JP2008267534A - Universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal joint wherein the positional relationship is maintained to retain interference between a drive-side yoke and a driven-side yoke, and dropping of the component is prevented from occurring to transfer the power on the drive-side to the driven side even though components such as a cup or a spider are broken, and the drive-side yoke and the driven-side yoke are separated from each other. <P>SOLUTION: The universal joint includes the drive-side yoke 2 and the driven-side yoke 3 coupled to the drive-side yoke 2 by means of the spider 4. In the universal joint, there are provided a drive-side yoke-housing member 11 made up so as to house at least partly the drive-side yoke 2, and a driven-side yoke-housing member 12 made up so as to house at least partly the drive-side yoke-housing member 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a universal joint that is rotatably and swingably connected, and more particularly to a universal joint that prevents components such as a drive shaft and a driven shaft from falling off.

Conventionally, as this kind of universal joint, a stopper ring is provided to prevent the pin and the pin support member from falling off (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, a universal joint is connected to the propeller shaft, and a drop prevention member is provided on the propeller shaft side so that the universal joint does not fall downward (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-310231 A JP-A-11-310045

However, in the conventional universal joint provided with the stopper ring, the stopper and the pin support member are prevented from falling off from the universal joint during normal use, but the pin and the pin support member itself are damaged. The problem is that the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke connected by the pin and the pin supporting member are separated and fall off, and it becomes impossible to transmit the driving side power to the driven side. was there.
In addition, in the conventional universal joint provided with the drop-off prevention member, even if a component such as a spider is damaged, the universal joint is held by the drop-off prevention member so as not to fall below the universal joint. The drive-side yoke and the driven-side yoke are separated due to damage, so that the positional relationship where the driving-side yoke and the driven-side yoke interfere with each other cannot be maintained, and the rotational torque on the driving side is transferred to the propeller shaft. There was a problem that it was impossible to transmit to the Internet.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above and achieve the following objects. That is, the present invention maintains the positional relationship in which the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke interfere even if the components such as the cup and spider are damaged and the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are separated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal joint that prevents the components from falling off and can transmit driving power to the driven side.

In order to achieve the above object, the universal joint according to the present invention includes: (1) a driving side yoke, and a driven side yoke connected to the driving side yoke via a spider; A driving side yoke housing member provided to accommodate at least a part of the yoke and a driven side yoke housing member provided to accommodate at least a part of the driving side yoke housing member.
With this configuration, when the drive-side yoke housing member is housed in the driven-side yoke housing member, even if the drive-side yoke and the driven-side yoke swing when the universal joint is normal, the drive-side yoke housing is accommodated. Since the member and the driven-side yoke housing member have no influence on the power transmission function of the universal joint, the rotational torque of the engine is transmitted from the driving-side yoke to the driven-side yoke without any trouble. On the other hand, when the universal joint is broken, for example, when the spider shaft is broken and the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are separated, the upper outer peripheral surface of the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side By frictional engagement with the upper inner peripheral surface of the yoke housing member, the drive side yoke and the driven side yoke are prevented from falling off, and the positional relationship where the drive side yoke and the driven side yoke interfere with each other is maintained. Therefore, the rotational torque of the drive side yoke is transmitted to the driven side yoke.

In the universal joint having the configuration described in (1) above, (2) the driving side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a predetermined radius, and the driven side yoke housing member has a radius larger than the radius. And a gap is defined between the outer wall surface of the driving side yoke housing member and the inner wall surface of the driven side yoke housing member.
With this configuration, the drive side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a predetermined radius, and the driven side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a radius larger than the radius, and the outer wall surface of the drive side yoke housing member And the inner wall surface of the driven side yoke housing member, if the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke swing, the outer wall surface of the driven side yoke housing member and the driven side There is no contact with the inner wall surface of the yoke housing member, and the drive-side yoke housing member and the driven-side yoke housing member have no influence on the power transmission function of the universal joint, so that the engine is moved from the drive-side yoke to the driven-side yoke. Can be transmitted without any trouble.
When the universal joint is damaged, when the upper outer peripheral surface of the driving side yoke housing member and the upper inner peripheral surface of the driven side yoke housing member are frictionally engaged, they are frictionally engaged in a wider area. As a result, the drive side yoke and the driven side yoke are prevented from falling off, and the positional relationship where the drive side yoke and the driven side yoke interfere with each other is more reliably maintained. It is reliably transmitted by the drive side yoke.

The universal joint having the configuration described in the above (1) or (2) is (3) a gap in which at least one of the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member extends in the axial direction thereof. It is comprised with the some accommodating member divided | segmented so that may be formed.
With this configuration, when at least one of the driving-side yoke housing member and the driven-side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a plurality of housing members divided in the axial direction, A gap can be formed in the housing, and at least one of the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member can be reduced in weight. Further, when the driven-side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a plurality of housing members, assembly can be facilitated when housing the driving-side yoke housing member.

  According to the present invention, even if the components such as the cup and the spider are damaged and the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are separated, the positional relationship in which the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke interfere with each other is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the components from falling off and transmit the driving power to the driven side.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a universal joint according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the universal joint 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a propeller shaft 36 connected to the engine side at one end, and at the differential side at the other end. It is connected with the propeller shaft 37 connected to. Hereinafter, the case where the universal joint 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is applied to the universal joint for propeller shaft connection is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the universal joint 1 includes a driving side yoke 2, a driven side yoke 3, a spider 4 that connects the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 rotatably and swingably, The spider 4 includes cups 5, 6, 7, and 8 that rotatably hold the end portions, a drive side yoke housing member 11, and a driven side yoke housing member 12.

  The drive-side yoke 2 includes a flange portion 2a and support portions 2b and 2c that are arranged so as to protrude from the flange portion 2a and face each other in parallel with each other, and are integrally formed with the flange portion 2a. The flange portion 2a has four through holes 2d.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (b), a bolt 36a is inserted into the through hole 2d of the flange portion 2a, and the drive side yoke 2 and the propeller shaft 36 on the engine side are fixed by a bolt 36a and a nut 36b. The rotational torque on the engine side is transmitted to the drive side yoke 2. As shown in FIG. 2, an engagement hole 2e is formed in the center of the flange portion 2a. When the drive side yoke 2 and the propeller shaft 36 are fixed, the propeller shaft 36 is fixed. The end is engaged with the engagement hole 2e. The through holes 2f and 2g are formed in the support portions 2b and 2c so that their axes coincide with each other, and the cups 5 and 6 are inserted into the through holes 2f and 2g, respectively. Yes.

  The driven-side yoke 3 includes a main body 3a and support portions 3b and 3c that are arranged so as to protrude from the main body 3a and face each other in parallel with each other, and are integrally formed with the main body 3a. The through holes 3d and 3e are formed in the support portions 3b and 3c so that their axes coincide with each other, and the cups 7 and 8 are inserted into the through holes 3d and 3e, respectively. . Further, an end of a propeller shaft 37 is connected to the main body 3 a so that the rotational torque of the driven side yoke 3 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37.

  The spider 4 is a so-called cross-shaped spider composed of a columnar shaft 4a and a columnar shaft 4b integrally formed orthogonal to the shaft 4a. One end 4c of the shaft 4a is rotatably supported by the cup 5 via a needle roller 9c, and the other end 4d is rotatably supported by the cup 6 via a needle roller 9d. It has become. One end 4e of the shaft 4b is rotatably supported by the cup 7 via a needle roller 9e, and the other end 4f is rotatably supported by the cup 8 via a needle roller 9f. It is like that.

  The cup 5 is formed in a cup shape, and a needle roller 9 c that rotatably supports one end portion 4 c of the spider 4 is accommodated therein. Similarly to the cup 5, the cups 6, 7 and 8 are formed in a cup shape, and needle rollers 9d, 9e and 9f for rotatably supporting one end portions 4d, 4e and 4f of the spider 4 are provided in the insides. Are to be accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive side yoke housing member 11 is formed in a hemispherical shape with a radius r ₁ centering on the center P of the cup 6, and an opening is formed at one end of the drive side yoke housing member 11. Part 11a is formed. The flange portion 2a of the drive side yoke 2 is inserted into the opening 11a, and the drive side yoke housing member 11 is fixed to the drive side yoke 2 by joining means such as welding. An opening 11b is formed at the other end of the drive side yoke housing member 11, and the driven side yoke 3 is inserted into the opening 11b so that the driven side yoke 3 is driven by the drive side yoke housing member 11. Is to be housed inside. Even if the propeller shaft 36 connected to the drive side yoke 2 is inserted into the opening portion 11a of the drive side yoke housing member 11, the outer peripheral surface portion of the propeller shaft 36 and the opening portion 11a are fixed by joining means such as welding. Good.

The driven-side yoke housing member 12 is formed in a hemispherical shape with a radius r ₂ larger than the radius r ₁ described above, with the center P of the cup 6 as the center, and at one end of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 An opening 12a is formed. The propeller shaft 37 connected to the main body 3a of the driven side yoke 3 is inserted into the opening 12a, and the driven side yoke housing member 12 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface portion of the propeller shaft 37 by welding means or the like. . The main body 3a of the driven side yoke 3 may be inserted into the opening 12a of the driven side yoke housing member 12, and the outer peripheral surface of the main body 3a and the opening 12a may be fixed by a joining means such as welding. .

  The driven-side yoke housing member 12 has an opening 12b. By inserting the driving-side yoke housing member 11 into the opening 12b, the driving-side yoke housing member 11 is driven. It is accommodated in the yoke accommodating member 12. The inner diameter of the opening 12 b is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the drive side yoke housing member 11.

  The inner diameter of the opening 12b is smaller than the outer diameter of the drive side yoke housing member 11 so that the drive side yoke housing member 11 cannot be easily pulled out from the driven side yoke housing member 12. When assembling the driving-side yoke housing member 11 and the driven-side yoke housing member 12, for example, the driven-side yoke housing member 12 is heated and deformed so that the opening 12b becomes large, and this opening The drive side yoke housing member 11 may be pushed into the driven side yoke housing member 12 from 12b.

In addition, a gap having a distance L ₁ is uniformly defined in the circumferential direction between the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 and the outer wall surface of the driving-side yoke housing member 11. Clearance of the distance L ₁ may be selected structure of a universal joint set by such vehicles, optionally depending on the conditions such as the size.

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the gap of the distance L ₁ only needs to be done next condition is satisfied picture. The condition here is that when the spider 4 or the like is broken and the propeller shafts 36 and 37 are aligned with each other, the propeller shafts 36 and 37 swing at an angle θ with respect to the axis. It means that the positional relationship in which the drive side yoke housing member 11 and the driven side yoke housing member 12 interfere with each other can be maintained so that 36 and 37 do not open at an angle larger than that. This angle θ represents the maximum angle at which the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 interfere with each other and the rotational torque of the driving side yoke 2 can be transmitted to the driven side yoke 3, and this angle θ is It is determined by the shape such as the length and thickness of the propeller shafts 36 and 37, the weight, the rotation speed, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of the universal joint 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the rotational torque transmitted from the output shaft of the engine is transmitted from the propeller shaft 36 to the drive side yoke 2, the drive side yoke 2 rotates and the drive side yoke accommodating member. 11 also rotates. When the drive side yoke 2 rotates, the rotational torque is transmitted to the driven side yoke 3 via the spider 4, and the driven side yoke 3 rotates and the driven side yoke housing member 12 also rotates. As a result, the rotational torque of the driven side yoke 3 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37 fixed to the driven side yoke 3.

Further, even if the drive side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 swing, as described above, there is a circle between the inner wall surface of the driven side yoke housing member 12 and the outer wall surface of the drive side yoke housing member 11. since the circumferential direction uniformly distance L ₁ into the gap is defined, the drive-side yoke housing member 11 and the driven-side yoke housing member 12 is in no way influence the power transmission function of the universal joint 1.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the universal joint 1 is damaged, for example, when the lower part of the shaft 4b of the spider 4 is damaged and the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 are separated. However, the upper outer peripheral surface of the driving side yoke housing member 11 and the upper inner peripheral surface of the driven side yoke housing member 12 are frictionally engaged with each other, thereby causing interference between the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3. Thus, the rotational torque of the drive side yoke 2 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37 fixed to the driven side yoke 3.

(Second Embodiment)
5 (a), 5 (b) and 6 (a), 6 (b) are diagrams showing a universal joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the universal joint 20 according to the second embodiment, the driving side yoke housing member 11 and the driven side yoke housing member 12 in the first embodiment are different, but the other configurations are the same. Has been. Therefore, the same configuration will be described using the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and particularly the differences will be described. Only detailed.

  First, the configuration will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 6A and 6B, the universal joint 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a driving side yoke 2 and a driven side yoke. 3, a spider 4 that rotatably and swingably connects the drive side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3, and cups 5, 6, 7, 8 that rotatably hold each end of the spider 4. The driving-side yoke housing member 26 and the driven-side yoke housing member 27 are configured. 5 (a) and 6 (a) show a cross section obtained by cutting the universal joint 20 at the same position as the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, and FIG. -C shows a cross section obtained by cutting the universal joint 20 at the same position as the cross section taken along the arrow C, and FIG. 6B shows a cross section obtained by cutting the universal joint 20 at the same position as the cross section taken along the arrow DD in FIG. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the drive side yoke housing member 26 is formed by housing members 26a and 26b, and the housing members 26a and 26b are the drive side yoke housing members shown in FIG. 11 is divided into two parts. By fixing the ends 26d of the end portion 26c and the receiving member 26b of the housing member 26a to the flange portion 2a of the driving side yoke 2, hemispherical shape having a drive-side yoke housing member 11 identical radius r ₁ and the size and The drive side yoke housing member 26 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the drive-side yoke housing member 26, the drive-side circumferential notches same shape and size as those formed in two places of the side portions in the width L ₂ of the yoke housing member 11 Is formed. Therefore, the drive side yoke housing member 26 is lighter than the drive side yoke housing member 11.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the driven-side yoke accommodating member 27 is formed by accommodating members 27a and 27b. The accommodating members 27a and 27b are driven-side yokes shown in FIG. The housing member 12 is divided into two parts. By fixing the end portion 27c of the housing member 27a and the end portion 27d of the housing member 27b to the outer peripheral surface portion of the propeller shaft 37 connected to the main body portion 3a of the driven side yoke 3, the driven side yoke housing member 12 and A hemispherical driven-side yoke housing member 27 having the same radius r ₂ and size is formed.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the driven-side yoke housing member 27 is the same shape and to those formed in the notches two places of width L ₃ in the peripheral surface part of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 It is formed in size. Therefore, the driven-side yoke housing member 27 is lighter than the driven-side yoke housing member 12. Further, when the driving-side yoke housing member 26 is housed in the driven-side yoke housing member 27, the end portions 27 c and 27 d of the housing members 27 a and 27 b are sequentially fixed to the outer peripheral surface portion of the propeller shaft 37. The driven side yoke housing member 27 can be assembled.
Further, the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 27 is the same gap as the gap of the distance L ₁ defined between the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 and the outer wall surface of the driving-side yoke housing member 11. And the outer wall surface of the drive side yoke housing member 26.

Hereinafter, the operation of the universal joint 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Similar to the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the universal joint 20 according to the present embodiment is provided between the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 27 and the outer wall surface of the driving-side yoke housing member 26. Since the gap is formed, the driving side yoke housing member 26 and the driven side yoke housing member 27 do not affect the power transmission function of the universal joint 20 at all.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the universal joint 20 is broken, for example, the lower part of the shaft 4b of the spider 4 is broken and the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 are separated. However, as with the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the upper outer peripheral surface of the driving side yoke housing member 26 and the upper inner peripheral surface of the driven side yoke housing member 27 are frictionally engaged, Since the positional relationship in which the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 interfere with each other is maintained, the rotational torque of the driving side yoke 2 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37 fixed to the driven side yoke 3.

(Third embodiment)
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8A, 8B are views showing a universal joint according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
In the universal joint 30 according to the third embodiment, the driving side yoke housing member 11 and the driven side yoke housing member 12 in the first embodiment are different, but the other configurations are the same. Has been. Therefore, the same configuration will be described using the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and particularly the differences will be described. Only detailed.

  First, the configuration will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and FIGS. 8A and 8B, the universal joint 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a driving side yoke 2 and a driven side yoke. 3, a spider 4 that rotatably and swingably connects the drive side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3, and cups 5, 6, 7, 8 that rotatably hold each end of the spider 4. The driving-side yoke housing member 28 and the driven-side yoke housing member 29 are configured. 7 (a) and 8 (a) show a cross section of the universal joint 30 cut at the same position as the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 (b) shows C in FIG. -C shows a cross section of the universal joint 30 cut at the same position as the arrow cross section, and FIG. 8B shows a cross section of the universal joint 30 cut at the same position as the DD arrow cross section in FIG. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the drive-side yoke housing member 28 is formed by housing members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d. The housing members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are illustrated in FIG. The drive side yoke housing member 11 shown in FIG. By fixing the end portion 28e of the housing member 28a, the end portion 28f of the housing member 28b, the end portion 28g of the housing member 28c, and the end portion 28h of the housing member 28d to the flange portion 2a of the driving side yoke 2, A hemispherical drive side yoke housing member 28 having the same radius r ₁ and size as the housing member 11 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the drive-side yoke housing member 28, the drive-side circumferential notches same shape as those formed in four places and the size of the side surface portion width L ₄ on the yoke housing member 11 Is formed. Therefore, the drive side yoke housing member 28 is lighter than the drive side yoke housing member 11.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the driven-side yoke housing member 29 is formed by housing members 29a, 29b, 29c, and 29d. The housing members 29a, 29b, 29c, and 29d are The driven side yoke housing member 12 shown in FIG. An end 29e of the housing member 29a, an end 29f of the housing member 29b, an end 29g of the housing member 29c, and an end 29h of the housing member 29d are connected to the main body 3a of the driven side yoke 3 of the propeller shaft 37. By fixing to the outer peripheral surface portion, a hemispherical driven-side yoke housing member 29 having the same radius r ₂ and size as the driven-side yoke housing member 12 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the driven-side yoke housing member 29 are the same shape as those formed in notch four positions in the width L ₅ on the peripheral side surface portion of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 and It is formed in size. That is, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the housing member 29a, 29 b, 29c, 29d are formed to have a width of the distance _{L 6.} Therefore, the driven-side yoke housing member 29 is lighter than the driven-side yoke housing member 12. Further, when the drive-side yoke housing member 28 is housed in the driven-side yoke housing member 29, the end portions 29e, 29f, 29g, 29h of the housing members 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d are sequentially connected to the outer peripheral surface portion of the propeller shaft 37. The driven-side yoke accommodating member 29 can be easily assembled by being fixed to.
Further, the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 29 is the same gap as the gap of the distance L ₁ defined between the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 12 and the outer wall surface of the driving-side yoke housing member 11. And the outer wall surface of the drive side yoke housing member 28.

Hereinafter, the operation of the universal joint 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Similar to the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the universal joint 30 according to the present embodiment is provided between the inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 29 and the outer wall surface of the driving-side yoke housing member 28. Since the gap is formed, the driving side yoke housing member 28 and the driven side yoke housing member 29 do not affect the power transmission function of the universal joint 30 at all.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the universal joint 30 is damaged, for example, the lower part of the shaft 4b of the spider 4 is damaged and the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 are separated. However, as with the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the upper outer peripheral surface of the drive side yoke housing member 28 and the upper inner peripheral surface of the driven side yoke housing member 29 are frictionally engaged, Since the positional relationship in which the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 interfere with each other is maintained, the rotational torque of the driving side yoke 2 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37 fixed to the driven side yoke 3.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a view showing a universal joint according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In the universal joint 40 according to the fourth embodiment, the driving side yoke housing member 11 and the driven side yoke housing member 12 in the first embodiment are different, but the other configurations are the same. Has been. Therefore, the same configuration will be described using the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and particularly the differences will be described. Only detailed.

  First, the configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the universal joint 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention freely rotates the driving side yoke 2, the driven side yoke 3, and the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3. And a spider 4 that is swingably connected, cups 5, 6, 7, and 8 that rotatably hold the end portions of the spider 4 via needle rollers 9c, 9d, 9e, and 9f, and a driven-side yoke. The housing member 41, the drive side yoke housing member 42, a fixing band 43 and a fixing screw 44 are included.

As shown in FIG. 9, the driven-side yoke housing member 41 is formed in a hemispherical shape with a radius r ₃ centered on the center P of the cup 5. A flange portion 41a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer shape of the propeller shaft 37 is formed.

The drive side yoke housing member 42 is formed in a hemispherical shape with the radius r ₄ larger than the radius r ₃ described above centering on the center P of the cup 5, and an opening portion is formed at one end of the drive side yoke housing member 42. 42a is formed, and the flange portion 2a of the drive side yoke 2 is inserted into the opening 42a, and the drive side yoke housing member 42 is fixed to the flange portion 2a by welding means or the like.

The drive-side yoke housing member 42 has an opening 42b, and the driven-side yoke housing member 41 is inserted into the opening 42b so that the driven-side yoke housing member 41 is driven. It is accommodated in the yoke accommodating member 42. Between the inner wall and the outer wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member 41 of the drive-side yoke housing member 42, a gap of uniform length L ₇ in the circumferential direction it is defined. Gap distance L _7, as in the first embodiment, it suffices that made the following condition is satisfied picture. The condition here is that when the spider 4 or the like is broken and the propeller shafts 36 and 37 are aligned with each other, the propeller shafts 36 and 37 swing at an angle θ with respect to the axis. This means that the positional relationship in which the drive side yoke housing member 42 and the driven side yoke housing member 41 interfere with each other can be maintained so that 36 and 37 do not open at an angle larger than that. This angle θ represents the maximum angle at which the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 interfere with each other and the rotational torque of the driving side yoke 2 can be transmitted to the driven side yoke 3, and this angle θ is It is determined by the shape such as the length and thickness of the propeller shafts 36 and 37, the weight, the rotation speed, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of the universal joint 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Similar to the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the universal joint 40 according to the present embodiment is provided between the inner wall surface of the driving side yoke housing member 42 and the outer wall surface of the driven side yoke housing member 41. Since the gap is formed, the drive side yoke housing member 42 and the driven side yoke housing member 41 do not affect the power transmission function of the universal joint 40 at all.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the universal joint 40 is damaged, for example, the lower part of the shaft 4b of the spider 4 is damaged and the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 are separated. However, similarly to the universal joint 1 in the first embodiment, the upper outer peripheral surface of the driven-side yoke accommodating member 41 and the upper inner peripheral surface of the driving-side yoke accommodating member 42 are frictionally engaged, Since the positional relationship in which the driving side yoke 2 and the driven side yoke 3 interfere with each other is maintained, the rotational torque of the driving side yoke 2 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 37 fixed to the driven side yoke 3.

In the present embodiment, the case where the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member are formed in a hemispherical shape has been described, but in the present invention, the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member are predetermined. The drive-side yoke housing member may be housed in the driven-side yoke housing member, and conversely, the driven-side yoke housing member may be housed in the drive-side yoke housing member. May be.
In the present embodiment, the case where the drive side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member are formed with no holes such as through holes has been described. However, in the present invention, the drive side yoke housing is provided. A plurality of through holes may be formed in the member and the driven-side yoke housing member, and may be formed of a net-like material to be lighter.
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member are formed by a plurality of housing members divided into two and four parts has been described, but in the present invention, it may be divided into three parts. Alternatively, it may be formed of a housing member that is further finely divided.
In the present embodiment, the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are connected to the propeller shaft, and the universal joint for connecting the propeller shaft has been described. However, in the present invention, the connecting member is a rotation that transmits rotational torque. Any shaft may be used, and for example, another rotating shaft such as a drive shaft may be connected.

  As described above, the universal joint according to the present invention is configured so that the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are not damaged even if the components such as the cup and spider are damaged and the driving side yoke and the driven side yoke are separated. It is possible to provide a universal joint capable of providing a universal joint capable of transmitting the rotational torque on the driving side to the driven side while maintaining the interfering positional relationship and preventing the components from falling off. Therefore, the universal joint according to the present invention is widely useful for power transmission devices that transmit rotational torque such as propeller shafts and drive shafts of automobiles, heavy machinery, and transport machines.

It is a side view of the universal joint which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view of the universal joint integrated in the propeller shaft, (b) is AA of (a). It is arrow sectional drawing. It is a perspective view of the universal joint which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the universal joint which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a side view of the propeller shaft incorporating the universal joint which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a spider functioning normally and rotational torque of a drive side yoke is transmitted to a driven side yoke. (B) shows a state in which the rotational torque of the driving side yoke is transmitted to the driven side yoke even if the spider is broken. It is sectional drawing of the drive side yoke accommodating member in the universal joint which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a BB arrow cross section in FIG. (B) shows the state which divided the drive side yoke accommodating member into 2 by the CC arrow cross section in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the driven side yoke accommodating member in the universal joint which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the BB arrow in FIG. 3 in the state which divided the driven side yoke accommodating member into 2 parts FIG. 3B is a sectional view, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the drive side yoke accommodating member in the universal joint which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a BB arrow cross section in FIG. 3 in the state which divided the drive side yoke accommodating member into 4 parts. (B) shows the state which divided the drive side yoke accommodating member into 4 in the CC arrow cross section in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the driven side yoke accommodating member in the universal joint which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the BB arrow in FIG. 3 in the state which divided the driven side yoke accommodating member into 4 parts FIG. 3B is a sectional view, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the universal joint which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 20, 30, 40 Universal joint 2 Drive side yoke 3 Driven side yoke 4 Spider 5, 6, 7, 8 Cup 11, 26, 28, 41 Drive side yoke housing member 12, 27, 29, 42 Driven side Yoke housing member 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 28a-28d, 29a-29d Housing member 26c, 26d, 27c, 27d, 28e-28h, 29e-29h End portion 35, 36, 37 Propeller shaft

Claims (3)

In a universal joint comprising a driving side yoke and a driven side yoke connected to the driving side yoke via a spider,
A drive-side yoke housing member provided to house at least a part of the drive-side yoke;
A driven-side yoke accommodating member provided to accommodate at least a part of the driving-side yoke accommodating member;
Universal joint characterized by having   The driving side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a predetermined radius, and the driven side yoke housing member is formed in a hemispherical shape with a radius larger than the radius, and an outer wall surface of the driving side yoke housing member The universal joint according to claim 1, wherein a gap is defined between an inner wall surface of the driven-side yoke housing member.   The at least one of the driving side yoke housing member and the driven side yoke housing member includes a plurality of housing members divided so as to form a gap extending in the axial direction thereof. The universal joint according to 1 or 2.