JP2003206949A - Elastic joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic joint easy to manufacture and stably securing sufficiently soft axial rigidity and desired torsional rigidity. <P>SOLUTION: A reinforcing member to be embedded in a body rubber elastic plate 10 for reinforcing the torsional rigidity of the body rubber elastic plate 10 around its rotating center axis P is formed of a spring steel disc plate material located in a plane perpendicular to the rotating center axis P. A circular hole 20 is provided in the disc plate material corresponding to a position of forming connection holes 16, 18 via which two rotating shafts provided on the body rubber elastic plate 10 are connected. A waveform bent portion 38 having a waveform in the direction of the thickness of the disc plate material is provided in an area 21 between the peripherally adjacent circular holes 20 of the disc plate material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elastic joint, and more particularly to an elastic joint in which two rotary shafts are elastically connected to each other so that a rotational force is transmitted between the two rotary shafts.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a kind of joint (coupling) that connects two shaft members to each other, two rotary shafts are elastically connected to each other and a rotational force is transmitted between the two rotary shafts. Such elastic joints are known. This elastic joint is effective for transmitting the rotational driving force between the two rotary shafts while suppressing the transmission of vibrations. For example, the elastic joint is installed in a connecting portion of rotary shafts such as a steering shaft and a propeller shaft of an automobile. Has been used.

By the way, in such an elastic joint, in order to obtain a high level of vibration damping performance, the spring characteristic (axial rigidity) in the axial direction is soft, and the rotational force from the output side to the input side is good. In order to obtain the transmission response, it is desired that the spring characteristic (torsional rigidity) in the torsion direction is hard. In particular, when it is used by being installed in a connecting portion of a steering shaft of an automobile, a larger torsional rigidity is required in order to realize an excellent steering operability (vehicle handling feeling). Is done.

For this reason, in the prior art, the input side rotation shaft and the output side rotation shaft are respectively connected to the disk-shaped main rubber elastic body which is interposed between the two rotation shafts so as to be integrally rotatable. A plurality of input-side connection holes and output-side connection holes are alternately provided on the same circumference around the rotation center axis, and among the plurality of connection holes, the input-side connection holes and the output-side connection holes that are adjacent in the circumferential direction are connected. A long cord member made of synthetic fiber was wound around the outer peripheral portion of the hole in multiple layers, and was constructed.
So-called corded elastic joints have been widely adopted as steering couplings for automobiles. In the elastic joint with a cord having such a structure, the cord member having excellent tensile strength functions as a reinforcing member that reinforces the torsional rigidity, so that the torsional rigidity is ensured and the main body rubber elastic Due to the compression or shear deformation of the body, a soft spring characteristic in the axial direction is exhibited.

However, in such a conventional elastic joint with a cord, in order to secure the rigidity (strength) of the reinforcing member, it is necessary to wind the cord member in multiple layers. Not only is the manufacturing process of the joint cumbersome and complicated, but winding irregularities are likely to occur when the cord member is wound, and when the rubber elastic body is vulcanized, the cord member made of synthetic fiber is not heated. It shrinks or the winding state is disturbed by the vulcanization pressure,
The inherent problem is that the spring characteristics in the torsion direction become unstable, and as a result, it becomes difficult to stably secure the desired torsional rigidity.

[0006]

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and a problem to be solved by the present invention is that the manufacturing is easy and the shaft rigidity is desired to be sufficiently soft. The problem to be solved is to provide an elastic joint in which torsional rigidity can be stably ensured.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a main body rubber elastic plate on the same circumference around a rotation center axis of a main body rubber elastic plate having a thick disk shape. A plurality of connecting holes for connecting two rotating shafts positioned on both sides of the main body rubber elastic plate, and a reinforcing member embedded in the main rubber elastic plate for reinforcing the torsional rigidity around the central axis of rotation. In the elastic joint configured as described above, the reinforcing member is a circle made of spring steel, which continuously extends around the rotation center axis with a predetermined width in a plane perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the main body rubber elastic plate. A circular hole is formed in each of the annular plate members, and each of the circular plate members is provided with one circular hole at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the connecting hole. Circular hole The site between the waveform bends a waveform configuration in the thickness direction is provided in the circular annular plate, the elastic coupling, characterized in that it is configured, it is an gist thereof.

That is, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, the reinforcing member for reinforcing the torsional rigidity of the main rubber elastic plate has a predetermined width in a plane perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the main rubber elastic plate. A conventional corded elastic joint in which a reinforcing member formed by using a cord member made of synthetic fiber is embedded because it is composed of an annular plate material made of spring steel and continuously extending around a central axis. Unlike the above, when forming a reinforcing member, in order to secure the rigidity (strength) of the reinforcing member, there is no need to perform a troublesome work such as winding the forming member in multiple layers. , Not only the forming operation can be advantageously simplified, the occurrence of uneven shape of the reinforcing member can be effectively eliminated, and also the heat shrinkage of the reinforcing member during vulcanization of the main rubber elastic plate, The occurrence of disturbance or the like of the form by 硫圧,
It can be aggravated and advantageously resolved. Moreover, in view of the shape and arrangement of the annular plate material as the reinforcing member,
When the two rotating shafts connected to each connecting hole are displaced relative to each other in the circumferential direction, the torsion torque from the two rotating shafts is perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the main rubber elastic plate. In this plane, the load about the rotation center axis is input. Therefore, in such an elastic joint according to the present invention, the spring characteristics in the torsional direction about the rotation center axis of the main body rubber elastic plate in which the annular plate material as the reinforcing member is embedded are sufficiently hard and stable. To get.

Further, in the elastic joint according to the present invention,
The annular plate material has an annular shape that continuously extends around the rotation center axis of the main rubber elastic plate, and one circular hole is provided at a position corresponding to the connection position of the connecting hole. From the above, the annular plate material as the reinforcing member is at least, in the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion thereof, is continuous over the entire circumference, and can be made in a form that is not divided in the circumferential direction, As a result, the rigidity (strength) of the annular plate material as the reinforcing member can be more advantageously ensured, and the durability of the annular plate material, and thus the elastic joint as a whole, can be effectively improved. Moreover, in such an elastic joint, since the two rotary shafts connected to the respective connecting holes are surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of each circular hole over the entire circumference thereof, and positioned, for example,
Even when the two rotary shafts are displaced in the radial direction, a load can be surely applied to the annular plate member from each rotary shaft regardless of the direction of the displacement, and this also enables Therefore, the durability of the elastic joint as a whole can be advantageously increased.

Further, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, a corrugated bent portion having a corrugated shape in the thickness direction of the annular plate member is provided at a portion between the circular holes adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the annular plate member. Therefore, when the main body rubber elastic plate is elastically deformed in the axial direction due to the axial relative displacement between the two rotary shafts connected to the connecting holes, the annular plate material is easily It can be flexibly deformed, whereby the axial spring characteristic of the main rubber elastic plate can be made extremely effective to be soft.

Therefore, the elastic joint according to the present invention can be manufactured easily because the work of forming the reinforcing member is simplified, and the elastic elastic plate of the main body is made of rubber. While the spring characteristic in the axial direction can be made sufficiently soft, the sufficiently rigid spring characteristic in the torsional direction about the rotation center axis can be stably obtained, so that sufficiently rigid torsional rigidity and sufficiently soft axial rigidity can be obtained. In addition, both can be stably and reliably ensured, and more excellent use durability can be extremely effectively exhibited.

Further, in the elastic joint according to the present invention as described above, circular holes are provided in the annular plate material embedded in the rubber elastic plate of the main body at positions corresponding to the positions where the connecting holes are arranged. Therefore, inside each circular hole, a rubber layer having a predetermined thickness is formed, which is elastically deformed when the two rotating shafts connected to each connecting hole are relatively displaced in the circumferential direction. By virtue of this, for example, under the condition that the two rotary shafts are connected to the respective connecting holes, the minute vibration generated between the two rotary shafts can be advantageously absorbed by the cushioning action due to the elastic deformation of the rubber layer. As a result, superior vibration damping characteristics can be exhibited.

Further, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, since the rubber layer as described above is provided inside each connecting hole, when the torsion torque is inputted to the rubber elastic plate of the main body, the polar angle of the torsion angle is inputted. In a small area, a very soft spring characteristic due to the rubber layer in the torsion direction is exhibited, while in a larger torsion angle area, a hard spring characteristic due to the rigidity of the reinforcing member is exhibited in the torsion direction. As a result, it is possible to obtain an advantage that a variety of torsional rigidity, which cannot be obtained by conventional products, can be advantageously exhibited.

According to one of the preferred embodiments of the elastic joint according to the present invention, a cylindrical collar member is provided for each of the plurality of circular holes provided in the annular plate member. The cylindrical portion is formed by being inserted and fixed so as to be extended from the surface of the annular plate member.

In the elastic joint having such a structure, since the cylindrical portion is formed around each connecting hole to which the two rotary shafts are connected, the two elastic members are connected to each connecting hole. When the rotating shafts are displaced relative to each other in the circumferential direction, a torsion torque is applied from the two rotating shafts to the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion having an area sufficiently larger than the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole. It will be input, so that the relative displacement of the two rotating shafts in the circumferential direction,
The torsion torque input from the two rotary shafts to the annular plate material that is the reinforcing member can be made sufficiently large as compared with the case where it is input only to the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole. , The spring characteristics of the main body rubber elastic plate in which the annular plate member is embedded in the torsional direction about the rotation center axis can be made sufficiently harder, and even harder torsional rigidity can be stably and reliably ensured. Of.

Moreover, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, the inner diameters of the cylindrical portions provided in the circular holes can be easily adjusted by making the inner diameters of the collar members inserted and fixed in the circular holes equal. In addition, since it is possible to reliably make the same size, while embedding the annular plate material in the main rubber elastic plate,
It is possible to make the thickness of the rubber layer formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion constant, and thus, in a region where the twist angle is small, which greatly depends on the thickness of the rubber layer. The variation of the spring characteristics in the torsion direction can be advantageously suppressed, and the stable vibration damping performance can be more effectively ensured.

Further, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, when the cylindrical collar member is inserted and fixed in each of the plurality of circular holes, it is advantageous that one end of the collar member on one side in the axial direction of the collar member. And a plurality of circular shapes provided on the annular plate member in a state where the flange member is provided with the outward flange part and the outward flange part is in contact with one surface of the annular plate member. It is inserted and fixed in each of the holes.

In the elastic joint having such a structure, by inserting and fixing the collar member in each circular hole, the length of extension of the cylindrical portion formed in each circular hole from the surface of the annular plate material. Can be easily made to have a constant length, whereby the spring characteristics in the torsional direction around the rotation center axis of the main rubber elastic plate can be more stably secured with sufficient hardness. It will be.

Further, according to another desirable mode of the elastic joint according to the present invention, a peripheral surface of each of the plurality of circular holes is opposite to a contact surface of the annular plate member with the projecting portion. The rising part rising on the surface of is formed integrally with a tapered cylindrical shape whose diameter is gradually reduced toward the tip, and the collar member is press-fitted into the rising part in the rising direction. Thereby, the collar member is fixed to each of the plurality of circular holes. As a result, the fixing of the collar member to each circular hole, in other words, the formation of the cylindrical portion for each circular hole can be performed more easily, so that in the elastic joint, the torsional rigidity is sufficiently hard and stable. The anti-vibration performance can be easily realized.

Furthermore, in the elastic joint according to the present invention, when a rising portion is formed at the peripheral portion of each circular hole, it is preferable that the tip end surface of the rising portion is formed in the press-fitting portion of the collar member to the rising portion. Is provided with an engaging portion for engaging with,
The engagement of the engaging portion with the leading end surface of the rising portion prevents the collar member from being disengaged from the circular hole in the direction opposite to the press-fitting direction with respect to the rising portion.

In the elastic joint having such a structure, the collar member inserted into each circular hole is brought into contact with the annular plate member by the outward flange portion provided at one end portion in the axial direction, Under the condition that the rising portion is prevented from being disengaged from the inside of each circular hole in the press-fitting direction, it is prevented from being disengaged from the inside of each circular hole in the direction opposite to the press-fitting direction. Before embedding the annular plate member, which is a member, in the rubber elastic body plate of the main body, it is possible to reliably prevent the displacement of the collar member at each circular hole and the dropout from each circular hole, and thus the cylindrical portion made of such a collar member. It is possible to more stably secure the excellent effect that can be achieved by forming each of the circular holes.

According to another advantageous aspect of the elastic joint according to the present invention, a ring-shaped retaining member is press-fitted into a portion of the collar member extending from the surface of the annular plate member. Then, by sandwiching the peripheral edge portion of the circular hole provided in the annular plate member between the press-fitting member and the outward flange portion provided in the collar member, the collar member is It is fixed to each of the plurality of circular holes of the annular plate member. This also makes it possible to more easily form the cylindrical portion formed of a part of the collar member in each circular hole, so that in the elastic joint, sufficiently rigid torsional rigidity and stable vibration damping performance can be obtained. It can be easily realized.

Further, according to still another preferred aspect of the elastic joint according to the present invention, the press-fitting portion of the retaining member of the collar member has a holding surface of the annular plate member in the retaining member. An engaging portion that engages with the surface on the opposite side is provided, and by the engagement of the engaging portion with the retaining member, the insertion direction of the collar member with respect to the circular hole provided in the annular plate member is It will be configured so that the disengagement from the circular hole in the opposite direction is prevented.

Even in the elastic joint having such a structure, the collar member is displaced in each circular hole or is embedded in each circular hole before the annular plate material as the reinforcing member is embedded in the rubber elastic plate of the main body. Since it can be securely fixed without easily falling off, it is possible to more stably secure the excellent effect that can be obtained by forming the cylindrical portion made of the collar member in each circular hole. It becomes.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, in order to more specifically clarify the present invention, the structure of an elastic joint according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a steering coupling of an automobile as an embodiment of an elastic joint having a structure according to the present invention in a front view and a longitudinal sectional view, respectively. There is. As is apparent from those drawings, the steering coupling of the present embodiment is configured to include a main body rubber elastic plate 10 and a reinforcing member 12 embedded therein.

More specifically, the main body rubber elastic plate 10 which constitutes this steering coupling is, as a whole,
It has a substantially thick annular plate shape, and a central hole 14 having a cylindrical inner surface is formed at the center thereof so as to penetrate in the thickness direction. In addition, the main body rubber elastic plate 10
In the outer peripheral portion, two first connecting holes 16 and two second connecting holes 18 are substantially equal in the circumferential direction on the circumference of a virtual circle: Q drawn around the central axis: P. They are provided so as to be alternately positioned one by one with a phase difference of 90 degrees from each other. In other words, the first and second connection holes 16 and 18 are located at the corners of each apex of the square inscribed in the imaginary circle: Q, and are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Incidentally, the first and second connecting holes 1
Reference numerals 6 and 18 have substantially cylindrical inner surfaces having the same diameter as each other, and each axial center (the central axis of each of the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18) is connected to the main rubber elastic plate 1.
The central axis of 0 is formed so as to be parallel to P.

Although not shown here, such a main body rubber elastic plate 10 is used as in the conventional case.
Are provided on a part of both shafts or both shafts in such a manner that they are integrally rotatable about a central axis: P between the two rotation shafts of the steering wheel side shaft and the steering gear side shaft. The mounting bolts and the like are inserted and fixed in the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18, respectively, so that both shafts are elastically connected to each other, and the rotational driving force of the steering wheel is applied to the steering gear. In addition, the vibration transmission between the steering wheel side shaft and the steering gear side shaft is suppressed based on the elastic deformation of the main body rubber elastic plate 10. -ing

By the way, in the steering coupling of the present embodiment, as described above, the main rubber elastic plate 10 is used.
In addition, the reinforcing member 12 is embedded, but the reinforcing member 12 is constructed with a very characteristic structure which is not found in the conventional products.

That is, this reinforcing member 12 is, for example,
It is formed from a plate material of spring steel such as carbon steel or alloy steel.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an annular shape having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole 14 of the main rubber elastic plate 10 and an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the main rubber elastic plate 10 is formed. The main body elastic rubber plate 10 is positioned coaxially with the main rubber elastic plate 10. In other words, here
The reinforcing member 12 has a width of about half the width from the outer peripheral surface of the main rubber elastic plate 10 to the inner peripheral surface of the center hole 14 and continuously extends around the rotation center axis P of the main rubber elastic plate 10. In the plane R inside the main rubber elastic plate 10, which is composed of an annular plate material made of spring steel and spreads in a direction perpendicular to the rotation center axis P, the widthwise center portion is the virtual Circle: It is embedded in the main body rubber elastic plate 10 in a state of being arranged on the circle Q.

Further, in the reinforcing member 12 made of such a ring-shaped plate material made of spring steel, it corresponds to the formation positions of the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18 provided in the main rubber elastic plate 10. Further, the first and second connecting holes 1 are formed at positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the circumference of the virtual circle: Q.
Six circular holes 20 each having a diameter larger than 6, 18 are provided, one in total, and four of the four circular holes 20 are located between adjacent ones in the circumferential direction. , And each of them is a spring portion 21.

At the peripheral edge of each circular hole 20 in the reinforcing member 12, there is integrally formed a rising portion 22 that rises on one surface in the thickness direction of the reinforcing member 12 having the shape of an annular plate. There is. This rising part 22
Is composed of, for example, a stretch flange portion formed by subjecting the peripheral edge portion of each circular hole 20 to a burring process or the like. Here, the overall shape is gradually reduced in diameter toward the tip. It has a tapered tubular shape.

In addition, collars 24 made of a metal material or a hard resin material and having the same shape and the same size are inserted into the respective circular holes 20 in which the rising portions 22 are formed. Is fixed. As is clear from FIG. 5, the collar 24 is provided with the first and second connecting holes 1 provided in the main rubber elastic body 10.
6, 18 and an outer diameter slightly larger than the tip opening of the rising portion 22 provided in each circular hole 20, and smaller than the thickness dimension of the main rubber elastic body 10. And has a substantially cylindrical shape having a height larger than the height dimension of the rising portion 22. Further, at one end portion in the height direction of the collar 24, an outward flange portion 26 that protrudes outward by a predetermined dimension in the radial direction perpendicular to the axis and continuously extends in the circumferential direction.
However, it is provided integrally.

Then, such a collar 24 is provided at the end opposite to the side where the outward flange 26 is formed with respect to each circular hole 20, and the reinforcing member 12 made of an annular plate material.
From the surface on the side opposite to the side where the rising portion 22 is formed, the rising portion 22 is press-fitted in the rising direction,
One surface in the thickness direction of the outward flange portion 26 is brought into contact with the surface of the reinforcing member 12 opposite to the surface on which the rising portion 22 is formed, and the end portion on the opposite side of the outward flange portion 26 is formed. The reinforcing member 12 is fixed to the circular holes 20 in a state of being extended from the surface of the reinforcing member 12 on the side where the rising portions 22 are formed. The rising portion 2 of the reinforcing member 12 has a constant inner diameter larger than the connecting holes 16 and 18 corresponding to each circular hole 20.
(2) A cylindrical portion 30 is provided, which provides a cylindrical surface 28 having a constant extension length from the forming side surface.
In addition, here, such a cylindrical portion 30 is used for each circular hole 20.
The rubber layer 32 having a constant thickness is provided inside the circular holes 20 by being provided on the cylindrical surface 28.
Is formed so as to cover the entire surface of.

In this embodiment, the collar 24
Outward flange portion 2 that is a press-fitting portion into the rising portion 22 of the
On the outer peripheral surface of the end portion on the side opposite to the 6 formation side, the collar 24 faces the contact surface of the outward flange portion 26 with the reinforcing member 12.
Engaging projection 36 having an engaging surface 34 extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the
And the engaging surface 34 of the engaging projection 36 is engaged with the tip end surface of the rising portion 22 in a press-fitted state into the rising portion 22 of the collar 24, whereby the main body of the reinforcing member 12 is Before being embedded in the rubber elastic plate 10,
The collar 24 can be prevented from being pulled out from the circular hole 20 in the direction opposite to the press-fitting direction with respect to the rising portion 22. Further, of course, before the reinforcing member 12 is embedded in the main body rubber elastic plate 10, the rising portion 2 of the collar 24 is formed.
Withdrawal from the circular hole 20 in the press-fitting direction with respect to 2 is prevented by the contact of the outward flange portion 26 with the reinforcing member 12.

Further, in the reinforcing member 12 provided with a plurality of circular holes 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the four spring portions 21 located between the circular holes 20 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Further, one wavy bending portion 38 is provided for each. The corrugated bent portion 38 has a form in which each spring portion 21 of the reinforcing member 12 is bent in the thickness direction. That is, the wavy bent portion 38 has a reverse cross section U which is convex toward the rising direction of the rising portion 22 provided on one side in the thickness direction of the spring portion 21, specifically, the peripheral portion of each circular hole 20. V-shaped convex portion 40
And a concave portion 4 having a U-shaped cross section that is recessed toward the opposite side.
2 and 1 each have a wavy shape continuously formed in the circumferential direction. And
As a result, the reinforcing member 12 can be easily bent and deformed in the thickness direction at each of the wavy bent portions 38 of the four spring portions 21.

As described above, the reinforcing member 12 having such a structure has the circular holes 2 on the flat surface R which extends in the direction perpendicular to the rotation center axis P of the main rubber elastic plate 10 as described above.
0 is made coaxial with the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18 provided in the main body rubber elastic plate 10 so as to extend continuously around the rotation center axis P. In this state, the steering coupling of the present embodiment is embedded in the main rubber elastic plate 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Thus, in the steering coupling of this embodiment having such a structure, it is positioned on both sides of the main rubber elastic plate 10 and the first and second main rubber elastic plates 10 are positioned. By inserting and fixing fixing bolts or the like into the connecting holes 16 and 18, the two rotating shafts of the steering wheel side shaft and the steering gear side shaft, which are connected to each other, are relatively displaced in the axial direction, and the main body rubber elastic plate 10 is formed. When elastically deformed in the axial direction, the reinforcing member 12 is easily flexibly deformed in the corrugated bent portions 38 provided in each of the four spring portions 21, and the spring in the axial direction of the main rubber elastic plate 10 is deformed. The characteristics can be made extremely effective and soft, and when the two rotary shafts are displaced relative to each other about the rotation center axis P. From these two rotational axes, relative to the four spring portions 21 of the reinforcing member 12, the rotation central axis:
By inputting a torsional torque as a load around P, extremely hard spring characteristics are exerted in each of the spring portions 21, so that the rotation center axis of the main rubber elastic plate 10: P
The spring characteristic in the twisting direction can be made sufficiently hard.

Further, in such a steering coupling, a constant extension length is provided in each circular hole 20 of the reinforcing member 12 which is positioned corresponding to the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18 of the main rubber elastic plate 10. With strength, the reinforcing member 12
Since the cylindrical portion 30 extending from one surface is provided, at the time of relative displacement around the rotation center axis P of the two rotation shafts connected to the first and second connection holes 16 and 18, The reinforcing member 12 receives a torsion torque from the two rotation shafts on the entire surface of the cylindrical surface 28 of each cylindrical portion 30 having a constant area and being sufficiently larger than the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole 20, As a result, in each spring portion 21 positioned between those adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of each such circular hole 20, a stiffer spring characteristic is stably exhibited, and the rotation of the main body rubber elastic plate 10 is thereby prevented. The central axis: the spring characteristic in the torsional direction around P can be made sufficiently harder.

Moreover, in the steering coupling of the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 12 is formed of, for example, a cord member made of synthetic fiber because it is made of a spring steel annular plate member. Unlike a conventional elastic joint with a cord in which a reinforcing member is embedded, when forming the reinforcing member 12, the forming member may be wound in multiple layers to improve the rigidity (strength) of the reinforcing member 12. Not only is it unnecessary to perform troublesome work, the reinforcing member 12 can be easily formed, but also unevenness in the shape of the reinforcing member 12 can be effectively eliminated. The heat shrinkage of the reinforcing member 12 at the time of vulcanization and the occurrence of morphological disorder due to the vulcanization pressure can be advantageously eliminated.

Therefore, the steering coupling of this embodiment as described above can be easily manufactured, and a sufficiently hard torsional rigidity and a sufficiently soft axial rigidity are both stably and reliably ensured. As a result, excellent steering operability (vehicle handling feeling) is realized while sufficiently suppressing vibration transmission between the steering wheel side shaft and the steering gear side shaft. It can be done.

Further, in the steering coupling of this embodiment, the inside of each connecting hole 20 of the reinforcing member 12 positioned corresponding to the first and second connecting holes 16 and 18 to which the two rotary shafts are connected. Since the rubber layer 32 is formed on the rubber layer 32, a slight vibration generated between the two rotation shafts connected to the first and second connection holes 16 and 18 is applied to the rubber layer 32.
By the buffering action based on the elastic deformation of the rubber, it can be absorbed favorably, and more excellent vibration damping characteristics can be exhibited. Further, when the torsion torque is input to the rubber elastic plate 10, the torsion angle In the extremely small region, the extremely soft spring characteristic derived from the rubber layer 32 is exerted in the torsion direction, while in the region of the torsion angle larger than that, the spring characteristic in the torsion direction derived from each spring portion 21 of the reinforcing member 12 is exerted. A hard spring characteristic can be exerted, and it is possible to obtain an advantage that a variety of torsional rigidity, which cannot be obtained by conventional products, can be advantageously exerted.

Moreover, in the steering coupling of this embodiment, the rubber layer 3 provided inside each circular hole 20.
Since No. 2 has a constant thickness, variations in spring characteristics in the torsion direction can be advantageously suppressed in a region where the torsion angle is small, which is largely influenced by the thickness of the rubber layer 32, and stable. The anti-vibration performance can be more effectively ensured.

Further, in the steering coupling of this embodiment, since the reinforcing member 12 has the shape of an annular plate material and the circular hole 20 is formed therein, at least the reinforcing member 12 is provided. The inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion can be configured to be continuous over the entire circumference and not divided in the circumferential direction, whereby the rigidity (strength) of the reinforcing member 12 can be more advantageously Therefore, the durability of the reinforcing member 12 and thus the entire steering coupling can be effectively improved.

Furthermore, in the steering coupling of this embodiment, the collar 24 forming the cylindrical portion 30 inside each connecting hole 20 of the reinforcing member 12 has the rising portion 22 of each connecting hole 20 into which the collar 24 is press fitted. The engaging surface 34 of the engaging protrusion 36 provided on the upper end is engaged with the tip end surface of the rising portion 22, and the outwardly facing flange portion 26 provided at one end portion in the axial direction is brought into contact with the reinforcing member 12. As a result, before the reinforcing member 12 is embedded in the main body rubber elastic plate 10, the collar 24 can be prevented from being pulled out from the circular hole 20 in the press-fitting direction to the rising portion 22 and in the opposite direction. From that point, the fixing of the collar 24 to each circular hole 20, that is, each circular hole 20
The formation of the cylindrical portion 30 relative to the
Thereby, sufficiently rigid torsional rigidity and stable vibration damping performance can be more easily ensured.

The specific construction of the present invention has been described above in detail, but this is merely an example, and the present invention is not restricted by the above description.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the main rubber elastic plate 10 has the first connecting hole 16 to which one of the two rotating shafts is connected and the second connecting hole 18 to which the other is connected.
Although two each were provided, the number of such connection holes 16 and 18 provided is not limited to this, and, of course, those connection holes 1 and 18 are provided.
The number of circular holes 20 provided in the reinforcing member 12 corresponding to the formation positions of 6 and 18 can be appropriately changed according to the number of connecting holes 16 and 18.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the wavy bent portion 38 provided in each spring portion 21 of the reinforcing member 12 is the spring portion 2
1 has a convex portion 40 having an inverted U-shaped cross section that is convex toward one side in the thickness direction and a concave portion 42 that has a U-shaped cross section that is depressed toward the opposite side. The wavy bent portion 38 has a wavy shape in the thickness direction of the spring portion 21. However, it is not limited in any way. Therefore, for example, the shapes of the convex portion 40 and the concave portion 42 are
It may have an inverted V-shaped cross section or a V-shaped cross section, or the entire shape may be a corrugated shape in which the convex portions 40 and the concave portions 42 are alternately formed continuously in the circumferential direction. .

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the engaging projection 36 having the engaging surface 34 is provided at the press-fitting portion of the collar 24, but even if the engaging projection 36 and the engaging surface 34 are omitted, It doesn't matter.

Further, each circular hole 20 in the reinforcing member 12
The fixing structure of the collar 24 to the collar is not particularly limited to that shown in the above-described embodiment, and for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the collar 24 has a circular hole 20 in which the rising portion 22 is omitted. With the collar 24 inserted or press-fitted therein, a ring-shaped retaining member 44 is press-fitted into the extending portion of the collar 24 from the spring portion 21.
The peripheral edge of the circular hole 20 is clamped between the collar 24 and the outward flange portion 26 of the collar 24, so that the collar 24
It is also possible to fix the to the circular hole 20.

When the fixing structure for fixing the collar 24 to the circular hole 20 using the retaining member 44 is adopted,
The engaging surface 34 is formed on the extending portion of the collar 24 from the spring portion 21.
By providing the engaging protrusion 36 having the above, and engaging the retaining member 44 with the engaging surface 34 of the engaging protrusion 36, the collar 24 is moved in the direction opposite to the insertion direction into the circular hole 20. You may make it prevent withdrawal from the circular hole 20. Also by this, the fixing of the collar 24 to each circular hole 20, that is, the formation of the cylindrical portion 30 to each circular hole 20, can be performed more easily, and thus sufficiently hard torsional rigidity and stable vibration damping performance can be obtained. , Can be secured more easily. Further, of course, there is no problem even if the engagement projections 36 and the engagement surfaces 34 are omitted.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a specific example of the present invention applied to a steering coupling of an automobile has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a connecting portion for various rotary shafts such as a propeller shaft of an automobile. As a matter of course, the present invention can be advantageously applied to any of the elastic joints interposed in the above.

Although not listed one by one, the present invention is
It can be carried out in an embodiment in which various changes, modifications, improvements, etc. are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such an embodiment does not depart from the gist of the present invention.
Both are included within the scope of the present invention,
Needless to say.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, the elastic joint according to the present invention can be easily manufactured, and has a sufficiently soft axial rigidity and a sufficiently hard torsional rigidity which are both stable. In addition, it can be reliably ensured, and more excellent use durability can be exhibited very effectively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front explanatory view showing an example of an elastic joint having a structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

3 is a front explanatory view showing an example of a reinforcing member embedded in a main rubber elastic body of the elastic joint shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial explanatory view of a main part in a VV cross section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing another example of the reinforcing member embedded in the elastic joint having the structure according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Main Body Rubber Elastic Plate 12 Reinforcement Member 16 First Connection Hole 18 Second Connection Hole 20 Circular Hole 21 Spring Part 22 Rise Part 24 Collar 26 Outward Flange Part 30 Cylindrical Part 32 Rubber Layer 34 Engagement Surface 36 Engagement Projection 38 Waveform bent portion 44 Detachment prevention member

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A connection for connecting two rotary shafts positioned on both sides of the main body rubber elastic plate on the same circumference around the central axis of rotation of the main body rubber elastic plate having a thick disk shape. A plurality of holes are provided, and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the torsional rigidity around the rotation center axis is embedded in the rubber elastic plate of the main body to form an elastic joint, and the reinforcing member comprises: In the plane perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the rubber elastic plate of the main body, the elastic plate is made of an annular plate material made of spring steel and continuously extending around the rotational center axis with a predetermined width. One circular hole is provided at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the connecting hole, and further, in the portion between the circular holes adjacent to each other in the annular plate material in the circumferential direction, the annular plate material is provided. Waveform in the thickness direction On purpose made waveform bent portion provided,
An elastic joint characterized by being configured. 2. A cylindrical collar member is inserted into each of the plurality of circular holes provided in the annular plate member so as to extend from the surface of the annular plate member,
The elastic joint according to claim 1, wherein the elastic joint is fixed to form a cylindrical portion. 3. The collar member is provided with an outward flange portion at an end portion on one axial side thereof, and the collar member has the outward flange portion on one surface of the annular plate member. The elastic joint according to claim 2, which is inserted and fixed in each of the plurality of circular holes provided in the annular plate member in a state of being in contact with each other. 4. A tapered tubular form in which a rising portion rising in the thickness direction of the annular plate member is gradually reduced toward the tip end at each peripheral edge of a plurality of circular holes provided in the annular plate member. The elastic member according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the collar member is integrally formed with the collar member, and the collar member is press-fitted into the rising portion to fix the collar member to each of the plurality of circular holes. Fittings. 5. An engaging portion that engages with a tip surface of the rising portion is provided at a press-fitting portion of the collar member into the rising portion, and the engaging portion engages with the tip surface of the rising portion. The elastic joint according to claim 4, wherein the collar member is prevented from being separated from the circular hole in a direction opposite to a press-fitting direction with respect to the rising portion. 6. A ring-shaped retaining member is press-fitted into a portion of the collar member extending from the surface of the annular plate member, and the press-fitting member and the outward flange provided on the collar member. The collar member is fixed to each of the plurality of circular holes of the annular plate member by sandwiching a peripheral portion of the circular hole provided in the annular plate member between the collar member and the portion. The elastic joint according to item 3. 7. An engagement portion that engages with a surface of the collar member opposite to the sandwiching surface of the annular plate member is provided at a press-fitting portion of the retaining member of the collar member. The engagement of the engaging portion with the member prevents the collar member from being disengaged from the circular hole in the direction opposite to the inserting direction of the circular hole provided in the annular plate member. The elastic joint according to claim 6.