Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary damper capable of automatically adjusting an exhibited braking force in correspondence with variation in load. A fluid chamber 2 into which viscous fluid is charged is formed in a casing 1. A vane 3 is disposed in the fluid chamber 2. The vane 3 is formed with a fluid passage 5, and is provided with a valve 6. The valve 6 automatically varies a flow rate of the viscous fluid passing through the fluid passage 5 in correspondence with variation in load. With this structure, it is possible to automatically adjust the exhibited braking force in correspondence with variation in load caused by variation in rotational motion of a subject to be controlled, and to reduce variation in rotation speed of the subject to be controlled to an extremely small value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary damper capable of reducing the variation in size of a gap through which viscous liquid passes when the viscous liquid moves. from a pressure chamber to a non-pressure chamber, and capable of obtaining stable braking characteristics. The rotary damper of the invention comprises a vane member 30 having an upper end surface 30a, a lower end surface 30b and a tip end surface 30c.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a rotary damper which can individually control two controlled subjects independently rotatable with each other by utilizing both a viscous resistance by a viscous material and a resistance by a viscous fluid and putting properties thereof to good use. A rotary damper (1A) is provided with first and second chambers (4, 5) which are separated by a partition wall (3), a rotor (6) which is rotatably arranged within the first chamber (4), a viscous material (7) which is filled in a slight gap between the rotor (6) and a slidable contact surface slidably contacted with the rotor (6), a viscous fluid (11) which is filled in the second chamber (5), and a vane (12) which is swingably arranged within the second chamber (5) filled with the viscous fluid (11).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing a joint housing, in particular for vehicle track rods, having an integral shaft with an internal thread designed to hold a longitudinal pin, the housing being produced from a blank with a ball-like enlargement at one end. In order to ensure low manufacturing costs and low consumption of energy and materials, a longitudinal cavity with a diameter exceeding that of the internal thread and a length exceeding that of the threaded section is first produced in the shaft of the blank by rearwards cup extrusion and the diameter of the threaded section subsequently reduced to that of the thread core while at the same time shaping the surface of the wall to give a flat key face, the overall process being a cold-forming one. Finally, both the external and internal features of the housing are produced by heading, cupping, punching and forming to size perpendicular the to longitudinal axis in the region of the enlargement.

Abstract: While one end of a material (31) that has nearly the same diameter as that of a first connecting portion (15) is secured, pressure is applied to the portion between the middle and the other end of the material (31). A slender portion (32), which has nearly the same diameter as that of a buckle portion (18), is formed adjacent to said other end of the material (31), and a stepped portion (20) is formed adjacent to the slender portion (32). Thus, a first-stage unfinished body (33) is formed. By radially enlarging a part of the slender portion (32), i.e. the portion between the distal end and the portion to become a buckle portion (18), until the diameter of said part becomes nearly the same as the diameter of a second connecting portion (16), the portion to become the second connecting portion (16) is formed. Thus, an arm-to-be portion is formed, wherein the portion that has not been enlarged shall be formed into the buckle portion (18).

Abstract: An intermediate molding (41) is formed so that a cylindrical arm-to-be portion (42) projects from the cylindrical outer surface of a body portion (13) of the arm-to-be portion (42). The arm-to-be portion (42) has a given thickness and a hole (42a) with a diameter greater than the inner diameter of a projecting connector portion (20) of an arm portion (15). A pair of flat face portions (42b) extending parallel to the axis of the body portion (13) are formed on the cylindrical outer surface of the arm-to-be portion (42). A tap (44) that has an external thread (43) formed along its cylindrical outer surface is inserted into the hole (42a) of the arm-to-be portion (42). Concave faces (49),(49) are concaves respectively formed on the opposing surfaces of an upper die (47) and a lower die (48) so as to have a shape like a half cylinder with a curvature corresponding to that of the cylindrical outer surface of the projecting connector portion (20).

Abstract: An adjustable joint unit includes a ball stud having a stud portion that is provided at one end thereof with a ball head portion, a bearing seat to contain the ball head portion, and a generally plate-shaped arm having a generally cylindrical socket portion. Also, an aperture portion permits the stud portion to be inserted therethrough. Additionally, the joint unit includes a mounting opening portion located at the base end of the socket portion, and a closing member which is adapted to be attached in such a manner as to close off the mounting opening portion at the base end of the socket portion and apply a given preliminary load to the ball head portion of the ball stud.

Abstract: A ball stud has a buckle portion designed to buckle under an appropriate amount of longitudinal pressure. The buckle portion is formed by a rolling process resulting in furrowed portions and raised portions integrally formed in an accordion shape along a portion of the ball stud. The raised portions are formed from the surplus material displaced from forming the furrowed portions. The buckling strength is variable depending on the number of furrowed portions and raised portions in the ball stud. A ball head, connected to the ball stud is inserted into an opening of a housing. The process of making the ball stud requires minimal pressure in the rolling process, resulting in reduced production costs and roller wear.

Abstract: Sliding contact portions on an inner surface of a bearing seat slidably support a ball head of a ball stud in a housing. Spaces between one or more of the sliding contact portions contain lubricant reserves. Load receiving portions on the outer surface of the bearing seat facing the housing also support the load placed on the ball stud. Protruding portions on the sliding contact portions decrease contact surface area and permit lubricant to cover nearly the entire ball head surface. The load receiving portions and sliding contact portions, including the protruding portions, deform to absorb repeated heavy loads while maintaining friction compensation and stable torque. The ball joint has an improved ability to compensate for dimensional tolerances, which facilitates component manufacture. The load withstanding ability, lubrication efficiency and durability of the ball joint are thus improved.

Abstract: A bearing seat slidably supports a ball head of a ball stud in a housing. Circumferentially spaced-apart load bearing ribs on the outer surface of the bearing seat facing the housing support the load placed on the joint. Auxiliary load bearing ribs, between adjacent ones of the load bearing ribs, extend from the surface of the ball joint seat slightly less farther than the load bearing ribs. The auxiliary load bearing ribs come into supportive contact with the housing when subjected to heavier loads, to prevent excessive stress flexure of the bearing seat. The ability of the ball joint to absorb repeated heavy load applications while maintaining friction compensation and a stable torque without stress cracking is improved. The ball joint has an improved ability to compensate for dimensional tolerances, which facilitates component manufacture. The load withstanding ability and the durability of the ball joint are thus improved without an increase in size or cost.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a bearing seat crimped in place within a housing. A ball head of a ball stud slides in the bearing seat. A cylindrical crimpable portion of the bearing seat is inserted through a cylindrical portion of the housing. The bearing seat is fixed to the housing with two stopper portions. One of the stopper portions is formed by crimping the cylindrical crimpable portion against one of the ends of the housing. A dust cover is pushed between the ball stud and the other stopper portion. The stopper portion is enlarged outward using ultrasonic vibration. An inner side face of the cylindrical crimpable portion inclines outward at an angle ranging from 3.degree. to 20.degree. with respect to an axial direction of the cylindrical crimpable portion. A chamfered portion and rotation-stop portions, shaped like flower petals, are formed at one end of the housing.

Abstract: A flange portion of a ball stud includes a seat surface which abuts a junction face of a concurrent rotation prevention plate. By ensuring that the contact face of the concurrent rotation prevention plate has a larger area than an area of the seat surface of the flange portion of the ball stud, the frictional force between an attached item and the contact face of the concurrent rotation prevention plate is greater than a rotational force applied to the ball stud when a nut is affixed to the ball stud. The ball stud is thus prevented from concurrently turning with the nut during a tightening or loosening operation.

Abstract: A rod-end bearing device includes a ball seat crimped in place within an inner chamber of a housing. A ball head of a ball stud slides in the ball seat. An insertion hole for the ball stud flares outward at its outer end. A thick pressed portion contacts the housing around the outer surface of the ball seat, near the insertion hole. An indented portion around the outer perimeter of the pressed portion adjacent the insertion hole receives an annular raised portion of a dust cover. A generally thick portion of the ball seat transmits forces from contact by the stud portion of the ball stud to the housing when the ball stud is at its maximum angular extent. The force transmission is defined by a force line from the contact point to the housing. The indented portion is located axially outward from the force line. This separation of the indented portion from the force line retains the sealing ability of the dust cover.

Abstract: A ball joint compensates for manufacturing tolerances of the components and functions smoothly under large compressive loads. A rigid and resilient bearing seat has an elastic restoring force that compensates for component tolerances under varying load conditions. A ball joint housing and fitted bearing seat permit incremental increases in the load bearing area within the ball joint as an operating load increases. The increase in load bearing area permits the ball joint to withstand larger loads than in conventional ball joints without permanent deformation of the bearing seat. The ball joint is more durable and operates more smoothly over a wider range of loads than conventional ball joints.

Abstract: A spherical slide bearing having dust covers fixed by outer sealing collar portions interposed between a housing and a bearing or bearings. The interposed outer sealing collar portions of the dust covers are retained by flange portions of the housing and the bearing such that they are not forced out through narrow gaps therebetween through which bellows of the dust covers pass. Interference by the outer sealing collar portions with the degree of angular movement of a ball stud of the spherical slide bearing and damage to the dust covers is thus prevented. Tapered motion limiting surfaces incorporated into one of a ball stud, an inside bearing surface, and a ball stud and an inside bearing member surface provide an increased range of angular movement while protecting the dust cover from damage.

Abstract: A ball joint resiliently positions a portion of its hard-plastic bearing seat a short distance from a load-receiving portion of its housing. A compression load is capable of urging the bearing seat and the load-receiving portion into contact with each other to limit the load absorbed by the resilient member. This permits the resilient member to apply an appropriate bearing preload to overcome manufacturing tolerances in the parts, without requiring the resilient member to support large compression loads.

Abstract: A ball joint uses a single-piece ball seat of hard plastic that has high rigidity, high load durability and elasticity, to prevent premature fracture of the ball seat caused by manufacturing imperfections in the socket of the ball joint. A preload contact surface is resilient supported at the top of the ball seat to enable uniform distribution of preload of the ball to the socket. At assembly of the ball joint, a cylindrical lower portion of the ball seat cylinder is reshaped into an inwardly bowed surface to envelop the lower portion of the ball. A thin annular wall at the periphery of the preload contact surface of the ball seat defines a thin annular space between itself and the upper portion of the ball seat cylinder to provide the preload contact surface with expansion space. Additional elasticity can be built into the ball seat by providing slits at the junction of the preload contact surface periphery and the base of the thin annular wall.