JPH0626527A - Self-locking metallic cap, plastic bearing and self-locking metallic cap-plastic bearing cup-assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the use of a stop ring, a stop ring groove to cooperate with it, and an additive assembly necessary for these required for assembling a conventional universal joint. CONSTITUTION: A self-locking metal cap-plastic bearing cup assembly 18 is provided with a metal cap 24 having an open end part, and an integral plastic bearing cup 26 fixed and installed in the metal cap 24. On the metal cap 24, an outwardly extended elastic tab 32 integrally formed around the open end part of the metal cap 24 to hold the metal cap 24 in a hole after it is inserted. The plastic bearing cup 26 is provided with an open end part, an integral seal lip part 28 formed around an inner circumference of the open end part, at least one radially extended lubricating groove 38 formed in the surface of an inner end part, and at least one axially extended lubricating groove 36 formed in the surface of an inner side wall.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bearing cup for the ends of universal joint trunnions, and more particularly to self-locking for directly retaining the journal cross in the yoke of the universal joint.
g) Metal bearing caps for plastic bearing assemblies.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Universal joints are two members adapted to rotate about their respective axes of rotation which are either non-aligned or angularly adjustable or non-aligned and angularly adjustable. Or a well known device used to interconnect shafts. This type of universal joint is widely used in steering mechanisms for vehicles. Such a universal joint
It comprises a journal cross formed by a central body portion having four trunnions extending outwardly and equidistantly circumferentially. These trunnions are arranged in axially aligned pairs that are opposed to each other and are arranged in the same plane with a relative right angle therebetween. A bearing cup is rotatably mounted on the end of each trunnion, and two pairs of bearing cups facing each other are fixed in the yoke. Each yoke is fixed to a rotating member and forms a universal joint between them.

In general, the outer surface of the trunnion and the inner wall of the cooperating bearing cup are spaced from each other and the annular body of the needle roller bearing is arranged in this space. Needle roller bearings rollably contact the bearing wall or race and the trunnion for substantially frictionless rotation therebetween. A separate seal made up of a ring of elastic elastomeric material is required to seal the hole present between the open end of the bearing cup and the trunnion. Each separate seal is typically attached to the bearing cup during its assembly.

When mounting a universal joint of this type, the following assembly method is often used. A pair of opposed trunnions of the journal cross are positioned within a pair of holes formed in each arm of the yoke. The bearing cup is axially inserted through one of the holes in the yoke and receives the end of the trunnion which cooperates with the open end of the bearing cup. A retaining ring (sn) is then inserted into the hole behind the closed end of the bearing cup.
a ring) to prevent the bearing cup from moving radially outward away from the trunnion. Another bearing cup is inserted through the holes in the opposing arms of the yoke and similarly secured by retaining rings, which are then similarly attached to the remaining pairs of opposing trunnions.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a journal cross trunnion.
And a self-locking metal cap for a bearing race adapted to be received and secured within the bore of the yoke of the universal joint assembly.
ap). A metal bearing cap having an open end and adapted to carry a bearing race therein is formed integrally with the open end and is spaced inwardly from the open end around a plurality of metal bearing caps. An outwardly extending resilient tab or detent is provided. These tabs lock immediately upon insertion to retain the bearing cup within the bore of the yoke after insertion therein. This novel structure eliminates the need for retaining rings, cooperating retaining ring grooves and the additional assembly required for them.

A plastic bearing is preferably mounted within the self-locking metal cap. The plastic bearing has an integral open-ended plastic bearing cup and an integral sealing lip formed around the inner circumference of the open end of the plastic bearing cup without the need for a separate seal. I have it. The inner surface of the bearing cup has at least one radial groove for lubrication and at least one
Two axial grooves are formed.

The above as well as other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a portion 8 of a universal joint assembly includes a yoke 10 having a pair of arms 12,14. The journal cross 16 is mounted between the arms 12, 14 via a bearing cup assembly 18 received in holes 19 in the arms 12, 14 of the yoke 10. The journal cloth 16 comprises a central body portion 20 having four trunnions 22 extending outwardly and equidistantly circumferentially from one another. The trunnions 22 are arranged at right angles to each other in a single plane. Bearing cup
Assembly 18 is rotatably mounted about the end of each trunnion 22. Also, each pair of bearing cups facing each other
The assembly 18 includes a yoke 10 and arms 12 and 14 thereof.
It is fixed in the hole 19 formed in 1. A pair of yokes 10
Are each fixed to one of a pair of rotating members (not shown) to form a universal joint connection therebetween.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the bearing cup of the present invention
Assembly 18 includes a self-locking metal cap 24 fitted with a bearing cup 26 of suitable material, as described in detail below. The metal cap 24 has an open end and is adapted to receive a suitable bearing arrangement for supporting the end of the trunnion 22 as part of the universal joint assembly. This bearing device is of any suitable type,
For example, it may be an annular body of a needle roller bearing used in a universal joint bearing cup. However, this bearing device is a plastic bearing cup according to another aspect of the invention, as will be further described below.

The metal cap 24 is further provided with a plurality of resilient outwardly extending tabs 32 integrally formed by striking the peripheral wall of the metal cap. Each tab 32 acts to positively retain the metal cap 24 in the hole 19 when the metal cap 24 is inserted into the hole 19 in the arm 12 or arm 14 of the yoke. Each tab 32 is shaped to incline outwardly from the wall of the metal cap 24 away from its open end. That is, when the open end of the metal cap 24 is inserted into the cooperating hole, the outer diameter of the metal cap 24 is approximately equal to the diameter of the hole, so that each elastic tab 32 is biased inward and the metal cap 24 is removed. Allows insertion into hole 19. When the end of the tab 32 has finished passing through the hole 19, the tab 3
Each of the two returns to the outwardly extending position and the ends of the tabs 32 engage the inner surface of the yoke arm 12 or arm 14. Each tab 32 is thus
Alternatively, the bearing cup assembly 18 automatically locks upon insertion into the hole 19 in the arm 14.

At least three tabs 32 must be formed in the metal cap 24 to ensure proper alignment of the metal cap 24 within the holes of the arm 12 or arm 14 of the yoke. Four such tabs 32 are preferably formed around the periphery of the metal cap 24 at equal intervals. Each tab 32 may be formed in any suitable shape by any suitable method, and as described above, each section is strung out from the wall of the metal cap 24.
It is preferable to form the same by means of a king.

In the preferred embodiment, the metal cap 24 holds a plastic bearing cup 26.
The bearing cup 26 is formed as a unitary member having an open end and an integral sealing lip 28 formed around the inner periphery of the open end. The plastic bearing cup 26
It is fixedly mounted in metal cap 24 in any suitable manner, such as by press fitting or adhesive. Suitable adhesives include epoxy resin adhesives. The plastic bearing cup 26 has a chamfered peripheral edge 34 on the outer periphery of its closed end to facilitate assembly within the metal cap 24.
Is provided. The metal cap 24 strengthens and reinforces the plastic bearing cup 26 and keeps the bearing cup 26 in proper alignment with the trunnion 22 and yoke arms 12, 14.

The inner diameter of the plastic bearing cup 26 is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the trunnion 22 so that the plastic bearing cup 26 can be slip fit onto the trunnion 22, for example by a light press fit. I can do it. 1, the integral sealing lip 28 extends outwardly beyond the end face of the plastic bearing cup 26 and sealingly engages a shoulder 30 formed on the trunnion 22. The integral sealing lip 28 is thus provided with a bearing cup 26.
A seal is formed to prevent the lubricant from being lost from the inside and to prevent the introduction of foreign matter into the plastic bearing cup 26. The sealing lip 28 is attached to the plastic bearing cup 2
By molding integrally with 6, a separate sealing member,
There is no need for the time and labor required to extend the assembly of the seal member.

The plastic bearing cup 26 is further formed on its inner surface with one or more elongated grooves extending radially along the end wall and axially along the side wall of the plastic bearing cup 26.
The interface between the trunnion 22 and the trunnion 22 contains and distributes a lubricant. For this purpose, the axial groove 36 must be positioned in communication with the cooperating radial groove 38. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The plastic bearing cup 26 is provided with three circumferentially equally spaced axial grooves 36, each leading to a cooperating radial groove 38. The three radial grooves 38 extend radially from the generally central intersection of the closed ends of the plastic bearing cup 26.

The plastic bearing cup may be formed of any suitable plastic material. For example, 30% glass-filled nylon 6,6 together with 30% glass-filled nylon 4,
6 has been found to be a suitable material for bearing cups.

When assembling a universal joint, such as a self-locking metal cap-plastic bearing cup assembly 18 according to the present invention, the journal cross 1 is used.
6 of the trunnions 22 facing each other are connected to the yoke 1
0 in the pair of holes formed in the arms 12 and 14. Grooves 36, 3 on the inner surface of the plastic bearing cup 26
8 filled with lubricant and bearing cup assembly 18
The open end of is inserted through one of the holes 19 in the yoke 10 to receive the end of a cooperating trunnion 22 in the open end of the plastic bearing cup 26, for example by a light press fit. Each tab 32 formed on the metal cap 24
However, after passing through the holes 19, the tabs 32 return to their outwardly extending positions, respectively, and their ends abut against the inner surface of the arm 14 of the yoke. In this manner, the cap 24 provides for self-locking of the bearing cup assembly 18 as soon as it is inserted into the hole 19 in the arm 14 of the yoke. The second bearing cup assembly 18 is similarly inserted and similarly fixed through the hole in the opposite arm of the yoke 10.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a self-locking metal cap according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of one assembly of a rotating member of a universal joint with a plastic bearing cup assembly.

2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the self-locking metal cap bearing race shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view as seen in the direction of the arrow along line 3-3 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Yoke 18 Bearing Cup / Assembly 19 Hole 22 Trunnion 24 Metal Cap 26 Plastic Bearing Cup 28 Sealing Lip 32 Tabs 36, 38 Grooves

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A self-locking metal cap for fixing a bearing suitable for supporting an end of a journal cross trunnion in a hole of a yoke of a universal joint member, which has an open end and is suitable for supporting a bearing therein. A metal cap, integrally formed with the open end of the metal cap, disposed around the open end and extending outwardly, suitable for retaining the metal cap within the hole after insertion into the hole. A self-locking metal cap that includes a plurality of elastic tabs. 2. The tabs extend outwardly away from the open end of the metal cap so that the tabs can be inserted through the holes formed in the yoke arm during insertion of the metal cap. It flexes inward and returns to the outwardly extended position when the insertion of this cap is completed,
The self-locking metal cap of claim 1. 3. The self-locking metal cap according to claim 1, wherein the metal cap is provided with a peripheral side wall, and each of the tabs is provided with a protruding portion outward from the peripheral side wall. 4. The self-locking metal cap of claim 1, wherein the metal cap is provided with at least three tabs. 5. The self-locking metal cap of claim 4, wherein the metal cap is provided with four tabs. 6. The self-locking metal cap of claim 4, wherein the tabs are circumferentially spaced about each other about the metal cap. 7. The self-locking metal cap of claim 5, wherein the tabs are circumferentially spaced apart from each other about the metal cap in a substantially equal spacing. 8. The self-locking metal cap of claim 1, comprising a plastic bearing mounted within the metal cap. 9. A plastic bearing adapted to be mounted over the end of a journal cross trunnion and secured within a hole in a yoke of a universal joint member, comprising a peripheral side wall, an end wall and an open end. A plastic bearing cup having an integral structure, an integral sealing lip formed around the inner periphery of the open end of the peripheral side wall of the plastic bearing cup, and formed on the inner surface of the end wall of the plastic bearing cup At least one radially extending groove formed on the inner surface of the sidewall of the plastic bearing cup,
A plastic bearing including at least one axially extending groove. 10. Each of said radially extending grooves is positioned to communicate with an associated axially extending groove.
The plastic bearing according to claim 9. 11. The plastic bearing of claim 10 including at least three radially extending grooves and at least three axially extending grooves. 12. The plastic bearing of claim 10, wherein the radially extending grooves are circumferentially spaced from one another at substantially equal intervals. 13. A self-locking metal cap-plastic bearing cup assembly adapted to be mounted around the ends of a journal cross trunnion and secured within the bore of a yoke of a universal joint member, with peripheral sidewalls and ends. A metal cap having a wall and an open end suitable for supporting a bearing therein; the self-locking metal integrally formed in the peripheral sidewall adjacent to the open end of the bearing cap; A plurality of outwardly extending resilient tabs suitable for retaining the bearing cap in the hole after insertion of the cap-plastic bearing cup assembly, a peripheral side wall, an end wall, an open end and the bearing cup side wall. An integral sealing lip formed at its open end around the inner circumference of the at least the inner surface of the bearing cup end wall An integrally constructed plastic bearing cup having one radially extending groove and at least one axially extending groove formed on an inner surface of the bearing cup sidewall and fixedly mounted within the metal cap. Self-locking metal cap-plastic bearing cup
assembly.