JP3123851B2 - Method and apparatus for measuring backlash of differential unit for automobile - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a backlash of a differential unit for an automobile, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for measuring a backlash between a crown gear and a drive pinion of a differential apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Assembling a differential unit of an automobile requires high assembly accuracy, and among them, the backlash adjustment between a drive pinion and a crown gear, which greatly affects the durability of the differential unit, is particularly important.

To adjust the backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear, a retainer for positioning and fixing the differential case on which the crown gear is mounted to a carrier on which the drive pinion is mounted in advance is provided. This is done by tightening and adjusting while checking.

[0004] The backlash of the differential unit thus assembled is measured in a subsequent inspection process.

A method of measuring the backlash amount is to fix the drive pinion so as not to rotate, insert a dial gauge from a drain hole opened in the carrier and contact the crown gear tooth surface, and correct the left and right axle shafts in the circumferential direction. This is done by measuring the amount of backlash by rotating in the reverse direction. On the other hand, instead of a dial gauge, the backlash is measured by converting a backlash amount into an electric quantity by a backlash measurement dedicated machine.

However, these measuring methods are limited to a case where a drain hole or the like for inserting a tracing stylus and making contact with a tooth surface of a crown gear is opened in a carrier, and the operation requires skill of an operator. .

As a countermeasure, a backlash adjusting method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-118257 has been proposed. In this method, one retainer that positions the differential case in the axial direction is tightened until a predetermined torque is applied in a direction in which the crown gear meshes with the drive pinion, then loosened by a certain amount, and then the other retainer is fixed to fix the differential case. Then, the backlash is set by the amount of loosening of one of the retainers. That is, it is assumed that the state in which the tightening torque of the retainer for moving the crown gear toward the drive pinion is a predetermined amount is that the crown gear and the drive pinion are in the meshing state without backlash, and based on this, the desired The crown gear is returned in the direction away from the drive pinion so that the lash amount is obtained, and the return amount is defined by the amount of loosening of the retainer.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned backlash adjusting method, the backlash can be adjusted even when a drain hole or the like into which a measuring element for measuring the backlash is inserted is not opened in the carrier. However, when one of the retainers is tightened to a predetermined torque, it is assumed that the crown gear and the drive pinion are in an engaged state without backlash. Since the backlash between the crown gear and the drive pinion is not directly obtained because it is determined by the set amount of looseness of the retainer, the amount of backlash between each differential unit due to the variation in manufacturing accuracy is reduced. It is not enough to secure a differential unit having a variation and a uniform and highly accurate backlash amount between the crown gear and the drive pinion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for measuring a backlash of a differential unit for an automobile, in which a differential unit having a uniform and highly accurate backlash amount between a crown gear and a drive pinion can be obtained. It is.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring a backlash of a differential unit for an automobile according to the present invention, comprising a drive pinion rotatably provided on a carrier, and a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier. In a method of measuring a backlash of a differential unit for an automobile for measuring an amount of backlash with a crown gear provided in a differential case which is positioned and supported, meshing of the drive pinion and the crown gear with no backlash by adjusting the tightening of a retainer. In this state, the drive pinion and one axle shaft are fixed, and the other axle shaft is rotated forward and reverse to measure the amount of rotation generated on this axle shaft as the first backlash amount, and the drive pinion is adjusted by tightening the retainer. On the crown gear fixed to the drive pinion and one of the axle shafts in meshed state with the backlash amount and the amount of rotation of the axle shaft to rotate forward and backward the other axle shaft second
The amount of backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear is obtained by calculating the difference between the first backlash amount and the second backlash amount.

An apparatus for measuring backlash by the backlash measuring method includes a drive pinion rotatably provided on the carrier and a crown provided on a differential case positioned and supported by a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier. In a device for measuring the amount of backlash with a gear, one retainer tightening unit that drives one retainer to rotate by a predetermined torque and a predetermined angle in a direction in which the crown gear meshes with and separates from the drive pinion, and the other retainer is a crown. The other retainer tightening unit that drives the gear to rotate at a predetermined torque and a predetermined angle in a direction in which the gear meshes with and separates from the drive pinion, a drive shaft connected to one axle shaft, and a drive shaft connected to the other axle shaft. And axle shaft drive The other axle shaft drive shaft driven forward and reverse by the knit, a drive pinion fixing unit for fixing and releasing the drive pinion, an axle shaft fixing brake for fixing and releasing one axle shaft drive shaft, and the other A small angle rotation detection unit for detecting the amount of rotation of the axle shaft drive shaft, and a control device for storing and calculating various amounts of rotation detected by the small angle rotation detection unit.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a measuring apparatus to which the backlash measuring method according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a differential unit w as an object to be measured.

In the differential unit w, a drive pinion 2 and a crown gear 4 fixed to a differential case 3 are mounted on a carrier 1 in a meshing state.

Both ends of the differential case 3 have bearings 5L,
The crown gear 4 is fitted to the retainers 6L, 6R screwed to the carrier 1 while allowing the movement of the crown gear 4 in the axial direction via 5R, and the retainers 6L, 6R screwed to the carrier 1 are fitted.
The positioning is fixed by tightening the R from both sides.

The measuring device has a work support table 11 for placing and positioning the differential unit w, and a knock pin 11a provided on the work support table 11 is fitted into a reference knock hole 1a formed in the carrier 1, whereby the differential unit is mounted. A clamp unit 12 is provided above the work support table 11 for positioning the w. The clamp unit 12b moves up and down by the cylinder 12a to press and hold the differential unit w on the work support table 11 against the work support table 11. I have.

Above the work support 11, the end of the drive pinion 2 of the differential unit w, which is vertically movably supported and positioned and fixed on the work support 11, is clamped and unclamped to drive the drive pinion 2. Chuck 13 for selectively blocking and allowing rotation of
A drive pinion fixing unit 13 having a is provided.

Guide rails 14L and 14R are installed in parallel with the work support 11 therebetween and in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the crown gear 4 provided in the differential unit w positioned on the work support 11. Slide base 1 on 14L, 14R
5L and 15R are slidably disposed.

On the slide bases 15L and 15R, the guide rails 16L and 16R provided on the slide bases 15L and 15R are moved in parallel with the axial direction of the crown gear 4 by driving a cylinder unit (not shown). Adjustment units 17L and 17R are provided.

The adjusting units 17L and 17R are provided so as to face each other, and their frames 18L and 18R are provided with retainer tightening units 19 which are means for tightening the retainers 6L and 6R.
L, 19R are provided.

[0021] Retainer tightening units 19L and 19R
Are nut runners 20L, 20R provided on the upper portions of the frames 18L, 18R, and nut runners 20L, 20R.
The clutch 21L, 21R and the gear unit 22
Tightening mechanism 23L, 23R driven via L, 22R
The tightening mechanisms 23L and 23R are provided at their distal ends with the tightening claws 23La engaged with the claws 6La and 6Ra formed on the retainers 6L and 6R of the differential unit w.
23Ra, and hollow portions 23Lb, 2L coaxially inserted with axle shaft drive shafts 26L, 26R described later.
3Rb, the bearing 24
L and 24R are rotatably supported by the frames 18L and 18R such that the axis of the crown gear 4 is the rotation axis. Further, on the upper portions of the frames 18L, 18R, the fastening mechanisms 23L, 2L are provided via gear units 22L, 22R.
Small angle rotation detection unit 2 for detecting 3R rotation angle
5L and 25R are provided.

Further, the adjusting units 17L and 17R have hollow portions 23Lb and 23Rb of the tightening mechanisms 23L and 23R.
Axle shaft drive shafts 26L and 26R are provided through the inside and rotatably supported by the tightening mechanisms 23L and 23R. The axles of the differential unit w are provided at the tips 26La and 26Ra of the axle shaft drive shafts 26L and 26R. Tip 7La, 7R of shaft 7L, 7R
a is formed with a spline hole to be fitted with the spline shaft formed in FIG.

The axle shaft drive shaft 26L provided on one adjustment unit 17L is prevented from rotating by operating the axle shaft fixed brake 27 provided at the end thereof. The axle shaft drive shaft 26R provided on the other adjustment unit 17R is
The axle shaft drive unit 29 is connected to the axle shaft drive unit 29 via the drive unit 8, and is driven to rotate by the drive unit 29, and the rotation angle is detected by a minute angle rotation detection unit 30 provided in the axle shaft drive unit 29.

The axle shaft drive shaft 26L provided on the one adjustment unit 17L and the axle shaft drive shaft 26R provided on the other adjustment unit 17R are connected to the axle shaft drive unit 26 in accordance with the switching operation of the axle shaft synchronization switching unit 31. 29, so that only the rotational drive or axle shaft drive shaft 26R is rotationally driven synchronously.

Axle shaft synchronous switching unit 31
Are axle synchronous shafts 33L which rotate in conjunction with rotation of one axle shaft drive shaft 26L via a gear unit 32L, and axle synchronous shafts 33R which are rotationally driven via a gear unit 32R by an axle shaft drive unit 29. And these axle synchronous shafts 33L and 33R
Is constituted by a synchronous on / off clutch 34 which connects the power supply in an intermittent manner.

Further, the present apparatus calculates the amount of backlash generated between the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 of the differential unit w, which is an object to be measured, based on the data detected by the minute angle rotation detection unit 30, and calculates the backlash. It has a control device (not shown) for determining the suitability of the lash amount and controlling the operation of each part of the device, and a display unit (not shown) for displaying the suitability of the backlash amount.

Next, the operation of the backlash measuring device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In a previous process, the differential unit w, which is temporarily screwed by the retainers 6L, 6R, into the carrier 1 on which the drive pinion 2 is mounted, is loaded into the differential case 3 on which the crown gear 4 is mounted.
In addition, the knock pin 11a provided on the work support base 11 is placed on the work support base 11 in a state of being fitted and positioned in the reference knock hole 1a, and the clamper 12b is controlled by the cylinder 12a of the clamp unit 12 according to an instruction from the control device.
Is lowered, and the differential unit w is pressed against the work support base 11 by the clamper 12b to fix the differential unit w at a predetermined position (step 1).

Next, the cylinder units (not shown) are driven to advance the adjustment units 17L and 17R,
The tip 26La of the axle shaft drive shaft 26L provided on the adjustment unit 17L is spline-coupled to the tip 7La of the axle shaft 7L of the differential unit w, and the tip of the axle shaft drive shaft 26R similarly provided on the other adjustment unit 17R. 26Ra is spline-coupled to the tip 7Ra of the other axle shaft 7R, and tightening claws 23L formed on the tightening mechanisms 23L and 23R of the retainer tightening units 19L and 19R provided in the adjusting units 17L and 17R, respectively.
a and 23Ra are engaged with the claw portions 6La and 6Ra formed on the retainers 6L and 6R (step 2).

Next, the engaging retainer 6L is tightened with a predetermined torque by the tightening claw 23La of the tightening mechanism 23L which rotates by driving the nut runner 20L provided on the one adjusting unit 17L, and the crown gear 4 is driven by the drive pinion 2L. Gear 4 and the drive pinion 2
Are brought into a meshing state without backlash (step 3).

When the crown gear 4 and the drive pinion 2 are engaged with each other without backlash, the drive pinion fixing unit 13 is lowered to
The drive pinion 2 is fixed so as not to rotate by a, and the axle shaft 7L is fixed so as not to rotate by actuating the axle shaft fixing brake 27 to fix the axle shaft drive shaft 26L (step 4).

The differential unit w in which the crown gear 4 and the drive pinion 2 are engaged with each other without backlash, and the drive pinion 2 and one axle shaft 7L are fixed, in the next step,
Axle shaft 7R is axle shaft drive shaft 26R
The drive is driven forward and reverse by an axle shaft drive unit 29 via a clutch 28. At this time, the amount of play generated due to the forward and reverse rotation of the axle shaft 7R, that is, the amount of rotation, is measured as the first backlash amount A in the differential unit w by the minute angle rotation detection unit 30 provided in the axle shaft drive unit 29. (Step 5) and store it in the control device.

The first backlash amount A is a play amount b between the axle shaft 7L and the axle shaft drive shaft 26L, a play amount c between the axle shaft 7R and the axle shaft drive shaft 26R, and the differential case 3 Backlash d of the internal gear mechanism and the like are included.

Next, the axle shaft fixed brake 27
The fixing of the axle shaft 7L and the fixing of the drive pinion 2 by the drive pinion fixing unit 13 are released (step 6).

Subsequently, the tightening mechanism 23L is driven by the nut runner 20L provided in the adjustment unit 17L in accordance with an instruction from the control device to loosen the retainer 6L by a predetermined angle, and the differential case 3 is moved by a predetermined amount from the drive pinion 2 to the crown gear 4. A backlash is generated between the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 by moving them away (step 7). At this time, the loosening angle of the retainer 6L is detected by the minute angle rotation detection unit 25L provided in the adjustment unit 17L.

Next, the retainer 6R is tightened with a predetermined torque by the retainer tightening unit 19R provided in the adjusting unit 17R, and the differential case 3 is fixed (step 8).

In the following step, the synchronous on / off clutch 34 of the axle shaft synchronizing unit 31 is turned on, and the one axle shaft drive shaft 26L and the other axle shaft drive shaft 26R are rotated synchronously, so that these axle shaft drive shafts 26L and 26R. The axle shafts 7L and 7R, which are spline-coupled to each other, are switched so as to rotate synchronously (step 9), and the axle shaft drive unit 29 controls the axle shaft synchronization unit 3
1, the axle shaft drive shafts 26L and 26R are synchronously rotated for a predetermined time, and the axle shafts 7L and 7R are synchronously rotated to mesh with the differential case 3, the crown gear 4 and the crown gear 4 provided on the differential case 3. A running-in operation for rotating the drive pinion 2 and the like is performed, and the synchronous on / off clutch 34 is turned off (step 10).

In the next step, the differential unit w, which has completed the running-in operation, tightens the retainer 6R again with a predetermined torque by the retainer tightening unit 19R provided in the adjustment unit 17R, as performed in step 8 above. The differential case 3 is fixed in a state where the slack or the like caused by the running-in operation in Step 10 is corrected (Step 11).

Next, as in step 4, the drive pinion 2 and the axle shaft 7L are fixed by the drive pinion fixing unit 13 and the axle shaft fixing brake 27 (step 12).

The differential unit w to which the drive pinion 2 and the axle shaft 7L are fixed in step 12 is in a state where the crown gear 4 and the drive pinion 2 have backlash, and the next step 1
3, the axle shaft 7R is driven forward and reverse by the axle shaft drive shaft 16R that rotates forward and backward by the drive of the axle shaft drive unit 29, and the amount of rotation generated at this time is
9 is measured as the second backlash amount B by the minute angle rotation detection unit 30 provided at 9.

The measured second backlash amount B
The backlash b between the axle shaft 7L and the axle shaft drive shaft 26L measured in the step 5, the axle shaft 7R and the axle shaft drive shaft 2
6R and the backlash d of the internal gear mechanism in the differential case 3 and the backlash a between the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 are included.

In the next step 14, step 13
A, the backlash amount a, the backlash amount b, the backlash amount c, and the backlash d
From the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 by subtracting the backlash amount A measured in step 5, that is, the total value of the play amount b, the play amount c and the backlash d from the total value of the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4. The generated backlash amount a is obtained (step 14).

The backlash amount a obtained by the arithmetic processing in step 14 is determined by determining whether the backlash amount between the appropriate drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 is within the OK range shown in FIG. 5, for example. Then, a judgment is made (step 15), and the result is displayed on a display (not shown). If the backlash amount a is within the OK range,
Appropriate backlash amount a, that is, drive pinion 2
It is determined that the differential unit w has been assembled in a state where there is an appropriate amount of backlash between the gear and the crown gear 4, and the differential unit w is carried out to a subsequent process, and a series of backlash measurement operations is completed.

If it is determined in step 15 that the backlash amount a is out of the OK range in FIG. 5, the differential unit w is assembled with the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 having an inappropriate backlash amount. If it is determined that the backlash amount a is too small-NG in the next step 16, whether the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 are too close or the backlash amount a is too large + NG, It is determined whether the pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 are too far apart (step 16).

If it is determined in step 16 that the backlash amount a is too small-NG, the retainer 6R is loosened by a predetermined angle by the retainer tightening unit 19R provided in the adjustment unit 17R (step 17), and the retainer tightening unit is further released. 19L, the other retainer 6L is loosened by a predetermined angle to enable movement of the differential case 3 (step 18).

Subsequently, the retainer 6R is tightened with a predetermined torque by the retainer tightening unit 19R provided in the adjusting unit 17R, and the differential case 3 is fixed (step 19).

Next, the operation of the axle shaft drive unit 29 causes the axle shaft drive shafts 26L and 26R to rotate synchronously for a predetermined period of time, and performs the same running-in operation as in step 10 (step 20). The differential unit w for which the running-in operation has been completed tightens the retainer 6R again with a predetermined torque by the retainer tightening unit 19R to fix the differential case 3 (step 21).

Next, similarly to step 13, the axle shaft drive unit 29 is driven, and the backlash amount C corresponding to the second backlash amount B is measured by the minute angle rotation detection unit 30 (step 22). In step 23, the first backlash amount A measured in step 5 is subtracted from the backlash amount C measured in step 22 to obtain and display the backlash amount a between the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4, and the next If the backlash amount a is in the OK range shown in FIG. 5 at step 24, the backlash is carried out to a subsequent process. If the backlash amount a is out of the OK range, the backlash amount between the drive pinion 2 and the crown gear 4 is reduced. It is judged to be improper and carried out to the NG conveyor and collected.

If it is determined in step 16 that the backlash amount a is excessive + NG, the retainer 6R is loosened by a predetermined angle by the retainer tightening unit 19R provided in the adjusting unit 17R (step 25), and the retainer is further tightened. The other retainer 6L is tightened by a predetermined angle by the unit 19L, the differential case 3 is moved, and the crown gear 4 provided on the differential case 3 is moved closer to the drive pinion 2 (step 27).

Next, steps 19, 20, 21,
Steps 27, 28, 2 respectively corresponding to 22 and 23
9, 9, and 31, a backlash amount a between the crown gear 4 and the drive pinion 2 is determined.
It is determined whether or not the differential unit w is in the OK range.
When it is out of the K range, it is determined that the backlash amount a is not yet in an appropriate state, and the backlash is carried out to the NG conveyor and collected.

According to the method and the apparatus for measuring the backlash of the differential unit for an automobile according to the present invention described above, the crown gear is pressed against the drive pinion so that the drive pinion and the crown gear mesh with each other without backlash. The crown gear and one axle shaft are fixed, and the other axle shaft is rotated forward and backward.The amount of rotation of this axle shaft, that is, the amount of backlash between each axle shaft and the axle shaft drive shaft that meshes with each other, and the difference in the differential case The sum of the backlash of the gear mechanism is determined as a first backlash amount, and the amount of rotation of the axle shaft in a state where there is backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear, that is, the first backlash amount Drive pinion and crown From the difference between the first backlash and the second backlash, the backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear is determined from the difference between the first backlash and the second backlash. A differential that is directly obtained corresponding to the differential unit, is appropriately measured regardless of the manufacturing accuracy of each part of each differential unit, and has a highly accurate backlash amount between the crown gear and the drive pinion with high accuracy. Units can be secured, and a high quality differential unit can be obtained.

[0052]

According to the method and the apparatus for measuring the backlash of the differential unit for an automobile of the present invention described above, the backlash of the entire differential unit can be reduced by the first method without the backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear. Measured as backlash,
And, in a state where the drive pinion and the crown gear have backlash, the entire backlash is measured as the second backlash amount, and the difference between the first backlash amount and the drive pinion and the crown gear is used to determine the backlash amount between the drive pinion and the crown gear. As a result, it is possible to assemble each differential unit, regardless of the presence or absence of a hole for abutment with the crown gear by inserting the measuring tool into the carrier, and to perform measurement corresponding to each differential unit even if there is variation in component accuracy. This has the effect that a uniform unit with high accuracy and high quality can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing one embodiment of a backlash measuring device for a differential unit for a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a differential unit for a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining a measuring method using the backlash measuring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart following FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a determination of whether the backlash amount is appropriate based on a measurement method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carrier 2 drive pinion 3 differential case 4 crown gear 6L retainer 6R retainer 7L axle shaft 7R axle shaft 13 drive pinion fixing unit 19L retainer tightening unit 19R retainer tightening unit 26L axle shaft drive shaft 26R axle shaft drive shaft 27 axle shaft brake 29 Axle shaft drive unit 30 Minute angle rotation detection unit 31 Axle shaft synchronization switching unit w Differential unit

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-70541 (JP, A) JP-A-3-163327 (JP, A) JP-A-55-72939 (JP, A) JP-A-2-118257 (JP) , A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01M 13/02 G01B 21/16

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A differential unit for an automobile for measuring a backlash amount between a drive pinion rotatably provided on a carrier and a crown gear provided on a differential case positioned and supported by a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier. In the backlash measurement method, the drive pinion and one axle shaft are fixed in a meshing state in which the backlash amount of the drive pinion and the crown gear is eliminated by adjusting the tightening of the retainer, and the other axle shaft is rotated forward and reverse. The rotation amount generated on the lever axle shaft is measured as a first backlash amount, and the drive pinion and one of the axle shafts are fixed in a state where the drive pinion and the crown gear mesh with the backlash amount by tightening adjustment of the retainer. And the other axle shaft is rotated forward and reverse to measure the amount of rotation of the axle shaft as a second backlash amount, calculate the difference between the first backlash amount and the second backlash amount, and drive the vehicle. A backlash measurement method for a differential unit for an automobile, wherein a backlash amount between a pinion and a crown gear is obtained. 2. A method of measuring a backlash amount between a drive pinion rotatably provided on a carrier and a crown gear provided on a differential case positioned and supported by a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier.
One retainer is tightened with a predetermined torque in a direction in which the crown gear meshes with the drive pinion, and further, the drive pinion and one axle shaft are fixed, and the other axle shaft is rotated forward and reverse to reduce the amount of rotation of the axle shaft. While measuring as the backlash amount of one, loosen one retainer by a predetermined amount and tighten the other retainer with a predetermined torque, further fix the drive pinion and one axle shaft, and rotate the other axle shaft forward and reverse. The amount of rotation of the axle shaft is measured as a second amount of backlash, and the difference between the first amount of backlash and the second amount of backlash is calculated to obtain the amount of backlash with the drive pinion. Backlash measurement method for differential units for automobiles. 3. A method for measuring a backlash amount between a drive pinion rotatably provided on a carrier and a crown gear provided on a differential case positioned and supported by a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier.
A step of tightening one retainer with a predetermined torque in a direction in which the crown gear meshes with the drive pinion with one retainer tightening unit, and one axle fixing the drive pinion with the drive pinion fixing unit and coupling with one axle shaft Fixing the shaft drive shaft with an axle shaft fixing brake, and rotating the axle shaft forward and reverse by an axle shaft drive unit via another axle shaft drive shaft connected to the other axle shaft; and Measuring the amount of rotation of the shaft as a first backlash amount by a minute angle rotation detection unit, and loosening a predetermined amount by one retainer tightening unit and tightening the other retainer by a predetermined torque by the other retainer tightening unit. And an axle shaft drive shaft connected to one axle shaft is fixed by an axle shaft fixed brake, and the other axle shaft drive shaft is connected to the other axle shaft. Rotating the shaft forward and reverse and measuring the amount of rotation of the axle shaft drive shaft as a second backlash amount by a minute angle rotation detection unit; and a difference between the first backlash amount and the second backlash amount. Calculating a backlash between the drive pinion and the crown gear by calculating the following by a control device, and sequentially measuring the backlash between the drive gear and the crown gear. 4. The method of measuring a backlash of a differential unit for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether or not the backlash amount between the drive pinion and the crown gear obtained by the calculation is appropriate. 5. An apparatus for measuring a backlash amount between a drive pinion rotatably provided on a carrier and a crown gear provided on a differential case positioned and supported by a pair of retainers screwed to the carrier.
One retainer tightening unit that drives one retainer to rotate at a predetermined torque and a predetermined angle in a direction in which the crown gear meshes with the drive pinion and in a direction away from the drive pinion, and moves the other retainer in the direction in which the crown gear meshes with the drive pinion and in the direction away The other retainer tightening unit that is driven to rotate by a predetermined torque and a predetermined angle, one axle shaft drive shaft that is connected to one axle shaft, and that is connected to the other axle shaft, and is driven forward and reverse by the axle shaft drive unit. The other axle shaft drive shaft, a drive pinion fixing unit for fixing and releasing the drive pinion, an axle shaft fixed brake for fixing and releasing the one axle shaft drive shaft, and the rotation of the other axle shaft drive shaft. Detect momentum A slight angular rotation detection unit, backlash measurement device of a differential unit for a motor vehicle, characterized in that a control device for storing and calculating the rotation amount of the detected various by slight angular rotation detection unit. 6. An axle disposed between one and the other axle shaft drive shafts for switching a forward / reverse rotation drive by an axle shaft drive unit to a synchronous rotation of one and the other axle shaft and a single rotation drive of the other axle shaft. 5. A shaft synchronization switching unit.
Backlash measurement system for automotive differential units.