JP3258504B2 - Double yoke universal joint and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a double yoke universal joint for holding a cross shaft rotatably at both ends.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional double yoke universal joint, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b), 1 (c) and 1 (d), a yoke leg 2 extending from a yoke main body 1 to both sides in opposite directions. The journal portion 4a facing in the diameter direction of the cross shaft 4 is inserted into the formed race hole 3, and the bearing case 5 is finally press-fitted and assembled.

[0003]

However, in the case of a conventional double yoke universal joint, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the one journal portion 4a is passed (passed) through the race hole 3 of the one yoke leg 2, if the inner width between the yoke legs 2 on both sides of the forked yoke is narrow, the shaft of the other journal 4a is Interferes with the other yoke leg, and FIG.
As shown in the figure, it is not possible to perform the race hole passing well.

Therefore, the shape of the yoke and the journal must be designed in consideration of the passage of the journal. Further, there is a disadvantage that the rotation diameter of the joint cannot be reduced because the inner width of the yoke must be secured to some extent in order to pass through the journal.

Further, when press-fitting the bearing case 5, a press machine for press-fitting is required.

[0006] Furthermore, the joint portion is provided on both sides of the yoke.
Because of the presence of the parts, the same operation shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D had to be repeated twice to assemble one product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the conventional double yoke universal joint and to obtain a double yoke universal joint that is easy to assemble and has a high degree of design freedom.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a double yoke universal joint according to the present invention is provided with bearing means for respectively supporting journal portions on the same side of two cross shafts on both sides, and these joints are provided on the same side. A pair of bridge members interconnecting the journal portions of the two, a surrounding means surrounding a central portion of a double joint assembly combining the two cross shafts by the pair of bridge members, and the bridging member and the surrounding means And fastening means for fastening the above.

[0009]

According to the present invention, end portions on both sides of a pair of bridge members provided with bearing means in advance constitute opposite yoke legs, and journal portions on the same side of the cross shaft on both sides are connected to the bearing means. And journals on the same side are connected to each other. The central portion of the pair of bridge members and the surrounding means form a yoke body of the universal joint.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the double yoke universal joint 10 according to the present invention is provided with bearing means 6 for respectively supporting the journal portions 4a on the same side of the two cross shafts on both sides, and the journal portions on the same side are provided. It has a pair of bridge members 7 that interconnect each other.

The bearing means 6 includes, for example, each bridge member 7
And a bearing 6b housed and held in the race hole 6a, and sealing means 6c with a retainer for preventing the bearing 6b from falling off and sealing the bearing.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the pair of bridge members 7 are pressed from both sides of the two cross shafts 4 in the directions of arrows A and B to move the bearing means 6 to the respective positions. Assemble by fitting to the journal part 4a.

Thus, the pair of bridge members 7 and 2
The double joint assembly assembled from the four cross shafts 4 is fitted inside the surrounding means 8 shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C in the direction shown by the arrow C, and the surrounding means 8 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is positioned at a substantially central portion of the double joint assembly.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the surrounding means 8 has a substantially cylindrical outer surface 8a and a contoured inner surface 8b through which the double joint assembly can be inserted.

In the vicinity of the respective end faces 8c on both sides of the enclosing means 8 enclosing the substantially central part of the double joint assembly, at least one, in the embodiment of FIG. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), for example, a key member 9 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape is inserted laterally from each end face 8c of the surrounding means 8 into the lower one of the two key grooves 7a. Sliding in the direction to fit.

Thereafter, a bolt 10 is screwed into a bolt hole 8d formed in the end face of the surrounding means 8 through a hole 9a provided in the key member 9, thereby completing the double yoke universal joint according to the present invention (FIG. b)). The key groove 7a, the key member 9, the bolt hole 8d, and the bolt 11 constitute fastening means.

A plurality of pairs of keyway pairs on both sides of each bridge member may be provided at pitch intervals corresponding to the distance between the end faces of the surrounding means. By selecting an arbitrary keyway pair and fitting the key member, the position of the bridge member of the surrounding means, that is, the double joint assembly in the axial direction can be adjusted.

According to this configuration, the distance between the axis line of the bearing and the joint center can be changed, so that it is possible to cope with a case where only one side requires a large swing angle.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the surrounding means is positioned substantially at the center of the double joint assembly, but as shown in FIG. Positioning can also be biased to the side.

In the embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surrounding means 8 is a single ring member having an outer surface having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. However, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. One ring member having a cross-sectional shape may be used.

Further, the surrounding means 8 is constituted by two ring members instead of one ring member, and the fastening means is not constituted by a key, but projects integrally from the outer surface of the bridge member and engages with the end surface of the ring member. A spacer means for arranging the raised shoulder and the two ring members, pressing each ring member against the raised shoulder, and pressing the bridge member against the inner surface of the ring member; and a bolt means and the like. (Not shown).

[0023]

According to the present invention, a double joint assembly is assembled by connecting two cross shafts by a pair of bridge members provided with bearing means in the vicinity of both ends in advance. Since the assembly is surrounded and fixed by the surrounding means, positioning such as centering becomes easy, and assembly becomes easy.

Further, since the two cross shafts on both sides can be assembled at the same time, workability is good.

Furthermore, there is no press-fitting operation of the bearing case unlike the conventional assembly of a double yoke universal joint, so that the assembly and disassembly are easy, and a press machine for press-fitting the bearing case is not required.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to consider the passage of the journal portion, and the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the width of the yoke can be reduced. Therefore, the rotation diameter of the universal joint can be reduced.

When the fastening means has a key and key groove configuration, the distance between the center line of the bearing of the yoke and the center line of the universal joint can be changed, so that even a large swing angle is required on one side. The effect that it can be obtained is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a stage of assembling a conventional double yoke universal joint.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of one embodiment of a double yoke universal joint according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is a part showing a state where two cross shafts are connected by a bridge member to form a double joint assembly. Side view as a cross section, (b)
FIG. 3A is a side view showing a surrounding member (ring member) surrounding the double joint assembly assembled in FIG. 3A and a key member constituting a fastening member, and FIG. 3C is viewed from the direction of XX in FIG. It is an end elevation.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state where the double joint assembly is fastened by a key groove, a key member, and a bolt means as fastening means, and FIG. 3 (b) is one side of a completed double yoke universal joint according to the present invention; (C) is a side view from another side of the universal joint of (b).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the surrounding means is positioned at a position different from the state of FIG.

FIG. 5 (a) is a side view of another embodiment of the double yoke universal joint of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (b) is a plan view of a surrounding means used for this universal joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Yoke main body 2 Yoke leg 3 Race hole 4 Cross shaft 4a Journal part 5 Bearing case 6 Bearing means 6a Race hole 6b Bearing 6c Sealing means with retainer 7 Bridge member 7a Key groove 8 Enclosure means (ring member) 8a Outer surface 8b Inner surface 8c End surface 8d bolt hole 9 key member 10 double yoke universal joint 11 bolt

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16D 3/38-3/41 F16D 3/32

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] In a double yoke universal joint for holding a cross shaft rotatably at both ends thereof, bearing means for respectively supporting journal portions on the same side of two cross shafts are provided in the vicinity of the both ends. A pair of bridge members which are provided in advance and connect these same-side journal portions to each other, and surrounding means for surrounding a central portion of a double joint assembly in which the two cross shafts are combined by the pair of bridge members; A double yoke universal joint comprising a fastening means for fastening the bridge member and the surrounding means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means includes at least one keyway formed on a side surface of each of the bridging members adjacent to each end face of the enclosing means, and both end faces of the keyway and the enclosing means. 2. The double yoke universal joint according to claim 1, comprising a key member to be engaged and a bolt means for tightening the key member to the surrounding means. 3. A bridging member of the enclosing means, wherein a plurality of key grooves are formed on a side surface of each of the enclosing means adjacent to each end face of the enclosing means, and the key groove is engaged with the key groove. 3. The double yoke universal joint according to claim 2, wherein the positioning in the axial direction is adjustable. 4. A method of manufacturing a double yoke universal joint for holding a cross shaft rotatably at both ends thereof, wherein each of a pair of bridge members provided with bearing means in advance near both ends is provided. Fitting the bearing means to the journals on the same side of the two cross shafts to form a double joint assembly connecting the two cross shafts to each other; Positioning the surrounding means having an inner surface profile for preventing relative rotation with the assembly at a predetermined position in the axial direction of the assembly; fastening the surrounding means to the predetermined position in the double joint assembly by fastening means; A method for manufacturing a double yoke universal joint, comprising: