JP5434465B2 - Suspension arm profile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension arm base material that is a base of a suspension arm.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a suspension arm shape material formed by forging an aluminum alloy material. The suspension arm shape member is a member that serves as an element of a suspension arm interposed between a wheel support member (such as a knuckle) and a vehicle body (suspension frame). If the base material for the suspension arm is made of an aluminum alloy, the weight of the vehicle can be reduced.

  As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11D, this type of suspension arm shape material includes an arm main body 101 and bush mounting portions 102 and 103 formed at the end of the arm main body 101 on the vehicle body side. And a ball joint mounting portion 104 formed at the end of the arm body 101 on the wheel side is known.

JP 2000-158927 A

  When the suspension arm shape material is a forged product, it is necessary to provide a predetermined draft angle in the forging die, so that the thickness of the shape material faces the parting line (the die mating surface of the forging die). However, if the surplus portion becomes larger than necessary, the weight of the base material increases and there is a risk that weight reduction will be hindered.

  For example, in the suspension arm shaped material as shown in FIG. 11, the outer shape of the ball joint mounting portion 104 is “abutting the bottom surfaces of the two truncated cones as shown in FIGS. The center line of the ball joint mounting portion 104 with respect to the reference plane (a plane including a total of three points including the center point of the bush mounting portions 102 and 103 and the center point of the ball joint mounting portion 104) P1 is maintained. (Center axis of the ball joint) Q is inclined, but if this is done, there is a risk that the surplus portion of the ball joint mounting portion 104 will become larger than necessary.

  From such a point of view, the present invention has an object to provide a suspension arm shape material made of a forged product made of an aluminum alloy and capable of reducing its weight. To do.

  A suspension arm shape material according to the present invention is a suspension arm shape material made of a forged product made of an aluminum alloy, and includes an arm body and a bush mounting portion formed at an end of the arm body on the vehicle body side. And a ball joint mounting portion formed at an end of the arm body on the wheel side, and a center line of the ball joint mounting portion includes a center point of the bush mounting portion and the ball joint mounting portion. A plane perpendicular to the first reference plane and including the center line as a second reference plane, and a plane perpendicular to the second reference plane. Is the third reference plane, and the ball along the third reference plane is larger than the maximum width dimension in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion is cut along the second reference plane. Maximum width dimension is smaller in cross-section appearing when cutting the Yointo mounting portion, characterized in that.

  In short, the present invention is characterized in that the contour (outer shape) of the ball joint mounting portion is not circular but “non-circular”. According to the present invention, an unnecessary surplus portion is cut off at a portion facing the second reference surface in the peripheral wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion. The weight can be reduced.

  Of the intersections between the parting line of the ball joint mounting portion and the second reference plane, the intersection located on the arm main body side is a first intersection, and is located on the opposite side of the first intersection across the center line. When the intersection to be performed is the second intersection, the distance from the first intersection to the center line may be smaller than the distance from the second intersection to the center line. In this way, the unnecessary wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion on the arm main body side (base end side) is cut off, so that the weight of the suspension arm material can be further reduced. It becomes possible to push forward further.

  At least a part of the parting line of the ball joint mounting portion may be provided on the first reference plane or on a plane parallel to the first reference plane. In this way, unnecessary surplus portions are cut off on the peripheral wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion, so that it is possible to further reduce the weight of the suspension arm shape material.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to promote weight reduction of the suspension arm shape material.

1 is a perspective view of a suspension arm shaped member according to a first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the shaped material for suspension arms which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a side view, (b) is a B arrow view of (a), (c) is (a). FIG. 8C is a view taken in the direction of arrow C, and FIG. 8D is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a ball joint attachment part, (a) is sectional drawing which appears when a ball joint attachment part is cut | disconnected along a 2nd reference plane, (b) is a ball joint attachment part along a 3rd reference plane. It is sectional drawing which appears when is cut | disconnected. 2A is an enlarged view of the α portion in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 2A, FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the α portion in FIG. FIG. 4D is a view as viewed from arrow D in (c). It is a figure which shows the shaped material for suspension arms which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a side view, (b) is a B arrow view of (a), (c) is (a). FIG. 8C is a view taken in the direction of arrow C, and FIG. 8D is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a ball joint attachment part, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing which appears when it cut | disconnects with a ball joint attachment part along a 2nd reference plane, (b) is a ball joint attachment part along a 3rd reference plane. It is sectional drawing which appears when is cut | disconnected. 5A is an enlarged view of the α part in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 5A, FIG. 11C is an enlarged view of the α part in FIG. FIG. 4D is a view as viewed from arrow D in (c). It is a figure which shows the shaping | molding material for suspension arms which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a side view, (b) is a B arrow view of (a), (c) is (a). FIG. 8C is a view taken in the direction of arrow C, and FIG. 8D is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a ball joint attachment part, (a) is sectional drawing which appears when a ball joint attachment part is cut | disconnected along a 2nd reference plane, (b) is a ball joint attachment part along a 3rd reference plane. It is sectional drawing which appears when is cut | disconnected. 8A is an enlarged view of the α part in FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 8A, FIG. 11C is an enlarged view of the α part in FIG. FIG. 4D is a view as viewed from arrow D in (c). It is a figure which shows the shaped material for suspension arms which concerns on a comparative example, Comprising: (a) is a side view, (b) is a B arrow view of (a), (c) is a C arrow view of (a), (D) is a D arrow view of (b).

(First embodiment)
The suspension arm base material S1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a member that is a base of a suspension arm (upper arm) constituting a double wishbone or multilink suspension, and is a forged product made of an aluminum alloy. Consists of. When the suspension arm shape material S1 is subjected to finishing or the like and a bush or ball joint is incorporated, a suspension arm is obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension arm base material S <b> 1 includes an arm body 1, a pair of front and rear bush mounting portions 2 and 3 formed at an end of the arm body 1 on the vehicle body side, and a wheel of the arm body 1. And a ball joint mounting portion 4 formed at the end on the side.

  The arm body 1 includes a body portion 11 having a substantially triangular shape, vehicle body side projecting portions 12 and 13 and a wheel side projecting portion 14 projecting from the body portion 11. The parting line 1a of the arm body 1 is set at the center of the arm body 1 in the thickness direction (forging direction).

  The main body 11 has a plate shape, and as shown in FIG. 2B, one surface of the main body 11 is a flat surface. As shown in FIG. 2C, a substantially triangular recess 15 for reducing the weight is formed on the other surface of the main body 11. The recess 15 is formed during forging.

  The vehicle body side overhang portions 12 and 13 extend from the corners of the main body portion 11. The front ends of the vehicle body side overhang portions 12 and 13 are connected to the bush mounting portions 2 and 3, respectively.

  The wheel side overhanging portion 14 extends from the corner portion of the main body portion 11, and the tip thereof is connected to the ball joint mounting portion 4. As shown in (a) and (d) of FIG. 2, the wheel side overhanging portion 14 is curved so as to protrude toward the flat surface side of the main body portion 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 have a cylindrical shape. The parting lines 2 a and 3 a of the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 are set so as to follow the diameter of the circular end surface of the bush mounting portions 2 and 3, and are connected to the parting line 1 a of the arm body 1. Although illustration is omitted, when the suspension arm which is the final product is configured, processing for forming the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 into a cylindrical shape is performed. A bush is press-fitted into the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 processed into a cylindrical shape.

  The ball joint mounting portion 4 has an outer shape such that the bottom surfaces of the two truncated cones are brought into contact with each other, but the contour that appears when cut along a plane parallel to the parting line 4a is not circular and is non-circular. It becomes circular (see FIG. 4B). The parting line 4 a is set so as to go around the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint mounting portion 4, and is connected to the parting line 1 a of the arm body 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2D, the center line Q of the ball joint mounting portion 4 (the center axis of the ball joint) is oblique to the first reference plane P1, and this embodiment Is perpendicular to the plane including the parting line 4a of the ball joint mounting portion 4. The first reference plane P1 is a plane including a total of three points, that is, the center point of the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 and the center point of the ball joint mounting portion 4. Here, the center point of the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 is located on the center line of the cylinder after the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 are processed into a cylindrical shape, and the center point of the ball joint mounting portion 4 is the ball joint. It coincides with the center of the sphere. In the present embodiment, the parting line 2a of one bush mounting portion 2 is positioned on the first reference plane P1, and as shown in FIG. 2D, in the present embodiment, the other bush mounting portion 3 The parting line 3a is also located on the first reference plane P1. The center line Q of the ball joint mounting portion 4 is a straight line that passes through the center point of the ball joint mounting portion 4 (the center of the ball joint sphere), and coincides with the central axis of the ball joint.

  Here, a plane perpendicular to the first reference plane P1 and including the center line Q is defined as a second reference plane P2 (see FIG. 2C), and a plane perpendicular to the second reference plane P2 is defined as a third plane. A reference plane P3 (see FIG. 2C) is used.

  The cross-sectional shapes that appear when the ball joint mounting portion 4 is cut along the second reference plane P2 or the third reference plane P3 are as shown in FIG. 3 (a) or (b), respectively.

  As shown to (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, the ball joint attaching part 4 is provided with the bottom part 41 and the surrounding wall part 42 surrounding the bottom part 41, and is exhibiting the cross-sectional substantially H shape. The bottom 41 is formed along a plane including the parting line 4a. The peripheral wall portion 42 is formed so as to become thicker toward the parting line 4a. The draft (inclination angle with respect to the forging direction) of the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 42 is 3 (deg) or more.

  Although illustration is omitted, when the suspension arm which is the final product is configured, a process of cutting the bottom 41, a process of expanding the inner diameter of the peripheral wall part 42, and a step part for attaching the boot to the outer surface of the peripheral wall part 42 are illustrated. Processing to form is performed. A ball joint (ball stud) is mounted inside the ball joint mounting portion 4 after processing, and the opening is closed with a cover. Moreover, the boot which covers the axial part of a ball joint is attached to the step part formed in the outer peripheral surface.

The maximum width dimension d ₃ (see FIG. 3B) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 4 is cut along the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 2C) is the second reference plane. It is smaller than the maximum width dimension d ₂ (see FIG. 3A) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 4 is cut along P2 (see FIG. 2C). The maximum width dimension d ₂ in the cross section of FIG. 3 (a), the length of the line segment connecting the intersection m1, m2 of the parting line 4a and the second reference plane P2 (of the (c) refer to FIG. 2) equally, the maximum width dimension d ₃ in the cross section of FIG. 3 (b), the length of the line segment connecting the intersection points n1, n2 and parting line 4a and the third reference plane P3 (the (c) refer to FIG. 2) equal.

  According to the suspension arm shape material S1 described above, as shown in FIG. 4B, the parting line 4a of the ball joint mounting portion 4 becomes non-circular, and as a result, the peripheral wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion 4 In the portion of 42 facing each other across the second reference plane P2, an unnecessary surplus portion is cut off. That is, when the parting line 104a of the ball joint mounting portion 104 is circular as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the wall thickness of the peripheral wall portion is uniform over the entire circumference. According to the suspension arm shape material S1, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the ball joint mounting portion 4 is slimmed, so that the suspension arm shape material S1 can be reduced in weight. It becomes possible. Incidentally, the weight of the ball joint mounting portion 4 is about 95% of the ball joint mounting portion 104.

(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 5, a suspension arm base material S <b> 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an arm main body 1 and a pair of front and rear bush mounting portions formed at the end of the arm main body 1 on the vehicle body side. 2 and 3 and a ball joint mounting portion 5 formed at the end of the arm body 1 on the wheel side. The suspension arm base material S2 is a member of a suspension arm (upper arm) constituting a double wishbone or multilink suspension, and is made of a forged product made of an aluminum alloy. The configurations of the arm body 1 and the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5D, the ball joint mounting portion 5 has an outer shape such that the bottom surfaces of the two truncated cones face each other, but is a surface parallel to the parting line 5a. The contour that appears when cut along the line is not circular but non-circular (see FIG. 7B). The parting line 5 a is set so as to go around the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint mounting portion 5, and is connected to the parting line 1 a of the arm body 1.

  The center line Q of the ball joint mounting portion 5 is oblique to the first reference plane P1 and is orthogonal to the plane including the parting line 5a of the ball joint mounting portion 5 in the present embodiment. In addition, as shown in FIG.5 (d), the parting line 3a of the bush attachment part 3 is also located on the 1st reference plane P1.

  The cross-sectional shapes that appear when the ball joint mounting portion 5 is cut along the second reference plane P2 (see FIG. 5C) or the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 5C) are shown in FIG. As shown in (a) or (b).

  As shown to (a) and (b) of FIG. 6, the ball joint attaching part 5 is provided with the bottom part 51 and the surrounding wall part 52 surrounding the bottom part 51, and is exhibiting the cross-sectional substantially H shape. The bottom 51 is formed along a plane including the parting line 5a. The peripheral wall portion 52 is formed so as to become thicker toward the parting line 5a.

The maximum width dimension d ₃ (see FIG. 6B) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 5 is cut along the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 5C) is the second reference plane. It is smaller than the maximum width dimension d ₂ (see FIG. 6A) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 5 is cut along P2 (see FIG. 5C). The maximum width dimension d ₂ in the cross section of FIG. 6 (a), the length of the line segment connecting the intersection m1, m2 of the parting line 5a and the second reference plane P2 (see FIG. 5 (c)) equally, the maximum width dimension d ₃ in the cross section of FIG. 6 (b), the length of the line segment connecting the intersection points n1, n2 and parting line 5a and the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 5 (c)) equal.

Of the intersection points m1 and m2, the intersection point m1 located on the arm body 1 side is defined as “first intersection point m1”, and the intersection point m2 located on the opposite side of the first intersection point m1 across the center line Q is defined as “second intersection point m2”. If the, in the present embodiment, the distance d ₂₁ from the intersection m1 to the center line Q is smaller than the distance d ₂₂ from the second intersection point m2 and the center line Q.

  According to the suspension arm material S2 described above, as shown in FIG. 7B, the parting line 5a of the ball joint mounting portion 5 becomes non-circular, and as a result, the peripheral wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion 5 In the portion of 52 that opposes across the second reference plane P2, an unnecessary surplus portion is cut off. That is, when the parting line 104a of the ball joint mounting portion 104 is made circular as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the wall thickness of the peripheral wall portion is uniform over the entire circumference. According to the suspension arm shape material S2, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, since the ball joint mounting portion 5 is slim, the suspension arm shape material S2 is reduced in weight. It becomes possible.

Further, as shown in (a) of FIG. 6, when less than the distance d ₂₂ of the distance d ₂₁ from the first intersection m1 to the center line Q from the second intersection point m2 and the center line Q, the ball joint attachment part 5 In the peripheral wall 52 on the arm main body 1 side (base end side), an unnecessary surplus portion is cut off, so that it is possible to further reduce the weight of the suspension arm material S2. Become. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the weight of the ball joint mounting portion 5 is about 90% of the ball joint mounting portion 104.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 8, a suspension arm base material S3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes an arm main body 1 and a pair of front and rear bush mounting portions formed at the end of the arm main body 1 on the vehicle body side. 2 and 3 and a ball joint mounting portion 6 formed at the end of the arm body 1 on the wheel side. The suspension arm material S3 is a member of a suspension arm (upper arm) constituting a double wishbone or multilink suspension, and is made of a forged product made of an aluminum alloy. The configurations of the arm body 1 and the bush mounting portions 2 and 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8D, the ball joint mounting portion 6 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, but on a plane with the center line Q of the ball joint mounting portion 6 as a normal line. The contour that appears when cut along is not circular but non-circular (see FIG. 10B). The center line Q is oblique to the first reference plane P1.

  The parting line 6 a of the ball joint mounting part 6 is set so as to go around the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint mounting part 6, and is connected to the parting line 1 a of the arm body 1. A part of the parting line 6a located on the tip side of the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 8C) is provided on the first reference plane P1. Although illustration is omitted, at least part of the parting line 6a may be provided on a plane parallel to the first reference plane P1.

  The cross-sectional shapes that appear when the ball joint mounting portion 6 is cut at the second reference plane P2 (see FIG. 8C) or the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 8C) are shown in FIG. As shown in a) or (b).

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the ball joint mounting portion 6 includes a bottom portion 61 and a peripheral wall portion 62 surrounding the bottom portion 61, and has a substantially H-shaped cross section. The peripheral wall portion 62 is formed so as to become thicker toward the parting line 6a.

The maximum width dimension d ₃ (see FIG. 9B) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 6 is cut along the third reference plane P3 (see FIG. 8C) is the second reference plane. It is smaller than the maximum width dimension d ₂ (see FIG. 9A) in the cross section that appears when the ball joint mounting portion 6 is cut along P2 (see FIG. 8C). Of the intersections m1 and m2 between the parting line 6a and the second reference plane P2 (see FIG. 8C), the intersection m1 located on the arm body 1 side is defined as the “first intersection m1”, and the center line If the intersection m2 on the opposite side of the first intersection m1 across the Q and "second intersection m2", the maximum width dimension d ₂ in the cross section of FIG. 9 (a), the intersection m1 to the center line Q The distance d ₂₁ and the distance d ₂₂ from the second intersection m 2 to the center line Q are combined. The maximum width dimension d ₃ in the cross section of FIG. 9 (b) is equal to the length of the line segment connecting the intersection points n1, n2 and ((c) see FIG. 8) the parting line 6a and the third reference plane P3.

In the present embodiment, the distance d ₂₁ from the intersection m1 to the center line Q has become slightly smaller than the distance d ₂₂ from the second intersection point m2 and the center line Q.

  According to the suspension arm shape material S3 described above, as shown in FIG. 10B, the parting line 6a of the ball joint mounting portion 6 becomes non-circular, and as a result, the peripheral wall portion of the ball joint mounting portion 6 In the portion of 62 that faces the second reference plane P2, the unnecessary surplus portion is cut off. That is, when the parting line 104a of the ball joint mounting portion 104 is circular as shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the wall thickness of the peripheral wall portion is uniform over the entire circumference. According to the suspension arm shape material S3, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the ball joint mounting portion 6 becomes slim, so that the suspension arm shape material S3 is reduced in weight. It becomes possible.

  Further, when a part of the parting line 6a of the ball joint mounting portion 6 is provided on the first reference plane P1, an unnecessary surplus portion is scraped off at the peripheral wall portion 62 on the tip side of the ball joint mounting portion 6. Therefore, the suspension arm shaped material S3 can be further reduced in weight. In the present embodiment, since the ball joint mounting portion 6 is slimmed as a whole, the weight of the ball joint mounting portion 6 is about 87% of the ball joint mounting portion 104.

  Although illustration is omitted, even when a part of the parting line 6a is provided on a plane parallel to the first reference plane P1, an unnecessary extra portion is required in the peripheral wall portion 62 on the tip side of the ball joint mounting portion 6. Since the meat portion is cut off, it is possible to promote weight reduction of the suspension arm material S3.

In the present embodiment, in the ball joint mounting portion 6, d ₂ > d ₃ , d ₂₂ > d ₂₁ and a part of the parting line 6a is provided on the first reference plane P1. Even if a part of the parting line 6a is provided on the first reference plane P1 or a plane parallel to the first reference plane P1, the suspension arm base material S3 can be reduced in weight.

S1 to S3 Suspension arm shape material 1 Arm body 2, 3 Bushing attachment part 2a, 3a Parting line 4-6 Ball joint attachment part 4a, 5a, 6a Parting line P1 First reference plane P2 Second reference plane P3 Third reference plane Q Ball joint mounting center line

Claims (3)

A suspension arm shape material made of an aluminum alloy forging,
The arm body,
A bush mounting portion formed at an end of the arm body on the vehicle body side;
A ball joint mounting portion formed at an end of the arm body on the wheel side, and
The center line of the ball joint mounting portion is oblique to the first reference plane including the center point of the bush mounting portion and the center point of the ball joint mounting portion,
When a plane perpendicular to the first reference plane and including the center line is a second reference plane, and a plane perpendicular to the second reference plane is a third reference plane,
The maximum width in the cross section that appears when the ball joint attachment portion is cut along the third reference plane, rather than the maximum width dimension in the cross section that appears when the ball joint attachment portion is cut along the second reference plane. Suspension arm shape material characterized by small dimensions. Of the intersections between the parting line of the ball joint mounting portion and the second reference plane, the intersection located on the arm main body side is a first intersection, and is located on the opposite side of the first intersection across the center line. When the intersecting point is the second intersecting point,
2. The suspension arm material according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the first intersection to the center line is smaller than a distance from the second intersection to the center line.   The at least part of the parting line of the ball joint mounting portion is provided on the first reference plane or on a plane parallel to the first reference plane. The material for suspension arm described in 1.

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