Cam Clutch Roller Structure for Compact Axial Load Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cam clutch units face challenges in manufacturing complexity, limited width dimension, high rotational resistance due to frictional sliding, and difficulty in receiving axial loads without increasing cage ring rigidity or adding additional members.
Innovation Solution
The cam clutch unit design includes rollers protruding in the axial direction beyond the cage ring, with circumferential groove portions and holding beam portions to stabilize the roller and allow axial load transmission, reducing manufacturing complexity and rotational resistance while enabling axial load reception in a small space without additional rigidity or members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If groove portions are provided in the cam and roller to accommodate annular springs, then the cam and roller can be urged toward the inner ring side, but the number of machining processes increases and the width dimension is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spring accommodation function from the cam and roller bodies by providing groove portions only in the roller. The cam is simplified without grooves, as the spring is accommodated exclusively in the roller's groove portion, reducing machining complexity while maintaining the urging force function
Solution Approach 2:
The roller serves multiple functions: it rotates freely between the cam and inner ring, accommodates the annular spring in its groove portion, and transmits axial loads through its protruding end portion beyond the cage ring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components or complex machining on the cam
2Ease of operation
If the roller is restricted only in axial direction to enable free rotation, then rotational freedom is achieved, but frictional sliding is generated between the groove portion bottom and spring, causing high rotational resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the dimensional relationship by making the roller's axial dimension greater than the cage ring's axial dimension at the roller accommodation position. This allows the roller to protrude beyond the cage ring in the axial direction, creating a load transmission path that separates axial load bearing from rotational movement, thereby reducing frictional sliding and rotational resistance
3Adaptability or versatility
If axial load reception is enabled without increasing cage ring rigidity or adding members, then compact space utilization is achieved, but the structure must be simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The roller serves itself by having its end portion protrude beyond the cage ring in the axial direction, enabling it to directly receive and transmit axial loads without requiring additional load-bearing members or increased cage ring rigidity. The existing roller structure is utilized to its full potential for dual purposes: rotation facilitation and axial load reception
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the cage ring bear axial loads through increased rigidity or additional members, the invention inverts the load path by having the roller protrude beyond the cage ring to receive axial loads directly. This reverses the conventional approach where the containing structure (cage ring) bears the load, and instead lets the contained element (roller) perform the load reception function
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 simplifies manufacturing, reduces rotational resistance, and allows for efficient axial load reception in a compact space without increasing cage ring rigidity or requiring additional components.
Implementation Method 1
an annular spring which urges the cam
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of rollers which freely rotate the inner ring and the outer ring
Data Source
AI summary
A cam clutch unit which can receive an axial load in a small space without increasing rigidity of a cage ring or disposing another member is provided.The cam clutch unit includes a plurality of cams 130 and a plurality of rollers 140 disposed so as to be aligned in a circumferential direction between an inner ring and an outer ring, a cage ring 150 having a plurality of pocket portions 151, 152 which regulate relative movement in a circumferential direction of the cam 130 and the roller 140, and an annular spring 160 which urges the cam 130, in which the roller 140 has a part protruding in an axial direction more than the cage ring 150 when being held by the cage ring 150.