JP2016101860A - Suspension of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately position a center point of a ball of a ball joint in a desired position in front and rear beams when forming a suspension, in the suspension of a vehicle having the front and rear beams which are installed on left and right suspension arms, and the ball joint which pivots both the beams.SOLUTION: A suspension of a vehicle comprises: a pair of left and right suspension arms which support wheels, and are pivoted to a vehicle body; a front beam 24 installed at a front part of each of the left and right arms; a rear beam 25 installed at each rear part; and a ball joint 26 which pivots center parts of the front and rear beams 24, 25 in longitudinal directions. A socket 43 which internally has a ball 39 of the ball joint 26 around its center points 42 so as to be turnable is supported by one beam using a bracket 41 which is joined to an external face of the one beam out of the front and rear beams 24, 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension in which a front beam for connecting front portions of left and right suspension arms and a rear beam for connecting rear portions of left and right arms are connected to each other by ball joints. is there.

  Conventionally, there is a suspension of the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 below. According to this publication, each of the suspensions extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and each pair of left and right ends is pivotally supported by the vehicle body so that each rear end portion can support a wheel and swing up and down. Suspension arms, front beams that are installed on the front parts of the left and right arms and coupled to the front parts of the suspension arms, and rear parts of the left and right arms that are installed on the rear parts of the left and right arms. A rear beam, and a ball joint that pivotally supports the longitudinal central portions of the front and rear beams.

  During the turning of the vehicle, the left and right arms swing and are displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction by an external force (reaction force) applied to each wheel from the traveling road surface with respect to the weight of the vehicle. Due to this relative displacement, the front and rear beams installed on the left and right arms rotate relative to each other around the center point of the ball joint ball, and elastically twist and deform, respectively. It is assumed that a desired torsional stress is generated in the beam. As a result, these front and rear beams are elastically repelled, acting mainly as a stabilizer and also as a torsion bar. As a result, a stable turning is obtained in the vehicle, and the desired maneuverability is ensured. It is like that.

  In the above case, before turning the vehicle, the rear beam is torsionally deformed by the external force from each wheel. At this time, the bending moment due to the external force is prevented from being applied unnecessarily to the ball joint. In order to smoothly achieve each torsional deformation of the rear beam, the following configuration is preferable.

  That is, the respective shear centers (twist centers) of the left side of the front beam and the right side of the rear beam are positioned on a common first imaginary straight line. Further, the respective shear centers (torsion centers) of the right side portion of the front beam and the left side portion of the rear beam are positioned on a common second imaginary straight line. Then, it is preferable to position the ball center point of the ball joint at a position as close as possible to the intersection of the first and second virtual lines (hereinafter referred to as “the torsion center of the front and rear beams”). Is done.

JP 2014-133544 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional technique, the socket of the ball joint is attached to the rear beam by fitting the socket into a fitting hole formed in the rear beam and welding.

  Here, when the socket is attached to the rear beam as described above during the operation of forming the suspension of the vehicle, as a first point, first, an insertion hole is formed in the bent rear beam, and the socket is inserted into the insertion hole. It is conceivable to insert and weld. However, it is not easy to form the insertion hole in the rear beam that is bent in advance, and the positional accuracy of the insertion beam and the socket that is inserted into the insertion hole and welded to the rear beam is insufficient. It is easy to become. As a result, it may be difficult to accurately position the center point of the ball contained in the socket at the “twist center portion of the front and rear beams”.

  Further, as a second point, it is conceivable that an insertion hole is formed in advance in a beam material for bending the rear beam, and then the rear beam is formed by bending the hole. However, when the rear beam is formed by bending the beam material in which the insertion hole is formed as described above, the rear beam of the insertion hole or the socket to be inserted into the insertion hole and welded is similarly installed as in the first point. Positional accuracy tends to be insufficient, and in this case as well, it may be difficult to accurately position the center point of the ball at the “twist center of the front and rear beams”.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a front beam, a rear beam, and a ball joint that pivotally supports both of these beams on the left and right suspension arms. When the suspension is formed, the center point of the ball of the ball joint is accurately positioned at a desired position in the front and rear beams.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the front and rear sides of the vehicle body 2 extend in the front-rear direction, and the rear end portions of the vehicle body 2 support the wheels 4 and 5 and can swing up and down. A pair of suspension arms 12, 13; a front beam 24 that spans the front portions of the left and right arms 12, 13 and connects the front portions; and the rear portions of the left and right arms 12, 13 In a vehicle suspension comprising a rear beam 25 which is installed on the rear part and couples the rear parts to each other, and a ball joint 26 which pivotally supports the longitudinal central parts of the front and rear beams 24, 25.
A socket 43 having a ball 39 of the ball joint 26 rotatably inside a center point 42 is attached by a bracket 41 joined to the outer surface of one of the front and rear beams 24 and 25. A suspension of a vehicle characterized by being supported by one beam.

  In addition, in this section, the reference numerals and drawing numbers appended to the above terms are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the “Example” section and the contents of the drawings described later.

  The effects of the present invention are as follows.

The invention according to claim 1 is a pair of left and right suspension arms each extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, each front end side being pivotally supported by the vehicle body so that each rear end portion supports a wheel and can swing up and down. A front beam that is installed on each front part of the left and right arms and couples the front parts to each other; and a rear beam that is installed on each rear part of the left and right arms and couples the rear parts to each other. In the suspension of the vehicle provided with a ball joint that pivotally supports the central part in the longitudinal direction of each of the front and rear beams,
A socket having a ball of the ball joint pivotable about its center point is supported on the one beam by a bracket joined to the outer surface of one of the front and rear beams. ing.

  For this reason, when the socket is supported by the one beam in the formation work of the suspension of the vehicle, first, after forming the one beam, the beam side of this beam is used as a reference. The bracket is joined to a desired position along the outer surface. Then, the socket supported by the bracket is also accurately positioned at a desired position in the beam.

  As a result, the center point of the ball contained in the socket can be positioned more accurately at the “twisted center portion of the front and rear beams” as a desired position in the front and rear beams. Therefore, the front and rear beams at the time of turning of the vehicle are smoothly rotated relative to each other around the center point of the ball of the ball joint by the external force from each of the wheels, and are torsionally deformed. A bending moment is prevented from being applied unnecessarily to the ball joint, and a smooth torsional deformation is obtained in the front and rear beams. Therefore, stable turning is obtained in the vehicle, and desired operability is ensured.

It is a top view. It is a rear view. It is a side view. It is a fragmentary perspective view. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1.

  In the vehicle suspension of the present invention, when the suspension is formed in a vehicle suspension provided with a front beam, a rear beam, and a ball joint that pivotally supports both beams on the left and right suspension arms. In order to achieve the purpose of accurately positioning the center point of the ball of the ball joint at the desired position in the front and rear beams, a form for carrying out the present invention is as follows. is there.

  That is, the vehicle suspension includes a pair of left and right suspension arms each extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, each front end side being pivotally supported by the vehicle body so that each rear end portion can support a wheel and swing up and down. A front beam that is installed on each front part of the left and right arms and couples the front parts to each other; and a rear beam that is installed on each rear part of the left and right arms and couples the rear parts to each other. And a ball joint that pivotally supports the longitudinal center portions of the front and rear beams. A socket having a ball of the ball joint that is rotatable about its center point is supported by the one beam by a bracket joined to the outer surface of one of the front and rear beams.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, an embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 in the figure is a vehicle exemplified by an automobile, and an arrow Fr indicates the front in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. The left and right described below refer to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 of the vehicle 1 toward the front.

  The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 4 and 5 suspended by a rear suspension 3 at a rear portion of the vehicle body 2. The vehicle body 2 is supported on the traveling road surface 6 by the suspension 3, the rear wheels 4 and 5, and a pair of left and right front wheels (not shown). The vehicle body 2, the suspension 3, and the left and right wheels 4 and 5 are symmetric with respect to a vehicle body center line 7 that passes through the center of the vehicle body 2 in the width direction.

  The suspension 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2, and a pair of left and right suspension arms 12, 13 that support the wheels 4, 5 by the wheel support 11 at the respective rear ends thereof, and the arms 12, 13. A pivot support 14 for pivotally supporting the front end of each arm 12, 13 on the vehicle body 2 so that each rear end of the vehicle can swing up and down together with the wheels 4, 5, and the left and right arms. 12 and 13, the left and right arms 12 and 13 are connected to each other, a cross member 15 formed in an X shape in a plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1), the vehicle body 2 and the arms 12 and 13. The shock absorber 16 is provided between the rear end portion and a coil spring and a shock absorber. In this case, a fastening hole 17 for fastening the lower end of the shock absorber 16 is formed at the rear end of each arm 12, 13.

  The front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13 are each formed of a metal flat plate material in which the cross section of each portion in the longitudinal direction forms a rectangle that is long in the vertical direction. Further, the front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13 extend linearly toward the outer side of the vehicle body 2 toward the rear of the vehicle body 2 in a plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1), respectively. Inclined with respect to line 7.

  The rear portions 12b and 13b of the arms 12 and 13 are metal rigid members whose cross sections in the longitudinal direction form a hollow closed cross section. The rear portions 12b and 13b of the arms 12 and 13 are respectively viewed from the rear end portions of the front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13 toward the rear of the vehicle body 2 in a plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1). The vehicle body 2 is inclined with respect to the vehicle body center line 7 so as to go outward.

  Each pivot support 14 is connected to the front end of each rear portion 12b, 13b of each arm 12, 13 by welding, and has a cylindrical body 19 whose longitudinal axis is oriented vertically, and the axial center of this cylindrical body 19. A pivot shaft 20 positioned above and penetrating through the cylindrical body 19 and supported at both ends by the vehicle body 2, and an annular space between the cylindrical body 19 and the pivot shaft 20 is filled. And a rubber bush 21 having an annular shape which is vulcanized and bonded to 19 and 20 and elastically connects the 19 and 20 to each other. As a result, the front portions of the left and right arms 12 and 13 are pivotally supported on the vehicle body 2 by the pivotal support 14, respectively.

  The cross member 15 extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 and is mounted on the front portions 12a and 13a of the left and right arms 12 and 13 so as to connect the front portions 12a and 13a to each other by welding. A rear beam 25 made of a sheet metal that extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 and extends over the rear portions 12b and 13b of the left and right arms 12 and 13 to join the rear portions 12b and 13b together by fastening. And a ball joint 26 that pivotally supports the longitudinal central portions of the front and rear beams 24 and 25, respectively.

  The front beam 24 has a dogleg shape that is bent rearward in a plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1), and the rear beam 25 is forward in the plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1). It is in the shape of a dogleg bent. The bent portions of the front and rear beams 24 and 25 are located at the center portions in the longitudinal direction of the front and rear beams 24 and 25, respectively.

  As described above, the front and rear beams 24 and 25 are bent in the shape of a dogleg in the front-rear direction, and these bent portions are pivotally supported by the ball joint 26. Then, as described above, the cross member 15 has an X shape in the plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1), and the ball joint 26 has the X shape due to the arrangement configuration of the members 24, 25, and 26. It constitutes the intersection of shapes.

  Each cross section in the longitudinal direction of the front beam 24 has an open cross-sectional structure in which the inner space 29 opens toward the front outer side. Specifically, each cross section in the longitudinal direction of the front beam 24 has a U shape in which the inner space 29 is open toward the front, and is substantially the same shape and size. The cross-section of each part of the front beam 24 may be an open cross-sectional structure having other shapes such as a U-shape, C-shape, V-shape, L-shape, and the inner space 29 is located above, below, or You may open toward these inclination directions.

  At the joints between the arms 12 and 13 and the longitudinal ends of the front beam 24, the front surfaces of the front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 Each end of the partial beam 24 is butt welded. Further, the front portions 12a and 13a at the joints between the front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13 and the end portions of the front beam 24 are crossed by the end portions of the front beam 24. A notch 30 is formed that substantially matches the shape of the inner space 29 on the surface. Note that, in the coupling portion, each end portion of the front beam 24 or a longitudinal intermediate portion of each end portion is fitted in each notch 30 of the front portions 12a and 13a of the arms 12 and 13. May be connected by welding, and the connection may be by a fastener.

  Each cross section in the longitudinal direction of the rear beam 25 has an open cross-sectional structure in which the inner space opens outward. The rear beam 25 has left and right rear members 33, 33 that constitute the rear side of the ball joint 26 at the X-shaped intersection of the cross member 15. Each of these rear members 33 includes a strip-shaped long plate member 36 that extends linearly from the ball joint 26 side of the intersecting portion toward the rear portion of each of the arms 12 and 13, and a straight line along the long plate member 36. Other long lengths that extend integrally and project from the one end edge (rear end edge portion) in the width direction of the long plate material 36 to the outer side (upper side) in the thickness direction of the long plate material 36. Plate material 37. Specifically, in each cross section of the rear member 33, the long plate 36 extends substantially horizontally, and the other long plate 37 extends in the vertical direction. Thereby, each cross section of each rear member 33 in the longitudinal direction of the rear beam 25 has an L shape that opens outward in the front upper direction, and is substantially the same shape and size. The cross section of each part of the rear beam 25 may be U-shaped, U-shaped, C-shaped, or V-shaped.

  The ball joint 26 includes a main ball 39, a support arm 40 projecting integrally from the ball 39 toward the outer side in the radial direction (forward), and the longitudinal center of the rear beam 25. Is inserted into a socket 43 that is supported by a bracket 41 and includes the ball 39 so as to be rotatable around a center point 42 thereof, and a fitting hole 44 formed in the longitudinal center of the front beam 24. And a bracket 46 that is coupled by welding and that removably fixes the protruding end of the support arm 40 with a fastener 45.

  The bracket 41 is joined to the outer surface of the rear beam 25 by welding W1 and W2. The bracket 41 is made of sheet metal, and extends integrally from the left and right outer edges of the main plate 41a to the main plate 41a facing the other long plate 37 of the rear beam 25 with a slight distance to the front. Left and right side plates 41b and 41b are provided. The lower edge of the main plate 41a is joined to the upper surface of the long plate 36 of the rear beam 25 by welding W1, and the rear edge of each side plate 41b is connected to the front of another long plate 37 of the rear beam 25. Joined by welding W2. Thereby, the bracket 41 is joined to the outer surface of the rear beam 25.

  In the above case, the left and right side plates 41b and 41b of the bracket 41 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 toward the long plate 36. Thereby, a trapezoidal box-shaped body having a large rigidity in a front view of the vehicle body 2 is formed by the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rear beam 25 and the bracket 41.

  An insertion hole 48 for inserting and supporting the socket 43 in the main plate 41a of the bracket 41 is formed by burring the main plate 41a. In addition, an insertion hole 49 for inserting the socket 43 when the socket 43 is inserted into the insertion hole 48 is formed in the other long plate member 37 of the rear beam 25.

  In the work of forming the suspension 3 of the vehicle 1, when the cross member 15 is assembled, first, the left and right arms 12 and 13 and the front and rear beams 24 and 25 constituting the cross member 15 are connected. Each is formed, and these 12, 13, 24, and 25 are joined together to form a frame-shaped intermediate product. Next, in this frame-shaped intermediate product, with reference to the left and right fastening holes 17 and 17 formed at the rear end portions of the left and right arms 12 and 13 on the side of each end of the rear beam 25, The bracket 41 is joined to a desired position along the outer surface of the rear beam 25.

  Next, the socket 43 of the ball joint 26 is fitted together with the ball 39 into the fitting hole 48 of the bracket 41 and is supported by the bracket 41. At this time, the support arm 40 of the ball joint 26 is fastened to the front beam 24 by a fastener 45 via another bracket 46. Thereby, the assembly work of the cross member 15 is completed.

  When the vehicle 1 turns, the left and right arms 12 and 13 swing in the vertical direction by the external force (reaction force) applied to the wheels 4 and 5 from the traveling road surface 6 against the weight of the vehicle 1. Relative displacement occurs (dashed line in FIG. 2). Due to this relative displacement, the front and rear beams 24 and 25 installed on the left and right arms 12 and 13 are relatively rotated around the center point 42 of the ball 39 of the ball joint 26 and elastically respectively. Thus, a desired torsional stress is generated in the front and rear beams 24 and 25 by torsional deformation. As a result, the front and rear beams 24 and 25 are elastically repelled and function mainly as a stabilizer and a torsion bar. As a result, the vehicle 1 can obtain a stable turn and can have a desired maneuverability. Is to be secured.

  In the above case, before turning the vehicle 1, the rear beams 24 and 25 are torsionally deformed by the external force from the wheels 4 and 5 as described above. At this time, the bending moment due to the external force is applied to the ball joint. In order to prevent unnecessary application to 26 and to smoothly achieve the torsional deformation of the front and rear beams 24 and 25, the following configuration is provided.

  That is, the respective shear centers (twist centers) of the left side portion of the front beam 24 and the right side portion of the rear beam 25 are positioned on a common first imaginary straight line 50. Further, the respective shear centers (twist centers) of the right side portion of the front beam 24 and the left side portion of the rear beam 25 are positioned on a second imaginary straight line 51 that is common to each other. The center of the ball 39 of the ball joint 26 is positioned as close as possible to the intersection of the first and second virtual straight lines 50 and 51 (hereinafter referred to as “the torsion center of the front and rear beams 24 and 25”). Point 42 is located. The first imaginary straight line 50 of the front beam 24 intersects the central portion of the axial center of the pivot shaft 20 of the pivot tool 14 in the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, as described above, the cross member 15 includes the front and rear beams 24 and 25 and the ball joint 26 that pivotally supports the center portions of the respective longitudinal directions of the 24 and 25. In a plan view (FIG. 1), the ball joint 26 has an X shape with the intersection.

  Here, when the vehicle 1 turns, an external force is applied to the arms 12 and 13 from the wheels 4 and 5 supported on the rear ends of the arms 12 and 13 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. When the external force is given a larger bending moment, the arms 12 and 13 tend to be greatly deformed.

  However, as described above, the front and rear beams 24 and 25 installed on the left and right arms 12 and 13 are formed in an X shape in a plan view of the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1) via the ball joint 26. The external force is supported in the axial direction by the front and rear beams 24 and 25 through the ball joint 26, that is, the external force is firmly supported by the vehicle body 2 through the front and rear beams 24 and 25. In other words, it is possible to prevent a large bending moment from being applied to the arms 12 and 13. Therefore, when the vehicle 1 turns, the arms 12 and 13 are prevented from being greatly deformed, whereby a stable turn is obtained in the vehicle 1 and desired operability is ensured.

  According to the above configuration, the socket 43 having the ball 39 of the ball joint 26 rotatably around the center point 42 is provided on the rear beam 25 which is one of the front and rear beams 24 and 25. The one beam is supported by a bracket 41 joined to the outer surface.

  For this reason, in forming the suspension 3 of the vehicle 1, when the socket 43 is supported by the one beam, first, after forming the one beam, with reference to any part on the beam side, The bracket 41 is joined to a desired position along the outer surface of the beam. Then, the socket 43 supported by the bracket 41 is also accurately positioned at a desired position in the beam.

  As a result, the center point 42 of the ball 39 included in the socket 43 is more accurately positioned at the “twisted center of the front and rear beams 24 and 25” as a desired position in the front and rear beams 24 and 25. Can be positioned. Therefore, the front and rear beams 24 and 25 when the vehicle 1 turns are smoothly and relatively rotated around the center point 42 of the ball 39 of the ball joint 26 by the external force from the wheels 4 and 5. At this time, it is prevented that a bending moment due to the external force is applied to the ball joint 26 unnecessarily, and smooth torsional deformation is obtained for the front and rear beams 24 and 25. Therefore, a stable turn is obtained in the vehicle 1 and desired operability is ensured.

  Further, as described above, the rear beam 25 includes the long plate member 36 and the other long plate member 37 that integrally protrudes from one end edge of the long plate member 36 in the width direction, and the longitudinal direction thereof. Each part has a L-shaped cross section. On the other hand, the bracket 41 is joined so as to straddle both the long plate members 36 and 37 of the rear beam 25, and the left and right side plates 41 b and 41 b of the bracket 41 are separated from each other toward the long plate member 36. Has been increased.

  For this reason, a trapezoidal box-shaped body having a large rigidity in a front view of the vehicle body 2 is formed by the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rear beam 25 and the bracket 41. Therefore, the rear beam 25 is torsionally deformed when the vehicle 1 is turning, but deformation of the bracket 41 due to the torsional deformation of the rear beam 25 is suppressed. As a result, an unnecessary bending moment is prevented from being applied to the ball joint 26 supported by the bracket 41, and the front and rear beams 24, 25 are smoothly moved around the center point 42 of the ball 39 of the ball joint 26. And the desired torsional deformation is ensured.

  Further, as described above, the insertion hole 48 is formed by burring the main plate 41a of the bracket 41 provided separately from the rear beam 25, and the socket 43 of the ball joint 26 is supported by the insertion hole 48. Is done.

  For this reason, since the bracket 41 can be joined to the rear beam 25 after burring the main plate 41a of the bracket 41 to form the fitting hole 48, the burring of the main plate 41a of the bracket 41 is performed at the rear portion. This is possible without being disturbed by the beam 25. Therefore, the work for forming the suspension 3 of the vehicle 1 can be made easier.

  The bracket 41 may be joined to the rear beam 25 by a fastener. Further, the attachment of the ball joint 26 to the front and rear beams 24 and 25 may be reversed from the above example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Car body 3 Suspension 4 Wheel 5 Wheel 6 Running road surface 7 Car body centerline 11 Wheel support body 12 Arm 12a Front part 12b Rear part 13 Arm 13a Front part 13b Rear part 14 Pivoting tool 15 Cross member 16 Shock absorber 17 Fastening hole 19 Cylindrical body 20 Pivoting shaft 21 Rubber bush 24 Front beam 25 Rear beam 26 Ball joint 29 Inner space 30 Notch 33 Rear member 36 Long plate material 37 Long plate material 39 Ball 40 Support arm 41 Bracket 42 Center point 43 Socket 48 Insertion hole 49 Insertion hole 50 First virtual straight line 51 Second virtual straight line

Claims (1)

A pair of left and right suspension arms each extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, each front end side being pivotally supported by the vehicle body so that each rear end portion can support a wheel and swing up and down, and these left and right arms A front beam that is installed at each front part and connects the front parts, a rear beam that is installed at the rear parts of the left and right arms and connects the rear parts, and the front and rear beams. In the suspension of the vehicle provided with a ball joint that pivotally supports the central part in the longitudinal direction,
A socket having a ball of the ball joint pivotable about its center point is supported on the one beam by a bracket joined to the outer surface of one of the front and rear beams. A vehicle suspension characterized by that.

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