CLUTCH DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling device with a shaft having a radially encircling first axial toothing and a sleeve having a corresponding radially encircling second axial toothing, wherein the shaft and sleeve are arranged coaxially to one another so as to be rotatable about an axis and wherein the shaft or sleeve is axially movable by an adjustment path for engaging the radially encircling first axial toothing of the shaft with the radially encircling second axial toothing of the sleeve and for disengaging the radially encircling first axial toothing of the shaft from the radially encircling second axial toothing of the sleeve.

[0002] US 2002 / 112934 A1 discloses a hub clutch mechanism in which the clutch ring movement is actuated by an over-center spring. A first spring portion is attached to the clutch ring, and a second spring portion is movably mounted in the center of the clutch ring. The second spring portion is axially offset from the first spring portion and biases the clutch ring away from the first spring portion. Stops limit the movement of the first and second spring portions, allowing the second spring portion to move from one side of the first spring portion to the other, thereby forcing reverse axial movement of the clutch ring.

[0003] US 2013 / 334000 A1 discloses a connecting device for the rotationally fixed connection of a first and a second shaft rotatable relative to each other. The connecting device comprises an axially movable connecting element with positive locking elements, which, in a first axial position, establishes a positive locking between the first and second shafts by means of the positive locking elements and releases the positive locking in a second axial position. The connecting device also comprises an electromagnetic actuator, which, when electrically energized, causes the connecting element to move between the first and second axial positions.The form-locking elements are arranged in a plurality of first rows spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of movement of the connecting element, such that in the first axial position, these plurality of first rows are in form-lock with at least one corresponding second row of form-locking elements of the first shaft, whereby the form-locking between the first and the second shaft is established, and that in the second axial position, these plurality of first rows are released from the respective corresponding second row of form-locking elements of the first shaft, whereby the form-locking between the first and the second shaft is released.

[0004] In such known coupling devices, the permissible transmittable torque is limited.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a coupling device of the type mentioned above which has a simple structure with a short overall length and a small radial extension and which can transmit a large torque.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the shaft has a radially encircling third axial toothing at an axial distance from the radially encircling first axial toothing, wherein the teeth of the radially encircling first toothing and the radially encircling third toothing are axially aligned with one another, and the sleeve has a radially encircling fourth axial toothing at the same axial distance from the radially encircling second axial toothing, and the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing and the radially encircling fourth axial toothing are axially aligned with one another,wherein the axial distance between the radially encircling first and third axial toothings corresponds at least to the width of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing, and wherein in a first switching position all toothings are disengaged from one another and in a second switching position the radially encircling first axial toothing is engaged in the radially encircling second axial toothing and the radially encircling third axial toothing is engaged in the radially encircling fourth axial toothing.

[0007] It is understood that, corresponding to the tooth pair of the radially circulating third axial toothing and the radially circulating fourth axial toothing, further axial tooth pairs may also be present.

[0008] The arrangement according to the invention leads to an increase, in particular a doubling of the transmittable torque with a relatively small outer diameter and relatively short length of the coupling device as well as a small axial adjustment path.

[0009] The short adjustment range enables the clutch device to be switched quickly.

[0010] This is particularly advantageous if the clutch device is a claw locking system, which can preferably be used in differential gears.

[0011] If the teeth of the radially circulating first axial toothing have first deposits on their tooth flanks, wherein the tooth tips have a smaller width at their ends facing the radially circulating second axial toothing than at their ends facing away from the radially circulating second axial toothing, then in the engaged state and with a high torque to be transmitted, the teeth are deformed in such a way that the load on them, in particular the load on the tooth roots, is distributed over the entire width of the teeth and thus overloading of the teeth can be avoided.

[0012] According to the invention, the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing have second backings on their tooth flanks, with the tooth tips having a smaller width at their ends facing the radially encircling first axial toothing than at their ends facing away from the radially encircling first axial toothing. Here, too, in the engaged state and with high torque to be transmitted, the teeth are deformed to such an extent that their load, in particular the load on the tooth roots, is distributed across the entire width of the teeth, thus preventing overloading of the teeth.

[0013] Furthermore, this design allows the teeth to align axially. This compensates for misalignments of the radially rotating first and second toothings with the radially rotating third and fourth toothings caused by manufacturing errors.

[0014] The backings are designed to rotate at only a slight angle to the axis around which the shaft and sleeve rotate, allowing the teeth to be easily disengaged. The angle can be in the order of 2.5°.

[0015] The first deposits and / or the second deposits and / or the third deposits and / or the fourth deposits may extend over the entire width or over part of the width of the teeth.

[0016] In order to achieve good coupling, the end faces of the teeth of the radially encircling first axial toothing facing the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing and / or the end faces of the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing facing the teeth of the radially encircling first axial toothing and / or the end faces of the teeth of the radially encircling third axial toothing facing the teeth of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing and / or the end faces of the teeth of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing facing the teeth of the radially encircling third axial toothing can be provided with axially directed pointed portions.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is described in more detail below. Figure 1a shaft in side view Figure 2a sleeve in side view Figure 3the shaft after Figure 1in perspective view Figure 4the sleeve after Figure 2 in perspective view Figure 5 an enlarged cross-sectional view from the shaft to Figure 1 partially coupled into the socket after Figure 2 .

[0018] The shaft 1 shown in the figures is mounted for rotation about an axis 2. The shaft 1 has a first radially encircling axial toothing 3 at its left end and a third radially encircling axial toothing 5 at an axial distance 4 from the first radially encircling axial toothing 3 to its right.

[0019] The diameter and number of teeth of the first radially encircling axial toothing 3 and the diameter and number of teeth of the third radially encircling axial toothing 4 are, for example, the same.

[0020] A sleeve 6 is also arranged so as to be rotatable about the axis 2 and can be moved by an adjustment path 16 from a first switching position to a second switching position.

[0021] The sleeve 6 has, corresponding to the first radially encircling axial toothing 3 and the third radially encircling axial toothing 5, a fourth radially encircling axial toothing 7 at its left end region facing the shaft 1 and a second radially encircling axial toothing 9 at a distance 8 corresponding to the distance 4.

[0022] In the Figure 1 In the first switching position shown, the shaft 1 is outside the sleeve 6. By axially pushing the shaft 1 and sleeve 6 towards each other by the adjustment path 16 into the position shown in Figure 3 In the second switching position shown, the first radially encircling axial toothing 3 engages with the second radially encircling axial toothing 9 and the third radially encircling axial toothing 5 engages with the fourth radially encircling axial toothing 7.

[0023] In order that during this engagement process the teeth of the radially rotating axial toothings 3 and 5 can easily find the tooth gaps of the radially rotating axial toothings 9 and 7 and can slide into them, the teeth of the third radially rotating axial toothing 5 and the fourth radially rotating axial toothing 7 facing each other are provided with pointed portions 10 and 11 directed axially towards each other.

[0024] The teeth of the third radially encircling axial toothing 5 of the shaft 6 have third backings 12 on their tooth flanks such that their tooth tips have a greater width at their ends facing the sleeve 6 than at their ends facing away from the sleeve 6.

[0025] The teeth of the first radially circumferential axial toothing 3 of the shaft 6 have first deposits 13 on their tooth flanks such that their tooth tips have a smaller width at their ends facing the sleeve 6 than at their ends facing away from the sleeve 6.

[0026] The teeth of the fourth radially circumferential axial toothing 7 of the sleeve 6 have fourth backings 15 on their tooth flanks such that their tooth tips have a greater width at their ends facing the shaft 1 than at their ends facing away from the shaft 1.

[0027] The teeth of the second radially circumferential axial toothing 9 of the sleeve 6 have second backings 14 on their tooth flanks such that their tooth tips have a smaller width at their ends facing the shaft 1 than at their ends facing away from the shaft 1.

[0028] The described deposits 12, 13, 14, 15 have an inclination angle to the axis of 2.5°. Reference symbol

[0029] 1Shaft 2Axis 3First radial toothing 4Gap 5Third radial toothing 6Sleeve 7Fourth radial toothing 8Gap 9Second radial toothing 10Points 11Points 12Third backings 13First backings 14Second backings 15Fourth backings 16Adjustment path

Claims

1. Coupling device having a shaft (1) which has a radially encircling first axial toothing (3), and a corresponding sleeve (6) which as a radially encircling second axial toothing (9), wherein the shaft (1) and the sleeve (6) are disposed so as to be rotatable in a mutually coaxial manner about an axis (2); wherein the shaft (1) or the sleeve (6) is able to be axially moved by an adjustment path (16) for engaging the radially encircling first axial toothing (3) of the shaft (1) in the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) of the sleeve (6), and for disengaging the radially encircling first axial toothing (3) of the shaft (1) from the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) of the sleeve (6); wherein the shaft (1) has a radially encircling third axial toothing (5) at an axial spacing (4) from the radially encircling first axial toothing (3); wherein the teeth of the radially encircling first toothing (3) and of the radially encircling third toothing (5) are axially mutually aligned, and the sleeve (6) has a radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) at the same axial spacing (8) from the radially encircling second axial toothing (9), and the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) and of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) are axially mutually aligned; wherein the axial spacing (4) between the radially encircling first and third axial toothing (3, 5) corresponds to at least the width of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7); and wherein in a first shifting position all toothings are disengaged from one another, and in a second shifting position the radially encircling first axial toothing (3) engages in the radially encircling second axial toothing (9), and the radially encircling third axial toothing (5) engages in the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7), characterized in that the teeth of the radially encircling first axial toothing (3) on their tooth flanks have first backings (13), wherein the tips of the teeth on their ends that face the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) have a smaller width than on their ends that face away from the radially encircling second axial toothing (9).

2. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) on their tooth flanks have second backings (14), wherein the tips of the teeth on their ends that face the radially encircling first axial toothing (3) have a smaller width than on their ends that face away from the radially encircling first axial toothing (3).

3. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth of the radially encircling third axial toothing (5) on their tooth flanks have third backings (12), wherein the tips of the teeth on their ends that face the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) have a larger width than on their ends that face away from the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) .

4. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) on their tooth flanks have fourth backings (15), wherein the tips of the teeth on their ends that face the radially encircling third axial toothing (5) have a larger width than on their ends that face away from the radially encircling third axial toothing (5).

5. Coupling device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the backings (12, 13, 14, 15) have a minor angle in the order of 2.5° in relation to the axis.

6. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first backings (13) and / or the second backings (14) and / or the third backings (12) and / or the fourth backings (15) extend across the entire width or across part of the width of the teeth.

7. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that those end sides of the teeth of the first axially encircling toothing (3) that face the teeth of the second axially encircling toothing (9), and / or those end sides of the teeth of the radially encircling second axial toothing (9) that face the teeth of the radially encircling first axial toothing (3), and / or those end sides of the teeth of the radially encircling third axial toothing (5) that face the teeth of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7), and / or those end sides of the teeth of the radially encircling fourth axial toothing (7) that face the teeth of the radially encircling third axial toothing (5) are provided with axially directed bevels (11).