JPH06280888A - Cross groove type constant velocity joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of a boot adapter of a cross groove type constant velocity joint so as to reduce the cost, to prevent slip-off of a ball, to enlarge the operating range of the of a shaft bending angle and to obtain certainty of operation. CONSTITUTION:A cross groove type constant velocity joint is so constructed that a ball 3 fitted in a groove of an inner ring 1 is held by a cage 2, and the ball 3 is guided by a groove of the inside opening of an outer ring. A boot adapter is omitted and a boot 8 is installed directly on the outer ring. A circlip 10 is provided on the outside diameter part of the cage on the open side of the outer ring.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in constant velocity joints used in drive shafts for automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball type cross groove joint (VL) is known as one of constant velocity joints used for propeller shafts and drive shafts.
For example, it may be used as a sliding type constant velocity joint on an inboard for an automobile front wheel, an inboard and an outboard for a rear wheel, or any one of them.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the constant velocity joint in which the mounting portion has a closed end shape. 1 is an inner ring, 2 is a cage (retainer), 3 is a ball, and 4 is an outer ring. When this constant velocity joint is used by being attached to the shaft 5, the end of the shaft 5 is fixed to the inner ring 1 with a retaining ring 6, and the boot adapter 7 and the boot 8 are attached to the outer periphery of the shaft 5.
Is installed. The boot adapter 7 is attached to the outer peripheral end of the outer ring 4 by caulking. Reference numeral 9 is a seal member such as an O-ring.

[0004]

By the way, the above boot adapter is provided so that the balls will not fall out of the outer race ball groove or the inner race ball groove even when the angle θ is set larger than necessary after being assembled as a constant velocity joint. ing. FIG. 5 shows a state when θ is increased, and FIG. 6 shows an angle slide diagram. A is the line of interference between the inner ring and the cage, B is the line of fall of the ball, E is the line of interference between the ball and the adapter, and F is the line of interference between the adapter and the shaft.

However, the above-mentioned conventional boot adapter is complicated in shape and strict in dimensional accuracy, and it is necessary to perform surface treatment for ensuring corrosion resistance or to use a material suitable for this, which causes a cost increase. Has become.
In addition, since caulking is required for connection with the outer ring, dedicated equipment is required and the number of work steps is increased. Further, since a sealing member such as an O-ring for preventing leakage of grease oil is also required, the cost is increasing.

Further, the boot adapter is made of a steel plate and finished by press molding, and has a stopper function due to interference with the shaft. By design, when the boot adapter is used in an automobile or the like, the shaft has a predetermined angle or more. However, if it operates at an over angle and interferes with a strong force, the boot adapter may be deformed, resulting in insufficient coupling between the boot and the boot adapter and impairing the sealing performance.

[0007] In view of various problems in the conventional cross-groove type constant velocity joint as described above, the present invention omits the conventional boot adapter to reduce the cost, and expands the shaft working angle for use. It is an object to provide a cross-groove type constant velocity joint with improved versatility and which is extremely versatile.

[0008]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to hold a ball fitted in a groove provided along the outer circumference of an inner ring with a retainer and to form a groove crossing the groove inside the opening. An outer ring that is provided along the peripheral surface and guides the ball, one end of which is attached to the inner ring, and the other end of the boot is attached to the outer ring. The cross-groove type constant velocity joint is formed by inserting the.

[0009]

In the constant velocity joint of the present invention constructed as described above, the rotational torque is transmitted at the slidable position in the axial direction of the shaft as in the conventional case. However, since the boot adapter is omitted, the cost is reduced and the configuration is simple. Instead of omitting the boot adapter, the ball retaining means and the shaft angle limiting means are provided in the retainer, so the balls do not fall off.
Moreover, by providing the mounting position at the limit position, the shaft operating angle becomes wider than before, and the setting range of the shaft operating angle is expanded.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main sectional view of a cross groove type constant velocity joint of an embodiment. The basic structure of this constant velocity joint is the same as the conventional one, and the same functional members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

However, in this embodiment, the conventional boot adapter is omitted, and the end of the boot 8 is directly attached to the outer peripheral end of the outer ring 4 on the open side. 8a is a boot band. Instead, the circlip 10 is attached to a groove provided in the outer diameter portion of the cage on the open side of the outer ring 4. 4a
Is the outer ring ball groove, and 4b is the outer ring inner diameter surface.

In the constant velocity joint of this embodiment, the circlip serves to limit the shaft angle in the entire sliding area and also prevents the ball from falling off. FIG. 2 shows the operating state.

FIG. 3 shows the areas such as the ball falling out, the outer ring inner diameter and the circlip interference limit. The respective limit areas when the cage 2 is slid in and out with the cage 2 at the center position of the outer ring 4 as a reference are shown. A
Is the interference line between the inner ring and the cage, B is the ball drop-off limit line, and C is the interference line between the outer ring inner diameter and the circlip.

As can be seen from the figure, the area that can be used in an actual vehicle is the shaded area, and the area above the alternate long and short dash line is the area increased as compared with the case of the conventional example.

[0015]

As described in detail above, the cross-groove type constant velocity joint of the present invention transmits rotational torque in the same manner as in the conventional case, and by providing the cage (cage) with ball retaining means and shaft angle limiting means, Even when the angle of the shaft is increased, the balls are prevented from falling off, the operating range is expanded, the reliability of the operation can be obtained, and the boot adapter can be omitted, so that the constant velocity joint can be obtained at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main sectional view of a constant velocity joint according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the same operation as above.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operating range

FIG. 4 is a main sectional view of a conventional constant velocity joint.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of operation.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operating range

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inner ring 2 cage 3 ball 4 outer ring 4a outer ring ball groove 4b outer ring inner diameter surface 5 shaft 6 retaining ring 8 boot 10 circlip

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 26, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0008]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to hold a ball fitted in a groove provided along the outer circumference of an inner ring with a retainer and to form a groove crossing the groove inside the opening. A boot provided with an outer ring that is provided along the peripheral surface to guide the ball, and that protects the outer circumference of the shaft connected to the inner ring.
The end is attached to the outer ring, and the ring is inserted into the outer diameter of the retainer on the outer ring opening side as a ball retaining means and a shaft angle limiting means to form a cross groove type constant velocity joint.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An outer ring for guiding balls by holding a ball fitted in a groove provided along the outer periphery of an inner ring with a retainer and providing a groove crossing the groove along the inner peripheral surface of the opening. A cross-groove type constant velocity joint in which one end is attached to the inner ring, the other end of the boot is attached to the outer ring, and a ring is attached to the outer diameter of the retainer on the outer ring opening side as ball retaining means and shaft angle limiting means.