Mechanical Clutch Structure for Narrow-Space Torque Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frictional clutches, particularly electromagnetic and hydraulic types, have complex structures, limited clutching power, and are difficult to install in narrow spaces due to their size and susceptibility to pause and setback, leading to reliability and cost issues.
Innovation Solution
A simplified clutch structure with a mechanical direct pushing mechanism, comprising a stationary casing, input shaft, actuation unit, push unit, and clutching unit, where the push unit uses a spring-loaded mechanism and roller channels to ensure smooth rotation and effective engagement of lining plates, reducing pause and setback and enhancing torque transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electromagnetic type clutch is used, then clutching power is induced by electromagnetic force, but the structure becomes complicated and widthwise dimension becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electromagnetic valves, electrical components, and wires from the clutch structure, replacing them with a purely mechanical actuation system. This extraction of electromagnetic components directly reduces structural complexity and widthwise dimension, allowing easy installation in narrow spaces while maintaining clutching functionality through mechanical means
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic actuation system with a mechanical actuation system comprising an actuation member that directly pushes the pressing member. This substitution eliminates the need for electromagnetic components, significantly simplifying the structure and reducing the widthwise dimension to enable installation in confined spaces
2Device complexity
If hydraulic type clutch is used, then hydraulic fluid channels are arranged in the clutch, but the structure becomes extremely sophisticated and suffers from compression ratio and quality deterioration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes hydraulic fluid channels and hydraulic components from the clutch structure, replacing them with a mechanical actuation system. This extraction eliminates the sophisticated hydraulic system while improving reliability by avoiding compression ratio issues, fluid quality deterioration, and pressing force instability associated with hydraulic systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic actuation system with a direct mechanical actuation system where an actuation member mechanically pushes the pressing member. This substitution eliminates hydraulic fluid-related deficiencies including compression ratio problems, quality deterioration, and pressing force instability, thereby enhancing overall system reliability
3Ease of operation
If external drive assembly is used to drive pushing member radially, then lining plates are combined together, but the overall width is enlarged making installation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external drive assembly from the clutch structure and integrates the actuation function directly into the clutch body through a simplified actuation member. This extraction of the external drive assembly directly reduces the overall width, enabling easy installation in narrow spaces while maintaining the functionality of combining lining plates through radial movement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the actuation function previously performed by a separate external drive assembly into the clutch body itself through an integrated actuation member. This merging eliminates the need for additional external components, reducing the overall width and facilitating easy installation in confined spaces while preserving the clutching operation
4Reliability
If pushing member contacts lining plates in static condition, then coupling engagement occurs, but pause and setback easily occur leading to transmission delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic actuation mechanism where the actuation member is rotatably driven by a motor to push the pressing member, rather than relying on static contact engagement. This dynamic approach ensures continuous and smooth transmission of driving force, eliminating pause and setback phenomena that occur in static conditions, thereby improving transmission reliability and eliminating delays
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 solution enables easy installation in narrow spaces, reduces pause and setback, and enhances clutching force and reliability by providing a large and positive torque through mechanical direct pushing, improving operability and drivability.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring (38) whose one end is supported on one side of the push disc (25)
Implementation Method 2
the rotary disc (20) is formed, in a side surface thereof, with at least two roller channels (23) that are equally spaced, and the push disc (25) is also formed, in a surface thereof, with at least two corresponding roller channels (26), wherein each pair of corresponding roller channels (23, 26) interpose a roller (24) therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A clutch structure that includes a motor to directly drive a rotary disc of an actuation unit, and the actuation unit further directly act on a push unit, so as to achieve reduction of size. Further, the push unit has a spring holder that drives a push bracket to press against a clutching unit, and the push bracket and the clutching unit are rotatably in synchronization with each other and a group of balls is arranged between the push bracket and the spring holder, such that smooth rotation can be maintained even during the process of pressing to thereby effectively reduce pause and setback incurring in coupling and connection and also to efficiently establish a transmission clutching force to have the operability not affected by the delay.