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GB2201383A - Plastics thrust bearing for Macpherson strut - Google Patents

Plastics thrust bearing for Macpherson strut Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2201383A
GB2201383A GB08725983A GB8725983A GB2201383A GB 2201383 A GB2201383 A GB 2201383A GB 08725983 A GB08725983 A GB 08725983A GB 8725983 A GB8725983 A GB 8725983A GB 2201383 A GB2201383 A GB 2201383A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
bearing
casing
annular
collar
cylindrical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08725983A
Other versions
GB2201383B (en
GB8725983D0 (en
Inventor
Hiroto Kamimura
Shuichi Kubota
Masaru Iwakura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oiles Industry Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Oiles Industry Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP1986196804U external-priority patent/JPH026263Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP19680386U external-priority patent/JPH021532Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP595787U external-priority patent/JPH0328183Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP1987005956U external-priority patent/JPH0339614Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP1012787U external-priority patent/JPH0328185Y2/ja
Application filed by Oiles Industry Co Ltd filed Critical Oiles Industry Co Ltd
Publication of GB8725983D0 publication Critical patent/GB8725983D0/en
Publication of GB2201383A publication Critical patent/GB2201383A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2201383B publication Critical patent/GB2201383B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C17/00—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C17/04—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement for axial load only
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G15/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of combined spring and vibration damper, e.g. telescopic type
    • B60G15/02—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of combined spring and vibration damper, e.g. telescopic type having mechanical spring
    • B60G15/06—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of combined spring and vibration damper, e.g. telescopic type having mechanical spring and fluid damper
    • B60G15/067—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of combined spring and vibration damper, e.g. telescopic type having mechanical spring and fluid damper characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit
    • B60G15/068—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of combined spring and vibration damper, e.g. telescopic type having mechanical spring and fluid damper characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
    • F16C33/02—Parts of sliding-contact bearings
    • F16C33/04—Brasses; Bushes; Linings
    • F16C33/20—Sliding surface consisting mainly of plastics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
    • B60G2202/30—Spring/Damper and/or actuator Units
    • B60G2202/31—Spring/Damper and/or actuator Units with the spring arranged around the damper, e.g. MacPherson strut
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
    • B60G2202/30—Spring/Damper and/or actuator Units
    • B60G2202/31—Spring/Damper and/or actuator Units with the spring arranged around the damper, e.g. MacPherson strut
    • B60G2202/312—The spring being a wound spring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
    • B60G2204/124—Mounting of coil springs
    • B60G2204/1242—Mounting of coil springs on a damper, e.g. MacPerson strut
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
    • B60G2204/128—Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/418—Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/90—Maintenance
    • B60G2206/91—Assembly procedures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
    • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
    • F16C2208/60—Polyamides [PA]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
    • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
    • F16C2208/66—Acetals, e.g. polyoxymethylene [POM]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
    • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
    • F16C2208/70—Polyesters, e.g. polyethylene-terephthlate [PET], polybutylene-terephthlate [PBT]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
    • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
    • F16C2208/76—Polyolefins, e.g. polyproylene [PP]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
    • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
    • F16C2208/76—Polyolefins, e.g. polyproylene [PP]
    • F16C2208/78—Polyethylene [PE], e.g. ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene [UHMWPE]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
    • F16C2326/01—Parts of vehicles in general
    • F16C2326/05—Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)

Description

2201383 THRUST BEARING MADE OF SYNTHETIC RESIN The present invention
concerns a thrust bearing made of synthetic resin, particularly, useful for a strut-thrust type suspension (Macferson type) for use in four wheel cars.
Generally, a strut-thrust type suspension is mainly used for the front wheels of four wheel cars in whi'ch coil springs are combined with a strut assembly incorporating an oil pressure type shock absorber in an outer cylinder integrated with a main shaft The suspension described above includes a type in which a piston rod of the strut assembly is rotated when the assembly is rotated together with coil springs by a steering operation and another type in which the piston rod is not rotated In both of these types, a thrust bearing is required between the mounting member of the assembly to a vehicle body and the upper spring seat of the coil assembly for allowing smooth rotation of the strut assembly.
Roller bearings using balls or needles, or sliding type thrust bearings made of synthetic resin have been employed so far in these positions.
A dust seal made of an elastic rubber member is mounted at the outer circumference of the sliding surface of the thrust bearing for preventing the intrusion of dust or the like from the outside of the bearing to the sliding surface.
5) In the prior art described above, since a dust seal is disposed to the outer circumference of the sliding surface of the thrust bearing, there is a drawback that the sliding frictional force is increased upon steering operation thereby requiring greater steering force.
The present invention has the aim of providing a thrust bearing made of synthetic resin resisting the intrusion of dust or the like without using dust seals made of elastic rubber members.
According to the present invention there is provided a thrust bearing having a casing of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing having a cylindrical portion with an axial aperture, an integral collar portion extending outwardly from the cylindrical portion, an annular protrusion at the outer edge of the collar portion and an engaging step or portion on the outer surface of the annular protrusion, the bearing body having a disc like portion, an aperture at the centre of the disc like portion, a suspended portion at the outer periphery of the disc like portion with a hook portion at a lower edge thereof, and bearing means between the disc like portion of the bearing body and the collar portion of the casing, the bearing body being rotatably fitted to the casing by snap fitting the hook portion over the engaging step or portion.
X 9 3- The bearing means can be a bearing portion on the bearing body, first and second bearing pistons on the bearing body and the casing or a bearing member between upper and lower casings.
More particularly the invention provides a thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a wide collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular protruded portion -formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the collar portion and an engaging portion formed atathe outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion, the bearing body including a cylindrical bearing portion, an inner collar portion formed integrally with an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion, an outer collar portion formed integrally with an upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion, an annular suspended portion formed integrally with the circumferential edge of the outer collar portion and an engaging hook portion formed at the lower end of the suspended portion, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging portion of the protruded portion such that the lower surface of the bearing portion is slidably abutted against the upper surface of the collar portion of the casing, a seal being formed in the snap-fit portion.
The invention also provides a thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular protruded portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the large width collar portion, an engaging step formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular protruded portion, a substantially cylindrical first bearing portion formed integrally with the upper surface of the collar portion and an annular ridge portion formed at an inner circumferential edge of the first bearing portion and continuous with the circumferential edge and protruding from an end face of the first bearing portion, the bearing body including a disk-like portion having a circular aperture at a central portion thereof I a cylindrical second bearing portion formed on the lower surface of said disk-like portion, an annular inner protruded -portion spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface-of the second bearing portion by an annular first groove, protruded at a top end thereof from an end face of the second bearing portion and formed continuous with the circular aperture, an annular outer protruded portion spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the second bearing portion by an annular second groove and protruded at a leading end thereof from an end face of said second bearing portion and an annular suspended portion formed at the outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion and having an engaging hook portion at a lower end thereof, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging step of the protruded portion such that the face of the second bearing portion is abutted slidably against the face of the first bearing portion and the leading ends of the inner and outer protruded portions protrude from the end face of the first bearing portion.
With this embodiment since the sliding contact face of the bearing is formed at a position higher than the upper surface of the large width collar portion of the casing and the inner and outer protruded portions of the bearing body are protruded from the sliding face, the sliding face can be protected against the intrusion of dust or the like from the outside by the labyrinth effect due to the tight seal formed to the inner and outer circumferential edges of the sliding face and the tight seal formed in the snap-fit portion between the bearing body and the casing.
In other embodiments the invention provides a thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a lower casing made of synthetic resin, an upper casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing piece made of synthetic resin disposed between the upper and lower casings, the lower casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular portruded portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the collar portion and an engaging portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion, the upper casing including a disk-like flat portion, a circular aperture formed at the centre of the disk-like portion, an annular suspended portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion and an engaging hook portion formed on the lower end of the suspended portion, the bearing piece comprising an annular plate having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the protruded portion, the upper casing being fitted rotatably to the lower casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging portion of the protruded portion such that an upper surface of the bearing piece is slidably abutted against a lower surface of the disk-like portion and a lower surface of the bearing / ' piece is slidably abutted against an upper surface of the large width collar portion.
With the invention, since tight seals are formed by the snap-fit between the engaging portion of the casing and the engaging hook portion of the bearing body (or between those portions of the upper and lower casings where provided), intrusion of dust or the like to the sliding face of the bearing can be reduced or prevented Also, undesirable increase in the steering force upon steering due to separate rubber dust seals can be avoided.
Moreover, since the casing and the bearing-body (or upper and lower casing) can be engaged by snap-fitting, the assembly work can be conducted extremely easily.
One or more further seals are available to provide more secure sealing in preferred embodiments having one or more overlapping upper and lower lip portions.
In the thrust bearings according to the present invention, it is necessary that the synthetic resin constituting the casing, bearing body, the upper casing and the lower casing should have good mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance, impact shock resistance and creep resistance Further, it is particularly preferred that the bearing body slidably fitted to the casing or the bearing piece disposed within the upper and lower casings can self-lubricate and there can be used preferably, for example, polyacetal resin, polyamide resin, polyester 8 - resin, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyolefine resin such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as polycarbonate resin Similar synthetic resin to- that for the bearing body or the bearing piece can be used for the casing, the upper casing and the lower casing and it is desirable to use a synthetic resin material that exhibits preferable friction characteristics when combined with the synthetic resin used for the bearing body or the bearing piece and shows a relatively high rigidity.
Examples of desirable combinations of resins are as shown in the table below.
Table
Bearing body or Casing, upper Friction Abrasion Bearig boy or casing or bearing piece lower casing coefficient amount (mm) lower casing polyacetal polyamide 0 05 0 020 polyamide polyacetal 0 04 0 021 polyethylene polyacetal 0 04 0 038 polycarbonate polyacetal 0 06 0 050 polyacetal PBT 0 07 0 045 polyacetal polyacetal 0 06 0 025 polyacetal steel 0 11 0 095 0 1-1 I %o O l - In the table, the frictional characteristics show the result obtained under the following test conditions.
Test Condition Thrust load: 350 Kg, angle of swing: 350, velocity of swing: 60 cpm, lubrication: silicon grease was coated on the sliding face upon starting.
The abrasion amount indicates the amount of dimen- sional change (mm) in the bearing body or the bearing piece after conducting 1,000,000 cycles of the test.
If the combination of the synthetic resins for the casing and the bearing body, or the combination of the synthetic resin for the upper and lower casings and the bearing piece is preferably selected as described above, since the sliding face of the bearing is constituted with the combination of synthetic resins excellent in the self-lubri- city, the friction coefficient is low and stable steering power can be maintained for a long period of time.
This invention will be explained more specifically while referring to the accompanying drawings, by which the foregoing objects as well as the constitutions of the present invention will become more apparent.
Specific embodiments to be explained hereinafter are given for easy understanding of the present invention and various modifications may be possible by those skilled in the art without departing the scope of the present invention as clearly shown in the scope of the claim for patent.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a first thrust bearing accord- ing to the present invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the first thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a plan view for the bearing body shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a bottom view for the bearing body shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view for a part in a snap-fit portion shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the second thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a plan view for the bearing body shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a bottom view for the bearing body shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view for a part in a snap-fit portion shown in Figure 6; Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a second thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the third thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 12 is a plan view for the bearing body shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a bottom view for the bearing body shown in Figure 11; Figure 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view for a part in a snap-fit portion shown in Figure 11; Figure 15 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another embodiment of the third thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 16 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a third thrust bearing accord- ing to the present invention; Figure 17 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the fourth thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 18 is a plan view for the casing shown in Figure 17; Figure 19 is a bottom view for the bearing body shown in Figure 17; Figure 20 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a fourth thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 21 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the fifth thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 22 is a plan view for the bearing piece shown in Figure 21; Figure 23 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of.
a strut assembly equipped with a fifth thrust bearing accord- ing to the present invention; Figure 24 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of a sixth thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 25 is a plan view for the bearing piece shown in Figure 24; Figure 26 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a sixth thrust bearing accord- ing to the present invention; Figure 27 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of a seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention; Figure 28 is a plan view for the bearing piece shown in Figure 27; Figure-29 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another embodiment of a seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention; and Figure 30 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a strut assembly equipped with a seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention.
In Figure 1, a thrust assembly A comprises a strut 1 incorporating a shock absorber and a piston rod 2 inserted 14 - K/-) at one end into the shock absorber of the strut 1 and protruded at the other end from the shock absorber The other end of the rod 2 is secured by means of a nut 6 to a mounting member 5 supported to a vehicle body 4 by way of a mount insulator 3 made of elastic rubber material.
A lower spring seat 7 is secured to the outer circumferential surface of the strut 1, while an upper spring seat 8 is disposed opposing to the seat 7 and loosely engaged, to the outer circumferential surface of the rod 2 A coil spring 9 is disposed between the upper and the lower seats 7 and 8.
A first thrust bearing 20 made of synthetic resin of the present invention is disposed between the flat portion of the seat 8 and the mounting members 5, and the thrust bearing 20 comprises a casing 21 made of synthetic resin and a bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin slidably fitted to the casing 21.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of a first thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 2 through 4 of the accompany- ing drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a casing 21 made of synthetic resin and a bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin slidably fitted to the casing 21.
The casing 21 includes a cylindrical portion 24 having a penetration aperture 23 being along a longitudinal - direction thereof, a large width cillar portion 25 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24 in a state where one end 24 a of the cylindrical portion 24 is protruded therefrom, an annular protruded portion 26 formed integrally with an outer cir- cumferential edge of the collar portion 25 and an engaging portion 27 formed to an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 The collar portion 25 may be formed at a lower end of the cylindrical portion 24.
The engaging portion 27 consists of a tapered surface portion 27 a formed from the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 to an lower surface of the collar portion 25 and a cylindrical surface portion 27 b in contiguous with the tapered surface portion 27 a and reach- ing the lower surface of the collar 25.
The bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin includes a cylindrical bearing portion 28, an annular inner collar portion 29 formed integrally with an upper end of an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical bearing portion 28, an annular outer collar portion 30 formed integrally with an upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28, an annular suspended portion 31 formed integrally with an circumferential edge of the collar portion and an engaging hook portion 32 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 31 The hook portion 32 consists of a tapered surface portion 32 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 27 a that constitutes the engaging portion 27 16 - of the casing 21 and a cylindrical surface portion 32 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 32 a and corre- sponding to the cylindrical surface portion 27 b of the engaging portion 27.
The bearing body 22 is fitted rotatably to the casing 21 by snap-fitting the hook portion 32 of the suspended portion 31 with the engaging portion 27 of the casing 21, whereby a tight seal is formed by the labyrinth effect in thee snap-fit portion.
A plurality of recesses 33 are formed radially at the upper surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22, so that the thickness of the bearing body 22 is made uniform as much as possible by the recesses 33.
A plurality of grooves 34 are formed each at a circumferential pitch at the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 and each groove 34 is formed radially from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and the grooves 34 constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant The bearing body 22 is fitted to the casing 21 such that the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 is slidably abutted against the upper surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of the second thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 6 through 9 of the accompanying drawings.
17- A thrust bearing 20 comprises a casing 21 made of synthetic resin and a bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin slidably fitted to the casing 21.
The casing 21 includes a cylindrical portion -24 having a penetration aperture 23 being along a longitudinal direction thereof, a large width collar portion 25 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface at the end of the cylindrical portion 24 in a state where one end 24 a of the cylindrical portion 24 is protruded therefrom, an annular protruded portion 26 formed integrally with an outer cir- cumferential edge of the collar portion 25, an engaging portion 27 formed to an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 and an annular lower lip portion 41 formed coaxially with the penetration aperture 23 at an upper surface of the collar portion 25 and defining an annular groove 40 in cooperation with one end 24 a of the cylindrical portion 24.
The engaging portion 27 consists of a tapered surface portion 27 a formed from the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 to a lower surface of the collar portion 25 and a cylindrical surface portion 27 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 27 a and reach- ing the lower surface of the collar portion 25.
The bearing body 22 includes a cylindrical bearing portion 28, an annular inner collar portion 29 formed inte- grally with an upper end of an inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28, an annular outer collar portion 30 formed integrally with the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28, an annular suspended portion 31 formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the collar portion 30, an engaging hook portion 32 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 31 and an annular upper lip portion 42 formed coaxially with the bear- ing portion 28 at a lower surface of the collar portion 30 and having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the annular lower lip portion 41 formed to an upper surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21.
The hook portion 32 consists of a tapered surface portion 32 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 27 a that constitutes the engaging portion 27 of the casing 21 and a cylindrical surface portion 32 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 32 a and corresponding to the cylin- drical surface portion 27 b of the engaging portion 27.
The bearing body 22 is fitted rotatably to the casing 21 by snap-fitting the hook portion 32 of the suspended portion 31 with the engaging portion 27 of the casing 21 and by radially overlapping an end of the upper lip portion 42 with the lower lip portion 41 of the casing 21, whereby tight seals are formed by the labyrinth effect in the snap- fit portion and in the upper and lower lip portions.
A plurality of recesses 33 are formed radially at the upper surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing 19 - body 22, so that the thickness of the bearing body 22 is made uniform as much as possible by the recesses 33.
A plurality of grooves 34 are formed each at a circumferential pitch at the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 and each groove 34 is formed radially from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and the grooves 34 constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant The bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 is disposed within the groove 40 such that the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 is slidably abutted against the bottom face of the groove 40 of the casing 21.
The sliding face defined with the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 and the bottom face of the groove 40 formed to the casing 21 slidably abut- ting against the lower surface is protected against the intrusion of dust or the like from the inner circumferential surface of the thrust bearing 20 by the labyrinth effect due to the tight seal formed in the snap-fit portion and in the overlapped portion between the upper and lower lip portions 42, 41 respectively.
Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment in which the second thrust bearing 20 described above is applied to a strut assembly A.
Specifically, the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 23 in the cylindrical - portion 24 of the casing 21, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24 of the casing 21 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8, the lower surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21 is abutted against the flat portion 10 of the seat 8 and the upper surface of the bearing body 22 is abutted against the mount- ing member 5.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embo-.
diment of a third thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 11 through 14 of the accompany- ing drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a casing 21 made of synthetic resin and a bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin slidably fitted to the casing 21.
The casing 21 includes a cylindrical portion 24 having a penetration aperture 23 being along a longitudinal direction thereof, an annular first lower lip portion 43 disposed to an upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 24 and having an aperture of a diameter enlarging with a step from the penetration aperture 23, a large width collar portion 25 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface at the end of the cylindrical portion 24, an annular protruded portion 26 formed integrally with an outer cir- cumferential edge of the collar portion 25, an engaging portion 27 formed to an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 and an annular second lower lip portion 44 coaxially formed with the penetration aperture 23 at an upper surface of the collar portion 25 and defining an annular groove 40 in cooperation with the annular first lower lip portion 43.
The engaging portion 27 consists of a tapered surface portion 27 a formed from the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26 to the lower circumferen- tial surface of the collar portion 25 and a cylindrical surface portion 27 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 27 a and reaching the lower surface of the collar portion 25.
The bearing body 22 includes a cylindrical bearing portion 28, an annular inner collar portion 29 formed integrally with an upper end of an inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28, an annular first upper lip portion 45 protruding downwardly in continuous with an inner circumferential edge of the collar portion 29 and having an inner diameter equal with the diameter of the penetration aperture 23 of the casing 21 and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first lower lip portion 43, an annular outer collar portion 30 formed integrally with an upper end at the-outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28, an annular suspended portion 31 formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the collar portion 30, an engaging hook portion 32 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 31 and an annular second upper lip portion 22 - 46 formed coaxially with the bearing portion 28 to a lower surface of the collar portion 30 and having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second lower lip portion 44 formed to the upper surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21.
The hook portion 32 consists of a tapered surface portion 32 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 27 a that constitutes the engaging portion 27 of the casing 21 and a cylindrical surface portion 32 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 32 a and corresponding to the cylin- drical surface portion 27 b of the engaging portion 27.
The bearing body 22 is fitted rotatably to the casing 21 by snap-fitting the hook portion 32 of the suspended portion 31 with the engaging portion 27 of the casing 21 and by radially overlapping the ends of the first and second upper lip portions 45, 46 respectively with the first and second lower lip portions 43, 44 of the casing 21, whereby tight seals are formed by the labyrinth effect in the snap- fit portion, in the first upper and lower lip portions and in the second upper and lower lip portions.
A plurality of recesses 33 are formed radially at the upper surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22, so that the thickness of the bearing body 22 is made uniform as much as possible by the recesses 33. A plurality of grooves 34 are formed each at a circumferential pitch at
the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 and each groove 34 is formed radially from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and the grooves 34 constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant The bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 is disposed within the groove 40 such that the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 is slidably abutted against the bottom surface of the groove 40 of the casing 21.
The sliding face defined with the lower surface of the bearing portion 28 of the bearing body 22 and the bottom face of the groove 40 is protected against the intrusion of dust or the like from the inner and the outer circumferential surfaces of the thrust bearing 20 by the labyrinth effect due to the tight seals formed in the snap-fit portion, in the overlapped portion between the first upper and lower lip portions 45, 43 and the overlapped portion between the second upper and lower lip portions 46, 44 respectively.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the third thrust bearing according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, an engaging portion 36 is formed to the inner circumferential surface of the first lower lip portion 43 of the casing 21, while an engaging hook portion 37 is formed to the outer circumferential surface of the first upper lip portion 45 of the bearing body 22 in the aforementioned embodiment of the third thrust bearing Both 24 - of the engaging portion 36 and the hook portion 37 are snap- fit to each other and fitted in a relatively rotatable manner.
Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment in which one embodiment of the third thrust bearing described above is applied to a strut assembly A.
Specifically, the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 23 in the cylindrical portion 24 of the casing 21, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24 of the casing 21 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8, the lower surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21 is abutted against the flat portion 10 of the seat 8 and the upper surface of the bearing body 22 is abutted against the mounting member 5.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of a fourth thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 17 through 19 of the accompany- ing drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a casing 21 made of synthetic resin and a bearing body 22 made of synthetic resin slidably fitted to the casing 21.
The casing 21 includes a cylindrical portion 24 having a penetration aperture 23 being along a longitudinal direction thereof, a large width collar portion 25 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface at the end of the cylindrical portion 24, an annular protruded portion 26 formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the collar portion 25, an engaging step 50 formed to the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 26, a substantially cylindrical first bearing portion 51 formed integrally with and protruded from an upper surface of the collar portion 25 and an annular ridge portion 52 formed in continuous with the inner circumferential edge of the bearing portion 51 and protruded from the end of the bearing portion 51.
The bearing body 22 comprises a disk-like portion 54 having at its central portion thereof a circular aperture 53 in communication with the penetration aperture 23 of the casing 21, a cylindrical second bearing portion 28 formed integrally with the lower surface of the disk-like portion 54, an annular inner protruded portion 56 spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion 28 by an annular first groove 55, protruded at a leading end there- of from an end face of the bearing portion 28 and formed in continuous with the circular aperture 53, an annular outer protruded portion 58 spaced apart from an outer circumferen- tial surface of the bearing portion 28 by a second annular groove 57 and protruded at a leading end thereof from the end face of the bearing portion 28 and an annular suspended portion 31 formed at an outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion 54 and having an engaging hook portion 32 at a leading end thereof.
26 - The bearing body 22 is fitted rotatably to the casing 21 by snap-fitting the hook portion 32 of the suspended portion 31 with the engaging step 50 of the casing 21 such that the end face of the bearing portion 28 is abutted slidably against the end face of the bearing portion 51 at the upper surface of the collar portion 25 and the ends of the inner and the outer protrusions 56, 58 are protruded from the end faces of the bearing portions 28, 51 respectively.
Since the sliding face between the end face of the bearing portion 28 and the end face of the bearing portion 51 is formed at a position higher than the upper surface 59 of the collar portion 25 by the combination of the casing 21 and the bearing body 22 and since the inner and outer protrusions 56, 58 of the bearing body 22 are disposed while being protruded from the sliding face, intrusion of dust or the like from the outside to the sliding face can be prevented by the labyrinth effect due to the tight seal formed in the inner and outer circumferential edges of the sliding face and the tight seal formed in the snap-fit portion between the bearing member 22 and the casing 21.
Figure 20 illustrates an embodiment in which the thrust bearing 20 comprising one embodiment of the fourth thrust bearing described above is applied to the strut assembly A.
Specifically, the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 23 in the cylindrical 27 - portion 24 of the casing 21, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24 of the casing 21 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8, the lower surface of the collar portion 25 of the casing 21 is abutted against the flat portion 10 of the seat 8 and the bearing body 22 is abutted against the mounting member-5.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of a fifth thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a lower casings 6 O made of synthetic resin, an upper casing 61 made of synthetic resin and a bearing piece 62 made of synthetic resin disposed within the upper and lower casings 60, 61.
The lower casing 60 includes a cylindrical portion 64 having-a penetration aperture 63 being along a longitudinal direction thereof, a large width collar portion 65 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 64 in a state where one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64 is protruded therefrom, an annular protruded portion 66 formed integrally with an outer cir- cumferential edge of the collar portion 65 and an engaging portion 67 formed to an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 66.
The engaging portion 67 consists of a tapered surface portion 67 a formed from an outer circumferential C-.:
surface of the protruded portion 66 to a lower surface of the collar portion 65 and a cylindrical surface portion 67 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 67 a and reaching the lower surface of the collar portion 65.
The casing 61 includes a disk-like flat portion 68, a circular aperture 72 formed at a center of the flat portion 68 and having the same diameter as that of the penetration aperture 63, an annular suspended portion 69 formed integral- ly with an outer circumferential edge of the flat portion 68 and an engaging hook portion 70 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 69 The hook portion 70 consists of a tapered surface portion 70 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 67 a constituting the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60 and a cylindrical surface portion 70 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 70 a and corres- ponding to the cylindrical surface portion 67 b of the engag- ing portion 67.
The casing 61 is fitted rotatably to the casing 60 by snap-fitting the hook portion 70 of the suspended portion 69 with the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60, thereby a tight seal is formed by the labyrinth effect in the snap-fit portion.
The bearing piece 62 comprises an annular plate having an inner aperture 62 a of an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60-and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the protruded portion 66 of the casing 60 -.
A plurality of grooves 62 b are formed radially from the inner aperture 62 a to the outer circumferential surface alternately on both end faces of the bearing piece 62 at a phase difference of 30 degree with each other in the cir- cumferential direction, and the grooves 62 b constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant The bearing piece 62 is disposed within the casings 60, 62 such that the inner aperture 62 a is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64 and the both end faces of the bearing piece 62 are slidably abutted against the lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 and the upper surface of the collar portion 65 of the casing 60 respectively.
Figure 23 illustrates an embodiment in which one embodiment of the fifth thrust-bearing according to the invention as described above is applied to the strut assembly A.
Specifically, the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 63 of the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 and the circular aperture 72 of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61, the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8 and the lower surface of the collar portion 65 of the casing 60 is abutted against the flat portion 10 of the seat 8, and the upper surface of the disk- like portion 68 of the casing 61 is abutted against the mounting member 5.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of a sixth thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 24 and 25 of the accompanying drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a lower casing 60 made of synthetic resin, an upper casing 61 made of synthetic, resin and a bearing piece 62 made of synthetic resin disposed within the upper and lower casings 61, 60.
The lower casing 60 includes a cylindrical portion 64 having a penetration aperture 63 being along a longitudi- nal direction thereof, a large width collar portion 65 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface at the end of the cylindrical portion 64 in a state where one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64 is protruded therefrom, an annular protruded portion 66 formed integrally with an outer cir- cumferential edge of the collar portion 65, an engaging portion 67 formed to the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 66 and an annular lower lip 73 formed coaxially with the penetration aperture 63 at the upper surface of the collar portion 65 and defining an annular groove 74 in cooperation with one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64.
The engaging portion 67 consists of a tapered surface portion 67 a formed from an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 66 to a lower surface of the collar portion 65 and a cylindrical surface portion 67 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 67 a and reaching the lower surface of the collar portion 65.
The casing 61 includes a disk-like flat portion 68, a circular aperture 72 formed at a center of the disk-like portion 68 and having the same diameter as that of the penetration aperture 63, an annular suspended portion 69 formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge,of the disk-like portion 68, an engaging hook portion 70 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 69 and an annular upper lip portion 71 formed coaxially with the circular aperture 72 at a lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 and having an inner diameter greater than the lower lip 73 formed to the upper surface of the collar portion 65 of the casing 60.
The hook portion 70 consists of a tapered surface portion 70 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 67 a constituting the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60 and a cylindrical surface portion 70 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 70 a and corresponding to the cylindrical surface portion 67 b of the engaging portion 67.
The casing 61 is fitted rotatably to the casing 60 by snap-fitting the hook portion 70 of the suspended portion 69 with the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60 and by radially overlapping the end of the upper lip portion 73 with the lower lip portion 71 of the casing 60, whereby tight seals are formed by the labyrinth effect in the snap-fit portion and in the upper and lower lip portions.
The bearing piece 62 comprises an annular plate having an inner aperture 62 a of an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64 and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the lower lip portion 73 of the casing 21.
A plurality of grooves 62 b are formed radially from the inner aperture 62 a to the outer circumferential surface alternately on both end faces of the bearing piece 62 at a phase difference of 30 degree with each other in the cir- cumferential direction, and the grooves 62 b constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant.
The bearing piece 62 is disposed within the groove 74 of the casing 60 such that the inner aperture 62 a is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64, and the both end faces of the bearing piece 62 are slidably abutted against the lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 and the bottom surface of the groove 74 of the casing 60 respectively.
The sliding face of the bearing defined with both end faces of the bearing piece 62, the lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 and the bottom face of the groove 74 of the casing 60 abutted slidably against the both end faces is protected against the intrusion of dust or the like by the labyrinth effect due to tight seals formed s () 33 - in the snap-fit portion and in the overlapped portions-between the upper and lower lip portions 71, 73 of the casings 60, 61 - Figure 26 illustrates an embodiment in which one embodiment of the sixth thrust bearing according to the present invention is applied to a strut assembly A.
Specifically, the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 63 of the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 and through the circular aperture 72 of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61, the - cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8, the lower surface of the collar portion 65 of the casing 60 is abutted against the flat portion 10 of the seat 8,and the upper surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 is abutted against the mounting member 5.
Explanation will be made specifically for one embodiment of the seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention referring to Figures 27 and 28 of the accompanying drawings.
A thrust bearing 20 comprises a lower casing 60 made of synthetic resin, an upper casing 61 made of synthetic resin and a bearing piece 62 made of synthetic resin disposed within the upper and lower casings 61, 60.
The casing 60 includes a cylindrical portion 64 having a penetration aperture 63 being along a longitudinal 34 - direction thereof, an annular first lower lip portion 75 disposed to an upper end face of the cylindrical portion 64 and having an aperture of a diameter enlarging with a step from the penetration aperture 63, a large width collar portion 65 formed integrally with an outer circumferential surface at the end of the cylindrical portion 64 in a state where one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64 is protruded therefrom, an annular protruded portion 66 formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the collar portion 65, an engaging portion 67 formed to an outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 66 and an annular second lower lip portion 76 formed coaxially with the penetration aperture 63 at an upper surface of the collar portion 65 and defining an annular groove 74 in cooperation with the first lower lip portion 75 The inner diameter of the first lower lip 75 is enlarged than that of the penetration aperture 63.
The engaging portion 67 consists of a tapered surface portion 67 a formed from the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion 66 to the lower surface of the collar portion 65 and a cylindrical surface portion 67 b in continuous with the tapered surface portion 67 a and reach- ing the lower surface of the collar portion 65.
The casing 61 includes a disk-like flat portion 68, a circular aperture 72 formed at a center of the disk-like portion 68, an annular first upper lip 77 formed integrally with and extended downwardly from the inner circumferential edge of the disk-like portion 68 and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first lower lip portion 75, an annular suspended portion 69 formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion 68, an engaging hook portion 70 formed at a lower end of the suspended portion 69 and an annular second upper lip portion 78 formed coaxially with the circular aperture 72 to a lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 and having an inner diameter greater than that of the second lower lip portion 76 The hook portion 70 consists of a tapered surface portion 70 a corresponding to the tapered surface portion 67 a constituting the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60 and a cylindrical surface portion 70 b in contiguous with the tapered surface portion 67 a and corresponding to the cylin- drical surface 67 b of the engaging portion 67.
The casing 61 is fitted rotatably to the lower casing 60 by snap-fitting the hook portion 70 of the suspended portion 69 with the engaging portion 67 of the casing 60 and by radially overlapping the ends of the first upper lip portion 77 and the second upper lip portion 78 with the first lower lip portion 75 and the second lower lip portion 76 respectively, whereby tight seals are formed by the labyrinth effect in the snap-fit portion, in the overlapped portion between the first upper and lower lip portions and in the overlapped portion between the second upper and lower lip portions.
36 - The bearing piece 62 comprises an annular plate having an inner aperture 62 a of an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the first lower lip portion 75 and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the second lower lip portion 76 of the casing 60.
A plurality of grooves 62 b are formed radially from the inner aperture 62 a to the outer circumferential surface alternately on both end faces of the bearing piece 62 at a phase difference of 30 degree with each other in the cir- cumferential direction, and the grooves 62 b constitute an oil reservoir for grease or like other lubricant.
The bearing piece 62 is disposed within the groove 74 of the casing 60 such that the inner aperture 62 a is engaged with the other circumferential surface of one end 64 a of the cylindrical portion 64, both end faces of the bearing piece 62 are slidably abutted against the lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 and the bottom face of the groove 74 of the casing 60 respectively.
The sliding face of the bearing defined with the both end faces of the bearing piece 62, the lower surface of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61 and the bottom face of the groove 74 of the casing 60 abutted slidably against the both end faces is protected against the intrusion of the dust or the like from the inner and the outer circumferential surfaces of the bearing piece 62 by the labyrinth effect due to the tight seals formed in the snap-fit portion between the 37 - casing 60, 61, in the overlapped portion between the -upper and lower lip portions 77, 75 and in the overlapped portion between the second upper and lower lip portions 78, 76 respectively.
Figure 29 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention.
Specifically, in this embodiment, another engaging portion 80 is formed to the inner circumferential surface of the first lower lip portion 75 of the casing 60, while another engaging hook portion 81 is formed to the outer circumferen- tial surface of the upper lip portion 77 at the central of the casing 61 in the aforementioned embodiment of the seventh thrust bearing Both of the engaging portion 80 and the hook portion 81 are snap-fit to each other in a relatively rotatably manner.
Figure 30 illustrates an embodiment in which one embodiment of the seventh thrust bearing according to the present invention is applied to a strut assembly A.
Specifically the piston rod 2 of the strut 1 passes through the penetration aperture 63 in the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 and the circular aperture 72 of the disk-like portion 68 of the casing 61, the cylindrical portion 64 of the casing 60 is fitted into the aperture of the upper spring seat 8, the lower surface of the collar portion 65 of the casing 60 is abutted against the flat 38 - portion 10 of the seat 8, and the upper surface of the disk- like portion 68 of the casing 61 is abutted against the mounting member 5.
39 -

Claims (14)

1 A thrust bearing having a casing of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing having a cylindrical portion with an axial aperture, an integral collar portion extending outwardly from the cylindrical portion, an annular protrusion at the outer edge of the collar portion and an engaging step or portion on the outer surface of the annular protrusion, the bearing body having a disc like portion, an aperture at the centre of the disc like portion, a suspended portion at the outer periphery of the disc like portion with a hook portion at a lower, edge thereof, and bearing means between the disc like portion of the bearing body and the collar portion of the casing, the bearing body being rotatably fitted to the casing by snap fitting the hook portion over the engaging step or portion.
2 A thrust bearing according to claim 1 wherein the bearing body has as the bearing means a cylindrical bearing portion to engage the collar portion of the casing.
3 A thrust bearing according to claim 1 wherein, as the bearing means, the casing has a first bearing portion and the bearing body has a second bearing portion and the said bearing portions contact each other.
4 A thrust bearing according to claim 1 wherein the bearing body is an upper casing and the bearing means is a bearing member located between the casings.
- A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a wide collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular protruded portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the collar portion and an engaging portion formed at the outer circumferential surface of the protruded portion, the bearing body including a cylindrical bearing portion, an inner collar portion formed integrally with an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion, an outer collar portion formed integrally with an upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion, an annular suspended portion formed integrally with the circumferential edge of the outer collar portion and an engaging hook portion formed at the lower end of the suspended portion, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging portion of the protruded portion such that the lower surface of the bearing portion is slidably abutted against the upper surface of the collar portion of the casing, a seal being formed in the snap-fit portion.
6 A thrust bearing according to claim 5 including an annular lower lip portion formed coaxially with the aperture at an upper surface of the collar portion of the casing and defining with one end of the cylindrical portion an annular groove, and an annular upper lip portion formed coaxially with the bearing portion of the bearing body at a lower surface of the outer collar portion, the lower surface of the bearing portion being slidably abutted against the collar portion at a bottom surface of the groove and an end of the upper lip portion being overlapped radially with the lower lip portion, whereby a seal is also formed between the upper and lower lip portions.
7 A thrust bearing according to claim 6 including another annular lower lip portion disposed at the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the casing and having an aperture of a diameter larger than the aperture, the annular groove being defined between the said lower lip portions, and a further annular upper lip portion formed integrally with an inner circumferential edge of the inner collar of the bearing portion and extended downwardly, the further upper lip portion being overlapped radially with the end of the further lower lip portion to form another seal.
8 A thrust bearing according to claim 7 wherein a further engaging hook portion is formed to the end of the further upper lip portion, and a further engaging portion 42 - is formed to an inner circumferential surface of the further lower lip portion, said further hook portion and engaging portion being a snap-fit and engaged in a relatively rotatable manner.
9 A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a casifig made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin fitted to the casing, the casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular protruded portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the large width collar portion, an engaging step formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular protruded portion, a substantially cylindrical first bearing portion formed integrally with the upper surface of the collar portion and an annular ridge portion formed at an inner circumferential edge of the first bearing portion and continuous with the circumferential edge and protruding from an end face of the first bearing portion, the bearing body including a disk-like portion having a circular aperture at a central portion thereof, a cylindrical second bearing portion formed on the lower surface of said disk-like portion, an annular inner protruded portion spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the second bearing portion by an annular first groove, protruded at a top end thereof trom an end face of the second bearing portion and formed continuous with the circular aperture, an annular outer protruded portion spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the second bearing portion by an annular second groove and protruded at a leading end thereof from an end face of said second bearing portion and an annular suspended portion formed at the outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion and having an engaging hook portion at a lower end thereof, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging step of the protruded portion such that the face of the second bearing portion is abutted slidably against the face of the first bearing portion and the leading ends of the inner and outer protruded portions protrude from the end face of the first bearing portion.
A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin comprising a lower casing made of synthetic resin, an upper casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing piece made of synthetic resin disposed between the upper and lower casings, the lower casing including a cylindrical portion having an axial aperture, a collar portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, an annular portruded portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the collar portion and an engaging portion formed on the outer 44 circumferential surface of the protruded portion, the upper casing including a disk-like flat portion, a circular aperture formed at the centre of the disk-like portion, an annular suspended portion formed integrally with the outer circumferential edge of the disk-like portion and an engaging hook portion formed on the lower end of the suspended portion, the bearing piece comprising an annular plate having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the protruded portion, the upper casing being fitted rotatably to the lower casing by snap-fitting the hook portion of the suspended portion with the engaging portion of the protruded portion such that an upper surface of the bearing piece is slidably abutted against a lower surface of the disk-like portion and a lower surface of the bearing piece is slidably abutted against an upper surface of the large width collar portion.
11 A thrust bearing according to claim 10 including an annular lower lip portion formed coaxially with the aperture at an upper surface of the large width collar portion and defining with one end of the cylindrical portion an annular groove and an annular upper lip portion formed coaxially with said circular aperture at a lower surface of the disk-like portion of the upper casing so that said lower and upper lip portions form a seal.
f
12 A thrust bearing according to claim 11 including a further annular lower lip portion disposed on an upper end face of the cylindrical portion of the lower casing and having an aperture of a diameter greater than the aperture, and a further annular upper lip portion formed integrally with an inner circumferential edge of the disk-like portion of the upper casing and extended downwardly, the bearing piece having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of further lip portion and the ends of the further upper lip portion being overlapped radially with the end of the further lower lip portion.
13 A bearing according to claim 12, including a further engaging hook portion formed on the end of the further upper lip portion, and a further engaging portion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first lower lip portion, the further hook portion and the further engaging portion being a snap-fit and engaged in a relatively rotatable manner.
14 A thrust bearing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A suspension unit including a thrust bearing according to any preceding claim.
Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 88/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4 TP Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Ofnce, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BRB 31 D Printed by Multtplex techniques ltd St Mary Cray, Kent Con 1/87.
GB8725983A 1986-12-23 1987-11-05 Thrust bearing made of synthetic resin Expired - Lifetime GB2201383B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1986196804U JPH026263Y2 (en) 1986-12-23 1986-12-23
JP19680386U JPH021532Y2 (en) 1986-12-23 1986-12-23
JP595787U JPH0328183Y2 (en) 1987-01-19 1987-01-19
JP1987005956U JPH0339614Y2 (en) 1987-01-19 1987-01-19
JP1012787U JPH0328185Y2 (en) 1987-01-27 1987-01-27

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GB2201383A true GB2201383A (en) 1988-09-01
GB2201383B GB2201383B (en) 1990-06-27

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DE102010015712A1 (en) 2010-04-21 2011-10-27 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Suspension strut bearing and method of manufacturing a suspension strut bearing component
DE102010024601A1 (en) 2010-06-22 2011-12-22 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Suspension strut bearing and method of manufacturing a friction reducing component of a suspension strut bearing
DE102010025372A1 (en) 2010-06-28 2011-12-29 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Suspension strut bearing for rotatably supporting e.g. shock absorber of front axle system opposite to body of two-track vehicle, has spring support and guide ring with resilient seal lip that grindingly cooperates with rotating edge of cap
DE102010026854A1 (en) 2010-07-12 2012-01-12 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Strut slide bearing, has guide ring formed from spring seat and friction element as single-piece component, where spring seat is made of material comprising higher elastic modulus than material of friction element
DE102010027610A1 (en) 2010-07-19 2012-01-19 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Strut bearing for motor vehicle, has slide plate arranged between cap and guide ring, where surface portion region of slide plate is coated with friction-reducing element
DE102010035188A1 (en) 2010-08-24 2012-03-01 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Strut slide bearing for steered wheel of motor vehicle i.e. two-track vehicle, has guide ring comprising reinforcement that is enclosed with material of ring such that free surface of reinforcement is cooperated with cap or sliding washer
DE102010036242A1 (en) 2010-09-03 2012-03-08 Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Suspension strut bearing for motor vehicle, has guide ring and spring seat which are arranged between sliding element and helical spring, where spring seat comprises slit for receiving free end of bellow
DE102012018675A1 (en) * 2012-09-21 2014-03-27 Minebea Co., Ltd. Spindle motor for fan, has base plate that comprises outer peripheral surface that overlaps with inner peripheral surface of rotor structure in axial direction so as to form specific portion of labyrinth seal

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GB2247053A (en) * 1990-08-14 1992-02-19 Oiles Industry Co Ltd Thrust bearing assembly
FR2665863A1 (en) * 1990-08-14 1992-02-21 Oiles Industry Co Ltd Thrust bearing made of synthetic resin for a suspension strut
GB2247053B (en) * 1990-08-14 1994-06-29 Oiles Industry Co Ltd Thrust bearing made of synthetic resin
FR2803561A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-13 Roulements Soc Nouvelle Spring seating for motor vehicle suspensions strut has upper and lower plastics rings fitting between suspension spring and bodywork and with solid lubricant in one surface
EP2123922A1 (en) * 2007-02-20 2009-11-25 Oiles Corporation Thrust slide bearing and combined mechanism of the thrust slide bearing and piston rod
EP2123922A4 (en) * 2007-02-20 2011-05-11 Oiles Industry Co Ltd Thrust slide bearing and combined mechanism of the thrust slide bearing and piston rod
US8256965B2 (en) 2007-02-20 2012-09-04 Oiles Corporation Thrust sliding bearing and combination mechanism of the thrust sliding bearing and a piston rod

Also Published As

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DE3737770C2 (en) 1999-06-17
GB2201383B (en) 1990-06-27
DE3737770A1 (en) 1988-07-07
GB8725983D0 (en) 1987-12-09

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