JP2008045707A - Method for assembling constant velocity joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for easily and surely assembling an undercut-free type constant velocity joint. <P>SOLUTION: The constant velocity joint is an undercut-free type comprising an outer race 2 to which one shaft 5 is joined; an inner race 1 to which the other shaft 6 is joined; balls 3 arranged in ball grooves 10, 20 formed in the facing surfaces of the outer race 2 and inner race 1 respectively, to transmit torque; a cage 4 arranged between the outer race 2 and the inner race 1 and formed with window parts for holding the respective balls 3. In assembling such a constant velocity joint, the axial direction of a crest part 11 of the inner race 1 and the circumferential direction of the window part 40 of the cage 4 are adjusted to perform engagement, and the inner race 1 is inserted into the cage 4 by the dead weight of the inner race 1 or cage 4 to assemble the inner race 1 and the cage 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for assembling a constant velocity joint, and in particular, formed on an outer race to which one shaft is joined, an inner race to which the other shaft is joined, and opposing surfaces of the outer race and the inner race, respectively. An undercut-free type comprising: a ball that is disposed in the ball groove and transmits torque; and a cage that is disposed between the outer race and the inner race and has a window portion that holds each ball. The present invention relates to a method for assembling a fast joint.

  For example, in a power transmission path that transmits a driving force from an automobile engine to a wheel, a constant velocity joint that can be displaced in the axial direction between one shaft and the other shaft and transmits a rotational driving force at a constant speed. Is arranged. Further, in the Barfield constant velocity joint, in order to widen the displacement angle between one shaft and the other shaft, as shown in FIG. 8, the opposing surfaces of the outer race 2 and the inner race 1 are respectively provided. There is known an undercut-free type in which the formed ball grooves 10 and 20 have linear portions 10a and 20a. In any constant velocity joint, when the inner race 1 is assembled to the cage 4 and the ball 3 is press-fitted into the ball groove 10 of the inner race 1 from the window 40 of the cage 4, as shown in FIG. The state in which the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1 and the column portion 41 between the adjacent window portions 40 and 40 of the cage 4 are made to coincide with each other so that the one ball groove 10 and the window portion 40 of the cage 4 coincide with each other. The phase is adjusted. In the illustrated example, the ball grooves 10 and 20, the window 40 of the cage 4, and the number of balls 3 are six.

As a conventional technique related to the method for assembling the constant velocity joint, Patent Document 1 disclosed as a method for assembling a Rzeppa joint is known.
Patent Document 1 discloses an inner ring assembling step for assembling an inner ring (inner race) at a predetermined position in a cage of a Rzeppa joint, and the first ball is used as an opening window (window) of the cage and a ball groove of the inner ring. A step of driving one ball to obtain a cage assembly in which the cage and the inner ring are positioned by press-fitting, a cage assembly assembling step for assembling the cage assembly in the outer ring (outer race), and the cage assembly in the outer ring An assembly method of a zeppa joint comprising a step of inserting five balls in which the second to sixth balls are sequentially inserted across the opening window of the cage and the ball groove of the inner ring by tilting Has been.

  And in patent document 1, in the inner ring | wheel assembly | attachment process shown by the FIG. 48-55, the inner ring | wheel is made into the attitude | position perpendicular | vertical with respect to a cage, and an inner ring | wheel is rotatably hold | maintained around a horizontal axis, The inner ring is inserted into the cage with the tip of the teeth (peaks) of the inner ring lowered and inserted into the opening window of the cage, and the inner ring is rotatably held by the chuck unit of the inner ring assembly device. It is described that, when inserted into the cage or tilted 90 ° and stored in the cage, it is decentered or moved to a predetermined position to control the relative position and posture with respect to the cage. .

  In order to assemble the inner race in the cage in this way, conventionally, one of the plurality of cage window portions into which the mountain portion of the inner race is inserted is generally larger in the circumferential direction than the other window portions. By forming, the peak portion of the inner race can be sufficiently inserted, and the peak portion positioned on the opposite side of 180 ° of the inner race and the cage are not interfered.

JP-A-3-256627

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is described that the opening width (in the circumferential direction) of the opening window of the cage is slightly larger than the thickness (in the axial direction) of the inner ring (the upper left column on the third page of the publication). 10th to 11th lines) Since the tip portion (mountain portion) of the teeth of the inner ring can sufficiently enter the opening window of the cage, there is sufficient clearance with respect to the tooth cage 180 ° opposite to the inner ring. May be easily inserted into the cage.

  However, in the undercut-free barfield constant velocity joint, in order to widen the displacement angle between one shaft and the other shaft, as shown in FIG. The circumferential length S of 40 is increased. And, since the column portion 41 between the window portion 40 and the window portion 40 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is insufficient in strength when the circumferential length is reduced, the length in the direction is reduced. There are limits. That is, in the undercut-free type barfield constant velocity joint, the circumferential length S of each window 40 is set to the limit, so that when the inner race 1 is assembled inside the cage 4 In addition, as in the case of a general constant velocity joint, only one of the window portions 40 of the cage 4 engaged with the peak portion 11 of the inner race 1 cannot be formed large. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the circumferential length S of the window portion 40 of the cage 4 cannot be formed sufficiently larger than the axial thickness T of the peak portion 11 of the inner race 1. For this reason, the peak portion 11 of the inner race 1 cannot sufficiently enter the window portion 40 of the cage 4. Does not have a good clearance. Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to incorporate the inner race 1 into the cage 4 by controlling the relative positions and postures of the inner race 1 and the cage 4, and it cannot be mechanized. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the efficiency because it must be assembled manually.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of reliably and easily assembling an undercut-free type constant velocity joint.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a constant velocity joint on an outer race to which one shaft is joined, an inner race to which the other shaft is joined, and an opposing surface of the outer race and the inner race. An undercut-free device comprising: a ball that is disposed in each formed ball groove and transmits torque; and a cage that is disposed between the outer race and the inner race and has a window portion that holds each ball. When assembling this constant velocity joint, the axial direction of the mountain part of the inner race and the circumferential direction of the window part of the cage are aligned and engaged. The inner race is inserted into the inner race, and the inner race and the cage are assembled.

  According to the present invention, the axial direction of the mountain portion of the inner race and the circumferential direction of the cage window are aligned and engaged, and the inner race is inserted into the cage by the weight of the inner race or the cage. The race and the cage can be assembled reliably and easily.

(Aspect of the Invention)
In the following, the invention that is claimed to be claimable in the present application (hereinafter referred to as “claimable invention”. The claimable invention is at least the “present invention” to the invention described in the claims. Some aspects of the present invention, including subordinate concept inventions of the present invention, superordinate concepts of the present invention, or inventions of different concepts) will be illustrated and described. As with the claims, each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and is described in a form that cites the numbers of other sections as necessary. This is for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the claimable invention, and is not intended to limit the combinations of the constituent elements constituting the claimable invention to those described in the following sections. In other words, the claimable invention should be construed in consideration of the description accompanying each section, the description of the embodiments, etc., and as long as the interpretation is followed, another aspect is added to the form of each section. In addition, an aspect in which constituent elements are deleted from the aspect of each item can be an aspect of the claimable invention.

In each of the following items, item (1) corresponds to claim 1, and item (4) corresponds to claim 2.
(1) An outer race to which one shaft is joined, an inner race to which the other shaft is joined, and a ball that is arranged in a ball groove formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the outer race and the inner race to transmit torque. And an undercut-free constant velocity joint assembly method comprising: an inner race, and a cage formed with a window portion for holding each ball disposed between the outer race and the inner race. Engage the inner race and the cage by inserting the inner race into the cage by the weight of the inner race or the cage due to the weight of the cage. A method for assembling a constant velocity joint.
When the axial direction of the mountain portion of the inner race and the circumferential direction of the window portion of the cage are aligned and engaged, the inner race and the cage are relatively inclined. For this reason, the inner race or the cage moves from an inclined state by its own weight to a vertical state so as to follow, and a force acts to insert the inner race into the cage. It can be assembled easily without difficulty. In these series of steps, the inner race can be gripped by the chuck with a predetermined posture and a predetermined phase, and the cage can be mechanically automatically supplied to the inner race with a predetermined phase and a predetermined phase.

(2) Hold the inner race so that the center axis of the inner race is horizontal and the peak is positioned at the apex, and engage with the axial direction of the peak and the circumferential direction of the cage window. By arranging the cage in an inclined state, the inner race can be inserted into the cage so that the cage is fitted to the outside of the inner race by its own weight.

(3) By keeping the axial direction of the cage perpendicular and engaging the axial direction of the crest with the central axis of the inner race being horizontal from the inside in the circumferential direction of the window The inner race can be inserted into the cage such that the inner race fits in the cage by the weight of the inner race.

(4) The method of assembling the constant velocity joint according to item (1), wherein the inner race or the cage is vibrated.
By oscillating the means holding either the inner race or the cage, the weight of either the inner race or the cage will exert a force to insert the inner race into the cage, The inner race and cage can be assembled securely and easily.

One embodiment of the method of assembling an undercut-free barfield constant velocity joint according to the present invention includes ball grooves 10 and 20 for inner race 1 and outer race 2, window portion 40 for cage 4, and balls 3. In the case of the structure which is individual, it demonstrates in detail based mainly on FIGS. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to similar or corresponding parts.
The method of the present invention generally includes a constant velocity joint, an outer race 2 to which one shaft 5 is joined, an inner race 1 to which the other shaft 6 is joined, and an opposing surface of the outer race 2 and the inner race 1. Are arranged in the ball grooves 10 and 20 respectively formed on the outer race 2 and the inner race 1, and the cage 4 is formed between the outer race 2 and the inner race 1 and has a window portion for holding the balls 3. When the constant velocity joint is assembled, the axial direction of the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1 and the circumferential direction of the window portion 40 of the cage 4 are matched to each other. The inner race 1 or the cage 4 is assembled by inserting the inner race 1 into the cage 4 by the weight of the inner race 1 or the cage 4.
The method of the present invention is characterized by further promoting the insertion of the inner race 1 into the cage 4 by exciting the inner race 1 or the cage 4 in addition to the above configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inner race 1 of the constant velocity joint in this embodiment is formed with a spline hole 12 that is slidable in the axial direction and meshed with the other shaft 6 so as not to be relatively rotatable. On the outer periphery, six ball grooves 10 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in parallel with the central axis. A mountain portion 11 is formed between the ball grooves 10 and 10 adjacent to each other. As shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 8, a linear portion 10a is formed at the groove bottom on the right side of the ball groove 10 of the inner race 1 in the drawing.

  In addition, the outer race 2 of the constant velocity joint in this embodiment is a cup-shaped one formed integrally with one shaft 5, and the inner surface corresponds to the ball groove 10 and the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1. Thus, the ball grooves 20 and the ridges 21 are alternately formed in the circumferential direction. And as shown in sectional drawing in FIG. 8, the linear part 20a is formed in the groove bottom in the figure left side of the ball groove 20 of the outer race 2. As described above, the linear portions 10a and 20a are formed on the groove bottoms of the ball grooves 10 and 20 of the inner race 1 and the outer race 2, so that they are formed between the one shaft 5 and the other shaft 6. An undercut-free type constant velocity joint capable of increasing the angle is configured.

  Torque is transmitted to the ball grooves 10 and 20 of the inner race 1 and the outer race 2 between one shaft 5 and the other shaft 6 (that is, relative rotation between the inner race 1 and the outer race 2 is prevented. Ball 3 is arranged. Further, a cage 4 is disposed between the outer race 2 and the inner race 1. In the cage 4, window portions 40 are formed at positions corresponding to the ball grooves 10 and 20 of the inner race 1 and the outer race 2. As shown in FIG. 10, each window portion 40 is not formed with a sufficiently large length S in the circumferential direction compared to a thickness T in the axial direction of the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1. The ball 3 is accommodated and held in the window 40 of the cage.

  When assembling the constant velocity joint constructed as described above, first, prior to the process of assembling the cage 4 to the inner race 1 (inner ring assembling process), as shown in FIGS. The spline hole 12 with which the other one shaft 6 is engaged is gripped by the jig 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the jig 7 is divided into a central portion 70 and a side edge portion 71 along the longitudinal direction thereof. A gripping portion 70 a is provided at the tip of the central portion 70 and the side edge portion 71. 71a is provided. The gripping portions 70a and 71a of the jig 7 are inserted into the spline holes 12 of the inner race 1, and the central portion 70 and the side edge portion 71 are relatively longitudinally arranged as shown by solid line or chain line arrows in FIG. By moving in different directions, the spline hole 12 of the inner race 1 is gripped. Note that the jig 7 can be supported by, for example, a robot arm, and the relative length of the central portion 70 and the side edge portion 71 of the jig 7 is used to hold and release the inner race 1. The movement of the direction can be performed by a linear actuator.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inner race 1 has its central axis positioned in the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and one of the peaks 11 is positioned at the apex. It is held by the jig 7 at a correct phase. With respect to this state, the cage 4 is arranged so that its central axis is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the inner race 1. In other words, the cage 4 is arranged so that the circumferential direction of the window portion 40 is positioned in a direction that coincides with the axial direction of the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1. In the initial state, one of the window portions 40 of the cage 4 is positioned at the top of the inner race 1 in such a state that the central axis of the cage 4 is oriented in the vertical direction or is inclined. Engage with the part 11 to make the other end side (lower side) of the cage 4 free. Then, the other end side of the cage 4 hangs down in the vertical direction due to its own weight, and the lower side rotates around the upper side where the window 40 is engaged with the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1. At this time, a maximum clearance C is secured between the peak portion 11 located on the lower side of the inner race 1 and the lower side of the cage 4 as shown in FIG. The cage 4 as a whole can be easily fitted to the inner race 1 without being assembled by holding the central axes of the race 1 and the cage 4 in parallel and mechanically controlling the relative positions. 4 and the inner race 1 are assembled.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to securely assemble the cage 4 and the inner race 1, the jig 7 holding the inner race 1 is vibrated with a vibrator or the like. As a result, the lower side of the cage 4 is surely suspended in the vertical direction while following the mountain portion 11 located below the inner race 1, and the cage 4 is fitted into the inner race 1.

  Thereafter, the posture is changed so that the central axes of the cage 4 and the inner race 1 coincide with each other, and the phase of the window 40 of the cage 4 and the ball groove 10 of the inner race 1 is made to coincide. As an embodiment in this step, first, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 3A, the arm 80 is brought into sliding contact with the end surface of the cage 4 to correct the variation in the inclination of the cage 4, and FIG. As shown by an arrow in (b), the opposing column portions 41 of the window portion 40 of the cage 4 are pressed by the arm 81 to correct the circumferential phase variation of the cage 4, and this circumferential phase is corrected. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of opposing pillars 41 held by the cage chuck 82 are moved relative to each other by moving the cage chuck 82 and the jig 7 holding the inner race 1. The posture is changed so that the center axis of the cage 4 and the inner race 1 coincide with each other so that the outer peripheral surface of each mountain portion 11 of the race 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the cage 4 are in contact with each other. Inner race 1 To match the phases of the Lumpur groove 10, constituting the assembly.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the ball 3 is press-fitted into the ball groove 10 at the position where the jig 7 of the inner race 1 extends through the window portion 40 of the cage 4. As a result, the assembly of the inner race 1 and the cage 4 is fixed with its relative rotation in the circumferential direction restricted. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the cage 4 assembled with the inner race 1 in such a posture that the central axis of the assembly of the inner race 1 and the cage 4 and the central axis of the outer race 2 are orthogonal to each other. The assembly of the inner race 1 and the cage 4 is inserted into the outer race 2 in such a phase that the window portion 40 of the outer race 2 coincides with the peak portion 21 of the outer race 2, and as shown in FIG. 4 and one shaft 5 of the outer race 2 are relatively rotated on the YZ axis plane by 30 ° in this embodiment, and then the assembly of the inner race 1 and the cage 4 is performed. And the one shaft 5 of the outer race 2 are relatively rotated on the XY axis plane by 90 ° in the case of this embodiment, and the window portion 40 of the cage 4 and the ball groove 10 of the inner race 1 are Outer race 2 bow The center axis of the assembly of the inner race 1 and the cage 4 and the outer rest 2 is set to a predetermined relative angle so that a predetermined window 40 of the cage 4 is brought out from the end face of the outer race 2 in phase with the groove groove 20. The ball 3 is press-fitted into the remaining five ball grooves 10 through the window 40 of the cage 4 while being displaced.

In the above-described embodiment, the window portion 40 of the cage 4 is engaged with the mountain portion 11 of the inner race 1 that is held so that the central axis is horizontal in the drawing, and the inner race is caused by the weight of the cage 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the cage 4 is arranged so that its central axis is vertical (that is, The cage 4 is held so that the end face of the cage 4 is horizontal), and the peak portion 11 of the inner race 1 is engaged with the predetermined window portion 40 of the cage 4 from the upper side on the inside. It can also be set as the structure hold | maintained so that a movement is possible so that it may fit in the cage 4. FIG. Furthermore, in the case of such a configuration, it is possible to promote fitting of the inner race 1 by its own weight by exciting the cage 4.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the ball grooves 10 and 20 of the inner race 1 and the outer race 2, the window portion 40 of the cage 4, and the balls 3 are three or eight. It can also be applied to the structure of

  In the present invention, a robot that supports the jig 7 and the outer race 2, etc., a vibrator that vibrates the jig 7, a cage chuck 82, arms 80 and 81, and a loader that supplies the cage 4 to the inner race 1. It can be performed automatically using an assembling apparatus including the above, but can also be performed manually.

It is sectional drawing shown in order to demonstrate the state which engaged the peak part of the inner race and the window part of the cage by this invention. It is the perspective view shown in order to oscillate an inner race by this invention, and to demonstrate the state assembled | attached with a cage reliably. It is sectional drawing shown in order to demonstrate the state which correct | amends the attitude | position of a cage and is hold | gripped. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a process of changing the posture so that the central axes of the inner race and the cage coincide with each other so that the phases of the cage window and the ball grooves of the inner race coincide with each other. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining a state in which one ball is press-fitted into a predetermined ball groove of the inner race through the cage window shown in FIG. 4. It is the perspective view shown in order to demonstrate the state which inserts the assembly in which the inner race shown in FIG. 5, the cage, and one ball | bowl were assembled | attached in an outer race. FIG. 7 is a perspective view shown for explaining a process of changing the posture from the state shown in FIG. 6 so that the center axis of the inner race and cage assembly and the one axis of the outer race coincide with each other. It is sectional drawing shown in order to demonstrate the structure of the general undercut free type | mold constant velocity joint assembled | attached by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the assembly of an inner race and a cage. In an undercut-free type constant velocity joint, it is a front view showing the relationship between the axial length of the mountain portion of the inner race engaged when the inner race and the cage are assembled and the circumferential length of the cage window portion. .

Explanation of symbols

1: inner race, 2: outer race, 3: ball, 4: cage, 5: one shaft, 6: the other shaft, 10: ball groove, 10a: linear portion, 11: mountain portion, 20: ball groove 20a: linear part, 21: mountain part, 40: window part, 41: pillar part

Claims (2)

An outer race to which one shaft is joined, an inner race to which the other shaft is joined, a ball that is disposed in a ball groove formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the outer race and the inner race, and that transmits torque, and an outer An assembly method of an undercut-free type constant velocity joint, comprising: a cage disposed between a race and an inner race and having a window portion for holding each ball;
Engage the inner race with the axial direction of the peak of the inner race and the circumferential direction of the cage window, insert the inner race into the cage by the weight of the inner race or the cage, and assemble the inner race and the cage. A method for assembling a constant velocity joint. 2. The method of assembling a constant velocity joint according to claim 1, wherein the inner race or the cage is vibrated.

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