JP2002048128A - Assembly method of boot of ball joint and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem in the automatization of operation that, upon assembly of a boot of a ball joint 1, an operation to fit a large diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 into the outer periphery of a socket 2 with a large diameter is difficult to conduct. SOLUTION: By pressing a cylindrical part 4b of the boot 4 externally in radial direction by a plurality of pawls arranged radially, the large diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is made to deform elastically in a waveform or a corolla shape, thereby a guiding part for fitting into the outer periphery of the socket 2 is formed, and, under such condition, the large diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is made engaged in the outer periphery of the socket 2 by pushing a shoulder part 4c of the boot 4 in axial direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for assembling a boot on a ball joint.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of front wheel steering bearing of an automobile, there is a ball joint suspension in which a front wheel shaft is connected to a control arm by two upper and lower ball joints (ball joints). The two ball joints allow the control arm to freely rotate around the ball joints when the front wheel is fixed and the wheel goes up and down.

FIG. 1G is a view showing a ball joint to which the present invention is applied. For convenience, a conventional boot mounting procedure will be described with reference to FIG. The conventional boot has a slightly different shape from the boot 4 shown in FIG. 1 (G), and the portion from the shoulder 4c to the trunk 4b of the boot 4 in FIG. 1 (G) has a “bowl shape”. Was. Therefore, prior to fitting into the ball joint 1, compressed air is introduced into the boot 4 (4) which is positioned and fixed to inflate the boot (4) from the inside to the outside. By expanding the large-diameter opening end (4a) of the boot (4) fitted into the provided groove 2a outward in the radial direction, the press-in resistance of the boot (4) is reduced. By applying a pushing load to (4), the annular rib provided on the large-diameter opening end (4a) of the boot (4) is fitted into the groove 2a of the socket 2.

[0004]

In short, conventionally, in a state where the boot is inflated from the inside to the outside with compressed air, and the entire shape of the boot is supported from the outside by the insertion pad, thereby maintaining the shape of the boot, The fitting to the ball joint was performed.

[0005] However, the boot 4 to which the present invention is directed is:
As understood from FIG. 1 (G), it is not possible to adopt an assembling method such as feeding compressed air into the inside.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the socket 2 of the ball joint 1 which is positioned and fixed, the trunk 4b of the boot 4 is circular. A large-diameter open end 4 of the boot 4 is formed by being pressed from a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction from the outside in the radial direction and deforming into a waveform.
is locally deformed, and the shoulder 4c of the boot 4 is pushed toward the socket 2 over the entire circumference while maintaining the local deformation, whereby the large-diameter open end 4 of the boot 4 is pressed.
a into the socket 2 smoothly and securely.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a work comprising a ball stud 3 having a ball 3b formed at one end of a stud 3a and a socket 2 having the ball 3b of the ball stud 3 received in an opening. A method for assembling a boot 4 for covering the opening 2;
The boot 4 is formed of synthetic rubber, and is formed at a substantially cylindrical body 4b at one end of the body 4b.
A large-diameter opening end 4a that fits with the outer periphery of the ball stud 3b, a small-diameter opening end 4d that is located on the other end side of the body 4b, and that fits with the stud 3a of the ball stud 3; A shoulder 4c connecting the open end 4d, and pressing the trunk 4b of the boot 4 from the outside in the radial direction with a plurality of claws 26 arranged radially to thereby engage with the outer periphery of the socket 2. A ball joint boot in which the large-diameter opening end 4a is deformed into a non-circular shape, and the large-diameter opening end 4a is fitted into the outer periphery of the socket 2 by pushing the shoulder 4c of the boot 4 in the axial direction. This is an assembly method.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of assembling a ball joint boot according to the first aspect, the local pressing of the boot 4 against the body 4b is performed by the large-diameter open end 4a of the boot 4 being attached to the socket 2. It is characterized in that it is released immediately before fitting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for performing the method of the first or second aspect, wherein the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) are arranged coaxially with the ball joint 1 and movable in the axial direction. ) And the boot pushing shaft (12, 1).
4) a first drive device 10 for axially moving
A slider 28 disposed on the outer periphery of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14) so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction; and a protrusion 26a at one end facing the axis of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14). And a claw 26 having an oblong slot 26b at the other end.
And near the tip of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14),
A first pin 24 that supports the pawl 26 so as to be swingable in a plane including the axis of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14).
A second pin 30 carried by the slider 28 and engaged with the oblong slot 26b of the claw 26; and the slider 28 interposed between the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) and the slider 28. Load member 34 that presses tip 28 toward the tip side
And a stopper 40 for positioning the slider 28 on the movement path of the slider 28 and engaging the slider 28 to move the slider 28 against the load member 34. Device.

When the pawl 26 which can swing about the first pin 24 is swung in the direction in which the projection 26a moves toward the axial center, the projection 26a moves the trunk 4b of the boot 4 in the radial direction. Press from outside to deform elastically. The swing timing of the claw 26 is regulated by the engagement position between the elongated hole 26b and the second pin 30. That is, since the slider 28 carrying the second pin 30 is normally urged toward the distal end by the action of the load member 34, the second pin 30 is engaged with the distal end of the elongated hole 26b. The long hole 26b is provided with a boot pushing shaft (1).
The distance to the axis of (2, 14) is inclined so that the distance from the projection 26a becomes shorter. Therefore, in this state, the end having the elongated hole 26b approaches the axis, and conversely, the end having the projection 26a moves away from the axis.

When the boot pushing shaft (12, 14) moves, the slider 28 comes into contact with the stopper 40, and thereafter the boot pushing shaft (12, 1) is further moved.
When the slider 4 moves forward, the slider 28
Since it is in contact with zero, it relatively retreats against the force of the load member 34. As a result, the claws 26 begin to close.

When the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) start to retreat, the second pin 30 carried by the slider 28 moves to the distal end side of the elongated hole 26b by the action of the load member 34, and as a result, the pawl 26 is expanded.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ball joint boot assembling apparatus of the third aspect, the stopper 40 is provided.
A second driving device 44 for moving the shaft in the axial direction of the boot pushing shafts (12, 14).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ball joint boot assembling apparatus according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a control device (52, 56) for regulating a timing at which the claw 26 is expanded.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ball joint boot assembling apparatus of the fifth aspect, the control device comprises:
Dog 52 interlocking with the boot pushing shaft (12, 14)
And a sensor 56 for detecting the dog 52. When the sensor 56 detects the dog 52, an operation command signal is sent to the second driving device 44.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball joint boot assembling apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, further comprising a control device (50, 54) for regulating the speed of the diameter reducing operation of the claw 26. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ball joint boot assembling apparatus of the seventh aspect, the control device comprises:
Dog 50 interlocking with the boot pushing shaft (12, 14)
And a sensor 54 for detecting the dog 50, and sends a deceleration command signal to the first drive device 10 when the sensor 54 detects the dog 50.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ball joint boot assembling apparatus of any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the stopper is constituted by a cam follower 40 carried on an arm 42, and the second driving device is , A hydraulic cylinder 44 attached to the base plate 18, a piston rod 45 of the hydraulic cylinder 44 and the arm 42
And a link mechanism including the following.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ball joint assembling apparatus according to any one of the third to ninth aspects, the boot pushing shaft is constituted by an inner shaft 12 and an outer tube 14.
With the tip surface of the inner shaft 12 and the inner peripheral wall surface of the outer tube 14,
A space 15 for accommodating the small-diameter opening end 4d of the boot 4 is defined.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Prior to the description of an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a ball joint as a basis thereof and the order of assembling boots will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1 (G), the ball joint 1 includes a socket 2, a ball stud 3, and a boot 4. The ball stud 3 has a form in which a ball 3b is formed at one end of a stud 3a. Socket 2 is
Ball 3b of ball stud 3 with built-in spherical bush
Holding. Therefore, the ball stud 3 can perform a pivoting movement with respect to the socket 2. The sliding part between the socket 2 and the ball 3b is filled with lubricating grease. The boot 4 is mounted to prevent the leakage of the lubricating grease and to prevent foreign substances from entering from outside. The boot 4 is made of a nitrile-based, chloroprene-based or polyurethane-based synthetic rubber, but may be a polyurethane-based rubber having excellent oil resistance and weather resistance.
The large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the socket 2, and the small-diameter opening end 4d of the boot 4 is fitted to the ball stud 3. Here, the stud 3a has a screw portion 3c, a flange portion 3d, a fitting portion 3 from the shaft end toward the ball 3b.
e, the flange portion 3f is formed continuously, and the outer diameter of the fitting portion 3e is larger than the screw portion 3c and smaller than the flange portion 3d.

FIGS. 1A to 1F show a ball joint 1.
It is a flowchart which shows the assembling process of a boot and a circlip in the assembling process of FIG.

FIG. 1A shows a work load / unload station where a ball joint 1 sent to a shooter (not shown) is set on an assembling jig (not shown) and carried out to the shooter.

FIG. 1B shows a rotational torque measuring station in which the ball stud 3 of the ball joint 1 is gripped by the chuck 7 of the measuring unit, rotated at a predetermined speed, and the torque at that time is measured.

FIG. 1C shows a grease application station in which the application head 8 of the grease application unit descends and fills a predetermined amount of grease into a sliding contact portion between the ball 3 b and the socket 2.

FIG. 1 (D) shows a boot supply / assembly station, in which a boot 4 supplied by a parts feeder (not shown) is attached to a boot assembling apparatus (see FIGS. 2 to 6).
Set and assemble.

FIG. 1E shows a circlip supply assembling station in which a circlip 5 supplied by a parts feeder is assembled to a boot 4.

FIG. 1F shows an assembling check and NG unloading station in which the assembling check of the boot 4 and the circlip 5 of the ball joint 1 after the assembling of the boots 4 is performed. NG products are carried out, and only good products are sent to the subsequent process.

The present invention is applied to the above-mentioned boot supply / assembly station (FIG. 1 (D)).
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The boot assembling apparatus is mounted vertically on the base plate 18 and is movable along a vertical axis.
Boot holding part (12a, 1) located at the lower end of (2, 14).
3, 26) and a drive unit (10) for driving the boot pushing shafts (12, 14).

In this embodiment, the boot pushing shaft has a double structure of the inner shaft 12 and the outer tube 14 and is slidably inserted into the guide cylinder 17 fixed to the base plate 18. The inner shaft 12 and the outer tube 14 move integrally in the axial direction. The inner shaft 12 and the outer tube 14 can be relatively axially displaced within a limited range, and the compression coil spring 16 interposed between them acts as a buffer. A space 15 is defined at the lower end of the outer tube 14 by the inner peripheral wall surface of the outer tube 14 and the tip end surface of the inner shaft 12. As can be seen from FIG. The opening end 4d is accommodated. The lower end of the inner shaft 12 is hollow, and the ball stud 3 covered with the guide sleeve 6 enters the shaft hole 13 in the boot mounting process.

The upper end of the inner shaft 12 is connected to the piston rod 11 of the air cylinder 10. In this embodiment, the air cylinder 10 constitutes a drive device for the boot pushing shafts (12, 14), and is installed on the base plate 18 via a bracket. A bracket to which the two types of dogs 50 and 52 are attached is fixed to the upper end of the inner shaft 12. Sensors 54, 5 corresponding to these dogs 50, 52
6 is installed on the base plate 18 via a bracket.

The boot holding portion provided at the lower end of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14) includes a plurality of claws 26 arranged radially. As shown in FIG.
There are book claws 26 (FIG. 4). As can be clearly understood from FIG. 3, each of the claws 26 has an elongated plate shape, and one end (the lower end in the figure) is L-shaped.
Arc-shaped protrusion 2 formed in a letter shape and protruding toward the axis
6a, the torso 4 of the boot 4
b is pushed from the outside in the radial direction. An inclined long hole 26b is formed at the other end (the upper end in the figure) of the claw 26. A through hole for passing the first pin 24 is formed in an intermediate portion of the claw 26.

The claw 26 is held by a holder 20 fixed to the outer periphery of the lower end of the outer tube 14. The holder 20 has a pocket 22 penetrating in the axial direction.
6 is accommodated and the first pin 24
I support. Accordingly, the pawl 26 can swing about the first pin 24 in a plane including the axis of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14). The second pin 30 is fitted in the long hole 26b of the claw 26. The second pin 30 is provided on the slider 28 fitted to the outer periphery of the outer tube 14 so as to be movable in the axial direction.
It is fixed to. The inclination of the long hole 26b is such that the distance from the long hole 26b to the axis of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14) becomes shorter as the distance from the protrusion 26a increases.

A collar 36 is attached to the outer periphery of the outer tube 14,
The circlip 38 is used for positioning. A compression coil spring 34 is interposed between the collar 36 and the slider 28, whereby the slider 28 is normally biased downward in the figure. The slider 28 is integrally connected to the ring 32 by bolts.

A cam follower 40 is engaged with the lower surface of the ring 32. The cam follower 40 is supported on one end of the arm 42. The arm 42 is rotatably connected to a piston rod 45 of an air cylinder 44 via a pin 43 at the other end, and a bracket suspended from the base plate 18 at an intermediate portion, as shown in FIGS. 48 is rotatably supported via a pin 49. The air cylinder 44 is rotatably attached to a bracket 46 fixed to the base plate 18 via a pin 47. Therefore, when the piston rod 45 of the air cylinder 44 extends, the position of the cam follower 40 rises, and conversely, when the piston rod 45 retreats, the position of the cam follower 40 lowers.

The position of the claw 26 changes depending on the position of the second pin 30 in the longitudinal direction of the long hole 26b. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the second pin 30 is located at the lower end of the long hole 26b, the upper end of the claw 26 is located near the axis of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14), The lower end of 26 moves radially outward of the boot pushing shafts (12, 14). In other words, the inscribed circle of the projection 26a expands. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
When 0 is located at the upper end of the elongated hole 26b, the upper end of the claw 26 moves radially outward of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14), and the lower end of the claw 26 moves radially inside of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14). Go to In other words, the diameter of the inscribed circle of the projection 26a is reduced.

The operation of the pawl 26 is performed because the second pin 30 is fixed to the slider 28.
Is controlled by the vertical position of the As described above, since the slider 28 is pressed downward by the compression coil spring 34, the second pin 30 carried by the slider 28 is located at the lower end of the elongated hole 26b of the claw 26, and therefore, the claw 26 is expanded. It is in an open state (FIGS. 2 and 3). When the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) descend, the slider 28
When the ring 32 comes into contact with the cam follower 40, the slider 28 stops, and thereafter the boot pushing shaft (1) continues to descend against the compression coil spring 34.
Retreats relatively to (2,14). As a result, the second pin 30 carried by the slider 28 moves to the upper end side of the elongated hole 26b, and accordingly, the claw 26 starts to close. When the second pin 30 reaches the upper end of the elongated hole 26b, the inscribed circle of the projection 26a of the claw 26 becomes minimum. The stroke of the slider 28, that is, the slider 28
The distance before contact with zero is set to an amount by which the protrusion 26a of the claw 26 moves to a position suitable for applying a desired elastic deformation by pushing the trunk 4b of the boot 4 from the outside in the radial direction.

The inscribed circle of the projection 26a of the claw 26 is the socket 2
If the outer diameter is smaller than or approximately the same as
By simply pressing the boot 4 toward the socket 2 while pressing the torso 4b of the boot 4 from the outside in the radial direction with the protrusion 26a, the protrusion 26a of the claw 26 (the torso 4 of the boot 4 pressed by the
b) interferes with the outer diameter of the socket 2 and cannot proceed any further. However, in order to cover the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 on the outer periphery of the socket 2, it is desirable to keep the state in which the torso 4b of the boot 4 is pushed by the projection 26a of the claw 26 as far as possible. Therefore, as soon as the claw 26 (the body 4b of the boot 4 pressed by the claw) reaches the opening end of the socket 2, the projection 26a of the claw 26 is expanded.

In the present embodiment, the expanding operation of the pawl 26 is achieved by releasing the engagement of the cam follower 40 with the ring 32 by the second driving device including the air cylinder 44. That is, when the piston rod 45 of the air cylinder 44 is retracted, the arm 42 swings to lower the cam follower 40 carried on the tip thereof. As a result, the ring 32 engaged with the cam follower 40 is also lowered by the action of the compression coil spring 34 to lower the slider 28 integrally therewith. As a result, the second pin 30 carried by the slider 28 moves to the lower end side of the elongated hole 26b of the claw 26, and the lower end of the claw 26, ie, the projection 26a
To expand.

Next, a method of assembling the boot 4 using the above-described boot assembling apparatus will be described.

First, the boot 4 supplied to the boot assembling step by a parts feeder (not shown) is aligned with the piston rod 11 of the air cylinder 10 at the raised standby position as shown in FIGS. In this state, it is positioned on a boot insertion jig (not shown) and waits. At this time, the guide sleeve 6 is attached to the ball stud 3a.
Cover. The guide sleeve 6 has an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the flange 3d having a larger diameter than the threaded portion 3c of the ball stud 3. By covering the threaded portion 3c, the sliding of the seal 4 is facilitated, and the guide sleeve 6 is fitted. It plays a role in smoothly guiding the small diameter fitting portion 4d of the boot 4 to the joining portion 3e.

In this state, when the boot assembling apparatus is started to start assembling the boot 4, the piston rod 11 of the air cylinder 10 is extended and the boot pushing shaft (12, 1) is extended.
4) is lowered, and the boots 4 waiting on the way are captured.
The boot 4 has a small-diameter opening end 4d in a space 13 defined by a tip end surface of the inner shaft 12 of the boot pushing shaft and an inner peripheral wall surface of the outer tube 14, and the shoulder 4c of the outer tube 14 Contact the tip surface. At this time, the claws 26 are still in an expanded state. Then, the boot 4 descends together with the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) while being pressed on the shoulder surface 4c.

When the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) continue to descend and the ring 32 comes into contact with the cam follower 40, the engagement position between the second pin 30 and the long hole 26b is changed to the long hole 2b.
The protrusion 26a of the claw 26 starts to be reduced in diameter from the lower end side to the upper end side of 6b. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the projection 26a pushes the body 4b of the boot 4 from the outside in the radial direction to the inside. As a result, non-circular, ie, wavy or corolla-shaped elastic deformation occurs at the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 according to the number of claws 26 and the position of the projection 26a.

As described above, the detection timing of the dog 50 coincides with the start of the diameter reduction of the claw 26. Therefore, during the downward movement of the boot pushing shaft (12, 14), the sensor 5
When the dog 4 detects the dog 50, a deceleration command signal is sent to the air cylinder 10 according to a program preset by a control device including the sensor 54. This is because a desired elastic deformation is surely given to the boot 4 without damaging the boot 4 by gradually performing the diameter reducing operation of the claw 26.

The boot 4 is fitted into the socket 2 with the large-diameter opening end 4a elastically deformed. Immediately before the interference between the projection 26a of the pawl 26 and the socket 2 when the boot is fitted, the pawl 26 is engaged. And the local pressing of the boot 4 on the trunk 4b is released. During that time, the boot pushing shafts (12, 14) continue to descend,
Almost simultaneously with the release of the pressing of the boot 4 against the trunk 4b, the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 covers the outer peripheral surface of the socket 2.

The timing at which the pressing by the claw 26 is released coincides with the time when the dog 52 is detected by the sensor 56. That is, when the sensor 56 detects the dog 52, an operation command signal is sent to the air cylinder 44 in accordance with a program preset by a control device including the sensor 56. The air cylinder 44 that has received the operation command signal causes the piston rod 45 to retract, whereby the arm 4
Then, the cam follower 40 is lowered via 2. as a result,
The slider 28 is pushed down by the action of the compression coil spring 34, and moves the second pin 30 to the lower end side of the elongated hole 26b.

When the assembling of the boot 4 is completed in this way, the piston rod 11 of the air cylinder 10 is kept open with the claws 28 open in preparation for receiving the next boot 4 sent to the boot assembling step. Retreats and the boot assembling device returns to the original position.

Thereafter, as described above with reference to FIG.
By mounting the circlip 5 from above the boot 4 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the socket 2, the ball joint 1 to which the boot 4 is assembled is completed (FIG. 1 (G)). The guide sleeve 6 is used only for mounting the boot 4 and is removed from the ball stud 3 at an appropriate stage after the boot 4 has been mounted.

[0050]

According to the present invention, the trunk 4b of the boot 4 is pushed by a plurality of claws 26 from the outside in the radial direction, and the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is elastically deformed into a non-circular shape, that is, a wavy shape or a corolla shape. Since the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter opening end 4a expands in a flared or trumpet shape, and a portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the socket 2 is locally formed,
That portion covers the outer periphery of the socket 2 at the initial stage of fitting, leading the fitting of the other portion, and the fitting of the boot 4 is performed without difficulty and stably.

The local pressing of the boot 4 against the trunk 4b of the boot 4 by the claw 26 is released immediately before the large-diameter opening end 4a of the boot 4 is fitted into the outer periphery of the socket 2, whereby the claw 26 and the socket are released. While avoiding interference with the boot 2, the elastic deformation of the boot 4 is maintained until immediately before the boot 4 is fitted into the socket 2, and the boot 4 can be securely fitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a boot assembly process.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the boot assembling apparatus in a state in which a claw is expanded.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2;

4A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the boot assembling apparatus in a state where the diameter of the pawl is reduced.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball joint 2 Socket 3 Ball stud 3a Stud 3b Ball 3c Screw part 3d Flange part 3e Fitting part 3f Flange part 4 Boot 4a Large diameter opening end 4b Body 4c Shoulder 4d Small diameter opening end 5 Circle 6 Guide sleeve 7 Chuck 8 Dispensing head 10 Air cylinder (first driving device) 11 Piston rod 12 Inner shaft (Boot pushing shaft) 13 Shaft hole 14 Outer tube (Boot pushing shaft) 15 Empty space 16 Compression coil spring 17 Guide cylinder 18 Base plate 20 Holder 22 Pocket 24 First pin 26 Claw 26a Projection 26b Slot 27 Slider 28 Second pin 30 Ring 34 Compression coil spring (Loading member) 36 Collar 38 Cirlip 40 Cam follower (Stopper) 42 Arm 43 Pin 44 Air cylinder ( Second drive) 45 Piston rod 46 Bracket 47 Pin 48 Bracket 49 Pin 50 Dog 52 Dog G 54 Sensor 56 Sensor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A boot for covering an opening of a socket is mounted on a work including a ball stud having a ball formed at one end of the stud and a socket receiving the ball of the ball stud in an opening. Wherein the boot is molded from synthetic rubber and has a substantially cylindrical body, a large-diameter opening end formed at one end of the body and fitted to the outer periphery of a socket, At the other end side, a small-diameter opening end that fits with the stud of the ball stud, and a shoulder that connects the trunk and the small-diameter opening end are provided. By pushing the torso from the outside in the radial direction, the large-diameter opening end of the boot fitted to the outer periphery of the socket is deformed into a non-circular shape, and the shoulder of the boot is pushed in the axial direction to remove the large-diameter opening end. Fits around socket Boots the assembly method of the ball joint, characterized in that. 2. The method for assembling a ball joint boot according to claim 1, wherein the local pressing of the boot against the trunk is released immediately before the boot is fitted into the socket. 3. Apparatus for implementing the method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus comprises: I. A boot pushing shaft which is coaxially arranged with the ball joint and is movable in the axial direction. B. A first driving device for moving the boot pushing shaft in the axial direction. C. A slider arranged on the outer periphery of the boot pushing shaft so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. D. A claw having a projection at one end facing the axis of the boot pushing shaft and an oblong slot at the other end; E. A first pin that supports the pawl so as to be swingable in a plane including the axis of the boot pushing shaft near a tip of the boot pushing shaft. F. A second pin carried by the slider and engaged with the oblique slot of the pawl; G. A load member interposed between the boot pushing shaft and the slider and pressing the slider toward the distal end; H. A stopper located on a movement path of the slider, and for moving the slider against the load member by engaging with the slider. 4. The apparatus for assembling a boot for a ball joint according to claim 3, further comprising a second driving device for moving the stopper in the axial direction of the boot pushing shaft. 5. The ball joint boot assembling apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control device for regulating timing of releasing the claw. 6. The control device has a dog interlocked with the boot pushing shaft, and a sensor for detecting the dog, and is actuated by the second drive device when the sensor detects the dog. The apparatus for assembling boots for a ball joint according to claim 5, wherein a command signal is transmitted. 7. The ball joint boot assembling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a control device that regulates a speed of the diameter reducing operation of the claw. 8. The control device includes a dog interlocked with the boot pushing shaft, and a sensor for detecting the dog. When the sensor detects the dog, the first driving device decelerates. 8. The apparatus for assembling boots for a ball joint according to claim 7, wherein a command signal is transmitted. 9. A link comprising a cam follower carried on an arm, wherein the stopper includes a fluid pressure cylinder fixed to a base plate, a piston rod of the fluid pressure cylinder, and the arm. 9. A mechanism comprising a mechanism.
Either of the ball joint boot mounting devices. 10. The boot pushing shaft comprises an inner shaft and an outer tube, and a space for accommodating a small-diameter opening end of the boot is formed by a front end surface of the inner shaft and an inner peripheral wall surface of the outer tube. 10. An apparatus for assembling a ball joint according to claim 3, wherein a place is defined.