JP4815941B2 - Shock absorber with power supply function between sprung and unsprung - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shock absorber having a power feeding function between sprung and unsprung parts.

  In recent years, a large number of electric vehicles are on the market from the viewpoint of environmental conservation, and in particular, small-sized vehicles with a short mileage such as home delivery vehicles are spreading. Some of these vehicles have motors attached to the wheels with an emphasis on space utility. In addition, from the viewpoint of reducing brake fluid waste, electric brakes that are driven by an electric motor instead of hydraulic pressure have been studied.

  In the electric vehicle and the electric brake described above, it is necessary to supply electric power from the vehicle body above the spring to an electrical component mounted near the so-called unsprung portion of the vehicle, particularly a motor. In the above-mentioned small electric vehicle, these electrical components are directly connected to the vehicle body side by electric wires. However, in ordinary passenger cars and the like, the suspension stroke is long from the viewpoint of ride comfort, and the motor capacity is large, so the electric wires are thick. . Therefore, as a result of repeated deflection of the electric wire, there is a possibility that the electric wire may be broken due to fatigue.

As a method for solving this problem, for example, as in Patent Document 1, a first coil is provided on a spring and a second coil is provided below the spring, and electric power is transmitted in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic induction between the two. A technique for supplying electric power between sprung and unsprung springs is known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-18212

  However, in the above technique, most of the magnetic flux paths passing through the two coils, which are the most important in the transformer, are made of a non-magnetic material, so there are many leakage magnetic fluxes, depending on the relative positions of the two coils. There is a problem that power transmission efficiency fluctuates and power transfer is not stable.

  In addition, because it is newly added and attached to the outside of the shock absorber or in the middle of the suspension link, there is a possibility of interference with parts constituting the suspension, and there is a problem that it is difficult to attach.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is that power transmission efficiency does not fluctuate, stable power supply is possible, and interference with peripheral members is prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber having a power supply function between sprung and unsprung parts without fear.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a rod member and a cylindrical member in which one end of the rod member is slidably housed in a liquid-tight manner are fixed to a sprung member of a vehicle and the other is fixed to an unsprung member. A shock absorber for generating a damping force by including a first electrode fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rod member and a second electrode fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, Power is transferred by capacitive coupling between the second electrode and the second electrode . Then, the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed so as to face each other, and the other electrode with respect to the circumferential installation angle of one of the first and second electrodes. A shock absorber having a power supply function between the sprung and unsprung parts, characterized in that the installation angle in the circumferential direction is large .

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, there is provided an inner cylinder member and an outer cylinder member arranged in an inner and outer double, and the inner cylinder member is the cylindrical member. It is a shock absorber with a power feeding function.

  According to a third invention, in the first invention, the first electrode is included in the first insulator, the second electrode is included in the second insulator, and the hydraulic oil is disposed inside the cylindrical member. And a low-pressure gas, and the first and second insulators are disposed so as to contact the low-pressure gas.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an inner cylinder member in which one end of a rod member is slidably accommodated and an outer cylinder member in which the other end of the rod member is fixed are arranged in an inner and outer double, one of which is In a shock absorber in which a sprung member of a vehicle and the other is fixed to an unsprung member and generates a damping force by relative displacement, a first electrode fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical member, and the outer cylindrical member A second electrode fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the first electrode, and transfers power by capacitive coupling between the first electrode and the second electrode. Then, the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed so as to face each other, and the other electrode with respect to the circumferential installation angle of one of the first and second electrodes. A shock absorber having a power supply function between the sprung and unsprung parts, characterized in that the installation angle in the circumferential direction is large .

According to a fifth invention, in the first to fourth inventions, the first electrode is divided into two in the circumferential direction, and the second electrode is divided into two in the circumferential direction. and a first electrode, the second electrode is divided into two is a shock absorber having a power supply function between sprung unsprung, characterized in that it is disposed opposite one set.

  According to a sixth invention, in the first to fifth inventions, one of the first and second electrodes protrudes from the other electrode even when the rod member extends or contracts by a maximum amount in the axial direction. A shock absorber having a power supply function between the sprung spring and the unsprung spring is characterized in that the axial length of the other electrode is sufficiently longer than the other electrode so as to face each other.

According to the first aspect of the invention, power is exchanged by capacitive coupling between the first electrode fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rod member and the second electrode fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. Since no new parts need to be added outside the shock absorber or in the middle of the suspension link, the power supply function between the sprung springs can be realized without interfering with the parts constituting the suspension. Further, since the installation angle in the circumferential direction of the other electrode is made larger than the installation angle in the circumferential direction of one of the first and second electrodes, the vehicle travels, and the unsprung unsprung When relative displacement occurs between the piston rod and the inner cylindrical member, the power supply by capacitive coupling between the electrodes is not limited to the expansion and contraction in the axial direction and the twist in the circumferential direction occurs. Since the power is maintained regardless of the relative displacement, the power transmission efficiency does not fluctuate and stable power supply is possible.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the inner cylinder member and the outer cylinder member that are disposed in the inner and outer layers are provided, and the second electrode is disposed on the inner cylinder member. Therefore, even in the multi-cylinder shock absorber, Similar effects can be obtained.

  According to the third invention, since the insulator is disposed so as to be in contact with the low-pressure gas, in addition to the effect of the first invention, an effect of using an insulator having low resistance to pressure can be obtained.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the electrodes are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder member and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder member of the inverted shock absorber, and the hydraulic oil does not adhere to the electrode and the insulator including the electrode. Therefore, in addition to the effect of 1st invention, the effect that the insulator with low tolerance with respect to hydraulic fluid can be used is acquired.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the installation angle in the circumferential direction of the other electrode is larger than the installation angle in the circumferential direction of one of the first and second electrodes, the vehicle travels. When a relative displacement occurs between the sprung spring and the unsprung spring, the capacitance between the electrodes is not affected even if a circumferential twist occurs simultaneously with the axial expansion and contraction between the piston rod and the inner cylindrical member. Since the power supply by the coupling is maintained regardless of the relative displacement, the power transmission efficiency does not fluctuate and stable power supply is possible.

  According to the sixth invention, of the first and second electrodes, the axial length of the other electrode is sufficiently longer than one electrode so that one electrode faces each other without protruding from the other electrode. Therefore, even if the vehicle travels and the maximum amount of relative displacement occurs between the sprung springs, the power supply by capacitive coupling between the electrodes is maintained regardless of the relative displacement. The power transmission efficiency does not fluctuate and stable power supply becomes possible.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-cylinder shock absorber according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 7 that are arranged in the inner and outer layers are connected to each other at the upper end and the lower end by the end cap 4 and the base valve 12, and the lower end of the outer cylinder 7 is liquid-tightly closed by the end cover 24. The low-pressure gas 5 is sealed in the upper part of the reservoir chamber 20 in the annular space between the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 7. The reservoir chamber 20 and the space P below the base valve 12 are connected by a communication hole 19.

  In the inner cylinder 8, a piston 10 that separates the working chamber therein into a lower chamber R <b> 1 and an upper chamber R <b> 2 is slidably provided. From the piston 10, the piston rod 1 passes through the through hole 25 of the end cap 4. It penetrates and protrudes above the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 7. Although not shown, the upper end of the piston rod 1 is attached to a spring upper member of the vehicle, that is, a vehicle body side member, and the outer cylinder 7 or the end cover 24 is a vehicle unsprung member, that is, a wheel side member. Attached to.

  The base valve 12 is a leaf (not shown) that mainly generates a damping force by providing resistance to the flow from the lower chamber R1 of the hydraulic oil to the reservoir chamber 20 via the space P during the contraction side operation, as in a normal double-cylinder shock absorber. A valve and a leaf valve (not shown) for introducing hydraulic oil in the reservoir chamber 20 into the lower chamber R1 via the space P during the extension side operation are provided.

  Similarly, the piston 10 gives a resistance to the flow of the hydraulic oil from the upper chamber R2 to the lower chamber R1 during the expansion side operation, and generates a damping force (not shown), and the operation in the lower chamber R1 during the contraction side operation. And a leaf valve (not shown) for introducing oil into the upper chamber R2. Further, the side surface of the piston 10 has a seal 11 that slides on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 8. In FIG. 1, the detailed structures of the base valve 12 and the piston 10 are omitted, and only the main body portions are shown. Further, the low-pressure gas 5 sealed in the upper part of the reservoir chamber 20 is for absorbing a change in the volume of the piston rod 1 in the inner cylinder 8 when the shock absorber expands and contracts.

  Next, the configuration of the piston rod 1 will be described in detail. The piston rod 1 includes electrodes 17a and 17b, an insulator 18, connecting holes 23a and 23b, and a rebound stopper 9. The electrodes 17a and 17b are installed on the surface of the piston rod 1 between the piston 10 and the rebound stopper 9, and the periphery of the electrodes 17a and 17b is covered with an insulator 18. For example, aluminum is used for the electrodes 17a and 17b. The insulator 18 is an insulating member made of resin, for example. The rebound stopper 9 regulates the maximum stroke (displacement) on the extension side of the piston 10 in the inner cylinder 8, and is provided at a position above the piston 10 by a predetermined distance.

  Connecting holes 23a and 23b are installed between the center hole 21 and the electrodes 17a and 17b, and the harnesses 13a and 13b connected to the electrodes 17a and 17b are connected to the upper side of the spring via the connecting holes 23a and 23b and the center hole 21. Connected to power. Further, the communication holes 23a and 23b are sealed with an insulator 18 so that the hydraulic fluid of the shock absorber does not leak out. Further, the end cap 4 is provided with a seal 3 that slides with the piston rod 1 on the inner wall of the through hole 25, and an oil seal 2 that is both dustproof and liquid-tight above the seal 3.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the inner cylinder 8 will be described. The inner cylinder 8 includes electrodes 16 a and 16 b and an insulator 14. The electrodes 16 a and 16 b are disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 8 so as to face the electrodes 17 a and 17 b, and the periphery of the electrodes 16 a and 16 b is covered with an insulator 14. The electrodes 16a and 16b are set to such a length that the electrodes 17a and 17b face each other without protruding from the electrodes 16a and 16b even when the shock absorber is expanded and contracted by the maximum amount in the axial direction of the piston rod 1. For example, aluminum is used for the electrodes 16a and 16b. The insulator 14 is an insulating member made of resin, for example. The electrodes 16a and 16b and the insulator 14 are installed up to the inside of the end cap 4, and the harnesses 15a and 15b connected to the electrodes 16a and 16b are pulled out to the outside through the connection holes 22a and 22b, and are connected to unsprung electrical components. Has been. Further, the communication holes 22a and 22b are sealed by the insulator 14 so that the hydraulic fluid of the shock absorber does not leak out.

  Then, sectional drawing which follows the AA line in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. The electrodes 17a and 17b have an arc shape with an angle α with the center O of the piston rod 1 as the center. The electrodes 16a and 16b have an arc shape with an angle β with the center O of the piston rod 1 as the center. The angle α is smaller than the angle β. Further, the piston rod 1 is twisted in the circumferential direction during traveling of the vehicle. Even when the piston rod 1 is twisted to the maximum, the angle of the electrodes 16a, 16b, 17a, and 17b so that the angle α is within the range of the angle β. The angle and position are set.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The voltage of the battery mounted on the upper side of the spring is converted into an AC voltage by a DC / AC converter or the like, and the AC voltage is applied to the harnesses 13a and 13b. At this time, since capacitive coupling is performed between the electrodes 17a and 16a and between the electrodes 17b and 16b, an AC voltage is also generated in the harnesses 15a and 15b. If an electrical component as a load is connected to the harnesses 15a and 15b, an alternating current can be passed through the electrical component. The capacitive coupling referred to in the present invention means that a current flows when a predetermined charge is accumulated like a so-called capacitor.

  When the vehicle travels and a relative displacement occurs between the sprung springs, the piston rod 1 and the inner cylinder 8 have an axial expansion and contraction as well as a circumferential twist. Sometimes the power supply by capacitive coupling between the electrodes 17a and 16a and between the electrodes 17b and 16b is maintained regardless of their relative displacement. In particular, when the suspension is a general strut type for the front wheels, a large twist accompanying the turning occurs between the piston rod 1 and the inner cylinder 8, and this can also be absorbed to supply power by capacitive coupling. is there.

  The insulators 14 and 18 do not completely insulate between the electrode 17a and the electrode 16a or between the electrode 17b and the electrode 16b, but between the electrode 17a and the electrode 16a by capacitive coupling, and between the electrode 17b and the electrode 16b. It does not hinder the transfer of power between 16b.

  In the case of a system in which the electric circuit of the upper part of the spring and the electric circuit of the lower part of the spring are grounded at a common potential, power can be exchanged between the sprung spring and the unsprung spring if there is a set of capacitive coupling electrodes. It is also possible to omit either one of the set of the electrode 17a and the electrode 16a or the set of the electrode 17b and the electrode 16b. Accordingly, the harnesses 13a and 15a or the harnesses 13b and 15b can be omitted. In addition, when only one electrode set is used in this way, each electrode is cylindrical (when the angle α and the angle β are both 360 degrees), compared to the case where two electrode sets are installed, Since the total area facing the electrodes is large, the capacitance can be increased.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a single cylinder upright shock absorber according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Since the present embodiment is a single cylinder type shock absorber, unlike the first embodiment, there is no inner cylinder, and the seal 11 provided on the side surface of the piston 10 slides on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 7. . The seal 11 is provided with a communication hole (not shown) that communicates between R1 and R2 (corresponding to the communication hole 19 in FIG. 1).

  The low pressure gas 5 'is sealed in the upper part of the upper chamber R2. The electrodes 16 a ′, 16 b ′, 17 a ′, 17 b ′ and the insulators 14 ′, 18 ′ are installed above the oil level of the hydraulic oil 6. The communication hole provided in the seal 11 allows a movement while restricting the flow rate of the hydraulic oil 6 between R1 and R2, and serves as a dashpot.

  The insulators 14 ′ and 18 ′ do not completely insulate between the electrodes 17a ′ and 16a ′, and between the electrodes 17b ′ and 16b ′, and the electrodes 17a ′ and 16a ′ are capacitively coupled. Further, it does not hinder the transfer of power between the electrode 17b ′ and the electrode 16b ′.

  The low-pressure gas 5 ′, which is substantially atmospheric pressure, is for adjusting the change in the volume of the piston rod 1 that goes in and out of the outer cylinder 7 when the shock absorber expands and contracts. When the shock absorber is retracted, the piston rod 1 enters the inside of the outer cylinder 7 and the hydraulic oil 6 is pushed away, so that the liquid level of the hydraulic oil 6 rises and the low pressure gas 5 ′ becomes high pressure, but when the shock absorber is extended, Since the piston rod 1 moves out of the outer cylinder 7 and the area occupied by R1 is enlarged, the liquid level of the hydraulic oil 6 is lowered and the low-pressure gas 5 ′ becomes low pressure.

  In the present embodiment, the insulators 14 ′ and 18 ′ are arranged above the oil surface of the hydraulic oil 6 and are in contact with the low pressure gas 5 ′. Therefore, the low pressure gas 5 ′ is smaller than that of the first embodiment. It is possible to use an insulator material having a low withstand pressure performance by reducing the pressure burden on the insulators 14 'and 18'. Further, the sealing conditions of the communication holes 23a and 23b are gentler than those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the durability of the shock absorber can be improved.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an inverted shock absorber according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Although not shown, the inner cylinder 8 ″ and the upper end of the end cover 24 are attached to the sprung member of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle body side, and the outer cylinder 7 is attached to the unsprung member of the vehicle, that is, the wheel side. Yes.

  The piston rod 1 ″ is fixed to the outer cylinder 7 ″. The electrodes 17a "and 17b" and the insulator 18 "are installed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 8" and protrude in the axial direction of the piston rod 1 from the electrodes 16a "and 16b" even when the shock absorber is expanded and contracted by the maximum amount. The length is set so as to face each other. Harnesses 13a "and 13b" are connected to the electrodes 17a "and 17b" through connection holes 23a "and 23b" opened in the inner cylinder 8 ". The electrodes 16a" and 16b "and the insulator 14" It is installed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 7 ″.

  The insulators 14 ″ and 18 ″ do not completely insulate the electrode 17a ″ and the electrode 16a ″, and the electrode 17b ″ and the electrode 16b ″, and the capacitively coupled electrodes 17a ″ and 16a ″. In addition, the power transfer between the electrode 17b ″ and the electrode 16b ″ is not prevented.

  In this embodiment, since the insulators 14 ″ and 18 ″ are disposed at a place isolated from the hydraulic oil 6, use an insulator material having a lower pressure resistance and oil resistance than the first embodiment. Is possible. Further, a structure for liquid-tightly sealing the communication holes 22a, 22b, 23a ", 23b" is not necessary.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a double-cylinder shock absorber according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the single cylinder erecting type shock absorber of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the inverted shock absorber of the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 "piston rod 2 oil seal 3, 11 seal 4 end cap 5, 5 ', 5" low pressure gas 6 hydraulic oil 7, 7 "outer cylinder 8, 8" inner cylinder 9 rebound stopper 10 piston 12 base valve 13a, 13a ″, 13b, 13b ″, 15a, 15b Harness 14, 14 ′, 14 ″, 18, 18 ′, 18 ″ Insulators 16a, 16a ′, 16a ″, 16b, 16b ′, 16b ″, 17a, 17a ′, 17a ″, 17b, 17b ′, 17b ″ Electrode 19 Communication hole 20 Reservoir chamber 21 Center hole 22a, 22b, 23a, 23a ″, 23b, 23b ″ Connection hole 24 End cover 25 Through hole R1 Lower chamber R2 Upper chamber P space

Claims (6)

A rod member and a cylindrical member that slidably houses one end of the rod member are fixed to a sprung member of a vehicle and the other is fixed to an unsprung member. In the shock absorber to be generated,
A first electrode fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rod member;
A second electrode fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member,
Said first electrode, together with exchanges power by capacitive coupling between said second electrode,
The first electrode and the second electrode are installed to face each other,
Of the first and second electrodes, the power supply function between the unsprung springs is characterized in that the installation angle in the circumferential direction of the other electrode is larger than the installation angle in the circumferential direction of one electrode. Shock absorber with   The shock having a power supply function between the sprung sprung according to claim 1, comprising an inner cylinder member and an outer cylinder member arranged in an inner and outer double, wherein the inner cylinder member is the cylindrical member. Absorber.   The first electrode is included in a first insulator, the second electrode is included in a second insulator, hydraulic oil and low-pressure gas are sealed inside the cylindrical member, and the first and The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the second insulator is disposed so as to be in contact with the low-pressure gas. An inner cylinder member that slidably houses one end of the rod member and an outer cylinder member that fixes the other end of the rod member are disposed in an inner and outer double, one of which is a sprung member of the vehicle, In the shock absorber in which the other is fixed to the unsprung member and generates a damping force by relative displacement,
A first electrode fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder member;
A second electrode fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder member,
Said first electrode, together with exchanges power by capacitive coupling between said second electrode,
The first electrode and the second electrode are installed to face each other,
Of the first and second electrodes, the power supply function between the unsprung springs is characterized in that the installation angle in the circumferential direction of the other electrode is larger than the installation angle in the circumferential direction of one electrode. Shock absorber with The first electrode is divided into two in the circumferential direction,
The second electrode is divided into two in the circumferential direction,
The sprung unsprung body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first electrode divided into two and the second electrode divided into two are disposed so as to face each other. Shock absorber with power supply function. Even if the maximum amount of the rod member is expanded or contracted in the axial direction, the axis of the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other without protruding from the other electrode. 6. A shock absorber having a power supply function between sprung springs according to claim 1, wherein the length in the direction is sufficiently long.

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