Stabilizer bar assembly with variable roll stiffness
The present disclosure relates to a stabilizer bar assembly with variable roll stiffness operating such that lower stiffness acts during straight driving and higher stiffness acts during cornering. The assembly includes an outer housing secured to a first stabilizer bar to rotate together and having a hollow space inside, an inner housing secured to a second stabilizer bar to rotate together and inserted into the outer housing to rotate relative thereto, and an elastic member having one end secured to the outer housing and the other end secured to the inner housing to apply an elastic force to return the outer housing and the inner housing to their original positions during relative rotation. In this configuration, lower stiffness by an elastic force of an elastic member acts during straight driving to enhance ride comfort during straight driving, and higher stiffness by a stabilizer bar acts during cornering to improve driving stability.
1 . A stabilizer bar assembly with variable roll stiffness comprising:
an outer housing secured to a first stabilizer bar to rotate together and having a hollow space inside;
an inner housing secured to a second stabilizer bar to rotate together and inserted into the outer housing to rotate relative thereto;
an elastic member having one end secured to the outer housing and the other end secured to the inner housing to apply an elastic force to return the outer housing and the inner housing to their original positions during relative rotation; and
a first stiffness interval in which the outer housing and the inner housing do not interfere with each other within a predetermined angular range and the elastic member acts, and
a second stiffness interval in which the outer housing and the inner housing constrain each other beyond a predetermined angular range and the first stabilizer bar and the second stabilizer bar act.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer housing comprises:
an outer housing body having a hollow space with one side open and the other side secured to the first stabilizer bar;
an inner housing receptacle formed by depression on the open side of the outer housing body for the inner housing to be inserted thereinto;
a first elastic member securing portion formed by depression on an inner side of the inner housing receptacle to fixedly secure one end of the elastic member; and
a first support portion formed by protrusion on an inner circumferential surface of the inner housing receptacle in an circumferential direction to selectively support the inner housing upon contact.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inner housing comprises:
an inner housing body having a hollow space with one side open and the other side secured to the second stabilizer bar;
a second elastic member securing portion formed by depression on the inner side of the inner housing body to fixedly secure the other side of the elastic member; and
a second support portion formed by protrusion on an outer circumferential surface of the inner housing body in the circumferential direction to selectively support the first support portion upon contact.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of first support portions and second support portions are disposed alternately, do not contact each other within a predetermined angular range, and contact each other beyond a predetermined angular range to rotate together.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a buffer is further included between the first support portion and the second support portion.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the buffer includes at least one of viscous lubricant, elastomer, and plastic.
7 . The assembly of claim 3 , further comprising an auxiliary elastic member protruding outward from a surface of the second support portion contacting the first support portion to apply an elastic force when contacting the first support portion.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein
the elastic member applies an elastic force when the outer housing and the inner housing rotate relative to each other,
the auxiliary elastic member applies an additional elastic force when the first support portion comes into contact with the auxiliary elastic member, and
the first stabilizer bar and the second stabilizer bar apply further elastic force when the first support portion comes into contact with the second support portion.