Controllable flexible coupler

Abstract

The invention discloses a controllable type flexible coupler. Comprising an input end element, an output end element, an elastic body, a rolling body and a thrust mechanism, wherein the elastic body is connected with the input end element and can generate elastic deformation; the rolling body is arranged between the output end element and the elastic body; the thrust mechanism is movably arranged on the output end element and is used for pushing the rolling body to move to a position for extruding the elastic body in a dynamic coupling state; the input end element and the output end element are rotatably arranged. According to the controllable flexible coupler, active control can be achieved, functional requirements can be met, timely switching between the dynamic coupling state and the dynamic decoupling state can be well achieved, elastic rigidity is provided in the dynamic decoupling and coupling stage, jerking or impact is improved, and the NVH performance of an automobile is improved; and sliding friction and dragging torque can be reduced, and system efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of automotive transmissions. Specifically, the present invention relates to a controllable flexible coupler suitable for automobiles. Background Art

[0002] In existing automotive transmission systems, couplers are required. Commonly used couplers include wet clutches and overrunning clutches.

[0003] In existing coupler technologies, such as wet clutches, there are the following defects:

[0004] 1. Under the sliding friction condition, a large amount of heat needs to be generated, and a cooling system is required to provide coolant. The number of parts increases, resulting in a complex hydraulic system and large hydraulic losses.

[0005] 2. Under the sliding friction condition, a large amount of heat is generated, which easily leads to a decrease in vehicle power or component failure.

[0006] 3. The drag torque when the vehicle is in neutral or the heat generated during the sliding friction stage increases the system efficiency loss.

[0007] 4. The clutch needs to be controlled, and the software module functions are complex.

[0008] In existing coupler technologies, such as overrunning clutches, there are the following defects:

[0009] 1. The power coupling components of the overrunning clutch are in rigid contact, which easily causes jerks or impacts, affecting the NVH performance of the vehicle.

[0010] 2. Most overrunning clutches have no active control and cannot meet real-time functional requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. For this purpose, the present invention provides a controllable flexible coupler, and the purpose is to achieve active control.

[0012] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: a controllable flexible coupler, including an input end element, an output end element, an elastic body connected to the input end element and capable of elastic deformation, a rolling body disposed between the output end element and the elastic body, and a thrust mechanism movably disposed on the output end element and used to push the rolling body to move to a position where the elastic body is squeezed when in a power coupling state. The input end element and the output end element are rotatably disposed.

[0013] A plurality of the elastic bodies and the rolling bodies are provided, and the number of the elastic bodies is the same as that of the rolling bodies.

[0014] The thrust mechanism includes a valve body movably disposed on the output end element and an elastic element disposed between the valve body and the rolling element.

[0015] The thrust mechanism further includes a return element for applying an elastic acting force to the valve body.

[0016] In the non-active control mode, if the rotational speed of the input end element when rotating in the first direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output end element, the rolling element moves, and the rolling element is squeezed between the elastic body and the output end element. As the torque applied to the input end element increases, the elastic body deforms, and the torque is transmitted to the output end element to achieve power coupling.

[0017] In the non-active control mode, if the rotational speed of the input end element when rotating in the second direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output end element, the rolling element moves, the elastic body does not deform, and there is no power coupling between the output end element and the input end element, which is a decoupled state.

[0018] In the active control mode, the thrust mechanism pushes the rolling element to move, so that the rolling element contacts the elastic body, and the rolling element is squeezed between the elastic body and the output end element. As the torque applied to the input end element increases, the elastic body deforms, and the torque is transmitted to the output end element to achieve power coupling.

[0019] The elastic body is fixedly connected to the input end element through a plurality of connecting members.

[0020] Two connecting members are provided, and the two connecting members are a first connecting member and a second connecting member respectively.

[0021] The controllable flexible coupler of the present invention can achieve active control, meet the functional requirements, realize the timely switching between the power coupling and decoupling states very well, and provide elastic stiffness in the power decoupling and coupling stages, improve jerks or impacts, and improve the automotive NVH performance; it can also reduce sliding friction and drag torque and improve the system efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0022] This specification includes the following drawings, and the shown contents are respectively:

[0023] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the controllable flexible coupler of the present invention;

[0024] The marks in the figure are: 1. Valve body; 2. Return element; 3. Elastic element; 4. Rolling element; 5. Elastic body; 6. Output end element; 7. Input end element; 8. First connecting member; 9. Second connecting member. Detailed Embodiments

[0025] The following will, with reference to the accompanying drawings, further elaborate on the specific implementation manners of the present invention through the description of embodiments, aiming to help those skilled in the art have a more complete, accurate and in-depth understanding of the concept and technical solution of the present invention and facilitate its implementation.

[0026] It should be noted that in the following embodiments, the "first" and "second" do not represent an absolute distinction relationship in terms of structure and / or function, nor do they represent the execution order of precedence, but are merely for the convenience of description.

[0027] As Figure 1 shown, the present invention provides a controllable flexible coupler, which includes an input end element 7, an output end element 6, an elastic body 5 connected to the input end element 7 and capable of elastic deformation, a rolling body 4 disposed between the output end element 6 and the elastic body 5, and a thrust mechanism movably disposed on the output end element 6 and used to push the rolling body 4 to move to a position where it presses the elastic body 5 in the power coupling state. The input end element 7 and the output end element 6 are rotatably disposed.

[0028] Specifically, as Figure 1 shown, a plurality of elastic bodies 5 and rolling bodies 4 are provided and the number of the elastic bodies 5 and the rolling bodies 4 is the same. The input end element 7 and the output end element 6 are coaxially disposed, the input end element 7 is located inside the output end element 6, the rolling body 4 is located between the outer wall surface of the input end element 7 and the inner wall surface of the output end element 6, the rolling body 4 can be pushed by the output end element 6 to move, and the input end element 7 is coupled or decoupled with the output end element 6 for power through the rolling body 4 and the elastic body 5 as a medium.

[0029] As Figure 1 shown, the thrust mechanism includes a valve body 1 movably disposed on the output end element 6 and an elastic element 3 disposed between the valve body 1 and the rolling body 4. A guiding cavity for accommodating the valve body 1 is provided inside the output end element 6. The moving direction of the valve body 1 is perpendicular to the axis of the output end element 6 in space. The elastic element 3 is sandwiched between the valve body 1 and the rolling body 4, and both ends of the elastic element 3 are respectively connected to the valve body 1 and the rolling body 4. The elastic element 3 is used to apply an elastic acting force to the rolling body 4 to make it move towards a position away from the valve body 1.

[0030] As Figure 1As shown, the thrust mechanism further includes a return element 2 for applying an elastic force to the valve body 1. The return element 2 is located in the guiding cavity of the output end element 6. The return element 2 is used to apply an elastic force to the valve body 1 to move it towards a position away from the rolling element 4, so as to realize the return of the valve body 1. After hydraulic oil enters the guiding cavity of the output end element 6, the valve body 1 can move under the action of the hydraulic pressure, and then push the rolling element 4 to move through the elastic element 3, so that the rolling element 4 can contact the elastic body 5 and squeeze the elastic body 5.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, in the non-active control mode (the valve body 1 is not affected by the hydraulic pressure), if the rotational speed of the input end element 7 when rotating in the first direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output end element 6, the input end element 7 drives the elastic body 5 to rotate synchronously. After the elastic body 5 contacts the rolling element 4, it will drive the rolling element 4 to move. While the rolling element 4 moves, the elastic element 3 is stretched. The rolling element 4 is squeezed between the elastic body 5 and the inner wall surface of the output end element 6. As the torque applied to the input end element 7 increases, the shape of the elastic body 5 gradually changes or deforms, and the torque is smoothly transmitted to the output end element 6 to achieve power coupling. At this time, the coupler is in the coupled state.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, in the non-active control mode (the valve body 1 is not affected by the hydraulic pressure), if the rotational speed of the input end element 7 when rotating in the second direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output end element 6, the input end element 7 drives the elastic body 5 to rotate synchronously. After the elastic body 5 contacts the rolling element 4, it will drive the rolling element 4 to move. While the rolling element 4 moves, the elastic element 3 is compressed. At this time, there is no power transmission between the rolling element 4 and the elastic body 5, and the elastic body 5 does not undergo elastic deformation. There is no power coupling between the output end element 6 and the input end element 7. At this time, the coupler is in the decoupled state. The first direction and the second direction are two opposite rotational directions. If the first direction is the clockwise direction, then the second direction is the counterclockwise direction.

[0033] As Figure 1 shown, in the active control mode (hydraulic oil enters the guiding cavity, the valve body 1 is affected by the hydraulic pressure and moves), the decoupled and coupled states can be switched in a timely manner according to the real-time working conditions. Its working principle is that the hydraulic system provides a variable hydraulic pressure to push the valve body 1 to compress the elastic element 3. The rolling element 4 moves. After the rolling element 4 contacts the elastic body 5, it squeezes the elastic body 5, and the deformation of the elastic body 5 gradually increases, so as to realize the power coupling between the output end element 6 and the input end element 7. If the hydraulic system is depressurized and there is no hydraulic pressure, it will return to the non-active control mode.

[0034] In the active control mode, after the valve body 1 is acted upon by the hydraulic pressure, the thrust mechanism pushes the rolling element 4 to move, causing the rolling element 4 to contact the elastic body 5. The rolling element 4 is squeezed between the elastic body 5 and the output end element 6. As the torque applied to the input end element 7 increases, the elastic body 5 deforms, and the torque is transmitted to the output end element 6, achieving power coupling.

[0035] As Figure 1 shown, the elastic body 5 is a cantilever structure that is prone to elastic deformation under an external load. The elastic body 5 is fixedly connected to the input end element 7 through a connecting member, and multiple connecting members are provided.

[0036] In this embodiment, the elastic body 5 is connected to the input end element 7 through two connecting members, which are the first connecting member 8 and the second connecting member 9 respectively. There is a certain distance between the first connecting member 8 and the second connecting member 9.

[0037] The controllable flexible coupler with the above structure has the following advantages:

[0038] (1) Through the hydraulic valve body and its hydraulic system, active control can be realized, and power coupling and decoupling between the input end and the output end can be achieved as needed;

[0039] (2) Different from an overrunning clutch where the power coupling components are in hard contact, which is prone to jerks or impacts and reduces the vehicle's NVH performance. The controllable flexible coupler of the present invention can provide elastic stiffness during the power coupling stage, achieve flexible power transmission, reduce jerks or impacts, and improve the vehicle's NVH performance;

[0040] (3) Different from a wet clutch that generates a large amount of heat during the slip grinding stage and requires an independent cooling system. The controllable flexible coupler of the present invention can simplify the hydraulic system, reduce the number of components, lower costs, and also improve system efficiency.

[0041] The present invention has been described exemplarily in combination with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited by the above methods. As long as various non-substantive improvements are made by adopting the method concept and technical solution of the present invention; or without improvement, the above concept and technical solution of the present invention are directly applied to other occasions, all are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A controllable flexible coupler, characterized in that: It includes an input-end component, an output-end component, an elastomer connected to the input-end component and capable of elastic deformation, a rolling body disposed between the output-end component and the elastomer, and a thrust mechanism movably disposed on the output-end component and used to push the rolling body to move to a position where the elastomer is squeezed when in a power coupling state. The input-end component and the output-end component are rotatably arranged.

2. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of the elastomers and the rolling bodies are provided, and the number of the elastomers is the same as that of the rolling bodies.

3. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thrust mechanism includes a valve body movably disposed on the output-end component and an elastic element disposed between the valve body and the rolling body.

4. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thrust mechanism further includes a return element for applying an elastic acting force to the valve body.

5. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the non-active control mode, if the rotational speed of the input-end component when rotating in the first direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output-end component, the rolling body moves, and the rolling body is squeezed between the elastomer and the output-end component. As the torque applied to the input-end component increases, the elastomer deforms, and the torque is transmitted to the output-end component to achieve power coupling.

6. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 5, characterized in that: In the non-active control mode, if the rotational speed of the input-end component when rotating in the second direction is ahead of the rotational speed of the output-end component, the rolling body moves, the elastomer does not deform, and there is no power coupling between the output-end component and the input-end component, which is a decoupled state.

7. The controllable flexible coupler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: In the active control mode, the thrust mechanism pushes the rolling body to move, so that the rolling body contacts the elastomer, and the rolling body is squeezed between the elastomer and the output-end component. As the torque applied to the input-end component increases, the elastomer deforms, and the torque is transmitted to the output-end component to achieve power coupling.

8. The controllable flexible coupler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The elastomer is fixedly connected to the input-end component through a plurality of connecting members.

9. The controllable flexible coupler according to claim 8, characterized in that: Two connecting members are provided, and the two connecting members are a first connecting member and a second connecting member respectively.

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