Suspension apparatus for a vehicle

#The present invention relates especially to a torsion beam type rear suspension apparatus in suspension apparatuses for a vehicle.

#As a conventional suspension apparatus for a vehicle, a torsion beam type rear suspension apparatus which has a torsion beam coupled between right and left rear wheels, and a pair of trailing arms which are formed into a planar shape to allow a displacement in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body and extend from the two end portions of the torsion beam in the longitudinal direction of the entire vehicle body is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-283114). In this suspension apparatus, the free end portions of the trailing arms are supported on a vehicle body frame via bushings, and the rear end portions of the trailing arms are joined to the right and left end portions of the torsion beam by welding.

#The torsion beam type rear suspension apparatus is mounted in a light car or the like since it has a simple structure and is inexpensive. Also, such rear suspension apparatus can decrease the floor height and can assure a broad rear cargo space or the like, since the coil spring level can lower by disposing the center of the coil diameter of each coil spring not immediately above the trailing arm or torsion beam but to have an offset on the front or rear side of the vehicle body with respect to the torsion beam. Hence, demands in recent wagon and box type vehicles are increasing.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a suspension apparatus for a vehicle of this embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a plan view showing details around a torsion beam end portion;

#FIG. 3 is a side view showing details around a torsion beam end portion;

#An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a suspension apparatus for a vehicle of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing details around a torsion beam end portion. FIG. 3 is a side view showing details around a torsion beam end portion. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2.

#As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, this embodiment exemplifies a torsion beam type rear suspension apparatus which comprises planar trailing arms 1 each of which has an elasticity that allows inward torsion in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body, and a torsion beam 4 (a beam having an elasticity in the torsional direction) which extends in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body and is coupled between left and right wheels 2 and 3, and in which the center of the coil diameter of each coil spring is laid out to have an offset from the axial center of the torsion beam 4.