JP5598463B2 - Method for manufacturing elastic support device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a method for manufacturing an elastic body support device in which an elastic body is held between a pair of members.

  Various elastic body support devices that elastically support the upper end of a piston rod of a damper mounted on a vehicle as a suspension device with respect to a vehicle body have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  As shown in Patent Document 1, an elastic body support device includes an elastic body that surrounds a washer portion fixed to an upper end portion of a damper, and the elastic body is received by a receiving member from below and is covered by a lid member from above. It consists of a holding part.

Hereinafter, an operation of placing the elastic body between a pair of upper and lower members in a state where the elastic body is compressed by a predetermined amount will be considered.
In order to arrange the elastic body, the upper or lower other member is coupled to the one member in a state where the elastic body is set on the upper or lower one member. At that time, the compressed elastic body tends to swell outward. When the upper and lower members are joined in the swollen state, it is necessary to join the upper and lower members so that a part of the elastic body is not caught between the joining surfaces of the upper and lower members. For this reason, there was room for improvement in workability related to the connection.
In an elastic body support device in which an elastic body is held between an upper member and a lower member, there is a demand for a technique for disposing the elastic body between the upper member and the lower member without impairing workability.

JP 2009-264551 A

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the technique which provides an elastic body between an upper member and a lower member, without impairing workability | operativity in an elastic body support apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a lid having a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion and a base having a bottom wall portion at the lower end of the outer peripheral wall portion, and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion and a top plate portion at the upper end of the inner peripheral wall portion. Each of the body openings is opposed to each other, and the elastic body is supported by the bottom wall portion and the top plate portion, and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body is a lid. The step of fitting the elastic body into the lid so as to be exposed from the opening end of the body, and the opening end of the lid facing the opening end of the base so as to be exposed from the opening end of the lid in the elastic body. The step of temporarily bonding the lid and the base body until only the part that hits the bottom wall part of the base body, and supporting the intermediate part in the thickness direction of the elastic body through the through-hole formed in the bottom wall part, A compression process for compressing the elastic body toward the bottom wall while reducing the height of the elastic body from above the top plate, and the lid in the base A press-fitting step of press-fitting and applying the opening end of the lid to the bottom wall portion of the base body, and a step of releasing the supporting force supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body. To do.

  In the invention according to claim 2, an intermediate member having a shape different from the front and back in the thickness direction of the elastic body is integrally formed in the middle portion of the elastic body in the thickness direction. If the intermediate member is supported and the fitting direction of the elastic body with respect to the lid is an irregular direction, the height of the intermediate member supported by the jig in the press-fitting process is different. The press-fitting amount for press-fitting the body is regulated so as not to reach a normal press-fitting amount.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the jig is a single member that can be engaged with both the front and back of the intermediate member.

  In the invention according to claim 1, in the method of manufacturing the elastic body support device, the upper portion of the elastic body is compressed into the inner peripheral wall portion of the lid body by pressing the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body from the bottom portion toward the lid portion. A first press-fitting step for press-fitting the elastic body is provided.

  Conventionally, in an elastic body support device having a structure in which an elastic body is press-fitted between a top plate portion of a lid and a bottom portion of a base body, when the elastic body support device is manufactured, the step of press-fitting the elastic body is an elastic body. It press-fits by compressing between the upper end part of a thickness direction, and a lower end part. However, when the elastic body is compressed, the elastic body protrudes from the lid, and a part of the elastic body may be sandwiched between the bottom of the base and the inner peripheral wall of the lid.

  In this regard, the present invention includes a step of compressing the elastic body toward the bottom wall portion while supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body. By supporting the middle part in the thickness direction of the elastic body, the upper part is more strongly compressed than the middle part in the thickness direction of the elastic body. At this time, the lower part than the middle part of the elastic body is also compressed. Since the upper part of the elastic body is strongly compressed and the lower part of the elastic body is also compressed, it is difficult for the elastic body to protrude from the lid. As a result, it is possible to press-fit the elastic body between the base body and the lid without impairing workability related to press-fitting.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the press-fitting step is set so that the press-fitting amount does not reach the normal press-fitting amount when the elastic body is fitted in the non-regular direction on the upper and lower sides of the intermediate member. When the fitting direction of the elastic body integrally formed with the intermediate member is in the non-regular direction and press-fitted, the fitting direction of the elastic body is changed so that the press-fitting height changes and does not reach the normal press-fitting amount. Incorrect assembly can be detected.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the jig is a single member that can be engaged with both the front and back of the intermediate member. By making the jig side a single member that can be engaged, the amount of compression in the height direction of the elastic body is changed, and it becomes possible to easily detect misassembly.

It is sectional drawing of the elastic body support apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part 2 of FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of the elastic body support apparatus which concerns on this invention (an elastic body fitting process-lid body temporary coupling process). It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process (compression process-press-fit completion) of the elastic body support device concerning the present invention. It is a figure explaining the dimensional relationship etc. of a press-fitting jig and an intermediate member. It is a figure explaining that the amount of press-fit changes with press-fit directions. It is a figure explaining the press injection process of the elastic body support apparatus which concerns on a comparative example and an Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension support 10 includes a bottomed cylindrical base 13 having a flange portion 11 coupled to a vehicle body at an open end, and an elastic body 20 supported by the bottom 14 of the base 13. It is an elastic body support apparatus which consists of the bottomed cylindrical cover body 30 press-fitted so that the elastic body 20 may be covered. The elastic body support device 10 faces each opening of the base body 13 and the lid body 30 and supports the elastic body 20 by the bottom portion 14 (bottom wall portion 14) of the base body and the top plate portion 31 of the lid body. .

  In other words, in this embodiment, the elastic body support device is the suspension support 10 that supports the upper end 41a of the piston rod of the damper on the vehicle body. Hereinafter, the elastic body support device 10 may be referred to as the suspension support 10.

  The base 13 of the suspension support 10 includes a flange portion 11 coupled to a member 42 on the vehicle body side, a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 15 (outer peripheral wall portion 15) extending from the flange portion 11, and a lower end 15b of the peripheral wall portion. The bottom part 14 (bottom wall part 14) which supports the elastic body 20 which has the through-hole 17 formed and penetrates the piston rod 41 and supports the upper end of the piston rod 41 is formed. In this embodiment, the means for coupling the base 13 to the vehicle-side member 42 is a fastening bolt and a nut (not shown).

  The lid 30 of the suspension support 10 includes a cylindrical peripheral portion 35 (inner peripheral wall portion 35) and a top plate portion 31 that is passed to the upper end of the inner peripheral wall portion 35. The lid body 30 is press-fitted into the inner surface 15 u of the outer peripheral wall portion toward the bottom portion 14 (bottom wall portion 14) of the base body 13. The lid 30 covers at least the upper surface 21 of the elastic body 20.

  The elastic body 20 accommodated between the base body 13 and the lid body 30 is urethane rubber in which a washer-like intermediate member 45 fastened with a nut 43 is integrally formed at the tip of the piston rod 41 of the cushion damper. The intermediate member 45 is disposed in the middle portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20. The piston rod 41 of the damper is inserted into the hole 46 formed in the intermediate member 45, and the nut 43 is fastened to the tip of the piston rod 41 from above.

  The elastic body 20 includes an opening 22 where a portion where the intermediate member 45 is fastened to the piston rod 41 (rod 41) is exposed, an upper surface 21 that contacts the top plate portion 31 of the lid 30, and an edge 21f of the upper surface. This is a donut-shaped member having an outer peripheral surface 23 extending downward along the piston axis direction and a lower surface 24 extending from the lower end of the outer peripheral surface 23 along the direction perpendicular to the piston axis.

  In the drawing, when the lid body 30 is attached to the base body 13, the upper end portion 30t of the lid body is accommodated under the upper end portion 15a of the peripheral wall portion. Since the upper end portion 30t of the lid body does not protrude from the upper end portion 15a of the peripheral wall portion, there is no fear that other members hit the lid body 30 and a load is applied. Since no load is applied to the lid 30, it is possible to prevent distortion or the like from being generated in the peripheral portion 35 (inner peripheral wall portion 35) of the lid serving as a press-fit portion.

  The arrangement relationship when the suspension support 10 is attached to the vehicle body side member 42 will be described. The vehicle body side member 42 is arranged so as to overlap the lid 30 in the vertical direction of the piston rod 41. The vehicle body side member 42 is disposed so as to overlap the lid 30. Even when the peripheral portion 35 (inner peripheral wall portion 35) serving as the press-fit portion is detached from the outer peripheral wall portion 15, the lid body 30 can be supported by the member 42 on the vehicle body side.

Next, the relationship between the corner formed between the peripheral wall portion of the base and the bottom of the base and the opening end of the lid will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, a bent portion 51 is formed at a corner between the peripheral wall portion 15 of the base and the bottom wall portion 14 of the base. In the lower end portion 30b of the lid 30, the surface 33 on the side in contact with the elastic body (FIG. 1, reference numeral 20) is formed flat and is spaced from the peripheral wall portion 15 on the surface 34 facing the peripheral wall portion 15 side of the base body 13. The escape portion 37 is formed. The depth D1 of the escape portion 37 was made larger than the depth D2 of the bent portion 51. Next, a method for assembling the suspension support having the above structure will be described.

In FIG. 3A, the elastic body 20 is fitted into the lid body 30 in the direction of the arrow a so that a part of the outer peripheral surface 23 of the elastic body 20 is exposed from the opening end 30 a of the lid body 30. The process is shown.
As shown in FIG. 3B, a lower jig 53 constituting the press-fitting jig 52 is prepared, and the base body 13 in which the damper skirt portion 56 is integrated is set on the lower jig 53.

  The lower jig 53 includes a receiving surface 61 that receives the bottom 14 side of the base 13 and a convex part 62 that inserts the base through-hole 17 and supports the intermediate member 45 during press-fitting. The projecting portion 62 includes an outer wall 63 extending in the height direction, a horizontal receiving portion 64 that is horizontally formed at the upper end of the outer wall 63 and supports the intermediate member 45, and an intermediate member 45 that extends obliquely upward from the horizontal receiving portion 64. It comprises an oblique receiving portion 65 to be supported and an upper surface 66 formed horizontally at the upper end of the oblique receiving portion 65. The horizontal receiving portion 64 and the oblique receiving portion 65 form an engaging portion 68 that engages with the hole 46 of the intermediate member.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the lid body 30 is set on the base body 13 so that the opening end 30 a of the lid body 30 is brought into contact with the opening end 13 a of the base body 13.

  In FIG. 4A, the upper jig 54 constituting the press-fitting jig 52 is applied to the top plate portion 31 of the lid body 30, a force is applied in the direction of the arrow f, and the opening end 30a of the lid body is opened to the opening of the base body. The process of temporarily bonding the lid 30 and the base 13 until only the portion of the elastic body 20 exposed from the opening end 30a of the lid 20 abuts the bottom wall 14 of the base 13 toward the end 13a is shown. Has been.

  In FIG. 4B, the intermediate member 45 provided at the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20 is passed through the through hole 17 formed in the bottom wall portion 14, and the engaging portion 68 of the press-fitting jig 52. A compression step of compressing the elastic body 20 toward the bottom wall portion 14 while shrinking the height of the elastic body 20 from above the top plate portion 31, and press-fitting the lid 30 into the base body 13. A press-fitting process in which the opening end 30a of the lid is applied to the bottom wall portion 14 of the base 13 is shown. That is, the lid body 30 is press-fitted until the lower end portion 30b in the piston axial direction of the lid body abuts against the bottom wall portion.

  Referring also to FIG. 2, the outer peripheral surface 23 of the elastic body 20 contacts the inner surface 35 b of the inner peripheral wall portion. The lid 30 is press-fitted between the base 13 and the elastic body 20 so that portions other than the outer peripheral surface extending in the piston axial direction of the outer peripheral surface 23 of the elastic body do not touch the outer peripheral wall 15.

  If the lid 30 is press-fitted so as not to touch the outer peripheral wall portion 15 except for a portion extending in the piston axial direction of the outer peripheral surface 23 of the elastic body, the elastic body 20 is engaged with the inner surface 35b of the outer peripheral wall portion serving as a press-fitting surface. There is no worry about getting caught. As a result, the dispersion of the suspension support performance can be kept low.

  Since the depth of the escape portion 37 of the lid body 30 is larger than the depth of the bent portion 51 formed between the outer peripheral wall portion 15 and the bottom wall portion 14 of the base body 13, when the lid body 30 is press-fitted into the base body 13, There is no concern that the lower end 30b of the lid interferes with the bent portion 51.

  The elastic body side surface 33 of the lid is formed flat at the piston axial lower end 30b. Since the elastic body 20 hits the flat surface of the lid 30, the deformed shape of the elastic body 20 can be stabilized. In addition, a relief portion 37 is formed on the peripheral wall portion side of the lid 30. The escape portion 37 prevents the elastic body 20 from entering between the bottom wall portion 14 of the base body and the lower end portion 30b of the lid during deformation. As a result, the characteristics of the suspension support can be stabilized.

  FIG. 4C shows the suspension support 10 in which the press-fitting of the elastic body 20 is completed through a step of releasing the support force that supports the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20 after the press-fitting is completed. . The manufacturing method (assembly method) of the suspension support 10 has been described above.

Next, the dimension relationship between the position of the intermediate member integrated with the elastic body and the press-fitting jig will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the outer diameter of the lower end of the oblique receiving portion 65 of the convex portion 62 of the press-fitting jig is D, the hole diameter on the upper surface of the intermediate member 45 is d1, and the height of the elastic body 20 of the intermediate member 45 When the hole diameter in the direction center line n is d2, d1 <D <d2.

  When the length from the center line n in the height direction of the elastic body 20 to the upper surface of the intermediate member 45 is δ1, and the length from the center line n in the height direction of the elastic body 20 to the lower surface of the intermediate member 45 is δ2. , Δ2 <δ1. That is, the intermediate member 45 integrated with the elastic body is disposed at a position offset upward from the center line n in the height direction as a whole.

Next, it will be described that the press-fitting height differs depending on the direction of the intermediate member when the press-fitting operation is performed in the press-fitting process depending on the dimensions and positional relationships of the respective elements.
As shown in FIG. 6A, when the elastic member 20 is fitted into the intermediate member 45 in the normal direction, the open end 30 a of the lid 30 is press-fitted until it contacts the bottom 14 of the base 13.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the elastic body 20 is fitted in the non-regular direction of the intermediate member 45, it is not press-fitted until the opening end 30 a of the lid body 30 abuts against the bottom portion 14 of the base body 13. . That is, the press-fit amount is set so as not to reach the normal press-fit amount.

The reason will be described with reference to FIG.
Since the inner diameter d1 on the upper surface side of the intermediate member 45 is smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the oblique receiving portion 65 serving as the engaging portion 68 (d1 <D), the convex portion 62 does not engage with the hole 46 of the intermediate member. In addition to this, the end face of the intermediate member 45 supported by the convex portion 62 is compared with the end face of the elastic body 20 as compared with the case where the intermediate member 45 is disposed upside down and the intermediate member 45 is disposed in a normal posture. This is because the press-fitting allowance is reduced by approaching.

  Thus, in order to prevent the press-fitting height from changing and reaching the normal press-fitting amount when the fitting direction of the elastic body 20 in which the intermediate member 45 is integrally formed is press-fitted in a non-normal direction, It is possible to detect erroneous assembly in which the fitting direction of the elastic body 20 is erroneously assembled.

  The press-fitting jig 52 is a single member that can be engaged with both the front and back of the intermediate member 45. By making the jig side a single member that can be engaged only when the elastic body 20 is press-fitted in a normal posture, the amount of compression in the height direction of the elastic body 20 is changed, and misassembly is easily detected. become able to.

The operation of the suspension support (elastic body support device) described above will be described next.
As shown in the comparative example of FIG. 7A, in the elastic body support device having the structure in which the elastic body 20 is press-fitted between the top plate portion 31 of the lid body 30 and the bottom wall portion 14 of the base body 13, When the convex part 62 which receives the intermediate member 45 is not provided in the tool 53X, the process of press-fitting the elastic body 20 is press-fitted by compressing between the thickness direction upper end part and lower end part of the elastic body 20. The However, when the elastic body 20 is compressed, the elastic body 20 may protrude from the lid body 30 and a part of the elastic body 20 may be sandwiched between the bottom wall portion 14 of the base body and the inner peripheral wall portion 35 of the lid body. there were.

  In this regard, in the present invention, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7B, the upper jig 54 is pushed from above while supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20 from the bottom portion 14 to the lid body 30. The upper part of the elastic body 20 is compressed and the elastic body 20 is press-fitted into the inner peripheral wall portion of the lid 30.

  The elastic body 20 is compressed toward the bottom wall portion 14 while supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20 (the position of the center line n in the height direction shown in FIG. 5). By supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20, the upper portion of the elastic body 20 is more strongly compressed than the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body 20 (position of the center line n in the height direction of the elastic body shown in FIG. 5). The At this time, the lower part of the elastic body 20 is also compressed from the middle part of the elastic body 20. Since the upper portion of the elastic body 20 is strongly compressed and the lower portion of the elastic body 20 is also compressed, it is difficult for the elastic body 20 to protrude from the lid 30. As a result, it is possible to press-fit the elastic body 20 between the base 13 and the lid body 30 without impairing workability related to press-fitting.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the suspension support 10 includes a base body 13 and a lid body 30 press-fitted into the base body 13. Since the lid 30 and the base body 13 are integrated by press-fitting, a fastening member or caulking for integrating the lid body 30 with the base body 13 is unnecessary. Since the fastening member is unnecessary, the suspension support 10 can be reduced in weight. In addition, since the coupling means for press-fitting the lid 30 to the base 13 is press-fitted, the maintainability of the elastic body 20 built in the suspension support 10 is ensured. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both weight reduction of the suspension support 10 and securing of maintainability.

  The lid 30 is coupled to the base 13 by press-fitting. By press-fitting, a joining process such as fastening or welding becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, since both the base 13 and the lid 30 can be easily manufactured by press-molding a plate material, the suspension support 10 can be manufactured at a low cost.

The suspension support 10 is fastened to the vehicle body side member 42 with bolts and nuts.
Conventionally, there has been a case of so-called co-tightening, in which a suspension support composed of a base and a lid and a suspension support are coupled to a vehicle body side member by bolts and nuts. In this case, maintainability of the elastic body disposed between the base body and the lid is ensured, but due to variations in the dimensions of the members on the vehicle body, variations in the press-fit state of the elastic bodies are likely to occur. As a result, the damper support characteristics are easily affected.

  In this respect, in the present invention, the elastic body is held by press-fitting in the suspension support, and separately from this, the suspension support is coupled to the vehicle-side parts by bolts and nuts. There is no concern about variations in the press-fit state of the elastic body due to variations.

  Although the present invention is applied to an automobile in the embodiment, it can also be applied to a tricycle and can be applied to a general vehicle.

  The present invention is suitable for automobiles.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Elastic body support apparatus, 13 ... Base | substrate, 13a ... Open end of base | substrate, 14 ... Bottom wall part, 15 ... Outer peripheral wall part, 17 ... Through-hole, 20 ... Elastic body, 23 ... Outer peripheral surface of elastic body, 30 ... Lid, 30a ... Open end of lid, 31 ... Top plate part, 35 ... Inner peripheral wall part, 45 ... Intermediate member, 53 ... Press fitting jig (lower jig), n ... Middle part of elastic body in thickness direction (Center line in the height direction of the elastic body).

Claims (3)

Each opening of a base body having a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion and a bottom wall portion at the lower end of the outer peripheral wall portion, and a lid body having a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion and a top plate portion at the upper end of the inner peripheral wall portion Facing each other and supporting the elastic body by the bottom wall portion and the top plate portion,
Fitting the elastic body into the lid so that a part of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body is exposed from the opening end of the lid;
With the opening end of the lid facing the opening end of the base body, only the portion of the elastic body exposed from the opening end of the lid body is in contact with the bottom wall portion of the base body and the lid body. A step of temporarily bonding the substrate;
Through the through hole formed in the bottom wall portion, while supporting the middle portion of the elastic body in the thickness direction, the elastic body is placed on the bottom wall while the height of the elastic body is reduced from above the top plate portion. A compression step of compressing toward the part;
A press-fitting step of press-fitting the lid into the base body and applying an opening end of the lid body to a bottom wall portion of the base body;
Releasing the supporting force supporting the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body;
The manufacturing method of the elastic body support apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the elastic body, an intermediate member having a shape different from the front and back in the thickness direction of the elastic body is integrally formed,
In the compression step, the intermediate member is supported by a jig passing through the through hole,
When the fitting direction of the elastic body with respect to the lid body is an irregular direction, the height of supporting the intermediate member by the jig is different in the press-fitting step, whereby the lid is placed in the base body. 2. The method of manufacturing an elastic body support device according to claim 1, wherein the press-fitting amount for press-fitting the body is regulated so as not to reach a normal press-fitting amount.   3. The method for manufacturing an elastic body support device according to claim 2, wherein the jig is a single member that can be engaged with both the front and back surfaces of the intermediate member.

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