Constant velocity joint
By fixing the inner race to the shaft in the automobile shaft joint and locking the joint with mechanical upsetting materials, the manufacturing complexity and assembly quality problems in the prior art are solved, and cost reduction and assembly quality improvement are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411137933.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-17
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-21
AI Technical Summary
During the manufacturing process of existing automobile axle joints, separate retaining ring components and ring grooves are required, which increases manufacturing cost and complexity, while it is difficult to ensure assembly quality and accuracy of axial clearance.
Fixing and assembly is achieved by fixing the inner race to the shaft without auxiliary components, and the inner race is locked to engage the shaft with mechanical upsetting materials.
The manufacturing process is simplified, cost is reduced, and the repeatability of assembly quality and accuracy of axial clearance is ensured, avoiding undesired axial clearance.
Smart Images
Figure CN119491877A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Related Applications
[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 533,205, filed on August 17, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to axle assemblies for motor vehicles, and more particularly to constant velocity joints (CVJs) for axle assemblies. Background Art
[0004] Automotive axle joint applications, such as constant velocity joint (CVJ) assemblies, typically include a retaining ring for retaining the inner race of the constant velocity joint to the shaft (axle). While the retaining ring is generally well suited for its intended function, it requires a separate retaining ring component and also requires the manufacture of the ring groove in both the race and the shaft (such as in a machining process), which increases the time and process cost of manufacturing the CVJ assembly. In addition, the tolerance of the ring groove and the tolerance of the retaining ring thickness need to be tightly controlled separately, and the cumulative tolerances therebetween have proven to be problematic in providing repeatable and accurate assembly quality, and can also result in undesirable axial play between the race and the shaft.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism and method for assembling a CVJ assembly that addresses at least the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the invention
[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a constant velocity joint, comprising: an outer race; an inner race configured for pivotal movement relative to the outer race; and a shaft. The inner race is fixed to the shaft without auxiliary components.
[0007] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the inner race is secured to the shaft using a mechanically upset material.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling an inner race of a constant velocity joint to a shaft is provided. The method includes: placing the inner race on the shaft; and fixing the inner race to the shaft without auxiliary components.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes mechanically upsetting material of the inner race into locking engagement with the shaft.
[0010] These and other aspects, objects, advantages and features will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of this specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a constant velocity joint constructed according to one aspect of the present disclosure;
[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial transparent view of a constant velocity joint showing an inner race of a shaft secured to the constant velocity joint;
[0014] Figure 3 It is roughly along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the present invention shows a mechanical upset connection of the inner race of the constant velocity joint to the shaft;
[0015] Figure 4A It is roughly along Figure 3 An end cross-sectional view taken along the central axis of the constant velocity joint, taken along line 4A-4A, showing a mechanically upset region of an inner race fixed to a shaft according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and
[0016] Figure 4B is similar to Figure 4A , showing a circumferentially continuous mechanical upset region of an inner race fixed to a shaft according to another aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments without limiting the invention, Figure 1 A constant velocity joint 10 is shown that includes an outer race 12, an inner race 14 configured for pivotal movement relative to the outer race 12, and an axle, also referred to as a shaft 16. The inner race 14 is secured to the shaft 16 to prevent movement without auxiliary components, including without auxiliary mechanical components and auxiliary adhesive components. Thus, the inner race 14 is not secured to the shaft 16 by a retaining ring, a snap ring, or any other piece of material separate from the inner race 14 and the shaft 16. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, a plurality of roller members 17 (shown as spherical balls by way of example and not limitation) are disposed between the outer race 12 and the inner race 14 to allow relative pivotal movement between the outer race 12 and the inner race 14. It is contemplated herein that the roller members 17 may allow relative axial plunging movement between the outer race 12 and the inner race 14, if desired.
[0018] The shaft 16 can be provided with a plurality of splines 18 to facilitate coupling the shaft 16 to the inner race 14 and to prevent relative rotation between the shaft 16 and the inner race 14. According to yet another aspect, the splines 18 are unhardened, and therefore no heat treatment process is required to provide full functionality to the splines 18. In the case where the splines 18 remain unhardened, the precision of the splines 18 is improved. As a result of and due to the rigidly fixed, secure connection between the inner race 14 and the shaft 16, the splines 18 can remain unhardened, which will be discussed further below. In addition, the relative length of the splines 18 can be increased compared to the splines of the prior art shafts with annular grooves, thereby providing a stronger spline in terms of torsion, and thus contributing to the ability of the splines 18 to remain unhardened.
[0019] The inner race 14 is secured to the shaft 16 by a mechanical upset material 20 of at least one of the inner race 14 and the shaft 16 (and in the non-limiting embodiment is shown as being the mechanical upset material of the inner race 14). In the non-limiting embodiment, the inner race 14 is constructed of case-hardened carbon steel, and in one specific non-limiting embodiment is constructed of 1050 case-hardened carbon steel, wherein case hardening is performed only on the load-bearing running surface of the inner race 14 against which the roller members 17 move.
[0020] The mechanically upset material 20 of the inner race 14 may be upset via swaging, riveting, roll forming or other mechanical material upsetting processes to form at least one (and at least one) Figure 4A The inner race 14 and the shaft 16 are provided with a plurality of tabs 20 extending radially inwardly. Each tab 20 can be disposed in a locking reception in a corresponding recess or annular groove 22 formed in the shaft 16. As the tabs 20 are mechanically upset to extend into the corresponding recess or groove 22 and engage with the material of the shaft 16, the inner race 14 and the shaft 16 are effectively locked together, thereby preventing relative movement between the inner race 14 and the shaft 16, including preventing relative axial movement and rotational movement therebetween. Thus, the inner race 14 and the shaft 16 are fixed to move together with each other, with no slop, also known as play, between them.
[0021] As discussed above, each tab 20 is mechanically upset and disposed in a locking reception in a corresponding recess or annular groove 22 formed in the shaft 16. Thus, the inner race 14 may have one or more (also referred to as a plurality of) tabs 20, wherein the plurality of tabs 20 may be equally spaced from one another around the circumference of the inner race 14 ( Figure 4AIn the case of multiple tabs 20, the recess 22 in the shaft may be formed as a circumferentially continuous annular groove 22 such that each of the tabs 20 is disposed therein, without requiring a single annular groove 22. Additionally, a corresponding number of recesses 22 may be formed in the shaft 16, wherein the recesses are aligned to receive corresponding ones of the tabs 20 therein. Additionally, as Figure 4B As shown, it is contemplated that a circumferentially continuous annular tab 20 of material may be mechanically upset into a circumferentially continuous annular groove 22 .
[0022] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling the inner race 14 of the constant velocity joint 10 onto the shaft 16 of the constant velocity joint 10 is provided. The method includes positioning the inner race 14 on the shaft 16 and then securing the inner race 14 to the shaft 16 without auxiliary components such as retaining rings, snap rings, or any other auxiliary fasteners formed of materials separate from the inner race 14 and the shaft 16.
[0023] The method also includes mechanically upsetting the material of at least one of the inner race 14 and the shaft 16 to secure the inner race 14 to the shaft 16. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the method includes mechanically upsetting the material of the inner race 14, such as in one of a swaging process, a riveting process, or a roll forming process.
[0024] The method may also include: forming at least one recess or annular groove 22 in the outer surface of the shaft 16; and forming at least one tab 20 with the mechanically upset material of the inner race 14, wherein the at least one tab 20 is disposed in a locking reception manner in the at least one recess or annular groove 22. The method may also include: forming a plurality of recesses 22 in the shaft 16; and forming a plurality of tabs 20 with the mechanically upset material of the inner race 14, wherein each of the tabs 20 is disposed in a separate one of the recesses 22.
[0025] Although the present invention has been described in detail in conjunction with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the present invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention may be modified to include any number of changes, modifications, permutations, or equivalent arrangements that have not been described heretofore but are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various aspects of the present invention may include only some of the embodiments described. The various elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to the particular embodiment, but are interchangeable and can be used in selected embodiments where applicable, even if not explicitly shown or described. Therefore, the present invention should not be considered to be limited by the foregoing description.
Claims
1. A constant velocity joint, comprising: Outer race; an inner race configured for pivotal movement relative to the outer race; as well as axis, Wherein the inner race is fixed to the shaft without auxiliary components.
2. The constant velocity joint of claim 1 wherein the inner race is secured to the shaft without a retaining ring.
3. The constant velocity joint of claim 1, wherein the inner race is secured to the shaft by mechanically upsetting material of at least one of the inner race and the shaft.
4. The constant velocity joint of claim 3, wherein the inner race is secured to the shaft by mechanically upset material of the inner race.
5. The constant velocity joint of claim 4, wherein the material of the inner race is swaged.
6. The constant velocity joint of claim 4 wherein the material of the inner race is roll formed.
7. The constant velocity joint of claim 4, wherein the material of the inner race is riveted.
8. The constant velocity joint of claim 4, further comprising at least one recess in the shaft, wherein the mechanically upset material of the inner race forms at least one tab extending radially inwardly, the at least one tab being disposed in locking reception in the at least one recess.
9. The constant velocity joint of claim 8, wherein the at least one recess comprises a plurality of recesses and the at least one tab comprises a plurality of tabs.
10. The constant velocity joint of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of roller members disposed between the outer race and the inner race.
11. The constant velocity joint of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a plurality of unhardened splines.
12. A method of assembling an inner race of a constant velocity joint to a shaft, comprising: disposing the inner race on the shaft; as well as The inner race is secured to the shaft without auxiliary components.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising securing the inner race to the shaft without a retaining ring.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising mechanically upsetting material of at least one of the inner race and the shaft to secure the inner race to the shaft.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising mechanically upsetting material of the inner race in a swaging process to secure the inner race to the shaft.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising mechanically upsetting material of the inner race in a roll forming process to secure the inner race to the shaft.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising mechanically upsetting material of the inner race in a riveting process to secure the inner race to the shaft.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming at least one recess in the shaft, and forming at least one tab using mechanically upset material of the inner race, wherein the at least one tab is disposed in locking reception in the at least one recess.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming a plurality of recesses in the shaft, and forming a plurality of tabs using the machine upset material of the inner race, wherein each of the tabs is disposed in a separate one of the recesses.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming an annular recess in the shaft, and forming at least one tab from mechanically upset material of the inner race, wherein the at least one tab is disposed in locking reception in the annular recess.