JPH10324123A - Suspension arm member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the direction of bush loading members variable with respect to a member body, and further increase the number of degrees freedom for design of the whole shape, etc., in a suspension arm member in which the member body and the bush loading members are connected each other. SOLUTION: Each bush fitting member 10 is provided with a holding part 11 into which a bush is to be fitted, and an opening part 12 extending in the axial direction is formed at a part in the circumferential direction of the holding part 11. The holding part 11 can be open at the opening part 12, while a pair of connection parts 13, 14 projected from the outer peripheral surface of the holding part are provided to be positioned on opposite sides in the circumferential direction. In this wind-clamping system, the inner peripheral surface of the holding part 11 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bush to load and fix the bush in the holding part 11 by connecting the connection parts 13, 14. Further, a pair of clamping parts 20, 21 are provided at both the connection parts 13, 14 to clamp a member body 1 between the clamping parts 20, 21, and thus to connect the bush fitting member 10 to the member body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a member for a suspension arm of an automobile or the like.

[0002] In this specification, the term "aluminum" is used to include its alloy.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a suspension arm member (50) constituting an automobile suspension arm such as an upper arm, a lower arm, and a torsion bar has a rod-shaped or other shaped member body (51) and a cylindrical protection member at both ends or one end thereof. A bush mounting portion (53) having a circular mounting hole (52) for mounting the vibration bush (40). As the bush (40), a spindle member (41) located at the center and a bush (40) are disposed around the spindle member (41) and have an outer diameter of the mounting hole (5).
A rigid sleeve (42) set slightly larger than the diameter of (2) is provided with a rubber elastic body (4) inserted between them.
The one connected by 1) is generally used, and the bush (40) is press-fitted into the mounting hole (52) to be mounted and fixed to the suspension arm member (50).

Conventionally, the suspension arm member (50) as described above is manufactured entirely by a sheet metal press using an iron-based material, or, when the member body is long, a member body (51) made of a pipe or a plate. ) And a bush mounting portion (53) separately manufactured by pressing or casting. However, iron-based materials have the drawback that they are heavy and, in the case of welding, costly.

Accordingly, recently, a suspension arm member made of a lightweight aluminum material has been used. In the case of aluminum, since extensibility is good, an extruded profile in which the member main body (51) and the bush mounting portion (53) are integrally formed is exclusively used, and this extruded profile is moved in the extrusion direction. The slice is cut into a predetermined thickness to form a suspension arm member.

However, the member body (5
When 1) and the bush mounting portion (53) are integrally formed by extrusion, the direction of the bush mounting portion (53) with respect to the member main body (51) is uniquely determined, and this can be changed. Did not. In addition, there is a limit to the degree of design freedom that can be adopted, such as the shape of the suspension arm member and the length of the member body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above technical background, and the direction of a bush mounting portion with respect to a member main body can be changed, and the degree of freedom in design with respect to the overall shape, the length of the member main body, and the like is increased. The main object is to provide a suspension arm member that can be used.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a suspension arm member in which a member main body and a bush mounting member for mounting a cylindrical bush are connected. Includes a holding portion into which the bush is fitted, and an opening extending in an axial direction is formed in a part of the holding portion in a circumferential direction, and the holding portion can be opened in an expanded state at the opening. On the other hand, a pair of connecting portions projecting on the outer peripheral surface at both opening edges of the opening portion or in the vicinity thereof are provided in a circumferentially opposed arrangement, and these connecting portions are connected to each other, so that the inner periphery of the holding portion is formed. The bushing comprises a fastening member of which the surface is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bush and which fits and fixes the bush in the holding portion. By the fact that the member body is sandwiched Luo clamping portion, the bush mounting member and the member main body is adopted a structure characterized by comprising linked.

According to this structure, strict dimensional accuracy of the gap between the bush and the holding portion is not required as compared with the conventional product as described above, and the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion of the bush mounting member has the required dimensional accuracy. It is possible to eliminate the need for a special process for finishing the surface.

[0010] When the connecting portion is connected, a pair of holding portions provided on both connecting portions hold the predetermined portion of the member body in conjunction with the operation. Therefore, the operation of fitting and fixing the bush and the operation of connecting the member main bodies can be performed simultaneously.

In the case where a plurality of bush mounting members are connected to the member main body as in the above-described conventional product, the bush mounting members are sandwiched by changing the directions of the bush mounting members with respect to the member main body. Thereby, the relative angle in the axial direction of the bush mounted on each bush mounting member can be arbitrarily set.

Further, since the member main body and the bush mounting member are manufactured separately, the degree of freedom in design that can be adopted with respect to the shape of the suspension arm member, the length of the member main body, and the like is increased.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a suspension arm member of an automobile will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. In these figures, (A) is a member for a suspension arm of an automobile. The suspension arm member (A) is composed of a rod-shaped member main body (1) and a total of two tightening-type bush mounting members (10) (10) connected to both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof. ing.

The member main body (1) is formed by cutting an aluminum extruded pipe having a circular section having a hollow portion (2) into a predetermined length in the extrusion direction. By using an aluminum extruded pipe material having a hollow portion (2) as the member main body (1), the obtained suspension arm can be reduced in weight, and plastic deformation described later can be easily generated. .

On the other hand, each of the aforementioned bush mounting members (10)
Are manufactured by slicing an aluminum extruded material into a desired thickness in the extrusion direction. The bush mounting member (10) mounts a cylindrical anti-vibration bush (40). The bush mounting member (10) includes a cylindrical holder (11) into which the bush (40) is fitted.
An opening (12) extending in the axial direction is formed by dividing one portion in the circumferential direction of 1). Therefore, this opening (1)
In 2), the holding portion (11) can be opened in an expanded state.

Further, a pair of joints (13) and (14) having a rectangular cross section projecting on the outer peripheral surface are circumferentially opposed to both opening edges of the opening (12) over the entire area in the axial direction. The arrangement is provided. In addition, these connecting portions (13) (1)
A pair of pinching portions (20) and (21) having a rectangular cross section protruding on the tip end surface are provided integrally with the tip portion of (4) over the entire area in the axial direction. The distance between the opposing surfaces of these sandwiching portions (20) (21) is determined by the pair of coupling portions (13) (14).
Are set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe of the member main body (1) in the coupled state where. At the intermediate portion in the protruding direction of the opposing surfaces of the sandwiching portions (20) and (21), bite grooves (22) and (23) extending in the axial direction and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section are formed. I have.

On one of the mutually opposing surfaces of the connecting portions (13) and (14), crushed portions (18) and (18) having a rectangular cross section extending in the axial direction in two rows inside and outside are protruded. On the other of the opposing surfaces, the inside and outside 2 are located at positions corresponding to the crushed portions (18).
A biting groove (19) (19) extending in the axial direction is formed in the row. These crushed portions (18) and bite grooves (19)
Is formed by filling the crushed portion (18) into the biting groove (19) while plastically deforming the crushed portion (18).
4) and thus serves to keep the opening (12) closed. For this purpose, the digging groove (1
9) is an enlarged portion (1) having a larger groove width than the upper and lower ends in the depth direction, and hence a larger opening area, in the middle portion in the depth direction.
9a) is formed, while the crushed portion (18) has its protruding height set to be larger than the depth of the digging groove (19) and its cross-sectional area is set to be substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the digging groove (19). In the closed state of the opening (12), the deformed and filled crushed portion (18) sufficiently digs into the enlarged portion (19a) to strongly prevent the separation of the connecting portions (13) and (14). It has been done.

A method of manufacturing the suspension arm shown in FIG. 6 using the suspension arm member (A) of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. The cylindrical bush (40) is inserted into the holding part (11) as shown in FIG. 3 in a state where the inner circumference of the holding part (11) is substantially increased by expanding the holding part (11). In parallel with this, the end of the member main body (1) is inserted between the opposing surfaces of the holding portions (20) and (21). If necessary, the member body (1) and the holding portion (2)
0) and (21) may be provided with an anti-vibration material.

In the present embodiment, the bush (40) includes a support member (41) located substantially at the center and a cylindrical rigid sleeve (42) disposed around the support member (41). , A rubber elastic body (4
The solid type connected by 3) is used, and the outer diameter of the rigid sleeve (42) is equal to the holding portion (1).
The holding portion (1) when the opening (12) of (1) is closed
It is set slightly larger than the inner diameter of 1). Thus,
Since the holding portion (11) is expanded at the opening (12), the bush (40) can be very easily held by the holding portion (1).
1) can be loaded in.

Next, when the two connecting portions (13) and (14) are pressed in the approaching direction by a press or the like so as to close the opening (12), the crushed portion (18) of one of the connecting portions (14) is turned into the other. Fits into the cut-in groove (19) of the connecting portion (13),
As shown in FIG. 4, before the opening (12) is closed, the tip of the crushed portion (18) abuts on the bottom surface of the bite groove (19). At the same time, the holding portions (20) and (21) crush the member body (1), and the member body (1) is pressed by the holding portions (2).
0) (21) plastically deforms along the shape of the opposing surface, and a part of the member main body (1) is partially engaged with the bite groove (2) for retaining the member main body.
2) Filled in (23). When the joints (13) and (14) are further pressed in the close contact direction in this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the crushed portion (18) is plastically deformed into a crushed shape along the shape of the bite groove (19). It is filled in the bite groove (19) including the enlarged portion (19a), and the coupling portions (13) (14)
The mutually opposing surfaces approach each other in the close contact direction, and the opening (12) is reduced and eventually becomes closed. At the same time, the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion (11) of the bush mounting member (10) is
The bush (40) is tightly wound in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bush.

In this state, even if the pressing force applied to the coupling portions (13) and (14) is released, the crushed portion (18) deformed and filled in the digging groove (19) becomes the enlarged portion (19a) of the digging groove. The bush (4)
0) is held in the fixed state in the holding section (11), and the fixed state between the holding sections (20) and (21) of the member body (1). Further, in this state, the member main body (1) is provided with the bite grooves (22) (23) for retaining the member main body.
Since it is sandwiched in a state in which it is deformed and filled, it is prevented from coming off from both sandwiching portions (20) and (21). In addition, if necessary, the joints (13) (14) and (13) (1)
4) The interface between the member body (1) and the member (1) is welded or joined by laser welding, friction welding, or the like, or bonded with an adhesive such as a sealant or Loctite to completely remove the gap between the joints (13) and (14). It may be closed and surely prevent intrusion of mud or water from the gap.

By connecting the bush mounting members (10) and (10) to both ends of the member body (1) as described above, the suspension arm shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, in the suspension arm member (A), both ends of the member body (1) are sandwiched between the bush mounting members (10). 21), the relative angle between the bush mounting members (10) and (10) is zero degree, that is, the axial directions of the bush mounting members (10) and (10) are the same. Thus, in the suspension arm member (A) according to the present invention, the relative angles of the two bush mounting members (10) (10) at both ends of the member body (1) are not zero degrees, as shown in FIG. May be connected so as to form a 90 ° relative angle or any other relative angle. In FIG. 7, the bush mounting member (10)
Except for the relative angle of (10) being 90 degrees, the configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and thus the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and this embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, as the member body (1), a member whose both ends are flattened and whose opening is liquid-tightly closed is used. (3) is the closed part.
Also, the clamping portions (20) (2) of the bush attachment member (10)
The opposing surface of 1) is formed into a shape substantially corresponding to the end shape of the member main body (1) in a coupled state in which the pair of coupling portions (13) and (14) are closed, and a distance between the opposing surfaces. Is set to be smaller than the thickness of the end of the member body (1) in the crushing direction. And these clamping parts (2
0) At the substantially middle portion in the length direction of the opposing surface of (21), a bite groove (2) for retaining the main body of the member having a substantially arc-shaped section extending in the axial direction.
2) (23) is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the member main body (1) having the above-mentioned structure includes the two holding portions (20) and (21).
Are sandwiched in a state where they are deformed and filled in the member body retaining bite grooves (22) and (23).
Is prevented from exiting.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and hereinafter, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The explanation will focus on the points.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the member body (1) is used in which both ends are flattened and the opening is liquid-tightly closed. On the other hand, the opposing surfaces of the sandwiching portions (20) and (21) of the bush mounting member (10) have the end shape of the member main body (1) when the pair of connecting portions (13) and (14) are closed. And the distance between the opposing surfaces is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the end of the member body (1) in the crushing direction. On the base side of the opposing surfaces of the sandwiching portions (20) and (21), a member body retaining pressing portion (2) that presses the closing portion (3) of the member body (1) in the thickness direction.
4) (25) is formed.

The member main body (1) having such a structure is provided with the two holding portions (20) as shown in FIGS.
In (21), the closing part (3) is provided with a pressing part (24) (2).
5) is sandwiched in a flat crushed state between
The clamping force of both clamping portions (21) and (22) and the pressing portion (24)
Both clamping portions (20) by frictional force with the pressing surface of (25)
Exit from (21) is prevented.

In the above three embodiments, the bush mounting member (10) is provided with a crushing portion (18) protruding toward the other connecting portion (13) at one connecting portion (14). On the other hand, a biting groove (19) having an enlarged portion (19a) whose opening area is increased in the depth direction is formed at a position corresponding to the crushed portion (18) of the other coupling portion (13). Then, the crushed portion (18) is fitted into the digging groove (19) and bites into the enlarged portion (19a) to be plastically deformed in a retaining state, thereby connecting the two connecting portions (13) and (14). Since the connecting portions (13) and (14) can be directly connected to each other, the connecting operation can be performed efficiently, and a stronger connecting strength can be obtained. As a result, the connection work with the member main body (1) can be performed efficiently, and a strong connection strength can be obtained.

In the above three embodiments, the coupling structure of the coupling portions (13) and (14) of the bush mounting member (10) utilizes the plastic deformation of the crushed portion (18). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a connecting piece (not shown) is provided between the two connecting portions (13) and (14).
The structure may be a structure in which they are bonded with each other, or other various bonding structures. In addition, anti-vibration bush (4
0), a shaft member (41) located substantially at the center,
Although a cylindrical type rigid sleeve (42) disposed around the support shaft member (41) and a solid type rigid sleeve (42) connected by a rubber elastic body (43) interposed therebetween are shown. There is no outer rigid sleeve (42), and a liquid is sealed inside the rubber elastic body (43) from an injection port provided on the outer peripheral surface, and a vibration-proof function is exhibited by the sealed liquid. May be. In this case, assuming that the joining operation of the joining portions (13) and (14) is performed in a liquid by pressing, the liquid filling into the rubber elastic body (43) and the joining operation of the joining portions (13) and (14) are simultaneously performed. Can be performed, and the process can be omitted. When the joining operation is performed in a liquid as described above, as shown in the second embodiment (FIG. 8) and the third embodiment (FIG. 9), both ends are flattened and the opening is opened. It is preferable to use the member main body (1) closed in a liquid-tight manner, since the intrusion of the liquid from the opening can be prevented.

Although aluminum was used as the material of the bush mounting member (10) and the member main body (1), for example, an iron-based material other than aluminum may be used, or the bush mounting member (10) and the member may be used. The main body (1) may be made of a different material. For example, bush mounting member (10)
While aluminum is used for the member, the member body (1) may be formed of an iron-based material or a synthetic resin.

The suspension arm member (A) in which the bush mounting members (10) and (10) are connected to both ends of the member main body (1) is shown, but one bush mounting member is mounted on the member main body (1). (10) or three or more bush mounting members (10) may be connected. The shape of the member main body (1) is not limited to a pipe material having a circular cross section. A pipe material having an elliptical cross section may be used. Further, the member main body (1) may have another shape such as an A type.

[0035]

According to the present invention, as described above, the member body,
A suspension arm member connected to a bush mounting member for mounting a cylindrical bush, wherein the bush mounting member includes a holding portion into which the bush is fitted, and a shaft is provided on a part of the holding portion in a circumferential direction. A pair of couplings projecting on the outer peripheral surface at or near both opening edges of the opening while the holding portion can be opened in an expanded state at the opening. The parts are provided in a circumferentially opposed arrangement, and by joining these coupling parts, the inner peripheral surface of the holding part is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bush and the bush is fitted and fixed in the holding part. Strict dimensional accuracy of the gap between the bush and the holding part is not required as compared with the press-fitting type in which the bush is press-fitted into the holding part of the bush mounting member because it is a wound-up type. Nashie may no unnecessary special machining for finishing the required dimensional accuracy holding inner peripheral surface of the bush mounting member.

Further, since a pair of holding portions are provided at both connecting portions of the bush mounting member, the holding operation of the holding portion can be performed in conjunction with the connecting operation of the connecting portions. And since the bush mounting member and the member body are connected by the member body being held between these holding portions,
The work of fitting and fixing the bush and the work of connecting the member main bodies can be performed at the same time, and thus the production efficiency can be improved.

In the case where a plurality of bush mounting members are connected to the member main body, the bush mounting members can be mounted by changing the directions of the bush mounting members with respect to the member main body. The relative angle in the axial direction of the bush attached to the member can be set arbitrarily, without changing the suspension arm layout specification etc.
A suspension arm that can easily cope with this can be provided.

Naturally, since the member main body and the bush mounting member can be manufactured separately, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the suspension arm member and the length of the member main body can be increased, and the two are connected by welding. However, the connection operation is simple, and the production efficiency can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a suspension arm member according to an embodiment of the present invention separated into a member main body and a bush mounting member.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of a member main body and a bush mounting member.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a bush is loaded into a holding portion of the bush mounting member in FIG. 2 and one end of a member main body is inserted between opposing surfaces of a holding portion.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where both joints of the bush mounting member are pressed in a contact direction.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which both connecting portions of the bush mounting member are further pressed to fasten the bush around the bush mounting member and clamp one end of the member main body.

6A is a front view of a suspension arm connecting the bush mounting member and the member main body of FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 7A is a front view of the suspension arm in which the relative angles of the bush mounting members at both ends of the member main body are changed.
(B) is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention;
(A) is a partial cross-sectional front view before connecting the bush mounting member and the member main body, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional front view after connecting.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional front view before connecting a bush mounting member and a member main body, and FIG. (C) is a plan view of (B).

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a suspension arm using a conventional suspension arm member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Suspension arm member 1 ... Member body 10 ... Bush mounting member 11 ... Holding part 12 ... Opening part 13, 14 ... Coupling part 18 ... Crushed part 19 ... Biting groove 19a ... Enlarged part 20, 21 ... Nipping part 22, 23: Entrance groove for retaining member body 40: Anti-vibration bush

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaharu Tochigi 6,224 Kaiyamacho, Sakai City Showa Aluminum Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masatoshi Enomoto 6,224 Kaiyamacho Sakai City, Showa Aluminum Co., Ltd. ( 72) Inventor Shunta Ushioda 6,224, Kaiyamacho, Sakai City Showa Aluminum Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Noriyuki Iwakichi, 224 6, Choyamacho, Sakai City, Showa Aluminum Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A member body (1) and a cylindrical bush (4)
A suspension arm member (A) to which a bush mounting member (10) for mounting the bush (40) is attached, wherein the bush mounting member (10) has a holding portion (11) into which the bush (40) is fitted. An opening (12) extending in the axial direction is formed in a part of the circumferential direction of the holding portion (11), and the holding portion (11) can be opened in an expanded state at the opening (12). While the opening (12)
A pair of connecting portions (13) (14) projecting on the outer peripheral surface at or near both opening edges are provided in a circumferentially opposed arrangement, and these connecting portions (13) (14) are connected to each other. The inner peripheral surface of the holding portion (11) is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bush (40), and the bush (40) is attached to the holding portion (1).
1) It comprises a fastening member of a tightening type which is fitted and fixed in the inside, and a pair of sandwiching portions (20) (21) are provided on the both connecting portions (13) and (14).
The member body (1) is clamped between the clamping portions (20) and (21), so that the bush attachment member (1) is provided.
0) and a member main body (1) are connected to each other.