JPH02241828A - Horizontal engine vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the load distribution for front wheels by arranging the axes of an engine and a transmission in the vertical direction of a car body with the axes of the transmission located above, and arranging them at the rear of the car body from the axis of a differential device respectively. CONSTITUTION:A power plant 10 mounted in an engine room 2 at the front section of a car body 1 is integrally constituted of an engine 11, a transmission 12 and the differential device 13 of front wheels 3. Axes 11a, 12a, 12b and 13a of the components 11-13 are arranged in the width direction of the car body respectively. The axes 11a, 12a and 12b of the engine 11 and the transmission 12 are arranged in the vertical direction of the car body 1 with the axes 12a and 12b of the transmission 12 located above. The axes 11a, 12a and 12b are arranged at the rear of the car body 1 from the axis 13a of the differential device 13. The center of gravity of the power plant 10 is located near the center of front wheels 3, thus the load distribution for the front wheels 3 is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a transverse engine vehicle in which the axes of an engine, a transmission, and a differential device constituting a power plant are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle body.

(Prior art) In general, in transverse engine vehicles such as front engine and front drive vehicles, the power plant consisting of the engine, transmission, front wheel differential, etc. is located in the engine room at the front of the vehicle body, and the power plant is located along the axis of these vehicles. In this case, the axis of the engine (the center of the crankshaft) that makes up the power plant and the axis of the transmission (the center of the primary shaft) are placed on the same line. It was customary to arrange these axes forward of the differential or front wheel axes.

However, in this arrangement, the center of gravity of the power plant as a whole is located far forward of the center of the curved axis, which causes a large moment to act on the centerline of the front wheels, resulting in uneven load distribution to the front wheels. This causes a problem in that the steering characteristics tend to understeer significantly.

To solve the above-mentioned problem in a horizontally mounted engine, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-23219, the axis of the engine and the axis of the transmission, which are arranged on the same line, are arranged behind the center of the front wheels. A so-called front midship vehicle is known in which the engine and transmission are moved to the rear, which reduces the load distribution to the front wheels and improves steering characteristics.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the configuration shown in the above publication, the axis of the engine and the axis of the transmission are on the same line, so the engine, which accounts for a considerable portion of the total weight of the power plant, is free to move. Due to the layout restrictions, the following problems in transverse engine vehicles cannot be addressed. In other words, in a transverse engine vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned power plant, the transmission needs to transmit power to the differential gear, and its positional relationship with respect to the differential gear is restricted, so the transmission and engine If the axes are on the same line, the position of the engine will also be constrained by the differential, so the center of gravity of the power plant cannot be lowered too much. Due to height constraints, the center of gravity of the vehicle becomes high, which not only poses problems in running stability, but also limits the height of the engine that constitutes the power plant, resulting in a high bonnet position.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned situation regarding transverse engine vehicles, and improves the load distribution to the front wheels by arranging the power plant rearward relative to the differential or the front wheels, resulting in excessive steering characteristics. In addition to eliminating the understeer tendency, by locating the center of gravity of the power plant as low as possible, it lowers the center of gravity of the vehicle and achieves good running stability, as well as providing vertical freedom for the engine that makes up the power plant. The objective is to make it possible to lower the bonnet position, reduce air resistance during driving, and improve the degree of freedom in designing the front of the vehicle body.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, a transverse engine vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by being configured as follows.

That is, the present invention provides a transverse engine vehicle in which a power plant consisting of an engine, a transmission, and a differential device is arranged with their axes facing in the width direction of the vehicle body. The present invention is characterized in that the transmission is arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle body with the axis of the transmission facing upward, and both of these axes are arranged at the rear of the vehicle body with respect to the axis of the differential device.

(Function) According to the above configuration, since the axes of the engine and transmission in the power plant are located at the rear of the axis of the differential gear, the center of gravity of the power plant as a whole is also located at the rear, and the center of gravity of the power plant as a whole is also located at the rear. This will bring the vehicle closer to the center, which will reduce the load distribution to the front wheels and eliminate the excessive understeer tendency of the steering characteristics.

In particular, in the present invention, since both the axes of the engine and the transmission are arranged with the axis of the transmission upward,
Compared to the conventional system where the engine and transmission axes are coaxial, the engine is located lower, lowering the center of gravity of the power plant and, accordingly, lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle. This means that good running stability can be obtained. Moreover, by lowering the axis of the engine, the overall height of the engine is also reduced accordingly.
The hood can be lowered, reducing air resistance during driving and increasing the degree of freedom in designing the front of the vehicle.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the engine compartment 2 at the front of the vehicle body 1
The power plant 10 installed in the interior has a structure that integrates an engine 11, a transmission 12, and a differential device 13 for the front wheels 3. centerline 12a of the two axes of the machine 12, i.e. the primary shaft and the secondary shaft;
12b and the axis of the differential device 13, that is, the centerline 13a of the left and right front wheel drive shafts, are arranged so that they all extend in the vehicle width direction.

And each of the above power plant components 1112.13
With respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the axis 13a of the differential gear 13 is located furthest forward, and the axis 13a of the differential gear 13 is located furthest behind the axis 13a of the engine 11.
An axis 12b on the secondary shaft side of the transmission 12 is located forward of the axis 11a of the transmission 12, and further behind the axis 12b of the engine 1
The primary shaft side axis 12b of the transmission 12 is arranged at the same position as the axis 11a of the transmission 12, respectively. In other words, the reference point of the transmission 12 is the axis 12 of the primary shaft.
b, the engine 11 and the transmission 12 are arranged at the same position behind the differential gear 13, respectively.

Further, in the vertical direction, one axis 12a of the transmission 12 is disposed at the top, the other axis 12b is disposed below that, and the axis 11a of the engine 11 is disposed further below. In this case, the axis 13a of the actuating device 13 is located at approximately the same height as the axis 11a of the engine 11.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the engine 11 is arranged in a forward-inclined position with the upper part inclined forward, and
The intake passage 11b is on the front side, and the exhaust passage 11 is on the rear side.
c are respectively provided, and the exhaust passages 11c are guided to the rear of the vehicle body 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1.2, a steering mechanism 20 is installed in the space between the differential gear 13 in the power plant 10 and the upper part of the engine 11, which is located above it and is tilted forward.
is located. This steering mechanism 20 has a second
As shown in the figure, a sleeve 21 arranged in the width direction of the vehicle body.
A rack shaft (not shown) housed inside the rack so as to be slidable in the same direction, a pair of tie rods 22.22 whose ends are connected to both left and right ends of the rack shaft, and a front wheel 3.3 are rotatably supported. and a knuckle arm (not shown) to which the other ends of the tie rods 22 and 22 are connected, and a rack and binder off mechanism 24 that slides the rack shaft left and right via the steering shaft 23 by operating a handle inside the vehicle interior 4. and by sliding the rack shaft,
The front wheels 3.3 are steered left and right via the tie rods 22.22 and knuckle arms. In addition, in FIG. 1.2, the reference numeral 31 indicates a radiator and a cooling fan provided at the front end of the engine room 2, and in FIG. A suspension arm that supports the front wheel 3.3 by being connected to the side frame 33.33 disposed on the
lower arm).

By the way, in the power plant 10, the primary shaft and the secondary shaft indicated by the axes 12a and 12b of the transmission 12 are arranged on different axes from the crankshaft indicated by the axis 11a of the engine 11, as described above. However, in this case, the transmission 12 is
For example, it is configured as shown in FIG.

That is, in this transmission 12, three axes are arranged in parallel: an idle shaft 41 disposed on the axis 11a of the crankshaft 40 in the engine IO, and a primary shaft 42 and a secondary shaft 43 on the axes 12a and 12b. and the idle shaft 41
is connected to the crankshaft 40 via the clutch mechanism 44.
It is designed to be directly connected to. The engine output input to this idle shaft 41 is transmitted to the primary shaft through a first human-powered gear 45 fixed to the shaft 41 and a second human-powered gear 46 fixed to the primary shaft 42. 42. Further, between this primary shaft 42 and the above-mentioned secondary shaft 43, each gear train 471 to 5 for 1st to 5th use and reverse
47° 47a, and the secondary shaft 43 is provided with a plurality of synchronous meshing devices 48...4 for selectively bringing any one of the gear trains into a power transmission state.
8 is provided, and power that is reduced in accordance with the gear ratio of the selected gear train is transmitted from the primary shaft 42 to the secondary shaft 43. Further, the power transmitted to the secondary shaft 43 is transmitted to the input of the differential N13 via an output gear 49 fixed to one end thereof and an input gear 50 of the differential 13 that meshes with the gear 49. The signal is inputted to the differential case 51 as a member and outputted to the left and right front wheel drive shafts 52 and 52 arranged on the axis l3a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Engine 1 constituting power plant 10 as described above
The axis 11a of the engine 1 and the axes 12a and 12b of the transmission 12 are respectively arranged rearward than the axis 13a of the differential 13, so that the engine axis and at least one axis of the transmission are on the same line. The engine 11 and the transmission 12 are arranged at the rear compared to the case where the engine 11 and the transmission 12 are arranged in front of the axis of the differential gear. Therefore, the center of gravity of the power plant 10 as a whole is also located at the rear, and by being close to the center of the front wheels 3, the moment acting on the centerline of the front wheels 3 is reduced. As a result, the load distribution to the front wheels 3 is reduced, and the excessive understeer tendency of the steering characteristics is eliminated.

In particular, in this embodiment, the axis 11a of the engine 11
The axes 12a, 12b of the transmission 12 are arranged on different axes, and the axes 12a, 12b of the transmission 12 are arranged on different axes from the engine 1.
Since the engine 11 is located above the axis 11a of the differential gear 13, the engine 11 is located above the differential gear 13, compared to a case where the engine axis and at least one axis of the transmission are located on the same line. The center of gravity of the power plant 10 is also located downward, and the center of gravity of the vehicle body 1 as a whole is also lowered accordingly, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle. Running stability will be improved. Also, like this, the engine 11
The overall height of the power plant 10 can be lowered, and the bonnet 5 that covers the engine compartment 2 can be lowered to reduce air resistance when driving, or the design of the front part of the vehicle can be lowered. It becomes possible to increase the degree of freedom.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the engine 11 is arranged in a forward-leaning position, the center of gravity of the power plant 10 is located further downward, and the steering characteristics are further effectively improved. . Further, as the center of gravity of the power plant 10 is located lower, the center of gravity of the vehicle body 1 as a whole is also located further lower, and the running stability of the vehicle is further improved. Moreover, since the overall height of the power plant 10 is further reduced, the bonnet 5 can be further lowered to further reduce air resistance during driving, or to further increase the degree of freedom in the design of the front part of the vehicle body. It becomes possible.

Note that the location of the differential device 13 is not limited to the above embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained even if the differential device 13 is installed at any height.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, in a transverse engine vehicle in which the axes of the engine, transmission, and differential device constituting the power plant are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle body, the engine and the transmission are By locating it at the rear, it is possible to bring the center of gravity of the power plant closer to the center of the front wheels, reducing the load distribution to the front wheels. As a result, the excessive understeer tendency of the steering characteristics is eliminated, and good steering characteristics can be obtained.

In particular, in the present invention, since the axis of the transmission and the axis of the engine are arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, with the axis of the transmission upward, the transmission is constrained by the positional relationship with the differential. It is now possible to locate the engine downwards, regardless of the vehicle, and as a result, the center of gravity of the power plant is also located downwards, which in turn lowers the center of gravity of the vehicle as a whole, improving driving stability. I will do it. In addition, since the engine can be installed lower in this way, the overall height of the power plant is lowered, and the bonnet that covers the engine room can be lowered to reduce air resistance when driving, or the front part of the vehicle body can be lowered. It becomes possible to increase the degree of freedom in design.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a power plant and its surroundings in this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the transmission. 0... Power plant, 1... Engine, 2... Transmission, 3... Differential device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A transverse engine vehicle in which a power plant consisting of an engine, a transmission, and a differential is arranged with their axes facing in the width direction of the vehicle body, and each axis of the engine and transmission is 1. A transverse engine vehicle, characterized in that the transmission is arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle body with the axis line upward, and both axes are arranged rearward of the vehicle body with respect to the axis line of the differential device.