SLIDING GROUP OF CARDAN SHAFT WITH INTERLOCKING MECHANISM THE RELATED ART

The invention relates to a new construction in the sliding group in complete cardan shafts providing motion in axial direction. The invention particularly relates to prevention and stop of the motion of the sliding group upon movement of the group until allowable sliding length in axial direction. The parts are not separated from each other unless the force trying to disconnect the parts of sliding group exceeds limit force permitted in regard to locking

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART Transmitting organs are generally used to generate power from a source and transmit the generated power from the source to driving mechanism. For instance, in most of land vehicles used today, rotating power of engine/transmission box coupling. This power is transmitted from output of the engine/transmission box to axle input to drive the tyres of the vehicle by help of cardan shaft. Front and rear joints located on the cardan shaft provide transmission of rotation power between engine/transmission box coupling and axle while limited angular and axial motions are permitted.

Cardan shafts with sliding groups used today do not have interlocking feature limiting motion on sliding bearing and fork sliding shaft, (see figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) Both parts in the sliding values on the allowable sliding length can be separated from each other by means of sliding on each other as indicated in figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d.

While sliding of sliding shell and fork sliding shaft on each other is desired, most of times separation from each other is not desired. Disconnection of parts of the sliding group and risk of accidents may increase during shipment of cardan shaft, mounting onto the vehicle in factory and replacement during service.

In addition, matching of sliding group components from different gears after mounting may cause to function loss in sliding group and therefore, cardan shaft.

In similar products casing and felt of the sliding group are combined by use of tight interlocking tolerance. This operation conducted at press counter leads to additional operation time and workmanship cost.

At present, the force applied for demounting casing and felt combined with tight interlocking may damage parts of the sliding group.

SOLUTIONS PROVIDED TO THE PROBLEMS IN THE RELATED ART

The invention aims to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages. The invention provides an interlocking feature limiting the undesired motion of the sliding shell by means of fork sliding shaft and protective casing located on it called as sliding group. (See figure 4, figure 5, figure 7a, Figure 7b).

The motion of the sliding shell in the sliding value on the allowable sliding length by means of the said locking mechanism is prevented by means of the fork sliding shaft and protective shell. Thus, sliding of sliding shell and fork sliding shaft on each other is provided but separation of them from each other is prevented. As a result, disconnection of pats of the sliding group during shipment of cardan shaft, mounting onto the vehicle in factory and replacement at service is prevented and thus, probable accident risk is decreased.

Since the automatic separation of the sliding group components from each other is prevented, the probable functional loss that may arise from matching of sliding group with different gears is also eliminated.

Casing and felt of the sliding group are combined by means of a connection component. The connection made by connection component is, made in shorter time and at less cost as it does not require pressing operation.

Easy dismantling of the clamp used in clamping application preferred as one of the methods for connection of the casing and the felt of the sliding group members provides dismantling without deformation of casing and felt.

The invention will be better understood with the following description where an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to figures given below and references to the said figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Two-dimensioned figure indicating section and parts composing complete driving shaft.

Figure 2a. Two dimensioned cross-sectional figure of the related art indicating full close status of sliding group.

Figure 2b. Two dimensioned cross-sectional figure of the related art indicating full open status of the sliding group (where opening up to sliding length occurs).

Figure 2c. Two dimensioned cross-sectional figure of the related art indicating the status when the sliding shell slides on the fork sliding shaft and gets outside the protective casing.

Figure 2d. Two dimensioned cross-sectional figure of the related art indicating the status when sliding shell slides and gets outside the fork sliding shaft and protective casing.

Figure 3. The figure indicating perspective view of the sliding group of the invention.

Figure 4. Cross-sectional figure indicating the status when the sliding group of the invention is open up to sliding length.

Figure 5. Cross-sectional figure indicating status when the sliding group of the invention opens until sliding length and the details of the locking mechanism. The figure is also the detail of the section indicated as X in figure 4.

Figure 6a. Sectional view indicating full close status of the sliding group of the invention.

Figure 6b. Sectional figure indicating the status when the sliding group of the invention opens up to sliding length. (This figure is of the same feature as the figure 4. It has been re-pictured to make the difference between opening and closing better understood.)

Figure 7a. Perspective view indicating the status where locking felt is located onto protective casing in an alternative way.

Figure 7b. The view indicating cross-sectional view indicating perspective view shown in Figure 7a.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

No Part or Section Description No Part or Section Description

1 Flexible coupling 12.1 Draining

2 Three-branch flange 12.2 Dust lip

3 Front tube 12.3 Inner part of felt

4 In between bearing spindle 13 Sliding shell

5 Hanger 13.1 Stopping form

6 In between fork 13.2 Cam

7 Pinion spider 14 Rear pipe

8 Tube fork 15 Fork flange

9 Medium pipe 16 Inner space of sliding group

10 Fork sliding shaft 17 Sheet form

11 Protective case SG Sliding group

11.1 Protective case extension LC Locking construction

12 Locking felt Dss Outer diameter of sliding shell

12a Clamp Dc Cam diameter

12b Upper part of felt t Maximum sliding length

12c Lower part of felt

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be better understood with description referring to above figures and reference numbers.

Figure 1 is a two dimensioned figure indicating the components of the cardan shaft in general. The invention relates to sliding group (SG) composing the cardan shaft.

Figure 3 is a perspective view indicating fork sliding shaft (10), protective case (11), clamp (12a), locking felt (12) and sliding shell (13) composing the sliding group (SG).

Figure 4 is cross-sectional figure indicating the status when the sliding group (SG) of the invention opens until maximum sliding length (t). With embodiment of fork sliding shaft (10) and protective case (11) when clamp (12a) and locking felt (12)

are interconnected, contacted in an integral manner, sliding shell (13) is located in the centre of the said parts (10, 11 , 12a, 12). Sliding shell can move in maximum (t) size in order to prevent separation of sliding shell (13) and fork sliding shaft (10) in undesired situations, and it stops when it is in this position. The undesired situations are separation of sliding group parts during shipment of cardan shaft, mounting onto vehicles at factory and replacement during service. Separation of fork sliding shaft (10) and sliding shell (13) is desired in cases when repair and maintenance is required in very special cases; and the locking construction of the invention (LC) allows it. Figure 5 indicates locking construction (LC) of the invention. The figure is also the detail of the enlarged section indicated as X in figure 4. This section contains protective case (11), felt (12) and sliding shell (13) in the related art. In addition, a clamp (12a) is proposed to fix the felt (12) onto protective case (11). The function of the clamp (12a) is to tight the locking felt (12) and keep it on the protective case (11). In the screwed, glued, tightly locking et. designs (See figure 7), clamp may not be used for connection of felt (12) and case (11).

The felt (12) is fixed onto the protective case (11). A draining (12.1) is provided in the location where the clamp (12a) is located in upper part of the felt (12b). Similarly, dust lips (12.2) are provided in a manner they extend towards sliding shell (13) in the lower part (12c) of the felt (12) and is in contact with sliding shell (13).

When the mounting is completed, the dust lips (12.2) are in constant contact with sliding shell (13). The function of the felt (12) and particularly dust lips (12.2) is to prevent flow of harmful agents (water, soil etc.) that might come from outside into inner space of sliding group (16) and prevent exit of the lubricant in this space (16) and also to prevent further opening by means of contacting stopping form (13.1) after maximum sliding length (t) of the sliding group (SG).

What is essential here is the stopping form (13.1). The structure of stopping form (13.1) is formed in the form of a cam (13.2) of a diameter bigger than outer diameter of sliding shell (Dss). Cam diameter (Dc) has been designed in a manner decreasing towards end part of the sliding shell (13). Stopping form (13.1) is not in the form of a bulge and it can also be arranged in the form of hole. Sheet form (17)

is selected in a flexible structure and application of more force onto upper surface of sliding shell (13) by dust lips (12.2) can be provided when clamp (12) is mounted on the protective case (11). At the same time, flexibility capability of the dust lips (12) is increased. In this case, a hole formed on upper surface of the sliding shell (13) functions as stopping form (13.1).

A protective case extension (11.1) extending towards inner part of the felt (12.3) has been provided in order to prevent exit of the felt (12) over the protective case

(11).

A sheet form (17) has been located inside the felt (12) partially surrounding the protective case extension (11.1) inside the felt (12) and extending towards into the dust lips (12.2) on the stopping form (13.1) side. With help of this sheet form (17), when the felt (12) is tightened onto the protective case (11) by means of clamp (12a), the dust lips (12.2) are pushed towards sliding shell (13) and quality and continuity of the non-leaking is provided. Dust lips (12.2) also play role in determination of the minimum force (Fmin) required for taking the sliding shell (13) out of the inner space of sliding group (16). In fact, it will be adequate to dismantle the clamp (12a) and removal of the felt (12) for separation of sliding shell (13) and protective case (11). However, F _m j _n force should be exceeded for deformation of external locking. In case the F _m j _n is exceeded, locking construction (LC) loses its function and locking is released. This force value (F _m j _n ) rnay vary in various position and various vehicles depending on the place where it is used and its position or vehicle.

Figure 6a is the cross-sectional view indicating the status when the sliding group (SG) of the invention is full close. Figure 6b is the cross-sectional view indicating the status when opening of the sliding group (SG) up to maximum sliding length (t) is realized.

The invention cannot be limited to these descriptions. It is clear that several changes can be made to the material and design as well as sizes provided that stopping form (13.1) where a dust lip (12.2) is formed on the felt (12) or located is reserved.