JP5879773B2 - Coupling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupling device capable of transmitting a relatively large torque between two rotating shafts arranged substantially coaxially and allowing a slight eccentricity or angular deviation between the rotating shafts. .

  A so-called Oldham coupling as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is widely known as a coupling device that connects two rotating shafts eccentric to each other. This Oldham coupling is configured to absorb the eccentricity of the two rotating shafts by sliding the intermediate member along two diametrical directions intersecting the cross shape, and in principle allows a relatively large eccentricity. Can do.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, in a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a vehicle drive source, a rotor of a motor is fixed to the rear end of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and the rotor and a transmission input shaft are connected to each other. A configuration is disclosed in which the drive plates are connected by a drive plate having a truncated cone shape.

JP 2010-249151 A JP 2004-242494 A

  The Oldham coupling as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not suitable as a coupling device in a portion where torque fluctuation is large, such as an internal combustion engine, because there is a backlash of the sliding portion, and the configuration is complicated and large. And also lubrication problems.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the transmission input shaft are connected via the rotor of the motor and the frustoconical drive plate. There is no mechanism that allows slight eccentricity or angular deviation between the input shaft and the concentricity of both must be ensured with very high accuracy. And if slight eccentricity etc. remain, since this cannot be absorbed, for example, uneven wear of a bearing will arise.

The present invention is a coupling device that connects a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft while allowing an eccentricity or angular deviation of the central axis of the both, and the first rotating shaft is attached to the first rotating shaft. , A second flange that is attached to the second rotating shaft and is disposed to face the first flange, and a plurality of connecting arms. The connecting arm is made of a belt-like metal plate having spring properties, and a plurality of radial arms are provided, one end on the outer peripheral side is fixed to the first flange, and the other end on the inner peripheral side is the second. It is fixed to each flange. The connecting arm includes an outer peripheral rim portion that forms an arc along the outer peripheral edge of the first flange, an inner peripheral rim portion that forms an arc along the outer peripheral edge of the second flange, An arm portion having a band shape of a certain width connecting the two, both ends of the outer peripheral rim portion being fixed to the first flange, and both ends of the inner peripheral rim portion being the second flange is fixed to said arm portion, an intermediate portion of its radially, corrugated bent portion you permit radial expansion and contraction deformation is formed bent. The wavy bent portion includes a substantially U-shaped cross section whose ridgeline extends in the tangential direction of rotation and protrudes toward one side in the axial direction, and a valley section having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is recessed in the opposite direction. .

  In such a coupling device, rotation is transmitted from one rotating shaft to the other rotating shaft through a plurality of radially arranged connecting arms. The individual connecting arms can be expanded and contracted in the radial direction by the wavy bent portion at the intermediate portion. For example, in a state where the center axis of the second rotating shaft is eccentric with respect to the center axis of the first rotating shaft, Rotating torque is transmitted while each connecting arm expands and contracts according to the eccentric state. Even when the central axes of the two are angularly displaced, the angular displacement is absorbed by the elastic deformation of each connecting arm.

  According to the present invention, rotation can be transmitted while allowing the eccentricity and angular deviation of the two rotating shafts with a relatively simple configuration, and there is no problem of backlash due to torque fluctuation and the need for lubrication. .

The principal part sectional drawing of the Example provided with the coupling apparatus which concerns on this invention between the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and the electric motor. Sectional drawing which shows the coupling apparatus of this Example alone. The top view which similarly looked at the coupling apparatus of the Example from the electric motor side. The top view which shows one of a connection arm. Sectional drawing of the principal part which shows an example of a wavelike bending part. Sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the other example of a wavelike bending part. Sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the other example of a wavelike bending part. Explanatory drawing which shows the deformation | transformation state of a connection arm in case the motor rotating shaft is eccentric with respect to a crankshaft. Explanatory drawing which shows the deformation | transformation state of a connection arm in case transmission torque is large.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a connecting portion between an internal combustion engine 2 and an electric motor 3 as one example in which the coupling device 1 according to the present invention is used. In the internal combustion engine 2, a crankshaft 5 is rotatably supported via a main bearing (not shown) below the cylinder block 4, and a crank chamber 6 in which the crankshaft 5 is accommodated is defined. An oil pan 7 is attached to the lower surface of the cylinder block 4.

  A transmission housing 11 is attached to a rear end surface of the internal combustion engine 2 including the oil pan 7 and the cylinder block 4, and the electric motor 3 is accommodated in a front end portion of the transmission housing 11. A transmission gear mechanism (not shown) is accommodated in the rear portion of the transmission housing 11. The electric motor 3 includes a stator 12 fixed to the transmission housing 11 side, and a rotor 13 that rotates with respect to the stator 12. The rotor 13 is fixed to a motor rotating shaft 14, and the front end portion of the motor rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported by a bulkhead portion 15 at the front end of the transmission housing 11 via a bearing 16 and is an oil seal. 17 is sealed.

  The motor rotating shaft 14 is arranged in series with respect to the crankshaft 5 of the internal combustion engine 2 and they are basically arranged so as to be concentric with each other. The rear end of the crankshaft 5 and the front end of the motor rotating shaft 14 are connected via the coupling device 1 in order to absorb slight eccentricity and angular misalignment of both central axes that may be caused by time errors. Has been. The rear end portion of the crankshaft 5 is sealed to the cylinder block 4 and the oil pan 7 on the rear end surface of the internal combustion engine 2 via an oil seal (not shown).

  The transmission housing 11 has a bell mouth portion 18 that gradually swells to a large diameter in front of the bulkhead portion 15, and the coupling device 1 having a disc shape as a whole is provided in the bell mouth portion 18. The space is accommodated in a space generated between the bulkhead portion 15 of the transmission housing 11 and the rear end surface of the internal combustion engine 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling device 1 is generally composed of a first flange plate 21, a second flange plate 22, and a plurality of connecting arms 23 that connect the two.

  The first flange plate 21 is formed by press-molding a steel plate. The first flange plate 21 has a circular shape as a whole, and a small-diameter reinforcing plate 24 is stacked on the center and fixed by a rivet 25. Is attached to a boss portion 27 at the rear end of the crankshaft 5 by a plurality of bolts 26. The first flange plate 21 is formed in a shape in which the central portion is slightly recessed toward the internal combustion engine 2 with the position slightly on the outer peripheral side of the outer peripheral edge of the reinforcing plate 24 as a boundary. Plates 24 are stacked. Further, an annular ring member 28 serving as a weight for a flywheel is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the first flange plate 21 by a bolt 29 on the surface on the internal combustion engine 2 side. Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge of the first flange plate 21 is bent rearward in the axial direction, that is, along the cylindrical surface, and a large number of tooth portions 30 are notched. In the transmission housing 11, a probe (not shown) for detecting the tooth portion 30 is disposed adjacent to the tooth portion 30, and the rotation position (of the crankshaft 5 ( A crank angle sensor for detecting (crank angle) is configured. That is, the first flange plate 21 also functions as a so-called signal plate of the crank angle sensor. In other words, the signal plate normally disposed at the rear end of the crankshaft 5 also serves as the first flange plate 21. It has become.

  The second flange plate 22 is made of a die-cast part such as an aluminum alloy. The second flange plate 22 has a smaller diameter than the first flange plate 21, and a cylindrical portion 31 is integrally formed at the center. The tip of the motor rotating shaft 14 is splined or serrated, and the tip of the motor rotating shaft 14 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31 having the corresponding spline or serration. The second flange plate 22 is located opposite to the first flange plate 21, and an appropriate interval is maintained between them in the axial direction. More specifically, the cylindrical portion 31 has a major portion protruding in the axial direction from the surface of the second flange plate 22 to the front (that is, the internal combustion engine 2 side), and the tip of the cylindrical portion 31 is the first flange. The interval is set so that the plate 21 is positioned slightly behind the reinforcing plate 24. The second flange plate 22 is provided with a plurality of circular openings 32 corresponding to the positions of the bolts 26 for attachment to the crankshaft 5.

  The first flange plate 21 and the second flange plate 22 are connected to each other by a plurality of, for example, seven connecting arms 23 in this embodiment. The connecting arm 23 is made of a steel plate having spring properties. As shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 4, the arc-shaped outer peripheral rim portion 41 along the outer peripheral edge of the first flange plate 21 and the outer side of the second flange plate 22. An arcuate inner peripheral rim portion 42 extending along the periphery and an arm portion 43 having a band shape with a certain width connecting the two are formed, and as a whole, I-shaped or T-shaped. Mounting holes 44 are provided at both ends of the outer peripheral rim portion 41, and the outer peripheral rim portion 41 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the first flange plate 21 by bolts 29 penetrating through the mounting holes 44. The bolt 29 is screwed into the ring member 28, and simultaneously connects the ring member 28 disposed on the front surface of the first flange plate 21 and the outer peripheral rim portion 41 disposed on the rear surface of the first flange plate 21. It is fixed to the first flange plate 21. A pair of mounting holes 45 are provided in the inner peripheral rim portion 42, and the inner peripheral rim portion 42 is fixed to the front surface of the outer peripheral portion of the second flange plate 22 by a rivet 46 that passes through these mounting holes 45. ing. Thus, in a state where the connecting arms 23 are respectively attached, the respective arm portions 43 extend radially along the radial lines of the first flange plate 21 and the second flange plate 22. A plurality of, for example, seven, connecting arms 23 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm portion 43 of the connecting arm 23 is inclined in the axial direction so as to connect the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42 that are located apart from each other in the axial direction. However, a wavy bent portion 47 that allows expansion and contraction deformation in the radial direction is provided at the intermediate portion in the radial direction.

The wavy bent portion 47 is configured by bending the arm portion 43 made of a band-shaped metal plate once or a plurality of times in a circular arc shape or a substantially U shape in cross section. 5 to 7 show some examples of the wave-like bent portion 47. In the reference example of FIG. 5, the arm portion 43 has a cross-sectional circle along a folding line indicated by reference numeral 51 near the outer rim portion 41. In addition to being bent into an arc shape, it is configured to be bent in a cross-sectional arc shape in the opposite direction along a folding line indicated by reference numeral 52 near the inner peripheral rim portion 42. In other words, two bent portions are formed. It has a loose arc-shaped step shape. The folding lines 51 and 52 form a straight line along the tangential direction of rotation on the plan view as shown in FIG.

In the reference example of FIG. 6, the arm portion 43 is folded in a cross-sectional arc shape along a folding line indicated by reference numeral 53 near the outer peripheral rim portion 41, and is folded back in a substantially U-shaped cross section along a ridge line indicated by reference numeral 54. Furthermore, it is the structure bent along the folding line shown by the code | symbol 55 near the inner peripheral side rim | limb part 42 in cross-sectional arc shape. In other words, between the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42, a mountain portion 56 having a substantially U-shaped cross section protruding toward the rear (the electric motor 3 side) is provided. The folding lines 53 and 55 and the ridge line 54 form a straight line along the tangential direction of rotation.

In the example of FIG. 7 showing the embodiment , the arm portion 43 is bent into a circular arc shape along a folding line indicated by reference numeral 57 near the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and is substantially U-shaped in cross section along a ridge line indicated by reference numeral 58. And folded back into a substantially U-shaped cross-section in the reverse direction along the ridgeline indicated by reference numeral 59, and further bent into a circular arc shape along the folding curve indicated by reference numeral 60 near the inner peripheral rim portion 42. It has become. In other words, between the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42, a substantially U-shaped cross-section 61 projecting rearward (to the electric motor 3 side), and conversely a substantially concave U-section. And a trough portion 62 having a character shape. The folding lines 57 and 60 and the ridges 58 and 59 form a straight line along the tangential direction of rotation.

  The coupling device 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a wave-like bent portion 47 similar to that of the example shown in FIG. 7, and is a valley recessed opposite to the peak portion 61 protruding rearward. Part 62. However, in this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radii of the bent portions corresponding to the folding lines 57 and 60 in FIG. 7 are relatively small, and from the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42. The intermediate arm portion 43 is bent substantially linearly.

  In the coupling device 1 configured as described above, rotational torque is transmitted between the first flange plate 21 and the second flange plate 22 through the plurality of radially arranged arm portions 43. And since the 2nd flange plate 22 is hold | maintained with respect to the 1st flange plate 21 via the arm part 43 which can be elastically deformed, relative eccentricity and angle shift | offset | difference of both center axis lines are accept | permitted. FIG. 8 schematically shows, as an example, the state of each connecting arm 23 when the center axis of the second flange plate 22 is eccentric to the right with respect to the center axis of the first flange plate 21. As described above, according to the eccentricity of the second flange plate 22, the arm part 43 located on the left side of the figure expands and the arm part 43 located on the right side of the figure shrinks, thereby easily absorbing the eccentricity. That is, it is possible to reliably transmit rotational torque while allowing eccentricity of the central axis. Similarly, angular deviations between the two central axes are also absorbed.

  In FIG. 8, for the sake of explanation, the second flange plate 22 is depicted as being largely decentered. However, as described above, the crankshaft 5 of the internal combustion engine 2 and the motor rotation shaft 14 of the electric motor 3 are basically the same. Since they are arranged concentrically, the amount of eccentricity and angular deviation to be absorbed by the coupling device 1 are actually very small values. For example, it is sufficient to absorb an eccentricity of 1 mm or less and an angular deviation of 1 degree or less.

  FIG. 9 shows a slightly exaggerated view of the deformation state of each connecting arm 23 when a large rotational torque is applied between the first flange plate 21 and the second flange plate 22. In this example, the second flange plate 22 rotates in the clockwise direction with respect to the first flange plate 21, and accordingly, each connecting arm 23 is inclined so as to be inclined with respect to the radial line. In such a case, the intermediate arm portion 43 tends to incline with respect to the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42. Therefore, if the arm portion 43 does not include the wave-like bent portion 47, the arm portion The stress concentrates on the corner of the connecting portion between the outer peripheral side rim portion 41 and the outer peripheral side rim portion 41, and further on the corner of the connecting portion between the arm portion 43 and the inner peripheral side rim portion 42, which is not preferable. On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the wavy bent portion 47 can expand and contract like a fan as schematically shown in FIG. Breakage and the like when received are reliably avoided.

  As described above, according to the coupling device 1 described above, the crankshaft 5 of the internal combustion engine 2 and the motor rotating shaft 14 of the electric motor 3 can be connected in a form that allows some eccentricity or angular deviation between them. It is possible to easily absorb the tolerance of each part and the error when the transmission housing 11 is attached. Since the coupling device 1 has a small axial dimension and can be accommodated in a space in the bell mouth portion 18 between the internal combustion engine 2 and the electric motor 3, the internal combustion engine 2 and the electric motor arranged in series. There is no need to enlarge the overall axial dimension with 3. In particular, the first flange plate 21 also serves as a signal plate for the crank angle sensor, so that the number of parts as a whole is reduced and the coupling device 1 is accommodated in a space necessary for arranging a normal signal plate. Is possible. In addition, the coupling device 1 does not need lubrication, and has no problem even with a large torque fluctuation of the internal combustion engine 2.

  In the above embodiment, the plurality of connecting arms 23 are separately formed and individually attached to the first and second flange plates 21 and 22, but at least the outer peripheral rim portion 41 and the inner peripheral rim portion 42. A plurality of connecting arms 23 can be formed as one member, with one being continuous in an annular shape. Further, in the illustrated example, the arm portion 43 is disposed completely along the radial line of the first and second flange plates 21, 22, but for example, an arrangement inclined to one side in consideration of the rotation direction may be employed. Moreover, the shape is not limited to a strip having a constant width, and may be a shape having a different width dimension. Furthermore, the 1st flange plate 21 and the 2nd flange plate 22 do not necessarily need to be circular, and should just be a shape which can attach the connection arm 23 radially.

  The coupling device of the present invention is not limited to the power transmission between the internal combustion engine 2 and the electric motor 3 described above, and can be widely applied to connection of rotating shafts in various drive mechanisms and rotating devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coupling apparatus 2 ... Internal combustion engine 3 ... Electric motor 5 ... Crankshaft 14 ... Motor rotating shaft 21 ... 1st flange plate 22 ... 2nd flange plate 23 ... Connection arm 30 ... Tooth part 41 ... Outer peripheral side rim part 42 ... Inner peripheral side rim part 43 ... arm part 47 ... wavy bent part

Claims (3)

A coupling device that connects the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft while allowing eccentricity or angular deviation of the central axis of the two,
A first flange attached to the first rotating shaft;
A second flange attached to the second rotating shaft and disposed opposite to the first flange;
It consists of a strip-shaped metal plate having spring properties, and a plurality of radial metal plates are arranged, one end on the outer peripheral side is fixed to the first flange, and the other end on the inner peripheral side is fixed to the second flange. A plurality of connected arms,
With
The connecting arm includes an outer peripheral rim portion that forms an arc along the outer peripheral edge of the first flange, an inner peripheral rim portion that forms an arc along the outer peripheral edge of the second flange, and both And an arm portion having a band shape with a fixed width, and both ends of the outer peripheral rim portion are fixed to the first flange, and both ends of the inner peripheral rim portion are connected to the second flange. Fixed,
The arm part is the middle part of the radial, wavy bent portion you permit radial expansion and contraction deformation is formed bent,
The wavy bent portion includes a substantially U-shaped cross section whose ridgeline extends in the tangential direction of rotation and protrudes toward one side in the axial direction, and a valley section having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is recessed in the opposite direction. A coupling device characterized by that.   2. The crankshaft of the internal combustion engine that is provided between the internal combustion engine and the motor that are arranged in series and serves as the first rotary shaft, and connects the rotary shaft of the motor that serves as the second rotary shaft. Coupling device.   The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein the first flange is formed of a signal plate having a tooth portion on an outer peripheral edge.

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