JP3029442B2 - Spherical sliding bush - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spherical slide bush, and more particularly to a spherical slide bush which has a simple structure and does not cause backlash in a slide portion.

[Prior Art] A tubular bush is frequently used in a connecting portion of a vehicle suspension. In recent years, in order to realize not only steering stability but also improvement in riding comfort, rigidity in a direction perpendicular to an axis is large, and a suspension arm is used. There have been proposed various types of spherical sliding bushes that allow free rotation and twisting of the sliding. FIG. 8 shows an example (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-44572).

In the figure, an outer cylinder 1 is press-fitted into a cylindrical holding portion 5 of a suspension arm 51, and an inner cylinder 2 penetrates the center thereof. The inner cylinder 2 has a central outer periphery which is bulged in a spherical shape, and a resin insert is slidably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bulged portion 21.
3 is in contact. The insert 3 is inserted into each of the two openings of the outer cylinder 1, and a seal ring 6 having a lip 61 extending therefrom is disposed outside these inserts.
In addition, a backup ring 7 is provided outside that,
These are positioned by caulking and deforming the open end of the outer cylinder 1.

With such a structure, the suspension arm 51 is completely prohibited from moving in the direction perpendicular to the axis, is rotatable around the inner cylinder 2, and twists along the bulging portion 21 as indicated by the arrow in the drawing. Movement is also free.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional structure described above, it is assumed that the insert 3 receives an acting force outward in the axial direction during use. Seal ring 6
Is deformed and moves, and the sealability deteriorates.
A play is produced between the insert 3 and the inner cylinder bulging portion 21 so that the steering stability is reduced.

Further, since the seal ring 6 and the backup ring 7 are provided separately, it takes time and effort to manage and assemble the parts, and it is necessary to caulk the outer cylinder 1 and the production cost is high. .

The problem of a large number of parts is, for example,
The same applies to the bush described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49143/1987 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-110609.

An object of the present invention is to provide a spherical slide bush that can significantly reduce the number of parts and effectively prevent the occurrence of play and a decrease in sealability due to the movement of a seal ring. And

[Means for Solving the Problems] The configuration of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of outer cylinders 1 press-fitted into the holding member 5 through both openings of the cylindrical holding member 5, and are disposed concentrically through the outer cylinders 1 and extend in the axial direction. An inner cylinder 2 having a swelling portion 21 which forms a spherical surface in the center and swells radially outward.
Between the inner end of each of the outer cylinders 1 and the bulging portion 21, the outer ends of which abut against the inner ends of the outer cylinder 1, and the inner concave surface 3 a slides on the outer periphery of the bulging portion 21. And a pair of ring-shaped inserts 3 that freely contact each other. In addition, a cylindrical seal member 4 is integrally provided on the inner peripheral surface of each of the outer cylinders 1 and covers the outer periphery of the insert 3, and a part of the cylindrical seal member 4 extends to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 2. An elastic layer that forms a seal lip portion 42 that abuts in a liquid-tight manner, and another portion extends to the inner end of the outer cylinder 1 and elastically contacts the outer end of each insert 3.
44, and at the outer end of each of the outer cylinders 1, a flange portion 11 is formed facing the opening edge of the holding member 5, and a sealing layer is provided on the facing surface of the flange portion 11 in close contact with the opening edge. 12 is formed.

[Operation] In the spherical slide bush having the above-described structure, when the ring-shaped insert 3 is moved outward in the axial direction, the outer end of the ring-shaped insert 3 is elastic.
By being in contact with the inner end of the outer cylinder 1 through 44, it is reliably prevented, and as a result, the seal member 4 is deformed to seal it.
It does not degrade the performance.

Since the elastic layer 44 is in elastic contact with the outer end of the insert 3, even if the inner peripheral concave surface 3 a of the insert 3 is worn out due to long-term use, the elastic layer 44 receives the elastic force of the elastic layer 44, so that The circumferential concave surface 3a is always brought into good contact with the inner cylinder bulging portion 21 without causing backlash. Further, the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 2 is securely sealed by the seal lip portion 42 of the seal member 4.

In a state where the outer cylinder 1 is press-fitted and fixed in the holding member 5, the seal layer 12 formed on the flange portion 11 of the outer cylinder 1 is in close contact with the opening edge of the holding member 5. There is no problem that water enters through the contact surface of the holding member 5 and the holding member 5.

Since the seal member 4 is formed integrally with the outer cylinder 1,
The number of parts can be reduced, and it is hardly deformed by an external force.

In addition, since the caulking work of the outer cylinder 1 for positioning the insert 3 and the seal member 4 is unnecessary, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[First Embodiment] In Fig. 1, an inner cylinder 2 is penetrated at the center into a cylindrical holding portion 5 formed at an end of a suspension arm 51, and the center of the inner cylinder 2 in the axial direction is As a thick part, a bulging portion 21 bulging radially outwardly in a spherical shape is provided. A ring-shaped insert 3 is press-fitted between both openings of the holding portion 5 and the inner tube bulging portion 21 respectively.

Each of the inserts 3 is made of a resin material having good slidability.
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer half of the inner peripheral surface (left side in the figure) is a concave surface 3a along the outer peripheral surface of the bulging portion 21, and the concave surface 3a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bulging portion 21. ing. The remaining half of the inner peripheral surface forms a concave groove 3b having a rectangular cross section all around (FIG. 3) so that this portion does not contact the top surface of the bulging portion 21. Of the sliding performance due to the dimensional tolerance of

The outer cylinder 1 is further press-fitted into each of the holding portions 5 in which the inserts 3 are located, through both openings. This outer cylinder 1
The outer end (the left end in FIG. 4) is bent into an L-shape to form a flange portion 11, and a rubber cylindrical seal member 4 is joined to the inner periphery. The seal member 4 has a thick inner end half outer periphery joined to the outer cylinder 1 inner periphery and is continuous with the thin rubber layer extending to the flange portion 11, and the outer end half is reduced in diameter outward. The seal lip 42 is provided.

The outer peripheral portion of the inner end surface of the seal member 4 projects from the end surface of the outer cylinder 1 with a certain thickness to form an elastic layer 44 of rubber, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 11 has a semicircular rubber section. The ridge seal layer 12 is formed.

When the outer cylinder 1 is pressed into the holding portion 5, the elastic layer 44 at the inner end of the outer cylinder 1 elastically contacts the outer end surface of the insert 3, and the elastic layer 44 contacts the inner cylinder bulging portion 21. Energize towards. The seal layer 12 formed on the outer cylinder flange portion 11 is
Close to the edge of the opening. At this time, the seal member 4 formed integrally with the outer cylinder 1 extends along the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 2 so as to cover the outer side of the insert 3, and the seal lip 42 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 2. I do.

In the state of use of such a bush, the insert arm 3 slides freely along the bulging portion 21 to rotate, so that the suspension arm 51 can rotate around the inner cylinder 2 and torsionally swing (arrow in the figure). Is also free. The grease in the sliding portion is satisfactorily held by the seal member 4, and the intrusion of water or the like from the outside is prevented.

Further, the inner periphery of the holding portion 5 and the outer cylinder 1 are formed by the seal layer 12.
Water is also prevented from entering through the peripheral contact surface.

Here, even if a force is applied to the insert 3 outward in the axial direction, the insert 3 is in contact with the inner end of the outer cylinder 1 via the elastic layer 44, so that the insert 3 moves outward. Is reliably blocked,
There is no problem that the seal member 3 is deformed by the movement.

Further, since the insert 3 is constantly urged inward in the axial direction by the elastic layer 44, the concave surface 3a can be used for a long time.
Even if is worn, it is always slidably brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bulging portion 21 by the elastic force, and there is no play.

The elastic layer 44 also has a function of absorbing a certain degree of variation in the outer cylinder press-fitting position.

[Second Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 5, if the insert 3 is cut off at one location in the circumferential direction, it receives the elastic force of the elastic layer 44 and follows the outer peripheral shape of the bulging portion 21. Deformation and better sliding properties are obtained.

Third Embodiment As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner end of each outer cylinder 1 is further bent radially inward to form a flange portion 13,
If a rubber elastic layer 44 having a constant thickness is formed so as to cover the flange portion 13, a larger elastic force can be applied to the insert.

[Effects] As described above, the spherical sliding bush of the present invention has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, is easy to manufacture and is low in cost, and furthermore, water, dust, and the like enter the sliding portion and the sliding portion. Can also be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an overall vertical sectional view of the sliding bush, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of an outer cylinder, FIG. 5 is a front view of an insert showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an overall longitudinal sectional view of a sliding bush, FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an outer cylinder, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sliding bush showing a conventional example. It is. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer cylinder 11 ... Flange part 12 ... Seal layer 2 ... Inner cylinder 21 ... Swelling part 3 ... Insert 3a ... Inner concave surface 4 ... Seal member 42 ... Seal lip 44 ... elastic layer 5 ... holding part (holding member)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-312239 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 62-110618 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Utility Model Sho 62-59321 (JP, U) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16F 1/00-6/00 F16C 11/00-11/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of outer cylinders, which are press-fitted and fixed into the holding member through both openings of the cylindrical holding member, and are disposed concentrically through the outer cylinders, and the spherical concave surface is provided at a central portion in the axial direction. An inner cylinder having a bulging portion bulging radially outward forming a spherical surface substantially parallel to the inner cylinder, and being interposed between the inner end of each of the outer cylinders and the bulging portion, the outer ends each being A pair of ring-shaped inserts facing the inner end of the outer cylinder and having an inner peripheral concave surface slidably in contact with the outer periphery of the bulging portion, and integrally joined to the inner peripheral surface of each of the outer cylinders; A cylindrical seal member that covers the outer periphery is provided, a part of which is formed as a seal lip that abuts the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder in a liquid-tight manner, and another part is extended to the inner end of the outer cylinder. An elastic layer elastically contacts the outer end of each of the inserts, and an opening of the holding member is provided at the outer end of each of the outer cylinders. Forming a flange portion opposed to,
A spherical sliding bush, wherein a sealing layer is formed on an opposing surface of the flange portion so as to be in close contact with the opening edge.