JP2778379B2 - Composite joint - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint made of a composite material integrally provided at an end of a power transmission shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of power transmission shafts is a propeller shaft of an automobile. In recent years, as the demand for lighter automobiles has increased, various attempts have been made to manufacture this propeller shaft using fiber-reinforced plastic. By the way, since the propeller shaft is interposed between a transmission having a different installation height and a differential, a universal joint capable of forming a predetermined joint angle is required as the joint. There are many types of universal joints, such as a hook joint (cardan joint), a flexible joint, and a constant velocity joint. When the joint angle is not so large (several degrees), a flexible joint is generally used.

FIG. 4 shows one of the above flexible joints.
This shows a disk joint 1 made of fiber reinforced plastic (extracted from German GKN catalog). In this device, six bolt insertion holes 2 are arranged on a pitch circle, and a portion having the bolt insertion holes 2 is formed as a relatively thick (about 3 mm) thick portion 3 and the thick portion 3 3 are formed as relatively thin (about 1 mm) thin portions 4 between each other. Kapur Disc Joint 1
Is bolted to a three-pronged metal yoke (not shown) provided at the end of the propeller shaft by using every other three bolt insertion holes 2, while the other surface is bolted to the other three bolts. Using a bolt insertion hole 2, the transmission or differential is bolted to a three-pronged metal yoke (not shown) provided in the differential, and a predetermined joint angle can be obtained by bending the thin portion 4. .

[0004]

However, according to the disk joint 1, since it is necessary to provide metal yokes at both ends of the propeller shaft (power transmission shaft), the main body of the power transmission shaft is made of fiber reinforced plastic. Even if the yoke is manufactured to be lightweight, there is a problem that the weight advantage of the yoke impairs the light weight advantage. Further, since the bolt insertion hole 2 is post-processed by cutting, the fiber is cut off, and there is also a problem that a decrease in strength around the bolt insertion hole 2 cannot be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power transmission shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic with a predetermined joint angle without deteriorating the lightweight advantage. An object of the present invention is to provide a joint made of a composite material which can be provided and can secure sufficient strength.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a structure provided integrally with an end of a power transmission shaft, and has a larger diameter than the power transmission shaft and is arranged concentrically with the power transmission shaft. A plurality of coupling inserts, and a flange formed by continuously winding fibers impregnated with resin between the insert and the power transmission shaft, wherein the flange includes an outer peripheral portion of the insert and the power transmission shaft. The outer peripheral portion of the shaft is a thick portion in which fibers are laminated in the axial direction, and the portion between the insert and the power transmission shaft is a thin portion in which fibers are laminated in the radial direction. I do.

[0007]

In the composite joint constructed as described above, the yoke is omitted from the power transmission shaft integrated with the end of the power transmission shaft, so that the weight can be reduced. In addition, not only can a predetermined joint angle be secured by the bending of the thin portion of the flange, but also the strength of the assurance of strength can be ensured because the coupling insert is used for coupling with the mating member.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a hollow propeller shaft (power transmission shaft) made of fiber-reinforced plastic;
Reference numeral 11 denotes a joint according to the present invention integrally provided at both ends (one side is omitted) of the propeller shaft main body 10. The propeller shaft 10 is manufactured by using a fiber impregnated with a resin as a material, using a filament winding method, a tape winding method, or the like.The fibers include glass fiber, carbon fiber, silicon carbide fiber, and the like. As the resin, an epoxy resin, a polyimide resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, or the like is selected.

The joint 11 has four coupling inserts 12 having a diameter larger than that of the propeller shaft 10 and arranged at equal intervals on a concentric circle with the joint, and a resin impregnated between the inserts 12 and the propeller shaft 10. And a fiber-reinforced plastic flange 13 formed by continuously winding the formed fibers. The insert 12 serves as a connecting portion to a transmission or a differential (not shown), and has an internal thread 12a formed on an inner surface of a cylindrical shape. Further, the flange 13 is located on the open end side of the propeller shaft 10 and includes a front portion 14 including two opposing inserts 12 and a center portion of the propeller shaft 10 and a rear portion including the two opposing inserts 12. And a side portion 15. These front part 14 and rear part
Each of 15 has an outer peripheral portion of each insert 12 and an outer peripheral portion of the propeller shaft 10 as a thick portion 16,
A portion between each insert 12 and the propeller shaft 10 is a thin portion 17.

In the joint 11 constructed as described above, the propeller shaft is bolted to the yoke (not shown) of the transmission or differential using the internal threads 12a of the four inserts 12.
10 can be directly connected to the transmission and the differential, and the assembling work is simplified.
Further, since the present joint has the thin portions 17 on the left and right portions of each insert 12, a predetermined joint angle can be secured by the bending of the thin portions. By the way, when the dimensions and shape of the thin portion 17 were calculated so that the joint angle was given up to 4 degrees with an allowable torque of 2000 Nm, one thin portion 17 may be set to a width of 20 mm, a length of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. I understood that. Further, in the present joint 11, the yoke, which was conventionally indispensable from the end of the propeller shaft 10, can be eliminated, so that the weight of the propeller shaft 10 can be reduced, and further, the insert 12 can be connected to the transmission or differential gear. Since it is used for bonding with the steel, the strength is assured. In this embodiment, particularly, the thin portions 17 are provided in two rows at intervals in the axial direction, so that the thin portions can be secured to the maximum, and the allowable range of deflection can be expanded as much as possible.

The procedure for manufacturing the joint 11 will now be described with reference to FIG.

When manufacturing the joint 11, four inserts 12 (hereinafter referred to as I, II, III, IV in the order of arrangement) are mounted on a propeller shaft 10 set in a jig (not shown).
Position) and propeller shaft 10
A guide (not shown) for guiding the fibers impregnated with the resin is arranged around the periphery of each insert 12. Then, two opposing inserts I and III or II and IV are selected, and a fiber (hereinafter simply referred to as a fiber) impregnated with resin between the selected two inserts and the propeller shaft 10 is described below. Winding according to the steps of Here, the case where the inserts II and IV are selected will be described.

In the process, starting from one point (starting point) P on the outer periphery of the propeller shaft 10 corresponding to the insert III, the insert IV and the insert
The fiber is wound around the propeller shaft 10 through the inside of the insert I to form the first layer 1A of the thick portion 16, and the winding is changed in the axial direction inside the insert I, and the fiber is wound around the outside of the insert II. , Between insert I-II and insert II
-Insert the first layers 1a and 1b of the thin part 17 between
The first layer 1B of the thick portion 16 is formed on the outer periphery of II.
Next, insert the fiber passed through Insert III
Wrap around the outside of the IV, and similarly insert the first layers 1c and 1d of the thin portion 17 between the inserts III and IV and between the inserts IV and I,
The first layer 1C of the thick portion 16 is formed on the outer periphery of the insert IV. Thereafter, the wound portion is returned in the axial direction inside the insert I, and the fiber is wound around the outer periphery of the propeller shaft 10 to return to the start point P while forming the first layer 1D of the thick portion 16. When returning the fiber to the starting point P,
The winding location is changed in the axial direction.

[0015] In the process, first, the fiber is put into the thin portion.
The second layer 2c of the thick portion 16 is formed by superposing and guiding on the first layer 1c of the 17 to form the second layer 2c, and then winding the fiber by superposing the fiber on the outside of the insert IV in the axial direction. And then
The fibers are again guided on the first layer 1d of the thin portion 17 so as to form a second layer 2d. Next, a fiber is passed through the inside of the insert I, wound around the insert II in the same procedure as for the insert IV, and superimposed on the first layers 1a and 1b of the thin portion 17, respectively, and the second layers 2a and 2b are The second layer 2B is formed on the first layer 1B of the thick portion 16 and is returned to the starting point P. At the start point P, the fiber winding portion is changed in the axial direction inside the insert III, and the fiber is wound around the entire periphery of the propeller shaft 10 through the insides of the inserts IV, I, and II, and the thick portion is formed.
Sixteen second layers 2A and 2D are formed and returned to the starting point P again.

In the process, the fiber is wound in the same procedure as the process, and the third layer 3A of the thick portion 16, the third layer 3a of the thin portion 17, the third layer 3B of the thick portion 16, and the thin portion 17 are wound. 3rd layer of
b, a third layer 3c of the thin portion 17, a third layer 3C of the thick portion 16, a third layer 3d of the thin portion 17, and a third layer 3D of the thick portion 16 are sequentially formed.

In the process, the fibers are wound in the same procedure as in the process, and the fourth layer 4c of the thin portion 17, the fourth layer 4C of the thick portion 16, the fourth layer 4d of the thin portion 17, and the thin layer 17 are formed. 4th layer 4
a, a fourth layer 4B of the thick part 16, a fourth layer 4b of the thin part 17, a fourth layer 4A of the thick part 16, and a fourth layer 4D of the thick part 16 are sequentially formed.

After that, if the inserts I and III are selected and the same four steps as described above are carried out while changing the position in the axial direction, the front portion 14 or the rear portion 15 is formed,
The thin portion 17 is secured for both.

In the above embodiment, an example using four inserts 12 has been described. However, the number of inserts 12 is arbitrary, and three or five or more inserts 12 may be used. As the insert 12, a cylindrical body having a female screw 12a, that is, a female screw member is used. Instead, a cylindrical member having a bolt insertion hole or a male screw having a screw on the outer periphery is used instead. A member can be used.

[0020]

As described above in detail, according to the joint made of a composite material according to the present invention, the power transmission shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic is reduced in weight and a predetermined joint angle is provided. The value of use can be great. Also, since the coupling insert can be used for coupling to the mating member, the strength is assured, and the reliability is significantly improved. Further, since the power transmission shaft can be directly connected to the mating member, it greatly contributes to improving the assemblability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a structure and a manufacturing procedure of a composite material joint according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the external shape of the composite material joint.

FIG. 3 is a development view showing a manufacturing procedure of the present composite material joint.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the shape of a conventional disc joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Propeller shaft (power transmission shaft) 11 Joint 12 Insert 13 Flange 16 Thick part 17 Thin part

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-62-270810 (JP, A) JP-A-64-49722 (JP, A) JP-A-3-288014 (JP, A) JP-A 1-228829 (JP) JP-A-57-186623 (JP, A) JP-B-55-47250 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16D 3/78 F16D 3/50, 3/56 F16C 3/02 B60K 17/22

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A composite joint integrally provided at an end of a power transmission shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic, comprising a plurality of joints having a diameter larger than that of the power transmission shaft and arranged concentrically with the power transmission shaft. And a flange formed by continuously winding fibers impregnated with resin between the insert and the power transmission shaft, wherein the flange has an outer peripheral portion of the insert and an outer periphery of the power transmission shaft. A composite material, wherein a portion is a thick portion in which fibers are laminated in an axial direction, and a portion between the insert and the power transmission shaft is a thin portion in which fibers are laminated in a radial direction. Joints.