JP3135542B2 - Automotive suspension equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a suspension device for suspending a steering wheel of an automobile to a vehicle body, and in particular, to two arms for connecting a wheel supporting member to the vehicle body so as to be vertically swingable. And a link member.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle suspension device, a wheel support member for rotatably supporting a steered wheel, and an upper arm and a lower arm for connecting upper and lower portions of the wheel support member to a vehicle body so as to be vertically swingable, respectively. And a strut type in which an upper portion of a wheel supporting member is connected to a vehicle body using struts instead of the upper arm.

By the way, as the upper arm and the lower arm, a so-called A-shaped arm which is an integrally formed product made of a steel plate press is generally used in many cases, but an arm composed of two link members each having one end directly connected to a wheel supporting member is also used. May be done. In particular, JP-A-59-223507 discloses that
In order to make the kingpin offset close to zero or a negative value from the viewpoint of improving the maneuverability, the upper arm is composed of two link members, and the two link members cross each other when viewed planarly from above the vehicle body. It is disclosed to arrange in a state where it is set. The kingpin offset is
It refers to the distance between the kingpin axis and the wheel center axis on the road surface as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Also, if the arm is 2
In the case where the link members are formed, the kingpin axis, which is the steering rotation center axis of the steered wheels, is a straight line passing through the intersection of the axis lines of the two link members or their extension lines.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when the two link members constituting the arm are arranged in a cross state as described above, when the link member swings up and down due to the bump and rebound of the steered wheels, it is difficult to move the arm vertically. In order to prevent the link members from interfering with each other, they must be separated to some extent in the vertical direction, and the degree of freedom in setting the position of the connection point of the link member with the vehicle body or the wheel support member is reduced in the vertical direction. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to appropriately set an arrangement of the two link members in an arm composed of two link members to reduce a kingpin offset. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the vertical position of the connecting point of the link member while freely setting it.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, according to a solution of the present invention, as a vehicle suspension device, a wheel supporting member for rotatably supporting a steered wheel is vertically swingable with respect to a vehicle body. Thus, it is assumed that the wheel support member has an upper arm and a lower arm connecting the upper end and the lower end of the wheel support member to the vehicle body. In this case, the vehicle has a steering tie rod connected to the vehicle body support member to steer the steered wheels, and two link members constituting the upper arm or the lower arm. One end of each of the two link members is independently connected to the wheel support member by a pole joint, and the other end is independently pivotally connected to the vehicle body. At the same time, the two link members are located apart from each other when viewed in plan from above the vehicle body, and the axis extension of one link member intersects at a predetermined position on the axis of the other link member. It is configured to be arranged as follows.

(Operation) With the above configuration, in the present invention, in the two link members constituting the upper arm or the lower arm, the axis extension line of one of the link members intersects the axis of the other link member in a plane, and Since the two link members are respectively connected to the wheel supporting members by ball joints, when the two link members constitute, for example, an upper arm, the intersection of the two link members (intersection point). And the straight line passing through the connection point of the lower arm to the wheel support member becomes the kingpin axis which is the steering rotation center axis of the steered wheels. In other words, the steered wheels rotate around the kingpin axis and are steered by the wheel support member receiving the operating force from the steering tie rod. Then, by changing the position of the intersection between the axis extension line of the one link member and the axis line of the other link member on the other link member, the inclination of the kingpin axis changes. The offset can be set arbitrarily.

Moreover, since the two link members do not overlap each other in plan view, even if the two link members are located on the same plane in the up-down direction, the link members may not move together when swinging up and down. There is no interference, so that the degree of freedom of the vertical position of the connection point of the link member with the vehicle body or the wheel support member can be increased.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a double wishbone type front suspension device for an automobile according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a wheel supporting member for rotatably supporting a front wheel 2, and The member 1 is connected to the vehicle body at the upper end by an upper arm 3 and at the lower end by a lower arm 4 so as to be vertically swingable.

The upper arm 3 is composed of two independent link members 3a and 3b, and both link members 3a and 3b are arranged on the substantially same plane above the front wheel 2. Further, one of the link members 3a, 3b (hereinafter, referred to as a first link member) 3a is disposed so as to extend substantially in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and the other link member (hereinafter, referred to as a second link member). The member 3b extends substantially in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body ahead of the first link member 3a so as not to overlap with the first link member 3a when viewed from above the vehicle body in plan view, and extends axially rearward therefrom. Are arranged so as to intersect with the first link member 3a. One ends of the link members 3a and 3b (the outer end of the first link member 3a and the rear end of the second link member 3b) are rotatably and directly connected to the upper end of the wheel support member 1 by ball joints 5 and 6, respectively. While being connected, the other ends of the two link members 3a, 3b (the inner end of the first link member 3a and the front end of the second link member 3b) are connected to the rubber bush 7,
It is pivotally connected to the vehicle body via 8.

On the other hand, the lower arm 4 is composed of one forked member (so-called A-shaped arm), and its inner end is pivotally attached to the vehicle body via rubber bushes 9, 9 at two front and rear portions, and the outer end is A ball joint 10 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the wheel support member 1.

Further, an arm portion 1a projecting rearward of the vehicle body is formed on the wheel support member 1, and a tie rod 11 of a steering device is connected to a tip of the arm portion 1a. And
By transmitting the steering force from the steering device to the wheel support member 1, the front wheels 2 are steered left and right around the virtual kingpin axis k as steering wheels. Here, the virtual kingpin axis k is defined by the axis L1 of the first link member 3a of the upper arm 3 and the axis extension line L2 of the second link member 3b.
And a connection point P2 between the lower arm 4 and the wheel supporting member 1 (a center point of the ball joint 10).

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the upper arm 3 is constituted by the two link members 3a and 3b, and one of the link members (that is, the first link member).
3a is arranged in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and the other link member (that is, the second link member) 3b is extended in the vehicle longitudinal direction ahead of the first link member 3a and extends axially backward L2.
Are arranged so as to intersect the first link member 3a in a plane, so that the kingpin axis k of the front wheel 2 as a steered wheel is provided.
Passes through the intersection P1 between the first link member 3a (axis L1) and the axial extension L2 of the second link member 3b. Also,
By setting the intersection P1 on the first link member 3a, that is, at a predetermined position in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, the kingpin axis k is inclined at a desired angle, and the kingpin offset δ is set to zero or a negative value from the viewpoint of maneuverability. Can be approached.

Moreover, since the two link members 3a and 3b do not overlap each other in plan view, the two link members 3a and 3b
Even when b bounces up and down with the bump / rebound of the front wheel 2, no member interference occurs. For this reason, both link members 3a and 3b can be arranged on the same plane in the vertical direction as in the embodiment, and the vehicle body side connection points (rubber bushings 7 and 8) of the link members 3a and 3b and the wheel support member side connection The degree of freedom of the vertical position of the point (ball joints 5, 6) can be increased.

4 and 5 show a suspension device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the second embodiment, the two link members 3a, 3b constituting the upper arm 3 are arranged in a slightly different state in the vertical direction at a position near the upper side of the rotation center of the front wheel 2, which is the steering wheel. The first link member 3a is arranged in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, while the second link member 3b is arranged in a first
At a position on the front side of the first link member 3b so as not to overlap with the first link member 3b, the first link member 3b is arranged so as to extend inclining inward toward the front vehicle body, and a shaft extension line behind the first link member 3b intersects the first link member 3a. ing.

6 and 7 show a suspension device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the third embodiment, the lower arm 4 is composed of two link members 4a, 4b each having one end connected to a wheel support member, and both link members 4a, 4b are viewed from above the vehicle body in a plan view. They are located slightly apart from each other and are arranged such that the axis extension of one link member 4a intersects the other link member 4b. 8 and 9 show a suspension device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the fourth embodiment, the lower arm 4 is constituted by two link members 4a and 4b as in the case of the third embodiment, but the link members 4a and 4b are slightly stepped in the vertical direction. The point of arrangement is different.

In any of the second, third, and fourth embodiments, similarly to the first embodiment, the inclination angle of the kingpin shaft or the kingpin offset can be appropriately set, and the link member 3a can be set. , 3b or 4a, 4b of the vehicle body and the wheel support member side can be increased in the degree of freedom of the vertical position.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the vehicle suspension device of the present invention, one of the two link members constituting the upper arm or the lower arm is not overlapped with each other when viewed from above the vehicle body. By arranging the axis extension line of the member in a positional relationship intersecting with the axis line of the other link member and connecting the respective wheel support members to each other by a pole joint, it is possible to secure the appropriate setting of the kingpin offset while maintaining the appropriate setting of the kingpin offset. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the vertical position of the connection point of the link member with respect to the wheel support member, which is very advantageous for practical implementation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a rear view of an automobile suspension device, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views taken along lines AA and BB, respectively. It is. 4th
FIGS. 5 and 5 show the second embodiment, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the suspension device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the same. FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, showing the third embodiment. FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wheel support member, 2 ... Front wheel (steering wheel), 3 ... Upper arm, 3a, 3b ... Link member, 4 ... Lower arm, 4a, 4b ... Link member, 5, 6, 10 ... Ball Joint, L1 ... axis, L2 ... axis extension, P1 ... intersection (point of intersection).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60G 3/18-3/28

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An automobile having an upper arm and a lower arm connecting upper ends and lower ends of the wheel supporting members to the vehicle body so that the wheel supporting members rotatably supporting the steered wheels can vertically swing with respect to the vehicle body. The suspension device, comprising: a steering tie rod connected to the vehicle body support member to steer the steered wheels; and two link members constituting the upper arm or the lower arm, and each of the two link members has one end thereof. Each is independently connected to the wheel support member by a pole joint, and the other end is independently pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and is positioned apart from each other when viewed from above the vehicle body in plan view, and
A suspension apparatus for an automobile, wherein a shaft extension of one link member is arranged to intersect at a predetermined position on an axis of the other link member.