JP2002364681A - One-way clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a one-way clutch capable of being easily and rapidly inserted into an outer ring. SOLUTION: This one-way clutch is formed so that the end part edge E2 of a portion B in the insert direction which is mostly projected in the radial direction from the projected part 2a of an outer holder 2 is positioned the inner side of the end face 1a of a sprag 1 in the same direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a one-way clutch used for, for example, a transmission mechanism of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional one-way clutch 100 disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the one-way clutch 100 viewed from the same direction as FIG. Such a one-way clutch 100 is used as a means for transmitting power only in one rotation direction, for example, in a torque converter of an automatic transmission of an automobile. 4 and 5, the one-way clutch 100 includes a sprag 1 arranged at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction, an outer retainer 102 for holding an outer side of the sprag 1, and an inner side of the sprag 1. An inner retainer 3 for holding the portion and a ribbon spring 4 for urging the sprag 1 in one circumferential direction are provided. Outer cage 102
The inner retainer 3 is an annular body formed by molding a synthetic resin, and each of the retainers 3 has a pocket 102p holding the sprag 1.
And 3p.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of only the outer retainer 102. In the figure, the outer retainer 102 has the above-mentioned pockets 10 for retaining the sprags 1 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction.
2p is provided. Sprag 1 is in pocket 102
p and is held in a state of occupying the entire width of the opening. Further, every other portion in the circumferential direction other than the pocket 102p protrudes radially outwardly in an arc shape when viewed from the shaft end side of the outer retainer 102, so to speak, a so-called semicylindrical protrusion 102
a. Both ends of the protrusion 102a in the direction of the central axis of the outer retainer 102 are tapered surfaces 102b. A portion of the outer surface of the protruding portion 102a that protrudes most radially outward (a portion that forms the maximum outer diameter of the outer retainer 102).
Is located at the same position as the end surface 1a (FIG. 4) of the sprag 1 held in the pocket 102p in the central axis direction.

[0004]

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. In the one-way clutch 100 before attachment, the elasticity of the ribbon spring 4 also acts to push the sprags 1 radially outward, so that all sprags 1 project outward. ing. The maximum outer diameter (diameter of the circle drawn by the outer end of the sprag 1) at this time is larger than the inner diameter of the outer ring 50 into which the one-way clutch 100 is to be inserted. Therefore, while pushing all the sprags 1 inward, the one-way clutch 100
The whole must be inserted into the outer race 50. If this is the only "failure" during insertion, the one-way clutch 10
Insertion can be easily performed by pushing while turning the center axis of 0 slightly inclining.

However, as described above, since the position of the end edge E of the projection 102a in the center axis direction is the same as the position of the end surface 1a of the sprag 1, the inner edge entrance 50a of the outer ring 50 is simultaneously placed. , The end edge E and the end face 1a of the sprag 1 abut. Therefore, the insertion into the outer ring 50 cannot be performed unless the “obstacle” of inserting the end edge E and the “obstacle” of inserting the sprag 1 while pushing it inward are not cleared at the same time. However, it is difficult to tilt the central axis of the one-way clutch 100 after inserting the entire tapered surface 102b into the outer race 50 to fit the end edge E, and as a result, the sprag 1 is inserted while being pushed inward. Work becomes difficult. As described above, the operation of inserting the conventional one-way clutch 100 into the outer race 50 is difficult and time-consuming.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a one-way clutch which can be easily and quickly inserted into an outer ring.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a sprag arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, a retainer for holding the sprag, and a ribbon spring for urging the sprag in one circumferential direction. In the one-way clutch provided, the retainer has a generally annular shape having a predetermined width in a central axis direction, and a pocket for retaining the sprag and a protrusion protruding radially outward are formed in a circumferential direction. Are provided at predetermined intervals, and an end edge in the central axis direction at a portion of the protrusion that protrudes most radially outward is inside an end face of the sprag in the same direction. (Claim 1). In the one-way clutch configured as described above, the end edge of the protrusion is located inside the end face of the sprag in the central axis direction. Due to such a positional relationship, when the one-way clutch is inserted into the outer race, the end edge of the projection does not yet contact the outer race at the moment when the end face of the sprag passes through the inner hole entrance of the outer race. Therefore, the projection can be pushed in after the sprag enters the outer race. In other words, the "obstruction" at the time of inserting the sprag while pushing it inward and the "obstruction" at which the end edge is fitted are smoothly cleared at different timings.

[0008] In the one-way clutch, only the end edge in one direction of the two end edges in the central axis direction of the portion of the protrusion is located inside the end edge of the sprag in the same direction. Then, the positions of the both end edges may be asymmetrical with respect to the center line of the width of the retainer (claim 2). In this case, since the positions of both end edges are asymmetric, the insertion direction can be represented by a difference in the form.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A one-way clutch according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The front view of the entire one-way clutch and a partial cross-sectional view thereof are apparently the same as those in the related art, and therefore, reference is made to FIGS.
4 and 5, the one-way clutch 10 includes a sprag 1 arranged at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction, an outer cage 2 for holding an outer side portion of the sprag 1, and an inner side of the sprag 1. An inner retainer 3 for holding the portion and a ribbon spring 4 for urging the sprag 1 in one circumferential direction (clockwise in this example). The outer cage 2 and the inner cage 3 are annular bodies formed by molding a synthetic resin (for example, glass fiber reinforced nylon 66), and have pockets 2p and 3p for holding the sprag 1, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of only the outer cage 2. In the figure, the outer cage 2 is provided with the pockets 2p for holding the sprags 1 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The sprag 1 is inserted into the pocket 2p and is held in a state of occupying the entire width of the opening. In addition, the circumferential portion other than the pocket 2p protrudes radially outward in an arc shape when viewed from the shaft end side of the outer retainer 2 at every other location.
In other words, the projection 2a has a semi-cylindrical shape. Outer cage 2
Both ends of the protrusion 2a in the central axis direction are tapered surfaces 2b. The tapered surface 2b facilitates insertion at the time of insertion into the outer ring, and also functions as a centering.
The projection 2a serves to fix the outer ring.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the one-way clutch 10 using the outer retainer 2 as viewed from the outside in the radial direction, and is shown in an expanded plan view. In the figure, the position of the end edge E1 on the left side in the central axis direction at a portion B (a portion forming the maximum outer diameter of the outer retainer 2) indicated by a dotted line protruding most radially outward on the outer surface of the protrusion 2a. Is the same position as the end face 1a of the sprag 1 held in the pocket 2p. On the other hand, the position of the end edge E2 on the right side in the central axis direction in the portion B is located inside the end surface 1a of the sprag 1 by the dimension X in the same direction. Therefore, the positions of both end edges E1 and E2 are asymmetric with respect to the center line C of the width of the outer cage 2.
In this case, the insertion direction at the time of insertion into the outer race is to the right in the figure. If the positions of the both end edges E1 and E2 are symmetric with respect to the center line C, it is difficult to identify the insertion direction. However, as described above, the positions of the both end edges E1 and E2 are asymmetric. This facilitates identification of the insertion direction.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. As described above, in the one-way clutch 10 in the state before attachment, since all the sprags 1 project outward, the entire one-way clutch 10 is pushed into the outer race 50 while pushing the sprags 1 inward. Must be inserted. On the other hand, the end edge E2 on the insertion side is inside the end face 1a of the sprag 1 in the central axis direction. Due to such a positional relationship, when the one-way clutch 10 is inserted into the outer race 50, at the moment when the end surface 1a of the sprag 1 passes through the inner hole entrance 50a of the outer race 50, the end edge E2 of the projection 2a is It has not yet contacted the outer ring 50. Therefore, all the sprags 1 can be inserted into the outer race 50 by turning the one-way clutch 10 while slightly tilting the central axis thereof. Then, immediately after that, the protrusion 2a can be pushed. That is, the "obstruction" at the time of inserting the sprag 1 while pushing it inward and the end edge E2
Is smoothly cleared at different timings. Therefore, insertion into the outer race 50 can be performed easily and quickly. The value of X is, for example, 0.3 mm in the upper right corner of the sprag 1 in FIG.
In the above case, about 1 mm is sufficient.

In the above embodiment, both edges E
Although the positions of E1 and E2 are asymmetric with respect to the center line C of the width of the outer retainer 2, if necessary, the end edge E1 may be similarly moved inward to have a symmetrical arrangement.

[0014]

The present invention configured as described above has the following effects. According to the one-way clutch of the first aspect, when the one-way clutch is inserted into the outer ring, the end edge of the projection still contacts the outer ring at the moment when the end face of the sprag passes through the inner hole entrance of the outer ring. Do not touch. Therefore, the projection can be pushed in after the sprag enters the outer race. In other words, the "obstruction" at the time of inserting the sprag while pushing it inward and the "obstruction" at which the end edge is fitted are smoothly cleared at different timings. Therefore, insertion into the outer race can be performed easily and quickly.

According to the one-way clutch of the second aspect, since the positions of the edges at both ends are asymmetric, it is easy to identify the insertion direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer retainer of a one-way clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a one-way clutch using the outer cage shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the one-way clutch according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a front view common to the one-way clutch according to the embodiment of the present invention and a conventional one-way clutch.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of the one-way clutch as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an outer retainer in a conventional one-way clutch.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the conventional one-way clutch shown in FIG.
It is a line sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sprag 2 Outer cage 2a Projecting part 2b Tapered surface 2p Pocket 3 Inner cage 4 Ribbon spring 10 One-way clutch B (The part protruded most radially outward) C Center line E1, E2 End edge

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A one-way clutch, comprising: sprags arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction; a retainer for holding the sprags; and a ribbon spring for urging the sprags in one circumferential direction. The retainer has an annular shape as a whole having a predetermined width in the central axis direction, and pockets for holding the sprags and radially outwardly projecting protrusions are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. A one-way clutch, wherein an end edge in a direction of the central axis of a portion of the projection protruding most radially outward is inside an end surface of the sprag in the same direction. 2. An end edge in one direction of both end edges in the central axis direction of the portion of the projection portion, which is inside the end edge of the sprag in the same direction, 2. The one-way clutch according to claim 1, wherein the positions of both end edges are asymmetric with respect to a center line of a width of the retainer.