JPH0247366B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a clutch, which allows an autoclutch to be attached with only slight modifications to a portion of the axle.

Conventional four-wheel drive vehicles generally have a front-engine rear-wheel drive type four-wheel drive (front-engine rear-drive), as shown in Figure 1, for example. When installing the hub clutch 10 on a 4-wheel drive vehicle (hereinafter referred to as an FR vehicle), if the front wheels are not of independent suspension type,
It can be attached to the hub portion of the front wheel 1 relatively easily. The functions of the hub clutch 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained as follows. First, by operating the shift lever 3, the transfer case 2 is switched between two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). In the case of two-wheel drive, after switching to 2WD, the hub clutch 10 is disengaged, so that only the rear axle 4 is driven, and the front drive line, that is, propeller shaft 5 - differential 6 - front axle By preventing the 7-joint 8 from idling while the vehicle is running, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary rotation of the front drive system, thereby reducing fuel consumption and preventing wear of rotating parts. If you want 4-wheel drive, if you have an automatic, shift
Four-wheel drive can be obtained by switching the lever 3 to 4WD, or in the case of a manual type, by getting out of the car and turning on the dial of the hub clutch 10 after switching to 4WD.

However, independent suspension four-wheel drive vehicles, e.g.
Because it is connected to the driveshaft via a universal joint, it was not possible to install the hub clutch without completely modifying the vehicle suspension section.

In view of the above points, the present invention makes it possible to install a clutch that automatically connects and disconnects by only slightly modifying a part of an independent suspension type axle.
In a continuous four-wheel drive vehicle having an independent suspension type axle, the axle which is the continuous drive side is divided into a first axle that rotates in response to rotation from a drive source at a universal joint, and a first axle that is integrally connected to the wheels. a braking means that is divided into two axles and generates a braking force between the first axle and a fixed system in response to rotation of the first axle by a drive system;
an actuation mechanism that is provided between the first axle and the second axle and that can generate a displacement movement based on relative rotation generated by the braking force of the braking means when the first axle rotates; and the actuation mechanism. The present invention provides a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a clutch comprising a clutch mechanism that connects and disconnects the first axle and the second axle by the displacement movement of the mechanism.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 2 to 3D.

Figure 2 shows an independent suspension vehicle, such as a front-mounted engine front-wheel drive four-wheel drive vehicle (FF
1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a case where a clutch 100 is provided on a rear axle, which serves as an axle that is always on the drive side of a vehicle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram of the clutch shown in Fig. 2, where A is the clutch-off state, B is the clutch-on state, and C is the state just before the clutch is on (in other words, the meshing relationship is shown). (waiting state)
shows.

Rotation from the engine (drive source) 9 is transmitted to the transfer case 2, rear propeller shaft 5a, rear differential 11, rear drive axle 4a,
Rear wheel 12 via rear driven axle 4b
transmitted to. A universal joint is provided between both axles 4a, 4b, and a clutch 100 is provided in this universal joint.

The universal joint portion is divided into a first drive shaft connected to the rear differential 11 and a second drive shaft connected to the rear wheels. The first drive shaft is a rear drive shaft.
It is comprised of a joint housing 14 connected to the axle 4a via a ball joint 13, and a drive gear 16 fixed to the joint housing 14 with bolts 15.
The drive gear 16 is positioned in the axial direction between a washer fixed to the end of the rear driven axle 4b as a second drive shaft and a thrust washer 17. It is supported for relative rotation via. A slide gear 19 having a spline formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drive gear 16, a spline meshing with the spline formed on the inner circumferential surface, and a fixing pin 18 protruding from the outer circumferential surface and press-fitted radially outward; A rear driven gear that can be engaged with a spline formed on the inner peripheral surface of the gear 19.
A clutch mechanism is constituted by a gear 32 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the axle 4b. The outer periphery of the slide gear 19 has a flange portion on the right side in the axial direction, and a cam (spring receiver, hereinafter omitted) that can move a predetermined distance in the axial direction and has an arcuate slot 22a shown in FIG. 3D. ) 22 is provided, and a fixing pin 1 is provided in the slot 22a.
8 are engaged, and the cam 22 and the fixing pin 18 constitute an operating mechanism. The flange portion of the cam 22 is engaged with a spline formed on the inner peripheral surface of a cone brake 25, which has a conical friction surface 25a on its outer peripheral surface. Friction surface 25a of cone brake 25
is a cover 28 engaged with an axle tube 33 disposed on the radially outer side of the rear driven axle 4b.
Surface 2 of the fixing member 27 as a fixing system fixed to
6, and the cone brake 25 is pressed to the right in the axial direction by a disc spring 29 having a predetermined spring force, and the cone brake 25 and the fixing member 2
7. The disc spring 29 constitutes a braking means. A retaining ring 23, 2 is installed in the groove on the inner peripheral surface of the cone brake 25.
4 is fitted, and the retaining rings 23, 24 (retaining ring 23
A coil spring (as shown in FIG. 3C) stores spring energy between the cam 22 and the flange portion of the cam 22 (as shown in FIG. , if the meshing relationship is poor, the gears are biased to turn on when the meshing relationship is such that it can be turned on). Further, a hole is drilled in the drive gear 16, and a check ball 21 and a coil spring 20 are installed in this hole to suppress malfunction of the slide gear 19 (movement to the right in the axial direction when the clutch is not engaged as intended). is loaded with ammunition. Furthermore, due to the relative rotation caused by the braking force of the braking means between the clutch mechanism and the actuating mechanism, the first
The clutch connecting the axle and the second axle is connected to the ball joint 13 and the joint housing 1.
4 constitute a universal joint.

In the above configuration, if the transfer case 2 is switched from two-wheel drive (hereinafter referred to as 2WD) to four-wheel drive (hereinafter referred to as 4WD) by operating the shift lever 3 provided on the driver's seat, for example,
The rear drive axle 4a begins to rotate.
Since the drive gear 16 is connected to the rear drive axle 4a via the ball joint 13, joint housing 14, and bolt 15, it rotates together with the rear drive axle 4a. When the drive gear 16 rotates, the splined slide gear 19 also rotates together with the fixing pin 18. The pin 18 is inserted into the arcuate groove 2 of the cam 22.
2a, the cam 22 also tries to rotate together with the pin 18 (see FIG. 3D). However, since the cam 22 is engaged with the cone brake 25, its rotation is suppressed. Since the cone brake 25 is pressed against the conical surface 26 of the fixing member 27 by the disc spring 29, the conical surface 25
A braking force (braking force) is generated in the cone brake 25 due to the wedge action between a and 26. Therefore, relative rotation occurs between the cam 22 and the slide gear 19, and the pin 18 of the arcuate slot 22a
moves from position B or B' to position A shown in FIG. 3D. That is, the slide gear 19 moves to the right in the axial direction. For this reason, the slide gear 19
and the gear 32 are coupled to obtain four-wheel drive (the state shown in FIG. 3B).

Next, turn the rear driven axle 4b in the opposite direction by switching the shift lever from 4WD to 2WD and slightly moving the vehicle in the opposite direction to the direction in which it has been traveling. ,
The slide gear 19 and the drive gear 16 are rotated together with the rear driven axle 4b, but the rotation of the cam 22 is suppressed by the action of the cone brake 25. Therefore, a relative rotation occurs between the slide gear 19 and the cam 22, and the pin 18 in the arcuate slot 22a moves from the position A to the position B or B' shown in FIG. Therefore, the slide gear 19 moves to the left in the axial direction, and the gear 32 of the rear driven axle 4b and the slide gear 19 are disengaged, and two-wheel drive is obtained (the state shown in FIG. 3A).

The slide gear 19 moves to the right in the axial direction from the state immediately before the clutch is turned on, that is, the state shown in Fig. 3 A, where the clutch should be turned on but cannot be turned on because the meshing relationship is not good, that is, the state shown in Fig. 3 A. This shows a state in which the slide gear 19 and the gear 32 of the rear driven axle 4b have begun to come into contact with each other. At this time, a thrust force is acting on the slide gear 19 to the right in the axial direction, but due to poor meshing relationship with the gear 32, the clutch cannot be turned on, and the cam 22 is pushed to the left in the axial direction by the pin 18. I'll get hit. Therefore, the coil spring 30 is compressed and stores spring energy. In this state, when the slide gear 19 and the gear 32 come to an appropriate fitting (or meshing) position, they are smoothly and quickly fitted together by the stored energy of the spring 30, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3B. become.

As explained above, according to the four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with the clutch of the present invention, in a four-wheel drive vehicle having an independent suspension type axle, the axle that is the occasional drive side is connected to the drive source by the universal joint. A first axle that rotates in response to rotation, and a second axle that is integrally connected to the wheel.
a braking means that is divided into an axle and generates a braking force between the first axle and the fixed system in response to rotation of the first axle by a drive system; an actuation mechanism that is provided and capable of generating a displacement movement based on a relative rotation caused by a braking force of the braking means when the first axle rotates; Since a clutch consisting of a clutch mechanism that connects and disconnects the second axle is provided, a clutch that automatically connects and disconnects can be installed by simply driving the drive side axle at any time with a slight modification of a part of the axle. It is possible to perform accurate operation with a simple configuration. Therefore, the entire device can be made compact without increasing its size, and the number of parts can be kept small, making parts management, assembly work, etc. easier. Furthermore, since a braking means is provided, relative rotation occurs, and once the clutch is engaged, the cam does not move along the slot, thereby preventing a decrease in durability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the position of a conventional hub clutch provided in an FR vehicle, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention when applied to a FF vehicle, and Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 3A is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the rear axle autoclutch used in the present invention, with FIG. 3A in the clutch-off state and FIG.
FIG. 3C is an on state, and FIG. 3C is a state immediately before the clutch is turned on, and FIG. 3D is an enlarged explanatory view of the cam portion. Explanation of symbols, 1...Front wheel, 2...Transfer case, 3...Shift lever, 4a...Rear drive axle (first axle), 4b...
Rear driven axle (second axle), 5...
Propeller shaft, 6...Differential, 7...Front axle, 8...Joint, 9...Engine, 10...Hub clutch, 10a...Rear...
Axle autoclutch, 11... Rear differential, 12... Rear wheel, 13... Ball joint, 14... Joint housing, 15...
Bolt, 16... Drive gear, 17... Thrust washer, 18... Pin, 19... Slide gear, 20... Coil spring, 21... Check.
Ball, 22... cam, 22a... arcuate slot,
23, 24... Retaining ring, 25... Cone brake, 27... Fixing member, 28... Cover, 29...
...Disc spring, 30...Coil spring, 32...Rear...
Driven axle gear, 33...Axle tube, 1
00...Rear axle auto clutch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a four-wheel drive vehicle having an independent suspension type axle, the axle that is the occasional drive side is connected to a first axle that rotates by receiving rotation from a drive source at a universal joint, and a wheel. a second axle that is integrally connected, and a braking means that generates a braking force between the first axle and a fixed system in response to rotation of the first axle by a drive system; an actuation mechanism provided between the second axle and capable of generating a displacement movement based on relative rotation generated by the braking force of the braking means when the first axle rotates; and a displacement of the actuation mechanism. A four-wheel drive vehicle comprising a clutch comprising a clutch mechanism that connects and disconnects the first axle and the second axle through motion.