# US 10,871,183 B2 · Method for manufacturing floating joint, and floating joint manufactured by said method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,183 B2 - Document ID: US10871183B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/545,507 - Filed: 2015-01-28 - Published: 2018-01-18 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-28 - Assignees: SMC Corporation - Applicants: Smc Corporation - Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto; Akira Kuribayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871183B2 ## CPC - F16C 11/06: Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) - F16C 11/0661: {the two co-operative parts each having both convex and concave interfaces} - F16C 11/0685: {Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints} - F16C 11/0695: {Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod} - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A floating joint has a first connection section and a second connection section, which are capable of pivoting relative to each other. In the manufacturing of this joint, a receiving step is performed, in which the flange section of the first connection section, the umbrella section of the second connection section, a ring, and a plate are received within a case. Further, the following steps are performed: a staking step in which an end of the case is staked inward to cover the plate; and a gap adjustment step in which the plate is pressed toward the ring to adjust the gap between the ring and the plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a floating joint in which a first connecting portion provided at one end of a case and a second connecting portion provided at another end of the case are swingable relatively to each other, the method comprising: a housing step of housing in the case a first connecting portion side protrusion protruding radially outward at an end portion of the first connecting portion, a second connecting portion side protrusion protruding radially outward at an end portion of the second connecting portion, a holding member disposed on one surface of the second connecting portion side protrusion and configured to hold the second connecting portion swingably, and a stopper member disposed at a positioning stepped portion of the case provided on an opposite side of the holding member with respect to the second connecting portion side protrusion; a caulking step of caulking an end portion of the case inward to cover the stopper member; and a gap adjusting step of adjusting a gap between the holding member and the stopper member by pressing the stopper member toward the holding member, wherein in the caulking step, a recess is formed for fixing the stopper member with an inner side wall portion which is caused by caulking and the positioning stepped portion, and wherein in the gap adjusting, step, the recess which is comprised of the inner side wall portion and the positioning stepped portion, and the stopper member, are pressed together, thereby crushing the positioning stepped portion to form the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of manufacturing the floating joint according to claim 1, wherein same caulking tool is used in the caulking step and the gap adjusting step. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of manufacturing the floating joint according to claim 2, wherein the case includes a peripheral wall surrounding the first connecting portion side protrusion, the second connecting portion side protrusion, the holding member, and the stopper member, and in the caulking step, an inner wall portion at an end portion of the peripheral wall is cut and caulked by pressing with the caulking tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of manufacturing the floating joint according to claim 3, wherein the caulking tool is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an outer edge portion of a facing surface of the caulking tool that faces the end portion of the case projects in a direction toward the case more than an inner edge portion of the facing surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of manufacturing the floating joint according to claim 1, wherein in the caulking step, the case is caulked by pressing with a caulking tool, and in the gap adjusting step, the gap is adjusted by pressing with a gap adjusting tool including a flat surface facing the stopper member. ### Claim 6 A floating joint in which a first connecting portion provided at one end of a case and a second connecting portion provided at another end of the case are swingable relatively to each other, the floating joint manufactured by performing: a housing step of housing in the case a first connecting portion side protrusion protruding radially outward at an end portion of the first connecting portion, a second connecting portion side protrusion protruding radially outward at an end portion of the second connecting portion, a holding member disposed on one surface of the second connecting portion side protrusion and configured to hold the second connecting portion swingably, and a stopper member disposed at a positioning stepped portion of the case provided on an opposite side of the holding member with respect to the second connecting portion side protrusion; a caulking step of caulking an end portion of the case inward to cover the stopper member; and a gap adjusting step of adjusting a gap between the holding member and the stopper member by pressing the stopper member toward the holding member, wherein in the caulking step, a recess is formed for fixing the stopper member with an inner side wall portion which is caused by caulking and the positioning stepped portion, and wherein in the gap adjusting step, the recess which is comprised of the inner side wall portion and the positioning stepped portion, and the stopper member, are pressed together, thereby crushing the positioning stepped portion to form the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The floating joint according to claim 6, wherein the first connecting portion includes a rod protruding from one end of the case, and a seat member which is configured in the case as a separate member from the rod and is in contact with the second connecting portion side protrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The floating joint according to claim 6, wherein a concave portion is formed on a contact portion between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion side protrusion and/or a contact portion between the second connecting portion side protrusion and the holding member, the concave portion configured to retain a lubricant.