JPH0540626U - Spider used for joins - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention provides a spider for use in a joint in which a grease keeper having a function of supplying grease to a bearing is provided in an integrated structure to reduce the number of parts. The spider used in this joint has a central portion and a plurality of shafts 6 integrally formed with the central portion and extending outward in the radial direction. The spider 3 has a bearing mounting portion 35 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion 21 for mounting to each rotating body via the bearing 5, a grease passage 9 extending from the central portion to the shaft end portion 21, and a portion around the grease passage 9. It has an annular groove 29 formed in the shaft end portion 21. The annular groove 29 serves as a grease reservoir 25 that constitutes a grease keeper. Therefore, the spider 3 can form the grease keeper as an integral structure, reduce the number of parts, and do not need to incorporate a separate grease keeper, so that the assembly work can be achieved easily and reliably.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a spider used as a joint for connecting relative rotating bodies such as a propeller shaft and a sleeve yoke to each other.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, some universal joints used for propeller shafts are configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a partial cross section showing an example of a conventional universal joint. As shown in FIG. 6, in the universal joint attached to the propeller shaft, a spider 3 is interposed between a joint yoke 4 fixed to the propeller shaft 1 and a sleeve yoke 2. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7, the spider 3 has a cross-shaped structure including a central portion 36 and four axially outwardly extending shafts 6 integrally formed with the central portion 36. A bearing 5 such as a needle bearing is interposed at a sliding portion between the shaft end portion 21 of the spider 3 and the joint yoke 4 and at a sliding portion between the shaft end portion 21 of the spider 3 and the sleeve yoke 2. Therefore, in order to prevent seizure of these bearings 5, grease must be supplied to the shaft end portions 21 of all the shafts 6 of the spider 3. Therefore, the spider 3 has a grease keeper as a means for supplying the grease filled in the central portion 36 to the outer peripheral surface of each shaft end portion 21.

Next, with regard to the greaser provided in the spider 3, various examples of conventional greaser will be described with reference to the drawings. Examples of the greaser are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the greaser provided at the shaft end portion of the spider, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the greaser shown in FIG. The grease keeper 8 shown in FIG. 8 is a kind of one-way nipple attached to all four shafts 6 of the spider 3. The spider 3 has a grease keeper fitting hole 7 formed at an end portion 21 of each shaft 6, and the grease keeper fitting hole 7 communicates with an inside or a central portion 36 filled with grease 10 by a grease passage 9. The greaser 8 fitted in the greaser fitting hole 7 is formed in a cup shape and has a grease reservoir 12 formed therein. The grease reservoir 12 of the grease keeper 8 communicates with the grease passage 9 of the spider 3 through the communication groove 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface and the communication hole 13 formed on the bottom surface.

With respect to the spider 3 having the greaser 8 incorporated therein, the grease 10 is pushed outward from the inside of the spider 3 through the grease passage 9 in the radial direction by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the universal joint. It is retained in the grease reservoir 12 through the communication groove 11 and the communication hole 13 of No. 8. The grease 10 held in the grease reservoir 12 is supplied to the bearing 5 existing between the joint yoke 4 and the sleeve yoke 2 and the shaft end portion 21 of the spider 3 according to the rotation of the universal joint. It functions to lubricate each sliding surface.

Next, another example of the greaser will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, only the shape of the grease keeper is different, and thus the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. The greaser 15 has a tubular shape with a locking portion 16 on the outer peripheral surface, and has a communication hole 14 in the center. In the grease keeper 15, a locking portion 16 protruding outward in the radial direction is fitted in the grease keeper fitting hole 7 of the spider 3, and an end portion of the grease keeper 15 is fitted in the grease passage 9. The function of this greaser 15 is similar to that of the greaser 8 shown in FIG.

Further, another example of the greaser will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, similarly, only the shape of the grease keeper is different, so that the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The grease keeper 20 has a cup-like shape having a protrusion having a communication hole 18 formed in the center thereof, and an annular grease reservoir 19 is formed therein. The grease keeper 20 is fitted in the grease keeper fitting hole 7 of the spider 3, and the grease passage 9 and the grease reservoir 19 are communicated with each other through the communication hole 18. The function of the grease keeper 20 is the same as that of the grease keeper 8 shown in FIG.

As a universal joint for a propeller shaft having a grease reservoir, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-131119. The universal joint of the propeller shaft includes a grease supply hole penetrating through the center of the cross shaft body, and a grease reservoir provided at each shaft end of the cross shaft body and communicating with the grease supply hole. A step is provided at the boundary between the grease reservoir and the grease supply hole, and a tapered check valve having a small end on the side and a small hole on the side is seated at the base end. It is fixed in the grease reservoir.

Further, as a lubricating device for a universal joint, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-278317. The lubrication device in the universal joint in which the yoke is rotatably connected to the outer end of each shaft of the cross shaft through a bearing is a grease reservoir provided at the center of the cross shaft and A grease hole reaching the outer end surface of the shaft, a fixing tray fixed to the outer end of the grease hole, having an outer end opening, and a hole formed in the center of the bottom on the inner end side, and the fixing plate A cylindrical body provided so as to project at least to the inner end side in a hole at the bottom of the tray, a movable rod inserted into the cylindrical body with a gap so as to be movable inward and outward, and the movable rod. A plug provided at the outer end of the movable body for opening and closing the outer end of the cylindrical body, and the movable rod is connected to the inner end of the movable rod so as to be movable in a predetermined range inward and outward and the outer end. Side is open, and a small diameter grease receiver is slidably fitted to the outer circumference of the inner end of the cylinder. Formed between the inner end of the cylinder and the movable tray, and a movable tray that is located on the outer end side of the small-diameter grease receiving section and has a large-diameter grease receiving section that has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the grease hole. The small diameter grease receiving portion and the large diameter grease receiving portion pass through the grease passage. Moreover, in the lubricating device, when the movable rod and the movable tray move to the innermost end side, the plug closes and the grease passage of the cylinder opens, and the movable rod and the movable tray move to the outermost end side. At this time, the plug opens to close the grease passage of the cylinder with the peripheral wall of the small-diameter grease receiving part, and there is always a gap above the fixed end between the outer end of the large-diameter grease receiving part and the bottom of the fixed tray. It is configured to be retained.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the spider incorporated in the conventional universal joint has the grease keeper 8, 15 or 20 which is separate from the spider 3, and is incorporated in the end 21 of the shaft 6 of the spider 3, so that the number of parts is increased. Is increased, and the grease keeper 8, 15, or 20 must be assembled and fitted into the grease keeper fitting holes 7 formed in the end portions 21 of all the shafts 6 of the spider 3, and such an assembling work is However, it is troublesome, and there is a problem that the spider 3 often forgets to incorporate the grease keeper 8, 15 or 20 or wrongly assembles it.

In the universal joint of the propeller shaft disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-131119, the check valve having a tapered shape with a small hole as a greaser is a separate body from the cross shaft body. There was a work to incorporate a check valve into the cross shaft body, which had the same problem as above.

Further, the lubricating device in the universal joint disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-278317 has a more complicated structure and has a large number of parts, and the assembling work is further performed. It became complicated, required skill, and had problems.

[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a spider to be used by being incorporated in a joint such as a universal joint or a sleeve yoke, and to supply grease to a sliding surface of a bearing incorporated in the joint. A grease keeper that has the function to do so is provided in an integrated structure to reduce the number of parts and eliminate the need to assemble a separate grease keeper, so that the assembly work can be performed easily and reliably with a structure that has a grease keeper function. Is to provide a spider for use in.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above object. That is, the present invention relates to a spider having a central portion used for a joint connecting a pair of relatively rotating rotating bodies and a plurality of shafts that are integrally structured with the central portion and extend outward in the radial direction. A bearing mounting portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion for mounting via a bearing, a grease passage extending from the central portion to the shaft end portion, and the shaft end portion around the grease passage. The present invention relates to a spider used in a joint characterized by having a greaser formed by an annular groove.

[0014]

[Action]

 The spider used for the joint according to the present invention is configured as described above and operates as follows. That is, the spider used for this joint is a bearing mounting portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion for mounting on a pair of rotating bodies via bearings, a grease passage extending from the central portion to the shaft end portion, and the grease passage of the grease passage. Since there is a greaser formed by an annular groove formed in the shaft end portion around the shaft, a greaser having a function as a grease reservoir integral with the spider can be formed at the shaft end portion of the spider. Therefore, with regard to the spider used for this joint, the greaser and the spider have an integrated structure, the number of parts is one, and it is not necessary to incorporate a separate greaser into the spider as in the conventional case.

[0015]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of a spider used in a joint according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a spider used in a joint according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the spider of FIG.

The spider 3 used in the joint according to the present invention can be applied to a joint such as a universal joint, and is a sleeve of a pair of rotating bodies that rotate relatively, for example, a joint yoke fixed to a propeller shaft and a power transmission body. The yoke and the yoke are connected to each other with the bearing 5 interposed therebetween, and the joint yoke and the sleeve yoke are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

In FIG. 1, of the four shafts 6 of the spider 3 used in the joint according to the present invention, only the structure of the end portion 21 of one shaft 6 is shown. The bearing 5 is arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the end portion 21 of the spider 3 and the end surface 27 of the end portion 21. The bearing 5 has a cylindrical outer race 23 having one end formed in a closed end 37, and a plurality of needle rollers 22 arranged between the inner wall surface of the outer race 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the end 21 of the spider 3. And a seal member 24 located at the open end opposite the closed end 37. The outer race 23 of the bearing 5 is fitted in a hole formed in the joint yoke and the sleeve yoke in a fitted state.

The spider 3 used for this joint comprises, in particular, a central portion (see reference numeral 36 in FIG. 7) and a plurality of shafts 6 integrally formed with the central portion and extending outward in the radial direction. The shaft end portion 21 is connected to a pair of relatively rotating bodies, that is, a joint yoke and a sleeve yoke, with a bearing 5 interposed therebetween. The outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion 21 constitutes a bearing mounting portion 35 on which the needle roller 22 of the bearing 5 slides. The spider 3 is provided with a grease passage 9 extending from a grease supply portion formed in the central portion of the spider 3 to a shaft end 21 and an annular groove 29 formed in the shaft end 21 around the grease passage 9 to form a greaser or grease. It has a pool 25.

In this greaser, the annular groove 29 formed in the shaft end portion 21 is composed of an inner tubular portion 26 and an outer tubular portion 39. By making the inner surface 38 of the closed end portion 37 of the bearing 5 face the end surface of the shaft end portion 21, the passage of the grease 10 is provided between the end surface 27 of the cylindrical portion 39 of the shaft end portion 21 and the inner surface 38 of the closed end portion 37. A gap 30 is formed, and the grease passage 9 and the annular groove 29, which is the grease reservoir 25, communicate between the end surface 31 of the tubular portion 26 of the shaft end portion 21 and the inner surface 38 of the closed end portion 37. A gap 28 is formed. This gap 28 allows the grease 10 existing in the grease passage 9 to flow out into the grease reservoir 25 due to the centrifugal force generated when the spider 3 rotates, and the grease 10 is removed from the grease reservoir 25 when the spider 3 is not rotating, that is, at rest. It is sized to prevent backflow into the grease passage 9.

Therefore, in the joint using the spider 3, the grease 10 supplied by centrifugal force from the central portion through the grease passage 9 has an annular shape formed around the shaft end portion 21 through the gap 28. It will be stored in the grease reservoir of the groove 29. Next, the grease 10 accumulated in the grease reservoir 25 of the annular groove 29 passes through the gap 30 and between the needle roller 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end 21 and between the needle roller 22 and the inner wall surface of the outer race 23. Is supplied to the sliding surface of the bearing 5, and the bearing 5 can be lubricated.

In the spider 3, the annular groove 29 can be formed in the shaft end portion 21 by using a tool of an end mill 32 as shown in FIG. Further, in order to form the grease passage 9 extending from the shaft end portion 21 to the central portion on the shaft 6, it can be formed by using a tool of a drill 33 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, in the spider 3, in order to form the annular groove 29 formed in the shaft end portion 21 and the grease passage 9 formed in the shaft 6 in one process, an end mill and a drill as shown in FIG. It can be integrally formed by using a dedicated tool 34 having an integral structure.

In the spider according to the present invention, since the annular groove 29 formed in the shaft end portion 21 of the spider 3 is formed in the grease reservoir 25, it means that the grease keeper and the spider 3 are integrally formed. As shown in the figure, the work of assembling a separate greaser is no longer necessary, forgetting to install the greaser is eliminated, and the number of parts becomes one of the spiders 3 themselves, and the work of simply assembling the spider into the joint becomes possible. The spider 3 having the grease keeper as an integral structure can be securely and easily attached to the joint.

[0023]

[Effect of the device]

 The spider used for the joint according to the present invention is configured as described above and has the following effects. That is, the spider used in this joint is mounted on a pair of rotating bodies that rotate relative to the bearing mounting portions formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of a plurality of shaft end portions via bearings, and the grease extending from the central portion to the shaft end portions is provided. Since the passage is formed and the annular groove formed at the shaft end around the grease passage as a greaser is made to function as a grease reservoir, the grease keeper is constructed integrally with the spider and the number of parts is reduced. Can be reduced, and the number of steps for assembling the spider to the joint can be reduced. In particular, since it is not necessary to install the greaser in the spider, forgetting to install the greaser will never occur, and the quality of the function with the greaser of the spider can be reliably guaranteed.

Further, by using this spider, similarly to the spider having a structure without a greaser, the grease can be supplied from the bearing side into the spider, and the grease can be injected into the spider when the bearing is assembled. You can However, in the conventional greaser, it is impossible to inject grease from the bearing side, so it is necessary to inject grease from the grease nipple of the spider after the bearing is assembled, and the number of steps for grease injection is increasing. It was

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of a shaft end portion of a spider showing an embodiment of a spider used in a joint according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a shaft end portion of a spider used in the joint of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a tool for forming a greaser on the shaft end portion of the spider of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of a tool for forming a greaser on the shaft end portion of the spider of FIG. 1.

5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a dedicated tool for forming a greaser on the shaft end portion of the spider of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a partial cross section showing an example of a conventional universal joint.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a spider incorporated in a joint such as a universal joint.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a greaser installed at the shaft end of a spider used for a conventional joint.

9 is a plan view showing the greaser shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the greaser incorporated in the shaft end portion of the spider used in the conventional joint.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the greaser incorporated into the shaft end portion of the spider used for the conventional joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Propeller shaft (rotating body) 2 Sleeve yoke (rotating body) 3 Spider 5 Bearing 6 Shaft 9 Grease passage 10 Grease 21 Shaft end 22 Needle roller (bearing) 23 Outer race (bearing) 25 Grease reservoir (griskeyer) 26 Annular cylinder Part 28 Gap 29 Annular groove 35 Bearing mounting part (outer peripheral surface) 36 Central part

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A spider having a central portion used for a joint connecting a pair of relatively rotating rotating bodies and a plurality of shafts which are integrally formed with the central portion and extend outward in the radial direction, and a bearing is provided for each rotating body. A bearing mounting portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion for mounting through, a grease passage extending from the central portion to the shaft end portion, and an annular groove formed in the shaft end portion around the grease passage. A spider for use in a joint, which has an improved greaser.