Cam clutch

Abstract

To provide a cam clutch capable of efficiently tilting a cam, without deforming a cam attitude changing part and the cam itself, by restraining the cam attitude changing part from being strongly sandwiched between the cam and an outer ring and an inner ring, with a simple constitution.SOLUTION: A cam clutch 100 includes an operation mode switching mechanism 140 for allowing and / or prohibiting relative rotation of an outer ring 120 and an inner ring 110, and the operation mode switching mechanism 140 includes a cam posture changing part 143 for forcibly tilting a cam 151. Each of the plurality of cams 151 has the inner and outer ring-abutting curved surfaces 153, 154 provided at positions facing the outer peripheral surface 111 of the inner ring 110 and / or the inner peripheral surface 122 of the outer ring 120, and the side abutting surface 155, and the side abutting surface 155 is connected to the end portions of the inner and outer ring-abutting curved surfaces 153, 154, and is formed on the inner side of the cam 151 with respect to the imaginary extension curved surface S1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cam clutch that includes an inner ring and an outer ring that are coaxially rotatable relative to each other, a plurality of cams that are arranged circumferentially between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a biasing means that biases the plurality of cams radially. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as a cam clutch having an inner ring and an outer ring, for example, a cam clutch described in Patent Document 1 is known that is equipped with an operation mode switching mechanism that switches between a free state that allows relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring, and a locked state that prohibits relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring.

[0003] The cam clutch (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an inner ring (110) and an outer ring (120) that are coaxially rotatable relative to each other, a plurality of cams (131) that are arranged circumferentially between the inner ring (110) and the outer ring (120), a biasing means (139) that biases the plurality of cams (131) radially, and an operating mode switching mechanism (140). By rotating the operation mode switching mechanism (140) and bringing the cam position change portion (142) into contact with the cam (131), the position of the cam (131) is changed, and the contact state between the outer ring (120) and the inner ring (110) and the cam (131) is changed, thereby easily switching between a free state in which the outer ring (120) and the inner ring (110) are allowed to rotate relative to each other and a locked state in which the outer ring (120) and the inner ring (110) are prohibited from rotating relative to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-190255 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the cam clutch known from Patent Document 1 and the like still has room for improvement.

[0006] In other words, in the cam clutch known from Patent Document 1, the surface of the cam that the cam posture change portion abuts against is a curved surface that continues from the surface where the cam contacts the outer ring and inner ring, so there is a risk that the cam posture change portion will move to slip between the surface of the cam that is in contact with either the outer ring or the inner ring, pinching the cam between the other of the outer ring or the inner ring, and increasing the force required to tilt the cam. Furthermore, when a cam cage ring is used to interpose between adjacent cams and maintain the cam's position, there is a risk that the cam will be pinched between the cam cage ring and the cam position change part, which could increase the force required to tilt the cam.

[0007] Furthermore, there is a risk that the cam position changing portion or the cam itself may be deformed when the cam position changing portion is sandwiched between the cam and either the outer ring or the inner ring.

[0008] The present invention solves these problems and aims to provide a cam clutch with a simple configuration that prevents the cam position change part from being pinched tightly between the cam and the outer and inner rings, preventing deformation of the cam position change part or the cam itself, and enabling the cam to be tilted efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The cam clutch of the present invention is a cam clutch comprising an inner ring and an outer ring that are coaxially arranged so as to be rotatable relative to each other, a plurality of cams that are arranged in the circumferential direction between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a biasing means that biases the plurality of cams in the radial direction, and further comprises an operation mode switching mechanism that switches between a free state that allows relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring and a locked state that prohibits relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the operation mode switching mechanism is configured to be movable in the circumferential direction, radial direction or axial direction independently of the rotational movement of the inner ring and the outer ring. The problem is solved by providing a cam posture changing portion that forcibly tilts the cam, the cam posture changing portion having a cam abutment portion that can contact the cam from the circumferential direction, the multiple cams having inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces that are provided in positions facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and / or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and lateral abutment surfaces that are provided in positions facing the direction of movement of the cam abutment portions, the lateral abutment surfaces being connected to the ends of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces and being formed more inward on the cam than imaginary extended curved surfaces that are extensions of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the cam clutch of the invention of claim 1, the cam position changing portion has a cam abutment portion that can contact the cam from the circumferential direction, and the multiple cams have inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces provided in a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and / or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and lateral abutment surfaces provided in a position facing the direction of movement of the cam abutment portion, and the lateral abutment surfaces are connected to the ends of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces and are formed inside the cam more inward than imaginary extended curved surfaces that are extensions of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces.Therefore, when the cam tilts, the cam abutment portion can reliably press the lateral abutment surfaces without being guided toward the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces, and the cam position changing portion can be prevented from being tightly pinched between the inner and outer ring abutment surfaces and the inner or outer ring, preventing deformation of the cam position changing portion or the cam itself. Furthermore, by reliably pressing the side contact surfaces from the sides of the cam with the cam contact portions, the force for tilting the cam can be transmitted efficiently, and the cam can be easily tilted with a light force.

[0011] According to the configuration described in claim 2, the lateral abutment surface is configured as a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cam abutment portion, so that when the cam tilts, the cam abutment portion presses the lateral abutment surface more reliably, thereby efficiently transmitting the force that tilts the cam. According to the configuration described in claim 3, when the cam clutch is assembled, the distance from the connection point between the side abutment surface and the inner / outer ring abutment curved surface to the inner or outer ring is less than the radial thickness of the cam abutment portion of the cam attitude change part, so the cam abutment portion does not get caught between the inner or outer ring and the inner / outer ring abutment curved surface and become tightly pinched, and the cam abutment portion can reliably press the side abutment surface and easily tilt the cam efficiently.

[0012] According to the configuration of claim 4, the cam has a tilt adjustment receiving portion, which is a space provided inside the cam more inward than the imaginary extended curved surface, on the side of the cam opposite the lateral abutment surface across the outer ring abutment curved surface.Therefore, if the space in which the cam can be tilted is limited by a cam cage ring or the like, by receiving the cam cage ring in the tilt adjustment receiving portion when tilting the cam, it is possible to ensure the amount of movement required for the cam to be sufficiently tilted by the cam abutment portion. According to the configuration of claim 5, the cam is provided with a tilt adjustment protrusion that protrudes from the side abutment surface opposite the connection point between the outer ring abutment surface and the side abutment surface, across the side abutment contact point.Therefore, if the space in which the cam can be tilted is limited by a cam cage ring or the like, when the cam abutment portion that presses the cam passes over the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces, the surface of the cam abutment portion comes into contact with two points: the connection point between the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces and the side abutment surface, and the tilt adjustment protrusion, making it possible to adjust the cam tilt angle; for example, it is possible to adjust the orientation so that the cam tilt portion can easily pass over the inner and outer ring abutment curved surfaces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A of the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cam 151 of the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a cam 151 of the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 1 of a cam 151 of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 2 of a cam 151 of a cam clutch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 3 of a cam 151 of the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of a cam clutch 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cam clutch 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cam 251 of the cam clutch 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a cam 251 of the cam clutch 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 1 of a cam 251 of a cam clutch 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 2 of a cam 251 of a cam clutch 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 17] 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing a tilting operation 3 of a cam 251 of the cam clutch 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For the sake of explanation, the rollers are not shown.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has an inner ring 110 and an outer ring 120 that are coaxially rotatable relative to each other, a cam mechanism 150 that is provided between the inner ring 110 and the outer ring 120, and a selector ring 140 that is an operating mode switching mechanism that tilts a cam 151 of the cam mechanism 150 to switch the operating mode of the cam clutch 100.

[0016] The inner ring 110 is formed in an annular shape, and an inner ring side abutment portion 111 that abuts against the inner ring abutment curved surface 153 of the cam 151 to transmit the driving force is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring 110 over the entire circumference. The outer ring 120 is formed in an annular shape, and the inner surface of the outer ring 120 is provided with an outer ring side abutment portion 122 around the entire circumference, which abuts against the outer ring abutment curved surface 154 of the cam 151 to transmit driving force, and one axial end of the outer ring 120 is provided with an engaged portion 121 that can engage with the outer peripheral protrusion 134 described later.

[0017] The cam cage ring 130 has a ring-shaped ring body 131, cam accommodating portions 132 and roller accommodating portions 133 formed alternately around the entire circumference of the ring body 131, and an outer peripheral protrusion 134 formed to protrude radially outward from one axial end of the cam cage ring 130. The cam accommodating portion 132 has a space in which a cam 151 (described later) can tilt a predetermined amount in the circumferential direction, and the roller accommodating portion 133 has a space in which a roller (not shown) can rotate. The outer peripheral projection 134 is engaged with the engaged portion 121 of the outer ring 120 to prevent relative rotation between the outer ring 120 and the cam cage ring 130 .

[0018] The selector ring 140 is formed in an annular shape and has a reduced diameter portion 141, a skirt portion 142 formed to extend axially from the outer peripheral edge of the reduced diameter portion 141, and an outer ring side selector 143 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the skirt portion 142 and protruding radially inward at a predetermined interval, and the outer ring side selector 143 is provided with an outer ring side cam abutment portion 144 that presses a lateral abutment portion 155 described later.

[0019] The cam mechanism 150 has a plurality of cams 151 that transmit a driving force between the inner ring 110 and the outer ring 120 , and a biasing member 152 that biases the plurality of cams 151 inward in the radial direction of the cam clutch 100 . Cam 151 has an inner ring abutment curved surface 153 that can abut against inner ring side abutment portion 111 of inner ring 110, an outer ring abutment curved surface 154 that can abut against outer ring side abutment portion 122 of outer ring 120 that is formed on the opposite side of inner ring abutment curved surface 153, a lateral abutment surface 155 connected to one end of outer ring abutment curved surface 154, a tilt adjustment receiving portion 157 that is formed by cutting out cam 151 from the opposite side across lateral abutment surface 155 and outer ring abutment curved surface 154, and a biased slit 158 ​​that is cut out of cam 151 to open the outer ring abutment curved surface 154 side.

[0020] In this embodiment, the multiple cams 151 are all arranged in the same circumferential direction, but by arranging the multiple cams 151 in the circumferential direction so that they alternately rotate front and back, the common outer ring side selector 143 can control the postures of both the front and back cams 151, thereby avoiding the structure of the cam clutch 100 from becoming complicated and becoming larger. It is also possible to control the postures of both the front and rear cams 151 simultaneously.

[0021] The side contact surface 155 is formed inside an imaginary extended curved surface S1 that extends the outer ring contact curved surface 154 from the connection point 156.

[0022] Next, the procedure for tilting the cam 151 of the cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For the sake of explanation, the biasing member 152 is not shown in FIGS.

[0023] The cam clutch 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can be switched between a free state in which relative rotational movement between the inner ring 110 and the outer ring 120 is permitted and a locked state in which relative rotational movement between the inner ring 110 and the outer ring 120 is prohibited, depending on the position of the cam 151.

[0024] As shown in Figure 8, cam 151 is biased by biasing member 152 (not shown), and the inner ring abutment curved surface 153 is frictionally engaged with the inner ring side abutment portion 111 of inner ring 110, and the outer ring abutment curved surface 154 is frictionally engaged with the outer ring side abutment portion 122 of outer ring 120, creating a first locked state in which rotation of inner ring 110 in the R1 direction can be transmitted to outer ring 120. In this first locked state, by rotating the selector ring 140 in the same direction as the R1 direction, the outer wheel side selector 143 gradually approaches the cam 151, and the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 of the outer wheel side selector 143 abuts against the lateral abutment surface 155 of the cam 151, as shown in Figure 9.

[0025] At this time, if the distance d1 from the connection point 156 to the outer wheel side abutment portion 122 is less than the radial thickness T1 of the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 of the outer wheel side selector 143, the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 will not slip between the outer wheel 120 and the outer wheel abutment curved surface 154 and be tightly pinched, and the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 will reliably and efficiently transmit the pressing force, which is the force for tilting the cam 151, to the lateral abutment surface 155, so that the cam 151 can be easily tilted. Furthermore, the outer ring side selector 143 and the cam 151 themselves will not be deformed. Furthermore, for example, by using a pin-shaped outer ring side selector and positioning the outer ring side selector at a position where the radial distance to the outer ring side abutment portion is d1 or more, the outer ring side selector will not get caught between the outer ring and the outer ring abutment curved surface and be tightly pinched, and the outer ring side selector can transmit a pressing force to the lateral abutment surface to tilt the cam reliably and efficiently, thereby easily tilting the cam.

[0026] Cam 151 begins to tilt in the direction in which lateral abutment surface 155 is pressed by outer ring side cam abutment portion 144, and eventually inner ring abutment curved surface 153 and outer ring abutment curved surface 154 release their frictional engagement with inner ring side abutment portion 111 and outer ring side abutment portion 122, respectively, and rotation of inner ring 110 in the R1 direction is no longer transmitted to outer ring 120, and the inner ring 110 becomes free. The cam 151 receives the main body 131 of the cam cage ring 130 in the tilt adjustment receiving portion 157, and stabilizes the position of the cam 151 with the tilt contact point P1 as the reference point. This ensures that the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 has enough movement to tilt the cam 151, and when the tilting of the cam 151 by the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144 is released, the cam 151 can be automatically returned to the first locked state by the biasing force of the biasing member 152 (not shown).

[0027] Furthermore, by adjusting the formation range of the tilt adjustment receiving portion 157, when the cam 151 is tilted, if the shortest distance between the cam 151 and the outer wheel side abutment portion 122 is equal to or greater than the radial thickness T1 of the outer wheel side cam abutment portion 144, the outer wheel side selector 143 can move over the cam 151. This eliminates the need to reverse the direction of movement of the outer wheel side selector 143 when releasing the tilt of the cam 151, and allows the tilt of the cam 151 to be controlled by moving the outer wheel side selector 143 in only one direction, thereby simplifying the device configuration.

[0028] Next, the procedure for tilting the cam 251 of the cam clutch 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, which uses the selector ring 240 having the inner ring side selector 243 and the cam 251, will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the configuration common to the cam clutch 100 using the outer ring side selector 143 and the cam 151 will be omitted. Also, for purposes of illustration, FIGS. 15 to 17 do not show the biasing member 252.

[0029] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the selector ring 240 has a skirt portion 242 formed in an annular shape and inner ring side selectors 243 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the skirt portion 242 and protruding radially outward at a predetermined interval, and the inner ring side selector 243 is provided with inner ring side cam abutment portions 244 that press against side abutment portions 255 described later. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the cam mechanism 250 has a plurality of cams 251 that transmit driving force between the inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220, and a biasing member 252 (not shown) that biases the multiple cams 251 radially inward of the cam clutch 200.

[0030] Cam 251 has an inner ring abutment curved surface 253 that can abut against inner ring side abutment portion 211 of inner ring 210, an outer ring abutment curved surface 254 that can abut against outer ring side abutment portion 222 of outer ring 220 that is formed on the opposite side of inner ring abutment curved surface 253, a lateral abutment surface 255 connected to one end of inner ring abutment curved surface 253, a tilt adjustment receiving portion 257 formed by cutting out cam 251 from the opposite side of side abutment surface 255 and inner ring abutment curved surface 253, a biased slit 258 cut out cam 251 to open the outer ring abutment curved surface 254 side, and a tilt adjustment protrusion 259 formed by protruding from the opposite side of connection point 256 across lateral abutment surface 255.

[0031] In this embodiment, the multiple cams 251 are all arranged in the same circumferential direction, but by arranging the multiple cams 251 in the circumferential direction so that they alternately rotate front and back, the common inner wheel side selector 243 can control the postures of both the front and back cams 251, thereby preventing the structure of the cam clutch 200 from becoming complicated and large. It is also possible to control the postures of both the front and rear cams 251 simultaneously.

[0032] A cam clutch 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention can be switched between a free state in which relative rotational movement between the inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220 is permitted and a locked state in which relative rotational movement between the inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220 is prohibited, depending on the position of the cam 251.

[0033] As shown in Figure 15, cam 251, biased by biasing member 252, is in a state in which inner ring abutment curved surface 253 is frictionally engaged with inner ring side abutment portion 211 of inner ring 210 and outer ring abutment curved surface 254 is frictionally engaged with outer ring side abutment portion 222 of outer ring 220, and is in a second locked state in which rotation of outer ring 220 in the R1 direction can be transmitted to inner ring 210. In this second locked state, by rotating the selector ring 240 in the direction opposite to the R1 direction, the inner wheel side selector 243 gradually approaches the cam 251, and the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 abuts against the side abutment surface 255 of the cam 251, as shown in Figure 16.

[0034] At this time, if the distance d2 from connection point 256 to the inner wheel side abutment portion 211 is less than the radial thickness T2 of the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 of the inner wheel side selector 243, the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 will not get caught between the inner wheel 210 and the inner wheel abutment curved surface 253 and be tightly pinched, and the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 will transmit the pressing force, which is the force for tilting the cam 251, to the lateral abutment surface 255 reliably and efficiently, thereby making it possible to easily tilt the cam 251. Furthermore, the inner ring side selector 243 and the cam 251 themselves will not be deformed. Furthermore, for example, by using a pin-shaped inner ring side selector and positioning the inner ring side selector at a position where the radial distance to the inner ring side abutment portion is d2 or more, the inner ring side selector will not get caught between the inner ring and the inner ring abutment curved surface and be tightly pinched, and the inner ring side selector can transmit the pressing force, which is the force for tilting the cam, to the side abutment surface reliably and efficiently, and the cam can be easily tilted.

[0035] The cam 251 begins to tilt in the direction in which the lateral abutment surface 255 is pressed by the inner ring side cam abutment portion 244, and eventually the inner ring abutment curved surface 253 and the outer ring abutment curved surface 254 release their frictional engagement with the inner ring side abutment portion 211 and the outer ring side abutment portion 222, respectively, and the rotation of the outer ring 220 in the R1 direction is no longer transmitted to the inner ring 220, and it becomes free. The cam 251 receives the main body 231 of the cam cage ring 230 in the tilt adjustment receiving portion 257, and stabilizes the position of the cam 251 with the tilt contact point P2 as the reference point. This ensures that the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 has enough movement to tilt the cam 251 sufficiently, and when the tilting of the cam 251 by the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244 is released, the cam 251 can be automatically returned to the second locked state by the biasing force of the biasing member 252 (not shown).

[0036] Furthermore, by adjusting the formation range of the tilt adjustment receiving portion 257, when the cam 251 is tilted, if the shortest distance between the cam 251 and the inner wheel side abutment portion 211 is equal to or greater than the radial thickness T2 of the inner wheel side cam abutment portion 244, the inner wheel side selector 243 can move over the cam 251. This eliminates the need to reverse the direction of movement of the inner wheel side selector 243 when releasing the tilt of the cam 251, and allows the tilt of the cam 251 to be controlled by moving the inner wheel side selector 243 in only one direction, thereby simplifying the device configuration.

[0037] In addition, since the cam 251 has a tilt adjustment protrusion 259, when the inner wheel side selector 243 passes between the cam 251 and the inner wheel 210, it comes into contact with the surface of the inner wheel side selector 243 at two points, the connection point 256 and the tilt adjustment protrusion 259, and the cam 251 can be maintained in a position that makes it easy to return to the second lock state within the cam accommodating portion 232. Furthermore, by adjusting the position and size of the tilt adjustment protrusion 259, the posture of the tilted cam 251 can be stabilized at a desired angle.

[0038] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention as set forth in the claims.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, cam clutch 100 provided with outer ring side selector 143 and cam 151 having a lateral abutment surface connected to the outer ring abutment surface via a connection point, and cam clutch 200 provided with inner ring side selector 243 and cam 251 having a lateral abutment surface connected to the inner ring abutment surface via a connection point are described as separate cam clutches, but the configuration of the cam clutch is not limited to this, and for example, a cam clutch may be configured by having an outer ring side selector and an inner ring side selector, and cams that are tilted by the outer ring side selector and the inner ring side selector, respectively, arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the outer ring side cam selector and the inner ring side selector are described as being configured to be able to move to the opposite side of the cam, respectively, overcoming the outer ring abutment surface and the inner ring abutment surface, but the configuration of the cam clutch is not limited to this, and for example, the cam inclination angle may be limited so that the outer ring side selector and the inner ring side selector do not overtake the outer ring abutment surface and the inner ring abutment surface, respectively.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cam cage ring has a ring-shaped ring body, cam accommodating portions and roller accommodating portions formed alternately around the entire circumference of the ring body, and an outer peripheral protrusion, and the cam accommodating portion accommodates a cam, and the roller accommodating portion accommodates a roller. However, the configuration of the cam clutch is not limited to this, and for example, there may be no roller accommodating portion and no roller, or multiple cam accommodating portions may be arranged in succession, or the same number of roller accommodating portions may be arranged at positions offset axially from the cam accommodating portions. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the biasing members are described as biasing the multiple cams radially inward, but the configuration of the biasing members is not limited to this. For example, the same number of biasing members as the number of cams may be arranged, and each biasing member may be configured to bias only the corresponding cam. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 100, 200... Cam clutch 110, 210... Inner ring 111, 211: Inner ring contact part (inner and outer ring contact part) 120, 220... outer ring 121 Engaged portion 122, 222... Outer ring contact part (inner and outer ring contact part) 130, 230 Cam cage ring 131, 231 Ring body 132, 232 Cam housing 133, 233 Roller housing 134, 234... Outer protrusion 140, 240 ··· Selector ring (operation mode switching mechanism) 141 ··· Reduced diameter part 142, 242... Skirt part 143 Outer ring side selector (cam position change part) 243 Inner race selector (cam position changer) 144 Outer ring side cam contact portion (cam contact portion) 244 Inner ring side cam contact part (cam contact part) 150, 250... Cam mechanism 151, 251... Cam 152, 252.... Urging member 153, 253 Inner ring contact surface 154, 254 Outer ring contact surface 155, 255... Side contact surface 156, 256... connection points 157, 257 Tilt adjustment receiver 158, 258... energized slit 259...Tilt adjustment protrusion S1, S2... Virtual extended surface T1: Thickness of the outer ring contacting part of the cam T2: Thickness of the inner ring contacting part of the cam d1: Distance from the connection point 156 to the outer ring side contact portion 122 d2: Distance from the connection point 256 to the outer ring side contact portion 222 P1, P2 ... tilting connection points

Claims

1. A cam clutch comprising an inner ring and an outer ring that are coaxially arranged so as to be rotatable relative to each other, a plurality of cams that are arranged in a circumferential direction between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a biasing means that biases the plurality of cams in a radial direction, an operation mode switching mechanism that switches between a free state that allows relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring and a locked state that prohibits relative rotational movement between the outer ring and the inner ring; the operation mode switching mechanism includes a cam attitude changing unit that is movable in a circumferential direction, a radial direction, or an axial direction independently of the rotational movements of the inner ring and the outer ring and that forcibly tilts the cam; the cam position changing portion has a cam abutment portion that can come into contact with the cam from a circumferential direction, the plurality of cams each have an inner / outer ring abutment curved surface provided in a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and / or the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, and a side abutment surface provided in a position facing the direction of movement of the cam abutment portion, a cam clutch characterized in that the side abutment surface is connected to an end of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surface and is formed on the inside of the cam with respect to an imaginary extended curved surface which is an extension of the inner and outer ring abutment curved surface.

2. 2. The cam clutch according to claim 1, wherein the side contact surface is formed as a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cam contact portion.

3. 2. A cam clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance from the connection point between the side abutment surface and the inner / outer ring abutment curved surface to the inner ring or the outer ring is located at a position that is equal to or less than the radial thickness of the cam abutment portion of the cam attitude change portion when the cam clutch is assembled.

4. 2. The cam clutch according to claim 1, wherein the cam has a tilt adjustment receiving portion, which is a space provided on the inside of the cam relative to the imaginary extended curved surface, on the side opposite the side contact surface across the outer ring contact curved surface.

5. 2. The cam clutch according to claim 1, wherein the cam is provided with a tilt adjustment protrusion that protrudes from the side contact surface opposite to the connection point between the outer ring abutment curved surface and the side contact surface, across the side abutment point.

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