JP4075751B2 - Active stabilizer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle stabilizer, and more particularly to an active stabilizer device that variably controls the roll rigidity of a vehicle.

  As one of active stabilizer devices for vehicles such as automobiles, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, a pair of torsion bar portions that extend coaxially with each other and extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and a torsion bar portion A pair of arms connected to the outer end of the motor, an electric motor having a rotating shaft fixed to the inner end of one torsion bar portion and having a worm gear attached thereto, and meshed with the worm gear fixed to the inner end of the other torsion bar portion 2. Description of the Related Art An active stabilizer device that has a worm wheel that is configured to variably control the roll rigidity of a vehicle by driving a pair of torsion bar portions in opposite directions by driving an electric motor has been known. .

According to such an active stabilizer device, for example, when the left and right wheels bounce and rebound in the opposite phase due to turning of the vehicle, the motor is driven to rotate the pair of torsion bar portions in the opposite directions. Since the stabilizer device can variably control the spring force applied to the left and right wheels in a direction to suppress the bounce and rebound, the roll rigidity of the vehicle can be actively increased or decreased.
JP-A-2-270617 (pages 5-6, 4 and 5)

  However, in the above-described conventional active stabilizer device, depending on the setting of the pitch angle of the worm gear and the worm wheel, for example, the left and right wheels bounce and rebound in the opposite phase, so that the pair of torsion bar portions are in the opposite directions to each other. In order to prevent rotation of the worm gear and the worm wheel when the roll rigidity of the vehicle is not actively increased / decreased, a rotation prevention torque is applied. It is inevitable that the electric motor must be controlled and the stopper must be actuated so as to generate, and the control and apparatus become complicated and the energy consumption increases.

The present invention is configured to variably control the roll rigidity of a vehicle by driving a pair of torsion bar portions in opposite directions via a gear device by driving of an electric motor fixed to one torsion bar portion. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the conventional active stabilizer device, and the main problem of the present invention is that the pair of torsion bar portions are moved in opposite directions when the roll rigidity of the vehicle is not actively increased or decreased . A control or device for preventing the pair of torsion bar portions from rotating in the opposite directions by configuring the pair of torsion bar portions not to rotate in the opposite directions even when the torque to be rotated acts. Is to reduce energy consumption.

According to the present invention, the main problem described above is the structure of claim 1, ie, a pair of torsion bar portions that are coaxially aligned with each other and extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and connected to the outer end of the torsion bar portion. A pair of arm portions, an electric motor having a rotation shaft fixed to the inner end of one torsion bar portion and having a drive gear attached thereto, and a driven gear fixed to the inner end of the other torsion bar portion and meshed with the drive gear An active stabilizer device that variably controls the roll rigidity of the vehicle by rotating the pair of torsion bar portions in opposite directions by driving the electric motor, and the drive gear and the driven gear are While transmitting the rotation of the drive gear to the driven gear, Ri gear der not transmitted to the driving gear a rotation of the driven gear, the pair of torsion bars The drive gear and the driven gear even when torque acts to be rotated in opposite directions is not rotated in mesh with, are achieved by an active stabilizer apparatus characterized by not transmit rotation.

  According to the present invention, in order to effectively achieve the above-mentioned main problems, in the configuration of claim 1, the drive gear is a worm gear and the driven gear is a worm wheel. (Configuration of claim 2).

  According to the present invention, in order to effectively achieve the above main problems, in the configuration of claim 1 or 2, the inner ends of the pair of torsion bar portions are mutually connected via a bearing device. On the other hand, it is configured to support the other inner end so as to be relatively rotatable (configuration of claim 3).

  According to the present invention, in order to effectively achieve the main problems described above, in the configuration of the above-described third aspect, when the axial position of the pair of torsion bar portions is viewed, the bearing device is the drive It is comprised so that it may match | combine with the meshing part of a gearwheel and the said driven gearwheel (structure of Claim 4).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the active stabilizer device in which the pair of torsion bar portions are rotationally driven in the opposite directions via the drive gear and the driven gear by driving the electric motor, the drive gear and the driven gear are driven. transmits the rotation of the gear to the driven gear, but the gear der does not transmit the rotation of the driven gear to the drive gear is, the drive gear and also act torque to be rotated in opposite directions a pair of torsion bar portions Since the driven gear does not rotate in the meshing state and does not transmit the rotation, the pair of torsion bar portions are reliably driven to rotate in opposite directions via the driving gear and the driven gear by driving the electric motor. The rigidity can be controlled to increase / decrease reliably, and the pair of torsion bar parts can be moved in opposite directions by bounce and rebound of the wheels, for example. Even when torque acts to be rotation driving, and prevents the driving gear and the driven gear is not rotated in mesh with, a pair of torsion bar portions by not transmitting the rotation to rotate in opposite directions, thus In a situation where the roll rigidity of the vehicle is not actively controlled to increase or decrease, the control or device for preventing the pair of torsion bar portions from rotating in the reverse direction is unnecessary, and energy consumption can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the drive gear is a worm gear and the driven gear is a worm wheel, the rotation of the electric motor is decelerated and the drive torque is increased while the rotation of the worm gear as the drive gear is ensured. Transmission to the worm wheel as a driven gear and transmission of rotation of the driven gear to the worm gear can be reliably prevented.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the inner ends of the pair of torsion bar portions support the other inner end so that they can rotate relative to each other via the bearing device. Can be smoothly performed, and the meshing state of the drive gear and the driven gear can be always maintained in an appropriate meshing state.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the bearing device is aligned with the meshing portion of the drive gear and the driven gear when viewed in the axial position of the pair of torsion bar portions, the bearing device is aligned with the drive gear and the driven gear. Compared with the case where the meshing portion with the gear is not aligned, the twisting motion of the pair of torsion bar portions can be reduced, and the meshing state of the drive gear and the driven gear can be reliably maintained in an appropriate meshing state. The durability of the active stabilizer device can be improved.

[Preferred embodiment of problem solving means]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the axis of the drive gear and the meshing portion of the drive gear and the driven gear are based on the axis of the pair of torsion bar portions. It is comprised so that it may be spaced apart (Preferred aspect 1).

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the electric motor is controlled based on at least a torque acting on the torsion bar portion, and acts on the torsion bar portion. The torque to be detected is configured to be detected by a highly rigid torque sensor that is provided in the torsion bar portion and electromagnetically or electrically detects the torque (preferred aspect 2).

  According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of claim 1, the drive gear and the driven gear are configured to be hypoid gears (preferred mode 3).

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an active stabilizer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing an essential part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is an expanded partial sectional view which follows III.

  In these drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes an active stabilizer device as a whole, and the active stabilizer device 10 is a pair of torsion members extending coaxially with each other along an axis 12 extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle. It has bar portions 14L and 14R and a pair of arm portions 16L and 16R integrally connected to the outer ends of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, respectively. The torsion bar portions 14L and 14R are supported by a vehicle body not shown in the drawing via brackets 18L and 18R, respectively, so as to be rotatable around the axis 12.

  The arm portions 16L and 16R extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially perpendicularly to the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, respectively, and the outer cylinders of the rubber bushing devices 20L and 20R are fixed to the outer ends of the arm portions 16L and 16R, respectively. Has been. The outer ends of the arm portions 16L and 16R are connected to left and right wheel support members or suspension arms (not shown) via rubber bush devices 20L and 20R, respectively.

  In the illustrated embodiment, arms 22L and 22R extending substantially perpendicular to the axis 12 are integrally fixed to the inner ends of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, for example, by welding. The arm 22L supports the electric motor 24, and a worm gear 28 as a driving gear is fixed to the rotating shaft 26 of the electric motor 24. On the other hand, the arm 22R is substantially fan-shaped, and a worm wheel 30 as a driven gear meshing with the worm gear 28 is formed on the outer periphery of the outer end thereof.

  The axis 32 of the worm gear 28 extends along a plane perpendicular to the axis 12, and the worm wheel 30 extends around the axis 12. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the worm gear 28 has a drum shape and meshes with the worm wheel 30 over a plurality of pitches. On the other hand, the worm wheel 30 has a concave arc cross-sectional shape as seen in a cross section along the axis 12 as shown in FIG. 2 so as to mesh with the worm gear 28 over a predetermined arc range.

  The pitch angles of the teeth of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 are set so that the reverse efficiency is a value of 0 or less. Therefore, when the worm gear 28 is rotated by the electric motor 24, the rotation is transmitted to the worm wheel 30 and the arm Although 22L and 22R are pivoted in opposite directions around the axis 12, the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 are not affected by torque acting to pivot the arms 22L and 22R in opposite directions around the axis 12. It does not rotate by meshing, and no rotation is transmitted between them.

  Therefore, when the relative rotational torque around the axis 12 acts on the torsion bar portion 14L or 14R, the rotational torque of the torsion bar portion 14L or 14R is not increased unless the worm gear 28 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 24 being rotationally driven. 22R, the worm gear 28, and the worm wheel 30 are transmitted as they are to the other torsion bar portion.

  The worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 function as a reduction gear device (power booster), and the shaft line 32 of the worm gear 28 and the pitch circle 34 of the worm wheel 30, that is, the meshing portion of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 are provided in the torsion bar portion 14L. And the distance axis 12 larger than the radius of 14R, the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R can be reliably rotated relative to each other even if the electric motor 24 is not of high output.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the inner end of the torsion bar portion 14L is fitted into the boss portion 22RB of the arm 22R fixed to the inner end of the torsion bar portion 14R so as to be relatively rotatable around the axis 12 and the torsion bar portion. A journal bearing 36 that is aligned with the axis 12 is disposed between the small diameter portion at the tip of 14L and the boss 22RB, whereby the inner ends of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R are mutually connected to the axis 12 via the journal bearing 36. The other inner end is supported so as to be relatively rotatable around. As shown in FIG. 2, the journal bearing 36 is provided within the range of the meshing portion of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 when viewed from the position along the axis 12.

  Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the torsion bar portion 14L is provided with a torque sensor 38 for detecting torsional torque acting on the torsion bar portion 14L, and the electric motor 24 is based on at least the detection result of the torque sensor 38. It is controlled by an electronic control unit not shown in the figure. The torque sensor 38 may be a highly rigid torque sensor that detects torque electromagnetically or electrically, for example, a magnetostrictive torque sensor or a strain gauge, so as not to lower the rigidity of the torsion bar portion 14L. preferable. Further, the torque sensor 38 may be provided in any of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R.

  Since the active stabilizer device 10 is configured as described above, when the left and right wheels bounce and rebound in the same phase, no torsional stress acts on the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, and the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R And it rotates around the axis 12 in a state of being integrally connected by the worm wheel 30.

  On the other hand, when the left and right wheels bounce and rebound in the opposite phase, the arm portions 16L and 16R move around their inner ends as indicated by phantom lines 16LB, 16LR and 16RB, 16RR in FIG. And torsional stress acts on the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, and the active stabilizer device 10 exerts a spring force in a direction to suppress the bounce and rebound of the wheels. The roll of the vehicle is suppressed by generating.

  In this case, since the torsional stress in the reverse rotation direction acts on the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, when the motor 24 is driven so that the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R rotate relative to each other in the direction of the torsional stress, the active stabilizer device. The spring force in the direction 10 suppresses the bounce and rebound of the wheel is reduced, and the roll rigidity of the vehicle is reduced.

  Conversely, when the electric motor 24 is driven so that the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R rotate relative to the direction opposite to the direction of the torsional stress, the spring force in the direction in which the active stabilizer device 10 suppresses the bounce and rebound of the wheels increases. However, the roll rigidity of the vehicle increases.

  Thus, according to the illustrated embodiment, the worm gear 28 is driven by driving the motor 24 in accordance with the magnitude and direction of torque (torsional stress) detected by the torque sensor 38 when the left and right wheels bounce and rebound in opposite phases. The roll rigidity of the vehicle can be actively increased / decreased by rotationally driving.

The never rotated at between these by meshing the worm gear 28 and worm wheel 30 as long as the motor 24 is not driven is transmitted, the integrally connected state without torsion bar portions 14L and 14R are relatively rotated Therefore, when the roll rigidity of the vehicle is not actively increased or decreased, a rotational torque is applied to the worm gear 28 by the electric motor 24 to prevent relative rotation of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, or a stopper not shown in the figure is provided. Need not be actuated, thus eliminating the need for controls to prevent relative rotation of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R and devices such as sensors and stoppers to achieve that control, and Even if an abnormality occurs in the electric motor 24, the active stabilizer device 10 can be confirmed. It can function as a normal stabilizer to.

  In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the inner ends of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R support the other inner end so as to be rotatable relative to each other around the axis 12 via the journal bearing 36. And 14R can be smoothly rotated, and the meshing state of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 can always be maintained in an appropriate meshing state.

  Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, the journal bearing 36 is provided within the range of the meshing portion of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 when viewed from the position along the axis 12, so that the bearing device is viewed at the position along the axis 12. Compared to the case where the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 are out of the range of the meshing portion, the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R are reduced in the kink motion, and the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 are properly meshed. Thus, the active stabilizer device 10 can be improved in durability.

  Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, the worm gear 28 has a drum shape and meshes with the worm wheel 30 over a plurality of pitches, and the worm wheel 30 has a concave arc cross-sectional shape when viewed in a section along the axis 12. The worm gear 28 is engaged with the worm gear 28 over a predetermined arc range, so that the worm gear 28 is compared with the case where the worm gear 28 has a cylindrical shape or the section along the axis 12 of the worm wheel 30 is linear. The rotation and torque can be smoothly and reliably transmitted to the worm wheel 30.

  Further, according to the illustrated embodiment, torque acting on the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R, which is one piece of information for controlling the electric motor 24, is detected by the torque sensor 38, and the torque sensor 38 is electromagnetically or electrically. Since it is a highly rigid torque sensor that detects torque, it is possible to reliably prevent the rigidity of the torsion bar portion from being reduced due to the torque sensor 38 and insufficient roll rigidity during inactive control.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the drive gear is the worm gear 28 and the driven gear is the worm wheel 30, but the drive gear and the driven gear transmit the rotation of the drive gear to the driven gear. As long as the gear does not transmit to the drive gear, the drive gear and the driven gear may be any gear known in the art, such as a hypoid gear.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inner ends of the torsion bar portions 14L and 14R support the other inner end so as to be relatively rotatable around the axis 12 via the journal bearing 36. May be omitted.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the journal bearing 36 is provided within the range of the meshing portion of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30 when viewed along the axis 12, but the bearing device is the worm gear 28 and worm wheel 30. May be provided at a position shifted from the range of the meshing portion in the direction along the axis 12, and a pair of bearing devices may be provided on both sides of the meshing portion of the worm gear 28 and the worm wheel 30.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Example of the active stabilizer apparatus by this invention. It is an expanded partial sectional view which shows the principal part of the Example shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Active stabilizer apparatus 14L, 14R Torsion bar part 16L, 16R Arm part 20L, 20R Arm 24 Electric motor 28 Worm gear 30 Worm wheel 36 Journal bearing 38 Torque sensor

Claims (4)

A pair of torsion bar portions that are coaxially aligned with each other and extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle, a pair of arm portions connected to an outer end of the torsion bar portion, and an inner end of one torsion bar portion are fixed and driven An electric motor having a rotation shaft to which a gear is attached, and a driven gear that is fixed to the inner end of the other torsion bar portion and meshes with the drive gear, and the pair of torsion bar portions are opposite to each other by driving the electric motor. The driving gear and the driven gear transmit the rotation of the driving gear to the driven gear, and the rotation of the driven gear is rotated. Ri gear der not transmitted to the drive gear, the torque to be rotated the pair of torsion bar portions in the opposite direction to each other also act Serial drive gear and the driven gear is not rotated in mesh with the active stabilizer device characterized in that it does not transmit rotation.   2. The active stabilizer device according to claim 1, wherein the driving gear is a worm gear, and the driven gear is a worm wheel.   3. The active stabilizer device according to claim 1, wherein the inner ends of the pair of torsion bar portions support the other inner end so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to each other via a bearing device. 4. The active stabilizer device according to claim 3, wherein the bearing device is aligned with a meshing portion of the drive gear and the driven gear as viewed in the axial position of the pair of torsion bar portions. 5.

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