SUSPENSION DEVICE

• US 20110018214A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kayaba Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Kondo, Takuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.515
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/067 characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/068 specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/124 Mounting of coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/40 Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/42 Joints with cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/03 using magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F9/53, F16F15/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2232/06 Translation-to-rotary conversion

Abstract

A suspension device (S) comprises: an actuator (A) including a motion conversion mechanism (T) for converting a linear motion to a rotational motion and a motor (M) connected to a rotary member (1) which performs the rotational motion in the motion conversion mechanism (T); a fluid pressure damper (D) connected to a linear motion member (2) which performs the linear motion in the motion conversion mechanism (T); an outer cylinder (27) connected to the actuator (A); and a bearing (34) attached to a rod (31) or a cylinder (32) connected to the linear motion member (2) of the fluid pressure damper (D) and slidably contacting with the inner circumference of the outer cylinder (27). This suspension device can improve reliability and vehicle ride quality.

Claims

1. A suspension device, comprising:

an actuator including a motion conversion mechanism for converting a linear motion to a rotational motion and a motor connected to a rotary member which performs the rotational motion in the motion conversion mechanism;

a fluid pressure damper connected to a linear motion member which performs the linear motion in the motion conversion mechanism;

an outer cylinder connected to the actuator; and

a bearing attached to a rod or a cylinder connected to the linear motion member of the fluid pressure damper and slidably contacting with the inner circumference of the outer cylinder.

2. A suspension device according to claim 1, wherein a suspension spring is constituted by a spring juxtaposed to the fluid pressure damper and a spring juxtaposed to the actuator, and the bearing is interposed between the springs to serve also as a spring receiver.

3. A suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member in the motion conversion mechanism is a screw nut, the linear motion member is a threaded shaft to be screwed to the screw nut, a holder which rotatably retains the screw nut and also retains a locking mechanism for blocking rotation of the threaded shaft is provided, and the motor is fixed to the holder.

4. A suspension device according to claim 3, wherein the motor is provided with a cylindrical shaft, and the threaded shaft is inserted into the shaft.

5. A suspension device according to claim 3, wherein a cylindrical socket for inserting the shaft of the motor is provided at one end of the screw nut, and a friction body is interposed between the inner circumference of the socket and the outer circumference of the shaft.

6. A suspension device according to claim 5, wherein the friction body is a tolerance ring.

7. A suspension device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary member in the motion conversion mechanism is a screw nut, the linear motion member is a threaded shaft to be screwed to the screw nut, a holder which rotatably retains the screw nut and also retains a locking mechanism for blocking rotation of the threaded shaft is provided, and the motor is fixed to the holder.

8. A suspension device according to claim 4, wherein a cylindrical socket for inserting the shaft of the motor is provided at one end of the screw nut, and a friction body is interposed between the inner circumference of the socket and the outer circumference of the shaft.