JPH0587336U - Constant velocity universal joint for steering - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a constant velocity universal joint for steering, which is capable of smooth power transmission without joint play. [Structure] In this constant velocity universal joint for steering, a slit (7) is formed on both sides of a track groove (1) of an outer ring (2) to elastically deform a track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2). The track groove forming part (2
By using the elastic deformation of a) to assemble the ball (5) between the track grooves (1) and (3) of the outer and inner races (2) and (4), a tightening margin is given to the ball (5). It is characterized by that.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint used for connecting a steering shaft to a steering gear in a steering device for a vehicle.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Generally, a vehicle is equipped with a steering device for controlling the traveling direction. This steering system consists of a steering wheel provided inside the driver's cab, a steering shaft connected to it, a steering gear, and a link mechanism leading to the front wheels. The direction of travel of the vehicle is controlled by turning the front wheels to the right or left via the.

In the above steering apparatus, a cross joint that transmits rotational torque via a cross-shaped spider is widely used as a joint that connects a steering shaft to a steering gear. This is because the cross joint has no looseness in the joint, and therefore power can be transmitted smoothly.

However, in the steering device in which the steering shaft is connected to the steering gear via the cross joint, the working angle of the steering shaft with respect to the steering gear cannot be set so large because the operating angle of the cross joint is small. . Therefore, the steering shaft is divided into a main shaft, one end of which is connected to the steering wheel, and an intermediate shaft, one end of which is connected to the steering gear through the cross joint, and these are separated from the cross joint different from the above cross joint. By connecting via a joint, the steering shaft is configured to have a large operating angle with respect to the steering gear.

However, in such a structure, the shape of the steering shaft is complicated, and since two joints are required, the number of parts is increased and the weight is increased.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the joint for connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear is replaced with the above-mentioned cross joint, and the fixed type constant velocity freely adjustable transmission of the rotational torque is performed through a plurality of balls. There is a means of using a joint.

The fixed type constant velocity universal joint is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and will be described. This fixed type constant velocity universal joint has an outer ring (2) having a predetermined number of track grooves (1) axially formed on a spherical inner peripheral surface and a track groove (2) of an outer ring (2) formed on a spherical outer peripheral surface. Interposition between the inner ring (4) having the same number of track grooves (3) as the number of 1) and similarly extending in the axial direction, and the track grooves (1) and (3) of the outer and inner rings (2) and (4). And a plurality of balls (5) for transmitting torque and a cage (6) arranged between the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring (2) and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring (4) for holding the balls (5). The outer ring (2) and the inner ring (4) are rotationally driven at the same angular velocity via the ball (5).

When the fixed type constant velocity universal joint is used to connect the steering shaft and the steering gear, the operating angle of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint is large, so that the operating angle of the steering shaft with respect to the steering gear is large. This eliminates the need for splitting the steering shaft into the main shaft and the intermediate shaft and connecting them via a joint, as described above, which simplifies the steering shaft shape and reduces the weight. .

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, it is important for joints used in automobile steering devices to have no joint play so that smooth power transmission can be achieved, but there is no fixed type constant velocity universal joint that satisfies such performance. It is the actual situation. That is, in the conventional fixed type constant velocity universal joint, the constituent members such as the outer ring (2), the inner ring (4), the ball (5) and the cage (6) are made of a metal material. If the member is made of a metal material, it is not possible to provide a tightening allowance on the ball (5) due to the assembly. Therefore, there is a gap between the outer / inner rings (2) and (4) and the ball (5), and this gap causes a joint play.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a constant velocity universal joint for steering that enables smooth power transmission. The challenge is to eliminate the gap between the outer and inner rings and the ball to eliminate joint play.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention solves the problem by forming slits on both sides of the track groove of the outer ring to elastically deform the track groove forming portion of the outer ring.

That is, the constant velocity universal joint for steering according to the present invention has an outer ring having a predetermined number of track grooves axially formed on a spherical inner peripheral surface and the same number of track grooves of the outer ring on a spherical outer peripheral surface. , And similarly, an inner ring formed with axially extending track grooves, a plurality of balls that transmit torque by interposing between the track grooves of the outer and inner rings, an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring. And a cage for holding the ball, which is disposed between the outer ring and the outer ring, and has slits formed on both sides of the track groove of the outer ring to elastically deform the track groove forming portion of the outer ring. The feature is that the ball is press-fitted between the track grooves of the outer and inner rings by utilizing the elastic deformation of the forming portion.

[0013]

[Action]

 According to the present invention, by elastically deforming the track groove forming portion of the outer ring, the ball is press-fitted between the track grooves of the outer ring and the inner ring to assemble the ball so that a tightening margin is given to the ball. The gap between the ball and the ball is erased, and there is no joint play.

[0014]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a constant velocity universal joint for steering according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a transverse sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of an outer ring thereof. In the following description, the same components as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the above-mentioned conventional technique are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping portions will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the constant velocity universal joint for steering according to the present invention has slits (7) formed on both sides of each track groove (1) of the outer ring (2). The track groove (1) forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2) is elastically deformable, and the track groove forming portion (2a) is formed by using the slit (7) after heat treatment and polishing are completed. By being deformed toward the axial center (O), the track groove forming portion (2a) is preliminarily formed in a size slightly reduced from the standard inner diameter. Then, during assembly, while the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2) is elastically deformed to the outer diameter side, a ball (a) is formed between the track grooves (1) and (3) of the outer and inner rings (2) and (4). Assemble 5). With this arrangement, after assembly, the ball (5) is tightened by the restoring force to the shaft center (O) due to the elastic deformation of the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2).

The constant velocity universal joint for steering of the present invention utilizes the elastic deformation of the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2) between the outer and inner rings (2) and (4) as described above. By assembling the ball (5) on the ball and giving a tightening margin to the ball (5), it is possible to eliminate the gap between the outer / inner ring (2) (4) and the ball (5). There is no joint rattling, and power transmission is smooth. Moreover, even if the wear progresses, the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2) continues to give a tightening margin to the ball (5) by its elastic force, and the outer / inner ring (2) (4) and the ball (4) The gap with 5) can be automatically erased, and it is possible to permanently eliminate the joint play within the elastic limit of the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2).

In the above embodiment, the track groove forming portion (2a) of the outer ring (2) is deformed toward the shaft center (O) with a size slightly reduced from the standard inner diameter, so that the ball is assembled at the time of assembly. Although (5) is press-fitted between the track grooves (1) and (3) of the outer and inner rings (2) and (4), as shown in FIG. 4, the track groove (1) of the outer ring (2) is standard P. ． C. Even if the ball (5) is press-fitted between the track grooves (1) and (3) of the outer and inner rings (2) and (4) at the time of assembly by cutting and grinding with a dimension slightly reduced from D. good.

[0019]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, the present invention elastically deforms the track groove forming portion of the outer ring by forming the slits on both sides of the track groove of the outer ring, and utilizes the elastic deformation of the track groove forming portion of the outer ring. Since the ball is tightened between the outer and inner rings to assemble it, the clearance between the outer and inner rings and the ball can be eliminated, which eliminates joint play and enables smooth power transmission. Is. Moreover, it is possible to permanently eliminate the joint play within the elastic limit of the track groove forming portion of the outer ring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a constant velocity universal joint for steering according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an outer ring used in the constant velocity universal joint for steering according to the present invention (a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the outer ring (a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3) showing a modified example of the outer ring.

5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional fixed type constant velocity universal joint (cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 5).

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a conventional fixed type constant velocity universal joint (cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 4).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 track groove 2 outer ring 2a track groove forming part 3 track groove 4 inner ring 5 ball 6 cage 7 slit

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An inner ring for connecting a steering shaft of an automobile to a steering gear, the inner ring having a predetermined number of track grooves axially formed on a spherical outer peripheral surface, and the inner ring having a spherical inner peripheral surface. The outer ring is formed with the same number of track grooves as the track grooves in the same direction and also extends in the axial direction, a plurality of balls for transmitting torque by interposing between the track grooves of the outer and inner rings, and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the outer ring. And a cage for holding the ball, which is arranged between the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and slits are formed on both sides of the track groove of the outer ring to elastically deform the track groove forming portion of the outer ring. A constant velocity universal joint for steering, characterized in that balls are press-fitted between the track grooves of the outer and inner rings by utilizing the elastic deformation of the groove formation portion.