Sealing structure for rolling member of vehicle

Abstract

To further reliably avoid unintended sticking of an electrodeposition coating material and a top coating material to a cap member and a rolling member.SOLUTION: A cap member 50 is attached to a rolling member 40 that is journaled on a shaft portion (horizontal shaft portion 35) of a sliding door, and under such a mounted state, when the rolling member 40 is divided into two equal parts, one side and the other side, by an imaginary line 70 extending perpendicularly to the axial length direction of the shaft portion, the cap member 50 has protruding seal portions (first seal portion 61, second seal portion 62) on each of the one side and the other side that protrude toward the rolling member 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle, in which the rolling member of a sliding door of the vehicle is sealed with a cap member during electrodeposition coating and top coating. [Background technology]

[0002] In a vehicle equipped with a sliding door, a door opening provided in the vehicle body is configured to be opened and closed by the sliding door. When the door opening is opened or closed, a roller-shaped rolling member supported on the sliding door rolls on a rail provided in the vehicle body. In this type of vehicle, a base treatment and a top coat are generally applied using ED coating (electrodeposition coating) such as cationic coating, with the sliding door attached to the vehicle body.

[0003] During the electrodeposition coating and topcoat application, care is taken to prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering to the rolling elements, particularly to the peripheral surface (rolling surface) of the rolling elements that contact the rail. For example, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the support roller (rolling element) is composed of an inner ring journaled on the sliding door and an outer ring assembled to the outside of the inner ring. The inner ring is pre-painted, and the rolling surface of the outer ring is sealed with a resin cap (cap member) during the electrodeposition coating and topcoat application. This allows the outer ring to be de-energized during the electrodeposition coating, and the resin cap also functions to prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering to the rolling surface. After the electrodeposition coating and topcoat application, the resin cap is removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-58727 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-described technology, a resin cap (cap member) seals the support roller (rolling member) during electrodeposition coating and topcoat coating. However, even with the above-described configuration, unintended gaps can occur between the cap member and the rolling member due to dimensional variations between them, and care must be taken to prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering and adhering to these gaps. In other words, adhering of the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint to unintended locations is undesirable from the perspective of suppressing abnormal noise during rolling of the rolling member, and there is also the risk of damage to unintended locations of the cap member during removal. The present invention was devised in light of the above-described issues, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to more reliably prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering unintendedly to the cap member and the rolling member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a means for solving the above problems, the first invention provides a sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle. When a sliding door is attached to a vehicle body and electrodeposition coating and topcoat coating are performed, the rolling member journaled on the sliding door is sealed by a cap member and positioned so as to be rollable toward the vehicle body. In this type of structure, it is desirable to more reliably prevent unintended adhesion of the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint to the cap member and the rolling member. Therefore, in the present invention, a cap member is attached to the rolling member journaled on the shaft of the sliding door. Taking the mounted state of the cap member on the rolling member as a reference, if the rolling member is divided into two equal parts by an imaginary line extending perpendicular to the axial length of the shaft, the cap member has a seal portion protruding toward the rolling member on each of the two sides. The cap member of the present invention has a seal portion protruding toward the rolling member. Therefore, even if an unintended gap occurs between the rolling member and the cap member, the gap can be filled by the seal portion, thereby more reliably ensuring sealing of the rolling member. The sealing portion seals the rolling member from one side and the other, more appropriately suppressing the intrusion of the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint, thereby more reliably preventing the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint from unintentionally adhering to the cap member and rolling member.

[0007] The second aspect of the present invention is a sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle, which is the sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the first aspect of the present invention. The rolling member has a cylindrical circumferential surface on which a rolling surface that contacts the vehicle body is formed. The circumferential surface is a convex curved surface that is convex in a direction away from the shaft portion, and gradually curves toward the shaft portion as it moves from the apex of the convex curve to the other side. The cap member is attached to the rolling member by moving it from one side to the other, and the seal portion provided on the other side contacts the circumferential surface to seal the rolling surface at a position beyond the apex. In this invention, when the rolling surface is sealed with the cap member, the seal portion on the other side of the cap member contacts the other side (curved surface) of the circumferential surface of the rolling member by being hooked onto it.

[0008] The seal structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the third invention is the seal structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the second invention, wherein the rolling member has one end located on one side of the circumferential surface formed in the shape of a vertical wall extending in a direction intersecting the circumferential surface. The cap member integrally has a first covering portion covering the one end and a second covering portion covering the rolling surface, and the seal portion provided on one side protrudes from the first covering portion and is located at the entrance of the gap between the first covering portion and the one end. In this invention, the seal portion on one side of the cap member closes the entrance of the gap between the first covering portion and the one end.

[0009] The sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the fourth invention is the sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of any of the first to third inventions, configured such that the attached cap member is removed from the rolling member by moving it from the other side to one side, and a notched thin portion is formed at the end on the other side of the cap member. In this invention, when removing the cap member, the thin portion makes it easier for the other end of the cap member to come off the rolling member. This makes it less likely that excessive force will be applied to parts of the cap member other than the end during the removal work, making it possible to minimize damage to, for example, one side of the cap member where a handle for removal should be provided.

[0010] The seal structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the fifth invention is the seal structure for a rolling member of a vehicle of the fourth invention, wherein the other end of the cap member is formed so that a general end having a predetermined thickness dimension and a thin-walled portion that is thinner than the general end are adjacent to each other. In this invention, by having the general end and the thin-walled portion adjacent to each other at the end of the cap member, excessive reduction in strength due to the thin-walled portion can be suppressed, and the cap member can be stably attached to the rolling member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent unintended adhesion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint to the cap member and rolling member. According to the second aspect, it is possible to even more reliably prevent adhesion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint. According to the third aspect, it is possible to even more reliably prevent adhesion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint. According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to more reliably prevent unintended adhesion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint while more appropriately ensuring the removability of the cap member. And according to the fifth aspect, it is possible to more appropriately ensure the attachability and detachability of the cap member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle showing a sliding door in an open state; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sliding door and a vehicle body in a closed state. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of an arm portion showing a rolling member with a cap member attached thereto. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rolling member with a cap member attached thereto. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cap member as seen from the handle side (one side). [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic perspective view of the cap member as seen from the opposite side (other side) to the handle side. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap member and the rolling member during the mounting operation. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap member and the rolling member in an attached state. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the cap member showing a thin-walled portion. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a tool, a cap member, and a rolling member during a removal operation. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rolling member after electrodeposition coating and top coating. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 12. In each figure, arrows indicating the front-rear direction, left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and up-down direction (vehicle height direction) of the vehicle are appropriately shown. For convenience, each figure shows only the members on the left side of the vehicle, and does not show the members on the right side of the vehicle. When each member on the left side of the vehicle is used as a reference, the right side of each figure is the inside in the vehicle width direction (one side in the embodiment), and the left side of each figure is the outside in the vehicle width direction (the other side in the embodiment).

[0014] [Vehicle Overview] First, an overview of a vehicle 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A vehicle body 3 of the vehicle 2 is formed with a rear door opening 4 corresponding to the rear seats. The rear door opening 4 is configured to be opened and closed by a sliding door 5 that slides in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A rocker 6, which is a frame with a hollow cross section, is provided at the lower edge of the rear door opening 4 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A scuff plate 7, which serves as the tread surface of the rocker 6, is provided on the upper side of the vehicle so as to extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Note that a weatherstrip 8 is provided between the scuff plate 7 and the sliding door 5 shown in FIG. 2 to seal the gap between them. The rocker 6 is also provided with a recess 9 that opens outward (left side) in the transverse direction of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the recess 9 is formed with an upper wall 91, a lower wall 92, and an inner wall 93 and has a generally rectangular cross section. The recess 9 is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, allowing a lower rail 13, described later, to be disposed therein.

[0015] 1 is provided with an upper rail 11, an intermediate rail 12, and a lower rail 13, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e., in the sliding direction of the sliding door 5. The upper rail 11 is provided on the upper side of the vehicle of the rear door opening 4, and the intermediate rail 12 is provided at a central position in the height direction behind the rear door opening 4. The lower rail 13 is disposed within the recess 9 of the locker 6. Referring to FIG. 2, an upper portion 130 of the lower rail 13 is formed in a substantially U-shape with the lower side of the vehicle open, and is fixed to an upper wall portion 91 of the recess 9. A lower portion 131 of the lower rail 13 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and is fixed to a lower wall portion 92 of the recess 9.

[0016] The sliding door 5 shown in FIG. 1 has arm portions slidably connected to the rails at an upper end position, an intermediate position, and a lower end position. That is, the upper arm portion 21 provided at the upper end position of the sliding door 5 is connected to the upper rail 11, and the intermediate arm portion 22 provided at the intermediate position of the sliding door 5 is connected to the intermediate rail 12. The lower arm portion 23 (described in detail later) provided at the lower end position of the sliding door 5 is connected to the lower rail 13 of the recess 9. Referring to FIG. 2, the sliding door 5 slides in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle while rolling members 40 pivotally supported on the lower arm portion 23, etc., roll on the corresponding rails. Note that, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rolling members 40 can be provided on any of the arm portions, preferably on two arm portions. In this embodiment, the rolling member 40 is provided on the lower arm portion 23.

[0017] [Sealing structure for rolling components of vehicles] In the vehicle 2 described above, electrodeposition painting and topcoat painting are performed with the sliding door 5 attached to the vehicle body 3, as shown in FIG. 2 . This allows the sliding door 5 and the vehicle body 3 to be simultaneously primed by electrodeposition painting and topcoat painting. Referring to FIG. 3 , during electrodeposition painting and topcoat painting, the rolling member 40 is placed on the lower rail 13 (on the vehicle body side) while being sealed with a cap member 50 (described later). In this type of vehicle rolling member structure, it is desirable to more reliably prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering to the cap member 50 and the rolling member 40. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cap member 50 (first seal portion 61, second seal portion 62) shown in FIG. 4 more reliably prevents the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from adhering to the rolling member 40. The sealing structure of the rolling member 40 of the vehicle 2 will be described in detail below, in the order of the lower arm portion 23 of the sliding door 5, the rolling member 40, and the cap member 50.

[0018] [Lower arm of sliding door] 2 and 3, the lower arm portion 23 of the sliding door 5 is connected to the lower rail 13 in the recessed portion 9 of the rocker 6 as described above. The lower arm portion 23 is formed in a generally L-shape in cross section, and has a vertical plate portion 31 extending in the vehicle up-down direction and a horizontal plate portion 32 extending in the vehicle width direction. With the vertical plate portion 31 fixed to the lower end of the sliding door 5, the horizontal plate portion 32 protrudes inward (to the right) in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the vertical plate portion 31. As a result, when the sliding door 5 is attached to the vehicle body 3 as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the horizontal plate portion 32 fits into the recessed portion 9. The lower arm portion 23 is slidably connected to the lower rail 13 via a guide roller unit 33 (described in detail below) provided at the tip of the horizontal plate portion 32.

[0019] The guide roller unit 33 shown in FIG. 3 includes a pair of vertical shafts 34 and a horizontal shaft 35 (for convenience, in FIG. 3, a reference symbol corresponding to one of the vertical shafts is used, and a reference symbol corresponding to the other vertical shaft is used in parentheses). A pair of guide rollers 36, 37 and a rolling member 40 (described in detail below) are rotatably supported on the guide roller unit 33 via the shafts. Each of the pair of guide rollers 36, 37 is a horizontal roller-shaped member, and is rotatably supported on the vertical shaft 34 extending in the up-down direction of the vehicle. The guide roller unit 33 is attached to the horizontal plate 32 so as to be rotatable forward and backward, and can therefore rotate so that the pair of guide rollers 36, 37 are aligned in the forward and backward directions (see the direction indicated by the arrow A0 in FIG. 3). 2, when lower arm portion 23 is connected to lower rail 13, pair of guide rollers 36, etc. are aligned front to back and fitted into the upper part of the inverted U-shape of lower rail 13 (for convenience, only the front guide roller 36 is shown in FIG. 2). As a result, during sliding movement, pair of guide rollers 36, etc. can move in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle along lower rail 13 while being in rolling contact with upper part 130 of lower rail 13 from the vehicle width direction.

[0020] [Rolling parts] 2 and 3, the rolling member 40 is a vertically oriented cylindrical (roller-shaped) member, and is disposed between a pair of guide rollers 36, 37. The rolling member 40 is rotatably supported on a vertical shaft 34 extending in the vehicle width direction, and is in contact with the flat lower portion of the lower rail 13 on the locker 6. 2 and 3, during sliding movement, the rolling member 40 rolls while in contact with the lower portion 131 of the lower rail 13, so that the load of the sliding door 5 when sliding can be received by the locker 6.

[0021] 2 is formed in a vertically oriented cylindrical shape, with one end 41 formed on the inner side (right side) in the vehicle width direction and the other end 42 formed on the outer side (left side) in the vehicle width direction. The one end 41 and the other end 42 are formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view, with the horizontal shaft portion 35 inserted at their center (see FIG. 5). A peripheral surface 43 (peripheral side surface) of the rolling member 40 is formed between the one end 41 and the other end 42 and has a predetermined dimension in the vehicle width direction. The peripheral surface 43 is formed around the horizontal shaft portion 35, so that the portion of the peripheral surface 43 on the lower side of the vehicle is in contact with the lower rail 13. The one end 41 and the other end 42 are arranged in a vertical wall shape extending in a direction intersecting the peripheral surface 43 (in the vehicle up-down direction).

[0022] [Rolling surface] 4 is formed as a convex curved surface that is convex in a direction away from the horizontal shaft portion 35. As a result, a rolling surface 44 that contacts the lower rail 13 is formed in a central portion including the apex of the peripheral surface 43, with a predetermined width (left-right dimension). This rolling surface 44 is a convex curved portion centered on the apex of the peripheral surface 43, and is curved so as to gradually approach the horizontal shaft portion 35 as it moves toward both sides in the vehicle width direction. Both ends of the peripheral surface 43 in the vehicle width direction, i.e., an inner edge portion 45 on the inside in the vehicle width direction and an outer edge portion 46 on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the rolling surface 44, are further curved from the rolling surface 44 toward the horizontal shaft portion 35. Therefore, the radial dimension of the rolling member 40 is smaller at the locations where the inner edge portion 45 and the outer edge portion 46 are formed than at the location where the rolling surface 44 is formed, making it less likely for them to come into contact with the lower portion 131 of the lower rail 13.

[0023] [Cap material] The cap member 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a member that seals the rolling member 40 and can be formed, for example, from an insulating member (typically a resin member). Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cap member 50 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with the outer side (left side) in the vehicle width direction open, and integrally includes a first covering portion 51 that forms the end face and a second covering portion 52 that forms the peripheral side face. The first covering portion 51 is formed in a generally circular shape in a plan view and is configured to cover one end 41 of the rolling member 40. The first covering portion 51 is formed with a generally cylindrical handle portion 53 at the center of the circle that protrudes toward the inner side (right side) in the vehicle width direction. The handle portion 53 has a concave outer surface on its base side, and a locking portion 54 for locking a tool 100 (described later) is formed. The cap member 50 is also formed with a hole portion 55 that penetrates the handle portion 53 in the cylindrical length direction. The cap member 50 is attached to the rolling member 40 by moving it from the inside to the outside (from one side to the other) in the vehicle width direction relative to the rolling member 40 (see the direction indicated by the arrow A1 in FIG. 5). In addition, with the cap member 50 in the attached state, the tip of the horizontal shaft portion 35 protruding from one end portion 41 can be positioned in a hole 55 formed in the handle portion 53 (see FIG. 4).

[0024] 6, the cap member 50 is formed with a first seal portion 61 and a second seal portion 62 for sealing the rolling member 40. To explain the position of each seal portion, the rolling member 40 shown in FIG. 4 is bisected by an imaginary line 70 perpendicular to the axial length direction (vehicle width direction) of the horizontal shaft portion 35. This divides the rolling member 40 into an inner region 71 on the inner side (one side) in the vehicle width direction and an outer region 72 on the outer side (the other side) in the vehicle width direction. The imaginary line 70 is provided to pass through the apex of the circumferential surface 43 (rolling surface 44), so that the inner region 71 of the rolling member 40 includes the one end portion 41, the inner half of the rolling surface 44, and the inner edge portion 45. The outer region 72 of the rolling member 40 includes the other end portion 42, the outer half of the rolling surface 44, and the outer edge portion 46.

[0025] [First seal part] 4 and 7, the first seal portion 61 corresponds to a seal portion that seals an inner region 71 (one side) of the rolling member 40. This first seal portion 61 protrudes from the rear surface of the first covering portion 51 outward in the vehicle width direction, that is, toward one end 41 of the rolling member 40 in the installed state. The first seal portion 61 is formed to have a generally trapezoidal cross section, and is positioned so that its upper base faces the one end 41 in the installed state. Since the upper base portion of the first seal portion 61 is flat, it comes into surface contact with the one end 41 when installed, as described below. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the first seal portion 61 is formed continuously and seamlessly along the periphery of the hole portion 55 of the first covering portion 51, and is configured to seal a gap 710 between the one end 41 of the rolling members 40.

[0026] [Second seal part] 4 and 8, the second seal portion 62 corresponds to a seal portion that seals the outer region 72 (other side) of the rolling member 40. This second seal portion 62 protrudes radially inward from the back surface of the second covering portion 52, that is, toward the circumferential surface 43 of the rolling member 40 in the installed state. Here, the back surface of the second covering portion 52 is formed as a concave curved surface that generally conforms to the circumferential surface 43 of the rolling member 40. Furthermore, the outer portion of the back surface of the second covering portion 52 in the vehicle width direction is gently raised in a convex shape, and this convex portion is positioned so as to face the outer edge portion 46 of the rolling member 40 in the installed state. The second seal portion 62 is formed by the apex of the convex portion. In this way, the second seal portion 62 is formed by the apex of the convex portion, and therefore comes into linear contact (point-like in cross-sectional view) with the circumferential surface 43 of the rolling member 40 in the installed state, as described below. 6 and 8, the second sealing portion 62 is formed continuously and seamlessly around the periphery of the second covering portion 52, thereby being configured to seal the gap 720 with the peripheral surface 43 of the rolling member 40.

[0027] [Thin-walled section] 4 and 5, the attached cap member 50 is removed from the rolling member 40 by moving it from the outer side to the inner side (from the other side to the one side) in the vehicle width direction relative to the rolling member 40 (see the direction indicated by arrow A2 in FIG. 5). The cap member 50 shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 has a general end portion 56 with a predetermined thickness and a notched thin-walled portion 57 formed at an outer end portion 52E of the second covering portion 52 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (in each drawing, for convenience, some general end portions and thin-walled portions are given corresponding reference numerals, and other general end portions and thin-walled portions are given in parentheses). That is, referring to FIG. 10, the outer end portion 52E of the second covering portion 52 has a general end portion 56 with a thickness T1 and a thin-walled portion 57 with a thickness T2 (T1>T2). In the above-described configuration, the thin-walled portions 57 partially provided on the outer end portion 52E of the cap member 50 are the first to peel off from the rolling member 40 during the removal operation (see FIG. 11) described below. As shown in FIG. 6, the thin-walled portions 57 are formed around the outer end portion 52E of the cap member 50 at intervals of approximately 90 degrees, so that the thin-walled portions 57 and the general end portion 56 are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0028] [Electrodeposition coating and topcoat painting for sliding doors and vehicle bodies] In the vehicle 2 described above, electrodeposition painting and topcoat painting are performed with the sliding door 5 attached to the vehicle body 3 as shown in Fig. 2. At this time, the rolling member 40 of the sliding door 5 is disposed on the lower rail 13 (on the vehicle body side) so as to be able to roll, while being sealed with the cap member 50. In this type of structure, it is desirable to be able to more reliably prevent the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint from unintentionally adhering to the cap member 50 and the rolling member 40.

[0029] In the vehicle rolling member seal structure shown in FIG. 4 , a cap member 50 is attached to a rolling member 40 that is journaled on a horizontal shaft portion 35 of a sliding door 5. Using the mounted state of the cap member 50 on the rolling member 40 as a reference, the rolling member 40 is divided into two equal halves, one side and the other side, by an imaginary line 70 extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial length direction of the horizontal shaft portion 35. In this case, the cap member 50 is provided with seal portions (a first seal portion 61 and a second seal portion 62) that protrude toward the rolling member 40 on each of the one and other sides. The cap member 50 described above has a first seal portion 61 and a second seal portion 62 that protrude toward the rolling member 40. Therefore, the gap between the rolling member 40 and the cap member 50 is filled by the first seal portion 61 and the second seal portion 62, ensuring sealing performance for the rolling member 40. The first seal portion 61 and the second seal portion 62 act to seal the rolling member 40 from the inside and outside (one side and the other side) in the vehicle width direction, thereby more appropriately preventing the intrusion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint. Hereinafter, the function of the cap member 50 during electrodeposition painting and top coat painting will be described, along with the procedure for attaching and detaching it.

[0030] [Cap component installation work] First, referring to Figure 5, the cap member 50 is attached to the rolling member 40 by moving it from the inside (right side) to the outside (left side) in the vehicle width direction, that is, from one side to the other (see the direction indicated by arrow A1 in Figure 5). Here, the cap member 50 is positioned so that the general end 56 is adjacent to the thin-walled portion 57 at its outer end 52E. This ensures an appropriate level of strength for the outer end 52E of the cap member 50. This allows the cap member 50 to be stably attached to the rolling member 40 with as little rattle as possible.

[0031] Next, in the cap member 50 in the attached state shown in FIG. 4 , a first seal portion 61 provided on the first covering portion 51 contacts one end 41 of the rolling member 40, thereby sealing an inner region 71 (one side) of the rolling member 40. Referring now to FIG. 7 , in the attached state, the tip of the horizontal shaft portion 35 is exposed to the outside through a hole 55 in the handle portion 53 of the first covering portion 51. The peripheral portion of this hole 55 forms the entrance portion of a gap 710 between the first covering portion 51 and the one end 41 and communicates with the hole 55. The first seal portion 61 is continuously formed along the peripheral edge of the hole 55 of the first covering portion 51, i.e., along the entrance portion of the gap 710. The first seal portion 61, which has a trapezoidal cross section, protrudes from the first covering portion 51 toward the one end 41, thereby making surface contact with the one end 41 to fill the gap 710. In the attached cap member 50, the first seal portion 61 comes into surface contact with the one end portion 41, thereby making it possible to seal the inner region 71 (one side) of the rolling member 40 more reliably.

[0032] In the cap member 50 in the installed state shown in FIG. 4 , the second seal portion 62 provided on the second covering portion 52 contacts the outer edge portion 46 of the rolling member 40, thereby sealing an outer region 72 (the other side) of the rolling member 40. Here, the second covering portion 52 moves outward in the vehicle width direction along the circumferential surface 43 of the rolling member 40 during the installation work. The second seal portion 62 in the installed state then climbs over the peak of the circumferential surface 43 and is hooked onto the curved portion of the outer edge portion 46. At this time, the second seal portion 62 formed at the peak of the convex portion protrudes from the second covering portion 52 toward the outer edge portion 46 (circumferential surface 43) as shown in FIG. 8 , thereby linearly contacting the outer edge portion 46 to fill a gap 720. In this way, in the cap member 50 in the installed state, the second seal portion 62 formed continuously around the periphery of the second covering portion 52 linearly contacts the outer edge portion 46, thereby more reliably sealing the outer region 72 (the other side) of the rolling member 40. In addition, the back surface of the second covering portion 52 is formed into a concave curved surface that conforms to the rolling surface 44, and the second sealing portion 62 is formed linearly (dot-like in cross section), thereby making the protruding dimension relatively small. As a result, in the mounted state, the gap 720 between the second covering portion 52 and the rolling surface 44 can be made as small as possible, thereby reducing the volume.

[0033] [Function of the cap material during electrodeposition painting and topcoat painting] 4 and 7, in the inner region 71 of the rolling member 40 during electrodeposition coating and topcoat coating, the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint attempt to infiltrate from the peripheral portion (entrance portion) of the hole 55 into the gap 710 between the first coated portion 51 and the one end 41 (see the infiltration path indicated by arrow X1 in FIG. 7). At this time, the first seal portion 61 acts to seal the entrance portion of the gap 710, thereby minimizing the infiltration of the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint into the gap 710. Meanwhile, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8, in the outer region 72 of the rolling member 40, the electrodeposition paint and topcoat paint attempt to infiltrate from the gap 720 between the second coated portion 52 and the outer edge portion 46 of the circumferential surface 43 toward the rolling surface 44 (see the infiltration path indicated by arrow X2 in FIG. 8). At this time, the second seal portion 62 acts to linearly seal the gap 720, thereby minimizing the intrusion of the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint toward the rolling surface 44. Furthermore, the heat generated during the electrodeposition painting and top coat painting causes the cap member 50 (outer end portion 52E) to shrink, thereby gradually narrowing the gap portion 721 between the outer edge portion 46 and the cap member 50 (see the outer end portion indicated by the two-dot dashed line in Figure 8).

[0034] In the configuration shown in FIG. 4 , the first seal portion 61 and the second seal portion 62 seal the rolling member 40 from the inside and outside (one side and the other side) in the vehicle width direction, thereby more appropriately preventing unintended intrusion of electrodeposition paint and top coat paint. After electrodeposition painting and top coat painting, the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint are substantially not adhered (adhered) between the first coated portion 51 and the one end 41 shown in FIG. 7 . Furthermore, the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint are substantially not adhered (adhered) between the second coated portion 52 and the rolling surface 44 shown in FIG. 8 , and the adhesion of the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint is limited to the gap 721 between the second coated portion 52 and the outer edge 46. Furthermore, by reducing the volume of the gap 720 between the rolling surface 44 and the second coated portion 52, even if the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint do infiltrate into the gap 720, the amount of intrusion is minimized.

[0035] [Function of the cap during removal] Next, referring to FIG. 5, cap member 50 is removed by moving it from the outer side (left side) to the inner side (right side) in the vehicle width direction relative to rolling member 40, i.e., from the other side to one side (see the direction indicated by arrow A2 in FIG. 5). At this time, the U-shaped tip of tool 100 shown in FIG. 11 is inserted into and locked with locking portion 54 provided on handle portion 53 of cap member 50. By operating tool 100 in this state, cap member 50 provided with handle portion 53 is moved from the outer side to the inner side in the vehicle width direction while rotating approximately 90° about horizontal shaft portion 35. With the above-mentioned configuration, it is desirable to prevent unintended damage to handle portion 53 by, for example, making it difficult for excessive force (stress) to be applied to handle portion 53 of cap member 50 locked by tool 100. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, first, the first seal portion 61 and the second seal portion 62 shown in Fig. 4 act to prevent excessive adhesion of the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint to the rolling member 40 and the cap member 50. As a result, the cap member 50 is substantially free from adhesion due to the electrodeposition paint and top coat paint, and therefore moves (rotates and moves) smoothly relative to the rolling member 40.

[0036] [Function of thin-walled parts] Next, the cap member 50 shown in FIG. 11 can be removed from the rolling member 40 by using a thin-walled portion 57 partially provided on the outer end portion 52E as a peeling trigger. This makes it difficult for excessive force to be applied to the engaged handle portion 53 (on the first covering portion 51 side) of the tool 100, thereby minimizing unintended damage to the handle portion 53. Intentionally damaging the thin-walled portion 57 at this time further reduces the likelihood of excessive force being applied to the handle portion 53. In this way, the cap member 50 described above has a thin-walled portion 57 that serves as a removal trigger, which distributes the load during the removal operation, thereby minimizing the likelihood of excessive force being applied to the handle portion 53. Furthermore, by preventing unintended damage to the handle portion 53, it is possible to minimize the need to stop the production line.

[0037] 5, the cap member 50 is removed after the electrodeposition coating and top coat coating. At this time, with the above-described configuration, the electrodeposition coating and top coat coating are less likely to adhere to the rolling surfaces 44 of the rolling members 40, as shown in FIG. 12. This allows the rolling surfaces 44 of the rolling members 40 to be kept smooth after the electrodeposition coating and top coat coating, making it less likely that abnormal noise will occur when the sliding door 5 slides.

[0038] As described above, the cap member 50 of this embodiment has a first seal portion 61 and a second seal portion 62 that protrude toward the rolling member 40. Therefore, even if an unintended gap occurs between the rolling member 40 and the cap member 50, the gap can be filled by the seal portions, more reliably ensuring sealing for the rolling member 40. The seal portions then function to seal the rolling member 40 from one side and the other, more appropriately suppressing the intrusion of the electrodeposition paint and top coat, more reliably preventing the electrodeposition paint and top coat from adhering to the cap member 50 and the rolling member 40.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the rolling surface 44 is sealed with the cap member 50, the second seal portion 62 (the seal portion on the other side) is hooked onto and comes into contact with the other side (curved surface) of the circumferential surface 43 of the rolling member 40. Also, in this embodiment, the first seal portion 61 (the seal portion on one side) closes the entrance portion of the gap between the first covering portion 51 and the one end 41. Also, in this embodiment, when the cap member 50 is removed, the outer end portion 52E on the other side of the cap member 50 is easily detached from the rolling member 40 by the thin-walled portion 57. This makes it difficult for excessive force to be applied to the portions of the cap member 50 other than the end portion during the removal operation, making it possible to minimize damage to, for example, one side portion of the cap member 50 where the handle portion 53 for removal should be provided. In this case, by arranging the general end portion 56 and the thin-walled portion 57 adjacent to the outer end portion 52E of the cap member 50, excessive reduction in strength due to the thin-walled portion 57 can be suppressed, and the cap member 50 can be stably attached to the rolling member 40.

[0040] The seal structure for the rolling member of a vehicle according to this embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be embodied in various other ways. While the present embodiment illustrates the configuration of the cap member and each seal portion, the configuration of the cap member and each seal portion is not intended to be limited. For example, the first seal portion and the second seal portion may each be configured to contact the rolling member at appropriate locations in a planar or linear manner (point-like in cross-sectional view). The shape of each seal portion may also be modified as appropriate. When the seal portion contacts the rolling member at a planar manner, it may be formed into a polygonal cross-section, or when the seal portion contacts the rolling member at a linear manner, it may be formed into a convex, semicircular, or ribbed shape, or the like. Each seal portion may be formed singly or in multiple locations within the corresponding region. The cap member may have thin-walled portions formed at appropriate positions on its outer end. For example, multiple thin-walled portions may be provided balanced around the circumference, for example, so that imaginary lines connecting each thin-walled portion to the center of the cap member are radially arranged. The thin-walled portions may be provided partially or entirely on the outer end. The thin-walled portions can be formed by cutting out at least one of the outer surface or the back surface of the outer end of the cap member, but it is preferable to cut out the outer surface, which makes it possible to narrow the gap between the rolling member and the general end during thermal contraction. Note that the multiple thin-walled portions do not necessarily have to be provided at equal intervals, and thin-walled portions can be omitted from the cap member if detachability can be ensured.

[0041] The configuration of the sliding door and vehicle can also be modified as needed, and the rolling members can be formed into various rollable shapes and may be in contact with a rail or directly in contact with the vehicle body (locker, etc.). The rolling members can also be configured with an inner ring and an outer ring. The mounting and removal directions of the cap member can be set depending on the configuration of the rolling members. The work procedures and tool configurations for electrodeposition coating and topcoat coating can also be modified as needed depending on the configuration of the vehicle (rolling members). [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 2 vehicles 3 Vehicle body 4 Rear door opening 5 Sliding Door 6 Lockers 7 Scuff plate 8 Weatherstrip 9 Recess 91 (recess) upper wall 92 (recess) lower wall 93 (recess) inner wall 11 Upper rail 12 Intermediate rail 13 Lower Rail 130 (Top of bottom rail) 131 (bottom of the lower rail) 21 Upper arm 22 Intermediate arm 23 Lower arm 31 Vertical plate section 32 Horizontal plate part 33 Guide roller unit 34 Vertical shaft 35 Horizontal shaft 36,37 Guide roller 40 Rolling member 41 One end 42 Other end 43 Peripheral surface 44 rolling surface 45 Inner edge 46 outer edge 50 Cap member 51 First covering part 52 Second covering part 52E Outer end 53 Handle part 54 Locking part 55 Hole 56 General end 57 Thin-walled section 61 First seal portion (seal portion provided on one side) 62 Second seal portion (seal portion provided on the other side) 70 Virtual Line 71 Inner area (one side) 72 Outer area (other side) 100 tools 710, 720, 721 gap

Claims

1. A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle, in which, when a sliding door is attached to a vehicle body of a vehicle and electrodeposition coating and topcoat coating are performed, a rolling member journaled on the sliding door is sealed with a cap member and is arranged to be rollable on the vehicle body side, The cap member is attached to the rolling member that is journaled on the shaft portion of the sliding door, and A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle, in which, based on the mounted state in which the cap member is mounted on the rolling member, when the rolling member is divided into two equal parts by an imaginary line extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial length direction of the shaft portion and divided into one side and the other side, the cap member has a protruding sealing portion on each of the one side and the other side that protrudes toward the rolling member.

2. a rolling surface that contacts the vehicle body side is formed on a peripheral surface of the rolling member that is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the peripheral surface is a convex curved surface that is convex in a direction away from the shaft portion, and is gradually curved in a direction approaching the shaft portion as it moves from the apex of the convex curved surface toward the other side, 2. A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the cap member is configured to be moved from the one side to the other side and attached to the rolling member, and the sealing portion provided on the other side contacts the circumferential surface so as to seal the rolling surface at a position beyond the peak.

3. The rolling member has one end portion located on the one side of the circumferential surface formed in a vertical wall shape extending in a direction intersecting the circumferential surface, 3. A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the cap member has a first covering portion that covers the one end and a second covering portion that covers the rolling surface as an integral part, and the sealing portion provided on the one side protrudes from the first covering portion and is positioned at the entrance portion of the gap between the first covering portion and the one end.

4. A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap member in the attached state is configured to be moved from the other side to the one side to be removed from the rolling member, and a notched thin-walled portion is formed at the end of the other side of the cap member.

5. 5. A sealing structure for a rolling member of a vehicle as described in claim 4, wherein the other end of the cap member is formed adjacent to a general end having a predetermined thickness dimension and a thin-walled portion that is thinner than the general end.

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