1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to universal couplings and automotive half-shafts, and more particularly, to constant-velocity universal joints for directly connecting two shafts in a manner that transmits rotation from the driving shaft to the driven shaft while, at the same time, permitting the angle of intersection between the axes of the shafts to be varied away from 180° alignment in any direction over a relatively wide and continuous range of angles (e.g., 60° or more).
2. Description of Related Art
There are well known non-gear means for transmitting rotary motion between shafts experiencing angular change. Perhaps the best known of such devices are the universal joints used to connect the drive shafts and wheel axles of automotive vehicles. Such universal joints are often constructed in the venerable double-yoke (Cardan) form of two small intersecting axles interconnected by a pair of yokes. However, the shafts connected by such yoke and axle joints do not turn at the same rate of rotation throughout each entire revolution. Therefore, constant velocity (“CV”) joints have been developed (e.g., Rzeppa and Birfield) in which the points of connection between the angled shafts are provided by sliding balls which, during each revolution of the driving and driven shafts, slide back and forth in individual tracks to maintain their respective centers at all times in a plane which bisects the instantaneous angle formed between the shafts. However, such universal and CV-joints are quite complex and relatively difficult to lubricate, and the design and manufacture of such joint components is widely recognized as a very specialized and esoteric art of critical importance to the worldwide automotive industry. While this universal joint art is very well developed, the joints are expensive, including many parts that are difficult and expensive to manufacture due to large surface areas that must be ground with extreme accuracy (e.g., 0.0002″/0.005 mm). Such joints are limited in regard to the rotational speeds that they can transmit and, more particularly, in regard to the size of the angles over which they can operate efficiently because of the point contact and significant amount of sliding of the balls.
Fairly recently, a universal coupling using a new type of “spherical” gearing (invented by Vernon E. Gleasman) was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,914. That patent, and its many corresponding patents throughout the world, disclosed spherical gears having several different possible tooth forms that could be incorporated into various designs of disclosed CV-joints. This spherical gearing is based on a radically different gear geometry design. Namely, the use of a single pair of gears to transmit constant velocity between two shafts is accomplished by a design in which one of the gears has internal teeth and the other has external teeth, and the pitch circles of the two gears are of identical size and always remain, in effect, as great circles on the same pitch sphere. As is axiomatic in spherical geometry, such great circles intersect at two points, and the pair of lunes formed on the surface of the sphere between the intersecting great circles (i.e., between the pitch circles of the two gears) inscribe a giant lemniscate (“figure-eight”) around the surface of the sphere. Since the relative movement of the tooth contact points shared between the mating gears inscribe respective lemniscates at all relative angular adjustments of the gear shafts, the two shafts rotate at constant velocity.
Although the pitch circles of each spherical gear have just been indicated to be theoretical great circles on the same pitch sphere, the just-cited patent realizes that each gear of the pair must, of course, have its own respective theoretical pitch surface in order to account for relative motion between the gears. Thus, each spherical gear should also be thought of theoretically as having its own respective pitch surface in the form of a respective one of a pair of respective pitch spheres that have coincident centers and radii which are substantially identical while permitting each pitch sphere to rotate about its respective axis. Therefore, each pitch circle can also be considered theoretically to be, respectively, a great circle on a respective one of these substantially identical pitch spheres so that the pitch circles of the gear pair effectively intersect with each other at two points separated by 180° (i.e., “poles”), and the axes of rotation of the two respective pitch spheres intersect at the coincident centers of the two pitch spheres at all times and at all angles of intersection.
This just-described spherical gearing was built and bench tested, clearly indicating that such spherical-gear joints efficiently provide true constant velocity with low friction for angular connections when operating at high speeds while the angles between the shafts are continuously varying through much larger angles than standard commercial automotive CV-joints. Thereafter, further testing and design has resulted in the improvements disclosed herein, providing lighter but stronger joints that can carry heavier loads while being easier and cheaper to manufacture.
Universal joints are presently used in the forms of (a) interlocking yokes (e.g., Cardan joints) to provide angular interconnections in the drive shafts of vehicles and (b) automotive half-shaft drive axles to connect the output shafts of drive differentials with the turning and bouncing drive wheels of a vehicle. A typical commercial half-shaft includes two different types of universal joints, e.g., a Rzeppa universal joint at one end and a tri-pot universal joint at the other end. Each of these joints is complex and expensive to manufacture, e.g., the Rzeppa universal joint uses six precision ground balls that run back and forth in six respective precision ground tracks, and the tri-pot universal joint uses three precision ground spherical rollers and straight ground tracks. The invention herein discloses a much simpler and less expensive half-shaft.
The invention uses a pair of spherical gears that function as a true constant-velocity (“CV”) joint to connect the intersecting shafts of a vehicle drive shaft. One gear has internal teeth, and the other has external teeth. The construction design of the individual teeth of the spherical gears of the invention differs in several respects from that disclosed in above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,914. The invention adheres to the basic spherical gear concepts disclosed in this prior art, namely: (1) using pitch circles that are great circles on theoretical pitch spheres that are concentric and have identical radii, and (2) using teeth that are straight-sided. However, the geometric construction of the invention uses an additional plurality of individual smaller construction spheres arranged in a circle so that the points of tangency between successive smaller spheres are (a) all positioned on the circumference of the identical pitch circles of the gears, and (b) are all also positioned on the respective pitch circles of each successive smaller construction sphere, in the manner disclosed in greater detail below.
The straight-sided tooth faces of the teeth of the internal gear are cone shaped, the dimensions of each cone face being constructed tangent to the pitch circle of its respective smaller construction sphere. Each straight-sided tooth face of the teeth of the external gear has (i) a cylindrical central portion with a radius equal to one-half the normal circular thickness of its respective individual smaller construction sphere, and (ii) two respective flat face extensions that extend tangent from the central portion in accordance with a predetermined maximum angle of the continuum of angles through which the gears are desired to intersect. The preferred embodiment uses only six teeth on each gear, and the gears, while rotating at high speeds under load, can intersect throughout a continuous maximum range of 60° or more. [NOTE: Persons skilled in this art will immediately appreciate that, by placing two of the spherical-gear joints disclosed herein back-to-back (like a double Cardan universal joint), constant velocity rotational motion can be transmitted by shafts intersecting throughout a continuous maximum range of 120° or more.]
In one embodiment, the invention's spherical-gear CV-joints are incorporated in an automotive half-shaft along with a small plunge adaptor on the shaft end of one of the joints. In comparison with present commercial automotive half-shafts, the half-shaft disclosed herein is (a) smaller and lighter, (b) simpler and easier to assemble, (c) much less expensive to manufacture, and (d) significantly reduces the number of replacement parts to be inventoried.
A spherical bearing maintains the mating gears 10 and 20 in proper meshing relationship. This spherical bearing includes (a) an interior member, preferably a centering ball 26, fixed to the base of cup-like support 12 by bolt 18, and (b) an exterior member in the form of a hub 28 formed on the interior of gear 20. The latter includes two spherical rings 27 and 29 that capture centering ball 26 and are held within hub 28 by a C-clip 25. The center point 30 of the identical theoretical pitch spheres of each gear 10, 20 is indicated within interior member 26 of the spherical bearing, and the axes 22, 24 each pass through center point 30.
The external teeth 60 of gear 20 are shown in solid lines pivoted about a pivot axis 32 that passes through center point 30 (see
This illustrates the wide angular range of intersection through which the gear pair may be variably pivoted while rotational forces are being satisfactorily transmitted. At all times during such variable angular relative motion between the shaft axes, gears 10 and 20 remain in mesh at two respective meshing areas, the center of each meshing area being located at one of the two respective points at which the gears' pitch circles intersect with pivot axis 32, as will be explained further below.
In the CV-joint arrangement shown in
This relative movement of the teeth of gears 10, 20, into and out of mesh, is shown schematically in
In
The tooth contact points represented in
While there are other ways to determine the design parameters of gear teeth appropriate for this spherical gear system (see Background above), for the invention herein such design is preferably done by the following geometric construction illustrated in
(1) The first step in the design of spherical gear teeth disclosed herein is approached in the same manner as is well known in the gearing art. Namely, size and strength specifications for the gear pair are determined in accordance with the application expected to be performed by the gears. For instance, the preferred CV-joint gears disclosed herein are designed for use in the steering/drive axle of an automotive light truck. The addendum circle (maximum diameter) of the gears is usually limited by the physical space in which the gearing must operate, and the diametral pitch must be selected so that the chordal thickness of the teeth (i.e., the chordal thickness of each tooth along the pitch circle) is sufficient to permit the maximum expected load to be carried by the teeth in mesh.
In this regard, it is essential to remember that when using a pair of spherical gears according to this invention to transmit motion, the gears are capable of handling twice the load as a conventional pair of gears of the same size. That is, since the gear pair shares two meshing areas (pole areas) centered 180° apart, it has twice as many teeth in mesh as would a conventional gear pair of the same size.
(2) In addition to the concentric pitch spheres for each gear as indicated above, the invention uses a plurality of individual smaller construction spheres. The number of smaller construction spheres is selected in accordance with the total number of teeth desired in the final gear pair, and the smaller construction spheres are arranged in a circle so that the points of tangency between successive smaller spheres are all positioned on the circumference of the identical pitch circles of the gears. This condition dictates the parameters of the first construction shown in
In a preferred design of the invention, each gear is designed to have only six teeth so that, when the axes of the spherical gears are aligned at 180°, all twelve of the teeth are in full mesh. Therefore, for the construction of this preferred design, twelve small identical spheres 40 are arranged in a circle about center 30 of the predetermined identical theoretical pitch circles 42 of the two gears. The diameter d of the spheres is selected so that the spheres are tangent to each other along the predetermined identical theoretical pitch circles 42 of the two gears. (As indicated above, the pitch circle of each gear is a great circle on the identical pitch spheres of the gears which are sized to fit within the limited physical space in which the gearing must operate.) Each smaller sphere 40 represents one gear tooth, and the twelve small spheres represent all twelve of the teeth in full mesh when the gear axes are at 180°.
(3) The construct includes an additional small central sphere 44 positioned at the coincident centers of pitch circles 42, small central sphere 44 being the same size as small spheres 40.
(4) A construction involving central sphere 44 and a selected one of the small spheres 40 is used to determine the vertex angle for the conical surfaces of the cone-shaped tooth faces of each straight-sided tooth of the internal gear. Two crossing lines 46, 47 are constructed tangent to opposite sides of central sphere 44, each respective tangent line 46, 47 passing through a respective one of the two points of tangency that selected sphere 40 shares with its neighboring spheres. Namely, line 46 passes through tangent point 48 and line 47 passes through tangent point 49. A cone construct 50 is shown in heavy solid lines in
(5) The same construction shown in
(6) The construction shown in
(7) The construct of each tooth 60 of the external gear of the spherical pair is shown enlarged in
The surface of a cylinder 62 provides the central portion 64 of each of the two faces of tooth 60. Cylinder 62 has a radius that is one-half of the normal circular thickness that forms normal chordal thickness 54 measured on smaller sphere 40. From each side of cylindrical central portion 64, each external tooth face includes a flat face extension 66 that varies in accordance with the predetermined maximum angle x° (the maximum angle of intersection between the axes of the gears through which the gear pair is expected to operate), and in the construction illustrated the predetermined maximum angle is 30°. There are, of course, two flat face extensions 66, one on each side of cylindrical central portion 64.
Each flat face extension 66 begins at a respective initial tangent point t located x° from the center line 65 of its respective tooth face and extends to a point e intersecting a radial line of cylindrical central portion 62 measuring 2x°, so that the length t-e of each flat portion extends an additional x° beyond the initial tangent point t. Although flat face tangent extensions 66 can be further extended (as shown in broken lines), the x° length of each flat face extension 66 is sufficient to assure full line contact when the axes of the gears are intersecting at the maximum predetermined angle. Preferably, as shown in
(8) The construction for developing each tangential flat extension of one working face of an external tooth is shown in the left-hand portion of
As can be appreciated from a review of
As will be explained in further detail below with reference to
As an external tooth approaches mesh along the elliptic from below the plane of the internal gear, tooth contact occurs on one side of each tooth face at one pole, and similar tooth contact occurs on the other side of the same tooth face when the same exterior tooth approaches mesh along the elliptic from above the plane of the internal gear. For purposes of the construction of
In this construction, the center of cylinder 62 (that forms the central portion 64 of the tooth face) is moved along approach line a to form a plurality of additional circular arcs (only four such arcs are shown) traced above the horizontal line passing through the center of the basic cylinder 62. Similarly, another plurality of additional circular arcs are shown traced below the horizontal line passing through the center of the basic cylinder 62 (again only four such arcs are shown). Tangents T to all these additional arcs delineate the flat-face extensions 66 on each side of cylindrical central portion 64. To state this in another way, each flat face 66 begins at initial tangent point t and extends parallel to the line (a or b) of movement of the radial center of cylindrical central portion 64 as the radial center moves along the great circle pitch circle of the external gear when the axes of the gears are intersecting at the maximum angle x°.
To facilitate understanding of the construction shown, extensions 66 continue a small distance beyond the minimal necessary length indicated by point e demarking the 2x° (60°) radial line. In this construction, the flat tooth end surfaces 68 have been rounded slightly, showing a design more amenable to the net forming manufacturing process.
(8) For the final construction, reference is made to
When the axes of the spherical gears of the invention are in 180° alignment, all of the teeth of gears 10 and 20 mesh together in the same manner as the teeth of a geared coupling. However, as indicated above, whenever the axes of spherical gears are positioned out of the 180° alignment, the gears are constantly moving into and out of mesh at each pole, i.e., their two shared meshing centers. In this regard, it should be understood that in preferred embodiments of spherical gears no backlash is required, although a tolerance is left between the teeth of the respective gears (e.g., 0.002″/0.05 mm) for manufacturing assembly and lubrication. Also, the top lands of the teeth are provided with spherical relief.
Perspective views of a pair of spherical gears are shown, respectively and separately, in
In
The straight-sided tooth surfaces just described above create a relatively long line of contact throughout mesh during the entire continuum of angles of intersection. The length of this line contact is most easily seen in
As the axes of the gears move out of alignment, the mesh quickly moves from all twelve teeth, and most of the load is carried primarily by four teeth. Namely, as explained above, as the axes of the spherical gears move out of alignment, the great-circle pitch circles of the gears intersect at two “poles” 180° apart (e.g., like circles of longitude on a globe of the earth intersecting at the north pole and south pole). Except for very small angles of intersection, most of the load is shared by two teeth on each gear that mesh at each pole position. However, there is sufficient overlap so that a smooth transition exists between successive sets of meshing internal and external teeth at each pole. That is, the tooth contact is rolling off the preceding pair of teeth as it rolls onto the succeeding pair.
As the angle of intersection increases, the length of line contact remains the same. The line contact patterns are illustrated in dark, heavy lines in the chart shown in
When the line contacts are moving and tipping to the left on the respective tooth faces at one pole, they are moving and tipping to the right in exactly the same manner at the opposite pole. Since this last-mentioned fact may be difficult to understand, it is suggested that reference again be made to (a)
In
In
Although most of the load is shared by only two teeth in mesh at each pole, at least four teeth are in full mesh at all times, and the total load is always divided between at least two points separated by 180°. For instance, returning to the actual joint designed according to the invention as discussed above, the length of the line contact was 0.4375″ (11 mm). Therefore, it is important to remember that the total load is distributed over two lines totaling 0.875″ (22 mm). Also, the loads are balanced at all times on the gears as the teeth are meshing simultaneously at the two poles on opposite sides of both gears.
In another very important difference from the prior art spherical gearing discussed in the Background above, the teeth disclosed herein do not have sliding contact similar to hypoid gearing. Contrarily, the line contact just described above rolls through mesh at both poles. This very important feature facilitates lubrication and reduces wear.
Segmental drive shafts, such as those common on large trucks, are generally connected with combinations of Cardan or Hooke universal joints. These prior art couplings are hard to maintain and are relatively short-lived. As indicated above, persons skilled in this art will immediately appreciate that by placing two of the invention's just-described spherical-gear joints back-to-back, like a double Cardan universal joint, constant velocity rotational motion can be transmitted by shafts intersecting throughout a continuous maximum range of 120° or more. Such an arrangement is shown in
The external teeth 60′, 60″ are shown in solid lines pivoted about a pivot axis 32′, 32″. An external tooth 60′, 60″ is also shown in phantom lines pivoted about axis 32′, 32″ at an angle x° in the opposite direction, providing a full range of motion of 4x° (120° when x is 30) in all directions. Hubs 28′, 28″ and internal teeth 58′, 58″ are also shown in
Reference is now made to
The schematic illustration of
Those skilled in the art appreciate that as movably-mounted drive wheel 104 changes angular position relative to the fixed position of differential 102, the distance between them changes. While this change is not great (e.g., <1.0″/25 mm), it must be compensated, and this is accomplished by a slider 180 shown in larger scale in
Half-shaft 100 has many significant advantages over present half-shafts:
(1) Half-shaft 100 has substantially identical couplings at both ends, thereby simplifying manufacture requiring fewer different parts for manufacture and replacement inventories.
(2) The number of parts in each spherical-gear CV-joint of the invention is fewer, and the parts are less complex and not as expensive to manufacture or assemble.
(3) Since the teeth of the spherical gears in the CV-joints of the invention are only in contact at the respective poles, the frictional resistance to rotation at all angles of orientation is remarkably less than that in present half-shafts, thus reducing the torque required to turn half-shaft 100 during changes of angular orientation, simplifying assembly and increasing drive train efficiency.
(4) Lubrication of half-shaft 100 is facilitated by the rolling motion of the spherical gear teeth as they move in and out of mesh twice in every revolution, and the relatively low friction of the mesh permits the use of less expensive lubricants.
The spherical gear designs described and claimed herein provide a significant improvement in the art of automotive CV-joints, universal couplings, and half-shafts.
Although a spherical gear of the present invention has been described as having a preferred predetermined maximum angle of 30°, a spherical gear may have a predetermined maximum angle of less than 30° or greater than 30° within the spirit of the present invention. Tooth shape changes as a function of the predetermined maximum angle, as shown in
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.