JPH10184717A - Tripod type constant velocity universal joint and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a tripod type constant velocity universal joint which has a good assembly workability and of a low cost. SOLUTION: In a constant velocity universal joint of a structure which assembles a tripod member 4 by installing the cylindrical inner peripheral surfaces of rollers 7 on the outer peripheral surfaces of three leg shafts 5 of the tripod member 4 through plural serieses of cylindrical rollers 6, collars 8 locked to the end faces of the rollers 6 and to prevent the removal of the rollers 6 in the axial direction are formed on the cylindrical inner peripheral surfaces of the rollers 7, and the rollers 7 are installed as a bulk to the leg shafts 5 together with the rollers 6, in the condition fixing tentatively a specific number of rollers 6 by a grease or in a keystone system an the like, on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface by utilizing the collars 8. The collars 8 of the rollers 7 are composed of projecting steps projected on the inner peripheral surface of the rollers, and washers installed on the roller inner peripheral surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tripod type constant velocity universal joint applied to a front wheel drive type automobile and the like, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 8A and 8B show a conventional example of a tripod type constant velocity universal joint for transmitting rotational power of a drive shaft of a front-wheel-drive automobile to front wheels at a constant speed. A roller 7 rotatably fitted to three leg shafts 5 protruding in the radial direction of the tripod member 4 is fitted into three cylindrical track grooves 2 formed in the outer ring axial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral surface. It is composed. The outer peripheral surface of each leg shaft 5 is, for example, a cylindrical surface, and a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements (rollers, needle bearings, etc.) are formed on the outer peripheral surface.
6, the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the roller 7 'is rotatably fitted. The rollers 7 ′ correspond to the corresponding track grooves 2 of the outer race 1.
Are engaged with the track grooves 2 and slidably in the axial direction of the outer ring while being engaged with the roller guide surfaces 3 on both sides of the outer ring 1. Communicate.

The outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 5 of the tripod member 4 is, for example, a cylindrical surface as shown in FIG. 9, and an inner washer 11 is fitted at a base end of the cylindrical surface, and an outer washer 12 and a clip 13 are fitted at a distal end. The plurality of rolling elements 6 having the same diameter are inserted between the washers 11 and 12 in series. The plurality of rolling elements 6 are arranged in a series along the outer periphery of the leg shaft 5 without any gap. The outer washer 12 contacts the end face of the rolling element 6,
The position of the rolling element 6 in the leg shaft 5 in the axial direction is restricted to prevent the rolling element 6 from falling off in the axial direction. The clip 13 fits into a groove 14 formed on the outer periphery of the leg shaft 5, and fixes the outer washer 12 to the leg shaft 5.

[0004]

In the tripod member 4 shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of rolling elements 6 are arranged in series on the outer periphery of the leg shaft 5 and the roller 7 'is inserted and assembled. The assembly work of inserting the rollers 7 'and inserting the plurality of rolling elements 6 between them is difficult because of many man-hours.
This has deteriorated the assembling workability of the tripod type constant velocity universal joint.

[0005] The outer washer 12 for preventing the rolling element 6 from falling off the leg shaft 5 must have a special shape for preventing the roller 7 'from falling off. Also requires a clip 13 for attaching the tripod member 5 to the leg shaft 5, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the tripod member 4 are increased, and it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost tripod type constant velocity universal joint with good assembling workability.

[0007]

The technical means for achieving the above object of the present invention is to provide a tripod member inserted into the outer race in three track grooves formed in the inner periphery of the outer race in the axial direction of the outer race. Rollers rotatably fitted to the three leg shafts via a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements are engaged with roller guide surfaces in the outer ring axial direction on both sides of the track groove to be rotatable and slidable. In the tripod-type constant velocity universal joint fitted therein, a flange portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller of the tripod member to prevent a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements from coming off in the axial direction.

Here, the flange on the inner peripheral surface of the roller is formed in a projecting step integrally protruding from both ends in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the roller, and is formed circumferentially on both ends in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the roller. It is desirable to form the flange with a washer partially inserted into the groove in order to simplify the structure of the flange. By forming such a flange portion on the inner peripheral surface of the roller, a member and a structure for preventing the rolling element from falling off on the leg shaft of the tripod member become unnecessary, and the number of parts of the tripod member and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Further, the following method of assembling the tripod member according to the present invention can be realized.

That is, a flange is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller of the tripod member to prevent a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements from coming off in the axial direction, and a plurality of rolling members are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller along the flange. A manufacturing method is possible in which the roller is fitted to the leg shaft together with the rolling element while the moving element is temporarily fixed with grease.

Alternatively, a flange is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller of the tripod member to prevent a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements from coming off in the axial direction, and a plurality of rolling members are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller along the flange. One of the rolling elements is arranged in series, leaving one of the rolling elements, and the remaining one of the rolling elements is press-fitted into a gap between two at both ends of the series of rolling elements, and a predetermined number of the rolling elements are temporarily fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the roller. In this state, a manufacturing method in which the roller is fitted to the leg shaft together with the rolling element is possible.

In the former manufacturing method, the rolling element is temporarily adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the roller with grease, and when the roller is inserted into the leg shaft of the tripod member together with the rolling element, the flange of the roller is fixed to the rolling element. Prevent shedding. In the latter manufacturing method, the method of arranging rolling elements on the roller inner peripheral surface in a series is called a keystone method without using an adhesive, and also in this case, when the roller is fitted together with the rolling elements on the leg shaft of the tripod member. The flange of the roller prevents the rolling element from falling off. In such a manufacturing method, since the roller and the rolling element are integrated and assembled to the leg shaft at the same time, the workability of assembling the tripod member is improved.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings including FIGS. 8 and 9 to avoid duplication of description.

A tripod member 4 shown in FIG. 1 has a roller 7 inserted into the outer periphery of a leg shaft 5 through a plurality of rolling elements 6.
A flange 8 for preventing the rolling element 6 from slipping off is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring of the tripod-type constant velocity universal joint (not shown). The outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 5 is, for example, a cylindrical surface, and a plurality of cylindrical rolling elements 6 of rollers and needle bearings are arranged on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface without gaps. The inner peripheral surface is inserted.

A flange 8 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder of the roller 7
Are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG.
The flange 8 in (A) is a pair of convex steps 8a integrally protruding from both ends in the axial direction of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder of the roller 7. For example, a groove in which the peripheral edge of the rolling element 6 is fitted is formed at the center of the inner peripheral surface of the roller 7 except for both ends in the axial direction, and convex steps 8a are formed at both axial ends of the groove. Flange 8 in FIG. 2 (B)
Is formed by a pair of washers 8b fitted in grooves 10 formed at both axial ends of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the roller 7.
The protruding length of the washer 8b from the inner peripheral surface of the roller cylinder is:
This corresponds to the step difference of the protruding step 8a in FIG.

The tripod member 4 of the joint of the present invention can be assembled by the assembling method shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 by forming the flange 8 for preventing the rolling element from falling off on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder of the roller 7.

FIG. 3 shows the case where the roller 7 shown in FIG. 2A is attached to the leg shaft 5. In the present invention, all the rolling elements 6 are temporarily adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the roller 7 with grease 9. In a state where the rollers are arranged in series, the rollers 7 are integrated with the rolling elements 6 and fitted into the leg shafts 5. The grease 9 is an existing grease for smoothing the rotation of the rolling elements 6. The grease 9 is applied in advance to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder of the roller 7 with a desired thickness, and the rolling elements 6 are pressed from above to temporarily form the plurality of rolling elements 6. Glue. Thereafter, when the roller 7 and the rolling element 6 are inserted into the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 5, the flange 8 of the roller 7 prevents the rolling element 6 from falling off, and the roller 7 and the rolling element 6 The insertion is performed reliably and smoothly.

FIG. 4 also shows the case where the roller 7 shown in FIG. 2A is attached to the leg shaft 5. In this case, a plurality of rolling elements 6 are temporarily fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the roller 7 in series by a keystone method. In this state, the roller 7 is inserted into the leg shaft 5 together with the rolling element 6. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a plurality of rolling elements 6 one less than the total number are arranged in series on the inner circumferential surface of the roller 7, and two rolling elements 6 at both ends of the series of rolling elements 6 are arranged. The last one rolling element 6 is pressed into the gap g formed therebetween. In this case, the relationship between the diameter d1 of the rolling element 6 and the minimum distance d2 of the gap g is represented by d1.
> D2, and the difference [d1-d2] is from several .mu.
Make it possible to reduce μ. In this way, the gap g
When the last one rolling element 6 is press-fitted, all the rolling elements 6 are temporarily held in series on the inner circumferential surface of the roller 7.

In the case of FIG. 4 as well, when the roller 7 is fitted together with the rolling element 6 on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 5, the flange 8 of the roller 7 prevents the rolling element 6 from falling off and the roller 7 7 and the rolling element 6 are securely inserted and smoothly performed. Roller 7
A plurality of rolling elements 6 previously mounted on the
Can smoothly rotate between the leg shaft 5 and the roller 7 without any problem if the above-mentioned tightening allowance is provided.

As described above, the operation of assembling the tripod member 4 by inserting the unit in which the rolling element 6 is assembled to the roller 7 into the leg shaft 5 is technically easier than the conventional assembling operation. As a result, assembly workability is further improved.
When the flange 8 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder like the roller 7 in FIG. 2A, a washer or clip for preventing the rolling element from falling off and attached to the leg shaft 5 can be omitted. The number of components and the number of assembling steps of the tripod member 4 are reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be easily reduced.

Incidentally, even in the case where the flange 8 is constituted by the washer 8b like the roller 7 in FIG. 2B, assembly of the tripod member using the bonding method using grease in FIG. 3 or the keystone method in FIG. It is possible. This FIG. 2 (B)
The roller 7 uses a pair of washers 8b to prevent the rolling element from falling off, so there is no effect of reducing the number of components described above. However, the flat washer 8b simply projects from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder of the roller 7. Since an inexpensive material having a simple shape such as that described above can be used, the production cost of the tripod member can be reduced.

In the embodiment described above, the roller 7 is inserted through the cylindrical rolling element 6 into the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft 5 of the tripod member 4; The present invention is also applicable to a tripod member in which the roller 7 is swingably mounted on the spherical surface, and a specific example thereof will be described with reference to FIGS.

The leg shaft 5 of the tripod member 4 shown in FIG.
Is a true spherical surface having a radius R1 having a center P1 on the axis of the leg shaft 5, and the rolling element 6 slidably contacts the true spherical surface, and the roller 7 swings with respect to the leg shaft 5. Mounted as possible. Such a tripod member 4 is effectively applied to a constant velocity universal joint disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-19106, which is a prior patent filed by the present applicant.

The leg shaft 5 of the tripod member 4 shown in FIG.
Is an approximately elliptical spherical surface having a center P2 and a radius R2 at a position off the axis of the leg shaft 5, and the rolling element 6
Are slidably in point contact, and the roller 7 is attached to the leg shaft 5 so as to swing.

[0024]

According to the tripod-type constant velocity universal joint according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the roller of the tripod member is provided with the rolling element drop-off prevention flange, the rolling element is prevented from falling off on the leg shaft side. Components such as a structure and a washer are not required, so that the assembling workability of the tripod member can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the method for manufacturing a tripod type constant velocity universal joint according to claims 3 and 4, a unit in which all the rolling elements are temporarily assembled on the inner peripheral surface of the roller by a grease bonding method or a keystone method is used as a tripod member. Since the tripod member can be assembled by inserting it into the leg shaft, the number of assembling steps of the tripod member can be reduced, the workability of assembling can be reduced, and mass production is excellent. Joints can be manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a front view including a partial cross section of a tripod member in a constant velocity universal joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 (A) is an enlarged sectional view of a roller and a rolling element in the tripod member of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (B) is an enlarged sectional view of a roller and a rolling element of another structure in the tripod member of FIG. 1; is there.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the tripod member of FIG. 1 at the time of assembly.

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the tripod member of FIG. 1 when assembled by another method.

5 (A) is an enlarged sectional view of the roller of FIG. 4 when a rolling element is assembled, and FIG. 5 (B) is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. 5 (A).

FIG. 6 is a front view including a partial cross section of a tripod member showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view including a partial cross section of a tripod member showing another embodiment of the present invention.

8 (A) is a partial sectional view of a conventional tripod type constant velocity universal joint, and FIG. 8 (B) is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the joint of FIG. 8 (A).

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of a tripod member in the joint of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer ring 2 Track groove 3 Roller guide surface 4 Tripod member 5 Leg shaft 6 Rolling element 7 Roller 8 Flange 8a Convex step 8b Washer (flange) 9 Grease 10 Washer groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outer ring formed on an inner periphery of an outer ring in an axial direction of the outer ring.
A roller rotatably fitted to the three track shafts of the tripod member inserted into the outer race via a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements is inserted into the track groove of the outer race on both sides of the track groove. In the tripod type constant velocity universal joint engaged with the roller guide surface so as to be rotatable and slidable, the plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements are prevented from coming off in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the roller of the tripod member. A tripod-type constant velocity universal joint characterized by forming a flange portion for preventing. 2. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the flange on the inner peripheral surface of the roller is formed by a washer partially inserted into a groove formed in a circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical roller. 3. The tripod constant velocity universal joint according to 1. 3. An outer ring formed on an inner periphery of the outer ring in an axial direction of the outer ring.
A roller rotatably fitted to the three track shafts of the tripod member inserted into the outer race via a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements is inserted into the track groove of the outer race on both sides of the track groove. A method for manufacturing a tripod-type constant velocity universal joint which is engaged with a roller guide surface and is rotatably and slidably fitted therein, comprising a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements on an inner peripheral surface of a roller of the tripod member. Form a collar to prevent axial removal,
A method for manufacturing a tripod-type constant velocity universal joint, wherein a roller is fitted to a leg shaft together with a rolling element in a state in which a plurality of rolling elements are temporarily fixed with grease along an inner peripheral surface of the roller along the flange. 4. An outer ring formed on an inner periphery of the outer ring in an axial direction of the outer ring.
A roller rotatably fitted to the three track shafts of the tripod member inserted into the outer race via a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements is inserted into the track groove of the outer race on both sides of the track groove. A method for manufacturing a tripod-type constant velocity universal joint which is engaged with a roller guide surface and is rotatably and slidably fitted therein, comprising a plurality of continuous cylindrical rolling elements on an inner peripheral surface of a roller of the tripod member. Form a collar to prevent axial removal,
Along with the flange, one of the plurality of rolling elements is arranged in series on the inner peripheral surface of the roller, and the remaining one rolling element is pressed into a gap between two at both ends of the series of rolling elements. A method for manufacturing a tripod-type constant velocity universal joint, wherein a roller is fitted to a leg shaft together with a rolling element while a predetermined number of rolling elements are temporarily fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the roller.