JP2014062560A - Dust cover assembly for vehicle and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dust cover assembly for a vehicle, having a new structure to easily assemble a dust cover and a bound stopper independently formed, to an upper support, and to stably keep the assembling state.SOLUTION: In a dust cover assembly 10 for a vehicle, a bound stopper 18 is provided with an engagement step 26, and a dust cover 20 externally fitted to the bound stopper 18, is also superposed to the engagement step 26. On the other hand, an outer metal fitting 52 of an upper support 50 is provided with a fitting recessed portion 70 in which the bound stopper 18 is fitted and assembled, and an engagement projection 72 projecting from an inner face of the fitting recessed portion 70 is engaged with the engagement step 26 through the dust cover 20, so that the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are retained to the outer metal fitting 52, and the engagement step 26 is provided with a pressing operation face 46 free from the dust cover 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a dust cover assembly to be mounted on a shock absorber constituting a suspension mechanism of a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the dust cover assembly.

  Conventionally, shock absorbers that make up the suspension mechanism of vehicles such as automobiles have been fitted with a dust cover that surrounds the piston rod in order to prevent foreign matter such as rainwater and dust from entering the sliding portion of the piston rod. Has been. Further, in order to prevent damage and shock due to excessive contraction of the shock absorber when an excessive external input is made to the suspension mechanism, a bound stopper formed of an elastic body is externally inserted into the piston rod.

  By the way, as a structure for assembling both the dust cover and the bound stopper to the shock absorber, an integrally molded product of the dust cover and the bound stopper is employed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-3973 (Patent Document 1). Is also possible. However, since the required characteristics of the dust cover and the bound stopper are different, there is a problem that a material suitable for each cannot be selected when an integrally molded product is employed.

  Therefore, a dust cover and a bound stopper that are formed separately from each other are often employed. The dust cover and the bound stopper formed separately are used as an upper support for attaching the piston rod of the shock absorber to the vehicle body, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-130359 (Patent Document 2). It is assembled against. Specifically, the outer metal fitting of the upper support fixed to the vehicle body is used as a cup-shaped press-molded product, and a bound stopper is fitted and held on the inner surface of the outer wall of the outer metal fitting. It is assembled by being fitted and fixed to the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the metal fitting.

  However, in such a conventional assembly structure, since the outer fitting fixing portion of the dust cover to the outer metal fitting is exposed to the outside, the dust cover may fall off due to damage due to a jumping stone or the like during vehicle travel. was there. Further, when it is difficult to adopt a cylindrical outer peripheral surface in the outer metal fitting, there is a problem that it is impossible to externally fix the dust cover.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-3973 JP 2002-130359 A

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is that the dust cover and the bound stopper formed separately can be easily assembled to the upper support and the assembled state is It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle dust cover assembly having a novel structure and a novel manufacturing method of the vehicle dust cover assembly that can be stably maintained.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle dust cover assembly in which a bound stopper and a dust cover are assembled to an upper support for attaching a shock absorber to a vehicle body. The outer cover is fixed to the vehicle body at the upper support while the upper end portion of the dust cover that is externally fitted to the upper end portion of the bound stopper is also superimposed on the engagement step. A fitting recess is formed in which the upper end portion of the bound stopper is fitted and assembled, and an engagement protrusion projecting on the inner surface of the fitting recess has the dust cover interposed therebetween. The bound stopper and the dust cover are held against the outer metal fitting by being engaged with the step, and That pushing the operation surface in the axial direction and is exposed toward the axially downward within the dust cover without the dust cover are superposed it is provided at the inner peripheral end portion of the engaging step, and wherein.

  According to the vehicle dust cover assembly having the structure according to this aspect, the dust cover is fitted onto the bound stopper and is fitted into the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting together with the bound stopper. Then, when the dust cover is sandwiched between the engaging step between the engaging step of the bound stopper and the engaging protrusion of the outer metal fitting, the dust cover is held against the outer metal fitting together with the bound stopper.

  Therefore, the part where the dust cover is attached to the outer metal fitting is positioned in the fitting recess, and exposure to the outer peripheral surface of the outer metal fitting is avoided. Is done. In addition, regardless of the outer peripheral shape of the outer metal fitting, the dust cover can be assembled to the outer metal fitting, and the design flexibility of the outer metal fitting is greatly improved.

  In addition, the bounce stopper with the dust cover superimposed on the outer peripheral surface has a push-in operation surface at the inner peripheral end of the engagement step, and pushes the external force to fit the bounce stopper into the fitting recess. Can affect the surface. Accordingly, the bound stopper with the dust cover fitted outside can be easily fitted into the fitting recess and assembled to the outer metal fitting without being obstructed by the dust cover.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the dust cover assembly for a vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the upper surface of the engagement protrusion of the outer metal fitting is the surface of the bound stopper. While the engagement surface is overlapped with the engagement step across the dust cover, the surface below the top is a tapered guide surface that gradually spreads downward. is there.

  In the vehicle dust cover assembly that is structured according to this aspect, an external force is applied to the pushing operation surface of the bound stopper, and the outer stopper is formed in the outer fitting when the bound stopper is fitted into the fitting recess of the outer fitting. By guiding the outer peripheral surface of the bound stopper with the guide surface, the bound stopper can be assembled more easily.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dust cover assembly for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, wherein the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting has an inner circumference above the engagement protrusion. On the other hand, a tapered contact surface gradually narrowing upward is provided on the surface, while the bound stopper has a tapered overlapping surface gradually narrowing upward on the outer peripheral surface above the engagement step. The overlapping surface of the bound stopper is covered with the upper end portion of the dust cover, and is overlapped with the corresponding contact surface of the outer metal fitting with the dust cover interposed therebetween. is there.

  In the vehicle dust cover assembly having the structure according to this aspect, the engagement step and the overlapping surface of the bound stopper are both sandwiched between the engagement cover and the contact surface of the outer metal fitting. It is overlapped in the axial direction. Accordingly, the bound stopper and the dust cover can be more reliably positioned and held on both sides in the axial direction with respect to the outer metal fitting in a state where the outer metal fitting is assembled to the fitting recess.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle dust cover assembly according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the engagement step of the bound stopper and the engagement protrusion of the outer metal fitting All of these are formed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

  In the vehicle dust cover assembly according to any one of the first to third aspects, an appropriate number of engagement steps and engagement protrusions may be provided with a predetermined length on the circumference. However, according to this aspect, by forming the engagement step and the engagement protrusion over the entire circumference, it becomes possible to more effectively obtain the assembly holding force of the bound stopper and the dust cover in the outer metal fitting. .

  Further, in the vehicle dust cover assembly according to the present invention, the material of each member is not particularly limited. However, since the dust cover is fitted into the outer metal fitting and assembled, as described in Patent Document 2. There is no need to provide a dust cover fitting surface on the outer periphery of the outer metal fitting, and the degree of freedom in designing the outer peripheral shape of the outer metal fitting is increased. Therefore, the present invention can be advantageously applied to a vehicle dust cover assembly including an outer metal fitting made of, for example, an aluminum alloy die-cast product, and an irregular outer peripheral surface shape can be easily applied to the outer metal fitting. It can be set.

  Furthermore, since the dust cover can be formed separately from the bound stopper, it is possible to adopt an elastomer dust cover in combination with a bound stopper made of an elastic material such as foamed rubber elastic body or foamed urethane. Accordingly, it is possible to more advantageously realize the weight reduction and durability improvement of the dust cover.

  Furthermore, the present invention, when fitting the upper end portion of the bound stopper that is extrapolated to the piston rod of the shock absorber into the fitting recess provided in the outer metal fitting of the upper support fixed to the vehicle body, (A) An engagement step provided on the outer peripheral surface is used as the bound stopper, and the bound stopper is retained in the fitting recess by being engaged with the engagement step. (B) A dust cover that covers the piston rod is externally fitted to the upper end portion of the bound stopper to form the engagement step. (C) the dust cover is not overlapped at the inner peripheral end portion of the engagement step of the bound stopper, and the dust cover is axially lowered in the dust cover. A vehicle in which the upper end portion of the bound stopper to which the dust cover is externally fitted is pushed into the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting by exerting an axial assembly external force on the pushing operation surface exposed in the past. A method for manufacturing a dust cover assembly for a machine is also a feature.

  According to such a method of the present invention, when the dust cover is fitted together with the bound stopper in the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting, the bound stopper to which the dust cover is attached is attached to the pushing operation surface exposed in the axial direction. By applying an external force for assembly, it can be easily assembled to the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting. In the dust cover assembly for a vehicle manufactured according to such a manufacturing method, the assembly portion of the dust cover is protected by the outer metal fitting to prevent damage, and the outer peripheral shape of the outer metal fitting is largely free of design. Thus, the same effect as that of the vehicle dust cover assembly having the structure according to the present invention as described above can be obtained.

  In the vehicle dust cover assembly having the structure according to the present invention, the dust cover is fitted and held in the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting together with the bound stopper, so that the assembly portion of the dust cover is protected by the outer metal fitting. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a dust cover fitting surface on the outer peripheral surface of the outer metal fitting, and the outer metal fitting can be designed with a large degree of freedom.

  Further, according to the method of the present invention, a bound stopper in which the dust cover is superimposed on the outer peripheral surface can be easily fitted into the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting and assembled. It becomes possible to easily manufacture the dust cover assembly for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a vehicle dust cover assembly as one embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bound stopper which comprises the dust cover assembly | attachment body shown by FIG. 1, Comprising: The figure corresponded in the II-II cross section of FIG. The top view of the bound stopper shown by FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dust cover which comprises the dust cover assembly | attachment body shown by FIG. The top view of the dust cover shown by FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which expands and shows the principal part of the assembly | attachment state of the bound stopper shown by FIG. 2, and the dust cover shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional explanatory view showing an outer metal fitting for an arpa support constituting the dust cover assembly shown in FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a dust cover assembly 10 for a vehicle as an embodiment of the present invention. The dust cover assembly 10 according to the present embodiment is attached to a portion where the shock absorber 12 constituting the suspension mechanism of the automobile is attached to the vehicle body 14, and is extrapolated to the piston rod 16 of the shock absorber 12. The bounce stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are included. In the following description, the vertical direction means, in principle, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 that is the axial direction.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the bound stopper 18 is formed of a thick elastic body having a substantially cylindrical shape with a center hole 22, and has various elasticity. In this embodiment, it is made of a foamable urethane resin.

  The bound stopper 18 has a tapered shape with an outer peripheral surface having a smaller diameter downward, and the wall thickness is gradually reduced downward in the axial direction. In addition, annular concave grooves extending in the circumferential direction are alternately formed on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces below the intermediate portion in the axial direction to form a bellows structure as a whole, and buckling during axial compression deformation is achieved. It is prevented and the expansion and contraction deformation in the axial direction is stably generated.

  Further, a thick protrusion 24 protruding on the outer peripheral surface is integrally formed at the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18. In the present embodiment, thick protrusions 24 are formed at four locations located at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The lower surface of the thick protrusion 24 is an engagement step 26 that extends from the outer peripheral surface of the bound stopper 18 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. On the other hand, the upper surface of the thick protrusion 24, that is, the outer peripheral surface above the engagement step 26 is an overlapping surface 28 having a curved taper shape that gradually decreases in diameter upward.

  An annular step 30 is formed on the upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 in the middle portion in the radial direction, and a stepped shape with the outer peripheral side slightly lower in the axial direction than the inner peripheral side from the annular step 30. It is the end face. The upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 is formed with a communication groove 32 extending in the radial direction from the inner peripheral end to the outer peripheral end at an appropriate number of locations on the circumference (two locations in this embodiment). Further, the outer peripheral end of the communication groove 32 extends continuously downward in the axial direction at a circumferential position away from the thick protrusion 24. Even when the lower end opening of the bound stopper 18 is covered with the shock absorber 12, air supply / exhaust is allowed through the communication groove 32 inside and outside the bound stopper 18.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the dust cover 20 has a thin, generally cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction as a whole, and is composed of a synthetic resin material, a rubber elastic body, or a synthetic resin and a rubber elastic body. It is formed of a composite material. The material of the dust cover 20 is not particularly limited. For example, thermoplastic synthetic resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacetal, and cellulose acetate. In addition, thermoplastic vulcanized elastomers such as vulcanized alloys of polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber are preferably used. In the present embodiment, an olefin thermoplastic elastomer is employed as the material of the dust cover 20.

  The dust cover 20 of the present embodiment has a main body portion 34 that extends in the axial direction with a substantially constant inner and outer diameter, and a mounting portion 36 that is slightly smaller in diameter than the main body portion 34 and extends upward from the upper end of the main body portion 34. It is comprised including. In addition, a bellows portion 38 having a bellows cylinder shape by alternately connecting a plurality of annular convex portions and annular concave portions is formed in an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the main body portion 34. The bellows portion 38 improves the flexibility and stretchability of the dust cover 20.

  The mounting portion 36 is a portion that is overlapped with the outer peripheral surface of the bound stopper 18 and assembled in an externally fitted state, and has a tapered portion 40 that gradually decreases in diameter from the upper end of the main body portion 34, and the tapered portion 40. An annular lower locking portion 42 that extends radially outward from the upper end of the lower end, and a curve that expands upward from the outer peripheral end of the lower locking portion 42 and the upper end is gradually reduced in diameter and narrowed. The upper locking portion 44 has a tapered cylindrical shape.

  The lower locking portion 42 of the attachment portion 36 has an inner diameter dimension larger than the inner diameter dimension of the engagement step 26 of the bound stopper 18 by a predetermined dimension: δ. Further, the inner peripheral surface shape of the upper locking portion 44 is formed with a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface shape of the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end portion of the dust cover 20 is attached to the upper end portion where the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 is formed by extrapolating the dust cover 20 from above the bound stopper 18. The attachment part 36 that is can be fitted and assembled. Under such an assembled state, the lower locking portion 42 of the dust cover 20 is overlapped with the engaging step 26 of the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 and the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 is overlapped. The mating surface 28 is covered with and overlapped with the inner surface of the upper locking portion 44 of the dust cover 20. Accordingly, the dust cover 20 is combined with the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 so as to be sandwiched from both sides in the axial direction, and is positioned in the axial direction. Further, the inner surface of the attachment portion 36 of the dust cover 20 is overlapped with the outer peripheral surface of the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 and is positioned in the direction perpendicular to each other.

  In the present embodiment, the dust cover 20 superimposed on the upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 is superimposed on the outer peripheral side of the annular step 30, thereby positioning the upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 and the upper end surface of the dust cover 20. Are substantially equal in the axial direction, so that protrusion from the upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 is avoided. Further, the communication groove 32 formed on the surface of the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 is maintained in the communication state even when the dust cover 20 is assembled. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the thick protrusions 24 of the bound stopper 18 fitted to the dust cover 20 are formed discontinuously on the circumference, so that the bound stopper with respect to the upper end portion of the dust cover 20. Eighteen thick projections 24 can be easily fitted. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner diameter dimension of the main body portion 34 of the dust cover 20 is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter dimension of the bound stopper 18. The space secured on the outer periphery of the bound stopper 18 in the dust cover 20 reduces interference with the dust cover 20 when the bound stopper 18 is axially compressed and deformed.

  Further, the inner diameter dimension of the engagement step 26 of the bound stopper 18 is set to be smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the lower locking portion 42 of the dust cover 20 by δ. Have portions that are not superimposed. An axial pushing operation surface 46 exposed axially downward in the dust cover 20 at the inner peripheral end portion of the engagement step 26 extends in the circumferential direction with a dimension of δ in the radial direction. It has been.

  Further, the bound body 48 of the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 thus assembled on the same central axis in this way is assembled to the outer metal fitting 52 of the upper support 50 as shown in FIG. ing. The upper support 50 is attached to an attachment site of the piston rod 16 projecting upward from the cylinder 54 in the shock absorber 12 with respect to the vehicle body 14. In other words, the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are assembled in an extrapolated state with respect to the piston rod 16 projecting downward from the upper support 50.

  Although the specific structure of the upper support 50 is not limited, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the inner metal fitting 56 and the outer metal fitting 52 arranged on the outer peripheral side thereof are the main rubber elastic body 58. It has an elastically connected structure. The inner metal fitting 56 is attached so that the upper end of the piston rod 16 of the shock absorber 12 is bolted, and has a thick plate shape extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The outer metal fitting 52 has a hollow structure including a central insertion hole 60 through which the piston rod 16 is inserted, and a flange-like fixing portion 62 that is overlapped with the vehicle body 14 and is bolted to the outer peripheral surface. It spreads outward and is integrally formed. In addition, the outer metal fitting 52 is provided with upper and lower support portions 64 and 66 that are opposed to the outer peripheral portion of the inner metal fitting 56 on both sides in the axial direction. Are mutually elastically connected by a main rubber elastic body 58. Further, the radially opposing surfaces of the inner metal fitting 56 and the outer metal fitting 52 are also elastically connected by the main rubber elastic body 58. A press-fit cylinder fitting 68 is vulcanized and bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the main rubber elastic body 58, and the press-fit cylinder fitting 68 is press-fitted and fixed to the outer fitting 52. Note that the upper support portion 64 of the outer metal fitting 52 is formed separately in an annular plate shape, and is fixed by caulking to the upper end opening of the outer metal fitting 52.

  Here, the material and manufacturing method of the outer metal fitting 52 in the upper support 50 are not limited in any way, but in this embodiment, the outer metal fitting 52 is an aluminum alloy die-cast product. Thereby, while ensuring sufficient intensity | strength, it can be made lightweight, and the design freedom of a thickness dimension and a shape can be made larger than press molding, and a manufacturing error can be suppressed small.

  The outer metal fitting 52 is bolted to the vehicle body 14 so that the piston rod 16 bolted to the inner metal fitting 56 is attached to the vehicle body 14 in an anti-vibration manner via the upper support 50. It has become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer metal fitting 52 has an upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 to which the dust cover 20 is externally fitted by a peripheral wall portion extending axially below the lower support portion 66. A fitting recess 70 to be fitted and assembled is formed to open downward in the axial direction. The inner surface of the fitting recess 70 is formed with a shape corresponding to the surface shape of the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 to which the dust cover 20 is fitted.

  In particular, on the inner surface of the fitting recess 70, an engaging projection 72 extending in the circumferential direction in the axially intermediate portion is provided in a ring shape extending over the entire circumference in this embodiment. The engaging protrusion 72 has a substantially triangular cross section, and the surface above the protruding top portion serving as the inner peripheral end is an annular engaging surface 74 that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. On the other hand, the surface below the projecting top is a tapered guide surface 76 that gradually increases in diameter downward. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface above the engaging protrusion 72 of the fitting recess 70 is a curved tapered contact surface 78 that gradually narrows upward.

  As a result, the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 to which the dust cover 20 is externally fitted is fitted into the fitting recess 70 from below in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. The upper end portion is fitted into the fitting recess 70 and assembled. Under such an assembled state, the engaging step 26 of the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 is overlapped with and engaged with the engaging surface 74 of the engaging protrusion 72 of the outer metal fitting 52, and the bound stopper 18. The overlapping surface 28 of the thick protrusion 24 is overlapped and engaged with the contact surface 78 of the fitting recess 70 of the outer metal fitting 52. Further, in any of the engagement step 26 and the overlapping surface 28, the dust cover 20 is sandwiched and held between the overlapping surfaces of the bound stopper 18 and the outer metal fitting 52.

  Thus, the outer metal fitting 52 is attached so as to sandwich the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 to which the dust cover 20 is fitted from both sides in the axial direction, and is positioned in the axial direction and the direction perpendicular to the axis. In other words, the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are held out against the outer metal fitting 52.

  Here, the engaging step 26 of the bound stopper 18 is provided with a pressing operation surface 46 that is not covered with the dust cover 20 and exposed downward in the axial direction, so that it is inserted into the dust cover 20 from below. By using a jig that is pressed against the pushing operation surface 46, an axial assembly external force can be directly applied to the pushing operation surface 46 of the bound stopper 18. Therefore, the fitting body 48 of the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 can be easily and quickly pushed into the fitting recess 70 of the outer metal fitting 52 and assembled.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a tapered guide surface 76 is formed, and the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 covered with the dust cover 20 is smoothly guided to the fitting recess 70 so as to slide. Specifically, since the overlapping surface 28 that is the upper end surface of the bound stopper 18 and the guide surface 76 are both tapered, when the fitting body 48 is assembled to the outer metal fitting 52, the overlapping surface 28 and It can be avoided that the guide surfaces 76 are pressed against each other in the axial direction. That is, the both surfaces 28 and 76 are inclined with respect to the axial direction and are subjected to a reverse external force. The both surfaces 28 and 76 come into contact with each other, and the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18 is fitted into the recessed recess. It slips into the interior of the place 70.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a part where the dust cover 20 is assembled to the outer metal fitting 52, that is, a fitting recess 70 of the outer metal fitting 52 into which the upper end portion of the dust cover 20 is inserted is an outer metal fitting. 52 is covered and protected. Thereby, the damage of the assembly part by a jumping stone, etc. can be prevented, and the possibility of the dust cover 20 falling off can be reduced.

  In the dust cover assembly 10 of the present embodiment having such a structure, the bound stopper 18, the dust cover 20, and the outer metal fitting 52 can be easily assembled. That is, in this embodiment, a soft olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer is employed as the material of the dust cover 20. In the case of such a soft dust cover 20, as a manufacturing procedure of the dust cover assembly 10, for example, first, the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are separately formed by foam molding and blow molding. Prepared. Thereafter, the front end portion of the bound stopper 18 is press-fitted into the front end portion of the dust cover 20 and overlapped to form the fitting body 48. And the dust cover assembly | attachment body 10 is manufactured by press-fitting and inserting the front-end | tip part of this fitting body 48 in the fitting recess 70 of the outer metal fitting 52. FIG.

  As in the present embodiment, the dust cover 20 is soft and press-fit and assembled into the outer metal fitting 52, so that it is necessary to set the large outer metal fitting 52 in the mold when the dust cover assembly 10 is manufactured. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, by making the dust cover 20 soft, when the bound stopper 18 is press-fitted into the dust cover 20, the dust cover 20 can be compressed and the bound stopper 18 can be assembled. Thereby, the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 can be easily assembled. In particular, in this embodiment, the bellows portion 38 is provided in the main body portion 34 of the dust cover 20, so that flexibility and stretchability are improved, and the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are further assembled. Can be easy.

  Further, the parts that come into contact with each other when the bound stopper 18, the dust cover 20, and the outer metal fitting 52 are assembled, that is, the overlapping surface 28 and the tapered portion 40, and the upper locking portion 44 and the guide surface 76 are tapered. ing. Thereby, the external force for a fitting can be suppressed and an assembly | attachment can be made still easier. In particular, a push operation surface 46 is provided at the inner peripheral end of the engagement step 26. From this, assembly can be performed more easily by pushing the fitting body 48 of the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 into the fitting recess 70 using a member that can be pushed from below the pushing operation surface 46. .

  Further, the thick protrusion 24 of the bound stopper 18 is covered with the attachment portion 36 of the dust cover 20, so that the bound stopper 18 and the dust cover 20 are positioned and fixed to each other. At the same time, the attachment portion 36 of the dust cover 20 is covered with the fitting recess 70 of the outer metal fitting 52, so that the dust cover 20 and the outer metal fitting 52 are positioned and fixed to each other. Thereby, the downward slip of the bound stopper 18 from the dust cover 20 and the downward slip of the dust cover 20 from the outer metal fitting 52 can be effectively limited.

  From the above, the dust cover assembly 10 of the present embodiment is very easy to assemble and has a structure in which each part is difficult to be removed, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and high productivity. It is possible to achieve both.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited by the specific description. For example, the above-described manufacturing procedure of the dust cover assembly 10 is merely an example, and is not limited at all.

  Furthermore, the shape of the thick protrusion 24 in the bound stopper 18 and the shape of the engagement protrusion 72 in the outer metal fitting 52 are not limited to the shapes shown in the drawing, and may be, for example, a hemisphere. In this case, the shape of the attachment part 36 in the dust cover 20 covering the thick protrusion 24 and the shape of the taper part 40 and the lower locking part 42 in the dust cover 20 engaged with the engagement protrusion 72 are thick. A shape corresponding to the meat protrusion 24 and the engagement protrusion 72 is preferable.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the thick protrusions 24 are provided at four positions at equal intervals on the periphery of the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18, but the present invention is not limited to such a shape. For example, the number of thick protrusions provided on the circumference is not limited in any way, and the intervals provided may be non-uniform. Furthermore, the thick protrusion may be provided over the entire circumference of the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18. Thereby, the engagement step is provided over the entire circumference of the upper end portion of the bound stopper 18, and similarly, the lower locking portion 42 of the dust cover 20 and the outer metal fitting 52 provided over the entire circumference. Due to the engagement action with the engagement protrusion 72, the downward stopper of the bound stopper 18 can be more effectively prevented.

  On the other hand, the engagement protrusion 72 provided on the outer metal fitting 52 does not need to be provided over the entire circumference, and the engagement protrusion 72 is partially provided in the circumferential direction on the inner surface of the fitting recess 70. Also good. Further, the tapered portion 40 and the lower locking portion 42 that engage with the engaging protrusion 72 do not need to be provided over the entire circumference. For example, the tapered portion 40 is provided at a position corresponding to the engaging protrusion 72 in the circumferential direction. May be. Thereby, the external force required for the assembly of the fitting body 48 to the outer metal fitting 52 can be suppressed, and the assembly can be further facilitated.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the dust cover 20 was made soft, you may form with hard synthetic resins, such as a polypropylene. In this case, for example, the dust cover 20 may be partially made hard, for example, the attachment portion 36 of the dust cover 20 is made soft and the main body portion 34 is made hard.

10: Dust cover assembly, 12: Shock absorber, 14: Vehicle body, 16: Piston rod, 18: Bound stopper, 20: Dust cover, 26: Engagement step, 28: Superposition surface, 46: Pushing operation surface , 50: upper support, 52: outer metal fitting, 70: fitting recess, 72: engagement protrusion, 74: engagement surface, 76: guide surface, 78: contact surface

Claims (7)

In the vehicle dust cover assembly in which the bound stopper and the dust cover are assembled to the upper support for attaching the shock absorber to the vehicle body,
An engagement step is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bound stopper,
While the upper end portion of the dust cover that is externally fitted to the upper end portion of the bound stopper is also superimposed on the engagement step,
The outer metal fitting fixed to the vehicle body in the upper support is formed with a fitting recess in which the upper end portion of the bound stopper is fitted and assembled, and is protruded from the inner surface of the fitting recess. The engagement protrusion is engaged with the engagement step with the dust cover interposed therebetween, so that the bound stopper and the dust cover are retained against the outer metal fitting, and
The vehicle is characterized in that an axial pushing operation surface that is exposed downward in the axial direction within the dust cover is provided in the inner peripheral end portion of the engagement step without being overlapped with the dust cover. Dust cover assembly. In the engagement protrusion of the outer metal fitting,
While the surface above the top is an engagement surface that is overlapped with the engagement step of the bound stopper across the dust cover,
The vehicle dust cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein a surface below the top is a tapered guide surface that gradually expands downward. The fitting recess of the outer metal fitting is provided with a tapered contact surface that gradually narrows upward on the inner peripheral surface above the engagement protrusion,
The bound stopper is provided with a tapered overlapping surface that gradually narrows upward on the outer peripheral surface above the engagement step,
The overlapping surface of the bound stopper is covered with an upper end portion of the dust cover, and is overlapped with a corresponding contact surface of the outer metal member with the dust cover interposed therebetween. Dust cover assembly for vehicles.   The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both the engagement step of the bound stopper and the engagement protrusion of the outer metal fitting are formed over the entire circumference. Dust cover assembly.   The vehicle dust cover assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer metal fitting is a die-cast molded product of an aluminum alloy.   The dust cover assembly for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dust cover is made of an elastomer. When fitting the upper end of the bound stopper that is externally attached to the piston rod of the shock absorber into the fitting recess provided in the outer bracket of the upper support fixed to the vehicle body,
As the bound stopper, an engagement protrusion that employs an outer peripheral surface provided with an engagement step, and the outer metal fitting engages with the engagement step to keep the bound stopper in the fitting recess. Adopting what is projected on the inner surface of the fitting recess,
After attaching the dust cover that covers the piston rod to the upper end portion of the bound stopper and overlapping the engagement step,
An external assembly force in the axial direction is exerted on the pressing operation surface exposed downward in the axial direction within the dust cover without being overlapped at the inner peripheral end portion of the engagement step of the bound stopper. Thus, a method for manufacturing a dust cover assembly for a vehicle, wherein the upper end portion of the bound stopper to which the dust cover is externally fitted is pushed into the fitting recess of the outer metal fitting and assembled.

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