Clutch Outer Member Reference Notch Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing clutch outer member for multi-plate clutches faces challenges in differentiating between weight-cutting bottomed grooves and spline grooves during assembly, leading to potential misassembly and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating reference notches on the outer end face of the annular connecting part to indicate the position of spline grooves, ensuring accurate fitting of spline teeth by matching their positions with the notches, and allowing communication between the notches and spline grooves for guided assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If weight-cutting bottomed grooves are formed on the fins, then weight reduction is achieved, but differentiation between bottomed grooves and spline grooves becomes difficult during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reference notches only at specific locations on the annular connecting part corresponding to spline groove positions, rather than modifying the entire structure. This localized feature enables assembly differentiation without affecting the overall weight reduction achieved through bottomed grooves on the fins
Solution Approach 2:
The reference notches act as an intermediary visual indicator between the spline grooves and the assembler. These notches provide a clear reference mark that mediates the identification process, allowing assemblers to quickly locate spline grooves without confusion from the weight-cutting bottomed grooves
2Productivity
If reference notches are added to indicate spline groove positions, then assembly efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference notches segment the annular connecting part into distinct reference points corresponding to each spline groove position. This segmentation provides clear visual cues for assembly without requiring complex additional components or mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The reference notches are provided locally only where needed for assembly guidance, rather than adding complex mechanisms throughout the entire clutch outer member structure
Data Source
AI summary
A clutch outer member (1) for a multi-plate clutch is provided that includes an end wall (7), a large number of fins (30) extending axially from the outer peripheral part of the end wall (7) and arranged at equal intervals in the peripheral direction so as to define spline grooves (20B) therebetween, and an annular connecting part (31) formed on the outer periphery at the extremity of this group of fins (30) and connecting the fins (30) integrally to each other, the fin (30) having an axially-extending weight-cutting bottomed groove (33) formed, wherein the annular connecting part (31) is provided, on a part of its outer end face corresponding to each of the spline grooves (20B), with a reference notch (32) indicating the position of the spline groove (20B), and spline teeth (20A) of a friction plate (3) are fitted into the spline grooves (20B) corresponding to the reference notches (32). This enables differentiation between the weight-cutting bottomed groove and the spline groove of the clutch outer member to be carried out quickly and appropriately and an operation of fitting the spline teeth of the friction plate into the spline grooves to be carried out quickly.