This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-157741 filed on Aug. 7, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a constant velocity joint included in a vehicle, and is particularly concerned with suppression of abnormal noise due to wedge lock of balls that constitute the constant velocity joint, and assurance of the durability of a cage.
2. Description of Related Art
A constant velocity joint of a vehicle is well known which includes an outer race in which a plurality of ball grooves are formed in its inner circumferential surface, an inner race in which a plurality of ball grooves are formed in its outer circumferential surface, a plurality of balls inserted between the ball grooves of the outer race and the ball grooves of the inner race, so as to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race, and a cage that holds the plurality of balls. Examples of this type of joint include constant velocity joints as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-21608 (JP 2012-21608 A) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-91458 (JP 7-91458 A).
If an angle of nip, or an angle formed by a tangent at a contact point between the inner race and each ball and a tangent at a contact point between the outer race and the ball, is small, the ball may be stuck between the inner race and the outer race, and the constant velocity joint may lock (so-called wedge lock), which may result in occurrence of abnormal noise. While it may be considered to increase the angle of nip, so as to prevent the wedge lock of the constant velocity joint, the load applied to a cage that holds the balls increases as the nip angle increases. In particular, in a region where the joint angle is large, change of the nip angle with the rotational phase of the constant velocity joint is larger than that in the case where the joint angle is small; therefore, variations appear in the load applied to the respective balls of the constant velocity joint, and the maximum value of the load applied to the cage is further increased, which may result in reduction of the durability of the cage.
The present disclosure provides a constant velocity joint of a vehicle, which can curb occurrence of abnormal noise due to wedge lock of balls, while suppressing increase of the input load applied to a cage.
A constant velocity joint of a vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of balls, and a cage. The outer race has a plurality of first ball grooves in an inner circumferential surface. The inner race is disposed radially inwardly of the outer race. The inner race has a plurality of second ball grooves in an outer circumferential surface. The plurality of balls are inserted between the plurality of first ball groves and the plurality of second ball grooves so as to roll along the plurality of first ball grooves and the plurality of second ball grooves. The plurality of balls is configured to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race. The cage holds the plurality of balls against the plurality of first ball grooves and the plurality of second ball grooves. An offset amount in a case where a joint angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value is larger than an offset amount in a case where the joint angle exceeds the predetermined value. The joint angle is an angle formed by an axis of the outer race and an axis of the inner race when intersecting with each other. The offset amount is a distance between a center point of a pitch circle radius as a distance between a center of each of the balls and a center of curvature of a corresponding one of the plurality of first ball grooves and the plurality of second ball grooves, and a joint center point.
In the constant velocity joint of the vehicle according to the above aspect of the present disclosure, if the offset amount is increased, the angle of nip increases, based on the geometric relationship between the offset amount and the nip angle. Thus, the offset amount is set in advance to be large when the joint angle is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, so that the nip angle is increased, and abnormal noise due to wedge lock of the balls can be curbed. Also, since the magnitude of swinging of the balls is small when the joint angle is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, change of the nip angle with the rotational phase of the joint is also small, and variations in the load applied to the respective balls are reduced. As a result, the input load applied to the cage will not be large. When the joint angle exceeds the predetermined value, the offset amount is set to be smaller than that in the case where the joint angle is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value. Therefore, the nip angle will not be large, and the input load applied to the cage is less likely or unlikely to increase. Accordingly, the durability of the cage is prevented from being reduced due to increase of the input load to the cage.
In the constant velocity joint of the vehicle according to the above aspect of the present disclosure, a track of a pitch circle of each of the plurality of first ball grooves and a track of a pitch circle of each of the plurality of second ball grooves may be formed such that the pitch circle before change of the offset amount and the pitch circle after change of the offset amount are connected with a smooth curve.
According to the constant velocity joint of the vehicle as described above, the ball groove track does not suddenly change when the offset amount changes; therefore, the rolling performance of the balls is prevented from deteriorating.
Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
One embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, some components or parts in the drawings are simplified or deformed as needed, and the dimension ratios, shapes, etc. of the respective components or parts depicted in the drawings are not necessarily accurate.
The outer race 12 is a member that is rotatable about an axis C1 as the center of rotation of the outer race 12, and is formed in the shape of a bowl that is open at one side in the axial direction. Also, a rotary shaft is coupled to the other side of the outer race 12 opposite to its opening in the axial direction. In an inner circumferential surface of a bowl-like portion of the outer race 12, a plurality of outer ball grooves 22 whose number is the same as that of the balls 16 are formed at equiangular intervals in the circumferential direction. The outer ball grooves 22 are formed in parallel with the axis C1. The outer ball grooves 22 correspond to the above-mentioned plurality of first ball grooves.
The inner race 14 is an annular member that is rotatable about an axis C2 as the center of rotation of the inner race 14, and is disposed radially inwardly of the bowl-like portion of the outer race 12. In an outer circumferential surface of the inner race 14, a plurality of inner ball grooves 24 whose number is the same as that of the balls 16 are formed at equiangular intervals in the circumferential direction. The inner ball grooves 24 are formed in parallel with the axis C2. Also, spline teeth that engage with a rotary shaft (not shown) are formed in an inner circumferential surface of the inner race 14. The inner ball grooves 24 correspond to the above-mentioned plurality of second ball grooves.
The balls 16 each having a spherical shape are inserted between the outer ball grooves 22 of the outer race 12 and the inner ball grooves 24 of the inner race 14 in radial directions. The balls 16 can roll (or swing) in the axial direction of the outer ball grooves 22 and the inner ball grooves 24. When the balls 16 move in the circumferential direction of the outer ball grooves 22 and the inner ball grooves 24, the balls 16 engage with the outer ball grooves 22 and the inner ball grooves 24, to be moved in the circumferential direction in accordance with rotation of the outer ball grooves 22 and the inner ball grooves 24. Accordingly, torque is transmitted via the balls 16, between the outer race 12 and the inner race 14. Also, the balls 16 roll (or swing) in the axial direction of the outer ball grooves 22 and the inner ball grooves 24, according to tilt or inclination of the constant velocity joint 10, and return to the original positions when the constant velocity joint 10 makes one rotation.
The cage 18 has an annular shape, and has a plurality of holding holes 26 whose number is the same as that of the balls 16, such that the holding holes 26 are formed at equiangular intervals in the circumferential direction. The balls 16 are respectively received in the holding holes 26. Thus, the balls 16 are held by the cage 18 at equiangular intervals.
In a conventional constant velocity joint, there is a possibility of occurrence of wedge lock to the constant velocity joint, when the joint angle θ is about 6 to 10 degrees, in a normal angle range of about 0 to 10 degrees, depending on design conditions, lubrication state, etc. of the constant velocity joint. Here, the wedge lock is a phenomenon that the balls get stuck or caught between the outer ball grooves and the inner ball grooves and cannot be pushed out. The joint angle θ is an angle formed by the axis of the outer race and the axis of the inner race. While the balls of the constant velocity joint are sandwiched between the outer ball grooves and inner ball grooves (which will be referred to as “ball grooves” when they are not particularly distinguished) and pushed out, wedge lock occurs when an angle of nip β is smaller than a friction angle, or the coefficient of friction at contact portions is large. The angle of nip, or nip angle, β is an angle of intersection in space, which is formed by a tangent 28 of a ball 16-a (of the conventional ball joint as distinguished from that of this embodiment) and a corresponding outer ball groove, and a tangent 30 of the ball 16-a and a corresponding inner ball groove, as shown in
Fc=2×Fg×sin(β/2) (1)
Ff=Fg×μ×cos(β/2) (2)
As shown in
In the constant velocity joint 10 of this embodiment, the nip angle β is set to be large in a region (normal angle range) in which the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value θ1 set in advance, and is set to be small when the joint angle θ falls within a large angle range that exceeds the predetermined value θ1. The predetermined value θ1 is set in advance within the normal angle range (e.g., about 0 to 10 degrees).
A ball groove center point A as a center point (center of curvature) of a pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of each outer ball groove 22, when the joint angle θ is in a large angle range exceeding the predetermined value θ1, is set at a position that is shifted from the joint center point O toward the opening of the outer race 12 along the axis C1, by a predetermined offset amount L1. The pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of the outer ball groove 22 is a distance between the center of the ball 16 and the center of curvature of the track of the center of the ball 16 which changes arcuately (i.e., ball groove center point). The track of the center of the ball 16 when the ball 16 moves on the outer ball groove 22 is depicted with an arc and a straight line indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the radius of the arc corresponds to the pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of the outer ball groove 22. Accordingly, the ball groove center point A corresponds to the center of curvature of the track of the center of the ball 16 which changes arcuately. The outer ball groove 22 is formed, so that the center of the ball 16 moves along an arc of the pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of the outer ball groove 22, which is set in advance using the ball groove center point A as its center, when the joint angle θ is in the large angle range. Thus, when the joint angle θ is in the large angle range that exceeds the predetermined value θ1, the ball 16 moves along the arc depicted about the ball groove center point A with the pitch circle radius (outer PCR). Thus, the large angle range that exceeds the joint angle θ1 in this embodiment corresponds to a region, when defined based on the outer race 12, in which the ball 16 moves arcuately on the outer ball groove 22, and a region in which the ball 16 moves along the arc depicted about the ball groove center point A with the pitch circle radius (outer PCR).
Also, a ball groove center point B as a center point (center of curvature) of the pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of the outer ball groove 22, when the joint angle θ is in a region (normal angle range) that is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1, is set at a position that is shifted from the joint center point O along the axis C1 by an offset amount L2 that is larger than the offset amount L1. The outer ball groove 22 is formed, so that the center of the ball 16 moves along an arc of a pitch circle radius (outer PCR) of the outer ball groove 22, which is set in advance using the ball groove center point B as its center, when the joint angle θ is in the normal angle range that is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1. The length of the outer PCR centered at the ball groove center point A is equal to that of the outer PCR centered at the ball groove center point B.
While the track (pitch circle) of the ball 16 about the ball groove center point B assumes a track indicated by the broken line in
Thus, in the outer race 12, the offset amount L2 as the distance between the ball groove center point B in the normal angle range in which the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1, and the joint center point O, is set larger than the offset amount L1 in the large angle range in which the joint angle θ exceeds the predetermined value θ1. Accordingly, in the outer race 12 of this embodiment, the track of each outer ball groove 22 (track of the center of the ball 16) is formed from two arcs of different offset amounts L1, L2 and a straight line.
A ball groove center point C as a center point (center of curvature) of a pitch circle radius (inner PCR) of each inner ball groove 24, when the joint angle θ is in a large angle range that exceeds the predetermined value θ1, is set at a position that is shifted from the joint center point O toward the distal end of the inner race 14 (to the left in
Also, a ball groove center point D as a center point (center of curvature) of the pitch circle radius (inner PCR) of the inner ball groove 24, when the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1 (normal angle range), is set at a position that is shifted from the joint center point O along the axis C2 by an offset amount L2 that is larger than the offset amount L1. The inner ball groove 24 is formed, so that the center of the ball 16 moves along an arc of the pitch circle radius (inner PCR) of the inner ball groove 24, which is set in advance using the ball groove center point D as its center. The length of the inner PCR centered at the ball groove center point C is equal to the length of the inner PCR centered at the ball groove center point D.
While the track (pitch circle) of the ball 16 about the ball groove center point D assumes a track indicated by the broken line in
Thus, in the inner race 14, too, the offset amount L2 as the distance between the ball groove center point D in the normal angle range in which the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1, and the joint center point O, is set larger than the offset amount L1 in the large angle range in which the joint angle θ exceeds the predetermined value θ1. Accordingly, in the inner race 14 of this embodiment, the track of the inner ball groove 24 (track of the center of the ball 16) is formed from two arcs of different offset amounts L1, L2 and a straight line.
As described above, in the outer race 12 and the inner race 14, the offset amount L2 in the normal angle range in which the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined angle θ1 is set larger than the offset amount L1 in the large angle range that exceeds the predetermined angle θ1. Advantageous effects obtained from this arrangement will be described.
In
L=PCR×sin(β/2) (3)
Referring back to
As described above, according to this embodiment, if the offset amount L2 between the ball groove center point B, D of the ball groove 22, 24 and the joint center point O is increased, the nip angle β is increased, based on the geometrical relationship between the offset amount L2 and the nip angle β. Thus, in the region where the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1, the offset amount L2 is increased, so that the nip angle β becomes large, and abnormal noise due to wedge lock of the ball 16 can be curbed. Also, since rolling (swing) of the ball 16 is reduced, in the normal angle range in which the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1, change of the nip angle β with the rotational phase of the joint 10 is small; therefore, variations in the load applied to the respective balls 16 are reduced, and the cage load Fc (input load) applied to the cage 18 will not be large. Also, in the large angle range in which the joint angle θ exceeds the predetermined value θ1, the offset amount L1 is smaller than the offset amount L2 in the case where the joint angle θ is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value θ1; therefore, the nip angle β will not be large, and increase of the cage load Fc applied to the cage 18 is suppressed. Accordingly, reduction in the durability of the cage 18 due to increase of the cage load Fc is prevented.
According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rolling performance of the balls 16 from deteriorating, by smoothly changing the ball groove tracks when changing the offset amounts L1, L2.
While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, this embodiment may be applied in other forms.
For example, six balls 16 are provided in the above-described embodiment, but the number of the balls 16 may be changed as appropriate.
Also, in the above-described embodiment, a specific numerical value of the predetermined value θ1 of the joint angle θ may be changed as appropriate, according to the shape of the constant velocity joint, and the shape of the vehicle.
It is to be understood that what has been described above is a mere embodiment, and that the embodiment can be carried out with various changes and improvements, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-157741 | Aug 2015 | JP | national |