Uniform motion type universal joint with no generation of high frequency vibrating component

• US 5,334,096 A
• Filed: 01/21/1992
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwao, Keijiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LILLIS, EILEEN DUNN
• Application Number:
  US07/822,955
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 464/29, 464/139, 464/141-146, 464/906, 464/111, 464/905, 73/668, 310/51, 310/317, 310/326, 384/1
• US Class Current: 464/146
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/22309 Details of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/2232 Elements arranged in the hollow space between the end of the inner shaft and the outer joint member
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/22 Vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/227 the joints being telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/002 characterised by the control method or circuitry control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/0275 Control of stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/04 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0283 piezoelectric; electro- or magnetostrictive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/906 Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls

Abstract

In a mechanical element such as a uniform velocity type universal joint having an inner joint member and one of a plurality of spherical ball elements or an outer joint member and one of the spherical ball elements, the ball rolls and slides on the surface of either or both of the inner and outer joint members thus generating relative harmonic vibrations due to a frictional force generated thereon by the sliding contact between the ball and the joint members. To reduce high-frequency harmonic vibrations, a pair of piezoelectric actuators are installed between a flange of one rotation axle of the (constant) uniform velocity type universal joint and the outer joint member and/or between a mounting bolt head of the universal joint and the outer joint member. The piezoelectric actuators expand and constrict at a phase different from that of an input vibrating force acting upon and between the inner joint member and each spherical ball element or at a frequency different from a rotation frequency of the universal joint.

Claims

1. A mechanical device which is operated and is involved in at least one slide motion, comprising:

a) a pair of cooperative members, one of the pair of cooperative members being at least rolled and slid on the other of the pair of cooperative members in response to an external force exerted on either of the pair of cooperative members, the pair of cooperative members being relatively harmonically vibrated together in response to the external force causing relative harmonic vibrations to both of the pair of cooperative members; and

b) means for providing a displacement variation for a portion of one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members in a direction of the external force so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of the harmonic vibrations generated due to a frictional force created by the sliding contact between the pair of cooperative members;

wherein the mechanical element is a uniform motion type universal joint having a drive portion and a driven portion operatively connected to each other, said driven portion including a rotation axle, and wherein a first one of the pair of cooperative members comprises an inner joint member which is installed on the rotation axle of the universal joint, the rotation axle serving as a driven axle, and a plurality of balls each installed in a space defined by a second one of the pair of cooperative members includes a plurality of ball rolling grooves installed at a side of the inner joint member;

wherein said displacement variation providing means comprises a sensor for detecting a rotational phase of the rotation axle;

first means responsive to an output signal from the sensor for generating a command signal according to the output signal from the sensor;

second means for generating a pair of voltages in response to the command signal; and

third means installed between the rotation axle and the inner joint member for carrying out the displacement variation between the rotation axle and the inner joint member in a direction which coincides with an axial direction of the rotation axle according to the pair of voltages which are applied thereacross, a phase of each of the pair of voltages being different from the rotation phase of the rotation axle.

2. A mechanical device which is operated and is involved in at least one slide motion, comprising:

a) a pair of cooperative members, one of the pair of cooperative members being at least rolled and slid on the other of the pair of cooperative members in response to an external force exerted on either of the pair of cooperative members, the pair of cooperative members being relatively harmonically vibrated together in response to the external force causing relative harmonic vibrations to both of the pair of cooperative members; and

b) means for providing a displacement variation for a portion of one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members in a direction of the external force so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of the harmonic vibrations generated due to a frictional force created by the sliding contact between the pair of cooperative members;

wherein the mechanical element is a uniform motion type universal joint having a drive portion and a driven portion operatively connected to each other, said drive portion including a first rotation axle, and wherein a first one of the pair of cooperative members comprises an outer joint member which is installed on the first rotation axle, the first rotation axle serving as a drive axle, and a second one of the pair of cooperative members includes a plurality of balls each installed in a space defined by a plurality of ball rolling grooves installed at a side of the outer joint member;

wherein said driven portion includes a second rotation axle and the mechanical element further comprises an inner joint member installed on the second rotation axle of the universal joint and wherein the second rotation axle serves as a driven axle, and the plurality of balls are each installed in a space defined by a plurality of ball rolling grooves installed at a side of the inner joint member and said displacement variation providing means further comprises a sensor for detecting a rotational phase of the second rotation axle;

first means responsive to an output signal from the sensor for generating a command signal according to the output signal from the sensor;

second means for generating a pair of voltages in response to the command signal; and

third means installed between the second rotation axle and the inner joint member for carrying out the displacement variation between the second rotation axle and the inner joint member in a direction which coincides with an axial direction of the second rotation axle according to the pair of voltages applied thereacross, a phase of each of the pair of voltages being different from the rotation phase of the second rotation axle.

3. A mechanical device which is operated and is involved in at least one slide motion, comprising:

a) a pair of cooperative members, one of the pair of cooperative members being at least rolled and slid on the other of the pair of cooperative members in response to an external force exerted on either of the pair of cooperative members, the pair of cooperative members being relatively harmonically vibrated together in response to the external force causing relative harmonic vibrations to both of the pair of cooperative members; and

b) means for providing a displacement variation for a portion of one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members in a direction of the external force so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of the harmonic vibrations generated due to a frictional force created by the sliding contact between the pair of cooperative members;

wherein said displacement variation providing means applies a frequency of the displacement variation to the portion of the one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members which is different from a frequency of the relative harmonic vibrations;

further comprising a rotation axle having a flange and wherein said displacement variation providing means comprises a joint cover attached to the outer joint member;

a ring shaped elastic member installed between an end of the flange of the rotation axle and the joint cover;

a piston attached on the flange;

an oil seal attached on the piston;

an oil chamber defined by the flange, the joint cover, the elastic member, and the piston;

a piezoelectric actuator attached between one end of the rotation axle and the piston;

a sensor for detecting a rotation frequency of the rotation axle;

first means responsive to an output signal of the sensor which indicates the rotation frequency of the rotation axle for generating a command signal according to the output signal of the sensor;

second means responsive to the command signal for generating a voltage signal to the piezoelectric actuator so that the piezoelectric actuator carries out the displacement variation for the outer joint member in an axial direction of the rotation axle at the frequency which is different from the rotation frequency of the rotation axle.

4. A uniform motion type universal joint yoke comprising:

a) first and second rotation axles;

b) an outer joint member installed on the first rotation axle and having a plurality of ball rolling grooves on its outer peripheral surface;

c) an inner joint member installed on the second rotation axle and having a plurality of ball rolling grooves on its inner peripheral surface;

d) a plurality of balls disposed in the ball rolling grooves of the outer and inner joint members for transmitting a torque between the inner and outer joint members;

e) a cage which holds the plurality of balls and

f) means for applying a displacement variation to at least one of the inner and outer joint members so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of a vibrating force acting upon and between at least one of

     1) each of the plurality of balls and the outer joint member and

     2) each of the plurality of balls and the inner joint member; and

a piston having a wall and wherein said displacement variation applying means includes a piezoelectric actuator installed between one end of the first rotation axle and the wall of the piston constituting a hydraulic actuator for actuating the outer joint member according to an expansion or constriction of the piezoelectric actuator in response to a voltage variation applied across the piezoelectric actuator.

5. A mechanical device which is operated and is involved in at least one slide motion, comprising:

a) a pair of cooperative members, one of the pair of cooperative members being at least rolled and slid on the other of the pair of cooperative members in response to an external force exerted on either of the pair of cooperative members, the pair of cooperative members being relatively harmonically vibrated together in response to the external force causing relative harmonic vibrations to both of the pair of cooperative members; and

b) means for providing a displacement variation for a portion of one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members in a direction of the external force so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of the harmonic vibrations generated due to a frictional force created by the sliding contact between the pair of cooperative members;

wherein the mechanical element is a uniform motion type universal joint having a drive portion and a driven portion operatively connected to each other, said drive portion including a first rotation axle, and wherein a first one of the pair of cooperative members comprises an outer joint member which is installed on the first rotation axle, the first rotation axle serving as a drive axle, and a second one of the pair of cooperative members includes a plurality of balls each installed in a space defined by a plurality of ball rolling grooves installed at a side of the outer joint member;

wherein said displacement variation providing means comprises a sensor for detecting a rotational phase of the first rotation axle;

first means responsive to an output signal from the sensor for generating a command signal according to the output signal from the sensor;

second means for generating a pair of voltages in response to the command signal; and

third means installed between the first rotation axle and the outer joint member for carrying out the displacement variation between the first rotation axle and outer joint member in a direction which coincides with an axial direction of the first rotation axle according to the pair of voltages which are applied thereacross, a phase of each of the pair of voltages being different from the rotation phase of the first rotation axle.

6. A mechanical device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a mounting bolt having a head, and wherein said first rotation axle has a flange formed thereon and said third means comprises a pair of piezoelectric actuators, one of the piezoelectric actuators installed between the flange of the first rotation axle and the other joint member and the other of the pair of piezoelectric actuators installed between the outer joint member and the head of the mounting bolt such that tightening of the mounting bolt places at least one of said pair of piezoelectric actuators under a predetermined pressure.

7. A mechanical device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said pair of piezoelectric actuators receive the pair of voltages, respectively, as expressed below:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Va=V.sub.0 -v·

sin (ω

t+θ

.sub.1)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Vb=v.sub.0 +v·

sin (ω

t+θ

.sub.1),

wherein V₀ denotes a prevoltage of DC level, v denotes an amplitude of a varied voltage component, and θ

₁ denotes a phase of the varied voltage component which is different from the rotation phase of the first rotation axle.

8. A mechanical device which is operated and is involved in at least one slide motion, comprising:

a pair of cooperative members, one of the pair of cooperative members being at least rolled and slid on the other of the pair of cooperative members in response to an external force exerted on either of the pair of cooperative members, the pair of cooperative members being relatively harmonically vibrated together in response to the external force causing relative harmonic vibrations to both of the pair of cooperative members; and

b) means for providing a displacement variation for a portion of one of the pair of cooperative members contacting the other of the pair of cooperative members in a direction of the external force so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of the harmonic vibrations generated due to a frictional force created by the sliding contact between the pair of cooperative members;

wherein the mechanical element is a uniform motion type universal joint having a drive portion and a driven portion operatively connected to each other, said drive portion including a first rotation axle, and wherein a first one of the pair of cooperative members comprises an outer joint member which is installed on the first rotation axle, the first rotation axle serving as a drive axle, and a second one of the pair of cooperative members includes a plurality of balls each installed in a space defined by a plurality of ball rolling grooves installed at a side of the outer joint member;

wherein said rotation axle has a flange and said displacement variation providing means comprises a joint cover attached to the outer joint member;

a ring shaped elastic member installed between an end of the flange of the rotation axle and the joint cover;

a piston attached on the flange;

an oil seal attached on the piston;

an oil chamber defined by the flange, the joint cover, the elastic member, and the piston; and

a piezoelectric actuator attached between an end of the first rotation axle and the piston.

9. A mechanical element as set forth in claim 8, wherein said displacement variation providing means further comprises a sensor for detecting a rotation phase of the first rotation axle;

first means responsive to an output signal of the sensor which indicates the rotation phase of the first rotation axle for generating a command signal according to the output signal of the sensor;

second means responsive to the command signal for generating a voltage signal to the piezoelectric actuator so that the piezoelectric actuator carries out the displacement variation for the outer joint member in an axial direction of the one rotation axle.

10. A uniform motion type universal joint yoke comprising:

a) first and second rotation axles;

b) an outer joint member installed on the first rotation axle and having a plurality of ball rolling grooves on its outer peripheral surface;

c) an inner joint member installed on the second rotation axle and having a plurality of ball rolling grooves on its inner peripheral surface;

d) a plurality of balls disposed in the ball rolling grooves of the outer and inner joint members for transmitting a torque between the inner and outer joint members;

e) a cage which holds the plurality of balls and

f) means for applying a displacement variation to at least one of the inner and outer joint members so that a phase of the displacement variation is at least different from a phase of a vibrating force acting upon and between at least one of

     1) each of the plurality of balls and the outer joint member and

     2) each of the plurality of balls and the inner joint member;

a mounting bolt having a head, and wherein said first rotation axle include a flange, and said displacement variation applying means includes a pair of piezoelectric actuators one of them being installed between one end of the flange and one side wall of the outer joint member, and the other of them being installed between the head of the mounting bolt and the outer joint member, the mounting belt mounting the outer joint member onto the flange of the first rotation axle.

11. A uniform motion type universal joint yoke as set forth in claim 10, wherein said displacement variation applying means includes another pair of piezoelectric actuators, one of them being installed on one side end of the inner joint member and the other of them being installed on an other side end of the inner joint member.