JP2993199B2 - Suspension upper support structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension upper support structure for supporting an upper end of a shock absorber of an automobile body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a suspension upper support structure generally used for an automobile body is as follows.
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Hei 2-1155771 is known.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, in this suspension upper support structure, a suspension tower 72 is connected to an inner portion in the vehicle width direction of an apron member 70 constituting an upper portion of a front fender apron.

As shown in FIG. 6, a shock absorber 74 and a coil spring are accommodated in the suspension tower 72.
Of the suspension upper support 76
Are supported by a spring support upper 77 constituting an upper portion of the suspension upper support 76 via a rubber bush 75 constituting a part of the suspension upper support 76. The spring support upper 77 is attached to a spring plate 78 as a suspension upper support supporting member provided above the suspension tower 72 with bolts 79 and nuts 80.

[0005]

However, in this suspension upper support structure, as shown in FIG.
A vehicle width direction outer portion 78A of the spring plate 78 extends, and a flange 78B provided at a tip end of the vehicle width direction outer portion 78A is welded to the outer wall portion 70A of the apron member 70 from the vehicle width direction inside. ing. A flange 78C provided at an inner end in the vehicle width direction of the spring plate 78 is welded to the suspension tower 72 from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

Accordingly, in the suspension upper support structure, the load (arrow F in FIG. 6) acting on the shock absorber 74 in the axial direction causes the bent portions A and B at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the spring plate 78 to be formed. A large bending moment occurs. Therefore, the load acting on the shock absorber 74 in the axial direction is applied to the suspension tower 72 via the spring plate 78.
In addition, there is a problem that the transmission to the apron member 70 cannot be performed efficiently.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension upper support structure capable of efficiently transmitting a load acting on a shock absorber along an axial direction to a vehicle body.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suspension upper support structure for supporting an upper end portion of a shock absorber, the suspension upper support member supporting the suspension upper support, and at least a vehicle width. A spring support upper having a cylindrical shock absorber support for supporting an upper end of the shock absorber, the spring support upper being coupled to a vertical wall surface of the suspension upper support support member, and an outer periphery of the upper end of the shock absorber and a bush press-fitted between the surface and the inner peripheral surface of the shock absorber support portions, said shock absorber
The joint surface between the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the and the inner peripheral surface of the bush is
It is characterized by being in the shear direction with respect to the load .

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the load acting on the shock absorber in the axial direction is transmitted from the upper end of the shock absorber to the spring support upper support through the bush, The power is transmitted from the support upper to the suspension upper support member. In this case, the load is transmitted to the bush via a joint surface between the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the shock absorber and the inner peripheral surface of the bush, and this joint surface is in a shearing direction with respect to the load. Similarly, the joint surface between the bush and the shock absorber support portion of the spring support upper is also in the shear direction with respect to the load. Further, since both ends in the vehicle width direction of the spring support upper are connected to the vertical wall surface of the suspension upper support member, this joint surface is also in a substantially shearing direction with respect to the load.

Therefore, since the joint surface of each member is in a shearing direction or a substantially shearing direction with respect to the load acting on the shock absorber along the axial direction, the load acting on the shock absorber along the axial direction is applied to the spring. The transmission can be efficiently performed to the support upper and the transmission can be efficiently performed to the suspension upper support supporting member. Therefore, the load acting on the shock absorber in the axial direction can be efficiently transmitted to the vehicle body.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a suspension upper support structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, an arrow FR indicates a forward direction of the vehicle body, an arrow IN indicates an inward direction of the vehicle width, and an arrow UP indicates an upward direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 4, side rails 12 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 10 are arranged at lower portions on both ends in the vehicle width direction of a front portion 10A of the vehicle body 10. The side rail 12 is made of an extruded aluminum material, and has a vertically long rectangular shape having a horizontal wall portion 12A provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction, as viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction. A lower edge 14A of a front fender apron 14 serving as a suspension upper support member is provided on an upper end portion of the outer side surface 12A of the side rail 12 in the vehicle width direction.
Are welded from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, a reinforcing portion 16 having a U-shaped cross section is provided at the upper end of the front fender apron 14 with the opening directed downward in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion of the reinforcing portion 16 is curved upward and rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the rear end portion 16A is connected to the cowl top side joint 20 provided at the end of the cowl panel 18 in the vehicle width direction. ing. Further, the front portion of the reinforcing portion 16 is curved downward toward the front side in the vehicle body front-rear direction, and the front end portion 16 </ b> B reaches the front end portion of the side rail 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lower portion of a vertical wall portion 22 provided inside the reinforcing portion 16 of the front fender apron 14 in the vehicle width direction is bulged inward in the vehicle width direction. Have been. A portion of the bulging portion 23 adjacent to the vertical wall portion 22 is a flat portion 24 projecting substantially inward in the vehicle width direction from a lower end portion of the vertical wall portion 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the flat portion 24 gradually decreases toward the front, and disappears near the front end of the side rail 12. On the other hand, the rear portion of the flat portion 24 has a substantially constant width, and is connected to the lower surface of the cowl panel 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wheel house 2 provided at a lower portion of the flat portion 24 of the bulging portion 23 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.
6 is bulged inward in the vehicle width direction, and the lower end of the wheel house 26 is the lower edge 14A of the front fender apron 14 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, an end portion of the dash panel 28 in the vehicle width direction is connected to a rear portion of the side rail 12, and an engine is provided in front of the connection portion of the side rail 12 with the dash panel 28. The mount bracket 30 is fixed. Also, engine mount bracket 3
The plane part 2 of the front fender apron 14 substantially above 0
4 is provided with a spring support upper 32 constituting a part of the suspension upper support 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, the spring support upper 32 is an integrally molded product of a casting made of aluminum, and has a cylindrical portion 32A as a shock absorber support portion formed substantially at the center.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 32A of the spring support upper 32 has an axial center inclined inward and downward in the vehicle width direction. A flange portion 34 is integrally molded toward the inside of the portion 32A. A cylindrical rubber bush 36 is press-fitted above the flange 34 of the cylindrical portion 32A. The lower portion of the rubber bush 36 has a reduced outer diameter to form a convex portion 36A, and the convex portion 36A protrudes downward from between the flange portions 34.

A cylindrical rubber bush 38 is press-fitted below the flange 34 of the cylindrical portion 32A. The upper portion of the rubber bush 38 has a large inner diameter and is a concave portion 38A, into which the convex portion 36A of the rubber bush 36 protruding from the flange portion 34 is inserted. A shaft 40A formed at the upper end of the shock absorber 40 penetrates the rubber bush 36 and the rubber bush 38. The shaft 40A has a ring-shaped washer with the rubber bush 36 and the rubber bush 38 interposed therebetween. 42 and 44 are inserted. A nut 46 is screwed into a screw formed at the upper end of the shaft 40A of the shock absorber 40 to prevent the washer 44 from coming off. The washer 42 is in contact with an end surface 40B of the shock absorber 40 on which the shaft portion 40A is erected.

The outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the spring support upper 32 is formed on the vertical wall portion 22 of the front fender apron 14.
Is formed to penetrate from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a vertical wall portion 32B as a part of the outer peripheral portion is formed at the vehicle width direction outer end toward the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction. I have. The upper end of the vertical wall portion 32B is arc-welded to a vehicle width direction outer side surface 22A as a vertical wall surface of the vertical wall portion 22 of the front fender apron 14.

On the other hand, the inside of the spring support upper 32 in the vehicle width direction passes through a notch 50 formed at the upper end of the wheel house 26 of the front fender apron 14 from the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction to the lower side. The widthwise inner end is a flange 32C as a part of an outer peripheral portion formed downward along the vehicle widthwise outer surface 26A of the wheel house 26. The flange 32C is arc welded to a vehicle width direction outer side surface 26A as a vertical wall surface of the wheel house portion 26 of the front fender apron 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, a notch 52 for connecting the notch 48 and the notch 50 is formed in the flat portion 24 of the front fender apron 14, and the spring support upper 32 is inserted into the notch 52. I have.

As shown in FIG. 3, a flange 32D is formed at a front end of the spring support upper 32 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body along the lower surface 24A of the flat portion 24 as a part of an outer peripheral portion downward. The flange 32D is provided on the lower surface 24 of the flat portion 24 of the front fender apron 14.
A is arc welded.

On the other hand, the rear end of the spring support plate 32 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is provided with a flange 32E as a part of an outer peripheral portion upward along the lower surface 24A of the flat portion 24.
The flange 32E is arc-welded to the lower surface 24A of the flat portion 24 of the front fender apron 14.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment having the above configuration, the load (arrow F in FIG. 2) acting on the shock absorber 40 along the axial direction is applied from the shaft portion 40A of the shock absorber 40 to the rubber bush 3.
The power is transmitted to the cylindrical portion 32 </ b> A of the spring support upper 32 via the first and second springs 38, and then transmitted from the spring support upper 32 to the front fender apron 14.

In this case, the load is applied to the shock absorber 4
The force is transmitted to the rubber bushes 36 and 38 via a joint surface between the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 40A of the zero and the inner peripheral surfaces of the rubber bushes 36 and 38, and this joint surface is in a shearing direction with respect to the load. Similarly, the joining surfaces of the outer peripheral surfaces of the rubber bushes 36 and 38 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 32A of the spring support upper 32 are also in the shearing direction with respect to the load. Further, the upper end of the vertical wall portion 32B of the spring support upper 32 is arc-welded to the vehicle width direction outer side surface 22A of the vertical wall portion 22 of the front fender apron 14, and the flange 32C of the spring support upper 32 is connected to the front fender. Outside surface 26 of wheel house 26 of apron 14 in the vehicle width direction
A is arc welded. For this reason, these joint surfaces are also in a substantially shear direction with respect to the load.

Therefore, since the joint surface of each member is in the shearing direction or substantially in the shearing direction with respect to the load acting on the shock absorber 40 along the axial direction, the load acting on the shock absorber 40 along the axial direction. Can be efficiently transmitted to the spring support upper 32,
Further, the power can be efficiently transmitted to the front fender apron 14. Therefore, the load acting on the shock absorber 40 along the axial direction can be efficiently transmitted to the vehicle body 10.

In this embodiment, since the rear portion of the flat portion 24 of the front fender apron 14 is connected to the lower surface of the cowl panel 18, the rigidity of the flat portion 24 of the front fender apron 14 is increased.

In this embodiment, the vertical wall 3 of the front fender apron 14 and the spring support upper 32 is provided.
Since the 2B and the flanges 32C, 32D, and 32E are welded by arc welding, the welding margin can be narrowed compared to conventional spot welding, and the spring support upper 32 can be reduced in weight. Further, in the present embodiment, since the spring support upper 32 is made of an aluminum casting, the thickness of the plate can be optimally set, thereby eliminating excess thickness and reducing the weight. The material of the spring support upper is not limited to aluminum. Further, the spring support upper may be formed by press molding.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the load acting on the shock absorber along the axial direction can be efficiently transmitted to the vehicle body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension upper support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the inside of a vehicle diagonally forward.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main parts of the front body to which the suspension upper support structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the obliquely front inner side of the vehicle body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional suspension upper support structure viewed obliquely from the rear inside the vehicle body.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Auto body 10A Front part 14 Front fender apron (suspension upper support supporting member) 22 Vertical wall part 22A Vehicle width direction outer surface (vertical wall surface) 26 Wheel house part 26A Vehicle width direction outer surface (vertical wall surface) 31 Suspension upper support 32 Spring support upper 32A Cylindrical part (shock absorber support part) 32B Vertical wall part (both ends in vehicle width direction) 32C Flange (both ends in vehicle width direction) 36 Rubber bush 38 Rubber bush 40 Shock absorber 40A Shaft part

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-64110 (JP, U) JP-A 2-115771 (JP, U) JP-A 3-74212 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int) .Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60G 15/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A suspension upper support structure for supporting an upper end portion of a shock absorber, comprising: a suspension upper support member for supporting a suspension upper support; and a vertical wall surface of at least both ends in a vehicle width direction of the suspension upper support member. A spring support upper having a cylindrical shock absorber support for supporting an upper end of the shock absorber, and an outer peripheral surface of an upper end of the shock absorber and an inner peripheral surface of the shock absorber support. and a bush press-fitted between said shock
The outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the absorber and the inner peripheral surface of the bush
A suspension upper support structure, characterized in that a joint surface of the suspension is in a shear direction with respect to a load .