JPH0932852A - Thrust needle bearing and centering structure therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrate a thin wall race and a needle in a thrust bearing even if a thick race is formed corresponding to the small area of a thrust pad. SOLUTION: A race 5 which is formed thicker since a thrust pad area between bearing supports 7 is restricted, is interposed between an outer race 13 arranged on the arranging surface of a needle which is far from a thin wall race 4, and a needle 3. In the outer race 13, the top end of an outer race inner circumferential wall 13a which is bending-formed toward the inner circumference of the thin wall race 4 is extended to the inner side of the inner circumferential rim of the thin wall race 4. The thick wall race 5 is housed in a space which is sectioned by the thin wall race 4 and the outer race 13 together with the needle 3, the all component parts of a thrust needle bearing 1 is formed as an integrated unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thrust needle bearing for receiving thrust between relatively rotating objects and a centering structure thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Thrust needle bearings are, for example,
As seen in the RL4F03A type automatic transaxle developed by the applicant of the present invention and in use, and configured as shown at 1 in FIGS. 2 and 3, the automatic transmission 2
Is often used in. 2 and 3 will be described in more detail, on both sides of the array surface of the needle 3 on both sides of
Toruses 4 and 5 in the shape of an annular plate are arranged and provided, and the thrust is transferred between the races 4 and 5 and the relatively rotating objects 6 and 7. Here, 6 is a clutch hub which is a rotating body in the automatic transmission 2, and 7 is
The bearing supports fixed to the transmission case 8 are shown respectively.

By the way, in the automatic transmission 2 having the above-mentioned objects 6 and 7 as constituent parts, the thrust receiving area between one race and the object is limited due to design problems and dimensional restrictions. It may not be possible to catch the thrust throughout the race. 2 and 3, the thrust receiving surface between the race 5 and the bearing support 7 corresponds to this. On the other hand, between the race 4 and the clutch hub 6, the race 4 contacts the clutch hub 6 over the entire surface, and the thrust receiving area between them is not limited.

In the race 5 having a limited thrust receiving area, the portion that does not receive the thrust is distorted with respect to the portion that receives the thrust, causing stress concentration, and as a result, seizure of the thrust needle bearing is likely to occur.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, as shown in the figure,
It has been customary to make the race 5 of which the thrust receiving area is limited to be thick so as to prevent the above distortion from occurring.

[0006]

However, if the thick race is formed by thickening one race 5 as described above, it becomes difficult to join this race to the other thin race 4, and the thick race 5 is connected to the needle. Since the unit composed of 3 and the thin race 4 has to be constructed separately, the following problem arises.

That is, the fact that the thick race 5 is formed separately from the unit composed of the needle 3 and the thin race 4 means that the thick race 5 and the thin race 4 need to be individually centered. The race 5 is fitted to the notch stepped portion 7a of the bearing support 7 to be centered, and the latter unit has three or more axial notch projections 6a formed on the clutch hub 6 to radially move the thin-walled race 4 in the radial direction. Position and center.

By the way, in the case where the thick race 5 and the unit composed of the needle 3 and the thin race 4 are individually centered as described above, the assembly must be carried out while keeping the respective centering achieved. As a result, the assembling work of the automatic transmission 2 is troublesome, and the assembling work of the automatic transmission 2 becomes difficult for the reason described below.

In assembling the automatic transmission 2, the assembling work is carried out with the transmission case 8 standing upright with the right end in the figure facing up. However, when the clutch hub 6 is assembled, it is already assembled. Bearing support 7
The thick race 5 is fitted to the notch stepped portion 7a of the clutch hub 6 for centering, and the axial notch projection 6a of the clutch hub 6 centers the unit of the needle 3 and the thin race 4 and the centering is performed. With the unit in the state not to fall from the clutch hub 6 by the high viscosity agent,
The clutch hub 6 is put on the bearing support 7, the needle 3 is put on the thick race 5, and the assembling of the clutch hub 6 is completed.

Thus, the needle 3 and the thin race 4
Even if it is said that the unit made up of the same is prevented from dropping from the clutch hub 6 by a highly viscous agent, the holding of the unit is actually uncertain, and the unit made up of the needle 3 and the thin race 4 falls during the assembly work. Often, it was a bottleneck in my work.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a thrust needle bearing and a centering structure for the thrust needle bearing which do not cause the above problems at all.

[0012]

For this purpose, the thrust needle bearing of the present invention is a thrust needle bearing that receives thrust between relatively rotating objects, and limits the thrust receiving area of the races on both sides of the needle arrangement surface. The thickened thickened race is interposed between the outer race arranged on the side farther from the thin race with respect to the needle array surface and the needle.

According to this thrust needle bearing, the thick race is integrated with the thin race through the outer race, and all the components of the thrust needle bearing can be unitized. For this reason, the thrust needle bearing can be centered at only one place, and in assembling a device having the above-mentioned relatively rotating object as a component, the place where the centering state of the thrust needle bearing should be kept to the minimum, and the device concerned is minimized. The assembly work of can be simplified.

Further, in the thrust needle bearing centering structure according to the present invention, the thrust needle bearing is centered on an object which is to be assembled first in assembling the apparatus having the object as a component among the objects which rotate relative to each other. The centering portion is formed.

According to the centering structure of the thrust needle bearing having such a construction, after assembling the object to be assembled before assembling the apparatus, the thrust needle bearing is placed on the centering portion formed on the object and the centering is performed. The assembly can be proceeded by taking out and placing the remaining object on the thrust needle bearing in this state. Therefore, the thrust needle bearing does not drop during the assembling work, and the work of applying a high-viscosity agent to prevent this fall is no longer necessary, and the workability of assembling the device can be greatly improved.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a thrust needle bearing and a centering structure thereof according to the present invention, which is developed by the applicant of the present application and is in practical use.
It is applied to a 3A type automatic transaxle, and the same portions in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

The thrust needle bearing 1 in this embodiment is intended to support the clutch hub 6 of the automatic transmission 2 with respect to the fixed bearing support 7 in the axial direction so as to rotate relatively easily. Here, the bearing support 7
The output shaft 11 is fixed to a transmission case shown by 8 in FIG. 2 and rotatably supports the output shaft 11 via bearings 9 and 10. The input shaft 12 is attached to the inner end of the output shaft 11 on the right side in the drawing. Coaxially rotatably penetrates and supports.

In order to transmit the rotation of the input shaft 12 to the output shaft 11, two planetary gear sets (not shown) are arranged on these input / output axes, and the transmission between the input / output shafts by these planetary gear sets is performed. The path, that is, the shift speed is determined by selectively engaging a plurality of friction elements such as a clutch including a clutch having the clutch hub 6 and a brake.

The thrust needle bearing 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. The thrust needle bearing 1 is made by leaving the race 5 which must be thick because the thrust receiving area between the thrust needle bearing 1 and the bearing support 7 is limited.
The outer race 13 is added to. This outer race 13
Is arranged on the side of the array surface of the needles 3 which is far from the thin race 4, and the inner circumference 13a is bent toward the inner circumference of the thin race 4 to form the inner circumference wall of the outer race.

The thick-walled race 5 includes a body portion 13b extending on the radial flange of the outer race 13 and the needle 3.
And the thick race 5 is accommodated in the space defined by the thin race 4 and the outer race 13 together with the needle 3 to form all the components of the thrust needle bearing 1 as an integral unit. .

Next, the centering structure of the thrust needle bearing 1 will be described. Since the thrust needle bearing has all the components integrally formed as described above, only one centering point is required. Of course, in this example, among the clutch hub 6 and the bearing support 7, the notch step portion 7a for centering the thrust needle bearing is formed in the bearing support 7 to be assembled first when the automatic transmission 2 is assembled. The hub 6 is not provided with a thrust needle bearing centering portion.

When assembling the automatic transmission 2, the assembling work is carried out with the transmission case 8 (see FIG. 2) standing upright with the right end in the figure facing upward, and the clutch hub 6
At the stage of assembling, the outer peripheral portions of the outer race 13 and the thick race 5 are fitted to the notched step portions 7a of the already assembled bearing support 7 to center the thrust needle bearing 1 as a whole. Next, attach the clutch hub 6 to the thin race 4 of the thrust needle bearing 1.
Then, the clutch hub 6 is assembled.

According to the thrust needle bearing 1 of the above embodiment, the thick race 5 is integrated with the thin race 4 and the needle 3 via the outer race 13, and all components of the thrust needle bearing are unitized. And the centering of the thrust needle bearing is 1
Only the location 7a is required, and in assembling the automatic transmission 2, the number of locations where the thrust needle bearing 1 should be centered is minimized, and the assembly work of the automatic transmission 2 can be simplified.

According to the thrust needle bearing centering structure of the above embodiment, the center of the thrust needle bearing 1 is the bearing support 7 of the clutch hub 6 and the bearing support 7 which is to be assembled first when the automatic transmission 2 is assembled. Since the centering portion 7a is formed, after the bearing support 7 is assembled, the thrust needle bearing 1 is fitted into the centering portion 7a formed on the bearing support 7 to perform centering.
Can be proceeded by placing it on the thrust needle bearing 1. Therefore, the thrust needle bearing 1 does not fall during the assembly work, and a work of applying a high viscosity agent to prevent this fall. Is also unnecessary, and the workability of assembling the automatic transmission 2 can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts of an automatic transmission showing a thrust needle bearing and a centering structure thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view illustrating a conventional thrust needle bearing in an automatic transmission.

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view showing the conventional thrust needle bearing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Thrust needle bearing 2 Automatic transmission 3 Needle 4 Thin race 5 Thick race 6 Clutch hub 7 Bearing support 7a Notch step (centering) 8 Transmission case 11 Output shaft 12 Input shaft 13 Outer race

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a thrust needle bearing for receiving thrust between relatively rotating objects, a thickened race having a limited thrust receiving area among races on both sides of the needle arrangement surface is related to the needle arrangement surface. A thrust needle bearing characterized by being interposed between the outer race arranged on the side far from the thin race and the needle. 2. The centering portion for centering a thrust needle bearing is formed on an object to be assembled first when assembling a device having the object as a component among the objects that rotate relative to each other. Thrust needle bearing centering structure.