Spring seat and suspension apparatus

Abstract

To provide a spring seat which is hardly damaged.SOLUTION: A lower spring seat 1 is a spring seat for supporting an end part of a coil-shaped spring provided around a shock absorber, and includes: a connection part 10 which is formed along a shape of a cylinder part of the shock absorber and is connected to the cylinder part; a support part 20 which is provided around the connection part 10, protrudes in a direction crossing a center line direction of the cylinder part, and supports an end of the spring; a connection part 30 which connects the connection part 10 and the support part 20; and a bent part 50 which is bent so as to connect the connection part 30 and the support part 20 and whose curvature radius is gradually changed so as to be increased toward a maximum load point generated in the support part 20 when the spring is contracted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spring seat and a suspension system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the spring seat described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the inside of the seating portion of the coil spring is supported by multiple protrusions formed on the seating surface, and protrusions are formed on an upright flange on the outer periphery of the seating surface between the multiple protrusions, and the protrusions of the upright flange and the multiple protrusions on the seating surface clamp the seating portion of the coil spring from inside and outside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-232768 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to reduce the thickness of the spring sheet to reduce its weight, and therefore it is desirable for the spring sheet to have a shape that is less susceptible to damage such as cracks even if the thickness of the spring sheet is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a spring seat etc. that is less susceptible to damage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention, which was completed with this objective in mind, is a spring seat that supports the end of a coil-shaped spring arranged around a shock absorber, and includes a connecting portion that is shaped to conform to the shape of a cylinder portion of the shock absorber and is connected to the cylinder portion, a support portion that is arranged around the connecting portion and protrudes in a direction intersecting the center line of the cylinder portion to support the end of the spring, a connection portion that connects the connecting portion and the support portion, and a bent portion that is bent to connect the connecting portion and the support portion, and has a radius of curvature that gradually changes so as to increase toward the maximum load point that occurs in the support portion when the spring is compressed. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, a spring seat that is less susceptible to damage can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a suspension device. [Diagram 2] 11 is a view of a lower spring seat as viewed from a second side in the center line direction. FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a view showing an example of a lower spring seat as viewed from a first side in the center line direction. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a suspension device 100. As shown in FIG. The suspension 100 is a suspension used in a four-wheeled vehicle such as a passenger car, and includes a hydraulic shock absorber 110 and a coil spring 120 arranged on the outside of the shock absorber 110, as shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the center line direction of an outer cylinder 112 of the shock absorber 110, which will be described later, may be simply referred to as the "center line direction". Also, a first side (lower side in FIG. 1) in the center line direction and a second side (upper side in FIG. 1) in the center line direction may be simply referred to as the "first side" and the "second side", respectively. Also, a direction intersecting the center line direction (for example, a perpendicular direction) is referred to as the "radial direction". In the radial direction, the center line side of the outer cylinder 112 may be simply referred to as the "inner side", and the side away from the center line may be simply referred to as the "outer side".

[0009] The suspension device 100 includes a lower spring seat 1 that supports a first end of the spring 120, and an upper spring seat 130 that supports a second end of the spring 120. The suspension 100 also includes a wheel-side bracket 140 that is attached to a first end of an outer cylinder 112 (described later) for attaching the suspension 100 to a wheel, and a vehicle-body-side bracket 150 that is fixed to a second end of a rod 113 (described later) for attaching the suspension 100 to a vehicle. The suspension 100 also includes a dust cover 170 that covers at least a portion of the rod 113.

[0010] The shock absorber 110 includes a cylinder portion 111 having a cylinder (not shown) that contains oil and a cylindrical outer cylinder 112 provided on the outside of the cylinder, a piston (not shown) that slides inside the cylinder, and a rod 113 that holds the piston at a first end and has a second end that protrudes from the cylinder portion 111. The rod 113 moves in the center line direction, and therefore the center line direction is also the axial direction of the rod 113.

[0011] The spring 120 is formed by spirally winding a wire 121. The number of end turns of the spring 120 can be, for example, 0.5 turns.

[0012] (Lower spring seat 1) FIG. 2 is an example of a view of the lower spring seat 1 as viewed from the second side in the center line direction. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is an example of a view of the lower spring seat 1 as viewed from the first side in the center line direction. The lower spring seat 1 is formed by pressing a thin metal plate such as a steel plate. The lower spring seat 1 is formed to conform to the cylindrical shape of an outer tube 112 (see FIG. 1) of a cylinder section 111 of a shock absorber 110, and includes a connecting section 10 connected to the cylinder section 111, and a support section 20 provided around the connecting section 10 and protruding in a direction intersecting the center line direction of the cylinder section 111 to support an end of a spring 120 (see FIG. 1). The lower spring seat 1 also includes a connection section 30 connecting the connecting section 10 and the support section 20, and a bent section 50 bent to connect the connecting section 10 or the connecting section 30 to the support section 20.

[0013] The connecting portion 10 has a cylindrical portion 11 that is cylindrical, a circular annular portion 12 that is annular and provided on a second side of the cylindrical portion 11, and an intermediate portion 13 that is provided between the cylindrical portion 11 and the circular annular portion 12. The cylindrical portion 11 has a protrusion 16 formed on a part of the circumferential direction, protruding outward from an inner circumferential surface 15. A plurality of protrusions 16 (three in FIG. 2) are formed in the circumferential direction. The diameter of the inner circumferential surface 15 is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of an outer tube 112 of the cylinder portion 111. The annular portion 12 is a portion that protrudes beyond the cylindrical portion 11 in a direction perpendicular to the center line direction. The intermediate portion 13 is bent so that the diameter gradually increases from the second end of the cylindrical portion 11 toward the inside of the annular portion 12 .

[0014] The lower spring seat 1 is fixed to the outer tube 112 by inserting the outer tube 112 into the cylindrical portion 11 of the connecting portion 10 and then welding the cylindrical portion 11 to the outer tube 112. Therefore, after the lower spring seat 1 is fixed to the outer tube 112, the center line Cl of the cylindrical portion 11 of the connecting portion 10 and the center line of the outer tube 112 of the cylinder portion 111 coincide with each other. Note that the method of fixing the lower spring seat 1 to the outer tube 112 is not limited to welding. For example, the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 15 of the cylindrical portion 11 of the connecting portion 10 may be made smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 112, and the cylindrical portion 11 may be press-fitted into the outer tube 112 to fix the lower spring seat 1 to the outer tube 112.

[0015] The support part 20 has a support surface 21 on which an end turn provided at the first end of the spring 120 sits. The support surface 21 is a surface inclined with respect to the direction of the center line Cl (in other words, the center line direction) and is spiral-shaped with a slope line Cs inclined with respect to the direction of the center line Cl as its center. The slope line Cs is offset with respect to the center line Cl so as not to intersect with the center line Cl in the region where the lower spring seat 1 exists in the center line direction.

[0016] Since the support surface 21 is spirally shaped with the inclined line Cs as the center, a starting point 22, which is one end of the support surface 21 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs, and an end point 23, which is the other end of the support surface 21 in the circumferential direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2) around the inclined line Cs, are shifted in the direction of the inclined line Cs. As a result, a step portion 24 is provided between the starting point 22 and the end point 23 in the support part 20. Hereinafter, the central portion between the starting point 22 and the end point 23 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs may be referred to as a "first portion 25," and the central portion between the first portion 25 and the end point 23 may be referred to as a "second portion 26." The first portion 25 and the second portion 26 are located approximately 180 degrees and 270 degrees from the starting point 22 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs, respectively.

[0017] Here, the first end of the wire 121 of the spring 120 is placed on the starting point 22. Since the number of end turns of the spring 120 is 0.5 turns, when the spring 120 has a free length, the spring 120 is seated from the starting point 22 to the first portion 25.

[0018] Furthermore, the support portion 20 has an outer regulating portion 27 that extends outward from the outer periphery of the support surface 21 in a direction inclined relative to the direction of the inclined line Cs and regulates the outward movement of the spring 120. The position of the outer periphery of the outer regulating portion 27 in the direction of the inclined line Cs is the same, and the magnitude in the direction of the inclined line Cs gradually decreases from a position corresponding to the starting point 22 toward the end point 23 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs.

[0019] The support portion 20 has an inner regulating portion 28 at a part of the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs, which protrudes from the support surface 21 to the second side and regulates the inward movement of the spring 120 on the inner peripheral portion of the support surface 21. A plurality of inner regulating portions 28 (two in FIG. 2) are provided.

[0020] The connecting portion 30 extends outward from the outer periphery of the annular portion 12 of the coupling portion 10 in a direction inclined with respect to the direction of the inclined line Cs, and connects to the support surface 21. Since the annular portion 12 of the coupling portion 10 has the same position in the center line direction, and the support surface 21 is spiral-shaped with the inclined line Cs as the center, and the inclined line Cs is offset with respect to the center line Cl, the connecting portion 30 gradually increases in size in the direction of the inclined line Cs from a position corresponding to the starting point 22 toward the second portion 26 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs.

[0021] The bent portion 50 is bent so that the diameter centered on the inclined line Cs gradually increases from the outer periphery of the connecting portion 30 to the inner periphery of the support surface 21. The cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 50 cut on a plane passing through the inclined line Cs is an arc shape. The bent portion 50 is provided continuously in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs except for the region where the inner regulating portion 28 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the radius of curvature of the bent portion 50, in other words, the bend R of the bent portion 50, is the same 1R from the starting point 22 to the first portion 25, gradually increases from the 1R to the 2R (2R>1R) from the first portion 25 to the second portion 26, and gradually decreases from the 2R to the 3R (2R>3R) from the second portion 26 to the end point 23. In other words, the radius of curvature of the bent portion 50 is maximum at the second portion 26, and gradually changes within a range of 90 degrees on both sides of the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs from the second portion 26. In addition, the third R may be, for example, the same as the first R.

[0022] This is for the following reason. That is, according to the inventors' intensive research, it was found that the maximum load point generated in the bent portion 50 of the lower spring seat 1 due to the compression of the spring 120 is the second portion 26. Therefore, the radius of curvature is maximized in the second portion 26, which is the maximum load point, and the stress generated in the bent portion 50 corresponding to the second portion 26, in other words, the bent portion 50 whose circumferential position around the inclined line Cs is the same as that of the second portion 26, is reduced. As a result, the durability of the spring 120 against repeated expansion and contraction is improved.

[0023] As described above, the lower spring seat 1 is an example of a spring seat that supports the end of the coil-shaped spring 120 provided around the shock absorber 110. The lower spring seat 1 is formed to follow the shape of the cylinder section 111 of the shock absorber 110 and includes a connecting section 10 that is connected to the cylinder section 111, and a support section 20 that is provided around the connecting section 10 and protrudes in a direction intersecting the center line direction of the cylinder section 111 to support the end of the spring 120. The lower spring seat 1 also includes a connection section 30 that connects the connecting section 10 and the support section 20, and a bent section 50 that bends to connect the connection section 30 and the support section 20. The bent section 50 has a radius of curvature (in other words, a bend R) that gradually changes (for example, from 1R to 2R) toward the second section 26, which is the maximum load point generated in the support section 20 when the spring 120 is compressed.

[0024] The lower spring seat 1 configured as above has higher durability than a configuration in which the radius of curvature is not gradually changed but is constant at 1R, making it less likely to be damaged. Therefore, the plate thickness can be made thinner to reduce the weight of the lower spring seat 1. Also, even if the strength of the spring 120 is increased, it is less likely to be damaged.

[0025] Here, the radius of curvature of the bent portion 50 gradually changes within a range of 90 degrees from the second portion 26, which is the maximum load point, in the circumferential direction of the spring 120. This allows the area of ​​the support surface 21 on which the spring 120 sits to be larger than, for example, a configuration in which the radius of curvature does not gradually change and is constant at the second radius R.

[0026] The second portion 26, which is the maximum load point, is located at a position corresponding to 0.75 turns of the spring 120. That is, the second portion 26 is located at a position of approximately 270 degrees from the starting point 22 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs. Since the second portion 26 is located at a position less than 360 degrees from the starting point 22 in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs, the curvature radius of the bent portion 50 in the lower spring seat 1 gradually changes from the second portion 26 on both sides in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs. That is, the curvature radius gradually increases from the first R to the second R from 180 degrees to 270 degrees in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs, and gradually decreases from the second R to the third R from 270 degrees to 360 degrees in the circumferential direction around the inclined line Cs. As a result, the lower spring seat 1 is improved in durability and is less likely to be damaged while suppressing the area of ​​the support surface 21 on which the spring 120 sits from being reduced.

[0027] The suspension 100 also includes a shock absorber 110, a coil spring 120 provided around the shock absorber 110, and a lower spring seat 1 supporting an end of the spring 120. The number of turns of the spring 120 is 0.5. In this manner, when the number of turns of the spring 120 is 0.5, the maximum load point generated on the lower spring seat 1 due to the compression of the spring 120 is at a position corresponding to the 0.75th turn of the spring 120. Therefore, by supporting the end of the spring 120 with the lower spring seat 1, damage to the suspension 100 can be made less likely to occur.

[0028] Incidentally, according to intensive research by the present inventors, it was found that even when the number of end turns of the spring 120 is 0.75 turns, the maximum load point generated on the spring seat supporting the first end of the spring 120 due to the compression of the spring 120 is at a position corresponding to the 0.75th turn of the spring 120. Therefore, by using the lower spring seat 1 as the spring seat supporting the first end of the spring 120 having a number of end turns of 0.75 turns, it is possible to make it difficult for damage to occur to the suspension device 100. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1...lower spring seat, 10...connecting portion, 20...supporting portion, 21...supporting surface, 22...starting point, 23...end point, 25...first portion, 26...second portion, 30...connecting portion, 50...bending portion, 100...suspension device, 110...shock absorber, 111...cylinder portion, 112...outer cylinder, 113...rod, 120...spring

Claims

1. A spring seat that supports the end of a coil spring provided around the shock absorber, a connecting portion that is molded to conform to the shape of a cylinder portion of the shock absorber and is connected to the cylinder portion; a support portion provided around the connecting portion, protruding in a direction intersecting a center line direction of the cylinder portion to support an end portion of the spring; A connection portion that connects the coupling portion and the support portion; a bending portion that is bent to connect the connection portion and the support portion and has a radius of curvature that gradually changes so as to become larger toward a maximum load point generated in the support portion when the spring is compressed; A spring seat equipped with

2. The radius of curvature of the bent portion gradually changes within a range of 90 degrees from the maximum load point in the circumferential direction of the spring. The spring seat according to claim 1.

3. The radius of curvature of the bent portion gradually changes on both sides in the circumferential direction from the maximum load point. The spring seat according to claim 1.

4. The maximum load point is a position corresponding to 0.75 turns of the spring. The spring seat according to claim 1.

5. A shock absorber; A coil spring provided around the shock absorber; A spring seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which supports an end of the spring; A suspension device comprising:

6. The spring has an end turn of 0.5 or 0.75 turns.

6. The suspension system of claim 5.

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