JPH0524814Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a ball joint structure, and more specifically, to a ball joint structure that prevents the dust cover from coming off by devising a method of engaging the dust cover and the socket. .

(Prior Art) Generally, a ball joint structure is used in a steering link mechanism and suspension of a vehicle because it has a large additional capacity of a connecting part and a high degree of freedom of movement. Further, since such ball joints require no lubrication or no lubrication for a long period of time, various improvements have been made to ball seats and dust covers to improve their weather resistance and life characteristics.

As a conventional ball joint structure of this type, there is one shown in FIG. 5, for example. Fifth
In the figure, the lower end 1a of the dust cover 1
A reinforcing ring 2 is embedded in the dust cover 1, and when a press-fitting load is applied to the end portion 1a, the reinforcing ring 2 is fitted to the inner wall 3a of the socket 3 at the inner circumferential portion 2a having a conical circumferential wall shape. The end portion 1a of the socket 3 is fitted into the socket 3.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in such a conventional ball joint structure, the end portion 1a of the dust cover 1
When engaging the reinforcing ring 2 with the socket 3, the circumferential part 2a of the reinforcing ring 2 was press-fitted into the socket 3, so it was not possible to secure a constant press-fit allowance due to variations in component dimensions, and the press-fit load caused The reinforcing ring 2 is deformed and the end 1a of the dust cover 1
There was a problem in that the desired fitting force to prevent the material from coming off could not be obtained.

(Purpose of the invention) Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to actively utilize the deformation of the reinforcing ring due to pressure, to fit the reinforcing ring into the socket without press-fitting, and to obtain the desired fitting force. There is.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a socket, a ball stud having a ball portion rotatably connected to the socket, and one end portion that engages with the ball stud. and a dust cover having the other end in which a reinforcing ring is embedded so as to engage with the socket,
a concave first portion with which the other end of the dust cover engages;
A reinforcing ring is provided, in which the engaging part is formed in a socket, and the second engaging part has an annular hollow part, an outer circumferential part integrally connected to the hollow part, and an inner circumferential part that engages with the socket. The reinforcing ring is embedded in the other end of the dust cover, and the other end of the dust cover is engaged with the socket, and the hollow part of the reinforcing ring is deformed into a flattened shape to reduce the diameter of the second engaging part. The first engaging part of the socket is engaged with the first engaging part of the socket.

(Function) In the present invention, a concave first engaging part with which the other end of the dust cover engages is formed in the socket, and an annular hollow part and an outer peripheral part integrally connected to the hollow part are formed. A reinforcing ring is embedded in the other end of the dust cover, and when the other end of the dust cover is engaged with the socket, the reinforcing ring is By deforming the annular hollow part of the ring into a flattened shape, the second engaging part is reduced in diameter and is locked to the first engaging part of the socket. Therefore, the other end of the dust cover is fitted into the socket without press-fitting the reinforcing ring into the socket, and a sufficient fitting force can be obtained by the reinforcing ring engaged with the concave first engaging part.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a socket;
is a ball stud rotatably connected to the socket 11 via a ball seat 13. 14 is a dust cover, and the dust cover 14 has one end 14a that engages with the ball stud 12 and the other end 14b in which a reinforcing ring 15 is embedded so as to engage with the socket 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the dust cover 14
A concave first engaging portion 11a having a tapered surface with which the other end portion 14b engages is formed in the socket 11, and an annular hollow portion 15a and an outer peripheral portion integrally connected to the hollow portion 15a. A reinforcing ring 15 consisting of a second engaging portion 15b having an inner peripheral portion that engages with the socket 11 is attached to the other end 1 of the dust cover 14.
It is buried in 4b. And dust cover 14
By engaging the other end portion 14b with the socket 11 and flattening the reinforcing ring 15 using the caulking jig G, the diameter of the second engaging portion 15b of the reinforcing ring 15 is reduced, resulting in the deformation shown in FIG. The amount δ is generated so that the first engaging portion 11a of the socket 11 is engaged. By flattening the reinforcing ring 15 in this manner, the reinforcing ring 15 can be reliably fitted into the socket 11 without being press-fitted, a desired fitting force can be obtained, and the first engagement of the socket 11 can be achieved. Since the portion 11a is formed in a concave shape, the reinforcing ring 15 is attached to the socket 1.
1, and can reliably prevent the dust cover 14 from coming off from the socket 11 due to vibrations, shocks, etc. in the mounted state (mounted on a vehicle or the like).

In this embodiment, the first engaging portion 11a of the socket 11 is formed into a concave shape with a tapered surface on one side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed into an annular shape as shown in FIG. It may be formed in the groove 11b.

The socket is then fitted with a reinforcing ring that is fitted with a recessed first engagement portion that engages with the other end of the dust cover. The hollow portion of the reinforcing ring is deformed flat relative to the first engagement portion of the socket, thereby reducing the diameter of the second engagement portion of the reinforcing ring that is connected to it, thereby locking it in place. This allows the reinforcing ring to be securely engaged with the socket without being press-fitted into it.
The other end of the dust cover can be securely fitted into the socket.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the ball joint structure according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view thereof, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views of the main parts, respectively.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing another embodiment of the ball joint structure according to the present invention. Fifth
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a conventional example. 11...Socket, 11a...First engaging portion, 1
3...Ball stud, 13a...Ball part, 1
4...Dust cover, 14a...One end, 14b
...Other end portion, 15...Reinforcement ring, 15a...Hollow portion, 15b...Second engaging portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A socket, a ball stud having a ball portion rotatably connected to the socket, one end that engages with the ball stud, a reinforcing ring that engages with the socket, and the like. a dust cover having an end portion; a concave first engaging portion that engages with the other end of the dust cover; and an annular hollow portion; A reinforcing ring is embedded in the other end of the dust cover, and the second engaging part has an outer peripheral part that is connected to the outer peripheral part and an inner peripheral part that engages with the socket. At the same time, the hollow part of the reinforcing ring is flattened to reduce the diameter of the second engaging part, and the second engaging part is engaged with the first engaging part of the socket. Ball joint structure.