JPH10205524A - Sealing cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always bring connecting surfaces in contact with each other by providing a tapered inner peripheral connecting surface to be fitted to a ball stud and contracted to the outer end in the axial direction on a fitting part, and providing a cylindrical rubber elastic material-made seal part between the connecting surface and the ball stud. SOLUTION: In a sealing cover 1, an attaching part 8 to be fitted to a socket 64 is formed on one end, an engaging ring 14 is embedded in it to perform the slip prevention. The other end is a thick fitting part 4, the inner peripheral connecting surface 4a is formed into a taper surface contracted outward, a metallic retainer 9 in which the inner peripheral surface 9a to be fitted to a ball stud 61 is provided is provided on the inner peripheral side of the fitting part 4, and an annular rubber material-made seal part 3 is fitted to and integrally connected to the outer peripheral surface 9b. Therefore, even if the ball stud 61 is oscillated in relation to the socket 64 by taking the ball part 63 as the center, the small-diameter side of the inner peripheral connecting surface 4a is bonded and fitted to the seal part 3 so as to bite it because it is formed into the thin wall, and the seal effect can be exhibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sealing cover for sealing a sliding portion between a ball portion and a socket portion of a ball joint.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art related to the present invention, there is a dust cover shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a fitting portion provided at one end of the resin dust cover 51 is attached to the ball stud 61.

In FIG. 6, a dust cover 51 has a lower mounting portion (not shown) fitted and mounted on a socket which is a part of a ball joint.

As shown in FIG. 6, the other end of the mounting portion is formed in a funnel-shaped reduced diameter shape having a small diameter. The distal end side of the reduced diameter shape is formed in a thick cylindrical neck portion 52, and a first seal portion 52c formed of two protrusions of the same diameter is formed on the inner peripheral surface 52a of the neck portion 52. . Further, a second sealing portion 54 having a frusto-conical shape is formed on an end face of the neck portion 52.
A groove 52b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the root of the second seal portion 54.
Are formed to facilitate elastic deformation.

Next, a retainer 55 made of a metal material is provided on the inner peripheral side of the neck portion 52 so as to be fitted to the ball stud 61. The retainer 55 is formed in a cylindrical portion having a flange at one end. An inner peripheral surface 55a and an outer peripheral surface 55b are formed in the cylindrical portion of the retainer 55.

The outer peripheral surface 55b of the retainer 55
An inner peripheral surface 53b of a seal portion 53 made of a rubber material is integrally adhered to the entire surface of. Outer peripheral surface 53a of this seal portion 53
Are further elastically joined to the inner peripheral surface 52a of the neck 52. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface 53a of the seal portion 53 is joined while being elastically deformed so as to be joined to the first seal portion 52c of the inner peripheral surface 52a of the neck portion 52.

[0007]

However, in the conventional dust cover 51 constructed as described above, the ball portion of the ball stud 61 repeatedly swings with respect to the socket. Inner surface 52a and outer surface 53a of seal portion 53 swing and wear. In particular, since a protruding first seal portion 52c is provided on the inner peripheral surface 52a of the neck portion 52 in order to exhibit a sealing effect, wear is accelerated.

[0008] Further, as shown in FIG.
1 swings to incline the axis with respect to the socket, a part of the upper surface side of the joint surface between the inner peripheral surface 52a of the neck portion 52 and the outer peripheral surface 53a of the seal portion 53 is opened, and the second seal portion is opened. 54 will be separated from the lower surface of the knuckle arm 62.

For this reason, dust and the like enter the opening gap between the inner peripheral surface 52a and the outer peripheral surface 53a, thereby promoting wear between both surfaces. Further, the lubricating oil in the dust cover 51 flows out from the worn surface between the two surfaces.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a technical problem of the present invention is to keep the joint surface between the seal portion and the neck always in close contact even when the ball stud is inclined. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the lubricating oil in the cover from flowing out from the joint surface between the seal portion and the neck portion.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent a dust from entering by separating a second seal portion (dust seal) joined to the knuckle arm from the knuckle arm.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the technical means thereof is configured as follows. That is, the sealing cover is made of an elastic plastic material and has a mounting portion that is provided at one end of the cylindrical portion and fits into the socket and a fitting portion that is provided at the other end of the cylindrical portion and fits into the ball stud. The fitting portion has a tapered inner peripheral joint surface that fits with the ball stud and converges toward the axially outer end, and between the inner peripheral joint surface and the ball stud. It has a cylindrical rubber-like elastic material sealing portion which is hermetically joined to the outer peripheral surface of the ball stud or the retainer fitted to the ball stud and press-fitted to the inner peripheral joining surface.

[0014]

The mounting portion 8 at one end of the sealing cover is a socket 64.
And the fitting portion 4 on the other end is fitted to the ball stud 61 to cover the sliding side of the ball portion 63 while sealing it. The inner peripheral joining surface 4a formed on the tapered surface of the fitting portion 4 is in close contact with the rubber seal portion 3. Further, even if the ball stud 61 swings about the ball portion 63 with respect to the socket 64, the inner peripheral joint surface 4
The small-diameter side a is formed so that the tapered portion in the radial direction is formed thick and is in close contact with the seal portion 3 so as to bite into the seal portion 3.
Can be fitted. As a result, the flexibility of the cylindrical portion 2 is exerted by the seal portion 3, and the sealing effect is exerted by the inner peripheral joining surface 4a of the tapered surface.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a sealing cover 1 is mounted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a sealing cover.
The sealing cover 1 is formed in a flexible tubular portion 2 whose middle part expands in an arcuate cross section. And this sealing cover 1
Is formed by injection molding or blow molding from an elastic plastic material which is a thermoplastic elastomer.
As a material of the cylindrical portion 2, a material having high mechanical strength such as polyurethane, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, and polymer alloy is preferable.

The sealing cover 1 has a mounting portion 8 at one end for fitting with the socket 64. A locking ring 14 is buried in the mounting portion 8, and the locking ring 14 functions as a stopper when the mounting portion 8 is fitted to the socket 64.

The other end of the sealing cover 1 is formed in a thick fitting portion 4. It is preferable that the fitting portion 4 is formed in a ring shape and is thick enough to prevent deformation.

Further, the fitting portion 4 is formed with an inner peripheral joint surface 4a, and the inner peripheral joint surface 4a is formed as a tapered surface converging outward. A sealing lip 7 formed in a frustoconical shape is provided on the upper surface of the fitting portion 4. The tip of the seal lip 7 is formed on the joint surface 7a.

A metal retainer 9 having an inner peripheral surface 9a to be fitted with the ball stud 61 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the fitting portion 4. The retainer 9 has a cylindrical shape and has a flange portion 9c formed below. Further, the fitting surface 3c of the annular seal portion 3 is integrally fitted to the outer peripheral surface 9b of the retainer 9 by fitting or baking. The seal portion 3 is made of a rubber material, and has two annular lips 3a protruding from the outer peripheral joining surface 3b.

The outer peripheral joining surface 3b is
Are tightly fitted to the inner peripheral joining surface 4a. In particular, the annular lip 3a provided on the outer peripheral joining surface 3b is strongly fitted to the small diameter side (upper peripheral surface) of the inner peripheral joining surface 4a which forms a tapered surface.

The dimensional relationship between the outer peripheral joint surface 3b and the inner peripheral joint surface 4a is such that the inner peripheral joint surface 4a is formed as a tapered surface, and the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the annular lip 3a provided on the outer peripheral joint surface 3b. The inner peripheral surface 4a is formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the tapered large diameter side (lower peripheral surface) of the inner peripheral joining surface 4a, and is pressed against the inner peripheral joining surface 4a.

As a result, the tapered small-diameter side (upper peripheral surface) of the inner peripheral joint surface 4a is opposed to the outer peripheral joint surface 3b opposed thereto.
The outer peripheral surface of the annular lip 3a has a stronger pressure contact than the annular lip 3a on the large diameter side of the taper of the inner peripheral joining surface 4a.
The lower end in the figure of the seal portion 3 is formed on the flange portion 3d, and is joined to the opposite end portion 3e on the support surface 62a of the knuckle arm 62 (compressed from the fitting portion 4 and joined). In some cases).

Further, as another embodiment, when the annular lip 3a is not provided on the outer peripheral joint surface 3b of the seal portion 3, the outer peripheral joint surface 3b is formed as a substantially parallel cylindrical peripheral surface. . The diameter of the cylindrical peripheral surface may be slightly larger than the diameter of the taper of the inner peripheral joint surface 4a on the large diameter side.

The seal portion 3 is preferably made of a rubber material having excellent low-temperature flexibility or a rubber material having excellent elasticity. Specifically, silicon rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber, fluorine rubber, nitrile rubber, or the like is suitable as the low-temperature flexible material. Alternatively, as the rubber material having excellent elasticity, nitrile rubber, high damping rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber and the like are preferable.

The sealing cover 1 configured as described above is
The mounting portion 8 is fitted to the socket 64, and the other fitting portion 4 is fitted to the ball stud 61.

Between the tapered inner peripheral joining surface 4a of the fitting portion 4 and the ball stud 61, the outer peripheral surface 9b of the retainer 9 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the ball stud 61 is attached to the sealing portion 3
Are fitted and integrally connected.

Then, the outer peripheral joining surface 3b of the seal portion 3 and the tapered inner peripheral joining surface 4a of the fitting portion 4 are strongly fitted. In particular, the small-diameter side of the inner-peripheral joint surface 4a is strongly fitted.

The joint surface 7 of the seal lip 7 of the fitting portion 4
a is joined and sealed to the support surface 62a of the knuckle arm 62. The joining surface 7a at the tip of the seal lip 7
Is pressed to the extent that it is compressed against the support surface 62a.

With the ball stud 6 mounted as described above,
1 swings as the ball portion 63 rotates with respect to the socket 64. At this time, since the inner peripheral joint surface 4a of the fitting portion 4 of the sealing cover 1 is formed as a tapered surface, even if the ball stud 61 swings, the small diameter side of the inner peripheral joint surface 4a is spaced from the seal portion 3 by a distance. It can be operated without causing any problem.

Further, the movement which does not form a space between the fitting portion 4 and the seal portion 3 is caused by the movement of the seal lip 7 and the support surface 6.
This also effectively prevents the occurrence of a gap between the joining surfaces with the second surface 2a.

FIG. 2 is a half sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 2 has substantially the same shape as that of FIG. However, the attachment portion 8 is configured to be attached to the socket 64 via the holding ring 12 attached to the attachment portion 8.

The outer peripheral joint surface 3b of the seal portion 3 is formed as a taper surface having an angle slightly smaller than the taper angle of the inner peripheral joint surface 4a. Furthermore, 3
An annular lip 3a is formed. The inner peripheral joining surface 4a is determined by the difference in angle between the inner peripheral joining surface 4a and the outer peripheral joining surface 3b.
The small diameter side of “a” can be strongly pressed against the seal portion 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a sealing cover according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a half sectional view in which the retainer 9 and the seal portion 3 shown in FIG. 3 are integrally baked and fitted to the ball stud 61. Three annular lips 3a are formed on the outer peripheral joining surface 3b of the seal portion 3. The outer peripheral surfaces of the three annular lips 3a have substantially the same diameter.

FIG. 5 is a half sectional view showing the fitting portion 4 of FIG. The taper angle θ of the inner peripheral joint surface 4a formed in the tapered shape of the fitting portion 4 is preferably formed in the range of 3 ° to 45 °. The taper angle shown in FIG.

When the inner peripheral joining surface 4a formed in the fitting portion 4 of the cylindrical portion 2 in the sealing cover 1 is formed into a tapered surface and press-fitted to the cylindrical sealing portion 3, the inner peripheral joining surface 4a Can be press-fitted to the seal portion 3. The seal portion 3 shown in FIG. 2 is an example in the case where the seal portion 3 is pressed most. This seal part 3
End 3e is expanded so as to be pressed against the support surface 62a, so that even if the ball stud 61 swings violently, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the inner peripheral joint surface 4a and the outer peripheral joint surface 3b. it can.

[0040]

According to the sealing cover of the present invention, since the inner peripheral joint surface of the fitting portion of the resin cylinder is tapered, the inner peripheral joint surface of the rubber-like elastic seal member is formed. Can be strongly pressed against the small diameter side, and even if the ball stud swings violently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a gap between the joining surfaces.

The strong fitting between the seal portion and the fitting portion is as follows.
This has the effect of holding the seal lip on the support surface of the knuckle arm. At the same time, the joint with the support surface of the seal lip
This has the effect of properly maintaining the fit between the seal portion and the fitting portion.

In addition, the resin tube portion can exert strength during operation, and the rubber seal portion enhances the sealing force of the resin tube portion so that dust can intrude simultaneously with the internal portion. Can be expected to prevent the lubricating oil from flowing out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sealing cover attached to a ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a half sectional view of a sealing cover showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a sealing cover showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a half sectional view in which the retainer 9 and the seal portion 3 of FIG. 3 are combined.

FIG. 5 is a half sectional view of a fitting portion 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional dust cover.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where the dust cover of FIG. 6 swings together with a ball stud.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sealing cover 2 ... Cylindrical part 3 ... Seal part 3a ... Annular lip 3b ... Peripheral joining surface 3c ... Fitting surface 3d ... Flange part 3e ... End part 4 ... Fitting part 4a ... ... inner peripheral joint surface 7 ... seal lip 7a ... joint surface 8 ... mounting portion 9 ... retainer 9a ... inner peripheral surface 9b ... outer peripheral surface 9c ... flange portion 12 ... retaining ring 14 ... locking Ring 51 Dust cover 52 Neck 52a Inner peripheral surface 52b Groove 52c First seal portion 53 Seal portion 53a Outer peripheral surface 53b Inner peripheral surface 54 Second seal portion 55 retainer 55a inner peripheral surface 55b outer peripheral surface 61 ball stud 62 knuckle arm 62a support surface 63 ball portion 64 socket 64a bearing 65 nut

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mounting part (8) which is provided at one end of a cylindrical part (2) and fits into a socket (64), and said cylindrical part (2).
A sealing cover made of an elastic plastic material and having a fitting portion (4) fitted to the ball stud (61) at the other end of the ball stud (61). 61), and has a tapered inner peripheral joint surface (4a) that converges toward the axially outer end. The inner peripheral joint surface (4a) and the ball stud (61) A cylindrical rubber that is hermetically bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the ball stud (61) or the retainer (9) fitted to the ball stud (61) and press-fitted to the inner peripheral joint surface (4a). A sealing cover having a sealing portion (3) made of a rubber-like elastic material.