JP2007056945A - Outer joint member for constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outer joint member for a constant velocity universal joint capable of simplifying its manufacturing process, reducing costs, and improving reliability in joining with a flange member. <P>SOLUTION: A short cylindrical portion 13 corresponding to a circular end face 12 of an outer main body member 1 is disposed on an end face 2a at an outer main body member 1 side of the flange member 2, and a circular end face 14 of the short cylindrical portion 13 and the circular end face 12 of the outer main body member 1 are joined by frictional pressure contact to integrate the outer main body member 1 and the flange member 2. Thus the manufacturing process can be simplified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint.

  A constant velocity universal joint used for power transmission in automobiles and various industrial machines generally includes an outer joint member having a track groove formed on the inner surface. Some outer joint members include a cylindrical outer body member and a flange member protruding from the outer body member. When forming such an outer joint member, after manufacturing a cylindrical outer main body member and a flange member separately, an outer main body member and a flange member are joined (refer patent documents 1-3).

 That is, this type of constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member 101 having a plurality of track grooves 100 and an inner joint member 102 built in the outer joint member 101, as shown in FIG. A rolling wheel 104 is attached to the inner joint member 102.

 The outer joint member 101 includes a cylindrical outer main body member 105 in which the track groove 100 is formed on the inner peripheral surface, and a flange member 107 that is fitted and fixed to the bottom wall 106 side of the outer main body member 105.

 In the constant velocity universal joint shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical outer body member 105 and the flange member 107 are separately manufactured, and then the outer body member 105 and the flange member 107 are joined. That is, the flange member 107 is attached to the outer body member 105 by fitting (pressing) the flange member 107 to the outer body member 105 and welding the fitting portion. In addition, the outer body member 105 is formed with convex portions disposed on the outer peripheral surface thereof at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction for the track groove 100, and correspondingly formed with concave portions on the inner peripheral surface of the flange member 107. Has been.

 The constant velocity universal joint shown in FIG. 6 includes a boot 108, a large boot diameter portion 109 is fixed to the outer joint member 101, and a small boot diameter portion 110 is fixed to a shaft 111 extending from the inner joint member 102.

Conventionally, there is an outer joint member in which the flange portion is integrally formed without separately manufacturing the outer body member 105 and the flange member 107. In this case, it is integrally formed by cold forging, hot forging or the like.
German Patent No. 4314503 US Pat. No. 5,676,599 JP-A-10-281172

  When the outer body member 105 and the flange member 107 are joined by welding, in order to ensure stable joining, the range of options for each member is narrowed, and various types according to the environment to be used are configured. I couldn't. Moreover, the cost for welding equipment and product inspection after joining has also been high.

  In addition, since the shape of the flange portion is complicated, the degree of processing is difficult in cold forging. In hot forging, after the forging process, the internal shape must be subjected to another processing such as broaching, and the number of manufacturing steps has been increased.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint that can simplify the manufacturing process, achieve cost reduction, and increase the reliability of joining of flange members. To do.

  The outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint of the present invention is a constant velocity formed by joining an outer main body member made of a cylindrical body and a ring-shaped flange member arranged on the same axis as the outer main body member. In the outer joint member of the universal joint, a short cylindrical portion corresponding to the circular end surface of the outer body member is provided on the end surface of the flange member on the outer body member side, and the circular end surface of the short cylindrical portion and the circular shape of the outer body member are provided. The end face is joined by friction welding, and the outer body member and the flange member are integrated.

 The outer body member and the flange member are joined by friction welding. In friction welding, members to be joined are rubbed together at high speed, and the members are softened by the frictional heat generated at the same time, and at the same time, pressure is applied to join them. For this reason, it can join, without performing the press-fit process, a welding process, etc. like the past.

  The outer joint member of the present invention can be used for a sliding type constant velocity universal joint that allows angular displacement and axial displacement, and a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that allows only angular displacement.

  A circumferential cutout is provided at the outer peripheral surface end of the outer body member on the flange member side, and a short cylindrical portion whose end surface is the circular end surface is formed in the outer body member. Accordingly, even if the outer body member is not circular, the circular end surface of the short cylindrical portion can be abutted with the circular end surface of the flange member, and joining by friction welding is possible. Moreover, the circular circumferential notch serves as a so-called “burr” relief that occurs during joining.

  The circumferential notch can be formed by machine removal, and the outer body member having a short cylindrical portion can be formed by forging.

 In the present invention, since the outer body member and the flange member are joined by friction welding, the conventional press-fitting process and welding process are not required. For this reason, a manufacturing process can be simplified and a cost reduction can be achieved. Moreover, since the friction welding is used, the reliability of the joining is higher than the joining by welding, and further, various kinds of dissimilar metals can be joined, and the choice of materials for the outer body member and the flange member is widened. In particular, materials (materials) that are difficult to join by arc welding or the like can also be joined. For this reason, the various outer joint members using the material according to the use environment etc. of a constant velocity universal joint can be comprised. Further, since no welding process is required, gas, spatter, fumes, etc. are not generated, and the environment-friendly joining is achieved.

 The outer joint member of the present invention corresponds to various constant velocity universal joints such as a sliding type constant velocity universal joint that allows angular displacement and axial displacement, and a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that allows only angular displacement. be able to.

 Further, the joining operation can be performed even if the outer body member is not circular, and the circumferential notch serves as a relief part of a so-called “burr” generated during joining. For this reason, the improvement of the joining precision at the time of joining can be achieved.

 The circumferential notch can be formed by mechanical removal processing, and the circumferential notch can be reliably and stably formed. Further, when the outer body member having the short cylindrical portion is formed by forging, the machine removal process can be omitted, and the workability can be improved. In this forging, unlike the case of forming the flange portion, the shape of the short cylindrical portion is simple and there is no problem in workability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint includes an outer body member 1 made of a cylindrical body and a ring-shaped flange member disposed on the same axis as the outer body member 1. 2 are joined together.

  The outer body member 1 has a peripheral wall 3 and a bottom wall 4, and has a plurality of track grooves 5 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 3. For this reason, the external shape of the surrounding wall 3 is not circular. That is, the recessed portions 7 are formed on the outer peripheral surface 6 of the peripheral wall 3 at a predetermined pitch along the circumferential direction.

  1 and 2 show a first embodiment. In this outer joint member, a circumferential notch 8 is provided at the outer peripheral surface end of the outer body member 1 on the flange member 2 side, and The short cylindrical portion 9 is projected.

  The circumferential notch 8 can be formed by machine removal. That is, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 1, the outer main body member 1 in which the thick short cylindrical portion 16 protrudes from the bottom wall 4 is formed by, for example, forging (cold forging). What is necessary is just to cut 16 outer peripheral surfaces. Further, the entire outer body member 1 having the short cylindrical portion 9 can be formed by forging without performing such machining.

  The flange member 2 is a flat ring-shaped body, and the outer diameter direction protrusions 10 are provided at a predetermined pitch along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral side thereof. The outer diameter protruding portion 10 is provided with a through hole 11 for attaching the outer joint member to another member. The position of the track groove 5 or the recessed portion 7 does not necessarily correspond to the outer diameter protruding portion 10. Further, when the flange member 2 has a circular shape and does not have a protruding portion, the position of the track groove 5 or the recessed portion 7 with respect to the through hole 11 does not necessarily correspond.

  A short cylindrical portion 13 corresponding to the circular end surface 12 of the short cylindrical portion 9 of the outer main body member 1 is provided on the end surface 2 a on the outer main body member 1 side of the flange member 2. The short cylindrical portion 13 of the flange member 2 and the short cylindrical portion 9 of the outer body member 1 have substantially the same outer diameter and inner diameter. As will be described later, the short cylindrical portions 9 and 13 are joined to each other. After the joining, the circular end surface 12 of the short cylindrical portion 9 of the outer body member 1 and the circular end surface 14 of the short cylindrical portion 13 on the flange member 2 side are joined. Therefore, before joining, the end face 12 is located on the flange member 2 side with respect to the joining face 15, and the circular end face 14 is located on the outer body member 1 side with respect to the joining face 15.

  The outer body member 1 and the flange member 2 are joined by friction welding using a friction welding apparatus as shown in FIG. The friction welding apparatus shown in FIG. 3 includes a first gripping machine 17 that supports one of the members to be joined so as to be rotatable around its axis, and a second grip that reciprocates the other of the members to be joined along its axial direction. Machine 18.

  The first gripping machine 17 includes a chuck portion 21 that rotates via a drive mechanism 20 and is fixed on a base. The second gripping machine 18 includes a chuck portion 22 that supports a member to be joined in a fixed state, and reciprocates on a base via a reciprocating mechanism 23 such as a cylinder mechanism. The drive mechanism 20 can be configured by an electric motor 24 and a transmission mechanism 25 that transmits the driving force of the electric motor 24 to the chuck portion 21.

 Next, a method of joining the outer body member 1 and the flange member 2 using a friction welding apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

 First, the outer body member 1 is supported by the chuck portion 22 of the second gripping machine 18 and the flange member 2 is supported by the chuck portion 21 of the first gripping machine 17. At this time, the axial center of the outer body member 1 (axial center of the short cylindrical portion 9) and the axial center of the flange member 2 (axial center of the short cylindrical portion 13) are arranged on the same axial center. Conversely, the outer body member 1 may be supported by the chuck portion 21 of the first gripping machine 17 and the flange member 2 may be supported by the chuck portion 22 of the second gripping machine 18.

 In this state, the chuck unit 21 of the first gripping machine 17 is rotated around its axis and the flange member 2 is rotated around its axis while the second gripping machine 18 is brought close to the first gripping machine 17. go. Thereby, the circular end surface 12 of the short cylindrical portion 9 of the outer body member 1 and the circular end surface 14 of the short cylindrical portion 13 of the flange member 2 are rubbed together, and the circular end surfaces 12 and 14 are softened by the generated frictional heat. Furthermore, by bringing the second gripping machine 18 closer to the first gripping machine 17, the circular end faces 12 and 14 are pressed with appropriate pressure, and the short cylindrical portions 9 and 13 are joined together. Thereby, the outer body member 1 and the flange member 2 can be integrated. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, a so-called “burr 26” is formed. The outer circumferential burr 26 is formed in a circumferential gap 28 formed by the circumferential notch 8 of the outer body member 1 and the circumferential space 27 on the outer circumferential side of the short cylindrical portion 13 on the flange member 2 side. Therefore, when using the outer joint member, there is no problem even if it is left without being removed. However, it may be removed by machining or the like as necessary. Further, the burr 26 on the inner peripheral side may not be removed if there is no problem in use, but may be removed as necessary.

 In the outer joint member, the outer main body member 1 and the flange member 2 are joined by friction welding, so that a conventional press-fitting process, a welding process, and the like are unnecessary. That is, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the friction welding is used, the reliability of the joining is higher than the joining by welding, and various dissimilar metals can be joined, and the choice of materials for the outer body member 1 and the flange member 2 is widened. . In particular, materials (materials) that are difficult to join by arc welding or the like can also be joined. For this reason, the various outer joint members using the material according to the use environment etc. of a constant velocity universal joint can be comprised. Further, since no welding process is required, gas, spatter, fumes, etc. are not generated, and the environment-friendly joining is achieved.

 Further, the outer body member 1 is provided with a circumferential cutout 8 at the end of the outer peripheral surface on the flange member 2 side, and the outer body member 1 is formed with the short cylindrical portion 9 whose end surface is the circular end surface. Even if the outer shape of 1 is not circular, the circular end surface 12 of the short cylindrical portion 9 can be abutted with the circular end surface 14 of the short cylindrical portion 13 of the flange member 2, and joining by friction welding is possible. In addition, the circumferential notch 8 serves as a relief for so-called “burrs” that occur during joining. For this reason, the improvement of the joining precision at the time of joining can be achieved.

 The circumferential notch 8 can be formed by mechanical removal processing, and the circumferential notch 8 can be reliably and stably formed. Moreover, when the outer main body member 1 having the short cylindrical portion 9 is formed by forging, the machine removal process can be omitted, and the workability can be improved. In this forging, unlike the case of forming the flange portion, the shape of the short cylindrical portion 13 is simple and there is no problem in workability.

 Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment. In this case, the outer joint member has an outer body member 1 having a circular outer shape. That is, the outer body member 1 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 3 in which a plurality of track grooves 5 are formed on the inner peripheral surface, and a bottom wall 4 that closes the opening on the flange member 2 side of the peripheral wall 3. The end on the flange member 2 side protrudes toward the flange member 2 from the bottom wall 4. In FIG. 5, the position of the track groove 5 with respect to the outer diameter direction protruding portion 10 or the through hole 11 of the flange member 2 does not necessarily correspond.

 The end portion of the peripheral wall 3 on the flange member 2 side is a short cylindrical shape, and this end surface constitutes a circular end surface 12. Therefore, even in the outer joint member shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the circular end surface 12 of the outer body member 1 and the circular end surface 14 of the flange member 2 are the same as those of the outer joint member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. And can be joined by friction welding. For this reason, the outer joint member shown in FIG. 4 etc. can also exhibit the same effect as the outer joint member shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. In addition, in the outer joint member shown in FIG. 4 etc., about the structure similar to the outer joint member shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the same code | symbol as FIG.1 etc. is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

 By the way, the constant velocity universal joints are roughly classified into a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that allows only angular displacement between two axes and a sliding type constant velocity universal joint that allows angular displacement and axial displacement. For this reason, the outer joint member of the present invention may be a fixed type or a sliding type. That is, the outer joint member of the present invention can correspond to various constant velocity universal joints.

 In the above-described embodiment, the thickness and axial length of the short cylindrical portions 9 and 13 differ depending on the material used, but can be changed within a range where friction welding is possible. Further, in the outer joint member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer diameter of the cylindrical connecting portion constituted by the short cylindrical portions 9 and 13 is also used as the notch depth (diameter depth) of the circumferential notch 8. It can be changed within a range where the size is too small and the strength is not inferior.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the outer joint member showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of the outer joint member according to the first embodiment. It is a simplified diagram of a friction welding machine. It is principal part sectional drawing of the outer joint member which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part front view of the outer joint member of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the constant velocity universal joint using the conventional outer joint member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer body member 2 Flange member 3 Peripheral wall 4 Bottom wall 5 Track groove 6 Outer peripheral surface 7 Recessed recessed part 8 Circumferential notch 9 Short cylindrical part 10 Outer radial direction protruding part 11 Through-holes 12, 14 Circular end faces 13, 16 Short cylindrical Part 15 Joint surface 17, 18 Gripper 20 Drive mechanism 21, 22 Chuck part 23 Reciprocating mechanism 24 Electric motor 25 Transmission mechanism 26 Burr 27 Circumferential space 28 Circumferential clearance 100 Track groove 101 Outer joint member 102 Inner joint member 104 Rolling wheel 105 Outer body member 106 Bottom wall 107 Flange member 108 Boot 109 Boot large diameter portion 110 Boot small diameter portion 111 Shaft

Claims (6)

  An outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint formed by joining an outer main body member made of a cylindrical body and a ring-shaped flange member disposed on the same axis as the outer main body member. A short cylindrical portion corresponding to the circular end surface of the outer main body member is provided on the end surface on the main body member side, and the circular end surface of the short cylindrical portion and the circular end surface of the outer main body member are joined by friction welding to An outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, wherein a main body member and a flange member are integrated.   2. The outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the outer joint member is used for a sliding type constant velocity universal joint that allows angular displacement and axial displacement.  2. The outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the outer joint member is used for a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that allows only angular displacement.  4. The outer body member is provided with a circumferential notch at the end of the outer peripheral surface on the flange member side, and the outer body member is formed with a short cylindrical portion whose end surface is the circular end surface. An outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint according to any one of the above.   The outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 4, wherein the circumferential notch is formed by machine removal.  The outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 4, wherein the outer body member having a short cylindrical portion is formed by forging.