Retainer-Free Cam Clutch Assembly With Linked Tilting Cams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cam clutches with retainers face limitations in versatility, productivity, and production costs due to the need for purpose-designed retainers and restrictions on the number of cams, especially when using wire cage retainers.
Innovation Solution
A cam clutch design that eliminates the retainer by using positioning members to link and tilt adjacent cams independently, allowing for easy production and high design freedom, with cam plates and positioning members punched from a plate material and assembled with link pins for reduced machining workload and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a retainer is used to retain the cams, then the cams are kept in fixed relative positions, but the structure becomes complex and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the retainer component from the cam clutch structure. Instead of using a separate retainer to hold the cams, the positioning function is integrated directly into the cam body through positioning protrusions and grooves, simplifying the overall structure and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function previously performed by the retainer is merged with the cam body itself. The positioning protrusions and grooves are formed as integral parts of the cam structure, combining the cam and positioning features into a single component, thereby eliminating the need for a separate retainer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a wire cage retainer is used, then the cams are retained, but the number of cams is limited to even numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented into individual positioning protrusions and grooves on each cam body, rather than relying on a continuous wire cage structure. This segmentation allows each cam to be independently positioned and connected, enabling flexible arrangements with any number of cams.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and grooves serve as universal positioning mechanisms that can accommodate any number of cams in any configuration. This universal positioning system replaces the wire cage's specific geometric constraints, providing design freedom for both even and odd numbers of cams.
3Reliability
If purpose-designed retainers are produced for different cam clutch characteristics, then the specific requirements are met, but production costs increase and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention allows optimization of cam clutch performance by changing parameters such as the number of cams, their arrangement, and dimensions, while maintaining the same basic cam body structure with positioning protrusions. This enables performance customization without requiring new retainer designs, reducing production costs and maintaining versatility.
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 enhances productivity and reduces production costs by eliminating the need for purpose-designed retainers, allowing for any number of cams and improved assembly, while maintaining consistent engagement and reducing weight and frictional loss.
Implementation Method 1
biasing means biasing each of the cams in a direction in which they wedge against the inner race and outer race
Implementation Method 2
the cams wedge against the inner race and outer race
Implementation Method 3
positioning members that link each two adjacent cams such as to be tiltable independently of each other
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention aims at providing a cam clutch that realizes a reduction in production cost, improves productivity and assemblability, and increases the degree of design freedom. The cam clutch includes: an inner race and an outer race that are coaxial and rotatable relative to each other; a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between the inner race and the outer race; and positioning members that keep each two adjacent cams at fixed positions relative to each other. The positioning members are configured to link each two adjacent cams such as to be tiltable independently of each other.