Vehicle bracket

Abstract

To provide a vehicle bracket that can suppress damage caused by the load applied to the hook. [Solution] The vehicle bracket is a vehicle bracket for attaching a towing hook to a towed vehicle, and comprises a mounting portion that is attached to the vehicle's body frame, a through hole formed on the inner surface with a female thread that engages with a male thread formed on the outer surface of the hook, a vertical surface that is flush with the opening end surface on one side of the through hole and perpendicular to the direction in which the hook is inserted, and a rib protruding from the vertical surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle bracket.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle bracket (hereinafter simply referred to as a bracket) for attaching a towing hook to a vehicle has been known. For example, there is known a bracket having a hole formed with an internal thread on the inner peripheral surface, and a base end portion of a hook formed with an external thread on the outer peripheral surface is inserted into this hole (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle bracket capable of suppressing damage due to a load applied to a hook.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A vehicle bracket according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle bracket for attaching a towing hook to a vehicle to be towed, and includes a mounting portion attached to a vehicle body frame of the vehicle, a through hole formed with an internal thread on the inner peripheral surface that is screwed with an external thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hook, a vertical surface that is flush with an opening end surface on one side of the through hole and is a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the hook, and a rib protruding from the vertical surface.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present disclosure, damage due to a load applied to a hook can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a conventional bracket [Figure 2] Top view of a conventional bracket [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view AA of a conventional bracket [Figure 4] Perspective view of the bracket in the improved example. [Figure 5] Perspective view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 6] Top view of the bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 7] Side view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 8] Front view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of the bracket according to the embodiment of this disclosure [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] <Challenges of conventional technology> The challenges of the conventional technology will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Common components in each figure are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0009] First, we will describe Bracket 1, an example of the prior art, using Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view of Bracket 1. Figure 2 is a top view of Bracket 1. Figure 3 is an AA (see Figure 2) cross-sectional view of Bracket 1.

[0010] The double arrows shown in Figures 1 to 3 indicate the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to which bracket 1 is attached (not shown; the towed vehicle). Direction a indicates the front side of the vehicle (an example of the other side), and direction b indicates the rear side of the vehicle (an example of the one side).

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bracket 1 is provided with a cylindrical through-hole 11. Although illustration is omitted, a female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 11.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the proximal end portion 22 (details will be described later) of the towing hook 2 is inserted into the through-hole 11. The hook 2 is inserted into the through-hole 11 along the direction b. Hereinafter, the direction b will also be referred to as the "insertion direction of the hook 2".

[0013] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 1 is provided with a cylindrical through-hole 13.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, a bolt 15 having a male thread formed on its outer peripheral surface is inserted into the through-hole 13. The inserted bolt 15 is inserted into a through-hole (not shown) provided in the vehicle body frame and fitted into a nut (not shown) having a female thread formed on its inner peripheral surface. Thereby, the bracket 2 is fixedly attached to the vehicle body frame 3 (for example, a side member) as shown in FIG. 2. The through-hole 13 and the bolt 15 correspond to an example of the "attachment portion".

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the hook 2 has an annular tip portion 21 at one end and a cylindrical proximal end portion 22 at the other end.

[0016] Although illustration is omitted, for example, a long member (for example, a rope or the like) connected to a towing vehicle (not shown, the vehicle on the towing side) is tied to the tip portion 21. The tip portion 21 may have a shape other than annular (for example, a hook shape or the like).

[0017] Also, although illustration is omitted, a male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end portion 22. This male thread is screwed with the female thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 11 when the proximal end portion 22 is inserted into the through-hole 11. Thereby, the hook 2 is fixedly attached to the bracket 1.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bracket 1 has an inclined portion 14 on the rear side (direction b side) of the vehicle. And as shown in FIG. 3, a counterboring process is performed on the range R1 of the inclined portion 14. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a step 12 perpendicular to the insertion direction of the hook 2 is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the step 12 is flush with the rear end face 11a which is the opening end face on the rear side of the vehicle of the through hole 11.

[0019] In FIG. 3, the range R2 which is on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the step 12 corresponds to the through hole 11, and an internal thread (not shown) is formed on its inner peripheral surface. On the other hand, in FIG. 3, no internal thread is formed in the range R1 which is on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the step 12.

[0020] The reason for performing the counterboring process is that if the opening end face of the through hole 11 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the hook 2, a high load is applied to the threading tool and there is a risk of damage. Therefore, by forming the step 12 through the counterboring process, the rear end face 11a of the through hole 11 can be made perpendicular and the inclination can be eliminated. The front end face 11b which is the opening end face on the front side of the vehicle of the through hole 11 is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the hook 2 in advance. Therefore, no counterboring process is performed on the front end face side 11b.

[0021] However, there is a problem that the implementation of the counterboring process is costly.

[0022] Next, as a measure for suppressing the cost of the counterboring process, a bracket 10 which is a modified example of the bracket 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket 10. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to FIGS. 1 to 3. Also, the description of those components is omitted.

[0023] The bracket 10 is manufactured by significantly reducing the thickness of the inclined portion 14 of the bracket 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. By this thickness reduction, in the bracket 10, as shown in FIG. 4, a vertical surface 16 and a parallel surface 17 are formed.

[0024] The vertical surface 16 is a plane formed around the rear end surface 11a of the through hole 11, is flush with the rear end surface 11a of the through hole 11, and is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the hook 2. The parallel surface 17 is a plane formed below the vertical surface 16, is perpendicular to the vertical surface 16, and is parallel to the insertion direction of the hook 2.

[0025] In this way, the bracket 10 eliminates the inclination of the rear end surface 11a of the through hole 11 with respect to the insertion direction of the hook 2 by forming a vertical surface 16 without requiring counterboring.

[0026] However, the significant reduction in thickness described above leads to a decrease in the strength of the bracket 10. For example, if the hook 2 is pulled in direction a and a load is applied to the hook 2, the bracket 10 may be damaged. Specifically, the area near the corner formed by the vertical surface 16 and the parallel surface 17 may break.

[0027] Therefore, a bracket that can suppress damage caused by the load applied to hook 2 is desired.

[0028] <Embodiments of this Disclosure> Hereinafter, the bracket 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 9. In Figures 5 to 9, components common to Figures 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, the description of these components will be omitted.

[0029] Figure 5 is a perspective view of bracket 100. Figure 6 is a top view of bracket 100. Figure 7 is a side view of bracket 100. Figure 8 is a front view of bracket 100. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of bracket 100 at BB (see Figure 6). In Figures 5, 8, and 9, X is the axial center of the inserted hook 2 (not shown).

[0030] As shown in Figures 5 to 9, the bracket 100 has a rib 18 in the inclined portion 14 that protrudes from the vertical surface 16 toward direction b.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, the rib 18 is roughly U-shaped when viewed from directly above.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the rib 18 is provided so as to partially surround the rear end surface 11a of the through hole 11. More specifically, the rib 18 is provided so as to surround the lower semicircular portion of the rear end surface 11a.

[0033] Furthermore, the rib 18 is positioned so that when the hook 2 is pulled, the tensile force is transmitted from the axial center X of the hook 2 to the through hole 13 (and a bolt 15, not shown). In other words, the rib 18 can transmit the load on the hook 2 to the vehicle frame 3 via the bracket 1.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the highest points at both ends of the rib 18 are the same as the axial center X of the hook 2. By aligning the heights at both ends in this way, the load from the hook 2 can be transmitted evenly. Note that the highest points of the rib 18 may be higher than the axial center X.

[0035] The rib 18 includes a curved surface 19 as an example of a shape that avoids interference (contact) with the hook 2 inserted into the through hole 11. The curved surface 19 is a surface that is curved so as to form a predetermined clearance between it and the base end portion 22 that protrudes from the rear end surface 11a toward direction b.

[0036] By providing the curved surface 19 in this way, the base end portion 22 that protrudes from the rear end surface 11a interferes with the rib 18, thus avoiding the problem of the hook 2 not being able to be inserted in the correct position.

[0037] As described above, the bracket 100 of this embodiment is a vehicle bracket for attaching a towing hook 2 to a towed vehicle, and is characterized by having a mounting portion (for example, a through hole 13 and a bolt 15) that is attached to the vehicle body frame 3, a through hole 11 with a female thread formed on its inner surface that engages with a male thread formed on the outer surface of the hook 2 when the towing hook 2 is inserted, a vertical surface 16 that is flush with one side of the through hole 11's open end surface (for example, the rear end surface 11a) and perpendicular to the insertion direction of the hook 2 (for example, direction b), and a rib 18 protruding from the vertical surface 16.

[0038] Therefore, in the bracket 100 of this embodiment, damage caused by the load applied to the hook 2 can be suppressed. In addition, the cost of counterboring can be reduced.

[0039] This disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. [Industrial applicability]

[0040] The vehicle bracket of this disclosure is useful as a bracket for attaching a towing hook to the vehicle body. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1, 10, 100 brackets 2 hooks 11 Through holes 11a Rear end surface 11b Front end surface 12 steps 13 Through holes 14 Slope 15 volts 16 vertical plane 17 Parallel surfaces 18 Ribs 19 Curved surface 21 Tip 22 Proximal end

Claims

1. A vehicle bracket for attaching a towing hook to a towed vehicle, A mounting portion attached to the vehicle body frame, A male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the hook engages with a female thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of a through hole, A vertical surface which is the same plane as the open end face on one side of the through hole and is perpendicular to the direction in which the hook is inserted, Having a rib protruding from the vertical surface, Vehicle bracket.

2. The rib is provided so as to partially surround the periphery of the through hole. The vehicle bracket according to claim 1.

3. The ribs are arranged such that when the hook is pulled, the tensile force is transmitted from the axial center of the hook to the mounting portion. The vehicle bracket according to claim 1.

4. The highest part of the rib is the same as the axial center of the hook. The vehicle bracket according to claim 1.

5. The rib includes a shape that avoids interference with the hook inserted into the through hole. The vehicle bracket according to claim 1.

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