JP2012017751A - Ball joint and assembling method of ball joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce machining cost by dispensing with caulking when fixing a bearing in the inside of the housing of a ball joint.SOLUTION: In the ball joint J, the head part 12a of the ball stud 12 is oscillatably and rotatably supported by the bearing 13 housed in the inside of the housing 11; and the handle part 12b of the ball stud 12 extends out to the outside from the opening part 11c of the housing 11. The circlip 15 is fitted in the annular groove 11d formed in the inner periphery of the housing 11, the circlip 15 is brought into contact with the bearing 13 in the opening part 11c side, thereby: preventing the bearing 13 from falling from the housing 11 without caulking the housing 11; and reducing the machining cost. The circlip 15 can be easily fitted and does not carelessly fall down because the circlip 15 is the annular member elastically deformable in a peripheral direction and resiliently fit into the annular groove 11d.

Description

  The present invention provides a ball stud having a handle protruding from a spherical head, a bearing that supports the head of the ball stud in a swingable and rotatable manner, a housing for housing the bearing, and a handle of the ball stud. The present invention relates to a ball joint including a housing in which an opening extending to the outside is formed, and a method for assembling the ball joint.

  Such a ball joint is known, for example, from Patent Document 1 below.

  In this ball joint, after inserting a bearing in which the head of the ball stud is pre-assembled into the housing through the opening of the housing, a closing plate is attached to the opening of the housing and the periphery of the opening is caulked. By doing so, the closing plate is fixed to the housing to prevent the bearing from falling off.

JP-A-9-151935

  However, in the above-mentioned conventional one, since the closing plate that prevents the bearing mounted inside the housing from falling off is fixed by caulking the housing, the processing cost increases by the troublesome caulking processing. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate caulking when the bearing is fixed inside the housing of the ball joint, thereby reducing the machining cost.

  To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a ball stud from which a handle portion protrudes from a spherical head, and a head of the ball stud are supported in a swingable and rotatable manner. In a ball joint including a bearing and a housing in which the bearing is accommodated and an opening in which a handle portion of the ball stud extends to the outside is mounted in an annular groove formed in the inner periphery of the housing, A retaining member that prevents the bearing from falling off the opening by contacting the bearing on the opening side, and the retaining member is an annular member that is elastically deformable in a circumferential direction; A ball joint is proposed which is characterized by being resiliently fitted into a groove.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the retaining member is formed in a truncated cone shape having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and is elastically deformed in its own axial direction. A ball joint is proposed in which the large diameter portion is fitted into the annular groove so that the small diameter portion faces the bearing side.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball joint assembling method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the step of assembling the bearing to the head of the ball stud, A step of assembling into the housing from the opening, a step of inserting the retaining member into the housing from the opening and assembling the annular groove, and an outer periphery of the opening of the housing and an outer periphery of the handle A method for assembling a ball joint is proposed, which includes a step of assembling a boot.

  The circlip 15 of the embodiment corresponds to the retaining member of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the ball joint is supported by the bearing housed in the housing so that the head portion of the ball stud can swing and rotate, and the handle portion of the ball stud is supported from the opening of the housing. Extend outside. A retaining member made of an annular member that can be elastically deformed in the circumferential direction is elastically fitted into an annular groove formed in the inner periphery of the housing, and this retaining member is brought into contact with the bearing on the opening side. The bearing can be prevented from falling off the housing without caulking the housing, and the processing cost of the ball joint can be reduced. Further, the retaining member is an annular member that can be elastically deformed in the circumferential direction and elastically fits into the annular groove, so that the retaining member is easy to mount and does not fall off accidentally, and the retaining member The housing and the bearing can be disassembled and reassembled by attaching and detaching.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the retaining member is formed in a truncated cone shape having a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion and can be elastically deformed in its own axial direction so that the small-diameter portion faces the bearing side. Since the large-diameter portion is fitted into the annular groove, the bearing can be pressed against the inner surface of the housing by the elastic force of the retaining member and can be securely fixed so as not to rattle.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the bearing is assembled to the head of the ball stud, then the bearing is assembled from the opening into the housing, and then the retaining member is inserted into the housing from the opening to form the annular groove. Since the boot is assembled between the outer periphery of the opening of the housing and the outer periphery of the handle, the bearing assembly process, the retaining member assembly process and the boot assembly are performed without reversing the attitude of the housing. The attaching process can be performed from the same direction, and the assembling property is improved.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of a ball joint. (First embodiment) FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the assembly process of a ball joint. (First embodiment) The longitudinal cross-sectional view of a ball joint. (Second Embodiment) The longitudinal cross-sectional view of a ball joint. (Third embodiment) The top view of a circlip. (Fourth embodiment)

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball joint J includes a housing 11, a ball stud 12, a bearing 13, a boot 14, and a circlip 15, and is substantially rotationally symmetric about the axis L. Is done.

  The housing 11 is a bottomed cylindrical metal member, and includes a cylindrical side wall portion 11a and a disk-shaped bottom wall portion 11b that closes one end of the side wall portion 11a in the axis L direction. An annular groove 11d is formed on the inner surface of the opening 11c on the opposite side. The metal ball stud 12 includes a spherical head portion 12a and a handle portion 12b protruding from the head portion 12a, and a male screw 12c to which a nut 16 can be screwed is processed at the tip of the handle portion 12b.

  The bearing 13 is a synthetic resin member having a low frictional resistance, and has an outer diameter shape that fits inside the housing 11 without a gap, and a sliding surface 13a that holds the head 12a of the ball stud 12 is formed therein. In addition, a grease pocket 13c for holding grease is formed in a portion facing the bottom wall portion 11b of the housing 11 on the side opposite to the opening portion 13b of the sliding surface 13a.

  The boot 14 is a member made of elastically deformable rubber and formed in a cylindrical shape. Metal rings 17 and 18 are attached to the outer periphery of one end and the outer periphery of the other end, respectively.

  The circlip 15 is a ring-shaped elastic metal member having a slit 15a formed in a part in the circumferential direction, and the diameter can be reduced by elastic deformation in the circumferential direction by shrinking the slit 15a.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  In the ball joint J, the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11 is fixed to the first member 19 by press fitting or the like, and the ball stud 12 has a tapered portion of the handle portion 12b fitted into the tapered hole 20a of the second member 20. It is fixed using the male screw portion 12c and the nut 16. In this state, the spherical head 12 a of the ball stud 12 and the spherical sliding surface 13 a of the bearing 13 slide, and the ball stud 12 swings and rotates with respect to the housing 11. The members 19 and 20 are connected so as to be relatively movable. At this time, the grease held in the grease pocket 13c of the bearing 13 is supplied to the head portion 12a and the sliding surface 13a to be lubricated.

  Next, the assembly process of the ball joint J will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the bearing 13 and the ball stud 12 are coupled by previously fitting the head 12 a of the ball stud 12 to the sliding surface 13 a of the bearing 13. At this time, the head 12a of the ball stud 12 can be fitted to the sliding surface 13a while elastically deforming and expanding the opening 13b of the bearing 13.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3B, the housing 11 is fixed using a jig (not shown) so that the bottom wall portion 11b is on the lower side and the opening portion 11c is on the upper side. In this state, the bearing 13 with the ball stud 12 assembled in advance is inserted from the opening 11c side of the housing 11 to a position where it abuts against the bottom wall portion 11b. Next, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), in a state in which the slit 15a of the circlip 15 is pushed and shrunk to reduce the diameter, when positioned and released in the annular groove 11d on the inner surface of the opening 11c of the housing 11, The circlip 15 expands by its own elasticity and fits into the annular groove 11d, and is held in the annular groove 11d so that it does not fall off even when a load in the direction of the axis L is applied.

  With the circlip 15 fitted in the annular groove 11d, the circlip 15 abuts against the bearing 13 without any gap, so that the bearing 13 is sandwiched and fixed between the bottom wall portion 11b of the housing 11 and the circlip 15, The rattling is prevented and the housing 11 is prevented from falling off.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3 (D), the boot 14 is inserted from the handle 12b side of the ball stud 12, and one end where the metal ring 17 is attached is press-fitted into the outer periphery of the handle 12b of the ball stud 12. The other end with the metal ring 18 is press-fitted into the outer periphery of the opening 11c of the housing 11 and fixed. The boot 14 can prevent the dust from entering between the head 12 a of the ball stud 12 and the sliding surface 13 a of the bearing 13 while allowing the ball stud 12 to move relative to the housing 11. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the circlip 15 is used when the bearing 13 is held inside the housing 11, so that the opening 11 c of the housing 11 is caulked to remove the bearing 13. There is no need to prevent it, and the processing cost can be reduced. Moreover, the housing 11 and the bearing 13 can be disassembled and reassembled by attaching and detaching the circlip 15.

  Also, the assembly of the bearing 13 to the housing 11, the assembly of the circlip 15 to the housing 11, and the assembly of the boot 14 to the housing 11 and the ball stud 12 are maintained in the same posture with the opening 11c facing upward. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the posture of the housing 11 with a clamping jig for each process, and the assembling property is improved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is characterized by the shape of the circlip 15, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The circlip 15 of the first embodiment has a flat shape, but the circlip 15 of the second embodiment is formed in a truncated cone shape having a large diameter portion 15b and a small diameter portion 15c. The circlip 15 is fitted in the annular groove 11 d of the housing 11 with the large diameter portion 15 b in a posture in which the small diameter portion 15 c faces the bearing 13.

  When the circlip 15 is mounted in the annular groove 11d, the large-diameter portion 15b is elastically deformed into a flat shape, and the small-diameter portion 15c is in contact with the end face of the bearing 13 and elastically deformed into a flat shape. Since the circlip 15 elastically deformed in this way tries to return to its original shape by its own elasticity, the bearing 13 is pressed against the bottom wall portion 11b of the housing 11 by the small diameter portion 15c, and the backlash of the bearing 13 is reduced. Can be prevented.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and is characterized by the structure of the housing 11, and the other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  Although the annular groove 11d of the second embodiment is orthogonal to the axis L of the housing 11, the annular groove 11d of the third embodiment is inclined at the same angle as the truncated cone-shaped circlip 15. In addition, the housing 11 is divided into a side wall portion 11a and a bottom wall portion 11b, and is screwed 21. Therefore, when the circlip 15 is mounted in the annular groove 11d, the small diameter portion 15c abuts against the end surface of the bearing 13 and elastically deforms into a flat shape, so that the bearing 13 is pressed against the bottom wall portion 11b of the housing 11 and is loose. Sticking is prevented. Further, when the housing 11 is constituted by one member, it is difficult to assemble the truncated cone-shaped circlip 15 into the inclined annular groove 11d, but in the state where the bottom wall portion 11b is separated from the side wall portion 11a. Assembling can be easily performed by assembling the clip 15 and then screwing the bottom wall portion 11b to the side wall portion 11a. Other operational effects of the third embodiment are the same as the operational effects of the second embodiment.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if two notches 15d and 15d are formed on both sides of the slit 15a of the circlip 15, the claw of the jig is engaged to engage the notches 15d and 15d. Since the circlip 15 can be deformed so as to be compressed, the workability of assembling the circlip 15 to the annular groove 11d is improved. Even if a locking hole is provided in place of the notches 15d and 15d, the same effect can be achieved.

11 Housing 11c Opening 11d Annular Groove 12 Ball Stud 12a Head 12b Handle 13 Bearing 14 Boot 15 Circlip (Retaining Member)
15d Large diameter portion 15c Small diameter portion L Axis

Claims (3)

A ball stud (12) from which a handle (12b) protrudes from a spherical head (12a), and a bearing (13) that supports the head (12a) of the ball stud (12) in a swingable and rotatable manner. A ball joint including a housing (11) which houses the bearing (13) and has an opening (11c) in which a handle (12b) of the ball stud (12) extends to the outside.
The bearing (13) is attached to an annular groove (11d) formed in the inner periphery of the housing (11), and abuts the bearing (13) on the opening (11c) side, so that the bearing (13) becomes the opening (11c). And a retaining member (15) for preventing it from falling off)
The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member (15) is an annular member that is elastically deformable in a circumferential direction, and is elastically fitted into the annular groove (11d).   The retaining member (15) is formed in a truncated cone shape having a large diameter portion (15b) and a small diameter portion (15c), and is elastically deformable in the direction of its own axis (L), and the small diameter portion (15c) 2. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the large-diameter portion (15 b) is fitted into the annular groove (11 d) so as to face the bearing (13) side. A method for assembling the ball joint according to claim 1 or 2,
Assembling the bearing (13) to the head (12a) of the ball stud (12);
Assembling the bearing (13) into the housing (11) from the opening (11c);
Inserting the retaining member (15) into the housing (11) from the opening (11c) and assembling the annular groove (11d);
A method of assembling a ball joint, comprising: assembling a boot (14) between an outer periphery of the opening (11c) of the housing (11) and an outer periphery of the handle (12b).

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