Bearing bracket

Abstract

To provide a bearing bracket capable of restraining reduction in durability, even when a part for holding a bearing and a part fixed to the other member are formed on different planes.SOLUTION: A bearing bracket 1 includes a bearing holding part 5 and a plurality of fixing parts 6,7,8,9 fastened to a mating member 2 by a fastening member 11, and a predetermined fixing part 8 among the plurality of fixing parts 6,7,8,9 is formed on a surface orthogonal to a surface facing an axial direction of the bearing holding part 5. The predetermined fixing portion 8 is formed such that, in a state in which the other fixing portions 6,7,8,9 of the plurality of fixing portions 6,7,9 excluding the predetermined fixing portion 8 are fastened, a clearance C is formed between the portion of the predetermined fixing portion 8 on the upper side in the vertical direction and the mating member 2, and the predetermined fixing portion 8 is fastened to the mating member 2 by the fastening member 11, thereby filling the clearance C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracket for holding a bearing that rotatably supports a shaft or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bearing support device including a case that holds a bearing that rotatably supports a vehicle drive shaft and a bracket for fixing the case to the outer surface of an engine block. The bracket has a bracket main body that holds the case and a base that is fixed to the engine block with bolts. The base has a shape that is bent in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the bracket main body that faces the axial direction of the bearing. In other words, the surface of the bracket main body that holds the case and the surface of the base to which the bolt is fastened are oriented perpendicular to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-116052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the device of Patent Document 1, the base portion fastened to the engine block and the bracket main body portion that holds the case are formed on different planes, which improves mountability to a vehicle. However, because the bracket main body and base portion are formed on different planes, stresses due to assembly and holding a bearing are generated in the displaced portion that is bent or curved from the bracket main body portion toward the base portion. In other words, assembly strain caused by bolting the base portion to the engine block and strain corresponding to the mass of the shaft caused by holding the bearing are generated in the displaced portion. If stress is concentrated in the displaced portion due to such strain, the durability of the bracket may be reduced.

[0005] This invention has been made with an eye on the above-mentioned technical problems, and aims to provide a bearing bracket that can prevent a decrease in durability even when the portion that holds the bearing and the portion that is fixed to another component are formed on different planes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention provides a bearing bracket comprising a bearing holding portion that holds a bearing inside so that the axial direction is parallel to the horizontal direction, and a plurality of fixing portions that are fastened to a mating member having a predetermined rigidity by a fastening member, wherein a predetermined fixing portion among the plurality of fixing portions is formed continuously from the bearing holding portion and is formed on a surface perpendicular to the surface facing the axial direction of the bearing holding portion, and is configured to be attached to the mating member by fastening the fastening member to each of the plurality of fixing portions, and is characterized in that the predetermined fixing portion is formed so that when the other fixing portions of the plurality of fixing portions other than the predetermined fixing portion are fastened, a clearance is generated between the upper part of the predetermined fixing portion in the vertical direction and the mating member, and when the predetermined fixing portion is fastened to the mating member by the fastening member, the clearance is filled. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the bearing bracket is fixed to a mating member by fastening a fastening member to each of a plurality of fixing portions. The plurality of fixing portions includes a predetermined fixing portion that continues from the bearing accommodating portion and is formed on a surface perpendicular to the axial surface of the bearing accommodating portion. The predetermined fixing portion is formed so that a clearance is generated between the predetermined fixing portion and the mating member above it in the vertical direction when the other fixing portions are fastened to the mating member. The predetermined fixing portion is also configured so that the clearance is filled when the fastening member is fastened to fix the predetermined fixing portion to the mating member. In other words, the predetermined fixing portion is configured so that a relatively large torsional strain is generated in the upper portion of the predetermined fixing portion in the vertical direction when the bearing bracket is attached to the mating member. In other words, the stress caused by fastening the predetermined fixing portion to the mating member is concentrated in the upper portion of the bending or joint displacement portion between the bearing accommodating portion and the predetermined fixing portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent stress from concentrating on the lower side of the displaced portion in the vertical direction, and therefore it is possible to prevent a decrease in the durability of the bearing bracket. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bearing accommodating portion of a bearing bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the axial direction, showing a state in which a fastening member is not fastened to a first fixing portion. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the bearing accommodating portion of the bearing bracket in the embodiment of the present invention, seen from the axial direction, showing a state in which a fastening member is fastened to the first fixing portion. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a strength member provided at the connecting portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Next, the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of specific embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, a bearing bracket 1 is fixed to a mating member having a predetermined rigidity while holding a bearing (not shown). A shaft member (not shown), such as a vehicle drive shaft, is rotatably held in the bearing. Therefore, the bearing bracket 1 also supports the shaft member via the bearing. The bearing bracket 1 is attached to a cover member 2 that covers a driving force source such as an engine block or a motor case. As shown in FIG. 1, such a bearing bracket 1 mainly comprises a holding portion 3 and a fixing portion 4. The cover member 2 corresponds to the mating member in this embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The holding portion 3 is a member having a predetermined thickness in the axial direction of the bearing and is configured to hold the bearing. The holding portion 3 has a bearing accommodating portion 5 that accommodates the bearing, a first fastening portion 6 that is fixed to the cover member 2 that covers the driving force source, etc. as described above, and a second fastening portion 7 that is fixed to the cover member 2 and is formed on the opposite side of the bearing accommodating portion 5 from the first fastening portion 6. The first fastening portion 6 and the second fastening portion 7 correspond to the multiple fixing portions and the other fixing portions of the multiple fixing portions in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 , the bearing accommodating portion 5 is configured to accommodate and hold a bearing therein. The bearing accommodating portion 5 has an annular through-hole whose inner diameter is the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the bearing to be held. The bearing accommodating portion 5 is also configured to hold the bearing so that its axis is parallel to the horizontal. That is, by fitting the bearing into the bearing accommodating portion 5, the bearing and the shaft rotatably held by the bearing can be held so that their axes extend horizontally. For example, in the case of a rolling bearing having an inner race, an outer race, and rolling elements, the bearing is accommodated in the bearing accommodating portion 5 with its axis aligned with the axis of the bearing accommodating portion 5. The outer race is fitted into the inner surface of the bearing accommodating portion 5, thereby holding the bearing in the bearing accommodating portion 5. The bearing accommodating portion 5 corresponds to the bearing holder in this embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The bearing accommodating portion 5 may have projections that protrude radially inward of the bearing accommodating portion 5 or edges with a smaller inner diameter than the portion where the outer race is fitted, on both axial sides of the portion where the outer race is fitted. By configuring the bearing accommodating portion 5 in this way, it is possible to prevent or suppress the bearing from coming out of the bearing accommodating portion 5 in the axial direction due to an external force or the like.

[0014] The first fastening portion 6 is formed on the upper side of the bearing accommodating portion 5 in the vertical direction, and penetrates the bearing accommodating portion 5 in the same direction as the axial direction. The first fastening portion 6 has a threaded hole formed on its inner surface, and is a portion to which a fastening member such as a bolt (not shown) is fastened. The first fastening portion 6 is formed at a position corresponding to a predetermined fastening hole (not shown) formed in the cover member 2. Therefore, by fastening the fastening member to the first fastening portion 6 and the fastening hole in the cover member 2, the holding portion 3 is fixed to the cover member 2.

[0015] The second fastening portion 7 is formed on the opposite side of the bearing accommodating portion 5 from the first fastening portion 6, and vertically below the bearing accommodating portion 5. The second fastening portion 7 is formed to penetrate in the same axial direction as the bearing accommodating portion 5 and the first fastening portion 6. Like the first fastening portion 6, the second fastening portion 7 has a threaded hole formed on its inner surface, into which a fastening member such as a bolt (not shown) is fastened. The second fastening portion 7 is also formed at a position corresponding to another fastening hole (not shown) formed in the cover member 2. The fastening member is fastened to the second fastening portion 7 and the cover member 2, such as the cover described above, thereby fixing the holding portion 3 to the cover member 2.

[0016] The fixing portion 4 is a portion for fixing the holding portion 3 to the cover member 2 by being fastened to the cover member 2 together with the first fastening portion 6 and the second fastening portion 7. The fixing portion 4 has a surface facing in a direction perpendicular to the surface facing the axial direction of the holding portion 3. The fixing portion 4 is integrally formed so as to bend from the holding portion 3. The fixing portion 4 has a first fixing portion 8 and a second fixing portion 9 formed on the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the holding portion 3 in the vertical direction.

[0017] The first fixing portion 8 is formed on the vertical upper side of the bearing accommodating portion 5 and extends vertically from a surface of the bearing accommodating portion 5 facing the axial direction via the connecting portion 10. In other words, the first fixing portion 8 is formed by a surface facing the horizontal direction and extending perpendicular to the bearing accommodating portion 5. A threaded hole is formed on the inner surface of the first fixing portion 8, and a fastening member such as a bolt 11 as shown in FIG. 2 is fastened thereto. In other words, the first fixing portion 8 is fastened with a fastening member in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the bearing accommodating portion 5, the first fastening portion 6, etc. In addition, the first fixing portion 8 is formed at a position corresponding to a predetermined fastening hole (not shown) formed in the cover member 2. Therefore, by fastening a fastening member to the first fixing portion 8 and the fastening hole of the cover member 2, the holding portion 3 is fixed to the cover member 2. The first fixing portion 8 corresponds to the plurality of fixing portions and the predetermined fixing portion among the plurality of fixing portions in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] The second fixing portion 9 is formed on the vertically lower side of the holding portion 3. The second fixing portion 9 extends in the same direction as the first fixing portion 8, perpendicularly from the surface of the holding portion 3 facing the axial direction. Like the first fixing portion 8, the second fixing portion 9 has a threaded hole formed on its inner surface, to which a fastening member such as a bolt (not shown) is fastened. In other words, the second fixing portion 9 is fastened with a fastening member in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the bearing accommodating portion 5, the first fastening portion 6, etc. The second fixing portion 9 is formed at a position corresponding to a predetermined fastening hole (not shown) formed in the cover member 2. Therefore, the holding portion 3 is fixed to the cover member 2 by fastening a fastening member to the first fixing portion 8 and the fastening hole of the cover member 2. The second fixing portion 9 corresponds to the multiple fixing portions and the other fixing portion of the multiple fixing portions in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Furthermore, a strength member 12 is provided at the boundary between the first fixing portion 8 and the holding portion 3. The strength member 12 is provided below the connecting portion 10 that connects the first fixing portion 8 and the holding portion 3. In other words, the strength member 12 is integrated with a lower connecting portion 13, which is the vertically lower portion of the connecting portion 10. The strength member 12 is a member for increasing the rigidity of the lower connecting portion 13, and is formed to increase the thickness of the lower connecting portion 13 and the surrounding holding portion 3 and first fixing portion 8. Furthermore, the surface of the strength member 12, that is, the portion where the corners are rounded by the holding portion 3 and the first fixing portion 8, is smoothly curved from the holding portion 3 side toward the first fixing portion 8 side.

[0020] The process for fixing the bearing bracket 1 configured in this manner to the cover member 2 will be described below. First, a bearing is previously stored or fixed in the bearing storage portion 5 of the bearing bracket 1. The bearing bracket 1, which is holding the bearing, is moved to a position where it can be fastened to the cover member 2. In other words, the bearing bracket 1 is positioned so that the axial positions of the above-mentioned first fastening portion 6, second fastening portion 7, first fixing portion 8, and second fixing portion 9 reach the vicinity of the axial positions of each fastening hole and each fixing hole in the cover member 2, respectively.

[0021] With the bearing bracket 1 positioned in this manner, first, the first fastening portion 6 and the second fastening portion 7 are fastened to the cover member 2. That is, the retaining portion 3 is fixed to the cover member 2 by screwing bolts (not shown) into the first fastening portion 6, the second fastening portion 7 and the respective fastening holes of the cover member 2. Next, the second fastening portion 9 is fixed to the cover member 2 by screwing bolts into the second fastening portion 9 and another fastening hole in the cover member 2. Finally, the first fastening portion 8 is fixed to the cover member 2 by screwing bolts 11 into the first fastening portion 8 and a predetermined fastening hole in the cover member 2. In this manner, the bearing bracket 1 is fixed to the cover member 2.

[0022] At this time, as shown in FIG. 1 , before first fixing portion 8 is fixed to cover member 2, that is, in a state in which second fixing portion 9 is fixed to cover member 2 in the above-described process, a slight clearance C is generated between the cover member 2 and the upper portion of first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction. This clearance C is generated only on the upper side of first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction, and not on the lower side of first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction. In other words, bolt 11 is fastened to first fixing portion 8 with the lower portion of first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction abutting against cover member 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 , when bolt 11 is fastened to first fixing portion 8, this clearance C is filled. In other words, when bolt 11 is fastened, torsional strain is generated on the upper side of first fixing portion 5, with connecting portion 10 as the fulcrum. When the bolt 11 is fastened to the first fixing portion 5, the first fixing portion 8 is fixed to the cover member 2 in a state where the upper part of the first fixing portion 8 is slightly deformed in the vertical direction so as to move closer to the cover member 2 (a state where distortion occurs due to torsion).

[0023] With this configuration, a relatively large stress is generated in upper connecting portion 14, which is located vertically above connecting portion 10, which is the boundary between retaining portion 3 and first fixing portion 8, due to the deformation or distortion of the upper portion of first fixing portion 8. In other words, a stress is generated in upper connecting portion 14 according to the fastening force of the fastening member fastened between first fixing portion 8 and a predetermined fixing hole and the size of clearance C.

[0024] On the other hand, stress generated in the lower connecting portion 13, which is the connecting portion 10 on the lower side in the vertical direction, is relatively small compared to the upper connecting portion 14. Because there is clearance C between the upper portion of the first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction and the cover member 2, the lower portion of the first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction can abut against the cover member 2. Alternatively, the gap generated between the lower portion of the first fixing portion 8 in the vertical direction and the cover member 2 can be relatively small. Therefore, stress generated in the lower connecting portion 13 by fastening the bolt 11 to the first fixing portion 8 is smaller than stress generated in the upper connecting portion 14. Furthermore, as described above, the lower connecting portion 13 is provided with the strength member 12. Therefore, the strength of the lower connecting portion 13 is even higher than the strength of the upper connecting portion 14. In particular, stress generated in the lower connecting portion 13 can be reduced when a load is applied that bends the first fixing portion 8 at the connecting portion 10.

[0025] In the bearing bracket 1 configured as described above, stress is likely to concentrate on the lower connecting portion 13. For example, stress (assembly stress) occurs in response to strain caused by fastening a fastening member to the first fixing portion 8, and stress (tensile stress) occurs in response to strain caused by the bearing accommodating portion 5 supporting the drive shaft via the bearing. In other words, stress is likely to concentrate on the lower connecting portion 13 due to fastening a fastening member to the first fixing portion 8 or holding the bearing.

[0026] In response to such a concentration of stress at the lower connecting portion 13, the bearing bracket 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the clearance C and the strength member 12 as described above, so that the stress generated at the lower connecting portion 13 can be dispersed or concentrated toward the upper connecting portion 14. In other words, the concentration of stress generated at the lower connecting portion 13 can be alleviated, and therefore a decrease in durability at the connecting portion 10 can be suppressed.

[0027] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples and may be modified as appropriate within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the strength member 12 is provided in the connecting portion 10 has been described, but a configuration in which the strength member 12 is not formed and only the above-mentioned clearance C is formed may also be formed. Furthermore, the clearance C may be formed by providing a step or the like on the surface of the first fixing portion 8 facing the cover member 2. In other words, the clearance C may have any shape as long as it can prevent stress from concentrating on the lower connecting portion 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 bracket 2 Cover member (mating member) 3 Holding part 4 Fixed part 5 Bearing accommodation section (bearing holding section) 6 1st fastening part 7 Second fastening part 8 First fixing part (predetermined fixing part) 9 Second fixed part 10 Connection part 11 Bolts (fastening members) 12 Strength members 13 Lower connection part 14 Upper connection part C Clearance

Claims

[Claim 1] a bearing holding portion that holds the bearing therein so that the axial direction is parallel to the horizontal direction; a plurality of fixing portions that are fastened to a mating member having a predetermined rigidity by fastening members; a predetermined fixing portion among the plurality of fixing portions is formed continuously from the bearing holding portion and is formed on a surface perpendicular to a surface facing an axial direction of the bearing holding portion, A bearing bracket configured to be attached to the mating member by fastening the fastening members to the respective fixing portions, The predetermined fixing portion is When the other fixing portions excluding the predetermined fixing portion among the plurality of fixing portions are fastened, a clearance is generated between an upper portion of the predetermined fixing portion in the vertical direction and the mating member, The predetermined fixing portion is fastened to the mating member by the fastening member, thereby filling the clearance. A bearing bracket characterized by:

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