JP4287836B2 - Method for manufacturing constant velocity joint - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a method for manufacturing a constant velocity joint that connects one transmission shaft and the other transmission shaft in a driving force transmission portion of an automobile.

  Conventionally, in a driving force transmission unit of an automobile, a constant velocity joint that connects one transmission shaft and the other transmission shaft and transmits a rotational force to each axle is used.

  As a constant velocity joint according to this type of prior art, Patent Document 1 discloses a set of preventing rolling elements 3 (rollers, needles, etc.) from coming off at both axial ends of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1. A flange portion (not shown) is formed, and a plurality of rolling elements 3 smaller than the total number are arranged in a series between the pair of flange portions of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2. Is set so that d2 <d1 and the difference (d1−d2) is several μm to several tens. The final rolling element 3a is press-fitted into the gap from the radially outer side of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1 along the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1. A technical idea of mounting a plurality of rolling elements 3 in series is disclosed (see FIG. 10).

  A method of arranging a plurality of rolling elements 3 in series along the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1 in this way is called a keystone method, and the plurality of rolling elements 3 are attached to the roller 1 by being assembled by the keystone method. The roller 1 and the rolling element 3 can be integrated as an assembly that does not come apart and can be assembled to the leg shaft at the same time.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-184717

  However, by applying the keystone method disclosed in Patent Document 1 and trying to generate a keystone effect in which the assembled rolling elements 3 are prevented from falling off the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1, In order to ensure the press-fitting allowance, it is necessary to set the inner diameter tolerance (inner diameter dimension tolerance) of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2 of the roller 1 and the outer diameter tolerance (outer diameter dimension tolerance) of the rolling element 3 to be small.

  If the outer diameter tolerance is set to be large, the press-fitting allowance is zero and press-fitting is not possible (insertion without any resistance and no difficulty), or the press-fitting allowance becomes too large to allow press fitting. Even if it is possible, the rolling element may be deformed.

  On the other hand, when the outer diameter tolerance is set small, the manufacturing cost increases with difficulty in processing accuracy of the rolling elements, and a roller assembly unit in which a plurality of rolling elements are assembled on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the roller is provided. There is another problem that the assembly work for construction becomes difficult and the assembly cost rises and is passed on to the manufacturing cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to gently set the inner diameter tolerance of the roller member and the outer diameter tolerance of the rolling element, thereby facilitating processing, and for the roller member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a constant velocity joint capable of easily performing an assembly operation of rolling elements.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical outer member that is provided with a plurality of guide grooves that are spaced apart from each other and extend along the axial direction, and that is provided on an inner peripheral surface and connected to one transmission shaft. A plurality of trunnions that bulge toward the guide groove, a ring-shaped roller member that contacts the guide groove and is externally fitted to the trunnion, and is freely rollable between the trunnion and the roller member. In a manufacturing method of a tripod type constant velocity joint comprising a plurality of rolling elements to be mounted,
First and second flange portions that protrude inward in the radial direction and hold the rolling elements are formed at both ends along the axial direction of the inner diameter portion of the roller member,
A total number of the rolling elements excluding the plurality of rolling elements are arranged along the inner diameter portion of the roller member, and then a part or all of the removed rolling elements are respectively rolled in the circumferential direction while the inner diameter portion It is characterized by being simultaneously press-fitted into the gap between the rolling elements along the radially outward direction.

  In this case, the plurality of removed rolling elements are composed of two or more, and some or all of the plurality of rolling elements are in contact with each other and in contact with the terminal rolling elements arranged in advance in the inner diameter portion. It is better to press fit while rolling in the direction.

  The plurality of removed rolling elements may be press-fitted at the same time while rolling in contact with a plurality of rotating bodies rotatably supported by pins.

  Further, when all the rolling elements are arranged along the inner diameter portion of the roller member, a circumferential clearance may be provided between the adjacent rolling elements along the circumferential direction. This is because by providing the circumferential clearance, the rolling element can be rotated when assembled and brought into contact with the trunnion.

  According to the present invention, after all the rolling elements except for the plurality of rolling elements are arranged along the inner diameter portion of the roller member, some or all of the removed rolling elements roll in the circumferential direction. However, since it is press-fitted into the gap between the rolling elements along the radially outward direction (lateral direction perpendicular to the axis) with respect to the inner diameter portion of the roller member, the assembly workability of the rolling element with respect to the roller member is improved and manufactured. Cost can be further reduced.

  In the present invention, when the plurality of removed rolling elements are press-fitted into the gaps between the rolling elements in the present invention, compared to the case where one rolling element is pressed and slid as in the prior art, The rolling elements that are in contact with each other and that are in contact with the terminal rolling elements that make up the gap enter the gap while rolling, so the frictional resistance when pressed is reduced and each of the removed rolling elements is smoothed. It is press-fitted into.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the inner diameter tolerance of the roller member and the outer diameter tolerance of the rolling element can be set more gently than in the prior art in which one rolling element is press-fitted.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, the rolling element can be easily processed, and the assembly of the rolling element with respect to the roller member can be easily performed.

  A preferred embodiment of a method for manufacturing a constant velocity joint according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a tripod type constant velocity joint manufactured by the method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint according to the embodiment of the present invention. The constant velocity joint 10 is one end of a first shaft (not shown). Are basically connected to a cylindrical outer cup (outer member) 12 having an opening and an inner member 16 fixed to one end of the second shaft 14 and accommodated in the hole of the outer cup 12. Composed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, three guide grooves 18 a to 18 c are formed on the inner wall surface of the outer cup 12. The three guide grooves 18 a to 18 c extend along the axial direction and are spaced by 120 degrees around the axis. (However, the guide grooves 18b and 18c are not shown). The guide grooves 18a to 18c are composed of a ceiling portion 20 having a curved section, and sliding portions 22a and 22b that are opposed to each other on both sides of the ceiling portion 20 and have a circular arc shape. .

  A spider 24 including a ring-shaped portion is connected to the second shaft 14, and the spider 24 is swelled toward the guide grooves 18 a to 18 c on the outer peripheral surface of the spider 24 at intervals of 120 degrees around the axis. The trunnions 26a to 26c are integrally formed (however, trunnions 26b and 26c are not shown).

  A ring-shaped roller member 30 is fitted around the outer periphery of the trunnion 26a (26b, 26c) via a plurality of rolling elements 28. In addition, the rolling element 28 should just be a rolling bearing containing a needle, a roller, etc., for example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer circumferential surface of the roller member 30 has an arcuate surface portion 32 formed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the sliding portions 22a and 22b so as to come into surface contact with the sliding portions 22a and 22b. And a first annular inclined surface portion 36a continuous from the arcuate surface portion 32 to the first surface 34, and a second annular inclined surface portion 36b continuous from the arcuate surface portion 32 to the second surface 38.

  Further, an inner diameter portion 40 having a constant diameter and functioning as a rolling surface of the rolling element 28 is formed on the inner periphery of the roller member 30. An annular first flange portion 42 is formed integrally with an upper portion (one end portion) of the inner diameter portion 40 so as to protrude in a radial inward direction by a predetermined length. An annular second flange portion 44 is integrally provided at a lower portion (the other end portion) of the inner diameter portion 40 on the opposite side, and is formed so as to protrude by a predetermined length in the radial inward direction. Therefore, the rolling element 28 mounted in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 is held from above and below by the first flange portion 42 and the second flange portion 44.

  The first flange portion 42 and the second flange portion 44 are integrally formed with the roller member 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but are not limited thereto. For example, The rolling elements 28 may be configured to be held from above and below using a holding mechanism such as a washer (not shown) mounted via an annular groove (not shown) formed in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30. In this case, the washer may be used only in one or both of the vertical directions.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a lubricant (grease or wax) is formed on the boundary between the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 and the first flange portion 42 and the second flange portion 44 with respect to the wall surface of the inner diameter portion 40. Is applied, annular groove portions 46a and 46b functioning as oil sump portions are formed.

  In the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30, a plurality of rolling elements 28 are juxtaposed in parallel along the circumferential direction, and the rolling elements 28 are radially inward at both ends of the inner diameter portion 40, as will be described later. The first flange portion 42 and the second flange portion 44 projecting in the direction are held so as not to be separated and dropped from the inner diameter portion 40. The plurality of rolling elements 28 loaded along the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 have substantially the same diameter and are formed in substantially the same shape. The trunnions 26a (26b, 26c) are formed in a columnar shape having a constant outer diameter.

  The constant velocity joint 10 manufactured by the method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation and effect thereof will be described next.

  First, an assembling method of the constant velocity joint 10 (an assembling method of the plurality of rolling elements 28 to the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30) will be described.

  For example, a total number (predetermined number) of rolling elements 28 excluding two are loaded in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30. In this case, for example, the roller member 30 according to the loading state of the rolling member 28 and a cam that has a plurality of cam grooves that are spaced apart at equal angles along the circumferential direction and that is rotatably provided via a rotation driving means (not shown) It is preferable to load all of the rolling elements except the two using a rolling element loading device provided with a rotating means (for example, a step motor) (not shown) that rotates each angle by a predetermined angle.

  A plurality of rolling elements 28 supplied via a plurality of shooters (not shown) are inserted into the cam groove substantially simultaneously, and then a plurality of cams are rotated by a pressing surface continuous to the cam groove as the cam (not shown) rotates in a predetermined direction. The rolling elements 28 of the book are pressed in the radially outward direction almost simultaneously and loaded into the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30.

  The wall surface of the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 is preliminarily coated with a lubricant (for example, grease or the like), and the rolling element 28 pressed into the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 includes the lubricant. Is locked to the inner diameter portion 40.

  By sequentially repeating such a process while rotating the roller member 30 by a predetermined angle under the biasing action of a rotating means (not shown), the total number of rolling elements 28 excluding the two rolling elements 28a and 28b are obtained. The roller members 30 are sequentially loaded into the inner diameter portion 40 (see FIG. 3).

  At that time, as shown in FIG. 3, a gap 48 is formed between one end and the other end of the plurality of rolling elements 28 arranged along the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30. In other words, the gap 48 is formed between the rolling elements 28 at the end of the rolling element group arranged in a series of arcs.

  In addition, you may load all the rolling elements 28 except the said 2 collectively using the rolling element loading apparatus which is not shown in figure. The plurality of rolling elements 28 loaded in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 may be held by a lubricant, or may be held by other mechanical or physical holding means (not shown). Good. For example, there is a method of holding a plurality of rolling elements 28 loaded in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 by a magnetic force of a magnet (not shown).

  The total number of the rolling elements 28 excluding the two rolling elements 28 a and 28 b (the number of rolling elements 28 in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 is 12 but not limited to this is not limited) is the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30. The remaining two rolling elements 28 a and 28 b are arranged in a series of arcuate rolling elements along the radius of the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 with respect to the gap 48 by the rotation pressing jig 50. It is pressed along the outer direction (lateral direction) and press-fitted almost simultaneously while rolling in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary pressing jig 50 includes a jig main body 52 connected to a robot arm (not shown) that is displaced along multiple axes including the XYZ axes, and the jig main body via a pin 54. A pair of columnar rotating bodies 56a and 56b that are rotatably supported with respect to 52 are provided. The pair of rotating bodies 56a and 56b are provided at a predetermined distance from the jig body 52 so as to be in contact with the remaining two rolling elements 28a and 28b, respectively.

  FIG. 6 shows a rotary pressing jig 50a according to a modification, in which the first to fourth rotating bodies 58a to 58d are arranged substantially linearly along the side surface of the jig body 60, and The stability of the rolling elements 28a and 28b is improved in that the two rotating elements 58a and 58b (58c and 58d) are rotatably supported with respect to one rolling element 28a (28b).

  Under the operation of a robot arm (not shown), the jig body 52 is displaced in the radially outward direction (arrow A direction) in a state where the pair of rotating bodies 56a and 56b are in contact with the two rolling elements 28a and 28b. When the jig body 52 is pressed in the direction of arrow A, one rotating body 56a rotates clockwise and the other rotating body 56b rotates counterclockwise.

  Accordingly, the two rolling elements 28a and 28b that are in contact with the pair of rotating bodies 56a and 56b are in contact with each other and with the rolling elements 28 at the end of the group of rolling elements arranged in series. Are held in the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction, respectively, and are pressed into the gap 48 almost simultaneously.

  In this case, the two rolling elements 28a and 28b are in contact with the rolling elements 28 at the end of the rolling element group arranged in a series of arcs, and enter the gap while rolling, so that the frictional resistance is small. It becomes possible to press-fit smoothly in a suppressed state.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as compared with the case where one rolling element is pressed and slid as in the prior art, the remaining rolling elements 28a, Since each of 28b is smoothly press-fitted, the inner diameter tolerance of the roller member 30 and the outer diameter tolerance of the rolling element 28 can be set gently. As a result, in this embodiment, the rolling element 28 can be easily processed, and the assembly work of the rolling elements 28a and 28b with respect to the roller member 30 can be easily performed.

  After the remaining two rolling elements 28a and 28b are press-fitted into the gap 48, the plurality of rolling elements 28 including the two rolling elements 28a and 28b have a circumferential clearance C between the adjacent rolling elements. Are arranged in a ring shape along the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 so that the keystone effect can be generated (see FIG. 7).

  The relationship between the minimum distance D2 of the gap 48 and the diameter D1 obtained by adding the diameters of both the rolling elements 28a and 28b is D2 <D1, and D1-D2 is preferably set to 300 μm to 700 μm (FIG. 4). reference).

  Thus, all the rolling elements 28, 28 a, 28 b loaded in the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30 are suitably held in the vertical direction between the first flange portion 42 and the second flange portion 44. At the same time, the occurrence of the keystone effect prevents separation / dropping of the roller member 30 from the inner diameter portion 40.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when all the rolling elements 28, 28 a, 28 b are held in series along the circumferential direction by the keystone effect, the outer peripheral surface of the rolling elements 28, 28 a, 28 b and the roller member 30. A clearance H in the radial direction is formed between the inner wall of the inner diameter portion 40. Moreover, in FIG. 8, the dashed-dotted line K shows the virtual circle which connected each contact point of the adjacent rolling elements 28, 28a, 28b.

  In this assembling method, the remaining two rolling elements 28a and 28b are in contact with each other by the rotary pressing jig 50 having a plurality of rotating bodies 56a and 56b, respectively. While being kept in contact with the rolling elements 28 of the roller 28 and being pressed in the counterclockwise and clockwise circumferential directions while being pressed almost simultaneously toward the gap 48, the frictional resistance is reduced and the press-fit is smoothly performed. It becomes possible to do.

  As a result, in this assembling method, the inner diameter tolerance of the roller member 30 and the outer diameter tolerance of the rolling element 28 are set more gently than in the conventional technique in which one rolling element is pressed and slid while being pressed. Thus, the rolling element 28 can be easily processed, and the assembly of the rolling elements 28a and 28b with respect to the roller member 30 can be easily performed.

  Further, in this assembling method, a plurality of rolling elements 28 can be supplied almost simultaneously through a plurality of shooters (not shown), and the rolling elements 28a and 28b can be press-fitted almost simultaneously into the last two. The cycle time can be shortened as compared with the conventional technique in which only the book is press-fitted.

In the assembling method, the number of the rolling elements 28a and 28b that are finally press-fitted is exemplified as two, but is not limited thereto, and may be two or more.
A part or all of the plurality of rolling elements 28 may be press-fitted while rolling in the circumferential direction in contact with the terminal rolling elements 28 arranged in advance in the inner diameter portion 40 in contact with each other.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of the rolling elements 28a to 28c that are finally press-fitted is three, and only some of the plurality of rolling elements roll in the circumferential direction by using another rotary pressing jig 50b. You may make it press-fit.

  In this case, among the three rolling elements 28a to 28c, only the left and right rolling elements 28a and 28c are in contact with the terminal rolling elements 28 arranged in advance in the inner diameter portion 40 and the first to fourth rotating elements 58a. Are rotatably supported by ˜58d and press-fitted while rolling in the circumferential direction. At the same time, the middle rolling element 28b of the three rolling elements 28a to 28c is pressed by a flat convex portion 64 formed on the jig body 62. Accordingly, the three rolling elements 28a to 28c can be simultaneously press-fitted without being rotated and displaced in the direction of the arrow A as they are.

  Further, the assembling method is not only applied to the constant velocity joint 10 but may be applied to a bearing configured by assembling a plurality of needles on the inner wall of the roller.

  In this way, after the roller assembly in which the plurality of rolling elements 28, 28a, 28b (28a to 28c) are prevented from being separated / dropped off from the inner diameter portion 40 of the roller member 30, the roller assembly is configured as a trunnion. It is inserted along the axial direction of 26 a to 26 c and assembled to the spider 24.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a spider 24 including a roller assembly is inserted into the hole of the outer cup 12, and three guide grooves 18 a to 18 c formed on the inner wall surface of the outer cup 12. Can be slidably assembled along.

It is a partial expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view along the direction orthogonal to the axis line of the constant velocity joint manufactured by the manufacturing method of the constant velocity joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the roller member which comprises the constant velocity joint shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing an assembly method for assembling a plurality of rolling elements to the inner diameter portion of the roller member. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the remaining two rolling elements are press-fitted into a gap after a plurality of rolling elements are arranged in series along the inner diameter surface of the roller member. It is a cross-sectional view of the state in which the remaining two rolling elements are press-fitted with a jig. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state which press-fits the said remaining two rolling elements with the jig | tool which concerns on a modification. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plurality of rolling elements are loaded into an inner diameter portion of a roller member after the remaining two rolling elements are press-fitted into a gap. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which a plurality of rolling elements loaded in an inner diameter portion of a roller member exert a keystone effect while having a radial clearance with the inner wall of the inner diameter portion. It is a cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which press-fits the remaining three rolling elements with respect to a gap | interval using a jig | tool, after a some rolling element was arranged in series along the internal diameter surface of a roller member. In the constant velocity joint which concerns on a prior art, it is a cross-sectional view which shows the press injection method of the rolling element to the cylindrical internal peripheral surface of a roller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Constant velocity joint 12 ... Outer cup 16 ... Inner member 18a-18c ... Guide groove 26a-26c ... Trunnion 28, 28a-28c ... Rolling body 30 ... Roller member 40 ... Inner diameter part 42, 44 ... Flange part 48 ... Gap 50, 50a, 50b ... rotation pressing jig 54 ... pin 56a, 56b, 58a-58d ... rotating body

Claims (4)

A plurality of guide grooves that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and extend along the axial direction are provided on the inner peripheral surface and are connected to one transmission shaft, and a plurality of trunnions that bulge toward the guide grooves A ring-shaped roller member that comes into contact with the guide groove and is externally fitted to the trunnion, and a plurality of rolling elements that are movably interposed between the trunnion and the roller member. In the constant velocity joint manufacturing method,
First and second flange portions that protrude inward in the radial direction and hold the rolling elements are formed at both ends along the axial direction of the inner diameter portion of the roller member,
A total number of the rolling elements excluding the plurality of rolling elements are arranged along the inner diameter portion of the roller member, and then a part or all of the removed rolling elements are respectively rolled in the circumferential direction while the inner diameter portion A method for manufacturing a constant velocity joint, wherein the joint is simultaneously press-fitted into a gap between rolling elements along a radially outward direction. In the manufacturing method of Claim 1,
The removed plurality of rolling elements are composed of two or more, and some or all of the plurality of rolling elements are in contact with each other and contact with the terminal rolling elements arranged in advance in the inner diameter portion to roll in the circumferential direction. A method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint, wherein the press-fitting is performed while pressing. In the manufacturing method of Claim 1,
The method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint, wherein the plurality of removed rolling elements are simultaneously press-fitted while rolling in contact with a plurality of rotating bodies rotatably supported by pins. In the manufacturing method of Claim 1,
A method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint, wherein when all the rolling elements are arranged along an inner diameter portion of a roller member, a circumferential clearance is provided along the circumferential direction of the adjacent rolling elements. .

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