Subframe construction for front suspension

• US 6,685,202 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Fujimoto, Naomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/053,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.109, 280/124.134, 280/124.135, 280/124.136, 280/785, 280/788, 180/311
• US Class Current: 280/124.109
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4302 for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions

Abstract

A subframe construction for a front suspension is provided that increases suspension arm attachment strength in the event of a front collision. The subframe includes a front cross member at the front part of a vehicle body; a rear cross member on the rear side of the front cross member; and a pair of right and left subframe bodies connecting these cross members to each other. The subframe body has upper and lower panels forming a hollow portion therebetween. A rear arm bracket is installed along the rear outer side in the vehicle width direction of the lower panel of the subframe body. The panels include portions ranging from the lower panel face on which the rear arm bracket is mounted to the rear side of the lower panel formed substantially into a spherical shell shape.

Claims

1. A subframe construction for a front suspension of a vehicle, comprising:

a front cross member disposed in a vehicle width direction along a front part of a vehicle body;

a rear cross member disposed in the vehicle width direction along a rear side of said front cross member;

a pair of right and left subframe bodies for connecting said front and rear cross members to each other, each of said subframe bodies having an upper panel and a lower panel forming a hollow portion therebetween; and

a suspension are mounting member mounted to a rearward portion of an outer surface in the vehicle width direction of each of said lower panels of said subframe body;

wherein a portion of said upper panel and lower panel ranging from the lower panel surface on which said suspension arm mounting member is mounted on said lower panel to a rearward portion of said lower panel is formed into a substantially spherical shell shape.

2. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 1, wherein a lower side portion of a mounting face of said lower pane formed into a substantially spherical shell shape is depressed inwardly toward the vehicle width direction, and said suspension arm mounting member is installed on the depressed panel face.

3. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal portion of the panel face on which said suspension arm mounting member is installed is substantially aligned with the position of said rear cross member.

4. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 1, wherein said suspension arm mounting member and a panel face of said lower panel located along the rear side of said mounting member are connected to each other by a first reinforcing member.

5. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 4, wherein a panel face of said lower panel located along the rear side of said suspension arm mounting member and said upper panel are connected longitudinally to each other by a second reinforcing member.

6. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 5, wherein said second reinforcing member is a cylindrical reinforcing pipe.

7. The subframe construction for a front suspension according to claim 4, wherein said first reinforcing member is a rod-like or plate-like tie down hook.