Fan coupling device

Abstract

To avoid the problem of the fan, which is fixed to the housing, continuing to rotate. [Solution] The dam back oil passage 36 generates a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer surface of the disc 26. As a result, even if the dam 35 wears down, it is still pressed firmly against the outer surface of the disc 26. Consequently, no gap is created between the outer surface of the disc 26 and the dam 35, and the oil flowing between the disc 26 and the housing 11 is effectively blocked by the dam 35. Therefore, the oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 is returned to the oil storage chamber 22 via the oil circulation passage 25. This prevents the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 from decreasing even when the communication port is closed by the control valve, thus avoiding a situation where torque continues to be transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11 via the oil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fan coupling device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a fan coupling device includes a housing, a disk, a communication port, a control valve, an oil circulation passage, and a dam. The housing is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the input shaft. The interior of the housing is partitioned into an oil storage chamber and a torque transmission chamber. The disk is housed in the torque transmission chamber. The disk is fixed to the input shaft. The disk rotates integrally with the input shaft. The communication port communicates the oil storage chamber and the torque transmission chamber. The communication port supplies the oil in the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber. The control valve opens and closes the communication port and controls the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber through the communication port. The oil circulation passage returns the oil in the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber. The amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber increases when the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber through the communication port is larger than the amount of oil flowing through the oil circulation passage.

[0003] The dam is slidable on the outer peripheral surface of the disk. The dam dams up the oil flowing between the disk and the housing, thereby returning the oil from the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber through the oil circulation passage. In the fan coupling device, torque is transmitted from the disk to the housing through the oil, causing the housing to rotate. In this way, the fan coupling device rotates the fan fixed to the housing.

[0004] By increasing the opening of the control valve, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber increases, which increases the amount of torque transmitted from the disc to the housing. As a result, the fan speed increases. On the other hand, by decreasing the opening of the control valve, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber decreases, which decreases the amount of torque transmitted from the disc to the housing. As a result, the fan speed of 12 decreases. Then, by closing the communication port with the control valve, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber becomes "0", the amount of torque transmitted from the disc to the housing becomes "0", and the fan stops rotating. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-31107 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Incidentally, in such a fan coupling device, as the dam slides against the outer surface of the disc, wear of the dam progresses, creating a gap between the outer surface of the disc and the dam. When a gap forms between the outer surface of the disc and the dam, it becomes difficult for the dam to block the oil flowing between the disc and the housing. As a result, it becomes difficult for the oil in the torque transmission chamber to return to the oil storage chamber via the oil circulation passage. Therefore, even if the communication port is closed by the control valve, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber may not decrease, and torque may continue to be transmitted from the disc to the housing via the oil. Consequently, there is a risk that the fan fixed to the housing will continue to rotate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A fan coupling device that solves the above problems comprises a housing supported on an input shaft so as to be rotatable relative to it and having an internally divided oil storage chamber and torque transmission chamber; a disk housed in the torque transmission chamber and fixed to the input shaft, which rotates integrally with the input shaft; a communication port that connects the oil storage chamber and the torque transmission chamber and supplies oil from the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber; an oil circulation passage that returns oil from the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber; and a dam that is slidable on the outer circumferential surface of the disk and dams the oil flowing between the disk and the housing, thereby returning oil from the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber via the oil circulation passage. The fan coupling device generates a pressing force that presses the dam against the outer circumferential surface of the disk.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the pressing part generates a pressing force that presses the dam against the outer surface of the disc. As a result, even if the dam wears down, it can still be pressed firmly against the outer surface of the disc. Consequently, no gap is created between the outer surface of the disc and the dam, and the dam can effectively block the oil flowing between the disc and the housing. Therefore, the oil in the torque transmission chamber can be returned to the oil storage chamber via the oil circulation passage. This prevents the situation where the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber does not decrease even when the communication port is closed by the control valve, and torque continues to be transmitted from the disc to the housing via the oil. Thus, the problem of the fan fixed to the housing continuing to rotate can be avoided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] This invention makes it possible to avoid the problem of a fan fixed to the housing continuing to rotate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fan coupling device. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a magnified portion of the fan coupling device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Below, one embodiment of the fan coupling device will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 1, the fan coupling device 10 includes a housing 11. A fan 12 is fixed to the housing 11. The housing 11 is hollow cylindrical. The housing 11 has a housing body 13 and a cover member 14. The housing body 13 has a through hole 15. The housing body 13 has a recess 16. The recess 16 is formed on the first surface 13a of the housing body 13. The recess 16 extends in an annular shape around the through hole 15.

[0012] An input shaft 17 is inserted through the through hole 15. A bearing 18 is interposed between the inner surface of the through hole 15 and the outer surface of the input shaft 17. The housing body 13 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the input shaft 17 via the bearing 18. In this way, the housing 11 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the input shaft 17.

[0013] The cover member 14 has an end wall 14a and a peripheral wall 14b. The end wall 14a is disc-shaped. The peripheral wall 14b extends cylindrically from the outer circumference of the end wall 14a. The cover member 14 is attached to the housing body 13 with the peripheral wall 14b abutting against the first surface 13a of the housing body 13.

[0014] The cover member 14 has a plurality of teeth 19. The plurality of teeth 19 protrude from the inner surface of the end wall 14a. The plurality of teeth 19 are annular. The plurality of teeth 19 extend in concentric circles centered on the axis of the input shaft 17. Annular labyrinth grooves 20 are formed between adjacent teeth 19. The plurality of labyrinth grooves 20 extend in concentric circles centered on the axis of the input shaft 17.

[0015] The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a partition plate 21. The partition plate 21 is annular in shape. The partition plate 21 is fixed to the housing body 13 with the opening of the recess 16 closed. The space partitioned by the recess 16 and the partition plate 21 within the internal space of the housing 11 is the oil storage chamber 22. The space partitioned by the housing body 13, the partition plate 21, and the cover member 14 within the internal space of the housing 11 is the torque transmission chamber 23. Thus, the inside of the housing 11 is partitioned into the oil storage chamber 22 and the torque transmission chamber 23.

[0016] The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a communication port 24. The communication port 24 is formed in the partition plate 21. The communication port 24 connects the oil storage chamber 22 and the torque transmission chamber 23. The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with an oil circulation passage 25. The oil circulation passage 25 is formed in the housing 11. The oil circulation passage 25 penetrates the cover member 14 and the housing body 13. The first end of the oil circulation passage 25 opens to the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 14b of the cover member 14. The first end of the oil circulation passage 25 communicates with the torque transmission chamber 23. The second end of the oil circulation passage 25 opens to the inner circumferential surface of the recess 16. The second end of the oil circulation passage 25 communicates with the oil storage chamber 22.

[0017] The fan coupling device 10 includes a disk 26. The disk 26 is disc-shaped. The disk 26 is housed in a torque transmission chamber 23. The disk 26 is fixed to the input shaft 17. The disk 26 rotates integrally with the input shaft 17. The disk 26 faces the end wall 14a of the cover member 14 in the axial direction of the input shaft 17.

[0018] The disk 26 has a plurality of teeth 27. The plurality of teeth 27 protrude from the portion of the disk 26 facing the end wall 14a of the cover member 14. The plurality of teeth 27 are annular. The plurality of teeth 27 extend in concentric circles centered on the axis of the input shaft 17. Annular labyrinth grooves 28 are formed between adjacent teeth 27. The plurality of labyrinth grooves 28 extend in concentric circles centered on the axis of the input shaft 17.

[0019] The disc 26 is housed in the torque transmission chamber 23 with each tooth 27 inserted into each labyrinth groove 20 of the cover member 14, and each tooth 19 of the cover member 14 inserted into each labyrinth groove 28 of the disc 26. In this way, each tooth 19 of the cover member 14 and each tooth 27 of the disc 26 mesh with each other.

[0020] The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a control valve 29. The control valve 29 has an iron core 30, an electromagnetic coil 31, a valve body 32, and an armature 33. The iron core 30 is a magnetic material. The iron core 30 is fixed to the housing 11. The electromagnetic coil 31 energizes the iron core 30 in response to current. The valve body 32 is plate-shaped. The valve body 32 opens and closes the communication port 24. In this way, the control valve 29 opens and closes the communication port 24. The armature 33 is a magnetic material. The armature 33 is fixed to the valve body 32. The armature 33 faces the iron core 30.

[0021] Oil is sealed inside the housing 11. The amount of oil sealed inside the housing 11 is set to be less than the amount that fills the oil storage chamber 22. The communication port 24 supplies the oil in the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23. The oil circulation passage 25 returns the oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 to the oil storage chamber 22. Thus, the oil inside the housing 11 travels back and forth between the oil storage chamber 22 and the torque transmission chamber 23.

[0022] When the amount of electricity supplied to the electromagnetic coil 31 increases, the opening degree of the valve body 32 increases, and the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23 via the communication port 24 increases. When the amount of electricity supplied to the electromagnetic coil 31 decreases, the opening degree of the valve body 32 decreases, and the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23 via the communication port 24 decreases. Thus, the control valve 29 controls the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23 via the communication port 24.

[0023] The amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 increases when the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23 via the communication port 24 is greater than the amount of oil flowing through the oil circulation passage 25. The amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 decreases when the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber 22 to the torque transmission chamber 23 via the communication port 24 is less than the amount of oil flowing through the oil circulation passage 25.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, a housing recess 34 is formed in the peripheral wall 14b of the cover member 14. The housing recess 34 is formed at a position adjacent to the oil circulation passage 25 on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 14b. The housing recess 34 is located on the leading side in the rotation direction R1 of the disk 26 with respect to the oil circulation passage 25.

[0025] The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a dam 35. The dam 35 is made of resin. The dam 35 is housed in the housing recess 34 with a portion of the dam 35 protruding from the housing recess 34. The dam 35 faces the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26. The protruding end of the dam 35 is slidable on the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26. By sliding on the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26, the dam 35 dams up the oil flowing between the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26 and the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 14b of the cover member 14 within the torque transmission chamber 23. The oil dammed up by the dam 35 flows from the torque transmission chamber 23 to the oil circulation passage 25. In this way, the dam 35 dams up the oil flowing between the disc 26 and the housing 11, thereby recirculating the oil from the torque transmission chamber 23 to the oil storage chamber 22 via the oil circulation passage 25.

[0026] The fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a dam backside oil passage 36. The dam backside oil passage 36 is formed in the peripheral wall 14b of the cover member 14. The first end of the dam backside oil passage 36 communicates with the oil circulation passage 25. The second end of the dam backside oil passage 36 opens to the bottom surface of the housing recess 34. The second end of the dam backside oil passage 36 communicates with the inside of the housing recess 34. A portion of the oil flowing through the oil circulation passage 25 is supplied into the housing recess 34 via the dam backside oil passage 36.

[0027] The pressure of the oil supplied into the receiving recess 34 via the dam back oil passage 36 acts on the dam 35 as a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer circumferential surface of the disk 26. Therefore, the dam back oil passage 36 functions as a pressing section that generates a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer circumferential surface of the disk 26. Thus, the fan coupling device 10 is equipped with a pressing section that generates a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer circumferential surface of the disk 26.

[0028] The oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 flows between each tooth 19 of the cover member 14 and each tooth 27 of the disc 26, thereby transmitting the rotation of the disc 26 to the cover member 14 via the oil. In the fan coupling device 10, torque is transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11 via the oil, causing the housing 11 to rotate. In this way, the fan coupling device 10 rotates the fan 12 fixed to the housing 11.

[0029] By increasing the opening of the control valve 29, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 increases, which increases the amount of oil flowing between each tooth 19 of the cover member 14 and each tooth 27 of the disc 26, thus increasing the amount of torque transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11. As a result, the rotational speed of the fan 12 increases. On the other hand, by decreasing the opening of the control valve 29, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 decreases, which decreases the amount of oil flowing between each tooth 19 of the cover member 14 and each tooth 27 of the disc 26, thus decreasing the amount of torque transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11. As a result, the rotational speed of the fan 12 decreases. Then, by closing the communication port 24 with the control valve 29, the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 becomes "0", the amount of torque transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11 becomes "0", and the rotation of the fan 12 stops.

[0030] Incidentally, in such a fan coupling device 10, the dam 35 slides against the outer surface of the disc 26, causing wear to progress on the dam 35. At this time, the oil passage 36 on the back of the dam generates a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer surface of the disc 26. As a result, even if wear progresses on the dam 35, the dam 35 is pressed firmly against the outer surface of the disc 26. Consequently, no gap is created between the outer surface of the disc 26 and the dam 35, and the oil flowing between the outer surface of the disc 26 and the inner surface of the peripheral wall 14b of the cover member 14 is effectively blocked by the dam 35.

[0031] <Effects of this embodiment> In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The oil passage 36 on the back of the dam generates a pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer surface of the disc 26. As a result, even if the dam 35 wears down, it can still be pressed firmly against the outer surface of the disc 26. Consequently, no gap is created between the outer surface of the disc 26 and the dam 35, and the dam 35 can effectively block the oil flowing between the disc 26 and the housing 11. Therefore, the oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 can be returned to the oil storage chamber 22 via the oil circulation passage 25. This prevents the amount of oil in the torque transmission chamber 23 from decreasing even when the communication port 24 is closed by the control valve 29, thus preventing torque from being continuously transmitted from the disc 26 to the housing 11 via the oil. Thus, the problem of the fan 12 fixed to the housing 11 continuing to rotate can be avoided.

[0032] <Example of changes> The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0033] In this embodiment, an elastic member such as a spring or rubber may be used as the pressing part that generates the pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26. In short, the pressing part is not particularly limited as long as it generates the pressing force that presses the dam 35 against the outer circumferential surface of the disc 26. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 10...Fan coupling device, 11...Housing, 12...Fan, 17...Input shaft, 22...Oil storage chamber, 23...Torque transmission chamber, 24...Communication port, 25...Oil circulation passage, 26...Disk, 29...Control valve, 35...Dam, 36...Dam backside oil passage that functions as a pressing part.

Claims

[Claim 1] A housing that is supported on the input shaft so as to be rotatable relative to it, and whose interior is divided into an oil reservoir and a torque transmission chamber, A disk housed in the torque transmission chamber and fixed to the input shaft, which rotates integrally with the input shaft, A communication port is provided that connects the oil storage chamber and the torque transmission chamber and supplies oil from the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber. A control valve that opens and closes the communication port and controls the amount of oil supplied from the oil storage chamber to the torque transmission chamber via the communication port, An oil circulation passage that returns the oil in the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber, The device comprises a dam that is slidable on the outer circumferential surface of the disk and which dams the oil flowing between the disk and the housing, thereby causing the oil to be returned from the torque transmission chamber to the oil storage chamber via the oil circulation passage, A fan coupling device in which torque is transmitted from the disk to the housing via oil, causing the housing to rotate and a fan fixed to the housing to rotate, A fan coupling device characterized by comprising a pressing unit that generates a pressing force to press the dam against the outer surface of the disk.

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