JP2008151290A - Ball joint and radar device using the ball joint - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional ball joint holds a spherical portion with a snap fit structure of a ball holding portion, but the snap fit has no locking mechanism, and when a pulling force, vibration, or impact is applied, the ball holding portion and the spherical portion Easily come off. Further, if the rigidity of the ball holding part is increased in order to make it difficult to remove the spherical part, a strong force is required at the time of assembly insertion and disassembly, resulting in poor workability.
A ball receiving portion that comes into surface contact with and covers the top of a spherical portion provided at one end of a movable shaft, and a ball that elastically contacts the circumferential surface of the spherical portion and sandwiches the spherical portion. And a ball holder that supports the movable shaft in a swingable or pivotable manner around the spherical portion. The movable shaft holds the ball when the top of the spherical portion and the ball receiving portion are in contact with each other. And a ball holding receiving portion that covers the portion and strengthens the holding force of the ball holding portion with respect to the sphere portion.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball joint and a radar apparatus using the ball joint.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the conventional ball joint forms a ball joint by holding the sphere 2 provided at the end of the movable shaft 1, and the ball holder 3 that holds the sphere 2 is The ball receiving portion 4 that covers the tip end side of the spherical portion 2 and the ball holding portion 5 made of an elastic material such as a resin that holds the movable shaft 1 side of the spherical portion 2 with a snap-fit structure are provided.
By using a snap-fit structure for the ball holding portion 5, the ball body portion 2, the ball receiving portion 4, and the ball holding portion 5 are joined without backlash even when the dimensional accuracy is poor. Further, a protrusion 7 is formed on a part of the sphere portion 2, and the rotation is transmitted from the movable shaft 1 to the ball holder 3 without slipping by engaging with a groove 8 formed on the ball holding portion 5. ing.

Japanese Patent No. 3710774

In the conventional ball joint, the sphere part 2 is held by the snap fit structure of the ball holding part 5 as described above. However, the snap fit has no lock mechanism, and when a pulling force, vibration or impact is applied, the ball holding part There was a problem that 5 and the spherical body part 2 were easily detached.
Further, there is a method of increasing the rigidity of the ball holding portion 5 in order to make it difficult to remove the spherical portion 2, but there is a problem that a strong force is required at the time of assembly insertion and disassembly, resulting in poor workability.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems.

  The ball joint according to the present invention is in surface contact with the top of the spherical portion provided at one end of the movable shaft and elastically contacts with the peripheral surface of the spherical portion and the ball receiving portion that covers the top of the top. A ball holder for sandwiching the sphere, and a ball holder for swinging or pivoting the movable shaft around the sphere, the movable shaft including a top of the sphere A ball holding receiving portion that covers the ball holding portion and increases the holding force of the ball holding portion with respect to the spherical body portion when in contact with the ball receiving portion is provided.

  According to the ball joint of the present invention, the ball holding portion and the sphere portion 2 are not easily detached even when a pulling force, vibration, or impact is applied during use. Therefore, workability can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 7 are views showing a ball joint according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a ball joint after assembly. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a ball joint in the middle of assembly. 6 and 7 show the ball joint before assembly.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In each figure, the ball joint is formed by a sphere portion 2 provided at one end of the movable shaft 1 and a ball holder 3 that holds the sphere portion 2. The ball holder 3 is the tip side of the sphere portion 2, that is, A ball receiving portion 4 that is in surface contact with the top of the head and covers the portion, and a ball holding portion having a snap-fit structure that is made of an elastic material such as a resin and elastically contacts the circumferential surface of the sphere portion 2 to sandwich the sphere portion 2 5, the sphere portion 2 and its movable shaft 1 are held by a ball receiving portion 4 and a ball holding portion 5, and the movable shaft 1 is supported so as to be swingable or rotatable around the sphere portion 2. Yes.
A pair of protrusions 7 are formed on a part of the sphere part 2, and the protrusions 7 engage with the grooves 8 formed on the ball holding part 5, thereby moving the movable shaft 1 to the ball holder 3. The rotation can be transmitted without slipping (without spinning), and the protrusion 7 is guided by the groove 8 and slides in the groove as will be described later. In addition, the assembled ball joint is connected to the movable shaft 1 and the ball holder 3 by pressing the protrusion 7 with the elasticity of the ball holding portion 5.

The movable shaft 1 includes a ball holding / receiving portion 6 having a C-shaped cross section. The ball holding and receiving portion 6 covers the ball holding portion 5 from the outside as shown in FIG. 1 when the top of the spherical portion 2 and the ball receiving portion 4 are in contact with each other, and the holding force of the ball holding portion 5 with respect to the spherical portion 2 Thus, the ball holding portion 5 is prevented from being deformed by the pulling force, vibration, impact or the like, and the spherical body portion 2 is prevented from coming out.
Further, the inner surface (ball holding receiving portion side contact portion) A of the ball holding receiving portion 6 and the outer surface (ball holding portion side contact portion) B of the ball holding portion 5 which are in contact with each other are each a spherical portion as shown in FIG. A part of a spherical surface concentric with 2 is formed and formed into a spherical shape. Therefore, even when the ball holder 3 is tilted around the spherical center point of the spherical body portion 2, the ball holding and receiving portion 6 can stably cover and hold the ball holding portion 5. The inner surface A of the ball holding and receiving portion 6 and the outer surface B of the ball holding portion 5 can be implemented only by forming at least one of them into a spherical shape that is concentric with the spherical portion 2.
Further, by making the radius of the inner surface A of the ball holding receiving portion 6 smaller than the radius of the outer surface B of the ball holding portion 5, the holding force of the ball holding portion 5 with respect to the sphere portion 2 can be increased, and further pulling force, vibration, It is possible to make it difficult for the ball holding portion 5 and the sphere portion 2 to be detached from the impact.

Further, on one end face of the ball holding / receiving part 6, when the movable shaft 1 is removed from the ball holder 3, the contact between the inner surface A of the ball holding / receiving part 6 and the outer surface B of the ball holding part 5 is released and a projection 7 is provided. An inclined surface C that is free from the groove 8 is provided.
By providing the inclined surface C, if the movable shaft 1 is swung around the spherical body portion 2 and the angle of the movable shaft 1 with respect to the ball holding portion 5 is inclined to a predetermined angle as shown in FIGS. The ball holding and receiving portion 6 is separated from the ball holding portion 5, and the movable shaft 1 can be detached from the ball holder 3.
In this way, the movable shaft 1 can be easily attached and detached simply by inclining the angle of the movable shaft 1 with respect to the ball holding portion 5 to a predetermined angle.

Next, the assembly insertion work procedure in the first embodiment will be described.
From the state before the assembly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the projection 7 of the sphere 2 is held while maintaining the state in which the ball holder 3 and the movable shaft 1 are at a predetermined angular position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The spherical portion 2 is inserted into the ball holder 3 by engaging with the groove 8. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the ball holder 3 or the movable shaft 1 is rotated about the sphere center point of the sphere portion 2 so that the ball holding receiving portion 6 covers the ball holding portion 5. To do. At this time, the movable shaft 1 and the ball holder 3 are connected by pressing the projection 7 with the elasticity of the ball holding portion 5.
Therefore, the disassembling operation is the reverse procedure of the above procedure. That is, when the movable shaft 1 is tilted with respect to the ball holder 3 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the ball holder 3 and the movable shaft 1 are at a predetermined angular position, the ball holding receiving portion 6 is Since it is separated from the holding portion 5, the protrusion 7 is guided and slid into the groove 8, and the movable shaft 1 is removed from the ball holder 3.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Embodiment 2 of the present invention is used to monitor the periphery of a vehicle, that is, to detect the distance, relative speed, and direction from the reflected wave to an obstacle around the vehicle by irradiating the periphery of the vehicle with electromagnetic waves. The ball joint of the first embodiment is applied to the radar apparatus.
FIGS. 13 to 19 are diagrams showing an example of a radar apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIGS. 13 to 15 show the assembled radar apparatus. FIGS. 16 and 17 show the radar in the middle of assembly. FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show the radar device before assembly.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In each figure, 14 is a primary radiator that radiates electromagnetic waves, 9 is a reflecting mirror that reflects the electromagnetic waves from the primary radiator 14 and irradiates them at a predetermined spread angle, for example, a resin having a low dielectric loss tan δ ( SPS, PBT, PPS, etc.).
The reflecting mirror 9 is provided with supporting shafts 9a and 9b on both sides in the vicinity of the center of gravity at the center so that the reflecting mirror 9 is not affected by gravity, disturbance vibrations, and the like. 2b is provided. As will be described later, the spherical body portion 2a and the spherical body portion 2b are supported by a pair of ball bearings 10a and 10b, and support the reflecting mirror 9 so as to be rotatable or swingable.

The spherical body portion 2a forms a part of a connecting portion between the end of one of the support shafts 9a of the reflecting mirror 9 and the ball bearing 10a, and the same ball joint as that of the first embodiment is adopted in this portion. .
That is, the ball holder 3 that holds the sphere portion 2a includes a ball receiving portion 4 that covers the tip side (the top of the sphere) 2a, and a ball made of an elastic material such as a resin that holds the sphere portion 2a in a snap-fit structure. And a holding unit 5.
A pair of protrusions 7 are formed on a part of the sphere portion 2a, and slides from the sphere portion 2a to the ball holder 3 by slidably engaging with a groove 8 formed in the ball holding portion 5. The rotation can be transmitted without (without idling).
The reflecting mirror 9 further includes a ball holding / receiving portion 6. The ball holding and receiving portion 6 has a structure that covers the ball holding portion 5 from the outside, and prevents the ball holding portion 5 from being deformed by pulling force, vibration, and impact, and the spherical body portion 2a from coming out. Therefore, the reflecting mirror 9 does not easily come off even when a pulling force, vibration, or impact is applied.

The inner surface (ball holding receiving portion side contact portion) A of the ball holding receiving portion 6 and the outer surface (ball holding portion side contact portion) B of the ball holding portion 5 which are in contact with each other are respectively spherical body portions as shown in FIG. Part of a spherical surface that is concentric with 2a is formed and formed into a spherical shape (FIG. 18).
Therefore, even when the reflecting mirror 9 is tilted around the spherical center point of the spherical body portion 2a, the ball holding and receiving portion 6 can stably cover and hold the ball holding portion 5.

When the reflecting mirror 9 is tilted and the ball holder 3 and the reflecting mirror 9 are at a predetermined angular position as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the projection 7 is guided to the groove 8, and the ball holding and receiving portion 6 is moved to the ball holding portion. 5 can be removed. Therefore, the ball holder 3 and the reflecting mirror 9 can be easily attached and detached.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ball holder 3 is inserted into an inner ring of a ball bearing 10 a that is a bearing and is rotatably supported, and the outer ring of the ball bearing 10 a is fixed to a holder 12 a on the body 11. Has been.

The spherical body portion 2b forms a part of a connecting portion between the other U-shaped support shaft 9b of the reflecting mirror 9 and the ball bearing 10b, and this connecting portion is formed from the ball bearing 10b as shown in FIGS. In addition, an attachment / detachment mechanism for appropriately detaching the spherical portion 2b is provided. The attachment / detachment mechanism is provided with a rotatable cylindrical shaft 15 provided on the inner ring of the ball bearing 10b, and a notch-like engagement groove 16 formed on the cylindrical shaft 15 to detachably fit the spherical portion 2b. Yes.
When the radar is assembled, the sphere 2b is fixed integrally with the cylindrical shaft 15 by the retaining screw 17, and the cylindrical shaft 15, the sphere 2b, the support shaft 9b, and the reflecting mirror 9 are integrated and co-operate.
The outer ring of the ball bearing 10b is fixed to a holder 12b on the body 11.

  In the above configuration, the reflecting mirror 9 is driven to swing around the axis 13 passing through the centers of the sphere 2a and the sphere 2b by scanning means (not shown) that scans the electromagnetic wave, and irradiates the periphery of the automobile with the electromagnetic wave. Then, the distance, relative speed, direction, and the like from the reflected wave to the obstacle around the car are detected.

Next, the assembly insertion work procedure in the second embodiment will be described.
From the state before assembly shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the projection 7 is slid into the groove 8 while maintaining the state in which the ball holder 3 and the reflecting mirror 9 are at a predetermined angular position as shown in FIGS. The spherical part 2a is inserted into the ball holder 3 by being engaged freely.
Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ball holder 3 is rotated and swung around the spherical center point of the spherical body portion 2 a so that the ball holding receiving portion 6 covers the ball holding portion 5. At this time, the support shaft 9 a and the ball holder 3 are connected by pressing the protrusion 7 with the elasticity of the ball holding portion 5.
At the same time, the spherical portion 2 b is fitted into a notch-like engagement groove 16 with the cylindrical shaft 15, and then the spherical portion 2 b is fixed integrally with the cylindrical shaft 15 with a retaining screw 17.
The disassembling operation is the reverse of the above procedure. That is, when the support shaft 9a, that is, the reflecting mirror 9 is tilted with respect to the ball holder 3 and the ball holder 3 and the support shaft 9a are at a predetermined angular position, the ball holding receiving portion 6 is separated from the ball holding portion 5 by the inclined surface C. Therefore, the protrusion 7 is guided and slid into the groove 8, and the support shaft 9 a is removed from the ball holder 3.

  According to the radar device of the second embodiment, the reflecting mirror 9 can be coupled without play even when the sphere 2a, the ball receiving portion 4 and the ball holding portion 5 have poor dimensional accuracy. It can be made easier to attach and detach. Further, the reflecting mirror 9 is not easily detached even when a pulling force, vibration, or impact is applied, and can be stably held even when the reflecting mirror 9 is tilted.

It is sectional drawing which shows the ball joint after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the ball joint after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the ball joint after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the ball joint in the middle of the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the ball joint in the middle of the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the ball joint before the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the ball joint before the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the ball joint after the conventional assembly. It is a front view which shows the ball joint after the conventional assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the ball joint after the conventional assembly. It is a front view which shows the ball joint before the conventional assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the ball joint before the conventional assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the radar apparatus after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the radar apparatus after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the radar apparatus after the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the radar apparatus in the middle of an assembly concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the radar apparatus in the middle of the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the radar apparatus before the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the radar apparatus before the assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Movable shaft 2, 2a, 2b Sphere part 3 Ball holder 4 Ball receiving part 5 Ball holding part 6 Ball holding receiving part 7 Protrusion 8 Groove 9 Reflection mirror 9a, 9b Spindle 10a, 10b Ball bearing 11 Body 12a , 12b Holder 13 Axis line between spherical portion 2a and spherical portion 2b 14 Primary radiator 15 Cylindrical shaft 16 Notched engagement groove 17 Set screw A Inner surface of ball holding receiving portion 6 (ball holding receiving portion side contact portion)
B External surface of ball holding part 5 (ball holding part side contact part)
C Inclined surface C of the ball holding and receiving portion 6.

Claims (9)

A ball receiving portion that comes into surface contact with the top of the spherical portion provided at one end of the movable shaft and covers the top, and a ball holding portion that elastically contacts with the peripheral surface of the spherical portion and sandwiches the spherical portion And a ball holder that supports the movable shaft in a swingable or pivotable manner around the spherical portion,
The movable shaft is provided with a ball holding receiving portion that covers the ball holding portion and increases the holding force of the ball holding portion with respect to the spherical portion when the top of the spherical portion and the ball receiving portion come into contact with each other. Characteristic ball joint.   The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball holding portion has a snap-fit structure.   At least one of the ball holding portion side contact portion that contacts the ball holding reception portion or the ball holding reception portion side contact portion that contacts the ball holding portion is formed in a spherical shape that is concentric with the sphere portion. The ball joint according to claim 1. Forming the ball holding portion side contact portion in contact with the ball holding receiving portion and the ball holding receiving portion side contact portion in contact with the ball holding portion into a spherical shape concentric with the sphere portion;
2. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the ball holding receiving portion side contact portion is smaller than a radius of the ball holding portion side contact portion.   Protrusions are provided on the peripheral surface of the spherical body part, and grooves for guiding the protrusions are provided in the ball holding part, and the protrusions are pressed by the elasticity of the ball holding part to connect the movable shaft and the ball holder. The ball joint according to claim 1.   The ball holding and receiving portion makes contact with the ball holding portion with respect to the ball holding portion when the movable shaft swings around the spherical portion and the angle of the movable shaft with respect to the ball holding portion reaches a predetermined angle. 2. The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the movable shaft is detachable from the ball holding portion. A primary radiator that radiates electromagnetic waves, a reflecting mirror that reflects the electromagnetic waves from the primary radiator and irradiates at a predetermined spread angle, and a pair that is provided at both ends of the support shaft of the reflecting mirror and supports the reflecting mirror. A scanning means for scanning the electromagnetic wave by rotating or swinging the reflecting mirror,
2. A radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ball joint according to claim 1 is provided at a connecting portion between one end of the support shaft of the reflecting mirror and the bearing so as to rotate or swing the reflecting mirror.   An attachment / detachment mechanism for appropriately removing the support shaft end from the bearing is provided at a connecting portion between the other support shaft end of the reflecting mirror and the bearing, and the attachment / detachment mechanism includes a cylindrical shaft provided on an inner ring of the bearing. 8. A radar apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an engaging groove formed on the cylindrical shaft and detachably fitted to a spherical portion provided on the support shaft of the reflecting mirror.   8. The radar apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one of the support shaft end side ball joints of the reflecting mirror has a snap fit structure.

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