Suspension structure for vehicle

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the ball joint being configured such that a distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the open end of the spherical housing and the shaft portion is different in portions that oppose each other sandwiching the spherical body therebetween.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the suspension arm and the ball joint being configured such that a breaking load that breaks the suspension arm near linking parts connecting with the suspension member, upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction, is greater than a drop-off load where the spherical body of the ball joint comes out of the spherical housing upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the suspension arm and the ball joint being configured such that a torsional deformation load that torsionally deforms the suspension arm by a moment of force upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction, is greater than a drop-off load where the suspension arm receives a moment of force and the spherical body of the ball joint comes out of the spherical housing upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the spherical housing comprising a bottom portion and a side portion that rises from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom portion, such that an upper end of the side portion of the portion that interferes with the shaft portion has a higher strength than the upper end of the side portion of other portions when the spherical housing pivots relative to the spherical body.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the ball joint connecting to the vehicle body via an axle and a strut, and the ball joint being configured such that a deformation load occurring when the axle and the strut are each deformed, upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction, is greater than an arm deformation load where the suspension arm is deformed upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction, and
• the suspension arm and the ball joint being configured such that a wheel deformation load occurring from a rim portion of the vehicle wheel interfering with an obstacle and deforming upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction, is greater than an arm deformation load when the suspension arm is deformed upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction by impacting the obstacle.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the suspension arm being connected to the suspension member by linking parts at two locations spaced apart in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and linked to the vehicle wheel in one location by a linking part of the ball joint,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm bends and deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction,
• the suspension arm being configured to bend at a position between the linking parts in at least two of the locations from among the three locations of the linking parts,
• the suspension arm having a plane that connects respective vehicle vertical centers of the linking parts, the suspension arm and the ball joint being configured such that a position where a distance in a vertical direction of the vehicle is greatest between the plane and a shear center when the suspension arm is bent, is closer to the linking part of the ball joint than to the linking parts with the suspension member toward the rearward side of the vehicle.

A vehicle suspension structure comprising:

• a suspension arm having a vehicle-widthwise inner side end connected to a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a ball joint connecting the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel,
• the ball joint comprising a spherical body, a spherical housing accommodating the spherical body, and a shaft portion provided on the spherical body so as to extend outwardly from the spherical housing,
• the suspension arm being connected to the suspension member by linking parts at two locations spaced apart in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and linked to the vehicle wheel in one location by a linking part of the ball joint,
• the spherical housing being configured to pivot relative to the spherical body as the suspension arm bends and deforms, and the spherical housing having an open end that interferes with the shaft portion causing the spherical body to come out of the spherical housing when the vehicle receives an impact in a longitudinal direction,
• the suspension arm being configured to bend at a position between the linking parts in at least two of the locations from among the three locations of the linking parts, and
• upon the vehicle receiving the impact in the longitudinal direction and the suspension arm being bent, the bending site is continuous along a broken line.