Suspension arm

Abstract

The present invention provides a suspension arm that can suppress cavity resonance caused by airflow during driving in a hollow structure. [Solution] A suspension arm 10 connected to a wheel and a vehicle body has a hollow structure composed of an upper side member 11 and a lower side member 12. The lower side member 12 is provided with a discharge hole 15 that connects the inside of the cavity to the outside, and a projection 20 that protrudes downward is provided on the front side of the discharge hole 15. The projection 20 is provided at the front end of the discharge hole 15. The projection 20 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape along the circumference of the front part of the discharge hole 15.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a suspension arm.

Background Art

[0002] The suspension arm constitutes the suspension of an automobile. The suspension is a mechanism that supports the wheels and absorbs shocks. The suspension has a suspension arm that positions the axle, a spring that supports the vehicle weight and absorbs shocks, and a shock absorber (damper) that damps the vibration of the spring.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a suspension arm used for a trailing arm type suspension. The suspension arm of Patent Document 1 has a hollow structure in which an upper surface side member and a bottom surface side member formed by press parts of steel plates are joined together. And, the bottom surface side member of the suspension arm is provided with discharge holes for discharging at least paint, foreign matters, etc. that have entered the cavity to the outside.

[0004] However, when discharge holes are provided in the bottom surface side member of the suspension arm, there is a problem that the airflow generated during the running of the vehicle flows in from the discharge holes, and wind noise (stuffiness noise, whistling noise) due to cavity resonance in the hollow structure is generated.

[0005] Therefore, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a suspension arm in which exhaust holes are provided in the upper surface side member corresponding to the discharge holes provided in the bottom surface side member. According to the suspension arm of Patent Document 2, wind noise due to cavity resonance in the hollow structure of the suspension arm can be suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0007] However, in the suspension arm described in Patent Document 2, holes are provided not only in the lower side member but also in the upper side member, which may reduce the strength of the suspension arm.

[0008] Therefore, for example, in order to suppress the wind noise caused by the cavity resonance mentioned above, it is conceivable to provide a resin cap, rubber stopper, etc., to the discharge hole provided in the bottom side member. However, in this case, paint, foreign matter, etc. that have entered the cavity of the suspension arm cannot be discharged to the outside. In addition, the cost will increase due to the increased number of parts such as resin caps and rubber stoppers.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a suspension arm that can suppress cavity resonance caused by airflow in a hollow structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The suspension arm according to the present invention is a suspension arm connected to a wheel and a vehicle body, and has a hollow structure composed of an upper side member and a lower side member, the lower side member is provided with a discharge hole that connects the inside of the cavity to the outside, and a projection that protrudes downward is provided in front of the discharge hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the suspension arm of the present invention, cavity resonance caused by airflow during driving in a hollow structure can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a suspension arm, which is an example of an embodiment. [Figure 2]This is a perspective view showing a projection, which is an example of an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a protrusion, which is another example of an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. In the following description, specific shapes, materials, directions, numerical values, etc., are examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and can be appropriately modified according to the application, purpose, specifications, etc.

[0014] [Suspension arm] An example of an embodiment, the suspension arm 10, will be described using Figure 1.

[0015] The suspension arm 10 is, for example, a suspension arm that constitutes the suspension of a vehicle. The vehicle in this embodiment is, for example, a four-wheeled passenger car. However, the vehicle of the present invention is not limited to a four-wheeled vehicle, and may be, for example, an aircraft or other vehicle. Furthermore, the four-wheeled vehicle of the present invention is not limited to a passenger car, and may be a bus, a truck or other four-wheeled vehicle.

[0016] The suspension is a mechanism that supports the wheels and absorbs shocks. The suspension consists of a suspension arm 10 that positions the axle, a spring that supports the weight of the vehicle and absorbs shocks, and a shock absorber (damper) that dampens the vibration of the spring.

[0017] Furthermore, the suspension of the present invention may, for example, be a swing axle type suspension, a leading arm type suspension, a trailing arm type suspension, a semi-trailing arm type suspension, etc., in the case of a single-axis swing arm type. In the case of a double-axis swing arm type, it may be a double wishbone type suspension, a double trailing arm type suspension, etc. Moreover, it may be a multi-link type suspension or a strut type suspension.

[0018] Hereinafter, each member may be described in accordance with the vehicle longitudinal direction, the vehicle width direction, and the height direction. Also, the front side or the rear side may be used to describe the vehicle longitudinal direction. Further, the inner side or the outer side may be used to describe the vehicle width direction.

[0019] The suspension arm 10 is formed by joining an upper surface side member 11 and a bottom surface side member 12 to form a hollow structure. As a result, it can have a relatively large strength. Consequently, it can bear a part of the wheel suspension device that supports the weight of the vehicle body.

[0020] In addition, on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the suspension arm 10, a wheel mounting portion 13 (for example, a ball joint receiving portion) to which a wheel is attached is provided. The wheel mounting portion 13 may be, for example, a ball joint receiving portion. Further, on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the suspension arm 10, a pair of vehicle body mounting portions 14 (for example, a front bush and a rear bush) that are attached to the vehicle body are provided.

[0021] The bottom surface side member 12 is provided with a discharge hole 15 for discharging at least paint, foreign matter, etc. that have entered the cavity to the outside. However, when the discharge hole 15 is provided in the bottom surface side member 12, the airflow generated during the running of the vehicle flows in from the discharge hole 15, and a wind noise (a stuffy sound, a whistling sound) due to cavity resonance in the hollow structure is generated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a protrusion 20 that protrudes downward is provided on the front side of the discharge hole 15.

[0022] [Protrusion] Using FIG. 2, the protrusion 20 which is an example of the embodiment will be described.

[0023] As described above, the projection 20 is provided on the front side of the discharge hole 15. More specifically, the projection 20 is provided at the front end of the discharge hole 15. Even more specifically, the projection 20 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape along the periphery of the front part of the discharge hole 15. The rear part (wall) of the projection 20 may be formed to be inclined upwards. Preferably, the projection 20 is integrally formed with the bottom side member 12 by molding or the like.

[0024] By adopting the above configuration, the airflow during vehicle operation can be deflected by the projection 20, preventing it from colliding with the rear end of the exhaust port 15. This suppresses wind noise caused by cavity resonance in the hollow structure.

[0025] Here, for example, in order to suppress the wind noise caused by the cavity resonance mentioned above, it is conceivable to provide a resin cap, rubber stopper, etc., in the discharge hole 15 provided in the bottom side member 12. However, in this case, paint, foreign matter, etc. that have entered the cavity of the suspension arm 10 cannot be discharged to the outside. In addition, the cost will increase due to the increase in the number of parts such as resin caps and rubber stoppers.

[0026] According to the projection 20 of this embodiment, it can be provided by processing the bottom side member 12 of the suspension arm 10, so no additional parts are required and cost increases are suppressed. In addition, since the discharge hole 15 of the bottom side member 12 is retained, the discharge performance of foreign matter and the like is not deteriorated.

[0027] Furthermore, the projection 20 does not need to be provided at the front end of the discharge hole 15; it may be provided further forward than the front end of the discharge hole 15. Even in this case, as described above, wind noise caused by cavity resonance due to airflow can be suppressed. However, when the projection 20 is provided further forward than the front end of the discharge hole 15, the downward projection height of the projection 20 must be greater than when the projection 20 is provided at the front end of the discharge hole 15.

[0028] [Protrusion (another embodiment)] Using Figure 3, we will describe another example of the embodiment, the projection 30.

[0029] The projection 30 is provided along the perimeter of the discharge hole 15. More specifically, the projection 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape along the perimeter of the discharge hole 15. The downward projection height of the front part of the projection 30 is greater than the downward projection height of the front part of the projection 20. The lower end (bottom) of the projection 30 may be formed to be inclined so as to rise towards the front. Preferably, the projection 30 is integrally formed with the bottom side member 12 by molding or the like.

[0030] By adopting the above configuration, the airflow during vehicle operation can be deflected by the projection 30, preventing it from colliding with the rear end of the exhaust port 15. This suppresses wind noise caused by cavity resonance in the hollow structure.

[0031] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and their modifications described above, and various changes and improvements are possible within the scope of the claims of this application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 10 Suspension arm, 11 Upper side member, 12 Lower side member, 15 Discharge hole, 20, 30 Protrusions

Claims

[Claim 1] A suspension arm connected to the wheel and the vehicle body, It has a hollow structure composed of an upper side member and a lower side member, The bottom side member is provided with a discharge hole that connects the inside of the cavity to the outside. A projection that protrudes downward is provided on the front side of the discharge hole. Suspension arm.

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