JP2625104B2 - Wheel suspension for small vehicles - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small vehicle such as a golf cart, and more particularly, to a suspension system for its wheels.

[Conventional technology]

In a small vehicle such as a golf cart running at a low speed in a golf course, the riding comfort is not so important, so conventionally, an axle arm connecting the left and right wheels and a bracket provided on the frame via a pivot. Pivoting is performed so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.

The bracket has a front wall and a rear wall facing each other, and the axle arm is inserted between the front wall and the rear wall. A predetermined gap is formed between the front and rear walls of the bracket and the axle arm in order to smoothly swing the axle arm up and down.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, according to this conventional configuration, since there is a gap in the front-rear direction between the bracket and the axle arm, when the wheel receives an impact from the road surface during traveling, the axle arm is pivoted depending on the direction of the impact. May be moved in the front-rear direction with the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

As a result, the metal axle arm and the bracket come into contact with each other and generate unpleasant noise, and an excessive force is applied to the axle to deform the axle, or the axle arm is pivoted. There is a problem that smooth swinging of the axle arm is hindered, such as rattling of the wearing portion.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to guarantee a smooth swing of the axle arm, and even if a shock in the front-rear direction is applied to the axle arm, the shock is guided by the guide. It can be used to absorb and relax, which is convenient for securing the mounting strength of the bracket and simplifying the mounting structure of the rubber-like elastic body for absorbing the vertical shock applied to the axle arm. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel suspension device for a small vehicle that can be used.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a wheel suspension device for a small vehicle according to the present invention includes: a frame having a main pipe extending in the front-rear direction; a front wall and a rear wall attached to the main pipe of the frame and facing each other; A metal bracket extending in the vehicle width direction and having a top wall extending between upper end portions of the front wall and the rear wall; and a metal bracket disposed below the main pipe; A reinforcing pipe extending between the pipe and a metal axle arm inserted along a vehicle width direction into a space surrounded by a front wall, a rear wall and an upper wall of the bracket; A pivot pivotally supported between a front wall and a rear wall of the bracket so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction; and a wheel supported at the left and right ends of the bracket on the axle arm. A pair of synthetic resin guides that are fixed to the bracket and that hold the axle arm from the front and rear and slidably move in the vertical direction at positions spaced apart on both left and right sides of the pivot; When the axle arm is turned upward, the upper wall of the bracket and the axle arm are disposed between the upper surface wall and the upper surface of the axle arm and are surrounded by the left and right guides. And a rubber-like elastic body which is compressed between the upper surface of the elastic member and the cushion to absorb and reduce the impact transmitted from the axle arm to the frame.

The guide has a front surface facing the front wall of the bracket, and a rear surface facing the rear wall of the bracket. A feature is that a plurality of possible projections are integrally provided.

(Operation)

According to this configuration, when an impact is applied to the axle arm through the axle, the axle arm is pinched from the front-rear direction by the guide, so that the axle arm swings only in the up-down direction guided by the guide. As a result, the movement in the front-back direction is restricted. Therefore, no excessive force is applied to the pivot, and it is possible to prevent deformation of the pivot and damage to the pivot-attached portion of the axle arm.

In addition, since the metal between the bracket and the axle arm is prevented from being brought into contact with each other by the presence of the guide, generation of abnormal noise and wear of both of them can be prevented.

In addition, when an impact is applied to the axle arm in the front-rear direction during traveling, the projection is pressed against the front wall or the rear wall of the bracket, and these projections are elastically deformed. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the impact in the front-rear direction applied to the axle arm to a certain extent using the guide,
The impact is not transmitted directly to the bracket. Moreover,
Since a reinforcing pipe is installed between the rear wall of the bracket and the frame, even if an impact from the axle arm is transmitted to the bracket, part of this impact escapes to the main pipe via the reinforcing pipe. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the impact from concentrating on the mounting portion between the main pipe and the bracket. For this reason, in addition to the impact transmitted to the bracket by the guide being reduced, the mounting strength of the bracket to the main pipe is improved.

Further, according to the above configuration, when the axle arm is swung up and down, the rubber-like elastic body is compressed between the upper surface of the axle arm and the upper surface wall of the bracket, so that the volume of the elastic body at this time is reduced. The shock applied to the axle arm by the change can be absorbed. Since the rubber-like elastic body is arranged between the left and right guides, the movement of the rubber-like elastic body in the vehicle width direction can be regulated by these guides.

Moreover, since the guide is fixed to the bracket, the position of the rubber-like elastic body with respect to the rubber-like elastic body is always kept constant, and the rubber-like elastic body can be used without using a special stopper even if the axle arm swings up and down. Dropout can be prevented.

(Example of the invention)

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings applied to a four-wheel golf cart.

The frame denoted by reference numeral 1 in the figure includes a pair of left and right main pipes 2 extending in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of cross pipes 3 connecting between the main pipes 2. Between the front ends of the main pipes 2, 2, a basket-shaped bag receiver 5 on which a caddy bag 4 is placed is attached.

Bridge 6 erected between the rear of the main pipes 2,2
Are connected to left and right support pipes 7, 7 extending obliquely upward toward the front, and a steering support pipe 9 is connected to a cross member 8 connecting the support pipes 7, 7.

The steering support pipe 9 extends obliquely downward and forward, and a steering shaft 10 inserted through the support pipe 9 is provided.
A bar handle 11 is connected to an upper end of the bar. The front ends of the support pipes 7, 7 are connected to each other in front of the steering support pipe 9, and a bag support 12 for supporting the upper portion of the caddy bag 4 is attached to the front end connection.

A rear axle 14 for supporting left and right rear wheels 13, 13 is supported at a rear end of the frame 1, and the rear axle 14 is driven to rotate by an engine (not shown). A step 15 is provided between the rear wheels 13, 13 for the driver to ride in an upright posture, and the step 15 projects rearward from the rear axle 14.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a support stay 16 extending downward is connected to the lower surface of the front part of the main pipes 2, 2. A bracket 17 made of sheet metal extending in the vehicle width direction is connected to a lower end of the support stay 16, and the bracket 17 is arranged below the main pipes 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bracket 17 includes a front wall 17a and a rear wall 17b facing each other, and a top wall 17c straddling between upper end portions of the front wall 17a and the rear wall 17b. It is integrally formed and has a generally U-shaped cross section that is opened downward as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 5, a reinforcing pipe 23 is provided between the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17 and the main pipes 2,2. A metal front axle arm 18 in the form of a square pipe is inserted through a space defined by a front wall 17a, a rear wall 17b, and an upper wall 17c of the bracket 17 along the vehicle width direction. The left and right ends of the front axle arm 18 are led out to the left and right sides of the bracket 17, and the left and right ends of the front axle arm 18 are rotatable with a pair of left and right front axles 20 via king pins 19. Are linked. The front axle 20 is linked to the steering shaft 10 via a steering mechanism (not shown), and left and right front wheels 22, 22 are supported on a shaft portion 21 of the front axle 20.

The middle part of the front axle arm 18 connecting the left and right front wheels 22,
The bracket 17 is pivotally attached to the bracket 17 so as to be vertically swingable. With reference to FIG. 4, a pivot pipe 24 is welded to an intermediate portion of the front axle arm 18, and a bush is provided inside the pivot pipe 24.
A collar 26 is inserted through 25. Inside the collar 26, a bolt 27 as a pivot extending across the front wall 17a and the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17 is penetrated.
The front axle arm 18
Are pivotally supported by the bracket 17 so as to be able to swing up and down around a bolt 27.

A rubber elastic body 33 for receiving the front axle arm 18 is interposed on the upper surface wall 17c of the bracket 17 facing the upper surface of the front axle arm 18. The elastic body 33 is compressed between the upper surface of the front axle arm 18 and the upper surface wall 17c of the bracket 17 when one end of the front axle arm 18 is swung upward due to, for example, the front wheel 22 getting over a step. The vertical shock applied to the front axle arm 18 due to the volume change at this time is absorbed and reduced.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, guides 29 made of synthetic resin are provided at both left and right end portions of the bracket 17 to sandwich the front axle arm 18 from the front and rear directions. On the lower surface of the guide 29, a recess in which the former shaft arm 18 is slidably fitted in the vertical direction.
30 are formed. The recess 30 has a pair of flat guide surfaces 30a, 30b facing in the front-rear direction. These guide surfaces 30a and 30b are provided on the front surface 18a and the rear surface of the front axle arm 18.
18b is slidably in the vertical direction.

The guide 29 has a front surface 29a facing the front wall 17a of the bracket 17, and a rear surface 29b facing the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17. Front 2 of these guides 29
As shown in FIG. 3, three rib-shaped projections 34 are integrally formed on the rear surface 9a and the rear surface 29b so as to be spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The distal end surfaces of these rib-like projections 34
In contact with the front wall 17a and the rear wall 17b, respectively. Such a guide 29 is retained and retained by the bracket 17 by fitting projections 31 protruding on both front and rear surfaces thereof into fitting holes 32 of the front wall 17a and the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17. The protrusion 31 is formed longer than the thickness of the front wall 17a and the rear wall 17b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide 29 is located on the left and right sides of the elastic body 33 inside the bracket 17, and the shock absorbing elastic body 33 is
The upper surface wall 17c, the upper surface of the front axle arm 18, and the space portion surrounded by the guide 29. For this reason, the guide 29 not only guides the swing of the front axle arm 18 but also positions the elastic body 33 relative to the bracket 17 in the left-right direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the fitting hole 3 of the rear wall 17b is formed.
2 is coaxially located with respect to the opening of the front end of the reinforcing pipe 23, and the front end of the reinforcing pipe 23 is opened outward through the fitting hole 32. Therefore, when the frame 1 is assembled and then dipped in the coating liquid to coat the entire frame 1, the coating liquid flows into the inside of the reinforcing pipe 23 through the fitting hole 32, and the reinforcing pipe 23 The inside of the is also painted.

The frame 1, the left and right front wheels 22, 22 and the rear wheel 1
3 and 13 are integrally covered by a body panel 35 made of FRP from above.

According to such a configuration, a synthetic resin guide 29 having a concave portion 30 into which the front axle arm 18 is slidably fitted is attached to the left and right ends of the bracket 17, and the guide surfaces 30a, The front axle arm 18 is slidably contacted with the front surface 18a and the rear surface 18b of the front axle arm 18 so that the front axle arm 18 can be slid only in the vertical direction using the guide surfaces 30a and 30b of the recess 30 as a guide. Become.

Therefore, the bolt 27 for pivotally supporting the front axle arm 18 is not subjected to excessive force such as prying it, and the deformation of the bolt 27 and the damage to the pivotally attached portion of the front axle arm 18 are prevented. And the vertical swing of the front axle arm 18 becomes smooth.

In addition, the presence of the guide 29 prevents the metal between the bracket 17 and the front axle arm 18 from contacting with each other, so that the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed and the wear of both of them can be prevented. it can. Also, while the golf cart is running, an impact is applied to the front axle arm 18 so as to press the front axle arm 18 in the front-rear direction.
When the guide 29 is pressed against the front wall 17a or the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17, the guide 29 is in contact with the bracket 17 via the rib-like projections 34. Absorb the shock applied to In addition, since a large force exceeding the deformation limit of the rib-shaped protrusion 34 is carried by the entire guide 29, a large movement of the front axle arm 18 in the front-rear direction is restricted.

Therefore, the front-rear shock applied to the front axle arm 18 can be absorbed to some extent by the guide 29 while the golf cart is running, and the shock does not need to be directly transmitted to the bracket 17. In addition, since a reinforcing pipe 23 is installed between the rear wall 17b of the bracket 17 and the main pipes 2, 2, it is assumed that an impact in the front-rear direction is transmitted to the bracket 17 via the front axle arm 18. However, a part of the impact is directly escaped to the main pipes 2, 2 via the reinforcing pipe 23. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the load from concentrating on the mounting portion between the main pipes 2, 2 and the support stay 16.

Therefore, the bracket 17 can be firmly supported, and the impact transmitted to the bracket 17 can be absorbed and reduced by the presence of the guide 29.
The attachment strength of the bracket 17 to the brackets 2 and 2 is improved.

In the present embodiment, the projection 31 of the guide 29 is
17, the guide 29 receives a vertical force due to the swing of the front axle arm 18, and the protrusion 31
Even if the contact with the opening edge of the fitting hole 32 wears,
The projections 31 are less likely to fall out of the fitting holes 32, and the guides 29 can be reliably held for a long period of time.

Further, according to the above configuration, the left and right guides 29 are
It is immovably attached to the left and right ends of the bracket 17,
An elastic body 33 for reducing the vertical impact applied to the front axle arm 18 is disposed between the guides 29. Therefore, the elastic body 33 is formed by the left and right guides 29, the upper part of the bracket 17 and the front axle arm 18 Is arranged in a space portion surrounded by the upper surface of the light emitting element.
Therefore, the movement of the elastic body 33 in the vehicle width direction can be restricted by using the guide 29.

Moreover, since the guide 29 is attached to the bracket 17 by fitting the protrusion 31 into the fitting hole 32 of the bracket 17, it does not swing integrally with the front axle arm 18. For this reason, the position of the guide 29 and the elastic body 33 is always kept constant, and the positioning of the elastic body 33 in the left-right direction can be reliably performed.

Therefore, even if the front axle arm 18 swings up and down, it is possible to prevent the elastic body 33 from falling off without using a special stopper or the like, thereby simplifying the structure of the mounting portion of the elastic body 33. be able to.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, front axles supporting left and right front wheels are individually supported by left and right front axle arms, respectively, and one end of each of the left and right front axle arms is swung by a bracket. It may be pivotally movable.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention described in detail above, since the movement of the axle arm in the front-rear direction can be restricted, the axle arm can be smoothly swung up and down without applying excessive force to the pivot. At the same time, the metal contact between the bracket and the axle arm is avoided, so that generation of abnormal noise and wear of both can be prevented.

In addition, when an impact is applied to the axle arm during running, which pushes the axle arm in the front-rear direction, the protrusion of the guide is elastically deformed and absorbs the impact in the front-rear direction applied to the axle arm to a certain extent. This impact is not transmitted directly to the bracket. In addition, even if the impact from the axle arm is transmitted to the bracket, part of this impact is released to the main pipe via the reinforcing pipe, and the impact concentrates on the attachment part between the main pipe and the bracket. Can be prevented. For this reason, the bracket can be firmly supported, and the impact transmitted to the bracket by the guide is reduced, and the mounting strength of the bracket to the main pipe is improved.

Furthermore, since the rubber-like elastic body for absorbing the shock applied to the axle arm is disposed in a space surrounded by the left and right guides, the bracket and the upper surface of the axle arm, the rubber-like elastic body is utilized by using the above-mentioned guide. The movement of the body in the vehicle width direction can be restricted. In addition, since the guide is fixed to the bracket, the position with respect to the rubber-like elastic body is always kept constant, and the positioning of the rubber-like elastic body in the left-right direction can be reliably performed. Therefore, even if the axle arm swings up and down, it is possible to prevent the rubber-like elastic body from falling off without using a special stopper or the like, thereby simplifying the mounting structure of the rubber-like elastic body and reducing the cost. Reduction and weight reduction are possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view in which a suspension device is partially sectioned, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf cart, and FIG. It is. 1 ... frame, 2 ... main pipe, 17 ... bracket, 17a ... front wall, 17b ... rear wall, 17c ... top wall, 18 ... axle arm (front axle arm), 22 ... wheels ( Front wheel), 23 Reinforcement pipe, 27 Pivot (bolt), 29 Guide, 29a Front surface, 29b Rear surface, 30 Concave portion, 33 Rubber elastic body, 34 Projection.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A frame having a main pipe extending in the front-rear direction; a front wall and a rear wall attached to the main pipe of the frame and facing each other, and an upper surface spanning between upper ends of the front and rear walls. A metal bracket having a wall and extending in the vehicle width direction and disposed below the main pipe; a reinforcing pipe extending between a rear wall of the bracket and the main pipe; A metal axle arm inserted along the vehicle width direction into a space surrounded by a front wall, a rear wall and an upper wall of the bracket; and vertically moving the axle arm between the front wall and the rear wall of the bracket. Axle pivotally supported in a pivotable direction; wheels supported on the left and right ends of the bracket on the axle arm; left and right both sides of which are fixed to the bracket and sandwich the pivot. A pair of guides made of synthetic resin which sandwich the axle arm from the front and rear at a position separated from the other and slidably hold in the vertical direction; and between the upper wall of the bracket and the upper surface of the axle arm; Moreover, the bracket is arranged in a space surrounded by the left and right guides, and is compressed between the upper wall of the bracket and the upper surface of the axle arm when the axle arm is turned upward. The guide has a front surface facing the front wall of the bracket, and a rear surface facing the rear wall of the bracket. A wheel suspension device for a small vehicle, wherein a plurality of elastically deformable protrusions that contact the front wall and the rear wall of the bracket are integrally provided on the rear surface.