JPH01223012A - Suspension of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the comfortability during driving and prevent the variation in camber by dividing a wheel suspension member into two pieces, inserting one of the pieces via a resilient member into the holding sleeve formed at the other piece and joining the pieces with each other as they may are soft to react in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle and hard to react in the lateral direction thereof. CONSTITUTION:A knuckle 1 as a wheel suspending means is divided into upper and lower knuckle pieces 1A and 1B. The upper and the lower end part of each of the upper and lower knuckle pieces 1A and 1B are joined via ball joints 7 and 8 with the internal ends, placed in the direction of the width of a vehicle, of upper and lower suspension arms 2 and 3, respectively. The upper and the lower knuckle pieces 1 and 1B are respectively joined with each other via a joint means 14 using a resilient member. That is, a holding sleeve 21 is formed at the lower knuckle piece 1B and the upper knuckle piece 1A is inserted into the holding hole 22 of said sleeve 21 via a plurality of resilient members 23A and 23B. The resilient members 23A and 23B are set to make soft reaction in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle and make hard reaction in the lateral direction thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension device for supporting a steered wheel.

(Prior Art) In a suspension device that supports a steered wheel, a suspension arm supports a knuckle that is vertically movable and steerable and supported by a vehicle body, and the steered wheel is attached to this knuckle. The knuckle further includes a knuckle arm, and the steered wheels are steered by inputting a steering force to the knuckle arm.

By the way, in terms of ensuring steering stability and ride comfort, it is desirable for vehicle suspension systems that the wheels be able to move relatively easily in the front and rear directions when subjected to rear force; It is desirable to prevent the wheels from moving on their own when subjected to lateral forces. This is also required when the wheels are steered wheels.

From the above-mentioned point of view, U.S. Patent Specifications M4.155.566 and M4.155.566 and 2.
882.065 has been proposed. In each of these US patent specifications, the knuckles are
The upper split knuckle and the upper split knuckle are divided into two parts, and the upper and lower split knuckles are connected using an elastic member so that m1 is soft in the rear direction (but hard in the lateral direction). .

More specifically, US patent specification jff4. 155゜5
66, an upper split knuckle connected to a heavy body via an upper suspension arm is provided with a spindle (attachment part of the steering wheel) and a knuckle arm, and also forms a connecting shaft extending inward in the vehicle width direction. It is. The lower end of the upper splitter, which is connected to the 1V body via the F suspension arm, is rotatably connected to this connection shaft.

A support cylinder is integrally formed in the upper divided knuckle so as to surround the lower end of the upper divided knuckle E, and an elastic member is interposed between the support cylinder and the upper divided knuckle. As a result, 1. The upper split knuckle can easily swing around the connecting shaft within the range of elastic deformation of the first elastic member, while the one-divided knuckle is less likely to tilt with respect to the axis of the connecting shaft. In other words, the fact that the upper split knuckle is likely to swing around the connecting shaft means that the steered wheel can easily move in the longitudinal direction when subjected to longitudinal force, and the upper split knuckle is also likely to swing around the connecting shaft. The fact that it is difficult to tilt relative to the steering wheel means that the lateral movement of the steered wheel when receiving a lateral force is restricted.

Also, +jif U.S. Patent Specification 2,882.065
Also, the knuckle is divided into two parts, an upper split knuckle and an upper split knuckle, and the upper split knuckle is provided with a spindle and a knuckle arm, and has a connecting shaft extending inward in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the upper split knuckle is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft, and a supporting part is provided to surround the upper split knuckle at least from the front and back directions, and the upper split knuckle is connected to the upper Elastic members are interposed between the upper split knuckle, that is, on both sides of the upper split knuckle.

As a result, as in US Pat. No. 4,155,566, relative change in the lateral direction is restricted while allowing the upper split knuckle to swing with respect to the upper split socket.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned conventional device has a fairly complicated structure, which poses a major problem in terms of practical application, including cost.

In addition, in the conventional model, a connecting shaft extending in the mold width direction prevents the two split knuckles from falling down, that is, preventing camber change, but this connecting shaft is used to ensure rotation. Therefore, some degree of wobbling is unavoidable, and camber changes are likely to occur.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and
In order to improve ride comfort, the wheel support member for supporting the steered wheels is divided into two parts, a first wheel support member and a second wheel support member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension system for a vehicle that can sufficiently prevent changes. The configuration is as follows. Namely.

Wheel support members for supporting the steered wheels include a first divided heavy wheel support member connected to the vehicle body via an upper suspension arm, and a second divided wheel support member connected to the heavy body via an F suspension arm. A holding cylinder is formed in one of the first and second split wheel supporting members to form a holding hole that extends downwardly. The other split wheel support member of the first and second split wheel support members is inserted into the holding hole 11η with some play in the front-rear direction and the lateral direction, and the holding cylinder and the other split wheel support member in the holding portion The wheel support member is connected to the wheel support member by an elastic member that is set to be soft in the longitudinal direction and hard in the lateral direction.

As described above, in the present invention, in order to connect the first and second split wheel support members tightly in the longitudinal direction and firmly in the lateral direction, the split wheel support members are fitted together, and Since it is only necessary to connect the two split wheel support members to each other using the elastic material at this fitting portion, the structure becomes extremely simple.

In addition, since the heavy wheel support member originally extends quite long in the vertical direction, it is possible to ensure a sufficient length of the holding cylinder, that is, the fitting length between the two split wheel support members. . As a result, it is possible to partially prevent the two divided heavy wheel support members from falling in the relative lateral direction, that is, from causing a camber change.

Of course, since the structure is such that the two divided wheel support members are connected using an elastic member, this elastic member absorbs the frequent dimensional errors, and manufacturing process is also advantageous.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below based on the attached drawings.

Shaved top 1j In Figures 1 and 2, l is 1 (a knuckle as a wheel support member, this is a 1゛9 divided knuckle IA as a first divided wheel support member, and a second divided Φ wheel support member). It has a two-part configuration with an upper split knuckle IB.In addition, 2 is an upper suspension arm, 3 is a toe suspension arm, and both 2 and 3 are so-called type 1 arms that extend in the narrow width direction. The upper and lower suspension arms 2.3 each have their inner ends in the plane (width) connected to a heavy body (5) rotatably about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction via an elastic bushing 4 or 5. The outer end of the upper suspension arm 2 in the EV width direction is connected to the upper end of the upper split knuckle IA via the ball joint 7, and the outer end of the lower suspension arm 3 in the vehicle width direction is connected to the ball joint 7. It is connected to the lower end of the upper split knuckle IB via a joint 8.

) ° The split knuckle IB has a spindle 9 protruding from its lower end extending outward in the river width direction,
A steered wheel 10 serving as a front wheel is rotatably mounted around this spindle 9 as a center of rotation. In the embodiment, the case where the steered wheel 10 is a driven wheel is shown. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper split knuckle IB has a knuckle arm 1 extending forward at its lower end.
1 is provided in a protruding manner, and an electric rod 13 (see FIG. 2), which constitutes a part of the steering mechanism, is connected to the tip of this knuckle arm II via a ball joint 12.

The upper split knuckle IA and the upper split knuckle IB are connected via a coupling means 14 using an elastic member.

They are connected so that they are soft in the front-back direction and hard in the lateral direction. Both split knuckles 1A including this coupling means 14
The details of the connecting portion between and IB will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, upper split knuckle 1. At the E end of B, a holding cylinder 21 is formed which extends considerably in the vertical direction at the northern position of the spindle 9, and the inside of this holding cylinder 21 is a holding hole 22 that opens in the vertical direction. This holding hole 2
2, the lower end portion of the upper split knuckle IA is inserted.

The longitudinal and lateral lengths of this holding hole 22 are both larger than the longitudinal and lateral lengths of the upper split knuckle IA located inside the holding hole 22. In the holding hole 22, the two divided knuckles IA and IB are connected by elastic members 23A and 23B extending over substantially the entire length of the holding cylinder 21. That is, elastic material 2
3A connects the outer surface of the L-divided knuckle IA in the vehicle width direction and the inner surface of the holding tube 21 in the vehicle width direction, and the elastic member 23
B connects the inner surface of the upper split knuckle IA in the vehicle width direction and the outer surface of the holding tube 21 in the vehicle width direction. Each of these elastic materials 23A, 23B is
N It is soft (easily deformed) in the horizontal direction in Figure 3, which is the rear direction, and hard (hard to deform and flattened) in the vertical direction in Figure 3, which is the compression direction, that is, the lateral direction. and IB are bonded so that they are soft in the anteroposterior direction but hard in the lateral direction.

In addition, within the holding hole 22, an elastic material 24 for cushioning is coupled to the front and rear end surfaces toward the upper split knuckle 1. This elastic material 24 normally has a gap at a predetermined interval with respect to the inner surface of the holding cylinder 21 in the front-rear direction, and when the two divided knuckles IA and IB are relatively displaced in the front-rear direction, the holding cylinder 21 It provides cushioning by coming into contact with the inner surface in the front-rear direction. Of course,
Such elastic material 24 may be coupled to the inner surface of the holding cylinder 21 in the front-rear direction.

According to the above configuration, when receiving a longitudinal force, both split knuckles IA and IB are moved by the elastic material 2 in the holding cylinder 21.
By deforming 3A and 23B, the spindle 9 is allowed to move backward while being deformed into a dogleg shape convex to the rear. Similarly, if an external force is input from behind,
The spindle 9 is displaced forward. This releases longitudinal force and improves riding comfort. Then, the holding cylinder 21 is sufficiently secured, that is, the function of preventing both split knuckles IA and IB from falling in the lateral direction is sufficiently ensured, and camber change is prevented from occurring.

Figures 4 and 5 show other embodiments of the present invention, and the same components as in the first embodiment of Section I are given the same reference numerals. The same applies to other examples below).

In this embodiment, a case is shown in which the earth suspension arm 2 is configured as a strut type. That is, the strut 55 includes the strut tube 55a and the strut tube 5.
In this embodiment, this strut fi55a is made to function as an upper split knuckle I.

Further, the upper divided knuckle IB has a spindle 9 and a first lower divided knuckle lB-1 connected to the lower suspension arm 3, and the first T' divided knuckle l8-.
1 and a second lower split knuckle IB-2 rigidly connected to the upper end of the second lower split knuckle IB-2 by a bolt 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, this second lower divided knuckle 1
It has a pair of front and rear flange portions 32 fixed to the flange portions 32, and an annular holding cylinder 33 integral with the flange portions 32. This holding tube 33 extends quite long in the vertical direction, and the lower end portion of the strut tube 55a serving as the upper split knuckle IA is inserted into the holding tube 33 (in FIG. 5, the cross section of the strut tube 55a is shown). (It is simplified and drawn as a solid figure.) The outer peripheral surface of this strut cylinder 55a and the holding cylinder 33
inner circumference of

The surfaces are connected to each other by an annular elastic member 34. That is, the entire periphery of the strut tube 55a is surrounded by the elastic material 34. The elastic member 34 has a groove 34a at each position before and after the strut tube 55a. As a result, the elastic material 34 is soft in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction in Figure 5) (easily diamond-shaped) and in the lateral direction (
It is hard (hard to deform) in the horizontal direction (Fig. 5).

As is known, the piston rod 55b is connected to the vehicle body 6 via a mounting bracket 58 including a bearing 57, and the bearing 57 absorbs the rotation of the strut 55 due to steering.

The operation of this embodiment itself is the same as that of the previous embodiment, so a redundant explanation thereof will be omitted.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the present invention can effectively release longitudinal force to improve riding comfort and prevent camber changes.

Furthermore, the structure is simple and can be easily and inexpensively implemented. In particular, since the two split wheel support members are connected using an elastic member, dimensional errors can be absorbed by the elastic member, which is advantageous in manufacturing.

In addition, in the present invention, the connecting portion between the two split wheel support members can be made quite compact, which is advantageous in terms of securing installation space for brake equipment, etc. placed around the heavy wheel support member. .

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figs. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 is Fig. 1
It is a sectional view taken along the line X3. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 4 being a front view and FIG. 5 being a sectional view taken along the line X5-X5 in FIG. 4. 1: Knuckle (wheel support member) lA: Upper split knuckle (first wheel support member) IB:
Upper split knuckle (2nd +li wheel support member) 6:I('
J-body 9 Nispindle (steering wheel attachment part) 10: Steering wheel 14: Coupling f stage 21: Holding cylinder 22: Holding hole 23A, 238: Elastic member 15: Connector stage 33: Holding cylinder 33a: Holding hole: 34: Elastic member: 34a: Recess 55a Nystrut tube (first split type wheel support member)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Wheel support members for supporting steered wheels include a first divided wheel support member connected to the vehicle body via an upper suspension arm, and a second divided wheel support member connected to the vehicle body via a lower suspension arm. A holding cylinder is formed in one of the first and second split wheel support members and constitutes a holding hole extending in the vertical direction; The other split wheel support member of the first and second split wheel support members is inserted into the holding hole with play in the front-rear direction and the lateral direction, and the other split wheel support member is inserted into the holding hole with play in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, and the holding cylinder and the other split wheel support member in the holding cylinder are A suspension device for a vehicle, characterized in that the wheel support member is coupled to an elastic member that is set to be soft in the longitudinal direction and hard in the lateral direction.