JPH08240268A - Dust cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To properly feed lubricating oil to a seal lip at all times, regarding a dust cover positioned between the first member and the second member jointed to each other with a ball stud, in such a state as surrounding the ball stud. CONSTITUTION: Regarding a dust cover 53 positioned between the first member and the second member jointed to each other with a ball stud 43 in such a state as surrounding the ball stud 43, with a seal lip 55b formed on the first member of a cover body 55 so as to come in contact with the first member, the ball section of the stud 43 is held on a bearing member 47 laid on the second member. Also, a through-hole is formed on the internal side of the seal lip 55b of the body 55. In this case, the first member and second member are used respectively as a tie rod arm 41 and a tie rod end 45 laid on the front axle of an automobile.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dust cover arranged around a ball stud between a first member and a second member connected by the ball stud.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an automobile such as a truck, a front axle is arranged for supporting a front wheel load and for steering. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a front axle of this type, which is provided at both ends of the axle body 11.
A knuckle 15 that supports the disc wheel 13 is arranged.

The knuckle 15 can be swung by turning a steering arm 17. Knuckle 15
One end of the tie rod arm 19 is connected to the side, and the other end of the tie rod arm 19 is connected to the ball stud 2
1 is connected to the tie rod end 25 of the tie rod 23.

FIG. 5 shows details of a connecting portion of the tie rod arm 19 to the tie rod end 25. A bearing member 27 is arranged on the tie rod end 25, and the ball portion 21a of the ball stud 21 is arranged by the bearing member 27. It is supported. A dust cover 27 made of, for example, rubber or resin is disposed between the tie rod arm 19 and the tie rod end 25 so as to surround the ball stud 21.

As shown in FIG. 6, a seal lip 29a is formed on the cover body 29 of the dust cover 27, and the seal lip 29a is in contact with the tie rod arm 19. The bearing member 27 is supported by the end cover 31, and the end cover 31 is provided with a grease nipple 33 for supplying grease.

On the other hand, the seal lip 29 of the cover body 29
A grease discharge hole 2 for discharging grease is provided on the outer side of a.
9b is formed. In the above-described connection structure, the bearing member 27 is formed by the grease supplied from the grease nipple 33.
Is lubricated and the grease is filled in the dust cover 27, the filled grease is discharged from the grease discharge hole 29b to the outside.

A cover body 29 of the dust cover 27 is also provided.
The seal lip 29a formed in the above is brought into contact with the tie rod arm 19 in a pressed state, and dust from the outside is prevented from entering the bearing portion. Further, in the above-described connecting structure, grease is applied to the seal lip 29a at the time of assembly in order to prevent wear of the seal lip 29a abutting on the tie rod arm 19.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional dust cover, the grease is applied to the seal lip 29a only at the time of assembly, so that the grease deteriorates with the passage of time and gradually disappears. However, there is a problem that it may be difficult to prevent wear of the seal lip 29a.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dust cover which can always reliably supply lubricating oil to the seal lip.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dust cover having a first member and a second member which are connected by ball studs.
Is placed around the ball stud between the member and
In the dust cover formed by abutting the seal lip formed on the first member side of the cover body on the first member, the ball portion of the ball stud is fixed by the bearing member arranged on the second member. It is characterized by supporting and forming a through hole inside the seal lip of the cover body.

A dust cover according to a second aspect of the present invention is the dust cover according to the first aspect, wherein the first member and the second member are a tie rod arm and a tie rod end arranged on a front axle of an automobile.

[0012]

In the dust cover of the first aspect, the lubricating oil of the bearing member arranged in the second member is constantly supplied to the seal lip from the through hole formed inside the seal lip of the cover main body, And the first member is lubricated.

In the dust cover according to the second aspect, the lubricating oil of the bearing member arranged at the tie rod end forming the front axle of the automobile is constantly applied to the seal lip from the through hole formed inside the seal lip of the cover body. It is supplied and the seal lip and the tie rod arm are lubricated.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the dust cover of the present invention is arranged at a connecting portion between a tie rod arm and a tie rod end. In the figure, reference numeral 41 indicates a tie rod arm. The tie rod arm 41 is connected to a tie rod end 45 by a ball stud 43.

The tie rod end 45 has a bearing hole 45a.
Is formed, and a bearing member 47 made of, for example, resin is fitted into the bearing hole 45a. The ball member 43a of the ball stud 43 is supported by the bearing member 47. The bearing member 47 is supported by the end cover 49, and the end cover 49 is provided with a grease nipple 51 for supplying grease.

Between the tie rod arm 41 and the tie rod end 45, a cylindrical dust cover 53 made of, for example, rubber or resin is arranged so as to surround the ball stud 43. Cover body 5 of this dust cover 53
As shown in FIG. 2, the ring-shaped seal lip 55b is integrally formed with the ring 5 along the outer periphery of the bottom surface portion 55a.

The seal lip 55b is pressed against the tie rod arm 41. Cover body 5
On the outer side of the seal lip 55b of No. 5, a grease discharge hole 55c for discharging grease is formed. A reinforcing core metal 57 is embedded in the bottom surface portion 55a.

On the bottom surface 55a of the cover body 55, a predetermined angle is provided inside the seal lip 55b.
For example, a plurality of 6 to 8 through holes 55d are formed. In the connection structure described above, the seal lip 55b formed on the cover body 55 of the dust cover 53 is pressed against the tie rod arm 41 to prevent dust from the outside from entering the bearing portion.

When the bearing member 47 is lubricated by the grease supplied from the grease nipple 51 and the dust cover 53 is filled with the grease, the filled grease is discharged to the outside from the grease discharge hole 55c. Further, the filled grease is guided from the through hole 55d formed in the cover body 55 to the contact portion of the seal lip 55b with the tie rod arm 41, and the wear of the seal lip 55b is prevented.

In the dust cover constructed as described above, the lubricating oil of the bearing member 47 arranged on the tie rod end 45 constituting the front axle of the automobile is
Since the seal lip 55b is supplied from the through hole 55d formed inside the seal lip 55b of the cover main body 55, it is possible to always reliably supply the lubricating oil to the seal lip 55b, and the seal lip 55b is worn. Can be prevented and the life of the seal lip 55b can be improved.

In the embodiment described above, the grease discharge hole 55c for discharging grease is formed on the outer side of the seal lip 55b of the cover body 55, but the present invention is limited to this embodiment. However, the grease discharge hole is not always necessary, and when the grease discharge hole is not formed, the grease passes from the through hole 55d of the cover body 55 to the outside between the seal lip 55b and the tie rod arm 41. Is discharged to.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the front axle of an automobile has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.
It can be widely applied to a connecting portion having a similar structure.

[0024]

As described above, in the dust cover according to the first aspect, the lubricating oil of the bearing member arranged in the second member is sealed from the through hole formed inside the seal lip of the cover body. Since it is supplied to the lip, it is possible to always reliably supply the lubricating oil to the seal lip, prevent wear of the seal lip, and improve the life of the seal lip.

In the dust cover according to the second aspect, the lubricating oil of the bearing member arranged at the tie rod end forming the front axle of the automobile is supplied to the seal lip from the through hole formed inside the seal lip of the cover body. Therefore, there is an advantage that the lubricating oil can always be reliably supplied to the seal lip, the wear of the seal lip can be prevented, and the life of the seal lip can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which an embodiment of a dust cover of the present invention is arranged at a connecting portion between a tie rod arm and a tie rod end.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the dust cover of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a front axle of an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional dust cover is arranged at a connecting portion between a tie rod arm and a tie rod end.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing the dust cover of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 41 Tie rod arm 43 Ball stud 43a Ball portion 45 Tie rod end 47 Bearing member 53 Dust cover 55 Cover body 55b Seal lip 55d Through hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A seal lip, which is disposed between a first member and a second member connected by a ball stud so as to surround the ball stud, and which is formed on the first member side of a cover body, In the dust cover abutting on the first member, the ball member of the ball stud is supported by the bearing member arranged on the second member, and a through hole is formed inside the seal lip of the cover body. Dust cover characterized by being formed. 2. The dust cover according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are a tie rod arm and a tie rod end arranged on a front axle of an automobile.