JP2000320564A - Yoke of universal joint and manufacturer thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a work for inserting a bolt into a through-hole disposed in a flange part by changing a phase in the circumferential direction between a pair of joining arms and a pair of flange parts. SOLUTION: A pair of flange parts 16, 17 are disposed integratedly with a joining cylindrical part 11, putting a cut groove 13 therebetween, on a base end part of the joining cylindrical part 11. The flange parts 16, 17 are formed into a thick wall by folding a part of a metallic plate for composing the joining cylindrical part 11 by 180 degrees. A screw hole 18 is disposed on one flange part, and a through-hole 19 is disposed on the other flange part 17, in the directions perpendicular to respective flange surfaces. The screw hole 18 and the through-hole 19 are formed concentric, the inner diameter of the through hole 19 is enlarged sufficiently larger than an inner diameter of the screw hole 18, and the tip end part of a bolt penetrated through the through-hole 19 is screwed in the screw hole 18. A pair of joining arms 12, 12 are integratedly disposed on the tip end part of the tubular joining cylindrical part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a yoke which is incorporated in, for example, a steering device of an automobile and constitutes a universal joint for transmitting the movement of a handle shaft to a steering gear, and an improvement in a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering apparatus of an automobile is constructed as shown in FIG. Steering wheel 1
The movement of the steering shaft (not shown) rotatably provided in the steering column 2 and the intermediate shaft 3
Through the steering gear 4, and the steering gear 4 steers the wheels. Usually, the steering shaft and the input shaft 5 of the steering gear 4 cannot be provided on the same straight line. Therefore, conventionally, an intermediate shaft 3 is provided between the steering shaft and the input shaft 5, and both ends of the intermediate shaft 3 and ends of the steering shaft and the input shaft 5 are connected via universal joints 6, 6. By doing so, power can be transmitted between the steering shaft and the input shaft 5 that do not exist on the same straight line.

Conventionally, a universal joint 6 incorporated in such a power transmission mechanism or the like has, as shown in FIG. 13, first and second yokes 7, 8 each formed in a forked shape, and both yokes 7, 8. And a cross shaft 9 for displaceably connecting the members 8 to each other. Conventionally, as a yoke of such a universal joint, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-88859, Patent No. 253
As described in Japanese Patent No. 4772 and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2508575, those manufactured by pressing a steel plate are widely used because they can be manufactured at low cost. Among them, the yokes described in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-88859 and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2508575 have the entire yoke made of one metal plate. On the other hand, the yoke described in Japanese Patent No. 2534772 has a tip portion having a pair of connecting arms for supporting the cross shaft and a base portion for connecting the end of the shaft, which are separately formed. Are joined by welding.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-88859
In the case of a yoke manufactured by pressing a single metal plate as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2508575 and Utility Model Registration No. 2508575, a pair of connecting arms for supporting a cross shaft and a yoke are provided. The phase in the circumferential direction coincides with the pair of flanges tightened by bolts for fixing the shaft to the end of the shaft or the like. For this reason, depending on the use conditions, there is a problem that the work of inserting the bolt into the through hole provided in the flange portion becomes troublesome. Patent No. 2534772
In the case of the yoke described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-107, the phase in the circumferential direction between the pair of connecting arms and the pair of flanges can be freely adjusted. Since the front end and the base are fixed by welding, the manufacturing operation is troublesome and the cost increases. The yoke of the universal joint and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention were invented in view of such circumstances.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the yokes of a universal joint and a method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention, the yoke of the universal joint according to the first aspect is known from the prior art as described in the aforementioned publications. Like a universal joint yoke, it is made by press-forming a metal plate.
A butting portion is provided at a portion close to the distal end, and a cylindrical coupling cylinder portion having a serration groove on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a coupling cylinder portion provided integrally with the coupling cylinder portion at the base end portion of the coupling cylinder portion with the cut-off therebetween. A pair of flanges, a screw hole formed in one of the flanges at right angles to the flange surface, and a bolt screwed into the screw hole. A through-hole formed concentrically with the hole, a pair of connecting arms formed continuously from diametrically opposite positions of the distal end edge of the connecting cylindrical portion, and a pair of connecting arms formed at the distal end of each connecting arm. And concentric circular holes. In particular, in the yoke of the universal joint according to the present invention, considering a virtual plane located in the middle of the pair of connecting arms and in which the pair of connecting arms is symmetrically present with respect to the virtual plane. In addition, the center of the cut exists at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the virtual plane.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a yoke for a universal joint, wherein a metal plate as a raw material is punched to form a portion near a base end of a connecting cylinder portion and a pair of flange portions. Then, an intermediate material is produced in which the center of the base plate for shifting the center is shifted from the center of the tip side plate for forming the pair of connecting arms and the portion near the front end of the connecting cylinder. Then, the intermediate material is subjected to bending processing, and the base-side plate portion is used to form a portion near the base end of the coupling cylinder portion and a pair of flange portions,
The distal end side plate portion constitutes a portion near the base end of the coupling cylindrical portion and a pair of flange portions.

[0007]

In the case of the universal joint yoke and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention as described above, the yoke has a structure integrally formed by a single metal plate, and has a pair of connecting arms and a pair of connecting arms. By changing the phase in the circumferential direction with the flange,
A structure can be realized in which the work of inserting a bolt through the through hole provided in the flange portion can be easily performed.

[0008]

1 to 11 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention. First, the structure of the yoke 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the illustrated example, the circumferential phase of the pair of flange portions 16 and 17 and the connecting arms 12 and 12 provided in pairs is determined by the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-88859 and Utility Model Registration No. 25085.
This figure shows a case where the structure is shifted by 90 degrees from the structure described in Japanese Patent No. 75. That is, in the case of the structure of the present example, a virtual plane which is located in the middle of the pair of connecting arms 12 and 12 and in which the pair of connecting arms 12 and 12 exist symmetrically with respect to the virtual plane ( A plane perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3 and located in the left-right direction) is positioned between the pair of flange portions 16 and 17, and the pair of flange portions 16 and 17 are symmetrical with respect to the virtual plane. When each of the second virtual planes (the planes that are perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3 and is present in the vertical direction in FIG. 3) is considered, these two virtual planes have a structure orthogonal to each other.

The yoke 10 is made by press-forming a metal plate having sufficient rigidity such as a carbon steel plate.
The tip of the cylindrical connecting cylinder 11 (right end in FIGS. 1 and 2)
, A pair of connecting arms 12 and 12 are provided integrally. The connecting cylindrical portion 11 is formed with a cut 13 at a portion near the base end (a portion near the left in FIGS. 1 and 2) so that the inner diameter of this portion can be elastically reduced. In addition, the coupling cylinder 11
A cut portion is not formed at a tip portion (a right portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the metal plate, but a butt portion 14 is formed in which ends of metal plates rounded into a circular tube are butted against each other. A serration groove 15 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of 11.

Further, a pair of flange portions 16 and 17 are provided at the base end of the connecting cylinder portion 11 with the cut 13 interposed therebetween.
Are provided integrally with the coupling cylinder 11. Each of the flange portions 16 and 17 is formed to be thick by folding a part of the metal plate constituting the connecting cylinder portion 11 by 180 degrees. A screw hole 18 is formed in one of the flange portions 16 (the left side in FIG. 3), and a through hole 19 is formed in the other flange portion 17 (the right side in FIG. 3). Is provided. These screw holes 18 and through holes 19
Is formed concentrically with each other, and the inner diameter of the through hole 19 is made sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the screw hole 18 (however, smaller than the head of the bolt described below), and the through hole 19 is inserted. The tip of the bolt is screwed into the screw hole 18.

On the other hand, the coupling cylinder 11 constructed as described above
A pair of connecting arms 1 is provided at the tip edge of
2 and 12 are formed, and circular holes 20 and 20 concentric with each other are formed at the tips of the coupling arms 12 and 12, respectively.
In the state where the universal joint is formed, an outer ring (shell) constituting a shell-type needle bearing that supports the end of the cross shaft so as to swing freely is fixedly fitted into each of the circular holes 20.

In particular, in the case of the yoke 10 of the present invention, as described above, a pair of flange portions 16 are provided.
The phase in the circumferential direction between the connecting arm 17 and the connecting arms 12 and 12 is 9
It is shifted 0 degrees. That is, in the case of the example shown in FIG.
A virtual plane located in the middle of the pair of connecting arms 12, 12 and in which the pair of connecting arms 12, 12 exists symmetrically with respect to the virtual plane is perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
Each exists in the direction of the paper surface of FIG. On the contrary,
A second imaginary plane located in the middle of the pair of flanges 16 and 17 and in which the pair of flanges 16 and 17 is symmetrical with respect to the imaginary plane is in the direction of the paper surface of FIG. Each exists in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. Therefore, these two virtual planes are orthogonal to each other.

When the yoke 10 of the present invention constructed as described above is assembled to a universal joint, and the end of the intermediate shaft 3 (FIG. 12) is connected to the yoke 10, the end of the connecting rod 3 is connected to the end of the connecting rod 3. After the formed serrations were inserted into the inside of the coupling cylinder 11, bolts (not shown) were inserted into the through holes 19 formed in the flanges 17 from the right in FIG. Screw it into the screw hole 18 and tighten it further. As a result, the yoke 10 and the ends of the intermediate shaft 3 and the like are firmly connected.

In this state, torque transmission is performed via the yoke 10. In the yoke 10, a butting portion 14 is provided at a portion of the connecting cylinder portion 11 near the front end. The torsional force applied to the connecting arms 12, 12 is supported. For this reason, the rigidity with respect to the force in the torsional direction can be improved, and the rigidity of a steering device or the like incorporating the universal joint can be improved. The butt portion 14 can be further improved in rigidity by welding if necessary.

In particular, in the case of the yoke 10 of the present invention, 1
A pair of connecting arms 12 and 12 and a pair of flanges 1
The phase in the circumferential direction with respect to 6 and 17 (in the illustrated example, 9
0 degrees) For this reason, the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-8885
No. 9 and Utility Model Registration No. 2508575, the pair of connecting arms and the pair of flanges have a structure in which the phases in the circumferential direction coincide with each other. The operation of inserting a bolt into the through hole 19 provided in the flange portion 17 can be easily performed even under use conditions in which the operation of inserting a bolt into the through hole becomes troublesome.
Further, the magnitude of the phase shift in the circumferential direction between the pair of coupling arms 12 and 12 and the pair of flange portions 16 and 17 is not limited to 90 degrees, but may be more than 0 degrees and 90 degrees or less. You can adjust freely in the range. The range of more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees is the same as the case of more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees by reversing the positions where the screw holes 18 and the through holes 19 are formed. There is no point in considering the accumulation and the efficiency of the manufacturing operation.

Next, a method of manufacturing the yoke 10 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the code | symbol corresponding to the name of each part in the state which completed the yoke 10 uses the thing described in above-mentioned FIGS. 1-4 or FIG. 11 mentioned later. First, a first intermediate material 21 as shown in FIG. 5 is formed by punching a carbon steel plate as a material by a press. The first intermediate material 21 includes a base plate 22 and a distal plate 23. Base end plate 22 of these
Is a portion for forming the pair of flange portions 16 and 17 near the base end of the coupling cylindrical portion 11 constituting the yoke 10. Further, the distal end side plate portion 23 is connected to the coupling cylindrical portion 1.
It is a portion for forming one of the leading end portions and a pair of connecting arms 12.

In order to form the pair of flange portions 16 and 17, triangular shaped portions are provided at positions where both side edges of the intermediate portion of the base end plate portion 22 near both ends in the longitudinal direction are aligned with each other. The notches 24a and 24b are formed, and the portions sandwiched by the notches 24a and 24b are narrowed narrow portions 25 and 25, respectively. In addition, portions that are closer to both ends in the length direction than the constricted portions 25, 25 are slightly bent in the same direction (downward in FIG. 5B) to be bent end portions 26, 26.

Further, the front end side plate portion 23 is provided with two end edges 2 in the longitudinal direction for forming a portion near the front end of the connecting cylindrical portion 11.
A pair of tongue-like plate portions 29, 29 for forming the pair of connecting arms 12, 12 project from the edge of a continuous plate portion 28 in which the members 7, 27 are made parallel to each other in the shape of a rabbit ear. Has formed.

In particular, when the manufacturing method of the present invention is carried out, the base plate 22 shown by a chain line α in FIG.
And the center of the tip side plate portion 23 also indicated by a chain line β is shifted by ΔL in FIG. 5A along the length direction of each of the plate portions 22 and 23 (both sides). Plate parts 22, 23
Are offset from each other). Such an offset amount ΔL is determined according to the magnitude of the phase shift in the circumferential direction between the pair of connecting arms 12 and 12 and the pair of flange portions 16 and 17. The base plate 22 and the distal plate 23 are connected to each other by a connecting plate 30. Length L ₃₀ of the connecting plate portion 30 is smaller (L ₃₀ <L ₂₈₎ than the length L ₂₈ of the continuous plate section 28.

In the first intermediate material 21 as described above, both ends of the base-side plate portion 22 are connected to the constricted portions 25, respectively.
At the 25th portion, in the order shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first intermediate material 21 is folded 180 degrees in the same direction (with a very small radius of curvature) in the same direction with respect to the front and back sides, as shown in FIG. The second intermediate material 31. This second intermediate material 31
Folded portions 32a and 32b having a thickness of two metal plates as a material are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base-side plate portion 22. In the state where such a second intermediate material 31 is formed, the bent end portions 2 formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base end plate portion 22 of the first intermediate material 21 described above.
6, 26 are linearly extended, and each of the folded portions 3
The inner peripheral side surfaces of the metal plates constituting 2a and 32b are in close contact with each other except for the center of the turn.

Subsequently, the tongue-shaped plate portions 29 of the second intermediate material 31 are plastically deformed into an arc shape in cross section by a press to form a third intermediate material 33 as shown in FIG.
This third intermediate material 33 is provided with connecting arms 12, 12 similar to those provided in the finished yoke 10, except that the circular holes 20, 20 are not formed.

Subsequently, the base plate 22 of the third intermediate material 33 as described above is folded back in a U-shape by 180 degrees through the process shown in FIG. 10 to the state shown in FIG.
A fourth intermediate material 34 as shown in FIG. In this process,
At the same time, the continuous plate portion 28 is formed into a cylindrical shape by rounding,
The butting portions 14 are configured by bringing the edges 27, 27 closer to each other. The fourth intermediate material 34 is completed except that circular holes 20, 20 are not formed at the distal ends of the connecting arms 12, 12, and screw holes 18 and through holes 19 are not formed at the flange portions 16, 17, respectively. It has the same configuration as the product yoke 10. Therefore, the tip of each of the connecting arms 12 constituting the fourth intermediate material 34 is subjected to a cutting process using a drilling machine or the like or a punching process such as a punching process using a press to perform the above-described circles. The holes 20, 20 are formed. The screw holes 18 and the through holes 19 are formed in the flange portions 16 and 17 by cutting and tapping. Then, the yoke 10 as shown in FIGS. In practicing the present invention, the thickness of each of the flange portions 16 and 17 is increased by a structure in which metal plates serving as raw materials are closely overlapped with each other as shown in FIG. As described in a gazette or the like, a single-sheet structure in which the thickness is ensured by a meat approach may be used.

[0023]

The yoke of the universal joint and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention are constructed and operated as described above, so that the assembling work between the shafts and the like is easy and the inexpensive universal joint is realized. Can contribute.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away side view of a completed yoke, showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view as seen from above in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a first intermediate material, (A) is a plan view,
(B) is a diagram viewed from below (A).

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a state in which a first intermediate material is being processed into a second intermediate material, wherein FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a view as seen from below FIG.

7A and 7B show steps subsequent to FIG. 6, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a view seen from below (A).

FIG. 8 shows a second intermediate material, (A) is a plan view,
(B) is a diagram viewed from below (A).

FIG. 9 shows a third intermediate material, (A) is a plan view,
(B) is a diagram viewed from below (A).

10A and 10B show a state in which a third intermediate material is being processed into a fourth intermediate material, wherein FIG. 10A is a plan view and FIG.
FIG.

11A and 11B show a fourth intermediate material, wherein FIG. 11A is a side view seen from the same direction in FIG. 1, FIG. 11B is a view seen from the left side of FIG. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a steering device incorporating a universal joint.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view taken in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering column 3 Intermediate shaft 4 Steering gear 5 Input shaft 6 Universal joint 7 First yoke 8 Second yoke 9 Cross shaft 10 Yoke 11 Coupling cylinder 12 Coupling arm 13 Cut 14 Butt portion 15 Serration groove 16 Flange part 17 Flange part 18 Screw hole 19 Through hole 20 Circular hole 21 First intermediate material 22 Base end side plate part 23 Front end side plate part 24a, 24b Notch 25 Constriction part 26 Bend end part 27 End edge 28 Continuous plate part 29 Tongue shape Plate part 30 Connecting plate part 31 Second intermediate material 32a, 32b Folded part 33 Third intermediate material 34 Fourth intermediate material

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical connecting cylinder portion formed by press-forming a metal plate, having a cut at a base end portion, a butt portion at a tip end portion, and a serration groove on an inner peripheral surface. A pair of flange portions provided integrally with the connecting cylinder portion with the cut portion interposed therebetween at a base end portion of the connecting cylinder portion, and one flange portion formed in a direction perpendicular to the flange surface. In order to insert a screw hole and a bolt to be screwed into this screw hole, the other flange portion is continuously formed with a through hole formed concentrically with the screw hole from a position opposite to the diametrical end of the distal end edge of the coupling cylinder portion. A yoke of a universal joint comprising a pair of connecting arms formed as described above and circular holes concentric with each other formed at the distal end of each connecting arm. And the pair of connecting arms exists symmetrically with respect to the virtual plane. A yoke for a universal joint, characterized in that the center of the cut exists in a position displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the virtual plane when a virtual plane in a state is considered. 2. A method for manufacturing a yoke for a universal joint according to claim 1, wherein a portion near the base end of the connecting cylinder portion and a pair of flange portions are formed by punching a metal plate as a raw material. To make the center of the base side plate part to perform, and the center of the tip side plate part to constitute the pair of connecting arms and the part near the front end of this connecting cylinder part, and to bend this intermediate material By applying the base-side plate portion to the proximal end portion of the coupling cylinder portion and a pair of flange portions, the distal-side plate portion to the proximal end portion of the coupling cylinder portion and a pair of flange portions, respectively. A method of manufacturing a yoke of a universal joint to constitute.