JP2006200953A - System for constant velocity universal joint-driveshaft measurement - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for constant velocity universal joint-driveshaft measurement which can accurately measure shaft torque transmitted by a drive shaft. <P>SOLUTION: The system for constant velocity universal joint-driveshaft measurement measures the shaft torque transmitted from the constant velocity universal joint to the drive shaft. The drive shaft 4 is provided with strain gauges 12, 13 used as torque detection means. The strain gauges 12, 13 may be attached to a joint outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint in which the drive shaft 4 is connected to a joint inner ring. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system used in a drive system of an automobile, a railway vehicle, an industrial machine, or the like.

Conventional measures for ensuring driving stability of general automobiles are performed by detecting the rotational speeds of the wheels of each part, but the rotational speeds of the wheels are not sufficient, and other sensor signals are used to There is a demand for monitoring behavior and enabling control in terms of safety. Thus, it is conceivable to control the attitude from the torque acting on each wheel during vehicle travel. As an example, there is a drive shaft in which both ends are connected to a drive system of an automobile via a constant velocity universal joint, and pulsar rings are attached to the outer rings of the constant velocity universal joints. A rotation torque generated from both pulsar rings is detected, and a phase difference between the rotation signals of both pulsar rings corresponding to torsion of the drive shaft is calculated, thereby measuring an axial torque applied to the drive shaft (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-63628

  However, in the above-described shaft torque measurement method, the resolution of torque measurement is determined by pulsar ring, and high-accuracy torque detection cannot be expected. Further, in the above measurement method for measuring the axial torque applied to the drive shaft from the phase difference between the rotation of the joint outer ring on the inboard side of the vehicle and the rotation of the joint outer ring on the outboard side, it is interposed between the joint outer ring and the joint inner ring. Because of the gap, accurate torque cannot be detected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system capable of accurately detecting an axial torque transmitted by a drive shaft.

The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measuring system according to the present invention is a system in which a strain gauge is attached as a torque detection means to a drive shaft or a joint outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint in which the drive shaft is connected to a joint inner ring. A plurality of strain gauges may be provided.
According to this configuration, when axial torque is applied to the drive shaft, a voltage proportional to the axial torque is output from the strain gauge as a torque detection signal. Therefore, the shaft torque transmitted from the constant velocity universal joint to the drive shaft can be accurately detected.

In the present invention, voltage application to the strain gauge and extraction of the output voltage of the strain gauge may be performed via a slip ring. The slip ring may be an intermediate type or a shaft end type.
When a slip ring is provided, the voltage applied to the strain gauge mounted on the rotating drive shaft or the joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint and the output voltage from the strain gauge can be taken out of the drive shaft and constant velocity universal joint. It can be performed with a simple configuration without hindering rotation.

In the present invention, a bridge circuit may be constituted by the strain gauge, and a voltage applied to the bridge circuit may be given by a dry battery.
When a bridge circuit is configured by a strain gauge, a detection signal amplification effect can be obtained by taking out a voltage differentially, and the influence of the strain gauge temperature and other disturbance factors can be mitigated. Further, if the applied voltage is given by a dry battery, complicated wiring for supplying the applied voltage to the bridge circuit can be omitted. It is also possible to supply an applied voltage from a storage battery of an automobile via a slip ring.

In the present invention, a bridge circuit may be configured by the strain gauge, and a wireless power supply unit that wirelessly supplies a voltage applied to the bridge circuit may be provided.
When the wireless power feeding means is provided, the applied voltage can be fed to the bridge circuit without using a slip ring, and the system wiring is simplified.

In the present invention, a bridge circuit may be configured by the strain gauge, and a voltage applied to the bridge circuit may be performed by a power generation device that generates power by rotating the drive shaft.
When a power generation device that generates electric power by rotating the drive shaft is used, wiring processing for supplying an applied voltage to the bridge circuit is unnecessary, and an external power supply circuit is not required.

In this invention, you may provide the signal transmission / reception means which communicates the output voltage from the bridge circuit which a strain gauge comprises wirelessly.
When a wireless signal transmission / reception means is provided, the output voltage can be taken out from the bridge circuit without using a slip ring, and the system wiring is simplified.

In the present invention, the strain gauge is constituted by a bridge circuit, a wireless power feeding means for feeding the voltage applied to the bridge circuit wirelessly is provided, and a signal for wirelessly communicating the output voltage from the bridge circuit constituted by the strain gauge A transmission / reception unit may be provided, and an applied voltage transmission / output voltage reception unit may be provided in which an applied voltage transmitter on the vehicle body side in the wireless power feeding unit and an output voltage receiver on the vehicle body side in the signal transmission / reception unit are integrated with each other.
In the case of this configuration, it is possible to wirelessly supply the applied voltage to the bridge circuit by the strain gauge from the vehicle body side and take out the output voltage from the bridge circuit to the vehicle body side. It is not necessary to connect the wires with a slip ring interposed, and the system can be easily configured. In addition, since the applied voltage transmitter and output voltage receiver on the vehicle body side are integrated with each other to form the applied voltage transmission / output voltage receiving means, the vehicle body side transmitter / receiver can be configured compactly, Excellent handleability.

In the present invention, the strain gauge is constituted by a bridge circuit, a wireless power feeding means for feeding the voltage applied to the bridge circuit wirelessly is provided, and a signal for wirelessly communicating the output voltage from the bridge circuit constituted by the strain gauge Providing transmission / reception means, and applying applied voltage reception / output voltage transmission means in which the drive voltage side applied voltage receiver in the wireless power supply means and the output voltage transmitter on the drive shaft side in the signal transmission / reception means are integrated. good.
In the case of this configuration, it is possible to wirelessly supply the applied voltage to the bridge circuit by the strain gauge from the vehicle body side and take out the output voltage from the bridge circuit to the vehicle body side. It is not necessary to connect the wires with a slip ring interposed, and the system can be easily configured. In addition, since the applied voltage receiver and the output voltage transmitter on the drive shaft side are integrated with each other to serve as the applied voltage receiving / output voltage transmitting means, the transmission / reception device on the drive shaft side can be configured compactly, and Excellent installation and handling.

Both the applied voltage transmission / output voltage receiving means integrated on the vehicle body side as described above and the applied voltage reception / output voltage transmission means integrated on the drive shaft side as described above may be provided.
In the case of this configuration, both the vehicle body side transmission / reception device and the drive shaft side transmission / reception device can be configured in a compact manner, and the installation and handling are excellent.

  In the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system of the present invention, a strain gauge is attached as a torque detection means to the drive shaft or the joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint connected to the joint inner ring. The transmitted shaft torque can be accurately detected.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system is applied to, for example, a constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1 as shown in FIG. 1 provided in a drive system of an automobile.
The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1 is provided between a wheel bearing for an automobile and a differential (not shown) on the vehicle body side. This constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1 includes an outboard side constant velocity universal joint 2 arranged on the wheel bearing side, an inboard side constant velocity universal joint 3 fixed to the differential side, The constant velocity universal joints 2 and 3 have drive shafts 4 connected at both ends. One end of the drive shaft 4 is connected to a joint inner ring 6 which is one joint member of the outboard side constant velocity universal joint 2, and the other end is connected to a joint inner ring 6 which is one joint member of the inboard side constant velocity universal joint 3. Each is connected. In this specification, the side closer to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle when attached to the vehicle is referred to as the outboard side, and the side closer to the center of the vehicle is referred to as the inboard side.

  A joint outer ring 5 which is the other joint member of the constant velocity universal joint 2 on the outboard side is connected to an inner ring of a wheel bearing (not shown) at its stem portion 5b. The constant velocity universal joint 2 on the outboard side is a fixed type, and includes a joint outer ring 5, a joint inner ring 6, a ball 7 that is a rolling element for torque transmission, a cage 8, and a boot 9 that holds an enclosed lubricant. Composed. The joint outer ring 5 includes a cup portion 5a and a stem portion 5b, and a plurality of guide grooves 10 are formed in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 5a. The joint inner ring 6 is a member in which a plurality of guide grooves 11 are formed in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface. The plurality of balls 7 are interposed in respective ball tracks formed by the guide grooves 10 and 11 of the joint outer ring 5 and the joint inner ring 6. The guide grooves 10 and 11 have an arc shape in cross section along the axial direction. The cage 8 is a member that holds the balls 7 in the same plane, and holds the balls 7 in pockets provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The joint inner ring 6 includes a central hole having an uneven portion such as a serration or a spline on the inner periphery, and one end of the drive shaft 4 is fitted so that torque can be transmitted.

  The constant velocity universal joint 3 on the inboard side is a slide type and has a roller 8 as a rolling element for torque transmission. The joint inner ring 6 has three trunnion-shaped shafts protruding from the outer periphery, and the roller 8 is rotatably installed on each shaft. These three rollers 8 are capable of rolling in guide grooves 10 provided along the axial direction on the inner diameter surface of the joint outer ring 10. Since the structure of the main body is the same as that of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint 2, the same reference numerals are given to corresponding portions and the description thereof is omitted. The constant velocity universal joint 3 on the inboard side may use a ball as a rolling element for torque transmission.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measuring system of this embodiment has two strain gauges 12, 13 fixedly bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 4 in the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1. Is provided. These strain gauges 12 and 13 are of a two gauge type having two gauge portions 12a (13a) and 12b (13b) connected in series, as shown in an enlarged plan view in FIG. Both strain gauges 12 and 13 are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 4 at positions opposed to each other at 180 ° in the circumferential direction, and are connected so as to constitute the Wheatstone bridge circuit shown in FIG.

  In the bridge circuit, each of the gauge portions 12a to 13b can be represented by a resistance element. When the resistance value of one gauge portion 12a (13a) increases with respect to axial torque in one direction, the other gauge portion 12b. The resistance value of (13b) acts so as to decrease, and the increase / decrease of the resistance value acts inversely on the axial torque in the reverse direction. A predetermined voltage is applied to the bridge circuit between the connection point a of the gauge parts 12a and 13b and the connection point b of the gauge parts 12b and 13a, and the connection point c of the gauge parts 13a and 13b and the gauge part 12a, The output voltages of the strain gauges 12 and 13 are taken out from the connection point d of 12b. As a result, disturbance components such as bending of the drive shaft 4 are removed as outputs of the strain gauges 12 and 13, and a voltage proportional to the shaft torque is taken out.

  The voltage application to the strain gauges 12 and 13 and the output of the strain gauges 12 and 13 are taken out via an intermediate slip ring 14 as shown in FIG. The slip ring 14 is disposed on the vehicle body side so as to be fitted around the intermediate portion of the drive shaft 4 so as to be relatively rotatable. As shown in a sectional view of FIG. Four connection terminals 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d made of a ring-shaped belt are provided. The connection terminals 16a to 16d are in sliding contact with the connection terminals 15a to 15d connected to the connection points a to d of the bridge circuit in a one-to-one correspondence as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the connection terminals 16 a to 16 d of the slip ring 14 are connected to the strain amplifier 17 provided on the vehicle body side, and the output voltage of the bridge circuit by the strain gauges 12 and 13 is passed through the slip ring 14. And amplified. The voltage output from the strain amplifier 17 is applied to the bridge circuit as an applied voltage.

According to the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measuring system of this configuration, when axial torque is applied to the drive shaft 4 of the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1, a voltage proportional to the axial torque is bridged by the strain gauges 12 and 13. Output as a torque detection signal from the circuit. The output voltage is taken out through the slip ring 14 and amplified by the strain amplifier 17. Thereby, the axial torque transmitted from the constant velocity universal joints 2 and 3 to the drive shaft 4 can be accurately detected.
Since the torque is detected in this way, the torques of two drive shafts in the case of 2WD (two-wheel drive) and four drive shafts in the case of 4WD (four-wheel drive) can be accurately known. Therefore, the behavior of the vehicle can be freely controlled by controlling the torque distribution by an ECU (electric control unit).

  In this embodiment, the voltage application to the bridge circuit by the strain gauges 12 and 13 provided on the rotating drive shaft 4 and the extraction of the output voltage from the bridge circuit are performed via the slip ring 14, so The output voltage can be easily taken out and the applied voltage can be supplied without hindering the rotation of the drive shaft 4.

  In the above embodiment, the voltage applied to the bridge circuit is supplied from the vehicle body side via the slip ring 14, but it may be supplied by a dry battery (not shown) provided on the drive shaft 4. good. In this case, complicated wiring for supplying the applied voltage can be omitted.

  6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a wireless power feeding means 18 for wirelessly supplying an applied voltage to the bridge circuit, and an output voltage from the bridge circuit wirelessly. A signal transmission / reception means 19 for communication on the vehicle body side is provided. The slip ring 14 in the above embodiment is omitted. Other configurations are the same as those in the embodiment of FIGS.

  The wireless power supply means 18 is provided on the vehicle body side, and an applied voltage transmitter 18a that wirelessly transmits an applied voltage to the bridge circuit, and an applied voltage reception that is provided on the drive shaft 4 and receives an applied voltage from the applied voltage transmitter 18a. And a container 18b. The signal transmission / reception means 19 includes an output voltage transmitter 19a that is provided on the drive shaft 4 and wirelessly transmits an output voltage from the bridge circuit, and an output voltage receiver that is provided on the vehicle body side and receives a signal from the output voltage transmitter 19a. 19b. Here, the applied voltage transmitter 18 a and the output voltage receiver 19 b on the vehicle body side are integrated with each other to form an applied voltage transmitter / output voltage receiver 20. This integration is performed by installing the applied voltage transmitter 18a and the output voltage receiver 19b in the same casing, or by providing them on the same circuit board or electronic circuit chip. Thereby, the transmission / reception device on the vehicle body side can be configured in a compact manner, and the installation and handling can be excellent.

  Further, the applied voltage receiver 18b and the output voltage transmitter 19a on the drive shaft 4 side are integrated with each other in the same manner as described above to form an applied voltage receiving / output voltage transmitting means 21. As a result, the transmission / reception device on the drive shaft 4 side can be configured in a compact manner, and the installation and handling can be excellent.

  In the case of this embodiment, the supply of the applied voltage to the bridge circuit by the strain gauges 12 and 13 from the vehicle body side and the extraction of the output voltage from the bridge circuit to the vehicle body side can be performed wirelessly. It is not necessary to connect between the two sides with a wiring intervening with the slip ring 14, and the system can be configured easily.

  FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a power generation device 22 that generates power by rotation of the drive shaft 4 is provided instead of the wireless power feeding means 18. . The power generation device 22 includes a coil 22a provided on the drive shaft 4 side and a magnet 22b provided on the vehicle body side so as to face the coil 22a. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  In the case of this embodiment, not only the wiring process for supplying the applied voltage to the bridge circuit is unnecessary, but also the power supply circuit is unnecessary on the vehicle body side. In addition, the said electric power generating apparatus 22 can be used also in embodiment of FIGS.

  9 and 10 show still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the strain gauges 12 and 13 are connected to the joint outer ring 5 of the constant velocity universal joint 2 in the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1. The shaft end type slip ring 14 </ b> A is used instead of the intermediate type slip ring 14. The shaft end type slip ring 14A is fixed to the vehicle body side so as to be in sliding contact with the end surface of the stem portion 5b of the joint outer ring 5 as shown in FIG. The connection terminals 15a to 15d connected to the connection points a to d of the bridge circuit by the strain gauges 12 and 13 are arranged on the end face of the joint outer ring stem portion 5b so that their radial positions are different from each other. A plurality of ring-shaped connection terminals 16a to 16d that are in sliding contact with the connection terminals 15a to 15d in a one-to-one correspondence are concentrically formed on an end surface of the slip ring 14A that faces the end surface of the joint outer ring stem portion 5b. Be placed. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  Also in this embodiment, when an axial torque is applied to the drive shaft 4 of the constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft device 1, a voltage proportional to the axial torque is output as a torque detection signal from the bridge circuit by the strain gauges 12 and 13. The output voltage is taken out to the vehicle body side via the slip ring 14A and amplified by the strain amplifier 17. Thereby, the axial torque transmitted from the constant velocity universal joints 2 and 3 to the drive shaft 4 can be accurately detected.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a constant velocity joint device to which a constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. (A) is a top view of the state which attached the strain gauge of the constant velocity universal joint and drive shaft measurement system to the drive shaft of the equivalent speed joint apparatus, (B) is the same front view, (C) is the same side view. It is an enlarged plan view of a strain gauge. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the constant velocity universal joint and drive shaft measurement system of this embodiment. (A) is explanatory drawing of the connection terminal provided on the drive shaft, (B) is sectional drawing of the intermediate | middle type slip ring which slidably contacts the connection terminal. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the constant velocity universal joint and drive shaft measuring system concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of an equivalent speed universal joint and drive shaft measurement system. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the constant velocity universal joint and drive shaft measuring system concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the constant velocity universal joint and drive shaft measuring system concerning further another embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration on the drive shaft side in the measurement system, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration on the shaft end type slip ring side.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Constant velocity universal joint 4 ... Drive shaft 5 ... Joint outer ring 6 ... Joint inner ring 12, 13 ... Strain gauge 14, 14A ... Slip ring 18 ... Wireless power supply means 18a ... Applied voltage transmitter 18b ... Applied voltage receiver 19 ... Signal Transmission / reception means 19a ... Output voltage transmitter 19b ... Output voltage receiver 20 ... Applied voltage transmission / output voltage reception means 21 ... Applied voltage reception / output voltage transmission means 22 ... Power generation device

Claims (12)

  A constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system in which a strain gauge is attached as a torque detection means to a drive shaft or a joint outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint in which the drive shaft is connected to a joint inner ring.   2. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the strain gauges are provided.   3. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 1, wherein voltage application to the strain gauge and extraction of the output voltage of the strain gauge are performed via a slip ring.   4. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 3, wherein the slip ring is of a shaft end type.   4. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 3, wherein the slip ring is an intermediate type.   6. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 1, wherein a bridge circuit is constituted by the strain gauge, and a voltage applied to the bridge circuit is given by a dry battery or a storage battery.   3. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bridge circuit is configured by the strain gauge, and wireless power feeding means for wirelessly feeding a voltage applied to the bridge circuit is provided.   The constant velocity universal joint / drive according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bridge circuit is configured by the strain gauge, and a voltage applied to the bridge circuit is performed by a power generation device that generates power by rotating the drive shaft. Shaft measurement system.   9. The constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a signal transmission / reception unit that wirelessly communicates an output voltage from a bridge circuit formed by a strain gauge.   3. The bridge circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bridge circuit is configured by the strain gauge, a wireless power feeding unit that wirelessly feeds an applied voltage to the bridge circuit is provided, and an output voltage from the bridge circuit configured by the strain gauge is obtained. A signal transmission / reception unit for wireless communication is provided, and an applied voltage transmission / output voltage reception unit in which an applied voltage transmitter on the vehicle body side in the wireless power feeding unit and an output voltage receiver on the vehicle body side in the signal transmission / reception unit are integrated with each other. Constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system provided.   3. The bridge circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bridge circuit is configured by the strain gauge, a wireless power feeding unit that wirelessly feeds an applied voltage to the bridge circuit is provided, and an output voltage from the bridge circuit configured by the strain gauge is obtained. Provided signal transmission / reception means for wireless communication, and applied voltage reception / output voltage transmission in which the drive voltage side applied voltage receiver in the wireless power supply means and the output voltage transmitter on the drive shaft side in the signal transmission / reception means are integrated with each other Constant velocity universal joint / drive shaft measurement system with means. 11. A constant speed device comprising: an applied voltage receiving / output voltage transmitting unit in which an applied voltage receiver on the drive shaft side in the wireless power feeding unit and an output voltage transmitter on the drive shaft side in the signal transmitting / receiving unit are integrated with each other. Universal joint / drive shaft measurement system.

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