Spline-coupling structure

• US 5,503,494 A
• Filed: 07/21/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Moriya, Hiroshi, Otsuka, Hideo, Hanamoto, Takeshi, Kamata, Akira, Ikki, Yuzi, Takagi, Yoshiari
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/278,218
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 403/359, 403/298, 403/345
• US Class Current: 403/359.6
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0858 due to the elasticity of the hub (including shrink fits)
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0025 with gearing elements rigidly connected to a shaft, e.g. securing gears or pulleys by specially adapted splines, keys or methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7035 Specific angle or shape of rib, key, groove, or shoulder

Abstract

A spline-coupling structure in which at least one of male and female members has a press-fit guide face provided at its end opposed to the other member before press-fitting of the members. The press-fit guide face includes a plurality of guide face portions smoothly interconnecting the end and bottom lands of the spline teeth of the one member to form axially outwardly expanded arcs, a plurality of second guide face portions smoothly interconnecting tooth addendums of the spline teeth and the end to form axially outwardly expanded arcs, and a plurality of third guide face portions smoothly interconnecting tooth flanks of the spline teeth and the second guide face portion to form axially outwardly expanded arcs. The first, second and third guide face portions are connected smoothly to one another. Thus, dragging between the spline teeth of both members is prevented during press-fit coupling, to maximize the function of crownings to reduce press-fitting load and provide a sufficient coupling force, and facilitate disengagement of both members from each other and allow reuse of both members.

Claims

1. A spline-coupling structure comprising a male member having a set of spline teeth provided on an outer periphery thereof and a female member having another set of spline teeth provided on an inner periphery thereof, at least one of said two sets of spline teeth having crownings thereon, said two sets of the spline teeth being couplable with each other by press-fitting said members toward each other along axial directions of said members, wherein at least one of said male and female members has a press-fit guide face at an end of said one member which is opposed to an end of the other of said members before press-fit coupling of said members, said press-fit guide face including a plurality of first guide face portions smoothly interconnecting an end face and bottom lands of said spline teeth of said one member to form axially outwardly expanded arcs, a plurality of second guide face portions smoothly interconnecting tooth addendums of said spline teeth and said end face to form axially outwardly expanded arcs, and a plurality of third guide face portions smoothly interconnecting tooth flanks of said spline teeth and said second guide face portions to form axially outwardly expanded arcs, said first, second and third guide face portions being connected smoothly to one another without having an acute angle portion therebetween.

2. A spline-coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said male spline teeth on said male member are provided with crownings each having, on opposite sides of its longitudinal central portion, tooth flank press-fit portions which are press-fitted to said tooth flanks of said spline teeth on said female member;

said female member having said press-fit guide face, and a press-fit starting position for starting press-fitting of tooth addendums of said spline teeth of the male member to said bottom lands of said spline teeth of the female member is established at one of a location substantially corresponding to a first press-fit starting position at which said tooth flank press-fit portions of the male member are started to be press-fitted to said tooth flanks of said spline teeth of the female member in a direction of press-fitting of said male member into said female member, and a location displaced forwardly along said press-fitting direction from said first press-fit starting position.