JP4375852B2 - Shaft coupling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shaft coupling device, and more particularly, to an improvement in a support structure for a bearing member interposed between a first coupling member and a second coupling member, for example, a steering system mounted on an automobile. It relates to effective use for tie rods, drag links and suspension links.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Spherical shaft coupling devices are provided at both ends of tie rods, drag links and suspension links of a steering system mounted on an automobile.
[0003]
Some conventional spherical shaft coupling devices are manufactured as follows. The spherical shaft fixed to the knuckle arm or pitman arm is inserted into the bearing recess formed at the end of the rod or link body with the upper bearing (upper bearing member) fitted to the shaft. The On the other hand, an assembly in which a spring is placed on the end cap and a lower bearing (lower bearing member) is placed on the spring via a spring seat is prepared in another sub-assembly process. Then, the assembly is inserted into the bearing recess in which the spherical shaft is inserted, the lower bearing is brought into contact with the lower end surface of the shaft, and the step formed in the opening of the bearing recess is fixed by caulking. The
[0004]
In this spherical shaft coupling device, the shaft portion of the spherical shaft is supported by the bearing recess so as to be rotatable in three dimensions via the upper bearing and the lower bearing, and the upper bearing and the lower bearing are rattled by the bearing recess by a spring. It is in a pressed state.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described spherical shaft coupling device, the upper bearing, the lower bearing, the spring seat, the spring and the end cap are used to support the spherical shaft by the bearing recess, so that the number of parts is large and the end is also provided. Since the assembly of the cap, the spring, the spring seat and the lower bearing needs to be assembled in the sub-assembly process, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.
[0006]
The objective of this invention is providing the shaft coupling apparatus which can reduce a number of parts and manufacturing cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A shaft coupling device according to the present invention includes a bearing recess formed in a first coupling member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing recess, and a second coupling member formed to be slidably fitted into the bearing member. a shaft has, Ri Contact and an occluded end cap openings facing the shaft portion formed on the first coupling member,
A cushion member formed of an elastic body is loaded between the end cap and the bearing member so as to exert a reaction force on the end cap and press the shaft portion against the bearing recess through the bearing member. Shaft coupling device,
A frustoconical part is formed at the contact portion of the bearing member with the cushion member, and a bent part protruding toward the shaft part side is formed concentrically on the end cap,
The cushion member is compressed and deformed and loaded into a space formed in a circular ring shape by the inner peripheral surface of the bearing recess, the end surface of the bent portion, and the conical surface of the truncated cone shape portion.
It is characterized by that.
[0008]
According to the above-described means, since the shaft portion is pressed against the bearing recess by the elastic force of the cushion member, the play of the shaft portion, the bearing recess, and the bearing member does not occur. Since the shaft portion is rotatably supported by the bearing recess by the bearing member, the cushion member and the end cap, the first joint member is assembled to the second joint member with a minimum number of parts. . In addition, the bearing member and the cushion member are simply assembled in order to the bearing recess in which the shaft portion is inserted, and a separate subassembly process is not required. Therefore, the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the shaft coupling device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to be used for a tie rod for an automobile, and is configured to ensure rotation in a three-dimensional direction. Yes. That is, the shaft coupling device 1 is provided with a tie rod as a first coupling member, and the tie rod end 2 is provided with a bearing concave portion 3 formed in a substantially cylindrical hollow shape at the end portion thereof, and the longitudinal direction. It is established to penetrate in the orthogonal direction. A semicircular concave spherical surface portion is formed at one end portion (hereinafter referred to as an upper end portion) of the bearing recess 3, and a bearing member 4 in which an upper bearing and a lower bearing are integrated is fitted into the bearing recess 3. ing. That is, the bearing member 4 is constituted by a grease lubrication type bearing structure and a spherical bearing structure, which uses polyacetal resin, has an inner shape having a spherical hole shape, and has an outer shape formed by combining a substantially hemisphere and a substantially truncated cone. It is integrally formed in a generally cylindrical shape. A cylindrical grease reservoir 4a is formed on the center line of the lower end portion of the bearing member 4.
[0011]
A spherical shaft 5 as a second joint member is inserted into the bearing recess 3 from the lower end opening, and the lower end portion is accommodated. A shaft portion 6 is formed in a spherical (ball) shape at the receiving end of the spherical shaft 5, and the shaft portion 6 is slidable so that the sliding surface is covered by the spherical hole-shaped portion 4 b of the bearing member 4. It is inserted.
[0012]
A step 8 is formed in an annular groove shape in the lower end opening 7 of the bearing recess 3, and an end cap 9 for closing the lower end opening 7 is fitted in the inner periphery of the step 8, and the step 8 is fixed to the lower end opening 7 of the bearing recess 3 by caulking. The end cap 9 is formed in a substantially disc shape having a bent portion 10 at an intermediate portion, and an outer peripheral edge portion thereof is fastened by caulking of the step portion 8. The center portion of the end cap 9 protrudes downward from the lower end opening 7, and the bent portion 10 formed at the intermediate portion is formed in an annular shape with its peak side protruding toward the shaft portion 6 side. The lower end surface of the truncated cone portion 4 c at the lower end portion of the bearing member 4 is in contact with the center portion of the end cap 9.
[0013]
Between the circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the bearing recess 3, the upper end surface of the bent portion 10 of the end cap 9, and the conical surface of the frustoconical portion 4 c of the bearing member 4, there is a space portion having a substantially right triangle shape in cross section. It is formed in a circular ring shape, and a cushion member 11 formed in a cylindrical shape by a rubber or resin elastic body is compressed and stored in the space. The compression-deformed cushion member 11 takes a reaction force against the end cap 9 and presses the shaft portion 6 against the bearing recess portion 3 via the bearing member 4, thereby allowing the bearing recess 3, the bearing member 4, and the shaft portion 6 to This prevents backlash from occurring.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the bent portion 10 projecting from the end cap 9 that gives a reaction force to the cushion member 11 causes the stress of the elastic force of the cushion member 11 to the truncated cone shape portion 4 c of the bearing member 4. The center of the bent portion 10 is distributed to maximize it. Due to this stress distribution, the elastic force of the cushion member 11 is in a state in which the bearing member 4 acts and presses against the spherical center of the shaft portion 6 of the spherical shaft 5, so that the cushion member 11 has the bearing recess 3 and the bearing member 4. The backlash between the shaft portion 6 and the shaft portion 6 is more reliably prevented.
[0015]
A male tapered portion 5a is formed on the upper end portion side of the spherical shaft 5, and the male tapered portion 5a is a tapered hole 12a formed in a knuckle arm or a pitman arm (hereinafter referred to as an arm member) 12 as an assembly member. It is inserted in. A male screw portion 5b is formed on the male taper portion 5a of the spherical shaft 5, and the spherical shaft 5 is fixed to the arm member 12 by a nut 13 fastened to the male screw portion 5b.
[0016]
A dust cover 14 is interposed between the arm member 12 and the tie rod end 2. The dust cover 14 is made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin as a dust-proof cover and is formed in a substantially bag shape. The upper surface of the bearing recess 3 is interposed between the spherical shaft 5 and the tie rod end 2. It is mounted so as to cover the opening. A bellows portion 14a is integrally formed in the middle portion of the dust cover 14 so as to have a cross-section “T” shape. The bellows portion 14a is opened and closed in the axial direction (vertical direction), so that the arm member 12 and the tie rod end are formed. The relative displacement between 2 is absorbed.
[0017]
Next, the assembly work of the tie rod end 2 and the spherical shaft 5 will be described.
[0018]
First, the spherical shaft 5 on which the bearing member 4 is mounted is inserted from the lower end opening of the bearing recess 3 of the tie rod end 2. As a result, the bearing member 4 is fitted between the bearing concave portion 3 and the shaft portion 6 of the tie rod end 2.
[0019]
Next, the cushion member 11 is inserted into the lower end opening 7 of the bearing recess 3 and attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the bearing member 4. Subsequently, the end cap 9 is fitted into the step 8 of the lower end opening 7 of the bearing recess 3 and the step 8 is caulked. By the insertion and caulking of the end cap 9, the cushion member 11 has a circumferential surface at the lower end portion of the bearing recess 3, an upper end surface of the bent portion 10 of the end cap 9, and a conical surface of the truncated cone-shaped portion 4 c of the bearing member 4. Compression deformation. The compressed and deformed cushion member 11 takes a reaction force against the end cap 9 and presses the bearing member 4 against the shaft portion 6, thereby pressing the shaft portion 6 against the bearing recess 3 via the bearing member 4. 5 is pressed.
[0020]
Thereafter, the dust cover 14 is mounted between the spherical shaft 5 and the tie rod end 2 so as to cover the upper surface opening of the bearing recess 3. The male taper portion 5 a of the spherical shaft 5 is inserted into the taper hole 12 a of the arm member 12, and the nut 13 is screwed into the male screw portion 5 b to fix the spherical shaft 5 to the arm member 12.
[0021]
According to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
[0022]
1) A bearing member 4 in which an upper bearing and a lower bearing are integrated, an end cap 9 that is caulked to the bearing recess 3, and a reaction force is applied to the end cap 9 so that the shaft portion 6 is placed in the bearing recess 3. Since the spherical shaft 5 can be rotatably supported in the bearing recess 3 in a three-dimensional direction by the cushion member 11 pressed through 4, the number of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced. The manufacturing cost of the shaft coupling device can be reduced.
[0023]
2) The spherical shaft 5 is inserted into the bearing recess 3 with the bearing member 4 fitted to the shaft portion 6 of the spherical shaft 5, and then the cushion member 11 is loaded into the bearing recess 3 to complete the assembly operation. Therefore, the process of assembling the bearing member 4 and the cushion member 11 separately off-line can be eliminated. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the shaft coupling device can be further reduced.
[0024]
3) The cushion member 11 loaded in a compressed deformation state between the circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the bearing recess 3, the upper end surface of the bent portion 10 of the end cap 9, and the conical surface of the frustoconical portion 4c of the bearing member 4. Exerts a reaction force on the end cap 9 and presses the shaft portion 6 of the spherical shaft 5 against the bearing recess portion 3 via the bearing member 4, thereby causing a backlash between the bearing recess portion 3, the bearing member 4, and the shaft portion 6. Since generation | occurrence | production can be prevented, the performance, quality, reliability, and durability of a shaft coupling apparatus can be improved.
[0025]
4) By forming a bent portion 10 on the end cap 9 that distributes the stress of the cushion member 11 as shown in FIG. 2, the elastic force of the cushion member 11 causes the bearing member 4 to move to the shaft portion 6 of the spherical shaft 5. Therefore, the cushion member 11 can more reliably prevent the backlash from occurring between the bearing recess 3, the bearing member 4, and the shaft portion 6. .
[0026]
5) By forming the bent portion 10 in the end cap 9, it is possible to increase the rigidity and elasticity of the end cap 9, so that the deformation of the end cap 9 can be prevented and the strength and durability of the end cap 9 can be prevented. Can increase the sex.
[0027]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It cannot be overemphasized that it can change variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary.
[0028]
For example, the bent portion of the end cap is not limited to a single line but may be formed of two or more lines.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost of the shaft coupling device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a shaft coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion II in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shaft coupling apparatus, 2 ... Tie rod end (1st coupling member), 3 ... Bearing recessed part, 4 ... Bearing member, 4a ... Grease reservoir hole, 4b ... Spherical hole shape part, 4c ... Frustum shape part, 5 ... Spherical shaft (second joint member), 5a ... male taper portion, 5b ... male screw portion, 6 ... shaft portion, 7 ... lower end opening, 8 ... stepped portion, 9 ... end cap, 10 ... bent portion, 11 ... cushion Members 12, arm members (assembly members), 12 a, tapered holes, 13, nuts, 14, dust covers, 14 a, bellows portions.

Claims (2)

A bearing recess formed in the first joint member, a bearing member fitted in the bearing recess, a shaft portion formed in the second joint member and slidably fitted in the bearing member, and the first joint Ri you and a end cap that closes the opening facing the shaft portion formed on the member,
A cushion member formed of an elastic body is loaded between the end cap and the bearing member so as to exert a reaction force on the end cap and press the shaft portion against the bearing recess through the bearing member. Shaft coupling device,
A frustoconical part is formed at the contact portion of the bearing member with the cushion member, and a bent part protruding toward the shaft part side is formed concentrically on the end cap,
The cushion member is compressed and deformed and loaded into a space formed in a circular ring shape by the inner peripheral surface of the bearing recess, the end surface of the bent portion, and the conical surface of the truncated cone shape portion.
A shaft coupling device. The bent portion is formed so that the elastic force stress distribution of the cushion member with respect to the frustoconical portion is maximized at the center of the bent portion.
The shaft coupling device according to claim 1.

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