JP6694125B2 - Spherical shaft coupling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a spherical shaft coupling device, for example, a device effectively used for a tie rod or a drag link of a steering system mounted on an automobile and a link of a suspension system.

  Generally, in a tie rod or a drag link of a steering system mounted on an automobile, spherical shaft coupling devices are provided at both ends thereof.

As a conventional spherical shaft coupling device of this type, there is one manufactured as follows (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
The spherical shaft fixed to the knuckle arm or the pitman arm is inserted into a bearing recess formed at the end of the tie rod or the drag link, with the bearing member fitted to the convex spherical portion.
On the other hand, the coil spring is placed on the end plug (end cap), and the assembly in which the pressing member is placed on the coil spring via the spring seat is prepared in another assembly step.
Then, the assembly is inserted into the bearing concave portion in which the spherical shaft is inserted, the pressing member is brought into contact with the lower end surface of the convex spherical portion, and the caulking portion formed in the opening of the bearing concave portion is caulked to be fixed. To be done.
In this spherical shaft coupling device, the spherical shaft has a convex spherical surface supported in a bearing recess by a bearing member and a pressing member so as to be rotatable in three dimensions, and the bearing member and the pressing member have coil springs in the bearing recess. It is pressed against by the rattle.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-41053

  However, in the spherical shaft coupling device described above, since the bearing member, the pressing member, the spring seat, the coil spring and the end plug are used to support the spherical shaft by the bearing recess, the number of parts is large, and also Since the assembly of the end plug, the coil spring, the spring seat and the pressing member needs to be assembled in another assembly process, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes high.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a spherical shaft coupling device that can reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.

Typical means for solving the above-mentioned problems are as follows.
(1) A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing recess, a convex spherical portion formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing member, An end cap for closing the opening facing the convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member and enclosing grease in the opening, and an elastic body are used to form the end cap and the convex spherical surface portion. And a pressing member formed in a truncated cone shape having a collar and a conical surface portion, which is loaded in the space and applies a reaction force to the first joint member to urge an elastic force to the bearing concave portion via the convex spherical surface portion. A concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion formed on the upper side of the truncated cone of the pressing member and in contact with the convex spherical surface portion, and a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion. And the brim of the pressing member and the A slit formed between the contact portion has a,
The brim is inserted in a holding member mounting portion provided in the opening,
A spherical shaft coupling device characterized by the above .
(2) A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing recess, a convex spherical portion formed in the second joint member slidably fitted in the bearing member, and elastic. A body is used to form a shape that closes an opening facing the convex spherical surface portion formed on the second joint member, and the bearing concave portion is formed via the convex spherical surface portion by taking a reaction force to the first joint member. A pressing member formed in the shape of a truncated cone with a collar that applies an elastic force to the opening and closes the opening to enclose grease in the opening; and an upper side portion of the pressing member that has the shape of a truncated cone with the flange. A spherical shaft coupling device comprising: a concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion that is in sliding contact with the convex spherical surface portion; and a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion .
(3) A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a convex spherical surface formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing recess, and the convex spherical surface formed in the second joint member. An end cap that closes the opening that faces the portion and that seals grease in the opening, and an elastic body that is formed, is loaded between the end cap and the convex spherical surface portion, and is attached to the first joint member. A pressing member formed in a frusto-conical shape having a flange and a conical surface portion while applying a reaction force to apply an elastic force to the convex spherical surface portion, and the convex portion formed on the upper side portion of the frusto-conical shape of the pressing member. A concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion with which the spherical surface portion slides, a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion, and between the flange and the pressing contact portion of the pressing member. And a slit formed,
The brim is inserted in a holding member mounting portion provided in the opening,
A spherical shaft coupling device characterized by the above.
(4) A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing recess, and an elastic body are used for the second joint member. It is formed in a shape that closes the opening facing the formed convex spherical surface portion, takes a reaction force to the first joint member to urge an elastic force to the convex spherical surface portion, and closes the opening to remove grease. A holding member formed in a truncated cone shape with a collar to be enclosed in the opening, and a concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion formed on the upper side portion of the holding cone with the flanged cone shape and in which the convex spherical surface portion is in sliding contact. And a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion.

  According to the above-mentioned means, the number of parts and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

It is a longitudinal section showing a spherical shaft joint device which is a first embodiment of the present invention. The pressing member is shown, (a) and (b) are a front sectional view and a plan view showing a state before assembling, and (c) and (d) are a front sectional view and a plan view showing after assembling. It is a longitudinal section showing a spherical shaft joint device which is a second embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the spherical shaft coupling device according to the present invention is configured to be used for a drag link of a steering system of an automobile, and is configured to ensure rotation in three dimensions.
As shown in FIG. 1, the spherical shaft coupling device according to the present embodiment has a drag link 10 as a first joint member, a spherical shaft 20 as a second joint member, a bearing member 30, and a holding member. 40, an end cap 50, and a boot 60.

The drag link 10 is provided with an end 11, and a bearing recess 12 formed in a substantially cylindrical hollow shape is disposed in the end 11 so that the bearing recess 12 is arranged at the end of the end 11 and penetrates in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It has been opened. A hemispherical concave spherical surface portion 13 is formed at one end portion (hereinafter, referred to as an upper end portion) of the bearing concave portion 12, and a cylindrical inner peripheral surface portion 14 having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface shape is formed at a lower end portion of the bearing concave portion 12. Has been done.
A pressing member mounting portion 15 is formed below the column inner peripheral surface portion 14 in the shape of a disc hole having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the column inner peripheral surface portion 14, and the pressing member mounting portion 15 and the column inner peripheral surface portion 14 are connected to each other. Steps 16 are concentrically arranged at the boundary of the so as to face downward in the vertical direction.

  An end cap mounting portion 17 is formed below the pressing member mounting portion 15 in the shape of a disc hole having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the pressing member mounting portion 15. The end cap 50 is brought into contact with the end cap mounting portion 17 from below, and is fastened by a caulking portion 18 formed by winding and crimping a cylindrical portion projecting below the end cap mounting portion 17. It

The spherical shaft 20 includes a convex spherical surface portion 21 formed in a substantially spherical shape, and a connecting portion 22 is provided on the convex spherical surface portion 21 so as to project along the extension line of the spherical center of the convex spherical surface portion 21. ing. A grease reservoir 21A is formed at the lower end of the convex spherical surface portion 21 in a shape in which a part of the convex spherical surface is horizontally cut out. The grease reservoir 21A is filled with grease 70.
A concave curved neck portion 23 is formed at the lower end portion of the connecting portion 22, and a columnar boot mounting portion 24 is formed above the neck portion 23. A male taper portion 25 is formed on the upper side of the boot attachment portion 24, and a male screw portion 26 is formed on the upper side of the male taper portion 25.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the spherical shaft 20 is provided in a knuckle arm or a pitman arm (hereinafter referred to as an arm member) 27 as an assembling member, and in a taper hole 28 as an attachment hole formed in the arm member 27. After the male taper portion 25 is inserted, the nut 29 is screwed into the male screw portion 26 to be fastened.

  The bearing member 30 is made of polyacetal resin, and the upper seat portion 31 and the lower seat portion 32 are integrally molded, and are configured to have a grease greasing type bearing structure and a spherical bearing structure fitted in the bearing recess 12.

  That is, the bearing member 30 is made of polyacetal resin and integrally molded into a spherical hollow body having upper and lower end portions cut out in parallel with each other. The inner spherical surface of the upper seat portion 31 and the inner surface of the lower seat portion 32 are The spherical surface constitutes the concave spherical surface portion 33 which is the inner shape of the spherical hollow body of the bearing member 30. The concave spherical surface portion 33 corresponds to the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the spherical axis 20, and surrounds the convex spherical surface portion 21 substantially entirely.

As the pressing member 40, a leaf spring material that is an elastic body is used, and as shown in FIG. 2, the pressing member 40 is integrally formed in a truncated cone shape with a collar. The pressing member 40 has a grease-lubricating bearing structure and a spherical bearing structure.
A pressing portion 41 is formed in a concave spherical dish shape on the upper side of the truncated cone shape of the pressing member 40. The pressing portion 41 is formed in a concave spherical dish shape that is smaller than the curvature of the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the spherical shaft 20 before being attached to the pressing member attaching portion 15 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B), After the mounting (see FIGS. 1 and 2C and 2D), it is elastically deformed into a concave spherical dish shape corresponding to the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the spherical shaft 20.
A collar 42 is formed in a circular ring shape having a constant width on the outer periphery of the lower side of the truncated cone shape of the pressing member 40. The collar 42 is formed into a truncated cone shape (the cone surface is lowered as it goes outward) before being attached to the holding member attaching portion 15 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B), and after attachment (FIG. 1 and FIG. 1). 2 (c) and (d)), elastically deforms to a flat plate (horizontal).
The truncated cone-shaped conical surface portion 43 located between the pressing contact portion 41 and the brim 42 of the pressing member 40 is attached as compared with before being attached to the pressing member attaching portion 15 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). Afterward (see FIGS. 1 and 2C and 2D), it is formed so as to be elastically deformed with a small inclination angle (having a small height and a large outer diameter).
The holding member 40 is formed with four slits 44 having a constant width and a constant length and arranged in a cross shape. Each slit 44 is opened from the outer circumference to the pressing portion 41. The width of each slit 44 opens outward after being attached (see FIGS. 1 and 2 (c) and (d)) compared to before attachment to the pressing member attaching portion 15 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). As a result, elastic deformation of the pressing member 40 is promoted.

The end cap 50 is made of a metal such as steel and is formed into a disc shape. An outer peripheral edge portion of the end cap 50 forms a fastened portion 51, and the fastened portion 51 is fitted into the end cap mounting portion 17 of the end 11 and fastened by the caulking portion 18.
A pressing portion 52 is horizontally formed inside the fastened portion 51 of the end cap 50. In a state where the end cap 50 is fastened to the end cap attachment portion 17 by the caulking portion 18, the pressing force portion 52 presses the flange 42 of the pressing member 40 to elastically deform and press the flange 42 and the conical surface portion 43. The member 40 is positioned in the bearing recess 12.
When the end cap 50 is fastened to the end cap attaching portion 17 by the caulking portion 18, the central portion 53 of the end cap 50 is separated from the lower surface of the pressing portion 41 of the pressing member 40. Therefore, the spherical shaft 20 is in a state of being floatingly supported by the elastic force of the pressing member 40. As a result, the bearing recess 12, the bearing member 30, and the convex spherical surface portion 21 are supported by the pressing member 40 without rattling.

The boot 60 is made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin and is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. The upper surface opening of the bearing recess 12 is formed between the spherical shaft 20 and the end 11 of the drag link 10. It is installed so as to cover it. Grease 70 is filled in the boot 60.
A bellows portion 61 is integrally formed in a middle portion of the boot 60 in a "U" shape in cross section. Absorb the relative displacement between.
A lower attachment portion 62 is formed in a circular ring shape at the lower end portion of the boot 60, and the lower attachment portion 62 is fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the end 11. An upper mounting portion 63 is formed in a circular ring shape on the upper end portion of the boot 60, and the upper mounting portion 63 is fixed to the boot mounting portion 24 of the spherical shaft 20.
A lip 64 is formed concentrically on the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the upper mounting portion 63 and is provided so as to project upward. The lip 64 is formed in a circular ring shape having a rectangular cross section and is provided so as to project obliquely outward, and is pressed against the lower surface of the arm member 27.

  The operation and effect of the spherical shaft coupling device having the above configuration will be described.

Since the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the spherical shaft 20 is slidably supported by the concave spherical surface portion 13 of the end 11 by the bearing member 30, the arm member 27 fixed to the spherical shaft 20 is three-dimensional with respect to the drag link 10. Can be swung in any direction.
At this time, the elastic force of the pressing member 40 constantly urges the convex spherical surface portion 21 to prevent backlash between the bearing concave portion 12, the bearing member 30, and the convex spherical surface portion 21.
When the arm member 27 swings with respect to the drag link 10, the bellows portion 61 of the boot 60 is deformed by opening and closing in the axial direction (vertical direction) to absorb the relative displacement between the arm member 27 and the end 11. Therefore, the arm member 27 can be swung smoothly without being interfered by the boot 60 with respect to the drag link 10.
Further, when the arm member 27 swings with respect to the drag link 10, the lip 64 of the boot 60 is pressed against the lower surface of the arm member 27 by the elastic force of the boot 60 itself, so that the boot 60 can maintain the seal.

  The work of assembling the end 11 of the drag link 10 and the spherical shaft 20 will be described below.

  First, the spherical shaft 20 on which the bearing member 30 is mounted is inserted into the bearing recess 12 of the end 11 of the drag link 10 from the lower end opening. As a result, the bearing member 30 is in a state of being fitted between the bearing concave portion 12 and the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the end 11 of the drag link 10.

Next, the pressing member 40 is inserted into the pressing member attachment portion 15 from the lower end opening of the bearing recess 12, and the upper surface of the pressing contact portion 41 of the pressing member 40 contacts the lower surface of the convex spherical surface portion 21 of the spherical shaft 20. The grease 70 is appropriately supplied to the bearing recess 12 and the grease reservoir 21A.
Subsequently, the end cap 50 is fitted into the end cap mounting portion 17, and the cylindrical portion projecting below the end cap mounting portion 17 is rolled and crimped. The fastened portion 51 of the end cap 50 is fastened by the portion 18.
During the winding and crimping process, the pressing force portion 52 presses the flange 42 of the pressing member 40 to elastically deform the flange 42 and the conical surface portion 43 to position the pressing member 40 in the bearing recess 12. In the state where the end cap 50 is fastened to the end cap attaching portion 17 by the caulking portion 18, the spherical shaft 20 is in a state of being floatingly supported by the elastic force of the pressing member 40, so that the bearing recess 12 and the bearing member 30 are It prevents backlash between the convex spherical surface portion 21 and each other.

Then, the boot 60 is mounted between the spherical shaft 20 and the end 11 of the drag link 10 so as to cover the upper opening of the bearing recess 12.
The male taper portion 25 of the spherical shaft 20 is inserted into the tapered hole 28 of the arm member 27, and the nut 29 is screwed into the male screw portion 26 to fix the spherical shaft 20 to the arm member 27.

  According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By eliminating the coil spring and the spring seat, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost of the spherical shaft coupling device can be reduced.

(2) By integrally forming the pressing member with a leaf spring material, the manufacturing cost of the spherical shaft coupling device can be reduced, and the spherical shaft coupling device can be made compact and lightweight.

(3) If the bearing member is fitted in the convex spherical portion of the spherical shaft, the spherical shaft is inserted into the bearing recess, and then the pressing member and the end cap are fastened to the bearing recess, whereby the assembling work is completed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the step of separately assembling the end cap and the pressing member off-line. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the spherical shaft coupling device can be further reduced.

(4) By forming the pressing member made of the leaf spring material into the grease lubrication type bearing structure and the spherical bearing structure, it is possible to prevent the performance, quality, reliability and durability performance of the spherical shaft coupling device from deteriorating.

(5) During the crimping process for forming the crimped portion, the pressing member elastically deforms due to the crimping force, so that the error during the crimping process can be compensated. The accuracy of time tolerance can be relaxed.

(6) By forming the pressing member in the shape of a truncated cone, the elastic biasing force of the pressing member acts on the spherical center of the convex spherical surface portion of the spherical shaft, so that the pressing member includes the bearing concave portion and the bearing member. It is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of backlash between the convex spherical surface portion and each other.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the pressing member 40A is integrally formed of a leaf spring material that is elastically deformed without a slit, and the end cap 50 and the slit 44 are omitted.
According to the present embodiment, since the end cap 50 and the slit 44 are omitted, it is possible to obtain an effect that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be further reduced.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the pressing member is not limited to being formed of a leaf spring material, but may be formed of another metal elastic body or a high elastic body such as resin or rubber.
The pressing member made of an elastic body is not limited to the grease lubrication type bearing structure and the spherical bearing structure.

  The bearing member can be omitted if necessary.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The spherical shaft coupling device according to the present invention is not limited to application to steering drag links and tie rods, but can also be applied to suspension links and the like.

10 ... Drag link, 11 ... End, 12 ... Bearing concave part, 13 ... Concave spherical surface part, 14 ... Cylinder inner peripheral surface part, 15 ... Holding member mounting part, 16 ... Step, 17 ... End cap mounting part, 18 ... Caulking part,
20 ... Spherical shaft, 21 ... Convex spherical surface part, 21A ... Grease reservoir, 22 ... Connection part, 23 ... Neck part, 24 ... Boot mounting part, 25 ... Male taper part, 26 ... Male screw part, 27 ... Arm member, 28 ... Taper hole (mounting hole), 29 ... Nut,
30 ... Bearing member, 31 ... Upper seat part, 32 ... Lower seat part, 33 ... Concave spherical surface part,
40, 40A ... Pressing member, 41 ... Pressing part, 42 ... Tsuba, 43 ... Conical surface part, 44 ... Slit,
50 ... End cap, 51 ... Fastened part, 52 ... Pushing part, 53 ... Central part,
60 ... Boots, 61 ... Bellows part, 62 ... Lower mounting part, 63 ... Upper mounting part, 64 ... Lip,
70 ... Grease.

Claims (4)

A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing recess, a convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member slidably fitted in the bearing member, and the second joint An end cap that closes the opening that faces the convex spherical surface portion formed in the member and that seals grease in the opening, and an elastic body are used and are formed between the end cap and the convex spherical surface portion. And a pressing member formed into a truncated cone shape having a collar and a conical surface part while applying a reaction force to the first joint member to urge an elastic force to the bearing concave part through the convex spherical surface part, and the pressing part. A concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion formed on the upper side portion of the truncated cone shape of the member and in contact with the convex spherical surface portion, a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion, and The collar and the pressing portion of the pressing member A slit formed between is provided with a,
The brim is inserted in a holding member mounting portion provided in the opening,
A spherical shaft coupling device characterized by the above . A bearing concave portion opened in the first joint member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing concave portion, a convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member slidably fitted in the bearing member, and an elastic body are used. Is formed in a shape that closes the opening that faces the convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member, takes a reaction force to the first joint member, and elastically acts on the bearing concave portion through the convex spherical surface portion. And a pressing member formed in the shape of a circular truncated cone with a collar that closes the opening and seals the grease in the opening, and the protrusion formed on the upper side portion of the circular truncated cone with a flange of the pressing member. A spherical shaft coupling device , comprising: a concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion with which the spherical surface portion is in sliding contact; and a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion . The bearing concave portion opened in the first joint member, the convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing concave portion, and the convex spherical surface portion formed in the second joint member are faced. An end cap that closes the opening and seals grease in the opening is formed using an elastic body, and is loaded between the end cap and the convex spherical surface portion to apply a reaction force to the first joint member. The pressing member formed in a truncated cone shape having a collar and a conical surface portion while urging an elastic force to the convex spherical surface portion, and the convex spherical surface portion formed in the upper side portion of the truncated cone shape of the pressing member are It is formed between a concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion that slides, a grease reservoir formed between the convex spherical surface portion and the pressing contact portion, and between the flange and the pressing contact portion of the pressing member. Equipped with a slit,
The brim is inserted in a holding member mounting portion provided in the opening,
Spherical surface shaft coupling device you wherein a. A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a convex spherical surface formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing recess , and an elastic body formed in the second joint member. It is formed in a shape that closes the opening that faces the convex spherical surface portion, applies a reaction force to the first joint member to urge an elastic force to the convex spherical surface portion, and closes the opening so that grease is placed in the opening. A pressing member formed in a truncated cone shape with a collar to be enclosed, a concave spherical dish-shaped pressing contact portion formed on the upper side portion of the pressing member with the flanged frustoconical shape, and in contact with the convex spherical surface portion, and the convex portion. A spherical shaft coupling device , comprising: a spherical surface portion and a grease reservoir formed between the pressing contact portion .

Images