Wave spring and method for manufacturing wave spring

Abstract

This invention provides a technology that allows for easy connection of the ends of a wave spring, which is manufactured by connecting the ends of a C-shaped plate material. [Solution] The wave spring 10, formed in an annular shape by connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate material, is provided with a connecting portion 11 that connects both ends. A hole is formed in one end, and a protrusion is formed in the other end that is inserted into the hole. One end has side pieces that form a part of the hole and face both sides of the protrusion. The protrusion has a recess formed on the surface or back of the protrusion by press working, and overhangs that extend from both sides of the protrusion toward the side pieces. The overhangs press against the side pieces to connect both ends.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a wave spring formed in a ring shape by connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate material and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle wave spring in which a ring body is formed by winding a wire rod around a predetermined diameter and then welding both ends. After welding both ends of this vehicle wave spring, heat treatment such as quenching is performed, and then the heat-treated ring body is disposed between an upper die pressing surface of an upper die and a lower die pressing surface of a lower die, and held at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure state for a predetermined time to perform die pressing molding to form a wave portion on the ring body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the method for manufacturing a wave spring described in Patent Document 1, since the step of welding both ends of a wire rod is required, it is time-consuming.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily connecting both ends in a wave spring manufactured by connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a wave spring according to one aspect of the present invention is a wave spring formed in an annular shape by connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate material, and is provided with a connecting portion that connects both ends. A hole is formed in one end, and a protrusion is formed in the other end that is inserted into the hole, and one end has side pieces that form a part of the hole and face both sides of the protrusion. The protrusion has a recess formed on the surface or back of the protrusion by press working, and an overhang that extends from both sides of the protrusion toward the side pieces. The overhang is pressed against the side pieces to connect both ends.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a wave spring. This method is a method for manufacturing a wave spring formed in an annular shape by connecting the ends of a C-shaped plate, and includes the steps of: forming a hole in one end of the C-shaped plate and a protrusion in the other end; inserting the protrusion into the hole; and pressing the surface or back of the protrusion to form a recess, and forming overhangs on both sides of the protrusion and pressing the overhangs against the inner surface of the hole. In the pressing step, the protrusion is placed on a base and the outer surfaces of both ends are pressed from both sides, and the pressing is performed to form the recess on the surface or back of the protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a technology is provided that allows for easy connection of both ends in a wave spring manufactured by connecting the ends of a C-shaped plate material. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the wave spring of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a magnified partial perspective view of the connecting section of the wave spring. [Figure 3] This is a top view of the connecting section. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wave spring shown by line segment AA. [Figure 5]This is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing process of wave springs. [Figure 6] Figure 6(a) is an enlarged top view of both ends of the wave spring of the second embodiment. Figure 6(b) is an enlarged top view of both ends of the wave spring of the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wave spring 10 of the first embodiment. The wave spring 10 is formed in an annular shape by connecting the first end 12a and the second end 12b of a C-shaped plate material. The wave spring 10 has a wavy shape that moves smoothly up and down along the circumferential direction.

[0011] The connecting portion 11 has a first end 12a and a second end 12b (collectively referred to as "both ends 12"). The circumferential direction refers to the direction along the outer or inner circumference of the annular wave spring 10. The width direction refers to the width direction of the plate material and may be perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

[0012] Figure 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the connecting portion 11 of the wave spring 10. Figure 3 is a top view of the connecting portion 11. The first end portion 12a has a hole 14 and a side piece 18. The second end portion 12b has a convex portion 16, a recessed portion 20 and an overhanging portion 22.

[0013] The hole 14 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by cutting out the first end 12a in the circumferential direction and opens toward the second end 12b. The pair of side pieces 18 are located on both sides of the protrusion 16 and are also called side pieces. The pair of side pieces 18 extend parallel to each other and form a part of the inner surface of the hole 14.

[0014] The protrusion 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape according to the shape of the hole 14 and protrudes toward the first end 12a. The protrusion 16 is inserted into the hole 14 and is located between the pair of side pieces 18. Multiple recesses 20 are formed on the surface or back surface of the protrusion 16, arranged in the circumferential direction. The surface of the protrusion 16 may be the top surface. The recesses 20 may be formed in the shape of a round hole, an elongated hole, an ellipse, a rectangle, etc. The recesses 20 are formed by press working.

[0015] The protruding portions 22 are formed by extending outwards from both sides of the convex portion 16 at the circumferential position where the recessed portion 20 is formed. The protruding portions 22 are formed during the process of forming the recessed portion 20 by press working, and protrude laterally by the amount of the recess. The protruding portions 22 on both sides are pressed against a pair of side pieces 18, respectively, allowing both ends 12 to be easily connected. Since both ends 12 are connected by press working, the welding process can be eliminated, reducing manufacturing costs.

[0016] Multiple recesses 20 are formed in the circumferential direction of the wave spring 10. As shown in Figure 3, multiple protrusions 22 are formed on each side of the convex portion 16 for each recess 20. By providing multiple protrusions 22 on both sides of the convex portion 16, the connection between both ends 12 can be strengthened. Note that there may be three or more recesses 20.

[0017] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of line segment AA of the wave spring 10 shown in Figure 3. At the position where the recessed portion 20 is formed, the protruding portion 22 extends from the outer surface 16a of the convex portion 16 and presses against the inner surface 18a of the side piece 18. As a result, the protruding portions 22 on both sides receive a reaction force from the pair of side pieces 18, connecting the convex portion 16 to the hole 14. If the protruding portion 22 were to press against only one side piece 18, connection would not be possible. Note that in Figure 4, the protruding portion 22 is shown pressing against the inner surface 18a in a way that causes it to be recessed, but it is not necessary to recess the inner surface 18a as long as there is contact. The protruding portion 22 is formed to protrude longitudinally in the direction of the recess in the recessed portion 20.

[0018] The protruding amount of the protruding portion 22 is determined by the depth D of the recessed portion 20. The recessed portion 20 has a depth D that is 1 / 5 or more of the plate thickness T of the wave spring 10. Thereby, the protruding amount by which the protruding portion 22 presses against the inner surface 18a can be ensured. More preferably, the recessed portion 20 may have a depth D that is 1 / 4 or more of the plate thickness T of the wave spring 10. Also, the recessed portion 20 has a depth D that is 1 / 2 or less of the plate thickness T of the wave spring 10. Thereby, the rigidity of the convex portion 16 can be ensured.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the manufacturing process of the wave spring 10. As shown in FIG. 5(a), after the convex portion 16 is inserted into the hole portion 14, the convex portion 16 is placed on the pedestal portion 30 together with the side pieces 18. Then, the pair of side pieces 18 are pressed so as to be sandwiched from the outside by the pair of side pressing portions 34. Before the convex portion 16 is inserted into the hole portion 14, the hole portion 14 is formed in one of the both end portions 12, and the convex portion 16 is formed in the other of the both end portions 12.

[0020] With the pedestal portion 30 pressing the lower surface of the convex portion 16 and the pair of side pressing portions 34 pressing the outer surfaces of the pair of side pieces 18, the punch portion 32 is pushed into the upper surface of the convex portion 16. In FIG. 5(b), when the tip of the punch portion 32 is pushed into the upper surface of the convex portion 16, the recessed portion 20 is formed, the protruding portion 22 is formed, and the both end portions 12 are connected. Although the protruding portion 22 presses against the side piece 18, since the pair of side pressing portions 34 abut on the outer surfaces of the pair of side pieces 18, the pair of side pieces 18 are suppressed from being pushed by the protruding portion 22 and deformed outward.

[0021] Note that the process of processing the wave spring 10 into a waveform may be performed before the connection of the both end portions 12 or after the connection of the both end portions 12. It is preferable that the process of processing into a waveform is performed before the connection of the both end portions 12 because the connection portion 11 is not affected by the waveform processing.

[0022] Figure 6(a) is an enlarged top view of both ends 12 of the wave spring 100 of the second embodiment. The wave spring 100 of the second embodiment has a different shape for the recessed portion 120 and the protruding portion 122 compared to the wave spring 10 shown in Figure 3.

[0023] The recessed portion 120 is formed on the upper surface of the protruding portion 16, extends across the entire width of the protruding portion 16, and is rectangular in shape. The protruding portions 122 are formed in pairs on both sides of the recessed portion 120 at the same location where the recessed portion 120 is formed.

[0024] Figure 6(b) is an enlarged top view of both ends 12 of the wave spring 200 of the third embodiment. The wave spring 200 of the third embodiment differs from the wave spring 10 shown in Figure 3 in that the shape of the holes 214 and the protrusions 216 are different, and recesses are also formed on the side pieces 218.

[0025] The protrusion 216 has a wide portion 216a and a narrow portion 216b located on the base end side of the wide portion 216a. The wide portion 216a is formed to be wider than the narrow portion 216b.

[0026] The hole 214 is formed in the same shape as the protrusion 216. The hole 214 has a step 214a that extends in the width direction midway through. When the protrusion 216 is inserted into the hole 214, the wider portion 216a catches on the step 214a, thereby limiting the separation of both ends 12 in the circumferential direction.

[0027] A pair of first recesses 220 are formed on the upper surface of the convex portion 216, and a pair of first protrusions 222 are formed on both sides of the convex portion 216 at the positions of the pair of first recesses 220. The multiple first protrusions 222 are pressed against the inner surfaces of the pair of side pieces 218.

[0028] A second recess 224 is formed on the upper surface of each of the pair of side pieces 218 by press working. As the side pieces 218 are formed by press working, a second protrusion 226 is formed on the inner surface of the side pieces 218. In addition, a protrusion may also be formed on the outer surface of the side piece 18 by the second recess 224.

[0029] The first recessed portion 220 and the second recessed portion 224 are formed offset in the circumferential direction, and the first protruding portion 222 and the second protruding portion 226 are also formed offset in the circumferential direction.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications such as design changes can be made to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments with such modifications may also be included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Wave spring, 11 Connecting part, 12a First end, 12b Second end, 14 Hole, 16 Protrusion, 16a Outer surface, 18 Side piece, 18a Inner surface, 20 Recess, 22 Overhang, 30 Base, 32 Punch part, 34 Lateral pressing part.

Claims

1. A wave spring formed in an annular shape by connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate, It is equipped with a connecting part that connects the two ends, A hole is formed at one of the aforementioned ends, and a protrusion is formed at the other end that is inserted into the hole. One of the two ends forms a part of the hole and has side pieces that face both sides of the protrusion, The aforementioned protrusion is, A recess formed on the surface or back surface of the protrusion by press working, It has protruding portions that extend from both sides of the convex portion toward the two side pieces, The wave spring is characterized in that the protruding portion is pressed against the two side pieces to connect the two ends.

2. Multiple recesses are formed in the circumferential direction of the wave spring, The wave spring according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the protruding portions are formed on each of the two sides of the recessed portion.

3. The wave spring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recessed portion has a depth of 1 / 5 or more of the plate thickness of the wave spring.

4. A method for manufacturing a wave spring, which involves connecting both ends of a C-shaped plate to form a ring, The steps include forming a hole at one end of a C-shaped plate and a protrusion at the other end, The steps include inserting the protrusion into the hole, The step includes forming a recess by press-forming the surface or back surface of the protrusion, and forming protrusions on both sides of the protrusion and pressing the protrusions against the inner surface of the hole, A method for manufacturing a wave spring, characterized in that, in the step of pressing, the convex portion is placed on a base portion, and the outer surfaces of both ends are pressed from both sides, and the press is performed such that the recess is formed on the surface or back surface of the convex portion.

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