JP3336155B2 - Ball joint structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball joint structure used for a suspension system of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball joint structure having a rotatable ball stud is used, for example, in a suspension system of an automobile. As shown in FIG. 18, a ball joint structure 90 used for a suspension device or the like has a ball head 911.
A ball stud 91 having a shaft portion 912, a socket 92 for rotatably supporting a ball head 911 of the ball stud 91, and a ball seat 93 interposed between the ball head 911 and the socket 92. And a cap 94 for covering the end of the ball seat 93.

In order for the ball stud 91 to rotate smoothly, a gap (play) between the ball head 911 and the ball seat 93 does not occur, and the tightening state between the two does not become too strong. I have to do it.

However, since the members 91 to 94 are manufactured with a certain processing tolerance, it is inevitable that the above-mentioned gaps and excessive tightening occur. That is,
There are certain processing tolerances in the ball diameter of the ball head 911, the axial position of the socket 92, the position of the fixed portion of the cap 94, the inner ball diameter of the ball seat 93, the center of curvature, and the like, and there are variations among individual products. .

[0005] As a result, the rotational torque of the ball stud 91 is too large, and the ball stud 91 is loose or loose. Therefore, various measures have been taken to absorb the processing tolerances of the members 91 to 94, to make the rotation of the ball stud 91 smooth, and to make the rotation torque uniform. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, a method has been proposed in which an elastic member 96 having a small elastic coefficient is arranged between the tip end side of the ball head 911 and the cap 94 to absorb the processing tolerance.

[0006]

However, the conventional ball joint structure improved to make the rotation of the ball stud smooth and uniform (FIG. 19) has the following problems. The first point is that the number of parts has increased due to the provision of a new elastic member 96, and the second point is that there is still a slight difference in the rotational torque of the ball stud due to the difference in processing error generated for each product. That is.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem,
An object of the present invention is to provide a ball joint structure capable of obtaining a uniform and favorable rotation torque without increasing the number of parts.

[0008]

A ball stud comprising a shaft portion and a ball head, a socket for rotatably supporting the ball head of the ball stud, and a ball stud between the ball head and the socket. A ball joint structure having an interposed ball seat and a cap fixed to the socket and covering an upper end or a lower end of the ball seat, wherein the socket or the cap is added from outside. A pressure adjusting portion capable of deforming the member inward by the pressing force is formed in advance, and when the entire assembly is assembled, the pressing force applied to the pressure adjusting portion is controlled, and the ball head and the ball are adjusted. The ball joint structure is characterized in that a tightening state between the seat and the seat is adjusted to a desired one.

The most remarkable point of the present invention is that a pressure adjusting portion is provided on a socket or a cap , and a pressure is applied to the pressure adjusting portion when assembling the entirety, so that a ball head and a ball seat are connected to each other. That is, the tightening state between them is made as desired. The pressure adjusting unit includes, for example, a thin portion provided on the cap and easily deformable (see FIGS. 2 and 3). This is because the thin portion or its periphery can be deformed inward if a thin portion as described above is provided on the cap and a pressing force is applied to the thin portion or its periphery from outside. , See FIG. 4).

As another example of the pressure adjusting section, a structure is employed in which a socket is caulked to the edge of the cap and fixed.
A clamping portion for clamping the inner and outer surfaces at the edge of the cap from the outer surface side is provided on the socket, and the cutout portion formed on the inner surface of the edge of the cap clamped by the clamping portion is defined as the pressure adjusting portion. (See FIG. 5, reference numeral 331).

When the holding portion is pressed from the outer surface side to the edge of the cap, the cap is plastically deformed, and the surrounding meat portion enters the above-mentioned thinned portion, so that the thinned portion can be gradually narrowed. . This is because the degree of indentation into the inside of the cap can be changed by the degree of the narrowing (large or small) of the above-mentioned underfilled portion (see the transformation from FIG. 5 to FIG. 6).

[0012]

Operation and effect The socket or cap of the ball joint structure according to the present invention is formed in advance with a pressure adjusting portion capable of deforming the above-mentioned member inward by a pressing force applied from the outside. Therefore, if a pressing force is applied to the pressure adjusting portion when assembling the ball joint structure, the member (socket or cap) provided with the pressure adjusting portion is provided.
-Up) is deformed toward the inside.

The magnitude of the inward deformation changes depending on the magnitude of the pressing force. As a result, the tightening state between the ball head and the ball seat also changes due to the pressing force. That is, it is possible to adjust the tightening state between the ball head and the ball seat by assembling the ball head and the ball seat in advance so that the gap between the ball head and the ball seat is large, and setting the above-mentioned pressing force to an appropriate value. it can.

[0014] By appropriately setting the tightening state between the ball head and the ball seat, the turning motion of the ball stud can be made to have a desired turning torque with a desired smoothness. . Further, since the tightening strength of the ball head and the ball seat is adjusted for each product, variations in processing tolerance generated for each product can be absorbed thereby, and the quality of the product can be made uniform.

Further, the ball joint structure according to the present invention requires a relatively easy structural change of providing a pressure adjusting portion, and does not require new additional parts, thereby suppressing an increase in cost. can do. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a ball joint structure capable of obtaining a uniform and favorable rotation torque without increasing the number of components.

[0016]

【Example】

First Embodiment A ball joint structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a ball stud 11 composed of a shaft portion 111 and a ball head 112, a socket 12 for rotatably supporting the ball head 112 of the ball stud 11, and a ball head 112 Cup-shaped ball seat 1 interposed between the socket and the socket 12
4 and a cap 21 fixed to the socket 12 and covering the upper end of the ball seat 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 21 is formed in advance with a pressure adjusting portion 31 capable of deforming the cap 21 inward by a pressing force applied from the outside. When assembling the pressure adjusting unit 31
Is adjusted so that the tightening state between the ball head 112 and the ball seat 14 becomes a desired one.

The pressure adjusting part 31 is a thin part provided on the cap 21. The thin portion is formed on the inner surface side of the cap 21 and forms an annular groove that makes a round around the edge of the cap 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, after assembling the ball joint structure 1, the pressing tool 81 is attached to the cap 2.
1 from above, the cap 21 is deformed, and FIG.
As shown in (1), the tightening state between the ball head 112 and the ball seat 14 is set to be appropriate.

The material of the cap 21 is a steel plate, and the material of the ball seat 14 is a synthetic resin such as polyacetal. 1 and 2, reference numeral 121 denotes a holding portion of the socket 12 for caulking and fixing the cap 21.

Next, the operation and effect of the ball joint structure 1 of this embodiment will be described. In this example, an annular thin portion that is the pressure adjusting unit 31 is provided on the inner surface side of the cap 21. Then, by pressing the center side (center of the circle) of the annular thin portion with the pressing jig 81, the ball sheet 14 can be deformed inward together with the cap 21. The state of tightening with the ball seat 14 changes.

The degree of the deformation varies depending on the pressing force of the pressing jig 81. Therefore, after assembling the ball head 112 and the ball seat 14 so that the tightened state is loose, the tightened state is changed while gradually applying the pressing force to change the socket 12 of the ball stud 11.
, A desired rotational torque can be obtained from the ball stud 11.

Therefore, even when there is a variation in dimensions between the individual products of the ball joint structure 1, each ball joint structure 1 can obtain a uniform and favorable rotation torque. Further, other than the provision of the pressure adjusting section 31, it is unnecessary to add a new component, and the increase in cost can be suppressed to a low level. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the ball joint structure 1 capable of obtaining a uniform and favorable rotation torque without increasing the number of components.

Embodiment 2 In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
This is another embodiment in which the pressure adjusting portion 32 is formed as a plurality of concave portions provided on the outer surface side of the cap 22. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of concave portions are formed on the outer surface side of the cap 22 to form a thin portion, which is referred to as a pressure adjusting portion 32.

Then, as shown in FIG.
2 is pressed by a pressing jig 82 to form a convex portion 321 on the inner surface side of the cap 22 as shown in FIG. As a result, the upper portion of the ball seat 15 is pressed, and as shown in FIG. 4, the ball seat 15 and the ball head 112 can be brought into contact with no gap. As a result, the ball stud 11 smoothly rotates with respect to the socket 12. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment is another embodiment in which a notched portion 331 is formed on the inner surface 231 side of the edge of the cap 23 to form the pressure adjusting portion 33 of the cap 23. It is an example. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the socket 12 has a clamping portion 121 for clamping the inner and outer surfaces 231 and 232 at the edge of the cap 23 from the outer surface side.
Is a notched portion 331 formed on the inner surface 231 side of the edge of the cap 23 held by the holding portion 121.

The cutout portion 331 is formed in an annular shape so as to make one round around the edge of the cap 23. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the sandwiching portion 121 is pressed by the pressing roller 83, and the pressing force of the pressing portion 83 causes the vertically elongated cutout 331 to be formed.
Is transformed into a horizontally long underfill 332 shown in FIG.

At the same time, the inner surface 231 of the cap 23 is depressed inward, and presses the ball seat 15 inward.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball seat 15 and the ball head 112 are brought into contact with each other so that no gap is formed, and a proper tightening state is obtained. Then, the ball stud 11 smoothly rotates with respect to the socket 12. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 4 In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a flange 161 is provided on an upper portion of a ball seat 16 and
This is another embodiment in which the pressure adjusting section 34 is sandwiched between the two. That is, the holding portion 121 of the socket 12 holds both the edge of the cap 24 and the flange 161. When the holding portion 121 is pressed, the flange portion 16 of the resin ball seat 16 is more easily deformed than the cap 24.
1 is crushed.

As a result, the cap 24 is recessed inward of the socket 12 and presses the ball seat 16. Then, as shown in FIG.
2 can be brought into contact with each other so as to be in a proper tightening state.
Rotates smoothly with respect to the socket 12. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 5 In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
2 and a cap 2
Reference numeral 5 is another embodiment in which the lower end portion of the ball seat 17 is formed so as to cover the lower end portion, and the pressure adjusting portion of the cap 25 is a concave portion 255 provided in the side portion 251 of the cap 25.

The socket 13 covers three sides including the top of the ball head 112, and the cap 25 covers the lower end of the ball seat 17 and is held by the holding portion 131 of the socket 13 provided on the opening side of the socket 13. 13 and fixed. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the cap 25 is provided with a fixing portion 252 held by the holding portion 131.
And a side portion 251 that contacts the lower portion of the ball seat 17.

A ring-shaped recess 255 (FIG. 9) is formed on the side 251. The side 251 is deformed inward by narrowing the recess 255. That is, after fixing the fixing portion 252 to the socket 13,
As shown in FIG. 8, the side portion 251 is pressed from the lower outside to the upper inside by the pressing jig 84 pressed in the direction of arrow F,
The side part 251 is deformed as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, and at the same time, the lower part of the ball seat 17 is pressed against the ball head 112.

As a result, the ball head 112 and the ball seat 1
7, the ball stud 11 smoothly rotates with respect to the socket 13. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 6 As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this embodiment is another embodiment in which the concave portion 256 of the pressure adjusting section is made up of four grooves running up and down in Embodiment 5. That is, a groove-shaped concave portion 256 that runs in the vertical direction is formed in the side portion 251 of the cap 25. Then, the side portion 251 of the cap 25 is pressed by using the pressing jig 84 (FIG. 11) to narrow the concave portion 256 and deform the cap 25 inward as shown in FIG. Others are the same as in the fifth embodiment.

Embodiment 7 As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, this embodiment is different from Embodiment 5 in that no recess is provided on the side of the cap and the fixing portion 253 of the cap 25 and the holding portion 131 of the socket 13 are connected to each other. This is another embodiment in which a gap 257 is provided between the gaps 257 and the gap 257 is used as a pressure adjusting section of the cap 25. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the inside of the holding portion 131 is formed in a step shape so that a gap 257 is formed between the upper surface of the fixing portion 253 and the holding portion 131, and the holding portion 131 is pressed by the pressure roller 83. Press.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
53 is deformed, and the gap 257 is narrowed. Then, the cap 25 and the ball seat 17 are pushed upward, and the tightening state with respect to the ball head 112 changes. Others are the same as in the fifth embodiment.

[0037]Reference example  This example is different from Example 5 as shown in FIGS.
Without a recess on the side of the cap.
Is provided with a flange portion 181 to serve as a pressure adjusting portion.
The holding portion 131 is fixed to the fixing portion 253 of the cap 25 and the flange portion 18.
And pinch it with 1.ExampleIt is. That is, as shown in FIG.
As described above, the fixing portion 253 of the cap 25 is
And the flange 181 of the ball seat 18, and
The holding portion 131 is pressed by the roller 83.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 17, the flange 181 of the ball seat 18 is crushed, and the cap 25 and the ball seat 18 are pushed upward, so that the state of being tightened to the ball head 112 changes. 17 and 18, reference numeral 182 denotes a gap for facilitating deformation of the ball seat 18. Others are the same as the fifth embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a ball joint structure according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an essential part cross-sectional view of the ball joint structure according to the first embodiment before pressure deformation;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a ball joint structure according to a second embodiment before pressure deformation.

FIG. 4 is an essential part cross-sectional view of the ball joint structure of Example 2 after pressure deformation.

FIG. 5 is an essential part cross-sectional view of a ball joint structure according to a third embodiment before pressure deformation;

FIG. 6 is an essential part cross-sectional view of a ball joint structure according to a third embodiment after pressure deformation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of a ball joint structure according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a ball joint structure according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory view of the deformation of the cap of Example 5 under pressure.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a ball joint structure according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory view of the deformation of the cap of Example 6 under pressure.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a pressure adjusting unit according to a seventh embodiment (before pressure deformation).

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a pressure adjusting unit according to a seventh embodiment (after pressure deformation).

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the pressure adjusting unit of the reference example (before pressure deformation).

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the pressure adjusting unit of the reference example (after pressure deformation).

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a conventional ball joint structure.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a main part of another conventional ball joint structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. . . Ball joint structure, 11. . . Ball studs, 112. . . Ball head, 12,13. . . Socket, 14-18. . . Ball seat, 21-25. . .
Cap, 31-34. . . Pressure adjustment unit,

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16C 11/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball stud comprising a shaft portion and a ball head, a socket rotatably supporting the ball head of the ball stud, and a ball provided between the ball head and the socket. A ball joint structure having a seat, and a cap fixed to the socket and covering an upper end side or a lower end side of the ball seat, wherein the socket or the cap is provided with an externally applied pressing force. A pressure adjusting portion capable of deforming the inner side of the ball is formed in advance, and the pressure applied to the pressure adjusting portion is controlled at the time of assembling the entirety, so that the space between the ball head and the ball seat is adjusted. A ball joint structure, wherein a tightening state is adjusted to a desired one. 2. The pressure adjusting unit according to claim 1,
A ball joint structure, characterized in that it is a thin-walled portion provided on the cap and easily deformed. 3. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a clamping portion for clamping and clamping both inner and outer surfaces at the edge of the cap from the outer surface side. A ball joint structure, which is a notched portion formed on the inner surface side of the edge of the cap to be sandwiched.