JPH0330728B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a spherical sliding joint device, and more specifically to a spherical sliding joint device such as a spherical sliding bush or a rod with a ball joint used in vehicle suspensions such as automobiles. The present invention relates to a spherical sliding joint device suitable for use as a dynamic mechanism.

(Prior Art) A type of joint device used in vehicle suspensions such as automobiles is equipped with a hollow or solid shaft member having a spherical convex surface on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction, and the shaft member has a spherical convex surface. is held in a spherically slidable manner on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical race member assembly, thereby connecting the two members to which the shaft member and the race member assembly are attached in a spherically slidable manner. There is a spherical sliding type joint device. For example, it is used in ball joint devices used in the connection parts of control arm link rods, stabilizer link rods, lateral links, etc. of automobile suspensions, and in the connection parts of various rods, links, arms, etc. including torque rods. Examples include a spherical sliding mechanism (ball joint mechanism) of a spherical sliding bush that connects the bushings to a predetermined support member in a spherical sliding manner in an anti-vibration manner.

Incidentally, in recent years, in such a spherical sliding joint device, a sliding member made of a predetermined resin material is disposed on the inner surface of the race member assembly, and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member is attached to the race member assembly. Generally, a structure is adopted in which the sliding member is held so as to be slidable on the spherical surface through such a sliding member. Since it was arranged and held on the inner surface, the structure was complicated and the assembly operation was troublesome. Additionally, due to the superposition of dimensional tolerances of each member, the clearance between the sliding surfaces of the sliding member and the shaft member becomes larger than necessary, which causes play between the race member assembly and the shaft member. It was also the cause.

Therefore, the present inventor first applied for patent application No. 60-130408.
In the specification and the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 60-173739, the race member assembly (shown as a single unit in these examples) has a spherical concave surface corresponding to the spherical convex surface of the shaft member on its inner peripheral surface. The race member assembly and the shaft member are arranged so that the spherical concave surface faces the spherical convex surface with a uniform gap between them, and the spherical concave surface is formed between the spherical concave surface and the spherical convex surface. By flowing a predetermined resin material into the space, a sliding member is fixed to the spherical concave surface of the race member assembly on the outer circumferential surface and holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member in a spherical slidable manner on the inner circumferential surface. We proposed a spherical sliding joint device (spherical sliding mechanism). Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 147487-1987 and 173709-1980, the inner surface of a sliding member (holding member) formed in the same manner as the above-mentioned sliding member is made of a low-friction material. A spherical sliding joint device has been proposed in which cloth members are joined together and the sliding member holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member in a spherically slidable manner via the cloth member joined to the inner surface of the sliding member.

According to these spherical sliding joint devices, the arrangement operation of the sliding member (holding member) to the race member assembly is completed at the same time as the formation of the sliding member. This eliminates the need for assembly operations for arranging it on the inner surface of the body, and the configuration can also be simplified. Therefore, the manufacturability and assemblability can be greatly improved.

In addition, since the sliding member (holding member) is formed between the spherical concave surface of the race member assembly and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member, dimensional tolerances of the race member assembly and shaft member, etc. As a result, only a small and uniform clearance is formed between the spherical convex surface of the shaft member and the convex surface of the shaft member due to the contraction of the resin material during solidification. This results in a stable and high level of spherical sliding function.

Furthermore, according to the latter type in which the cloth member is integrally joined to the inner peripheral surface of the sliding member (holding member), the sliding member is not brought into direct sliding contact with the spherical convex surface of the shaft member. Because good spherical sliding function can always be obtained regardless of the constituent material,
Compared to the former, in which the spherical convex surface of the shaft member is directly held by the sliding member, there is an advantage that the range of selection of constituent materials is significantly wider.

(Problem) However, in all of the spherical sliding joint devices disclosed in those specifications, the sliding member (holding member) that holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member in a spherical slidable manner is assembled with a race member. Since it was only fixed to the attached body at its outer peripheral surface, the projected area of the sliding member in the axial direction with respect to the race member assembly, that is, the race that backs up the sliding member against the load in the axial direction. The pressure-receiving area of the component assembly is small, and it lacks the strength to hold the shaft member against the load in the axial direction (allowable load in the axial direction or pull-out strength of the shaft member; hereinafter simply referred to as holding strength). I felt a hatred for him.

Note that if the sliding member is made of a fiber-reinforced resin material, the holding strength of the shaft member in the axial direction can be improved, and especially in the case where a cloth member is bonded to the inner surface of the sliding member. Since the shaft member is not brought into direct sliding contact with the spherical convex surface of the shaft member, it is possible to use a fiber-reinforced resin material with a high fiber content and excellent mechanical strength.
The holding strength of the shaft member in the axial direction can be greatly improved, but even when the sliding member is constructed of fiber-reinforced resin material in this way, the holding strength of the shaft member can be improved significantly. However, there are limits to this, and it was difficult to say that sufficient holding strength could necessarily be obtained. In addition, if a fiber-reinforced resin material with a high fiber content is used to improve the holding strength, it will not only increase the material cost but also reduce moldability, so it is not very desirable. It was hard to say.

On the other hand, by increasing the coverage area of the spherical convex surface by the sliding member or changing the radius of curvature of the spherical convex surface, the projected area in the axial direction can be increased, and the shaft member holding strength in the axial direction can be increased. Although it is conceivable to try to improve it, in the former case, the allowable inclination angle between the race member assembly and the shaft member is limited, and in the latter case, the joint device becomes larger, so it is difficult to There was also a limit.

In addition, in order to improve the holding strength of the shaft member in the axial direction, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-39853, etc., the shaft member is attached to both ends of the race member assembly in the axial direction. Annular inward convex edges are provided on both sides of the spherical convex surface and protrude radially inward from the outer diameter of the spherical convex surface, and these inward convex edges connect both axial ends of the sliding member. It is also conceivable to support the portion. However, if such an inward convex edge is formed, it becomes impossible to extrapolate the race member assembly from one side in the axial direction of the shaft member. After dividing the shaft member and extrapolating it from both axial sides of the shaft member, it is necessary to integrate the divided bodies by caulking or welding, and the work to integrate them is troublesome and costly. The problem was that caulking and welding were unable to stably obtain sufficient strength, making it difficult to ensure satisfactory durability and reliability.

(Solution Means) Against this background, the present invention aims to improve the shaft member holding strength in the axial direction by
This was made in order to provide a spherical sliding joint device that has a simple structure, can be advantageously and stably obtained, and has a wide selection range of molding materials for forming the holding member (sliding member). The gist of the device invention is as follows: (a) a hollow or solid shaft member having a spherical convex surface on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction; and (b) a spherical convex surface of the shaft member. (c) has a spherical concave surface corresponding to the spherical convex surface of the shaft member on the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction; having two inward convex edges located at both ends in the axial direction and facing each other across the spherical concave surface, and located on the outside of the shaft member,
A gap between the spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface of the shaft member covered with the cloth member at both ends in the axial direction is narrowed by the inner convex edge;
(d) a cylindrical race member assembly formed by integrally assembling a plurality of race members forming an annular space with uniform gaps along the spherical convex surface; and (d) the spherical shape of the race member assembly. A state in which the annular space between the concave surface and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member is formed of a predetermined resin material filled in the annular space, and both ends in the axial direction are each regulated by the inward convex edge. The spherical convex surface of the shaft member is integrally fixed to the race member assembly and integrally joined to the cloth member on the inner peripheral surface, and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member is formed on the inner peripheral surface to which the cloth member is joined. In a spherical sliding joint device configured to include a holding member that holds a spherical surface slidably, each of the race member assemblies has a cylindrical shape, and the spherical concave surface is divided into two in the axial direction. It consists of first and second race members each having a spherical curved surface formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a female threaded portion is provided on the inner circumferential portion of the first race member, and a female screw portion is provided on the outer circumferential portion of the second race member. are respectively provided with male threaded portions, and the first and second race members are assembled by screwing both threaded portions together. Concave grooves extending in the circumferential direction are formed, and the holding member is inserted into the concave grooves to fit the concave and convex portions.

(Operation/Effect) According to the spherical sliding joint device according to the present invention, the holding member (sliding member) that holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member in a spherically slidable manner on the inner peripheral surface is attached to the race member assembly. It can be easily formed by flowing a predetermined molding material into the space formed between the spherical concave surface of the shaft member and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member, and at the same time, it can be fixed to the race member assembly at the same time. Therefore, the inventor of the present invention
Similar to the spherical sliding joint device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-130408, Japanese Patent Application No. 60-173739, etc.), the assembly operation for disposing the retaining coating material on the inner surface of the race member assembly is unnecessary. It becomes possible to simplify the assembly operation and the configuration, and it becomes possible to greatly improve the assemblability and manufacturability. Furthermore, by forming an appropriate clearance between the holding member and the shaft member, a highly accurate spherical sliding function without rattling can be obtained. Further, in the spherical sliding joint device according to the present invention, the holding member slidably holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member via the cloth member joined to the inner circumferential surface of the holding member. Specification (Japanese Patent Application No. 1987-147487, Patent Application No. 1983-173709
Similar to the joint device disclosed in No. 1, the range of materials that can be selected for the holding member can be significantly widened.

Furthermore, in the joint device according to the present invention, the race member assembly having the inner convex edges at both axial ends that regulate and support both ends of the holding member in the axial direction Since it is formed by integrating the first and second race members that are inserted from both sides by screwing together, it is different from the conventional structure in which they are integrated by caulking or welding. Therefore, it can be easily assembled without requiring large-scale equipment or equipment, and extremely high strength can be stably obtained. The load-bearing performance in this direction can be extremely advantageously improved.

In addition, in the joint device according to the present invention, grooves are formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the first and second race members constituting the race member assembly, and grooves are formed in the grooves. From the point where the holding member is inserted and the concave and convex fit together,
By fitting the holding member into the groove, loosening of the threaded portions of the first and second race members can be extremely effectively prevented, thereby improving the durability of the joint device. and reliability can be further advantageously ensured.

Note that the inner convex edges that regulate both ends of the holding member in the axial direction are closer to the race member assembly than the sliding surface of the inner surface of the holding member, that is, the inner peripheral surface of the cloth member fitted to the holding member. It is desirable to form it so that it is in a slightly recessed state. In this way, it is possible to effectively prevent the spherical convex surface of the shaft member from being damaged by the sliding contact of the race fitting assembly (more precisely, the inner convex edge), and to maintain a good spherical surface sliding function. It can be obtained stably over a long period of time. However, even if the inner convex edge is formed to protrude somewhat from the sliding surface of the holding member, the race fitting assembly (inner convex edge) should be made of a material softer than that of the shaft member. If configured, similar effects can be obtained. In this sense,
The inner convex edge can also be formed so as to contact the spherical convex surface of the shaft member via the cloth member.

(Examples) Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, examples thereof will be described in detail based on the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows an example of a spherical sliding joint device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the joint device of this embodiment A cylindrical inner cylindrical fitting 14 as a shaft member having a spherical convex surface 12 on its surface, and a spherical convex surface of the inner cylindrical fitting 14 on the inner circumferential surface of an intermediate portion in the axial direction arranged on the outside of the inner cylindrical fitting 14. A substantially cylindrical race fitting assembly 18 having a spherical concave surface 16 corresponding to 12, and a spherical concave surface 1 of the race fitting assembly 18.
6 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 14, an annular sliding cloth 19 as a cloth member made of a low-friction material is slidably covered on the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical metal fitting 14. and the sliding cloth 19
and the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18, so that the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 can be spherically slid on the race fitting assembly 18 via the sliding cloth 19. An annular holding member 20 made of a predetermined resin material to hold the inner cylinder fitting 14 and the race fitting assembly 18; It consists of seal members 22, 22. and,
It is fitted onto a predetermined mounting shaft in the inner hole 24 of the inner cylinder fitting 14, and is fitted into a predetermined cylindrical member directly on the outer peripheral surface of the race fitting assembly 18 or via a cylindrical elastic member or the like. The mounting shaft and the cylindrical member are connected in a spherically slidable manner.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner cylindrical metal fitting 14 is provided with seal members 22, 22 on the outer circumferential surface of both ends in the axial direction located on both sides of the spherical convex surface 12. a pair of annular grooves 26,
It has 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the race fitting assembly 18 has a length in the axial direction that is equal to the width of the spherical convex surface 12 in the inner cylinder fitting 14 and the distance between the annular grooves 26 and 26. The length is set to be approximately midway between the length of the
7,27, while the middle part of the inner circumference is
A small diameter portion 28 that spans the width of the approximately spherical convex surface 12 and has a predetermined diameter smaller than the diameter of the spherical convex surface 12.
It is said that It is located at the center in the axial direction of the small diameter portion 28, has a formed width that is a predetermined dimension shorter than the formed width of the spherical convex surface 12, and has both ends in the axial direction formed on the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 28. opposing annular stepped surfaces 30, 30 extending perpendicularly from the
the spherical concave surfaces 16, respectively defined by
is formed. As a result, as will be described later, the race fitting assembly 18 is assembled on the outside of the inner cylinder fitting 14, and the spherical concave surface 1
6 and the spherical convex surface 12 are arranged to face each other with a uniform gap, the stepped surfaces 3
The edges 32, 32 having a right-angled cross section formed at the intersection of 0, 30 and the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 28 face the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14 with a predetermined minute gap in between. is being used.

In other words, in this embodiment, the axially opposite end portions of the small diameter portion 28 having the edge portions 32, 32 are provided between the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14. The formed annular space 34, which will be described later, is designed to be as narrow as possible at both ends in the axial direction, and as is clear from this, both end portions of the small diameter portion 28 are inwardly narrowed. The convex edges 36, 36 are formed.

The large diameter portions 27, 27 are formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the spherical concave surface 16 formed on the inner surface of the small diameter portion 28. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gap between the inner convex edge 36 and the spherical convex surface 12 is slightly larger than the size at which the resin material contracts when molding the holding member 20 (usually (approximately 0.1mm).

In addition, the spherical concave surface 1 of the race fitting assembly 18
6 has two annular grooves 38, 3 around the axis of the race fitting assembly 18, as shown in FIG.
8 is formed, and an appropriate number (in this case, two) of through holes 40 are formed at predetermined intervals and are located at the center in the axial direction and penetrate the cylindrical wall of the race fitting assembly 18. It is formed.

In this embodiment, such a race fitting assembly 18 is formed by two race fittings 42 and 44, first and second, each having a substantially cylindrical shape.

In other words, the first race fitting 42 is formed by extending one large diameter portion 27 of the race fitting assembly 18 to the center of the spherical concave surface 16 in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. The large-diameter portion 27 has a female screw portion 46 at its extended portion, and a spherical concave surface 16 divided into two in the axial direction at the other end of the inner peripheral portion. It is configured to have a curved surface 48. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the second race fitting 44 has a spherical curved surface 48 similar to the first race fitting 42 on its inner periphery, and has a first spherical curved surface 48 on its outer periphery. It is configured to have a male threaded portion 50 that can be screwed into the female threaded portion 46 of the race fitting 42. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the second race fitting 44 is screwed into the female threaded portion 46 of the first race fitting 42 at its male threaded portion 50. The race fitting assembly 18 as described above is formed, and thereby the spherical concave surface 16 is formed from the spherical curved surfaces 48, 48. Further, the lace fitting assembly 18 is thus formed by assembling a plurality of lace fittings (here, two lace fittings 42 and 44, the first and second lace fittings). By this, the lace fitting assembly 1
8 can be placed outside the inner cylinder fitting 14.

Incidentally, one annular groove 38 is formed on each of the spherical curved surfaces 48, 48 of each of the race fittings 42, 44. Further, the through hole 40 is formed across the abutting portions of the race fittings 42 and 44.

On the other hand, the holding member 20 is formed according to the method described below, and as shown in FIG. 1, both ends in the axial direction are connected to the race fitting assembly. 18 inward convex edges 36, 36
(To be precise, the stepped surfaces 30, 30) are regulated by the race fitting assembly 18, and are integrally fixed to the race fitting assembly 18. In addition, the sliding cloth 1
9 is such a holding member 20 as described below.
At the same time as the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14 is formed, it is coated on the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14, and is also integrally joined to the inner circumferential surface of the holding member 20. As a result, as described above, the sliding cloth 19 slides on the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner tube fitting 14 between the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner tube fitting 14. On the other hand, the holding member 20 holds the spherical inner surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 via its sliding cloth 19 on its inner peripheral surface in a spherical slidable manner.

That is, when forming the holding member 20, first, as shown in FIG. Then, by assembling the first and second race fittings 42 and 44 on the outside of the inner cylinder fitting 14 to which this sliding cloth 19 has been fitted, the spherical concave surface 16 (inner convex edge 3
6, 36) and the spherical convex surface 12 face each other with the sliding cloth 19 in between. Then, the race fitting assembly 18 and the inner cylindrical fitting 14 assembled in this way are set in a predetermined molding die 54, as shown in FIG. Toga sliding cloth 1
9, facing each other with a uniform gap between them.
The race fitting assembly 18 and the inner cylinder fitting 14 are held. In this way, between the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14, both ends in the axial direction are connected to the inner convex edge 36 of the race fitting assembly 18, Thus, an annular space 34 with a uniform gap is formed along the spherical convex surface 12 and regulated by the spherical convex surface 12 .

In addition, at this time, the edge portion 3 of each inward convex edge 36
2 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14, as shown in FIG.
It is closed with a molding die 54. Also, at this time, both ends of the sliding cloth 19 are connected to the molding die 54 and the inner cylinder fitting 14.
and the spherical convex surface 12. Further, the spherical concave surface 16 and stepped surfaces 30, 30 of the race fitting assembly 18 are subjected to adhesive treatment in advance.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined resin material 56 constituting the holding member 20 is guided through the sprue 58 of the molding die 54 and formed into the race fitting assembly 18. The liquid is ejected from the through hole 40 between the spherical concave surface 16 in the annular space 34 and the sliding cloth 19. Note that, as is clear from this, in this embodiment, the through hole 40 is used as a gate hole.

In this way, between the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14, both ends in the axial direction are connected to the inner convex edge 3 as described above.
A holding member 20 is formed which is regulated by 6 and 36 (stepped surfaces 30 and 30) and which is integrally fixed to the race fitting assembly 18. Further, the sliding cloth 19 is integrally joined to the inner surface of the holding member 20 and is slidably covered on the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14.
The spherical convex surface 12 is held on the inner circumferential surface of the holding member 20 via the sliding cloth 19 in a spherical slidable manner.

Here, the sliding cloth 19 is made of a thread of about 100 to 10,000 denier, preferably about 400 denier, made of a low-friction material such as PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene resin), and is made of a thread of about 400 denier per inch.
A plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, etc. with a density of about 20 to 200 fibers, preferably about 50 to 60 fibers, is used, and more preferably, it has a good connection with the holding member 20. In order to obtain bondability, those cloths impregnated with an appropriate resin such as epoxy resin, urethane resin, phenoel resin, or acrylic resin are used.

Further, here, as the resin material 56 constituting the holding member 20, various non-fiber reinforced resin materials such as nylon can be used, and furthermore, reinforced materials such as glass fiber and titanate whiskers can be used. Although it is possible to use various fiber-reinforced resin materials mixed with fibers, it is preferable to use non-fiber-reinforced resin materials in order to obtain good moldability, and in order to improve mechanical strength. It is desirable to use fiber reinforced resin material.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding member 20 is formed between the corresponding ends of the race fitting assembly 18 and the inner cylindrical fitting 14, which are assembled in a spherically slidable manner. Annular seal members 22, 22 each having a large diameter at one end and a small diameter at the other end are attached as shown in FIG.
8 and the inner cylindrical fitting 14, that is, the spherical sliding area between the inner cylindrical fitting 14 and the sliding cloth 19 is sealed from the outside space, so that the joint device as shown in FIG. It is becoming possible to obtain it.

As shown in FIG. 10, the sealing member 22 is provided with an inward press-fitting part 60 on the inner periphery of the end on the small diameter side, and has a metal ring 62 integrated at the end on the large diameter side. As shown in FIG. The large diameter portion 2 of the race fitting assembly 18 at the side end portion
It is designed to be installed by being press-fitted into 7. Note that the press-fit portion 60 of the seal member 22 is inserted into the inner cylinder fitting 14.
A metal ring may be fitted to the outer periphery of the holder, or a metal ring may be integrally embedded in the inner periphery of the holder, in order to firmly fix the holder to the holder.

According to such a coupling device, as mentioned above,
A holding member 20 for holding the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 in a spherically slidable manner relative to the race fitting assembly 18 is attached to the race fitting assembly 1 at the same time as the holding member 20 is formed.
8, the assembly operation and configuration are significantly simplified compared to conventional coupling devices, and the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved. This resulted in a significant improvement. Further, as described above, the holding member 20 is directly injection molded within the annular space 34 having a uniform gap between the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14. Therefore, regardless of the dimensional tolerances of the race fitting assembly 18 and the inner cylinder fitting 14, the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 and the holding member 20
A resin material 56 is placed between the sliding cloth 19 joined to the
As a result, a uniform, small, and appropriate clearance was created based on the contraction of the material, and as a result, a highly accurate spherical sliding function with no backlash could be stably obtained. . Furthermore, according to the joint device of this embodiment, the holding member 20
is attached to the spherical convex surface 1 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 via the sliding cloth 19.
2, the holding member 20 is not brought into direct sliding contact with the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14, and therefore, the above-mentioned fiber-reinforced resin is used as its constituent material. Even when a material is used, there is no fear that the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 will be damaged by the fibers in the material. Therefore, there is an advantage that a fiber-reinforced resin material with better mechanical strength can be used as the constituent material of the holding member 20.

Moreover, in such a joint device, as mentioned above,
The holding member 20 is formed such that both ends in the axial direction thereof are regulated by the inner convex edges 36, 36 of the race fitting assembly 18, and the axial center of the holding member 20 with respect to the race fitting assembly 18 is regulated. The projected area in the direction is increased, and both ends of the holding member 20 in the axial direction are aligned with the inner convex edges 36 of the race fitting assembly 18,
36, the holding strength of the inner cylindrical fitting 14 in the axial direction of the holding member 20 (the allowable load in the axial direction or the pull-out strength of the inner cylindrical fitting 14) is significantly improved. Therefore, it has become possible to use a resin material with lower mechanical strength, and the range of selection of the resin material 56 constituting the holding member 20 can be greatly expanded. It is. In this sense, the holding member 20 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or urethane, as shown in FIG. 11. In this way, if the holding member 20 is made of an elastic material, the vibration damping function based on the elastic force of the holding member 20 can be achieved against vibrations input between the inner cylinder fitting 14 and the race fitting assembly 18. You can also get it. In addition, as shown in the same figure, when the joint device is used as a spherical sliding mechanism of a spherical sliding type bushing, an elastic member is provided on the outside of the race fitting assembly 18 to perform a vibration-proofing function. The member 64 is inserted into the holding member 20 through the through hole 40.
This makes it possible to integrally mold the spherical sliding bushing with extremely good manufacturability.
In addition, in the figure, 66 is a cylindrical member to which a bush is attached.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the annular groove 38 around the axis is formed in the spherical concave surface 16 of the race fitting assembly 18, so that the load applied to the holding member 20 in the axial direction is reduced. Even through the resin member injected into this annular groove 38, the race fitting assembly 1
8, this also allows the inner cylinder fitting 1 to withstand the load in the axial direction.
There is an advantage that the holding strength of No. 4 is increased.

In particular, in the joint device having the above-described structure, the race fitting assembly 18 has a structure in which the first and second race fittings 42 and 44, each having a spherical concave surface divided into two in the axial direction, are screwed together. Since the race fitting assembly is formed by integrating multiple parts by caulking or welding, it is easier to assemble than the conventional race fitting assembly. This can be easily carried out without requiring large-scale equipment or equipment, and extremely excellent assembly strength can be stably obtained. As a result, the inner convex edge 3 of the lace fitting assembly 18
6 and 36, the supporting strength of the holding member 20 as described above and, by extension, the load-bearing strength in the axial direction of the joint device can be more effectively and stably exhibited.

Furthermore, annular grooves 38 and 38 are formed in the inner circumferential surfaces of the first and second race fittings 42 and 44, respectively, which constitute the race fitting assembly 18. Since the holding member 20 is fitted with the concave and convex portions, loosening of the threaded portions of the first and second race fittings 42 and 44 can be extremely effectively prevented by the holding member 20. Thereby, the durability and reliability of the race fitting assembly 18 and, by extension, the joint device can be further advantageously ensured.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as described above, the inner convex edges 36, 36 (to be precise, the edge portions 32, 32) of the race fitting assembly 18 are larger than the shrinkage dimension at the time of forming the holding member 20. Since the sliding cloth 19 faces the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14 with a large gap in between, the holding member 20, the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14 is well prevented from being damaged by sliding contact with the inner convex edges 36, 36 (sliding contact via the sliding cloth 19). There are also some advantages to doing so.

Note that the sliding cloth 19 is
The spherical convex surface 12 is not necessarily larger than the inner convex edges 36, 36 (edge portions 32, 32) of the race fitting assembly 18.
It is not necessary that the spherical convex surface 12 is joined at a position close to the spherical convex surface 12, but it is also possible to join at a position somewhat apart from the inner convex edges 36, 36, but in this case, damage to the spherical convex surface 12 can be avoided. In order to prevent this, it is desirable that the race fitting assembly 18 be made of a softer material than the inner cylinder fitting 14. In this sense, the holding member 20 can be injection molded by simply holding the inner cylinder fitting 12 and the race fitting assembly 18 in a fixed position, without using the complicated molding die 54 as described above. By doing so, it is possible to improve the molding efficiency of the holding member 20 and, by extension, the manufacturing efficiency of the joint device.

That is, the inner convex edge 3 of the race fitting assembly 18
6, 36, as shown in FIG. Sliding cloth 19 on convex surface 12
If the resin material 56 injected into the annular space 34 is prevented from flowing out from both ends of the annular space 34, a mold 54 with a complex structure can be used. There is no need, and the holding member 20 as described above can be formed without using such a molding die 54. In addition, in this case, the annular space 34
It is not necessary that both ends of the inner cylinder fitting 14 are completely closed, but it is sufficient that the resin material 56 is closed to the extent that the resin material 56 does not leak out from both ends. Therefore, it is desirable to form as large a gap as possible between the inner convex edges 36, 36 and the spherical convex surface 12.

Further, in this embodiment, when forming the holding member 20, as described above, both ends of the sliding cloth 19 are held between the molding die 54 and the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14. Because of this, during injection molding of the resin material 56, the sliding cloth 19 could be joined to the inner circumferential surface of the holding member 20 with a good positional relationship without shifting. Both ends of the sliding cloth 19 do not necessarily need to be held between the molding die 54 and the spherical protrusion 12 of the inner cylinder fitting 14.

Furthermore, as described above, such a joint device is attached to a predetermined connecting portion either directly as a ball joint device or indirectly via a cylindrical elastic member 64 that functions as a vibration damper. However, the present inventor wrote the above specification (Japanese Patent Application No. 173709/1986
It is also possible to provide it in a state where it is integrally embedded in the connecting part of a predetermined rod, as in the ball jointed rod proposed in No. However, in this case, a resin material or a fiber-reinforced resin material with excellent mechanical strength is generally used as the molding material for the holding member 20.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are literal illustrations, and it goes without saying that the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to these specific examples.

For example, in the embodiment, the inner convex edges 36, 36
is the stepped surface 3 perpendicular to the axis of the race fitting assembly 18.
Edge portions 32, 32 which regulate both ends of the holding member 20 with 0, 30 and have a right-angled cross section.
Although the inner cylindrical fitting 14 was designed to face the spherical convex surface 12 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14, the inner convex edges 36, 3
6 is formed by stepped surfaces 30, 30 formed non-perpendicularly to the axis of the race fitting assembly 18,
Furthermore, both ends of the holding member 20 may be restricted by the stepped surfaces 30, 30 exhibiting a curved surface shape. Obtuse edge part 3
2 and 32 may be opposed to each other at a corner surface (edge portion) or a chamfered surface having a curved cross section.

Further, in the above embodiment, the shaft member is a hollow inner cylindrical fitting 14, and is attached to a predetermined mounting shaft through the inner hole 24 of the inner cylindrical fitting 14. The application is not limited to, but it can also be applied to joint devices in which the shaft member is a solid mounting shaft, such as control arm link rods, stabilizer link rods, and lateral joints for automobile suspensions. Ball joint devices used for connecting parts such as links, various rods including torque rods,
Two members, such as a spherical sliding mechanism (ball joint mechanism) of a spherical sliding type bushing, which is used for connecting parts such as links and arms, and connects them to a predetermined support member in a spherical slidable and anti-vibration manner. It is possible to widely apply it as a connecting mechanism for connecting spherically slidably.

Other details such as the shape of the seal member and its mounting structure will not be listed in detail, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented with various changes, modifications, improvements, etc. without departing from the spirit thereof. By the way.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a joint device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an inner cylinder fitting of the joint device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the lace fitting assembly of the coupling device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show the first lace fitting and the second lace fitting constituting the coupling device. FIG. 6, 7, and 9 are sectional views for explaining the manufacturing process of the joint device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a sealing member of the coupling device of FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a spherical sliding bush that employs the joint device according to the present invention as a spherical sliding mechanism;
FIG. 2 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 8 for explaining the manufacturing process of another embodiment of the present invention. 12: Spherical convex surface, 14: Inner cylinder fitting (shaft member),
16: Spherical concave surface, 18: Race metal fitting assembly, 1
9: Sliding cloth (cloth member), 20: Holding member, 22:
Seal member, 30: Stepped surface, 32: Edge portion, 3
4: Annular space, 36: Inward convex edge, 40: Through hole (gate hole), 42: First lace fitting, 44: Second lace fitting, 46: Female threaded portion, 48: Spherical curved surface, 50: Male screw part, 54: Molding die, 56: Resin material, 64: Elastic member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A hollow or solid shaft member having a spherical convex surface on the outer circumferential surface of an intermediate portion in the axial direction, and a shaft member whose spherical convex surface is slidably covered;
an annular cloth member made of a low-friction material; a spherical concave surface corresponding to the spherical convex surface of the shaft member on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction; a spherical convex surface of the shaft member, which has two inward convex edges facing each other with a concave surface in between, is located outside the shaft member, and is covered by a front air cloth member; and the spherical concave surface, a plurality of annular spaces are formed between the spherical convex surface and the spherical convex surface, the distance at both ends in the axial direction being narrowed by the inner convex edge, and the distance being uniform along the spherical convex surface. a cylindrical race member assembly formed by integrally assembling race members; and a predetermined space filled in the annular space between the spherical concave surface of the race member assembly and the spherical convex surface of the shaft member. The lace member assembly is integrally fixed to the race member assembly with both ends in the axial direction regulated by the inner convex edges, and the cloth is formed on the inner peripheral surface. A spherical sliding type comprising: a holding member that is integrally joined to the member and holds the spherical convex surface of the shaft member in a spherically slidable manner on the inner peripheral surface to which the cloth member is joined. In the joint device, the race member assembly is made of first and second race members each having a cylindrical shape and having a spherical curved surface formed by dividing the spherical concave surface into two in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface. and a female threaded portion is provided on the inner circumference of the first race member, and a male threaded portion is provided on the outer circumference of the second race member, and the first and second race members are connected to each other. While the two race members are assembled by screwing together, a groove extending in the circumferential direction is formed in each spherical curved surface of the two race members, and the holding member is inserted into the groove. A spherical sliding joint device characterized by a concave and convex fit.