Axle suspension device and vehicle

Abstract

This axle suspension device comprises an axle housing in which tubes are provided at both sides of an axle case, and upper arm brackets in each of which a hole for passing a respective tube therethough is formed and to each of which an end of an upper arm is connected. The tubes that pass through respective holes are welded to the upper brackets at least in a part of the outer circumference of each tube.

Description

Axle suspension apparatus and vehicle

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an axle suspension apparatus and a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an axle suspension apparatus. Such an axle suspension apparatus includes: an axle housing through which an axle shaft with wheels mounted thereto passes; an upper arm bracket welded to an upper side near both ends of the axle housing; and an upper arm connecting the upper arm bracket to a body-side frame.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-156557

[0004] In the axle suspension apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the upper arm bracket is welded to the upper side near both ends of the axle housing, stress at the mounting portion between the upper arm bracket and the axle housing increases when traveling on rough roads, which may cause cracks in the upper arm bracket.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide an axle suspension apparatus and a vehicle that can suppress an increase in stress at a welded portion between an upper arm bracket and an axle housing.

[0006] An axle suspension apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: an axle housing having tubes provided on both sides of an axle case; and an upper arm bracket formed with a hole through which the tube passes, one end of an upper arm being connected to the upper arm bracket, wherein at least a part of an outer periphery of the tube penetrating the hole is welded to the upper arm bracket.

[0007] According to the above configuration, since the force applied to the upper arm bracket is dispersed in the hole formed in the upper arm bracket, an increase in stress at the welded portion between the upper arm bracket and the axle housing can be suppressed.

[0008] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, an increase in stress at the welded portion between the upper arm bracket and the axle housing can be suppressed.

[0009] These are schematic perspective views of an axle suspension system according to an embodiment. One perspective view shows the upper arm bracket on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube on the right side of the vehicle, viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction towards the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The other perspective view shows the upper arm bracket on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube on the right side of the vehicle, viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction towards the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0010] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc., of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. For example, expressions describing relative or absolute arrangements such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial" should not only strictly represent such arrangements, but also represent states of relative displacement with tolerances, or angles or distances that allow the same function to be obtained. Furthermore, expressions describing shapes such as square or cylindrical should not only represent geometrically precise square or cylindrical shapes, but also shapes including concave and concave parts, chamfered parts, etc., to the extent that the same effect can be obtained. On the other hand, expressions such as "equipped," "possess," "features," "includes," or "has" a single component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the existence of other components.

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an axle suspension system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the axle suspension system 1 according to the embodiment is an axle suspension system called a five-link rigid suspension, in which the axle housing 2 is supported by a pair of upper arms 3 and 4, a pair of lower arms 5 and 6, and a lateral rod 7. The pair of upper arms 3 and 4 and the pair of lower arms 5 and 6 are links that support the axle housing 2 from above and below, and the lateral rod 7 is a link that supports the axle housing 2 and the body in the lateral direction. Each of the pair of upper arms 3 and 4 is connected to a cross member provided in front of the axle housing 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and each of the pair of lower arms 5 and 6 is connected to each of a pair of side frames provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The lateral rod 7 is connected to a bracket provided on the cross member provided in rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the axle housing 2.

[0012] The axle housing 2 has tubes 24 and 25 on both sides of the axle case 21 through which the axle shaft is inserted. Each of the pair of tubes 24 and 25 is formed such that the inner side in the vehicle width direction (axle case 21 side) is wider than the outer side in the vehicle width direction (wheel side).

[0013] A pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 are welded to each of the pair of tubes 24 and 25. One end of each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 is connected to each of the pair of upper arms 3 and 4.

[0014] The upper arm bracket 31 on the left side of the vehicle, welded to the tube 24 on the left side of the vehicle, and the upper arm bracket 32 ​​on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube 25 on the right side of the vehicle, are symmetrical. The upper arm bracket 32 ​​on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube 25 on the right side of the vehicle, will be described below.

[0015] Figure 2 shows the upper arm bracket 32 ​​on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube 25 on the right side of the vehicle, viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and Figure 3 shows the upper arm bracket 32 ​​on the right side of the vehicle, welded to the tube 25 on the right side of the vehicle, viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper arm bracket 32 ​​welded to the tube 25 is rectangular in shape and includes a first arm bracket 33 and a second arm bracket 34 provided on the inside of the first arm bracket 33 in the vehicle width direction (axle case 21 side). The upper arm bracket 32 ​​is constructed by welding these together. The first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34 are each made of substantially uniform thickness, but are not limited to this.

[0017] The first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34 each have holes 35 and 36 through which the tube 25 passes. The hole 36 in the second arm bracket 34 is larger than the hole 35 in the first arm bracket 33. These holes 35 and 36 serve as holes through which the tube 25 passes through the upper arm bracket 32. The thicker portion of the tube 25 passes through hole 36, and the thinner portion of the tube 25 passes through hole 35.

[0018] Annular flanges 37 and 38 are formed at the edges of the hole 35 formed in the first arm bracket 33 and the hole 36 formed in the second arm bracket 34, respectively, extending in the direction of extension of the tube 25. The flanges 37 and 38 are formed along the outer circumferential surface of the tube 25.

[0019] At least a portion of the outer circumference of the tube 25, which passes through the hole 35 formed in the first arm bracket 33 and the hole 36 formed in the second arm bracket 34, is welded to the first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34, respectively. It is preferable that the entire outer circumference of the tube 25 is welded to the flanges 37 and 38, respectively, but it is not a mandatory requirement that the entire outer circumference of the tube 25 be welded to the flanges 37 and 38, as long as at least a portion of the outer circumference of the tube 25 is welded to the first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34, respectively.

[0020] The first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34 each have contact surfaces 39 and 40 formed on the front side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, facing forward. These contact surfaces 39 and 40 are the same contact surfaces 39 and 40 formed on the upper arm bracket 32 ​​that face forward in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. As a result, the contact surfaces 39 and 40 face in-vehicle equipment (for example, a fuel tank or drive battery) installed in front of the first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0021] The first arm bracket 33 and the second arm bracket 34 each have curved portions 41 and 42 that curve inward from the contact surfaces 39 and 40 towards the rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The curved portions 41 and 42 are gently curved and are designed to deform when the contact surfaces 39 and 40 strike on-board equipment (for example, a fuel tank or drive battery). These curved portions 41 and 42 are curved inward from the contact surfaces 39 and 40 formed on the upper arm bracket 32 ​​towards the rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0022] The second arm bracket 34 and the tube 25 are provided with patches 51 and 52 that are welded to each other. The patches 51 and 52 are made of rectangular steel plates. Patch 51 is welded to the second arm bracket 34 and the tube 25 at the front of the tube 25 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and patch 52 is welded to the second arm bracket 34 and the tube 25 at the rear of the tube 25 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. These patches 51 and 52 are the patches 51 and 52 that connect the upper arm bracket 32 ​​and the tube 25.

[0023] As described above, the upper arm bracket 31 on the left side of the vehicle, which is welded to the tube 24 on the left side of the vehicle, is symmetrical to the upper arm bracket 32 ​​on the right side of the vehicle, which is welded to the tube 25 on the right side of the vehicle, so its explanation is omitted.

[0024] According to the axle suspension device 1 of this embodiment, the force acting on each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 is distributed in the holes 35 and 36 formed in each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32, so that the stress at the welded joints between the upper arm brackets 31 and 32 and the axle housing 2 (tubes 24 and 25) can be suppressed.

[0025] Furthermore, since annular flanges 37 and 38 are formed on the edges of the holes 35 and 36 formed in each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32, the pair of tubes 24 and 25 can be overlapped and welded to the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32. This increases the welding strength.

[0026] Furthermore, since the outer circumferences of tubes 24 and 25 are welded to flanges 37 and 38 along their entire circumference, the weld bead is continuous, eliminating the start and end points of the weld bead and thus eliminating stress concentration that occurs at the start and end points of the weld bead.

[0027] Furthermore, since contact surfaces 39 and 40 are formed on each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32, even if vehicle-mounted equipment (for example, a fuel tank or drive battery) is located in front of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 and the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 are displaced forward due to a rear-end collision, the contact surfaces 39 and 40 will come into contact with the vehicle-mounted equipment, thereby suppressing damage to the equipment.

[0028] Furthermore, since each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 has a curved portion 41 and 42, even if vehicle-mounted equipment (for example, a fuel tank or drive battery) is located in front of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32, and the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 are displaced forward due to a rear-end collision, the deformation at the curved portions 41 and 42 can suppress damage to the vehicle-mounted equipment.

[0029] Furthermore, since patches 51 and 52 are welded to each of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 and each of the pair of tubes 24 and 25, the welding strength of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 is increased, and the fracture of the pair of upper arm brackets 31 and 32 can be suppressed.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes modified forms of the embodiments described above, as well as forms that combine these forms as appropriate.

[0031] 1 Axle suspension system 2 Axle housing 3,4 Upper arm 5,6 Lower arm 7 Lateral rod 21 Axle case 24,25 Tube 31,32 Upper arm bracket 33 First arm bracket 34 Second arm bracket 35,36 Hole 37,38 Flange 39,40 Contact surface 41,42 Curved section 51,52 Patch

Claims

1. An axle suspension system comprising: an axle housing having tubes on both sides of the axle case; and an upper arm bracket having a hole through which the tubes pass and to which one end of the upper arm is connected, wherein at least a portion of the outer circumference of the tubes passing through the hole is welded to the upper arm bracket.

2. The axle suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm bracket is welded over the entire circumference of the outer circumference of the tube.

3. The axle suspension device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an annular flange extending in the direction extending along the circumferential surface of the tube is formed on the edge of the hole through which the tube passes.

4. The axle suspension device according to claim 3, wherein the flange is welded around the entire circumference of the outer circumference of the tube.

5. The axle suspension device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper arm bracket comprises a first arm bracket and a second arm bracket provided on the inside of the first arm bracket in the vehicle width direction.

6. The axle suspension device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a patch connecting the upper arm bracket and the tube.

7. A vehicle comprising: an axle suspension system according to claim 1 or 2; and an on-board device positioned in front of the upper arm bracket in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, wherein the upper arm bracket has a contact surface formed on the front side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction that faces the on-board device.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the upper arm bracket has a curved portion formed thereon that curves toward the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the contact surface.

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