JPH06286445A - Torsion bar type suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a means capable of preventing the occurrence of a trouble such as the deformation of a fuel tank when a torsion bar is displaced backward in a vehicle provided with a torsion bar type suspension device. CONSTITUTION:The torsion bar 22 of a suspension device S is slantly arranged to be spread outward in the width direction of a car body toward the rear, and a tilt section 38a is provided on the outer wall section of a fuel tank 38. A protective bracket 39 spread nearly in parallel with the tilt section 38a is provided between the torsion bar 22 and the tilt section 38a. When the torsion bar 22 is displaced backward by a collision with an obstacle at the front, the contact between the torsion bar 22 and the fuel tank 38 is prevented by the protective bracket 39. In case of the contact between them, the torsion bar 22 is flipped to the side by the tilt section 38a, and the deformation of the fuel tank 38 is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a torsion bar type suspension device for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a suspension device for a vehicle is provided with a suspension spring for elastically coupling the wheel and the vehicle body in order to reduce vertical vibration of the wheel and prevent the vibration from being transmitted to the vehicle body. . In addition, in the suspension device,
In addition to the suspension spring, a damper for damping the above vibration is also provided.

Conventionally, various types of suspension springs have been used. Among them, the torsion bar that absorbs vibration energy by the torsional rigidity of spring steel is compact in the vertical direction and has a good layout. Excellent,
Further, since it has an advantage that it can respond to a change in vehicle height by operating an anchor bolt, it is widely used in off-road vehicles and the like, which have many restrictions on floor space (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-28903). reference).

Such a torsion bar is usually arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and has a front end portion fixed to a suspension arm and a rear end portion fixed to the vehicle body via an anchor arm and an anchor bolt. When the suspension arm swings due to the vertical vibration of the wheel, a torsional force is generated in the torsion bar, and the vertical vibration of the wheel is absorbed by the torsional force.

[0005]

By the way, since such a torsion bar becomes relatively long in order to obtain a predetermined spring constant, its rear end portion is located considerably rearward, and depending on the type of vehicle, the rear end portion is fueled. May reach just in front of the tank. When the rear end portion of the torsion bar is located immediately in front of the fuel tank as described above, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle in front of the vehicle and a strong front-rear direction force is applied to the vehicle body, the torsion bar moves. Since it is displaced rearward, there is a problem that the torsion bar may come into contact with the fuel tank and the fuel tank may be deformed.

Further, as described above, since the rear end of the torsion bar is fixed to the vehicle body through the anchor arm and the anchor bolt, the torsion bar is displaced rearward due to the collision of the vehicle as described above. Then, the anchor bolt may be broken. A brake pipe is often arranged above the anchor arm due to layout requirements. However, when the anchor bolt is broken in this way, the broken pieces separated from the anchor bolt main body due to the breakage are broken into the brake pipe. If there is a collision, there is a problem that the brake pipe may be damaged and the running may be hindered.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and in a vehicle equipped with a torsion bar type suspension device, the vehicle collides with an obstacle in front of the torsion bar. An object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of preventing a defect such as a deformation of a fuel tank or a break of a brake pipe even when the bar is displaced rearward.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to extend in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, one end of which is fixed to a suspension arm and the other end of which is attached to a vehicle body through an anchor arm and an anchor bolt. In a torsion bar type suspension device of a vehicle in which a fixed torsion bar is provided and a fuel tank is arranged behind the torsion bar, the torsion bar changes its position in one of the vehicle width directions as it goes to the rear of the vehicle. A torsion bar type suspension device characterized in that an inclined portion inclined with respect to the axis of the torsion bar is formed at a portion of the outer wall portion of the fuel tank facing the rear end portion of the torsion bar. provide.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the torsion bar type suspension device according to the first aspect, a protective bracket for protecting the fuel tank from interference with the torsion bar is provided between the rear end portion of the torsion bar and the fuel tank. A torsion bar type suspension device characterized by being provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a torsion bar is provided which extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and has one end fixed to a suspension arm and the other end fixed to the vehicle body through an anchor arm and an anchor bolt. In a vehicle torsion bar type suspension device in which a brake pipe is arranged, a brake pipe protection bracket for an anchor arm, which prevents the fragments detached from the anchor bolt main body side due to the breakage of the anchor bolt from flying toward the brake pipe. There is provided a torsion bar type suspension device.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below.
1 to 4 are overall views of a torsion bar type suspension device S for the front wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle according to the present invention. 1 to 4, 1 is a suspension upper arm, 2 is a suspension lower arm, 3
Is a knuckle arm, 4 is a drive shaft, 5 and 6 are ball joint supports, and 7 is a front wheel.

The suspension upper arm 1 is an A-shaped arm, and is connected to the front side frame 11 via front and rear vehicle body mounting portions 8 and 9 and can swing up and down. Further, the suspension lower arm 2 is also an A-shaped arm, and is connected to the front side frame 11 via the front and rear vehicle body mounting portions 20 and 21 and can swing up and down. As will be described later, the rear vehicle body mounting portion 21
Is connected to a front end portion 22a of a torsion bar 22 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a damper, the upper end of which is connected to a damper mounting bracket 12 fixed to the front side frame 11, and the lower end of which is pivotally supported by a suspension lower arm 2. Then, the two first arm support members 13 are attached to the front side frame 11, and the other damper attachment bracket 12 is attached.
A second arm support member 14 having two arm mounting portions 14a and 14b is fixed to the upper part of the by welding. Then, the vehicle body mounting portions 8 and 9 respectively include the first arm supporting member 13 and the second arm supporting member 14 (arm mounting portions 14a,
14b) and is rotatably supported.

The damper mounting bracket 12 includes a damper 1
0 is provided with a damper mounting portion 12a which is connected to the upper end portion, and the damper mounting portion 12a is extended downward to extend the extension portion 1
2b is formed. Then, rebound stopper portions 15 and 16 for restricting rebound of the suspension upper arm 1 are fixed by welding on both front and rear sides of the extension portion 12b. Here, the damper mounting bracket 12
In the above, the extension portion 12b is formed so as to extend downward from the damper attachment portion 12a while gradually expanding in the front-rear direction.
It is fixed to the side surface of the front side frame 11.

A cam mechanism for adjusting the toe-in is attached to the arm attaching portions 14a and 14b.
According to this cam mechanism, the left and right cam adjusting bolt tightening nuts (not shown) are loosened, the cam adjusting bolt 18 having the cam 18a is rotated by the same amount, and the cam 18a is eccentrically rotated with respect to the inner peripheral surface 19. By doing so, the toe-in can be adjusted so that it falls within the standard value.

By the way, the suspension device S is provided with a torsion bar 22 as a suspension spring for alleviating vibrations and the like from the front wheel 7 side. The torsion bar 22 will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end portion 22b of the torsion bar 22 has the support member 4
It is supported on the vehicle body side via 1 and is fixed to the anchor arm 42. And the anchor arm 42
An anchor sheave 43 having a thread groove formed therein is provided at the upper end of the. The anchor bolt 26 passes through the through hole 11d formed in the front side frame 11, is penetrated from the outer side surface 14b of the front side frame 11, is extended inward in the vehicle width direction, and is screwed to the anchor sheave 43. Has been done. The inner side surface 11 through which the anchor bolt 26 of the front side frame 11 is arranged.
A reinforcing bracket 44 is fixed to a, and the left and right front side frames 1 are attached to the lower side of the reinforcing bracket 44.
The cross member 23 that connects 1 is fastened and fixed by a plurality of bolts 45. Here, the anchor bolt 26
Since the position of the torsion bar 22 can be adjusted by penetrating the outer side surface 11b side of the front side frame 11 to the inner side surface 11a side and screwing it to the anchor sheave 43, the adjustment work of the torsion bar 22 is simplified. Be converted.

A plurality of brake pipes 48 are arranged slightly above the anchor bolts 26. Therefore, the rearward displacement of the torsion bar 22 occurs at the time of a collision with an obstacle in front of the anchor bolt 26.
When broken, the broken pieces of the conventional suspension device of this type may collide with the brake pipe 48 and damage the brake pipe 48. In view of this, in the present invention, the anchor arm 42 is provided with a brake pipe protection bracket 49 for preventing the fragments detached from the anchor bolt main body side due to the breakage of the anchor bolt from flying toward the brake pipe 48 when the anchor bolt is broken, and the brake pipe 48 is damaged. I try to prevent it.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the torsion bar 22 is disposed slightly inside the front side frame 11 so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and changes its position outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward of the vehicle body. It is arranged so as to be inclined. That is, the left and right torsion bars 2
2 As a whole, they are arranged in a V shape that widens backward. In addition to the cross member 23 described above, first to third cross members 31 to 33 are provided between the left and right front side frames 11.
Further, on the left side of the suspension device S for the right front wheel 7, a front differential 35 connected to the front drive shaft 34 is arranged. Further, the suspension device S includes a stabilizer 71 for suppressing rolling of the vehicle body.
Is provided.

The torsion bar 22 is viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
A fuel tank 38 is arranged behind the rear end portion 22b. An inclined portion 38a that is inclined with respect to the axis of the torsion bar 22 is formed in a portion of the outer wall portion of the fuel tank 38 that faces the rear end portion 22b of the torsion bar. Here, the inclined portion 38a is inclined so that it is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward, that is, the outer wall portion of the fuel tank 38 spreads backward.

As described above, since the torsion bar 22 is arranged so as to be inclined outward in the vehicle width direction and the inclined portion 38a is provided on the outer wall portion of the fuel tank 38,
Even if the torsion bar 22 is displaced rearward due to a collision with an obstacle in front of the torsion bar 22 and contacts the fuel tank, the displacement direction of the torsion bar 22 can be changed outward in the vehicle width direction. Since the bar 22 is flipped outward in the vehicle width direction, the deformation of the fuel tank 38 is prevented.

Further, between the rear end portion 22b of the torsion bar and the inclined portion 38b of the fuel tank 38, there is provided a protective bracket 39 extending substantially parallel to the inclined portion 38b. The protective bracket 39 prevents the torsion bar 22 from coming into contact with the fuel tank 38 when the torsion bar 22 is displaced rearward due to a collision with an obstacle in front of the fuel tank 38. It is designed to protect you. In this way, the fuel tank 38
The protection bracket 39 protects the torsion bar 22 from contact, and even if the torsion bar 22 contacts the fuel tank 38, the torsion bar 22 is repelled outward in the vehicle width direction by the inclined portion 38a.
Even if the torsion bar 22 is displaced rearward, the deformation of the fuel tank 38 is almost certainly prevented.

The suspension device S has various features which the prior art does not have, as described above, and further has some features, which will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the damper mounting bracket 12 has a bulge 1 at the front and rear thereof, respectively.
2a and 12b are provided. As a result, the damper mounting bracket 12 has a bulging structure (egg shell structure) and its strength is enhanced. Therefore, when vibration or force is applied to the damper mounting bracket 12 from the front wheels 7 or both suspension arms 1 and 2, the stress generated in the damper mounting bracket 12 is relieved and the durability of the damper mounting bracket 12 is enhanced. Further, since the damper mounting bracket 12 has the bulging structure as described above, the AC
The S-actuator 10c is covered by the damper mounting bracket 12, so that it is possible to prevent dirt on the actuator 10c or chipping of pebbles (collision of foreign matter) on the actuator 10c during off-road traveling, thereby improving the durability of the actuator 10c.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the mounting portion of the damper 10 to the suspension lower arm 2, the shaft portion 10a of the damper 10 is mounted to the suspension lower arm 2 via a damper bush 52 made of an elastic material. Therefore, basically, the damper 10 and the suspension lower arm 2 are elastically connected to each other, so that even when the front wheel 7 vibrates, the damper 10 (the shaft portion 1
0a) and the suspension lower arm 2 are appropriately displaced relative to each other to reduce vibration and noise.

The shaft portion 10a is provided with an upper stopper 53 slightly above the contact portion with the damper bush 52, and a lower stopper 55 slightly below the contact portion. The upper contact member 54 is attached to the lower surface of the upper stopper 53, and the lower contact member 56 is attached to the upper surface of the lower stopper 55. Here, the upper stopper 53 and the lower stopper 55 have a function of keeping the relative displacement between the damper 10 (shaft portion 10a) and the suspension lower arm 2 within a predetermined range. That is, when the relative displacement amount between the damper 10 and the suspension lower arm 2 becomes large, the abutting member 5 of the stoppers 53 and 55 is abutted.
4,56 contact the suspension lower arm 2 and prevent further relative displacement.

Therefore, since the connection state between the damper 10 and the suspension lower arm 2 becomes soft when the amplitude is low and becomes hard when the amplitude is high, it is possible to improve both the riding comfort and the steering stability. Further, since the suspension lower arm 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape at the portion that grips the damper bush 52, the rigidity of the suspension lower arm 2 is enhanced, and its durability or reliability is enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 13, the pipe fixing bracket 6 is attached to the intermediate member 60 fixed to the first and second arm supporting members 13 and 14 and the front side frame 11.
1 is fixed using a plurality of bolts 62. Here, the pipe fixing bracket 61 is firmly fixed particularly in the front-rear direction. The brake pipe 63 is attached to the pipe mounting portion 61a of the pipe fixing bracket 61.
(Or fuel pipe) is supported. In such a configuration, the rigidity of the first and second arm supporting members 13 and 14 is increased, and the stress generated by the vibration or force input from the suspension upper arm 1 to the first and second arm supporting members 13 and 14 is relieved. , Both arm support members 1
The durability of 3,14 is improved.

As shown in FIG. 14, the stabilizer 71
Is connected and fixed to a stabilizer bracket 73 fixed to the suspension lower arm 2 via a connecting member 72. A steering angle stopper bracket 74 is fixed to the suspension lower arm 2 on the same plane as the stabilizer bracket 73. As described above, since the stabilizer bracket 73 and the steering angle stopper bracket 74 are fixed to the suspension lower arm 2 on substantially the same plane, the rigidity of the suspension lower arm 2 is increased, and the suspension lower arm 2 is input from the front wheel side or the stabilizer side. The stress generated by the vibration or the force generated is relaxed, and the durability of the suspension lower arm 2 is enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the suspension apparatus S, the camber and the caster are adjusted by rotating the camber adjusting section 81 and the caster adjusting section 82 using a tool such as a wrench 83. Is able to. That is, the camber and the caster can be almost separated to perform the alignment adjustment work. And, although not shown,
To adjust the camber and the caster, the camber adjusting portion 81 or the caster adjusting portion 82 is turned one by one while observing the scale of the cam plate. Therefore, when the adjustment amount is large, the adjustment portions 81 and 82 are repeatedly rotated many times while advancing the scale of the cam plate one by one. In the present invention, the scale of the cam plate is set to be larger on the camber side than on the caster side. That is, the camber adjusting unit 81
The rotation angle corresponding to one scale is the caster adjustment unit 8
It will be greater than 2. This means that the camber will be adjusted faster than the casters, but roughly.

In general, since each member for setting the camber has a large tolerance, the camber is more likely to be out of alignment than the caster. Therefore, generally, in adjusting the camber, the adjusting section is rotated more than in adjusting the caster. Therefore, the scale on the camber side of the cam plate is made larger (rougher) than that on the caster side so that the camber adjustment work can be performed efficiently.

[0030]

According to the first invention, the torsion bar is arranged so as to be inclined so as to spread outward in the vehicle width direction,
Moreover, since the outer wall of the fuel tank is provided with an inclined portion, even if the torsion bar is displaced rearward due to a collision with an obstacle in front of the fuel tank, the torsion bar is not displaced even if it comes into contact with the fuel tank. Since the direction is changed outward in the vehicle width direction and the torsion bar is flipped to the side, deformation of the fuel tank is prevented.

According to the second invention, basically, the same operation and effect as those of the first invention can be obtained. Further, since the fuel tank is protected from contact with the torsion bar by the protection bracket, even if the torsion bar is displaced rearward due to a collision or the like, the deformation of the fuel tank can be prevented more reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the debris is separated from the anchor bolt main body side when the anchor bolt is broken, the brake pipe protection bracket prevents the debris from flying in the direction of the brake pipe and prevents the breakage of the brake pipe. It

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front explanatory view of a suspension device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the suspension device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the suspension device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front explanatory view around the suspension upper arm of the suspension device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory plan view of a mounting portion of the torsion bar on the vehicle body side.

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional elevational explanatory view of a mounting portion of a torsion bar to a vehicle body.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a suspension device for the front left wheel.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view of a suspension device for the right front wheel.

FIG. 9 is a front explanatory view of the suspension device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the vicinity of a damper mounting bracket of the suspension device.

FIG. 11 is a side view for explaining the vicinity of the damper mounting bracket of the suspension device.

FIG. 12 is an elevation cross-sectional explanatory view of a connecting portion between the damper and the suspension lower arm.

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the vicinity of the pipe fixing bracket of the suspension device.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory plan view around the stabilizer bracket of the suspension device.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the suspension device and its surroundings including a camber adjusting unit and a caster adjusting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S ... Suspension device 1 ... Suspension upper arm 2 ... Suspension lower arm 22 ... Torsion bar 26 ... Anchor bolt 38 ... Fuel tank 38a ... Inclined portion 39 ... Protective bracket 42 ... Anchor arm 48 ... Brake pipe 49 ... Brake pipe protective bracket

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A torsion bar extending in the vehicle body front-rear direction, having one end fixed to a suspension arm and the other end fixed to the vehicle body via an anchor arm and an anchor bolt, and a fuel tank behind the torsion bar. In a vehicle torsion bar type suspension device, the torsion bar is tilted so as to change its position in one of the vehicle width directions toward the rear of the vehicle body, and the torsion bar rear end of the outer wall of the fuel tank is arranged. A torsion bar type suspension device, wherein an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the axis of the torsion bar is formed in a portion facing the portion. 2. The torsion bar type suspension device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective bracket provided between the rear end of the torsion bar and the fuel tank to protect the fuel tank from interference with the torsion bar. A torsion bar type suspension device that is characterized by being. 3. A torsion bar, which extends in the vehicle body front-rear direction and has one end fixed to a suspension arm and the other end fixed to the vehicle body via an anchor arm and an anchor bolt, is provided with a brake pipe above the anchor arm. In the torsion bar type suspension device of the arranged vehicle, the anchor arm is provided with a brake pipe protection bracket that prevents the fragments detached from the anchor bolt main body side due to the breakage of the anchor bolt from flying toward the brake pipe. A torsion bar type suspension device that is characterized by being.