Stabilizer unit

Abstract

To provide a technology for improving mountability by the structure of a stabilizer unit.SOLUTION: A stabilizer unit includes: a suspension member; a stabilizer bar extending in a vehicle width direction; and a stabilizer mount member for attaching the stabilizer bar to the suspension member. On an extension of a support portion supported by the stabilizer mount member, the stabilizer bar overlaps a motor mount member for fixing a motor unit for vehicle travel to the suspension member, and on an inner side of the vehicle width direction than the support portion, the stabilizer bar may be bent toward a vehicle rear side to pass behind the motor mount member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present specification discloses a stabilizer unit to be mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle with a stabilizer bar attached to the front side. The stabilizer bar is attached to a suspension member by a pair of stabilizer brackets spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The stabilizer bar extends linearly in the vehicle width direction between the pair of stabilizer brackets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-111119 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In small vehicles, the components that need to be installed must be placed in a limited space. In electric vehicles equipped with a traction motor, it is necessary to secure space to prevent high-voltage cables from being damaged in the event of a vehicle collision, as well as space to install the battery, making component placement difficult.

[0005] This specification provides a technique for improving mountability by using a stabilizer unit structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This specification discloses a stabilizer unit including a suspension member, a stabilizer bar extending in a vehicle width direction, and a stabilizer mount member for attaching the stabilizer bar to the suspension member, wherein the stabilizer bar overlaps with a motor mount member for fixing a motor unit for vehicle travel to the suspension member on an extension of a support portion supported by the stabilizer mount member, and may be bent toward the rear of the vehicle on a side inward of the support portion in the vehicle width direction to pass behind the motor mount member.

[0007] According to the above configuration, by bending the stabilizer bar, it is possible to position the stabilizer bar so as to avoid the motor mount member. This means that the stabilizer bar does not need to be attached to the suspension member further rearward than the motor mount member. As a result, components located behind the stabilizer device do not need to be lowered rearward, and the components can be mounted in a limited space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section III-III of FIG. 2.

[0009] The technical elements of the stabilizer unit disclosed in this specification are listed below. Note that each of the following technical elements is useful independently.

[0010] The suspension member may be provided with a groove recessed downward below a portion of the stabilizer bar that is positioned rearward of the support portion of the stabilizer bar.

[0011] The stabilizer bar twists in accordance with the vehicle's behavior. Because the stabilizer bar is bent, the bent portion of the stabilizer bar swings around the support portion supported by the stabilizer mount member. With the above configuration, the suspension member has a recessed groove on the underside, so that even if the stabilizer bar swings, it is possible to prevent the stabilizer bar from coming into contact with the suspension member.

[0012] The suspension member may include a first fastening portion fastened to the motor mount member at at least two locations in the vehicle width direction, and a second fastening portion fastened to the motor mount member at at least two locations in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and the length of the first fastening portion in the vehicle width direction may be longer than the length of the second fastening portion in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.

[0013] When fastening the suspension member and the motor mount member at multiple locations, increasing the spacing between the fastening locations allows the motor mount member to be stably attached to the suspension member. With this configuration, by increasing the length of the first fastening portion in the vehicle width direction, the motor can be stably attached to the suspension member without increasing the length of the second fastening portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0014] The stabilizer bar may be disposed below a cushion member disposed on the motor mount member.

[0015] Vibrations of the motor supported by the motor mount member are absorbed by the cushion member arranged on the motor mount member. With this configuration, by locating the stabilizer bar below the cushion member, even if the motor unit supported by the cushion member vibrates, it is possible to prevent the motor unit from coming into contact with the stabilizer bar.

[0016] (Example) As shown in Fig. 1, the stabilizer unit 10 is mounted on an electric vehicle equipped with a motor unit 50 for driving the vehicle. The stabilizer unit 10 is disposed in a space located at the front end of the vehicle, i.e., in a space formed under the hood. The stabilizer unit 10 is disposed between a pair of drive wheels 100 located at the front of the vehicle.

[0017] The stabilizer unit 10 includes a suspension member 12 and a stabilizer device 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the suspension member 12 is attached to a suspension device (not shown) that includes a coil spring, a damper, and a suspension arm disposed at each end of the vehicle width direction, and supports the suspension device. The suspension member 12 has a substantially rectangular frame.

[0018] The stabilizer device 20 is attached to the cross portion 12a on the vehicle rear side of the suspension member 12. The stabilizer device 20 includes a stabilizer bar 24 and a pair of mount members 22, 22. The stabilizer bar 24 extends in the vehicle width direction, and both ends thereof are connected to the axles of the drive wheels 100 by links.

[0019] The stabilizer bar 24 is attached to the suspension member 12 by a pair of mount members 22, 22. The pair of mount members 22, 22 are arranged at the same position in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The pair of mount members 22, 22 are arranged with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction. When inserted into the mount members 22, the stabilizer bar 24 is supported to be torsionally movable relative to the suspension member 12. Between the pair of mount members 22, 22, the stabilizer bar 24 is provided with two support portions 24a, 24a, two first vehicle width direction portions 24b, 24b, four bent portions 24c, 24c, 24c, 24c, two oblique portions 24d, 24d, and a second vehicle width direction portion 24e.

[0020] Each of the two support portions 24a, 24a is inserted into and gripped by each of the pair of mount members 22, 22. A first vehicle width direction portion 24b is connected to the vehicle inner side of the support portion 24a. The first vehicle width direction portion 24b is arranged linearly and parallel to the vehicle width direction. The two support portions 24a, 24a and the two first vehicle width direction portions 24b, 24b are arranged side by side on the same axis 24X. The first vehicle width direction portion 24b is bent toward the rear of the vehicle at a bending portion 24c at the end toward the vehicle inner side and connected to an inclined portion 24d. The inclined portion 24d is arranged so as to be inclined rearward with respect to the vehicle width direction.

[0021] The oblique portion 24d is bent at a bend point 24c at the vehicle inner end of the first vehicle width direction portion 24b so as to be parallel to the vehicle width direction, and is connected to one end of the second vehicle width direction portion 24e. The second vehicle width direction portion 24e is arranged parallel to the vehicle width direction. The second vehicle width direction portion 24e is arranged rearward of the axis 24X and parallel to the axis 24X. The second vehicle width direction portion 24e extends across the vehicle width center. The second vehicle width direction portion 24e is bent at the other end toward the vehicle front by the bend point 24c and connected to the oblique portion 24d. From the oblique portion 24d toward the vehicle width outer side opposite the second vehicle width direction portion 24e, the oblique portion 24d, the bend point 24c, and the first vehicle width direction portion 24b are lined up in this order, similar to the opposite side of the vehicle width center. The support portion 24a, the first vehicle width direction portion 24b, the bent portion 24c, the oblique portion 24d, the bent portion 24c, and the second vehicle width direction portion 24e are arranged symmetrically in the vehicle width direction at the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] A motor mount member 16 is disposed at the front of the vehicle in the second width direction portion 24e. The motor mount member 16 mounts the motor unit 50 to the suspension member 12. The motor mount member 16 supports the motor unit 50 at the rear end of the vehicle. The motor unit 50 is mounted to the suspension member 12 by two motor mount members 14, 14 disposed at the front end of the vehicle.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 3, the motor mount member 16 includes a base 16a and a support portion 16b. The base 16a is fastened to the suspension member 12 by four bolts 16c. As shown in Fig. 2, two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle width direction are disposed at the same position in the vehicle front-rear direction. Two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle front-rear direction are disposed at the same position in the vehicle width direction. The distance between two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle width direction is longer than the distance between two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0024] The base portion 16a extends upward from the suspension member 12. The base portion 16a is disposed on the axis 24X of the support portion 24a and the first vehicle width direction portion 24b, i.e., on an extension line of the support portion 24a and the first vehicle width direction portion 24b. The support portion 16b is disposed at the upper end of the base portion 16a. The support portion 16b includes a cushion member. The cushion member is made of rubber. The cushion member absorbs vibrations of the motor unit 50. The second vehicle width direction portion 24e of the stabilizer bar 24 is located rearward of the base portion 16a and disposed below the support portion 16b, i.e., the cushion member. In addition to the cushion member, the support portion 16b may also include an attachment portion that is attached to the motor unit 50.

[0025] The stabilizer bar 24 is disposed above the suspension member 12. A downwardly recessed groove 12b is disposed in the cross portion 12a of the suspension member 12 located below the second vehicle width direction portion 24e. The groove 12b is disposed over the entire vehicle width direction length of the second vehicle width direction portion 24e. This increases the distance between the second vehicle width direction portion 24e and the suspension member 12. In the vehicle front-rear direction, the groove 12b is longer than the second vehicle width direction portion 24e.

[0026] (effect) In the stabilizer device 20, the stabilizer bar 24 is bent toward the rear of the vehicle where the motor mount member 16 is located and is positioned rearward of the motor mount member 16 at the second widthwise portion 24e. This configuration allows the stabilizer bar 24 to be positioned so as to avoid the motor mount member 16. This eliminates the need to position the stabilizer bar 24 to the suspension member 12, i.e., the mount member 22, rearward of the motor mount member 16. As a result, components positioned rearward of the stabilizer device 20 do not need to be lowered rearward, allowing them to be mounted in a limited space. This eliminates the need to position the steering gear rearward of the stabilizer bar 24, thereby ensuring space around the high-voltage cable extending from the motor unit 50 in the fore-and-aft direction to the battery unit located rearward of the steering gear to prevent the high-voltage cable from being damaged in a vehicle collision. This facilitates the placement of necessary components within a limited space. Furthermore, the space available around the high-voltage cable allows for a larger battery unit placement space. This allows the battery unit to be enlarged and the charging capacity to be increased.

[0027] The stabilizer bar 24 twists in accordance with the behavior of the vehicle. Because the stabilizer bar 24 is bent, the diagonal portion 24d and the second widthwise portion 24e of the stabilizer bar 24 swing around the support portion 24a supported by the mount member 22, i.e., the axis 24X. The suspension member 12 has a groove 12b disposed below the second widthwise portion 24e. With this configuration, even if the stabilizer bar 24 swings, it is possible to prevent the stabilizer bar 24 from coming into contact with the suspension member 12.

[0028] The motor mount member 16 and the suspension member 12 are fastened together with four bolts 16c. Increasing the distance between the fastening points allows the motor mount member 16 to be stably attached to the suspension member 12. The distance between two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle width direction is longer than the distance between two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the motor unit 50 can be stably attached to the suspension member 12 via the motor mount member 16 without increasing the distance between two bolts 16c aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0029] The second width direction portion 24e is disposed below the support portion 16b, i.e., the cushion member. With this configuration, by disposing the stabilizer bar 24 below the support portion 16b, even if the motor unit 50 supported by the support portion 16b vibrates, it is possible to prevent the motor unit 50 from coming into contact with the stabilizer bar 24. This allows the distance between the motor mount member 16, i.e., the motor unit 50, and the stabilizer bar 24 to be shortened.

[0030] By reducing the distance between the motor unit 50 and the stabilizer bar 24, the space at the front end of the vehicle can be used as space for a radiator and piping for heat circulation.

[0031] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples exemplified above.

[0032] (1) The stabilizer bar 24 may have a configuration other than the two first vehicle width direction portions 24b, 24b, four bent portions 24c, 24c, 24c, 24c, two diagonal portions 24d, 24d, and the second vehicle width direction portion 24e. For example, the stabilizer bar 24 may have two support portions 24a, 24a and two first vehicle width direction portions 24b, 24b, and may have a shape that curves toward the rear of the vehicle between the two first vehicle width direction portions 24b, 24b. It is sufficient that the stabilizer bar 24 is disposed rearward of the motor mount member 16 in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction at the portion that overlaps with the motor mount member 16.

[0033] (2) The suspension member 12 does not have to have the groove 12b. In this case, the cross portion 12a of the suspension member 12 may be inclined downward toward the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, the groove 12b may have a shape that follows the two oblique portions 24d, 24d and the second vehicle width direction portion 24e.

[0034] (3) The suspension member 12 may be fastened to the motor mount member 16 using a number of bolts 16c other than four. For example, the suspension member 12 may be fastened to the motor mount member 16 using six bolts 16c. Two fastening portions, each consisting of three bolts 16c aligned along the vehicle longitudinal direction, may be spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. The space between the two fastening portions in the vehicle width direction may be longer than the length of the fastening portions in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The space between the two fastening portions is an example of the "vehicle width length of the first fastening portion," and the length of the fastening portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction is an example of the "vehicle width length of the second fastening portion."

[0035] Furthermore, the technical elements described in this specification or drawings may exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings may achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of those objectives alone is technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10: Stabilizer unit 12: Suspension member 12b: Groove 16: Motor mounting material 16a: Base 16b: Support part 16c: Bolt 20: Stabilizer device 22: Mounting material 24: Stabilizer bar 24a: Support part 24b: First vehicle width direction portion 24c: Bend 24d: Diagonal part 24e: Second width direction part 50: Motor unit 100: Drive wheels

Claims

1. A suspension member; a stabilizer bar extending in the vehicle width direction; a stabilizer mounting member for mounting the stabilizer bar to the suspension member, The stabilizer bar is an extension of a support portion supported by the stabilizer mount member overlaps with a motor mount member that fixes a motor unit for vehicle travel to the suspension member; The stabilizer unit is bent toward the rear of the vehicle and passes behind the motor mount member, on a position more inward in the vehicle width direction than the support portion.

2. The stabilizer unit according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension member is provided with a groove recessed downward below a portion of the stabilizer bar that is positioned rearward of the support portion of the stabilizer bar.

3. the suspension member includes a first fastening portion fastened to the motor mount member at at least two locations in the vehicle width direction, and a second fastening portion fastened to the motor mount member at at least two locations in the vehicle front-rear direction, The stabilizer unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a length of the first fastening portion in the vehicle width direction is longer than a length of the second fastening portion in the vehicle front-rear direction.

4. The stabilizer unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stabilizer bar is disposed below a cushion member disposed on the motor mount member.

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