JP2000310258A - Coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fully assure amount of lubricating oil for lubricating and cooling the sealed inside of a coupling. SOLUTION: This coupling comprises a rotating case 51 having oil filled therein, a connection member 53 disposed at the axis part of the rotating case 51, a main clutch 55 and a controller clutch 57 disposed therebetween, an electromagnet 67 disposed on the outside of the rotating case 51 and engaging the control clutch 57, a ball cam 61 converting an engagement torque of the control clutch 57 to a thrust force, and a pressure plate 63 receiving the thrust force to press and engage the main clutch 55. The inside of the coupling is sealed. In this case, as lubricating oil amount increasing means, a hollow hole 81 is provided in a shaft part 71a, a wall recess part 95 and a notch part are provided in a hub 89, and a plurality of through-holes 97 are provided in the pressure plate 63.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a coupling used for a power transmission system of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional coupling, for example, a coupling as shown in FIG. 4 is described on page 0-22 of "Gaia New Commentary" (published by Toyota Motor Corporation Service Department on May 29, 1998). ing. In a four-wheel drive vehicle, this is arranged between the rear differential set on the separation side and the engine (transfer) side.

The coupling 201 comprises a drive-side front housing 205 rotatably housed in a casing 203 fixed to the vehicle body and a driven-side hub 207.
Are arranged coaxially. A rear housing 209 is integrated with the right end 205a of the front housing 205 by screwing. Front housing 2
The main clutch 211 is disposed between the hub 05 and the hub 05.

[0004] The driving force from the engine is input to the front housing 205 via the flange 213, and when the main clutch 211 is engaged, the driving force is transmitted to the drive pinion gear 215 via the hub 207.

[0005] An electromagnetic solenoid 217 fixed to the casing 203 is disposed in the recess 209 a of the rear housing 209, while a control clutch 219 is disposed adjacent to the left of the rear housing 209. The cam mechanism 22 is located to the left of the control clutch 219.
The above-mentioned main clutch 211 is arranged with 1 interposed therebetween.

An oil reservoir 222 is provided at the shaft center of the hub 207.
Is formed, and lubricating oil is supplied to both housings 205 and 209.
The lubrication and cooling of the clutches 211 and 219 and the cam mechanism 221 are performed.

With this configuration, the electromagnetic solenoid 2
When the power is supplied to 17, the armature 223 is sucked and the control clutch 219 is engaged. The torque resulting from this engagement is amplified and converted into a thrust force by the cam mechanism 221, and the thrust force causes the main clutch 211 to be engaged via the pressing member 225.

[0008]

However, since the above members are densely arranged in the housings 205 and 209, there is little room in the space, so that it is difficult to secure a sufficient amount of lubricating oil. Lubrication and cooling of the sliding part may be insufficient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling capable of sufficiently securing a lubricating oil amount for lubricating and cooling a sliding portion.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that one side of a case-like torque transmitting member filled with oil and a case-like torque transmitting member are provided. A coupling having a torque transmission member on the other side disposed at an axis portion, a clutch disposed between the two torque transmission members, and a fastening means for coupling the clutch, wherein the inside is sealed. An oil amount increasing means is provided on at least one of the torque transmitting members.

Therefore, the oil amount is increased by the oil amount increasing means provided on at least one of the torque transmitting members, and the lubrication and cooling properties of the internal members such as the clutch are improved.
The durability of the sealed coupling is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to the first aspect, wherein the fastening means includes an electromagnet disposed outside or inside the case-like torque transmitting member, and a magnetic force of the electromagnet. And a movable member provided so as to be movable, and the clutch is engaged by the movement of the movable member.

Therefore, in the hermetically sealed coupling incorporating the clutch which is fastened by the moving member which moves by the magnetic force of the electromagnet, the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to the first or second aspect, wherein the oil amount increasing means is provided by forming a shaft portion of the torque transmitting member to be hollow. It is characterized by being a pool.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the first or second aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the weight can be reduced by a simple structure in which the oil reservoir is provided on the shaft portion of the torque transmitting member, and the lubrication can be performed without significant cost increase. -It is possible to improve the cooling performance.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the torque transmitting member on the other side includes an outer hollow cylindrical portion, an inner shaft portion, and the cylindrical portion. And a middle portion connecting the shaft portions, and the lightening portion formed in the middle portion serves as an oil amount increasing means.

Accordingly, the same operation and effect as those of any of the first to third aspects of the invention can be obtained, and the provision of the hollow portion at the intermediate portion further improves the lubrication and cooling properties.

Further, since the weight of the intermediate portion is reduced, the cost is reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to the fourth aspect, wherein the notch formed in the outer cylindrical portion serves as oil amount increasing means.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the fourth aspect can be obtained, and the provision of the notch in the outer cylindrical portion further improves the lubrication and cooling properties.

Further, since the outer cylindrical portion is further reduced in weight, cost reduction is promoted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein a plurality of through holes provided in the moving member serve as oil amount increasing means. And

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of any of the second to fifth aspects can be obtained, and the provision of a plurality of through holes in the moving member further improves the lubrication and cooling properties.

Further, since the weight of the moving member is reduced, cost reduction is promoted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coupling according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein an oil reservoir provided on a shaft portion of the torque transmitting member is provided at an outer end of the shaft portion. It has an opening that opens, and the opening is an oil filling port.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of any of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention can be obtained, and it is not necessary to provide an oil filling port, so that the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the work of filling the oil is facilitated, and the workability is improved.

[0028]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described below. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part. FIG. 3 is a skeleton diagram showing a power transmission system of a vehicle to which the coupling 1 of the present embodiment is applied.

As shown in FIG. 3, the coupling 1 is rotatably accommodated behind a transfer 23 in a casing 41 fixed to the vehicle body. The driving force of the engine 3 is transmitted from the output gear 7 of the transmission 5 to the differential case 13 of the front differential 11 via the ring gear 9, and is distributed to the left and right front axles 15 and 17 by the front differential 11, and the left and right front wheels 19 and 21 Is transmitted to

On the other hand, the driving force toward the rear wheels is
The propeller shaft 25 is rotated from the differential case 13 via the transfer 23 and the coupling 1 of the present embodiment. The driving force is input to the rear differential 27 and distributed to the left and right rear axles 29, 31.
3, 35.

When a clutch (to be described later) of the coupling 1 is engaged, the rear wheels 33 and 35 are also driven, and the vehicle enters a four-wheel drive state.
The wheels are driven.

First, the configuration of the coupling 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling 1 includes a rotating case (a case-like torque transmitting member on one side) 51, a connecting shaft (a torque transmitting member on the other side) 53, a multi-plate type main clutch 55 and a control clutch. 57, a cam ring 59, a ball cam 61, a pressure plate (moving member) 63, an armature 65, a ring-shaped electromagnet 67, a controller (not shown), and the like.

The rotating case 51 includes a front rotor 71.
And a hollow case 73 on the rear side. In the rear case 73, members divided into three in the axial direction are integrated by joining. The member at the center in the axial direction is made of a non-magnetic material, and the members on both sides are made of a magnetic material. The rear case 73 of the rotating case 51
Are supported via a bearing 75 on a core 67a of an electromagnet 67 fixed to a vehicle body-side member. In addition, a non-magnetic ring member 73a is arranged in the case 73.

The core 67a of the electromagnet 67 is supported by a vibration absorbing member (not shown) at the lower part of the vehicle body via a detent member 67b fixed thereto, and a predetermined air gap is provided between the core 67a and the rear case 73. 67c, and 67c. Also, the lead wire 67d is wired to the vehicle body side,
Connected to power.

Note that a configuration may be adopted in which the electromagnet is disposed inside the rotating case. In that case, the electromagnet will rotate.

On the other hand, the rotor 71 on the front side of the rotating case 51
Is fitted to the centering portion 73b at the front end of the rear case 73 and connected to the spline portion 73c, and is locked by a snap ring 77 via a clearance adjusting shim 76 to rotate integrally. An O-ring 79 is provided on the centering portion 73b of the rotating case 51, and the inside of the rotating case 51 includes an O-ring 79 and an X-ring 10 described later.
7 sealed. The shaft 71 of the rotor 71
A is formed with a hollow hole (oil amount increasing means) 81 communicating with the inside of the rotating case 51 so as to form an oil reservoir. The opening at the outer end of the hollow hole 81 is sealed by a plug 83. The opening of the hollow hole 81 serves as a filling port for lubricating oil. The driving force of the engine 3 is input to the front rotor 71.

It should be noted that a hollow hole (oil sump) as an oil amount increasing means may be provided in the connecting shaft 53 described later.

The connecting shaft 53 is arranged at the axis of the rotating case 51 and is supported concentrically on the rotating case 51 via bearings 85 and 87. A hub 89 is spline-connected to the front end side of the connection shaft 53, and is tightened with a nut 93 via a washer 91 and a bearing 85.
1 is positioned in the axial direction. The rear end of the connection shaft 53 is connected to the propeller shaft 25, and the driving force of the engine is output from the connection shaft 53 to the rear wheels 33 and 35.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the hub 89 viewed from the axial direction, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. As shown, the hub 89 is provided with a boss (shaft) 89a.
And an outer peripheral portion (outer hollow cylindrical portion) 89b, and an intermediate portion 94 connecting these. The intermediate portion 94 is provided with a lightening portion (oil amount increasing means) 95, and the outer peripheral portion 89b is provided with three notched portions (oil amount increasing means) 96. Thus, a large space for the hub 89 is ensured.

The multi-plate type main clutch 55 includes a spline 73 c on the inner periphery of the rotating case 51 and an outer peripheral portion 8 of the hub 89.
The pressure plate 63 is disposed between the spline 9b and the right side thereof, and a pressure plate 63 is supported on the connecting shaft 53 adjacent to the right side thereof so as to be movable in the axial direction. The pressure plate 63 is connected to the spline of the outer peripheral portion 89b of the hub 89, and
9 and rotate together. The pressure plate 63 is provided with a plurality of through holes (oil amount increasing means) 97. Further, a cam ring 59 is arranged on the connecting shaft 53 to the right of the pressure plate 63 with the ball cam 61 interposed therebetween. A thrust bearing 99 and a washer 101 are arranged between the cam ring 59 and the case 73 on the rear side of the rotating case 51.

The multi-plate type control clutch 57 is connected to a spline 73 c on the inner periphery of the rotating case 51 and the cam ring 5.
9, an armature 65 is provided adjacent to the left side thereof, and the snap ring 103 is provided.
Is used to regulate the position. Further, a notch 105 for preventing magnetic leakage is formed in each clutch plate of the control clutch 57.

The connecting shaft and the case 7 on the rear side of the rotating case 51
3, an X ring 107 is provided, as described above,
The inside of the rotating case 51 is sealed together with the O-ring 79.

The controller determines the vehicle speed, steering angle, lateral G
The turning traveling state is detected from the above, or the exciting current of the electromagnet 67 is controlled in accordance with the state of the road surface and the like, and the engagement control of the control clutch 57 and thus the main clutch 55 is performed.

The lubricating oil is supplied to the rotor 71 on the front side.
A predetermined amount is filled from the filling port at the tip of the shaft portion 71a.

Next, the operation of the coupling 1 will be described.

When the electromagnet 67 is excited, the armature 6
The control clutch 57 is engaged according to the exciting current. The engagement torque of the control clutch 57 is expanded and converted into a thrust force by the ball cam 61, and the pressure plate 63 presses the main clutch 55 to be engaged by receiving the thrust force.

Thus, the fastening force of the main clutch 55 (coupling 1) is controlled by adjusting the fastening torque of the control clutch 57 by the exciting current of the electromagnet 67.

When the coupling 1 is operated, each sliding portion is lubricated and cooled by the lubricating oil filled in the rotating case 51.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the hollow hole 81 of the rotor 71, the lightening portion 95 of the hub 89, the notch portion 96, and the plurality of through holes 97 provided in the pressure plate 63 provide sufficient lubrication. Since the oil amount is ensured, the lubrication and cooling of the clutches 55 and 57, the ball cam 61, the bearings 85 and 87, the X ring 107, and the like are improved, and the durability of the coupling 1 is improved.

Further, by providing the hollow hole 81, the lightening portion 95, the notch portion 96, and the through hole 97, the rotor 7
1. Both the hub 89 and the pressure plate 63 have a small moment of inertia and are lightweight, so that the cost is reduced.

Since the lubricating oil is filled from the opening of the hollow hole 81 of the rotor 71, the operation of filling the oil is facilitated and the workability is improved.

Further, there is no need to provide an oil filling port, and the cost can be reduced.

[0054]

As apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the oil amount is increased by the oil amount increasing means provided on at least one of the torque transmitting members, and the internal members such as the clutch are increased. Improves the lubrication and cooling properties of
The durability of the sealed coupling is improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained in a hermetically sealed coupling incorporating a clutch which is fastened by a moving member which moves by the magnetic force of the electromagnet.

According to the invention described in claim 3, according to claim 1
Alternatively, the same effect as that of the second invention can be obtained, and the weight can be reduced by a simple configuration in which an oil reservoir is provided on the shaft portion of the torque transmitting member.
The cooling performance can be improved.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 1,
The same effect as any one of the inventions of (1) to (3) is obtained,
By providing the lightening portion in the intermediate portion, lubrication and cooling properties are further improved.

Further, since the weight of the intermediate portion is reduced, the cost is reduced.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, according to claim 4,
The same effect as that of the invention is obtained, and the provision of the notch in the outer cylindrical portion further improves the lubrication and cooling properties.

Further, the weight of the outer cylindrical portion is further reduced, so that cost reduction is promoted.

According to the invention of claim 6, according to claim 2,
And an effect equivalent to that of any one of the inventions is obtained.
By providing a plurality of through holes in the moving member, lubrication and cooling properties are further improved.

Further, since the weight of the moving member is reduced, cost reduction is promoted.

According to the invention of claim 7, according to claim 1,
And an effect equivalent to that of any one of the inventions is obtained.
There is no need to provide a special oil filling port, so that the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the work of filling the oil is facilitated, and the workability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of a main part of one embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a skeleton diagram showing a power transmission system of a vehicle to which the coupling according to the embodiment is applied.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 51 rotating case (one side case-like torque transmitting member) 53 connecting shaft (other side torque transmitting member) 55 main clutch 57 control clutch 59 cam ring 61 ball cam 63 pressure plate (moving member) 65 armature 67 electromagnet 71 rotor 71a of rotor Shaft portion 73 Case 79 O-ring 81 Hollow hole (oil amount increasing means) 83 Plug 89 Hub 89a Hub boss portion (shaft portion) 89b Hub outer peripheral portion (outer hollow cylindrical portion) 94 Hub middle portion 95 Lightening portion ( Oil amount increasing means) 96 Notch (oil amount increasing means) 97 Through hole (oil amount increasing means) 107 X-ring

Claims (7)

[Claims] A first case-like torque transmitting member filled with oil therein; a second side torque transmitting member disposed at an axis of the case-like torque transmitting member; A coupling having a clutch disposed between the clutch and a fastening means for fastening the clutch, wherein the inside of the coupling is sealed, and at least one of the two torque transmitting members is provided with an oil amount increasing means. Coupling. 2. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means is provided movably by an electromagnet disposed outside or inside said case-shaped torque transmitting member and magnetic force of said electromagnet. A coupling comprising a member, wherein the clutch is fastened by movement of the moving member. 3. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said oil amount increasing means is an oil reservoir provided by forming a shaft portion of said torque transmitting member to be hollow. Coupling. 4. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the torque transmission member on the other side is an intermediate portion connecting the outer hollow cylindrical portion and the inner shaft portion and the cylindrical portion and the shaft portion. A coupling comprising: a hollow portion formed in the intermediate portion serving as oil amount increasing means. 5. The coupling according to claim 4, wherein a notch formed in the outer cylindrical portion serves as an oil amount increasing unit. 6. The coupling according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of through holes provided in the moving member serve as oil amount increasing means. 7. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein an oil reservoir provided on a shaft portion of the torque transmitting member has an opening that opens to an outer end of the shaft portion. The coupling, wherein the opening is an oil filling port.