JPH03149421A - Suspension device furnished with frp arms - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely fix the stationary end sides of canti-lever type FRP arms onto a car body and the like by providing each arm couple section which engages each tapered section of FRP arms, with each fixing part so as to be held in such a way as not to be pulled out. CONSTITUTION:Each FRP arm 6 is prevented from being pulled out to the longer direction by coupling each end section of the FRP arms 6 in each arm couple section 25 of stationary parts 10, and the stationary parts 10 are concurrently fixed onto the side of a car body with bolts and the like. Each end section of the FRP arms 6 at the stationary end sides is formed into a divergent tapered shape, or into a curved part such as a L-shaped and the like, each of the aforesaid end sections is held by each arm couple section 25 of the fixing parts 10, it thereby exhibits powerful resistance against load applied to each longer direction of the FRP arms, which intends to pull the arms out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a suspension system equipped with an FRP arm suitable for a front suspension or a rear suspension of a vehicle such as an automobile.

``Prior Art'' A vehicle suspension system, such as a MacPherson strut or a dub-no-witsch bone type, supports a hub carrier in a vertically movable manner by an arm with a link structure extending in the vehicle width direction. The sprung mass of each wheel is elastically supported by a separately provided suspension spring such as a coil spring.However, recently, automobiles have become FF (front engine/front wheel drive), four-wheel drive, or front nose. With the desire for cars with low
It has become difficult to secure sufficient space for suspension springs at the bottom of the engine room.

In order to deal with this situation, the present inventors developed a cantilever type spring F as a member to replace the conventional suspension spring.
We have been developing the RP arm.

The FRP arm is made of matrix resin and reinforcing fibers, and can be elastically bent in the vertical direction. The fixed end side end of this FRP arm is fixed to the vehicle body, and a wheel side member such as a hub carrier is provided on the free end side. - In order to fix a part of the above FRP arm to the vehicle body, conventional methods have been to drill holes for bolt insertion at the end of the FRP arm and fix it with bolts and nuts, fasten using U bolts, or fasten with these bolts. A method is being considered that uses a combination of fixing with adhesive and fixing with adhesive. however,
Drilling holes in the FRP arm will cut the fibers and reduce its strength, tightening with U bolts may cause loosening, and fixing with adhesive may cause the adhesive surface to peel off. Currently, no means has yet been established to reliably fix the fixed end of the two cantilever FRP arms used under harsh conditions.

Furthermore, as seen in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-131905, a cantilevered FRP member is provided with a cylindrical portion along the width direction, and this cylindrical end is fitted into a bracket. Other fixing means have also been proposed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The cylindrical portion in the prior art described above needs to have sufficient strength because it supports the fixed end of the FRP member. Therefore, it is desirable that this cylindrical end portion be molded integrally with the FRP member. However, in products such as FRP leaf springs that are reinforced by longitudinally continuous fibers, it is difficult to integrally mold such a cylindrical part at the end of the leaf. In methods such as the filament winding method, which is suitable for forming, in which forming is performed while aligning unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers in the longitudinal direction, it is impossible to integrally form a cylindrical part at the end of the FRP member. be.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
To provide a suspension device equipped with an FRP arm, in which the fixed end side of the RP arm can be securely fixed to a vehicle body, etc., and the end part can be molded without problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The F″RP arm in the suspension system of the present invention developed to achieve the above object is comprised of a matrix resin, embedded in this matrix resin, and pulled in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the FRP arm. Contains aligned unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers, and the fixed end side end of this FRP arm is formed into a tapered shape such that the plate width or plate thickness gradually increases toward the plate end surface, or The end of the FRP arm is molded into a bent shape such as an L-shape, and an arm is fitted to the fixing part for fixing the end of the FRP arm to the vehicle body so that the end of the FRP arm cannot be pulled out. A section is provided for this purpose.

[Function] The suspension device equipped with the FRP arm configured as described above prevents the FRP arm from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction by fitting the end of the FRP arm into the arm fitting portion of the fixing component, and also prevents the FRP arm from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction. Fix the fixing parts to the vehicle body using bolts, etc. The end of the FRP arm on the fixed end side has a tapered shape with a widened tip or a curved shape such as an L shape, and since this end is held in the arm fitting part of the fixing part, the FRP It can exhibit great strength to prevent pulling out against loads applied in the longitudinal direction of the arm. The end portion can be molded without any problem even if it is an FRP arm containing unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described below in Figures 1'' to 6.
This will be explained with reference to the figures.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 3, there is an engine room 2 in the front part of the member 1 on the body side of the automobile, and a pair of wheels 3, 3 as steering wheels are located on the left and right sides of the engine room 2. ing. The wheels 3.3 are housed in a tire house 4.4, and are steered left and right by a well-known steering linkage (not shown), and follow an arcuate trajectory as shown by the two-dot chain line. It is now possible to turn left and right.

Suspension device 5.5 between each wheel 3.3 and body side member 1
are provided independently from each other. Since each suspension device 5.5 is bilaterally symmetrical and substantially the same in structure, one suspension device 5.5 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
I will explain on behalf of.

This suspension device 5 has a pair of front and rear cantilever type spring FRs.
Equipped with P-arm 6.6. Each FRP arm 6 includes a matrix resin 8, as well as a known FRP leaf spring.
Continuous reinforcing fibers 9 such as glass rovings mainly extend along the longitudinal direction of the arm 6, and the arm 6 is formed into an arcuate band shape with the longitudinal middle portion slightly convex upward in a free state.

The FRP arm 6 is manufactured by a filament winding method. In other words, a fiber bundle impregnated with matrix resin before curing is continuously wound in a molding groove of a rotary mandrel (inner mold) (not shown) while being aligned in the longitudinal direction until the desired thickness is reached, and then the outer circumferential side is After overlapping the outer mold and curing the matrix resin at a predetermined temperature, the mold is removed and cut into a predetermined size. The molding groove of the mandrel corresponds to the shape of the FRP arm 6. Note that a well-known pull forming method may be applied instead of the filament winding method.

The end 6a of the FRP arm 6 on the fixed end side is formed into a tapered shape that widens at the end so that the width of the plate gradually increases toward the plate end surface 6C. Moreover, this FRP arm 6 is formed into a tapered leaf shape such that the thickness of the end 6a on the fixed end side is thicker than the thickness of the end 6b on the free end side. F in the illustrated example
The RP arm 6° has the same width in the longitudinal direction, but depending on the case, it may have a shape in which the width changes in the longitudinal direction, or it may have a leaf of equal thickness.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of front and rear FRP arms 6.
Reference numeral 6 is attached to the member 1 on the vehicle body side in such a manner that it has a roughly V-shape in plan view so as to avoid interference with the turning locus of the steered wheels 3.3.

The fixed end side end 6a of each FRP arm 6 is fixed to the vehicle body side member 1 using a fixing part 10, which will be described later. F
The free end 6b side of the RP arm 6 is connected to the bracket 12 using a bolt 11 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a ball joint 15 is attached to the tip of the bracket 12. A hub carrier 16, which is an example of a wheel-side member, is rotatably supported by this ball joint 15. The hub carrier 16 is provided with an axle 17 that serves as the center of rotation of the wheel 3, and a shock absorber 18 that dampens vertical displacement.

An example of the fixing component 10 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The fixing component 10 includes a metal base 20, a force bar 21, a bolt 22, and the like. The base body 20 and the force bar 21 are fastened to each other in the thickness direction by bolts 22 and are fixed to the member 1 on the vehicle body side. The base body 2o is provided with an arm fitting portion 25 which is a recessed portion having a shape corresponding to the tapered end portion 6a of the FRP arm 6. This arm fitting part 25 has a tapered shape with a width Wl on the back side larger than a width W2 on the entrance side, and by fitting the tapered end 6a of the FBP arm 6, this end 6a is fitted and held by a so-called "wedge effect" so that it cannot be pulled out.

Note that the fixing component 10 may be formed by forming a sheet metal into a shape that just fits the tapered end 6a by plastic processing such as pressing.

Spacers 30 are provided on both sides of the tapered end 6a in the thickness direction.
31 has been polymerized. These spacers 30.314F
It is fixed to the RP fu 46 and the fixing component 1o with adhesive. The spacers 30 and 31 are such that the FRP arm 6 is connected to the base 2.
F by preventing direct contact with o and force bar 21
It is used for the purpose of preventing wear of the RP arm 6 and preventing local stress from acting on the tightening surface of the FRP arm 6. Therefore, the spacers 30, 31 are preferably made of wear-resistant elastomer or fiber-reinforced elastomer, but may also be made of other synthetic resins or the like. The total thickness of the end portion 6a and the width 30.31 is larger than the depth H) of the arm fitting portion 25 in the vertical direction. Therefore, by tightening the bolt 22, the spacer 30.31 is elastically compressed and the end 6
a is tightened.

The suspension system 5 having the above configuration has a spring constant similar to that of the conventional suspension system by allowing the two front and rear FRP arms 6.6 to work together to flex against the vertical load based on the sprung weight. It can function as a spring. In addition, the two front and rear FRP arms 6.6 assembled in a V-shape in each suspension system 5 have a so-called truss structure to withstand loads applied in the longitudinal and lateral directions when the vehicle is turning or during sudden braking. As a result, they mutually function as reinforcing rods. Therefore, sufficient rigidity can be exhibited. The end 6a of each FRP arm 6 is the fixing part 1.
By being fitted and held in the arm fitting portion 25 of 0, the arm 6 is prevented from coming off in the longitudinal direction and is firmly fixed to the member 1 on the vehicle body side.

Note that FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

The end portion 6a of the FRP arm 6 of this embodiment is formed in a tapered shape that widens toward the end so that the thickness of the FRP arm 6 gradually increases toward the end surface 6C. Arm fitting part 2 of fixing part 10
5 is a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the tapered end portion 6a. The FRP arm 6 of this embodiment is also molded with continuous reinforcing fibers 9 extending in the longitudinal direction being aligned continuously over the entire length of the arm 6. Note that the end portion 6a
Both the plate width and plate thickness may be changed.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
The end 6a of the FRP arm 6 is bent into an L shape, and the base 20 or the force bar 21 has a
An arm fitting portion 25 is provided which is a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the bent end portion 6a. and bolt 22.2
3 fixes the force bar 21 to the base body 20. Also in this case, the unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers 9 are aligned over the entire length of the FRP arm 6. Therefore, the load acting in the longitudinal direction of the FRP arm 6 is maintained by the tensile strength of the reinforcing fibers 9. Note that the end portion 6a may be bent into a J shape, a U shape, a curved shape, or the like.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the ends 30a, 31a of the spacer 30.31 are tapered so that the thickness of the spacer 30.31 gradually decreases on the distal end side. Section 30a.

This prevents stress from concentrating on 31a. By adopting the end portions 30a and 31g having such shapes, the FR
Even if the P-arm 6 is repeatedly bent in the vertical direction, the spacer 30.
The adhesive surface of 31 becomes difficult to peel off.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned anim mounting structure of each embodiment can also be applied to a suspension system 5 equipped with FRP arms 6 for each of the left and right bodies as shown in FIG.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the fixed end side end of the FRP arm can be securely fixed with a simple structure, and the FRP arm contains unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to form the edges without any problem even if the

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the suspension system, FIG. 2 is a front view of the suspension system, and FIG. 3 is a vehicle equipped with the suspension system. 4 is a bottom view schematically showing a part of the FRP arm, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line v-v in FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the attachment part of the FRP arm, FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the attachment part of the FRP arm showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the attachment part of the FRP arm showing another embodiment of the invention. FRP shown
A vertical cross-sectional side view of the arm attachment part, Figure 9 is IX in Figure 8.
10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment part of an FRP arm showing still another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line -IX;
The figure is a bottom view schematically showing another example of a vehicle equipped with a suspension system. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Member on the vehicle body side, 3... Wheel, 5... Suspension device, 6... FRP arm, 6a... End part on the fixed end side, 6b... End part on the free end side , 6c... plate end surface, 10
・-・Fixing part, 25... Arm fitting part. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 4th Ward 115 Figure 7th Ward 1 to 8 Figure IK9

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A suspension device equipped with a cantilevered FRP arm whose fixed end is fixed to a member on the vehicle body side by a fixing part, and the FRP arm has a matrix resin and a structure embedded in the matrix resin. unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the FRP arm, and the width or thickness of the FRP arm is adjusted from the fixed end side of the FRP arm toward the end surface of the board. The FRP arm is formed into a tapered shape such that the FRP arm gradually increases, and the fixing part is provided with an arm fitting part that irremovably fits and holds the tapered end of the FRP arm.
Suspension system with RP arm. (2) A suspension device including a cantilevered FRP arm whose fixed end end is fixed to a member on the vehicle body side by a fixing part, and the FRP arm has a matrix resin and a structure embedded in the matrix resin. unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers arranged in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the FRP arm; A suspension device equipped with an FRP arm, characterized in that an arm fitting part is provided on the component for fitting and holding the bent end of the FRP arm in a manner that the bent end part of the FRP arm cannot be pulled out.