Sealing device for sealing a ball joint of a steering knuckle pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing device for sealing the ball joint (30) of a steering knuckle pin, comprising at least one retainer ring (1) and at least one sealing ring (2), wherein the sealing ring is at least partially provided within a groove (11) of the sealing ring and wherein the groove is provided in a radially inner region of the retainer ring.

Description

Sealing device for sealing the ball joint of a kingpin The invention relates to a sealing device for sealing the ball joint of a kingpin, comprising at least one retaining ring and at least one sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring is provided at least partially within a groove of the retaining ring and wherein the groove is provided in a radially inner area of ​​the retaining ring. Ball joints are used in construction machinery for suspending or coupling steering components and must be protected from contamination, such as that which can occur during construction site operation. It is known to provide seals or covers for this purpose, by means of which the contact area or the interior of the ball joint, in which the ball is mounted in the ball cup or socket, can be protected. A disadvantage of the seals known from the prior art is... The problem is that they are prone to dirt and not very reliable, and especially in intensive construction site operations they cannot maintain their function permanently. Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a suitable protection for sealing the ball joint that effectively prevents the ingress of dirt, prevents dirt accumulation in the area of ​​the ball joint, allows limited leakage of lubricating fluid for the purpose of self-cleaning of the ball joint, is lightweight and easy to assemble. This problem is solved according to the invention by a sealing device, e.g., for sealing the ball joint of a kingpin, with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. Accordingly, a sealing device is provided with at least one retaining ring and at least one sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring is at least partially located within a groove of the retaining ring, and wherein the groove is located in a radially inner area of ​​the retaining ring. This provides an effective wiper device within a retaining ring of the ball joint instead of an external seal. The wiper device is designed to prevent the ingress of dirt into the ball joint while simultaneously allowing a limited outflow of lubricating fluid from the ball joint, thereby washing out dirt particles from the ball joint. Advantageously, this provides a device that is lighter and smaller than protective devices known from the prior art and is also easier to assemble. Furthermore, the device according to the invention is mounted within the retaining ring, thus providing it with better protection against damage and contamination. In an advantageous embodiment, it is conceivable that the groove encompasses at least two first inner truncated cone regions, particularly those aligned parallel to each other, with the sealing ring comprising correspondingly arranged outer truncated cone regions. The truncated cone regions of the retaining ring and the sealing ring can each be stepped, so that the retaining ring and the sealing ring interlock in a correspondingly stepped manner, thereby enabling better retention of the components against each other and improved sealing. As can be seen from the figures, the radially inner region of the retaining ring encompassing the groove can be located near the radially innermost region of the retaining ring. In another embodiment, it is conceivable that the first inner truncated cone areas of the retaining ring are enclosed by at least two second inner truncated cone areas, which are in particular aligned parallel to the first inner truncated cone areas, and / or that the retaining ring is formed in two parts. The second inner conical sections of the retaining ring, when the sealing device is assembled, at least partially enclose the sealing ring axially within the retaining ring, or are arranged essentially parallel to the spherical surface of the ball joint, and thus, together with the ball of the ball joint, at least partially enclose the annular receiving space for the sealing ring located within the groove. This allows the sealing ring to be held more securely in position, which in turn enables a better seal. In a further preferred embodiment, it is conceivable that the sealing ring comprises a sealing lip, which is oriented particularly parallel to its outer truncated cone regions. The sealing lip can be in contact with the spherical surface of the ball joint via a contact area, thus achieving a sealing effect between the interior of the ball joint and the environment. The sealing lip can also be at least partially curved and / or arranged at an angle to the outer truncated cone regions of the sealing ring. This allows the contact area of ​​the sealing lip to be particularly- The surface of the ball joint must be adapted to the spherical surface of the joint ball, resulting, among other things, in less bending of the sealing lip and thus an increased service life. In a further preferred embodiment, it is conceivable that the truncated cone areas are arranged at an angle of 90° to 140°, in particular 105° to 125°, and most preferably 115° to ± 5°, to a base area of ​​the retaining ring or to a base area of ​​the sealing ring. This allows the sealing device, with its sealing ring or sealing lip, to be positioned approximately parallel to a corresponding area of ​​the ball of the ball joint, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the seal. In a further preferred embodiment, it is conceivable that the retaining ring can be coupled to a socket joint, wherein passages for coupling the retaining ring to the socket joint are provided in the base region of the retaining ring, and / or wherein an at least partially cylindrical and / or at least partially frustoconical stop is provided at the base region of the retaining ring, in particular for centering the retaining ring on the socket joint. The invention further relates to a sealing ring with at least one and in particular two frustum cone regions arranged on the outside for use in a sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6 and to a retaining ring with at least one groove provided on the inside, wherein the groove comprises at least one and in particular two inner frustum cone regions, which are aligned parallel to each other, and wherein the retaining ring is used in a sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wheel suspension for a large construction machine, in particular for a dump truck, with at least one sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, and to a correspondingly equipped large construction machine. Further details and advantages are explained with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the figures. These show: Figure 1a: A wheel suspension with a kingpin sealed according to the invention; Figure 1b: A sectional view of a ball joint of a wheel suspension with a kingpin sealed according to the invention; Figure 1c: A detailed view of the sealing device according to the invention in Sectional view; Figures 2a-e: Various views of a retaining ring according to the invention; and Figures 3a-e: Various views of a sealing ring according to the invention. According to Figure 1a, the wheel suspension shown therein comprises at least one ball joint 30, by means of which a wheel, for example of a construction machine, is indirectly pivotably coupled to the construction machine over several degrees of freedom. As can be seen in Figure 1b, the retaining ring 1 together with the sealing ring 2 engages the ball 32 of the ball joint 30 in the joint socket 31, whereby the ball 32 can rotate, but the interior of the ball joint is sealed by the sealing ring 2. As can be seen in Figure 1c, the sealing ring 2 extends within a groove 11 of the retaining ring, the groove 1 being located in a radially inner region of the retaining ring 1. The sealing lip 24 of the sealing ring 2, which will be explained in more detail below, can be oriented towards the outside of the ball joint 30 or away from the socket 31. The interior of the ball joint 30 can be considered to be the region bounded by the socket 31 and the retaining ring 1. Figures 2a to 2e show different views of the retaining ring 1, with Figure 2a being a top view of the retaining ring 1, in which the retaining ring 1 has a circular cross-section. Figure 2b is a side sectional view of the retaining ring 1, while Figures 2c and 2d are detail views of the groove 11 of the retaining ring 1. Figure 2e shows a perspective view of the retaining ring 1. The radially outer area of ​​the retaining ring 1 forms a base area 16 of the retaining ring 1. As can be seen in Figure 2a, the retaining ring 1 can be made of two parts or of multiple parts, which facilitates or simplifies the attachment of the retaining ring 1 to the socket. The retaining ring 1 can be made of two identical or symmetrical halves. This simplifies the manufacture of the retaining ring 1, as different components do not need to be provided. In particular, it is possible to install the retaining ring 1 with the ball joint 30 after the ball 32 has been mounted in the joint sockets 31. This also makes it advantageous to replace the retaining ring 1 or the sealing ring 2 without having to completely disassemble the ball joint 30. As can be seen in Figures 2a and 2b, the retaining ring 1 can be provided with through-holes 17, which can be located in the base region 16 of the retaining ring 1. The through-holes 17 can be designed to accommodate locking devices such as screws, by means of which the device or the retaining ring 1 can be coupled to the socket 31 or to other structures of the ball joint 30. For this purpose, corresponding threaded bores, through-holes, or similar features can be provided in the socket 31, which can be designed to fix the locking devices. For example, four through-holes 17 can be provided on each half of the retaining ring 1. Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 2c, a cylindrical and / or frustoconical stop 18 can be provided on the retaining ring 1 for centering the retaining ring 1 on the socket 31. Figures 2c and 2d show the two first inner truncated cone sections 12, 13 of the retaining ring 1, which are aligned parallel to each other and in which the sealing ring 2 with its corresponding outer truncated cone sections 22, 23 can be arranged. The truncated cone sections 12, 13 can be part of the groove 1 of the retaining ring 1. The individual truncated cone sections 12, 13, 22, 23 can be connected by walls arranged perpendicularly and / or at an angle to the truncated cone sections 12, 13, 22, 23. Furthermore, second inner truncated cone sections 14, 15, which are aligned parallel to each other, are provided outside the first inner truncated cone sections 12, 13 of the retaining ring 1 and can also be connected to the further truncated cone sections 12, 13 by walls arranged perpendicularly and / or at an angle to them. Figures 2d and 3c show that the truncated cone sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 are arranged at an angle to the base sections 16, 26 of the retaining ring 1 and the sealing ring 2. This allows the sealing ring 2 to be arranged more closely parallel or substantially parallel to a section of the ball 32 of the ball joint 30. The base section 16 of the retaining ring 1 can be designed as a hollow cylindrical ring section. Figures 3a to 3e show a sealing ring 2 with a sealing lip 24 clearly visible in Figures 3c and 3e. The sealing ring 2 has at least a partially negative geometry with respect to the retaining ring 1, so that the sealing ring 2 can be inserted or positioned on the correspondingly shaped groove 11 of the retaining ring 1 and can be brought into force-fit and / or form-fit engagement with the retaining ring 1. The base area 26 of the sealing ring 2 can be the area that, in the assembled state of the sealing device, faces the inside of the ball joint 30. The truncated cone areas 22, 23 of the sealing ring 2 can, in particular, be arranged at right angles to the base area 26. Figures 3a to 3d show recesses 25 which can be arranged distributed around the circumference of the sealing ring 2. These can allow a limited escape of lubricant from the interior of the ball joint to the outside. A feature 28 can be provided on a region of the sealing ring 2 spaced apart from the sealing lip 24, in which the recesses 25 extend at least partially. The sealing lip 24 and the feature 28 can be designed such that they are in contact with the ball 32 of the ball joint 30 when the sealing device is assembled. A region 27 can be provided between the sealing lip 24 and the component 28, which, in the assembled state of the sealing device, is not in contact with the ball 32 of the ball joint 30. This region 27 of the sealing ring 2 can be concave. This simplifies the elastic and movable connection of the sealing lip 24 to the rest of the structure of the sealing ring 2, such that, in the assembled state of the sealing device, the sealing lip 24 is pushed outwards or away from the ball 32, thereby pressing the sealing lip 24 against the ball 32 due to its elasticity and thus achieving a sealing effect. The sealing ring 2 can be made of an elastic plastic, while the retaining ring 1 can be made of metal. Designs in which both components are made of plastic and / or are formed in one piece are also conceivable. In this case, however, it may be necessary for the ball 32 of the ball joint 30 to be held within the joint socket 31 by a separate retaining device.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Sealing device for sealing the ball joint (30) of a kingpin, comprising at least one retaining ring (1) and at least one sealing ring (2), wherein the sealing ring (2) is provided at least partially within a groove (11) of the retaining ring (1) and wherein the groove (11) is provided in a radially inner area of ​​the retaining ring (1).

2. Sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (11) comprises at least two first inner truncated cone regions (12, 13) which are aligned parallel to each other, wherein the sealing ring (2) comprises correspondingly arranged outer truncated cone regions (22, 23).

3. Sealing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first inner truncated cone regions (12, 13) of the retaining ring (1) are enclosed by at least two second inner truncated cone regions (14, 15) which are aligned in particular parallel to the first inner truncated cone regions (12, 13), and / or that the retaining ring (1) is formed in two parts.

4. Sealing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sealing ring (2) comprises a sealing lip (24) which is aligned in particular parallel to its outer truncated cone regions (22, 23).

5. Sealing device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the truncated cone areas (12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23) are arranged at an angle of 90° - 140°, in particular 105° - 125°, and particularly preferably 115° ±5° to the base area (16) of the retaining ring (1) or to a base area (26) of the sealing ring (2).

6. Sealing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining ring (1) can be coupled to a joint socket (31), wherein passages (17) for coupling the retaining ring (1) to the joint socket (31) are provided in the base region (16) of the retaining ring (1), and / or wherein an at least partially cylindrical and / or at least partially frustoconical stop (18) is provided on the base region (16) of the retaining ring (1), in particular for centering the retaining ring (1) on the joint socket (31).

7. Sealing ring (2) with at least one and in particular two frustoconical regions (22, 23) arranged on the outside thereof for use in a sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Retaining ring (1) with at least one groove (11) provided on the inside thereof, wherein the groove (11) comprises at least one and in particular two inner truncated cone regions (12, 13) aligned parallel to each other, for use in a sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Wheel suspension for a large construction machine, in particular a dump truck, with at least one sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6.

10. Large construction machine, in particular dump truck, with at least one wheel suspension according to claim 9.