Universal joint
View Patent ↗A universal joint configured to reduce the steering friction by decreasing the bending torque of a yoke. The universal joint includes a body portion formed at one end of a yoke for a shaft to be coupled thereto, a wing portion formed at the other end of the yoke for a bearing to be pressed thereinto, and a rigidity-weakening portion formed in a shape of a reduced cross-sectional area in a portion extending from the body portion to the wing portion.
1 . A universal joint comprising:
a body portion formed at a first end of a yoke for a shaft to be coupled thereto;
a wing portion formed at a second end of the yoke for a bearing to be pressed thereinto; and
a rigidity-weakening portion formed in a portion extending from the body portion to the wing portion and having a reduced cross-sectional area,
wherein the rigidity-weakening portion is formed in a shape extended from the body portion to the wing portion and having a concave outer surface,
wherein a slit is formed in a radial direction of a shaft hole formed in the body portion,
wherein the slit is formed between rigidity-weakening portions, and
wherein a hollow portion side end of the slit is positioned at a least thick portion of the rigidity-weakening portion.
2 . The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein a radius of a concave shape of the concave outer surface ranges from 6 to 14 mm.
3 . The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein a concave shape of the concave outer surface is formed on right and left sides of the wing portion respectively.
4 . The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the concave outer surface is symmetrically formed on right and left sides of the wing portion.
5 . The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the least thick portion of the rigidity-weakening portion is formed at a position a predetermined distance away from a n edge of the hollow portion.
6 . The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the shaft hole ranges from 16 to 18 mm, and an outer diameter of the body portion forming the shaft hole ranges from 25 to 27 mm.
7 . The universal joint of claim 1 , further comprising:
an intermediate yoke connected to the yoke via a spider having a bearing; and
an intermediate shaft portion integrally formed with a body portion of the intermediate yoke.
8 . The universal joint of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate shaft portion has a solid shaft shape or a hollow shaft shape.