JPH1037953A - Slide bush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To insure sealing ability and moreover to improve carrying ability and assembling ability in a small diameter slide bush used for the arm rotating section of a suspension. SOLUTION: A slide bush is composed in such a way as a support member where an inner tube 2 and a slide bearing 3 outfitted on the inner tube 2, and a middle tube 4, an elastic member 5 and an outer tube 6 are concentrically unitedly formed in order through a slide bearing 3 is outfitted, and the elastic member 5 is severally provided with a lip part 5a at both its ends and brought into pressure contact with the inner faces of washers 7, 7 attached to both the ends of the inner tube 2. Each washer 7 is made larger in its outside diameter than that of the outer tube 6, and its inner periphery is severally engaged on a stepped part 2b formed at both the ends of the inner tube 2. Since the washer 7 is made larger in the diameter, the lip 5a of the elastic member 5 is excellently brought into pressure contact with the inner face of the washer 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slide bush used for connecting a suspension arm body of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A suspension arm of a vehicle is rotatably supported on a vehicle body via a slide bush (or simply referred to as a "bush"). As the slide bush, for example, a sliding bearing is rotatably fitted to the inner cylinder, and a support member in which the intermediate cylinder, the elastic member, and the outer cylinder are formed concentrically and integrally with the sliding bearing is rotatable. There is an assembled structure in which a sealing washer is fixed to both ends of the support member at both ends thereof. The inner cylinder and the intermediate cylinder are relatively rotatable via a sliding bearing, and the outer diameter of the sealing washer is slightly smaller than the outer diameter (press-fitting diameter) of the outer cylinder. At both ends of the elastic member, annular lip portions are formed, and these lip portions are coated with grease on the inner peripheral surface, and are brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the seal washer in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge thereof, so that the inner cylinder and the sliding bearing are provided. The dust is prevented from entering between the sliding surfaces of the motor and the intermediate cylinder.

The slide bush is inserted from one side into a rotary part fitting hole of the arm body of the suspension, and the bush is pressed into the fitting hole. Then, the slide bush is fitted between both side plates of a U-shaped bracket fixed to the vehicle body side, is clamped via sealing washers on both sides, and a bolt that passes through the shaft hole and the inner cylinder of these both side plates. And the nut is mounted and supported on the bracket. Thereby, the arm main body is rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body.

[0004]

When a slide bush, which is an assembled body having the above structure, is press-fitted into a fitting hole of an arm body, seals on both sides of the press-fit diameter of the slide bush, that is, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder, are required. It is necessary to reduce the outer diameter of the washer. In general, the seal washers on both sides have the same diameter or the same diameter or less so that the slide bush can be inserted into the fitting hole of the arm body from either side. In a small vehicle, the arm body is small, the fitting hole of the bush is small, and the outer cylinder also has a small diameter. Accordingly, the outside diameter of the sealing washer must be small.

However, when the outer diameter of the sealing washer is reduced, the lip portion of the elastic member protrudes outward from the sealing washer, resulting in a reduction in sealing performance or a state where sealing cannot be performed. For this reason, the outer diameter of the sealing washer cannot be made very small. As a countermeasure, make the outer diameter of the sealing washer larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder to provide a retrofit structure, and fix it by interposing a sealing washer between the single bush and the body side when installing the line. In such a case, the inner cylinder may fall off from the sliding bush during the transfer of the arm body. When the inner cylinder comes off, not only does the part become defective and the assemblability deteriorates, but also dust adheres to the sliding surface of the inner cylinder and the sliding bearing, and the sliding between the two deteriorates.

Further, grease is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the lip portion of the elastic member in order to ensure sealing properties, and dust easily adheres to the lip portion during the transportation until the sealing washer is mounted. . In addition, when assembling with dust attached to the lip portion, the slide bush has its function due to dust attached between the inner cylinder, the sliding bearing, and each sliding surface of the intermediate cylinder 4 after assembly. There is a possibility that it may not be able to fully demonstrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a small-diameter slide bush used for an arm rotating portion of a suspension, a sealing property is ensured, and a transport property and an assembling property are improved. It is an object to provide a slide bush as designed.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an inner cylinder, a sliding bearing externally fitted to the inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder and an elastic member via the sliding bearing are provided. A support member formed integrally with the outer cylinder sequentially and concentrically is externally fitted, and the elastic member has lip portions formed at both ends and an inner surface of a washer attached to both ends of the inner cylinder. Wherein the lip portion is pressed against the slide bush, wherein the washer has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder, and the inner peripheral edge of the washer is provided at both ends of the inner cylinder. This is a structure that engages with the formed step.

The outer cylinder of the slide bush has an outer diameter that is inserted into a fitting hole of the arm body to which the slide bush is attached, and the outer diameter of the washer is usually smaller than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder. I have. If the outer cylinder has a small diameter, and accordingly the washer has a small diameter, the lip portion of the elastic member is likely to come off the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the washer, and the sealing property is reduced or deteriorated. In the present invention, when the outer cylinder has a small diameter, the washer is made larger in diameter than the outer cylinder in order to ensure the sealing performance. An engagement step is formed at each end of the inner cylinder, and the inner peripheral edge of the washer is engaged with the step. As a result, the lip portions formed at both ends of the elastic member are satisfactorily pressed against the inner surfaces of the washers on both sides, and the sealing property is ensured. The washer can be assembled by inserting the outer cylinder of the bush into the fitting hole of the arm body and then engaging the washer with both ends of the inner cylinder.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the step of the inner cylinder is
By forming a projecting portion projecting in the axial direction, fitting the projecting portion to the inner peripheral edge of the washer, and expanding the projecting portion radially outward of the inner cylinder, the washer and the It has a structure in which the inner cylinder is integrated. By fitting the inner peripheral edge of the washer into the protruding portion protruding in the axial direction of the inner cylinder and expanding the diameter of the protruding portion, the inner cylinder and the washer are fixed by caulking and integrated. This prevents the washer from deviating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure which is inserted into an arm body of a suspension of a vehicle, is supported by a vehicle body by a support shaft and a nut which penetrates the inner cylinder, and is rotatably supported by a shaft. It was done. Insert the outer cylinder of the slide bush into the fitting hole of the arm body of the suspension,
The washer is engaged with the steps at both ends of the inner cylinder, the diameter of the steps is increased, and the inner cylinder and the washer are fixed and integrated. Thus, the slide bush is mounted on the arm body. This facilitates the transfer of the arm body on which the slide bush is mounted. The slide bush is supported on the vehicle body side by a support shaft through which the inner cylinder is inserted and a nut. As a result, the arm body is rotatably supported on the vehicle body side.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of examples. As shown in FIG. 1, the slide bush 1 includes an inner cylinder 2, a sliding bearing 3, an intermediate cylinder 4, an elastic member 5,
It comprises an outer cylinder 6 and sealing washers 7,7. The inner cylinder 2 has annular projections (steps) 2b, 2b in which the inner peripheral edges of the open end surfaces 2a, 2a project in the axial direction with a step smaller in diameter than the outer diameter. These protrusions 2
The projection lengths of b and 2b are set slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the sealing washer 7. Sliding bearing 3
It is rotatably fitted to the inner cylinder 2 and has flanges 3 at both ends.
a, 3a are formed facing radially outward. The outer surfaces of these flanges 3a, 3a are
a. The intermediate cylinder 4 is rotatably fitted to the sliding bearing 3 and has both end faces having flanges 3a, 3a.
Is in contact with the inner surface of the Therefore, the intermediate cylinder 4 cannot be deviated from the sliding bearing 3. The inner cylinder 2 and the intermediate cylinder 4 are formed of a metal member, and the sliding bearing 3 is formed of a wear-resistant resin member having lubricity.

The elastic member 5 is fitted to the intermediate cylinder 4 and has annular lips 5a, 5a formed at both open ends so as to protrude substantially in the axial direction. These lip portions 5a, 5a are
Project in the axial direction from the end faces 2a, 2a. This elastic member 5 is formed of a rubber member. Outer cylinder 6
Is externally fitted to the elastic member 5, and its length is set shorter than that of the intermediate cylinder 4. The outer diameter of the outer cylinder 6 is such that a bush can be pressed into a fitting hole 8a (FIG. 2) of the arm body 8 described later. The outer peripheral edges of both open ends of the outer cylinder 6 are chamfered over the entire circumference, so that insertion into the fitting hole 8a is facilitated. This outer cylinder 6 is formed of a metal member. The intermediate cylinder 4, the elastic member 5, and the outer cylinder 6
The support member is formed integrally. Also, the intermediate cylinder 4
Are supported by the sliding bearing 3, so that the sliding bearing 3, the intermediate cylinder 4, the elastic member 5, and the outer cylinder 6 are integrally formed.

The sealing washer 7 has an outer diameter of the elastic member 5.
The lip portion 5a has a size that can be sufficiently sealed, is larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 6, and has an inner diameter (inner peripheral edge) that fits with the protruding portion 2b of the inner cylinder 2. ing. Therefore, the outer diameter of the sealing washer 7 is larger than the diameter of the fitting hole 8a. The plate thickness is set to be slightly thicker than the protruding length of the protruding portion 2b. This sealing washer 7 is also formed of a metal member.

Hereinafter, the assembly of the slide bush to the arm body will be described. First, the protrusion 2b at one end of the inner cylinder 2 shown in FIG. 1 is fitted into the hole 7a of the sealing washer 7,
The diameter of the projecting portion 2b is expanded and caulked, and both are fixed and integrated. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer cylinder 6 is pressed into the fitting hole 8a of the arm body 8. Next, after applying grease over the entire inner peripheral surface of the lip portions 5a, 5a of the elastic member 5, the inner cylinder 2 is inserted from the other end side where the sealing washer 7 is not attached, and the protruding portion at the tip end is inserted. A sealing washer 7 on the other side is fitted to 2b, the diameter of the protruding portion 2b is increased, and caulking is performed. In this way, sealing washers 7, 7 are temporarily fixed to both ends of the inner cylinder 2. The length of the protruding portion 2b of the inner cylinder 2 is set to be smaller than the thickness of the sealing washer 7, and when the caulking process is performed, as shown in FIG. It does not protrude outside from the open end of the washer 7.

The inner surfaces of the sealing washers 7, 7 are the end surfaces 2a, 2a of the inner cylinder 2 and the flanges 3a of the sliding bearing 3, respectively.
3a, the lip portions 5a, 5a of the elastic member 5
Is pressed against the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the sealing washer 7, 7 due to its elasticity. The sealing washers 7, 7 are sized so that the lip portions 5a, 5a of the elastic member 5 can sufficiently abut. The lip portions 5a, 5a are formed on the inner surfaces of the sealing washers 7, 7 by applying grease. Good adhesion. Thereby, the seal between the lip portions 5a, 5a and the sealing washers 7, 7 is ensured, and the intrusion of dust is prevented. Thus, the slide bush 1 is mounted in the fitting hole 8a of the arm body 8.

The arm body 8 on which the slide bush 1 is mounted as described above is conveyed to an outfitting line. The sealing washers 7, 7 are fixed to both ends of the inner cylinder 2 by caulking.
And the inner cylinder 2 does not fall off. Slide bush 1
3 is fitted between both side plates 10a and 10a of a U-shaped bracket 10 fixed to the vehicle body side as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
a, abuts on the inner surface. Then, the bolt 11 passes through the hole 10b of the side plate 10a, the inner cylinder 2, and the hole 10b of the side plate 10a, and the nut 12 is screwed. A protrusion 2b of the inner cylinder 2,
2b are provided with holes 7a, 7 of sealing washers 7, 7, respectively.
In order not to protrude from the opening end of the bracket 10a, the outer surfaces of these sealing washers 7, 7 are
10a, the sealing washer 7, 7 and the lip 5 of the elastic member 5 are tightened by the nut 12.
a and 5a are further adhered to each other, and the original sealing function is achieved. The outer surfaces of the sealing washers 7, 7 and the side plate 10
The slide bush 1 is satisfactorily rotatably supported by the bracket 10 so that the inner surfaces of the slide bushes 10a and 10a are in good sliding contact with each other. The arm body 8 is rotatably supported on the vehicle body with the bolt 11 as a support shaft.

In the above embodiment, the inner cylinder 2 and the sealing washers 7, 7 on both sides are formed separately, and the sealing washers 7, 7 are fixed on both sides of the inner cylinder 2 by caulking, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inner cylinder and the sealing washer on one side may be integrally formed, and the sealing washer on the other side may be formed separately and fixed to the inner cylinder by swaging.

[0019]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the outer diameter of the slide bush is small,
The outer diameter of the sealing washer can be made larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder, and the lip portions formed at both ends of the elastic member can be pressed against the inner surfaces of the washers on both sides in a good manner, and the sealing performance can be improved. Thus, dust can be prevented from entering the inside of the seal. Further, by engaging the washers on both sides with the steps formed on both ends of the inner cylinder, deviation of these washers is prevented, and the conveyance becomes easy. Further, the inner cylinder and the washer can be engaged with a simple structure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the washer is fitted to the protrusions (steps) at both ends of the inner cylinder and the diameter of the protrusion is increased, so that the inner cylinder and the washer can be easily fixed and integrated. And workability is improved. In the invention of claim 3, the outer cylinder of the slide bush is inserted into the fitting hole of the arm body of the suspension, and the slide bush is attached to the arm body by engaging and fixing washers at both ends of the inner cylinder. The ease of assembling the slide bush to the arm body is improved, and the transfer of the arm body to which the slide bush is mounted becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a slide bush according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which the slide bush of FIG. 1 is mounted on an arm main body.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the slide bush of FIG. 2 is attached to a bracket on a vehicle body side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slide bush 2 Inner cylinder 2b Step part (projection part) 3 Sliding bearing 4 Intermediate cylinder 5 Elastic member 5a Lip part 6 Outer cylinder 7 Seal washer 8 Arm body 8a Fitting hole 10 Bracket 11 Bolt 12 Nut

Claims (3)

[Claims] An inner cylinder and a sliding bearing externally fitted to the inner cylinder,
A support member in which an intermediate cylinder, an elastic member, and an outer cylinder are sequentially formed concentrically and integrally with each other via the sliding bearing is externally fitted, and the elastic member has lip portions formed at both ends thereof.
A slide bush in which the lip portion is pressed against an inner surface of a washer attached to each end of the inner cylinder, wherein the washer has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the outer cylinder, and A slide bush wherein an inner peripheral edge of the washer is engaged with a step formed at both ends of the inner cylinder. 2. The stepped portion of the inner cylinder forms a protruding portion that protrudes in an axial direction, and the protruding portion is fitted to an inner peripheral edge of the washer, and the stepped portion extends radially outward of the inner cylinder. The slide bush according to claim 1, wherein the washer and the inner cylinder are integrated by expanding a protruding portion. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the nut is supported by a vehicle body by a support shaft and a nut which are inserted into the arm body of the suspension of the vehicle, and which is inserted through the inner cylinder. The slide bush according to 1.