JP6410012B2 - Suspension frame structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a vehicle suspension frame attached to a vehicle body skeleton.

  Conventionally, in a vehicle such as a four-wheeled vehicle, a pair of left and right side members including a front side member, an apron side member, and a floor side member that extend along the vehicle front-rear direction are used as vehicle width. It is arranged at intervals in the direction. A lower arm that constitutes a suspension mechanism is provided around the pair of left and right side members so that loads and vibrations from front tires and the like are input to the vehicle body via the lower arm when the vehicle is traveling. It has become. Such a load and vibration reduce the running stability of the vehicle and may cause vibration and noise in the passenger compartment, and therefore, between the pair of left and right side members and the lower arm. The suspension frame is suspended, and the suspension frame receives the load and vibration and increases the rigidity of the vehicle body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a suspension frame generally provides a support rigidity necessary for the suspension by firmly fixing a lower arm and a steering gear box of a suspension disposed below the vehicle skeleton to the vehicle skeleton. The basic structure of the suspension frame is a structure in which a columnar structure extends upward from a frame-type or box-type skeleton to which a lower arm is attached and is fastened to a vehicle body skeleton. That is, the vehicle body attachment portion for attaching the suspension frame to the vehicle body and the columnar structure extending to the vehicle body attachment portion strongly affect the suspension support rigidity, and the support rigidity affects the vehicle handling stability and ride comfort. Since it is given, various proposed structures have been provided.

For example, a structure of a suspension frame 51 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has been proposed. In the structure of the suspension frame 51, two members 53 and 54 are provided at both left and right ends of the cross member 52 constituting the suspension frame 51 so as to extend upward of the vehicle. . These members 53 and 54 are pressed into a U-shaped cross section, and are provided with vehicle body mounting holes 53a and 54a and lower arm mounting holes 53b and 54b in the upper and lower portions. ing. In the structure of the suspension frame 51, there is no seam by welding between the vehicle body mounting holes 53a and 54a provided in the members 53 and 54 and the lower arm mounting holes 53b and 54b, and the strength is not reduced by welding. There is.
Further, another structure of the suspension frame 61 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has been proposed. In the structure of the suspension frame 61, columnar vehicle body mounting portions 63 are provided at both left and right ends of the cross member 62 constituting the suspension frame 61 so as to extend upward of the vehicle. . The vehicle body attachment portion 63 is configured as a hollow structure in which the peripheral portions of the two brackets are overlapped and joined, and is disposed on the rear wall surface side of the lower arm attachment portion 64. The structure of the suspension frame 61 has an advantage that the lower arm 65 can be firmly fastened because one side of the bracket forming the lower arm attachment portion 64 also serves as the vehicle body attachment portion 63 having a hollow closed cross section.

JP2013-112212A

However, in the structure of the above-described conventional suspension frame 51, the cross member 52 positioned at the intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction and the members 53 and 54 of the vehicle body mounting structure portion positioned at the left and right ends in the vehicle width direction are divided. In addition, since the shape from the cross member 52 to the vehicle body mounting structure portion also changes abruptly, there is a problem that stress concentration is likely to occur between the cross member 52 and the vehicle body mounting structure portion when an external load is applied. was there. In addition, since the members 53 and 54 constituting the vehicle body mounting structure have an opening cross section, there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure sufficient rigidity.
Further, in the structure of the other conventional suspension frame 61 described above, between the cylindrical collar 63a of the vehicle body mounting surface and the vehicle body mounting portion 63 of the columnar structure, the cross member 62 and the vehicle body mounting portion 63 of the columnar structure. Are connected by welding, and the shape from the cross member 62 to the vehicle body mounting portion 63 is also changing rapidly. Therefore, as in the above prior art, when an external load or the like is applied, the cross member 62 and the vehicle body mounting There is a problem that stress concentration is likely to occur between the portions 63. In addition, since the vehicle body mounting portion 63 of the columnar structure is disposed offset to the rear wall surface of the lower arm mounting portion 64, a wide space in the vehicle front-rear direction is taken, and layout with peripheral components is achieved. There was a problem that the degree of freedom of the system was limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its purpose is to change and thicken only the L-shaped brackets fixed to the left and right ends of the cross member in the vehicle width direction. Providing a suspension frame structure that improves the strength and rigidity of the vehicle body attachment and connection parts, reduces the weight by reducing the thickness of the cross member, and increases the degree of freedom in layout with peripheral parts There is to do.

In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a suspension frame structure in which a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed on the front side of a vehicle, and the cross member includes a front panel and a rear panel. The cross member is formed in a hollow structure joined to the side panel, and columnar connecting portions extending toward the vehicle upper side are formed at the left and right ends of the cross member in the vehicle width direction, and a suspension arm mounting portion is formed at the lower portion. In the suspension frame structure in which a vehicle body mounting portion is formed at the top end of the connecting portion, a substantially vertical opening facing in the vehicle width direction is formed at the side of the leading end of the connecting portion. It is, the right and left ends of the vehicle width direction of the cross member, L-shaped bracket having a flat portion in the vehicle upper is fixed so as to close the opening, the L-shaped Racket is located within the vehicle longitudinal direction of the suspension arm mounting portion in the vehicle side view.

  In the present invention, at least one of the front panel and the rear panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure is extended to the vehicle upper side of the L-shaped bracket, and is formed as the vehicle body attachment portion. The cross member is attached to the vehicle body with the extended panel portion sandwiched between the L-shaped bracket and the vehicle body.

  Further, in the present invention, the front panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure is extended to the upper side of the vehicle of the L-shaped bracket, and the cross-member connection surface of the L-shaped bracket is extended by the front panel. It is formed so as to cover more than half from the upper side of the height.

As described above, the structure of the suspension frame according to the present invention is such that a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed on the front side of the vehicle, and the cross member joins the front panel and the rear panel. The cross member is formed with columnar connecting portions extending upward in the vehicle at both left and right ends in the vehicle width direction of the cross member, and has a suspension arm mounting portion at the lower portion, A vehicle body mounting portion is formed at the top end of the connecting portion, and a substantially vertical opening directed in the vehicle width direction is formed at the tip side of the connecting portion, so that the cross member in the vehicle width direction is formed. the left and right ends, the L-shaped bracket having a flat portion in the vehicle upper is fixed so as to close the opening, the L-shaped bracket, the suspension arm in side view of the vehicle Since located within the vehicle longitudinal direction of the biasing unit, by it is possible to vary the thickness of the L-shaped bracket only is another member and the cross member, increasing the thickness of the L-shaped bracket The strength and rigidity of the vehicle body attaching portion and the connecting portion can be improved, and the weight of the cross member itself can be minimized by reducing the thickness of the cross member. In the suspension frame structure of the present invention, since the opening on the side of the distal end of the connecting portion is closed by the L-shaped bracket having rigidity, the rigidity on the left and right sides of the connecting portion can be increased. The rigidity of the mounting portion can be effectively improved. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a boss in the vehicle body mounting portion with increased rigidity, the length of the fixing bolt to the vehicle body can be shortened, and the weight can be further reduced.
In the suspension frame structure of the present invention, since the lower arm mounting portion is located immediately below the vehicle body mounting portion and the columnar connecting portion, the space in the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle body mounting portion, the connecting portion, and the lower arm mounting portion is reduced. Minimal. For this reason, even if the drive shaft and the steering gear are arranged in the front and rear of the vehicle body attaching portion, the connecting portion, and the lower arm attaching portion, the swinging area of the drive shaft and the tie rod can be secured widely, The degree of freedom of layout can be increased.

  In the present invention, at least one of the front panel and the rear panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure is extended to the vehicle upper side of the L-shaped bracket, and is formed as the vehicle body attachment portion. Since the cross member is attached to the vehicle body with the extended panel portion sandwiched between the L-shaped bracket and the vehicle body, the left and right attachment portions of the suspension frame and the vehicle body are connected by an integral cross member. This makes it possible to effectively ensure the rigidity with respect to the vehicle vertical direction and vehicle width direction input from the suspension arm, and to prevent the suspension arm from falling off.

  Further, in the present invention, the front panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure is extended to the upper side of the vehicle of the L-shaped bracket, and the cross-member connection surface of the L-shaped bracket is extended by the front panel. Since it is formed so as to cover more than half from the upper side of the height, the L-shaped bracket and the vehicle body mounting part can be deformed and twisted in the vertical and horizontal directions due to the flange effect of the front panel, the bracing of the cross member and the effect of the column. Strength and rigidity against deformation can be increased. In addition, by forming the front panel in a shape that covers the front surface of the L-shaped bracket, it is possible to prevent the water-impacted or thrown stone from hitting the joint between the L-shaped bracket and the cross member when the vehicle is traveling. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems such as detachment of the joint portion.

It is the perspective view which looked at the structure of the suspension frame concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the slanting upper part ahead of vehicles. It is a perspective view which shows the right end part vicinity of the cross member of the suspension frame which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the cross member in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the X section in FIG. 2 from the vehicle outer side. It is the perspective view which looked at X section in Drawing 2 from the vehicles back. It is the front view which looked at X section in Drawing 2 from the vehicles front. It is the side view which looked at the cross member in FIG. 2 from the vehicle outer side. It is a perspective view which shows the vehicle body attachment part vicinity of the conventional suspension frame. It is the perspective view which looked at the vehicle body attachment part vicinity of the suspension frame in FIG. 8 from another direction. It is a perspective view which shows the vehicle body attachment part vicinity of the other conventional suspension frame. It is the side view which looked at the vehicle body attachment part vicinity of the suspension frame in FIG. 10 from the vehicle outer side.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.
1 to 7 show the structure of a suspension frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3, the arrow Fr direction indicates the front of the vehicle, and the arrow O direction indicates the vehicle outer side.

  A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is a four-wheel type automobile, and a front side member and an apron side that extend along the vehicle front-rear direction as components constituting a vehicle body skeleton are provided at the front of this type of vehicle body. A pair of left and right side members (not shown) including a member and a floor side member are arranged at an interval in the vehicle width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right lower arms 1 constituting a suspension mechanism are provided at the front of the vehicle body. These lower arms 1 are arranged on the lower side of the side members so as to straddle the apron side members in the vehicle front-rear direction, and loads and vibrations from front tires and the like are passed through the lower arms 1 when the vehicle travels. To be input. In addition, a suspension frame 2 for connecting these side members is disposed along the vehicle width direction between a pair of left and right side members positioned on the front side of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension frame 2 of the present embodiment is disposed on the front side of the vehicle, and is connected from the rear side of the vehicle to a cross member 3 extending in the vehicle width direction and to the left and right sides of the cross member 3. The suspension frame pipe 4 is bent in a substantially U shape in plan view, and the cross member 3 and the suspension frame pipe 4 are formed into a substantially square frame shape in plan view. Front vehicle body attachment portions 5 for attaching the suspension frame 2 to a vehicle body (not shown) are provided at the upper left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction. A front arm mounting portion 6 for attaching the front portion of the lower arm 1 is provided at the lower portion of both ends. On the other hand, rear vehicle body attachment portions 7 for attaching the suspension frame 2 to a vehicle body (not shown) via brackets 7a and the like are provided at the upper left and right ends of the suspension frame pipe 4 in the vehicle width direction. 4, rear arm attachment portions 8 for attaching the rear portion of the lower arm 1 via brackets 8a and the like are provided at the lower portions of the left and right ends in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the cross member 3 of the present embodiment has a hollow structure in which the flange portion 31 a of the front panel 31 and the flange portion 32 a of the rear panel 32 are overlapped with each other and joined in a so-called monaca alignment. Constructed in the body. At the left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction, the left and right side walls of the front panel 31 and the rear panel 32 are obliquely bent toward the upper side of the vehicle so as to draw a smooth arc and extend in a columnar shape. The connecting portion 33 is integrally formed, and the connecting portion 33 has a closed cross section configured as a columnar structure. As described above, the connecting portions 33 are integrally formed at the left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction, and there is no abrupt shape change between the cross member 3 and the front vehicle body mounting portion 5. There is no need to provide a joint, and a shape advantageous to the strength and rigidity of the cross member 3 is obtained. As a result, the overall thickness of the front panel 31 and the rear panel 32 constituting the cross member 3 is reduced and light weight is achieved. This is because it becomes feasible.
A front body mounting portion 5 having a substantially horizontal surface is formed by a front panel 31 at the top end of the connecting portion 33, and the shaft portion of the fastening bolt 9 is connected to the vehicle body side (not shown) on the front body mounting portion 5. A vehicle body attachment hole 5a to be inserted is provided. In addition, arm attachment holes 6 a constituting the front arm attachment portion 6 are provided in the lower portions on the left and right sides of the front panel 31. As a result, the left and right front vehicle body attachment portions 5 and front arm attachment portions 6 are present in the front panel 31 of one component without welding, and the lower arm 1 that suspends the wheels is not welded to the vehicle body. Will be linked. In general, since the welded portion has a reduced fatigue strength, there is a possibility of welding peeling due to corrosion and breakage, in the cross member 3 of the present embodiment, the lower arm 1 is connected to the vehicle body without welding. This removes these concerns.

Further, in the cross member 3 of the present embodiment, a substantially vertical opening directed in the vehicle width direction is formed at the front end side in the vehicle width direction of the connecting portion 33 positioned at both left and right ends, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. A portion 34 is formed, and the opening 34 is defined by the joined front panel 31 and rear panel 32, and is formed in a substantially square shape in a side view of the vehicle. Moreover, L-shaped brackets 35, which are separate members from the cross member 3, are fixed to the left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction so as to close the opening 34. The L-shaped bracket 35 is located above the vehicle and has an upper bracket piece 35A having a flat portion extending outward in the horizontal direction, and a side bracket piece having a flat portion located on the side of the vehicle and extending downward in the vertical direction. 35B, the upper bracket piece 35A is overlapped on the lower surface of the front vehicle body mounting portion 5 and joined by welding, and the side bracket piece 35B is overlapped on the tip of the connecting portion 33 and joined by welding. The left and right ends of the connecting portion 33 of the cross member 3 are fixed.
A bolt hole 35a for inserting the shaft portion of the fastening bolt 9 is provided in the flat portion of the upper bracket piece 35A, and the front vehicle body attachment portion 5 and the upper bracket piece 35A are fastened to the vehicle body by the fastening bolt 9 together. It is like that. Further, the weld joint W with the connecting portion 33 of the side bracket piece 35B is provided so as to surround the periphery of the opening 34 in order to increase the joint strength.

  Further, in the cross member 3 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, suspension arm brackets having welding nuts 10 for fastening a lower arm fixed to lower portions on the back surfaces at the left and right ends in the vehicle width direction. 11 is attached. The suspension arm bracket 11 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is joined to the lower part of the rear panel 32 and the front panel 31 from the rear of the vehicle at the vehicle outer side position of the suspension frame pipe 4. With this configuration, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, the three parts of the front vehicle body attachment portion 5, the columnar connecting portion 33, and the front arm attachment portion 6 (including the suspension arm bracket 11) are arranged along the axis C in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle is arranged in a straight line in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and is arranged in a layout that minimizes the space in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

  The left and right ends in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 31 constituting the cross member 3 of the present embodiment are positioned above the vehicle of an L-shaped bracket 35 that closes the opening 34, as shown in FIGS. It extends to the upper bracket piece 35A. The extended panel portion is configured as a front vehicle body attachment portion 5, and the front vehicle body attachment portion 5 is integrally formed with the front panel 31. That is, the cross member 3 is attached to a vehicle body (not shown) in a state where the front vehicle body attachment portion 5 of the extended panel portion is sandwiched between the upper bracket piece 35A of the L-shaped bracket 35 and the vehicle body (not shown). It is supposed to be. As a result, the left and right mounting portions of the suspension frame 2 and the vehicle body are connected by the integrated cross member 3, which is necessary for the load in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction from the lower arm 1 that is the suspension arm. It has a structure that ensures high rigidity.

  Further, the left and right ends of the front panel 31 constituting the cross member 3 of the hollow structure extend to the upper bracket piece 35A located above the L-shaped bracket 35 in the vehicle as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7. In addition, the side bracket piece 35 </ b> B of the L-shaped bracket 35 extends downward on the vehicle front side. That is, the height H1 of the front panel 31 is formed so as to cover more than half (H1 ≧ 1/2 × H) from the upper side of the height H of the upper bracket piece 35A that is the cross member connecting surface of the L-shaped bracket 35. Has been. As a result, the flange effect of the front panel 31 and the bracing and strut effects of the cross member 3 are obtained, so that the vertical and horizontal deformations and torsional deformations of the L-shaped bracket 35 and the front vehicle body mounting portion 5 can be suppressed. It has become. In addition, since the front panel 31 is formed in a shape that covers the front surface of the L-shaped bracket 35, the wet joint and the spring stone when the vehicle travels at the welded joint W between the L-shaped bracket 35 and the cross member 3. As a result, hitting and damaging is reduced.

  Thus, the structure of the suspension frame 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is such that the cross member 3 arranged extending in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the vehicle joins the front panel 31 and the rear panel 32 to each other. A columnar connecting portion 33 is formed at the left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction, and the front body mounting portion 5 is formed at the upper end of the connecting portion 33. A substantially vertical opening 34 facing the vehicle width direction is formed on the side of the distal end of the connecting portion 33, and the upper bracket piece 35 </ b> A of a flat portion is formed on the left and right ends of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction. Since the L-shaped bracket 35 is fixed so as to close the opening 34, the thickness of only the L-shaped bracket 35, which is a separate member from the cross member 3, can be changed. Therefore, in the structure of the suspension frame 2 of the present embodiment, the front vehicle body mounting portion 5 and the connecting portion are formed by making the plate thickness of the L-shaped bracket 35 thicker than the plate thickness of the front panel 31 and the rear panel 32. The strength and rigidity of the member 33 can be improved, and the weight of the cross member 3 itself can be suppressed by using the thin cross member 3, thereby realizing a reduction in weight.

Further, in the structure of the suspension frame 2 according to the present embodiment, the opening 34 on the distal end side of the connecting portion 33 in the cross member 3 is closed by the side bracket piece 35 </ b> B of the highly rigid L-shaped bracket 35. Therefore, the rigidity of the left and right side portions of the connecting portion 33 can be reliably increased. In addition, the front vehicle body mounting portion 5 is fastened to the vehicle body (not shown) together with the upper bracket piece 35 </ b> A of the L-shaped bracket 35 with the fastening bolt 9. Stiffness can also be effectively improved.
Furthermore, in the structure of the suspension frame 2 of the present embodiment, when the front arm mounting portion 6 of the lower arm 1 is located directly below the front vehicle body mounting portion 5 and the columnar connecting portion 33, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, Since the three parts of the front vehicle body attachment portion 5, the columnar connecting portion 33, and the front arm attachment portion 6 (including the suspension arm bracket 11) are laid out in a substantially straight line in the vehicle vertical direction, these front portions The space in the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle body attachment portion 5, the connecting portion 33, and the front arm attachment portion 6 can be set to a minimum, and the drive shaft, A steering gear can be arranged, and the degree of freedom in layout with peripheral parts can be increased.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the front panel 31 of the cross member 3 is extended to the upper bracket piece 35A located above the L-shaped bracket 35 in the vehicle. Only the panel 32, or the front panel 31 and the rear panel 32 may be extended to the upper bracket piece 35A located above the L-shaped bracket 35 in the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower arm 2 Suspension frame 3 Cross member 4 Suspension frame pipe 5 Front vehicle body attachment part 5a Vehicle body attachment hole 6 Front arm attachment part 6a Arm attachment hole 7 Rear vehicle body attachment part 8 Rear arm attachment part 9 Fastening bolt 10 Welding nut 11 Suspension Arm bracket 31 Front panel 32 Rear panel 33 Connecting portion 34 Opening 35 L-shaped bracket 35A Upper bracket piece 35a Bolt hole 35B Side bracket piece W Welded joint

Claims (3)

A suspension frame structure in which a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed on the vehicle front side, wherein the cross member is configured as a hollow structure in which a front panel and a rear panel are joined, and the cross member Columnar connecting portions extending upward in the vehicle are formed at both left and right ends in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and a suspension arm mounting portion is provided at a lower portion, and a vehicle body mounting portion is provided at an upper end of the connecting portion. In the structure of the suspension frame in which is formed,
A substantially vertical opening facing the vehicle width direction is formed on the side of the distal end of the connecting portion,
An L-shaped bracket having a flat portion on the upper side of the vehicle is fixed to the left and right ends of the cross member in the vehicle width direction so as to close the opening, and the L-shaped bracket is viewed from the side of the vehicle. A suspension frame structure characterized by being positioned within a range of a suspension arm mounting portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction .   At least one of the front panel and the rear panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure extends to the vehicle upper side of the L-shaped bracket and is formed as the vehicle body mounting portion. 2. The suspension frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the cross member is attached to the vehicle body in a state where the extended panel portion is sandwiched between the vehicle body and the vehicle body.   The front panel constituting the cross member of the hollow structure extends to the vehicle upper side of the L-shaped bracket, and is half from the upper side of the cross member connecting surface of the L-shaped bracket by the front panel. The suspension frame structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suspension frame is formed so as to cover the above.

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