Unlocking quick response bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of unlocking quick response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly, including input shaft, input shaft shell, output shaft, output shaft shell, input shaft is cooperated with input shaft shell, output shaft is cooperated with output shaft shell, fixed pin is connected between output shaft shell and input shaft shell, several movable grooves are uniformly distributed on the outer peripheral wall of output shaft, the inner wall on both sides of movable groove is extended and has locking groove, rolling body and spring are movably arranged in locking groove, the position of each movable groove of input shaft is provided with the block, the both side wall of block is connected with block bottom wall and is formed with the guide arc face for guiding rolling body when contacting with rolling body, the first guide arc face is opened in the bottom wall of locking groove along the circumference of output shaft, the second guide arc face is opened in the inner peripheral wall of output shaft shell and is annularly arranged.The utility model solves the problem that the unlocking and locking function of traditional bidirectional overrunning clutch is difficult to respond and switch quickly and difficult to disassemble.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of clutch technology, specifically to a fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly. Background Technology

[0002] A bidirectional overrunning clutch is a transmission mechanism that enables bidirectional driving of the output shaft from the input shaft and can lock the output shaft from active rotation. Its core function is to flexibly switch between transmission and locking states. It is widely used in machine tool feed systems, construction machinery (such as loader transmission systems), and other fields. Existing bidirectional overrunning clutches are usually composed of parts such as input shaft, output shaft, housing, rolling elements, springs, and bearings. Its working principle is to drive the rolling elements through a paddle (or pawl) on the input shaft, thereby driving the output shaft to rotate. At the same time, the preload of the rolling elements by the spring is used to lock the output shaft when it rotates actively.

[0003] However, the existing structure has obvious defects: First, the cylindrical rollers are not adapted to guide them and are prone to skew, which makes it easy for the rollers to jam when the output shaft rotates actively, thus making it difficult to unlock the input shaft; Second, the pawl is not arc-shaped and has a large gap with the rollers, resulting in a long idle stroke and delayed response in power transmission; Third, there is a lack of special assembly tools, and the pawl is difficult to insert after the rollers are pre-installed, which makes disassembly and assembly inconvenient and results in low disassembly and assembly efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly, which solves the problems of slow response and switching of unlocking and locking functions, as well as difficulty in disassembly and assembly, in traditional bidirectional overrunning clutches.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly, including an input shaft, an input shaft housing, a first bearing, a second bearing, an output shaft, and an output shaft housing. The input shaft is connected to the input shaft housing via the first bearing, and the output shaft is connected to the output shaft housing via the second bearing. A fixing pin is detachably connected between the output shaft housing and the input shaft housing. A plurality of movable grooves are evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer peripheral wall of the output shaft, and each of these movable grooves combines with the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing to form a closed space. Locking grooves extend circumferentially along the output shaft on both sides of the inner walls of the movable grooves. The slot contains a rolling element and a spring for engaging with the rolling element. The rolling element is a self-aligning roller with an arc-shaped outer diameter. The input shaft is provided with a lever for inserting into each movable slot. The two side walls of the lever are connected to the bottom wall of the lever with a smooth arc surface, forming a guide arc surface for guiding the rolling element when in contact with it. The bottom walls of the two locking slots are inclined relative to the bottom walls of the movable slots, and the bottom walls of the locking slots are provided with a first guide arc surface for guiding the movement of the rolling element along the circumference of the output shaft. The inner circumferential wall of the output shaft housing is provided with a second guide arc surface for guiding the movement of the rolling element.

[0006] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are: the movable groove on the outer peripheral wall of the output shaft and the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing form a closed space, which can provide a stable installation and movement environment for the rolling elements and springs, prevent external impurities from intruding and affecting the fit of components, and ensure the reliability of the internal structure; the rolling elements movable in the locking groove are self-aligning rollers with an arc-shaped outer circle, which, together with the first guide arc surface of the bottom wall of the locking groove and the second guide arc surface of the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing, can effectively limit the axial movement of the self-aligning rollers, improve the smoothness of the transmission process, and reduce the risk of the rollers jamming when the output shaft rotates actively, making it easier to... The input shaft unlocks quickly when driven, and the paddle block corresponding to the movable slot of the input shaft has a smooth arc surface between its two side walls and bottom wall to form a guide arc surface. This can accurately guide the movement of the roller when the paddle block contacts the rolling element, reducing contact jamming and improving power transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the spring and rolling element abut against each other to provide continuous preload to the roller, ensuring reliable locking when the output shaft rotates actively. The input shaft quickly responds to transmission needs when driven. The output shaft housing and input shaft housing are detachably connected by a fixing pin, balancing structural connection stability and ease of maintenance. The overall structure is suitable for bidirectional transmission and locking requirements under various working conditions.

[0007] The present invention is further provided in that: a flared opening is formed at the junction of the movable groove and the locking groove for engaging with the rolling element.

[0008] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are as follows: The flared opening formed at the junction of the movable groove and the locking groove can provide smooth transition guidance when the rolling element switches between the movable groove and the locking groove, avoiding jamming of the roller at the groove junction, ensuring smooth switching between locking and unlocking states, and improving state switching efficiency; moreover, the flared opening can play an auxiliary limiting role for the rolling element, preventing the roller from deviating from the preset movement trajectory during transmission, ensuring stable contact between the roller and the inner wall of the locking groove and movable groove, thereby improving the transmission stability of the clutch assembly, reducing abnormal friction and wear between components caused by roller offset, and extending the overall service life; at the same time, the flared opening can assist the rolling element to quickly return to the locked position under the action of spring preload, ensuring the timeliness and reliability of the locking function when the output shaft rotates actively, avoiding locking failure caused by roller reset lag, adapting to the working conditions of high-frequency state switching, and improving the working condition adaptability of the clutch assembly.

[0009] The present invention further includes an auxiliary plate for assisting the quick installation of the toggle block into the movable slot. A quick-installation hole is provided on the end face of the output shaft corresponding to each flared position. The quick-installation hole is connected to the movable slot. A guide shaft is provided on the auxiliary plate corresponding to each quick-installation hole for inserting with the corresponding quick-installation hole before the toggle block is installed to push the adjacent rolling element into the locking slot.

[0010] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are as follows: The auxiliary plate, in conjunction with the quick-release hole on the output shaft end face and the guide shaft on the auxiliary plate, allows the guide shaft to be inserted into the quick-release hole before the clutch block is installed, pushing the adjacent rolling elements into the locking groove. This provides sufficient space for the clutch block to be placed into the movable groove, simplifying the clutch block installation process, reducing assembly difficulty, and improving overall assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the design connecting the quick-release hole and the movable groove ensures accurate insertion of the guide shaft and direct action on the rolling elements, preventing damage caused by accidental contact with other components due to operational deviations, thus ensuring the safety and accuracy of the assembly process. Simultaneously, the guide shaft compresses the spring while pushing the rolling elements, keeping the rolling elements stably within the locking groove and preventing them from shifting due to spring force during installation. This ensures the clutch block is smoothly placed into the movable groove without relying on complex assembly equipment, improving the flexibility of assembly operations, adapting to different production scenarios, and preventing wear on the rolling elements or clutch block surface caused by forced installation, protecting the structural integrity of the components, and extending the service life of the assembled clutch assembly.

[0011] This utility model further comprises: several guide shafts divided into guide groups in pairs, with one guide shaft in each guide group being the main shaft and the other guide shaft being the secondary shaft. The secondary shaft is fixedly connected to an auxiliary plate. An adjustment groove is provided on the auxiliary plate corresponding to each position of the main shaft. The adjustment groove is arc-shaped and the arc direction of each adjustment groove is consistent. The main shaft is movably disposed in the adjustment groove. Two locking nuts are threadedly connected to the main shaft. Both locking nuts are abutted and cooperate with the auxiliary plate to achieve clamping and limiting of the main shaft.

[0012] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are as follows: In this technology, several guide shafts are grouped into guide groups in pairs, and each group is further divided into a main shaft and a secondary shaft. This allows for differentiated pushing of rolling elements at different positions, ensuring that adjacent rolling elements can be stably pushed into the locking groove. This avoids rolling element displacement caused by uneven pushing force from a single guide shaft, improving assembly adaptability. The secondary shaft is fixedly connected to the auxiliary plate, providing a positioning reference for the entire guide group, ensuring the positional accuracy of the main shaft during adjustment, and reducing adjustment errors. The arc-shaped adjustment groove on the auxiliary plate corresponding to the main shaft provides circumferential adjustment for the guide shaft. The space allows for fine-tuning of the spindle position based on the actual installation location of the rolling elements, compensating for component machining errors and ensuring precise application of the spindle to the rolling elements, avoiding insufficient or excessive pushing. Simultaneously, the two threaded locking nuts on the spindle engage with the auxiliary plate, stably limiting the spindle to the adjusted position and preventing displacement due to external forces during installation. This ensures stable force when pushing the rolling elements, preventing rolling element misalignment, improving the reliability of the auxiliary plate, and adapting to clutch components of different sizes or machining precisions. This reduces excessive reliance on component precision during assembly and enhances assembly versatility.

[0013] The present invention further includes: a positioning groove for accommodating and positioning the end of the spring on the locking groove, and the beginning of the spring abutting and cooperating with the rolling element.

[0014] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are as follows: The positioning groove opened on the locking groove can accommodate and position the end of the spring, preventing the spring from axially moving or radially deviating during operation, ensuring the stability of the preload force of the spring on the rolling element, avoiding insufficient preload or directional deviation due to spring displacement, ensuring the stability of the rolling element's movement trajectory within the locking groove, and improving the reliability of the locking and unlocking process; at the same time, the spring's initial end abuts against the rolling element, which can evenly transmit the preload force to the surface of the rolling element, ensuring that when the output shaft rotates actively, the rolling element quickly fits against the locking groove and the inner wall of the output shaft housing under the action of the spring preload force, achieving reliable locking; when the input shaft drives the rolling element through the paddle, the spring can adaptively extend and retract with the movement of the rolling element, reducing the rigid contact between the spring and the rolling element, reducing the wear of both, and extending the service life of the spring and the rolling element.

[0015] The present invention further comprises: both the input shaft and the output shaft are provided with retaining edges; the input shaft is provided with a first retaining ring for combining with the adjacent retaining edge to form a clamping and limiting position for the first bearing; and the output shaft is provided with a second retaining ring for combining with the adjacent retaining edge to form a clamping and limiting position for the second bearing.

[0016] The advantages of adopting the above technical solution are: the retaining edges provided on the input shaft and output shaft, together with the first retaining ring on the input shaft and the second retaining ring on the output shaft, can respectively clamp and limit the first bearing and the second bearing, stably fixing the first bearing between the input shaft and the input shaft housing, and stably fixing the second bearing between the output shaft and the output shaft housing, preventing axial movement of the bearings during operation, ensuring the coaxiality of the input shaft and the output shaft, reducing transmission vibration and noise caused by bearing displacement, and improving the overall transmission smoothness. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a side sectional view of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view of the output shaft in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a partial three-dimensional view of the output shaft housing in this utility model;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional view of the auxiliary plate and its linkage structure in this utility model;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional view from the bottom of the auxiliary plate and its linkage structure in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0024] This utility model provides a fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly, including an input shaft 1, an input shaft housing 11, a first bearing 12, a second bearing 22, an output shaft 2, and an output shaft housing 21. The input shaft 1 is connected to the input shaft housing 11 via the first bearing 12, and the output shaft 2 is connected to the output shaft housing 21 via the second bearing 22. A fixing pin 13 is detachably connected between the output shaft housing 21 and the input shaft housing 11. A plurality of movable grooves 23 are evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer peripheral wall of the output shaft 2, and the plurality of movable grooves 23 are combined with the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing 21 to form a closed space. Locking grooves 24 extend circumferentially along the inner walls on both sides of the movable grooves 23. The output shaft 21 is equipped with a rolling element 3 and a spring 31 for engaging with the rolling element 3. The rolling element 3 is a self-aligning roller with an arc-shaped outer diameter. Each movable slot 23 on the input shaft 1 is equipped with a lever 14 for insertion into the movable slot 23. The two side walls of the lever 14 are smoothly connected to the bottom wall of the lever 14, forming a guide arc surface 141 for guiding the rolling element 3 when in contact with it. The bottom walls of the two locking slots 24 are inclined relative to the bottom walls of the movable slots 23, and the bottom walls of the locking slots 24 are provided with a first guide arc surface 241 for guiding the movement of the rolling element 3 along the circumference of the output shaft 2. The inner circumferential wall of the output shaft housing 21 is provided with a second guide arc surface 211 for guiding the movement of the rolling element 3. The junction of the movable groove 23 and the locking groove 24 forms a flared opening 32 for engaging with the rolling element 3. It also includes an auxiliary plate 4 for quickly installing the push block 14 into the movable groove 23. A quick-installation hole 25 is provided on the end face of the output shaft 2 at each flared opening position. The quick-installation hole 25 communicates with the movable groove 23. A guide shaft is provided on the auxiliary plate 4 at each quick-installation hole 25 position for inserting into the corresponding quick-installation hole 25 before the push block 14 is installed, thus pushing the adjacent rolling element 3 into the locking groove 24. Several guide shafts are grouped in pairs to form guide groups. In each guide group, one guide shaft is the main shaft 41, and the other guide shaft is the secondary shaft 42. The secondary shaft 42 is fixedly connected to the auxiliary plate 4. Each spindle 41 on the auxiliary plate 4 has an adjustment groove 43. The adjustment grooves 43 are arc-shaped and the arc direction of each adjustment groove 43 is consistent. The spindle 41 is movably disposed in the adjustment groove 43. Two locking nuts 44 are threadedly connected to the spindle 41. The two locking nuts 44 are abutted and engaged with the auxiliary plate 4 to achieve clamping and limiting of the spindle 41. The locking groove 24 has a positioning groove 241 for accommodating and positioning the end of the spring 31. The beginning of the spring 31 is abutted and engaged with the rolling element 3. Both the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 are provided with a retaining edge 5. The input shaft 1 is provided with a first retaining ring 51 for combining with the adjacent retaining edge 5 to form a clamping and limiting of the first bearing 12.The output shaft 2 is provided with a second retaining ring 52 for combining with the adjacent retaining edge 5 to form a clamping and limiting position on the second bearing 22.

[0025] Overall operation flow of this device:

[0026] I. Assembly Stage:

[0027] 1. First, install the first bearing between the input shaft and the input shaft housing. The first bearing is clamped and limited by the combination of the flange on the input shaft and the first retaining ring to ensure the stability of the first bearing. Then, install the second bearing between the output shaft and the output shaft housing. The second bearing is clamped and limited by the combination of the flange on the output shaft and the second retaining ring to ensure that the second bearing is fixed and that the input shaft and the output shaft are coaxial.

[0028] 2. Position the spring end into the positioning groove of the locking groove, and abut the spring beginning against the self-aligning roller. Place the self-aligning roller into the locking groove, then take the auxiliary plate and insert the guide shaft on the auxiliary plate into the quick-release hole on the end face of the output shaft. According to the actual position of the self-aligning roller, move the main shaft along the arc-shaped adjustment groove (the secondary shaft is fixed to provide a reference) and adjust it so that the main shaft and the secondary shaft can push the adjacent self-aligning roller into the locking groove. Tighten the two locking nuts on the main shaft to clamp and limit the main shaft.

[0029] 3. Place the input shaft's lever into the corresponding slot on the output shaft, remove the auxiliary plate, and detachably connect the output shaft housing and the input shaft housing using the fixing pin to complete the assembly.

[0030] II. Work Phase:

[0031] (a) Input shaft drives output shaft transmission:

[0032] 1. When the input shaft rotates counterclockwise, the paddle on the input shaft contacts the self-aligning roller through the guide arc surfaces on both sides, guiding the self-aligning roller to move along the first guide arc surface of the bottom wall of the locking groove and the second guide arc surface of the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing. The spring adapts to the movement of the self-aligning roller, and the paddle pushes the self-aligning roller to abut against the output shaft and the output shaft housing, causing the output shaft to rotate counterclockwise. At this time, some of the self-aligning rollers are reset with the spring in the overrun state.

[0033] 2. When the input shaft rotates clockwise, the principle is the same as when it rotates counterclockwise. The shift block guides the self-aligning roller to move along the guide arc surface through the guide arc surface, pushing the output shaft to rotate clockwise. The flared opening at the junction of the movable groove and the locking groove prevents the self-aligning roller from getting stuck when switching between the grooves, ensuring smooth transmission.

[0034] (II) Output shaft active rotation lock-up:

[0035] When the output shaft rotates counterclockwise or clockwise, the self-aligning roller moves towards the wedge-shaped area between the locking groove and the output shaft housing under the drive of the output shaft. The spring provides preload force to make the self-aligning roller tightly abut against the locking groove and the output shaft housing. Locking is achieved through the cooperation of the self-aligning roller with the first and second guide arc surfaces to prevent the output shaft from rotating on its own.

[0036] (III) Input shaft unlocking transmission:

[0037] When the output shaft is in the locked state, the input shaft rotates, causing the shift block to move. The shift block pushes the self-aligning roller through the guide arc surface to overcome the spring preload and disengage from the wedge-shaped locking area along the first and second guide arc surfaces, thus releasing the locking state. Subsequently, the shift block continues to push the self-aligning roller to drive the output shaft to rotate, achieving rapid switching between locking and transmission.

[0038] The connection relationships between the input shaft, input shaft housing, output shaft, output shaft housing and external components in the above technology are existing technologies. That is, in the existing technology, the output shaft housing is installed on an external part and fixed in place, while the input shaft is connected to an external drive element or device to realize the operation of the input shaft. The above connection relationships and connection methods, as well as the linkage relationships with external equipment, tooling, components or parts, are all existing technologies, so they will not be described in detail.

[0039] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles and main features of this utility model, as well as its advantages. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications may be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. All such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this utility model as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A quick-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly, comprising an input shaft, an input shaft housing, a first bearing, a second bearing, an output shaft, and an output shaft housing, wherein the input shaft is connected to the input shaft housing via the first bearing, the output shaft is connected to the output shaft housing via the second bearing, and a fixing pin is detachably connected between the output shaft housing and the input shaft housing, characterized in that: The output shaft has several movable grooves evenly distributed around its outer peripheral wall. Each of these movable grooves, together with the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing, forms a closed space. Locking grooves extend circumferentially along the output shaft from the inner walls of each movable groove. A rolling element and a spring for contacting and engaging with the rolling element are movably disposed within each locking groove. The rolling element is a self-aligning roller with an arc-shaped outer circumference. The input shaft has a lever for inserting into each movable groove, corresponding to the position of each movable groove. The two side walls of the lever are connected to the bottom wall of the lever with a smooth arc surface, forming a guiding arc surface for guiding the rolling element when in contact with it. The bottom walls of the two locking grooves are inclined relative to the bottom walls of the movable grooves, and the bottom walls of the locking grooves have a first guiding arc surface along the circumferential direction of the output shaft for guiding the movement of the rolling element. A second guiding arc surface for guiding the movement of the rolling element is circumferentially formed on the inner peripheral wall of the output shaft housing.

2. The fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A flared opening is formed at the junction of the movable groove and the locking groove for engaging with the rolling element.

3. The unlocking fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes an auxiliary plate for assisting the quick installation of the toggle block into the movable slot. Each flared end face of the output shaft is provided with a quick-installation hole, which is connected to the movable slot. Each quick-installation hole on the auxiliary plate is provided with a guide shaft for inserting into the corresponding quick-installation hole before the toggle block is installed to push the adjacent rolling element into the locking slot.

4. The fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The guide shafts are divided into guide groups in pairs. In each guide group, one guide shaft is the main shaft and the other guide shaft is the secondary shaft. The secondary shaft is fixedly connected to an auxiliary plate. The auxiliary plate has an adjustment groove corresponding to each position of the main shaft. The adjustment groove is arc-shaped and the arc direction of each adjustment groove is consistent. The main shaft is movably disposed in the adjustment groove. Two locking nuts are threaded on the main shaft. Both locking nuts are abutted and cooperate with the auxiliary plate to achieve clamping and limiting of the main shaft.

5. The unlocking fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking groove is provided with a positioning groove for accommodating and positioning the end of the spring, and the beginning of the spring is engaged with the rolling element.

6. The unlocking fast-response bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the input shaft and the output shaft are provided with retaining edges. The input shaft is provided with a first retaining ring for combining with the adjacent retaining edge to form a clamping and limiting position for the first bearing. The output shaft is provided with a second retaining ring for combining with the adjacent retaining edge to form a clamping and limiting position for the second bearing.

Images