Cam Clutch Cage Ring Switching to Prevent Cam Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cam clutches face issues with unwanted jamming and high force requirements for mode switching, leading to reduced service life and difficulty in smooth operation due to the tilting of sprags and high surface contact, which limits their functionality and size reduction potential.
Innovation Solution
A cam clutch design featuring an outer and inner race with circumferentially arranged cams, an operation mode switching mechanism, and a switch actuating mechanism that includes an outer cage ring, inner cage ring, and a rotation ring to control the orientation of cams, restricting circumferential movement and allowing axial movement to maintain cam orientations, enabling four operation modes with improved responsiveness and space economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all sprags are engaged with high surface contact to prevent jamming, then reliability improves, but the force required to switch modes increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch is divided into two independent sets of sprags (first sprags and second sprags) that can be controlled separately. The retainer can selectively engage either the first sprags or the second sprags, allowing one set to be disengaged while the other remains engaged. This segmentation prevents all sprags from being engaged simultaneously, reducing the force required for mode switching and preventing jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed to dynamically switch between retaining the first sprags and retaining the second sprags. By making the retainer movable and selectable, the system can adapt its engagement state in real-time, switching from one sprag set to another without requiring all sprags to be engaged simultaneously, thereby reducing switching forces.
2Strength
If components are designed with high rigidity to withstand switching forces, then strength improves, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The switching mechanism is segmented into a retainer component that can selectively engage different sprag sets, rather than requiring a single complex mechanism to control all sprags simultaneously. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the required strength for mode switching.
3Ease of manufacture
If arcuate curved side faces are used on cams, then ease of manufacture improves, but the distance cams can roll is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism incorporates a movable retainer that dynamically changes the engagement state of sprags during operation. This dynamic control allows the cams to achieve greater effective rolling distance through controlled engagement and disengagement phases, compensating for the limited geometric rolling distance imposed by the arcuate curved side faces.
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
The design prevents unwanted jamming, allows smooth operation, and enhances functionality and size reduction by controlling cam orientations through axial movement, reducing the need for high rigidity components and improving torque engagement, resulting in a more reliable and compact cam clutch.
Implementation Method 1
The first sprags and second sprags are biased to stay in contact with the outer race and inner race so that one group of sprags tilt and immediately start wedging against the outer race and inner race upon torque application
Implementation Method 2
a large force is required to change the orientation of the sprags to switch the operation mode of the cam clutch
Implementation Method 3
the first sprags and second sprags are biased to stay in contact with the outer race and inner race
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To provide a simple-structured cam clutch capable of preventing unwanted jamming of cams, thereby enabling smooth operation including switching operation between operation modes, and offering potential for higher functionality and size reduction. The plurality of cams of the cam clutch include first cams and second cams having different engaging directions. The cam clutch includes an operation mode switching mechanism for switching operation modes, and a switch actuating mechanism. The operation mode switching mechanism includes an outer cage ring, an inner cage ring, and a position-restricting cage ring. The switch actuating mechanism includes an outer guide, an inner guide, and a rotation ring circumferentially movable relative to the outer guide and inner guide and provided for controlling the axial positions of the outer cage ring and inner cage ring.