DE102006026728B4 - Drive shaft assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A drive shaft unit of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one shaft (11) and a hub (13), which is mounted on a connection end (15) of the shaft, wherein the shaft and the hub on pass tooth means (17, 19) cooperate, wherein between the shaft and the hub is provided with a releasable clamping seat, and wherein the drive shaft unit has a fixing nut (21) with an internal thread (23, 27) which cooperates with an external thread (25) of the shaft and an external thread (25) of the hub to engage the hub (13 relative to the shaft (11) releasably fixed in the axial direction, wherein the spline means (17, 19) of the shaft and the hub along the shaft axis (A) taper to effect the clamping fit, characterized in that the fixing nut (21 ) has a right-hand thread (23) and a left-hand thread (27) which cooperate with a corresponding external thread (25) of the shaft or with a corresponding external thread (29) of the hub - or vice versa - so that by tightening the fixing nut, the fixing nut is screwed in an axial direction on the shaft and at the same time screwed the hub in the same axial direction on the fixing nut and thus wound onto the shaft v wherein the fixing nut (21) inside a smooth Zentrierringfläche (31 ) which cooperates with a centering ring portion (33) of the shaft (11) to center the fixing nut with respect to the shaft in the radial direction.

Description

The invention relates to a drive shaft unit of a motor vehicle, which has at least one shaft and a hub, which is placed on an associated terminal end of the shaft, wherein the shaft and the hub cooperate via spline means.

Such a drive shaft unit serves as a fast-rotating drive shaft, in particular for connecting two gear units of a motor vehicle, for example as a cardan shaft between a transfer case and a transaxle. For this purpose, it is known to rotatably couple two mutually associated ends of the drive shaft unit by means of a flange connection with each other. However, such a flange connection is undesirable space consuming. It is also known to provide a spline with a permanent interference fit between a shaft and a hub. However, then no easier release of the connection is possible, for example for maintenance or repair purposes.

The DE 295 16 626 U1 describes a mounting of a vehicle steering wheel on a steering shaft. A hub receives a steering shaft - for a non-rotatable connection, a splined hub profile on the hub and a splined shaft profile on the Wellenschafft is provided. With a union nut, the shaft is pulled into the hub.

The FR 27 12 049 A1 shows a shaft-hub connection with an axially oriented profiling. A turnable and supported on the shaft nut pulls the shaft into the hub.

The US 5533825A describes a shaft-hub connection of a turbine with a groove profile. The groove profile of the shaft is curved in the axial direction or has a curved shape.

From the US3222772A is an attachment of turbine blades and spacers on a turbine shaft known. The Vielnut profile of the turbine shaft does not extend in the axial direction, so that the patch turbine blades experience a corresponding rotation to each other. At the front, the bond is fixed with a termination.

The US 2038554A and the US1905277A show a compound of a gear or the like. With a shaft. The grooves on the shaft have a tapering in depth and width of the front end shaft end measure. The attached component is secured with a front-side fitting.

A wedge-shaped tapered groove profile at a shaft end is from the US 1779805A known.

The DE 10 2004 048 079 A1 shows a connection of a shaft journal with a constant velocity joint. Provided is a screw sleeve, which is axially secured and held freely rotatable to the inner joint part. The screw sleeve is screwed onto the shaft journal with a thread. The inner part of the constant velocity joint is connected via a toothing with the end of the time.

It is an object of the invention to provide for a drive shaft unit of a motor vehicle, a compact, non-rotatable and rigid yet releasable connection of the shaft and hub without play in the rotational or axial direction. In addition, a precise centering of the shaft and hub should be possible relative to each other.

This object is achieved by a drive shaft unit having the features of claim 1 or claim 2, and in particular by the fact that between the shaft and the hub, a releasable clamping seat is realized, wherein the drive shaft unit has a fixing nut with an internal thread, with an external thread of the shaft and an outer thread of the hub cooperates to releasably fix the hub relative to the shaft in the axial direction.

Such a drive shaft unit is thus characterized by the fact that the shaft and the hub are provided with spline means, over which the shaft and the hub are connected not only positively and thus rotationally effective. But between the shaft and the hub a releasable clamping seat is realized at the same time, for example by beveled (i.e., afflicted with an angle error) and / or conical design of the said keyway means or by conical execution of the below-explained thread. Through this clamping seat, a torsionally rigid backlash-free coupling of the shaft and hub is ensured, and at the same time a rigid connection is ensured due to the cooperation of the said spur gear means of the shaft and hub along a longitudinal section of the shaft. The said spur gear means are formed in particular by an external toothing on the shaft and a corresponding internal toothing on the hub, wherein these toothings extend in the manner of a spring / groove connection along the shaft axis and in particular are formed by an involute toothing.

It is important that the explained clamping seat between the shaft and hub is detachable, so that in case of maintenance or repair, the drive shaft unit can be disassembled. So that in the operation of Drive shaft unit ensures a stable coupling of shaft and hub, a fixing nut for an axial fixing of the hub relative to the shaft, wherein at least one internal thread of the fixing nut with an external thread of the shaft or an external thread of the hub (or with both external threads) cooperates. By means of the fixing nut and the explained clamping fit can be brought about, in particular by conical design of the thread, if the clamping seat is not or not exclusively effected by means of the spline means of shaft and hub.

Due to the explained embodiment of the drive shaft unit and in particular due to the mutual jamming of the shaft and hub can be effectively avoided.

The course of the respective spline means of the shaft and hub (external teeth or internal teeth) has along the shaft axis a Schrägreichtungsfehler to accomplish the explained clamping fit between the shaft and hub. In other words, the splines of the shaft and hub are not continuous straight along the shaft axis. But the splined means may along the shaft axis a kink or at least partially have a curved course, so that by axial placement of the hub on the shaft ultimately a mutual jamming is effected. Preferably, the spline means extend along a first longitudinal section of the shaft or the hub parallel to the shaft axis or the hub axle, wherein the spline means along an adjacent thereto second longitudinal section are formed obliquely expiring.

Alternatively or additionally, the shaft and the hub may cause the illustrated press fit; along the shaft axis (or hub axle) tapered so that jamming and additionally centering of the hub with respect to the shaft is effected by placing the hub on the shaft.

The hub has a conical centering ring portion which cooperates with an associated conical centering ring portion of the shaft to radially center the hub with respect to the shaft upon axial seating of the hub on the shaft. As a result, an imbalance of the drive shaft unit is effectively avoided.

Also, the fixing nut has on the inside a smooth (for example ground) centering ring surface which cooperates with an associated centering ring portion of the shaft in order to effect a centering seat on the shaft with respect to the fixing nut. An imbalance of the drive shaft unit is thereby particularly reliably avoided because manufacturing technology formed on the fixing nut and the shaft and / or the hub thread can not be readily manufactured with the same centering as the said centering ring or the associated centering. Said centering ring surface of the fixing nut and the associated centering ring portion of the shaft may be axially aligned, ie parallel to the axis of rotation of the nut or the shaft. Alternatively, a conical design is possible. The centering ring portion of the shaft is particularly easy to manufacture with the required accuracy when it is offset radially outwards relative to the shaft shaft.

According to this embodiment, the fixing nut cooperates with the shaft and the hub in such a way that by tightening the fixing nut, the hub is pulled along an axial direction on the shaft in order thereby to bring about the desired clamping fit.

Furthermore, As already indicated; the shaft having an annular shoulder portion which forms an axial stop for an associated stop portion of the hub. As a result, the axial position of the hub is accurately defined relative to the shaft. Said abutment portion is in this case formed at the free end of the hub. Said annular shoulder portion and the associated stop portion of the shaft or hub can be axially perpendicular - d. H. flat in the normal plane to the shaft axis - run so that the abutment portion of the hub rests flush against the annular shoulder portion of the shaft. However, it is preferred if the annular shoulder portion of the shaft and the associated stop portion of the hub with respect to the shaft axis taper, so that at the same time a centering of the hub with respect to the shaft in the radial direction is effected by the mutual interaction of annular shoulder portion and stop portion.

According to the invention, the fixing nut has as internal thread both a right-hand thread and a left-hand thread, which cooperate with an associated external thread of the shaft or with an associated external thread of the hub (or vice versa, i.e. right-hand thread on the hub and left-hand thread on the shaft). This ensures that not only the fixing nut is guided in an axial direction along the shaft by tightening the fixing nut, but at the same time the hub is moved in the same axial direction along the fixing nut and thus mounted on the shaft.

As already explained, the spline means of the shaft and the hub may be tapered along the shaft axis to provide the required interference fit between the shaft and the hub Hub effect. Alternatively or additionally, in the illustrated fourth embodiment, the threaded connection between the fixing nut and the hub may be conical, thereby bringing about a clamping fit between the shaft and the hub and by tightening the fixing nut, the annular shoulder of the hub in the radial direction in the associated annular groove Pushing the wave.

With regard to all of the illustrated embodiments of the drive shaft unit, it is of course possible to provide for the fixing nut an additional rotation, for example by means of an adhesive to secure the fixing nut in the fixed position.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a solution according to the invention,

2 to 4 show a respective non-inventive embodiment of a drive shaft unit, and

5 shows a possible embodiment for the realization of a releasable clamping seat between the shaft and hub.

In the figures, the same or similar parts are identified by the same reference numerals. Shown is a respective part of a drive shaft unit in a cross-sectional view, wherein in the respective lower half of a pre-assembly and in the respective upper half a respective final assembly position of the drive shaft unit is shown.

1 shows the embodiment of a drive shaft unit according to the invention, which is a shaft 11 in the form of a pinion with a shaft and a hub 13 has in the form of a hollow shaft. The hub 13 is on a connection end provided for this purpose 15 the wave 11 put on, with the shaft 11 an external toothing 17 owns that with an internal toothing 19 the hub 13 interacts positively. The external toothing 17 and the internal teeth 19 thus form a spline means that allow the transmission of a rotational movement or a torque. In addition, there is between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 a releasable clamping seat realized, for example by the external toothing 17 the wave 11 or the internal teeth 19 the hub 13 has a skew error, as will be explained below.

In the area where the hub 13 the connection end 15 the wave 11 covered, are the wave 11 and the hub 13 from a fixing nut 21 surround. This has an internal thread designed as a right-hand thread 23 that with a corresponding external thread 25 the wave 11 interacts. In addition, has the fixing nut 21 axially adjacent to the internal thread 23 another internal thread 27 , which is designed as a left-hand thread and with a corresponding external thread 29 the hub 13 interacts.

Axially adjacent to the internal thread 23 - on the other side as the other internal thread 27 - has the fixing nut 21 also a smooth ground centering ring surface 31 that by flat concerns with an associated ground centering ring section 33 the wave 11 cooperates to a centering seat of the fixing nut 21 on the shaft 11 to build.

Before the operation of the drive shaft unit according to 1 is explained with reference to 5 a possible embodiment for the realization of the already mentioned releasable clamping seat between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 described. 5 shows in a plan view of the terminal end 15 the wave 11 , The external toothing 17 the wave 11 is through surveys 35 and depressions 37 formed, which initially extend parallel to the shaft axis A and then taper off obliquely with respect to the shaft axis A. This is due to the external teeth 17 the wave 11 realizes an oblique aberration. The assigned internal toothing 19 the hub 13 ( 1 ) has in this case a continuous parallel course to the axis A of the shaft 11 (or the axis of the hub 13 ). Of course, the oblique aberration may occur instead of the external toothing 17 the wave 11 also on the internal toothing 19 the hub 13 be formed, with the external teeth 17 the wave 11 is formed in this case continuously rectilinear.

Subsequently, the assembly of the drive shaft unit according to 1 for the realization of a detachable connection described.

First, the fixing nut 21 on the connection end 15 the wave 11 fitted and with its internal thread 23 on the external thread 25 the wave 11 stated.

Then the hub 13 with the external thread 29 at the other internal thread 27 the fixing nut 21 stated. This is in the lower half of 1 realized pre-assembly shown.

Now the fixing nut 21 tightened, ie tightened in the closing direction. This will cause the fixation nut 21 in the axial direction along the shaft 11 moved, and also the hub 13 becomes in the axial direction in the fixing nut 21 pulled in, so that ultimately the hub 13 in the axial direction on the shaft 13 is raised. Once the internal teeth 19 the hub 13 related to 5 explained oblique direction error or the angled portion of the external toothing 17 the wave 11 achieved, will be between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 generates a releasable clamping seat, said by this interaction of the external teeth 17 and the internal teeth 19 at the same time an axial stop is realized. In addition, the illustrated by the axial movement of the fixing nut 21 achieved that the fixing nut 21 with the centering ring surface 31 over the centering ring section 33 the wave 11 pushes to the already explained centering seat of the fixing nut 21 bring about.

The thus achieved final assembly position of the drive shaft unit is in the upper half of 1 shown. The threads 23 . 25 . 27 . 29 are designed to be self-locking, so that the fixing nut 21 maintains its position safely in said final assembly position. Nevertheless, by a rotational movement of the fixing nut 21 in the opening sense the connection between shaft 11 and hub 13 be resolved again, if desired.

The drive shaft unit according to 1 thus has the advantage that a rotatable and rigid and play-free connection between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 is realized, which is nevertheless solvable and compact.

To the illustrated embodiment according to 1 It should also be noted that, alternatively or in addition to the axial stop, by the tapered course of the external teeth 17 the wave 11 according to 5 is formed, also an axial stop by an annular shoulder portion of the shaft 11 can be realized that between the external thread 25 and the external teeth 17 the wave 11 is arranged and with an associated stop portion of the hub 13 interacts. In addition, as an alternative or in addition to that associated with 5 explained beveled course of the external teeth 17 the wave 11 to achieve a releasable clamping fit between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 a conical course of external teeth 17 the wave 11 and the internal teeth 19 the hub 13 be provided so that so the shaft 11 to the connection end 15 slightly tapered.

2 shows a non-inventive embodiment of a drive shaft unit. This is characterized by having an internal thread 27 the fixing nut 21 with an external thread 29 the hub 13 interacts with the shaft 11 a snap ring designed here as a snap ring 39 having. The fixing nut 21 engages behind this circlip 39 and is thereby against axial movement in the direction of the hub 13 secured. Between the fixing nut 21 and the circlip 39 is like a washer an intermediate ring 41 arranged to reduce the friction occurring.

Starting from in the lower half of 2 shown pre-assembly, in which the hub 13 on the connection end 15 the wave 11 is attached, the fixing nut 21 turned in the closing direction to thereby the hub 13 in the axial direction on the shaft 11 raise. This is about the gears 17 . 19 again a releasable clamping fit between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 realized as related to 1 and 5 has been explained. In addition, it is on the shaft 11 between the circlip 39 and the external teeth 17 an annular shoulder section 43 formed, which with a stopper section 45 the hub 13 cooperates and thereby an axial stop for the hub 13 forms. The final tightening of the fixing nut 21 reached final assembly position of the hub 13 on the shaft 11 is in the upper half of 2 shown.

The release of the hub 13 from the wave 11 done by turning the fixing nut 21 in the reverse direction of rotation. This is due to the wave 11 a support ring 47 provided by a friction-reducing intermediate ring 49 the fixing nut 21 in the direction of the connection end 15 the wave 11 supported, so that in the illustrated rotational movement of the fixing nut 21 in the opening sense this is not from the mentioned connection end 15 the wave 11 moved away, but the hub 13 from the wave 11 wegdrängt.

3 shows a further non-inventive embodiment of a drive shaft unit. In this acts an internal thread 23 the fixing nut 21 with an external thread 25 the wave 11 together, with the fixing nut 21 a driver ring designed here as a snap ring 51 having a Mitnehmerringabschnitt 53 the hub 13 engages behind the hub and the hub 13 thereby against loosening from the shaft 11 secures in the axial direction.

Again, between the wave 11 and the hub 13 a releasable clamping seat realized, for example by in connection with 1 and 5 already explained skew error of external teeth 17 and internal teeth 19 from wave 11 or hub 13 , or by a conical design of these Spurverzahnungsmittel.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment according to 3 on the shaft 11 between the external thread 25 and the external teeth 17 optionally an annular shoulder section 13 trained, the here is conical and with a conical stop section 45 the hub 13 cooperates to form an axial stop.

Starting from in the lower half of 3 shown pre-assembly is the fixing nut 21 turned in the direction of closing and thereby on the shaft 11 screwed on, due to the rotationally fixed interaction of external teeth 17 the wave 11 and internal teeth 19 the hub 13 the hub 13 by means of the driving ring 51 the fixing nut 21 on the wave 11 is raised until said press fit between the shaft 11 and the hub 13 reached (see upper half of 3 ).

This clamping seat can also be axially offset so that the illustrated axial stop comes into effect. In this case, by the axial mounting of the hub 13 on the wave 11 the conical stop section 45 the hub 13 with the annular shoulder section 43 the wave 11 brought into contact, and the end of the hub 13 is spread, causing the hub 13 on the shaft 11 is centered (in 3 Not shown).

To release the hub 13 from the wave 11 becomes the fixing nut 21 turned in the reverse direction. Because the fixing nut 21 an annular Abdrückschulterabschnitt 55 owns, with the facing end face of the hub 13 interacts, becomes the hub 13 by the explained opening movement of the fixing nut 21 from the wave 11 pulled the trigger.

4 shows a further non-inventive embodiment of a drive shaft unit. In this acts an internal thread 27 the fixing nut 21 with an external thread 29 the hub 13 together, with the hub 13 at her the wave 11 associated axial slots 57 possesses an expansion of the respective end of the hub 13 allow in the radial direction. In addition, the hub owns 13 at the said end in the area of the slots 57 a radially inwardly projecting annular shoulder 59 placed in an associated annular groove 61 the wave 11 intervenes. This ring groove 61 is between the external teeth 17 and a conical annular shoulder portion 43 the wave 11 arranged. On the other side of this ring shoulder section 43 owns the wave 11 a centering ring section 33 , with an associated centering ring surface 31 the fixing nut 21 interacts.

A detachable connection of the hub 13 with the wave 11 is done as follows: First, the fixing nut 21 essentially completely on the hub 13 screwed. Then, the unit formed thereby on the terminal end 15 the wave 11 placed. This will be the outer end of the hub 13 briefly spread, resulting in the said slots 57 is possible. If necessary, this can be done on the inside of the fixing nut 21 between the centering ring surface 31 and the internal thread 27 , a ring recess be provided (in 4 Not shown). Once the ring shoulder 59 at the level of the annular groove 61 is located, the ring shoulder attacks 59 in the ring groove 61 one. The pre-assembly position achieved thereby is in the lower half of 4 shown.

Subsequently, the fixing nut 21 twisted in the closing direction, with the internal thread 27 over the outer end of the hub 13 with the ring shoulder 59 lays and the ring shoulder 59 thereby against axial withdrawal from the annular groove 61 blocked out. At the same time, the centering ring surface settles 31 the fixing nut 21 over the centering ring section 33 the wave 11 , Thus, the hub 13 on the shaft 11 fixed in the axial direction and also centered in the radial direction. The final assembly position achieved thereby is in the upper half of 4 shown.

The releasable clamping seat is here, for example, by a conical shape of external teeth 17 the wave 11 and internal teeth 19 the hub 13 accomplished, or the threaded connection 27 . 29 between the fixing nut 21 and the hub 13 is conical.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

wave

13

hub

15

terminal end

17

external teeth

19

internal gearing

21

fixing nut

23

inner thread

25

external thread

27

inner thread

29

external thread

31

Zentrierringfläche

33

Zentrierringabschnitt

35

survey

37

deepening

39

circlip

41

intermediate ring

43

Ring shoulder portion

45

stop section

47

support ring

49

intermediate ring

51

driver ring

53

Mitnehmerringabschnitt

55

Abdrückschulterabschnitt

57

slot

59

annular shoulder

61

ring groove

A

shaft axis

Claims (4)

Drive shaft unit of a motor vehicle, at least with a shaft ( 11 ) and a hub ( 13 ), which are connected to a connecting end ( 15 ) of the shaft is mounted, wherein the shaft and the hub via spline means ( 17 . 19 ), wherein between the shaft and the hub, a releasable clamping seat is realized and wherein the drive shaft unit a fixing nut ( 21 ) with an internal thread ( 23 . 27 ), which with an external thread ( 25 ) of the shaft and an external thread ( 25 ) the hub interacts with the hub ( 13 ) relative to the shaft ( 11 ) detachably in the axial direction, wherein the spline ( 17 . 19 ) of the shaft and the hub along the shaft axis (A) tapered to effect the clamping fit, characterized in that the fixing nut ( 21 ) a right-hand thread ( 23 ) and a left-hand thread ( 27 ), which with a corresponding external thread ( 25 ) of the shaft or with a corresponding external thread ( 29 ) of the hub - or vice versa - interact, so that by tightening the fixing nut, the fixing nut is screwed in an axial direction on the shaft and at the same time bolted to the hub in the same axial direction of the fixing nut and thus wound on the shaft v being the fixing nut ( 21 ) inside a smooth Zentrierringfläche ( 31 ) having a centering ring section ( 33 ) the wave ( 11 ) cooperates to center the fixing nut with respect to the shaft in the radial direction. Drive shaft unit of a motor vehicle, at least with a shaft ( 11 ) and a hub ( 13 ), which are connected to a connecting end ( 15 ) of the shaft is mounted, wherein the shaft and the hub via spline means ( 17 . 19 ), wherein between the shaft and the hub, a releasable clamping seat is realized and wherein the drive shaft unit a fixing nut ( 21 ) with an internal thread ( 23 . 27 ), which with an external thread ( 25 ) of the shaft and an external thread ( 25 ) the hub interacts with the hub ( 13 ) relative to the shaft ( 11 ) releasably fix in the axial direction, wherein the course of the spline means ( 17 . 19 ) of the shaft and the hub along the shaft axis (A) has a Schrägichtungsfehler to effect the clamping fit, characterized in that the fixing nut ( 21 ) a right-hand thread ( 23 ) and a left-hand thread ( 27 ), which with a corresponding external thread ( 25 ) of the shaft or with a corresponding external thread ( 29 ) of the hub - or vice versa - cooperate, so that by tightening the fixing nut, the fixing nut is screwed in an axial direction on the shaft and at the same time bolted to the hub in the same axial direction of the fixing nut and thus mounted on the shaft. Drive shaft unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hub ( 13 ) a conical centering ring section ( 45 ) which is provided with a conical centering ring section ( 43 ) the wave ( 11 ) cooperates to center the hub with respect to the shaft in the radial direction. Drive shaft unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing nut ( 21 ) with the wave ( 11 ) and the hub ( 13 ) cooperates in such a way that the hub can be pulled onto the shaft in an axial direction by tightening the fixing nut.

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