JP2008190686A - Constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constant velocity universal joint in which an inner member and a torque transmission part are prevented from falling off an outer member and which is easily manufacturable without increasing labor and cost. <P>SOLUTION: A tapered part 14 arranged continuously with an opening end surface 11a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cup part 11 of the outer member 1. A projection 15 allowed to interfere with a roller 3 is formed at the edge part of the tapered part 14 in the boundary portion between the tapered part 14 and a roller guide surface 13a. Since the projection 15 is positioned on the bottom side more than the opening end surface 11a, the machining accuracy thereof does not need to be increased for preventing the interference thereof with a boot 5 attached near the opening of the outer member 1. Therefore, the projection 15 may be machined with a tolerance larger than before. The projection 15 can be manufactured easily than before by applying an elastic deformation to the edge of the tapered part 14 in the direction parallel to the axis of the outer member 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint used in a power transmission device such as an automobile.

  In the sliding type constant velocity universal joint, the inner member arranged inside the outer member is formed so as to be movable in the axial direction together with the torque transmission member interposed between the outer member and the inner member. is doing. Therefore, in the manufacturing process of an automobile or the like to which the constant velocity universal joint is attached, the inner member and the torque transmission member may fall off from the outer member attached to the automobile body.

  In order to prevent such inconvenience, conventionally, a raised portion that reduces the inner cross-section of the outer member is formed on the end face of the outer member on the opening side by caulking, and the rolling element and the inner member are formed by this raised portion. A constant velocity universal joint that holds and prevents the outer member from coming off has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, as another constant velocity universal joint for preventing the inner member and the like from coming off, an uncured portion not subjected to heat treatment is provided in the vicinity of the opening on the inner peripheral surface of the outer member, and the roller guide surface of the uncured portion is provided. A tripod type constant velocity universal joint has been proposed in which a protrusion is formed inside by plastic deformation and the tripod member is prevented from coming off by this protrusion (see Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 describes that a striking force is applied in the vicinity of the opening of the outer member to form a protrusion on a roller guide surface parallel to the axis of the outer member.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-336782 JP 2002-235766 A

  In the constant velocity universal joint of Patent Literature 1, a protruding portion is formed by plastically deforming the opening end surface of the outer member with a chisel-shaped tool. Therefore, the raised portion easily interferes with the boot connected to the end portion of the outer member in order to protect the inside of the constant velocity universal joint, and the processing accuracy is highly managed to prevent the interference with the boot. There is a need. For this reason, there exists a problem which increases the effort and cost of manufacture of a constant velocity universal joint.

  In addition, the constant velocity universal joint disclosed in Patent Document 2 applies a striking force in a direction inclined with respect to the shaft in the vicinity of the opening of the outer member in order to form a protrusion on the roller guide surface parallel to the shaft of the outer member. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to manufacture.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a constant velocity universal joint that can prevent the inner member and the torque transmitting member from falling off the outer member and can be easily manufactured without increasing labor and cost. is there.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 includes an outer member in which a guide groove is formed on an inner peripheral surface continuous to the opening, an inner member housed inside the outer member, A constant velocity universal joint provided with a torque transmission member that engages with the inner member and is interposed between the outer member and the inner member and rolls in the guide groove to transmit torque. Then, an inclined portion provided in the vicinity of the opening of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member is formed by plastic deformation and includes a protruding portion capable of interfering with the torque transmitting member.

  According to the above configuration, since the torque transmission member that has moved from the bottom side of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member to the vicinity of the opening interferes with the protruding portion, the torque transmission member is prevented from further moving to the opening side, The torque transmission member and the inner member are prevented from falling off the outer member.

  Here, the protruding portion is formed on the inclined portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and is located on the bottom side of the inner peripheral surface with respect to the opening end surface of the outer member. Even if the boots are connected, the raised portion formed on the opening end face does not interfere with the boots as in the prior art. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the machining accuracy high in order to prevent interference, and the protrusion can be machined with a larger tolerance than before, so that it is possible to reduce the labor and cost of manufacturing the constant velocity universal joint.

  Moreover, the said protrusion part can be formed by giving a striking force to an inclined part of the internal peripheral surface of an outer member in the axial direction, for example with the front-end | tip of a tool facing an axial direction. Therefore, since the projecting portion can be formed more easily than in the prior art, the projecting portion can be formed in the vicinity of the opening portion of the outer member in the direction inclined with respect to the shaft, so that the constant velocity universal joint can be easily manufactured.

  A constant velocity universal joint according to a second aspect is the constant velocity universal joint according to the first aspect, wherein the inclined portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member is a tapered portion or a thin portion connected to the opening.

  According to the above embodiment, the inner member and the torque transmission are formed by forming the protruding portion by plastically deforming the tapered portion and the thin portion using the tapered portion and the thin portion provided on the outer member. A constant velocity universal joint capable of preventing a member from coming off can be easily and inexpensively manufactured with little effort.

  The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 3 is the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer member has three track grooves as the guide grooves, Each side has an axial roller guide surface, the inner member is a tripod member having three leg shafts projecting in the radial direction, and the torque transmitting member is attached to each leg shaft of the tripod member. It is a roller inserted into the track groove while being rotatably mounted, and the roller is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the outer member along the roller guide surface.

  According to the above embodiment, the tripod in which torque is transmitted through the roller moving along the roller guide surface in the track groove of the outer member in a state where the outer member and the tripod member form a predetermined operating angle. With regard to the constant velocity universal joint of the mold, it is possible to prevent the tripod member and the roller from coming off, and it is possible to obtain a constant velocity universal joint that can be easily manufactured with less labor and cost than conventional ones.

  The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 4 is the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer member has a plurality of track grooves as the guide grooves, and the inner member is A plurality of track grooves extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface, and the torque transmitting member is formed on a plurality of ball tracks formed by a pair of the outer member track grooves and the inner member track grooves. A plurality of balls arranged and held by a cage interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member.

  According to the above embodiment, torque is generated via the plurality of balls that roll in the ball track between the outer member and the inner member in a state where the outer member and the inner member form a predetermined operating angle. The ball-type constant-velocity universal joint is capable of preventing the inner member and the ball from slipping out, and further, the constant-velocity universal joint can be easily manufactured with less labor and cost than conventional ones. .

  According to the present invention, since the protruding portion for preventing the inner member and the torque transmitting member from coming off is formed on the inclined portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member, the boot is connected to the opening end portion of the outer member. However, since the conventional protrusion does not interfere with the boot, the protrusion can be machined with a larger tolerance than the conventional one, and the protrusion can be easily formed on the inclined part. And can be easily manufactured at low cost.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an outer member included in a constant velocity universal joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cut surface taken along line XX of FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cut surface taken along line YY of FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the constant velocity universal joint according to the first embodiment.

  This constant velocity universal joint is a tripod type sliding constant velocity universal joint, which is attached to the output shaft of a differential gear of an automobile and transmits a rotational force to the wheel side. As shown in FIG. 4, the constant velocity universal joint includes an outer member 1 having a cup portion 11 and a stem portion 12, and is accommodated in the cup portion 11 of the outer member 1 and protrudes in the radial direction 3. A tripod member 2 as an inward member having a leg shaft 21 is provided. An annular roller 3 as a torque transmission member is rotatably fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 21 of the tripod member 2 via a plurality of needle rollers 22. Three rollers 3 of the tripod member 2 are respectively inserted into three track grooves 13 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 11 of the outer member 1. Both ends of the boot 5 protecting the inside of the joint are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 23 connected to the tripod member 2 and the outer peripheral surface near the opening of the cup portion 11 of the outer member 1.

  A tapered portion 14 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 11 of the outer member 1 as an inclined portion continuous from the opening end surface 11a. The tapered portion 14 is located between the end portions of the roller guide surfaces 13a of the three track grooves 13 when viewed from the opening end surface 11a side, and is inclined so that the bottom side faces the center of the outer member 1. Yes. A protruding portion 15 capable of interfering with the roller 3 is provided at an edge portion of the tapered portion 14 and at a boundary portion between the tapered portion 14 and the roller guide surface 13a. The protruding portion 15 is formed by plastically deforming the edge of the tapered portion 14 and protrudes from the roller guide surface 13a of the track groove 13 toward the leg shaft 21 of the tripod member 2 when viewed from the opening end surface 11a side. ing.

  Since the protruding portion 15 is provided at the edge of the tapered portion 14, the protruding portion 15 is located on the bottom side of the opening end surface 11 a in the axial direction of the outer member 1. Therefore, the boot 5 attached in the vicinity of the opening of the outer member 1 and the protrusion 15 do not interfere with each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the processing accuracy of the protruding portion in order to prevent interference with the boot as in the conventional case, and the protruding portion 15 can be processed with a larger tolerance than in the prior art. And cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the protrusion 15 can be manufactured more easily than in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a chisel 17 (shown by a broken line) is installed in the middle of the tapered portion 14 in parallel with the axis of the outer member 1, and this chisel 17 is shown by an arrow 18 (shown by a broken line). As shown by (), it strikes in a direction parallel to the axis of the outer member 1. Thereby, the boundary part between the taper part 14 and the roller guide surface 13a is pushed toward the bottom side of the cup part 11 by the contact surface of the chisel 17 and plastically deforms. Since this plastically deformed portion is located at the boundary between the tapered portion 14 inclined with respect to the axis of the outer member 1 and the roller guide surface 13a, it is easily deformed by the deformation force parallel to the axial direction of the outer member 1. It protrudes from the roller guide surface 13a to the leg shaft 21 side. Therefore, the protruding portion 15 can be manufactured more easily than the conventional method in which the protruding portion is formed by plastic deformation of a surface parallel to the axis of the outer member.

  This tripod type sliding constant velocity universal joint is configured such that the leg shaft 21 of the tripod member 2 and the track groove 13 of the outer member 1 are engaged with each other in the rotational direction via the roller 3, so that the driven side is driven to the driven side. Rotational torque is transmitted to Further, each roller 3 rolls in the track groove 13 while rotating with respect to the leg shaft 21 to absorb relative axial displacement and angular displacement between the outer member 1 and the tripod member 2. . Thus, the rotational torque is transmitted from the drive side to the driven side at a constant speed with the outer member 1 and the tripod member 2 having an operating angle.

  When this tripod type sliding constant velocity universal joint is attached to the automobile body in the automobile assembly process, the outer member 1 is fixed to the differential gear side of the automobile body, while the shaft connected to the tripod member 2 On the 23rd side, a wheel is not yet attached to a fixed constant velocity universal joint (not shown) connected to the tip of the shaft 23. Therefore, the assembly line is advanced in a state where the tripod member 2 and the shaft 23 are suspended from the outer member 1. At this time, due to the weight of the shaft 23 and the fixed type constant velocity universal joint, the roller 3 rolls in the track groove 13 and moves to the opening side of the outer member 1, but the roller guide surface 13a of the track groove 13 The movement of the roller 3 is stopped by the protrusion 15. Thereby, the roller 3 and the tripod member 2 are prevented from falling off the outer member 1.

  As described above, the constant velocity universal joint having the function of preventing the roller 3 and the tripod member 2 from coming off is formed by forming the protruding portion 15 that prevents the roller 3 and the tripod member 2 on the tapered portion 14 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer member 1. Can be easily manufactured with less labor and cost.

  In the above embodiment, one protrusion 15 is formed on each of the two roller guide surfaces 13a of one track groove 13, but any number of protrusions 15 may be provided on the roller guide surface 13a. Moreover, when there exists a thin part in the internal peripheral surface of the outer member 1, you may form a protrusion part in a thin part, without providing the taper part 14. FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a constant velocity universal joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This constant velocity universal joint is a double offset type constant velocity universal joint using a ball as a torque transmission member. The constant velocity universal joint includes an outer member 51 having a cup portion 111 and a stem portion 112, an inner member 52 accommodated in the cup portion 111 of the outer member 51, an outer member 51, and an inner member. A ball 53 serving as a torque transmitting member interposed between the member 52 and a cage 54 interposed between the outer member 51 and the inner member 52 to hold the ball 53 are provided. A plurality of (for example, six) track grooves 113 a are formed on the inner peripheral surface 113 of the cup portion 111, and the same number of track grooves 121 a as the track grooves 113 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface 121 of the inner member 52. Balls 53 are accommodated in a plurality of ball tracks formed by the track grooves 113a of the cup portion 111 and the track grooves 121a of the inner member 52, respectively. The ball 53 is engaged with the inner member 52 through the cage 54. Both ends of the boot 55 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 123 connected to the inner member 52 and the outer peripheral surface of the opening portion of the cup portion 111 of the outer member 51.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 111 of the outer member 51, a stepped thinning portion 114 that is continuous with the opening end surface 51a is formed. The protruding portion 115 of the present invention is formed at the boundary portion between the thinned portion 114 and the track groove 113a. The protruding portion 115 protrudes from the track groove 113 a so as to interfere with the ball guided by the ball track, and is formed adjacent to the thin portion 114 of the outer member 51. Therefore, since it is located behind the opening end surface 51a of the cup portion 111 and does not interfere with the boot 55, the protruding portion 115 can be manufactured with less effort and cost due to a larger tolerance than conventional. Further, the protrusion 115 can be easily formed by a deformation force parallel to the axial direction of the outer member 51 by means of a chisel facing parallel to the axis of the outer member 51, and therefore can be manufactured more easily than in the past. it can.

  In the double offset type constant velocity universal joint having the above-described configuration, the track groove 113a of the cup portion 111 and the track groove 121a of the inner member 52 are engaged with each other in the rotational direction via the ball 53, so that the drive side to the driven side. Rotational torque is transmitted to Further, each ball 53 is held by the cage 54 and rolls in the ball track, thereby absorbing relative axial displacement and angular displacement between the outer member 51 and the inner member 52. Thus, the rotational torque is transmitted from the drive side to the driven side at a constant speed in a state where the outer member 51 and the inner member 52 form an operating angle.

  In the double offset type sliding type constant velocity universal joint, in the automobile assembly process, the outer member 51 is fixed to the differential gear side of the automobile body, while the inner member 52 and the shaft 123 are fixed to the outer member 51. Can be hung. At this time, the ball 54 rolls in the track groove 113a and moves to the opening side of the outer member 51 due to the weight of the shaft 123 and the fixed constant velocity universal joint connected to the shaft 123. The movement of the ball 54 is stopped by the protrusion 15 of the groove 113a. This prevents the ball 54 and the inner member 52 from falling off the outer member 51.

  In the above embodiment, the protruding portion 115 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 111 of the outer member 51 at the thinned portion 114 that is continuous with the opening end surface 51a, but the tapered portion is provided so as to be continuous with the opening end surface 51a. You may form a protrusion part in this taper part.

It is a cross-sectional view of the outward member with which the constant velocity universal joint of 1st Embodiment is provided. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed the cut surface in the XX line of FIG. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which showed the cut surface in the YY line | wire of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the constant velocity universal joint of 1st Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the constant velocity universal joint of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer member 2 Tripod member 3 Roller 5 Boot 11 Cup part 11a Open end surface 13 Track groove 13a Roller guide surface 14 Tapered part 15 Protrusion part

Claims (4)

An outer member in which a guide groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface continuous with the opening, an inner member housed inside the outer member, and the inner member engaging with the inner member, and the outer member and the inner member. A constant velocity universal joint provided with a torque transmission member interposed between the side member and rolling in the guide groove to transmit torque;
A constant velocity universal joint, characterized in that an inclined portion provided close to the opening on the inner peripheral surface of the outer member is formed by plastic deformation and has a protruding portion capable of interfering with the torque transmitting member. The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1,
The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member is a tapered portion or a thin portion connected to the opening. In the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 or 2,
The outer member has three track grooves as the guide grooves, and has axial roller guide surfaces on both sides of each track groove,
The inward member is a tripod member having three leg shafts protruding in the radial direction,
The torque transmission member is a roller inserted into the track groove in a state of being rotatably attached to each leg shaft of the tripod member,
A constant velocity universal joint characterized in that the roller is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the outer member along the roller guide surface. In the constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 or 2,
The outer member has a plurality of track grooves as the guide grooves,
The inner member has a plurality of track grooves extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface,
The torque transmission member is disposed on a plurality of ball tracks formed by the track groove of the outer member and the track groove of the inner member that form a pair, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and the inner member A constant velocity universal joint comprising a plurality of balls held by a cage interposed between the outer peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the constant velocity universal joint.

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