JPH0518230Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a suspension tower reinforcement structure for an automobile.

(Prior art) It is generally known that a suspension damper and an atsupah arm of a double wishbone type are attached to and supported by a suspension tower of a wheel apron as an automobile suspension, and a lower arm is attached and supported to a body frame. (For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-96008).

Furthermore, as a modification of the double wishbone type, there is also generally known a strut type (McPherson type) in which the upper arm is eliminated and the upper end of a strut (damper) connected to the outer end of the lower arm is supported by a suspension tower. This strut type has less freedom in the design of the upper arm than the double wishbone type, so tread changes and camber changes tend to be large, making it necessary to make the entire suspension higher. Therefore, when it is desired to lower the hood of an automobile due to aerodynamic characteristics or design requirements, the double wishbone type is more advantageous as a front suspension.

In addition, when assembling the above-mentioned double-wiss bone type or strut type suspension to the vehicle body, for example, the lower arm is attached to the suspension cross member that also serves as the engine mount, and the lower arm is connected to the knuckle arm and damper, and the knuckle arm is also attached to the suspension cross member that also serves as the engine mount. One possible method would be to assemble the Atsupah arm etc. in advance and assemble the engine and suspension into the vehicle body at the same time using the cross member as an intermediary.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, since the suspension tower is basically a panel member, there is a problem in that it is difficult to provide high support rigidity to the suspension damper and the suspension arm. In particular, in the case of a double-width bone type, the damper is often placed closer to the proximal end of the lower arm than in a strut type, in order to prevent interference with the upper arm, etc., and for this reason, the suspension With the tower, the load from the damper is greater than with the strut type, making it easier for the support point of the atsupa arm to move.
Maintaining proper wheel alignment becomes difficult. Furthermore, when the position of the upper arm is raised, the support points of the upper arm and the damper become closer, so that the support point of the upper arm becomes more susceptible to the load from the damper.

In addition, for either the strut type or double-witness bone type, it is necessary to simultaneously lift the engine and suspension from below against the car body using a cross member, and then individually assemble the damper or atsupah arm to the car body. This makes the assembly work difficult, and there is also the concern that wheel alignment may be affected during this assembly.

(Means for solving the problems) The present invention, as a means to solve the above problems,
A suspension tower is installed on the wheel apron to house the suspension damper, and
Both upper and lower frames are provided that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body along the upper and lower edges of the wheel apron.
A suspension tower reinforcement for an automobile, characterized in that a support member supporting at least the damper and the suspension arm is disposed near the suspension tower, and the support member is connected to both the top and lower frames. It provides structure.

(Function) In the above-mentioned suspension tower reinforcement structure, the suspension tower is reinforced with a rigid structure formed by the upper frame, the lower frame, and the support member that connects both frames. The load from the suspension arm acts directly on the support member and is efficiently distributed to both the upper and lower frames. Moreover, since the damper and suspension arm are supported by the support member, by connecting this support member to both the upper and lower frames, the damper and suspension arm are assembled to the vehicle body.

In other words, since the damper and suspension arm can be supported by adjusting the wheel alignment with respect to the support member before being assembled to the vehicle body, the wheel alignment will not go out of order when they are assembled to the vehicle body.

(Effect of the invention) Therefore, according to the invention, since the upper and lower frames are connected by the support member that supports the damper and arm of the suspension, the suspension tower can be reinforced, and the above-mentioned connection can be strengthened. As a result, the damper and arm of the suspension can be assembled to the vehicle body, improving the ease of assembling the suspension to the vehicle body.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a wheel apron of an automobile, in which a wheel house 2 for the front wheels bulges toward the engine room 3 side, and a damper 4 of the suspension shown in FIG.
A suspension tower 5 is provided. Furthermore, an upper frame 6 and a lower frame 7 are provided at the upper and lower edges of the wheel apron 1, respectively, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Both frames 6, 7 have frame members 6a, 7a connected to the wheel apron 1, respectively, to form a closed cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIG.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the suspension is of a double-width bone type, with wheels 8
The lower end of the damper 4 is connected to the lower arm 12. This suspension is attached to the vehicle body via a support member 13.

That is, the support member 13 has a closed cross-sectional shape by joining an upper member and a lower member, and connects the left and right lower frames 7 of the vehicle body and extends in the left-right direction with a cross member portion 13a and a wheel apron 1 of the vehicle body. A rising portion 13b rising along the suspension tower 5 on the outside, and a lateral extending portion 1 extending laterally along the top of the suspension tower 5 and connected to the atsupa frame 6.
3c. In this case, the cross member portion 13a is attached to the frame member 7a of the lower frame 7,
Further, the lateral extending portion 13c is coupled to the frame member 6a of the upper frame 6 using bolts 14, 15 and spacers 16 to 19, respectively.

Thus, the upper end of the damper 4 is connected to the lateral extending portion 13 of the support member 13 via the bracket 21.
This side extending portion 13c is supported by a bolt 22 and a spacer 2 at the top of the suspension tower 5.
They are combined using 3. Further, the upper arm 11 is attached to the rising portion 13b of the support member 13, and the lower arm 12 is attached to the cross member portion 13b of the support member 13.
a respectively using swing shafts 24 and 25 and rubber bushings.

Further, the cross member portion 13 of the support member 13
A tie rod 27 extending in the left-right direction at the lower end of the steering shaft 26 is supported via a bracket 28.

In FIG. 1, 31 is a dash panel that partitions the engine room 3 and the passenger compartment 32, 33 is a cowl box with a closed cross section that extends in the left-right direction above the dash panel 31, 34 is a shroud panel, and 35 is a shroud upper. plate, 36
is the front cross member.

In the above structure, suspension tower 5
The support member 13 having a closed cross-sectional shape connects both the upper and lower frames 6 and 7 to form a rigid structure, so that the rigidity is high. In addition, loads from the damper 4, upper arm 11, and lower arm 12 due to bumps and rebound bands of the wheel 8, acceleration and deceleration of the automobile, etc. act directly on the support member 13 and are distributed to both the upper and lower frames 6, 7. Therefore, deformation of the suspension tower 5 due to these suspension loads is prevented, and appropriate wheel alignment can be maintained.

When assembling the suspension to the vehicle body, first, the damper 4, upper arm 11, lower arm 12, and knuckle arm 9 are supported on the support member 13 to adjust the wheel alignment. Then, the support member 13 is connected to the suspension tower 5, upper frame 6, and lower frame 7. Therefore,
The suspension can be easily assembled to the vehicle body, and the wheel alignment will not go out of order during the assembly.

Furthermore, by assembling the engine and steering tie rods 27 in addition to the suspension to the support member 13 in advance, these parts can be assembled into the vehicle body at the same time as the suspension, improving ease of assembly. I can figure it out.

Although the above embodiments are of a double wishbone type, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a strut type.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the structure of this embodiment as seen from inside the vehicle body, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - - of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an assembled state of the suspension. FIG. 1...wheel apron, 4...damper, 5...
... Suspension tower, 6... Atsupa frame, 7... Lower frame, 11... Atsupa arm, 12... Lower arm, 13... Support member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The wheel apron of an automobile is provided with a suspension tower in which a suspension damper is disposed, and an upper frame and a lower frame are provided that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the upper and lower edges of the wheel apron, respectively. A support member supporting at least the damper and the suspension arm is disposed near the suspension tower of the wheel apron, and the atsupa frame and the lower frame are connected by the support member. An automobile suspension tower reinforcement structure characterized by: