JP2585723Y2 - Thrust plain bearing - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A thrust slide bearing according to the present invention, for example, in order to smoothly rotate a front wheel of an automobile,
The front wheel is used by being incorporated into a kingpin portion for rotatably supporting the front wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thrust slide bearing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 is conventionally used for a rotating portion to which a large thrust load is applied, such as a front wheel supporting portion by a kingpin. This thrust slide bearing 1 is configured by sandwiching a slide plate 4 formed of a copper alloy in a ring shape by an inner ring 2 and an outer ring 3 each formed in a ring shape of steel in a sandwich shape. .

One surface of the inner ring 2 (the lower surface in FIG. 2) is a flat first sliding surface 5, and the one surface of the outer ring 3 on the side facing the inner ring 2 (the upper surface in FIG. 2) is flat. The second sliding surface 6 is provided. In addition, one surface of the sliding plate 4 (the upper surface in FIG. 2)
Is a third sliding surface 7 that is in sliding contact with the first sliding surface 5;
The other surface (the lower surface in FIG. 2) is a fourth sliding surface 8 that slides on the second sliding surface 6. The third and fourth sliding surfaces 7 and 8 have grease grooves 9 and 9 as shown in FIG.
9 is formed by cutting such as shaper processing and milling processing. Further, each of the first to fourth sliding surfaces 5 to 8
, Each of the sliding surfaces 5 to 8 is made smooth by performing a grinding finish process.

Incidentally, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes each sliding surface 5-8.
This is a case for preventing water, dust and the like from entering the portion. The base end (the upper end in FIG. 2) of the case 10 is externally fitted and fixed to the inner ring 2. Also, the tip (lower end in FIG. 2)
Is bent inward in the diametrical direction so as to be close to the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 3, and a rubber seal 11 is attached to a leading edge thereof. An O-ring 13 is attached to an engagement groove 12 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring 2 so that water or dust can pass through a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring 2 and an outer peripheral surface such as a kingpin. To prevent the ingress of traffic.

When the thrust sliding bearing 1 having the above-described configuration is used, the first sliding surface 5 and the third sliding surface 7 are connected to the second sliding surface 6 and the fourth sliding surface 8 respectively. By sliding relatively, the member facing the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3
Is allowed relative displacement with the member facing. At this time, the grease filled in the grease grooves 9, 9 of the third and fourth sliding surfaces 7, 8 is provided between the first sliding surface 5 and the third sliding surface 7, and It enters between the second sliding surface 6 and the fourth sliding surface 8 to reduce the frictional force acting between the sliding surfaces 5 to 8.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at reducing the frictional force during the operation of the thrust slide bearing constructed and operated as described above, and the displacement between the members facing each other via the thrust slide bearing is small. It is to be done with power and smoothly. In the case of the conventional structure, the force required for the relative displacement between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3 is not always sufficiently small, and this force sometimes fluctuates.
The inventors of the present invention have studied the cause of this problem and found that the supply of the grease filled in the grease grooves 9 and 9 to the respective sliding surfaces 5 to 8 is not always performed smoothly.

That is, in the case of the conventional structure, since the grease grooves 9, 9 are formed by cutting, the opening edges 9a, 9a of the grease grooves 9, 9 are sharp as shown in FIG. In addition to the shape, the opening edges 9a, 9a
Eaves-like burrs are often formed. Grease is not always smoothly delivered from the grease groove 9 having the sharp opening edges 9a. In particular, when burrs are present at the opening edge portions 9a, 9a, the delivery of the grease becomes poor, the lubrication of the sliding surfaces 5 to 8 becomes poor, and the relative distance between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3 becomes poor. The force required for strategic displacement increases. The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described circumstances, and allows the inner ring 2 to be smoothly fed out of the grease groove 9.
To realize a thrust sliding bearing capable of reducing the force required for the relative displacement between the outer ring 3 and the outer ring 3.

[0008]

The thrust sliding bearing according to the present invention has a metal annular inner ring having a flat first sliding surface on one side, similar to the above-described conventional thrust sliding bearing. The surface on the side facing the inner ring was a flat second sliding surface, a metal annular outer ring, one surface was a third sliding surface that slidably contacted the first sliding surface, and the other surface was the second sliding surface. A metal-made ring-shaped sliding plate is provided as a fourth sliding surface in sliding contact with the second sliding surface.

In particular, the at the thrust sliding bearing of the present invention, the third, the fourth both sliding surfaces of, more pressing
Processed concave bottom surface and these third and fourth sliding surfaces
Smooth continuity due to arc-shaped convex curved surface at the opening edge
The grease grooves are formed to, and, the first, second, third, each sliding surface of the fourth is a roughness not more than 0.2a based on Superfinishing (superfinishing).

[0010]

In the case of the thrust slide bearing of the present invention constructed as described above, the opening edge of the grease groove formed by pressing the metal sliding plate is sharp, or burrs are formed at the opening edge. There is no thing to do. For this reason, the grease filled in the grease groove is smoothly delivered, and the lubrication between the first sliding surface and the third sliding surface, and the lubrication between the second sliding surface and the fourth sliding surface are performed. Good lubrication between the two. Special
The grease groove has a concave curved surface at the bottom and these third and
The four sliding surfaces are smoothed by a convex curved surface with an arc-shaped cross section at the opening edge.
Filled into grease grooves because of its continuous shape
The grease is scraped to the opening edge of the grease groove.
Without wedge action, the first sliding surface
Between the third slide surface and the second and fourth slide surfaces
Effectively sent between the surface. Moreover, since the roughness of each sliding surface is set to 0.2a or less based on super finishing,
Sliding between the sliding surfaces receiving a sufficient supply of grease can be performed with a light force. As a result, the force required for the relative displacement between the member supporting the inner ring and the member supporting the outer ring can be reduced.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional shape of a grease groove 9 formed on a third sliding surface 7 (or a fourth sliding surface 8) of a sliding plate 4 constituting a thrust sliding bearing of the present invention. . The grease groove 9 is formed by pressing on the third sliding surface 7 of the ring-shaped sliding plate 4 made of a copper alloy. In this way, the grease groove 9 formed by press working is
The bottom is a concave curved surface having an arc-shaped cross section. Further, the opening edge portions 9
a, 9a are not pointed as in the conventional structure described above, smoothly to continuously and very was finished into a smooth plane inner surface of the third sliding surface 7 and the grease groove 9 by superfinishing, the cross-sectional
It forms a surface arc-shaped convex curved surface. The press working for forming the grease groove 9 is performed before the third sliding surface 7 is subjected to super finishing.

The width dimension T and depth dimension D of the curved surface constituting the opening edges 9a, 9a differ depending on the width dimension and depth dimension of the grease groove 9, for example, the outer diameter dimension of the slide plate 4. Is about 80 mm, the grease groove 9 has a width of about 4 mm, and a thrust slide bearing to be mounted on a kingpin portion. The curved surface has a width T of about 0.3 to 5 mm and a depth D of 0.005. About 0.2 mm.

As described above, the opening edge 9a of the grease groove 9
The grease filled in the grease groove 9 can be smoothly delivered with the curved surface 9a that smoothly connects the third sliding surface 7 and the inner surface of the grease groove 9 to each other. In addition, lubrication between the first sliding surface 5 and the third sliding surface 7 and lubrication between the second sliding surface 6 and the fourth sliding surface 8 can be favorably performed. In particular, the grease groove 9 has a concave bottom portion.
Surface and the third and fourth sliding surfaces 7, 8 by the opening edge 9.
a, 9a are smoothly connected by a convex curved surface having an arc-shaped cross section.
The grease filled in the grease groove 9
The lease scratches the opening edges 9a, 9a of the grease groove 9.
Without being removed, the first sliding surface 5
(FIG. 2) and the third sliding surface 7 as well as the second sliding surface
6 and the fourth sliding surface 8 are effectively fed.

In addition, since the roughness of each of the sliding surfaces 5 to 8 is set to 0.2a or less based on the super finish, the first and third sliding surfaces 5 and 7 are supplied with sufficient grease. And the sliding between the second and fourth sliding surfaces 6 and 8 can be performed with a light force. As a result, the force required for the relative displacement between the member supporting the inner ring 2 and the member supporting the outer ring 3 can be reduced. According to an experiment conducted by the present inventors, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional structure, the starting torque under the condition that a thrust load of 2000 kgf was applied was 11 to 20 kgf · m, whereas in the case of the present invention, under the same conditions. Starting torque of 0.5 to 7kgf
m, dropped significantly.

The shape and number of the grease grooves 9, 9 formed on the third and fourth sliding surfaces 7, 8 on both sides of the sliding plate 4 are four in the radial direction as shown in FIG. The shape is not limited, and various shapes and numbers as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F can be employed. For example, FIG. 1A shows four grease grooves 9, 9 arranged in a set of two parallel to each other and arranged in a radial direction, and FIG.
In FIG. 3C, four sets of grease grooves 9, 9 arranged in parallel with one another are arranged in a radial direction, and in FIG. 2C, six grease grooves 9, 9 are arranged. The one arranged in the radial direction and the one shown in FIG. 3D have eight grease grooves 9 arranged in the radial direction. Further, the one shown in FIG. (E) has four grease grooves 9, 9 provided in a state inclined with respect to the rotation direction, and the one shown in FIG. Four grease grooves 9 are provided in a state inclined with respect to the rotation direction.

[0016]

[Effects of the Invention] The thrust sliding bearing of the present invention is constructed and operated as described above, so it is not limited to a structure including a metal inner ring, an outer ring, and a sliding plate capable of supporting a large thrust load. Instead, the power required for the relative displacement between the member supporting the metal outer ring and the member supporting the metal inner ring can be reduced, and the power loss can be reduced. As a result, for example, when incorporated in an automobile, both improvement in power performance and energy saving can be achieved. In addition, since the operation of forming a plurality of grease grooves can be performed at once by pressing, the time required for processing the grease grooves can be shortened, the efficiency of the slide plate manufacturing operation can be increased, and the cost of the thrust slide bearing can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional shape of a grease groove formed in a slide plate constituting a thrust slide bearing of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a thrust slide bearing according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the sliding plate as viewed from above in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional shape of a grease groove formed in a slide plate constituting a conventional thrust slide bearing.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing six examples of different shapes of grease grooves.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thrust slide bearing 2 Inner ring 3 Outer ring 4 Sliding plate 5 First sliding surface 6 Second sliding surface 7 Third sliding surface 8 Fourth sliding surface 9 Grease groove 9 a Opening edge 10 Case 11 Seal 12 Engagement groove 13 O-ring

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An inner ring made of metal and having a flat first sliding surface on one side and a second sliding surface made of a metal and having a flat surface facing the inner ring. And an outer ring, a metal-made ring-shaped sliding plate, one surface of which is a third sliding surface that is in sliding contact with the first sliding surface, and the other surface is a fourth sliding surface that is in sliding contact with the second sliding surface. In the thrust slide bearing with the above, the third and fourth sliding surfaces are press-formed .
Processed concave concave surface and these third and fourth sliding surfaces
Smooth and continuous due to the convex curved surface with a circular arc cross section at the opening edge
And the first, second, third, and fourth sliding surfaces have a roughness of 0.2 based on super-finishing.
a thrust slide bearing characterized by being less than or equal to a.