JP6034567B2 - Chain guide and chain transmission - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain guide used for adjusting the tension of a chain or for guiding movement of a chain, and a chain transmission using the chain guide.

  In the chain transmission device for driving the camshaft, in which the timing chain is spanned between the drive sprocket attached to the crankshaft and the driven sprocket attached to the camshaft, the chain can swing to one side of the slack side chain of the timing chain. A guide is provided, and the adjustment force of the chain tensioner is applied to the swing side end of the chain guide to tension the timing chain to prevent the chain from loosening and fluttering.

  Further, a chain guide is fixed to the tight chain of the timing chain, and the movement of the timing chain is guided by the fixed chain guide to suppress the fluttering.

  Here, as a chain guide for adjusting the tension of the timing chain or moving guide, there is known a type that guides the surface of the timing chain by sliding contact, but the timing chain has a large moving resistance and a lot of transmission torque cross There's a problem.

  In order to solve such a problem, in Patent Document 1, both ends of a plurality of roller shafts arranged in a curved shape are supported by a guide base that extends in the moving direction of the timing chain. A chain guide is proposed in which a roller comprising a roller bearing is rotatably supported by each of the rollers, and the timing chain is supported by the plurality of rollers so as to be movable.

  The above-described chain guide is characterized in that the timing chain is guided by the rolling of the outer ring in the roller bearing, so that the movement resistance of the timing chain is small and the transmission torque cross is small.

International Publication No. 2010/090139

  By the way, in the chain guide described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the lubrication for the roller bearing is only carried by the timing chain, the lubricant does not sufficiently spread on the rolling surface of the outer ring, and peeling or the like occurs. There was a problem of short life.

  An object of the present invention is to improve lubricity of a roller bearing in a chain guide that guides the movement of a timing chain by a roller bearing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the chain guide according to the present invention, a guide base having a side plate portion that is disposed on a part of the outer periphery of the timing chain and extends long in the moving direction of the timing chain, and the guide base Both end portions are supported by the side plate portion, a plurality of roller shafts provided at intervals in the length direction of the side plate portion, and a plurality of chain guides rotatably supported on each of the plurality of roller shafts both ends of the consist and roller, the roller, together with the guide to the roller chain guide comprising a bearing roller retainer incorporated in flanged inner and outer rings, the outer ring of the roller bearing is formed by a carbon steel plate is a shell-type having an inward flange portion in part, the shell-shaped outer ring, is configured to guide rolling in direct contact with the timing chain, before Adopted a configuration in which the inner diameter of the inward flange formed at both axial ends of the outer ring is larger than the contact circle diameter of the contact portion of the retainer and smaller than the outer diameter of the retainer end. It is.

  Further, in the chain transmission device according to the present invention, the swingable chain that guides the movement of the timing chain over one side of the slack side chain of the timing chain, spanning the timing chain between the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket. In the chain transmission device in which a guide is provided, the adjustment force of the chain tensioner is applied to the swing side end portion of the chain guide, and the swing side end portion is pressed against the timing chain. The above-described chain guide is adopted.

  In the chain transmission device configured as described above, a fixed chain guide for guiding the movement of the timing chain is provided on one side of the tension chain of the timing chain, and the chain according to the present invention is used as the fixed chain guide. By adopting the guide, it is possible to effectively suppress timing chain flapping.

  In the chain guide according to the present invention, as described above, the inner diameter of the flange portion of the outer ring is made larger than the contact circle diameter of the contact portion of the cage and smaller than the outer diameter of the end portion of the cage. In a state where the retainer is prevented from being pulled out, a very large gap can be secured between the inner diameter surface of the flange and the outer diameter surface of the roller shaft.

  For this reason, the lubricating oil carried by the timing chain is transferred to the outer diameter surface of the outer ring, and the lubricating oil flowing from the outer diameter surface to the inner peripheral portion through the outer surface of the flange portion easily enters the bearing from the clearance. The inside of the bearing can be effectively lubricated.

  Here, if the inner diameter surface of the flange portion of the outer ring is a tapered surface with the outer surface side of the flange portion being the large diameter end, the lubricating oil that reaches the large diameter end side of the tapered surface is transmitted to the outer surface of the flange portion. Then, the oil flows toward the inside of the bearing along the inclination of the tapered surface, so that the lubricating oil can be effectively taken into the inside of the bearing, and the lubricity can be further improved.

  Further, when the outer side surface of the flange portion is a convex curved surface, the lubricating oil transmitted along the outer surface can easily flow toward the inner diameter surface side of the flange portion, and the lubricating oil can be effectively taken into the bearing.

  Furthermore, the pillar part formed between the adjacent pockets of the plurality of pockets for accommodating the rollers formed in the cage is an inner pillar part disposed inside the pitch circle diameter of the roller, and the inner pillar part An inclined column portion continuously provided at both ends in the axial direction, and a V-shaped holding member having an outer column portion that is continuously provided at the axial end portion of the inclined column portion and disposed outside the pitch circle diameter of the roller. When the cage is used, both ends of the cage are arranged close to the rolling surface side of the inner circumference of the outer ring, so a large gap can be secured between the inner diameter surface of the collar and the outer diameter surface of the roller shaft. , The lubricity can be further enhanced.

  In this invention, as described above, the cage inner diameter of the outer ring is larger than the contact circle diameter of the contact portion of the cage and smaller than the outer diameter of the end of the cage. In the state of retaining, an extremely large gap that facilitates entry of the lubricating oil carried by the timing chain can be secured between the inner diameter surface of the flange and the outer diameter surface of the roller shaft. Improvements can be made.

Schematic showing the embodiment of the chain transmission according to the present invention Longitudinal sectional view of the chain guide according to the present invention Sectional view along line III-III in FIG. Sectional view along line IV-IV in Fig. 3 Sectional drawing which expands and shows a part of FIG. Sectional drawing which expands and shows a part of FIG. Sectional view showing another example of needle roller bearing Sectional view showing still another example of needle roller bearing

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a chain transmission for driving a camshaft. A timing chain 5 is provided between a drive sprocket 2 attached to the end of the crankshaft 1 and a driven sprocket 4 attached to the end of the camshaft 3. Is over.

  The timing chain 5 may be a roller chain or a silent chain.

The crankshaft 1 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. As the rotation of the crank shaft 1, the timing chain 5 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, the chain guide A ₁ is provided on one side of the slack side chain 5a of the timing chain 5.

The chain guide A ₁ extends long in the moving direction of the timing chain 5, and its upper end is supported by a fulcrum shaft 10 protruding from the engine block, and can swing around the fulcrum shaft 10. The adjustment force of the chain tensioner 11 is applied to the swing side end and is pressed toward the slack side chain 5a.

A chain guide A ₂ is provided on the other side of the tension chain 5 b in the timing chain 5. The chain guide A ₂ extends in the moving direction of the timing chain 5 similarly to the swingable chain guide A _1, and both ends thereof are fixed by tightening bolts 12 screwed into the engine block. It is supposed to guide the movement of.

Here, the pivotable chain guide A ₁ and the fixed chain guide A _2, only the shape is the same configuration is different. Thus, here, is described below the structure of the pivotable chain guide A _1, the chain guide A ₂ of the fastening arrangement will be omitted with the same reference numerals to the same parts.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the chain guide A ₁ includes a guide base 21 extending long in the moving direction of the timing chain 5 and a plurality of roller shafts provided at intervals in the length direction of the guide base 21. 31 and a plurality of chain guide rollers 41 rotatably supported on each of the plurality of roller shafts 31.

  The guide base 21 has a configuration in which a plurality of interval holding plates 23 are formed in the lengthwise direction between a pair of opposed side plate portions 22, and a roller accommodating space 24 is formed between adjacent interval holding plates 23. Is formed.

Incidentally, the side plate portion 22 of the chain guide A ₁ is arcuate, whereas, although the side plate portion 22 of the chain guide A ₂ are set to ribbon-shaped shape are different, the chain guide A ₂ is the chain guide A ₁ Similarly, a bow shape may be used.

  The guide base 21 configured as described above is a synthetic resin molded product, but may be cast using a light metal such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, or may be die cast molded.

  Each of the plurality of roller shafts 31 is incorporated into each of the roller accommodating spaces 24, and both ends thereof are supported by the pair of side plate portions 22, and lines connecting the respective shaft centers. Is an arcuate arrangement that draws a convex arcuate line, but may be a curvilinear arrangement.

  The roller shaft 31 is made of carbon steel such as SUJ2 or SC material. The roller shaft 31 is heat treated to increase its hardness in order to improve wear resistance. As the heat treatment, bright quenching, induction quenching, carburizing quenching, or carbonitriding quenching can be employed.

  The plurality of rollers 41 are rotatably supported by each of the plurality of roller shafts 31. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the roller 41 is a needle roller bearing. This needle roller bearing 41 has a configuration in which a retainer 43 is incorporated in an outer ring 42 and needle rollers 45 are incorporated in each of a plurality of pockets 44 formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the retainer 43. Has been.

  The outer ring 42 is made of low-carbon steel such as SPC or SCM, and is formed by drawing to form a shell, and is hardened by heat treatment to increase the surface hardness. In addition, at both ends of the outer ring 42 in the axial direction, inward flange portions 46 for preventing the retainer 43 from being removed are formed.

  Here, carburizing quenching or carbonitriding quenching is adopted as the heat treatment of the outer ring 42. However, the outer ring 42 is formed of high carbon steel such as SUJ2 or SC material and is brightly quenched or induction-quenched. May be.

  The cage 43 is made of a steel plate press-formed product or a formed product. Each of the column portions 47 formed between the adjacent pockets 44 of the plurality of pockets 44 formed in the retainer 43 and arranged in the circumferential direction is inside the pitch circle diameter of the needle rollers 45 as shown in FIG. An inner column portion 47a disposed on the inner column portion 47a, an inclined column portion 47b connected to both axial ends of the inner column portion 47a, and an axial end portion of the inclined column portion 47b. It is formed with the outer pillar part 47c arrange | positioned outside the pitch circle diameter of this, and is made into V shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of side surfaces 44 a facing each other in the circumferential direction of the pocket 44 are inclined surfaces that inwardly tilt in opposite directions, and the circumferential width W of the opening on the cage outer diameter surface side of the pocket 44. ₁ is larger than the outer diameter d ₀ of the needle roller 45, and the circumferential width W ₂ of the opening on the cage inner surface is smaller than the outer diameter d ₀ of the needle roller 45. A part of the inclined column portion 47 b is contact-guided on the outer peripheral surface on the inner diameter side from the pitch circle diameter of the needle rollers 45. P in the figure indicates a contact portion between the cage 43 and the needle roller 45.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner diameter d ₁ of the flange portion 46 of the outer ring 42 is smaller than the end outer diameter D ₁ of the end portion of the retainer 43, and the contact portion between the retainer 43 and the needle roller 45. The diameter is larger than the contact circle diameter d _{2 of} P, and a gap 50 is formed between the inner diameter surface 46 a of the flange 46 and the outer diameter surface 31 a of the roller shaft 31.

  Instead of the needle roller bearing 41, a cylindrical roller bearing may be adopted.

  The chain transmission shown in the embodiment has the above-described structure, and in a torque transmission state in which the rotation of the crankshaft 1 is transmitted to the camshaft 3 by the movement of the timing chain 5 spanned between the driving sprocket 2 and the driven sprocket 4. When the tension of the timing chain 5 changes due to load fluctuations, the chain tensioner 11 prevents looseness and fluttering.

During torque transmission for transmitting the rotation of the crank shaft 1 to the camshaft 3, the outer race 42 of each needle roller bearing 41 can oscillate chain guide A ₁ and the fixed chain guide A ₂ is a timing chain 5 to fast moving The timing chain 5 is guided to roll by the outer ring 42.

  Thus, since the timing chain 5 is guided by the rolling of the outer ring 42 of the needle roller bearing 41, the movement resistance is small, the timing chain 5 moves smoothly, and torque is transmitted without loss.

  When torque is transmitted from the crankshaft 1 to the camshaft 3, the lubricating oil is carried onto the outer diameter surface of the outer ring 42 of the needle roller bearing 41 by the timing chain 5 that moves in one direction, and is transmitted to the outer surface of the flange 46. Lubricating oil flowing in the inner peripheral portion enters the bearing through a gap 50 formed between the inner diameter surface 46a of the flange 46 and the outer diameter surface 31a of the roller shaft 31, and lubricates the bearing.

  Here, when the gap 50 formed between the inner diameter surface 46a of the flange 46 and the outer diameter surface 31a of the roller shaft 31 is small, the lubricating oil cannot be sufficiently introduced into the bearing, and the rolling surface of the outer ring 42 Peeling or the like occurs on the rolling surface of the roller 31 and the life is shortened.

However, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner diameter d ₁ of the flange portion 46 of the outer ring 42 is larger than the contact circle diameter d ₂ of the contact portion P of the retainer 43 and 31, and the retainer 43 because of the end outer diameter D ₁ of the are a small diameter, in a state of retaining fit the retainer 43, to ensure a very large gap 50 between the outer surface 31a of the inner surface 46a and the roller shaft 31 of the flange 46 it can.

  Therefore, the lubricating oil that flows from the outer diameter surface of the outer ring 42 to the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 46 and flows into the inner peripheral portion easily enters the inside of the bearing through the gap 50, and the inside of the bearing is effectively prevented by the lubricating oil that enters. Lubrication can be performed, and a reduction in the life of the needle roller bearing 41 can be suppressed.

7 and 8 show another example of the needle roller bearing 41. FIG. In the needle roller bearing 41 shown in FIG. 7, the needle shape shown in FIG. 6 only in that the inner diameter surface 46 a of the flange portion 46 of the outer ring 42 is a tapered surface with the outer surface side of the flange portion 46 being the large diameter end. It is different from the roller bearing 41. Here, small Tan径the inner diameter surface 46a consisting of a tapered surface is the inner diameter d ₁ and the same diameter of the flange portion 46 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the inner diameter surface 46 a of the flange portion 46 of the outer ring 42 is a tapered surface, the lubricating oil that travels along the outer surface of the flange portion 46 and reaches the large diameter end side of the tapered surface is reduced. Since the oil flows toward the inside of the bearing along the inclination, the lubricating oil can be effectively taken into the bearing.

  The needle roller bearing 41 shown in FIG. 8 is different from the needle roller bearing 41 shown in FIG. 7 only in that the outer surface 46b of the flange 46 of the outer ring 42 is a convex curved surface. As shown in FIG. 8, when the outer surface 46b of the flange 46 is a convex curved surface, the lubricating oil transmitted through the outer surface 46b can easily flow toward the inner diameter surface of the flange 46, and the lubricating oil is effective in the bearing. Can be incorporated.

A ₁ Chain guide A ₂ Chain guide 2 Drive sprocket 4 Driven sprocket 5 Timing chain (chain)
21 Guide base 22 Side plate portion 31 Roller shaft 31a Outer diameter surface 41 Needle roller bearing (roller bearing)
42 Outer ring 43 Cage 45 Needle roller (roller)
46 collar portion 46a inner diameter surface 46b outer side surface 47 column portion 47a inner column portion 47b inclined column portion 47c outer column portion

Claims (6)

A guide base having a side plate portion that is arranged on a part of the outer periphery of the timing chain and extends long in the moving direction of the timing chain, and both end portions are supported by the side plate portion of the guide base, in the length direction of the side plate portion. A plurality of roller shafts provided at intervals, and a plurality of chain guide rollers rotatably supported on each of the plurality of roller shafts, wherein the rollers are incorporated in a flanged outer ring. the retainer have a needle roller bearing guides in needle rollers,
The outer ring of the needle roller bearing is formed of a carbon steel plate and has a shell shape having inward flanges at both ends, and the shell-shaped outer ring is configured to guide and roll in direct contact with the timing chain. ,
The inner diameter of the inward flange formed at both axial ends of the shell-shaped outer ring is larger than the contact circle diameter of the contact portion between the cage and the needle roller, and smaller than the outer diameter of the cage end. Chain guide characterized by that. The inner diameter surface of the flange portion of the shell-shaped outer ring is a tapered surface with the outer surface side of the flange portion being a large diameter end, and the inner diameter of the small diameter end is larger than the contact circle diameter of the contact portion of the cage. The chain guide according to claim 1, wherein the chain guide has a diameter and is smaller than an outer diameter of the end portion of the cage. The chain guide according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an outer side surface of the flange portion of the shell-shaped outer ring is a convex curved surface.   A plurality of roller accommodating pockets formed in the retainer, a column portion formed between adjacent pockets is disposed inside the pitch circle diameter of the roller, and an axis of the inner column portion An inclined column portion continuously provided at both ends in the direction, and a V-shape having an outer column portion provided outside the pitch circle diameter of the roller, continuously provided at an axial end portion of the inclined column portion. The chain guide according to any one of items 1 to 3. A timing chain is placed between the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, and a swingable chain guide is provided on one side of the slack side chain of the timing chain to guide the movement of the timing chain. In the chain transmission device, the adjustment force of the chain tensioner is applied to the part, and the swing side end is pressed against the timing chain.
A chain transmission device, wherein the chain guide comprises the chain guide according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A chain guide for guiding the movement of the timing chain is provided on one side of the tension chain of the timing chain so as to be fixed, and the chain guide is provided from the chain guide according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The chain transmission device according to claim 5.

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