Joint shaft, in particular universal joint shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10520010-B2
Application number	US-201515532600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 3, 2014
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A joint shaft, in particular a universal joint shaft, has first and second axial connection ends and a central part that connects the two connection ends to one another in a torsionally rigid and pivotable manner. At least one intermediate sleeve is provided between a first and a second shaft element with internal gearing having inner teeth, which are distributed over the circumference and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and external gearing with outer teeth, which are distributed over the circumference and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The sleeve is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first shaft element and to the second shaft element and is attached directly or indirectly in a torsionally rigid manner to the first shaft element by way of the intermediate sleeve external gearing and to the second shaft element by way of the intermediate sleeve internal gearing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A joint shaft, comprising:
a first axial connection end and a second axial connection end;
a central part disposed to connect said first connection end to said second connection end by way of a torsionally rigid and pivotable connection formed with at least one pivot joint, said at least one first joint having a yoke and said central part having a flange connected to said yoke;
said central part having a length compensation over a longitudinal axis of the joint shaft between said central part and one of said first or second connection ends, said length compensation including:
a tubular first shaft element connected to said first connection end and having an internal gearing formed with inner teeth that are distributed over a circumference and extend in a direction of the longitudinal axis; and
a tubular or rod-shaped second shaft element connected to said second connection end and having an external gearing formed with outer teeth that are distributed over the circumference and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and
at least one intermediate sleeve disposed between said first shaft element and said second shaft element, said intermediate sleeve having an intermediate sleeve internal gearing formed with inner teeth that are distributed over the circumference and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and having an intermediate sleeve external gearing formed with outer teeth that are distributed over the circumference and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis;
said intermediate sleeve being displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to said first shaft element and to said second shaft element, being attached with torsional rigidity to said first shaft element by way of said intermediate sleeve external gearing, and being attached with torsional rigidity to said second shaft element by way of said intermediate sleeve internal gearing;

said central part having a plurality of axial stops configured to delimit an extending of said second shaft element axially out of said at least one intermediate sleeve and an extending of said at least one intermediate sleeve axially out of said first shaft element;
said axial stops including a first axial stop formed with a first contact surface on said first shaft element and a second contact surface on said intermediate sleeve, said first and second contact surfaces being formed opposite one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a second axial stop including a first contact surface on said intermediate sleeve and a second contact surface on said second shaft element and positioned opposite said first contact surface of said second axial stop in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and
at least one second contact surface being formed by an annular disk screwed onto an end face of said second shaft element or of said intermediate sleeve, on a side of said annular disk facing the end face.

2. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said first axial connection end, said second axial connection end, and said central part are configured to form a universal joint.

3. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said central part is an end part connected by way of a pivot joint to said first connection end or a central part connected by way of a pivot joint to said first connection end and by way of a pivot joint to said second connection end.

4. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein each said first and second contact surfaces is a ring.

5. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one first contact surface or each of a plurality of said first contact surfaces is a radially inwardly protruding collar on said intermediate sleeve or on said first shaft element.

6. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said axial stops are positioned such that an extending of said second shaft element out of said intermediate sleeve, which directly surrounds said second shaft element, and an extending of said intermediate sleeve, which is directly surrounded by said first shaft element out of said first shaft element is delimited to a maximum of half an axial length thereof.

7. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , which comprises a stop in said central part disposed to strike against an end face of said intermediate sleeve when said second shaft element is retracted, in order to entrain said intermediate sleeve.

8. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , which comprises a limit stop in said central part disposed to strike against an end face of said intermediate sleeve upon insertion into said first shaft element.

9. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein a component which forms said second contact surface on said second shaft element and/or said second contact surface on said intermediate sleeve are configured to also function as a radial guide and/or a centering device.

10. The joint shaft according to claim 9 , wherein an annular disk or a collar formed on said intermediate sleeve and/or on said first contact surface on said first shaft element are configured to also function as a radial guide and/or a centering device.

11. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , which comprises a spring mechanism disposed to pre-load said first and second shaft elements in a direction apart from one another.

12. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said internal gearing is positioned at an axial spacing from an axially free end of said first shaft element, said intermediate sleeve internal gearing is positioned at an axial spacing from one or both free ends of said intermediate sleeve, said intermediate sleeve external gearing is positioned at an axial spacing from one or both free ends of said intermediate sleeve, and said external gearing is positioned at an axial spacing from an axially free end of said second shaft element, and wherein a centering ring is provided on the corresponding said free end.

13. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said length compensation is provided in said end part between said first axial connection end or said second axial connection end and a respective said pivot joint attaching said end part to said central part.

14. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one intermediate sleeve is one of a plurality of intermediate sleeves including an outermost intermediate sleeve formed with said first and second contact surfaces with respective end faces opposite one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a second axial stop including a first contact surface on said intermediate sleeve, with respective end faces positioned opposite one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

15. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said first shaft element, said at least one intermediate sleeve, and said second shaft element are formed with contact surfaces, and said contact surfaces being coated with low-wear coatings or being hardened in order to reduce wear.

16. The joint shaft according to claim 15 , wherein said contact surfaces are formed with a Rilsan®-coating or a coating by nitriding.

17. The joint shaft according to claim 15 , wherein said contact surfaces are dege-hardened by case-hardening or inductive hardening.

18. The joint shaft according to claim 1 , wherein said first shaft element, said at least one intermediate sleeve, and said second shaft element are at least partly formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and bronze.

Assignees

• Voith Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Grawenhof Peter
• Haluk Erich
• Clement Roger

Classifications

• F16D3/06 Primary

  specially adapted to allow axial displacement · CPC title

• F16D1/108 Primary

  having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling · CPC title

• Y10T403/32491

  Threaded · CPC title

• F16C3/03 Primary

  telescopic (axially displaceable couplings F16D3/06) · CPC title

• Y10T403/32475

  having detent · CPC title