JP2004036827A - Coupling for shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a coupling for a shaft using a cross spider, having vibration absorbing property and sound insulating property with simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: An elastic layer 15 formed of a rubber elastic material is vulcanization-bonded to the outer peripheral surfaces of pins 131-134 of the cross spider 13, and the pins 131-134 are inserted in connecting holes 111a, 112a, 121a, 122a opened in yokes 11, 12 at the shaft ends. The pins 131-134 are fixed into the connecting holes 111a, 112a, 121a, 122a through a holder 14 comprising holding parts 141 that can accommodate and hold the tip parts of the pins 131-134 including the elastic layer 15, and locking parts 142 lockable to the yokes 11, 12 by bending. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coupling used as a shaft coupling in a torque transmission system such as a steering shaft or a propeller shaft of a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A steering shaft for steering a vehicle includes a plurality of shafts connected to each other, and a hook joint type coupling, which is a type of a universal joint, is used as the connecting means. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional steering shaft coupling, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the steering shaft coupling.
[0003]
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a conventional hook joint type coupling 100 includes a substantially U-shaped yoke 101 provided at the shaft end of one shaft 110 constituting a steering shaft, and a shaft of the other shaft 120. It has a substantially U-shaped yoke 102 fixed to the end, and a cross spider 103 interposed between the yokes 101 and 102. The cross spider 103 has four pins 103a to 103d projecting in a cross shape from each other, and a pair of pins 103a and 103c on the same axis are a pair of pins on one yoke 101. The other pair of pins 103b, 103d connected to the connection holes 101b, 101b of the portions 101a, 101a and intersecting the pins 103a, 103c at right angles are connected to the connection holes 102b of the pair of protrusions 102a, 102a in the other yoke 102. , 102b. Between the pins 103a to 103d and the connection holes 101b and 102b, there are provided a bearing 104 and a bearing seal 105 for preventing foreign substances from entering the operating portion.
[0004]
This type of coupling 100 transmits the steering torque from the steering wheel, for example, from the shaft 110 to the shaft 120 via the yoke 101, the cross spider 103 and the yoke 102, and as shown in FIG. This allows torque transmission when the axes of the shafts 110 and 120 cross each other at an angle θ.
[0005]
However, according to the conventional coupling described above, vibration transmitted from the road surface side via the steering gear box and vibration transmitted from the power steering device during traveling of the vehicle cannot be reduced, and the number of parts cannot be reduced. However, it is difficult to reduce the cost of the product because the assembly process is complicated. In order to reduce the vibration, a cross spider 103 in which a damper ring made of an elastic material is interposed between the pins 103a to 103d of the cross spider 103 and the connection holes 101b and 102b of the yokes 101 and 102 is also known. In this case, too, the number of parts is large and the assembling process is complicated, so that it is difficult to reduce the cost of the product.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a technical problem of the present invention is to realize a shaft coupling using a cross spider having a vibration absorbing property and a soundproofing property with a simple structure. It is in.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As means for effectively solving the above-mentioned technical problem, the shaft coupling according to the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that an elastic layer made of a rubber-like elastic material is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of each pin of the cross spider. The pin is vulcanized and bonded, the pin is inserted into a connection hole formed in the yoke at the shaft end, and is fixed via a holder locked in the connection hole.
[0008]
In the shaft coupling according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration described in the first aspect, the holder can be locked to the yoke by bending, with the holding portion capable of housing and holding the tip of the pin including the elastic layer. And a locking portion.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a preferred embodiment of a shaft coupling according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cross spider used in the present embodiment cut along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are exploded perspective views showing the shaft coupling of the present embodiment.
[0010]
The shaft coupling 10 according to the present embodiment is suitably implemented, for example, as a shaft coupling in a steering shaft of a vehicle. As shown in FIGS. A substantially U-shaped yoke 11 provided at the shaft end, a yoke 12 fixed to the shaft end of the other shaft 30, a cross-shaped cross spider 13 interposed between both yokes 11 and 12, A holder for fixing the spider to the yokes;
[0011]
The yoke 11 is made of metal, and has a pair of connecting protrusions 111 and 112 extending symmetrically with respect to each other so as to form a substantially U-shape with an extension of the axis of the shaft 20 as a symmetric axis. The connection holes 111a and 112a are opened at positions corresponding to each other near the tip thereof. The yoke 12 is similar, that is, is made of metal, and has a pair of connecting projections 121 and 122 that extend symmetrically with respect to each other so as to form a substantially U-shape with the extension of the axis of the shaft 30 as the axis of symmetry. The connection holes 121a and 122a are respectively opened at positions corresponding to each other near the tip.
[0012]
Although FIGS. 1 and 3 show the yokes 11 and 12 integrally formed on the shafts 20 and 30, respectively, the yokes 11 and 12 are connected to the shaft ends of the shafts 20 and 30 by bolts or the like. Various types, such as those fitted with splines, are conceivable.
[0013]
The cross spider 13 is made of metal and has four pins 131 to 134 that project in a cross shape with respect to each other. The outer surface of the pin 131 is approximately Hs80 such as NR (natural rubber). An elastic layer 15 (151 to 154) made of a rubber-like elastic material having a hardness of 1 is integrally vulcanized and bonded with a substantially uniform thickness. The elastic layer 15 has a cross-spider 13 coated with an adhesive set in a predetermined vulcanization mold, and an unvulcanized rubber material is filled between the surface and the inner surface of the mold. By being pressed, it is formed into a film and simultaneously integrated with the cross spider 13.
[0014]
The thickness of the elastic layer 15 is preferably, for example, about 2 mm in consideration of torsional rigidity (torque transmitting force) and durability against repeated stress.
[0015]
Of the four pins 131 to 134 of the cross spider 13, a pair of pins 131 and 133 which are coaxial are connected to the connection holes 111 a and 112 a of the connection protrusions 111 and 112 of one yoke 11 via the holder 14. The other pair of pins 132, 134 that intersect the pins 131, 133 at right angles are inserted into the connection holes 121 a, 122 a of the connection protrusions 121, 122 of the other yoke 12 via the holder 14, respectively. ing.
[0016]
The holder 14 is manufactured by a punching press of a metal plate such as a steel plate. The holder 14 can be externally mounted on any one of the pins 131 to 134 of the cross spider 13. A bottomed cylindrical holding portion 141 which can be press-fitted into any of the connecting holes 111a, 112a of the 111, 112 and the connecting holes 121a, 122a of the connecting protrusions 121, 122 of the yoke 12, and a bottom of the holding portion 141; And a plurality of locking portions 142 extending from the slit 142 in the circumferential direction by a slit 142a.
[0017]
That is, the holding portion 141 of the holder 14 has such an inner diameter as to be able to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the elastic layers 151 to 154 of the pins 131 to 134 of the cross spider 13, and has an outer diameter of the yokes 11 and 12. The connecting holes 111a, 112a, 121a, and 122a are sized so as to be press-fittable with an appropriate interference. Further, the locking portion 142 can be bent to the outer peripheral side by being divided by the slit 142a, and by this bending, any one of the connecting protrusions 111, 112, 121, 122 of the yokes 11, 12 is formed. It is locked on the inner surface.
[0018]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the pins 131 to 134 of the cross spider 13 is displaced in an eccentric direction such that the tips thereof protrude outside the connection holes 111 a, 112 a, 121 a, 122 a of the yokes 11, 12. Are regulated by the bottom surface of the holding portion 141 of the holder 14, and are elastically supported on the inner periphery of the holding portion 141 via the elastic layer 15.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an assembling process of the shaft coupling 10 having the above-described configuration. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, the cross spider 13 is inserted obliquely between the connecting protrusions 111 and 112 of one yoke 11, and the pins 131 and 133 coaxial with each other. Into the connection holes 111a and 112a.
[0020]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the holder 14 is placed in front of the connecting projections 111 and 112 in such a manner that the holder 14 precedes the connecting holes 111a and 112a, respectively, with the unbent locking portions 142 preceding them. At the same time, the holding portion 141 of the holder 14 is externally inserted into the outer periphery of the pins 131 and 133 (outer periphery of the elastic layers 151 and 153) in the respective connection holes 111a and 112a, and the unbent locking portion 142 is connected. The protrusions 111 and 112 are made to protrude inside. The pins 131 and 133 are held in a state in which their behavior in the longitudinal direction is regulated by bending and crimping the locking portion 142 so as to open outward.
[0021]
It is preferable that a lubricant such as grease is interposed between the holding portion 142 of the holder 14 and the elastic layer 15 on the inner periphery thereof.
[0022]
The operation of connecting the pins 132 and 134 of the cross spider 13 to the connection holes 121a and 122a of the connection protrusions 121 and 122 of the other yoke 12 can be performed in the same procedure as described above.
[0023]
Therefore, in the shaft coupling 10 of the present embodiment, both the yokes 11, 12 and the cross spider 13 are connected only by the four holders 14 corresponding to the pins 131 to 134, and the vibration isolation and Since the means for soundproofing has a structure in which the elastic layer 15 is vulcanized and bonded to the cross spider 13, the number of components is small, and as described above, assembly can be performed easily and quickly.
[0024]
In the configuration of the present embodiment, when a steering torque is applied to, for example, one shaft 20 on the steering wheel side by a rotation operation of a steering wheel (not shown), the steering torque is applied to the connecting protrusions 111, Power is transmitted from the inner surfaces of the connection holes 111a and 112a to the pins 131 and 133 of the cross spider 13 via the side surfaces of the holding portion 142 of the holder 14 and the elastic layers 151 and 153, and differs from the pins 131 and 133 by 90 degrees. From the pins 132 and 134 on the phase to the connection protrusions 121 and 122 of the yoke 12 via the elastic layers 152 and 154 on the outer periphery thereof, the side surface of the holding portion 142 of the holder 14 and the inner surfaces of the connection holes 121a and 122a. Transmitted from the yoke 12 to the other side of the steering gear box (not shown). It is transmitted to the shaft 30, so that the steering takes place.
[0025]
Further, the yoke 11 can be relatively angularly displaced around the pins 131 and 133 of the cross spider 13, and the yoke 12 can be relatively angularly displaced around the pins 132 and 134 of the cross spider 13. Even when the shaft centers of both shafts 20, 30 cross each other at an inclined angle, torque transmission is performed.
[0026]
Vibration and noise transmitted from the road surface side via the steering gear box during vehicle running, or vibration and noise transmitted from the power steering device are generated between the pins 131 to 134 of the cross spider 13 and the holding portion 141 of the holder 14. The elastic layer 15 (151 to 154) is effectively absorbed by being deformed therebetween. Therefore, vibration transmitted to the steering wheel operated by the driver can be reduced.
[0027]
Although the illustrated embodiment has been described as being applied to a steering shaft, the shaft coupling of the present invention may be implemented as, for example, a joint of a propeller shaft or another universal joint.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the shaft coupling according to the first aspect of the present invention, vibration and noise transmitted from the shaft can be effectively absorbed by the elastic layer integrally provided on the cross spider. Further, since both yokes and the cross spider are joined only by a holder interposed between the pin and the connection hole of the yoke, and the elastic layer is integrally vulcanized and bonded to the cross spider, Since the number of parts is reduced and the assembly process is simplified, it can be provided at low cost.
[0029]
According to the shaft coupling according to the second aspect of the present invention, the holder is locked to the yoke and the cross spider can be fixed simply by press-fitting the holder into the connection hole of the yoke and bending the locking portion. Therefore, the coupling can be easily and quickly assembled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a preferred embodiment of a shaft coupling according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cross spider used in the embodiment, taken along line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a shaft coupling of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an assembling process of the shaft coupling of the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional shaft coupling.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional shaft coupling.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Shaft Coupling 11, 12 Yoke 111, 112, 121, 122 Connecting Protrusion 111a, 112a, 121a, 122a Connecting Hole 13 Cross Spider 131-134 Pin 14 Holder 141 Holding Part 142 Locking Part 142a Slit 15 (151-151) 154) Elastic layers 20, 30 Shaft

Claims (2)

An elastic layer (15) made of a rubber-like elastic material is integrally vulcanized and bonded to the outer peripheral surface of each of the pins (131 to 134) of the cross spider (13). The holder (14) is inserted into the connection holes (111a, 112a, 121a, 122a) opened in the yokes (11, 12) and locked by the connection holes (111a, 112a, 121a, 122a). A coupling for a shaft, wherein the coupling is fixed. A holder (141) that can hold and hold the tips of the pins (131 to 134) including the elastic layer (15), and a locking part that can be locked to the yokes (11, 12) by bending. The coupling for a shaft according to claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises: (142).

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