Cam Clutch Cage Ring Structure for Higher Axial Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cam clutches with resin cage rings face challenges in withstanding axial loads due to limited rigidity, requiring additional space for separate members to enhance load-bearing capacity, which complicates miniaturization and weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
A cam clutch design featuring a cage ring with annular springs biasing cams and rollers to contact both races, allowing both end portions of rollers to protrude axially, enabling axial load bearing without enhancing cage ring rigidity or using separate members, and utilizing flange parts on the races to sandwich rollers for bidirectional load support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the cage ring is made of resin material to reduce weight and improve productivity, then weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the rigidity and axial load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are designed to perform multiple functions: they maintain radial position through rolling contact and simultaneously bear axial loads through their end faces contacting the race axial end portions. This multi-functionality allows the cage ring to be made of lightweight resin material while maintaining adequate axial load-bearing capacity through the roller-race interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers act as intermediary elements between the cage ring and the races for axial load transmission. Instead of requiring the cage ring itself to have high axial rigidity, the rollers mediate the load path, allowing the cage ring to be made of lightweight material while still supporting axial loads through the roller-race contact mechanism.
2Strength
If additional members are disposed to bear axial load, then axial load-bearing capacity is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing rollers are made to serve dual purposes: maintaining radial positioning through their rolling action and bearing axial loads through their end face contact with the races. This eliminates the need for separate axial load-bearing members, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving the required load-bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of radial position maintenance and axial load bearing are merged into the same roller components. By designing the rollers and race interface to handle both radial and axial loads, the structure avoids additional members and maintains simplicity while achieving comprehensive load-bearing capability.
3Strength
If the cage ring rigidity is enhanced to withstand axial load, then axial load-bearing capacity is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers serve as intermediary elements that transmit axial loads from the races to the cage ring assembly. This load path through the rollers allows the cage ring to be manufactured with simpler, lighter materials while still achieving the required axial load-bearing capacity through the roller-race interface mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the cage ring material parameters to achieve higher rigidity, the design changes the load transmission parameters by establishing direct axial contact between the rollers and the race axial end portions. This parameter change in the load path allows lightweight cage ring construction while maintaining adequate axial load-bearing capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design increases allowable axial load, achieves miniaturization, and reduces manufacturing costs by allowing rollers to bear axial loads within a limited space, while maintaining a simple structure and enabling weight reduction through the use of resin materials.
Implementation Method 1
an annular spring biasing each of the plurality of cams so as to come into contact with the outer race and the inner race, and biasing each of the plurality of rollers so as to be pressed against the outer race or the inner race
Data Source
AI summary
In the present invention, a cage ring that holds cams and rollers is configured such that an outer race-side portion of one axial end portion of the rollers is held in a state of protruding radially outward with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the cage ring, roller pocket parts are formed such that both end portions of the rollers are held in a state of respectively protruding axially outward with respect to axial end faces of the cams held by cam pocket parts, and a column part formed between adjacent pocket parts are formed such that an opposite axial end portion on the inner peripheral surface side thereof is located axially inward with respect to an opening edge position on an opposite axial end side of the roller pocket parts.