JP2007132379A - Fixed type constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the track groove machining and the assembly of components by suppressing the occurrence of a catching phenomenon during bending action at a high operation angle. <P>SOLUTION: The fixed type constant velocity universal joint is equipped with an inner ring 11 in which a plurality of linear track grooves 16 are axially formed in an outer peripheral surface so as to be inclined with respect to an axial line, an outer ring 12 in which a plurality of linear track grooves 17 are axially formed in an inner peripheral surface so as to be inclined in a reverse direction to the track grooves 16 in the inner ring 11 with respect to an axial line, a ball 13 incorporated in a crossing portion of the track groove 16 in the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 in the outer ring 12, and a cage 14 which is arranged between the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring 12 and which holds the ball 13 between the track groove in the inner ring and the track groove 17 in the outer ring 12. While the track groove 16 adjacent to the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 adjacent to the outer ring 12 are arranged in parallel to each other, annular grooves 19, 20 are provided to the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 and inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12. Snap rings 21, 22 for restraining a joint axial direction displacement of the cage 14 are fitted into the annular grooves 19, 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is used in power transmission mechanisms of automobiles and various industrial machines, and is a cross-groove type constant velocity in which a sliding type constant velocity universal joint incorporated in a propeller shaft used in, for example, a 4WD vehicle or an FR vehicle is fixed. It relates to a universal joint.

  For example, propeller shafts used in automobiles such as 4WD vehicles and FR vehicles are slidable constant velocity universal joints called cross-groove types in order to have a structure that can cope with angular displacement due to a relative position change between a transmission and a differential. There are some that have.

  8 to 11 illustrate cross groove type constant velocity universal joints. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the constant velocity universal joint includes an inner ring 1, an outer ring 2, a ball 3, and a cage 4 as main components. The inner ring 1 is connected to a central hole 5 of a stub shaft (not shown) of a propeller shaft by spline fitting, and a plurality of linear track grooves 6 are formed in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface. The outer ring 2 is located on the outer periphery of the inner ring 1 and the same number of linear track grooves 7 as the track grooves 6 of the inner ring 1 are formed in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface. A cage 4 is disposed between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2, and the ball 3 is accommodated in a pocket 8 of the cage 4.

  The track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2 form an angle (track crossing angle α) inclined in the opposite direction with respect to the axis L as shown in FIG. 10 (the cage 4 is not shown). The ball 3 is incorporated at the intersection of the track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2. Further, the adjacent track grooves 6 of the inner ring 1 and the adjacent track grooves 7 of the outer ring 2 are arranged in a state inclined by the track crossing angle α in the opposite direction with respect to the axis L as shown in FIG.

  This type of constant velocity universal joint is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1.

  Non-Patent Document 1 shows a basic cross-groove type constant velocity universal joint having four or more (generally six) balls, and track crossing of an inner ring track groove and an outer ring track groove. The angle is designed to be an angle (generally 13 to 19 °) so that the opposed track grooves are not parallel when the constant velocity universal joint takes the maximum operating angle. In addition, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner and outer ring track grooves are Gothic arches, and the groove diameter is generally 1.01 to 1.04 of the ball diameter. The ball contact angle, which is the angle formed by the ball contact center with which the groove contacts and the track bottom center of the track groove, is 30 to 45 °.

In Patent Document 1, in an ordinary cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, a fixed constant velocity universal joint is formed by fixing an outer spherical surface of a cage with an outer ring or by fixing an inner spherical surface of a cage with an inner ring. .
Universal Joint and Driveshaft Manual Section 3.2.12 “Cross Groove Universal Joint” US patent US 6,497,622 B1

  In this constant velocity universal joint, the track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2 have the structure as described above, that is, an angle inclined in the opposite direction with respect to the axis L (track crossing angle α), and The adjacent track grooves 6 of the inner ring 1 and the adjacent track grooves 7 of the outer ring 2 are arranged in a state where they are inclined with respect to the axis L in the opposite direction by the track crossing angle α.

  Since the adjacent track grooves 6 of the inner ring 1 and the adjacent track grooves 7 of the outer ring 2 are arranged so as to be mirror-image symmetrical in this way, they are positioned at the intersections of the track grooves 6 and 7 when torque is applied. The balls 3 are about to jump out in the axial direction opposite to each other in the adjacent track grooves 6 and 7.

  Accordingly, the joint axial position of the cage 4 that holds the ball 3 is determined by the resultant force of the jumping force applied from all the balls 3. In this state, the driving force and rotation from the inner ring 1 to the outer ring 2 via the ball 3 are determined. Can be transmitted.

  By the way, in the general cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, there is a maximum operating angle determined by the shape of the track grooves 6 and 7 and the inclination angle (track crossing angle α), and the bending operation is performed at an operating angle higher than that. A catching phenomenon occurs. That is, depending on the inclination angle of the track grooves 6 and 7, when the high operating angle is taken, the track grooves 6 and 7 facing the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 may approach a parallel state. When the ball 3 is displaced from the intersection of the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2, a portion that is caught between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 is generated, thereby causing a catching phenomenon in which a smooth bending operation cannot be obtained. When such a phenomenon occurs, the operability decreases.

  Further, the track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2 form an angle inclined in the opposite direction with respect to the axis L (track crossing angle α), and the adjacent track groove 6 and outer ring 2 of the inner ring 1 are formed. Adjacent track grooves 7 are arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the axis L in the opposite direction by the track crossing angle α. For this reason, a complicated positioning operation is required when processing the track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2.

  Furthermore, in order to establish a fixed constant velocity universal joint with the configuration of the track grooves 6 and 7 described above, the cage 4 must be fixed to either the inner ring 1 or the outer ring 2. In the fixing method disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, that is, when the cage is fixed by making the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring spherical, the cage and inner ring are tilted one by one when the balls are assembled. There is a problem that the assembly man-hours must be increased.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to suppress the occurrence of a catching phenomenon at the time of bending operation at a high operating angle, and to process track grooves and components. Is to provide a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that can be easily assembled.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention includes an inner ring formed in an axial direction in a state where a plurality of linear track grooves are inclined with respect to an axis on an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface In addition, a plurality of linear track grooves are tilted in the opposite direction to the inner ring track groove with respect to the axis, and are incorporated in the intersection of the inner ring track groove and the outer ring track groove. A ball and a cage disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and holding the ball between the track groove of the inner ring and the track groove of the outer ring, and the adjacent track groove and outer ring of the inner ring The track grooves adjacent to each other are arranged in parallel with each other, and the cage is fixed to at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring in the joint axial direction by a retaining ring.

  In the conventional cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, the adjacent track groove of the inner ring and the adjacent track groove of the outer ring are arranged in a state inclined in the opposite direction with respect to the axis. The adjacent track grooves try to jump out to the opposite sides in the axial direction, and the resultant joint force of all balls determines the joint axial position of the cage that holds the ball. In this state, the inner ring passes through the ball. Driving force and rotation can be transmitted to the outer ring.

  In contrast, in the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, the adjacent track groove of the inner ring and the adjacent track groove of the outer ring are arranged in parallel, so that they are positioned at the intersection of the track grooves when torque is applied. Since all of the balls that try to jump out in the same direction, the cage is displaced in the axial direction of the inner ring or the outer ring by the force, so that it does not function as a constant velocity universal joint.

  Therefore, by fixing the cage in the joint axial direction with a retaining ring to at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring and determining the joint axial direction position of the cage holding the ball, the driving force is applied from the inner ring to the outer ring via the ball. And can transmit rotation. In the bending operation at a high operating angle, in the conventional cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, the adjacent grooves are mirror-image symmetric and not rotationally symmetric, so the cage may deviate from the bisector where it should originally exist. is there. On the other hand, in the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, adjacent grooves are rotationally symmetric and have the same structure regardless of which phase is bent, so that the cage does not come off the bisector. As a result, the catching phenomenon hardly occurs.

  As a means for restraining the cage in the joint axial direction by a retaining ring, a retaining ring for restraining the displacement in the joint axial direction of the cage by forming an annular groove along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. A structure in which is fitted in an annular groove is desirable. With such a structure, even if the cage is about to be displaced in the axial direction of the inner ring or the outer ring, the axial displacement is restricted by the cage interfering with the retaining ring, so that the axial position of the cage can be determined. it can.

  In the present invention, the adjacent track groove of the inner ring and the adjacent track groove of the outer ring are arranged in parallel, so that the positioning work of the inner ring and the outer ring can be easily performed when processing the track groove, and the cycle time is shortened. And processing accuracy can be improved. Further, if the structure using the retaining ring described above is adopted as means for restraining the cage in the joint axial direction, the inner ring, the cage and the ball can be easily assembled to the outer ring.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the number of balls in the above-described configuration is six or more. By making the number of balls 6 or more in this way, the number of balls that are substantially involved in the operation is increased, so that the operability of the constant velocity universal joint is improved and an increase in the angle is facilitated.

  According to the present invention, the adjacent track groove of the inner ring and the adjacent track groove of the outer ring are arranged in parallel, and the cage is fixed to the at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring in the joint axial direction by the retaining ring, In the bending operation at a high operating angle, the occurrence of the catching phenomenon can be suppressed, the operability can be improved, and the positioning work at the time of processing the track groove becomes easy, and the cycle time can be shortened. Since the processing accuracy can be improved, the product yield is greatly improved.

  In addition, since a cross groove type constant velocity universal joint with good backlash is used as a fixed type, it is possible to provide a constant velocity universal joint with less backlash than a fixed Rzeppa type constant velocity universal joint. As a fixed type constant velocity universal joint for a propeller shaft that does not need to be good, a good one can be obtained.

  An embodiment of a fixed cross groove type constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  1 and 2 are a cross-sectional view and a side view showing a main part configuration of a cross groove type constant velocity universal joint. FIG. 3 is a front view showing both track grooves in a state where the inner ring and the outer ring are combined, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing separately the track grooves of the inner ring and the track grooves of the outer ring. FIG. 4 shows the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring in a state of being developed in a plane. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing means for restraining the cage in the axial direction, FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing various forms of the axial restraining means of the cage, and FIG. FIG.

  This cross groove type constant velocity universal joint includes an inner ring 11, an outer ring 12, a ball 13 and a cage 14 as main components as shown in FIGS. The inner ring 11 has a stub shaft (not shown) of a propeller shaft connected to the center hole 15 by spline fitting, and a plurality of linear track grooves 16 are formed in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface. The outer ring 12 is located on the outer periphery of the inner ring 11, and the same number of linear track grooves 17 as the track grooves 16 of the inner ring 11 are formed in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface. A cage 14 is disposed between the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12, and the ball 13 is accommodated in a pocket 18 of the cage 14.

  In the illustrated embodiment, a constant velocity universal joint incorporating six balls 13 is described. However, the number of balls 13 may be six or more. By setting the number of balls to 6 or more, the number of balls that are substantially involved in the operation is increased, so that the operability of the constant velocity universal joint is improved, and a high angle is easily realized. The cross-sectional shapes of the track groove 16 of the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 of the outer ring 12 form a Gothic arch, and the ball 13 is in angular contact with the track groove 16 of the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 of the outer ring 12.

  The track groove 16 of the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 of the outer ring 12 form an angle in the opposite direction (track crossing angle α) with respect to the axis L as shown in FIG. 3 (the cage 14 is not shown). A ball 13 is incorporated at the intersection of the track groove 16 of the inner ring 11 and the track groove 17 of the outer ring 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, adjacent track grooves 16 of the inner ring 11 and adjacent track grooves 17 of the outer ring 12 are arranged in parallel.

  As described above, in this cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, the adjacent track grooves 16 of the inner ring 11 and the adjacent track grooves 17 of the outer ring 12 are arranged in parallel, so that when the torque is applied, the track grooves 16, 17 are arranged. Since all the balls 13 positioned at the crossing portion of the ball 13 try to jump out in the same direction, the cage 14 is displaced in the axial direction of the inner ring 11 or the outer ring 12 by the force, and does not function as a constant velocity universal joint.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a means for fixing the cage 14 in the joint axial direction is provided on the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12. In this embodiment, annular grooves 19, 20 are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12, and the retaining rings 21, 22 that restrain the joint axial displacement of the cage 14 are annular. The structure is fitted in the grooves 19 and 20.

  As forms of the annular grooves 19 and 20 and the retaining rings 21 and 22, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6F, each cross-sectional shape is configured by a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or a straight line and a curve. Those having a composite cross section are applicable. 2A to 2D show annular grooves 19a to 19d and retaining rings 21a to 21d provided in the inner ring 11, but this can also be applied to the outer ring 12. FIG. FIGS. 5E and 5F show annular grooves 20e and 20f and retaining rings 22e and 22f provided in the outer ring 12, but this is also applicable to the inner ring 11. FIG.

  The annular grooves 19, 20 and retaining rings 21, 22 are provided at two axial positions on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12, and the cage 14 is provided by retaining rings 21, 22 provided at one location. Is restrained from being displaced to one side in the axial direction (left side in FIG. 1), and the cage 14 is displaced to the other side in the axial direction (right side in FIG. 1) by the retaining rings 21 and 22 provided in the other part. To restrain it. Thereby, the cage 14 can be fixed to the axial position with respect to the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12. The relationship between the maximum outer diameter Ri of the inner ring 11, the outer diameter Rc of the retaining rings 21 and 22 fitted in the annular grooves 19 and 20, and the minimum inner diameter Ro of the outer ring 12 needs to satisfy Ro> Rc> Ri. (See FIG. 5).

  With such a structure with the retaining rings 21 and 22, even if the cage 14 tries to be displaced in the axial direction of the inner ring 11 or the outer ring 12, the cage 14 interferes with the retaining rings 21 and 22 so that the axial displacement is restricted. Therefore, by determining the axial position of the cage 14 that holds the ball 13, the driving force and the rotation can be transmitted from the inner ring 11 to the outer ring 12 via the ball 13.

  In the bending operation at a high operating angle, in the conventional cross groove type constant velocity universal joint, the adjacent grooves are mirror-image symmetric and not rotationally symmetric, so the cage may deviate from the bisector where it should originally exist. is there. On the other hand, in the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, adjacent grooves are rotationally symmetric and have the same structure regardless of which phase is bent, so that the cage does not come off the bisector. As a result, the catching phenomenon can be suppressed and the operability can be improved. FIG. 7 shows the characteristics of the bending torque with respect to the operating angle, and a general sliding type cross groove type constant velocity universal joint (broken line A in the figure) and the fixed type cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of the present invention (solid line B in the figure). As is clear from the figure, the bending torque of the fixed cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of the present invention is lower in the high operating angle region, and the operation is good. The sex is secured.

  In this embodiment, annular grooves 19 and 20 are provided on both the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12, and the retaining rings 21 and 22 are fitted in the annular grooves 19 and 20. A structure in which annular grooves 19 and 20 are provided on either the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12 and the retaining rings 21 and 22 are fitted in the annular grooves 19 and 20 may be employed. As in this embodiment, the cage 14 is more firmly fixed when the structures of the annular grooves 19 and 20 and the retaining rings 21 and 22 are provided on both the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12. Is preferable.

  In this constant velocity universal joint, the adjacent track groove 16 of the inner ring 11 and the adjacent track groove 17 of the outer ring 12 are arranged in parallel, so that the positioning process of the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12 is performed when the track grooves 16 and 17 are processed. Therefore, the positioning operation can be easily performed, and the cycle time can be shortened and the machining accuracy can be improved.

  In general, the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint includes a non-float type in which the maximum outer diameter of the inner ring 11 is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the cage 14. 11, the cage 14 and the ball 13 need only be inserted into the outer ring 12 as a cassette. However, the retaining ring 21 and 22 described above can be used as means for restraining the cage 14 in the joint axial direction by adopting a similar structure in the present invention. In particular, the inner ring 11, the cage 14, and the ball 13 can be easily assembled to the outer ring 12.

In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of a fixed type | formula cross groove type constant velocity universal joint. It is a side view which shows the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial front view for explaining a track crossing angle α in the inner ring and the outer ring of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a partial development view showing a track groove of an inner ring and a track groove of an outer ring in FIG. 2. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which illustrates the means to restrain a cage to an axial direction. (A)-(f) is a principal part expanded sectional view which illustrates the various forms of the axial direction restraint means of a cage. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship of the bending torque with respect to an operating angle. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of a general sliding type cross groove type constant velocity universal joint. It is a side view which shows the cross groove type constant velocity universal joint of FIG. FIG. 10 is a partial front view for explaining a track crossing angle α in the inner ring and the outer ring in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a partial development view showing a track groove of an inner ring and a track groove of an outer ring in FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

11 Inner ring 12 Outer ring 13 Ball 14 Cage 16 Track groove 17 Track groove 19, 20 Annular groove 21, 22 Retaining ring

Claims (4)

  An inner ring formed in the axial direction with a plurality of linear track grooves inclined on the outer peripheral surface with respect to the axis, and a plurality of linear track grooves on the inner peripheral surface opposite to the track grooves of the inner ring with respect to the axis Between the outer ring formed in the axial direction in a state inclined to the inner ring, the ball incorporated in the intersection of the track groove of the inner ring and the track groove of the outer ring, and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. And a cage for holding the ball between the track groove of the inner ring and the track groove of the outer ring, the adjacent track groove of the inner ring and the adjacent track groove of the outer ring are arranged in parallel, and the inner ring Alternatively, a fixed type constant velocity universal joint, wherein the cage is fixed to at least one of the outer rings in a joint axial direction by a retaining ring.   The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring along a circumferential direction, and a retaining ring for restraining a joint axial displacement of the cage is fitted in the annular groove. .   The fixed constant velocity universal according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove is formed along an inner circumferential surface of the outer ring along a circumferential direction, and a retaining ring for restraining a joint axial displacement of the cage is fitted into the annular groove. Fittings. The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the number of the balls is six or more.

Images