JP5949482B2 - Suspension beam and method of manufacturing suspension beam - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a suspension beam used in a vehicle suspension apparatus, and also relates to a method for manufacturing the suspension beam.

  As described in the following patent document, there is a suspension device of a type in which a beam holding wheels at both ends is attached to a vehicle body via a spring in a vehicle suspension device. In such a suspension device, if a wheel holding member that rotatably holds the wheel is attached to the beam, the subsequent alignment cannot be adjusted. Therefore, in the process of manufacturing the suspension device, the alignment is performed using some method. Adjustments are made. For example, in the suspension devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, the beam has a pair of mounting seats to which the wheel holding members are respectively attached at both ends of the beam. A spacer is interposed between the two so as to adjust the alignment. For example, before attaching a wheel holding member, the method of adjusting alignment by cutting the attachment surface of the wheel holding member in each of a pair of said mounting seats also exists.

JP 2002-274134 A JP 59-184064 A

  However, the suspension devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem that a separate member must be prepared like the spacer. In addition, as described above, when a pair of mounting seats is cut when manufacturing the beam, there is a problem that the cost for the cutting is relatively high. By addressing such a problem, it is considered that the practicality of a suspension apparatus including a suspension beam can be improved. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension beam that improves the practicality of the suspension device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a suspension beam that is highly practical.

In order to solve the above problems, this suspension beam is joined to (A) a cylindrical beam body and (B) both ends of the beam body with their backs facing each other, and the wheels can be rotated respectively. And a pair of generally plate-shaped mounting seats to which the wheel holding members are mounted. The beam main body has notches formed at both ends, and each of the pair of mounting seats. Are each joined to the inner peripheral surface of the beam body at the outer edge included in the inserted portion in a state where a portion including the outer edge of the beam body is fitted into the end of the beam body. To do.

  In addition, the suspension beam manufacturing method includes (I) (A) a cylindrical beam body with notches formed at both ends, and (B) a wheel holding member for rotatably holding a wheel. A part preparing step for preparing a pair of generally plate-like mounting seats, and (II) a pair of mounting seats with their backs facing each other, and a part of the pair of mounting seats being a beam body And (III) in the mounting seat adjustment step, each of the pair of mounting seats is replaced with the beam body in the mounting seat adjusting step. And a welding joining step of joining to the end of the beam main body by welding in a state in which the inclination with respect to the axis is adjusted.

  The suspension beam can easily adjust the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the axis of the beam body before joining the pair of mounting seats to the beam body. If this suspension beam is used, there is no need for a separate member such as the spacer described above, and there is no need to cut the mounting surface of the mounting seat, so it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing the suspension device. . By having such an advantage, the suspension device including the suspension beam is highly practical.

Aspects of the Invention

  In the following, some aspects of the invention that can be claimed in the present application (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “claimable invention”) will be exemplified and described. As with the claims, each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and is described in a form that cites the numbers of other sections as necessary. This is merely for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the claimable inventions, and is not intended to limit the combinations of the constituent elements constituting those inventions to those described in the following sections. In other words, the claimable invention should be construed in consideration of the description accompanying each section, the description of the embodiments, etc., and as long as the interpretation is followed, another aspect is added to the form of each section. In addition, an aspect in which some constituent elements are deleted from the aspect of each item can be an aspect of the claimable invention. Each of the following items (1) to (4) corresponds to each of claims 1 to 4.

(1) A suspension beam that connects the left and right wheels and is held by the vehicle body so as to be movable up and down.
A cylindrical beam body;
A pair of generally plate-shaped mounting seats that are respectively joined to both ends of the beam body with their backs to each other, and to each of which wheel holding members that rotatably hold the wheels are attached,
The beam body has a notch formed at each of both end portions,
Each of the pair of mounting seats is a suspension beam in which a part is fitted into and joined to an end of the beam body.

  The suspension device including the suspension beam described in this section is a so-called axle suspension device. That is, the suspension beam may be anything that connects the left and right wheels, such as a rigid axle or a torsion beam. Such an axle suspension device generally has a structure in which the alignment cannot be adjusted once the wheels are assembled. The suspension beam can be joined by adjusting the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the beam body using, for example, a notch of the beam body. By using this suspension beam in the suspension device, it is not necessary to perform a process of cutting the mounting surface of the mounting seat, which is relatively expensive, for alignment adjustment. Further, when attaching the wheel holding member to the attachment seat, there is no need for alignment adjusting parts such as spacers. Therefore, by using the suspension beam, it becomes easy to manufacture a suspension device including the suspension beam, and it is possible to reduce the cost for manufacturing the suspension device.

  The suspension beam described in this section has a configuration in which a part of the mounting seat is joined in a state of being fitted from the notch of the beam body, in other words, joined in a state in which the mounting seat extends from the notch of the beam body. It has been configured. In other words, the suspension beam according to the aspect of this aspect can adjust the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the beam body, with the notch serving as a fulcrum, before joining the mounting seat to the beam body. For example, the tread width can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the mounting seat in the axial direction with respect to the beam body.

  The “mounting seat” described in this section may have a shape such that a part thereof closes the end of the beam body. By adopting such a shape, it is possible to join along the outer edge of the portion of the mounting seat that fits into the beam body, with a part of the mounting seat in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the beam body. It is effective to secure

(2) The beam body is
The suspension according to item (1), wherein the notch is formed in a cylindrical shape so that an oblique half of the cross-sectional shape of the end portion is notched in a state where the notch is held by the vehicle body. For beam.

  In the aspect described in this section, the shape of the beam main body is limited to a cylindrical shape, and the position and size of the notch formed therein are limited. The "beam main body" described in this section is opened to either the upper side or the lower side in the radial direction by the notch while being held by the vehicle body, and is provided on either the front side or the rear side of the vehicle. It is an opening. In other words, the beam main body in this section is formed by cutting out any one of the front diagonal upper side, the front diagonal lower side, the rear diagonal upper side, and the rear diagonal lower side. In other words, according to the aspect of this section, the camber angle can be adjusted by adjusting the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the vertical line from the viewpoint from the front of the vehicle body, and the mounting in the front-rear direction can be performed from the viewpoint from above. The toe angle can be adjusted by adjusting the inclination of the seat.

(3) The beam body is
The vehicle suspension device according to (1) or (2), wherein a surface facing the end of the portion forming the notch is shaped to bulge toward the end.

  In the aspect described in this section, the shape of the notch of the beam body is limited. According to the aspect described in this section, in addition to joining the mounting seat to the beam main body along the outer periphery of the portion of the mounting seat fitted into the beam main body, at the place where the notch of the beam main body is formed. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently secure the bonding strength between the beam main body and the mounting seat. Note that the beam body described in this section may be one in which the central portion in the circumferential direction of the portion where the cutout is formed swells in an arc shape toward the end portion in plan view. By adopting such a shape, before joining the beam main body and the mounting seat, the mounting seat contacts with the point where the notch of the beam main body is formed, so that the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the beam main body is It can be easily adjusted.

(4) A method of manufacturing a suspension beam that connects left and right wheels and is held by a vehicle body so as to be movable up and down.
(A) A cylindrical beam body in which notches are formed at both ends, and (B) a pair of generally plate-like mounting seats to which wheel holding members for holding the wheels rotatably are prepared. Parts preparation process to
With the pair of mounting seats facing each other, a part of the pair of mounting seats is fitted into the end of the beam main body, and the inclination of the beam main body with respect to the axis is determined by a predetermined inclination. Mounting seat adjustment process to adjust to,
A step for adjusting the mounting seat, wherein the pair of mounting seats each include a welding joining step for joining each of the pair of mounting seats to an end portion of the beam body by welding in a state in which an inclination with respect to the axis of the beam body is adjusted Beam manufacturing method.

  The aspect described in this section is an aspect in which the above-described method for manufacturing a suspension beam is a category. As described above, the suspension beam described above can be adjusted in alignment by adjusting the inclination of the mounting seat with respect to the axis of the beam body before joining the beam body and the mounting seat. The suspension device including the suspension beam can be easily manufactured, and the cost for manufacturing the suspension device can be reduced.

It is a top view of the suspension apparatus for vehicles comprised including the beam for suspensions which is an Example of claimable invention. It is a figure which expands and shows the edge part of the beam for suspensions of an Example in the viewpoint from the vehicle rear. It is a side view of the beam for suspension of an example. It is a figure which expands and shows the edge part of the beam for suspensions of an Example in the viewpoint from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. It is a three-view figure of the beam for suspensions of the 1st modification. It is a three-view figure of the beam for suspensions of the 2nd modification. It is a three-view figure of the beam for suspensions of the 3rd modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments as modes for carrying out the claimable invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition to the following examples, the claimable invention is implemented in various modes including various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the mode described in the above [Mode of Invention]. can do. Moreover, it is also possible to constitute the modification of the following Example using the technical matter described in the description of each item of [Aspect of the Invention].

  FIG. 1 shows a vehicle suspension apparatus 20 including a suspension beam 10 according to a first embodiment of the claimable invention. In addition, the FIG. 1 is a figure in the viewpoint from the top, and one part is made into sectional drawing. The vehicle suspension apparatus 20 is a suspension apparatus of a type in which left and right wheels 22 that are non-drive wheels are connected by a suspension beam 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “beam 10”). It is a suspension device. Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the suspension device 20 is configured such that the beam 10 of this embodiment is supported by the vehicle body so as to be movable up and down, and the left and right wheels 22 are interlocked. A suspension spring and a shock absorber provided between the vehicle and the shock absorber reduce the impact caused by the input from the road surface and suppress the vibration of the vehicle body.

  The wheel 22 includes a wheel 30 and a tire 32. The wheel 30 is fastened to the axle hub 34 by a plurality of hub bolts and nuts 36, and the axle hub 34 is rotatably held by an axle carrier 38 as a wheel holding member, so that the wheel 22 is rotatable. The axle carrier 38 is fixed to the suspension beam 10 of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the beam 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. 2 is an enlarged view showing the end of the beam 10 from the viewpoint from the rear of the vehicle, FIG. 3 is a side view of the beam 10, and FIG. 4 shows the end of the beam 10 in FIG. It is a top view enlarged and shown in the viewpoint from the direction of the arrow shown. Since the beam 10 has a symmetrical shape, only the right end is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and will be described below. FIG. 4 exaggerates the shape of the constituent elements of the beam 10 so as to facilitate understanding.

  The beam 10 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical beam body 50 extending in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of end members 52 joined to both ends of the beam body 50 with their backs facing each other. Is done. The pair of end members 52 function as a pair of mounting seats, and each of the above-described axle carriers 38 corresponding to each of the left and right wheels 22 has four bolts 54 (two in FIG. 1). Only is shown, see FIG.

  The beam main body 50 is formed with notches 60 at both ends. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the notch 60 is formed by notching a generally oblique half on the upper front side in a state where the beam 10 of this embodiment is supported by the vehicle body. On the other hand, the end member 52 is a plate-like member, and a part thereof is a semicircular portion 62 formed in a semicircular shape having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the beam body 50. The semicircular portion 62 is fitted into and joined to the end of the beam body 50. More specifically, the end member 52 is joined by welding so that the outer periphery of the semicircular portion 62 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface at the end of the beam body 50. Further, the end member 52 is joined by welding so that the back surface thereof is in contact with the portion where the notch 60 of the beam body 50 is formed.

  A method for manufacturing the suspension beam 10 of this embodiment will be described. First, the beam body 50 and the pair of end members 52 formed as described above are prepared as components of the beam 10 of this embodiment (part preparation step).

  Next, each of the pair of end members 52 is attached to the prepared beam body 50. At that time, the inclination of each of the end members 52 with respect to the axis of the beam main body 50 is adjusted (attachment seat adjusting step). Specifically, in each of the pair of end members 52, the vertical inclination with respect to the axis of the beam main body 50 and the inclination in the front-rear direction are adjusted to the set inclination. Specifically, the vertical tilt with respect to the axis of the beam body 50 is adjusted so that the camber angle of the wheel 22 is set, and the tilt in the front-rear direction with respect to the axis of the beam main body 50 is adjusted to the toe of the wheel 22. The angle is adjusted to be the set angle.

  As described above, the notch 60 formed in the beam body 50 is generally a half of which is notched, so that the inclination of the end member 52 with respect to the axis of the beam body 50 can be set in any direction. It is possible to adjust easily. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the portion where the notch 60 of the beam body 50 is formed has a central portion in the circumferential direction that swells in an arc shape toward the end side. It is possible to easily change the inclination of the end member 52 with respect to the axis.

  Then, in a state where the inclination of the end member 52 with respect to the axis of the beam body 50 is adjusted, the beam body 50 and the end member 52 are joined by welding (welding joining process).

  The suspension device 20 using the suspension beam 10 manufactured as described above does not require a step of cutting the mounting surface of the end member 52 for alignment adjustment, and the end member 52 has an axle carrier. When attaching 38, there is no need for alignment adjustment parts such as spacers. Therefore, the suspension device 20 including the suspension beam 10 is easy to manufacture, and the cost for manufacturing the suspension device 20 is reduced.

  5 to 7 show three views of a suspension beam, which is a modification of the above embodiment. The suspension beam 100 of the first modification shown in FIG. 5 is characterized by the shape of the beam body 102. The beam main body 102 is provided with a notch 104 as in the case of the beam main body 50 of the above embodiment, but the upper half is generally notched. On the other hand, the lower half of the beam body 102 is folded back toward the center of the cross section to form a flange 106. Then, the end member 110 is fitted into the end of the beam main body 102, and the lower portion of the end member 110 formed in an arc shape comes into contact with the tip of the flange 106 of the beam main body 102, and The upper part is joined in a state of extending from the notch 104. The suspension beam 100 of this modification can be joined in a state in which the inclination of the end member 110 with respect to the axis of the beam main body 102 is adjusted, similarly to the suspension beam 10 of the above embodiment. In addition, the suspension beam 100 according to the first modified example has a flange 106 formed on the beam main body 102, and contacts the end member 110 at the tip of the flange 106, so that the end member 110 has an axis with respect to the axis of the beam main body 102. It is possible to easily change the inclination.

  In the suspension beam 130 of the second modified example shown in FIG. 6, the beam body 132 is not in a cylindrical shape but in a square pipe shape. The beam main body 132 has a notch 134 formed on one upper surface, and a flange 136 folded back toward the center of the cross section is formed on the remaining three surfaces in the same manner as in the first modification. Has been. Then, the end member 140 is fitted into the end of the beam main body 132 so that the lower part of the end member 140 is in contact with the flange 136 of the beam main body 132 and the upper part extends from the notch 134. It is joined in the extended state. That is, the suspension beam 120 of this modification can be joined to the beam body 132 in a state in which the inclination of the end member 140 with respect to the axis of the beam body 132 is adjusted, as in the first modification. Since the end of the formed flange 136 is in contact with the end member 140, the inclination of the end member 140 with respect to the axis of the beam main body 132 can be easily changed.

  The suspension beam 160 of the third modification shown in FIG. 7 has a beam main body 162 in the shape of a square pipe, like the suspension beam 130 of the second modification described above. The flange is not formed. In the suspension beam of the embodiment and the modification described above, the end member is joined in a state of protruding in the axial direction from the end portion of the beam body. However, the suspension beam 160 of the present modification is the end member 164. Are joined so as to fit inside the beam body 162 in the axial direction of the beam body 162. In the above embodiment and the two modifications, the end member 164 needs a certain thickness in order to weld along the side surface of the end member 164. However, in the suspension beam 160 of this modification, It is not necessary to thicken the end member 164 in order to weld on the surface of the end member 164. Further, since the suspension beam 160 of this modification is joined in a state in which the end member 164 fits inside the beam main body 162, these members can have a relatively simple shape and have a simple configuration. A suspension beam is realized.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Beam for suspension 20: Suspension apparatus for vehicles 22: Wheel 30: Wheel 32: Tire 34: Axle hub 38: Axle carrier [Wheel holding member] 50: Beam main body 52: One pair of end members [One pair of mounting seats] 60: Notch 100: Suspension beam 102: Beam body 104: Notch 106: Flange 110: 1 pair of end members [1 pair of mounting seats] 130: Suspension beam 132: Beam body 134: Notch 136: Flange 140: 1 Pair of end members [one pair of mounting seats] 160: beam for suspension 162: beam body 164: one pair of end members [one pair of mounting seats]

Claims (4)

A suspension beam that connects the left and right wheels and is held by the vehicle body so as to be movable up and down,
A cylindrical beam body;
A pair of generally plate-shaped mounting seats that are respectively joined to both ends of the beam body with their backs to each other, and to each of which wheel holding members that rotatably hold the wheels are attached,
The beam body has a notch formed at each of both end portions,
Each of the pair of mounting seats has a portion including its outer edge fitted in an end portion of the beam body, and at least a part of the outer edge included in the fitted portion of the beam body. A suspension beam joined to the inner surface . The beam body is
Cylindrical , and having the notch, it has a shape in which half of each end of its own on one circumference is notched, and in the state where itself is held by the vehicle body, by the notch, The suspension beam according to claim 1, wherein the suspension beam is opened on either the upper side or the lower side and is opened on either the front side or the rear side of the vehicle . The beam body is
3. A portion formed by the notch at each of both end portions is formed such that a middle portion in the circumferential direction swells toward the mounting seat from portions on both sides of the middle portion. The suspension beam described in 1. A method of manufacturing a suspension beam that connects left and right wheels and is held by a vehicle body so as to be movable up and down.
(A) A cylindrical beam body in which notches are formed at both ends, and (B) a pair of generally plate-like mounting seats to which wheel holding members for holding the wheels rotatably are prepared. Parts preparation process to
With the pair of mounting seats facing each other, a part of the pair of mounting seats is fitted into the end of the beam main body, and the inclination of the beam main body with respect to the axis is determined by a predetermined inclination. Mounting seat adjustment process to adjust to,
A step for adjusting the mounting seat, wherein the pair of mounting seats each include a welding joining step for joining each of the pair of mounting seats to an end portion of the beam body by welding in a state in which an inclination with respect to the axis of the beam body is adjusted Beam manufacturing method.

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