JP2534356Y2 - Ball joint - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball joint. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball joint for a stabilizer for connecting a stabilizer rotatably mounted on a vehicle body side of an automobile to a suspension arm side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stabilizer for an automobile is mounted between a suspension arm and a vehicle body so as to generate a moment against the roll of the vehicle body and to prevent a spring action against vertical vibration of the vehicle body. The purpose of the present invention is to improve running stability by reducing the roll of the vehicle body with a torsion bar spring. In general, the center of the bar bent into a U-shape is used as a torsion bar spring, and both ends are used as its arms. Both ends are attached to a suspension arm via a ball joint, and the center is a vehicle body. To be rotatably mounted via a rubber cushion or a rubber bush.

[0003] As a ball joint used when attaching both arm portions of the stabilizer to the suspension arm,
For example, there is a configuration shown in FIG.

In this ball joint, two metal casings 3, 3 accommodating a synthetic resin ball sheet 2 which holds a ball head 1a of a ball stud 1 rotatably are connected to the two casings 3, 3. And a rod 4. Then, one ball stud 1 of the ball joint is connected to both end arms of the stabilizer, and the other ball stud 1 is connected to the suspension arm, respectively, so that the input from the wheel side is transmitted to the stabilizer.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional ball joint, since the casing 3 is fixed to both ends of the rod 4, there is a disadvantage that the weight of the ball joint itself increases. Also, when the layout is set with priority given to the efficiency of the stabilizer, there is a problem that, depending on the type of vehicle, there is a drawback that the ball joint having the above configuration cannot be used due to the mounting position. .

The inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and as a result, has adopted a configuration in which a ring is integrally fixed to both ends of a rod and a synthetic resin ball seat is press-fitted and fixed to the ring. It has been found that the weight of the ball joint itself can be reduced, and that there are few defects caused by the layout.

The present inventor has made further studies based on such findings, and as a result, has completed the present invention.

[0008]

In other words, the present invention relates to a synthetic resin ball sheet having an opening at the top and a concave spherical portion connected to the opening on the inner surface, and has an outer peripheral surface corresponding to the opening. An annular concave portion is formed, and a cylindrical surface portion and an annular flange portion continuous with the cylindrical surface portion are formed on an outer peripheral surface continuous with the annular concave portion, and a ball head of a ball stud is formed on a concave spherical portion of the ball seat. The ball seat is fitted and seated with the shaft portion of the ball seat protruding from the opening, and the ball seat fitted with the ball head is held in a ring integrally fixed to both ends of a connecting rod. The other end of the dust boot whose one end is fixed to the shaft portion of the ball stud is fitted into the annular concave portion of the ball seat, and the other end of the dust boot is fixed to the annular concave portion of the ball seat. By fastening clips arranged over the press-fitted portion of the cylindrical surface portion and the ring inner surface is intended to provide a ball joint formed by clamping the annular recess.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a ring is integrally fixed to both ends of a connecting rod, and a synthetic resin ball sheet is press-fitted and fixed in the ring. The seat slips out of the ring against the load in the ball stud direction by a dust boot fixing clip arranged over the cylindrical surface and the press-fit fixing part on the inner surface of the ring, against the load in the opposite direction. Is prevented by the contact between the annular flange portion of the sheet and the end face of the ring.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball joint according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the ball joint of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a steel connecting rod. The connecting rod 10 has steel rings 11 and 1 at its ends, respectively.
Numerals 1 are integrally fixed by welding with the openings directed in the same direction.

Reference numerals 20 and 20 denote synthetic resin ball sheets. The ball sheet 20 has an opening 21 at the top and a concave spherical portion 22 connected to the opening 21 on the inner surface. The ball seat 20 has an annular concave portion 22 formed on an outer peripheral surface corresponding to the opening 21, and has a cylindrical surface portion 23 and a cylindrical surface portion 23 on an outer peripheral surface continuous with the annular concave portion 22.
An annular flange portion 24 is formed continuously with the flange. The synthetic resin forming the ball seat 20 is a synthetic resin having excellent self-lubricating properties, such as a polyacetal resin, a polyamide resin, or an oil-containing synthetic resin containing a lubricating oil in these resins. .

Reference numerals 30 and 30 denote ball studs. The ball stud 30 has a ball head 31 and a shaft 32 formed integrally with the head 31. The outer diameter of the ball head 31 is formed larger than the diameter of the opening 21 of the ball seat 20, and the ball stud 30 connects the ball head 31 to the top opening 2 of the ball seat 20.
1 and seated on the inner concave spherical surface portion 22, and the shaft portion 32 is assembled to the ball seat 20 by protruding from the opening 21 of the ball seat 20.

The ball seat 20 in which the ball head 31 is fitted and held in the inner concave spherical portion 22 has an opening 21 facing in the same direction and an outer cylindrical surface portion in a ring 11 fixed to both ends of the connecting rod 10. At 23, it is press-fitted and fixed. By this press-fitting, the annular flange 24 of the ball seat 20 abuts against the end face of the ring 11, and the abutting portion serves as a stopper for preventing the ball seat 20 from coming off in the direction of the ball stud 30.

Numerals 40, 40 denote dust boots made of a rubber elastic material. One end of the dust boot 40 is fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 32 of the ball stud 30, and the other end is an annular ring of the ball seat 20. It is mounted in the recess 22.

Reference numerals 50, 50 designate fastening clips for fastening the dust boot 40 in the annular recess 22.
The fastening clip 50 is formed by winding a spring steel wire having a flat cross section in a coil shape, and a spring force is applied to the clip 50 radially inward. With this fastening clip 50, the annular concave portion 2 of the ball seat 20 is formed.
In tightening and fixing the dust boot 40 mounted on 2 in the concave portion 22, the tightening clip 50 is disposed so as to cover the cylindrical surface portion 23 of the ball seat 20 and the press-fit fixing portion on the inner surface of the ring 11. By adopting such an arrangement, it functions as a stopper for preventing the ball seat 20 from coming out in the direction opposite to the direction in which the ball stud 30 projects.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the ball joint of the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows the aspect of. In this embodiment, the ball seat 20 is provided in a ring 11 fixed to both ends of the connecting rod 10.
Are fixed by press-fitting with their openings 21 facing in opposite directions, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first configuration. The second aspect is suitably used particularly when the layout is set with priority given to the efficiency of the stabilizer, and when the ball joint according to the first aspect cannot cope with the layout.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a third embodiment of the ball joint according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, one ring 11 fixed to both ends of the connecting rod 10 is integrally fixed with the other ring 11 with the openings thereof directed in directions orthogonal to each other.
The ball seat 20 is press-fitted and fixed in 11 with its opening 21 directed in a direction orthogonal to each other. Similarly to the second aspect, the third aspect is suitably used when the layout is set with priority given to the efficiency of the stabilizer, and when the ball joint according to the first aspect cannot cope with the layout. .

In the embodiment, the connecting rod 1 made of metal is used.
In this embodiment, the metal rings 11 are integrally fixed to both end portions by welding. However, the connecting rod and the ring are made of fiber-reinforced synthetic resin reinforced with glass fiber or carbon fiber, respectively, and these are formed by integral molding. It is also possible to adopt an embodiment in which

[Effect of the Invention] The ball joint of the present invention has a structure in which a ring is integrally fixed to both ends of a connecting rod and a synthetic resin ball seat is press-fitted and fixed in the ring, so that the weight of the ball joint itself is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with the case where the layout is set with priority given to the efficiency of the stabilizer. The ball seat comes out of the ring against the load in the ball stud direction by the dust boot fixing fastening clip arranged over the cylindrical surface and the press-fit fixing part on the inner surface of the ring. This is prevented by the contact between the annular flange portion of the sheet and the ring end surface.

[0021]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the ball joint of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the ball joint of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the ball joint of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional ball joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connecting rod 11 Ring 20 Ball seat 21 Opening 22 Concave spherical surface part 23 Annular concave part 24 Cylindrical surface part 25 Annular flange part 30 Ball stud 40 Dust boot 50 Fastening clip

Claims (4)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A synthetic resin ball sheet 20 having an opening 21 at the top and a concave spherical portion 22 connected to the opening 21 on the inner surface has an annular recess 23 on the outer peripheral surface corresponding to the opening 21. A cylindrical surface portion 24 and an annular flange portion 25 continuous with the cylindrical surface portion 24 are formed on an outer peripheral surface continuous with the annular concave portion 23 and a ball stud 30 is formed on the concave spherical portion 22 of the ball seat 20. Ball head 31
The ball head 3 is fitted and seated with the shaft portion 32 of the ball seat 20 protruding from the opening portion 21.
The ball seat 20 fitted and held with the cylindrical surface portion 24 in the ring 11 integrally fixed to both ends of the connecting rod 10.
Press-fitting is fixed and the other end of the dust boot 40 and the other end of the dust boot 40 having one end fixed to the shaft portion 32 of the ball stud 30 in the annular recess 23 of the ball seat 20 is fitted in the placement over the press-fit fixing portion of the cylindrical surface portion 24 and the ring 11 the inner surface of the ball seat 20
To the annular recess 23 by the tightening clip 50
A ball joint characterized in that it is fixed . 2. A ring integrally fixed to both ends of a connecting rod is fixed with its opening directed in the same direction, and the ball seat has its cylindrical opening in the ring with the opening directed in the same direction. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint is press-fitted and fixed at the surface. 3. A ring integrally fixed to both ends of the connecting rod is fixed with its opening directed in the same direction, and the ball seat is pressed into its cylindrical surface with its openings directed in opposite directions. The ball joint according to claim 1, which is fixed. 4. A ring integrally fixed to both ends of the connecting rod is fixed with its opening directed in a direction perpendicular to each other, and said ball seat is oriented in a direction perpendicular to each other by a cylindrical member. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint is press-fitted and fixed at the surface.