阅读说明：本技术 悬架装置 (Suspension device ) 是由 花井诚 近藤卓宏 于 2020-05-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的悬架装置(1)具备板簧(S)和缓冲器(2)。板簧(S)赋予使弹簧下构件相对于车辆(V)的主体(B)(弹簧上构件)在规定方向上相对移动的弹性力。缓冲器(2)具有第一扩缩构件(10)、第二扩缩构件(20)、中间构件(30)以及阻尼通道(40)。第一及第二扩缩构件(10、20)形成内部填充气体的第一及第二气体室(R1、R2)并扩缩自如。第一及第二扩缩构件(10、20)的上端(10A)及下端(20B)与主体(B)相连接。中间构件(30)将第一及第二扩缩构件(10、20)相连结并且与板簧(S)相连接。阻尼通道(40)将第一及第二气体室(R1、R2)相连通,且对流通的气体的流动赋予阻力。当第一及第二扩缩构件(10、20)中的一者扩大时另一者则缩小。(A suspension device (1) is provided with a leaf spring (S) and a damper (2). The leaf spring (S) gives an elastic force for moving the unsprung member relative to the main body (B) (sprung member) of the vehicle (V) in a predetermined direction. The damper (2) has a first expanding/contracting member (10), a second expanding/contracting member (20), an intermediate member (30), and a damping passage (40). The first and second expansion/contraction members (10, 20) are formed in first and second gas chambers (R1, R2) filled with gas and are expandable/contractible. The upper end (10A) and the lower end (20B) of the first and second expansion and contraction members (10, 20) are connected to the main body (B). The intermediate member (30) connects the first and second expansion/contraction members (10, 20) and is connected to the plate spring (S). The damper passage (40) connects the first and second gas chambers (R1, R2) to each other, and provides resistance to the flow of gas flowing therethrough. One of the first and second expansion/contraction members (10, 20) is contracted when the other is expanded.)

1. A suspension device is characterized by comprising a plate spring and a damper,

the leaf spring gives an elastic force that relatively moves the unsprung member in a prescribed direction with respect to the sprung member of the vehicle,

the buffer has:

a first expanding/contracting member which forms a first gas chamber filled with gas and is provided to be expandable/contractible, and one end of the first expanding/contracting member is connected to the spring upper member in an attached state;

a second expansion/contraction member which forms a second gas chamber filled with gas and is provided so as to be expandable/contractible, and one end of which is connected to the spring upper member in an attached state;

an intermediate member that connects the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member and is connected to the plate spring in a mounted state;

a damper passage that communicates the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber and that imparts resistance to a flow of the gas that flows between the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber,

one of the first and second scaling members is scaled down when the other is scaled up.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a suspension (suspension) device.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a conventional suspension device. The suspension device includes a damper having an air pressure damper main body, an output shaft, a sealing body, and a damping passage. The air pressure damper main body is formed in a tubular shape having pressure chambers filled with gas at both ends. Each pressure chamber is sealed by a sealing body which is elastically and retractably provided. The pressure chambers communicate with each other through the damper passage, and provide resistance to the flow of the gas flowing through the damper passage. The size of each pressure chamber changes with the expansion and contraction of the closing body, and gas can be exchanged between the pressure chambers to generate damping force.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1, Japanese patent laid-open No. 2012 and 172817

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the suspension device generally needs to include a suspension spring that applies an elastic force between an upper spring member such as a body (body) and a lower spring member such as a wheel. In the case where the suspension spring is provided in patent document 1, it is necessary to install the suspension spring separately from the shock absorber and to mount the suspension spring on the vehicle. In this case, the shock absorber and the mounting portion of the suspension spring need to be separately provided, resulting in a complicated structure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension device having a simplified configuration.

Means for solving the technical problem

The suspension device of the present invention includes a leaf spring (leaf spring) and a damper. The leaf spring gives an elastic force that relatively moves the unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to the sprung member of the vehicle. The bumper has a first expanding and contracting member, a second expanding and contracting member, an intermediate member, and a damping channel. The first expansion and contraction member forms a first gas chamber filled with gas and is arranged to be expandable and contractible. In addition, one end of the first expansion and contraction member is connected with a spring upper member of the vehicle in the mounting state. The second expansion and contraction member forms a second gas chamber filled with gas and is provided to be expandable and contractible. In addition, one end of the second expansion and contraction member is connected with the spring upper member of the vehicle in the mounting state. The intermediate member is disposed between the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member, and connects the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member. In addition, the intermediate member is connected with the leaf spring in the mounted state. The damper passage communicates the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber, and imparts resistance to the flow of gas that circulates between the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber. When one of the first expansion and contraction member and the second expansion and contraction member expands, the other one contracts.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle including a suspension device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the suspension device according to embodiment 1, and shows a state in which the wheel moves upward from the state of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the suspension device according to embodiment 1, and shows a state in which the wheels move downward from the state of fig. 2.

Detailed Description

A suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up-down and left-right directions refer to the up-down and left-right directions of the vehicle, and refer to the up-down and left-right directions shown in fig. 1 to 4, respectively.

[ embodiment 1 ]

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a suspension device 1 of embodiment 1 is provided in a vehicle V. The suspension device 1 supports a wheel W or the like as a sprung member of a vehicle V in a vertically movable manner relative to a main body B as the sprung member. The suspension device 1 includes a leaf spring S as a suspension spring and a damper 2. The suspension device 1 includes two suspension arms (suspension arms) 3 and 4. The suspension device 1 is a so-called double a-arm type (double wishbone) in which the two suspension arms 3 and 4 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. Each suspension arm 3, 4 is rotatably supported by the main body B. Specifically, the base end side of the suspension arm 3 is supported to be rotatable about a rotation axis Cl extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle V. The base end side of the suspension arm 4 is supported to be rotatable about a rotation axis C2 set below the rotation axis Cl. The rotation axis C2 is set to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle V, similarly to the rotation axis Cl. The front end sides of the suspension arms 3 and 4 extend in the left-right direction (left direction in fig. 1) of the vehicle V from the base end side, and are rotatably connected to a knuckle (knuckle) K on the wheel W side.

The plate spring S provides an elastic force in a direction in which the wheel W moves downward relative to the body B. The plate spring S of the present embodiment is made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP, glass fiber reinforced plastics). The plate spring S is disposed to extend in the right-left direction of the vehicle V. The leaf spring S is provided one on each of the pair of left and right wheels W. The center portion S1 of the leaf spring S is connected to the main body B, and the left and right end portions S2 are supported by the suspension arm 4. Specifically, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the center portion S1 of the plate spring S is fixed to the main body B by a bracket (cradle) B1, and the end portion S2 of the plate spring S is fixed to the fixing portion 4A of the suspension arm 4 via a rubber bush (rubber bush) G.

In the vehicle V according to embodiment 1, the main body B supported by the plate spring S and various members fixedly disposed with respect to the main body B are sprung members, and various members disposed so as to be movable relative to the main body B, such as the wheel W, the joint K, and the suspension arms 3 and 4 suspended from the plate spring S, are unsprung members. The shock absorber 2 damps the relative movement of the sprung member group and the unsprung member group by applying resistance to the relative movement in the state in which the spring force of the suspension spring acts. The damper 2 is mounted between a main body B as a spring upper member and a plate spring S that partially performs relative movement with respect to the main body B by flexural deformation.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the shock absorber 2 includes a first expanding and contracting member 10, a second expanding and contracting member 20, an intermediate member 30, and a damper passage 40. The first expansion and contraction member 10 forms a first gas chamber R1 filled with gas therein and is provided so as to be expandable and contractible. Specifically, the first expansion and contraction member 10 is a rubber roller (rolling lobe) formed in a cylindrical shape, and is provided to be extendable and retractable in the axial direction. The first expanding and contracting member 10 is connected to the main body B at an upper end 10A which is one end in the expansion and contraction direction in a state of being mounted on the vehicle V. The lower end 10B, which is the other end of the first expanding and contracting member 10 in the expansion and contraction direction, is connected to the intermediate member 30. The second expansion and contraction member 20 forms a second gas chamber R2 filled with gas therein, and is provided so as to be expandable and contractible. In the present embodiment, the second expanding and contracting member 20 is a cylindrical rubber roller (rolling lobe) having substantially the same configuration and size as the first expanding and contracting member 10. The second expansion/contraction member 20 is attached to the vehicle V, and a lower end 20B, which is one end in the expansion/contraction direction, is connected to the main body B. The upper end 20A, which is the other end of the second expansion and contraction member 20 in the expansion and contraction direction, is connected to the intermediate member 30.

The intermediate member 30 is disposed between the first and second expansion and contraction members 10 and 20. As described above, the intermediate member 30 is connected with the lower end 10B of the first expansion and contraction member 10 and the upper end 20A of the second expansion and contraction member 20. Thus, the intermediate member 30 of the present embodiment connects the first expanding and contracting member 10 and the second expanding and contracting member 20 in series in the expansion and contraction direction. In addition, the intermediate member 30 is connected to a position closer to the wheel than the fixed position of the plate spring S on the main body B side in the mounted state. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the center portion S1 of the leaf spring S is fixed to the body B by a bracket (blacket) B1, and the end portion S2 is fixed to the fixing portion 4A of the suspension arm 4. The intermediate member 30 is connected to a portion separated from the central portion S1 of the plate spring S, and this portion is relatively movable with respect to the main body B. Specifically, the intermediate member 30 is connected to a portion separated from the central portion S1 of the plate spring S toward the end portion S2 side by a bracket B2.

The damper passage 40 communicates the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2, and imparts resistance to the flow of gas that circulates between the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the damper passage 40 is configured to have a first damper passage 41 and a second damper passage 42. The first damper passage 41 includes: a check valve 41A that allows the gas flow from the first gas chamber R1 to the second gas chamber R2 and prevents the reverse flow thereof; and a flow control valve 41B for controlling the flow rate of the gas to be circulated. The second damper passage 42 includes: a check valve 42A that allows the gas flow from the second gas chamber R2 to the first gas chamber R1 and prevents the reverse flow thereof; and a flow control valve 42B that controls the flow rate of the flow gas. In the present embodiment, the first damper passage 41 and the second damper passage 42 are formed in such a manner that the flow resistances of the gas are different in magnitude according to the flow rate control of the flow rate control valves 41B and 42B. Specifically, the flow resistance of the second damping passage 42 is set to be larger than the flow resistance of the first damping passage 41. In the present embodiment, the check valves 41A and 42A and the flow rate control valves 41B and 42B are provided integrally with the intermediate member 30.

The damper 2 of the present embodiment is provided to be movable in the extending direction of the plate spring S. In detail, as shown in fig. 2, the fixing position of the intermediate member 30 by the bracket B2 can be changed along the plate spring S extending in the left-right direction of the damper 2.

Next, an operation of the suspension device 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described.

In the vehicle V, the damper 2 is in a state where the pressures of the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2 are balanced in a state where the wheel W does not undergo relative movement with respect to the main body B. In this state, no gas flows between the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2, and no damping force is generated.

In the vehicle V, when the wheel W moves upward relative to the body B due to an input from a road surface or the like, for example, when the state shown in fig. 2 is changed to the state shown in fig. 3, the front end sides of the suspension arms 3 and 4 move upward accordingly. The central portion S1 of the leaf spring S is connected to the main body B via the bracket B1, and the end portion S2 is connected to the fixing portion 4A of the suspension arm 4, so that the end portion S2 is flexurally deformed so as to move upward relative to the central portion S1.

In the leaf spring S, a portion between a portion connected to the center portion S1 of the body B by the bracket B1 and a portion fixed to the suspension arm 4 by the fixing portion 4A is connected to the intermediate member 30 of the shock absorber 2 by the bracket B2. Therefore, the intermediate member 30 moves upward as the end portion S2 of the plate spring S moves upward. Then, the first expansion and contraction member 10 contracts in the vertical direction, and the volume of the first gas chamber R1 decreases. On the other hand, the second expansion and contraction member 20 is expanded in the vertical direction, and the volume of the second gas chamber R2 is increased. Thereby, the gas in the first gas chamber R1 is compressed and the pressure rises, and the gas in the second gas chamber R2 expands and the pressure drops. That is, a pressure difference is generated between the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2. According to this pressure difference, a flow of gas flowing through the damping passage 40 is generated.

Specifically, the gas flows from the first gas chamber R1 to the second gas chamber R2 through the first damper passage 41. On the other hand, the second damping passage 42 does not generate the flow of gas due to the clogging of the check valve 42A. Thereby, a damping force is generated by the flow rate control valve 41B of the first damping passage 41, and upward relative movement of the wheel W with respect to the body B is suppressed.

On the other hand, in the vehicle V, when the wheel W moves downward relative to the body B, for example, when the state shown in fig. 2 is changed to the state shown in fig. 4, the plate spring S is deformed in a manner such that the end portion S2 moves downward relative to the center portion S1. Therefore, the intermediate member 30 moves downward. Accordingly, the first expansion and contraction member 10 expands in the vertical direction to increase the volume of the first gas chamber R1, and the second expansion and contraction member 20 contracts in the vertical direction to decrease the volume of the second gas chamber R2. Thereby, the gas in the first gas chamber R1 expands and the pressure decreases, and the gas in the second gas chamber R2 is compressed and the pressure increases. That is, a pressure difference is generated between the first gas chamber R1 and the second gas chamber R2. According to this pressure difference, a flow of gas flowing through the damping passage 40 is generated.

Specifically, the gas flows from the second gas chamber R2 to the first gas chamber R1 through the second damper passage 42. On the other hand, the check valve 41A is blocked, and the first damping passage 41 does not allow gas to flow therethrough. Thereby, a damping force is generated by the flow rate control valve 42B of the second damping passage 42, and the downward relative movement of the wheel W with respect to the body B is suppressed.

Further, in the suspension device 1, the magnitude of the damping force generated by the damper 2 can be changed by moving the damper 2 in the extending direction of the plate spring S. Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the upper end 10A of the first expansion and contraction member 10 and the lower end 20B of the second expansion and contraction member 20 of the damper 2 abut the abutment surface portions Al and a2 of the main body B. The first and second expansion and contraction members 10 and 20 expand and contract between the contact surface portions Al and a2 of the main body B and the intermediate member 30, thereby changing the volumes of the gas chambers R1 and R2. The intermediate member 30 is displaced between the contact surface portions Al and a2 of the main body B according to the magnitude of the flexural displacement of the plate spring S. The leaf spring S has a large deflection displacement at a position distant from the bracket B1, which is a fixed position on the main body B side, that is, a position closer to the end S2 than the position closer to the wheel W.

Therefore, by moving the damper 2 in the extending direction of the plate spring S and changing the fixed position of the bracket B2, the magnitude of the displacement of the intermediate member 30 when the plate spring S undergoes flexural displacement changes due to the relative movement between the body B of the vehicle V and the wheel W, and the magnitude of the change in the volume of the 1 st expanding and contracting member 10 and the 2 nd expanding and contracting member 20 changes. This changes the flow rate of the gas flowing through the damper passage 40. Therefore, the suspension device 1 can generate a damping force of a desired magnitude by adjusting the amount of expansion and contraction of the first and second expansion and contraction members 10 and 20 by moving the shock absorber 2 in the extending direction of the plate spring S to adjust the magnitude of displacement of the intermediate member 30.

As described above, in the suspension device 1 according to embodiment 1, the upper end 10A of the first expansion and contraction member 10 and the lower end 20B of the second expansion and contraction member 20, which are one ends of the two expansion and contraction members 10 and 20 of the shock absorber 2, are connected to the main body B, and the intermediate member 30 connecting the two expansion and contraction members 10 and 20 is connected to the leaf spring S. Therefore, when flexural displacement is generated on the plate spring S due to relative movement between the main body B of the vehicle V and the wheel W, one of the two expanding and contracting members 10, 20 of the shock absorber 2 expands and the other contracts. Thereby, the gas filled in the two gas chambers R1, R2 expands one, and the other is compressed to generate a pressure difference, thereby generating a flow of the gas flowing through the damping passage 40. The gas is given resistance when passing through the damping passage 40. The damper 2 can apply this resistance force as a damping force that suppresses the relative movement between the body B of the vehicle V and the wheel W. In the suspension device 1, the plate spring S as a suspension spring is integrally connected to the intermediate member 30 of the damper 2. Therefore, the shock absorber can be mounted on the vehicle with a simple structure as compared with the case where the suspension spring and the shock absorber are separately provided.

Therefore, the suspension device 1 of embodiment 1 can be simplified in structure.

In the suspension device 1 according to embodiment 1, the damper 2 is provided so as to be movable in the extending direction of the leaf spring S, and therefore the magnitude of the resistance can be easily adjusted. This makes it possible to easily adjust the magnitude of the damping force.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment 1 explained by the above description and the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In embodiment 1, a double a-arm type suspension device is exemplified, but the form of the suspension device according to the present invention is not limited to this as long as it includes a leaf spring.

(2) In embodiment 1, a form in which the leaf spring extends in the vehicle lateral direction is exemplified, but the leaf spring according to the present invention may also be a form in which the leaf spring extends in a direction other than the vehicle lateral direction, such as the front-rear direction. The material of the plate spring is not limited to GFRP, and may be other materials such as metal.

(3) In embodiment 1, the form in which the leaf spring is fixed to the lower suspension arm is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto. If there are a plurality of suspension arms, the leaf spring may be fixed to any one of the suspension arms. The plate spring may be fixed to an unsprung member other than the suspension arm. Further, the leaf spring may be directly attached to a unsprung member such as a suspension arm without using a rubber bush.

(4) In embodiment 1, the form in which the center portion of the plate spring is connected to the main body and the end portion is connected to the suspension arm as the unsprung member is exemplified, but the plate spring according to the present invention may be formed in which the end portion is connected to the main body and the center portion or the other end portion is connected to the unsprung member such as the suspension arm.

(5) In embodiment 1, the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member are provided with substantially the same configuration and size, but the configuration and size of the two expanding and contracting members may be different.

(6) In embodiment 1, the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member are in the form of rolling vanes, respectively, but the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member may be in other forms such as a metallic bellows. The material of the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member is not limited to rubber, and other materials such as metal and resin may be used.

(7) In embodiment 1, the first expansion and contraction member is provided movably in the extending direction of the suspension arm, but the second expansion and contraction member may be provided movably in the extending direction of the suspension arm, or two expansion and contraction members may be provided movably in the extending direction of the suspension arm.

(8) In embodiment 1, the form in which two damping ducts, i.e., the first damping duct and the second damping duct, are provided is exemplified as the damping duct, but this is not essential in the present invention. As an example of the mode of providing the damper passage, a mode may be adopted in which only one damper passage is provided to which resistance is given to the flow of the gas flowing from the first gas chamber to the second gas chamber or the flow of the gas flowing from the second gas chamber to the first gas chamber, and a passage is provided to which no resistance is given to the flow of the other gas.

(9) In embodiment 1, the form in which the damper passage is formed in the intermediate member is exemplified, but in the present invention, the damper passage may be formed separately from the intermediate member.

(10) In embodiment 1, the body of the vehicle is exemplified as the sprung member, but the sprung member according to the present invention is not limited to this.

(11) In embodiment 1, the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member are expanded and contracted with a predetermined directivity, that is, are provided so as to be extendable and contractible in a predetermined direction, but this is not essential. At least one of the first expanding and contracting member and the second expanding and contracting member according to the present invention may be in an expanding and contracting form without having a predetermined directivity, such as a balloon.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … suspension device 2 … buffer

3. 4A … fixation of 4 … suspension arm

10 … first expansion and contraction member

10A … upper end of first expanding and contracting member

10B … lower end of first expanding and contracting member

20 … second expansion and contraction member

20A … second expansion and contraction member upper end

20B … lower end of second expansion member

30 … intermediate member 40 … damping channel

41 … first damping passage 41A, 42A … check valve

41B, 42B … flow control valve 42 … second damping passage

Al, A2 … contact face B … main body (spring upper member)

B1 … support B2 … support

C1 … rotating shaft C2 … rotating shaft

Section K … of G … rubber bushing

R1 … first gas Chamber R2 … second gas Chamber

S … leaf spring

S1 … center part S2 … end part

V … vehicle W … wheel