EP1412216A1

EP1412216A1 - Radial bearing for a drive shaft

Info

Publication number: EP1412216A1
Application number: EP02758355A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Jennes; Uwe Abraham; Pierre Simon
Original assignee: INA Schaeffler KG
Current assignee: IHO Holding GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2001-07-27
Filing date: 2002-07-18
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Also published as: WO2003011627A1; US20040218843A1; BR0205804A; DE10136127A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a radial bearing (10) for a semi drive shaft (8) in a motor vehicle. A rolling bearing (17) which encompasses the semi drive shaft (8) is inserted into a holder (11). Said holder (11) is inserted into a machine part (12) in a positive fit by means of clips (13,14).

Description

Radial storage for a drive shaft

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a radial bearing for a drive shaft arranged in vehicles, in particular for a drive half-shaft, which connects the transmission with a driven front wheel in vehicles with a front-wheel drive. Such vehicles with a built-in transverse to the direction of internal combustion engine are provided with cardan shafts of different lengths. The propshaft largest length has to achieve the same flexion angle for the drive joints on a half drive, which is provided with a radial bearing. The bearing used for this purpose is a roller bearing designed as a radial bearing, which is inserted via a holder in a machine part, in particular attached to the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. The rolling bearing is used with a spherical surface in a corresponding spherical reception of the holder. This measure allows during assembly an automatic alignment of the rolling bearing in the holder in order to compensate for example, manufacturing tolerances.

Background of the invention

From the known prior art, different radial bearings of drive half-waves are known. US-A 4,413,701 shows a fixed to the engine block holder, for receiving a radial bearing, the inner ring is rotatably mounted on the drive half-shaft. The drive half-shaft has Immediately at the output of the transmission, a universal joint, whereby an alignment of the radial bearing is unnecessary. The arrangement of a further universal joint increases the component size and the assembly effort and thus the cost of the drive half-wave.

From the workshop manual (Manual de Reparation N. 8881) for the vehicle Citroen BX, Issue 09. 1982, Chapter 5, page 3, a further radial bearing for a drive half-wave is known. The figure XB 16 it can be seen that for supporting the drive shaft, a holder obviously mounted on the engine block is provided, in which the outer ring of the radial bearing is held against rotation. The mounted on the drive half shaft inner ring is supported on a lug, which forms an axial stop of the radial bearing. This storage does not allow self-alignment, or compensation of manufacturing tolerances, d. H. a production-related offset between the radial bearing and the drive half-wave during assembly.

WO 97/43138 shows a radial bearing for a drive half-wave, consisting of two housing halves, in which a rolling bearing is used with a convex lateral surface in a spherical receptacle of the housing halves. This shape of the holder allows during assembly an orientation of the radial bearing relative to the drive half-wave. The attachment of the thrust bearing on the machine part by means of fittings. For this purpose, the integrally connected with the housing halves, the rolling bearing on the outside enclosing flanges are provided with holes through which the holder is bolted to the machine part.

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the object to realize an alignable radial bearing, which simplifies installation within the machine part. This problem is inventively achieved by the features mentioned in the claims 1 and 2. According to claim 1, a radial bearing is provided, the holder comprises two housing halves, which are supported by shelves. The shelves are further arranged in pairs with at least two diametrically opposite, radially aligned tabs. To attach the holder these tabs are positively connected to the machine part or attached to this.

The question in claim 2 under protection radial bearing comprises a housing half, which together with the machine part forms a spherical receptacle on which the rolling bearing is supported and guided with a convex lateral surface. This radial bearing also allows automatic alignment during assembly and also forms a component-optimized storage of the drive half-wave. Advantageously also simplifies the assembly, whereby the cost of storage can be reduced. Preferably, the spherical receptacle in the machine part and the housing half is designed such that the rolling bearing is supported in each case in half on both components.

Coincidentally, the inventions simplify the assembly according to claims 1 and 2, since the radial bearing including roller bearings and holder or housing half can be automated with the machine part completed. Especially for mass production, this creates a cost advantage.

Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims 3 to 16.

A constructive embodiment of the invention provides a radial bearing, in which the machine part is provided for receiving the holder with axially aligned recesses or recesses extending from an end face to the annular groove in the machine part. The position, size and number of recesses in the machine part is matched with the arrangement of the tabs on the housing halves of the holder. According to the invention, an assembly sequence for the holder of the drive shaft bearing is provided, in which this is first supplied via the axially extending recesses in the machine part up to its annular groove. Subsequently, the holder including the integrated rolling bearing is rotated to a complete area coverage of the tabs in the annular groove. In this case, the annular groove is introduced into the machine part such that during assembly the direction of rotation of the holder with respect to the machine part coincides with the direction of rotation of the drive shaft when the vehicle is traveling forwards. This ensures during vehicle operation that the direction of rotation of the drive shaft does not trigger any impulse for releasing the holder in the machine part.

To achieve a simplified rotation of the holder in the annular groove of the machine part, the invention includes a tool which engages in a housing half. For this purpose, for example, a claw key or a shaft nut key which engages positively in recesses of a housing half or cooperates with axially projecting knobs to rotate the holder including the integrated bearing to an end stop.

As an advantageous measure, with an automatic backup or positional fixation of the holder can be achieved, the invention includes a tapered annular groove. Preferably, the annular groove tapers from the axially extending recess in the machine part continuously over its entire length to the end stop. This measure causes a desired clamping effect and thus a permanent securing the tabs in the machine part.

Alternatively, the invention includes a snap connection or a Einclip- function between the tabs and the machine part. For this purpose, it lends itself, for example, that the tabs of the holder snug against a mounted in the circumferential direction of the annular groove fuse. Preferably, this is an axially projecting into the annular snap-lug, for example, to locked a projection of the tab. Alternatively, the invention includes a holder in which one or more tabs axially projecting nubs or noses, which engage in an end position in a preferably radially aligned groove or recess of the annular groove.

As a further assurance, the invention includes an elastic, resiliently biased axially or radially directed retaining lug which is provided on at least one tab of the housing half. The retaining lug is designed so that it latches in an end position in the region of the annular groove, on or in a corresponding recess on the machine part. This fuse realizes an insoluble direction of rotation independent connection between the holder and the machine part.

The radial bearing according to the invention also includes a holder which is attached via a bayonet-locking principle on the machine part. For this purpose, the holder is secured, for example via two radially aligned fixing screws on the machine part.

Furthermore, an effective securing of the holder or a housing half can be achieved via a screw. For this purpose, the flanges are provided on the outer circumference with an external thread, which engages an internal thread of the machine part in the region of the axially extending recess in a form-fitting manner. As a measure to increase the number of threads includes the invention tabs which are integrally provided on the outer periphery with right angles aligned legs. In this case, a housing half is preferably provided with a plurality of symmetrically distributed circumferentially arranged legs which have an external thread on the outside, which can be screwed in a rotation of the holder in an internal thread of the machine part. The preferably designed with a large pitch thread is tuned so that after a defined angle of rotation of the holder or the housing half bears against a contact surface of the machine part. In addition, a position fixation of the holder or the housing half is provided in the end position of these components relative to the machine part. This is the leg on the provided free end with a radially biased snap-action nose, which engages positively in an end position in a groove of the machine part. This provides an effective position fixation of the holder with respect to the machine part, which can only be solved with a special tool.

Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned measures for securing the holder in the machine part, the invention further includes a Verstif- tion, screwing or caulking. The pinning or screwing can be done, for example, after a positional match of holes in the machine part and in the tabs. Furthermore, the holder can be effectively fixed in position in an end position by means of a caulking of edge zones of the annular groove in the machine part.

An assembly simplification can be achieved by securing the housing halves of the holder to one another after a precompletion with the roller bearing, for example by means of a clip connection, in order to create a captive, precomplete structural unit.

Brief description of the drawings

On the basis of several embodiments, the invention will be described below. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a schematic structure of a known arrangement of half-shafts between a transmission and driven front wheels of a vehicle;

Figure 2 in a view the radial bearing according to the invention integrated in a machine part;

Figure 3 in a front view as an individual part of the holder of the radial bearing; Figure 4 in a longitudinal section of the two housing halves comprehensive holder, in which a rolling bearing is integrated;

Figure 5 shows the machine part in a longitudinal section illustrating the annular groove and the axial recess;

Figure 6 on an enlarged scale, a tapered

Annular groove in the machine part;

Figure 7a shows a detail of the machine part, which shows a securing of the tab in the annular groove;

FIG. 7b shows the view "x" according to FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7b securing the tab in the annular groove;

FIG. 8b shows the view "y" according to FIG. 8a;

Figure 9a in a half section, a housing half, the tab has a resilient retaining lug;

FIG. 9b shows the design of the annular groove in the machine part in which the tab according to FIG. 9a is guided and secured;

FIG. 10a shows the layout of a holder whose tab has an external thread with which it is screwed in the machine part;

FIG. 10b shows the view "z" according to FIG. 10a;

FIG. 11 shows a component-optimized radial bearing according to the invention. Detailed description of the drawings

FIG. 1 schematically shows a drive arrangement for a vehicle with front-wheel drive. In this case, a drive unit 1, consisting of an internal combustion engine 2 and a transmission 3, via cardan shafts 4, 5 connected to the driven front wheels 6, 7. Due to an eccentric arrangement of the transmission 3 to a vehicle longitudinal axis, the propeller shaft 5 is made longer than the other propeller shaft 4. The propeller shaft 5 is provided with a drive half-shaft 8 which is supported adjacent to a universal joint 9 by means of a radial bearing 10 on the internal combustion engine 2. The radial bearing 10 comprises a holder 11, which is used in a machine part 12, is connected to the internal combustion engine 2.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the radial bearing 10 which is supported on the internal combustion engine 2 via contact surfaces 20a, 20b and fastened by means of screw connections. In the machine part 12 of the housing halves 15, 16 existing holder 11 is used, in which a roller bearing 17 is integrated. About the roller bearing 17, the half-drive shaft 8 is rotatably supported and learns about the radial bearing 10 a support. In Figure 2, the holder 11 is shown in the installed state or the installation position.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, each housing half 15, 16 forms a rim 18, 19, on which tabs 14 which are directed partially radially outward adjoin.

The installation of a holder 11 according to FIG. 3 into the machine part 12 shown in FIG. 2 requires local axial recesses 21, which are introduced into the machine part 12 in accordance with the tab arrangement on the shelf 18 of the holder 11. The introduced from the front side in the machine part 12 axial recesses 21 extend to a centrally disposed in the machine part 12 limited circumferential groove 22nd The installation of the holder 11 with integrated roller bearing 17 in the machine part 12 provides the following assembly steps. First, the holder 11 is axially displaced in the machine part, before the holder 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow in Figure 2 within the groove 22 to an end stop 23. The direction of rotation coincides with the direction of rotation of the drive half-shaft 8, as indicated by the arrow, so that the forward rotation of the vehicle, the rolling bearing 17 or the holder 11 is always acted upon in the direction of the end stop 23 by the drive half-shaft 8 and thus an automatic release prevents.

The housing halves 15, 16 of the holder 11 form on the inside a spherical receptacle 24, which corresponds to a correspondingly shaped crowned lateral surface 25 of the rolling bearing 17. The housing halves 15, 16 are above ribs 18, 19 mutually supported. The rims 18, 19 are preferably provided with partially symmetrically circumferentially distributed paired tabs 13, 14, via which the holder 11 is mounted in the machine part 12. A rotation of the holder 11 in the groove 22 of the machine part 12 up to the end stop 23 takes place by means of a separate tool. For this purpose, the housing half 16 is provided with end-side recesses 26, one of which is shown in Figure 4. As a tool, for example, not shown in Figure 4 hook key, which engages positively in the recess 26 is.

The longitudinal section through the machine part 12 shown in FIG. 5 shows the inner, partially arranged groove 22 and the associated axial recess 21 for the introduction and position fixing of the tabs 13, 14 according to FIG. 4.

To secure the tabs 13, 14 on the machine part 12, Figures 6 to 11 show different solutions. FIG. 6 shows a groove 22 which, starting from the axial recess 22, tapers continuously up to the end stop 23. The desired self-locking of the tabs 13, 14 is optimized by these are angephastseitig on both sides in the region of the end face, to achieve an enlarged contact surface between the walls of the groove 22nd and the tabs 13, 14. In addition, the tapered groove 22 have undercuts 37 which ensure a positive locking of the tabs 13, 14 in the groove 22.

FIGS. 7 a, 7 b show a fuse 30 introduced between the tabs 13, 14 and the machine part 12 in the region of the groove 22.

The designed as a detachable connection fuse 30 comprises laterally on the tabs 13, 14 exiting nubs 31, which engage in a corresponding semicircular depressions 32 and recesses 22 of the groove. Due to the rounded nubs 31 in conjunction with the corresponding, also rounded recess 32 of the holder 11 and thus the tabs 13, 14 can be released from this end position.

According to FIGS. 8a and 8b, the machine part 12 is provided with a snap-in nose 27 projecting into the groove 22 and designed as a tooth, which in an end position of the lug 13 locks in a form-fitting manner in a correspondingly shaped recess 28 of the lug 13. The thereby adjusting snap connection 29 forms a non-releasable securing the tabs 13, 14 in the machine part 12th

In Figures 9a, 9b, the tab 14 of the housing half 15 is provided with a resiliently biased, radially outwardly directed retaining lug 33, which in the installed state, for example in an undercut 38 or in a recess of the machine part 12, in the region of the groove 22nd locked. A further securing of the holder 11 in the machine part 12 by means of a screw connection is shown in FIGS. 10a, 10b. For this purpose, the tab 13 is integrally provided on the outer circumference with a right-angled leg 34 whose outer thread 35 corresponds to the internal thread 36 of the machine part 12. For mounting, an axial feed of the holder 11 to the machine part 12 takes place first, before the holder 11 rests against the system 39 by rotation. For this purpose, a thread with a large pitch is preferably provided, so that even after a small angle of rotation of the holder 11 reaches the end position. Accordingly, no circumferential axial recess in the machine part 12 is required, but a partial, for example, the double arc of the tabs 13, 14 having recess 21 is sufficient. As a measure to secure the holder 11 in the end position, the leg 34 at the end a radially outwardly resilient snap-action nose 42 which locks in a groove 41 of the machine part.

11 shows the component-optimized radial bearing 40. To create a self-aligning roller bearing 17, the components form the housing half 16 and the machine part 12 together a spherical receptacle 24, which corresponds to the spherical surface 25 of the roller bearing 17. In the end position, the housing half 16, as already shown in FIG. 10 a, is screwed into the internal thread 36 of the machine part 12 via the external thread 35 of the leg 34. In order to fix the position of the housing half 16 in the end position, the snap-action nose 32 arranged at the end on the leg 34 locks positively in a groove 41 of the machine part 12.

reference numerals

Drive unit 26 recess

Internal combustion engine 27 Snap nose

Gear 28 recess

Cardan shaft 29 Snap connection

Cardan shaft 30 fuse

Front wheel 31 knob

Front wheel 32 recess

Drive half-wave 33 holding nose

Universal joint 34 thighs

Radial bearing 35 external thread

Holder 36 female thread

Machine part 37 undercut

Tab 38 undercut

Tab 39 contact surface

Housing half 40 radial bearing

Housing half 41 groove

Rolling bearings 42 Snap nose

shelf

Board a contact surface b contact surface

recess

groove

end stop

admission

lateral surface

Claims

claims

Radial bearing for a drive shaft in vehicles, in particular a drive half-shaft (8) which connects a transmission (3) with a driven front wheel (7), the radial bearing (10) comprises a holder (11) with two housing halves (15, 16) , which together form a spherical receptacle (24) in which a roller bearing (17) with a crowned mantle surface (25) is inserted, wherein the housing halves (15, 16) over ribs

(18, 19) are supported, at which connect at least two radially aligned tabs (13, 14), which are inserted positively in a mounting position in a machine part (12).

2. Radial bearing for a drive shaft in vehicles, in particular a drive half-shaft (8) which connects a transmission (3) with a driven front wheel (7), the radial bearing (40) comprises a rolling bearing (17) having a spherical outer surface (25 ) is inserted in a spherical receptacle (24) formed jointly by a housing half (16) and a machine part (12), wherein the housing half (16) is surrounded on the outside by a radially aligned board (16), at which at least two connect radially aligned tabs (14), which are fastened in a form-fitting manner in the machine part (12) in an installed position.

3. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein for the attachment of the holder (11) in the machine part (12), this axially extending recesses (21) extending from an end face of the machine part (12) to the groove (22) whose size and position correspond to the tabs (13, 14) of the housing halves (15, 16).

4. Radial bearing according to claim 1, for the assembly of which first the holder (11) is fed axially up to the groove (22) to the machine part (12). is rotated in front of the holder (11) to a complete overlap of the tabs (13, 14) relative to the machine part (12), wherein a rotational direction of the holder (11) coincides with a direction of rotation of the drive half-shaft (8).

5. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein by means of a form-fitting on a housing half (15, 16) engaging the tool holder (11) to an end stop (23) of the groove (22) in the machine part (12) is rotatable.

6. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein the groove (22) of the machine part (12) of the axially extending recess (21) starting, in the direction of the end stop (23) tapers.

7. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein the tabs (13, 14) of the holder (11) in the groove (22) of the machine part (12) are positively secured.

8. Radial bearing according to claim 7, the machine part (12) in the region of the groove (22) with at least one rigid, protruding snap-in nose

(27) is provided, which snaps in an end position of the holder (11) in a correspondingly shaped recess (28) of the tab (13, 14).

9. Radial bearing according to claim 7, wherein the tabs (13, 14) are provided with at least one projecting nub (31) in an end position of the holder (11), in a form-fitting recess in a lateral recess (32) of the groove (22 ) intervene.

10. Radial bearing according to claim 7, wherein at least one tab (13, 14) an elastically resilient, biased axially or radially aligned

Holding lug (33) which engages in an end position of the holder (11) in the groove (22) of the machine part (12).

11. Radial bearing according to claim 7, wherein between the tab (13, 14) and the machine part (12) in the region of the groove (22) at least one fixing screw is provided for securing and fixing the position of the holder (11) according to a bayonet closure principle.

12. Radial bearing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one tab (13, 14) of the holder (11) or the housing half (16) via a thread on the machine part (12) is fixed.

13. Radial bearing according to claim 12, wherein the tab (13, 14) is integrally provided with a right-angled leg (34), the external thread (34) in the installed position in an internal thread (36) of the machine part (12) is screwed.

14. Radial bearing according to claim 13, wherein at least one leg (34) at a free end a radially biased snap lug (40) which engages positively in an end position of the leg (34) in a groove (41) of the machine part (12).

15. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein in a mounting position of the holder

(11) by means of a pinning or screwing on the machine part

(12) is positioned.

16. Radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein the housing halves (15, 16) of the holder (11) are preferably joined together by means of a clip connection.