JP3087118B2 - Support structure of differential device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a differential device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle such as an FR vehicle or a four-wheel drive vehicle in which an engine is provided at a front portion and a rear wheel is a driving wheel, a propeller for transmitting the driving force of the engine to a rear drive shaft. A shaft is provided. This propeller shaft is generally connected directly to a differential device.

[0003] Further, the differential device generally has a structure fixed and supported on, for example, a rear subframe provided at a rear portion of a vehicle. Here, when fixing the differential device to the rear sub-frame, it is common to attach a bolt through the width direction of the vehicle or a bolt vertically, for example, via a support member.

[0004]

By the way, this type of F
When an R car, a four-wheel drive car, etc. has a head-on collision,
The collision energy at the time of the collision is transmitted to the propeller shaft and the differential device.

[0005] However, in the conventional support structure of the differential device, it is difficult to efficiently absorb the collision energy because the amount of the differential device moving backward is limited.

An object of the present invention is to efficiently absorb the collision energy when a head-on collision occurs.

[0007]

According to the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, in a support structure for a differential device connected to a propeller shaft, the differential device is fastened from a front-rear direction by a front support member and a rear support member. The two support members have an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are connected by an elastic body, and the rear support member is located between the shaft of the propeller shaft. Is also located above, a space is formed between the differential device and the rear support member to serve as an escape portion when the differential device moves, and when the differential device moves rearward, the elastic body Is broken or deformed, so that the inner cylinder of the front support member is To move forward or backward direction, the inner cylinder in the front support member is withdrawn from said barrel,
A rear end of the propeller shaft and the differential
The device is characterized in that the front part of the communication device falls downward .

At this time, it is desirable that the space between the differential device and the rear support member is longer than the overlap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the front support member. By making the space between the differential device and the rear support member longer than the overlapping allowance of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the front support member, the differential device moves rearward in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. A sufficient space can be secured.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of a vehicle provided with a support structure for a differential device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support structure for the differential device according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle M includes a front sub-frame 1, a transmission mount 2, and a rear sub-frame 3. An engine EG and a transmission TM indicated by phantom lines are attached to the front subframe 1, and front wheels FT, FT are pivotally supported. Further, a rear end portion of the transmission TM indicated by a virtual line is placed and attached to the transmission mount 2. Furthermore, rear subframe 3
, A differential device RD is attached, and the inner end of a rear drive shaft RS is supported on the left and right sides of the differential device RD. Then, rear wheels RT, RT are attached to outer ends of the left and right rear drive shafts RS.

The transmission TM and the differential device RD are connected by a propeller shaft PS, and the driving force of the engine EG mounted on the front sub-frame 1 is supplied to the differential device RD via the propeller shaft PS. This driving force is transmitted from the differential device RD to the rear drive shaft RS.
Is transmitted to

Next, a support structure of the differential device according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the differential device RD is supported by the rear sub-frame 3. The rear sub-frame 3 includes a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, a right frame 13, and a left frame 14, and further has a bottom frame 15. The front frame 11 has a shape in which the central portion is slightly bent forward. Further, square materials are used for the right frame 13 and the left frame 14, and brackets 13 for mounting a vehicle body (not shown) are
a, 13b, 14a and 14b are provided. Furthermore, the right frame 13 and the left frame 14
8A to 18D, a rear frame R indicated by a virtual line
F, attached to RF. The left and right frames 1
Brackets 1 and 3 for attaching the upper arms SA of the suspension, indicated by phantom lines in FIG.
7A to 17D are attached.

A cross member 16 extends between the right frame 13 and the left frame 14 slightly behind the front frame 11.

Further, a right front support member 21 and a left front support member 22 are attached to a part of the front portion of the front frame 11 which protrudes forward in a suspended state. These right front support member 21 and left front support member 2
2 have the same shape, and the left front support member 22, which is one of them, will be described. As shown in FIG.
An outer cylinder 22A made of steel and an inner cylinder 22B also made of steel are provided. The outer tube 22A and the inner tube 22B are connected by a rubber connecting member 22C which is an elastic body. A bracket 22D for fixing to the front frame 11 is provided outside the outer cylinder 22A. Bolt through holes 22a, 22a for penetrating bolts are formed on the upper surface of the bracket 22D.

A stud bolt with a flange 22E as a mounting member penetrates through the inner cylinder 22B, and a front side of the stud bolt with a flange 22E is a washer 22F.
Through the nut 22G. Further, the bolts 22H, 22H are passed through the bolt through holes 22a, 22a and through holes (not shown) formed in the fitting flange 11A provided in the front frame 11 shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a nut 22I is screwed into the screw portion of the bolt 22H, and the head of the bolt 22H and the nut 22I are screwed.
The left front support member 22 is fixed to the front frame 11 by sandwiching the bracket 22D and the fitting flange 11A with I.

On the other hand, a right rear support member 23 and a left rear support member 24 are fitted into a substantially central portion of the rear frame 12. Since the right rear support member 23 and the left rear support member 24 have the same shape, the left rear support member 24 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the left rear support member 24 is a steel outer cylinder 2.
4A and an inner cylinder 24B also made of steel. The outer tube 24A and the inner tube 24B are connected by a rubber connecting member 24C, and a bracket 24D is formed so as to cover the outer tube 24A. In this bracket 24D,
Bolt through holes 24a, 24a, 24a, 24a are formed.

The inner cylinder 24B has a flanged stud bolt 24E as a mounting member penetrating therethrough, and the rear side thereof is fastened by a nut 24G via a washer 24F. Then, a bolt (not shown) is passed through the bolt through holes 24a, 24a,... And the bolt through holes (not shown) formed in the rear frame 12 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and the nuts 24I, 24I, 24 shown in FIG.
Screw in ... Thus, the bolt head and nut 2
The right rear support member 24 and the rear frame 12 are sandwiched and fixed by 4I, 24I,.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear male screw portion of the flanged stud bolt 22E of the left front support member 22 is screwed into a female screw 32a formed at the tip of the left front stay 32. ing. Further, a stud bolt 21E with a flange on the right front support member 21 is also screwed into a female screw (not shown) formed at the tip of the right front stay 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the side flange 33 in the differential device RD is connected to the right front stay 31 with bolts 31A,
31A, the bolt 32 against the left front stay 32
A and 32A respectively.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the front male screw portion of the flanged stud bolt 24E of the left rear support member 24 is screwed into a nut 34B provided on the left side of the rear stay 34. Further, the front male screw portion of the flanged stud bolt 23E of the right rear support member 23 is screwed into a nut 34A provided on the right side of the rear stay 34. Then, bolts 34C, 34C, 34 are provided with respect to the central portion of the rear stay 34.
The differential device RD is fixed by C and 34C.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a small space SP is formed between the differential device RD and the rear frame 12, and this space SP serves as an escape portion when the differential device RD moves. Become. Thus, the differential device RD is supported.

On the other hand, a propeller shaft PS shown by a virtual line in FIGS. 2 to 4 is connected to the differential device RD via a joint member J.
Then, the driving force of the engine EG supported by the front subframe 1 is transmitted to the rear drive shaft RS. Here, the rear support members 23 and 24 are located above the axis PX of the propeller shaft PS.

Next, the operation of the support structure of the differential device according to the present invention will be described. In the differential device according to the present invention, when the vehicle M has a frontal collision, the collision energy is efficiently absorbed.

Now, when a vehicle M equipped with the differential device RD causes a frontal collision, the collision energy E becomes
As shown in FIG. 7A, the power is directly transmitted to the differential device RD via the propeller shaft PS.

When the differential device RD receives the collision energy E, the differential device RD moves rearward (rightward in the drawing) relative to the rear subframe 3 as shown in FIG. At this time, the front of the differential device RD is supported by the front support members 21 and 22, but the outer cylinders 21A and 22A are attached to the front frame 11, and the inner cylinders 21B and 22B are respectively stud bolts 21E with flanges. , 22E (FIG. 4)
), And is attached to a differential device RD via front stays 31, 32 and the like. Therefore, when the differential device RD moves backward, the connecting member 21
C, 22C is broken or deformed and the front support member 21,
22, the inner cylinders 21B and 22B are replaced with the outer cylinders 21A and 22A.
To move backward relative to.

On the other hand, in the rear support members 23 and 24, similarly, the outer cylinders 23A and 24A are attached to the rear frame 12, and the inner cylinders 23B and 24B are flanged stud bolts 23E and 24E (see FIG. 4), and It is attached to a differential device RD via a stay 34 and the like. Therefore, when the differential device RD moves rearward, the connecting members 23C and 24C break or deform, and the inner tubes 23B and 24B move rearward relative to the outer tubes 23A and 24A, respectively.

At the same time, the rear support members 23, 24
Is located above the axis PX of the propeller shaft PS, the differential device RD that receives collision energy from the propeller shaft PS receives a rotational moment in a direction in which the front moves downward (the direction of arrow P).

When the differential device RD moves further rearward, a space SP serving as an escape portion is provided between the differential device RD and the rear frame 12 (FIG. 4).
), The front support member 2
The inner cylinders 21B and 22B in the outer cylinders 21A and 2
Pulled out of 2A. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the front of the differential device RD and the rear end of the propeller shaft PS also fall. As described above, since the rear end portion of the propeller shaft PS falls, even if the propeller shaft PS receives the energy E from the front, the propeller shaft PS thereafter escapes to the lower space.

In particular, the distance between the differential device RD and the rear support members 23, 24 is limited by the distance between the inner cylinders 21B, 22B.
In addition, when the length is longer than the overlap allowance of the outer cylinders 22A and 22B, the differential device RD can sufficiently secure a space SP serving as a relief portion, which is preferable.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a head-on collision occurs, a relief area can be provided to the propeller shaft. Therefore, even when a head-on collision occurs, the collision energy can be efficiently absorbed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of a vehicle having a support structure for a differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support structure of the differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a support structure of the differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a support structure of the differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a front support member in the support structure of the differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rear support member in the support structure of the differential device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation diagram showing the movement of the differential device when a vehicle including the differential device according to the present invention has a frontal collision.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 front subframe 2 transmission mount 3 rear subframe 11 front frame 12 rear frame 13 right frame 14 left frame 21 right front support member (support member) 22 left front support member (support member) 22A outer cylinder 22B inner cylinder 22C connecting member (Elastic body) 22D bracket 22E Stud bolt with flange (mounting member) 23 Right rear support member (Support member) 24 Left rear support member (Support member) 24A Outer cylinder 24B Inner cylinder 24C Connecting material (Elastic body) 24D Bracket 24E Flange Stud bolt (mounting member) 31 Right front stay 32 Left front stay 33 Side flange 34 Rear stay RD Differential device PS Propeller shaft SP Space PX Propeller shaft shaft

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A support structure for a differential device connected to a propeller shaft, wherein the differential device is supported by being fastened from a front-rear direction by a front support member and a rear support member. A cylinder and an inner cylinder, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are connected by an elastic body, and the rear support member is located above an axis of the propeller shaft, and the differential device and the A space is formed between the rear support member and the escape unit when the differential device moves, and when the differential device moves rearward, the elastic body is broken or deformed, and the elastic member breaks or deforms. The inner cylinder moves in the front-rear direction relatively to the outer cylinder, and The inner cylinder kicking is withdrawn from the outer tube, the rear end and the front of the propeller shaft
So that the front of the differential device falls down
The support structure of the differential apparatus characterized by being. 2. The differential device according to claim 1, wherein a space between the differential device and the rear support member is longer than an overlap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the front support member. Support structure.