Cam clutch unit

Abstract

To provide a cam clutch unit which is low in difficulty with less man-hours at the time of manufacturing a cam clutch, and of which the rotation resistance by a roller can be reduced, for enabling the roller to be arranged at an optimum position because of the high degree of freedom of the position of the roller, while reducing the weight.SOLUTION: The cam clutch unit includes a plurality of cams 130 and a plurality of rollers 140 arranged side by side in the peripheral direction between an inner ring and an outer ring, a cage ring 150 having a plurality of pocket parts 151, 152 for restricting the relative peripheral movement of the cams 130 and the rollers 140, and an annular spring 160 for energizing the cams 130, the cams 130 each having an engagement part 131 engageable with the spring 160, the pocket parts 152 storing the rollers 140 being provided at positions not interfering with the spring 160 in the axial direction while being differently arranged in the peripheral direction at both sides of the spring 160.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cam clutch unit that transmits and interrupts torque between an input shaft and an output shaft.

Background Art

[0002] As a cam clutch, there is known one including a plurality of cams arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring that are rotatable relative to each other coaxially, a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions that regulate relative circumferential movement of the cams, and an annular spring that biases the cams (see Patent Document 1 and the like). In such a cam clutch, in order to ensure the coaxiality of the inner ring and the outer ring, it is conceivable to replace a part of the plurality of cams with freely rotating rollers. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, in a cam clutch unit 500, a plurality of cams 530 and a plurality of rollers 540 are circumferentially arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring that are rotatable relative to each other coaxially, and the cams 530 and the rollers 540 are accommodated in pocket portions 551 of a cage ring 550, and relative circumferential movement of the cams 530 and the rollers 540 is regulated. The cams 530 and the rollers 540 each have circumferential groove portions 535 and 545, and an annular spring 560 is accommodated in the groove portions 535 and 545 so as to bias the cams 530 and the rollers 540 toward the inner ring side.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a cam clutch unit, since a circumferential groove portion for accommodating an annular spring is provided at the center of the cam and the roller, which requires a material resistant to wear and impact, the number of processing steps during the manufacture of the cam and the roller is large and the difficulty is high. There was a problem that there was a limit in the width dimension during processing and it could not be made thinner. Further, the roller needs to rotate freely with only axial restraint, but since frictional sliding occurs between the bottom and side portions of the groove portion and the spring, there is a problem of generating non-negligible rotational resistance during high-speed rotation. At the same time, there is a risk that the spring deteriorates due to wear, which may affect the life of the cam clutch itself. Also, even when the cam is long in the axial direction, since the axial position of the roller is restricted by the position of the spring, it cannot be provided only at the optimal axial position. If the optimal position for a long roller in the axial direction is covered, there is a risk of generating excessive rolling resistance.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, reduce the number of processing steps and difficulty during the manufacture of the cam clutch, reduce the rotational resistance caused by the roller, increase the degree of freedom in the position of the roller, and enable the roller to be arranged at an optimal location. An object is to provide a cam clutch unit that can be lightened.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is a cam clutch unit including a plurality of cams and a plurality of rollers arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring that are relatively rotatable coaxially, a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions that regulate the relative movement in the circumferential direction of the cams and the rollers, and at least one annular spring that biases the cams. The cam has an engaging portion that can engage with the spring, the pocket portion that houses the roller is provided at a position that does not axially interfere with at least one of the springs, and the pocket portions that house the plurality of rollers are arranged differently in the circumferential direction on both sides of at least one of the springs, thereby solving the above problems.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the cam clutch unit described in claim 1, the pocket portion for accommodating the rollers is provided at a position that does not axially interfere with at least one spring. The pocket portions for accommodating a plurality of rollers are circumferentially arranged differently on both sides of at least one spring, so that the rollers can be formed into a simple cylindrical shape, reducing the number of processing steps and the difficulty during manufacturing. In addition, since the axial position of the pocket portion for accommodation is not restricted by the position of the spring, the number of rollers in the circumferential direction can be arranged differently depending on the axial position, providing a high degree of freedom in the position of the rollers and enabling the rollers to be arranged at an optimal location, thus achieving weight reduction. Furthermore, it becomes possible to arrange the rollers at positions where they do not slide against the spring, reducing the rotational resistance of the rollers.

[0008] Also, The pocket portions for accommodating the rollers are alternately provided in the circumferential direction on both axial sides with respect to at least one spring. This enables weight reduction by reducing the axial length of the rollers without reducing the number of rollers arranged in the circumferential direction, and also enables even load sharing on both axial sides with respect to the spring. According to the cam clutch unit described in claim 2, The pocket portion for accommodating the rollers is only on one axial side with respect to at least one of the springs arranged so as to be aligned on the same circumference in the axial direction as the pocket portion for accommodating the cam By being arranged in this way, it becomes possible to arrange the rollers only at the position where the most axial load is received, suppress excessive rolling resistance, and achieve weight reduction. capability becomes possible.

[0009] the cam clutch unit described in claim 3 According to this, since the springs are provided at two or more different axial positions, it becomes possible to freely arrange the rollers on both sides of each spring, improving the degree of freedom. In claim 4 According to the described configuration, the cage ring has a lubrication adjustment portion at a position facing and sandwiching the spring of at least one pocket portion, thereby improving the lubrication performance. In claim 5 According to the described configuration, since part or all of the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is arranged to include a different range in the axial direction from the pocket portion for accommodating the cam, the degree of freedom in arranging the roller is further improved, and it becomes possible to arrange the roller at an optimal position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 13

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] The cam clutch unit 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is arranged in an annular space between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surface of the outer ring that are relatively rotatable on the same axis. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of cams 130 as engaging elements that transmit and cut off torque between the inner ring and the outer ring (not shown), a plurality of rollers 140 that freely rotate the inner ring and the outer ring, and a cage ring 150 having a plurality of pocket portions 151 and 152 that regulate the relative movement in the circumferential direction of the cams 130 and the rollers 140, and an annular spring 160 that biases each of the plurality of cams 130 in the meshing direction with respect to the inner ring and the outer ring.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of cams 130 has a groove-shaped engaging portion 131 that can engage with the annular spring 160 at the central portion in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 described above, similar to the cam clutch unit 500, the engaging portion 131 has an inclined shape that becomes a convex portion at an eccentric position, and by the spring 160 pressing the convex portion of the engaging portion 131, the cam 130 is biased toward the inner ring side and is biased to swing in the direction in which the cam 130 operates. As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the plurality of rollers 140 do not have grooves or stepped portions. In the present embodiment, the axial dimension of the roller 140 is equal to or less than the axial dimension on one side excluding the engaging portion 131 of the cam 130. In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral edge portions of both end faces of the roller 140 are chamfered, facilitating the insertion of the cam clutch unit with respect to the inner and outer rings.

[0013] The cage ring 150 has a pocket portion 151 that houses the cam 130 and regulates the relative movement in the circumferential direction, and a pocket portion 152 that houses the roller 140 and regulates the relative movement in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the pocket portions 151 for housing the cams 130 of the cage ring 150 are arranged at eight positions in the circumferential direction, and the pocket portions 152 for housing the rollers 140 are arranged at four positions in the circumferential direction, evenly. The pocket portions 152 for housing the rollers 140 are arranged on only one side with respect to the spring 160 at a position where there is no axial interference with the spring 160.

[0014] In each pocket portion 151, the cam 130 is restricted from radial movement by a spring 160 at the axial center portion. Also, on the surface of the pocket portion 152 that houses the roller 140 and is adjacent to the roller 140, there are provided claw portions 157 that can allow the roller 140 to be inserted from the outer ring side by elastic deformation and restrict the radial movement during accommodation, achieving both ease of insertion and retention after insertion. Further, in the cage ring 150, at a position axially opposed to the pocket portion 152 that houses the roller 140 with the spring 160 interposed therebetween, a lubrication adjustment portion 153 capable of holding a lubricant such as grease or oil is provided.

[0015] With such a configuration, for example, when the inner ring is cantilever-supported by a shaft extending in the front-left direction in the figure, the roller 140 can be arranged only at a position corresponding to the right-rear direction where the play due to shaft deflection or the like is the largest, and it becomes possible to suppress an increase in unnecessary rolling resistance. In this embodiment, 12 cams 130 and 4 rollers 140 are arranged, but the number and arrangement of each of the cams 130 and rollers 140 may be any. Also, the cross-sectional shape of the cam 130 may be any, for example, it may be a sprag shape.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, the cam clutch unit 100b according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the rollers 140 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction on both axial sides with respect to a spring (not shown). Also, in this embodiment, an oil flow hole 154 is provided in the lubrication adjustment portion 153 capable of holding a lubricant such as grease or oil, and is configured to optimize the flow of the lubricant. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. With such a configuration, for example, while arranging the rollers evenly in the axial direction, they can also be evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and by shortening the axial length of the rollers, it is possible to suppress an increase in unnecessary rolling resistance.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the cam clutch unit 100c according to the third embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the cam 130c is formed to have different lengths on both axial sides with respect to the spring 160, and the roller 140c is configured to be arranged on the longer side. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. As in the present embodiment, by changing the axial arrangement of the spring 160, an optimal design according to the required axial length of the roller becomes possible.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6, the cam clutch unit 100d according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the cams 130d1 and 130d2 are arranged axially side by side in the pocket portions 151d of the cage ring 150d, and the cams 130d1 and 130d2 are independently urged by the spring 160 and the second spring 161, respectively. The pocket portions 152d1 and 152d2 for accommodating the roller 140 are configured to be arranged alternately in the circumferential direction on both axial sides of the second spring 161 and only on the second spring 161 side in the axial direction of the spring 160 at positions where they do not axially interfere with the second spring 161 and the spring 160. The pocket portion 152d2 arranged on the side opposite to the spring 160 of the second spring 161 has the same axial length as the pocket portion 152d1 arranged at a position sandwiched between the second spring 161 and the spring 160. The roller 140 accommodated in the pocket portion 152d2 is arranged to include a range axially different from the cam 130d2 urged by the second spring 161.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 7, in the cam clutch unit 100e according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, cams 130e1 and 130e2 are arranged axially side by side in the pocket portion 151e of the cage ring 150e, and the cams 130e1 and 130e2 are independently biased by a spring 160 and a second spring 161, respectively. The pocket portion 152e for accommodating the roller 140 is configured to be arranged only on the axial spring 160 side of the second spring 161 and on the axial second spring 161 side of the spring 160 at a position where there is no axial interference with the second spring 161 and the spring 160. That is, the pocket portion 152e is arranged only at a position sandwiched between the second spring 161 and the spring 160.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 8, in the cam clutch unit 100f according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, cams 130f1 and 130f2 are arranged axially side by side in the pocket portion 151f of the cage ring 150f, and the cams 130f1 and 130f2 are independently biased by a spring 160 and a second spring 161, respectively. The pocket portion 152f for accommodating the roller 140 is configured to be arranged only on the opposite side of the spring 160 in the axial direction of the second spring 161 at a position where there is no axial interference with the second spring 161. Further, the roller 140 accommodated in the pocket portion 152f is arranged to include a range axially different from the cam 130f biased by the second spring 161.

[0021] By using two rows of cams as in the fourth to sixth embodiments, a cam clutch that is long in the axial direction can be obtained without making the cams themselves long in the axial direction, the certainty of the operation of the cams can be improved, and common cams can be used. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0022] 100, 500 ··· Cam clutch unit 130, 530 ··· Cam 131, ··· Engagement part 535 ··· Groove part 140, 540 ··· Roller 545 ··· Groove part 150, 550 ··· Cage ring 151, 551 ··· Pocket part (for cam) 152, 552 ··· Pocket part (for roller) 153 ··· Lubrication adjustment part 154 ··· Oil flow hole 157 ··· Claw part 160, 560 ··· Spring 161 ··· Second spring

Claims

1. A cam clutch unit comprising a plurality of cams and a plurality of rollers arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring which are relatively rotatable coaxially, a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions for restricting relative circumferential movement of the cams and the rollers, and at least one annular spring for biasing the cams, wherein the cam has an engaging portion engageable with the spring, the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is provided at a position where it does not axially interfere with at least one of the springs, the pocket portions for accommodating the plurality of rollers are circumferentially arranged differently on both sides of at least one of the springs, the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is characterized in that it is alternately provided circumferentially on both axial sides with respect to at least one of the springs.

2. A cam clutch unit comprising a plurality of cams and a plurality of rollers arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring which are relatively rotatable coaxially, a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions for restricting relative circumferential movement of the cams and the rollers, and at least one annular spring for biasing the cams, wherein the cam has an engaging portion engageable with the spring, the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is provided at a position where it does not axially interfere with at least one of the springs, the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is arranged such that it is aligned on the same axial circumference as the pocket portion for accommodating the cam only on one axial side with respect to at least one of the springs.

3. A cam clutch unit comprising a plurality of cams and a plurality of rollers arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring which are relatively rotatable coaxially, a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions for restricting relative circumferential movement of the cams and the rollers, and at least one annular spring for biasing the cams, wherein the cam has an engaging portion engageable with the spring, the pocket portion for accommodating the roller is provided at a position where it does not axially interfere with at least one of the springs, the pocket portions for accommodating the plurality of rollers are circumferentially arranged differently on both sides of at least one of the springs, the cam clutch unit is characterized in that the spring is provided at two or more different axial positions.

4. The cam clutch unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cage ring has a lubrication adjustment portion at a position facing each other with the spring of at least one of the pocket portions interposed therebetween.

5. The cam clutch unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein part or all of the rollers are arranged to include a range different in the axial direction from the cam.

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