JP2008055925A - Center bearing support - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a center bearing support which can prevent the intrusion of foreign substances on the front side than a seal portion, and further can prevent the generation of noises caused by the leakage of a sound outward even when foreign substances have intruded into the center bearing support and the sound has been generated by the intrusion of foreign substances into the seal portion. <P>SOLUTION: The center bearing support 1 comprises an outer ring 10 fixed to a car body side, an inner ring 20 arranged inside the inner periphery of the outer ring 10 via an elastic support member 30, a bearing 40 arranged inside the inner periphery of the inner ring 20 so as to rotatably support a shaft 2 to be supported, and a seal portion 50 which is arranged on a front side than the bearing 40 and comes into slidable close contact with the shaft 2, wherein a sound absorbing body 60 made of rubber-like elastic material is arranged inside the inner periphery of the inner ring 20 on the front side than the seal portion 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a center bearing support that absorbs and absorbs vibrations by rotatably and elastically supporting a propeller shaft of an automobile.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the center bearing support 100 includes an outer ring 101, an inner ring 103 provided on the inner periphery thereof via a bellows-like elastic support member 102, and an inner periphery of the inner ring 103. A bearing 104 and a seal portion 105 that are press-fitted into each other are provided (see Patent Document 1 below). The center bearing support 100 has an outer ring 101 attached to a vehicle body (not shown) via a bracket or a mount, and rotatably supports the propeller shaft 111 on the inner periphery of the inner ring 103 via a bearing 104. The bellows-like elastic support member 102 reduces vibration transmission between the propeller shaft side and the vehicle body side during vehicle travel.

  Conventionally, in this type of center bearing support 100, the bearing 104 is fitted into the large-diameter cylindrical portion 103b of the inner ring 103 having the stepped portion 103a, and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 103c on the front side (left side in FIG. 2) thereby. The seal portion 105 is fitted to the seal portion 105, and dust or the like from the front side is prevented from entering the bearing 104 by the seal portion 105. In this case, if foreign matter or the like entering the seal portion 105 is bitten by the seal portion 105, the lubricity at the seal interface is lost and a sound is generated. If this sound leaks greatly to the outside, it becomes a problem as abnormal noise. Therefore, the end of the inner ring 103 on the front side is bent toward the inner peripheral side to form a flange 103d, and foreign matter etc. is sealed by this flange 103d, and foreign matter etc. is not caught in the seal 105. Has been done.

  However, if the gap C1 formed between the inner peripheral side end of the flange 103d and the propeller shaft 111 is narrowed to such an extent that foreign matter or the like does not enter, the center bearing support 100 is made of metal when mounted on the propeller shaft 111. Since the flange 103d of the molded inner ring 103 may come into contact with the propeller shaft 111 and damage the propeller shaft 111, the flange 103d is elongated to the inner peripheral side, and foreign matter or the like does not enter the gap C1 with the propeller shaft 111. Could not be as narrow as possible. For this reason, it is not possible to prevent the foreign matter from being caught in the seal portion 105, and it has also been impossible to prevent the noise generated at the seal portion from leaking to the outside and becoming abnormal noise.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-91442

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the purpose of which is to prevent the invasion of foreign matters and the like on the front side from the seal portion, and also the foreign matter invades, To provide a center bearing support capable of preventing the sound from leaking to the outside and making an abnormal noise even if a foreign matter or the like is caught in the seal portion.

  In order to achieve the above object, the center bearing support according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with an inner ring on the inner circumference of the outer ring fixed to the vehicle body via an elastic support member, and the inner circumference of the inner ring. A center bearing support having a bearing that rotatably supports the supported shaft, and a seal portion that is disposed on the front side of the bearing and that is slidably in close contact with the shaft. A sound absorbing body made of a rubber-like elastic material is disposed on the front side of the seal portion.

  Further, the center bearing support according to claim 2 of the present invention is the center bearing support according to claim 1, wherein the sound absorbing body is formed on the front side of the inner ring and the inner peripheral side of the flange portion and the seal It is arranged on the part side.

  A center bearing support according to a third aspect of the present invention is the center bearing support according to the first and second aspects, wherein the sound absorber is urethane foam.

  The present invention has the following effects.

  According to the center bearing support according to the present invention, since the sound absorber made of rubber-like elastic material is disposed on the front side from the seal part on the inner peripheral side of the inner ring, foreign matter or the like is caught in the seal part and the sound is generated. Even if it occurs, the sound can be absorbed by the sound absorbing material, and it is possible to prevent the sound from leaking to the outside and becoming abnormal.

  In addition, when the collar portion is formed on the front side of the inner ring, since the sound absorbing material made of rubber-like elastic material is disposed on the inner circumference side and the seal portion side of the collar portion, on the inner circumference side of the collar portion. The installed sound absorbing material can prevent foreign matter from the front side from entering the seal portion side, and can reduce the biting of foreign matter and the like at the seal portion. It can also be reduced. In addition, even if a foreign object or the like is caught in the seal portion and the sound is generated, the sound absorbing material disposed on the seal portion side absorbs the sound, so that it can be prevented from leaking to the outside and making an abnormal noise. .

  Furthermore, when the center bearing support is mounted on the shaft, the sound absorbing material is formed of a rubber-like elastic body, so that it is possible to prevent the shaft from being damaged even if it comes into contact with the shaft. Accordingly, the sound absorbing material disposed on the inner peripheral side of the flange portion can be formed close to the shaft to the extent that foreign matter does not enter.

  Moreover, when the rubber-like elastic material in which the sound absorbing material is molded is urethane foam, sound can be more effectively absorbed than in the case of molding with a general rubber-like elastic material.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a center bearing support according to an embodiment of the present invention by cutting along a plane passing through an axis, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a sound absorber in FIG. The center bearing support 1 according to the present invention reduces vibration transmission between the vehicle body side and the shaft side, and includes an outer ring 10, an inner ring 20, an elastic support member 30, a bearing 40, A seal part 50 and a sound absorber 60 are provided.

  The outer ring 10 is fixed to the vehicle body side via a bracket or the like (not shown), is integrally formed of metal, and has a cylindrical portion 11 and a front side (left side in FIG. 1) end of the cylindrical portion 11. It has a substantially L-shaped cross section consisting of a flange portion 12 extending in the outer peripheral direction from the portion.

  The inner ring 20 is integrally formed of metal, has a stepped portion 21 at the center, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 22 on the front side of the stepped portion 21, and a front-side end portion of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 22 on the inner peripheral side. The extending flange portion 23 and a large-diameter cylindrical portion 24 on the rear side (right side in FIG. 1) of the stepped portion 21. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24 further includes a front-side bearing mounting cylindrical portion 24a and a presser ring mounting cylindrical portion 24b having a slightly larger diameter.

  The elastic support member 30 is formed of a rubber-like elastic material, has a bellows shape with a central portion protruding to the front side, and is vulcanized and bonded to the outer ring 10 and the inner ring 20.

  The bearing 40 is a ball bearing, and includes an outer case 41 and an inner case 42, and a large number of steel balls 43 that are rotatably held at equal intervals in the circumferential direction therebetween. Positioned in the axial direction by coming into contact with the stepped portion 21, fitted into the inner peripheral side of the bearing mounting cylindrical portion 24a, and sandwiched between the presser ring 80 and the stepped portion 21 fitted into the presser ring mounting cylindrical portion 24b. The shaft 2 is mounted on the inner ring 20 and rotatably supports the shaft 2 located on the inner peripheral side.

  The seal portion 50 includes an outer peripheral metal ring 51 and a rubber-like elastic material lip portion 52 that is integrally vulcanized and bonded to the outer peripheral metal ring 51. The tip 53 of the lip 52 is slidably in close contact with the shaft 2 to prevent dust or the like entering from the front side from entering the bearing 40 side.

  The sound absorber 60 is a rubber-like elastic material such as urethane foam, and has an inner peripheral portion 61 disposed on the inner peripheral side of the flange portion 23 of the inner ring 20 and a seal portion 50 side from the inner peripheral portion 61. The adjacent radial direction part 62 and the axial direction part 63 extending from the outer diameter side end of the radial direction part 62 to the seal part 50 side and disposed on the inner peripheral side of the small diameter cylindrical part 22 of the inner ring 20 are integrated. It is molded and fixed to the inner ring 20 by vulcanization adhesion.

  The inner peripheral end portion 61a of the inner peripheral portion 61 and the inner peripheral end portion 62a of the radial direction portion 62 are disposed so as to be close to the shaft 2, and the gap C2 formed between the shaft 2 and the like is dust or the like. It is narrow so as not to enter the seal side.

  In the center bearing support 1 configured as described above, since the sound absorbing body is formed of foamed urethane, there is no possibility of damaging the shaft 2 even if it contacts the shaft 2 during mounting. The end portion 61a and the inner peripheral end portion 62a of the radial direction portion 62 can be brought close to the shaft 2 to narrow the gap C2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce dust and the like entering from the gap C2, reduce the biting of dust and the like at the front end portion 53 of the seal portion 50, and reduce the generation of sound.

  Even if dust or the like is caught at the tip 53 of the seal portion 50 and the lubricity at the seal interface is lost and sound is generated, the sound absorbing body 60 is formed of foamed urethane, so that the sound absorbing effect is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sound from leaking to the outside and becoming abnormal noise.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the collar portion is formed on the inner ring has been described, but the collar portion may not be formed. Moreover, although the sound-absorbing body 60 demonstrated the case where the inner peripheral part 61, the radial direction part 62, and the axial direction part 63 were integrally molded, there is no inner peripheral part 61 but the radial direction part 62 and the axial direction part 63. The length of the axial direction part 63 shall be suitably determined in consideration of the sound absorption effect and the like.

Sectional drawing of the principal part of the center bearing support which concerns on this invention Enlarged view of the sound absorber in FIG. Cross section of the main part of the conventional center bearing support

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center bearing support 2 Shaft 10 Outer ring 11,22,24 Cylindrical part 12 Flange part 20 Inner ring 23 Gutter part 30 Elastic support member 40 Bearing 50 Seal part 51 Outer metal ring 52 Lip part 53 Tip part 60 Sound absorber 61 Inner circumference Part 61a, 62a end part 62 radial direction part 63 axial direction part

Claims (3)

An inner ring is provided on the inner circumference of the outer ring fixed to the vehicle body via an elastic support member. A bearing that rotatably supports the supported shaft is provided on the inner circumference of the inner ring, and a front side from the bearing. In a center bearing support provided with a seal portion arranged and slidably in close contact with the shaft,
A center bearing support, characterized in that a sound absorber made of a rubber-like elastic material is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the inner ring and on the front side of the seal portion. The center bearing support according to claim 1,
A center bearing support, wherein the sound absorber is disposed on an inner peripheral side of a flange portion formed on the front side of the inner ring and on the seal portion side.   The center bearing support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sound absorbing body is urethane foam.

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