JPH0343457Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial field) This invention relates to a link joint device used for a link joint part for driving a wiper in a wiper device for wiping the window glass of an automobile, for example. It is something.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, as a link joint device used in a link joint portion for driving a wiper in a wiper device for wiping the window glass of an automobile,
There was one disclosed in Publication No. 53-37159.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
A ball retainer 100 used in this link joint device includes a substantially hemispherical spherical recess 100a that is coupled to a ball pin 102 fixed to a motor arm 101 connected to a wiper motor (not shown) through a spherical pair. This spherical recess 100
An opening 100b into which the ball pin 102 is inserted is provided below a. This ball retainer 100 includes the ball pins 102.
In order to facilitate the insertion of the spherical recess 100a, slits 100c are provided at four locations in the spherical recess 100a. An outer diameter portion 100d for preventing the ball pin 102 from falling off and a link arm 10
3, a protrusion 100f formed in a shape that can be inserted into a groove 103b provided in an insertion hole 103a of the link arm 103, and a protrusion 100f for preventing rotation of the ball retainer 100. , locking hole 1 of link arm 103
03c.

Therefore, when connecting the link arm 103 and the motor arm 101 described above, an opening 100 is formed in the spherical recess 100a of the ball retainer 100.
After inserting the ball pin 102 from b, the protrusion 100f of the ball retainer 100 and the link arm 1
Insert the ball retainer 1 into the insertion hole 103a of the link arm 103 at the position where the groove 103b of the
00, and hook part 10 of ball retainer 100.
0e and link arm 103 are brought into contact.

Next, the ball retainer 100 is rotated to the left or right to lock the locking hole 103 of the link arm 103.
Extension protrusion 100g of ball cage 100 is attached to b.
Insert. As a result, the ball cage 10
The ball retainer 100 and the motor arm 101 are connected by the spherical concave portion 100a of 0 and the ball pin 102, and the ball retainer 100
A wiper device is constructed by connecting the link arm 103 via the link arm 103 to transmit the power of a wiper motor (not shown) to the link arm 103, and further swinging the wiper blade (not shown) on the wiping surface.

Conventionally, regarding this type of wiper drive ball retainer 100, it has been necessary to consider smooth drive performance, ease of manufacturing and assembly, and prevention of link arm 103 and ball pin 102 from falling off during operation. Therefore, various improvements have been made.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the case of a link joint device using the conventional ball retainer 100 as described above,
The ball retainer 100 is provided with a protrusion 100f and a hook 100 for clamping and holding the ball retainer 100 with the link 103.
e, and an extension protrusion 100g to prevent the ball retainer 100 from coming off by preventing it from rotating with the link arm 103. In addition, in order to configure the link arm 103 into a shape corresponding to the ball retainer 100, the insertion hole 103a and the groove portion 103c are required.
and a locking hole 10 for preventing rotation.
3b had to be formed respectively, which caused the problem that an increase in the number of man-hours during manufacturing could not be avoided.

Furthermore, when assembling the ball retainer 100, the ball retainer 100 once inserted into the link arm 103 is rotated while maintaining that state, and the extended protrusion 100g of the ball retainer 100 is inserted into the locking hole 103b of the link arm 103. The structure is such that the ball retainer 100 is assembled at a predetermined position on the link arm 103 by inserting the In some cases, the work is carried out by groping through the intake port, which not only is not easy but also causes damage to the worker's fingers, making the assembly work complicated and lacking in safety. Development of new technology was desired.

This idea was devised in order to solve the conventional problems as described above, and it is a link joint that prevents the ball pin and ball retainer from falling off and also allows for easy work during production and assembly. The goal is to provide equipment.

[Structure of the device] (Means for solving the problems) The link joint device according to the device of this application includes a ball retainer that is assembled into a circular opening formed in a link arm and has a concave spherical surface formed on the inner periphery. , a link joint device comprising a ball pin fixed to a motor arm and formed with a spherical portion that fits into the ball retainer via a spherical pair, the outer periphery of the ball retainer being slightly larger than the inner diameter of the circular opening; A link arm abutting portion having an outer shape and abutting on the surface of the link arm is provided, and a back side of the link arm protruding into the circular opening from the opposing position of the link arm abutting portion is provided against the link arm. The spherical portion of the ball pin is supported on the back side of the link arm that protrudes into the circular opening from positions alternating with the link arm locking projections of the link arm abutting portion. A tongue piece for holding the ball pin is provided,
A ball pin inclination angle regulating recess formed in a concave shape from the spherical part is provided in the center of the spherical part,
An inclination allowance is provided at the top of the ball pin that allows the link arm and the motor arm to rotate on the parallel plane and prevents rotation on the intersecting plane when the ball pin is inserted into the ball pin inclination angle regulating recess. The present invention is characterized by having a configuration in which a convex portion for angle setting is provided, and is characterized in that the conventional problems are solved by the above-mentioned configuration of the link joint device.

(Function) In the link joint device according to this invention, the link arm locking protrusion engages the link arm on the back side of the link arm with the link arm contacting part of the ball cage in contact with the surface of the link arm. Compared to inserting the ball retainer into the link arm and rotating it and inserting the extension protrusion of the ball retainer into the locking hole of the link arm,
There is no need to rotate the ball cage to position it when it is inserted into the link arm, so the ball cage can be assembled to the link arm in only one direction, and the ball pins fit into the spherical part of the ball cage. In this state, the ball pin holding tongue of the ball cage supports the spherical part of the ball pin on the back side of the link arm, and the convex part for setting the permissible tilt angle of the ball pin is in the concave part of the ball cage for regulating the ball pin tilt angle. In the inserted state, the link arm and motor arm are allowed to rotate on a parallel plane at a position where the convex part for setting the permissible tilt angle does not touch the ball retainer, and the convex part for setting the permissible tilt angle touches the ball retainer. Since rotation on the intersecting plane between the link arm and the motor arm is prevented at the abutting position, no stress is applied in the direction of the ball pin falling out from the ball retainer.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the link joint device according to this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The illustrated link joint device includes a ball retainer 1 assembled into a circular opening 5a provided in a link arm 5.
and a ball pin 4 fixed to a motor arm 6.

The ball retainer 1 is provided with a main body 2 having an inverted bowl-shaped outer shape and a link side fixing part 3 for assembling the main body 2 to a link arm 5. A concave spherical portion 2a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin 4.
A ball pin inclination angle regulating recess 2a1 formed in a concave shape from the spherical part 2a is provided on the upper side of the center of the spherical part 2a in FIG.
is provided.

Further, in the center of the outer periphery of the main body 2 in FIG. A link arm contact portion 2b is provided which contacts the surface 5b of the link arm.
On the lower surface of the link arm abutting portion 2b, there are projecting portions extending from three opposing locations through the circular opening 5b and projecting downward in FIG. 1 to the rear surface 5c of the link arm 5 to secure the link side Part 3
Link arm locking protrusion 3 constituting another part of
c, 3c, and 3c are provided.

The tip of the link arm locking projection 3c is spaced apart from the link arm contact portion 2b by a dimension slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the link arm 5, and each link arm locking projection 3c is The inner circumferential surface 3c1 is formed of a curved surface having a diameter equal to the diameter of the spherical section 2a, and the link arm locking protrusions 3c, 3c, 3c are arranged on the outer circumferential side and the inner circumferential side with respect to the center of the spherical section 2a. It has some elasticity that allows it to move to the side.

Further, on the lower surface of the link arm abutting portion 2b, the back surface of the link arm 5 is inserted through the circular opening 5b from three locations alternating with the link arm locking protrusions 3c and directed downward in FIG. 5
Ball pin clamping tongue pieces 3a, 3 protruding to the c side
a, 3a, and the inner peripheral part 3a1 of each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a is a curved surface having a diameter equal to the diameter of the spherical part 2a, similar to the inner peripheral surface 3c1 of the link arm locking projection 3c. It is formed by
Each of the ball pin holding tongues 3a, 3a, 3a has some elasticity that allows it to move toward the outer circumference and the inner circumference with respect to the center of the spherical portion 2a.

Here, since the ball retainer 1 has a shape that slightly protrudes from the outer periphery of the main body 2,
When injection molding is performed, the deformed size does not become large and the defective rate is reduced.

On the other hand, the outer periphery of the ball pin 4 is provided with the spherical portion 2.
A spherical portion 4a having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball pin 4 is provided on the top of the ball pin 4.
In the figure, a protrusion 4b for setting an allowable inclination angle is provided that protrudes upward.

When assembling a link joint device having such a structure, as is clear from Fig. 3,
Each link arm locking protrusion 3 of the ball retainer 1 from the upper side of the link arm 5, that is, from the surface 5a side.
c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a through the circular opening 5a.
As the link arm locking projections 3c are inserted into the inside, each link arm locking projection 3c is slightly elastically deformed toward the inner circumferential side, and the link arm 5, the ball retainer 1 is assembled to the link arm 5.

As is clear from FIG. 2, in this state, the lower side of the link arm 5, that is, the back surface 5c
On the side, near the tip of each link arm locking protrusion 3c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a protrude, and through each link arm locking protrusion 3c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a, When the ball pin 4 is inserted into the spherical portion 2a of the ball cage 1, the link arm locking protrusion 3c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a are slightly elastically deformed toward the outer circumference by the ball pin 4. When the ball pin 4 is fitted into the spherical surface portion 2a of the ball retainer 1, the link arm locking projection 3c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a move toward the inner circumferential side and elastically return.

As a result, the link arm locking protrusion 3c and each ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a are inserted into the ball pin inclination angle regulating concave part 2a1 of the ball retainer 1, with the protrusion 4b for setting the allowable inclination angle of the ball pin 4 inserted into the recess 2a1 for regulating the ball pin inclination angle. As it moves toward the inner circumferential side, it returns elastically, so
The inner circumferential surface 3c1 of the link arm locking projection 3c and the inner circumferential surface 3a1 of the ball pin clamping tongue piece 3a hold the lower part of the spherical portion 4a of the ball pin 4 via a spherical pair, and the spherical portion 2a The upper portion of the spherical portion 4a of the ball pin 4 is held through the spherical pair.

Therefore, by driving a motor (not shown) connected to the motor arm 6, the motor arm 6
When the ball pin 4 rotates, the ball retainer 1
Since the rotational power of the ball pin 4 is transmitted to the ball retainer 1 and the ball retainer 1 rotates relative to the ball pin 4, the ball retainer 1
A pivot shaft (not shown) connected to the shaft is rotated back and forth.

At this time, if the plane formed by the trajectory accompanying the rotation of the motor arm 6 and the plane formed by the trajectory accompanying the rotation of the link arm 5 are in a parallel state, the permissible inclination angle of the ball pin 4 is Since the setting convex portion 4b is located within the ball pin inclination angle regulating concave portion 2a1 of the ball retainer 1 and does not come into contact with the ball retainer 1, the link arm 5
is allowed to rotate by the motor arm 5.

Further, when the surface formed by the trajectory of the link arm 5 is no longer parallel to the surface formed by the trajectory caused by the rotation of the motor arm 6 and becomes intersecting, When the allowable inclination angle setting convex portion 4b of the ball pin 4 comes into contact with the ball retainer 1 within the ball pin inclination angle regulating recess 2a1, the allowable inclination angle setting convex portion 4b
prevents the link arm 5 from tilting relative to the motor arm 6 without tilting any further relative to the ball retainer 1, and when the angle of inclination of the link arm 5 relative to the motor arm 6 becomes large, the ball pin 4 is This prevents stress from acting in the direction of the retainer 1 coming off.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, since the link joint device according to this invention has the above-described structure, it is possible to securely and easily attach the ball cage to the link arm without the need for rotation as in the conventional case. In addition, the ball pin can be easily fitted into the ball cage to ensure smooth drive and prevention of falling off, and the ball cage has a very simple shape, making it easy to fit the ball pin into the ball cage. This has excellent effects in that it is possible to reduce the deformed size when performing green molding, and it is also possible to keep the defective rate low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view illustrating an assembled state of a ball retainer, a link arm, and a ball pin in an embodiment of the link joint device according to this invention;
2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1 to explain the state of connection between the ball retainer and link arm in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ball retainer, link arm, and ball pin in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the assembled state of a conventional ball retainer, link arm, and ball pin, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the conventional ball retainer, link arm, and ball pin. 1... Ball cage, 2a... Spherical part, 2a
1... Ball pin inclination angle regulating recess, 2b...
Link arm contact portion, 3a...Tang piece for holding ball pin, 3c...Protrusion for locking link arm, 4...
Ball pin, 4a... Spherical part, 4b... Convex part for setting permissible inclination angle, 5... Link arm, 5a...
Circular opening, 5b...front surface, 5c...back surface, 6...
motor arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A ball retainer that is assembled into a circular opening formed in a link arm and has a concave spherical part formed on its inner periphery, and a ball retainer that is fixed to a motor arm and is fitted into the ball retainer via a spherical pair. In the link joint device equipped with a ball pin formed with a spherical part, the link arm contacting part has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the circular opening on the outer periphery of the ball retainer and contacts the surface of the link arm. and a link arm locking protrusion that locks to the link arm on the back side of the link arm protruding into the circular opening from opposing positions of the link arm contact part, and Ball pin clamping tongues are provided on the back side of the link arm that protrudes into the circular opening from positions alternating with the link arm locking protrusions to support the spherical part of the ball pin, and the spherical part is provided in the center of the spherical part. A ball pin inclination angle regulating recess formed in a concave shape is provided at the top of the ball pin, and when the ball pin is inserted into the ball pin inclination angle regulating recess, the link arm and the motor arm rotate on a parallel plane. A link joint device characterized by being provided with a protrusion for setting an allowable inclination angle that allows movement and prevents rotation on an intersecting plane.