JPH11108075A - Flexible coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the characteristic variation and the durability reduction of elastomers in a high speed rotation time. SOLUTION: A flexible coupling is provided with two driving side installing fittings 1 and two driven side installing fittings 2; plates 4 provided between the installing fittings 1 and 2; elastomers 3 valcanizing formed integrally between the installing fittings 1 and 2, and the plates 4, and between the plates 4 and 4; an outer ring 5 to hold the driving side and the driven side fittings 1 and 2, and the plates 4, on the same circumference; and spheres 6 fitted and held at the inner peripheries of the driving side and the driven side fittings 1 and 2. The inner peripheral surface 5a has a spherical recessed surface, and the outer peripheral ends 1a and 2a of the installing fittings 1 and 2 contacting to the inner peripheral surface 5a, and the outer peripheral ends 4a of the plates 4, are formed in a convex surface form corresponding to the inner peripheral surface 5a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible coupling used for connecting a rotary shaft such as a propeller shaft of an automobile to transmit a rotational driving force and reduce a vibration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical conventional technique of a flexible coupling which is used in a connecting portion of a rotating shaft to transmit a rotational driving force from a driving-side rotating shaft to a driven-side rotating shaft and reduce transmission of vibration is disclosed in, for example, It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-35215. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the flexible coupling (elastic joint) includes a flange 101 having a plurality of fixed branches 101a extending in the radial direction at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and is provided on either the driving side or the driven side. Each fixed branch 1 is attached to one of the rotating shafts (not shown).
01a, a plurality of mounting brackets 102 are mounted on the other rotating shaft (not shown) of the driving side and the driven side, and the stationary branch 101a and the mounting bracket 102 which are circumferentially adjacent to each other. (Rubber member) 103 elastically connecting the fixed branch 101a to the fixed branch 101a.
And transmitting the rotational torque from the driving-side rotary shaft to the driven-side rotary shaft via the mounting bracket 102, and deforming between the fixed branch 101a and the mounting bracket 102, thereby torsion between the two rotary shafts. This is to reduce transmission of vibration and the like.

In a state before being mounted on the rotating shaft, the elastomer 103 is positioned so that each mounting bracket 102 is positioned on a circumference having a larger diameter than the mounting position shown by a solid line as shown by a dashed line in the drawing.
Are formed, and each mounting bracket 102 is
By attaching the elastomer 103 to the flange of the rotating shaft while being displaced toward the center of the shaft 103, a compressive force is applied to the elastomer 103. The elastomer 103 extends between the fixed branch 101a of the flange 101 and the mounting bracket 102 in a tangential direction to a circumference centered on the axis of the flange 101. For this reason, the stress due to the transmission torque always acts in a compressed state of the elastomer 103.

[0004]

According to the above prior art, at the time of high-speed rotation, the elastomer 103 undergoes a curved deformation such that it expands to the outer peripheral side between the fixed branch 101a of the flange 101 and the mounting bracket 102 by centrifugal force. Therefore, the spring characteristics of the elastomer 103 change. In addition, in such a curved state, the stress due to the transmission torque acts so as to cause the elastomer 103 to bend further to the outer peripheral side, so that the durability may be reduced.

The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is to prevent a change in the characteristics of the elastomer and a decrease in durability at the time of high-speed rotation. .

[0006]

As a means for effectively solving the above-mentioned technical problems, a flexible coupling according to the present invention comprises a plurality of drive-side mountings arranged circumferentially alternately and at predetermined intervals. A metal fitting and a driven-side mounting metal, an elastomer elastically connecting the driving-side mounting metal and the driven-side mounting metal that are circumferentially adjacent to each other, and the driving-side mounting metal that is circumferentially adjacent to each other. A predetermined number of plates that are disposed between and the driven-side mounting bracket and are integrated with the elastomer, and press the outer peripheral end of each of the mounting brackets and each of the plates toward the inner peripheral side so that the elastomer is circumferentially formed. And an outer ring that compresses in the direction and movably holds the mounting brackets and plates on the same circumference. That is, in this flexible coupling, the drive-side mounting bracket is attached to the connection end of the drive-side rotation shaft, and the driven-side mounting bracket is attached to the connection end of the driven-side rotation shaft. Is transmitted to the driven-side rotating shaft via the driving-side mounting bracket, the elastomer, the plate, and the driven-side mounting bracket.

According to this configuration, when there is a torsional input (change in transmission torque), the driving-side mounting bracket and the driven-side mounting bracket move relative to the inner circumference of the outer ring in the circumferential direction while deforming the elastomer ( The plate also relatively moves (slides) in the circumferential direction on the inner circumference of the outer ring due to deformation of the elastomer. Since the elastomer is in a compressed state, a tensile stress due to the deformation is unlikely to be generated, and the curved deformation of the elastomer to the outer peripheral side due to centrifugal force is caused by the outer peripheral end of the plate integrated with the elastomer and the inner surface of the outer ring. Blocked by contact.

As a preferable configuration added in the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring has a spherical concave surface, and the outer peripheral end of each mounting bracket and each plate has a convex shape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface. According to this configuration, when there is a twist input due to a difference in the axis angle between the driving-side rotation shaft connected to the driving-side mounting bracket and the driven-side rotation shaft connected to the driven-side mounting bracket, and the like. The driving-side mounting bracket and the driven-side mounting bracket can be angularly displaced from each other while their convex outer peripheral end portions slide on the spherical inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, so that a large twist angle is allowed.

[0009] In the above structure, more preferably, the inner peripheral end of each mounting bracket is formed in a concave shape forming a part of a spherical surface concentric with the outer peripheral end, and a sphere can roll between the inner peripheral ends. Is fitted and held. According to this configuration, the connection end of the drive-side rotation shaft connected to the drive-side mounting bracket and the connection end of the driven-side rotation shaft connected to the driven-side mounting bracket are centered with each other. There is no need to separately provide centering means.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a flexible coupling according to the present invention. That is, the flexible coupling comprises two drive-side mounting brackets 1 and driven-side mounting brackets 2 alternately arranged at 90 ° intervals in the circumferential direction, and the drive-side mounting brackets 1 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. An elastomer 3 for elastically connecting the driving-side mounting bracket 2 with the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 that are circumferentially adjacent to each other.
And the plate 4 which is disposed at equal intervals between the three plates and is integrated with the elastomer 3, and the inner and outer surfaces of the driving-side and driven-side mounting brackets 1, 2 and the respective plates 4 are arranged on the same circumference. The outer ring 5 to be held and the driving-side and driven-side mounting brackets 1,
2 and a spherical body 6 fitted and held on the inner periphery of the ball 2.

The driving-side mounting bracket 1 is provided with a connection hole 11 for inserting a bolt for connection with a connection end (not shown) of the driving-side rotary shaft, and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 is also the same. Further, a connection hole 21 for inserting a bolt for connection with a connection end portion (not shown) of the driven-side rotary shaft is formed. Further, both circumferential surfaces of the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 extend in the radial direction, and each plate 4 is also formed in a flat plate shape extending in the radial direction. The outer peripheral ends 1a, 2a, 4a of the mounting brackets 1, 2 and the plate 4 protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the elastomer 3, and slidably contact the inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5. Preferably, the inner peripheral surface 5 of the outer ring 5 is
Lubricating means is provided to the outer peripheral ends 1a, 2a, and 4a of the driving-side mounting bracket 1, the driven-side mounting bracket 2, and the plate 4.

The elastomer 3 is integrally vulcanized between the mounting brackets 1 and 2 and the plate 4 and between the plates 4 and 4. Also, this elastomer 3
As described later, a predetermined compressive stress is applied in the circumferential direction by the outer ring 5.

The outer ring 5 is curved so as to form a part of a sphere, so that its inner peripheral surface 5a has a spherical concave surface, and the outer peripheral ends of the driving side mounting bracket 1 and the driven side mounting bracket 2 are formed. The portions 1a, 2a and the outer peripheral end 4a of each plate 4 are formed in a convex shape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface 5a. The inner peripheral ends 1b and 2b of the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 are concentric with the outer peripheral ends 1a and 2a, in other words, the inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5 and the same as the spherical body 6. The spherical body 6 is formed in a concave shape that forms a part of a spherical surface with a diameter, and the spherical body 6 is fitted and held between the inner peripheral ends 1b and 2b so as to be rollable. The inner peripheral end 4b of each plate 4 is arranged on a circumference having a larger diameter than the sphere 6, and is not in contact with the surface of the sphere 6.

In the flexible coupling of this embodiment, the drive-side mounting bracket 1 has a connection end (not shown) of the drive-side rotary shaft via a bolt inserted into the connection hole 11 and a nut screwed into the bolt. And the driven-side mounting bracket 2 is connected to a connection end (not shown) of the drive-side rotary shaft via a bolt inserted into the connection hole 21 and a nut screwed into the bolt. This is to transmit the rotational driving force from the rotating shaft to the driven-side rotating shaft and reduce the transmission of torsional vibration. Also, since the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 are held on the same circumference by fitting the outer ring 5 and the spherical body 6, the connection end of the driving-side rotating shaft is connected to the mounting end. The connection ends of the drive-side rotary shafts are held in a state where they are centered with each other.

The rotation torque of the drive-side rotating shaft is transmitted from the drive-side mounting bracket 1 to the driven-side rotating shaft connected to the driven-side mounting bracket 2 via the elastomer 3 and the plate 4 in the front direction of rotation. You. When torsional vibration is input in the process, the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 deform the elastomer 3 so that the relative distance between them changes while the inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5 is deformed. In addition, the plate 4 slides in the circumferential direction with the surface of the sphere 6, and the plate 4 also slides in the circumferential direction with the inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5 due to the deformation of the elastomer 3, and the above-described operation effectively reduces the transmitted vibration. Reduced.

At the time of high-speed rotation, the centrifugal force acting on the elastomer 3 also increases. However, when the outer peripheral end 4a of the plate 4 integrated with the elastomer 3 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5, the outer peripheral side is moved outward. Of the elastomer 3 is prevented from being bent by the increase in the centrifugal force. For this reason, the spring characteristics of the elastomer 3 do not deteriorate even during high-speed rotation.

If the drive side rotary shaft and the driven side rotary shaft have different axis angles, a twist is input with the rotation. Correspondingly, the driving-side mounting bracket 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 move along the spherical inner peripheral surface 5a of the outer ring 5 as shown in FIG.
As shown by a thick arrow in FIG.
Since the deformation given to the elastomer 3 in the shearing direction is accompanied by this, the torsional rigidity of the elastomer 3 can be suppressed to be low.

The flexible coupling having the above-described configuration can be manufactured by the following method.

First, in the molding process of the elastomer 3, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A, each of the driving side mounting brackets 1, each of the driven side mounting brackets 2 and each of the plates 4 are connected to the respective outer peripheral end portions. 1a, 2a and 4a are arranged in a mold so as to be located on a circumference having a diameter larger than that of the outer ring 5, and the elastomer 3 is vulcanized to have a diameter larger than that of the completed state. Thereafter, the mounting brackets 1 and 2 and the plate 4 are pressed and displaced toward the inner circumference side so that the inner peripheral ends 1b and 2b of the mounting brackets 1 and 2 come into close contact with the surface of the sphere 6 inserted into the inner circumference. Outer ring 5
The diameter of the elastomer 3 is reduced by fitting. As a result, a predetermined compressive stress is applied to the elastomer 3 in the circumferential direction.

The outer ring 5 is previously formed into a cylindrical shape as shown by a dashed line in FIG. Then, as described above, after the outer ring 5 is fitted to the outer periphery of each of the mounting brackets 1 and 2 and the plate 4, the outer ring 5 is plastically worked so as to form a spherical shape concentric with the sphere 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the two drive-side mounting brackets 1 and the driven-side mounting bracket 2 is 90
The number of the mounting brackets 1, 2 and the number of the plates 4 are not particularly limited.

[0022]

According to the flexible coupling of the present invention, the following effects are realized. (1) Since the elastomer does not bend to the outer peripheral side due to centrifugal force, the characteristics do not change at high speed rotation, and the durability of the elastomer is improved. (2) The prying rigidity is kept low, and a large prying angle is allowed. (3) Since the connecting end of the driving-side rotating shaft and the connecting end of the driven-side rotating shaft have a centering function, there is no need to separately provide centering means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a preferred embodiment of a flexible coupling according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to an axis, and FIG.
It is a sectional view taken on the line B '.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a typical conventional technique of a flexible coupling.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive side mounting bracket 11, 21 Connection hole 1a, 2a, 4a Outer peripheral end 1b, 2b, 4b Inner peripheral end 2 Driven mounting bracket 3 Elastomer 4 Plate 5 Outer ring 5a Inner peripheral surface 6 Sphere

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of drive-side mounting brackets (1) and driven-side mounting brackets (2) arranged circumferentially and alternately at predetermined intervals, and said driving-side mounting brackets (2) adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. An elastomer (3) for elastically connecting the 1) and the driven side mounting bracket (2) to each other; and the driving side mounting bracket (1) and the driven side mounting bracket (2) adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. A predetermined number of plates (4) which are arranged between and integrated with the elastomer (3); and the outer peripheral ends (1a, 2a, 4a) of the mounting brackets (1, 2) and the plates (4). ) Is pressed against the inner peripheral side against the compressive stress of the elastomer (3) to compress the elastomer (3) in the circumferential direction and to make the mounting brackets (1, 2) and the plates (4) identical. An outer ring (5) movably held on a circumference. Flexible coupling. 2. The outer peripheral end (1a) of each mounting bracket (1, 2) and each plate (4) according to claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral surface (5a) of the outer ring (5) forms a spherical concave surface. , 2a, 4a) have a convex shape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface (5a). 3. A concave surface according to claim 2, wherein the inner peripheral end (1b, 2b) of each mounting bracket (1, 2) forms a part of a spherical surface concentric with the outer peripheral end (1a, 2a). A flexible coupling characterized in that a sphere (6) is rollably fitted and held between the inner peripheral ends (1b, 2b).