JP2008281099A - Center bearing support - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a center bearing support for a large vehicle, for surely preventing rotation of a bearing holding member, easy in manufacture, and reducing the number of part items and installation manhours as the whole center bearing support. <P>SOLUTION: This center bearing support 1 for the large vehicle is formed by fixing a bearing 4 to the inner periphery of the bearing holding member 3, and by fixing the bearing holding member 3 composed of a metallic ring to the inner periphery of a bearing hole 2a arranged in a rubber-like elastic body 2 presenting a block shape. Joining of the rubber-like elastic body 2 and the bearing holding member 3 is formed as a vulcanization adhering structure, and the bearing holding member 3 is formed in a shape having a stepped part 3b, and joining of the beating holding member 3 and the beating 4 is formed as a press-in structure. The bearing holding member 3 is formed in a shape of integrally molding a small diameter cylinder part 3c on one end in the axial direction of a large diameter cylinder part 3a via the stepped part 3b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a center bearing support that rotatably and elastically supports a propeller shaft in a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a center bearing support for a large vehicle.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, as a center bearing support for a large vehicle, a structure in which a bearing holding member 52 for holding a bearing 51 is inserted and held in a rubber-like elastic body 53 is known. In the prior art, a recess 54 (FIG. 6) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft-like hole of the rubber-like elastic body 53 as a rotation stopper (rotation prevention) of the bearing holding member 52, and a projection 55 (FIG. 5) that matches the recess 54. ) Is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing holding member 52, and the protrusion 55 is fitted in the recess 54. Further, the bearing holding member 52 made of a metal ring is formed by cutting the inner diameter thereof, and is fixed in the axial direction by C-type retaining rings 56 and 57 with the fitting form with the bearing 51 being an intermediate fitting.

However, the above prior art has the following disadvantages.
(1) With the recent increase in engine output, the rotational torque has increased, and the bearing holding member 52 rotates in the anti-rotation structure in which the protrusion 55 is simply fitted into the recess 54 as described above. The possibility of not being able to control is increasing. In addition, since the propeller shaft is originally large and heavy in a large vehicle such as a truck, even if the shaft is supported by the bearing 51, a slashing motion (swinging) occurs in the shaft, and the torque to rotate the bearing holding member 52 is generated. appear. In this case, even if an attempt is made to prevent rotation by fitting the recess 54 and the projection 55, the rubber-like elastic body 53 may be deformed due to the weight of the shaft or a slashing motion and the fitting may be removed. Cannot function well. If the bearing holding member 52 rotates, sliding wear occurs in the rubber-like elastic body 53, so that the shaft cannot be properly supported.
(2) Since the protrusion 55 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing holding member 52 made of a metal ring and the mounting grooves 58 and 59 for fitting the C-type retaining rings 56 and 57 are provided on the inner peripheral surface, the bearing holding member The production of 52 takes a lot of labor and cost (casting + cutting, etc.).
(3) Since the fitting type of the bearing holding member 52 with the bearing 51 is an intermediate fit and the axial direction of the bearing 51 is fixed by the C-type retaining rings 56 and 57, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are large. The number of parts is five points including the bearing 51, the bearing holding member 52, the rubber-like elastic body 53, and the pair of C-shaped retaining rings 56, 57, and the assembly man-hour is the following four steps.
1) The bearing holding member 52 is fitted to the rubber-like elastic body 53.
2) The bearing 51 is fitted to the bearing holding member 52.
3) One C-type retaining ring 56 is fitted.
4) The other C-type retaining ring 57 is fitted.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-33164

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a center bearing support for a large vehicle that reliably prevents rotation of the bearing holding member and that can be easily manufactured, and that the center bearing support as a whole requires fewer parts and less assembly steps. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a center bearing support according to claim 1 of the present invention fixes a bearing holding member made of a metal ring to an inner periphery of a shaft hole provided in a rubber-like elastic body having a block shape. In a center bearing support for a large vehicle in which a bearing is fixed to the inner periphery of the member, the rubber-like elastic body and the bearing holding member are bonded to each other with a vulcanized adhesive structure, and the bearing holding member has a stepped portion. The coupling between the bearing holding member and the bearing is a press-fit structure.

  The center bearing support according to claim 2 of the present invention is the center bearing support according to claim 1 described above, wherein the bearing holding member has a small-diameter cylindrical portion via a stepped portion at one axial end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion. It is characterized by being formed into an integrally molded shape.

  In the center bearing support of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the rubber-like elastic body having a block shape and the bearing holding member are bonded to each other by a vulcanized adhesive structure. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a protrusion for preventing rotation on the bearing holding member. Also, since the bearing holding member has a stepped part and the bearing holding member and the bearing have a press-fit structure, the assembly work is completed simply by press-fitting the bearing until it hits the stepped part. It is not necessary to use a C-type retaining ring or the like to fix the bearing in the axial direction. Specifically, the shape of the bearing holding member made of a metal ring is preferably a shape in which a small-diameter cylindrical portion is integrally formed via a stepped portion at one axial end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion.

  The present invention has the following effects.

  That is, in the center bearing support of the present invention, as described above, since the rubber-like elastic body having a block shape and the bearing holding member have a vulcanized adhesive structure, both of them are completely bonded by vulcanization adhesion. The bearing holding member need not be provided with a protrusion for preventing rotation. Therefore, even when the rotational torque is large, the bearing holding member can be reliably prevented from rotating, and the production of the bearing holding member can be facilitated. A bearing holding member having a shape in which a small-diameter cylindrical portion is integrally formed at one end in the axial direction of the large-diameter cylindrical portion via a stepped portion does not have a protrusion on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and thus is easily manufactured.

  Also, since the bearing holding member has a stepped part and the bearing holding member and the bearing have a press-fit structure, the assembly work is completed simply by press-fitting the bearing until it hits the stepped part. It is not necessary to use a C-type retaining ring or the like to fix the bearing in the axial direction. Therefore, the number of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced for the center bearing support as a whole.

The present invention includes the following embodiments.
(1) Some center bearing supports for large vehicles have a structure in which a bearing holding member for holding a bearing is inserted and held in an elastic body. In this structure, in order to prevent rotation of the bearing holding member, it is necessary to provide a recess in the elastic body and to provide a protrusion that matches the recess in the bearing holding member. However, as the output increases in recent years, the rotational torque increases, and there is a high possibility that the rotation cannot be suppressed only by the protrusions and depressions. Further, since the protrusion is formed, the production of the bearing holding member is costly (casting + cutting etc.). In general, the inner diameter of the bearing holding member is cut, and the fitting with the bearing is an intermediate fit, and the fixing in the axial direction is performed with a C-type retaining ring or the like. .

(2) Therefore, the center bearing support has the following configuration.
(2-1) The coupling between the bearing holding member and the elastic body is vulcanized adhesion.
(2-2) The bearing holding member is a press-formed product having a stepped portion. However, similar shapes can be produced by cutting.
(2-3) The coupling between the bearing and the bearing holding member is a press-fit structure.

(3) According to the center bearing support of the said form, the following effects are exhibited.
(3-1) By making the coupling between the bearing holding member and the elastic body vulcanized, rotation can be prevented even in the case of high rotational torque.
(3-2) The shape of the bearing holding member can be simplified.
(3-3) By using a press-fit structure for coupling the bearing and the bearing holding member and fixing the bearing in the axial direction at the stepped portion, the assembly process can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a partially cut perspective view of a center bearing support 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the bearing holding member 3 in the center bearing support 1, and FIG. 3 is an assembly process explanatory diagram of the center bearing support 1. The center bearing support 1 according to this embodiment is used as a center bearing support for a large vehicle and is configured as follows.

  That is, first, the center bearing support 1 has a rubber-like elastic body 2 formed in a block shape, and a bearing holding member made of a metal ring on the inner periphery of a shaft hole 2 a provided in the rubber-like elastic body 2. 3 is fixed, and a bearing 4 is fixed to the inner periphery of the bearing holding member 3.

  The rubber-like elastic body 2 is a rubber molded product having a relatively large volume used for a center bearing support for a large vehicle and is formed into a block shape, that is, substantially the same as the bearing holding member 3 and is a bearing. It has an axial width w greater than 4, and is formed into a shape in which the end face shape continues as it is over the entire width. Around the shaft hole 2a, a required number of through-hole-shaped space portions (straight portions) 2b for adjusting the spring constant are provided (four in the figure).

  The bearing holding member 3 is made of a metal press ring, and as shown in FIG. 2, a stepped portion (annular plane portion) 3b is integrally formed from one axial end of the large diameter cylindrical portion 3a toward the inside in the radial direction. It shape | molds and it shape | molds in the shape which integrally formed the small diameter cylinder part 3c toward the axial direction one side from the inner peripheral edge part of the step part 3b. The bearing holding member 3 is inserted into the mold when the rubber-like elastic body 2 is molded with a mold, and is vulcanized and bonded to the rubber-like elasticity 2 at the same time as the rubber-like elastic body 2 is vulcanized. . It should be noted that the bearing holding member 3 is not provided with any kind of protrusions and depressions for preventing rotation and no mounting groove for fitting a C-type retaining ring.

  The bearing 4 is formed of a ball bearing, and includes an outer ring 4a fitted to the bearing holding member 3, an inner ring 4b fitted to the shaft side, and a large number of rolling elements 4c. This bearing 4 is fixed by being press-fitted into the inner periphery of the bearing holding member 3, that is, press-fitted until it hits the stepped portion 3 b of the bearing holding member 3, and in this state, the inner side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 3 a. Is retained.

  The center bearing support 1 has only three components: a rubber-like elastic body 2, a bearing holding member 3, and a bearing 4. Further, as described above, since the rubber-like elastic body 2 and the bearing holding member 3 are integrated in advance by vulcanization adhesion, the assembly man-hour of the center bearing support 1 is as shown in FIG. Only one step of press-fitting the bearing 4 to the inner periphery is performed.

  In the center bearing support 1 having the above-described configuration, the rubber-like elastic body 2 having a block shape and the bearing holding member 3 are vulcanized and bonded, so that the two and 3 are completely integrated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bearing holding member 3 from rotating even when a large rotational torque is input.

  Further, since the rotation of the bearing holding member 3 is prevented by vulcanization adhesion, it is not necessary to provide the bearing holding member 3 with protrusions or depressions for preventing rotation, and a C-type retaining ring is fitted. There is no need to provide a mounting groove for mating. Therefore, the production of the bearing holding member 3 can be greatly facilitated.

  In addition, since the bearing holding member 3 has a shape having the stepped portion 3b and the bearing 4 is press-fitted into the bearing holding member 3, the bearing 4 is press-fitted until it hits the stepped portion 3b. Assembly can be completed only by the process, and there is no need to use a C-type retaining ring or the like. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembly steps for the center bearing support 1 as a whole.

  In the above embodiment, the bearing holding member 3 is made of a metal press ring, but may be formed by cutting.

The perspective view which partly cut of the center bearing support which concerns on the Example of this invention External perspective view of bearing holding member in the center bearing support Assembly process diagram of the center bearing support Partially cut perspective view of center bearing support according to conventional example External perspective view of bearing holding member in the center bearing support Assembly process diagram of the center bearing support

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center bearing support 2 Rubber-like elastic body 2a Shaft hole 2b Space part 3 Bearing holding member 3a Large diameter cylindrical part 3b Stepped part 3c Small diameter cylindrical part 4 Bearing 4a Outer ring 4b Inner ring 4c Rolling element

Claims (2)

In a center bearing support for a large vehicle in which a bearing holding member made of a metal ring is fixed to the inner periphery of a shaft hole provided in a rubber-like elastic body having a block shape, and a bearing is fixed to the inner periphery of the bearing holding member,
The rubber-like elastic body and the bearing holding member have a vulcanized adhesion structure, the bearing holding member has a stepped portion, and the bearing-holding member and the bearing have a press-fit structure. Center bearing support. The center bearing support according to claim 1,
A center bearing support, wherein the bearing holding member has a shape in which a small-diameter cylindrical portion is integrally formed at one axial end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion via a stepped portion.

Images