Propeller shaft guard

Abstract

The utility model discloses a propeller shaft protection piece, which can realize the movement restriction of the propeller shaft from the vehicle body in the case of not adding the component quantity, thereby restraining the interference to the surrounding components. The propeller shaft protection piece has: a protection piece main body, which is arranged in a circumferential manner to surround the shaft clamping portion to prevent the further falling of the falling shaft clamping portion; and a position restriction mechanism, which is arranged in the protection piece main body, and extends to the inner side of the range surrounded by the protection piece main body in the circumferential direction from the extension arrangement position of the inner wall of the first protection portion on the side having the vertical upward component of the direction of the peripheral speed of the propeller shaft, and the position restriction mechanism restricts the movable range of the falling shaft clamping portion to the lower side of the position restriction mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a propeller shaft protection component for preventing a propeller shaft from detaching from the vehicle body and grounding. Background Technology

[0002] A propeller shaft protector is known for preventing a propeller shaft from detaching from the vehicle body and touching the ground. For example, the propeller shaft protector described in Patent Document 1 is such a propeller shaft protector. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reducing the gap between the propeller shaft and the propeller shaft protector by changing the installation position or installation direction of the propeller shaft protector, thereby suppressing the swing range of the detached propeller shaft.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-104748 Utility Model Content

[0004] As a rotating body, the propeller shaft may sometimes lose its restraint and oscillate while maintaining kinetic energy after detaching. However, while the technology described in Patent Document 1 can reduce the range of oscillation, it may not be able to adequately suppress interference with surrounding components due to insufficient restriction above it. For example, since there is no movement restriction on the vehicle body side above the propeller shaft, after the propeller shaft detaches, it may rebound from the propeller shaft guard and scratch vehicle body components.

[0005] This utility model was completed against the background of the above situation, and its purpose is to provide a propeller shaft protection component that can restrict the movement of a propeller shaft that has detached from the vehicle body to the side of the vehicle body without adding more components, thereby suppressing interference with surrounding components.

[0006] The present invention relates to a propeller shaft protector, which (a) prevents a propeller shaft detached from the vehicle body from touching the ground, the propeller shaft protector comprising: (b) a protector body disposed in such a way as to circumferentially surround the end of the propeller shaft to prevent the detached propeller shaft from falling further; and (c) a position limiting mechanism that extends from the inner wall of the protector body on the side having a vertical component in the direction of the circumferential velocity of the propeller shaft at a position lower than the end of the propeller shaft toward the inner side of the circumferentially surrounded area of ​​the protector body; and (d) the position limiting mechanism restricts the movable range of the end of the detached propeller shaft below the position limiting mechanism.

[0007] Utility Model Effect

[0008] The propeller shaft detachment prevention device according to this utility model comprises: a protective member body disposed in such a way that it surrounds the end of the propeller shaft circumferentially to prevent the detached propeller shaft from falling further; and a position limiting mechanism, which extends from the inner wall of the protective member body on the side having a vertical component in the direction of the propeller shaft's circumferential velocity, at a position lower than the end of the propeller shaft, toward the inner side of the area surrounded circumferentially by the protective member body. The position limiting mechanism restricts the movable range of the detached end of the propeller shaft below itself. Thus, in the event that the propeller shaft detaches from the vehicle body, the movable range of the end of the propeller shaft is limited below the position limiting mechanism, thereby achieving movement restriction of the propeller shaft detached from the vehicle body to the vehicle body side without adding additional components, thereby suppressing interference with surrounding components.

[0009] Preferably, the protective body is offset in the vehicle width direction from the position of the propeller shaft's rotation center line, such that it is positioned between the protective body on the side opposite to the front end and the front end of the position limiting mechanism. Thus, the end of the detached propeller shaft is positioned to move downwards from the front end of the position limiting mechanism to the protective body on the side opposite to the front end. Therefore, the end of the detached propeller shaft reliably moves downwards from the position limiting mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, the position limiting mechanism is configured to bend diagonally downwards midway through its extension. This guides the end of the detached propeller shaft to the lowest point of the area enclosed by the protective body, thereby limiting movement towards the vehicle body. Furthermore, the position limiting mechanism is not limited to the aforementioned bend midway through the extension, provided it can guide the end of the detached propeller shaft to the lowest point; it can also be shaped with a downward curvature or extend diagonally downwards at a preferred angle. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the propeller shaft protection component to which this utility model applies.

[0012] Figure 2 This is to explain the passage. Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the movement of a propeller shaft guard that limits the range of motion of a detached propeller shaft.

[0013] Figure 3 This is to explain from Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the continuation of the action. Detailed Implementation

[0014] This invention is applicable to engine-driven vehicles that have an engine as the driving force source, and hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles that, in addition to an engine, also have a driving rotary machine, i.e., an electric motor, as the driving force source. Furthermore, this invention is also applicable to electric vehicles that only have an electric motor as the driving force source. Moreover, this invention is applicable to both four-wheel drive vehicles and two-wheel drive vehicles.

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the drawings are appropriately simplified or modified, and the dimensional ratios and shapes of the parts may not be accurately depicted.

[0016] Example

[0017] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the propeller shaft protection component 10 applicable to this utility model. Figure 1 (a) is a side view viewed from the vehicle's width direction. Figure 1 (b) View from the front of the vehicle Figure 1 (a) is a cross-sectional view along axis AA. Additionally, the vehicle's travel direction is designated as the X-axis, the vehicle's width direction as the Y-axis, and the vehicle's vertical direction as the Z-axis. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the propeller shaft guard 10 is provided in such a way that it surrounds the shaft locking portion 16c of the propeller shaft 16 in the circumferential direction.

[0018] The propeller shaft 16 is, for example, a power transmission shaft provided in the vehicle 18 for transmitting power from an engine (not shown) to a drive wheel (not shown). The propeller shaft 16 is connected, for example, to a transmission mechanism (not shown) including a gearbox connected to the engine via a first universal joint 16a at one end, and to a differential mechanism (not shown) including a vehicle differential gear device (not shown) connected to the axle of the drive wheel via a second universal joint 16b at the other end. Figure 1 In (a), one of a pair of yokes that constitute the first universal joint 16a and the second universal joint 16b is shown. The propeller shaft 16 rotates about the rotation center line C, for example, in a clockwise direction when moving forward.

[0019] The propeller shaft guard 10 is installed on the vehicle body 20, for example, in a manner that prevents one end (first universal joint 16a) of the propeller shaft 16 from grounding in the event that the connection at the first universal joint 16a of the propeller shaft 16 falls off and the propeller shaft 16 falls off the vehicle body 20.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown in (b), the propeller shaft guard 10 has a guard body 12 and a position limiting mechanism 14.

[0021] Viewed from the X-axis, i.e., the vehicle's direction of travel, the protective body 12 is formed in a generally U-shape, for example, by a thin sheet of steel. Furthermore, the protective body 12 is arranged circumferentially around the shaft locking portion 16c, at a location on the axial side of the propeller shaft 16 and the X-axis, i.e., the vehicle's direction of travel, so that in the event of the propeller shaft 16 detaching, it can receive the propeller shaft 16 at one end (first universal joint 16a) and prevent further detachment, and in the received state, it can prevent one end (first universal joint 16a) from touching the ground. The shaft locking portion 16c corresponds to the "end of the propeller shaft" in this invention.

[0022] Furthermore, the main body 12 of the protective component is composed of the following components: a first protective part 12b, which is the side of the shaft locking part 16c extending vertically downward from the fixed part 12a1 and 12a2 of the vehicle body 20, having a vertically upward component in the direction of its circumferential velocity; a second protective part 12c, which is the side of the shaft locking part 16c extending vertically downward from the fixed part 12a2, having a vertically downward component in the direction of its circumferential velocity; and a ground-preventing bent part 12d connecting the first protective part 12b and the second protective part 12c to the shaft locking part 16c. The main body 12 of the protective component is fixed to the vehicle body 20 and the fixed parts 12a1 and 12a2 by fastening connecting bolts (not shown) or the like to them.

[0023] The position limiting mechanism 14 is formed, for example, from a thin sheet of steel. It extends from a position 12b1, located below the shaft-locking portion 16c on the inner wall of the first protective portion 12b of the protective body 12, towards the inside of the area enclosed circumferentially by the protective body 12 (first protective portion 12b, second protective portion 12c, and curved portion 12d). The position limiting mechanism 14 is fixed to the extension position 12b1, for example, by welding. Furthermore, a downwardly curved section 14b is provided midway along the extension towards the front end 14a of the position limiting mechanism 14. A gap S is formed between the front end 14a of the position limiting mechanism 14 and the second protective portion 12c located on the side opposite to the front end 14a.

[0024] Furthermore, in the main body 12 of the protective component, the position of the rotation center line C of the shaft locking part 16c in the Y-axis direction, i.e. the vehicle width direction, is offset relative to the Y-axis direction so that it is located between the gaps S.

[0025] exist Figure 1 In (b), when a gap S is formed on the side (the side of the second protective part 12c) where the extension of the position limiting mechanism 14 is configured to give the direction of the circumferential velocity of the shaft locking part 16c a vertical component, and the position of the rotation center line C in the Y-axis direction is offset to be within the gap S, the shaft locking part 16c moves downward toward the position limiting mechanism 14 when it is dislodged by the operation described later.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of limiting the movable range of the detached shaft locking part 16c by the propeller shaft guard 10 constructed as described above. The blank arrows indicate the direction of movement of the shaft locking part 16c, and the dashed lines indicate the position of movement of the shaft locking part 16c.

[0027] When the propeller shaft 16 detaches from the vehicle body 20 due to the disengagement of the first universal joint 16a, the rotation of the drive wheel during travel is transmitted through the second universal joint 16b. This rotational kinetic energy causes the propeller shaft 16 (shaft locking part 16c) to oscillate in an unrestrained state. The oscillation occurs in the same direction as the rotation of the propeller shaft 16 (shaft locking part 16c). Figure 2 In the middle, the propeller shaft 16 (shaft locking part 16c) rotates in a clockwise direction, so the shaft locking part 16c swings and moves clockwise along the area surrounded by the protective body 12.

[0028] In the event that propeller shaft 16 detaches, Figure 2 In the middle, the position of the rotation center line C in the Y-axis direction is offset to be located between the gaps S, and the shaft locking part 16c attempts to move clockwise by swinging, thereby the shaft locking part 16c moves towards the gap S of the second protective part 12c. Figure 2 The position 16c1 below the position limiting mechanism 14 shown moves.

[0029] Next, the shaft locking part 16c, which is moving toward position 16c1, comes into contact with the bent part 12d (contact 1 in the figure) and its movement is restricted. It then moves toward position 16c2 on the left side of the paper by swinging clockwise. At position 16c2, the shaft locking part 16c comes into contact with the first protective part and the position limiting mechanism 14 (contact 2 in the figure), and its movement toward the upward side, i.e., the vehicle body 20 side, is restricted by the position limiting mechanism 14.

[0030] Figure 3 This is to explain from Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the continuous operation of the task. (Compared to...) Figure 2 Similarly, the hollow arrow indicates the direction of movement of the shaft stop 16c, and the dashed line indicates the position of movement of the shaft stop 16c. The shaft stop 16c, which has moved to position 16c2, moves to the right side of the paper by swinging clockwise. At position 16c3, it contacts the extension of the bend 14b of the position limiting mechanism 14 towards the end 14a (refer to contact 3 in the figure), and its direction of movement changes to downward, thus being guided to the lowest point of the area surrounded by the protective body 12, i.e., position 16c4.

[0031] Next, the shaft locking portion 16c, which is moving toward position 16c4, comes into contact with the bent portion 12d (contact 4 in the figure) and its movement is restricted. It then moves toward position 16c2 again by a clockwise swing. Hereafter, since the movement caused by the clockwise swing is repeated in the order of position 16c2, position 16c3, and position 16c4, the movable range of the shaft locking portion 16c is restricted below the position limiting mechanism 14.

[0032] Regarding the installation position, shape, size, etc. of the propeller shaft guard 10, for example, the position (X-axis position) of the shaft locking part 16c on the propeller shaft 16, the installation position (including offset in the Y-axis direction) of the guard body 12 relative to the shaft locking part 16c, the shape, size, etc., or the installation position, shape, size (extension length) of the position limiting mechanism 14, the position or bending angle of the bend 14b, the width of the gap S, etc., are set to preferred values ​​that are pre-designed or determined by experiments so that the shaft locking part 16c is restricted in its operation as described above.

[0033] As described above, the propeller shaft protector 10 according to this embodiment includes: a protector body 12, which is disposed in such a way that it surrounds the shaft locking portion 16c in the circumferential direction to prevent the detached shaft locking portion 16c from falling further; and a position limiting mechanism 14, which extends from an extension position 12b1 of the inner wall of the first protector portion 12b, which has a vertical component in the direction of the circumferential velocity of the propeller shaft 16, to the inside of the range surrounded by the protector body 12 in the circumferential direction, from the side of the first protector portion 12b that has a vertical component in the direction of the circumferential velocity of the propeller shaft 16, which is lower than the shaft locking portion 16c, towards the inside of the range surrounded by the protector body 12 in the circumferential direction. The position limiting mechanism 14 restricts the movable range of the detached shaft locking portion 16c to below the position limiting mechanism 14. Therefore, when the propeller shaft 16 detaches from the vehicle body 20, since the position limiting mechanism 14 restricts the movable range of the shaft locking part 16c below the position limiting mechanism 14, the movement of the propeller shaft 16 detached from the vehicle body 20 to the side of the vehicle body 20 is restricted without adding more parts, thereby suppressing interference with surrounding parts.

[0034] Furthermore, in the propeller shaft guard 10 of this embodiment, the guard body 12 is offset in the vehicle width direction such that the position of the rotation center line of the propeller shaft 16 in the vehicle width direction is within the gap S. Therefore, the detached shaft locking portion 16c is configured to move downwards beyond the position limiting mechanism 14 through the gap S. Thus, the detached shaft locking portion 16c reliably moves downwards beyond the position limiting mechanism 14.

[0035] Furthermore, in the propeller shaft protector 10 according to this embodiment, the position limiting mechanism 14 is configured to bend 14b diagonally downward from the middle of its extended section. This allows the detached shaft locking portion 16c to be guided to the lowest point of the area surrounded by the protector body 12, thereby restricting movement toward the vehicle body 20.

[0036] Furthermore, as long as it can be guided to the lowest point of the dislodged shaft locking portion 16c, the position limiting mechanism 14 is not limited to the bend 14b set midway from the extension of the position limiting mechanism 14, but can also be formed into a shape with a curvature facing downwards, or extended downwards at a suitable angle from the extension position 12b1.

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the above content is only one embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various ways with additions and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0038] Symbol Explanation

[0039] 10-Propeller shaft guard, 12-Guard body, 12b1-Extension setting position (position), 14-Position limiting mechanism, 16-Propeller shaft, 16c-Shaft locking part (end of propeller shaft).

Claims

1. A propeller shaft guard that inhibits a detached propeller shaft from a vehicle body from falling, the propeller shaft guard characterized by comprising: a guard body that is disposed so as to surround an end portion of the propeller shaft in a circumferential direction, so as to prevent the detached propeller shaft from falling further; and a position limiting mechanism that is disposed so as to extend from a position of an inner wall on a side having a vertically upward component from a direction of a peripheral velocity of the propeller shaft, to an inner side of a range surrounded by the guard body in the circumferential direction, the position being lower than the end portion of the propeller shaft, the position limiting mechanism limiting a movable range of the end portion of the detached propeller shaft to a lower side of the position limiting mechanism. ​ ​ ​

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