GB2312034A - Yoke assembly for a universal joint - Google Patents

Yoke assembly for a universal joint Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2312034A
GB2312034A GB9706101A GB9706101A GB2312034A GB 2312034 A GB2312034 A GB 2312034A GB 9706101 A GB9706101 A GB 9706101A GB 9706101 A GB9706101 A GB 9706101A GB 2312034 A GB2312034 A GB 2312034A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
nut
yoke
leg
cylindrical body
yoke assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9706101A
Other versions
GB2312034B (en
GB9706101D0 (en
Inventor
Dominique Noel Marie Cuiller
Valerie Rapiau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Automotive Systems France
Original Assignee
Delphi Automotive Systems France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Automotive Systems France filed Critical Delphi Automotive Systems France
Publication of GB9706101D0 publication Critical patent/GB9706101D0/en
Publication of GB2312034A publication Critical patent/GB2312034A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2312034B publication Critical patent/GB2312034B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/16—Steering columns
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D1/00—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements
    • F16D1/06—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end
    • F16D1/08—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
    • F16D1/0852—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping between the mating surfaces of the hub and shaft
    • F16D1/0864—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping between the mating surfaces of the hub and shaft due to tangential loading of the hub, e.g. a split hub
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D3/00—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive
    • F16D3/16—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts
    • F16D3/26—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected
    • F16D3/38—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another
    • F16D3/382—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another constructional details of other than the intermediate member
    • F16D3/387—Fork construction; Mounting of fork on shaft; Adapting shaft for mounting of fork

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)

Abstract

In a yoke assembly 10 for a universal joint a substantially cylindrical body 18 has a slot 24, a wing member 20,22 being attached to the cylindrical body at each edge of the slot, the wing members having aligned apertures 30,32. A nut 14 adjacent an external surface 40 of wing member 20 and aligned with aperture 30 is held against rotation by a body portion (46, Fig 4) of a nut retainer 16. The nut retainer 16 has a first leg (48) extending from the body portion 46 and attached to the wing member 20 by being folded round a free edge 26 thereof and a second leg (50) which is welded to the cylindrical body of the yoke.

Description

YOKE ASSEMBLY FOR A UNIVERSAL JOINT The present invention relates to a yoke assembly for a universal joint for use, for example, in the steering system of a motor vehicle.
Universal joints typically comprise a yoke which is connected to a second yoke to provide a pivotal connection between two rods or shafts in the steering system. One of the yokes usually has a pair of wing members which extend substantially parallel to one another. The wing members have aligned apertures through which a screw can pass for threaded connection with a nut. Fastening of the screw with the nut draws the wing members towards one another to secure one end of a rod or shaft positioned in the yoke. For ease of assembly, it is preferable for the nut to be secured to or retained on one of the wing members of the yoke.
Known arrangements for providing this feature require additional machining of the yoke after initial formation (from sheet metal or sectioned tube) to provide means for retaining the nut. An example is disclosed in GB-A-2119479.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage.
A yoke assembly in accordance with the present invention for a universal joint comprises a yoke including a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending slot therein, and a wing member attached to the cylindrical body at each edge of the slot, each wing member having an aperture therethrough, the apertures being aligned, and having a free edge directed away from the cylindrical body, the wing members being substantially parallel; a nut positioned adjacent an external surface of one of the wing members to align with the aperture therethrough; and a nut retainer for retaining the nut in position, the nut retainer comprising a body portion which is shaped to retain the nut and to prevent rotation of the nut, a first leg extending away from the body portion and being attached to the one wing member, and a second leg extending away from the body portion in substantially the opposite direction to the first leg, the second leg being welded to the cylindrical body of the yoke.
The present invention provides a yoke assembly which requires no additional machining to the yoke after formation thereof in order to retain a nut in position on one of the wing members.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a yoke assembly in accordance with the present invention Figure 2 is a perspective view of the yoke of the yoke assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a underneath view of the nut retainer of the yoke assembly of Figure 1 prior to assembly on the yoke; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.
Referring to the drawings, a yoke assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a yoke 12, a nut 14, and a nut retainer 16. The yoke 12 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 18 and a pair of wing members 20,22. The cylindrical body 18 has a longitudinally extending slot 24 therein. The wing members 20,22 are positioned along the edges of the slot 24 and extend away from the cylindrical body 18 substantially parallel to one another. The wing members 20,22 each have a free edge 26,28, respectively, directed away from the cylindrical body 18, and an aperture 30,32, respectively, therein. The apertures 30,32 are substantially aligned. The inner surface 34 of the cylindrical body 18 is preferably splined or ridged for enhancing the grip on a steering rod when inserted within the cylindrical body. The yoke 12 also has a pair of arms 36 with bores 38 therein for attachment to the other members of a universal joint (not shown) in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. The yoke 12 may be formed by stamping and bending sheet metal.
The nut 14 is positioned alongside the exterior surface 40 of one of the wing members 20 and has a threaded through bore 42 which substantially aligns with the aperture 30 in the wing member. The nut 14 preferably has a hexagonally shaped external surface 44.
The nut retainer 16 comprises a body portion 46 and first and second legs 48,50. The body portion 46 is shaped and sized internally to retain the nut 14 therein and also to prevent the nut rotating therein.
Where the nut 14 has a hexagonal external shape, the internal shape of the body portion 46 is preferably hexagonal. The body portion 46 has an aperture 52 therethrough which aligns with the bore 44 in the nut 14 and through which the threaded shank of a screw (not shown) can pass when the screw is threaded to the nut.
The first and second legs 48,50 extend away from the body portion 46 in substantially opposite directions.
The first leg 48 is bent so that when the nut retainer 16 is positioned on the yoke 12, the leg passes around the free edge 26 of the wing member 20 so that its free end 54 lies alongside the inner surface 56 of the wing member 20. In an alternative arrangement, the first leg may be welded to the wing member 20. The second leg 50, when the nut retainer 16 is positioned on the yoke 12 with the nut 14 positioned inside the body portion 46 and adjacent the wing member 20, is welded to the cylindrical body 18 of the yoke 12. The second leg 50 may be welded to the cylindrical body 18 by spot welding, wire welding, or any other suitable method.
The nut retainer 16 is preferably formed by stamping and bending sheet metal.
In use, the yoke assembly 10 is secured to the end of a steering rod or shaft (not shown) by positioning the end of the rod inside the cylindrical body 18 of the yoke 12, passing a threaded screw (not shown) through the apertures 32,30 in the wing members 22,20 and into the bore 42 in the nut 14, and rotating the screw in the usual manner to engage with the nut 14.
The nut 14 is held in position and prevented from rotating by the nut retainer 16. On tightening, the wing members 20,22 are drawn towards one another to secure the end of the steering rod inside the cylindrical member 18 of the yoke 12.
With this arrangement, the nut 14 can be retained on the yoke 12 without the need for any additional machining of the yoke after its initial formation.

Claims (6)

Claims:
1. A yoke assembly for a universal joint comprising a yoke including a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending slot therein, and a wing member attached to the cylindrical body at each edge of the slot, each wing member having an aperture therethrough, the apertures being aligned, and having a free edge directed away from the cylindrical body, the wing members being substantially parallel; a nut positioned adjacent an external surface of one of the wing members to align with the aperture therethrough; and a nut retainer for retaining the nut in position, the nut retainer comprising a body portion which is shaped to retain the nut and to prevent rotation of the nut, a first leg extending away from the body portion and being attached to the one wing member, and a second leg extending away from the body portion in substantially the opposite direction to the first leg, the second leg being welded to the cylindrical body of the yoke.
2. A yoke assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the nut has a hexagonal external shape and the body portion of the nut retainer has a hexagonal internal shape.
3. A yoke assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the nut retainer is formed by stamping and bending sheet metal.
4. A yoke assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first leg is attached to the one wing member by folding the first leg around the free edge of the one wing member.
5. A yoke assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the second leg of the nut retainer is welded to the cylindrical body of the yoke by wire welding.
6. A yoke assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB9706101A 1996-04-13 1997-03-24 Yoke assembly for a universal joint Expired - Fee Related GB2312034B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9607722.7A GB9607722D0 (en) 1996-04-13 1996-04-13 Yoke assembly for a universal joint

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9706101D0 GB9706101D0 (en) 1997-05-14
GB2312034A true GB2312034A (en) 1997-10-15
GB2312034B GB2312034B (en) 1998-06-24

Family

ID=10792047

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9607722.7A Pending GB9607722D0 (en) 1996-04-13 1996-04-13 Yoke assembly for a universal joint
GB9706101A Expired - Fee Related GB2312034B (en) 1996-04-13 1997-03-24 Yoke assembly for a universal joint

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9607722.7A Pending GB9607722D0 (en) 1996-04-13 1996-04-13 Yoke assembly for a universal joint

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9607722D0 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1104736A1 (en) * 1999-12-03 2001-06-06 Renault Device for assembling a steering pinion with a yoke
FR2815924A1 (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-05-03 Nacam Automobile steering column caliper and pinion assembly comprises locking screw engaging locking nut in caliper branch, nut held in place by anti-rotation support spring
FR2863674A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-17 Nacam France Sas Driveshaft`s universal joint jaw for steering column, has connection unit with portion having outer face, and articulation yoke with end having inner face, where faces have conjugated forms to have desired orientation between yoke and unit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB834631A (en) * 1957-05-22 1960-05-11 Peter Dennis Company Device for achieving angular adjustment between associated lever and shaft assembly
GB2119479A (en) * 1982-04-15 1983-11-16 Nadella Yoke in a universal joint
US4900178A (en) * 1987-12-31 1990-02-13 Nacam Coupling device and the application thereof in particular in an automobile steering device
US5490751A (en) * 1992-01-10 1996-02-13 Nacam Fastening device with removable axial guiding stop

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB678395A (en) * 1950-01-25 1952-09-03 Cyril Lorenzo Field Improvements in or relating to anchor nuts

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB834631A (en) * 1957-05-22 1960-05-11 Peter Dennis Company Device for achieving angular adjustment between associated lever and shaft assembly
GB2119479A (en) * 1982-04-15 1983-11-16 Nadella Yoke in a universal joint
US4900178A (en) * 1987-12-31 1990-02-13 Nacam Coupling device and the application thereof in particular in an automobile steering device
US5490751A (en) * 1992-01-10 1996-02-13 Nacam Fastening device with removable axial guiding stop

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1104736A1 (en) * 1999-12-03 2001-06-06 Renault Device for assembling a steering pinion with a yoke
FR2801860A1 (en) * 1999-12-03 2001-06-08 Renault DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING A STEERING PINION WITH A CALIPER
FR2815924A1 (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-05-03 Nacam Automobile steering column caliper and pinion assembly comprises locking screw engaging locking nut in caliper branch, nut held in place by anti-rotation support spring
FR2863674A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-17 Nacam France Sas Driveshaft`s universal joint jaw for steering column, has connection unit with portion having outer face, and articulation yoke with end having inner face, where faces have conjugated forms to have desired orientation between yoke and unit
EP1544489A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-22 Nacam France S.A.S. Demountable Hookes joint yoke for vehicle steering column

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2312034B (en) 1998-06-24
GB9706101D0 (en) 1997-05-14
GB9607722D0 (en) 1996-06-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE2756228B2 (en) Ball joint mounting device for fixing a ball joint in one of two components to be connected by the ball joint, method for fixing a ball joint in one of two components to be connected by the ball joint, device for caulking a ball joint in one of two components to be connected by the ball joint and method for Fixing a ball joint in one of two components to be connected by the ball joint
US5188474A (en) Yoke for universal joint
US4614451A (en) Turnbuckle clamp assembly with orientation washer
US6579025B1 (en) Rod for motor vehicles
US7182544B2 (en) Turnbuckle assembly
WO1997036766A3 (en) Linkage assembly with extruded hole member
US4365909A (en) Coupling clamp and a method of manufacture therefor
JPS6042157A (en) Maneuvering wheel shaft
GB2312034A (en) Yoke assembly for a universal joint
EP1036280B1 (en) Device for holding two objects together
EP0319149A2 (en) Steering column coupling
EP0774081B1 (en) One-piece stamped clamp yoke
US5362170A (en) Monobloc coupling
US3782221A (en) Adjustable tie rod link
CN113167330A (en) Torque transmission shaft
US20050140130A1 (en) Vehicle steering column including a cardan joint
JP3658855B2 (en) Joint between shaft and universal joint yoke
EP1056625B1 (en) Drive device for windshield wipers
CA2243027A1 (en) Connector device for pipes or tubes
JPH08170627A (en) Connecting tool
JPH08230709A (en) Connecting part structure of tie-rod end
EP3573851A1 (en) Jointed yoke and actuator having a jointed yoke
US7246965B2 (en) Method of assembling a link to a support, and a vibration-damping device manufactured by said method
JPH102339A (en) Coupling part between shaft and yoke of universal coupling
JP3556748B2 (en) Connection structure between yoke and shaft of universal joint

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20100916 AND 20100922

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20110324

732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20131010 AND 20131016