Ball joint having slidably engageable sensor case applied thereto

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ball joint and, more specifically, to a ball joint having a slidably engageable sensor case applied thereto, the ball joint comprising: a plug arranged so as to seal an opening at the top of a socket in which a ball of a ball stud is accommodated; and a sensor case coupled to the top central portion of the plug, wherein the sensor case has guide wings on at least two sides thereof, which have difference in height with respect to the other parts, and a guide rail on the periphery of the central portion on the top surface of the plug, so as to guide the sensor case to be slidably inserted from one side and to surround the guide wings of the inserted sensor case, so that the present invention has ease of manufacturing and maintenance by enabling slidable engagement of the sensor case with the plug, and has enhanced durability by having the sensor case reliably supported by the plug.

Description

Ball joint with slide-type sensor case

[0001] The present invention relates to a ball joint, and more particularly, to a ball joint having a slide-type sensor case that can be easily manufactured and maintained by slidingly connecting the sensor case to a plug.

[0002] Typically, a ball joint includes a ball stud that includes a ball and a rod, a ball seat that surrounds the ball of the ball stud and allows the ball stud to move within its operating range, a socket that surrounds the outside of the ball seat and supports the ball seat, and a plug that secures the connection between the socket and the ball seat while preventing the ball stud from coming off due to a compressive load.

[0003] These ball joints are joint components that facilitate the smooth up-down and left-right movement of automobile wheels, providing smooth driving and shock prevention. To detect the movement of the ball joint, a magnet is embedded in the ball stud, and a sensor case equipped with a Hall sensor for detecting the magnet's magnetic force is attached to the outside of the plug.

[0004] Sensor-type ball joints that can detect the movement of a ball joint have a complicated manufacturing process because the sensor case is usually fixed with a plug and screws or is bonded and fixed, and because it is not stably supported by the plug, there is a problem that it is damaged or separated due to vibration shock.

[0005] In Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0051571, a protruding projection (64) and a sensor (62) (sensor case) protruding from a cover plate (61) (plug) are overlapped and connected, and a connecting body (63) is fitted to cover and secure the sensor and a part of the protruding projection.

[0006] In the aforementioned patent publication No. 10-2009-0051571, since the assembly is fixed by a force that presses the protruding jaw and the sensor, there is a problem that wear occurs between the joint portions of the sensor when the sensor is fitted together, and there is a high possibility that the sensor will be detached to the opposite side of the assembly.

[0007] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, which is easy to manufacture and maintain because the sensor case can be slidably connected to the plug, and has improved durability because the sensor case is stably supported by the plug.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a ball joint to which a slide-type sensor case is applied, comprising: a plug configured to seal an inlet formed at an upper end of a socket in which a ball of a ball stud is accommodated inside; and a sensor case coupled to an upper portion of a central portion of the plug; wherein the sensor case has guide wings formed on at least both sides to form a step with respect to the remaining portion, and a guide rail formed on an edge of the central portion of the upper surface of the plug to guide the sensor case so that it can be slidably inserted from one side and to surround the guide wings of the inserted sensor case.

[0009] In addition, the sensor case is formed in a semicircular shape with a front end portion in the insertion direction convex toward the front when viewed from a plane, and the step-shaped guide wing is formed along the front end portion and the edges on both sides, and the guide rail can be formed to have a cross-section in the shape of a 'C' in accordance with the shape of the front end portion of the sensor case.

[0010] In addition, the sensor case may further include a fixing clip member that is formed so that the lower surface of the front end is partially cut off so that the front end is separated from the upper surface of the plug when combined with the guide rail, and a guide protrusion that protrudes forward so as to form a "C" shape in accordance with the curvature of the front end of the sensor case when the sensor case is combined, and is inserted from the front so as to simultaneously wrap the front end of the sensor case and the guide protrusion to prevent the sensor case from being detached.

[0011] In addition, the sensor case has a first fastening groove formed in the center of the front end that is recessed from the front end toward the rear, and the fixing clip member has a second fastening groove formed in a recessed manner from the front end toward the rear in response to the first fastening groove, but protruding toward the first fastening groove, and the sensor case and the fixing clip member can be mutually coupled by a snap-fit ​​connection formed at the first fastening groove and the second fastening groove.

[0012] The ball of the above bolster may have an aspherical surface cut off at the top, and a magnet receiving groove formed downward from the aspherical surface. The magnet receiving groove may be provided with a magnet surrounded on the side by a magnet case formed in a tubular shape and made of brass.

[0013] In addition, a ball seat is interposed between the ball of the bolster and the socket, and the plug may be formed integrally with the ball seat through an injection molding process.

[0014] Alternatively, a ball seat may be provided between the ball of the bolster and the socket through an insert injection process, and the plug may be integrally connected to the ball seat by insert injection after the ball seat is mounted on the top of the socket.

[0015] According to the present invention, the sensor case can be slidably connected to the plug without using screws or adhesives, making it easy to manufacture and maintain, and since the guide rail surrounds the guide wing of the sensor case, the sensor case can be stably supported while its movement is limited.

[0016] In addition, the front end of the sensor case and the front end of the guide rail can be wrapped and fixed together by using a fixing clip member, thereby improving the binding force of the sensor case, and the sensor case or the fixing clip member can be easily replaced by connecting the sensor case and the fixing clip member through a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0017] In addition, since the top of the ball of the bolster is equipped with a magnet surrounded on the side by a brass case, the upward magnetic force can be amplified, thereby minimizing the aspherical surface.

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0019] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0020] Figure 3 is an exemplary diagram showing the coupling process between the plug of the ball joint and the sensor case to which the slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention according to the first embodiment is applied.

[0021] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0022] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0023] Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram showing the process of combining the plug, sensor case, and fixed clip member of the ball joint to which the slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention is applied according to the second embodiment.

[0024] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a fixed clip member of a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention is applied according to the second embodiment.

[0025] Figure 8 is a drawing showing the results of a magnetic force experiment in the case where a magnetic case is not applied and in the case where a magnetic case is applied to a ball joint to which a slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention is applied.

[0026] The present invention proposes a ball joint to which a slide-type sensor case is applied, including a plug configured to seal an inlet formed at the top of a socket in which a ball of a bolster is accommodated inside, so that a sensor case can be slidably connected to a plug, thereby facilitating manufacturing and maintenance, and the sensor case is stably supported by the plug, thereby improving durability; and a sensor case connected to the upper part of the central portion of the plug; wherein the sensor case has guide wings formed on at least both sides to form a step with respect to the remaining portion, and a guide rail formed on the edge of the central portion of the upper surface of the plug to guide the sensor case so that it can be slidably inserted from one side and to surround the guide wings of the inserted sensor case.

[0027] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications may be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0028] Hereinafter, the ball joint to which the slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention is applied is described in detail with reference to the attached drawings 1 to 8.

[0029] The ball joint to which the slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention is applied is a sensor-type ball joint including a plug (100) and a sensor case (200). Hereinafter, the inlet of the socket (500), i.e., the inlet side into which the ball stud (300) is inserted, is referred to as the upper side, the opposite direction is referred to as the lower side, and the direction into which the sensor case (200) is inserted is referred to as the front.

[0030] The plug (100) is basically provided near the cocking portion of the socket (500) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to prevent the ball stud (300) from coming off due to a compressive load, and is provided to seal the inlet of the upper cocking portion of the socket (500) in which the ball (310) of the ball stud (300) is accommodated inside. For example, the plug (100) may be formed in a circular shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of the cocking portion as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to seal the inlet of the socket (500), and may be provided so that the edge is accommodated inside the upper portion of the socket (500).

[0031] Considering that the edge of the plug (100) is positioned inward from the entrance of the socket (500) and that the size of the sensor case (200) can be formed large, it is preferable that the central portion of the plug (100) be formed in a shape that protrudes upward so that other configurations do not interfere with the installation of the sensor case (200).

[0032] The sensor case (200) may be equipped with electronic components such as a Hall sensor and a PCB capable of measuring magnetic force inside, and for example, the Hall sensor may measure the magnetic force of a magnet (340) equipped on a ball (310) of a bolster (300) and transmit the measured information to the outside to detect the operation of the ball joint. In addition, since electronic components are equipped inside, although omitted in the drawing, the sensor case (200) may be equipped with a power line passing through it to supply power to the electronic components. In addition, the sensor case (200) equipped with electronic components inside may be formed in the shape of a plate having a predetermined length, for example, but is not necessarily limited thereto and may be formed in various shapes.

[0033] This sensor case (200) can be slidably coupled to the upper central portion of the plug (100) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. To this end, the sensor case (200) is formed with guide wings (210) that form a step with respect to the remaining portion on at least both sides, and a guide rail (110) is formed on the edge of the upper central portion of the plug (100) so that the sensor case (200) can be inserted from one side and surrounds the guide wings (210) of the inserted sensor case (200).

[0034] For example, the guide wing (210) may be formed such that the lower portion of the sensor case (200) protrudes outward as illustrated in FIG. 3, and may also be formed such that the edges on both sides of the sensor case (200) are recessed to form a lower step than the remaining portion as illustrated in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the guide wing (210) may be formed such that the edges on both sides of the sensor case (200) protrude further upward or downward, thereby forming a higher step than the remaining portion.

[0035] And the guide rail (110) is formed in a cross-section in the shape of the letter ‘ㄱ’ and can wrap around the inserted guide wing (210) to prevent the guide wing (210) from moving in the upward and downward directions.

[0036] In a first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sensor case (200) may be formed in a semicircular shape in which the front end is convex outward when viewed from a plan view, and guide wings (210) may be formed on the front end and both sides. At this time, the width of the remaining portion of the sensor case (200) excluding the front end is formed to be the same as the diameter of the front end, and it is preferable that the guide wings (210) formed on the front end and both sides of the sensor case (200) are formed continuously. Specifically, the remaining portion of the sensor case (200) excluding the front end may be formed in a rectangular shape, and the sensor case (200) including the front end may be formed to have a length longer than the radius of the caulking portion of the socket (500) and a width smaller than the diameter of the central portion of the plug (100).

[0037] And the guide rail (110) may be formed to have a cross-section in the shape of the letter 'C' so that the sensor case (200) having guide wings (210) formed on the front end and both sides can be stably coupled. For example, the guide rail (110) may be formed so that the guide wings (210) formed on the front end of the sensor case (200) to form an arc shape and the guide wings (210) formed on the remaining part of the sensor case (200) to form a straight line are in close contact with each other, thereby restricting movement in the up-and-down direction. In this way, the sensor case (200) coupled to the guide rail (110) in a sliding manner is restricted from movement in any direction except the direction in which the sensor case is released.

[0038] When the sensor-type ball joint according to the first embodiment described above is mounted on a vehicle, restraint in the insertion / release direction can be achieved by a plurality of wires and wire harnesses extending in the insertion / release direction of the sensor case (200). That is, one end of the plurality of wires and wire harnesses is fixed in a state of being connected or hooked to a part of the vehicle body, thereby preventing the sensor case (200) connected thereto from moving in the release direction.

[0039] In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the guide rail (110) and the sensor case (200) may be mutually coupled by a fixing means formed in the corresponding configuration, such as a separate fixing member or a snap-fit ​​coupling structure, so that movement in the direction in which the inserted sensor case (200) is separated is also restricted.

[0040] In a second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the sensor case (200) is formed so that the front end is spaced apart from the upper surface of the plug (100) when coupled with the guide rail (110) in a sliding manner, and a guide protrusion (111) protruding forward while being spaced apart from the upper surface of the plug (100) may be formed at the front end of the guide rail (110). At this time, the guide rail (110) only surrounds the guide wings (210) formed on both sides of the sensor case (200). In addition, as an example, the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111) adjacent thereto are formed so that the outer sides have the same curvature, so that the guide rail (110) and the portion of the sensor case (200) coupled thereto may have a shape similar to a circle when viewed in a plan view. In addition, the rear end of the guide rail (110) is formed to be in contact with the sensor case (200), so that the length at which the sensor case (200) is inserted into the guide rail (110) is limited, and the forward movement of the inserted sensor case (200) can be limited.

[0041] The present invention according to the second embodiment may further include a fixing clip member (600) to more safely restrict the up-and-down movement of the sensor case (200) and to restrict the rearward movement. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fixing clip member (600) is fitted from the front so as to simultaneously wrap around the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111), thereby preventing the sensor case (200) from coming off.

[0042] For example, the fixed clip member (600) can be fitted from the front so that the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111) spaced from the upper surface of the plug (100) form a 'ㄷ' shape in the cross section and are received on the inside, and the outer side is formed to have the same curvature as the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111), so that the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111) can be closely attached to the inside. In addition, the fixed clip member (600) is formed so that the upper end is longer than the lower end, so that it covers a part of the guide rail (110) and secures a stable fastening force.

[0043] This fixed clip member (600) can be detachably coupled to the front end of the sensor case (200) accommodated inside. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the sensor case (200) has a first fastening groove (220) formed in the center of the front end that is recessed from the front end toward the rear, and the fixed clip member (600) can have a second fastening groove (610) recessed to correspond to the first fastening groove (220). At this time, the sensor case (200) and the fixed clip member (600) can be mutually coupled by a snap-fit ​​connection formed at the first fastening groove (220) and the second fastening groove (610). Specifically, in the first fastening groove (220), a hooking groove (221) may be formed at a position corresponding to each other in both directions, and in the second fastening groove (610), an elastic protrusion (611) that elastically protrudes toward the hooking groove (221) at a point corresponding to the hooking groove (221) may be formed. Accordingly, when the fixing clip member (600) is fitted from the front so as to simultaneously wrap the front end of the sensor case (200) and the guide protrusion (111), the elastic protrusion (611) formed in the second fastening groove (610) is elastically caught in the hooking groove (221), so that the fixing clip member (600) can be coupled with the sensor case (200).

[0044] The ball joint of the present invention according to the first and second embodiments described above can slide-couple the sensor case (200) to the plug (100) without using screws or adhesives, making it easy to manufacture and maintain, and since the guide wing (210) of the sensor case (200) is formed in a form in which the guide rail (110) wraps around it, the sensor case (200) can be stably supported. In addition, as in the second embodiment, the front end of the sensor case (200) and the front end of the guide rail (110) can be wrapped and fixed together using the fixing clip member (600), thereby improving the binding force of the sensor case (200), and the replacement of the sensor case (200) or the fixing clip member (600) can also be easily achieved by coupling the sensor case (200) and the fixing clip member (600) through a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0045] Meanwhile, the present invention may include a ball stud (300), a ball seat (400), and a socket (500) that basically constitute a ball joint as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5.

[0046] The bolster (300) includes a ball (310) having a spherical shape and a rod (320) formed to extend downward from the ball (310) while forming a columnar shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the ball (310) in the present invention may have a flat aspherical surface formed on the upper end, and a magnet receiving groove (311) formed downward from the aspherical surface. A magnet (340) formed corresponding to the magnet receiving groove (311) may be provided without a separate magnet case. However, considering that the plug (100) in the present invention seals the entire inlet of the socket (500), a magnet (340) surrounded on the side by a magnet case (330) may be provided so that the magnetic force can easily reach the sensor case (200). At this time, the magnet case (330) may be made of a brass material and formed in a tubular shape to surround the side of the magnet (340).

[0047] Fig. 8 shows the results of measuring the magnetic force intensity toward the surroundings in the case where only a magnet (340) is provided in the magnet receiving hole (311) without a magnet case (330) and in the case where a magnet (340) surrounded on the side by a magnet case (300) is provided in the magnet receiving hole (311), and it can be confirmed that the magnetic force toward the top is amplified. This is because the magnet case (330) made of brass improves the linearity of the magnetic force and wraps the side of the magnet (340) so that the magnetic force is strongly directed upward.

[0048] Accordingly, when a magnet (340) surrounded on the side by a magnet case (330) made of brass is provided in the magnet receiving hole (311), the magnetic force directed upward is amplified, so that the size of the magnet (340) can be reduced, which not only reduces the cost but also minimizes the aspherical surface, thereby securing the spherical part of the ball (310) as much as possible, thereby improving the tilting radius and increasing the load capacity.

[0049] The ball seat (400) is formed to surround the ball (310) of the ball stud (300), and serves to allow the ball stud (300) to move within its operating range. The ball seat (400) may be formed, for example, in a shape capable of surrounding the remaining portion of the ball (310) except for the lower portion, and the upper portion of the ball seat (400) corresponding to the aspherical surface of the ball (310) may protrude upward so that a predetermined space is formed between the ball seat (400) and the ball (310). In addition, although not shown in the drawing, a flexibility-imparting groove may be formed along the inner periphery of the inner surface of the ball seat (400) corresponding to the central portion of the ball (310), and the ball (310) may be easily coupled to the ball seat (400) due to the flexibility-imparting groove. The plug (100) described above is provided on the upper side of the ball seat (400) to cover the upper surface of the ball seat (400).

[0050] The socket (500) surrounds the outside of the ball seat (400) and supports the ball seat (400). For example, the socket (500) is formed to surround the upper edge of the plug (100) and the outer surface of the ball seat (400) to form an inlet of the socket (500) upward, and the portion of the socket (500) that surrounds the upper edge of the plug (100) while forming the inlet of the socket (500) prevents the plug (100) from falling out upward as the ball stud (300), the ball seat (400), and the plug (100) are inserted into the inside of the socket (500) and caulked inward. In addition, the inner circumferential surface of the socket (500) may be formed to have a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the plug (100) and the ball seat (400) provided therein.

[0051] Meanwhile, the shape of the socket (500) is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the slide-coupled sensor case of the present invention can be combined by adopting another structure that binds one end of the plug (100) to a socket (500) without a caulking part.

[0052] For example, the plug (100) can be injection-molded as an integral part during injection molding of the ball seat (400).

[0053] Alternatively, the plug (100) may be integrally joined to the ball seat (400) by inserting the ball seat (400) between the ball (310) of the bolster (300) and the socket (500) after being mounted on the top of the socket (500).

Claims

1. A plug provided to seal an inlet formed at the top of a socket in which a ball of a bolster is received inside; and A sensor case coupled to the upper central portion of the above plug; including: In the above sensor case, guide wings are formed on at least both sides to form a step with respect to the remaining portion, A ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that a guide rail is formed on the upper central edge of the plug to guide the sensor case so that it can be slidably inserted from one side and wrap around the guide wing of the inserted sensor case.

2. In paragraph 1, The above sensor case is formed in a semicircular shape with a front end portion in the insertion direction convex toward the front when viewed from a plane, and the step guide wing is formed along the edges on both sides of the front end portion. A ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that the guide rail is formed so that the cross section forms a 'C' shape to match the shape of the front end of the sensor case.

3. In paragraph 1, The sensor case above is formed in a form in which the lower surface of the front end is partially cut off, so that when combined with the guide rail, the front end is separated from the upper surface of the plug. At the front end of the above guide rail, a guide protrusion is formed that protrudes forward to form a “C” shape that matches the curvature of the front end of the sensor case when the sensor case is combined. A ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that it further includes a fixing clip member that is fitted from the front to simultaneously wrap the front end and guide projection of the sensor case to prevent the sensor case from being detached.

4. In paragraph 3, The above sensor case has a first fastening groove formed in the center of the front end, recessed from the front end toward the rear, In the above fixed clip member, a second fastening groove is formed that is recessed from the front to the rear in response to the first fastening groove, but protrudes toward the first fastening groove. A ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that the sensor case and the fixed clip member are mutually connected by a snap-fit ​​connection in the first and second fastening grooves.

5. In paragraph 1, The ball of the above bolster has an aspherical surface cut off at the top, and a magnet receiving groove formed downward from the aspherical surface. A ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that the magnet receiving home is provided with a magnet surrounded on the side by a magnet case formed in a tubular shape and made of brass.

6. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, A ball seat is interposed between the ball of the above bolster and the socket. The above plug is a ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that it is formed as an integral part with the ball seat through an injection molding process.

7. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, Between the ball of the above-mentioned bolster and the above-mentioned socket, a ball seat is provided through an insert injection process. The above plug is a ball joint with a slide-type sensor case applied, characterized in that the ball seat is integrally joined to the ball seat by being insert-molded after being mounted on the top of the socket.

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