JP2016172474A - Propeller shaft support structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle capable of improving rigidity while restraining from increasing cost.SOLUTION: A support member 30 is provided outside a center bearing bracket 16. Together with the center bearing bracket 16, the support member 30 is fastened to a vehicle body 8 by bolts 18. The support member has: a bending portion 34; and reinforcement ribs 40. When the support member 30 is not fastened to the vehicle body 8, the bending portion 34 has: a first portion 36 having a radius of curvature greater than an outer peripheral surface 22a with respect to a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16; and a second portion 38 having a radius of curvature less than the outer peripheral surface 22a. The first portion 36 is provided at a part nearer to a fastening portion 32 than the second portion 38. Thus, there can be provided a propeller shaft support structure 10 for a vehicle, which improves rigidity, while restraining from increasing cost.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an improvement for improving rigidity while suppressing an increase in cost.

  A center bearing bracket fastened to the vehicle body by a fastener, a center bearing fixed to the vehicle body via the center bearing bracket, and a rotatably supported on the vehicle body via the center bearing bracket and the center bearing 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle propeller shaft support structure including a propeller shaft that has been made is known. For example, a propeller shaft support device described in Patent Document 1 is an example. According to this technique, in the center bearing bracket, the stay member having the reinforcing rib is provided from the attachment portion related to the attachment to the vehicle body to the connection portion to the outer periphery of the center bearing. It is said that the torsional rigidity is improved and it is possible to suppress vehicle body vibration and abnormal noise generation propagation into the vehicle interior.

JP 2010-184623 A

  By the way, in the prior art, when the center bearing bracket is shared by a plurality of types of vehicles, the rigidity required for the propeller shaft support structure varies depending on the vehicle, so that it matches the vehicle that requires high rigidity. It is conceivable to design the center bearing bracket. However, when the center bearing bracket is designed for a vehicle that requires high rigidity, this leads to an unnecessary cost increase for a vehicle that does not require such rigidity.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle that improves rigidity while suppressing an increase in cost.

  In order to achieve such an object, the gist of the present invention is that a center bearing bracket fastened to a vehicle body by a fastener, a center bearing fixed to the vehicle body via the center bearing bracket, A propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle comprising the center bearing bracket and a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the vehicle body via the center bearing, wherein the center bearing is disposed outside the center bearing bracket. A support member that supports a bracket, and the support member is formed integrally with the fastening portion, a fastening portion that is fastened together with the center bearing bracket to the vehicle body by the fastening tool, A curved portion that supports an outer peripheral portion of the center bearing bracket; and A reinforcing rib provided at a connection portion between the wearing portion and the bending portion, and the bending portion is configured so that the center of the bending member is not fastened to the vehicle body by the fastener. A first portion having a larger radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the bearing bracket, and a second portion having a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, The first portion is provided in a portion closer to the fastening portion than the second portion.

  According to this configuration, the support member that supports the center bearing bracket is provided outside the center bearing bracket, and the support member is fastened together with the center bearing bracket to the vehicle body by the fastener. A fastening portion that is formed, a bending portion that is formed integrally with the fastening portion and that supports an outer peripheral portion of the center bearing bracket, and a reinforcing rib provided at a connection site between the fastening portion and the bending portion And the bending portion is more curved than the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the center bearing bracket in a state where the support member is not fastened to the vehicle body by the fastener. A first portion having a large radius, and a second portion having a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface; Is provided at a portion closer to the fastening portion than the second portion, and therefore the support member separate from the center bearing bracket is provided for a vehicle that requires high rigidity. While the rigidity can be increased by mounting, an increase in cost can be suppressed by not mounting the support member for a vehicle where high rigidity is not essential. Furthermore, by changing the radius of curvature of the curved portion of the support member depending on the part, the variation in the shape of the center bearing bracket can be absorbed and the center bearing bracket can be reliably supported. That is, it is possible to provide a vehicle propeller shaft support structure that improves rigidity while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is a figure explaining an example of the propeller shaft support structure for vehicles to which this invention is applied suitably, and has expanded and shown the part enclosed with a dashed-dotted line. It is the front view which looked at the part shown expanded in FIG. 1 in the direction shown by arrow II. It is a perspective view which illustrates the composition of the conventional propeller shaft support structure for vehicles for comparison with this example. It is a figure explaining that the propeller shaft for vehicles is mounted by changing length for every vehicle, making specifications common.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Regarding the drawings used in the following description, the dimensional ratios of the respective parts are not necessarily drawn accurately.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a vehicle propeller shaft support structure 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a support structure 10) to which the present invention is preferably applied. FIG. It is a bottom view shown. In FIG. 1, the portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is shown enlarged. FIG. 2 is a front view of the portion shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state where a support member 30 to be described later is removed from the vehicle body 8. The support structure 10 supports the propeller shaft 12 so as to be rotatable (rotatable about an axis) with respect to the vehicle body 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support structure 10 includes a center bearing bracket 16 fastened (fastened) to the vehicle body 8 with bolts 18 or the like as fastening tools (fasteners), and the center bearing bracket. And a center bearing 14 fixed to the vehicle body 8 through 16. The propeller shaft 12 is rotatably supported by the vehicle body 8 via the center bearing 14 and the center bearing bracket 16.

  The center bearing 14 is, for example, a known ball bearing, and is provided on the outer peripheral side of the propeller shaft 12 so as to be coaxial with the axis C of the propeller shaft 12 as shown in FIG. The center bearing bracket 16 includes a first member 16a assembled to the vehicle body 8 side and a second member 16b assembled to the opposite side of the vehicle body 8. Each of the first member 16 a and the second member 16 b includes a pair of flat plate portions 20 related to fastening to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18. The flat plate portion 20 is formed with a through hole 20a into which the bolt 18 is inserted. Between the pair of flat plate portions 20, an annular portion 22 configured in a substantially semi-annular shape in front view is provided. The annular portion 22 is preferably substantially semicircular when viewed from the front, that is, in the direction of the axis C of the propeller shaft 12, and is viewed from the side, that is, a direction perpendicular to the axis C of the propeller shaft 12. When viewed from above, the curved surface has a predetermined curvature. The first member 16a and the second member 16b are fastened to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18 in a state where the annular portions 22 of the first member 16a and the second member 16b are opposed to each other (strings substantially coincide). The Thereby, the said annular part 22 in the said 1st member 16a and the said 2nd member 16b is made into a substantially annular shape as a whole in front view. The center bearing bracket 16 is formed with a substantially annular outer peripheral surface 22 a centering on the axis C of the propeller shaft 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the center bearing 14 is disposed between the annular portions 22 of the first member 16a and the second member 16b facing each other. That is, it arrange | positions coaxially with the said annular part 22 made into a substantially annular shape as a whole in front view. Between the center bearing 14 and the center bearing bracket 16 (annular portion 22), a substantially annular buffer portion 24 is provided. The buffer portion 24 is, for example, an elastic member such as rubber, and is substantially fixed to the outer race of the center bearing 14 on the inner peripheral side, and inside the annular portion 22 of the center bearing bracket 16 on the outer peripheral side. It is substantially fixed to the peripheral surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support structure 10 includes a support member 30 that supports the center bearing bracket 16 on the outside of the center bearing bracket 16. In other words, the support member 30 is a member for reinforcing the center bearing bracket 16 and increasing its rigidity. In FIG. 1, the support member 30 is indicated by a broken line. The support member 30 is preferably provided on the second member 16b side. That is, it is provided outside the center bearing bracket 16 and on the side opposite to the vehicle body 8. The support member 30 is configured in a shape as described in detail below by press molding of a metal material (metal plate) or other manufacturing method.

  The support member 30 includes a pair of fastening portions 32 that are fastened to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18. The fastening portion 32 has a flat plate shape, and a through hole 32a into which the bolt 18 is inserted is formed. The through hole 32 a in the fastening portion 32 is formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 20 a in the flat plate portion 20 of the center bearing bracket 16. The support member 30 is inserted into the through hole 20a in the flat plate portion 20 of the center bearing bracket 16 and the bolt 18 (common bolt) inserted into the through hole 32a in the fastening portion 32. The center bearing bracket 16 is fixed to the vehicle body 8 by being fastened to the vehicle body 8. That is, the support member 30 (fastening portion 32) is fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16 to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18.

  The support member 30 includes a curved portion 34 that is formed integrally with the fastening portion 32 and supports the outer peripheral portion of the center bearing bracket 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the curved portion 34 is substantially the same as the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16 (annular portion 22) when viewed from the front, that is, when viewed in the direction of the axis C of the propeller shaft 12. It is formed in a curved surface (curve) shape having a curvature. The curved portion 34 has a radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16 in a state where the support member 30 is detached from the vehicle body 8, that is, a state where the support member 30 is not fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16 by the bolt 18. A first portion 36 having a larger radius of curvature than R1 and a second portion 38 having a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface 22a are provided. That is, in the front view, with respect to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16, the first portion 36 having a radius of curvature R2 larger than the outer peripheral surface 22a and a radius of curvature R3 smaller than the outer peripheral surface 22a. The second portion 38 is provided. In other words, in the front view, with respect to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16, the first portion 36 having a smaller curvature than the outer peripheral surface 22a and the second portion having a larger curvature than the outer peripheral surface 22a. A portion 38.

  In the bending portion 34, the first portion 36 is provided in a portion closer to the fastening portion 32 than the second portion 38. Specifically, the second portion 38 is provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the support member 30. The first portion 36 is provided between the second portion 38 and the pair of fastening portions 32. In other words, the radius of curvature of the curved portion 34 is larger than the radius of curvature R1 of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16 in the first portion 36 that is at least a prescribed portion in the vicinity of the fastening portion 32. At least the second portion 38 that is the farthest part from the fastening portion 32 is smaller than the radius of curvature R1 of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16.

  The support member 30 includes a reinforcing rib 40 at a part including at least a connection part between the fastening part 32 and the bending part 34. The reinforcing rib 40 is a portion where both side portions in the width direction (axial center C direction) portion of the support member 30 including the connecting portion are bent up to the side opposite to the center bearing bracket 16 and raised. . In other words, the reinforcing rib 40 has a configuration in which a pair of portions whose both edges in the width direction of the support member 30 are raised in a hook shape are provided substantially in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the support member 40. Equivalent to. As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing rib 40 is preferably provided between the fastening portion 32 and the vicinity of the first portion 36 in the curved portion 34. Preferably, in the support member 40, at least the second portion 38 is not provided with the reinforcing rib 40.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a conventional vehicle propeller shaft support structure 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as the support structure 100) for comparison with the present embodiment. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 described later, portions common to the support structure 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The support structure 100 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to a configuration in which the support member 30 is excluded from the support structure 10 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the center bearing 14 and the buffer portion 24 are omitted. In the conventional support structure 100 shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinal rigidity of the center bearing bracket 16 is low, and there is a risk that the center bearing bracket 16 will vibrate in the front-rear direction as shown by broken arrows in FIG. There is. Due to the vibration of the center bearing bracket 16 in the front-rear direction, problems such as vibration of the vehicle body 8 and a booming noise occur. In order to solve such a problem, the conventional technology has coped with a shape change such as increasing the thickness of the center bearing bracket 16 itself or adding a reinforcing rib to the center bearing bracket 16. However, in general, the propeller shaft has a common specification, and as shown in FIG. 4, the length of each propeller shaft according to the configuration of various engines, transmissions, wheelbases, etc. (corresponding to the length shown in FIG. 4). It is mounted by changing the length dimension of the part. For this reason, when the center bearing bracket 16 is designed for a vehicle that requires high rigidity, the rigidity of the center bearing bracket 16 is determined according to the vehicle. Affected by it. That is, the correspondence leads to an increase in cost unnecessary for a vehicle that does not necessarily require high rigidity for the center bearing bracket 16.

  As described above, the support member 30 provided in the support structure 10 of the present embodiment has a structure with a curvature (curvature radius) different from the R shape of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16. A first portion 36 and the second portion 38 are provided. A radius of curvature R2 of the first portion 36 is larger than a radius of curvature R1 of the outer peripheral surface 22a. For this reason, when the support member 30 is fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16 with respect to the vehicle body 8, it comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 22 a. Thereby, the support member 30 is fixed to the center bearing bracket 16. A radius of curvature R3 of the second portion 38 is smaller than a radius of curvature R1 of the outer peripheral surface 22a. When the support member 30 is fastened to the vehicle body 8 together with the center bearing bracket 16, the support member 30 is deformed and the curvature radius of the second portion 38 is increased, so that the second portion 38 is brought into contact (contact) with the outer peripheral surface 22a. That is, in the state where the support member 30 is not fastened to the vehicle body 8 by the bolt 18 (not fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16), the curved portion 34 is configured as described above. Thus, in the state of being fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16 with respect to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18, the bolts 18 are securely fixed to the center bearing bracket 16. That is, it is possible to absorb the variation of the center bearing bracket 16 main body and securely fix the center bearing bracket 16 when tightened together.

  In the support structure 10 of the present embodiment, the support member 30 configured as a separate member from the center bearing bracket 16 is fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16 by the common bolt 18, thereby the vehicle body 8. It is configured to be attached to. With such a configuration, the rigidity of the center bearing bracket 16 can be improved as necessary. That is, since the support member 30 is attached at a vehicle factory or the like, the support member 30 is attached to a vehicle that requires relatively high rigidity for the center bearing bracket 16, but such rigidity is not essential. It is possible to cope with the vehicle not having the support member 30 attached thereto. For this reason, necessary and sufficient rigidity can be realized for each vehicle by tuning the shape of the support member 30 with respect to a plurality of types of vehicles employing the propeller shaft 12 having the same specification.

  According to the present embodiment, the support member 30 that supports the center bearing bracket 16 is provided outside the center bearing bracket 16, and the support member 30 is attached to the vehicle body 8 by the bolts 18 that are fasteners. A fastening portion 32 that is fastened together with the center bearing bracket 16, a curved portion 34 that is integrally formed with the fastening portion 32 and supports an outer peripheral portion of the center bearing bracket 16, and the fastening portion 32 and a reinforcing rib 40 provided at a connection portion between the bending portion 34 and the bending portion 34 in a state where the support member 30 is not fastened to the vehicle body 8 by the bolt 18. The first portion 3 having a larger radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface 22a in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the center bearing bracket 16. And a second portion 38 having a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface 22a in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a, and the first portion 36 is closer to the fastening portion 32 than the second portion 38 is. Since it is provided in the vicinity, the rigidity of the vehicle requiring high rigidity can be increased by attaching the support member 30 separately from the center bearing bracket 16, while the rigidity is high. The increase in cost can be suppressed by not attaching the support member 30 to a vehicle that is not essential. By providing the reinforcing rib 40, the rigidity of the center bearing bracket 16 in the front-rear direction is improved. Furthermore, by changing the radius of curvature of the curved portion 34 in the support member 30 depending on the part, the variation in the shape of the center bearing bracket 16 can be absorbed, and the center bearing bracket 16 can be reliably supported. That is, it is possible to provide the support structure 10 that improves the rigidity while suppressing an increase in cost.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. To be implemented.

  8: Vehicle body, 10: Propeller shaft support structure for vehicle, 12: Propeller shaft, 14: Center bearing, 16: Center bearing bracket, 18: Bolt (fastener), 22a: Outer peripheral surface, 30: Support member, 32: Fastening portion, 34: curved portion, 36: first portion, 38: second portion, 40: reinforcing rib

Claims (1)

A center bearing bracket fastened to the vehicle body by a fastener, a center bearing fixed to the vehicle body via the center bearing bracket, and a rotatably supported on the vehicle body via the center bearing bracket and the center bearing A propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle, comprising a propeller shaft that is
A support member for supporting the center bearing bracket on the outside of the center bearing bracket;
The support member is
A fastening portion that is fastened together with the center bearing bracket to the vehicle body by the fastening tool;
A curved portion formed integrally with the fastening portion and supporting an outer peripheral portion of the center bearing bracket;
A reinforcing rib provided at a connection site between the fastening portion and the bending portion,
In the state where the support member is not fastened to the vehicle body by the fastening tool,
With respect to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the center bearing bracket, a first portion having a larger radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface;
A second portion having a smaller radius of curvature than the outer peripheral surface with respect to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface,
The propeller shaft support structure for a vehicle, wherein the first portion is provided in a portion closer to the fastening portion than the second portion.

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