JP2023042628A - Transmission lift-up mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve protection performance for a transmission.SOLUTION: In a vehicle V, a cover plate 42 is provided below a transmission 24. A front end of the cover plate 42 is swingably connected to a front cross member 18 by a ball joint member 44 and both ends as seen in a lateral direction at a rear end of the cover plate 42 are connected to the front cross member 18 by mount devices 50 each of which is configured to deform elastically in a vertical direction. Thus, when the cover plate 42 is grounded on a protruding portion of a road surface, a support spring 56 of each mount device 50 is compressively deformed and the rear end of the cover plate 42 is displaced upward. The action causes push-up parts 64 provided at the rear end of the cover plate 42 through a rear connection bar 62 to contact with an oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 and lift up the transmission 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a transmission lift-up mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A vehicle (automobile) transmission is arranged at the lower end of the front portion of the vehicle and supported by a frame member of the vehicle. For example, in the power unit mounting device described in Patent Document 1 below, the power unit mounting device is provided on a cross member of the vehicle and supports the power unit including the transmission from below. The power unit mount device is configured to be elastically deformable, and the power unit is supported in a floating state by the power unit mount device. As a result, the power unit mount device suppresses input of running vibrations and the like to the power unit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-54172

Here, by arranging the transmission on the lower side of the vehicle, the center of gravity of the vehicle is lowered, so that the running performance of the vehicle can be improved. On the other hand, placing the transmission further down the vehicle tends to bring the transmission closer to the road surface. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle travels on an uneven road surface at a relatively low speed, the transmission may contact the road surface. Specifically, there is a risk that the transmission will touch the road surface when the vehicle runs over a bump on the road surface under construction at a low speed. Therefore, in vehicles, it is desirable to have a structure that can improve the protection performance for the transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission lift-up mechanism capable of improving the transmission protection performance.

One or more embodiments of the present invention include a cover portion disposed under a transmission of a vehicle, and a cover portion provided at a front end portion of the cover portion, connected to a vehicle body member, and configured to move the cover portion. a front support portion that supports the cover portion so as to be swingable; and a front support portion that is provided at a rear end portion of the cover portion, is connected to the vehicle body member outside the front support portion in the vehicle width direction, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction of the vehicle. and a pair of push-up portions directly or indirectly supported by the rear end portion of the cover portion and provided inside the rear side support portion in the vehicle width direction. In this transmission lift-up mechanism, the rear end portion of the cover portion is displaced upward when an external force is applied to the upper side of the vehicle, and the push-up portion lifts the transmission toward the upper side of the vehicle.

One or more embodiments of the present invention is a transmission lift-up mechanism in which the front side support portion is configured by a ball joint member.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the front side support section and the rear side support section are connected by a pair of front side frames, and the pair of rear side support sections are connected to the rear side extending in the vehicle width direction. A transmission lift-up mechanism connected by a frame.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are a transmission lift-up mechanism in which the front frame and the rear frame are integrally formed with the cover portion.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are a transmission lift-up mechanism, wherein the push-up portion is made of elastic material.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, protection performance for transmissions can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the lower portion of the front portion of the vehicle to which the transmission lift-up mechanism according to the present embodiment is applied; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the transmission lift-up mechanism shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above; Fig. 3 is a partially broken side view from the left side showing the ball joint member shown in Fig. 2; 2 is a rear view of the transmission lift-up mechanism shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the rear side; FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a modification of the transmission lift-up mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

A transmission lift-up mechanism 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as lift-up mechanism 40) according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. An arrow FR appropriately shown in the drawings indicates the front side of the vehicle (automobile) V to which the lift-up mechanism 40 is applied, an arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and an arrow RH indicates the right side of the vehicle (one side in the vehicle width direction). is shown. In the following description, when the vertical, front-rear, and left-right directions are used for description, the vertical direction of the vehicle, the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the left-right direction of the vehicle are indicated unless otherwise specified.

The lift-up mechanism 40 is provided at the lower end portion of the front portion of the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. The lift-up mechanism 40 is configured as a mechanism that lifts the transmission 24 of the vehicle V to prevent the transmission 24 from contacting the road surface or the like. Hereinafter, the lower structure of the front portion of the vehicle V will be described first, and then the lift-up mechanism 40 will be described.

(Regarding the lower structure of vehicle V)
FIG. 1 shows the lower part of the front part of the vehicle V in a bottom view as seen from below. As shown in this figure, the lower structure of the vehicle V includes a pair of left and right front side frames 10, a pair of left and right floor side frames 14, and a pair of left and right floor side frame inners 16, which constitute the frame members of the vehicle V. , a front side cross member 18 as a vehicle body side member, and a transmission cross member 22. As shown in FIG.

The pair of left and right front side frames 10 extend in the front-rear direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the front portion of the vehicle V, and the front wheels 12 are arranged outside the front side frames 10 in the vehicle width direction. A pair of left and right floor side frames 14 extend in the front-rear direction behind the front side frames 10 , and the front ends of the floor side frames 14 are connected to the rear ends of the front side frames 10 . The pair of left and right floor side frame inners 16 extend in the front-rear direction inside the rear portion of the front side frame 10 in the vehicle width direction. It is connected to the side frame 10 .

The front cross member 18 is disposed between the front portions of the pair of left and right front side frames 10 , is formed in a substantially U shape that opens rearward when viewed from below, and spans the front side frames 10 . It is The front cross member 18 is composed of a plurality of member members, and a lower arm 20 that constitutes a suspension that bridges the front wheels 12 is connected to the front cross member 18 . The transmission cross member 22 extends in the left-right direction on the rear side of the front cross member 18 , and both longitudinal ends of the transmission cross member 22 are connected to the floor side frame inner 16 .

In addition, a power unit 28 including a transmission 24 and an engine 26 as a transmission is provided in the vehicle width direction central portion of the front portion of the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. The power unit 28 is arranged above the front cross member 18 and the transmission cross member 22, and is connected to the front cross member 18 and the transmission cross member 22 by a mounting device 30 provided on the front cross member 18 and the transmission cross member 22. . The mount device 30 is configured to be elastically deformable, and the power unit 28 is supported by the frame member of the vehicle V by the mount device 30 in a floating state. An oil pan 24A is provided at the lower end of the transmission 24, and the oil pan 24A is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape with a relatively shallow bottom that opens upward. A front end portion of a propeller shaft 32 is connected to a rear end portion of the transmission 24 , and the propeller shaft 32 extends rearward from the transmission 24 .

(Regarding lift-up mechanism 40)
A lift-up mechanism 40 is provided below the transmission 24 . The lift-up mechanism 40 includes a cover plate 42 as a cover portion, a ball joint member 44 as a front side support portion, a pair of mounting devices 50 as a rear side support portion, and a pair of front connecting bars 60 as a front frame. , a rear connecting bar 62 as a rear frame, and a pair of push-up parts 64 .

(Regarding the cover plate 42)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover plate 42 is made of a steel plate and is formed into a substantially T-shaped plate having a plate thickness direction in the vertical direction. Specifically, the cover plate 42 includes a rear plate portion 42A that constitutes the rear end portion of the cover plate 42 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and a rear plate portion 42A that extends forward from a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rear plate portion 42A. and a center plate portion 42B. The cover plate 42 is arranged below the transmission 24 . Specifically, the rear plate portion 42A is arranged below the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 .

(Regarding the ball joint member 44)
As also shown in FIG. 3, the ball joint member 44 connects the left-right center portion of the front cross member 18 and the left-right center portion of the front end portion of the cover plate 42 (center plate portion 42B). The ball joint member 44 includes a stat 44A and a cover 44B. The stat 44A is formed in a substantially stepped columnar shape whose axial direction is the vertical direction. A threaded portion 44A1 is provided at the upper end of the stud 44A, and the threaded portion 44A1 is inserted into a fixing hole 18A formed in the front cross member 18 from below. A nut 46 is screwed onto the threaded portion 44A1 to fasten and fix the stud 44A to the front cross member 18 . A substantially spherical ball portion 44A2 is provided at the lower end portion of the stud 44A.

The cover 44B is formed in a concave shape that opens upward, and the ball portion 44A2 is housed in the cover 44B so as to be able to swing. A fixing bolt 44B1 extending downward is provided on the cover 44B, and the fixing bolt 44B1 is fastened and fixed to the center plate portion 42B by a nut 48. As shown in FIG. As a result, the ball joint member 44 connects the front end of the cover plate 42 to the front cross member 18 and supports the cover plate 42 in a swingable manner.

(Regarding the mounting device 50)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the pair of mount devices 50 connect the left and right ends of the front cross member 18 and the left and right ends of the rear plate portion 42A of the cover plate 42. are doing. The mount device 50 includes a base member 52 , a stud bolt 54 and a support spring 56 . The base member 52 is formed in a plate shape having a plate thickness direction in the vertical direction, is arranged above both lateral end portions of the rear plate portion 42A, and is fixed to the rear plate portion 42A. The base member 52 is formed with a pair of connection plate portions 52A for connecting a front connection bar 60 and a rear connection bar 62 which will be described later. is bent to

The stud bolt 54 is arranged with the vertical direction as the axial direction. A lower end portion of the stat bolt 54 is fixed to the base member 52 , and the stat bolt 54 extends upward from the base member 52 . The upper end of the stud bolt 54 is inserted through an insertion hole 18B formed in the front cross member 18 so as to be relatively movable in the vertical direction. ing. Thereby, the cover plate 42 is arranged at the initial position shown in FIG. 4, and the rear end portion of the cover plate 42 is configured to be movable upward from the initial position.

The support spring 56 is configured as a compression coil spring. The support spring 56 is arranged radially outward of the stud bolt 54 and between the base member 52 and the front cross member 18 to bias the cover plate 42 and the front cross member 18 outward in the vertical direction. Thereby, the cover plate 42 is held at the initial position. When the cover plate 42 is in contact with the road surface or the like and an upward collision force (external force) acts on the cover plate 42, the support spring 56 is elastically deformed (compressive deformation), causing the rear end of the cover plate 42 to move. It is configured such that the portion is displaced upward.

(Regarding the front connecting bar 60)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of front connecting bars 60 are made of spring steel or the like, and are shaped like rods with a circular cross section. One end in the longitudinal direction of the front connecting bar 60 is connected to the cover 44B of the ball joint member 44, and the pair of front connecting bars 60 move away from each other toward the rear side from the cover 44B when viewed from above and below. (outward in the vehicle width direction). In this embodiment, the cover 44B and a pair of front connecting bars 60 are integrally formed. Thereby, the front ends of the pair of front connecting bars 60 are connected by the cover 44B. The rear end portion of the right front connecting bar 60 is fixed to the connecting plate portion 52A of the right mounting device 50, and the rear end portion of the left front connecting bar 60 is fixed to the left mounting device 50 connecting plate portion. 52A. Thereby, the ball joint member 44 and the pair of mounting devices 50 are connected by the front connecting bar 60 .

(Regarding the rear connecting bar 62)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the rear connecting bar 62, like the front connecting bar 60, is made of spring steel or the like, and is shaped like a bar extending in the vehicle width direction and having a circular cross section. It is The rear connecting bar 62 is arranged between the pair of left and right mounting devices 50 , and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rear connecting bar 62 are fixed to the connecting plate portions 52A of the mounting devices 50 . As a result, the pair of left and right mount devices 50 are connected by the rear connecting bar 62 . Also, the rear ends of the pair of front connecting bars 60 and the longitudinal ends of the rear connecting bars 62 are connected by the base member 52 of the mounting device 50 . Thus, the lift-up mechanism 40 has a truss structure 66 composed of a pair of front connecting bars 60 and rear connecting bars 62 .

(Regarding push-up portion 64)
The pair of push-up portions 64 are made of an elastic material such as rubber, and are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. The push-up portion 64 is arranged above the rear connecting bar 62 , and the lower end of the push-up portion 64 is formed in a generally arc shape that opens downward when viewed in the left-right direction. is fixed to That is, the push-up portion 64 is indirectly provided on the cover plate 42 via the rear connecting bar 62 . The pair of push-up portions 64 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. Specifically, the right push-up portion 64 is arranged below the right end portion of the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24, and the left push-up portion 64 is arranged below the left end portion of the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24. ing. Further, the push-up portion 64 is arranged close to the lower side of the oil pan 24A, and a relatively narrow gap is formed between the push-up portion 64 and the oil pan 24A (see FIG. 4). Alternatively, the push-up portion 64 may be arranged adjacent to the lower side of the oil pan 24A so that the oil pan 24A (transmission 24) is supported by the push-up portion 64 from below. Thereby, the support performance of the transmission 24 can be improved.

(Effect)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

In the vehicle V, the transmission 24 is arranged at the front lower end of the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle V travels at a low speed on an uneven road surface such as during construction, and the front wheels 12 run over a bump on the road surface, the bump approaches the transmission 24 and the transmission 24 is disengaged. There is a possibility that it will land on the convex part of the road surface. In this case, since an upward collision force is directly input to the transmission 24 from the convex portion, there is a possibility that the protection performance for the transmission 24 may deteriorate.

Here, in vehicle V, cover plate 42 of lift-up mechanism 40 is provided below transmission 24 . A ball joint member 44 is provided at the front end of the cover plate 42. The ball joint member 44 is connected to the front cross member 18 and supports the front end of the cover plate 42 so as to swing. . Both lateral ends of the rear end of the cover plate 42 are connected to the front cross member 18 by mounting devices 50 configured to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. Therefore, when a bump on the road surface approaches the transmission 24 , the cover plate 42 is grounded on the bump before the transmission 24 .

For example, when the right end of the rear plate portion 42A of the cover plate 42 touches a bump on the road surface, an upward collision force (external force) F (see FIG. 4) acts on the right end of the rear plate portion 42A. As a result, the support spring 56 of the right mounting device 50 is compressed and deformed, displacing the right end of the cover plate 42 upward (see arrow A in FIG. 4). Therefore, the right push-up portion 64 provided at the rear end portion of the cover plate 42 via the rear connecting bar 62 contacts the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 and lifts the right side portion of the transmission 24 . As a result, the right portion of the transmission 24 is displaced upward (see arrow B in FIG. 4). As a result, the right portion of the transmission 24 can be displaced away from the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission 24 from contacting the road surface. At this time, the left portion of the transmission 24 is displaced downward (see arrow C in FIG. 4). 24 ground contact with the road surface can be avoided.

Also, although not shown, when the left end of the rear plate portion 42A of the cover plate 42 touches a bump on the road surface, the left push-up portion 64 comes into contact with the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 in the same manner as described above. , lift the left side of the transmission 24; As a result, the left portion of the transmission 24 is displaced upward. As a result, the left portion of the transmission 24 can be displaced away from the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission 24 from contacting the road surface.

Also, although not shown, when the center portion of the cover plate 42 in the left-right direction touches the convex portion of the road surface, an external force F acts upward on the center portion in the left-right direction of the cover plate 42 . As a result, the support springs 56 of the pair of left and right mounting devices 50 are compressed and deformed, and the entire rear end portion of the cover plate 42 is displaced upward. As a result, the pair of left and right push-up portions 64 come into contact with the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 and lift both sides of the transmission 24 in the left-right direction. As a result, the entire transmission 24 is displaced upward when viewed from the rear side. As a result, the transmission 24 can be displaced away from the road surface in the same manner as described above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission 24 from contacting the road surface.

As described above, according to the lift-up mechanism 40 of the present embodiment, when the cover plate 42 touches a bump on the road surface, the support spring 56 of the mounting device 50 is compressed and deformed, and the rear end of the cover plate 42 is lifted. part is displaced upward. As a result, the push-up portion 64 provided at the rear end portion of the cover plate 42 via the rear connecting bar 62 comes into contact with the oil pan 24A of the transmission 24 and lifts the transmission 24 . As a result, even if the transmission 24 (power unit 28) is arranged at a relatively low position, it is possible to prevent the transmission 24 from contacting the road surface. Therefore, protection performance for the transmission 24 can be improved. Further, by arranging the transmission 24 (power unit 28) at a relatively low position, the center of gravity of the vehicle V can be lowered and the running performance of the vehicle V can be improved.

Also, the cover plate 42 is arranged below the transmission 24 . Thereby, the transmission 24 can be covered from below by the cover plate 42 . Therefore, for example, while the vehicle V is running, it is possible to prevent the transmission 24 from being hit by flying stones or the like. Therefore, protection performance for the transmission 24 can be further improved. Moreover, the cover plate 42 is formed in a flat plate shape. Thereby, turbulence of the airflow in the lower part of the vehicle V can be suppressed. As a result, the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle V can be improved.

Further, when the rear end portion of the cover plate 42 is displaced upward, the support spring 56 is compressed and deformed. Therefore, the compression deformation of the support springs 56 can absorb the impact force F when the cover plate 42 contacts the bumps on the road surface. As a result, when the transmission 24 is lifted by the lift-up mechanism 40, it is possible to prevent an excessive impact force F from being input to the transmission 24. FIG. Therefore, protection performance for the transmission 24 can be further improved.

Further, as described above, the front end of the cover plate 42 is pivotably connected to the front cross member 18 by the ball joint member 44 . As a result, the front end portion of the cover plate 42 can be pivotably connected to the front cross member 18 with a simple structure.

The cover 44B of the ball joint member 44 and the base member 52 of the pair of left and right mounting devices 50 are connected by a pair of left and right front connecting bars 60, and the bases of the pair of left and right mounting devices 50 are connected by a rear connecting bar 62. A member 52 is connected. That is, a pair of left and right front connecting bars 60 and a rear connecting bar 62 are connected to each other, and the lift-up mechanism 40 has a truss structure 66 constituted by the pair of left and right front connecting bars 60 and rear connecting bars 62. ing. As a result, the truss structure 66 can absorb the impact force F when the cover plate 42 touches a bump on the road surface.

That is, for example, when the right end of the rear plate portion 42A of the cover plate 42 touches the road surface, the rear end of the right front connecting bar 60 and the right end of the rear connecting bar 62 receive an upward collision force. F works. Further, the vertical displacement of the front end portion of the front connecting bar 60 is restricted by the ball joint member 44 . Therefore, the truss structure 66 is torsionally deformed by the collision force F input to the rear end portion of the right front connecting bar 60 . As a result, the truss structure 66 can absorb the impact force F when the cover plate 42 contacts the road surface. As a result, when the transmission 24 is lifted by the lift-up mechanism 40, it is possible to effectively suppress the excessive collision force F from being input to the transmission 24. Therefore, protection performance for the transmission 24 can be effectively improved.

Further, in the lift-up mechanism 40 , the strength of the cover plate 42 may be ensured as strength for transmitting the collision force F input when the cover plate 42 touches the road surface to the truss structure 66 . Therefore, by providing the lift-up mechanism 40 with the truss structure 66, the plate thickness of the cover plate 42 can be made relatively thin. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to weight reduction of the lift-up mechanism 40 .

Also, the push-up portion 64 is made of an elastic material. Therefore, when the transmission 24 is lifted by the push-up portion 64, the push-up portion 64 can be elastically deformed. Thereby, when the transmission 24 is lifted by the lift-up mechanism 40, it is possible to more effectively suppress the input of an excessive impact force to the transmission 24. - 特許庁Therefore, the protection performance for the transmission 24 can be improved more effectively.

In this embodiment, the truss structure 66 is composed of the front connecting bar 60 and the rear connecting bar 62, but the structure of the truss structure 66 is not limited to this. That is, the front connecting bar 60 and the rear connecting bar 62 are omitted from the lift-up mechanism 40, and a rib connecting the ball joint member 44 and the mounting device 50 is formed on the cover plate 42, and the rib constitutes a truss structure 66. You may For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of front ribs 42C and rear ribs 42D having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section which protrude upward and open downward are formed on the cover plate 42, and the front ribs 42C form a ball joint. A truss structure 66 may be configured by connecting the member 44 and the mounting device 50 and connecting the pair of mounting devices 50 by the rear rib 42D. As a result, the front rib 42C and the rear rib 42D are formed integrally with the cover plate 42, which contributes to cost reduction of the lift-up mechanism 40 and weight reduction of the lift-up mechanism 40. Moreover, the bending rigidity of the cover plate 42 can be increased by the front rib 42C and the rear rib 42D. In this case, the front rib 42C corresponds to the front frame of the invention, and the rear rib 42D corresponds to the rear support portion of the invention. Also, in this case, the outer shape of the cover plate 42 may be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mount device 50 is configured including the stud bolt 54 and the support spring 56, but the configuration of the mount device 50 is not limited to this. For example, in the mount device 50, instead of the stud bolt 54 and the support spring 56, a mount member made of an elastic material such as rubber may be provided, and the cover plate 42 and the front cross member 18 may be connected by the mount member. can be configured to In this case as well, the cover plate 42 and the front cross member 18 can be connected by the mounting device 50 while the mounting device 50 is configured to be elastically deformable.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lift-up mechanism 40 includes the front connecting bar 60 and the rear connecting bar 62 and has a truss structure 66, but the lift-up mechanism 40 lifts the transmission 24. From this point of view, the truss structure 66 may be omitted in the lift-up mechanism 40 . That is, in the lift-up mechanism 40, the front connecting bar 60 and the rear connecting bar 62 may be omitted. In this case, the pair of push-up portions 64 may be provided directly on the top surface of the cover plate 42 .

18 Front cross member (body side member)
24 transmission
42 cover plate (cover part)
42C front rib (front frame)
42D rear rib (rear frame)
44 Ball joint member (front support part)
50 mounting device (rear side support)
60 front connecting bar (front frame)
62 Rear connecting bar (rear frame)
64 Booster V Vehicle

Claims (5)

a cover portion disposed on the underside of the vehicle transmission;
a front side support portion provided at a front end portion of the cover portion, connected to a vehicle body side member, and supporting the cover portion so as to swing;
a pair of rear support portions provided at a rear end portion of the cover portion, connected to the vehicle body member outside the front support portion in the vehicle width direction, and configured to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction of the vehicle;
a pair of push-up portions directly or indirectly supported by the rear end portion of the cover portion and provided inside the rear side support portion in the vehicle width direction;
a transmission lift-up mechanism that displaces a rear end portion of the cover portion upward when an external force directed toward the upper side of the vehicle is input, and lifts the transmission toward the upper side of the vehicle by the push-up portion; 2. The transmission lift-up mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said front side support portion comprises a ball joint member. The front side support portion and the rear side support portion are connected by a pair of front side frames, and the pair of rear side support portions are connected by a rear side frame extending in the vehicle width direction. 2. The transmission lift-up mechanism according to 2. 4. A transmission lift-up mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said front frame and said rear frame are formed integrally with said cover portion. The transmission lift-up mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the push-up portion is made of an elastic material.

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