JPH0714124Y2 - Connecting arm - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a connecting arm used for a steering mechanism, a suspension mechanism, and the like of an automobile, and more particularly to an adjustable arm.

(Prior Art) As a suspension arm used for a suspension mechanism of an automobile, there is one shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, in the suspension arm shown in FIG. 4, female threaded portions in opposite directions are formed inside both ends of a hollow connecting pipe 1 made of a steel pipe. A small diameter male screw portion 2a, 3a formed at one end portion of a pair of solid rods 2, 3 is screwed together, and further tightening tools 4, 5 are provided outside both ends of the connecting pipe 1. The structure is such that both ends of the connecting pipe 1 are tightened with the male and female threads 2a and 3a of the rods 2 and 3 with 4,5, and the other end of the rods 2 and 3 has a bush, pillow ball bush or ball for coupling with other members. Holders 6 and 7 that hold connecting tools such as joints are provided.

Then, when assembling to the suspension mechanism of the automobile, the connecting pipe 1 is rotated while the connecting tool held by the holders 6 and 7 is connected to the members on the vehicle body side and the tire side.
After adjusting the length between 6 and 7 (toe adjustment), tighten
The connection pipe 1 and the rods 2 and 3 are fixed by tightening 4,5.

The suspension arm shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the suspension arm shown in FIG. 4, but instead of the solid rods 2 and 3, the solid male screw bodies 8 and 9 made of a steel rod and the hollow rod body made of a steel pipe. Caulking part 10a, 11a by fitting with 10 and 11 and pressing
The rods 12 and 13 connected by (or welding) are used, and other structures and functions are the same as those of the type shown in FIG.

Further, the suspension arm shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the suspension arm shown in FIG.
Fixing the connecting pipe 1 and the rods 2, 3 by tightening the lock nuts 14, 15 screwed to the male screw portions 2a, 3a of the rods 2, 3 on both ends of the connecting pipe 1, using 4,15. Is what
Other structures and functions are similar to the type shown in FIG.

Since these three types of suspension arms both use solid rods 2 and 3 and solid male screw bodies 8 and 9, they are heavy in weight.

In the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 using the fasteners 4 and 5, the fasteners 4 and 5 and surrounding members interfere with each other at the time of assembling and using, and the assembling becomes troublesome. There is a problem that 4,5 come into contact with surrounding members, and moreover, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and assembly is troublesome, resulting in high cost.

Further, in the type of FIG. 6 using the lock nuts 14 and 15, unless the area of the end face of the connecting pipe 1 with respect to the lock nuts 14 and 15 is secured, the connecting pipe 1 and the rods 2 and 3 of the lock nuts 14 and 15 can be connected. There is a problem that the fixation tends to be uncertain, and therefore, there is a problem that if the wall thickness of the connecting pipe 1 is increased, the weight becomes heavier.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) As described above, in the conventional connecting arms such as suspension arms whose length can be adjusted, the weight is heavy, there is interference with surrounding members, the cost is high, There is a problem that fixation after length adjustment is uncertain.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, is lightweight and inexpensive, and can be reliably fixed after length adjustment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting arm that prevents interference with surrounding members.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The connecting arm of the present invention is hollow with a thick portion having a diameter thicker than the middle portion at both ends and a female screw portion provided inside the both ends. A substantially cylindrical connecting pipe, a pair of hollow rods having a diameter reduced at one end and a male screw portion screwed to the female screw portion of the connecting pipe at the one end, and a male screw portion of the pair of rods. A lock nut that is screwed into contact with the thick portion of the connecting pipe to fix the rod, and a connecting body that is provided at the other ends of the pair of rods and that connects and attaches other members are provided. It is a thing.

(Operation) In the connecting arm of the present invention, the male screw portions of the pair of rods are respectively screwed into the female screw portions formed inside both ends of the connecting pipe, and after adjusting the length, the male screw portions of the rods are screwed together. Secure the rod without interfering with the surrounding members by tightening the lock nuts that have been set at the thick-walled parts that are formed on both ends of the connecting pipe with a diameter larger than the intermediate part. Fixed to.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the connecting arm of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

It should be noted that this embodiment is an example of a suspension arm used in a suspension mechanism of an automobile.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a hollow, substantially tubular connecting pipe made of a steel pipe, and both ends of the connecting pipe 21 are formed to have a diameter larger than the middle portion by compression molding, that is, an outer diameter. A thick wall portion 21a having a thick wall is formed. In addition, a flat surface portion 21c for engaging a turning tool such as a spanner is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the thick portion 21a. Furthermore, connecting pipe 2
Female screw portions 21b in opposite directions are formed inside both ends of 1.

On the other hand, 22 and 23 are hollow rods made of steel pipe,
One end of each of the pair of rods 22 and 23 has a diameter reduced in two steps. Then, male screw portions 22a, 23a in opposite directions are formed in the first-stage small-diameter portion. Further, in the second-stage small-diameter portion, half a little in the cross-sectional direction is cut off, and the phase-adjusting convex portions 22b, 23b are positioned at the tips of the first-stage male screw portions 22a, 23a for phase matching. Each is projected.

Then, the male screw portions 22a, 23a of the pair of rods 22, 23 are formed.
After the lock nuts 24 and 25 are respectively screwed, the male screw portions 22a and 23a of the pair of rods 22 and 23 are screwed to the corresponding female screw portions 21b at both ends of the connecting pipe 21. Further, when the pair of rods 22 and 23 are screwed together, the projecting portions 22b and 23b respectively provided at the tip portions are phased with their cut surfaces facing each other.

When the pair of rods 22 and 23 are screwed together, it is necessary to make the male screw portions 22a of the pair of rods 22 and 23 and the female screw portions 21b at both ends of the connecting pipe 21 in the same screwed state. . That is, in the state where the convex portions 22b and 23b of the pair of rods 22 and 23 are engaged, only one screwed state cannot be changed, so that the screwed states of both ends of the connecting pipe 21 are always in the same state. It is supposed to be retained.

At the other end of the pair of rods 22 and 23 on the large diameter side, short cylindrical holders 26 and 27 as a connecting body for connecting and connecting other members are provided. They are integrally fixed by welding or the like at right angles so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction. And these holders 26 and 27 are the third
As shown in the figure, a bush 28 and a pillow ball bush 29 are held as connecting tools with other members, respectively.

The bush 28 held by one holder 26 has a structure in which a sleeve 32 penetrates the center of a rubber bush 31, and the sleeve 32 is formed so as to be swingable by the elasticity of the rubber bush 31. Then, the sleeve 32 is provided with a shaft hole 32a through which the bolt 33 can be inserted, and a nut 34 is screwed into the bolt 33 inserted through the shaft hole 32a through a washer, so that one rod 22 is attached to the vehicle body. It is adapted to be connected to the side bracket 35 and the like.

On the other hand, the pillow ball bush 29 held by the other holder 27 fits the bearing seat 42 and the cushion ring 43 inside the housing 41, and presses the spherical portion 44a of the pillow ball 44 inside the bearing seat 42. It is slidably fitted. Further, the shaft portions 44b at both ends of the pillow ball 44 are projected from both ends of the housing 41, and the ring-shaped plug 45 is attached to one end portion of the housing 41, whereby the bearing seat 42, the cushion ring 43, and the pillow ball 44. The spherical portion 44a and the spherical portion 44a are held in the state shown in FIG. The pillow ball 44 is swingable and rotatable by sliding between the spherical portion 44a and the bearing seat 42. In addition, the pillow ball 44
Is formed with a shaft hole 44c into which the bolt 46 can be inserted, a nut 47 is attached to the bolt 46 inserted into the shaft hole 44c via a washer 49, and the other rod 23 is attached to the tire side carrier 48 or the like. It is designed to be connected.

Incidentally, 49 is a washer, 50 and 51 are dust seals provided between the shaft portions 44b at both ends of the pillow ball 44 and both ends of the housing 41, and 52 and 53 are clips for fixing the dust seals 50 and 51 to the housing 41. .

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

When mounting the suspension arm, after assembling the bush 28 and the pillow ball bush 29 held by the holders 26 and 27 at both ends to the suspension mechanism of the automobile, the connecting pipe 21 is rotated to form a pair with the female screw portions 21b at both ends. Rod 22,
The male screw portions 22a and 23a of 23 are screwed together. By this screwing, like a turnbuckle, the pair of rods 22 and 23 expands and contracts, and the length between the holders 26 and 27 at both ends can be adjusted (toe adjustment).

Then, after this length adjustment, the lock nuts 24, 25 are fastened to the thick portion 21a of the connecting pipe 21, whereby the connecting pipe 21 and the rods 22, 23 can be fixed.

Furthermore, when fixing the connecting pipe 21 and the rods 22 and 23 with the lock nuts 24 and 25, the contact area of the connecting pipe 21 to the lock nuts 24 and 25 can be secured by the thick portion 21a of the connecting pipe 21. Therefore, the connection pipe 21 can be securely fixed without increasing the overall wall thickness.

Further, since the diameters of the one ends of the rods 22 and 23 where the male threaded portions 22a and 23a are provided are reduced, the strength that is reduced by the hollow structure is increased while maintaining the same strength as the hollow member by increasing the pipe diameter. , One end is reduced in diameter to make male threads 22a, 23a
Since the increase in the outer diameter dimension of the connecting pipe 21 is prevented and the pipe diameter of the connecting pipe 21 is prevented from increasing, the weight can be reduced and the increase in size can be suppressed. further,
The rods 22 and 23 can be screwed together by reducing the diameter of one end corresponding to the diameter of the connecting pipe 21 by using a steel pipe that is generally distributed.
Inexpensive steel pipes that are generally distributed can be used, and costs can be reduced.

(Effect of the Invention) According to the connecting arm of the present invention, since the hollow rod is used, the weight can be reduced, the number of parts is small, and the assembly is easy, so that the cost is low, and the portion protruding to the outside is small. Since one end of the rod is reduced in diameter, it does not interfere with surrounding members during assembly and use, so assembly is easy and there is little contact with surrounding members during use. Since the contact area of the pipe can be secured by the thick portion, the rod after the length adjustment can be securely fixed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a connecting arm of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a suspension arm partially sectioned, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part thereof. The figure is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the use state thereof, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are side views in which a part of a conventional suspension arm is shown in section. 21 …… Connection pipe, 21a …… Thick part, 21b …… Female screw part, 22,2
3 …… Rod, 22a, 23a …… Male screw part, 24,25 …… Lock nut, 26,27 …… Holder as connecting body.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References Open 61-19115 (JP, U) Open 62-13774 (JP, U) Open 62-59575 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A hollow, generally cylindrical connecting pipe having thick-walled portions formed on both ends to have a diameter larger than that of an intermediate portion and female-threaded portions provided inside the both ends, and one end portion A pair of hollow rods that are reduced in diameter and have one end formed with a male screw portion that is screwed into the female screw portion of the connecting pipe, and a thick portion of the connecting pipe that is screwed into the male screw portions of the pair of rods. A connecting arm, comprising: a lock nut that abuts and fixes the rod; and a connecting body that is provided at the other ends of the pair of rods and that attaches and connects other members.