JP2002174265A - Coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform positioning in the axial direction of a torque transmission member by a simple structure. SOLUTION: A coupling 1 is provided with the caselike torque transmission member 3, the shaftlike torque transmission member 5 inserted into the caselike torque transmission member, a main clutch 7 arranged between both torque transmission members 3 and 5, a pilot clutch 11 operated intermittently by an operation means 21, and a cam mechanism 9 operating by receiving a transmission torque applied on both torque transmission members 3, 5 when connecting the pilot clutch 11 and connecting the main clutch 7 by a thrust force generated in the axial direction. A stepped part 53 is formed in the shaftlike torque transmission member 5 to perform positioning in the axial direction of the torque transmission member 5 by a cam member 17 on one side in the cam mechanism 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupling for transmitting power by a main clutch which is turned on and off by a cam which operates when a pilot clutch is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional coupling and a differential device using this coupling are described in "Gaia New Model Manual, pp. 0-22 Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. Edited by the Service Department, May 29, 1998". FIG.
Such a coupling 201 is described.

[0003] The coupling 201 is arranged in a rear wheel-side power transmission system of a four-wheel drive vehicle.
3, clutch hub 205, multi-plate main clutch 20
7, the pilot clutch 209, the armature 211,
Electromagnet 213, cam ring 215, ball cam 217,
It comprises a pressure plate 219, a controller and the like.

[0004] The coupling 201 includes a differential carrier 22.
1, and the core 223 of the electromagnet 213 is supported on the inner periphery of the differential carrier 221.

The rotating case 203 has a front part formed by a ball bearing 225 and a rear part formed by a core 22 of an electromagnet 213.
3 and a ball bearing 227 are supported on the differential carrier 221 respectively.

[0006] The rotary case 203 is connected from the transfer to the transmission via a propeller shaft. A drive pinion shaft 229 is spline-connected to the clutch hub 205, and a drive pinion gear 231 integrally formed therewith is connected to a ring gear on the side of a rear differential (a differential device that distributes the driving force of the engine to the left and right rear wheels). Are engaged.

The axial positioning of the clutch hub 205 is performed by using a ball bearing 225 at the front and a rotating case 203.
And a snap ring 237 between the ball bearing 225 and the clutch hub 205.
By disposing the snap rings 235 and 237, the clutch hub 205 is prevented from coming off.

The main clutch 207 includes a rotating case 203.
The pilot clutch 209 is disposed between the rotating case 203 and the cam ring 2.
15 are arranged.

The ball cam 217 is disposed between the cam ring 215 and the pressure plate 219, and the pressure plate 219 is spline-connected to the hub 205.

The controller excites the electromagnet 213, controls the excitation current, and stops the excitation. And the electromagnet 2
When the magnet 13 is excited, a magnetic loop 233 is formed in the magnetic circuit, the armature 211 is attracted, and the pilot clutch 209 is pressed and fastened. When the pilot clutch 209 is engaged, the torque between the rotating case 203 and the clutch hub 205 is applied to the ball cam 217,
Due to the generated cam thrust force, the pressure plate 21
9, the main clutch 207 is pressed and engaged.

When the coupling 201 is connected in this manner, the driving force of the engine is sent to the rear wheels, and the vehicle is driven in a four-wheel drive state, so that the running performance on rough roads and the stability of the vehicle body are improved.

When the exciting current of the electromagnet 213 is controlled, the cam thrust force of the ball cam 217 changes due to the slip of the pilot clutch 209, and the main clutch 2
The coupling force of 07 changes, and the driving force of the rear wheel is adjusted.

On the other hand, when the excitation of the electromagnet 213 is stopped,
The pilot clutch 209 is released and the ball cam 21 is released.
7, the main thrust force is released, the main clutch 207 is released, the connection of the coupling 201 is released, and the vehicle enters a two-wheel drive state.

[0014]

A conventional coupling 2
In No. 01, a snap ring 235 is provided between the rotating case 203 and the ball bearing 225, and a snap ring 237 is provided between the clutch hub 205 and the ball bearing 225 to position the clutch hub 205 relative to the rotating case 203 in the axial direction. And two snap rings 235 and 237 are required.

In such a structure, not only a large number of assembling steps are required, but also a space for arranging the two snap rings 235 and 237 is required in the axial direction, resulting in poor space efficiency. It has become something.

Also, two snap rings 235, 23
7, the space inside the coupling 201 is reduced, and it is difficult to increase the amount of oil enclosed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling that can reduce the number of assembling steps and the length in the axial direction, and can increase the amount of oil enclosed.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coupling comprising: a case-shaped torque transmitting member; a shaft-shaped torque transmitting member penetrating the case-shaped torque transmitting member; And the main clutch located in
A pilot clutch which is intermittently operated by the operating means, and a cam mechanism which, when the pilot clutch is connected, operates by receiving the transmission torque applied to both torque transmission members and connects the main clutch by the generated axial thrust force. The axial positioning of the shaft-shaped torque transmission member is performed via one cam member of a cam mechanism.

When the pilot clutch is connected, the cam mechanism operates by the thrust force between the case-shaped torque transmitting member and the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member, and the main clutch is pressed and fastened.

According to the present invention, one of the cam members of the cam mechanism has a structure in which the axial torque transmitting member is positioned in the axial direction, and does not require a positioning member such as a snap ring. For this reason, the number of parts is reduced accordingly, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and workability is improved.

Further, since a member for positioning in the axial direction is not required, space efficiency is increased, the number of main clutches can be increased, and performance can be improved.

Further, the space inside the coupling is increased by the amount of the positioning member being eliminated, and the amount of oil enclosed can be increased, so that lubricity can be ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a stepped portion is formed in the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member, and the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and the one side are formed by the stepped portion. And a cam member.

The stepped portion connects the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and the cam member, thereby positioning the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member in the axial direction. According to the present invention, the stepped portion is formed on the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member, and a member for positioning is not required. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced, and assembly can be performed easily.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and one of the cam members are connected by a snap ring which is engaged with them. .

According to the present invention, the axial position of the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member is determined by the snap ring, but the snap ring only needs to be engaged with the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and the cam member. do not do. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition, it is sufficient to change the snap ring only minimally, and it is possible to use other parts as they are, and it becomes versatile.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the operating means is an electromagnet for moving and operating the armature to press and connect the pilot clutch.

By using an electromagnet as the operating means, controllability is improved and fine control can be performed.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the four-wheel drive vehicle, the coupling 1 of this embodiment is disposed between the separated rear differential and the engine (transfer) side, and has the features of claims 1, 2, and 4. I have. The left side of FIG. 1 corresponds to the front (engine side) of the vehicle. In addition, members and the like without reference numerals are not shown.

The coupling 1 includes a clutch housing 3,
It comprises a clutch hub 5, a main clutch 7, a cam mechanism 9, a pilot clutch 11, an electromagnet 21 and the like.

The coupling 1 is housed in a casing fixed to the vehicle body.

The clutch housing 3 constitutes a case-shaped torque transmitting member, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The clutch housing 3 is made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and a power transmission shaft to which rotation from the transfer is transmitted is fixed.

The opening 23 on the rear side of the clutch housing 3
Is mounted with a ring-shaped rotor 31 made of a magnetic material. The rotor 31 has a threaded portion 32 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The threaded portion 32 is screwed into the clutch housing 3, and further, the double nut 35 is screwed from the outside to rotate integrally with the clutch housing 3.

The clutch hub 5 includes the clutch housing 3
The front end of the ball bearing 2
The rear end portion is supported by the rotor 31 by the needle bearing 29. The clutch hub 5 constitutes a shaft-shaped torque transmitting member, and is serrated and connected to a drive pinion shaft on the rear differential side.

The ball bearing 27 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the clutch housing 3 and the clutch hub 5. For this reason, steps 61 and 63 are formed on the inner surface of the clutch housing 3 and the outer surface of the clutch hub 5, respectively. The outer lease of the ball bearing 27 abuts on the step 61 of the clutch housing 3 and the clutch hub 5
The inner lease of the ball bearing 27 is in contact with the stepped portion 63 of FIG. By these abutments, the movement of the clutch hub 5 to the left in the clutch housing 3 is restricted.

The main clutch 7 is a multi-plate clutch.
It is arranged between the clutch housing 3 and the clutch hub 5.

The cam mechanism 9 includes a ball cam 13, a pressure plate 15, and a cam ring 17. The ball cam 13 is arranged between the pressure plate 15 and the cam ring 17.

The pressure plate 15 is spline-connected to the clutch hub 5 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and presses the main clutch 7 by the thrust force of the ball cam 13 to thereby fasten the clutch.

The cam ring 17 is arranged on the outer periphery of the clutch hub 5, and a thrust bearing 47 for receiving a cam reaction force of the ball cam 13 is arranged between the cam ring 17 and the rotor 31.

The thrust bearing 47 is held between the spacer plate 51 and the spacer plate 51.
Are arranged in the concave portion 48 provided between the cam ring 17 and the rotor 31 and the arrangement space is reduced accordingly. Therefore, even if the thrust bearing 47 is arranged, the peripheral member is restricted in the axial space. Is not hung.

As shown in FIG. 2, a stepped portion 53 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the clutch hub 5, and the cam ring 17 of the cam mechanism 9 is engaged with the stepped portion 53. The engagement of the cam ring 17 with the stepped portion 53 positions the clutch hub 5 in the axial direction and restricts the rightward movement in the clutch housing 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pilot clutch 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a multi-plate clutch, which is arranged between the clutch housing 3 and the cam ring 17. The pilot clutch 11 is intermittently operated by an electromagnet 21 as operation means. As described above, since the thrust bearing 47 does not limit the space in the peripheral members, the multi-plate clutch 19 has a sufficient capacity by using a necessary number of clutch plates.

The electromagnet 21 is fixed to the vehicle body side casing, and its yoke 55 penetrates into the concave portion 35 of the rotor 31 through an appropriate gap. This yoke 55
, The rotor 31 is supported via a seal bearing 37.

The electromagnet 21 is connected to a battery via a lead wire, and the operation of exciting and stopping the excitation is performed by a controller.

The armature 39 is a pilot clutch 11
Is disposed adjacent to the front side of. The rotor 31, the pilot clutch 11 and the armature 39 make the electromagnet 2
One magnetic circuit 41 is configured.

A ring 43 of stainless steel, which is a non-magnetic material, is disposed on the rotor 31 to prevent the magnetic circuit 41 from bypassing the magnetic force. A notch 45 is provided in the pilot clutch 11 at a position corresponding to the ring 43 to prevent the magnetic circuit 41 from bypassing the magnetic force.

When the electromagnet 21 is excited, the armature 39 is attracted through the magnetic circuit 41 and presses and engages the pilot clutch 11 to generate pilot torque.

When a pilot torque is generated in the pilot clutch 11, the ball cam 1 is transmitted from the clutch housing 3 via the pilot clutch 11 and the cam ring 17.
3, the main clutch 7 is pressed by the thrust force via the pressure plate 15 to be fastened, and the coupling 1 is connected.

When the coupling 1 is connected, the rear differential is connected to the engine side, and the vehicle is driven by four wheels.

At this time, the electromagnet 2 is controlled by the controller.
If the strength of the magnetic force is controlled, the pilot torque of the pilot clutch 11 changes due to the slip, and the thrust force of the ball cam 13 changes, so that the coupling force between the main clutch 7 and the coupling 1 can be adjusted.

Thus, by adjusting the coupling force of the coupling 1, the torque distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle can be arbitrarily adjusted.

When the excitation of the electromagnet 21 is stopped, the pilot torque of the pilot clutch 11 disappears, the main clutch 7 is released, and the connection of the coupling 1 is released.

When the connection of the coupling 1 is released, the rear differential is disconnected, and the vehicle enters a front-wheel drive two-wheel drive state.

The clutch housing 3 is made of a non-magnetic material, and when the electromagnet 21 is excited, the magnetic force is prevented from leaking to other members via the clutch housing 3. , And a predetermined pilot torque by the pilot clutch 11 is obtained.

As described above, the interior of the clutch housing 3 and the rotor 31 forming an integral container are
Oil is injected from an oil hole 67 provided in the clutch housing 3. After oil injection, the oil hole 67 is sealed by a ball 69. An X ring 75 is arranged between the rotor 31 and the clutch hub 5 to prevent oil leakage to the outside.

The oil thus sealed is held in an oil sump 77 provided on the clutch hub 5. Also,
The clutch hub 5 is provided with a radial oil flow passage 79 communicating with the oil sump 77.

When the clutch hub 5 rotates, the oil passes from the oil sump 77 to each of the oil passages 79 and is applied to the main clutch 7 and the ball bearings 27 to lubricate them.
7. Lubricate the pilot clutch 11, the X ring 75 and the like.

Thus, the coupling 1 is configured.

As described above, the stepped portion 53 is formed on the outer periphery of the clutch hub 5, and the cam ring 17 of the cam mechanism is engaged with the stepped portion 53.

The thrust of the ball cam 13 is transmitted from the cam ring 17 to the rotor 31 through the thrust bearing 47 by connecting the clutch hub 5 and the cam ring 17 by the stepped portion 53 as described above.

The cam ring 17 is engaged with the stepped portion 53 of the clutch hub 5 as described above, whereby the clutch hub 5 is positioned in the clutch housing 3 in the axial direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the snap ring on both sides of the ball bearing 27 to position the clutch hub 5, and accordingly the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and workability is improved.

Further, since the snap rings on both sides of the ball bearing 27 are not required, the space efficiency is improved. For this reason, the number of main clutches 7 can be increased, and performance can be improved.

Also, as much as the snap ring disappears,
The space inside the coupling 1 is widened, and the amount of oil enclosed can be increased. For this reason, lubricity can be ensured.

In this embodiment, the pilot clutch 1
1 is used with the electromagnet 21. Electromagnet 2
1 can easily control the strength of the magnetic force, and therefore, the coupling of the coupling 1 can be controlled as described above. Therefore, controllability is improved.

In addition, the clutch housing 3 is made of a non-magnetic material corresponding to the electromagnet 21. This allows
The magnetic force of the electromagnet 21 is prevented from leaking from the clutch housing 3 to the other members, the loss of the excitation power is greatly reduced, the load on the battery is reduced, and the fuel efficiency of the engine is improved. Also, since the leakage of magnetism is prevented, the electromagnet 2
1, the pilot clutch 11, the ball cam 13 and the like can be reduced in size, and the main clutch 7 can also be reduced in size.
Can be made lightweight and compact.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a coupling according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, members having the same functions as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals. Further, the coupling of this embodiment has the features of claims 1, 3 and 4.

In this embodiment, a snap ring 55 is arranged between the clutch hub 5 and the cam ring 17 of the cam mechanism.

The snap ring 55 has a ring-shaped engagement groove 57 formed on the outer periphery of the clutch hub 5 and is fixed by being fitted into the engagement groove 57. In this fixed state, the snap ring 55 is in contact with the left side surface of the cam ring 17, whereby the clutch hub 5 is axially positioned by the cam ring 17 via the snap ring 55, and is simultaneously prevented from coming off. ing.

In this embodiment, the clutch hub 5 is positioned using the snap ring 55. However, the snap ring 55 may be single, and a plurality of snap rings 55 are not required. Accordingly, the number of parts is reduced accordingly, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the workability is improved.

In addition, the minimum change required for arranging the snap ring 55 is sufficient, and other parts can be used as they are.

In the present invention, the means for intermittently operating the pilot clutch 11 may be performed by pressing with hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure, or may be performed by a motor.

[0074]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since one of the cam members of the cam mechanism positions the axial torque transmitting member in the axial direction, a positioning member such as a snap ring is not required. . Therefore, the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and workability is improved.

Further, since a member for positioning in the axial direction is not required, space efficiency is increased, the number of main clutches can be increased, and performance can be improved.

Further, since the space inside the coupling is widened and the amount of filled oil can be increased, lubricity can be ensured.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the stepped portion is formed on the shaft-like torque transmitting member to perform the positioning in the axial direction. And the assembling can be performed easily.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and a single snap ring for positioning the axial torque transmitting member in the axial direction is provided. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced.

Further, it is sufficient to make the minimum change for disposing the snap ring, other components can be used as they are, and the versatility can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, the controllability is improved, and fine control can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional coupling.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coupling 3 Clutch housing 5 Clutch hub 7 Main clutch 9 Cam mechanism 11 Pilot clutch 13 Ball cam 15 Pressure plate 17 Cam ring 21 Electromagnet 27 Ball bearing 53 Stepped part 55 Snap ring

Claims (4)

[Claims] A case-shaped torque transmitting member, a shaft-shaped torque transmitting member penetrating the case-shaped torque transmitting member, a main clutch disposed between the two torque transmitting members, and an intermittent operation by operating means. A pilot clutch, and a cam mechanism that, when the pilot clutch is connected, operates by receiving transmission torque applied to both torque transmission members and connects the main clutch by the generated axial thrust force. A coupling characterized in that the axial positioning of the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member is performed via one cam member of a cam mechanism. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein a stepped portion is formed on the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member, and the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and the one cam member are formed by the stepped portion. A coupling characterized by being connected. 3. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the shaft-shaped torque transmitting member and one of the cam members are connected by a snap ring engaged with the cam member. 4. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the operating means is an electromagnet for moving and operating an armature to press and connect a pilot clutch.