Method and tool for producing a flange on a bush bearing

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing at least one axial flange on an elastomer bush bearing. According to the invention, the axial flange(s) is/are produced by flanging one or both axial ends of the outer sleeve of the pre-assembled bearing after the bearing has been assembled. During this assembly process the inner component is inserted with the elastomer bearing body into the outer sleeve. In the tool, which is provided for this method and which can be used on a press, the force induced by the compressive force is transferred to both axially acting and radially acting deformation elements. Therefore, at least one of the axially acting deformation elements exhibits a groove, which is located on the side facing the bush bearing and by which the respective axial end of the outer sleeve of the bearing is held, whereas the radially acting deformation elements exhibit on their side that is immediately adjacent to the deformation element with the groove, a projection, which projects radially towards the inside.

1 . Method for producing at least one axial flange on an elastomer bush bearing, which comprises a substantially cylindrical inner component an elastomer bearing body, which envelops the inner component and is connected to said inner component by means of vulcanization; and an outer sleeve, which accommodates the inner component with the elastomer bearing body, whereby the axial flange is/are formed as a surface segment, which envelops an axial end of the outer sleeve and project/projects radially towards the outside, characterized in that after the assembly of the bearing, during which the inner component is inserted with the elastomer bearing body into the outer sleeve, the axial flange is/are produced by flanging the axial endes of the outer sleeve of the pre-assembled bearing.  
   
   
       2 . Method, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer sleeve of the bearing is also connected to the elastomer bearing body by means of vulcanization.  
   
   
       3 . Method, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the flanging of the outer sleeve for the purpose of producing the axial flange is carried out in one joint working step, with the bearing calibration, which serves to generate a prestress in the bearing body, and during which the diameter of the outer sleeve is reduced at least in the area of the respective axial end, to be provided with an axial flange.  
   
   
       4 . Method, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that when the bearing is calibrated in the course of producing the axial flange, the diameter of the outer sleeve is reduced by affixing a crimp below the axial flanges, thus also decreasing the outside diameter of the flangings of the outer sleeve for forming the axial flanges.  
   
   
       5 . Method, as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the outside diameter of the flangings is decreased to the extent that it is less than the inside diameter of a receiving eye that is provided for receiving the bush bearing.  
   
   
       6 . Method, as claimed in  claim 3 , for producing at least one axial flange for a bush bearing, whose elastomer bearing body exhibits at least two chambers, which are connected together by means of an overflow or throttle channel and which are intended for a viscous damping agent, in the area of at least one of its axial ends, characterized in that radial stop abutments are formed in the course of producing the axial flange and the simultaneous calibration of the bearing in its chambers.  
   
   
       7 . Tool for producing at least one axial flange on a bush bearing by means of a press; said tool comprising a working chamber, which receives a bush bearing, comprising an inner component, a bearing body and an outer sleeve; axially active deformation elements and radially active deformation elements; and at least one force transfer element, by means of which a force, induced by a compressive force acting on the tool, is transferred to the axially acting deformation elements and the radially acting deformation elements, which are disposed around the periphery of a bush bearing accommodated by the working chamber, whereby at least one of the axially acting deformation elements, which during the pressing procedure move towards each other in the direction of the bearing axis of the processed bush bearing, exhibits a circumferential groove on the side facing the bush bearing, the width of this groove being equivalent to at least the width of the axial flange to be constructed on the bush bearing; and the inside edge of said groove resting on the inside wall of the outer sleeve of the bearing that projects into the groove; and whereby in the areas immediately adjacent to the axially acting deformation elements, provided with the groove, the radially acting deformation elements, which move during the pressing procedure between the axially acting deformation elements, sliding along these deformation elements, radially in the direction of the bearing axis of the processed bush bearing, exhibit a projection, which projects into the interior of the working chamber and which during the pressing procedure is pressed, adjacent to the areas, projecting into the grooves, into the outer sleeve of the bush bearing, so that the areas of the outer sleeve that project into the grooves, are flanged in the outward direction so as to form an axial flange.  
   
   
       8 . Tool, as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that one or more springs are disposed between the force transfer element and an axially acting deformation element, whereby the compression force, is transferred from the force transfer element at the start of the pressing procedure to the respective, axially acting deformation element, and whereas the force transfer to the radially acting deformation elements does not start until later.  
   
   
       9 . Tool, as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the compressive force is transferred to the radially acting deformation elements by the complementary contours of the force transfer element and of the radially acting deformation elements sliding past one another.  
   
   
       10 . Tool, as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that said tool exhibits at least  6  radially acting deformation elements, which are uniformly distributed on the periphery of a bush bearing accommodated by the working chamber.  
   
   
       11 . Tool, as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that said tool exhibits  12  radially acting deformation elements.