KR20000052788A - Trailing arm suspension with articulated axle mounting - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A trailing arm suspension with an articulated axle mounting is provided which has less tooling and fewer inventory parts. CONSTITUTION: A trailing arm suspension for mounting ground-engaging wheels to a vehicle frame(10) has an axle mounted to a trailing arm(18) through an axle-beam connector(64). The suspension comprising at least two arms adapted to be secured to opposite sides of the frame and at least one wheel-carrying axle mounted to the arms through an axle-mounting assembly. Each of the axle mounting assemblies comprises at least one beam-axle connector which is mounted to one of the arms at one end thereof through a bushed connection and is connected to the axle at another end thereof. Each of the arms forms a collar(52) which receives the axle. An elastomeric layer is positioned between the axle and the collar for articulation between the axle and the collar. Preferably, the beam-axle connector is rigidly mounted to the axle at the other end thereof.

Description

TRAILING ARM SUSPENSION WITH ARTICULATED AXLE MOUNTING}

WO97 / 06022, published on February 20, 1997, was fitted to a pair of axle brackets by tightening the wrapper band around the axle in order to maintain the axle under compression and not to maintain the axle in the wrapper band by friction. do. The axle is fixed to the trailing arm via a pair of bushed joints.

The present invention relates to a trailing arm suspension for automobiles. More particularly, the invention relates to a trailing arm suspension in which the axle is mounted to the trailing arm for articulating connection to the trailing arm.

1 is a side view of a suspension system according to the present invention attached to an automobile frame,

2 is a perspective view of the suspension system shown in FIG. 1, FIG.

3 is a plan view of line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the IV indicated by a circle in FIG. 3,

5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3, FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the beam and axle connection of the suspension system shown in FIGS. 1 to 6;

8 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 and showing a modified form of the present invention;

9 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 using the present invention on a low height suspension system, FIG.

10 is a side view of another embodiment of a suspension system according to the present invention, and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the suspension shown in FIG. 10. FIG.

The trailing arm suspension for mounting the ground wheel to the vehicle frame according to the invention has an axle mounted to the trailing arm via an axle beam connector. The suspension includes at least two arms fixed to both sides of the frame and at least one wheel support axle mounted through the axle mounting assembly. Each axle mounting assembly includes at least one beam axle connector that mounts one of the arms to one end and the axle to the other end via a bushed connection. Each arm forms a collar to receive the axle. An elastomeric layer is positioned between the axle and the collar for articulating connection between the axle and the collar. Preferably the beam axle connector is rigidly mounted to the axle on the other side.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there are two beam axle connectors, one of which is on each side of each arm, each beam axle connector being connected to the arm and also to the axle in the same way. Moreover, each beam axle connector is the same and symmetric about the longitudinal axis. Each beam axle connector is usually two-dimensional in shape and has reinforcing gussets in its upper and lower portions. Preferably each beam axle connector has an arcuate plate on the other side through which the beam axle connector is connected to the axle.

In one embodiment, the beam axle connector is sufficient to pressurize the axle on at least two sets of radially opposed and circumferentially outer surfaces of the axle and to prevent movement of the axle against the wrapper band under normal service conditions. It is mounted to the axle through a hollow wrapper band under tension and surrounding the axle. For this purpose, the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° around the axle and presses the axle on radially opposed and circumferentially spaced outer surfaces of at least two sets of axles and against the wrapper band under normal service conditions. And the second joint plate to form a hollow wrapper band surrounding the axle and under sufficient tension to prevent movement of the joint.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the beam axle connector is welded to the axle.

The invention is explained according to the accompanying drawings, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, according to the invention, which is fixed to the lower part of the frame 10 and a part of the frame 10 having a forward direction to the left as shown in FIG. 1. Suspension system 12 is shown. Suspension system 12 includes a trailing assembly that includes frame bracket 16, trailing arm 18, beam extension 19, and air spring 20. The frame bracket 16 is fixed to the frame 10 by welding and / or bolts in a conventional manner. The trailing arm 18 is pivotally mounted to the frame bracket 16 via the pivot mount 26 in a conventional manner. The shock absorber 22 is mounted between the frame bracket 16 and the beam 18 to dampen the pivoting motion of the beam 18 with respect to the frame 10. The shock absorber 22 is mounted to the frame bracket 16 via the pivot mount 26 and pivotally mounted to the beam 18 via the pivot mount 28. The round axle 24 is secured to the beam 18 via a beam axle connector 64 (only one of the beam axle connectors is shown in FIG. 1) and a bolt 82.

The suspension system according to the invention of FIG. 4 comprises two trailing arm assemblies and only one assembly is shown on each side of the vehicle frame although shown, the other trailing arm assembly is joined by an axle 24. do. 2, 3, 4, and 7, the beam 18 is formed by welding, for example, to form a top plate 32, a pair of side plates 34, 36 and a rigid extension beam of rectangular cross section. It has a bottom plate 38 that is tightly coupled to each other. I beams can be used instead of boxed beams. Aligned openings 40 are provided in the side plates 54, 36. The sleeve 42 is formed by arcuate plates 44 and 48 provided at the rear ends of the beams and joined to the edge surfaces 46 and 50 respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, the front end of the beam 18 has a cylindrical collar 52 with an opening 54 to receive the pivot mount 26.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the bushing assembly 56 includes an inner sleeve 62, a rubber bushing 60 and an outer sleeve 58 mounted to the beam opening 40 and assembled together as a unit. The sleeve 62 and the rubber bushing 60 are joined to each other and then pressed into the sleeve 58. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer sleeve 58 and the inner sleeve 62, like the bushing 60, are slightly longer than the gap between the outer surfaces of the side plates 34, 36. The inner sleeve 62 is longer than the outer sleeve 58 and the bushing 60.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, there are two beam axle connectors 64 that are coupled to the axle 24 at one end and to the beam 18 at the other end through a bushing on each trailing arm assembly. Each beam axle connector 64 is the same structure and faces in the mirror direction on the axle. Only one of the beam axle connectors 64 is described.

In FIG. 7, the beam axle connector 64 has an arcuate plate 68 with an edge 70 and an arcuate plate 68 with an edge 74 and an arcuate plate 72 on one side of the arcuate plate adjacent to the beam. A wrapper band 66 is included at one end formed by the end. The through bore 78 extends through the triangular plate at the front apex end of the plate 76. The triangular gusset plate 80 is preferably mounted at the bottom and top of the triangular plate 76 by welding and secured at its rear end to the articulated plate along its axial length at its upper and lower portions. As shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 82 mounts the bushing assembly 56, in particular an inner sleeve, to mount the beam axle connector 64 to the beam 18 via a through bore on each beam axle connector 64. Stretched through As shown in FIG. 4, a wear washer 92 is provided between the triangular plate 76 and the sleeve 62 to provide a wear surface. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner sleeve 62 extends beyond the axial length of the outer sleeve 58 so that the beam axle connector 64 receives the roll and pitch forces at the axle 24 for the frame 10. Freely articulated with respect to the beam 18. The washer 93 is mounted on the bolt 82 between the triangular plate 76 and the head of the bolt 82 at one end of the beam and between the nut 84 and the triangular plate 76 at the other side of the beam. do.

As shown in FIG. 5, the articulated plates 68, 72 surround the axle 24 and are joined to each other through the weld 86 at the edges 70, 74. The arcuate plates 68, 72 are tightened around the axle 24 to keep the axle in compression and to hold the arcuate plates 68, 72 under tension. The arcuate plates are pressed against each other to keep the axle 24 compressed before welding. Welding 86 takes place while compressive forces are applied to the axle 24 by arcuate plates 68 and 72. As the weld joint cools, it contracts and thus improves the compressive force on the axle 24. The axle 24 is thus coupled to the beam axle connector 64 through the wrapper band 66 and is subjected to friction between the wrapper band and the axle 24 due to the high compression loading on the axle 24 by the wrapper band 66. Mainly maintained by The assembly of the axle in the wrapper band is disclosed in W097 / 06022 and is entitled, which details are hereby incorporated by reference. Various embodiments of wrapper bands are disclosed and patented in this application. All of the various round axle wrapper band connections disclosed in WO97 / 06022 may be used in the present invention. Moreover, all of the various multi-side wrapper band connections disclosed in WO97 / 06022 can be used in the corresponding multi-side axles of the present invention.

A description of the relationship between the beam and the axle at the trailing end of the beam is made with reference to FIG. 6. The arcuate plates 44, 48 form a collar to accommodate the axle 24. Elastomeric sheet 88 is positioned between axle 24 and arcuate plates 44, 48. The arcuate plates 44 and 48 are joined by welding 90 or bolted flanges (not shown). For example, the sheet of elastomer 88 is 3/16 inches thick and 4 inches wide of urethane or rubber sheet material. The sheet is approximately equal to the width of the collar on the beam 18 and is slightly short in length. Unlike the wrapper band 66, the collar on the beam 18 does not tighten the axle 24. Rather, the axle is slightly articulated in the beam collar by rubber sheet 88.

Thus, the axle is firmly connected to the beam axle connector 64 through the wrapper band 66. The beam axle connector 64 is essentially rigid and is connected to the beam through the bushing assembly 56. The rubber bushing 60 is deformable and can be deformed if torsional stress is applied to the beam axle connector 64. Thus, the axle is articulated to the sleeve 42 of the beam 18 due to the rubber sheet 88 and also to the bushed connection 56 between the beam 18 and the axle beam connector 64. Thus, the axle 24 may be articulated with respect to the beam 18 but remains tight within the beam axle connector 64. This suspension avoids the increase in stress between the axle and the axle bracket and nevertheless the axle can be articulated to the beam. The bushing connection between the beam axle connector and the beam provides a degree of clearance in mounting the suspension to the frame. If there is a slight misalignment between the axle and the frame, an undue stress can be set on the rigid axle connection, causing premature failure of the axle. The bushed connection between the beam and the beam axle connector 64 provides a clearance level for slight misalignment in mounting the suspension to the frame and minimizes stress on the axle due to misalignment of the suspension to the frame.

The present invention also provides a reduction in manufacturing costs. The primary beam 18 is symmetric around the horizontal axis and can therefore be used on both sides of the suspension. Therefore, the number of machining of parts is reduced and the number of parts is small. The beam can be used for different suspensions by adding to the spring beam structure for different kinds of beams. These other suspensions are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, which are referenced below.

8 shows a suspension system according to the invention in which like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. In FIG. 8, the suspension system 12 has the same beam 100 as the beam 18 except that the beam receives a rectangular axle 104. The axle 104 is substantially the same as the beam axle connector 106 except that the structure of the beam axle connector 106 through the bushed joint 108 accommodates the square axle. The beam axle connector 106 has a wrapper band 107 that tightens the axle 104 as the wrapper band is assembled to the axle in the manner described in WO 97/06022. The suspension in FIG. 8 houses a rubber spring 102 that is different from the air spring in the previous embodiment.

Referring again to Fig. 9, another embodiment of the present invention is shown and like reference numerals denote like parts. Beam 110 having the same structure as beam 18 is pivotally mounted to frame bracket 16 in pivot mount 26. The axle 24 is mounted to the beam axle connector 64 through the wrapper band 66 in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the beam extension 112 is welded to the outer end of the beam 110 and supports the air spring in a low run position for storage retention height shape.

10 to 11, a modified embodiment of the present invention in which the same reference numerals denote the same parts is shown. In this form of the invention, the beam axle connector is slightly deformed and welded to the axle 24 rather than being tightened on the axle as in the previous embodiment. In particular, the modified beam axle connector 122 has an opening at its front end and bolts 82 extending to connect the plate 129 to the trailing arm 18 through the same bushed joint as shown in FIG. 4 and described above. It includes a triangular plate 129 having a. The triangular plate 129 has an arcuate plate 124 mounted at the rear end, a gusset plate 126 mounted at the upper portion, and a lower gusset plate 128 mounted at the lower portion.

As shown in FIG. 10, the arcuate plate has a circumferential arch of about 90 °. The edge of the arcuate plate 124 is welded at the axle 24 in the weld bead at the upper portion of the arcuate plate and welded to the weld bead 132 at the lower portion thereof. As in the previous embodiment, the beam axle connector 122 is provided on each side of the beam and each beam 18 has two beam axle connectors.

The beam axle connector illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 mounts the axle 24 to the beam 18 via a pair of articulated joints, one of which is the bushing joint illustrated in FIG. 4, the other of which is a sleeve ( 42 is a connection between the axle 24 and the beam 18 through the elastomeric sheet 88. For this range the connector from the axle to the beam functions in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

The present invention provides an articulated connection between the axle and the beam to provide solubility for the beam to accommodate stress due to the cloud of the axle. Furthermore, the suspension avoids the problem of gaps and stresses in the mounting bracket which cause misalignment of the suspension with respect to the frame. Moreover, the lateral movement of the axle relative to the frame is received in the suspension as a connection due to the suspension mount from the two beams to the axle. This connection reacts to the lateral motion and avoids the need for a trackbar between the axle and the beam.

Appropriate modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention and are within the scope of the above specification.

Claims (20)

At least two arms fixed at both sides of the vehicle frame; An automotive suspension comprising at least one wheel support axle mounted to an axle via an axle mounting assembly and mounting a ground wheel to an automobile frame, Each axle mounting assembly includes at least one beam axle connector mounted on one of the arms at one end of the beam axle connector and mounted on the axle at the other end, Each arm forms a collar to receive the axle, Automotive elastomer, characterized in that the layer between the axle and the collar for the articulated connection between the axle and the collar. The vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the beam axle connector is rigidly mounted to the axle at the other end of the beam axle connector. 3. A motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising two beam axle connectors, one of which is on each side of each arm and each beam axle connector is connected to the arm and the axle in the same manner. Suspension. 4. A vehicle suspension according to claim 3, wherein each beam axle connector is symmetrical and identical about the longitudinal axis. The vehicle suspension according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each beam axle connector is generally two-dimensional in shape and triangular, and has reinforcing gussets in the upper part and the lower part. 6. A vehicle suspension according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each beam axle connector further comprises an arcuate plate at the other end, through which the beam axle connector is mounted to the axle. 7. The beam axle connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the beam axle connector presses the axle on at least two sets of radially opposed and circumferentially spaced outer surfaces of the axle and against the wrapper band under normal service conditions. Automotive suspension characterized in that it is mounted to the axle through a hollow wrapper band surrounding the axle under sufficient tension to prevent movement of the axle. 7. The arcuate plate of claim 6, wherein the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° about the axle and presses the axle on at least two sets of radially opposed and circumferentially spaced outer surfaces of the axle and is applied to the wrapper band under normal service conditions. And a second arched plate to form a hollow wrapper band surrounding the axle under sufficient tension to prevent movement of the axle against the vehicle. 7. A vehicle suspension according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the beam axle connector is welded to the axle. An automobile having at least two arms fixed at both sides of an automobile frame, at least one wheel support axle mounted to the axle via an axle mounting assembly and having a suspension for mounting a ground wheel to the automobile frame, Each axle mounting assembly includes at least one beam axle connector mounted on one of the arms at one end of the beam axle connector and mounted on the axle at the other end, Each arm forms a collar at the trailing end and an axle is housed in the collar, Automotive elastomer, characterized in that the layer between the axle and the collar for the articulated connection between the axle and the collar. 11. The suspension of claim 10, wherein the beam axle connector is securely mounted to the axle at the other end of the beam axle connector. 12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, comprising two beam axle connectors, one of which is on each side of each arm and each beam axle connector is connected to the arm and the axle in the same manner. Suspension. 13. The suspension of claim 12, wherein each beam axle connector is symmetrical and identical about a longitudinal axis. 14. Suspension according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein each beam axle connector is generally two-dimensional in shape and triangular, with reinforcing gussets in the upper and lower portions. 15. The vehicle suspension according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein each beam axle connector further comprises an arcuate plate at the other end, through which the beam axle connector is mounted to the axle. 16. The axle of claim 10, wherein the beam axle connector presses the axle on at least two sets of radially opposed and circumferentially spaced outer surfaces of the axle and under normal service conditions the axle to the wrapper band. A vehicle, which is mounted to the axle through a hollow wrapper band under sufficient tension and surrounding the axle to prevent movement of the vehicle. 16. The arcuate plate of claim 15, wherein the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° about the axle and presses the axle on at least two sets of radially opposed and circumferentially spaced outer surfaces of the axle and is applied to the wrapper band under normal service conditions. And a second jointed plate to form a hollow wrapper band surrounding the axle under sufficient tension to prevent movement of the axle against the vehicle. 16. The motor vehicle according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the beam axle connector is welded to the axle. 19. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the axle is substantially rounded in cross section. 20. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the axle is polygonal in cross section.