JP2004036700A - Method of manufacturing socket of joint device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the productivity of the socket of a joint device. <P>SOLUTION: A connection portion between the socket and a ball stud is covered with a rubber dust cover. The stud fitting part of the dust cover at one end is fitted to the ball stud, and the socket fitting part thereof at the other end is fitted to a dust cover groove part 31 formed in a socket body forming the housing part of the socket. An intermediate compact 51 having a first step part 55 and a second step part 56 at the upper end part thereof is formed by forging. The second step part 56 is pressed from the upper side to form a flange part 58 and the dust cover groove part 31. The cover groove part of the socket must not be machined after the forging, a time for production steps can be shortened, the management of tools and machine oils is not required, and a productivity can be easily increased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a socket of a joint device used for, for example, a suspension device or a steering device of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a ball joint used for a suspension device or a steering device of an automobile has been known. The ball joint is configured such that a ball stud is rotatably attached to a socket. That is, the ball stud includes a substantially spherical ball portion, and a rod-shaped stud portion integrally extending from the ball portion and provided with a member mounting portion at a distal end portion. The socket includes a housing portion and a rod-shaped arm portion extending from the housing portion and having a socket-side mounting portion at a distal end portion. Further, the housing portion is provided with an inner chamber which is opened by forging with one end as an opening. Then, the ball portion of the ball stud fitted with the synthetic resin sheet is rotatably held in a state where the ball portion is prevented from coming off in the inner chamber of the housing portion of the socket, thereby forming a ball joint. Further, such a ball joint is provided with a dust cover integrally formed of, for example, elastically deformable rubber so that dust and the like do not enter the inner chamber from the opening. The dust cover includes a substantially cylindrical cover body, a small-diameter opening at one end of the cover main body is fitted to an outer peripheral portion of the stud portion, and a large-diameter opening at the other end of the cover main body. The portion is fitted into a cover groove formed by cutting in the vicinity of the opening of the socket so as to cover the opening of the housing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional configuration, the socket manufacturing process requires cutting the cover groove after forging, so it is difficult to shorten the manufacturing process time, and it is necessary to manage cutting tools and cutting oil. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the productivity.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a socket of a joint device that can easily improve productivity.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method for manufacturing a socket for a joint device according to claim 1, wherein the socket having an inner chamber provided with an opening and a cover attaching portion surrounding the opening, and a part inserted into the opening and moved to the socket. A method of manufacturing a socket for a joint device, comprising: a stud to be connected to the cover; and a cover that fits into the cover mounting portion and covers a connection portion between the socket and the stud. A cylindrical base provided with an opening, a first step surrounding the opening and having a smaller diameter than the base, and a first step surrounding the opening and further projecting from the first step and the first step; A forging step of forming an intermediate molded body having a second step having a smaller diameter dimension than the step, and press-forming the intermediate molded body, and deforming the second step to form a flange. Between the flange and the base. Is obtained; and a pressing step of forming the over mounting portion.
[0006]
In this configuration, the first step having a smaller diameter than the base and the second step having a smaller diameter than the first step are formed by forging. Therefore, the second step is press-formed. By doing so, the flange portion is easily formed, and the cover mounting portion is easily formed between the flange portion and the base portion. For this reason, the cover mounting portion for fitting the cover is formed by forging and press forming, so that there is no need to perform a cutting process, so that the time required for the manufacturing process can be shortened easily, and the management of cutting tools, cutting oil, etc. Becomes unnecessary, and productivity is easily improved.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a socket of a joint device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0008]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a ball joint as a joint device. The ball joint 10 is used, for example, for a steering mechanism, a suspension mechanism, and the like of an automobile, which is a vehicle. And a ball stud 12 as a stud, a ball seat 14 as a seat, a dust cover 15 as a cover, a clip 17 and the like.
[0009]
The ball stud 12 is made of a metal such as steel, for example, and has a ball portion 21 having a substantially spherical ball head, and a rod-shaped stud portion 22 integrally extending from the ball portion 21 as a member mounting portion. It has. The stud portion 22 has a substantially cylindrical shaft portion 22a continuous with the ball portion 21 and a flange portion which is a stud-side cover mounting portion protruding outward from a longitudinal end of the shaft portion 22a. 22b and a fastening portion 22c which is a male screw portion projecting from the front end side of the flange portion 22b and having a thread groove formed in the outer peripheral portion. Hereinafter, the ball portion 21 will be described as a lower side, and the stud portion 22 will be described as an upper side.
[0010]
The socket 11 is formed by combining a plurality of members or integrally formed of metal, and integrally includes a housing portion 24 and a rod-shaped rod portion (arm portion) (not shown) extending from the housing portion 24. Have. The housing portion 24 includes a socket body 25 having a substantially cylindrical shape. An upper side, which is one end of the socket body 25, is opened as an opening 26, and a lower opening 27, which is the other end, is a circle forming a bottom. It is closed by a plate-shaped plug 28 to form a cylinder with a bottom, and an inner chamber 29 is provided inside. An upper portion of the housing portion 24 of the socket body 25 of the socket 11, that is, a peripheral portion of the opening portion 26 is formed with a locking portion 30 having a smaller diameter than other portions of the inner chamber 29, and an outer periphery of this portion. A dust cover groove 31 as a cover mounting portion is formed in a circular shape surrounding the opening 26. At the lower end of the housing portion 24, a caulking step portion 32 for fitting and further caulking the plug 28 is formed.
[0011]
Although not shown, the rod portion of the socket 11 projects from the lower opening 27 side of the housing portion 24 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the opening direction of the openings 26, 27, and has a tip portion. Is formed with a mounting portion which is a screw hole. Then, a connection arm of a tie rod (not shown) is attached to the attachment portion of the rod portion as another member, for example.
[0012]
Further, the dust cover 15 is also called a dust seal or a boot, and covers the opening 26, that is, covers the connection portion between the socket 11 and the ball stud 12, so that dust and liquid may enter the inner chamber 29 of the housing 24. And is formed integrally with an elastically deformable material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. The dust cover 15 has a substantially cylindrical shape in which an intermediate portion swells outward in a state where no force is applied from the outside, and a stud fitting portion 42 is provided at one end, which is the upper end of the cover main body 41. The small diameter side opening 43 which is formed and is a circular hole is formed. A socket fitting portion 45 is formed at the other end, which is the lower end of the cover main body 41, and the large-diameter opening 46, which is a circular hole having a larger diameter than the small-diameter opening 43, is formed at the small-diameter opening 43. And are formed coaxially. Further, the socket fitting portion 45 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens to the outer peripheral side, that is, the annular concave portion 45a is formed along the outer peripheral portion.
[0013]
On the other hand, the clip 17 is formed of, for example, an elastically deformable metal wire or the like, and is formed in an annular shape obtained by winding the wire, or a substantially C-shape in which a part of the annular shape is cut out. The dust cover 15 can be attached to the recessed portion 45 a on the outer periphery of the socket fitting portion 45 of the dust cover 15 in a state of being expanded against the force.
[0014]
The ball seat 14 is also called a bearing seat, is made of a synthetic resin and has a cup shape. The ball seat 14 is slidably fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the ball portion 21 and is fitted and accommodated in the inner chamber 29. ing.
[0015]
The ball joint 10 configured as described above is assembled to a vehicle body of an automobile, that is, a connecting arm of a tie rod is attached to an attaching portion of a rod portion of a socket 11, and another stud portion 22 of a ball stud 12 is attached to a ball stud 12. A member to be mounted, which is a member, is attached, and these members are rotatably connected by a ball joint 10.
[0016]
Next, a manufacturing process of the ball joint 10 will be described.
[0017]
First, a metal material (not shown) is placed in a molding apparatus, and an intermediate molded body 51 having substantially the same shape as the socket body 25 of the socket 11 is formed by forging, as shown in FIG. The intermediate molded body 51 is provided with a substantially cylindrical base 53 having upper and lower openings 26 and 27 and the inner side as the inner chamber 29. One end of the base 53, that is, inside the vicinity of the upper opening 26 is provided inside. , A locking portion 30 is formed. A first step 55 surrounding the opening 26 and having an outer diameter smaller than that of the base 53 protrudes from one end of the base 53, that is, the upper end. A second step 56 having a smaller outer diameter than the first step 55 projects from the upper end and surrounds the opening 26. A caulking step portion 32 is formed on the other end side of the base portion 53, that is, on the inner peripheral portion of the lower end portion, surrounding the opening portion 27.
[0018]
Next, the second step portion 56 is press-formed from one end side, that is, the upper side of the forged intermediate molded body 51. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, the second step 56 is deformed to the outer peripheral side, and an annular flange 58 protruding from the first step 55 to the outer peripheral side is formed. In this state, the annular dust cover groove 31 is formed between the upper end of the base 53 and the flange 58. Here, forging means plastic forming, and includes hot forging, cold forging, press forming, and the like.
[0019]
Next, the ball seat 14 is fitted to the ball portion 21 of the ball stud 12 and the ball portion 21 fitted with the ball sheet 14 is inserted into the inner chamber 29 from below while the stud portion 22 is inserted into the opening 26. . Next, the plug 28 is fitted into the caulking step 32, and the caulking step 28 is caulked to fix the plug 28 to the intermediate molded body 51. In this state, the socket main body 25 and the socket 11 are configured, and the ball stud 12 is rotatably connected to the socket 11.
[0020]
Further, the dust cover 15 fits the large-diameter opening 46 of the socket fitting portion 45 into the dust cover groove 31 and the small-diameter opening 43 of the stud fitting portion 42 to the shaft portion 22a, By attaching the clip 17 to the concave portion 45a of the socket fitting portion 45, the manufacturing process of the ball joint 10 is completed as shown in FIG.
[0021]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ball joint 10 used for the suspension system, the steering system, and the like of the automobile is formed by forging the tip of the base 53 of the intermediate molded body 51 of the socket 11 from the base 53. A first step 55 having a smaller diameter is formed, and a second step 56 having a smaller diameter than the first step 55 is formed at the tip of the first step 55. The flange 58 can be easily formed by press-molding the second step 56 from the front end side, and the dust cover groove 31 can be easily formed between the flange 58 and the base 53. Therefore, for the socket 11, there is no need to cut the groove for the cover after forging, so that it is easy to shorten the time of the manufacturing process, and it is not necessary to manage the cutting tools and cutting oil, so that productivity is easily reduced. Can be improved.
[0022]
In addition, the shape of the dust cover 15 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may take various forms. For example, the socket fitting portion 45 may have a configuration in which the clip 17 is fitted in a substantially U-shape, or may have a configuration in which the clip 17 is not used. Alternatively, a metal annular member may be embedded inside the rubber cover body. Further, the inside of the dust cover 15 can be filled with grease to maintain the shape of the dust cover 15.
[0023]
Press molding can also be performed continuously using the same device as forging. With this configuration, productivity can be easily improved by shortening the manufacturing process and simplifying the manufacturing apparatus.
[0024]
Further, the joint device is not limited to the ball joint 10 including the ball stud 12 in which the substantially spherical ball portion 21 is provided at one end of the stud portion 22. The present invention can also be applied to a joint device having a pin stud having a shape in which two ball portions are connected by a shaft portion.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the method of manufacturing a socket for a joint device according to claim 1, a first step having a smaller diameter than the base and a second step having a smaller diameter than the first step are formed by forging. Therefore, the flange can be easily formed by press-molding the second step, and the cover attaching portion can be easily formed between the flange and the base. For this reason, the cover mounting portion for fitting the cover is formed by forging and press forming, so that there is no need to perform a cutting process, so that the time required for the manufacturing process can be shortened easily, and the management of cutting tools, cutting oil, etc. Becomes unnecessary, and productivity is easily improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a socket of a joint device of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a state before press-forming an intermediate molded body of a socket. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a state after press-forming the intermediate molded body of the socket. .
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Ball joint 11 as a joint device Socket 12 Ball stud as a stud 15 Dust cover 26 as a cover Opening 29 Inner chamber 31 Dust cover groove 51 as a cover attaching part Intermediate molded body 53 Base 55 First step 56 First Step part 58 of the 2

Claims (1)

A socket having an inner chamber provided with an opening and a cover attaching portion surrounding the opening, a stud partially inserted into the opening and movably connected to the socket, and fitted to the cover attaching portion; A method for manufacturing a socket of a joint device, comprising: a cover that covers a connection portion between the socket and the stud.
The material is forged and a cylindrical base provided with the opening, a first step surrounding the opening and having a smaller diameter than the base, and surrounding the opening further from the first step. A forging step of forming an intermediate formed body having a second step portion that is protruded and has a smaller diameter dimension than the first step portion;
Press forming the intermediate molded body, deforming the second step to form a flange, and forming the cover mounting portion between the flange and the base. Manufacturing method of a socket of a joint device.

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