JPH06652Y2 - Hamagata 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 vehicle steering mechanism or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art As a spherical universal joint of this type, one having two metal yokes and a spherical joint member made of a synthetic resin for connecting them is known (Actually developed model 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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball-shaped universal joint that solves the above-mentioned problems, can reliably prevent rattling over a long period of time, and is easy to assemble a spherical joint member.

Means for Solving the Problems A ball-shaped universal joint according to the present invention is constructed such that, in an assembled state, one spherical portion has four ridges and four guide grooves formed between the ridges formed on the outer surface thereof. A spherical joint member and two yokes each having two arm portions projecting in a bifurcated shape at an end are provided, and two arm portions of one yoke are two guide grooves at symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member. In the spherical universal joint, the two arms of the other yoke are fitted in the two guide grooves in the remaining symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member. A coil spring for biasing these halves apart from each other is provided in a recess formed in the other half of the yoke and formed in the combined surface of these halves. Both ends of the coil spring are bent so that they are inside the circle, and at the bottom of the recess of each half, there are grooves for the bent parts of both ends of the coil spring to fit inside the circle of both ends of the coil spring. It is characterized in that a protrusion is provided.

Action The two halves of the spherical joint member are urged in directions away from each other by the coil spring, and are pressed against the respective yokes, thereby preventing rattling. Further, since the spring is provided in the recess formed in the combined surface of the two halves, it does not project outside the spherical joint member,
Therefore, there is no metal contact between both ends of the conventional spring and the yoke. Therefore, wear of the spring and the yoke is small, and rattling can be reliably prevented for a long time. Further, by simply fitting both ends of the coil spring to the protrusions on the bottom of the recess of each half, the coil spring can be easily attached and the spherical joint member can be easily assembled.

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 divided into a first joint member half (12a) on the side of the first yoke (10) and a second joint member half (12b) on the side of the second yoke (11). ing. First joint member half (12a)
Is the one in which the first half (16a) of the four ridges (16) is integrally formed on the outer surface of the first half of the spherical part (15a) that divides the spherical part (15) into two parts. is there. The second joint member half body (12b) is formed by dividing the spherical portion (15) into two equal parts, and the second half body (15b) obtained by dividing the spherical portion (15) into two halves (16). 16b) is integrally formed. Then, the joint member (12) has two halves (1
2a) and (12b) are substantially cross-shaped mating surfaces (18a) and (18b)
Are combined in a state of facing 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.
A compression coil spring (20) for urging the two coupling member halves (12a) and (12b) in directions away from each other is provided in 9a and 19b. At both ends of the spring (20), bent portions (20a) (20b) bent inside the circle are formed. Each joint member half (1
Circular protrusions (21a) (21b) are formed on the bottoms of the recesses (19a) (19b) of 2a) (12b), and each protrusion (21a) (21b) has a groove (22a) in the diameter direction.
(22b) is formed. Then, the both ends of the spring (20) are the protrusions (21
a) Fitted on the outside of (21b) and bent part (20a) of spring (20)
The both ends of the spring (20) are fixed to the joint member halves (12a) (12b) by fitting the (20b) into the grooves (22a) (22b) of the protrusions (21a) (21b).

A metal conducting member (23) is sandwiched between the mating surfaces (18a) (18b) of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) outside the spring (20). The current-carrying member (23) is composed of a substantially circular metal plate, and a hole (24) through which the spring (20) passes is formed in the center thereof. At the position where the outer circumference of the energizing member (23) is divided into four,
The contact portions (23a) (23b) projecting into the guide groove (17) are integrally formed. The first two contact portions (23a) in the symmetrical position are curved toward the first joint member half (12a) side, and the second two contact portions (23b) in the remaining symmetrical positions are the second contact portion (23a). Curved to the joint member half (12b) side.

The two arm portions (10a) of the first yoke (10) are attached to the two guide grooves (17) at symmetrical positions of the joint member (12), and
The two arms (11a) of (11) are fitted into the two guide grooves (17) at the remaining symmetrical positions of the joint member (12). The first contact portion (23a) of the energizing member (23) is on the inner surface of the arm portion (10a) of the first yoke (10), and the second contact portion (23b) is the second yoke (11). The inner surface of each arm portion (10b) is pressed by elastic force. Then, the rotation of the first yoke (10) is transmitted to the second yoke (11) via the joint member (12). At this time, the two joint member halves (12
Since a) and (12b) are urged away from each other, an axial preload is applied between them and the arms (10a) and (11a) of the yokes (10) and (11). Occurrence is prevented. In addition, in this embodiment, the angles of the bent portions (20a) (20b) of the spring (20) and the grooves (22a) (22b) of the protrusions (21a) (21b) are appropriately shifted. The two joint member halves (12a) and (12b) are twisted to prevent rattling in the circumferential direction. Further, electricity is transmitted from the arm portion (10a) of the first yoke (10) to the current-carrying member (23) through the first contact portion (23a), and further through the second contact portion (23b) to the second contact portion (23b). Informed to York (11).

4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the case of the second embodiment, short circular protrusions (25a) (25b) are formed on the two spherical half bodies (15a) (15b) except for the outer peripheral portions of the facing surfaces, and these protrusions (25a) The end face of (25b) is the combined face
It is (18a) (18b). Then, an elastic current-carrying member (26) formed by bending one thin metal rod into a circle is attached around the protrusions (25a) (25b) of the two joint member halves (12a) (12b) in the assembled state. There is. The current-carrying member (26) is 2 by the elastic force of itself.
Pressure contact with the inner surfaces of the arms (10a) (10b) of the two yokes (10) (11),
As a result, electricity is transmitted from one of the two yokes (10) and (11) to the other.

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

6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the case of the third embodiment, the base end portion of the cup-shaped metal cover (27) extending to the outside of the assembled second joint member half body (12b) is fixed to the second yoke (11). A metal ring (28) concentric with the yoke (11) is fixed to the tip of the cover (27). Supports provided at two symmetrical points on the ring (28)
The (29) is provided with a pivot (31) which rotates by being fitted in a conical hole-shaped pivot receiver (30) formed on the outer surface of the arm portion (11a) of the second yoke (11). Metal leaf springs (32) are provided at two symmetrical positions of the ring (28) between the pivots (31) and in pressure contact with the outer surface of the arm portion (10a) of the first yoke (10). The two pivots (31) are fitted with the joint members (1
Located on the rotation center axis of the first yoke (10) with respect to 2),
The two leaf springs (32) are located on the rotation center axis of the second yoke (11) with respect to the joint member (12) in the assembled state. Therefore, even if the two yokes (10) and (11) rotate with respect to the joint member (12), the leaf spring (32) must always have the arm portion (10) of the first yoke (10).
The pressure is applied to a), and electricity is supplied from the second yoke (11) to the cover (27).
And through the leaf spring (32) to the first yoke (10).

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

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the joint member (12) is made of synthetic resin having no electric conductivity and the electric conduction means is provided between the two yokes (10) and (11). If it is made of an electrically conductive material such as the above, such an energizing means is unnecessary.

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 halves, wear of the spring and the yoke is small, and rattling can be reliably prevented for a long time. Further, by simply fitting both ends of the coil spring to the protrusions on the bottom of the recess of each half, the coil spring can be easily attached and the spherical joint member can be easily assembled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a spherical universal joint showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same assembly, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, and FIG. Is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a third embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. (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.

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 respectively formed with the two arm portions, and two arm portions of one yoke 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 is fitted in two guide grooves in the remaining symmetrical positions of the spherical joint member, the spherical joint member is divided into one yoke side half body and the other yoke side half body, The coil springs that urge these halves away from each other are provided in the recesses formed on the mating surfaces of the half halves, and both ends of this coil spring are bent so that they are inside the circle. The bottom of the recess in each half A ball-shaped universal joint characterized in that a bent portion at both ends of the coil spring is provided with a groove, and a protrusion is provided inside a circle at both ends of the coil spring.