JPS60176802A - Upper support for vehicle suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain large damping force which can quickly absorb vibrational energy of large amplitude and give comfortable drive by forming an orifice, which provides mutual connection between a pressure receiving chamber and a pressure balancing chamber, on an orifice forming member. CONSTITUTION:The upper end of the piston rod 22 of a shock absorber 10 is joined to the body of a vehicle elastically by an upper support 24. The upper support 24 is provided with an outer metallic fitting 26, an inner metallic fitting 28 and a rubber sleeve 30 which is put between them. An annular rubber block 46 is located on the opposite side of the sleeve 30 putting fixed plate 42 between them, and this rubber block 46 is provided with a balancing chamber 48 which is formed at the alternate position of the pressure receiving chamber 40 of the rubber sleeve 30. An orifice forming plate 54 is put between the fixed plate 42 and a seat plate 50, thus the damping force against vibration of large amplitude comes out from viscosity resistance of the flow through an orifice 58.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field The present invention relates to an upper support for elastically connecting a suspension rod member to a vehicle body in a vehicle suspension system, and particularly relates to an upper support that has excellent damping ability against large displacement vibrations. It concerns upper support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, strut type suspension systems in which a shock absorber is incorporated into a suspension link have been known as vehicle suspension systems. In such a suspension system, one end of the shock absorber is connected to the wheel side,
Normally, the piston rod of the shock absorber is elastically connected to the vehicle body via an upper support, and for example, a coil spring is placed on the outside of the shock absorber, which is often used as a suspension system for the front wheels of a vehicle. A typical example is the so-called Masochferson strut type.

Such an Asopa saboard 1 generally includes an outer metal fitting that is attached to the vehicle body side, an inner metal fitting to which a support member connected to the wheel side such as a piston rod of a shock absorber is attached, and these outer metal fittings. It usually includes a rubber elastic body interposed between the inner metal fittings, and when incorporated into the above-mentioned strand type suspension system, shock absorbers, coil springs, etc. It plays a role in suppressing the transmission of vibrations from the wheels, self-help vibrations of coil springs, etc. to the vehicle body.

By the way, such an upper support not only has isolation characteristics that effectively isolate small displacement vibration input, but also
Damping characteristics that quickly suppress large-displacement vibrations are required, but conventional upper supports attempt to achieve such damping through the damping function of the rubber elastic body itself. There are limits to this, and the required damping characteristics cannot be fully achieved.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to exhibit not only a vibration isolation ability but also a large damping force against large displacement vibrations. It is an object of the present invention to provide an asobazabo-1 which is easy to obtain and to manufacture.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes the following:
In the upper support including the outer metal fitting, the inner metal fitting and the rubber elastic body as described above, (a) at least one pressure receiving chamber whose volume is changed by relative displacement between the outer metal fitting and the inner metal fitting is formed in the rubber elastic body; At the same time, the pressure receiving chamber is opened on the wheel connecting side of the rod member, and a fixing plate is integrally provided on the side of the rubber elastic body where the pressure receiving chamber is opened, in which a window portion corresponding to the opening is formed. On the other hand, on the opposite side of the rubber elastic body across the fixing plate, at least one equilibrium chamber having a variable volume is opened on the side of the fixing plate using a surrounding member made of a flexible material. and integrally provide a seat plate with a window portion corresponding to the opening on the side of the enclosure member where the equilibrium chamber opens; and by forming an orifice in the orifice forming member to allow the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber to communicate with each other, through the orifice,
Predetermined incompressible fluids sealed in the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber are made to flow with each other.

Effects of the Invention By doing this, when a large displacement vibration is input, the relative displacement between the inner metal fitting and the outer metal fitting becomes large (by this, incompressible fluid flows between the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber through the orifice). Due to the viscous resistance that occurs when flowing through the orifice, a large /Jl damping force that quickly suppresses such large displacement vibration energy is obtained.
Furthermore, by setting the dynamic spring constant of the rubber elastic body or the like to be low, the elastic deformation action of the rubber elastic body allows a sufficient shielding function against high-frequency vibrations to be obtained with a small displacement. Moreover, as mentioned above, it has a two-part structure, and the orifice forming member is sandwiched between the fixing plate and the seat plate, and the fixing plate and the seat plate are integrated, so it is a composite upper support. However, it can be easily manufactured.

Embodiment Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an upper support in a so-called McPherson strut type suspension system for the front wheels of a vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of such a suspension device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an induction heating device, and a coil spring 12 is disposed on the outside of this shock absorber 10. The lower end of the cylinder 14 of the shock absorber 10 is connected to a steering knuckle that rotatably supports the wheel 16, and is connected to the vehicle body via an arm mechanism 18.
Supported by 0. On the other hand, the piston rod 22 of the shock absorber 10 functions as a rond member connected to the wheel 16 side through the cylinder 14, and the upper end of the piston rod 22 is connected to the upper support (so-called strut). It is elastically connected to the vehicle body 20 via a type plate 24.

An enlarged sectional view of this upper support 24 is shown in FIG. 2, and a partially cutaway plan view thereof is shown in FIG.

As is clear from FIG. 2, this upper support 24 includes an annular outer metal fitting 26, a cylindrical inner metal fitting 28 arranged concentrically inside the annular outer metal fitting 26, and the outer metal fitting 26 and the inner metal fitting 28. and a cylindrical rubber sleeve 30 as a rubber elastic body interposed between the
An inner metal fitting 28 and an outer metal fitting 26 are fixed to the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side of the rubber sleeve 30, respectively, by known vulcanization adhesion.

Further, the outer metal fitting 26 has a substantially cylindrical shape, but its end on the shock absorber 10 side extends radially outward, and a flange portion 32 is integrally formed. A plurality of poles 1 are erected on this flange portion 32.
~34, it is attached to the vehicle body 20. on the other hand,
The inner metal fitting 28 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a bearing 36 is caulked inside the inner metal fitting 28.
Via this bearing 36, the upper end of the piston rod 22 of the induction heating appliance 10 is attached to the inner metal fitting 28 by a NAND 38 in a relatively rotatable state.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the rubber sleeve 30 has an annular shape and is provided with four pressure receiving chambers 40 at equal angular intervals along its circumferential direction. These pressure receiving chambers 40 are
As is clear from the figure, the volume is changed by relative displacement between the outer metal fitting 26 and the inner metal fitting 28, and the volume is changed on the side of the shock absorber 10, in other words, on the piston rod 22.
They are each opened on the wheel connection side. and,
An annular fixing plate 42 is vulcanized and bonded to the end face of the rubber sleeve 30 on the opening side. This fixing plate 42 is fitted into the middle part of the inner metal fitting 28 and integrated therewith by welding, and has four window parts 44 corresponding to the openings of the respective pressure receiving chambers 40.

On the other hand, on the opposite side of the rubber sleeve 30 across the fixing plate 42, particularly on the shock absorber lo side, a circular rubber block 46 is concentrically and abutted against the rubber sleeve 30. It is arranged in such a form. This rubber block 46 is provided with four equilibrium chambers 48 at equal angular intervals along its circumferential direction, and as is clear from FIG. The pressure receiving chambers 40 are formed at alternate phase positions.

This rubber block 46 functions as a flexible enclosing member and defines each equilibrium chamber 48 having a variable volume. That is, the rubber block 46 has a portion having a substantial enclosing function that defines each equilibrium chamber 46, and the portion between the portions in the circumferential direction is formed of a continuous rubber material from the viewpoint of moldability. , it has an annular block shape as a whole.

All of these equilibrium chambers 48 are opened on the side of the fixing plate 402, and an annular seat plate 50 is vulcanized and bonded to the end face of the rubber block 46 on the side of these openings. A window portion 52 corresponding to the opening of each equilibrium chamber 48 is formed in this seat plate 50 . And this seat board 5
With the annular orifice forming plate 54 sandwiched between the fixing plate 42 and the fixing plate 42, the outer peripheral edge of the fixing plate 42 is caulked to the seat plate 50, so that the three are overlapped concentrically and the liquid is The rubber sleeve 30 side and the rubber block 46 side are thereby integrated.

This orifice forming plate 54 functions as an orifice forming member, and has four
An annular orifice passage 56 is formed that connects the openings (more specifically, the window portions 44) of the individual pressure receiving chambers 40. This orifice passage 56 is connected to the fixing plate 4 of the orifice forming plate 54.
The annular groove formed on the plate surface on the second side is covered with the fixing plate 42, and from four places in the circumferential direction of the annular orifice passage 5G, the orifice 1, the plate of the chair forming plate 54, etc. Orifice holes 58 are formed in the thickness direction to communicate with the four equilibrium chambers 48 on the rubber block 46 side.

As a result, a pressure receiving chamber 40 formed on the rubber sleeve 30 side
and an equilibrium chamber 48 formed on the rubber block 46 side are connected to a part of the annular orifice passage 56 and the orifice hole 5.
They are interconnected through the sun. Further, in this embodiment, the 4IIlil pressure receiving chambers 40 of the 30 rubber sleeves are communicated with each other through the annular orifice passage 56, and the 4IIliil pressure receiving chambers 40 of the 46 rubber blocks are communicated with each other by the annular orifice passage 56.
The individual equilibrium chambers 48 are communicated with each other through each orifice hole 5 and a part of the orifice passage 56, and these orifice passages 56 and orifice holes 58 are connected as a whole as described above. This forms an orifice that creates a complex communication state.

The pressure receiving chambers 40 and the equilibrium chambers 48, which are defined and communicated with each other as described above, are filled with a predetermined incompressible fluid (hereinafter referred to as fluid) such as water, polyalkylene glycol, or silicone oil. ) are enclosed in each.

Further, a metal protective cover 60 is provided on the outside of the rubber block 46 so as to cover it, and the flange portion 62 formed at the opening of the metal protective cover 60 is fitted to the flange portion 32 of the outer metal fitting 26 and is integral with the rubber block 46. is attached to the vehicle body 2 by the bolt 34 together with the outer metal fitting 26.
Attached to the o side. The bottom of the protective cover 60 is placed in contact with or very close to the end of the rubber block 46 opposite to the seat plate 5o, and
When the fluid flows into the chamber 8, the portion surrounding the equilibrium chamber 48 is prevented from excessively expanding outward, and
It covers the entire rubber block 48 and a part of the rubber sleeve 30 to protect it from muddy water and the like. Note that the piston rod 22 is attached through an opening formed at the bottom of the protective cover 60.

By the way, when manufacturing such an upper support 24, for example, the fixing plate 42 is welded to the inner metal fitting 28 and the outer metal fitting 26 are set concentrically in a predetermined mold, and their A rubber material is injected between them to vulcanize and mold the rubber sleeve 30 having the pressure receiving chamber 40, and the outer fitting 26, the inner fitting 28 and the fixing plate 42 are
Vulcanize and adhere.

Note that the hair ring 36 is caulked to the inner metal fitting 28 before or after vulcanization.

Separately, the seat plate 5o is set in a mold, and a rubber block 46 having an equilibrium chamber 48 is vulcanized and bonded to the seat plate 50.

Then, both vulcanized molded products obtained in this way,
While immersed in the fluid tank containing the fluid, the orifice forming plate 54 is sandwiched between the fixing plate 42 and the seat plate 5o, and by caulking the fixing plate 42, the three are liquid-tightly integrated. At the same time, fluid can be easily sealed in the pressure receiving chamber 40 and the equilibrium chamber 48, and an orifice can be obtained that allows them to communicate with each other.
4 because it is easy to assemble and manufacture. Note that the protective cover 60 will be integrated with the outer metal fitting 26 after such assembly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper support 24 configured as described above has the piston rod 28 attached to the inner member 28 in order to elastically connect the piston rod 22 of the shock absorber 10 to the vehicle body 20. While being attached, the outer metal fitting 26 is used with it attached to the vehicle body 20.

When a large displacement and low frequency vibration input acts on the piston rod 22 in the axial direction, the relative displacement between the outer metal fitting 26 and the inner metal fitting 28 increases, and when the two approach each other, the respective volumes of the pressure receiving chambers 40 increase. is reduced. Accordingly, the fluid in the pressure receiving chamber 40 flows into the equilibrium chamber 48 side through the orifice passage 56 and the orifice hole 58 while increasing its volume, and is made to flow through the orifice passage 56 and the orifice hole 58. The viscous resistance at this point generates a damping force for vibrations of large displacements. On the other hand, the outer metal fitting 26 and the inner metal fitting 28 are greatly displaced in the direction in which they are separated in the axial direction T! '1 In the filtration process, by increasing the volume of the pressure receiving chamber 40,
The fluid that has once flowed into the equilibrium chamber 48 moves to the pressure receiving chamber 40 side again via the orifice hole 58 and the orifice passage 58, and at this time, the same damping force as described above is generated. As a result, low-frequency vibration energy caused by a large displacement in the axial direction of the piston rod 22 can be quickly attenuated, and large bounces and rebounds of unsprung members such as the wheels 16 can be suppressed.
This makes it possible to improve driving stability, ride comfort, etc.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, an effective damping function is exhibited even for vibrations in the radial direction of the piston rod 22. When a large vibration input is applied in the radial direction of the piston rod 22, the volume of one of the pressure receiving chambers 40 and equilibrium chambers 48 located on both sides of the piston rod 22 decreases, and the volume of the other increases. As a result, fluid flows between the pressure receiving chambers 40 via the orifice passage 56 on the rubber sleeve 30 side, and the orifice hole 58 on the rubber block 46 side
and a portion of the orifice passageway 56 to the equilibrium chamber 48.
Fluid circulation occurs between the piston rods 22 and the radial vibration energy of the piston rod 22 can be effectively damped by the circulation (viscous) resistance at that time, thereby further improving riding comfort. be.

In particular, in this embodiment, since the four pressure receiving chambers 4° and the equilibrium chambers 48 are formed at alternate phase positions in the circumferential direction, an effective damping function can be obtained in any radial direction of the piston rod 22. It will be done.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above based on the drawings, this is literally an illustration, and the present invention should not be construed as being limited by such specific description.

For example, the annular groove that forms the main part of the orifice passage 56,
It may be formed on the side of the fixing plate 42, and its cross-sectional area and the diameter of the orifice hole 58 are appropriately determined so as to obtain the desired damping characteristics.

7 6 Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to those equipped with coil springs on the outside of the shock absorber as described above, but also applies to strut bar type suspension systems that do not have such coil springs or are not provided with a shock absorber. It can also be effectively applied to upper support. Furthermore, the benefits of the present invention can be enjoyed even in an embodiment in which the protective cover 60 as described above is omitted.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be practiced with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the pressure receiving chambers 40 and the equilibrium chambers 48. It's not there.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of a suspension system including an upper servo boat according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper support, and is also a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 2. 8 10: Buffer 14; Cylinder 22: Piston rond (rond member) 24 Near support 26: Outer metal fitting 28: Inner metal fitting 30: Rubber sleeve (rubber elastic body) 40: Pressure receiving chamber 42: Fixing plate 44: Window part 46 : Rubber block (enclosing member) 48: Equilibrium chamber 50: Seat plate 52: Window 54 Niorifice forming plate (orifice forming member) Applicant Toyota Motor Corporation Tokai Rubber Industries Co., Ltd. 9 Figure 1 2 B

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An upper including an outer metal fitting attached to a vehicle body, an inner metal fitting to which a rod member connected to the wheel side is attached, and a rubber elastic body interposed between the outer metal fitting and the inner metal fitting. In the support, at least one pressure receiving chamber whose volume is changed by relative displacement between the outer metal fitting and the inner metal fitting is formed in the rubber elastic body, and
The pressure receiving chamber is opened on the wheel connection side of the rod member, and a fixing plate is integrally provided on the side of the rubber elastic body where the pressure receiving chamber is opened, in which a window portion corresponding to the opening is formed; At least one equilibrium chamber having a variable volume is formed by a surrounding member made of a flexible material on the opposite side of the rubber elastic body across the fixing plate, and opens to the side of the fixing plate; A seat plate having a window portion corresponding to the opening is integrally provided on the side of the enclosure member where the equilibrium chamber opens, and the seat plate is fixed to the fixing plate via an orifice forming member. Also, by forming an orifice in the orifice forming member that allows the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber to communicate with each other, a predetermined incompressible fluid sealed in the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber, respectively, is released through the orifice. An upper support for a vehicle suspension system, characterized in that the upper supports are configured to allow mutual circulation of the components. (2) A plurality of the pressure receiving chambers and a plurality of the equilibrium chambers are formed, and the orifice forming member has an orifice that allows the pressure receiving chambers and the equilibrium chambers to communicate with each other, and the plurality of fluid chambers and the plurality of equilibrium chambers communicate with each other. 2. The upper support according to claim 1, wherein an orifice is formed to allow the upper supports to communicate with each other. (3) A protective cover for suppressing excessive bulging deformation of the surrounding member and protecting the surrounding member is provided on the outside of the surrounding member, and the protective cover is attached to the outer metal fitting. Upper support described in range 1 or 2.