle portion of the vehicle rear side member in the vehicle front-rear direction. In particular, the rigidity of the vehicle front-rear direction member in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction can be increased.

Furthermore, in the suspension member,
It is preferable that a low-rigidity portion having lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction than the vehicle front-side member is provided on the front end side of the outer peripheral support structure. Here, the low-rigidity part can be configured by providing a thin-walled part in the cylindrical part, for example, whose thickness in the radial direction is thinner than other parts.

  According to this, when another vehicle collides with the vehicle from the rear, an impact force from the rear to the front acts on the suspension member, and the vehicle rear side member approaches the vehicle front side member. When the front end side of the outer periphery support structure comes into contact with the vehicle front side member, the low rigidity portion provided on the front end side of the outer periphery support structure is positively crushed. By this, the impact force can be absorbed.

Alternatively, the positional relationship between the inner peripheral support structure and the outer peripheral support structure can be reversed. That is,
In the suspension member,
The elastic member is formed in an annular column shape, and includes an inner peripheral support structure that supports an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member on the front side of the vehicle rear side member, and the elastic member is provided on the rear side of the vehicle front side member. An outer peripheral support structure that supports the outer peripheral surface can also be provided.

  This also allows the elastic member to be firmly supported by the vehicle rear side member and the vehicle front side member when the elastic member is positioned at the middle portion of the vehicle rear side member in the vehicle front-rear direction. Can increase the rigidity of the vehicle front-rear direction member in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction.

Furthermore, in the suspension member,
It is preferable that a low-rigidity portion having lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction than the vehicle rear-side member is provided on the rear end side of the outer peripheral support structure.

  Even in this case, when another vehicle collides with the vehicle from behind, an impact force from the rear to the front acts on the suspension member, and the vehicle front side member approaches the vehicle rear side member. When the rear end side of the outer periphery support structure comes into contact with the vehicle rear side member after being displaced, the low rigidity portion provided on the rear end side of the outer periphery support structure is positively crushed, Also by this, the impact force can be absorbed.

In any of the above suspension members,
The rigidity of the elastic member in the axial direction is preferably larger than the rigidity in the central axis direction.

  According to this, the rigidity of the vehicle front side member in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction can be further increased while ensuring the function of absorbing the impact force of the elastic member. As a result, the function required for the suspension member to ensure the rigidity necessary for connecting the link or arm of the suspension device is further enhanced, and the impact of the elastic member when the other vehicle collides with the vehicle. The ability to absorb power can be further enhanced.

  According to the suspension member according to the present invention, the fatigue strength is ensured after appropriately balancing the function of absorbing the impact force in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the rigidity necessary for connecting the link or arm of the suspension device. can do.

  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 a suspension member according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction, UP indicates the upper side, and in FIG. 1, only the portion located on the right side of the vehicle is illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension member 1 of the present embodiment includes a pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members 2 and a vehicle width direction member 3 connecting the pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members 2. 2 includes a vehicle front side member 4, a vehicle rear side member 5, and an elastic member 6 that connects the vehicle front side member 4 and the vehicle rear side member 5.

  The vehicle front-rear direction member 2 extends substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction and is connected to a side member of a vehicle chassis (not shown) via a bush 61 on the front side of the vehicle, and not shown via a bush 62 on the vehicle rear side. It is connected to a side member of the vehicle chassis.

  The suspension device 51 connected to the vehicle longitudinal member 2 is a multi-link type, and includes a knuckle 52, a shock absorber 53, a lower link 54, an upper link 55, a toe link 56, and a rear toe link 57. With.

  Here, the knuckle 52 rotatably supports tires and wheels (not shown), and at four locations, a lower link 54, an upper link 55, a toe link 56, and a rear toe cone via ball joints B / J. The link 57 is connected to the outer end in the vehicle width direction. A lower end portion of the shock absorber 53 is connected to the knuckle 52.

  An inner end in the vehicle width direction of the upper link 55 is connected to the vehicle rear side member 5 via a bush, and an inner end in the vehicle width direction of each of the lower link 54, the toe link link 56, and the rear toe link link 57 via the bush. It connects with the vehicle front side member 4 via a bush.

  Here, the connection aspect with respect to the vehicle front side member 4 and the vehicle rear side member 5 of the elastic member 6 and the elastic member 6 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a suspension member according to the present invention. Again, Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, UP indicates the upper side, and IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 6 is formed in an annular column shape, and has an inner cylinder 6a on the inner peripheral side and an outer cylinder 6b on the outer peripheral surface, and a radial gap between the inner cylinder 6a and the outer cylinder 6b. Is filled with rubber 6c. An inner peripheral support structure 4 a that supports the inner peripheral surface of the elastic member 6 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle front side member 4, and an outer peripheral support that supports the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 6 on the front side of the vehicle rear side member 5. A structure 6a is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inner peripheral support structure 4a is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 6a of the annular columnar elastic member 6 to form a pin-shaped portion that protrudes rearward to support the inner peripheral surface. The outer peripheral support structure 5a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 6b of the annular columnar elastic member 6 to form a hollow cylindrical portion that supports the outer peripheral surface 6b.

  Furthermore, the front end side of the outer periphery support structure 5a is provided with a low rigidity portion 5b having lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction than the rear end of the vehicle front side member 4. Below, this low-rigidity part 5b is demonstrated in detail using FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the low-rigidity portion 5 b is configured by making the thickness in the radial direction of the outer peripheral support structure 5 a having a cylindrical shape thinner than the thickness of the vehicle front side member 4. That is, here, the outer peripheral support structure 5a constitutes the low rigidity portion 5b itself.

  Further, here, the rigidity of the elastic member 6 in the axial direction is made larger than the rigidity in the central axis direction.

  According to the suspension member 1 of the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when another vehicle collides with the rear of the vehicle and an impact force F is applied to the suspension member 1 from the rear to the front of the vehicle, the vehicle longitudinal member 2 is The impact force F can be absorbed by the elastic member 6 provided in the middle of the direction.

  This eliminates the need to absorb the impact force F for the vehicle front side member 4 and the vehicle rear side member 5 that are components other than the elastic member 6 of the vehicle longitudinal member 2. Since the rigidity can be increased, the rigidity necessary to connect the lower link 54, the upper link 55, the toe link 56, and the rear toe link 57 of the suspension device 51 can be more easily ensured.

  Further, since the configuration in which a low-rigidity portion having a lower rigidity than the other parts is provided in any part of the vehicle longitudinal member 2 as in the prior art can be eliminated. Since a consonant that eliminates the provision of a thin-walled portion or a crush bead can be generated in such a portion, it is possible to prevent stress from concentrating on the low-rigidity portion and reducing the fatigue strength. Thereby, the fatigue strength of the suspension member 1 can be ensured more easily.

  In addition to this, in the vehicle front-rear direction member 2 constituting the suspension member 1, the vehicle front side member 4 and the vehicle rear side member 5 are connected to the lower link 54, the upper link 55, the toe link 56, the rear toe control 5 The function of securing the rigidity necessary for connecting the link 57 is shared, and the function of absorbing the impact force F when the other vehicle collides with the vehicle is shared by the elastic member 6, and the function sharing of each component is performed. Can be made clearer.

  This makes it easier to individually and specifically analyze the strength required for each component, that is, the vehicle front side member 4, the vehicle rear side member 5, and the elastic member 6, and the design itself is easier. It can be. As a result, particularly in the multi-link suspension 51, when it is necessary to appropriately change the number of links and the connection position to the vehicle body side, the design can be made easier.

  Further, in the suspension member 1, the elastic member 6 is configured in an annular column shape, and includes an inner peripheral support structure 4 a that supports the inner peripheral surface of the elastic member 6 on the rear side of the vehicle front side member 4. Since the outer peripheral support structure 6a for supporting the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 6 is provided on the front side, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

  In other words, the elastic member 6 can be firmly supported by the vehicle rear side member 5 and the vehicle front side member 4 when the elastic member 6 is positioned at the middle portion of the vehicle rear side member 4 in the vehicle front-rear direction. In particular, the inner peripheral surface of the annular cylindrical elastic member 6 is supported by a pin-shaped inner peripheral support structure 4a, and the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 6 is supported by a hollow cylindrical outer peripheral support structure 5a. Since the circumferential support point and the outer circumferential support point are overlapped in the vehicle front-rear direction, the rigidity of the vehicle front-rear direction member 2 in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction can be further increased.

  Furthermore, since the low rigidity portion 5b having lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction than the vehicle front side member 4 is provided on the front end side of the outer peripheral support structure 5a, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when another vehicle collides with the vehicle from behind, as shown in the lower diagram in FIG. 3, an impact force F from the rear to the front acts on the suspension member 1, When the vehicle rear side member 5 is displaced in a direction approaching the vehicle front side member 4 and the front end side of the outer periphery support structure 5a comes into contact with the vehicle front side member 4, the front of the outer periphery support structure 5a. The low rigidity portion 5b provided on the end side can be positively crushed, and the impact force F can be absorbed also by this. As a result, the function of absorbing the impact force F of the suspension member 1 as a whole can be enhanced.

  Further, in the suspension member 1, the rigidity in the axial direction of the elastic member 6 is larger than the rigidity in the central axis direction, so that the function of absorbing the impact force F of the elastic member 6 is secured and the vehicle longitudinal direction is ensured. The rigidity of the member 2 in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction can be further increased.

  As a result, the function required to secure the rigidity required for connecting the lower link 54, the upper link 55, the toe link 56, and the rear toe link 57 of the suspension device 51 required for the suspension member 1 is further improved, and the elastic member The function of absorbing the impact force F when another vehicle collides with the vehicle 6 can be further enhanced.

  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 embodiment described above, the lower arm 2 is a so-called A-arm, but other shapes can be used as long as the rigidity for supporting the knuckle can be ensured. It is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the suspension device 51 is a multi-link type, but the type of the suspension device 51 is not particularly limited, and is a double wishbone type, a strut type, or a trailing arm type. Either may be sufficient. Regardless of the type of suspension device of any type, the vehicle front side member 4 constituting the vehicle front-rear direction member 2 of the suspension member 1 or the connecting point on the vehicle body side of the arm or link connecting the knuckle and the vehicle body side or What is necessary is just to connect with the vehicle rear side member 5.

  Of course, the vehicle front side member 4 may include an outer peripheral support structure that supports the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 6, and the vehicle rear side member 5 may include an inner peripheral support structure that supports the inner peripheral surface of the elastic member 6.

  The present invention relates to a suspension member that is suitable mainly for a rear suspension member of a vehicle, and has a function of absorbing impact force in the vehicle front-rear direction with a relatively simple configuration and minor changes. In addition, the function of connecting the link or arm of the suspension device can be secured and the fatigue strength can be easily secured, so that it can be applied to various vehicles such as ordinary passenger cars, trucks, buses, etc. It is useful in increasing

It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a suspension member concerning the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a suspension member according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a suspension member according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the specific example in which one Embodiment of the suspension member concerning this invention functions.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suspension member 2 Vehicle front-back direction member 3 Vehicle width direction member 4 Vehicle front side member 4a Inner periphery support structure 5 Vehicle rear side member 5a Outer periphery support structure (low-rigidity part)
6 Elastic member 6a Inner cylinder 6b Outer cylinder 6c Rubber 51 Suspension device 52 Knuckle 53 Shock absorber 54 Lower link 55 Upper link 56 Toe link 57 Rear toe link 61 Bush 62 Bush

Claims (6)

  A pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members and one or more vehicle width direction members connecting the pair of left and right vehicle front-rear direction members, the vehicle front-rear direction member comprising a vehicle front side member, a vehicle rear side member, A suspension member comprising a vehicle front side member and an elastic member connecting the vehicle rear side member.   The elastic member is formed in an annular column shape, and includes an inner peripheral support structure that supports an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member on the rear side of the vehicle front side member, and the elastic member is provided on the front side of the vehicle rear side member. The suspension member according to claim 1, further comprising an outer peripheral support structure that supports the outer peripheral surface.   The suspension member according to claim 2, further comprising a low-rigidity portion having a lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction than the vehicle front-side member on a front end side of the outer peripheral support structure.   The elastic member is formed in an annular column shape, and includes an inner peripheral support structure that supports an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member on the front side of the vehicle rear side member, and the elastic member is provided on the rear side of the vehicle front side member. The suspension member according to claim 1, further comprising an outer peripheral support structure that supports the outer peripheral surface.   The suspension member according to claim 4, further comprising a low-rigidity portion having a lower rigidity in a vehicle front-rear direction than the vehicle rear-side member on a rear end side of the outer peripheral support structure.   The suspension member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rigidity of the elastic member in a direction perpendicular to the axis is larger than the rigidity in the direction of the central axis.