Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kiyoshi Taniyama

Hiroshi Hori

Nobuhiko Okano

Teruo Akashi

Kenichi Kikuchi

Masaru Takeda

Shinjiro Hayashi

Katumi Huruhata

A slide-type constant velocity universal joint has an inner shaft member having trunnions rotatably and axially slidably carrying rollers respectively received in axial guide grooves formed in an outer shaft member. Each guide groove accommodates a pair of inner groove members each axially slidably disposed between one of the side faces of the guide groove and an associated roller and providing a cylindrical inner groove in line contact with a spherical outer surface of the roller. A roller bearing or a low-friction layer is disposed between each inner groove member and an associated side face of an associated guide groove. In another embodiment, a single inner groove member is disposed in each guide groove and has a pair of side wall portions each disposed between a roller and an associated side face of the guide groove.

Slide-type constant velocity universal joint

This method is for balancing a propeller shaft which includes a slide type constant velocity joint which has an internal cavity for receiving lubricant. In the specified order: first, the slide type constant velocity joint is slid in to substantially the maximum amount possible therefor, so as to reduce its internal cavity to substantially its minimum volume; second, lubricant is packed into this internal cavity to a fill ratio of substantially 100%, while the constant velocity joint remains thus substantially fully slid in; and, third, while the constant velocity joint still remains thus substantially fully slid in, the propeller shaft is balanced. Thereby, unbalance of the propeller shaft due to the lubricant such as grease received in the internal cavity of the constant velocity joint becoming collected preferentially on one side of the internal cavity during the balancing process is positively prevented. Optionally, during the packing process and/or the balancing process the slide type constant velocity joint may be held by a clamp in its maximum slid in state.

Method for balancing a propeller shaft

A final drive and differential unit for a motor vehicle comprises a differential carrier integrally formed with a cylindrical support structure, a differential gear unit rotatably mounted within the carrier and provided thereon with a ring gear, and a drive pinion shaft supported by a pair of axially spaced outside and inside bearings within the support structure, the pinion shaft extending outwardly through an annular oil seal member mounted within the outer end portion of the support structure and being provided at its inner end with a pinion in mesh with the ring gear. The support structure is formed in one side wall thereof with an oil supply passage for permitting the flow of lubricating oil passing therethrough from the interior of the carrier into an annular space around the pinion shaft between the oil seal member and the outside bearing and is formed in the other side wall thereof with a return passage for permitting the flow of lubricating oil passing therethrough from the annular space into the carrier. The support structure is formed at the inner wall thereof with a recessed portion located above the annular space around the pinion shaft, and an impeller member is mounted on the pinion shaft for rotation therewith to pick up lubricating oil stored in the annular space toward the recessed portion of the support structure.

Lubrication mechanism in final drive and differential unit

In a final drive and differential unit comprising a ring gear integral with a differential gear unit rotatably mounted within a carrier, and a drive pinion shaft supported by a pair of axially spaced bearings within a cylindrical support structure of the carrier, the shaft extends outwardly through an oil seal member mounted within an outer end portion of the support structure and is provided at its inner end with a drive pinion in mesh with the ring gear. The support structure is formed at one side thereof with an enlarged portion formed therein with an oil supply passage opening at its one end into the carrier at the same side as the ring gear and is formed at the other side thereof with another enlarged portion formed therein with an oil return passage opening at its opposite ends into the carrier and into a first annular space between the oil seal member and the bearing. The support structure is formed in its side wall with first and second lateral holes respectively for communication between the oil supply passage and a second annular space between the bearings and for communication between the oil supply passage and the first annular space. The lowermost edge of the second lateral hole is positioned below the lowermost edge of the first lateral hole to ensure the flow of lubricating oil into the first annular space passing across the second lateral hole.

Lubrication mechanism in final drive and differential units

A lubricating structure of a differential carrier includes a drive pinion shaft attaching portion, an oil supply hole and an oil return hole extended respectively along and provided on both sides of the attaching portion and a ring gear attaching portion formed to extend the axis of a ring gear in the direction crossing these holes. A gap between a portion located on the lower side of the oil supply hole in a member surrounding the ring gear attaching portion and the ring gear disposed in the attaching portion is formed so as to be larger than that between a portion located on the upper side of the oil supply hole in the member and the ring gear. The oil supply hole is formed to give an inclination downward in front when the differential carrier is mounted on a car body.

Lubricating structure of differential carrier for vehicle

A vibration damping device for a mechanical clutch release system comprising a damper weight mounted to an inner cable connected to a release fork by a clevis. The damper weight is provided with an axial bore for receiving the inner cable, two slits formed on diametrically opposite sides of the axial bore, a bolt for securely holding the inner cable in the axial bore and a cylindrical portion provided near the release fork to coaxially encircle the clevis.

Growing community of inventors

Toyota, Japan

Kiyoshi Taniyama