Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Coupling transmits torque via radially directed pin
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-12-04
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
C464S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325724
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a universal joint used in the steering apparatus or the like of an automobile, and, more particularly, to a technique designed to simplify the structure and reduce the manufacturing cost thereof.
The steering apparatus of an automobile or the like comprises a steering wheel that provides the driver with the steering operations, a steering gear that steers the vehicle's wheels, and a steering shaft that provides a linkage between the steering wheel and the steering gear. With the steering apparatus for an automobile, it is common to use a plurality of shafts coupled together axially by universal joints, because there is limited chance for locating the steering gear on the central axial line of the steering wheel.
A Cardan joint in which a crosspiece (cross-shaped axes) is inserted in a freely oscillatory manner between a pair of joint yokes is generally used as a universal joint for a steering shaft, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,928. In this Cardan joint, end portions of steering shafts are connected to the free ends of the two joint yokes, and needle bearings are disposed between the crosspiece and the joint yokes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,546 discloses a universal joint in which a hub is interposed between each joint shaft and the joint yoke, and these components are connected together by one long pin and two short pins. Otherwise, Japanese Utility Model Publication(KOKOKU) No. 4-48339 discloses a universal joint that uses a spherical joint member and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application(KOKAI)No. 1-169123 discloses a universal joint that uses an annular joint element.
Universal joints of the prior art have a problem in that it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing costs thereof, or to apply them to mass-production. For example, the previously mentioned Cardan joint requires a crosspiece and four needle bearings in addition to the pair of joint yokes, which are subjected to machining after being forged (or cast), so it is inevitable that a larger number of components and a larger number of assembly steps are required. In addition, the shapes of the joint shafts and joint yokes in the universal joint disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,546 are extremely complicated, so that a larger number of steps and a longer time is required for machining and other processing, thus leading to an increase in manufacturing cost and a decrease in productivity. The other universal joints are similarly undesirable for various reasons, such as the complicated shapes of the spherical joint member or joint yoke, or a larger number of components.
The present invention was devised in the light of the above situation and has the objective of providing a universal joint that has a simpler structure and a reduced manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was designed to solve the above described problems in the art and relates to a universal joint that links together a first shaft and a second shaft in a freely oscillatory manner relative to one another, wherein the universal joint is provided with a hub into which or onto which are fitted the first shaft and the second shaft in such a manner that these shafts are free to oscillate mutually in respective predetermined directions; a first pin coupling together the first shaft and the hub at the center of oscillation of the first shaft; and a second pin coupling together the hub and the second shaft at the center of oscillation of the second shaft, at a predetermined offset with respect to the first pin in the axial direction of the hub and also maintaining a phase angle difference of approximately 90 degrees with the first pin.
With this invention, if a first solid shaft is inserted into the hub and these two components are coupled together by the first pin then the hub is inserted into a second hollow shaft and these two components are coupled together by the second pin, by way of example, the first shaft and the second shaft are coupled together in a freely oscillatory manner, with the first pin and the second pin acting as oscillatory axes, and are capable of rotational transmission in a state in which a predetermined joint angle is applied thereto.
REFERENCES:
patent: 636758 (1899-11-01), Casaday
patent: 3501928 (1970-03-01), Pitner
patent: 4272972 (1981-06-01), James
patent: 4579546 (1986-04-01), Pastor
patent: 4964840 (1990-10-01), Kapaan
patent: 4983143 (1991-01-01), Sekine et al.
patent: 5551919 (1996-09-01), Cherpician
patent: 5766081 (1998-06-01), Desmarais
patent: 42-219 (1888-02-01), None
patent: 4211587 A1 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 48-23204 (1973-07-01), None
patent: 35-24577 (1980-02-01), None
patent: 57-79227 (1982-05-01), None
patent: 1-169123 (1989-07-01), None
patent: 2-306876 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 4-48339 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 7-33851 (1995-04-01), None
Koike Tetsuya
Matsumoto Sakae
Sato Kenji
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
NSK Ltd.
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