JP2817574B2 - Fluid-filled cylindrical anti-vibration assembly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly used for a member mount for a suspension of an automobile, and more particularly to a fluid-filled type vibration damping assembly capable of improving durability and expanding design flexibility of spring characteristics. The present invention relates to a cylindrical anti-vibration assembly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a type of vibration isolating assembly interposed between members constituting a vibration transmission system and connecting the two members in a vibration isolating manner, a vibration isolating assembly which is disposed at a predetermined radial distance from each other. There is known a cylindrical vibration isolating assembly having a structure in which a cylindrical metal fitting and an outer cylindrical metal fitting are connected by a rubber elastic body, and mainly configured to dampen axial vibration input between the inner and outer cylindrical metal fittings. For example, it is used as a member mount for a vehicle suspension, a strut bar cushion, an upper support for a suspension, and the like.

[0003] In recent years, in order to cope with the sophistication of required vibration damping characteristics, a fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly utilizing a vibration damping effect exerted based on a fluid flow action has been developed. Proposed. For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-12641, a concave groove-shaped pocket portion extending in the circumferential direction is formed in a rubber elastic body connecting the inner and outer cylinders, and the opening is covered with the outer cylinder. By inserting the annular partition member into the pocket portion and supporting the outer peripheral surface thereof with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical metal fitting, a pair of annular fluid chambers that sandwich the partition member in the axial direction are formed, An annular constricted flow path connecting the fluid chambers to each other is formed inside the partition member,
A structure is disclosed in which an anti-vibration effect against an input vibration in an axial direction is obtained based on a resonance effect of a fluid flowing through such a constricted flow path.

[0004] However, such a conventional fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly has a problem that it is difficult to assemble the partition member and to manufacture the vibration damping assembly. That is, the partition member is generally composed of a plurality of divided bodies divided in the circumferential direction, and is inserted into the pocket portion of the rubber elastic body from the outside in the radial direction, but the divided bodies are held in an annular combined state. In addition, it is difficult to extrapolate the outer cylinder and support the outer peripheral surface of the divided body by the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder.

In order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present application has previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4-16691 a metal sleeve having a pair of windows which are radially opposed to each other. And the inner sleeve and the metal sleeve are connected by a rubber elastic body, and the rubber elastic body is opened to the outer peripheral surface through the window of the metal sleeve and between the circumferential ends of the windows. By forming an annular pocket portion that is continuous in a tunnel shape, the outer peripheral surface of the partition member that is inserted from the outside and disposed in the pocket portion is held by the inner surface of the tunnel-shaped portion in the pocket portion. The proposed fluid-filled cylindrical anti-vibration assembly was proposed.

In such a tubular vibration isolating assembly, the partition member is constituted by divided bodies, and when these divided bodies are inserted into the pocket portion and assembled, the outer peripheral surface of the divided body is the inner surface of the tunnel-like portion in the pocket portion. Thus, even if the divided body is not separately held, the divided body does not fall off from the pocket portion, and the external fitting can be easily inserted, thereby achieving excellent manufacturability.

However, the present inventors have further studied the fluid-filled cylindrical vibration-damping assembly according to the prior application, and found that the fluid-filled cylindrical vibration-damping assembly has a tunnel. The rubber elastic body located outside the cylindrical pocket portion is constrained between the metal sleeve and the partition member to prevent elastic deformation, so that stress and deformation concentration in the rubber elastic body is caused, and It has been found that the durability of the elastic body and thus the vibration isolation assembly may be reduced.

In order to reduce the concentration of stress and deformation in such a rubber elastic body, the opening width in the circumferential direction of the window portion of the metal sleeve is increased, and the metal sleeve is positioned outside the tunnel-like portion of the pocket portion. It is effective to make the rubber elastic body confined between the metal sleeve and the partition member narrow in the circumferential direction and thin in the radial direction by making the portion narrow in the circumferential direction.

However, if the circumferential opening width of the window of the metal sleeve is increased, the facing area between the inner sleeve and the metal sleeve is reduced, and the volume of the rubber elastic body connecting the inner sleeve and the metal sleeve is secured. As a result, problems such as difficulty in obtaining sufficient axial spring stiffness and narrowing of the tuning range of the axial spring characteristics are caused.

In general, in a member mount for a suspension of an automobile, a soft spring characteristic in a radial direction in which a window portion of a metal sleeve is positioned and a hard spring characteristic in a radial direction orthogonal to the window are set. It is required to increase the spring ratio in the radial direction orthogonal to each other. However, as described above, if the circumferential opening width of the window of the metal sleeve is increased, the inner diameter in the radial direction orthogonal to the facing direction of the window is increased. Because it is difficult to secure the volume of the rubber elastic body that connects the tube bracket and the metal sleeve, it is difficult to obtain hard spring characteristics, so it is difficult to secure a large radial spring ratio, and the tuning range of the radial spring ratio is narrow. This causes a problem such as becoming.

[0011]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rubber elastic body restraining portion between a metal sleeve and a partition member. An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly with reduced durability, which alleviates the concentration of stress and deformation in the rubber elastic body, thereby improving the durability.

Further, according to the present invention, the volume of the rubber elastic body for connecting the inner sleeve and the metal sleeve is sufficiently ensured, a large axial spring stiffness is exhibited, and the degree of freedom in tuning the axial spring characteristic is improved. It is also an object to provide a fluid-filled cylindrical anti-vibration assembly that is sufficiently obtainable.

Further, the present invention can easily obtain a soft spring characteristic in a radial direction in which a window portion of a metal sleeve faces and a hard spring characteristic in a radial direction perpendicular to the metal sleeve. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly capable of setting the following.

[0014]

A feature of the present invention is to provide a metal sleeve having a pair of windows radially opposed to each other at a predetermined distance outside an inner cylindrical fitting. And the inner sleeve and the metal sleeve are connected by a rubber elastic body, and the rubber elastic body is opened to the outer peripheral surface through the window of the metal sleeve, and between the circumferential ends of the windows. Forming an annular pocket portion which is continuous in a tunnel shape, and further accommodates and arranges an annular partition member in the pocket portion so that an outer peripheral surface of the partition member is held by an inner surface of the tunnel-like portion in the pocket portion. An outer cylinder is externally fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the metal sleeve, and the outer cylinder is used to cover the window of the metal sleeve and to support the outer peripheral surface of the partition member. A fluid-filled type formed by forming a pair of annular fluid chambers positioned so as to sandwich the material in the axial direction, and forming an annular constricted flow path that interconnects the fluid chambers inside the partition member. In the cylindrical vibration isolating assembly, each window of the metal sleeve has a stepped shape in which an opening width in a circumferential direction changes in an axial direction, so that the outside of the tunnel-shaped portion of the pocket in the metal sleeve is formed. While the portions located at are each a narrow portion having a narrow circumferential width,
A wide portion having a larger circumferential width than the narrow portion is provided on at least one axial side of the narrow portion.

[0015]

In the fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly having the structure according to the present invention, a tunnel-shaped pocket portion is formed inside the narrow portion of the metal sleeve. The rubber elastic body constrained between the metal sleeve and the partition member is narrowed in the circumferential direction and thinned in the radial direction.

Therefore, the number of rubber elastic bodies restrained between the metal sleeve and the partition member is reduced, and the concentration of stress and deformation in the rubber elastic bodies is alleviated.
The durability of the rubber elastic body and, consequently, the fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly can be advantageously improved.

In the fluid-filled cylindrical vibration isolating assembly, the area of the metal sleeve facing the metal sleeve in the wide portion of the metal sleeve, and the rubber elasticity connecting the metal sleeve and the metal sleeve to each other. Body volume is advantageously ensured.

Therefore, a large axial spring stiffness can be easily obtained by the rubber elastic body, and the degree of freedom in tuning the axial spring characteristics can be advantageously secured.

Furthermore, in such a fluid-filled cylindrical vibration damping assembly, the volume of the rubber elastic body that connects the inner cylinder fitting and the metal sleeve is advantageously secured at the wide portion of the metal sleeve, so that the wide width of the rubber sleeve is ensured. The spring characteristics in the radial direction where the portions face each other can be set sufficiently hard, so that a large radial spring ratio can be obtained.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 to 3 show a member mount for a rear suspension of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. The member mount 16 includes a rubber elastic body 1 in which an inner cylindrical fitting 10 and an outer cylindrical fitting 12 arranged at a predetermined distance in the radial direction are interposed therebetween.
4 are connected to each other. And
The member mount 16 is configured such that the inner cylinder fitting 10 is attached to the body while the outer cylinder fitting 12 is attached to the suspension member, so that the suspension member is interposed at a portion where the suspension member is attached to the body.

More specifically, the inner cylinder fitting 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Further, a metal sleeve 18 is disposed radially outward of the inner cylindrical fitting 10 at a predetermined distance and substantially coaxially.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the metal sleeve 18 has a thin cylindrical shape.
In addition, a pair of windows 22, 22 is formed on a portion of the cylindrical wall portion of the metal sleeve 18 which is opposed to each other in one radial direction. Each of these windows 22, 22
Steps 20, 20 are provided at a substantially central portion in the axial direction, and have a stepped substantially rectangular shape in which the opening width in the circumferential direction is changed.

As a result, of the metal sleeve 18,
Portions extending between the window portions 22 and 22 in the axial direction and extending continuously in the axial direction are narrow portions 2 each having a narrow circumferential width.
4 and a wide portion 26 having a large circumferential width. In other words, the metal sleeve 18 is formed such that the cylindrical or toroidal portions located at both ends in the axial direction are axially opposed by the narrow portions 24 and the wide portions 26 at the portions opposed to each other in one radial direction. Are connected to the shape.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, between the inner cylindrical fitting 10 and the metal sleeve 18,
A rubber elastic body 14 is interposed, and the rubber elastic body 14
Thereby, the inner cylinder fitting 10 and the metal sleeve 18 are connected to each other. That is, the rubber elastic body 14 has a substantially thick cylindrical shape as a whole, and is integrally vulcanized by vulcanizing and bonding the inner cylinder fitting 10 on the inner peripheral surface and the metal sleeve 18 on the outer peripheral surface. It is formed as a molded product 28.

The rubber elastic body 14 has a central portion in the axial direction at a position corresponding to the windows 22 provided on the metal sleeve 18.
Recesses 30, 30 opening to the outer peripheral surface through 2, 22,
Each is formed. Furthermore, those recesses 3
Between the two end portions in the circumferential direction of 0, 30, tunnel-like communication passages 32, 32 extending in the circumferential direction between the inner cylindrical metal fitting 10 and the metal sleeve 18 and communicating the recesses 30, 30 with each other are provided.
Each is formed. And these recesses 30, 3
An annular pocket portion 34 extending continuously around the inner cylindrical member 10 in the circumferential direction is formed by the communication passages 32 and 32.

On one end face of the rubber elastic body 14 in the axial direction, a pair of hollow portions 36 having a predetermined depth are located on both sides of the inner cylindrical fitting 10 in the opposite direction of the recesses 30, 30. , 36
Are formed, and the wall portions of the recesses 30 and 30 are thinned. On the other hand, wide portions 26, 26 of the metal sleeve 18 are positioned on both sides of the inner cylindrical fitting 10 in the direction opposite to the communication passages 32, 32.
The rubber elastic body 14 connecting the inner cylindrical fitting 10 and the inner cylindrical fitting 10 is thick in the axial direction and the circumferential direction.

Accordingly, the rubber elastic body 14 is tuned so that the radial spring stiffness corresponding to the direction in which the recesses 30 and 30 face each other is smaller than the radial spring stiffness perpendicular to the rubber elastic body 14, and is large in the radial direction. The spring ratio is set. In addition, the wide portion 26 of the metal sleeve 18 and the inner cylinder 1
A large spring elastic body 14 connecting the 0 sets a large spring rigidity in the axial direction.

Further, the integrally vulcanized molded product 28 includes
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
4, a partition member 3 having a substantially annular shape as a whole.
8 are accommodated and arranged.

The partition member 38 is constituted by a pair of divided bodies 40, 40 each having a substantially semi-annular shape. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the divided body 40 has a plate-shaped portion 42 having a predetermined thickness, which is located at the center in the circumferential direction, and is located at both sides in the circumferential direction.
The outer peripheral side is made up of thick portions 44, 44 whose thickness is increased.

Here, the inner peripheral surface of the divided body 40 is formed with a radius of curvature larger by a predetermined dimension than the bottom surface of the pocket portion 34 of the integrally vulcanized molded product 28.
The outer peripheral surface of the divided body 40 is
Has an outer peripheral surface having substantially the same outer diameter as the metal sleeve 18, while the thick portions 44, 44 have an outer peripheral surface having substantially the same outer diameter as the inner surface of the communication passage 32 of the integrally vulcanized molded product 16. I have.

Further, a locking piece 46 having a hook-shaped locking portion at the tip end is formed on each of the divided bodies 40 so as to protrude in the circumferential direction from one end face in the circumferential direction, while the other in the circumferential direction. A locking groove 48 into which the locking piece 46 enters and is locked is provided on the end surface.
Are formed. That is, the pair of divided bodies 40, 40
At both ends in the circumferential direction where they abut each other, the locking piece 46 of one of the divided bodies 40 is
Are locked to each other by being locked in the locking groove 48.

The pair of divided bodies 40, 40
Are inserted into the pocket portion 34 from both sides in the radial direction through the windows 22, 22 of the metal sleeve 18, respectively, with respect to the integrally vulcanized molded product 28, and the locking pieces 46, 46 are inserted into the locking grooves 48, 46. As a result, the circumferential end faces are brought into contact with each other so as to be assembled. Also,
Under such an assembled state, the thick portion 4 of each divided body 40
4 and 44 are communication passages 3 provided in the integrally vulcanized molded product 28.
2, the outer peripheral surfaces of the thick portions 44, 44 are fitted to the inner surface of the communication passage 32 and positioned and held.

Thus, the pair of divided bodies 40, 4
0 is held in an assembled state having a substantially annular shape as a whole, and the partition member 38 is configured. In such an assembled state, the inner peripheral surface of the partition member 38 is
4 is opposed to the bottom surface at a predetermined distance in the radial direction.

Further, after the partition member 38 is assembled to the integrally vulcanized molded product 28, the outer tube fitting 12 is extrapolated as shown in FIGS. , Is fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the metal sleeve 18.
Further, both ends in the axial direction of the outer tube fitting 12 are fixed by caulking to both ends in the axial direction of the metal sleeve 18, respectively.

The partition member 38 inserted into the pocket portion 34 is held by the inner surfaces of the communication passages 32 when the outer tube fitting 12 is inserted and fitted into the metal sleeve 18. Even if the partition member 38 is not separately held, it does not fall off.

The openings (windows 22, 22) of the pocket portion 34 are fluid-tightly covered by the outer tube fitting 12, and the divided members 40, 4 constituting the partition member 38.
The outer peripheral surfaces of the outer cylinder fittings 0 are fixedly supported by being brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder fitting 12, respectively.

Thus, the inner cylinder fitting 10 and the outer cylinder fitting 1
2, a pair of annular fluid chambers 50 and 52 are formed so as to sandwich the partition member 38 in the axial direction. The fluid chambers 50 and 52 are filled with a predetermined incompressible fluid such as water, alkylene glycol, polyalkylene glycol, or silicone oil. Also, the outer tube fitting 12
A seal rubber layer 56 is provided on substantially the entire inner peripheral surface of the metal sleeve 18 and is pressed between the metal sleeve 18 and the seal rubber layer 56.

Further, radially inward of the partition member 38,
The fluid chamber 50 and the fluid chamber 52 communicate with each other, and an annular constricted flow path 54 is formed to allow fluid flow between the fluid chambers 50 and 52.

The sealing of the fluid into the fluid chambers 50 and 52 is performed, for example, by fitting the outer cylinder fitting 12 to the integrally vulcanized molded product 28.
Extrapolation is performed in such a fluid.

That is, a relative volume change occurs in the pair of fluid chambers 50, 52 formed as described above when an axial vibration is applied between the inner and outer cylindrical fittings 10, 12, so that the constriction flow is generated. The flow of the fluid through the passage 54 is generated, and a vibration damping effect against input vibration is exerted based on the resonance action of the fluid.

Note that a cylindrical stopper fitting 58 is further externally fixed to the outer cylinder fitting 12 on the member mount 16 of this embodiment. Such stopper fitting 5
8 has flange portions 60 and 62 at both ends in the axial direction, and annular stopper rubbers 64 and 66 protruding outward in the axial direction are fixed to both flange portions 60 and 62, respectively. I have. And these stopper rubbers 64, 6
6 abuts on a body-side member (not shown) to which the inner cylinder 10 is attached, whereby the relative displacement of the inner cylinder 10 and the outer cylinder 12 in the axial direction is regulated.

The member mount 1 structured as described above.
In 6, the metal sleeve 18 is formed as a narrow portion 24 having a narrow circumferential width at portions located outside the tunnel-shaped communication passages 32, 32 constituting the pocket portion 34. Therefore, the portion of the rubber elastic body 14 that is restricted between the metal sleeve 18 and the partition member 38 is narrowed in the circumferential direction and thinned in the radial direction.

Therefore, the metal sleeve 18 and the partition member 38
The rubber elastic body 14 of the portion restrained between is reduced,
The concentration of stress and deformation in the rubber elastic body 14 is reduced, and thus, the durability of the rubber elastic body 14 and thus the durability of the member mount 16 are advantageously ensured.

In the member mount 16, a wide portion 26 having a large circumferential width is provided on one side in the axial direction of the narrow portion 24 of the metal sleeve 18, and the wide portion 26 and the inner cylindrical metal fitting are provided. Rubber elastic body 1 connecting 10
4 is thick in the circumferential and axial directions,
The volume of the rubber elastic body 14 connecting the inner cylinder fitting 10 and the metal sleeve 18 is advantageously secured, so that a large mount axial spring stiffness can be easily obtained, and the degree of freedom in tuning the mount axial spring characteristics is also advantageous. Can be secured.

Further, in the member mount 16, the wide portion 26 of the metal sleeve 18 and the inner cylinder 10
Since the volume of the rubber elastic body 14 connecting the metal sleeve 18 and the inner cylindrical member 10 is sufficiently ensured between the opposing surfaces, the spring characteristics in the radial direction in which the wide portions 26 and 26 face each other are sufficiently improved. And a large radial spring ratio can be obtained.

In the member mount 16, the window 22 of the metal sleeve 18 is enlarged in the axial direction while ensuring a sufficient volume of the rubber elastic body 14 connecting the metal sleeve 18 and the inner cylindrical member 10. Therefore, it is possible to increase the volume of the pocket portion 34 and, consequently, the volume of the fluid chamber 50, thereby improving the vibration isolation effect exerted based on the fluid flow action.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, these are literal examples, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to such specific examples.

For example, the specific shape of the partition member 38 is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment, and the shape of the communication passage 32 formed in the integrally vulcanized molded product 28 and the fluid chamber 46
The shape is further changed in accordance with the anti-vibration characteristics and the like required for the member mount, and such a partition member may be formed to have the same cross-sectional shape over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. It is possible.

The divided member 4 constituting the partition member 38
The locking mechanism of 0, 40 is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment. For example, locking pieces 46, 46 are provided at both ends in the circumferential direction of one divided body 40, and the other divided body 40 is provided.
It is also possible to provide locking grooves 48, 48 at both ends in the circumferential direction. However, such a locking mechanism is not essential in the present invention.

Further, in the above embodiment, the metal sleeve 1
8, the wide portion 26 is provided on one side of the narrow portion 24 in the axial direction.
Is formed, but it is also possible to form wide portions on both sides in the axial direction of the narrow portion 24.

In the above-described embodiment, the lightening portions 36, 36 are provided on the axial end surfaces of the rubber elastic body 14 to further increase the radial spring ratio. The reference numerals 36 and 36 are provided as appropriate according to the anti-vibration characteristics and the like required of the member mount 16 and are not necessarily required.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a specific example in which the present invention is applied to a member mount of an automobile has been described. The present invention is applicable to a cylindrical vibration isolating assembly in various devices other than an automobile.

In addition, although not enumerated one by one, the present invention
Based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, improvements and the like can be implemented in an embodiment,
It goes without saying that all such embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a member mount as one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to a II section in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the member mount shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a metal sleeve constituting the member mount shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4;

6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the integrally vulcanized molded product constituting the member mount shown in FIG. 1, and is a view corresponding to a VI-VI section in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a right side view in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a left side view in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a divided body constituting a partition member used for the member mount shown in FIG.

11 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows XI-XI in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inner cylinder fitting 12 Outer cylinder fitting 14 Rubber elastic body 16 Member mount 18 Metal sleeve 20 Step part 22 Window part 24 Narrow width part 26 Wide width part 30 Concave part 32 Communication path 34 Pocket part 38 Partition member 40 Dividing body 40, 52 Fluid Chamber 54 Stenosis channel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16F 13/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A metal sleeve having a pair of radially opposed windows is disposed outside the inner cylinder at a predetermined distance from the inner cylinder, and the inner cylinder and the metal sleeve are made of a rubber elastic body. The rubber elastic body is formed with an annular pocket portion which is open to the outer peripheral surface through the window portion of the metal sleeve and is continuous in a tunnel-like manner between circumferential ends of the window portions. An annular partition member is housed and arranged in the pocket portion, while the outer peripheral surface of the partition member is held by the inner surface of the tunnel-shaped portion in the pocket portion, and an outer cylinder is externally fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the metal sleeve, By covering the window of the metal sleeve with the outer cylinder, and supporting the outer peripheral surface of the partition member,
A fluid formed by forming a pair of annular fluid chambers positioned so as to sandwich the partition member in the axial direction, and forming an annular constricted flow path communicating the fluid chambers inside the partition member. In the sealed cylindrical vibration isolating assembly, by forming each window of the metal sleeve into a stepped shape in which a circumferential opening width changes in an axial direction, a tunnel-shaped portion of the pocket portion in the metal sleeve is formed. The portions located on the outside are each narrow portions having a narrow circumferential width, and at least one axial side of the narrow portions is provided with a wide portion having a circumferential width wider than the narrow portions. A fluid-filled cylindrical anti-vibration assembly.