JP7133614B2 - Member fixing structure - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to member fixing structures.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-90449 describes a chain tensioner in which a cylindrical housing into which a plunger is inserted and a plate-like flange for attaching the housing to an engine cover are integrally formed.

Depending on the structure and manufacturing method of the chain tensioner, it may be difficult to integrally form the tubular housing and the plate-like flange as in JP-A-2006-90449. For example, it is difficult to integrally form a housing formed by bending and a flange formed by casting. Therefore, in order to expand the options for the structure or manufacturing method of the housing and the flange, it is preferable to make them separate members. When the housing and the flange are separate members, it is necessary to fix them to each other and maintain the fixed state even when an external force is applied.

The present disclosure provides a member fixing structure capable of maintaining a fixed state between a housing and a flange formed by separate members.

A member fixing structure according to a first aspect includes a tubular portion, a bottom plate provided axially inward of the tubular portion from an end portion of the tubular portion, and a mounting hole formed in the bottom plate. a housing, a flat plate portion with which the end portion of the tubular portion abuts, and a caulking member projecting from the flat plate portion, inserted into the mounting hole formed in the bottom plate, expanded in diameter, and crimped and fixed to the bottom plate. and a flange with a portion.

In the member fixing structure of the first aspect, the crimped portion projecting from the flat plate portion of the flange is inserted into the mounting hole formed in the bottom plate of the cylindrical portion of the housing. Then, the crimped portion is crimped to expand its diameter. As a result, the housing is crimped onto the flange. At this time, the bottom plate of the housing is not in contact with the flat plate portion of the flange, and the end of the cylindrical portion is in contact with the flat plate portion of the flange.

As a result, the contact point between the housing and the flange is arranged closer to the outer circumference of the housing than the vicinity of the crimped portion. Therefore, when the housing receives a force in a direction crossing the axial direction of the housing, a large bending moment is generated at the end of the cylindrical portion. On the other hand, only a small bending moment occurs in the crimped portion. Thereby, the fixed state of the housing and the flange can be maintained.

In the member fixing structure of the second aspect, at least a portion of the bottom plate is retained in a state of being retained by a retaining portion formed on the cylindrical portion.

In the member fixing structure of the second aspect, the bottom plate is retained in a state of being retained by the retaining portion formed in the cylindrical portion. For this reason, compared to a configuration in which the bottom plate is welded to the tubular portion, for example, the amount of variation in relative position between the bottom plate and the tubular portion is large. For this reason, local stress is less likely to occur when crimped and fixed. In addition, compared to welding, the operation of holding the bottom plate is easier.

In the member fixing structure of the third aspect, the housing is formed with a vertically split portion formed along the axial direction of the tubular portion and formed radially outwardly of the tubular portion from both sides of the longitudinally split portion. and a pair of protrusions having ends flush with the ends of the tubular portion.

In the member fixing structure of the third aspect, the projecting portion is provided on the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion. As a result, the end of the cylindrical portion and the end of the projecting portion are in contact with the flat plate portion of the flange. Therefore, when the housing receives a force in a direction that intersects the axial direction of the housing, the bending moment can be resisted at a position distant from the cylindrical portion. Therefore, the fixed state of the housing and the flange can be efficiently maintained.

In the member fixing structure of the fourth aspect, the housing forms a tensioner by inserting a plunger from the end opposite to the end of the tubular portion, and the flange is attached to the vehicle engine.

A plunger of the tensioner receives a pressing force from a timing chain or the like of a vehicle engine. This pressing force is not necessarily the force along the axial direction of the plunger and housing, but also includes the force in the direction crossing the axial direction.

In the tensioner in the member fixing structure of the fourth aspect, the bottom plate of the housing does not contact the flange, and the end of the housing contacts the flange. Therefore, even if a force acts on the housing in a direction crossing the axial direction of the housing, a large bending moment is generated at the ends of the housing.
Therefore, the fixed state of the housing and the flange can be maintained.

According to the member fixing structure according to the present disclosure, it is possible to maintain the fixed state between the housing and the flange formed of separate members.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a tensioner to which a member fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a tensioner to which a member fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied is attached to a vehicle engine; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a housing in a tensioner to which the member fixing structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied; FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3A; FIG. 3B is a view taken along line CC in FIG. 3A. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state before fixing a housing and a flange in a tensioner to which a member fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a tensioner according to a comparative example; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification in which the main body and the bottom plate of the housing to which the member fixing structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied are configured separately.

(Tensioner)
The member fixing structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to the fixing portion between the housing 30 into which the plunger 20 is inserted and the flange 40 in the tensioner 10 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in an engine 100 to which the tensioner 10 is attached, a timing chain 106 is wound between a drive-side sprocket 102 attached to the crankshaft and a driven-side sprocket 104 attached to the camshaft. ing.

A flange 40 of the tensioner 10 is fixed to the engine 100 with bolts 50 . Also, the plunger 20 is inserted into the housing 30 fixed to the flange 40 . The plunger 20 urged in the direction away from the housing 30 presses the chain guide 110 rotating around the support shaft 108 . Also, the chain guide 110 presses the timing chain 106 .

(housing)
As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the housing 30 is formed into a tubular shape with a bottom by subjecting a steel plate material of a predetermined shape to press work, bending work, or the like. Specifically, the housing 30 includes a cylindrical main body portion 32 arranged to surround the center line CL (center point O in FIG. 3B) shown in FIGS. and a bottom plate 34 formed thereon.

(main body)
As shown in FIG. 3B, the body portion 32 includes a cylindrical portion 32A formed in a cylindrical shape along an arc centered on the center point O, and a flat plate shape projecting radially outward from the cylindrical portion 32A. a flat plate portion 32B, a vertical split portion 32C formed on the opposite side of the flat plate portion 32B across the center point O of the cylindrical portion 32A, and radially outward from both ends of the cylindrical portion 32A on both sides in the circumferential direction of the vertical split portion 32C. and a pair of flange portions 32D that protrude toward. As shown in FIG. 3C, the flange portion 32D is formed over the entire length of the cylindrical portion 32A. One end surface 32DE of the flange portion 32D and one end surface 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A are formed flush with each other. The cylindrical portion 32A and the flat plate portion 32B are examples of the cylindrical portion in the present disclosure, and the flange portion 32D is an example of the projecting portion in the present disclosure.

(locking hole)
As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, locking holes 36 are formed through the body portion 32 from the cylindrical portion 32A to the flange portion 32D in the radial direction from the outside to the inside. The locking hole 36 is formed in each of a pair of flange portions 32D that face each other with the vertically split portion 32C interposed therebetween. In addition, the hole walls 36A of the two locking holes 36 are aligned in the direction of the center line CL.

(bottom plate, through hole)
As shown in FIG. 3A, one end of the flat plate portion 32B of the main body portion 32 is folded radially inward and arranged substantially perpendicular to the center line CL. This folded portion forms the bottom plate 34 of the housing 30 .

As shown in FIG. 3B, the bottom plate 34 has an end portion 34A of the body portion 32 opposite to the flat plate portion 32B, which is locked in a locking hole 36 formed in the body portion 32. As shown in FIG. 3A, the end portion 34A is in contact with the hole wall 36A of the locking hole 36 of the bottom plate 34. As shown in FIG.

As shown by distance t in FIG. 3A, the portion of the bottom plate 34 from the portion folded back from the flat plate portion 32B to the end portion 34A (that is, the entire bottom plate 34) is formed between the end surface 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A and the flange portion 32D. It is formed axially inward of the housing 30 from the end face 32DE. Also, in the central portion of the bottom plate 34, a recess 34B is formed that is recessed toward the end surface 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A when viewed from the end portion 34A. A mounting hole 38 is formed in the recess 34B along a circle concentric with the arc that forms the cylindrical portion 32A of the main body portion 32 .

As shown in FIG. 1, one end of a spring 22 for obtaining the driving force of the plunger 20 is fitted into the recess 34B when the plunger 20 is assembled to the housing 30. As shown in FIG.

(flange)
As shown in FIG. 4 , the flange 40 includes a flat plate portion 42 against which the housing 30 abuts and is fixed, and an outer peripheral portion 44 around the flat plate portion 42 . The flat plate portion 42 is a recess formed in the outer peripheral portion 44 . A bolt hole 46 for inserting a bolt for fixing the flange 40 to the engine 100 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in the outer peripheral portion 44 .

A cylindrical crimped portion 48 is formed in the central portion of the flat plate portion 42 . The crimped portion 48 protrudes from the central portion of the flat plate portion 42 . Before the housing 30 is fixed, the crimped portion 48 is formed such that the outer diameter of the tip portion 48A is equal to the outer diameter of the other portions. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the tip portion 48A is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 38 formed in the bottom plate 34 of the housing 30. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the crimped portion 48 can be inserted through the mounting hole 38 . After inserting the crimped portion 48 into the mounting hole 38, the tip portion 48A is crimped, thereby crushing the tip portion 48A and increasing the outer diameter of the tip portion 48A. As a result, the bottom plate 34 (recess 34B) of the housing 30 is held on the flange 40 by the caulked portion 48, as shown in FIG.

(Action)
In the member fixing structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown by distance t in FIG. is formed in Also, the end faces 32AE and 32DE are configured to be flush with each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 30 contacts the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40 at the end surfaces 32AE and 32DE, but the bottom plate 34 does not contact the flat plate portion 42 .

The bottom plate 34 is crimped by the crimping portion 48 without contacting the flat plate portion 42 . Therefore, the bottom plate 34 is pulled in the direction toward the flat plate portion 42 from the tip portion 48A of the caulked portion 48 (pulling force T). Further, when the bottom plate 34 is crimped by applying a load in the direction of the flat plate portion 42 to bend it, the bending of the bottom plate 34 further increases the tensile force.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring 24 indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 is inserted between the bottom plate 34 and the flat plate portion 42 . The thickness of leaf spring 24 is thinner than the distance t (see FIG. 3A) between bottom plate 34 and flat plate portion 42 . The leaf spring 24 is an urging member for urging the latch 26 so as to restrict backward movement of the plunger 20 (that is, movement of the housing 30 back inward in the axial direction).

A tensile force T that the bottom plate 34 receives from the crimped portion 48 is transmitted to the inside of the bottom plate 34 . Then, the end portion 34A of the bottom plate 34 presses the hole wall 36A of the locking hole 36 . Furthermore, this pressing force is transmitted to the inside of the cylindrical portion 32A and the flange portion 32D in the main body portion 32, and the end surfaces 32AE and 32DE of the cylindrical portion 32A and the flange portion 32D press the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40 (pressing force C1).

As a result, the housing 30 and the flange 40 are fixed in close contact with each other in a region S indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG.

On the other hand, like the housing 300 of the tensioner 120 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. left), the bottom plate 340 abuts the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40 . At this time, the bottom plate 340 is crimped by the crimping portion 48 and presses the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40 (pressing force C2). Further, the end surfaces 320AE and 320DE of the cylindrical portion 320A and the flange portion 320D do not press the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40. As shown in FIG. Accordingly, in the tensioner 120 according to the comparative example, the bottom plate 340 and the flange 40 are in close contact with each other, and the housing 300 and the flange 40 are fixed.

A position where the housing 30 to which the member fixing structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied is fixed to the flange 40 is defined as a distance R1 (see FIG. 1) using the distance from the center line CL. Similarly, the position where the housing 300 according to the comparative example is fixed to the flange 40 is defined as the distance R2 (see FIG. 5). Since the housing 30 is fixed to the flange 40 at a position farther from the center line CL than the housing 300, the distance R1 is greater than the distance R2 (distance R1>R2).

When an external force P (see FIG. 1) acts on the housing 30 in a direction crossing the center line CL, a bending moment is generated at the fixed portion between the housing 30 and the flange 40 . The housing 30 can resist this bending moment at a distance R1. Also, since a large bending moment acts at the position of the distance R1, only a small bending moment acts on the crimped portion 48. FIG. Therefore, the fixing strength between the housing 30 and the flange 40 is high, and a strong fixed state can be maintained.

On the other hand, in the housing 300 according to the comparative example, the bending moment generated at the fixed portion between the housing 300 and the flange 40 when the external force P acts is resisted at the position of the distance R2. As described above, since the distance R1>R2, when the bending moment of the same magnitude acts on the fixed portion between the housing 300 and the flange 40, the force acting on the fixed portion between the housing 300 and the flange 40 is greater than the force acting on it. Therefore, the fixing strength between the housing 300 and the flange 40 is low, and it is difficult to maintain the fixed state.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the body portion 32 of the housing 30 is formed with a flange portion 32D. Therefore, compared to the case where the flange portion 32D is not formed, the housing 30 and the flange 40 are in contact even at a position away from the center line CL. As a result, it is possible to exert a higher resistance against external force in the direction intersecting the center line CL.

In addition, it is not essential to provide the flange portion 32</b>D for the main body portion 32 . Moreover, even if the flange portion 32D is provided, it is not essential to make the end surface 32DE flush with the end surface 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A. In these cases, the housing 30 can be fixed to the flange 40 if the end face 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A contacts the flat plate portion 42 of the flange 40 while the bottom plate 34 does not contact the bottom plate 34 of the flange 40. . In addition, compared to the housing 300, it is possible to exhibit a high resistance against external force.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bottom plate 34 of the housing 30 is integrally formed with the main body portion 32, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this. For example, like a bottom plate 35 shown in FIG. In this case, the body portion 32 is provided with a locking hole 36 for locking the end portion 35A of the bottom plate 35 and a locking hole 37 for locking the end portion 35B opposite to the end portion 35A. By forming the body portion 32 and the bottom plate 35 as separate members, there is no need to provide the flat plate portion 32B for forming the bottom plate 34 by bending a portion of the body portion 32 . Therefore, the configuration of the housing 30 can be simplified.

Furthermore, the structure for locking the bottom plate 34 and the bottom plate 35 to the body portion 32 is not limited to the locking holes 36 and 37, but instead of these, slits, recesses (that is, bottomed grooves), projections etc. The term “locking portion” in the present disclosure includes these locking holes 36, 37, slits, concave portions, convex portions, and the like.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the bottom plate 34 is formed with a recess 34B whose central portion is recessed toward the end surface 32AE of the cylindrical portion 32A. However, the recess 34B may not be formed. The bottom plate 34 can receive a tensile force from the crimped portion 48B without forming the recess 34B. At this time, the axial length of the crimped portion 48 may be appropriately adjusted.

Furthermore, the member fixing structure of the present embodiment is applied to the fixing portion between the housing 30 and the flange 40 in the tensioner 10, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this, and the member fixing structure of the tensioner 10 is not limited to this. It can be applied in various embodiments for fixing a plate member.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-037985 filed on March 2, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. All publications, patent applications and technical standards mentioned herein are to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application and technical standard were specifically and individually noted to be incorporated by reference. incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (4)

a housing comprising a tubular portion, a bottom plate provided axially inward of the tubular portion from an end portion of the tubular portion, and a mounting hole formed in the bottom plate;
a flat plate portion with which the end portion of the tubular portion abuts; a caulking portion projecting from the flat plate portion, inserted into the mounting hole formed in the bottom plate, expanded in diameter by caulking, and crimped and fixed to the bottom plate; a flange with
member fixing structure. 2. The member fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said bottom plate is retained in a state of being retained by a retaining portion formed in said cylindrical portion. The housing is
a vertically split portion formed along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion;
a pair of projecting portions formed from both sides of the vertically split portion toward the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion and having an end flush with an end of the cylindrical portion;
The member fixing structure according to claim 1 or 2. the housing forms a tensioner by inserting a plunger from an end opposite to the end of the cylindrical portion;
wherein the flange is attached to a vehicle engine;
The member fixing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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