JP2007205457A - Fitting construction of inside joint member and shaft member of uniform speed universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate an automatic attachment of a circlip even by shortening the axial length (inner ring width) of a projection of the inner ring. <P>SOLUTION: A fitting construction of the inner ring and a shaft 13 of a uniform speed universal joint is comprised of the inner ring installed in the uniform motion universal joint to transmit the torque permitting the angle displacement between an outer ring, and the shaft 13 retained by the circlip by spline fitting in the shaft hole bored in the inside diameter of the inner ring. An chamfer is formed in an opening end of one side of the shaft hole of the inner ring. The shaft 13 is inserted into the chamfer with automatic alignment. The circlip is fitted into a stopper groove 14 formed in the shaft 13 to engage with the other opening end of the shaft hole. A recessed temporary stopper groove 21 to temporarily stop the circlip is formed near the shaft end side portion apart from the stopper groove 14 of the shaft 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is used in power transmission systems of automobiles and various industrial machines. For example, an inner joint member of a fixed or sliding constant velocity universal joint incorporated in a drive shaft or propeller shaft used in a 4WD vehicle, an FR vehicle, or the like. And a fitting structure of the shaft member.

  For example, fixed type constant velocity universal joints (Zepper type constant velocity universal joints: BJ) used as coupling joints for automobile drive shafts, etc., form a curved ball groove in the axial direction on a spherical inner surface. An outer ring as an outer joint member, an inner ring as an inner joint member in which a curved ball groove is formed in an axial direction on a spherical outer diameter surface, a ball groove of the outer ring and a corresponding ball groove of the inner ring. A plurality of torque transmitting balls arranged on a track formed in cooperation with each other and a cage having pockets for holding these balls. The plurality of balls are accommodated in pockets formed in the cage and arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  When this constant velocity universal joint is used for a drive shaft, a shaft portion (driven shaft) integrally extending in the axial direction from one end of the outer ring is connected to the wheel bearing device, and the shaft is spline-fitted into the shaft hole of the inner ring. A shaft (drive shaft) as a member is connected to a sliding type constant velocity universal joint. When the outer ring and the inner ring are angularly displaced between the outer ring shaft and the inner ring side shaft, the ball accommodated in the cage pocket is always within the bisector of the working angle at any working angle. The constant velocity of the joint is ensured. Here, the operating angle means an angle formed by the shaft portion of the outer ring and the shaft of the inner ring.

  As described above, the shaft is connected to the shaft hole of the inner ring of the constant velocity universal joint by spline fitting. In this inner ring / shaft fitting structure, the shaft is spline fitted into the shaft hole of the inner ring and is prevented from coming off by a circlip (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the fitting structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, a chamfer is provided at the shaft insertion side end of the shaft hole of the inner ring so that the circlip can be easily assembled automatically.

  10 to 13 illustrate the procedure for assembling the shaft 113 to the inner ring 106 having the shape disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG.

As shown in the figure, a spline 117 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106, and a chamfer 120 is provided at the shaft insertion side end of the shaft hole 112. The chamfer angle β is set to 32.5 ° or less, preferably 15 ° to 32.5 °. Moreover, the opening end radius _{R 2} of the chamfer 120, even in the state in which a circlip 115 which is pre-attached to the stopper groove 114 formed at an end portion of the shaft 113 hangs down by its own weight, the shaft 113 into the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106 as can be directly inserted, it is set larger than the radius R ₁ when circlip 115 hangs down by its own weight to the shaft 113 (see FIG. 10).

  When assembling the shaft 113 to the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106, first, as shown in FIG. 10, when the shaft 113 is coaxially disposed with respect to the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106, the shaft 113 is connected to the shaft end portion of the shaft 113. The clip 115 hangs down.

  From this state, when the shaft 113 is inserted into the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106 as shown in FIG. 11, the circlip 115 is guided and automatically aligned by the tapered surface of the chamfer 120 of the inner ring 106.

  Thereafter, when the shaft 113 is further inserted into the shaft hole 112 of the inner ring 106 as shown in FIG. 12, the circlip 115 is reduced in diameter to the small spline diameter of the inner ring 106 and passes through the shaft hole 112.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, when the shaft end portion of the shaft 113 is inserted to a position protruding from the inner ring 106, the circlip 115 is expanded in diameter at the position of the step portion 116 formed at the shaft hole opening end of the inner ring 106. The shaft 113 is retained by the circlip 115.
Japanese Patent No. 3188001

  By the way, in the above-described constant velocity universal joint, when the circlip 115 is automatically assembled, the circlip 115 of the inner ring 106 is increased in taper surface length so that the circlip 115 is smoothly aligned while being automatically aligned. A protrusion 119 is provided at the end of the inner ring 106 on the shaft insertion side. Note that the end of the inner ring 106 has a protruding shape in consideration of the ease of assembling the inner ring 106 and the cage.

  On the other hand, in order to improve the automatic incorporation of the circlip 115, it is better to reduce the taper angle of the chamfer 120 of the inner ring 106, that is, the chamfer angle β. However, as the chamfer angle β is reduced while the spline effective fitting length of the inner ring 106 is ensured, the axial length of the protrusion 119 is increased, and as a result, the axial length of the inner ring 106 is increased. That is, the inner ring width is increased. This increases the cost of manufacturing the joint and also increases the weight of the entire joint.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to automatically incorporate a circlip even if the axial length (inner ring width) of the protrusion of the inner ring is shortened. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fitting structure between an inner joint member and a shaft member of a constant velocity universal joint that can be easily made.

  As technical means for achieving the above-described object, the present invention provides an inner joint member provided in a constant velocity universal joint that transmits torque while allowing angular displacement with the outer joint member, and the inner joint member. A shaft member that is spline-fitted into a shaft hole formed on the inner diameter of the inner joint member and secured by a locking member, and a chamfer is provided at one open end of the shaft hole of the inner joint member. The inside of the constant velocity universal joint in which the shaft member is inserted while the stop member is automatically aligned, and the locking member is inserted into the stop groove formed in the shaft member and engaged with the other opening end of the shaft hole. A fitting structure of a joint member and a shaft member, wherein a concave temporary fixing groove for temporarily fixing the locking member is provided at a position closer to the shaft end than the fixing groove of the shaft member.

  In the fitting structure of the inner joint member of the constant velocity universal joint and the shaft member, the temporary retaining groove provided in the shaft end side portion with respect to the retaining groove of the shaft member exhibits the following functions.

  First, the locking member is temporarily fixed in the temporary fixing groove of the shaft member, and when the shaft member is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner joint member from this state, the locking member becomes one open end of the shaft hole. It abuts on the chamfer located in the section. When the shaft member is further inserted into the shaft hole, the locking member is pushed away from the temporary fixing groove by the chamfer and moved to the locking groove located on the opposite side of the temporary fixing groove. Reduce the diameter and fit into the stop groove.

  Thereafter, the locking member is pushed by the inner diameter of the shaft hole and reduced in diameter while passing through the shaft hole, and the diameter of the locking member is increased at the other opening end. Thereby, the shaft member is prevented from being detached from the inner joint member by the locking member.

  As described above, when the shaft member is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner joint member, the locking member is fitted into the temporary fixing groove of the shaft member and temporarily fixed, thereby being provided at one opening end of the shaft hole. The opening diameter of the chamfer can be made smaller than before. As a result, even if the axial length of the inner joint member is shortened, it is possible to smoothly and surely insert the shaft member into the shaft hole, and to obtain an automatic assembling property of the locking member equivalent to the conventional one.

  In the above-described fitting structure between the inner joint member and the shaft member, it is desirable that the temporary fixing groove has a depth of 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

  When the shaft member is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner joint member, the locking member is temporarily fixed to the shaft member, and when the locking member is pushed by the chamfer at the opening end of the shaft hole. It has the function of releasing the locking member.

  For this reason, if the depth of the temporary fixing groove is smaller than 0.2 mm, it becomes difficult to temporarily fix the locking member to the shaft member. It is difficult to remove the stop member.

  Further, in the fitting structure of the inner joint member and the shaft member, it is desirable to provide a taper on the opposite shaft end side of the temporary fixing groove.

  As described above, when the shaft member is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner joint member, when the locking member is pushed by the chamfer at the opening end portion of the shaft hole, the locking member is detached from the temporary fixing groove. If the taper is provided on the side opposite the axial end of the temporary fixing groove, the locking member can be easily detached from the temporary fixing groove.

  Furthermore, in the fitting structure of the inner joint member and the shaft member, it is desirable to arrange the taper position of the temporary fixing groove closer to the shaft end than the stopping groove.

  That is, the taper-up position of the temporary fixing groove and the stopping groove are separated in the axial direction. When the taper of the temporary fixing groove is continuously formed so as to be connected to the stopping groove, the shaft member is locked to the inner joint member by the locking member, and then the locking member fitted into the locking groove is caught. There is a possibility that the shaft member is pulled out with a small force.

  Therefore, if the taper position of the taper of the temporary fixing groove and the locking groove are separated in the axial direction and the temporary fixing groove and the locking groove are formed independently, the shaft member is detached from the inner joint member with the locking member. In the stopped state, the locking member fitted in the locking groove is caught greatly, and the shaft member is firmly prevented from coming off.

  According to the present invention, by providing a concave temporary fixing groove for temporarily fixing the locking member at a position closer to the shaft end side than the locking groove of the shaft member, the automatic locking member is equivalent to the conventional product. In addition to ensuring the ease of assembly, shortening the length of the inner joint member in the axial direction can reduce the weight and cost of the inner joint member. A compact constant velocity universal joint can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. In addition, although the following embodiment illustrates the case where it applies to a fixed type (Zepper type) constant velocity universal joint (BJ), other constant velocity universal joints, for example, a fixed type (undercut free type) constant velocity universal, Joint (UJ), sliding (cross groove type) constant velocity universal joint (LJ), sliding type (double offset type) constant velocity universal joint (DOJ), sliding type (tripod type) constant velocity universal joint (TJ) ) Is also applicable.

  The constant velocity universal joint of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 includes an outer ring 3 as an outer joint member in which a curved ball groove 2 is formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner surface 1 and a spherical outer surface. 4, an inner ring 6 as an inner joint member in which a curved ball groove 5 is formed in the axial direction, and a ball groove 2 of the outer ring 3 and a corresponding ball groove 5 of the inner ring 6 formed in cooperation with each other. And eight torque transmitting balls 7 arranged in the cage, and a cage 9 having a pocket 8 for holding the balls 7. The eight balls 7 are accommodated one by one in the pockets 8 formed in the cage 9 and arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The number of balls 7 is not limited to eight and may be six.

The center of curvature O ₂ of the ball groove 5 of the center of curvature O ₁ and the inner ring 6 of the ball grooves 2 of the outer ring 3, is offset by the opposite side an equal distance in the axial direction with respect to the joint center O including the center of the ball 7, Therefore, the track has a wedge shape in which the opening side is wide and gradually reduced toward the back side. The spherical centers of the inner diameter surface 1 of the outer ring 3 and the outer diameter surface 4 of the inner ring 6 both coincide with the joint center O.

  When the constant velocity universal joint having the above-described configuration is used for a drive shaft of an automobile, the shaft portion 11 (driven shaft) extending integrally from the bottom portion of the mouse portion 10 of the outer ring 3 is a wheel bearing device (not shown). And a shaft 13 (drive shaft) as a shaft member that is spline-fitted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6 is connected to a sliding type constant velocity universal joint (not shown). By connecting the inner ring 6 and the shaft 13 by spline fitting, torque can be transmitted between them.

  This constant velocity universal joint has a structure capable of transmitting torque while allowing an operating angular displacement between the two shafts of the shaft portion 11 of the outer ring 3 and the shaft 13 on the inner ring side. That is, when the outer ring 3 and the inner ring 6 are angularly displaced by the angle θ, the ball 7 guided by the cage 9 is always within the bisector (θ / 2) of the operating angle θ at any operating angle θ. This maintains the constant velocity of the joint.

  The shaft 13 inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6 and spline-fitted is provided with a circlip 15 as a locking member fitted in an annular stop groove 14 provided at the tip thereof, and the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6. It is prevented from coming off by being engaged with a step 16 provided at an opening end located on the back side of the plate.

FIG. 1 shows a shaft 13 in which the circlip 15 has an automatic assembling property equivalent to that of a conventional product. FIG. 1 (a) shows an insertion side shaft end of the shaft 13, and FIG. The stop groove 14 and the temporary stop groove 21 are shown. Further, FIG. 2 shows the inner ring shape of the embodiment in the upper half of the axis line and the conventional inner ring 106 in the lower half of the axis line in order to compare the inner ring shape in the embodiment when the shaft 13 of FIG. Indicates. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a circlip 15 used in this embodiment, which has a radius R _{5 in the} natural state.

  In the fitting structure between the inner ring 6 and the shaft 13 in this embodiment, the shaft 13 having the shape shown in FIG. The shaft 13 has a concave temporary fixing groove 21 for temporarily fixing the circlip 15 at a position closer to the shaft end than the fixing groove 14 provided in the same manner as in the prior art. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner ring 6 has a spline 17 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 12, and a circlip at the opening end portion of the shaft hole 12 located on the shaft insertion side when the shaft 13 is inserted. A chamfer 20 for automatically aligning 15 is provided. The chamfer 20 has a chamfer angle β of 15 ° to 32.5 °, which is the same as that of the conventional product, in order to easily reduce the diameter of the circlip 15.

  As shown in FIG.1 (b), the depth n of this temporary fix groove 21 shall be 0.2-0.5 mm. The temporary fixing groove 21 temporarily fixes the circlip 15 to the shaft 13 when the shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6, and the circlip 15 is pushed by the chamfer 20 at the opening end of the shaft hole 12. The circlip 15 has a function to be detached when it is made. For this reason, if the depth n of the temporary fixing groove 21 is smaller than 0.2 mm, it is difficult to temporarily fix the circlip 15 to the shaft 13. Conversely, if the depth n is larger than 0.5 mm, the chamfer 20 is pushed. It is difficult to remove the circlip 15 when the

  Further, a taper 22 is provided on the shaft opposite shaft end side of the temporary fixing groove 21, that is, on the fixing groove side. When the shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6, when the circlip 15 is pushed by the chamfer 20 at the opening end of the shaft hole 12, a taper 22 is provided on the stop groove side of the temporary fixing groove 21. The circlip 15 can be easily detached from the temporary fixing groove 21. The taper angle α is preferably about 15 °, for example.

  The position where the taper 22 of the temporary fixing groove 21 is raised is arranged closer to the shaft shaft end than the fixing groove 14. That is, the cut-up position of the taper 22 of the temporary fixing groove 21 and the stop groove 14 are separated in the axial direction. When the taper 22 of the temporary fixing groove 21 is continuously formed so as to be connected to the stopping groove 14, the circlip is inserted into the retaining groove 14 after the shaft 13 is secured to the inner ring 6 with the circlip 15. There is a possibility that the shaft 13 is pulled out by a small force.

  Therefore, the shaft 13 can be connected to the inner ring 6 by separating the raised position of the taper 22 of the temporary fixing groove 21 and the stop groove 14 in the axial direction and forming the temporary fixing groove 21 and the stop groove 14 independently. In a state where the clip 15 is prevented from being detached, the circlip 15 fitted in the retaining groove 14 is greatly caught, and the shaft 13 is firmly retained.

  FIGS. 4-7 demonstrates the point which attaches the shaft 13 to the inner ring | wheel 6 of this embodiment. In the fitting structure between the inner ring 6 and the shaft 13, the temporary fixing groove 21 provided in the shaft end side portion of the shaft 13 functions as follows.

  When assembling the shaft 13 to the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the circlip 15 is temporarily fixed in a state where the circlip 15 is expanded in the temporary fixing groove 21 of the shaft 13. 12, the shaft 13 is arranged coaxially.

At this time, by setting the depth of the temporary fixing groove 21 to 0.2 to 0.5 mm, the circlip 15 is securely temporarily fixed to the shaft 13 when the shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6. be able to. Here, the maximum radius R ₀ of the circlip 15 temporarily fixed to the shaft 13 is set smaller than the opening end radius R ₃ of the chamfer 20 at the opening end of the inner ring 6.

  When the shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6 from this state, the circlip 15 comes into contact with the tapered surface of the chamfer 20 located at one open end of the inner ring 6 as shown in FIG. When the shaft 13 is further inserted into the shaft hole 12, the circlip 15 is separated from the temporary fixing groove 21 by being pushed by the chamfer 20 toward the shaft non-axis end side as shown in FIG. It moves to the stop groove 14 located on the shaft end side.

  At this time, by setting the depth n of the temporary fixing groove 21 to 0.2 to 0.5 mm, the circlip 15 can be easily removed from the temporary fixing groove 21 when the circlip 15 is pushed by the tapered surface of the chamfer 20. Can be detached. Further, by providing the taper 22 on the shaft opposite shaft end side of the temporary fixing groove 21, the circlip 15 can be further easily detached from the temporary fixing groove 21.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the circlip 15 is guided by the taper surface of the chamfer 20 and is automatically aligned to reduce the diameter and fit into the stop groove 14. Thereafter, the circlip 15 is passed through the shaft hole 12 with the diameter of the circlip 15 being reduced, and when the shaft end of the shaft 13 protrudes from the inner ring 6, the circlip 15 is The diameter is increased at the position of the step 16 formed at the opening end of the hole 12, and the shaft 13 is prevented from coming off by the circlip 15 (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

  In the state where the circlip 15 is fitted into the retaining groove 14 of the shaft 13 at the opening end portion of the inner ring 6 and is locked by the step portion 16, the shaft 13 is prevented from being detached from the inner ring 6. Since the rising position of the taper 22 of the stop groove 21 is arranged and separated from the stop shaft 14 on the shaft shaft end side, even if an axial tensile force acts on the shaft 13, the circlip 15 However, the circlip 15 fitted into the stop groove 14 is caught easily without detaching from the stop groove 14 and moving to the temporary stop groove 21, and the shaft 13 is firmly prevented from coming off.

When the shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the inner ring 6 as described above, the circlip 15 is fitted into the temporary fixing groove 21 of the shaft 13 and temporarily fixed, so that the circlip 115 hangs down due to its own weight as in the past. since there is no (comparison see FIGS. 4 and 10), the opening diameter of the chamfer 120 at the opening end radius R ₃ of the chamfer 20 provided on one open end of the axial bore 12 prior as shown in FIG 2 R It can be smaller than ₂ (R ₃ <R ₂ ).

Since the opening end radius of the chamfer 20 can be reduced, the axial length m ₁ (inner ring width L ₁ ) of the projection 19 of the inner ring 6 is set to the projection 119 of the inner ring 106 in the conventional product as shown in FIG. Can be made shorter than the axial length m ₂ (inner ring width L ₂ ) (m ₁ <m ₂ , L ₁ <L ₂ ). As a result, even if the length of the inner ring 6 in the axial direction is shortened, the automatic insertion of the circlip 15 is obtained so that the shaft 13 can be inserted into the shaft hole 12 smoothly and reliably and equivalent to the conventional one.

(A) is the fragmentary front view which shows the axial end part of the shaft in embodiment of this invention, (b) is the principal part enlarged view of (a). In order to compare the shape of the inner ring in the embodiment of the present invention with a conventional product, it is a sectional view showing the inner ring in the embodiment of the present invention in the upper half from the axis and the conventional inner ring in the lower half from the axis. It is sectional drawing which shows a circlip in embodiment of this invention. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the shaft coaxially with respect to the inner ring | wheel. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is a sectional view showing a state in which the circlip temporarily fixed in the temporary fixing groove of the shaft is in contact with the chamfer of the inner ring. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the state which the circlip removed from the temporary fixing groove of the shaft. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the state which the circlip fitted in the stop groove | channel of the shaft. It is a structural example of a fixed type constant velocity universal joint, and is sectional drawing which follows the BOB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the shaft coaxially with respect to the conventional inner ring | wheel. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which inserts a shaft, aligning a circlip with the conventional inner ring chamfer. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which inserts a shaft, reducing the diameter of a circlip with the conventional inner ring | wheel. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which completed insertion of the shaft with respect to the conventional inner ring | wheel, and stopped | fastened by the circlip.

Explanation of symbols

3 Outer joint member (outer ring)
6 Inner joint member (inner ring)
7 Torque transmission member (ball)
12 Shaft hole 13 Shaft 14 Stop groove 15 Locking member (Circlip)
20 Chamfer 21 Temporary fixing groove 22 Taper

Claims (4)

An inner joint member provided in a constant velocity universal joint that transmits torque while allowing angular displacement with the outer joint member, and a locking member by spline fitting into a shaft hole formed in the inner diameter of the inner joint member A chamfer is provided at one open end of the shaft hole of the inner joint member, and the shaft member is inserted while the locking member is automatically aligned with the chamfer. A fitting structure of an inner joint member and a shaft member of a constant velocity universal joint in which the locking member is fitted in a retaining groove formed in the member and engaged with the other opening end of the shaft hole,
A fitting structure of an inner joint member of a constant velocity universal joint and a shaft member, wherein a concave temporary fixing groove for temporarily fixing the locking member is provided in a portion closer to the shaft end than the locking groove of the shaft member .   The fitting structure of the inner joint member and shaft member of the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the temporary fixing groove is 0.2 to 0.5 mm.   The fitting structure of the inner joint member and shaft member of the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a taper is provided on the opposite shaft end side of the temporary fixing groove.   The fitting structure of the inner joint member of the constant velocity universal joint and the shaft member according to claim 3, wherein the taper-up position of the temporary fixing groove is arranged closer to the shaft end side than the stop groove.

Images