JP2012030610A - Suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for reducing the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps of suspension devices.SOLUTION: The suspension device 1 includes an air spring section with a chamber 102, a shock absorber which has a cylinder and a piston rod 204, and a connection section 300 connecting the air spring section and the shock absorber with vehicle body side. The connection section 300 includes a bush 302 accommodated in a bush accommodation tube 110 to connect the chamber 102 and the piston rod 204, a bearing 304 having an outer race 304a and an inner race 304b and supporting the chamber 102 so as to rotate relative to a vehicle body, and a rebound side stopper member 306. The inner race 304b includes a flange section 304b1 extending to the piston rod 204 side. The rebound side stopper member 306 is in contact with the flange section 304b1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension device. In particular, the present invention relates to a suspension device for a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a suspension device provided with an air spring that is provided between a vehicle body and a wheel and generates a spring force by air pressure in an air chamber is known as a suspension device for absorbing vibration received from a road surface. Generally, such a suspension device is provided with a shock absorber that generates a damping force with respect to vibration of an air spring. The shock absorber has a cylinder connected to the wheel side and a piston rod inserted into the cylinder and connected to the vehicle body side.

  For example, in the air suspension device disclosed in Patent Document 1, an air spring and a shock absorber are connected to the vehicle body side via a connecting mechanism having an elastic body. Specifically, the coupling mechanism includes an elastically deformable bush for coupling the piston rod and the air spring chamber, and an upper including a rebound stopper and a bound stopper for limiting the relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber. A support and an insulator including a bearing for rotatably coupling the chamber to the vehicle body; The piston rod of the shock absorber is connected to the air spring chamber via an upper support, and the air spring chamber is connected to the vehicle body side via an insulator. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration of another coupling mechanism applied to the suspension device.

JP 2008-143474 A JP 2003-254377 A

  In general, vehicles are required to reduce manufacturing costs and the number of manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is natural to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing processes for the air suspension device used in the vehicle. Under such circumstances, the conventional air suspension device has room to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables reduction of the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device.

  In order to solve the above problems, a suspension device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an air spring portion having a chamber constituting an air chamber, a vibration buffer portion having a cylinder and a piston rod inserted into the cylinder, and the air A suspension device comprising: a spring portion; and a coupling portion for coupling the vibration buffer portion to the vibration receiving portion side, wherein the coupling portion is accommodated in a bush accommodating portion of the chamber, and an inner peripheral surface is a rod. A bush that connects the chamber and the piston rod while allowing a relative displacement between the chamber and the piston rod, an outer ring portion, and an inner ring. The outer ring portion is fixed to the vibration receiving portion side, the inner ring portion is fixed to the chamber side, and the And a stopper member for restricting relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber, and an inner ring portion of the connection ring is a piston. A flange portion extending to the rod side, and the stopper member is in contact with the flange portion so as to press the connecting ring in a fitting direction when restricting relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber. Features.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device.

  In the above aspect, the connecting portion includes another stopper member for restricting relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber above the bush, and the flange portion is more than the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing portion. The stopper member may be configured to extend toward the piston rod side, abut against the one surface, and the other surface against the other surface. According to this aspect, the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device can be further reduced.

  In the above aspect, the flange portion extends to the piston rod side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing portion, the stopper member abuts on one surface, and the other surface facing the one surface. The bush may contact. According to this aspect, the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device can be further reduced.

  In the above aspect, the bush housing portion has a single cylindrical plate, the bush is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate, and the inner ring portion of the coupling ring is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate. Also good. According to this aspect, since the bearing can be reduced in diameter, the manufacturing cost of the suspension device can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a suspension device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion of the suspension device according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the connection part vicinity of the conventional suspension apparatus. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion of a suspension device according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the suspension device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided between a vehicle body (vibration receiving portion) and a wheel, and absorbs vibration received from the road surface by expanding and contracting with the approach and separation of the vehicle body and the wheel. It is a device for doing. The suspension device 1 includes an air spring portion 100 for generating a spring force for approaching and separating the vehicle body and the wheel, a shock absorber 200 (vibration buffering portion) for generating a damping force for approaching and separating the vehicle body and the wheel, an air And a connecting portion 300 for connecting the spring portion 100 and the shock absorber 200 to the vehicle body side.

  The air spring unit 100 includes a cylindrical chamber 102, a cylindrical piston cylinder 104 provided inside the chamber 102 so as to be able to enter and exit, and a diaphragm 106 that couples the chamber 102 and the piston cylinder 104. . The diaphragm 106 is a cylindrical member made of a flexible material. One end of the diaphragm 106 is airtightly connected to the lower end portion of the chamber 102, and the other end is airtightly connected to the upper end portion of the piston cylinder 104. Diaphragm 106 can be deformed in response to its entry and exit while in close contact with chamber 102 and piston cylinder 104 when piston cylinder 104 enters and exits chamber 102.

  The chamber 102 has an opening 102a at the center of the upper surface. An annular bearing support portion 108 is fixed to the opening 102a. A bush housing cylinder 110 (bush housing section) is inserted inside the bearing support section 108, and the bush housing cylinder 110 is fixed to the bearing support section 108. The bushing accommodating cylinder 110 is inserted with the piston rod 204 of the shock absorber 200, and the bushing 302 and the bounce side of the connecting portion 300 are formed in a space between the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204 and the inner peripheral surface of the bushing accommodating cylinder 110. A stopper member 308 is accommodated. Further, the cylinder 202 of the shock absorber 200 is provided inside the piston cylinder 104 so as to penetrate the lower end portion of the piston cylinder 104. The lower end portion of the piston cylinder 104 is in airtight contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 202. An air chamber 112 is formed around the shock absorber 200 by the chamber 102, the piston cylinder 104, the diaphragm 106, the bearing support portion 108, and the bush housing cylinder 110.

  When the suspension device 1 contracts, that is, when the wheel and the vehicle body move relative to each other in the bound direction, the piston cylinder 104 and the cylinder 202 approach the chamber 102, the volume of the air chamber 112 decreases, and the air pressure of the air chamber 112 increases. To do. On the other hand, when the suspension device 1 extends, that is, when the wheel and the vehicle body move relative to each other in the rebound direction, the piston cylinder 104 and the cylinder 202 are separated from the chamber 102, the volume of the air chamber 112 increases, and the air pressure of the air chamber 112 increases. Decreases. Therefore, the air spring unit 100 can generate a spring force corresponding to the air pressure of the air chamber 112 that varies with the expansion and contraction operation of the suspension device 1.

  The shock absorber 200 is disposed so as to penetrate the air chamber 112 such that its central axis coincides with the central axis of the air spring portion 100. The shock absorber 200 includes a cylindrical cylinder 202 and a piston rod 204 inserted into the cylinder 202 so as to be able to enter and retreat. The piston rod 204 extends upward from the inside of the cylinder 202, passes through the bush housing cylinder 110, and is connected to the vehicle body side via the connecting portion 300. Further, the upper end portion of the piston rod 204 is connected to an actuator (not shown) for adjusting damping force located above the suspension device 1. A mounting bush 206 is fixed to the lower end of the cylinder 202, and the cylinder 202 is connected to the wheel side via the mounting bush 206.

  A free piston 208 is provided inside the cylinder 202 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the cylinder 202, and the inside of the cylinder 202 is divided into two upper and lower spaces by the free piston 208. Inside the cylinder 202, a space below the free piston 208 is a gas chamber 210 filled with gas, and a space above the free piston 208 is a liquid chamber 212 filled with hydraulic fluid. A piston 214 is fixed to the lower end portion of the piston rod 204, and the liquid chamber 212 is further divided into two upper and lower spaces by the piston 214. The piston 214 is provided with a through hole (not shown) that connects a space above the piston 214 and a space below the piston 214, and the working liquid filled in the liquid chamber 212 passes through the through hole to form two spaces. It is possible to come and go.

  When the suspension device 1 is contracted, the piston rod 204 is relatively displaced in the direction of entering the cylinder 202, and when the suspension device 1 is extended, the piston rod 204 is relatively displaced in the direction of retracting from the cylinder 202. As a result, the piston 214 moves in the cylinder 202, and the working fluid in the liquid chamber 212 passes through the two holes separated by the piston 214 through the through hole provided in the piston 214. The shock absorber 200 can generate a damping force due to the flow resistance when the hydraulic fluid passes through the through hole. Further, as the piston rod 204 enters or exits the cylinder 202, the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 212 fluctuates, and between the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 212 and the pressure in the gas chamber 210. Differential pressure is generated. The free piston 208 moves in the cylinder 202 according to this differential pressure, and adjusts the pressure balance between the liquid chamber 212 and the gas chamber 210. The shock absorber 200 can adjust the damping force by an actuator connected to the upper end of the piston rod 204.

  On the bottom surface of the bush housing cylinder 110, a bound stopper 216 made of an elastic body such as rubber is provided. The bound stopper 216 is configured to abut against the upper end portion of the cylinder 202 when the cylinder 202 and the piston rod 204 are relatively displaced in the bound direction. Thereby, the relative displacement amount of the cylinder 202 and the piston rod 204 can be limited. The bound stopper 216 is provided with a through hole 216a having a diameter larger than the diameter of the piston rod 204, and the piston rod 204 is inserted into the through hole 216a.

  The connecting portion 300 includes a bushing 302, a bearing 304 (a connecting ring), a rebound side stopper member 306 (a stopper member), and a bound side stopper member 308 (another stopper member). The bush 302 is housed in the bush housing cylinder 110, the inner peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204, the outer peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110, and the chamber 102 and the piston rod 204 are The chamber 102 and the piston rod 204 are connected while allowing displacement. The bearing 304 includes an outer race 304a (outer ring portion) and an inner race 304b (inner ring portion), and is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the bushing housing cylinder 110. The outer race 304a is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the inner race 304b is a chamber. It is fixed to the side of 102 and supports the chamber 102 so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body. The rebound side stopper member 306 limits the relative displacement of the piston rod 204 in the rebound direction with respect to the chamber 102, and the bounce side stopper member 308 limits the relative displacement of the piston rod 204 in the bound direction with respect to the chamber 102.

  Hereinafter, the configuration in the vicinity of the connecting portion 300 in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail while comparing with the configuration in the vicinity of the connecting portion of a conventional general suspension device. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the connecting portion of the suspension device according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the piston rod 204 has a smaller diameter at the upper part than the lower end of the bush housing cylinder 110 than the lower part of the lower end, and there is a boundary between the large diameter part and the small diameter part. A step is formed. A collar 310 is fitted in the stepped portion. The collar 310 has a shape in which the inner diameter of the lower part is substantially equal to the diameter of the large diameter part of the piston rod 204 and the inner diameter of the upper part is substantially equal to the diameter of the small diameter part of the piston rod 204. The piston rod 204 is locked.

  A bush 302 is provided above the collar 310. The bush 302 includes an inner cylinder 302a that forms an inner peripheral part, an outer cylinder 302b that forms an outer peripheral part, and an elastic body such as rubber, and a bush rubber 302c that connects the inner cylinder 302a and the outer cylinder 302b. Yes. The bush 302 is fitted into the piston rod 204 in a state where the inner tube 302a, the outer tube 302b, and the bush rubber 302c are integrated, and is press-fitted between the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204 and the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing tube 110. Are accommodated in the bushing housing cylinder 110. In this state, the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 302a is crimped to the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 302b is crimped to the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110. Are connected by a bushing 302. The piston rod 204 and the bush housing cylinder 110 are allowed to be relatively displaced by elastic deformation of the bush rubber 302c. The bush 302 blocks communication between the air chamber 112 and the outside in the bush housing cylinder 110. That is, the bush 302 prevents the air in the air chamber 112 from leaking outside through the bush housing cylinder 110.

  In the bush housing cylinder 110, an annular bound side stopper member 308 is fitted into the piston rod 204 above the bush 302. The bound side stopper member 308 includes an annular bound side stopper disc 308a and an annular bound side stopper rubber 308b provided on the upper surface of the peripheral edge of the bound side stopper disc 308a. A cylindrical collar 312 is fitted into the piston rod 204 above the bound side stopper member 308. Above the collar 312, a nut 314 is screwed into a screw portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204. Therefore, the collar 310, the inner cylinder 302 a, the bounce-side stopper disc 308 a, and the collar 312 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204 by being pressed by the nut 314.

  Above the nut 314, an annular rebound side stopper member 306 is fitted into the piston rod 204. The rebound side stopper member 306 includes an annular rebound side stopper disk 306a and an annular rebound side stopper rubber 306b provided on the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the rebound side stopper disk 306a. Above the rebound-side stopper member 306, a bracket 316 for adjusting the damping force is fitted into the piston rod 204. Above the bracket 316, a nut 318 is screwed into a threaded portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204, whereby the rebound-side stopper disc 306a and the bracket 316 are fixed to the piston rod 204. Has been.

  An annular bearing support portion 108 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110. The bearing support portion 108 includes an annular portion 108a and a flange portion 108b that extends outward at the lower end of the annular portion 108a. The inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 108 a is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 108 b is fixed to the side surface of the opening 102 a of the chamber 102. The flange portion 108 b covers the opening 102 a of the chamber 102 around the bush housing cylinder 110. A joint portion between the bearing support portion 108 and the chamber 102 or a joint portion between the bearing support portion 108 and the bush housing cylinder 110 is airtightly joined so that air in the air chamber 112 does not leak to the outside.

  A bearing 304 is fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the bush housing cylinder 110. In the present embodiment, the bearing 304 is fitted into the outer periphery of the bush housing cylinder 110 via the bearing support 108 provided on the outer periphery of the bush housing cylinder 110. The bearing 304 includes an outer race 304a, an inner race 304b, and a bearing ball 304c that is sandwiched between the outer race 304a and the inner race 304b and allows relative rotation therebetween. The inner race 304b is supported by the bearing support portion 108 with its inner peripheral surface in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 108a and its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 108b. The outer race 304a is fixed to the outer race gripping bracket 320. An insulator rubber 322 is fixed to the upper surface of the outer race gripping fitting 320. Further, an upper metal fitting 326 fixed to the vehicle body side by a bolt 324 is fixed to the upper surface of the insulator rubber 322. Therefore, the chamber 102 is connected to the vehicle body side via the bearing support portion 108 and the bearing 304. Further, the relative rotation of the outer race 304a and the inner race 304b via the bearing ball 304c allows the chamber 102 fixed to the inner race 304b to rotate relative to the vehicle body fixed to the outer race 304a.

  The inner race 304b of the bearing 304 has a flange portion 304b1 extending to the piston rod 204 side. The rebound stopper rubber 306b of the rebound stopper member 306 is in contact with the upper surface (one surface) of the flange portion 304b1. Further, in the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 extends to the piston rod 204 side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110. The bounce-side stopper of the bounce-side stopper member 308 is formed on the lower surface (the other surface facing the one surface) of the flange portion 304b1 extending from the inner peripheral surface of the bushing housing cylinder 110 to the piston rod 204 side. The rubber 308b is in contact.

  When the vehicle body and the wheel approach and separate from each other, a damping force is generated by the shock absorber 200. At this time, the piston rod 204 and the chamber 102 are relatively displaced in the axial direction of the piston rod 204 while deforming the bushing rubber 302c of the bushing 302 by the reaction force of the damping force. Therefore, a shear stress is generated in the bush rubber 302 c in the axial direction of the piston rod 204. Here, when the vehicle body and the wheel are relatively displaced in the bound direction and approach each other, the piston rod 204 is displaced axially upward with respect to the chamber 102. When the piston rod 204 is displaced upward in the axial direction, the bound side stopper rubber 308b of the bound side stopper member 308 presses the lower surface of the flange portion 304b1. On the other hand, when the vehicle body and the wheel are relatively displaced in the rebound direction and separated, the piston rod 204 is displaced axially downward with respect to the chamber 102. When the piston rod 204 is displaced downward in the axial direction, the rebound stopper rubber 306b of the rebound stopper member 306 presses the upper surface of the flange portion 304b1. Therefore, the relative displacement amount between the piston rod 204 and the chamber 102 is limited by the rebound stopper member 306 and the bound stopper member 308. Thereby, it can prevent that excessive shearing stress generate | occur | produces in the bush rubber | gum 302c.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion of a conventional suspension device. In addition, about the structure of the conventional suspension apparatus, only a part required in order to clarify the characteristic of the suspension apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated, and description of another part is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in a conventional general suspension apparatus 1000, a chamber cap 1103 having an opening 1103 a at the center is fixed to the upper end of a cylindrical chamber 1102. A bush housing cylinder 1110 is inserted into the opening 1103 a of the chamber cap 1103, and the bush housing cylinder 1110 is fixed to the chamber cap 1103. A bush 1302 is press-fitted into the bush housing cylinder 1110, and the piston rod 1204 and the bush housing cylinder 1110 are connected by the bush 1302. Above the bush 1302, a bound side stopper member 1308 is fitted into the piston rod 1204. In addition, a rebound side stopper member 1306 is provided above the bound side stopper member 1308.

  The rebound-side stopper disk 1306 a of the rebound-side stopper member 1306 has a shape in which the inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the piston rod 1204 and the outer diameter is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the bush housing cylinder 1110. And the rebound side stopper member 1306 is arrange | positioned so that the rebound side stopper disc 1306a may be engage | inserted in the bush accommodation cylinder 1110. FIG. The bush housing cylinder 1110 has a caulking portion 1110c formed by bending the upper end portion thereof toward the rebound side stopper disc 1306a by a caulking process. The rebound-side stopper member 1306 is prevented from coming off from the bush housing cylinder 1110 by the caulking portion 1110c.

  In such a configuration, the rebound-side stopper disc 1306a of the rebound-side stopper member 1306 functions as a bound-side stopper plate that receives input from the bound-side stopper member 1308. Further, above the rebound side stopper member 1306, a rebound side stopper plate 1328 that receives the input of the rebound side stopper member 1306 is fitted into the piston rod 1204.

  On the upper surface of the chamber cap 1103, a bearing support portion 1108 that is annular and has a flange on the outer periphery of the lower end portion is fixed. The bearing support portion 1108 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the bush housing cylinder 1110, and is provided around the bush housing cylinder 1110 at a predetermined distance. Thus, the predetermined interval between the bearing support portion 1108 and the bush housing cylinder 1110 is that the upper end portion of the bush housing cylinder 1110 or the caulking portion 1110c and the caulking portion 1108c described later are formed in the caulking step. This is to secure a space necessary for bringing the caulking jig into contact with the upper end portion of the bearing support portion 1108. A bearing 1304 is fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the bearing support portion 1108, and the inner race of the bearing 1304 is supported by the bearing support portion 1108. The bearing support portion 1108 has a caulking portion 1108c formed by bending an upper end portion thereof toward the inner race side of the bearing 1304 by a caulking process. The bearing 1304 is prevented from coming off from the bearing support portion 1108 by the caulking portion 1108c.

  The suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment is different from the conventional suspension device 1000 having such a configuration in the following points. That is, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 is provided on the inner race 304b of the bearing 304, and the rebound-side stopper member 306 is brought into contact with the flange portion 304b1. Here, the rebound-side stopper member 306 is in contact with the flange portion 304b1 so as to press the bearing 304 in the direction in which the bearing 304 is fitted when limiting the relative displacement between the chamber 102 and the piston rod 204. Specifically, the bearing 304 is fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the bearing support portion 108 from the upper side to the lower side. Therefore, the rebound side stopper member 306 is provided to press the flange portion 304b1 downward when the chamber 102 and the piston rod 204 are relatively displaced in the rebound direction.

  Thereby, the flange part 304b1 can be functioned as a rebound side stopper plate which receives the input from the rebound side stopper member 306. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the rebound side stopper plate 1328 as in the conventional configuration, so that the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration, and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Thereby, the rebound stopper member 306 can prevent the bearing 304 from coming off during the manufacturing process. Therefore, the caulking process for forming the caulking portion 1108c by bending the upper end portion of the bearing support portion 1108 can be omitted, and therefore the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device 1 can be reduced.

  In the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the rebound side stopper member 306 is disposed outside the bush housing cylinder 110. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the space in which the rebound side stopper member 306 is provided is increased as compared with the conventional configuration, and the rebound side stopper member 306 can be enlarged. Thereby, durability of the rebound side stopper member 306 can be improved.

  As described above, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the rebound-side stopper member 306 is disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the flange portion 304b1. Here, when the arrangement of the rebound side stopper member 1306 is changed as in the present embodiment in the conventional configuration, the rebound side stopper member 1306 that functions as a plate that receives input from the bounce side stopper member 1308 moves. It is necessary to newly provide a bound side stopper plate above the side stopper member 1308. In order to fix the bound side stopper plate to the bush housing cylinder 1110, it is necessary to form a caulking portion 1110c at the upper end of the bush housing cylinder 1110. On the other hand, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 extends to the piston rod 204 side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110, and the bound side stopper member 308 is brought into contact with the flange portion 304b1. . Thereby, the flange part 304b1 can be functioned as a bound side stopper plate which receives the input from the bound side stopper member 308. As a result, since it is not necessary to provide the bound side stopper plate as a separate member, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration, and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to form the caulking portion 1110c for fixing the bound side stopper plate to the bushing housing cylinder 1110, the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the caulking process for bending the upper ends of the bearing support 1108 and the bushing receiving cylinder 1110 becomes unnecessary as described above, a space for bringing the caulking jig into contact with these upper ends is omitted. Can do. Therefore, the diameter of the bearing support portion 108 can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration, whereby the diameter of the bearing 304 can be reduced. As a result, a lower-cost bearing 304 can be employed, so that the manufacturing cost of the suspension device 1 can be reduced.

  As described above, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 is provided on the inner race 304b of the bearing 304, and the rebound side stopper member 306 is in contact with the flange portion 304b1. Thereby, since the flange part 304b1 can be functioned as a plate which receives the input from the rebound side stopper member 306, the number of parts can be reduced, and as a result, the manufacturing cost of the suspension device 1 can be reduced. . Further, since the rebound side stopper member 306 can function as a retaining member for the bearing 304, a caulking step for forming a caulking portion for fixing the bearing 304 can be omitted. Therefore, the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device 1 can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In the suspension device 1 according to the second embodiment, the bounce-side stopper member 308 is disposed below the bearing support portion, and the bush receiving cylinder is provided with a bearing support function. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the description and illustration are abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment is a device that is provided between a vehicle body and a wheel and absorbs vibration received from a road surface by expanding and contracting with the approach and separation of the vehicle body and the wheel. Similar to the suspension device 1 according to the first embodiment, the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment has an air spring portion for generating a spring force for approaching and separating the vehicle body and the wheel, and a damping force for approaching and separating the vehicle body and the wheel. A shock absorber, and a connecting portion for connecting the air spring portion and the shock absorber to the vehicle body side.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the connecting portion of the suspension device according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the suspension device 1 according to this embodiment, a collar 310 is fitted in the step portion of the piston rod 204. The collar 310 is locked to the piston rod 204 at the step portion of the piston rod 204.

  An annular bound side stopper member 308 is fitted into the piston rod 204 above the collar 310. The bound side stopper member 308 includes an annular bound side stopper disc 308a and an annular bound side stopper rubber 308b provided on the upper surface of the peripheral edge of the bound side stopper disc 308a. The bound side stopper disc 308a has a shape in which the center portion protrudes upward, the lower surface of the peripheral edge abuts on the upper surface of the bound stopper 216, and the upper surface of the center portion is slightly larger than the top surface of the bound side stopper rubber 308b. The height is low.

  A bushing housing cylinder 110 is provided in the opening 102 a provided on the upper surface of the chamber 102. The bush housing cylinder 110 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical part 110a and a flange part 110b. The bush housing cylinder 110 is connected to the chamber 102 by fixing the outer peripheral surface of the flange 110b to the side surface of the opening 102a. A piston rod 204 is inserted through the tubular portion 110 a of the bushing housing cylinder 110. The bush housing cylinder 110 is disposed above the bound side stopper member 308, and the bound side stopper rubber 308b is in contact with the lower surface of the flange portion 110b.

  Further, a bush 302 is provided above the bound side stopper member 308. The bush 302 includes an inner cylinder 302a, an outer cylinder 302b, and an elastic body such as rubber, and includes a bush rubber 302c that connects the inner cylinder 302a and the outer cylinder 302b. The bush 302 is fitted into the piston rod 204 in a state where the inner cylinder 302a, the outer cylinder 302b, and the bush rubber 302c are integrated, and is press-fitted between the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 110a. Are accommodated in the bushing housing cylinder 110. The bush 302 is press-fitted into the bush housing cylinder 110 until the lower surface of the inner cylinder 302a comes into contact with the upper surface of the center portion of the bound side stopper disk 308a. In this state, the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 302a is crimped to the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 302b is crimped to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 110a. Are connected by a bushing 302. The piston rod 204 and the bush housing cylinder 110 are allowed to be relatively displaced by elastic deformation of the bush rubber 302c. The flange portion 110b of the bush housing cylinder 110 abuts against the side surface of the opening 102a in an airtight manner, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 110a, the outer peripheral surface of the bush 302, the inner peripheral surface of the bush 302, and the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204. By contacting each airtightly, communication between the air chamber 112 and the outside is blocked.

  Above the bush 302, an annular rebound side stopper member 306 is fitted into the piston rod 204. The rebound side stopper member 306 includes an annular rebound side stopper disk 306a and an annular rebound side stopper rubber 306b provided on the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the rebound side stopper disk 306a. Above the rebound side stopper member 306, a nut 314 is screwed into a threaded portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204. Therefore, the collar 310, the bound side stopper disk 308a, the inner cylinder 302a, and the rebound side stopper disk 306a are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204 by being pressed by the nut 314.

  Above the nut 314, the bracket 316 of the actuator for adjusting the damping force is fitted into the piston rod 204. Above the bracket 316, a nut 318 is screwed into a threaded portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 204, whereby the bracket 316 is fixed to the piston rod 204.

  A bearing 304 is fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the bush housing cylinder 110. The bearing 304 includes an outer race 304a, an inner race 304b, and a bearing ball 304c that is sandwiched between the outer race 304a and the inner race 304b and allows relative rotation therebetween. The inner race 304b is supported by the bush housing cylinder 110 with its inner peripheral surface in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 110a and its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the collar portion 110b. Therefore, the bush housing cylinder 110 of the present embodiment also functions as a bearing support portion. The outer race 304a is fixed to the outer race gripping bracket 320. An insulator rubber 322 is fixed to the upper surface of the outer race gripping fitting 320, and an upper fitting 326 fixed to the vehicle body side by a bolt 324 is fixed to the upper surface of the insulator rubber 322. Therefore, the chamber 102 is connected to the vehicle body side via the bush housing cylinder 110 and the bearing 304. Further, the relative rotation of the outer race 304a and the inner race 304b via the bearing ball 304c allows the chamber 102 fixed to the inner race 304b to rotate relative to the vehicle body fixed to the outer race 304a.

  The inner race 304b of the bearing 304 has a flange portion 304b1 extending to the piston rod 204 side. The rebound-side stopper rubber 306b of the rebound-side stopper member 306 is in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 304b1. Further, in the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 extends to the piston rod 204 side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110. The outer cylinder 302b of the bush 302 is in contact with the lower surface of the portion of the flange portion 304b1 that extends to the piston rod 204 side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110.

  When the vehicle body and the wheel approach and separate from each other, a damping force is generated by the shock absorber 200. At this time, the piston rod 204 and the chamber 102 are relatively displaced in the axial direction of the piston rod 204 while deforming the bushing rubber 302c of the bushing 302 by the reaction force of the damping force. Therefore, a shear stress is generated in the bush rubber 302 c in the axial direction of the piston rod 204. Here, when the vehicle body and the wheel are relatively displaced in the bound direction and approach each other, the piston rod 204 is displaced axially upward with respect to the chamber 102. When the piston rod 204 is displaced upward in the axial direction, the bound side stopper rubber 308b of the bound side stopper member 308 presses the lower surface of the flange portion 110b. On the other hand, when the vehicle body and the wheel are relatively displaced in the rebound direction and separated, the piston rod 204 is displaced axially downward with respect to the chamber 102. When the piston rod 204 is displaced downward in the axial direction, the rebound stopper rubber 306b of the rebound stopper member 306 presses the upper surface of the flange portion 304b1. Therefore, the relative displacement amount between the piston rod 204 and the chamber 102 is limited by the rebound stopper member 306 and the bound stopper member 308. Thereby, it can prevent that excessive shearing stress generate | occur | produces in the bush rubber | gum 302c.

  As described above, in the suspension device 1 according to this embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 is provided on the inner race 304b of the bearing 304, and the rebound-side stopper member 306 is brought into contact with the flange portion 304b1. The flange portion 304b1 functions as a plate that receives an input from the rebound side stopper member 306, and the rebound side stopper member 306 prevents the bearing 304 from coming off during the manufacturing process. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the number of parts and the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device 1 can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Further, the diameter of the rebound side stopper member 306 can be increased.

  Further, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the flange portion 304b1 extends to the piston rod 204 side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing cylinder 110, and the bush 302 is in contact with the flange portion 304b1. Therefore, the press-fitting of the bush 302 into the bush housing cylinder 110 and the fitting of the bearing 304 into the bush housing cylinder 110 can be performed simultaneously. That is, by pressing the bearing 304 downward with the bush 302 set at the inlet of the bush receiving cylinder 110, the bush 302 is pressed downward via the flange portion 304b1 and press-fitted into the bush receiving cylinder 110. The bearing 304 is fitted into the outer periphery of the bushing housing cylinder 110. Therefore, the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device 1 can be reduced or the manufacturing steps can be simplified.

  Further, in the suspension device 1 according to the present embodiment, the bounce-side stopper member 308 is disposed below the bushing housing cylinder 110. Thereby, the magnitude | size of the bound side stopper member 308 can be enlarged compared with the conventional structure. As a result, the durability of the bound side stopper member 308 can be improved. Further, the collar portion 110b of the bush housing cylinder 110 is provided with a function as a plate that receives input from the bound side stopper member 308. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the bound side stopper plate as a separate member, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Further, since it is not necessary to form the caulking portion 1110c for fixing the bound side stopper plate to the bush housing cylinder 1110, the number of manufacturing steps of the suspension device 1 can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 110a of the bush housing cylinder 110 is formed of a single cylindrical plate, and the bush 302 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 110a, that is, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate. The inner race 304b is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the portion 110a, that is, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate. Thus, since the connection part 300 is a structure in which only one plate is interposed between the bush 302 and the bearing 304, the diameter of the bearing 304 can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. As a result, a lower-cost bearing 304 can be employed, so that the manufacturing cost of the suspension device 1 can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the embodiments can be combined, and various modifications such as design changes can be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Embodiments added or modified are also included in the scope of the present invention. Each of the above-described embodiments and a new embodiment resulting from the combination of each of the above-described embodiments and the following modified examples have the effects of the combined embodiments and modified examples.

  In Embodiment 1 described above, the bearing support portion 108 and the bush housing cylinder 110 are separate, but they may be integrated. That is, a single cylindrical plate serving as both the annular portion 108a of the bearing support portion 108 and the cylindrical portion of the bush receiving cylinder 110 is provided, the bearing 304 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate, and the bush is applied to the inner peripheral surface. The structure which 302 touches may be sufficient.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suspension apparatus, 100 Air spring part, 102 Chamber, 110 Bush accommodating cylinder, 112 Air chamber, 200 Shock absorber, 202 Cylinder, 204 Piston rod, 214 Piston, 300 Connection part, 302 Bush, 304 Bearing, 304a Outer race, 304b Inner race, 304b1 flange part, 306 Rebound side stopper member, 308 Bound side stopper member.

Claims (4)

An air spring part having a chamber constituting an air chamber, a vibration buffer part having a cylinder and a piston rod inserted into the cylinder, and a connection for connecting the air spring part and the vibration buffer part to the vibration receiving part side A suspension device comprising:
The connecting portion is
The chamber is accommodated in the bush accommodating portion, the inner peripheral surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod, and the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bush accommodating portion, thereby allowing relative displacement between the chamber and the piston rod. While the bush connecting the chamber and the piston rod,
The outer ring portion and the inner ring portion are fitted into the outer periphery of the bush housing portion, the outer ring portion is fixed to the vibration receiving portion side, the inner ring portion is fixed to the chamber side, and the chamber receives the vibration receiving portion. A connecting ring for supporting relative rotation with respect to,
A stopper member for limiting relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber;
With
The inner ring portion of the connection ring has a flange portion extending to the piston rod side,
The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member is in contact with the flange portion so as to press the connecting ring in a fitting direction when limiting a relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber. The connecting portion includes another stopper member for limiting a relative displacement between the piston rod and the chamber above the bush.
The flange portion extends closer to the piston rod than the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing portion, the stopper member abuts on one surface, and the other stopper member is on the other surface facing the one surface. The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the suspension device is configured to abut.   The flange portion extends to the piston rod side from the inner peripheral surface of the bush housing portion, the stopper member abuts on one surface, and the bush abuts on the other surface facing the one surface. The suspension device according to claim 1.   The bushing receiving portion has a single cylindrical plate, the bush is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate, and the inner ring portion of the connecting ring is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1.

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