Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Shafting – With disparate device for coupling shaft to additional shaft...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-11-13
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Shafting
With disparate device for coupling shaft to additional shaft...
C403S359100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315671
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an assembly consisting of a side shaft journal for a differential drive and of a joint component of a CV-jointed shaft, which joint component is connected to the side shaft journal. The invention also relates to a unit consisting of a differential drive and two side shafts with at least one such assembly consisting of a side shaft journal and a joint component.
Prior art side shaft journals of differential drives of a first type comprise an outer flange for bolting on a joint component of an adjoining CV-jointed shaft. The disadvantage of such shaft journals is that the joint component has to be adapted accordingly, i.e. it must be designed to receive bolting connecting means which, as a rule, are plugged-through bolts. To be able to receive the threaded holes, the joint component needs to have additional material away from the functional parts, as a result of which the joint component becomes heavier and more expensive to produce.
Furthermore, there are prior art side shaft journals of a second type wherein—in order to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages—the shaft journal is integral with the joint component of the adjoining CV-jointed shaft. Assembling constant velocity joints is a complex operation which cannot be undertaken when the shaft journal has already been inserted into the differential drive. The resulting disadvantage is that it is only during the mounting of the CV-jointed shafts at the vehicle, that the differential drive can be sealed outwardly by inserting the shaft journal and that it is only after completion of this operation that the differential drive can be filled with lubricant. This is highly disadvantageous for the production sequences of the vehicle.
Furthermore, there are prior art side shafts whose outer end is provided with shaft toothing which is used in a plug-in connection for the joint component of the adjoining CV-jointed shaft. As a rule, such shaft journals are directly axially secured relative to the drive housing of the differential drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide an assembly of the above-mentioned type with a side shaft journal which comprises improved attaching and axial securing means, which is lighter in weight and easier to produce.
The objective is achieved by the combination of characteristics in accordance with the invention:
an assembly consisting of a side shaft journal for a differential drive and of a joint component of a CV-jointed shaft which joint component is connected to the shaft journal, with the shaft journal comprising an inner end insertable into the differential drive and having outer shaft toothing and an annular groove for receiving a securing ring, by means of which annular groove the inner end is releasably connectable to a side shaft gear of the differential drive, and further comprising an outer end which is connectable to the joint component and provided with shaft toothing and formations for receiving nondestructively releasable axial securing means for the joint component, with the shaft journal being provided in the form of a hollow shaft.
By providing the inventive embodiment with a side shaft journal in the form of a hollow shaft, it is possible to achieve a considerable reduction in weight as compared to prior art shaft journals which, at most, are partially hollow. The transition to the shaft toothings as connecting means at both ends, i.e. for providing a connection with the side shaft gear and with the joint component, leads to a further substantial reduction in weight as compared to prior art flange shaft journals. By using a retaining ring connection for axial securing purposes relative to the side shaft gear, it is possible to achieve a simple and secure assembly which turns the differential drive with the inserted shaft journal into a sealed system which is fully filled with lubricant and which, in a fully functioning condition, can be mounted on the vehicle. By designing the interface relative to the joint component as a releasable plug-in connection, it is also possible, subsequently, in the course of the production of the vehicle and for repair purposes at a later stage, to mount the CV-jointed shafts supplied in a fully functioning condition and filled with lubricant.
The axial securing means between the outer end of the shaft journal and the joint component are designed in such a way that the connection can be released without the retaining ring connection between the shaft journal and the side shaft gear being subjected to axial forces. In this way, any unintentional removal of the shaft journal, which would destroy the sealed differential drive system, is rendered impossible.
By providing the inventive shaft journal in the form of a hollow shaft, it is possible-to produce the shaft journal by a non-chip-producing forming process which is a low-energy process. Such processes wherein the shaft toothing can also be finished by a non-chip producing forming method are round hammering or round kneading or certain stretching methods, starting from the raw material. The open inner end of an assembly produced in this way has to be closed by a cover, so that the differential is sealed as required. In addition, provided the length/diameter ratio is not too extreme, the inventive shaft journal can be produced by deep drawing, in which case, in a particularly advantageous way, the base of the product already provides the means for internally sealing the differential.
As far as the design of the shaft toothing at the outer end is concerned, i.e. the connection with the joint component, it is possible to provide either outer shaft toothing which is inserted into an overlapping sleeve portion of the joint component, or inner shaft toothing which is overlappingly slid on to a journal or cylindrical portion of the joint component. The respective joint component can be provided with a base which seals the joint at one end and which is followed by a sleeve for providing a plug-in connection substantially improves the overall system of the differential drive with the adjoining CV-jointed shafts.
As regards releasable connecting means between the outer end of the shaft journal and the joint component, a few advantageous examples will be listed below:
One possibility consists in producing a retaining ring connection with suitable annular grooves in the region of the shaft toothing, which grooves jointly receive a retaining ring.
A further embodiment consists in providing a wedged annular groove in the inner part of the plug-in connecting means into which groove there are threaded conically tapered pins from the outside through the outer part of the plug-in connecting means, which pins rest against the flanks of the keyway. If the pins rest against only one of the flanks, the parts of the plug-in connecting means can be clamped relative to one another due to the respective end faces mutually resting against one another.
A further embodiment may comprise a union nut which is axially supported on the slid-in part of the plug-in connecting means via a securing ring and which extends over the slid-on part of the plug-in connecting means and is secured thereto by means of a thread. Again, axial clamping can be effected by opposed end faces contacting one another between the parts connected to one another by the plug-in connecting means.
If the shaft journal is slid into a sleeve portion of the joint component, it is proposed according to a particularly advantageous embodiment to provide a bore in said sleeve, which bore leads to the axial abutment faces between the parts. A wedge-shaped tool can then be passed through the bore or aperture for driving the connection apart, if necessary, without any axial forces being transferred to the retaining ring connection between the shaft journal and the side shaft gear.
When the outer open end of the shaft journal extends over an attaching element of the joint component, the axial abutment region is usually positioned outside the differential drive and is freely accessi
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
GKN Lobro GmbH
LandOfFree
Side shaft journal for a differential gear with adjusted... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Side shaft journal for a differential gear with adjusted..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Side shaft journal for a differential gear with adjusted... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2618405