DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF A TRANSMISSION

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for supporting an intermediate shaft, such as an intermediate shaft of a gearbox. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one bearing part for supporting an intermediate shaft and having an outer surface with at least a section that is circumferential; at least one carrier part having an inner surface extending about the outer surface at a first distance from the bearing part; and at least one molded part for decoupling the carrier part from the bearing part, the molded part disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, and the molded part being frictionally engaged with the inner surface and the outer surface. The invention provides a device that, among other things, can be manufactured cost-effectively.

Claims

1. A device for supporting an intermediate shaft of a gearbox, the device comprising: at least one bearing part for supporting an intermediate shaft, the at least one bearing part having an outer surface with at least a section that is circumferential; at least one carrier part having an inner surface extending around the outer surface at a first distance from the at least one bearing part; and at least one molded part for decoupling the carrier part from the at least one bearing part, the at least one molded part disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein the molded part is frictionally connected to the inner surface and the outer surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface, the inner surface, and/or the molded part are designed to be arcuate at least in regions thereof.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the molded part consists of an elastomer.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that wherein the molded part has an inner connecting surface for connecting to the outer surface and an outer connecting surface for connecting to the inner surface, the inner connecting surface and the outer connecting surface are provided at a second distance from one another in an unassembled state, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the molded part is configured to be transferred from the unassembled state to an assembled state by pressing in the molded part between the bearing part and the carrier part, and, in the assembled state, the molded part is provided between the carrier part and the bearing part.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises an adhesion promoter for a postbonding process between the molded part and at least part of the inner surface and/or at least part of the outer surface.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the molded part has at least one cut surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing part has a sleeve element, and the outer surface is provided on the sleeve element.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier part has at least one fastening device for connecting the device to al engine and/or an engine attachment part.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the fastening device comprises at least one flange element with at least one opening.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing part is a rolling bearing or a plain bearing.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing part and/or the carrier part are made of metal and/or plastic and/or composite material.

13. A system comprising an intermediate shaft and a device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate shaft is connected to the bearing part and is rotatably mounted in the bearing part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle with an embodiment of the device;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the individual components of an embodiment of the device; and

[0034] FIG. 4a, b is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device in the unassembled state (a) and assembled state (b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In the following, the device for supporting an intermediate shaft, such as an intermediate shaft of a gearbox, is referenced in its entirety by the reference sign 10.

[0036] FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 50 with an engine 40 which is connected to wheels 52, 54 via a gearbox 42. The gearbox 42 is arranged off-center and is located closer to the wheel 52 than to the wheel 54. The gearbox is connected to the wheel 52 via a side shaft 46.

[0037] The wheel 54 is connected to the gearbox 42 via an intermediate shaft 48 and another side shaft 44. The intermediate shaft 48 is mounted in the device 10 and attached to the engine 40. Alternatively or additionally, the device 10 may be attached to an engine attachment part or to further parts of the body.

[0038] The intermediate shaft 48 and the device 10 are combined to form a system 15. The intermediate shaft 48 is rotatably mounted in the device 10.

[0039] The device 10 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The device 10 comprises a carrier part 12, a bearing part 14 and a molded part 16. The molded part 16 is arranged between the carrier part 12 and the bearing part 14 and is connected to the carrier part 12 and the bearing part 14 via a frictional connection.

[0040] The distance between the bearing part 14 and the carrier part 12 is referred to as the first distance 34.

[0041] For connection to the engine 40 or the engine attachment part or the body, the carrier part 12 comprises a fastening device 17 which has a flange element 18 and at least one opening 20. A fastening element, for example a bolt with a latching hook, a screw, a nail or a rivet, etc., can be passed through the at least one opening 20 for connection to the engine 40 or the engine attachment part or the body.

[0042] In FIG. 3, individual components of the device 10 are shown. The molded part 16, the carrier part 12 and the bearing part 14 are only half shown in FIG. 3 to provide a better overview.

[0043] The molded part 16 is annular in shape and consists of an elastomer. The molded part 16 can therefore be elastically deformed. Further, the material of the molded part 16 can be more easily deformed by heating.

[0044] Further, the molded part 16 has an inner connecting surface 28 and an outer connecting surface 30. The inner and outer connecting surfaces 28, 30 extend around a central axis 38 of the annular molded part 16, with the inner connecting surface 28 facing into the annulus and the outer connecting surface 30 facing out of the annulus. Further, the inner connecting surface 28 and the outer connecting surface 30 are arranged on two sides of the molded part 16 facing away from each other.

[0045] The distance between the inner bonding surface 28 and the outer bonding surface 30 is referred to as the second distance 36. The second distance 36 is greater than the first distance 34.

[0046] The molded part 16 may have been cut to length from a tube. Therefore, the molded part 16 may have cut surfaces 32 in the axial direction. The molded part may include cut surfaces 32 on two sides facing away from each other. Further, the cut surface 32 extends between the inner connection surface 28 and the outer connection surface 30. The at least one cut surface 32 may connect the inner connection surface 28 to the outer connection surface 30.

[0047] Optionally, the molded part 16 may include an adhesion promoter on the inner bonding surface 28 and/or on the outer bonding surface 30 for a postbonding process.

[0048] In this example, the carrier part 12 is also annular in shape and may comprise a plastic, a metal, or a composite material. Alternatively, the carrier part 12 may have another shape that includes an opening for receiving the molded part 16 and the bearing part 14. The carrier part 12 has a receptacle for a molded part 16 and a bearing part 14, which is bounded by an inner surface 24. The inner surface 24 faces a central axis 38 of the carrier part 12 and extends about said central axis 38. In this example, the inner surface 24 is annular in shape.

[0049] Optionally, the carrier part 12 may have an adhesion promoter on the inner surface 24 for a post-bonding process.

[0050] The bearing part 14 also has an annular shape and may also be made of a plastic, a metal, or a composite material. Alternatively, the bearing part 14 may have another shape that fits within the receptacle of the carrier part 12. It has an outer surface 26 that extends about and faces away from the central axis 38.

[0051] An intermediate shaft 48 may be rotatably mounted in the bearing part 14. For this purpose, the bearing part 14 may optionally be a rolling bearing or a plain bearing.

[0052] Alternatively, the bearing part 14 may optionally include a sleeve member having a receptacle 22 for a rolling bearing. In this alternative, the intermediate shaft 48 is rotatably mounted in the rolling bearing, which in turn is received in the receptacle 22 of the sleeve element of the bearing part 14.

[0053] Optionally, the bearing part 14 may have an adhesion promoter on the outer surface 26 for a post-bonding process.

[0054] The carrier part 12 and the bearing part 14 may be configured as assembly parts only.

[0055] Further, the molded part 16, the bearing part 14, and the carrier part 12 may be configured such that the molded part 16, the inner surface 24, and the outer surface 26 are arc-shaped only in sections. The molded part 16, the inner surface 24 and the outer surface 26 can therefore also be elliptical in shape, for example.

[0056] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the device 10 in various states.

[0057] FIG. 4a shows the unassembled state of the device 10. The bearing part 14 is inserted into the carrier part 12, with the outer surface 26 of the bearing part 14 facing the inner surface 24 of the carrier part. The carrier part 12 extends around the bearing part 14, and a gap is arranged between the outer side 26 and the inner side 24, the width of which corresponds to the first distance 34.

[0058] In FIG. 4a, it is further shown that the molded part 16 covers the bearing part 14 and the carrier 12 when it is arranged at the gap.

[0059] In FIG. 4b, the device is shown in the assembled state. The molded part 16 is arranged between the bearing part 14 and the carrier part 12. For arranging the molded part 16 between the bearing part 14 and the carrier part 12, the molded part 16 can be pressed into the gap, i.e. the molded part 16 can be transferred from the unassembled state to the assembled state by pressing in. Optionally, the molded part 16 can be heated for this purpose to increase the elasticity of the molded part 16. Furthermore, a lubricant can be used for the assembly, which reduces the friction between the molded part 16 and the bearing part 14 or the carrier part 12 during press-fitting.

[0060] During press-fitting, the molded part 16 is deformed as it extends in a radial direction with respect to the axis 38 in the unmounted state over the second distance 36, which is greater than the gap width corresponding to the first distance 34. The molded part 16 is arranged with the inner connecting surface 28 against the outer surface 26 of the bearing part 16 during press-fitting, and with the outer connecting surface 30 against the inner surface 24 of the carrier part 12.

[0061] The distance between the inner connecting surface 28 and the outer connecting surface 30 decreases to the first distance 34 during press-fitting.

[0062] Due to the elastic deformation of the molded part 16 during press-fitting, the material of the molded part presses the inner connecting surface 28 in a radial direction against the outer surface 28 and the outer connecting surface 30 in a radial direction against the outer surface 26. This causes a frictional connection between the molded part 16 and the bearing part 14 or the carrier part 12.

[0063] If a postbonding process is provided, the device 10 may undergo the postbonding process in the assembled state.

[0064] The invention is not limited to any of the above-described embodiments but may be varied in a variety of ways.

[0065] All the features and advantages, including constructional details, spatial arrangements, and procedural steps, which emerge from the claims, the description and the drawing, may be employed in the context of the disclosure both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.