Spherical bearing device and switch
View Patent ↗A spherical bearing device includes a shaft member, a turnable body, and a bearing. The shaft member has a shaft body and a spherical body having a first engaging portion. The turnable body has a second engaging portion that is engaged with the first engaging portion in a first rotational direction about a first axis passing through a center of the spherical body, and allows other rotations. The bearing is provided with a first space and a second space. The first space accommodates the spherical body spherically slidably. The second space accommodates the turnable body such that the turnable body is turnable, and allows the shaft body to move.
1. A spherical bearing device comprising:
a shaft member that has a spherical body having a first engaging portion, and a shaft body disposed with a first axis passing through a center of the spherical body;
a turnable body having a second engaging portion engaged with the first engaging portion in a first rotational direction about the first axis, and allows the first engaging portion to rotate in a second rotational direction about a second axis intersecting with the first axis at the center of the spherical body; and
a bearing that is provided with a first space and a second space, holds the shaft member so as to be spherically slidable, and allows the shaft body to move as the spherical body spherically slides,
wherein the first space accommodates the spherical body such that the spherical body is spherically slidable about the center of the spherical body, and
the second space accommodates the turnable body of which the second engaging portion is engaged with the first engaging portion of the spherical body such that the turnable body is turnable about a third axis intersecting with the first axis and the second axis at the center of the spherical body.
2. The spherical bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engaging portion is formed such that a surface of the spherical body is partially cut out, and
the second engaging portion is formed such that a surface of the turnable body is partially cut out.
3. The spherical bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engaging portion is a projection part provided on a surface of the spherical body, and
the second engaging portion is a depression part provided in a surface of the turnable body.
4. The spherical bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engaging portion is a depression part provided in a surface of the spherical body, and
the second engaging portion is a projection part provided on a surface of the turnable body.
5. The spherical bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft body includes a bending portion.
6. A switch comprising:
the spherical bearing device as defined in claim 1 ; and
a sensor that includes a first component provided to the shaft member of the spherical bearing device and a second component provided to the bearing of the spherical bearing device, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to a positional relationship between the first component and the second component.