JP2000240684A - Connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting device capable of normally operating without the possibility of causing deformation due to centrifugal force. SOLUTION: This connecting device includes a housing 3 which stores an electromagnetic pilot clutch 37 and a main clutch 17 fastened with fastening of the clutch 37 and engages with both clutches 37, 17, a hub 11 connected to the housing 3 through the main clutch 17, a cam mechanism 29 for converting the fastening torque of the pilot clutch 37 to trust force to be enlarged, and a pressing member 19 which receives thrust force to press the main clutch 17, wherein the housing 3 has a short cylindrical part 7a of a front housing 7 screw-connected to the outer periphery of the opening end 5a of a rear housing 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional connecting device, for example, "Gaia New Guide" (Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. Service Department 19)
2 is described on page 0-22 of May 29, 1998). In a four-wheel drive vehicle, this is arranged between the rear differential set on the separation side and the engine (transfer) side.

In this coupling device 101, a drive-side front housing 105 rotatably housed in a casing 103 fixed to a vehicle body and a driven-side hub 107 are coaxially arranged. Also, the front housing 105
A rear housing 109 is integrated with the right end portion 105a of the vehicle by screwing. A main clutch 111 is disposed between the front housing 105 and the hub 107.

[0004] The driving force from the engine is input to the front housing 105 via the flange 113, and when the main clutch 111 is engaged, the driving force is transmitted to the drive pinion gear 115 via the hub 107.

[0005] An electromagnetic solenoid 117 fixed to the casing 103 is disposed in the recess 109 a of the rear housing 109, while a control clutch 119 is disposed adjacent to the left of the rear housing 109. And
The above-described main clutch 111 is disposed on the left side of the control clutch 119 with the cam mechanism 121 interposed therebetween.

With such a configuration, the electromagnetic solenoid 1
When the power is supplied to 17, the armature 123 is sucked and the control clutch 119 is engaged. The torque generated by this engagement is amplified and converted into a thrust force by the cam mechanism 121, and the thrust force causes the main clutch 111 to be engaged via the pressing member 125.

[0007]

However, the front housing 105 has a long thin cylindrical portion and its right end 105a is screwed to the rear housing 109 on the axial center side. As a result, the right end portion 105a may expand outward in the radial direction, thereby impairing the clutch function or damaging the thin-walled portion of the front housing 105.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection device that can operate normally without fear of deformation due to centrifugal force.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic clutch for adjusting a coupling force and a main clutch which is engaged when the clutch is engaged. One rotating member engaged with the clutch,
The other rotating member connected to the one rotating member via the main clutch, a cam mechanism for converting a fastening torque of the electromagnetic clutch into a thrust force and expanding the same, and pressing the main clutch by receiving the thrust force In the connecting device including the pressing member, the one rotating member is characterized in that a hollow cylindrical portion and a side wall having a cylindrical portion surrounding an outer periphery of an opening end thereof are connected to each other.

Therefore, for example, even in the case of a thin and long hollow cylindrical portion having a structure in which the opening end portion is easily spread by centrifugal force, the cylindrical portion of the side wall portion which is hardly affected by the centrifugal force can form the opening end portion. Since it can be configured to be able to prevent the expansion deformation, there is no possibility that the coupling action is impaired.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connecting device according to the first aspect, wherein the connection between the hollow cylindrical portion and the side wall portion is detachable.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and furthermore, since it can be detached, maintenance becomes easy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connecting device according to the second aspect, wherein the hollow cylindrical portion and the side wall portion are screwed.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the second aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and further, since the screw connection is used, processing and assembly are facilitated, which is advantageous in cost.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of the present embodiment. This coupling device 1 is arranged between the rear differential set on the disconnection side and the engine (transfer) side in the four-wheel drive vehicle, similarly to the conventional coupling device (FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, an outer housing 3 as one rotating member of the connecting device 1 has a front housing 7 as a side wall portion and a rear housing 5 as a hollow cylindrical portion which can be detachably mounted by screw connection. It is integrated and rotatably accommodated in a casing (not shown) fixed to the vehicle body.

A short cylindrical portion 7a is provided on the outer periphery of the front housing 7, and a screw is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 7a. On the other hand, the rear housing 5 has a cylindrical portion that opens leftward, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section.
A screw is formed on the outer periphery of the opening end 5a. The front housing 7 is screwed into the opening end 5 a of the rear housing 5 and locked by the ring nut 9. A drive shaft (not shown) is connected to the inner periphery of the front housing 7 on the shaft center side, and the driving force from the engine is input to the front housing 7 (housing 3).

A hollow hub 11 serving as the other rotating member is provided on the shaft center side of the housing 3 with bearings 13 and 15.
It is rotatably supported via. A drive shaft (not shown) is connected to the inner periphery of the hub 11, and the driving force is transmitted from the hub 11 to the rear wheels.

The multi-plate main clutch 17 is mounted on the housing 3
And the hub 11. On the small diameter shaft portion 11a of the hub 11, a pressing member 19 is disposed adjacent to the left of the main clutch 17, and the pressing member 19 is engaged with the hub 11. A spring 21 is provided between the hub 11 and the pressing member 19. The spring 21 constantly urges the pressing member 19 to the left. The hub 11, the pressing member 19 and the spring 21 rotate integrally.

A cam member 27 is disposed on the left side of the pressing member 19 with the ball 23 and the ring 25 interposed therebetween, and a cam groove for engaging with the ball 23 is provided on the opposing surface of the pressing member 19 and the cam member 27. These members constitute a cam mechanism 29.

On the other hand, the fixed electromagnet 31 is supported via a bearing 33 in the recess 7 b of the front housing 7. 35 is a non-magnetic material. A multi-plate pilot clutch 37 as an electromagnetic clutch is disposed between the rear housing 5 and the cam member 27, and an armature 39 is disposed adjacent to the right side thereof so as to engage with the rear housing 5.

A lubricating oil passage 41 is provided in each of the hub 11, the pressing member 19, the inner disk 17a of the main clutch 17, and the rear housing 5.

Next, the operation of the connecting device 1 will be described.

When the electromagnet 31 is energized, the armature 39
Is sucked, and the pilot clutch 37 is engaged. This fastening torque is converted and expanded into a thrust force by the cam mechanism 29, and the pressing member 19 receiving the thrust force presses the main clutch 17 against the urging force of the spring 21, and the main clutch 17 is engaged. Thus, a large torque is transmitted from the hub 11 to the rear wheels.

By adjusting the engaging force (sucking force) of the pilot clutch 37, the engaging force of the main clutch 17 (the connecting force of the connecting device 1) can be adjusted.

When the coupling device 1 is operated, the cylindrical portion 7a of the front housing 7 and the open end 5 of the rear housing 5
Unlike the structure of the conventional coupling device 101, the screw connection portion with the screw member a is subjected to the centrifugal force, even if the opening end 5a of the rear housing 5 expands outward due to the centrifugal force. Since the cylindrical portion 7a of the front housing 7, which hardly deforms, is screwed outside the opening end 5a, there is no possibility of deformation.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, even in the case of a structure having a thin and long hollow cylindrical portion, the opening end of which is easily expanded by centrifugal force. Since the opening end can be prevented from expanding and deforming by the cylindrical portion of the side wall portion which is hardly affected by the centrifugal force, there is no possibility that the coupling action is impaired.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1,
In addition to obtaining the same effects as those of the invention of the first aspect, the present invention can be easily attached and detached, so that maintenance becomes easy.

According to the invention of claim 3, according to claim 2,
In addition to obtaining the same effects as those of the invention described above, the screw connection enables easy processing and assembly, which is advantageous in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 housing (one rotating member) 5 rear housing (hollow cylindrical portion) 5a open end of rear housing 7 front housing (side wall portion) 7a cylindrical portion 9 ring nut 11 hub (other rotating member) 17 main clutch 19 pressing member DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Spring 27 Cam member 29 Cam mechanism 31 Electromagnet 37 Pilot clutch (electromagnetic clutch) 39 Armature

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first rotating member which receives a coupling force adjusting electromagnetic clutch and a main clutch which is engaged with the engagement of the clutch, and which is engaged with the two clutches; A coupling mechanism comprising: the other rotating member coupled to the member; a cam mechanism that converts a fastening torque of the electromagnetic clutch into a thrust force and expands; and a pressing member that receives the thrust force and presses a main clutch. A connecting device, wherein one of the rotating members is formed by connecting a hollow cylindrical portion and a side wall portion having a cylindrical portion surrounding an outer periphery of an opening end thereof. 2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the hollow cylindrical portion and the side wall portion is detachable. 3. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein the hollow cylindrical portion and the side wall portion are screw-connected.