JP2004293790A - Universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal joint capable of achieving accurate adjustment and excellent balance quality. <P>SOLUTION: This universal joint is constituted in such a way that joint forks 1, 2 have two fork arms 6 provided with a first cutout part 10a of a bearing hole 10 and the first cutout part 10a is bridged by a bridge 8 connected with the fork arms 6. The bridge 8 has a second cutout part 10b. Two pins 15 positioned on a shaft 13 and a bearing bush 12 are stored in the bearing hole 10 of the joint forks 1, 2. The bearing bush 12 is provided with a support face 19 facing an abutting face 17 on an outer side. A stop ring provided per bearing bush 12 is supported on the abutting face 17 on a first annular face 23. A second annular face 24 is supported on the support face 19 when the universal joint is assembled. The abutting face 17 and the support face 19 form a wedge-shaped annular clearance 20 whose cross section is reduced when leaving a hole shaft 13 or approaching it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a universal joint including a first joint fork, a second joint fork, and a pin cross body for pivotally connecting the two joint forks to each other.

  Patent Literature 1 describes a universal joint including a first joint fork having a long axis and a second joint fork. Each joint fork has a base area and has two fork arms offset from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions from the base area. Each of these fork arms has a bearing hole, and the bearing holes of both fork arms are located on a hole axis perpendicular to the long axis. The fork arms each have a contact surface that orbits around the bearing hole while facing the long axis. Further, a pin cross body including a cross pin having four pins is provided. A bearing bush that is supported on an attached pin with a rolling element interposed is provided for each pin. The bearing bush is provided with external threads at the end facing the longitudinal axis via the associated bearing bore described above. A nut forming a support surface for contacting the contact surface is mounted on the thread. Using this nut, the posture of the cross pin with respect to the joint fork can be aligned. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the play in the axial direction of the pin via the nut. This adjustment procedure is expensive.

  In a universal joint in which the fork arm is divided in the area of the bearing bore, whereby a bridge is formed which is connected to the associated fork arm by means of a screw, the orbiting bearing surface is opposed to the associated abutment surface of the fork arm. It is intended to be provided on the bush, between which a closed ring is provided for centering. The ring is selected so that the required centering or pre-set pin cross body initial stress is obtained at the joint fork, which ensures sufficient balance quality when the joint shaft is in a high speed condition. It is necessary to make it possible. Thereby, the pin cross is subjected to an initial stress by a predetermined force in the axial direction, in which case a sliding bearing in the form of an end face plate is usually inserted between the pin end face and the bottom face of the bearing bush. , Its relatively high elasticity is used for adjustment.

  Assembly is costly because the ring must first be replaced many times to calculate play or initial stress. This is because the initial stress in the axial direction is determined by the thickness of the ring used. In each case, it is necessary to loosen the bridge and remove the entire pin cross so that the ring can be replaced. Moreover, this operation requires considerable attention from the assembler. This is because the assembler must determine the thickness of the ring by calculation and experimentation to obtain the required initial stress, and to apply such initial stress, for example, to move the pin cross relative to the joint fork. This is because the calculation must be performed while using the torque to be loaded.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,235

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal joint that allows for precise adjustment and the resulting excellent balance quality without significant handling and assembly costs, or without repeated assembly and disassembly. That is.

According to the present invention, this problem is solved by the following universal joint.
A first joint fork with a long axis, and a second joint fork,
Each fitting fork is
With a basal zone,
It has two fork arms offset from the base area in a direction opposite to the longitudinal axis, these fork arms forming a first circumferential area of the bearing bore at the end remote from the base area. A first notch which is bridged by a bridge connected to the fork arm via a screw on the side of the first notch. A second notch defining a second circumferential area of the bearing bore, wherein the bearing bores of both fork arms of the joint fork are located on a bore axis which intersects the long axis at right angles. , The fork arm is facing the long axis together with the attached bridge, and each has a contact surface so as to rotate around the bearing hole,
The universal joint includes a pin cross body,
The pin cross has a cross pin having four pins located at right angles to each other in one plane,
The pin cross body has a bearing bush for each pin supported by an attached pin with a rolling element interposed therebetween,
The pin cross body, together with two pins each located on one shaft and a bearing bush attached to these pins, is housed in bearing holes of one joint fork, respectively.
Each of the bearing bushes of the pin cross has a rotating supporting surface facing the contact surface on the outside,
The universal joint includes a retaining ring having a spring action elastically in a radial direction for each bearing bush,
The retaining ring has a radial slit at one site, and has an inner surface, a first annular surface, a second annular surface, and an outer surface,
A first annular surface of the retaining ring is supported on the abutment surface and is similarly configured in pairs therewith;
The second annular surface of the stop ring is supported on the support surface when the universal joint is in the assembled state, and is similarly configured in a pair therewith, wherein the abutment surface of the fork arm and the bearing bush are further provided. The opposing support surface forms a wedge-shaped annular gap with respect to the bore axis, the cross-sectional area of which decreases with distance from or near the bore axis.

  By means of such a universal joint, the gaps that occur in each case are filled to the desired extent by means of elastically spring-acting retaining rings, so that, with a simple device, the necessary initial stresses are applied to the bearing bushes. A corresponding centering can be achieved automatically. The advantage is that, in particular, there is no measurement cost and the assembler does not need to perform calculations. The pin cross is mounted concentrically to the coupling fork. Correction of the adjustment after the balancing operation is no longer necessary. This achieves a clearly reduced balancing cost and only requires a kind of retaining ring.

  Two embodiments are possible. In the first embodiment, the second annular surface and the support surface extend so as to intersect at right angles to the hole axis, and the contact surface and the first annular surface are intended to approach the support surface as the distance from the hole axis increases. are doing.

  In the second embodiment, the contact surface and the first annular surface intersect at right angles with the hole axis of the attached bearing hole, and the support surface and the second annular surface move away from the hole axis as the contact surface or the first annular surface. It is intended to move away from the annular surface.

  In order to be able to assemble in a simple manner, for the first embodiment, the bearing bush has a seating surface, on which the assembly sleeve is slidably held. The assembly sleeve is intended to keep the retaining ring crimped when pre-assembled prior to assembly, so that the retaining ring has a reduced diameter on its outer surface compared to the final assembled state. .

  For the second embodiment, in order to simplify the assembly, the bearing bush has a seating surface on which the retaining ring is enlarged on its inner surface compared to the final assembled state. It is intended to be kept in a pre-assembled condition prior to assembly, so as to have a reduced diameter.

  In order to assemble the universal joint according to the first embodiment, according to the invention, in a first step, a pin with a retaining ring in a pre-assembled position, comprising two bearing bushes on a bore shaft Insert the cruciform into the notch in the coupling fork, then assemble the bridge and fix it with screws, the pin cruciform and the coupling fork being kept centered on the long axis, and the And then release the stop ring by sliding the assembly sleeve, then the second joint fork according to the assembly steps as for the first joint fork. Is proposed.

  In order to assemble the universal joint according to the second embodiment, according to the invention, in a first step a pin 10 with two bearing bushes on the shaft, the retaining ring being held in a pre-assembled position. Insert into the notch of the joint fork, then assemble the bridge and secure with screws, the pin cross and the joint fork are kept centered on the long axis, and the An equal amount of force is applied in the opposite direction, then moving the retaining ring away from its seating surface, and then assembling the second joint fork according to the steps of assembling the first joint fork. A method characterized by the following is proposed.

  The drawings schematically show two preferred embodiments of the invention, the assembly of which will be described in detail with reference to these figures.

  The universal joint of FIG. 1 includes a first joint fork 1 and a second joint fork 2 pivotally connected to each other via a pin cross 3 while being rotated by 90 ° with respect to a long axis 4. Since the two coupling forks 1 and 2 are configured in principle in the same manner, only the first coupling fork 1 will be described below and its structure will be described in detail. In the drawing, both coupling forks 1, 2 are shown centered on the long axis 4, i.e. both coupling forks are unbent from one another. The first joint fork 1 includes a base section 5 which is centered on a longitudinal axis 4 and extends integrally from two fork arms 6 which are connected with respect to the longitudinal axis 4. Each extends offset in opposite directions and terminates at both ends 7. The fork arm has a bridge 8 connected to the attached fork arm 6 via a screw 9. Both fork arms 6 have through holes, each having a bearing hole 10 composed of two sections with a common hole shaft 13. The first section of the fork arm 6 extends over a first part around the bore axis 13 and forms a first notch 10 a which opens towards the end 7 of the fork arm 6. The second section is formed by a second notch 10b in the bridge 8. In the pin cross 3 only the area of the bearing bush 12 projecting outward from the bearing arm 6 is visible.

  The detailed structure of the first embodiment of the universal joint according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along the line II-II of FIG. The support and arrangement of the bearing bush 12 in relation to the first joint fork 1 will be described in detail below.

  Regarding the first joint fork 1, it can be seen that a screw hole 14 is provided at the end 7 of the fork arm 6 beside the first notch 10 a. In order to improve the connection with the attached bridge not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the area of the end 7 of the fork arm 6 is arranged next to the first notch 10a and And a meshing portion in which the teeth extend in parallel. Furthermore, it can be seen that the bearing bush 12 is supported on the outer surface of the pin 15 by a rolling bearing 16 in the form of a roll. Between the invisible end face of the pin 15 and the bottom face of the bearing bush 12, it acts as a thrust bearing, for example made of a plastic material which has favorable sliding properties and is wear-resistant (not shown). An end face wear plate is provided.

  Further, two screw holes 14 into which screws 9 (see FIG. 1) for fixing the bridge 8 (see FIG. 1) to the fork arm 6 are visible.

  As can be seen in FIG. 3, the fork arm 6 has on its inner surface facing the longitudinal axis 4 a bearing bore 10 extending beyond the area of the inner surface of the bridge facing the longitudinal axis 4. A surrounding contact surface 17 is provided. As a result, a contact surface 17 continuously circling around the hole shaft 13 is generated.

  The bearing bush 12 is provided with a collar which is larger in diameter than the area seated in the bearing bore 10 and forms a support surface 19, which faces the abutment surface 17 and has on its outer surface a seating surface 18. Is formed. The support surface 19 extends at right angles to the hole axis 13. The contact surface 17 is a wedge-shaped surface, that is, it approaches the support surface 19 as the distance from the hole shaft 13 increases. That is, the support surface 19 and the contact surface 17 form a gap 20 that decreases in a direction away from the hole shaft 13. In this gap, a stop having an inner surface 22, a first annular surface 23, a second annular surface 24, and an outer surface 25, which is shown in FIG. The ring 21 is seated. The second annular surface 24 is in contact with the support surface 19 and extends at right angles to the hole shaft 13 corresponding to the support surface. The first annular surface 21 is likewise configured in pairs with the abutment surface 17, and approaches the first annular surface 24 as the distance from the bore shaft 13 increases. Since the retaining ring 21 has a radial slit at one circumferential point, the diameter can be elastically reduced.

  Above the cylindrical seating surface 18 is seated an assembly sleeve 26 whose cross section is configured as a chevron ring. In preparation for assembling, first, the retaining ring is preliminarily provided with a smaller diameter than the final assembled state shown on the right side of the hole shaft 13 in FIG. Keep assembled. This is shown as a cross-sectional view of the retaining ring 21 on the left side of the hole shaft 13 in FIG.

  When the retaining ring 21 is in this state, the pin cross body 3 and the attached first joint fork 1 are assembled, for example, as shown in FIG. The hole shaft 13 also forms the shaft of the pin 15 used for assembling with the first joint fork 1 in the assembled state. The two bearing bushes 12 located on one shaft are inserted into the associated first bearing notch 10a, the first bearing fork 1 being aligned with the long shaft 4 by the centering device 27. Is kept. The cross 3 is also aligned with the long axis 4 in the notch 10 a along the hole axis 13, wherein the long axis 4 is related to the pin cross 3 by each set of pins 15 that intersect at right angles to each other. At the intersection. In this state, a force action in the opposite direction is performed by the force F. In this case, the retaining rings 21 of the two bearing bushes 12 located above the hole shaft 13 are arranged on the left side of the hole shaft 13 in FIG. In the pre-assembled condition shown, the diameter is kept smaller than the final diameter. Next, both bridges 8 are attached to the fork arm 6 with screws 9 and fastened and fixed. Then, the assembly sleeve 26 of both bearing bushes 12 located above the hole shaft 13 is moved in the direction toward the long axis 4, whereby the stop ring 21 is released. The stop ring extends to completely fill the gap 20, as shown in FIG. At this time, the stop ring 21 penetrates into the gap 16 at a different depth depending on the position of the center as a whole although relatively. Since the gap 20 is automatically filled as a whole, the gap is filled regardless of the size of the gap, thus preserving the adjusted center position. Therefore, the difference in size can be adjusted by the configuration of the retaining ring 21.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment obtained by modifying the embodiment of FIG. The fork arm 106 of the joint fork 101 can be seen. Further, the bearing hole 110 represented by the first notch 110a, centered on the hole shaft 113, can be seen. The bearing bush 112 has a collar towards the long axis 104 which also forms a cylindrical seating surface 118. Furthermore, the stop ring 121 can likewise be seen in the final assembled state on the right side of the bore shaft 113, in relation to the bearing bush 112 and the fork arm 116, and on the inner surface 122 on the left side of the bore shaft 113. It can be seen in a pre-assembled condition to sit on the seating surface 118. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the support surface 119 of the collar of the bearing bush 112 is configured as a conical surface. The contact surface 117 of the fork arm 106 and the attached bridge is configured as a surface that surrounds the bearing hole 110 and intersects the hole shaft 113 at right angles. Correspondingly, the gap 120 widens away from the hole axis 113. Since the first annular surface 123 and the second annular surface 124 are similarly configured in a pair with the contact surface 117 and the support surface 119, the first annular surface 123 is perpendicular to the hole axis 113. Intersecting, the second annular surface 124 moves away from the first annular surface 123 as the distance from the hole axis 113 increases. To assemble, the retaining ring 121 is held so that its inner surface 122 rests on the seating surface 118. The assembling is performed according to the assembling shown in FIG. This release is performed by sliding each of the retaining rings 121 in a direction toward the contact surface 117 with a tool shown by a broken line in FIG. The retaining ring 121 has a larger diameter on the seating surface 118 than in the final assembled position shown on the right side of the hole shaft 113 in FIG. The diameter of the stop ring 121, which has a radial slit at one circumferential point, is reduced by the above-mentioned release, and the first annular surface 123 abuts the abutment surface 117, and the second annular surface 124 has the support surface. Touches 119. At this time, the gap between the contact surface 117 and the support surface 119 is completely filled.

  During the production of the universal joint, the assembly is carried out continuously by means of a device which automatically centers and cuts the joint fork and guides the pin cross in the same way and exerts a corresponding force. For repair assembly, for example, simplified tools and simplified procedures can be used, as is evident, for example, from FIG. FIG. 6 shows a clamping yoke 28 having a spindle 29 which can be operated via a hand crank and a clamping rod. The adjusting spindle 29 acts on the pressing piece 30. Another pressing piece 30 is arranged on the clamping yoke 28 as an extension of the adjusting spindle 29. Both pressing pieces 30 can be configured, for example, to center the bottom surface of the bearing bush, thereby keeping the pin cross 3 centered and aligned on one axis. The centering of the joint fork 1 with the long axis 4 at the intersection between the two sets of pins of the pin cross is carried out by means of an adjusting spindle 31 assigned to both pressing pieces 30, via which the adjusting spindle is arranged. , A force can be applied to slide the joint fork 1 parallel to the axis formed by the spindle 29.

  The gist of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed below.

<1> In the universal joint,
It includes a first joint fork (1) with a long axis (4) and a second joint fork (2), each joint fork (1,2) comprising:
Having a basal area (5),
It has two fork arms (6) offset from the longitudinal axis (4) in the opposite direction, starting from the base area (5), these fork arms being furthest away from the base area (5) ( 7) each have a first notch (10a) forming a first circumferential area of the bearing bore (10), the first notch (10a) being the first notch (10a). Is bridged by a bridge (8) connected to the fork arm (6) via a screw (9) on the side of the bridge (8), which forms a second circumferential area of the bearing bore (10). It has a second notch (10b), and the bearing holes (10) of both fork arms (6) of the coupling forks (1,2) are perpendicular to the long axis (4). ), And the fork arm (6) is connected to the attached bridge (8). To be oriented to towards the longitudinal axis (4), forms an abutment surface respectively so as to surround around the bearing hole (10) (17),
Said universal joint comprises a pin cross (3);
The pin cross has a cross pin (11) having four pins (15) located at right angles to each other in one plane;
The pin cross body has, for each pin (15), a bearing bush (12) supported by an attached pin (15) with a rolling element (16) interposed therebetween.
Said pin crosses with two pins (15) each located on one axis (13) and a bearing bush (12) mounted on these pins, each with a bearing hole (10) in one joint fork (12). )
The bearing bush (12) of the pin cross body has an outer circumferential supporting surface (19) facing the contact surface (17), respectively.
The universal joint includes a retaining ring (21) having a spring action elastically in a radial direction for each bearing bush (12).
The retaining ring has a radial slit at one location and has an inner surface (22), a first annular surface (23), a second annular surface (24), and an outer surface (25). Yes,
The first annular surface (23) of the stop ring is supported by an abutment surface (17) and is similarly configured in pair therewith,
The second annular surface (24) of the stop ring is supported on the support surface (19) when the universal joint is in an assembled state, and is similarly configured in pair therewith,
Furthermore, the abutment surface (17) of the fork arm (6) and the opposing support surface (19) of the bearing bush (12) are arranged with respect to the bore shaft (13) as the distance from the bore shaft (13) increases or decreases. A universal joint forming a wedge-shaped annular gap (20) whose cross-sectional area decreases as approaching.

  <2> The second annular surface (24) and the support surface (19) extend so as to intersect at right angles with the hole axis (13), and the contact surface (17) and the first annular surface (23) The universal joint according to the above <1>, characterized in that it approaches the support surface (19) as the distance from the hole shaft (13) increases.

  <3> The contact surface (117) and the first annular surface (123) intersect at right angles with the hole axis (113) of the attached bearing hole (110), and the support surface (119) and the second annular surface (123). 124), the universal joint according to <1>, wherein the distance from the contact surface (117) to the first annular surface (123) increases as the distance from the hole axis (113) increases.

  <4> The bearing bush (12) has a seating surface (18), and the assembly sleeve (26) is slidably held on the seating surface, and the assembly sleeve holds the retaining ring (21). <2, characterized in that the outer surface (25) is kept compressed in a pre-assembled state before assembly so as to have a reduced diameter compared to the final assembled state. Universal joint described in>.

  <5> The bearing bush (113) has a seating surface (118) on which the retaining ring (121) is enlarged on its inner surface (122) compared to the final assembled state. The universal joint according to the above <3>, wherein the universal joint is kept in a pre-assembled state before assembling so as to have a diameter.

  <6> A method for assembling a universal joint according to the item <4>, wherein in a first step, a retaining ring (21) including two bearing bushes (12) on a hole shaft (13) is prepared. The pin cross (3) held in the assembling position is inserted into the notch (10a) of the joint fork (6), and then the bridge (8) is assembled and fixed with the screw (9). And the coupling fork are kept centered on the long axis (4), an equal amount of force is applied to the bearing bush (12) in the direction of the bore axis (13) in the opposite direction and then the assembly Releasing the retaining ring (21) by sliding the sleeve (26), and then assembling the second joint fork (2) according to the assembly steps for the first joint fork (1). The method characterized by the above.

  <7> A method for assembling a universal joint according to the above <5>, wherein in a first step, a retaining ring (121) is provided with two bearing bushes (112) on a shaft (113). The pin cross body (103) held at the attachment position is inserted into the notch (110a) of the joint fork (106), and then the bridge is assembled and fixed with the screw (9). The joint fork (106) is kept centered on the long axis (104) and an equal amount of force is applied to the bearing bush (112) in the direction of the bore axis (113) in the opposite direction, and then Moving the retaining ring (121) away from its seating surface (118), and thereafter assembling the second joint fork according to the steps of assembling the first joint fork (106). Wherein.

It is a figure showing a universal joint. It is II-II cross section of FIG. 1 regarding 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the details of FIG. 2 with respect to the arrangement of the retaining ring and the associated surfaces of the coupling fork and the bearing bush. It is an enlarged view showing a 2nd embodiment about a mutual support situation of a stop ring, a joint fork, and a bearing bush. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining assembly according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, a simple assembly tool that can be used to repair a universal joint.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 1st joint fork 2 2nd joint fork 3,103 pin cross body 4 Long axis 5 Base area 6,106 Fork arm 7 End 8 Bridge 9 Screw 10 Bearing hole 10a 1st notch 10b 2nd Notch 11 Cross pin 12, 112 Bearing bush 13, 113 Hole shaft / pin shaft 14 Screw hole 15 Pin 16 Rolling element 17, 117 Contact surface 18, 118 Seating surface 19, 119 Support surface 20, 120 Gap 21, 121 Stop ring 22, 122 Inner surface 23, 123 First annular surface 24, 124 Second annular surface 25, 125 Outer surface 26 Assembly sleeve 27 Centering member 28 Clamp yoke 29 Spindle 30 Pressing piece 31 Adjusting spindle

Claims (1)

In universal joints,
It includes a first joint fork (1) with a long axis (4) and a second joint fork (2), each joint fork (1,2) comprising:
Having a basal area (5),
It has two fork arms (6) offset from the longitudinal axis (4) in the opposite direction, starting from the base area (5), these fork arms being furthest away from the base area (5) ( 7) each have a first notch (10a) forming a first circumferential area of the bearing bore (10), the first notch (10a) being the first notch (10a). Is bridged by a bridge (8) connected to the fork arm (6) via a screw (9) on the side of the bridge (8), which forms a second circumferential area of the bearing bore (10). It has a second notch (10b), and the bearing holes (10) of both fork arms (6) of the coupling forks (1,2) are perpendicular to the long axis (4). ), And the fork arm (6) is connected to the attached bridge (8). To be oriented to towards the longitudinal axis (4), forms an abutment surface respectively so as to surround around the bearing hole (10) (17),
Said universal joint comprises a pin cross (3);
The pin cross has a cross pin (11) having four pins (15) positioned at right angles to one another in one plane;
The pin cross body has, for each pin (15), a bearing bush (12) supported by an attached pin (15) with a rolling element (16) interposed therebetween.
Said pin crosses with two pins (15) each located on one axis (13) and a bearing bush (12) mounted on these pins, each with a bearing hole (10) in one joint fork (12). )
The bearing bush (12) of the pin cross body has an outer circumferential supporting surface (19) facing the contact surface (17), respectively.
The universal joint includes a retaining ring (21) having a spring action elastically in a radial direction for each bearing bush (12),
The retaining ring has a radial slit at one location and has an inner surface (22), a first annular surface (23), a second annular surface (24), and an outer surface (25). Yes,
The first annular surface (23) of the retaining ring is supported by an abutment surface (17) and is similarly configured in pairs therewith,
The second annular surface (24) of the stop ring is supported on the support surface (19) when the universal joint is in an assembled state, and is similarly configured in pair therewith,
Furthermore, the abutment surface (17) of the fork arm (6) and the opposing support surface (19) of the bearing bush (12) are arranged with respect to the bore shaft (13) as the distance from the bore shaft (13) increases or decreases. A universal joint forming a wedge-shaped annular gap (20) whose cross-sectional area decreases as approaching.

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