Patent Publication Number: US-2023137620-A1

Title: Joint assembly for a vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a joint assembly for a vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a stop member that substantially prevents axial movement of a fitting of a joint assembly for a vehicle. 
     Background Information 
     A conventional joint assembly  10  for a vehicle includes a fitting  12  received by an outer race  14 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The fitting  12  is axially movable relative to the outer race  14 . The fitting  12  receives a drive shaft  16 . A boot  18  is connected to the drive shaft  16  and to the outer race  14 . During assembly of the vehicle, the fitting  12  can move axially within the outer race  14  and contact the boot  18 , thereby damaging the joint assembly  10 . 
     SUMMARY 
     A need exists for a joint assembly for a vehicle in which axial movement of a fitting is substantially prevented during assembly of the vehicle. 
     In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a joint assembly for a vehicle. The joint assembly includes an outer race, a fitting, a cap and a stop member. The fitting is disposed in the outer race. The fitting is configured to be axially movable and rotationally fixed relative to the outer race. The cap is connected to the outer race. The stop member is removably received by the cap. The stop member substantially prevents axial movement of the fitting in a direction toward the cap. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a joint assembly for a vehicle in which the joint assembly includes an outer race and a fitting disposed in the outer race. The fitting has a splined opening. The fitting is configured to be axially movable and rotationally fixed relative to the outer race. A cap is connected to the outer race. A stop member is removably received by the cap. The stop member substantially prevents axial movement of the fitting in a direction toward the cap. A gate is movably received by a first slot in the outer race. A biasing member biases the gate to a first position contacting the stop member when the stop member is received by the cap. A splined shaft is received by the opening in the fitting. A boot has a first end connected to the shaft and a second end connected to the cap. A lubricating material is disposed in a cavity defined by the shaft, the outer race, the cap and the boot. 
     Also other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed joint assembly for a vehicle will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the joint assembly for a vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG.  1    is an elevational view of a conventional joint assembly for a vehicle; 
         FIG.  2    is an elevational view of a joint assembly for a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of an outer race receiving a fitting of the joint assembly of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of an outer race and a cap of the joint assembly of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is an elevational view of a member from which an outer race and a cap of the joint assembly are manufactured; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the outer race and the cap of the joint assembly of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a stop member being inserted in the cap of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a rear perspective view of the outer race and the cap of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is perspective view of the cap receiving a gate after removal of the stop member with the outer race removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of the cap receiving the gate of  FIG.  10    with the outer race connected to the cap; and 
         FIG.  12    is an elevational view in cross section of the joint assembly of  FIG.  2    with the stop member removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring initially to  FIG.  2   , a joint assembly  110 , such as a constant velocity joint, is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The joint assembly  110  includes a fitting  112  disposed in an outer race  114 . The fitting  112  is configured to be axially movable and rotationally fixed relative to the outer race  114 . A splined, or drive, shaft  116  is received by the fitting  112  such that rotation of the outer race  114  is transferred to the drive shaft  116  by the fitting  112 . A boot  118  is connected to drive shaft  116  and to the outer race  114 . A cavity  120  is defined by the drive shaft  116 , the boot  118 , the outer race  114  and the cap  138 . A lubricating material  121  is disposed in the cavity  120  to lubricate the joint assembly  110 . 
     The fitting  112  includes a spider support member, or yoke,  122  having an inner surface  122 A and an outer surface  122 B, as shown in  FIG.  3   . The inner surface  122 A defines an opening  124  that receives the drive shaft  116 . The inner surface  122 A is preferably splined to receive a splined end  116 A of the drive shaft  116  to rotationally fix the drive shaft  116  to the spider support member  122  of the fitting  112 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   . A plurality of trunnions  126  extend outwardly from the outer surface  122 B of the spider support member  122 . The fitting  112  is preferably a tripod joint, such that three trunnions  126  extend outwardly from the outer surface  122 B of the spider support member  122 . A roller  128  is rotatably received by each of the trunnions  126 . A needle bearing  130  is disposed between the trunnion  126  and the roller  128  to allow the roller  128  to rotate with respect to the trunnion  126 . 
     The outer race  114  includes a wall  132  that extends axially from a base  134 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   . The base  134  extends substantially perpendicularly to a rotational axis A of the drive shaft  116 . The wall  132  extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis A of the drive shaft  116 . The base  134  and the wall  132  of the outer race  114  define a receiving area  136  within which the fitting  112  is axially movable. A plurality of grooves  132 A are formed in an inner surface  132 B of the wall  132  of the outer race  114  to receive the rollers  128  of the fitting  112 . The outer race  114  is preferably made of a metallic material, such as steel, but can be made of any suitable material. 
     A free end of the wall  132  defines an axial face  114 A of the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   . A plurality of first slots  114 B extend axially inwardly from the axial face  114 A of the outer race  114 . The slots  114 B are disposed between the inner surface  132 B and an outer surface  132 C of the wall  132 . The slots  114 B are preferably disposed in the portion of the wall  132  in which the grooves  132 A are formed. The number of slots  114 B is equal to the number of rollers  128  of the fitting  112 . A plurality of fastener openings  114 C extend axially inwardly from the axial end face  114 A of the outer race  114 . The fastener openings  114 C extend inwardly between the inner surface  132 B and the outer surface  132 C of the wall  132 . The fastener openings  114 C are preferably disposed between adjacent slots  114 B. The number of fastener openings  114 C is preferably equal to the number of slots  114 B in the outer race  114 . As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the outer race  114  is shown having three slots  114 B and three fastener openings  114 C, although the outer race  114  can have any suitable number of slots  114 B and fastener openings  114 C. 
     A cap  138  is configured to be connected to the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  4  and  11   . The cap  138  has a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the outer race  114  when viewed in the axial direction along the rotational axis A. The cap  138  has an outer surface  138 A and an inner surface  138 B. The cap includes a first axial face  138 C and a second axial face  138 D that face in the axial direction, as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 11   . An opening  138 E is defined by the inner surface  138 B and extends through the cap  138  in the axial direction from the first axial face  138 C to the second axial face  138 D. The cap  138  is preferably made of a metallic material, such as steel, but can be made of any suitable material. 
     A plurality of fastener openings  138 F extend axially through the cap  138  from the first axial face  138 C to the second axial face  138 D, as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 10   . Each of the plurality of fastener openings  138 F in the cap  138  corresponds to one of the plurality of fastener openings  114 C in the outer race  114 . The cap  138  preferably has the same number of fastener openings  138 F as the number of fastener openings  114 C in the outer race  114 . 
     A plurality of recesses, or openings,  138 G are formed in the cap  138 , as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 11   . The recesses  138 G extend through the cap  138  from the outer surface  138 A to the inner surface  138 B. 
     A plurality of second slots  138 H extend in the axial direction from the second axial face  138 D toward the first axial face  138 C, as shown in  FIGS.  7 - 10   . The slots  138 H do not extend completely to the first axial face  138 C. The slots  138 H extend through the recesses  138 G, as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  10   . 
     A gate  140  is configured to be movably received by each of the first slots  114 B in the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 ,  10  and  11   . The gate  140  has a first end  140 A and a second end  140 B opposite the first end  140 A. The second end  140 B of the gate  140  is closer to the cap  138  then the first end  140 A when the gate  140  is received by the first slot  114 B in the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIG.  2   . The gate  140  has an inner surface  140 C facing toward the rotational axis A, and an outer surface  140 D facing away from the rotational axis A. The gate is preferably made of a metallic material, such as steel, but can be made of any suitable material. 
     A biasing member  142  is configured to be disposed in the first slot  114 B in the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  4   . A first end of the biasing member  142  contacts an end of the slot  114 B. A second end of the biasing member  142  contacts the first end  140 A of the gate  140 . The biasing member  142  is configured to bias the gate  140  in the axial direction. 
     A stop member  144  is configured to be removably received by the cap  138 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  8 - 11   . The stop member  144  has a first portion  144 A and a second portion  144 B. A width W 1  of the first portion  144 A is larger than a width W 2  of the second portion  144 B, as shown in  FIG.  3   . The stop member  144  is preferably unitarily formed as a one-piece member. The stop member is preferably made of a non-metallic material, such as nylamid, but can be made of any suitable material. 
     A fastener  146  is configured to secure the cap  138  to the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  4   . The fastener  146  is received by the fastener opening  138 F in the cap  138  and the fastener opening  114 C in the outer race  114 . The fastener openings  138 F in the cap  138  and the fastener openings  114 C in the outer race  114  are preferably threaded. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the cap  138  can be formed by cutting the outer race  114 . A cut is made along line  150  to form the cap  138 . The cut line  150  is preferably substantially parallel to the base  134  of the outer race  114 . 
     After separating the cap  138  from the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , the plurality of first slots  114 B and fastener openings  114 C are machined in the axial face  114 A of the outer race  114 . As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the plurality of recesses  138 G are machined in the cap  138 . The plurality of second slots  138 H are machined in the second axial face  138 D of the cap  138 . The plurality of fastener openings  138 F are machined in the cap  138 . The plurality of first slots  114 B in the outer race  114  and the plurality of second slots  138 H in the cap  138  are axially aligned. The plurality of fastener openings  114 C in the outer race  114  and the plurality of fastener openings  138 F in the cap  138  are axially aligned. The plurality of second slots  138 H in the cap  138  extend through the plurality of recesses  138 G, as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 ,  4  and  8   , a biasing member  142  and a gate  140  are inserted in each of the plurality of slots  114 B in the outer race  114 . The biasing member  142  is disposed in the slot in any suitable manner. A first end of the biasing member  142  contacts an end wall of the slot  114 B and a second end of the biasing member  142  contacts the first end  140 A of the gate  140 . The biasing member  142  biases the gate  140  in a direction toward the cap  138 . 
     The fitting  112  is disposed in the receiving area  136  of the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIG.  3   . The slots  114 B are disposed in a substantially planer portion  114 D of the wall  132  of the fitting  112 . Curved portions  114 E of the wall  132  immediately adjacent each planar portion  114 D are curved to accommodate the roller  128  of the fitting, as shown in  FIG.  3   . The curved portions  114 E of the wall  132  allow the rollers  128  to rotate, such that the fitting  112  can move axially within the receiving area  136  of the fitting  112 . The curved portions of the wall  132  further prevent rotation of the fitting  112  relative to the outer race  114 , such that rotation of the outer race  114  rotates the fitting  112 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the fitting  112  moves axially in the outboard direction O and the inboard direction I. The fitting  112  is axially movable and rotationally fixed relative to the outer race  114 . 
     The drive shaft  116  is inserted in the opening  124  in the yoke  122  such that the splines  116 A of the drive shaft  116  engage the splines disposed on the inner surface  122 A of the yoke  122 . Rotation of the outer race  114  through shaft  152 , as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , rotates the fitting  112 , which in turn rotates the drive shaft  116 . Rotation of the drive shaft rotates a wheel (not shown) of the vehicle. 
     The cap  138  is positioned adjacent the outer race  114  such that the second axial face  138 D of the cap  138  is adjacent the axial face  114 A of the outer race  114 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 ,  8 ,  9  and  11   . The fastener holes  138 F in the cap  138  are aligned with the fastener holes  114 C in the outer race  114 . This position also results in the first slots  114 B in the outer race  114  being aligned with the second slots  138 H in the cap  138 . The fasteners  146  are inserted through the fastener openings  138 F in the cap  138  and into the fastener openings  114 C in the outer race  114  to securely fasten the cap  138  to the outer race  114 . 
     The second portion  144 B of the stop member  144  is inserted through the recess  138 G in the cap  138 . The first portion  144 A of the stop member  144  has a width W 1  that is larger than the width W 3  of the recess  138 G in the cap to limit the insertion depth of the stop member  144 . The second end  140 B of the gate  140  is biased to contact the second portion  144 B of the gate  140 , as shown in  FIG.  2   . The biasing member  142  biases the gate  140  to a first position contacting the stop member  144  when the stop member  144  is received by the cap  138 . The stop member  144  is removably received by the cap  138 . The force exerted by the gate  140  on the stop member  144  facilitates securely retaining the stop member  144  between the outer race  114  and the cap  138 . As shown in  FIG.  11   , the recess  138 G is an opening disposed in the second axial face  138 D of the cap  138  such that the stop member  144  is disposed between the cap  138  and the outer race  114 . Alternatively, the recess  138  can be an opening disposed entirely within the cap  138 . 
     The boot  118  is connected to the drive shaft  116  and to the end cap  138 , as shown in  FIG.  2    in a conventional manner. A lubricating material  121 , such as grease, is disposed in the cavity  120  defined by the boot  118 , the end cap  138  and the outer race  114 . The boot  118  is preferably made of a flexible material that flexes to accommodate movement of the drive shaft  116  relative to the outer race  114 . 
     The second portion  144 B of the stop member  144  is contacted by the fitting  112  to limit axial movement of the fitting  112  in the outboard direction O. Prior to finalizing assembly of the vehicle, the stop member  144  substantially prevents axial movement of the fitting  112  in a direction toward the cap  138 . By limiting axial movement of the fitting  112  in the outboard direction O, the fitting  112  is substantially prevented from contacting the boot  118 . 
     When assembly of the vehicle is finalized, each of the stop members  144  is removed from the cap  138 , as shown in  FIGS.  10 - 12   . The biasing member  142  moves the gate  140  in the outboard direction O to a second position to seal the recess  138 G in the cap  138  when the stop member  144  is removed. The movement direction of the gate  140  is substantially perpendicular to the removal direction of the stop member  144 . The gate  140  moves in the inboard direction O when the stop member  144  is removed, and the stop member  144  is removed in a direction perpendicular to the inboard direction O. The gate  140  moves into the slot  138 H in the cap  138 . A portion of the gate  140  is received in the first slot  114 B of the outer race  114  and the second slot  138 H of the cap  138  to close the recess  138 G in the cap  138  to substantially prevent leakage of the lubricating material  121  ( FIG.  2   ) and to substantially prevent debris and other foreign materials from entering the cavity  120  upon removal of the stop member  144 . The biasing member  142  maintains the gate  140  in the second position to seal the recess  138 G in the cap  138 . 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the hybrid door seal. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the hybrid door seal. 
     The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.