WO2014061603A1

WO2014061603A1 - Cover member

Info

Publication number: WO2014061603A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/077812
Authority: WO
Inventors: 古賀　徹; 正顕田中
Original assignee: 株式会社ニフコ
Priority date: 2012-10-15
Filing date: 2013-10-11
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Also published as: CN104703864B; CN104703864A; JP5995649B2; MX356080B; MX2015004662A; JP2014080056A

Abstract

A column-shaped member is disposed across a sub-frame which is a closed cross-sectioned member, the mounting of the column-shaped member being such that the column-shaped member is located near and on the inside of an opening end of the sub-frame. Gaps are formed on both the left and right sides of the column-shaped member. A cover member has: a holding section which has an engagement recess which is engaged with the column-shaped member from the outside; retaining insertion sections which are extended from the holding section, are inserted into the gaps, and can expand and retract in the substantially radial direction of the column-shaped member; a closing wall section which is extended from the holding section and which closes the left and right gaps while the engagement recess is engaged with the column-shaped member; and a plate spring section which is in elastic contact with the inner surface of the sub-frame from the vertical direction.

Description

Cover member

The present invention relates to a cover member.

A closed cross-section member is used in various fields, and many have an open end with an open end. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that an end of a cross member as a closed cross-section member constituting a part of a vehicle body of an automobile is connected to a side wall panel to close an open end of the cross member. ing.

On the other hand, for example, a subframe (cross member) for mounting a suspension arm of an automobile has a closed cross-sectional structure and has an open end with an open end, and a columnar member near the open end. Some are fixed to cross. As this columnar member, for example, a cylindrical shape is used, and the sub-frame is fixed to the vehicle body using a bolt penetrating the cylindrical columnar member.

A gap is formed between each of the columnar members and the closed cross-section member. In order to prevent foreign matter such as pebbles and sand from entering the gap, a cover member that closes the gap is attached to the open end of the closed cross-section member. Patent Document 2 discloses a cover member for closing the gap in a structure in which substantially half of a columnar member is exposed from a subframe as a closed cross-section member. In the cover member disclosed in Patent Document 2, a holding portion having a fitting recess to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member, and a radial direction of the columnar member inserted from the holding portion into the left and right gaps And a pair of left and right blocking wall portions that extend from the left and right end portions of the holding portion and block the gap. Furthermore, it is also disclosed that a fitting hole is formed in the columnar member, and a protrusion that is fitted in the fitting hole is formed on the holding portion to perform vertical positioning.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 07-35260 JP 2012-111341 A

By the way, the columnar member attached to the closed section member having the open end may be in a state of being completely located on the content side with respect to the open end of the closed section member. In this case, it becomes difficult to apply the cover member disclosed in Patent Document 2 as it is. It is also desirable that the cover member be prevented from being inadvertently detached from the closed cross-section member when subjected to vibration or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and closes the gap formed on the left and right of the columnar member when the columnar member is positioned on the inner side of the opening end of the closed cross-section member. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover member that is not accidentally detached due to vibration.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
In the closed cross-section member having a closed cross section and having an open end, the columnar member is disposed in the vicinity of the open end and inward of the open end, and there are gaps on the left and right sides of the columnar member. A cover member used for the end structure to be formed,
The cover member is
A holding portion having a fitting recess to be fitted to an outer peripheral surface on the opening end side of the columnar member;
An insertion portion that extends from the holding portion, is inserted into the gap, and is expandable / contractable in a substantially radial direction of the columnar member, and restricts the removal of the holding portion from the opening end;
A closed wall portion that closes the left and right gaps in a state of being extended from the holding portion and the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member;
A leaf spring portion that extends from the holding portion and elastically contacts the inner surface of the closed cross-section member from above and below in a state in which the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member;
A cover member is provided. According to the present invention, by inserting the insertion portion into the gap while deforming, and fitting the fitting recess of the holding portion to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member, the attachment of the cover member to the closed cross-section member is completed. State. And in this attachment completion state, since the obstruction | occlusion wall part obstruct | occludes the clearance gap on either side, the situation where foreign materials, such as a pebble and sand, penetrate | invade from a clearance gap is prevented. In addition, the attachment completion state is reliably maintained even when subjected to vibration, particularly in the vertical direction, due to the elastic action of the leaf spring portion.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are as described below. That is, in the first preferred embodiment,
A pair of left and right insertion portions are provided so as to extend from left and right end portions of the holding portion, respectively. In this case, by providing a pair of left and right insertion portions, it is preferable in securing a firm attachment of the cover member.

In a second preferred embodiment,
The insertion portion has a leg portion that extends substantially linearly from the holding portion, and a bent portion that is folded back from the tip end portion of the leg portion toward the holding portion.
The bent portion can be elastically oscillated and displaced around the boundary with the leg portion, and in a normal body where no external force acts, the bent portion is at a position far away from the leg portion. It is. In this case, the insertion portion composed of the leg portion and the bent portion can be greatly enlarged / reduced in the substantially radial direction of the columnar member. As a result, when the cover member is completely attached to the closed section member, the bent portion is the columnar member. It is possible to sufficiently enter the back side of the back and secure a high holding force, which is extremely preferable for preventing the cover member from coming off from the closed cross-section member.

In a third preferred embodiment,
The closed wall includes a main body wall covering the open end, and a flange-shaped peripheral wall extending from the peripheral edge of the main body wall and extending to cover the outer surface of the open end of the closed section member And so on. In this case, the outer wall side of the closed cross-section member is also covered by the peripheral wall portion, which is preferable in preventing foreign matter intrusion from the gap more reliably.

In a fourth preferred embodiment,
A pair of upper and lower central spring portions are further extended from the holding portion,
The pair of upper and lower central spring portions are elastically contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member in a state where the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member. It is like that. In this case, when attaching the cover member, it is possible to attach the cover member to the closed cross-section member at an appropriate position by compensating for backlash or dimensional error in the mounting direction, and to prevent further detachment due to vibration after the installation is completed. This is preferable for sure prevention.

In a fifth preferred embodiment,
The part which forms the said fitting recessed part among the said holding | maintenance parts is made into the substantially arc-shaped plate shape along the outer side outer peripheral surface of the said columnar member. In this case, the fitting portion to the columnar member is made as thin as possible, which is preferable in terms of weight reduction and reduction of materials used.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cover member that can prevent the intrusion of foreign matter into the closed cross-section member and that comes off carelessly even when subjected to vibration or the like.

In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the sub-frame as a closed cross-section member to which this invention was applied. In the said embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the opening edge part of the sub-frame as a closed cross-section member, and an example of the cover member by this invention. In the said embodiment of this invention, it is a top view of the cover member by this invention. It is a front view of the cover member shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line X5-X5 in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line X6-X6 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line X7-X7 in FIG. In the said embodiment of this invention, it is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the detail of a leaf | plate spring part. In the said embodiment of this invention, it is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the detail of a center spring part.

Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a subframe (sometimes referred to as a cross member) that extends in the vehicle width direction as a closed cross-section member. The sub-frame 1 holds a wheel support member 5 via rear wheel suspension arms 2, 3, 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the subframe 1 has a closed cross-sectional structure by integrating the upper member 1A and the lower member 1B by welding or the like. And the edge part has the opening end 1a opened toward the vehicle width direction outer side. And the opening end 1a is obstruct | occluded by the cover member 10 mentioned later. The subframe 1 has two left and right open ends 1a, and cover members 10 are attached to the two open ends, respectively (in FIG. 1, the cover member 10 that closes the left front open end 1a is shown. Indicated).

The columnar member 20 is fixed in the closed cross section of the subframe 1. As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the columnar member 20 has a circular outer peripheral surface and a cylindrical shape having an inner hole (through hole) 20 a, and the upper wall surface of the subframe 1. Are fixed (for example, welded) to the subframe 1 so as to connect the lower wall surface and the lower wall surface. The subframe 1 is formed with a pair of upper and

lower openings

1b and 1c corresponding to the inner holes 20a of the columnar member 20. The subframe 1 is fixed to the vehicle body by mounting bolts (not shown) passing through the opening 1c, the inner hole 20a of the columnar member 20, and the opening 1c.

The columnar member 20 is located in the vicinity of the opening end 1a of the subframe 1 and is located generally inward of the opening end 1a. That is, the opening end 1 a of the subframe 1 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the columnar member 20. The outer diameter of the columnar member 20 is made sufficiently smaller than the lateral width in the vicinity of the opening end 1a of the subframe 1. As a result, a pair of left and right gaps α opened to the outside is formed on the left and right sides of the columnar member 20. Is done.

The cover member 10 attached to the opening end portion of the subframe 1 is generally an integrally molded product made of a synthetic resin, which is preferable in terms of manufacturing at low cost and weight reduction. The cover member 10 roughly includes a holding portion 11, an insertion portion 12, a closing wall portion 13, a leaf spring portion 14, a central spring portion 15, and a peripheral wall portion 16 (FIGS. 2 to 5). reference).

The holding portion 11 has a fitting recess 11a having a substantially semicircular arc shape that is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20 (see FIG. 3). The part which comprises this fitting recessed part 11a is made into the substantially semicircular arc shaped plate shape. The vertical length of the fitting recess 11a is smaller than the vertical length of the columnar member 20 (substantially half the vertical length).

A pair of left and right insertion portions 12 extending toward the inside of the subframe 1 is extended from the vicinity of the left and right ends of the fitting recess 11a in the holding portion 11 (see FIG. 3). The insertion portion 12 includes a leg portion 12A that extends substantially linearly, and a bent portion 12B that extends from the distal end portion of the leg portion 12A and is turned back toward the fitting recess 11a. The bent portion 12B can be elastically swung around the boundary portion with the leg portion 12A, and in the state where no external force is applied, the distal end portion of the bent portion 12B is larger than the leg portion 12A as shown in FIG. A state of being separated is maintained. In a state where no external force is applied to the insertion portion 12, the distance between the fitting recess 11a and the distal end portion of the bent portion 12B is set to such a dimension that the columnar member 20 can be inserted almost without rattling.

The holding portion 11 has a pair of upper and lower connecting

plate portions

11b and 11c extending from the upper and lower end portions of the fitting concave portion 11a toward the outer side (the extending direction side of the opening end 1a) (see FIG. 2). In addition, from the left and right end portions of the fitting recess 11a, there is a pair of left and right upper and lower connecting

plate portions

11d and 11e extending outward. A space K is formed by the connecting

plate portions

11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e, and the space K is opened outward. The holding portion 11 has a box structure by the connecting

plate portions

11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e in addition to the plate-like fitting recess portion 11a, while defining the space K and being reduced in weight. , Has sufficient rigidity.

A closing wall 13 extending in the vertical and horizontal directions is extended from the outer side edge of each of the connecting

plate portions

11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e. In a state where the fitting recess 11a is fitted to the columnar member 20, the closing wall portion 13 is brought into contact with or close to the edge of the opening end 1a so that the opening end 1a, that is, the left and right gaps α are closed. It has become.

Of the closed wall portion 13, a portion extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the subframe 1 is a main body wall portion 13A. And the peripheral wall part 13B is formed by extending the right-and-left edge part and lower edge part of 13 A of main body wall parts in a flange shape (refer FIG. 2). The peripheral wall 13B covers the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge of the subframe 1.

The substantially U-shaped connection part 17 is extended from the upper end edge part of the horizontal direction center part of the fitting recessed part 11a among the holding | maintenance parts 11. FIG. A leaf spring portion 14 extending upward is extended from the upper edge portion of the central portion of the connecting portion 17 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the leaf spring portion 14 is formed so as to gradually become thinner and toward the outer side (toward the extending direction of the opening end 1a) as it goes upward. ing. The leaf spring portion 14 is configured such that its tip end elastically contacts the inner surface of the upper wall of the subframe 1 when the fitting recess 11 a is fitted to the columnar member 20. Note that. In FIG. 8, the distal end portion of the leaf spring portion 14 is shown in a free state where no external force acts, and actually, the distal end portion of the leaf spring portion 14 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the upper wall of the subframe 1 while being elastically deformed. is there.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, a pair of upper and lower central spring portions 15 is extended from the upper and lower and left and right substantially central portions of the holding portion 11 on the surface on the fitting recess 11 a side. The pair of upper and lower central spring portions 15 are formed so as to gradually become thinner and away from the fitting recess 11a (approaching the columnar member 20) toward the tip. When the fitting recess 11 a is brought close to the columnar member 20, the central spring portion 1 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20. In FIG. 9, the distal end portion of the central spring portion 15 is shown in a free state where no external force acts, and actually the distal end portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20 with the distal end portion being elastically deformed. It is.

A pair of left and right projecting pieces 18 are extended on the upper edge of the closing wall 13 (the main body wall 13A) (see FIG. 2). The projecting piece 18 is a thin wall that is substantially the same as the thickness of the blocking wall 13, and serves as an extension from the blocking wall 13. And the leaf | plate spring part 14 mentioned above is made visible from between the left-right paired protrusion piece parts 18. FIG.

In the above configuration, in order to attach the cover member 10 to the subframe 1, first, the holding portion 11 is inserted while inserting the pair of left and right insertion portions 12 into the gap α formed on the left and right of the columnar member 20. The cover member 10 is moved closer to the subframe 1 so that the fitting recess 11a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20 on the outer side.

When the insertion portion 12 passes through the gap α, the insertion portion 12 is elastically deformed so that the distal end portion of the bending portion 12B approaches the leg portion 12A, and when the distal end portion of the bending portion 12B completely passes through the clearance α, the insertion portion 12 is elastically restored. As shown in FIG. 6, the distal end portion of the bent portion 12 </ b> B is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the columnar member 20. In this state, the fitting recess 11a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20, but the central spring portion 15 is elastically abutted against the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member 20 and is fitted. The joint recess 11a (central spring portion 15) and the bent portion 12B are in a complete mounting state in which the columnar member 20 is firmly and elastically held from the radial direction. In this attached state, the pair of left and right projecting pieces 18 are in contact with or close to the opening edge of the subframe 1.

6 and 7, the closing wall portion 13 closes the opening end 1a (that is, the gap α) of the subframe 1 in the attachment completion state as shown in FIGS. Thereby, the situation where a foreign material penetrates into the subframe 1 through the open end 1a is prevented. In particular, when the attachment is completed, the peripheral wall portion 13B covers the opening edge of the subframe 1 from the outer peripheral side, so that foreign matter intrusion into the subframe 1 through the opening end 1a is further reliably prevented.

When the cover member 10 is completely attached, the leaf spring portion 14 is elastically in contact with the inner surface of the upper wall of the subframe 1, so that the attachment completion state can be obtained even when subjected to vibration during traveling, particularly in the vertical direction. Is securely held. It can be confirmed that the leaf spring portion 14 is elastically in contact with the inner surface of the upper wall of the subframe 1 through the space between the pair of left and right projecting pieces 18.

The cover member 10 is elastically moved in the vertical and horizontal directions by the elastic contact in the vertical direction by the leaf spring portion 14 and the elastic contact in the radial direction (vehicle width direction) of the columnar member 20 by the central spring portion 15. When attached to the subframe 1, the rattling is sufficiently prevented. In addition to the above, the dimensional error in the vertical direction is compensated by the leaf spring portion 14, and the dimensional error in the radial direction of the columnar member 20 is compensated by the central spring portion 15.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. The cover member by this invention can be applied not only to a sub-frame but to the appropriate closed cross-section member which has an open end. The leaf spring portion 14 may be brought into contact with the lower inner wall surface of the subframe 1, and the upper leaf spring portion brought into contact with the upper inner wall surface of the subframe 1 and the lower inner wall surface of the subframe 1. It may be provided with both the lower leaf spring portion to be abutted. The insertion portion 12 does not have a separate bent portion 12B, and its leg portion 12A has a substantially arc shape surrounding the columnar member 20, and can be elastically deformed in the radial direction of the columnar member 20. Or an appropriate shape can be selected. The insertion part 12 may be provided only on either the left or right side. Of course, the object of the present invention is not limited to what is explicitly stated, but also implicitly includes providing what is substantially preferred or expressed as an advantage.

The present invention can be applied, for example, as a cover member that closes an open end of a subframe for an automobile.
It should be noted that the entire content of the specification, claims, drawings and abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-227673 filed on October 15, 2012 is cited here as the disclosure of the specification of the present invention. Incorporate.

Claims

In the closed cross-section member having a closed cross section and having an open end, the columnar member is disposed in the vicinity of the open end and inward of the open end, and there are gaps on the left and right sides of the columnar member. A cover member used for the end structure to be formed,
The cover member is
A holding portion having a fitting recess to be fitted to an outer peripheral surface on the opening end side of the columnar member;
An insertion portion that extends from the holding portion, is inserted into the gap, and is expandable / contractable in a substantially radial direction of the columnar member, and restricts the removal of the holding portion from the opening end;
A closed wall portion that closes the left and right gaps in a state of being extended from the holding portion and the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member;
A leaf spring portion that extends from the holding portion and elastically contacts the inner surface of the closed cross-section member from above and below in a state in which the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member;
A cover member comprising:
In claim 1,
A pair of left and right insertion portions are provided so as to extend from left and right end portions of the holding portion, respectively.
The cover member characterized by the above-mentioned.
In claim 1 or claim 2,
The insertion portion has a leg portion that extends substantially linearly from the holding portion, and a bent portion that is folded back from the tip end portion of the leg portion toward the holding portion.
The bent portion is elastically swingable and displaceable around the boundary with the leg portion, and is in a position that is largely separated from the leg portion in a normal state body where no external force is applied.
The cover member characterized by the above-mentioned.
In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The closed wall includes a main body wall covering the open end, and a flange-shaped peripheral wall extending from the peripheral edge of the main body wall and extending to cover the outer surface of the open end of the closed section member And a cover member.
In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
A pair of upper and lower central spring portions are further extended from the holding portion,
The pair of upper and lower central spring portions are elastically contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member in a state where the fitting recess is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar member.
The cover member characterized by the above-mentioned.
In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
The cover member in which the part which forms the said fitting recessed part among the said holding | maintenance parts is made into the substantially arc-shaped plate shape along the outer side outer peripheral surface of the said columnar member.