Suspension arm mounting structure

• US 9,278,595 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Tech Incorporated, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: F-Tech Incorporated, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Tetsu, Yanagida, Takuya, Midorikawa, Junichi, Ohta, Yasutaka, Kenmotsu, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/367,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20140361508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.135, 280/124.136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1431 of an L-shaped arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/41 Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0122 having a U profile with plate closing the profile in the total or partial length of the element
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/122 the arm having L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence

Abstract

A suspension arm mounting structure comprises: an arm body section (14) which is disposed between a wheel and a vehicle body and which is configured from a plate-shaped member; a rubber elastic body (46) which is provided between the arm body section (14) and the vehicle body; and a shaft section (16) which is extended from the arm body section (14) in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, is press-fitted or fitted in the through-hole (48) of the rubber elastic body (46), and has a tube-like shape or a closed cross-sectional shape. The shaft section (16) has a pressing section (52) which causes both end surfaces of the plate-shaped member to face each other and press against each other so that the opposing end surfaces are in contact with each other so as to press against each other.

Claims

1. A suspension arm mounting structure for mounting a suspension arm which swingably supports a wheel side of a vehicle from a side of a vehicle body, including:

a suspension arm formed of a plate-like member; and

an elastic member arranged between the suspension arm and the side of the vehicle body,

wherein the plate-like member includes;

a horizontal portion which extends in an approximately horizontal direction when the suspension arm is mounted on the vehicle body;

vertical portions which are bent downward from edge portions of the horizontal portion; and

reverse flange portions which are bent inward from lower edge portions of the vertical portions,

wherein edges of the reverse flange portions form opposite edges of the plate-like member which are facing each other,

wherein the suspension arm includes;

an arm body arranged between the wheel side and the vehicle body side; and

a shaft portion which extends from the arm body in a front-rear direction of the vehicle or a width direction of the vehicle, has a tubular shape or a closed cross section, and is fitted or press fitted into an inner circumference of the elastic member,

wherein the shaft portion includes a biased portion in which the opposite edges of the plate-like member are biased such that the opposite edges abut and press each other, and

wherein the opposite edges of the plate-like member gradually come closer to each other with approach to the shaft portion from the arm body, and abut and bias each other in the shaft portion.

2. The suspension arm mounting structure according to claim 1,

wherein a recessed portion is formed in one of the opposite edges of the plate-like member which are opposed and butted, a protruding portion is formed in another of the opposite edges of the plate-like member, and the recessed portion and the protruding portion are fitted to each other with a clearance therebetween.

3. A suspension arm mounting structure for mounting a suspension arm which swingably supports a wheel side of a vehicle from a side of a vehicle body, including:

a suspension arm formed of a plate-like member; and

an elastic member arranged between the suspension arm and the side of the vehicle body,

wherein the plate-like member includes;

a horizontal portion which extends in an approximately horizontal direction when the suspension arm is mounted on the vehicle body;

vertical portions which are bent downward from edge portions of the horizontal portion; and

reverse flange portions which are bent inward from lower edge portions of the vertical portions,

wherein edges of the reverse flange portions form opposite edges of the plate-like member which are facing each other,

wherein the suspension arm includes;

an arm body arranged between the wheel side and the vehicle body side; and

a shaft portion which extends from the arm body in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, has a tubular shape or a closed cross section, and is fitted or press fitted into an inner circumference of the elastic member,

wherein the shaft portion includes a biased portion in which the opposite edges of the plate-like member are biased such that the opposite edges of the plate-like member abut and press each other in a common approximately horizontal plane in the biased portion when the suspension arm is mounted on the vehicle body, and

wherein the opposite edges of the plate-like member gradually come closer to each other with approach to the shaft portion from the arm body, and abut and bias each other in the shaft portion.

4. The suspension arm mounting structure according to claim 3,

wherein a recessed portion is formed in one of the opposite edges of the plate-like member which are opposed and butted, a protruding portion is formed in another of the opposite edges of the plate-like member, and the recessed portion and the protruding portion are fitted to each other with a clearance therebetween.