Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Torque transmitted via intermeshing teeth on drive and...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-07
2003-12-30
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Torque transmitted via intermeshing teeth on drive and...
C403S340000, C403S364000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669570
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to connecting assemblies between two components, at a driveshaft. In particular, the invention concerns a connecting assembly between an outer joint part of a constant velocity joint of a driveshaft and a wheel hub or a shaft flange in the driveline of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From DE 197 51 855 C1 there is known a connecting assembly of a first type having an end toothing at an outer joint part at the wheel hub end of a constant velocity joint of the driveshaft, and having an end toothing at the wheel hub. The end toothings are axially inserted into one another and engage one another in a clearance-free way in the circumferential direction. Also, the teeth of the end toothings each include radially outwardly opening circumferential grooves which are delimited by two flanks and which, together, form a circumferentially extending annular groove. The annular groove, on the outside, is engaged by a securing ring. At the wheel hub and at the outer joint part there are also formed concentric annular cylindrical projections with approximately identical diameters. From this reference, there is also known a connecting assembly of a second type having an end toothing at an outer joint part at a shaft flange end of a driveshaft, and having an end toothing at the shaft flange. The end toothings are axially inserted into one another and engage one another in a clearance-free way in the circumferential direction. Also, the teeth of the end toothings are provided with radially outwardly opening circumferential grooves which are delimited by two flanks and which, together, form a circumferentially extending annular groove. The annular groove, on the outside, is engaged by a securing ring. At the shaft flange and at the outer joint part there are also formed concentric annular cylindrical projections with approximately identical diameters. These assemblies meet all the requirements regarding a clearance-free connection which can easily be assembled, but the end toothings cannot easily be produced in the required quality.
U.S. Pat. No. 967,395 proposes a claw coupling between two rotating hollow shafts. The individual claws include inner grooves which, in the engaged condition, form a continuous groove in whose inside there is positioned a retaining ring. This type of coupling is not suitable for connecting annular parts with intermediate walls or inserts because it is necessary to ensure access for fitting the retaining ring through the inside of the hollow shafts.
DE 8136172 U1 proposes a coupling for rigidly connecting coaxial components in the case of driveshafts. The components to be connected are provided with end toothings which are inserted into one another. For the purpose of being axially secured, the components to be connected are provided with a backwardly extending shaft step which is arranged behind the end toothing. In the engaged condition of the end toothings, pieces with a U-profile in the form of circular segments are placed on to the circumference of the shaft steps. To prevent the U-profile pieces from being released, they have to be joined to form a ring, or they have to be secured by a slid-on ring, or they have to be clamped relative to one another by wedges. This results in very complicated assembly procedures.
From DE 196 45 880 A1, there is known a connecting assembly between an outer joint part of a constant velocity joint and the shaft flange of a driveshaft wherein, for the purpose of transmitting torque, the two parts, in the direction of rotation, engage one another in a clearance-free way via inter-engaging claw toothings. At the outer joint part, the front ends of the claws form an assembled planar end face which is supported against an assembled planar end face at the shaft flange between the base regions of the claws. At the ends of the claws of the two parts there are provided outwardly pointing pawls. At each of the parts, the pawls form an assembled annular collar with a backwardly pointing conical inclined face. To ensure that the abutting planar end faces of the two parts are axially clamped together in a clearance-free way, a securing ring is inserted between the annular collars composed of the pawls, which securing ring rests on the conical inclined faces. In addition to the inclined faces and the flank faces of the teeth of the claw toothings, it is necessary for the planar end faces to be machined accurately to achieve a clearance-free, torque transmitting connection.
From DE 27 15 639 B1 and DE 25 54 574 A1 there are known flange connection assemblies at shaft parts of universal joints, which assemblies, at two annular flange parts, each include two groups of parallel grooves. The groups are aligned at an angle relative to one another. The grooves are provided in a larger number of the type of precision toothings.
Connecting assemblies of the foregoing type are also described in the earlier unpublished application DE 199 58 674.8 and have an end toothing at a first component and an end toothing at a further component, wherein the end toothings include teeth and gaps which are axially inserted into one another and, in the circumferential direction, engage one another in a clearance-free way. The teeth of the end toothings, at the outer circumference, include outwardly opening circumferential grooves which are delimited by two flanks and which, when the end toothings are inserted into one another, form a circumferentially extending annular groove. The annular groove, on the outside, contains a securing ring. The teeth at the two components, i.e. at the first component and at the further component, are arranged within an imaginary cylindrical annular space. The gaps, in pairs, are positioned in two groups of continuous imaginary groove tracks which are arranged at a right angle relative to one another and which twice pass through the respective cylindrical annular space.
Accordingly, there is a need for a connecting assembly between an outer joint part of a constant velocity joint of a driveshaft and another part, having improved manufacturability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting assembly between an outer joint part of a constant velocity joint of a driveshaft and a further component, for example a wheel hub or a shaft flange, which can be provided more easily and cost-effectively than conventional connecting assemblies.
An improved connecting assembly is provided wherein, in an end view, the images of the teeth and gaps are the same at both components, i.e. at the outer joint part and the further component. In addition, starting from the corresponding images of the teeth and gaps at both components, matching complementary images of the teeth and gaps at the two components result when the components are rotated relative to one another by 90° or 180°.
A further solution is provided wherein, at, the cylindrical annular space, the ratio of the inner diameter (d) to the outer diameter (D) is defined by: d{square root over (2)}≧≧D, wherein, when the number (z) of teeth and gaps, the width (t) of the teeth and of the gaps is given by: t={square root over (2(D/2z))}.
According to another solution, in an axial view, the image of the teeth and gaps comprises a first axis of symmetry which extends through the central axis of the cylindrical space and intersects two teeth positioned opposite one another in pairs. A second axis of symmetry extends perpendicularly relative to the first axis of symmetry through the central axis and intersects two gaps positioned opposite one another in pairs.
According to yet a further solution, in an axial view, the image of the teeth and gaps comprises a first axis of symmetry which extends through the central axis of the cylindrical space. On the first axis of symmetry, at least two teeth positioned opposite one another can be mirrored on two identically shaped gaps positioned opposite one another. A second axis of symmetry extends perpendicularly relative to the first axis of symmetry through
Browne Lynne H.
GKN Automotive GmbH
Thompson Kenn
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