TWI633021B - Suspension system and flexible control arm thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension system includes a flexible control arm and a shock absorber. The flexible control arm has a sliding end, a flexible section and a fixed end, and the sliding end is slidably coupled to a frame. The flexible segment is located between the sliding end and the fixed end, and the fixed end is coupled to a fixing member, wherein the flexible segment is bendable along a normal direction of a surface of the flexible segment, and can replace the ring of the shock absorber Springs for the purpose of achieving weight reduction.

Description

Suspension system and its flexible control arm

This invention relates to a suspension system, and more particularly to a suspension system having a flexible control arm.

The suspension system is a vehicle system composed of a shock absorber, a ring spring, a control arm and a connecting rod for connecting the frame and the tire of the vehicle. The suspension system can partially absorb the tire and the ground while the vehicle is running. The shock and impact generated by the contact provide the safety and comfort of driving. Generally, the suspension system can be divided into an independent suspension system and a non-independent suspension system. The independent suspension system allows the individual tires of the vehicle to jump independently and without pulling each other, thereby affecting the vehicle balance, increasing handling and comfort. Sex, but the disadvantage is that the production cost is higher than that of the non-independent suspension system. In addition, in recent years, vehicles have become lighter, and spring-like springs made of aluminum alloy control arms and fiber composites have gradually been used in production models, but due to the production cost of aluminum alloy control arms and fiber composite springs. And the difficulty is high, resulting in high prices for vehicles using this lightweight vehicle.

The main object of the present invention is to replace the original ring spring with a flexible control arm, so that the suspension system is lighter, and the process of the plate-shaped flexible control arm is easier than that of the ring spring, thereby further reducing the The cost of production required.

A suspension system of the present invention comprises a flexible control arm and a shock absorber, the flexible control arm having a sliding end, a flexible section and a fixed end, the sliding end being slidably coupled to a frame The flexible segment is located between the sliding end and the fixed end, the fixed end is coupled to a fixing member, wherein the flexible segment is bendable along a normal direction of a surface of the flexible segment, and the shock absorber has a The first end and the second end are connected to the fixing member, and the second end is connected to the frame.

The flexible control arm of the suspension system includes a sliding end, a fixed end and a flexible end, the sliding end is slidably coupled to a frame coupled to a fixing member, the flexible section Located between the sliding end and the fixed end, wherein the flexible segment is bendable along a normal direction of a surface of one of the flexible segments.

According to the invention, the flexible control arm can be bent, and the original ring spring can be replaced and omitted, and the weight of the suspension system as a whole can be reduced, thereby achieving the purpose of weight reduction.

1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a suspension system 100 for a vehicle. The suspension system 100 is configured to connect a wheel assembly T and a frame F to the wheel assembly T. The frame F is supported by the suspension system 100. The suspension system 100 includes a flexible control arm 110, a shock absorber 120 and a fixing member 130. The fixing member 130 is connected to the flexible control arm 110. The damper 120 and the wheel assembly T are coupled to the flexible control arm 110 and the damper 120 on one side of the fixing member 130. The wheel assembly T is mounted on the other side of the fixing member 130. In this embodiment, the fixing member 130 is connected to the flexible control arm 110 through a ball joint, and the fixing member 130 is coupled to the damper 120 through a rotary joint, so that the wheel assembly T can pass through. The fixing member 130 rotates relative to the flexible control arm 110 and the damper 120.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible control arm 110 has a sliding end 111, a flexible section 112 and a fixed end 113. The flexible section 112 connects the sliding end 111 and the fixed end 113, and the The flexible segment 112 is located between the sliding end 111 and the fixed end 113. The sliding end 111 is slidably coupled to the frame F, so that the flexible control arm 110 maintains the degree of freedom of axial movement. The fixed end 113 The fixing member 130 is coupled to the fixing member 130 via the ball joint, and the fixing member 130 is rotatable relative to the flexible control arm 110. The flexible portion 112 has elasticity and can be bent along the normal direction n of the surface 112a thereof, and can replace The annular spring of the suspension system is known to greatly reduce the weight of the suspension system 100 as a whole, thereby making the vehicle lightweight.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the embodiment, the sliding end 111 has a first thickness T1, the flexible segment 112 has a second thickness T2, and the fixed end 113 has a third thickness T3, the first thickness. The T1 and the third thickness T3 are greater than the second thickness T2, so as to increase the stress in the thickness direction of the sliding end 111 and the fixed end 113, so as to avoid deformation of the sliding end 111 and the fixed end 113, respectively, The fixing member 130 and the frame F are firmly connected. In contrast, the thin portion of the flexible segment 112 is bendable and can be restored to its original state by bending after being bent. Preferably, the flexible section 112 of the flexible control arm 110 is made of a fiber composite material. In this embodiment, the flexible section 112 of the flexible control arm 110 is made of fiberglass composite. Made of materials or carbon fiber composites with good modulus of elasticity and lightweight properties.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sliding end 111 has a first sliding joint 111a (Slip Joint) and a second sliding joint 111b. The first sliding joint 111a and the second sliding joint 111b are respectively coupled. a third sliding joint (not shown) of the frame F and a fourth sliding joint (not shown) to prevent the flexible control arm 110 from rotating and allowing the flexible control arm 110 to pass through the The first sliding joint 111a and the second sliding joint 111b maintain a degree of freedom of axial movement, allowing the flexible control arm 110 to move toward the wheel assembly T when bent. In other embodiments, the sliding end 111 of the flexible control arm 110 can be coupled to the frame F using a single anti-rotation sliding joint.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flexible control arm 110 can be formed in an integrally formed manner, or can be formed by fitting a metal joint (sliding joint and ball joint) to the fiber composite material, and the present invention is not limited thereto. And because the technology for making sheets from fiber composite materials is quite mature, compared with the fiber composite springs of the prior art, the fiber composite materials of the sheets are low in production cost and difficulty, and can be applied to mass production. In the vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the damper 120 has a first end 121 and a second end 122. The first end 121 is connected to the fixing member 130 via a rotary joint, and the second end 122 is connected to the frame. F fixed lap joint, which is similar to the conventional suspension system in that the damper 120 also has a damper S for absorbing and mitigating the impact force transmitted by the wheel assembly T to the frame F, and absorbing the The flexing control arm 110 bends the oscillating force after the rebound to reduce the vibration of the frame F. However, the difference from the conventional suspension system is that the shock absorber 120 does not have a ring spring, but absorbs the impact force from the wheel assembly T by the elastic force of the flexible control arm 110, and can effectively reduce the suspension. The overall weight of system 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of the operation of the suspension system 100, when the vehicle is undulating, the wheel assembly T moves upward to drive the flexible control arm 110 to bend, and due to the second end of the shock absorber 120 122 is fixedly overlapped with the frame F, so that the wheel assembly T does not generate a Camber angle, which can increase the service life of the damper S of the damper 120, and after the vehicle passes through the undulation, The wheel assembly T is then reset by the elastic force of the flexible control arm 110.

According to the present invention, the flexible control arm 110 can be bent, and the original ring spring can be replaced and omitted, and the weight of the suspension system 100 as a whole can be reduced, thereby achieving the purpose of weight reduction.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims, and any changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention are within the scope of the present invention. .

100‧‧‧suspension system

110‧‧‧Flexible control arm

111‧‧‧Sliding end

111a‧‧‧First sliding joint

111b‧‧‧Second slip joint

112‧‧‧ flexible section

112a‧‧‧Surface

113‧‧‧ fixed end

120‧‧‧ Shock absorbers

121‧‧‧ first end

122‧‧‧ second end

130‧‧‧Fixed parts

T1‧‧‧first thickness

T2‧‧‧second thickness

T3‧‧‧ third thickness

F‧‧‧ frame

S‧‧ damper

T‧‧‧ wheel assembly

1 is a perspective view of a suspension system of a vehicle connected to a wheel assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic view of a suspension system of the vehicle connecting a wheel assembly and a frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flexible control arm of the suspension system of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (9)

A suspension system comprising: a flexible control arm having a sliding end, a flexible section and a fixed end, the sliding end being slidably coupled to a frame, the flexible section being located at the sliding end and Between the fixed ends, the fixed end is coupled to a fixing member, wherein the flexible segment is bendable along a normal direction of a surface of the flexible segment, wherein the sliding end has a first thickness, and the flexible segment has a second thickness, the fixed end has a third thickness, the first thickness and the third thickness are greater than the second thickness; and a shock absorber having a first end and a second end, the first end The fixing member is connected, and the second end is connected to the frame. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the flexible section of the flexible control arm is made of a fiber composite material. The suspension system of claim 2, wherein the flexible section of the flexible control arm is selectable from a fiberglass composite or a carbon fiber composite. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the sliding end has a first slip joint and a second sliding joint, and the first sliding joint and the second sliding joint are respectively coupled to One of the frame is a third sliding joint and a fourth sliding joint. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber does not have a ring spring. A flexible control arm of a suspension system, comprising: a sliding end slidably coupled to a frame; a fixed end coupled to a fixing member; and a flexible segment located at the sliding end and the Between the fixed ends, wherein the flexible segment is along the flexible segment Curved in a normal direction of a surface, wherein the sliding end has a first thickness, the flexible section has a second thickness, the fixed end has a third thickness, and the first thickness and the third thickness are greater than the second thickness. The flexible control arm of the suspension system of claim 6, wherein the flexible section is made of a fiber composite material. The flexible control arm of the suspension system of claim 7, wherein the flexible section is selectable from a fiberglass composite or a carbon fiber composite. The flexible control arm of the suspension system of claim 6, wherein the sliding end has a first slip joint and a second sliding joint, the first sliding joint and the second sliding The joint is coupled to one of the third sliding joint and the fourth sliding joint of the frame.