JPH0716510Y2 - Intermediate bearing structure for automobile propulsion shafts - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an intermediate bearing structure that supports a propulsion shaft for an automobile.

As is well known in the prior art, a propulsion shaft in a front-engine rear-wheel drive vehicle is of a two-joint type or a three-joint type depending on the vehicle structure or required performance. Requires an intermediate bearing that supports the middle part of the propulsion shaft.

In such a conventional intermediate bearing structure, as shown in FIG. 2, a case 1 has one side end formed in a bent cross section, and an inner end bent in a substantially horizontal U-shaped cross section has the other end of the case 1 described above. A shield 2 having a bent shape that is connected to the side to form a housing together with the case 1, and a cover 3 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that covers both sides of the shield 2 and the case 1 are provided. A ball bearing 5 that supports the propulsion shaft 4 is held inside the. Further, at the inner ends of the case 1 and the shield 2, seal members 6, 6 having a rubber section 6a, 6a for sealing on the outer circumference and having a substantially L-shaped cross section are held. Grease is enclosed in the hollow portions 7 and 7 formed inside the hollow portions 6 and 7.

The mechanical labyrinth spaces 8, 8 formed between the case 1, the shield 2 and the cover 3 prevent, for example, muddy water splashed by the vehicle from entering the seal members 6, 6. The ball bearing 5 is sealed by the seal members 6, 6 and grease. In the figure, 9 is a case 1 and an annular support 10,10.
And a vibration damping member made of rubber for absorbing the vibration of the propulsion shaft 4 and the like, and 11 is a sponge-like damper rubber held between the vibration damping members 9 (Shokai Sho 60-167231). (See gazette, etc.).

However, in the conventional intermediate bearing structure described above, when the vehicle travels in a river or a wetland and the intermediate bearing is immersed in muddy water, Labyrinth space
If only 8,8 cannot prevent the intrusion of muddy water, the muddy water will pass through the labyrinth spaces 8,8 and invade the seal members 6,6. For this reason, the contact points of the seal members 6, 6 with the propulsion shaft 4 are likely to wear as the propulsion shaft 4 rotates, resulting in a significant decrease in sealing performance and deteriorating the bearing function of the ball bearing 5.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been devised in view of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional intermediate bearing structure, in which seal caps are provided at both ends of the housing and both sides of the seal cap and the bearing are sealed. It is characterized in that grease is sealed in the space formed between the seal member and the seal member.

Effect According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, since the outer side of the seal member is doubly sealed by the seal cap and the grease, even if the intermediate bearing is dipped in muddy water or the like, the muddy water can reach the seal member. Certainly prevented.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
Since the present embodiment is premised on the above-mentioned conventional intermediate bearing structure, the same components as those of the conventional one are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

That is, in the figure, 1 and 2 are a case and a shield that form a housing, 3 is a cover, 5 is a ball bearing for bearing the propulsion shaft 4, and 6 and 6 are substantially L-shaped in cross section having rubber portions 6a and 6a on the outer circumference. As a seal member, grease for controlling lubrication of the ball bearing 5 and sealing is enclosed in the hollow portions 7, 7 inside the seal members 6, 6.

Further, annular seal caps 21, 21 having a substantially L-shaped cross section are arranged at the outer ends of the case 1 and the shield 2. More specifically, the seal caps 21 and 21
Has a bent portion locked and fixed to the rising outer edge of the case 1 and the shield 2, and the lower surfaces of the horizontal upper pieces 21a, 21a are both
The upper ends of the outer ends of the first and the second ends are arranged in contact with each other, while the edges of the vertical lower pieces 21b, 21b are arranged in contact with the upper surface of the lower portion of the cover 3. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the labyrinth spaces 22, 22 formed between the seal caps 21, 21 and the cover 3 becomes narrow. Further, grease is filled in annular spaces 23, 23 formed between the lower pieces 21b, 21b and the seal members 6, 6. In the figure, 9 is a rubber vibration isolator, and 11 is a damper rubber.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the outside of the seal members 6, 6 is doubly sealed by the grease in the seal caps 21, 21 and the spaces 23, 23, so that the vehicle runs in a river, for example. Even if the intermediate bearing is immersed in muddy water, the muddy water that has passed through the narrow labyrinth spaces 22,22 is reliably blocked by the grease in the seal caps 21,21 and the spaces 23,23, and up to the seal members 6,6. Does not reach As a result, wear of the seal members 6, 6 due to muddy water is prevented, and good sealing performance can be maintained.

In addition, the labyrinth space 22,
Since 22 is narrower, this also reduces the amount of mud intrusion. Further, the grease in the spaces 23, 23 provides a lubricating action between the propulsion shaft 4 and the cover 3 and the like.

In the above embodiment, the housing is composed of two members, the case 1 and the shield 2, but it is also possible to construct the housing with a single member. Further, the bearing is not limited to the ball bearing 5.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is clear from the above description, according to the intermediate bearing structure for a propulsion shaft for an automobile of the present invention, a seal cap is provided especially at the end of the housing, and between the seal cap and the seal member. Grease is filled in the formed space and the outer side of the seal member is doubly sealed. Therefore, even if the intermediate bearing is immersed in muddy water, this muddy water is effectively blocked and enters the seal member side. Can be reliably prevented. Therefore, wear of the seal member due to muddy water or the like is prevented, and good sealing performance for the bearing can be maintained.

Further, since the present invention only adds the seal cap and the grease to the existing structure, the above-mentioned excellent effects can be obtained without causing the complexity of manufacturing and assembling work and the cost increase. It is highly practical.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of an intermediate bearing structure for an automobile propulsion shaft of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a conventional structure. 1 ... Case, 2 ... Shield, 4 ... Propulsion axis, 5 ...
Ball bearing, 6 ... Seal member, 21 ... Seal cap, 23 ... Space part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An intermediate bearing comprising: a bearing for supporting a propulsion shaft; a housing for holding an outer periphery of the bearing; and a seal member held at an inner end of the housing to seal a side portion of the bearing. In the structure, a seal cap is provided at an end portion of the housing, and grease is sealed in a space formed between the seal cap and the seal member.