JP4438461B2 - Car suspension cross member - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technique of filling a foam material into a suspension cross member that supports a wheel of an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, a technique of filling a foam material into a member constituting a suspension cross member of an automobile (corresponding to a subframe of Patent Document 1) is known. According to this configuration, resonance that occurs with the vehicle body structure is prevented.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-90974

  By the way, when filling the foam material into the suspension cross member as in the prior art, considering the cost of the foam material itself and the manufacturing cost of filling the foam material, it is more than filling the foam material into all the members of the suspension cross member. However, it is desirable to fill the suspension cross member with a foam material at an appropriate position.

  In particular, the suspension cross member is relatively rigid in order to suppress transmission of vibrations from the wheels to the vehicle body structure to increase quietness, or to increase the rigidity of the suspension itself to ensure operability. The higher one is preferred, but on the other hand, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle, the suspension cross member is also required to absorb the impact caused by the collision and reduce the impact of the entire vehicle.

  However, conventionally, with respect to the suspension cross member, it has been impossible to improve the shock absorption at the time of collision while increasing the rigidity by filling the foamed material in place.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and its object is to provide a pair of left and right side member portions and a cross member portion, and a pair of left and right vertical members extending upward from these connecting portions. In the suspension cross member of the vehicle that supports the wheels, the foam cross section of the suspension cross member is provided with a foam filling portion filled with a foam material only in a predetermined portion of each side member portion. It is intended to reduce the impact by improving the shock absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member portion at the time of a vehicle collision while improving the maneuverability by improving the control.

In order to achieve such an object, in the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of side member portions extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the vehicle and a pair of side member portions extending in the vehicle width direction are provided. a cross member portion which connects the car both front end the Judges of the side member part of which extends upward from the connecting portion or the vicinity thereof between said side member part and the cross member portions, left and right vertical and member unit includes a, while being connected to the vehicle body frame at the upper end of the vehicle rear side end portion and each longitudinal member of each side member portions, automobile suspension for supporting a wheel via a lower arm of a suspension of in the cross member, the side member portions, respectively the cross member portion, and the above vertical member portion has an inner space extending along the extending direction of the respective portion, the rhino The connecting portion between the cross member portion of the member portion is juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so as to support the lower arm is provided with a front lower arm support portion and the rear lower arm support portions, the lower arm Are a lateral side portion extending from the front lower arm support portion toward the vehicle width direction outer side, and an inclined side extending from the rear lower arm support portion toward the vehicle front side toward the vehicle width direction and connected to the lateral side portion. is composed of a section, with a substantially a-shaped in plan view of the vehicle, which is configured to support rotatably a wheel of the vehicle at its vehicle width direction outer end, the side member section The foam filling portion formed by continuously filling the foam material across the internal space of the side member portion and the internal space of the cross member portion at the connecting portion with the cross member portion is the front side. Lower Ar And the support portion is formed so as to cover the vehicle width direction inner side, the portion where the rear lower arm support portion in the side member portion is formed, that the foam unfilled portion not filled with the foamed material are formed It is characterized by that.

  With such a configuration, the connection strength between the side member portion and the cross member portion connected to the vehicle body frame is increased by providing the foam material filling portion in the vicinity of the connection portion between the side member portion and the cross member portion. Accordingly, the rigidity of the suspension cross member in the vehicle width direction can be improved. In addition, by providing the foam member non-filling portion in the vicinity of the other end of the side member portion connected to the vehicle body frame, it is possible to improve the shock absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member portion at the time of the vehicle collision. Can be reduced reliably.

In addition, by providing a foam non-filling portion near the other end of the side member connected to the vehicle body frame, the impact absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member at the time of the vehicle collision is improved, and the impact at the time of the collision Can be reliably reduced.

According to a second aspect of the invention, characterized by comprising that the vehicle longitudinal direction deformation is provided an acceptable impact absorbing portion to the foam unfilled portion of Oite, the side member section to claim 1 .

  With such a configuration, the impact absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member portion can be further increased, and the impact can be more reliably reduced.

According to a third aspect of the invention, Oite in claim 1, and the foam-filled portion and the foam unfilled portion of the side member section, partitioning the inside of the side member section into a front side and a rear side It is characterized by being divided by reinforcing partition walls.

  With such a configuration, the foam filler can be easily filled into the foam filling portion by using the existing reinforcing partition wall, and therefore, it can be easily configured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the foam material filling portion of the connecting portion is provided on an extension line of the cross member at the connecting portion of the side member portion with the cross member portion. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the upper end portion of the vertical member portion is directly supported by the body frame, and the cross member portion extends from the upper end portion to the inside of the vertical member portion. A foam filling portion formed by filling a foam material is formed in a range reaching the connecting portion.

With such a configuration, the vertical member portion connected to the vehicle body frame and the vertical member portion connected to the vehicle body frame by providing the foam material filling portion in the vicinity of the connecting portion with the vertical member portion of the cross member portion and the vertical member portion thereof. While improving the strength of itself, it is possible to increase the connection strength between the vertical member and the cross member portion, and thereby the rigidity of the suspension cross member in the vehicle width direction can be improved.

The invention described in claim 6 further comprises an upper arm provided on the upper side of the lower member so as to be opposed to the lower arm so as to support the wheel, and the upper arm is provided at an upper end portion of the vertical member portion. An upper arm support part for supporting is provided.

  As described above, in the first invention according to the present invention, since the foam material filling portion is provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the side member portion and the cross member portion, the side member portion and the cross connected to the vehicle body frame are provided. The connection strength with the member portion is increased, whereby the rigidity of the suspension cross member in the vehicle width direction can be improved. In addition, by providing a foam non-filling portion in the vicinity of the other end of the side member portion connected to the vehicle body frame, the impact absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member portion at the time of the vehicle collision is increased, thereby Impact can be reliably reduced.

  Further, in the second invention according to the present invention, the foam member filling portion is provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the vertical member portion connected to the vehicle body frame and the vertical member portion of the cross member portion, thereby connecting to the vehicle body frame. It is possible to improve the rigidity of the suspension cross member in the vehicle width direction by improving the connection strength between the vertical member and the cross member portion while improving the strength of the vertical member portion itself. In addition, by providing a foam non-filling portion near the other end of the side member connected to the vehicle body frame, the impact absorption in the vehicle front-rear direction by the side member at the time of the vehicle collision is improved, and the impact at the time of the collision Can be reliably reduced.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the frame and member in each embodiment are made of steel.

  First, the overall configuration of the suspension cross member 1 on the vehicle front side according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suspension cross member 1 as viewed from the oblique front side to the rear side of the vehicle, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the suspension cross member 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the suspension cross member 1, and FIG.

  According to FIG. 1, the suspension cross member 1 includes a pair of side members 2, 2 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the vehicle, and vehicle front side end portions of the side members 2, 2 (claims). And a cross member 3 extending in the vehicle width direction. Further, corner portions (corresponding to the vertical member portions in the claims) 4, 4 extending upward from the connecting portions 3a, 3a where the side members 2, 2 and the cross member 3 are connected. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends of the corner portions 4 and 4 are part of the vehicle body frame that forms the front structure of the vehicle body by fastening bolts 5 a and 5 a through the corner mounting holes 5 and 5. Yes, fixed to the lower surfaces of a pair of left and right front side frames 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The side frame 6 is formed with an inclined portion 6a that gradually inclines downward as it is located on the rear side from the fastening position with the corner portion 4, and the rear end portions of the side members 2, 2. (Corresponding to the other end of the claims) is fixed to the lower surface on the lower side of the inclined portion 6a by fastening bolts 2b, 2b, etc. via the side member mounting holes 2a, 2a. .

  As a result, the suspension cross member 1 is firmly fixed to the front side frame 6.

  Upper arm support portions 7,... 7 are formed at the front and rear portions of the upper ends of the corner portions 4, 4, respectively, and each upper arm support portion 7,. As shown in FIG. 3, upper arms 8 and 8 directed outward from the vehicle are supported so as to be swingable in a predetermined direction via an elastic bush (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the side member portions 2, 2 are formed with lower arm support portions 9,... 9 at the front portion and the rear portion, respectively, and the lower arm support portions 9,. The lower arms 10 and 10 directed outward of the vehicle as suspension arms are supported so as to be swingable in a predetermined direction via elastic bushes (not shown) (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle outer side ends of the upper arms 8 and 8 and the lower arms 10 and 10 are connected to support members 11 and 11. The support members 11 and 11 have front wheels (not shown). The outer side is rotatably supported.

  The suspension in this embodiment is an A-type suspension in which the upper arms 8 and 8 and the lower arms 10 and 10 are substantially A-shaped when viewed from above, but the lower arms 10 and 10 include springs and dampers. Are connected to suspension shock absorbers 10a, 10a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the power unit 12 including the engine and a transmission installed adjacent to the engine is installed in the space between the side members 2 and 2 by the cross member 3. On the rear side, the lower part of the power unit 12 is installed so as to be separated from these members. Further, engine mount mounting holes 13 are formed on the upper surface of the side members 2 and 2 in the vicinity of the center in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the engine mounts 14 and 14 fixed to the left and right of the power unit 12 are These are fixed to the side members 2 and 2 by fastening bolts 13a and 13a to the engine mount mounting holes 13 and 13.

  Further, on the left and right sides of the cross member 3, steering shaft mounting portions 15 and 15 are formed on the front end surfaces with the mounting surfaces directed obliquely upward, respectively.

  A steering shaft 16 is attached to each attachment surface of the attachment portions 15, 15. Although not shown, the left and right ends of the steering shaft 16 are linked to the support members 11, 11. Although not shown, a steering gear mechanism portion including a rack and pinion mechanism is provided on the left side portion of the steering shaft 16 when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Indoor steering is connected. With such a configuration, the front wheel can be steered by a steering operation.

  Next, filling of the foam material into the suspension cross member 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.

  As the foamed material, a hard and high-strength foamed resin is used, and specifically, a resin such as polyurethane or epoxy having a foaming ratio of 3 times or less is used. The members such as the side members 2 and 2, the cross member 3, and the corners 4 and 4 are formed by combining, for example, two press-formed steel plates or using a known hydroforming method or the like. For this reason, a space is formed in the interior. Therefore, when the foam material is filled in such a space of each member, the rigidity of the member can be easily increased without greatly increasing the weight of the member. The filling operation of the foam material is performed by filling the member space with the foam material having a high viscosity through the filling hole for introducing the foam material formed on the outer diameter of the member, This is done by curing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, partition walls 17 and 17 for reinforcing the cross member 3 are formed on the left and right sides of the cross member 3, respectively, and the side members 2 and 2 are also reinforced to reinforce the side members 2 and 2. In addition, a partition wall 18 is formed.

  By filling a foaming material into a space between the cross member 3 and the side member 2 and surrounded by the partition wall 17 and the partition wall 18 of the side member 2, the connecting portion foam material filling portions 19 and 19 are formed. Has been. On the other hand, in the vicinity of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the cross member 3, an intermediate foam material non-filling portion 20 that does not fill the space with a foam material is formed, and a space (rear side) behind the partition wall 18 of the side member is formed. (Including the lower arm support portions 9 and 9), side member foam material non-filling portions 21 and 21 that do not fill the space with the foam material are formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the first embodiment, the foaming material is not filled in the internal spaces of the corner portions 3 and 3. (Equivalent to the foam filling portion of the vertical member portion described in the claims)
Next, operations and effects according to the first embodiment will be described.
With the configuration as described above, the connecting member foamed material filling portions 19 and 19 can increase the connection rigidity between the cross member 3 and the side member 2, and at this time, the rear ends of the side members 2 and 2 are front side frames. 6 and 6, the overall rigidity between the cross member 3 and the side members 2 and 2, mainly the rigidity in the vehicle width direction, can be improved, and at the same time, the quietness due to the vibration reduction of the suspension cross member 1 itself. Riding comfort can be improved.
In this case, in particular, the suspension device in the present embodiment is an A-type suspension in which the support members 11 and 11 (see FIG. 3) are located on the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction from the front lower arm support portions 9 and 9. The force in the vehicle width direction transmitted from the wheels during the turning of the vehicle is directly transmitted to the cross member 3 mainly through the front lower arm support portions 9 and 9. Therefore, by increasing the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 in the vehicle width direction by the cross member 3 and the side members 2 and 2 as in the present embodiment, the operability during turning can be further improved. Further, along with such increased rigidity, vibrations transmitted from the road surface via the lower arms 10 and 10 and the front lower arm support portions 9 and 9 can be further reduced by filling the foam material, and transmitted to the front side frames 6 and 6. Vibration can be further suppressed.

  In addition, the corner portions 4 and 4 supported by the front side frames 6 and 6 are also connected to the connecting portion foam material filling portions 19 and 19, and the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 can be further increased.

  On the other hand, the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 in the vehicle front-rear direction is not greatly increased by the side member foam material unfilled portions 21 and 21. Therefore, when the vehicle collides mainly in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the side member foamed material unfilled portions 21 and 21 can actively absorb the impact, and the impact at the time of the collision can be reduced.

  Further, the intermediate foam material non-filling portion 20 prevents the power unit 12 from being displaced rearward, which is the vehicle compartment side, mainly due to the contact between the cross member 3 and the power unit 12 at the time of a collision in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. it can.

  That is, at the time of a vehicle collision, the separation distance between the cross member 3 and the power unit 12 located on the rear side of the cross member 3 is shortened and brought into contact, and the power unit 12 is displaced rearward from the cross member 3 with respect to the power unit 12. Force to try to generate is generated. However, since the intermediate foam material unfilled portion 20 is not filled with the foam material, the intermediate portion foam material unfilled portion 20 is more easily deformed than the portion filled with the foam material. Due to the deformation at the time of contact with the power unit 12, the force for displacing the power unit 12 rearward can be reduced.

  In particular, according to the first embodiment, the side member foam material non-filling parts 21 and 21 are formed as described above, and the side member foam material non-filling parts 21 and 21 absorb the impact at the time of a vehicle collision. This may shorten the length in the front-rear direction. In such a case, since the power unit 12 is disposed between the side members 2 and 2, there is a possibility that a force for displacing the power unit 12 backward from the cross member 3 to the power unit 12 may be increased at the time of a collision. On the other hand, since this force can be reduced by installing the intermediate portion foamed material non-filling portion 20, the rear displacement of the power unit 12 can be positively prevented.

Further, since the steering shaft mounting portions 15 and 15 are provided not in the intermediate foam material filling portion 20 of the cross member 3 but in the portions filled with the foam material, that is, the connecting portion foam material filling portions 19 and 19. The rigidity of the shaft attaching portions 15 and 15 can be increased, and thereby the handling rigidity can be improved by increasing the support rigidity of the steering shaft 16. Further, with such a configuration, conventionally, a reinforcing partition wall is provided in the internal space of the cross member 3 in the vicinity of the steering shaft mounting portions 15 and 15 in order to increase the support rigidity by the steering shaft mounting portions 15 and 15. However, such a reinforcing partition can be eliminated.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the corners 4 and 4 are not filled with the foam material, but in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. Is filled.

  Even with such a configuration, the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 mainly in the vehicle width direction can be improved.

  That is, since the corners 4 and 4 are directly supported with respect to the front side frames 6 and 6, the corners 4 and 4 and the cross member 3 are filled with the foaming material, so that the corners 4 and 4 are filled. The overall rigidity of the members and the cross member 3, mainly the rigidity in the vehicle width direction, can be improved. As a result, the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 in the vehicle width direction can be increased, so that it is possible to improve the operability during turning.

  In addition to the increase in rigidity, the filling of the foam material can reduce vibration transmitted from the road surface via the lower arms 10 and 10 and the front lower arm support portions 9 and 9, and the front side frame via the corner portions 4 and 4 can be reduced. Such vibration transmitted to 6 and 6 can be suppressed.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, when the vehicle collides mainly in the vehicle front-rear direction, the impact at the time of the collision can be reduced by the side member foam material non-filling portions 21 and 21.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the power unit 12 from being displaced toward the passenger compartment side by the intermediate foam material unfilled portion 20.

Further, in the second embodiment, the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 in the vehicle width direction is also increased by the connecting portion foam material filling portions 19 and 19 as in the first embodiment, and further maneuverability, etc. It is possible to improve. However, in the second embodiment, since the rigidity of the suspension cross member 1 in the vehicle width direction is also increased by the corner portions 4 and 4, the connecting portion foam filling portions 19 and 19 as in the first embodiment. This is not necessary. For example, the filling material filling portion 19, 19 of the connecting portion foam material filling portions 19, 19 need not be filled with the foam material, and the cross member 3 portion may be filled only with the foam material.
(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the structure in which the intermediate foam material unfilled portion 20 is provided in the cross member 3 has been described. However, in the present invention, the cross member 3 in which the intermediate foam material unfilled portion 20 is not provided, That is, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the foam material is filled over the entire length of the cross member 3.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to improve the shock absorption by the side member foam material unfilled portions 21 and 21, beads 22 extended in the vehicle width direction on the side member foam material unfilled portions 21 and 21 are provided. .. 22 (corresponding to an impact absorbing portion described in claims) may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the power unit 12 is located on the rear side of the cross member 3 has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the case where the power unit 12 is located in the vicinity of the front side of the cross member 3. In this case as well, quietness can be ensured while improving maneuverability, and impact during a collision can be reduced.

  In each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which the suspension cross member supports the front wheel is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the suspension cross member having a member corresponding to the vertical member portion is provided in the rear. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration that supports a wheel, and has the same effect when rear-end collision occurs.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a suspension cross member 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic side view which shows the suspension cross member 1 grade | etc.,. The schematic front view which shows the suspension cross member 1 grade | etc.,. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a suspension cross member 1 and the like. AA sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. 2 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

1: Suspension cross member 2: Side member (side member part)
3: Cross member (cross member part)
4: Corner (vertical member)
6: Front side frame (part of body frame)
12: Power unit 15: Steering attachment part 19: Connecting part Foam filling part (foam filling part)
20: Middle part foam material non-filling part 21: Side member foam material non-filling part (foaming material non-filling part)
22: Bead (Shock absorber)

Claims (6)

A pair of side member portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the right and left of the vehicle, extends in the vehicle width direction, and the cross member portion which connects the car both front end the Judges of the pair of the side members unit, A pair of left and right vertical member portions extending upward from the connecting portion of the side member portion and the cross member portion or the vicinity thereof , and a vehicle rear side end portion of each side member portion and each vertical member portion. while being connected to the vehicle body frame at the upper end of the member portion, the vehicle suspension cross member for supporting the wheel through the lower arm of the suspension,
Each of the side member part, the cross member part, and the vertical member part has an internal space extending along the extending direction of each part,
The connecting portion between the cross member portion of the side member section, are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so as to support the lower arm is provided with a front lower arm support portion and the rear lower arm support portions,
The lower arm extends from the front lower arm support portion toward the vehicle width direction outer side, and extends from the rear lower arm support portion toward the vehicle front side toward the vehicle width direction and is connected to the horizontal side portion. It is composed of an inclined side part, and is substantially A-shaped in a plan view of the vehicle, and is configured to rotatably support the wheel of the vehicle at its outer end in the vehicle width direction.
In the side member portion, a foam material filling portion formed by continuously filling a foam material across the internal space of the side member portion and the internal space of the cross member portion at the connecting portion with the cross member portion. Is formed so as to cover the front lower arm support part from the inside in the vehicle width direction,
Above the portion where the rear lower arm support portion in the side member portion is formed, automobile suspension cross member, wherein Rukoto foam unfilled portion not filled with the foam material is formed. Claim 1 Symbol placement automobile suspension cross member member of, characterized in that the vehicle longitudinal direction deformation is provided an acceptable impact absorbing portion to the foam unfilled portion of the side member section. The foam filling portion and the foam non-filling portion of the side member portion are divided by a reinforcing partition that partitions the inside of the side member portion into a front side and a rear side. claim 1 Symbol placement automobile suspension cross member of. 2. The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein the foam filling portion of the connecting portion is provided on an extended line of the cross member portion at the connecting portion of the side member portion with the cross member portion. Cross member. The upper end of the vertical member is directly supported by the body frame,
The foam member filling portion formed by filling a foam material is formed in the vertical member portion in a range from an upper end portion thereof to a connecting portion with the cross member portion. Suspension cross member for automobile described in 1. An upper arm provided on the upper side of the lower arm to support the wheel;
6. The suspension cross member for an automobile according to claim 5, wherein an upper arm support portion for supporting the upper arm is provided at an upper end portion of the vertical member portion.

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