Patent Description:
As a coil spring device that is used by being mounted on a suspension device, conventionally, a coil spring device including a main body spring in which a wire rod extends vertically in a spiral shape around a coil axis and an insulator which supports a lower end portion of the main body spring from below the main body spring is known. Here, the insulator is provided with a support groove which extends around a coil axis and into which the lower end portion of the main body spring is fitted, the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to an inner surface of the support groove, and the inner surface of the support groove is provided with a plurality of spacer protrusions supporting an outer peripheral surface of the wire rod.

When the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to the inner surface of the support groove, an adhesive is first placed on the inner surface of the support groove and then the lower end portion of the main body spring is pressed into the support groove to spread the adhesive on the inner surface of the support groove.

However, in the conventional coil spring device, in the process in which the adhesive on the inner surface of the support groove is pressed into the lower end portion of the main body spring to flow toward the open end edge of the support groove, the flow is merged after branching by the spacer protrusion and reaches the open end edge of the support groove in the rectified state. Accordingly, there is a possibility that a weld line to be exposed that straddles a part of the open end edge of the support groove may be generated on the outer surface of the adhesive layer between the lower end portion of the main body spring and the inner surface of the support groove. In this case, since a part of the open end portion continuous to the open end edge in the inner surface of the support groove is exposed, there is a possibility that foreign substances such as small stones may enter this portion.

The present invention is made in view of the above-described circumstances and an object of the present invention is to provide a coil spring device capable of suppressing a weld line from being generated on an outer surface of an adhesive layer between a lower end portion of a main body spring and an inner surface of a support groove.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve such an object, a coil spring device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a main body spring in which a wire rod extends vertically in a spiral shape around a coil axis; and an insulator which supports a lower end portion of the main body spring from below the main body spring, wherein the insulator is provided with a support groove which extends around the coil axis and into which the lower end portion of the main body spring is fitted, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between an inner surface of the support groove and the lower end portion of the main body spring, wherein the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to an inner surface of the support groove, wherein the inner surface of the support groove is provided with a plurality of spacer protrusions which support an outer peripheral surface of the wire rod, wherein a plurality of adjacent spacer protrusions adjacent to an open end edge of the support groove of the plurality of spacer protrusions each includes a pair of side wall surfaces extending toward the open end edge and are provided at intervals therebetween in an extension direction of the open end edge in a plan view of a part including the open end edge in the inner surface of the support groove, and wherein inclination angles of the side wall surfaces adjacent to each other in the extension direction with the interval therebetween with respect to an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the open end edge are different from each other in the plan view.

According to the present invention, since the inclination angles of the side wall surfaces adjacent to each other in the extension direction with the interval therebetween with respect to the orthogonal direction are different from each other in the plan view, for example, the direction or speed of the flow of the adhesive can be made different between one side wall surface and the other side wall surface defining the interval in the process in which the adhesive placed on the side opposite to the open end edge of the support groove with the adjacent spacer protrusion therebetween in the inner surface of the support groove flows toward the open end edge of the support groove while passing through the interval when the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to the inner surface of the support groove. Further, when the interval becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge, the momentum of the flows can be weakened by causing two branch flows to interfere with each other as one branch flow flowing along one side wall surface divides the other branch flow flowing along the other side wall surface at the time of merging.

With the above-described configuration, the adhesive flowing through the interval is suppressed from reaching the open end edge of the support groove in the rectified state and it is possible to suppress the generation of the weld line to be exposed that straddles a part of the open end edge of the support groove in the orthogonal direction on the outer surface of the adhesive layer between the lower end portion of the main body spring and the inner surface of the support groove.

A second aspect of the present invention is a coil spring device, wherein in the coil spring device of the first aspect, at least one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions adjacent to each other in the extension direction is formed so that a width of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions in the extension direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge and inclination angles of the pair of side wall surfaces of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions with respect to the orthogonal direction are different from each other in the plan view.

In this case, at least one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions adjacent to each other in the extension direction is formed so that the width of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions in the extension direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge and the inclination angles of the pair of side wall surfaces of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions with respect to the orthogonal direction are different from each other in the plan view.

Thus, when the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to the inner surface of the support groove, the momentum of flows can be weakened by causing two branch flows generated by branching a flow of the adhesive by the adjacent spacer protrusion to interfere with each other as one branch flow of the two branch flows divides the other branch flow of the two branch flows at the time of merging, for example, in the process in which the adhesive placed on the opposite side to the open end edge of the support groove with the adjacent spacer protrusion therebetween in the inner surface of the support groove flows toward the open end edge of the support groove between the inner surface of the support groove and the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod forming the lower end portion of the main body spring. Accordingly, two branch flows after merging are suppressed from reaching the open end edge of the support groove in the rectified state and it is possible to suppress the generation of the weld line to be exposed that straddles a part of the open end edge of the support groove in the orthogonal direction, on the outer surface of the adhesive layer between the lower end portion of the main body spring and the inner surface of the support groove.

A third aspect of the present invention is a coil spring device, wherein, in the coil spring device of the first or second aspect, at least one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions adjacent to each other in the extension direction is formed so that a width of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions in the extension direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge, and includes a front wall surface connecting end portions of the pair of side wall surfaces on the side of the open end edge and facing the open end edge, and an intersection of extension lines of the pair of side wall surfaces of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions is located on the inner surface of the support groove in the plan view.

In this case, when the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to the inner surface of the support groove, two adhesive branch flows generated by branching a flow of the adhesive by the adjacent spacer protrusion as described above can be merged at a position separated to the rear side in the flow direction from the open end edge of the support groove. Accordingly, the momentum of the flows when these two branch flows reach the open end edge of the support groove is suppressed, and the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer can then be reliably suppressed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a coil spring device, wherein, in the coil spring device of any one of the first to third aspects, at least one of the two intervals adjacent to each other in the extension direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge, and wherein an intersection of the extension lines of the side wall surfaces adjacent to each other in the extension direction with the interval therebetween in the plan view is located on the inner surface of the support groove.

In this case, since the intersection of the extension lines of the side wall surfaces adjacent to each other in the extension direction with the interval therebetween becoming narrower as it becomes closer to the open end edge is located on the inner surface of the support groove in the plan view, one adhesive flow flowing along one side wall surface defining the interval and the other adhesive flow flowing the other side wall surface defining the interval can be merged at a position separated to the rear side in the flow direction from the open end edge of the support groove when the lower end portion of the main body spring adheres to the inner surface of the support groove. Accordingly, the momentum of the flows when these two flows reach the open end edge of the support groove is suppressed and the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer can then be reliably suppressed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a weld line from being generated on an outer surface of an adhesive layer between a lower end portion of a main body spring and an inner surface of a support groove.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a coil spring device according to the present invention is described with reference to <FIG>.

A coil spring device <NUM> includes a main body spring <NUM> in which a wire rod W extends vertically in a spiral shape around a coil axis O and an insulator <NUM> which supports a lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> from below the main body spring <NUM>. That is, the vertical direction is the direction of the coil axis O. The coil spring device <NUM> is used by being mounted on, for example, a shock absorber inserted into the main body spring <NUM> and a suspension device having a strut mount mounted on the upper end of the shock absorber.

The main body spring <NUM> is an open-end coil spring in which a terminated end portion w1 of the wire rod W is vertically separated from the wire rod W adjacent to the terminated end portion w1 on the inside of the direction of the coil axis O. The cross-sectional shape of the wire rod W is the same over the entire length including the terminated end portion w1. In the example shown in the drawings, the cross-sectional shape of the wire rod W is a circular shape.

Additionally, a closed-end coil spring in which the terminated end portion w1 of the wire rod W contacts and overlaps the wire rod W adjacent to the terminated end portion w1 on the inside of the direction of the coil axis O may be adopted as the main body spring <NUM>. In this configuration, the terminated end portion w1 of the wire rod W may be subjected to, for example, grinding to form a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and facing outward in the vertical direction. The cross-sectional shape of the wire rod W may be, for example, a rectangular shape or the like.

The insulator <NUM> is made of an elastic material such as rubber. As shown in <FIG>, the insulator <NUM> has an arc shape extending around the coil axis O when viewed from the vertical direction. The insulator <NUM> extends over an angle range of <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less with respect to the coil axis O.

The insulator <NUM> is provided with a support groove <NUM> which extends around the coil axis O and into which the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> is fitted. The support groove <NUM> extends over an angle range of <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less with respect to the coil axis O. As shown in <FIG>, an adhesive layer <NUM> is provided between an inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> and the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> and the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>.

The inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> is formed in a concave curved shape curved along the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod W. The support groove <NUM> integrally opens toward one side in the circumferential direction around the coil axis O, upward, and outward in the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the direction of the coil axis O).

Additionally, as the support groove <NUM>, for example, a configuration in which the support groove opens toward both circumferential sides, a configuration in which the radial outside of the support groove is closed, or the like may be adopted.

Open end edges <NUM> to <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> include an outer peripheral edge <NUM> which is located at the radially outer end edge of the support groove <NUM> and extends around the coil axis O, an inner peripheral edge <NUM> which is located at the radially inner end edge of the support groove <NUM> and extends around the coil axis O, one end edge <NUM> which connects one end edges in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral edge <NUM> and the inner peripheral edge <NUM>, and the other end edge <NUM> which extends outward in the radial direction from the other end edge in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral edge <NUM>.

The outer peripheral edge <NUM> is located below the inner peripheral edge <NUM>. One end edge <NUM> has a concave curved shape curved along the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod W when viewed from one side in the circumferential direction.

The inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> is provided with a plurality of spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> which support the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod W.

The plurality of spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> at intervals therebetween in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. The plurality of spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> are provided over the entire area of the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>. The ratio of the volume of the spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> occupying a gap between the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod W exceeds <NUM>% and the ratio of the volume of the adhesive layer <NUM> occupying the gap is smaller than <NUM>%.

As shown in <FIG>, the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM>, which is adjacent to the open end edges <NUM> to <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, of the plurality of spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> includes a pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b which extends toward the open end edges <NUM> to <NUM>. In the example shown in the drawing, the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> is adjacent to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> extends toward the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>.

Additionally, as the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM>, a configuration may be adopted in which the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> extend toward the other open end edges <NUM> to <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> to be adjacent to the other open end edges <NUM> to <NUM> other than the outer peripheral edge <NUM> in the open end edges <NUM> to <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>. In the plurality of spacer protrusions <NUM> and <NUM>, the spacer protrusion <NUM> other than the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> may be formed in, for example, a columnar shape or the like which does not include the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of the adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> are provided at intervals A in the extension direction of the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view (in a view in the direction of the coil axis O) of the part including the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>.

In the example shown in the drawing, the extension direction is same as the circumferential direction.

Then, at least one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed so that the width of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> in the circumferential direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> with respect to the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view are different from each other.

In the example shown in the drawing, the orthogonal direction is same as the radial direction.

Further, at least one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed so that the circumferential width of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, and includes a front wall surface 14c connecting the end portions of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b on the side of the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and facing the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, and an intersection P1 of the extension lines L1 and L2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b are located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view. That is, the intersection P1 is located between the front wall surface 14c and the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>. Additionally, in the plan view, the intersection P1 may be located on the outside of the support groove <NUM>.

In the example shown in the drawing, the plurality of adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> are formed to have the same size and the same shape.

The adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> has a trapezoidal shape in which the front wall surface 14c forms an upper base and the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b forms feet in the plan view. In the plan view, one side wall surface 14a of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of each adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> extends in a direction in which the one side wall surface 14a becomes closer to the other side wall surface 14b of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the other side wall surface 14b extends in a direction in which the other side wall surface 14b becomes farther from the one side wall surface 14a as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>.

Additionally, the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of each adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> may extend in a direction in which the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b become closer to each other in the circumferential direction as they become closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view.

In the plan view, the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction are different from each other. The width of the interval A (the size in the circumferential direction) becomes wider as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>. The pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b extends straight in the plan view.

As described above, according to the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction in the plan view are different.

Thus, when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>, for example, the direction or speed of the flows of the adhesive can be made different between a side of the one side wall surface 14a and a side of the other side wall surface 14b defining the interval A in the process in which the adhesive placed on the side opposite to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> with the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> therebetween in the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> flows toward the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> while passing through the interval A.

Accordingly, the adhesive flowing through the interval A is suppressed from reaching the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in a rectified state and it is possible to suppress the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM> between the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> and the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>.

In this embodiment, at least one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed so that the width of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> with respect to the radial direction are different from each other in the plan view.

Thus, when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>, the momentum of the flows can be weakened by causing two branch flows, that are generated by branching a flow by the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM>, to interfere with each other as one branch flow of the two branch flows divides the other branch flow of the two branch flows at the time of merging, for example, in the process in which the adhesive placed on the side opposite to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> with the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> therebetween in the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> flows toward the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> between the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface of the wire rod W forming the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM>. Accordingly, two branch flows merge after merging are suppressed from reaching the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the rectified state and it is possible to suppress the generation of the weld line, exposing a part of the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> to straddle the radial direction, on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM> between the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> and the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>.

In this embodiment, at least one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed so that the width of the one of two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, and includes the front wall surface 14c connecting the end portions of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b on the side of the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and facing the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, and the intersection P1 between the extension lines L1 and L2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b are located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view.

Thus, when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>, two adhesive branch flows generated by branching the flow by the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> as described above can be merged at a position separated towards the rear side in the flow direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> (a position separated to the inside in the radial direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM>). Accordingly, the momentum of the flows when these two branch flows reach the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> is suppressed and the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM> can be reliably suppressed. The following paragraphs are part of the disclosure, but are not part of the invention.

Next, a coil spring device <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to <FIG>.

Additionally, in the second embodiment, the same parts as the components in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and only the different points are described.

In the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, at least one of the two intervals A adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, and in the plan view, an intersection P2 of extension lines L2 of the side wall surfaces 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween is located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>. That is, the intersection P2 is located between the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the front wall surface 14c.

In the example shown in the drawing, the adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction have a symmetrical shape with respect to a line extending in the radial direction through the center portion in the circumferential direction at the interval A in the plan view. In the plan view, the inclination angles θ1 of the side wall surfaces 14a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction are the same as each other, and the inclination angles θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction are the same as each other. The interval A in which the width thereof becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the interval A in which the width thereof becomes wider as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> are alternately provided in the circumferential direction with the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> therebetween. In the plan view, the intersection P2 of the extension lines L2 of the side wall surfaces 14b defining the former interval A (the interval A having a width that becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>) is located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>. The intersection P2 coincides with the intersection P1 of each of the adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> sandwiching the former interval A in the circumferential direction in the plan view.

Additionally, in the plan view, the intersection P2 may be located on the outside of the support groove <NUM> or may be located away from the intersection P1. Further, the inclination angles θ1 of the side wall surfaces 14a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction may be different from each other in the plan view, and the inclination angles θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction may be different from each other in the plan view.

As described above, according to the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the intersection P2 of the extension lines L2 of the side wall surfaces 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A, becoming narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, therebetween is located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view. Accordingly, when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>, one adhesive flow flowing along one side wall surface 14b defining the interval A and the other adhesive flow flowing along the other side wall surface 14b defining the interval A can be merged at a position separated to the rear side in the flow direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> (a position separated to inside in the radial direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM>). Thus, the momentum of the flows when these two flows reach the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> is suppressed and the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM> can be reliably suppressed. End of paragraphs not being part of the invention but part of the disclosure.

Next, a coil spring device <NUM> according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to <FIG>.

Additionally, in the third embodiment, the same parts as the components in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and only the different points are described.

In the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> does not include the front wall surface 14c and has a triangular shape sharpened toward the outer peripheral edge <NUM> side of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view. In the example shown in the drawing, the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of each adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> extend in a direction in which the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b become closer to each other in the circumferential direction as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view.

As described above, according to the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the operation and effect are almost the same as the coil spring device <NUM> of the first embodiment.

Next, a coil spring device <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to <FIG>.

Additionally, in the fourth embodiment, the same parts as the components in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and only the different points are described.

In the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction are different from each other in the plan view.

The inclination angles θ1 or θ2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of each adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> with respect to the radial direction are the same as each other in the plan view. In the example shown in the drawing, the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> has a parallel quadrilateral shape in the plan view.

Additionally, the planar shape of the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> is not limited to the parallel quadrilateral shape and may be appropriately changed. Further, the inclination angles θ1 or θ2 of the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b of each adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> with respect to the radial direction may be different from each other in the plan view.

At least one of the two intervals A adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>. In the example shown in the drawing, the interval A in which the width thereof becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the interval A in which the width thereof becomes wider as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> are alternately provided in the circumferential direction with the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> therebetween. In the plan view, the intersection P2 of the extension lines L1 and L2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b defining the former interval A is located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>. That is, the intersection P2 is located between the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> and the front wall surface 14c. Additionally, the intersection P2 may be located on the outside of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view.

As described above, according to the coil spring device <NUM> of this embodiment, the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction are different from each other in the plan view.

Thus, when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>, for example, the direction or speed of the flows of the adhesive can be made different between a side of one side wall surface 14a and a side of the other side wall surface 14b defining the interval A in the process in which the adhesive on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> flows toward the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> while passing through the interval A. Further, when the interval A becomes narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, the momentum of the flows can be weakened by causing two branch flows to interfere with each other as one branch flow flowing along one side wall surface 14a divides the other branch flow flowing along the other side wall surface 14b at the time of merging.

With the above-described configuration, it is suppressed that the adhesive flowing through the interval A reaches the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> in the rectified state and it is possible to suppress the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM>.

Since the intersection P2 of the extension lines L1 and L2 of the side wall surfaces 14a and 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A, becoming narrower as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>, therebetween is located on the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> in the plan view, one adhesive flow flowing along one side wall surface 14a defining the interval A and the other adhesive flow flowing along the other side wall surface 14b defining the interval A can be merged at a position separated to the rear side in the flow direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> (a position separated to inside in the radial direction from the outer peripheral edge <NUM>) when the lower end portion of the main body spring <NUM> adheres to the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM>. Accordingly, the momentum of the flows when these two flows reach the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM> is suppressed and the generation of the weld line on the outer surface of the adhesive layer <NUM> can be reliably suppressed.

Additionally, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, the pair of side wall surfaces 14a and 14b may be curved in the plan view and the planar shape of the adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> may be a shape with chamfered corners, an oval shape, or the like.

The adjacent spacer protrusion <NUM> may be provided over the entire length of the inner surface 13a of the support groove <NUM> in the radial direction. The following paragraphs is part of the disclosure, but is not part of the invention.

In the first embodiment or the third embodiment, for example, as shown in <FIG>, one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction may be provided in a direction rotating about the center of the figure thereof by <NUM>° in the plan view so that the width of the one of the two adjacent spacer protrusions <NUM> becomes wider as it becomes closer to the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the support groove <NUM>. In this case, the side wall surfaces 14a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween may be made parallel to each other in the plan view, and the side wall surfaces 14b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with the interval A therebetween may be made parallel to each other in the plan view. Also, in this case, the inclination angles θ1 of the side wall surfaces 14a with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction may be the same as each other, and the inclination angles θ2 of the side wall surfaces 14b with the interval A therebetween with respect to the radial direction may be the same as each other. End of paragraph not being part of the invention but part of the disclosure.

In addition, the constituent elements in the above-described embodiment can be appropriately replaced with well-known constituent elements without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, and the embodiments described above, and modified example may be appropriately combined.

Claim 1:
A coil spring device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a main body spring (<NUM>) in which a wire rod extends vertically in a spiral shape around a coil axis (O); and
an insulator (<NUM>) which supports a lower end portion of the main body spring (<NUM>) from below the main body spring (<NUM>),
wherein the insulator (<NUM>) is provided with a support groove (<NUM>) which extends around the coil axis (O) and into which the lower end portion of the main body spring (<NUM>) is fitted,
wherein an adhesive layer (<NUM>) is provided between an inner surface (13a) of the support groove (<NUM>) and the lower end portion of the main body spring (<NUM>),
wherein the lower end portion of the main body spring (<NUM>) adheres to the inner surface (13a) of the support groove (<NUM>),
wherein the inner surface (13a) of the support groove (<NUM>) is provided with a plurality of spacer protrusions (<NUM>) which support an outer peripheral surface of the wire rod,
characterized in that
a plurality of adjacent spacer protrusions (<NUM>) adjacent to an open end edge (<NUM>) of the support groove (<NUM>) of the plurality of spacer protrusions (<NUM>) each includes a pair of side wall surfaces (14a, 14b) extending toward the open end edge (<NUM>) and are provided at intervals (A) therebetween in an extension direction of the open end edge (<NUM>) in a plan view of a part including the open end edge (<NUM>) in the inner surface (13a) of the support groove (<NUM>), and
wherein inclination angles (θ1, θ2) of the side wall surfaces (14a, 14b) adjacent to each other in the extension direction with the interval (A) therebetween with respect to an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the open end edge (<NUM>) are different from each other in the plan view.