Recessed Clutch Cam Structure for Lower-Weight Plate Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clutch devices are heavy due to thick cam portions in the clutch center and pressure plate, which increases the overall weight of the device, making them unsuitable for vehicles where weight reduction is desirable.
Innovation Solution
The clutch device incorporates recessed cam surfaces in the clutch center and pressure plate, reducing the weight of the cam portions by incorporating first and second recesses in the axial direction, allowing for a lighter design without compromising functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cam portions are made thick to ensure structural strength and functionality, then reliability is improved, but weight of the clutch device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam portions are designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, having thicker regions at critical load-bearing areas and thinner regions in less critical areas. This local quality variation maintains structural strength where needed while reducing overall weight of the cam portions in the clutch device.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam portions are segmented into multiple regions with different thickness characteristics, allowing optimization of each segment's weight-strength ratio. This segmentation enables the clutch device to achieve adequate reliability without excessive weight by distributing material strategically across different functional zones.
2Force
If cam portions are made thick to generate sufficient pressing force, then force generation capability is improved, but weight of the clutch device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surfaces are designed with optimized local thickness and angle variations that concentrate material and geometric leverage at the pressing contact points. This local quality optimization generates sufficient pressing force between the rotating plates without requiring uniformly thick cam portions throughout the entire structure, thereby reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam portions utilize curved and angled surfaces that leverage mechanical advantage through geometric design. The curved cam profiles convert rotational motion into axial pressing force more efficiently, allowing thinner cam portions to generate the same pressing force compared to straight or uniformly thick designs, thus reducing weight while maintaining force capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A clutch device includes a pressure plate (70) movable toward or away from a clutch center (40) and rotatable relative to the clutch center to press input-side rotating plates (20) and output-side rotating plates (21). The clutch center includes center-side cam portions (60) each including a center-side assist cam surface (60A). At least one of the center-side cam portions (60) includes at least one of a first center-side recess (62) recessed in a first direction (D1) from a surface of center-side cam portion at a side of a second direction (D2) or a second center-side recess recessed (64) in the second direction from a surface of the center-side cam portion at a side of the first direction.