JPH0516404U - Front wheel support device for front wheel drive vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The grease filled in the knuckle housing 6 is automatically replenished into the oil sump 93 through the communication passage 94 of the oil seal 9 while the vehicle is traveling, and the oil seal 9 A stable long-term use is possible, and the oil seal 9 surely prevents mud water and the like from entering the trunnion socket 2 and the knuckle housing 6, and the joint 5 provided in the knuckle housing 6 and the like. If various parts can be used for a long time. A knuckle housing is provided with an oil sump 9 formed between an outer lip 91 and an inner lip 92 of an oil seal 9 provided at a portion of the open end of the knuckle housing 6 facing the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2. 6
A communication passage 94 is formed to communicate with the inside.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a front wheel support device for a front wheel drive vehicle such as a four wheel drive vehicle.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a front wheel support device for a front-wheel drive vehicle of this type has a shaft end side of a front axle shaft extending from an axle shaft housing inserted into and supported by a trunnion socket, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-149409. In addition, the shaft end of the front axle shaft and the front wheel shaft supported by the front wheel hub are interlockingly connected through a joint, and a knuckle housing for covering the joint is provided on the front wheel hub side, while the knuckle housing is A front wheel supported by the front wheel hub via the front wheel shaft while being driven by the front axle shaft while being freely supported by the trunnion socket to allow the front wheel shaft to rotate with respect to the front axle shaft. Is designed to be driven to rotate.

Further, in the above front wheel support device, as shown in FIG. 4, an outer lip L1 and an inner lip that are in sliding contact with the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket T on the opening end side of the knuckle housing. L2 and an annular oil seal S provided with an oil sump O filled with grease G and the like is provided between the outer lip L1 and the inner lip L2, and the trunnion socket T and the trunnion socket T are connected by the oil seal S. Muddy water is prevented from entering the knuckle housing. When the oil seal S is assembled, the oil sump O is filled with grease G and the like, and the grease G is supplied to the lips L1 and L2, respectively. While making smooth sliding contact with the trunnion socket T, the intrusion of muddy water into the trunnion socket T and the knuckle housing is prevented.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above configuration, once the oil seal S is assembled, it is difficult to replenish the oil sump O with grease G or the like later, so that the grease G or the like in the oil sump O is consumed. When the lips become insufficient, the lips L1 and L2 are slidably contacted with the trunnion socket T in a state of insufficient grease, so that the lips L1 and L2 are abraded and the abrasion causes Muddy water may enter the trunnion socket T and knuckle housing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to automatically supply grease filled in a knuckle housing into an oil sump of an oil seal while the vehicle is traveling. The oil seal can be used stably for a long period of time, and the oil seal can surely prevent muddy water from entering the trunnion socket or the knuckle housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a front wheel support device for a front wheel drive vehicle, which enables long-term use of various parts such as a joint provided in a vehicle part.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, according to the present invention, the front axle shaft 1, which is supported in communication with the trunnion socket 2, is connected to the front wheel shaft 4 through the joint 5, and the annular end of the knuckle housing 6 that covers the joint 5 has an annular oil seal. 9 is attached to the oil seal 9, and an outer lip 91 and an inner lip 92, which are in sliding contact with the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2, are provided on the oil seal 9, and an oil sump 93 is provided between the outer lip 91 and the inner lip 92. In the provided front wheel support device for a front wheel drive vehicle, the oil seal 9 is provided with a communication passage 94 that communicates the oil reservoir 93 with the inside of the knuckle housing 6 sealed by the oil seal 9. It is a thing.

[0007]

[Action]

 According to the present invention, when the vehicle is traveling, grease or the like filled in the knuckle housing 6 is automatically replenished in the oil sump 93 through the communication passage 94 provided in the oil seal 9. Therefore, the sufficient amount of grease is supplied from the oil sump 93 to the respective lip 91, 92, and the lip 91, 92 is not worn, so that the lip 91, 92 is not worn. Smooth sliding contact with the trunnion socket 2 is ensured, and intrusion of muddy water into the trunnion socket 2 and the knuckle housing 6 is reliably prevented.

[0008]

【Example】

 The front wheel supporting device for a front wheel drive vehicle shown in FIG. 3 rotatably inserts and supports the shaft end portion of the front axle shaft 1 extending from the axle shaft housing side into a trunnion socket 2 having a spherical outer peripheral surface. A shaft end of the front axle shaft 1 and a front wheel shaft 4 rotatably supported by a front wheel hub 3 via a shaft housing 31 are interlockingly connected through a ball joint 5, and the shaft housing 1 is connected to the shaft housing 31. While mounting the knuckle housing 6 covering the knuckle housing 6, the knuckle housing 6 is rotatably supported on the trunnion socket 1 via two king pins 7, 7.

When the vehicle is traveling, the front wheel hub 3 is allowed to rotate around the kingpins 7, 7 with respect to the trunnion socket 2, while the rotational driving force of the front axle shaft 1 is applied from the joint 5 to the front wheel. It is transmitted to the shaft 4 side and is transmitted from the front wheel shaft 4 to the front wheel hub 3 side via the power switching mechanism 8 so that the front wheel W supported by the front wheel hub 3 is rotationally driven. There is.

In addition, in order to prevent muddy water from entering the trunnion socket 2 and the knuckle housing 6 at a position facing the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2 on the opening end side of the knuckle housing 6. A ring-shaped oil seal 9 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to the outer surface of the trunnion socket 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It has a lip 91 and an inner lip 92, and an oil reservoir 93 filled with grease G or the like is provided between the outer lip 91 and the inner lip 92. In FIG. 3, 10 is an annular seal receiving plate attached to the outside of the oil seal 9.

Therefore, in the above-described configuration, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the oil seal 9 is provided with a plurality of communication passages 94 that communicate the oil reservoir 93 and the inside of the knuckle housing 6. It was.

More specifically, in the oil seal 9 shown in FIG. 1, the tip end portion of the inner lip 92 is directed toward the knuckle housing 6 side and is brought into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2. A plurality of communication passages 94 are provided in the oil seal 9 near above the inner lip 92, and the oil sump 93 is communicated with the knuckle housing 6 in each of the communication passages 94. .. The knuckle housing 6 is pumped by the change in the cross-sectional shape of the oil sump 93 due to the elastic deformation of the oil seal 9 due to the rolling operation of the knuckle housing 6 with respect to the trunnion socket 2 while the vehicle is running. The grease G filled to lubricate the bearings of the king pins 7 and the like is supplied to the oil pool 93 from the communication passages 94 and the outer peripheral sliding contact portion of the trunnion socket 2 on the inner lip 92. The oil is supplied and discharged, and the grease G is automatically supplied to the oil sump 93.

In the oil seal 9 shown in FIG. 2, contrary to the above-mentioned case, the tip of the inner lip 92 is directed toward the oil sump 93 side and slides on the outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2. Are formed so as to be in contact with each other, and a plurality of communication passages 94 are formed in the oil seal 9 near above the inner lip 92, and the oil sump 93 is provided in the knuckle housing 6 in each of the communication passages 94. I am trying to communicate. Then, when the knuckle housing 6 is rotated with respect to the trunnion socket 2 while the vehicle is running, as in the case described above, the pump due to the change in the sectional shape of the oil sump 93 due to the elastic deformation of the oil seal 9 or the like. By the action, the grease G filled in the knuckle housing 6 is supplied to and discharged from the oil sump 93 through the communication passages 94 and the outer peripheral sliding contact portion of the trunnion socket 2 on the inner lip 92, The grease G is automatically supplied to the oil sump 93.

As described above, the grease G filled in the knuckle housing 6 is automatically replenished in the oil sump 93 through the communication passages 94 provided in the oil seal 9, thereby the oil A sufficient amount of grease is supplied from the sump 93 to each of the lips 91, 92, and the oil seal 9 can be used stably for a long period of time without causing early wear of each of the lips 91, 92. A smooth sliding contact of the lips 91, 92 with respect to the trunnion socket 2 is ensured, and muddy water and the like are securely prevented from entering the trunnion socket 2 and the knuckle housing 6, and the knuckle housing 6 is equipped with the knuckle housing 6. Various parts such as the joint 5 can be used for a long time.

[0015]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, in the front wheel support device for the front wheel drive vehicle according to the present invention, the outer side of the oil seal 9 provided at the opening end portion of the nut housing 6 facing the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2 is provided. Since the communication passage 94 for communicating the oil sump 93 formed between the lip 91 and the inner lip 92 with the inside of the knuckle housing 6 is formed, the grease filled in the knuckle housing 6 when the vehicle is traveling, etc. Can be automatically replenished into the oil sump 93 through the communication passage 94 of the oil seal 9, so that the oil seal 9 can be stably used for a long period of time. Moreover, the oil seal 9 can be used for the trunnion socket 2 and the knuckle. It is possible to reliably prevent muddy water and the like from entering the housing 6, so that the jigs provided in these knuckle housings 6 can be reliably prevented. It can be long-term use of the various components such as Into 5.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an oil seal which is a main part of a front wheel drive support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of an oil seal.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of a front wheel support device of a front wheel drive vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional oil seal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Front Axle Shaft 2 Trunnion Socket 4 Front Wheel Shaft 5 Joint 6 Knuckle Housing 9 Oil Seal 91 Outer Lip 92 Inner Lip 93 Oil Sump 94 Communication Passage

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A front axle shaft 1 communicating with and supported by a trunnion socket 2 is connected to a front wheel shaft 4 via a joint 5, and an annular oil seal 9 is provided at an open end of a knuckle housing 6 which covers the joint 5. Front wheel drive in which the oil seal 9 is provided with an outer lip 91 and an inner lip 92 that are in sliding contact with the spherical outer peripheral surface of the trunnion socket 2 and an oil sump 93 is provided between the outer lip 91 and the inner lip 92. In the front wheel support system for a vehicle, the oil seal 9 is provided with a communication passage 94 for communicating the oil reservoir 93 and the inside of the knuckle housing 6 sealed by the oil seal 9 with each other. Front wheel support device.