JPH11125234A - Propeller shaft made of fiber-reinforced plastics - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a propeller shaft made of fiber-reinforced plastics to constitute a balance piece fixing structure which can fix a balance piece strongly through a simple operation and excels in the durability. SOLUTION: A ring-shaped member 4 is fitted fast on a cylindrical trunk part 2 of a propeller shaft made to fiber-reinforced plastics, and a balance piece 5 curved in an arc of circle and provided at the periphery with a recess is inserted between the inside surface of the ring-shaped member 4 and the outside surface of the trunk 2, and that part of ring-shaped member 4 mating with the recess in the balance piece 5 is caulked so as to form projections 4p and 4q which are engaged to press with this recess in the balance piece 5 about the axial and circumferential directions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fiber reinforced plastic (hereinafter referred to as "FRP") generally used for automobiles.
The present invention relates to a propeller shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Propeller shafts for automobiles transmit the driving force of an internal combustion engine to wheels and rotate at high speed. Therefore, it is necessary to balance the rotation by attaching a balance piece to a necessary portion after the main body is manufactured.

[0003] With a metal propeller shaft, a heavy metal balance piece can be easily attached to a required portion by welding. However, when a FRP type is used for weight reduction, the balance piece is attached. Is more problematic.

Conventionally, an annular plate is joined to the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical body of an FRP propeller shaft, and a balance piece is fixed to a required portion of the annular plate by spot welding (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-61637). However, the use of such welding is not preferable because the propeller shaft made of FRP is affected by heat even in spot welding.

The propeller shaft made of fiber-reinforced plastic described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 3-91554 is an example in which a balance piece is caulked and fixed at a predetermined position by using a mounting auxiliary member.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a ring member is attached to the end of the FRP tubular body 01 where the base end of the yoke 02 is fitted.
03 is integrally fixed, the tubular body 01 and the ring member
Insert a part of balance piece 04 into the gap between 03 and
The end of the ring member 03 is fixed by caulking to the groove 04a of the balance piece 04.

[0007]

Since no welding step is required, the FRP tubular body 01 is not affected by heat. However, the groove 04a formed in the balance piece 04 is engaged in the axial direction to prevent it from coming off, but is not engaged in the circumferential direction and is not sufficiently fixed. In some cases, the balance piece is likely to move in the circumferential direction, and the rotational balance may be lost.

[0008] Further, the balance piece 04 fixed by caulking is partially inserted into the ring member 03 and caulked, so that
Although the other part of the balance piece 04 is covered with the ring member 03, the other part is exposed to the outside. Therefore, there is a possibility that the balance piece 04 may fall off due to a direct hit such as a flying stone while the vehicle is running, and there is a problem in durability reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fiber reinforced plastic having a balance piece fixing structure which can firmly fix a balance piece by a simple operation and has excellent durability. The point is to provide a propeller shaft made of.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an annular member which is externally fitted and fixed to a cylindrical body of a fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft and is curved in an arc shape. Then, a balance piece having a concave portion formed on the outer peripheral surface is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the annular member and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and a portion of the annular member opposed to the concave portion of the balance piece is swaged. A fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft was formed in which the convex portion which was engaged with and pressed in the axial direction and the circumferential direction was formed in the concave portion.

Since the convex portion formed by caulking the annular member engages and presses the concave portion of the balance piece in the axial direction and the circumferential direction, the balance piece is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the annular member and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. Is firmly fixed between

[0012] Even if the balance piece is loosened slightly due to some factor such as a collision of a flying stone or the like, the convex portion is engaged with the concave portion of the balance piece in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. The movement of the balance piece is prohibited, and there is no danger that the balance piece will move and break the rotational balance, and the durability is excellent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to the first aspect, the annular member has a small diameter portion having an inner diameter equal to an outer diameter of a cylindrical body of the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft. And a cylindrical member having a large diameter portion expanded through a step portion, wherein the balance piece is inserted between an inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical trunk portion. Features.

The small diameter portion of the annular member is fitted to the cylindrical body to easily position the annular member, and the annular member is caulked between the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. Since the formed convex portion engages and presses the concave portion of the balance piece in the axial direction and the circumferential direction, the balance piece is firmly fixed by a simple operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to the first or second aspect, the concave portion of the balance piece is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece so as to be directed in the axial direction. It is characterized by being a groove.

Since the groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece is oriented in the axial direction, when the groove is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the annular member and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, the groove is formed laterally. Thus, it is possible to easily determine the swaged portion of the annular member, and to smoothly perform the fixing work of the balance piece.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to the third aspect, the balance piece connects at least two arcuately curved portions in a wavy shape, and the connecting portion has the groove-shaped portion. Is formed. Since the balance piece is formed by connecting the two arc-shaped portions in a wave shape, it can be easily manufactured by press molding or the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to the third or fourth aspect, at least two ends of the annular member facing the groove of the balance piece are provided at both ends of the groove. Opposite 2
It is characterized by caulking and fixing at points.

Since the portion of the annular member opposed to the groove of the balance piece is caulked and fixed at least at two points opposed to both ends of the groove, the convex portions of the caulked two points are mutually fixed not only in the circumferential direction but also in the axial direction. The balance piece can be fixed by prohibiting movement in the opposite direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to the third or fourth aspect, a portion of the annular member facing the groove of the balance piece is linearly caulked. A portion facing both ends of the groove is bent and caulked and fixed.

By linearly caulking the portion of the annular member facing the groove on the balance piece, the movement of the balance piece in the circumferential direction is prohibited, and the portions opposed to both ends of the groove are bent and caulked. Thus, the balance piece can be sandwiched from both sides to prohibit movement in the axial direction, and the balance piece can be firmly fixed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, it is preferable that the annular member covers the balance piece at least in the axial direction. Features.

Since the balance piece is axially covered by the annular member, it is possible to prevent the balance piece from falling off due to a direct impact of a flying stone or the like.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an attachment structure of a balance piece at an end of an FRP propeller shaft 1 according to the present embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the balance piece is attached.

Referring to FIG. 1, at the end of cylindrical body 2 of FRP propeller shaft 1, the base end of yoke 3 is fitted and fixed integrally. The annular member 4 fitted to the end of the cylindrical body 2 is composed of a small-diameter portion 4a having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 2 and a large-diameter portion 4c expanded through a step 4b. It is a cylindrical member made of metal or resin.

The balance piece 5 is a rectangular plate-shaped metal weight member in which two arc-shaped curved parts 5a, 5a are connected in a wave shape, and can be easily press-formed. Grooves 5c oriented axially on the surface
Are formed.

First, the annular member 4 is attached to the small-diameter portion 4a at the end of the cylindrical body 2 at which the base end of the yoke 3 is fitted.
Is fitted first, and the large-diameter portion 4c is fitted at a position where the end face of the large-diameter portion 4c is flush with the end face of the cylindrical body 2, and the annular member 4 is fitted outside. Then, there is a gap 6 between the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 4c of the annular member 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body portion 2, so that the gap 6
The balance piece 5 is inserted into the.

The balance piece 5 is sandwiched between the large diameter portion 4c of the annular member 4 and the cylindrical body 2 and is temporarily held by its own elasticity. Based on the result, it can be positioned at a required position, and the balance piece 5 is completely immersed in the large diameter portion 4c of the annular member 4 in the axial direction as shown in FIG. Position it in the proper position to balance the rotation.

With the balance piece 5 positioned and held in this way, a portion of the large-diameter portion 4c of the annular member 4 that opposes both ends of the groove 5c on the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece 5 and a portion that faces the center of the groove 5c. Are caulked in a point-like manner, and three convex portions 4p formed by the caulking are
engage and press.

Further, the portions of the large-diameter portion 4c facing the respective center portions of both circumferential edges of the balance piece 5 are caulked in a point-like manner, and two protruding portions 4q formed by the caulking are formed on both end edges. Engage and press.

The balance piece 5 inserted in the gap 6
The positions of the grooves 5c and both end edges of the large diameter portion 4c can be easily confirmed from the opening side of the gap 6, and the work can be smoothly performed.

Therefore, the circumferential movement of the balance piece 5 is prevented by the three protrusions 4p engaging with the groove 5c of the balance piece 5 and the two protrusions 4q engaging with both end edges, and the groove 5c is formed. The balance piece 5 is sandwiched from both sides by the two protrusions 4p engaged with both ends of the first member, thereby preventing the movement in the axial direction. In this way, the balance piece 5 has the convex portions 4p, 4 formed by caulking in the large diameter portion 4c of the annular member 4.
q is engaged in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and is firmly fixed by a simple operation.

Even if some looseness occurs in the fixing of the balance piece 5 due to some factor such as a collision of a flying stone or the like, the convex portion 4p is axially and circumferentially engaged with the groove 5c of the balance piece. Relative movement of the balance piece 5 is prohibited, and there is no risk of the balance piece 5 moving and disrupting the rotational balance, and the durability is excellent.

Since the outer periphery of the balance piece 5 is entirely covered by the annular member 4 in the axial direction, the balance piece 5
Does not fall off due to a direct collision with a stepping stone or the like. In addition, there is no process such as welding and there is no influence of heat.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. This FRP propeller shaft 11
The yoke 3 and the balance piece 5 fitted to the cylindrical body 2 and the tip thereof are the FRP of the above-described embodiment.
The same members as those of the propeller shaft 1 are used, and the same reference numerals are used.

The annular member 14 fitted to the end of the cylindrical body 2 is still a cylindrical member composed of a large-diameter portion 14c having a small-diameter portion 14a and a large-diameter portion 14b expanded through a step portion 14b. However, four circular holes 14d are formed in the small diameter portion 14a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

After the annular member 14 is externally fitted to the end of the cylindrical body 2 of the FRP propeller shaft 1, four circular holes 14d are formed.
The adhesive 17 is poured into the mold so that the mountain overflows. When the adhesive 17 cures in this manner, the annular member 14 has its small diameter portion 14
a is securely fixed to the cylindrical body 2.

Thereafter, the balance piece 5 is inserted into the space 16 between the annular member 14 and the cylindrical body 2 with the groove 5c oriented in the axial direction, and the required position is determined based on the result of the unbalance measurement in advance. Position.

A linear portion of the large-diameter portion 14c of the annular member 14 facing the groove 5c on the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece 5 is linearly caulked, and the protruding ridge 14p formed by the caulking is formed into a groove 5c. And press. Further, portions of the large-diameter portion 14c facing both ends of the groove 5c are bent and caulked.

The groove 5c of the balance piece 5 of the annular member 14
The position of the balance piece 5 is linearly caulked to prohibit the movement of the balance piece 5 in the circumferential direction, and the portions opposed to both ends of the groove 5c are bent and caulked to sandwich the balance piece 5 from both sides. The movement in the direction is prohibited, and the balance piece 5 can be firmly fixed. The fixing work is also easy.

Since the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece 5 is entirely covered in the axial direction by the annular member 14, the balance piece 5
Does not fall off due to a direct collision of a stepping stone or the like, and even if the fixing of the balance piece 5 is slightly loosened due to the collision of a stepping stone or the like, the ridge 14p is axially and Since the engagement is performed in the circumferential direction, the relative movement of the balance piece 5 is prohibited, and there is no possibility that the balance piece 5 moves and breaks the rotational balance, and the durability is excellent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a yoke mounting end of an FRP propeller shaft showing a mounting structure of a balance piece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a yoke attachment end of an FRP propeller shaft with a balance piece attached.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a yoke mounting end of an FRP propeller shaft in a state where a balance piece according to another embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a yoke mounting end of a conventional FRP propeller shaft.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... FRP propeller shaft, 2 ... cylindrical body part, 3 ... yoke, 4 ... annular member, 5 ... balance piece, 6 ... air gap,
11: FRP propeller shaft, 14: annular member, 16: void, 17: adhesive.

Claims (7)

[Claims] An annular member is externally fitted and fixed to a cylindrical body of a fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft, and a balance piece which is curved in an arc shape and has a concave portion formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular member. A convex portion which is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body portion and the portion of the annular member facing the concave portion of the balance piece is formed to form a convex portion which engages and presses the concave portion in the axial and circumferential directions. A propeller shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic. 2. The annular member is a cylindrical member having a small-diameter portion having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of a cylindrical trunk portion of the fiber-reinforced plastic propeller shaft, and a large-diameter portion expanded through a step portion. The fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to claim 1, wherein the balance piece is inserted between an inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. 3. The fiber reinforced plastic according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion of the balance piece is a groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the balance piece so as to be oriented in the axial direction. Propeller shaft. 4. The fiber reinforced plastic propeller according to claim 3, wherein said balance piece has at least two arcuately curved portions connected in a wave shape, and said connecting portion is formed with said groove shape. shaft. 5. A portion of the annular member that faces the groove of the balance piece is opposed to at least both ends of the groove.
The fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the propeller shaft is fixed by caulking at a point. 6. A portion of the annular member facing the groove of the balance piece is caulked linearly, and portions opposed to both ends of the groove are caulked and fixed. Or the propeller shaft made of fiber reinforced plastic according to claim 4. 7. The fiber reinforced plastic propeller shaft according to claim 1, wherein the annular member covers the balance piece at least in the axial direction.