JP2007278347A - Constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constant velocity universal joint having improved assembling efficiency by eliminating the need for being fastened with a bolt member and complicated phase focusing. <P>SOLUTION: In the constant velocity universal joint, linear track grooves 26, 27 are formed on the outer peripheral face of an inner ring 21 and on the inner peripheral face of an outer ring 22, respectively, in a state of being inclined to the axial direction in mutually opposite directions, balls 23 are incorporated in a crossing between both track grooves 26, 27, the balls 23 are held by a cage 24 which is arranged between the outer peripheral face of the inner ring 21 and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring 22, and the outer ring 22 is mounted to a vehicle mounting flange 31. A means for transmitting torque between the vehicle mounting flange 31 and the outer ring 22 is formed of an irregular fitting portion 62 formed between the vehicle mounting flange 31 and the outer ring 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a power transmission device used for automobiles, various industrial machines, and the like, and is particularly incorporated in a propeller shaft or the like used in 4WD vehicles, FR vehicles, etc., and has a structure capable of absorbing axial displacement, etc. It relates to a universal joint.

  Propeller shafts used in automobiles such as 4WD vehicles and FR vehicles include a constant velocity universal joint so as to be able to cope with axial displacement and angular displacement due to a relative position change between the transmission and the differential. Usually, from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the entire vehicle, a sliding type constant velocity universal joint called a Lebro type (or a cross groove type) that is lightweight and has good rotational balance and vibration characteristics is incorporated.

  The Lebro type constant velocity universal joint is roughly classified into two types, a float type and a non-float type, and both types are properly used according to the characteristics (slide amount, etc.) of the vehicle equipped with the propeller shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 9, both types of constant velocity universal joints have an inner ring 1, an outer ring 2, a ball 3 and a cage 4 as main components. FIG. 9 shows a float type.

  The inner ring 1 has a plurality of track grooves 6 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A stub shaft 8 of a propeller shaft is inserted into the center hole 5 of the inner ring 1 and is spline-fitted, and torque can be transmitted between the two by the spline fitting. The stub shaft 8 is prevented from coming off from the inner ring 1 by a snap ring 11.

  The outer ring 2 is located on the outer periphery of the inner ring 1, and the same number of track grooves 7 as the track grooves 6 of the inner ring 1 are formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2 form an angle inclined in opposite directions with respect to the axis, and the ball 3 is formed at the intersection of the track groove 6 of the inner ring 1 and the track groove 7 of the outer ring 2 that make a pair. Is incorporated. A cage 4 is disposed between the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2, and the ball 3 is held in a pocket 9 of the cage 4.

  The outer ring 2 is attached to a vehicle attachment flange (companion flange) 16. That is, the bolt member 18 inserted through the insertion hole 17 of the outer ring 2 is screwed into the screw hole 19 of the vehicle mounting flange 16. Thus, the constant velocity universal joint is fastened to the vehicle mounting flange 16.

  A sealing device 15 is mounted on the opposite side of the outer ring 2 from the flange side. The sealing device 15 includes a boot 12 and a metal boot adapter 13 in order to suppress the rotational expansion of the boot during high-speed rotation. The boot 12 has a small end portion 12b and a large end portion 12a, and is shaped like a V-shape in the middle. The boot adapter 13 has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 13a, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 13b, and a radial wall portion 13c extending in the inner diameter direction from the cylindrical portion 13a toward the small-diameter cylindrical portion 13b. The outer ring is fitted on the end of the outer ring on the side opposite to the flange. A through hole 18a through which the bolt member 18 is inserted is provided in the radial wall portion 13c.

  Accordingly, the bolt adapter 18 is used to fasten the boot adapter 13 to the outer ring 2, and the outer ring 2 to which the boot adapter 13 is attached is attached to the vehicle mounting flange 16. At this time, the end surface 2 a on the flange side of the outer ring 2 contacts the end surface 10 of the flange 16, and the radial wall 13 c of the boot adapter 13 contacts the end surface 2 b on the opposite side of the outer ring 2. The small end portion 12b of the boot 12 is attached to the stub shaft 8 and fastened by the boot band 14, and the large end portion 12a of the boot 12 is held by crimping the end portion of the boot adapter 13.

  As described above, a method of fastening the vehicle mounting flange 16 and the outer ring 2 with the bolt member 18 is generally used (Patent Document 1).

A fastening method that does not use such a bolt member 18 is also described in Patent Document 1. In this case, an outer cylinder having serrations on the inner diameter surface (inner peripheral surface) is used. That is, the outer cylinder is fitted on the outer ring side of the flange and the outer ring, and the serrations on the inner diameter surface (inner circumferential surface) of the outer cylinder are fitted on the serrations provided on the outer ring side of the flange and the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring. Combine. In this fitted state, the outer ring side of the flange and the outer ring are sandwiched by a pair of snap rings, and the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring are fastened.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-166827

  In the case of using the fastening bolt, the rotational torque is transmitted by the frictional force acting on the mating surface between the outer ring and the flange by fastening the bolt member. However, in order to smoothly transmit this rotational torque, it is necessary to tighten the bolt member with a specified tightening torque. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the tightening torque with high accuracy, and the assembly workability is poor.

  In addition, since the outer cylinder provided with serrations is serrated and fitted, a relatively large rotational torque can be transmitted. However, the number of parts as a whole is large and the assembly workability is poor. In particular, it is necessary to carry out assembly work that combines a vehicle mounting flange (companion flange), a joint assembly consisting of an outer ring, an inner ring, a ball, a cage, and the like, and an outer cylinder. Workability is poor.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a constant velocity universal joint that does not require fastening by a bolt member or complicated phase alignment and can improve assemblability.

  In the constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, linear track grooves are formed in each of the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring in the axial direction in a state where they are inclined in directions opposite to each other in the axial direction. In a constant velocity universal joint in which balls are incorporated in the intersections of the grooves, the balls are held by a cage disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and the outer ring is attached to a vehicle mounting flange. The torque transmission means between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring is constituted by an uneven fitting portion provided between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring.

  In the constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention, the torque transmission means between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring is constituted by an uneven fitting portion, and is assembled to the vehicle mounting flange by an assembly fastening member having a threaded portion. This eliminates the need for fastening work with multiple bolt members.

  The vehicle mounting flange includes a cylindrical portion that is fitted on the outer ring, and a receiving surface that receives the outer ring end surface in the cylindrical portion, a corner portion between the outer ring end surface and the outer ring outer peripheral surface, and the vehicle mounting The concave / convex fitting portion is provided between the receiving surface of the flange and the corner portion of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and the concave and convex portions of the concave / convex fitting portion are directed from the flange inner side toward the flange opening side. The concave / convex fitting portion can be fitted by inserting the outer ring into the cylinder portion of the vehicle mounting flange along the axial direction.

  Since the concave / convex fitting portion can be fitted by inserting the outer ring into the cylinder portion of the vehicle mounting flange along the axial direction, the outer ring (in this case, the outer ring is composed of the inner ring, cage, ball, etc. Can be easily assembled to the vehicle mounting flange. And since the recessed part and the convex part are inclined to the outer diameter side toward the flange opening side from the flange inner side, the recessed part and convex part of an uneven | corrugated fitting part can be fitted smoothly.

  A threaded portion is provided on the vehicle mounting flange, and an assembly tightening member is screwed onto the threaded portion, and the outer ring is pressed against the receiving surface side of the vehicle mounting flange to closely contact the concave and convex portions of the concave-convex fitting portion. Can be fitted. That is, the joint assembly composed of the inner ring, the cage, the ball and the like can be easily assembled to the vehicle mounting flange by simply screwing the assembly fastening member into the threaded portion of the vehicle mounting flange. In addition, the concave and convex portions are inclined toward the outer diameter side from the flange inner side toward the flange opening side. It can be lost.

  According to the constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, torque transmission between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring can be performed by the concave-convex fitting portion, so that reliable torque transmission is possible. In addition, phase adjustment is possible by using the concave and convex fitting parts, and it is possible to assemble with an assembly fastening member having a threaded part, which eliminates the need for fastening work with a plurality of bolt members and reduces the number of parts. In addition, complicated phase alignment is not required, and assembly workability can be improved.

  By fitting a joint assembly body (an assembly of an outer ring, an inner ring, a cage, a ball, and the like) into the cylinder portion of the vehicle mounting flange, the concave portion and the convex portion of the concave and convex fitting portion can be smoothly fitted. For this reason, it is possible to improve the workability of attaching the joint assembly to the vehicle attachment flange.

  By screwing the assembly fastening member, the joint assembly can be reliably assembled to the vehicle mounting flange in a short time. In addition, the concave and convex portions of the concave / convex fitting portion can be closely fitted to each other, and so-called “backlash” in the concave / convex fitting portion can be eliminated. As a result, torque transmission between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring is stabilized. By the way, if there is “backlash” in the concave / convex fitting portion, the convex / concave fitting portion may be damaged due to rubbing against or colliding with the concave portion during torque transmission. However, if there is no “backlash”, such rubbing and collision can be prevented, and the life can be extended.

  An embodiment of a constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, a float type Lebro type (or cross groove type) constant velocity universal joint in which the minimum inner diameter of the cage is set smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the inner ring is shown in FIGS. It can be applied to a non-float type.

  The constant velocity universal joint in this embodiment includes an inner ring 21, an outer ring 22, a ball 23, and a cage 24 as main components.

  The inner ring 21 has a plurality of track grooves 26 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A stub shaft 28 is spline-fitted into the center hole 25 of the inner ring 21 so that torque can be transmitted between the two by the spline fitting. The stub shaft 28 is prevented from coming off from the inner ring 21 by the snap ring 20.

  The outer ring 22 is located on the outer periphery of the inner ring 21, and the same number of track grooves 27 as the track grooves 26 of the inner ring 21 are formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the track groove 26 of the inner ring 21 and the track groove 27 of the outer ring 22 form an angle inclined in the opposite direction to the axis (track crossing angle α), and the track groove 26 of the inner ring 21 that forms a pair. A ball 23 is incorporated at the intersection of the outer ring 22 and the track groove 27. A cage 24 is disposed between the inner ring 21 and the outer ring 22, and the ball 23 is held in a pocket 29 of the cage 24.

  Then, the joint assembly body 30 including the inner ring 21, the outer ring 22, the ball 23, the cage 24, and the like is mounted on the vehicle mounting flange (companion flange) 31. The companion flange 31 includes a main body portion 35 that forms a hollow portion 34, a cylindrical portion 33 that is externally fitted to the outer ring 22, and a thick portion 36 that is disposed between the main body portion 35 and the cylindrical portion 33. .

  Further, an end plate 37 is attached to the outer ring end portion on the opposite shaft protruding side. The end plate 37 closes the joint opening on the side of the vehicle mounting flange, and prevents leakage of grease filled in the joint and prevents foreign substances from entering. The end plate 37 has a cylindrical portion 37a fitted in a notch portion 38 provided at the end of the inner diameter surface (inner peripheral surface) 39 of the outer ring 22 on the vehicle mounting flange side, and a diameter extending from the cylindrical portion 37a in the inner diameter direction. A directional wall portion 37b and a deep dish-shaped main body portion 37c bulging toward the hollow portion side are provided.

  In the end plate 37, the outer diameter side of the radial wall portion 37 b abuts on the receiving surface 36 a of the thick portion 36 of the companion flange 31 in a state where the cylindrical portion 37 a is fitted in the notch portion 38. The plate 37 is sandwiched between the outer ring 22 and the companion flange 31.

  A sealing device 40 is mounted on the opposite side of the joint assembly 30 to the flange side. The sealing device 40 includes a boot 42 and a metal boot adapter 43 in order to suppress the rotational expansion of the boot during high-speed rotation. The boot 42 has a large end portion 42a and a small end portion 42b, and is shaped like a V-shape in the middle. The boot adapter 43 includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 43a that is press-fitted into the outer ring end on the non-flange side, a small-diameter cylindrical main body portion 43b, a radial wall portion 43c that extends in an inner diameter direction from the cylindrical portion 43a, and a diameter thereof. A tapered wall portion 43d that connects the directional wall portion 43c and the cylindrical main body portion 43b is provided. A small end portion 42 b of the boot 42 is attached to the stub shaft 28 and fastened with a boot band 44. The large end portion 42 a of the boot 42 is held by crimping the end portion of the cylindrical portion 42 a of the boot adapter 43.

  The outer ring 22 includes a corner portion of the end surface 22a on the opposite shaft side and an outer ring outer peripheral surface (outer diameter surface) 51, a receiving surface 36a of the vehicle mounting flange 31 and an inner peripheral surface (inner diameter surface) 48 of the cylindrical portion 33. A concave / convex fitting portion 62 that constitutes a torque transmission means between the vehicle mounting flange 31 and the outer ring 22 is provided between the corner portion and the corner portion.

  The concave / convex fitting portion 62 includes a concave portion 64 and a convex portion 65 fitted to the concave portion 64. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a chamfered portion 63 is formed at the corner portion between the flange-side end surface 22 a of the outer ring 22 and the outer diameter surface (outer peripheral surface) 51 of the outer ring 22. The groove-like concave portion 64 is formed in the portion 63 along the circumferential direction. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the concave portion 64 is inclined toward the outer diameter side from the flange inner side toward the flange opening side.

  Moreover, the convex part 65 is provided in the corner part of the receiving surface 36a of both the flanges 31 for attachment, and the internal peripheral surface (inner diameter surface) 48 of the cylinder part 33, as shown in FIG. At this time, the projections 65 are arranged at the same pitch as the arrangement pitch of the recesses 64, and the outer shape thereof is brought into close contact with the recesses 64 when fitted. And this convex part 65 also inclines to the outer-diameter side toward the flange opening side from the flange inner side.

  For this reason, when each convex portion 65 is fitted in each concave portion 64, the outer ring 22 and the vehicle mounting flange 31 are in a so-called meshed state, and the concave and convex fitting portion 62 is connected to the vehicle mounting flange 31. A torque transmission means with the outer ring 22 can be configured.

  Further, a threaded portion 59 is formed on the outer diameter surface of the cylindrical portion 33 of the flange 31, and an assembly fastening member 55 is screwed to the threaded portion 59. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 8, etc., the assembly fastening member 55 includes a short cylindrical main body 57 having a threaded portion 56 on its inner surface, and an inner side of the main body 57 on the sealing device side. It consists of a heel part 58. Then, the screw portion 56 of the tightening member 55 is screwed into the screw portion 59 of the flange 31 from the sealing device side. The inner flange 58 is formed of a ring body having an axial hole 61, and the inner diameter thereof is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical main body 43 b of the boot adapter 43, and the inner diameter end of the radial wall 43 c of the boot adapter 43. The diameter is about.

  For this reason, the radial wall 43c of the boot adapter 43 of the sealing device 40 is fitted to the end surface of the outer ring 22 by screwing the screw 56 on the inner diameter side of the fastening member 55 for assembly with the screw 59 of the companion flange 31. 22b and the inner flange portion 58 of the assembly fastening member 55 are sandwiched.

Next, a method for assembling the constant velocity universal joint configured as described above to the companion flange 31 will be described. With the end plate 37 press-fitted into the flange-side end of the outer ring 22 (that is, the state shown in FIG. 3), the joint assembly body 30 is inserted (inserted) into the cylindrical portion 33 of the companion flange 31 along the axial direction. ) At this time, the phase of the convex portion 65 of the flange 31 and the concave portion 64 of the outer ring 22 are matched and fitted. Thereafter, the screw portion 56 of the assembly fastening member 55 is screwed into the screw portion 59 of the flange 31 from the sealing device side.

  That is, if the member 55 is screwed to the threaded portion 59 of the flange 31, the inner flange portion 58 of the assembly fastening member 55 comes into contact with the radial wall portion 43 c of the boot adapter 43 and is further screwed. Then, the end surface 22 a of the outer ring 22 can be abutted against the receiving surface 36 a of the companion flange 31. Therefore, the joint assembly 30 is sandwiched between the companion flange 31 and the assembly fastening member 55, and the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 65 of the concave-convex fitting portion 62 are closely fitted, It is connected to the companion flange 31. In this connected state, a gap S is formed between the inner diameter surface 48 of the cylindrical portion 33 of the companion flange 31 and the outer diameter surface 51 of the outer ring 22.

  In the present invention, torque transmission between the vehicle mounting flange 31 and the outer ring 22 can be performed by the concave / convex fitting portion 62, so that reliable torque transmission is possible. In addition, phase adjustment is performed by the concave / convex fitting portion 62 and assembly can be performed by the assembly tightening member 55 having a threaded portion, which eliminates the need for fastening work with a plurality of bolt members and reduces the number of parts. Complex phase alignment is not required with a small amount, and assembly workability can be improved.

By fitting the joint assembly body 30 (an assembly of the outer ring 22, the inner ring 21, the cage 24, the ball 23, etc.) into the cylindrical portion 33 of the vehicle mounting flange 31, the concave and convex portions 64 and 65 of the concave and convex fitting portion are formed. It can be fitted smoothly. For this reason, the workability of attaching the joint assembly 30 to the vehicle attachment flange 31 can be improved.

  By screwing the assembly fastening member 55, the joint assembly 30 can be easily assembled to the vehicle mounting flange 31. Moreover, since the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 65 are inclined toward the outer diameter side from the flange inner side toward the flange opening side, a pressing force in the inner diameter direction acts by this screwing, and the concave portion of the concave and convex fitting portion 62 64 and the convex portion 65 can be closely fitted to each other, and so-called “backlash” in the concave-convex fitting portion 62 can be eliminated. Thereby, torque transmission between the vehicle mounting flange 31 and the outer ring 22 is stabilized. By the way, if there is “backlash” in the concave / convex fitting portion 62, the convex / concave fitting portion 62 may be damaged by rubbing or colliding with the concave portion 64 during torque transmission. . However, if there is no “backlash”, such rubbing and collision can be prevented, and the life can be extended.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the concave portion 64 of the concave-convex fitting portion 62 and the convex portion corresponding thereto. The number 65 can be arbitrarily set. In this case, although it differs depending on the size, shape, inclination angle, and the like of the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 65, in order to enable stable torque transmission, the number is about three at a 120 degree pitch along the circumferential direction. Is preferred. As described above, the size, shape, inclination angle, and the like of the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 65 can be variously changed as long as torque transmission is possible.

  In the above embodiment, the concave portion 64 is provided on the outer ring 22 side and the convex portion 65 is provided on the flange 31 side. Conversely, the convex portion 65 is provided on the outer ring 22 side and the concave portion 64 is provided on the flange 31 side. You may do it.

It is sectional drawing of the constant velocity universal joint which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a partial front view for demonstrating the track crossing angle in the inner ring | wheel and outer ring | wheel of the said constant velocity universal joint. It is sectional drawing of a joint assembly body. It is the sectional view on the AA line of the said FIG. It is a front view of the outer ring | wheel of the said constant velocity universal joint. It is a side view of the outer ring | wheel of the said constant velocity universal joint. It is a perspective view of the outer ring | wheel of the said constant velocity universal joint. It is a rear view of the fastening member for assembly. It is sectional drawing of the conventional constant velocity universal joint.

Explanation of symbols

21 Inner ring 22 Outer ring 23 Ball 24 Cage 26 Track groove 27 Track groove 31 Companion flange 33 Cylindrical part 36a Receiving surface 55 Assembly fastening member 59 Screw part 62 Concavity and convexity fitting part 64 Concave part 65 Convex part

Claims (3)

A straight track groove is formed on each of the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring in the axial direction in a state of being inclined in opposite directions with respect to the axial direction, and balls are incorporated at the intersections of both track grooves, In a constant velocity universal joint in which these balls are held by a cage disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and the outer ring is attached to a vehicle mounting flange.
A constant velocity universal joint characterized in that the torque transmission means between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring is constituted by a concave-convex fitting portion provided between the vehicle mounting flange and the outer ring.   The vehicle mounting flange includes a cylindrical portion that is externally fitted to the outer ring, and a receiving surface that receives the outer ring end surface in the cylindrical portion, a corner portion between the outer ring end surface and the outer ring outer peripheral surface, and the vehicle mounting flange. The concave / convex fitting portion is provided between the receiving surface and the corner portion of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and the concave portion and the convex portion of the concave / convex fitting portion are disposed outward from the flange inner side toward the flange opening side. 2. The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the concave-convex fitting portion can be fitted by being fitted in the cylindrical portion of the flange for mounting the vehicle along the axial direction of the outer ring. .   The vehicle mounting flange is provided with a threaded portion, and an assembly fastening member is screwed into the threaded portion, and the outer ring is pressed against the receiving surface side of the vehicle mounting flange so that the concave and convex portions of the concave and convex fitting portion The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 2, wherein:

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