WO2022113526A1 - Damper - Google Patents

Abstract

This damper (D) comprises: a damper body (1) having a cylindrical outer shell (2) and a rod (3) movably inserted into the outer shell (2); and a bracket (4) which is attached to the outer shell (2) by welding and connects the outer shell (2) to a constituent component (S) of a vehicle, wherein: the bracket (4) has an opposing piece (4a) opposing a lateral portion of the outer shell (2), and a pair of clamping pieces (4b, 4c) which respectively extend toward the outer shell (2) from both ends of the opposing piece (4a) in a direction perpendicular to the axial line of the outer shell (2), and which clamp the outer shell (2) in the radial direction; and a distal end of each clamping piece (4b, 4c) protrudes toward the opposite opposing piece (4a) for over half of the outer shell (2) as seen from the axial line direction of the outer shell (2), and is attached to the outer periphery of the outer shell (2) by welding.

Description

Shock absorber

The present invention relates to a shock absorber.

The shock absorber comprises an outer shell and a rod that is movably inserted into the outer shell and is used, for example, by being incorporated into a suspension in a vehicle during expansion and contraction when the piston rod moves axially with respect to the outer shell. It exerts damping force and suppresses vibration of the car body and wheels.

The shock absorber incorporated in the suspension in this way is attached to the lower end of the outer shell by welding and connected to the stabilizer so that it can be connected to a stabilizer that suppresses the vertical displacement of the left and right wheels of the vehicle, for example. Brackets may be provided.

Also, when a shock absorber is used for a strut suspension, a bracket called a knuckle bracket for attaching a knuckle that holds the wheels of the vehicle may be attached to the lower end of the outer shell by welding.

As disclosed in JP2009-216129A, such a bracket has a C-shaped cross section for holding the outer periphery of the outer shell, and has a cylindrical holding portion and diameters from both ends in the circumferential direction of the holding portion. Some are provided with a pair of attachments that extend parallel to each other and can be connected to a knuckle outward in the direction. In a shock absorber provided with such a bracket, the upper end surface of the holding portion and the outer periphery of the outer shell are welded to attach the bracket to the outer shell. Therefore, the filler metal melted at the time of welding the outer shell and the bracket accumulates at the upper end of the holding portion, and both can be firmly joined.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-216129

In this way, when the bracket is provided with a holding portion for holding the outer shell, the filler material can be stored at the upper end of the holding portion. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 102 has a C-shape when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell, and a pair of plates 103 and 104 whose tips are abutted against the side surface of the outer shell 101 in parallel with each other. May be prepared.

The bracket 102 having such a structure is joined by welding the tips of the plates 103 and 104 to the side portions of the outer shell 101, but there is a possibility of causing welding defects.

This is because, in the bracket 102, the inner edge at the tips of the plates 103 and 104 is abutted against the outer periphery of the outer shell 101, so that the molten metal is melted between the tips of the plates 103 and 104 and the outer periphery of the outer shell 101. It is not possible to secure a large space for storing additional materials. Then, when the plates 103 and 104 are welded to the side surface of the outer shell 101, the filler material may flow down from the space without retaining the filler metal in the space. When such a situation occurs, the joint strength between the bracket 102 and the outer shell 101 is lowered, resulting in poor welding.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber capable of preventing welding defects between the outer shell and the bracket and firmly joining the two.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the shock absorber of the present invention is attached to a shock absorber body having a cylindrical outer shell and a rod movably inserted into the outer shell, and to the outer shell by welding. It is equipped with a bracket that connects the outer shell to the components of the vehicle, and each bracket has a pair of holding pieces that extend toward the outer shell side and sandwich the outer shell in the radial direction, and the tip of each holding piece is the outer shell. When viewed from the axial direction, it protrudes beyond half of the outer shell toward the anti-component side to form a gap with the outer shell, and is attached to the outer periphery of the outer shell by welding.

With the shock absorber configured in this way, a pocket with a large volume that can store the filler metal during gap welding between the tip of the holding piece of the bracket and the outer circumference of the outer shell can be formed, so that the tip of the holding piece and the outer shell can be formed. It is possible to prevent the filler metal from dripping from between.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the shock absorber in one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the shock absorber according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a tip portion of a holding piece of a bracket that holds the outer shell in one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shock absorber in one modification of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a conventional shock absorber.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the figure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shock absorber D is welded to a shock absorber body 1 having a cylindrical outer shell 2 and a rod 3 movably inserted into the outer shell 2 and an outer shell 2. It is provided with a bracket 4 which is attached by and connects the outer shell 2 to the stabilizer S as a component of the vehicle. Further, the shock absorber main body 1 is connected to a suspension arm that supports the wheels of a vehicle (not shown), and is interposed between the vehicle body and the wheels. The stabilizer S is provided with an unexpected torsion bar that is twisted when the left and right wheels of the vehicle are displaced in the opposite phase in the vertical direction, and suppresses the displacement of the left and right wheels in the opposite phase.

Hereinafter, each part of the shock absorber D will be described in detail. The shock absorber main body 1 has a tubular outer shell 2 and a rod 3 that is movably inserted into the outer shell 2, and the rod 3 is expanded and contracted so as to move relative to the outer shell 2 in the axial direction. Occasionally, a damping force that hinders the relative movement of the rod 3 with respect to the outer shell 2 is generated to damp the vibration of the vehicle body and wheels.

The shock absorber main body 1 includes, for example, a cylindrical outer shell 2 whose lower end is closed, a cylinder (not shown) housed in the outer shell 2, a rod 3 movably inserted into the cylinder, and a rod 3. A piston that is connected and inserted into the cylinder to divide the inside of the cylinder into an extension side chamber and a compression side chamber, a reservoir formed between the cylinder and the outer shell, and a compression side chamber and a reservoir provided at the lower end of the cylinder. It is equipped with a valve case that separates and. The extension side chamber and the compression side chamber are filled with a liquid such as hydraulic oil, and the reservoir is filled with the liquid and the gas. The liquid used for the shock absorber D may be, for example, a liquid such as water or an aqueous solution, in addition to the hydraulic oil.

Further, a passage connecting the extension side chamber and the compression side chamber and a passage communicating the compression side chamber and the reservoir are provided, and each of the passages is provided with a damping valve. In the shock absorber body 1 configured in this way, the extension side chamber and the compression side chamber are expanded and contracted by the piston during expansion and contraction operation, and the liquid moves through the passage, and the flow of the liquid is attenuated by giving resistance to the flow of the liquid by the damping valve. Generates force.

Bracket 4 is configured by bending and molding a single metal base material. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 4 is formed in a C shape that sandwiches the outer peripheral side portion of the outer shell 2, and faces the rectangular facing piece 4a facing the side portion of the outer shell 2. It has a pair of holding pieces 4b, 4c that extend toward the outer shell 2 side from both ends in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the outer shell 2 in the piece 4a and sandwich the outer shell 2 in the radial direction.

The facing piece 4a has a hole (not shown), and the stabilizer S as a component of the vehicle can be connected by a bolt. Further, the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c extend parallelly and linearly toward the outer shell 2 side from the ends of the facing pieces 4a while maintaining a constant width with each other, and the outer shells are in the middle when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell 2. While sandwiching the side portion of 2 in the radial direction, the tip is projected beyond half of the outer shell 2 toward the anti-component side opposite to the stabilizer S side. That is, the holding pieces 4b and 4c are in contact with each other 180 degrees on the opposite side of the outer shell 2 at the circumference, and the tip thereof extends beyond half of the outer shell 2 and protrudes to the opposite side when viewed from the facing piece 4a.

When the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 project beyond half of the outer shell 2 to the opposite side, as shown in FIG. 3, between the tip of the holding pieces 4b (4c) and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2. A gap G is formed. More specifically, since the outer shell 2 is cylindrical and the surface of the outer shell 2 opposite to the facing piece 4a side is curved in a direction away from the tip of the holding piece 4b (4c), the holding piece 4b, A gap G having a larger volume than that of a shock absorber provided with a conventional bracket is formed between the tip side and the outer shell 2 from the contact point of 4c with the outer shell 2.

The bracket 4 configured in this way is joined to the outer shell 2 by arc welding the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 along the axial direction of the outer shell 2. More specifically, in the bracket 4, the shock absorber main body 1 is laid sideways in a state where the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 is sandwiched between the holding pieces 4b and 4c, and the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c face upward and the facing pieces 4a face downward. It is welded in such a posture and joined to the outer shell 2.

Then, when the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 are arc-welded, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 are formed. Welded portions 11 and 12 made of weld beads in which the bracket 4, the outer shell 2, and the filler metal, which are the materials to be welded, are melted are formed between the two.

As described above, the gap G shown in FIG. 3 is formed between the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2. Further, since the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c are in contact with the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 in the middle to sandwich the outer shell 2, they are formed between the tips of the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2. The gap G does not lead to the facing piece 4a side of the outer shell 2. That is, a pocket is formed between the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2.

Therefore, when the bracket 4 and the outer shell 2 are arc-welded, even if the molten filler material enters the gap G described above, it does not pass through the gap G and fall downward, and the filler metal is held by the holding piece 4b. , 4c stays in place without dripping from between the tip of 4c and the outer circumference of the outer shell 2, and welded portions 11 and 12 can be formed between the two with a good bead in which the material to be welded and the filler metal are melted. .. It should be noted that the holding pieces 4b and 4c do not come into contact with each other, and even if there are some gaps between them, the filler metal must flow downward from the gap G through the gaps during welding. It's fine. Strictly speaking, the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2 do not have to be in contact with each other as long as the filler metal does not flow downward. Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the chamfered portion M may be provided at the opposite portions of the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c facing each other to adjust the volume of the gap G. The shape of the chamfered portion M can be arbitrarily changed, and may be, for example, a tapered surface or a curved surface.

As can be understood from the above, the shock absorber D of the present embodiment has a shock absorber main body 1 having a cylindrical outer shell 2 and a rod 3 movably inserted into the outer shell 2, and an outer shell. A pair of brackets 4 attached to the shell 2 by welding and connecting the outer shell 2 to the stabilizer (component) S of the vehicle, each extending toward the outer shell 2 side and sandwiching the outer shell 2 in the radial direction. The holding pieces 4b and 4c are provided, and the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c exceed half of the outer shell 2 when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell 2 and are directed toward the anti-component side which is the anti-stabilizer side. It protrudes and is attached to the outer periphery of the outer shell 2 by welding.

In the shock absorber D configured as described above, a pocket having a large volume capable of storing filler metal during welding can be formed in the gap G between the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the filler metal from dripping from between the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2. Therefore, according to the shock absorber D of the present embodiment, good welded portions 11 and 12 without welding defects can be formed between the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 and the outer periphery of the outer shell 2, and the bracket. 4 can be firmly joined to the outer shell 2. Further, the chamfered portion M may be provided at the opposite portions of the tips of the holding pieces 4b and 4c facing each other to adjust the volume of the pocket to optimize the joining strength.

If the length of the portion of each of the holding pieces 4b and 4c that protrudes beyond half of the outer shell 2 is too short, the volume of the pocket formed by the gap G becomes small and the filler metal overflows from the gap G. If the length of the portion that hangs down and protrudes beyond half of the outer shell 2 of each holding piece 4b, 4c is too long, the distance between the tip of each holding piece 4b, 4c and the outer circumference of the outer shell 2 May be too wide to form a good bead. Therefore, it is preferable to set the length t of the portion of each of the holding pieces 4b, 4c that protrudes beyond half of the outer shell 2 to a length of 1/15 or more and 1 / 7.5 or less of the diameter of the outer shell 2. That is, assuming that the diameter d of the outer shell 2 is set, the length t may be set so as to satisfy d / 15 ≦ t ≦ d / 7.5. With this setting, when the holding pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2 are joined by welding, the size of the gap G into which the filler metal enters is optimized, so that good welded portions 11 and 12 are formed. Then, the bracket 4 can be firmly joined to the outer shell 2 more effectively. The length t of the portion of each holding piece 4b, 4c that protrudes beyond half of the outer shell 2 is a length that deviates from the range of a length of 1/15 or more and 1 / 7.5 or less of the diameter of the outer shell 2. However, if the length t is set within the above range, good welded portions 11 and 12 can be surely obtained.

Further, in the shock absorber D of the present embodiment, the bracket 4 has the facing piece 4a facing the side portion of the outer shell 2 and the outer shell side from both ends of the facing piece 4a in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the outer shell 2. It is provided with a pair of holding pieces 4b and 4c extending to. According to the shock absorber D configured in this way, the bracket 4 can be manufactured by bending one plate material into a C shape, the material yield of the bracket 4 is improved, and the bracket 4 can be manufactured by simple processing, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced. can.

Further, in the shock absorber D of the present embodiment, the holding pieces 4b and 4c in the bracket 4 have a shape extending linearly from the facing pieces 4a in parallel with each other when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell 2. Therefore, the bracket 4 can be manufactured at low cost, and when the outer shell 2 is sandwiched between the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c, the gap G between the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c and the outer shell 2 does not become large or small. It is possible to prevent the situation where the bonding strength due to welding varies from product to product.

However, if the sandwiching pieces 4b and 4c can sandwich the side portion of the outer shell 2 and have a shape in which the tip end side faces each other in parallel with each other and extends linearly from the contact point in contact with the side portion of the outer shell 2. , The shape in the middle does not have to be a linear shape parallel to each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding pieces 4b and 4c in the bracket 4 may include portions 4b1 and 4c1 curved along the outer periphery of the outer shell 2. Even in this way, the portions 4b2 and 4c2 on the tip side of the contact point of the holding pieces 4b and 4c with respect to the side portion are parallel to each other and have a linear shape. A pocket into which the filler metal can enter can be provided in the gap G of the above, and the joint strength between the bracket 4 and the outer shell 2 can be improved.

As described above, the bracket 4 has a stabilizer S as a component of the vehicle and is suitable for connecting the shock absorber body 1 to the stabilizer S. However, the component of the vehicle other than the stabilizer S is the shock absorber body. It may be connected to 1. Therefore, for example, the component of the vehicle may be a knuckle that holds the wheels of the vehicle rotatably, or may be a component of a suspension that oscillates the wheels in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body. The shapes of the facing pieces 4a and the holding pieces 4b and 4c of the bracket 4 can be appropriately redesigned according to the components as long as the above-mentioned effects are not lost. Further, the length of the outer shell 2 at the tip of the holding pieces 4b and 4c in the axial direction can be appropriately changed in design according to the joint strength required by the specifications.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, they can be modified, modified, and modified as long as they do not deviate from the claims.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-194814 filed with the Japan Patent Office on November 25, 2020, and the entire contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (5)

1. It ’s a shock absorber,
   A shock absorber body having a cylindrical outer shell and a rod movably inserted into the outer shell,
   It is provided with a bracket that is welded to the outer shell and connects the outer shell to vehicle components.
   Each of the brackets has a pair of holding pieces extending toward the outer shell side and sandwiching the outer shell in the radial direction.
   The tip of each holding piece protrudes toward the anti-component side beyond half of the outer shell when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell, forms a gap with the outer shell, and forms a gap between the outer shell and the outer shell. A shock absorber attached to the outer circumference by welding.
2. The shock absorber according to claim 1.
   A shock absorber whose length of a portion of each holding piece protruding beyond half of the outer shell is set to a length of 1/15 or more and 1 / 7.5 or less of the diameter of the outer shell.
3. The shock absorber according to claim 1.
   The bracket has facing pieces facing the sides of the outer shell.
   Each of the holding pieces is a shock absorber extending from both ends of the facing piece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the outer shell toward the outer shell side.
4. The shock absorber according to claim 3.
   Each of the holding pieces is a shock absorber extending linearly from the facing pieces in parallel with each other when viewed from the axial direction of the outer shell.
5. The shock absorber according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
   The component is a shock absorber that is a stabilizer that suppresses the displacement of the left and right wheels in the vertical direction in the vehicle.

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