JP4701559B2 - Shock absorber upper end mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shock absorber of a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to an attachment structure for attaching an upper end of a shock absorber to a vehicle body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A shock absorber that suppresses vibrations of a vehicle body in a vehicle such as an automobile generally extends substantially in the vertical direction, and is connected to a suspension member such as a suspension arm or a wheel support member at a lower end, and has an upper end. It is attached to the vehicle body via a bracket.
The shock absorber load due to the damping force generated when the wheel bounces or rebounds is transmitted to the vehicle body by the upper end of the shock absorber. Therefore, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-19072, the upper end of the shock absorber is attached to a mounting surface portion of a vehicle body such as an upper wall of the wheel house via a bracket and a rubber bushing device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional mounting structure at the upper end of the shock absorber, the mounting surface portion of the vehicle body to which the bracket for supporting the upper end of the shock absorber is mounted extends substantially horizontally, and the axis of the shock absorber is orthogonal to the mounting surface portion. Therefore, the shock absorber load due to damping force etc. acts substantially perpendicularly on the mounting surface of the vehicle body via the bracket, so that the mounting surface is easily deformed due to the load of the shock absorber, and the shock absorber upper end is mounted. It is difficult to sufficiently improve the rigidity.
[0004]
Further, in the conventional general mounting structure, if the vehicle mounting surface part is reinforced strongly in order to effectively reduce the deformation of the vehicle mounting surface part due to the shock absorber load, the vehicle body weight increases or the vehicle manufacture There is a problem that the cost is increased, and there is a problem that the mounting rigidity of the upper end of the shock absorber cannot be effectively improved sufficiently by reinforcing the mounting surface portion.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional mounting structure at the upper end of the shock absorber, and the main object of the present invention is to determine the direction of the load of the shock absorber and the direction of the mounting surface portion of the vehicle body. By approaching as much as possible, the mounting rigidity of the upper end of the shock absorber is improved without causing an increase in the weight of the vehicle body or the vehicle manufacturing cost.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the main problem described above is the structure according to claim 1, that is, the upper end mounting structure of the shock absorber connected to the suspension member at the lower end, and the support portion for supporting the upper end of the shock absorber; A bracket provided integrally with the support and connected and fixed to the vehicle body, and the connection portion is connected and fixed to a vertical wall portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The pivot center of the shock absorber accompanying the bounce and rebound of the wheel is located on the axis of the shock absorber, and the axis of the shock absorber is defined by the vertical wall portion at the pivot center. This is achieved by the shock absorber upper end mounting structure characterized by intersecting the surface to be defined.
[0008]
According to the invention, to the aspect of the effective, in the structure of the claim 1, wherein the vertical wall is configured as a side wall of the wheel house (claim 2 Configuration).
[0009]
[Action and effect of the invention]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the bracket for attaching the upper end of the shock absorber connected to the suspension member at the lower end is integrally connected to the support portion for supporting the upper end of the shock absorber and the support portion. And the connecting portion is configured to be connected and fixed to the vertical wall portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, so that the shock absorber caused by the damping force or the like Most of the load acts along the vertical wall, and the stress acting perpendicularly to the vertical wall is small. Therefore, the deformation of the vertical wall due to the load of the shock absorber is reliably and effectively reduced. The mounting rigidity of the upper end of the absorber can be reliably and effectively improved.
[0010]
Further, according to the configuration of the first aspect, since the stress acting perpendicularly to the vertical wall portion is small as described above, it is compared with the conventional general mounting structure in which the axis of the shock absorber is orthogonal to the mounting surface portion of the vehicle body. Thus, the vertical wall portion as the mounting surface portion may be lightly reinforced, and therefore the increase in the vehicle weight and the vehicle manufacturing cost accompanying the reinforcement of the mounting surface portion can be reduced.
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the present invention , the pivot center of the shock absorber accompanying the bounce and rebound of the wheel is located on the axis of the shock absorber, and the axis of the shock absorber is defined by the vertical wall portion at the pivot center. It intersects the constant the surface to which the pivot center of the shock absorber is located in the plane which is KakuJo by the vertical wall portion. Therefore , compared with the case where the pivot center of the shock absorber is located outside the plane defined by the vertical wall portion, the shock absorber load can be efficiently transmitted to the vertical wall portion. The bending stress and moment acting on the portion can be reduced to further reduce the deformation and improve the durability.
[0012]
Further, according to the configuration of the second aspect , since the vertical wall portion is a side wall portion of the wheel house, the upper end of the shock absorber is attached to the vehicle body by effectively using the side wall portion of the wheel house without adding a new vehicle body member. The mounting rigidity can be improved.
[0013]
[Preferred embodiment of the problem solving means]
According to one preferable aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the above-mentioned claim 1 or 2 , the reinforcement is fixed to the vertical wall portion of the vehicle body, and the connecting portion of the bracket is fixedly connected to the vertical wall portion and the reinforcement of the vehicle body. (Preferred embodiment 1).
[0014]
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of claim 1 or 2 , the inclination angle of the axis of the shock absorber with respect to the vertical wall portion of the vehicle body is seen when the wheel is in the neutral position. It is comprised so that a magnitude | size may be 15 degrees or less (the preferable aspect 2).
[0015]
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of the preferred embodiment 1, the vertical wall portion and the reinforcement of the vehicle body cooperate with each other to define a recess for receiving the upper end portion of the shock absorber. (Preferred embodiment 3).
[0016]
According to another preferable aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the preferable aspect 1, the vertical wall portion and the reinforcement of the vehicle body are configured to be coupled to the side member (Preferable aspect 4).
[0017]
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of the preferred embodiment 3, the vertical wall portion of the vehicle body has a notch at a position corresponding to the upper end portion of the shock absorber, and the reinforce has the notch. It is fixed to the vertical wall portion of the vehicle body at the periphery, and is configured to define a recess that receives the upper end portion of the shock absorber in cooperation with the notch (preferred aspect 5).
[0018]
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of the preferred embodiment 5, the reinforcement is configured to close the notch of the vertical wall portion on the inboard side of the shock absorber (preferred embodiment 6). ).
[0019]
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, in the structure of claim 1 , the connecting portion of the bracket is connected and fixed to the vertical wall portion of the vehicle body at a position above and below the pivot center of the shock absorber. (Preferred embodiment 7).
[0020]
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, in the structure of claim 1 or 2 , the support portion of the bracket is configured to define an upper spring seat that supports the upper end of the suspension spring. Aspect 8).
[0021]
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the preferred aspect 4 described above, the side member has a reinforcing part, and the connecting part of the bracket is the vertical wall part of the vehicle body, the reinforcement and the reinforcing part of the side member. (Preferred aspect 9).
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a shock absorber upper end mounting structure according to the present invention as viewed from above the vehicle's outboard side, and FIG. 2 shows the mounting structure shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mounting structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 extends in the vehicle lateral direction through the axis of the shock absorber. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the reinforcement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bracket shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a connecting portion of the mounting structure shown in FIG. In these drawings, hatching indicating a cut surface of the plate-like member is omitted for the purpose of simplifying the drawing.
[0024]
In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a wheel house that covers a wheel not shown in the figure, and the wheel house 10 is substantially semicircular extending substantially in the vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The vertical wall portion (side wall portion) 10A and a semi-cylindrical portion 10B integrated with the vertical wall portion, and the vertical wall portion 10A and the semi-cylindrical portion 10B are smoothly connected to each other. A side member 12 having a U-shaped cross-sectional shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and opened in the outboard direction is integrally joined to the inboard side of the lower edge portion of the vertical wall portion 10A by welding.
[0025]
A U-shaped notch 14 that opens downward is formed at the center of the vertical wall portion 10A, and the notch 14 is closed by a reinforce 16 having a semi-bell shape. The reinforcement 16 has a flange portion 16A on the periphery, and the flange portion is welded to the periphery of the notch 14 in a surface contact state, so that the flange 16 bulges in the inboard direction on the outer surface of the vertical wall portion 10A. It is fixed. Four bolt insertion holes 16B are provided in the flange portion 16A. The side member 12 is provided with a recess 12 </ b> A for receiving the reinforcement 16, and is welded to the reinforcement 16 at the recess and on both sides thereof.
[0026]
A bracket 20 that supports the upper end of the shock absorber 18 is disposed in an upper portion of the reinforcement 16. The bracket 20 has a substantially bell-shaped main body 22, a dish-shaped lower retainer 24 that is integrally connected to the upper end of the main body 22 and opens upward, and two connecting members 26 and 28 fixed to the side surface of the main body 22. The lower end of the main body 22 defines an upper spring seat 32 that supports the upper end of the suspension spring 30.
[0027]
The connecting members 26 and 28 are spaced from each other in the radial direction with respect to the main body 22, and the connecting member 26 is substantially E-shaped and includes three reinforcing ribs 26A to 26C and a flange portion 26D that integrally connects these reinforcing ribs. The connecting member 28 has a substantially E-shaped cross-sectional shape including three reinforcing ribs 28A to 28C and a flange portion 28D that integrally connects these reinforcing ribs. The flange portions 26D and 28D define substantially the same plane so as to come into surface contact with the vertical wall portion 10A, and the plane defined by these flange portions is inclined at an angle θ with respect to the axis 34 of the main body 22. . The flange portions 26D and 28D are each provided with two bolt insertion holes 36 and 38 that are aligned with the bolt insertion holes 16B provided in the flange portion 16A of the reinforcement 16.
[0028]
Note that the angle θ is preferably as small as possible. The angle when the wheel not shown in the drawing is in the neutral position with the inclination direction of the axis 34 of the bracket 20 with respect to the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10 being positive. θ is −15 ° to 15 °, preferably −13 ° to 13 °.
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shock absorber 18 includes a cylinder 40 and a piston (not shown) that is reciprocally fitted to the cylinder along an axis 42 of the cylinder. The rod portion 44 of the piston is disposed so as to extend upward. When the wheel not shown in the drawing is in the neutral position, the axis line 42 is aligned with the axis line 34 of the bracket 20, and therefore the angle φ formed by the axis line 42 with respect to the vertical wall portion 10A is the same as the angle θ.
[0030]
The shock absorber 18 is disposed in the wheel house 10 so as to extend substantially vertically in the vicinity of the vertical wall portion 10A, and the vertical wall of the wheel house 10 is attached to the upper end of the rod portion 44 by the mounting structure of the present invention. It is attached to the portion 10A and is connected to a suspension member such as a wheel support member or a suspension arm not shown in the drawing at the lower end.
[0031]
Holes are provided in the upper end of the main body 22 of the bracket 20 and the center of the lower retainer 24, and a cylindrical collar 46 extending along the axis 34 is fitted in these holes, and the rod portion 44 of the shock absorber 18 is The collar 46 is fitted. The rod portion 44 has a diameter-enlarged portion 44A, and a lower retainer 48 having a dish shape that opens substantially downwardly contacts the upper surface of the diameter-enlarged portion 44A. A rubber bush 50 is disposed between the upper end portion of the main body 22 of the bracket 20 functioning as an applicator and the lower retainer 48, and the upper end portion of the main body 22, the lower retainer 48, and the rubber bush 50 of the bracket 20 cooperate with each other to lower. A rubber bushing device 52 is defined.
[0032]
Above the lower retainer 24, an upper end of the rod portion 44 is fitted with a plate-shaped applicator 54 that opens substantially upward, and abuts against the upper end of the collar 46. The lower end of the collar 46 is in contact with the upper surface of the lower retainer 48, and is held between the upper retainer 54 and the lower retainer 48 by a nut 56 that is screwed into the upper end of the rod portion 44. A rubber bushing 58 is disposed between the upper retainer 54 and the lower retainer 24, and the upper retainer 54, the lower retainer 24, and the rubber bushing 58 cooperate with each other to define the upper rubber bushing device 60.
[0033]
Reference numeral 62 denotes a bound stopper fixed to the lower surface of the lower retainer 48 and fitted to the rod portion 44. A dust boot 64 extending downward along the shock absorber 18 is fixed near the lower end of the bound stopper. Yes. Reference numeral 66 denotes a cap member which is attached to the outer edge portion of the applicator 54 and covers the upper end of the rod portion 44. However, the cap member 66 may be omitted.
[0034]
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the upper rubber bush device 60 and the lower rubber bush device 52 is a virtual plane which is KakuJo by the junction surface of the upper end of the lower retainer 2 4 and the bracket 20 in cooperation with each other 68 And the axis 42 of the shock absorber 18 define a pivot center of the shock absorber. The intersection P is a vertical wall portion 10A as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10. It is located on the plane defined by
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 3, the side member 12 has an upper wall 12A, a side wall 12B, and a lower wall 12C. A flange portion 12D extending in the vertical direction is integrally formed on the outer edge of the upper wall 12A. A flange portion 12E extending in the vertical direction is integrally formed on the outer edge of the lower wall 12C. The flange portions 12D and 12E are welded to the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10, and the flange portion 12D is increased in height at a position corresponding to the reinforcement 16 so as to function as a reinforcing portion. The insides of the corners of the upper wall 12A, the lower wall 12C, and the side wall 12B are reinforced by reinforcements 70 and 72, respectively. A reinforcement 74 is welded to the upper wall 12A and the flange portion 12D.
[0036]
As shown in detail in FIG. 7, the reinforcement 74 is provided with four bolt insertion holes aligned with the four bolt insertion holes 16B, and the reinforcing portion of the flange portion 12D has two bolt insertion holes 16B. Two matching bolt insertion holes are provided. Bolts 76 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes of the respective members from the outboard side, and the connecting members 26 and 28 of the bracket 20, the vertical wall portion 10 </ b> A of the wheel house 10, and the side members 12 by nuts 78 screwed into the tips of the bolts 76. The flange portion 12D and the reinforcement 74 are integrally connected to each other.
[0037]
Thus, according to the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 18 for attaching the upper end of the shock absorber 18 to the vehicle body includes a main body 22 as a support portion for supporting the upper end of the shock absorber, and two integrally fixed to the main body. Since the connecting portions 26 and 28 are connected and fixed to the vertical wall portion 10 </ b> A extending in the vertical direction of the wheel house 10, the load transmitted from the shock absorber 18 to the vehicle body is large. The portion acts along the vertical wall portion 10A, and the stress acting perpendicularly to the vertical wall portion is small, thereby reliably and effectively reducing the deformation of the vertical wall portion 10A due to the load of the shock absorber. The mounting rigidity of the upper end of the absorber can be reliably and effectively improved.
[0038]
Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, if the load acting on the vehicle body along the axis 42 from the upper end of the shock absorber 18 due to damping force or the like is F, the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10 and the axis 42 Is a small value, the stress Fsinφ acting perpendicularly to the vertical wall portion 10A than the shock absorber 18 is also a small value, so that the axis of the shock absorber is perpendicular to the mounting surface portion of the vehicle body. Compared to the case of the mounting structure, it is not necessary to reinforce the vertical wall portion 10A as the mounting surface portion, and it is possible to reliably reduce the increase in vehicle weight and vehicle manufacturing cost due to the reinforcement of the mounting surface portion. .
[0039]
In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the pivot center P of the shock absorber 18 accompanying the bounce and rebound of the wheel not shown in the drawing is seen in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10. Since the pivot wall of the shock absorber is located on a plane defined by the vertical wall portion 10A, the load of the shock absorber is efficiently increased as compared with the case where the pivot center of the shock absorber is located outside the plane of the vertical wall portion. This can be transmitted to 10A, whereby the bending stress and moment acting on the vertical wall portion can be reduced, and the deformation can be more reliably reduced and the durability can be improved.
[0040]
Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, the vertical wall portion 10A to which the upper end of the shock absorber 18 is attached is a side wall portion of the wheel house 10, so that the wheel house 10 is not added without adding a new vehicle body member extending in the vertical direction. The upper end of the shock absorber 18 can be attached to the vehicle body by effectively utilizing the side wall portion of this, and the attachment rigidity can be reliably improved.
[0041]
Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcement 16 has a function of closing the notch 14 provided in the wheel house 10 in addition to a function of reinforcing the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10 to which the bracket 20 is attached. Therefore, the upper end mounting structure of the shock absorber can be simplified as compared with a structure in which these functions are achieved by separate members.
[0042]
Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, the connecting members 26 and 28 of the bracket 20 are connected to the flange portion 12D of the side member 12 and the reinforcement 74 connected thereto in addition to the vertical wall portion 10A and the reinforcement 16 of the wheel house 10. However, since the connecting members 26 and 28 of the bracket 20 are connected and fixed to the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10 or the reinforcement 16, the mounting rigidity of the upper end of the shock absorber 18 is fixed. Can be reliably and effectively improved.
[0043]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0044]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the notch 14 is formed in the wheel house 10 and the notch is closed by the reinforcement 16, but the vertical wall portion 10 </ b> A of the wheel house 10 has the same shape as the reinforcement 16. The upper end portion of the shock absorber 18 may be disposed in the concave portion, and the connecting members 26 and 28 of the bracket 20 may be fixed to the vertical wall portion 10A around the concave portion.
[0045]
Further, according to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the vertical wall portion 10A is a flat plate-like, but the surface to be KakuJo by the vertical wall portion 10A is a plane, the vertical wall portion is KakuJo by curved longitudinal wall portion The surface may be a curved surface.
[0046]
In the above-described embodiment, the upper end of the bracket 20 functions as an upper part of the lower rubber bushing device 52, and the lower end of the bracket 20 functions as an upper spring seat 32 that supports the upper end of the suspension spring 30. However, the upper part of the lower rubber bushing device 50 and the upper spring seat 32 may be separate members.
[0047]
In the above-described embodiment, the flange portion 12D and the reinforcement 74 that function as the reinforcing portion of the side member 12 are provided, and the connecting portions 26 and 28 of the bracket 20 are also fixed to the flange portion 12D and the reinforcement 74. However, at least one of the reinforcing portion of the side member 12 and the reinforcement 74 may be omitted.
[0048]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the bolt 76 and the nut 78 that connect and fix the connecting portions 26 and 28 of the bracket 20 to the vertical wall portion 10A of the wheel house 10 are located below the pivot center P of the shock absorber 18. However, the bolt 76 and the nut 78 may be arranged at positions above and below the pivot center P of the shock absorber 18 so that the mounting rigidity of the upper end of the shock absorber can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a shock absorber upper end mounting structure according to the present invention as seen from above on the outboard side of a vehicle.
2 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above the inboard side of the vehicle. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mounting structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mounting structure by cutting along a cut surface extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle passing through the axis of the shock absorber.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the reinforcement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bracket shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a connecting portion of the mounting structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Wheel house 10A ... Vertical wall part 12 ... Side member 14 ... Notch 16 ... Reinforce 18 ... Shock absorber 20 ... Bracket 22 ... Main body 26, 28 ... Connecting member 52 ... Lower rubber bush apparatus 60 ... Upper rubber bush apparatus 74 ... Reinforce

Claims (2)

An upper end mounting structure of the shock absorber connected to the suspension member at the lower end, and a support portion that supports the upper end of the shock absorber and a connecting portion that is integrally connected to the support portion and connected and fixed to the vehicle body. A bracket, and the connecting portion is configured to be connected and fixed to a vertical wall portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the pivot center of the shock absorber accompanying the bounce and rebound of the wheel is An upper end mounting structure for a shock absorber, which is located on an axis of the shock absorber, and the axis of the shock absorber intersects a plane defined by the vertical wall portion at the pivot center . The shock absorber upper end mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical wall portion is a side wall portion of a wheel house.

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