JP2001124104A - Flexible coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the concentration of the tensile stress to an outer peripheral part 5b or 6b of a first connecting belt 5 or a second connecting belt 6, and improve the durability. SOLUTION: Driving bobbin rings 3 and driven bobbin rings 4 are alternately mounted at intervals of 60 deg. in the circumferential direction, and alternately connected in the circumferential direction by first and second connecting belts 5, 6 hung in the shape of loops. Low friction sliding members 8 made of PTFE or the like are respectively mounted between the first and second connecting belts 5, 6 and the bobbin rings 3, 4 for preventing the generation of the difference in the tensile force between an inner peripheral parts 5a or 6a and an outer peripheral part 5b or 6b of the first connecting belt 5 or the second connecting belt 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible coupling for elastically connecting a drive-side rotary shaft and a driven-side rotary shaft, such as a joint between a propeller shaft of an automobile and a transmission or a differential gear. In particular, the present invention relates to a configuration in which a bobbin ring provided on a connector with a drive-side rotary shaft and a bobbin ring provided on a connector with a driven-side rotary shaft are connected via a loop-shaped connecting band.

As this kind of flexible coupling, for example, the one shown in FIG. 4 is known.
That is, a plurality of drive-side connectors a and driven-side connectors b are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction, and a pincushion in which a drive-side connector a and a driven-side connector b that are circumferentially adjacent to each other are mounted on the outer periphery thereof. The rings c and d are connected to each other by connecting bands e and f made of a polyester fiber or the like having an appropriate tensile elasticity and wound around the loops c and d, and the wound rings c and d and the connecting bands e and f are made of rubber, synthetic resin, or the like. It is embedded in an annular elastomer member g (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2568222).

As shown in FIG. 5, the thread winding rings c and d are respectively provided with sleeves c1 and d1 and a pair of collars c2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and fixed to the outer peripheral surfaces at both ends in the axial direction.
d2. The connecting band e is wound around the collars c2 and c2 of the bobbin ring c mounted on the drive side connector a and the collars d2 and d2 of the bobbin ring d mounted on the driven side connector b, respectively. The connecting band f adjacent to the circumferential direction includes a portion between the collars c2 and c2 on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve c1 of the bobbin ring c mounted on the driving side connector a and the bobbin ring d mounted on the driven side connector b. Is wound around the portion between the collars d2 and d2 on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve d1. That is, each drive-side connector a and each driven-side connector b, which are alternately arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, are circumferentially connected by two bundles of connection bands e and e and one bundle of connection bands f. The directions are connected alternately.

In this flexible coupling, a drive-side connector a is attached to a yoke at an axial end of a drive-side rotary shaft by bolts (not shown) arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, and a driven-side connector b is attached to the flexible coupling. It is attached to the yoke at the shaft end of the driven-side rotating shaft by bolts (not shown) arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, thereby transmitting the rotating torque of the driving-side rotating shaft to the driven-side rotating shaft and connecting the connecting band. e,
f and the deformation characteristics of the elastomer member g allow rotation transmission in a connection state (twisted state) in which the directions of the axes of the drive side rotation shaft and the driven side rotation shaft are different, and reduce the transmission vibration between the two shafts. It absorbs.

[0005]

In this type of flexible coupling, the connecting bands e and f extend in parallel with each other on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the elastomer member g between the winding rings c and d. As shown in FIG. 6, when the input of the transmission torque causes a relative torsional displacement of the torsion angle θ between the circumferentially adjacent driving-side thread winding ring c and the driven-side thread winding ring d, this is accompanied by E or f
Is a portion (hereinafter referred to as an inner portion) e2 which is unevenly distributed on the inner side (hereinafter referred to as an inner portion) in the elastomer member g or a portion (hereinafter referred to as an outer portion) e2 which is unevenly distributed on the outer side as compared with the length L1 of f1. Alternatively, the length L2 of f2 becomes relatively larger, that is, the outer peripheral side portion e2 or f2 receives a larger tensile force, and this tendency becomes more remarkable as the twist angle θ becomes larger. In this state, the outer peripheral side portion e2 or f2
, The torsional torque acts in a biased manner, thereby increasing the tensile stress and strain, thereby further increasing the torsional angle θ, and as a result, the connecting band e or f is damaged early.

When the friction between the winding rings c and d and the connecting band e or f is relatively small, the tension between the inner peripheral portion e1 or f1 and the outer peripheral portion e2 or f2 of the connecting band e or f is reduced. Due to the difference, slippage occurs between the spools c and d and the connecting band e or f, and the connecting band e or f
May wear and break sequentially.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a technical problem thereof is to prevent the occurrence of a difference in tension between an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion of a connecting band, thereby improving durability. An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible coupling excellent in performance.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The technical problems described above are:
This can be effectively solved by the present invention. That is, the flexible coupling according to the present invention includes a plurality of and the same number of drive-side threaded rings and driven-side threaded rings that are alternately arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and the drive-side threaded rings that are circumferentially adjacent to each other. A first connecting band wound in a loop over the driven side bobbin ring, and a driving side bobbin ring circumferentially adjacent between the first connecting bands circumferentially adjacent to each other. And a second connecting band wound around the driven side bobbin ring in a loop shape, and the drive side bobbin ring, the driven side bobbin ring and the first and second connecting bands are buried and formed into a circle. With an elastomer member that is continuous in the circumferential direction,
A low-friction sliding material is interposed between each of the wound rings and each of the first and second connecting bands. For this reason, when a relative torsional displacement due to torsional torque is input between the driving side wound ring and the driven side wound ring that are circumferentially adjacent to each other, the tension difference between the inner peripheral side portion and the outer peripheral side portion in the connection band is determined. Since slippage occurs in the low friction sliding material so as to eliminate, the inner peripheral side part and the outer peripheral side part receive the same tension, and since the sliding is performed with low friction, the wear of the connection band is also suppressed. You.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a flexible coupling according to the present invention by cutting it along a plane perpendicular to an axis, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line A ′ and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line BB ′. In the following description, the “circumferential direction” is the axis (the axis of the flexible coupling).
Is the direction of the circumference around.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a circumferential direction 1.
Three cylindrical drive-side connectors having three drive-side winding rings 3 mounted on the outer periphery thereof are arranged at intervals of 20 °, and reference numeral 2 denotes each intermediate portion between the drive-side connectors 1 and 1. Positions, ie, the drive-side connector 1 are cylindrical driven-side connectors which are arranged at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction at a phase different from that of the drive-side connector 1 by 60 ° and to which driven-side bobbin rings 4 are attached at each outer periphery. Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote first and second connecting bands arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, each of which is a driving-side bobbin ring 3 that is adjacent in the circumferential direction.
The (drive-side connector 1) and the driven-side bobbin ring 4 (the driven-side connector 2) are connected to each other. Reference numeral 7 denotes a state in which the bobbin rings 3, 4 and the connecting bands 5, 6 are embedded. And a circumferentially continuous annular elastomer member formed by vulcanization.

The drive-side connector 1 and the driven-side connector 2 are arranged such that their axes are parallel to the axis of the flexible coupling. The drive side bobbin ring 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a sleeve 31 to which the drive-side connector 1 is press-fitted is fitted, and a pair of collars 32, 3 each having a substantially U-shaped cross section and fixed to the outer peripheral surfaces at both ends in the axial direction and opened to the outer peripheral side.
Consists of two. The same applies to the driven-side bobbin ring 4, that is, as shown in FIG. 3, a sleeve 41 to which the driven-side connector 2 is press-fitted, and a cross-section fixed to both axial ends thereof and opened to the outer periphery. A pair of substantially U-shaped collars 42, 42
Consists of

The first connecting strips 5 are arranged in the circumferential direction at equal intervals, and are disposed between the pair of collars 32 of the driving-side spool 3 and the corresponding pair of collars of the driven-side spool 4 corresponding thereto. 4
It is wrapped in a loop over the space between the two. The second connecting band 6 is located between the first connecting bands 5, 5, and each of the collars 42 of the driven-side spool 3 and the corresponding collar 32 of the driving-side spool 3 corresponding to the collar 42. And is wound in a loop over. That is, each of the drive-side connectors 1 and each of the driven-side connectors 2 are circumferentially 60 ° apart from each other.
Two bundles of the first connecting bands 5, 5 which are alternately arranged at intervals and are wound around the drive-side and driven-side thread winding rings 3, 4;
The bundles are alternately connected in the circumferential direction by a bundle of second connection bands 6.

The first and second connecting bands 5, 6
Is obtained by winding fibers 51 and 61 made of a material having a required tensile elasticity such as polyester, nylon or Kevlar (trade name) in a multilayer shape.

A low friction sliding member 8 is interposed between the drive-side and driven-side bobbin rings 3, 4 and the first and second connecting bands 5, 6, respectively. The low-friction sliding member 8 is typically made of PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene), and the first and second connection bands 5 and 6 in the sleeves 41 and the collars 32 and 42 of the spools 3 and 4. Is coated on the surface in contact with, or interposed as a sheet-like molded body.

A window 7a is formed in the elastomer member 7 so as to be located between the driving side thread winding rings 3 and the driven side thread winding rings 4. The window portion 7a prevents the elastomer member 7 from being cracked by compression when a relative torsional displacement is input to the flexible coupling.

The flexible coupling according to the above embodiment is similar to that according to the prior art, and each drive side connector 1
Are attached to the yoke at the shaft end of the drive-side rotary shaft at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction by bolts (not shown) inserted therein, while the driven connectors 2 are attached by bolts (not shown) inserted therein. The yoke is attached to the yoke at the shaft end of the driven-side rotary shaft facing the shaft end of the drive-side rotary shaft at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction. As a result, the rotation of the drive-side rotating shaft is transmitted to the driven-side rotating shaft via the first and second connecting bands 5 and 6, and the deformation of the first and second connecting bands 5 and 6 and the elastomer member 7 is achieved. According to the characteristics, rotation transmission in a twisted state in which the directions of the axes of the drive side rotation shaft and the driven side rotation shaft are different is allowed, and the transmission vibration between the two shafts is absorbed.

Here, due to the input of the torsional torque accompanying the rotation transmission, the distance between the drive-side thread winding ring 3 and the driven-side thread winding ring 4 relatively changes, for example, in a direction in which the first connecting band 5 is pulled. In this case, a portion of the first connection band 5 that is relatively unevenly distributed on the outer peripheral side in the elastomer member 7 (hereinafter, referred to as “the first connection band 5”)
When the tension of the outer peripheral side portion 5b becomes greater than the tension of the portion 5a unevenly distributed on the inner peripheral side (hereinafter, referred to as the inner peripheral side portion) 5a, the tension is provided to each of the winding rings 3 and 4 due to the difference in tension. Sliding between the low-friction sliding member 8 and the first connection band 5 or between the low-friction sliding member 8 and the thread-wound rings 3 and 4 in a direction to eliminate the tension difference occurs. For this reason, the inner peripheral side portion 5a and the outer peripheral side portion 5b receive substantially the same tensile stress, and the tensile stress does not concentrate on the outer peripheral side portion 5b, thereby preventing a decrease in tensile strength. Is done.

The same applies to the case where the distance between the driving side spool 3 and the driven side spool 4 is relatively changed, for example, in the direction in which the second connecting band 6 is tensioned.
And the tensile stress acting on the outer peripheral side portion 6b are substantially equal to each other due to slippage through the low friction sliding member 8, so that
A decrease in tensile strength due to concentration of tensile stress on the outer peripheral side portion 6b is prevented.

Further, the wear of the fibers 51, 61 constituting the first and second connecting bands 5, 6 is effectively prevented by the low friction sliding member 8.

The present invention is not construed as being limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the arrangement interval between the drive-side connector 1 and the driven-side connector 2 does not necessarily have to be equally spaced in the circumferential direction as shown in the figure, and is determined according to the specifications of the shaft end yoke to be mounted. Things. Also,
As a material of the low friction sliding member 8, a solid lubricating material other than PTFE can be used.

[0021]

According to the flexible coupling of the present invention, the tensile stress due to the torque is unevenly distributed on the outer peripheral portions of the first and second connecting bands wound around the driving-side and the driven-side spools. Effectively prevent it from acting,
In addition, durability can be improved in order to effectively prevent abrasion of the fibers constituting the connecting band.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of a flexible coupling according to the present invention by cutting along a plane perpendicular to an axis.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part taken along a line AA 'in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part taken along a line BB ′ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a flexible coupling according to the related art, cut along a plane perpendicular to an axis.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible coupling according to the related art, cut along a plane passing through an axis.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the occurrence of a tension difference in a connecting band in the above-described conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 drive side connector 2 driven side connector 3 drive side wound ring 31, 41 sleeve 32, 42 collar 4 driven side wound ring 5 first connecting band 51, 61 fiber 5 a, 6 a inner peripheral side portion 5 b, 6 b outer peripheral side Part 6 Second connecting band 7 Elastomer member 7a Window 8 Low friction sliding material

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of and the same number of drive side spools (3) and driven side spools (4) alternately arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, and the drive side spools adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. (3) and a first connecting band (5) wound in a loop over the driven side bobbin ring (4), and the first connecting bands (5, 5) adjacent in the circumferential direction. ), A second connecting band (6) wound in a loop over a drive-side wound ring (3) and a driven-side wound ring (4) that are circumferentially adjacent to each other; And a circumferentially continuous elastomer member (7) formed by burying the spool (3), the driven spool (4), and the first and second connecting bands (5, 6). A low friction sliding material (8) is interposed between each of the bobbin rings (3, 4) and each of the first and second connecting bands (5, 6). Flexible coupling that.