JP5628634B2 - Torque rod and its mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a torque rod connected to each of a vibration generation side member and a transmission side member via a pair of elastic bodies and a mounting structure thereof, and in particular, processing and assembly of constituent members of the torque rod. The present invention proposes a technique that can reduce the manufacturing cost while reducing the number of man-hours required for attaching and the like and reducing the number of members.

  For example, in order to realize excellent vibration riding comfort and sound vibration performance when a vehicle such as an automobile is running, an engine as a power plant is connected to a suspension member or the like as a vehicle body side member so that vibration from the engine can be reduced. Conventionally, torque rods that suppress transmission to the vehicle body side are described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

  In Patent Document 1, “a rubber elastic body is interposed between an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, a pair of bushes attached to the engine side and the vehicle body side of the vehicle, and a connecting portion that couples the pair of bushes. In the torque rod having, the outer cylinder and the connecting portion of the pair of bushes are integrally formed by press-molding a single annular metal plate, and are joined by spot welding at the connecting portion. '' According to the torque rod described in Patent Document 1, "By forming a single annular metal plate by press molding, and integrally forming a pair of outer cylinders and connecting portions, The number of components can be greatly reduced, and joints can be joined by spot welding, so that processing can be done with a simple jig, improving productivity, and the diameter of the outer cylinder for each vehicle type. And even when the mounting length is different Flexibly enables correspondence, are a. "Capable of achieving cost reduction.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in “a structure for attaching an end portion of an anti-vibration link provided with a rubber elastic body to an attached body via a mounting bracket”, “mainly reducing costs”. For the purpose of this, “the rubber elastic body is formed in a cylindrical shape and is directly inserted into an insertion hole provided in an end portion of the vibration isolation link, and the bracket is interposed between the mounted body and the bracket. A main body portion disposed so as to sandwich an end portion of the vibration isolating link in the direction of the axial center of the rubber elastic body, and a linear hole extending linearly from the main body portion toward the mounted body, the cylindrical hole of the rubber elastic body The shaft portion directly inserted into the body and the boss portion extending from the main body portion toward the attached body so as to straddle the end portion of the vibration isolation link and fastened to the attached body are integrally formed. What is done is disclosed.
And, according to this "vibration-proof link mounting structure", for example, in a torque rod that supports a power plant of an automobile, a cylindrical rubber elastic body is directly fitted into a fitting hole formed at an end thereof, The shaft portion that is inserted into the cylindrical hole of the rubber elastic body is integrally formed with the bracket, so that the weight and cost can be reduced.

JP 2008-2615 A JP 2007-308016 A

  However, when the torque rod described in Patent Document 1 is manufactured, as described in the specification, one annular metal plate is press-formed and spot-welded, so that two types of large and small are provided. The outer cylinder and the connecting portion for connecting them are integrally formed, and each of the two types of large and small rubber elastic bodies is fixed to the inside of the two types of large and small outer cylinders by vulcanization adhesion. For this reason, many man-hours are required for forming and assembling the members associated with the manufacture of the torque rod, and as a result, there has been a problem that the manufacturing cost cannot be further reduced.

  Further, in the “vibration-proof link mounting structure” described in Patent Document 2, the “vibration-proof link” itself is formed by press-fitting the outer cylinder of the rubber bush into the “large fitting hole” of the “main body member”. In addition to being forced to increase man-hours and costs, the “bracket” having a shaft portion inserted inside the rubber elastic body disposed in the “small insertion hole” of the “main body member”, and this Since many members are required to attach the “vibration-proof links” to the engine-side members, such as “plate members” connected to the “brackets”, the processing cost of these members increases, There is a problem that the on-site construction accompanying the attachment of the “vibration link” to the “attachment” is complicated.

  The object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the prior art, and the object of the invention is to reduce the man-hours required for processing and assembling the members constituting the torque rod. In addition, by reducing the number of members as much as possible, the manufacturing cost is greatly reduced, and a torque rod that can be easily attached to an engine side member or the like under a simple structure, and its mounting structure To provide.

The torque rod according to the present invention is a torque rod formed by connecting a pair of elastic bodies attached to the vibration generation side member and the transmission side member with a connecting member, and the connecting member is subjected to plastic working. The metal plate is formed of a single bent metal plate, and a pair of arm portions extending from one of the pair of elastic bodies to the other and the pair of arm portions on the one elastic body side are connected to the metal plate. A pair of arm portions by, for example, inserting bolts into both of the through holes provided in the free end portions of the pair of arm portions. The free end portions of the pair of arm portions are connected to the inner cylinder of the other elastic body, and one elastic body is preferably placed inside the cylindrical portion, preferably in a compressive deformation posture. Tighten with , Those made by holding.

  Preferably, each of the pair of arm portions is integrally provided with a rib extending in parallel to the extending direction of each arm portion, and the pair of arm portions are in contact with each other in at least one half region on the elastic body side. More preferably, the half region is fixed to each other by welding.

  The torque rod mounting structure according to the present invention is a mounting structure of any one of the above torque rods to a vehicle body side member, wherein the other elastic body is mounted inside the bracket as the vehicle body side member, The free end portion of the arm portion of the rod is connected to the other elastic body in the bracket.

  According to the torque rod of the present invention, for example, one elastic body is arranged inside the cylindrical portion of a single metal plate formed by pressing a flat plate into a tongue shape, and the metal plate By connecting the free ends of the pair of arm portions to the other elastic body with bolts or the like in a state where the pair of arm portions are displaced in proximity to each other, the one elastic body becomes the cylindrical portion of the metal plate. Since one of the elastic bodies is fixed to the metal plate and the connecting member is formed by one operation without passing through the vulcanization bonding process of the elastic body, it is also a manual operation. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the processing and assembly man-hours of the structural members associated with the production of the torque rod as compared with the prior art. As a result, one metal plate An outer cylinder surrounding the elastic body and Based on that the both functions of the linking member, I sufficiently small number of parts both phases 俟, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost required for manufacturing.

  Here, when one elastic body is clamped and held inside the cylindrical portion in a compressive deformation posture, the cylindrical portion is prevented from slipping out of the one elastic body in the axial direction. Without providing a stop flange, etc., the holding force of one elastic body by the cylindrical portion can be increased sufficiently, effectively increasing the processing cost due to the arrangement of such a retainer flange, etc. Even if it suppresses, the torque rod which can exhibit the outstanding durability performance can be formed.

  Here, when each of the pair of arm portions is integrally provided with a rib extending in parallel with the extending direction of each arm portion, the strength of the connecting member can be increased. When they are brought into contact with each other in at least one half of the elastic body, one elastic body can be held more firmly inside the cylindrical portion, so that the durability performance of the torque rod can be improved as required. Can be improved.

  By the way, when the torque rod is attached to a bracket of a vehicle body side member such as a suspension member, the free end portion of the arm portion is connected to the other elastic body previously installed in the bracket by a bolt or the like. Sometimes, only the operation of connecting the free end to the other elastic body is performed, and one elastic body is fastened and fixed inside the cylindrical portion, and the torque rod is connected to the vehicle body side member. Therefore, the assembling man-hours for the torque rod alone are not required, and on-site construction can be greatly simplified.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the torque rod of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the assembly | attachment process of the torque rod of FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the modification of the cylindrical part of the torque rod of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the torque rod of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the attachment structure of the torque rod of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the attachment structure of the torque rod of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The torque rod 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, elastic bodies 2 and 3 that form a pair of large and small types each having an inner cylinder fixed to the inner peripheral surface, and a pair of elastic bodies 2. 3 are connected to each other, for example, a connecting member 4a formed of a metal plate 4 which can be a tong-shaped formed body.

Here, the metal plate 4 has a pair of upper and lower arm portions 5 extending between the pair of elastic bodies 2 and 3, and the small ball side elastic body 2 side (left side in the figure), and these arms. A cylindrical portion 6 that extends continuously from the portion 5 and surrounds the elastic body 2 on the small ball side is provided.
In the torque rod 1, the free end portions 5a of the pair of arm portions 5 are connected to the elastic body 3 on the large ball side, for example, a bolt 7 and a nut in a state where the pair of arm portions 5 are close to each other. 8, and the small ball side elastic body 2 is held inside the cylindrical portion 6.
In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the arrangement | positioning position of each elastic body 2 and 3 of the small ball side and the large ball side can be replaced with what is shown in FIG. Both of them can be arranged in parallel, and the outer diameters of the pair of elastic bodies can be the same.

In the drawing, a pair of arm portions 5 having a plate shape are extended toward the large elastic body 3 while being in contact with each other from the small elastic body 2 side, and the extension On the way, in order to be positioned at a required distance from each other, the bent portions 5b and 5c are bent at two bent portions 5b, and further, the free end portions 5a of the pair of arm portions 5 extending in parallel and spaced apart from each other. The elastic body 3 on the large ball side is sandwiched and fixed therebetween.
And here, the half part area | region 5d which mutually contacts in the elastic body 2 side of a small ball side of a pair of arm part 5 is mutually fixed by welding etc. FIG.

Thus, when the pair of arm portions 5 are brought into contact with each other at least in the half region 5d on the elastic body 2 side on the small ball side, the cylindrical portion 6 continuous from the pair of arm portions 5 causes the elasticity on the small ball side. Since the periphery of the body 2 is securely held over the entire circumference, the holding force of the elastic body 2 on the small ball side by the cylindrical portion 6 increases, and the half region of the arm portion 5 that makes a pair When the 5d are fixed to each other by welding or the like, the shift or separation of the arm portions 5 in the half region 5d due to the input to the torque rod 1 is reliably prevented. The durability performance of the torque rod 1 on which various forces act under the usage state can be effectively improved.
However, as described above, welding or the like is performed on the arm portion 5 in the half region 5d, or the half portions 5d are brought into contact with each other, and the bent portions 5b and 5c are bent during the extension of the arm member 5. Forming is not an essential component of the present invention.

  In addition, in order to increase the rigidity or strength of the torque rod 1, each arm portion 5 is provided with a rib 5 e extending in the extending direction in a rising posture in the drawing, for example, a tong-shaped metal plate 5 described later. It is preferable to provide each arm portion 5 integrally by press working for molding.

By the way, when the connecting member 4a of the torque rod 1 is formed by press molding of a metal plate or the like, as shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, first, for example, a single flat metal plate is formed. Then, the metal plate 4 is bent and formed into a tong-shaped sheet by pressing or the like.
Next, in a state where the small ball-side elastic body 2 is arranged inside the cylindrical portion 6 provided on the metal plate 4, a through hole 5f provided in each free end portion 5a of the pair of arm portions 5 and a free end The pair of arm portions 5 are brought close to each other in the direction indicated by the white arrow in the figure so as to coincide with each other so that the central axes of the cylindrical elastic body 3 arranged on the side of the portion 5a coincide with each other. At the same time, they are brought into contact with each other in the half region 5d and subjected to welding or the like as required.
Here, in order to facilitate the disposition of the elastic body 2 on the small ball side in the cylindrical portion 6 of the metal plate 4, as shown by the solid line in the figure, the pair of arm portions 5 are sufficiently spaced from each other. It is preferable to bend the metal plate 4 so as to be separated from each other.

After that, a bolt 7 is inserted into the inside of the through hole 5f provided in the free end portion 5a and the cylindrical elastic body 3 on the large ball side, and between the pair of free end portions 5a of the respective arm portions 5. With the elastic body 3 sandwiched therebetween, the pair of free end portions 5a are tightened together with the elastic body 3 by the bolts 7 and the nuts 8 so that the elastic body 3 is connected to the connecting member 4a.
At this time, the elastic body 2 on the small ball side arranged inside the cylindrical portion 6 is held inside the cylindrical portion 6 based on the close proximity of the arm portions 5.

  According to the torque rod 1 formed in this way, the elasticity of the small ball side is accompanied by one operation of connecting the large ball side elastic body 3 to one end portion (right end portion in the figure) of the metal plate 4. Since the body 6 is held in the cylindrical portion 6 at the other end portion (the left end portion in the figure) of the metal plate 4, the connecting member 4a is formed by the single metal plate 4. Assembling man-hours of the torque rod 1 can be reduced, and since such work can be performed manually, the assembly of the constituent members of the torque rod 1 can be greatly simplified. The manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced in combination with the improvement of the work efficiency due to the fact that the vulcanization bonding process or the like is not required for the attachment of the elastic bodies 2 and 3 to the connecting member 4a.

  In addition, since the free end portions 5a of both arm portions 5 are sufficiently fastened and fixed to each other by the bolts 7 and nuts 8 inserted into the through holes 5f of the arm portions 5, the elasticity of the metal plate 4 is fixed. The effect of springback due to deformation can be sufficiently removed.

Here, in order to prevent the elastic body 2 on the small ball side from coming off in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, as illustrated in FIG. 3 in a state where the elastic body 2 on the small ball side is not arranged, It is preferable to provide a retaining flange 16a that protrudes to the inner peripheral side over the entire circumference at the opening edge of the cylindrical portion 16 as a component separate from the opening edge or as an integral part of the opening edge.
Although not shown in the drawing, such a retaining flange may be provided on the opening edge or in a plurality at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the opening edge, and the shape thereof is the elastic body 2 on the small ball side. It is possible to have an arbitrary shape that can prevent omission.

On the other hand, in order to firmly hold the elastic body 2 on the small ball side inside the cylindrical portion 6 without providing the above-described retaining flange on the cylindrical portion 6, It is preferable that the outer peripheral length be longer than the inner peripheral length of the cylindrical portion 6 under the mutual contact posture of the pair of arm portions.
In this case, the elastic body 2 on the small ball side is held in a compressive deformation posture inside the cylindrical portion 6 under the contact of both arm portions, so that the elastic body 2 is held by the cylindrical portion 6. Power can be greatly increased.
As described above, in addition to holding the elastic body 2 on the small ball side in a compressive deformation posture inside the cylindrical portion 6, it is possible to provide the cylindrical portion 6 with a retaining flange as described above. It is.

  Here, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of assembling steps, as described above, prior to bringing the arm portions 5 into contact with each other in the half region 5d of the pair of arm portions 5, the cylindrical portion It is preferable to place the elastic body 2 on the small ball side in advance on the inner side of 6, but press the elastic body 2 on the small ball side on the inner side of the cylindrical portion 6 after contacting the pair of arm portions 5. It is also possible to hold it.

On the other hand, the elastic body 3 on the large ball side connected to the free end portions 5a of the pair of arm portions 5 is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the torque rod itself. It is preferable that the inner cylinder is fixed to the inner side, and the outer cylinder is not formed. However, as shown in FIG. 4, an elastic body 3a including the outer cylinder 3b may be used. is there.
The elastic body 3a shown in FIG. 4 can be formed by, for example, fixing the rubber elastic member 3c to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 3b in advance by vulcanization adhesion or the like, and the free ends of both arm portions 5 After the elastic body 3a is sandwiched between the portions 5a, the rubber elastic body 3c is frictionally engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 3b in a state where the diameter of the rubber elastic member 3c is increased by tightening the bolt 7 and the nut 8. Can also be formed.
The torque rod 1a can be easily attached to a vehicle body side member (not shown) by a known method.

By the way, the structure for attaching the torque rod 21 to the vehicle body side member illustrated in FIG. 5 is, for example, inside the box-shaped bracket 29 of the vehicle body side member such as a suspension member. In addition, each free end portion 25a of the arm portion 25 of the torque rod 21 is connected to the inner cylinder of the elastic body 23 on the large ball side.
In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the elastic body attached to the bracket 29 can also be a thing of the small ball side.

  Here, the elastic body 23 is attached to the bracket 29 by, for example, attaching the outer cylinder 30 integrally formed in the bracket 29 or separately configured, and rubber is provided inside the outer cylinder 30. This can be done by inserting the elastic member in an expanded state or the like.

  Then, for example, in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2, a pair of metal plates 24 with a small ball side elastic body 22 arranged inside a cylindrical portion 26 of a metal plate 24 formed in a tong shape. While holding the arm portions 25 close to each other, the large end side elastic body 23 of the bracket 29 is sandwiched between the free end portions 25a of the arm portions 25, and each of the free end portions 25a is connected to the large end side by bolts 27 and nuts. By connecting to the elastic body 23, the torque rod 21 can be attached to the suspension member.

  According to such an attachment structure, the torque rod 21 can be attached to the vehicle body side member only by bolting the free end 25a to the large ball side elastic body 23, so that only the assembly man-hours can be reduced. In addition, the bolt can be attached by an extremely simple operation, so that the torque rod can be easily and easily installed at the assembly site of the vehicle body, thereby effectively reducing the manufacturing cost and the like. it can.

  6 and 7, as in another embodiment of the mounting structure of the present invention, a small window 51 is provided on the side wall of the bracket 49 on the side of the elastic body 42 on the small ball side, for example, two in the axial direction. Each of the free end portions 45a of the pair of arm portions 45 linearly extending in contact with each other between the elastic members 43a and 43b of the elastic body 43 formed by overlapping the elastic members 43a and 43b. Can be configured by connecting the free end portion 45 a and the elastic body 43 to the bracket 49 with a bolt 47 and a nut 48.

1, 1a, 21, 41 Torque rod 2, 22, 42 Small ball side elastic body 3, 23, 43 Large ball side elastic body 4, 24, 44 Metal plate 4a Connecting member 5, 25, 45 Arm portion 5a, 25a, 45a Free end portion 5b, 5c Bending portion 5d Half region 5e Rib 5f Through-hole 6, 16, 26 Cylindrical portion 16a Retaining flange 7, 27, 47 Bolt 8, 48 Nut 29, 49 Bracket 30 Outer cylinder 51 Small window

Claims (5)

A torque rod formed by connecting a pair of elastic bodies attached to each of the vibration generating side member and the transmission side member with a connecting member,
The connecting member is formed of a single metal plate bent by plastic processing, and a pair of arm portions extending from one of the pair of elastic bodies to the other of the metal plate, and one elastic body side, A cylindrical part surrounding the periphery of one elastic body is provided continuously to each of the pair of arm parts,
Under the mutual displacement of the pair of arm portions, the free end portions of the pair of arm portions are connected to the inner cylinder of the other elastic body, and one elastic body is held inside the cylindrical portion. Torque rod. The torque rod according to claim 1, wherein each free end portion of the pair of arm portions is connected to the inner cylinder of the other elastic body by inserting a bolt into a through hole provided in the free end portion. The torque rod according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein one elastic body is clamped and held inside the cylindrical portion in a compressive deformation posture. A rib that extends in parallel with the extending direction of each arm portion is integrally provided on each of the pair of arm portions, and the pair of arm portions are in contact with each other in a half region on at least one elastic body side. The torque rod according to any one of 1 to 3 . 5. A structure for mounting the torque rod according to claim 1 to a vehicle body side member, wherein the other elastic body is mounted inside a bracket as the vehicle body side member, and the arm portion of the torque rod is loosened. A torque rod mounting structure in which an end is connected to the other elastic body in the bracket.

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