JP2016089857A - Constant velocity universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constant velocity universal joint capable of easily reducing its weight.SOLUTION: In a constant velocity universal joint 100, each ball 107 has the hollow spherical shape having an internal space 107a. The ball 107 has a ball opening portion 107b connecting the internal space 107a and the external. The balls 107 are arranged in a direction intersecting an opening portion 105a of a cage 105 in a direction that ball opening portions 107b are along a track groove 101a of an outer race 101 and a track groove 103a of an inner race 103. As the ball 107 has the hollow structure having the internal space 107a, it has a light weight in comparison with a conventional solid ball. Energy loss in accompany with rotating motion and reciprocating motion of the ball 107 can be reduced by reducing the weight of the ball 107. Thus transmission efficiency in transmitting power by using the constant velocity universal joint 100 can be improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint, and in particular, to one using a hollow ball.

  A conventional constant velocity universal joint will be described with reference to FIG. The constant velocity universal joint shown in FIG. 6 includes an outer ring 13 having a plurality of track grooves 12 formed on the inner diameter surface 11, an inner ring 16 having a plurality of track grooves 15 formed on the outer diameter surface 14, and the track grooves 12 of the outer ring 13. And a plurality of balls 17 that transmit torque between the inner ring 16 and the track groove 15 of the inner ring 16, and a cage 18 that holds the balls 17. A ceramic layer is provided in at least one of the outer ring 13, the inner ring 16 and the cage 18.

  For example, the entire cage 18 is formed of the sintered body, and the entire cage 18 is formed of a ceramic layer. In addition, for example, a ceramic layer is provided on the entire outer spherical surface of the cage 18 or a portion of the outer spherical surface of the cage 18 that contacts at least the inner diameter surface of the outer joint member when torque is input, Or it provides in the site | part which contacts the outer-diameter surface of an inner joint member at least at the time of torque input among the inner spherical surfaces of the cage 18, Furthermore, it provides in the window inner peripheral surface of a cage.

  Further, for example, the ceramic layer is provided on the inner diameter surface 11 of the outer ring 13, provided on the inner surface of the track groove 12 of the outer ring 13, and further provided on the inner diameter surface 11 of the outer ring 13 and the inner surface of the track groove 12 of the outer ring 13.

  Further, for example, a ceramic layer is provided on the outer diameter surface 14 of the inner ring 16, provided on the inner surface of the track groove 15 of the inner ring 16, and further provided on the outer diameter surface 14 of the inner ring 16 and the inner surface of the track groove 15 of the inner ring 16. .

  Thereby, the frictional resistance with the site | part which contacts the provided ceramic layer can be reduced. Thereby, the transmission efficiency of the joint can be improved. Moreover, only a part can be comprised with a ceramic layer, and weight reduction can be achieved (refer patent document 1 above).

JP 2009-299843 A

  The aforementioned conventional constant velocity universal joint has the following points to be improved. In the conventional constant velocity universal joint, in order to reduce the weight, components of the constant velocity universal joint such as the cage 18 are generated using ceramic. For this reason, there exists a point which should be improved that the constant velocity universal joint using a ceramic becomes expensive.

  In general, in an automobile using a constant velocity universal joint, it is required to reduce the weight of rotating parts in order to achieve low fuel consumption. In the constant velocity universal joint, the ball reciprocates along the track groove along with its rotational movement. For this reason, in constant velocity universal joints, there is a great need for weight reduction of balls.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the constant velocity universal joint which can be reduced in weight easily.

  Means for solving the problems in the present invention and the effects of the invention will be described below.

  The constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention includes an outer race having a plurality of track grooves formed on an inner diameter surface, an inner race having a plurality of track grooves formed on an outer diameter surface, the track grooves of the outer race, and the inner race. And a plurality of balls that transmit torque and have an internal space, and a cage that holds the balls.

  As a result, the weight can be reduced as compared with a conventional solid ball, and the energy loss associated with the rotation and reciprocation of the ball can be reduced. That is, the transmission efficiency of power transmission using a constant velocity universal joint can be increased.

It is a partial cross section front view of the constant velocity universal joint 100 which is one Example of the constant velocity universal joint which concerns on this invention. 2 is a plan view of the constant velocity universal joint 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows the XX cross section of the constant velocity universal joint 100 in FIG. It is a partial cross section front view of the constant velocity universal joint 200 which is another Example of the constant velocity universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a partial cross section front view of the constant velocity universal joint 300 which is another Example of the constant velocity universal joint which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional constant velocity universal joint.

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

  A constant velocity universal joint 100 which is an embodiment of a sound absorbing material according to the present invention will be described below. The constant velocity universal joint 100 is used as a means for transmitting a rotational force from a predetermined power source at a constant speed. For example, the constant velocity universal joint 100 is used for a drive shaft that transmits a rotational force from an automobile engine to wheels.

  The configuration of the constant velocity universal joint 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a front view having a partial cross section of the constant velocity universal joint 100. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the constant velocity universal joint 100 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an XX cross section in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the constant velocity universal joint 100 includes an outer race 101, an inner race 103, a cage 105, and a ball 107. In the constant velocity universal joint 100, after another shaft member H is connected to the inner race 103, a boot B is attached so as to cover the outside. The boot B is filled with a lubricant such as grease.

  The outer race 101 has a mouth portion 101x having a concave cross section at one end and a shaft portion 101y that transmits rotational force to the other end. The mouse part 101x has an arrangement space 101s (not shown) for arranging the inner race 103, the cage 105, and the ball 107. The outer race 101 has a plurality of track grooves 101a on the inner diameter surface P101 forming the arrangement space 101s. The track groove 101 a is formed along the axial direction of the shaft portion 101 y of the outer race 101. As shown in FIG. 2, the track grooves 101a are arranged radially from the center of the mouse portion 101x at an equal angle.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the inner race 103 has a predetermined cylindrical shape. The inner race 103 has a shaft holding space 103s for holding a predetermined shaft member H inside the cylindrical shape. The inner race 103 has a plurality of track grooves 103a on the outer diameter surface P103. The track grooves 103 a are formed along the cylindrical axial direction of the inner race 103. As shown in FIG. 2, the track grooves 103 a are arranged at equal angles radially from the center of the inner race 103.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the cage 105 is disposed between the inner diameter surface P <b> 101 of the outer race 101 and the outer diameter surface P <b> 103 of the inner race 103. The cage 105 has a ring shape that is convex outward.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cage 105 has a plurality of openings 105 a along the circumferential direction. Further, the track groove 101a of the outer race 101 and the track groove 103a of the inner race 103 are arranged to face each other. Further, the outer race 101, the inner race 103, and the track groove 103a of one outer race 101, the track groove 103a of one inner race 103, and the opening 105a of one cage 105 form a set. A cage 105 is arranged.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the ball 107 has a hollow spherical shape having an internal space 107a. The ball 107 has a ball opening 107b that connects the internal space 107a and the outside. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball 107 is disposed in the opening 105 a of the cage 105.

  The ball 107 is arranged in a direction in which the ball opening 107b intersects the track groove 101a of the outer race 101 and the track groove 103a of the inner race 103 and intersects the opening 105a of the cage 105. Two ball openings 107b are formed at opposing positions. Thus, since the ball 107 has a hollow structure having the internal space 107a, it is lighter than a conventional solid ball. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball 107 reciprocates along the track groove 101 a of the outer race 101 and the track groove 103 a of the inner race 103. Further, the ball 107 rotates in accordance with the reciprocating motion. Therefore, the weight loss of the ball 107 can reduce the energy loss caused by the rotation and reciprocation of the ball 107. That is, the transmission efficiency of power transmission using the constant velocity universal joint 100 can be increased.

  The ball opening 107b has a lubricant such as grease in the internal space 107a. The constant velocity universal joint 100 can arrange more lubricant by the amount arranged in the ball opening 107b than the conventional constant velocity universal joint. Thereby, since the lubricant can be held near the ball 107, the durability of the constant velocity universal joint 100 can be improved.

  Furthermore, the weight loss of the ball 107 and the holding of the lubricant in the vicinity of the ball 107 can reduce energy loss due to the rotational motion and reciprocating motion of the ball 107. Therefore, the transmission efficiency of power transmission using the constant velocity universal joint 100 can be further increased.

[Other embodiments]
(1) Holding the ball 107: In the above-described first embodiment, the ball 107 is freely disposed in the opening 105a of the cage 105 as in the conventional constant velocity universal joint. If it can arrange | position in the opening part of this, it will not be limited to the thing of illustration. For example, like the constant velocity universal joint 200 shown in FIG. 4, a cage 205 having ball holding protrusions 205 b and 205 c protruding from the left and right may be used in the opening 205 a of the cage 205. In this case, the arrangement position of the ball 107 in the opening 205 a of the cage 205 can be fixed by engaging the ball holding protrusions 205 b and 205 c with the ball opening 107 b of the ball 107.

  (2) Ball structure: In the above-described first embodiment, the ball 107 has the two ball openings 107b positioned opposite to each other. However, the ball 107 is exemplified as long as it connects the internal space 107a and the outside. It is not limited to those. For example, a single ball opening 307b may be provided like a ball 307 shown in the constant velocity universal joint 300 shown in FIG. A ball having three or more ball openings may be used.

  The constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention can be used for, for example, a drive shaft of an automobile.

100 constant velocity universal joint 101 outer race 101a track groove 101s arrangement space 103 inner race 103a track groove 103s shaft holding space 105 cage 105a opening 107 ball 107a internal space 107b ball opening 200 constant velocity universal joint 205 cage 205a opening 205b ball Holding projection 300 Constant velocity universal joint 307 Ball 307b Ball opening P101 Inner diameter surface P103 Outer diameter surface

Claims (1)

An outer race having a plurality of track grooves formed on its inner surface,
An inner race with a plurality of track grooves formed on the outer diameter surface,
A plurality of balls that are located between the track grooves of the outer race and the track grooves of the inner race and transmit torque, and have an internal space;
A cage for holding the ball,
A constant velocity universal joint.

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