JPH0117693Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a centering device, and more particularly to a centering device incorporated into a flexible joint.

Some propulsion shafts used in vehicles such as automobiles use flexible joints as shaft joints, and these flexible joints are used to align two joint members that are connected to each other via a rubber-like elastic member. It is equipped with a centering device for performing so-called centering.

The centering device incorporated in the above-mentioned flexible joint generally includes an annular centering ball having a spherical outer circumferential surface and attached to the outer circumference of a shaft member provided on one joint member of the flexible joint; and an annular centering seat having a spherical inner peripheral surface that is attached to a cylindrical member provided on the other joint member of the joint and receives the centering ball, and a spherical joint between the centering ball and the centering seat. The two joint members are centered by engagement.

Conventionally, the centering seat of the above-mentioned centering device consists of a combination of two annular halves divided in the axial direction, and these two annular halves are provided so as to sandwich the centering ball from both sides. Therefore, it is adapted to be locked to the cylindrical member. The annular half of the centering seat is a machined product made of metal material and is a rigid body.For this reason, in the past, manual work such as selecting a snap spring was required during assembly to eliminate wobbling between the centering seat and the centering ball. Adjustment work was required. This adjustment work is relatively troublesome, and may not eliminate the looseness between the centering seat and the centering ball.

In view of the above-mentioned problems with conventional centering devices, this invention is an improvement that eliminates the need for adjustment work to eliminate looseness between the centering seat and centering ball, has a simple structure, and is easy to assemble. The purpose is to provide a centering device that is

According to the present invention, such an object is achieved by: an annular centering ball that is attached to the outer circumference of a shaft member and has a spherical outer circumferential surface; and an annular centering ball that is attached to a cylindrical member and has a spherical inner circumferential surface that receives the centering ball. A centering device having a centering seat, wherein the centering seat has an outer ring portion fixed to the cylindrical member, an inner ring portion whose one end in the axial direction is supported by the outer ring portion and forms the spherical inner circumferential surface. This is achieved by a centering device having a centering device, the entirety of which is made of a flexible plate.

According to the above configuration, the centering seat and the centering ball are engaged in a press-fitting manner by elastically deforming the inner ring part of the centering seat, and after this engagement is completed, the inner ring part is flexible. In other words, due to its springiness, the spherical inner circumferential surface elastically joins to the spherical outer circumferential surface of the centering ball, and wobbling between the centering seat and the centering ball is prevented without the need for special adjustment work. The centering seat is press-fitted to the cylindrical member because the outer ring part fixed to the cylindrical member is flexible, and the centering seat is fixed to the cylindrical member by a press-fitting method, and a snap ring or the like is used to fix it. No locking elements are required.

The centering sheet may be a press molded metal plate or a resin molded product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a flexible joint equipped with a centering device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 each indicate a joint member, and these two joint members are connected to each other via a plurality of rubber-like elastic members 5 interconnected by bolts 3 and nuts 4. connected.

The joint member 1 has a slide shaft 6 on the central axis. The slide shaft 6 has one end fixed to the joint member 1, extends in the axial direction thereof, and enters a circular hole 7 provided at the end of the joint member 2. An annular centering ball 8 is mounted near the other end of the slide shaft 6 so as to be slidable in the axial direction thereof. The centering ball 8 is supported by the slide shaft 6, is located in the circular hole 7, and has a spherical outer peripheral surface 9.

The circular hole 7 is provided concentrically with the axis of the joint member 2, and a centering sheet 10 is provided in the circular hole.
is installed. Centering sheet 10
has an outer ring part 11 and a cantilevered inner ring part 12 which is supported at one end in the axial direction by the outer ring part 11 and defines a spherical inner peripheral surface 13, and the whole is made of metal or synthetic resin. It is made of flexible plate material made of

The centering sheet 10 is press-fitted into the circular hole 7 and is fixed to the joint member 2 by the frictional force between the outer ring part 11 and the inner circumferential wall of the circular hole 7, and the inner ring part 12 deforms itself elastically. The centering ball 8 is received inside, and the spherical inner circumferential surface 13 is elastically tightly joined to the spherical outer circumferential surface 9 of the centering ball 8. Due to this close contact, the centering ball 8 and the centering seat 10 form a good spherical joint without any wobbling, and perform a good centering action.

The inner ring portion 12 of the centering seat 10
It may have a plurality of tongues, as shown in the figure, or it may be a continuous ring, as shown in FIG. In the case where the inner ring part 12 has a tongue part, the inner ring part has spring properties due to its shape, and in this case, the whole part is made of a metal or synthetic resin that does not have much elasticity. I'm glad it's being done. If the inner ring part 12 is a continuous annular shape, the inner ring part 12 may be made of a synthetic resin having appropriate stretchability and elasticity so as to receive the centering ball 8 inside thereof.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a flexible joint incorporating a centering device according to the present invention;
2 and 3 are perspective views showing a centering sheet used in a centering device according to the present invention, respectively. 1, 2... Joint member, 3... Bolt, 4... Nut, 5... Rubber-like elastic member, 6... Slide shaft, 7... Circular hole, 8... Centering ball,
9... Spherical outer peripheral surface, 10... Centering sheet, 11... Outer ring part, 12... Inner ring part, 13...
...Spherical inner peripheral surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A centering device having an annular centering ball attached to an outer circumference of a shaft member and having a spherical outer circumferential surface, and an annular centering seat attached to a cylindrical member and having a spherical inner circumferential surface that receives the centering ball, The centering sheet has an outer ring portion fixed to the cylindrical member and an inner ring portion whose one end in the axial direction is supported by the outer ring portion and defines the spherical inner circumferential surface, and the entirety thereof is flexible. A centering device characterized in that it is made of plate material.