JP4701576B2 - Vehicle suspension system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension apparatus, and more particularly, to a vehicle suspension apparatus in which a lower arm that supports a suspension spring and extends in the vehicle width direction is attached to the other end of a control link having one end coupled to one end of a stabilizer.
[0002]
As is well known, the control link used in the suspension device of the type described above connects the coupling portion coupled to one end of the stabilizer, the mounting portion attached to the lower arm, and the coupling portion and the coupling portion. The connecting portion and the mounting portion are provided with so-called universal joints to absorb various displacements that occur between the stabilizer and the lower arm during vehicle travel.
[0003]
As such a universal joint, a so-called ball joint in which a ball body is rotatably accommodated in a case, and a so-called elastic bush that absorbs displacement by the action of an elastic body such as a rubber are generally well known. ing.
The above ball joint can cope with an extremely wide angle displacement and has a very high displacement absorption function, so when it is attached to the end of the connecting rod of the control link, its allowable bending angle can be set large, and its displacement absorption function is greatly improved. Can be increased.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the case of the elastic bush, since only the displacement within the elastic range of the elastic body can be absorbed, its displacement absorbing function is limited, but it is inexpensive and thus is commonly used for various applications.
Therefore, in order to improve the suspension characteristics by improving the displacement absorbing function for absorbing various displacements generated between the stabilizer and the lower arm during the traveling of the vehicle, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-108626, It is preferable to provide the ball joints at both ends of the connecting rod, that is, both the connecting portion to the stabilizer and the attaching portion to the lower arm.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a mechanism having a particularly high displacement absorbing function is not necessarily required for all vehicles, and it is often sufficient to provide a function of a certain level or more depending on the use of the vehicle or the vehicle type. In such a case, at least one end of the connecting rod of the control link (especially, the attachment part to the lower arm) can meet the required specifications even if an inexpensive elastic bushing is used instead of an expensive ball joint. And sufficient displacement absorption characteristics and suspension characteristics can be obtained.
[0006]
However, in this case, it is necessary to devise a layout and a mounting structure according to the characteristics in order to suppress the cost and to fully exhibit the function of the elastic bush.
In addition, the area around the lower arm where the control link is built is inherently narrow and lacks space, so various parts that should be assembled, including the control link and stabilizer, are made smaller and shorter as much as possible, and space efficiency is further improved. It is required to realize a compact layout.
[0007]
In view of this, the present invention applies an elastic bushing to at least the lower link mounting portion of the control link, and in this case, it is possible to reduce the size and size of parts such as the control link and the stabilizer, and to achieve a compact layout of the vehicle suspension device. It was made as a basic purpose to provide.
[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

For this reason , the present invention relates to a vehicle suspension apparatus in which the other end side of the control link having one end side coupled to one end of the stabilizer is attached to the lower arm that supports the suspension spring and extends in the vehicle width direction. A connecting portion connected to one end of the stabilizer, a mounting portion attached to the lower arm, and a connecting rod portion connecting the mounting portion and the connecting portion, and the control link includes the connecting portion. Is disposed between the lower arm and the suspension member located above the lower arm, the connecting rod portion extends substantially vertically through the through hole formed in the lower arm, and the attachment portion is disposed on the lower surface side of the lower arm. The attachment part of the control link is located at the cylindrical part and its approximate center. The cylindrical bush is provided with a shaft member, and the cylindrical bush is disposed on the lower surface side of the lower arm via a bracket after the shaft member is arranged so as to be directed substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The bracket includes a pair of vertical walls having a fixing region for fixing the shaft member of the cylindrical bush and a connecting vertical wall that connects one end sides of the vertical walls, and is substantially U-shaped in plan view. The base end portion of the other vertical wall excluding the fixing region is welded and fixed to the lower surface of the lower arm.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a vehicle suspension apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a lower arm and a stabilizer of the suspension device.
As shown in these drawings, in the suspension device according to the present embodiment, an upper arm 3 extending in the vehicle width direction and a lower arm 10 extending in the vehicle width direction below the wheel 1 are disposed inside the vehicle body of the wheel 1. The outer end portions 3a and 10a of the arm members 3 and 10 are connected to the wheel 1 side.
[0011]
A spring receiving portion 11 for receiving a lower end portion of a coiled spring (suspension spring: not shown) is formed at a substantially center of the lower arm 10. When the suspension device is assembled, the inner end portion 3 b of the upper arm 3 is formed. Is substantially connected to the upper side of a suspension spring (not shown). A shock absorber 4 is disposed in a relatively close vicinity of the arm members 3 and 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
[0012]
One end side of a stabilizer 8 extending in the vehicle width direction is located above the vehicle body inner side portion of the lower arm 10 that supports a suspension spring (not shown) and extends in the vehicle width direction, and one end side of the stabilizer 8 Is attached to the lower arm 10 via the control link 20. That is, one end (upper end) of the control link 20 is coupled to one end of the stabilizer 8 and the other end (lower end) is attached to the lower arm 10.
Although not specifically shown, a suspension member (suspension cross member) extending in the vehicle width direction is positioned above the lower arm 10, and the inner end portion 10b of the lower arm 10 is formed of the suspension cross. The member is pivotally supported (supported so as to be rotatable).
[0013]
As shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, the control link 20 includes a coupling portion 21 coupled to one end of the stabilizer 8, an attachment portion 25 attached to the lower arm 10, the attachment portion 25, and the coupling portion 21. And a connecting rod portion 29 for connecting the two.
In the present embodiment, the coupling portion 21 coupled to one end of the stabilizer 8 is constituted by a so-called ball joint, and the attachment portion 25 attached to the lower arm 10 is constituted by a so-called elastic bush.
[0014]
Therefore, both ends of the connecting rod portion 29 of the control link 20, that is, both the connecting portion 21 to the stabilizer 8 and the mounting portion 25 to the lower arm 10, are configured with expensive ball joints as compared with the conventional case. And since one edge part (attachment part 25) was comprised with the cheap elastic bush, the manufacturing cost of the control link 20 was able to be reduced significantly.
[0015]
The ball joint 21 accommodates a ball body 23 in which a shaft portion 23j is integrally formed in a case body 22, and a spherical surface of the ball body 23 is slidably received between them. After the receiving portion 24 is interposed, the space between the case body 22 and the shaft portion 23j is covered with a sealing member 22s. The end portion of the stabilizer 8 is coupled to the shaft portion 23j of the ball body 23. On the other hand, one end (upper end) of the connecting rod 29 is fixed to the side surface of the case body 22 by, for example, welding.
[0016]
The ball joint 21 has a high displacement absorbing function that can cope with an extremely wide angular displacement by the action of the ball body 23 having a spherical surface and the ball receiving portion 24, and the end of the connecting rod 29 of the control link 20. By attaching to, the displacement absorption function of the control link 20 can be enhanced.
[0017]
Further, the elastic bush 25 is configured by interposing an elastic body 28 made of, for example, rubber (rubber) between an outer cylinder 26 and an inner cylinder 27 arranged coaxially. The inner cylinder 27 is set longer than the outer cylinder 26. The other end (lower end) of the connecting rod 29 is fixed to the side surface of the outer cylinder 26 by, for example, welding. The elastic bush 25 absorbs displacement in the elastic range by the action of the elastic body 28, and has a very inexpensive structure as compared with the ball joint 21, and can cope with and absorb a certain amount of displacement. it can.
[0018]
The elastic bush 25 and the ball joint 21 are oriented in directions different by 90 degrees so that the axial direction thereof is twisted, and the connecting rod 29 is connected to the side surface of the case body 22 of the ball joint 21 and the elastic bush. The side surfaces of the 25 outer cylinders 26 are connected.
[0019]
The stabilizer 8 extended in the vehicle width direction absorbs a torsional moment acting on the vehicle body exclusively while the vehicle is running, and other displacements other than the torsion acting on the lower arm 10 are mainly absorbed by the control link. It has come to be.
Coupling portion 21 between the end portion of the stabilizer 8 of the control link 20 (ball joint), as shown in FIG. 5, Ri Contact positioned right above the lower arm 10, the inner end portion 10b of the lower arm 10 It is arranged between the suspension cross member 5 pivotally supported from above.
That is, the mounting end portion of the stabilizer 8 can be laid out using the empty space between the suspension cross member 5 and the lower arm 10.
[0020]
3 and 4 show a plan view and a side view of the lower arm 10, respectively. As shown in these figures, the lower arm 10 is formed a steel sheet material by pressing, to together the spring receiving portion 11 described above in that a substantially central is formed, both ends 10a, the 10b, elastic A bush 19 is attached. These elastic bushings 19 are different in size from the elastic bushings 25 provided at the lower end mounting portion of the control link 20 but have the same basic configuration and operation.
[0021]
In the present embodiment, the upper through hole 12 and the lower through hole 13 are formed in the lower arm 10 in order to insert the connecting rod 29 of the control link 20 in the substantially vertical direction. The through holes 12 and 13, the upper side through hole 12 is actually are formed in notch shape opening toward the spring receiving portion 11, and more preferably, the upper through hole it is lower through the 12 It is slightly larger than the hole 13. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cope with a large displacement amount of the ball joint 21 located above the lower arm 10.
[0022]
The upper and lower through holes 12 and 13 are formed on the side closer to the pivotal support portion 10b by the suspension cross member 5 than the spring receiving portion 11, and therefore, as shown in FIG. The lower arm 10 is inserted in the side closer to the pivotal support portion 10b than the spring receiving portion 11 and extends substantially in the vertical direction.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower end attachment portion 25 of the control link 20 is also attached to the lower surface side of the lower arm 10 closer to the pivot support portion 10 b than the spring receiving portion 11.
[0023]
Therefore, even if the bending angle of the control link 20 is the same, the connecting rod portion 29 is inserted into the side farther from the pivotal support portion 10b than the spring receiving portion 11 (the side where the amount of displacement in the vertical direction increases), and the attachment portion 25 is attached. Compared to the case, the length of the connecting rod portion 29 and the length of the stabilizer 8 can be greatly shortened, and the parts can be shortened and the layout can be made compact.
[0024]
The lower end mounting portion 25 (elastic bush) of the control link 20 is attached to the lower surface side of the lower arm 10, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 9, a mounting bracket obtained by bending a steel plate material by press working. 40.
The mounting bracket 40 includes a pair of mounting vertical wall portions 41 along the longitudinal direction of the lower arm 10, a connecting vertical wall portion 42 that connects one ends of the mounting vertical wall portions 41, and other mounting vertical wall portions 41. The extended vertical wall 43 extends in a slightly inclined direction from the end side, and is formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the bottom.
[0025]
Most of the vertical walls 41, 42, 43 of the mounting bracket 40 are fixed at their base ends to the lower surface of the lower arm 10 by welding. A weld bead Dw for fillet welding is formed on the base end portion.
The elastic bushing 25 is attached so as to be sandwiched between the pair of attachment vertical wall portions 41, and the fixing bolt 31 is inserted into the inner cylinder 27 and fastened and fixed between the attachment vertical wall portions 41 using the nut 32. . Therefore, in the attached state, the axis of the elastic bush 25 is oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lower arm 10, that is, in a substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the elastic bush 25 is fixed in a predetermined region As that includes a portion where the bolt 31 as a mounting shaft member of the elastic bush 25 and the nut 32 combined therewith abut in the mounting vertical wall portion 41. As a fixing region for this purpose, welding fixing to the lower surface of the lower arm 10 is not performed.
[0027]
Therefore, the vertical wall of the fixing region As is not deformed (welded), and thus has a high deformability. In particular, the vertical wall flexes relatively well in the thickness direction in which the axial force of the fixing bolt 31 acts. Can be removed. As a result, even if the elastic bush 25 and the mounting bracket 40 have dimensional variations such as the length of the elastic bush 25, particularly the length of the inner cylinder 27 and the interval between the mounting vertical wall portions 41 of the bracket 40, this is effectively absorbed. Can be assembled without any problem.
[0028]
Further, in this fixing region As, since there is no weld bead Dw at the base end portion of the vertical wall, the height from the lower surface of the lower arm of the fixing bolt 31 of the elastic bush 25 can be set low. Therefore, the length of the connecting rod 29 of the control link 20 can be shortened accordingly, and the parts can be further reduced in size and size.
[0029]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the above embodiment, It cannot be overemphasized that a various improvement or a design change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.
[0031]

【The invention's effect】

According to the present invention , the control link is disposed between the lower arm and the suspension member that is positioned above the lower arm and pivotally supports one end side of the lower arm. Stabilizer mounting end can be laid out using the space between the lower arms. In this case, the control link has a connecting rod portion that passes through a through hole formed in the lower arm and extends substantially in the vertical direction, and the attachment portion is attached to the lower surface side of the lower arm. Can be assembled to the lower arm. In addition, since at least the attachment portion of the control link to the lower arm is constituted by an inexpensive cylindrical bush instead of an expensive ball joint, the manufacturing cost of the control link can be greatly reduced.
In particular, the bracket for mounting the mounting portion of the control link on the lower arm lower surface side is welded and fixed to the lower arm lower surface at the base end portion of the other vertical wall excluding the fixing region for fixing the shaft member of the cylindrical bush. About a fixed area | region, even if a vertical wall can bend and a cylindrical bush and a bracket have a dimension variation, this can be absorbed effectively and it can assemble without trouble. In addition, since there is no weld bead at the base end of the vertical wall for this fixed region, the shaft member of the cylindrical bush can be brought closer to the lower surface of the lower arm, and the connecting rod of the control link can be shortened accordingly. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a vehicle suspension apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a lower arm and a stabilizer of the suspension device.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the lower arm.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view of the lower arm.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing an assembled state of the control link to the lower arm.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the elastic bush of the control link is attached to the lower surface of the lower arm.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the control link.
8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the elastic bush along the line Y8-Y8 in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a structure for mounting the control link to the lower surface of the lower arm of the elastic bush.
[Explanation of symbols]
5. Suspension cross member 8 ... Stabilizer 10 ... Lower arm 10b ... Inner end 11 of lower arm ... Spring receiving parts 12, 13 ... Through hole 20 ... Control link 21 ... Ball joint (joint part)
25 ... Elastic bush (mounting part)
26 ... outer cylinder 27 ... inner cylinder 29 ... connecting rod part 31 ... fixing bolt 40 ... mounting bracket 41 ... mounting vertical wall part 42 ... connecting vertical wall part As ... fixing area Dw ... weld bead

Claims (1)

A suspension device for a vehicle in which a lower arm that supports a suspension spring and extends in a vehicle width direction is attached to the other end of a control link having one end coupled to one end of a stabilizer.
The control link includes a coupling portion coupled to one end of the stabilizer, an attachment portion attached to the lower arm, and a connecting rod portion connecting the attachment portion and the coupling portion.
The control link has a coupling portion disposed between the lower arm and a suspension member positioned above the control link, and the connecting rod portion extends through the through-hole formed in the lower arm and extends substantially in the vertical direction. The mounting part is attached to the lower side of the lower arm,
The mounting portion of the control link is configured by a cylindrical bush including a cylindrical portion and a shaft member positioned at the approximate center thereof, and the cylindrical bush is configured such that the shaft member is directed substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction. After being placed, it is attached to the lower surface side of the lower arm via a bracket,
The bracket is formed in a substantially U shape in a plan view by a pair of vertical walls having a fixing region for fixing the shaft member of the cylindrical bush and a connecting vertical wall connecting one end side of the vertical walls. The vehicle suspension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a base end portion of the other vertical wall excluding the fixed region is welded and fixed to a lower surface of the lower arm.

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