Parking lock clutch

Abstract

To provide a parking lock clutch with a simple structure that reduces the switching thrust required to switch operating modes, while also enabling miniaturization and extended lifespan. [Solution] In lock mode, when the inner ring 120 is in a position to prevent relative rotation with respect to the outer ring 110, the roller 130 is clamped in the circumferential direction by a roller housing portion 115 provided on one of the outer ring 110 and the inner ring 120 and a roller support groove 121 provided on the other, and the radially outward load acting on the roller 130 is supported by the selector 140, and the roller contact surface of the selector 140 that contacts the roller 130 is configured as an inclined surface 144 that is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction.

Description

Technical Field

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[0003] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lock clutch suitably used for constructing a parking lock system for vehicles, for example.

Background Art

[0002] As a parking lock system for vehicles, a plurality of selectable one-way clutches or a plurality of two-way clutches are provided between each of a plurality of transmission gear trains and an input shaft or between each of the plurality of transmission gear trains and an output shaft, respectively, and a parking lock that prohibits rotation of the output shaft is established by bringing two transmission gear trains with different gear ratios into a double engagement state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the vehicle parking lock system described in Patent Document 1 above, in order to establish the parking lock mechanism, the operation mode of the selectable clutch is controlled so that a plurality of selectable clutches are in a double engagement state, which not only requires complicated control but also increases the number of parts.

[0004] On the other hand, the applicant of the present application has proposed a roller ratchet type selectable clutch (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and is considering applying such a selectable clutch to the construction of a vehicle parking lock system in response to the above problems. This selectable clutch is configured to be switchable between a lock mode that prohibits relative rotation of an outer ring and an inner ring and a free mode that allows relative rotation of the outer ring and the inner ring by rotating a selector within a predetermined angle range. The selector is constituted by, for example, a disk-shaped member, and when switching from the lock mode to the free mode, the roller is pushed radially outward by the outer peripheral surface of the selector so that the roller is accommodated in a roller accommodating portion provided on the outer ring. [[ID=​​​​​

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-049749 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-013414 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] When using the above-mentioned selectable clutch in a parking lock system, for example, the outer ring can be fixed, and the inner ring can be connected to an axle element that rotates with the rotation of the wheel, thereby enabling relative rotation to the outer ring. In this case, for structural reasons, the selector can be made of, for example, an annular plate-shaped member, and in lock mode, the inner circumferential surface of the selector can press the roller radially against it, supporting the roller in a roller support groove provided on the inner ring. However, in a selectable clutch with this configuration, when switching the operating mode from locked mode to free mode, a load remains acting on the rollers until the torque transmitted between the outer and inner rings decreases. This presents a problem in that a large switching thrust is required when switching the operating mode to free mode.

[0007] The present invention was made based on the above circumstances, and aims to provide a parking lock clutch that has a simple structure, can reduce the switching thrust required to switch operating modes, and can be miniaturized and have a long lifespan. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a parking lock clutch comprising an outer ring, an inner ring provided coaxially with the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring, a plurality of rollers disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring, a biasing member that radially biases the rollers toward a roller housing provided on one of the outer ring and the inner ring, a selector configured to switch between an operating mode between a lock mode that prohibits relative rotation of the outer ring and the inner ring and a free mode that allows relative rotation of the outer ring and the inner ring, and a selector drive mechanism that rotationally drives the selector, wherein in lock mode, the rollers are clamped circumferentially by the roller housing and a roller support groove provided on the other of the outer ring and the inner ring, and the selector contacts the rollers and presses them against the roller support grooves, and the roller contact surface of the selector that contacts the rollers is configured to be an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction, thereby solving the above problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention of claim 1, by receiving the load from the roller on the roller contact surface which is composed of an inclined surface, a force that rotates the selector in the release direction acts on the roller contact surface in the locked mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the switching thrust required by the selector drive mechanism when switching the operating mode from locked mode to free mode with a simple structure. As a result, it becomes possible to switch the operating mode easily and wear between the selector and the roller can be reduced, thus achieving a longer lifespan. Furthermore, since the range of motion of the selector can be reduced, it is possible to achieve miniaturization. Furthermore, when constructing an electric parking lock system in which the selector drive mechanism is equipped with a drive source such as an actuator, it becomes possible to use an actuator with low thrust, which in turn makes it possible to achieve miniaturization and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 2, when in lock mode, it is possible to prevent the secrector from being unintentionally rotated in the release direction, thereby ensuring that the operating mode is reliably maintained in lock mode.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 3, in the lock mode, a force that rotates the selector in the release direction can be reliably applied to the roller contact surface, making it easier to switch the operating mode from lock mode to free mode, and making it possible to obtain a more reliable effect of reducing wear between the selector and the roller.

[0012] According to the invention of claim 4, a locking mechanism for holding the selector in the locked position can be realized with a simple structure, and the switching stroke of the drive rod when switching operating modes can be reduced, making it possible to further miniaturize the device by shortening the length of the drive rod.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 5, when switching the operating mode from free mode to locked mode, if the phases of the roller housing and the roller support groove are not aligned, the rotation of the selector is prevented and the standby spring is compressed, thereby maintaining the locked standby state. As soon as the phases of the roller housing and the roller support groove align, the biasing force of the standby spring is released, allowing the selector to rotate and lock. Therefore, chipping or damage due to impact caused by sudden engagement can be reliably prevented, extending the lifespan and ensuring high safety. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a parking lock clutch according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view from one end in the axial direction, with a portion of the parking lock clutch shown in Figure 1 omitted. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the outer ring in the parking lock clutch shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a diagram schematically showing a state where the outer ring and the inner ring are engaged. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the selector in the parking lock clutch shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the selector drive mechanism in the parking lock clutch shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 8A] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the free mode. [Figure 8B] It is a front view showing the configuration of the main part of the parking lock clutch in the free mode, with a part omitted. [Figure 9A] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock mode. [Figure 9B] It is a front view showing the configuration of the main part of the parking lock clutch in the lock mode, with a part omitted. [Figure 10A] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock standby state. [Figure 10B] It is a front view showing the configuration of the main part of the parking lock clutch in the lock standby state, with a part omitted. [Figure 11] It is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration in another example of the parking lock clutch according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the free mode. [Figure 13] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock mode. [Figure 14] It is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock standby state. <000This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a parking lock clutch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the outer ring in the parking lock clutch. [Figure 17] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the selector in the parking lock clutch. [Figure 18] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the selector drive mechanism in the parking lock clutch. [Figure 19] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in free mode. [Figure 20] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in lock mode. [Figure 21] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock standby state. [Figure 22] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a parking lock clutch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23A] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in lock mode. [Figure 23B] This is a front view showing the main components of the parking lock clutch in lock mode, with some parts omitted. [Figure 24A] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in free mode. [Figure 24B] This is a front view showing the main components of the parking lock clutch in free mode, with some parts omitted. [Figure 25A] This is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing the operating state of the selector drive mechanism in the lock standby state. [Figure 25B] This is a front view showing the main components of the parking lock clutch in the lock standby state, with some parts omitted. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The parking lock clutch according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] [First Embodiment] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the parking lock clutch 100 according to this embodiment comprises an outer ring 110 and an inner ring 120, a plurality of rollers 130, a biasing member 135, a selector 140, a selector drive mechanism 150, and a retaining plate 170. In Figures 1 to 3, C is the axis of rotation. Note that, for convenience, Figures 1 and 2 omit the retaining plate 170 and only show the fixing pin member 171 for fixing the retaining plate 170 to the outer ring 110.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the outer ring 110 comprises a base portion 111 having an annular plate portion 111a and a guide plate portion 111b. The guide plate portion 111b is integrally provided on the outer circumferential surface of the annular plate portion 111a so as to protrude radially outward. The guide plate portion 111b is composed of a plate-like body that has a rectangular shape in plan view and is formed to extend along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis C. Mounting portions 112 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the annular plate portion 111a at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and are designed to be fixed to an object with, for example, fixing bolts (not shown).

[0018] A cylindrical portion 113 is formed on one surface of the annular plate portion 111a, extending from the inner peripheral edge toward one end in the axial direction. Notches extending axially from one axial end edge are provided at positions on the cylindrical portion 113 that are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, so as to form stepped portions 114 on one surface of the base portion 111. As a result, multiple roller housing portions 115 corresponding to each of the multiple rollers 130 are formed capable of housing the rollers 130. An annular stepped portion 113a is formed on the inner peripheral edge of one end of the cylindrical portion 113, so that the biasing member 135 is positioned when the roller 130 is housed in the roller housing portion 115.

[0019] The guide plate portion 111b has a rod insertion hole 116 into which the drive rod 151, which constitutes the selector drive mechanism 150, is slidably inserted. The rod insertion hole 116 has a selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a that extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide plate portion 111b and has a rectangular opening shape, and a bearing portion insertion portion 116b that is formed continuously on one side in the longitudinal direction of the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a and has a circular opening shape.

[0020] The inner ring 120 is positioned coaxially with the cylindrical portion 113 of the outer ring 110 such that its outer circumferential surface is in close proximity to and facing the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 113 of the outer ring 110, and is provided to be rotatable relative to the outer ring 110. As shown in Figure 1, the inner ring 120 has multiple roller support grooves 121 extending axially from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical base material, each corresponding to one of the multiple rollers 130.

[0021] The roller support groove 121 is composed of a recessed groove having a substantially flat bottom wall and circumferential walls with a circular arc cross-section that are continuous on both sides of the bottom wall, and is capable of supporting the roller 130 by receiving a portion of its circumferential surface. As shown in Figure 5, when the roller 130 is sandwiched circumferentially between the roller support groove 121 and the roller housing 115, the inclination angle θ1 of the roller contact surface at the point of contact between the circumferential wall of the roller support groove 121 and the roller 130 with respect to the reference plane containing the rotation axis C and the roller center is set to be different in magnitude from the inclination angle θ2 of the side wall surface of the roller housing 115, which serves as the roller contact surface on the outer ring 110 side, with respect to the reference plane. As a result, when the roller 130 is sandwiched circumferentially between the roller support groove 121 and the roller housing 115, a load directed toward the roller housing 115 side (radially outward) acts on the roller 130.

[0022] In this embodiment, the opening edge of the roller support groove 121 has a chamfered shape (C-chamfer), so that even if the roller 130 attempts to move towards the roller support groove 121 due to a misoperation or malfunction of the selector 140 when the inner ring 120 is rotating at a certain rotational speed or higher, the roller 130 is repelled towards the roller housing 115 by the chamfered portion. This prevents the outer ring 110 and the inner ring 120 from unintentionally engaging, thereby providing a high level of safety. The opening edge of the roller support groove 121 may also have a chamfered shape (R-chamfer), for example.

[0023] Each of the multiple rollers 130 is configured to protrude axially outward from one end face of the inner ring 120, as shown in Figure 3, and a biasing member mounting groove 131 is formed on the circumferential surface of the protruding portion, extending around the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. Each of the multiple rollers 130 is restricted from moving axially toward the other end by a stepped portion 114 formed on the base portion 111 of the outer ring 110. In this embodiment, for example, six rollers 130 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. However, the number of rollers 130 is not particularly limited, and the spacing between them does not need to be equal.

[0024] In this embodiment, the biasing member 135 is common to each of the multiple rollers 130 and is composed of, for example, an annular spring. The biasing member 135 is mounted from the radially inward side of the biasing member mounting groove 131 of the roller 130 so as to bias each roller 130 radially outward toward the roller housing 115.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6, the selector 140 has a ring-shaped main body 141 and an operating part 145 integrally provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 141 so as to protrude radially outward. The selector 140 is positioned coaxially with the outer ring 110 and the inner ring 120, with the cylindrical portion 113 of the outer ring 110 slidably inserted into the main body 141, and the selector 140 is positioned axially back and forth with the outer ring 110. The selector 140 is provided so as to be rotatable independently of the inner ring 120 between a release position that sets the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 to free mode and a lock position that sets the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 to locked mode.

[0026] The operating section 145 is composed of a rectangular piece with a long radial dimension in plan view, and is formed to extend along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis C. In this embodiment, when the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to free mode (the state shown in Figures 1 to 3), the operating section 145 is positioned to overlap the guide plate 111b on the other longitudinal side of the selector pressing section insertion hole 116a.

[0027] A pocket 143 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the main body 141, which is configured so that the roller 130 can be housed in the roller housing 115 when the selector 140 is rotated in the unlocking direction (for example, clockwise in Figure 2) to switch to a free mode that allows the inner ring 120 to rotate relative to the outer ring 110.

[0028] The wall surface of pocket 143 on the locking direction side is an inclined surface 144 that slopes radially outward in the unlocking direction, and constitutes the roller contact surface that receives the radially outward load (including the biasing force by the biasing member 135) acting on the roller 130 when the roller 130 is sandwiched circumferentially between the roller support groove 121 and the roller housing 115. Furthermore, by rotating the selector 140 in the locking direction, the roller 130 housed in the roller housing 115 can be easily moved radially toward the roller support groove 121 by the action of the inclined surface 144, making it possible to easily switch from free mode to locked mode and to achieve reliable locking.

[0029] Furthermore, a groove 142 for restricting the rotation of the selector 140 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 141, which guides the fixing pin member 171 as the selector 140 rotates, thereby restricting the range of motion of the selector 140. This prevents overrunning of the selector 140 and ensures reliable switching between free mode and locked mode.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, the selector drive mechanism 150 includes a drive rod 151, a power transmission unit 160 provided at the tip of the drive rod 151, and a standby spring 155 consisting of a coil spring provided with the drive rod 151 inserted.

[0031] The drive rod 151 is a solid, round rod-shaped member with a circular cross-section, having a tip-side engaging portion 151a formed on the circumferential surface of one end in the longitudinal direction, and a base-side engaging portion 151b formed on the circumferential surface of the other end in the longitudinal direction. The drive rod 151 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the rotational axis direction between a first position that positions the selector 140 in the release position and a second position that positions the selector 140 in the locked position.

[0032] The power transmission unit 160 has a cylindrical bearing portion 161 that slidably supports the drive rod 151, and a pressing portion 162 integrally provided on the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion 161 so as to protrude radially outward. The bearing portion 161 is in contact with the tip-side engaging portion 151a of the drive rod 151 to prevent it from falling off the drive rod 151.

[0033] The pressing portion 162 is composed of a plate-like body having an outer shape that matches the opening shape of the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a of the rod insertion hole 116 in the outer ring 110 when viewed in plan from the axial direction of the bearing portion 161. The end face of the pressing portion 162 at the axial tip of the drive rod 151 is a cam surface 166 that is inclined towards the axial base end in the radially outward direction of the bearing portion 161. The movement of the drive rod 151 guides the operating portion 145 of the selector 140 along the cam surface 166, thereby rotating the selector 140. Furthermore, the side surface of the pressing portion 162 on the radially outward side of the bearing portion 161 is a flat surface that extends axially in a continuous manner with the cam surface 166, and when inserted into the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a, it engages with the inner surface of the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a and the side surface of the operating portion 145 of the selector 140. In other words, the side surface of the pressing portion 162 on the radially outward side of the bearing portion 161 functions as a rotation-restricting surface 167 that suppresses the rotation of the selector 140, and the power transmission portion 160, together with the rod insertion hole 116, comprises a locking mechanism 165 (see Figure 1) configured to fix the selector 140 in the locked position.

[0034] The standby spring 155 is provided such that one end is in contact with the power transmission unit 160 so as to press the power transmission unit 160 toward the tip side of the drive rod 151, and the other end is engaged with the base end engagement portion 151b of the drive rod 151, and is elastically deformed in the compression direction when the selector 140 is rotated in the locking direction so that the selector 140 is in the locked position.

[0035] The retaining plate 170 is an annular plate shape and is located on one axial end side of the selector 140 and is fixed to the outer ring 110 by a fixing pin member 171. This prevents the components of the parking lock clutch 100 from separating in the axial direction. As shown in Figure 3, the retaining plate 170 is positioned to cover the roller support groove 121 and also functions as a retainer for the roller 130.

[0036] In the parking lock clutch 100 described above, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, when the drive rod 151 is in the first position, the selector 140 is in the release position, and the roller 130 is housed in the roller housing 115 and pocket 143. That is, the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is a free mode in which relative rotation of the inner ring 120 with respect to the outer ring 110 is permitted. At this time, the operating part 145 of the selector 140 is in contact with the cam surface 166 of the power transmission part 160.

[0037] When the drive rod 151 is moved toward the second position, the selector 140 rotates in the locking direction due to the action of the cam surface 166 of the power transmission unit 160. As a result, the roller 130 housed in the roller housing unit 115 is moved radially inward toward the roller support groove 121 against the biasing force of the biasing member 135 due to the action of the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140. Then, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, when the drive rod 151 is moved to the second position, the roller 130 is supported in the roller support groove 121 while being pressed down by the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140. Meanwhile, the power transmission unit 160 is positioned within the rod insertion hole 116, and the rotation suppression surface 167 of the power transmission unit 160 engages with the inner surface of the rod insertion hole 116 and the side surface of the operating part 145 on the selector 140. As a result, the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is switched to the lock mode, and the rotation of the selector 140 in the release direction is suppressed and held in that state.

[0038] In lock mode, when rotational torque is applied to the inner ring 120, as shown in Figure 5, the roller 130 receives a vertical pressing force F1 from the roller support groove 121 against the peripheral wall and presses against the wall surface of the roller housing 115. At this time, a force acts on the roller 130 that moves it radially outward in a direction along the wall surface of the roller housing 115, and a radially outward load Fr, including the biasing force from the biasing member 135, acts on the inclined surface 144 of the pocket 143. In Figure 5, F2 is the normal force from the roller housing 115 on the roller 130, and F3 is the normal force from the inclined surface 144 on the roller 130. In other words, when rotational torque is applied to the inner ring 120, the roller 130 is clamped in the circumferential direction by the roller support groove 121 and the roller housing portion 115, and the radially outward load Fr acting on the roller 130 is supported by the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140, causing the outer ring 110 and the inner ring 120 to mesh.

[0039] When switching the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 from free mode to locked mode, if the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 are not aligned, the rotation of the selector 140 in the locking direction is prevented. As a result, as shown in Figures 10A and 10B, the drive rod 151 moves, compressing the standby spring 155. At this time, the parking lock clutch 100 enters a locked standby state. This ensures that when the inner ring 120 is rotating at a certain rotational speed or higher, chipping or damage due to impact caused by the sudden engagement of the outer ring 110 and the inner ring 120 can be reliably prevented, extending the lifespan and ensuring high safety. Then, when the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 align, the biasing force from the standby spring 155 is released, causing the selector 140 to rotate in the locking direction. As a result, the roller 130 moves radially toward the roller support groove 121 due to the action of the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140, and the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is switched to the locking mode.

[0040] In the parking lock clutch 100 according to the first embodiment described above, the lock mechanism 165 is not limited to the configuration according to the embodiment described above, as long as it is configured to fix the selector 140 in either the locked position or the unlocked position, or both.

[0041] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of another example of the parking lock clutch according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following, components identical to those of the parking lock clutch 100 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0042] In the parking lock clutch 100 according to this embodiment, the power transmission section 160 of the selector drive mechanism 150 has a large-diameter cylindrical section 163a whose circumferential surface constitutes a rotation-restricting surface 167, a pressing section 163b continuous with the tip of the large-diameter cylindrical section 163a, and a small-diameter cylindrical section 163c continuous with the tip of the pressing section 163b. The pressing section 163b is formed in a frustoconical shape so as to decrease in diameter toward the axial end of the drive rod 151, and its circumferential surface functions as a cam surface 166.

[0043] The guide plate portion 111b of the outer ring 110 has a plate-shaped outer ring side lock portion 117 on one longitudinal side of one surface. In the longitudinal center of the guide plate portion 111b, a through hole 119 extending in the axial direction is formed on the other side of the outer ring side lock portion 117, forming a groove portion 118 that constitutes a cylindrical space with the other longitudinal side of the guide plate portion 111b open. The opening edge on the other axial end of the groove portion 118 in the outer ring side lock portion 117 is chamfered to form a tapered surface 118a that follows the circumferential surface of a cone.

[0044] On one side of the operating portion 145 of the selector 140, facing the outer ring side lock portion 117, a groove 148 is formed that extends axially and constitutes the selector side lock portion. The groove 148 is formed to form a cylindrical space that is open on the outer ring side lock portion 117 side. The groove 148 is continuous with the through hole 119 of the guide plate portion 111b when the other sides of the operating portion 145 and the guide plate portion 111b are located on the same plane. The opening edge on the other axial end of the groove 148 is chamfered to form a tapered surface 148a that follows the circumferential surface of a cone.

[0045] The groove 148 constituting the selector-side lock portion has a structure symmetrical to the groove 118 of the outer ring-side lock portion 117. In this embodiment, the groove 118 of the outer ring-side lock portion 117, the groove 148 constituting the selector-side lock portion, and the through hole 119 constitute the rod insertion hole 116. The lock mechanism 165 (see Figure 12), which is configured to fix the selector 140 in the locked position, is formed together with the power transmission section 160 of the selector drive mechanism 150.

[0046] In the parking lock clutch 100 described above, as shown in Figure 12, when the drive rod 151 is in the first position and the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to free mode, a part of the cam surface 166 of the pressing portion 163b in the power transmission portion 160 is in contact with the tapered surface 148a of the selector-side lock portion.

[0047] When the drive rod 151 is moved toward the second position, the selector 140 rotates in the locking direction due to the action of the cam surface 166 of the pressing portion 163b in the power transmission portion 160. Then, as shown in Figure 13, when the drive rod 151 is moved to the second position, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 163a of the power transmission portion 160 is positioned inside the through hole 119, and the rotation-restricting surface 167 engages with the inner surface of the through hole 119, the inner surface of the groove portion 118 of the outer ring side lock portion 117, and the inner surface of the groove portion 148 of the selector side lock portion. As a result, the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is switched to the lock mode, and the rotation of the selector 140 in the unlocking direction is suppressed and held in that state.

[0048] When switching the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 from free mode to locked mode, if the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 are not aligned, the rotation of the selector 140 is prevented. As shown in Figure 14, the drive rod 151 moves, compressing the standby spring 155. At this time, the parking lock clutch 100 enters a locked standby state. When the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 align, the biasing force of the standby spring 155 is released, causing the selector 140 to rotate in the locked direction due to the action of the pressing portion 163b of the power transmission unit 160. This switches the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 to locked mode.

[0049] [Second Embodiment] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a parking lock clutch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The parking lock clutch 100 according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the parking lock clutch 100 according to the first embodiment, except that it is equipped with a lock mechanism 165 configured to prevent the selector 140 from rotating unintentionally even when the operating mode is set to free mode. In the following, components identical to those of the parking lock clutch 100 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0050] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 16, the rod insertion hole 116 of the outer ring 110 is configured such that the bearing insertion portion 116b is formed at the longitudinal center of the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a.

[0051] In this embodiment, the operating section 145 of the selector 140 is composed of a plate-like body that has a rectangular shape in plan view, as shown in Figure 17, and is formed to extend along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis C. The operating section 145 is positioned to overlap the guide plate portion 111b of the outer ring 110 in the axial direction, and has a through hole 146 that extends in the circumferential direction and into which the power transmission section 160 of the selector drive mechanism 150 can be inserted.

[0052] In this embodiment, the power transmission section 160 of the selector drive mechanism 150 is configured such that, as shown in Figure 18, a first pressing section 162a and a second pressing section 162b are integrally provided on the outer circumferential surface of the bearing section 161 at positions opposite to each other with respect to the central axis of the bearing section 161, so as to protrude radially outward. A locking mechanism 165 (see Figure 19) is configured to fix the selector 140 in both the locked and unlocked positions, respectively, and is configured together with the rod insertion hole 116.

[0053] The first pressing portion 162a is composed of a plate-like body having an outer shape that matches the opening shape of the portion of the rod insertion hole 116a located on the other side of the bearing portion insertion portion 116b in the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a, when viewed in plan from the axial direction of the bearing portion 161. The end face of the first pressing portion 162a on the axial tip side of the drive rod 151 is a cam surface 166a that inclins axially toward the base end side toward the radially outward direction of the bearing portion 161, and the side surface of the first pressing portion 162a on the radially outward side of the bearing portion 161 is a flat surface that extends axially in a continuous manner with the cam surface 166a and functions as a rotation-restricting surface 167a.

[0054] The second pressing portion 162b is composed of a plate-like body having an outer shape that matches the opening shape of the portion located on one side of the bearing portion insertion portion 116b in the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a of the rod insertion hole 116, when viewed in plan from the axial direction of the bearing portion 161. The end face of the second pressing portion 162b at the axial base end of the drive rod 151 is a cam surface 166b that inclins axially toward the tip end toward the radially outward direction of the bearing portion 161, and the side surface of the second pressing portion 162b on the radially outward side of the bearing portion 161 is a flat surface that extends axially in a continuous manner with the cam surface 166b and functions as a rotation-restricting surface 167b.

[0055] In the parking lock clutch 100 described above, as shown in Figure 19, when the drive rod 151 is in the first position and the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to free mode, the rotation-restricting surface 167b of the second pressing portion 162b in the power transmission portion 160 engages with the inner surface of the through hole 146 in the operating portion 145 of the selector 140 and the inner surface of the rod insertion hole 116 of the outer ring 110, thereby holding the selector 140 in a state where rotation in the locking direction is suppressed.

[0056] When the drive rod 151 is moved toward the second position, the selector 140 rotates in the locking direction due to the action of the cam surface 166a of the first pressing portion 162a in the power transmission unit 160. Then, as shown in Figure 20, when the drive rod 151 is moved to the second position, the first pressing portion 162a in the power transmission unit 160 is positioned inside the rod insertion hole 116, and the rotation-restricting surface 167a of the first pressing portion 162a engages with the inner surface of the rod insertion hole 116 and the inner surface of the through hole 146 in the selector 140. As a result, the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is switched to the locking mode, and the rotation of the selector 140 in the release direction is suppressed and held in that state.

[0057] When switching the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 from free mode to locked mode, if the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 are not aligned, the standby spring 155 is compressed as the drive rod 151 moves, as shown in Figure 21. At this time, the parking lock clutch 100 enters a locked standby state. Then, when the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 are aligned, the biasing force of the standby spring 155 is released, causing the selector 140 to rotate in the locked direction. This switches the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 to locked mode.

[0058] [Third Embodiment] Figure 22 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a parking lock clutch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The parking lock clutch 100 according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the parking lock clutch 100 according to the first embodiment described above, in that a standby spring 155 is provided on the selector 140 and a lock mechanism 165 is configured to suppress rotation of the selector 140 in the locking direction when in free mode. In the following, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those of the parking lock clutch 100 described above, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0059] In this embodiment, the rod insertion hole 116 of the outer ring 110 is configured such that the bearing portion insertion portion 116b is formed continuously with the selector pressing portion insertion portion 116a on the other side in the longitudinal direction.

[0060] In this embodiment, the selector 140 has a standby spring arrangement groove 147 formed to extend circumferentially and concentrically with the rotation axis C, and a standby spring 155 is arranged within this standby spring arrangement groove 147. The standby spring 155 is in its natural state when the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to the lock mode, and one end of the standby spring 155 is fixed to a stopper pin 156 fixed to the outer ring 110. In other words, when the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to the free mode, the spring is in a compressed state, biasing the selector 140 to rotate in the lock direction. In this embodiment, the operating unit 145 is positioned so as to overlap the guide plate portion 111b on one longitudinal side of the selector pressing portion insertion hole portion 116a when the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to lock mode (the state shown in Figure 22).

[0061] In this embodiment, the power transmission section 160 of the selector drive mechanism 150 has a side surface of the pressing section 162 on the radially outward side of the bearing section 161 that functions as a rotation-restricting surface 167 (see Figure 23A). The power transmission section 160 also includes a locking mechanism 165 configured to fix the selector 140 in the released position, together with the rod insertion hole 116.

[0062] In the parking lock clutch 100 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 23A and 23B, when the drive rod 151 is in the second position and the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is set to the lock mode, the roller 130 is supported in the roller support groove 121 while being pressed down by the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140. At this time, the operating part 145 of the selector 140 is in contact with the cam surface 166 of the power transmission part 160.

[0063] When the drive rod 151 is moved toward the first position, the selector 140 rotates toward the release direction while compressing the standby spring 155 due to the action of the cam surface 166 of the power transmission unit 160. As a result, the roller 130 is biased radially outward by the biasing member 135, causing the roller 130 to move toward the roller housing unit 115. Then, as shown in Figures 24A and 24B, when the drive rod 151 is moved to the first position, the roller 130 is housed in the roller housing 115 and pocket 143, while the power transmission unit 160 is positioned inside the rod insertion hole 116. As a result, the rotation-restricting surface 167 of the power transmission unit 160 engages with the inner surface of the rod insertion hole 116 and the side surface of the operating unit 145 on the selector 140. This switches the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 to free mode, and the rotation of the selector 140 in the locking direction due to the biasing force of the standby spring 155 is suppressed and maintained.

[0064] When switching the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 from free mode to locked mode, the drive rod 151 is moved toward the second position, which releases the biasing force of the standby spring 155 and rotates the selector 140 in the locked direction. In this case, if the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 are not aligned, the rotation of the selector 140 in the locking direction is prevented. As shown in Figures 25A and 25B, the compression state of the standby spring 155 is maintained, and the parking lock clutch 100 enters a locked standby state. Then, when the phases of the roller housing 115 and the roller support groove 121 align, the biasing force from the standby spring 155 is released, causing the selector 140 to rotate in the locking direction. As a result, the roller 130 moves radially toward the roller support groove 121 due to the action of the inclined surface 144 of the selector 140, and the operating mode of the parking lock clutch 100 is switched to the locking mode.

[0065] In the third embodiment described above, the lock mechanism 165 is configured to suppress the rotation of the selector 140 when in free mode. However, as in the parking lock clutch 100 of the first embodiment, the lock mechanism 165 may be configured to suppress the rotation of the selector 140 when in lock mode. In such a configuration, the standby spring 155 should be positioned to be in its natural state when in free mode.

[0066] In this regard, the parking lock clutch 100 described above is applicable to both an electrically operated parking lock system in which the drive rod 151 in the selector drive mechanism 150 is driven by a drive source such as an actuator and the operation of the actuator is controlled by an electrical signal, and a mechanical parking lock system in which the shift lever inside the vehicle and the drive rod 151 are connected by a mechanical link. Furthermore, the parking lock clutch 100 described above is not particularly limited in its placement position as long as it is provided on an axle element that rotates with the wheel, and may be provided on the axle of a drive wheel or driven wheel, or on the input shaft, output shaft or intermediate shaft of a transmission.

[0067] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention as described in the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration was described in which a roller support groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring and a roller housing portion is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring, and a biasing member is arranged to bias the roller radially outward. However, a configuration in which a roller support groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and a roller housing portion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring is also possible. Furthermore, the selector drive mechanism is not limited to the configurations of each embodiment described above, as long as it is configured to convert the linear motion of the drive rod into the rotational motion of the selector. Also, the direction of movement of the drive rod is not limited to the direction of the rotation axis, but may be in a direction along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, or in a direction inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 100... Parking lock clutch 110 ··· Outer ring 111 ··· Base part 111a ··· Circular plate section 111b ··· Guide plate section 112 ··· Mounting part 113 ··· Cylindrical section 113a ··· Annular step section 114 ··· Stepped section 115 ··· Laura storage unit 116 ··· Rod insertion hole 116a ··· Selector pressing part insertion part 116b ··· Bearing insertion section 117 ··· Outer ring side locking part 118... Groove 118a ··· Tapered surface 119 ··· Through hole 120 ··· Inner circle 121... Roller support groove 130 ··· Laura 131 ··· Bracing member mounting groove 135 ··· Biasing member 140 ··· Selector 141 ··· Main body 142... Groove for restricting selector rotation 143 ··· Pocket 144... Slope 145...Operation section 146 ··· Through hole 147 ··· Standby spring placement groove 148 ··· Groove 148a ··· Tapered surface 150 ··· Selector drive mechanism 151 ··· Drive rod 151a... Tip side engaging part 151b...Proximal side engaging part 155 ··· Standby Spring 156... Stopper pin 160 ··· Power transmission section 161 ··· Bearing section 162... Pressing part 162a ··· First pressing section 162b ··· Second pressing section 163a ··· Large diameter cylindrical section 163b ··· Pressing part 163c ··· Small diameter cylindrical part 165... Locking mechanism 166... ​​Cam surface 166a ··· Cam surface 166b ··· Cam surface 167 ··· Rotation-preventing surface 167a ··· Rotation-retaining surface 167b ··· Rotation suppression surface 170 ··· Holding plate 171 ··· Fixing pin component C...Rotation axis center

Claims

1. A parking lock clutch comprising an outer ring, an inner ring mounted coaxially with the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring, a plurality of rollers positioned between the outer ring and the inner ring, a biasing member that radially biases the rollers toward a roller housing provided on one of the outer ring and the inner ring, a selector configured to switch between an operating mode between a lock mode that prohibits the relative rotation of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring and a free mode that allows the relative rotation of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring, and a selector drive mechanism that rotationally drives the selector, In lock mode, the roller is clamped circumferentially between the roller housing and the roller support grooves provided on the other side of the outer ring and inner ring, and the selector is configured to press the roller against the roller support grooves. A parking lock clutch characterized in that the roller contact surface of the selector that contacts the roller is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction.

2. The parking lock clutch according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to fix the selector to either a locked position where the operating mode of the parking lock clutch is set to locked mode, or to either or both of the released position where the operating mode of the parking lock clutch is set to free mode.

3. The parking lock clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that when the roller is sandwiched in the circumferential direction between the roller support groove and the roller housing, the inclination angle of the roller contact surface in the roller support groove with respect to a reference plane including the rotation axis and the roller center is different in magnitude from the inclination angle of the roller contact surface in the roller housing with respect to the reference plane.

4. The selector drive mechanism comprises a drive rod that is linearly driven to rotate the selector between the locked position and the unlocked position, The outer ring is provided with a rod insertion hole into which the drive rod is slidably inserted, The drive rod comprises a power transmission section having a cam surface that guides the selector and is formed to extend inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the drive rod, and a rotational restraint surface configured to engage with the inner surface of the rod insertion hole. The parking lock clutch according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking mechanism is composed of the rod insertion hole and the power transmission section.

5. The parking lock clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a standby spring that is compressed when the phases of the roller support groove and the roller housing are not aligned when switching the operating mode of the parking lock clutch.

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