BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR A DRIVESHAFT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bearing assembly (10) for a drives haft system comprising a frame (12) surrounding an opening (16); a flexible vibration isolator (20) disposed in the opening (16) and a ball bearing (50) is mounted at a central opening (24) of the vibration isolator (20). The ball bearing assembly (10) comprises a spherical cup (40) is nested to a central opening (24) of the vibration isolator (20) and spherically pivoted such that in an adjustment position changing the rotational axis (x) of the ball bearing (50) by a deviation angle (a) when a rotational force is applied.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly for a driveshaft system comprising a frame surrounding an opening; a flexible vibration isolator disposed in the opening and a ball bearing is mounted at a central opening of the vibration isolator characterized in that a spherical cup is nested to a central opening of the vibration isolator and spherically pivoted such that in an adjustment position changing the rotational axis of the ball bearing by a deviation angle when a rotational force is applied.

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a ring element is having a corresponding curved wall which directly engages the central opening of the vibration isolator from the radial outer part and the spherical cup is disposed to the radial inner part from the outer periphery.

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the curved wall of the ring element is having a circumferential concave form of substantially the same diameter as the outer periphery of the spherical cup.

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the length of the outer periphery of the spherical cup is substantially equal to the length of the curved wall in transverse direction.

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein two opposing inner openings of the ring element is in the form of a hollow truncated sphere with which directly fit into the central opening.

6. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening, central opening and the ball bearing is coaxially aligned in the rotational axis.

7. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vibration isolator comprises substantially rubber material.

8. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating force of the spherical cup in the adjustment position is set to at least 1 N.

9. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a radially outwardly extending extension portion from each other from the top.

10. A driveshaft comprising a bearing assembly according to claim 1.

11. A production method to manufacture a driveshaft according to claim 10, comprising: aligning the front shaft and the rear shaft mounted on the bearing assembly with a midship joint therebetween, on the rotational axis; securing the bearing assembly with the rotational axis at the deviation angle; and aligning the front shaft and/or the rear shaft in the bearing assembly by rotating the spherical cup to the deviation axis in the adjustment position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] FIG. 1, is a front view of a representative embodiment of a composite driveshaft ready for installation in the vehicle.

[0018] FIG. 2, is a front installation view of a representative embodiment of the bearing assembly according to the invention used in a driveshaft.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional representation of the driveshaft shown in FIG. 2 with a spherical cup on a deviation axis in an adjustment position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In this detailed description, the subject matter has been described with reference for examples, such that there is no restriction and only to better describe the subject matter.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of a two-part driveshaft comprising a representative embodiment of the inventive bearing assembly. A front shaft (1) and a rear shaft (2) extend along the same rotational axis (x). The front shaft (1) has a front joint (3) at its free end. On the other hand, at the opposite free end, the rear shaft (2) carries a rear joint (5). The front and rear shaft (1,2) are rotationally connected to each other by an midship joint (4) from the facing portion. A bearing assembly (10) attaches the front shaft (1) from its central center to a vehicle chassis (not shown) so as to coincide with the rotational axis (x).

[0022] The bearing assembly (10) shown from the front in FIG. 2 comprises a hollow short cylindrical frame (12). On the frame (12), an extension portion (14) is arranged in the atrium structure which faces radially outward in both directions. The extension portion (14) is integrated to the frame (12). A hollow cylindrical vibration isolator (20) made of rubber material is seated in a circular opening (16) defined by the frame (12) and passing through the center of the rotational axis (x). The outer walls (22) of the vibration isolator (20) are cylindrical and fit directly into the opening (16). Above the vibration isolators (20) are channels (26) in the form of holes which are evenly spaced from one another in the transverse direction. The channels (26) improve the vibration isolation properties of the vibration isolators (20). At the center of the vibration isolators (20) is a circular central opening (24). The central opening (24) is centered in the circle, co-axial in the rotational axis (x).

[0023] A ring element (30) is inserted directly into the central hole (24) through the outer walls. The ring element (30) is made of metal material. In FIG. 3, the bearing assembly (10) is shown in lateral section. The inner part of the ring element (30) comprises a curved wall (35) in a concave form. A front part (32) and a rear part (34) forming the face surfaces of the ring element (30) are planar. A spherical cup (40) made of composite material is mounted to the curved wall (35) by means of forming a spherical joint having rotational freedom. The lateral length of the spherical cup (40) in the direction of the rotational axis (x) is equal to the lateral length of the ring element (30). The spherical cup (40) has a large central bushing (43). The diameter of the central bushing (43) is substantially equal to the diameter of the outer race (52) of a ball bearing (50) to be mounted therein. The central bushing (43) has a cylindrical hole structure of diameter along its length. A cylindrical ball bearing (50) is driven from the outer race (52) into the central bushing (43). The front shaft (1) passes through an inner race (56) coaxial with the outer race (52) of the ball bearing (50). The outer periphery (42) of the spherical cup (40) is movable on the curved wall (35). Thus, the spherical cup (40) is rotated to a deviation angle (a) after mounting of the front shaft (1) and extended in a deviation axis (x′).

[0024] Under auspices of spherical joint formed by the spherical cup (40), it is possible that the deviation axis (x′) has vertical or horizontal angular components relative to the rotational axis (x). That is, the spherical cup (40) can be aligned to compensate axial deviations occurring in two axes.

[0025] In FIG. 3, cross-sectional view of ball bearing (50) adapted to a deviation axis (x′) by rotating up to a deviation angle (a) of the spherical cup (40) by an operator. The spherical cup (40) is disposed in a lateral inclined position in a rear part (32) of the ring element (30) that faces the rear shaft and a front part (34) that faces the front shaft (1) forming a gap towards the edge. At this time, the operator exerted a force of about 1 N due to the friction between the spherical cup (40) made of composite material and the curved wall (35) in an adjustment position. The spherical cup (40) then retains its position in the adjustment position again in the working position by means of friction. In this position, the outer periphery of the spherical cup (40) protrudes from the lower part (44) to the rear part (32) and from the upper part (45) to the front part (34). After the adjustment position, the frame (12) opening and the vibration isolator's (20) central opening (24) maintain their coaxial co-axial structure with the ring element (30) on the rotational axis (x), but the spherical cup (40) and the central bushing (43) and the ball bearing (50) is coaxially and co-axially secured in the deviation axis (x′).

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 Front shaft 2 Rear shaft 3 Front joint 4 Midship joint 5 Rear joint 10 Bearing assembly 12 Frame 14 Extension portion 16 Opening 20 Vibration isolator 22 Outer wall 24 Central opening 26 Recess 30 Ring element 32 Rear part 34 Front part 35 Curved wall (dönme yüzeyi) 40 Spherical cup 42 Outer periphery 43 Central bushing 44 Lower part 45 Upper part 46 Inner opening 48 Rear opening 50 Ball bearing 52 Outer race 56 Inner race x Rotational axis x′ Deviation axis