JP2006175938A - Power transmission device of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent component parts from being damaged and relieve the shock applied to an automobile by introducing such a structure that the part of a propeller shaft in its middle does not run against the other component parts of the automobile located in the neighborhood of the propeller shaft when the automobile encounters a head-on collision. <P>SOLUTION: The propeller shaft 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body 2 is equipped with a front 15 and a rear shaft 16 arranged in row about the longitudinal direction and a joint 17 to couple together the shafts 15 and 16 interlockingly. A part to be abutted 29 is formed anywhere midway from the front shaft 15 to the forefront of the rear shaft 16. A stopper 30 accepts abutting of the part 29 for hindering it 29 from backward movement when the propeller shaft 11 is given a shock from ahead and is going to move backward relative to the body 2. That part of the front shaft 15 which is located in front of the part 29 is furnished with a buckling promotion part 36 able to buckle in the axial direction owing to the given shock. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power transmission device for an automobile provided with a propeller shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body and transmits a driving force from a traveling power source to a rear wheel side.

  Conventionally, there is a power transmission device for an automobile described in Patent Documents 1-3 below. According to these publications, the power transmission device for an automobile is provided with a propeller shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and whose front end is linked to the engine while the rear end is linked to the rear wheel side. It has been. The propeller shaft includes a front and rear shafts arranged in the longitudinal direction, and a joint that interlocks the front and rear shafts with each other.

  Then, the driving force from the engine is transmitted to the rear wheel side through the propeller shaft, so that the automobile can run.

  It is assumed that the automobile collides with a certain object ahead (front collision) when the automobile is traveling forward. Then, based on this front collision, the propeller shaft is given an impact force from the front. At this time, first, the front shaft of the propeller shaft tries to move backward with respect to the vehicle body.

  Here, as described above, the propeller shaft includes the front and rear shafts and a joint that connects the front and rear shafts to each other. For this reason, this propeller shaft is configured to be easily bent starting from the joint, which is the middle part of the propeller shaft. Therefore, when the front shaft moves backward as described above, the propeller shaft is bent, and the midway portion in the longitudinal direction of the propeller shaft faces outward of an imaginary line connecting the front and rear ends of the propeller shaft. Move. As a result, the midway portion may collide with other components of the automobile disposed in the vicinity of the propeller shaft and damage the components.

  Therefore, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is provided a movement restricting device that restricts the middle part of the propeller shaft from freely moving outward during a frontal collision. Moreover, in the thing of patent document 3, the stopper which prevents the back movement of the motive power source with respect to a vehicle body at the time of a front collision is provided, the bending of the said propeller shaft is prevented, and the outward movement of the middle part is made beforehand. To prevent. These prevent the middle part from colliding with the component parts arranged in the vicinity of the propeller shaft at the time of the front collision, and prevent damage to the component parts.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-193628 Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-343972 JP-A-9-301221

  By the way, according to the above-described conventional technique, damage to the components arranged in the vicinity of the propeller shaft is prevented at the time of the front collision. However, there is a problem that the impact force applied to the automobile is difficult to mitigate based on the above-mentioned front impact.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide the above-described propeller shaft with respect to other components of the automobile disposed in the vicinity of the propeller shaft at the time of the front collision of the automobile. It is to prevent the middle part from colliding to prevent damage to the above components and to reduce the impact force applied to the automobile.

The invention of claim 1 is provided with a propeller shaft 11 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2 and whose front end is interlocked with the driving power source 6 and whose rear end is interlocked with the rear wheel 4 side, Before the propeller shaft 11 is arranged in the longitudinal direction, the rear shafts 15 and 16 and the power transmission device for an automobile provided with the joint 17 that interlocks the front and rear shafts 15 and 16 with each other,
A contacted portion 29 is formed in any part from the front shaft 15 to the front end portion of the rear shaft 16, and the propeller shaft 11 is moved backward with respect to the vehicle body 2 by being given an impact force F from the front. When trying to R, a stopper 30 is provided to abut the abutted portion 29 to prevent the rearward movement R of the abutted portion 29, and the front shaft 15 on the front side of the abutted portion 29 is provided. A buckling promoting portion 36 that can buckle in the axial direction based on the impact force F is formed in the portion.

  In this section, the reference numerals appended to the above terms are not to be construed as limiting the technical scope of the present invention to the section “Example” described later or the contents of the drawings.

  The effects of the present invention are as follows.

The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a propeller shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the front end portion of which is interlocked with the driving power source, and the rear end portion of which is interlocked with the rear wheel side. In the power transmission device of an automobile provided with the rear shaft and the joint that interlocks the front and rear shafts with each other before being arranged in the longitudinal direction,
When a contacted portion is formed in any part from the front shaft to the front end portion of the rear shaft, and the propeller shaft is applied with an impact force from the front to move backward with respect to the vehicle body, A stopper that abuts the abutted part and prevents the rearward movement of the abutted part is provided, and the following effects are produced.

  In other words, when the automobile has a front collision, an impact force is applied to the propeller shaft from the front based on the front collision. Then, first, the front shaft of the propeller shaft tries to move backward with respect to the vehicle body.

  Here, the abutted portion abuts on the stopper, and the rearward movement of the abutted portion is prevented. For this reason, it is suppressed that the said propeller shaft bends from the middle part of the longitudinal direction as a starting point. Therefore, along with the rearward movement of the front shaft of the propeller shaft described above, it is prevented that the middle portion of the propeller shaft moves toward the outside of the imaginary line connecting the front and rear ends of the propeller shaft. The As a result, it is possible to prevent the middle part of the propeller shaft from colliding and damaging other components of the vehicle, such as a fuel tank disposed in the vicinity of the propeller shaft, at the time of a front collision.

  Further, a buckling promoting portion capable of buckling in the axial direction based on the impact force is formed in the portion of the front shaft on the front side of the contacted portion.

  For this reason, the buckling promoting portion is buckled in the axial direction by the rearward movement of the front shaft by the impact force. Thereby, the impact energy at the time of the said front collision is absorbed, and the said impact force is relieved.

  Further, as described above, since the buckling promoting portion buckles in the axial direction, it is more likely that the middle part of the propeller shaft moves toward the outside of the imaginary line with the rearward movement of the front shaft. It is surely prevented. Therefore, it is more reliably prevented that the middle part of the propeller shaft collides with and damages the component parts arranged in the vicinity of the propeller shaft at the time of the front collision.

  The power transmission device for an automobile of the present invention relates to a vehicle power transmission device in which the middle part of the propeller shaft does not collide with other components of the automobile disposed in the vicinity of the propeller shaft at the time of a frontal collision of the automobile. The best mode for carrying out the present invention is as follows in order to realize the object of preventing damage and reducing the impact force applied to the automobile.

  That is, there is provided a propeller shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the front end portion of which is interlocked with the driving power source, and the rear end portion of which is interlocked with the rear wheel side. The propeller shaft includes a front and rear shafts arranged in the longitudinal direction, and a joint that interlocks the front and rear shafts with each other.

  A contacted portion is formed at any portion from the front shaft to the front end portion of the rear shaft. When the propeller shaft is subjected to an impact force from the front and tries to move backward with respect to the vehicle body, a stopper is provided to abut the contacted portion and prevent the contacted portion from moving backward. A buckling promoting portion capable of buckling in the axial direction based on the impact force is formed in a portion of the front shaft in front of the contacted portion.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, an embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1-3, the code | symbol 1 is a motor vehicle, The arrow Fr has shown the front of the advancing direction of this motor vehicle 1. In FIG.

  The automobile 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 3 and 4 suspended on the front and rear of the vehicle body 2, a differential device 5 that interlocks and connects the left and right rear wheels 4, and the vehicle body 2, a driving power source 6 exemplified by an engine supported by the front portion of the motor 2, a power transmission device 7 for interlockingly connecting the input shaft of the differential device 5 to the power source 6, and an automobile supported by the vehicle body 2. 1 and other component parts 8. Specifically, the component 8 is a fuel tank that stores fuel supplied to the power source 6. The vehicle body 2 is supported on the traveling road surface 9 by front and rear wheels 3 and 4.

  The power transmission device 7 includes a gear-type transmission 10 that is linked to the output shaft of the power source 6, a differential device 5 for the left and right rear wheels 4 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2, and power. And a propeller shaft 11 disposed between the sources 6. The front end portion of the propeller shaft 11 is coupled to the output shaft of the power source 6 via the transmission 10 by a front joint 12 that is a universal joint. On the other hand, the rear end portion of the propeller shaft 11 is coupled to the input shaft of the differential device 5 by a rear joint 13 which is a universal joint.

  The propeller shaft 11 is a joint 17 that is a universal joint that interlocks and connects the rear shafts 15 and 16 and the rear end portion of the front shaft 15 and the front end portion of the rear shaft 16 before being arranged in the longitudinal direction. And. The component 8 is disposed near the side of the rear shaft 16.

  The front and rear shafts 15 and 16 each have a metallic cylindrical body 19 extending in the longitudinal direction and a front shaft 21 fixed to the front end portion of the cylindrical body 19 on the axial center 20 of the cylindrical body 19. And a rear shaft 22 fixed to the rear end portion of the cylindrical body 19 on the shaft 20. A front shaft 21 of the front shaft 15 constitutes a front end portion of the propeller shaft 11. Further, the rear shaft 22 of the rear shaft 16 constitutes the rear end portion of the propeller shaft 11.

  As for the said cylindrical body 19, the middle part of the axial direction is made into the large diameter part 19a as a whole. The front and rear end portions of the cylindrical body 19 are small diameter portions 19b. The inner diameter dimension of the large diameter part 19a is larger than the outer diameter dimension of the small diameter part 19b. The transition portions 19c from the large-diameter portion 19a toward the small-diameter portions 19b each have a truncated cone shape and a tapered shape. The large diameter portion 19 a, each small diameter portion 19 b, and each transition portion 19 c are integrally formed with each other on the shaft 20.

  A bracket 25 is supported on a portion of the vehicle body 2 corresponding to a midway portion in the longitudinal direction of the propeller shaft 11. A rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15 is supported on the bracket 25 by a bearing 26. Due to the support by the bracket 25 and the bearing 26, the shaft centers 20 of the front and rear shafts 15 and 16 are arranged substantially linearly.

  A contacted portion 29 is formed at any portion from the front shaft 15 to the front end portion of the rear shaft 16. When the propeller shaft 11 is given an impact force F from the front, first, when the front shaft 15 of the propeller shaft 11 tries to move backward R with respect to the vehicle body 2, the contacted portion 29 is brought into contact with the propeller shaft 11. A stopper 30 is provided to prevent the backward movement R of the lever contacted portion 29.

  A protrusion 31 protruding radially outward is formed at the front end of the rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15, and this is the contacted portion 29. On the other hand, the stopper 30 is supported by the vehicle body 2, and the stopper 30 is formed with a notch 33 that opens toward the outside of the vehicle body 2. The notch 33 and the rear side of the rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15 are fitted so as to be detachable in the radial direction of the rear shaft 22. The abutted portion 29 and the edge of the notch 33 in the stopper 30 face each other in the axial direction of the front shaft 15 and are close to each other (including a separated state and a joined state). Yes. As described above, when the front shaft 15 moves rearward R, the contacted portion 29 comes into contact with the stopper 30 and the rearward movement R of the front shaft 15 is prevented. The component 8 is arranged behind the abutted portion 29 and in the vicinity of the side of the rear shaft 16 as described above.

  A support portion 34 for the rear shaft 22 is formed in a portion of the stopper 30 below the rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15. The support portion 34 supports the rear shaft 22 to prevent the rear shaft 22 from moving downward when the rear shaft 22 is about to move downward (including dropping) with respect to the vehicle body 2.

  A buckling promoting portion 36 that can buckle in the axial direction based on the impact force F is formed in the portion of the front shaft 15 that is located in front of the contacted portion 29. Specifically, the buckling promoting portion 36 is mainly configured by a front transition portion 19c among the front and rear transition portions 19c in the cylindrical body 19 of the front shaft 15.

  The driving force from the power source 6 is transmitted to the rear wheel 4 through the transmission 10, the front joint 12, the propeller shaft 11, the rear joint 13, and the differential device 5 in order, and the automobile 1 travels on the road surface. 9 is allowed to run.

  When the automobile 1 has a front collision, an impact force F is applied to the propeller shaft 11 from the front via the power source 6, the transmission 10, and the front joint 12 based on the front collision. Then, first, the front shaft 15 of the propeller shaft 11 tries to move backward R with respect to the vehicle body 2.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the abutted portion 29 abuts against the stopper 30, and the backward movement R of the abutted portion 29 is prevented. For this reason, it is suppressed that the said propeller shaft 11 bends from the middle part of the longitudinal direction as a starting point. Therefore, along with the rearward movement R of the front shaft 15 of the propeller shaft 11 described above, the middle part of the propeller shaft 11 moves toward the outside of the imaginary line 38 connecting the front and rear ends of the propeller shaft 11. This is prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the middle part of the propeller shaft 11 from colliding and damaging the component 8 arranged in the vicinity of the propeller shaft 11 at the time of the front collision.

  Further, when the abutted portion 29 abuts against the stopper 30 during the front collision, the abutted portion 29 and the rear side of the rear shaft 16 on the rear side of the abutted portion 29 are defined as follows. , Backward movement R is prevented.

  For this reason, it is more reliably prevented that the rear side of the rear shaft 16 moves toward the outside of the virtual line 38 described above. Therefore, it is more reliably prevented that the rear side of the rear shaft 16 collides with and damages the component 8 arranged near the side of the rear shaft 16.

  Further, as described above, the buckling promoting portion 36 that can buckle in the axial direction based on the impact force F is formed in the portion of the front shaft 15 in front of the contacted portion 29.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the buckling promoting portion 36 is buckled in the axial direction by the backward movement R of the front shaft 15 due to the impact force F. Thereby, the impact energy at the time of the front collision is absorbed, and the impact force F is relaxed.

  Further, as described above, since the buckling promoting portion 36 is buckled in the axial direction, the middle portion of the propeller shaft 11 moves toward the outside of the imaginary line 38 with the backward movement R of the front shaft 15. This is more reliably prevented. Therefore, it is more reliably prevented that the middle part of the propeller shaft 11 collides with and damages the component 8 arranged in the vicinity of the propeller shaft 11 at the time of a front collision.

  As described above, the stopper 30 is formed with the support portion 34 that prevents the rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15 from moving downward.

  For this reason, it is prevented by the support part 34 in addition to the bracket 25 that the front shaft 15 unintentionally moves downward during a front collision.

  1, a contacted portion 29 may be formed at the front end portion of the rear shaft 16, and the backward movement R of the contacted portion 29 may be prevented by the stopper 30. . Further, although not shown, a contacted portion 29 may be formed in the joint 17 and the backward movement R of the contacted portion 29 may be prevented by the stopper 30. In short, the abutted portion 29 may be formed in any portion from the front shaft 15 including the joint 17 to the front end portion of the rear shaft 16.

  Further, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, a notch 33 that opens downward may be formed in the stopper 30. In this case, the support portion 34 is not provided.

  Further, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, a member for closing the opening of the notch 33 may be provided. That is, a rectangular hole for fitting the rear shaft 22 of the front shaft 15 into the stopper 30 may be formed. This hole may be circular. If the hole is formed in the stopper 30 in this way, the middle part of the propeller shaft 11 moves toward the outside of the imaginary line 38 at the time of the front collision, so that the stopper 30 is used. Thus, it is more reliably prevented.

  Moreover, although the above is based on the illustrated example, the power source 6 may be an electric motor or a hybrid type in which two or more kinds of power sources such as an engine and an electric motor are combined.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged partial sectional view of FIG. 2. 1 is a simplified side view of an automobile. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automobile 2 Car body 4 Rear wheel 5 Differential device 6 Power source 7 Power transmission device 8 Component 11 Propeller shaft 12 Front joint 13 Rear joint 15 Front shaft 16 Rear shaft 17 Joint 19 Cylindrical body 19a Large diameter part 19b Small diameter part 19c Transition portion 20 Axis center 21 Front shaft 22 Rear shaft 29 Contacted portion 30 Stopper 31 Protrusion portion 33 Notch 34 Support portion 36 Buckling promoting portion 38 Virtual line F Impact force R Backward movement

Claims (1)

A propeller shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the front end portion of which is interlocked with the driving power source, and the rear end portion of which is interlocked with the rear wheel side is provided, and the propeller shafts are arranged in the longitudinal direction. In a power transmission device for an automobile including a front shaft, a rear shaft, and a joint that interlocks the front and rear shafts with each other,
When a contacted portion is formed in any part from the front shaft to the front end portion of the rear shaft, and the propeller shaft is applied with an impact force from the front to move backward with respect to the vehicle body, A stopper is provided for abutting the abutted part to prevent backward movement of the abutted part, and the front shaft portion on the front side of the abutted part is buckled in the axial direction based on the impact force. A power transmission device for an automobile in which a possible buckling promoting portion is formed.

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