JP4089287B2 - Universal joint - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a universal joint.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a construction machine vehicle, a wheel loader or the like has a housing that is divided into front and rear parts to reduce the turning radius, and both housings are configured to be turnable via a support shaft. The vehicle engine and transmission are mounted on the rear housing, and the differential is mounted on the front housing. The transmission and the differential are connected via a drive shaft.
[0003]
Since the front housing and the rear housing are configured to be pivotable via a support shaft, the connection between the drive shaft end and the differential and the connection between the drive shaft end and the transmission are performed by a universal joint. . The universal joint includes a yoke having a cross shaft support portion, a rolling bearing provided on the cross shaft support portion, and a cross shaft supported by the cross shaft support portion via the rolling bearing.
[0004]
Since it is necessary to supply a lubricant to the rolling bearing as necessary, a supply device is provided at the universal joint. The supply device includes a lubricant passage formed along the interior of the cross shaft, an introduction passage formed at the central intersection of the cross shaft for supplying the passage, and a supply nipple attached to the introduction passage. And have.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described vehicles, because the drive shaft is rotated, it is difficult to connect the supply pipe to the nipple. For this reason, the supply to the rolling bearing must be done manually when the vehicle is stopped.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a yoke having a cross shaft support portion, a cross shaft, and a bearing connecting the cross shaft support portion and the cross shaft, and the yoke lubricates the bearing. A lubricant passage through which the lubricant passes, and the cross shaft includes a lubricant supply passage for receiving supply of lubricant from the lubricant passage of the yoke, and the yoke and the cross shaft There is a communication member provided between the lubricant supply passage and the lubricant passage between one side disposed on the lubricant passage side of the yoke and the lubricant supply passage side of the cross shaft. When the lubricant is supplied to the other side where the yoke is disposed, the axis of the yoke and the axis of the cross shaft are in a straight line. The communication member receives pressure from the lubricant in the lubricant passage. One side moves toward the other side, and with the movement of the one side, the one side of the communication member is connected to the other side, whereby the lubricant passage and the lubricant supply passage are connected to each other. The
[0007]
According to the present invention, even when the cross shaft rotates around the axis while being supported by the yoke , the lubricant is transferred from the lubricant passage in the yoke to the lubricant supply passage in the cross shaft. Supplied.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, universal joints according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This universal joint is applied to a vehicle such as a wheel loader.
[0011]
1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the wheel loader, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a connection state between the drive shaft and the universal joint shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-shaped shaft and a needle shape shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the universal joint shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is a sliding member and a supply nipple shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the sliding member and the supply nipple shown in FIG. 4 are in contact with each other. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the timing when the sliding member shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the supply nipple are brought into contact with each other.
[0012]
A schematic configuration of the wheel loader will be described with reference to FIG. The wheel loader 1 includes a rear housing 6 on which an engine (not shown) and a transmission 2 are mounted, and a front housing 7 on which a differential 3 that transmits driving force from the engine to front wheels is mounted.
[0013]
Both the rear and front housings 6 and 7 are configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane via a support shaft portion 8. The input shaft 3 </ b> A of the differential 3 and the drive shaft 2 </ b> A of the transmission 2 are connected via a drive shaft 4. The drive shaft 4 and the input shaft 3A of the differential 3 and the drive shaft 2A and the drive shaft 4 of the transmission 2 are connected via universal joints 5A and 5B, respectively. With this configuration, the rear housing 6 is supported with respect to the front housing 7 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane and swingable in a vertical plane.
[0014]
With reference to FIG. 2, the connection state of drive shaft 4 and universal joints 5A and 5B shown in FIG. 1 will be described. 2 indicates a differential of the rear housing 6, 3 indicates a differential of the front housing 7, 4 indicates a drive shaft, and 5 A and 5 B indicate universal joints.
[0015]
The universal joint 5A includes a pair of yokes 9A and 9B whose phases are shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction, a cross shaft 11 interposed between the yokes 9A and 9B, and the cross shaft 11 with respect to the yokes 9A and 9B. Needle roller bearing devices 12a to 12d that are swingably supported. The yoke 9A has cross shaft support portions 17a and 17b. The yoke 9B also has a cross shaft support portion, which is not shown in FIG.
[0016]
With reference to FIG. 3, the cross shaft 11 and the needle roller bearing devices 12a to 12d in one universal joint 5A shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In FIG. 3, 12a to 12d are the needle roller bearing devices, 17a and 17b are cross shaft support portions of one yoke 9A, 17b and 17d are cross shaft support portions of the other yoke 9B, and 19a to 19d are The trunnion of the cross shaft 11 is shown. The needle roller bearing devices 12a to 12d all have the same configuration.
[0017]
The cross shaft 11 has a center base 18. The cross shaft 11 has the trunnions 19a to 19d arranged at the central base 18 with a 90 ° phase shift in the circumferential direction. The cross shaft support portions 17a and 17b of the yoke 9A are formed on the shaft portion 15 of the yoke 9A at intervals of 180 °. However, the shaft portion 15 does not appear in FIG. 3, and the shaft portion 15 extends from the center base portion 18 of the cross shaft 11 in the vertical direction, that is, in the differential 3 side direction on the back side of the paper surface.
[0018]
Each of the cross shaft support portions 17a and 17b of the yoke 9A and each of the ends of the trunnions 19a and 19b of the cross shaft 11 are connected via the needle roller bearing devices 12a and 12b. Each of the cross shaft support portions 17c and 17d of the yoke 9B and each of the end portions of the trunnions 19c and 19d of the cross shaft 11 are connected via the needle roller bearing devices 12c and 12d.
[0019]
In the needle roller bearing device 12a, 30 is an outer ring cup fixed to the cross shaft support portion 17a, 32 is a plurality of needle rollers disposed inside the outer ring cup 30, and 33 is an end surface of the trunnion 19a. A thrust bush 27 disposed between the outer ring cup 30 and the bottom surface is a seal member disposed on the open side of the outer ring cup 30. The thrust bush 33 is supported by the recess 34 on the bottom surface of the outer ring cup 30. The outer ring raceway surface of the needle roller 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring cup 30, and the inner ring raceway surface of the needle roller 32 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the trunnion 19a.
[0020]
With reference to FIG. 4, the greasing apparatus provided in universal joint 5A and differential 3 is demonstrated. In the universal joint 5 </ b> A, the yoke 9 </ b> A disposed on the differential 3 side has the above-described shaft portion 15 inserted into the housing 14 of the differential 3. The shaft portion 15 is inserted into a support hole 20 formed in the housing 14 and is connected to the input shaft 3A via the spline portion 16 so as to be integrally rotatable around the shaft center. The shaft portion 15 is also supported by the housing 14 of the differential 3 so as to be rotatable around the shaft center via a pair of rolling bearings 21 and 22 disposed along the shaft center direction. The yoke 9A has the cross shaft support portions 17a, 17b on the drive shaft 4 side of the shaft portion 15. The cross shaft support portions 17a and 17b are formed on the shaft portion 15 apart from each other by 180 ° with respect to the rotation direction.
[0021]
The yoke 9B is only indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 4, but as shown in FIG. 2, an attachment portion 29 for attaching the yoke 9B to the end of the drive shaft 4, and as shown in FIG. Cross shaft support portions 17 c and 17 d are provided on the differential 3 side of the drive shaft 4. The cross shaft support portions 17c and 17d are formed on the attachment portion 29 so as to be separated from each other by 180 ° with respect to the rotation direction.
[0022]
The differential 3 has a greasing device 13A. The greasing device 13A includes a lubricant reservoir 23 that is a space between the rolling bearings 21 and 22, a lubricant supply path 24 that is formed in the radial direction of the housing 14 and communicates with the lubricant reservoir 23, and a lubricant supply path (not shown). In order to prevent leakage of the lubricant 25 in the lubricant reservoir 23 and the supply pipe 26 connected to the inlet of the lubricant supply path 24 for supplying the lubricant 25 from the supply section to the lubricant supply path 24. And seal members 27 and 28 provided on both sides of the rolling bearings 21 and 22. The wheel loader 1 includes a supply unit (not shown) for supplying the lubricant 25 to the supply pipe 26.
[0023]
The greasing device 13B on the universal joint 5A side includes a first supply part 36 on the yoke 9A side and a second supply part 37 on the cross shaft 11 side. The first supply section 36 extends from the middle of the shaft portion 15 toward the cross shaft 11 side and opens to the cross shaft 11 side, and has a diameter communicating with the first supply path 38 and the lubricant reservoir 23. Direction introduction path 10. The first supply passage 38 and the introduction passage 10 correspond to the lubricant passage of the yoke.
[0024]
The second supply part 37 includes a second supply path 39 formed so as to pass through the centers of one trunnion 19a, 19b and the other trunnion 19c, 19d separated by 180 °, and the center base 18 of the cross shaft 11; And a relay path 40 formed in communication with the intersection of the second supply paths 39. The second supply path 39 and the relay path 40 correspond to the lubricant supply path of the cross shaft 11. The relay path 40 is opened by extending vertically from the intersection of the second supply path 39 toward the shaft section 15.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5, the greasing device 13 </ b> B includes a communication member 41 that communicates the open end of the first supply path 38 and the open end of the relay path 40. The communication member 41 includes a sliding member 42 that is slidably fitted to the opening end of the first supply path 38, and a supply nipple 43 that is attached to an open portion of the relay path 40.
[0026]
The sliding member 42 is integrally formed from a body portion 44 having a diameter slightly smaller than the opening end of the first supply path 38 and a protruding / retracting portion 45 having a diameter smaller than that of the body portion 44. A seal ring 46 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the opening end of the first supply path 38 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the body portion 44. A large-diameter lid member 47 that closes the first supply path 38 is fitted to the end surface of the shaft portion 15. The withdrawing / retracting portion 45 is fitted in the central hole 47a of the large-diameter lid member 47 so as to be freely withdrawn / retracted. The sliding member 42 is biased toward the input shaft 3 </ b> A by the large diameter spring 48. The large diameter spring 48 uses the side surface of the large diameter lid member 47 and the stepped surface of the body portion 44 as spring seats.
[0027]
A first series passage 49 is formed at the center of the sliding member 42. A base end portion of the first series passage 49 is opened to the first supply path 38. A recessed portion 35 that fits with the distal end portion of the supply nipple 43 is formed on the distal end surface of the retracting portion 45. The leading end of the first series passage 49 is open to the supply nipple 43 side. A first release valve 50 is provided at the distal end of the withdrawing / withdrawing portion 45.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 6, the first release valve 50 includes a valve ball 51 for opening and closing the first series passage 49, and a small-diameter spring 53 that biases the valve ball 51 toward the side closing the first series passage 49. And have. A small-diameter lid member 54 is fitted on the bottom surface of the recess 35. The small diameter spring 53 uses the side surface of the small diameter lid member 54 and the peripheral surface of the valve ball 51 as spring seats.
[0029]
The elastic force of the large diameter spring 48 is set weaker than the elastic force of the small diameter spring 53. A seal rubber 55 is fixed to the recess 35. Holes communicating with the first series passages 49 are formed in both the small-diameter lid member 54 and the center of the seal rubber 55, respectively.
[0030]
The supply nipple 43 is screwed to the center base portion 18 of the cross shaft 11. A connection path 56 communicating with the relay path 40 is formed at the center of the supply nipple 43. A second release valve 57 is provided at the tip of the connection path 56. The second release valve 57 includes a valve ball 52 that opens and closes the connection path 56, and a spring 58 that urges the valve ball 52 to close the connection path 56. The spring 58 uses the side surface of the circlip 59 and the peripheral surface of the valve ball 52 as spring seats.
[0031]
A universal joint 5B having the same configuration as the above-described universal joint 5A is also provided between the drive shaft 2A and the drive shaft 4. In this case, the housing 14 of the differential 3 is replaced with the housing of the transmission 2, and the input shaft 3A is replaced with the drive shaft 2A.
[0032]
In the above configuration, when the wheel loader 1 is driven, the drive shaft 4 rotates around the axis by driving the engine via the transmission 2. In some cases, the rear housing 6 pivots in the horizontal plane around the support shaft portion 8 with respect to the front housing 7 or swings within a circle.
[0033]
Here, the case where the lubricant 25 is supplied to the needle roller bearing devices 12a to 12b of the universal joint 5A will be described. First, the wheel loader 1 is operated so that the rear housing 6 and the front housing 7 are in a straight line when viewed in a plan view and a side view. By doing so, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, the cross shaft 11 is in a posture substantially perpendicular to the ground. At this time, the engine does not have to stop driving. For example, the driver of the wheel loader 1 operates to supply the lubricant 25 from the supply unit to the supply pipe 26 in the grease supply device 13A on the differential 3 side. Then, the lubricant 25 is supplied from the supply pipe 26 to the lubricant reservoir 23. Subsequently, the lubricant 25 reaches the first supply path 38 from the lubricant reservoir 23 through the introduction path 10 in the greasing device 13B on the universal joint 5A side.
[0034]
Here, since the elastic force of the large-diameter spring 48 is set to be weaker than the elastic force of the small-diameter spring 53, the sliding member 42 biased toward the input shaft 3A by the large-diameter spring 48 is first lubricated. The pressure of the agent 25 is pressed against the elasticity of the large-diameter spring 48. Accordingly, the body portion 44 of the sliding member 42 slides on the peripheral wall surface of the first supply path 38 toward the supply nipple 43. Then, the recessed portion 35 of the retracting / retracting portion 45 and the leading end portion of the supply nipple 43 are fitted.
[0035]
Subsequently, when the lubricant 25 is supplied from the lubricant reservoir 23 to the introduction path 10, the lubricant 25 in the first series passage 49 this time makes the valve ball 51 of the first release valve 50 elastic to the small diameter spring 53. Press against. As a result, the valve ball 51 opens the first series passage 49, and the lubricant 25 is supplied from the first series passage 49 toward the connection path 56 of the supply nipple 43.
[0036]
The valve ball 52 of the second release valve 57 is pressed against the elasticity of the spring 58 by the pressure of the lubricant 25 to open the connection path 56, and the lubricant 25 is connected from the first series path 49 to the connection path. 56, the relay path 40, and the second supply path 39.
[0037]
The lubricant 25 supplied to the second supply path 39 is supplied between the outer ring cup 30 and the ends of the trunnions 19a to 19d, and the needle rollers 32, the outer ring raceway surface, and the inner ring raceway surface can be lubricated.
[0038]
The universal joint 5A between the drive shaft 4 and the input shaft 3A has been described above. This supply operation is the same in the universal joint 5B provided between the drive shaft 2A and the drive shaft 4.
[0039]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the rear housing 6 and the front housing 7 in the wheel loader 1 are in a straight line state when viewed in a plan view and a side view, the wheel loader 1 is being operated. Without stopping the driving of the engine, the lubricant 25 is supplied from the grease supply device 13A on the differential 3 side to the grease supply device 13B on the universal joint 5A side, and the needle roller bearing device 12a of the universal joint 5A is supplied. ~ 12d can be supplied. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply the needle roller bearing device 12 by direct human work as in the prior art.
[0041]
The present invention is not only applied to construction vehicles. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a universal joint used for an agricultural machine or a universal joint used for a spindle for a rolling roll drive front and rear equipment.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the lubricant provided in the cross shaft from the lubricant passage provided in the yoke even when the cross shaft rotates around the axis while being supported by the yoke. It can be supplied to the supply path with easy work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a wheel loader in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a connected state of the drive shaft and the universal joint.
FIG. 3 is a partially broken front view of the cross shaft and needle roller bearing device.
FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the other universal joint.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the sliding member and the supply nipple are similarly separated from each other.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the sliding member and the supply nipple are in contact with each other.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the timing when the sliding member and the supply nipple are brought into contact with each other.
[Explanation of symbols]
5A, 5B Universal joints 9A, 9B Yoke 11 Cross shafts 12a-12d Needle roller bearing devices 13A, 13B Greasing devices 17a-17d Cross shaft support

Claims (1)

Including a yoke having a cross shaft support portion, a cross shaft, and a bearing connecting the cross shaft support portion and the cross shaft;
The yoke includes a lubricant passage through which the lubricant for lubricating the bearing, the cross shaft is to have a lubricant supply passage for receiving the supply of lubricant from the lubricant passage of the yoke,
A communication member provided for communicating the lubricant supply path and the lubricant passage between the yoke and the cross shaft; one side disposed on the lubricant passage side of the yoke; The cross shaft is separated from the other side arranged on the lubricant supply path side with a predetermined space therebetween,
When supplying the lubricant, with the shaft center of the yoke and the axis of the cross shaft in a straight line, pressure is received from the lubricant in the lubricant passage of the yoke, One side moves towards the other side,
A universal joint , wherein the lubricant passage and the lubricant supply passage are connected to each other by connecting one side of the communication member to the other side as the one side moves .

Images