Assembly comprising a universal joint and a gear for a drive

Details Assembly comprising a universal joint and a gear for a drive Assembly comprising a universal joint and a gear for a drive

2000-02-02

2001-09-18

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro

Coupling accommodates drive between members having...

Coupling transmits torque via radially directed pin

C464S134000, C074S42100R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290605

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority upon German application 199 04 960.2 filed Feb. 6, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an assembly comprising a universal joint and a drive gear. The universal joint includes a first joint yoke rotatable around a first axis of rotation, a second joint yoke rotatable around a second axis of rotation and a cross member unit. The cross member connects the joint yokes to one another. The joint yokes are articulatable relative to one another so that the angles of their axes of rotation can be adjusted relative to one another.
Driveshafts connected to at least one drive primarily use this type of universal joint assemblies. Especially in agricultural implements, such as forage harvesters, the drive is effected via driveshafts. The driveshafts are connected to a drive at the input end and to a drive at the output end. The joint yokes of the driveshaft joints at the drive end are each connected to a drive journal which projects from the drive housing. The drive journal, inside the drive, is either gear-shaped or connected to a gear.
In the case of forage harvesters, the chopped material is fed into the harvester by a feeding system which includes upper and lower rollers. The feeding system is driven by a drive and is arranged between two wheels of an axle. The height of the lower rollers of the feeding system is fixed. The height of the upper rollers is adjustable as a function of the quantity of chopped material. The lower rollers are driven by a drive driven by a driveshaft. The upper rollers are driven by a further drive which is driven by a further driveshaft. At the input end, both driveshafts are connected to a drive which is driven by a shaft of a tractor or of a self-driving working machine or of a hydro-motor. Together with the upper and lower rollers, the drives for driving the rollers, the driveshafts and the drive at the input end are arranged between the driving wheels of the tractor or of the self-driving working machine. The installation lengths of the drive shafts are therefore greatly restricted. However, the upper rollers require a considerable range for height adjusting purposes, so that large articulation angles may occur for the drive driving the upper rollers. In consequence, the service life of the driveshaft is reduced considerably.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly with a universal joint and a gear for a drive of the initially mentioned type. The assembly requires smaller articulation angles as compared to conventional assemblies used in a driveshaft. The adjustment of the joint yokes at the drive end remains the same.
In accordance with the invention, a gear for a drive is connected to the first joint yoke in a rotationally fast way. The gear is arranged co-axially relative to the axis of rotation of the first joint yoke around the center of the cross member unit.
When using such an assembly for a universal joint of a driveshaft, the joint with the inventive assembly is positioned inside the drive housing. The distance between the joint centers of the two joints (i.e. between the centers of their cross member units) of the driveshaft is increased compared to a driveshaft with conventional assembly joints with the joint centers positioned outside the drives. While the parallel displacement of the axes of rotation of the joint yokes at the drive end remains the same, it is possible to achieve smaller articulation angles for a driveshaft having an assembly in accordance with the invention. The smaller articulation angles result in a longer service life of the joints.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a drive housing. The first joint yoke, in a region removed from the second joint yoke, includes a journal which extends along the first axis of rotation. The journal is supported in a bore of the drive housing. The first joint yoke changes bell-like in the direction of the second joint yoke into a cylindrical portion. Radially extending bores are provided in the cylindrical portion for receiving bearing bushes of the cross member unit. The gear is arranged on the circumferential face of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is supported in a further bore of the drive housing. The joint yoke is thus supported in a drive housing on both sides of the gear, so that the lowest possible moments occur in the bearings.
In order to outwardly seal the drive and, optionally, to include the lubrication of the universal joint in the lubrication system of the drive, a seal is provided between the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke and the second joint yoke or between the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke and a shaft portion connected to the second joint yoke. A further seal is provided between the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke and the bore supporting the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the seal between the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke and the second joint yoke or between the cylindrical portion of the first joint yoke and a shaft portion connected to the second joint yoke is formed by a convoluted boot.
From the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.


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patent: 5669460 (1997-09-01), Showalter
patent: 2809665 A1 (1979-09-01), None
patent: 165162 (1921-06-01), None
patent: 1472414 (1977-05-01), None

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