Strut bearing

Abstract

Provided is a strut bearing that can reduce the overall height of a vehicle when a suspension strut is attached to the vehicle. The strut bearing includes an upper seat, a lower seat, and a rolling bearing disposed between the upper seat and the lower seat. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. One of the inner ring and the outer ring is attached to the upper seat, and the other of the inner ring and the outer ring is attached to the lower seat. The insert and the spacer are attached to the lower seat. The insert has a first surface attached to the lower seat. The spacer is attached to the second surface of the insert with an attachment surface provided on the spacer. Thus, at least a portion of the spacer is directly attached to the insert.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a strut bearing, in particular of the McPherson type ("McPherson Strut Bearing Unit" or MSBU), for attachment to a suspension strut on a vehicle. The field of the invention is suspension systems, in particular automotive suspension systems. Background Art

[0002] The automotive suspension system includes a suspension strut that supports the axle and wheel. The strut bearing is arranged in the upper portion of the suspension strut opposite the wheel and the ground, and between the upper support block attached to the vehicle chassis and the suspension spring.

[0003] The suspension strut bearing device includes at least one bearing (such as a rolling bearing) including an upper seat ( / bearing seat / housing) and a lower seat that rotate relative to each other around a main axis.

[0004] exist Figure 1 The conventional support bearing is shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, conventional support bearing 900 includes an upper seat 921 and a lower seat 922. A rolling bearing 910 is disposed between upper seat 921 and lower seat 922. Rolling bearing 910 includes an inner race (inner ring) 911 attached to upper seat 921 and an outer race (outer ring) 912 attached to lower seat 922. Balls serving as rolling elements (rolling bodies) 913 are disposed between inner race 911 and outer race 912. Furthermore, particularly when rolling bearing 910 is an angular type, a cage 914 is provided to retain rolling elements 913.

[0005] The upper seat 921 and the lower seat 922 can rotate relative to a damper rod 902 serving as a main shaft using a rolling bearing 910 .

[0006] The lower seat 922 includes an insert (metal insert) 930 to increase rigidity.

[0007] In addition, the lower seat 922 has a portion that contacts the spring 901 , and this portion has an isolator 940 made of an elastic material set thereon.

[0008] The insert 930 is formed integrally with the lower seat 922 by injection molding. To this end, the insert 930 is embedded in the lower seat 922.

[0009] The spacer 940 is overmolded and positioned on the lower seat 922 .

[0010] The insert 930 is disposed in the lower seat 922. To this end, when the spacer 940 is overmolded on the lower seat 922, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, an attachment wall 923 that is part of the lower seat 922 is interposed between the spacer 940 and the insert 930 .

[0011] Citation List

[0012] Patent Literature

[0013] Patent Document 1: U.S. Patent No. 11,491,839

[0014] Patent Document 2: U.S. Patent No. 10,753,389

[0015] Patent Document 3: U.S. Patent No. 11,370,260

[0016] In recent years, the demand for lower vehicle profiles has created a demand for lower vehicle bonnet heights.

[0017] Here, when attaching the suspension stay to the vehicle, it is necessary to ensure a certain width between the upper portion of the suspension stay and the bonnet surface of the vehicle from the viewpoint of safety.

[0018] Therefore, the suspension struts may become an obstacle to achieving a lower vehicle profile.

[0019] In order to achieve a lower vehicle profile while ensuring a certain width between the upper portion of the suspension strut and the hood surface of the vehicle, the height of the strut bearing can simply be designed to be lower.

[0020] However, if the height of the support bearing is simply designed to be lower in the conventional configuration, since the seat 920 used in the support bearing is manufactured by injection molding, the injection molding material may not be able to sufficiently penetrate into the thin-walled portion. For this reason, simply designing the support bearing to be lower is not practical.

[0021] As vehicle weight increases, the insert used in the strut bearing is necessary to ensure the strength of the seat, and it is difficult to configure the strut bearing without using the insert. Summary of the Invention

[0022] The present invention provides a strut bearing capable of achieving a low vehicle profile while ensuring a certain width between an upper portion of a suspension strut and a hood surface of a vehicle.

[0023] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a strut bearing used in a suspension strut of a vehicle includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and a rolling bearing arranged between the upper housing and the lower housing. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring. One of the inner ring and the outer ring is attached to the upper housing, and the other of the inner ring and the outer ring is attached to the lower housing. An insert and an isolator are attached to the lower housing. The insert has a first surface attached to the lower housing. The isolator is attached to the second surface of the insert using an attachment surface provided on the isolator. Therefore, at least a portion of the isolator is directly attached to the insert.

[0024] The insert may include an auxiliary attachment portion.

[0025] A through hole may be provided on the insert, and a portion of the spacer passing through the through hole to be attached to the lower seat may configure the auxiliary attaching portion.

[0026] A plurality of auxiliary attachment portions may be provided on the lower seat in a circumferential direction.

[0027] The plurality of auxiliary attaching portions may be provided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction on the lower seat.

[0028] The through hole may have a circular cross-section.

[0029] The through hole may have a polygonal cross-section.

[0030] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the lower seat according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a radial portion and an axial portion.

[0031] The second surface of the insert is provided only on the radial portion.

[0032] The attachment surface of the spacer is attached to a second surface provided on the radial portion.

[0033] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a strut bearing comprises:

[0034] a first molding injection step for performing injection molding of the lower seat onto a first surface of the insert; and

[0035] The second molding injection step is for performing injection molding of the spacer onto the second surface of the insert.

[0036] The present invention makes it possible to achieve a lower vehicle profile while ensuring a certain width between the upper portion of the suspension strut and the hood surface of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional pillar bearing;

[0038] Figure 2 is a diagram showing a strut bearing according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an auxiliary attachment portion included in a strut bearing according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an auxiliary attachment portion included in a strut bearing according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a strut bearing according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0042] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for manufacturing a strut bearing according to the present invention.

[0043] Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 100, 200: pillar bearings

[0045] 101: Spring

[0046] 110: Rolling bearings

[0047] 111: Outer ring

[0048] 112: Inner ring

[0049] 113: Rolling element (ball)

[0050] 114: Cage

[0051] 121, 221: The seat of honor

[0052] 122, 222: Take a seat

[0053] 130, 230: Inserts (metal inserts)

[0054] 131, 231: First surface

[0055] 132, 232: Second surface

[0056] 133: Through hole

[0057] 140, 240: Isolation parts

[0058] 141, 241: Attachment surface

[0059] 142: Auxiliary attachment part

[0060] 224: Radial section

[0061] 225: Axial part DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] [First embodiment]

[0063] The following will refer to Figures 2 to 4 A first embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0064] Figure 2 FIG. 1 shows a strut bearing 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the pillar bearing 100 according to the invention of the present application includes an upper seat 121 and a lower seat 122. A rolling bearing 110 is provided between the upper seat 121 and the lower seat 122.

[0065] The upper seat 121 and the lower seat 122 are made of hard plastic material.

[0066] Rolling bearing 110 is composed of an inner ring (inner ring) 112, an outer ring (outer ring) 111, and balls, which are rolling elements 113, arranged between outer ring 111 and inner ring 112. In the example shown, inner ring 112 is attached to upper seat 121, and outer ring 111 is attached to lower seat 122. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this configuration. For example, the configuration may be such that outer ring 111 is attached to upper seat 121, and inner ring 112 is attached to lower seat 122. In addition, since rolling bearing 110 according to this embodiment is an angular type, a retainer 114 is provided for retaining rolling elements 113.

[0067] The upper seat 121 and the lower seat 122 are relatively rotatable around the main axis via the rolling bearing 110 .

[0068] The lower seat 122 includes an insert (metal insert) 130 to increase rigidity.

[0069] Here, as Figure 2 As shown, the insert 130 according to the invention of the present application is not embedded in the lower seat 122 .

[0070] Specifically, the insert 130 includes a first surface 131 and a second surface 132. In this embodiment, the insert 130 has the first surface 131 attached to the surface of the attachment wall 123 of the lower seat 122.

[0071] Furthermore, the lower seat 122 has a portion that contacts the spring 101 , and the portion has a spacer 140 made of an elastic material set thereon.

[0072] The spacer 140 includes a rubbery thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), particularly thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a melt-processable elastomer (MPE), or an elastomer cell foam.

[0073] The spacer 140 of the present embodiment has an attachment surface 141 that is attached to the second surface 132 of the insert 130 and is not attached to the lower seat 122 .

[0074] Furthermore, in the strut bearing 100 according to the present embodiment, the auxiliary attachment portion 142 is provided between the spacer 140 and the lower seat 122 .

[0075] exist Figure 3 142. When the auxiliary attachment portion 142 is provided, the through hole 133 is provided in the insert 130. When the spacer 140 is injection-molded on the insert 130, a portion of the spacer 140 passes through the through hole 133 and is directly attached to the lower seat 122.

[0076] The portion of the spacer that passes through the through-hole 133 and is directly attached to the lower seat 122 forms the auxiliary attaching portion 142 .

[0077] like Figure 4 As shown, the auxiliary attachment portions 142 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the lower seat 122. In this embodiment, the intervals between adjacent auxiliary attachment portions 142 are equal. However, the intervals between adjacent auxiliary attachment portions 142 may be unequal.

[0078] In addition, Figure 4 In the embodiment, the through hole 133 has a circular cross section. However, the shape of the through hole 133 is not limited thereto, and for example, a polygonal-shaped through hole may be provided.

[0079] Providing the auxiliary attachment portion 142 makes it possible to prevent relative rotation between the insert 130 and the spacer 140 .

[0080] This allows strut bearing reliability to be maintained even when the spacer 140 is attached directly to a metal insert attached to the surface of the lower seat 122 rather than being overmolded onto the lower seat.

[0081] As described above, in this embodiment, the first surface 131 of the insert 130 is attached to the surface of the attachment wall 123 of the lower seat 122, and the attachment surface 141 of the spacer 140 is attached to the second surface of the insert 130. Therefore, the spacer 140 is directly attached to the insert 130.

[0082] Furthermore, providing the auxiliary attachment portion 142 makes it possible to prevent relative rotation between the insert 130 and the spacer 140 .

[0083] The above configuration makes it possible to eliminate the attachment wall interposed between the spacer and the insert in the conventional art without impairing the reliability of the strut bearing, and makes it possible to keep the overall height of the strut bearing low.

[0084] This makes it possible to achieve a lower vehicle profile while ensuring a certain width between the upper portion of the suspension strut and the hood surface of the vehicle.

[0085] [Second embodiment]

[0086] exist Figure 5 A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0087] Note that in the second embodiment described below, Figures 2 to 4 Constituent components common to those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals and characters, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] In the strut bearing 100 of the first embodiment, the entire surface of one surface of the insert 130 forms the first surface 131, and the first surface 131 is attached to the lower seat 122. Therefore, the entire surface of the other surface of the insert 130 forms the second surface 132, and the second surface 132 is attached to the attachment surface 141 of the spacer 140.

[0089] However, in the strut bearing 200 according to the second embodiment, only a portion of one surface of the insert 130 (not the entire surface of one surface of the insert 130 ) forms the first surface 231 .

[0090] like Figure 5 As shown, the strut bearing 200 of the second embodiment includes a lower seat 222 . The lower seat 222 includes a radial portion 224 and an axial portion 225 .

[0091] like Figure 5 As shown, a portion of an insert (metal insert) 230 according to the second embodiment is embedded in the axial portion 225. The insert 230 has a first surface 231 attached to the surface of the lower seat 222 along a portion of the radial portion 224.

[0092] like Figure 5 As shown, a surface opposite to the first surface 231 forms a second surface 232 , which is an attachment surface for the spacer 240 .

[0093] The spacer 240 has an attachment surface 241 that is attached to the second surface 232 of the insert 230 .

[0094] Therefore, in the strut bearing 200 according to the second embodiment, as in the conventional art, there is an attachment wall in the radial direction, but there is no attachment wall in the axial direction, and the spacer 240 is directly attached to the insert 230 .

[0095] Even with this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the attachment wall that has conventionally existed in the height direction of the strut bearing 200. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, this makes it possible to achieve a lower vehicle profile while ensuring a certain width between the upper portion of the suspension strut and the hood surface of the vehicle.

[0096] [Manufacturing method]

[0097] exist Figure 6 Detailed Description of the Invention A method for manufacturing a strut bearing according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0098] In conventional strut bearings, a metal insert is embedded in a lower seat. In other words, the strut bearing has been manufactured in such a way that an injection molding step forms a lower seat made of hard plastic around the metal insert, and then an overmolding step forms the spacer on the lower seat.

[0099] In the strut bearing of the invention of the present application, the spacer is directly attached to the insert.

[0100] For this reason, Figure 6 As shown in step S1 in FIG. 1 , a first molding injection step for injection-molding the lower seat onto the insert is first performed.

[0101] After the first molding injection step is completed, as indicated by S2 , a second molding injection step for injection-molding the spacer onto the insert is performed.

[0102] Performing the above steps makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which the insert is attached to the surface of the lower seat, and the spacer is directly attached to the insert.

[0103] The strut bearing of the present invention enables the overall height of the vehicle to be kept low when the strut bearing is used to attach a strut suspension to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A strut bearing for a suspension strut of a vehicle, the strut bearing comprising: The seat of honor; get off your seat; as well as A rolling bearing is arranged between the upper seat and the lower seat, Wherein, the rolling bearing comprises: outer ring; Inner circle; and rolling elements are arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, wherein one of the outer ring and the inner ring is attached to the upper seat, and the other of the outer ring and the inner ring is attached to the lower seat, Wherein, the lower seat includes: inserts; and Isolators, wherein the insert is attached to the lower seat by means of a first surface, wherein the spacer is attached to the second surface of the insert using an attachment surface provided on the spacer, and Therein, therefore, at least a portion of the spacer is directly attached to the insert.

2. The support bearing according to claim 1, wherein: The insert has an auxiliary attachment portion.

3. The strut bearing according to claim 2, wherein: A through hole is provided in the insert, and Here, a portion of the spacer that passes through the through hole to be attached to the lower seat configures the auxiliary attaching portion.

4. The strut bearing according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: A plurality of auxiliary attaching portions are provided on the lower seat in a circumferential direction.

5. The strut bearing according to claim 4, wherein: The plurality of auxiliary attachment portions are provided on the lower seat at equal intervals in a circumferential direction.

6. The strut bearing according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The through hole has a circular cross-section.

7. The strut bearing according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The through hole has a polygonal cross section.

8. The strut bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The seats include: radial portion, and Axial part, wherein the second surface of the insert is provided only on the radial portion, and wherein the attachment surface of the spacer is attached to a second portion provided in the radial portion.

9. A method for manufacturing a strut bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising: a first molding injection step for injection molding the lower seat onto a first surface of the insert; as well as The second molding injection step is for performing injection molding of the spacer onto the second surface of the insert.

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