JP2008064293A - Power transmission shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the fatigue strength of a power transmission shaft by mitigating the stress concentration for both of a tensile stress and a shear stress. <P>SOLUTION: The male spline part Sm is formed on the outer circumference face of a power transmission shaft. The enlarged diameter part 21b which enlarges the outside dimension gradually toward the anti-axial end side is formed among the root parts 21 of the male spline part Sm. The arc shaped cross-section rounded part 21b1 is formed on both sides of the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter part 21b and the curvature radius of this rounded part 21b1 is enlarged gradually toward the opposite axial end. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power transmission shaft coupled to a female member through a spline (including serrations, the same applies hereinafter).

  In recent years, due to increasing interest in environmental issues, for example, automobiles are strongly required to tighten exhaust gas regulations and improve fuel efficiency. As part of these measures, power transmission shafts used for drive shafts, propeller shafts, etc. There is a strong demand for weight reduction and strength improvement. Many of these power transmission shafts have spline portions on the outer peripheral surface. By fitting the spline part (male spline part) of the power transmission shaft and the spline part (female spline part) of the female side member fitted on the power transmission shaft, the power transmission shaft and the female side member are coupled, Rotational power is transmitted.

  Since a power transmission shaft with a male spline part requires strength, usually steel is used as the material, and after forming the male spline part by rolling or pressing, at least the male spline part is hardened and hardened. Used. As a method of quenching and hardening after molding, induction hardening is often used, but there are also cases of submerged hardening and carburizing and hardening.

  FIG. 8 shows an end on the opposite axis end side (left side in the drawing) of the trough portion 100 on the outer peripheral surface (smooth portion) 101 of the male side member through the enlarged diameter portion 102 whose outside diameter is gradually enlarged. It is the top view of the so-called round-up type male spline part connected. The fatigue failure of the male spline portion of this form usually occurs near the joint between the valley portion 100 and the enlarged diameter portion 102 or at the enlarged diameter portion 102. There are two crack generation modes at that time, one is due to the tensile stress concentrated in the A portion, and the other is due to the shear stress concentrated in the B portion. In the case of steel, cracks are mainly governed by shear stress below Vickers hardness 700 as a guide, and if it is more than that, the stress is governed by tensile stress.

Heretofore, several methods have been proposed as means for improving the fatigue strength of the spline portion. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for reducing stress concentration by blunting the boundary between the enlarged diameter portion and the tooth surface. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a high strength technology in which two or more diameter-expanded portions are usually arranged side by side in the axial direction.
JP 2005-147367 A Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-514079

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, an effect is recognized in reducing the tensile stress concentration, but the effect of reducing the shear stress concentration is insufficient. Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, the shear stress concentration can be reduced, but the effect of reducing the tensile stress concentration is insufficient. As described above, there is a technology that can relieve one of the two stresses that govern crack initiation, but there is no technology that relieves both simultaneously, and there is room for improvement in order to achieve further improvement in fatigue strength. was there.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to alleviate the stress concentration of both tensile stress and shear stress and improve the fatigue strength of the power transmission shaft.

  The inventors of the present invention manufactured a test piece having a notch in a parallel portion, and used it for a rotational bending fatigue test and a torsional fatigue test, respectively, to determine the relationship between the stress concentration factor and the fatigue strength.

  As a test piece, a medium carbon steel having the same chemical composition shown in FIG. 9 was used, and a test piece having the shape and dimensions (unit: mm) shown in FIGS. 10a and 11a was produced. FIG. 10 a is a test piece for a rotating bending fatigue test, and FIG. 11 a is a test piece for a torsional fatigue test. In the specimen of the rotating bending fatigue test, the radius of curvature of the notch tip is set to five levels of 0.10, 0.15, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.40, and the stress concentration coefficient α is 3.5. , 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5 (see FIG. 10c). In the torsional fatigue test specimen, the radius of curvature of the notch tip is set to four levels of 0.15, 0.25, 0.50, 1.40, and the stress concentration coefficient α is 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 and 1.5 were set (see FIG. 11c). All of these test pieces were subjected to induction quenching in parallel portions including the notches and then subjected to low temperature tempering. All the test pieces had a surface hardness of about HV650 after the heat treatment.

  First, the rotating bending fatigue test was performed with an Ono type rotating bending fatigue tester in a room temperature atmosphere at a load frequency of 50 Hz.

As a result of the rotating bending fatigue test, cracks occurred along the bottom of the notch regardless of the level of the notch, leading to fracture. The crack initiation mode in this case is governed by tensile stress. Until around beyond the load count is 10 ⁵ up to the break, fatigue curve drops with decreasing stress amplitude, stress amplitude showed clear fatigue limit phenomena no longer fracture and below a certain value. The stress amplitude here is a nominal stress amplitude that does not depend on the level of the notch, and a smooth round bar having a notch bottom diameter (φ6.5 mm) was given a bending moment of the same size as the fatigue test. It means the maximum tensile stress amplitude that sometimes acts on the surface.

FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the stress concentration factor α _σ obtained in the rotating bending fatigue test and the fatigue limit strength. As shown in the figure, the fatigue strength improved as α _σ decreased. However, as shown by the broken line in the figure, when α _σ ≦ 2.7, the fatigue curve has a large gradient, and when α _σ is decreased. It has been found that the improvement in fatigue strength appears more prominently.

  Next, the torsional fatigue test was carried out under the conditions of a load frequency of 2 Hz and a full swing (stress ratio R = -1) in a normal temperature atmosphere by torque control using an electric hydraulic servo fatigue tester.

As a result of the torsional fatigue test, cracks occurred along the bottom of the notch regardless of the level of the notch, leading to fracture. The crack initiation mode in this case is governed by shear stress. Both reversed torsional fatigue test is load count went until near 10 ⁶ times at most in the range with decreasing stress amplitude fatigue curve drops. The stress amplitude here is a nominal stress amplitude that does not depend on the level of the notch, and is applied to a smooth round bar having a notch bottom diameter (φ17 mm) when a torsion torque of the same magnitude as that in the fatigue test is applied. Means the maximum shear stress amplitude acting on

13 shows a relationship between fatigue strength of the both reversed torsional fatigue test with the resulting stress concentration factor alpha _tau and 10 ⁵ times. As shown in the figure, the fatigue strength improved as α _τ decreased. However, as shown by the broken line in the figure, when α _τ ≦ 2.1, the fatigue curve has a large gradient, and when α _τ is decreased. It has been found that the improvement in fatigue strength appears more prominently.

From the above, whether the crack initiation is governed by either tensile stress or shear stress, the fatigue strength is improved by stress concentration relaxation, particularly α _σ ≦ 2.7 for tensile stress, It has been found that the stress concentration relaxation effect is further enhanced when α _τ ≦ 2.1 against shear stress. Accordingly, in the expanded portion of the male spline portion that undergoes fatigue failure in both failure modes, the maximum value σ _1max of the first principal stress concentrated there is not more than 2.7 times the reference stress τ ₀ (σ _1max ≦ 2. 7τ _o ), and it is desirable to tune the shape so that the maximum value τ _θzmax of the shear stress in the axial direction is 2.1 times or less (τ _θzmax ≦ 2.1τ ₀ ) of the reference stress τ ₀ . The reference stress tau ₀ is the torque T, the diameter d _o of the valley bottom of the male spline section Sm shown in FIG. 6, when the inner diameter d _{i (spline} portion of the male spline portion of the hollow case. In real Is given by d _i = 0).

τ ₀ = 16 Td _o / [π (d _o ⁴ −d _i ⁴ )]

As a result of various tunings of the shape of the enlarged diameter portion by the present inventors, rounded portions are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter portion of the male spline portion, and the curvature radius of the rounded portion is gradually increased toward the opposite shaft end side. if, was found to be able to satisfy σ _1max ≦ 2.7τ _o, and _τ θzmax ≦ 2.1τ _0.

  Next, a shaft-shaped test piece having male spline portions at both shaft ends is manufactured using a material having the same component (see FIG. 9) as the notched fatigue test piece of FIGS. 10 (a) and 11 (a). (See FIG. 17a) Using this test piece, a double torsional fatigue test and a single torsional fatigue test were performed. According to the involute spline specifications shown in FIG. 17b, two types of test pieces were produced, equivalent to the product of the present invention and equivalent to the conventional product. These test pieces are subjected to induction hardening and tempering under the same conditions in the atmosphere as a whole. The double torsional fatigue test is performed at four levels in the range of 850 to 1300 Nm, and the single swing torsional fatigue test gives a maximum level of torsional torque in the range of 1250 to 2000 Nm. FIG. 18 shows a T / N diagram obtained in the double swing torsional fatigue test, and FIG. 19 shows a T / N diagram obtained in the single swing fatigue test. As is clear from both figures, the product of the present invention can achieve a significant improvement in fatigue strength in both the torsional fatigue and the single-sided torsional fatigue compared to the conventional product.

  As described above, the present invention is characterized by the following matters.

  (I) In a power transmission shaft having a male spline portion on the outer periphery and having a diameter-expanded portion whose outer diameter is gradually expanded on one end side in the axial direction of the valley portion of the male spline portion, Round portions are provided on both sides of the radial portion in the circumferential direction, and the radius of curvature of the round portion is gradually increased toward one end in the axial direction.

(II) When the torque T is applied, the first principal stress acting on the diameter-expanded portion of the male spline portion and the maximum value of the shear stress in the axial direction are σ _1max and τ _θzmax , respectively. valleys diameter d _o of the _parts, with respect to the inner diameter d _i of the male spline section, 1) when the reference stress tau ₀ given by equation to satisfy the following 2) and 3) at the same time.

τ ₀ = 16 Td _o / [π (d _o ⁴ −d _i ⁴ )]... 1)

σ _1max ≦ 2.7τ _o ... 2)

τ _θzmax ≦ 2.1τ ₀ ... 3)

  As a result of verification by the present inventor, in the above configuration, the rate of increase in the radius of curvature of the rounded portion is dR / dL, and the angle of the straight line connecting the inner diameter end and the outer diameter end of the axial section of the enlarged diameter portion is θ. It was found that it is desirable to set the respective values in the ranges of 0.05 ≦ dR / dL ≦ 0.60 and 5 ° ≦ θ ≦ 20 °.

  The male spline portion of the power transmission shaft is preferably hardened by induction hardening, for example. Furthermore, the fatigue strength of the male spline portion can be further increased by performing shot peening on the male spline portion of the power transmission shaft.

  As described above, according to the present invention, both the tensile stress concentration and the shear stress concentration in the male spline part can be relaxed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a power transmission shaft having higher fatigue strength.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the power transmission shaft 2. The illustrated power transmission shaft 2 is solid and is made of medium carbon steel with a carbon content of about 0.30 to 0.60 wt%. If the C content is less than 0.30 wt%, stable high hardness cannot be obtained even by induction hardening, and if it exceeds 0.60 wt%, the material hardness increases and the workability such as rolling is significantly reduced. To do. In particular, in the case of a stub shaft (see FIG. 30) having a welded portion or a friction welded portion, the amount of S in the steel is preferably in the range of 0.002 to 0.008 wt%. The reason why the upper limit of the amount of S is set to 0.008 wt% is to maintain good weldability and friction welding. The reason why the lower limit value is set to 0.002 wt% is that it is difficult to make the lower limit value, and the significance of doing so is small.

  A male spline portion Sm is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft end of the power transmission shaft 2. By fitting this male spline portion Sm with a female spline portion Sf formed on the inner periphery of the female side member F as shown in FIG. 3, the power transmission shaft 2 and the female side member F can transmit torque. Are combined. The female-side member F has an inner diameter end on the opposite shaft end side (left side in FIG. 3) in contact with a shoulder 24 on the outer periphery of the power transmission shaft 2 and an inner diameter end portion on the shaft end side (right side in FIG. 3). Is locked with the retaining ring 8 (see FIG. 28), for example, so as to be positioned and fixed with respect to the power transmission shaft 2 in the axial direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the male spline portion Sm of the power transmission shaft 2 has trough portions 21 and crest portions 22 extending in the axial direction alternately in the circumferential direction. The male spline portion Sm of this embodiment is a so-called up-round type formed by rolling, and each valley portion 21 is formed on the straight portion 21a having the same diameter in the axial direction and on the opposite end side. It is comprised with the enlarged diameter part 21b. Similarly, each peak portion 22 includes a straight portion 22a having the same diameter in the axial direction and a reduced diameter portion 22b formed on the opposite end side. As shown in FIG. 4, the starting ends of the enlarged diameter portion 21 b and the reduced diameter portion 22 b are at the same position in the axial direction, and the terminal ends are also at the same position in the axial direction. This male spline part Sm can also be formed by cold forging. In this case, normally, the reduced diameter part 22b of the peak part 22 is not formed, and the entire opposite end side of the peak part 22 has the same outer diameter. It becomes. The male spline part Sm after molding is subjected to heat treatment by induction hardening or the like, and further shot peened as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the valley portion 31 of the female spline portion Sf formed on the inner periphery of the female side member F is formed to the end on the opposite shaft end side with the same diameter. On the other hand, the peak portion 32 has a small diameter portion 32a, a large diameter portion 32b, and a rising portion 32c between the small diameter portion 32a and the large diameter portion 32b. The inner diameter dimension of the large diameter part 32b is smaller than the maximum outer diameter dimension (outer diameter dimension of the straight part 22a) of the peak part 22 of the male spline part Sm, and the power transmission formed on the opposite end side of the male spline part Sm. It is larger than the outer diameter of the smooth portion 25 of the shaft 2.

  When the male spline portion Sm and the female spline portion Sf are fitted to each other, the tooth surface 23 of the male spline portion Sm and the tooth surface (not shown) of the female spline portion Sf are in strong pressure contact. At this time, the fitting portions (represented by a dot pattern) of both tooth surfaces extend to the outer diameter side region of the enlarged diameter portion 21b as shown in FIG.

  In addition, although FIG. 3 illustrates the case where both the axial sections of the enlarged diameter portion 21b and the reduced diameter portion 22b are formed in a linear taper shape, both axial sections are formed in a curved shape. You can also. Moreover, it can also be set as the composite shape of a linear form and a curvilinear form.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present invention, the enlarged diameter portion 21b of the male spline portion Sm is formed between the rounded portion 21b1 (shown by a dotted pattern) formed on both sides in the circumferential direction and the rounded portion 21b1. And a planar flat portion 21b2. The radius portion 21b1 has a circular cross section in the radial direction, and both circumferential sides thereof are smoothly connected to the tooth surface 23 and the flat portion 21b2.

4 is a plan view showing the vicinity of the enlarged diameter portion 21b in the male spline portion Sm, and FIGS. 5a to 5d are the AA, BB, CC, and DD lines in FIG. FIG. As shown in FIG. 5a, the radius of curvature R _A of the round portion connecting the straight portion 21a and the tooth surface 23 of the trough portion 21 is constant up to the boundary between the enlarged diameter portion 21b. As shown in FIG 5b~ Figure 5d, the enlarged diameter portion 21b, the curvature radius of the rounded portion 21b1 is larger than the radius of curvature R _A of the boundary portion, and the more Hanjiku end gradually increases (R _A <R _B <R _C <R _D ). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of the round portion 21b1 in the circumferential direction is on the side opposite the axis (upward in the drawing) until the position where the boundary line of the round portion 21b1 intersects the ridge line of the mountain portion and the tooth surface 23 disappears. ) Gradually expands toward (), and beyond this, the width dimension gradually decreases. The width dimension in the circumferential direction of the flat portion 21b2 is also gradually enlarged toward the opposite axis end side.

  L in FIG. 4 indicates coordinates taken in the direction of a line passing through the center of the radius of curvature in the rounded portion 21b1 of the enlarged diameter portion 21b. The increasing rate of the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 21b1 is represented by dR / dL, and is set to dR / dL = 0.18 in this embodiment. Further, θ in FIG. 4 represents the inclination angle of a straight line connecting the inner diameter end and the outer diameter end of the axial section of the enlarged diameter portion 21b, and is set to θ = 8.3 ° in the present embodiment.

  14 to 16, the male spline portion Sm ′ described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-147367), that is, the rounded portion 21b1 ′ is formed at the boundary between the enlarged diameter portion 21b ′ and the tooth surface 23 ′. A male spline portion Sm ′ formed and having a radius of curvature of the rounded portion 21b1 ′ constant over the entire length in the axial direction is shown (in FIGS. 14 to 16, a portion corresponding to the portion shown in FIGS. 2 to 4) (The same sign with (') added to it).

FEM analysis is performed for each of the male spline portion Sm (product of the present invention) shown in FIG. 2 and the male spline portion Sm ′ (conventional product) shown in FIG. 14, and the maximum value σ _1max of the first principal stress and the shear stress of each are analyzed. A maximum value τ _θzmax was obtained, and a value obtained by dividing the maximum value τ _θzmax by the reference stress τ ₀ was calculated. In the solid axis as in the present embodiment, τ ₀ is obtained by setting d _i = 0 in the above equation (1).

  This FEM analysis is a three-dimensional linear elastic analysis, and “I-deas Ver. 10” was used as analysis software. As shown in FIG. 20, the analysis model is a linear elastic body including one valley portion 21, 21 ′ of the male spline portions Sm, Sm ′, and the model length is 100 mm. FIG. 21 shows a mesh attached to this analysis model. Each element is a tetrahedral secondary element, the total number of elements is about 200,000, and the total number of contacts is about 300,000. The element length was 0.2 mm or less at the main portion P (including the male spline portions Sm and Sm ′) (minimum element length was 0.05 mm), and 0.5 mm except at the main portion P. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view showing the mesh of the main part P. FIG. 22 (a) shows the product of the present invention corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 22 (b) shows the conventional product corresponding to FIG. . As shown in FIG. 23, a Rigid element was created on the end face M on the opposite end side of the analysis model, and a torque T was loaded on the central axis O of the end face M. However, since a 1 / tooth number model is used as a model, the load torque is 1 / tooth number of actual torque. As shown in FIG. 24, the analysis model has a shape in which the radial axis passing through the center of the valley portion 21 is an axis of symmetry, and all the contacts on both side surfaces W in the circumferential direction are cyclically symmetric. In addition, as shown in FIG. 25, the displacement of the normal direction is restrained in the contact surface (it shows with a dotted pattern) with the other party member of an analysis model.

The analysis result of the first principal stress σ ₁ is shown in FIG. 26, and the analysis result of the axial shear stress τ _θz is shown in FIG. 26A and 27B, FIG. 26A shows the product model of the present invention, and FIG. 26B shows the conventional product model. From this analysis result, σ _1max / τ ₀ = 3.03 in the conventional product, whereas σ _1max / τ ₀ = 2.48 in the product of the present invention, which _{reduces the} stress concentration with respect to the tensile stress compared to the conventional product. It turns out that the effect increases. This is presumably because the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 21b1 in the vicinity of the end of the tooth surface 23 is larger than the radius of curvature at the corresponding portion of the conventional product in the product of the present invention. As described above, if the stress concentration coefficient α _σ with respect to the tensile stress is 2.7 or less, the stress concentration mitigating effect becomes significant, so that the present invention product of σ _1max / τ ₀ ≦ 2.7 can be used. For example, it is possible to greatly increase the fatigue strength against tensile stress compared to conventional products.

Further, in the conventional product, τ _θzmax / τ ₀ = 2.28, whereas in the product of the present invention, τ _θzmax / τ ₀ = 1.74, which is a stress relaxation effect on the shear stress in the axial direction as compared with the conventional product. It was also found to increase. As described above, if the stress concentration coefficient α _τ with respect to the shear stress is 2.1 or less, the stress concentration relaxation effect becomes significant. Therefore, the product of the present invention in which τ _θzmax / τ ₀ ≦ 2.1 is a conventional product. Compared to the above, the fatigue strength against shear stress can be greatly improved. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high stress concentration relaxation effect with respect to both tensile stress and shear stress in the male spline portion Sm. Therefore, the fatigue strength of the power transmission shaft 2 can be increased.

As a result of further analysis by the present inventor, the rate of increase dR / dL of the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 21b1 shown in FIG. 4 is 0.05 ≦ dR / dL ≦ 0.60, and the inclination angle θ of the enlarged diameter portion 21b is In the range of 5 ° ≦ θ ≦ 20 °, it was found that σ _1max / τ ₀ ≦ 2.7 and τ _θzmax / τ ₀ ≦ 2.1 can be satisfied.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, in the conventional product, the maximum shear stress τ _θzmax is generated on the center line of the starting point of the enlarged diameter portion 21b ′. In this way, when the maximum shear stress is generated on the center line, when the power transmission shaft 2 transmits torque in both forward and reverse directions, the maximum shear stress is generated in the same part during both forward and reverse rotations, so that fatigue failure is caused accordingly. Easy to progress. On the other hand, in the product of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the maximum shear stress τ _θzmax is generated in both rounded portions 21b1 on the side opposite to the axial end from the starting point of the enlarged diameter portion 21b. Therefore, the generation site of the maximum shear stress differs between the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, and therefore the progress rate of fatigue fracture can be suppressed. From the above, the product of the present invention is particularly suitable for an application in which the torque transmission direction is frequently switched, for example, an application in which the torque transmission direction is reversed in accordance with forward / backward movement of the vehicle.

  The enlarged diameter portion 21b having the rounded portion 21b1 described above is formed by forming a molded portion having a shape corresponding to the enlarged diameter portion 21b on a rolling rack used during rolling, thereby forming the teeth of the male spline portion Sm. It can be formed at the same time. Similarly, when the male spline part is cold forged by press working, the round part is formed simultaneously with the teeth of the male spline part Sm by previously forming a molding part corresponding to the shape of the enlarged diameter part 21b on the die for press working. 21b1 can be molded.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment in which either one of the male spline part Sm or the female spline part Sf (male spline part Sm in the drawing) has a twist angle β with respect to the axial direction. This is an effective method for loosening between the spline portions Sm and Sf after the combination. When the torsion angle β is provided, the contact pressure between the tooth surfaces on the torque transmission side increases, and as a result, the tensile stress and the shear stress concentrated on the enlarged diameter portion also increase, resulting in a decrease in fatigue strength. From this point of view, the conventional product has been limited to a torsion angle β of substantially 15 '. On the other hand, in the present invention product, the fatigue strength of the power transmission spline can be greatly increased as described above, so that a twist angle β of 15 ′ or more can be obtained and a high backlash filling effect can be obtained. is there.

  In the above-described embodiment, as the male spline portion Sm, a so-called “saddle type” in which the circumferential width of the enlarged diameter portion 21b is gradually enlarged on the opposite shaft end side is illustrated, but not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called “boat type” male spline portion Sm in which the circumferential width of the enlarged diameter portion 21b is constant. Also in this case, the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained by providing rounded portions on both sides in the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter portion 21b and gradually increasing the radius of curvature of the rounded portion toward the opposite end side.

  FIG. 28 shows the constant velocity universal joint 1 coupled to the solid power transmission shaft 2 described above. The constant velocity universal joint 1 includes an inner joint member 3 fixed to the power transmission shaft 2, an outer joint member 4 disposed on the outer diameter side of the inner joint member 3, and between the inner joint member 3 and the outer joint member 4. The ball 5 as a torque transmission member for transmitting torque is used as a main component. The illustrated constant velocity universal joint is a fixed type called a zepper type, and includes a track groove 3 a formed on the outer periphery of the inner joint member 3 and a track groove 4 a formed on the inner periphery of the outer joint member 4. The balls 5 are arranged on the ball track formed by the steps described above, and a plurality of balls 5 arranged at equal circumferential positions are held by the cage 7. The constant velocity universal joint 1 is not limited to the illustrated example, and other fixed type constant velocity universal joints, and a sliding type constant velocity universal joint including a tripod type can also be used.

  In this constant velocity universal joint 1, the inner joint member 3 is a female side member F shown in FIG. Power is transmitted between the inner joint member 3 and the power transmission shaft 2 by fitting the male spline portion Sm of the power transmission shaft 2 to the female spline portion Sf formed on the inner periphery of the inner joint member 3. Is called. The fatigue strength of the power transmission shaft 2 can be improved by forming the male spline portion Sm of the power transmission shaft 2 in the shape shown in FIGS.

  The male spline portion Sm of this embodiment is formed at the joint portion of the power transmission shaft 2 with the inner joint member 3, and as shown in the drawing, the outer periphery of the stem portion 9 provided integrally or separately with the outer joint member 4. It can also be formed.

  FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a drive shaft having a power transmission shaft 2 '. This drive shaft has a fixed type constant velocity universal joint 1 (J1) shown in FIG. 28 attached to the end of the power transmission shaft 2 ′ on the outboard side (the side that is outside in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is mounted). A sliding type constant velocity universal joint J2 such as a tripod type is attached to the end of the inboard side (the side closer to the center in the vehicle width direction when mounted on the vehicle). The tripod type constant velocity universal joint J2 includes an inner joint member 3 ′ coupled to the power transmission shaft 2, an outer joint member 4 ′ disposed on the outer diameter side of the inner joint member 3 ′, and an inner joint member 3 ′. A roller 5 ′ as a torque transmission member that transmits torque to and from the outer joint member 4 ′ is a main component. Leg shafts 3a 'are projected from three locations in the circumferential direction of the inner joint member 3'. A track groove 4a 'extending in the axial direction is formed at a position of the inner circumference of the outer joint member 4' in the circumferential direction, and a roller 5 'rolls along the track groove 4a'.

  Male spline portions Sm having the shapes shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 are formed at both ends in the axial direction of the power transmission shaft 2 ′, and the male spline portions Sm are respectively formed on the female spline portions Sf of the inner joint members 3 and 3 ′. The constant velocity universal joints J1 and J2 are coupled to both shaft ends so as to transmit torque.

As shown in the figure, the power transmission shaft 2 'of this embodiment is formed in a hollow shape. In this case, the reference stress τ ₀ is

τ ₀ = 16 Td _o / [π (d _o ⁴ −d _i ⁴ )
It is calculated by the following formula. By tuning the shape of the male spline portion Sm so as to satisfy the expressions σ _1max / τ ₀ ≦ 2.7 and τ _θzmax / τ ₀ ≦ 2.1, the power transmission shaft 2 with respect to both tensile stress and shear stress. It is possible to greatly increase the fatigue strength of '.

  The present invention can also be applied to a case where a so-called stub shaft (pressure-welded stub shaft or welded stub shaft) is used as the power transmission shaft. As shown in FIG. 30, the stub shaft 200 is formed with a male spline portion Sm for coupling to the inner joint members 3, 3 ′, etc. of the constant velocity universal joint at one end, and a steel pipe 203 is pressed or welded to the other end. A flange portion 202 is formed. By applying the present invention to the male spline portion Sm of the stub shaft 200, the fatigue strength of the stub shaft 200 can be improved. In addition, although the solid stub shaft is illustrated in the drawings, it can be formed hollow.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the feature of the present invention is the relaxation of the stress concentration coefficient by improving the shape, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to various materials. . For example, a power transmission shaft formed of steel that is not quenched and hardened may be used. Furthermore, a power transmission shaft formed of a non-ferrous metal, a ceramic material, a resin material, or the like may be used.

It is sectional drawing of the power transmission shaft which has a male spline part. FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a portion on the opposite axis end side of the male spline portion (reference X portion in FIG. 28). It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the code | symbol X part in FIG. (A) A figure is a top view which shows the opposite-axis end side part of a male spline part, (b) A figure is the YY sectional view taken on the line in (a) figure. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB, FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC, and FIG. Is a sectional view taken along the line DD. It is a circumferential direction sectional view of a male spline part. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the male spline part which has a twist angle. It is a top view of a male spline part. It is a table | surface which shows the chemical composition of the test piece used by a fatigue test. It is a side view which shows the test piece of a rotation bending fatigue test. It is the side view to which the notch part A of the said test piece was expanded. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the dimension of a notch part, and a stress concentration factor. It is a side view which shows the test piece of a torsional fatigue test. It is the side view to which the notch part A of the said test piece was expanded. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the dimension of a notch part, and a stress concentration factor. It is a figure which shows the measurement result of the fatigue limit strength calculated | required by the rotation bending fatigue test. Is a graph showing measurement results of the torsional fatigue strength at 10 ⁵ times determined in torsional fatigue test. It is a perspective view which shows the anti-shaft end side part of the conventional male spline part. It is sectional drawing which shows the anti-shaft end side part of the conventional male spline part. It is a top view which shows the non-axis end side part of the conventional male spline part. It is a side view which shows a test piece. It is a figure which shows the involute spline specification of a test piece. It is a T / N diagram obtained by the double torsional fatigue test. FIG. 3 is a T / N diagram obtained in a single swing torsional fatigue test. It is a perspective view which shows a FEM analysis model. It is a perspective view which shows the analysis model which attached | subjected the mesh. (A) The figure is a perspective view of the principal part P of this invention goods which attached | subjected the mesh, The figure (b) is a perspective view of the principal part P of a conventional product similarly. It is a perspective view of the edge part by the side of the non-axis end of an analysis model. It is a front view of the analysis model seen from the arrow direction of FIG. It is a perspective view of an analysis model. It is a figure which shows the analysis result of main stress. It is a figure which shows the analysis result of an axial direction shear stress. It is sectional drawing of a constant velocity universal joint. It is sectional drawing of a drive shaft. It is sectional drawing of a stub shaft.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Constant velocity universal joint 2 Power transmission shaft 3 Inner joint member 4 Outer joint member 5 Torque transmission ball 7 Cage 21 Valley part 21a Straight part 21b Expanded part 21b1 Round part 21b2 Flat part 22 Mountain part 23 Tooth surface 24 Shoulder part 25 Smooth part Sm Male spline part Sf Female spline part

Claims (6)

In the power transmission shaft provided with a male spline part on the outer periphery, and having a diameter-expanded part gradually expanding the outer diameter dimension on one end side in the axial direction of the valley part of the male spline part.
A power transmission shaft, wherein rounded portions are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter portion of the male spline portion, and the radius of curvature of the rounded portion is gradually increased toward one end in the axial direction. When the torque T is applied, the first principal stress acting on the diameter-expanded portion of the male spline portion and the maximum values of the shear stress in the axial direction are σ _1max and τ _θzmax , respectively. 2. The power transmission shaft according to claim 1, wherein the following 2) and 3) are satisfied at the same time when the reference stress τ ₀ given by the equation (1) is used for the diameter d _{o of} the portion and the inner diameter d _i of the male spline portion.
τ ₀ = 16 Td _o / [π (d _o ⁴ −d _i ⁴ )]... 1)
σ _1max ≦ 2.7τ _o ... 2)
τ _θzmax ≦ 2.1τ ₀ ... 3) When the rate of increase in the radius of curvature of the radius portion is dR / dL and the angle of the straight line connecting the inner diameter end and the outer diameter end of the axial section of the enlarged diameter portion is θ, each value is 0.05 ≦ dR / dL ≦ 0.60,
5 ° ≦ θ ≦ 20 °
The power transmission shaft according to claim 2, which is in the range of.   The power transmission shaft according to claim 1, wherein the male spline part is hardened and hardened.   The power transmission shaft according to claim 4, wherein the male spline part is hardened by induction hardening.   Furthermore, the power transmission shaft of Claim 4 or 5 which gave shot peening to the male spline part.

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