U.S. patent application number 09/774094 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for connection structure of lateral insert type yoke and shaft.
Invention is credited to Ikeda, Shuhei.
Application Number | 20010012470 09/774094 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26584815 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010012470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ikeda, Shuhei |
August 9, 2001 |
Connection structure of lateral insert type yoke and shaft
Abstract
A connection structure of a yoke and a shaft comprises a shaft
including a pair of flat surfaces formed in parallel to each other
on an outer peripheral surface of a front side end thereof, a yoke
having a connection portion, formed at one side end thereof, for
connecting the shaft, and having the other side end connected to a
universal joint. The connection portion includes holding members,
for holding the flat surfaces of the shaft, taking substantially a
U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an axial direction
thereof, a screw hole formed in the vicinity of one side end of the
U-shape, and a bolt hole formed in the vicinity of the other side
end thereof, concentric with the screw hole and having a diameter
larger than the screw hole. This connection structure functions to
insert from the bolt hole a bolt externally fitted with a cam
member having a fitting hole by inserting the shaft in between the
holding members, then screw the bolt into the screw hole, thus join
the shaft to the joint portion, and perform centering of the shaft
with the rotations of the cam member. The cam member is movable on
the bolt facing at least a part of the shaft in the axial direction
of the bolt, and the bolt is provided with a frictional engagement
portion frictionally engaging with the cam member and rotating the
cam member when the bolt is screwed into the screw hole and
fastened thereto.
Inventors: |
Ikeda, Shuhei;
(Maebashi-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MITCHELL W. SHAPIRO
MILES & STOCKBRIDGE P.C.
1751 PINNACLE DRIVE
SUITE 500
MCLEAN,
VA
22102-3833
US
|
Family ID: |
26584815 |
Appl. No.: |
09/774094 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/290 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/1608 20150115;
Y10T 403/535 20150115; F16D 1/0864 20130101; F16D 3/387 20130101;
F16D 3/405 20130101; F16B 37/043 20130101; B62D 1/20 20130101; F16B
2/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/290 |
International
Class: |
F16D 001/00; F16B
002/02; B25G 003/24; F16B 007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 3, 2000 |
JP |
2000-26701 |
Jul 26, 2000 |
JP |
2000-225459 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connection structure of a yoke and a shaft, comprising: a
shaft including a pair of flat surfaces formed in parallel to each
other on an outer peripheral surface of a front side end thereof; a
yoke having a connection portion, formed at one side end thereof,
for connecting said shaft, and having the other side end connected
to a universal joint; said connection portion including: holding
members, for holding the flat surfaces of said shaft, taking
substantially a U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an
axial direction thereof; a screw hole formed in the vicinity of one
side end of the U-shape; and a bolt hole formed in the vicinity of
the other side end thereof, concentric with said screw hole and
having a diameter larger than said screw hole, said connection
structure functioning to insert from said bolt hole a bolt fitted
thereon with a cam member having a fitting hole by inserting said
shaft in between said holding members, then screw said bolt into
said screw hole, thus connect said shaft to said connection
portion, and perform centering of said shaft with the rotations of
said cam member, wherein said cam member is movable on said bolt
facing at least a part of said shaft in the axial direction of said
bolt, and said bolt is provided with a frictional engagement
portion frictionally engaging with said cam member and rotating
said cam member when said bolt is screwed into said screw hole and
fastened thereto.
2. A connection structure of a yoke and a shaft according to claim
1, wherein the part of said shaft includes a screw portion of said
bolt, said frictional engagement portion of said bolt includes a
large-diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of
the fitting hole of said cam member that is formed between the
screw portion and a head of said bolt, and said large-diameter
portion is press-fitted into the fitting hole when said bolt is
screwed into the screw hole and fastened thereto.
3. A connection structure of a yoke and a shaft, comprising: a
shaft including a pair of flat surfaces formed in parallel to each
other on an outer peripheral surface of a front side end thereof; a
yoke having a connection portion, formed at one side end thereof,
for connecting said shaft, and having the other side end connected
to a universal joint, said connection portion including: holding
members, for holding the flat surfaces of said shaft, taking
substantially a U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an
axial direction thereof; a screw hole formed in the vicinity of one
side end of the U-shape; and a bolt hole formed in the vicinity of
the other side end thereof, concentric with said screw hole and
having a diameter larger than said screw hole, said connection
structure functioning to insert from said bolt hole a bolt
externally fitted with a cam member having a fitting hole by
inserting said shaft in between said holding members, then screw
said bolt into said screw hole, thus connect said shaft to said
connection portion, and perform centering of said shaft with the
rotations of said cam member, wherein an inside diameter of the
fitting hole of said cam member has a dimension enough to be
movable with respect to a screw portion of said bolt, said bolt is
provided with a large-diameter portion between the screw portion
and the head, having such an outside diameter larger than an inside
diameter of the fitting hole and a length as to be press-fittable
into the fitting hole and to generate a frictional resisting force
capable of centering after being press-fitted, and the screw
portion is set to such a length that at least said large-diameter
portion is not press-fitted into the fitting hole till a front side
end of the screw portion is at first screwed into the screw
hole.
4. A shaft temporary holding clip of a lateral insert type yoke,
for connecting a shaft including a pair of flat surfaces formed in
parallel to each other on an outer peripheral surface of a front
side end thereof to its one side end, and connecting the other side
end thereof to a universal joint, said clip comprising: holding
members, of which a portion for connecting said shaft is formed in
a U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an axial
direction thereof, for holding the flat surfaces of said shaft; a
nut hole, formed in the vicinity of a side end of one of said
holding members, into which a nut is fixedly fitted; a bolt hole,
formed in the vicinity of a side end of the other of said holding
members, concentric with said nut hole and having a diameter larger
than said nut hole, said clip working to temporarily hold said
shaft till said bolt is inserted from said bolt hole and screwed
into said nut after said shaft has been inserted in between said
holding members, and being attached to a predetermined position of
said holding members; a fitting portion fitted on a side end of one
of said holding members inwards from outside along its
configuration; a support portion formed so as to protrude from an
internal side end portion of said fitting portion in a direction
more inclined inwards by a predetermined angle than in a direction
orthogonal to the axial direction of said bolt, of which a flexure
acting in an outer direction with the internal side end serving as
a fulcrum falls within a limit of elasticity; and an engagement
portion integrally formed at a front side end of said support
portion, and fitted into said nut hole or said bolt hole so as to
be movable in the axial direction of said bolt, wherein a part of
said shaft slides while pushing said support portion when inserting
said shaft in between said holding members, said engagement portion
thereby moves back into said nut hole or said bolt hole to permit
said shaft to pass through, and when said shaft is intruded into a
concave area between said holding members, said engagement portion
elastically returns to an original position and engages with said
shaft.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Applications No. 2000-026701 and 2000-225459 which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a connection structure of a
lateral insert type yoke and a shaft, used for a steering device
etc of an automobile, for connecting the shaft to the lateral
insert type yoke with its one side end to which a universal joint
is connected.
[0004] 2. Related Background Art
[0005] A steering device for giving a steering angle to a front
wheel of the automobile is generally constructed to transfer a
motion of a steering shaft rotating with an operation of a steering
wheel to an input shaft of a steering gear via a spider type
universal joint.
[0006] This universal joint is constructed such that a couple of
U-shaped yokes are axially supported each other via a spider or
cross shaft. In the case of assembling the steering device by use
of this type of universal joint, for example, one yoke is
previously joined and fixed by welding or fastening with a screw to
a side end of one shaft such as the steering shaft etc, and the
other yoke is joined to a side end of the other shaft. Normally,
for executing this assembling operation, after one shaft has been
supported on a vehicle body, this shaft and the other shaft are
joined through the universal joint. Accordingly, what is preferable
is a so-called lateral insert type yoke in which at least one yoke
of those two yokes of the universal joint can perform the fixing
operation without moving the shaft in an axial direction.
[0007] This lateral insert type yoke is constructed of a member
constituting one part of the universal joint, and a joint member
provided integrally with this member and taking a U-shape in
section within a plane orthogonal to the axial direction. A side
end of the shaft taking a sectional configuration suited to the
concave of the U-shape, is inserted sideways from an opening into
the concave area of the U-shaped joint member. then, two pieces of
side end portions extending in parallel of the U-shape are
penetrated, screwed and fastened with a bolt, thereby joining the
shaft to the lateral insert type yoke. On this occasion, it is a
general practice that a cam (cam member) provided integrally with
the bolt or given a predetermined frictional resisting force
performs positioning (centering) within the joint member of the
shaft.
[0008] Thus, an assembling method in the conventional connection
structure of the lateral insert type yoke and the shaft, in which
the cam provided at the bolt performs centering of the shaft, is
roughly classified into two types. One type is, as disclosed in,
e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
No.10-318272, that the nut is fastened by use of a cam bolt. The
other type is, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open Publication Nos.10-169664 and 10-148215, that the bolt is
fastened.
[0009] In the former assembling method in the conventional
connection structure of the lateral insert type yoke and the shaft,
for convenience of fastening the nut, the assembling operation is
required to be carried out in the following way. After the bolt has
been inserted from backward, and a front side end of the bolt is
protruded on the near side, or after the bolt has been inserted
from the near side, the universal joint is rotated through 180
degree, and the nut is set on the near side. However, the intrusion
of the bolt from the backward may be done by groping invisible to
eyes, which might not be easy. Further, a labor is needed for
rotating the universal joint through 180 degrees, resulting in an
increase in the number of steps of the operation.
[0010] Moreover, there is needed a bolt temporary holding mechanism
for supporting the bolt so as not to be pushed backward till the
nut is screwed once or twice along the front side end of the bolt.
The head of the bolt must be held by turning the hands backwards if
this mechanism is not used. This operation is laborious enough to
use both of the hands. Thus, some problems have existed in the
former method.
[0011] Further, in the latter assembling method, the bolt is
inserted from the near side and fastened as it is. Therefore,
unlike the former method, there is no necessity of inserting the
bolt from backward and rotating the universal joint through 180
degree. When in the assembly, it is required for ensuring the
fastening by a tool that after the bolt has been inserted by the
hand, the front side end of the screw portion of the bolt is
lightly screwed once or twice into the nut fixed to the yoke or
into a thread portion (thread forming portion) of the yoke, and
final fastening is effected. As described above, however, the cam
member of the bolt is fitted to the screw portion with a
predetermined frictional resisting force, and a load resistance for
rotating the bolt is large. Hence, there arises a problem, wherein
the front side end of the screw portion can not be lightly screwed
into the nut or the thread portion of the yoke by pinching the head
of the bolt.
[0012] According to the former method of those assembling methods,
for the convenience of fastening the nut, after the bolt has been
inserted from backward, the front side end of the bolt is protruded
on the near side, or after the bolt has been inserted from the near
side, the universal joint is rotated through 180 degrees, and it is
required that the nut be set on the near side. According to the
latter method of fastening the bolt, however, the bolt is inserted
from the near side and fastened as it is. Therefore the latter
method has more of operability than the former method.
[0013] According to the assembling method of fastening the bolt on
the near side, however, the nut is required to be fitted to the
yoke so as not to come off or rotate. Further, there is a drawback
in which a shaft 203 inserted into a yoke 201 is, as shown in FIG.
23, easy to come off till the bolt is inserted and at first screwed
into the nut, and hence the assembly needs an operation while
supporting the shaft 203 with the hands.
[0014] Such being the case, there have been proposed several
assembling methods capable of fastening the bolt without supporting
the shaft with the hands. Patent Publication No.2735260 discloses
that a special nut including a rotation stopper and a
bolt-insert-sided portion formed comparatively long, is slidably
held in a nut hole of the yoke by use of a leaf spring member, and,
after inserting the shaft into the yoke, the shaft is held by the
bolt-insert-sided portion of the nut.
[0015] Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,350 discloses that a temporary
holding clip taking substantially a C-shape and including an
engagement portion defined as a protruded member with its one side
end warped outwards, is fitted into one side end of the yoke with
this engagement portion being set inwards, when the shaft is
inserted, the engagement portion is pushed to permit the shaft to
pass through, the warp of the engagement portion elastically
reverts after the shaft has passed through, and this engagement
portion engages with the shaft, thus temporarily holding the
shaft.
[0016] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
No.11-280777 discloses that a shaft 203 is, as shown in FIG. 24,
let through a hole 214 of a temporary stopper 208 for joint, when
set in a concave portion of a yoke 201, a pawl 215 of the joint
temporary stopper 208 is caught by a rear surface side of the yoke
201, and the shaft 203 is thereby temporarily held.
[0017] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
No.09-196413 discloses that a clip 220 having, as shown in FIG. 26,
a protruded portion 220a elastically shiftable in an arrow
direction, is internally fixedly fitted into a bolt hole 211e of a
yoke 201 as shown in FIG. 25, when the shaft 203 is inserted from
an arrow direction, the protruded portion 220a is intruded into the
bolt hole 211e to permit the shaft 203 to pass through, when the
shaft 203 is fitted into the concave portion of the yoke 201, the
protruded portion 220a elastically reverts to its original shape,
and the front side end of the protruded portion engages with the
shaft 203.
[0018] The Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.11-280781
discloses that, when inserting the shaft protruded portions 330a
provided in a bolt through-hole 330b of a clip 330 are intruded
into the bolt hole of the yoke, as shown in FIG. 27, to permit the
shaft to passthrough, however, when the shaft is fitted into the
concave portion of the yoke, the protruded portions 330a
elastically return to prevent the shaft from separating from the
yoke.
[0019] Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication
No.6-78630 discloses that engagement holes are formed two internal
side surfaces facing to each other within the yoke, engagement
protrusions each having a size suited to fitting into each of the
engagement holes are provided on an engagement cylinder externally
fitted to the front side end of the shaft, when the shaft
externally fitted with the engagement cylinder is inserted into the
yoke, the engagement protrusions are fitted into the engagement
hole, and the shaft is thus temporarily held by the yoke.
[0020] Among the conventional shaft temporary holding structures of
the lateral inset type yokes, however, the structure disclosed in
Patent Publication No.2735260 has such a problem that the special
nut formed with the rotation stopper involves a high cost, and
besides the nut might come off when screwed by applying the
bolt.
[0021] Further, the following is a problem inherent in the
structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,350. A temporary holding
clip 421 is, as shown in FIG. 28, attached to one side end of a
yoke 401, and a spacing d from the clip 421 needs to be provided
for permitting the shaft 403 to pass through. This spacing d,
however, becomes large when considered in terms of a size of the
clip 421, and the two side ends of the yoke 401 diverge if the
shaft 403 is set in this position. Therefore, it takes an extra
time corresponding to the operation of fastening these two side
ends by the bolt.
[0022] Moreover, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Publication No.11-280777 illustrated in FIG. 24, a drawback is
caused, wherein it is necessary that the assembly be done after
letting the shaft 203 through the hole 214 of the joint temporary
stopper 208, and the shaft 203 can not be inserted while the joint
temporary stopper 208 is kept fitted to the yoke 201.
[0023] Further, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Publication No.11-030241 illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, there is
caused the following drawback. The front side end of the bolt
catches the protruded portion 220a of the clip 220 when inserting
the bolt, and hence the clip 220 might come off inwardly of the
yoke 201. Further, when the clip 220 is attached to the yoke 201,
there is no process of positioning the clip 20 in a rotational
direction of the bolt in order to determine a direction of the
protruded portion 220a, and hence an arbitrary positioning process
must be executed.
[0024] In addition, according to Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No.11-280781, as shown in FIG. 29,a fitting portion 530c
of the clip is inserted and fitted into a nut hole 511d of the
yoke. Therefore, the nut hole 511d is required to be formed larger
than a diameter of a bolt 506. For this reason, a backlash of the
bolt 506 is large, with the result that a deviation easily occurs
in centering of the shaft when assembled. Moreover, when fastening
the bolt 506, the fitting portion 530c is interposed between the
bolt 506 and the yoke, and this therefore causes a slack of the
bolt.
[0025] Further, a problem inherent in Japanese Utility Model
Laid-Open Publication No.06-78630 is that the engagement hole needs
to be formed in the internal side surface of the yoke, and working
for this formation is not easy and leads to an increase in
cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] It is a first object of the present invention to provide a
connection structure of a yoke and a shaft, which is capable of
screwing a bolt into a yoke by a simple operation and of performing
centering of the shaft in a construction where the bolt is inserted
from a near side and fastened as it is.
[0027] To accomplish this object, according to one aspect of the
present invention, a connection structure of a yoke and a shaft
comprises a shaft including a pair of flat surfaces formed in
parallel to each other on an outer peripheral surface of a front
side end thereof, a yoke having a connection portion, formed at one
side end thereof, for connecting the shaft, and having the other
side end connected to a universal joint. The connection portion
includes holding members, for holding the flat surfaces of the
shaft, taking substantially a U-shape in section within a plane
orthogonal to an axial direction thereof, a screw hole formed in
the vicinity of one side end of the U-shape, and a bolt hole formed
in the vicinity of the other side end thereof, concentric with the
screw hole and having a diameter larger than the screw hole. This
connection structure functions to insert from the bolt hole a bolt
externally fitted with a cam member having a fitting hole by
inserting the shaft in between the holding members, then screw the
bolt into the screw hole, thus join the shaft to the joint portion,
and perform centering of the shaft with the rotations of the cam
member. The cam member is movable on the bolt facing at least a
part of the shaft in the axial direction of the bolt, and the bolt
is provided with a frictional engagement portion frictionally
engaging with the cam member and rotating the cam member when the
bolt is screwed into the screw hole and fastened thereto.
[0028] Further, according to the present invention, the part of the
shaft may include a screw portion of the bolt, the frictional
engagement portion of the bolt may include a large-diameter portion
having a diameter larger than a diameter of the fitting hole of the
cam member that is formed between the screw portion and a head of
the bolt, and the large-diameter portion may be press-fitted into
the fitting hole when the bolt is screwed into the screw hole and
fastened thereto.
[0029] According another aspect of the present invention, a
connection structure of a yoke and a shaft comprises a shaft
including a pair of flat surfaces formed in parallel to each other
on an outer peripheral surface of a front side end thereof, a yoke
having a connection portion, formed at one side end thereof, for
connecting the shaft, and having the other side end connected to a
universal joint. The connection portion includes holding members,
for holding the flat surfaces of the shaft, taking substantially a
U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an axial direction
thereof, a screw hole formed in the vicinity of one side end of the
U-shape, and a bolt hole formed in the vicinity of the other side
end thereof, concentric with the screw hole and having a diameter
larger than the screw hole. This connection structure functions to
insert from the bolt hole a bolt externally fitted with a cam
member having a fitting hole by inserting the shaft in between the
holding members, then screw the bolt into the screw hole, thus
connect the shaft to the joint portion, and perform centering of
the shaft with the rotations of the cam member. An inside diameter
of the fitting hole of the cam member has a dimension enough to be
movable with respect to a screw portion of the bolt. The bolt is
provided with a large-diameter portion between the screw portion
and the head, having such an outside diameter larger than an inside
diameter of the fitting hole and a length as to be press-fittable
into the fitting hole and to generate a frictional resisting force
capable of centering after being press-fitted, and the screw
portion is set to such a length that at least the large-diameter
portion is not press-fitted into the fitting hole till a front side
end of the screw portion is at first screwed into the screw
hole.
[0030] With the construction described above, when the front side
end of the screw portion of the bolt is at first screwed into the
screw hole, the cam member is still movable on the bolt in the
axial direction of the bolt, so that the bolt can be lightly
screwed in twice or three times by pinching the head with the
fingers. Thereafter, when the bolt is further screwed and thus
fastened, the frictional engagement portion of the bolt
frictionally engages with the cam member, thereby generating a
frictional resisting force. Therefore, the bolt can not be screwed
by fingers but can be screwed by a tool. The cam member thereby
rotates with the rotations of the bolt, and the cam member intrudes
the shaft into the concave portion of the U-shaped holding members,
thus performing the centering.
[0031] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a
shaft temporary holding clip of a lateral insert type yoke that is
capable of temporarily holding the shaft so as not to come off till
a bolt is screwed into a nut after the shaft has been inserted into
the yoke, and preventing an interference with a fastening operation
of the bolt with a simple construction.
[0032] To accomplish the second object, according to a further
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shaft
temporary holding clip of a lateral insert type yoke, for
connecting a shaft including a pair of flat surfaces formed in
parallel to each other on an outer peripheral surface of a front
side end thereof to its one side end, and connecting the other side
end thereof to a universal joint. The clip comprises holding
members, of which a portion for joining the shaft is formed in a
U-shape in section within a plane orthogonal to an axial direction
thereof, for holding the flat surfaces of the shaft, a nut hole,
formed in the vicinity of a side end of one of the holding members,
into which a nut is internally fixedly fitted, a bolt hole, formed
in the vicinity of a side end of the other of the holding members,
concentric with the nut hole and having a diameter larger than the
nut hole, the clip working to temporarily hold the shaft till the
bolt is inserted from the bolt hole and screwed into the nut after
the shaft has been inserted in between the holding members, and
being attached to a predetermined position of the holding members,
a fitting portion externally fitted to a side end of one of the
holding members inwards from outside along its configuration, a
support portion formed so as to protrude from an internal side end
portion of the fitting portion in a direction more inclined inwards
by a predetermined angle than in a direction orthogonal to the
axial direction of the bolt, of which a flexure acting in an outer
direction with the internal side end serving as a fulcrum falls
within a limit of elasticity, and an engagement portion integrally
formed at a front side end of the support portion, and internally
fitted into the nut hole or the bolt hole so as to be movable in
the axial direction of the bolt. A part of the shaft slides while
pushing the support portion when inserting the shaft in between the
holding members. The engagement portion thereby moves back into the
nut hole or the bolt hole to permit the shaft to pass through, and
when the shaft is intruded into a concave area between the holding
members, the engagement portion elastically returns to an original
position and engages with the shaft.
[0033] With this construction, the shaft is inserted in between the
holding members intruded into the concave portion of the holding
members, at which stage the pressing of the shaft upon the support
portion is canceled. The engagement portion thereby elastically
returns to its previous position and engages with (temporary holds)
the shaft. Accordingly, the bolt is screwed into the nut with a
single hand without supporting the shaft with the hands, and can be
fastened as it is.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B are sectional views each showing
configurations of a lateral insert type yoke and a fastening bolt
in a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a view showing a whole construction of a universal
joint including the lateral insert type yoke;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration of the
fastening bolt;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a top view showing a cam member;
[0038] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a step of connecting
the lateral insert type yoke and the shaft;
[0039] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a step of connecting
the lateral insert type yoke and the shaft;
[0040] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a step of connecting
the lateral insert type yoke and the shaft;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.
7;
[0042] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing configurations of the
lateral insert type yoke and the fastening bolt in a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing configurations of the
lateral insert type yoke and the fastening bolt in a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing configurations of the
lateral insert type yoke and the fastening bolt in a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIGS. 12A and 12B are a front view showing a shaft temporary
holding clip of the lateral insert type yoke and a sectional view
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12A in a fifth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0046] FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a configuration in
a state where the temporary holding clip is attached to the lateral
insert type yoke in FIGS. 12A and 12B;
[0047] FIG. 14 is a development view showing an engagement portion
and a support portion of the temporary holding clip;
[0048] FIG. 15A is a front view showing the temporary holding clip
in a first modification of the fifth embodiment of the present
invention; FIG. 15B is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 15A; FIG. 15C is a partial sectional view showing a state
where a nut is attached to the lateral insert type yoke;
[0049] FIG. 16A is a front view showing the temporary holding clip
in a second modification of the fifth embodiment of the present
invention; FIG. 16B is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 16A; FIG. 15C is a partial sectional view showing a state
where the nut is attached to the lateral insert type yoke;
[0050] FIG. 17 is a development view showing the support portion
and the engagement portion in the second modification;
[0051] FIGS. 18A and 18B are a side sectional view showing a
configuration in a state before inserting the shaft into the yoke,
and a sectional view showing a front part thereof;
[0052] FIGS. 19A and 19B are a side sectional view showing a
configuration in a state where the shaft starts being inserted into
the yoke, and a sectional view showing a front part thereof;
[0053] FIGS. 20A and 20B are a side sectional view showing a
configuration in a state where the shaft is inserted into the yoke
and passes through a temporary holding clip, and a sectional view
showing a front part thereof;
[0054] FIGS. 21A and 21B are a side sectional view showing a
configuration in a state where the shaft is intruded into the yoke
and secured by the temporary holding clip, and a sectional view
showing a front part thereof;
[0055] FIG. 22 is a side sectional view showing the lateral insert
type yoke and the shaft temporary holding clip in a sixth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a deviation of the
shaft from the yoke in the prior art;
[0057] FIG. 24 is a perspective exploded view showing the lateral
insert type yoke and the temporary holding clip in the prior
art;
[0058] FIG. 25 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of
the yoke fitted with the temporary holding clip in the prior
art;
[0059] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the temporary holding
clip in the prior art;
[0060] FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the temporary holding
clip in the prior art;
[0061] FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing a state where the
temporary holding clip is fitted to the yoke in the prior art;
and
[0062] FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a state where a part
of the temporary holding clip is inserted into a nut hole of the
yoke in the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0063] A first embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0064] FIGS. 1A and 1B are sectional views each showing a
configuration of a lateral insert type yoke and a fastening bolt in
a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view
showing a whole configuration of a universal joint including the
lateral insert type yoke. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a
configuration of the fastening bolt. FIG. 4 is a top-view showing a
cam member. FIGS. 5 through 8 are explanatory views showing steps
of connecting the lateral insert type yoke to a shaft.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 2, a yoke 4 fixed by welding or a screw to
a front side end of the shaft 5, shown on the right side in FIG. 2,
such as a steering shaft etc, is connected via a cross shaft 6 to a
yoke 1 joined to a shaft 3 shown on the left side in FIG. 2. Four
pieces of side ends of the spider 6 are connected in a
possible-of-rolling manner to front side ends of the yokes 1, 4
through needle bearings (not shown) provided within a bearing cup
6a.
[0066] The yoke 1 includes a connection portion 11, for connecting
the shaft 3, provided at a side end opposite to the connecting side
to the yoke 4. The shaft 3 is inserted into this connection portion
11 and fastened by the fastening bolt 2, thereby connecting the
shaft 3 to the connection portion 11.
[0067] This connection portion 11 of the yoke 1 is, as shown in
FIG. 1A, formed substantially in a U-shape (which appears to be an
invert U-shape in FIG. 1A) in section within the plane orthogonal
to an axial direction of the shaft 3. The connection portion 11 is
constructed of holding members 11a, 11b extending in parallel
within the U-shape, and a curved portion 11c corresponding to a
concave portion of the U-shape. The holding members 11a, 11b define
an opening 11f formed at the side surface (the lower surface side
in FIG. 1A) of the shaft 3. Bolt holes 11d, lie are provided in the
vicinities of the front side ends of the holding members 11a, 11b.
A nut 7 formed with a screw hole 7a is fixedly fitted inside to one
bolt hole 11d. The other bolt hole lie has an inside diameter
concentric with the nut 7 and slightly larger than an inside
diameter of the bolt 11d.
[0068] The shaft 3 has a pair of flat surfaces 3a formed in
parallel to each other along its outer peripheral surface at the
front side end thereof. As shown in FIG. 1A, the shaft takes a
sectional configuration suited to the concave of the U-shape.
[0069] On the other hand, the fastening bolt 2 (which will
hereinafter be simply referred to as the bolt 2) penetrating the
bolt holes 11d, 11e of the holding members 11a, 11b, includes ahead
2a serving as a fastening portion, a screw portion 2c constructed
of a portion formed with a screw and a proximal portion formed with
no screw but having the same outside diameter R1 as the diameter of
the screwed portion, and a large-diameter portion 2b defined as an
intermediate portion between the screw portion 2c and the head 2a
and having a diameter R2 slightly larger than the diameter R1 of
the screw portion 2c (R1<R2). A side end, on the side of the
screw portion 2c, of the large-diameter portion 2b is tapered
toward its front end.
[0070] A washer 8 is, as shown in FIG. 1B, fitted externally to the
fastening bolt 2 so as to be adjacent to the head 2a. A cam member
9 is likewise fitted externally to the bolt 2 so as to be adjacent
to the washer 8. A recess 8a having a size suited to receiving an
engagement portion 9c of the cam member 9, is formed in the
surface, facing to the cam member 9, of the washer 8. An inside
diameter of the washer 8 is set slightly larger than the outside
diameter R2 of the large-diameter portion 2b of the bolt 2 so that
the washer 8 is movable along the large-diameter portion 2b.
[0071] The cam member 9 has a cam portion 9a (see FIG. 8) formed
decentered from the axial center of the bolt 2, and a bolt hole
fitting portion 9b having a diameter suited to make a movable
internal fitting into the bolt hole 11e. The cam member 9 further
has the engagement portion 9c having and outside diameter larger
than the inside diameter of the bolt hole lie and engaging with the
outer side surface of the holding member 11b. The cam member 9 is
provided with a fitting hole 9d (see FIG. 1B) that fitted on the
bolt 2. When this cam member 9 rotates, the cam portion 9a pushes
the side surface of the shaft 3. As shown in FIG. 3, an inside
diameter r of the fitting hole 9d (of which a position is indicated
by a broken line in FIG. 3) of the cam member 9, is set slightly
larger than the outside diameter R1 of the screw portion 2c of the
bolt 2 (r>R1). The cam member 9 is movable in the axial
direction on the screw portion 2c, however, the inside diameter r
is set slightly smaller than the outside diameter R2 of the
large-diameter portion 2b of the bolt 2 (r<R2),with the result
that the large-diameter portion 2b is press-fitted into the fitting
hole 9d of the cam member 9 with a frictional resisting force. The
cam member 9 is therefore composed of a material exhibiting a
predetermined elasticity enough to make this press-fitting
attainable.
[0072] Further, the cam member 9 is, as shown in FIG. 4, formed
with two notches 9f extending in the axial direction in a portion
(indicated by an arrowhead B in FIG. 8) having a comparatively
small thickness, and these notched portions are bent inwards, i.e.,
towards the bolt 2, thus providing a stopper member 9e. this
stopper member 9e functions as a stopper so that the front side end
thereof is caught by a thread ridge of the bolt 2 and the cam
member 9 does not come off the bolt 2.
[0073] Based on the construction described above, a step of
inserting and fixing the shaft to the connection portion 11 of the
yoke 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 through 7. As
shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 3 is inserted sideways via the opening
11f into the curved portion 11c of the connection portion 11, and
thereafter the bolt 2 fitted thereon with the washer 8 and the cam
member 9 is inserted from outside (from the right side in FIG. 5)
into the bolt hole 11e of the holding member 11b. Then, the front
side end of the screw portion 2c of the bolt 2 comes into contact
with the screw hole 7a of the nut 7 via the other bolt hole 11d. At
this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the thinner portion (indicated by
the arrowhead B in FIG. 8) of the cam member 9 is brought into
contact with the side surface of the shaft 2 or stops in the
illustrated position in a non-contact state. In fact, the position
of the shaft 2 is not fixed when inserting the shaft 2, and hence
the cam member 9, if kept contact with the side surface of the
shaft 2, halts in this position by a frictional resisting force
thereof. Simultaneously with this, the large-diameter portion 2b of
the bolt 2 does not yet arrive at (does not come into contact with)
the opening edge of the fitting hole 9d, on the side of the washer
8, of the cam member 9, and there is a spacing d so far. Then, the
screw member 2 is movable with respect to the fitting hole 9d, and
hence no load is applied on the rotation of the bolt 2.
Accordingly, the bolt is rotated by pinching the head 2a with
fingers, and the front side end thereof can be well screwed twice
or three times into the screw hole of the nut 7.
[0074] When the bolt 2 continued to be thus rotated by the fingers,
as shown in FIG. 6, the large-diameter portion 2b of the bolt 2
enters the fitting hole 9d of the cam member 9 and impinges on the
opening edge thereof, and the large-diameter portion 2b pushes the
cam member 9, with the result that the cam member 9 moves together
with the screw portion 2c in an arrow direction A. At this time, if
the cam member 9 is kept contact with the side surface (the lower
surface side in FIG. 6) of the shaft 2, the frictional resisting
force is generated, and the load is applied on the X-directional
movement of the cam member 9. Therefore, a tool is needed for
rotating the bolt. Then, the engagement portion 9c of the cam
member 9 engages with the outer side surface of the holding member
11b, whereby the X-directional movement of the cam member 9
stops.
[0075] Even when trying to further rotate the bolt 2 by pinching
the head 2a with the fingers from the state where the engagement
portion 9c of the cam member 9 engages therewith, the
large-diameter portion 2b moves to forcibly enter the fitting hole
9d because of the outside diameter of the large-diameter portion 2b
of the bolt being larger than the inside diameter of the cam member
9, and therefore the bolt 2 can not be rotated due to a large load
generated by the frictional resisting force. Such being the case,
when the bolt 2 is rotated and fastened by use of a tool such as an
impact trench etc, because of the front side end of the
large-diameter portion 2b being tapered, as indicated by an
arrowhead C in FIG. 7, the large-diameter portion 2b is
press-fitted deep into the fitting hole 9d, with the result that
the cam member 9 is, as shown also in FIG. 8, rotated in an arrow
direction D with the rotations of the bolt 2. With the rotations of
the cam member 9, the side surface of the shaft 3 is pushed up and
pressed against the curved portion 3c with no spacing, and
centering (positioning at the axial center) is thus carried
out.
[0076] At this time, when the shaft 3 is pushed up to the limit by
the pressing of the cam portion 9a, the cam portion 9a stops
rotating there, and thereafter only the bolt 2 rotates resisting
the frictional resisting force. Thus, the bolt 2 is further
rotated, and, as shown in FIG. 7, the recess 8a f the washer 8 is
eventually fitted to the engagement portion 9c of the cam member 9.
At the same time, the bolt 2 is screwed deep till the washer 8
impinges on the outer side surface of the holding member 11b,
thereby completing the fixation of the shaft 3 to the yoke
Accordingly, the screw portion 2c of the bolt 2 must have at least
a length enough to prevent the press-fitting even when the
large-diameter portion 2b comes into contact with the fitting hole
9d till the front side end of the screw portion 2c is at first
screwed into the nut 7. Besides, a relative degree of the outside
diameter R2 of the large-diameter portion 2b of the bolt 2 to a
axial length thereof, and a relative degree of the inside diameter
r of the fitting hole 9d of the cam member 9 to its length, must be
set to degrees enough to generate a frictional resisting force to
such an extent that the centering of the shaft 3 can be attained by
press-fitting the large-diameter portion 2b into the fitting hole
9d and rotating the cam member 9. For example, if both of the
outside diameter R2 and the length of the large diameter portion 2b
are small, there is not caused the frictional resisting force for
pushing up the shaft 3 to such a degree that the centering can be
done, and only the bolt 2 is rotated and screwed in.
[0077] Further, when the cam member 9 is intruded along the side
surface of the shaft 3 without rotating, as shown in FIG. 8, the
cam member 9 be, it is preferable, positioned with respect to the
bolt 2 so that a portion (indicated by the arrowhead B), having a
minimum operation quantity, of the cam portion 9a, in other words,
the portion provided with the stopper portion 9e is positioned
facing to the side surface of the shaft 3. For instance, referring
to FIG. 5, it is ideal that the bolt 2 be screwed with the cam
member 9 being externally fitted so that the stopper portion 9e
thereof is disposed upwards.
[0078] Note that the cam member 9 rotates with the rotations of the
bolt 2, the cam portion 9a pushes up the shaft 3 to the limit, and,
after the rotations of the cam portion 9a have stopped, only the
bolt 2 rotates, at which time the large-diameter portion 2b of the
bolt 2 must rotate resisting a high pressure (the frictional
resisting force) of the fitting hole 9d having the smaller inside
diameter, and hence a larger force is needed for screwing the bolt
2 in.
[0079] Thus, when the bolt 2 is at first screwed into the nut with
the fingers, the cam member 9 does not yet come into contact with
the large-diameter portion 2b, so that the bolt 2 can be easily
screwed in by rotating the head 2a with the fingers without any
load being applied on the rotations of the bolt 2. Thereafter, when
the bolt 2 is further screwed in, the large-diameter portion 2b is
press-fitted by the high pressure into the fitting hole 9d of the
cam member 9. Hence, the cam portion 2a of the cam member 9 rotates
with the rotations of the bolt 2 to push the shaft 3 up to the
curved portion 11c, thus performing the centering of the shaft
3.
[0080] Next, other embodiments will be explained with reference to
the FIGS. 9 through 11. A second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9
is substantially the same as the first embodiment discussed above,
and the same members are marked with the same numerals. A different
point is that a cam member 90 is provided with a washer portion 90b
incorporating the functions of the engagement portion 9c and the
washer 8 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment, and the separate
washer 8 is eliminated. Accordingly, this cam member 90 is
constructed of a cam portion 90a and the washer portion 90b and
composed of a metal.
[0081] In this construction, the washer portion 90b engages with
the outer side surface of the holding member 11b, and the bolt 2 is
screwed in till the head 2a impinges on an outer side surface (a
right side end surface in FIG. 9) of the washer portion 90b. Other
steps of fixing the shaft 3 to the joint portion 11 with the bolt 2
by fastening it, are the same as those in the first embodiment, and
hence their repetitive explanations are omitted.
[0082] A third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 is substantially
the same as the first embodiment, and the same members are marked
with the same numerals. A different point is that the outer side
surface of the holding member 11b is formed with a counter bore 11g
having a size suited to fitting of the engagement portion 9c (see
FIG. 1) of the cam member 9, the washer portion 2d is provided
integrally with the head 2a on the side of the large-diameter
portion 2b of the head 2a f the bolt 2, and the washer 8 (see FIG.
1) is eliminated.
[0083] In this configuration, the engagement portion 9c of the cam
member 9 is fitted into the counterbore 11g and thus engages
therewith, and the bolt 2 is screwed in till the washer portion 2d
impinges on the outer side surface (the right side end surface in
FIG. 10). Other steps of fixing the shaft 3 to the joint portion 11
with the bolt 2 by fastening it, are the same as those in the first
embodiment, and hence their repetitive explanations are
omitted.
[0084] A fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 is substantially
the same as the first embodiment, and the same members are marked
with the same numerals. A different point is that the engagement
portion 9c of the cam member 9 is eliminated, a bolt hole fitting
portion 91b having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the
engagement portion 9c and slightly larger than the outside diameter
of the bolt hole fitting portion 9b, is provided as a substitute in
the cam member 91, and an inside diameter of a bolt hole 11h is set
slightly larger than the inside diameter of the bolt hole lie (see
FIG. 1). The cam member 91 is constructed of the cam member 91a and
the bolt hole fitting portion 91b. A width k of the bolt hole
fitting portion 91b is, however, set the same as a width m, in the
axial direction of the bolt, of the holding member 11b (k=m).
[0085] In this configuration, when the bolt 2 is screwed in till
the bolt hole fitting portion 91b is fitted into the bolt hole 11h,
the edge of the front side end (the left side end in FIG. 11)
impinges on the opposite surface of the shaft 3 and therefore stops
there. The bolt 2 is thereafter screwed in till the washer portion
2d impinges on the outer side surface (the left side end surface in
FIG. 11) of the holding member 11b. Other steps of fixing the shaft
3 to the connection portion 11 with the bolt 2 by fastening it, are
the same as those in the first embodiment, and hence their
repetitive explanations are omitted.
[0086] As discussed above, according to the first through fourth
embodiments, the cam member is movable in the axial direction of
the bolt at the bolt portion facing to at least a part of the shaft
inserted in between the holding members of the yoke. When the front
side end of the crew portion of the bolt is brought into contact
with the screw hole, the cam member is movable on the bolt, and
hence the bolt can be at first easily screwed in twice or three
times by pinching the head thereof with the fingers. At the same
time, the bolt is provided with the frictional engagement portion
for rotating the cam member by frictionally engaging with the cam
member when fastening the bolt screwed into the screw hole, and the
centering of the shaft can be attained with the rotations of the
cam member by thereafter fastening the bolt screwed therein.
[0087] Thus, according to the first through fourth embodiments,
when the front side end of the screw portion of the bolt is at
first screwed into the screw hole of the holding member, the cam
member is still movable on the bolt in the axial direction of the
bolt, so that the bolt can be lightly screwed in twice or three
times by pinching the head with the fingers. Thereafter, when the
bolt is further screwed and fastened by using the tool, the
frictional engagement portion of the bolt frictionally engages with
the cam member, thereby generating the frictional resisting force.
With this frictional resisting force, the cam member rotates with
the rotations of the bolt, and the cam member intrudes the shaft
into the recessed portion of the U-shaped holding members, thus
performing the centering. Accordingly, the bolt can be inserted
through the bolt hole provided on the nearer side and fastened as
it is, whereby the operation of connecting the shaft to the
universal joint can be facilitated, and a certainty and reliability
of the operation can be enhanced.
[0088] FIG. 12A is a front view showing a shaft temporary holding
clip of the lateral insert type yoke in a fifth embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 12B is a sectional view taken along the
line A-A in FIG. 12A. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a
state where the temporary holding clip is attached to the lateral
insert type yoke. FIG. 14 is a partial development view showing the
temporary holding clip. FIGS. 15A-15C and 16A-16C are views each
similar to FIG. 12A, 12B, showing first and second modifications of
the fifth embodiment. FIG. 17 is a partial development view showing
the second modification. FIGS. 18A, 18B through 21A, 21B are side
sectional views each showing an operation of the temporary holding
clip, and partial sectional views as viewed from the front. FIG. 22
is a side sectional view showing the lateral insert type yoke and
the shaft temporary holding clip in a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, a shaft temporary holding
clip 110 (which will hereinafter be referred to as the clip 110)
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
includes an engagement portion 101a taking a cylindrical shape, a
rectangular support portion 110b for supporting at its one side end
this engagement portion 110a, and a fitting portion 110c (see FIG.
12B) bent in an L-shape, extending in continuity to the other side
end of the support portion 110b, and having a nut fitting hole
110e. These components are integrally formed by their being punched
out of one metal sheet exhibiting an elasticity.
[0090] FIG. 13 shows a state where this clip 110 is fitted to the
lateral insert type yoke. A portion of the yoke 101 at which to
connect the shaft 102 is formed substantially in a U-shape (which
appears to be an invert U-shape in FIG. 13) in section within the
plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 103. The yoke
101 is constructed of holding members 111a, 111b extending in
parallel within the U-shape, and a curved portion 111c
corresponding to the concave of the U-shape. The holding members
111a, 111b define an opening 111f formed at the side surface (the
lower surface side in FIG. 13) of the shaft 103. A nut hole 111d is
formed in the vicinity of the front side end of the holding member
111a. A bolt hole 111e is formed in the vicinity of the front side
end of the holding member 111b. A nut 107 formed with a screw hole
is internally fixedly fitted in the nut hole 111d. The bolt hole
111e is concentric with the nut 107 and has an inside diameter
slightly larger than an inside diameter of the nut hole 111d.
[0091] The shaft 103 has a pair of flat surfaces 103a formed in
parallel to each other along its outer peripheral surface at the
front side end thereof. As shown in FIG. 13, the shaft takes a
sectional configuration as shown in FIG. 13.
[0092] The fitting portion 110c of the clip 110 is fitted on the
nut 107 so that the nut fitting hole 110e is fitted on the nut 107
and so as to be fitted on the side end of the holding member 111a
inwards from outside with no gap along its configuration.
[0093] The support portion 110b is, as shown also in FIG. 12B, so
formed as to protrude from an internal side end portion 110d of the
fitting portion 110c in a direction more inclined inward by a
predetermined angle .alpha. than in a direction orthogonal to the
axial direction of the bolt. The support portion 110b can be, as
shown in FIG. 13, bent in an outside direction (in an arrowhead
direction B) with the internal side end portion 110d serving as a
fulcrum till the support portion 110b comes into contact with an
inside surface of the holding member 111a. A bending range thereof
is, however, within a limit of elasticity, and the support portion
110b is constructed to, when a force applied is removed,
elastically return to its original position.
[0094] The cylindrical engagement portion 110a is formed by bending
in a cylindrical shape a metal sheet cut in a configuration as
shown in FIG. 14. The engagement portion 110a is formed integrally
with the front side end of the support portion 110b, and the
engagement portion 110a is so disposed movably in the axial
direction of the bolt as to be fitted in the nut hole 111d. When no
force is exerted on the support portion 110b, at least a half of
the cylindrical portion of the engagement portion 110a is kept
fitted in the nut hole 111d. Then, the engagement portion 110a
engages at its upper side end in FIG. 13 with the shaft 103
inserted in the curved portion 111c of the yoke 101, thereby
supporting (temporarily holding) the shaft 103 so as not come off
the yoke 101.
[0095] It is required that an outside diameter of this engagement
portion 110a be set slightly smaller than the inside diameter of
the nut hole 111d to such an extent that the engagement portion
110a is movable in the axial direction of the bolt when fitted into
the nut hole 111d. It is therefore necessary that a length of the
support portion 110b in a longitudinal direction be set so such a
dimension that the engagement portion 110a is smoothly movable
within the nut hole 111d. Further, an inside diameter of the
engagement portion 111a is required to be set slightly larger than
the outside diameter of the bolt to such a degree as not to
interfere with fastening the unillustrated bolt.
[0096] Note that the concave portion configured by the fitting
portion 110c and the support portion 110b of the clip 110 is
required to set to such a dimension and configuration as to fit on
the front side end of the holding member 111a of the yoke 101 with
no gap therebetween.
[0097] Moreover, the fitting portion 110c of the clip 110 may be,
because of the engagement portion 110a being as shown in FIG. 13
caught inside by the nut hole 111d, set to such a length as to get
contact with the lower side end of the nut 107 in FIG. 13 by
cutting a portion including the nut fitting hole 110e. The fitting
portion 110c may thus take a simpler configuration. The
configuration having the nut fitting hole 110e is, however, more
certain of fitness and preferable.
[0098] As discussed above, the engagement portion 110a takes the
cylindrical shape in the fifth embodiment, however, the
configuration of the engagement portion is not limited to the
cylindrical shape. FIGS. 15A-15C and 16A-16C, respectively show
first and second modifications of the fifth embodiment.
[0099] In the first modification shown in FIGS. 15A-15C, an
engagement portion 110a' of the clip 110 is formed in a square
cylindrical shape in place of the cylindrical shape. Configurations
of other portions of the clip 110 are the same as those in FIGS.
12A and 12B. Note that the nut hole 111d of the yoke 101 may
preferably be formed as a square hole in the first
modification.
[0100] FIGS. 16A-16C show the second modification of the fifth
embodiment. In the second modification, a holding portion 110a" of
the clip 110 is formed substantially in a U-shape open upwards. The
holding portion 110a" in the second modification may be formed by
bending substantially in the U-shape a metal sheet cut in a
developed configuration as shown in FIG. 17. The holding portion
110a", of which the developed configuration is simple is easy to be
worked and can be manufactured at a low cost. In the second
modification also, the nut hole lid of the yoke 101 may preferably
be formed as a square hole.
[0101] Both of the first and second modifications have the same
constructions other than the above as those shown in FIGS. 12A and
12B.
[0102] Next, an operation of inserting the shaft 103 into the yoke
101 fitted with the clip 110 will be described referring to FIGS.
18 through 21. The expression of the [upward, downward, leftward
and rightward] directions is effective in only the reference
drawings.
[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 18, when the shaft 103 is not yet
inserted into the yoke 101, substantially a half of the engagement
portion 110a, as in the state shown in FIG. 13, becomes protruded
more inwards than the internal side surface of the holding portion
111a while being internally fitted to the nut hole 111d. Next, as
shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, when the shaft 103 starts being
inserted from an opening 111f of the holding portion 111a, a front
side end of the flat surface 103a disposed left side of the shaft
103 impinges on the support portion 110b inclined to the internal
side surface of the holding portion 111a, but is slid as it is
while further pushing the shaft 103. At this time, the support
portion 110b is elastically pushed bent in an arrow direction B,
and the engagement portion 110a moves back into the nut hole 111d,
whereby the support portion 110b is brought into contact with the
internal side surface of the holding portion 111a and becomes
parallel therewith. This therefore results in permitting the shaft
103 to pass through. Then, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 29B, the shaft
103 is intruded as it is deep into the curved portion 111c of the
yoke 101.
[0104] Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 21A and 21B, when the shaft
103 is intruded up to the curved portion 111c, a lower side surface
103b of the shaft 103 is positioned more upwards than the upper
side end of the engagement portion 110a, and hence a pressing force
of the shaft 103 upon the engagement portion 110a disappears, with
the result that the engagement portion 110a is returned in an arrow
direction C to its original position by dint of an elastic force of
the support portion 110b. Accordingly, the upper side end of the
engagement portion 110a is positioned under the lower side surface
103b of the shaft 103 and comes into contact therewith, whereby the
shaft 103 is engaged (temporarily held) so as not to come off
downwards.
[0105] Thereafter, the unillustrated bolt is inserted from the bolt
hole 111e, and the engagement portion 110a is let through it and
screwed in the screw hole of the nut 7. The inside diameter of the
engagement portion 111a is, however, set slightly larger than the
outside diameter of the bolt, and hence, when fastening the bolt,
the fastening operation can be easily carried out without any
interference of the bolt with the engagement portion 110a.
[0106] In the yoke 101 fitted with the clip 110 having the
construction described above, the nut 107 is fixed inside to the
nut hole 111d and does not therefore come off when pushed by the
bolt, and there is no necessity of manufacturing a rotation
stopper. The clip 110 can be formed by the punch-out from the
single metal sheet with the simple configuration. This working is
easy, and the clip 110 can be manufactured at the low cost.
Further, when the shaft 103 is inserted into the yoke 101, the
engagement portion 110a enters the nut hole 111d, and therefore,
the gap formed, as shown in FIG. 28, between the shaft 103 and the
clip 110 may be small.
[0107] Then, unlike the prior art, there is not step of fitting the
clip 110 to the shaft 103 and thereafter inserting the shaft 103
into the yoke 101. The shaft 103 can be inserted directly into the
yoke 101 fitted with the clip 110. Further, unlike the prior art,
neither the bolt interferes with the clip 110 when inserting the
bolt, nor the engagement portion 110a is required to be positioned
because of being cylindrical in its shape. Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 29, it is unnecessary to increase a size of the nut hole 111d,
and the clip 110 is not held in between the bolt and the yoke 101
when fastening the bolt. This therefore does not cause any
slackening of the bolt.
[0108] Next, a sixth embodiment will be discussed with reference to
the FIG. 22.
[0109] The sixth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22 is substantially
the same as the fifth embodiment, and the same members are marked
with the same numerals. A different point is that the clip 110 is
attached to the holding portion 111b having the bolt hole 111e. In
this case, as in the case of the nut hole 111d in the fifth
embodiment, the bolt hole 111e is required to be set so that at
least a side end (an upper end in FIG. 22) of the curved portion
111c of the bolt hole 111e is disposed closer (more downward in
FIG. 22) to the opening 111f than the side surface 103b, on the
side of the opening 111f, of the shaft 103, i.e., the engagement
portion 110a is brought into contact with the side surface 103b of
the shaft 103 and becomes possible of engaging therewith.
[0110] In this construction, the operation of the clip 110 when
inserting the shaft 103 into the yoke 101 is the same as that in
the fifth embodiment, and therefore its repetitive explanation is
omitted.
[0111] As discussed above, the shaft temporary holding clip in the
fifth and sixth embodiments includes the fitting portion fitted on
the side end of one of the holding members along its configuration,
and the support portion formed so as to protrude from the internal
side end of this fitting portion in the direction inclined more
inwards at the predetermined angle than the direction orthogonal to
the axial direction of the bolt, of which the flexure acting in the
outer direction with the internal side end serving as the fulcrum
falls within the limit of elasticity. The clip further includes the
cylindrical engagement portion formed integrally with the front
side end of the support portion and internally fitted into the nut
hole of the bolt hole so as to be movable in the axial direction of
the bolt. Therefore, a part of the shaft slides while pushing the
support portion when inserting the shaft in between the holding
members, and the engagement portion thereby moves back into the nut
hole or the bolt hole to permit the shaft to pass through. When the
shaft is intruded into the concave area between the holding
members, the engagement portion elastically returns to the original
position and engages with the shaft, thus temporarily holding the
shaft. It is therefore feasible to perform the operation of
screwing at first the bolt into the nut by inserting the bolt from
the bolt hole with the single hand, and to prevent a deviation
between the shaft and the holding members of the yoke during the
operation of fastening the bolt. Besides, the configuration of the
clip is simple, and the clip can be therefore manufactured at the
low cost.
[0112] Further, the bolt easily penetrates inside the cylindrical
portion of the engagement portion, and it is possible to avoid the
interference of the bolt with the clip during the fastening
operation.
[0113] Accordingly, the operation of joining the shaft to the yoke
can be facilitated, the certainty and reliability of the operation
can be enhanced.
* * * * *