JPH0131522Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a front wheel suspension system for an automobile, and more particularly to a front wheel suspension system for an automobile that has a strut bar that is connected to the vehicle body and restrains the king pin shaft of the front wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

In the front wheel suspension system, the kingpin shaft is restrained by a strut bar and has a caster angle. On the other hand, the strut bar is connected to the vehicle body via a strut cushion made of rubber. During driving of the vehicle, this struc- ture hardly deflects, so that the caster angle remains essentially unchanged.

By the way, from the performance standpoint of a car, it is necessary to increase the caster angle in order to ensure straight-line stability while driving, but on the other hand, increasing the caster angle increases the steering force at low speeds and especially when stopped. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to change and adjust the caster angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a front wheel suspension system that not only ensures straight-line stability but also allows the caster angle to be changed without affecting the steering force.

According to the present invention, an elastic body having a sealed hollow portion is installed between the strut bar and the vehicle body and is expandable and retractable in the axial direction of the strut bar. A pressure fluid is introduced into this closed cavity, which varies in proportion to the speed of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The front wheel suspension system of the present invention is, for example, a McPherson strut type suspension system, as shown in FIG. 1, and has a strut bar 10. This strut bar 10 is connected to the vehicle body 12 at the front side, extends rearward, and is engaged with a shock absorber 14 at the rear side. In general, strut bar 10
The rear end of the suspension arm 15 is connected to the suspension arm 15 on which the shock absorber 14 is attached.
As a result, the shock absorber 14 is restrained by the strut bar 10. In the McPherson strut type suspension system, the shock absorber 14 functions as a kingpin, so the cast angle θ between the axis C and the vertical line is set and regulated by the strut bar 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, an elastic body 18 made of rubber and a strut cushion 20 are installed between the strut bar 10 and the bracket 16 protruding from the vehicle body 12, respectively. In the illustrated example, the elastic body 18 is located further forward than the bracket 16. The elastic body 18 has a sealed hollow portion 22, and as shown in the figure, the entire elastic body 18 is formed into a bellows shape, and is expandable and retractable in the axial direction of the strut bar 10. A mouth tube 24 is attached to the elastic body 18, and a conduit 26 is connected to this mouth tube 24. conduit 26
For example, it is connected to a torque converter and transmits the governor hydraulic pressure to the sealed hollow part 22.

The strut cushion 20 located on the rear side of the bracket 16 is formed into a cylindrical shape. As will be described later, as the elastic body 18 expands and contracts, the strut bar 10 moves back and forth, and the strut 20 must bend accordingly.
In the illustrated example, the strut cushion 20 is cylindrical and is spaced radially from the strut bar 10, so that it is easily deflected.

A collar 30 is inserted through the central hole 28 provided in the elastic body 18 and the strut cushion 20, and a nut 32 is screwed into the front end of the strut bar 10 inserted through the collar 30. ing. With this nut 32, the front side of the elastic body 18 and the strut
Retainers 3 each placed on the rear side of 0
4 and 36 are brought into contact with the collar 30, and the retainer 3
4 and 36 are held at a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the strut bar 10.

The front wheel suspension system of the present invention operates as follows.
Now, when the vehicle speed of the automobile increases, the governor oil pressure of the torque converter, which increases in proportion to this vehicle speed, is transmitted from the conduit 26 to the sealed hollow part 22 of the elastic body 18, so the pressure in the sealed hollow part 22 becomes high.
The elastic body 18 extends forward. As the elastic body 18 stretches, the strut bar 10 moves toward the bracket 1.
6, the lower part of the shock absorber 14, which is the kingpin shaft, moves forward, and the caster angle θ of the front wheel increases. As a result, straight-line running stability in medium and high speed ranges is improved. On the other hand, at low speeds or when the vehicle is stopped, the pressure within the sealed hollow portion 22 decreases, so the caster angle θ returns to its original value, and the steering force does not become too heavy.

According to this invention, when the running speed of a car increases, high-pressure fluid that changes in proportion to the vehicle speed is guided into the sealed hollow part of the elastic body, so the caster angle automatically increases and straight-line running stability is improved. increases.
Conversely, when the vehicle's running speed decreases, the pressure within the sealed hollow part of the elastic body decreases and the caster angle returns to its original value, so the steering force does not become heavy at low speeds or when the vehicle is stopped.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the front wheel suspension system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the present invention. 10: strut bar, 12: vehicle body, 14: shock absorber, 16: bracket, 18: elastic body, 20: strut cushion, 22: sealed hollow part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A front wheel suspension system for an automobile having a strut bar provided through a bracket of a vehicle body for restraining a front wheel kingpin shaft in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the strut bar being locked to one side of the bracket and the strut bar. between an elastic body having a sealed hollow portion disposed between the first retainer and expandable and contractible in the axial direction of the strut bar, and a second retainer that is locked to the other side of the bracket and the strut bar; a flexible structure arranged in the elastomeric body, the elastic body having a flexible structure configured to guide a pressure fluid that varies in proportion to the traveling speed of the vehicle into the closed hollow portion of the elastic body;
Automobile front wheel suspension system.