JP6159669B2 - Tightening band - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tightening band for tightening an object to be tightened by tilting a lever along a band member formed in an annular shape to reduce the diameter of the band member.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the constant velocity joint includes a non-circular outer race 51 whose cross-sectional shape is different from the tightening shape (circular) of the tightening band, for example, convex portions 51 a and concave portions 51 b alternately on the outer periphery of the outer race 51. There is a tripod type constant velocity joint formed. In the constant velocity joint, a driving side shaft 54 is connected to the outer race 51, and rollers (free rings) 56 provided at three positions around the driven side shaft 55 (see FIGS. 10A and 10D). Are respectively fitted and connected to the roller grooves formed in the outer race 51. The connecting portion between the outer race 51 and the driven side shaft 55 is covered with a boot 52 formed in a bellows shape to prevent leakage of grease filled between the roller 56 and the roller groove or to prevent entry of foreign matter, The fastening band 53 is fitted on the outer periphery of the boot and is reduced in diameter so that the boot is integrated. At this time, for example, by fitting a grommet (not shown) whose inner peripheral side is formed in close contact with the convex portion 51a and the concave portion 51b and whose outer peripheral side is formed into a circle into the outer periphery of the outer race 51, There is a product that performs tightening without a gap between the outer race 51.

  When an elastic member such as a grommet is used between the boot 52 and the outer race 51, the amount of elastic deformation of the grommet is less than the amount of deformation of the boot 52 even when sealing the relatively hard resin boot 52 with less tightening reaction force. The tightening reaction force can be ensured to follow. However, when the lever 53a of the tightening band 53 is tilted, a plate (not shown) arranged on the fulcrum side of the lever 53a is likely to be deformed, and the sealing performance may be lowered. In order to solve this problem, the resin boot is sealed while maintaining a good sealing property against the outer race of the non-circular cross section by making the thickness of the plate not to be deformed by the tilt of the lever while suppressing the deterioration of the sealing property. A tightening band that can be used has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4926999

  In recent years, in order to further reduce the number of parts and reduce the manufacturing cost, a part corresponding to a grommet is integrally formed with the resin material of the boot 52 in the opening of the resin boot 52 and directly on the outer periphery of the outer race 51 of the constant velocity joint. It is inserted and tightened by the tightening band 53.

  Since the constant velocity joint on the engine side has a complicated structure, chloroprene rubber (CR rubber) is mainly used as the material of the boot 52A used as shown in FIGS. Have been used. In the case of CR rubber, when the diameter of the tightening band 53 is reduced, the distribution of the tightening reaction force from the boot 52A becomes relatively uniform as shown by the arrow in FIG. did it. However, since the CR rubber boot 52A is easily affected by ozone in the atmosphere and its durability is likely to be lowered, a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) as shown in FIGS. 14 (D) to (F). Is being switched to a relatively hard resin boot 52B that is highly recyclable and highly recyclable.

In this case, since the outer race 51 of the tripod type constant velocity joint, which is the object to be tightened, has an irregular shape instead of a circle, and the resin boot 52B can hardly be expected to have a tightening reaction force, the tightening band 53 is When the diameter of the boot 52B is reduced by fitting to the outer periphery of the boot 52B, the amount of deformation of the tightening band 53 cannot follow the amount of deformation of the boot 52. Therefore, as shown by the arrow in FIG. It becomes non-uniform, and there is a risk that grease may leak due to insufficient sealing performance near the boundary between the convex portion 51a and the concave portion 51b of the outer race 51.
Further, the plate (see FIG. 5B) attached to the inner peripheral side of the tightening band 53 can prevent the object to be tightened from escaping into the gap due to the joint portion of the band member and the tightening force not acting. Since it is provided at the inner peripheral band end, the curvature increases, the effective inner diameter for tightening the object to be tightened tends to decrease, and the usability decreases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and provide a tightening band having a good sealing property and mountability that can be tightened even if a tightening reaction force cannot be obtained from a tightened object.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement.
That is, a band member having a joint portion in which a metal strip member is formed in an annular shape and inner peripheral surfaces of both ends are joined, and one end side that is fixed to the joint portion and abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the band member as a fulcrum An arc-shaped lever that reduces the diameter of the band member by inclining, and a bent portion that stands up radially outward from both ends of the base portion fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the band member. A buckle for fixing the lever, and a fixed end adjacent to the buckle on the inner peripheral surface of the band member, and an inner peripheral side of the joint portion of the band member bent by tilting the lever the bar of the gap and the circumferential arc of the free end so as to cover along the extending arcuately a plate comprising, by tilting the lever along the band member The de member reduced in diameter by a tightening band clamp the object to be fastened object, the plate, the curvature toward the free end from the fixed end is formed to be stepwise small, the plate and the band An elastic member capable of being elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the plate and the band member when the diameter of the band member is reduced is fixed to the gap between the member and the plate. .

  When the above-described tightening band is used, an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the plate and the band member when the band member is reduced in diameter is fixed on the plate in the gap between the plate and the band member. Therefore, the elastic member can be deformed following the amount of deformation of the object to be tightened, and an optimum tightening force is applied to the object to be tightened via the elastic member when the band member is reduced in diameter. Since the tightening reaction force can be obtained from the elastic member, the sealing performance by the band member can be maintained.

Further, when the plate is formed so that the curvature decreases stepwise from the fixed end toward the free end, the effective inner diameter of the object to be tightened can be made as large as possible.
Specifically, the first curved portion on the fixed end side of the plate has a curvature R1 that follows the band member, and the second curved portion provided continuously to the first curved portion has a larger curvature R2 than that. It is preferable that the third curved portion provided on the free end side continuously with the second curved portion has a larger curvature R3.
Thereby, since the curvature R1 of the first curved portion <the curvature R2 of the second curved portion <the curvature R3 of the third curved portion from the fixed end to the free end of the plate, the effective inner diameter of the band member is possible. Can be as large as possible.

  Further, the elastic member is made of a material that is fixed to one end side of the outer peripheral surface of the plate and has a plurality of curved portions that are curved so as to be convex toward at least the outer band member. Even when the band member is deformed, the bending portion elastically deforms when the band member is reduced in diameter, so that a tightening reaction force that compensates for the amount of deformation of the object to be tightened can be obtained. On the other hand, the sealing performance can be maintained.

  In addition, the plurality of bending portions provided on the elastic member are provided with bending portions having different heights from the free end to the fixed end of the plate according to the deformation amount of the object to be tightened. By elastically deforming, the distribution of the tightening reaction force can be made uniform and tightening can be performed with the optimum tightening force.

  The elastic member is preferably made of a stainless steel metal material having spring characteristics. Thereby, a band member and an elastic member can be manufactured using the same stainless steel metal material, and workability is good at low cost compared with the case where a fastening band is manufactured using a single spring steel.

  By using the tightening band according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tightening band having good sealability and mountability that can be tightened even if a tightening reaction force cannot be obtained from the object to be tightened.

It is a perspective view before and behind diameter reduction of a fastening band. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a band member and a plate of the tightening band of FIG. 1. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly structure of the elastic member with respect to a plate. It is the elements on larger scale of the plate containing the elastic member in a lever inclination state. It is explanatory drawing of the fastening band which provided the curvature change, and the contrast figure of the fastening band which does not provide a curvature change. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the plate and the band member according to FIGS. 3A to 3C, and a perspective view of a tightening band before and after the lever is tilted. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the plate and the band member according to FIGS. 3D to 3F, and a perspective view of a tightening band before and after the lever is tilted. It is perspective explanatory drawing which shows the fixing structure of the elastic member with respect to the plate which concerns on another example. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the band member and the plate of FIG. 8, and a perspective view of a tightening band before and after the lever is tilted. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the positioning structure of the elastic member with respect to a plate. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the positioning structure of the elastic member with respect to the plate which concerns on another example. It is a perspective explanatory view showing the form of the elastic member concerning other examples. It is perspective explanatory drawing which shows the boot structure which covers the conventional constant velocity joint. It is contrast explanatory drawing which shows the difference in the clamping reaction force of CR boot and a resin boot, and a sealing performance.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a tightening band for tightening a constant velocity joint boot will be described with reference to FIGS. The constant velocity joint boot is provided to cover the joint portion between the joint case and the shaft and prevent leakage of grease sealed in the bearing portion in the joint case and entry of foreign matter. In addition, in the following, a boot made of resin such as a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) is directly fitted into an outer race constituting a tripart joint without using an elastic member such as a grommet. It is assumed that the outer periphery is fixed to a reduced diameter by a fastening band.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fastening band 1 includes a band member 2 in which a metal strip member (for example, SUS430) is formed in an annular shape. The band member 2 is formed in an annular shape by a joint portion 2a in which inner peripheral surfaces at both ends are joined by resistance welding. A lever 3 (for example, SUS430) formed in an arc shape is fixed to the joint portion 2a by resistance welding. The lever 3 can reduce the diameter of the band member 2 by tilting the other end side 3b with the one end side 3a contacting the outer peripheral surface of the band member 2 as a fulcrum.

  A buckle 4 (for example, SUS430) is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the band member 2 by resistance welding. The buckle 4 includes a bent piece 4b that stands up radially outward from both ends of the base portion 4a that is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the band member 2, and is bent to a lever 3 that is inclined to the outer peripheral surface of the band member 2. The lever 4 is bent from both sides so that the pieces 4b are overlapped, and the return of the lever 3 is suppressed and fixed.

  In addition, an arc-shaped plate 5 (for example, SUS430) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the band member 2 so as to cover the gap on the inner peripheral side of the joint portion 2a along the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed end 5a of the plate 5 is fixed adjacent to the buckle 4, and the gap on the inner peripheral side of the joint portion 2a in the band member 2 bent by the tilting of the lever 3 is circumferential. The free end 5b is extended in an arc shape so as to cover along.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D, the plate 5 receives bending stress from the fulcrum (one end side 3a) of the lever 3, and receives bending stress from the elastic member 6 described later. A pair of upright walls 5c are provided continuously in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the direction. As a result, the plate 5 is formed in a U-shaped cross section and is reinforced so as to be difficult to be deformed by increasing the section modulus as a whole. Moreover, as a reinforcement structure of the plate 5, instead of providing a pair of standing walls 5c, a groove may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the plate 5, or the wall 5c and the groove may be used in combination.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the plate 5 is formed so that the curvature decreases stepwise from the fixed end 5a toward the free end 5b.
Specifically, the first bending portion 5A on the fixed end 5a side of the plate 5 has a curvature R1 that follows the band member 2, and the second bending portion 5B provided continuously to the first bending portion 5A is provided. The third curved portion 5C that has a larger curvature R2 and is provided on the free end 5b side continuously to the second curved portion 5B has a larger curvature R3.

  Thereby, from the fixed end 5a of the plate 5 toward the free end 5b, the curvature R1 of the first curved portion 5A <the curvature R2 of the second curved portion 5B <the curvature R3 of the third curved portion 5C. The effective inner diameter φB (= φA−h) of the member 2 can be increased as much as possible. That is, since the plate 5 is disposed on the inner side of the band member 2, it is desirable that the effective inner diameter is sufficiently wide when fitted into the boot. Therefore, by increasing the curvature of the plate 5 stepwise from the fixed end 5a toward the free end 5b, the effective inner diameter φB is equal to the height h of the elastic member 6 (curved portion 6b) than the outer diameter φA of the band member 2. Only needs to be smaller. Accordingly, a resin boot having a larger outer diameter can be tightened, and the band mounting property is improved.

  If the plate 5 does not change in curvature, the plate 5 has a curvature R1 that follows the band member 2 as shown in FIG. The free end 5b comes into contact with the inside of the band member 2 so that the effective inner diameter φB ′ (<φB) of the resin boot, which is the object to be tightened, has a limited size.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3E, an elastically deformable elastic member 6 is fixed on the plate 5 by, for example, resistance welding. As the elastic member 6, a stainless steel metal material having spring characteristics (for example, SUS301) is preferably used. Thereby, the band member 2 and the elastic member 6 can be manufactured using the same stainless steel metal material (SUS), and compared with the case where the fastening band 1 is manufactured using a single spring steel, it is low-cost. Good workability.

  The elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the plate 5 and the band member 2 when the band member 2 is reduced in diameter, and applies a tightening reaction force from the object to be tightened. The elastic member 6 is formed with a plurality of curved portions 6b that are curved so as to be convex toward the outer band member 2, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3E, a flat portion 6a and a curved portion. 6b has a shape formed alternately and continuously. In the present embodiment, three flat portions 6a and two curved portions 6b are provided, but the number of curved portions 6b may be increased. As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 3 is tilted along the band member 2 to reduce the diameter, the height of the curved portion 6 b changes according to the amount of deformation of the object to be tightened. Can be generated.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the elastic member 6 is assembled by resistance welding the flat portion 6 a at the center of the three flat portions 6 a to the plate 5. When the band member 2 is reduced in diameter, the flat portions 6a on both ends are slidably disposed between the standing walls 5c. Specifically, the elastic member 6 is positioned along the second curved portion 5B and assembled by resistance welding. Since the elastic member 6 and the plate 5 are held and fixed by a jig, they can be assembled at arbitrary positions.

  Further, the elastic member 6 is not limited to the flat portion 6a at the central portion, and may be fixed to the plate 5 using another flat portion 6a. For example, as shown in FIG. 3F, a flat portion 6 a formed on the free end 5 b side of the plate 5 in the elastic member 6 may be resistance-welded and fixed to the plate 5. In this case, when the diameter of the band member 2 is reduced, the central portion and the flat portion 6a on the fixed end side of the plate 5 are slidably disposed between the standing walls 5c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 3 is tilted along the band member 2 with the one end side 3a contacting the outer peripheral surface of the band member 2 as a fulcrum, the band member 2 is reduced in diameter. The curved portion 6b is pressed by the outer band member 2 while the flat portion 6a is slid toward the free end 5b side and the fixed end 5a side, and the height changes. At this time, the reaction force of the pressing force acting on the object to be tightened from the curved portion 6b of the elastic member 6 is obtained as a tightening reaction force from the object to be tightened.

Next, the assembly operation of the plate 5 to which the elastic member 6 is fixed to the band member 2 and the tightening operation of the tightening band will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
As shown in FIG. 6 (A), the band member is formed by aligning the plate 5 to which the flat portion 6a formed at the center of the elastic member 6 is resistance-welded so that the fixed end 5a side is adjacent to the buckle 4. The fixed end 5a is fixed by resistance welding so as to overlap the inner peripheral side of 2. At this time, the free end 5 b side of the plate 5 is assembled to the inner peripheral side of the band member 2 across the joint portion 2 a of the band member 2 as shown in FIG. The fastening band 1 to which the plate 5 is assembled is fitted into an object to be fastened (for example, a resin boot) that is not shown. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the lever 3 is tilted along the band member 2 with the one end 3a as a fulcrum, and pushed down until the other end 3b is arranged between the pair of bent pieces 4b of the buckle 4. . At this time, the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the band member 2 and the plate 5, and the two curved portions 6b are crushed. Then, by bending the pair of bent pieces 4b upward on the lever 3, the lever 3 is fixed and the fastening band 1 is maintained in a reduced diameter state.

  7A to 7C show that the plate 5 in which the flat portion 6a formed on the free end 5b side of the plate 5 of the elastic member 6 is resistance welded is adjacent to the buckle 4 on the fixed end 5a side. And the fixed end 5a is fixed by resistance welding so as to overlap the inner peripheral side of the band member 2. The assembling work of the plate 5 to the band member 2 and the tightening operation of the tightening band 1 are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  If the fastening band 1 described above is used, an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the plate 5 and the band member 2 when the band member 2 is reduced in diameter in the gap between the plate 5 and the band member 2. 6 is fixed on the plate 6, the elastic member 6 can be deformed following the amount of deformation of the object to be tightened, and tightened via the elastic member 6 when the band member 2 is reduced in diameter. Since an optimum tightening force is applied to the object and a tightening reaction force is obtained from the elastic member 6, the sealing performance by the band member 2 can be maintained. In addition, the plate 5 is provided with a pair of upstanding walls 5c that are erected outward in the radial direction on both sides in the width direction, and has a reinforcing structure with a high section modulus. However, the plate 5 is not likely to be deformed by the tilting of the lever 3.

Further, since the plate 5 is formed so that the curvature gradually decreases from the fixed end 5a toward the free end 5b, the effective inner diameter of the object to be tightened can be increased as much as possible, and the band mounting property is improved. Is done.
The elastic member 6 may be made of a material that is difficult to deform when the elastic member 6 includes a plurality of curved portions 6b that are fixed to the plate surface and curved so as to be convex toward at least the outer band member 2. Even when the band member 2 is reduced in diameter, the curved portion 6b is elastically deformed when the band member 2 is reduced in diameter, so that the distribution of the tightening reaction force can be made uniform and the tightening can be performed with the optimum tightening force.

  In addition, although the flat part 6a was resistance-welded the elastic member 6 assembled | attached to the plate 5, you may assemble | attach by the method of other than that. For example, the pair of standing walls 5c that stand on both sides of the second curved portion 5B of the plate 5 shown in FIG. 8A is formed with a notch in the radial direction to form a pair of fixed pieces 5d. With the elastic member 6 positioned and placed on the second curved portion 5B of the plate 5, the fixed portion 6c provided between the curved portions 6b of the elastic member 6 as shown in FIG. You may be bent and assembled so that it may overlap.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the plate 5 in which the pair of fixing pieces 5d are bent and fixed to the fixing portion 6c formed at the central portion of the elastic member 6 is adjacent to the buckle 4 on the fixing end 5a side. Thus, the fixed end 5a is fixed by resistance welding after being aligned and superposed on the inner peripheral side of the band member 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the free end 5 b side of the plate 5 is assembled to the inner peripheral side of the band member 2 across the joint portion 2 a of the band member 2. The fastening band 1 to which the plate 5 is assembled is fitted into an object to be fastened (for example, a resin boot). Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, the lever 3 is tilted along the band member 2 with the one end 3a as a fulcrum, and pushed down until the other end 3b is disposed between the pair of bent pieces 4b of the buckle 4. . At this time, the elastic member 6 is sandwiched between the band member 2 and the plate 5, and the two curved portions 6b are crushed. Then, by bending the pair of bent pieces 4b upward on the lever 3, the lever 3 is fixed and the fastening band 1 is maintained in a reduced diameter state.

The elastic member 6 can be assembled at an arbitrary position as long as the assembly jigs are aligned with respect to the plate 5, but a positioning structure for positioning the elastic member 6 on the plate 5 may be provided.
For example, a cut-and-raised piece 5e having a slit formed in the third curved portion 5C of the plate 5 shown in FIG. The elastic member 6 shown in FIG. 10B is placed on the second curved portion 5B of the plate 5 shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10C, the flat portion 6a on the free end 5b side of the elastic member 6 is abutted against the cut piece 5e to position the elastic member 6 with respect to the plate 5, and then the flat portion The part 6a may be fixed (resistance welding or the like).

  Moreover, as shown to FIG. 11 (A), a pair of latching hole 5f may be provided in the standing origin end part of the both-side standing wall 5c of the 2nd curved part 5B of the plate 5. FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, a pair of locking pieces 6d that can be locked in the pair of locking holes 5f are provided on both side edges of the flat portion 6a provided at the center of the elastic member 6. It may be bent toward the surface. As shown in FIG. 11C, the elastic member 6 is positioned on the second curved portion 5B of the plate 5 by the pair of locking pieces 6d being locked in the pair of locking holes 5f. In this state, the elastic member 6 may be fixed to the plate 5 by performing resistance welding in the flat portion 6a at the center, for example.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the curved portion 6b provided on the elastic member 6 was provided at two locations on both sides of the central fixed portion 6c (or flat portion 6a). As shown, one bending portion 6b may be provided on one side of the fixing portion 6c (or the flat portion 6a), and two bending portions 6b may be continuously provided on the other side.
The elastic member 6 preferably includes a curved portion 6b having a height that compensates for the amount of deformation of the object to be fastened, and a plurality of curved portions 6b having different heights from the free end 5b to the fixed end 5a of the plate 5 are provided. It may be done. Accordingly, the bending portion 6b is elastically deformed according to the deformation amount with respect to the object to be tightened, so that the distribution of the tightening reaction force can be made uniform and the tightening can be performed with the optimum tightening force.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fastening band 2 Band member 2a Joint part 3 Lever 4 Buckle 4a Base part 4b Bending piece 5 Plate 5a Fixed end 5b Free end 5c Standing wall 5d Fixed piece 5e Cut-and-raised piece 5f Locking hole 5A First curved part 5B Second Bending portion 5C Third bending portion 6 Elastic member 6a Flat portion 6b Bending portion 6c Fixing portion 6d Locking piece

Claims (5)

A band member having a joint portion in which a metal strip member is formed in an annular shape and inner peripheral surfaces of both ends are joined;
An arc-shaped lever that reduces the diameter of the band member by tilting the other end side with the one end side that is fixed to the joint portion and abutting the outer peripheral surface of the band member as a fulcrum,
A buckle that includes a bent portion that is erected radially outward from both ends of the base portion that is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the band member, and that fixes the lever tilted to the band member;
A fixed end is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the band member adjacent to the buckle, and a gap on the inner peripheral side of the joint portion in the band member bent by tilting the lever is along the circumferential direction. An arc plate with a free end extending in an arc shape so as to cover,
A tightening band for tightening an object to be tightened by reducing the diameter of the band member by tilting the lever along the band member,
The plate is formed such that the curvature gradually decreases from the fixed end toward the free end, and the gap between the plate and the band member is formed when the band member is reduced in diameter. A tightening band, wherein an elastic member that is sandwiched between a plate and the band member and is elastically deformable is fixed on the plate.   The first curved portion on the fixed end side of the plate has a curvature R1 that follows the band member, and the second curved portion provided continuously to the first curved portion has a larger curvature R2; The tightening band according to claim 1, wherein the third curved portion provided on the free end side continuously to the second curved portion has a larger curvature R3.   The tightening band according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic member includes a plurality of curved portions that are fixed at one end to the outer peripheral surface of the plate and curved so as to protrude toward at least the outer band member.   The tightening according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of curved portions provided on the elastic member are provided with curved portions having different heights from a free end to a fixed end of the plate. band.   The tightening band according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a stainless steel metal material having spring characteristics is used for the elastic member.

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