Drive shaft and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention discloses a drive shaft and a vehicle, wherein the drive shaft comprises: a fixed joint, the fixed joint being connected to a wheel hub; a shaft, the first end of the shaft being connected to the fixed joint via a ball cage structure; a movable joint, the movable joint being connected to the second end of the shaft via a ball cage structure; and a support assembly, the support assembly being connected to an interior structure of the vehicle, and the support assembly being used to support the movable joint, and the movable joint being movably connected to the support assembly. The drive shaft of an embodiment of the present invention increases the swing angle range of the drive shaft by providing two ball cage structures between the movable joint and the fixed joint, supports the movable joint by providing a support assembly, and provides that the movable joint extends into the shaft housing and can slide relative to the shaft housing, so that the length of the entire drive shaft can be stably adjusted, meeting the requirements of large swing angle and large stroke of off-road vehicles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle manufacturing, and in particular to a drive shaft and a vehicle having the drive shaft. Background Art

[0002] In existing technology, the drive shaft primarily consists of a fixed joint, a shaft, and a movable joint, both of which are sealed with a sleeve. The fixed joint, consisting primarily of an inner star wheel, a retaining cage, steel balls, an outer ball cage, a sleeve, and a clamp, can transmit high torque and a wide range of swing. The movable joint, on the other hand, primarily consists of a tripod joint, a tripod bearing, an inner ball cage, a sleeve, and a clamp, capable of transmitting only low torque and a limited range of swing. However, in vehicles requiring exceptional off-road capabilities, the combination of a conventional fixed joint and a conventional movable joint is no longer sufficient for the high swing angle and long travel requirements, leaving room for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one object of the present invention is to provide a drive shaft with a larger swing angle range and an adjustable overall length, meeting the requirements of large swing angle and large stroke of off-road vehicles.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drive shaft includes: a fixed joint, which is used to connect to the wheel hub; a shaft, the first end of which is transmission-connected to the fixed joint via a ball cage structure; a movable joint, which is transmission-connected to the second end of the shaft via a ball cage structure; and a support assembly, which is connected to the vehicle interior structure and is used to support the movable joint, and the movable joint is movably connected to the support assembly.

[0005] According to the drive shaft of an embodiment of the present invention, two ball cage structures are set between the movable joint and the fixed joint to realize transmission connection, thereby increasing the swing angle range of the drive shaft. The movable joint is supported by setting a support assembly, and the movable joint is set to extend into the axle housing and can slide relative to the axle housing, so that the length of the entire drive shaft can be stably adjusted, meeting the requirements of large swing angle and large stroke of off-road vehicles, so that the off-road vehicle can better complete off-road driving.

[0006] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the support assembly includes a moving part and a support part, the support part is connected to the vehicle interior structure, the moving part is installed in the support part, and the moving joint is axially movably supported on the moving part.

[0007] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the movable member is installed in the support member through a bearing, the outer ring of the bearing is pressed into the circular cavity of the support member, and the movable member is pressed into the inner ring of the bearing.

[0008] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the outer peripheral wall of the movable member is provided with a smooth section press-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing, and limiting structures are provided at both ends of the smooth section to abut against the inner ring of the bearing.

[0009] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the outer peripheral wall of the movable part is provided with a radially protruding limiting boss at the first end near the smooth section, and is provided with a radially recessed first limiting groove at the second end near the smooth section, the first limiting groove is used for installing a bearing retaining ring, and the limiting structure includes the limiting boss and the bearing retaining ring.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the drive shaft of the present invention, the support member includes a bracket and a cylinder liner; wherein the bracket is vulcanized on the outside of the cylinder liner, and the cylinder liner is interference fit with the outer ring of the bearing; or, the bracket is a casting, and the bracket and the cylinder liner are integrally formed, and the outer ring of the bearing is press-fit into the cylinder liner.

[0011] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, a first sleeve is provided between the moving joint and the moving part, a first sleeve groove is provided at the first end of the moving joint, and a second sleeve groove is provided at the end of the moving part close to the shaft, and the two ends of the first sleeve are respectively inserted into the first sleeve groove and the second sleeve groove.

[0012] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, a second sleeve is provided between the moving part and the shaft housing, a third sleeve groove is provided at one end of the moving part close to the shaft housing, and a fourth sleeve groove is provided at one end of the shaft housing close to the moving part, and both ends of the second sleeve are respectively inserted into the third sleeve groove and the fourth sleeve groove.

[0013] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the first end of the movable joint is provided with an outer planetary wheel, and the second end of the shaft extends into the outer planetary wheel and is driven by a steel ball, a retaining frame and an inner planetary wheel.

[0014] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the shaft housing has a support cavity extending in the axial direction, and the support cavity is open at one end facing the movable section, and the second end of the movable section is supported in the support cavity by a tripod and a roller.

[0015] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, the support cavity is provided with a second limiting groove at an end position, the second limiting groove is installed with a roller retaining ring, and the roller retaining ring is axially pressed against the tripod and the roller.

[0016] According to the drive shaft of some embodiments of the present invention, a noise reduction layer is formed on the surface of the moving part.

[0017] The present invention further provides a vehicle.

[0018] A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with the drive shaft described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0019] The advantages of the vehicle and the drive shaft compared to the prior art are the same and will not be repeated here.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is an exploded view of a drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 2. It is a front view of the structure of the moving section in the drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 is a front view of the structure of a support assembly in a drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 is a top view of the installation of a support assembly in a drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a moving part in a drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Cross-sectional view at AA in the middle;

[0028] Figure 7 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a drive shaft mid-axle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Reference numerals:

[0030] Drive shaft 100,

[0031] Fixed section 1, shaft 2, movable section 3, outer star wheel 31, first sleeve groove 32, outer spline structure 33,

[0032] Support assembly 4, moving part 41, smooth section 411, limiting boss 412, first limiting groove 413, second sheath groove 414, third sheath groove 415, inner spline structure 416,

[0033] Support 42, bracket 421, cylinder sleeve 422, bearing 43, bearing retaining ring 44,

[0034] Shaft housing 5, fourth sleeve groove 51, transmission spline 52, support cavity 53, second limiting groove 54, roller retaining ring 55,

[0035] First sheath 61 , second sheath 62 , clamp 7 , steel ball 81 , retaining frame 82 , inner star wheel 83 , tripod 91 , roller 92 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended only to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0037] Reference below Figure 1-Figure 7 A drive shaft 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the drive shaft 100 of the embodiment of the present invention includes: a fixed section 1, a shaft 2, a movable section 3 and a support assembly 4.

[0039] The fixed section 1 is located at one end of the drive shaft 100 (eg Figure 1 The main body of the fixed joint 1 is a tubular structure with external splines. The fixed joint 1 is used to connect with the wheel hub to continuously transmit the torque of the powertrain to the wheel, so that the vehicle can maintain stable operation whether it is going straight or turning.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the shaft rod 2 is constructed as a long round rod, the left end of the shaft rod 2 is set as the first end, the right end of the shaft rod 2 is set as the second end, and the first end of the shaft rod 2 is connected to the fixed joint 1 through a ball cage structure. Figure 1 As shown, the right end of the fixed joint 1 is provided with a bell-shaped shell open to the right, and a retaining frame 82, steel balls 81 and an inner star wheel 83 are installed in the bell-shaped shell, wherein the inner star wheel 83 is used to be connected to the first end of the shaft rod 2, and the outer surface of the inner star wheel 83 has a plurality of grooves to form an inner raceway, and the inner surface of the open cavity of the bell-shaped shell is correspondingly provided with a plurality of grooves to form an outer raceway, and the inner raceway and the outer raceway are arranged opposite to each other to form a raceway, and a plurality of steel balls 81 are respectively installed in the corresponding raceways, and the steel balls 81 are restricted by the retaining frame 82. When the shaft rod 2 drives the fixed joint 1 to rotate, the plurality of steel balls 81 are always kept in the same plane, so that the plurality of steel balls 81 can act simultaneously, with strong load-bearing capacity, compact structure, easy disassembly and assembly, and a larger swing angle range between the wheel hub and the shaft rod 2.

[0041] The movable joint 3 is connected to the second end of the shaft 2 through a ball cage structure. The end of the movable joint 3 away from the shaft 2 is movably supported in the shaft housing 5 along the axial direction, and the movable joint 3 and the shaft housing 5 are matched along the circumferential direction. Figure 2 As shown, the movable joint 3 is constructed as a cylindrical structure. The end of the movable joint 3 near the shaft 2 is connected to the second end of the shaft 2 via a ball cage structure. Specifically, an outer star wheel 31 can be provided at the second end of the shaft 2, and an inner star wheel 83 can be connected to the end of the movable joint 3 facing the shaft 2. Alternatively, an inner star wheel 83 can be connected to the second end of the shaft 2, and an outer star wheel 31 can be provided at the end of the movable joint 3 facing the shaft 2. Steel balls and a support frame are provided between the two, so that the two are connected by the ball cage structure, allowing a large swing angle range between the shaft 2 and the movable joint 3. As a result, the fixed joint 1 and the movable joint 3 are connected by two ball cage structures, and a large swing angle range can be achieved between the fixed joint 1 and the movable joint 3, realizing a large swing angle function for vehicle drive. Specifically, the maximum swing angle can reach 45°-50°.

[0042] Furthermore, the end of the movable joint 3 away from the shaft 2 extends into the shaft housing 5, and the movable joint 3 can move axially relative to the shaft housing 5, and during the movement of the movable joint 3, the end of the movable joint 3 away from the shaft 2 is always connected to the shaft housing 5, ensuring that the shaft housing 5 can always drive the movable joint 3 to rotate circumferentially. It should be noted that the shaft housing 5 is used to be connected to the reducer. When the torque of the powertrain is transmitted to the reducer, and after being decelerated by the reducer, the torque is transmitted to the shaft housing 5. By setting the shaft housing 5 and the movable joint 3 to cooperate in circumferential transmission, the torque can be transmitted to the movable joint 3, and then transmitted to the wheel hub through the shaft 2 and the fixed joint 1 in turn, thereby driving the vehicle to operate normally.

[0043] The support assembly 4 is connected to the vehicle interior structure and is used to support the movable joint 3. The movable joint 3 is movably connected to the support assembly 4, such that the movable joint 3 is movably supported on the support assembly 4 along the axial direction. It should be noted that threaded holes are provided on both the support assembly 4 and the vehicle interior structure. The support assembly 4 can be connected to the vehicle interior structure via a connector extending through the threaded holes, so that the support assembly 4 can be detachably fixed to the vehicle interior structure. The provision of the threaded structure facilitates the convenient installation of the support assembly 4 and reduces the overall processing difficulty of the drive shaft 100. The vehicle interior structure can be configured as a final reducer or a transmission structure.

[0044] Among them, the support component 4 is circumferentially supported on the outer wall of the movable joint 3. By installing one side of the support component 4 on the vehicle interior structure, the support of the vehicle interior structure to the movable joint 3 is achieved. When the vehicle turns or overcomes obstacles, causing the wheel stroke to be lengthened, the movable joint 3 can slide smoothly in the axial direction relative to the support component 4, so as to drive the end of the movable joint 3 away from the shaft 2 to move smoothly in the shaft housing 5, thereby changing the overall length of the drive shaft 100 to meet the stroke length required by the vehicle during movement, ensuring the stable operation of the vehicle, and meeting the long stroke requirements of the off-road vehicle.

[0045] According to the drive shaft 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, two ball cage structures are set between the movable section 3 and the fixed section 1 to realize transmission connection, thereby increasing the swing angle range of the drive shaft 100. The movable section 3 is supported by setting a support assembly 4, and the movable section 3 is set to extend into the shaft housing 5 and can slide relative to the shaft housing 5, so that the length of the entire drive shaft 100 can be stably adjusted, meeting the requirements of large swing angle and large stroke of off-road vehicles, so that the off-road vehicle can better complete off-road driving.

[0046] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the support assembly 4 includes a moving member 41 and a support member 42. The support member 42 is connected to the vehicle interior structure, the moving member 41 is installed in the support member 42, and the moving section 3 is axially movably supported on the moving member 41. It should be noted that the bearing 43 can be a double-row ball bearing 43.

[0047] Among them, Figure 5 As shown, the moving member 41 is constructed as a sleeve structure with open ends. The moving member 41 is installed in the support member 42 with a bearing 43 spaced therebetween, so that the moving member 41 can rotate relative to the support member 42 without sliding relative to the support member 42. Figure 6 As shown, the inner side of the moving member 41 is provided with an inner spline structure 416, correspondingly, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the outer peripheral wall in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the movable joint 3 is provided with an external spline structure 33, the movable part 41 is used to be sleeved on the movable joint 3, and the internal spline structure 416 of the movable part 41 is aligned with the external spline structure 33 of the movable joint 3, so that the movable part 41 can circumferentially limit the movable joint 3, so that the movable joint 3 can drive the movable part 41 and the spacing bearing 43 to rotate relative to the support part 42 to realize normal transmission of torque. At the same time, the movable joint 3 can move axially relative to the movable part 41 to realize length adjustment of the drive shaft 100.

[0048] It should be noted that the length of the external spline structure 33 at the moving joint 3 is greater than the length of the internal spline structure 416 of the moving part 41, so that when the moving joint 3 moves axially relative to the moving part 41, the internal spline structure 416 of the moving part 41 is always opposite to the external spline structure 33, thereby ensuring that the moving part 41 can always provide firm support to the moving joint 3, thereby improving the reliability of the torque transmission process.

[0049] Furthermore, the length of the external spline at the movable joint 3 can be lengthened according to actual needs to meet the requirements of a larger stroke, and its processing technology is no different from the conventional one, which effectively reduces processing costs and improves production efficiency. The external spline structure 33 and the internal spline structure 416 can be covered with a nylon layer or other coating material layer to reduce vibration noise and improve the product NVH performance.

[0050] In some embodiments, the moving member 41 is installed in the support member 42 through a bearing 43. The support member 42 has a circular cavity, wherein the circular cavity passes through the entire support member 42 along the axial direction of the support member 42. When the support member 42 is installed on the outer side of the vehicle interior structure, the axial direction of the circular cavity is the same as the extension direction of the moving section 3.

[0051] That is to say, if Figure 3 As shown, the outer ring of the bearing 43 is pressed into the circular cavity so that the outer ring of the bearing 43 is interference fit with the support 42, and the moving part 41 is pressed into the inner ring of the bearing 43. By installing the moving part 41 in the circular cavity with the bearing 43 spaced apart, the moving part 41 can rotate relative to the support 42, and the axis of the moving part 41 coincides with the axis of the circular cavity. When the moving section 3 extends into the cavity of the moving part 41 from one end of the moving part 41, the axis of the moving section 3 coincides with the axis of the circular cavity, and the moving section 3 can rotate relative to the support 42 to transmit torque to the wheel hub, thereby driving the normal operation of the vehicle.

[0052] In some embodiments, as Figure 5 As shown, the outer peripheral wall of the moving member 41 is provided with a smooth section 411 that is press-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing 43, and at both ends of the smooth section 411 are provided with a limit structure that abuts against the inner ring of the bearing 43. In other words, the outer peripheral wall of the moving member 41 can be interference-fitted with the inner peripheral wall of the inner ring of the bearing 43. When the moving section 3 drives the moving member 41 to rotate, the inner ring of the bearing 43 rotates together with the moving member 41, causing the inner ring and outer ring of the bearing 43 to rotate relative to each other, thereby achieving relative rotation between the moving member 41 and the support member 42, preventing relative rotation between the inner ring of the bearing 43 and the moving member 41, reducing the resistance experienced by the moving member 41, and improving the torque transmission efficiency.

[0053] At the same time, limiting structures are respectively provided at both ends of the moving part 41 located at the smooth section 411, and the limiting structures are made to abut against the inner ring of the bearing 43, so that the inner ring of the bearing 43 axially limits the moving part 41. When the moving section 3 moves axially, the moving part 41 cannot slide axially relative to the inner ring of the bearing 43, and the moving part 41 remains stable relative to the structure inside the vehicle, so as to provide stable support for the moving part and improve the stability of the driving process.

[0054] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral wall of the movable member 41 is provided with a radially protruding limiting boss 412 at the first end near the smooth section 411, and is provided with a radially recessed first limiting groove 413 at the second end near the smooth section 411. The first limiting groove 413 is used to install a bearing retaining ring 44. The limiting structure includes the limiting boss 412 and the bearing retaining ring 44.

[0055] It should be noted that if Figure 5 As shown, the left end of the moving member 41 can be taken as the first end, and the right end of the moving member 41 can be taken as the second end. A radially surrounding and outwardly protruding limiting boss 412 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the moving member 41. The limiting boss 412 is fitted at the first end of the smooth section 411. The diameter of the limiting boss 412 is larger than the inner diameter of the inner ring of the bearing 43 and smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring of the bearing 43, so that the right side of the limiting boss 412 can fit on the left side of the bearing 43 and avoid interference with the balls of the bearing 43.

[0056] At the same time, a first limiting groove 413 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the movable part 41, which is radially surrounding and inwardly recessed. The first limiting groove 413 is arranged at the second end of the smooth section 411. The bearing retaining ring 44 can be installed in the first limiting groove 413, and the whole is extended radially outward. The outer diameter of the bearing retaining ring 44 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner ring of the bearing 43, and smaller than the outer diameter of the inner ring of the bearing 43, so that the left side of the bearing retaining ring 44 can fit on the right side of the bearing 43 and avoid interference with the ball of the bearing 43.

[0057] It is understandable that if Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the moving part 41 can extend into the cavity of the inner ring of the bearing 43 from the left side, so that the limiting boss 412 is pressed against the left side wall of the inner ring of the bearing 43 from the left side. At this time, the bearing retaining ring 44 is installed in the first limiting groove 413, so that the bearing retaining ring 44 is pressed against the right side wall of the inner ring of the bearing 43 from the right side, so as to fix the inner ring of the bearing 43 and the moving part 41, avoid the moving part 41 from sliding when the moving section 3 slides axially, and improve the reliability of the torque transmission process.

[0058] In some embodiments, as Figure 3As shown, support member 42 includes a bracket 421 and a cylinder sleeve 422. One side of bracket 421 is constructed with a base, with threaded holes extending through the thickness of the base at both ends. Openings corresponding to the threaded holes are provided on the side of the vehicle interior structure. One side of the base can be attached to the side of the vehicle interior structure, allowing multiple connectors to extend through the threaded holes and into the openings, thereby removably securing support member 42 to the vehicle interior structure. Furthermore, a fixing ring is provided on the side of the base away from the vehicle interior structure. The fixing ring is positioned between the two threaded holes, spaced apart from the two threaded holes. Cylinder sleeve 422 and bearing 43 can be installed within the fixing ring, thereby securing the cylinder sleeve 422 and bearing 43 to the vehicle interior structure.

[0059] Bracket 421 is vulcanized onto the outside of cylinder sleeve 422, and cylinder sleeve 422 forms an interference fit with the outer ring of bearing 43. In other words, cylinder sleeve 422 can be constructed as an annular structure with multiple grooves provided at both ends. These grooves are spaced circumferentially and staggered along the width of cylinder sleeve 422, resulting in a staggered arrangement of the grooves at both ends. An annular groove is also provided on the inner side of the retaining ring, corresponding to cylinder sleeve 422. Cylinder sleeve 422 is first interference fit with the outer ring of bearing 43, and bearing 43 with cylinder sleeve 422 is installed into the annular groove. Cylinder sleeve 422 and bracket 421 are then vulcanized to secure the outer ring of bearing 43 to support member 42.

[0060] Alternatively, the bracket 421 is a casting, such as an aluminum casting, and the bracket 421 and the cylinder sleeve 422 are integrally formed, and the outer ring of the bearing 43 is press-fitted into the cylinder sleeve 422. In other words, the bracket 421 and the cylinder sleeve 422 are integrally formed through a casting process, and the outer ring of the bearing 43 is directly press-fitted into the cylinder sleeve 422 to achieve an interference fit with the cylinder sleeve 422, thereby fixing the outer ring of the bearing 43 to the support member 42.

[0061] It can be understood that by installing the bearing 43 on the support 42 and keeping the cylinder sleeve 422 and the bracket 421 fixed, so that the outer ring of the bearing 43 cannot rotate relative to the support 42, it is ensured that the moving part can only achieve relative rotation with the support 42 through the bearing 43, avoiding the rotation of the outer ring of the bearing 43 to affect the stability of the moving part, ensuring the torque transmission efficiency of the moving joint 3, and facilitating the absorption of vibrations during the movement of the moving joint 3, effectively improving the NVH performance, reducing the number of parts, and reducing the difficulty of development.

[0062] In some embodiments, as Figure 1As shown, the drive shaft 100 of the embodiment of the present invention has a first sheath 61 between the moving section 3 and the moving member 41, a first sheath groove 32 is provided at the first end of the moving section 3, and a second sheath groove 414 is provided at the end of the moving member 41 close to the shaft 2, and the two ends of the first sheath 61 are respectively inserted into the first sheath groove 32 and the second sheath groove 414. Figure 2 The second end of the movable section 3 is the end away from the shaft 2 (such as Figure 2 left end of the middle).

[0063] It should be noted that if Figure 2 As shown, the first end of the movable section 3 is provided with a first sheath groove 32 which is concave downwards. Figure 5 As shown, the left end of the movable member 41 is provided with a second sleeve groove 414 which is recessed downward. When the drive shaft 100 is installed, the first sleeve groove 32 and the second sleeve 62 are arranged at axial intervals along the movable section 3. One end of the first sleeve 61 is installed in the first sleeve groove 32 and fixed by a clamp 7, and the other end of the first sleeve 61 is fixed to the second sleeve groove 414 and fixed by a clamp 7 to seal the portion of the shaft 2 between the first sleeve groove 32 and the second sleeve groove 414 to prevent leakage of lubricating oil after filling with lubricating oil.

[0064] The first sheath 61 is constructed with a multi-section foldable structure. When the moving section 3 slides relative to the moving part 41, causing the distance between the first sheath groove 32 and the second sheath groove 414 to change, the length of the first sheath 61 can change accordingly to ensure the sealing effect of the first sheath 61.

[0065] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the drive shaft 100 of the embodiment of the present invention has a second sleeve 62 provided between the moving part 41 and the shaft housing 5, a third sleeve groove 415 is provided at one end of the moving part 41 close to the shaft housing 5, and a fourth sleeve groove 51 is provided at one end of the shaft housing 5 close to the moving part 41, and both ends of the second sleeve 62 are respectively inserted into the third sleeve groove 415 and the fourth sleeve groove 51.

[0066] That is to say, if Figure 5As shown, the right end of the movable member 41 is provided with a third sleeve groove 415 which is recessed downward, and the end of the shaft housing 5 close to the movable member 41 is provided with a fourth sleeve groove 51 which is recessed downward. When the drive shaft 100 is installed, the third sleeve groove 415 and the fourth sleeve groove 51 are arranged at axial intervals along the movable section 3. By installing one end of the second sleeve 62 in the third sleeve groove 415 and fixing it with a clamp 7, the other end of the second sleeve 62 is fixed to the fourth sleeve groove 51 and fixed with a clamp 7, so as to seal the part of the shaft rod 2 between the third sleeve groove 415 and the fourth sleeve groove 51 to prevent leakage of lubricating oil after filling it with lubricating oil.

[0067] The second sheath 62 is also constructed with a multi-section foldable structure. When the moving section 3 slides relative to the moving part 41, causing the distance between the third sheath groove 415 and the fourth sheath groove 51 to change, the length of the second sheath 62 can change accordingly to ensure the sealing effect of the second sheath 62.

[0068] Through the above-mentioned arrangement, the moving part 41 is sealed from both sides of the moving part 41, thereby avoiding leakage of lubricating oil at the matching point between the moving part 41 and the moving joint 3, so that the moving part 41 and the moving joint 3 can be fully lubricated, reducing the resistance when the moving part 41 and the moving joint 3 move relative to each other, and preventing external impurities and moisture from entering the moving part 41, thereby ensuring the stability of the sliding process of the moving joint 3 and improving the service life of the moving part 41.

[0069] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the first end of the movable joint 3 is provided with an outer planetary wheel 31 , and the second end of the shaft 2 extends into the outer planetary wheel 31 and is coupled through the steel ball 81 , the retaining frame 82 and the inner planetary wheel 83 .

[0070] That is to say, if Figure 2 As shown, the end of the movable joint 3 close to the shaft 2 is provided with a bell-shaped housing open toward the shaft 2. The bell-shaped housing is configured as an outer star wheel 31. The second end of the shaft 2 can extend into the bell-shaped housing, and a retainer 82, steel balls 81, and an inner star wheel 83 are installed in the bell-shaped housing. Among them, the inner star wheel 83 is used to connect to the second end of the shaft 2. The inner star wheel 83 and the inner surface of the open cavity of the bell-shaped housing form a raceway. Multiple steel balls 81 are respectively installed in the multiple raceways. The steel balls 81 are restricted by the retainer 82. When the shaft 2 drives the fixed joint 1 to rotate, the steel balls 81 are always kept in the same plane, so that multiple steel balls 81 can act simultaneously. The movable joint 3 has a strong load-bearing capacity, a compact structure, and is easy to assemble and disassemble. It also allows a large swing angle range between the movable joint 3 and the shaft 2.

[0071] It should be noted that the ball cage structure between the movable joint 3 and the shaft 2 can be set to be exactly the same as the ball cage structure between the fixed joint 1 and the shaft 2, so that the sizes of the steel ball 81, the retaining frame 82 and the inner star wheel 83 are equal, so as to reduce the number of specifications of parts, thereby facilitating maintenance and installation and reducing processing costs.

[0072] In some embodiments, as Figure 7 As shown, the shaft housing 5 has a support cavity 53 extending in the axial direction, and the support cavity 53 is open at one end facing the movable section 3, and the second end of the movable section 3 is supported in the support cavity 53 by the tripod 91 and the roller 92. That is to say, the tripod 91 and the roller 92 are installed at the second end of the movable section 3, and the support cavity 53 has a cross-section designed to follow the tripod 91. The second end of the movable section 3 can extend into the support cavity 53 and be supported on the inner surface of the support cavity 53 by the roller 92. The movable section 3 can slide in the support cavity 53 along the axial direction to achieve a stroke change of the drive shaft 100, and the tripod 91 is offset against the inner surface of the support cavity 53. When the shaft housing 5 rotates, the tripod 91 is limited by the inner surface of the support cavity 53, so that the movable section 3 rotates with the shaft housing 5, so that the angle between the movable section 3 and the shaft housing 5 is always at a 0° angle position, so that the torque transmission efficiency is maximized.

[0073] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the drive shaft 100 of the embodiment of the present invention has a second limiting groove 54 at the end position of the support cavity 53, and a roller retaining ring 55 is installed in the second limiting groove 54, and the roller retaining ring 55 is axially pressed against the tripod 91 and the roller 92.

[0074] That is to say, if Figure 7 As shown, the inner circumferential wall of the support cavity 53 is provided with a second limiting groove 54 at a position close to the movable joint 3. The second limiting groove 54 is recessed radially outward on the inner circumferential wall of the support cavity 53. The roller retaining ring 55 can be installed in the second limiting groove 54, and the roller retaining ring 55 protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential wall of the support cavity 53. The inner diameter of the roller retaining ring 55 is larger than the diameter of the movable joint 3 and smaller than the outer diameter of the trident 91 and the roller 92, so that the movable joint 3 can slide in the support cavity 53, and when sliding to the extreme position, the trident 91 and the roller 92 press against the side of the roller retaining ring 55 to limit the moving stroke of the movable joint 3 and prevent the movable joint 3 from falling out of the support cavity 53. It should be noted that the axial length of the support cavity 53 can be flexibly adjusted according to the stroke of the drive shaft 100 to meet the layout requirements of different strokes.

[0075] It should be noted that, according to actual design requirements, a limiting structure can be set at the external spline of the movable joint 3 to prevent the external spline structure 33 of the movable joint 3 from being completely separated from the internal spline structure 416 of the movable part 41, further ensuring that the movable joint 3 will not be separated from the shaft housing 5, thereby achieving double insurance.

[0076] In some embodiments, a transmission spline 52 is provided at one end of the shaft housing 5 away from the movable joint 3, and the transmission spline 52 is in transmission cooperation with the reducer. Figure 7 As shown, the right end of the shaft housing 5 is provided with a column structure, the axis of the column structure coincides with the axis of the moving joint 3, and the end of the column structure away from the moving joint 3 is provided with a transmission spline 52, which cooperates with the transmission of the reducer. The torque of the power assembly is output to the shaft housing 5 after being changed in speed by the reducer to drive the shaft housing 5 to rotate, thereby driving the moving parts to rotate synchronously to realize the transmission of torque.

[0077] It should be noted that a retaining spring groove is provided at the end position of the column structure. After the axle housing 5 is matched with the total reducer transmission, a retaining spring is installed in the retaining spring groove to further strengthen the connection strength between the axle housing 5 and the total reducer, thereby improving the reliability of the vehicle movement process.

[0078] During the specific installation process, first install the retaining frame 82, the inner star wheel 83 and the steel ball 81 into the bell-shaped housing of the movable joint 3 to fix the shaft 2 and the movable joint 3, place the first sleeve 61 into the first sleeve groove 32, clamp it with the clamp 7, complete the preliminary assembly of the first sleeve 61, install the support member 42 to the movable joint 3, so that the external spline structure 33 of the movable joint 3 cooperates with the internal spline structure 416 of the movable member 41, at this time, place the other end of the first sleeve 61 into the second sleeve groove 414 of the movable member 41, clamp it with the clamp 7, and complete the assembly of the first sleeve 61. Install the second sleeve 62 into the third sleeve groove 415 of the moving part 41, clamp it with the clamp 7, press the tripod 91 and the roller 92 onto the second end of the moving section 3, and install the retaining spring into the retaining spring groove. Extend the tripod 91 and the roller 92 into the support cavity 53 of the shaft housing 5, install the roller retaining ring 55 into the second limiting groove 54, and use the clamp 7 to connect the second sleeve 62 to the fourth sleeve groove 51, thereby completing the installation of the drive shaft 100.

[0079] In some embodiments, a noise reduction layer is formed on the surface of the moving part 41, such as a spline nylon treatment layer or other coating material on the moving part 41, to reduce vibration noise and improve the NVH performance of the product.

[0080] The present invention further provides a vehicle.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is provided with any of the above-mentioned drive shafts 100. Two ball cage structures are provided between the movable joint 3 and the fixed joint 1 to achieve a transmission connection, thereby increasing the swing angle range of the drive shaft 100. The movable joint 3 is supported by a support assembly 4, and the movable joint 3 is configured to extend into the axle housing 5 and slide relative to the axle housing 5, so that the length of the entire drive shaft 100 can be stably adjusted, meeting the requirements of off-road vehicles for large swing angles and large travels, enabling the off-road vehicle to better complete off-road driving, effectively improving the overall performance of the vehicle, and thus enhancing the brand image.

[0082] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0083] In the description of the present invention, "first feature" or "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0084] In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means two or more.

[0085] In the description of the present invention, a first feature being “on” or “under” a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact with each other, or the first and second features not being in direct contact with each other but being in contact with each other via another feature therebetween.

[0086] In the description of the present invention, “on”, “above” and “above” a first feature of a second feature include the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature.

[0087] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative uses of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0088] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A drive shaft (100), characterized in that: include: A fixed joint (1), the fixed joint (1) being used for connecting with the wheel hub; A shaft (2), wherein a first end of the shaft (2) is transmission-connected to the fixed joint (1) via a ball cage structure; A movable joint (3), wherein the movable joint (3) is transmission-connected to the second end of the shaft (2) via a ball cage structure; A support assembly (4), the support assembly (4) comprising a moving member (41) and a support member (42), the support member (42) being connected to the vehicle interior structure, the moving member (41) being mounted in the support member (42) via a bearing (43), and the moving section (3) being movably supported on the moving member (41) along the axial direction; The end of the movable joint (3) facing away from the shaft rod (2) is movably supported in the shaft housing (5) along the axial direction, and the movable joint (3) and the shaft housing (5) are matched in a circumferential transmission manner.

2. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The outer ring of the bearing (43) is pressed into the circular cavity of the support member (42), and the moving member (41) is pressed into the inner ring of the bearing (43).

3. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that The outer peripheral wall of the movable member (41) is provided with a smooth section (411) press-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing (43), and limiting structures are provided at both ends of the smooth section (411) to abut against the inner ring of the bearing (43).

4. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that The outer peripheral wall of the movable member (41) is provided with a radially protruding limiting boss (412) at a first end close to the smooth section (411), and is provided with a radially recessed first limiting groove (413) at a second end close to the smooth section (411), wherein the first limiting groove (413) is used for installing a bearing retaining ring (44), and the limiting structure comprises the limiting boss (412) and the bearing retaining ring (44).

5. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The support member (42) includes a bracket (421) and a cylinder sleeve (422); wherein The bracket (421) is vulcanized on the outside of the cylinder sleeve (422), and the cylinder sleeve (422) is interference-fitted with the outer ring of the bearing (43); Alternatively, the bracket (421) is a casting, and the bracket (421) and the cylinder sleeve (422) are integrally formed, and the outer ring of the bearing (43) is press-fitted into the cylinder sleeve (422).

6. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that A first sheath (61) is provided between the movable joint (3) and the movable member (41); a first sheath groove (32) is provided at the first end of the movable joint (3); a second sheath groove (414) is provided at one end of the movable member (41) close to the shaft (2); and two ends of the first sheath (61) are respectively inserted into the first sheath groove (32) and the second sheath groove (414).

7. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that A second sleeve (62) is provided between the moving member (41) and the shaft housing (5); a third sleeve groove (415) is provided at one end of the moving member (41) close to the shaft housing (5); a fourth sleeve groove (51) is provided at one end of the shaft housing (5) close to the moving member (41); and two ends of the second sleeve (62) are respectively inserted into the third sleeve groove (415) and the fourth sleeve groove (51).

8. The drive shaft (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The first end of the movable joint (3) is provided with an outer star wheel (31), and the second end of the shaft (2) extends into the outer star wheel (31) and is coupled through a steel ball (81), a retaining frame (82) and an inner star wheel (83).

9. The drive shaft (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The shaft housing (5) has a support cavity (53) extending in the axial direction, and the support cavity (53) is open at one end facing the movable joint (3), and the second end of the movable joint (3) is supported in the support cavity (53) through a trident (91) and a roller (92).

10. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that The support cavity (53) is provided with a second limiting groove (54) at an end position, the second limiting groove (54) is installed with a roller retaining ring (55), and the roller retaining ring (55) is pressed against the trident (91) and the roller (92) in the axial direction.

11. The drive shaft (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that A noise reduction layer is formed on the surface of the moving member (41).

12. A vehicle, characterized in that: A drive shaft (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is provided.

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