JP2002145111A - Suspension cross member structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension cross member structure capable of easily and inexpensively obtaining sufficient strength without increasing a plate thickness and preventing the interference with peripheral parts. SOLUTION: In the suspension cross member structure attached to a side member 6 to support members constituting a suspension 4 such as an upper link 2 and a lower link 3 and having a U-shaped square cross section, end parts 11 are folded back and overlapped in a multiple manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cross member constituting a frame of an automobile, and more particularly to a structure of a suspension cross member for supporting a suspension.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a suspension cross member 40 of a vehicle is formed by pressing a metal plate into a U-shaped cross section, and extending downwardly in front of and behind the traveling direction of the vehicle. One with 41 is known.

Since the suspension cross member 40 supports the suspension 4, the tire 42,
Axle 43, upper link 2 and lower link 3
And various inputs from the road surface.

Due to these inputs, the suspension cross member 40 undergoes deformation such as bending or pulling,
The flange end 44 of the suspension cross member 40 may be the weakest part in strength.

In this case, the thickness of the entire suspension cross member 40 is increased for the purpose of reinforcement,
As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 15, the reinforcing member 46 is welded so as to close the opening 45 between the flanges 41 and 41 of the suspension cross member 40, or the flange end 47 is formed at a right angle as shown in FIGS. To ensure strength.

[0006]

However, if the method of increasing the plate thickness of the suspension cross member 40 is adopted, the vehicle weight becomes heavy, and if the method of welding the reinforcing member 46 is adopted, the reinforcing member 46 is separately provided. There is a problem that it becomes necessary and processing is troublesome and costly.

When a method of forming a flange end portion 47 bent at right angles to the suspension cross member 40 is adopted, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the steering link 9 is provided around the suspension cross member 40.
(Hereinafter referred to as peripheral components) such as the damper and the damper 8 are arranged close to each other.

In this case, there is a method of partially shortening the length of the flange end portion 47 to be bent so as to avoid interference with peripheral parts. However, the shortened bent portion becomes a strong neck. However, the effectiveness was poor, for example, the plate thickness had to be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a suspension cross member which can obtain sufficient strength easily and inexpensively without increasing the plate thickness and which can prevent interference with peripheral parts. It is to provide a structure.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a suspension cross member structure having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is attached to a side member to support members constituting a suspension such as an upper link and a lower link. In the above, the end portion is folded back and multiplexed.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the suspension cross member 1 is for supporting members constituting the suspension 4, such as the upper link 2 and the lower link 3, and extends along the traveling direction 5 of the vehicle body. It is provided so as to extend in the vehicle width direction substantially orthogonal to the side member 6 extending in the front-rear direction.

An upper link 2 and a lower link 3 are rotatably connected to both ends of the suspension cross member 1, and are rotatable about a vertical axis between the upper link 2 and the lower link 3. The tires (not shown) are respectively supported via knuckles 7 provided in the vehicle.

The lower link 3 is connected to a lower end of a damper 8 arranged close to the rear side of the suspension cross member 1. A steering link 9 disposed close to the front side of the suspension cross member 1 is rotatably connected to the knuckle 7. Then, the damper 8 regulates the rear limit position of the suspension cross member 1, and the steering link 9 regulates the front limit position of the suspension cross member 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suspension cross member 1 has a flange 10 formed by bending the outer periphery of a metal plate at a substantially right angle, and is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.

The upper end is fixed to the lower end of the side member 6 with the U-shaped opening 13 facing downward.

The end 11 of the suspension cross member 1, that is, the end 11 of the flange 10 extending downward.
A folded portion 12 for reinforcing the flange 10 is press-formed.

The folded portion 12 is provided at the end 1 of the flange 10.
1 is folded back to the outside of the opening 13 so as to be double overlapped, and particularly to reinforce the end 11 of the flange 10.

The folded portion 12 is formed at the front end and the rear end of the suspension cross member 1 so as to extend in the vehicle width direction.

The folded portion 12 is formed by bending the end 11 of the flange 10 so as to be gently rounded. Thereby, the forming crack of the folded portion 12 is prevented.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the suspension cross member 1 is manufactured, a metal plate made of steel or the like is formed into a predetermined shape by cutting or the like, and then pressed.

The pressing is performed three times. In the first press working, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
While forming the flange 10 by bending the outer periphery of the metal plate at a substantially right angle, the bending margin 14 is formed by bending the tip of the flange 10 outward at a substantially right angle.

In the second press working, as shown in FIG. 4B, the turn allowance 14 is further bent by about 30 ° to 45 °, and in the third press working, as shown in FIG. The return margin 14 is completely folded. Flange 10
End 11 is overlapped on two sheets and is sufficiently reinforced.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, a separately pressed member such as an installation member 15 for installing the side member 6 is attached, and the suspension cross member 1 is completed.

As described above, since the end portion 11 of the flange 10 is merely folded back and overlapped, it is possible to obtain the required strength with one part without the need for reinforcement which requires joining by welding, and at low cost. A highly reliable suspension cross member 1 can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is slightly projected from the suspension cross member 1 in the front-rear direction, so that it does not interfere with peripheral parts such as the damper 8 and the steering link 9 and can be easily accommodated in a limited space. .

Then, the suspension cross member 1
Is not particularly limited by peripheral parts, so that some cutouts are not required. Therefore, there is no need to form a strong neck, such as a notch, and it is not necessary to form an excessively thick plate.

In the above embodiment, the flange 10
Although the end portion 11 is folded back and overlapped doubly, the present invention is not limited to this, and the end portion 11 may be folded a plurality of times and overlapped multiple times.

In the above embodiment, the structure of the suspension cross member 1 has been described.
The structure in which 0 is folded back to reinforce can be applied to other components such as the suspension link 20 as shown in FIG.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the flanges 31 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section and opens downward,
Is applied to the links 23 formed by bending outwardly at substantially right angles, as shown in FIG. 10, the ends 24, 24 of the metal plate formed in a U-shaped cross section are respectively turned outwardly to reinforce.

In this case, it is preferable to determine the dimensions so that the width W _{2 of the} link 25 matches the width W ₁ of the conventional link 23 and to form the link.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the flanges 32, 32 are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and open in the horizontal direction.
In the case where each of the metal plates 7 is applied to a link 28 formed by bending outward at substantially a right angle, as shown in FIG. 11, ends 29, 29 of a metal plate having a U-shaped cross section are respectively turned outward to reinforce. .

In this case, it is preferable to determine the dimensions so that the height H ₂ of the link 30 matches the height H ₁ of the conventional link 28 and to form the link.

[0035]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) A sufficient strength can be obtained easily and inexpensively without increasing the plate thickness, and interference with peripheral components can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension cross member showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a suspension cross member being processed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a molding process of the suspension cross member in the order of (a) to (c).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an automobile frame.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a suspension link.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a suspension link to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a suspension link to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a conventional suspension cross member.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a conventional suspension cross member.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional suspension cross member.

15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a conventional suspension cross member.

17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suspension cross member 2 Upper link 3 Lower link 4 Suspension 6 Side member 11 End

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A suspension cross member structure having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is attached to a side member for supporting members constituting a suspension such as an upper link and a lower link, wherein an end portion is folded back and overlapped. Suspension cross member structure.