Cab mount and manufacturing method for cab mount

Abstract

The present invention suppresses deformation of an upper mount rubber in the radial direction and the axial direction without deteriorating a vehicle's riding comfort and sound vibration performance during high-speed traveling.　A cab mount 1 according to the present invention comprises an upper mount rubber 2 and a lower mount rubber 3 that interpose a frame 11 of a vehicle. An annular recess 4 extending in the circumferential direction is formed in the outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2, and a rigid ring 5 is disposed in the annular recess 4 without adhesion.

Description

Cab mount and manufacturing method thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a cab mount and a method for manufacturing the cab mount.

[0002] Conventionally, a cab mount has been known that includes an upper mount rubber with an upper plate that is connected to the vehicle body (cabin) and that sandwiches the vehicle frame (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a cab mount, when a load is input from above in the vertical direction, the upper mount rubber mainly bears the load and deforms to absorb the load.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-1478

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional cab mount, when a large vertical input load is applied from above, the upper mount rubber sandwiched between the upper plate connected to the vehicle body and the vehicle frame undergoes significant radial outward deformation and significant axial compression deformation. This increases stress on the rubber surface, the rubber overlap, and the area near the bond between the rubber and the upper plate, potentially reducing durability. Furthermore, the vertical distance between the vehicle body and the vehicle frame is shortened, potentially causing interference between nearby components. In other words, the above-mentioned conventional cab mount leaves room for improvement in these respects. While increasing the static spring constant of the rubber is one way to suppress rubber deformation, this also increases the dynamic spring constant, potentially degrading vehicle ride comfort and noise and vibration performance at high speeds.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cab mount that can suppress radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber without deteriorating the vehicle's ride comfort or noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving, and a method for manufacturing the cab mount that can easily obtain the cab mount.

[0006] The above problems can be solved by the following means.

[0007] (1) The present invention provides a cab mount including upper and lower mount rubbers that sandwich a vehicle frame, wherein an annular recess extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper mount rubber, and a rigid ring is disposed within the annular recess without being bonded. The cab mount of the present invention can suppress radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber without deteriorating the vehicle's ride comfort or noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving.

[0008] (2) In the carburetor mount of (1) above, it is preferable that a plurality of the annular recesses are formed and aligned in the axial direction, and the rigid ring is disposed in at least one of the annular recesses. In this case, tuning of characteristics is easy.

[0009] (3) In the cab mount of (1) or (2), the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring may be a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon. In this case, tuning of the characteristics is also easy.

[0010] (4) In the cab mount of any one of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that a rigid upper plate is provided on the upper end surface of the upper mount rubber, so that the cab mount can be stably and appropriately fixed to a vehicle-side member (vehicle cab).

[0011] (5) In the carburetor mount of any one of (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that a rigid reinforcing plate is embedded near the lower end surface of the upper mount rubber, which can more effectively suppress radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber.

[0012] (6) A method for manufacturing a cab mount of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a cab mount for obtaining any of the cab mounts described above in (1) to (5), and includes: a rigid ring setting step of setting the rigid ring inside a vulcanization mold without applying an adhesive; and an upper mount rubber vulcanization step of, after the rigid ring setting step, injecting unvulcanized rubber that will become the upper mount rubber into the vulcanization mold and vulcanizing it to obtain the upper mount rubber with the rigid ring disposed in the annular recess. According to the method for manufacturing a cab mount of the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain any of the cab mounts described above in (1) to (5).

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cab mount that can suppress radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber without deteriorating the vehicle's ride comfort or noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving, and a method for manufacturing the cab mount that can easily obtain the cab mount.

[0014] Fig. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view schematically showing a cab mount according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where it is assembled to a vehicle. Fig. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view schematically showing an upper mount portion of the cab mount of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of an upper mount portion. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining deformation of the cab mount when a large load is input. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of deflection of the upper mount rubber and the load.

[0015] A cab mount and a manufacturing method for the cab mount according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the cab mount is an anti-vibration device that connects a vehicle cab (body) to a vehicle frame (chassis). In each drawing, common members and parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0016] In this specification, the term "axial direction" refers to a direction parallel to a central axis O (hereinafter also simply referred to as "axis O") of a shaft member described later and therefore of the cab mount, and is indicated by the symbol "AD" in some of the drawings. The term "circumferential direction" refers to a direction circumferentially around the axis O, and the term "radial direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the axis O, and is indicated by the symbol "RD" in some of the drawings. Furthermore, the term "radially inner side" refers to a side closer to the axis O in the radial direction, and the term "radially outer side" refers to a side farther from the axis O in the radial direction. Note that the "radial direction" may also be referred to as a "direction perpendicular to the axis." In the following embodiments, the axis O extends vertically when the cab mount 1 is assembled to a vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as a "state assembled to the vehicle" or simply an "assembled state"). In the following embodiments, the "axially upper side" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "upper side") refers to the side that is vertically upper in the assembled state, and the "axially lower side" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "lower side") refers to the side that is vertically lower in the assembled state.

[0017] (Cab Mount) First, a cab mount 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings for explaining the cab mount 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view along the axis O) that schematically shows a cab mount according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state where it is assembled to a vehicle. More specifically, FIG. 1 schematically shows the axial cross-sectional view of the cab mount just before completion of assembly to the vehicle frame and cab, in which the cab mount is not receiving any load from the frame and the cab (hereinafter also referred to as the "unloaded state"). The "unloaded state" refers to a state where the upper mount rubber is not receiving any load. FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view along the axis O) that schematically shows an upper mount portion (described later) of the cab mount of FIG. 1.

[0018] The cab mount 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a cab mount to be mounted on a vehicle such as a pickup truck or SUV, but may be configured as a cab mount to be mounted on any vehicle.

[0019] 1 and 2, the cab mount 1 according to this embodiment includes an upper mount rubber 2 and a lower mount rubber 3 that sandwich a vehicle frame 11. In addition, in the cab mount 1, an annular recess 4 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2. Furthermore, in the cab mount 1, a rigid ring 5 is disposed within the annular recess 4 without being bonded.

[0020] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 are configured to sandwich the vehicle frame 11 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "frame 11"). That is, in an assembled state, the frame 11 is sandwiched between the upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 in the axial direction. In other words, the upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 are attached to the vehicle so that the frame 11 is sandwiched between them in the axial direction. In yet other words, the cab mount 1 connects the vehicle's cab 12 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "cab 12") (and thus the vehicle body) to the vehicle frame 11 (and thus the vehicle chassis). Here, in this specification, the term "cab (12)" includes not only the cab (cab) in the narrow sense, but also a member connected to the cab on the vehicle body side for connection to the cab mount. In the example of FIG. 1 , the cab 12 is flat, but it does not have to be flat.

[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the upper mount rubber 2 is disposed axially above the frame 11. In the example of FIG. 1 , the upper mount rubber 2 is a tubular (more specifically, cylindrical) member that extends continuously around the entire circumferential direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the cab mount 1 includes a rigid upper plate 6 on the upper end surface 23 of the upper mount rubber 2. More specifically, in the example of FIG. 1 , the upper plate 6 is attached to the upper side of the upper mount rubber 2 by, for example, adhesive (fixing). In this example, a through-hole is formed in the center of the upper plate 6. The cab 12 is attached to the upper mount rubber 2 via the upper plate 6. Note that in the following description, the upper mount rubber 2, the upper plate 6, and the rigid ring 5 (described later) may be collectively referred to as the "upper mount portion (2A)." In other words, the upper mount rubber 2 including the rigid ring 5 to which the upper plate 6 is attached may be referred to as the "upper mount portion (2A)."

[0022] In this embodiment, the upper mount rubber 2 is made of NR (natural rubber). In other words, the upper mount rubber 2 is made of rubber obtained by vulcanizing a rubber composition containing only NR as a rubber component. However, the upper mount rubber 2 may be made of a rubber other than NR (thermosetting elastomer), a mixture of NR and other rubbers, or a mixture of rubbers other than NR, such as SBR, BR, and EPDM. In this embodiment, the upper plate 6 is a rigid member and may be made of a metal such as iron or aluminum.

[0023] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the lower mount rubber 3 is disposed axially lower than the frame 11. In the example of FIG. 1 , the lower mount rubber 3 is a tubular (more specifically, cylindrical in this example) member that extends continuously around the entire circumferential direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the cab mount 1 includes a rigid lower plate 7 below the lower end surface of the lower mount rubber 3. More specifically, in the example of FIG. 1 , the lower plate 7 is attached to the underside of the lower mount rubber 3 by, for example, adhesive (fixing). In this example, the lower plate 7 has a through-hole formed in its center. Note that in the following description, the lower mount rubber 3 and the lower plate 7 may be collectively referred to as the "lower mount portion (3A)," i.e., the lower mount rubber 3 to which the lower plate 7 is attached may be referred to as the "lower mount portion (3A)."

[0024] In this embodiment, the material of the lower mount rubber 3 is the same as the material of the aforementioned upper mount rubber 2, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Also, in this embodiment, the characteristics and material of the lower plate 7 are the same as the characteristics and material of the aforementioned upper plate 6, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] In this embodiment, the lower part of the upper mount rubber 2 is disposed on the inner surface of a recessed portion formed in the frame 11, as shown in Fig. 1. Also, in this embodiment, the lower mount rubber 3 is disposed below the recessed portion of the frame 11, as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a flat portion is formed in the frame 11 that circumferentially surrounds the recessed portion, as shown in Fig. 1. Note that in this embodiment, the lower end surface 24 of the upper mount rubber 2 is not bonded to the frame 11, but may be bonded thereto.

[0026] 1 , the cab mount 1 includes a shaft member 8 that extends axially through the upper mount rubber 2, the frame 11, and the lower mount rubber 3. The upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 are disposed around the shaft member 8 so as to be spaced apart from the shaft member 8 in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the shaft member 8 is a rigid, hollow, tubular member. In this embodiment, the central axis O of the shaft member 8 coincides with the central axis O of the cab mount 1.

[0027] In this embodiment, the shaft member 8 includes a bolt 13 and a nut 14. The bolt 13 extends upward from the lower plate 7 through to the cab 12. The nut 14 is threaded onto the tip of the bolt 13. The upper mount portion 2A (and thus the upper mount rubber 2) and the lower mount portion 3A (and thus the lower mount rubber 3) are brought closer to each other in the axial direction by threading the nut 14 onto the bolt 13. As a result, the upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 are attached to the frame 11 in a slightly pre-compressed state, for example. In this embodiment, washers 15 are interposed between the bolt 13 and the lower plate 7 and between the nut 14 and the cab 12. In this embodiment, in consideration of ease of assembly to the vehicle, the nut 14 is attached by passing the bolt 13 from bottom to top. However, the nut 14 may also be attached by passing the bolt 13 from top to bottom. In addition, in this embodiment, washers 15 are interposed between the bolts 13 and the lower plate 7, and between the nuts 14 and the cab 12, but it is also possible to eliminate at least one of the washers 15. Furthermore, the method of assembling the upper mount rubber 2 and the lower mount rubber 3 to the frame 11 is not limited to the method described above.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , an annular recess 4 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2 .

[0029] In this embodiment, the annular recess 4 is a depression formed in the outer peripheral surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2 and extends continuously around the entire circumferential direction of the upper mount rubber 2 and, therefore, the carburetor mount 1. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the annular recess 4 (a cross-sectional shape taken along a plane perpendicular to the extension direction (i.e., the circumferential direction) of the annular recess 4) is constant along the circumferential direction. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cross-sectional shape of the annular recess 4 is generally U-shaped or generally semicircular, but this cross-sectional shape is not particularly limited. Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple annular recesses 4 (three in the illustrated example) are formed side by side in the axial direction. However, the number of annular recesses 4 is not particularly limited and may be determined taking into account the axial length of the upper mount rubber 2, etc., and may be, for example, one, two, four or more.

[0030] By forming the above-mentioned annular recess 4 on the outer peripheral surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2, the point of deformation when an axial input is applied to the upper mount rubber 2 is fixed at the position of the annular recess 4 and stabilized, thereby, for example, preventing a deterioration in the ride comfort of the vehicle.

[0031] In this embodiment, no annular recess is provided in the lower mount rubber 3, but from the same viewpoint as above, one or more annular recesses similar to those described above may also be provided on the outer surface of the lower mount rubber 3.

[0032] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rigid ring 5 is disposed in the annular recess 4 of the upper mount rubber 2 without adhesive.

[0033] The rigid ring 5 is a rigid, ring-shaped (annular) member. In this embodiment, like the annular recess 4, the rigid ring 5 extends continuously around the entire circumferential direction of the upper mount rubber 2 and, ultimately, the carburetor mount 1. However, the rigid ring 5 does not have to extend continuously around the entire circumferential direction. For example, the rigid ring 5 may be interrupted at one circumferential location and have a C-shape in a plan view from the axial direction. However, from the viewpoint of sufficiently suppressing radially outward bulging deformation and axial compressive deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 when a large axial load is applied, as described below, it is preferable that the rigid ring 5 extend continuously around the entire circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring 5 (cross-sectional shape taken along a plane perpendicular to the extension direction (i.e., the circumferential direction) of the rigid ring 5) is constant along the circumferential direction. 1 and 2, the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring 5 is an oval (ellipse) including a partial straight portion, but the cross-sectional shape is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a circle, an oval, or a polygon. In this specification, the term "oval" includes a flattened shape in which a portion of the major axis direction of the ellipse is formed by a straight line, as in the rigid ring 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] The material of the rigid ring 5 is not particularly limited as long as it has rigidity and can effectively suppress radial outward bulging deformation and axial compressive deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 when a large axial load is input, as described below. The rigid ring 5 may be made of, for example, a metal such as iron or aluminum, a resin such as PA (polyamide (nylon)), POM (polyoxymethylene (polyacetal)), PC (polycarbonate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PI (polyimide), PEI (polyetherimide), PAI (polyamide imide), PSU (polysulfone), PEEK (polyether ether ketone), PF (phenolic resin), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene (tetrafluoroethylene)), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride (polyvinylidene fluoride)), or PDAP (diallyl phthalate resin), or a material obtained by blending glass fiber with any of these resins.

[0035] 1 and 2, the rigid ring 5 is disposed inside the annular recess 4 formed in the upper mount rubber 2. More specifically, in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the unloaded state, the rigid ring 5 is fitted into the annular recess 4. In other words, in the unloaded state, the inner diameter of the rigid ring 5 (the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 51 of the rigid ring 5) is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the annular recess 4 (the diameter of the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4) (the same in the example shown), and in the example shown, the rigid ring 5 is in contact with the entire inner surface (side and bottom surfaces) of the annular recess 4. However, in the unloaded state, the rigid ring 5 may be disposed in the annular recess 4 so as to be slightly separated from at least a portion of the inner surface of the annular recess 4. For example, as in another example of an upper mount portion 2A described later with reference to Fig. 3, the rigid ring 5 may be disposed within the annular recess 4 so that, in an unloaded state, the inner circumferential surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4 are slightly spaced apart, forming a gap 52 between the inner circumferential surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the outer periphery of the rigid ring 5 is configured to protrude outside the annular recess 4, more specifically, radially outward from the outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2. However, the rigid ring 5 may also be configured not to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2. However, as long as there is no risk of the outer periphery of the rigid ring 5 interfering with (contacting) other components (upper plate 6, cab 12, frame 11, etc.) when a load is applied, it is preferable for the outer periphery of the rigid ring 5 to be configured to protrude radially outward from the outer periphery 21 of the upper mount rubber 2, from the standpoint of more effectively suppressing the radially outward bulging deformation and axial compressive deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 when a large axial load is applied, as described below.

[0036] In this embodiment, the rigid ring 5 is disposed inside the annular recess 4 in an unbonded state. That is, the entire rigid ring 5 is disposed inside the annular recess 4 in an unbonded state to the upper mount rubber 2 in which the annular recess 4 is formed. In this specification, "unbonded" refers to not being fixed, and includes, for example, a case where solidified adhesive remains on the surfaces of both but they are not fixed together.

[0037] Because the rigid ring 5 is arranged inside the annular recess 4 without being glued, the internal stress of the upper mount rubber 2 increases when a load is applied, etc., compared to when the rigid ring 5 is glued inside the annular recess 4, and excessive strain can be prevented from occurring near the adhesive interface between the upper mount rubber 2 and the rigid ring 5, thereby improving the durability of the upper mount rubber 2, among other advantages.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , as described above, a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) annular recesses 4 are formed lined up in the axial direction, and a rigid ring 5 is disposed in at least one (one in the illustrated example) annular recess 4. More specifically, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rigid ring 5 is disposed only in one annular recess 4 at the axial center of the plurality of (three in the illustrated example) annular recesses 4 formed lined up in the axial direction of the upper mount rubber 2. However, when a plurality of annular recesses 4 are formed, the rigid ring 5 may be disposed in two or more annular recesses 4. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the risk of interference (contact) of the outer periphery of the rigid ring 5 with other components (such as the upper plate 6, the cab 12, and the frame 11) when a load is applied and from the viewpoint of cost reduction, it is preferable that the rigid ring 5 be disposed only in one annular recess 4 at a suitable position.

[0039] In this embodiment, the axial position at which the rigid ring 5 is disposed (and thus the axial position of the annular recess 4 into which the rigid ring 5 is disposed) is preferably such that when the upper mount rubber 2 is compressed in the axial direction under load, there is no risk of the rigid ring 5 interfering with (contacting) other members (the upper plate 6, the cab 12, the frame 11, etc.), and that when the upper mount rubber 2 is compressed, the surface stress of the rubber portions of the upper mount rubber 2 above and below the rigid ring 5 is approximately equal. For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is preferable that the entire rigid ring 5 is disposed in a position that is approximately the center of the upper mount rubber 2 in the axial direction (for example, a region between a position 40% and a position 60% axially upward from the lower end surface 24 of the upper mount rubber 2).

[0040] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the lower mount rubber 3 is not provided with the annular recess or the rigid ring as described above. However, as described above, if one or more annular recesses are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower mount rubber 3, a rigid ring similar to the above may be disposed within at least one of the annular recesses. However, from the perspectives of suppressing increases in cost and weight and preventing interference (contact) with other components, it is preferable not to provide the lower mount rubber 3 with a rigid ring.

[0041] Next, the main effects of the embodiment of the present invention described above will be summarized again below as necessary.

[0042] First, in this embodiment, the cab mount 1 includes an upper mount rubber 2 and a lower mount rubber 3 that sandwich the vehicle frame 11. Here, while the vehicle is traveling, the upper mount rubber 2 is subjected to load input from above (the body side) via the cab 12 and upper plate 6, and also to load input from below (the suspension and thus the chassis side) via the frame 11. In this embodiment, since the cab mount 1 includes the upper mount rubber 2, when a load is input from above, the upper mount rubber 2 mainly bears the load and deforms in the axial direction, thereby absorbing the load and thus vibration. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cab mount 1 includes the lower mount rubber 3, which prevents interference (contact) between the lower plate 7, which is necessary for assembling the cab mount 1 to the vehicle, and the frame 11, thereby suppressing the generation of abnormal noise and the like. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the annular recess 4 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface 21 of the upper mount rubber 2, so that when an axial input load is applied to the upper mount rubber 2, the point of deformation is fixed and stabilized at the position of the annular recess 4, making it possible to suppress deterioration in the ride comfort of the vehicle, for example. Furthermore, the annular recess 4, which is normally provided to achieve such an effect, can be efficiently utilized for arranging the rigid ring 5.

[0043] Next, the effect of disposing the rigid ring 5 in the annular recess 4 in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining deformation of the cab mount 1 when a large load is input. For ease of understanding, FIG. 4 shows a cab mount 1 that is slightly different from the cab mount 1 of this embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper mount rubber 2 has only one annular recess 4, and the rigid ring 5 is disposed in this single annular recess 4. The above description will be given using this cab mount 1 as an example. The effect of disposing the rigid ring 5 in the annular recess 4 is substantially the same in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 4, when a large load F is input from above in the vertical direction to the cab mount 1 and thus the upper mount rubber 2, the upper mount rubber 2 is compressed and deformed in the axial direction between the frame 11 and the upper plate 6, and also attempts to bulge radially outward. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , a rigid ring 5 is disposed in the annular recess 4. Therefore, even when a large load F is applied, the rubber portion located radially inward of the rigid ring 5 is restrained by the rigid ring 5 and does not expand radially outward (see the thick black arrows pointing radially outward in FIG. 4 ). The rubber portions on both the upper and lower axial sides of the rigid ring 5 are also less likely to bulge radially outward. Furthermore, as the load increases, the rubber portions sandwiched between the upper plate 6 and the rigid ring 5 and between the rigid ring 5 and the frame 11 are compressed, but are also restrained by the rigid ring 5, making them less likely to undergo compressive deformation (axial deformation) (see the thick black arrows pointing both axial directions in FIG. 4 ). Consequently, the radially outward bulging deformation (radial deformation) of these rubber portions is also suppressed. As shown in FIG. 4 , the radially inward bulging deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 is suppressed by the shaft member 8. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the deflection of the upper mount rubber and the load. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the deflection (axial deformation) and the load, obtained by simulation, for the upper mount rubber 2 in the cab mount 1 of the example in FIG. 4 (shown by the solid line L2 in FIG. 5) and a similar upper mount rubber that differs only in that no rigid ring is disposed within the annular recess (shown by the dotted line L1 in FIG. 5).5, even with the same load, the amount of deflection is significantly reduced when the rigid ring 5 is included (L2) compared to when it is not included (L1). In other words, even with the same amount of deflection, the case with the rigid ring 5 (L2) can withstand a larger load than the case without the rigid ring 5 (L1).

[0044] As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the example shown in FIG. 4 , the rigid ring 5 disposed within the annular recess 4 suppresses radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber 2, particularly under heavy loads, compared to when the rigid ring 5 is not disposed. Therefore, for example, increases in internal stress of the upper mount rubber 2 are suppressed near the surface of the upper mount rubber 2, near the overlapping portions of the rubber in the upper mount rubber 2, and near the adhesive portion between the upper mount rubber 2 and the upper plate 6, thereby improving the durability of the upper mount rubber 2 and, ultimately, the cab mount 1. Furthermore, axial deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 and, therefore, axial displacement of the cab 12 on the vehicle body side, particularly under heavy loads, are suppressed, thereby suppressing interference (contact) between various surrounding components. Furthermore, the rigid ring 5 increases the static spring constant of the entire upper mount portion 2A, including the rigid ring 5, in the radial direction (and thus in the longitudinal and / or lateral directions of the vehicle), potentially improving vehicle handling stability and other performance. Furthermore, since the rigid ring 5 is disposed, the axial static spring constant of the entire upper mount portion 2A, including the rigid ring 5, is increased, allowing the rubber hardness of the upper mount rubber 2 to be reduced. In this case, the dynamic spring constant of the upper mount rubber 2 can be kept low, improving the vehicle's ride comfort and noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving. In other words, according to the above-described embodiment, the various effects described above can be achieved without increasing the static spring constant and therefore the dynamic spring constant of the upper mount rubber 2, thereby deteriorating the vehicle's ride comfort and noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving. As described above, according to this embodiment, radial and axial deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 can be suppressed without deteriorating the vehicle's ride comfort and noise and vibration performance during high-speed driving.

[0045] As in this embodiment, a plurality of annular recesses 4 are formed lined up in the axial direction of the upper mount rubber 2, and it is preferable that a rigid ring 5 is disposed in at least one (one in this embodiment) of the annular recesses 4. In this case, the number of annular recesses 4, the number of rigid rings 5, and / or the annular recesses 4 in which the rigid rings 5 ​​are disposed can be appropriately selected depending on the required characteristics of the upper mount rubber 2 and, by extension, the cab mount 1, making it easy to tune the characteristics.

[0046] As in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring 5 is preferably a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon (an ellipse in this embodiment). In this case, too, the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring 5 can be appropriately selected according to the required characteristics of the upper mount rubber 2 and, by extension, the cab mount 1, making it easy to tune the characteristics.

[0047] As in this embodiment, the cab mount 1 preferably includes a rigid upper plate 6 on the upper end surface 23 of the upper mount rubber 2. In this case, compared to when the upper mount rubber 2 is directly joined to the cab 12, the upper mount rubber 2 and therefore the cab mount 1 can be stably and appropriately fixed to the vehicle-side member (the vehicle cab 12) using, for example, bolts 13 and nuts 14.

[0048] Next, a modified example of the upper mount portion 2A, which differs from the upper mount portion 2A in the cab mount 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is an axial cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the upper mount portion 2A. The upper mount portion 2A shown in Figure 3 differs from the upper mount portion 2A shown in Figures 1 and 2 only in that the upper mount rubber 2 is provided with a reinforcing plate 9 and that a gap 52 is formed between the inner circumferential surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4. In other respects, the upper mount portion 2A is the same as the upper mount portion 2A shown in Figures 1 and 2, and therefore a description of these other points will be omitted.

[0049] In the upper mount portion 2A shown in FIG. 3 , and in the cab mount 1 including the upper mount portion 2A, a rigid reinforcing plate 9 is embedded near the lower end surface 24 of the upper mount rubber 2 (i.e., below the upper mount rubber 2). Here, the term "embedded" refers to the entire reinforcing plate 9 being embedded inside the upper mount rubber 2, but there is no particular limitation as to whether or not the reinforcing plate 9 is bonded to the upper mount rubber 2. In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the reinforcing plate 9 is embedded near the lower end surface 24 of the upper mount rubber 2 without being bonded. This reduces manufacturing costs and suppresses an increase in internal stress in the upper mount rubber 2, improving durability. In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the reinforcing plate 9 is a flat member that extends continuously around the entire circumferential direction of the upper mount rubber 2 and the cab mount 1. However, the reinforcing plate 9 does not have to extend continuously around the entire circumferential direction. For example, the reinforcing plate 9 may be formed in a shape that is discontinuous at one or more locations in the circumferential direction. However, from the viewpoint of more sufficiently suppressing radially outward bulging deformation and axial compressive deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 when a large axial load is applied, it is preferable that the reinforcing plate 9 extend continuously around the entire circumferential direction. The reinforcing plate 9 is a rigid member and may be formed of a metal such as iron or aluminum. In the modified example shown in FIG. 3 , a gap 52 is formed between the inner peripheral surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4. However, the gap 52 does not have to be formed as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, the gap 52 can be inevitably formed due to contraction of the rubber after vulcanization when the rigid ring 5 is placed in the annular recess 4 simultaneously with the vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2 (e.g., when the cab mount 1 is obtained by a cab mount manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention, described later). By embedding a rigid reinforcing plate 9 near the lower end surface 24 of the upper mount rubber 2, radial outward bulging deformation and axial compressive deformation of the upper mount rubber 2 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0050] (Method for manufacturing a cab mount) Next, a method for manufacturing a cab mount according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The method for manufacturing a cab mount according to one embodiment of the present invention described below can be suitably used to obtain the cab mount 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention described with reference to Figure 1 etc. However, the manufacturing method for obtaining the cab mount 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the method for manufacturing a cab mount of the embodiment described below.

[0051] The manufacturing method for the cab mount according to this embodiment includes a rigid ring setting step in which the rigid ring 5 is set inside a vulcanization mold without applying an adhesive, and an upper mount rubber vulcanization step in which, after the rigid ring setting step, unvulcanized rubber that will become the upper mount rubber 2 is injected into the vulcanization mold and vulcanized to obtain the upper mount rubber 2 with the rigid ring 5 disposed in the annular recess 4. By including these rigid ring setting step and upper mount rubber vulcanization step, it is possible to first obtain an upper mount portion 2A such as that shown in Fig. 3 above.

[0052] The manufacturing method of the carburetor mount according to this embodiment includes a rigid ring setting step in which the rigid ring 5 is set inside a vulcanization mold without applying an adhesive. More specifically, referring to Fig. 3 , when the manufacturing method of the carburetor mount according to this embodiment is used to first obtain, for example, the upper mount portion 2A shown in Fig. 3 , the rigid ring setting step involves setting the rigid ring 5 without applying an adhesive inside a vulcanization mold (not shown), more specifically, inside a cavity whose inner surface is the outer contour of the entire upper mount portion 2A shown in Fig. 3 or the upper mount portion 2A excluding the upper plate 6 (more precisely, a contour slightly larger than the outer contour, taking into account the shrinkage of rubber after vulcanization). In the rigid ring setting step, the upper plate 6 and / or the reinforcing plate 9 may also be set inside the vulcanization mold, and thus, in the cavity. In the rigid ring setting process, if an adhesive is applied to the underside of the upper plate 6 that contacts the upper mount rubber 2 and the upper plate 6 is set in the vulcanization mold, the upper plate 6 can be bonded to the upper end surface 23 of the upper mount rubber 2 simultaneously with the vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2, which is efficient. However, the upper plate 6 may also be bonded to the upper mount rubber 2 with an adhesive or the like after the upper mount rubber vulcanization process is completed. When setting the reinforcing plate 9 in the vulcanization mold, an adhesive may or may not be applied to the surface of the reinforcing plate 9. However, from the viewpoint of manufacturing costs and the fact that the upper mount rubber 2 and the reinforcing plate 9 are not bonded together after the upper mount rubber 2 is vulcanized, which can suppress an increase in internal stress in the upper mount rubber 2 and improve durability, it is preferable to set the reinforcing plate 9 in the vulcanization mold without applying an adhesive.

[0053] Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the carburetor mount according to this embodiment includes an upper mount rubber vulcanization step, following the rigid ring setting step, in which unvulcanized rubber that will become the upper mount rubber 2 is injected into a vulcanization mold and vulcanized to obtain the upper mount rubber 2 with the rigid ring 5 disposed in the annular recess 4. More specifically, with reference to FIG. 3 , in the upper mount rubber vulcanization step, after the rigid ring setting step, the unvulcanized rubber that will become the upper mount rubber 2 is injected into the vulcanization mold, more specifically, into the cavity, and heated and vulcanized to obtain the upper mount rubber 2 with the rigid ring 5 disposed in the annular recess 4, as shown in FIG. 3 . Note that FIG. 3 shows the upper mount portion 2A removed from the vulcanization mold after the upper mount rubber 2 has been vulcanized. Due to contraction of the rubber after vulcanization, a gap 52 has formed between the inner peripheral surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4; however, during vulcanization, vulcanization can be performed without this gap, as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0054] According to the manufacturing method for a cab mount of this embodiment, the rigid ring 5 is set inside a vulcanization mold, and then unvulcanized rubber is injected and vulcanized. This allows the rigid ring 5 to be placed in the annular recess 4 of the upper mount rubber 2 simultaneously with the vulcanization. This allows the rigid ring 5 to be placed more efficiently and easily than if the rigid ring 5 were placed in the annular recess 4 after the vulcanization. In particular, when the upper mount rubber 2 has a reinforcing plate 9, as in the example of FIG. 3 , it can be difficult to reduce the outer diameter of the upper mount rubber 2 after vulcanization to place the rigid ring 5 in the annular recess 4 by fitting, etc., so using the manufacturing method for a cab mount of this embodiment is effective. Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method for a cab mount of this embodiment, the rigid ring 5 is set inside a vulcanization mold without applying an adhesive. This allows the cab mount 1 in which the rigid ring 5 is placed in the annular recess 4 of the upper mount rubber 2 without adhesive to be obtained efficiently and easily at low cost. As described above, according to the manufacturing method for a cab mount of this embodiment, the cab mount 1 of the above-described embodiment can be easily obtained.

[0055] In addition to the rigid ring setting step and the upper mount rubber vulcanization step, the cab mount manufacturing method according to this embodiment may include a lower mount rubber vulcanization step in which unvulcanized rubber that will become the lower mount rubber 3 shown in FIG. 1 is injected into a vulcanization mold and vulcanized to obtain the lower mount rubber 3. In this case, the lower plate 7 shown in FIG. 1 may be set in the vulcanization mold with an adhesive applied to its upper surface before vulcanization and adhered to the lower mount rubber 3 simultaneously with vulcanization, or may be adhered to the lower mount rubber 3 with an adhesive or the like after vulcanization. As described above, the lower plate 7 does not have to be adhered to the lower mount rubber 3. The lower mount rubber vulcanization step may be performed simultaneously with the rigid ring setting step and / or the upper mount rubber vulcanization step, or may be performed before or after these steps. The cab mount manufacturing method according to this embodiment may further include steps other than the rigid ring setting step, the upper mount rubber vulcanization step, and the lower mount rubber vulcanization step described above.

[0056] The manufacturing method of the cab mount according to the present embodiment, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, does not necessarily have to be used to obtain the cab mount 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, in the aforementioned rigid ring setting step, the rigid ring 5 may be applied with an adhesive and set inside the vulcanization mold. In this case, depending on the adhesive application conditions, for example, it is possible to prevent the rigid ring 5 from falling out of the annular recess 4 immediately after vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2. Furthermore, when the cab mount 1 is in use, contraction of the rubber creates a gap 52 between the inner circumferential surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4, as shown in Figure 3. This makes it possible to obtain a cab mount 1 in which the rigid ring 5 is disposed in the annular recess 4 of the upper mount rubber 2 without being adhered. Furthermore, it is also possible in some cases to place the rigid ring 5 in the annular recess 4 of the upper mount rubber 2 after vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2. That is, if an operator can sufficiently reduce the diameter of the upper mount rubber 2 after vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2 and / or if the radial depth of the annular recess 4 is shallow, it is also possible to place the rigid ring 5 by fitting or the like in the annular recess 4 after vulcanization of the upper mount rubber 2. In this case, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is possible to eliminate the gap 52 shown in Figure 3 between the inner circumferential surface 51 of the rigid ring 5 and the bottom surface 41 of the annular recess 4, which is more beneficial from the perspective of more effectively suppressing radial bulging deformation of the upper mount rubber 2.

[0057] The foregoing describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0058] The cab mount according to the present invention can be used as a cab mount to be mounted on any vehicle, and can be suitably used as a cab mount to be mounted on vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUVs, for example.

[0059] 1: Cab mount, 2: Upper mount rubber, 21: Outer peripheral surface of upper mount rubber, 22: Inner peripheral surface of upper mount rubber, 23: Upper end surface of upper mount rubber, 24: Lower end surface of upper mount rubber, 2A: Upper mount portion, 3: Lower mount rubber, 3A: Lower mount portion, 4: Annular recess, 41: Bottom surface of annular recess, 5: Rigid ring, 51: Inner peripheral surface of rigid ring, 52: Gap, 6: Upper plate, 7: Lower plate, 8: Shaft member, 9: Reinforcement plate, 11: Vehicle frame, 12: Vehicle cab, 13: Bolt, 14: Nut, 15: Washer, AD: Axial direction, F: Heavy load, O: Central axis, RD: Radial direction

Claims

1. A cab mount comprising upper mount rubber and lower mount rubber that sandwich the vehicle frame, wherein an annular recess extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper mount rubber, and a rigid ring is disposed within the annular recess without being bonded.

2. A cab mount according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the annular recesses are formed side by side in the axial direction, and the rigid ring is disposed in at least one of the annular recesses.

3. The cab mount according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the rigid ring is a circle, an oval, or a polygon.

4. A cab mount as described in claim 1, further comprising a rigid upper plate on the upper end surface of the upper mount rubber.

5. A cab mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rigid reinforcing plate is embedded near the lower end surface of the upper mount rubber.

6. A method for manufacturing a cab mount to obtain the cab mount described in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: a rigid ring setting step of setting the rigid ring inside a vulcanization mold without applying adhesive; and an upper mount rubber vulcanization step of, after the rigid ring setting step, injecting unvulcanized rubber that will become the upper mount rubber into the vulcanization mold and vulcanizing it, thereby obtaining the upper mount rubber with the rigid ring disposed inside the annular recess.

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