JP5801025B2 - Upper mount and shock absorber using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an upper mount and a shock absorber using the upper mount, and more particularly to an upper mount for mounting a shock absorber used for a wheel suspension device in a vehicle such as an automobile to a vehicle body by adjusting its mounting position. It relates to the shock absorber used.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, an upper mount that can adjust the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body may be used. The upper mount is used to attach a shock absorber used for a wheel suspension device to a vehicle body. Wheel alignment and the like can be adjusted by adjusting the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body to obtain a desired suspension geometry.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an upper mount configured by fixing an upper mount unit (holding portion) to which a spherical bearing is attached to a set plate attached to a vehicle body. The upper mount unit is fixed to the lower surface of the set plate. A long hole is formed in the set plate. The upper mount unit is screwed to the set plate by an adjusting bolt arranged so as to penetrate the long hole from above the set plate. In this upper mount, camber adjustment can be performed by adjusting the longitudinal position of the long hole of the upper mount unit with respect to the set plate within a range in which the adjustment bolt can penetrate the long hole.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a support for a suspension device having a structure in which a flange provided on a bush holding the upper end of a strut is sandwiched between a chassis member and a fastening plate provided with a stud penetrating the chassis member. An apparatus is disclosed. In the flange of the support device, an opening larger than the diameter of the stud is formed through the stud of the fastening plate. The flange can be displaced relative to the chassis member within a range in which the stud can penetrate the opening in a state where the nut for tightening the fastening plate and the chassis member is loosely screwed into the stud. Therefore, in this support structure, it is possible to adjust casters and cambers.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-58933 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 6-508583

  However, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, various problems may occur in a structure in which a long hole is formed in a set plate so that the suspension geometry can be changed.

  For example, since the seat surface of a screw such as a bolt or a nut for fixing the holding portion that holds the shock absorber to the set plate is in contact with the side edge of the long hole, the area of the seat surface of the screw is reduced. Therefore, when the axial force of the screw is generated or a force is applied to the shock absorber or the vehicle body, stress concentrates on the seat surface portion of the screw, so that it is relatively difficult to secure the strength of the entire upper mount. In order to ensure sufficient strength as the entire upper mount, for example, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the screw to widen the seating surface, or to change the material and thickness of the set plate or the like. However, in this case, there arises a problem that the weight of the upper mount increases or the upper mount becomes large.

  Further, for example, since the screw for fixing the holding portion to the set plate is screwed to the holding portion, the position of the screw is displaced according to the position of the holding portion. Therefore, if the adjustment range of the mounting position of the shock absorber is to be widened, the long hole must be enlarged, and the set plate becomes large. In other words, when the size of the set plate is limited due to the shape of the upper mount mounting portion (such as the strut tower) of the vehicle body and the surrounding parts, the adjustment range of the shock absorber mounting position is also limited. Further, an end portion of a screw for fixing the holding portion to the set plate protrudes from the upper surface of the set plate. The upper mount must be arranged so that the screws do not interfere with the upper mount mounting portion and the set plate is in contact with the seat surface of the upper mount mounting portion. Therefore, the adjustment range of the mounting position of the shock absorber is limited to a range in which the screw does not interfere with the vehicle body.

  In addition, since the position of the screw is displaced relative to the upper mount mounting part, the adjustment range of the shock absorber mounting position is limited when tightening or loosening the screw through the maintenance hole with the upper mount attached to the vehicle body. Is done. That is, even if the long hole is large, the adjustment range may be limited to a range in which the screw does not interfere with the vehicle body as described above. In addition, when the tool for adjustment interferes with the vehicle body, it is necessary to remove the upper mount from the vehicle body and perform the adjustment work. Therefore, the maintenance work is inferior compared to the case of performing the adjustment work through the maintenance hole. It will be. Therefore, the adjustment range for easily performing the work is further limited to a range in which the tool for tightening and loosening the screw does not interfere with the vehicle body.

  In the above structure, in order to widen the adjustment range of the wheel alignment, it is also conceivable to provide a plurality of screw holes corresponding to one screw in the holding portion and replace the screw so as to obtain a desired adjustment range. . However, in this case, it takes time to replace the screw, and the maintainability is lowered.

  In particular, in recent years, many vehicles having small-sized maintenance holes have been manufactured, and the problems relating to the adjustment range of the shock absorber mounting position as described above have become considerably serious.

  Further, in the structure as described above, since the long hole opens above the upper mount, foreign matters such as dust and dust may enter the long hole from above and accumulate in the long hole. Further, when the adjustment range of the wheel alignment is wide, that is, when the size of the long hole is increased, a part of the long hole is left penetrating. In this case, for example, there is a possibility that foreign matter may enter the engine room or the trunk room above from the wheel house where the wheels and the shock absorber are arranged.

  In the structure of Patent Document 2, the position of the shock absorber can be fixed using a screw for attaching the upper mount to the vehicle body, so the above problem does not occur. However, this structure is difficult to maintain because the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body cannot be adjusted with the upper mount removed from the vehicle body. That is, it is necessary to adjust the mounting position of the shock absorber with the upper mount always mounted on the vehicle body. Also, once the upper mount is removed from the vehicle body, it is necessary to adjust the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body again when attaching the upper mount to the vehicle body again, and it is extremely possible to reproduce the mounting state before the removal of the upper mount. Have difficulty.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and is an upper mount that can be miniaturized, has high strength as a whole, and has good maintainability, and a shock absorber using the upper mount The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an upper mount for attaching a shock absorber used for a wheel suspension device in a vehicle to a vehicle body with an adjustable mounting position is attached to the vehicle body by a plurality of mounting screws. A mounting plate to be mounted, a fixing member that is disposed on the shock absorber side of the mounting plate and is fixed to the mounting plate by a fixing screw different from the plurality of mounting screws, and a holding member that holds a part of the shock absorber And an adjustment member that is sandwiched between the mounting plate and the fixing member and fixed to the mounting plate and the fixing member in a state where the fixing member is fixed to the mounting plate. An adjustment hole that is formed in the adjustment member and into which the case holding the holding member penetrates is formed and fixed. The wood is formed with a through-hole shock absorber extends, the fixing screw is a bolt which is screwed to the fixing member through a hole formed in the mounting plate, the hole portion, mounting plate of viewed from the top is disposed on the periphery of the adjusting hole at a position closer to the holding member than a plurality of mounting screws, a bolt hole of the round, when the mounting plate is fixed to the vehicle body, fixing screw In the state where the fixing screw is arranged so as to penetrate the hole, the position of the adjustment member in the in-plane direction substantially parallel to the mounting plate with respect to the mounting plate, the fixing screw, and the fixing member, Adjustment is possible with the mounting plate fixed.

  Preferably, the adjustment member has a long hole through which the fixing screw passes, and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the long hole with respect to the mounting plate, the fixing screw, and the fixing member.

  Preferably, at least one set of the mounting plate and the adjusting member and the fixing member and the adjusting member constitutes a guide mechanism that regulates the position of the adjusting member with respect to the mounting plate, and the guide mechanism includes the adjusting member, the mounting plate, and the fixing member. The screw and the fixing member can be slid in a predetermined direction.

Preferably the solid constant screw head is embedded in the seat Repetitive portion formed around the hole.

  Preferably, the fixing screw is arranged at a position where the user can perform a tightening / loosening operation through a maintenance hole formed in a mounting portion of the upper mount of the vehicle body.

  Preferably, the holding member is inserted into the case portion formed on the adjustment member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate, and a part of the end surface opposite to the insertion direction of the holding member into the case portion is It is covered with a mounting plate or a fixing member, and is thereby held by the case portion of the holding member.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the shock absorber has any one of the above upper mounts, and a part thereof is held by the holding member.

  According to these inventions, the mounting position of the shock absorber can be changed by adjusting the positions of the mounting plate, the fixing screw, and the adjusting member with respect to the fixing member by tightening and loosening the fixing screw. Further, since the fixing screw is not fixed to the adjustment member, the area of the seating surface of the fixing screw can be ensured. Therefore, it is possible to provide an upper mount that can be miniaturized, has high strength as a whole, and has good maintainability, and a shock absorber using the upper mount.

It is a top view which shows the shock absorber in this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the upper mount of a shock absorber. It is the perspective view which looked at FIG. 2 from a different angle. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of an upper mount. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4 viewed from a different angle. It is a top view of an upper mount. It is a bottom view of an upper mount. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the plane which passes along the axial part which shows the state in which the shock absorber of the strut tower part is attached. It is a top view which shows the state in which the shock absorber of the strut tower part is attached. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the shock absorber is used in, for example, a strut-type suspension device for a front wheel of an automobile that is a front engine vehicle. This shock absorber has a so-called inverted strut.

  In the drawings referred to below, the threads are not shown.

  [Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a shock absorber in the present embodiment.

  [Overall configuration]

  Referring to the drawing, shock absorber 1 is configured by attaching strut 100 to upper mount 10. The strut 100 includes a shell case 103, a seal cap 107, a lower spring seat 113 and its lock nut 115, an upper spring seat 117 and its mounting collar 119, a cylinder 130, and an upper cap 150. The shell case 103 includes a shell pipe 105, a bracket portion 109, and a lock nut 111 thereof. A cylinder 130 can be inserted into the shell pipe 105. The bracket portion 109 is formed so that a knuckle (spindle portion) to which a wheel is attached can be attached. A screw thread (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shell pipe 105. The bracket portion 109 and the lower spring seat 113 are screwed into the shell pipe 105 and are fixed at predetermined positions of the shell pipe 105 using lock nuts 111 and 115, respectively.

  The cylinder 130 is filled with oil or high-pressure gas as a working fluid. A piston rod (not shown) protrudes from one end of the cylinder 130. The cylinder 130 is inserted into the shell pipe 105 from above the shell pipe 105. The cylinder 130 is inserted into the shell pipe 105 in an inverted posture in which the piston rod protrudes downward, that is, in an inverted posture in which the bottom of the cylinder 130 is positioned upward. That is, the upper cap 150 is located at the bottom of the cylinder 130. The seal cap 107 is screwed to the shell pipe 105 so as to cover the gap between the upper end portion of the shell pipe 105 and the cylinder 130.

  A coil spring 200 having a predetermined spring constant is sandwiched between the upper spring seat 117 and the lower spring seat 113. The coil spring 200 supports the chassis. The upper spring seat 117 is disposed so that the mounting collar 119 is sandwiched between the upper cap 150 and is not removed from the upper cap 150 above the upper cap 150. The upper spring seat 117 is held in a state of being biased upward by the restoring force of the coil spring 200.

  A shaft portion 150 b is formed on the upper portion of the upper cap 150. As will be described later, the strut 100 has a shaft portion 150b held by the upper mount 10.

  Here, a strut tower portion (an example of a mounting portion of the upper mount 10) 510 is provided in an upper portion of a wheel house in which a wheel provided in a side portion of the engine room of the vehicle body 500 is accommodated. The strut tower 510 is formed with a maintenance hole 520 formed so that the upper part of the shock absorber 1 passes therethrough. The upper mount 10 is attached to the strut tower 510 from below (from the wheel house side). The upper mount 10 has three stud bolts (an example of mounting means) 45 provided on the mounting plate 30 as will be described later. The stud bolts 45 pass through the strut tower portion 510 so as to pass through the struts. It is fixed to the tower part 510. Thus, the shock absorber 1 is attached to the vehicle body 500 via the upper mount 10 and functions as a part of the suspension device.

  In the present embodiment, an adjustment rod 140 that passes through the upper cap 150 and an adjustment knob 141 are disposed above the upper cap 150. The adjustment rod 140 passes through substantially the center of the shaft portion 150 b and protrudes above the upper mount 10. The adjustment knob 141 is fixed to the adjustment rod 140 using a set screw (not shown) or the like while being attached to the upper end of the adjustment rod 140. The adjustment rod 140 is connected to a damping force adjustment mechanism (not shown) inside the cylinder 130. The user adjusts the damping force of the shock absorber 1 by operating the adjustment knob 141 from above the strut tower 510 (for example, above the engine room) with the shock absorber 1 mounted on the vehicle body 500 and mounted on the vehicle. Can do.

  In the shock absorber 1, the preload of the coil spring 200 can be adjusted by changing the position of the lower spring seat 113. Further, by changing the position of the bracket portion 109, the overall length of the shock absorber 1 can be changed, and the vehicle height can be adjusted independently of the preload of the coil spring 200.

  Note that the shell case 103 may be configured to integrally include a portion corresponding to the shell pipe 105, a portion corresponding to the bracket portion 109, a portion corresponding to the lower spring seat 113, and the like.

  [Structure of upper mount 10]

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper mount 10 of the shock absorber 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 viewed from a different angle.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the upper mount 10 roughly includes a mounting plate 30, a lower plate (an example of a fixing member) 50, a slide plate (an example of an adjustment member) 70, and an adjustment bolt (an example of a fixing screw). 91 and a pillow ball (an example of a holding member) 95. Referring to FIG. 3, the upper mount 10 is configured to hold a slide plate 70 between an upper mounting plate 30 and a lower plate 50 disposed below the mounting plate 30.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the upper mount 10. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4 viewed from a different angle.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the mounting plate 30 has, for example, a planar shape obtained by roughly combining three arcs that are substantially congruent with each other so as to form a convex closed curve. Stud bolts 45 are respectively provided in the vicinity of the three apexes of the mounting plate 30. A total of three stud bolts 45 are provided. The mounting plate 30 is formed so as to have the necessary strength and rigidity and to be relatively light by having the substantially triangular planar shape in which the stud bolt 45 is located at the apex portion. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each stud bolt 45 is press-fitted into the mounting plate 30 from the lower surface side of the mounting plate 30 so as to protrude to the upper surface side of the mounting plate 30 and is fixed to the mounting plate 30. The mounting plate 30 may have another shape such as a circle, and the number and position of the stud bolts 45 are not limited to the above. What is necessary is just to set suitably the shape of the mounting plate 30, the number of stud bolts 45, a position, etc. so that the shape of the strut tower part 510 of the vehicle etc. to which the mounting plate 30 is attached, etc., for example.

  FIG. 6 is a top view of the upper mount 10.

  In FIG. 6, a two-dot chain line indicates the position of the maintenance hole (vehicle body side opening) 520 in the vehicle-mounted state of the shock absorber 1. With reference to the figure, a rounded rectangular adjustment hole 31 is formed in the substantially central portion of the mounting plate 30 by connecting two parallel line segments of equal length with two semicircular arcs. As will be described later, the length of the parallel line segment portion of the adjustment hole 31 is an adjustment range of the slide plate 70, that is, a camber adjustment range. The adjustment hole 31 is formed in a position and a size such that substantially the entire hole is exposed from the maintenance hole 520. Of the upper surface of the mounting plate 30, in the vicinity of the side edge of the two parallel line segments of the adjustment hole 31, the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31 (the direction parallel to the parallel line segment; The scale 41 is engraved at a predetermined interval along the same line. The scale 41 is formed over substantially the entire length of the parallel line segment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, four bolt holes (an example of holes) 35 are provided in the periphery of the adjustment hole 31. Each bolt hole 35 is located, for example, in the vicinity of the end of the parallel line segment of the adjustment hole 31. Each bolt hole 35 is located in the vicinity of the edge of the maintenance hole 520. As will be described later, the position of the adjustment hole 31 and the orientation in the longitudinal direction thereof are set in consideration of the suspension geometry in the vehicle to which the upper mount 10 is attached. The position of each bolt hole 35 is set according to the shape of the vehicle body 500 of the vehicle to which the upper mount 10 is attached, in particular, the shape and size of the maintenance hole 520 as will be described later.

  FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the upper mount.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the lower plate 50 has a substantially rectangular planar shape in which each vertex is chamfered for weight reduction and size reduction. The lower plate 50 is formed with a rounded rectangular through hole 51 similar to the adjustment hole 31. A screw hole into which the adjustment bolt 91 is screwed is formed at a position corresponding to each bolt hole 35 of the mounting plate 30 in the lower plate 50. An adjustment bolt 91 is screwed to the lower plate 50. The lower plate 50 is fixed by being crimped to the mounting plate 30 by screwing the adjustment bolt 91. The lower plate 50 is configured such that the longitudinal direction of the through hole 51 substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31 in a state of being fixed to the attachment plate 30.

  The through hole 51 is narrower than the adjustment hole 31, and is formed so that the radius of the semicircular arc portion is smaller than the radius of the race portion (shown in FIG. 8) 95 b of the pillow ball 95. Accordingly, a part of the race portion 95b of the pillow ball 95 is covered with the lower plate 50 when viewed from below in a state where the lower plate 50 is fixed to the mounting plate 30 with the slide plate 70 interposed therebetween.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the slide plate 70 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The slide plate 70 has a case portion 71 and four long holes 73. The case portion 71 is formed at a substantially central portion of the slide plate 70. The case portion 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape that protrudes upward, that is, toward the mounting plate 30. As shown in the drawing, the long holes 73 are formed so that their longitudinal directions are substantially the same. Each elongated hole 73 is formed to have a dimension that is equal to or longer than the length of the parallel line segment portion of the adjustment hole 31, for example. Each long hole 73 corresponds to each bolt hole 35 of the mounting plate 30 and is formed so that an adjustment bolt 91 can be passed therethrough. In addition, the long hole 73 may be formed so that two arranged in the longitudinal direction are connected to become one.

  8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The cross section in the figure is in a plane passing through the center of the pillow ball 95 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31. Referring to the drawing, in the present embodiment, the pillow ball 95 is a so-called spherical bearing, and the ball 95a is supported by a race portion 95b so as to be tiltable.

  The case portion 71 has a press-fit hole 75 that opens downward. The press-fitting hole 75 has an inner diameter that is set such that the press-fitted pillow ball 95 is held by the case portion 71. Further, the depth of the press-fitting hole 75 is formed to be substantially the same as or slightly shallower than the thickness of the race portion 95b of the pillow ball 95. The pillow ball 95 is inserted into the press-fitting hole 75 upward, that is, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 30. As described above, since the width dimension of the through hole 51 is smaller than the diameter of the race portion 95b of the pillow ball 95, in the state where the lower plate 50 is fixed to the mounting plate 30, a part of the race portion 95b of the pillow ball 95 is the lower plate. 50 abuts. That is, a part of the lower surface of the race portion 95 b (the end surface opposite to the direction in which the pillow ball 95 is inserted into the case portion 71) is covered with the lower plate 50, whereby the pillow ball 95 is placed inside the case portion 71. Is securely held in a state where it is press-fitted into the case 71 and is prevented from falling off from the case portion 71. In the present embodiment, when the wheel is grounded, a load is applied to the pillow ball 95 upward. Since the downward load applied to the pillow ball 95 is not so large and the time during which the load is applied is small, the pillow ball 95 is sufficiently attached to the case portion 71 even when only a part of the race portion 95b is in contact with the lower plate 50. Retained.

  On the lower surface of the slide plate 70, a V-groove 77 is formed around the opening edge of the press-fitting hole 75 so as to be along the concentric circle of the opening edge. Thereby, after the pillow ball 95 is press-fitted into the press-fitting hole 75, the pillow ball 95 can be caulked to the slide plate 70 by opening the V groove portion 77 with a tool. Therefore, even if the force for pressing the pillow ball 95 by the lower plate 50 temporarily disappears due to the adjustment bolt 91 being loosened, the pillow ball 95 is securely held by the slide plate 70. Thereby, the adjustment operation | work of the attachment position of the below-mentioned shock absorber 1 can be performed easily.

  In the present embodiment, the mounting plate 30 and the slide plate 70 constitute a guide mechanism that regulates the position of the slide plate 70 relative to the mounting plate 30. That is, the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the case portion 71 is substantially the same as the radius of the semicircular arc portion of the adjustment hole 31. Further, as shown in the figure, the slide plate 70 is attached to the attachment plate 30 by allowing the case portion 71 to slide into the adjustment hole 31. Therefore, the slide plate 70 has a predetermined one with respect to the adjustment bolt 91, the mounting plate 30, and the lower plate 50 in a state where the adjustment bolts 91 are arranged so as to penetrate the bolt holes 35 and the long holes 73. It can slide in the direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31. A predetermined slidable direction of the mounting plate 30 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the long hole 73.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a linear marking 81 is formed on the side surface of the case portion 71 so as to correspond to the scale 41 at a portion that can come into contact with the inner side surface of the adjustment hole 31. Thereby, the user can visually recognize the position of the marking 81 in the scale 41 and can easily grasp the position of the slide plate 70 relative to the mounting plate 30. In addition, when the upper mount 10 is once disassembled and reassembled, the position of the slide plate 70 relative to the mounting plate 30 can be easily maintained before and after disassembly by positioning the stamp 81 at the position before disassembly. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for re-adjustment.

  9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

  The cross section in the figure is a plane passing through the central axis of the two adjustment bolts 91 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31. Referring to FIG. 9, the adjustment bolt 91 is, for example, a hexagon socket head low cap head (with hexagon socket head caps with low head). The adjustment bolt 91 passes through the bolt holes 35 and the long holes 73 from above the upper mount 10 and is screwed to the lower plate 50 as described later.

  Here, in the present embodiment, counterbore portions 35 a are formed around each bolt hole 35. The countersunk portion 35 a has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the head of the adjustment bolt 91, and is formed slightly deeper than the height of the head of the adjustment bolt 91. In a state where the adjustment bolt 91 is screwed to the lower plate 50, the head of the adjustment bolt 91 is embedded in the countersunk portion 35a. Thereby, the upper surface of the mounting plate 30 becomes substantially flat except for the stud bolt 45 and the adjustment hole 31.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in a plane passing through the shaft portion 150b showing a state where the shock absorber 1 of the strut tower portion 510 is attached. FIG. 11 is a top view showing a state where the shock absorber 1 of the strut tower portion 510 is attached.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the strut 100 is attached to the upper mount 10 as described below. That is, the shaft portion 150 b is inserted into the ball 95 a of the pillow ball 95 from below the upper mount 10. Further, from above the upper mount 10, a tightening nut 121 is screwed to a screw formed on the upper portion of the shaft portion 150b. The lower portion of the tightening nut 121 is fitted into the ball 95a. As a result, the ball 95 a is sandwiched between the shaft portion 150 b and the tightening nut 121, whereby the strut 100 is fixed to the pillow ball 95.

  When the strut 100 is fixed to the pillow ball 95, the strut 100 is fixed to the upper mount 10 so as to be tiltable. Here, a chamfered portion 71 a is provided at the upper edge portion of the hole portion through which the shaft portion 150 b formed in the case portion 71 passes, and the lower edge portion of the through hole 51 of the lower plate 50 has a surface. A take part 51a is provided. Thereby, even if the strut 100 tilts, the shaft portion 150 b and the tightening nut 121 do not easily interfere with the upper mount 10, and the strut 100 has a wider tilt angle with respect to the upper mount 10.

  The upper mount 10 is fixed to the strut tower 510 by passing the stud bolt 45 through the strut tower 510 and tightening the nut 97 into the stud bolt 45. Thereby, the shock absorber 1 is attached to the strut tower portion 510 and is in a vehicle-mounted state.

  Referring to FIG. 11, when shock absorber 1 is in a vehicle-mounted state, adjustment hole 31 can be desired from above strut tower portion 510 through maintenance hole 520. Further, for all the adjustment bolts 91, from the upper side of the maintenance hole 520, a hexagonal hole portion (sometimes referred to as a hole) of the head of each adjustment bolt 91 can be desired. In other words, each adjustment bolt 91 is arranged at a position where the user can perform the tightening / loosening operation through the maintenance hole 520.

  12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

  The cross section in the drawing is a plane passing through the central axis of two adjustment bolts 91 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31. The user can perform the tightening / loosening operation of the adjustment bolt 91 from above the maintenance hole 520 with the shock absorber 1 mounted on the vehicle. That is, since the hole of each adjustment bolt 91 is exposed upward, the user can insert the tool 600 into each hole and rotate the adjustment bolt 91.

  When the adjustment bolt 91 is loosened, the crimping force of the lower plate 50 against the mounting plate 30 is reduced, and the frictional force between the slide plate 70 and the mounting plate 30 and the frictional force between the slide plate 70 and the lower plate 50 are reduced. Get smaller. Thereby, the user can perform the adjustment work of the mounting position of the shock absorber 1. That is, the user can slide the slide plate 70 with respect to the mounting plate 30, the adjustment bolt 91, and the lower plate 50. The slide plate 70 is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31 (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 11) in a plane substantially parallel to the mounting plate 30. In the present embodiment, the shock absorber 1 is attached to the strut tower 510 so that the longitudinal direction of the adjustment hole 31, that is, the adjustable direction of the slide plate 70 coincides with the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the user can adjust the camber adjustment of the wheel by adjusting the position of the slide plate 70 in the vehicle width direction by tightening or loosening the adjustment bolt 91. Since the adjustment bolt 91 can be tightened or loosened with the shock absorber 1 mounted on the vehicle, the user can easily adjust the mounting position of the shock absorber 1.

  Here, each adjustment bolt 91 can be tightened or loosened if only the hole portion is exposed upward, even if a part of the head is not covered by the peripheral edge portion of the maintenance hole 520. Even if the adjustment bolt 91 is slightly apart from above the maintenance hole 520, as shown in the figure, if the tool 600 having a long part having the same thickness as the hole part is used, the tool 600 and the strut tower part 510 are separated from each other. The tool 600 can be inserted into the hole without interference. Further, since the head of the adjustment bolt 91 is embedded in the countersunk portion 35 a, the adjustment bolt 91 does not interfere with the strut tower portion 510. Therefore, each adjustment bolt 91 can be disposed at a position closest to the edge of the maintenance hole 520 in the range in which the user can perform the tightening / loosening operation via the maintenance hole 520 as described above. As a result, the adjustment hole 31 can be enlarged and the adjustable range of the slide plate 70 can be secured more widely while enabling the adjustment work to be performed while the shock absorber 1 is mounted on the vehicle.

  Of course, it is also possible to perform the adjustment operation of the camber by tightening or loosening the adjustment bolt 91 in a state where the shock absorber 1 is removed from the vehicle.

  [Effects of the embodiment]

  In the shock absorber configured as described above, the area of the seating surface of the adjusting bolt is ensured as compared with the case where the seating surface of the adjusting bolt is a long hole. That is, the upper mount has a more rational structure in which the stress generated when the adjustment bolt is screwed is relatively small. Therefore, since the upper mount has high strength as a whole, it is not necessary to use a thick adjustment bolt or to increase the thickness of the mounting plate and the like, and the upper mount can be reduced in size and weight.

  Further, even if the position of the shock absorber with respect to the mounting plate is changed, the adjustment bolt does not move as viewed from the upper surface of the mounting plate. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a long hole in the mounting plate as in the prior art, and the upper mount can be downsized and a wider adjustable range can be secured. At the same time, the adjustment bolt is always disposed at a position where it can be tightened or loosened through the maintenance hole, and camber adjustment can be easily performed in the vehicle-mounted state, thereby ensuring high maintainability. The slide plate can be slid to the full adjustable range simply by loosening the adjustment bolt, so it is not necessary to remove the adjustment bolt from the upper mount to adjust the camber, making adjustment work easy. it can. Further, since the lower plate and the slide plate do not fall off from the mounting plate during the adjustment operation, the adjustment operation can be performed more easily and safely.

  Further, the upper surface of the mounting plate is substantially flat except for the stud bolt and the adjustment hole in a state where the adjustment bolt is arranged. Therefore, it is possible to improve the aesthetic appearance of the upper mount. Also, dust, earth and sand, dust, etc. are hard to collect on the upper part of the upper mount, and maintenance is easy. In addition, since there is no elongated hole on the top surface of the mounting plate, there is little gap between the wheel house and the upper part of the strut tower part, and dust and noise intrusion from the wheel house to the upper part of the strut tower part Less.

  [Others]

  In addition, the counterbore part does not need to be provided in the bolt hole. Even in this case, since the position of the adjusting bolt with respect to the mounting plate does not change, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the screws for fixing the lower plate to the mounting plate are not limited to hexagon socket head bolts, and other types of bolts such as a bolt having a hexalobal internal driving feature may be used. Further, a nut may be screwed from above the mounting plate 30 to a stud protruding from the lower plate instead of the bolt. Even in such a case, the adjustable range can be widened and good maintainability can be ensured so that the tool does not interfere with the strut tower as described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the slide plate and the mounting plate constitute a guide mechanism for the slide plate. However, together with or instead of this, a guide mechanism is constituted between the lower plate and the slide plate. May be. Further, for example, the guide mechanism is not limited to a structure in which the case portion of the slide plate is inserted into the mounting plate or the like. For example, as a guide mechanism, a projection mechanism provided on one member is used so that the position of the slide plate is regulated by contacting a recess or hole formed on the other member. Can do. Further, the slide plate may be guided by the long hole of the slide plate and the adjusting bolt without providing the guide mechanism.

  Further, the pillow ball is not limited to the one arranged so as to contact the lower plate, and may be held on the slide plate using, for example, a stopper ring. Further, instead of the pillow ball, a resin bush (an example of a holding member) may be used. The strut may be a so-called upright type, and the piston rod may be attached to the upper mount while being held by a pillow ball or the like.

  Further, the upper mount may be configured to be attachable to the vehicle body so that, for example, caster adjustment can be performed instead of wheel camber adjustment. Further, the slide plate may not be provided with a long hole, and at this time, the guide mechanism may not be adopted. That is, when the slide plate is not provided with a long hole and the guide mechanism is not employed, the position of the slide plate relative to the mounting plate may be adjusted two-dimensionally. Thereby, the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body can be freely changed within a range in which the position of the slide plate can be adjusted. Also, the slide plate has a shape in which one end of the long hole is opened instead of the long hole, and a groove portion that regulates the position of the slide plate with respect to the mounting plate by contacting the adjustment bolt. A guide shape may be provided.

  Further, instead of the slide plate or the lower plate attached to the attachment plate, a non-plate member having the same function as those, for example, a block member may be used.

  Further, the upper mount and the shock absorber are not limited to the front wheel suspension device, and may be used for other wheel suspension devices such as a rear wheel. Further, the shock absorber may not have a spring. Further, the upper mount may be used for attaching the shock absorber to the vehicle body in another suspension system that is not a strut type. Further, the upper mount may be used for changing the mounting position of the shock absorber with respect to the vehicle body for the purpose of not being limited to the wheel alignment adjustment. Further, the vehicle in which the upper mount is used is not limited to an automobile, but can be applied to other types of vehicles such as agricultural machinery, industrial machinery, construction machinery, military vehicles, and the like.

  In addition, it should be thought that the said embodiment is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 Shock absorber 10 Upper mount 30 Mounting plate 31 Adjustment hole (example of guide mechanism)
35 Bolt hole (example of hole)
35a Countersunk portion 45 Stud bolt (an example of mounting means)
50 Lower plate (an example of a fixing member)
70 Slide plate (example of adjustment member)
71 Case part (example of guide mechanism)
73 Long hole 91 Adjustment bolt (an example of fixing screw)
95 pillow ball (an example of a holding member)
100 strut 150b shaft 500 car body 510 strut tower (an example of an upper mount mounting portion)
520 Maintenance hole 600 Tool

Claims (7)

An upper mount for attaching a shock absorber used for a wheel suspension device in a vehicle to a vehicle body with an adjustable mounting position,
A mounting plate attached to the vehicle body by a plurality of mounting screws;
A fixing member disposed on the shock absorber side of the mounting plate and fixed to the mounting plate by a fixing screw different from the plurality of mounting screws;
A holding member for holding a part of the shock absorber; the mounting plate and the fixing member being sandwiched between the mounting plate and the fixing member in a state where the fixing member is fixed to the mounting plate; An adjustment member fixed to the member,
The mounting plate is formed with an adjustment hole formed in the adjustment member and through which a case portion holding the holding member penetrates.
The fixing member has a through hole through which the shock absorber passes,
The fixing screw is a bolt that passes through a hole formed in the mounting plate and is screwed to the fixing member.
The hole, the viewed from the upper surface of the mounting plate than said plurality of mounting screws located on the periphery of the adjusting hole at a position closer to the holding member, a bolt hole of the round,
When the mounting plate is fixed to the vehicle body, the fixing screw is tightened and loosened, and the fixing screw is disposed so as to pass through the hole. An upper mount capable of adjusting a position in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the mounting plate relative to the fixing screw and the fixing member while maintaining a fixed state of the mounting plate.   The said adjustment member has a long hole which the said fixing screw penetrates, and it can slide to the longitudinal direction of the said long hole with respect to the said attachment plate, the said fixing screw, and the said fixing member. Upper mount. At least one set of the mounting plate and the adjustment member, and the fixing member and the adjustment member constitutes a guide mechanism that regulates the position of the adjustment member with respect to the mounting plate.
The upper mount according to claim 1, wherein the guide mechanism allows the adjustment member to slide in a predetermined direction with respect to the mounting plate, the fixing screw, and the fixing member.   The upper mount according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a head portion of the fixing screw is embedded in a countersink portion formed around the hole portion.   5. The fixing screw according to claim 1, wherein the fixing screw is disposed at a position where a user can perform a tightening operation through a maintenance hole formed in a mounting portion of an upper mount of the vehicle body. 6. Upper mount. The holding member is inserted in a case portion formed on the adjustment member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate,
A part of the end surface opposite to the insertion direction of the holding member into the case portion is covered with the mounting plate or the fixing member, and is thereby held by the case portion of the holding member. The upper mount according to claim 1.   A shock absorber comprising the upper mount according to claim 1, wherein a part of the shock absorber is held by the holding member.

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