GB2233771A - Method and apparatus for measuring play in the bearings of a Hookes universal joint - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for measuring play in the bearings of a Hookes universal joint Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2233771A
GB2233771A GB9014847A GB9014847A GB2233771A GB 2233771 A GB2233771 A GB 2233771A GB 9014847 A GB9014847 A GB 9014847A GB 9014847 A GB9014847 A GB 9014847A GB 2233771 A GB2233771 A GB 2233771A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
joint
yoke
bending bar
bearings
axes
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9014847A
Other versions
GB2233771B (en
GB9014847D0 (en
Inventor
Frithjof Klasen
Rainer Fickel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GKN Driveline International GmbH
Original Assignee
GKN Cardantec International GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GKN Cardantec International GmbH filed Critical GKN Cardantec International GmbH
Publication of GB9014847D0 publication Critical patent/GB9014847D0/en
Publication of GB2233771A publication Critical patent/GB2233771A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2233771B publication Critical patent/GB2233771B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16DCOUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D3/00Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive
    • F16D3/16Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts
    • F16D3/26Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected
    • F16D3/38Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another
    • F16D3/40Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another with intermediate member provided with two pairs of outwardly-directed trunnions on intersecting axes
    • F16D3/41Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another with intermediate member provided with two pairs of outwardly-directed trunnions on intersecting axes with ball or roller bearings
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01LMEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L1/00Measuring force or stress, in general
    • G01L1/20Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
    • G01L1/22Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress using resistance strain gauges
    • G01L1/2206Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01MTESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M13/00Testing of machine parts
    • G01M13/04Bearings
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16DCOUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D2300/00Special features for couplings or clutches
    • F16D2300/12Mounting or assembling

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)
  • Support Of The Bearing (AREA)
  • A Measuring Device Byusing Mechanical Method (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)

Abstract

Method and apparatus for assessing the setting of the bearings of a Hookes universal joint, in order to assemble the joint with correct free play conditions in the directions along the axes (26, 27) of the trunnions (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) of the joint cross member (8). One yoke (3) of the joint is held fixed by member 28 and the other yoke (4) is secured to a flange 16 of a bending bar 17 whose other end is fixed to the ball 22 of a ball joint 21. The external part 23 of joint 21 is radially movable in a guideway 24 relative to the axis 29 to articulate the joint and the guideway is moveable as a whole about the axis 29 through an angle of 90 DEG by a drive 25. Such angular movement cause the bar 30 to describe a part conical path and the joint to articulate about both axes 26, 27. The bar is provided with strain gauges 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, to measure the expansion and compression on opposite sides of the bar which is indicative of the torque required to articulate the joint about the two axes 26, 27. This enables the correct thickness of the spring retaining rings 13 retaining bearing cups 11 to be determined. <IMAGE>

Description

177:L 1 GMD/88103GB1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PLAY IN THE
BEARINGS OF A HOOKES UNIVERSAL JOINT This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assessing the setting of the bearings of a Hookes universal joint. A Hookes universal joint, as is well known, comprises two yokes with respective rotational axes, connected to one another by a cross member, the cross member having a first pair of trunnions with a common axis and a second pair of trunnions with a common axis at right angles to the axis of the first pair. The first pair of trunnions is held by one yoke and the second pair by the other yoke, each trunnion being supported in a limb of its associated yoke by a bearing comprising a bearing cup held by the yoke limb and rolling elements, usually needle roller bearings, interposed between the bearing cup and the trunnion.
Correct functioning of a Hookes universal joint is dependent on the correct setting of the cross member bearings, in respect of the play possible in the direction along the axis of each trunnion between the trunnion and bearing cup. For this reason, it is usual for the bearing cups to be held in bores in the limbs of the joint yokes by retaining rings whose thickness is selected from a range of thicknesses. The selection of the appropriate retaining ring thickness is usually done according to the feel of the bearings by the operative who carries out assembly, and is dependent to a large extent upon the skill of such operative. If the operative considers that the bearings have been set with too much play or with too little, a suitably thinner or thicker retaining ring has to be selected.
2 In such assembly of a Hookes joint there are no directly measurable quantities, and as well as the achievement of correct joint behaviour, the speed of the assembly work is also dependent on the experience of the persons involved, to be able to chose correct retaining rings at the first attempt. It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus by which values can be measured to facilitate adjustment of the play in the bearings, by enabling simple determination of the required thickness of retaining rings.
According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a method of assessing the setting of the bearings of the cross member of a Hookes universal joint, comprising measuring the values of torque required to articulate one yoke of the joint relative to the other yoke at a predetermined angle, about the two axes of the cross member.
Through measurement of the torque required to move one yoke relative to the other about the two axes of the cross member, an objective measurement is obtained for the tightness or looseness of the bearings relative to one another. The necessary setting of the bearings can therefore accurately be specified. Selection of the retaining rings required is determined by the torque measured for the two pairs of trunnions. A high accuracy of repetition and a consistency not dependent on personal skill can be achieved through the method of measurement.
The measuring operation may comprise moving one yoke of the joint relative to the other, which is held fixed, with the joint articulated to a predetermined angle, such that a point on the rotational axis of the moving yoke 3 describes an arcuate path subtending 90 about the axis of the fixed joint yoke. Through such movement of the movable joint yoke, a steady movement of the bearings of the joint is obtained, which is desirable for measurement purposes. The movement of 90 is adequate to record the values relating to the bearings on the two axes of the cross member.
The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the method aforesaid, the apparatus comprising a holding device for holding one joint yoke in a fixed position; a bending bar for connection to the other joint yoke, means for holding the bending bar at a position spaced from the other yoke, said means for holding the bending bar being movable radially relative to the rotational axis of the fixed joint yoke, means for moving said holding means for the bending bar through an angle of at least 90 about said rotational axis of the fixed joint yoke, and means for measuring strain in said bending bar on surfaces thereof at right angles to the axes of the cross member of the joint.
A load receiving device in the form of a bending bar is known from DE-OS-2520672: the bending bar can be equipped with a joint head or pivot bearing in order to measure loads on rolls, and the bending bar is provided with wire strain gauges for measuring and recording the longitudinal expansion and compression on the surfaces of the bending bar and thus the bending forces therein.
In the apparatus according to the invention, the bending bar is preferably provided with a connecting member adapted to connect to a flange provided on the joint yoke which is not held fixed.
4 For measurement, an arrangement is preferably provided comprising a bridge circuit for the strain gauges provided on the bending bar, an amplifier for the signal thus produced and means for performing the necessary calculations thereon, a recording device for plotting the change in stress in the bending bar (as calculated from the measured strain therein) as it moves the joint yoke, and an indicator for indicating required correction in the setting of the bearings of the joint cross member.
The recording device may separately plot the curves relating to the two axes of the joint cross member. Where appropriate, it is possible for an indication to be given directly which thickness of bearing retaining ring is to be selected, if appropriate calculations are performed. In order to achieve the necessary size for the strain gauges on the bending bar to give satisfactory readings, it is suggested that the bending bar should be a tube.
The necessary radial and rotary movement of the bending bar may be provided by using a known type of industrial robot. Controlled repetition of the measuring operation under uniform conditions is thus facilitated.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 shows a drive shaft having Hookes universal joints to which the method according to the invention may be applied; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of apparatus provided by the invention; Figure 4 is a block diagram of the measuring arrangement of the apparatus.
Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a drive shaft indicated generally at 1 comprises two Hookes universal joints 2, joined to one another by a connecting shaft. Each of the Hookes universal joints 2 comprises two yokes 3, 4 connected to one another by a cross member 8. Each of the outermost joint yokes 4 is provided with a drive flange 7 for bolted attachment to a driving or driven machine or vehicle part. The two inner joint yokes 3 are connected to respective parts of a connecting shaft, which shaft parts are able to move axially relative to one another by virtue of a sliding spline connection between outer and inner shaft parts 5, 6.
Each joint cross member 8 comprises four trunnions ga, 9b, 9c, 9d which are at right angles to each other. The first pair of trunnions 9a and 9c have a common axis 26 which is at right angles to the common axis 27 of the other pair of trunnions 9b and 9d. The pair of trunnions ga and 9c is received by bearing assemblies in bores 12 in the joint yoke 3, while the trunnions 9b and 9d are received by bearings in the joint yoke 4, for pivoting about the two axes 26, 27.
Each of the bearings by which the trunnions are supported in the yokes comprises a bearing cup 11 received in the bore 12, with needle roller bearings 10 interposed between the internal circumferential surface of the cup and the surface of the trunnion. A thrust washer is disposed between the end of the trunnion and 6 the closed end of the bearing cup, while a seal 14 is provided at the open end of the bearing cup, engaging the trunnion for lubricant retention and exclusion of dirt. The bearing cup is retained in its bore by a spring retaining ring 13 engaging an annular groove formed in the bore.
In such a universal joint, it is important that the bearing cups are set correctly relative to the yokes wherein they are received. There should not be too much play between the closed end of the bearing cup and the end of the trunnion received therein, which would permit the cross member of the joint to become displaced radially in use. On the other hand, there should not be an excessive preload compressing the thrust washers between the ends of the trunnions and bases of the bearing cups. Such correct setting of the bearings is achieved by selecting appropriate thicknesses of the spring retaining rings 13, and hitherto such selection has generally been performed by the person assembling the joint, using his skill and judgement. The present invention provides a method and apparatus which, by measuring the torque required to articulate one joint yoke relative to the other about the two axes 26, 27, provides an indication of the play in the bearings.
Figure 3 shows, diagrammatically, apparatus according to the invention for carrying out the method.
This shows one of the universal joints 2 of a drive shaft such as above described, on which the measurement is to be carried out. one of the joint yokes, particularly the joint yoke 3 which is provided with the outer splined part 5, is held by a holding device 28 in a fixed rotational position. The axis of rotation, in use, of this joint yoke and associated shaft part is indicated at 7 29. The other yoke of the joint, which has the drive flange, is connected by a connecting member 16 in the form of a flange to a bending bar 17. The other end of the bending bar 17 is connected to the internal part 22 of a ball joint indicated generally at 21, the joint having an external part 23. The external part 23 of the ball joint is mounted by a guideway arrangement 24 so that it is to be able to be moved radially away from the axis 29, so as to articulate the universal joint 2. The 10 guideway arrangement 24 is able to be moved as a whole angularly about the axis 29, by a drive indicated generally at 25. It will be appreciated that such angular movement, through an angle of 90 about the axis 29, of the ball joint 21 which has been radially 15 displaced relative to the axis 29 causes articulation of the universal joint 2 about both the axes 26, 27 of its cross member. The bending bar 30 describes a part-conical path: the joint as a whole remains at a fixed angle of articulation.
The bending bar is provided on its surface with strain gauges 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, oriented so as to measure the longitudinal expansion and/or compression on opposite sides of the bending bar resulting from the torque required to articulate the universal joint about the two axes 26, 27. The bending bar bends according to such torque, and the strain gauges detect such bending.
In Figure 4, figure 31 represents a bridge circuit for the strain gauges 18a, 18b and 18c, 18d. 32 represents an amplifier, 33a suitable computing device, 34 a recording device or plotter, and 35 a device for indicating directly to operating personnel the required correction in the bearings of the joint to achieve the 8 correct setting thereof. A stress indicating device 20 may be provided.
In use of the apparatus, the universal joint would firstly be assembled with selected known thickness retaining rings. After the measuring procedure, the required thickness of retaining ring can be calculated from the measured torques, and the indicated retaining rings substituted for those originally fitted.
9

Claims (9)

1. A method of assessing the setting of the bearings of a Hookes universal joint, the joint comprising two yokes with respective rotational axes; and a cross member having a first pair of trunnions with a common axis and a second pair of trunnions with a common axis at right angles to the axis of the first pair; each trunnion being supported in its associated yokes by a bearing comprising a bearing cup held by the yoke and rolling elements interposed between the bearing cup and trunnion; said method comprising measuring the values of torque required to articulate one yoke of the joint relative to the other yoke at a predetermined angle, about the two axes of the cross member.
2.
A method according to Claim 1 comprising:
holding one joint of the yoke in a fixed position; moving the other yoke of the joint relative to said one yoke such that its rotational axis remains at a predetermined angle of joint articulation relative to the rotational axis of said one yoke, and a point on the rotational axis of the moving yoke describes an arcuate path of 900 about the rotational axis of the fixed joint yoke.
3. Apparatus for carrying out the method claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising:
holding device for holding one joint yoke in a fixed position; bending bar for connection to the other joint yoke; means for holding said bending bar at a position spaced from said other yoke; means for moving said means for holding the bending bar, radially relative to the rotational axis of the fixed joint yoke; means for moving said means for holding the bending bar through an angle of 90 about said rotational axis of the fixed joint yoke; and means for measuring strain in said bending bar on surfaces thereof at right angles to said axes of the cross member of the joint.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said bending bar is provided with a connecting member for connection to a flange on said other joint yoke.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 further comprising: a bridge circuit for strain gauges provided on the bending bar; an amplifier for signals provided by said bridge circuit; a calculating device for performing computations on the signals produced by the amplifier; a recording device for plotting calculated changes in stress in the bending bar as it moves said other joint yoke; and an indicator for indicating required correction in the setting of the bearings of the joint cross member.
6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the bending bar comprises a tube.
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 comprising an industrial robot for effecting required movements of the bending bar.
11
8. A method of assessing the setting of the bearings of a Hookes universal joint, substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. Apparatus for assessing the setting of the bearings of a Hookes universal joint, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
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GB9014847A 1989-07-06 1990-07-04 Method and apparatus for measuring play in the bearings of a hookes universal joint Expired - Fee Related GB2233771B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3922194A DE3922194C1 (en) 1989-07-06 1989-07-06

Publications (3)

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GB9014847D0 GB9014847D0 (en) 1990-08-22
GB2233771A true GB2233771A (en) 1991-01-16
GB2233771B GB2233771B (en) 1993-07-07

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GB9014847A Expired - Fee Related GB2233771B (en) 1989-07-06 1990-07-04 Method and apparatus for measuring play in the bearings of a hookes universal joint

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DE (1) DE3922194C1 (en)
FR (1) FR2649483A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2233771B (en)
IT (1) IT1251505B (en)
SE (1) SE9002216L (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2259994A (en) * 1991-09-27 1993-03-31 Dana Corp Universal joint torque measurement
WO2019009856A3 (en) * 2017-04-05 2019-04-11 Tirsan Kardan Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi An apparatus and a method for measuring joint stiffness

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4135393A1 (en) * 1991-10-26 1993-04-29 Bosch Gmbh Robert Distance or angle measuring device e.g. for vehicle chassis - has flexible rod coupled to strain gauge elements via reduction scaling connecting piece
DE10217612B4 (en) * 2002-04-19 2009-09-03 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Measuring device for the bearing clearance on a ball joint
DE102007030892A1 (en) 2007-05-09 2008-11-20 Schaeffler Kg Method for measuring flexion moments on a joint and measuring arrangement for carrying out the method
DE102007030885A1 (en) 2007-05-09 2008-11-20 Schaeffler Kg Device for measuring reaction moments and forces on a lever
DE102007030887A1 (en) 2007-05-09 2008-11-13 Schaeffler Kg Device for a lever
CN109883681B (en) * 2019-03-29 2020-06-30 衡超装试(北京)科技有限公司 Steel soft and hard double-structure overspeed test safety ring
CN111766202B (en) * 2020-08-17 2021-10-01 吉林大学 Multi-test-piece bonding joint tension-compression fatigue test device considering temperature influence

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3201996A (en) * 1961-11-29 1965-08-24 Bosch Arma Corp Bearing testing apparatus
DE2520672A1 (en) * 1975-05-09 1976-11-18 Erich Brosa Force measuring instrument of versatile construction - uses conical bending rod with attached strain gauges
US4326424A (en) * 1979-03-30 1982-04-27 Cleveland Machine Controls, Inc. Web tension transducer arrangement
SU881548A1 (en) * 1980-02-05 1981-11-15 Симферопольский Филиал Центрального Проектно-Конструкторского И Технологического Бюро Главсантехпрома Мпсм Ссср Device for measuring torque

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2259994A (en) * 1991-09-27 1993-03-31 Dana Corp Universal joint torque measurement
GB2259994B (en) * 1991-09-27 1994-09-07 Dana Corp Universal joint torque measurement
WO2019009856A3 (en) * 2017-04-05 2019-04-11 Tirsan Kardan Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi An apparatus and a method for measuring joint stiffness
RU2742687C1 (en) * 2017-04-05 2021-02-10 Тирсан Кардан Санайи Ве Тиджарет Аноним Ширкети Apparatus and method for measuring hinge stiffness

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2233771B (en) 1993-07-07
IT9020787A1 (en) 1991-12-27
IT9020787A0 (en) 1990-06-27
SE9002216L (en) 1991-01-07
DE3922194C1 (en) 1990-11-15
SE9002216D0 (en) 1990-06-21
FR2649483A1 (en) 1991-01-11
IT1251505B (en) 1995-05-16
GB9014847D0 (en) 1990-08-22

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19950704