JP6273085B2 - Connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector used for a joint of a link mechanism.

  There is a link mechanism as a mechanical element that transmits movement. This link mechanism can increase or decrease the speed or force by connecting a plurality of links with pins. There are various uses of the link mechanism, and the strength of the link mechanism is important, for example, it is used for a bicycle frame with improved driving comfort.

  Here, Patent Document 1 describes a pin having excellent durability used for a joint of a link mechanism. However, the durability of this pin is high, but if the pin breaks, the joint will be disassembled. For example, when this link mechanism is incorporated in a bicycle frame, the driver's safety may not be ensured.

JP 2007-155131 A

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that improves the joint strength of the link mechanism and prevents the joint from being disassembled.

(1) As means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a connecting tool for connecting a plurality of links, a main shaft inserted into the shaft holes of the plurality of links and having an axial hole in the axial direction, and an axis of the main shaft A counter shaft inserted through the hole and a pair of stoppers provided at both ends of the counter shaft via the plurality of links are provided.

(2) In the connector according to (1), a gap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole of the main shaft and the outer peripheral surface of the sub shaft.

(3) In the connector according to (1) or (2), the pair of stoppers includes a pair of elastic washers.

  The connector of the present invention includes two shafts, a main shaft and a sub shaft. For this reason, a link can be supported by these axes. Therefore, a joint excellent in strength can be formed. Further, the strength and durability of the joint can be improved by using a strong auxiliary shaft while reducing the sliding wear of the link and the main shaft by appropriately selecting the material of the main shaft according to the material of the link. Furthermore, even when the main shaft that receives a force directly from the link breaks, the secondary shaft maintains the link connection state, so that disassembly of the joint can be avoided.

  A gap is interposed between the main shaft and the sub shaft. For this reason, when a force is applied to the end of the countershaft, the countershaft moves in a gap so that the force can be released, so that it is difficult to break. Therefore, the strength of the joint can be improved.

  Further, a pair of stoppers position the link via elastic washers. When an axial force is applied to the countershaft and the pair of stoppers due to the twist of the link, this washer serves as a cushion and can absorb the force. Therefore, it is difficult for the pair of stoppers to fall off from the secondary shaft, and the strength of the joint can be improved.

It is a perspective view of the joint using the connecting tool of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the joint using the coupling tool of this invention. It is a perspective view of the joint using the coupling tool of Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the joint using the coupling tool of Example 1. FIG. (A) It is a perspective view which shows the other form of a main axis | shaft. (B) It is sectional drawing of the joint using the other main axis | shaft. (A) It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the coupling tool of this invention. (B) It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the coupling tool of this invention. (A) It is the schematic which shows the formation method of the link with a main axis | shaft. (B) It is the schematic which shows the connection method of the link with a main axis | shaft. (C) It is the schematic which shows the joint which connected n links.

  The connector of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in this specification, the same code | symbol shown over each figure shows the same or similar member and thing.

  The connector 2 of the present invention connects two links 4 so that they can rotate relative to each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a main shaft 6, a sub shaft 8, and a pair of stoppers. Consists of nine.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main shaft 6 of the present invention is inserted across the shaft hole 12 of each link 4 and serves as a rotation axis of each link 4. The main shaft 6 has a cylindrical shape in which a shaft hole 14 is formed coaxially with the outer shape in the central axis direction. Further, the outer shape of the main shaft 6 and the inner diameter of the shaft hole 12 of the link 4 are determined so that the link 4 can easily rotate with respect to the main shaft 6. In order to facilitate insertion into the shaft hole 12 of the link, the distal end portion in the insertion direction of the main shaft 6 may be tapered. It is preferable that the main shaft 6 is selected from a material that is resistant to a stepping force and is resistant to wear. For example, stainless steel can be used. In this embodiment, in order to ensure the strength of the joint, the diameter of the main shaft 6 is twice that of the sub shaft 8 described later, but is not limited to this, and can be appropriately designed according to the required strength of the joint. The main shaft 6 extending over the shaft hole 12 of each link is slightly longer than the length from the step 20 provided in the shaft hole 12 of one link 4a to the step 20 provided in the shaft hole of the other link 4b. have.

  The secondary shaft 8 of the present invention has a round bar shape and is inserted into the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A gap 22 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft 6 and the outer peripheral surface of the sub shaft 8. The auxiliary shaft 8 has a length necessary for providing a pair of stoppers 9 to be described later at both ends of the auxiliary shaft 8 protruding from the main shaft 6. As the auxiliary shaft 8, for example, a stainless steel stud bolt is used. This material is not limited to stainless steel and is preferably a material with high tensile strength.

  The pair of stoppers 9 according to the present invention are provided at both ends of the auxiliary shaft 8 with all the links 4 interposed therebetween to position the links 4. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of stoppers 9 includes a pair of washers 18 passed from both sides of the auxiliary shaft 8 made of stud bolts, and both ends of the auxiliary shaft 8 from the outside of the pair of washers 18. It can be constituted by a pair of nuts 10 which are screwed to the part. The pair of nuts 10 are screwed so that the pair of washers 18 sandwich the main shaft 6. The pair of stoppers 9 restricts the movement of the link 4 by the outer peripheral portions of the pair of washers 18 coming into contact with the step 20 formed in the shaft hole 12 of the link 4, and prevents the drop. Although the pair of nuts 10 are screwed so that the pair of washers 18 sandwich the main shaft 6, the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be a gap between the main shaft 6 and the pair of washers 18. At this time, the pair of nuts 10 may be constituted by a double nut so that the pair of nuts 10 does not fall off from the auxiliary shaft 6. Further, the pair of nuts 10 may be arranged at the step 20 without using the pair of washers 18.

  In the joint using the connector 2 of the present invention, one part 6a of the main shaft 6 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of one link 4a, and the other part 6b of the main shaft 6 is inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the other link 4b. Then, the auxiliary shaft 8 is inserted into the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft 6, and a pair of stoppers 9 for positioning the one link 4a and the other link 4b are provided at both ends of the auxiliary shaft 8, thereby assembling.

  The connector 2 of the present invention includes two shafts, a main shaft 6 and a sub shaft 8. For this reason, the link 4 can be supported by these shafts 6 and 8. Therefore, a joint excellent in strength can be formed. In addition, the material of the main shaft 6 is appropriately selected according to the material of the link 4 to reduce the sliding wear of the link 4 and the main shaft 6, and the strength and durability of the joint are improved by using the strong counter shaft 8. Can be made. Furthermore, even when the main shaft 6 that receives a force directly from the link 4 is broken, the sub shaft 8 maintains the connected state of the link 4, so that disassembly of the joint can be avoided.

  Further, a gap 22 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft 6 and the sub shaft 8. For this reason, when a radial force is applied to the end portion of the auxiliary shaft 8, the auxiliary shaft 8 can move in the gap 22 to release the force, and therefore, it is difficult to break. Therefore, the strength of the joint can be improved.

  The connector 2 of the present invention can be used for a bicycle or the like in which a link mechanism is incorporated in a frame structure or the like. A bicycle incorporating the connector 2 of the present invention exhibits excellent strength and durability against a load of a driver or the like and an impact during traveling. Further, even if the main shaft 6 is damaged during the traveling of the bicycle, the auxiliary shaft 8 and the pair of stoppers 9 avoid the disassembly of the joint. Therefore, the driver's safety can be ensured. In addition, the driver can carry while riding the bicycle or pushing the bicycle. Even if the secondary shaft 8 breaks, it is safe without being disassembled unless the main shaft 16 falls out of the shaft holes 12 of the links 4a and 4b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the coupling tool 34 of this embodiment includes a main shaft 24, a sleeve 16, a bolt 26, a nut 10, and washers 18 and 30.

  The main shaft 24 of the present embodiment is made of aluminum or an alloy thereof, and one portion 24a of the main shaft 24 is inserted and fixed in the shaft hole 12 of one link 4a, and the other portion 24b is connected to the other through the sleeve 16. The shaft 4 of the link 4b is rotatably inserted. The main shaft 24 is fixed by being press-fitted into one link 4a, but the fixing method is not limited to this, and a screw thread is formed in one portion 24a of the main shaft and screwed into the shaft hole 12 of the link to be fixed. May be.

  In addition, the main shaft 24 of the present embodiment has a flange portion 32 that is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof and that positions the main shaft 24. The flange portion 32 is formed at one end of the main shaft 24 and is formed into a collar shape that abuts against a step 20 formed in the shaft hole of the link 4. As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there may be a flange-shaped flange portion 32 a formed in the middle portion of the main shaft 25 and interposed between the links 4.

  The bolt 26, the washers 18, 30 and the nut 10 of this embodiment constitute a counter shaft and a pair of stoppers. That is, the shaft portion 26 a of the bolt is inserted into the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft 24 to constitute a sub shaft. Further, the bolt head 26b and the washer 30 are provided at one end of the bolt shaft portion 26a which is the auxiliary shaft, and are arranged at the step 20 in the shaft hole of the link 4a via the flange portion 32. The nut 10 and the washer 18 are provided in a threaded portion formed at the other end of the shaft portion 26a of the bolt that is the auxiliary shaft, and are disposed at the step 20 in the shaft hole of the link 4b. As a result, the link 4 is positioned, and the bolt head 26b, the washers 18, 30 and the nut 10 constitute a pair of stoppers. A gap 24 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the bolt shaft portion 26a and the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft. The washer 30 interposed between the bolt head 26b and the main shaft 24 is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

Since the connecting tool 34 of the present embodiment is formed with a stopper at one end of the auxiliary shaft in advance, the connecting work is facilitated.
A pair of stoppers position the link 4 via an elastic washer 30. When an axial force is applied to the auxiliary shaft and the pair of stoppers due to the twist of the link 4, the washer 30 acts as a cushion and can absorb the force. Therefore, it is difficult for the pair of stoppers to fall off from the secondary shaft, and the strength of the joint can be improved.

  As another embodiment of the main shaft of the present invention, the present invention can also be applied to a joint connecting three links 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it can be constituted by one main shaft 36 disposed across all the links 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, two main shafts 24 arranged across the links 4 may be used. In the center link 4, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a sleeve 16 may be interposed between the shaft hole 12 of the link and the main shafts 36 and 24. Further, in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the links 4 rotate independently of each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the links 4 at both ends may be connected. The main shafts 36 and 24 may be press-fitted into the shaft holes 12 of the links 4 at both ends.

  Furthermore, the connector of the present invention can be used for a joint that connects n links 4 as shown in FIG. The connector 40 includes n−1 main shafts 24, n−1 sleeves 16, one sub shaft 8, and a pair of stoppers 9.

The assembly of this joint will be described.
(1) As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the main shaft 24 is fixed so that one portion 24a of the main shaft 24 is fixed in one shaft hole 12a of the link and the other portion 24b of the main shaft 24 protrudes from the link 4. 24 is press-fitted into the shaft hole 12 of the link, and n-1 links 42 with a main shaft are prepared (FIG. 7B).
(2) As shown in FIG. 7B, the main shaft 24 protruding from one main shaft link 42a through the sleeve 16 is inserted into the other shaft hole 12b of the other main shaft link 42b. This is repeated for the number of the links 42 with the main shaft, and finally inserted into the shaft hole 12 of the link 4 without the main shaft.
(3) As shown in FIG. 7 (c), the secondary shaft 8 is inserted into the shaft hole 14 of the main shaft, and a pair of stoppers 9 are formed at both ends of the secondary shaft 8. A spacer 44 for guiding the auxiliary shaft 8 may be provided in one shaft hole 12a of the link 4 without the main shaft. The spacer 44 prevents the countershaft 8 from rattling.
Thereby, the joint which connects n link 4 is comprised.

  In the connector 40, the links 4 are connected to each other by separate main shafts 6. For this reason, compared with the case where all the links 4 are connected with one spindle, the burden on each spindle 24 is small. Therefore, the strength of the joint is excellent. Also, the link 4 can be easily replaced.

  Although the connecting device of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be implemented in variously modified, modified, and modified embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. All the embodiments belong to the scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the link 4 is positioned by providing a step 20 in the shaft hole of each link 4 and arranging a pair of stoppers 9 along the step 20. However, the link 4 may be positioned by arranging a pair of stoppers 9 around the opening of the shaft hole of the link disposed at both ends without providing the step 20 in the shaft hole of the link 4.

2 ... Connector
4 ... Link
6, 24, 36 ... Spindle
8 ... Secondary axis
9 ... A pair of stoppers
10 ... Nut
12 ... Link shaft hole
14 ... Shaft hole of main shaft
16 ... Sleeve
18, 30 ... washers
20 ... Link steps
22 ... Gap between main shaft and sub shaft
24a ... One of the spindles
24b ... the other side of the spindle
26 ... Bolt
32 ... Flange
42 ... Link with spindle

Claims (3)

A connector for connecting a plurality of links,
A main shaft inserted into the shaft holes of the plurality of links and having a shaft hole in the axial direction;
A sub shaft inserted into the shaft hole of the main shaft;
A pair of stoppers attached to the auxiliary shaft so as to sandwich the main shaft with the plurality of links interposed therebetween;
With
To disperse the force received by the main shaft from the link between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole of the main shaft and the outer peripheral surface of the sub shaft when the sub shaft is inserted into the shaft hole of the main shaft. A connecting tool characterized in that a gap is formed.   The coupling tool according to claim 1, wherein the main shaft and the sub shaft are rotatably attached to a shaft hole of the same link.   The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pair of stoppers includes a pair of elastic washers.

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