JP3684762B2 - Elastic shaft coupling - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an elastic shaft coupling that absorbs vibration, and more particularly to an improvement of an elastic shaft coupling used in a steering apparatus for a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a steering shaft of a vehicle is coupled via an elastic shaft joint so as to absorb vibrations from wheels generated by traveling of the vehicle and vibrations of an engine so that unpleasant vibrations are not transmitted to the steering wheel.
[0003]
Such an elastic shaft coupling provided in a steering shaft includes a sleeve made of an elastomer material inserted in a radially compressed state between a concentrically arranged shaft and a tubular member, and 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a motion transmission assembly including a washer fixed to the shaft having a protrusion that engages with a gap at a notch provided at an end of a tubular member. (For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-45925)
[0004]
As another prior art, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-177872, as a damper device for a steering shaft, an outer cylinder having a circular cross section is inserted into an outer cylinder having a circular cross section. In addition, a vibration absorbing member such as rubber is filled in between, and a shaft having an oval cross section is press-fitted into the inner cylinder through an elastic member, and a through hole is provided in the outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder and the shaft 2. Description of the Related Art A steering shaft damper device is known in which a stopper pin that passes through a through hole is inserted into the through hole so that the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder allow relative displacement.
[0005]
Furthermore, as another prior art, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-43494, an elastic member is disposed between a housing where a yoke is formed and a steering shaft, and through an opening provided in the housing. It is known that a pin is penetrated from the outside, and this pin has a stopper function.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, from the viewpoint of ensuring the safety of an occupant at the time of a collision and absorbing axial displacement, a configuration that can be reduced is usually used for the steering shaft. More specifically, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-43494, a female steering line is formed on the inner periphery of a hollow steering shaft through which a stopper pin passes in the vicinity of one end. Further, a spline shaft provided with a male spline is connected to the steering shaft by engaging both the splines. Since the spline shaft and the steering shaft rotate integrally in the rotational direction, they can transmit the steering force from the steering wheel, but they are relatively moved in the axial direction, thereby forming a configuration that can be shortened. Yes.
[0007]
However, this conventional technique has the following problems. In a hollow steering shaft, the female spline is generally formed over the entire length from the viewpoint of ease of machining. However, if the female spline is formed over the entire length as described above, the female spline is formed up to the hole through which the stopper pin passes.
[0008]
On the other hand, since the hole through which the stopper pin passes is usually drilled by a drill, chips and burrs are likely to occur on the female spline. If such chips and burrs are left unattended, they fall or move due to, for example, vibration of the vehicle, and are bitten between the spline teeth, thereby preventing relative movement between the steering shaft and the spline shaft. There is a risk of impairing the function of. However, it is difficult to eliminate chips and burrs generated on the female spline. Therefore, according to the prior art, it is necessary to eliminate such chips and burrs by taking time, for example, manually. .
[0009]
Then, an object of this invention is to provide the elastic shaft coupling which ensured reliability, reducing the work which requires time in a manufacturing process.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the elastic shaft coupling of the present invention is
A hollow shaft that forms spline teeth on the inner periphery and mainly transmits rotational motion; a housing that contains the hollow shaft; an elastic member provided between the hollow shaft and the housing; the hollow shaft and the In an elastic shaft coupling consisting of a stopper pin that limits relative displacement over a predetermined angle of the housing,
A seal member is provided in close contact with the inner periphery of the hollow shaft;
The stopper pin is configured to be a pin that passes through the housing, the elastic member, the hollow shaft, and the seal member and is fixed to the hollow shaft.
[0011]
[Action]
According to the elastic shaft coupling of the present invention, a seal member that is in close contact with the inner periphery of the hollow shaft is provided, and the stopper pin penetrates the hollow shaft and the seal member. When the hole for penetrating the stopper pin is formed by machining, even if chips or burrs are generated on the inner spline, the chips and burrs can be sealed with a sealing member, thereby And biting by spline teeth of burrs can be prevented.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an elastic shaft coupling according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 cut along the line II-II and viewed in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 3 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow III. 4 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 cut along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrow.
[0013]
In the figure, a pair of yokes 7 forming a part of the universal joint are formed at the left end of the tubular housing 2. On the other hand, a large diameter portion 23 is formed at the right end of the housing 2. The elastic member 3 is attached in the large diameter portion 23 so as to protrude from the right end of the housing 2.
[0014]
The elastic member 3 includes a circular outer ring 31 press-fitted into the large-diameter portion 23, a circular inner ring 33, and an elastic body 32 filled therebetween. The hollow shaft 1 is press-fitted into the inner ring 33.
[0015]
On the inner periphery of the hollow shaft 1, a female spline 11 is formed over the entire periphery. A spline shaft 5 in which a male spline 51 is formed at an end so as to engage with the female spline 11 extends in the hollow shaft 1. The right end of the spline shaft 5 is connected to a steering wheel (not shown). Since both shafts are spline-coupled, when the spline shaft 5 rotates based on the steering force from the steering wheel, the hollow shaft 1 rotates integrally therewith, but the spline shaft 5 is relative to the hollow shaft 1. Therefore, it can move in the axial direction.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 4, the right end of the hollow shaft 1 is sealed with a seal member 6. The seal member 6 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the female spline 11 of the hollow shaft 1.
[0017]
The housing 2, the outer ring 31 and the elastic body 32 of the elastic member 3 press-fitted together, the inner ring 33 and the hollow shaft 1 press-fitted to each other, and the seal member 6 are assembled in the radial direction. It penetrates from the outside and forms through holes 21, 34, 12, 61, respectively. Note that such through holes may be formed before each member is assembled.
[0018]
A cylindrical stopper pin 4 is inserted into the through holes 21, 34, 12, 61. The diameter of the through hole is set so that the stopper pin 4 as a pin member is press-fitted and fitted to the through holes 12 and 61, and the stopper pin 4 and a predetermined clearance δ (FIG. 3) for the through holes 21 and 34. Is determined to be a slightly larger diameter.
[0019]
The stopper pin 4 is press-fitted and fixed to the hollow shaft 1 with its tip inserted through the through holes 21, 34, 12, 61 to a position that penetrates the housing 2 in the radial direction, and then the stopper pin 4. The lower portion 13 (near the outer periphery of the hollow shaft 1) in FIG. This caulking can be omitted because the stopper pin 4 is press-fitted into the hollow shaft 1.
[0020]
The operation of the elastic shaft coupling according to this embodiment will be described. The vibration transmitted from the universal joint to the housing 2 through the yoke 7 while being mounted on the vehicle is absorbed by the elastic member 3 and is not easily transmitted to the hollow shaft 1. On the other hand, when a relatively large force such as a steering torque at the time of stationary is applied, the stopper pin 4 and the through holes 21 and 34 come into contact with each other, and torque can be transmitted from the housing 2 to the hollow shaft 1. .
[0021]
In addition, since the elastic member 3 has a configuration in which the elastic body 32 is filled between the outer ring 31 and the inner ring 33, the elastic member 3 can be assembled alone and the assembly can be easily automated. In this embodiment, the stopper pin 4 is press-fitted into the hollow shaft 1. However, the stopper pin 4 is press-fitted into the through hole of the housing 2, and instead, a predetermined amount is applied to the through hole of the hollow shaft 1. It is also possible to provide a structure with a clearance.
[0022]
The manufacturing process of the elastic shaft coupling according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the female spline 11 is formed on the hollow shaft 1, and then the seal member 6 is attached to the inner periphery of the hollow shaft 1, and the elastic member 3 is fitted to the outer periphery of the hollow shaft 1. Further, such an assembly is drilled in the radial direction using a drill or the like to form the through holes 12 and 61. Thereafter, the housing 2 is press-fitted into the outer periphery of the elastic member 3, the stopper pin 4 is fixed in the above-described manner, and finally the spline shaft 5 is inserted.
[0023]
Since the elastic joint is formed in this way, even if the through holes 12 and 61 are formed using a drill or the like, chips and burrs generated thereby are sealed in the seal member 6, and the inside of the hollow shaft 1 Never fall. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the chips and burrs from getting caught in the spline teeth of the hollow shaft 1 and the spline shaft 5, thereby ensuring the relative axial movement of the hollow shaft 1 and the spline shaft 5.
[0024]
Further, when the elastic shaft coupling is mounted on a vehicle, for example, it may be installed in a place where water, pebbles, etc. scatter, but by providing such a seal member, water, pebbles, etc. enter the hollow shaft 1 Therefore, the hollow shaft 1 and the spline shaft 5 are prevented from being fixed due to rust or foreign matter.
[0025]
The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified or improved as appropriate.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the elastic shaft coupling of the present invention, the seal member that is in close contact with the inner periphery of the hollow shaft is provided, and the stopper pin passes through the hollow shaft and the seal member. When a hole for penetrating the stopper pin is formed in the hollow shaft by machining, even if chips or burrs are generated on the inner spline, the chips and burrs can be sealed with a seal member, As a result, it is possible to prevent biting by chips or burrs of spline teeth.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in the axial direction of an elastic shaft coupling according to an embodiment.
2 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 cut along the line II-II and viewed in the direction of the arrow.
FIG. 3 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow III.
4 is a view of the elastic shaft coupling of FIG. 1 cut along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrows.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Shaft 2 ... Housing 3 ... Elastic member 4 ... Stopper pin 5 ... Spline shaft 6 ... Seal member

Claims (1)

A hollow shaft that forms spline teeth on the inner periphery and mainly transmits rotational motion; a housing that contains the hollow shaft; an elastic member provided between the hollow shaft and the housing; the hollow shaft and the In an elastic shaft coupling consisting of a stopper pin that limits relative displacement over a predetermined angle of the housing,
A seal member is provided in close contact with the inner periphery of the hollow shaft;
The stopper pin is an elastic shaft coupling that is a pin that passes through the housing, the elastic member, the hollow shaft, and the seal member and is fixed to the hollow shaft.

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