VARIABLE STIFFNESS SPHERICAL HINGE AND VARIABLE STIFFNESS DESIGN METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

A variable stiffness spherical hinge and a variable stiffness design method, comprising a spherical hinge main body (1) and an outer layer sleeve (2) sheathed on the spherical hinge main body (2), wherein an annular sealed space (11) is formed between the spherical hinge main body (1) and the outer layer sleeve (2) along circumferential direction, and the annular sealed space (11) extends deep into a rubber layer of the spherical hinge main body (1); an annular stop (3) is arranged in the annular sealed space (11), and the annular sealed space (11) is not fully filled by the annular stop (3); an annular gap (12) is formed between the spherical hinge main body (1) and the annular stop (3) along axial direction, and the minimum radial width of the annular gap is X, with 0.5 mmX10 mm. The present invention meets the loading requirement that the spherical hinge needs a small stiffness under a small load and a significantly increased stiffness under a large load and can be limited in time. The present invention can effectively prevent external dust, dirt and even sand particles from entering the spherical hinge, which increases the release space of the rubber, effectively avoids the "buckling" deformation of the rubber, and is favorable for increasing the pre-compression amount of the product, preventing the occurrence of rubber cracks and improving the fatigue life.