TWI844469B - Expanding device for transmission shaft protect jacket - Google Patents

Abstract

The expanding device for transmission shaft protect jacket includes a main body, an axle member, plural claws, a threaded rod, and an elastic member sleeved onto the claws. The axle member is movably received in the main body. The threaded rod is rotatably and non-movably disposed on an end of the main body and is screwed with an end of the axle member with its inner end. The axle member is driven to move axially when the threaded rod is rotated. The axle member has at least one inclined guiding face therein. The intermediate portion of each claw is pivotally connected to an end of the main body opposite to the threaded rod. An end of the claw is slidably arranged in the axle member via a pivot member which is abutted against by the inclined guiding face. When the threaded rod is rotated to make the axle member move forward, the inner ends of the claws are gathered due to the inclined guiding face so that the outer ends of the claws expand and open. When the threaded rod is rotated reversely to make the axle member move backward, the outer ends of the claws are gathered by the elastic member. Thus, the claws can be expanded or gathered willingly instead of expanding to the maximum suddenly to damage the protect jacket.

Description

Drive shaft dust cover support device

The present invention provides a transmission shaft dust cover support device.

According to the information, the two ends of the car's drive shaft are connected to the gearbox and wheels respectively with shaft connectors. In addition, the drive shaft and the shaft connector are connected with a universal joint. If dust and debris enter the universal joint, it may reduce its service life and even directly affect the operation. Therefore, a flexible and hollow dustproof sleeve is generally installed outside the universal joint to prevent foreign objects from entering the universal joint.

However, the dust cover is designed to tightly cover the universal joint. Therefore, before installation, the size of the dust cover is smaller than the universal joint. Since the universal joint has a large diameter part, the dust cover cannot be directly axially installed on the universal joint. Therefore, a spreading tool is generally used to spread the dust cover radially in advance to facilitate the insertion of the universal joint. The spreading tool is then retracted and withdrawn to complete the installation of the dust cover.

Typical opening tools, such as those disclosed in patent TW547270, include an outer shell and a shaft sliding inside, and multiple clamps pivoted on the outer shell. When the shaft is pushed forward by the high-pressure gas intake from the rear, the clamps will swing and open outward. As long as the clamps are inserted into the dust cover before the air intake, and then the high-pressure gas is turned on, the dust cover can be quickly opened at once.

However, dust boots are mostly made of elastic materials such as rubber. Although they are elastic, they are still likely to break or be structurally damaged when subjected to a huge instantaneous pulling force. Even if they do not break immediately, their elasticity may have been destroyed, reducing or even losing their ability to rebound, thus completely losing their function.

When the pneumatic opening tool mentioned above is used on the dust cover, it is very easy to encounter the above problems. The pneumatic drive mechanism has only two modes: open and closed. The shaft can only be quickly pushed to the front at one time, so that the claws are opened to the maximum at one time, which may cause the dust cover to break or elastic fatigue.

Therefore, how to improve the problem of the claws rapidly expanding and damaging the dust cover structure has become an issue that the industry needs to solve urgently.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a transmission shaft dust cover stretching device that can gradually stretch the dust cover to avoid sudden application of huge support force that causes the elasticity of the dust cover to be unable to bear the load and break. At the same time, the stretching size can be adjusted according to the size specifications of the dust cover, the elastic state at the time, or the size of the transmission shaft parts, and the use is extremely flexible.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a transmission shaft dust cover support device, comprising a body, a shaft, a plurality of claws, an elastic member and a screw.

The body defines an axial direction, and the two opposite ends of the body along the axial direction are respectively defined as a first end and a second end. The body surrounds a containing space, and the containing space extends along the axial direction. The body is provided with a plurality of pivot parts at the eccentric position of the second end, and the pivot parts are spaced apart from each other.

The shaft can be movably accommodated in the accommodation space of the body along the axis. The two opposite ends of the shaft along the axis are respectively defined as a third end and a fourth end. The third end is closer to the first end of the body than the fourth end and farther from the second end of the body than the fourth end. The shaft is provided with at least one sliding space at the eccentric position of the fourth end toward the third end. The inner wall of the at least one sliding space forms at least one inclined guide surface. The radial distance from the at least one inclined guide surface to the axis gradually increases from the third end toward the fourth end. The third end of the shaft has a screw hole.

The clamping claws are arranged at intervals around the axis, and each of the clamping claws includes a clamp, a first pivot and a second pivot. Each of the clamps is in a slender curved shape and has two ends along its length direction, namely a fifth end and a sixth end. Each of the clamps is inserted into the axis with its fifth end. The first pivot is arranged between the fifth end and the sixth end to pivot with the pivot part. The second pivot is arranged at the fifth end to slide in the at least one sliding space and abut against the at least one inclined guide surface.

The elastic member is disposed between the clips to provide elasticity to the clips, so that the sixth ends of the clips tend to collapse toward the axis.

The screw is arranged at the first end of the body so as to be rotatable but not movable along the axial direction. One end of the screw is inserted into the accommodation space from the first end of the body and further screwed with the screw hole of the shaft. When the screw rotates, it drives the shaft to move along the axial direction in the accommodation space of the body.

When the shaft moves toward the second end of the body, the second pivot moves along the inclined surface toward the third end, and the sixth end of the clip swings away from the shaft, so that the sixth ends of the clips are in an open state; when the shaft moves toward the first end of the body, the clips are subjected to the elastic force of the elastic member so that the sixth ends of the clips gradually close, and the second pivot moves along the inclined surface toward the fourth end.

Thus, the transmission shaft dust cover opening device provided by the present invention can slowly and gradually open the dust cover by rotating the screw, avoiding the dust cover being damaged by an instantaneous excessive opening force. On the other hand, the opening speed and opening size can be adjusted according to dust covers of different sizes and materials and universal joints of different sizes, making it extremely convenient and flexible to use.

10: Body

101: First End

102: Second end

103: Accommodation space

11: Body

111: Step surface

12: Head cover

121:Incision

20: Shafts

201: The third end

202: The fourth end

21: Sliding space

22: Inclined guide surface

23: Screw hole

30: Clamping claws

31: Clips

311: The fifth end

312: The Sixth End

32: Second armature

33: First cardinal piece

34: Gap

40: Elastic parts

50: Screw

51: Header

52: Neck

53: Threaded section

60: Dustproof cover

70: Driving tool

A: Axial

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the use of the present invention.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 5. The present invention provides a transmission shaft dust cover stretching device, which is used to stretch the elastic transmission shaft dust cover radially so that the universal joint can be inserted and properly installed, and finally retract the dust cover radially to cover the universal joint.

Specifically, the transmission shaft dust cover support device provided by the present invention includes a body 10, a shaft 20, a plurality of clamping claws 30, an elastic member 40 and a screw 50.

The main body 10 is in the shape of an outer shell and defines an axial direction A. The two opposite ends of the main body 10 along the axial direction A are respectively defined as a first end 101 and a second end 102. The main body 10 encloses a receiving space 103, and the receiving space 103 extends along the axial direction A. The main body 10 is provided with a plurality of pivot parts at the eccentric position of the second end 102, and the pivot parts are spaced apart from each other.

The shaft 20 is movably accommodated in the accommodation space 103 of the body 10 along the axial direction A. The two opposite ends of the shaft 20 along the axial direction A are respectively defined as a third end 201 and a fourth end 202. The third end 201 is closer to the first end 101 of the body 10 than the fourth end 202 and farther from the second end 102 of the body 10 than the fourth end 202. The shaft 20 has at least one sliding space 21 recessed at the eccentric position of the fourth end 202 toward the third end 201. The inner wall of the at least one sliding space 21 forms at least one inclined surface 22. The radial distance from the at least one inclined surface 22 to the axial direction A gradually increases from the third end 201 toward the fourth end 202. The third end 101 of the shaft 20 has a screw hole 23. In this embodiment, the at least one inclined surface 22 includes a plurality of inclined surfaces 22, which are arranged around the axial interval and correspond to each other to support the second pivots 32.

The clamping claws 30 are arranged at intervals around the axis. Each of the clamping claws 30 includes a clamp 31, a first pivot 33 and a second pivot 32. Each of the clamps 31 is in a slender curved shape and has a fifth end 311 and a sixth end 312 along its length. Each of the clamps 31 is inserted into the shaft 20 with its fifth end 311. The first pivot 33 is arranged between the fifth end 311 and the sixth end 312 to pivot with the pivot. The second pivot 32 is arranged at the fifth end 311 to slide in the at least one sliding space 21 and abut against the at least one inclined guide surface 22.

In the present embodiment, the main body 10 is composed of a body 11 and a head cover 12. The accommodating space 103 is formed in the body 11. The head cover 12 is covered at one end of the body 11 and is located at the second end 102 of the main body 10 to prevent the shaft 20 from escaping from the accommodating space 103 from the second end 102, and is also conducive to the shaft 20 being placed in the accommodating space 103. As for the hinges, they are located in the head cover 12. Specifically, the head cover 12 is penetrated by a plurality of cutouts 121, which penetrate the head cover 12 along the axial direction. The cutouts 121 are respectively provided for the clips 31 to pass through. Each of the first hinges 33 is straddled on the corresponding cutout 12. 1, so that the clip 31 and the head cover 12 are hinged, that is, the hinge parts are the concave holes on the side walls of the cutouts 121, for the first hinge 33 to be inserted and straddled on the cutouts 121; more specifically, in order to facilitate the insertion of the first hinge 33, the head cover 12 can be formed by stacking and fixing two sheets with similar structures, the cutout 121 passes through the two sheets, and the concave holes on the side walls of the cutout 121 are jointly surrounded by the concave parts corresponding to the positions of the two sheets. In this way, during assembly, the first hinge 33 and the clip 31 can be first installed in the concave part of one sheet, and then the other sheet is covered and fixed, so that the first hinge 33 can be limited between the two sheets.

The elastic member 40 is disposed between the clips 31 to provide elastic force to the clips 31, so that the sixth ends 312 of the clips 31 have a tendency to collapse toward the axial direction A. In this embodiment, the elastic member 40 is an elastic ring, which is sleeved outside the clips 31 to provide the clips 31 with radially inward elastic force. Preferably, a notch 34 is recessed on a side of each clip 31 that is farther from the axial direction, and the elastic ring is embedded in the notches 34 of the clips 31, so that the elastic ring will not move axially due to expansion or contraction, so as to ensure that the function of limiting the clips 31 can be achieved.

The screw 50 is rotatable but not movable along the axial direction at the first end 101 of the body 10. One end of the screw 50 is inserted into the receiving space 103 from the first end 101 of the body 10 and is further screwed to the screw hole 23 of the shaft 20. When the screw 50 rotates, it drives the shaft 20 to move along the axial direction A in the receiving space 103 of the body 10.

Specifically, the accommodating space 103 of the body 10 includes a small diameter section near the first end 101 and a large diameter section near the second end 102, so that the body 10 is generally trumpet-shaped, and a stop surface inclined relative to the axis is formed between the small diameter section and the large diameter section. The shaft 20 also includes a small diameter section near the third end 201 and a large diameter section near the fourth end 202. The small diameter section and the large diameter section form a butt surface inclined relative to the axial direction A. The small diameter section is slidably disposed on the small diameter section and can selectively at least partially enter the large diameter section. The large diameter section is slidably disposed on the large diameter section. When the shaft 20 moves toward the first end 101 of the body 10, the butt surface butts against the stop surface and cannot further move toward the first end 101.

As for the specific arrangement of the screw 50, the body 10 is axially formed with a through hole at the first end 101, and the through hole is connected between the accommodating space 103 and the outside. The end of the through hole closer to the outside forms a large diameter portion with a larger inner diameter, and the end closer to the accommodating space 103 forms a small diameter portion with a smaller inner diameter. An outward step surface 111 is formed between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion. The screw 50 includes a head section 51, a neck section 52 and a thread section 53 in sequence along the axial direction. The neck section 5 2 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the head section 51 and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the thread section 53. The head section 51 is accommodated in the large diameter portion of the through hole, the neck section 52 is penetrated in the small diameter portion of the through hole, and the thread section 53 is inserted into the accommodating space 103 and screwed with the screw hole 23 of the shaft 20, whereby the screw rod 50 is arranged on the body 10 so as to be able to rotate relative to the body 10 but cannot move relative to the body 10 along the axial direction A. When the screw rod 50 rotates, it drives the shaft 20 to move forward and backward along the axial direction A.

In order to facilitate the rotation of the screw 50, the end of the head section 51 of the screw 50 may have a working portion for connecting with a driving tool 70 to drive the rotation of the screw 50, wherein the driving tool 70 may be an electric tool or other non-manpower tool, or just a hand tool. For example, the working portion may be a slotted groove for a slotted screwdriver to be embedded so that the screw can be rotated by rotating the screwdriver. The actual structure of the working portion may have several possible forms in conjunction with the intended driving tool 70, such as the aforementioned slotted groove, or a cross groove, a hexagonal recess, or a square recess, which can be used in conjunction with a cross screwdriver, a hexagonal wrench, and a driving head of an electric/pneumatic tool.

When the shaft 20 moves toward the second end 102 of the body 10, the second pivot 32 moves along the inclined guide surface 22 toward the third end 201, and the sixth end 312 of the clip 31 swings away from the axis A, so that the sixth ends 312 of the clips 31 are in an open state; when the shaft 20 moves toward the first end 101 of the body 10, the clips 31 are subjected to the elastic force of the elastic member 40, so that the sixth ends 312 of the clips 31 gradually retract, and the second pivot 32 moves along the inclined guide surface 22 toward the fourth end 202.

In actual use, please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. When the jaws 30 are not yet spread apart, the sixth ends 312 are gathered together and have a smaller outer diameter, so they can be directly inserted into the dust cover 60. During the process of inserting the dust cover 60, one end of the dust cover 60 will be spread apart due to the gradual increase in the outer diameter of the jaws 30, as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, the drive tool 70 is used to rotate the screw 50, so that the shaft 20 can move forward, and the second pivot 32 will be inclined. The smaller diameter portion of the surface 22 is radially pushed inward, so the sixth end 312 of the clamping claw 30 is relatively expanded outward, thereby pushing the other end of the dust cover 60 open, as shown in FIG. 5. In this way, the universal joint can be placed in the dust cover 60 from the other end to a proper position, and then the screw 50 is gradually reversed to slowly retract the clamping claw 30 while withdrawing the dust cover 60, so that the dust cover 60 can be properly covered outside the universal joint.

In the above-mentioned usage, the elastic member 40 can provide elastic force to close the sixth end 312 of the clamping member 31. When the screw 50 is reversed, the clamping claw 30 can automatically close and withdraw from the dust cover 60, which is very convenient to use. However, if the elastic member 40 is removed, the clamping claw 30 may still be squeezed and closed by the dust cover 60 when the screw 50 is reversed, and the clamping claw can also be closed and held manually, without hindering the actual use of the transmission shaft dust cover support device of the present invention.

The elastic member 40 is disposed between the clips 31 to provide elastic force to the clips 31, so that the sixth ends 312 of the clips 31 have a tendency to collapse toward the axis A. In this embodiment, the elastic member 40 is an elastic ring, which is sleeved outside the clips 31 to provide elastic force radially inward to the clips 31. Preferably, a notch 34 is recessed on a side of each clip 31 that is farther from the axis, and the elastic ring is embedded in the notches 34 of the clips 31, so that the elastic ring will not move axially due to expansion or contraction, so as to ensure that the function of limiting the clips 31 can be achieved.

It must be emphasized that the opening of the clamping claw is driven by the rotation of the screw, and the linear movement driven by the screw rotation is a slow and subtle movement. Therefore, even if the screw is turned more vigorously, it will not give the dust cover a huge instantaneous support force, so it can protect the dust cover from breaking or elastic damage due to instantaneous expansion. In addition, it can be matched with dust covers of different sizes, elasticity, materials, and shapes, as well as universal joints of different outer diameters, to fine-tune the size and speed of the clamping claw opening, which is very convenient.

Thus, the transmission shaft dust cover propping device provided by the present invention can protect the dust cover from cracking and elastic damage, and can also fine-tune the size of the propping up, which is what the relevant industry expects. However, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate and explain the technical content of the present invention, and the patent scope of this patent shall be subject to the scope of the patent application described later.

10: Body

11: Body

12: Head cover

20: Shafts

30: Clamping claws

40: Elastic parts

Claims (10)

A transmission shaft dust cover support device comprises: A body, defining an axial direction, the two opposite ends of the body along the axial direction are respectively defined as a first end and a second end, the body surrounds a receiving space, the receiving space extends along the axial direction, the body is provided with a plurality of pivot parts at the eccentric position of the second end, and the pivot parts are spaced apart from each other; A shaft member is movably accommodated in the accommodation space of the body along the axis. The two opposite ends of the shaft member along the axis are respectively defined as a third end and a fourth end. The third end is closer to the first end of the body than the fourth end and farther from the second end of the body than the fourth end. The shaft member is provided with at least one sliding space recessed toward the third end at the eccentric position of the fourth end. The inner wall of the at least one sliding space forms at least one inclined guide surface. The radial distance from the at least one inclined guide surface to the axis gradually increases from the third end toward the fourth end. The third end of the shaft member has a screw hole; A plurality of clamping claws are arranged at intervals around the axis, each of the clamping claws comprises a clamping member, a first pivot and a second pivot, each of the clamping members is in a slender curved shape and has a fifth end and a sixth end along its length direction, each of the clamping members is inserted into the axis with its fifth end, the first pivot is arranged between the fifth end and the sixth end to pivot with the pivot, and the second pivot is arranged at the fifth end to slide in the at least one sliding space and abut against the at least one inclined guide surface; A screw rod is arranged at the first end of the body so as to be rotatable but not movable along the axis. One end of the screw rod is inserted into the accommodation space from the first end of the body and further screwed with the screw hole of the shaft. When the screw rod rotates, the shaft is driven to move along the axis in the accommodation space of the body; when the shaft moves toward the second end of the body, the second pivot moves toward the third end along the inclined surface, and the sixth end of the clip swings away from the axis, so that the sixth ends of the clips are in an open state; when the shaft moves toward the first end of the body, the clips can be subjected to force so that the sixth ends of the clips are gradually retracted, and the second pivot moves toward the fourth end along the inclined surface. The drive shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 1 further includes an elastic member disposed between the clips to provide elastic force to the clips so that the sixth ends of the clips tend to retract toward the axis; when the axis moves toward the first end of the main body, the clips are subjected to the elastic force of the elastic member so that the sixth ends of the clips gradually retract. The drive shaft dust cover supporting device as described in claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a spring ring, and the spring ring is arranged outside the clamps to provide the clamps with radially inward elastic force. As described in claim 3, the transmission shaft dust cover supporting device has a notch formed on a side of each clip farther from the axis, and the elastic ring is embedded in the notches of the clips. The drive shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 1, wherein the main body is composed of a body and a head cover, the accommodating space is formed in the body, the head cover is covered on one end of the body and is located at the second end of the main body to prevent the shaft from escaping from the accommodating space from the second end, and the hinge parts are located on the head cover. As described in claim 5, the drive shaft dust cover supporting device, wherein the head cover is penetrated by a plurality of cutouts, the cutouts penetrate the head cover along the axial direction, the cutouts are respectively used for the clips to pass through, and each first hinge is spanned between the two side walls of the corresponding cutout so that the clip is hinged to the head cover. The drive shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 1, wherein the accommodating space of the body includes a small diameter section near the first end and a large diameter section near the second end, a stop surface inclined relative to the axial direction is formed between the small diameter section and the large diameter section, and the shaft also includes a small diameter section near the third end and a large diameter section near the fourth end. A top surface is formed between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion and is inclined relative to the axis. The small diameter portion is slidably disposed on the small diameter section and can selectively at least partially enter the large diameter section. The large diameter portion is slidably disposed on the large diameter section. When the shaft moves toward the first end of the body, the top surface abuts against the stop surface and cannot further move toward the first end. The transmission shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 7, wherein the main body is axially formed with a through hole at the first end, the through hole is connected between the accommodating space and the outside, the through hole is closer to the outer side to form a large diameter portion with a larger inner diameter, and the end closer to the accommodating space is formed into a small diameter portion with a smaller inner diameter, and an outward step surface is formed between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, and the screw rod includes a head section, a neck section, and a screw rod in sequence along the axial direction. The outer diameter of the neck section is smaller than that of the head section and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the threaded section. The head section is accommodated in the large diameter portion of the through hole, and the neck section is penetrated in the small diameter portion of the through hole. The threaded section is inserted into the accommodating space and screwed with the screw hole of the shaft. The screw rod is thereby arranged on the body so as to be able to rotate relative to the body but unable to move relative to the body along the axial direction. When the screw rod rotates, it drives the shaft to move forward and backward along the axis. A drive shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 8, wherein the end of the head section of the screw has a working part for connecting to a driving tool to drive the screw to rotate. The drive shaft dust cover support device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one inclined guide surface includes a plurality of such inclined guide surfaces, and the inclined guide surfaces are arranged around the axial intervals and correspond to each other to support the second pivot members.

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