JPH06653Y2 - Jade universal joint - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ball-shaped universal joint, and more particularly to a ball-shaped universal joint suitable for connecting an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering mechanism for a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art A ball-shaped universal joint of this type is known, which is composed of two metal yokes and a spherical joint member made of a synthetic resin that connects them to each other (Actual Development 59-12).
2430). The spherical joint member is divided into a half body on one yoke side and a half body on the other yoke side, and a spring for preventing rattling is provided between them.

However, in such a conventional ball-shaped universal joint, the spring protrudes from the spherical joint member and comes into contact with the yoke, so that the spring or the yoke is largely worn, and the spring does not work in a relatively short time. There is a problem.
In addition, mounting the spring when assembling the spherical joint member is troublesome.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed that a coil spring for biasing these halves axially away from each other and circumferentially offset from each other in a recess formed in the mating surface of the two spherical joint member halves. We proposed a ball-shaped universal joint provided with (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-3524).

However, in the case of such a universal joint,
Since both ends of the coil spring have to be fixed in the recesses of the combined surface of the spherical joint member halves, the assembly is difficult.
In addition, forgetting to give a twist to the coil spring at the time of assembling, a force that shifts in the circumferential direction may not act on the two spherical joint member halves.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball-shaped universal joint that solves the above-mentioned problems, is easy to assemble, and can reliably twist the coil spring during assembly.

Means for Solving the Problems A ball-shaped universal joint according to the present invention has a spherical shape in which four ridges and four guide grooves between these ridges are formed on the outer surface of one sphere in an assembled state. The joint member is provided with two yokes each having two arm portions projecting in a bifurcated shape at an end thereof, and the two arm portions of one yoke serve as two guide grooves at symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member. In a spherical universal joint in which the two arms of the other yoke are fitted in the two guide grooves in the remaining symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member, the spherical joint member has one yoke side half body and the other. The yoke side half of the half of the half is axially divided, and in the recess formed in the combined surface of these halves, the halves are axially separated from each other and are offset from each other in the circumferential direction. A coil spring for urging is provided, and both ends of this coil spring are bent so that they are inside the circle, and the bent parts of both ends of the coil spring fit in the bottom of the recess of each half. And a projection that fits inside the circle at both ends of the coil spring is provided. The line passing through the centers of the two ridges at the symmetrical positions of the two spherical joint member halves and the center of the groove of the projection are provided. When the projections of the two spherical joint member halves are fitted to the bent portions at both ends of the spring in the natural state where the angles formed by the passing lines are equal to each other, the ridges of the two spherical joint member halves are formed. Is characterized in that the angle formed by the bent portions at both ends of the spring is set so as to be displaced from each other in the circumferential direction.

Action The two halves of the spherical joint member are biased by the coil spring in a direction away from each other in the axial direction and in a direction displaced from each other in the circumferential direction, and are pressed against the yokes respectively, thereby preventing rattling. . In addition, since the spring is provided in the recess formed in the mating surface of the two spherical joint member halves, it does not project outside the spherical joint member, and therefore both ends of the conventional spring are prevented. There is no metal contact like the yoke. Therefore, wear of the spring and the yoke is small, and rattling can be reliably prevented for a long time.

By simply fitting both ends of the coil spring to the protrusions on the bottom of the recess of each spherical joint member half, this can be attached easily, and the spherical joint member can be easily assembled. Further, when the protrusions of the two spherical joint member halves are fitted in the bent portions at both ends of the spring in the natural state, the ridges of the two spherical joint member halves are displaced from each other in the circumferential direction. , When the ridges of the two ball joint members halves are matched for assembly,
Be sure to twist the coil spring. Moreover, the angle formed by the line passing through the centers of the two ridges at the symmetrical positions of the two spherical joint member halves and the line passing through the center of the groove of the protrusions are equal to each other. It can be used, and the manufacturing cost of the spherical joint member half body such as mold cost is reduced.

Embodiment FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

This ball-shaped universal joint is composed of two metal yokes (10) and (11) and a synthetic resin spherical joint member (12) connecting them.

At the tip of each yoke (10) (11), the arms that project in a bifurcated shape
(10a) and (11a) are formed, respectively. Each yoke (10) (1
The two arm portions (10a) and (11a) of 1) are trapezoidal in cross section and have a U shape in which a part of a circle is cut out as a whole, and the two arm portions (10a)
The inward facing surface of (11a) is a partially cylindrical surface. The facing surface may have a partially spherical shape, and the bottom surface of the groove of four guide grooves (17) described later has a shape along the shape of the facing facing surface of the arm portions (10a), (11a). Also, the second yoke
A concave portion (13) through which the arm portion (10a) of the first yoke (10) passes at the time of assembly is formed between the two arm portions (11a) of (11).

In the assembled state, the spherical joint member (12) is formed by forming four ridges (16) on the outer surface of one sphere (15) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. (16) Four guide grooves (17) are formed between each other.

The entire joint member (12) is axially connected to the first joint member half (12a) on the first yoke (10) side and the second joint member half (12b) on the second yoke (11) side. Is divided into The first joint member half body (12a) is formed by dividing the spherical portion (15) into two equal parts, and the first half portion (15a) of the first spherical portion half body (15a) is divided into the first half bodies ( 16a)
Are integrally formed. Second joint member half (1
2b) is a second spherical half (15b) obtained by dividing the spherical part (15) into two equal parts.
The second half (16b) of the four protrusions (16) is integrally formed on the outer surface of the. Then, the joint member (12) has two halves (12a) and (12b) each having a substantially cross-shaped combination surface (1
8a) and (18b) are faced to each other to form a substantially spherical shape.

Circular recesses (19a) and (19b) are formed on the mating surfaces (18a) and (18b) of the joint member halves (12a) and (12b), respectively.
9a) and (19b) are provided with a compression coil spring (20) that biases the two joint member halves (12a) and (12b) in a direction away from each other in the axial direction and in a direction displaced from each other in the circumferential direction. Spring
At both ends of (20), the folds (2
0a) and (20b) are formed. Each joint member half (12a) (12b)
Circular protrusions (21a) and (21b) are formed on the bottoms of the recesses (19a) and (19b), and ridges (22a) and (22b) are formed on the protrusions (21a) and (21b) in the diametrical direction. Then, both ends of the spring (20) fit outside the projections (21a) (21b) of the recesses (19a) (19b) of the joint member halves (12a) (12b), and the spring (20) is bent. By fitting the parts (20a) (20b) into the grooves (22a) (22b) of the protrusions (21a) (21b), both ends of the spring (20) are fixed to the joint member halves (12a) (12b). There is.

In the natural state where no external force is applied to the spring (20), the positions of the bent portions (20a) (20b) at both ends in the circumferential direction coincide with each other, and the angle between them is 0 degree. Further, a line (A) passing through the centers of the two ridge half bodies (16a) and (16b) at symmetrical positions of the two joint member halves (12a) and (12b) (hereinafter, simply referred to as the line of the ridge portion). ) And the line (B) (hereinafter simply referred to as the groove line) passing through the centers of the grooves (22a) and (22b) of the protrusions (21a) and (21b) are equal to each other in that direction, for example, 22. It is 5 degrees. That is, when viewed from the combined surface (18a) (18b) side of each joint member half (12a) (12b), the groove line (B) is the line of the ridge.
It is offset 22.5 degrees counterclockwise with respect to (A). Therefore, the same one can be used for both the joint member halves (12a) (12b).

In the assembled state, the protrusion half halves (16a), (16b) of the two joint member halves (12a), (12b) match each other to form the joint member (12), and the first yoke (10) The two arms (10a) are joint members
The two guide grooves (17) located at the symmetrical positions of (12) have the two arm portions (11a) of the second yoke (11) located at the remaining symmetrical positions of the joint member (12). 17). Then, the rotation of the first yoke (10) causes the joint member to rotate.
It is transmitted to the second yoke (11) via (12).

When assembling the universal joint, first connect both ends of the spring (20) in the natural state to the corresponding joint member halves (12a) (12a).
Fit in the recesses (19a) (19b) of b) and project the bent parts (20a) (20b).
(21a) (21b) Fit into Nozomi (22a) (22b). At this time, the spring
The angle between the bent parts (20a) and (20b) at both ends of (20) is 0 degree, and the line (A) and the groove line (B) of the ridges of each joint member half (12a) (12b) ) Is 22.5 degrees, the bent parts (20a) (20b) of the spring (20) in the natural state are fitted to the grooves (22a) (22b) of the protrusions (21a) (21b). Just two fitting halves
The ridge halves (16a) and (16b) of (12a) and (12b) do not coincide with each other, and a deviation of about 45 degrees occurs in the circumferential direction between them. Therefore, the joint member (12) cannot be put into the assembled state as it is, and the protrusion half body (1) of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) cannot be assembled.
When 6a) and (16b) are matched and the joint member (12) is assembled, the spring (20) is always twisted, which causes
The two joint member halves (12a), (12b) are urged in directions offset from each other in the circumferential direction. Also, the two joint member halves (12a) (12
When the mating surfaces (18a) and (18b) of b) are brought close to each other to be assembled, the spring (20) is compressed, whereby the two joint member halves (12a) and (12b) are axially separated from each other. Is biased in the direction. Therefore, circumferential and axial preloads are applied between the joint member (12) and the arm portions (10a), (11a) of the yokes (10), (11) to prevent rattling.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the case of the second embodiment, the bent portions (20a) at both ends of the spring (20)
(20b) is offset in the circumferential direction, and the angle between them is 4
It is 5 degrees. On the other hand, two joint member halves (12a) (12
The angle formed by the line (A) of the ridge and the line (B) of the groove in b) is equal to each other, including the direction, and is 45 degrees. Therefore, in this case as well, the bent portions (20a) (20b) at both ends of the spring (20) in the natural state are connected to the protrusions (21a) of the joint member halves (12a) (12b).
(21b) When fitted into Nozomi (22a) (22b), about 45 degrees in the circumferential direction between the ridge halves (16a) (16b) of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) Deviation occurs.

Others are the same as in the case of the first embodiment, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The angle formed by the bent parts (20a) (20b) at both ends of the spring (20) and the line (A) and the groove line (B) of the ridges of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) The angle formed by is not limited to that in the above embodiment, but can be changed as appropriate. That is, these angles are equal to each other in both joint member halves (12a) (12b) including the direction in which the angle between the line (A) of the ridge and the line (B) of the groove is equal, and The bent parts (20a) (20b) at both ends of the spring (20) in the state of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) projections (21a) (21b)
(22a) (22b) When fitted, two joint member halves (12a)
It suffices that it be determined so that a circumferential shift occurs between the ridge halves (16a) and (16b) of (12b).

Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the ball-shaped universal joint of the present invention, the coil spring can prevent the rattling. Further, since the spring is provided in the recess formed in the combined surface of the two spherical joint member halves,
Wear of the spring and the yoke is small, and rattling can be reliably prevented for a long time.

By simply fitting both ends of the coil spring to the protrusions on the bottom of the recess of each spherical joint member half, this can be attached easily, and the spherical joint member can be easily assembled.

Further, when the protrusions of the two spherical joint member halves are fitted in the bent portions at both ends of the spring in the natural state, the protrusions of the two spherical joint member halves are displaced from each other in the circumferential direction. When the projections of the two spherical joint member halves are aligned for assembly, the coil spring is always twisted. Moreover, since the angle formed by the line passing through the centers of the two ridges at the symmetrical positions of the two ball-shaped joint member halves and the line passing through the center of the groove of the protrusion is equal to each other, both spherical joint member halves are formed. The exact same thing can be used for, and the production cost of the half body such as mold cost will be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled vertical sectional view of a ball-shaped universal joint showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is two halves of a spherical joint member. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the body and the spring, and FIG. 4 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the second embodiment. (10) (11) ... Yoke, (10a) (11a) ... Arm, (12) ... Spherical joint member, (12a) (12b) ... Joint member half, (15) ... Spherical portion, (16)
… Protrusions, (17)… Guide grooves, (20)… Coil springs, (20
a) (20b) ... bent portion, (21a) (21b) ... protrusion, (22a) (22b) ...
Groove.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Bibliography Sho 63-3524 (JP, U) Rikai Hei 1-80826 (JP, U) Jitsuko 54-1223 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A spherical joint member, in which four ridges and four guide grooves between these ridges are formed on the outer surface of one sphere in an assembled state, and a bifurcated protrusion at the end. And two yokes formed respectively, and two arm portions of one of the yokes are fitted to two guide grooves at symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member, and two arm portions of the other yoke. In a ball-shaped universal joint in which the two are fitted in the two guide grooves in the remaining symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member, the spherical joint member is axially divided into one yoke side half body and the other yoke side half body. A coil spring for urging the halves axially away from each other and circumferentially offset from each other is provided in the recess formed in the combined surface of the halves. Both ends of the spring The bent portion is bent so that it is inside the circle, the bottom of the recess of each half has a groove into which the bent portion of both ends of the coil spring fits, and a projection that fits inside the circle of both ends of the coil spring. The angle between the line passing through the centers of the two ridges at the symmetrical positions of the two spherical joint member halves and the line passing through the center of the groove of the protrusion is equal to each other When the protrusions of the two spherical joint member halves are fitted to the bent portions of both ends, the ridges of the two spherical joint member halves are displaced in the circumferential direction from each other so that both ends of the spring are folded. A ball-shaped universal joint characterized in that the angle formed by the bend is determined.