JP4892952B2 - Bearing preload adjustment mechanism and drive device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bearing preload adjusting mechanism, and more particularly to a bearing preload adjusting mechanism used in a drive device mounted on a vehicle.

Conventionally, a driving apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-54097 (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-54097

  In the above-mentioned patent document, a technique is disclosed in which an adjustment nut that is screw-fitted with a bearing cap portion is rotated so as to come into contact with an outer race so that the preload adjustment of the bearing can be performed.

  By the way, when adjusting the preload of the bearing, moving the adjustment nut to the outer race side will cause the outer race to abut the nut and increase the preload. Even if it is moved, the outer race does not follow the movement of the adjustment nut, and it is necessary to reassemble the bearing.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a bearing preload adjusting mechanism capable of easily loosening the bearing preload.

The bearing preload adjusting mechanism according to the present invention is screwed into a holding member for holding a rotating body, a bearing interposed between the holding member and the rotating body, and a surface provided with a thread of the holding member. By rotating, it moves the outer race of the bearing in the direction of the rotation axis to adjust the bearing preload, and it has an adjustment part provided separately from the bearing, and the adjustment part moves in a direction to reduce the bearing preload The bearing and the adjustment portion are engaged so that the outer race of the bearing follows, and the outer race of the bearing is in direct contact with the surface of the holding member on which no thread is provided.

  Since the bearing preload adjusting mechanism configured in this way is engaged with either the inner race or outer race of the bearing and the adjusting portion, and either the outer race or the inner race follows the movement of the adjusting portion, The preload can be easily reduced by moving the outer race or the inner race.

Preferably, the bearing is that Yusuke ball, the rolling elements of the roller or needle shape.

  The drive device of the present invention has any one of the above-described bearing preload adjusting mechanisms.

  According to this invention, the preload (preload) of the bearing can be easily adjusted.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a differential according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion surrounded by II in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, differential device 1 includes differential carrier 10, drive pinion 20 held by differential carrier 10, ring gear 30 meshing with drive pinion 20, and differential case connected to ring gear 30. 40, a pinion shaft 50 held by the differential case 40, a pinion gear 51 held by the pinion shaft 50, and a pair of side gears 52 that mesh with the pinion gear 51.

  The differential carrier 10 has a box shape, and has a space for housing each component therein. Oil is present in the differential carrier 10, which cools and lubricates the various mechanisms.

  The drive pinion 20 is configured integrally with the input shaft 21 and is rotatably held. The input shaft 21 is held by the differential carrier 10 by bearings 12 and 13 and can rotate the drive pinion 20.

  The ring gear 30 meshes with the drive pinion 20. A part of the ring gear 30 is immersed in the oil in the differential carrier 10, and the ring gear 30 is rotated so that the oil can be lifted. The ring gear 30 and the drive pinion 20 mesh with each other so as to have a predetermined backlash.

  The differential case 40 holds the ring gear 30. A through hole is opened in the differential case 40, and a pinion shaft 50 is inserted into the through hole. The pinion shaft 50 holds the pinion gear 51 so that it can rotate and revolve. The pinion shaft 50 is held in the differential case 40 by pins.

  The side gear 52 is spline-fitted with a drive shaft 53, and the rotation of the side gear 52 is transmitted to the drive shaft 53.

  Backlash between the drive pinion 20 and the ring gear 30 is performed by the backlash adjusting mechanism 100. The differential case 40 is held by the differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80 by a bearing 60 as shown in FIG. The bearing 60 includes an inner race 61, a roller-shaped rolling element 62 that rolls on the outer peripheral surface of the inner race 61, and an outer race 63 that contacts the rolling element 62.

  An adjusting nut 70 is fitted to a part of the bearing 60 (outer race 63). The adjusting nut 70 rotates with the outer race 63. The adjustment nut 70 is provided with a plurality of holes 73.

  A thread 78 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the adjustment nut 70, and the thread 78 meshes with the thread 83 of the bearing cap 80 and the thread 18 of the differential carrier 10. As a result, the adjustment nut 70 meshes with the differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80 with screws.

  The protrusion 75 of the adjustment nut 70 is engaged with the groove 65 of the outer race 63. Accordingly, when the adjustment nut 70 moves in the direction of the rotation shaft 31, the outer race 63 also moves in the direction of the rotation shaft 31 along with this movement.

  Further, when the adjusting nut 70 rotates, the outer race 63 also rotates accordingly.

  An adjustment nut lock plate 82 for stopping the rotation of the adjustment nut 70 is fixed to the bearing cap 80 with bolts 81. After adjusting the adjustment nut 70 to adjust the backlash between the ring gear 30 and the drive pinion 20, it is necessary to stop the adjustment nut 70. For this reason, the key-shaped adjustment nut lock plate 82 is fitted in the hole 73 of the adjustment nut 70, thereby preventing the adjustment nut 70 from rotating and preventing the backlash from going wrong.

  In FIG. 1, the backlash adjusting mechanism 100 is provided on both sides of the differential case 40, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the backlash adjusting mechanism 100 may be provided only on one of them. In the present invention, the adjustment nut 70 may be provided only on one of the outer races 63 because the outer race 63 moves reliably with the movement of the adjustment nut 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the backlash adjusting mechanism 100 may be provided on both sides of the differential case 40.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outer race and the adjustment nut as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow III in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, a thread 78 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the adjustment nut 70, and the thread 78 extends in a spiral shape. The thrust end surface 74 of the adjustment nut 70 faces and contacts the thrust end surface 64 of the outer race 63. The protrusion 75 of the adjustment nut 70 has a tapered surface 76.

  The outer race 63 is provided with a groove portion 65, and the groove portion 65 is provided with a tapered surface 66. A protrusion 75 is fitted in the groove 65. Due to the presence of the tapered surfaces 66 and 76, the rotation of the adjusting nut 70 (the direction of the thread 78) and the axial movement are transmitted to the outer race 63.

  In this embodiment, the adjustment nut 70 is provided with a protruding portion 75 as a convex portion, and the outer race 63 is provided with a groove portion 65 as a concave portion, but the arrangement is not necessarily limited to this, and the convex portion is provided on the outer race 63 side. The adjustment nut 70 may be provided with a concave portion that is provided and fits into the convex portion.

  3 shows a tapered surface as a fitting shape between the adjusting nut 70 and the outer race 63, but is not limited to this, and the rotational direction and axial movement of the adjusting nut 70 are the outer race 63. The fitting shape may be such that the outer race 63 rotates together with the adjusting nut 70. In FIG. 3, when the adjusting nut 70 moves to the right, the outer race 63 is pulled by the tapered surface 76. Conversely, when the adjustment nut 70 moves to the left, the thrust end surface 74 of the adjustment nut 70 presses the thrust end surface 64 of the outer race 63 to move the outer race 63.

  The adjustment nut 70 and the outer race 63 are engaged with each other by rotating the adjustment nut 70 to the left or right and transmitting the rotation to the outer race 63 and moving the adjustment nut 70 away from the outer race 63. However, it is only necessary that the outer races 63 are engaged with each other so as to follow this movement.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the outer race according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of groove portions 65 are provided on the thrust end surface 64 of the outer race 63. The groove 65 has a tapered surface 66, and the tapered surface 66 engages with the adjustment nut. In FIG. 4, four groove portions 65 are provided, but the number of groove portions 65 is not limited to this, and a larger number of groove portions and a smaller number of groove portions may be provided.

  In FIG. 4, the groove portion 65 is provided in the radial direction extending from the center of the disk-shaped outer race 63 to the outer periphery. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the groove portion 65 is inclined with respect to the radial direction. It may be provided.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adjusting nut according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a screw thread 78 is spirally provided on the outer peripheral surface of cylindrical adjustment nut 70. Two protrusions 75 are provided on the thrust end surface 74 of the adjusting nut 70, and the protrusion 75 has a tapered surface 76. A plurality of holes 73 are provided in the bottom portion of the adjustment nut 70.

  The adjustment nut 70 may be screwed or bolted to the outer race 63.

  FIG. 6 is a side view of the differential device viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, the differential 1 is arranged with an input shaft 21 extending in a predetermined direction, a drive pinion 20 attached to the tip of the input shaft 21, and a rotational center offset from the drive pinion 20. Ring gear 30, a differential case 40 fixed to the ring gear 30, a pinion shaft 50 held by the differential case 40, a pinion gear 51 held by the pinion shaft 50, a bearing cap 80 holding a bearing, and a bearing cap 80 And a bolt 81 for fixing the screw. FIG. 6 shows a so-called hypoid gear in which the rotation shaft of the input shaft 21 and the rotation shaft of the ring gear 30 are offset, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a normal bevel gear that is not offset is used. The present invention can be employed.

  In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a differential device in which the power transmitted to the ring gear is transmitted to a pair of side gears and a difference is generated between these torques. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention may be applied to a power transmission mechanism that does not make a differential. Specifically, a configuration may be adopted in which the rotational force input to the ring gear is directly transmitted to the left and right drive shafts, and no differential is performed between the two drive shafts.

  Further, a differential limiting mechanism may be provided inside the differential device. Further, the backlash adjusting mechanism 100 of the present invention may be provided in the center differential, the front differential, and the rear differential.

  The non-parallel gear backlash adjusting mechanism 100 according to the present invention includes an adjustment nut 70 fitted to the bearing cap 80, and a bearing 60 that contacts the adjustment nut 70 and is fitted into the bearing cap 80. 70 and the outer race 63 of the bearing 60 are provided with a projecting portion 75 and a groove portion 65 as a fitting portion having a tapered shape so that the outer race 63 rotates with the rotation of the adjusting nut 70.

  A non-parallel gear backlash adjusting mechanism 100 according to the present invention is arranged non-parallel, and a ring gear 30 as a first gear and a drive pinion 20 as a second gear, and a holding member for holding the ring gear 30. The differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80, the bearing 60 interposed between the differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80 and the ring gear 30, and the bearing 60 is rotated by screwing into the differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80 to rotate. An adjustment nut 70 is provided as an adjustment unit for moving the ring gear 30 in the direction of the shaft 31 and adjusting the backlash between the ring gear 30 and the drive pinion 20 by moving the ring gear 30 in the direction of the rotation shaft 31. And adjust Bearing 60 and the adjustment nut 70 as Tsu bets 70 bearing 60 follows the direction of movement away from the bearing 60 is engaged.

  The backlash adjusting mechanism 100 is a preload adjusting mechanism for the bearing 60, and the bearing 60 interposed between the holding member and the differential case 40, and the differential carrier 10 and the bearing cap 80 as holding members that hold the differential case 40 as a rotating body. And an adjusting nut 70 as an adjustment unit that adjusts the preload of the bearing 60 by moving either the inner race 61 or the outer race 63 of the bearing 60 in the direction of the rotating shaft 31 by being screwed into the holding member and rotating. Is provided.

  The bearing 60 and the adjusting nut 70 are engaged so that either the inner race 61 or the outer race 63 of the bearing 60 follows the movement in the direction in which the adjusting nut 70 reduces the preload of the bearing 60.

  The bearing may have a ball, a roller, or a needle-shaped rolling element. Further, the adjusting nut 70 and the bearing 60 are engaged with each other by engagement, fitting, or screwing. The drive device according to the present invention includes the preload adjusting mechanism.

  Next, a method of using the backlash adjustment mechanism 100 according to this embodiment will be described.

  (1) While combining the sub-assembly of the ring gear 30 in which the outer race 63 is assembled to the inner race 61 with the drive pinion 20, the outer race 63 is assembled into the differential carrier 10 so as to provide an appropriate backlash.

  (2) The protrusion 75 of the adjustment nut 70 is inserted into the thread 18 of the differential carrier 10 in alignment with the groove 65 of the outer race 63, and the adjustment nut 70 is assembled so as to contact the bearing 60.

  (3) The bearing cap 80 for holding the side bearing is assembled and fastened to the differential carrier 10 using the bolts 81.

  (4) In the state of (3), the backlash of the hypoid gear (ring gear 30 and drive pinion 20) and the preload of the bearing 60 are examined.

  (5) Assemble or loosen adjustment nut 70, and adjust so that backlash and preload (preload) become the specified values.

  In the cases (2) and (5), the outer race 63 also rotates together with the adjusting nut 70. The outer race 63 is tightened in the circumferential direction by the bearing cap 80 in the above (3), but the outer race 63 rotates together with the adjusting nut 70 in (5) by tapering the fitting shape, and the right and left It becomes possible to make the movement of the smooth.

  In the present invention described above, since the preload of the bearing 60 can be adjusted by the differential unit alone, it is possible to reduce the types of shims used for the conventional preload adjustment. Further, the present invention may be used as a preload adjusting mechanism for a transaxle differential bearing.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be used in the field of vehicle power transmission mechanisms.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a differential device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the part enclosed by II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an adjustment nut and an outer race viewed from the direction indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 2. 1 is a perspective view of an outer race according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of an adjusting nut according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the side view of the differential gear seen from the direction shown by arrow VI in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 differential, 10 differential carrier, 12, 13, 60 bearing, 18, 78, 83 thread, 20 drive pinion, 30 ring gear, 40 differential case, 50 pinion shaft, 51 pinion gear, 52 side gear, 53 drive shaft, 54 axle Housing, 61 Inner race, 62 Roller, 63 Outer race, 64, 74 Thrust end surface, 65 Groove, 66, 76 Tapered surface, 70 Adjust nut, 75 Projection, 81 Bolt, 82 Adjust nut lock plate.

Claims (3)

A holding member for holding the rotating body;
A bearing interposed between the holding member and the rotating body;
It is provided separately from the bearing for adjusting the preload of the bearing by moving the outer race of the bearing in the direction of the rotation axis by screwing and rotating on the surface of the holding member where the thread is provided. An adjustment unit,
The adjustment unit engages with the bearing so that the outer race of the bearing follows the movement in the direction in which the adjustment unit reduces the preload of the bearing.
A bearing preload adjusting mechanism in which the outer race of the bearing is in direct contact with a surface of the holding member on which no thread is provided.   The bearing preload adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the bearing includes a ball, a roller, or a needle-shaped rolling element.   A drive device comprising the bearing preload adjusting mechanism according to claim 1.

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