vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technology which eliminates a need for reinforcement for attachment of a stabilizer bar.SOLUTION: A vehicle includes: a vehicle body including a pair of side members extending in a front-back direction of the vehicle; a pair of trailing arms which respectively support wheels in a manner that the wheels can swing relative to the vehicle body; and a stabilizer bar extending in a vehicle width direction. Both ends of the stabilizer bar as seen in the vehicle width direction are respectively attached to the pair of trailing arms. An intermediate part of the stabilizer bar as seen in the vehicle width direction may be attached to the pair of side members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a stabilizer bar is attached to a side member and a suspension assembly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Twisting occurs in the stabilizer bar according to the behavior of the vehicle. The members to which the stabilizer bar is attached, in Patent Document 1, the side member and the suspension assembly, must have rigidity to receive the load due to the deformation of the stabilizer bar. In the suspension assembly, it must be reinforced to attach the stabilizer bar.

[0005] This specification provides a technology that does not require reinforcement due to the attachment of the stabilizer bar.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This specification discloses a vehicle comprising: a body having a pair of side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a pair of trailing arms, each supporting a wheel so as to be pivotable relative to the body; and a stabilizer bar extending in the width direction, wherein each end of the stabilizer bar in the width direction is attached to each of the pair of trailing arms, and the middle portion of the stabilizer bar in the width direction is attached to each of the pair of side members.

[0007] The trailing arm extends forward from the hub unit that rotatably supports the wheel, and its front end is pivotably supported by the vehicle body. Because of the large input loads, the trailing arm is manufactured with relatively high rigidity. Therefore, special reinforcement is either not required or can be minimized for the mounting of the stabilizer bar.

[0008] The system further comprises a suspension member connecting the pair of trailing arms to the vehicle body, and the stabilizer bar may be positioned further forward of the vehicle than the suspension member.

[0009] This configuration allows for space to be secured behind the suspension member for placing vehicle components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the configuration around the rear wheels of a vehicle. [Figure 2] Plan view of the area around the left rear wheel. [Figure 3] Enlarged perspective view of the area around the mounting position between the stabilizer bar and the trailing arm. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] (Examples) The vehicle 10 in this embodiment is a so-called automobile, a vehicle that travels on the road surface. Here, in the drawings, direction FR indicates the front of the vehicle 10 in the longitudinal direction, and direction RR indicates the rear of the vehicle 10 in the longitudinal direction. Direction LH indicates the left side of the vehicle 10 in the lateral direction, i.e., the vehicle width direction, and direction RH indicates the right side of the vehicle 10 in the lateral direction. Direction UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle 10 in the vertical direction, and direction DW indicates the downward direction of the vehicle 10 in the vertical direction. In this specification, the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, i.e., the vehicle width direction, and the vertical direction of the vehicle 10 may be simply referred to as the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, and the vertical direction, respectively.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 comprises a body 12 and a plurality of wheels 14. The body 12 has a passenger compartment, which is a space for passengers and luggage. The body 12 has a skeletal structure that includes a pair of side members 100 extending in the front-rear direction and one or more cross members (not shown) fixed to each of the pair of side members 100 and extending in the left-right direction. The pair of side members 100 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each of the pair of side members 100 may consist of a single member in the front-rear direction, or multiple members may be connected to each other. The side members 100 are made of a metal material such as steel or aluminum alloy and have a cylindrical shape with a square cross-section.

[0013] Multiple wheels 14 are rotatably mounted on the vehicle body 12. The multiple wheels 14 include a pair of front wheels (not shown; hereinafter referred to as "front wheels") located at the front of the vehicle body 12 and a pair of rear wheels 14 (hereinafter referred to as "rear wheels 14") located at the rear of the vehicle body 12. The pair of front wheels are arranged coaxially with each other, and the pair of rear wheels 14 are also arranged coaxially with each other.

[0014] Vehicle 10 further comprises a motor 16, a power control unit 18 (hereinafter referred to as "PCU 18"), a drive shaft 22, and a plurality of hub units 24, all mounted on the vehicle body 12. The plurality of hub units 24 include a pair of front wheel hub units (not shown) that rotatably support a pair of front wheels, and a pair of rear wheel hub units 24 that rotatably support a pair of rear wheels 14. Although not particularly limited, the motor 16 and the PCU 18 are mounted on vehicle 10 as an integrated electromechanical unit 20. The electromechanical unit 20 is connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels 14 (for example, a pair of rear wheels 14) via the drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 is connected to each of the pair of rear wheel hub units 24 and transmits the driving torque from the motor 16 to the pair of rear wheels 14. In this way, the motor 16 drives the pair of rear wheels 14.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 further comprises a battery unit 26. The battery unit 26 incorporates multiple secondary battery cells. The battery unit 26 is connected to the motor 16 via a PCU 18 and supplies power to the motor 16. The PCU 18 incorporates a DC-DC converter and / or inverter and controls the power transmitted between the battery unit 26 and the motor 16. Although not shown, an electronic control unit (ECU) has a processor and, for example, gives control commands to the PCU 18 in response to user operations. The vehicle 10 may further comprise other prime movers, such as an engine, in place of or in addition to the motor 16. The vehicle 10 is not limited to electric vehicles, but may also be an engine vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, etc.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 10 further comprises a pair of suspension units 28, a suspension member 30, and a stabilizer bar 50. The suspension member 30 supports the electromechanical unit 20 at the rear of the vehicle 10 and is attached to the vehicle body 12. The pair of suspension units 28 are attached to the suspension member 30, and through the suspension member 30, they are attached to the vehicle body 12. The pair of suspension units 28 have a symmetrical structure with respect to the central axis of the vehicle 10. Therefore, the structure of the suspension unit 28 located on the left side of the vehicle 10 will be described representatively below.

[0017] The suspension unit 28 comprises several arms 32, 34, and 36. These arms include an upper arm 32, a lower arm 34, and a trailing arm 36. The upper arm 32 and the lower arm 34 support the left rear wheel hub unit 24 from the inside of the vehicle in the lateral direction and extend along the lateral direction of the vehicle 10. The upper arm 32 passes above the lower arm 34. The base end of the upper arm 32, i.e., the end located inside the vehicle 10, is pivotably fixed to the suspension member 30, and the tip end 32b of the upper arm 32, i.e., the end located outside the vehicle 10, is pivotably fixed to the rear wheel hub unit 24. Similarly, the base end of the lower arm 34, i.e., the end located inside the vehicle 10, is pivotably fixed to the suspension member 30, and the tip end 34b of the lower arm 34, i.e., the end located outside the vehicle 10, is pivotably fixed to the left rear wheel hub unit 24.

[0018] The trailing arm 36 extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 10. The front end 36a of the trailing arm 36 is pivotably fixed to a structural member of the vehicle 10 (e.g., a side member 100). The rear end 36b of the trailing arm 36 is pivotably fixed to the left rear wheel hub unit 24. The multiple arms 32, 34, and 36 pivotably suspend the pair of rear wheel hub units 24 relative to the vehicle body 12. Each part of the suspension unit 28 is made of metal, such as steel or aluminum alloy.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the suspension unit 28 further comprises a coil spring 38 and a shock absorber 40. The coil spring 38 is a spring member having a cylindrical shape with a coil shaft extending in the vertical direction. The shock absorber 40 is a member for damping vibrations caused by the coil spring 38. The coil spring 38 is provided between the trailing arm 36 and the vehicle body 12. Specifically, the upper end of the coil spring 38 is fixed to the vehicle body 12 (for example, the left side member), and the lower end is fixed to the trailing arm 36. The coil spring 38 is also located in front of the upper arm 32. The upper end of the shock absorber 40 is fixed to the vehicle body 12, and the lower end is fixed to the left rear wheel hub unit 24. As described above, the suspension unit 28 is attached to the vehicle body 12 and suspends a pair of rear wheel hub units 24 so as to be displaceable relative to the vehicle body 12.

[0020] The suspension unit 28 is not limited to the rear wheels 14 of the vehicle 10, but may also be used for the front wheels of the vehicle 10. In this case, the motor 16 should be configured to drive a pair of front wheels instead of a pair of rear wheels 14. Similarly, the drive shaft 22 should rotatably support a pair of front wheel hub units instead of a pair of rear wheel hub units 24.

[0021] The stabilizer bar 50 is arranged to suppress the inclination of the vehicle body 12 during the running of the vehicle 10. The stabilizer bar 50 has a solid columnar shape or a hollow cylindrical shape extending in the left - right direction. The stabilizer bar 50 is made of a metal material such as a steel material, for example. The stabilizer bar 50 extends forward from each of its left and right ends, curves backward and toward the center in the left - right direction of the vehicle 10, and extends in the left - right direction at an intermediate position.

[0022] In the range where the stabilizer bar 50 overlaps with the suspension member 30 in the left - right direction, the stabilizer bar 50 is arranged in front of the suspension member 30. Each of the left and right ends of the stabilizer bar 50 is arranged at a position that overlaps with the suspension member 30 in the front - rear direction. In a modified example, each of the left and right ends of the stabilizer bar 50 may be in front of or behind the suspension member 30.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the stabilizer bar 50 is attached to the lower surface of the side member 100 by a mount member 52 at an intermediate position in the left - right direction. The mount member 52 includes a groove 52a into which the stabilizer bar 50 is inserted, and openings 52b, 52b into which bolts are inserted in the front - rear direction of the groove 52a. The mount member 52 is fixed to the side member 100 by bolts inserted into the openings 52b, 52b. The mount member 52 allows the torsion of the stabilizer bar 50. The mount member 52 is arranged outside the suspension member 30 in the left - right direction. The mount member 52 supports the portion of the stabilizer bar 50 located at the most forward position.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the stabilizer bar 50 is attached to the trailing arm 36 at both the left and right ends. The stabilizer bar 50 is connected to the mounting portion 36c of the trailing arm 36 via a link member 54. The end 50a of the stabilizer bar 50 is pivotably connected to the upper end 54a of the link member 54. The lower end of the link member 54 is pivotably attached to the mounting portion 36c that rises upward from the upper surface of the trailing arm 36. The link member 54 is connected to the trailing arm 36 and the stabilizer bar 50, respectively, via pivot shafts 54b and 54c. The mounting portion 36c is located near the mounting position of the hub unit 24 of the trailing arm 36.

[0025] The stabilizer bar 50 functions to suppress the tilt of the vehicle body 12 when the vehicle 10 tilts to the left or right, such as when the vehicle 10 turns a curve or changes lanes. In this case, twisting occurs in the stabilizer bar 50.

[0026] The stabilizer bar 50 is attached to the side member 100 and the trailing arm 36. The side member 100 is a skeletal member of the vehicle body 12 and is also a member that absorbs energy in the event of a collision, so high rigidity is required. The trailing arm 36 is a member that connects the hub unit 24 of the wheel 14 to the vehicle body 12, so high rigidity is also required. Thus, the stabilizer bar 50 is attached to members that require high rigidity in order to ensure the performance of the vehicle 10. With this configuration, the stabilizer bar 50 can be attached without specially reinforcing the side member 100 and the trailing arm 36 to improve their rigidity. Alternatively, the stabilizer bar 50 can be attached without significantly reinforcing the side member 100 and the trailing arm 36. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in the weight of the vehicle body 12 by reinforcing to support the stabilizer bar 50.

[0027] In the trailing arm 36, the mounting portion 36c to which the stabilizer bar 50 is attached is located near the mounting position of the hub unit 24 of the trailing arm 36. The area of ​​the trailing arm 36 near the mounting position of the hub unit 24 is designed to have high strength and rigidity in order to support the hub unit 24. With this configuration, the trailing arm 36 can properly hold the stabilizer bar 50 without requiring any special reinforcement of the trailing arm 36.

[0028] Furthermore, by positioning the stabilizer bar 50 in front of the suspension member 30, components such as the drive shaft 22, motor 16, and PCU 18, which are located behind the suspension member 30, do not need to be positioned away from the suspension member 30.

[0029] Although several specific examples have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness individually or in combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10: Vehicle, 12: Body, 14: Wheels (rear wheels), 16: Motor, 18: Power control unit, 20: Mechatronic unit, 22: Drive shaft, 24: Hub unit, 26: Battery unit, 28: Suspension unit, 30: Suspension member, 36: Trailing arm, 38: Coil spring, 40: Shock absorber, 50: Stabilizer bar, 52: Mounting member, 54: Link member, 100: Side member

Claims

1. A vehicle body having a pair of side members extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, A pair of trailing arms, each supporting a wheel so as to be pivotable relative to the vehicle body, It is equipped with a stabilizer bar that extends in the width direction of the vehicle, Each of the ends of the stabilizer bar in the vehicle width direction is attached to each of the pair of trailing arms. A vehicle in which the stabilizer bar is directly attached to a pair of side members extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle by mounting portions provided on the left and right sides of the stabilizer bar at the intermediate portion of the stabilizer bar in the vehicle width direction.

2. The suspension further comprises a suspension member that connects the pair of trailing arms to the vehicle body, The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer bar extends forward from the attachment portion to the trailing arm, and the intermediate portion is positioned further forward than the suspension member.

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