An integrated suspension and drive axle structure

Abstract

This invention relates to an integrated suspension and drive axle structure, comprising a connecting plate, a drive axle, and a suspension system. The suspension system includes an upper control arm assembly and a lower control arm assembly. The connecting plate includes a left connecting plate and a right connecting plate, which are respectively disposed on the inner side of the vehicle frame. The upper control arm assembly and the lower control arm assembly are respectively disposed on the outer side of the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate. The drive axle is disposed between the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate. Both the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate are provided with limiting bosses. By connecting the suspension system and the drive axle to the vehicle frame through the connecting plate, an integrated structure is achieved, optimizing the structure of the suspension system and the drive axle. The connection structure is simpler and more compact, and with reduced space, it can achieve better rigidity and strength performance, meeting the reliability and off-road mobility requirements of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle suspension and axle technology, and in particular to an integrated suspension and drive axle structure. Background Technology

[0002] The suspension is one of the most important assemblies of a vehicle. By elastically connecting the body and wheels, it constrains the movement of the wheels and transmits the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral reaction forces exerted on the wheels by the ground, as well as the torques caused by these reaction forces, to the chassis. It buffers and dampens the dynamic loads of various reaction forces and torques on the ground, directly affecting the vehicle's maneuverability, ride comfort, and handling stability.

[0003] To improve the overall mobility of the vehicle, heavy-duty off-road vehicles use independent suspension and disconnectable drive axles. Typically, in a vehicle chassis, the suspension and frame are treated as two independent parts. In particular, the connection between the suspension and frame, and between the drive axle's main reducer and frame, is also treated as two independent parts. This results in a non-compact overall structure, occupies a large amount of space, and even poses a risk of over-alignment. Furthermore, the space layout issues lead to longer assembly and maintenance times. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing an integrated suspension and drive axle structure. The suspension system and drive axle are connected to the vehicle frame via a connecting plate to achieve an integrated structure, optimizing the structure of the suspension system and drive axle. The connection structure is simpler and more compact, and with reduced space, it can achieve better rigidity and strength performance, meeting the reliability and off-road mobility requirements of the vehicle.

[0005] This invention is achieved using the following technical solution:

[0006] An integrated suspension and drive axle structure includes a connecting plate, a drive axle, and a suspension system. The suspension system includes an upper control arm assembly and a lower control arm assembly. The connecting plate includes a left connecting plate and a right connecting plate, which are respectively disposed on the inner side of the vehicle frame. The upper control arm assembly and the lower control arm assembly are respectively disposed on the outer side of the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate. The drive axle is disposed between the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate. Both the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate are provided with limiting bosses.

[0007] Preferably, the drive axle includes a main reduction axle housing, and both the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate are provided with L-shaped plates at their upper ends. The L-shaped plates are provided with connecting holes, and bolts pass through the connecting holes to connect the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate to the vehicle frame.

[0008] The lower end of the L-shaped plate is provided with a mounting plate. The mounting plate is provided with an upper cross arm mounting hole and a main reducer mounting hole. The upper cross arm mounting hole is provided with an upper cross arm support. The upper cross arm support is connected to the upper cross arm assembly. Bolts pass through the main reducer mounting hole to place the main reducer axle housing between the left connecting plate and the right connecting plate.

[0009] The mounting plate has a fixing plate at its lower end, and the fixing plate has an elongated hole through which the wheel-side drive shaft passes and is connected to the main reduction axle housing.

[0010] Preferably, the lower end of the fixing plate is further provided with lower crossarm mounting holes and lower crossarm mounting blocks on both sides, and the lower crossarm mounting blocks are provided with through holes.

[0011] The lower crossarm assembly is located between the lower crossarm mounting hole and the lower crossarm mounting block. One end of the pin passes through the through hole and the lower crossarm assembly, and extends into the lower crossarm mounting hole to connect the lower crossarm assembly to the connecting plate.

[0012] Preferably, the lower crossarm mounting block has limiting bosses at both ends on the outer side, and the limiting bosses are located on both sides of the through hole. The limiting bosses are provided with limiting cover plates, and the limiting cover plates are connected to the limiting bosses by bolts. The pin passes through the through hole into the lower crossarm assembly and connects to the connecting plate, and is limited by the cooperation of the limiting bosses and the limiting cover plates.

[0013] Preferably, the frame includes longitudinal beams and crossbeams, the longitudinal beams include a left longitudinal beam and a right longitudinal beam, and the left longitudinal beam and the right longitudinal beam are connected by the crossbeams.

[0014] Preferably, the longitudinal beam is a rectangular cross-section straight longitudinal beam, and the transverse beam is a tubular transverse beam.

[0015] Preferably, the main reduction axle housing is provided with a main reducer and a wheel-side transmission device, one end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected to the main reducer, and the other end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected to the wheel-side transmission shaft.

[0016] Preferably, the suspension system includes a front suspension system and a rear suspension system, and both the front suspension system and the rear suspension system include an upper control arm assembly and a lower control arm assembly.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0018] 1. This invention integrates the suspension system and drive axle into a single design, connecting the main reduction axle housing with the left and right connecting plates. The structure is compact and can achieve system lightweighting while ensuring the load-bearing capacity of the suspension system meets the requirements. Furthermore, it has good overall flexibility and strong load-bearing capacity, which can meet the needs of off-road heavy loads and various harsh off-road conditions.

[0019] 2. By assembling the drive axle and suspension system separately before connecting them to the chassis, the risk of over-alignment is reduced, and the assembly difficulty of the vehicle is lowered;

[0020] 3. The front and rear suspension systems have the same structure, realizing the modular design of the suspension system and drive axle, improving the commonality rate of the suspension system, reducing the development cycle, effectively reducing costs, and having good application prospects and market value. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the left connecting plate in this invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the left connecting plate and the lower cross arm assembly in this invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the main reduction gear axle housing in this invention.

[0025] Attached image captions:

[0026] 1. Connecting plate; 11. Left connecting plate; 12. Right connecting plate; 13. Upper crossarm mounting hole; 14. Lower crossarm mounting hole; 15. Oblong hole; 16. Limiting boss; 17. Lower crossarm mounting block; 18. Connecting hole; 19. Main reducer mounting hole; 2. Main reducer housing; 3. Upper crossarm assembly; 4. Lower crossarm assembly; 5. Upper crossarm support; 6. Frame; 61. Crossbeam; 62. Left longitudinal beam; 63. Right longitudinal beam; 7. Pin; 8. Limiting cover plate. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this invention, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0028] like Figures 1-4As shown, an integrated suspension and drive axle structure includes a connecting plate 1, a drive axle, and a suspension system. The suspension system includes an upper control arm assembly 3 and a lower control arm assembly 4. The connecting plate 1 includes a left connecting plate 11 and a right connecting plate 12, which are respectively disposed on the inner side of the frame 6. The upper control arm assembly 3 and the lower control arm assembly 4 are respectively disposed on the outer side of the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12. The drive axle is disposed between the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12. Both the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12 are provided with limiting bosses 16.

[0029] The suspension system and drive axle are integrated through connecting plate 1, which connects the main reduction axle housing 2 to the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12. The structure is compact and can achieve system weight reduction while ensuring that the load-bearing capacity of the suspension system meets the requirements. In addition, it has good overall flexibility and strong load-bearing capacity, which can meet the needs of off-road heavy load and various harsh off-road conditions.

[0030] The drive axle includes a main reduction axle housing 2, and L-shaped plates are provided on the upper ends of the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12. The L-shaped plates are provided with connecting holes 18. Bolts pass through the connecting holes 18 to connect the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12 to the frame 6.

[0031] The lower end of the L-shaped plate is provided with a mounting plate. The mounting plate is provided with an upper cross arm mounting hole 13 and a main reducer mounting hole 19. The upper cross arm mounting hole 13 is provided with an upper cross arm support 5. The upper cross arm support 5 is connected to the upper cross arm assembly 3. The bolt passes through the main reducer mounting hole 19 and places the main reducer axle housing 2 between the left connecting plate 11 and the right connecting plate 12.

[0032] The mounting plate has a fixing plate at the lower end, and the fixing plate has an elongated hole 15. The wheel-side drive shaft passes through the elongated hole 15 and is connected to the main reduction axle housing 2.

[0033] The lower end of the fixing plate is also provided with lower crossarm mounting holes 14 and lower crossarm mounting blocks 17 on both sides. The lower crossarm mounting blocks 17 are provided with through holes.

[0034] The lower crossarm assembly 4 is located between the lower crossarm mounting hole 14 and the lower crossarm mounting block 17. One end of the pin 7 passes through the through hole and the lower crossarm assembly 4, and extends into the lower crossarm mounting hole 14 to connect the lower crossarm assembly 4 to the connecting plate 1.

[0035] The lower crossarm mounting block 17 has limiting bosses 16 at both ends on the outer side, and the limiting bosses 16 are located on both sides of the through hole. The limiting bosses 16 are provided with limiting cover plates 8, and the limiting cover plates 8 and the limiting bosses 16 are connected by bolts. The pin shaft 7 passes through the through hole and enters the lower crossarm assembly 4 to connect with the connecting plate 1, and is limited by the cooperation of the limiting bosses 16 and the limiting cover plates 8.

[0036] The lower crossarm assembly 4 is mounted between the lower crossarm mounting hole 14 and the lower crossarm mounting block 17 of the connecting plate 1 via a pin 7. The lower crossarm mounting block 17 is provided with a limiting boss 16, and a limiting cover plate 8 is provided on the limiting boss 16. The limiting cover plate 8 can restrict the axial movement of the pin 7. The limiting boss 16 and the limiting cover plate 8 restrict the relative movement between the pin 7 and the connecting plate 1. The lower crossarm assembly 4 rotates around the pin 7.

[0037] The frame 6 includes longitudinal beams and crossbeams 61. The longitudinal beams include a left longitudinal beam 62 and a right longitudinal beam 63, which are connected by the crossbeams 61.

[0038] The longitudinal beams are rectangular cross-section straight beams, and the transverse beam 61 is a tubular transverse beam.

[0039] The structure of rectangular cross-section longitudinal beams and tubular cross beams improves the torsional deformation of the frame when driving on off-road terrain, significantly reduces the torsional load on the superstructure, and forms the basis for achieving a large travel of the suspension system, effectively improving the smoothness of the vehicle's off-road driving.

[0040] The main reduction axle housing 2 is equipped with a main reducer and a wheel-side transmission device. One end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected to the main reducer, and the other end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected to the wheel-side transmission shaft.

[0041] The suspension system includes a front suspension system and a rear suspension system, both of which include an upper control arm assembly 3 and a lower control arm assembly 4.

Claims

1. An integrated suspension and drive axle structure, characterized by, The application relates to a one-piece suspension and drive axle structure, which comprises a connecting plate (1), a drive axle and a suspension system, the suspension system comprising an upper transverse arm assembly (3) and a lower transverse arm assembly (4), the connecting plate (1) comprising a left connecting plate (11) and a right connecting plate (12), the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12) being respectively arranged on the inner sides of a frame (6), the upper transverse arm assembly (3) and the lower transverse arm assembly (4) being respectively arranged on the outer sides of the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12), the drive axle being arranged between the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12), and the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12) each being provided with a limiting boss (16). The drive axle comprises a main reduction axle housing (2), the upper ends of the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12) are each provided with an L-shaped plate, the L-shaped plate is provided with a connecting hole (18), a bolt passes through the connecting hole (18) to connect the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12) with the frame (6). The lower end of the L-shaped plate is provided with a mounting plate, the mounting plate is provided with an upper transverse arm mounting hole (13) and a main reducer mounting hole (19), the upper transverse arm mounting hole (13) is provided with an upper transverse arm support (5), the upper transverse arm support (5) is connected with the upper transverse arm assembly (3), a bolt passes through the main reducer mounting hole (19) to arrange the main reduction axle housing (2) between the left connecting plate (11) and the right connecting plate (12). The lower end of the mounting plate is provided with a fixing plate, the fixing plate is provided with an oblong hole (15), a wheel-side transmission shaft passes through the oblong hole (15) to be connected with the main reduction axle housing (2). The lower end of the fixing plate is further provided with a lower transverse arm mounting hole (14) and a lower transverse arm mounting block (17) on both sides, the lower transverse arm mounting block (17) is provided with a through hole, The lower transverse arm assembly (4) is arranged between the lower transverse arm mounting hole (14) and the lower transverse arm mounting block (17), one end of a pin shaft (7) passes through the through hole and the lower transverse arm assembly (4) to extend into the lower transverse arm mounting hole (14) to connect the lower transverse arm assembly (4) with the connecting plate (1).

2. The one-piece suspension and drive axle structure according to claim 1, wherein The outer ends of the lower transverse arm mounting block (17) are provided with the limiting boss (16), the limiting boss (16) is located on both sides of the through hole, the limiting boss (16) is provided with a limiting cover plate (8), the limiting cover plate (8) is connected with the limiting boss (16) through a bolt; the pin shaft (7) connects the lower transverse arm assembly (4) with the connecting plate (1) through the through hole and is limited through cooperation of the limiting boss (16) and the limiting cover plate (8).

3. The integral suspension and drive axle structure of claim 1 wherein, The frame (6) comprises longitudinal beams and a cross beam (61), the longitudinal beams comprise a left longitudinal beam (62) and a right longitudinal beam (63), and the left longitudinal beam (62) and the right longitudinal beam (63) are connected through the cross beam (61).

4. The integral suspension and drive axle structure of claim 3 wherein, The longitudinal beams are rectangular-section straight longitudinal beams, and the cross beam (61) is a tubular cross beam.

5. The integral suspension and drive axle structure of claim 1 wherein, The main reduction axle housing (2) is internally provided with a main reducer and a wheel-side transmission device, one end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected with the main reducer, and the other end of the wheel-side transmission device is connected with the wheel-side transmission shaft.

6. The integral suspension and drive axle structure of claim 1 wherein, The suspension system comprises a front suspension system and a rear suspension system, and the front suspension system and the rear suspension system both comprise an upper transverse arm assembly (3) and a lower transverse arm assembly (4).

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