Sliding member and air spring device

Abstract

To provide a slide member which can suppress the exfoliation of a slide material from a metal plate material even if the slide member is slid in a state that a local load is applied to the slide member which is used as a slide-contact member, and an air spring device.SOLUTION: In a slide member 1 in which a slide material 3 is joined to a metal plate material 2 by an adhesion layer 4, a release side Lo out of a sidewall 23 surrounding along the periphery of the slide material 3 attached to an attachment groove 22 formed at an upper face 21 of the metal plate material 2 is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding member used in, for example, a sliding portion and an air spring device provided with the sliding member. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, in an air spring device provided with a flexible tubular flexible member that connects a first member and a second member, sliding abutment portions are provided on opposing sides of the first member and the second member, where the first member and the second member abut and slide in close proximity to each other.

[0003] In order to ensure slidability, one of the sliding contact portions in such an air spring device uses a sliding member in which a sliding material is bonded to a metal plate material by an adhesive layer. By using such a sliding member, sliding properties can be ensured, and even when the first member and the second member are close to each other and the sliding abutment portions are in contact with each other, and the first member and the second member move relative to each other in the horizontal direction, the sliding abutment portion formed of the sliding member can slide smoothly.

[0004] Such sliding members are constructed by bonding a metal plate and a sliding material together, but when an external force such as an unbalanced load acts on the sliding material of the sliding member and the sliding member slides while a localized load is acting on the sliding material, the sliding material is pulled in the sliding direction, causing the adhesive layer between the metal plate and the sliding material to peel off, which could prevent the sliding motion from being smooth. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-177407 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sliding member and an air spring device that can prevent the sliding member from peeling off from the metal plate material even when the sliding member slides under a localized load. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention is a sliding member in which a sliding material is bonded to a metal plate by an adhesive layer, characterized in that the metal plate is provided with a regulating portion that surrounds and regulates the sliding material, and the regulating portion is provided with an opening portion that opens at least a portion of the entire circumference of the sliding material.

[0008] The regulating portion may be the inner surface of a recess in a sliding member in which a sliding material is joined to a recess provided in a metal plate, a wall portion protruding from the surface of a metal plate in a sliding member in which a sliding material is joined to the surface of a metal plate, or both the inner surface of a recess in a sliding member in which a sliding material is joined to a recess provided in a metal plate and a wall portion protruding from the surface.

[0009] The sliding material may be made of a resin having high slipperiness, such as polyamide resin (PA) or polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE), or may be made of other resins, or may be made of materials other than resin, such as metal, graphite, or ceramics.

[0010] According to this invention, even if the sliding member used at the sliding portion slides while a local load is applied to the sliding member, the sliding member can be prevented from peeling off from the metal plate. In more detail, the metal plate is provided with a restricting portion that surrounds and restricts the sliding member, so that even if the sliding member slides under a local load, the restricting portion restricts the sliding member from being pulled in the sliding direction. Therefore, the adhesive layer between the sliding member, which is restricted from being pulled in the sliding direction by the restricting portion, and the metal plate can be prevented from peeling off.

[0011] In addition, when the restricting portion is provided around the entire circumference of the sliding member, it is possible to restrict pulling by an external force acting locally, regardless of the sliding direction. However, when the metal plate and the sliding member are joined with the adhesive layer, there is no escape route for the excess adhesive that is applied to form the adhesive layer on the entire bonding surface between the metal plate and the sliding member that faces each other, and the excess adhesive is likely to remain between the metal plate and the sliding member, which may result in a failure to join them firmly.

[0012] In response to this, the restricting portion is provided with an opening that opens at least a portion of the entire circumference of the sliding member, so that the excess adhesive can escape from the opening to the outside, and the metal plate and the sliding member can be firmly joined together. Therefore, the restricting portion restricts the sliding member firmly joined to the metal plate from being pulled in the sliding direction, and the adhesive layer between the sliding member and the metal plate can be prevented from peeling off.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention, the sliding member may be formed in a quadrangular shape when viewed from the side facing the surface of the metal plate. According to this invention, the sliding member having a simple shape can be surrounded by the restricting portion having a simple shape, and the sliding member can be reliably joined to the metal plate. Therefore, the restricting portion restricts the sliding member firmly joined to the metal plate from being pulled in the sliding direction, and the adhesive layer between the sliding member and the metal plate can be more effectively prevented from peeling off.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention, the opening may be formed on any one of four sides of the restricting portion that is formed along the rectangular sliding member. The one of the four sides of the restricting portion where the open portion is formed may be an entire side that is open, or a part of the center portion or a vicinity of a corner portion may be open. According to this invention, at least three sides of the rectangular sliding material can be surrounded and regulated by the regulating portion, so that the sliding material can be prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material from peeling off.

[0015] As another aspect of the present invention, the opening may be formed on one side of the pair of opposing sides of the regulating portion formed along the rectangular sliding material, the pair having a wider spacing between the sides. Of the two pairs of opposing sides described above, one of the pairs of sides with a wider distance between them refers to one of the short side portions on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular regulating portion.

[0016] With this invention, in a rectangular sliding material surrounded by regulating portions on at least three sides, even if the sliding material is pulled toward the open portion, there is an adhesive area sufficient to resist the external force in the pulling direction, and it is possible to prevent the sliding material from being pulled and the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material from peeling off.

[0017] As a further aspect of the present invention, the sliding member and the restricting portion may be formed in a sector-like ring shape when viewed from the side facing the surface of the metal plate. The sectoral ring shape is a band of a predetermined width that forms an arc shape.

[0018] According to this invention, by arranging multiple sector-shaped annular sliding materials concentrically and staggered in the circumferential direction, it is possible to construct an approximately circular sliding material as a whole in which peeling of the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material is prevented.

[0019] As a further aspect of the present invention, the open portion may be formed on either a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the restricting portion formed in the sectoral ring shape. According to this invention, the fan-shaped annular sliding material can be surrounded and regulated in at least three directions, namely, both side edges and either the radially inner or outer side, by the regulating portion, thereby preventing the sliding material from being pulled and the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material from peeling off.

[0020] As a further aspect of the present invention, the sliding member and the restricting portion formed in the sectoral ring shape may be arranged in a plurality of parts in the radial direction. With this invention, even if the sliding material is pulled toward the side where the open portion of the regulating portion formed in the sectorial ring shape is provided, it can be regulated by the regulating portion surrounding the sectorial ring that is radially adjacent to the side where the open portion is provided. Therefore, even if a regulating portion is not provided around the entire circumference, the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material can be prevented from peeling off, just as in the case where a regulating portion is provided around the entire circumference.

[0021] The present invention is also characterized in that the air spring device includes a first member, a second member, a cylindrical flexible member disposed between the first member and the second member and connecting the first member and the second member, and sliding abutment portions on opposing sides of the first member and the second member, where the first member and the second member abut and slide while being in close proximity to each other, and one of the sliding abutment portions is constituted by the above-mentioned sliding member.

[0022] With this invention, even if the sliding material slides while a local load is applied to the sliding abutment portion during operation of the air spring device, it is possible to prevent the sliding material from peeling off from the metal plate material, thereby making it possible to form a durable air spring device.

[0023] As an aspect of the present invention, the adhesive layer may be provided between the surface of the metal plate and the sliding member, and the adhesive layer may be made of a heat-curing adhesive. With this invention, although the adhesive and sliding material that make up the adhesive layer expand when heated to join the metal plate and the sliding material, the expanded excess adhesive can be expelled from between the metal plate and the sliding material to the outside, allowing the metal plate and the sliding material to be firmly joined.

[0024] As a further aspect of the present invention, the opening may be formed on a side portion of the restricting portion that is formed along the rectangular sliding member. According to this invention, at least four corners are surrounded and restricted by the restricting portion, so that the sliding material can be prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material from peeling off. The openings may be provided on all four sides, or on at least one of the four sides.

[0025] As a further aspect of the present invention, the opening may be formed at a corner of the restricting portion that is formed along the rectangular sliding member. According to this invention, at least the central portions of the four sides are surrounded and regulated by the regulating portion, so that the sliding material can be prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer between the sliding material and the metal plate material from peeling off. The open portion may be provided at all four corners, or at least one of the four corners. Effect of the Invention

[0026] The present invention can provide a sliding member and an air spring device that can prevent the sliding member from peeling off from the metal plate even when the sliding member slides with a localized load acting on it. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram of yet another sliding member. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an air spring device. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a sliding contact portion of the air spring device. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another sliding contact portion of the air spring device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of the sliding member 1, and Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the sliding member 1. In detail, Fig. 1(a) shows a schematic perspective view of the sliding member 1, and Fig. 1(b) shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the sliding member 1. Moreover, Fig. 2(a) shows a view seen from the arrow AA in Fig. 1(a), and Fig. 2(b) shows a view seen from the arrow BB in Fig. 1(a). The longitudinal direction of the metal plate 2 formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view is designated as a long side direction L, and the lateral direction is designated as a short side direction W.

[0029] The sliding member 1 is composed of a metal plate 2, a sliding material 3, and an adhesive layer 4. The metal plate 2 is a rectangular plate in plan view, having a pair of opposing long and short sides, and has a mounting groove 22 on an upper surface 21.

[0030] The mounting groove 22 is formed to a predetermined depth, is spaced a predetermined distance from a pair of opposing long side edges of the metal plate material 2 which is rectangular in plan view, and is also arranged a predetermined distance from one of the short side edges at both ends of the long side, and is groove-shaped extending to the other short side (the front left side in Figure 1(b)).

[0031] In other words, the mounting groove 22 has a pair of long side walls 23a along the long side direction L, and a short side wall 23b connecting one end of the long side wall 23a in the short side direction W, and the other short side portion is open, so that the mounting groove 22 is groove-shaped with three side walls 23 (23a, 23b) that are U-shaped when viewed in a plane. In the following description, the side in the long side direction L where the other short side portion is open is referred to as the open side Lo, and the opposite side, i.e., the side where the short side wall 23b is arranged, is referred to as the anti-open side Lc.

[0032] The sliding member 3 is smaller than the metal plate 2 and has a rectangular shape in plan view so that it can be fitted into the fitting groove 22. It is formed into a plate shape that is thicker than the depth of the fitting groove 22 and is made of a resin with high slipperiness. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the sliding member 3 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, with a width substantially equal to the interval in the short side direction W of the mounting groove 22, and a length in the long side direction L of the mounting groove 22 with the open side Lo being short, as shown in Fig. 2(a). The sliding member 3 is mounted so that the short side of the counter-open side Lc of the sliding member 3 contacts the short side wall 23b. Therefore, the sliding member 3 is mounted in a state where three directions in plan view, except for the short side portion of the open side Lo, are restricted by the side walls 23 (23a, 23b).

[0033] The sliding material 3 is made of a highly slippery resin such as polyamide resin (PA) or polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE), but it may also be made of other resins, or even non-resin materials such as metal, graphite, or ceramics.

[0034] The adhesive layer 4 is an adhesive for bonding the sliding member 3 mounted in the mounting groove 22 of the metal plate 2, and as shown in the enlarged view of part a in Fig. 2(a), is disposed between the bottom surface of the mounting groove 22 and the bottom surface of the sliding member 3. The adhesive layer 4 is a heat-curing adhesive such as an epoxy adhesive, in which the curing agent is activated and cured by applying a certain amount of heat.

[0035] To assemble the sliding member 1 having the above-mentioned components, first apply an adhesive to form an adhesive layer 4 to the bottom of the mounting groove 22 where the sliding material 3 will be placed (see FIG. 1(b)). The sliding material 3 is placed in the mounting groove 22 at the location where the adhesive has been applied, and is bonded to the mounting groove 22 by the adhesive layer 4 through heating and pressure.

[0036] At this time, the sliding material 3 placed in the mounting groove 22 is restricted in three directions in a plan view by the side walls 23 (23a, 23b) which function as restricting parts, except for the short side part of the open side Lo, and the open side Lo (left side of FIG. 2(a)) is open. Therefore, the excess adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 4 leaks out from the open part of the open side Lo (left side of FIG. 2(a)). Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the sliding material 3 with a uniform thickness, and the sliding material 3 placed in the mounting groove 22 can be joined to the metal plate material 2.

[0037] As described above, the sliding member 1 has the sliding material 3 bonded to the metal plate material 2 by the adhesive layer 4, and is restricted by the long side wall 23a and the short side wall 23b of the side walls 23 that surround the periphery of the sliding material 3. Therefore, even if the sliding member 1 used as a sliding member slides under a localized load, the sliding material 3 can be prevented from peeling off from the metal plate material 2.

[0038] More specifically, since the side wall 23 is provided surrounding the periphery of the sliding member 3, even if the sliding member 1 used as a sliding member slides under a local load, the side wall 23 prevents the sliding member 3 from being pulled in the sliding direction. Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding member 3, which is prevented from being pulled in the sliding direction by the side wall 23, and the metal plate 2 can be prevented from peeling off.

[0039] If the side walls 23 are provided on all four sides of the sliding member 3, it is possible to prevent the sliding member 3 from being pulled by a locally acting external force, regardless of the sliding direction. However, when the metal plate 2 and the sliding member 3 are joined by the adhesive layer 4, there is no escape route for the excess adhesive applied to form the adhesive layer 4 on the entire bonding surface between the metal plate 2 and the sliding member 3, and the excess adhesive is likely to remain between the metal plate 2 and the sliding member 3, which may result in a failure to join them firmly.

[0040] In contrast, since the open side Lo of the side wall 23 is open, the excess adhesive can escape to the outside from the open side Lo of the sliding material 3, and the metal plate material 2 and the sliding material 3 can be firmly joined. Therefore, the side wall 23 restricts the sliding material 3 firmly joined to the metal plate material 2 from being pulled in the sliding direction, and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate material 2 can be prevented from peeling off.

[0041] In addition, the adhesive layer 4 that is provided between the surface of the metal plate 2 and the sliding material 3 and bonds the sliding material 3 to the metal plate 2 is composed of a heat-curing adhesive. Therefore, although the adhesive that constitutes the adhesive layer 4 and the sliding material 3 expand when heated to bond the metal plate 2 and the sliding material 3, the expanded excess adhesive can be expelled from between the metal plate 2 and the sliding material 3 to the outside, thereby firmly bonding the metal plate 2 and the sliding material 3.

[0042] In addition, since the sliding material 3 is formed in a quadrangular shape in a plan view, the sliding material 3 having a simple shape can be surrounded by the side walls 23 of the mounting groove 22 having a simple shape, and the sliding material 3 can be reliably joined to the metal plate 2. Therefore, the side walls 23 regulate the sliding material 3 firmly joined to the metal plate 2 from being pulled in the sliding direction, and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate 2 can be further prevented from peeling off.

[0043] In addition, since the open side Lo corresponding to any one of the four sides of the rectangular sliding material 3 is open, the rectangular sliding material 3 can be surrounded and regulated on three sides by the side walls 23, and the sliding material 3 can be prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate material 2 from peeling off.

[0044] Furthermore, since the open side Lo is one side of the long side direction L which has the wider gap between the short side direction W and long side direction L of the sliding material 3 formed in a rectangular shape, in the rectangular sliding material 3 surrounded by side walls 23 on three sides, even if the sliding material 3 is pulled toward the open side Lo, there is an adhesive area which is sufficient to resist the external force in the pulling direction, and the sliding material 3 is pulled, and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate material 2 can be prevented from peeling off.

[0045] In the above description of the sliding member 1, a mounting groove 22 is provided on the upper surface 21 of the metal plate 2, and the sliding member 3 is disposed in the mounting groove 22, but as shown in Fig. 3, a regulating frame 24 that is U-shaped in plan view may be provided on the upper surface 21, and the sliding member 3 may be disposed inside the regulating frame 24. Fig. 3(a) shows a schematic perspective view of the sliding member 1a, and shows a view seen from the arrow CC in Fig. 3(a).

[0046] The sliding member 1a is formed by providing a U-shaped regulating frame 24 on the upper surface 21 of a metal plate material 2, applying an adhesive that constitutes an adhesive layer 4 to the inner upper surface 21 of the regulating frame 24, and positioning and joining the sliding member 3.

[0047] The regulating frame 24 has a pair of long side portions 24a along the long side direction L, and a short side portion 24b connecting the end portion of the long side portion 24a on the anti-open side Lc in the short side direction W, and is configured in a frame shape having sides 24a, 24b on three sides in a planar view that form a U-shape, with the short side portion on the open side Lo being open.

[0048] The sliding member 3 is attached so that the short side of the counter-opening side Lc of the sliding member 3 contacts the short side portion 24b inside the regulating frame 24. Therefore, the sliding member 3 is attached in a state where three directions in a plan view, except for the short side portion of the opening side Lo, are regulated by the sides 24a and 24b.

[0049] As described above, the sliding member 1a, like the sliding member 1 described above, has a sliding member 3 joined to a metal plate material 2, and a regulating frame 24 is provided on the metal plate material 2 to surround the periphery of the sliding member 3. The regulating frame 24 is open on the open side Lo of the entire periphery of the sliding member 3, so that even if the sliding member 1a used as a sliding member slides under a condition in which a localized load is applied, it is possible to prevent the sliding member 3 from peeling off from the metal plate material 2.

[0050] In the above-mentioned sliding members 1 and 1a, three directions in a planar view of the sliding material 3 are restricted by the side walls 23 and the restricting frame 24 which function as restricting portions. However, as in the sliding members 1b and 1c shown in Figures 4 and 5, although four directions in a planar view are restricted, an open portion may be provided.

[0051] Fig. 4(a) shows an exploded perspective view of the sliding member 1b, Fig. 4(b) shows a plan view of the sliding member 1b, and Fig. 4(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in Fig. 4(b). Fig. 5(a) shows an exploded perspective view of the sliding member 1c, Fig. 5(b) shows a plan view of the sliding member 1c, and Fig. 5(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in Fig. 5(b). In the following description, the same components as those in the sliding members 1 and 1a described above are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the sliding member 1b has a mounting groove 22b, which is substantially the same as the sliding member 3 and has a rectangular shape in plan view, provided on the upper surface 21 of the metal plate material 2b. The mounting groove 22b is formed to a predetermined depth and is in the form of a groove disposed at a predetermined distance from a pair of opposing long side edges and short side edges of the metal plate 2 that is rectangular in plan view.

[0053] In other words, the mounting groove 22b has a pair of long side walls 23a along the long side direction L, and a pair of short side walls 23b connecting both ends of the long side wall 23a in the short side direction W, and is groove-shaped with side walls 23 (23a, 23b) in all four directions when viewed in a plane.

[0054] The mounting groove 22b has, at the center portion of the long side wall 23a and at the center portion of the short side wall 23b, widened portions 25 which widen outward in a plan view and function as openings. Specifically, a widened portion 25 is provided at the center portion of the long side wall 23a in the long side direction L, expanding outward in the short side direction W and having a predetermined length in the long side direction L, and a widened portion 25 is provided at the center portion of the short side wall 23b in the short side direction W, expanding outward in the long side direction L and having a predetermined length in the short side direction W. The widened portion 25 is formed to the same depth as the mounting groove 22b, and the mounting groove 22b and the widened portion 25 are continuous with each other.

[0055] When the sliding material 3 is attached to the mounting groove 22b of the sliding member 1b configured in this manner, the long side of the sliding material 3 is restricted by the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding material 3 is restricted by the short side wall 23b with the widening portion 25 located in the center between the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding material 3 being in an open state.

[0056] To assemble the sliding member 1b having the above-mentioned components, first apply an adhesive to the groove bottom of the mounting groove 22b at the location where the sliding material 3 will be placed (see FIG. 4(a)). The sliding material 3 is placed at the location where the adhesive has been applied in the mounting groove 22b, and is bonded to the mounting groove 22b by the adhesive layer 4 through heating and pressure.

[0057] At this time, as described above, with the sliding member 3 placed in the mounting groove 22b, the long side of the sliding member 3 is restricted by the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding member 3 is restricted by the short side wall 23b in a state where the widened portion 25 provided in the middle between the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding member 3 is open, so that the excess of the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 4 escapes from the widened portion 25. Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the sliding member 3 with a uniform thickness, and the sliding member 3 placed in the mounting groove 22b can be joined to the metal plate 2.

[0058] As described above, the sliding member 1b, like the sliding member 1, has a sliding member 3 joined to a metal plate material 2, and the side walls 23 surrounding the periphery of the sliding member 3 have widened portions 25 provided in the central portions of each edge portion. Therefore, even if the sliding member 1b used as a sliding member slides under a localized load, it is possible to prevent the sliding member 3 from peeling off from the metal plate material 2.

[0059] In addition, since the widening portion 25 is formed in the center of the edge portion of the side wall 23 of the mounting groove 22b formed along the rectangular sliding material 3, at least four corner portions are surrounded and regulated by the side wall 23, so that the sliding material 3 is prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate material 2 is prevented from peeling off. In the above description, the widened portion 25 is provided on all four sides of the mounting groove 22b which is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, but the widened portion 25 may be provided on any one side or on multiple sides.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, similar to the sliding member 1b, the sliding member 1c has a mounting groove 22c, which is substantially the same as the sliding member 3 and has a rectangular shape in plan view, provided on the upper surface 21 of a metal plate material 2c. The mounting groove 22c is in the form of a groove having side walls 23 (23a, 23b) on four sides in a plan view, and is provided with corner widening portions 26 at each corner.

[0061] Specifically, corner widening portion 26 is formed in an L-shape in plan view, spanning the corner where long-side side wall 23a and short-side side wall 23b constituting mounting groove 22c intersect, and extending in long-side direction L and short-side direction W. Corner widening portion 26 is formed to the same depth as mounting groove 22c, and mounting groove 22c and corner widening portion 26 are continuous with each other.

[0062] When the sliding member 1c thus constructed is fitted with the sliding material 3 in the mounting groove 22c, the corner widening portion 26 provided at the corner between the long side wall 23a and the short side wall 23b is opened, and the long side of the sliding material 3 is restricted by the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding material 3 is restricted by the short side wall 23b.

[0063] The assembly of the sliding member 1c, whose elements are constructed as described above, is performed in the same manner as for the sliding member 1b, by first applying an adhesive that constitutes the adhesive layer 4 to the bottom surface of the mounting groove 22c (see Figure 4(a)), placing the sliding material 3 in the mounting groove 22c, and then applying pressure and heating to adhere the sliding material 3 to the mounting groove 22c with the adhesive layer 4.

[0064] At this time, as described above, in the sliding member 3 placed in the mounting groove 22c, the corner widening portion 26 provided at the corner between the long side wall 23a and the short side wall 23b is open, and the long side of the sliding member 3 is restricted by the long side wall 23a and the short side of the sliding member 3 is restricted by the short side wall 23b, so that the excess of the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 4 escapes from the corner widening portion 26. Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the sliding member 3 with a uniform thickness, and the sliding member 3 placed in the mounting groove 22c can be joined to the metal plate 2.

[0065] As described above, the sliding member 1c, like the sliding member 1, has a sliding member 3 joined to a metal plate material 2, and a corner widening portion 26 is provided on the side wall 23 that surrounds the periphery of the sliding member 3, so that even if the sliding member 1c used as a sliding member slides under a condition in which a localized load is applied, it is possible to prevent the sliding member 3 from peeling off from the metal plate material 2.

[0066] In addition, since the corner widening portion 26 is formed at the corner portion of the side wall 23 of the mounting groove 22c formed along the rectangular sliding material 3, at least the central portions of the four sides are surrounded and regulated by the side wall 23, so that the sliding material 3 is prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 3 and the metal plate material 2 is prevented from peeling off. In the above description, corner widening portions 26 are provided on all four corner sides of mounting groove 22c, which is formed into a rectangular shape when viewed from above, but corner widening portions 26 may be provided on any one corner or multiple corners.

[0067] The above-mentioned sliding members 1 to 1c are constructed by attaching a sliding member 3 having a rectangular shape in a planar view to metal plate materials 2, 2b, and 2c having a rectangular shape in a planar view. However, the sliding member 3 may be formed in a circular shape in a planar view, for example, as in the sliding member 1d shown in Figure 6. Fig. 6(a) shows an exploded perspective view of the sliding member 1d, Fig. 6(b) shows a plan view of the sliding member 1d, and Fig. 6(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in Fig. 6(b). In the following description, the same components as those in the sliding members 1 and 1a described above will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] As shown in Figure 6, sliding member 1d differs from the above-mentioned sliding members 1 to 1c in that it is composed of a metal plate 2d having a circular shape when viewed from above, a sliding member 3d having a circular shape when viewed from above, and an adhesive layer 4 disposed between the metal plate 2d and the sliding member 3d to join the metal plate 2d and the sliding member 3d.

[0069] The metal plate 2d is in the form of a plate having a circular shape in a plan view, and has a circular mounting groove 22d on its upper surface 21, the circular shape being circular in a plan view. The circular mounting groove 22d is a groove of a predetermined depth having a peripheral side surface 23d of a predetermined height, and a plurality of outer diameter enlarged portions 27 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the periphery.

[0070] The outer circumferential expansion portion 27 expands radially outward from the outer circumferential edge of the circular mounting groove 22d, is formed to the same depth as the circular mounting groove 22d, and is continuous with the circular mounting groove 22d. In this embodiment, the outer circumferential expansion portion 27 is provided at eight locations spaced apart by a predetermined distance, but the number of the outer circumferential expansion portions 27 may be more or less than eight.

[0071] The sliding member 3d has a circular shape in plan view that is substantially the same as that of the circular mounting groove 22d, and is a disk shape having a thickness greater than the depth of the circular mounting groove 22d. Note that the sliding member 3d has the same configuration as the above-mentioned sliding member 3 except for the shape, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0072] When the sliding member 1d configured in this manner is mounted on the circular mounting groove 22d, the outer periphery of the sliding member 3d is restricted by the peripheral side surface 23d with the outer periphery of the sliding member 3d being opened in the radially outwardly expanded portion 27 provided on the peripheral side surface 23d.

[0073] To assemble the sliding member 1d having the above-mentioned components, first apply an adhesive to the bottom of the circular mounting groove 22d where the sliding member 3d will be placed (see FIG. 6(a)). The sliding member 3d is placed in the circular mounting groove 22d where the adhesive has been applied, and is bonded to the circular mounting groove 22d by the adhesive layer 4 through heating and pressure.

[0074] At this time, as described above, the outer periphery of the sliding member 3d arranged in the circular mounting groove 22d is restricted by the peripheral side surface 23d with the outer diameter expanded portion 27 provided on the peripheral side surface 23d in an open state, and therefore the excess of the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 4 escapes from the outer diameter expanded portion 27. Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the sliding member 3d with a uniform thickness, and the sliding member 3d arranged in the circular mounting groove 22d can be joined to the metal plate 2.

[0075] As described above, the sliding member 1d, like the sliding member 1, has a sliding member 3d joined to a metal plate material 2d, and the metal plate material 2d is provided with a peripheral side surface 23d of a circular mounting groove 22d that surrounds the periphery of the sliding member 3d, and the peripheral side surface 23d is provided with an outer diameter expansion portion 27 that opens up a portion of the entire circumference of the sliding member 3d. Therefore, even if the sliding member 1d used as a sliding member slides under a condition in which a localized load is applied, it is possible to prevent the sliding member 3d from peeling off from the metal plate material 2d.

[0076] Next, an air spring device 100 using a sliding member having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to Figs. FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of air spring device 100, FIG. 8 shows an explanatory diagram of a circular protrusion 121 of air spring device 100, and FIG. 9 shows an explanatory diagram of another circular protrusion 121a of air spring device 100.

[0077] In detail, FIG. 7(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the air spring device 100 in a state where gas is supplied to the sealed space 100s, and FIG. 7(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the air spring device 100 in a state where gas is exhausted from the sealed space 100s. Figure 8(a) shows a plan view of a circular protrusion 121, Figure 8(b) shows a view seen from the arrow GG in Figure 8(a), Figure 9(a) shows a plan view of another circular protrusion 121a, and Figure 9(b) shows a view seen from the arrow HH in Figure 9(a).

[0078] The air spring device 100 is composed of a first member 110 connected to an upper member not shown, a second member 120 connected to a lower member not shown, a buffer member 130 arranged between the lower member and the second member 120, and a cylindrical flexible member 160 which is a flexible cylindrical body arranged between the first member 110 and the second member 120.

[0079] The first member 110 is circular when viewed in a plan view, and has a circular protrusion 111 that protrudes toward the second member 120 (the lower side in Figure 7), and a fixed shaft 140 having a through hole 141 that penetrates the first member 110 and the circular protrusion 111.

[0080] The second member 120 is circular in plan view and has a smaller diameter than the first member 110, and has a circular protruding portion 121 that protrudes toward the first member 110 (upper side in FIG. 7). A through hole 122 is provided in the center of the circular protruding portion 121, penetrating in the plate thickness direction.

[0081] The second member 120 is provided with a buffer member 130 having a substantially circular ring shape in a plan view on the side opposite to the first member 110 (the lower side in FIG. 7). The buffer member 130 is configured by stacking a plurality of metal plates 131 having a generally circular ring shape in plan view and a plurality of buffer members 132 having a generally circular ring shape in plan view alternately in the height direction.

[0082] The lowermost metal plate 131 of the buffer member 130 has a fixed shaft 150 having a through hole 151 passing therethrough in the vertical direction. The tubular flexible member 160 is cylindrical and made of a flexible material such as rubber, with an upper end opening fixed to the circular protrusion 111 and a lower end opening fixed to the circular protrusion 121, connecting the first member 110 and the second member 120 and forming a sealed space 100s inside.

[0083] Further, a gas supply means and an auxiliary tank are connected to the fixed shaft 140 and the fixed shaft 150. Further, the through hole 141 of the fixed shaft 140, the sealed space 100s, the through hole 122, the inside of the buffer member 130, and the through hole 151 are in communication with each other. Moreover, one of the circular protrusion 111 and the circular protrusion 121 is formed of the sliding member described above, and in this embodiment, the circular protrusion 121 is described as being formed of the sliding member.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 8, the circular protrusion 121 is a disk-shaped metal plate material, and has a mounting groove 124 formed in an upper surface 123, and a sliding member 125 joined to the mounting groove 124. Specifically, a sector-shaped mounting groove 124 having a band-like shape of a predetermined width forming an arc is formed on the upper surface 123 of a disk-shaped circular protrusion 121 having a through hole 122 in the center when viewed from above, and a sector-shaped sliding material 125 is bonded to the mounting groove 124 with an adhesive layer 4.

[0085] The mounting grooves 124 are recessed grooves of a predetermined depth on the upper surface 123, and are formed with an arc length of about ¼ of a circle in the circumferential direction and a radial length of about half the radius. The mounting grooves 124 are arranged in parallel, two in the radial direction and four in the circumferential direction, for a total of eight mounting grooves 124.

[0086] In the following, the portions between the multiple mounting grooves 124 arranged in the radial direction, the outer peripheral edge of the circular protrusion 121, the periphery of the through hole 122, and further the portions between the multiple mounting grooves 124 arranged in the circumferential direction are referred to as regulating walls 126.

[0087] The sliding member 125 to be fitted in the fitting groove 124 is formed in a sector-like ring shape with a width narrower than that of the fitting groove 124 and a circular arc shape. The sliding member 125 formed in a sector-shaped ring shape with a narrow band forming an arc shape is arranged in a state where the lateral and radially outer sides are restricted by the radially outer restricting wall 126 in the mounting groove 124 and the radially extending restricting wall 126. Therefore, a gap is formed between the radially inner side of the sliding member 125 and the radially inner restricting wall 126.

[0088] To assemble the circular protrusion 121 having the respective elements configured as described above, first, an adhesive that forms an adhesive layer 4 is applied to the portion of the bottom surface of the mounting groove 124 where the sliding member 125 is to be placed (see FIG. 6(a)). The sliding member 125 is placed in the portion of the mounting groove 124 where the adhesive has been applied, and the sliding member 125 is bonded to the mounting groove 124 by the adhesive layer 4 by applying pressure and heating.

[0089] At this time, as described above, the sliding member 125 arranged in the mounting groove 124 is in a state where the radially inner side is open, and the sides and radially outer side of the sliding member 125 are restricted by the restricting walls 126, so that the excess adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 4 escapes from the radially inner side. Therefore, the adhesive layer 4 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the sliding member 125 with a uniform thickness, and the sliding member 125 arranged in the mounting groove 124 can be joined to the circular protrusion 121.

[0090] In addition, the bottom surface 112 of the circular protrusion 111 opposite the upper surface 123 of the circular protrusion 121 is made of a polished sliding surface, but the upper surface 123 of the circular protrusion 121 may be made of a sliding surface and a sliding material may be attached to the bottom surface 112 of the circular protrusion 111.

[0091] In the air spring device 100 configured in this manner, when gas is supplied to the sealed space 100s by a gas supply means connected to the fixed shaft 140 or the fixed shaft 150, the circular protrusions 111 and 121 enter a filled state in which they are spaced apart (see Figure 7(a)).

[0092] Conversely, when gas is exhausted from the sealed space 100s using a gas supply means connected to the fixed shaft 140 or the fixed shaft 150, an exhaust state is created in which the bottom surface 112 of the circular protrusion 111 and the upper surface 123 of the circular protrusion 121 abut against each other (see Figure 7(b)).

[0093] In the exhaust state, the bottom surface 112 of the circular protrusion 111 and the upper surface 123 of the circular protrusion 121 are in contact, but since the bottom surface 112 of the circular protrusion 111 is composed of a sliding surface and a sliding material 125 is attached to the upper surface 123 of the circular protrusion 121, even if the upper and lower members move relative to each other in the horizontal direction, the circular protrusions 111, 121 can slide smoothly against each other.

[0094] As described above, the air spring device 100 includes a first member 110, a second member 120, and a cylindrical flexible member 160 disposed between the first member 110 and the second member 120 to connect the first member 110 and the second member 120.

[0095] In addition, the air spring device 100 is provided with circular protrusions 111, 121 on opposing sides of the second member 120, which abut and slide against the first member 110 and the second member 120 when they are in close proximity, and one of the circular protrusions 121 is made of the above-mentioned sliding material.

[0096] Air spring device 100 configured in this manner can prevent sliding material 125 from peeling off from circular protrusion 121 even when circular protrusion 121 slides under a localized load during operation, thereby making it possible to form a durable air spring device.

[0097] In addition, since the sliding material 125 is formed in a sectorial ring shape when viewed in a plane, by arranging a plurality of sectorial ring-shaped sliding materials 125 concentrically while shifting them circumferentially, it is possible to form an approximately circular sliding material as a whole in which peeling of the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 125 and the metal plate material 2 is prevented.

[0098] In addition, since the sector-shaped annular sliding material 125 can be surrounded and regulated in three directions, including both side edges and the radially outer side, by the regulating walls 126, the sliding material 125 can be prevented from being pulled and the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 125 and the circular protrusion 121 from peeling off.

[0099] Furthermore, since the sliding material 125 formed in a sectorial ring shape and the mounting grooves 124 are arranged in multiple radial and circumferential directions, even if the sliding material 125 formed in a sectorial ring shape is pulled radially inward, it can be regulated by the regulating wall 126 that regulates the radially outer side of the sliding material 125 on the radially inner side. Therefore, even without providing the regulating wall 126 around the entire circumference, it is possible to prevent the adhesive layer 4 between the sliding material 125 and the metal plate material 2 from peeling off, just as in the case where the regulating wall 126 is provided around the entire circumference.

[0100] In the above description of air spring device 100, sliding material 125 is joined so that a gap is formed on the radially inner side of sliding material 125 that is narrower than mounting groove 124, but sliding material 125 may also be joined so that a gap is formed on the radially outer side of sliding material 125 that is narrower than mounting groove 124, as in the case of circular protrusion 121a shown in Figure 9. In this case, it is possible to form a circular protrusion 121a in which both sides of the sliding member 125 and the radially inner side of the mounting groove 124 are restricted by the restricting walls 126, and the radially outer side is open.

[0101] In the above, in the configuration of the present invention and the correspondence between the above-mentioned embodiment, the metal plate of the present invention corresponds to the metal plate 2, 2b, 2c, 2d, and the circular protrusion 121. Similarly, The sliding material corresponds to sliding material 3, 3d, 125, The sliding members correspond to the sliding members 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and the circular protrusion 121. The regulating portion corresponds to the side wall 23, the regulating frame 24, and the regulating wall 126. The open portion corresponds to the mounting groove 22, the open portion of the open side Lo of the regulating frame 24, the widened portion 25, the corner widened portion 26, the outer diameter expanded portion 27, and the radially inner side of the mounting groove 124, The adhesive layer corresponds to adhesive layer 4, The first member corresponds to the first member 110, The second member corresponds to the second member 120, The tubular flexible member corresponds to the tubular flexible member 160, The sliding abutment portion corresponds to the circular protrusion 121, The air spring device corresponds to the air spring device 100, but is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0102] For example, in the sliding member 1, the three directions of the sliding material 3 are restricted by the side walls 23 of the mounting groove 22 of a predetermined depth, and in the sliding member 1a, the three directions of the sliding material 3 are restricted by a regulating frame 24 provided on the upper surface 21 of the metal plate material 2, but it is also possible to form the mounting groove 22 shallower and provide a regulating frame 24 on the upper surface 21, so that the side walls 23 and the regulating frame 24 work together to regulate the three directions of the sliding material 3.

[0103] In addition, in the sliding member 1, the open side Lo of the mounting groove 22 is open, and the three directions of the sliding member 3 are restricted by the short side wall 23b and the pair of long side walls 23a, but the short side walls 23b may be configured as a pair, and a part of the short side wall 23b on the open side Lo may be opened. Similarly, the restricting frame 24 in the sliding member 1a may also have a short side portion 24b on the open side Lo, and a part of the restricting frame 24 on the open side Lo may be opened. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d...Sliding members 2…Metal plate material 3,3d,125…Sliding material 4...adhesive layer 23(23a,23b)...Side wall 24(24a,24b)…Regulatory framework 25…Wide section 26…Square widening section 27…External expansion section 100...Air spring device 110…First member 120...Second member 121, 121a...Circular protrusion 124…Mounting groove 126...Regulatory wall 160...Cylindrical flexible member

Claims

1. A sliding member in which a sliding material is bonded to a metal plate by an adhesive layer, The metal plate is provided with a restricting portion that surrounds and restricts the periphery of the sliding member, The restricting portion is provided with an opening portion that opens at least a portion of the entire circumference of the sliding member, The sliding member and the regulating portion are formed in a sector-like ring shape when viewed from a side facing the surface of the metal plate material, The opening portion is formed on the radially inner side of the restricting portion formed in the sector ring shape. Sliding member.

2. The sliding member and the restricting portion formed in the sector ring shape are arranged in a radial direction. The sliding member according to claim 1 .

3. A first member, a second member, a cylindrical flexible member disposed between the first member and the second member to connect the first member and the second member; A sliding contact portion is provided on each of the first member and the second member on the opposing sides of the first member and the second member, the sliding contact portion being in contact with the first member and the second member in a proximate state, One of the sliding contact parts is constituted by the sliding member according to claim 1 or 2. Air spring device.

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