JPH053649U - Drive shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To obtain a drive shaft having a releasable connecting device with a reduced number of parts. [Structure] The detent means for the limiting ring means 22, 24 is a stopper ring 3 having an L-shaped cross section, one end of this L-shape is fixed to the shaft accommodating member 2, and the other free end is When the sliding sleeve 14 is in the ball holding position, the free end of the stopper ring 3 having an L-shaped cross section is formed so as to be positioned radially outward of the ball accommodating opening 5 so as to slightly overlap the opening. The ball holding member (38) is engaged with the ball holding member (38) to function also as stopper means for the sliding sleeve (14).

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a drive shaft including a shaft and a shaft accommodating member that are fitted to each other so that they cannot rotate relative to each other, and a connecting device that detachably connects the shaft and the shaft accommodating member.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As a drive shaft having such a connecting device, there is one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-195022.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drive shaft coupling device disclosed in this publication includes: an annular ball accommodating groove 100 provided on the circumferential surface of a shaft 60; A plurality of balls 80 that are movably held in the radial direction at positions spaced apart from each other, and a ball holding position that projects the balls 80 inward in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the shaft housing member 2 (see FIG. 4 (b)). And a ball release position (see (a) in Fig. 4) that moves the ball outward in the radial direction, so that it is slidable in the axial direction and is pressed by the load of the plain spring 360 to the ball holding position. A sleeve 140,-a ball holding member 380 provided on this sliding sleeve, which presses the ball radially inward when the sliding sleeve is in the ball holding position, and-an axial movement of the sliding sleeve. The shaft housing member 20 to limit the An annular stopper means 440 provided on the outer periphery, and -in the sliding sleeve 20, the sliding sleeve is arranged so that it cannot move relative to the sliding sleeve in the axial direction but is movable in the radial direction. Limiting ring means 220,240 to limit the radial outward movement of the ball when moving to the ball release position (see Figure 4 (a)) against the spring load, and-the sliding sleeve to the ball release position. When moved, the limiting ring means 220, 240 are at least partially engaged with the end surface of the limiting ring means 220, 240 which is oriented toward the ball holding position, so that the limiting ring means 220, 240, the sliding sleeve 140 and the ball holding member 380 are returned to the ball holding position. The detent ring means 400 is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft accommodating member 2 so as to prevent it.

In the ball holding position (see FIG. 4B), the limiting ring 240 of the limiting ring means is concentric with the detent ring 400, and is slidable on the detent ring 400 outside the detent ring 400. Contact.

When the sliding sleeve 140 is moved by hand against the pressing force of the spring 360 from the ball holding position (see FIG. 4B) toward the ball releasing position (see FIG. 4A). The limiting ring 240 moves along the detent ring 400 together with the sliding sleeve 140 and the ball pressing member 380, and when the ball pressing member 380 moves to a position where the ball pressing member 380 does not press the ball radially inward, Leaf springs 220 can move the limit ring 24 0 radially. As a result, a part of the end surface of the limiting ring 240, which is oriented in the direction of the ball pressing position, engages with the detent ring 400, and the sliding sleeve 140 does not have to be manually held in the ball releasing position. The assembly consisting of the sleeve 140 and the ball holding member 380 is prevented from returning by the force of the spring 360, and is automatically held in the ball releasable position. At this time, the ball 80 can freely move outward in the radial direction within the range of the restriction ring 240, so that the shaft 60 can be inserted into and removed from the shaft housing member 20.

When the sliding sleeve 140 is held in the ball releasable position, the shaft 60 between the end face 12 of the shaft 60 and the ball housing groove 100 is inserted and removed from the shaft housing member 2 when the shaft 60 is inserted and removed. When the ball rides on the outer periphery of the ball and is pushed outward in the radial direction evenly, the limiting ring 240 disengages from the detent ring 400 and becomes concentric, and the sliding sleeve 140, the ball restraining member 380, and the limiting member The assembly of the ring means 220,240 automatically springs back under the action of the spring 360 into the ball-holding position shown in FIG. 4b. In order to prevent the sliding sleeve 140 from coming off the shaft housing member 20, the annular stopper means 440 prevents the sliding sleeve 140 from moving in the axial direction toward the ball holding position with respect to the shaft housing member 20 by being pressed by the spring 360. Restricted by

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the conventional drive shaft coupling device, two kinds of retaining rings, that is, the stopper means 440 and the detent ring 400 are required. Further, since the stopper means is provided at the end of the shaft accommodating member, when the sliding sleeve elastically returns from the ball releasing position to the ball holding position, it is provided between the sliding sleeve and the stopper means. There was a risk of pinching my hands.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve the prior art described in the prior application of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-195022 filed by the present applicant, and does not require two kinds of retaining rings, and enables a safe release. To obtain a drive shaft with various coupling devices.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 To achieve this object, in the drive shaft of the present invention, the detent means is a ring having an L-shaped cross section, and one end of the L-shape is fixed to the shaft accommodating member, and the other free end is a bob. When the sliding sleeve is in the ball pressing position, the free end of the L-shaped ring is It is characterized in that it is configured to engage with a member and also function as a stopper means.

[0010]

[Action]

 When the sliding sleeve is in the ball pressing position, the free end of the L-shaped ring of the detent means engages with the opposing end surface of the ball pressing member, and the sliding sleeve assembly moves in the axial direction toward the ball pressing position. It functions as a stopper means for limiting the above-mentioned restriction, and a separate stopper means is unnecessary.

[0011]

【Example】

 Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the connecting device provided on the shaft housing member 2 according to the present invention is provided with a sliding sleeve 14 on the outer side of the shaft housing member 2 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. A ball pressing member 38 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the sliding sleeve 14. The assembly of the sliding sleeve 14 and the ball pressing member 38 is biased toward the position where the ball pressing member 38 presses the ball 80 inward in the radial direction by the spring 36 arranged in the portion of the sliding sleeve 14. .. In order to prevent the sliding sleeve 14 from moving axially outward beyond the ball holding position, a ring-shaped stopper means having a L-shaped cross section and extending substantially in the circumferential direction, that is, the stopper ring 3 is formed. To provide.

The stopper ring 3 is attached to the shaft accommodating member 2 such that one leg of the L-shaped cross section, that is, the inner peripheral edge of the ring is brought close to the ball accommodating opening 5 for accommodating the ball 8. The stopper ring 3 is preferably constructed as a C clip with a part cut away as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2a.

The other leg of the L-shaped cross section of the stopper ring 3, that is, the free end of the outer peripheral edge of the ring is arranged above the ball accommodation opening 5 so as to slightly overlap the peripheral edge of the ball accommodation opening. , Limit the movement of the ball 8 outward in the radial direction.

On the front part of the sliding sleeve 14 there is arranged a limiting ring means, namely a limiting ring 24, and a leaf spring 22 for exerting a radial pressing force on this limiting ring 24. As shown in FIG. 3, this plate bar 22 has its both ends in contact with the inner surface 26 of the front portion of the sliding sleeve 14 so that a radial pressing force is applied to the limiting ring 24. The inner diameter of the limiting ring 24 is much larger than the outer diameter of the stopper ring 3.

The movement of the sliding sleeve 14 toward the ball releasing position is restricted by the shoulder portion 9 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft housing member 2.

When the sliding sleeve 14 is manually pushed to the limit position in the direction toward the ball releasing position against the force of the spring 36, the ball 8 is pushed by the ball pressing member 38 as shown in FIG. 4 (a). Is released from oppression. At this time, the limiting ring 24 moves inward in the radial direction at the axial position aligned with the ball 8 due to the action of the leaf spring 22, and a part of the limiting ring 24 engages with the stopper ring 3. As a result, even if the pushing force by the hand on the sliding sleeve 14 is released, the sliding sleeve 14 is automatically locked at this ball releasing position. Therefore, this stopper ring also functions as a detent ring in the conventional drive shaft coupling device.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional example including a problem to be solved by the present invention, and a portion corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the present invention is shown with a reference numeral added with “0”. ..

In the ball releasing position as shown in FIG. 4A, the ball 8 can freely move in the radial direction within the range of the limiting ring 24 which is also movable in the radial direction. Therefore, the shaft 60 that is spline-fitted to the shaft housing members 2 and 20 can be inserted and removed. When the shaft 60 is inserted and removed as described above, when the ball 8 rides on the outer surface between the ball receiving groove 100 provided on the peripheral surface of the shaft 60 and the shaft end portion 120, that is, the land portion, the limiting ring 24 is It comes out of engagement with the stopper ring 3 and becomes substantially concentric with the stopper ring 3. At this time, the force of the spring 36 causes the sliding sleeve 14 to elastically return to the ball holding position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (b) together with the limiting ring means 22 and 24.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the present invention, as in the conventional case, the stopper ring disposed in the vicinity of the ball accommodating groove performs both the stopper function of the sliding sleeve and the detent function of the limiting ring, thus reducing the number of parts, Since the assembly process is reduced, cost down can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a stopper means at the end of the shaft accommodating member as in the prior art, so that the sliding sleeve elastically returns from the ball releasing position to the ball holding position. At this time, there is no risk of pinching the hand between the sliding sleeve and the stopper means.

Further, in the past, since the stopper means was provided at the end of the shaft accommodating member, it was difficult to clean the dust accumulated between the outer stop means and the inner detent ring. According to the invention, it is not necessary to provide this outer stopper means, which makes cleaning extremely easy and thus prolongs its service life.

Further, the free end of the stopper ring 3 having an L-shaped cross section is projected above the ball accommodating opening so as to partially overlap the ball accommodating opening so as to extend radially outward of the ball. In order to evenly limit the movement, one of the balls projects too far in the radial direction so that the ball on the opposite side cannot escape in the radial direction, so that the shaft cannot be inserted into or removed from the shaft receiving member. The situation (the situation that often occurs in the case of the conventional coupling device) can be avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a drive shaft connecting device portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a front view of a stopper ring of a drive shaft connecting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a vertical sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic explanatory view for explaining the arrangement of the limiting ring means of the drive shaft connecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional view showing a ball released state of a conventional drive shaft connecting device portion, and FIG. 4B is a vertical sectional view showing a ball holding position state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2,20 Shaft accommodating member 3 Stopper ring 5 Ball accommodating hole 8,80 Ball 9 Shoulder 14,140 Sliding sleeve 22,220 Leaf spring 24,240 Limiting ring 26,260 Inner surface 36,360 Spring 38,380 Ball retainer 60 Shaft 100 Ball accommodating groove 120 Shaft end 400 Detent ring 440 Stopper means

Claims (1)

Claims for utility model registration 1. A shaft and a shaft accommodating member which are fitted so as not to rotate relative to each other, and a connecting device which detachably connects the shaft and the shaft accommodating member. An annular ball accommodating groove provided on the circumferential surface of the shaft, a plurality of balls movably held in the radial direction at positions spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the shaft accommodating member, and an outer periphery of the shaft accommodating member. Is axially slidably arranged between the ball holding position where the ball is projected radially inward and the ball releasing position where the ball is moved radially outward, and is pressed to the ball holding position by the plain spring load. Provided on the sliding sleeve and the sliding sleeve, when the sliding sleeve takes a ball holding position,
A ball pressing member for pressing the ball radially inward, an annular stopper means provided on the outer periphery of the shaft housing member so as to limit the axial movement of the sliding sleeve to the ball pressing position, and the sliding member. It is arranged in the sleeve in such a manner that it cannot move relative to the sliding sleeve in the axial direction but is movable in the radial direction, and when the sliding sleeve is moved against the spring load to the ball releasing position, When the sliding sleeve is moved to the ball releasing position, the restricting ring means for restricting the outward movement of the ball in the radial direction is at least partially engaged with the end surface of the restricting ring means directed to the ball holding position. In a drive shaft comprising a limiting ring means and a detent ring means provided on the outer periphery of the shaft housing member so as to prevent the sliding sleeve from returning to the ball holding position, The detent means is a ring having an L-shaped cross section, one end of this L-shape is fixed to the shaft housing member, and the other free end is located radially outward of the ball housing opening. When the sliding sleeve is in the ball holding position,
The drive shaft is characterized in that the free end of the L-shaped ring is engaged with the ball pressing member and also functions as a stopper means.