JP3308051B2 - Cross groove constant velocity 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 constant velocity joint used for a drive shaft of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball type cross groove joint (VL) is known as one of constant velocity joints used for a propeller shaft and a drive shaft.
For example, a sliding constant velocity joint may be used for an inboard for a front wheel of an automobile, an inboard and / or an outboard for a rear wheel, or any one of them. FIG. 10 shows an example of the above constant velocity joint having a closed-end mounting portion, and FIG. 11 shows a slide diagram thereof. 1
Is an inner ring, 2 is a cage, 3 is a ball, and 4 is an outer ring. When this constant velocity joint is used by attaching it to the shaft 5, the end of the shaft 5 is fixed to the inner ring 1 by a retaining ring 6, and a boot adapter 7 and a boot 8 are mounted on the outer periphery of the shaft 5. The boot adapter 7 is attached to the outer peripheral end of the outer ring 4 on the open side by caulking. 9 is a sealing member such as an O-ring.

The cross groove joint shown in the drawing is substantially trapezoidal when the outer shape of the inner ring 1 is viewed in cross section, and the cross section of the cage 2 is arcuate in both the inner diameter and the outer diameter, and a slight gap is provided. . For this reason, when the shaft 5 is slightly slid in the axial direction, the inner ring 1 interferes with the cage 2 even when the bending angle of the shaft 5 is in a low angle region. Therefore, the slide range cannot be so large.

[0004]

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional cross-groove joint is a sliding constant velocity joint (V) for the inboard and outboard for the rear wheel.
L + VL). This is because the amount of sliding of one VL in the axial direction is not so necessary because two VLs are used.

However, if this is used solely for the purpose of increasing the amount of sliding in the axial direction and increasing the bending angle of the shaft, the inner ring 1 interferes with the cage 2 and poses a problem. For this reason, in the low bending angle region of the shaft, even if the shaft slides considerably in the axial direction, the inner ring and the cage do not interfere with each other. It is conceivable that the inner diameter of the cage is not a circular arc but a substantially flat type so that a gap is provided in the cage.

However, since the wall thickness at both entrance sides of the cage becomes thinner, the outer shape of the cage may not be arc-shaped, but may be, for example, a cross section having a small-angled inclined surface in order to secure the wall thickness. . If such a cross-groove joint that is non-interfering with the inner ring and cage and that has a slope on the outside of the cage is adopted, a large angle of fold of the shaft can be obtained as a result, and the slope of the outside of the cage can be used for its operation. The possibility is obtained that it can be used as a means for limiting the angle.

On the other hand, the boot adapter is provided so that the ball does not fall out of the outer race ball groove or the inner race ball groove even when the folding angle θ of the shaft is larger than necessary after being assembled as a constant velocity joint. .

FIG. 10B shows a state when θ is increased, and FIG. 11 shows an angle-slide diagram. A is the interference line between the inner ring and the cage, B is the drop line of the ball, E is the interference line between the ball and the adapter, and F is the interference line between the adapter and the shaft.

However, the above-mentioned conventional boot adapter has a complicated shape and strict dimensional accuracy, and requires a surface treatment for ensuring corrosion resistance or use of a material suitable for the same, which causes an increase in cost. ing. In addition, since caulking is required for coupling with the outer ring, dedicated equipment is required and the number of working steps is increased. Further, since a sealing member such as an O-ring for preventing leakage of grease oil is required, the cost is increasing.

The boot adapter is made of a steel plate and finished by press molding, has a stopper function due to interference with the shaft, and is designed so that the shaft does not exceed a predetermined length when used in an automobile or the like. Although it is designed not to operate at an angle, if it operates at an over-angle and interferes with a strong force, the boot adapter will be deformed and the connection between the boot and the boot adapter will be insufficient and the sealing performance may be impaired.

Accordingly, if the boot adapter can be omitted, the operation is more desirable, and the advantage that the cost can be reduced can be obtained. If the boot adapter is omitted, the ball is prevented from falling out of the groove, or if another means for limiting the operating angle is obtained, the boot adapter can be omitted.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the various problems in the conventional cross-groove type constant velocity joint as described above, and the conventional boot adapter has been omitted to reduce the cost and widen the shaft operating angle range. It is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely versatile cross-groove type constant velocity joint which has improved convenience in use.

[0013]

According to the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a ball which fits into a groove provided along the outer periphery of an inner ring is held by a cage, and a groove which crosses the above-mentioned groove is formed in an opening. Equipped with an outer ring provided along the peripheral surface to guide the ball, the inner ring and cage have a low working angle, even if the shaft slides in the axial direction, the largest diameter part of the inner ring does not contact the smallest diameter part of the cage The end of the boot that protects the outer periphery of the shaft is attached to the outer ring, and
A ball retaining means for preventing the ball from coming off even when sliding in the axial direction is provided, and an inclined surface is formed on the outer diameter surface of the cage so that the inclined surface interferes with the inner diameter of the outer ring so that the shaft angle is within a predetermined range. Thus, a cross-groove type constant velocity joint having a shaft angle limiting means for limiting the angle is provided.

In this constant velocity joint, it is possible to provide a ball retaining means on the inner side of the outer ring in which the end face of the shaft is projected from the end face of the inner ring so that the projected end face interferes with the bottom of the outer ring. Alternatively, a shoulder portion may be provided at the bottom of the outer ring on the back side, and a ball retaining means on the back side of the outer ring may be provided so as to interfere with the end surface of the inner ring on this shoulder portion. It is also possible to provide a ball retaining means on the rear side of the outer ring so as to interfere with the ball, and further comprise a ball retaining means on the rear side of the outer ring which is provided with a retaining ring at the entrance end of the inner ring so that the ball interferes with the ring. Good.

[0015]

In the constant velocity joint of the present invention constructed as described above, the transmission of the rotational torque is performed at a position slidable in the axial direction of the shaft as in the prior art. In this case, as described above, the relationship between the inner ring and the cage is formed so that the maximum diameter portion of the inner ring does not contact the minimum diameter portion of the cage even when the shaft is slid in the axial direction at a low operating angle. It is a premise.

However, since the boot adapter is omitted, the cost is reduced and the configuration is simple.
Instead of omitting the boot adapter, the ball does not fall off because the ball retaining means is provided on the outer ring and the inner ring and the shaft angle limiting means is provided on the cage. In addition, by increasing the angle of the inclined surface of the cage outer diameter to the limit, the shaft operating angle becomes wider than before and the setting range of the shaft operating angle is expanded.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main cross-sectional view of a cross-groove type constant velocity joint according to an embodiment. The basic configuration of this constant velocity joint is the same as that of the conventional art, and the same reference numerals are given to the same functional members, and the description is omitted.

However, the constant velocity joint of this embodiment is based on the premise that the inner ring 1 and the cage 2 are non-interfering in the low bending angle region of the shaft 5, and this point is greatly different from the conventional one. For this reason, the inside diameter of the cage 2 is substantially flat, and the sliding range is widened by delaying the interference between the inner ring 1 and the cage 2 in the middle to high angle region.

The conventional boot adapter is omitted, and the end of the boot 8 is directly attached to the outer peripheral end of the outer race 4 on the open side. 8a is a boot band. Instead, a circlip 10 is mounted in a groove provided near the opening entrance inside the outer ring 4.

As shown in the figure, the outer diameter of the cage 2 is provided with a slope 2c in a certain range.
c serves as a shaft angle limiting means in the entire sliding area, and also prevents the ball 3 from falling off in the axial direction by combination with the circlip 10.

FIG. 2 shows an operation state, and FIG. 3 shows an angle-slide diagram. The respective interference regions when the cage 2 slides in and out based on the case where the cage 2 is at the center of the outer ring 4 are shown.

A is an interference line between the inner ring and the cage (non-interference in the low angle region), B is a dropout line of the ball, C is an interference line between the ball and the circlip, and D is an interference between the inner diameter of the outer ring and the inclined surface of the outer diameter of the cage. A line G is an interference line between the outer ring bottom and the shaft (or the inner ring).

As can be seen immediately from the figure, the area which can be used in an actual vehicle is the shaded area and extends to above the dashed line and to the G and C interference lines which are wider than the vertical interference line between the conventional inner ring and cage. Is an area which is larger than that of the conventional example.

FIGS. 4 to 9 show various examples of ball retaining means on the inner side of the outer ring. In FIG. 4, the end surface of the shaft 5 projects from the inner end surface of the inner ring 1.
a is formed so as to interfere with the rear bottom wall of the outer race 4 when the shaft 5 slides the shaft 5 to the rear side. Therefore, the protruding end portion 5a functions as a ball retaining means on the back side.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, a shoulder 4a is formed on the inner bottom wall of the outer race 4 as shown . Inner ring 1 is outer ring 4
When sliding to the back side, the inner ring is attached to the shoulder 4a on the back side of the outer ring 4.
1 end surfaces interfere with each other and serve as a stopper for sliding movement. Therefore, in this example, the shoulder portion 4a functions as a ball retaining means on the back side.

[0026] Figure 6, in the example of FIG. 7, as shown, have circlip 11a is mounted on the inlet side outer periphery of the inner ring 1
You. When the inner ring 1 slides to the back of the outer ring 4, the inner ring enters.
The circlip 11a on the outer side of the mouth interferes with the ball 3 and
It becomes a stopper for ride movement. Therefore, in this example,
The circlip 11a on the outer periphery of the inner ring on the inlet side is
It serves as a means for preventing slippage. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

In the example of FIG. 8, a retaining ring 11b and its retaining ring 12 are provided on the shaft near the same position instead of the circlip 11a of the ball groove on the inner ring inlet side in FIG.

The retaining ring 11b and the retaining ring 12 may be provided as an integral type 11c as shown in FIG. 9A, or as one large snap ring 11d as shown in FIG. 9B. Is also good. Alternatively, only the retaining ring 11e as shown in (c) may be stopped by the shaft shoulder 5a. In this case, the shaft 5
And the inner ring 1 are connected by a retaining ring 6 as shown. This is because the shaft 5 needs to be inserted after assembling this constant velocity joint.

[0029]

As described in detail above, the cross-groove type constant velocity joint of the present invention transmits the rotational torque in the same manner as in the prior art, and provides the outer ring and the inner ring with ball retaining means and the cage with the shaft angle limiting means. Sliding in the axial direction
Even when the shaft is moved to increase the angle of the shaft, the ball is prevented from falling off, the operating range is expanded, the operation is reliably performed, and the boot adapter can be omitted, so that the cost can be reduced. A constant velocity joint is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main sectional view of a constant velocity joint according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the above.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation range.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a back ball retaining means of the outer ring.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of another example of the back side ball retaining means of the above.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of another example of the back ball retaining means of the above.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a back ball retaining means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the back side ball retaining means of the above.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of another example of the backside ball retaining means of the above.

FIG. 10 is a main sectional view of a conventional constant velocity joint.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operation range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 inner ring 2 cage 2c inclined surface 3 ball 4 outer ring 4c inner ring inner diameter surface 5 shaft 6 retaining ring 8 boot 10 circlip

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16D 3/227

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An outer ring that guides the ball by holding a ball fitted in a groove provided along the outer periphery of the inner ring with a cage and providing a groove crossing the groove along the inner peripheral surface of the opening. The end of the boot that protects the outer periphery of the shaft by forming the largest diameter portion of the inner ring so as not to contact the smallest diameter portion of the cage even when the shaft is slid in the axial direction at a low working angle because the correlation between the inner ring and the cage is low. Is attached to the outer ring, and the shaft is
In addition to providing a ball retaining means to prevent the ball from coming off even when sliding in the direction, a slope is formed on the outer diameter surface of the cage and this interferes with the inner diameter of the outer ring to limit the shaft angle to a predetermined range. Cross-groove type constant velocity joint provided with shaft angle limiting means. 2. A circlip is mounted on the inner periphery of the outer ring opening side as a ball retaining means from the outer ring entrance side, and a shaft end surface is projected from an end surface of the inner ring so that the projected end surface interferes with the bottom of the outer ring. 2. The cross-groove type constant velocity joint according to claim 1, further comprising a ball retaining means on the side. 3. A ball retaining means on the rear side of the outer ring, wherein a shoulder is provided at the bottom on the rear side of the outer ring in place of the ball retaining means, and the shoulder interferes with the end face of the inner ring. 2. The cross groove constant velocity joint according to 2. 4. A ball retaining means on the inner side of the outer ring, wherein a circlip is attached to the outer periphery of the inlet side of the inner ring in place of the ball retaining means so that the circlip and the ball interfere with each other. 2. The cross groove constant velocity joint according to 2. 5. A ball retaining means on the inner side of the outer ring, wherein a retaining ring is attached to the entrance end of the inner ring in place of the ball retaining means so that the ring interferes with the ball. Cross-groove type constant velocity joint described in 1.