Mounting structure of stabilizer bar in vehicle

A mounting structure of an automobile stabilizer bar includes a support bracket fixed at one end thereof to a lateral surface of a crossmember. The other end of the support bracket protrudes out toward the side of a vehicle body. At least one bushing is coupled to a stabilizer bar and affixed onto the support bracket. A bushing bracket is formed in an arch shape for enclosing the periphery of the bushing. A stud bolt is attached at one end to each outer surface of the bushing bracket. The other end of the stud bolt penetrates each lateral surface of the support bracket. A pipe member into which the stud bolt penetrates is coupled to each lateral surface of the support bracket. A coupling nut is coupled to one end of the stud bolt after the stud bolt passes through the pipe member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Korean Application Serial Number 10-2004-0104130, filed on Dec. 10, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting structure of an automobile stabilizer bar adapted to prevent the stabilizer bar from being interfered with by neighboring components during its installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The stabilizer bar is generally coupled at both ends to suspension arms (lower arms) via stabilizer links. The stabilizer bar is also connected at two middle portions thereof to the vehicle body via a bushing and bushing bracket.

Preferably, the bushing and bushing bracket can be coupled to the vehicle body without any interference from the neighboring components, and the attaching and detaching process thereof can be easily accomplished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention minimize the interference with the stabilizer bar by its adjacent components and improve the attachment and detachment of the stabilizer bar in the vehicle, thereby greatly reducing the time consumption of the working process.

A mounting structure of an automobile stabilizer bar includes a support bracket fixed at one end to a lateral surface of a crossmember. The other end of the support bracket is distanced from the lateral surface of the crossmember and protrudes out toward the side of the vehicle body. At least one bushing is coupled to the stabilizer bar and stably mounted to the support bracket. An arch-shaped bushing bracket encloses the periphery of the bushing. One end of each of a pair of stud bolts runs parallel to each outer surface of the bushing bracket. The other end of each stud bolt penetrates each lateral surface of the support bracket and protrudes downward therefrom. A pipe member into which the stud bolt penetrates is coupled to each lateral surface of the support bracket. A coupling nut is coupled to the bottom end of each stud bolt after the stud bolt passes through the pipe member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of the present invention includes a support bracket41fixed at one end thereof to a lateral surface of a crossmember21while the other end is distanced from the lateral surface of crossmember21and protrudes out toward the side of a vehicle body. At least one bushing11is coupled to a stabilizer bar1and stably mounted to support bracket41. A bushing bracket43has an arch shape for enclosing the periphery of bushing11. A pair of stud bolts45has one end that runs adjacent to each outer surface of bushing bracket43. The other end of stud bolts45penetrates each lateral surface of support bracket41and protrudes downward therefrom. A pipe member47, into which stud bolt45penetrates, is coupled to each lateral surface of support bracket41. A coupling nut49is coupled to the bottom end of each stud bolt45after stud bolt45passes through pipe member47.

Crossmember21is installed underneath the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby obtaining the rigidity of the lower portion of the vehicle body. Stabilizer bar1is fixed at two portions thereof to crossmember21via support bracket41equipped at both ends of crossmember21. Both ends of stabilizer bar1are connected to suspension arms via stabilizer links. The connecting structure is not shown in the drawings.

Support bracket41branches out from crossmember21and includes an upper plate41aonto which bushing11is mounted, and two side plates41band41c. Side plates41band41care bent down toward the lower portion of the vehicle body from both lateral ends of upper plate41a. Each outer surface of side plates41band41cis welded to pipe member47.

As illustrated in detail inFIG. 4, bushing bracket43has a wave-shaped cross section formed by connecting three arcs, alternatingly convex and concave. Stud bolt45is closely welded to the center of the middle arc among the above wave-shaped cross-section for a tight coupling of stud bolt45and bushing bracket43.

The exterior of bushing11, which is closely attached to the interior of bushing bracket43, has a wave shape in accordance with the formation of bushing bracket43, whereas the interior of bushing11is configured to be penetrated by stabilizer bar1. Bushing11is mounted on support bracket41via bushing bracket43after stabilizer bar1has penetrated the interior of bushing11.

When bushing11is fitted onto support bracket41, the pair of stud bolts45coupled to bushing bracket43passes adjacent to both lateral sides of support bracket41and penetrates pipe member47welded to the both sides of support bracket41. Coupling bolt49is coupled to one end of stud bolt45having passed through pipe member47so that bushing bracket43and support bracket41firmly couple to each other.

Therefore, stabilizer bar1is fixed to and supported by crossmember21via bushing11, bushing bracket43, support bracket41, and coupling nut49. When stabilizer bar1is fixed onto support bracket41, the assembly has no portions that protrude at the lateral and upper portions of bushing11enclosing stabilizer bar1, thus significantly reducing interference with the stabilizer bar by contiguous components thereof.

Bushing11is an essential element for fixing stabilizer bar1to the vehicle body, and thus, a certain space for accommodating bushing11should be obtained in the vehicle. However, in the mounting structure of the stabilizer bar according to the present invention, a minimal space is required at the lateral and upper portions of bushing11, thereby minimizing the interference with bushing11by the adjacent components.

In reference toFIG. 5, an interval (G) is acquired between bushing bracket43enclosing bushing11and a fuel filler pipe31adjacent to bushing11that supports stabilizer bar1to the vehicle body, so that fuel filler pipe31and bushing bracket43are prevented from being disturbed by each other.

In the present invention, the assembly and disassembly of bushing bracket43are implemented by manipulating coupling nut49that is fastened and unfastened from the lower portion of the vehicle body (that is, lower portion of bushing11) without any restriction of the lateral or upper portions of bushing11. This greatly improves the convenience of the assembly and disassembly of bushing bracket43, significantly reduces the working time period, and increases the productivity thereby.

As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in that the surrounding of the bushing enclosing the stabilizer bar is not limited in space when the stabilizer bar is installed at the vehicle body, thereby preventing any generation of interruption due to nearby components, facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the bushing bracket, significantly reducing the working time period, and increasing the productivity as well.