Metal component sturcture and metal component swaging method

Abstract

A metal component structure includes a metal ball and a metal component. The metal ball has an outer diameter. The metal component includes a hole into which the metal ball is press-fitted. The hole includes a central axis, an opening edge, a stopper, and a tapered part. The metal ball is inserted into the hole through the opening edge. The stopper is provided between the opening edge and a center of the metal ball in a direction of the central axis and has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the metal ball. The tapered part is provided from the opening edge toward the stopper and has an inner diameter decreasing from the opening edge toward the stopper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal component swaged structure in which, to prevent disengagement of a metal ball press-fitted into a hole opened in a surface of a metal component, a swaged part having a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the metal ball is formed along the entire circumference of an opening of the hole, wherein
 an inner diameter gradually decreases from an opening edge portion of the hole toward the inside of the hole, down to the swaged part.   
     
     
         2 . A metal component swaging method for forming the swaged part according to  claim 1  by use of a swaging tool, wherein:
 the swaging tool includes a metal ball press-fitting portion that abuts on the metal ball to press-fit the metal ball into the hole, and a swaging portion that has an outer diameter gradually decreasing toward the metal ball press-fitting portion and forms the swaged part; and 
 press-fitting of the metal ball into the hole and forming of the swaged part are carried out simultaneously, by use of the swaging tool. 
 
     
     
         3 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 2 , wherein the metal ball press-fitting portion is formed of a conical surface. 
     
     
         4 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 2 , wherein the swaging portion is formed of a conical surface. 
     
     
         5 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 2 , wherein the swaging tool includes a press-fit depth control portion that abuts on a surface of the metal component to control a press-fit depth of the metal ball into the hole. 
     
     
         6 . A metal component structure comprising:
 a metal ball having an outer diameter; and   a metal component including a hole into which the metal ball is press-fitted, the hole comprising:
 a central axis; 
 an opening edge through which the metal ball is inserted into the hole; 
 a stopper provided between the opening edge and a center of the metal ball in a direction of the central axis and having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the metal ball; and 
 a tapered part provided from the opening edge toward the stopper and having an inner diameter decreasing from the opening edge toward the stopper. 
   
     
     
         7 . A metal component swaging method comprising:
 providing a metal ball at an opening edge of a hole provided in a metal component, the hole having a central axis;   pressing the metal ball in a direction of the central axis using a swaging tool such that a metal ball press-fitting portion of the swaging tool abuts on the metal ball to press-fit the metal ball into the hole, the metal ball press-fitting portion being positioned around the central axis; and   pressing a swaging portion of the swaging tool onto the metal component in the hole to provide a stopper between the opening edge and a center of the metal ball in the direction of the central axis, the swaging portion being provided around the metal ball press-fitting portion, an outer diameter of the swaging portion decreasing toward the metal ball press-fitting portion.   
     
     
         8 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 7 , wherein the metal ball press-fitting portion has a conical surface. 
     
     
         9 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 7 , wherein the swaging portion has a conical surface. 
     
     
         10 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 7 , wherein the swaging tool includes a press-fit depth control portion to abut on a surface of the metal component to control a press-fit depth of the metal ball into the hole. 
     
     
         11 . The metal component structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the stopper is provided along an entire circumference of the hole around the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . The metal component structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter of the tapered part gradually decreases from the opening edge toward the stopper. 
     
     
         13 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer diameter of the swaging portion gradually decreases toward the metal ball press-fitting portion. 
     
     
         14 . The metal component swaging method according to  claim 7 , wherein the stopper is provided while the metal ball is press-fitted into the hole.