JPH11141533A - Both shafts type ball joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball joint allowing no occurrence of play in a long period of use, and machined easily. SOLUTION: This ball joint is composed of a ball stud 2 comprising handle portions coaxially protruding from a ball head portion and a ball head portion, a cylindrical bearing 5 surrounding the ball head portion 3 of a ball stud 2 so as to be free in swinging turning, having nearly the same inner peripheral face as the outer peripheral face 3a of the ball head portion 3, a straight-like outer peripheral face 3a and both end with openings, and a cylindrical housing 6 containing a bearing 5, a straight-like inner peripheral face having a peripheral slit on the inner periphery of its both end portions. This ball joint is further composed of boots 7 having a small opening portion mounted on the handle portion 4 of the ball stud 2 at one end and a ring-like member buried in the other end and fixed to the opening end face of the bearing, and a C ring fitted into the slit 6a of the housing and touching the anti-bearing side face of the ring-like member 9. A pre-load portion 8 provided with elastic force is formed between the ring-like member 9 and the opening end face 5d of the bearing in the large opening portion 7b of the boots 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a double-shaft type ball joint used for a connecting portion of, for example, an automobile suspension system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a double-shaft type ball joint used in a connecting portion of a vehicle suspension system or the like, as shown in FIG. Based on this figure,
The configuration will be described. The ball stud 102 has a spherical ball head 103 and handle portions 104, 104 which project coaxially from the ball head 103 and have circumferential grooves 104a, 104a on the outer periphery.
The ball head 103 is made of a synthetic resin and is swingably and rotatably held by a substantially cup-shaped bearing 105. The housing 106 including the bearing 105 has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface 1 having substantially the same shape as the outer peripheral surface 105c of the bearing 105.
06c, one small opening 106a and one large opening 1
06b, and a circumferential projection 106d is provided on the inner periphery of the small opening 106a. An annular retaining member 110 having an L-shaped cross section is fixed by caulking to the large opening 106b of the housing 106. The boots 107, 107 have small openings 107a, 107a on one side and reinforcing rings 111, 1 on the other.
11 have large openings 107b, 107b embedded therein. Small openings 107 of these boots 107
a, 107a are the handle portions 104, 1 of the ball stud 102;
04 are fitted in the grooves 104a, 104a, while the boot 1
07 is a small opening 1b of the housing 106.
The large opening 107b of the other boot 107 is attached to the inner periphery of the retaining member 110, respectively.

[0003]

The ball joint 101 configured as described above swings between the ball head 103 of the ball stud 102 and the bearing 105. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing 105 wears due to long-term use,
In some cases, backlash occurs in the ball joint 101. In addition, the inner peripheral convex portion 106 d
Since the bearing 105 is fitted between the retainer 110 and the stopper 110, high dimensional accuracy is required. Further, since a cutting process must be performed to form the inner peripheral convex portion 106d on the inner periphery of the housing 106, and a large opening 106b of the housing 106 must be caulked to fix the stopper 110, the number of processing steps is large. Take it. In addition, since the bearing 105 and the housing 106 are limited in direction in the axial direction, they must be assembled in a correct direction at the time of assembly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a ball joint which does not cause backlash even in long-term use and can be easily processed.

[0005]

The configuration of the present invention is as follows.

A ball stud comprising a spherical ball head and two handle portions projecting coaxially from the ball head, and a ball head of the ball stud are slidably and rotatably held. The outer peripheral surface is almost the same as the outer peripheral surface of the ball head, the outer peripheral surface is straight, a cylindrical bearing with openings at both ends, and the bearing is included, and the inner peripheral surface is straight and the peripheral groove is formed on the inner periphery at both ends. And a boot having a small opening attached to the handle of the ball stud at one end, and a large opening embedded with an annular member at the other end and abutting and fixed to the opening end surface of the bearing. A C-ring fitted into the groove of the housing and in contact with the anti-bearing side surface of the annular member. The large opening of the boot has an annular member buried in the large opening and an opening end face of the bearing. A preload section with elastic force is formed between It is formed symmetrically to the center line passing through the direction center.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a double joint type ball joint 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ball stud 2 is composed of a spherical ball head 3 and coaxially protruding from the ball head 3, and handle portions 4, 4 having circumferential grooves 4 a, 4 a on the outer periphery. The ball head 3 is made of a synthetic resin and is swingably and rotatably held by a substantially cylindrical bearing 5. The bearing 5 has an inner peripheral surface 5b substantially the same as the outer peripheral surface of the ball head 3, a straight outer peripheral surface 5c,
It has openings 5 a, 5 a at both ends, and is enclosed in the housing 6. The housing 6 has openings 6c, 6c at both ends, an inner peripheral surface 6b of a substantially cylindrical and straight shape, and peripheral grooves 6a, 6a provided on the inner periphery near both ends. The boots 7, 7 have small openings 7a, 7a on one side and large openings 7b, 7b embedded with annular members 9, 9 on the other, and the small openings 7a, 7a are handle portions of the ball stud 2. The large openings 7b, 7 are mounted in the grooves 4a, 4a.
b is in contact with and fixed to the open end faces 5d, 5d of the bearing 5, the annular members 9, 9 and the open end faces 5d, 5
Preload portions 8, 8 having elastic force are formed between the preload portions 8, 8 and d. The preload portions 8, 8 are formed integrally with the boots 7, 7. Further, a discontinuous C-ring 10 which is annular and partially cut off so as to contact the opposite bearing side surfaces 9a, 9a of the annular members 9, 9 buried in the large openings 7b, 7b of the boots 7, 7 is provided in the housing. 6 are engaged with the grooves 6a, 6a. The double-shaft type ball joint 1 having the above configuration is formed symmetrically with respect to a center line X passing through the center in the axial direction.

Next, a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned double shaft type ball joint 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a bearing 5 is fitted to the ball head 3 of the ball stud 2 as shown in FIG. 2, and then one handle 4 of the ball stud 2 is inserted into the housing 6 from one opening 6c of the housing 6. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the boots 7, 7 in which the annular members 9, 9 are buried in the large openings 7b, 7b in advance, and the outer periphery of the handle portions 4, 4 of the ball stud 2 from the large openings 7b, 7b side. And between the inner periphery of both ends of the housing 6, the large openings 7b, 7b are brought into contact with the opening end faces 5d, 5d of the bearing 5, and then the C-rings 10, 1
0 is fitted into the grooves 6a, 6a of the housing 6 while being in contact with the anti-bearing side surfaces 9a, 9a of the annular members 9, 9. Finally, the small openings 7a, 7a of the boots 7, 7 are attached to the grooves 4a, 4a of the handle portions 4, 4 of the ball stud 2,
The manufacture of the double shaft type ball joint 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

Therefore, in the double-shaft type ball joint 1 having the above-mentioned structure, the axial load is always applied to the bearing 5 by the preloading portions 8 having elastic force formed in the large openings 7b of the boots 7, 7. Has been given to. Further, since the preload portions 8, 8 have an elastic force, they can be contracted. In addition, the inner peripheral surface 6b of the housing 6 is also straight, and the bearings 5 and the boots 7, 7 may be formed with grooves 6a, 6a for fitting the C-rings 10, 10 in order to prevent the boots 7 from coming off. It is not necessary to form a convex portion or to caulk the end face. Furthermore, since it is formed symmetrically by the center line X passing through the center in the axial direction, a plurality of boots 7,7, annular members 9,9 and C ring 1 used
The same 0 and 10 can be used. Also,
The direction of the ball stud 2, the bearing 5, and the housing 6 in which only one point is used is not limited in the axial direction.

[0012]

As described above, according to the ball joint of the present invention, a spherical ball head and a coaxially projecting ball head are provided.
The ball stud consisting of the handle of the book and the ball head of the ball stud are swingably and rotatably held, the inner peripheral surface is substantially the same as the outer peripheral surface of the ball head, and the outer peripheral surface is straight. A cylindrical bearing having openings at both ends, a bearing housing, a cylindrical housing having a straight inner peripheral surface and a circumferential groove on the inner periphery of both ends, and a ball stud handle mounted at one end. A small opening, the other end of which has an annular member embedded therein and a boot having a large opening abutting and fixed to the opening end surface of the bearing, and fitted into the groove of the housing to come into contact with the opposite bearing side surface of the annular member. A preload portion having an elastic force is formed between the annular member buried in the large opening and the opening end surface of the bearing. Because it is formed symmetrically by the passing center line, The axial load is always applied to the bearing by the preload part with the elastic force formed in the large opening of the bearing, so there is no backlash even if the inner peripheral surface of the bearing wears over a long period of use . In addition, since the preload portion has an elastic force and can be contracted, even if a slight error occurs in the axial length of the bearing, it can be adjusted by the preload portion. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the housing has a straight shape, and a groove for fitting a C-ring may be formed to prevent the bearing and the boot from coming off. Since it is not necessary to perform the process, the number of processing steps can be reduced. In addition, since the boot, the annular member, and the C-ring used in plurality can be the same because they are symmetrically formed by the center line passing through the center in the axial direction, it is easy to manufacture a single part. It is easy to assemble. Further, the direction of the ball stud, bearing and housing in which only one point is used is not limited in the axial direction, so that the assembling can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a double-shaft type ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a first step of manufacturing a double-shaft type ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a second step of manufacturing a double-shaft type ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a third step of manufacturing a double-shaft type ball joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view showing a conventional double-shaft type ball joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ball stud 3 ball head 3a (ball head) outer peripheral surface 4 handle 5 bearing 5a (bearing) opening 5b (bearing) inner peripheral surface 5c (bearing) outer peripheral surface 5d (bearing) opening end surface 6 housing 6a (housing) Groove 6b (Housing) inner peripheral surface 7 Boot 7a (Boot) Small opening 7b (Boot) Large opening 8 Preload section 9 Annular member 9a (Annular member) Anti-bearing side surface 10 C ring X Center line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ball stud (2) comprising a spherical ball head (3) and two handle portions (4), (4) projecting coaxially from the ball head (3), and the ball A cylindrical bearing (5) enclosing the ball head (3) of the stud (2) so as to be swingable and rotatable, the outer peripheral surface (5c) being straight, and having openings (5a) and (5a) at both ends. ), The bearing (5) is included, the inner peripheral surface (6b) is straight, and the cylindrical housing (6) having the circumferential grooves (6a) and (6a) on the inner periphery at both ends, and one end at one end. The small openings (7a), (7) attached to the handles (4), (4) of the ball stud (2)
a), large openings (7b), (7b) in which annular members (9), (9) are buried at the other end, and are brought into contact with and fixed to the open end surfaces (5d), (5d) of the bearing (5). ), And a groove (6) in the housing (6).
a), (6a), and fit into said annular members (9), (9)
And the C-rings (10) and (10) that come into contact with the anti-bearing side surfaces (9a) and (9a) of the boots (7) and (7) at the large openings (7b) and (7b). Is an elastic force between the annular members (9), (9) embedded in the large openings (7b), (7b) and the opening end faces (5d), (5d) of the bearing (5). A double-shaft type ball joint, wherein a preload portion (8) having the following structure is formed, and is formed symmetrically by a center line (X) passing through the center in the axial direction.