JP2014117986A - Suspension member reinforcement structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension member reinforcement structure for a vehicle capable of avoiding problems such as increase of vehicle weight and cost, and deterioration of productivity, and improving rigidity of a suspension member efficiently with minimum number of reinforcement members.SOLUTION: A reinforcement structure of a suspension member 4 comprises: a curved part 4a which becomes hollow toward a rear side of the vehicle and disposed on a front part; a recess part 4c disposed to avoid an exhaust pipe and disposed on a lower face of one side of the vehicle width direction; and vehicle body fitting parts 12 and 12 disposed on both ends of the vehicle width direction. And the structure further comprises a first reinforcement member 13 disposed on the recess part 4c of upper and lower plates 8 and 9, and a second reinforcement member 14 disposed on an approximately central position of an inner end 9e of the vehicle width direction of the recess part 4c and the left side vehicle body fitting part 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile in which a suspension member that suspends and supports a steered wheel via a lower arm is reinforced by a reinforcing member.

  2. Description of the Related Art In general, a suspension member of an automobile has a structure in which upper and lower plate members are coupled so as to form a hollow shape, and a front portion is curved toward the rear of the vehicle in order to secure an arrangement space for a drive unit or the like. ing. In such a suspension member, the front portion of the vehicle is deformed to the inside of the vehicle in a plan view of the vehicle due to a load from the lower arm or a load at the time of steering, and the upper and lower plate members are close to each other in a vehicle front-rear direction view. There is a risk of deformation. In particular, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the suspension member has a recess for avoiding the exhaust pipe, the deformation may increase starting from the end of the recess. is there.

In order to prevent such deformation, in Patent Document 2, a reinforcing member is provided that extends over the entire length of the suspension member in the vehicle width direction.

JP 2011-93385 A JP 2007-253462 A

  In the conventional structure in which the reinforcing member is provided over the entire length of the suspension member in the vehicle width direction, there is a problem that the reinforcing member becomes large, the vehicle weight and cost increase, and the productivity deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and can effectively improve the rigidity of the suspension member with a minimum number of reinforcing members, and can avoid problems such as increase in vehicle weight and cost, and deterioration in productivity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension member reinforcing structure.

In the present invention, the upper and lower plate members are coupled so as to form a hollow shape, and the front portion is curved so as to be recessed toward the rear of the vehicle, so that the vehicle member is avoided on the lower surface or the upper surface on one side in the vehicle width direction. A suspension member of an automobile in which a recess is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the upper and lower plate members of the suspension member are formed so as to be bridged by a reinforcing member. In the reinforcement structure,
The reinforcing member includes a first reinforcing member disposed between the concave portions of the upper and lower plate members, an end portion on the other side in the vehicle width direction of the concave portion, and a vehicle body attaching portion on the other side. And a second reinforcing member disposed approximately at the center therebetween.

  According to the suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile of the present invention, since the concave portions of the upper and lower plate members are bridged and connected by the first reinforcing member on one side in the vehicle width direction, the sectional area is small. The concave part that tends to be low in rigidity can be effectively reinforced, and on the other side, the intermediate part between the end of the concave part that tends to become a rigidity break point and the body mounting part where rigidity is secured is bridged by the second reinforcing member. As a result, the upper and lower plate members can be prevented from being deformed in the vertical direction, thereby preventing the suspension member from falling into the curved portion. In this way, the suspension member can be deformed while avoiding an increase in vehicle weight, cost, and productivity by a minimum reinforcing member that bridges and couples the concave portion and the substantially central portion of the upper and lower plate members. Can be suppressed.

1 is a plan view of a suspension member of an automobile adopting a reinforcing structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in a state where a lower arm, a steering force transmission mechanism, and a stabilizer are disposed. FIG. It is the top view seen from the vehicle upper direction of the said suspension member. It is the rear view seen from the vehicle rear of the said suspension member. It is the model side view seen from the vehicle side of the said suspension member. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the suspension member (a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the suspension member (a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2). FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the suspension member (sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 2). FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the suspension member (a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 2).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 8 are views for explaining a suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, front, rear, left, and right mean front, rear, left, and right as viewed in the vehicle traveling direction.

  In the figure, 1 is a body frame, and the body frame 1 includes left and right side members 2 and 3. The left and right side members 2, 3 are bent so as to extend in the vehicle width direction outward from the main body portions 2a, 3a by a dimension D and to be positioned above the main body portions 2a, 3a. Have bent portions 2b and 3b.

A suspension member 4 is attached to the lower surfaces of the front portions of the left and right side members 2 and 3. Left and right lower arms 5 and 5 are supported on the left and right ends of the suspension member 4 so as to swing up and down, and left and right steering wheels are provided via the lower arms 5 and 5 and a knuckle arm (not shown). A suspension spring and a damper are interposed between the knuckle arm and the vehicle body.

The suspension member 4 has a middle structure in which upper and lower plates (upper and lower plate members) 8 and 9 are coupled so as to form a hollow shape. A stabilizer 10 for suppressing the force transmission mechanism 6 and the roll of the vehicle body is mounted.

The steering force transmission mechanism 6 has a steering gear case 6a in which a pinion gear connected to a lower end of a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel is accommodated, and a rack tooth that is disposed in the case 6a and meshes with the pinion gear. It has a steering shaft 6b and tie rods 6c, 6c connected to both ends of the steering shaft 6b. The tie rods 6c and 6c are connected to the steering wheel via the knuckle arm, and the vehicle can be directed in a desired direction by rotating the steering wheel.

The steering gear case 6a has flange portions 6d and 6d formed at the left and right end portions thereof fixed to mounting seats 8a and 8a formed on the upper plate 8 of the suspension member 4 by bolts 7a. It is fixed to the member 4.

The stabilizer 10 is formed by bending a round bar into a substantially U shape in plan view, and is fastened and fixed to a mounting portion seat 8b of the upper plate 8 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mounting seat 8a by bolts 7b. ing.

The upper and lower plates 8 and 9 of the suspension member 4 are formed by press-molding a steel plate in a generally hat shape, and the hollow shape is obtained by joining flanges 8c and 9c integrally formed on the periphery thereof by spot welding or the like. It has a structure in the middle.

In addition, a curved portion 4a for securing an arrangement space for an engine unit (not shown) is formed at the front portion of the suspension member 4 so as to be recessed toward the rear of the vehicle. The base portions 5a and 5a of the left and right lower arms 5 and 5 are supported on the left and right front end portions 4b and 4b of the curved portion 4a.

A recess 4c for avoiding interference with the exhaust pipe (vehicle member) 11 is formed in a tunnel shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on the lower surface of the suspension member 4 on the right side in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the concave portion 4c is formed by bending a part of the lower plate 9 on the right side in the vehicle width direction so as to form an upward convex shape having an inner end portion 9e, an outer end portion 9f, and a top portion 9d in the vehicle width direction. It is formed. Therefore, the distance between the top portion 9d and the upper plate 8 is narrower than other portions.

Furthermore, left and right vehicle body mounting portions 12 and 12 are formed at the left and right ends of the suspension member 4 in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body mounting portion 12 includes a leg-shaped front mounting portion 12a that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the upper plate 8 and a flat rear mounting portion 12b. The left and right front mounting portions 12a and 12a are fastened and fixed to the lower surfaces of the bent portions 2b and 3b of the left and right side members 2 and 3 by bolts 7c, and the left and right rear mounting portions 12b. , 12b are fastened and fixed to the lower surfaces of the main body portions 2a, 3a of the left and right side members 2, 3 with bolts 7d. Therefore, the bolt hole 12c of the front mounting portion 12a and the bolt hole 12d of the rear mounting portion 12b are displaced by a dimension D in the vehicle width direction in accordance with the expanding shape of the side members 2 and 3.

The suspension member 4 is reinforced by connecting the upper plate 8 and the lower plate 9 so as to bridge the first reinforcing member 13 and the second reinforcing member 14. The first reinforcing member 13 is formed by press-forming a steel plate so as to have a substantially hat-shaped cross section having a vertical wall portion 13a, a horizontal wall portion 13b, and a flange portion 13c.

The first reinforcing member 13 is disposed between the recesses 4c of the upper and lower plates 8 and 9 so as to open in the vehicle width direction, and the flange portion 13c is spot welded to the inner surface of the upper plate 8 or the like. The horizontal wall portion 13b is fixed to the top portion 9d of the lower plate 9 by spot welding or the like.

Similar to the first reinforcing member 13, the second reinforcing member 14 is formed by press-forming a steel plate so as to have a substantially hat-shaped cross section having a vertical wall portion 14a, a horizontal wall portion 14b, and a flange portion 14c. .

The second reinforcing member 14 opens in the vehicle width direction between the upper and lower plates 8 and 9 at the approximate center between the vehicle width direction inner end portion 9e of the recess 4c and the vehicle body mounting portion 12. Is arranged. Specifically, the second reinforcing member 14 has a distance L1 from the reinforcing member 14 to the middle of the displacement dimension D between the bolt hole 12c of the front mounting portion 12a and the bolt hole 12d of the rear mounting portion 12b, and The distance L2 from the second reinforcing member 14 to the inner end portion 9e in the vehicle width direction of the concave portion 4c is disposed at a position that is substantially the same.

The flange portion 14c of the second reinforcing member 14 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper plate 8 by spot welding or the like, and the lateral wall portion 14b is fixed to the inner surface of the lower plate 9 by spot welding or the like.

  In the suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile according to the first embodiment, since the right-side recess 4c in the vehicle width direction is formed, there is a concern that the rigidity may be reduced due to the cross-sectional area of the recess 4c being smaller than the other parts. Since the portions corresponding to the concave portion 4c of the lower plates 8 and 9 are bridged and joined by the first reinforcing member 13, the concave portion 4c portion can be effectively reinforced and the reduction in rigidity can be improved.

In addition, the inner end 9e in the vehicle width direction of the recess 4c, which is likely to become a rigidity break point, is disposed at a substantially central portion with respect to the vehicle body mounting portion 12 where the rigidity is secured, and the upper, Since the lower plates 8 and 9 are connected by bridging, it is possible to suppress the upper and lower plates 8 and 9 from being deformed in the vertical direction due to the load from the lower arm 5 or the load at the time of steering. It is possible to prevent the left and right front end portions 4b and 4b from falling into the curved portion 4a.

Further, since the first and second reinforcing members 13 and 14 are arranged so as to open in the vehicle width direction, the hat shape is prevented from opening due to the vertical deformation of the upper and lower plates 8 and 9. it can.

As described above, the minimum first is sufficient to bridge and connect the concave portion 4c of the upper and lower plates 8, 9 and the substantially central portion of the inner end portion 9e of the concave portion 4c and the vehicle body mounting portion 12. The second reinforcing members 13 and 14 can suppress deformation of the suspension member 1 while avoiding an increase in vehicle weight, cost, and productivity, and can reduce road noise and spot welding peeling.

In the first embodiment, the flange portion 6d of the steering gear case 6a is fixed to the case mounting seats 8a and 8a formed on the upper plate 8 adjacent to the first and second reinforcing members 13 and 14. Therefore, since the steering gear case 6d functions as a tension member that prevents the left and right front end portions 4b, 4b of the suspension member 4 from falling inward, the inward tilt can be prevented from this point. Further, the mounting rigidity of the steering gear case 6a can be increased by the first and second reinforcing members 13 and 14.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first and second reinforcing members 13 and 14 are arranged in an inverted state in which the flange portions 13c and 14c are located on the upper plate 8 side. You may arrange in the erect state located in the side.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the concave portion 4c is formed on the lower surface side of the suspension member 4 and the exhaust pipe 11 is disposed in the concave portion 4c has been described. However, the concave portion of the present invention is formed on the upper surface side of the suspension member 4. In addition, brake pipes and various cables may be arranged in the recesses.

  In the above-described embodiment, the front suspension member disposed at the front portion of the vehicle has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a rear suspension member disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle.

4 Suspension member 4a Curved portion 4c Concave portion 8, 9 Upper, lower plate (upper and lower plate members)
11 Exhaust pipe (vehicle component)
12 Car body mounting portion 13 First reinforcing member 14 Second reinforcing member

Claims (1)

The upper and lower plate members are joined so as to form a hollow shape, and the front portion is curved so as to be recessed toward the rear of the vehicle, and a recess that avoids the vehicle member is provided on the lower or upper surface on one side in the vehicle width direction. In a suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile, the suspension member formed so as to extend in the direction and having a vehicle body attachment portion formed at both ends in the vehicle width direction is coupled to bridge the upper and lower plate members with a reinforcing member.
The reinforcing member includes a first reinforcing member disposed between the concave portions of the upper and lower plate members, an end portion on the other side in the vehicle width direction of the concave portion, and a vehicle body attaching portion on the other side. A suspension member reinforcing structure for an automobile, comprising: a second reinforcing member disposed substantially at the center therebetween.

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