GB2110318A - Freewheel clutch for starter motor - Google Patents

Freewheel clutch for starter motor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2110318A
GB2110318A GB08233400A GB8233400A GB2110318A GB 2110318 A GB2110318 A GB 2110318A GB 08233400 A GB08233400 A GB 08233400A GB 8233400 A GB8233400 A GB 8233400A GB 2110318 A GB2110318 A GB 2110318A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
roller
clutch device
plate
hub
fin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08233400A
Other versions
GB2110318B (en
Inventor
Teresio Donghi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Industrie Magneti Marelli SRL
Marelli Europe SpA
Original Assignee
Fabbrica Italiana Magneti Marelli SpA
Magneti Marelli SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fabbrica Italiana Magneti Marelli SpA, Magneti Marelli SpA filed Critical Fabbrica Italiana Magneti Marelli SpA
Publication of GB2110318A publication Critical patent/GB2110318A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2110318B publication Critical patent/GB2110318B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16DCOUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D41/00Freewheels or freewheel clutches
    • F16D41/06Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface
    • F16D41/064Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls
    • F16D41/066Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls all members having the same size and only one of the two surfaces being cylindrical
    • F16D41/067Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls all members having the same size and only one of the two surfaces being cylindrical and the members being distributed by a separate cage encircling the axis of rotation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02NSTARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02N15/00Other power-operated starting apparatus; Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from groups F02N5/00 - F02N13/00
    • F02N15/02Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof
    • F02N15/022Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof the starter comprising an intermediate clutch
    • F02N15/023Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof the starter comprising an intermediate clutch of the overrunning type

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
  • One-Way And Automatic Clutches, And Combinations Of Different Clutches (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided a free wheel clutch device for a starting motor, of the type comprising a hub (4), providing a generally cup-shaped housing (4'), mounted on a splined portion of the rotational shaft for the starting motor and a toothed pinion slidably mounted on said shaft for engagement with a ring gear and wherein said hub and pinion can be coupled and uncoupled by means of a plurality of axial rollers (10) and roller presser springs (11) carried by a plate- like member non-rotatably received within the cup-shaped housing of the hub, characterized in that said plate- like member comprises a metal plate (9) having around its periphery a plurality of axial expansions or fins (12) each of which provides on one side retaining means (15) for a roller, and on the opposite side supporting means (16) for a roller presser spring. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Free wheel clutch device for the starting motor of an internal combustion engine This invention relates to a free wheel clutch device for an electric starting motor of an internal combustion engine, such as is conventionally used in motor vehicles.
More particularly, the invention relates to such a free wheel clutch device of the type having a hub, providing a generally cup-shaped housing, mounted on a splined portion of the rotating shaft of the starting motor, and a toothed pinion slidably mounted on said shaft and capable of meshing with a ring gear of the heat engine, and wherein said hub and pinion can be coupled by means of a plurality of axial rollers and roller springs for acting on the rollers carried by at least one plate-like member clamped against rotation on the bottom of said cup-shaped housing.
As is well known, such clutch devices perform the function of enabling, on starting, the heat engine to be driven by the electric starting motor through coupling of the pinion with the ring gear, and then the disconnecting or disengaging said parts once the heat engine has started.
However, during the starting step, when the speed of rotation of the heat engine exceeds that of the electric motor, that is during "overrunning", then it will be the pinion that is driven by the ring gear as long as the ignition lock key is maintained at the starting position. During this step, the pinion disconnects from the hub driven by the electric motor so as therefore to disconnect the heat engine and electric motor. This operation is made possible owing to the provision of the axial rollers which are arranged between the pinion and the hub under the action of the roller presser springs.
In conventional clutch devices of this type, the rollers and roller presser springs are carried by two axially coupled plates or discs of plastics material, between which both the rollers and roller presser springs are interposed.
Obviously, this arrangement has some disadvantages. First, the provision of the two discs or plates necessitates that the cup-shaped housing be of sufficient size in the axial direction to accommodate the discs, which of course have to be of sufficient thickness for the intended purpose. Moreover, the discs must be formed of suitable plastics material capable of withstanding the high temperatures being developed therebetween and the rollers during overrunning.
Additionally, the total cost of the device is quite high, both because of the need to provide two such discs, and also because of the assembling time required in the production line.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pre-assembled unit comprising said roller carrier plate, rollers and roller pressure springs, whereby the assembly of these components in the clutch is facilitated.
More particularly, the present invention in one aspect provides a free wheel clutch device for a starting motor of a heat engine, of the type comprising a hub, providing a generally cupshaped housing, mounted on a splined portion of the rotational shaft for the starting motor and a toothed pinion slidably mounted on said shaft for engagement with a ring gear of the heat engine, and wherein said hub and pinion can be coupled and uncoupled by means of a plurality of axial rollers and roller presser springs carried by a platelike member non-rotatably received within the cup-shaped housing of the tub, characterized in that said plate-like member comprises a metal plate having around its periphery a plurality of axial expansions or fins each of which provides on one side retaining means for a roller, and on the opposite side supporting means for a roller presser spring, and the rollers and roller presser springs being assembled so that each roller and a roller presser spring therefor are located between said retaining means of one fin and said supporting means of an adjacent fin.
As will become apparent hereafter, a clutch device of the present invention can be simply and economically manufactured and assembled.
The present invention also provides a preassembled roller-spring unit for a free-wheel clutch device of the type described, comprising a metal plate having a contour shaped to conform with the contour of the generally cup-shaped housing of the hub, so as to be non-rotatably receivable within said housing, the metal plate having around its periphery a plurality of axial expansions or fins each of which provides on one side retaining means for a roller and on the opposite side supporting means for a roller presser spring, and a roller retained by solid retaining means of each said fin under the action of a roller presser spring supported on said supporting means of an adjacent fin.
The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanyingjdrawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional view showing the starting motor-electromagnet assembly on the drive side to illustrate one embodiment of the clutch device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line Il-Il of the clutch device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a first step in the formation of the roller carrier plate used in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view showing the plate of Figure 3 upon completion; Figure 5 is a side view of the plate shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of the plate shown in Figure 4, assembled with rollers and roller presser springs, prior to assembling of this unit in the cupshaped housing of the hub of the clutch device;; Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is an enlarged exploded view showing the free wheel clutch device of Figure 1.
As conventional, the starting unit shown in Figure 1 includes a starting motor 1, for a motor vehicle, comprising a D.C. electric motor, and a dual winding electromagnet 2, which is energized by the vehicle driver through operation of the ignition lock key.
At an intermediate portion provided with a helical groove, the motor shaft 3 has mounted thereon a hub 4 which provides a generally cupshaped housing 4'. At the drive end of the shaft 3 there is mounted a toothed pinion 5 for engagement with a ring gear 6 of the internal combustion engine or heat engine (not shown).
Due to said helical groove or spline, hub 4 is capable of axially moving on shaft 3 under control of a lever 7, pivoted about a fixed fulcrum 0 and connected at one end to the hub and at the other end to the movable core of electromagnet 2.
Pinion 5 is freely mounted on shaft 3 and in addition to be axially driven by hub 4, it can be also rotatably coupled to said member.
Rotating coupling occurs between the toothless portion 5' of the pinion and cup-shaped housing 4' of the hub and is provided by means of a free wheel clutch device according to the present invention.
As more clearly shown in Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8, such a device includes a metal plate 9, a plurality of axial rollers 10 and a corresponding plurality of cylindrical roller presser springs 11.
The plate 9 has an outer profile 9' corresponding to the inner spiral profile 4" of the cup-shaped housing 4', in which it is received to lie against the bottom of said housing. Such profiles define axial lands allowing axial introduction of the plate into the housing, but inhibiting any relative rotation therebetween.
According to the invention, said metal plate 9 peripherally has means for retaining the axial rollers 10 and supporting the roller presser springs 11. In the illustrated embodiment, such means comprise a plurality of axial expansions or fins 12, each of which provided on one side with a plurality of roller retaining extensions, and on the opposite side with a supporting extension for a roller presser spring.
In the simple embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, the roller retaining extensions are three in number, and namely two side extensions 1 3 and 14 arranged on the fin plane, and an intermediate third extension 1 5 located on a cross plane to the fin passing inwardly of plate 9.
Thus, said three extensions 13, 14 and 1 5 define an angular seat, which when the clutch device is assembled, accommodate therein a roller which is held under the thrust of its associated roller presser spring 11.
To this end, said spring 1 1 is mounted on an extension 1 6 on fin 12 on the side opposite to that carrying said retaining extensions 13, 14 and 15, but in the same plane of the fin and extensions 13 and 14.
The fin plane, but particularly the plane of the supporting extension 16, is oriented to pass centrally through the angular roller housing seat, in order to assure that, when inserted on extension 16, the spring 11 is facing the roller to exert a thrust action thereon.
Instead of the single spring-supporting ex+ension 1 6 on each fin 1 2 as shown, there could, for example, be two such spring-supporting extensions, for correspondingly supporting two roller presser springs.
The carrier plate 9 which is illustrated can be made by a very simple and economical manufacturing process from sheet metal. In the preferred manufacturing process, a piece of sheet metal is subjected to a shearing operation to provide a planar plate of the configuration shown in Figure 3, that is a perforated plate with outer profile 9', and peripherally extending fin elements 1 2a having extensions 1 3a, 1 4a, 1 5a and 1 6a.
Then, a folding or bending operation is carried out on fin elements 1 2a along lines X-X, and on extensions 1 5a along lines Y-Y, to provide the completed plate shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Essentially, both fin elements 1 2a and extensions 1 spa are bent through an angle of substantially 900, so that at the end of the operation said fins 12 are on a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the sheared plate, and extensions 1 5 are on a plane substantially at right angles to the fin plane.
The shearing and bending operations may be concurrently or successively carried out.
Two general methods may be followed in assembling the plate 9, rollers 10 and springs 11 in the cup-shaped housing 4' of the hub: first, the pre-assembled unit shown in Figure 6 can be provided, such a unit comprising said plate 9, and said rollers 10 and springs 11 already assembled on the plate, which is then inserted as a unit into the housing 4'; or the various components 9, 10 and 11 can be separately assembled in the cupshaped housing 4', as shown in Figure 8.
In the unit of Figure 6, it should be pointed out that, due to the thrust of springs 1 the rollers 10 will bear against the angular seat provided by extensions 13, 14 and 1 5. On the other hand, when this unit is mounted between the housing 4' and pinion 5' the rollers become separated from the angular seat (see Figure 2), owing to the spiral profiles 9' and 4", respectively, of said plate and the interior wall of the housing 4', with the rollers 10 rolling therebetween during "overrunning" of the heat engine.
It is also important to point out that the unit of Figure 6 makes the mounting operation of the clutch device more expeditious and simpler, thus reducing the assembling time, to the benefit of manufacturing costs.
It should also be pointed out that the metal plate 9 withstands the heat being developed during "overrunning", and accordingly the typical drawbacks of deformation in conventional plastics plates are avoided. Finally, the axial overall size of the clutch device is reduced because of the provision of only one plate and axial development is restricted to the thickness thereof.

Claims (11)

1. A free wheel clutch device for a starting motor of a heat engine, of the type comprising a hub, providing a generally cup-shaped housing, mounted on a splined portion of the rotational shaft for the starting motor and a toothed pinion slidably mounted on said shaft for engagement with a ring gear of the heat engine, and wherein said hub and pinion can be coupled and uncoupled by means of a plurality of axial rollers and roller presser springs carried by a plate-like member non-rotatably received within the cup-shaped housing of the hub, characterized in that said plate-like member comprises a metal plate having around its periphery a plurality of axial expansions or fins each of which provides on one side retaining means for a roller, and on the opposite side supporting means for a roller presser spring, and the rollers and roller pressure springs being assembled so that each roller and a roller presser spring therefor are located between said retaining means of one fin and said supporting means of an adjacent fin.
2. A clutch device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said roller retaining means substantially define an angular housing open at the side of the supporting means for the roller presser spring.
3. A clutch device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that said roller retaining means are provided by fin extensions partly on the expansion or fin plane and partly on a transverse plane through the inside of said plate.
4. A clutch device according to Claim 3, characterized in that said roller retaining extensions comprise two side extensions on the expansion orfin plane and an intermediate extension on the transverse plane.
5. A clutch device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said supporting means for the roller presser spring is a fin extension on the expansion or fin plane.
6. A clutch device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said plate is provided from a metal sheet by first a shearing operation to develop the expansions or fins in planar form, followed by a bending operation on the thus sheared extensions in order to form said rollerretaining and spring-supporting means.
7. A clutch device according to Claim 6, characterized in that said bending operation consists of both bending the sheared fins or extensions to cause the latter to take an axial arrangement, and bending and bending a part of the roller retaining extensions according to a plane transversely of the expansions or fins and passing through the plate inside.
8. A clutch device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said plate, rollers and roller presser springs are pre-assembled to form a unit which is inserted into said cup-shaped housing of the hub, said rollers in said unit being in contact with their respective retaining means through the action of said roller presser springs.
9. A pre-assembled roller-spring unit for a freewheel clutch device of the type described, comprising a metal plate having a contour shaped to conform with the contour of the generally cupshaped housing of the hub, so as to be nonrotatably receivable within said housing, the metal plate having around its periphery a plurality of axial expansioris or fins each of which provides on one side retaining means for a roller and on the opposite side supporting means for a roller presser spring, and a roller retained by said retaining means of each said fin under the action of a roller presser spring supported on said supporting means of an adjacent fin.
1 0. A clutch device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-8 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A pre-assembled )llei -:pr: lg unit for a free wheel clutch device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08233400A 1981-11-24 1982-11-23 Freewheel clutch for starter motor Expired GB2110318B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT25236/81A IT1140291B (en) 1981-11-24 1981-11-24 FREEWHEEL ENGINE ENGINE STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2110318A true GB2110318A (en) 1983-06-15
GB2110318B GB2110318B (en) 1985-07-24

Family

ID=11216087

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08233400A Expired GB2110318B (en) 1981-11-24 1982-11-23 Freewheel clutch for starter motor

Country Status (7)

Country Link
DE (1) DE3243167A1 (en)
ES (1) ES8400799A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2517001A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2110318B (en)
IN (1) IN158960B (en)
IT (1) IT1140291B (en)
TR (1) TR21900A (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2807722B2 (en) * 1990-08-03 1998-10-08 光洋精工株式会社 One-way clutch
JP3170608B2 (en) * 1992-01-24 2001-05-28 光洋精工株式会社 One-way clutch device
DE112011100937B4 (en) * 2010-03-18 2020-02-13 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Permanently engaged starter with a dry freewheel
DE102016004031A1 (en) * 2016-04-02 2017-10-05 Borgwarner Inc. Freewheel and method for producing such a freewheel
DE102018118299B3 (en) * 2018-07-27 2019-09-26 Stabilus Gmbh driving means

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1965576U (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-08-03 Ford Werke Ag VERBUND PLANETARY GEARS.
DE2002074A1 (en) * 1970-01-19 1971-07-29 Bosch Gmbh Robert Pinion gear for starters of internal combustion engines
DE2348733A1 (en) * 1973-09-28 1975-04-10 Volkswagenwerk Ag Securing device for overrun clutch cage - has clamping ramps in circular zone between clutch rings to prevent axial movement
DE2758839A1 (en) * 1977-12-30 1979-07-12 Borg Warner Stieber Gmbh Spring units in clamp roller free movement coupling - comprise folding spring and stirrup which is fixed in inner star recesses, or on its face

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IN158960B (en) 1987-02-28
IT8125236A0 (en) 1981-11-24
ES517465A0 (en) 1983-11-16
FR2517001A1 (en) 1983-05-27
DE3243167A1 (en) 1983-06-09
TR21900A (en) 1985-10-11
ES8400799A1 (en) 1983-11-16
GB2110318B (en) 1985-07-24
IT1140291B (en) 1986-09-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20001123