JPH0485123A - Axle housing for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve layout freedom of a suspension device by forming a body for supporting an axle rotatably, of an inner and an outer cylinder and a side plate so as to be hollow inside, then welding brackets to both cylinders, and fitting the links or steering side rods of the suspension device to blanket ends positioned on the body outer side. CONSTITUTION:An axle housing 20 is formed into hollow shape by welding an outer cylinder 20a, an inner cylinder 20b and a side plate 20C, respectively made of iron plates, to one another, and an axle is fittingly inserted into the inner cylinder 20b so as to be in the rotatably supported state. A disc brake caliper plate mounting part 22 is provided. The respective one ends 23a-25a of an upper bracket 23, a center bracket 24 and a lower bracket 25 are further welded to the inner cylinder 20b. The respective brackets 23-25 pass through openings A-C formed at the outer cylinder 20a and are welded/fixed to the outer cylinder 20a. Various links and rods of a suspension device are then fitted to the vehicle outer side ends 23b-25b of the respective bracket 23-25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an axle housing for a vehicle, and particularly to an axle housing that is lightweight.

(Prior Art) In general, the lighter the unsprung load of a vehicle, the better the handling performance, so axle housings for high-performance vehicles such as racing cars are required to be extremely lightweight.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example. A cylindrical support member 10 that supports an axle (not shown) is welded to an axle housing 11 formed in a hollow shape from sheet metal, and the outer plate of the housing 11 has three projections 12a, 12b.
, 12C are welded.

Various links and rods extending from the vehicle body are attached to these protrusions 12a, 12b, and 12c, and the axle housing 11 and the vehicle body are connected via these links. . By forming the axle housing 11 in a hollow shape, the unsprung load can be reduced and the maneuverability can be improved.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional vehicle axle housing, the axle housing 11 is formed in a hollow shape.
Since each protrusion 12a, 12b, 12c was welded to the outer plate (steel plate) of the 12, the protrusions 12a, t2b were welded to the outer plate (steel plate) of the suspension layout.

There was a problem in that if an attempt was made to widen the spacing between 12c, the strength would be insufficient.

Here, as another conventional example, for example, as shown in FIG.
There is one in which a bracket 15 is fixed to an axle housing 13 integrally formed by casting using bolts 14a and 14b, and various links and rods are attached to holes 15a and 15b formed in the bracket 15. According to this structure, since it is solid, the weight is increased, but it is superior in strength, and since the bracket 15 can be formed freely, it can meet the requirements regarding the suspension layout.

By the way, when the bracket 15 is applied to the prior art example described above, although flexibility in terms of suspension layout can be improved, there is a disadvantage in that the axle housing 11 is hollow, so there is a disadvantage in terms of strength.

That is, in FIG. 6, lla is the outer plate (iron plate) of the axle housing 11, 15 is a bracket with a length of Since it is divided into a force f1 directed toward , and a force f2 perpendicular to this fl,
A force f, a bending moment (fz x) due to the bending force and the force f2 are applied to a. therefore,
The outer plate 11a needs to have sufficient rigidity to withstand these bending forces and bending moments, and this is an undeniable disadvantage in terms of strength.

The present invention was made by focusing on these problems.
The objective is to obtain advantages in terms of strength, maintain weight reduction, and improve flexibility in suspension layout.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a main body that has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, is formed hollow inside, and pivotally supports an axle; The present invention is characterized in that it includes at least one bracket welded to both the cylinder and the cylinder, and a suspension link or a steering tie rod is attached to the end of the bracket located outside the main body.

(Function) In the present invention, the external force from the links and rods is stopped by both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder that constitute the main body.

Therefore, there is no disadvantage in terms of strength, and while the housing body is made hollow, the weight can be maintained and the suspension layout can be improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

1 to 3 are views showing one embodiment of a vehicle axle housing according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 20 is the main body of the axle housing. The main body 20 includes an outer cylinder 20a and an inner cylinder 20b made of iron plates.
and a side plate 20c are welded to form a hollow shape, and this main body 20 pivotally supports an axle (not shown) that is fitted into the inner cylinder 20. Note that 22 is a portion for attaching a caliper of a disc brake fixed to the main body 20.

The inner tube 20b of the main body 20 has three brackets, namely, an upper bracket 23 extending substantially below the vehicle body, a center bracket 24 extending substantially rearward of the vehicle body, and a lower bracket 25 extending substantially downwardly from the vehicle body, each having one end 23a, 24a.
, 25a are welded.

These three brackets protrude to the outside of the outer cylinder 20a through openings A, B, and C formed in the outer cylinder 20a of the main body 20, and are welded to the outer cylinder 20a at each opening.

The other ends 23b, 24b, and 25b of each bracket are used as attachment parts for various links and rods. For example, in the case of a double wishbone type front wheel suspension, the other end 23b of the upper bracket 23 is the part where the ball joint of the upper link is attached, and the other end 24b of the center bracket 24 is the part where the knuckle ball is attached. Also, the other end 25b of the lower bracket 25
However, the lower link ball joint installation is a part.

In such a configuration, among the various external forces applied to the wheels while the vehicle is running, ``lateral force'' is supported by the suspension links and steering tie rods, and ``1 longitudinal force'' is supported by the suspension links. The upper and lower blades are supported by shock absorbers and suspension springs.

That is, the vehicle body 20 of the axle housing bears these various external forces.

Here, one bracket (for example, lower bracket 25
), this external force F is the third
As shown in figure (a), from the input point Pa to the axle center P
It can be considered separately into a force f1 directed toward b and a force f2 perpendicular to f.

In this embodiment, since each bracket including the lower bracket 25 is fixed to both the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b, the force f+ is dispersed between the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b.

In addition, in FIG. 3(b), when a force f is input to the bracket, a force f due to this f2 is applied to the outer cylinder 20a, and a force f4 due to ft is applied to the inner cylinder 20b, and these The forces fs and fa act tangentially and in opposite directions on the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b, and are held by both the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b, respectively.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the main body 20 of the axle housing is formed into a hollow shape, and each bracket is fixed to both the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b of the main body 20, so that while maintaining the weight reduction, Various external forces applied to the bracket can be borne by both the outer cylinder 20a and the inner cylinder 20b, and advantages in terms of strength can be obtained.

As a result, it is possible to overcome the lack of strength that would otherwise be caused by changing the shape of the bracket and increasing the distance between the links and the like, thereby improving the layout of the suspension.

(Effects) According to the present invention, since the bracket for attaching the suspension link and the steering side rod is fixed to both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the hollow housing body,
Advantages in strength can be obtained, and flexibility in suspension layout can be improved while maintaining weight reduction by making the main body hollow.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are views showing one embodiment of the vehicle axle housing according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an external view of the vehicle from the side, FIG. 2 is an external view of the vehicle from the front, and FIG. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram when an external force is applied, Figures 4 to 6 are diagrams showing a conventional example, Figure 4 is an external view of an example suitable for weight reduction, and Figure 5
The figure is an external view of an example with excellent layout properties, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view when an external force is applied. 20...Main body, 20a...Outer cylinder, 20b...Inner cylinder, 20c...Side plate, 22...Caliper mounting part , 23...
・Upper bracket, 24... Center bracket, 25... Lower bracket. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A main body having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, the inside of which is formed hollow, and pivotally supporting an axle, and at least one bracket welded to both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and located on the outside of the main body. A vehicle axle housing characterized by having a suspension link or steering side rod attached to the end of the bracket.