JP3520028B2 - Suspension link - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension link, and more particularly to a suspension link having a torque arm for attaching a torsion bar.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A suspension bar for a vehicle is a torsion bar as a suspension spring.
Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, both base ends are supported on one side of a substantially U-shaped link a supported by a spindle b so as to be vertically swingable, and a serration hole is formed at the tip. A torque arm c having d is fastened with a bolt so that the center line of the serration hole d is the spindle b.
The serration hole d is configured so as to closely face one end of the spindle b in a state in which it coincides with the extension of the center line of the spindle b, and the serration shaft f ′ of one end of the torsion bar f is fitted into the serration hole d. Although not shown, the serration shaft portion at the other end of the torsion bar f is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the torsion bar f is twisted as the link a vertically swings. A link a is spring-supported is generally used.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral g denotes a bush which is interposed in a shaft-attaching portion of the link a to the spindle b.

[0004]

In the suspension of the type illustrated in FIG. 5, the plate e is conventionally fixed by welding to the end of the torque arm c on the spindle end side of the serration hole d. Since the plate e has a structure in which the engaging portion at the end of the serration shaft portion f'which is fitted into the serration hole portion d is formed, the welding work of the plate e to the end of the serration hole portion d is quite troublesome and troublesome. However, there is a problem that it is one of the causes of hindering cost reduction.

Further, since the serration hole d is closed by the plate e, there is a problem that the spindle b cannot be assembled to the link a when the torque arm c is fixed to the link a. is doing.

The present invention is intended to solve the above conventional problems.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a substantially U-shaped link as described above, a spindle for swingably supporting both base ends of the link, and a serration hole at the tip. Then, the serration hole is composed of a torque arm attached and fixed to one side of the link so as to closely face one end of the spindle, and one serration shaft of the torsion bar is fitted into the serration hole. In a suspension link of a type in which the other serration shaft portion of the torsion bar is attached to a member on the vehicle body side, for example, a pressing jig including a groove forming punch and a pressing punch is used to make a circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole of the torque arm. A protrusion is formed by the bulge of the excess thickness of the peripheral edge of the concave groove generated by pressing and forming the groove along the serration hole portion. Serration shaft portion end of the fitting interpolated torsion bar is characterized in that it has a structure to be locked.

As described above, since the end of the serration shaft portion is locked by the protrusion formed along the inner circumferential surface of the serration hole portion of the torque arm, the end surface portion of the conventional serration hole portion is locked. Since welding work for fixing the plate to the plate is not necessary at all, the work to form the protrusion in the serration hole is greatly simplified, which not only reduces the cost but also closes the serration hole. Since there is no torque arm, the entire assembly can be performed with the torque arm attached and fixed to the link, and the assembling work can be facilitated and the efficiency can be improved.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a substantially U-shaped link, and a spindle 2 and a bush 3 are attached to mounting cylinder portions 11 and 11 at both base ends of the link 1. The link 1 is attached to the spindle 2
Is supported so that it can swing up and down. Reference numeral 2a is a mounting hole for a vehicle body side member (not shown).

The bush 3 is composed of an inner cylinder 31, an outer cylinder 32 with a flange, and an elastic body 33 such as a rubber material fixedly interposed between the inner cylinder 31 and the outer cylinder 32. Tube 1
1 is press-fitted into the inner cylinder 31, and the spindle 2 is fitted into the inner cylinder 31 and fixed by tightening nuts.
The structure is such that the spindle 2 is rotatably supported via 3, and the structure of the bush 3 and the elastic support structure of the link 1 by the bush 3 are the same as those conventionally known.

Reference numeral 4 is a torque arm having a serration hole 41 at its tip, and a mounting base 42 of the torque arm 4 is provided.
Is fixed to a mounting boss 12 formed on one side of the link 1 by tightening bolts. In this manner, when the torque arm 4 is attached to one side of the link 1 by the bolt, the center line of the serration hole 41 is the spindle 2
It is configured such that the serration hole portion 41 closely faces one end portion of the spindle 2 in a state in which the serration hole portion 41 coincides with the extension of the center line.

The serration hole 4 of the torque arm 4
As will be described later, a protrusion 41a along the circumferential direction is bulged on the inner peripheral surface of 1, and the serration shaft portion 51 at one end of the torsion bar 5 is fitted into the serration hole 41. The end of the serration shaft 51, into which the protrusion 41a is fitted, is locked.

An example of assembling the suspension link configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, the mounting base portion 42 of the torque arm 4 is fixed to the mounting boss portion 12 of the link 1 by tightening bolts. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the bush 3 is fitted and inserted into the cylinder portion 11 on the side where the torque arm 4 is attached from the opposite side of the torque arm 4, and the spindle 2 is inserted from the outside of the cylinder portion 11 on the opposite side. Then, the tip end side of the spindle 2 is fitted and inserted into the inner cylinder 31 of the bush 3, and the washer 6 is fitted to the threaded portion 21 at the tip penetrating the inner cylinder 31 and tightened and fixed by the nut 7. In this case, the washer 6 is fitted and the nut 7 is screwed and tightened through the serration hole 41 of the torque arm 4. Therefore, it is needless to say that the diameter of the serration hole portion 41 must be large enough for at least the washer 6 and the nut 7 to pass through and a tool for tightening the nut 7 to be inserted therethrough.

Next, the other bush 3 is press-fitted to the end of the cylinder portion 11 and the spindle 2 on the side opposite to the above, and the washer 6 is fitted to the thread portion 21 of the end of the spindle 2 and the nut 7 is screwed and fixed. To do.

The serration shaft portion 51 at one end of the torsion bar 5 is connected to the serration hole portion 4 of the torque arm 4.
Although not shown, the serration shaft portion at the other end of the torsion bar 5 is fixed to the vehicle body side member in the rotational direction by means of serration fitting or the like, and the suspension link is assembled. Is completed. In the above, the serration shaft portion 51 in the serration hole portion 41
The locking of the end is performed by a circumferential protrusion 41 a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole 41.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a method of forming the protrusion 41a on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole 41 of the torque arm 4.

That is, the projection 41a is formed, for example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. Pressing jig 8
Has an annular groove forming die portion 81a at the outer peripheral tip portion, has an inner peripheral surface having a tapered inner surface 81b of a tapered shape, and has a plurality of slits 81c so that the tip portion can be expanded and deformed to some extent. And a pressing punch 82 having a tapered shaft portion 82a of a tapered end which is slidably fitted in the tapered inner surface 81b of the recess groove forming punch 81.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the tip of the groove forming punch 81 is inserted into the serration hole 41 in a natural state in which the diameter of the tip is not expanded. . In this case, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the spacer 9 for positioning the concave groove to be formed is provided between the flange portion 81d of the concave groove forming punch 81 and the end surface portion of the serration hole 41. The serration hole 41
The position of the groove forming mold part 81a in the inside can be made constant at all times.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the groove forming punch 8 is formed.
1 is inserted into the serration hole 41, the pressing punch 82 is pushed down, and the taper shaft portion 82a presses the tapered inner surface 81b to expand the diameter of the tip of the groove forming punch 82. The forming die 81a strongly presses the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole 41, and the concave grooves 41b are intermittently formed along the circumferential direction. The surplus amount generated by the pressing formation of the groove 41b rises on the peripheral edge of the groove 41b. Among the surpluses raised on both peripheral portions of the groove 41b, the protrusion 41a serving as a locking portion at the end of the serration shaft portion 51 is circumferentially formed due to the surplus protrusion on the peripheral portion on the insertion side of the serration shaft portion 51. Formed intermittently along.

The raised shape of the excess thickness produced by the pressing formation of the groove 41b varies depending on the sectional shape of the groove forming die 81a. That is, as in the illustrated embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the concave groove forming die portion 81a is a U-shape or V shape in which the cross section is substantially symmetrical.
When the concave groove 41b is pressed, the surplus bulges substantially evenly to the left and right, and as shown in FIG. 3D, the bulge portion having substantially the same size is formed on both peripheral portions of the concave groove 41b. However, if one side is nearly vertical and the other side is gently curved or slightly slanted and has an asymmetrical U-shaped or V-shaped (wedge-shaped) cross-sectional shape, the extra thickness is gently curved or inclined. More excitement on the side. Therefore, by selecting the cross-sectional shape of the groove forming mold 81a,
By increasing the height of the protrusion 41a, that is, the swelling of the excess thickness of the peripheral edge of the recessed groove 41b on the serration shaft insertion side,
It is possible to easily improve the locking function of the end of the serration shaft portion 51.

As described above, by pressing the groove 41b along the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole 41 by the pressing jig 8, the protrusion 41a serving as the locking portion of the serration shaft 51 can be easily formed. Since it can be easily formed,
Compared to the conventional structure in which the plate for locking the serration shaft portion is fixed to the serration hole by welding, welding work is unnecessary and the work is greatly simplified as a whole, and the cost is reduced. Not only is this possible, but since the serration hole 41 is not blocked, the entire assembly can be done with the torque arm 4 fixedly attached to the link 1, and the assembly work can be facilitated and made more efficient. It is possible.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the serration hole 4 of the torque arm 4 is shown.
By making the diameter of 1 larger than the flange diameter of the flanged outer cylinder 32 of the bush 3, even when the bush 3 is inserted into the cylinder portion 11 on the side where the torque arm 4 is mounted, the serration hole portion 41 of the torque arm 4 is inserted. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 represent the same portions as those of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the projection 41a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole 41 of the torque arm 4 is also formed as illustrated in FIG. 3, and the groove forming die 81a is formed. By changing the cross-sectional shape, the rising shape of the excess thickness due to the pressure formation of the groove portion 41b is changed,
The point that the height of the protrusion 41a can be made higher is also the same as in the case of the first embodiment.

In the above first and second embodiments,
The formation of the protruding portion 41a on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole portion 41 of the torque arm 4 is performed in a single state of the torque arm as a component, but in some cases, after the torque arm 4 is attached to the link 1, It is also possible to form the protrusion 41a using the pressing jig 8.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the welding work conventionally required for fixing the plate to the serration hole portion of the torque arm is completely eliminated, and the locking portion is formed in the serration hole portion. Not only can work be greatly simplified and cost can be reduced significantly, but the entire suspension link can be assembled with the torque arm attached and fixed to the link, making the assembly work easier and more efficient. It is possible to bring about a great effect in practical use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view showing a cross section of a main part.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an assembled state of the suspension link shown in FIG. 1, showing a main part in a cross section.

3 (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams sequentially showing a method of forming a protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole of the torque arm, and FIG. 3 (D) is an enlarged view of portion D of (C). It is a figure.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention and showing a main portion in section.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional structure and showing a main part in cross section.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 link 2 spindles 3 bush 4 torque arm 41 Serration hole 41a protrusion 41b groove 42 Mounting base 5 torsion bar 51 Serration shaft 6 washers 7 nuts 8 Pressing jig 81 Groove forming punch 81a Groove forming mold 81b taper inner surface 81c slit 81d flange 82 Press punch 82a Tapered shaft portion 9 spacers

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A substantially U-shaped link, a spindle that is inserted into the cylindrical portions at both base ends of the link via bushes to support the link so that the link can swing, and is attached to one side portion of the link. It is composed of a torque arm having a serration hole portion which is fixed and has a serration hole portion which is closely opposed to one end portion of the spindle, and one serration shaft portion of the torsion bar is fitted into the serration hole portion of the torque arm. In a suspension link of a type in which the other serration shaft portion is attached to a vehicle body side member, a protrusion along the circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole of the torque arm, and the protrusion is fitted into the serration hole. The configuration is such that the serration shaft end of the generated torsion bar is locked , and the protruding portion is
A circumferential groove is pressed on the inner surface of the serration hole.
By doing so, the swelling of excess thickness generated at the periphery of the groove
Of which, the excess thickness of the peripheral edge of the groove on the insertion side of the torsion bar
Suspension link characterized by being raised . 2. The pressing jig according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing jig has a substantially cylindrical shape having a U-shaped or V-shaped concave groove forming die portion projectingly formed on the outer peripheral tip portion. And a concave groove forming punch having a plurality of slits so that it can be expanded and deformed, and the tip portion of the concave groove forming punch is expanded and deformed by being fitted in the concave groove forming punch and sliding in the axial direction. It is composed of a pressing punch configured as described above.The tip of the groove forming punch is inserted into the serration hole of the torque arm and the tip of the groove forming punch is expanded by sliding the pressing punch in the axial direction. By deforming, the concave groove forming die portion presses the inner peripheral surface of the serration hole to form a concave groove, and a surplus portion is formed on the peripheral edge of the concave groove. Suspension link 3. The cross-sectional shape of the groove forming die of the groove forming punch of the pressing jig according to claim 2 is such that the bulge of the excess thickness of the peripheral edge of the groove formed on the side where the torsion bar is inserted is formed. A suspension link characterized in that it is formed in a shape such that it rises more than the build-up of extra thickness that occurs on the peripheral edge of the groove opposite to the above.