JP2006275243A - Clutch release fork support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clutch release fork support structure enabling long-time lubrication. <P>SOLUTION: This clutch release fork support structure is provided with a housing, a support member 100 held by the housing, and a clutch release fork 40, which abuts on the support member 100 and which is turned in the clutch connecting/disconnecting directions around a contact point with the support member 100. In the support member 100, in a contact area 112 to be brought in contact with the clutch release fork 40 a groove 112 is provided for storing grease 200 as a lubricant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a support structure for a clutch release fork, and more particularly to a support structure for a clutch release fork mounted on a vehicle.

Conventionally, a clutch release fork support structure is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-269017 (Patent Document 1) or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-101271 (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-269017 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-101271

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a tip end portion of a bearing shaft (pivot shaft) is recessed and a solid lubricant is sealed in the recess (enclosure hole).

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for forming a labyrinth seal by providing an annular convex shape made of a self-lubricating material on the outer periphery of the tip of the pivot shaft in addition to the structure of Patent Document 1 described above.

  However, according to the conventional technology, grease is discharged out of the bearing during operation of the clutch release fork, and there is a limit to the amount of grease applied, so it is difficult to lubricate the bearing for a long period of time. There was a problem of causing the occurrence of.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a support structure for a clutch release fork capable of lubricating a bearing for a long period of time.

  A clutch release fork support structure according to the present invention includes a housing, a support member held by the housing, and a clutch that contacts the support member and rotates in a disconnection / connection direction of the clutch around a contact point with the support member. A release fork is provided. A holding portion for storing a lubricant is provided in a contact area of the support member that contacts the clutch release fork.

  In the support structure of the clutch release fork configured as described above, since the holding portion for storing the lubricant is provided in the contact area of the support member that contacts the clutch release fork, lubrication is performed at the portion that contacts the counterpart material. The material will not run out. As a result, the bearing can be lubricated for a long time.

  More preferably, the holding part is a groove extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction.

  More preferably, the holding part is an annular groove.

  According to this invention, it is possible to provide a clutch release fork support structure capable of lubricating a bearing for a long period of time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a side view including a partial cross-section of a clutch device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, clutch device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided between an engine and a transmission, transmits power generated by the engine to the transmission, and transmits power generated by the engine to the transmission. It is a device that separates from the device.

  In FIG. 1, a so-called dry single-plate clutch device 1 will be described. The clutch device 1 has a housing 10, and a clutch release fork 40 is attached to the housing 10. The clutch release fork 40 is connected to the clutch release cylinder 20 and the spring 45 and is urged by the spring 45. The clutch release cylinder 20 rotates the clutch release fork 40 around the support member 100 in the direction indicated by the arrow 41 so as to repel the urging force. The clutch release cylinder 20 contacts one end of the clutch release fork 40, and the clutch release bearing 80 contacts the other end. As the clutch release fork 40 rotates, the clutch release bearing 80 moves in the axial direction, and the clutch is connected and disconnected.

  A clutch disk 60 and a pressure plate 90 for pressing the clutch disk 60 are housed in the housing 10 (casing) of the clutch device 1. The clutch disk 60 has a disk shape, and for example, friction and clutch facings, which are friction materials, are riveted to both sides of a steel clutch blade via a cushion plate, and a clutch for inserting the clutch shaft 2 in the center. A hub is provided. The clutch facing is made of a material that maintains an appropriate friction coefficient, is excellent in wear resistance and heat resistance, and does not change with respect to a temperature change at the time of connection. Specifically, there are resin molds made of resin processing based on glass fiber and woven molds, and there are also metal semimetals and ceramics for improving thermal conductivity and strength. .

  The pressure plate 90 that presses the clutch disk 60 has a disk shape, and presses the clutch disk 60 toward the flywheel 62 with a uniform force. Therefore, the surface of the pressure plate 90 that contacts the clutch disk 60 is processed into a flat surface.

  The pressure plate 90 is pressed to the clutch disc 60 side by the diaphragm spring 70. The diaphragm spring 70 is a clutch spring and is an urging member for pressing the clutch disc 60 against the flywheel 62 via the pressure plate 90. In this embodiment, the diaphragm spring 70 is used as the clutch spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a coil spring may be used. The diaphragm spring 70 is a disc-shaped spring that is formed by press-forming a spring steel plate and then heat-treating it.

  A clutch release bearing 80 is provided so as to contact the diaphragm spring 70. The clutch release bearing 80 is interposed between the clutch shaft 2 which is a power transmission member and the clutch release fork 40, the inner race on the clutch shaft 2 side rotates, and the outer race on the clutch release fork 40 side does not rotate. The clutch shaft 2 is rotating, and a clutch release bearing 80 is provided to move the clutch shaft 2 in the axial direction by the clutch release fork 40 without hindering the rotation of the clutch shaft 2.

  One end of the clutch release fork 40 is connected to the clutch release bearing 80, and the other end is connected to the clutch release cylinder 20. The clutch release fork 40 is a member for moving the clutch release bearing 80 in the axial direction. As the clutch release fork 40 moves, the clutch disc 60 and the flywheel 62 are connected and disconnected. The diaphragm spring 70 is housed in the clutch cover 63 and is held by the pivot ring 61. That is, the pivot ring 61 serves as a fulcrum, and the diaphragm spring 70 can press the pressure plate 90.

  In this embodiment, the dry single-plate clutch device 1 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the wet multi-plate clutch device 1.

  When the clutch release bearing 80 moves the diaphragm spring 70 in a certain direction, the direction of this movement is changed by the pivot ring 61, and the pressure plate 90 moves in the opposite direction to the clutch release bearing 80. In FIG. 1, for example, when the clutch release bearing 80 moves in the left direction (direction approaching the flywheel 62), the pressure plate 90 moves in the right direction (direction away from the flywheel 62). In this embodiment, a so-called push-type clutch in which the pivot ring 61 as a fulcrum is inside the contact point between the pressure plate 90 and the diaphragm spring 70 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply the present invention to a so-called pull type clutch in which the pivot ring 61 is located outside the contact point between the pressure plate 90 and the diaphragm spring 70.

  Furthermore, although an example of a hydraulic clutch in which the clutch release fork 40 is driven by the clutch release cylinder 20 is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the so-called cable type clutch device 1 that pulls the clutch release fork 40 with a cable is shown. It is also possible to apply the present invention.

  When the driver steps on the clutch pedal, this operation is transmitted to the clutch release cylinder 20, and the clutch release cylinder 20 pushes the clutch release fork 40. Along with this, the clutch release fork 40 rotates about the support member 100, and the tip of the clutch release fork 40 presses the clutch release bearing 80. As a result, the clutch release bearing 80 moves. The movement of the clutch release bearing 80 is transmitted to the pressure plate 90 via the diaphragm spring 70. In FIG. 1, when the clutch release bearing 80 moves in the direction approaching the flywheel 62, this movement is converted by the diaphragm spring 70, and the pressure plate 90 moves away from the flywheel 62. Thereby, the force with which the pressure plate 90 presses the clutch disc 60 toward the flywheel 62 is weakened, and the clutch is disconnected.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion surrounded by II in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, support member 100 constituting the fulcrum has a head portion 111, and groove 113 for storing grease 200 is provided in head portion 111. The groove 113 is provided in the contact region 112 that contacts the clutch release fork 40. Further, a recess 114 for storing the grease 200 is provided at the tip of the head 111. Note that the recess 114 may not be provided. The clutch release fork 40 has a recess 42 for receiving the head 111, and the head 111 is fitted in the recess 42. Although the clutch release fork 40 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 110, the groove 113 is always located in the contact area 112 during the rotation. Grease 200 is stored in the groove 113 and serves to reduce friction in the contact region 112. That is, a groove 113 as a grease reservoir is provided in the range of the sliding portion of the clutch release fork 40.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support member viewed from the direction indicated by arrow III in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, groove 113 provided in support member 100 has a linear shape and is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the sliding direction indicated by arrow 110. The arrangement of the grooves 113 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3 and may be a direction that intersects the sliding direction indicated by the arrow 110. Further, the groove 113 is not limited to a linear shape, and may be curved to have an arc shape. Further, the depth of the groove 113 does not necessarily have to be constant, and the groove 113 may be deep in a certain part and the groove 113 may be shallow in another part.

  Next, the operation of the support member according to the present invention will be described.

  4 and 5 are schematic diagrams for illustrating the operation of the support member according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a sufficient amount of grease 200 exists between clutch release fork 40 and support member 100 in an initial state, that is, in a state where maintenance or the like is completed and grease 200 is sufficiently applied. The grease 200 is filled in the recess 42 and spreads so as to cover the contact area 112 as a sliding surface. As a result, problems such as poor lubrication rarely occur in the initial state.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, if the use is continued, the grease in the recess 42 leaks to the outside. Therefore, the amount of grease 200 is reduced. However, even in such a case, in the present invention, a groove 113 as a grease reservoir is provided in the contact region 112. As a result, the grease 200 is always supplied from the groove 113 to the contact region 112. As a result, occurrence of poor lubrication can be prevented.

  The clutch device 1 according to the first embodiment is in contact with the housing 10, the support member 100 held by the housing 10, and the support member 100, and in the clutch disconnection / connection direction centering on the contact point with the support member 100. A rotating clutch release fork 40 is provided. In the support member 100, a contact region 112 that comes into contact with the clutch release fork 40 is provided with a groove 113 as a holding portion that stores grease 200 as a lubricant. The groove 113 extends in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction.

  In the clutch device 1 according to the present invention configured as described above, since the groove 113 serving as a grease reservoir is provided in the contact region 112 between the clutch release fork 40 and the support member 100, the grease reservoir 113 always provides grease. 200 is supplied. As a result, it is possible to improve the lubrication performance at the bearing portion.

  Although the two grooves 113 are provided in the first embodiment, the number of the grooves 113 is not limited to this, and at least one groove 113 may be provided.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a support member used in the clutch device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6 and 7, support member 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from support member 100 according to the first embodiment in that groove 113 is annular (circular). . The groove 113 is provided in a contact region 112 that contacts the clutch release fork. A recess 114 serving as a grease reservoir is provided in a region surrounded by the groove 113. Note that the recess 114 is not necessarily provided.

  The shape of the groove 113 is not limited to the single shape shown in FIG. 6, and may be a multiple shape such as double or triple. Further, the groove 113 may have a spiral shape.

  The support member 100 of the clutch device according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above has the same effects as the clutch device according to the first embodiment.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment shown here can be variously modified. First, the clutch device 1 to which the present invention is applied is not only provided between an engine and a transmission of a manual transmission (MT), for example, but also provided between an engine and a transmission in a multimode manual transmission (MMT). May be.

  In addition, the clutch device 1 according to the present invention may be mounted on either a front drive vehicle or a rear drive vehicle.

  Further, regarding the configuration of the groove 113, the holding portion may be configured by unevenness by making the groove 113 fine. The width of the groove 113 is not necessarily constant, and the width of the groove 113 may be increased in a place where a large amount of grease 200 needs to be held.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be used in the field of clutch devices mounted on vehicles, for example.

It is a side view including the partial cross section of the clutch apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the part enclosed by II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support member viewed from the direction indicated by arrow III in FIG. 2. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the effect | action of the supporting member according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the effect | action of the supporting member according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view of the supporting member used with the clutch apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the VII-VII line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Clutch device, 10 housing, 20 clutch release cylinder, 40 clutch release fork, 42 recess, 45 spring, 60 clutch disc, 61 pivot ring, 63 clutch cover, 70 diaphragm spring, 90 pressure plate, 100 support member, 111 head , 112 contact area, 113 groove, 114 recess, 200 grease.

Claims (3)

A housing;
A support member held by the housing;
A clutch release fork that abuts the support member and rotates in the direction of clutch disconnection / connection about a contact point with the support member;
A support structure for a clutch release fork, wherein a holding portion for storing a lubricant is provided in a contact region of the support member that contacts the clutch release fork.   The clutch release fork support structure according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is a groove extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction.   The clutch release fork support structure according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is an annular groove.

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