JP6765757B2 - Connection structure of rotating body in propeller shaft - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connecting structure of a rotating body in a propeller shaft of a vehicle.

For example, in a 4WD (four-wheel-drive) type vehicle based on FF (Front-engine Front-wheel-drive), the engine power is supplied to the propeller shaft via the transmission and transfer. It is transmitted from the propeller shaft to the left and right rear wheels via the rear differential gear (rear differential) and the drive shaft.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a part of the propeller shaft 101.

The propeller shaft 101 is arranged under the floor panel and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The propeller shaft 101 is divided into a front shaft 102 and a rear shaft 103. The front shaft 102 and the rear shaft 103 are arranged on the front side and the rear side, respectively, and are connected via a universal joint (universal joint) 104. The front shaft 102 is supported from below by a center support (center bearing) 105 attached to the floor panel.

A joint flange 111 is attached to the rear end of the front shaft 102. The rear end portion of the joint flange 111 is formed in a substantially square plate shape overhanging the outer peripheral side of the front shaft 102. The yoke 112 of the universal joint 104 is abutted against the joint flange 111, and the yoke 112 is fixed by four fastening bolts 113. Specifically, the yoke 112 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped connecting portion that connects a pair of arms 114 facing each other in the radial direction of rotation and a pair of arms 114 on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the facing direction of the pair of arms 114. It has 115 integrally. The front surface of the connecting portion 115 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the joint flange 111, and the fastening bolt 113 is inserted into the connecting portion 115 and the joint flange 111 from the rear side in this order at the positions of the respective apex of the square, so that the yoke 112 It is fixed to the joint flange 111.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-42774

However, in the configuration of the propeller shaft 101, when the fastening bolt 113 is damaged or detached while the vehicle is running, the front end (universal joint 104) of the rear shaft 103 becomes an idle end, and the rear shaft 103 swings. There is a risk of interference with peripheral members. Further, in such a case, the front end portion of the rear shaft 103 may come into contact with the ground and the vehicle may be pushed up by the rear shaft 103. Of course, if the fastening bolt 113 is damaged or detached, power cannot be transmitted from the front shaft 102 to the rear shaft 103, and if it is an FR type (Front-engine Rear-wheel-drive layout) vehicle, it will not be possible to drive. ..

Some conventional vehicles have a configuration in which a U-shaped propeller shaft protector surrounding the rear shaft 103 is fixed to the floor frame to prevent the front end of the rear shaft 103 from falling. However, the problem that power cannot be transmitted from the front shaft 102 to the rear shaft 103 when the fastening bolt 113 is damaged or detached has not been solved.

An object of the present invention is that even if the joint between the first rotating body and the second rotating body is broken, the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be suppressed from falling, and the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be combined with each other. It is to provide a connecting structure of a rotating body in a propeller shaft capable of transmitting power between the two.

In order to achieve the above object, the connection structure according to the present invention is a connection structure between the first rotating body and the second rotating body in the propeller shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle at the lower part of the vehicle, and the connection structure thereof The first rotating body has a plate-shaped first flange portion extending in the rotation circumferential direction, and a plurality of protruding portions protruding from the first flange portion toward the second rotating body side, and the second rotating body has a rotating circumference. A plurality of plate-shaped second flange portions extending in the direction are provided, and the second flange portions are at least recessed on the side opposite to the first rotating body side with respect to the end face on the first rotating body side corresponding to the plurality of protruding portions. The receiving portion is formed, and a plurality of protruding portions are received from the first rotating body side by the corresponding receiving portions, and the end surface of the first flange portion on the second rotating body side and the first rotating body side of the second flange portion. The first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined in a state where they are in contact with the end faces of the above.

According to this configuration, the first rotating body is formed with a first flange portion and a plurality of protruding portions. The first flange portion has a plate shape extending in the circumferential direction of rotation. The plurality of projecting portions project from the first flange portion toward the second rotating body. On the other hand, the second rotating body is formed with a plate-shaped second flange portion extending in the circumferential direction of rotation. A plurality of receiving portions are formed on the second flange portion corresponding to the plurality of protruding portions. Each receiving portion is recessed at least on the side opposite to the first rotating body side with respect to the end surface of the second flange portion on the first rotating body side.

Then, the plurality of projecting portions are received by the corresponding receiving portions, and the first flange is in a state where the end face of the first flange portion on the second rotating body side and the end face of the second flange portion on the first rotating body side are in contact with each other. The first rotating body and the second rotating body are connected by joining the portion and the second flange portion. Therefore, even if the joint between the first flange portion and the second flange portion (the joint between the first rotating body and the second rotating body) is broken, the protruding portion of the first rotating body is accepted by the receiving portion of the second rotating body. The state of being kept is maintained. As a result, the fall of the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be suppressed. Further, when the projecting portion and the receiving portion come into contact with each other in the rotation direction, power can be transmitted between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

The first flange portion and the second flange portion may be joined by using a plurality of fastening bolts. That is, the first flange portion and the second flange portion may be joined by inserting a plurality of fastening bolts into the first flange portion and the second flange portion.

In this case, the first flange portion and the second flange portion inevitably have bolt holes for inserting the fastening bolts at positions where the protruding portions are received by the receiving portions and overlap each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. It is formed. Therefore, when the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined by the fastening bolt, if the projecting portion is accepted by the receiving portion, the bolt holes of the first flange portion and the bolt holes of the second flange portion are positioned. There is no need to match. Therefore, the assembling property of the propeller shaft is improved.

The first rotating body is provided on the rear side with respect to the second rotating body, and the first rotating body is on the front side with respect to the second rotating body, rather than the configuration in which the protruding portion is received from the rear side with respect to the receiving portion. It is preferable that the protrusion is provided and the protrusion is received by the receiving portion from the front side.

As a result, the number of irregularities generated on the front side of the first rotating body can be reduced compared to the number of irregularities generated on the front side of the second rotating body in the former configuration. Therefore, in the latter configuration, it is possible to prevent snow and mud that are rolled up by the wheels of the vehicle from adhering to and accumulating on the first rotating body. As a result, it is possible to suppress the interference of snow and mud accumulated on the first rotating body with the floor panel of the vehicle, and it is possible to suppress the generation of sound due to the interference.

The amount of protrusion of the protruding portion from the first flange portion is preferably designed based on the amount of expansion and contraction of the propeller shaft accompanying the vertical movement of the wheel. Specifically, the amount of protrusion of the protruding portion from the first flange portion is such that the protruding portion does not come out of the receiving portion due to expansion and contraction of the propeller shaft due to the vertical movement of the wheel, for example, the propeller shaft due to the vertical movement of the wheel. It is preferable that the size is designed to be equal to or larger than the expansion / contraction amount (maximum amount).

As a result, when the joint between the first flange portion and the second flange portion is disengaged, the protruding portion of the first rotating body can be maintained in a state of being accepted by the receiving portion of the second rotating body.

According to the present invention, even if the joint between the first rotating body and the second rotating body is broken, the falling of the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be suppressed, and the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be combined with each other. It is possible to transmit power between them.

It is a perspective view of the propeller shaft which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part of a front shaft and a universal joint. It is the figure which looked at the connection part of the front side shaft and the yoke of a universal joint from the rear side. It is sectional drawing of the propeller shaft in the cutting plane line AA shown in FIG. 3, and shows the vicinity of a universal joint. It is a perspective view of the propeller shaft which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part of a front shaft and a universal joint. It is the figure which looked at the connection part of the front side shaft and the yoke of a universal joint from the rear side. It is sectional drawing of the propeller shaft in the cut plane line BB shown in FIG. 7, and shows the vicinity of a universal joint. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the conventional propeller shaft.

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

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the propeller shaft 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The propeller shaft 11 is used in a 4WD or FR type vehicle to transmit engine power from a transmission or transfer to a rear differential gear (rear differential).

The propeller shaft 11 is arranged under the floor panel (floor tunnel) and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The propeller shaft 11 is divided into two parts, a front shaft 12 and a rear shaft 13. The front shaft 12 and the rear shaft 13 are arranged on the front side and the rear side, respectively, and are connected via a universal joint (universal joint) 14. The front shaft 12 is supported from below by a center support (center bearing) 15 attached to the floor panel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting portion between the front shaft 12 and the universal joint 14. FIG. 3 is a view of the connection portion between the front shaft 12 and the yoke 32 of the universal joint 14 as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the propeller shaft 11 at the cutting plane line AA shown in FIG. 3, showing the vicinity of the universal joint 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, a joint flange 21 is provided at the rear end of the front shaft 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the joint flange 21 has a substantially cylindrical outer fitting portion 22 that is externally fitted (spline-fitted) to the front shaft 12 so as not to rotate relative to each other, and a rotation diameter from the rear end of the outer fitting portion 22. It integrally has a substantially annular plate-shaped flange portion 23 extending outward in the direction, and four projecting portions 24 protruding rearward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the four protrusions 24 are arranged at equal angles, that is, at positions offset by 90 ° around the center of rotation of the joint flange 21. Each protruding portion 24 has a substantially arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 23. The protrusion amount of the protrusion 24 from the flange portion 23 is designed to be larger than the expansion / contraction amount (maximum amount) of the propeller shaft 11 due to the vertical movement of the wheel, for example. Further, a space having substantially the same dimension as the dimension in the rotation circumferential direction of the protrusion 24 is provided between each of the four protrusions 24.

The universal joint 14 includes a yoke 31 attached to the front end of the rear shaft 13, a yoke 32 fixed to the joint flange 21, and a spider (not shown) connecting the yokes 31, 32.

The yoke 31 is fixed to the front end of the rear shaft 13 by welding, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The yoke 31 has a pair of arm portions 34 facing each other at intervals in the radial direction of rotation. A circular shaft hole 35 is formed in each arm portion 34 so as to penetrate in the radial direction of rotation.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the yoke 32 integrally includes a flange portion 36 and a pair of arm portions 37 extending rearward from the flange portion 36 and facing each other at intervals in the radial direction of rotation. Have in.

The flange portion 36 has a substantially annular plate shape having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flange portion 23 of the joint flange 21. On the outer peripheral edge of the flange 36, four receiving portions 38 are formed at equal angles, that is, 90 ° apart from each other around the center of rotation of the yoke 32, corresponding to the four protruding portions 24 of the joint flange 21. ing. Each receiving portion 38 has a substantially arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 36, penetrates the flange portion 36 in the front-rear direction, and is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 36. The length of the receiving portion 38 in the rotational circumferential direction is designed to be substantially the same as the length of the protruding portion 24 in the rotational circumferential direction.

A circular shaft hole 39 is formed in each arm portion 37 so as to penetrate in the radial direction of rotation.

The spider has a cross shape in which four columnar shafts extend radially at an equal angle of 90 °. Then, the two shafts extending on the same straight line are inserted into the shaft holes 35 of the yoke 31, and the remaining two shafts are inserted into the shaft holes 39 of the yoke 32, so that the yokes 31 and 32 have shaft holes. The shaft portion inserted through 35 is rotatably connected to the fulcrum, and the shaft portion inserted through the shaft hole 39 is rotatably connected to the fulcrum.

The joint flange 21 and the yoke 32 are joined by using four fastening bolts 41. Specifically, each of the four projecting portions 24 is received (inserted) from the front side into the receiving portion 38, and the rear surface 42 of the flange portion 23 of the joint flange 21 and the front surface 43 of the flange portion 36 of the yoke 32 come into contact with each other. In this state, the fastening bolts 41 are inserted into the flange portions 36, 23 from the rear side in this order between each of the four receiving portions 38, so that the flange portions 23, 36 are joined.

<Effect>
As described above, the joint flange 21 is formed with a flange portion 23 and four projecting portions 24. The flange portion 23 has a substantially annular plate shape extending in the circumferential direction of rotation. The four projecting portions 24 project rearward from the flange portion 23. On the other hand, the yoke 32 of the universal joint 14 is formed with a plate-shaped flange portion 36 extending in the circumferential direction of rotation. The flange portion 36 is formed with four receiving portions 38 corresponding to the four protruding portions 24. By penetrating the flange portion 36 in the front-rear direction, each receiving portion 38 is recessed rearward with respect to the end surface of the flange portion 36 on the joint flange 21 side, that is, the front surface 43.

Then, the four projecting portions 24 are received by the corresponding receiving portions 38, and the flange portions 23 and 36 are joined in a state where the rear surface 42 of the flange portion 23 and the front surface 43 of the flange portion 36 are in contact with each other. The joint flange 21 and the yoke 32 are connected to each other. Therefore, even if the flange portions 23 and 36 are disconnected (the joint between the joint flange 21 and the yoke 32), the protruding portion 24 of the joint flange 21 is maintained in a state of being accepted by the receiving portion 38 of the yoke 32.

Since the front shaft 12 on which the joint flange 21 is provided is supported by the center support 15, the joint flange 21 does not fall even if the flange portions 23 and 36 are disconnected. Therefore, by maintaining the state in which the protruding portion 24 of the joint flange 21 is received by the receiving portion 38 of the yoke 32, it is possible to suppress the drop of the front end portion of the rear shaft 13 that supports the yoke 32. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rear shaft 13 from swinging and interfering with peripheral members, or the front end portion of the rear shaft 13 coming into contact with the ground and the vehicle being pushed up by the rear shaft 13.

Further, even if the flange portions 23 and 36 are disconnected, the protruding portion 24 and the receiving portion 38 come into contact with each other in the rotational direction, so that power can be transmitted between the joint flange 21 and the yoke 32.

Furthermore, since the fall of the front end portion of the rear shaft 13 is suppressed, the propeller shaft protector, which has been conventionally required, can be eliminated. By eliminating the propeller shaft protector, the cost price and the number of parts of the propeller shaft 11 can be eliminated. And the weight can be reduced.

The flange portions 23 and 36 are joined by using four fastening bolts 41. Inevitably, the flange portions 23 and 36 are formed with bolt holes for inserting the fastening bolts 41 at positions where the protruding portions 24 are received by the receiving portions 38 and overlap each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the flange portions 23 and 36 are joined by the fastening bolt 41, if the projecting portion 24 is accepted by the receiving portion 38, it is necessary to align the bolt hole of the flange portion 23 with the bolt hole of the flange portion 36. Absent. Therefore, the assembling property of the propeller shaft 11 is improved.

Further, the joint flange 21 is provided on the front side with respect to the yoke 32, and the protruding portion 24 is received by the receiving portion 38 from the front side. With this configuration, as can be easily understood from FIG. 4, the number of irregularities generated on the front side of the joint flange 21 can be reduced as compared with the number of irregularities generated on the rear side of the flange portion 23. Therefore, it is possible to prevent snow and mud that are rolled up by the wheels of the vehicle from adhering to and accumulating on the joint flange 21. As a result, it is possible to suppress the interference of snow and mud accumulated on the joint flange 21 with the floor panel of the vehicle, and it is possible to suppress the generation of sound due to the interference.

The protrusion amount of the protrusion 24 from the flange portion 23 is designed to be larger than the expansion / contraction amount (maximum amount) of the propeller shaft 11 due to the vertical movement of the wheel. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the protruding portion 24 from the flange portion 23 is such that the protruding portion 24 does not come out of the receiving portion 38 due to expansion and contraction of the propeller shaft 11 due to the vertical movement of the wheel, and the flange portion 23 and the flange portion 36 When the joint is disengaged, the protruding portion 24 of the joint flange 21 can be kept in a state of being accepted by the receiving portion 38 of the yoke 32.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the propeller shaft 51 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The propeller shaft 51 is used in a 4WD or FR type vehicle to transmit engine power from a transmission or transfer to a rear differential gear (rear differential).

The propeller shaft 51 is arranged under the floor panel (floor tunnel) and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The propeller shaft 51 is divided into a front shaft 52 and a rear shaft 53. The front shaft 52 and the rear shaft 53 are arranged on the front side and the rear side, respectively, and are connected via a universal joint (universal joint) 54. The front shaft 52 is supported from below by a center support (center bearing) 55 attached to the floor panel.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting portion between the front shaft 52 and the universal joint 54. FIG. 7 is a view of the connection portion between the front shaft 52 and the yoke 72 of the universal joint 54 as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the propeller shaft 51 at the cut plane line BB shown in FIG. 7, and shows the vicinity of the universal joint 54.

As shown in FIG. 6, a joint flange 61 is provided at the rear end of the front shaft 52. As shown in FIG. 8, the joint flange 61 has a substantially cylindrical outer fitting portion 62 that is outer-fitted (spline-fitted) to the front shaft 52 so as not to rotate relative to each other, and a rotation diameter from the rear end of the outer fitting portion 62. A substantially annular plate-shaped flange portion 63 extending outward in the direction and four projecting portions 64 protruding rearward from the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 63 are integrally provided.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the four protrusions 64 are arranged at equal angles, that is, at positions offset by 90 ° around the center of rotation of the joint flange 61. Each protruding portion 64 has a substantially arc shape extending at regular intervals from the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 63. The amount of protrusion of the protrusion 64 from the flange portion 63 is designed to be larger than, for example, the amount of expansion and contraction (maximum amount) of the propeller shaft 51 due to the vertical movement of the wheel. Further, a space having substantially the same dimension as the dimension in the rotational circumferential direction of the protrusion 64 is provided between each of the four protrusions 64.

The universal joint 54 includes a yoke 71 attached to the front end of the rear shaft 53, a yoke 72 fixed to the joint flange 61, and a spider (not shown) connecting the yokes 71 and 72.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the yoke 71 is fixed to the front end of the rear shaft 53 by welding. The yoke 71 has a pair of arm portions 74 facing each other at intervals in the radial direction of rotation. A circular shaft hole 75 is formed in each arm portion 74 so as to penetrate in the radial direction of rotation.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the yoke 72 integrally includes a flange portion 76 and a pair of arm portions 77 extending rearward from the flange portion 76 and facing each other at intervals in the radial direction of rotation. Have in.

The flange portion 76 has a substantially annular plate shape having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flange portion 63 of the joint flange 61. On the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 76, four receiving portions 78 are formed at equal angles, that is, 90 ° apart from each other around the rotation center of the yoke 72, corresponding to the four protruding portions 64 of the joint flange 61. There is. Each receiving portion 78 has a substantially arc shape extending from the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 76 at regular intervals, and penetrates the flange portion 76 in the front-rear direction. The length of the receiving portion 78 in the rotational circumferential direction is designed to be substantially the same as the length of the protruding portion 64 in the rotational circumferential direction.

A circular shaft hole 79 is formed in each arm portion 77 so as to penetrate in the radial direction of rotation.

The spider has a cross shape in which four columnar shafts extend radially at an equal angle of 90 °. Then, the two shafts extending on the same straight line are inserted into the shaft holes 75 of the yoke 71, and the remaining two shafts are inserted into the shaft holes 79 of the yoke 72, so that the yokes 71 and 72 have shaft holes. The shaft portion inserted through the 75 is rotatably connected to the fulcrum, and the shaft portion inserted through the shaft hole 79 is rotatably connected to the fulcrum.

The joint flange 61 and the yoke 72 are joined using four fastening bolts 81. Specifically, each of the four projecting portions 64 is received (inserted) from the front side into the receiving portion 78, and the rear surface 82 of the flange portion 63 of the joint flange 61 and the front surface 83 of the flange portion 76 of the yoke 72 come into contact with each other. In this state, the fastening bolts 81 are inserted into the flange portions 76, 63 from the rear side in this order between each of the four receiving portions 78, whereby the flange portions 63, 76 are joined.

<Effect>
The structure according to the second embodiment can also have the same effect as the structure according to the first embodiment.

When the outer diameter of the flange portion 23 of the joint flange 21 according to the first embodiment and the outer diameter of the flange portion 63 of the joint flange 61 according to the second embodiment are the same, the rotation center of the joint flange 21 and the joint The distance D1 (see FIG. 3) between the protrusion 24 of the flange 21 is secured to be larger than the distance D2 (see FIG. 7) between the center of rotation of the joint flange 61 and the protrusion 64 of the joint flange 61. Therefore, the size of the protrusion 24 can be made larger than the size of the protrusion 64, whereby the strength of the protrusion 24 can be made higher than the strength of the protrusion 64.

<Modification example>
Although the two embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can also be implemented in other embodiments.

For example, the number of the protrusions 24, 64 and the receiving portions 38, 78 is four, respectively, but it may be two or three, or five or more.

Further, although the configuration in which the four fastening bolts 41 and 81 are used is taken up, the number of the fastening bolts 41 and 81 may be two or more.

Further, the structure is not limited to joining the flange portions 23 and 36 with the fastening bolt 41, and the flange portions 23 and 36 may be joined by welding. The same applies to the flange portions 63 and 76. For example, the flange portions 63 and 76 may be joined by welding.

Further, although the receiving portions 38 and 78 are said to penetrate the flange portions 36 and 76 in the front-rear direction, respectively, they may be formed as recesses recessed rearward with respect to the flange portions 36 and 76, respectively.

The present invention is not limited to the connection structure between the joint flanges 21 and 61 and the universal joints 14 and 54, but can also be applied to the connection structure between the front end portions of the front shafts 12 and 52 and the transmission or transfer, and also on the rear side. It can also be applied to the connection structure between the flange yokes 45 and 85 of the universal joints 44 and 84 (see FIGS. 1 and 5) provided at the rear ends of the shafts 13 and 53 and the rear differential gear.

In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-mentioned configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

11,51: Propeller shaft 14,54: Universal joint 21,61: Joint flange (first rotating body)
23, 63: Flange part 24, 64: Protruding part 32, 72: Yoke (second rotating body)
36,76: Flange part 38,78: Receiving part 42,82: Rear surface (end surface on the second rotating body side)
43, 83: Front surface (end face on the first rotating body side)

Claims (1)

It is a connection structure between the first rotating body and the second rotating body in the propeller shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle at the lower part of the vehicle.
The first rotating body has a plate-shaped first flange portion extending in the rotational circumferential direction, and a plurality of projecting portions protruding from the first flange portion toward the second rotating body side.
The second rotating body has a plate-shaped second flange portion extending in the circumferential direction of rotation.
The second flange portion is formed with a plurality of receiving portions that are recessed at least on the side opposite to the first rotating body side with respect to the end surface on the first rotating body side, corresponding to the plurality of protruding portions.
The plurality of protrusions are received by the corresponding receiving portion from the first rotating body side, and the end surface of the first flange portion on the second rotating body side and the end surface of the second flange portion on the first rotating body side. The first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined in a state of being in contact with each other.
The connecting structure of the rotating body , wherein the protruding amount of the protruding portion is equal to or larger than the expansion / contraction amount of the propeller shaft accompanying the vertical movement of the wheels of the vehicle .

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