WO2003031837A1

WO2003031837A1 - Ball joint

Info

Publication number: WO2003031837A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/002588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keiichiro Suzuki; Takahiro Oda; Hisashi Ichikawa
Original assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Somic Ishikawa
Priority date: 2001-09-27
Filing date: 2002-03-19
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Also published as: JP2003097540A

Abstract

A bulb portion (41) of a ball stud (32) is rotatably supported by a round portion (51) formed by caulking a cylindrical portion (48) of a socket (33). An opening (46) of a housing portion (44) is covered by a dust cover (35). A circular retainer (36) is pressed into a straight portion (50) of the cylindrical portion (48) of the socket (33) and fixed there. The other end portion (63) of the dust cover (35) is engaged with the retainer (36) and fixed by a clip (37). An engagement portion (67) of the retainer (36) can surely fix the dust cover (35).

Description

Akira Ball Joint Technology

The present invention relates to a ball joint used for, for example, a steering mechanism or a suspension mechanism of an automobile. Itoda Background Technology

Conventionally, for example, a ball point 1 shown in FIG. 2 has been known. This ball joint 1 is used for a vehicle steering system, etc., and is used for ball joints 2, sockets 3, and so on. Sheet 4 and dust canon 5 are provided.

The ball stage 2 has a substantially spherical ball head portion 11 and a rod-like stud portion 12 extending integrally from the ball head portion 11. And are provided. The socket 3 includes a nozing portion 14 and a rod-like arm portion 15 extending integrally from the nozing portion 14. ing .

Further, the nozing portion 14 is opened at one end as an opening portion 16, the other end is closed at a bottom portion 17, and the outer periphery is a substantially cylindrical tube portion. A storage section 19 surrounded by 18 is provided. On the other hand, the arm portion 15 is provided so as to protrude in a direction substantially orthogonal to the opening direction of the opening portion 16, and a screw hole is provided at a tip end of the arm portion 15. The mounting portion 21 is formed.

The sheet 4 is made of a synthetic resin and has a cup shape. It is fitted and housed. According to the sheet 4, the ball head 11 is rotatably accommodated in the container 19. Further, the dust cano 15 is provided with a substantially cylindrical cano made of rubber which can be elastically deformed, and a main body 23, and one end of the cover 1 main body 23 is provided. The part 24 fits into the outer peripheral part of the thread part 12, and the other end part 25 fits into the outer peripheral part of the cylindrical part 18 so as to cover the opening part 16. ing . Further, an annular ring 26, which is an annular cored metal, is embedded in the other end 25 of the force bar main body 23.

Then, assembling the pole joint 1, the seat 4 is fitted to the ball head 1 1 of the ball head 2, and the seat 4 is assembled. At the same time, the ball head 11 is inserted from the opening 16 into the receptacle 19 of the socket 14 and the socket 19 of the socket 3. Then, the portion of the opening 16 of the cylindrical portion 18 of the socket 3 is swaged inward, so that the opening 16 of the cylindrical portion 18 is closed. An arc (R) portion 27 is formed in the portion, and the ball head 11 is held together with the sheet 4 in the arc portion 27 so as not to come off.

The portion where the arc portion 27 is not formed, that is, the portion on the bottom portion 17 side of the cylindrical portion 18 is a cylindrical straight portion. It becomes 28. Then, one end 24 of the dust cover 5 is fitted to the outer periphery of the ball portion 12 of the ball screw 2, and the other end 25 is fitted to the cylindrical portion. 1 8 Straight section 2 8 Outer circumference Press-fit into the housing, cover the opening 16 of the housing 14, and mount the ball-stat 2 in the socket 3 so that it can rotate. Pole Joint 1 is configured.

However, as in the conventional case described above, the connection between the dust canon 15 and the socketing portion 14 of the socket 3 must be changed to a dust connection. In a configuration in which only the metal ring 26 embedded in the other end 25 of the can 5 is press-fitted and fixed to the straight portion 28 of the nozing portion 14. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to firmly hold the dust cover 5 against external force so as not to be pulled out to the opening 16 side.

The present invention has been made in view of such points, and has been made to provide a ball joint that can easily and firmly hold a canoe. The purpose is. Disclosure of the invention

The ball joint of the present invention comprises a ball head provided with a ball head and a ball part protruding from the ball head, and a ball head provided with a ball head. A storage section for rotatably storing the ball head section, an opening through which the stud section passes, and a cano surrounding the opening section and a mounting section are provided. The socket and the socket are separated from each other, and the retainer body and the retaining part are fixed by being fitted to the cover mounting part. A retainer provided with a stud, a stud-side mounting portion to be fitted to the stud portion, and a socket fitted to the retainer and locked to the engaging portion. The mounting part on the cut side, and the mounting part on the It has a cover provided with a cover main body that covers the space between the cover and the mounting portion on the side of the socket. In addition, in this configuration, the can prevents the invasion of foreign matter from the opening to the storage section. The socket-side mounting part of the cover was fitted to the socket via a separate retainer, and was locked by the retaining part of this retainer. The mounting part on the socket side is easily and firmly attached to the socket side, and is prevented from being pulled out.

The ball joint of the present invention is mounted on the socket-side mounting portion of the cano, and the socket-side mounting portion is fastened to the retainer side. It has a clip to attach. In this configuration, the clip allows the socket-side mounting portion of the power bar to be firmly locked to the retaining portion of the retainer. The mounting part on the socket side is easily and firmly attached to the socket side, and is prevented from coming off.

In addition, in the ball joint of the present invention, the socket should be held by pulling out the ball head by using the lanyard and the stake. It has a closed part and a cylindrical part that surrounds at least a part of the opening. In addition, in this configuration, in the configuration in which the canopy mounting portion and the caulking portion are provided in the cylindrical portion, the shape of the cover mounting portion can be simplified and downsized. This makes it easier to reduce the size, improve the strength, or reduce the manufacturing cost. Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the ball joint according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional ball joint. It is a diagram. Best mode for carrying out the invention

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a ball joint. The ball joint 30 is, for example, a steering line of an automobile which is a vehicle. It is used for a ball mechanism, a suspension mechanism, etc., and is used as a ball stand 32, a socket 33, a sheet 34, and a cano. It has a dust cano, a 35, a retainer 36, and a clip 37.

The ball stud 32 is made of metal such as steel, for example, and has a substantially spherical ball head 41 and a projecting part protruding from the ball head 41. It has a bar-shaped threaded section 42. Also, the threaded portion 42b is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the front end portion of the substantially cylindrical middle portion 42a, and the ball portion is provided on the base end side of the middle portion 42a. A reduced diameter portion 42c is formed which smoothly continues to 41 and has a reduced diameter dimension. In the following, the ball head 41 will be described as the lower side, and the stud 42 as the upper side.

The socket 33 is made of, for example, forged metal, and has a nozzle portion 44 and a rod-like portion extending from the nozzle portion 44. The arm 45 is provided in one body. So Then, the nozing portion 44 has an upper end, which is one end, opened as an opening portion 46, and a lower end, which is the other end, is closed with a bottom portion 47, and the outer periphery has a substantially cylindrical shape. A storage section 49 surrounded by a cylindrical section 48 is provided.

Further, the cylindrical portion 48 is a circle in which the front end side, that is, the opening portion 46 side is reduced in diameter by crimping, and the cylindrical portion 48 is a cantilever press-fitting portion as a cantilever mounting portion. A cylindrical straight portion 50 and a crimping portion which is continuous above the straight portion 50 and whose diameter is smaller than that of the straight portion 50. All of the curved (R) portions 51 are formed. Further, a step 52 having a larger diameter than the straight part 50 is formed at the lower end of the straight part 50.

On the other hand, the arm portion 45 projects from the end on the bottom 47 side of the nozing portion 44 to a side that is substantially perpendicular to the opening direction of the opening portion 46. An arm base 53, an intermediate arm 54 extending upward from the arm base 53 so as to have a larger diameter dimension, and a middle part of the arm. It has an arm body 55 extending laterally from the space 54. The arm main body 55 has a mounting portion 56 which is a screw hole which is opened at the distal end thereof. Then, the connecting portion 56 of the arm portion 45 is provided with another member, for example, a connecting arm of a tie mouth (not shown). .

Further, since the sheet 34 is also called a bearing sheet, it is made of a synthetic resin or the like, and is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral portion of the ball head portion 41. At the same time, it fits in the housing 49 And is housed. By the sheet 34, the ball head 41 is rotatably housed in the housing 49.

Furthermore, the dust cano 35 is also called a boot, and prevents dust from entering the storage portion 49 of the housing portion 44. It is a thing. The dust canopy 35 is made of rubber or a soft synthetic resin, for example, which can be deformed in a deformable manner, and has a substantially cylindrical canopy main body 61. In addition, one end 62 of the upper end of the body 61, which is the upper end of the head, is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the middle portion 42 a of the stud portion 42. The other end 63, which is the lower end of the cover main body 61, which is a fixed portion, which is a socket side mounting portion, is a straight portion 50 of the cylindrical portion 48. It is press-fitted and fixed by fitting to the outer peripheral side of. As a result, the dust canopy 35 comes to cover the opening 46.

Also, the retainer 36 is for preventing the dust cano from being pulled out. For example, the retainer 36 is made of metal and is formed separately from the socket 33. It is. The retainer 36 is formed integrally with a retainer body 66 and a locking portion 67 which is a projection. Further, the retainer main body 66 is formed in an annular band, that is, a cylindrical shape, which is fitted and press-fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the straight portion 50 of the cylindrical portion 48. ing . Further, the locking portion 67 is formed from the upper end of the retainer main body 66, that is, from the end on the opening portion 46 side in a state of being attached to the socket 33. It protrudes all the way to the outer circumference. On the other hand, the clip 37 is formed of, for example, a resiliently deformable metal wire, and is formed by winding a wire into an annular shape or by cutting a part of the annular shape. It is formed in a substantially C-shape or the like that is notched, and can be mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the other end 63 of the dust cano 35 in a state of being expanded by being piled with an urging force. ing

In addition, the ball joint 30 has a rotation center of the ball stage 32, that is, a ball center which is a rotation center of the ball head 41, and an arm. The arm of the part 45 is set so as to be positioned on the extended line of the axis of the mounting part 56 which is the axis of the main body 55.

Then, when assembling the ball joint 30, the seat 34 is fitted to the ball head 41 of the ball screw 32, and the seat 30 is assembled. The ball head 41 is inserted together with the ball head 41 into the housing part 49 of the socket part 44 of the socket 33 from the opening part 46.

Further, a portion on the opening portion 46 side of the cylindrical portion 48 of the socket 33 is bent inward to form an arc portion 51, and the seat portion 34 is formed by the arc portion 51. At the same time, after pulling out and holding the ball head portion 41, the retainer body portion 66 of the retainer 36 is attached to the straight portion 50 of the cylindrical portion 48 of the socket 33. And press-fit until it hits step 52.

Then, one end 62 of the dust cover 35 is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the middle portion 42a of the ball portion 32 of the ball head 32, and the other end 63 is fixed. Fit so that it covers the outer circumference of the tenor 36 You

Next, the other end 63 of the dust cano 35 is fixed by attaching the clip 37 to the outer peripheral portion of the other end portion 63 and tightening it. The other end 63 of the dust cover 35 is fixed to the socket 33 by being fixed to the locking portion 67 of the corner 36.

As described above, according to the ball joint 30 of the present embodiment, the socket 33 that presses the socket 33 is provided. Then, a retainer 36 having a locking portion 67 protruding from the straight portion 50 of the cylindrical portion 48 of the socket 33 is press-fitted and fixed. Since the dust cover 35 is fixed to the outer periphery using the clip 37, the dust cover with the metal ring embedded is directly pressed into the socket. Compared to the configuration, the retainer 36 is more likely to be pulled out to the opening 46 when an external force is received by this retainer 36. One can firmly pull out 35 and hold it. In particular, the vicinity of the opening portion 46 of the tube portion 48 of the socket 33 is pressed and the dust cover is also attached to the straight portion 50 of the tube portion 48. At the bolting point 30 where the other end 63 of the bar 35 is to be mounted, it is necessary to secure the longitudinal dimension of the straight part 50 more than necessary. , The shape can be simplified and the size can be reduced, and the small size of the ball joint 30 can be easily improved, and the manufacturing cost can be easily improved. Can easily be reduced.

Also, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion is integrally formed. There is no need to complicate the shape of the socket 33 by, for example, removing the length of the socket 33, which facilitates forging and other manufacturing processes, and reduces manufacturing costs. .

The other end 63 of the dust canopy 35 may be formed in a flat plate shape that is continuous with the cover body 61, or may be a substantially U-shaped engaging portion. It is also possible to use a locking receiving part with a concave part that engages with the clip 6 7 and the clip 3 7.

In addition, the shape of the retainer 36 is not limited to a substantially L-shaped cross section having a projection at one end, and for example, a cross section having projections at both ends. It can also be shaped like a letter.

Also, the structure of the clip 37 is not limited to a member that can be elastically deformed, but can be a belt-shaped member that can be tightened. Wear .

Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the opening 46 of the socket 33 is swaged to hold the ball head 32, and the ball head is formed by other structures. It can also be applied to a configuration that holds a head.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mounting portion 56 of the arm portion 45 is formed as a screw hole, but is not limited to this configuration, but may be formed in the outer peripheral portion. It can be a thread groove. It can also be a recess for welding, etc., or the entire arm can be simply a bar-shaped mounting part. The configuration of the packet 33 is not limited to being formed integrally, and for example, the knowing portion 44 and the arm portion 45 may be formed separately. In addition, the cylindrical portion 48 and the bottom portion 47 of the nozing portion 44 can be separated from each other. Potential for industrial use

As described above, the ball joint of the present invention can be used, for example, as a steering mechanism of an automobile or a suspension mechanism. Used.

Claims

Sought

1. a ball stud provided with a ball head and a ball stud protruding from the ball head;

A storage section for rotatably storing the ball head section;

A socket provided with an opening through which the tab portion passes, and a cover mounting portion surrounding the opening; and

A retainer body formed separately from the socket and having a retainer body portion fitted and fixed to the cover attachment portion, and a retainer provided with a locking portion; A mounting part on the side of the sleeve, which is fitted to the above-mentioned part of the socket, a mounting part on the side of the socket, which is fitted on the retainer and is locked by the locking part, and A ball joint having a cover body covering a portion between the stud-side mounting portion and the socket-side mounting portion. G

2. A clip was attached to the socket-side mounting section of the cano, and a clip was provided to fasten this socket-side mounting section to the retainer side.

A ballast point as set forth in Paragraph 1 of the scope of the claim characterized by this.

3. The socket is provided with at least a part of the opening by installing a canopy mounting part and a caulking part that removes and holds the ball head by caulking. Equipped with a cylindrical part that surrounds

A ballot point as set forth in paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of the claim characterized by this.