Assembly method and assembly device for suspension device of vehicle and mixed model production line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134437-B2
Application number	US-202117759311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2021
Priority date	Feb 7, 2020
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

A coil spring is interposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member which is elastically and swingably supported by the vehicle body and supports a wheel. The suspension member and a vehicle part attached to the vehicle body are connected by a fastening member. The orientation of the suspension member with respect to the vehicle body is forcibly changed so as to increase the distance between the vehicle body and the suspension member at a coil spring interposition portion. An excessive change in the orientation of the suspension member is restricted by the fastening member, and a coil spring is inserted between the vehicle body and the suspension member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly method for a suspension device of a vehicle, the suspension device comprising a suspension member which is elastically and swingably supported by a vehicle body and supports a wheel; and a coil spring which is interposed between the vehicle body and the suspension member and receives a compression load, the assembly method being characterized by:
bringing a fastening member into a distorted state, and connecting the suspension member, which is elastically and swingably supported by the vehicle body, and the vehicle body or a vehicle part attached to the vehicle body, by the fastening member, the fastening member being stretchable to a stretched state wherein the fastening member extends to a certain length when tension is applied;
forcibly changing orientation of the suspension member with respect to the vehicle body so as to increase a distance between the vehicle body and the suspension member at an interposition portion of the coil spring;
restricting a change in the orientation of the suspension member relative to the vehicle body by the fastening member which stretches to the stretched state wherein the fastening member extends to the certain length with the increase in the distance caused by the change in the orientation of the suspension member, and inserting the coil spring between the vehicle body and the suspension member;
in a state in which the orientation of the suspension member is changed until the fastening member is in the stretched state, the coil spring is inserted between the vehicle body and the suspension member;
the suspension member is elastically and swingably supported by the vehicle body through a rubber bushing, and the vehicle body or the vehicle part and the suspension member are connected by the fastening member, on an opposite side of the interposition portion of the coil spring from the rubber bushing on the suspension member;
the suspension member is a torsion beam suspension member, and a spring seat for disposing the coil spring is provided on a swing arm of the suspension member;
a damper for connecting the vehicle body and the swing arm is provided as the vehicle part;
the orientation of the swing arm is forcibly changed in a state in which the damper is coupled to the vehicle body and is not coupled to the swing arm; and
the fastening member is connected to a coupling portion of the damper with respect to the swing arm.

2. The assembly method for the suspension device of the vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that, when the orientation of the suspension member is changed until the fastening member is in the stretched state, the distance between the vehicle body and the suspension member at the interposition portion of the coil spring is increased to a size allowing insertion of the coil spring into the interposition portion without compressing the coil spring.

3. The assembly method for the suspension device of the vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that assembling of the suspension device is performed on a mixed model production line for a plurality of vehicle models.

4. An assembly method for a suspension device of a vehicle, the suspension device comprising a suspension member which is elastically and swingably supported by a vehicle body and supports a wheel; and a coil spring which is interposed between the vehicle body and the suspension member and receives a compression load, the assembly method being characterized by:
bringing a fastening member into a distorted state, and connecting the suspension member, which is elastically and swingably supported by the vehicle body, and the vehicle body or a vehicle part attached to the vehicle body, by the fastening member, the fastening member being stretchable to a stretched state wherein the fastening member extends to a certain length when tension is applied;
forcibly changing orientation of the suspension member with respect to the vehicle body so as to increase a distance between the vehicle body and the suspension member at an interposition portion of the coil spring;
restricting a change in the orientation of the suspension member relative to the vehicle body by the fastening member which stretches to the stretched state wherein the fastening member extends to the certain length with the increase in the distance caused by the change in the orientation of the suspension member, and inserting the coil spring between the vehicle body and the suspension member;
the suspension member is elastically and swingably supported by the vehicle body through a rubber bushing, and the vehicle body or the vehicle part and the suspension member are connected by the fastening member, on an opposite side of the interposition portion of the coil spring from the rubber bushing on the suspension member;
the suspension member is a torsion beam suspension member, and a spring seat for disposing the coil spring is provided on a swing arm of the suspension member;
a damper for connecting the vehicle body and the swing arm is provided as the vehicle part,
the orientation of the swing arm is forcibly changed in a state in which the damper is coupled to the vehicle body and is not coupled to the swing arm, and
the fastening member is connected to a coupling portion of the damper with respect to the swing arm.

Assignees

• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Tashiro Manabu
• Toyama Noriaki
• Kajiya Tomomi

Classifications

• B60G2206/921

  Coil spring compressor · CPC title

• B60G2206/91

  Assembly procedures · CPC title

• B60G9/00

  Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels {(the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08)} · CPC title

• B25B27/304

  by compressing coil springs · CPC title

• B23P21/00

  Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with program control · CPC title