FR3002010A1 - Locking ring for locking male and female parts of homokinetic joint of car, has metal wire portion comprising transverse generating section with parallel sides extending parallel to section axis having component directed in central axis - Google Patents

Abstract

This locking ring is adapted to oppose a release of a male portion (4) of a female part (6) of a constant velocity joint. The locking ring (8) extends about a central axis (A-A) and has a wire portion. The wire portion has a transverse generating section which is non-circular. Application to homokinetic joints.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking ring adapted to oppose a release of a male part of a female part of a constant velocity joint, the locking ring extending around a central ring axis and having a wire portion. Homokinetic seals or tripod joints comprising a male part and a female part are known in the state of the art. In order to prevent the male part and the female part from becoming detached during handling in order to mount the constant velocity joint in a motor vehicle, the constant velocity joint comprises a locking ring disposed in the female part. The locking ring is inserted into the female part near the open end. Such a ring is for example known from US Pat. No. 6,390,926. The known locking rings are generally difficult to handle and have a relatively large size for a given holding force. The object of the invention is to propose a locking ring which has a large holding force for a given space requirement. Moreover, the object of the invention is to remedy the other problems mentioned.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a locking ring of the type indicated above, characterized in that the wire portion has a transverse generating section which is non-circular. According to particular embodiments, the locking ring comprises one or more of the following characteristics: the locking ring is made of wire and the wire in its entirety has the transverse generating section which is non-circular ; the transverse generatrix section has two parallel sides, extending parallel to a section axis, and the section axis has a component directed in the direction of the central ring axis, in particular the section axis being parallel to the central ring axis, and in particular the two parallel sides of the transverse generating section extend at an identical distance from each other over the entire extent of the wire portion; the locking ring is symmetrical with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the central ring axis; the locking ring comprises radially distal segments, radially proximal segments and shoulder segments, and each shoulder segment connects a radially distal segment and a radially proximal segment; and - the locking ring is an open ring having an opening, in particular at a radially proximal segment. The subject of the invention is also a homokinetic joint comprising: a male part comprising rollers and defining a central axis of a male part; a female part comprising a central axis of a female part and, for each roller, two tracks and a vault, and a locking ring opposing the release of the male part of the female part, characterized in that locking ring is a locking ring as described above. The homokinetic joint according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features: the vault has a vault surface and the locking ring lies flat on the vault surface; - The locking ring as described above, and the radially distal segments are segments associated with the vault and the radially distal segments are arranged outside, especially entirely outside, the axial projection of the rollers along the axis central of the female part. - The locking ring is a ring as described above and the radially proximal segment having the opening is disposed in a locking groove in the female part.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a homokinetic joint comprising a 2 is a sectional view of the constant velocity joint through the locking ring; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locking ring according to the invention; FIG. 4 is an axial view of the locking ring according to the invention; FIG. 5 is an axial view of the female part of the constant velocity joint according to the invention, the locking ring not being in place; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the female part of the constant velocity joint according to the invention, the locking ring being not in position; FIG. 7 is a view identical to that of FIG. locking ring being inserted into the female part; and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of detail VIII of FIG. 3, showing the transverse generating section of the locking ring. In Figure 1 is shown a constant velocity joint according to the invention, designated by the general reference 2. The homokinetic joint is a tripod joint. Unless otherwise indicated, the expressions "radially", "axially" and "circumferentially" will be used later with respect to the central axis of the associated object. The constant velocity joint 2 comprises a male part 4 and a female part 6, as well as a locking ring 8. The male part 4 defines a central axis of the male part XX and comprises a hub 10. The male part 4 comprises rollers 12 each of which is arranged on an arm of the hub 10. The rollers 12 are mounted free in rotation and tilting about an axis ZZ of each arm of the hub 10. The axis ZZ extends radially with respect to the central axis XX. The female part 6 is a tulip. The female portion extends along a central axis of female portion Y-Y, which coincides with the unbroken state of the seal with the central axis of male part X-X. The female part 6 comprises, for each roller 12, a pair of opposed tracks 20. The two opposite tracks 20 associated with a roller 12 are connected by an arch 22 of the female part. The female part 6 also comprises, between two adjacent tracks 20 and associated with two adjacent rollers 12, a radially inner projection 24.

Taken along the central axis of the Y-Y female part, the female part 6 defines an open axial side O and a closed axial side F (see FIG. 6). The tracks 20 extend axially from the closed side F and terminate axially away from the open-end end O. Each arch 22 has an arch surface 26 and two spans 28. The arch surface 26 is flat and extends parallel to the central axis of female part YY. The staves 28 of each arch 22 are radially inwardly offset with respect to the associated arch surface 26. The bearings 28 are adapted to oppose a radially outward displacement of the rollers 12. The bearing surfaces 28 extend axially at the same level as the associated tracks 20.

The female part 6 is provided with an open axial end 30 located on the open side O.

The roof 22 also has a clearance zone 32 in which the roof surface 26 extends across the entire width radially outside the associated bearing surfaces 28. The clearance zone 32 extends axially between each bearing surface 28 and the open axial end 30 and is located in the axial extension of this span. The clearance zone 32 is devoid of grooves and undercuts relative to the open side O. The female part 6 also comprises, for each track 20, a clearance zone 34 situated axially between the track 20 and the axial end. The clearance zone 34 is also free from undercut relative to the open side O and extends radially outwardly relative to the tracks 20. Each inner projection 24 of the female part 6 is provided with a locking groove 38 radially open inward and axially closed. The locking groove 38 extends circumferentially. The locking grooves 38 are radially aligned.

Subsequently, the locking ring 8 will be explained in more detail with particular reference to Figures 3 and 4. The locking ring 8 is adapted to oppose a release of the female part 6 when the male part 4 is moved to the open side 0 of the female part. The locking ring 8 extends around a central ring axis A-A which, when the locking ring is mounted in the female part 6, coincides with the central axis Y-Y. The locking ring 8 has at least one wire portion, which in this case is a flattened wire, and is preferably made of a flattened wire. At least the wire portion, but preferably the wire locking ring 8 over its entire extent, has a non-circular cross-section generative section. This is particularly visible in FIG. 3. The term "transverse generating section" means that the geometric shape of the locking ring 8 is obtained by moving the transverse generatrix section along a generatrix line. The non-circular transverse generating section has an oblong shape resulting from the crushing of a wire of circular section and extends along an axis of section BB, which has a component directed in the direction of the central axis AA (FIG. ). In this case, the axis of section B-B is parallel to the central axis A-A of the ring. The transverse generating section has two parallel sides. These two parallel sides result from the crushing of a round wire creating two parallel faces on either side of the axis of section B-B.

The two parallel sides or the two parallel faces extend parallel to the central axis A-A. The two parallel sides or the two parallel faces extend at an identical distance from each other or from each other over the entire extent of the wire portion, preferably over the entire length. of the ring. In other words, the crushed wire has a constant thickness over its entire extent. The transverse generating section, or at least the two parallel sides, is / are identical over the entire length of the locking ring 8. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the locking ring 8 is symmetrical with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the central axis AA. Also, the generating line is located exclusively in this plane transverse to the central axis A-A. In other words, the locking ring 8 does not have bends in the axial direction A-A. The locking ring 8 has radially distal segments 42 and radially proximal segments 44. The locking ring 8 has shoulder segments 46, with each shoulder segment 46 connecting a radially proximal segment 44 and a radially distal segment 42. Each radially distal segment 42 is rectilinear. Each radially proximal segment 44 is curved, in particular the convex part directed radially outwards. The locking ring 8 has a single opening 48. The opening 48 is an interruption of the locking ring 8 and is located at a radially proximal segment 44 and separates this radially proximal segment into two segment portions having circumferential ends 50. In the assembled state of the constant velocity joint, the locking ring 8 is disposed, with its radially proximal segments 44, in the locking grooves 38.

The other segments 42, 46 of the locking ring 8 are not covered radially by portions of the female element 6 extending axially between the locking ring and the open end 30. In other words, the locking ring 8 is retained axially in the female part 6 exclusively by the locking grooves 38.

The radially distal segments 42 extend, over their entire extent, outside the axial projection of the rollers 12 along the central axis of the female part Y-Y. The shoulder segments 46 radially overlap the axial projection of the rollers 12 and define points of contact between the locking ring 8 and the rollers 12 in order to prevent the rollers 12 from coming out of the female part 6. The radially distal segments 42 apply flat on the roof surface 26. This contributes to the compactness of the constant velocity joint.

The fact that the opening 48 is disposed in a radially proximal segment 44 that this segment is arranged in the mounted state in a locking groove 38 leads to a good holding of the locking ring 48 in the female part 6 under the 12. Indeed, in this case, the free circumferential ends 50 defined by the opening 48 are held in the locking groove 38. The fact that the radially distal segments 42 extend over their whole extent outside the axial projection of the rollers 12 allows a large displacement or axial sliding of the rollers 12 and contributes to a wide range of operation of the constant velocity joint.

The shape of the locking ring 8 and the female part 6 contribute to a good resistance to the separation of the male part 4 of the female part 6 for a given space requirement. The characteristics of the locking ring 8 allow simple and economical manufacturing as well as handling and storage space-saving.

The technical features described above, even if described in combination, may be used individually or in any technically possible combination.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS1.- Locking ring, of the type adapted to oppose a release of a male part (4) of a female part (6) of a constant velocity joint, the locking ring (8) extending around a central ring axis (AA) and having a wire portion, characterized in that the wire portion has a transverse generating section which is non-circular. 2. Ring according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking ring (8) is made of wire and in that the wire over its entire extent has the cross sectional generatrix which is non-circular. 3. Ring according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse generatrix section has two parallel sides, extending parallel to a section axis (BB), and in that the section axis (BB) has a component directed in the direction of the central ring axis (AA), in particular the section axis being parallel to the central ring axis, and in that, in particular the two parallel sides of the transverse generating section extend at an identical distance from each other over the entire extent of the wire portion. 4. Ring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking ring (8) is symmetrical with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring. 5. Ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking ring comprises radially distal segments (42), radially proximal segments (44) and shoulder segments (46), and in that each shoulder segment (46) connects a radially distal segment and a radially proximal segment (44). 6. Ring according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking ring (8) is an open ring having an opening (48), in particular at a radially proximal segment. 7. Constant velocity joint, of the type comprising: - a male part (4) comprising rollers (12) and defining a central axis of male part (X-X); - a female part (6) having a central axis of female part (YY) and, for each roller, two tracks (20) and a roof (22), and - a locking ring opposing the release of the part male of the female part, characterized in that the locking ring is a locking ring (8) according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. Constant velocity joint according to claim 7, characterized in that the roof (22) has a roof surface (26) and the locking ring (8) is flat on the roof surface. 9. Homokinetic joint according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the locking ring is a ring according to at least claim 5, and the radially distal segments (42) are segments associated with the vault (22) and the radially distal segments (42) are arranged outside, in particular entirely outside, of the axial projection of the rollers (12) along the central axis of the female part (YY). 10. Homokinetic joint according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the locking ring is a ring according to at least claim 6 and in that the radially proximal segment (44) having the opening ( 48) is disposed in a locking groove (38) in the female part.