JPH06185538A - Shaft coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a steering from striking a heavy blow at the breast of a driver as a result of the driver being collided with the steering ring by providing structure wherein a rubber bush to surround the whole periphery of a cylinder is fitted in each hole and the rubber bush is pulled off from the hole in a direction in which the axial length of a shaft is shortened by means of a constant force in the axial direction of the axis of the shaft. CONSTITUTION:Four holes 2-21, 2022, 2-23, and 2-24 are formed a disc body 1 made of synthetic resin and all arranged on one and the same center of a circle. The holes 21 and 23 are coupled to the yoke 3 of a shaft and the holes 22 and 24 to the yoke 4 of the 24 shaft. Meanwhile, a rubber bush 5 has a cylinder 6 the outer periphery of which is covered with a cylindrical rubber resilient body 7. Annular rubber flanges 8 and 9 are formed to the two ends thereof and pressed in the hole 2 and pull-off is controlled. Thus, the length of the shaft is reduced by an amount equivalent to length by which the rubber bush 5 is protruded from the hole 2. This constitution causes instantaneous contraction of a steering shaft when a driver and the steering are collided with each other upon collision of a vehicle and protection of a driver.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shaft coupling mainly composed of a rubber elastic body, and more particularly to a shaft coupling used for a steering shaft portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid increase in automobile accidents,
In order to protect the driver from the impact of a collision, there is a tube inside the steering shaft that absorbs the energy while being crushed by the impact, or a cross joint is provided in the middle of the shaft to absorb the energy of the collision. It was Further, a ball is enclosed between the inner tube and the outer tube of the steering shaft, and when the ball receives an impact, it moves while receiving an indentation to absorb the impact. However, all of these are those which impart impact absorbing ability to the steering shaft, and there is no one which imparts such a function to the shaft coupling of the steering shaft. A shaft coupling for a steering shaft mainly composed of such a rubber elastic body is generally one in which a shaft mounting cylinder is embedded inside the rubber elastic body, and a reinforcing cord is wound inside the cylinder. Its main purpose was to reduce vibration, and it itself did not have shock absorbing ability.

[0003]

In other words, this type of shaft joint has a shaft joint structure that softens the shock applied to the driver by shortening the shaft itself even if a large force is applied in the axial direction of the steering shaft. The current situation is that it is not. In view of the present situation as described above, the present invention is a device in which the shaft coupling itself used for the steering shaft is devised, and when a large force is applied in the axial direction of the shaft,
The shaft is provided with a function of shortening the shaft, and is intended to prevent an accident in which the driver collides with the steering wheel and hits the chest.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a new shaft coupling for achieving the above-mentioned objects, and the gist of the invention is to install a shaft coupling between two shafts. A disk-shaped shaft coupling that transmits a plurality of holes arranged concentrically with the shaft on one side, and a plurality of holes connected with the shaft on the other side on a concentric circle, and Rubber bushes that are arranged alternately and surround the entire circumference of the cylinder are fitted into each hole, and the rubber bushes are pulled out from the holes in a direction in which the axial length of the shaft is shortened by a constant axial force of the shaft. A shaft coupling with a stopper mechanism that is structured so that the rubber bush does not come out in the direction in which the axial length of the shaft becomes longer. Consists of the body, There are those according to the shaft coupling with a rubber bushing with an integrated easily outer tubular member sliding on the outer peripheral surface of the rubber elastic body.

Further, a stopper flange is formed on the rubber bush or is formed on the board as a stopper mechanism in which the rubber bush is pulled out of the hole by a constant axial force and the axial length of the shaft is shortened. The formed holes are frustoconical holes, and every other row of holes has a frustoconical shape in the opposite direction.

[0006]

The present invention is a shaft coupling having the above-mentioned structure, in which the shafts are connected to both sides thereof, and when a large force is applied in the axial direction of the shaft, the rubber bush does not come off on one side. The rubber bush is configured to be pulled out on the other side. That is, in this shaft coupling, the rubber bush is pulled out from the hole of the board only in the direction in which the shaft is shortened. Therefore, when such a shaft coupling is used for a steering shaft of a vehicle, the impact is shortened due to the impact at the time of a collision from the front or the back of the vehicle. However, it will not lead to a major accident.

A rigid body made of metal, aluminum, synthetic resin or the like is generally used as the board in the present invention. Further, as the rubber elastic body used as the rubber bush, it is preferable to use a low-friction compounding rubber, and the applicant of the present invention has filed Japanese Patent Application No.
As proposed in No. 6, a raw material rubber may be blended with a fatty acid amide such as hydroxy stearoamide, erucyl amide, ethylene bis stearoamide, stearoamide, lauryl amide or palmityl amide. Further, the raw rubber is used in combination with or alone with the fatty acid amide, preferably 1 to 50 parts by weight of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene powder having a viscosity average molecular weight of 1,000,000 or more is blended to obtain a low friction blended rubber. You can also Furthermore, a material that is easily slippery on the outer peripheral surface of the rubber bush, for example, an outer cylinder made of Teflon resin or a cloth that is baked may be used.

The rubber bush fitted in the hole of the board is
Generally, the rubber bush is press-fitted from the exit side. However, depending on the shape of the hole formed in the board, the rubber bush and the board may be integrated by vulcanization or the like.

The holes formed in the board are connected to the yoke portions of the shafts connected to both sides of the board. The rows of holes are arranged in concentric circles, and they are generally the same. Are arranged on the center of the circle.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the shaft coupling of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a shaft coupling of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a synthetic resin board having four holes 2 formed therein, all of which are arranged on the same circle center. The holes 2 ₁ and 2 ₃ are used to connect the shaft 3 with the yoke 3, and the holes 2 ₂ and 2 ₄ are used to connect the shaft b.
It is used for connection with the yoke 4 of the.

On the other hand, the rubber bush 5 is formed by surrounding a cylinder 6 with a cylindrical rubber elastic body 7 on the outer periphery thereof. Further, annular rubber flanges 8 and 9 are formed at both ends of the rubber elastic body 7 and are press-fitted into the hole 2.
The annular rubber flanges 8 and 9 are shaped so as to sandwich the board 1 from the left and right, and the slip-out is controlled.

Therefore, when the steering shafts a, b are connected to this shaft joint for practical use, the yokes 3,
Although the force is applied to the rubber bush 5 from 4, the rubber bush 5 comes out from the hole 2 when the deformation of the annular rubber flanges 8 and 9 exceeds the limit. That is, the shaft a,
In b, the shaft is shortened by the amount of the rubber bush 5 coming out of the hole 2. Therefore, when a vehicle or the like collides, the driver does not strongly collide with the steering wheel, but when the driver and the steering wheel collide, the steering shaft instantly contracts to protect the driver.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the shaft coupling of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing only the rubber bush. In this example, of the annular rubber flanges 8 and 9 formed at both ends of the rubber elastic body 7 of the rubber bush 5, the rubber flange 8 has a large diameter and one rubber flange 9 has a small diameter. The small-diameter annular rubber flange 9 side is pressed into the hole 2 first.

Therefore, when the steering shafts a and b are connected to this shaft joint for practical use, when a force is applied in the length direction of the shaft, the side where the rubber bush 5 comes out of the hole 2 is removed. The small-diameter annular rubber flange 9 side, and the large-diameter annular rubber flange 8 cannot slip out of the hole 2. That is, the shafts a and b are connected to the small-diameter annular rubber flange 9 side of the rubber bush 5, and if these shafts come out, the shafts become short. Therefore, when a vehicle or the like collides, the steering shaft is instantly contracted at the time of collision between the driver and the steering wheel to protect the driver. still,
In the annular rubber flanges 8 and 9, it is possible not to increase the diameter of the annular rubber flanges, or to set the diameters of the annular rubber flanges to be large or small, and to make the flanges different in thickness so as to have the directionality of the withdrawal from the hole 2. Needless to say.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the rubber bush 5 used in the third embodiment of the shaft coupling of the present invention. In this case, one end of the cylinder 6 to form a radially enlarged flange ₆₁ on the outside and covers the outer periphery surface of the cylindrical 6 cylindrical in the rubber elastic body 7. In this example, the side provided with the flange 6 ₁ does not come out from the hole 2 of the board 1 and the annular rubber flange 9 side having a small diameter on the other side comes out exclusively. Therefore, the yokes a and b of the shaft may be connected to the rubber flange 9 side.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of a rubber bush 5 of yet another example. On this side, the outer circumference of the cylindrical rubber elastic body 7 of the rubber bush 5 shown in FIG. 6 is made of Teflon resin. The outer cylinder member 10 is fitted. Therefore, the slip between the rubber bush 5 and the hole 2 of the board 1 becomes good,
The rubber bush 5 can be pulled out even when the impact force is relatively small.

In each of the above-mentioned examples, the stopper mechanism is provided on the rubber bush 5 side for the escape between the rubber bush 5 and the hole of the board body 1. However, the stopper mechanism is provided on the board body 1 side. It may be provided. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the stopper mechanism is provided on the board 1 side. That is, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another example of a shaft coupling of the present invention, the rubber hole 2 ₀ Banthai 1 in this case has a frustum shape, fitted into the hole 2 ₀ The bush 5 also has a frustum-shaped outer shape. Structure of this bush 5 mow the Banthai 1 Examples are wearing vulcanization, but such rubber bushing 5 can escape to the X-direction side of the bore 2 _0, can not get out in the Y direction It has become.

[0018]

According to the shaft joint of the present invention, the rubber bush can be removed only on one side. When this is adopted as the shaft joint of the steering shaft, it is large in the axial direction of the shaft due to an accident or the like. When a force is applied, the rubber bush is pulled out in the direction of shortening the shaft, and the impact caused by the driver's collision is remarkably reduced. Of course, it usually acts as a shaft coupling with rubber interposed,
This brings about reduction of vibrations from power steering and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a shaft coupling according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the shaft coupling of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing only the rubber bush of the shaft coupling in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of a rubber bush of another structure used in the shaft coupling of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of still another rubber bush.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the shaft coupling of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ‥‥ _{Banthai, 2,2 0, 2 1, 2} 2, 2 3, 2 4 ‥‥ hole, 3, 4 ‥‥ shaft Yo - click, 5 ‥‥ Gomubusshiyu, 6 ‥‥ cylinder, 6 ₁ ‥ ... Flange of cylinder 6, 7 ... rubber elastic body, 8, 9 ... annular rubber flange, 10 ... outer cylinder material. a, b ... Shaft,

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A disc-shaped shaft coupling mounted between two shafts for transmitting power, wherein a plurality of holes connected to a shaft on one side are concentrically arranged and a shaft on the other side is arranged. A plurality of holes to be connected are arranged concentrically and alternately with the holes, and a rubber bush surrounding the entire circumference of the cylinder is fitted into each hole, and the shaft is rotated by a constant force in the axial direction of the shaft. A shaft coupling, wherein the rubber bush is pulled out from the hole in a direction in which the axial length of the shaft becomes shorter. 2. The shaft coupling according to claim 1, wherein the rubber bush is provided with a stopper mechanism so as not to slip out of the hole in a direction in which the axial length of the shaft increases. 3. The shaft coupling according to claim 1, wherein the board is made of synthetic resin. 4. The shaft coupling according to claim 1, wherein the rubber bush is made of a rubber elastic material having a low friction compounding. 5. The shaft coupling according to claim 1, wherein a slippery outer cylinder member is integrated with the outer peripheral surface of the rubber bush. 6. The shaft coupling according to claim 1, wherein the holes formed in the board are frustoconical holes, and the rows of every other holes are frustoconical in opposite directions.