A drive shaft and a vehicle

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of transmission technology, specifically to a driveshaft and a vehicle. The driveshaft includes a bushing assembly, a shaft assembly, a sealing assembly, and a support assembly. The bushing assembly includes a sleeve unit and a sleeve engaging unit, both of which are tubular; one end of the sleeve unit is closed; the sleeve engaging unit is connected to the open end of the sleeve unit. The shaft assembly includes a sliding unit connected to one end of the shaft unit; the sleeve engaging unit is fitted onto the shaft unit; the sliding unit abuts against the inner sliding groove inside the sleeve unit; both ends of the sealing assembly are respectively fitted onto the sleeve engaging unit and the shaft unit. The support assembly includes a first arc unit, a second arc unit, and another first arc unit connected in sequence to form an open ring; the support assembly abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve engaging unit and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft unit; the first deformation of the first arc unit is smaller than the second deformation of the second arc unit. This solves the problem of local stress concentration and wear of the support sleeve caused by the inclined installation and uneven force of the driveshaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of transmission technology, and more specifically, to a drive shaft and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As a component in a mechanical transmission system that transmits torque, the structural design of the drive shaft is crucial to the power transmission and stability of the system. In existing technology, drive shafts generally consist of a first shaft and a second shaft. The second shaft is a hollow tubular structure with internal splines on its inner wall. These splines allow for a sliding connection between the first and second shafts, accommodating changes in shaft length during operation. At the connection point between the first and second shafts, two key components are installed: a sealing sleeve and a support sleeve. The sealing sleeve surrounds the connection, forming a seal to prevent external contaminants such as dust and water from entering the connection area and causing wear or affecting normal sliding. The support sleeve is located inside the second shaft, contacting the outer wall of the first shaft. It supports the sliding of the first shaft within the second shaft, providing uniform support to maintain stability during sliding and preventing direct contact and wear between the outer wall of the first shaft and the inner wall of the second shaft, thus ensuring the normal operation and service life of the drive shaft.

[0003] In mechanical transmission systems, the drive shaft is typically in an inclined state. This installation condition causes a change in the force distribution on the first shaft as it slides axially along the second shaft. Due to gravity, the top of the first shaft exerts an additional force on the support sleeve at the bottom of the second shaft during sliding, significantly increasing the stress in a localized area of ​​the support sleeve and creating a localized stress concentration. As the mechanical transmission system continues to operate, the first shaft continuously slides within the second shaft, and this localized stress concentration repeatedly acts on the same area of ​​the support sleeve, leading to accelerated material fatigue in that location and making the support sleeve more prone to wear. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of localized stress concentration and wear on the support sleeve caused by the tilted installation and uneven force distribution of the drive shaft, this invention provides a drive shaft and a vehicle.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a drive shaft, the drive shaft comprising:

[0006] A bushing assembly, comprising a bushing unit, a sleeve engaging unit, and an inner groove; the bushing unit is configured as a tubular body closed at one end; the sleeve engaging unit is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sleeve engaging unit is connected to the open end of the bushing unit; the inner peripheral wall of the bushing unit is provided with an inner groove;

[0007] A shaft assembly, comprising a shaft unit and a sliding unit; the sliding unit is connected to one end of the shaft unit; a sleeve engagement unit is sleeved on the outer periphery of the shaft unit; the sliding unit abuts against the inner sliding groove;

[0008] A sealing assembly, wherein the sealing assembly is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sealing assembly is sleeved on and connected to the outer periphery of the sleeve engagement unit, and the other end is sleeved on and abuts against the outer periphery of the shaft unit;

[0009] A support assembly includes two first arc units and a second arc unit; one first arc unit, the second arc unit, and the other first arc unit are sequentially connected to form an open ring; the outer peripheral surface of the support assembly abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the locking unit; the inner peripheral surface of the support assembly abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft unit; a first deformation is less than a second deformation; the first deformation is the maximum deformation of the first arc unit in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly before and after installation; the second deformation is the maximum deformation of the second arc unit in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly before and after installation.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit is configured to protrude toward the central axis of the support component; d1 > d2, where d1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit and the central axis of the support component before the support component is installed, and d2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit and the central axis of the support component before the support component is installed.

[0011] In some embodiments, D1=D2, where D1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit and the central axis of the support component after the support component is installed, and D2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit and the central axis of the support component after the support component is installed.

[0012] In some embodiments, the support assembly further includes a support retainer; the second arc unit encloses the support retainer; after the support assembly is installed, the support retainer applies a force to the second arc unit in the direction of the central axis of the support assembly.

[0013] In some embodiments, the sealing assembly includes a sealing retainer, a sealing engagement portion, and a sealing lip; the sealing retainer is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sealing retainer is connected to the sealing engagement portion; the sealing engagement portion is sleeved on and connected to the outer peripheral side of the engagement unit; a sealing lip is provided on the inner peripheral side of the sealing retainer away from the sealing engagement portion; the inner peripheral wall of the sealing lip abuts against the outer peripheral wall of the shaft unit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the support assembly further includes a receiving groove; the receiving groove is recessed from one end of the support assembly away from the sleeve unit toward the end near the sleeve unit; the sealing lip abuts against the sidewall of the receiving groove at one end away from the sealing retainer.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sealing assembly further includes a third limiting portion; one end of the limiting portion is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the sealing retainer, and the other end abuts against the support assembly.

[0016] In some embodiments, the sleeve engagement unit includes a sleeve engagement body, an outer sleeve engagement portion, and a sleeve limiting groove; the sleeve engagement body is configured as a tubular body; the outer sleeve engagement portion is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve engagement body; the outer sleeve engagement portion is engaged with one end of the sealing assembly; the sleeve limiting groove is recessed from the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve engagement body toward a direction away from the central axis of the sleeve engagement body; the support assembly further includes a limiting protrusion; the limiting protrusion is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the second arc unit; the limiting protrusion abuts against the sleeve limiting groove.

[0017] In some embodiments, a shrinkage groove is formed between the ends of the two first arc units away from the second arc unit; the locking unit further includes an expansion key; one end of the expansion key is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the locking unit, and the other end extends into the shrinkage groove; the expansion key abuts against the end of the first arc unit away from the second arc unit.

[0018] Secondly, the present invention provides a vehicle, the vehicle including a drive shaft as described in any of the above embodiments; the height of the second arc unit is less than the height of the end of the first arc unit away from the second arc unit.

[0019] To solve the problems of localized stress concentration and wear on the support sleeve caused by the inclined installation of the drive shaft and uneven force distribution, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0020] The support assembly utilizes an open-ring structure formed by the sequential connection of two first and second arc units. The first and second arc units exhibit different deformations radially away from the central axis of the support assembly (the first arc unit's deformation is smaller than the second). During installation, the second arc unit can be positioned on the side where the interaction force between the locking unit and the shaft unit is greater. Due to its larger deformation, the second arc unit expands radially during installation, allowing for a tighter fit between the outer circumferential surface of the support assembly and the inner circumferential surface of the locking unit on the side with greater force. Simultaneously, the contact pressure between the inner circumferential surface of the support assembly and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft unit is evenly distributed in this area. When the drive shaft is tilted, the shaft unit slides axially along the locking unit. The different forces acting on the shaft unit cause the force exerted on the support assembly by the shaft unit to be buffered by the larger deformation of the second arc unit, preventing localized stress concentration. This structural design improves the tightness of the fit between the support component and the shaft unit and the sleeve engagement unit on the side with greater stress, effectively dispersing the pressure generated when the shaft unit slides. This reduces the wear of the sleeve engagement unit and the shaft unit in areas with greater stress, solving the problem of local stress concentration and wear of the support components caused by uneven stress in the prior art, and improving the service life and working stability of the drive shaft. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a drive shaft according to one embodiment is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A front view of the drive shaft in the embodiment;

[0023] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view (AA) of the drive shaft in the embodiment;

[0024] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 BB cross-sectional view of the drive shaft in the embodiment;

[0025] Figure 5 It shows Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of region D of the drive shaft in the embodiment;

[0026] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a drive shaft support assembly according to an embodiment is shown from a first perspective;

[0027] Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the support component in the embodiment from a second perspective;

[0028] Figure 8 It shows Figure 6A bottom view of the support component in the embodiment;

[0029] Figure 9 It shows Figure 6 A front view of the support component in the embodiment;

[0030] Figure 10 It shows Figure 6 Top view of the support component in the embodiment;

[0031] Figure 11 It shows Figure 9 CC cross-sectional view of the support component in the embodiment.

[0032] Reference numerals: 10. Bushing assembly; 11. Bushing unit; 12. Engaging unit; 121. Engaging body; 122. Outer engaging part; 123. Limiting groove; 124. Expansion key; 13. Inner sliding groove; 20. Shaft assembly; 21. Shaft unit; 211. Shaft body; 212. First limiting part; 213. Second limiting part; 22. Sliding unit; 221. Sliding body; 222. Sliding retainer; 30. Sealing assembly; 31. Sealing retainer; 32. Sealing engaging part; 33. Sealing lip; 331. First lip; 332. Second lip; 34. Third limiting part; 40. Support assembly; 41. First arc unit; 42. Second arc unit; 43. Support retainer; 44. Limiting ring; 45. Shrinkage groove; 46. Receiving groove; 47. Limiting protrusion; 50. Universal assembly; 51. First universal unit; 52. Second universal unit. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, and are not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0034] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation or being constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientations or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "installed", "set up", "equipped with", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are mainly used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0035] In mechanical transmission systems, such as vehicles and ships, when the drive shaft is tilted and the shaft unit 21 slides axially along the locking unit 12, the top of the shaft unit 21 will cause localized stress concentration on the support component 40 at the bottom of the locking unit 12 due to gravity. When the drive shaft is installed at an angle, i.e., when the drive shaft forms an angle with the ground reference horizontal plane, during the sliding process of the shaft unit 21 within the locking unit 12, gravity will cause the gravitational component of the shaft unit 21 to act on a specific area of ​​the support component 40, namely the support component 40 at the bottom of the locking unit 12 corresponding to the top of the shaft unit 21. This additional force caused by gravity results in a significantly higher stress in this area than in other areas, forming a localized stress concentration phenomenon. As the shaft unit 21 continues to slide within the locking unit 12, this localized stress concentration will repeatedly act on the same area of ​​the support component 40, causing accelerated material fatigue in this area of ​​the support component 40, and thus making it prone to wear problems. The problem arises primarily from the influence of gravity on the force distribution of the shaft unit 21 during sliding when the drive shaft is installed at an angle, and the resulting local stress concentration and repeated fatigue of the support component 40.

[0036] Example 1: To solve the above problems, this example discloses a drive shaft. In this example, as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The drive shaft includes: a bushing assembly 10, a shaft assembly 20, a sealing assembly 30, and a support assembly 40. The sealing assembly 30 is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the connection between the bushing assembly 10 and the shaft assembly 20. The support assembly 40 abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the end of the bushing assembly 10 near the shaft assembly 20. The shaft assembly 20 passes through the support assembly 40 and extends into the bushing assembly 10. The shaft assembly 20 and the bushing assembly 10 are slidably connected, thus forming a component of the vehicle torque transmission system, facilitating the transmission of torque in the vehicle.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the bushing assembly 10 includes a sleeve unit 11, a sleeve engaging unit 12, and an inner groove 13. The sleeve unit 11 is configured as a tubular body closed at one end; the sleeve engaging unit 12 is configured as a tubular body. Both the sleeve unit 11 and the sleeve engaging unit 12 are hollow tubular bodies, which facilitates the placement of the shaft assembly 20. One end of the sleeve engaging unit 12 is connected to the open end of the sleeve unit 11. The connection method can be integral molding or detachable connection, such as threaded connection, snap-fit ​​connection, etc. The inner peripheral wall of the sleeve unit 11 is provided with an inner groove 13. The inner groove 13 can be distributed circumferentially along the sleeve unit 11, and the inner groove 13 extends axially along the sleeve unit 11. That is, the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve unit 11 forms an internal spline structure, which can guide the shaft assembly 20 to slide axially along the sleeve unit 11.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the shaft assembly 20 includes a shaft unit 21 and a sliding unit 22. The sliding unit 22 is connected to one end of the shaft unit 21, and the connection can be detachable. The sleeve engagement unit 12 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the shaft unit 21 so that the sealing assembly 30 can be installed later for protective sealing. The sliding unit 22 abuts against the inner sliding groove 13, and the abutment can be sliding or rolling. Thus, the sliding unit 22 and the inner sliding groove 13 guide the shaft unit 21 to slide and extend along the axial direction of the sleeve unit 11, thereby improving the stability of the transmission shaft.

[0039] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the shaft unit 21 includes a shaft body 211, a first limiting part 212, and a second limiting part 213. One end of the shaft body 211 is slidably connected to the inner peripheral wall of the bushing assembly 10. The first limiting part 212 and the second limiting part 213 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the shaft body 211 at one end of the shaft body 211 near the bushing assembly 10. A sliding unit 22 is provided in the area between the first limiting part 212 and the second limiting part 213. This restricts the position of the sliding unit 22 and prevents the shaft body 211 from dislodging from the bushing assembly 10.

[0040] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the sliding unit 22 may include a sliding body 221 and a sliding retainer 222. The sliding retainer 222 is connected to one end of the shaft unit 21 within the sleeve unit 11; the connection can be detachable or integrally formed. The sliding retainer 222 has a hollow structure, with multiple sliding bodies 221 evenly distributed along the circumferential and axial directions of the sliding retainer 222. The sliding bodies 221 are rotatably connected to the sliding retainer 222. The sliding retainer 222 prevents excessive positional movement of the rolling elements relative to the shaft unit 21 during rotation. The sliding body 221 can be a spherical body such as a ball or roller, thereby changing the sliding friction between the shaft unit 21 and the sleeve unit 11 to rolling friction, reducing wear between the shaft unit 21 and the sleeve unit 11, and improving the smoothness of the transmission shaft's extension and retraction.

[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, the sealing component 30 is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sealing component 30 is sleeved on and connected to the outer periphery of the sleeve engagement unit 12, and the other end is sleeved on and abuts against the outer periphery of the shaft unit 21; thereby forming a seal at the connection between the shaft unit 21 and the sleeve engagement unit 12 to block external foreign objects.

[0042] like Figure 6 , Figure 7As shown, the support assembly 40 includes two first arc units 41 and a second arc unit 42; one first arc unit 41, the second arc unit 42, and the other first arc unit 41 are sequentially connected to form an open ring. The opening can be located at the end of the two first arc units 41 away from the second arc unit 42, thus facilitating pre-shrinking of the support assembly 40 before installation. Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the outer peripheral surface of the support assembly 40 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the locking unit 12 in an interference fit manner; the inner peripheral surface of the support assembly 40 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft unit 21 in a sliding fit manner, thereby providing support force for the shaft unit 21 and the locking unit 12, avoiding direct contact between the shaft unit 21 and the locking unit 12 and causing greater wear, thus extending the service life of the drive shaft. The first deformation is less than the second deformation; the first deformation is the maximum deformation of the first arc unit 41 in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly 40 before and after the support assembly 40 is installed; the second deformation is the maximum deformation of the second arc unit 42 in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly 40 before and after the support assembly 40 is installed. With this structural arrangement, the bushing assembly 10 can form the main support structure of the drive shaft. The closed end of the sleeve unit 11 can prevent foreign objects from entering from one end. The sleeve engagement unit 12, connected to the sleeve unit 11, can extend the length of the bushing assembly 10. The inner groove 13 can cooperate with the sliding unit 22 of the shaft assembly 20 to realize the sliding guidance of the shaft unit 21 within the sleeve engagement unit 12. The sliding unit 22 of the shaft assembly 20 abuts against the inner groove 13, allowing the shaft unit 21 to slide along the direction of the inner groove 13, meeting the requirements of length change during drive shaft operation. The sealing assembly 30 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the sleeve engagement unit 12 and the shaft unit 21. On the side, a sealing structure can be formed at the connection between the two to prevent foreign objects from entering; the open ring structure of the support component 40 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the shaft unit 21 and abuts against the inner periphery of the sleeve engagement unit 12, which can support the shaft unit 21 to slide in the sleeve engagement unit 12. The different deformation of the first arc unit 41 and the second arc unit 42 allows the second arc unit 42 to be located on the side of the sleeve engagement unit 12 and the shaft unit 21 closer to the ground along the direction of gravity during installation, thereby achieving a tighter fit between the support component 40 and the sleeve engagement unit 12, and a tighter fit between the second arc unit 42 and the shaft unit 21, reducing the wear in this area.

[0043] Furthermore, such as Figure 8As shown, the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit 42 is configured to protrude towards the central axis of the support assembly 40, making the second arc unit 42 thicker. This makes it more wear-resistant when installed on the side of the shaft unit 21 where the force is greater. After wear, the pre-deformation provided by the protrusion can compensate for the gap between the shaft unit 21 and the support assembly 40; d1 > d2, where d1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit 41 and the central axis of the support assembly 40 before the support assembly 40 is installed, and d2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit 42 and the central axis of the support assembly 40 before the support assembly 40 is installed. By configuring the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit 42 to protrude towards the central axis of the support assembly 40, and making the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit 41 and the central axis greater than the corresponding distance of the second arc unit 42 before the support assembly 40 is installed, the second arc unit 42, because its initial inner peripheral wall is closer to the central axis, can generate a larger deformation during radial expansion during the installation of the support assembly 40. When the first arc unit 41 deforms and tightens the inner wall of the locking unit 12, the protruding structure of the second arc unit 42 can provide a force in the direction of the central axis of the support component 40. This force can offset part of the shrinkage tendency of the support component 40 caused by vibration or force, thereby reducing the risk of shrinkage of the support component 40, ensuring a stable interference fit between the support component 40 and the locking unit 12, and improving the tightness and reliability of the connection between the two.

[0044] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, D1=D2, where D1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit 41 and the central axis of the support component 40 after the support component 40 is installed, and D2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit 42 and the central axis of the support component 40 after the support component 40 is installed. This means that after the support component 40 is installed, the minimum distance between the inner peripheral walls of the first arc unit 41 and the second arc unit 42 and the central axis is the same, making the inner peripheral surface of the support component 40 nearly circular. This structure is easy to manufacture and can also make the support force of the support component 40 on the shaft unit 21 more uniform, improving the stability of the shaft unit 21 during sliding.

[0045] Furthermore, such as Figure 4As shown, the support assembly 40 also includes a support retainer 43; the second arc unit 42 encloses the support retainer 43, and the support retainer 43 can be a contoured arc-shaped metal sheet; after the support assembly 40 is installed, the support retainer 43 applies a force to the second arc unit 42 in the direction of the central axis of the support assembly 40. The support retainer 43, after the support assembly 40 is installed, can further strengthen the force of the second arc unit 42 in the direction of the central axis of the support assembly 40 by applying a force to the second arc unit 42 in the direction of the central axis, thereby ensuring that the outer peripheral surface of the support assembly 40 fits tightly with the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve engagement unit 12, while delaying the shrinkage trend of the support assembly 40, extending the elastic failure period of the support assembly 40, improving the connection stability between the support assembly 40, the sleeve engagement unit 12, and the shaft unit 21, and reducing wear and other problems caused by loose fit.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the sealing assembly 30 includes a sealing retainer 31, a sealing engagement portion 32, and a sealing lip 33. The sealing retainer 31 is tubular. One end of the sealing retainer 31 is connected to the sealing engagement portion 32, meaning that the sealing engagement portion 32 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral wall of one end of the sealing retainer 31. The sealing engagement portion 32 is fitted onto and connected to the outer peripheral side of the engagement unit 12. The sealing lip 33 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the end of the sealing retainer 31 away from the sealing engagement portion 32. The inner peripheral wall of the sealing lip 33 abuts against the outer peripheral wall of the shaft unit 21. The sealing lip 33 and the sealing engagement portion 32 can be integrally formed rubber-wrapped sealing retainer 31. In this sealing assembly 30 structure, the sealing engagement part 32 is connected to the sleeve engagement unit 12 to fix the position of the sealing assembly 30, the sealing retainer 31 forms a support structure, and the sealing lip 33 abuts against the outer peripheral wall of the shaft unit 21, which can form a sealing barrier at the connection between the shaft unit 21 and the sleeve engagement unit 12, thereby preventing external foreign objects from entering from the connection between the shaft unit 21 and the sleeve engagement unit 12, ensuring the sealing performance of the drive shaft, and avoiding foreign objects from causing wear to internal components or affecting their normal operation.

[0047] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 10As shown, the support assembly 40 also includes a receiving groove 46; the receiving groove 46 is recessed from the end of the support assembly 40 away from the sleeve unit 11 toward the end closer to the sleeve unit 11, thereby forming a certain receiving space along the circumference of the shaft unit 21, allowing the sealing lip 33 to extend and penetrate, increasing the settable length of the sealing lip 33 and enhancing the sealing effect; the end of the sealing lip 33 away from the sealing retainer 31 abuts against the side wall of the receiving groove 46. The receiving groove 46 provides a position for the sealing lip 33 to abut. When the end of the sealing lip 33 away from the sealing retainer 31 abuts against the side wall of the receiving groove 46, the sealing lip 33 can provide a limiting force on the support assembly 40 along the axial direction of the support assembly 40, thereby reducing the axial movement of the support assembly 40, ensuring the positional stability of the support assembly 40 within the sleeve engagement unit 12, and thus improving the overall working stability of the drive shaft.

[0048] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the sealing assembly 30 also includes a third limiting part 34. The third limiting part 34 can be a piece of rubber integrally formed with the sealing lip 33 and the sealing engagement part 32, and is formed by a portion of the rubber extending towards the support assembly 40. One end of the third limiting part 34 is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the sealing retainer 31, and the other end abuts against the support assembly 40. The setting of the third limiting part 34, with one end connected to the sealing retainer 31 and the other end abutting against the support assembly 40, can further limit the axial position of the support assembly 40, making the axial position of the support assembly 40 more stable. At the same time, the third limiting part 34 shares part of the axial force, reducing the wear of the sealing lip 33 caused by bearing too much axial force, thereby extending the service life of the sealing lip 33.

[0049] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the sealing lip 33 may include a first lip 331 and a second lip 332. One end of the first lip 331 is fixedly connected to the inner peripheral wall of the sealing retainer 31, and the other end extends away from the support assembly 40 to abut against the outer peripheral wall of the shaft unit 21. One end of the second lip 332 is fixedly connected to the inner peripheral wall of the sealing retainer 31, and the other end extends towards the receiving groove 46 to abut against the side wall of the receiving groove 46. This can improve the sealing effect of the sealing assembly 30. The thickness of the second lip 332 can be greater than the thickness of the first lip 331 in order to improve the wear resistance of the second lip 332 and prolong the abutment and limiting effect of the second lip 332 on the support assembly 40.

[0050] Furthermore, such as Figure 5As shown, the sleeve-locking unit 12 includes a sleeve-locking body 121, an outer sleeve-locking portion 122, and a sleeve-limiting groove 123; the sleeve-locking body 121 is configured as a tubular body; the outer sleeve-locking portion 122 is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve-locking body 121 and can be integrally formed; the outer sleeve-locking portion 122 is engaged with one end of the sealing assembly 30, that is, the outer sleeve-locking portion 122 is engaged with the sealing engagement portion 32; the sleeve-limiting groove 123 is recessed from the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve-locking body 121 in a direction away from the central axis of the sleeve-locking body 121; as Figure 5 , Figure 11 As shown, the support component 40 also includes a limiting protrusion 47; the limiting protrusion 47 is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the second arc unit 42; the limiting protrusion 47 abuts against the sleeve limiting groove 123. The sleeve outer engaging part 122 engages with the sealing component 30 to fix the sealing component 30, and the sleeve limiting groove 123 abuts against the limiting protrusion 47 of the support component 40 to form a circumferential limiting structure, thereby limiting the circumferential position of the support component 40, preventing the support component 40 from rotating within the sleeve engaging unit 12, ensuring the relative position between the support component 40 and the sleeve engaging unit 12 is stable, and enabling the support component 40 to always play a supporting role in the predetermined position.

[0051] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, a contraction groove 45 is formed between the ends of the two first arc units 41 away from the second arc unit 42; the locking unit 12 also includes an expansion key 124; one end of the expansion key 124 is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the locking body 121, and the other end extends into the contraction groove 45; the expansion key 124 abuts against the end of the first arc unit 41 away from the second arc unit 42. The configuration of the contraction groove 45 provides space for the expansion key 124 to extend into. The expansion key 124 abuts against the end of the first arc unit 41 away from the second arc unit 42, which can apply an outward force to the first arc unit 41 after the support assembly 40 is installed, further reducing the risk of the support assembly 40 contracting, ensuring the interference fit between the support assembly 40 and the locking unit 12, keeping the support assembly 40 and the locking unit 12 in a tight connection state, and improving the stability and reliability of the drive shaft.

[0052] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 As shown, the support assembly 40 also includes a limiting ring 44. The limiting ring 44 is fixedly connected to the ends of the first arc unit 41 and the second arc unit 42 near the sealing lip 33. The diameter of the limiting ring 44 is larger than the diameter of the open ring formed by the two first arc units 41 and the second arc unit 42. One side of the limiting ring 44 abuts against the third limiting part 34, and the other side abuts against the end of the sleeve assembly 121 away from the sleeve unit 11. This restricts the axial movement of the support assembly 40.

[0053] In other embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the drive shaft also includes a universal joint 50; the universal joint 50 includes a first universal unit 51 and a second universal unit 52; the first universal unit 51 is detachably connected to the end of the shaft unit 21 away from the bushing unit; the second universal unit 52 is detachably connected to the end of the bushing unit away from the shaft unit 21; the first universal unit 51 and the second universal unit 52 are mainly used to change the direction of the torque transmitted by the drive shaft. The first universal unit 51 can be a universal joint such as a cross shaft universal joint or a ball cage universal joint, and the second universal unit 52 can be a universal joint such as a cross shaft universal joint or a ball cage universal joint.

[0054] Example 2: This example discloses a vehicle, which includes a driveshaft according to any of the above examples; the height of the second arc unit 42 is less than the height of the end of the first arc unit 41 away from the second arc unit 42. Because the height of the second arc unit 42 is less than the height of the end of the first arc unit 41 away from the second arc unit 42, when the support assembly 40 is installed, the second arc unit 42 can be located on the side of the driveshaft closer to the ground along the direction of gravity. This specific positioning reduces the gap between the support assembly 40 and the shaft unit 21 on that side, thereby reducing local stress concentration caused by gravity, and further reducing abnormal wear in that area, thus improving the service life of the driveshaft.

[0055] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing this disclosure, and in practical applications, various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A drive shaft, characterized in that, The drive shaft includes: A bushing assembly, comprising a bushing unit, a sleeve engaging unit, and an inner groove; the bushing unit is configured as a tubular body closed at one end; the sleeve engaging unit is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sleeve engaging unit is connected to the open end of the bushing unit; the inner peripheral wall of the bushing unit is provided with an inner groove; A shaft assembly, comprising a shaft unit and a sliding unit; the sliding unit is connected to one end of the shaft unit; a sleeve engagement unit is sleeved on the outer periphery of the shaft unit; the sliding unit abuts against the inner sliding groove; A sealing assembly, wherein the sealing assembly is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sealing assembly is sleeved on and connected to the outer periphery of the sleeve engagement unit, and the other end is sleeved on and abuts against the outer periphery of the shaft unit; A support assembly includes two first arc units and a second arc unit; one first arc unit, the second arc unit, and the other first arc unit are sequentially connected to form an open ring; the outer peripheral surface of the support assembly abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the locking unit; the inner peripheral surface of the support assembly abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft unit; a first deformation is less than a second deformation; the first deformation is the maximum deformation of the first arc unit in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly before and after installation; the second deformation is the maximum deformation of the second arc unit in the radial direction away from the central axis of the support assembly before and after installation.

2. A transmission shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit is configured to protrude towards the central axis of the support component; d1 > d2, where d1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit and the central axis of the support component before the support component is installed, and d2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit and the central axis of the support component before the support component is installed.

3. A transmission shaft according to claim 2, characterized in that, D1=D2, where D1 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the first arc unit and the central axis of the support component after the support component is installed, and D2 is the minimum distance between the inner peripheral wall of the second arc unit and the central axis of the support component after the support component is installed.

4. A transmission shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support assembly further includes a support retainer; the second arc unit encloses the support retainer; after the support assembly is installed, the support retainer applies a force to the second arc unit in the direction of the central axis of the support assembly.

5. A transmission shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing assembly includes a sealing retainer, a sealing engagement portion, and a sealing lip; the sealing retainer is configured as a tubular body; one end of the sealing retainer is connected to the sealing engagement portion; the sealing engagement portion is sleeved on and connected to the outer peripheral side of the engagement unit; a sealing lip is provided on the inner peripheral side of the sealing retainer away from the sealing engagement portion; the inner peripheral wall of the sealing lip abuts against the outer peripheral wall of the shaft unit.

6. A transmission shaft according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support assembly further includes a receiving groove; the receiving groove is recessed from one end of the support assembly away from the sleeve unit toward the end closer to the sleeve unit; the sealing lip abuts against the side wall of the receiving groove at one end away from the sealing retainer.

7. A transmission shaft according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sealing assembly further includes a third limiting part; one end of the limiting part is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the sealing retainer, and the other end abuts against the support assembly.

8. A transmission shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve engagement unit includes a sleeve engagement body, an outer sleeve engagement portion, and a sleeve limiting groove; the sleeve engagement body is configured as a tubular body; the outer sleeve engagement portion is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve engagement body; the outer sleeve engagement portion is engaged with one end of the sealing assembly; the sleeve limiting groove is recessed from the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve engagement body toward a direction away from the central axis of the sleeve engagement body; the support assembly also includes a limiting protrusion; the limiting protrusion is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the second arc unit; the limiting protrusion abuts against the sleeve limiting groove.

9. A transmission shaft according to claim 8, characterized in that, A contraction groove is formed between the two ends of the first arc unit away from the second arc unit; the locking unit also includes an expansion key; one end of the expansion key is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the locking unit, and the other end extends into the contraction groove; the expansion key abuts against the end of the first arc unit away from the second arc unit.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a drive shaft as described in any one of claims 1-9; the height of the second arc unit is less than the height of the end of the first arc unit furthest from the second arc unit.

Images