Elastic connector for vehicle suspension

Abstract

To provide an elastic connection tool for a vehicle suspension which enables an elastic center to be set at the upper side while securing an occupant space in a vehicle.SOLUTION: A connection tool 1A for a vehicle suspension includes: a lower part 2 attachable to one of a vehicle body side member and a suspension side member; an upper part 3 attachable to the other of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member; and an elastic core 4 connected to the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 between the lower part 2 and the upper part 3. The elastic core 4 is curved downward so that an elastic center O1 of the elastic core 4 is located above the elastic core 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elastic coupler for a vehicle suspension.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional elastic couplers for vehicle suspensions (hereinafter also simply referred to as "elastic couplers") include, for example, lower arm bushes that connect the lower arm of a front suspension to the vehicle body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, other conventional elastic couplers include, for example, compliance bushes that connect a lower suspension to the vehicle body (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, as compliance bushes, torque correction bushes having a torque correction function are known (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, it is preferable to set the elastic center of the elastic connector to a higher position, for example, with the aim of improving ride comfort. With such a setting, it is possible to suppress nose dive (a phenomenon in which the load shifts forward and the front of the vehicle sinks) that may occur during braking, or to suppress the occurrence of harshness (a phenomenon that generates impact noise and vibration from road surface irregularities). For this reason, some of the conventional elastic connectors have been modified to set the elastic center to a higher position by changing the internal structure of the cylindrical bush.

[0005] However, all of the conventional elastic connectors described above are cylindrical bushings. When a cylindrical bushing is placed inside a vehicle, it is necessary to secure a large space for it because it is pressed into a separately provided holder (bracket). In addition, due to the layout of the vehicle, it may be necessary to place the elastic connector at the occupant's feet while securing space for the occupant inside the vehicle. In this case, if one tries to secure space in the foot area inside the vehicle, it becomes difficult to set the elastic center at a higher position.

[0006] In other words, all of the conventional elastic connectors described above were constrained by the vehicle's spatial layout when setting the elastic center to a higher position. Therefore, there is a need for an elastic connector that can set the elastic center to a higher position while ensuring sufficient passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension that can set the elastic center upward while ensuring passenger space inside the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) The elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to the present invention is a connector for a vehicle suspension that connects a vehicle body side member and a suspension side member, comprising: a lower part that can be attached to one of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member; an upper part that can be attached to the other of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member; and an elastic core connected to the lower part and the upper part between the lower part and the upper part, wherein the elastic core is curved downward such that the elastic center of the elastic core is located above the elastic core. According to the vehicle suspension connector according to the present invention, the elastic center can be set to the upper side while securing passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0009] (2) In the elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in (1) above, the elastic core may be provided with elastic members and rigid members arranged alternately in the vertical direction. In this case, the elastic connector for vehicle suspension is effective for use as a compliance bush for the front suspension.

[0010] (3) In the elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in (1) above, the lower part has a side wall, the upper part is positioned inward in the width direction from the side wall of the lower part and has a side wall adjacent to the side wall of the lower part, the elastic core is connected to the lower part and the upper part between the side wall of the lower part and the side wall of the upper part, and the elastic core may be inclined outward in the width direction from the front to the rear in a plan view. In this case, the elastic connector for vehicle suspension is effective for use as a toe-correcting bush for a rear suspension.

[0011] (4) In the elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in (2) above, the upper part is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member, and the upper part has a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other along the curvature direction of the elastic core, and it is preferable that the contact portion provided on the vehicle body side is provided on the lower part. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the upper part and the lower part are displaced excessively relative to each other along the curvature direction of the elastic core.

[0012] (5) The elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in (2) or (4) above preferably has an upper part which is a part which can be attached to the suspension side member, and the upper part which has a contact portion which can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other along the curvature centerline of the elastic core, and the contact portion provided on the vehicle body side is provided on the lower part. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the upper part and the lower part are displaced excessively relative to each other along the curvature centerline of the elastic core.

[0013] (7) In any of the above (2), (4), or (5) elastic connectors for vehicle suspension, the upper part is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member, and the upper part has a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the upper part is displaced downward, and the contact portion provided on the vehicle body side may be provided on the lower part. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the upper part and the lower part are excessively displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction.

[0014] (8) In the elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in (3) above, the upper part is a part that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, and the upper part has a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the suspension side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other in the front-rear direction, and furthermore, the contact portion provided on the suspension side may be provided on the lower part. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the upper part and the lower part are displaced excessively relative to each other along the curvature direction of the elastic core.

[0015] (9) In the elastic connector for vehicle suspension described in either (3) or (7) above, it is preferable that the upper part is a part that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, and that the upper part has a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the suspension side when the lower part is displaced downward, and that the contact portion provided on the suspension side is provided on the lower part. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the upper part and the lower part are excessively displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction.

[0016] (10) In any of the elastic connectors for vehicle suspension described in (3), (7), or (8) above, the elastic core may have a space inside it. In this case, the rigidity of the elastic core can be easily adjusted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension that allows the elastic center to be set upwards while ensuring passenger space inside the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front view showing an elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is a plan view of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing, in the X1-X1 cross section of FIG. 2, a state where the upper part and the lower part of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1 are excessively displaced so as to approach each other along the bending direction of the elastic core. [Figure 5] It is a front view schematically showing, in the X1-X1 cross section of FIG. 2, a state where the upper part and the lower part of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1 are excessively displaced so as to move away from each other along the bending direction of the elastic core. [Figure 6] It is a plan view schematically showing an example of a lower arm of a front suspension that can adopt the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is a side view schematically showing the sinking state of the vehicle during braking. [Figure 8] It is a skeleton view schematically showing the elastic center when the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 1 is adopted for the front suspension of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a plan view schematically showing the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view showing the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 9 in the X2-X2 cross section. [Figure 12] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing, in solid lines, a state where the lower part of the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 11 is displaced downward and rearward along the bending direction of the elastic core with respect to the upper part, and further showing, in broken lines, a state where the lower part is displaced upward and rearward along the bending direction of the elastic core with respect to the upper part. [Figure 13] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension of FIG. 10 in the X3-X3 cross section. [Figure 14A]Figure 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the displacement of the lower part when a force is applied to the left rear tire, which is attached to the vehicle body by an elastic coupling for the vehicle suspension, in a direction outward in the width direction. [Figure 14B] Figure 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the displacement of the lower part when a force is applied to the left rear tire, which is attached to the vehicle body by an elastic coupling for the vehicle suspension, in the widthwise direction. [Figure 15] This is a schematic plan view showing an example of a trailing arm member of a rear suspension that can employ an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a schematic, enlarged perspective view showing the front end of the trailing arm that constitutes the trailing arm member. [Figure 17] This is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of an elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to a second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the X2-X2 section in Figure 9. [Figure 18] This cross-sectional view, corresponding to the X2-X2 section in Figure 9, shows another modified example of the elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" refer to the front, rear, left, right, up, and down when installed on a vehicle, respectively.

[0020] Figure 1 shows an elastic connector 1A for a vehicle suspension (hereinafter also simply referred to as "elastic connector 1A") according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front. The elastic connector 1A can connect a vehicle body side member (not shown) and a suspension side member (not shown). Here, the vehicle body side member is a member that constitutes all or part of the vehicle body. The suspension side member is a member that constitutes part of the suspension.

[0021] In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1A attaches the lower arm of the front suspension to the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1A is attached to the lower arm to the vehicle body such that the right side of the elastic connector 1A is located on the inside in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter also referred to as "inside in the width direction") and the left side of the elastic connector 1A is located on the outside in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter also referred to as "outside in the width direction"). In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1A functions as a compliance bush attached to the rear end of the lower arm of the front suspension of the left front tire.

[0022] The elastic connector 1A comprises a lower part 2 that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, an upper part 3 that can be attached to the suspension side member, and an elastic core 4 connected between the lower part 2 and the upper part 3. The elastic core 4 is curved downwards such that its elastic center O1 is located above the elastic core 4.

[0023] In this embodiment, the lower part 2 includes a connecting member 5 that connects the elastic core 4, a mounting member 6 for attaching the lower part 2 to the vehicle body side member, and a bracket 7 that connects the connecting member 5 and the mounting member 6.

[0024] In this embodiment, the connecting member 5 extends in the curvature direction of the elastic core 4 (in this embodiment, "the direction of rotation in the left-right direction around the elastic center O1"). In this embodiment, the connecting member 5 is made of a plate material with the direction extending in the left-right direction (also called the "width direction") as the longitudinal direction, and the front-back direction (in Figure 1, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper) as the short direction. In this embodiment, the left-right direction of the connecting member 5 is made up of a curved portion 5a and a flat portion 5b. In this embodiment, the curved portion 5a has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, the curved portion 5a is made up of a quadrant in a front (rear) view as shown in Figure 1. Here, a quadrant is a circular arc with an inscribed angle θ of 0 < θ < 90 degrees. In this embodiment, the vertex (inflection point) of the curved portion 5a is located on the lower left side (outward and downward in the width direction). On the other hand, the flat portion 5b extends along the left-right direction. The flat portion 5b, by being connected to the curved portion 5a, constitutes the connecting member 5.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an elastic core 4 is connected to the upper surface f5 of the connecting member 5. In this embodiment, the upper surface f5 of the connecting member 5 is composed of a curved surface f51 and a flat surface f52. The curved surface f51 is the upper surface of the curved portion 5a, which has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the curved surface f51 is composed of a quadrant outline in a front (rear) view. In this embodiment, the vertex (inflection point) of the curved surface f51 is also located on the lower left side (outward and downward in the width direction). On the other hand, the flat surface f52 is also the upper surface of the flat portion 5b, which extends along the left-right direction. The flat surface f52 also connects to the curved surface f51 to form the upper surface f5 of the connecting member 5. In this embodiment, the upper surface f5 of the connecting member 5 is formed by a smooth surface.

[0026] Figure 2 shows the elastic connector 1A from above. In this embodiment, the mounting member 6 is made of a plate material with the longitudinal direction being the direction extending along the left-right direction and the short direction being the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the mounting member 6 has a mounting hole A6 that penetrates the mounting member 6. In this embodiment, the mounting member 6 has a flat main body portion 61. In this embodiment, the mounting hole A6 is provided in the main body portion 61. In this embodiment, the mounting member 6 has two mounting holes A6 as an example. However, there only needs to be at least one mounting hole A6. Furthermore, the mounting member 6 can be attached to the vehicle body side member by a method other than the mounting hole A6.

[0027] Figure 3 shows the elastic connector 1A from the rear (back) side. In this embodiment, the mounting member 6 is provided with a vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 is located widthwise outward from the bracket 7. The vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 is positioned above the upper part 3. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 extends downward. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 is integrally connected with the main body portion 61. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 is composed of an inclined portion that approaches inward in the widthwise direction as it moves upward. In other words, in this embodiment, the widthwise inner surface of the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 is composed of an inclined surface f62 that approaches inward in the widthwise direction as it moves upward.

[0028] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the bracket 7 includes a main body portion 71 formed in the shape of a plate. The main body portion 71 includes a support wall 72 that supports the connecting member 5 and the mounting member 6. In this embodiment, a lower mounting portion 73 to which the connecting member 5 is attached is provided at the lower end of the support wall 72. Also in this embodiment, an upper mounting portion 74 to which the mounting member 6 is attached is provided at the upper end of the support wall 72.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper half of the support wall 72 constitutes the vehicle body side widthwise inner contact portion 75, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise inner contact portion 75 is composed of an inclined portion that approaches the outside in the widthwise direction as it moves upward. In other words, in this embodiment, the widthwise outer surface of the vehicle body side widthwise inner contact portion 75 is composed of an inclined surface f75 that approaches the outside in the widthwise direction as it moves upward.

[0030] In addition, in this embodiment, the lower half of the support wall 72 constitutes the vehicle body side lower contact portion 76, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side lower contact portion 76 is composed of protrusions that project outward in the width direction. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side lower contact portion 76 is positioned at a distance from the upper part 3 and the elastic core 4, at a position behind them (towards the front of the page in Figure 3).

[0031] On the other hand, the upper part 3 is positioned above the lower part 2 with a gap in between. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 is made of a plate-like member whose longitudinal direction is the direction extending in the left-right direction and whose short direction is the front-back direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 3). The upper part 3 has a lower end portion 31 that extends in the left-right direction. The lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 is made of a quadrant in a rear (front) view as shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the vertex (inflection point) of the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 is located diagonally downward to the left (outward downward in the width direction).

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower surface f3 of the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 (hereinafter also referred to as "the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3") is a curved surface that has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 is formed by a smooth surface. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 is composed of a quadrant outline in a rear (front) view. In this embodiment, the vertex (inflection point) of the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 is also located on the lower left side (outward and downward in the width direction).

[0033] In addition, in this embodiment, the widthwise inner end 32, which stands upright, is connected to the widthwise inner end 32 of the lower end 31 of the upper part 3 (the right end of the lower end 31 in Figure 3). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the widthwise outer end 33, which stands upright, is also connected to the widthwise outer end 31 of the lower end 31 of the upper part 3 (the left end of the lower end 31 in Figure 3). In other words, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 has a plate-like portion that is bent into a U shape. As a result, in the upper part 3 of this embodiment, the lower end 31, the widthwise inner end 32, and the widthwise outer end 33 form recesses that are open at the front and back and open at the top.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with an inner contact portion 37 in the width direction on the suspension side, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the inner contact portion 37 in the width direction on the suspension side is composed of an inner end portion 32 in the width direction on the upper part 3 and an elastic member 41 that covers the inner surface in the width direction on the width direction on the inner end portion 32 on the upper part 3. The inner contact portion 37 in the width direction on the suspension side can be brought into contact with the inner contact portion 75 in the width direction on the vehicle body side of the lower part 2. The elastic member 41 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the inner contact portion 75 in the width direction on the vehicle body side of the lower part 2. However, the elastic member 41 can be omitted.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a suspension-side widthwise outer contact portion 38, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the suspension-side widthwise outer contact portion 38 is composed of a widthwise inner end portion 32 of the upper part 3 and an elastic member 42 that covers the widthwise outer surface of the widthwise inner end portion 32 of the upper part 3. The suspension-side widthwise outer contact portion 38 can be brought into contact with the vehicle body-side widthwise outer contact portion 62 of the lower part 2. The elastic member 42 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the vehicle body-side widthwise outer contact portion 62 of the lower part 2. However, the elastic member 42 can be omitted.

[0036] In addition, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a front wall 34. In this embodiment, the front wall 34 is connected to the front ends of the lower end 31, the widthwise inner end 32, and the widthwise outer end 33, and closes the front opening of the recess. Thus, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a recess 3C that is closed at the front. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 of the lower part 2 is housed in the recess 3C of the upper part 3. The vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 of the lower part 2 is positioned at a distance in the front-rear direction from the front wall 34 of the upper part 3. In this embodiment, the front wall 34 of the upper part 3 constitutes the suspension side front contact portion 39. In this embodiment, the suspension side front contact portion 39 (front wall 34) of the upper part 3 can be brought into contact with the vehicle body side widthwise outer contact portion 62 of the lower part 2 when the upper part 3 is displaced to the rear. In other words, in this embodiment, the outer contact portion 62 in the width direction of the lower part 2 on the vehicle body side also serves as the rear contact portion on the vehicle body side, which will be described later.

[0037] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2, the upper part 3 is provided with a mounting portion 35 for attachment to the suspension side member. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 35 is a plate-shaped portion extending forward from the front wall 34 of the upper part 3. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 35 has mounting holes A35 that penetrate through it. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 35 has three mounting holes A35 as an example. However, at least one mounting hole A35 is sufficient. Furthermore, the mounting portion 35 can be attached to the suspension side member by means other than the mounting holes A35.

[0038] In this embodiment, the mounting portion 35 has an inner end in the width direction that is an extension of the inner end 32 in the width direction, and an outer end in the width direction that is an extension of the outer end 33 in the width direction. As a result, in this embodiment, the mounting portion 35 forms a recess that is open at the front and rear and open at the top. However, the mounting portion 35 can be a flat mounting portion instead of a mounting portion with a recess. Note that the elastic members 41 and 42 are omitted in Figure 2.

[0039] In addition, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a suspension-side upper contact portion 36, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the suspension-side upper contact portion 36 is composed of a projection that protrudes to the rear. As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the suspension-side upper contact portion 36 is positioned above the vehicle body-side lower contact portion 76. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the suspension-side upper contact portion 36 extends beyond the vehicle body-side lower contact portion 76, crossing the vehicle body-side lower contact portion 76 in the front-rear direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 3) (see Figure 2). As is clear from the positional relationship in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the suspension-side upper contact portion 36 of the upper part 3 can come into contact with the vehicle body-side lower contact portion 76 of the lower part 2 when the upper part 3 is displaced downward.

[0040] On the other hand, as described above, the elastic core 4 is curved downwards such that its elastic center O1 is located above the elastic core 4. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is connected to the curved portion 5a of the connecting member 5 of the lower part 2 and to the upper part 3 (at least the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3). Specifically, the elastic core 4 is connected to the connecting member 5 and the upper part 3 between the curved surface f51 of the connecting member 5 and the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3. This allows the elastic core 4 to be easily curved downwards such that its elastic center O1 is located above the elastic core 4. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is also composed of a quadrant in a rear (front) view, as shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the elastic core 4 is located diagonally downwards to the left (outward downwards in the width direction). The curved surface f51 of the connecting member 5 and the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 are preferably smooth, but the elastic core 4 does not have to be smooth as long as it is curved downwards so that the elastic center O1 of the elastic core 4 is located above the elastic core 4.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the elastic core 4 comprises elastic members 4a and rigid members 4b arranged alternately in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is a laminated structure of elastic members 4a and rigid members 4b. In this embodiment, the elastic members 4a and rigid members 4b are also curved downwards. Specifically, the vertices (inflection points) of the elastic members 4a and rigid members 4b are also located diagonally downwards to the left.

[0042] In this embodiment, the elastic member 4a is made of rubber. Also in this embodiment, the rigid member 4b is made of metal. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 can be formed, for example, by vulcanizing (or vulcanizing and bonding) the elastic member 4a together with the connecting member 5 of the lower part 2, the upper part 3, and the rigid member 4b. However, the elastic member 4a is not limited to a rubber material. The rigid member 4b is also not limited to a metal material.

[0043] Conventional cylindrical bushings connect an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder housing the inner cylinder with an elastic member. Therefore, with conventional cylindrical bushings, one of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member is attached to the inner cylinder, while the other is attached to the outer cylinder. As a result, the elastic center of the elastic member (cylindrical bushing) is substantially set at the center of the inner cylinder, that is, inside the cylindrical bushing, and there are limitations to setting it further upward. In addition, when considering ride comfort inside the vehicle, it is sometimes preferable to set the elastic center higher. However, when using conventional cylindrical bushings, there are limitations to setting the elastic center higher, so for example, if it is desired to set the elastic center higher while positioning it at the occupant's feet, it is difficult to secure occupant space inside the vehicle.

[0044] In contrast, the elastic connector 1A connects the lower part 2 and the upper part 3, which is positioned above the lower part 2, with an elastic core 4. Therefore, with the elastic connector 1A, one of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member is attached to the lower part 2, while the other of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member is attached to the upper part 3. Furthermore, with the elastic connector 1A, the elastic core 4 connecting the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 is curved downwards. As a result, the elastic center O1 of the elastic core 4 (elastic connector 1A) is set above the elastic core 4, as shown in Figure 3, for example. Therefore, by using the elastic connector 1A, for example, the elastic center O1 can be set above the cylindrical bush while maintaining the same installation height as the cylindrical bush. In other words, by using the elastic connector 1A, the elastic center O1 of the elastic connector 1A can be set above the cylindrical bush while the elastic connector 1A is positioned at the foot of the vehicle. Therefore, with the elastic connector 1A, the elastic center O1 can be set to the upper side while ensuring passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0045] Incidentally, compliance bushes have the function of suppressing harshness (a phenomenon that generates impact noise and vibration when driving over uneven ground). In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1A can be used as a compliance bush for the front suspension in place of a cylindrical bush when attaching the rear end of the lower arm to the vehicle body. On the other hand, the rear end of the lower arm of the front suspension tends to sway in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) while the vehicle is in motion. For this reason, when using the elastic connector 1A as a compliance bush, it is preferable to increase the rigidity of the elastic core 4. Therefore, in the elastic connector 1A, the elastic core 4 comprises an elastic member 4a and a rigid member 4b, and is a laminated structure in which these are arranged alternately in the vertical direction. In this case, the rigidity of the elastic core 4 is higher than that of an elastic core composed only of elastic members. Therefore, the elastic connector 1A is effective for use as a compliance bush for the front suspension.

[0046] Furthermore, in the elastic connector 1A, the upper part 3 is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member. The upper part 3 is equipped with contact parts (37, 38) that can come into contact with contact parts (62, 75) provided on the vehicle body side when the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are displaced relatively along the curvature direction (i.e., in the circumferential direction around the elastic center O1). In other words, in the elastic connector 1A, the lower part 2 is equipped with contact parts (62, 75) that can come into contact with contact parts (37, 38) provided on the suspension side when the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are displaced relatively along the curvature direction (i.e., in the circumferential direction around the elastic center O1). In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are excessively displaced relative to each other along the curvature direction. Specific examples are explained in Figures 4 and 5.

[0047] Figure 4 schematically shows a state in which the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are excessively displaced so that they are approaching each other along the curvature direction. As shown in Figure 4, when the lower part 2 (vehicle body) and the upper part 3 (suspension) are excessively close in the left-right direction (width direction), the contact between the inner contact portion 37 in the width direction on the suspension side and the inner contact portion 75 in the width direction on the vehicle body side can suppress the excessive approach between the suspension and the vehicle body.

[0048] Figure 5 schematically shows a state in which the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are excessively displaced so as to move away from each other along the curvature direction. As shown in Figure 5, when the lower part 2 (vehicle body) and the upper part 3 (suspension) move excessively far apart in the left-right direction (width direction), the contact between the outer contact portion 38 in the width direction on the suspension side and the outer contact portion 62 in the width direction on the vehicle body side can suppress the excessive separation between the suspension and the vehicle body.

[0049] The inner contact portion 37 and outer contact portion 38 in the width direction on the suspension side can be provided on the suspension (for example, the suspension side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the inner contact portion 37 and outer contact portion 38 in the width direction on the suspension side are integrally provided as the upper part 3. In this case, relative displacement in the left-right direction can be limited within the elastic connector 1A. Therefore, there is no need to provide separate contact portions on the suspension around the elastic connector 1A. Thus, in this case, the interior configuration can be simplified. Similarly, the outer contact portion 62 and inner contact portion 75 in the width direction on the vehicle body side can be provided on the vehicle body (for example, the vehicle body side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the outer contact portion 62 and inner contact portion 75 in the width direction on the vehicle body side are integrally provided as the lower part 2. In this case as well, there is no need to provide separate contact portions on the vehicle body around the elastic connector 1A. Thus, in this case as well, the interior configuration can be simplified.

[0050] The suspension-side front contact portion 39 can be provided on the suspension (for example, the suspension-side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the suspension-side front contact portion 39 is integrally provided as the upper part 3. In this case, relative displacement in the longitudinal direction can be limited within the elastic connector 1A. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate contact portion on the suspension surrounding the elastic connector 1A. Thus, in this case, the interior configuration can be simplified. Similarly, the vehicle body-side widthwise outer contact portion (vehicle body-side rear contact portion) 62 can be provided on the vehicle body (for example, the vehicle body-side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the vehicle body-side widthwise outer contact portion (vehicle body-side rear contact portion) 62 is integrally provided as the lower part 2. In this case as well, there is no need to provide a separate contact portion on the vehicle body surrounding the elastic connector 1A. Thus, in this case as well, the interior configuration can be simplified.

[0051] Here, Figure 6 schematically shows an example of a lower arm 101 of a front suspension 100A that can employ an elastic connector 1A. In Figure 6, only the lower arm 101 on the left side of the vehicle is shown. Reference numeral 102 denotes a strut. The tire 200 is connected to the lower arm 101 by a knuckle 103. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 of the elastic connector 1A is attached to the rear end of the lower arm 101, as shown in Figure 6.

[0052] Figure 7 schematically shows the vehicle's sinking state during braking. Vehicles generally tend to experience nose dive (forward tilting) during braking. When nose dive occurs, the vehicle sinks down at the front due to pitch rotation around the pitch rotation center OP, as shown in Figure 7. One way to suppress pitching in a vehicle is to adjust the suspension geometry of the front suspension (the geometric shape and positional relationship of the elements that make up the suspension). Referring to Figure 7, the nose dive can be suppressed by bringing the vehicle's pitch rotation center OP closer to the vehicle's center of gravity OG.

[0053] Figure 8 is a schematic skeleton diagram illustrating the relationship between the pitch rotation center OP0, which can be set by the conventional cylindrical bush B, and the pitch rotation center OP1, which can be set by the elastic connector 1A. Referring to Figure 8, when the conventional cylindrical bush B is placed in the position shown in Figure 8, the elastic center of the cylindrical bush B is set inside the cylindrical bush B, as shown by the dashed line. Therefore, when the conventional cylindrical bush B is used as a compliance bush attached to the rear end of the lower arm 101, the pitch rotation center OP0 is at the position shown in Figure 8. In contrast, as shown in Figure 8, when the elastic connector 1A is placed in the same position as the cylindrical bush B, the elastic center O1 of the elastic connector 1A is set higher than that of the cylindrical bush B (elastic connector 1A). Therefore, when the elastic connector 1A is used as a compliance bush attached to the rear end of the lower arm 101, the pitch rotation center OP1 is closer to the vehicle's center of gravity OG, as shown in Figure 8.

[0054] Incidentally, even when using cylindrical bushing B, the pitch rotation center OP0 can be brought closer to the vehicle's center of gravity OG by lowering the height of the mounting portion P1 of the strut 102, which is attached to the front side of the lower arm 101. However, there is a limit to how low the mounting portion P1 can be when the strut 102 is attached to the lower arm 101, due to its relationship with the road surface.

[0055] On the other hand, by raising the installation height of the cylindrical bush B attached to the rear of the lower arm 101, the installation height of the cylindrical bush B can be raised to the position of the elastic center O1, thereby bringing the vehicle closer to the center of gravity OG even when using the cylindrical bush B. However, since the rear of the lower arm 101 is located below the feet of the front occupants, raising the installation height of the cylindrical bush B may make it impossible to secure a comfortable occupant space.

[0056] In contrast, by using the elastic connector 1A instead of the cylindrical bush B, the pitch rotation center OP1 can be brought closer to the vehicle's center of gravity OG while maintaining the installation height of the elastic connector 1A at the same height as the cylindrical bush B. Therefore, with the elastic connector 1A, it is possible to suppress the vehicle's sinking state during braking while securing passenger space inside the vehicle. In other words, with the elastic connector 1A, it is possible to achieve both ride comfort and handling stability while securing passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0057] Figure 9 schematically shows an elastic connector 1B for a vehicle suspension (hereinafter also simply referred to as "elastic connector 1B") according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. Figure 10 schematically shows the elastic connector 1B from its left side. Furthermore, Figure 11 shows the elastic connector 1B of Figure 9 in an X2-X2 cross-section.

[0058] The elastic connector 1B can also connect a vehicle body side member (not shown) and a suspension side member (not shown). In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1B attaches the trailing arm of the rear suspension to the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the trailing arm is attached to the vehicle body such that the right side of the elastic connector 1B is located inward in the vehicle width direction and the left side of the elastic connector 1B is located outward in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1B functions as a toe-correcting bush attached to the front end of the trailing arm of the lower suspension of the left rear tire.

[0059] The elastic connector 1B comprises a lower part 2 that can be attached to the suspension side member, an upper part 3 that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, and an elastic core 4 connected between the lower part 2 and the upper part 3. In this embodiment as well, as shown in Figure 11, the elastic core 4 is curved downwards such that the elastic center O1 of the elastic core 4 is located above the elastic core 4.

[0060] Referring to Figure 11, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 includes a lower end portion 21 in its lower part. In this embodiment, the lower part 2 is composed of a plate-like portion whose end direction is the direction extending in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 11) and whose longitudinal direction is the front-back direction. In this embodiment, the lower end portion 21 has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the lower end portion 21 protrudes downward in a cross-sectional (side) view. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the lower end portion 21 is located on the lower side (directly below).

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an elastic core 4 is connected to the upper surface f2 of the lower part 2. In this embodiment, the upper surface f2 of the lower part 2 includes a curved surface f21. The curved surface f21 is the upper surface of the lower end portion 21, having its center of curvature on the upper side and curving downwards. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the curved surface f21 is composed of a contour line that protrudes downwards in a longitudinal cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the curved surface f21 is located on the lower side (directly below). In this embodiment, the curved surface f21 is formed by a smooth surface.

[0062] Referring to Figure 10, the lower part 2 is provided with a side wall 22. In this embodiment, the side wall 22 is connected to the lower end portion 21 and is formed in a plate shape together with the lower end portion 21. In this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a curved plate-shaped side wall 22 that includes at least a portion of the lower end portion 21. In other words, in this embodiment, the side wall 22 includes at least a portion of the lower end portion 21. However, the side wall 22 does not have to include the lower end portion 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side wall 22 is provided with an opening 23 that penetrates the side wall 22 in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 10).

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a mounting portion 24. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 24 is provided with a mounting plate 25 connected to the side wall 22. In this embodiment, the lower part 2 has a mounting hole A25 that penetrates the mounting plate 25. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 24 is provided with two mounting holes A25 as an example. However, at least one mounting hole A25 is sufficient. Furthermore, the mounting portion 24 can be attached to the suspension side member by means other than the mounting hole A25.

[0064] On the other hand, the upper part 3 is positioned above the lower part 2 at a distance. The upper part 3 has a mounting portion 80 on its upper side. Referring to Figure 9, in this embodiment, the mounting portion 80 is configured as a flange. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 has a mounting hole A80 that penetrates the mounting portion 80. In this embodiment, the widthwise inner portion 81 of the mounting portion 80 extends in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, two mounting holes A80 are formed in the widthwise inner portion 81 of the mounting portion 80, as an example. However, at least one mounting hole A80 is sufficient. Also, in this embodiment, the mounting portion 80 has a vehicle body side lower contact portion 82. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side lower contact portion 82 is the widthwise outer portion of the mounting portion 80. The vehicle body side lower contact portion 82 extends in the width direction. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side lower contact portion 82 is exposed to the outside in the width direction by penetrating an opening 23 formed in the side wall 22 of the lower part 2. In this embodiment, the side wall 22 of the lower part 2 is provided with an upper contact portion 29 on the suspension side. In this embodiment, the upper contact portion 29 on the suspension side is a beam portion of the side wall 22 formed on the upper side of the opening 23. The upper contact portion 29 on the suspension side extends in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, one mounting hole A80 is provided in the exposed portion of the lower contact portion 82 on the vehicle body side, as an example. However, there should be at least one mounting hole A80. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 can be fixed to the lower surface of the vehicle body side member by passing fastening elements such as bolts through the mounting hole A80. However, the mounting portion 80 can be attached to the suspension side member by a method other than the mounting hole A80.

[0065] Referring to Figure 11, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is composed of a plate-like portion whose shorter side is in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 11) and whose longer side is in the front-back direction. The upper part 3 has a lower end portion 31 on its lower side. The lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 protrudes downward in a cross-sectional (side) view. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the lower end portion 31 is located on the lower side (directly below).

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower surface of the lower end portion 31 of the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 (hereinafter also referred to as "the lower surface of the upper part 3") is a curved surface f31 that has its center of curvature on the upper side and curves downward. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the curved surface f31 protrudes downward in a cross-sectional (side) view. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the curved surface f31 is located on the lower side (directly below). In this embodiment, the lower surface f3 of the upper part 3 is formed by a smooth surface.

[0067] On the other hand, as described above, the elastic core 4 is curved downwards such that its elastic center O1 is located above the elastic core 4. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is connected to the lower part 2 (at least the lower end portion 21 of the lower part 2) and the upper part 3 (at least the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3). Specifically, the elastic core 4 is connected to the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 between the curved surface f21 of the lower part 2 and the curved surface f31 of the upper part 3. This allows the elastic core 4 to be easily curved downwards such that its elastic center O1 is located above the elastic core 4. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 also protrudes downwards in a cross-sectional (side) view, as shown in Figure 11. In this embodiment, the apex (inflection point) of the elastic core 4 is located downwards (directly below). The curved surface f21 of the lower part 2 and the curved surface f31 of the upper part 3 are preferably smooth, but the elastic core 4 does not have to be smooth as long as it is curved downwards such that the elastic center O1 of the elastic core 4 is located above the elastic core 4.

[0068] In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is formed solely of an elastic material. In other words, in this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is composed only of an elastic member (4a), with the rigid member (4b) omitted.

[0069] A specific example of the elastic connector 1B is shown in Figure 12. The solid line in Figure 12 schematically shows a state in which the lower part 2 of the elastic connector 1B is displaced rearward and downward relative to the upper part 3 along the curvature direction of the elastic core 4 (in this embodiment, "the direction of rotation in the front-rear direction around the elastic center O1"). Furthermore, the dashed line in Figure 12 schematically shows a state in which the lower part 2 is displaced rearward and upward relative to the upper part 3 along the curvature direction of the elastic core 4. As shown in Figure 12, the elastic connector 1B can also function as a compliance bush with its elastic center O1 positioned above the elastic core 4.

[0070] Figure 13 shows the elastic connector 1B schematically in the X3-X3 section of Figure 10.

[0071] As described above, the lower part 2 has a side wall 22. The upper part 3 is positioned inward in the width direction from the side wall 22 of the lower part 2 and has a side wall 302 adjacent to the side wall 22 of the lower part 2. The elastic core 4 is connected to the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 between the side wall 22 of the lower part 2 and the side wall 301 of the upper part 3. As shown in Figure 13, in a cross-sectional (plan) view, the elastic core 4 is inclined outward in the width direction from the front to the rear.

[0072] Referring to Figure 13, the side wall 22 of the lower part 2 is plate-shaped, with the longitudinal direction being the direction extending in the front-rear direction and the end direction being the direction extending in the up-down direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 13). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 13, the side wall 22 is inclined outward in the width direction from the front to the rear in a cross-sectional (plan) view. In addition, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a front wall 27. In this embodiment, the front end of the side wall 22 is connected to the front wall 27. The front wall 27 extends along the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a rear wall 28. In this embodiment, the rear end of the side wall 22 is connected to the rear wall 28. The rear wall 28 extends along the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the side wall 22 constitutes the left side wall of the lower part 2. In this embodiment, there is no right side wall on the right side of the lower part 2. That is, in this embodiment, an opening is formed on the right side of the lower part 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the right side of the lower part 2 is open to the outside world through the opening. In this embodiment, the lower end 21 of the lower part 2 is connected to the side wall 22, the front wall 27, and the rear wall 28. This closes the lower end of the lower part 2.

[0073] In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 is connected to the inner surface f22 of the side wall 22 of the lower part 2. In this embodiment, the inner surface f22 of the side wall 22 is composed of a contour line that slopes outward in the width direction from the front to the rear in a cross-sectional (plan) view, as shown in Figure 13. In addition, in this embodiment, the inner surface f22 of the side wall 22 is formed by a smooth surface.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a suspension-side front contact portion 210, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the suspension-side front contact portion 210 is composed of a front wall 27 of the lower part 2 and an elastic member 43 that covers the rear surface f27 of the front wall 27 of the lower part 2. The suspension-side front contact portion 210 can be brought into contact with the vehicle-side front contact portion 310 of the upper part 3, which will be described later. The elastic member 43 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the vehicle-side front contact portion 310 of the upper part 3. However, the elastic member 43 can be omitted.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 is provided with a suspension-side rear contact portion 220, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the suspension-side rear contact portion 220 is composed of a rear wall 28 of the lower part 2 and an elastic member 44 that covers the front surface f28 of the rear wall 28 of the lower part 2. The suspension-side rear contact portion 220 can be brought into contact with the vehicle body-side rear contact portion 320 of the upper part 3, which will be described later. The elastic member 44 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the vehicle body-side rear contact portion 320 of the upper part 3. However, the elastic member 44 can be omitted.

[0076] In this embodiment, the side wall 302 of the upper part 3 is also composed of a plate-like portion whose longitudinal direction is the direction extending in the front-rear direction, and whose short direction is the direction extending in the up-down direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 13). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 13, the side wall 302 is inclined outward in the width direction from the front to the rear in a cross-sectional (plan) view. In addition, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a front wall 303. In this embodiment, the front end of the side wall 302 is connected to the front wall 303. The front wall 303 extends along the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a rear wall 304. In this embodiment, the rear end of the side wall 302 is connected to the rear wall 304. The rear wall 304 extends along the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the side wall 302 constitutes the left side wall of the upper part 3. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with another side wall 305. In other words, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is a hollow member in cross-sectional (plan) view as shown in Figure 13. In this embodiment, the lower end portion 31 of the upper part 3 is connected to the front wall 303, the rear wall 304, and the side walls 302 and 305. This closes the lower end of the upper part 3.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a vehicle body-side front contact portion 310. In this embodiment, the vehicle body-side front contact portion 310 is composed of a front wall 303 of the upper part 3 and an elastic member 45 that covers the front surface f303 of the front wall 303. The vehicle body-side front contact portion 310 can be brought into contact with the suspension-side front contact portion 210 of the lower part 2. The elastic member 45 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the suspension-side front contact portion 210 of the lower part 2. However, the elastic member 45 can be omitted.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part 3 is provided with a vehicle body side rear contact portion 320. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side rear contact portion 320 is composed of the rear wall 304 of the upper part 3 and an elastic member 46 that covers the front surface f304 of the rear wall 304. The vehicle body side rear contact portion 320 can be brought into contact with the suspension side rear contact portion 220 of the lower part 2. The elastic member 46 functions as a cushioning member when it comes into contact with the suspension side rear contact portion 220 of the lower part 2. However, the elastic member 46 can be omitted.

[0079] Figure 14A schematically shows the displacement of the lower part 2 when a force is applied to the left rear tire, which is attached to the vehicle body by the elastic connector 1B, in the widthwise outward direction. When the vehicle is turned left while moving forward, the left rear tire receives a lateral force from the road surface, directed from the inside to the outside of the vehicle, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 14A. As a result, the lower part 2 to which the trailing arm is attached is displaced from the front to the rear relative to the upper part 3 attached to the vehicle body, as shown by the black arrow. As a result, in this embodiment, when the vehicle is turned left while moving forward, the left rear tire tilts inward in the direction of the turn. In this case, it is possible to suppress spin that may occur in the vehicle when it is turned left while moving forward. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the toe-correct function (a function that generates an elastic reaction force so that the direction of the tire is directed inward in the direction of the turn when a lateral force is applied to the tire contact point during a vehicle turn) can be activated when the vehicle is turned left while moving forward.

[0080] Next, Figure 14B schematically shows the displacement state of the lower part 2 when a force is applied to the left rear tire, which is attached to the vehicle body by the elastic connector 1B, in the widthwise direction. When the vehicle is turned to the right while moving forward, the left rear tire receives a lateral force from the road surface, directed from the outside to the inside of the vehicle, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 14B. As a result, the lower part 2 to which the trailing arm is attached is displaced from the rear to the front relative to the upper part 3 attached to the vehicle body, as shown by the black arrow. As a result, in this embodiment, even when turning to the right while the vehicle is moving forward, the left rear tire also tilts inward in the direction of the turn. In this case, it is possible to suppress spin that may occur in the vehicle when turning to the right while the vehicle is moving forward. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the toe-correct function (preventing the vehicle from spinning by directing the tires inward in response to lateral forces during turns while the vehicle is moving) can also be performed when turning to the right while the vehicle is moving forward.

[0081] Therefore, the elastic connector 1B is effective for use as a toe-correcting bush in the rear suspension.

[0082] Furthermore, in the elastic connector 1B, the upper part 3 is a part that can be attached to the vehicle body side member. The upper part 3 is equipped with contact parts (310, 320) that can come into contact with contact parts (210, 220) provided on the suspension side when the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are displaced relatively in the longitudinal direction. In other words, in the elastic connector 1B, the lower part 2 is equipped with contact parts (210, 220) that can come into contact with contact parts (310, 320) provided on the vehicle side when the elastic core 4 is displaced relatively in the longitudinal direction. In this case, a safety measure can be taken when the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are excessively displaced relative to each other along the curvature direction. Specific examples are explained in Figures 14A and 14B.

[0083] As shown in Figure 14A, when the lower part 2 (suspension) and the upper part 3 (vehicle body) are excessively close to each other in the front direction, the contact between the front contact portion 210 on the suspension side and the front contact portion 310 on the vehicle body side can suppress excessive proximity between the suspension and the vehicle body at the front. Conversely, as shown in Figure 14B, when the lower part 2 (suspension) and the upper part 3 (vehicle body) are excessively close to each other in the rear direction, the contact between the rear contact portion 220 on the suspension side and the rear contact portion 320 on the vehicle body side can suppress excessive proximity between the suspension and the vehicle body at the rear.

[0084] The suspension-side front contact portion 210 and the suspension-side rear contact portion 220 can be provided on the suspension (for example, the suspension-side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the suspension-side front contact portion 210 and the suspension-side rear contact portion 220 are integrally provided as the lower part 2. In this case, relative displacement in the longitudinal direction can be limited within the elastic connector 1B. Therefore, there is no need to provide separate contact portions on the suspension around the elastic connector 1B. Thus, in this case, the interior configuration can be simplified. Similarly, the vehicle body-side front contact portion 310 and the vehicle body-side rear contact portion 320 can be provided on the vehicle body (for example, the vehicle body-side member). In contrast, in this embodiment, the vehicle body-side front contact portion 310 and the vehicle body-side rear contact portion 320 are integrally provided as the upper part 3. In this case as well, there is no need to provide separate contact portions on the vehicle body around the elastic connector 1B. Thus, in this case as well, the interior configuration can be simplified. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the contact portions (210, 220, 310, 330) are each integrally provided with the elastic core 4. In this case, the internal structure of the elastic connector 1B can be simplified.

[0085] Figure 15 schematically shows an example of a trailing arm member 104 of a rear suspension 100B that can employ an elastic connector 1B. The trailing arm member 104 comprises two trailing arms 105 spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a torsion beam 106 connecting the two trailing arms 105. A knuckle 103 for connecting a tire is provided at the rear end of each trailing arm 105.

[0086] In this embodiment, the upper part 3 of the elastic connector 1B is attached to the lower surface of the vehicle body side member. The upper part 3 of the elastic connector 1B is fixed to the vehicle body side member by fastening elements such as bolts through the mounting hole A80. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the lower part 2 of the elastic connector 1B is attached to the front end of the trailing arm 105. Referring to Figure 16, in this embodiment, a mounting hole A105 is formed at the front end of the trailing arm 105. The upper part 3 of the elastic connector 1B is fixed to the mounting hole A105 of the trailing arm 105 by fastening elements such as bolts that are passed through the mounting hole A25. In this embodiment, the elastic connector 1B is attached to the front end of the trailing arm 105 on the left rear tire side (left side of the paper in Figure 15). Note that an elastic connector (1B) symmetrical to the elastic connector 1B is attached to the front end of the trailing arm 105 on the left rear tire side (left side of the paper in Figure 15).

[0087] The vehicle dive caused by nose dive, as explained in Figure 7, can also be suppressed by adjusting the suspension geometry of the rear suspension. A specific example is to position the elastic center of the trailing arm bushing attached to the front end of the trailing arm 105 at a higher position, similar to the front suspension.

[0088] When a conventional cylindrical bush B is attached to the front end of the trailing arm 105, similar to the front suspension, raising the installation height of the cylindrical bush B allows the elastic center of the cylindrical bush B to be positioned higher. However, if the front end of the trailing arm 105 is located below the feet of the rear passenger, raising the height of the cylindrical bush B may not provide sufficient passenger space, similar to the front suspension.

[0089] In contrast, by using the elastic connector 1B instead of the cylindrical bush B, the elastic center O1 can be set above the elastic core 4 while maintaining the installation height of the elastic connector 1B at the same height as the cylindrical bush B. Therefore, the elastic connector 1B makes it possible to suppress the vehicle's sinking state during braking while securing passenger space inside the vehicle. In other words, the elastic connector 1B makes it possible to achieve both ride comfort and handling stability while securing passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0090] Figure 17 shows a modified example of the elastic connector 1B, corresponding to the X2-X2 cross-section in Figure 9. In this embodiment, the elastic core 4 has a space S1 inside it. In this case, the rigidity of the elastic core 4 can be reduced by forming a space S1 inside the elastic core 4. Therefore, by providing a desired space S1 inside the elastic core 4, the rigidity of the elastic core 4 can be easily adjusted. This makes it possible, for example, to easily adjust the vertical spring to a desired value.

[0091] In the elastic connector 1B shown in Figure 17, the lower part 2 has an opening A2 that opens the space S1 of the elastic core 4 downwards. As a result, the lower side of the space S1 of the elastic core 4 is connected to the outside world through the opening A2 of the lower part 2. In this embodiment, the upper part 3 has an opening A3 that opens the space S1 of the elastic core 4 upwards. As a result, the upper side of the space S1 of the elastic core 4 is connected to the outside world through the opening A3 of the upper part 3. This makes it easy to adjust the vertical spring over a wider range of values.

[0092] Figure 18 shows another modified example of the elastic connector 1B, corresponding to the X2-X2 cross-section in Figure 9. In this embodiment, a chipping prevention cover C is provided on the front side of the lower part 2 to prevent chipping (a phenomenon in which paint peels off due to stone chips, etc., while the vehicle is in motion). In this case, it is possible to prevent rust from occurring due to paint damage caused by chipping. The chipping prevention cover C may be made of an elastic material, specifically rubber.

[0093] As described above, the present invention provides elastic connectors 1A and 1B that can set the elastic center to the upper side while securing passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0094] In addition, conventional cylindrical bushings require the attachment of an elastic core to both the inner and outer cylinders, and the elastic core to perform a toe-correcting function. For example, the outer cylinder must be press-fitted into a bracket provided on the vehicle body. Thus, since cylindrical bushings consist of at least four parts—the inner cylinder, outer cylinder, elastic core, and bracket into which the outer cylinder is press-fitted—the structure is complex, leading to challenges in weight and cost. Furthermore, because cylindrical bushings are installed by press-fitting, special equipment and jigs are required for replacement, posing a challenge to maintainability.

[0095] In contrast, since elastic connectors 1A and 1B are each composed of at least three parts—a lower part 2, an upper part 3, and an elastic core 4—the structure is simplified, and weight and cost are reduced. Furthermore, since elastic connectors 1A and 1B are directly attached to the vehicle body side member or suspension side member, respectively, no special equipment or jigs are required for replacement, improving maintainability.

[0096] The foregoing only discloses some embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications are possible according to the claims. The various configurations adopted in each of the embodiments described above can be used in combination with each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0097] 1A: Elastic connector (first embodiment), 1B: Elastic connector (first embodiment), 2: Lower part, 3: Upper part, 31: Lower end of upper part, f3: Lower surface of upper part, f31: Lower surface of lower end of upper part, 32: Inner end of upper part in width direction (first embodiment), 33: Outer end of upper part in width direction (first embodiment), 34: Front wall of upper part (suspension side front contact part 39) (first embodiment), 35: Mounting part of upper part (first embodiment), 37: Inner contact part in width direction on the suspension side (first embodiment), 38: Outer contact part in width direction on the suspension side (first embodiment), 4: Elastic core, 4a: Elastic member, 4b: Rigid member, 5: Connecting member, 5a: Curved part, 5b: Flat part, 6: Mounting member of lower part (first embodiment), 61: Main body of mounting member (first embodiment), 62: Outer contact portion in the width direction on the vehicle body side (rear contact portion on the vehicle body side) (first embodiment), f62: Inner surface in the width direction of the outer contact portion in the width direction on the vehicle body side (inclined surface), 7: Bracket (first embodiment), 71: Main body portion of the bracket (first embodiment), 72: Support wall of the main body portion of the bracket (first embodiment), 73: Lower mounting portion of the main body portion of the bracket (first embodiment), 74: Upper mounting portion of the main body portion of the bracket (first embodiment), 75: Inner contact portion in the width direction on the vehicle body side (first embodiment), f75: Outer surface in the width direction of the inner contact portion in the width direction on the vehicle body side (inclined surface) (first embodiment), 76: Lower contact portion on the vehicle body side (first embodiment), 21: Lower end portion of the lower part (second embodiment), 22: Side wall of the lower part (second embodiment), 23: Opening of the side wall of the lower part (second embodiment), 24: Mounting portion of the lower part (second embodiment), 25: Mounting plate for the mounting portion of the lower part (second embodiment), 29: Upper contact portion on the suspension side of the lower part (second embodiment), 80: Mounting portion of the upper part (second embodiment), 81: Inner portion in the width direction of the mounting portion of the upper part (second embodiment), 82: Lower contact portion on the vehicle body side of the upper part (second embodiment), 302: Side wall of the upper part (second embodiment), A6, A25, A80: Mounting holes, O1: Elastic center (first and second embodiments), OP: Pitch rotation center, OG: Center of gravity of the vehicle, 100A: Front suspension, 100B: Rear suspension, 101: Lower arm, 102: Strut,103: Knuckle, 104: Trailing arm member, 105: Trailing arm, 106: Torsion beam

Claims

1. An elastic connector for a vehicle suspension that connects a vehicle body side member and a suspension side member, It comprises a lower part that can be attached to one of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member, an upper part that can be attached to the other of the vehicle body side member and the suspension side member, and an elastic core connected to the lower part and the upper part between the lower part and the upper part, The elastic core is curved downwards such that its elastic center is located above the elastic core. The aforementioned lower part has side walls, The upper part is positioned inward in the width direction from the side wall of the lower part and has a side wall adjacent to the side wall of the lower part. The elastic core is connected to the lower part and the upper part between the side wall of the lower part and the side wall of the upper part, The elastic core is inclined outward in the width direction from the front to the rear in a plan view, and is an elastic connector for a vehicle suspension.

2. The elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the elastic core comprises elastic members and rigid members arranged alternately in the vertical direction.

3. The upper part is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member, and The upper part is provided with a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other along the curvature direction of the elastic core, and further, The contact portion provided on the vehicle body side is provided on the lower part, as described in claim 2, for an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension.

4. The upper part is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member, and The upper part is provided with a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other along the curvature centerline of the elastic core, and further, The contact portion provided on the vehicle body side is provided on the lower part, as described in claim 2, for an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension.

5. The upper part is a part that can be attached to the suspension side member, and The aforementioned upper part has a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the vehicle body side when the upper part is displaced downward, and further, The contact portion provided on the vehicle body side is provided on the lower part, as described in claim 2, for an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension.

6. The aforementioned upper part is a part that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, and, The upper part is provided with a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the suspension side when the lower part and the upper part are displaced relative to each other along the front-rear direction, and further, The contact portion provided on the suspension side is provided on the lower part, as described in claim 1, for an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension.

7. The aforementioned upper part is a part that can be attached to the vehicle body side member, and, The upper part is provided with a contact portion that can come into contact with a contact portion provided on the suspension side when the lower part is displaced downward, and further, The contact portion provided on the suspension side is provided on the lower part, as described in claim 1, for an elastic coupling for a vehicle suspension.

8. The elastic connector for a vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the elastic core has a space inside the elastic core.

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