Coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of vehicle

A coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle includes: a left torsion bar and a right torsion bar arranged in an internal space of the torsion beam so to be separated from each other in a horizontal direction of a torsion beam. Torsion stiffness of the torsion beam is tuned by replacing the left torsion bar and the right torsion bar, and particularly, warping stiffness is tuned by changing a position where the left torsion bar is coupled to the torsion beam and a position where the right torsion bar is coupled to the torsion beam.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0052787, filed May 7, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a technology of a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle capable of adjusting torsion stiffness and warping stiffness.

BACKGROUND

In general, a suspension of a vehicle is a device for preventing a vehicle body or freight from being damaged and improving a ride comfort by connecting an axle and the vehicle body to each other so as not to directly deliver a vibration or an impact from a road surface to the vehicle body when the vehicle is traveling. The vehicle suspension is mainly classified into a front suspension and a rear suspension.

A vehicle includes a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus as a rear suspension which includes a torsion beam formed in an open-loop shape having a U-shape or a V-shape cross-section and having left and right sides each coupled to trailing aims, and a torsion bar positioned in an inner space of the torsion beam, arranged horizontally along a length direction of the torsion beam, and having left and right sides each coupled to the trailing arms.

The coupled torsion beam axle apparatus as described above has a small number of components, a low unit cost, and particularly, high space utilization, and thus is mainly used for small and medium vehicles.

However, in the conventional coupled torsion beam axle apparatus, since the torsion bar assisting stiffness is integrally coupled to the trailing arms by welding, the torsion bar may not be replaced and a position of the torsion bar may not be changed either. As a result, it is not possible to tune torsion stiffness and warping stiffness.

That is, a racing vehicle or a high-performance vehicle should be able to adjust the torsion stiffness and the warping stiffness in consideration of driving characteristics if necessary, but in the conventional coupled torsion beam axle apparatus as described above, the replacement of the torsion bar and the position change thereof may not be performed, and thus, it is not possible to use the coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle in the racing vehicles or the high-performance vehicle required to adjust roll stiffness.

The contents described as the related art have been provided only to assist in understanding the background of the present disclosure and should not be considered as corresponding to the related art known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle capable of adjusting torsion stiffness through a replaceable structure of a torsion bar, and particularly, adjusting warping stiffness through a position changeable structure of a torsion bar, thereby tuning the roll stiffness according to driving characteristics of a driver and thus being used in a general vehicle, a racing vehicle, or a high-performance vehicle.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle includes: a torsion beam arranged in a horizontal direction of the vehicle and coupled to a left trailing arm and a right trailing arm; and a left torsion bar and a right torsion bar arranged in an internal space of the torsion beam and separated from each other in a horizontal direction of the torsion beam, wherein a left side of the left torsion bar is connected to any one of the left trailing arm and the torsion beam, a right side of the right torsion bar is connected to any one of the right trailing arm and the torsion beam, and a right side of the left torsion bar and a left side of the right torsion bar are connected to the torsion beam.

A first bracket and a second bracket may be fixedly coupled to the left trailing arm and the right trailing arm, respectively, the left side of the left torsion bar may be coupled to the first bracket to be connected to the left trailing arm, the right side of the right torsion bar may be coupled to the second bracket to be connected to the left trailing arm, and when a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar and the left side of the right torsion bar may be coupled to an intermediate region.

The first bracket and the second bracket may be each provided with two fixing portions arranged to face each other while being spaced apart in a front-rear direction, a first pipe may be inserted between the two fixing portions, the first pipe being coupled to each of the left side of the left torsion bar and the right side of the right torsion bar, a first bolt may penetrate through the two fixing portions and the first pipe to be fastened to a first nut, and the left side of the left torsion bar and the right side of the right torsion bar may be each rotated around the first bolt in an vertical direction, in a state before the first bolt and the first nut are fastened.

When a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar and the left side of the right torsion bar may be coupled to an intermediate region, and the left side of the left torsion bar and the right side of the right torsion bar may be coupled to side regions positioned on left and right sides of the intermediate region.

A second pipe may be each coupled to the right side of the left torsion bar and the left side of the right torsion bar to be arranged in a front-rear direction, the second pipe may be arranged between front and rear surfaces of the torsion beam, and a second bolt may penetrate through the front and rear surfaces of the torsion beam and the second pipe to be fastened to a second nut.

A hole through which the second bolt penetrates may be formed on the torsion beam to penetrate through the front and rear surfaces, and a plurality of holes may be spaced apart in an vertical direction of the torsion beam.

When a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar and the left side of the right torsion bar may be coupled to an intermediate region through the second bolt.

The left torsion bar and the right torsion bar may be separable from each other, and torsion stiffness of the torsion beam may be adjusted by replacing the left torsion bar and the right torsion bar.

The left torsion bar and the right torsion bar may be coupled to be symmetrical with respect to a center line bisecting a length of the torsion beam in the horizontal direction.

The plurality of holes may be spaced apart from each other along a locus of a circle with the left side of the left torsion bar and the right side of the right torsion bar as a center.

A lowermost hole among the plurality of holes vertically spaced apart along the locus of the circle may be formed at a position closest to the center line bisecting a length of the torsion beam in the horizontal direction, and the left side of the left torsion bar and the right side of the right torsion bar may each have a same height as that of the lowermost hole.

As the second bolt is fastened toward an upper hole, warpage of the torsion beam may be relieved to lower the roll stiffness, and as the second bolt is fastened toward a lower hole, the warpage of the torsion beam may be maximized to increase the roll stiffness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 6, a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a torsion beam10formed in an open-loop shape having a U-shape or a V-shape cross-section and opened downward, arranged in a horizontal direction, and each coupled to a left trailing arm1and a right trailing arm3; and a left torsion bar20and a right torsion bar30arranged in an inner space of the torsion beam10so as to be separated from each other in a horizontal direction of the torsion beam10.

A left side (left end portion) of the left torsion bar20is coupled to any one of the left trailing arm1and the torsion beam10, a right side (right end portion) of the right torsion bar30is coupled to any one of the right trailing arm3and the torsion beam10, and a right side (right end portion) of the left torsion bar20and a left side (left end portion) of the right torsion bar30are coupled to the torsion beam10.

FIGS. 1 to 3show a structure in which the left side of the left torsion bar20is connected to the left trailing arm1and the right side of the right torsion bar30is connected to the right trailing arm3as an example.

That is, a first bracket40is fixedly coupled to a bottom surface of the left trailing arm1and a second bracket50is fixedly coupled to a bottom surface of the right trailing arm3, the left side of the left torsion bar20is coupled to the first bracket40to be connected to the left trailing arm1, and the right side of the right torsion bar30is coupled to the second bracket50to be connected to the right trailing arm3.

In addition, when a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the divided lengths are classified into an intermediate region11and two side regions12positioned on left and right sides of the intermediate region11. Here, the right side of the left torsion bar20is coupled to be positioned at the intermediate region11and the left side of the right torsion bar30is coupled to be positioned at the intermediate region11.

More specifically, the first bracket40and the second bracket50are each provided with two fixing portions41and51arranged to face each other while being separated in a front-rear direction, first pipes60each coupled to the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30are inserted between the two fixing portions41and51, and first bolt70penetrate through the two fixing portions41and51and the first pipes60to be fastened to first nuts80.

Therefore, the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30may be each separately coupled to the first bracket40and the second bracket50through fastening of the first bolt70and the first nut80.

In addition, the first pipe60coupled to the left side of the left torsion bar20and the first pipe60coupled to the right side of the right torsion bar30may be each rotated around the first bolt70. With this structure, the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30may be each rotated around the first bolt70in a vertical direction, in a state before the first bolt70and the first nut80are tightly fastened.

In addition,FIGS. 7 and 8show another exemplary embodiment of a structure in which the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30are connected to the torsion beam10.

That is, when a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar20is coupled to be positioned at the intermediate region11and the left side of the right torsion bar30is coupled to be positioned at the intermediate region11, and the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30are coupled to the two side regions12positioned at the left and right sides of the intermediate region11.

The first pipes60are each coupled to the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30to be arranged in the front-rear direction, the first pipes60are arranged between front and rear surfaces13and14of the torsion beam10, and the first bolt70penetrates through the front surface13, the first pipe60, and the rear surface14of the torsion beam10, and then is fastened to the first nut80.

The structure in which the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30are coupled to the side regions12of the torsion beam10exhibits the same performance as that of a structure in which the left side of the left torsion bar20is connected to the left trailing arm1and the right side of the right torsion bar30is connected to the right trailing arm3.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30are each separately coupled to the torsion beam10.

That is, the second pipes90are each coupled to the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30to be arranged in the front-rear direction, the second pipes90are arranged between the front and rear surfaces13and14of the torsion beam10, and a second bolt100penetrates through the front surface13, the second pipe90, and the rear surface14of the torsion beam10, and then is fastened to a second nut110.

Therefore, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30are each separately coupled to the torsion beam10through fastening of the second bolt100and the second nut110.

According to the present disclosure, the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30may be separable from each other, and thus, the torsion stiffness of the torsion beam10may be adjusted through a replacement of the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30.

That is, the torsion stiffness of the torsion beam10may be tuned through a change in a thickness of a cross-section or a diameter of the torsion bar. Therefore, the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30having the thickness of the cross-section or the diameter of the torsion bar suitable for tuning may be replaced, thereby more easily adjusting the torsion stiffness of the torsion beam10.

In addition, in the present disclosure, a hole15through which the second bolt100penetrates is formed to penetrate through the front and rear surfaces13and14of the torsion beam10, and a plurality of holes15of the torsion beam10are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The second bolt100penetrating through the second pipe90is fastened to the second nut110after penetrating through any one of the plurality of holes15spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.

The plurality of holes15formed in the torsion beam10are spaced apart from each other at the same intervals along a locus R1of a circle with the left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30as a center. Accordingly, it is possible to easily adjust the stiffness only by changing a position where the right side of the left torsion bar20is coupled and a position where the left side of the right torsion bar30is coupled (changing a position in the vertical direction).

When a length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30each coupled to the intermediate region11through the second bolt100.

In order to enhance an effect for adjusting the warping stiffness of the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30, it is advantageous to make the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30to be closer to a center line C1bisecting the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30are coupled to be symmetrical with respect to the center line C1bisecting the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction, the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30including the holes15formed therein. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the same characteristic of vehicle movement in a horizontal direction.

The left side of the left torsion bar20and the right side of the right torsion bar30may be each rotated around the first bolt70penetrating through the first pipe60, and thus, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30may be each rotated around the first bolt70in the vertical direction. Therefore, the second bolt100penetrating through the second pipe90may be fastened to the second nut110after penetrating through any one of the plurality of holes15spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.

Here, as the second bolt100penetrating through the second pipe90is fastened toward the upper hole15among the plurality of the holes15spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, warpage of the torsion beam10is relieved to lower the roll stiffness. Further, as the second bolt100penetrating through the second pipe90is fastened toward the lower hole15among the plurality of the holes15spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, warpage of the torsion beam10is maximized to increase the roll stiffness.

That is, according to the present disclosure, the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10may be tuned through the change in position where the second bolt100is fastened. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the warping stiffness is reduced to the maximum when the second bolt100is fastened to the first nut110by penetrating through the topmost hole15, and as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the warping stiffness is increased to the maximum when the second bolt100is fastened to the second nut110by penetrating through the hole15positioned at the lowermost portion.

According to the present disclosure, when the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction is trisected, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30are coupled to the intermediate region11through the second bolt100, and accordingly, tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10may be more easily performed.

It is advantageous to enhance the effect for adjusting the warping stiffness as the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30are closer to the center line C1bisecting the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction.

If the second bolt100penetrating through the second pipe90is coupled not to be positioned at the intermediate region11of the torsion beam10but to be at the side region12thereof, a distance between the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30is widened. In this case, even if a fastened position of the second bolt100is changed in the vertical direction, the tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10may not be performed.

Therefore, in the present disclosure, the second bolt100is coupled to be positioned at the intermediate region11of the torsion beam10, and accordingly, since a distance between the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30may be narrowed as much as possible, thereby easily performing the tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10through the change in the position where the second bolt100is fastened.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 9A, the lowermost hole15, among the plurality of holes15formed vertically along the locus R1of the circle in the intermediate region11of the torsion beam10, may be formed at a position closest to the center line C1bisecting the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction. To this end, the left side of the left torsion bar20(first bolt70) and the right side of the right torsion bar30(first bolt70) each have the same height as that of the lowermost hole15. Accordingly, the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30are each close to the center line C1as much as possible (M1), and as a result, an effect for enhancing the warping stiffness may be improved to the maximum.

As shown inFIG. 9B, if the left side of the left torsion bar20(first bolt) and the right side of the right torsion bar30(first bolt70) are each positioned higher than the lowermost hole15, the hole15positioned at the lowermost portion is far away from the center line C1(M2) and the distance between the right side of the left torsion bar20and the left side of the right torsion bar30is widened. In this case, even if the fastened position of the second bolt100is changed in the vertical direction, the tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10may not be performed.

Therefore, in order to smoothly perform the tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10, the lowermost hole15among the plurality of holes15formed vertically along the locus R1of the circle in the intermediate region11of the torsion beam10, may be formed at a position closest to the center line C1bisecting the length of the torsion beam10in the horizontal direction. To realize this, the left side of the left torsion bar20(first bolt) and the right side of the right torsion bar30(first bolt70) each may have the same height as that of the lowermost hole15.

As described above, a coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle according to the present disclosure has a structure in which it is possible to perform tuning of the torsion stiffness of the torsion beam10through replacement of the left torsion bar20and the right torsion bar30, and particularly, it is possible to perform tuning of the warping stiffness of the torsion beam10through the change in the position where the right side of the left torsion bar20is coupled to the torsion beam10and the position where the left side of the right torsion bar30is coupled to the torsion beam10. Accordingly, since the roll stiffness may be tuned according to driving characteristics of a driver, the coupled torsion beam axle apparatus of a vehicle according to the present disclosure may be used in a general vehicle and racing vehicle or a high-performance vehicle.

Although the present disclosure has been shown and described with respect to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims.