JP2002206518A - Ball joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball joint in which oscillation and rotation torque can be set low to achieve high lubricating performance. SOLUTION: This ball joint is provided with a ball stud comprising a spherical head part of a spherical form and a handle part protruded from the spherical head part, a bearing holding the spherical head part of the ball stud to be capable of oscillating and rotating, and having a bearing opening part on one side, and a housing holding the bearing inside, and having a housing opening part for the handle part of the ball stud to be protruded. In an outer circumferential surface of the bearing, plural outer circumferential protrusions are formed, while in an inner circumferential surface of the housing, plural inner circumferential protrusions are formed. The bearing and the housing are engaged with each other as the outer circumferential protrusions and the inner circumferential protrusions cross each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball joint used for, for example, a suspension system and a steering system of a motor vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ball joints have been frequently used for connecting a suspension device and a steering device of an automobile. As shown in FIG. 10, such a ball joint includes a ball stud 102 having a spherical ball head 104 and a handle 103 extending from the ball head 104, and a ball head 104 of the ball stud 102. A bearing 105 made of synthetic resin, which is swingably and rotatably held and has a bearing opening 106 at one end, and the bearing 105 is included therein. And a ring-shaped retaining ring 12 disposed on the inner periphery of a housing opening 113 of the housing 112.
5, the small boot opening 120 is on the outer periphery of the handle 103 of the ball stud 102, and the large boot opening 121 is a link 12.
5. Boot 119 made of a rubber-like elastic body attached to the outer periphery
And had.

[0003]

Such a ball joint 101 has a bearing 10 inside a housing 112.
5 and after inserting the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102,
When the bearing opening 106 of the bearing 105 is bent inward by the retaining ring 125, the housing 1
Twelve housing openings 113 were caulked, and then the ball joint 101 was assembled through a process of mounting boots 119. Here, the ball joint 101 is affected by the load received from the bearing 105 due to the swinging and rotating torque of the ball stud 102.
As shown in FIG. 1, the entire inner peripheral surface abuts on the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102.
5, the load may be received from the entire inner periphery, and the swinging and rotating torque may be increased as a whole.

The ball joint 101 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 105 and the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102 so that the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102 can swing and rotate smoothly. Lubricant is applied. This lubricant tends to flow out of the bearing opening 106 of the bearing 105 to the outside with the swing of the ball stud 102, and the lubricity may be reduced. Further, the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102
And the inner spherical surface of the bearing 105 are in close contact with almost no gap, so that it may be difficult for the lubricant to spread all around.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a ball joint having high lubricity, in which the swing and rotation torques can be set low.

[0006]

The present invention has the following arrangement.

[0007] 1. A ball stud composed of a spherical ball head and a handle protruding from the ball head, a bearing having a ball-stud ball head swingably and rotatable and having a bearing opening on one side, and a bearing included And a housing having a housing opening for projecting the handle portion of the ball stud. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface of the bearing is formed with a plurality of outer ridges, and the inner peripheral surface of the housing is provided with a plurality of inner rims. A ridge is formed,
The bearing and the housing are engaged with each other with the outer ridge and the inner ridge intersecting each other.

[0008] 2. The bearing has a plurality of outer ridges extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface, and the housing has a plurality of circumferential inner ridges formed on the inner peripheral surface.

3. The bearing has a plurality of outer ridges circumferentially formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the housing has a plurality of inner ridges extending axially on the inner peripheral surface.

[0010] 4. The bearing has a circumferential bearing protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface near the bearing opening, and the bearing protrusion contacts the inner peripheral surface of the housing over the entire circumference.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a ball joint 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ball joint 1 has a ball stud 2 having a spherical ball head 4, a handle 3 extending from the ball head 4, and a ball head 4 of the ball stud 2 swingably and rotatably. A bearing 5 having a bearing opening 6 having one end open and a bottom 7 having the other end closed in an arc shape.
And bearing 5 therein, and bearing opening 6 at one end.
And a housing 12 having a housing opening 13 whose side end is open. The housing 12 includes an outer cup 12a made of an aluminum material and an outer cup 1 for enhancing strength.
2a Inner cup 12 made of steel material arranged at the inner bottom part
b. On the inner periphery of the housing opening 13 of the housing 12, a step-shaped first step portion 14 and a second step portion 15 which is continuous with the first step portion 14 and has a small diameter are formed.
The flange 8 formed on the outer periphery of the bearing 5 is seated on the second step 15, and the second step 15 is formed on the outer periphery of an annular retaining ring 25 arranged on the inner periphery of the housing opening 13. The collar 26 is seated. The inner periphery of the retaining ring 25 has a curved inner surface 28 having the same curvature as the outer peripheral curvature of the desired bearing opening 6 of the bearing 5, and an upright wall portion 27 continuous with the flange portion 26 and extending in the axial direction is formed on the outer periphery thereof. Is done. The boot large opening 21 in which the second reinforcement ring 23 is embedded is fixed to the standing wall 27 of the retaining ring 25 of the boot 19 made of a rubber-like elastic body.
A small boot opening 20 in which a ferrule 24 having a U-shaped cross-section and embedded therein is mounted inside is fixed to the outer periphery of the handle 3 of the ball stud 2.

Here, the bearing 5 is, as shown in FIG.
A circumferential flange 8 is formed on the outer peripheral surface near the bearing opening 6 and a bearing projection 11 having an outer diameter smaller than the flange 8 is formed on the bottom 7 side of the flange 8. Further, a plurality of outer peripheral ridges 9 extending in the axial direction from the bottom portion 7 to the bearing projection 11 are formed, and the outer peripheral concave portion 1 is provided between the outer peripheral ridges 9.
0 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 12 includes an outer cup 12a and an inner cup 12b.
A projection 18 is formed on the inner peripheral surface near the housing opening 13. Further, a plurality of inner peripheral ridges 16 are formed as peripheral projections, and an inner peripheral concave portion 17 is formed between the inner peripheral ridges 16.

Next, a method of assembling the ball joint 1 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG.
The bearing 5 is inserted from the housing opening 13 side of the housing 12 in which the inner cup 12b is disposed at a predetermined position on the inner circumference of the housing 5, the bottom 7 of the bearing 5 is on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 12, Then, the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2 is inserted from the bearing opening 6 side of the bearing 5. At this time, the bearing projection 11 of the bearing 5 and the housing projection 18 of the housing 12 are arranged so as to be substantially at the same position. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a retaining ring 25 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the housing opening 13 of the housing 12, and the bearing opening 6 of the bearing 5 is moved toward the inner peripheral side along the curved inner surface 28 of the retaining ring 25. While being bent, the flange 26 of the retaining ring 25 is
Of the housing 12 in this state.
Is crimped, and a pre-assembly 41 as shown in FIG. 7 is assembled.

Finally, the large boot opening 21 of the boot 19 is pressed into the vertical wall 27 of the retaining ring 25, and the small boot opening 20 is pressed into the outer periphery of the handle 3 of the ball stud 2, as shown in FIG. The assembly of the ball joint 1 is completed.

Therefore, the ball joint 1 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 5 in the axial direction from the bottom 7 to the bearing projection 1.
A plurality of outer peripheral ridges 9 extending to 1 are formed.
An outer peripheral recess 10 is formed between the inner peripheral protrusions 16, a plurality of circumferential inner peripheral ridges 16 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 12, and an inner peripheral recess 17 is formed between the inner peripheral ridges 16. When the housing opening 13 is caulked, as shown in FIG. 2A, the portion where the outer peripheral ridge 9 of the bearing 5 and the inner peripheral ridge 16 of the housing 12 are engaged
A large protrusion 30 is formed on the inner periphery of the ball stud 2, and the large protrusion 30 strongly contacts the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2, and the bearing 5
The portion where the outer peripheral ridge 9 is engaged with the inner peripheral concave portion 17 of the housing 12 has a smaller amount of projection on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 5 than the large projection 30 and does not contact the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2. A projection 31 is formed, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a small projection 31 is formed at a portion where the outer peripheral recess 10 of the bearing 5 and the inner peripheral ridge 16 of the housing 12 are engaged. No change is given to the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 5 at the portion where the outer peripheral concave portion 10 and the inner peripheral concave portion 17 of the housing 12 are engaged, so that the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 5 and the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2 The space S is generated without contact. A bearing projection 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 5 near the bearing opening 6, and a housing projection 18 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 12 near the housing opening 13. A leakage prevention portion 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 5 at a portion where the housing projection 18 of the housing 12 and the housing 12 are engaged.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The bearing 55 shown in FIG. 8 has a circumferential bearing projection 11 near the bearing opening 6 on the outer peripheral surface. In addition, a plurality of outer ridges 59 are formed circumferentially on the bearing bottom 7 side from the bearing ridge 11, and an outer recess 60 is formed between the outer ridges 59. The inner cup 6 of the housing 62 shown in FIG.
2b is formed with a circumferential housing projection 18 near the housing opening 13 on the inner peripheral surface. In addition, a plurality of inner circumferential protrusions 66 extending from the bottom of the housing to the housing protrusion 18 are formed on the inner circumferential surface, and an inner circumferential recess 67 is formed between the inner circumferential protrusions 66.

Bearing 55 and housing 6 as described above
The ball joint 51 having 2 is assembled in the same process as the ball joint 1.

In the ball joint 51 as described above, when the housing opening portion 13 is swaged, the portion where the outer peripheral ridge 59 of the bearing 55 and the inner peripheral ridge 66 of the housing 62 are engaged has a large projection on the inner periphery of the bearing 55. The large protrusion 30 is in strong contact with the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2, and the portion where the outer circumferential protrusion 59 of the bearing 55 and the inner circumferential recess 67 of the housing 62 are engaged is the bearing 55.
A small protrusion 31 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small protrusion 31 which has a smaller amount of protrusion than the large protrusion 30 and does not contact the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2. The small protrusion 31 is formed in the portion where the protrusion 66 is engaged, and the outer peripheral concave portion 60 of the bearing 55 and the housing 62 are formed.
Since the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 55 does not change in the portion where the inner peripheral concave portion 67 is engaged, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 55 does not contact the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2 and the space S
Occurs. A bearing projection 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 55 near the bearing opening 6, and a housing projection 18 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 62 near the housing opening 13. A leak prevention portion 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 55 at a portion where the housing projection portion 18 of the housing 62 and the housing 62 are engaged.

[0022]

As described above, according to the ball joint of the present invention, the ball stud having the spherical ball head and the handle protruding from the ball head, and the ball head of the ball stud is swung and rotated. In a ball joint including a bearing freely enclosing and having a bearing opening on one side, and a housing having a housing opening for enclosing the bearing and projecting a handle portion of a ball stud on one side, an outer peripheral surface of the bearing has a plurality of outer peripheries. A plurality of ridges are formed, and a plurality of inner ridges are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The bearing and the housing engage with the outer ridge and the inner ridge intersecting each other. When the housing opening is swaged, the ball stud ball head and the ball stud ball head do not touch the ball stud ball head on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing. A space is formed between the inner peripheral surface and the space where the space is formed, so that the space becomes a lubricant pool, and the lubricant spreads as the ball stud swings and rotates, and the ball head of the ball stud is It can swing and rotate smoothly inside the bearing. Also, since a portion where the ball head of the ball stud does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the bearing is formed, the area where the ball head of the ball stud receives a load from the inner peripheral surface of the bearing is reduced. An increase in rotation torque can be suppressed. Furthermore, the portion of the inner peripheral surface of the bearing that does not contact the ball head of the ball stud can be backed up, so that when a large load is applied to the ball stud, the load resistance and durability against the load can be improved.

In the above-mentioned ball joint, the bearing has a circumferential bearing projection formed on the outer peripheral surface near the bearing opening, and the bearing projection contacts the inner peripheral surface of the housing over the entire circumference. A leakage prevention part is formed on the inner peripheral surface near the part, so that there is strong contact between the inner peripheral surface of the bearing and the ball head of the ball stud, and the lubricant in the bearing flows out. Therefore, the ball joint can be smoothly swung and rotated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional front view showing a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a bearing used in a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view showing a housing used for a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional front view showing a first stage of assembling the ball joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional front view showing a second stage of assembling the ball joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a pre-assembled body in the course of assembling the ball joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a bearing used in a ball joint according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a bearing used in a ball joint according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional front view showing a conventional ball joint.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Ball stud 3 Handle 4 Ball head 5 Bearing 6 Bearing opening 9 Outer ridge 10 Housing 16 Inner ridge 59 Outer ridge 66 Inner ridge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ball stud (2) comprising a spherical ball head (4) and a handle (3) projecting from the ball head (4).
A bearing (5) having a ball head (4) of the ball stud (2) swingably and rotatably and having a bearing opening (6) on one side; and a bearing (5) enclosing the bearing (5). And a housing (12) having a housing opening (13) for projecting a handle (3) of the ball stud (2), an outer peripheral surface of the bearing (5) is provided with a plurality of outer peripheral ridges ( 9), a plurality of inner peripheral ridges (16) are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing (12), and the bearing (5) and the housing (12) are connected to the outer peripheral ridge (9). And inner ridge (1
(6) The ball joint is engaged in a state of crossing. 2. The bearing (5) has a plurality of outer peripheral ridges (9) formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof extending in an axial direction, and the housing (12) has a plurality of circumferential inner peripheral ridges (9) on an inner peripheral surface. 16)
The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint is formed. 3. The bearing (5) has a plurality of outer ridges (59) circumferentially formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the housing (12) has a plurality of inner ridges extending in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface. 6
The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein 6) is formed. 4. The bearing (5) has a circumferential bearing projection (11) formed on an outer peripheral surface near a bearing opening (6), and the bearing projection (11) is formed on an inner periphery of the housing (12). 4. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint is in contact with the entire surface.