Constant-velocity joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9951822-B2
Application number	US-201514844073-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2015
Priority date	Sep 22, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

In a constant-velocity joint, an inner member thereof includes holders that serve to retain respective roller assemblies. When each of the holders is hypothetically divided into three equal parts made up of a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion from a side of an annular member, an inner wall surface of an inner roller of the roller assembly contacts only a side wall surface of the proximal end portion. The inner roller preferably has an inside diameter, which is minimum at a contact point that contacts the side wall surface of the proximal end portion. More specifically, the inside diameter of the inner roller gradually expands in diameter from the contact point to a side that faces toward the annular member, and further, gradually expands in diameter from the contact point to a side that faces toward the distal end portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A constant-velocity joint interposed between a first transmission shaft and a second transmission shaft, the constant-velocity joint being configured to transmit rotary drive power from the first transmission shaft to the second transmission shaft, comprising:
an outer member coupled to the first transmission shaft, the outer member having a plurality of guide grooves defined in a side wall surface of the outer member, the guide grooves being spaced at prescribed intervals from each other and extending in an axial direction of the outer member;
an inner member having an annular member and a plurality of holders, which project from the annular member respectively into the guide grooves, the annular member having an insertion hole, the second transmission shaft being inserted through the insertion hole, the inner member being inserted into the outer member; and
a plurality of roller assemblies mounted respectively on the holders, the roller assemblies being configured to rotate inside of the guide grooves;
wherein each of the roller assemblies includes an inner roller, and an outer roller mounted externally of the inner roller through rolling members,
wherein when viewed from the axial direction, an inner wall surface of the inner roller contacts the holder only at a proximal end portion of the inner roller, wherein the inner roller is divided in a height direction from the axial direction into three equal parts made up of the proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion, from a side proximate to the annual member toward a side distanced from the annular member, and
wherein the inner wall surface of the inner roller contacts the holder only at the proximal end portion of the inner roller along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the guide grooves.

2. The constant-velocity joint according to claim 1 , wherein the inner wall surface of the inner roller contacts the holder at a middle location of the proximal end portion.

3. The constant-velocity joint according to claim 1 , wherein an inside diameter of the inner roller gradually expands in diameter from a contact site with the side wall surface of the proximal end portion to a side that faces toward the distal end portion.

4. The constant-velocity joint according to claim 3 , wherein the inside diameter of the inner roller gradually expands in diameter from the contact site with the side wall surface of the proximal end portion to a side that faces toward the annular member.

5. The constant-velocity joint according to claim 1 , wherein on a side wall surface of each of the holders, a plurality of regions to be contacted and a plurality of regions not to be contacted are provided, the regions to be contacted are configured to abut against an inner circumferential wall of the inner roller, the regions not to be contacted being distanced from the inner circumferential wall of the inner roller, the regions to be contacted and the regions not to be contacted being arranged alternately.

6. The constant-velocity joint according to claim 5 , wherein four of the regions to be contacted and four of the regions not to be contacted are provided, and tangential lines of two of the regions to be contacted are parallel with an axial direction of the guide groove, whereas tangential lines of remaining two of the regions to be contacted are perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide groove.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tsujimoto Fumihiko

Classifications

• Y10S464/905

  Torque transmitted via radially extending pin · CPC title

• F16D3/2055 Primary

  having three pins, i.e. true tripod joints · CPC title

• F16D2003/2026

  with trunnion rings, i.e. with tripod joints having rollers supported by a ring on the trunnion · CPC title