JPS6260567B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cross joint consisting of two joint members for coupling to a shaft to be connected, wherein the first joint member has an arcuate cross section extending in a plane passing through its longitudinal axis. The second joint member is provided with a circular concave groove having a circular shape, and the second joint member connects the torque transmission element to the first joint member for transmitting rotational torque from one joint member to the other joint member.
This type of joint member is supported so as to be engaged with a circular concave groove of the joint member.

A cruciform joint with a star member with grooves and a corresponding number of balls is known (U.S. Pat.
No. 1836095). However, this joint is difficult to fabricate, difficult to assemble, and expensive because it requires a large number of structural members.

Furthermore, universal joints are known which include a fork-like member and an internal member and which use two balls for the transmission of rotational torque. (For example, U.S. Patent No.
No. 1763206). Guiding the ball into a correspondingly shaped recess in the internal member increases friction and reduces torque transmission efficiency. To eliminate this drawback, the rolling elements and the slideways must be lubricated accordingly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to (a) ensure that the internal member held in the second coupling member extends perpendicularly to its axis and at both ends faces the circular recessed groove of the first coupling member; (b) The torque transmitting element is connected to both ends of the through hole via a support member that is rotatably disposed on the center side of the through hole of the internal member. This is achieved by a configuration in which the support is engaged in a circular groove.

This arrangement has the advantage that the first and second coupling parts can be guided by the internal parts of the first and second coupling parts, which are configured as guide elements.
The rotational torque is transmitted by a torque transmitting element received in a recessed groove in the guide member. Since a support member that can roll itself is provided between both torque transmission elements, friction during torque transmission is reduced. This is because at least the support member can roll together with the torque transmission element.

Further, on both sides of the circular concave groove of the first joint member, guide surfaces are provided concentrically with respect to the joint center, and (d) both end surfaces of the internal member where the through hole opens. is provided with a support surface that is curved in correspondence with the guide surface, and if the support surface is in contact with the guide surface, the torque transmission element will fit into the recessed groove of the first joint member. Good guidance and less friction during torque transmission.

Further, if the internal member is constituted by a pipe member whose outer circumferential surface is connected to the second joint member, and if a ball is used as the torque transmitting element, the manufacturing cost will be reduced. This is because this type of construction allows the use of simple and inexpensive components.

In short, the torque transmission element is constituted by two balls of the same size corresponding to the through hole of the internal member, and the support member is constituted by at least three balls of the same size as the torque transmission ball or smaller. Configure as a ball.

By using a corresponding supporting member between the original balls that transmit rotational torque, the balls that transmit rotational torque do not rub against each other in the corresponding direction of rotation, and the supporting balls Since the direction of rotation is thus changed, rolling motion in the correct direction with less friction can be obtained.

Furthermore, the torque transmission element is configured as two balls of the same size, and the support member is configured as a roller.

Also in this case, since both balls that transmit torque contact the rollers between the balls, rolling motion in the corresponding direction is ensured when the cruciform joint is bent. In order to reduce the surface pressure of the roller, the roller can be provided with a groove corresponding to the radius of the ball.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown schematically.

The cruciform joint shown in FIG. 1 essentially consists of two joint members. In this case, one coupling part is designed as a guide part 1. The guide member is provided with a circular recessed groove 2 with an arcuate cross-section extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3. The groove 2 serves to receive a ball 4 as a torque transmission element. In the interior space of the guide element 1 a second coupling element 5 is provided which has a flange 6 that connects to the shaft. The second joint member 5 includes an internal member 7. In this embodiment, the internal member is constructed as a pipe having a ball 4 received in a through hole 8. In this embodiment, two balls 9 rolling in corresponding grooves 2 of the guide member 1 are provided as the torque transmission element 4, and a roller 10 is provided between both balls 9.
is provided as a support member. By providing the third element as described above, the ball 9 can be moved to the roller 10.
When the elements 9 and 10 roll against each other, the rotation directions of the elements 9 and 10 are opposite to each other.

Furthermore, guide surfaces 18 are provided on both sides of the groove 2, and a support surface 19 provided on the end surface of the internal member 7, that is, the pipe-shaped member 7, is in contact with this guide surface.

FIG. 2 shows a guide member 1 with a groove 2 and a second coupling member 5 with a flange 6 and an internal member. The internal member 7 is provided with a through hole 8 for receiving the ball 9.

FIG. 3 shows the cruciform joint of FIG. 2 in a flexed position. When the joint is bent by the corresponding angle 11, the guide member 1 including the groove 2 remains in the corresponding position and the second joint member 5 is bent through the ball 9. In this case, the internal member 7 rotates relative to the ball 9. This movement corresponds exactly to that of a conventional cruciform joint with a cruciate-cervical axis.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of this type of joint. The flange 6 has a corresponding mounting hole 12. In this case, only the cross section of the second joint member 5 is shown. A torque transmitting ball 9 is received in the through hole 8 of the internal member 7, and a roller 10 is provided as a support member. Ball 9 is in groove 1 of the roller
Roll within 3. Since the end surface 14 of the roller 10 is provided with a rounded portion corresponding to the diameter of the through hole, the roller can rotate.

FIG. 5 shows the internal member 7 with three equally sized balls 9 received in the through holes 8. In this case, since the same ball 15 is provided as a support member,
The elements used are unified.

In contrast, in FIG. 6 two torque transmitting balls 9 are provided in the through hole 8 of the internal member 7, and the smaller ball 16 is used as a support member. In this case, three or more smaller balls 1 are used so that the ball 9 is fully supported statically.
6 must be distributed around the periphery.

Figures 7 and 8 show how to assemble this type of joint. First, the second joint member 5 is rotated 90 degrees and inserted into the guide member 1 in the axial direction through the insertion port 17, and then the ball 9 and the roller 10 are inserted into the guide member 1 through the insertion port 17.
is inserted in the direction of the vertical axis 3 through the insertion port 17. By rotating the second joint member 5 in the opposite direction, the joint is secured in the axial direction and is ready for use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a partially cutaway side view of the cross joint; FIG. 2 is a drawing of the joint member of FIG. 1 seen from another direction; and FIG. 3 is a portion of the cross joint of FIG. 2 in the flexed position. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the joint of FIG. 1, FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed views of the internal members of the second joint member, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the joint of FIG. FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a method of assembling the cross joint shown in FIG. 8 (FIG. 8 shows the direction in which the rolling elements are inserted). DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Guide member, 2... Concave groove, 3... Vertical axis line, 4... Torque transmission ball, 5... Second joint member, 6... Flange, 7... Internal member, 8...
Through hole, 9... Ball, 10... Roller, 11...
...Bending angle, 12...Mounting hole, 13...Groove, 14
... End face of roller, 15 ... Auxiliary ball, 16 ...
...Small ball, 17...Inlet, 18...Guide surface, 19...Support surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cross joint consisting of two joint members,
The first joint member is provided with a circular concave groove having an arcuate cross section extending in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the first joint member, and the second joint member is configured to transmit rotational torque from one joint member to the other joint member. (a) The internal member 7 held by the second joint member 5 is aligned with its axis. (b) The torque transmission elements 4 and 9 are provided with a through hole 8 extending at right angles to the inner member 7 and opening on the side facing the circular concave groove 2 of the first joint member 1 at both ends; Support members 10, 15, and 16 that are rotatably disposed at the center of the through hole 8 are supported so as to engage with the circular grooves 2 of the first joint member 1 at both ends of the through hole 8. A cross joint characterized by: 2 (c) Guide surfaces 18 are provided on both sides of the circular concave groove 2 of the first joint member 1 and are arranged concentrically with respect to the center of the joint, and (d) the through hole 8 is opened. The internal member 7 is provided with curved support surfaces 19 corresponding to the guide surfaces 18 on both end surfaces thereof, and the support surfaces 19 are in contact with the guide surfaces 18. The cruciform joint described in item 1. 3. The cross joint according to claim 1, wherein the internal member 7 is made of a pipe member whose outer peripheral surface is connected to the second joint member 5. 4 Torque transmission elements 4 and 9 are composed of two balls of the same size, and are supported in the circular concave groove 2 of the first joint member 1 via a support member composed of a ball 15 of the same size. The cruciform joint according to claim 1, characterized in that: 5. Claim 1, characterized in that the torque transmission elements 4, 9 consist of two balls of the same size, and the support member 16 consists of at least three balls smaller than the ball 9 serving as the torque transmission element. The cruciform joint described in section. 6. The cruciform joint according to claim 1, characterized in that the torque transmission elements 4, 9 consist of two balls of the same size, and the support member 10 consists of a roller 10.