JPH06300049A - Manufacture of flexible coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method for manufacturing a durable flexible coupling which possesses sufficient torsional strength as a function condition necessary for the flexible coupling and also low rigidity absorbent of the displacement in the axial direction. CONSTITUTION:The part P in contact with the cylindrical body 3 of a reinforcing fiber 4 wound between a driving shaft side cylindrical body and a driven shaft side cylindrical body is adhesion-fixed by the hard resin group material, and a reinforcing fiber bundle 4A in a wound part Q which is not in contact with the cylindrical body 3 of the reinforcing fiber 4 is covered with a rubber elastic body 5 by using the solution of the rubber elastic body, or impregnated with the liquid oil, ann further covered with the rubber elastic body 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible joint, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a flexible joint which connects a drive shaft and a driven shaft suitable for a power transmission system of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional flexible joint of this type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-146623. In this conventional example, a cylindrical body connected to the drive shaft side and a cylindrical body connected to the driven shaft side are arranged at equal positions in the circumferential direction, and special processing is performed between the adjacent cylindrical bodies. The formed fiber cord is wound a plurality of times, and then rubber glue is applied to the fiber cord. Furthermore, by providing an intermediate flange on the tubular body and separating and restraining the loops of the adjacent cords by this, for adhesion fixing of the fiber cord or molding pressure during the whole covering molding with the rubber elastic body in the next step. , It is designed to prevent the fiber cords from biting or disturbing each other and deteriorating during long-term use of the joint.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional example, the fiber cord to be used is polyamide fiber or polyester fiber having a large elongation, and is bonded and fixed with a soft material such as rubber glue. However, when using it as a flexible joint, even if a tensile force acts between two adjacent tubular bodies, the fiber cords wound multiple times repeatedly bear the stress relatively evenly, which is proportional to the number of turns. Since strength is expressed, there are few problems, but when inorganic fibers such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, alumina fiber, silicon carbide fiber, or organic fibers such as aramid fiber are used, which have low elongation, they are flexible. When adhesively fixing with a different material, when pulled, the fibers wound in the upper layer tend to sink into the lower layer, so the strength does not increase in proportion to the number of windings,
When higher strength is required, it is necessary to fix with a hard material such as epoxy resin. In this case, the fiber is impregnated through the epoxy resin tank as in the conventional method, and is wound between both tubular bodies a number of times, and then the epoxy resin is heat-cured and bonded in a tubular shape. Since the winding part) is also hardened and hardened into a rod shape by hard resin, when a flexible joint is constructed by assembling such constrained elements, it is advantageous in terms of the strength in the torsional direction of torque transmission, but on the rigid surface, especially the drive shaft and There is a problem that the rigidity in the direction parallel to the driven shaft becomes excessive, which is not preferable as a flexible joint.

Therefore, the adhesive and fixing with a rigid resin material such as an epoxy resin is limited to only the portion where the fibers come into contact with both tubular bodies, and the fibers of the other portions are not impregnated, and the axial strength is lowered while maintaining the torsional strength. A method of achieving rigidity can be considered. However, in this case, when it is used as a flexible joint, there is a problem in that the uncoated portions of the fibers rub against each other and are worn and damaged, resulting in poor fatigue durability.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, to maintain sufficient strength in the torsional direction which is the main functional condition as a flexible joint, and to maintain the axial direction between the shafts. The object of the present invention is to propose a method of manufacturing a flexible joint having durability that can flexibly cope with the displacement of the above and absorb it.

[0006]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a reinforcing fiber obtained by winding a plurality of reinforcing fibers between tubular bodies provided on the drive shaft side and the driven shaft side. In manufacturing a flexible joint having a bundle of link elements,
A region of the reinforcing fiber bundle that comes into contact with the tubular body is adhesively fixed with a hard resin material, and a winding portion of the reinforcing fiber bundle that does not come into contact with the tubular body is covered with a solution of a rubber elastic body. Alternatively, it is characterized in that the liquid oil is impregnated and further coated with a rubber elastic body as an outer skin, or the liquid oil is injected into the outer skin of the rubber elastic body.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the reinforcing fiber bundle of the link element formed by winding the reinforcing fiber bundle between the cylindrical bodies a plurality of times is formed into a tubular shape by using a hard resin material for the reinforcing fiber bundle. The strength of the link element in the twisting direction can be increased by adhesively fixing it to the body, and the winding part that does not contact the tubular body in this state is covered with a solution of a rubber elastic body or is in a liquid state. By impregnating with oil, the displacement in the axial direction can be elastically absorbed and the rigidity can be kept low. As described above, the strength in the torsional direction and the absorption of the axial displacement can be achieved in each link element. By making them function in a shared manner, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of durability and fatigue resistance.

In this case, the rubber elastic body to be coated on the winding portion is a rubber elastic body dissolved in an appropriate solvent.
An elastic epoxy resin, an aqueous emulsion of a rubber elastic body, an aqueous emulsion of urethane rubber may be used, and a plasticizer may be used as the oil.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of the construction of a flexible joint manufactured according to the present invention as viewed from the axial direction. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a drive shaft which is rotationally driven about an axis indicated by a point 0 ( (Not shown), a total of three first inner cylinder members respectively connected to circumferentially trisecting positions, and 2 is a circumference of a driven shaft (not shown) side which is coaxially rotatable with the drive shaft. It is a total of three second inner cylinder members that are connected to the trisection position in the direction. These 3
Each of the first inner cylinder member 1 and the second inner cylinder member 2 has a point 0.
Are arranged at equal intervals with a central angle of 60 degrees centered on
A total of six elastic links L are wound between the first and second inner tubular members 1 and 2 adjacent to each other.

In these elastic links L, reinforcing fibers 4 such as glass fibers are laminated in layers as shown in FIG. 2 between a pair of outer cylinder members 3, 3 which are press-fitted into the inner cylinder members 1 and 2. Reinforcing fiber 4
Fixes only the contact portion P that comes into contact with the outer tubular member 3 with a cured resin having an excellent adhesive force such as an epoxy resin. The low-viscosity silicone oil 6 is impregnated into the reinforcing fiber bundle 4A of the winding portion Q other than the contact portion P. Note that FIG.
Then, only two of the six elastic links L have reinforcing fibers 4
Are provided, and the other four are not shown. The total of six elastic links L are formed in a substantially regular hexagonal shape as shown in FIG. 1 by press-fitting and fixing the inner peripheral portions of the outer cylindrical members 3 to the outer peripheral portions of the inner cylindrical members 1 and 2 adjacent to each other. Is integrated into the half-face. And after this,
The outer side of the elastic link L is covered with a rubber elastic body 5 (see FIG. 1) to form a flexible joint member 10.

Next, the production of such a flexible joint will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This time, only one of the six elastic links L constituting the flexible joint 10 was manufactured in order to easily measure the fatigue strength. In the process, first, the outer tubular members 3 and 3 were held and fixed at a specified pitch, and the glass fiber yarn of count 135 was layered and wound 600 turns. At this time, the epoxy resin (epoxy equivalent of about 190) and the curing agent mixture were applied only to the contact portion P. And
After the winding of the fiber yarn was completed, the fiber bundle was heat-cured in an oven at 80 ° C. for 3 hours, and the fiber bundle was adhesively fixed to the outer cylinder member 3.3.
Further, 1 g of low-viscosity silicone oil (about 500 CS) was applied to the winding portion Q not impregnated with resin to impregnate the inside of the fiber. In this state, it is set in a mold, and urethane rubber (rubber hardness JIS40A) is poured outside the glass fiber bundle corresponding to the rubber elastic body 5 shown in FIG.
It was heat-cured in a furnace at 0 ° C. for 2 hours and taken out from the mold to prepare one elastic link L (Sample 1). The silicon oil may be impregnated by a method of injecting it into the fiber after forming the outer skin film.

Further, in order to compare the fatigue resistance with the sample 1 described above, a sample (sample 2) in which the winding portion Q was not impregnated with anything was prepared at the same time. Then, after performing a tensile / compression double-fatigue fatigue test with a tensile load of 700 kgf and 100,000 cycles for each of the samples 1 and 2, a tensile tester was used to pull between the outer cylinder members to measure the residual strength. Table 1 shows a comparison of the results in terms of strength ratio. As a result, it was confirmed that the strength of Sample 1 post-impregnated with silicon oil was high and the fatigue resistance could be improved.

[0015]

[Table 1]

Furthermore, in order to compare the method of fixing the contact portion P with the sample 1 described above, the fixing of the glass fiber 4 to the contact portion P is replaced with an epoxy resin, and a relatively soft and elastic polyurethane rubber is used. (Rubber hardness, JIS40
Using A), the coated contact portion P was heat-cured at 60 ° C. for 3 hours to prepare a sample 3, and both the sample 1 and the sample 1 were pulled by a tensile tester between the outer cylinder members 3 and 3 to break. The strength was measured.

As a result, the intensity ratios shown in Table 2 were obtained. As is clear from Table 2, it was clarified that Sample 3 using polyurethane rubber for fixing the contact portion P had a lower breaking strength.

[0018]

[Table 2]

In addition to the above-mentioned sample 1, as a second embodiment, a solution of the polyurethane rubber (2.5 parts of methyl ethyl ketone as a solvent is added to 1 part of the urethane rubber) on the glass fiber of the winding part Q thereof. ), Air-dried at room temperature to evaporate the solvent, and then heat-cured at 60 ° C. for 3 hours to coat such reinforcing fibers with the rubber elastic body 6. Further, the urethane rubber (undiluted) was used as an outer cover, and was heat-cured at 60 ° C. for 3 hours to cover the surface with a thickness of about 2 mm, and a sample 4 was prepared corresponding to the rubber elastic body 5 in FIG. Note that Sample 2 was used as a material to be compared with this.

Then, the samples 4 and 2 were subjected to a tensile compression double swing fatigue test with a tensile load of 700 kgf and 100,000 cycles using a fatigue tester, and then tensioned between outer cylinder members using a tensile tester to determine the residual breaking strength. Was measured. The results are shown in Table 3 as a ratio to the fracture strength of Sample 5 before fatigue loading. As is clear from this, the residual strength of the sample 4 in which polyurethane rubber is thinly impregnated and coated is high, and the coating of the rubber elastic body improves fatigue resistance. Sample 4
The reason that the ratio exceeds 100% is considered to be because the strength increased due to impregnation more than the strength decrease due to fatigue loading.

[0021]

[Table 3]

Next, sample 1 produced as the first embodiment
On the other hand, as a third example, an acrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR, high nitrile) -based aqueous latex (solid content of 2 is added to the unimpregnated yarn of the winding portion Q as the rubber elastic body 5.
0% diluted) and dried at 120 ° C. for 2 hours, and then sample 5 surface-coated with polyurethane rubber (undiluted) was prepared.
A fatigue test was conducted. The residual strength ratio at this time is shown in Table 3.

Also in this example, as is clear from the comparison with the residual ratio of the sample 2 in which the rubber elastic body 5 was not impregnated and coated, it can be seen that the impregnation treatment with the synthetic rubber latex improves the fatigue resistance. Although not shown as an example, for reference, the rubber latex used has a pH close to neutrality (PH = 8), and even at the same PH value, an alkali containing sodium ion or the like is used for pH adjustment. It was more advantageous in strength to use the ammonium system instead of using. It is considered that this is because alkali is less likely to remain on the surface of the glass fiber yarn at the time of drying after impregnation, and thus damage to the glass fiber is suppressed.

In this case, the oil to be impregnated in the winding portion is not limited to silicone oil, but various liquid oils having properties such as low volatility at high temperature and fluidity and slidability even at low temperature. It is preferable to use, for example, a lubricant such as liquid paraffin or glycol monoether,
It is desirable to use a softening agent such as a naphthene-based or paraffin-based softener, and a plasticizer such as dioctyl phthalate.

By manufacturing the flexible joint by the method described in the above embodiment, the reinforcing fibers such as glass fibers, which are respectively wound around the two outer cylindrical members in multiple layers, are provided with epoxy resin on the individual outer cylindrical members. A sufficiently high torsional strength can be maintained by being fixed by adhesion with a tough adhesive such as. Further, the adhesive fixing with such a tough adhesive is limited to the contact portion with the outer cylinder member, and the winding portion between the outer cylinder members is impregnated and covered with a rubber elastic body or the like capable of maintaining flexibility. By doing so, the rigidity can be kept low to allow axial displacement, and wear and damage due to sliding between fibers are prevented against repeated stress of tension and compression generated in the winding section, and fatigue durability It is possible to improve the sex.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the area of the reinforcing fiber bundle that comes into contact with the tubular body is adhered and fixed with a hard resin material to form the tubular body of the reinforcing fiber bundle. The winding section that does not come into contact with the rubber is coated with a solution of a rubber elastic body, or is impregnated with liquid oil, and is further covered with a rubber elastic body as an outer skin, or a liquid is contained in the outer skin of the rubber elastic body. By injecting that oil, it is possible to maintain sufficient torsional strength with respect to the displacement between the drive shaft and the driven shaft with respect to the rotation direction, and to absorb the mutual displacement in the axial direction. Low rigidity can be maintained as much as possible, and fatigue resistance and durability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a flexible joint according to the present invention as viewed in the axial direction.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing one of the elastic links shown in FIG. 1 taken out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Inner cylinder member 3 Outer cylinder member L Elastic link P Contact part Q Winding part 4 Reinforcing fiber 4A Reinforcing fiber bundle 5 Rubber elastic body 6 Silicon oil 10 Flexible joint member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When manufacturing a flexible joint having a link element of a reinforcing fiber bundle formed by winding a reinforcing fiber a plurality of times between tubular bodies provided on a drive shaft side and a driven shaft side, the reinforcing fiber is provided. The range of contact with the tubular body of the bundle is adhesively fixed with a hard resin material, and the winding portion of the reinforcing fiber bundle that does not contact the tubular body is coated with a solution of a rubber elastic body, or A method for manufacturing a flexible joint, which comprises impregnating a liquid oil and further coating it with a rubber elastic body as an outer cover, or injecting the liquid oil into the outer cover of the rubber elastic body.