JP6344855B2 - Strut mount - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a strut mount that elastically supports a strut disposed between a wheel and a vehicle body panel on the vehicle body panel.

  As this type of strut mount, for example, a configuration as shown in Patent Document 1 below is known. The strut mount includes an inner cylinder attached to a strut rod extending from the wheel side toward the vehicle body panel side, and a fitting recess that covers the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and is formed on the vehicle body panel and opens toward the wheel side. And an elastic body fitted to.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-161907

  However, in the conventional strut mount, even when the elastic body is fitted in the fitting recess, for example, when vibration is input, the strut mount is in the circumferential direction along the axis of the inner cylinder. There is a risk of unintentional rotation. In addition, if the strut mount rotates, it may affect the vehicle performance.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress unintended rotation of the strut mount.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
A strut mount according to the present invention covers an inner cylinder attached to a strut rod extending from a wheel side toward a vehicle body panel side, an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, is formed on the vehicle body panel, and is opened toward the wheel side. A strut mount comprising: an elastic body fitted in the fitting recess, wherein the inner cylinder is disposed on the inner side and is connected to the inner cylinder via the elastic body, and is embedded in the elastic body The elastic body further includes an engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion formed in the fitting recess, and the engaging portion includes the elastic body, It protrudes from the part located in the outer side of the radial direction of the said outer cylinder with respect to an outer cylinder .

In this case, since the engaging portion is provided in the elastic body, the strut mount is engaged by engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion in a state where the elastic body is fitted in the fitting recess. It is possible to restrict unintentional rotation in the circumferential direction along the axis of the inner cylinder. For example, it is possible to easily ensure vehicle performance.
In addition, since the unintentional rotation of the strut mount in the circumferential direction can be restricted in this way, the relative direction in the circumferential direction between the vehicle body panel and the strut mount can be reduced with the elastic body fitted in the fitting recess. It is possible to maintain a proper positional relationship. Therefore, for example, when a structure having directionality in the spring characteristics corresponding to the directionality of the vehicle body panel is adopted as the strut mount, the directionality of the vehicle body panel and the directionality of the spring characteristics are matched. The relative positional relationship between the vehicle body panel and the strut mount in the circumferential direction can be maintained. As a result, for example, the spring characteristics of the strut mount can be effectively exhibited according to the direction of vibration input, and the vehicle performance can be further ensured.
In addition, since the engaging portion protrudes from a portion of the elastic body that is located on the outer side in the radial direction with respect to the outer cylinder, the engaging portion is supported by the outer cylinder from the inner side in the radial direction via the elastic body. The rigidity in the circumferential direction of the engaging portion can be easily increased. Therefore, unintentional rotation of the strut mount can be effectively restricted by engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion.

  The engaging portion may protrude from the elastic body and gradually decrease in the circumferential direction along the axis of the inner cylinder as it goes from the wheel side to the vehicle body panel side.

  In this case, the engaging portion protrudes from the elastic body and gradually decreases in the circumferential direction from the wheel side toward the vehicle body panel side. Therefore, even when the engaging portion is roughly aligned with the engaged portion in the circumferential direction when the elastic body is fitted in the fitting recess while being aligned in the circumferential direction, the engaging portion Can be guided toward the vehicle body panel side in the engaged portion, whereby the engaging portion can be guided in the circumferential direction by the engaged portion. As a result, the engaging portion can smoothly enter the engaged portion, and the strut mount can be easily assembled to the fitting recess.

  The engagement portion may include an elastic main body portion formed integrally with the elastic body, and a rigid body reinforcement portion embedded in the elastic main body portion and formed integrally with the outer cylinder.

  In this case, since the engaging portion includes the elastic main body portion and the rigid body reinforcing portion, the elastic main body portion secures the closeness between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, and the rigid body reinforcing portion engages. The rigidity in the circumferential direction of the portion can be increased, and unintended rotation of the strut mount can be more effectively regulated.

  According to the present invention, unintended rotation of the strut mount can be suppressed.

It is a longitudinal section showing a strut mount concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the strut mount shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the strut mount which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the strut mount which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a strut mount 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the strut mount 20 elastically supports the strut mounted between the vehicle body panel 11 located on the upper side in the vertical direction and the wheel (not shown) located on the lower side on the vehicle body panel 11. Supportive.
The vehicle body panel 11 is formed with a fitting recess 12 that opens toward the lower side (wheel side). The fitting recess 12 is gradually reduced in diameter from the lower side toward the upper side (vehicle body panel side), and an insertion hole 11 a penetrating the vehicle body panel 11 is formed on the end surface facing the lower side in the fitting recess 12. ing.

  The strut includes a shock absorber having a strut rod 13. The strut rod 13 extends along the vertical direction from the lower side to the upper side. At the upper end portion of the strut rod 13, a large diameter portion 13a and a small diameter portion 13b are provided in this order from the lower side to the upper side. The small diameter portion 13b is inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the vehicle body panel 11, and a male screw portion 13c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 13b.

  The strut rod 13 is inserted into a coil spring (not shown) that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. The coil spring supports an annular spring seat 14 having a strut rod 13 inserted therein from below. A large-diameter portion 13a of the strut rod 13 is inserted into the spring seat 14, and the spring seat 14 supports a bearing 15 fitted to the large-diameter portion 13a of the strut rod 13 from below. In the illustrated example, the bearing 15 is formed of an annular resin bearing and is supported by the spring seat 14 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction.

  The strut mount 20 is attached to the strut rod 13 in a state where the strut rod 13 and the fitting recess 12 are coaxially arranged, and is fitted into the fitting recess 12 so that the strut is attached to the vehicle body panel 11. To elastically support. The strut mount 20 includes an inner cylinder 21, an elastic body 22 (rubber elastic body, main rubber), and an outer cylinder 23. Among these, the inner cylinder 21 is attached to the strut rod 13, and the elastic body 22 is fitted into the fitting recess 12.

  Here, the elastic body 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the inner cylinder 21, the elastic body 22 and the outer cylinder 23 are all arranged coaxially with a common axis extending along the vertical direction. Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as an axis O (inner cylinder axis, elastic body axis, outer cylinder axis), and in a plan view of the strut mount 20 viewed from the vertical direction, a direction orthogonal to the axis O is a radial direction ( The radial direction of the inner cylinder, the radial direction of the elastic body, and the radial direction of the outer cylinder). That's it.

  The inner cylinder 21 is made of a metal material. The inner cylinder 21 includes a main body portion 24, an upper flange portion 25, and a lower flange portion 26. The main body 24 gradually decreases in diameter from the lower side toward the upper side, and surrounds the large-diameter portion 13a of the strut rod 13 from the outside in the radial direction. The upper flange portion 25 protrudes radially inward from the upper end portion of the main body portion 24, and the small diameter portion 13 b of the strut rod 13 is inserted into the upper flange portion 25. The inner peripheral edge portion of the upper flange portion 25 is sandwiched in the vertical direction by the first nut 16a screwed to the small diameter portion 13b and the large diameter portion 13a of the strut rod 13, so that the inner cylinder 21 is connected to the strut rod. 13 is attached. The lower flange portion 26 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the lower end portion of the main body portion 24.

  The elastic body 22 is made of a rubber material and covers the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 21. The elastic body 22 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 21. In the illustrated example, the elastic body 22 is fixed to the entire area of the main body portion 24 and the outer peripheral edge portion of the upper flange portion 25 in the inner cylinder 21. The outer diameter of the elastic body 22 is gradually reduced from the lower side toward the upper side, and the elastic body 22 is detachably fitted into the fitting recess 12 of the vehicle body panel 11 from the lower side.

  The outer cylinder 23 is formed of a metal material and is embedded in the elastic body 22. An inner cylinder 21 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 23, and the outer cylinder 23 is elastically connected to the inner cylinder 21 via an elastic body 22. The outer cylinder 23 is gradually reduced in diameter from the lower side toward the upper side. Here, the portion of the elastic body 22 located on the outer side in the radial direction from the outer cylinder 23 is smaller (thin) in the radial direction than the portion located on the inner side in the radial direction than the outer cylinder 23. The outer cylinder 23 forms an outer peripheral portion of the elastic body 22 between the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body 22 in a film shape. The outer cylinder 23 is fitted into the fitting recess 12 of the vehicle body panel 11 via the outer peripheral portion of the elastic body 22.

  In the present embodiment, a stopper fitting 17 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape is attached to the upper portion of the strut mount 20. The bottom portion of the stopper fitting 17 is inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the vehicle body panel 11, and a through hole 17a is formed in the bottom portion. A small-diameter portion 13b of the strut rod 13 is inserted into the through-hole 17a, and a second nut 16b that sandwiches the stopper fitting 17 between the first nut 16a is screwed into the small-diameter portion 13b. In the illustrated example, the stopper fitting 17 is provided with a flange portion 18 projecting outward in the radial direction, and the lower surface of the flange portion 18 constitutes the end surface of the fitting recess 12 in the vehicle body panel 11. A stopper rubber 18a is provided on the portion so as to face from above.

Here, in the present embodiment, the elastic body 22 is provided with an engaging portion 27. The engaging portion 27 engages with the engaged portion 19 formed in the fitting recess 12 of the vehicle body panel 11 and restricts the rotation of the strut mount 20 in the circumferential direction. The engaging portion 27 and the engaged portion 19 form a rotation restricting structure for the strut mount 20.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of engaging portions 27 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and in this embodiment, a pair is arranged with the axis O interposed therebetween. The engaging portion 27 protrudes from the elastic body 22. In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 27 protrudes from a portion of the elastic body 22 that is located on the outer side in the radial direction with respect to the outer cylinder 23.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the engaging portion 27, the radial thickness gradually increases from the lower side toward the upper side. As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 27 gradually decreases in the circumferential direction from the lower side toward the upper side. The engaging portion 27 is formed symmetrically in the circumferential direction with reference to a reference line (not shown) passing through the central portion in the circumferential direction in the vertical direction when the engaging portion 27 is viewed from the outside in the radial direction. Yes. Among the pair of engaging portions 27, the center portions in the circumferential direction of each other face each other with the axis O interposed therebetween. The pair of engaging portions 27 are different in shape from each other, and the first engaging portion 27 a that is one engaging portion 27 of the pair of engaging portions 27 is the second engaging portion 27. It is formed larger in the circumferential direction than the engaging portion 27b. In the illustrated example, each of the pair of engaging portions 27 is constituted by an elastic main body portion 28 that is integrally formed of the same material as the elastic body 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the engaged portion 19 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting recess 12. The engaged portion 19 is concavo-convexly engaged with the engaging portion 27. In the present embodiment, the portion of the vehicle body panel 11 that forms the inner peripheral surface of the fitting recess 12 is recessed. Yes.
The engaged portion 19 is formed corresponding to the engaging portion 27. In the present embodiment, the number of engaged portions 19 is the same as the number of engaging portions 27, and each engaged portion 19 is formed in the same shape as the corresponding engaging portion 27, and each corresponds. The position of the engaging portion 27 on the elastic body 22 is arranged at a position transferred onto the fitting recess 12. In the illustrated example, the engaged portion 19 includes a first engaged portion 19a corresponding to the first engaging portion 27a and a second engaged portion 19b corresponding to the second engaging portion 27b. It has been.

  In the strut mount 20, the vehicle body weight acts on the elastic body 22 from the upper side through the vehicle body panel 11, and the upward biasing force by the coil spring acts from the lower side through the spring seat 14 and the bearing 15. The elastic body 22 is assembled without being fastened to the vehicle body panel 11 in a state where the outer peripheral surface (outer peripheral portion) is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the fitting recess 12. In this embodiment, when the strut mount 20 is assembled to the vehicle body panel 11, the strut mount 20 is first attached to the strut rod 13, and then the strut mount 20 is fitted into the fitting recess 12, and the stopper fitting 17 As an example, a method of attaching to the strut rod 13 can be employed.

  The strut mount 20 may be configured to have a directionality in spring characteristics corresponding to the directionality of the vehicle body panel 11. That is, as the strut mount 20, for example, spring characteristics differ in two directions orthogonal to each other among a plurality of directions orthogonal to the axis O, and these different spring characteristics correspond to springs corresponding to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the vehicle body, respectively. It is also possible to adopt a configuration adjusted to the characteristics. Such adjustment of the spring characteristics is performed, for example, along the radial direction of the main body portion located inside the outer cylinder 23 of the elastic body 22 in each portion corresponding to the above-described two directions of the elastic body 22. It can be realized by changing the size of the elastic body 22 or the material forming the elastic body 22.

  As described above, according to the strut mount 20 according to the present embodiment, since the elastic body 22 is provided with the engaging portion 27, the elastic body 22 is fitted in the fitting recess 12, By engaging the engaging portion 27 with the engaged portion 19, it is possible to restrict unintentional rotation of the strut mount 20 in the circumferential direction, for example, facilitating ensuring vehicle performance. Can do.

  In addition, since unintentional rotation of the strut mount 20 in the circumferential direction can be restricted in this manner, the elastic body 22 is fitted in the fitting recess 12 so that the vehicle body panel 11 and the strut mount 20 are connected. The relative positional relationship in the circumferential direction can be maintained. Therefore, for example, when the strut mount 20 adopts a configuration in which the spring characteristics have a direction corresponding to the direction of the body panel 11, the direction of the body panel 11 and the direction of the spring characteristics coincide. Thus, the relative positional relationship in the circumferential direction between the vehicle body panel 11 and the strut mount 20 can be maintained. As a result, for example, the spring characteristics of the strut mount 20 can be effectively exhibited according to the direction of vibration input, and the vehicle performance can be further ensured.

  The engaging portion 27 protrudes from the elastic body 22 and gradually decreases in the circumferential direction from the lower side toward the upper side. Therefore, when the elastic body 22 is fitted in the fitting recess 12 while being aligned in the circumferential direction, the engaging portion 27 is roughly aligned with the engaged portion 19 in the circumferential direction. The engaging portion 27 can be guided in the circumferential direction by the engaged portion 19 by causing the engaging portion 27 to enter the engaged portion 19 upward. As a result, the engaging portion 27 can smoothly enter the engaged portion 19, and the strut mount 20 can be easily assembled to the fitting recess 12.

  Further, since the engaging portion 27 protrudes from a portion of the elastic body 22 that is located on the outer side in the radial direction with respect to the outer cylinder 23, the engaging portion 27 is moved from the inner side in the radial direction by the outer cylinder 23. Therefore, it is possible to easily increase the circumferential rigidity of the engaging portion 27. Therefore, by engaging the engaging portion 27 with the engaged portion 19, unintended rotation of the strut mount 20 can be effectively restricted.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a strut mount 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the strut mount 30 of the present embodiment, the engaging portion 27 further includes a rigid body reinforcing portion 31 embedded in the elastic main body portion 28 in addition to the elastic main body portion 28 described above. The rigid reinforcing portion 31 is integrally formed of the same material as the outer cylinder 23. The rigid body reinforcing portion 31 is formed by projecting a portion of the outer cylinder 23 located on the radially inner side of the engaging portion 27 toward the radially outer side.

  As described above, according to the strut mount 30 according to the present embodiment, the engaging portion 27 includes the elastic main body portion 28 and the rigid body reinforcing portion 31. While securing the close contact with the engaged portion 19, the rigid reinforcing portion 31 can increase the circumferential rigidity of the engaging portion 27, and more effectively restrict unintended rotation of the strut mount 30. can do.

  Moreover, since the rigid reinforcement part 31 is formed because the part located inside the radial direction of the engaging part 27 among the outer cylinders 23 protrudes toward the outer side of radial direction, the main body part of the elastic body 22 Of these, the portion where the engaging portion 27 is positioned along the circumferential direction can be locally formed large in the radial direction. Thereby, the directivity can be easily given to the spring characteristic of the strut mount 30.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a strut mount 40 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the strut mount 40 of this embodiment, the engaging portion 27 is recessed with respect to the elastic body 22 instead of protruding from the elastic body 22. The engaging portion 27 is constituted by a recess formed in the elastic body 22. The engagement portion 27 is provided at the upper end portion of the elastic body 22 and opens toward the upper side and both sides in the radial direction. The engaging portion 27 gradually increases in the circumferential direction from the lower side toward the upper side. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the engaged portion 19 in the present embodiment is formed by a portion of the vehicle body panel 11 constituting the fitting recess 12 projecting downward.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the outer cylinder 23 may not be provided.

In the first and second embodiments, the engaging portion 27 gradually decreases in the circumferential direction from the lower side toward the upper side, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the engaging portion 27 may have the same size in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the vertical direction.
In the first and second embodiments, the engaging portion 27 includes the elastic main body 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire engaging portion 27 can be formed of a rigid body.

In the embodiment, the spring seat 14 that supports the upper end of the coil spring from above is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, without providing the spring seat 14, a flange is projected from the lower end edge of the outer cylinder 23 toward the outside in the radial direction, and a coil spring having a larger diameter than the coil spring shown in the above embodiment is used. The upper surface of the large-diameter coil spring may be supported from above by the lower surface of the flange.
Also in this configuration, the strut mounts 20, 30 and 40 are not fastened to the vehicle body panel 11 in a state where the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body 22 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the fitting recess 12, as in the above embodiment. Assembled.

  In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the constituent elements in the embodiment with known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described modified examples may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Body panel 12 Fitting recessed part 13 Strut rod 19 Engagement part 20, 30, 40 Strut mount 21 Inner cylinder 22 Elastic body 23 Outer cylinder 27 Engagement part 28 Elastic main-body part 31 Rigid body reinforcement part

Claims (3)

An inner cylinder attached to a strut rod extending from the wheel side toward the vehicle body panel side;
An elastic body that covers the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, is formed in the vehicle body panel and is fitted in a fitting recess that opens toward the wheel side, and a strut mount comprising:
The inner cylinder is arranged on the inner side and is connected to the inner cylinder via the elastic body, and further includes an outer cylinder embedded in the elastic body,
The elastic body is provided with an engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion formed in the fitting recess ,
The engagement portion protrudes from a portion of the elastic body that is located on the outer side in the radial direction of the outer cylinder with respect to the outer cylinder .   The engagement portion protrudes from the elastic body and gradually decreases in the circumferential direction along the axis of the inner cylinder as it goes from the wheel side to the vehicle body panel side. Strut mount. The engagement portion includes an elastic main body portion formed integrally with the elastic body, and a rigid body reinforcement portion embedded in the elastic main body portion and formed integrally with the outer cylinder. The strut mount according to claim 1 or 2 .

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