JP2010208441A - Knuckle adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knuckle adjusting device adjusting the camber angle and the toe angle to arbitrary values steplessly without affecting the geometry of a suspension when the camber angle and the toe angle are adjusted. <P>SOLUTION: In the knuckle adjusting device for adjusting the alignment of wheels of a vehicle, a bearing base body is rotatably mounted on the outer circumference of the center axis of a hub, a spherical body formed in a spherical shape is provided along the outer circumference of the bearing base body, and an interior hole for surrounding the spherical body is formed on the knuckle center side. Further, a bearing member is formed of the spherical body and the interior hole. The hub is turnable in the three-dimensional direction with respect to the knuckle, and fixed at the desired turning position to obtain at least one of the camber angle and the toe angle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a knuckle adjusting device that adjusts wheel alignment of a vehicle, and more particularly to a knuckle adjusting device that enables adjustment of a camber angle and a toe angle.

Among the factors that adjust the wheel alignment of automobile suspensions is the adjustment of camber angle and toe angle. The purpose of adjusting the camber angle is to reduce the steering force and improve the road surface installation property when the vehicle is moving in the lateral direction during turning. The adjustment of the toe angle is intended to reduce tire resistance during traveling of the vehicle and prevent uneven wear of the tire due to toe-out and toe-in.
Conventionally, the camber angle is adjusted by changing the length of either the upper arm or the lower arm connected to the knuckle, for example. Specifically, the arm or the mounting part of the arm to the vehicle body is attached with a cam bolt or the like, and the cam is rotated to adjust the length that the arm extends from the vehicle body, thereby changing the inclination of the wheel toward the vehicle body or the arm. There is a method of adjusting by interposing an adjusting member between the knuckles and the knuckle.
The toe angle is adjusted by changing the length of the steering rod (tie rod) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

JP-A-7-257423 JP 2008-30730 A JP-A-6-64426

However, in the prior art, the camber angle and the toe angle can be individually adjusted. For example, when the camber angle is adjusted, it is known that not only the camber angle but also the toe angle changes. . This is because the length of the tie rod does not change with respect to this inclination even though the knuckle is inclined as the camber angle is adjusted. That is, when the camber angle is adjusted in the conventional technique, there is a possibility that the toe angle may be affected.
In addition, when the toe angle is adjusted, the length of the tie rod turning up and down or back and forth changes, which affects the bump steer caused by pushing or pulling the knuckle when the vehicle bumps. There is a fear.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a knuckle adjusting device capable of adjusting steplessly to any camber angle and toe angle so as not to affect the geometry of the suspension when the camber angle and toe angle are adjusted. To do.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knuckle adjusting device for adjusting alignment of a vehicle wheel, wherein a bearing base is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of a central shaft of a hub, and is formed into a spherical shape along the outer periphery of the bearing base. The inner surface hole surrounding the sphere is provided at the center side of the knuckle, a bearing member is formed by the sphere and the inner surface hole, and the hub can be rotated in the three-dimensional direction with respect to the knuckle. The camber angle and the toe angle were fixed to obtain at least one of the camber angle and the toe angle.
According to the present invention, since the hub is rotatable in the three-dimensional direction with respect to the knuckle, the wheel fixed to the hub is moved without moving the knuckle, so that the desired camber angle and toe angle are obtained. Can be adjusted.

As a second invention of the present invention, a camber angle adjusting rod capable of adjusting the length is provided between either one of the upper part or the lower part of the knuckle and a portion that does not follow the rotation of the hub, so that the camber angle can be adjusted. And it was set as the structure set to a fixed state.
According to the present invention, the camber angle can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the camber angle adjusting rod and rotating the hub with respect to the knuckle, and the position of the hub with respect to the knuckle can be fixed.

As a third aspect of the present invention, a rotating member is provided on the central axis of the hub, and the sphere portion of the camber angle adjusting rod is attached to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub.
According to the present invention, when the length of the camber angle adjusting rod is changed with respect to the rotating member by attaching the ball portion of the camber angle adjusting rod to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub, Even if the mounting angle changes, the camber angle can be adjusted, and the position of the hub relative to the knuckle can be fixed at an arbitrary position.

As a fourth invention of the present invention, a toe angle adjustment rod capable of adjusting the length is provided between either one of the front part or the rear part of the knuckle and a portion that does not follow the rotation of the hub, and the toe angle can be adjusted. And it comprised so that it might set to a fixed state.
According to the present invention, the toe angle can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the toe angle adjusting rod and rotating the hub with respect to the knuckle, and the position of the hub with respect to the knuckle can be fixed.

As a fifth aspect of the present invention, a rotating member is provided on the central axis of the hub, and the ball portion of the toe angle adjusting rod is attached to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub.
According to the present invention, since the ball portion of the toe angle adjusting rod is attached to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub, when the length of the toe angle adjusting rod is changed with respect to the rotating member, Even if the mounting angle changes, the toe angle can be adjusted, and the position of the hub with respect to the knuckle can be fixed at an arbitrary position.

As a sixth aspect of the present invention, the brake caliper provided on the hub of the knuckle adjusting device is supported by a brake caliper adjusting rod which is adjustable in length and attached to at least one of the upper arm or the lower arm.
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the brake caliper from rotating together with the hub when the brake rotor rotating together with the hub is sandwiched between the brake calipers and braking is performed.

The external view of the knuckle adjustment apparatus provided in the vehicle body which concerns on this invention. The expansion perspective view of the knuckle adjustment device concerning the present invention. Sectional drawing of the knuckle adjustment apparatus which concerns on this invention. The camber angle adjustment rod enlarged view which concerns on this invention. The toe angle adjustment rod enlarged view which concerns on this invention. The brake caliper adjustment rod enlarged view which concerns on this invention. The tie rod enlarged view which concerns on this invention. The camber angle adjustment figure which concerns on this invention. The toe angle adjustment diagram according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all the features and combinations described in the embodiments are included in the invention. It is not necessarily essential to the solution, but includes a configuration that is selectively adopted.

1 to 3 are block diagrams showing an embodiment of a knuckle adjusting device for a suspension of an automobile according to the present invention. 1 to 3, a brake disc rotor 2 is fixed to the hub 1 at the center of the tire by screws not shown.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner cylinders 6a and 6b of the rotating members 5a and 5b are fitted to the outer periphery of the base of the rotation center shaft 4 projecting from the center of the hub 1 toward the vehicle body, and the small rotating member 7a is attached to the outer periphery of the tip side. 7b are fitted into the inner cylinders 8a, 8b.

The left and right outer cylinders 9a and 9b of the rotating members 5a and 5b are fitted into the holes 11 of the bearing base 10, and the outer periphery of the bearing base 10 is formed into a spherical shape and has a spherical body 12. A central portion of a plate-like knuckle 14 having an inner surface hole 13 formed in a spherical shape so as to surround the sphere 12 is mounted.
The rotating members 5a and 5b and the bearing base 10 are assembled in a state where the central axis of the bearing base 10 overlaps the center f of the rotational central axis 4, and the bearing base 10 is the center of the outer sphere 12 It is formed into a spherical shape so that the axis coincides with the center f.

The outer cylinders 9a, 9b, 15a and 15b are mounted on the inner cylinders 6a and 6b of the rotating members 5a and 5b and the inner cylinders 8a and 8b of the small rotating members 7a and 7b, respectively, with bearings interposed therebetween. The spherical inner surface hole 13 covering the sphere 12 on the outer periphery of the bearing base 10 is slidable in a relatively three-dimensional direction along the outer periphery of the sphere 12, so that the knuckle 14 and the bearing base 10 are 3 The bearing member 16 is configured by these components.
That is, the bearing member 16 causes the hub 1 to have an arbitrary angle (camber angle α) in the vehicle body direction (left and right direction) with respect to a line segment g connecting the upper and lower upper pickup parts 17a and 17b as shown in FIG. 9, and the angle (toe angle β) of the center line h extending in the longitudinal direction of the bearing base 10 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body (toe angle β) can be adjusted as shown in FIG. ing.

Also, a ball 19a is provided at the tip of the pin 18a protruding upward from above the knuckle 14, and the tip of the upper arm 21a having a spherical inner surface hole 20a covering the ball 19a is attached to the ball 19a, and bearing connection is made. It is supported by the structure.
Similarly, a sphere 19b is provided at the tip of a pin 18b protruding downward from below the knuckle 14, and the tip of a lower arm 21b having a spherical inner surface hole 20b covering the sphere 19b is attached to the sphere 19b for bearing connection. It is supported by the structure.

The brake disc rotor 2 is braked with both sides sandwiched by pads built in the brake caliper 21.
A force in the rotational direction of the brake disc rotor 2 and the hub 1 acts on the brake caliper 21. The brake caliper 21 is fixed to the front portion of the knuckle 14 with a bolt 22. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer cylinders 15 a and 15 b of the small rotating members 7 a and 7 b are fitted into the rotating cylinder part 23, and a projecting piece 24 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating cylinder part 23. A projecting piece 25 is provided on the base side of the pin 18a at the upper position, and a camber angle adjusting rod 26 is attached so as to bridge between the projecting pieces 24, 25.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a projecting piece 27 is provided at the rear position of the rotating cylinder portion 23 to which the outer cylinders 15 a and 15 b of the small rotating members 7 a and 7 b are fitted, and the knuckle 14 is positioned at the rear position. Further, a projecting piece 28 is provided, and a toe angle adjusting rod 29 is bridged between the projecting pieces 27 and 28.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a protruding piece 30 is provided through a holding piece 30a on the distal end side of the upper arm 21a on the knuckle 14 side, and the holding piece 31a is also provided at a slightly front position of the cylindrical bearing base 10. And a brake caliper adjusting rod 32 for fixing the brake caliper is attached so as to bridge between the two projecting pieces 30 and 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the camber angle adjusting rod 26 is screwed into the support pins 34a and 34b, one end of which is fixed to the projecting pieces 24 and 25 by nuts 33a and 33b, and the tips of the support pins 34a and 34b. Cylinder bodies 35a, 35b, spherical holes 37a, 37b formed in the side portions of the cylinder bodies 35a, 35b, and cap bodies 38a screwed to both ends of the rod body 26a constituting the camber angle adjusting rod 26, 38b.

  The cap bodies 38a and 38b are configured such that both ends of the rod body 26a are screwed into the screw holes 38s and 38t at one end and advance and retract in the longitudinal direction of the rod body 26a. The cap bodies 38a and 38b include the spherical holes 37a and 38b. Spherical bodies 38e and 38f fitted in the spherical holes 37a and 37b are provided so that the outer periphery of 37b is covered.

By screwing the cap bodies 38a and 38b in the center direction of the rod body 26a, the overall length of the camber angle adjusting rod 26 itself can be adjusted to be short.
In this case, since the spherical bodies 38e and 38f are rotatably fitted in the spherical holes 37a and 37b, the camber angle adjusting rod 26 is automatically adjusted with respect to the projecting pieces 24 and 25, and the camber angle adjusting rod is automatically adjusted. 26 length adjustment becomes easy.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toe angle adjusting rod 29 is screwed into support pins 34c and 34d, one end of which is fixed to the projecting pieces 27 and 28 by nuts 33c and 33d, and the tips of the support pins 34c and 34d. Cylinder bodies 35c, 35d, spherical holes 37c, 37d formed in the side portions of the cylinder bodies 35c, 35d, and cap bodies 38c screwed to both ends of the rod body 29a constituting the toe angle adjusting rod 29, 38d.

  The cap bodies 38c and 38d are configured such that both ends of the rod body 29a are screwed into the screw holes 38k and 38j at one end and advance and retract in the longitudinal direction of the rod body 29a. The cap bodies 38c and 38d include the spherical hole 37c. , 37d are provided in the spherical holes 37c, 37d so that the outer periphery thereof is covered. By screwing the cap bodies 38c and 38d toward the center of the rod body 29a, the total length of the toe angle adjusting rod 29 itself can be adjusted to be short.

  In this case, since the spherical bodies 38g and 38h are rotatably fitted in the spherical holes 37c and 37d, the angle adjustment of the toe angle adjusting rod 29 with respect to the projecting pieces 27 and 28 is automatically performed, and the toe angle adjusting rod The length 29 can be easily adjusted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the brake caliper adjusting rod 32 is screwed into the support pins 34m and 34n, one end of which is fixed to the projecting pieces 30 and 31 with nuts 33m and 33n, and the tips of the support pins 34m and 34n. Cap bodies 38m, 38n screwed to both ends of the cylinder bodies 35m, 35n, spherical holes 37m, 37n formed in the side portions of the cylinder bodies 35m, 35n, and rod bodies 32a constituting the brake caliper adjusting rod 32. And more.

  The cap bodies 38m and 38n are configured such that both ends of the rod body 32a are screwed into the screw holes 38u and 38v at one end so as to advance and retreat in the longitudinal direction of the rod body 32a. , 37n are provided with spherical bodies 38p, 38q fitted into the spherical holes 37m, 37n so that the outer circumference is covered.

By screwing the cap bodies 38m, 38n in the center direction of the rod body 32a, the overall length of the brake caliper adjusting rod 32 itself can be adjusted to be short.
In this case, since the spherical bodies 38p and 38q are rotatably fitted in the spherical holes 37m and 37n, the angle adjustment of the brake caliper adjustment rod 32 with respect to the projecting pieces 30 and 31 is automatically performed, and the brake caliper adjustment rod 32 length adjustment becomes easy.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the tie rod 40 is attached to a pin 42 attached at one end to a protruding piece 41 protruding from the rear of the knuckle. A spherical body 43 is integrated with the tip of the pin 42. The spherical body 43 is surrounded by a spherical inner surface hole 45 of the ring body 44, and is supported by the ring body 44 so as to be rotatable in a three-dimensional direction. The length of the tie rod 40 can be adjusted by a known technique.

In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
In order to adjust the inclination of the camber angle α formed by the line segment g connecting the upper and lower pickup parts 17a, 17b and the vertical line r in the vertical direction, the rod of the camber angle adjusting rod 26 is adjusted. The cap body 38a, 38b at both ends of the body 26a is rotated to either one, and the bearing base 10 is tilted inward while the camber angle adjusting rod 26 is set long, so that the line segment g of the knuckle 14 is inclined. The hub 1 is set in an inclined state as indicated by an arrow M while being maintained, so that the camber angle α can be set large, and the cap bodies 38a and 38b are fitted to the nuts 39a and 39b in a state where the predetermined camber angle α is obtained. By tightening with (see FIG. 4), the camber angle α can be held in a fixed state.
Note that T in FIG. 8 is a wheel, and the camber angle α of the wheel T can be adjusted.

  Further, by setting the camber angle adjusting rod 26 to be short, the line segment g ′ of the wheel T can be set to the outside direction, and the camber angle α can be set to be small in the opposite direction. Alternatively, by setting the toe angle adjusting rod 29 to be long independently of the adjustment of the camber angle adjusting rod 26 or simultaneously with this adjustment, as shown by the arrow N in FIG. The toe angle β in the inward state can be adjusted by tilting and can be held in a fixed state.

The brake caliper adjusting rod 32 holds the brake caliper 21 by tightening the cap bodies 38m, 38n at both ends at a predetermined length, and the brake caliper 21 follows the rotation of the brake disc rotor 2 during brake braking. Can be prevented.
By interposing the bearing member 16 in this way, the hub 1 can be rotated relative to the knuckle 14 in a three-dimensional direction, so that the camber angle α and tow angle β can be obtained by a simple configuration and operation. Predetermined straightness and stability can be obtained. Further, according to the present invention, even if the camber angle α and the toe angle β are adjusted, the adjustments do not affect each other. Therefore, the desired camber can be obtained without changing the bump steer performance, which has been a problem in the past. The angle α and the toe angle β can be easily adjusted.

In the present embodiment, the projecting pieces 24 and 25 for attaching the camber angle adjusting rod 26 have been described as being provided at the upper positions of the knuckle 14 and the rotating cylinder portion 23, but at the lower positions thereof, or both the upper and lower portions. You may provide in a position.
Further, the protrusions 27 and 28 for attaching the toe angle adjusting rod 29 are not limited to the rear position but may be provided at the front position or both the front and rear positions.
Further, the end portions of the camber angle adjusting rod 26 and the toe angle adjusting rod 29 are not limited to being attached to the rotating cylinder portion 23, and a part of the bearing base 10 may be protruded in the vehicle body direction. Any portion may be used as long as it can move the bearing base 10 relative to the knuckle 14 and does not rotate following the rotation of the hub. In addition, it is preferable that the camber angle adjusting rod 26 and the toe angle adjusting rod 29 are attached in directions for adjusting.

1 hub, 2 brake disc rotor, 4 rotation center shaft, 5a rotating member,
5b rotating member, 6a inner cylinder, 6b inner cylinder, 7a small rotating member,
7b small rotating member, 8a inner cylinder, 8b inner cylinder, 9a outer cylinder, 9b outer cylinder,
10 bearing base, 11 holes, 12 sphere, 13 inner surface hole, 14 knuckle,
15a outer cylinder, 15b outer cylinder, 16 bearing member, 17a upper pickup part,
17b Lower pickup part, 18a pin, 18b pin, 19a sphere,
19b sphere, 20a inner surface hole, 20b inner surface hole, 21 brake caliper,
21a upper arm, 21b lower arm, 22 bolts, 23 rotating cylinder,
24 projecting pieces, 25 projecting pieces, 26 camber angle adjusting rod, 26a rod body,
27 projecting pieces, 28 projecting pieces, 29 toe angle adjusting rod, 29a rod body, 30 projecting pieces,
31 projecting piece, 32 brake caliper adjusting rod, 32a rod body,
33a nut, 33b nut, 33c nut, 33d nut,
33m nut, 33n nut, 34a support pin, 34b support pin,
34c support pin, 34d support pin, 34m support pin, 34n support pin,
35a cylinder, 35b cylinder, 35c cylinder, 35d cylinder, 35m cylinder,
35n cylinder, 37a spherical hole, 37b spherical hole, 37c spherical hole, 37d spherical hole,
37m spherical hole, 37n spherical hole, 38a cap body, 38b cap body,
38c cap body, 38d cap body, 38e sphere, 38f sphere,
38g sphere, 38h sphere, 38j screw hole, 38k screw hole,
38m cap body, 38n cap body, 38p sphere, 38q sphere,
38s screw hole, 38t screw hole, 38u screw hole, 38v screw hole,
39a nut, 39b nut, 40 tie rod, 41 projecting piece, 42 pin,
43 spherical body, 44 ring body, 45 spherical inner surface hole, f center, g line segment, h center line,
r Normal, T wheel, α camber angle, β toe angle.

Claims (6)

A knuckle adjustment device for adjusting alignment of vehicle wheels,
A bearing base is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the central axis of the hub, a sphere formed in a spherical shape is provided along the outer periphery of the bearing base, and an inner surface hole surrounding the sphere is provided at the center side of the knuckle. A bearing member is formed by the inner surface hole so that the hub can be rotated in a three-dimensional direction with respect to the knuckle and fixed at a desired rotation position to obtain at least one of the camber angle and the toe angle. A knuckle adjustment device characterized by.   The camber angle adjustment rod that can be adjusted in length is provided between either the upper part or the lower part of the knuckle and the part that does not follow the rotation of the hub so that the camber angle can be adjusted, and the fixed state is set. The knuckle adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the knuckle adjusting device is configured as described above.   The knuckle adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein a rotating member is provided on a central axis of the hub, and a ball portion of the camber angle adjusting rod is attached to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub.   Toe angle adjustment rod is provided between either the front part or the rear part of the knuckle and the part that does not follow the rotation of the hub so that the toe angle can be adjusted, and the fixed state is set. The knuckle adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the knuckle adjustment device is provided.   The knuckle adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein a rotating member is provided on a central axis of the hub, and a ball portion of the toe angle adjusting rod is attached to the rotating member that does not follow the rotation of the hub.   6. The brake caliper provided on the hub of the knuckle adjusting device is supported by a brake caliper adjusting rod that is adjustable in length and is attached to at least one of an upper arm or a lower arm. A knuckle adjusting device according to claim 1.

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