KR19990014773A - Trailing arm suspension with wrapper compression shaft mounting - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a vehicle suspension for mounting a wheel in contact with the ground on a vehicle frame 10, wherein two arms 18 are fixed to both sides of the frame and a wheel support shaft 12 is suspended between the arms. . This shaft is formed by a wrapper plate 34 which partially encloses the shaft, an adapter plater 39 mounted on the inner surface of the wrapper plate and at least one bolt 38 compressing the wrapper around the shaft and the adapter plater against the shaft. Fixed to the arm. In that configuration, the wrapper plate supports and reinforces the shaft. The wrapper plate corresponds to the contour of the portion of the shaft to be wrapped. This axis can be a square, oval, hexagonal, octagonal, rectangular or D-shaped cross section. The wrapper plate and the adapter plate exert cross forces on the shaft. The hole 42 is formed in the side of the wrapper plate at a position corresponding to the vertical midpoint of the adjacent side of the shaft. Circular washers 44 are welded to the shaft on each side to coincide with the holes in the side of the wrapper plate, preventing lateral movement of the wrapper plate relative to the shaft.

Description

Trailing arm suspension with wrapper compression shaft mounting

In U.S. Patent No. 4,693,486 issued September 15,1987 by Pierce et al., The trailing arm suspension is a shaft which is secured to the trailing arm by a wrapper plate that is partially enclosed, the wrapper plate supporting the shaft. A bolt used to compress the wrapper plate against the shaft to reinforce, and a circular plug weld to attach the wrapper plate to the shaft.

U.S. Patent No. 3,547,215 (published Dec. 15, 1970) by Budd discloses a trailing arm suspension, in which the square shaft is typically welded to a bracket in which the square shaft is in turn fixed to the trailing arm of the vehicle suspension. do. The weld that secures the shaft to the bracket is made at the midpoint of the side of the shaft, where the vertical bending moment stress is leveled.

The shafts are typically welded to the bracket to attach the shaft to the bracket at high load. This shaft is welded to the shaft bracket by in-line welding on both sides of the bracket. Since this is a single line welding, this weld has an end where stress can be concentrated and cracks can be caused.

U.S. Patent No. 5,116,075 to Pierce and the 486 patent by Pierce et al. A trailing arm suspension with a similar wrapper compression shaft mounting is disclosed. Even if this arrangement is relatively satisfactory, the block can cause stress cracks at the point of welding to the shaft. The highest stress point in this suspension is found at the edge of the wrapper plate where the block is located and these stresses should cause the largest strain on the axis at this point. It was also found that the minimum strain appeared on the axis at the midpoint of the wrapper's axis in the vertical center of the axis.

The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension for mounting a wheel in contact with the ground on a vehicle frame, and more particularly to a trailing arm suspension shaft in which the wheel support shaft is fixed to the trailing arm. The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a method for mounting an axial support assembly on an axis for a wheel that abuts the ground.

1 is a partial side view of a vehicle frame equipped with a suspension device according to the present invention;

2 is a partially enlarged side view of the suspension shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, and

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.

The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension for mounting a wheel in contact with the ground to a vehicle frame and a method for mounting an axis support assembly to an axis. The suspension consists of at least two rigid arms fixed to both sides of the frame. This arm is secured to the vehicle frame through aligned pivot mounts. At least one wheel support shaft is mounted to the arm. A wrapper plate with a long, planar complementary surface surrounds the axis at least 180 °. Both sides of the wrapper plate extend beyond the bottom of the shaft. At least one bolt extends through the wrapper plate on both sides dependent to compress radially both sides of the shaft.

According to the invention, the wrapper plate has at least one hole located on one side of the wrapper plate at a position around the vertical midpoint of the axis. The washer is welded to the shaft and coincides with the wrapper plate hole to prevent lateral movement of the wrapper plate relative to the shaft. Preferably, the washer is annular and welded to the shaft by welding at the central opening in the washer. In a preferred embodiment, the wrapper plate hole is in the axial center of the wrapper plate.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle frame 10 includes a wheel 14 (shown in phantom) and an axle 12 that abut the ground suspended by a suspension device 16 according to the invention. Has Both vehicles are on the left side of the frame as shown in FIG. Suspension 16 includes a trailing arm 18 on each side of vehicle frame 10 pivotally mounted to hanger bracket 20 suspended from frame 10. This hanger 20 has a pivot pin 22 at its lower end to pivotally support the front end of the trailing arm 18. The trailing arm 18 is composed of a hollow rectangular member supporting the shaft 12. The front end of the trailing arm 18 is pivotally mounted to the pivot pin 22. The trailing arm 18 extends rearward along the vehicle frame 10. The rear end of the trailing arm 18 is fixed to the air spring 24. The trailing arm 18 has an intermediate portion bent slightly downward between the front and rear ends. The front bushpin 26 and the rear bushpin 28 support the shaft support assembly 30 while slightly downwardly curved to allow limited articulation between the shaft support assembly 30 and the trailing arm 18. Extends through the trailing arm 18. The upper portion of the air spring 24 is fixed to the vehicle frame 10.

In operation, the vertical momentum of the wheel 14 in contact with the ground is moved to the shaft support assembly 30 through the shaft 12. The vertical momentum of the shaft support assembly 30 is moved to the trailing arm 18 through the front and rear bush pins 26 and 28. Referring to FIG. 3, the bushing 29 surrounds bushing pins 26, 28. The limited articulation allowed between the axial support assembly 30 and the trailing arm 18 by bushings 29 of the front and rear bush pins 26, 28 relieves the vertical movement of the trailing arm 18. The axial support assembly 30 controls the rolling rate of the suspension by allowing small vertical and conical displacements relative to the trailing arm 18.

Significant vertical displacement of the shaft support assembly 30 results in vertical displacement of the trailing arm 18. The vertical displacement of the trailing arm 18 is allowed by the pivot connection at the front end of the trailing arm 18 at the pivot pin 22. The vertical movement of the trailing arm 18 is cushioned and regulated by an air spring 24 and a shock absorber (not shown).

The shaft support assembly 30 includes a pair of side plates 32 disposed on both sides of the trailing arm 18, a U-shaped wrapper plate 34 suspended from the side plate 32, a reinforcing plate 36, a bolt ( 38) and adapter plate 39. The bolt 38 penetrates the end of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 to compress the side of the wrapper plate 34.

Each side plate 32 is composed of a vertical plate with an opening at the top to receive the front and rear bush pins 26 and 28. The front and rear bushfins 26, 28 extend through the trailing arm 18 and through corresponding openings in the pair of side plates 32 disposed on both sides of the trailing arm 18 to extend the side plates 32. ) To the trailing arm 18 and thereby supporting the axial support assembly 30 while allowing limited articulation between the side plate 32 and the trailing arm 18. In addition, each side plate 32 has a U-shaped opening adapted to the bottom to accommodate the annular portion of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 in a complementary shape. The side plate 32 thereby serves to strengthen the wrapper plate by providing a surface on which the wrapper plate 34 can be fixed, such as by welding.

The wrapper plate 34 is a saddle shaped plate as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the wrapper plate 34 is U-shaped in cross section. The loop portion of the wrapper plate 34 is disposed upward in the side plate 32 and the open end of the wrapper plate 34 extends downward. The wrapper plate 34 is fixed to the side plate 32 by suitable means such as welding. The wrapper plate 34 is shaped to have a large space between the inner surface of the wrapper plate 34 and the top surface of the shaft, to accommodate the shaft 12 having a rectangular, rectangular or other non-circular cross-sectional configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the wrapper plate 34 has a hole 40 in the ring portion of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34, thereby reducing the overall weight of the shaft support assembly 30, 34) increase the flexibility and provide a trailing arm electrode.

The wrapper plate 34 penetrates the side of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34. When assembled, the bolt 38 is positioned below the shaft 12 and is adapted to position the side of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 while compressing about the shaft 12 when the bolt 38 is tightened. Adapter plate 39 is included to enhance the gripping effect of wrapper plate 34 on shaft 12. The adapter plate 39 is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the wrapper plate 34 at a point just below the opening in the wrapper plate 34 for the bolt 38. The adapter plate 39 has a U-shaped cross section with two upright legs 31 and a ring portion 33. The adapter plate 39 is mounted such that the upper surface of the two upright legs 31 is in contact with the lower surface of the shaft 12.

The axial support assembly 30 also includes a reinforcing plate 36 fixed as by welding to the wrapper plate 34 and the side plate 32 to support and reinforce the wrapper plate 34. A shock absorber bracket 37 is provided on the inner side plate 32 to secure the bottom of the shock absorber (not shown) to damp the vibrations of the shaft 12. Although the axial support assembly 30 is described in the preferred embodiment as a plurality of plates are fixedly attached to each other by suitable means such as welding, it is also readily understood that a single axial support assembly can be formed by casting. have.

According to the invention, the wrapper plate comprises at least one and preferably two holes 42 on the side at one position at an approximately vertical midpoint of the shaft 12. The annular washer 22 is welded to the shaft to coincide with the hole 42 at the vertical midpoint of the shaft 12. The washer 44 has a central hole 46. Preferably, the washer 44 is welded to the shaft at the hole 46 through the weld 48. The outer diameter of the washer 44 fits into the inner diameter of the hole 42 and extends into the hole to prevent relative lateral movement between the wrapper plate 34 and the shaft 12. Welding the washer 44 to the shaft 12 at the midpoint of the axis and at the center of the wrapper plate 34 minimizes the stress between the wrapper plate and the shaft 12 to minimize the stress between the wrapper plate and the shaft 12. 34) to prevent movement. If desired, the holes 42 in the wrapper plate 34 may be axially biased from each other and the washers 44 may be welded to the shaft at a position axially displaced relative to each other.

In operation, the shaft 12 is secured in the wrapper plate 34 by first inserting the shaft 12 into the U-shaped complementary wrapper plate 34 and then forcibly clamping the shaft 12 into the wrapper plate 34. do. The bolt 38 is tightened until the wrapper plate 34 comes close to the shaft 12. The adapter plate 39 is then fixedly attached to the inner surface of the wrapper plate 34 such as by welding so that the upright leg 31 contacts the lower surface of the shaft 12. With the adapter plate 39 fixedly in place, the bolt 38 is further tightened, causing a compressive force on the shaft 12.

As the bolt 38 is tightened as shown in FIG. 2, the side of the wrapper plate exerts a first diameter compressive force in the direction of the arrow F1 on the complementary side of the shaft 12. Tightening of the bolt 38 also causes the dependent end of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 to bend inward. Inward bending causes a slight rotation of the bottom of the wrapper plate about the bottom edge of the shaft 12 to introduce movement of the horizontal component into the bottom end of the wrapper plate 34. Inward bending of the wrapper plate 34 at this end results in the application of the vertical component force F2 on the shaft 12 by the adapter plate 39. Thus, the horizontal force on the end of the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 is converted into a second compression force F2 that intersects the first force F1. This cross compression force F2 exerted by the adapter plate 39 on the shaft together with the compression force F1 acting along the inner surface of the wrapper plate 34 is sufficient for the shaft support assembly 30 on the shaft 12. Provides grip strength to strengthen the shaft against torsional and bending stresses.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the washer 44 is fitted with an opening 42 in the wrapper plate 34. Preferably, the washer plate 34 has two holes, one on each side of the shaft, and is further comprised of two washers 44 each coincident with this hole. The washer 44 is located in the hole 42 and welded in place by the plug weld 48 between the washer and the shaft 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the weld 48 is preferably located at the central opening 46 of the washer 44. Welding of the washer 44 onto the shaft 12 should occur after the U-shaped wrapper plate 34 is fully attached to the shaft 12.

Other axial shapes, such as U-shaped, hexagonal, octagonal, and rectangular, can be used in accordance with the present invention by simply modifying the configuration of the wrapper plate to correspond to the cross section of the shaft.

The present invention overcomes the problems with potential stress breakdown at the end of the wrapper plate and provides the present invention with a simple and quick method for assembly of other suspensions with minimal effort.

Appropriate changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

A vehicle suspension for mounting a wheel against a ground on a vehicle frame, comprising: at least two rigid arms fixed to both sides of the frame through aligned pivot mounts; At least one wheel support shaft, the shaft mounted to the arm via a wrapper plate having an elongated planar complementary surface circumscribing at least 180 ° around the axis and hanging on both sides extending beyond the axis; And said vehicle suspension comprising at least one bolt for compressing said shaft radially by pulling said both sides of said wrapper plate towards each other, Holes in at least one side of the wrapper plate; A washer in the hole and welded to the shaft; Consisting of, A vehicle suspension, characterized in that the lateral size of the washers prevents lateral movement of the wrapper plate relative to the shaft in correspondence with the lateral size of the holes. 2. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the holes in the wrapper plate are circular in shape and the washers are circular in shape. 3. A vehicle suspension according to claim 2, wherein the washer is annular in shape and welded to the shaft at a central opening in the washer. 2. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the hole is located at the central portion on the axis of the wrapper plate. A method of mounting an axial support assembly on an axis for a wheel in contact with the ground, Inserting the shaft into the elongated planar complementary surface of the wrapper plate having at least one hole; Inserting bolts through both sides of the wrapper plate; In the method comprising tightening the bolt until the wrapper plate contacts both sides of the shaft, Placing the washer in at least one hole in the wrapper plate, and Welding the washer to the shaft, wherein the shaft support assembly is mounted on the shaft for the wheel against the ground. 6. The shaft support assembly of claim 5 wherein the washer has a cross sectional size approximately equal to the cross sectional size of the at least one hole to prevent lateral movement of the wrapper plate relative to the shaft. How to mount it. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the washer is annular in shape and the welding step consists in positioning the weld bead in the central opening of the washer.