JP2011122614A - Constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the working cost and manhours in grooving work of an outside joint member. <P>SOLUTION: A constant velocity universal joint which includes an outside joint member 10 containing an opening at one end and an inside joint member 20 transmitting torque in-between the outside joint member 10 via a ball 30 while allowing angular displacement and keeps in an opening hole 13 a seal plate 70 for blocking the opening hole 13 formed in a bottom 14 of the outside joint member 10. An inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 situated in the bottom 14 of the outside joint member 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape. An annular recess 75 is formed in an outer peripheral surface 73 of a flange part 72 in the seal plate 70, which is fitted to a cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 and has an O ring 74 interposed between the annular recess 75 and cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 in a in pressure contact state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint that is used in a power transmission system of an automobile or various industrial machines, and is provided with, for example, a propeller shaft or a drive shaft of an automobile and includes a seal plate that prevents leakage of lubricant from the inside of the joint.

  For example, there are two types of constant velocity universal joints that are used as means for transmitting a rotational force from an automobile engine to wheels at a constant velocity: a fixed constant velocity universal joint and a sliding constant velocity universal joint. Both of these constant velocity universal joints have a structure in which two shafts on the driving side and the driven side are connected so that rotational torque can be transmitted at a constant speed even if the two shafts have an operating angle.

  For example, as a constant velocity universal joint assembled to a propeller shaft used in an automobile such as a 4WD vehicle or an FR vehicle, there is a fixed constant velocity universal joint as shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member 110 in which track grooves 111 extending in the axial direction are formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the spherical inner peripheral surface 112, and the outer joint member 110. An inner joint member 120 in which track grooves 121 extending in the axial direction in pairs with the track groove 111 are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the spherical outer peripheral surface 122, and the track groove 111 and the inner joint member 120 of the outer joint member 110. Between the plurality of balls 130 for transmitting torque and the spherical inner peripheral surface 112 of the outer joint member 110 and the spherical outer peripheral surface 122 of the inner joint member 120. And a cage 140 for holding the ball 130 accommodated in the pocket 141.

  In this constant velocity universal joint for propeller shafts, the stub shaft 150 is connected to the shaft hole of the inner joint member 121 by spline fitting. Further, the outer joint member 110 has an internal space 115 for accommodating internal parts including the inner joint member 120, the ball 130, and the cage 140 via an opening hole 113 formed in the bottom portion 114, and an axial direction from the bottom portion 114. It has a structure in which an internal space 116 of a hollow shaft portion 117 extending integrally is communicated.

  In this constant velocity universal joint, in order to prevent leakage of a lubricant such as grease enclosed in the internal space 115 of the outer joint member 110, the boot 160 is provided on the opening side of the outer joint member 110 and the bottom 114 of the outer joint member 110. A structure in which a seal plate 170 is mounted on the side is common (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the opening side of the outer joint member 110, one end of a metal cylindrical adapter 161 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the outer joint member 110, and the other end of the adapter 161 is caulked, so that the V The large-diameter end portion of the boot 160 that is folded back into a letter shape is fixed, and the small-diameter end portion of the boot 160 is fastened and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the stub shaft 150 by a boot band 162.

  On the other hand, on the bottom side of the outer joint member 110, a seal plate 170 that closes the opening hole 113 to block the inner space 115 of the outer joint member 110 and the inner space 116 of the shaft portion 117 is attached. The seal plate 170 is composed of a disk-shaped plate portion 171 and a flange portion 172 that is formed by bending the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion 171 and extending in the axial direction. It is attached by fitting to 113 cylindrical inner peripheral surface 118.

  Since the propeller shaft to which this constant velocity universal joint is assembled rotates at a high speed, when the seal plate 170 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 11, an annular groove 119 is cut in the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 118 of the opening hole 113. The O-ring 174 is interposed between the annular concave groove 119 and the outer peripheral surface 173 of the flange portion 172 in a pressure contact state, thereby improving the sealing performance.

JP 11-159538 A

  By the way, in the conventional seal plate structure in the constant velocity universal joint, an annular groove 119 is formed on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 118 of the opening hole 113 of the outer joint member 110, and the annular groove 119 is formed as shown in FIG. After the O-ring 174 is fitted in the flange portion 172 of the seal plate 170, the flange portion 172 is press-fitted into the opening hole 113. As a result, an O-ring 174 is interposed between the annular groove 119 and the outer peripheral surface 173 of the flange portion 172 in a pressure contact state, thereby ensuring sealing performance.

  In the case of such a seal plate structure, the annular concave groove 119 must be formed in the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 118 of the opening hole 113 of the outer joint member 110, and the processing cost is increased by the groove processing of the outer joint member 110. However, there is a problem that the cost of the constant velocity universal joint is increased.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a constant velocity universal joint that can reduce the processing cost and the number of man-hours by grooving the outer joint member. is there.

  As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention allows angular displacement between a cup-shaped outer joint member having an opening at one end and a torque transmission member between the outer joint member. A constant velocity universal joint provided with a seal plate that closes the opening hole formed in the bottom of the outer joint member, and having an opening hole in the bottom of the outer joint member. The inner peripheral surface is cylindrical, an annular recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole, and an O between the annular concave portion and the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole is formed. A ring is interposed in a pressure contact state.

  In the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member is formed into a cylindrical shape, an annular recess is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole. By inserting an O-ring in a press-contact state between the recess and the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole, an annular recess into which the O-ring fits is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate. Since it becomes unnecessary to form the annular concave groove on the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the base, it is easy to realize reduction in processing cost and man-hour by groove processing of the outer joint member.

  As a form of forming the annular recess of the present invention on the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, an annular recess is formed at the corner of the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the O-ring fitted in the annular recess is formed on the bottom of the outer joint member. A configuration in which the corners of the opening holes are pressed against each other is possible.

  As another form, an annular recess is formed in the axial center of the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and an O-ring fitted in the annular recess is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member. Configuration, or a configuration in which an annular recess is formed in a step shape at the corner of the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and an O-ring fitted into the annular recess is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member It is.

  In such a configuration, the seal plate can be assembled to the bottom of the outer joint member with the O-ring mounted in advance in the annular recess of the seal plate. In addition, since it is not necessary to attach an O-ring to the bottom which is difficult to see, in addition to the reduction of the processing cost and the number of man-hours by the groove processing of the outer joint member described above, the workability of the O-ring can be improved.

  The seal plate in the present invention is preferably composed of a disk-shaped plate portion and a flange portion that is bent in the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion and extends in the axial direction. In the case of this seal plate, an annular recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member. If such a structure is employed, lubricant leakage from the inside of the joint can be reliably prevented.

  In the present invention, the outer joint member has a plurality of arc-shaped track grooves extending in the axial direction on the spherical inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of inner joint members are paired with the track grooves of the outer joint member on the spherical outer peripheral surface. And the torque transmission member is held by a cage disposed between the spherical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member. A structure that is a ball interposed between the track groove of the inner joint member and the track groove of the inner joint member is desirable. The present invention can be applied to a constant velocity universal joint having such a structure, that is, a fixed type constant velocity universal joint.

  In the present invention, the outer joint member is formed with a plurality of linear track grooves extending in the axial direction on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the inner joint member is formed on the spherical outer peripheral surface in pairs with the track grooves of the outer joint member. And the torque transmitting member is held by a cage disposed between the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member. A structure that is a ball interposed between the track groove of the inner joint member and the track groove of the inner joint member is desirable. The present invention can be applied to a constant velocity universal joint having such a structure, that is, a sliding type constant velocity universal joint.

  The present invention desirably has a structure in which a stub shaft is connected to the inner joint member so that torque can be transmitted. The present invention is applicable to such a structure, that is, a constant velocity universal joint assembled to a propeller shaft. Since the propeller shaft used in an automobile rotates at a high speed, it is effective in improving the sealing performance by the seal plate.

  According to the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member is cylindrical, the annular recess is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole. Since an O-ring is interposed between the annular recess and the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole in a press-contact state, an annular recess into which the O-ring is fitted is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate. Since it is not necessary to form an annular groove on the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the joint member, it is easy to realize a reduction in processing costs and man-hours by grooving the outer joint member. As a result, it is possible to provide a low-cost, highly reliable constant-velocity universal joint that ensures sealing performance.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an entire configuration of a constant velocity universal joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before attaching the seal plate of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of a constant velocity universal joint in 2nd embodiment in this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the seal plate of FIG. 5 is assembled. In 3rd embodiment in this invention, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of a constant velocity universal joint. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before attaching the seal plate of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of the conventional constant velocity universal joint. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before attaching the seal plate of FIG.

  Embodiments of the constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention will be described in detail below. In the following embodiments, a structure that is incorporated in a propeller shaft used in an automobile and that connects two shafts on the driving side and the driven side and can transmit rotational torque at a constant speed even when the two shafts have an operating angle. A Rzeppa type constant velocity universal joint, which is one of the fixed type constant velocity universal joints provided, will be exemplified. In the following embodiments, a case where the present invention is applied to a Rzeppa constant velocity universal joint will be described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other fixed type constant velocity universal joints, for example, an undercut free constant velocity universal joint.

  The constant velocity universal joint of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a cup shape having an opening at one end, and arc-shaped track grooves 11 extending in the axial direction are formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the spherical inner peripheral surface 12. The outer joint member 10 and the inner joint member 20 in which arc-shaped track grooves 21 extending in the axial direction in pairs with the track grooves 11 of the outer joint member 10 are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the spherical outer peripheral surface 22. A ball 30 as a plurality of torque transmitting members interposed between the track grooves 11 of the outer joint member 10 and the track grooves 21 of the inner joint member 20 and the spherical inner periphery of the outer joint member 10. A cage 40 that holds the ball 30 accommodated in the pocket 41 interposed between the surface 12 and the spherical outer peripheral surface 22 of the inner joint member 20 is a main component.

  In this constant velocity universal joint for propeller shafts, the stub shaft 50 is connected to the shaft hole of the inner joint member 20 by spline fitting. In addition, the outer joint member 10 has an internal space 15 that accommodates internal parts including the inner joint member 20, the ball 30, and the cage 40 through the opening hole 13 formed in the bottom portion 14, and an axial direction from the bottom portion 14. It has a structure in which the internal space 15 of the hollow shaft portion 17 extending integrally is communicated.

  In this constant velocity universal joint, in order to prevent leakage of a lubricant such as grease enclosed in the internal space 15 of the outer joint member 10, the boot 60 is provided on the opening side of the outer joint member 10, and the bottom 14 of the outer joint member 10. It has a structure in which a seal plate 70 is mounted on the side. As described above, when the lubricant is sealed in the sealed space surrounded by the outer joint member 10, the boot 60, and the seal plate 70, the stub shaft 50 rotates while taking an operating angle with respect to the outer joint member 10. , The sliding property inside the joint, that is, the sliding property composed of the outer joint member 10, the inner joint member 20, the ball 30 and the cage 40 is ensured.

  On the opening side of the outer joint member 10, one end of the metal cylindrical adapter 61 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the outer joint member 10, and the other end of the adapter 61 is crimped to form a U The large-diameter end portion of the boot 60 that is folded back into a letter shape is fixed, and the small-diameter end portion of the boot 60 is fastened and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the stub shaft 50 by a boot band 62.

  On the other hand, on the bottom 14 side of the outer joint member 10, a seal plate 70 that closes the inner space 15 of the outer joint member 10 and the inner space 16 of the shaft portion 17 by closing the opening hole 13 is attached to the opening hole 13. To do. The seal plate 70 is composed of a disk-shaped plate portion 71 and a flange portion 72 that is formed by bending the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion 71 and extending in the axial direction. The outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 is formed in the opening hole. It is attached by fitting to 13 cylindrical inner peripheral surfaces 18.

  By employing the seal plate 70 having such a structure, lubricant leakage from the inside of the joint can be reliably prevented. Since the propeller shaft to which the constant velocity universal joint is assembled rotates at a high speed, when the seal plate 70 is mounted, an O-ring 74 is provided between the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 and the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72. By interposing in a pressure contact state, the sealing performance is improved.

  In the constant velocity universal joint of this embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole 13 located at the bottom 14 of the outer joint member 10 is cylindrical, and the annular recess 75 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 of the seal plate 70. The outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 is fitted to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 and the O-ring 74 is pressed between the annular recess 75 and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13. To intervene.

  As described above, the annular recess 75 into which the O-ring 74 is fitted is formed on the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 of the seal plate 70, so that the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 118 of the bottom 114 of the outer joint member 110 is conventionally provided. Since it becomes unnecessary to form the annular concave groove 119 (see FIGS. 10 to 12), it is easy to realize reduction in processing cost and man-hour by groove processing of the outer joint member 10.

  In the case where the above-described annular recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface 73 of the seal plate 70, a form described in detail below is possible.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an annular recess 75 is formed in the axially central portion of the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 of the seal plate 70, and an O-ring 74 fitted in the annular recess 75 is connected to the outer joint. It is set as the structure press-contacted to the cylindrical internal peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 located in the bottom part 14 of the member 10 (refer FIG. 2). In the case of the first embodiment, since the O-ring 74 is attached to the annular recess 75, it is possible to use an O-ring 74 having a smaller wire diameter than the conventional one.

  Further, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an annular recess 77 is formed in a step shape at a corner portion of the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 of the seal plate 70 with the plate portion 71, and is fitted into the annular recess 77. The inserted O-ring 76 is configured to be in pressure contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 18 of the opening hole 13 located at the bottom 14 of the outer joint member 10 (see FIG. 5).

  When configured as in the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the O-rings 74 and 76 are attached in advance to the annular recesses 75 and 77 of the seal plate 70. Since the seal plate 70 can be assembled to the bottom portion 14 of the outer joint member 10, it is not necessary to attach an O-ring to the bottom portion 14 which is in the deep position of the outer joint member 10 and is difficult to see as in the prior art. In addition to reducing the machining cost and man-hours due to the grooving of the outer joint member 10, the workability of the O-ring mounting can be improved.

  Further, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, an annular recess 79 is formed at a corner of the outer peripheral surface 73 of the flange portion 72 of the seal plate 70 with the plate portion 71, and the O is fitted into the annular recess 79. The ring 78 is configured to be in pressure contact with the corner 19 of the opening 13 located at the bottom 14 of the outer joint member 10 (see FIG. 8). In addition, since the opening hole 13 has a stepped shape having a small diameter on the inner space 16 side of the shaft portion 17, the opening hole 13 has a corner portion 19 on the back side.

  In the third embodiment, unlike the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the seal plate 70 is attached to the opening hole 13 as shown in FIG. 9. Prior to this, the O-ring 78 is fitted into the corner 19 of the opening 13 located at the bottom 14 of the outer joint member 10, and then the seal plate 70 is press-fitted into the opening 13.

  In the above embodiment, the fixed type constant velocity universal joint which is a Rzeppa type constant velocity universal joint has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the two shafts on the driving side and the driven side are connected to each other. Sliding constant velocity universal joints with a structure capable of transmitting rotational torque at a constant speed even when the shaft takes an operating angle and also allowing relative displacement in the axial direction, for example, a double offset type constant velocity universal joint It is also applicable to cross groove type constant velocity universal joints.

  Although this type of sliding type constant velocity universal joint is not shown, the outer joint member in which a plurality of linear track grooves extending in the axial direction are formed on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the track groove of the outer joint member are paired with each other. And an inner joint member having a plurality of linear track grooves formed on the spherical outer peripheral surface, and a cage disposed between the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member. It is comprised with the ball | bowl which is a torque transmission member interposed between the track groove of an outer joint member, and the track groove of an inner joint member in the hold | maintained state.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. It includes the equivalent meanings recited in the claims and the equivalents recited in the claims, and all modifications within the scope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Outer joint member 11 Track groove 12 Spherical inner peripheral surface 13 Opening hole 18 Cylindrical inner peripheral surface 14 Bottom 20 Inner joint member 21 Track groove 22 Spherical outer peripheral surface 30 Torque transmission member (ball)
40 Cage 70 Seal plate 71 Plate part 72 Flange part 73 Outer peripheral surface 74, 76, 78 O-ring 75, 77, 79 Annular recess

Claims (8)

A cup-shaped outer joint member having an opening at one end, and an inner joint member that transmits torque while allowing angular displacement between the outer joint member and the outer joint member, A constant velocity universal joint in which a sealing plate for closing the opening hole formed in the bottom portion is mounted in the opening hole,
The inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member is cylindrical, an annular recess is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole. A constant velocity universal joint characterized in that an O-ring is interposed between the recess and the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole in a pressure contact state.   2. The constant velocity free according to claim 1, wherein the annular recess is formed in an axially central portion of an outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the O-ring is press-contacted to an inner peripheral surface of an opening hole at a bottom portion of the outer joint member. Fittings.   2. The constant velocity according to claim 1, wherein the annular recess is formed in a step shape at a corner of the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the O-ring is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member. Universal joint.   2. The constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the annular recess is formed at a corner of the outer peripheral surface of the seal plate, and the O-ring is pressed against a corner of the opening hole at the bottom of the outer joint member.   The said seal plate is comprised by the disk-shaped plate part and the flange part which bent the outer periphery of the plate part, and was extended in the axial direction, etc. Fast universal joint.   The outer joint member is formed with a plurality of arc-shaped track grooves extending in the axial direction on the spherical inner peripheral surface, and the inner joint member is paired with the track grooves of the outer joint member and is formed on the spherical outer peripheral surface. An arc-shaped track groove is formed, and the torque transmission member is held by a cage disposed between the spherical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member. The constant velocity universal joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is a ball interposed between a track groove of a member and a track groove of the inner joint member.   The outer joint member has a plurality of linear track grooves extending in the axial direction on a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the inner joint member forms a plurality of pairs on the spherical outer peripheral surface in pairs with the track grooves of the outer joint member. A straight track groove is formed, and the torque transmission member is held by a cage disposed between a cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and a spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member, and the outer joint The constant velocity universal joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is a ball interposed between a track groove of a member and a track groove of the inner joint member.   The constant velocity universal joint as described in any one of Claims 1-7 which connected the stub shaft to the said inner joint member so that torque transmission was possible.

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