Vehicle support structure

Abstract

A support structure (20) for vehicle satisfies adequate breaking strength while ensuring necessary strength, and comprises: a body portion (22); a damper attachment portion (24); a tie-rod attachment portion (26); and a lower arm attachment portion (28). The vehicle supporting structure (20) has formed therein a first rib (32) that connects the damper attachment portion (24) with the tie-rod attachment portion (26), a second rib (34) that connects the tie-rod attachment portion (26) and the lower arm attachment portion (28), and a third rib (36) that connects the first rib (32) with the second rib (34). The first rib (32) is inclined to have a height that gradually decreases from the damper attachment portion (24) toward the tie-rod attachment portion (26), forming a first inclined portion (32a) and a first thinned portion (32b). The third rib (36) is inclined to have a height that gradually decreases from the second rib (34) toward the first rib (32), forming a second inclined portion (36a) and a second thinned portion (36b).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle support structure having a structure that induces destruction when an inadvertent external force is applied to the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1 (JP 2014-91469 A), in order to maintain high rigidity in a vehicle support structure (steering knuckle), strength is ensured by forming a first rib connecting the damper mounting portion and the tie rod mounting portion, a second rib connecting the tie rod mounting portion and the lower arm mounting portion, and a third rib to reinforce these ribs.

[0003] The first rib, the second rib, and the third rib have a required width and height, and these ribs form a triangular shape when viewed from the front, thereby increasing the strength of the vehicle support structure 20. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-91469 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in the case of a vehicle support structure such as a steering knuckle, if an external force is inadvertently applied to the front side or diagonally forward side of the vehicle, a force will act on the steering knuckle together with the wheels in a forward or diagonal forward direction, causing the tie rod mounting part facing toward the rear of the vehicle to face toward the passenger compartment, and there is a risk that a member connected to the tie rod mounting part will intrude into the passenger compartment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This embodiment has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle support structure that has the necessary strength while also meeting the breaking strength requirements to withstand the application of inadvertent external force.

[0007] The vehicle support structure according to this embodiment includes a main body portion attached to a wheel support, a damper attachment portion located above the main body portion and to which a damper is attached, a tie rod attachment portion extending from the main body portion in either the front or rear direction of the vehicle and to which a tie rod is attached, and a lower arm attachment portion located below the main body portion and to which a lower arm is attached, a first rib connecting the damper attachment portion and the tie rod attachment portion, a second rib connecting the tie rod attachment portion and the lower arm attachment portion, and a front In the vehicle support structure having a third rib connecting the first rib and the second rib, the first rib is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the damper mounting portion toward the tie rod mounting portion, thereby having a first inclined portion and a first thin-walled portion that forms the bottom of the first inclined portion, and the third rib is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the second rib toward the first rib, thereby having a second inclined portion and a second thin-walled portion that forms the bottom of the second inclined portion.

[0008] The first inclined portion and the second inclined portion can be formed so that the first thin portion and the second thin portion overlap when viewed from a side surface of the main body. A through hole for mounting a wheel speed sensor may be formed in a side surface of the main body near the first thin portion and the second thin portion. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to claim 1, while maintaining rigidity, when the tie rod mounting portion located on the passenger compartment side is pushed from the front of the vehicle toward the passenger compartment due to an external impact during a vehicle collision, etc., the tie rod mounting portion is broken so that it bends in a direction that prevents the tie rod from entering the passenger compartment, thereby suppressing the impact on the passenger compartment. According to claim 2, the starting point of fracture can be controlled, so that the fracture strength can be efficiently satisfied. According to claim 3, by forming a through hole for mounting a wheel speed sensor in the side surface portion near the first thin portion and the second thin portion, the starting point of the fracture can be controlled more easily. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle support structure according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the vehicle support structure according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle support structure according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a front view (viewed from the vehicle side) of a vehicle support structure 20 in this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a right side view of the vehicle support structure 20, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle support structure 20. The vehicle support structure (steering knuckle: hereinafter simply referred to as knuckle) 20 according to this embodiment is made of aluminum and is cast mainly by gravity casting. 1 to 3 show a knuckle 20 for a right front wheel. The knuckle for a left front wheel has a shape symmetrical to the knuckle 20 shown in FIG.

[0012] The basic structure and function of the knuckle 20 are well known, so they will be briefly described below. As shown in Fig. 3, the knuckle 20 has a concave main body 22 with the wheel attachment side as the bottom. An axle hole 21 into which the wheel axle is rotatably fitted is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the recess of the main body 22. Four bolt holes 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are formed in the bottom of the main body 22 around the axle hole 21 into which bolts of a wheel hub (not shown) serving as a wheel support are screwed.

[0013] A plurality of support arms extend from the main body 22 to which various members are connected. A damper attachment portion 24 is formed at the tip of a support arm 24a extending upward from the main body portion 22, to which a damper (not shown) of a suspension is connected. A tie rod mounting portion 26 is formed at the tip of the support arm 26a extending from the main body portion 22 in either the front or rear direction of the vehicle (toward the rear of the vehicle in FIG. 1) to which a tie rod (not shown) that transmits steering force from a steering wheel (not shown) is connected.

[0014] Below the main body portion 22, a lower arm attachment portion 28 is formed to which a lower arm (not shown) which is a control arm of the suspension is connected. Mounting holes 30a, 30b for mounting a brake caliper (not shown) are formed in the side surface of the main body 22 opposite to the side surface where the tie rod mounting portion 26 is located.

[0015] A first rib 32 that connects the damper mounting portion 24 and the tie rod mounting portion 26 is formed between them. The first rib 32 has a required height when viewed from the bottom surface of the main body portion 22, and also has a required width. A second rib 34 that connects the tie rod attachment portion 26 and the lower arm attachment portion 28 is formed between them. The second rib 34 has a required height when viewed from the bottom surface of the main body portion 22, and also has a required width. The second rib 34 is formed wider than the first rib 32 .

[0016] A third rib 36 is formed between the first rib 32 and the second rib 34 to bridge the two. The third rib 36 constitutes a part of the wall of the main body portion 22 having a concave shape. In order for these ribs to have a required width, a recess 38 is formed by casting in the area surrounded by the first rib 32, the second rib 34 and the third rib 36.

[0017] The first rib 32, second rib 34, and third rib 36, which have the required height and width, form a structure that is triangular in front view, thereby ensuring the necessary strength (rigidity) even in aluminum knuckles, which have lower strength than iron knuckles. In addition, reference numeral 40 denotes a through hole provided on the side surface of the main body 22 for mounting a wheel speed sensor.

[0018] In this embodiment, the first rib 32 is formed with a first inclined portion 32a that gradually decreases in height from the damper mounting portion 24 toward the tie rod mounting portion 26, and a first thin-walled portion 32b that is short in height and forms the bottom of the first inclined portion 32a is formed.

[0019] In addition, a second inclined portion 36a is formed in the third rib 36, the height of which gradually decreases from the second rib 34 toward the first rib 32, and a second thin portion 36b is formed as the bottom of the second inclined portion 36a. Therefore, when viewed from the side of the knuckle 20 (FIG. 2), the inclined surface of the first inclined portion 32a and the inclined surface of the second inclined portion 36a intersect in a substantially V-shape. Also, when viewed from the side of the knuckle 20, the first inclined portion 32a and the second inclined portion 36a are formed such that the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b substantially overlap each other. In this embodiment, the through hole 40 for mounting the wheel speed sensor provided on the side of the main body 22 is positioned near the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b.

[0020] In this way, the first rib 32 and the third rib 36 are secured to have a relatively long rib of a required height by shortening the thin portions thereof, thereby securing a triangular structure formed by the first rib 32, the second rib 34 and the third rib 36, and maintaining the required strength (rigidity) under normal conditions.

[0021] On the other hand, the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b respectively become the starting points for bending of the first rib 32 and the third rib 36. When an external force is applied to the knuckle 20 from the front side direction or the diagonal front direction due to inadvertent application of an external force from the front side direction or the diagonal front direction, the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b respectively become the starting points for bending of the first rib 32 and the third rib 36, the first rib 32 and the third rib 36 are bent, and the knuckle 20 as a whole is bent between the damper mounting portion 24 and the tie rod mounting portion 26, reducing the possibility that the tie rod mounting portion 26 will intrude into the vehicle cabin, thereby suppressing the impact on the vehicle cabin. By appropriately setting the length of the first inclined portion 32a, and therefore the position of the first thin portion 32b, and the second inclined portion 36a, and therefore the position of the second thin portion 36b, the starting point of bending (breakage) can be controlled.

[0022] Furthermore, as described above, when the through hole 40 for mounting the wheel speed sensor provided on the side portion of the main body portion 22 is positioned near the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b, the strength of the first thin portion 32b and the second thin portion 36b is further reduced, so that when an inadvertent force is applied from the outside, the knuckle 20 is more likely to bend at that portion, thereby further suppressing the impact on the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle support structure comprising a main body portion attached to a wheel support, a damper attachment portion located above the main body portion and to which a damper is attached, a tie rod attachment portion extending from the main body portion in either the front or rear direction of the vehicle and to which a tie rod is attached, and a lower arm attachment portion located below the main body portion and to which a lower arm is attached, wherein a first rib connecting the damper attachment portion and the tie rod attachment portion, a second rib connecting the tie rod attachment portion and the lower arm attachment portion, and a third rib connecting the first rib and the second rib are formed, the first rib is inclined so that its height gradually decreases from the damper mounting portion toward the tie rod mounting portion, thereby having a first inclined portion and a first thin-walled portion that serves as a bottom portion of the first inclined portion; A vehicle support structure characterized in that the third rib has a second inclined portion and a second thin-walled portion that forms the bottom of the second inclined portion, by being inclined so that the third rib gradually decreases in height from the second rib toward the first rib.

2. 2. The vehicle support structure according to claim 1, A vehicle support structure characterized in that the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion are formed so that the first thin portion and the second thin portion overlap when viewed from the side of the main body portion.

3. The vehicle support structure according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle support structure, characterized in that a through hole for mounting a wheel speed sensor is formed in a side portion of the main body near the first thin portion and the second thin portion.

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