Spring devices – Vehicle – Mechanical spring and nonresilient retarder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-28
2001-11-20
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Vehicle
Mechanical spring and nonresilient retarder
C280S124147
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an upper seat structure for a rear coil spring, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an upper seat structure for a rear coil spring, which supports an upper portion of the rear coil spring arranged on a rear axle for improving a function of a rear suspension.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a motor vehicle, a suspension serves to absorb vibration which is generated while the motor vehicle runs and thereby improve occupant's comfortableness upon being seated. Referring to
FIG. 1
, there is shown an upper seat for a rear coil spring, which supports an upper portion of the rear coil spring arranged on a rear axle of a motor vehicle.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the upper seat
11
for the rear coil spring
13
, which functions to support the upper portion of the rear coil spring
13
arranged on the rear axle (not shown), is provided on an inner side surface of each of a pair of side frame members
12
which are respectively positioned at both sides of the motor vehicle and extend in a lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle. The upper seat
11
possesses a plurality of bracket parts
14
which are formed along side and upper edges thereof. When the upper seat
11
is installed on the side frame member
12
, the plurality of bracket parts
14
are welded to the side frame member
12
.
However, the upper seat for the rear coil spring, constructed as mentioned above, suffers from defects as described below. That is to say, since the plurality of bracket parts are welded to the side frame member, when spring force of the rear coil spring acts in upward and downward directions, a moment is applied to the upper seat by load which is transferred from the rear coil spring, depending upon a distance between a load-exerting point and a securing point of the upper support. As a consequence, in the case that the load which is transferred from the rear coil spring to the upper seat, is substantial, that is, when a large moment is applied to the upper seat, the upper seat is deformed in a direction where the moment is applied thereto, whereby the plurality of bracket parts which are welded to the side frame member, are apt to be broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an upper seat structure for a rear coil spring, which is configured in such a way as to fundamentally eliminate a possibility of parts of the upper seat, welded to a side frame member, to be broken by spring force applied to the upper seat due to vibration generated while a motor vehicle runs.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an upper seat structure for a rear coil spring, which is arranged on a side frame member so as to support an upper portion of the rear coil spring installed on a rear axle and thereby to prevent occupant's comfortableness from being degraded due to vibration generated while a motor vehicle runs, the upper seat structure comprising: an inner seat part inserted into the rear coil spring; an outer seat part surrounding the upper portion of the rear coil spring, the inner and outer seat parts being disposed on an inner side surface of the side frame member; a pair of cross members respectively located in front of and behind the upper portion of the rear coil spring, the pair of cross members extending, parallel to each other, through a wall of the side frame member into a space defined in the side frame member; and a reinforcing plate coupled at both ends thereof to the pair of cross members, respectively, thereby to support the inner and outer seat parts, the reinforcing plate being formed with at least one reinforcing bead which serves to elevate strength of the reinforcing plate.
According to another aspect of the present invention, it is preferred that a distance between the inner and outer seat parts be slightly larger than a wire diameter of the rear coil spring so as to allow the rear coil spring to be easily rested on the outer seat part.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the reinforcing bead is formed on the reinforcing plate in such a way as to extend in a lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2935334 (1960-05-01), Felts
patent: 4093253 (1978-06-01), Lehr
patent: 4618127 (1986-10-01), Le Salver et al.
patent: 4630803 (1986-12-01), Werner et al.
patent: 5330166 (1994-07-01), Aoki
patent: 5382044 (1995-01-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5536035 (1996-07-01), Bautz et al.
patent: 5678844 (1997-10-01), Dassler et al.
patent: 6135498 (2000-10-01), Vlahovic
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Kia Motors Corporation
Oberleitner Robert J.
Torres Melanie
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