JP2019002486A - Suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a suspension capable of reducing costs, and also preventing looseness of a stopper.SOLUTION: A suspension comprises: an inner tube 11; a rod 2 having an attachment part 2b provided at a tip movably inserted into the inner tube 11, wherein an outer diameter of the attachment part 2b is contracted, and at the terminal of the attachment part 2b a step 2c is formed; an annular stopper 3 provided on an outer periphery of the attachment part 2b, and held and fixed between the step 2c and a fastening part 2d, wherein the fastening part is provided at the tip of the attachment part 2b; and an expansion spring 5 provided so as to overlap with the stopper 3, and compressed in expansion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a suspension device.

  Conventionally, in a suspension device, a rod whose tip is movably inserted into the tube, a stopper screwed onto the outer periphery of the tip of the rod, and stacked on the stopper are compressed when the suspension device is extended or retracted. There is a thing provided with the extending spring (for example, patent documents 1). In such a suspension device, a stopper receives a load for pulling the rod from the tube (hereinafter referred to as a pulling load).

JP 2007-132401 A, FIG.

  In the conventional suspension device, the stopper is attached to the rod by screwing. In this case, the tensile strength of the joint between the stopper and the rod can be adjusted by changing the screw size, and the load resistance of the stopper that can withstand the pulling load can be set. However, when the stopper is screwed onto the rod, screw processing is required and the parts are expensive. In addition, when screws are fastened, the assembly work is complicated and expensive, and the stopper may be loosened.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a suspension device that can eliminate such problems, reduce costs, and prevent the stopper from loosening.

  In the suspension device that solves the above-described problem, the suspension device is provided on the outer periphery of the attachment portion provided at the tip of the rod, and is fixed by being sandwiched between the crimping portion provided at the tip of the attachment portion and the step provided at the end of the attachment portion. An elastic body that is compressed at the time of cutting is overlapped with the annular stopper. According to the said structure, the tensile strength of the said caulking part can be adjusted with the shape of a caulking part, and the load resistance of the stopper which bears a drawing load can be set. And since screw processing becomes unnecessary, parts can be made cheap. Further, since the screw fastening work is not required, the work of assembling the stopper can be facilitated, the cost can be reduced, and there is no fear that the stopper is loosened.

  The suspension device may include a suspension spring provided in the tube and supported at one end by the stopper. According to the said structure, even if it is a case where a suspension apparatus is provided with a suspension spring, it is easy to ensure stroke length, can reduce a number of parts and can reduce cost more.

  The suspension device may include a suspension spring receiver that overlaps the anti-elastic body side of the caulking portion, and a suspension spring that is provided in the tube into which the rod is inserted and is supported at one end by the suspension spring receiver. . According to the said structure, even if it is a case where a suspension apparatus is provided with a suspension spring, it is easy to ensure a stroke length. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the crimped portion can be increased according to the required tensile strength. And even if the dimensions of the suspension spring and the caulking portion vary, it is easy to compress the suspension spring straight along the axis, and it is possible to prevent the suspension spring from being bent.

  In the suspension device, the caulking portion may be formed by high spin caulking. According to the said structure, since the shape of a crimping part can be set freely, it is easy to set the load resistance of a stopper.

  According to the suspension device of the present invention, the cost can be reduced and the stopper can be prevented from loosening.

It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which showed the front fork which is a suspension apparatus concerning one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. It is explanatory drawing explaining the attachment process to the rod of the stopper in the front fork which is a suspension apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of a front fork which is a suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and showing an enlarged part of the front fork according to the modified example.

  Hereinafter, a suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals given throughout the several drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts. Further, “upper” and “lower” of the suspension device in a state where the suspension device is attached to the vehicle are referred to as “upper” and “lower” of the suspension device unless otherwise specified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a front fork F, and suspends front wheels in a straddle-type vehicle such as a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle.

  The front fork F includes a telescopic tube member 1 having an outer tube 10 and an inner tube 11, one end connected to the outer tube 10, and the other end movably inserted into the inner tube 11. Rod 2, an annular stopper 3 attached to the outer periphery of the other end of the rod 2, and an annular abutting portion 4 fixed to the inner periphery of the tip of the inner tube 11 so as to face the stopper 3.

  Further, the front fork F is on the outer periphery of the rod 2 inserted into the inner tube 11 and on the side of the extension spring 5 provided between the stopper 3 and the abutting portion 4 and on the side opposite to the extension spring of the stopper 3. A disk-shaped suspension spring receiver 6 that is provided in an overlapping manner and abuts against the other end of the rod 2, a suspension spring 7 that is inserted into the inner tube 11 and supported at one end by the suspension spring receiver 6, and an end portion of the inner tube 11 An axle-side bracket 8 that is screwed onto the outer periphery and supports the other end of the suspension spring 7 is provided.

  The tube member 1 is an inverted type in the present embodiment. That is, the outer tube 10 is a vehicle body side tube and is disposed on the upper side of the inner tube 11, and the inner tube 11 is an axle side tube and is disposed on the lower side of the outer tube 10.

  The upper end opening of the outer tube 10 is closed with a cap (not shown), and the rod 2 is connected to the outer tube 10 through the cap. On the other hand, the lower end opening of the inner tube 11 is closed by the axle side bracket 8. Further, the overlap between the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 11 is closed by the oil seal 12 and the dust seal 13. Thus, in the front fork F according to the present embodiment, the inner side and the outer side of the tube member 1 are partitioned.

  A liquid and a gas are enclosed in the tube member 1. The sliding portion when the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 11 are relatively moved in the axial direction can be lubricated with the liquid in the tube member 1.

  More specifically, the abutting portion 4 provided at the distal end portion of the inner tube 11 is formed in an annular shape, and the rod 2 is inserted through the inside thereof. The inner diameter of the abutting portion 4 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the rod 2, and the liquid can freely move between the abutting portion 4 and the rod 2. The outer diameter of the stopper 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner tube 11, and the liquid can freely move between the stopper 3 and the inner tube 11. For this reason, the liquid in the inner tube 11 can move freely in the inner tube 11, and also moves between the inner tube 11 and the outer tube 10, so that the sliding surfaces of the bearing 14, the oil seal 12, and the dust seal 13 are moved. Lubricate.

  The configuration of the tube member 1 is not limited to the above, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, although the axle side bracket 8 functions as a bottom cap that closes the lower end of the tube member 1 in the present embodiment, a bottom cap that closes the lower end of the tube member 1 may be provided separately from the axle side bracket 8. Further, the outer tube 10 may be an axle tube, the inner tube 11 may be a vehicle body side tube, the tube member 1 may be upright, and the rod 2 may be connected to the inner tube 11 to enter and exit the outer tube 10. . That is, the tube into and out of the rod 2 may be an outer tube or an inner tube, and may be a vehicle body side tube or an axle side tube.

  In the present embodiment, the outer tube 10 that is a vehicle body side tube is connected to the vehicle body via a vehicle body side bracket (not shown). On the other hand, the inner tube 11 which is an axle side tube is connected to the axle of the front wheel via the axle side bracket 8.

  For this reason, when the front wheel vibrates up and down, for example, when the vehicle travels on an uneven road surface, the inner tube 11 enters and exits the outer tube 10 and the front fork F expands and contracts. Further, when the front fork F expands and contracts, the rod 2 enters and exits the inner tube 11, the stopper 3 and the suspension spring receiver 6 move up and down in the inner tube 11, and the suspension spring 7 and the extending spring 5 according to the stroke amount. Expands and contracts.

  The suspension spring 7 is a compression coil spring. Both ends of the suspension spring 7 are always in contact with the suspension spring receiver 6 and the axle bracket 8, and the suspension spring receiver 6 is always in contact with the rod 2. Therefore, when the front fork F expands and contracts and the suspension spring receiver 6 moves up and down, the suspension spring 7 expands and contracts and exhibits an elastic force corresponding to the compression amount. The elastic force of the suspension spring 7 acts in the direction in which the rod 2 is pushed up to extend the front fork F. In the front fork F, the vehicle body is elastically supported by the suspension spring 7. Further, the suspension spring receiver 6 is maintained in contact with the tip of the rod 2 by the elastic force of the suspension spring 7.

  Subsequently, the extending spring 5 is a compression coil spring. The extension spring 5 is compressed by the abutting portion 4 and the stopper 3 when the stroke amount to the extension side of the front fork F becomes larger than a predetermined value and approaches the extension cutting (maximum extension state). Demonstrate the elastic force. The elastic force of the extending spring 5 acts in a direction in which the rod 2 is pushed down to contract the front fork F, and the extension speed of the front fork F is reduced. Therefore, the extension spring 5 can mitigate the impact when the front fork F is extended. Further, in the state where the extension spring 5 is compressed to the close contact length, the rod 2 is further prevented from retracting from the inner tube 11, and the front fork F is extended. FIG. 1 shows the front fork F at the time of the extension.

  As described above, when the extending spring 5 is compressed, a pulling load for pulling the rod 2 from the inner tube 11 is applied to the abutting portion 4 and the stopper 3. Then, the abutment portion 4, the extending spring 5 and the stopper 3 prevent the rod 2 from retreating from the inner tube 11.

  On the other hand, when the front fork F expands and contracts and the stroke amount to the extension side of the front fork F is less than a predetermined value, the stopper is kept in a state where the extending spring 5 is in the natural length (extended). 3 moves up and down in the inner tube 11. In this case, the abutting portion 4, the extending spring 5 and the stopper 3 do not prevent the rod 2 from retracting from the inner tube 11.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic body compressed when the front fork F is extended is the extension spring 5 and is a coil spring. However, the elastic body may be a spring other than a coil spring, rubber, or the like. “Compressed at the time of cutting” means that the suspension is compressed when the suspension device such as the front fork is extended (at the time of maximum extension). Of course, it may be started.

  Next, when the end (lower end) on the inner tube 11 side of the rod 2 is the tip and the opposite side is the end, the stopper 3 that supports the lower end of the extension spring 5 is formed in an annular shape and added to the outer periphery of the tip of the rod 2. It is fixed by tightening.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the rod 2 is coaxially connected to the rod main body 2 a entering and exiting the inner tube 11 and the tip of the rod main body 2 a inserted into the inner tube 11, and has an outer diameter of the rod main body 2 a. It has the attachment part 2b smaller than an outer diameter. An annular step 2c is formed at the end of the mounting portion 2b at the boundary with the rod body 2a. On the other hand, a caulking portion 2d is formed at the tip of the attachment portion 2b by high spin caulking.

  In the present embodiment, the caulking portion 2d has an outer peripheral shape having a truncated cone shape, and the outer diameter gradually increases toward the tip. Further, the outer diameter of the crimping portion 2d is larger than the outer diameter of the portion other than the crimping portion 2d in the mounting portion 2b, and the stopper 3 is sandwiched and fixed between the crimping portion 2d and the step 2c. .

  As described above, the caulking portion 2d is formed in a truncated cone shape, and a flat plane 2e is formed at the tip of the caulking portion 2d. Then, the disk-shaped suspension spring receiver 6 is overlapped on the plane 2 e, and the upper end of the suspension spring 7 is abutted against the suspension spring receiver 6. According to the said structure, it is a case where the suspension spring 7 is compressed via the rod 2 at the time of shrinkage | contraction like the front fork F which concerns on this Embodiment, Comprising: The crimping part 2d is formed in the suspension spring 7 side. Even in this case, the outer diameter of the caulking portion 2d can be increased, and the suspension spring 7 can be compressed straight along the axis X to prevent the suspension spring 7 from bending.

  More specifically, the suspension spring 7 is disposed substantially coaxially in the inner tube 11, and if a trunk is bent, the suspension spring 7 may interfere with the inner tube 11 and generate abnormal noise. In order to prevent the bending of the suspension spring 7, it is preferable to compress the suspension spring 7 along the axis X of the suspension spring 7. From this point of view, the upper end of the suspension spring 7 may be brought into contact with the stopper 3 (for example, FIG. 4). However, in this case, if there is variation in the inner diameter of the suspension spring 7 or the outer diameter of the crimping portion 2d, and a part of the suspension spring 7 rides on the crimping portion 2d, the axis X of the suspension spring 7 On the other hand, a force is applied obliquely, and the suspension spring 7 may bend and a noise may be generated.

  For this reason, when the stopper 3 and the suspension spring 7 are brought into contact with each other, the stopper 3 and the suspension spring 7 must be brought into contact with each other while avoiding the crimping portion 2d in order to block the bending of the suspension spring 7. The outer diameter of the portion 2d is limited.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the suspension spring receiver 6 is overlapped with the caulking portion 2 d and the suspension spring 7 is brought into contact with the suspension spring receiver 6, the interference with the suspension spring 7 is taken care of. The outer diameter of the caulking portion 2d can be set. Even if the dimensions of the suspension spring 7 and the caulking portion 2d vary, the suspension spring receiver 6 is interposed between them, so that the suspension spring 7 is compressed straight along the axis X by the suspension spring receiver 6. It is possible to prevent the suspension spring 7 from being bent.

  That is, if the suspension spring receiver 6 is provided between the caulking portion 2d and the suspension spring 7 as described above, the caulking portion 2d can be enlarged. The tensile strength of the crimped portion 2d can be adjusted by changing the shape of the crimped portion 2d, and the load resistance of the stopper 3 that can withstand the pulling load can be set. Therefore, if the caulking portion 2d can be enlarged, the load resistance of the stopper 3 can be easily set optimally.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, since the crimping part 2d is formed by the high spin crimping process, the shape of the crimping part 2d can be set freely. Therefore, it is easy to set the load resistance of the stopper 3, and it is also easy to form the flat surface 2e at the tip of the crimped portion 2d. Further, since the suspension spring receiver 6 is abutted against the flat surface 2e, the inclination of the suspension spring receiver 6 can be easily prevented, and this also prevents the suspension spring 7 from being bent.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the suspension spring receiver 6 has a disk shape, it is easy to form the suspension spring receiver 6, and both the suspension spring receiver 6 and the caulking portion 2d are suspended even if the dimensions vary. The spring receiver 6 is reliably brought into contact. However, the suspension spring receiver 6 may be formed in an annular shape, and the shape of the suspension spring receiver 6 can be changed as appropriate.

  Hereinafter, a method of attaching the stopper 3 to the rod 2 will be described.

  In a state before the stopper 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the rod 2, the attachment portion 2b is cylindrical, has a substantially constant outer diameter from the end to the tip, and does not have the crimping portion 2d (FIG. 3 (a )). Such a mounting portion 2b is inserted into the inside of the annular stopper 3, and the tip of the mounting portion 2b is set to protrude from the stopper 3 and set in the caulking machine (FIG. 3B).

  Next, the tip of the mounting portion 2b protruding from the stopper 3 is pressurized and deformed with a punch P of a caulking machine to form a truncated cone-shaped caulking portion 2d at the tip of the mounting portion 2b. The stopper 3 is sandwiched and fixed between 2d and the step 2c (FIG. 3C).

  Hereinafter, the effect of the front fork F which is the suspension device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the front fork (suspension device) F includes an inner tube (tube) 11 and a mounting portion 2b provided at the distal end of the inner tube 11 so as to be movably inserted. The rod 2 is reduced in diameter and formed with a step 2c at the end of the mounting portion 2b, and is fixed by being sandwiched between the step 2c and the crimping portion 2d provided on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 2b and provided at the tip of the mounting portion 2b. And an extension spring (elastic body) 5 that is provided so as to overlap with the stopper 3 and is compressed at the time of extension.

  Thus, in this Embodiment, the stopper 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the rod 2 by caulking. According to the said structure, the tensile strength of the said crimping part 2d can be adjusted with the shape of the crimping part 2d, and the load resistance of the stopper 3 which can endure a drawing load can be set. In this case, as compared with the conventional suspension device in which the stopper is attached to the rod by screwing, screw processing is not necessary, so that the parts can be made inexpensive. Further, when the stopper 3 is attached to the rod 2 by caulking, it is easier to assemble the stopper 3 than the screw fastening, and there is no fear that the stopper 3 will loosen. Therefore, according to the front fork F having the above configuration, the cost can be reduced and the stopper 3 can be prevented from loosening.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic body compressed at the time of extending is the extending spring 5 and is a coil spring. However, the elastic body may be a spring other than the coil spring, rubber, or the like. In the present embodiment, the tube through which the rod 2 enters and exits is the inner tube 11 and is disposed on the axle side, but the tube may be disposed on the vehicle body side or an outer tube.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the front fork (suspension device) F is provided in the suspension spring receiver 6 and the inner tube (tube) 11 that overlap the lower side (anti-extension spring side) of the crimped portion, and the upper end The suspension spring 7 is supported by the suspension spring receiver 6 at one end.

  According to the said structure, it can suppress that the front fork F is bulky to an axial direction, and can ensure the stroke length of the front fork F easily. Further, according to the above configuration, since the suspension spring receiver 6 is sandwiched between the suspension spring 7 and the caulking portion 2d, it is easy to compress the suspension spring 7 along the axis X even if there is a variation in dimensions. The body bending of the suspension spring 7 can be suppressed. Further, since the outer diameter of the crimping portion 2d is not easily restricted by other members such as the suspension spring 7, the outer diameter of the crimping portion 2d can be optimized according to the required load resistance of the stopper 3 and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the suspension spring receiver 6 is formed in a disc shape. For this reason, it is easy to bring the suspension spring 7 into contact with the suspension spring receiver 6 and to bring the suspension spring receiver 6 into contact with the caulking portion 2d even if the dimensions vary.

  However, the shape of the suspension spring receiver 6 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the suspension spring 7 may be supported by the stopper 3. In this case, it is not necessary to make the tip of the caulking portion 2d into the flat surface 2e. Furthermore, since the suspension spring receiver 6 can be eliminated, the number of parts of the front fork F can be reduced and the cost can be further reduced. The suspension spring 7 may be provided outside the inner tube 11 (for example, above the inner tube 11 in FIG. 1), and the arrangement of the suspension spring 7 can be changed as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the suspension spring 7 is a coil spring, but it may be an air spring. In this case, the weight of the front fork and further cost reduction can be achieved. And these changes are possible irrespective of the structure of the elastic body compressed at the time of cutting and the structure of the tube in which the rod 2 goes in and out.

  In the present embodiment, the caulking portion 2d is formed by high spin caulking. According to the said structure, since the shape of the crimping part 2d can be set freely, the tensile strength of the crimping part 2d and the load resistance of the stopper 3 can be set freely. Further, according to the high spin caulking, since the caulking process can be easily performed, it is easier to fix the stopper 3 to the rod 2.

  Note that the shape of the punch P used for the high spin caulking process is not limited to that shown in FIG. Moreover, you may form the crimping part 2d by crimping processes other than the high spin crimping. And such a change is possible irrespective of the structure of the elastic body compressed at the time of drawing, the structure of the tube through which the rod 2 enters and exits, the shape and presence of the suspension spring receiver 6, and the structure and arrangement of the suspension spring 7. It is.

  The suspension device according to the present embodiment is a front fork that suspends the front wheels of the saddle-ride type vehicle, but the present invention may of course be used for other suspension devices. Then, as in the present embodiment, when the present invention is used for a front fork and the front fork includes a pair of legs that support the front wheel, the present invention is applied to one or both legs. When the front fork is a single leg type, the present invention may be applied to the one leg.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, modifications, changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

F: Front fork (suspension device), 2 ... Rod, 2b ... Mounting part, 2c ... Step, 2d ... Clamping part, 3 ... Stopper, 5 ... Stretching Spring (elastic body), 6 ... Suspension spring receiver, 7 ... Suspension spring, 11 ... Inner tube (tube)

Claims (4)

Tubes,
A rod that includes a mounting portion provided at a distal end that is movably inserted into the tube, the outer diameter of the mounting portion being reduced, and a step formed at the end of the mounting portion;
An annular stopper provided on the outer periphery of the attachment portion and sandwiched and fixed between the crimped portion provided at the tip of the attachment portion and the step;
A suspension device comprising: an elastic body provided so as to overlap the stopper and compressed at the time of stretching. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension spring provided in the tube and supported at one end by the stopper. A suspension spring receiver overlapping the anti-elastic body side of the crimped portion;
The suspension apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension spring provided in the tube and supported at one end by the suspension spring receiver. The suspension device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the caulking portion is formed by high spin caulking.

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