Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling facilitates relative axial motion between coupled... – Coupler includes antifriction rolling body engageable with...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-10-23
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling facilitates relative axial motion between coupled...
Coupler includes antifriction rolling body engageable with...
C464S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306045
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an assembly having a first constant velocity fixed joint comprising an inner part which is provided with an attaching bore and which is connected to a connecting shaft comprising a plunging unit.
DE 296 16 432 U1 describes a constant velocity driveshaft with two constant velocity fixed joints and a connecting shaft. The connecting shaft comprises a first tubular portion whose one end is provided with an externally toothed portion which engages a correspondingly toothed bore of the inner part of one of the two constant velocity fixed joints. The tubular portion is connected to a sleeve portion of a plunging unit by means of toothing. The plunging sleeve contains a plunging journal which, with the assistance of balls acting as rolling contact members, is rollingly plungeable. The balls are held by a cage. The balls are guided in grooves in the outer face of the plunging journal and in grooves in the bore of the plunging sleeve. At one end, the plunging journal comprises a toothed portion by means of which it is held in a rotationally fast way in a correspondingly toothed bore of the inner part of the further constant velocity fixed joint. The plunging journal is axially held by a securing ring in the attaching bore of the inner part. For connecting purposes, it is usual to select pointed toothings. Such constant velocity driveshafts are preferably used for driving the wheels of a motor vehicle, especially of a passenger car and are arranged, for example, between the axle drive and the wheels. Different vehicle models have different attaching lengths for the constant velocity driveshafts. Furthermore, the tolerances result in differences in installation lengths.
It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly which comprises a first constant velocity fixed joint and a connecting shaft and which is suitable for compensating for installation length tolerances which occur during installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by providing an assembly including a first constant velocity fixed joint comprising an inner part which is provided with an attaching bore. The assembly also includes a connecting shaft which is provided with a plunging unit comprising a longitudinal axis. The plunging unit is provided with a plunging journal whose outer face is provided with circumferentially distributed first grooves which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis over the entire length of the plunging journal. The plunging unit, furthermore, is provided with a plunging sleeve portion which comprises a bore which is centered on the longitudinal axis and in which there are arranged second grooves which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, so that one first and one second groove are arranged opposite one another. The plunging unit further includes rolling contact members which are rollingly received in the first and second grooves and which are held by a cage. In addition, the plunging journal, by means of part of its length provided with first grooves, is received in the attaching bore of the inner part in a rotationally fast way. Furthermore, the plunging journal length projecting from the inner part and comprising first grooves is dimensioned so as to be longer than the adjustment path resulting from a rolling adjustment in the plunging sleeve portion.
For the normal operating range of such an embodiment, the necessary change in length resulting from the articulation of the constant velocity fixed joint is always available as a rolling plunge; whereas for tolerance and length compensating purposes in the case of the different installation conditions, the remaining path can be used slidingly. For shortening purposes, for example, it is possible to move the plunging sleeve as far as the inner part of the first constant velocity fixed joint and stop thereagainst. In consequence, in the case of extreme plunging distances which occur, for example, when the vehicle is lifted for repair purposes and the wheels rebound completely, a displacement in the sense of the rolling members sliding in the first running grooves of the plunging journal is possible in that it constitutes an additional path. In such a situation, practically no torque is transmitted and the adjustment path wherein the rolling adjustment between the plunging sleeve portion and the plunging journal takes place can, accordingly, be limited to the normal operating conditions.
In addition, the possibility of additional shortening can be utilized when mounting a constant velocity driveshaft in a motor vehicle, which driveshaft contains such an assembly. Furthermore, the embodiment as selected permits a cost-effective solution because the plunging journal is provided with continuous first running grooves which are also used for providing a rotationally fast connection with the inner part, the advantage of such an embodiment being that, as compared to the standard pointed toothing, there is provided a connection which permits closer tolerances to be observed and thus achieves easier assembly conditions.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the attaching bore is provided with projections which engage at least part of the number of first grooves and which firmly connect the inner part and the plunging journal to one another in the direction of rotation. In such an embodiment, the number of projections preferably corresponds to the number of first grooves, with the projections being rib-shaped.
Furthermore, the plunging sleeve portion can be connected to a tubular portion, with the two parts preferably being produced as to be integral with one another. The plunging journal, too, can be tubular in shape.
For providing a constant velocity shaft, the connecting shaft end removed from the plunging journal is connected to a second constant velocity fixed joint.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1022909 (1912-04-01), Whitney
patent: 2239192 (1941-04-01), Cutting
patent: 4205925 (1980-06-01), Fisher
patent: 5624318 (1997-04-01), Jacob et al.
patent: 5779551 (1998-07-01), Stall et al.
patent: 6234908 (2001-05-01), Jacob
patent: 1.373.752 (1964-08-01), None
patent: 2 116 672-A (1983-09-01), None
patent: 2 311 117 A (1997-09-01), None
patent: 2 332 499 A (1999-06-01), None
Löhr & Bromkamp GmbH—De 296 16 432.1—Sep., 1996.
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
GKN Lobro GmbH
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