JP2014189041A - Knuckle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knuckle easily and surely mountable on a car of a model different in rod end fitting position to a knuckle body.SOLUTION: A knuckle comprises a knuckle body 20 having an axle bearing support part 21 and a damping member fitting part 22 and a knuckle arm part 30 for fastening a rod end of a steering, and comprises joining means for joining the knuckle body 20 and the knuckle arm part 30 via body planes 26a and 26b formed in the knuckle body 20 and arm planes 32a and 32b oppositely formed to the body planes 26a and 26b in the knuckle arm part 30, and adjustment means 40 capable of adjusting a position of the knuckle arm part 30 to the knuckle body 20 in at least one direction of the axial direction of an axle, a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and the vertical direction of the vehicle, between a body plane 26 and an arm plane 32, where the adjustment means 40 is an adjustment piece 40 interposed between the body planes 26a and 26b and the arm planes 32a and 32b.

Description

  The present invention relates to a knuckle, and more particularly to a knuckle for a front wheel of an automobile.

  A knuckle for a front wheel of an automobile usually includes a bearing support portion that holds an axle bearing, a suspension attachment arm portion, a lower arm portion, a brake caliper attachment portion, a knuckle arm portion to which a steering rod end is attached at a tip end, and the like. In recent years, axle bearings have a tendency to be shared among vehicles with similar vehicle grades, but due to differences in attachment mechanisms and loading capacity, rod end mounting positions, etc. May be different.

  Normally, the knuckle is a cast or forged product, and if the mounting position of the rod end of the knuckle arm is different, a dedicated casting or forging die is required, which requires a large amount of production cost and a long production period. . In particular, when producing a prototype vehicle, a short production period is required, and the production with a dedicated mold is an obstacle to shortening the development period. Here, the structure which divides | segments a knuckle main body and a knuckle arm part which have a bearing support part etc. can be considered. As what divided | segmented the knuckle main body and the knuckle arm part, there exists a structure as shown to patent document 1, for example.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-99475

  However, in the configuration shown in Patent Document 1, the knuckle arm portion can be adjusted in the vertical direction with respect to the knuckle body, but cannot be adjusted in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle longitudinal direction. Further, in order to cope with a vehicle type in which the attachment position of the rod end of the knuckle arm is different, the knuckle arm portion needs to be manufactured as a casting die or a forging die, and the manufacturing cost reduction effect and the manufacturing time reduction effect are small.

  Further, in the configuration shown in Patent Document 1, the knuckle arm portion is fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the knuckle body only by tightening the bolt, and it is considered that a deviation occurs with respect to the predetermined position at the time of fixing. It is done. It is also conceivable that the position is displaced due to vehicle vibration or the like.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a knuckle that can be easily and reliably mounted on a knuckle body on a vehicle type having a different rod end mounting position.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a structural feature of the invention according to claim 1 is a knuckle comprising a knuckle body having an axle bearing support portion and a damping member mounting portion, and a knuckle arm portion for fastening a steering rod end. The knuckle body has coupling means for coupling the knuckle body and the knuckle arm part via a body plane formed on the knuckle body and an arm plane formed on the knuckle arm part opposite to the body plane. And an adjustment capable of adjusting the position of the knuckle arm portion relative to the knuckle body in at least one of the axial direction of the axle, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the vertical direction of the vehicle between the main body plane and the arm plane. And the adjusting means is an adjusting piece interposed between the main body plane and the arm plane.

  According to the above configuration, the thickness of the knuckle arm portion is adjusted between the main body plane of the knuckle body and the arm plane of the knuckle arm portion by changing the thickness in the adjustment direction of the adjustment piece. Position adjustment with respect to the knuckle body can be easily performed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 2 is that the adjustment piece is a flat adjustment piece. According to this configuration, the structure of the adjustment piece is simple, the adjustment piece can be easily processed, the thickness can be adjusted more accurately, and the position of the knuckle arm portion with respect to the knuckle body is easier to adjust. Can be implemented.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 3 is that the main body plane is formed by intersecting an axis of an axle, and a vehicle front end portion of the first main body plane. The arm plane is formed opposite to the first body plane and the first arm plane formed on the knuckle arm portion and the second body plane. And the adjustment piece includes a first adjustment unit disposed between the first main body plane and the first arm plane, and a gap between the second main body plane and the second arm plane. A second adjusting portion disposed on the lower end portion of the knuckle arm portion, and the first adjusting portion and the second adjusting portion are continuously formed in an L shape in a horizontal cross section. Arm bottom surface perpendicular to one arm plane and the second arm plane The knuckle arm portion is arranged such that the bottom surface of the knuckle arm is in contact with a main body seating surface formed at right angles to both planes below the first main body plane and the second main body plane of the knuckle body. That is.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to adjust the position of the knuckle arm portion in both the axial direction of the axle and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with one adjustment piece. Further, the knuckle arm portion can be easily and accurately coupled to the knuckle body on the body seating surface.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 4 is that the coupling means includes a plurality of elongated holes formed in the knuckle body, and a plurality of through holes formed in the adjusting piece. And a plurality of screw holes formed in the knuckle arm portion, and a plurality of bolts inserted through the elongated holes and the through holes and screwed into the screw holes.

  According to the said structure, the said adjustment piece from which thickness differs can be easily attached to a knuckle main body, without requiring an additional process to the said knuckle main body and the said knuckle arm part.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 5 is that, in the coupling means, there is a bolt detent means between the knuckle body and the plurality of bolt heads. The means has a plate-like shape, and has a plurality of round holes through which the plurality of bolts are inserted, and a plurality of tongue portions that prevent rotation of the plurality of bolts by being bent toward the heads of the plurality of bolts. It is.

  According to the above configuration, the plurality of bolts can be prevented from being rotated by a single bolt locking means. By preventing the bolts from rotating, the plurality of bolts can be prevented from loosening due to vehicle vibration or the like, and the knuckle arm portion can be more securely connected to the knuckle body.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the knuckle which enabled easy and reliable mounting to the vehicle type from which a rod end attachment position differs with respect to a knuckle main body can be provided.

It is a perspective view of the knuckle of embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the principal part of the knuckle main body of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the knuckle of embodiment of this invention.

A knuckle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1, 2, and 3, FR represents the vehicle front-rear direction front, IN represents the axial direction of the axle, that is, the vehicle width direction inward, and UP represents the vehicle upper direction.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a right knuckle according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear in the vehicle front-rear direction and from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the right knuckle body according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear in the vehicle front-rear direction and from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the main part of the right knuckle according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic perspective view seen from the front in the vehicle front-rear direction and from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

  The knuckle 1 of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a knuckle body 20, a knuckle arm portion 30 having a joint mounting hole 31 for fastening a steering rod end, an adjustment piece 40, and a coupling means. It has two bolts 54, two bolts 55, and two washers 56, 57 as a detent means. In the knuckle 1, the horizontal adjustment margin of the joint mounting hole 31 of the knuckle arm portion 30 with respect to the knuckle body 20 is Δ1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and Δ2 in the vehicle width direction.

  A knuckle body 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed by forging a metal such as an aluminum alloy, a bearing support portion 21 that supports an axle bearing (not shown), a damping member attachment portion 22 that holds a strut of a suspension (not shown), A lower arm portion 23 to which a vehicle body (not shown) is coupled, a brake caliper mounting portion 24, and the like are provided. The bearing support portion 21 of the knuckle body 20 is an annular shape having an axis line in the vehicle width direction, and has an inner peripheral portion 21a having a substantially rectangular shape with a large inner diameter in the vehicle width direction. A main body flange 25 is formed on the outer side of the knuckle main body 20 in the vehicle width direction rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  A first fastening surface 25a that is a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bearing support portion 21 is formed on the outer end surface in the vehicle width direction of the main body flange 25, and on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the inner peripheral portion 21a of the bearing support portion 21. A second fastening surface 21b that is a plane parallel to the axis of the bearing support portion 21 and perpendicular to the first fastening surface 25a is formed.

  At the center in the vehicle width direction behind the knuckle body 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction, there is a main body plane 26 that is a joint between the knuckle body 20 and the knuckle arm portion 30. The main body plane 26 includes a first main body plane 26a formed on the inner end surface in the vehicle width direction of the main body flange 25 in parallel with the first fastening surface 25a, and a second right angle from the vehicle front side end portion of the first main body plane 26a. The second main body plane 26b is formed in parallel with the fastening surface 21b. A main body seating surface 27 is formed below the first main body plane 26a and the second main body plane 26b at a right angle to both planes.

  The first main body plane 26a includes two first long holes extending in the vehicle front-rear direction that penetrate the main body flange 25 in the vehicle width direction outward from the first main body plane 26a in the vehicle width direction and reach the first fastening surface 25a. The long holes 51a are formed in parallel in the vertical direction of the vehicle with an interval L1. The two first long holes 51a have a short diameter that allows the bolt 54 to be inserted, and the long diameter is formed by adding an adjustment allowance Δ1 to the short diameter. In addition, the second main body plane 26b penetrates the bearing support portion 21 from the second main body plane 26b in the vehicle front-rear direction and reaches the second fastening surface 21b. Is formed on the straight line in the vehicle width direction with an interval L2. The two second long holes 51b have a short diameter through which the bolt 55 can be inserted, and the long diameter is formed by adding an adjustment allowance Δ2 to the short diameter.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating the structure of the knuckle according to the embodiment of the present invention. The knuckle arm portion 30 is formed by forging a metal such as an aluminum alloy, and a joint mounting hole 31 is formed in the vehicle vertical direction at one end portion. Further, the other end portion has an arm plane 32 which is a connecting portion between the knuckle body 20 and the knuckle arm portion 30. The arm plane 32 includes a first arm plane 32a formed in parallel with the first body plane 26a of the knuckle body 20, and a second body plane 26b of the knuckle body 20 at a right angle from the vehicle front side end of the first arm plane 32a. And a second arm plane 32b formed in parallel. Also, an arm bottom surface 33 is formed on the vehicle lower side of the first arm plane 32a and the second arm plane 32b at right angles to both planes.

  In the first arm plane 32a, two first screw holes 52a are formed on the straight line in the vertical direction of the vehicle with an interval L1 equal to the interval between the two first elongated holes 51a of the knuckle body 20. In addition, two second screw holes 52b are formed in the second arm plane 32b in a straight line in the vehicle width direction with an interval L2 equal to the interval between the two second long holes 51b of the knuckle body 20. Yes.

  The adjustment piece 40 is made of a steel material such as carbon steel, and a flat plate-like first adjustment portion 41 having a thickness W1 and a flat plate-like second adjustment portion 42 having a thickness W2 are continuously formed in an L shape. . The thickness W1 of the first adjustment portion 41 and the thickness W2 of the second adjustment portion 42 are adjusted so that the position of the joint mounting hole 31 of the knuckle arm portion 30 is a predetermined position with respect to the knuckle body 20 on the horizontal plane. It is adjusted in the range of the allowances Δ1 and Δ2.

  At the position corresponding to the two first screw holes 52a of the knuckle arm portion 30 of the first adjusting portion 41, two first through holes 53a are arranged on the vehicle vertical direction straight line. It is formed with an interval L1 equal to the interval between the long holes 51a. Further, at the position corresponding to the two second screw holes 52b of the knuckle arm portion 30 of the second adjusting portion 42, two second through holes 53b are arranged on the two straight lines in the vehicle width direction of the knuckle main body 20. It is formed with an interval L2 equal to the interval between the second elongated holes 51b.

  The two bolts 54 and the two bolts 55 as the coupling means are hexagon head bolts made of a steel material such as carbon steel based on official standards. The two bolts 54 have a threaded portion 54a that is screwed into the first threaded hole 52a of the knuckle arm portion 30, and the length under the neck is between the first fastening surface 25a of the knuckle body 20 and the first body plane 26a. It is equal to the sum of the interval, the thickness W1 of the first adjustment portion 41 of the adjustment piece 40, and the effective screwing length of the first screw hole 52a of the knuckle arm portion 30.

  The two bolts 55 have a threaded portion 55a that is screwed into the second threaded hole 52b of the knuckle arm portion 30, and the length under the neck is between the second fastening surface 21b of the knuckle body 20 and the second body plane 26b. It is equal to the sum of the distance, the thickness W2 of the second adjustment portion 42 of the adjustment piece 40, and the effective screwing length of the second screw hole 52b of the knuckle arm portion 30.

The two washers 56 and 57 as the rotation preventing means are press-formed products made of a steel plate such as carbon steel.
The washer 56 has an oval shape and is formed with two round holes 56a in the longitudinal direction, and tongue portions 56b are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The interval between the two round holes 56a is equal to the interval L1 between the two first screw holes 52a of the knuckle arm portion 30. The washer 57 has an oval shape and is formed with two round holes 57a in the longitudinal direction, and tongue portions 57b are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The interval between the two round holes 57a is equal to the interval L2 between the two second elongated holes 51b of the knuckle body 20.

Hereinafter, based on FIG. 3, the structure and the effect of the knuckle 1 of embodiment of this invention are demonstrated.
FIG. 3 schematically shows each member independently. The knuckle arm portion 30 sandwiches the first adjustment portion 41 of the adjustment piece 40 on the knuckle body 20 between the first body plane 26 a of the knuckle body 20 and the first arm plane 32 a of the knuckle arm portion 30. 2 The second adjustment portion 42 of the adjustment piece 40 is sandwiched between the main body plane 26b and the second arm plane 32b of the knuckle arm portion 30, and the arm bottom surface 33 of the knuckle arm portion 30 is in contact with the main body seating surface 27 of the knuckle main body 20. Arranged.

  In FIG. 3, a bent line with an arrow schematically shows the assembly of the bolts 54 and 55. The two bolts 54 are provided with a washer 56 between the bolt head and the first fastening surface 25 a of the knuckle body 20, and each of the two round holes 56 a of the washer 56 and the two first lengths of the knuckle body 20. The hole 51 a and the two first through holes 53 a of the adjustment piece 40 are inserted, and the screw portion 54 a is screwed into the first screw hole 52 a of the knuckle arm portion 30.

  The two bolts 55 are each provided with a washer 57 between the bolt head and the second fastening surface 21 b of the knuckle body 20, and each of the two round holes 57 a of the washer 57 and the two second long holes of the knuckle body 20. The hole 51 b and the two second through holes 53 b of the adjustment piece 40 are inserted, and the screw portion 55 a is screwed into the second screw hole 52 b of the knuckle arm portion 30. Further, the knuckle arm portion 30 has the arm bottom surface 33 in close contact with the main body seating surface 27 of the knuckle body 20, and the adjustment piece 40 and the knuckle arm portion 30 are separated by the two bolts 54 and the two bolts 55. Are securely connected to each other without gaps.

  In addition, the washers 56 and 57 have tongue portions 56b and 57b at both ends bent to the head side of the bolts 54 and 55, and contact the head side surface flat portions 54b and 55b of the bolts 54 and 55, respectively. Therefore, the bolts 54 and 55 do not loosen due to vehicle vibration or the like.

  Here, the thickness W1 of the first adjustment portion 41 and the thickness W2 of the second adjustment portion 42 of the adjustment piece 40 are respectively determined so that the position of the joint mounting hole 31 of the knuckle arm portion 30 is relative to the knuckle body 20 on the horizontal plane. And adjusted so as to be in a predetermined position. Further, the long hole 51a and the long hole 51b of the knuckle body 20 have allowable ranges for the positions of the bolts 54 and 55 within the adjustment allowances Δ1 and Δ2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vehicle width direction, respectively. It is possible to change the thickness W1 of the first adjustment unit 41 and the thickness W2 of the second adjustment unit 42 within the range of adjustment allowances Δ1 and Δ2.

  That is, by changing the thickness W1 of the first adjustment portion 41 and the thickness W2 of the second adjustment portion 42 of the adjustment piece 40 in the range of adjustment allowances Δ1 and Δ2, the position of the joint mounting hole 31 of the knuckle arm portion 30 is changed. Can be changed to a position different from the aforementioned predetermined position with respect to the knuckle body 20 on the horizontal plane. As described above, the knuckle 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be easily and surely mounted on the knuckle body in a vehicle type in which the rod end mounting position is different.

  In the knuckle of the above-described embodiment, the adjustment of the position of the joint mounting hole 31 of the knuckle arm portion 30 with respect to the knuckle body 20 is the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction in the horizontal direction. The adjustment of the position of the mounting hole 31 with respect to the knuckle body 20 may be in a direction and combination other than the above-described embodiments, such as one horizontal direction, one vehicle vertical direction, and one horizontal direction and vehicle vertical direction.

  In the knuckle 1 of the above-described embodiment, the right front wheel knuckle has been described. However, the left front wheel knuckle has a configuration symmetrical to the right front wheel knuckle 1 except for the right front wheel. Same as for knuckle.

  In the knuckle 1 of the embodiment described above, the detent means is two washers. However, in the present invention, the detent means forms a hole in the bolt head, and two bolts are attached with a wire passing through the hole. Other anti-rotation means such as a connecting structure may be used.

  In the knuckle of the embodiment described above, four bolts are used as the coupling means. However, the knuckle of the present invention is mounted on a low-volume derivative vehicle model in which the position of the joint mounting hole of the knuckle arm portion is different from the knuckle body. In this case, the coupling means may be a permanent coupling means such as welding.

  In the knuckle of the embodiment described above, the adjustment piece has a flat plate shape. However, in the present invention, the adjustment piece may have another shape such as a columnar shape.

  The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 ... Knuckle 20 ... Knuckle body
26a, 26b ... Main body plane
27 ... Body seat surface 30 ... Knuckle arm part 32a, 32b ... Arm plane 33 ... Arm bottom face 40 ... Adjustment piece 41, 42 ... Adjustment part 51a, 51b ... Slot (coupling means)
52a, 52b ... Screw holes (coupling means)
53a, 53b ... through holes (coupling means)
54, 55 ... Bolt (coupling means)
56, 57 ... Washers (rotating stop means)
56a, 57a ... round hole 56b, 57b ... tongue

Claims (5)

A knuckle comprising a knuckle body having an axle bearing support portion and a damping member mounting portion, and a knuckle arm portion for fastening a steering rod end,
A coupling means for coupling the knuckle body and the knuckle arm portion via a body plane formed on the knuckle body and an arm plane formed on the knuckle arm portion opposite to the body plane;
Adjusting means capable of adjusting the position of the knuckle arm portion with respect to the knuckle body in at least one of the axial direction of the axle, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the vertical direction of the vehicle between the main body plane and the arm plane. Have
The knuckle according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means is an adjusting piece interposed between the main body plane and the arm plane.   The knuckle according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment piece is a flat adjustment piece. The main body plane is composed of a first main body plane formed intersecting the axis of the axle and a second main body plane formed at a right angle from the vehicle front end of the first main body plane,
The arm plane includes a first arm plane formed on the knuckle arm portion facing the first body plane and a second arm plane formed facing the second body plane,
The adjustment piece includes a first adjustment unit disposed between the first main body plane and the first arm plane, and a second adjustment unit disposed between the second main body plane and the second arm plane. And the first adjustment portion and the second adjustment portion are formed so that the horizontal cross-sectional shape is continuously L-shaped,
The lower end portion of the knuckle arm portion has an arm bottom surface perpendicular to the first arm plane and the second arm plane, and the knuckle arm portion defines the arm bottom surface as the first body plane of the knuckle body. The knuckle according to claim 2, wherein the knuckle is disposed below the second main body plane and in contact with a main body seat surface formed at right angles to both planes.   The coupling means includes a plurality of long holes formed in the knuckle body, a plurality of through holes formed in the adjustment piece, a plurality of screw holes formed in the knuckle arm portion, the long holes, The knuckle according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a plurality of bolts that are inserted through the through holes and screwed into the screw holes.   In the first coupling means, there is a bolt detent means between the knuckle main body and the plurality of bolt heads, and the bolt detent means is a single plate, and a plurality of round holes through which the plurality of bolts are inserted. The knuckle according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of tongues that prevent rotation of the plurality of bolts by being bent toward the heads of the plurality of bolts.

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