FR2733285A1 - Retaining coupling for linkage on motor vehicle gear box - Google Patents

Abstract

The coupling ball joint (5) is held in position by a lock formation (2) with a locking wall (3) forming a seating (4) of a form complementary to that of the ball. The locking wall is elastically deformable to hold the ball in a closed grip or enlarge able to allow the introduction of or release of the seating. The joint has formations (11,19) engaging against the first locking piece and adapted to hold the wall of the first piece in its closed state. A second movable sleeve (12) receives the wall.

Description

RIGID MECHANICAL FASTENING DEVICE FOR A
BALL JOINT, ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SAME AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME
ASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY
The invention relates to a rigid mechanical fastening device for a ball joint, in which the ball joint can be held tight by a first clamping part including a clamping wall forming a housing of shape substantially complementary to that of the ball joint.

 Such a device can be used in an assembly for the control transmission of a gear lever for an automobile to a gearbox. A gearbox generally comprises an articulated ball joint to which the device of the aforementioned type is fixed, this device itself being connected to a cable for controlling the gear lever.

 Traditionally, the device comprises a metal rod which is connected to said cable and to this rod, is fixed a frame comprising a through-hole for reception.

 The wall of the first clamping part is placed through this orifice and in order to hold it in place, a second part is welded to the end of said wall on the side opposite the opening allowing the introduction of the ball joint.

 Thus, the ball joint can be forced into the housing of the clamping wall. However, this traditional device requires a significant effort for the insertion of the ball joint because of the rigid structure of the housing. In addition, the extraction of the ball joint from the housing is difficult and requires the use of an additional tool. Thus, a large force must be exerted and disassembly must be done with great care so as not to break the parts of the device.

 The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, it offers a device of the aforementioned type characterized in that the clamping wall is produced in an elastically deformable manner so as to be able to be at least in a narrowed state ensuring the tightening of the ball joint and an enlarged state allowing its introduction or extraction of housing. In addition, the device comprises mechanical means acting on the first part while being able to bring and maintain the wall of this first part in its narrowed state.

 More particularly, the mechanical means comprise a second operating part separate from the first and comprising a sleeve capable of receiving the wall of the first part, the two parts being arranged to have two relative relative positions relative to the other. : a first position in which the wall of the first part can be in its enlarged state and a second position in which the wall of the first part is in its narrowed state, the transition from one to the other of these two positions being obtained by relative axial sliding of the two parts.

 The mechanical means also comprise a third blocking part, functionally interposed between the first two parts, and urging these two parts towards their second relative clamping position and holding them there.

 Thus, due to a certain elasticity of the first part, the efforts required to introduce or remove the ball joint from its housing are less.

 According to the invention, this device is associated with an assembly for the control transmission of a gear lever to a gearbox comprising a rigid attachment means to the gear lever, to which is fixed a base means comprising an orifice. through reception. The first two parts of the device are then embedded in one another so as to effect their axial sliding relative through said orifice.

 According to a preferred version, the assembly may include a seal disposed between the internal face of the base means, delimiting the orifice, and the external face of the sleeve of the second part, so as to dampen the noises during the relative displacement of the two rooms.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a ball joint articulated to such an assembly, in which the opening for receiving the wall is positioned on the ball joint;
- Apply, along the axis of the ball and in the opposite direction of its introduction, a mounting force on the edge of the sleeve, positioning the first part relative to the second in their first extreme position, allowing the introduction of the ball in the wall housing.

 Then, a directional and directional force substantially identical to that of the mounting force is exerted, on the first part thanks to the third part, so as to bring and maintain the first part with respect to the second in their second extreme position. .

 Once the ball joint is mounted in said assembly, the disassembly process is such that, simultaneously, a force is exerted on the first part opposite to the force exerted by the third part, so as to position the first part relative to the second in their first extreme position, and the ball joint is extracted from the housing of the first part.

 In this way, the assembly and disassembly processes are easily achievable and in addition, no additional tools are required.

 Other features of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples.

 Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention with a first variant of the locking part, in this case a spring, the first two parts being in their first extreme relative position.

 2 shows the device of Figure 1, the first two parts being in their second extreme relative position.

 Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2, with a second variant of the locking piece, namely a washer.

 FIG. 4 represents a schematic top view of an assembly according to the invention.

 5 shows a rigid fixing means of the assembly of Figure 4, associated with a base means.

Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view along
AA in Figure 4.

 FIG. 7 represents a partial view of FIG. 6, with a third variant of the blocking part.

 Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to that of Figure 7 with, respectively, a fourth and a fifth variant of the locking piece.

 Finally, Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the different steps of the method of mounting the ball joint in the assembly according to the invention.

 As shown in Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a first clamping part 2 comprising a wall 3 forming a housing 4 of shape substantially complementary to that of a ball joint 5 (Figure 10). In its axial direction (D), the wall 3 has slots 6, preferably four in number, which extend at its end 7, opposite the opening 8 for receiving the ball 5, thus forming wall segments 9 separate, four in number here.

 The wall 3 is further extended in a direction perpendicular to its axis (D) so as to form a flange 10, for example of substantially circular section.

 The slots 6 are rectilinear and preferably distributed at regular intervals over the wall 3. They thus allow an elastic deformation of the wall 3.

This can thus be at least in a narrowed state due to a force applied to the external face 14a of the wall 3 and in which the wall segments 9 are substantially adjacent to each other towards the end 7 of the wall 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The wall 3 can also be in an enlarged normal state where the segments 9 are in their normal position without constraint, that is to say separated from each other as shown in the figure 1.

 However, provision can be made for the segments 9 to be further apart than at their normal position if a force is exerted on the internal face 14b of the wall 3.

 The device also comprises a second so-called operating part 11 distinct from the first 2. Preferably, parts 2 and 11 are made of rigid plastic.

 The second part 11 has a shape similar to that of the first 2. In fact, it comprises a sleeve 12 capable of receiving the wall 3 of the first part 2 and of bringing it into its narrowed state.

 The sleeve 12 is extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to its axis, thus forming an edge 13, for example of substantially circular section and of diameter substantially identical to that of the collar 10.

 The internal face 15b of the sleeve 12 has a shape substantially complementary to that of the external face 14a of the wall 3.

 The two parts 2, 11 are arranged to have relative to each other two extreme relative positions: a first position in which the wall 3 of the first part 2 can be in its enlarged state and a second position in which the wall 3 of the first part 2 is in its narrowed state.

 One and / or the other of the two faces 14a, 15b cooperating opposite the first two parts 2, 11 comprise a shaped shape in the axial direction such that a relative axial sliding with contact of these two faces 14a, 15b causes the passage from one to the other of the extreme positions. Thus, the internal face 15b of the sleeve 12 comprises a narrowing 16 substantially inclined towards the opening 17 for receiving the wall 3 of the first part 2. Similarly, the external face 14a of the wall 3 comprises, towards the opening 8 for receiving the ball 5, a narrowing 18 of cross section substantially identical to that of the narrowing 16 of the internal face 15b of the sleeve 12.

 According to the embodiment shown, the external face 14a of the wall 3 and the internal face 15b of the sleeve 12 have a substantially frustoconical shape inverted with respect to each other, so that the large base of the sleeve 12 is located opposite the opening 17 for receiving the wall 3, while the large base of the wall 3 is located towards the end 7 of this wall 3.

 The diameter of the shrinkage 16 of the sleeve 11 is less than the transverse width of the end 7 of the wall 3 when it is in its enlarged normal state and substantially identical when it is in its narrowed state (the transverse width being counted perpendicularly to the axis D of the wall 3).

 Thus, for the embedding of the wall 3 in the sleeve 12 through its receiving opening 17, a force is applied to the first part 2, directed towards the second part 11, so that the wall 3 is in its shrunk state.

 The dimensions of the external face 14a of the wall 3 and of the internal face 15b of the sleeve 12 are such that a clearance J1 exists between them when the parts 2, 11 are in their first extreme position.

 This clearance J1 thus allows the relative axial sliding of the two parts 2, 11 so that they pass into their second extreme position.

 In this latter position, the faces 14a, 15b are in contact and a clearance J2 has been created between the free end 12a of the sleeve 12 and the flange 10 of the first part 2.

 Thus, at the transition from one to the other of the extreme positions, there is a transfer of play J1 to J2.

 The device 1 further comprises a third piece 19 called blocking, functionally interposed between the first two pieces 2, 11, and urging these two pieces 2, 11 towards their second relative clamping position and holding them there.

 According to a first variant, shown in Figures 1 and 2, the third part 19 is a helical spring l9a whose stroke defines the relative movement of the first two parts 2, 11, necessary to bring them to their second position without the wall 3 not either extracted from the sleeve 12.

 The height of this spring 19a at rest, counted parallel to its axis, is substantially equal to the clearance J2 separating the two parts 2, 11 when they are in their second extreme position.

 According to the embodiment shown, the spring l9a has a substantially frustoconical shape, the large base of which has a diameter substantially identical to the transverse width of the end 7 of the wall 3.

 The small base also has a diameter greater than the space existing at the center 7a of the end 7 between the segments 9, when the first part 2 is in its enlarged state.

 Preferably, the large base of the spring 19a is placed on the end 7 of the wall 3. It is however possible to provide an opposite arrangement of this spring 19a, namely to place the small base substantially towards the center of the end 7.

 According to a second variant, shown in FIG. 3, the third part 19 is a flexible washer 19b of substantially frustoconical shape, the curvature of which defines the relative displacement of the first two parts 2, 11, necessary to bring them to their second position without for as far as the first part 2 does not come out of the second part 11. This washer 19b is preferably made of metal and has a diameter of large base substantially less than that of the edge 13 of the second part 11.

 In order to keep the spring 19a or the washer 19b in place, the third part 19 further comprises a substantially flat locking element 20, bearing on the second part 11 and on the spring 19a or the washer 19b.

 This locking element 20 is preferably a metal plate of small thickness and of diameter substantially greater than the transverse width of the end 7 of the wall 3.

 The locking element 20 is held by at least two lugs 21 arranged on the edge 13 of the second part 11. These lugs 21 are then crimped, for example by ultrasound, on the locking element 20.

 Provision may also be made for the second part 11 to comprise a plurality of crimping lugs 21 on the periphery of the edge 13 of the second part 11.

 It is also possible to provide for the locking element 20 to be present for a single aesthetic purpose, without the device 1 comprising a spring 19a or washer 19b, as shown in particular in FIGS. 7 to 9.

 The fixing device 1 as just described can be associated with an assembly 1a for the control transmission of a gear lever for an automobile to a gearbox comprising an articulated ball joint 5.

 As shown in Figure 4, such an assembly comprises a means 22 for rigid attachment to a cable (not shown) connected to the gear lever.

 In the embodiment shown, this fixing means 22 is a metal rod of substantially circular cross section.

 To this rod 22 is fixed a base means 23, preferably made of rigid plastic material, comprising a through-orifice for reception 24. As shown in FIG. 5, this base means 23 has a generally rectangular external shape and a thickness of the order of the height - counted parallel to its axis - of the sleeve 12 of the second part 11.

 The orifice 24 of the base means 23 is intended to receive on either side of its openings the first two parts 2, 11 which then fit into one another as has been described above.

 The dimensions of the orifice 24 are such that the flange 10 and edge 13 of the first and second parts 2, 11 can rest on the base means 23.

 In order to avoid the noises which can occur during the passage from one to the other of the extreme positions of the first two parts 2, 11, a seal 25 is disposed between and against the internal face 26 of the base means 23, delimiting the orifice 24, and the external face 15a of the sleeve 12.

 Preferably, the seal 25 has a height substantially equal to that of the sleeve 12.

 Thus, the internal 25a and external 25b faces of the seal 25 have a shape which is substantially complementary respectively to the external face 15a of the sleeve and the internal face 26 of the base means 23.

 In addition, and as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 6 to 9, the opposite walls 27a, 27b of the internal face 25a of the joint 25, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cable - in this case the defined axis by the rod 22-, have a reinforcement 29. The latter is intended to absorb the forces exerted on the ball 5 and / or the rod 22 by the control cable. I1 is defined for example by a greater thickness of the seal 25.

 However, one of its walls 27a, 27b can be provided with a reinforcement 29, preferably, the wall 27b located towards the rod 22.

 Due to the existence of these reinforcements 29, the sleeve 12 has two opposite walls 30a, 30b thicker than its two other walls 31a, 31b, the thickness of these walls 30a, 30b being substantially the same as that of the reinforcements 29 (the thickness being counted perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve 12).

 Thus, the thick walls 30a, 30b of the sleeve are located on the same side as the walls 28a, 28b, free of reinforcement 29, of the seal 25.

 According to a third variant, shown in FIG. 7, the third blocking part 19 comprises at least one flexible lip 19c formed with the seal 25 on its end 32 on the side of the first part 2.

 This lip 19c has a height -counted parallel to the axis of the joint 25- substantially equal to the clearance J2 existing between the first and the second parts 2, 11 when they are in their second extreme position. The lip 19c is thus supported on the first part 2, or more precisely on its flange 10. On the other hand, when the two parts 2, 11 are in their first extreme position, the lip 19c is substantially flattened.

 However, provision can be made for the seal 25 to have several separate lips or a single lip 19c around the entire periphery of its end 32.

According to a fourth variant, represented in FIG. 8, the third blocking part 19 comprises at least one stop 19d, adjoining the flange 10 of the first part 2. This stop 19d is directed towards the second part 11 so as to take support on the joint 25. The height of this stop l9d, counted parallel to the axis of the first part 2, is substantially equal to the clearance
J2 existing when the first two parts 2, 11 are in their second relative extreme position.

 It can however be provided that the flange 10 has several separate stops 19d or a single stop 19d over its entire periphery.

 FIG. 9 represents a fifth variant of the third blocking part 19, where the flange 10 of the first part 2 comprises at least one curved wing 19e of elastic deformation. The free end of this wing 19th is intended to bear on the base forming means 23, so as to maintain the first two parts 2, 11 in their second extreme relative position.

 However, provision may be made for the flange 10 itself to form a curved wing 19c over its entire circumference so that its free end bears on the base means 23.

 In order to bring and effectively maintain the wall 3 of the first part 2 in its narrowed state, provision may be made for the combination of two variants of the third blocking part 19 as they have just been defined. Indeed, one can for example combine the lip 19c of the seal 25 or the stop 19d of the flange 10 with a spring 19a or a washer l9b.

 To mount the ball joint 5 of a gearbox in the rigid mechanical fixing device of the assembly as defined, the receiving opening 8 of the wall 3 is positioned on the ball joint 5 .

Is applied, along the axis of the ball 5 and in the direction opposite to its introduction, a mounting force F1 on the edge 13 of the sleeve 12, so that the first part 2 is positioned relative to the second part 11 in their first relative extreme position (FIGS. 10 and 11) allowing the introduction of the ball 5 into the housing 4.

 It can be noted that in this state, the segments 9 of the wall 3 are even further apart than in the enlarged normal state as described above.

 Then, in order to keep the ball joint 5 placed force in the housing 4, the third blocking part 19 exerts a force F, of direction and direction substantially identical to that of the force F1, on the first part 2 so as to bring and maintain the first part 2 relative to the second 11 in their second relative extreme position.

In the case where the third blocking part 19 comprises a spring 19a or a washer 19b, this part 19a, 19b will push the end 7 of the first part 2 until the clearance J2 is created between the first two parts 2, 11. The third blocking part 19 then maintains the first part 2 in its narrowed state (FIG. 12)
It is clear that in the other alternative embodiments of the blocking part 19 as described above, it is the lips 19c, stops 19d or wings 19e which play the role of the spring 19a.

To disassemble a ball joint 5 assembled in the aforementioned manner to an assembly 1a, a disassembly force is exerted on the flange 10 of the first part 2
F2 opposite direction to the force F exerted by the spring 19a or the washer 19b, so as to position the first part 2 relative to the second 11 in their first relative extreme position. Simultaneously, the ball joint 5 is extracted from the housing 4 of the first part 2.

Such a device 1 does not require F1 forces,
F2 are very important for mounting and dismounting the ball joint 5. In addition, its extraction being easy, the device 1 remains intact after dismantling.

Claims (17)

CLAIM8  1. Rigid mechanical fixing device intended for a ball joint (5), in which the ball joint (5) can be held tight by a first clamping part (2) including a clamping wall (3) forming a housing (4) of shape substantially complementary to that of the ball joint (5),  characterized in that the clamping wall (3) is produced in an elastically deformable manner so as to be able to be at least in a narrowed state ensuring the tightening of the ball joint (5) and an enlarged state allowing its introduction or extraction from the housing (4),  and in that it comprises mechanical means (11, 19) acting on the first part (2) while being able to bring and maintain the wall (3) of this first part (2) in its narrowed state.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical means (11, 19) comprise  - A second operating part (11) separate from the first (2) and comprising a sleeve (12) capable of receiving the wall (3) of the first part (2), the two parts (2, 11) being arranged for having one relative to the other two extreme relative positions, a first position in which the wall (3) of the first part (2) can be in its enlarged state and a second position in which the wall (3) of the first part (2) is in its narrowed state, the passage from one to the other of these two positions being obtained by relative axial sliding of the two parts (2, 11)  - And a third blocking part (19), functionally interposed between the first two parts (2,11), and urging these two parts (2, 11) towards their second relative clamping position and holding them there.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that one and / or the other of the two faces (14a, 15b) cooperating and facing the two first parts (2, 11) comprise a shape shaped in the axial direction such that the relative axial sliding with contact of these two faces (14a, 15b) causes the passage from one to the other of the extreme positions.  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the internal face (15b) of the sleeve (12) of the second part (11) comprises a narrowing (16) substantially inclined towards the receiving opening (17) of the wall (3) of the first part (2).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the external face (14a) of the wall (3) of the first part (2) comprises, towards the receiving opening (8) of the ball joint (5), a narrowing (18) of cross section substantially identical to that of the narrowing (16) of the internal face (15a) of the sleeve (12) of the second part (11).  6. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the third blocking part (19) comprises a helical spring (19a) whose stroke defines the relative displacement of the first two parts (2, 11) necessary to bring them towards their second position.  7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the third blocking part (19) comprises a flexible washer (19b) of substantially frustoconical shape, the curvature of which defines the relative displacement of the first two parts (2, 11) necessary for bring them to their second position.  8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the third part (19) further comprises a locking element (20) bearing on the second part (11) and on the spring (19a) or the washer ( 19b).  9. Assembly for the command transmission of a gear lever for an automobile to a gearbox, the gearbox comprising a ball joint (5) to which can be fixed a rigid mechanical fixing device (1) according to the any one of claims 1 to 8, said device being connected to the cable of the gear lever, characterized in that the assembly comprises a means (22) for rigid fixing to the cable of the gear lever, to which is fixed a base means ( 23) comprising a through reception orifice (24), the two parts (2, 11) being embedded one in the other so as to effect their axial sliding relative through said orifice (24).  10. The assembly of claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises a seal (25) disposed between the inner face (26) of the base means (23), defining the orifice (24), and the outer face (15a) of the sleeve (12) of the second part (11), so as to dampen noise during the relative movement of the two parts (2, 11).  11. Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the internal walls (27a, 27b) of the joint (25), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cable, comprises a reinforcement (29).  12. The assembly of claim 11, characterized in that the outer face (15a) of the sleeve (12) of the second part (11) has a shape complementary to that of the inner face (25a) of the seal (25).  13. An assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the third locking piece (19) comprises at least one flexible lip  (19c) formed with the seal (25) and intended to bear on the first part (2) so as to define the relative displacement of the first two parts (2, 11) necessary to bring them to their second extreme position.  14. An assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the third part (19) comprises at least one stop (19d), disposed on the first part (2) and bearing on the joint (25) .  15. Assembly according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the third blocking part (19) comprises at least one curved wing (19e) of elastic deformation, disposed on the first part (2) and bearing on the base means (23).  16. A method of mounting a ball joint (5) articulated to an assembly (la) according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized by the following steps  - the receiving opening (8) of the wall (3) is positioned on the ball joint (5)  - applying, along the axis of the ball joint (5) and in the opposite direction of its introduction, a mounting force (F1) on the edge (13) of the sleeve (12), by positioning the first part (2) relative to the second (11) in their first extreme position, allowing the introduction of the ball joint (5) in the housing (4) of the wall (3)  - We exert a force (F), direction and direction substantially identical to that of the mounting force (F1), on the first part (2) through the third part (19), so as to bring and maintain the first part (2) relative to the second (11) in their second extreme position.  17. A method of dismantling a ball joint (5) assembled according to claim 16 to an assembly (la) according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized by the following simultaneous steps  - exerting on the first part (2) a disassembly force (F2) in the opposite direction to the force (F) exerted by the third part (19), so as to position the first part (2) relative to the second (11) in their first extreme position,  - The ball joint (5) is extracted from the housing (4) of the first part (2).