JPH11189054A - Connecting structure for propeller shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate applying of new work to a constant velocity joint, and simplify position alignment of the constant velocity joint and a companion flange in the direction of rotation. SOLUTION: In one end part of a propeller shaft 1, a constant velocity joint 10 provided with an outer ring 11 having a first/second insertion holes 11b is provided, in one end side of the outer ring 11, a grease cover 15 provided with a flange part having a first/second through hole 15c is arranged, by screw mounting a first bolt 20 through the first insertion hole 11b and the first through hole 15c in a screw hole 4c provided in a companion flange 4 of the other shaft 2, the propeller shaft 1 and the other shaft 2 are connected. In the second through hole 15c of the grease cover 15 and the second insertion hole 11b of the constant velocity joint 10, a second bolt 19 is inserted, a tip end part thereof is screw mounted in a washer 18 arranged in the other end side of the outer ring 11. A positioning hole 4c fitting a head part 19a of the second bolt to the companion flange 4 is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupling structure for coupling an end of a propeller shaft to another shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a propeller shaft is connected to another shaft (for example, another propeller shaft, a transmission output shaft, a transfer output shaft, a rear differential input shaft, etc.), a driving shaft and a driven shaft are connected. In order to eliminate the speed difference from the shaft and transmit the rotation at a constant speed, they are connected via a constant velocity joint.

[0003] An example of such a coupling structure is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-127537. This coupling structure is provided with a constant velocity joint having an outer ring having a bolt insertion hole penetrating in the axial direction at one end of the propeller shaft, and a through hole corresponding to the bolt insertion hole on one surface side of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint. A grease cover provided with a flange having a hole is arranged, and the grease cover is fastened to the outer ring by a mounting bolt. Further, by fastening the connection bolt to a screw hole provided in a companion flange of another propeller shaft through a bolt insertion hole of a constant velocity joint and a through hole of a grease cover, the above-mentioned propeller shaft and another propeller shaft are connected to each other. Are combined.

[0004]

When a propeller shaft is connected to another shaft using a constant velocity joint, there are two types, one with a grease cover and the other without a grease cover. However, since the constant velocity joint itself is a general-purpose product,
In any case, the outer ring of the constant velocity joint has a total of six bolt insertion holes.

However, when the grease cover is provided, a screw hole to be screwed with a mounting bolt must be newly formed in the outer ring in order to attach the grease cover to the outer ring of the constant velocity joint. For this reason, there is a drawback that the processing cost of the screw hole is separately increased and the strength of the outer ring is reduced.

In addition, when connecting a propeller shaft to another propeller shaft, the positioning of the bolt insertion hole of the constant velocity joint and the screw hole of the companion flange in the rotational direction is troublesome, and the fastening operation takes time. was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to connect a propeller shaft that does not require new processing to the constant velocity joint and that can easily position the insertion hole of the constant velocity joint and the screw hole of the companion flange in the rotational direction. It is to provide a structure.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a constant velocity joint having an outer ring having first and second through holes penetrating in the axial direction at one end of a propeller shaft. A grease cover having a flange portion is disposed at one end of the outer ring, and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and a companion flange of another shaft are inserted into the first insertion hole with the flange portion of the grease cover interposed therebetween. In the structure to be joined by the first bolts, a second bolt for fastening the flange portion of the grease cover and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint is inserted into the second insertion hole, and the companion flange of the other shaft is inserted into the second insertion hole. , A part of the second bolt is fitted, and a positioning hole for positioning the companion flange with respect to the outer ring in the rotation direction is provided.

First, the second bolt is inserted into the flange portion of the grease cover and the second insertion hole of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint, and the two are fastened. In this state, the grease cover is fixed at a fixed position with respect to the constant velocity joint,
A part of the second bolt protrudes from the flange portion of the grease cover to one end. Next, the propeller shaft provided with the constant velocity joint is opposed to another shaft. At this time, since a positioning hole is provided in the companion flange of the other shaft, a part of the second bolt is fitted into the positioning hole to position the propeller shaft and the other shaft in the rotational direction. Is performed. Then, if the first bolt is inserted into the first insertion hole and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and the companion flange of the other shaft are fastened with the flange portion of the grease cover in between, the propeller shaft and the other shaft are connected. Can be easily combined.

In the above coupling structure, first and second through holes corresponding to the first and second through holes are provided in the flange portion of the grease cover, and the first bolt is moved at a constant speed. Through a first insertion hole of the joint and a first through hole of the grease cover, it is screwed into a screw hole provided in a companion flange of another shaft, and a second bolt is inserted into the second through hole of the grease cover. And, a washer is inserted in the second insertion hole of the constant velocity joint in the axial direction, and a washer on which the tip end of the second bolt is screwed is mounted on the other end side of the outer ring, and the head of the second bolt is located in the positioning hole Are desirably fitted.
In this case, there are advantages that the number of parts is small and the structure is simple, and the fastening operation of the first bolt is very easy.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a connecting structure of a propeller shaft according to the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is a propeller shaft, 2 is another shaft coupled to the propeller shaft 1, and in this embodiment, an output shaft 2 of a transfer 3
However, another propeller shaft, an output shaft of a transmission, an input shaft of a rear differential, or the like may be used.

At one end of the propeller shaft 1, a constant velocity joint 10 is provided. The constant velocity joint 10 is a general-purpose product, and has six ball grooves 11a as shown in FIG.
Outer ring 11 having an inner ring and inner ring 1 having six ball grooves 12a
2, six balls 13 fitted into the ball grooves 11a, 12a, and a cage 14 for holding the balls 13. The inner race 12 is a spline formed at the end of the propeller shaft 1. It is spline-fitted to the portion 1a. The outer ring 11 has six insertion holes 1 penetrating in the axial direction.
1a are formed at equal intervals (60-degree intervals) in the circumferential direction. These insertion holes 11b are 30
It is in a position shifted in the rotation direction by degrees.

The front side of the constant velocity joint 10 is covered with a grease cover 15. A flange portion 15a provided on the outer peripheral portion of the grease cover 15 is in contact with the front surface of the outer race 11, and a circumferential rib 15b protruding rearward from the flange portion 15a is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race 11. I have. As shown in FIG. 3, six through holes 15c corresponding to the insertion holes 11b of the outer race 11 are formed in the flange portion 15a at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. On the front surface of the grease cover 15, a cylindrical rib 15d for temporary holding is provided to protrude forward.

A metal boot cover 16 is disposed on the rear side of the outer race 11, and an outer peripheral portion of a rubber dust boot 17 is fixed to the rear end of the boot cover 16. The inner peripheral portion of the dust boot 17 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the propeller shaft 1 to prevent dust from entering the inside of the constant velocity joint 10. As shown in FIG. 4, a ring-shaped washer 18 is disposed on the rear side of the boot cover 16. In this washer 18, two screw holes 18a are formed at 180-degree symmetric positions, and bolt insertion holes 18b are formed in the other four places, and the holes 18a and 18b are equally spaced in the circumferential direction (60 degrees). (Interval). And
As shown in FIG. 5, two mounting bolts (second bolts) 19 are connected to the 180-degree symmetrical through holes 1 of the grease cover 15 as shown in FIG.
5c, the through-hole 11b of the outer race 11, and the boot cover 16, and the front end thereof is fastened to the screw hole 18a of the washer 18, so that the grease cover 15 and the boot cover 1
6 is integrally attached to the outer race 11. The head 19a of the mounting bolt 19 projects forward from the flange 15a of the grease cover 15.

At the rear end of the output shaft 2 of the transfer 3,
The companion flange 4 is splined.
The companion flange 4 is formed in a cup shape,
On its inner surface, the cylindrical rib 15 of the grease cover 15 is provided.
A cylindrical surface 4a that engages with d is formed. Further, a flange portion 4b is protruded from an outer peripheral portion of the companion flange 4, and as shown in FIG.
Two positioning holes 4c are formed at the 0-degree symmetric position, and screw holes 4d are formed at the other four positions.
d are formed at equal intervals (60-degree intervals) in the circumferential direction.
The head 19a of the mounting bolt 19 can be fitted into the positioning hole 4c.

Next, a method of connecting the propeller shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 using a connecting bolt (first bolt) 20 will be described. First, the output shaft 2 and the propeller shaft 1
And the flange part 4b of the companion flange 4 and the grease cover 1
5 face the flange portion 15a. At this time, the mounting bolt 19 is attached to the flange portion 15a of the grease cover 15.
The head 19a is projected, and the head 19a is fitted into the positioning hole 4c of the companion flange 4 to position the output shaft 2 and the propeller shaft 1 in the rotational direction. At the same time, the cylindrical rib 15d of the grease cover 15 is engaged with the cylindrical surface 4a of the companion flange 4, whereby positioning in the radial direction is performed. Accordingly, in this state, the bolt insertion hole 18b of the washer 18, the boot cover 16, the insertion hole 11b of the outer ring 11, the through hole 15c of the grease cover 15, and the screw hole 4d of the companion flange 4 are aligned.

Next, the four connecting bolts 20 are connected to the bolt insertion holes 18b of the washer 18, the boot cover 16, and the outer race 1
1 through hole 11b, grease cover 15 through hole 15c
The propeller shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 are connected by screwing the tip of the propeller shaft 1 into the screw hole 4d of the companion flange 4 (see FIG. 7).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. The connecting bolt 20 (first bolt) is inserted from the outer ring 11 side and screwed into the screw hole 4 d of the companion flange 4 of the other shaft 2.
For example, the connection bolt 20 may be inserted from the companion flange 4 side and screwed to a washer 18 or a nut arranged on the back surface side of the outer race 11.

The mounting bolt 19 (second bolt) is attached to the washer 1 from the grease cover 15 via the outer ring 11.
8, the mounting bolt 19 may be screwed from the washer 18 side to the grease cover 15 or a nut disposed on the surface of the grease cover 15 via the outer ring 11. In this case, the companion flange 4 has a positioning hole 4 into which a tip of the mounting bolt 19 or a nut fits.
c may be provided.

The mounting bolt 19 and the connecting bolt 2
Although an internal hexagonal bolt was used as 0, bolts of other shapes may of course be used. In addition, mounting bolt 1
The number of nines is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more. In the case of one grease cover 15, the stability of the grease cover 15 is reduced, but in the case where the grease cover 15 is fitted to the outer ring 11, only one grease cover is sufficient. In addition, washer 1
8 is not limited to the ring-shaped washer as in the embodiment,
It is also possible to substitute a plurality of washers or nuts divided in the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the washer with the insertion hole 18b through which the connection bolt 20 is inserted.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a part of the second bolt for attaching the grease cover to the constant velocity joint is used to position the companion flange of another shaft. As a result, the position of the propeller shaft and the other shaft in the rotational direction can be easily adjusted, and assembling workability is improved. In addition, since the second bolt and the first bolt are inserted by using the bolt insertion holes provided in the outer ring of the existing constant velocity joint, there is no need to process new screw holes in the outer ring. In addition to being inexpensive, it does not cause a reduction in the strength of the outer ring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an example of a coupling structure of a propeller shaft according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows EE in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the propeller shaft and another shaft in FIG. 1 are connected to each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 propeller shaft 2 transfer output shaft (other shaft) 4 companion flange 10 constant velocity joint 11 outer ring 11b insertion hole 15 grease cover 15a flange portion 15c through hole 18 washer 18a screw hole 18b bolt insertion hole 19 mounting bolt (second Bolt) 20 connecting bolt (first bolt)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A grease cover having an outer ring having first and second through holes penetrating in the axial direction at one end of a propeller shaft, and a grease cover having a flange at one end of the outer ring. Wherein the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and the companion flange of the other shaft are joined with the first bolt inserted into the first insertion hole with the flange portion of the grease cover interposed therebetween. A second bolt for fastening the flange portion of the constant velocity joint to the outer ring of the constant velocity joint is inserted into the second insertion hole, and a part of the second bolt is fitted into the companion flange of the other shaft, thereby forming a companion flange. And a positioning hole for positioning the shaft in the rotational direction with respect to the outer ring. 2. A flange portion of the grease cover is provided with first and second through-holes corresponding to the first and second through-holes, and a first bolt is provided on a first portion of the constant velocity joint. Through the insertion hole and the first through hole of the grease cover, it is screwed into a screw hole provided in the companion flange of the other shaft, and the second bolt is connected to the second through hole of the grease cover and the constant velocity joint. A washer is axially inserted through the second insertion hole, and a washer on which the tip of the second bolt is screwed is disposed on the other end of the outer ring. The joint structure of a propeller shaft according to claim 1, wherein the fitting is performed.