Attachment structure for upper arm of double wishbone shock absorber

Abstract

To reduce or prevent deformation of a side member during a frontal collision and minimize a height dimension of a cross section of the side member in a vertical direction as much as possible.SOLUTION: A double wishbone shock absorber includes: an upper arm 4 in which an inner end 41 is pivotally supported by a side member 1 having a rectangular cylindrical shape; and a lower arm 5 in which an inner end 51 is pivotally supported by a suspension member 2 and an outer end 52 pivotally supports a lower end of a suspension 3. In a region of the side member 1 that pivotally supports the inner end 41 of the upper arm 4, an opening 18 extending from an outer side hanging wall portion 13 of the side member 1 to a bottom wall portion 14 is provided. A reinforcing member 7 that closes the opening 18 is attached to the opening 18. The reinforcing member 7 is provided with a rigid portion 74 for increasing rigidity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, paragraphs 0058-0061 of Patent Document 1 state that "in the structure for attaching the upper arm 2 of a double wishbone shock absorber to the front side frame 100, a mounting recess 100b (100bf, 100br) is provided in a part of the side surface of the side frame 100, and a mounting bracket 111 that is U-shaped in plan view is fixed to this mounting recess 100bf, 100br, and the inner end of the upper arm 2 is attached to this mounting bracket 111." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-001985 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above Patent Document 1, the mounting recess 100b (100bf, 100br) is not blocked on a portion of the side surface of the side frame 100, which raises concerns that the rigidity of the side frame 100 may be reduced, and that the side frame 100 may be more likely to deform in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in the event of a frontal collision.

[0005] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the technical idea of reducing the cross-sectional height dimension of the side frame 100 in the vertical direction cannot be discerned.

[0006] Therefore, for example, when adopting a design that makes the hood height as low as possible in a vehicle equipped with a double wishbone shock absorber, it is necessary to design the upper end of the front suspension so that it tilts inward. However, if designed in this way, there is a concern in Patent Document 1 that the suspension will interfere with the outer corner of the top wall of the side frame 100.

[0007] Furthermore, if the design were changed to position the side frame 100 lower in order to avoid this interference, there would be concerns that the vehicle's minimum ground clearance would become too low, and there would be a risk that the drive shaft would interfere with the inner corner of the bottom wall of the side frame 100 when it is raised. For these reasons, it is difficult to adopt a design that lowers the vehicle's hood height.

[0008] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber that can reduce or prevent deformation of the side member during a frontal collision while also making it possible to reduce the vertical cross-sectional height dimension of the side member as much as possible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention provides an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber comprising an upper arm whose inner end is pivotally supported in a cantilevered manner on a square cylindrical side member arranged on both sides of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction along the vehicle, and a lower arm whose inner end is pivotally supported in a cantilevered manner on a suspension member arranged below the side member and to which the lower end of the suspension is pivotally supported, wherein an opening spanning from the outer vertical wall portion to the bottom wall portion of the side member is provided in the area of the side member where the inner end of the upper arm is pivotally supported, a reinforcing member is attached to the opening to close the opening, and the reinforcing member is provided with a rigid portion to increase rigidity.

[0010] With this configuration, the rigidity of the area of the side member that pivotally supports the inner end of the upper arm is increased, which not only makes it possible to reduce or prevent deformation of the side member during a frontal collision, but also makes it possible to lower the height position of the top wall portion of the side member as low as possible and make the cross-sectional height dimension of the side member in the vertical direction as small as possible, thereby making it possible to accommodate a design that lowers the height position of the vehicle hood as low as possible.

[0011] In the above-described upper arm mounting structure, the reinforcing member is a plate that is L-shaped in a side view and covers the opening from its outer side to its bottom. The inner end of the upper arm is pivotally supported so as to be able to tilt freely on a vertical wall portion of this reinforcing member that covers the outer side of the opening, and the rigid portion is provided. The bottom wall portion of the reinforcing member that covers the bottom of the opening is overlapped on the bottom wall portion of the side member in the vehicle vertical direction, and the overlapped portion is fastened.

[0012] With this configuration, even if the height position of the top wall portion of the side member is lowered as low as possible to reduce the cross-sectional height dimension of the side member along the vertical direction as much as possible, it is not necessary to lower the height position of the bottom wall portion of the side member, which makes it possible to prevent the drive shaft, which moves up and down as the vehicle travels, from interfering with the bottom wall portion of the side member when the drive shaft ascends.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-described upper arm mounting structure, the rigid portion can be configured as a protrusion portion that protrudes outward from the lower end side of the vertical wall portion of the reinforcing member and has a long shape in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0014] According to this configuration, the shape of the rigid portion is specified, and it becomes clear that the rigidity of the side member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is improved by the presence of the rigid portion.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-described upper arm mounting structure, the vertical wall portion of the reinforcing member may be overlapped with the outer vertical wall portion of the side member in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the overlapped portion may be fastened.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-described upper arm mounting structure, the side member may be formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape by combining a side member outer and a side member inner, and the opening may be provided in the side member outer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber that can reduce or prevent deformation of the side member during a frontal collision while also making it possible to reduce the vertical cross-sectional height dimension of the side member as much as possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view schematically showing an embodiment of an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the upper arm. [Figure 3] 2 is a side view schematically showing a state in which a reinforcing member is removed from a side member in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a double wishbone shock absorber for the front right side of a vehicle is shown. Although not shown, the double wishbone shock absorber for the front left side of a vehicle is basically the same as the double wishbone shock absorber for the front right side of a vehicle.

[0021] The double wishbone shock absorber shown in the figure is attached to a front side member 1 and a front suspension member 2, and includes a suspension 3, an upper arm 4, a lower arm 5, and the like.

[0022] The side members 1 are arranged parallel to each other on the left and right sides of the vehicle, spaced apart from each other, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and are formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape by combining a side member outer 11 and a side member inner 12.

[0023] The suspension members 2 are arranged below the side members 1 on the left and right sides of the vehicle in parallel and spaced apart relation to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0024] The suspension 3 is configured by combining a damper (reference numeral omitted) and a coil spring (reference numeral omitted), and its upper end is attached to a suspension tower (not shown) by a bolt, etc. The lower end of this suspension 3, although not shown, is journaled midway in the left-right direction of the vehicle on the lower arm 5.

[0025] The upper arm 4 is formed in a triangular shape in plan view that gradually narrows outward in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the side member 1 side. An inner end 41 of the fork of the upper arm 4 is journaled to the side member 1 in a cantilevered manner so as to be able to tilt freely, and an outer end 42 of the upper arm 4 is attached to the upper end portion of a hub knuckle (not shown).

[0026] The lower arm 5 is formed in a triangular shape in plan view that gradually narrows outward in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the side member 1 side. An inner end 51 of the bifurcated lower arm 5 is journaled in a cantilevered manner on the vertical wall portion 21 of the suspension member 2 so as to be able to tilt freely, and an outer end 52 of the lower arm 5 is attached to the lower end portion of a hub knuckle (not shown).

[0027] Although not shown, the hub knuckle rotatably supports the front disc brake and the front wheel, and is journaled on the outer end 52 of the lower arm 5 and the outer end 42 of the upper arm 4.

[0028] Although not shown, a power steering device is attached to the hub knuckle via a tie rod, and one end of a stabilizer 6 (the right end in the drawing) is also attached to the hub knuckle.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, openings 18 are provided in two locations in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the side member outer 11, and a reinforcing member 7 that covers the opening 18 is attached to this opening 18, and a rigid portion 74 is provided on this reinforcing member 7.

[0030] Specifically, the side member 1 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape by combining a side member outer part 11 and a side member inner part 12.

[0031] The side member outer 11 is formed in an inverted U-shape, and is provided with an upper flange 16 extending upward from the edge of the top wall 15, and a lower flange 17 extending downward from the edge of the bottom wall 14.

[0032] The side member inner 12 is a flat plate extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and an upper flange 16 and a lower flange 17 of the side member outer 11 are connected to the side member inner 12 .

[0033] The opening 18 is provided in the side member outer 11 in a region where the inner end 41 of the upper arm 4 is journaled, so as to straddle from the outer vertical wall portion 13 to the bottom wall portion 14 of the side member outer 11 .

[0034] The bifurcated inner end 41 of the upper arm 4 is pivotally supported by the reinforcing member 7 so as to be able to tilt freely. Although not shown in detail, both ends of a support shaft inserted into a central hole of the inner end 41 of the upper arm 4 are attached to the vertical wall portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7 by means of press plates 9 and bolts 10.

[0035] The reinforcing member 7 is an L-shaped plate in a side view that covers the opening 18 from its outer portion to its bottom portion, and has a thick portion 73 between a vertical wall portion 71 and a bottom wall portion 72. The vertical wall portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7 that covers the outer portion of the opening 18 supports the inner end 41 of the upper arm 4 in a tiltable manner.

[0036] The rigid portion 74 is intended to increase the rigidity of the reinforcing member 7, and is a protruding portion that protrudes sharply outward from the thick portion 73 of the reinforcing member 7 and is long in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It becomes clear that the provision of the rigid portion 74 having such a shape improves the rigidity of the side member 1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0037] The vertical wall portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7 is overlapped with the outer vertical wall portion 13 of the side member outer 11 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the overlapping portion (see the upper x mark in Figure 1) is fastened.

[0038] In addition, the bottom wall portion 72 of the reinforcing member 7 that closes the bottom of the opening 18 is overlapped with the bottom wall portion 14 of the side member outer 11 in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the overlapping portion (see the black circle at the bottom of Figure 1) is fastened.

[0039] The above-mentioned fastening is performed by means of fastening members such as welding or rivets.

[0040] As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the region of the side member 1 that supports the inner end of the upper arm 4. This makes it possible to reduce or prevent deformation of the side member 1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction when a load is input to the side member 1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction during a frontal collision, for example, and also makes it possible to make the cross-sectional height dimension of the side member 1 along the up-down direction as small as possible.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to make the cross-sectional height dimension of the side member 1 in the up-down direction as small as possible as described above, the vertical wall portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7 is overlapped with and fastened to the outer vertical wall portion 13 of the side member outer 11 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, thereby making it possible to lower the height position of the top wall portion 15 of the side member outer 11 as low as possible without lowering the height position of the bottom wall portion 14 of the side member outer 11.

[0042] In this way, when the cross-sectional height dimension of the side member outer 11 along the vertical direction is made as small as possible, it becomes possible to accommodate designs such as lowering the height position of the hood of a vehicle (not shown) as low as possible, and moreover, it becomes possible to prevent the drive shaft 8, which moves up and down as shown by the imaginary line in Figure 2 as the vehicle moves, from interfering with the bottom wall portion 14 or lower flange portion 17 of the side member outer 11 when the drive shaft 8 rises.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

[0044] (1) For example, although not shown, it is possible to overlap the vertical wall portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7 with the top wall portion 15 of the side member outer 11 in the vehicle vertical direction, and fasten the overlapping portion. Such a case is also included as an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] (2) For example, although not shown, the side member 1 can be configured such that the side member outer 11 and the side member inner 12 are integrally formed. Such a case is also included as an embodiment of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0046] The present invention can be suitably used in an upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 side member 11 Side member outer 12 Side member inner 13 Outside hanging wall part 14 Bottom wall 15 Ceiling wall 18 Aperture 2 suspension members 21 Hanging wall section 3. Suspension 4 Upper Arm 41 Inner end 42 Outer edge 5 Lower Arm 51 Inner end 52 Outer edge 7 Reinforcement members 71 Hanging wall section 72 Bottom wall 73 Thick wall part 74 Rigid part

Claims

1. An upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber, the upper arm having an inner end pivotally supported in a cantilevered manner by square cylindrical side members disposed on both sides of the vehicle in the left-right direction along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a lower arm having an inner end pivotally supported in a cantilevered manner by a suspension member disposed below the side members and having a lower end of a suspension pivotally supported thereon, an opening extending from an outer vertical wall portion to a bottom wall portion of the side member is provided in a region of the side member that pivotally supports an inner end of the upper arm, A reinforcing member is attached to the opening to close the opening, 10. The upper arm mounting structure of a double wishbone shock absorber, wherein the reinforcing member is provided with a rigid portion for increasing rigidity.

2. 2. The upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber according to claim 1, The reinforcing member is a plate that is L-shaped in a side view and closes the opening from the outer portion to the bottom portion, an inner end of the upper arm is pivotally supported in a tiltable manner on a vertical wall portion of the reinforcing member that closes an outer side of the opening, and the rigid portion is provided on the vertical wall portion; An upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber, characterized in that the bottom wall portion of the reinforcing member that covers the bottom of the opening is overlapped with the bottom wall portion of the side member in the vehicle vertical direction, and the overlapped portion is fastened.

3. 3. The upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber according to claim 2, The upper arm mounting structure of a double wishbone shock absorber is characterized in that the rigid portion protrudes outward at the lower end of the vertical wall portion of the reinforcing member and is a protrusion portion that is long in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

4. 3. The upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber according to claim 2, The vertical wall portion of the reinforcing member is overlapped with the outer vertical wall portion of the side member in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the overlapped portion is fastened.

5. 5. The upper arm mounting structure for a double wishbone shock absorber according to claim 1, The side member is formed into a rectangular tube shape by combining a side member outer and a side member inner, 10. The upper arm mounting structure of a double wishbone shock absorber, wherein the opening is provided in the outer side member.

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