JP2005308011A - Universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal joint capable of connecting at least two tube shaped or bar shaped handrails or structure materials in such a manner that three-dimensional angles can be changed, reducing structure members, facilitating assembly/disassembly, and preventing rotation of a connected member around an axial line. <P>SOLUTION: This universal joint is provided with a main body part 6 divided into at least two pieces which can be separated and combined, a base member including two or more recess engagement parts 7 formed over a division surface thereof and having a spherical surface having a part less than half of curvature diameter open on a surface of the main body part and an engagement projection 8 formed on the surface, a tubular connection part 16 connected to an end part of the connected member, a spherical projection engagement part 18 connected to an end part thereof via a neck part 17 and rotatably engaged with the recess engagement part, and a connecting member 3 positioned on a line crossing flat plane including an axial line of the connection part on a surface thereof and formed to remove a crossing part with an axial line of the connecting part and including an engagement groove 19 which the engagement projection is engaged with rotatably and movably in a longitudinal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a universal joint for connecting tubular or bar-like handrails or structural members at variable angles.

  Conventionally, as this kind of universal joint, a connecting member provided with a hemispherical concave surface portion on both sides and a connecting means to which a handrail is connected at one end are provided, and the other end is fitted into the concave surface portion. A pair of movable members provided with a hemispherical convex surface portion, and the connecting member and the pair of movable members are allowed to bend relative to each other along the spherical shape of the concave surface portion and the convex surface portion. The one movable member and the connecting member are restricted from relative torsional rotation, and the other movable member and the connecting member are allowed to rotate relative to each other. A handrail universal connecting device in which the pair of movable members are coupled to each other is known (see Patent Document 1).

  According to the handrail universal connector, a pair of movable members can be obtained by combining a relative bending operation between the coupling member and the pair of movable members and a relative rotation operation of the other movable member and the coupling member. The handrails connected to the members can be connected at any three-dimensional angle.

However, in the above-described universal handrail connector, although two handrails can be connected at a three-dimensional angle and can be prevented from rotating around the axis of the handrail, the connecting member and the movable member In this connection, a large number of members including a shaft member, a pressing member, a sliding washer, and a bush nut must be used, and there is a problem that requires a lot of labor.
Moreover, since it is intended only for handrail connection, there is a problem that it cannot be applied as a universal joint of three or more tubular or rod-like structural members.

  Moreover, as a universal joint, a pair of cap-shaped end members each having a convex spherical surface portion fitted and fixed to one end portions of two handrails to be connected and having a slit in the head portion, and two end members A ring-shaped intermediate member that is arranged between the two and has a concave spherical surface that slidably receives the convex spherical surface portion at both ends, and is inserted into the slit of the both end members and the central through hole of the intermediate member. In a universal joint for handrails having a connecting shaft that can be connected to adjust the connecting angle, the slit of each member has a first slit extending in a radial direction from the top of the convex spherical portion, a terminal portion of the first slit, and a T-shape. A universal joint for handrails is known which includes a second slit extending in the circumferential direction so as to intersect with the top end portion of the first slit and extending in a radial direction so as to intersect with the L-shape (see Patent Document 2). .

  According to the universal joint for handrails, compared to a conventional universal joint provided with a slit extending only in one direction, it is variable that the adjustment of the connection angle between the handrails can be performed in a wider range, and the applicable range is widened accordingly. That's it.

However, although the handrail universal joint described above can adjust the connection angle between the handrails in a wider range, the bolts can be connected to the end member and the intermediate member in the same manner as the handrail universal connector described above. In addition, a large number of members consisting of nuts and sliders must be used, and there is a problem that requires a lot of labor.
In addition, since it is intended only for handrail connection, there is a problem that it cannot be applied as a universal joint of three or more tubular or rod-like structural members, like the above-described universal handrail connector.
Furthermore, since the top end portion of the slit exists at the top portion of the convex spherical surface portion, there is a problem that the end member, in other words, the connected member rotates around the axis.

  Furthermore, as a universal joint, it has a pair of bar ends connectable to each end of two bars to be interconnected, and an intermediate member interposed between the two bar ends in a bridging manner, One of the bar end and the intermediate member is provided with a connecting shaft that protrudes toward the other end, and the other has a groove shape that holds the connecting shaft in a rotatable manner while allowing radial movement. There is known a bar joint in which the connecting end is provided, and the bar end and the intermediate member are detachable from each other by insertion and removal between the connecting shaft and the connecting opening (see Patent Document 3). .

  According to the bar joint, the structure can be simplified, the assembly can be facilitated, and the cost can be reduced.

However, in the above-mentioned bar joint, the bar connection angle can be changed freely, and the structure can be simplified and the assembly can be facilitated. However, the groove-shaped connection opening exists on the top of the concave or convex spherical surface. For this reason, the bars rotate around the axis, and when the bars are connected in a straight line, the two bars are separated from each other.
Further, since it is intended only for the connection of two bars, it cannot be applied as a universal joint of three or more tubular or bar-like structural members, like the above-mentioned universal handrail connector and handrail universal joint. There is a bug.
Japanese Patent No. 3445551 Utility Model Registration No. 3096847 JP 2002-285688 A

  The present invention connects at least two tubular or rod-like handrails or structural members in a three-dimensional variable angle, reduces the number of components, facilitates assembly / disassembly, and the axis of the handrails or structural materials. It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal joint that can prevent rotation around.

  The first universal joint of the present invention is formed so as to straddle at least two main body parts that are separable and connectable, and a split surface of the main body part, and a portion less than half the curvature diameter is opened on the surface of the main body part. A base member having two or more concave fitting portions having a spherical surface and an engaging groove located on a cross line with an engagement protrusion formed on the surface of the concave fitting portion or a plane including the center of curvature; Short cylindrical or short columnar continuous portions that are fitted and connected to the end of the member, and are connected to the end of the continuous portion with a neck interposed therebetween, and rotate to the concave fitting portion of the base member On the surface of the spherically-shaped convex fitting part and the convex fitting part that can be fitted, the intersection part with the axis line of the continuous part and the plane part including the axis line of the continuous part is located on the surface of the convex part. Excluded or so as to lie on an intersecting line with a plane that obliquely intersects the axis of the connecting portion and includes the center of curvature of the convex fitting portion An engagement groove that engages the engagement protrusion of the base member so as to be rotatable and movable in the longitudinal direction, or an intersection with the axis of the connecting portion on the surface of the convex fitting portion is excluded. And a connecting member having an engaging protrusion that engages with the engaging groove of the base member so as to be rotatable and movable in the longitudinal direction.

  In the first universal joint, the first universal joint includes a cap that is detachably attached to the concave fitting portion of the base member and closes the opening of the concave fitting portion along the surface of the main body portion. It is characterized by.

  On the other hand, it is preferable that the base member has a short cylinder-like or short column-like continuous portion that protrudes from the main body and is connected to the upper end portion of the column.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the base member has a support portion fitting hole for fitting a support portion of a letter-shaped bracket that is formed in the main body portion and fixed to the wall surface.

According to the first universal joint of the present invention, the base member and the connecting member are connected by fitting the concave fitting portion and the convex fitting portion, and separation of both members is prevented. The number of components can be reduced to a very small number, and the assembly and disassembly can be facilitated.
Further, the connecting member is rotatable about the center of curvature of the concave fitting portion and the convex fitting portion in a plane including the center of curvature of the concave fitting portion and the convex fitting portion and the engaging groove. In addition, since it can be rotated around a straight line connecting the center of curvature of the concave fitting portion and the convex fitting portion and the center of the engaging protrusion, in the case of two connecting members, of course, there are three or more connecting members. Can also be connected in a three-dimensional variable angle.
Here, the relationship between the engaging groove of the convex fitting part and the engaging protrusion of the concave fitting concave part enabling the three-dimensional universal coupling mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. And the center of curvature of the convex fitting part is the origin, the axial direction of the connecting part is the X axis, the direction orthogonal to it and the direction passing through the origin is the Y axis, the center of the engaging protrusion, the concave fitting part and the convex fitting When the direction perpendicular to the paper surface passing through the center of curvature of the portion is the Z axis, the connecting portion is not hindered from rotating by the engaging protrusion around the Y axis and the Z axis. While the three-dimensional swing is possible, the rotation of the engagement groove around the X axis is prevented by the engagement protrusion, so that the rotation around the X axis, that is, the rotation is prevented.
Furthermore, the engagement groove or the engagement projection is formed on the surface of the convex fitting portion so as to exclude the intersection with the axis of the continuous portion, and the rotation of the connecting member around the axis is prevented. It is possible to prevent the handrail or the rotation of the structural material around the axis.

  Further, according to the second universal joint, in addition to the effects of the first one, the concave fitting portion of the base member to which the convex fitting portion of the connecting member is not fitted can be closed by the cap, so that it is free. The appearance of the joint can be improved.

  On the other hand, the base member has a short cylindrical or short column-like connecting portion that protrudes from the main body portion and is connected to the upper end portion of the column so that the universal joint can be used as a handrail. In this case, it can be attached to a handrail (handrail bundle) as a support, and when a universal joint is used for a structural material, it can be attached to a support.

  In addition, the base member has a support part fitting hole for fitting the support part of the L-shaped bracket that is drilled in the main body part and fixed to the wall surface. It can be attached to the wall surface.

The base member is divided into two parts (two to four concave fitting parts) and three (five concave fitting parts) according to the number of concave fitting parts arranged as described later. There are four divisions (six concave fitting portions).
Bolts are used for coupling the divided pieces of the main body. In this case, the bolt head is recessed from the surface of the main body portion, and the concave portion in which the bolt head is accommodated is a cap (with a division number of 2 to 4) that closes the opening along the surface of the main body portion. In this case, it is preferable that the same cap as the cap for closing the concave fitting portion is desirable.
Dividing the main body portion of the base member across the concave fitting portion is half of the maximum concave fitting portion so that the convex fitting portion of the connecting member can be fitted into the concave fitting portion formed in the split piece. (Excluding the opening).

When the opening part of the concave fitting part becomes more than half the curvature diameter of the concave fitting part, the base member and the connecting member are separated.
The opening part of the concave fitting part is related to the diameter and length of the neck part of the connecting member and the outer diameter of the connecting part, but if it is smaller than the diameter of the concave fitting part, the connecting member will not come out, but the pulling strength is secured. In view of the necessity for this, preferably the diameter of the concave fitting portion is about 9/10, and the rotation angle of the connecting member is set to 45 ° upward and 45 ° downward from the horizontal state, and 90 ° upward and downward in total. The angle is set.

  The number and the number of the concave fitting portions are 2, 3, 4 on the plane including the center of curvature of the main body portion, equally distributed on the circumference centered on the center of curvature, and the curvature of the main body portion. On the plane that includes the center and is orthogonal to the plane, one or two are further arranged on the circumference centered on the center of curvature, and the maximum is six.

The shape of the engagement protrusion and the engagement groove is such that when the engagement protrusion is disk-shaped, the engagement groove is rectangular in cross section, or when the engagement protrusion is hemispherical, the engagement groove is semicircular in cross section. Or various shapes that facilitate the engagement of the two.
In addition, the engagement protrusion and the engagement groove may be formed at two positions or one side of a symmetrical position with the center of curvature of the concave fitting portion and the surface of the convex fitting portion as a symmetry point.

  1, 2, 3, and 4 are a perspective view, a plan view, a front view and a right side view, respectively, showing a major part of a universal joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  This universal joint 1 is for connecting a handrail (both not shown) spanned on a handrail serving as a strut with a variable angle. A base member 2 connected to an upper end portion of the handrail, and a handrail And a pair of connecting members 3 that are rotatably fitted to symmetrical positions of the base member 2 and a cap 4 that closes a concave fitting portion (to be described later) of the base member 2. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the base member 2 can be separated / coupled via a hexagon socket head bolt 5 and has a spherical shape composed of divided pieces 6 a and 6 b that are divided into two equal parts on a plane including the center of curvature. The main body 6 and the dividing surface of the main body 6 are formed so as to extend equally, the portion having a curvature diameter of about 28% has a spherical surface opened on the surface of the main body 6, and the center of curvature is the main body. 6 on the surface of the concave fitting portion 7 of one divided piece 6a of the main body 6 and the four concave fitting portions 7 equally arranged on the circumference with the center of curvature 6 as the center. Divided into a disk-like engagement protrusion 8 formed so as to pass through the center of curvature of the fitting portion 7 and perpendicular to the dividing surface of the main body portion 6, and the surface of one divided piece 6 a of the main body portion 6 A short-cylindrical continuous portion 9 which is provided so as to be perpendicular to the surface and is connected to the upper end portion of the balustrade, and one of the main body portions 6. The split piece 6a is provided in the center of the split surface, the screw hole 10 into which the hexagon socket head bolt 5 is screwed, and the split face of one split piece 6a of the main body portion 6 so as to protrude from the other split portion. A bolt 11 used for alignment with the piece 6b, a bolt hole 12 penetrating through the center of the split surface of the other split piece 6b of the main body 6 and into which the hexagon socket head bolt 5 is inserted, and a bolt hole 12 is formed by expanding the surface side of the split piece 6b in the same diameter as the opening of the concave fitting portion 7, and the main body of the hexagon socket head bolt 5 is recessed from the surface of the split piece 6b. Hexagonal hole 14 which is recessed in the split surface of the other split piece 6b of part 6 and into which dowel 11 of one split piece 6a fits, and a hexagon which penetrates through connecting part 9 and fixes the handrail. And a screw hole 15 into which a hole set screw (not shown) is screwed.
The division of the main body 6 is not limited to the case of dividing into two equal parts. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the division surface is formed in one division piece 6 a (downward in FIG. 3) as indicated by a two-dot chain line. The concave fitting portion 7 may be divided into two so that the convex fitting portion of the connecting member 3 which will be described later can be fitted into the concave fitting portion 7 at a maximum half of the concave fitting portion 7 (excluding the opening portion). .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 12 to 16, the connecting member 3 includes a bottomed short cylindrical connecting portion 16 that is fitted and connected to an end portion of a handrail that is a connected member. A spherical convex fitting portion 18 that is continuously provided on the outside of the bottom portion of the continuous portion 16 with a neck portion 17 interposed therebetween, and is rotatably fitted to the concave fitting portion 7 of the base member 2; The engaging projection of the base member 2 is formed on the surface of the joint portion 18 so as to be located on the intersection line with the virtual plane including the axis line of the connecting portion 16 and to exclude the axis portion and the intersection portion of the connecting portion 16. Engaging groove 19 having a rectangular cross section that engages with each other so as to be rotatable and movable in the longitudinal direction, and a hexagon socket set screw (not shown) that penetrates through connecting portion 16 and fixes the handrail is screwed in. Screw holes 20 to be formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, 17 and 18, the cap 4 closes not only the concave fitting portion 7 but also the circular concave portion 13, and fits into the concave fitting portion 7 or the circular concave portion 13. A short cylindrical leg 21 to be joined, and a spherical surface that is formed integrally with the end of the leg 21, can be fitted into the opening of the concave fitting part 7 or the circular concave part 13, and follows the surface of the base member 2. And a cap portion 22 having

  As shown in FIG. 1, the universal joint 1 described above is configured such that the convex fitting portion 18 of the connecting member 3 is fitted to the two concave fitting portions 7 at the symmetrical positions of the base member 2, or FIG. As shown by a solid line and a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the convex fitting portion 18 of the connecting member 3 is fitted to two adjacent concave fitting portions 7 of the base member 2, and the convex fitting of the connecting member 3 is fitted. The concave fitting portion 7 and the circular concave portion 13 of the base member 2 to which the joint portion 18 is not fitted are closed with the cap 4 and used for connecting the handrail on the handrail. The handrail is a concave fitting portion. 7 and the center of curvature of the convex fitting part 18 can be rotated in a range of 90 ° in the vertical direction, and the center of the engaging protrusion 8 and the concave fitting part 7 and the convex fitting part 18 It can be rotated in the range of 90 ° horizontally around a straight line connecting the centers of curvature.

  FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the universal joint according to the present invention.

In this universal joint, the engaging groove 19 of the connecting member 3 in the first embodiment is positioned on the surface of the convex fitting portion 18 on the intersection line with the virtual plane including the axis of the connecting portion 16. The engaging groove 19 'of the connecting member 3' is formed so as to exclude the intersecting portion with the axis of the connecting portion 16 obliquely with the axis of the connecting portion 16 and is a convex fitting portion. It is formed so as to be located on a crossing line with a virtual plane including 18 curvature centers.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  The universal joint described above is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the connecting member 3 ′ is rotated around an obliquely inclined plane and an axis perpendicular to the plane.

  20 and 21 are a perspective view of a main part and a perspective view of another main part showing a third embodiment of the universal joint according to the present invention.

In this universal joint, the first and second embodiments form the engagement protrusion 8 in the concave fitting portion 7 of the base member 2, while the engaging groove in the convex fitting portion 18 of the connecting members 3, 3 ′. On the other hand, on the surface of the convex fitting portion 18 of the connecting member 3 ″, the engagement protrusion 8 ′ is formed so as to exclude the intersection with the axis of the connecting portion 16. An engagement groove 19 ″ is formed on the surface of the concave fitting portion 7 of the split piece 6a ′ of the main body 6 in the base member 2 so as to be located on a line intersecting the plane including the center of curvature of the concave fitting portion 7. Formed.
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  22 and 23 are a perspective view and a perspective view of a main part showing a fourth embodiment of the universal joint according to the present invention.

This universal joint 1 'is arranged along the wall surface, while the universal joints 1', 3 'and 3' are for connecting the handrails spanned on the handrails which become the support columns with variable angles. This is for connecting the handrails to be variable in angle, and without providing the connecting portion 9 on one divided piece 6a ″ of the main body portion 6 of the base member 2 ′, this portion is directly connected to the wall surface or the skirting board. A support portion fitting hole (both not shown) for fitting a prismatic support portion formed at the upper end of the L-shaped bracket 23 fixed via (not shown) It is.
Then, the hexagon socket head bolt 5 is screwed into the support portion of the bracket 23 fitted in the support portion fitting hole. One of the divided pieces is inserted through the hexagon socket head bolt 5. A bolt hole 24 'is formed through the center of the dividing surface 6a ".
Since other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same constituent members and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the connecting portion 16 of the connecting members 3, 3 ′, 3 ″ has a bottomed short cylindrical shape has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the handrail is tubular. In this case, a short cylindrical shape may be used, and when the connecting member has a rectangular tube shape or a prism shape, the connecting portion naturally has a rectangular tube shape or a prism shape.
Further, the number of the concave fitting portions of the base members 2 and 2 ′ is not limited to four, but may be two, three, five, or six.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the case of connecting handrails, and may be used for variable angle connection of tubular or rod-like structural materials.
In this case, the support portion fitting holes of the base members 2 and 2 ′ are naturally not formed, but the connecting portion 9 may or may not be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows Example 1 of the universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the universal joint of FIG. It is the front view which fractured | ruptured most of the universal joint of FIG. It is a right view of the universal joint of FIG. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the base member in the universal joint of FIG. It is a top view of the principal part shown in FIG. It is a front view of the principal part shown in FIG. It is a VIII-VIII arrow directional cross-sectional view in FIG. It is a bottom view of the other principal part of the base member in the universal joint of FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9. It is a perspective view of the connection member in the universal joint of FIG. It is a front view of the connection member of FIG. It is a right view of the connection member of FIG. It is a bottom view of the connection member of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the one fitting state of the base member and connecting member in the universal joint of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cap in the universal joint of FIG. It is a bottom view of the cap of FIG. It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows Example 2 of the universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows Example 3 of the universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the other principal part which shows Example 3 of the universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows Example 4 of the universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the universal joint of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between an engaging groove and an engaging protrusion.

Explanation of symbols

2 Base member 2 'Base member 3 Connection member 3' Connection member 3 "Connection member 4 Cap 6 Main body 6a Division piece 6a 'Division piece 6a" Division piece 6b Division piece 7 Concave fitting part 8 Engagement projection 8' Engagement Protrusion 9 Consecutive portion 16 Consecutive portion 17 Neck portion 18 Convex fitting portion 19 Engagement groove 19 ′ Engagement groove 19 ″ Engagement groove

Claims (4)

  2 or more concave fittings that have a spherical surface that is formed across the main body divided into at least two parts so as to be separable and connectable, and the divided surface of the main body, and the portion of the curvature diameter less than half is open on the surface of the main body And a base member having an engaging groove located on a line intersecting with an engaging protrusion formed on the surface of the concave fitting portion or a plane including the center of curvature, and an end of the connected member. A short cylindrical or short column-shaped continuous portion, a spherical convex shape that is continuously connected to the end of the continuous portion with a neck interposed therebetween and is rotatably fitted to the concave fitting portion of the base member. Positioned on the surface of the fitting portion and the convex fitting portion on the intersecting line with the plane including the axis of the connecting portion and excluding the intersecting portion with the axis of the connecting portion, or the axis of the connecting portion And the base portion is formed so as to be located on an intersecting line with a plane that obliquely intersects with the plane including the center of curvature of the convex fitting portion. An engagement groove that engages the engagement projection of the projection movably in the longitudinal direction, or is formed so as to exclude the intersection with the axis of the connecting portion on the surface of the convex fitting portion. A universal joint comprising: a coupling member having an engagement protrusion that engages with an engagement groove of the member so as to be rotatable and movable in a longitudinal direction.   The universal joint according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that is detachably attached to the concave fitting portion of the base member and closes the opening of the concave fitting portion along the surface of the main body portion.   3. The universal base according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a short cylindrical or short columnar connecting portion that protrudes from the main body and is connected to the upper end of the column. Fittings. The said base member has a support part fitting hole for fitting the support part of the L-shaped bracket pierced by the main-body part and being fixed to a wall surface. Universal joint.

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