JP5614438B2 - Thrust sliding bearing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thrust sliding bearing made of a synthetic resin, and more particularly to a thrust sliding bearing that is suitably incorporated as a thrust sliding bearing of a strut type suspension (McPherson type) in a four-wheeled vehicle.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, an upper case made of a synthetic resin having a vehicle body side seating surface and an annular lower surface for a vehicle body side is overlaid on the upper case so as to be rotatable around the axis of the upper case. And a synthetic resin lower case having an annular upper surface facing the annular lower surface of the upper case, and an annular thrust sliding bearing piece made of synthetic resin interposed between the annular lower surface and the annular upper surface. Sliding bearings have been proposed. The inner diameter of the end portion on the lower case side of the outer cylindrical hanging portion of the upper case of such a sliding bearing is gradually reduced in diameter as it gradually moves away from the annular base portion in the axial direction.

JP 2004-263773 A

  By the way, in such a sliding bearing, when muddy water or the like enters the annular gap between the upper case and the lower case, desired sliding in the thrust direction with respect to at least one thrust sliding bearing piece of the annular upper surface and the annular lower surface is inhibited. Since there is a concern, it is desired to prevent the intrusion of muddy water or the like into the annular gap as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thrust slide bearing capable of preventing intrusion of muddy water or the like into an annular gap between an upper case and a lower case.

  The thrust slide bearing according to the present invention has a synthetic resin upper case having a vehicle body side seating surface and an annular lower surface for the vehicle body, an annular upper surface facing the annular lower surface, and an annular lower surface on the suspension coil spring side. And a synthetic resin lower case superimposed on the upper case so as to be rotatable around the axis of the upper case, and an annular gap between the annular lower surface of the upper case and the annular upper surface of the lower case. And a thrust sliding bearing piece having an annular thrust sliding bearing surface that slidably contacts at least one of the annular lower surface and the annular upper surface, and the upper case has a vehicle body side on the upper surface. An annular base portion having a seating surface and an annular lower surface formed on the lower surface, and an outer cylindrical hanging portion hanging from the outer peripheral portion of the annular base portion toward the lower case side. And has, inside diameter at the end of the lower case side of the outer cylindrical suspended portion, which is gradually diverging according gradually away from the annular base in the axial direction.

  According to the thrust slide bearing of the present invention, in particular, the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical hanging part at the end of the lower case side is gradually enlarged as it gradually departs from the annular base in the axial direction. Intrusion of muddy water between the upper case and the lower case from the end of the lower case side of the drooping portion can be suitably prevented, so that muddy water or the like enters the annular gap between the upper case and the lower case. Can prevent.

  In a preferred example of the thrust slide bearing of the present invention, the portion of the inner peripheral surface at the end of the outer cylindrical hanging portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the lower case is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the lower case as the distance from the annular base portion of the upper case increases. Gradually separated.

  In a preferred example of the thrust slide bearing of the present invention, an annular engagement hook portion having a concave shape that engages with the lower case is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical hanging portion, The hook portion is adjacent to the end portion on the lower case side of the outer cylindrical hanging portion.

  The annular lower surface at the end of the outer cylindrical hanging part is located below the annular lower surface of the lower case. According to such a preferable example, intrusion of muddy water or the like into the annular gap between the upper case and the lower case can be prevented more reliably.

  The above-described thrust sliding bearing of the present invention is preferably used as a thrust sliding bearing for a strut suspension in a four-wheeled vehicle.

  In the thrust sliding bearing of the present invention, the upper case and the thrust sliding bearing piece may be made of a synthetic resin. In such a case, the synthetic resin forming the upper case and the lower case is a polyacetal resin, a polyamide resin, or a polyester resin. The synthetic resin forming the thrust sliding bearing piece may be a thermoplastic synthetic resin such as a polyacetal resin, a polyamide resin, a polyolefin resin, or a polyester resin.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the thrust sliding bearing which can prevent permeation of muddy water etc. with respect to the annular clearance of an upper case and a lower case can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front explanatory view of an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the example shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of the example shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of the example shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on an example of a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these examples.

  1 to 4, a thrust sliding bearing 1 of this example for use in a strut suspension in a four-wheeled vehicle is made of a synthetic resin having a vehicle body side seating surface 10 for an attachment member on the vehicle body side and an annular lower surface 2. An annular upper case 3, an annular upper surface 4 facing the annular lower surface 2, and an annular lower surface 25 on the suspension coil spring side are integrally formed, and are rotatable in the R direction around the axis O of the upper case 3. The annular lower case 5 made of a synthetic resin and the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4 are arranged on the upper case 3 so as to overlap with each other. At least one of these, in this example, an annular slide made of a synthetic resin, for example, a polyacetal resin, having an annular thrust slide bearing surface 51 slidably contacting the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4. And comprising a strike sliding bearing piece 6.

  The upper case 3 has an annular base portion 11 in which a vehicle body side seating surface 10 is formed on the upper surface and an annular lower surface 2 is formed on the lower surface, and is suspended from the outer peripheral portion of the annular base portion 11 toward the lower case 5 side. The outer cylindrical hanging part 12 and the inner cylindrical hanging part 13 hanging from the inner peripheral part of the annular base part 11 toward the lower case 5 are provided. The outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 and the inner cylindrical hanging portion 13 are formed integrally with the annular base portion 11. The annular lower surface 2 is composed of the lower surface of the annular base 11 between the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 and the inner cylindrical hanging portion 13.

  An annular projection 15 that protrudes toward the lower case 5 is formed at a portion of the lower surface of the annular base 11 on the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 side. On the lower surface of the inner cylindrical drooping portion 13, an annular projection 16 projecting toward the lower case 5 side is formed. An annular engagement hook portion 17 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12. The upper surface 18 of the annular base portion 11 and the inner peripheral surface 19 of the inner cylindrical hanging portion 13 are in contact with the mounting member on the vehicle body side.

  The lower case 5 includes an annular base portion 21 having an annular upper surface 4 formed on the upper surface, and a cylindrical portion 22 that is suspended from the annular base portion 21 and is integrally formed on the lower inner periphery of the annular base portion 21. It has. The annular lower surface 24 of the annular base portion 21 of the annular lower surface 25 of the lower case 5 abuts against the annular washer 73 as shown in FIG. A coil spring is received.

  An annular engaged hook portion 27 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface 26 of the annular base portion 21. The engaging hook portion 17 has a concave shape with respect to the outer periphery of the annular base portion 21, and the engaged hook portion 27 has a convex shape complementary to the concave shape. When the upper case 3 is overlaid on the lower case 5, the engagement hook portion 17 is flexibly deformed while being in sliding contact with the engaged hook portion 27 and is engaged with the engaged hook portion 27.

  On the upper surface of the annular base 21, an annular recess 28 is formed in which the thrust slide bearing piece 6 is slidably arranged in the R direction. The annular recess 28 is concave with respect to the upper case 3, and is formed with a slightly wider width than the thrust slide bearing piece 6. An annular groove 29 that is concave with respect to the upper case 3 is formed in a portion on the outer peripheral side of the annular recess 28 on the upper surface of the annular base 21. The annular protrusion 15 is disposed in the annular concave groove 29.

  In the lower part of the cylindrical part 22, an annular groove 30 is formed integrally with the upper case 3 and is located below the inner cylindrical hanging part 13. The annular protrusion 16 is disposed in the annular concave groove 30.

  The annular protrusion 15 and the annular groove 29 have a labyrinth structure on the outer peripheral side of the thrust slide bearing piece 6, and the annular protrusion 16 and the annular groove 30 have a labyrinth structure on the inner peripheral side of the thrust slide bearing piece 6. I am doing. These labyrinth structures prevent foreign matters such as dust and muddy water from entering the annular gap 9.

  The inner peripheral surface 19 of the inner cylindrical hanging portion 13 defines a through hole 35 centered on the axis O. The vehicle body side seating surface 10, the thrust sliding bearing surface 51, and the annular lower surface 25 are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the thrust sliding bearing 1. The portion of the annular lower surface 25 with which the suspension coil spring abuts directly or indirectly, in this example, the lower surface 24 of the annular base 21 of the annular lower surface 25 with which the suspension coil spring abuts via the spring receiving member 70, washer 73, etc. The formed part, the vehicle body side seating surface 10 and the thrust sliding bearing surface 51 are arranged in series with each other in the axial direction.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 at the annular end portion (lower end) 61 is gradually increased as it is gradually separated from the annular base portion 11 in the axial direction. The engagement hook portion 17 located closer to the annular base portion 11 than the end portion 61 is adjacent to the end portion 61. The inner peripheral surface 34 at the end portion 61 is inclined so as to gradually approach the outer peripheral side of the end portion 61 as it is gradually separated from the annular base portion 11. The portion of the inner peripheral surface 34 at the end 61 of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 facing the outer peripheral surface 26 of the annular base 21 gradually separates from the outer peripheral surface 26 as it gradually separates from the annular base 11 in the axial direction. Yes. An end portion 61 of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 extends downward from the engagement hook portion 17 rather than the annular base portion 21. The lower surface of the outer cylindrical drooping portion 12 is located below the lower surface 24 of the annular base 21. The outer peripheral surface 26 and the inner peripheral surface 34 define an annular opening end 62. As described above, the end 61 having the inclined inner peripheral surface 34 gradually narrows the distance between the outer peripheral surface 26 and the inner peripheral surface 34 upward from the opening end 62. Since the thrust slide bearing 1 includes the end portion 61 of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12, muddy water can be suitably prevented from entering from the end portion 61 between the upper case 3 and the lower case 5. can do.

  The thrust sliding bearing piece 6 includes an annular plate 52 having a thrust sliding bearing surface 51 formed on the upper surface and the lower surface, a lubricating oil groove 53 formed on the upper surface of the annular plate 52, and a lower surface of the annular plate 52. And a lubricating oil groove 54 formed on the surface. The lubricating oil groove 53 filled with a lubricating oil such as grease extends radially from the annular groove 53a formed in the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface of the annular plate 52 toward the outer peripheral side. And a plurality of radial grooves 53 b formed on the upper surface of the annular plate body 52. The lubricating oil groove 54 filled with a lubricating oil such as grease has an annular groove 54a formed in the inner peripheral portion of the lower surface of the annular plate 52, and extends radially from the annular groove 54a toward the outer peripheral side. And a plurality of radial grooves 54b formed on the lower surface of the annular plate 52. The thrust slide bearing piece 6 is slidably fitted in the annular recess 28 and is disposed in the annular gap 9 between the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4. The thrust lower bearing surface 51 has an annular lower surface 2 and an annular upper surface 4, respectively. Each slidably contacts.

  According to the thrust slide bearing 1 of the present example, the upper case 3 made of synthetic resin having the vehicle body side seating surface 10 and the annular lower surface 2, the annular upper surface 4 facing the annular lower surface 2, and the suspension coil spring side A lower case 5 made of a synthetic resin and superimposed on the upper case 3 so as to be rotatable in the R direction around the axis O of the upper case 3; A thrust slide bearing piece that is disposed in an annular gap 9 between the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4 and has an annular thrust slide bearing surface 51 that slidably contacts at least one of the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4. The upper case 3 includes an annular base portion 11 having a vehicle body side seating surface 10 formed on the upper surface and an annular lower surface 2 formed on the lower surface, and an outer peripheral portion of the annular base portion 11. Lower part And an outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 that hangs down toward the side 5, and the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 at the end 61 on the lower case 5 side is gradually separated from the annular base portion 11 in the axial direction. Since the diameter is gradually increased as it goes, it is possible to suitably prevent the intrusion of muddy water from the end 61 of the outer cylindrical hanging part 12 between the upper case 3 and the lower case 5, Intrusion of muddy water or the like into the annular gap 9 between the upper case 3 and the lower case 5 can be prevented. Further, according to the thrust slide bearing 1, the annular lower surface of the end portion 61 of the outer cylindrical hanging portion 12 is positioned below the annular lower surface 25 (lower surface 24 in this example) of the lower case 5. Intrusion of muddy water or the like into the annular gap 9 between the upper case 3 and the lower case 5 can be prevented more reliably.

  According to the thrust slide bearing 1, since the vehicle body side seating surface 10, the thrust slide bearing surface 51 and the annular lower surface 25 are arranged side by side in the axial direction, the annular lower surface 25 is integrated when supporting the vehicle body load. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the lower case 5 and the like formed on the plate are likely to be bent.

  According to the thrust sliding bearing 1, the portion of the annular lower surface 25 with which the suspension coil spring abuts directly or indirectly, the vehicle body side seating surface 10 and the thrust sliding bearing surface 51 are arranged in series in the axial direction. In addition, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of bending.

  According to the thrust slide bearing 1, the lower case 5 includes an annular base portion 21 on which the annular upper surface 4 is formed, and a cylindrical portion 22 that is integrally formed on the lower portion of the annular base portion 21. The annular lower surface 25 is formed by the outer peripheral surface 23 of the cylindrical portion 22 and the lower surface 24 of the annular base 21, and the annular base 21 of the annular lower surface 25 with which the suspension coil spring abuts directly or indirectly. Since the site | part formed by the lower surface 24, the vehicle body side seating surface 10, and the thrust sliding bearing surface 51 are mutually arrange | positioned in series in the axial direction, the possibility that it will become easy to produce bending can be reduced more.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the thrust sliding bearing 1 may omit the inner cylindrical hanging portion 13, and in such a case, the inner circumferential side portion of the annular base portion 11 and the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 22 A labyrinth structure 71 is formed. In FIG. 5, the annular lower surface 25 is in direct contact with the spring receiving member 70.

  The annular upper surface 4 of the lower case 5 may be formed with a plurality of recesses or holes. In such a case, the expansion based on the heat change during the injection molding of the synthetic resin lower case 5 is performed. Further, deformation such as shrinkage can be locally generated in the plurality of recesses or holes, and thus the manufacturing accuracy of the lower case 5 in which the annular lower surface 25 is integrally formed is reduced. A decrease in manufacturing accuracy of the annular upper surface 4 can be prevented. The plurality of recesses or holes may be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, or may have a triangular shape in plan view.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thrust slide bearing 2 Annular lower surface 3 Upper case 4 Annular upper surface 5 Lower case 6 Thrust sliding bearing piece 10 Car body side seat surface 11 Annular base 12 Outer cylindrical drooping portion 25 Annular lower surface 51 Thrust sliding bearing surface 61 End

Claims (3)

An upper case made of synthetic resin having a vehicle body side seating surface and an annular lower surface for the vehicle body side, an annular upper surface facing the annular lower surface, and an annular lower surface on the suspension coil spring side are integrally formed and the shaft of the upper case A synthetic resin lower case that is superposed on the upper case so as to be rotatable around the center, and an annular gap between the annular lower surface of the upper case and the annular upper surface of the lower case, and the annular lower surface and annular A thrust sliding bearing piece having an annular thrust sliding bearing surface that slidably contacts at least one of the upper surfaces, and the upper case has a vehicle body side seating surface on the upper surface and a lower surface. An annular base having an annular lower surface, and an outer cylindrical hanging part that hangs from the outer periphery of the annular base toward the lower case side. The annular upper surface has an annular base portion on which the annular lower surface of the annular lower surface on the suspension coil spring side is formed on the lower surface, and the inner diameter at the end of the outer cylindrical hanging portion on the lower case side Is gradually increased in diameter in the axial direction as it is gradually separated from the annular base, and the annular lower surface at the end of the outer cylindrical hanging portion is positioned below the annular lower surface of the annular base of the lower case. A thrust sliding bearing in which an inner peripheral surface portion at an end portion of the outer cylindrical hanging portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the lower case is gradually separated from the outer peripheral surface of the lower case as it is separated from the annular base portion of the upper case . An annular engaging hook portion having a concave shape that engages with the lower case is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical hanging portion, and the engaging hook portion is a lower portion of the outer cylindrical hanging portion. The thrust sliding bearing according to claim 1, which is adjacent to an end on the case side. The thrust slide bearing according to claim 1 or 2, for use in a thrust slide bearing of a strut suspension in a four-wheeled vehicle.

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