JPH0154201B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the structure of a suspension arm of a trailing or semi-trailing type independent rear suspension of an automobile.

Examples of conventional suspension arms include those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. (for example,
See Volume 11 of Automotive Engineering, published by Sankaido on August 20, 1980. ) The upper suspension arm 1a shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is formed by pressing a single plate into a generally Y-shape, and each section is bent into a roughly U-shape to increase rigidity. There is. On the lower side of the upper suspension arm 1a, a lower suspension arm 1b having a substantially similar shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is welded upside down, and after welding, the suspension arm has a substantially rectangular cross section. is configured. Separate members (not shown) are welded to each end of the suspension arm having such a shape, and when the assembly is completed, the point indicated by reference numeral G in the figure is the inner pivot point (the point where the suspension arm can swing freely on the vehicle body). The point indicated by symbol H is the outer pivot point (a similar pivot point).
Further, the point indicated by the symbol A is the wheel center point (the center point of the wheel rotatably supported by the suspension arm).

However, in such a conventional suspension arm, the same suspension arm is used for the left and right suspensions because it is vertically asymmetrical with respect to the arm reference plane B that includes points A, G, and H in the same plane. (i.e., the same suspension arm cannot be used upside down or upside down for the left and right suspensions, respectively); instead, separate suspension arms (one for the left and right suspensions) must be used for the left and right suspensions. However, there was a problem in that this required extra costs such as press processing costs, welding processing costs, and parts processing costs, which increased the price.

The present invention was made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems in conventional suspension arms, and aims to solve the above-mentioned problems by making the suspension arm vertically symmetrical with respect to the arm reference plane. There is.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 8 to 14 of the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof.

The suspension arm 10 according to the present invention includes an inner arm member 10a and an outer arm member 10b.
and a reinforcing member 10c. The arm inner member 10a and the arm outer member 10b (see FIGS. 12 and 13) each having a U-shaped cross section have a shape as shown in FIG. The end portions are brought into contact with each other for a predetermined length and arc welded (see FIG. 9) to form a single body, thereby creating a substantially Y-shaped shape. The reinforcing member 10c has a shape as shown in FIG. 14, and has a bent portion 10 (with respect to both members) at a portion where the welded arm inner member 10a and arm outer member 10b are separated into two parts.
C' and 10C'' are attached by spot welding.Another member (not shown) is welded to each end of the suspension arm 10, and when the assembly is completed, it is designated by the symbol G. The point indicated by the symbol H is the inner pivot point, the point indicated by the symbol H is the outer pivot point, and the point indicated by the symbol A is the wheel center point.
The suspension arm 10 is vertically symmetrical with respect to the arm reference plane B that includes the points G, G, and H in the same plane. (meaning vertical symmetry with respect to B). Although not shown, coil spring seats and the like are attached to predetermined positions on the suspension arm 10 depending on whether the suspension arm is for the left side or for the right side.

Next, the effect will be explained. In the state shown in FIG. 8, the suspension arm 10 is used for the left suspension in the direction of vehicle travel, and when the state shown in FIG. 8 is reversed, it is used for the right suspension. Since the suspension arm 10 is vertically symmetrical with respect to the arm reference plane B, the suspension arm 10 before and after the vertical inversion are mirror images of each other, and it is obvious that this can be applied to left and right suspensions. It is clear that the suspension arms 10 assembled to the left and right suspensions operate in the same manner as conventional suspension arms.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the suspension arm has a structure that is vertically symmetrical with respect to the arm reference plane including the pivot point and the wheel center point, so that the same suspension arm is used for the left and right suspensions. Compared to the case where separate parts were used, press molds, welding jigs, etc. can be unified, reducing costs, and the cost required for parts management. This results in the effect that the price of the entire suspension arm can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a conventional upper suspension arm, Fig. 2 is a right side view of the upper suspension arm shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view of the upper suspension arm shown in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow. Figure 4
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the upper suspension arm shown in FIG. 1 taken along line -, FIG.
6 is a front view of the conventional lower suspension arm, FIG. 7 is a right side view of the lower suspension arm shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a front view of the suspension arm according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the lower suspension arm according to the present invention. Figure 8 is a view of the suspension arm shown in the arrow direction, Figure 10 is a right side view of the suspension arm shown in Figure 8, and Figure 11 is the suspension arm shown in Figure 8 taken along line XI-XI. 12 is a cross-sectional view along the 8th
13 is a cross-sectional view of the suspension arm shown in FIG. 8 taken along line -XII, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the reinforcing member. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Suspension arm, 10a... Arm inner member, 10b... Arm outer member, 10c... Reinforcement member, A... Wheel center point, B... Arm reference plane, G... Inner pivot point, H... Outer pivot point.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a suspension arm of an independent rear suspension that is swingably supported with respect to the vehicle body at a plurality of pivot points and rotatably supports a wheel at one end, the suspension arm of the independent rear suspension is A suspension arm characterized by having a vertically symmetrical structure with respect to an arm reference plane including points in the same plane.