Clutch device

Abstract

To provide a clutch device capable of improving durability.SOLUTION: A clutch device 1 includes an inner ring 2, an outer ring 3, a plurality of first claw members 4, a plurality of second claw members 5, a plurality of first energizing members 6, a plurality of second energizing members 7, and a change-over mechanism 8. The inner ring 2 includes a plurality of meshing portions 21. Each of the meshing portions 21 has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The first surface faces the other side in a circumferential direction so as to come into contact with a first end 41 in a lock state. A second surface faces one side in the circumferential direction so as to come into contact with a second end 51 in the lock state. The third surface faces the outer ring 3 side between the first surface and the second surface, and is inclined so as to approach the outer ring 3 as approaching the first surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a clutch device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a switching type ratchet type clutch device capable of switching the torque transmission state between the inner ring and the outer ring to each of a state where torque can be transmitted in both directions, a state where torque can be transmitted only in one direction, and a state where torque cannot be transmitted in both directions (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the switching type ratchet type clutch device as described above, it is important to improve the durability of the clutch device by stabilizing the behavior of the ratchet mechanism when the outer ring idles with respect to the inner ring in a state where torque can be transmitted only in one direction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a clutch device capable of improving durability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The clutch device of the present invention comprises: [1] a first wheel which is one of an inner ring and an outer ring; a second wheel which is the other of the inner ring and the outer ring; a plurality of first claw members which are supported by the second wheel so as to be able to swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the inner ring and the outer ring, and each includes a first end on one side in the circumferential direction of the inner ring and the outer ring; a plurality of second claw members which are supported by the second wheel so as to be able to swing along the plane, and each includes a second end on the other side in the circumferential direction; a plurality of first biasing members which are supported by the second wheel and bias the plurality of first claw members so that their first end contacts the first wheel; a plurality of second biasing members which are supported by the second wheel and bias the plurality of second claw members so that their second end contacts the first wheel; and a locked state in which the first end and the second end are in contact with the first wheel, and the first end A clutch device comprising: a switching mechanism for switching the state of a plurality of first claw members and a plurality of second claw members so that the first claw member is in contact with the first wheel and the second end is separated from the first wheel, and the first claw member is in a free state where the first end and the second end are separated from the first wheel, wherein the first wheel includes a plurality of meshing portions that protrude toward the second wheel and are arranged in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of meshing portions having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the first surface facing the other side in the circumferential direction so as to contact the first end in the locked state, the second surface facing the one side in the circumferential direction so as to contact the second end in the locked state, and the third surface facing toward the second wheel between the first surface and the second surface, and is inclined so as to approach the first surface that it approaches the second wheel.

[0007] In the clutch device described in [1] above, in each of the multiple engagement portions provided on the first wheel, the third surface facing the second wheel is inclined such that it approaches the second wheel as it approaches the first surface, between the first surface that contacts the first end of the first claw member in the locked state and the second surface that contacts the second end of the second claw member in the locked state. As a result, when the second wheel spins freely relative to the first wheel in a one-way state in which the first end of the first claw member is in contact with the first wheel and the second end of the second claw member is separated from the first wheel, the first claw member is less likely to wobble and the behavior of the first claw member is stabilized. Therefore, durability can be improved according to the clutch device described in [1] above.

[0008] The clutch device of the present invention may also be [2] "the clutch device according to [1] above, wherein the third surface is connected to the second surface via a chamfered surface." The clutch device according to [2] above can further stabilize the behavior of the first claw member when the second wheel rotates freely relative to the first wheel in a one-way state.

[0009] The clutch device of the present invention may also be [3] "the clutch device according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the third surface is a flat inclined surface." The clutch device according to [3] can further stabilize the behavior of the first claw member when the second wheel spins freely relative to the first wheel in a one-way state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a clutch device that can improve durability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a portion of a clutch device in a locked state, which is one embodiment of a clutch device. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the clutch device in a one-way state. [Figure 3]Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the clutch device in the free state. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is an enlarged view of the engagement portion of the clutch device shown. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the clutch device in a one-way state. [Figure 6] This figure shows the experimental results that support the effectiveness of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the clutch device 1 comprises an inner ring 2, an outer ring 3, a plurality of first claw members 4, a plurality of second claw members 5, a plurality of first biasing members 6, a plurality of second biasing members 7, and a switching mechanism 8. The clutch device 1 is a switchable ratchet-type clutch device that can switch the torque transmission state between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3 to a state in which torque can be transmitted in both directions, a state in which torque can be transmitted in only one direction, and a state in which torque cannot be transmitted in both directions.

[0014] The inner ring 2 is positioned with a predetermined axis as its centerline. The outer ring 3 is positioned outside the inner ring 2 with the same axis as the inner ring 2 as its centerline. A gap S is provided between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3. Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the centerlines of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3 will be referred to as the axial direction (axial direction of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3), the direction perpendicular to the said centerline will be referred to as the radial direction (radial direction of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3), and the direction along the circumference of the circle centered on the said centerline when viewed from a direction parallel to the said centerline will be referred to as the circumferential direction (circumferential direction of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3). Figure 1 shows a part of the clutch device 1 in the circumferential direction D.

[0015] The inner ring 2 includes a plurality of meshing portions 21. The plurality of meshing portions 21 protrude toward the outer ring 3 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 2 and are arranged in the circumferential direction D along the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 2. The plurality of meshing portions 21 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction D, and a concave portion 22 is formed between adjacent meshing portions 21. In this embodiment, the inner ring 2 including the plurality of meshing portions 21 corresponds to the first ring which is one of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3, and the outer ring 3 corresponds to the second ring which is the other of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3.

[0016] The plurality of first claw members 4 are supported by the outer ring 3 so that each first claw member 4 can swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Specifically, each first claw member 4 is arranged in each of the plurality of concave portions 31 formed in the outer ring 3, so that each first claw member 4 can swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Each concave portion 31 obliquely opens to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 3 toward one side (the right side in FIG. 1) in the circumferential direction D. Each first claw member 4 includes a first end portion 41 located in a gap S which is outside each concave portion 31. The first end portion 41 is an end portion on one side in the circumferential direction D.

[0017] The plurality of second claw members 5 are supported by the outer ring 3 so that each second claw member 5 can swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Specifically, each second claw member 5 is arranged in each of the plurality of concave portions 32 formed in the outer ring 3, so that each second claw member 5 can swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Each concave portion 32 obliquely opens to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 3 toward the other side (the left side in FIG. 1) in the circumferential direction D. Each second claw member 5 includes a second end portion 51 located in a gap S which is outside each concave portion 32. The second end portion 51 is an end portion on the other side in the circumferential direction D.

[0018] The plurality of first claw members 4 and the plurality of second claw members 5 are arranged alternately one by one in the circumferential direction D. FIG. 1 shows a pair of first claw member 4 and second claw member 5 in which the first end portion 41 and the second end portion 51 are close to each other.

[0019] The plurality of first biasing members 6 are supported by the outer ring 3. Each first biasing member 6 biases each first claw member 4 such that the first end portion 41 contacts the inner ring 2. Specifically, each first biasing member 6 is a coil spring disposed in each of a plurality of recesses 33 formed in the outer ring 3. Each recess 33 opens to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 3 so as to face, in the radial direction, a swing portion 40 protruding from each recess 31 of each first claw member 4. In each recess 33, the first biasing member 6 is disposed in a compressed state between the bottom surface of the recess 33 and the swing portion 40 of the first claw member 4.

[0020] The plurality of second biasing members 7 are supported by the outer ring 3. Each second biasing member 7 biases each second claw member 5 such that the second end portion 51 contacts the inner ring 2. Specifically, each second biasing member 7 is a coil spring disposed in each of a plurality of recesses 34 formed in the outer ring 3. Each recess 34 opens to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 3 so as to face, in the radial direction, a swing portion 50 protruding from each recess 32 of each second claw member 5. In each recess 34, the second biasing member 7 is disposed in a compressed state between the bottom surface of the recess 34 and the swing portion 50 of the second claw member 5.

[0021] The switching mechanism 8 switches the states of the plurality of first claw members 4 and the plurality of second claw members 5 so as to be in any one of a locked state, a one-way state, and a free state. The locked state is a state in which the first end portion 41 of each first claw member 4 and the second end portion 51 of each second claw member 5 contact the inner ring 2, as shown in FIG. 1, and torque can be transmitted in both directions between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3. The one-way state is a state in which the first end portion 41 of each first claw member 4 contacts the inner ring 2 and the second end portion 51 of each second claw member 5 is separated from the inner ring 2, as shown in FIG. 2, and torque can be transmitted in only one direction between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3. The free state is a state in which the first end portion 41 of each first claw member 4 and the second end portion 51 of each second claw member 5 are separated from the inner ring 2, as shown in FIG. 3, and torque cannot be transmitted in both directions between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3.

[0022] As an example, the switching mechanism 8 includes a plurality of first cam portions 81 and a plurality of second cam portions 82. Each first cam portion 81 moves axially between the inner ring 2 and the oscillating portion 40 of each first claw member 4. Each second cam portion 82 moves axially between the inner ring 2 and the oscillating portion 50 of each second claw member 5. The plurality of first cam portions 81 and the plurality of second cam portions 82 are configured to move axially as a single unit. The plurality of first cam portions 81 and the plurality of second cam portions 82 are not capable of relative rotation with respect to the outer ring 3.

[0023] Each first cam portion 81 has a first contact surface 81a and a second contact surface 81b that are aligned in the axial direction. The second contact surface 81b is located radially outward relative to the first contact surface 81a. Each second cam portion 82 has a first contact surface 82a and a second contact surface 82b that are aligned in the axial direction. The second contact surface 82b is located radially outward relative to the first contact surface 82a.

[0024] In the locked state shown in Figure 1, the first contact surface 81a of each first cam portion 81 contacts the oscillating portion 40 of each first claw member 4, and the first contact surface 82a of each second cam portion 82 contacts the oscillating portion 50 of each second claw member 5. In the one-way state shown in Figure 2, the first contact surface 81a of each first cam portion 81 contacts the oscillating portion 40 of each first claw member 4, and the second contact surface 82b of each second cam portion 82 contacts the oscillating portion 50 of each second claw member 5. In the free state shown in Figure 3, the second contact surface 82b of each first cam portion 81 contacts the oscillating portion 40 of each first claw member 4, and the second contact surface 82b of each second cam portion 82 contacts the oscillating portion 50 of each second claw member 5.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4, each meshing portion 21 has a first surface 21a, a second surface 21b, and a third surface 21c. The first surface 21a, the second surface 21b, and the third surface 21c are surfaces parallel to the axial direction. The first surface 21a is oriented toward the other side in the circumferential direction D (left side in Figure 4) so ​​as to contact the first end 41 of the first claw member 4 when locked. The second surface 21b is oriented toward one side in the circumferential direction D (right side in Figure 4) so ​​as to contact the second end 51 of the second claw member 5 when locked. The third surface 21c is oriented toward the outer ring 3 side, between the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b.

[0026] The third surface 21c is inclined such that it approaches the outer ring 3 as it approaches the first surface 21a. The third surface 21c is a flat inclined surface. The third surface 21c is connected to the second surface 21b via a rounded chamfered surface 21d. Alternatively, the third surface 21c may also be connected to the first surface 21a via a rounded chamfered surface. In that case, the radius of the chamfered surface formed between the first surface 21a and the third surface 21c may be greater than the radius of the chamfered surface 21d formed between the second surface 21b and the third surface 21c.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first surface 21a is a flat surface that is inclined to approach the second surface 21b as it approaches the outer ring 3. The first surface 21a is connected to the bottom surface of a recess 22 located on the other side in the circumferential direction D (left side in Figure 4) relative to the meshing portion 21 via a rounded chamfered surface. The second surface 21b is a flat surface that is inclined to approach the first surface 21a as it approaches the outer ring 3. The second surface 21b is connected to the bottom surface of a recess 22 located on one side in the circumferential direction D (right side in Figure 4) relative to the meshing portion 21 via a rounded chamfered surface. The angles formed by the first surface 21a and the third surface 21c, and the angles formed by the second surface 21b and the third surface 21c are both obtuse angles. The angle formed by the second surface 21b and the third surface 21c is greater than the angle formed by the first surface 21a and the third surface 21c.

[0028] As explained above, in the clutch device 1, in each of the multiple meshing portions 21 provided on the inner ring 2, the third surface 21c facing the outer ring 3 is inclined such that it approaches the outer ring 3 as it approaches the first surface 21a, between the first surface 21a, which contacts the first end portion 41 of the first claw member 4 in the locked state, and the second surface 21b, which contacts the second end portion 51 of the second claw member 5 in the locked state. As a result, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in the one-way state, the first claw member 4 is less likely to wobble, and the behavior of the first claw member 4 is stabilized. Therefore, the clutch device 1 can improve durability.

[0029] In the clutch device 1, the third surface 21c is connected to the second surface 21b via the chamfered surface 21d. This further stabilizes the behavior of the first claw member 4 when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in a one-way state.

[0030] In the clutch device 1, the third surface 21c is a flat inclined surface. This further stabilizes the behavior of the first claw member 4 when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in a one-way state.

[0031] Here, we will explain the experimental results that form the basis for the effects of the present invention. Figure 6(a) shows the relationship between the "difference in rotation between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3" and the "angular velocity of the first end 41 of the first claw member 4" when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in a one-way state for the clutch device 1 of the embodiment. Figure 6(b) shows the relationship between the "difference in rotation between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3" and the "angular velocity of the first end 41 of the first claw member 4" when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in a one-way state for the clutch device of the comparative example. The clutch device 1 of the embodiment has the same configuration as the clutch device 1 described above. The clutch device of the comparative example differs from the clutch device 1 of the embodiment only in that the second surface 21b of each meshing portion 21 has a configuration that is symmetrical with respect to the first surface 21a with respect to the center line of each meshing portion 21, and the third surface 21c is not inclined. As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), in the clutch device 1 of the embodiment (Figure 6(a)), the angular velocity toward the inner ring 2 and the angular velocity toward the outer ring 3 are kept lower compared to the clutch device of the comparative example (Figure 6(b)), and in particular, the angular velocity toward the outer ring 3 is kept lower. This indicates that when the inner ring 2 rotates freely relative to the outer ring 3 in a one-way state, the first claw member 4 is less likely to wobble in the clutch device 1 of the embodiment compared to the clutch device of the comparative example.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the outer ring 3 may include a plurality of meshing portions that protrude toward the inner ring 2 and are arranged in the circumferential direction, and the inner ring 2 may support a plurality of first claw members 4, a plurality of second claw members 5, a plurality of first biasing members 6, and a plurality of second biasing members 7. In that case, the outer ring 3 including the plurality of meshing portions may correspond to the first ring, which is one of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3, and the inner ring 2 may correspond to the second ring, which is the other of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3.

[0033] Furthermore, in each meshing portion 21, the third surface 21c may be connected to the second surface 21b without passing through the chamfered surface 21d. Also, in each meshing portion 21, the third surface 21c may be curved in a convex or concave shape when viewed from the axial direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1...Clutch device, 2...Inner ring, 3...Outer ring, 4...First claw member, 5...Second claw member, 6...First biasing member, 7...Second biasing member, 8...Switching mechanism, 21...Engagement part, 21a...First surface, 21b...Second surface, 21c...Third surface, 21d...Chamfered surface, 41...First end, 51...Second end.

Claims

1. The first ring is one of the inner and outer rings, The second ring is the other of the aforementioned inner ring and outer ring, Supported by the second ring such that each can swing along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the inner ring and the outer ring, each includes a plurality of first claw members, each including a first end on one side in the circumferential direction of the inner ring and the outer ring, Each of the following is supported by the second wheel so as to be able to swing along the aforementioned surface, and each of the second claw members includes a second end on the other side in the circumferential direction, A plurality of first biasing members are supported by the second wheel and bias the plurality of first claw members such that the first end contacts the first wheel, A plurality of second biasing members are supported by the second wheel and bias the plurality of second claw members such that the second end contacts the first wheel, The device includes a switching mechanism that switches the state of the plurality of first claw members and the plurality of second claw members so that the device is in one of the following states: a locked state in which the first end and the second end are in contact with the first wheel; a one-way state in which the first end is in contact with the first wheel and the second end is separated from the first wheel; and a free state in which the first end and the second end are separated from the first wheel. The first wheel includes a plurality of meshing portions that protrude toward the second wheel and are arranged in the circumferential direction. Each of the aforementioned multiple interlocking portions has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The first surface is oriented toward the other side in the circumferential direction so as to contact the first end in the locked state, The second surface is oriented toward one side in the circumferential direction so as to contact the second end in the locked state, The clutch device wherein the third surface is positioned between the first and second surfaces and faces the second wheel, and is inclined so that it approaches the second wheel as it approaches the first surface.

2. The clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the third surface is connected to the second surface via a chamfered surface.

3. The clutch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third surface is a flat inclined surface.

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