Torque rod bushing structure and preparation method therefor

Abstract

A torque rod bushing structure, comprising: a connecting member, provided with a ball body; an elastic body, covering the ball body; and a self-lubricating bushing (5), located between the ball body and the elastic body and forming a sliding friction pair with the ball body. The torque rod bushing structure solves the problems of proneness to abrasion, insufficient bearing capacity, small swing and rotation angle, inability to withstand high-frequency impact, low service life, inability to accurately controlling an initial torque and the like of torque rod bushings, and ensures stable operation of a thrust lever. Also disclosed is a preparation method for a torque rod bushing structure.

Description

A torsion rubber core structure and preparation method thereof Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a torsion rubber core structure and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of chassis thrust rods of trucks or buses. Background Art

[0002] Thrust rods are mainly used in single-axle or double-rear-axle heavy-duty vehicles with non-independent suspension of trucks or buses. They connect the frame and the axle. Their main function is to overcome the vertical and lateral forces transmitted by the leaf spring (or air spring), while the torsion rubber core acts as a shock absorber to prevent the thrust rod from being damaged by the force. It can balance and stabilize the vehicle when turning, passing through bumpy roads, etc.

[0003] The actual operating environment of thrust rods is characterized by harsh road conditions, high dust, sand, muddy water, and high and low temperature differences. Therefore, thrust rod torsion rubber cores are required to have better shock absorption and wear resistance, high ability to withstand alternating radial and axial loads, large swing and rotation angles, high ability to withstand high-frequency impacts, low maintenance, long life, and high temperature differences. However, traditional thrust rod torsion rubber cores cannot meet the requirements of this field.

[0004] The existing thrust rods generally have the following problems:

[0005] (1) The swing and rotation of the connecting ball pin can only be achieved by rubber deformation. The deformation is limited. The rubber is easy to tear from the connecting ball pin, resulting in falling off, which significantly reduces the shock absorption effect and even makes the torsion rubber core unable to work;

[0006] (2) The traditional torsion rubber core connects the ball pin and the rubber by direct vulcanization, which results in a delayed shock absorption effect on the vehicle and poor shock absorption effect;

[0007] (3) Traditional torsion rubber core operates by rubber deformation. After long-term operation, high temperature will accelerate rubber aging and lead to a decrease in shock absorption effect.

[0008] (4) Traditional torque rubber cores cannot accurately control the initial torque and cannot meet the requirements of special working conditions.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] In response to the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a torsion rubber core structure and a preparation method thereof, which solves the problems of easy wear of the torsion rubber core, insufficient load-bearing capacity, small swing and rotation angles, inability to withstand high-frequency impact, short life, and inability to accurately control the initial torque, thereby ensuring stable operation of the thrust rod.

[0011] The present invention achieves the above technical objectives through the following technical means:

[0012] The first object of the present invention is to provide a torsion rubber core structure, comprising:

[0013] a connecting member having a spherical body;

[0014] an elastic body, covering the sphere;

[0015] A self-lubricating sleeve is located between the ball and the elastic body and forms a sliding friction pair with the ball;

[0016] The outer ring is located between the self-lubricating sleeve and the elastomer;

[0017] Two retaining rings are respectively inserted from both ends of the connecting piece and are respectively located at both ends of the elastic body.

[0018] Furthermore, both ends of the connecting piece are provided with connection holes connected to the outside, and the spherical body is located in the middle of the connecting piece to form a connecting ball pin.

[0019] Furthermore, the connecting ball pin is made of steel.

[0020] Furthermore, the elastomer is made of natural rubber to which anti-aging agent and carbon black are added.

[0021] With this solution, when the connector is operating, the spherical surface of the ball rubs against the self-lubricating sleeve, reducing the coefficient of friction. In addition to the elastic body's deformation, the present invention also utilizes a torsional rubber core structure similar to an embedded spherical plain bearing to achieve the connector's swing and rotation, significantly improving shock absorption, wear resistance, and load-bearing performance, while increasing both swing and rotation angles.

[0022] Furthermore, it also includes an outer ring, which is made of steel; the inner wall of the elastomer is provided with a first cavity for installing the outer ring, the outer ring is located in the first cavity, the first cavity is annular, and its two side ends are respectively provided with ribs to limit the outer ring.

[0023] Furthermore, the outer wall of the outer ring is coated with an adhesive so that the outer ring and the elastomer are integrated.

[0024] Furthermore, the inner wall of the outer ring is provided with a second cavity for installing a self-lubricating sleeve. The self-lubricating sleeve is located in the second cavity. The second cavity is annular and has ribs on both side ends to limit the self-lubricating sleeve.

[0025] Furthermore, a self-lubricating material layer is provided on the inner wall of the sleeve to form a self-lubricating sleeve. The sleeve can be made of steel plate, and the PTFE self-lubricating material layer is sintered on the inner wall of the sleeve, the surface in contact with the ball. The self-lubricating sleeve is added between the outer ring and the connecting ball pin. This structure can provide lubrication and reduce the friction coefficient during torsion and swing during operation.

[0026] Furthermore, the two retaining rings are made of steel, and the inner walls of the two retaining rings are coated with adhesive respectively, so that the retaining rings and the elastic body are connected as a whole.

[0027] Furthermore, the neck of the connecting ball pin is coated with lubricant to reduce the friction coefficient during rotation without affecting the vulcanization and sealing properties. The neck of the connecting ball pin, i.e., the transition section connecting the two ends of the ball on the pin, is also the contact area between the connecting ball pin and the elastomer.

[0028] Furthermore, the lubricant is molybdenum disulfide, which can reduce the friction between the neck and the elastomer when the ball pin rotates, preventing long-term rotation from causing rubber wear and reducing rubber sealing.

[0029] Furthermore, the retaining ring is concave inwardly in the circumferential direction, forming an annular groove at its outer end and an annular protrusion at its inner end (the contact surface with the elastic body), so that the retaining ring forms a positioning stop. The provision of the positioning stop can not only constrain the elastic body, but also facilitate assembly with the external ball joint housing.

[0030] The second object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a torsion rubber core structure:

[0031] First, the self-lubricating sleeve, connector, and outer ring are assembled by extrusion molding, so that the outer ring is located outside the sphere of the connector and the self-lubricating sleeve is located between the outer ring and the sphere; then, adhesive is applied to the inner walls of the two retaining rings, adhesive is applied to the outer wall of the outer ring, and lubricant is applied to the neck of the connector; then, the two retaining rings are respectively inserted from both ends of the connector and symmetrically placed on both sides of the sphere, forming a third cavity between the two retaining rings, the connector, and the outer ring; finally, the elastic material (natural rubber with anti-aging agent and carbon black added) is injection molded into the third cavity by a vulcanization injection molding machine to form an elastomer.

[0032] By adopting the above scheme, adhesive is applied to the outer spherical surface of the outer ring, molybdenum disulfide is applied to the neck of the ball pin, and the outer ring, self-lubricating bushing, and connecting ball pin are pre-formed before rubber vulcanization. This can prevent the rubber from entering the interior of the spherical surface during vulcanization, making the vulcanization process simpler and more convenient. The initial torque can also be precisely controlled according to the requirements of the working conditions. The steel retaining ring is connected in both directions, and adhesive is applied to the inner wall for rubber vulcanization.

[0033] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0034] (1) Through extrusion, a self-lubricating sleeve is added between the outer ring and the connecting ball pin. The self-lubricating sleeve is evenly attached to the spherical surface of the connecting ball pin, which can reduce the friction coefficient during torsion and swing during operation, and is resistant to high temperatures, thereby increasing service life. The initial torque can also be accurately controlled according to the requirements of the working conditions.

[0035] (2) The outer ring, self-lubricating sleeve and connecting ball pin are pre-formed before vulcanization to prevent the rubber from entering the interior of the spherical surface during vulcanization, making the vulcanization process simpler and more convenient.

[0036] (3) The self-lubricating sleeve and the connecting ball pin form a pair of sliding friction pairs. The working surface of the torsion rubber core has a greater load-bearing capacity and can perform low-speed swing, universal tilt, and circuitous swing.

[0037] (4) When the connecting ball pin swings, the elastic force of the rubber on the neck of the connecting ball pin is used for shock absorption and buffering, and the sliding friction between the spherical surface and the self-lubricating sleeve increases the swing angle, replacing the traditional torsion rubber core that can only swing through the tearing force of the connecting ball pin and rubber, ensuring that the thrust rod runs more evenly and stably.

[0038] (5) When the connecting ball pin rotates, it can rotate 360° in all directions through the sliding friction between the spherical surface and the self-lubricating sleeve, replacing the traditional torsion rubber core that can only rotate slightly through the tearing force of the connecting ball pin and rubber, greatly increasing the rotation angle.

[0039] (6) The neck of the connecting ball pin adopts a proprietary formula coating, which can ensure that the friction coefficient is reduced when the ball pin rotates without affecting the vulcanization performance and sealing performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG1 is a front view of a torsion rubber core structure of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 1;

[0042] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of a torsion rubber core structure and an external ball joint shell of the present invention; in the figure: 1-connecting ball pin, 2-steel retaining ring, 3-rubber, 4-outer ring, 5-self-lubricating sleeve, 6-neck connecting ball pin, 7-circlip, 8-ball joint shell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0044] As shown in FIG1 , a torsion rubber core structure includes a self-lubricating sleeve 5 , an outer ring 4 , two steel retaining rings 2 , a connecting ball pin 1 , and rubber 3 .

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting ball pin is made of 42CrMo steel.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rubber is made of natural rubber to which an anti-aging agent and carbon black are added.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer ring is made of 45-gauge steel.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sleeve made of steel plate has a PTFE self-lubricating material layer sintered on the inner wall of the sleeve, which is in contact with the sphere, to form a self-lubricating sleeve. The inner wall of the self-lubricating sleeve is provided with PTFE, which cooperates with the spherical surface of the connecting ball pin and adopts a sliding friction method to reduce the friction coefficient. It can be rotated 360° for use, is not easy to wear, and is resistant to high temperatures, which can effectively improve the service life.

[0049] The inner wall of the rubber body defines a first cavity, within which the outer ring is positioned. Adhesive is applied to the outer wall of the outer ring, integrating the outer ring and the elastomer. A second cavity is defined within the inner wall of the outer ring, within which the self-lubricating sleeve resides. Both the first and second cavities are annular, with ribs on either side for position control.

[0050] Two steel retaining rings are respectively inserted from both ends of the connecting ball pin and are respectively located at both ends of the elastic body. The inner walls of the steel retaining rings are coated with adhesive so that the retaining rings and the elastic body are connected into one.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2 , the neck portion 6 of the ball pin is coated with a lubricant. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lubricant is molybdenum disulfide.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the retaining ring is circumferentially concave, forming a retaining stop. As shown in Figure 3, the outer end of the retaining stop facilitates assembly of the ball hinge housing 8 and retaining spring 7. The torque core is placed into the ball hinge housing. First, it is interference-fitted into the housing seat, ensuring an interference fit in both the axial and radial directions. Finally, the retaining spring is installed into the retaining spring groove of the housing. The retaining spring prevents axial displacement of the torque core and the housing.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, the self-lubricating sleeve, the connecting ball pin, and the outer ring are first assembled by extrusion molding, and then two steel retaining rings are respectively inserted from both ends of the connecting ball pin. Finally, the rubber is vulcanized in the third cavity formed between the steel retaining rings, the outer ring, and the connecting ball pin by a vulcanization injection molding machine, as shown in Figure 1.

[0054] As shown in Figure 2, adhesive is sprayed on the outer spherical surface of the outer ring before vulcanization to ensure that the bond between the outer ring and the rubber meets the required performance after vulcanization. Applying adhesive to the inner wall of the steel retaining ring before vulcanization can also improve the bond between the rubber and the steel retaining ring. Molybdenum disulfide is used on the neck of the connecting ball pin to reduce the friction coefficient during rotation without affecting the vulcanization and sealing properties.

[0055] In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention may also have other implementation methods. Any technical solutions formed by equivalent replacement or equivalent transformation fall within the protection scope required by the present invention.

Claims

1. A torsion rubber core structure, characterized in that it includes: A connecting member having a spherical body; An elastic body, covering the sphere; The self-lubricating sleeve is located between the ball and the elastic body and forms a sliding friction pair with the ball.

2. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an outer ring; the outer ring is located between the self-lubricating sleeve and the elastomer.

3. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner wall of the elastic body is provided with a first cavity for installing the outer ring; the inner wall of the outer ring is provided with a second cavity for installing the self-lubricating sleeve.

4. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The outer wall of the outer ring is coated with adhesive.

5. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: It also includes two retaining rings; the two retaining rings are respectively inserted from the two ends of the connecting piece and are respectively located at the two ends of the elastic body.

6. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner walls of the two retaining rings are coated with adhesive respectively.

7. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The neck of the connector is coated with lubricant.

8. The torsion rubber core structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A self-lubricating material layer is arranged on the inner wall of the sleeve to form a self-lubricating sleeve.

9. A torsion rubber core structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The retaining ring is concave inwardly in the circumferential direction, and an annular groove is formed at its outer end.

10. A method for preparing a torsion rubber core structure, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: First, the self-lubricating sleeve, the connecting piece and the outer ring are assembled by extrusion molding, so that the outer ring is located outside the sphere of the connecting piece, and the self-lubricating sleeve is located between the outer ring and the sphere; Next, apply adhesive to the inner walls of the two retaining rings, apply adhesive to the outer wall of the outer ring, and apply lubricant to the neck of the connector; Then, two retaining rings are inserted from both ends of the connecting piece respectively and symmetrically placed on both sides of the sphere, and a third cavity is formed between the two retaining rings, the connecting piece and the outer ring; Finally, the elastic material is injection-molded into the third cavity to form an elastic body.

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