JPH0571433U - Ball joint - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Structure] A ball bearing member 21 is made of a plurality of ball members 22, a ball case 23 for holding the ball members 22, and a synthetic resin or a rubber member attached to an outer wall surface 23a of the ball case 23. A ring shape having a sheet material 24 made of
Two ball bearing members 21 are arranged so that the ball member 22 faces the inner circumference near both ends in the axial direction of the housing 6 and contacts the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2, and faces the outer peripheral surface of the sheet member 24. Tapered portions 25 are formed so as to converge toward the opposite sides of the ball bearing members 21 provided. [Effects] Since the taper portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal material of the ball bearing member, the ball bearing member can be smoothly press-fitted into the housing along the taper portion. Can be done. Further, since the two ball bearing members have the same shape, productivity can be improved and mass production can be realized at low cost.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a ball joint used in, for example, a suspension system and a steering system of an automobile, and more particularly to a ball joint in which a ball bearing member is arranged between a ball head of a ball stud and a housing.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, a ball joint is generally composed of a ball stud having a spherical ball head, a synthetic resin bearing that holds the ball head of the ball stud in a swingable manner, and a housing that contains a bearing. . Since such a ball joint swings and swings between the ball head of the ball stud and the bearing, the inner wall surface of the bearing is particularly worn by the swinging and swinging of the ball stud, and the ball sta A gap may occur between the ball head and the bearing.

In addition, the contact area between the ball head of the ball stud and the bearing is large, and therefore the operating torque is generally high in some cases.

As shown in FIG. 3, a ball bearing member 121 is arranged between the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102 and the housing 106 in order to prevent such a gap from occurring and to realize a low torque. There is a ball joint 101. Since such swinging rotation of the ball joint 101 is performed at the contact portion between the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102 and the ball material 122 of the ball bearing member 121, the ball joint 101 is relatively less worn than the synthetic resin bare ring. Few. Further, since the ball member 122 of the ball bearing member 121 is held in contact with the ball head 104 against the swinging rotation of the ball stud 102, the contact area is small, and the ball member 121 rotates following the operation torque. Can be suppressed.

[0005]

The assembly of the ball joint 101 in which the ball bearing member 121 is arranged between the ball head 104 of the ball stud 102 and the housing 106 as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Explaining this, first, a substantially cylindrical first bearing 121a made of synthetic resin is press-fitted from one large opening 108 of the housing 106. In the first bearing 121a, a flange portion 131 is formed circumferentially toward the center of the axis on the side of the other end small opening 107 of the housing 106. The flange portion 131 is in contact with the inner periphery of the first bearing 121a. A ball bearing member 121 holding a plurality of ball members 122 is press-fitted inside the annular bearing case 123 in advance. Next, the ball stud 102 is inserted into the first bearing 121a so that the handle 103 of the ball stud 102 projects from the other end small opening 107 of the housing 106, and the ball bearing member 121 is inserted into the first bearing 121a. Then, the annular second bearing 121b and the closing plate 109 are press-fitted and fitted to the inner circumference of the housing 106, and finally the one end of the housing 106 on the side of the large opening 108 is caulked to fix the closing plate 109.

In the ball joint 101 thus assembled, the outer diameter D ′ of the first bearing 121 a and the second bearing 121 b is slightly larger than the inner diameter d ′ of the housing 106, and the first bearing 121 a and the second bearing 121 a. 121b has a closing margin. This interference causes the ball joint 101 to generate a constant operating torque. However, in the assembling process, when the first bearing 121a and the second bearing 121b are press-fitted into the housing 106 by this interference, the first bearing 121a and the second bearing 121b come into contact with the end of the housing 106 on the side of the large opening 108. Then, there is a problem that it is not press-fitted as prescribed.

Further, since the first bearing 121a and the second bearing 121b holding the ball bearings 121, 121 have different shapes, there is a problem that the cost becomes high in mass production.

Accordingly, the present invention solves such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball joint which can assemble a ball joint, in particular, press-fit a ball bearing member in a predetermined manner and realize mass production at low cost. And

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The ball bearing member has a ring shape having a plurality of ball members, a ball case for holding the ball members, and a sheet member made of a synthetic resin or a rubber member attached to the outer wall surface of the ball case, and both ends in the axial direction of the housing. Two ball bearing members are arranged so that the ball members face each other on the inner periphery in the vicinity and contact the ball head of the ball stud, and the ball bearing members disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet member face each other. Tapered portions that converge toward the opposite side are formed.

[0010]

【Example】

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

FIG. 1 shows a ball joint 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a ball stud 2 having a spherical ball head 4 at one end and a rod-shaped handle 3 extending from the ball head 4 at the other end. , A ball bearing member 21 and 21 divided into two in the axial direction of the ball stud that holds the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2 so that the ball head 4 can swing and rotate, and the ball bearing member 21 and 21 are enclosed and one end is small. It is composed of a housing 6 in which the handle 3 of the ball stud 2 is projected from the opening 7, and a closing plate 9 for closing the large opening 8 at the other end of the housing 6.

The ball bearing member 21 includes a plurality of ball members 22, an annular ball case 23 having a U-shaped cross-section for holding the ball members 22 and opening to the inner peripheral side, and an outer wall surface 23 a of the ball case 23. And an annular sheet material 24 made of synthetic resin or rubber attached to the. The ball bearing members 21 and 21 are arranged such that two ball members 22 and 22 face each other in the ball stud axial direction with the ball head 4 equator line of the ball stud 2 interposed therebetween. Further, taper portions 25, 25 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the sheet members 24, 24 so as to converge toward the opposite side of the two ball bearing members 21, 21 arranged opposite to each other.

The housing 6 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a flange portion 10 is formed circumferentially from the end portion on the side of the small opening 7 on which the handle portion 3 of the ball stud 2 is projected toward the center of the axis, and the outer periphery of the small opening 7 is surrounded. A mounting groove 5 in which a dust cover (not shown) is mounted is formed. Further, a step portion 8a for seating the closing plate 9 is formed on the inner periphery near the other end large opening 8. The closing plate 9 has a disk shape having a convex spherical portion 9a protruding outward along the ball head 4 of the ball stud 2.

Here, in order to apply a constant torque to the ball joint 1, the outer diameter D of the ball bearing members 21 and 21 is slightly larger than the inner diameter d of the housing 6 and has an interference.

Next, a process of assembling the ball joint 1 as described above will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the ball bearing member 21 is press-fitted from the taper portion 25 side of the seal member 24 along the taper portion 25 through the large opening 8 of the housing 6, and then from the handle portion 3 side. Insert the ball stud 2 into the housing 6. Further, the second ball bearing member 21 is press-fitted into the housing 6 so that the ball members 22 face each other, and finally, the step of the housing 6 is arranged so that the convex spherical portion 9a is along the spherical head portion 4 of the ball stud 2. The ball joint 1 is assembled by seating the closing plate 9 on the portion 8a and caulking and fixing the end of the housing 6 on the side of the large opening 8.

Therefore, when the ball bearing member 21 is press-fitted into the housing, even if the outer diameter D of the ball bearing member 21 is slightly larger than the inner diameter d of the housing 6, a taper portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 24. Since 25 is formed, the ball bearing member 21 can be smoothly pressed into the housing 6 along the tapered portion 25. Further, since the two ball bearing members 21 and 21 have the same shape, productivity can be improved.

[0018]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, since the taper portion which converges toward the opposite side is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal material of the ball bearing member which is arranged oppositely, the ball bearing member is arranged along the taper portion. Since it can be smoothly press-fitted into the housing, the ball joint can be assembled in a predetermined manner. Moreover, since the two ball bearing members have the same shape, productivity can be improved and mass production can be realized at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing an assembly process of a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a conventional ball joint.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a conventional ball joint assembling process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ball stud 3 handle 4 ball head 6 housing 7 opening 21 ball bearing member 22 ball material 23 ball case 23a outer wall surface 24 sheet material 25 taper portion

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A ball stud (2) having a spherical ball head (4) and a handle (3) extending from the ball head (4).
A ball bearing member (21), (21) for holding the ball head (4) swingably and rotatably, and one end or the other end opening containing the ball bearing member (21), (21). (7) to the handle (3) of the ball stud (2)
In a ball joint provided with a housing (6) for projecting, the ball bearing member includes (21) a plurality of ball members (22), a ball case (23) for holding the ball members (22), and the ball case (23). A ring shape having a sheet material (24) made of a synthetic resin or a rubber material attached to the outer wall surface (23a) of the housing (6), and the ball material (2) on the inner periphery of both ends of the housing (6) in the axial direction.
Two ball bearing members (2) so that (2) and (22) face each other and come into contact with the ball head of the ball stud (2).
1) and (21) are arranged, and the sheet material (2
4), tapered portions (25), (25) that converge toward the opposite side of the ball bearing members (21), (21) disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surfaces of (4), (24), respectively. Characteristic ball joint.