Guide roller for sliding door of vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a guide roller for a sliding door for a vehicle that prevents peeling and breakage of a cover member. In a structure including two eccentric grooves (51a, 51b), even if the upper edge portion of the cover member (7) rolls while being in contact with the guide rail member and bearing a large load, the outer peripheral surface (50) of the outer ring (5) and the cover member (7) are not easily displaced relative to the center (X0) of the rotation axis of the outer ring (5) and slide, and peeling of the cover member (7) from the outer peripheral surface (50) of the outer ring (5) is prevented. Furthermore, since a concentric groove (52) extending in the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface (50) of the outer ring (5) is formed between the two eccentric grooves (51a, 51b) at the outer peripheral surface (50) of the outer ring (5), shear stress caused by a difference in elastic deformation amount is mitigated, and breakage of the cover member (7) is prevented.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle, which rolls along a rail provided on a vehicle body side and is rotatably supported to a support member coupled to the sliding door. BACKGROUND

[0002] A sliding door of a vehicle is slidably supported along a vehicle side wall by making an upper guide roller provided on an upper portion of a front end of the sliding door, an intermediate guide roller provided on a central portion in a height direction of a rear end, and a lower guide roller provided on a lower portion of the front end, respectively, rollably engage with an upper rail provided on an upper edge portion of an opening portion of the vehicle body, an intermediate rail provided on a central portion in the height direction of a rear side wall of the vehicle body adjacent to the opening portion of the vehicle body, and a lower rail provided on a lower edge portion of the opening portion of the vehicle body, thereby enabling the sliding door to be slidably opened and closed.

[0003] As shown in Figure 11 , a guide roller 21 which rolls along a guide rail provided on a vehicle body side is composed of a metal-made inner ring 22, a metal-made outer ring 25 rotatably mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring 22 via a retainer 24 which holds a bearing 23, and a synthetic resin-made covering member 27 which covers the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 25. According to the above structure, the metal-made guide rail does not contact the outer ring 25, and the covering member 27 is in rolling contact with the guide rail, so that the quietness at the time of opening and closing of the door is improved.

[0004] However, when the guide roller rolls along the guide rail, the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 25 and the synthetic resin-made covering member 27 sometimes relatively slide and displace around a rotation axis center X0, so that the synthetic resin-made covering member 27 is peeled off from the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 25. In order to prevent the above peeling, as a guide roller, a guide roller is proposed in which, as shown in Figure 2 , two eccentric grooves whose central axes are eccentric in opposite directions with respect to a rotation axis and whose groove depths continuously vary and extend along a circumferential surface of the outer ring are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, and a covering member is engaged in a manner of covering the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and the two eccentric grooves.

[0005] PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

[0006] PATENT LITERATURE

[0007] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-57568 SUMMARY

[0008] The guide roller of the sliding door proposed above sometimes rolls in a tilted state due to the inclination of the support shaft caused by the swing of the arm member. In this case, the upper edge of the resin-made cover member rolls while bearing a large load by coming into contact with the rail surface, and as a result, the cover member of the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of one eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the largest and the other eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the smallest sometimes breaks. This is considered to be that the cover member in the vicinity of one eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the largest is elastically deformed in order to be pressed into the eccentric groove by the load caused by the rolling of the roller, and the amount of elastic deformation in the direction along the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring becomes large, but the cover member in the vicinity of the other eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the smallest becomes the resistance to elastic deformation due to the narrow wedge shape of the eccentric groove, and thus the amount of elastic deformation in the direction along the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring becomes small, and due to the difference in the amount of elastic deformation, a large shear stress is generated in the inside of the cover member of the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of one eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the largest and the other eccentric groove of the two eccentric grooves in which the groove depth is the smallest, and thus the cover member breaks.

[0009] The present application has been achieved in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle capable of preventing peeling and breaking of a cover member.

[0010] To achieve the above object, the invention of technical solution 1 is a guide roller which rolls along a rail provided on a vehicle body side and is rotatably supported to a support member coupled to a sliding door, characterized in that the guide roller is composed of a ring-shaped inner ring made of metal, a ring-shaped outer ring made of metal, and a cover member made of synthetic resin, wherein the outer ring is rotatably installed to an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring via a retainer which holds a bearing, the cover member is installed to an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, two eccentric grooves are included in the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves extend along a circumferential direction, eccentric centers of the two eccentric grooves are point-symmetrical to each other with respect to a center of a rotation axis of the outer ring, groove depths of the two eccentric grooves from the outer peripheral surface vary along the circumferential direction, the two eccentric grooves are formed apart along an axis direction of the outer ring at the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, either one of a concentric groove which is concentric with respect to the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring and extends throughout the circumferential direction and a concentric ridge portion is included between the two eccentric grooves at the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, and the cover member is formed to cover the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves, and the concentric groove, or the cover member is formed to cover the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves, and the concentric ridge portion.

[0011] The invention of technical solution 2 is based on the guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle described in technical solution 1, characterized in that the eccentric grooves extend throughout the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring.

[0012] The application of technical solution 3 is based on the guide roller of the sliding door for vehicle described in technical solution 1 or technical solution 2, and is characterized in that the concentric groove or the concentric ridge part is formed in the central part between the two eccentric grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring.

[0013] The application of technical solution 4 is based on the guide roller of the sliding door for vehicle described in any one of technical solution 1 to technical solution 3, and is characterized in that the width of the eccentric groove varies along the circumferential direction.

[0014] According to the application of technical solution 1, the two eccentric grooves are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves extend along the circumferential direction, the eccentric centers of the two eccentric grooves are mutually point-symmetrical relative to the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring, the groove depths of the two eccentric grooves from the outer circumferential surface vary along the circumferential direction, the two eccentric grooves are formed apart along the axial direction of the outer ring at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, and the covering member is formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and the two eccentric grooves. Therefore, in the case of rolling in the state that the guide roller itself is tilted due to the tilting of the fulcrum caused by the swinging of the arm member, even if the upper edge part of the covering member rolls while bearing a large load by contacting with the guide rail member, the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and the covering member are not easily relatively slid and displaced around the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring, so that the peeling of the covering member from the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring can be prevented. In addition, the elastic deformation amount of the covering member near the position where the groove depth of one eccentric groove reaches the maximum is larger than the elastic deformation amount of the covering member near the position where the groove depth of the other eccentric groove reaches the minimum as the adjacent covering member, but since any one of the concentric groove or the concentric ridge part which is concentric relative to the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring and extends throughout the entire outer circumferential surface of the outer ring is formed between the two eccentric grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the shear stress caused by the difference in the elastic deformation amount is alleviated, so that the rupture of the covering member can be prevented.

[0015] In addition, according to the application of technical solution 2, by extending the eccentric groove throughout the entire circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the effect of preventing the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and the covering member from being relatively slid and displaced around the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring can be improved, so that the peeling of the covering member from the outer ring can be prevented.

[0016] In addition, according to the application of technical solution 3, by forming the concentric groove or the concentric ridge part in the central part of the two eccentric grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the effect of suppressing the shear stress generated in the inside of the covering member can be improved, so that the rupture of the covering member can be prevented.

[0017] In addition, according to the application of technical solution 4, by varying the width of the eccentric groove along the circumferential direction, the effect of preventing the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and the covering member from being relatively slid and displaced around the center of the rotation axis of the outer ring can be improved, so that the peeling of the covering member from the outer ring can be prevented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller.

[0019] Figure 2 (A) of FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cross section of an outer ring constituting the guide roller, Figure 2 (B) of FIG. 1 is a front view showing a cross section of the outer ring constituting the guide roller.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a cross section of an eccentric groove formed in the outer ring.

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a concentric groove formed in the outer ring.

[0022] Figure 5 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller of the second embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a concentric ridge portion formed in the outer ring.

[0024] Figure 7 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller of the third embodiment.

[0025] Figure 8 (A) of FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outer ring constituting the guide roller of the third embodiment, Figure 8 (B) of FIG. 3 is a front view showing the outer ring constituting the guide roller of the third embodiment.

[0026] Figure 9 is a schematic view showing a cross section of an eccentric groove formed in the outer ring.

[0027] Figure 10 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a concentric ridge portion formed in the outer ring.

[0028] Figure 11 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller of the third embodiment.

[0029] (Explanation of Symbols)

[0030] 1 guide roller;

[0031] 2 inner ring;

[0032] 3 bearing;

[0033] 4 retainer;

[0034] 5 outer ring;

[0035] 6 eave portion;

[0036] 7 cover member;

[0037] 8 seal ring;

[0038] 50 outer peripheral surface;

[0039] 51 eccentric groove;

[0040] 52 concentric groove;

[0041] 53 concentric ridge portion;

[0042] X0 rotation axis;

[0043] X1 eccentric center. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Reference Signs Figures 1 to 4 An explanation will be given of the guide roller 1 of the sliding door for a vehicle according to the present embodiment (first embodiment). Figure 1 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller 1, Figure 2 (A) of is a side view showing a cross section of the outer ring 5 constituting the guide roller 1, Figure 2 (B) of is a front view showing a cross section of the outer ring 5 constituting the guide roller 1, Figure 3 is a schematic view showing cross sections of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b formed in the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5, Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the concentric groove 52 formed in the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0045] The sliding door of the vehicle is slidably opened and closed by being supported so as to be slidable along the side wall of the vehicle body by making the upper guide roller provided on the upper portion of the front end of the sliding door, the intermediate guide roller provided on the height direction central portion of the rear end, and the lower guide roller provided on the lower portion of the front end rollably engage with the upper rail provided on the upper edge portion of the opening portion of the vehicle body, the intermediate rail provided on the height direction central portion of the side wall of the rear portion of the vehicle body adjacent to the opening portion of the vehicle body, and the lower rail provided on the lower edge portion of the opening portion of the vehicle body, respectively.

[0046] As shown in Figure 1 , the guide roller 1 is constituted by a ring-shaped inner ring 2 made of metal, a ring-shaped outer ring 5 made of metal, a synthetic resin-made covering member 7, and a sealing ring 8, wherein the outer ring 5 is rotatably installed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 2 via a retainer 4 that holds a plurality of bearings 3, the covering member 7 covers the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5, and the sealing ring 8 seals the outer ring 5 and the inner ring 2. In addition, the sealing ring 8 has a function of not mixing foreign matter into the inside by sealing the outer ring 5 and the inner ring 2, and not leaking the lubricating grease sandwiched in the guide roller 1.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2 (A), two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b are formed in the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5 in the axial direction of the outer ring 5. In addition, as shown in Figure 2As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are point-symmetrical to each other with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the groove depth Dl in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 varies along the circumferential direction. In the above structure, even if the upper edge portion of the cover member 7 rolls while being in contact with the guide member under a relatively large load, the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and the cover member 7 are less likely to relatively slide and displace around the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, so that the cover member 7 can be prevented from peeling off from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0048] Further, the central portions of the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 are formed with a concentric groove 52 radially inward from the outer circumferential surface 50. The concentric groove 52 extends over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and is concentric with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the groove depth D2 in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 is constant over the entire circumference. In the above structure, the difference between the elastic deformation amount of the cover member 7 in the vicinity where the groove depth Dl of either one of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b reaches the maximum and the elastic deformation amount of the cover member 7 in the vicinity of the other eccentric groove 51a, 51b adjacent thereto where the groove depth Dl reaches the minimum becomes large, but the concentric groove 52 extending over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 is formed between the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, so that the shear stress caused by the difference in the elastic deformation amount is mitigated, and the cover member 7 can be prevented from breaking.

[0049] In addition, the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, but in the above structure, the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and the cover member 7 are less likely to relatively slide and displace around the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5 than in a structure in which the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b are formed only on a part of the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, so that the cover member 7 can be prevented from peeling off from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0050] Further, the position where the concentric groove 52 is formed is not limited to the central portions between the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b, but can be formed at any position between the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. However, in a structure in which the concentric groove 52 is formed at the central portions between the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b, the effect of suppressing the shear stress caused by the difference in the elastic deformation amount is better than in a structure in which the concentric groove 52 is not formed at the central portions, so that the effect of preventing the cover member 7 from breaking can be improved.

[0051] As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are point-symmetrical to each other with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the groove depth Dl in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 varies along the circumferential direction. In the above structure, even if the upper edge portion of the cover member 7 rolls while being in contact with the guide member under a relatively large load, the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and the cover member 7 are less likely to relatively slide and displace around the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, so that the cover member 7 can be prevented from peeling off from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Figure 3As shown, the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b are formed with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the radial groove depth D1 of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b from the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5 varies continuously along the circumference of the outer ring 5, and the groove width W1 of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is constant throughout the entire circumference of the outer ring 5. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is not limited to rectangles and can be other shapes.

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown, the concentric groove 52 is formed with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the groove depth D2 of the concentric groove 52 radially from the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and the groove width W2 of the concentric groove 52 are constant throughout the entire circumference of the outer ring 5. Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the concentric groove 52 is not limited to a rectangle and can be other shapes.

[0053] As an example of the dimensions of this structure, the outer diameter of the guide roller 1 is 15-23 mm, the outer diameter of the outer circumference of the outer ring 5 is 10-20 mm, the axial width of the guide roller 1 is 5-10 mm, the maximum groove depth D1max of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is 0.3-3 mm, the minimum depth D1min of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is 0.1-1 mm (however, the ratio of the minimum groove depth D1min to the maximum groove depth D1max (D1min / D1max) of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is 0.2 or more), the groove width W1 of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b is 0.5-2 mm, the groove depth D2 of the concentric groove 52 is 0.1-2 mm, and the groove width W2 of the concentric groove 52 is 1-4 mm. However, the guide roller 1 of the present invention is not limited to the dimensions shown above.

[0054] Preferably, the synthetic resin constituting the coating member 7 is a fiber-reinforced resin, specifically a polyamide resin with added fibrous particles. However, the material of the coating member 7 is not limited to fiber-reinforced resin. The coating member 7 is composed of a synthetic resin containing resin and additives, and is molded onto the outer ring 5 via insert molding. Examples of resins include polyamide resin, polyacetal resin, polyetheretherketone resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, polyimide resin, and diallyl phthalate resin. Examples of additives include aramid fiber, carbon fiber, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride, and fluoropolymers.

[0055] In addition, the covering member 7 is formed to cover the outer peripheral surface 50, eccentric grooves 51a, 51b and concentric groove 52 of the outer ring 5, and has the curvature of the largest outer diameter near the center in the axial direction of the outer ring 5.

[0056] The inner ring 2 and the outer ring 5 can be made of a ferrous alloy such as bearing steel (SUJ-2). In addition, the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 5 can be configured to be easily riveted and fixed to a support shaft (not shown) by performing high-frequency quenching on the track portions thereof, and have durability against frictional wear with the bearing 3.

[0057] In the present example, the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 (except for the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b and the concentric groove 52) is configured as a flat surface (flat shape), but the shape of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 is not limited thereto and can be configured such that the outer circumferential surface 50 is composed of one curved surface or a plurality of curved surfaces.

[0058] Next, the guide roller 1 of the sliding door for a vehicle according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The guide roller 1 of the sliding door for a vehicle according to the second embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a side view showing a cross section of the guide roller 1 according to the second embodiment, Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the concentric ridge portion 53 formed on the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, the guide roller 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the guide roller 1 according to the first embodiment only in that the concentric ridge portion 53 is formed on the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 instead of the concentric groove 52.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5 , the concentric ridge portion 53 is formed on the central portions of the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b at the outer circumferential surface 50 so as to extend over the entire circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and be concentric with respect to the rotation axis center X0 of the outer ring 5, and the height D3 from the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 in the radial direction is constant over the entire circumferential direction. In the above-described structure, the difference between the elastic deformation amount of the covering member 7 in the vicinity of the position where the groove depth D1 of either one of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b reaches the maximum and the elastic deformation amount of the covering member 7 in the vicinity of the position where the groove depth D1 of the other one of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b reaches the minimum as the adjacent covering member 7 becomes large, but since the concentric ridge portion 53 extending over the entire circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5 is formed between the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the shear stress caused by the difference in the elastic deformation amount is mitigated, and thus the rupture of the covering member 7 can be prevented.

[0060] Furthermore, the location of the concentric protrusion 53 is not limited to the central portion between the two eccentric grooves 51a and 51b, but can also be formed at any position between the two eccentric grooves 51a and 51b on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5. However, in the structure where the concentric protrusion 53 is formed in the central portion between the two eccentric grooves 51a and 51b, compared with the structure where the concentric protrusion 53 is not formed in the central portion, the effect of suppressing shear stress caused by the difference in elastic deformation is better, thereby improving the effect of preventing the cladding member 7 from cracking.

[0061] like Figure 6 As shown, the concentric protrusion 53 is formed with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the radial height D3 of the concentric protrusion 53 from the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5 and the groove width W3 of the concentric protrusion 53 are constant throughout the entire circumference of the outer ring 5. Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the concentric protrusion 53 is not limited to a rectangle and can be other shapes.

[0062] As an example of the dimensions of this structure, the height D3 of the concentric protrusion 53 is 0.1 to 2 mm, and the width W3 of the concentric protrusion 53 is 1 to 4 mm. However, the height D3 and the width W3 of the concentric protrusion 53 are not limited to the dimensions shown above.

[0063] Next, refer to Figures 7 to 10 The guide roller 1 of the sliding door for vehicles according to the third embodiment will be described. Figure 7 This is a side view showing a cross-section of the guide roller 1 according to the third embodiment. Figure 8 (A) is a side view showing the outer ring 5 that constitutes the guide roller 1. Figure 8 (B) is a front view showing the outer ring 5 that constitutes the guide roller 1. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sections of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b formed on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the concentric raised strip 53 formed on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Furthermore, the guide roller 1 of the third embodiment differs from the guide roller 1 of the first embodiment in the shape of the eccentric grooves 51a and 51b formed on the outer ring 5, the structure in which concentric raised strips 53 are formed on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5 instead of concentric grooves 52, and the structure including an eaves 6 extending radially outward from one end in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0064] like Figure 8 As shown in (A), two eccentric grooves 51a and 51b are formed on the outer peripheral surface 50 of the outer ring 5, separated along the axial direction of the outer ring 5. Furthermore, as... Figure 8As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0065] As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Figure 9 As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0066] As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Figure 7 As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0067] As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. Figure 10 As shown in (B), the two eccentric grooves 51a, 51b extend along the circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5, the eccentric center Xla of the eccentric groove 51a and the eccentric center Xlb of the eccentric groove 51b are mutually point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis center Xo of the outer ring 5, and the circumferential length (the range of formation at the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5) is smaller than the length of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5. In addition, it is desirable that the circumferential length of the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b be set to a length corresponding to an angle of a circular segment of 300° or more in the outer circumferential surface 50 of the outer ring 5.

[0068] Further, the outer ring 5 includes a eave portion 6 extending to the radially outer side from one end portion in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface 50, and the cover member 7 is formed to cover the inner side surface in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface 50, the eccentric grooves 51a, 51b, the concentric ridge portion 53, and the eave portion 6 of the outer ring 5. In the above structure, the engagement of the cover member 7 with the outer ring 5 is made more secure by the inner side surface of the eave portion 6 of the outer ring 5 also being in contact with the cover member 7. In this example, the eave portion 6 of the outer ring 5 is formed to extend perpendicularly with respect to the axial direction, but the direction of extension of the eave portion 6 is not limited thereto, and may, for example, be formed so that the eave portion 6 of the outer ring 5 extends obliquely to the outer side in the axial direction of the outer ring 5 from the outer peripheral surface 50.

[0069] The guide roller 1 of the present application described above is used in a sliding door for a vehicle, and can be applied to any one of an upper rail provided to an upper edge portion of a vehicle body opening portion, an intermediate rail provided to a height direction central portion of a vehicle body rear portion side wall adjacent to the vehicle body opening portion, and a lower rail provided to a lower edge portion of the vehicle body opening portion.

Claims

1. A guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle, the guide roller rolling along a rail provided on a side of a vehicle body and being rotatably supported to a support member coupled to the sliding door, characterized in that the guide roller is composed of a metal-made annular inner ring, a metal-made annular outer ring rotatably mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring via a retainer holding a bearing, and a synthetic resin-made covering member mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, two eccentric grooves are included in the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves extend along a circumferential direction, eccentric centers of the two eccentric grooves are point-symmetrical to each other with respect to a center of a rotation axis of the outer ring, groove depths of the two eccentric grooves from the outer circumferential surface vary along the circumferential direction, the two eccentric grooves are formed apart from each other along an axial direction of the outer ring at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, either one of a concentric groove and a concentric ridge portion is included between the two eccentric grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the covering member covers the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves, and the concentric groove, or the covering member covers the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, the two eccentric grooves, and the concentric ridge portion.

2. The guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the eccentric grooves extend over an entire circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring.

3. The guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the concentric groove or the concentric ridge portion is formed at a central portion between the two eccentric grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring.

4. The guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a width of the eccentric grooves varies along the circumferential direction.

5. The guide roller of a sliding door for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that a width of the eccentric grooves varies along the circumferential direction. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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