JP2015001268A - Clutch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clutch device having a membranous lubricating material between a support and a clutch release fork, for suppressing relative slippage between the membranous lubricating material and the clutch release fork during turn.SOLUTION: Because a recessed portion 16a1 is formed in the inner peripheral face of a ball head storage part 16a which abuts on a ball head part 14c via a resin sheet 48, part of the face of the resin sheet 48 at the side of the ball head storage part 16a, pressed against the ball head part 14c and the ball head storage part 16a, is deformed to enter into the recessed portion 16a1. Thus, when a clutch release fork 16 is turned, a bulge portion entering into the recessed portion 16a1 serves as a resistance to prevent sliding motion between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head storage part 16a. This suppresses relative slippage between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head storage part 16a during turn.

Description

  The present invention relates to a clutch device that opens and closes a power transmission path of a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure of a rotating portion of a clutch release fork.

  A support having a ball head portion and a clutch release fork having a ball head receiving portion for receiving the ball head portion, and the clutch release fork is rotated with the ball head portion as a fulcrum; A clutch device in which a friction clutch is connected / disconnected is well known. For example, the clutch device described in Patent Document 1 is that. This patent document 1 discloses a clutch release fork that is housed in a grease storage portion, an oil passage that extends from the grease storage portion to a contact portion between the clutch release fork and the ball head, and a large-diameter portion that continues to the grease storage portion. A technique is disclosed in which a ball that abuts on the inside of the support is provided in the support, and lubricating oil is supplied to the abutting portion to smoothly rotate the clutch release fork.

JP 2009-30759 A

  By the way, forming a grease storage part, an oil passage or a large diameter part in the support, or providing a ball in the support causes an increase in the number of parts, and it is difficult to manufacture. May increase. On the other hand, instead of forming a grease storage part in the support, the clutch release fork can be smoothly rotated by providing a solid lubricant such as a resin sheet between the support and the clutch release fork. It is conceivable to do this. When a resin sheet is provided between the support and the clutch release fork, the support and the resin sheet are in contact with each other, and the clutch release fork and the resin sheet are also in contact with each other. Therefore, at the time of rotation, it is desirable to slide (that is, relative slip) between any one of the resin sheets which is advantageous in terms of durability. However, depending on the friction between each contact, there is a possibility of sliding between the two during rotation. If it does so, there is a possibility that it may not slide between those aimed at durability. The above-described problem is not known, and when a resin sheet is provided between the support and the clutch release fork, it has not yet been proposed to slide between the target as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a film-like lubricant during rotation when the film-like lubricant is provided between the support and the clutch release fork. It is an object of the present invention to provide a clutch device that can suppress relative slip between the clutch release fork and the clutch release fork.

  The gist of the first invention for achieving the above object is as follows: (a) a support having a ball head portion formed thereon, and a clutch release fork having a ball head housing portion for receiving the ball head portion. A clutch device for rotating the clutch release fork with the ball head portion as a fulcrum, and (b) film lubrication sandwiched between the ball head portion and the ball head housing portion. (C) a concave portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion that contacts the ball head portion via the film lubricant.

  In this way, a part of the surface on the ball head housing portion side of the film-like lubricant pressed against the ball head portion and the ball head housing portion is formed in the recess formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion. Deforms to enter. Therefore, when the clutch release fork is rotated with the ball head portion as a fulcrum, the protruding portion that has entered the recess becomes a resistance that prevents sliding between the film-like lubricant and the ball head housing portion. Therefore, relative sliding between the film-like lubricant and the clutch release fork (particularly, the ball head housing portion) can be suppressed during rotation. As a result, at the time of rotation, it is slid only between the film-like lubricant and the ball head portion.

  Here, the second invention is the clutch device according to the first invention, wherein the ball head housing portion has a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion, and the hemispherical shape is multistage. It is in being formed. In this way, the concave portion is appropriately formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion that comes into contact with the ball head portion via the film-like lubricant.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clutch device according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, the clutch device further includes a holding member that holds the film-like lubricant. The support is fitted in such a manner as to be slidable between the lubricant and the ball head portion. In this way, the film lubricant can be held at an appropriate position with a simple configuration. That is, in the present invention, the relative slip between the film lubricant and the ball head housing portion is suppressed by the recess. Therefore, parts and processing for fixing the holding member to the clutch release fork so that the film-like lubricant cannot slide relative to the clutch release fork are not required. Also, seal with a holding member to prevent foreign matter from entering between the film-like lubricant and the ball head part, or to store grease etc. between the film-like lubricant and the ball head part. Is possible. Thereby, at the time of rotation, the film-like lubricant and the ball head portion are more appropriately slid.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the clutch device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the film lubricant is a plastically deformable resin sheet, and the ball head portion It is that it is molded into a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape. In this way, a part of the surface of the film-like lubricant on the side of the ball head housing portion is plastically deformed so as to enter the concave portion, and at the time of rotation, the film-like lubricant is interposed between the film-like lubricant and the ball head housing portion. Relative slip is appropriately suppressed. Further, during rotation, the film-like lubricant is properly slid between the ball head portion.

It is sectional drawing explaining schematic structure of the clutch apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is the elements on larger scale of the clutch apparatus in FIG. It is a schematic diagram at the time of a deformation | transformation of a resin sheet. It is a reference view showing an example of a clutch release fork to which the present invention is not applied.

  In the present invention, the clutch device preferably includes a dry single-plate friction clutch and has a function of operating the friction clutch. The clutch device may be of a manual type that switches the operating state of the friction clutch in conjunction with a clutch pedal operated by the driver, for example, or switches the operating state of the friction clutch according to the speed change or running state. An automatic format may be used. The friction clutch constitutes a part of a power transmission path from the driving force source of the vehicle to the driving wheels, and connects or disconnects the power transmission path between the driving force source and the transmission.

  Preferably, the driving force source is an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine. Alternatively, an electric motor or the like may be used alone or in addition to the engine as the driving force source. The transmission is a known constant-mesh parallel shaft transmission, which may be a manual transmission or an automatic transmission.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the drawings are appropriately simplified or modified, and the dimensional ratios, shapes, and the like of the respective parts are not necessarily drawn accurately.

  FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle clutch device 10 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a clutch device 10 is provided in a power transmission path between a vehicle engine (not shown) and a transmission (not shown). The clutch device 10 includes a friction clutch 12, a support 14, a clutch release fork 16, a known release bearing 18, and a known release cylinder 20. FIG. 1 is not an overall view of the clutch device 10 but mainly shows a half portion on the side where the clutch release fork 16 and the like are disposed with respect to the axis C.

  The friction clutch 12 is a dry single-plate disc clutch that connects or cuts off a power transmission path between the engine and the transmission, and functions as a friction coupling that transmits power by friction. The friction clutch 12 includes a disk-like flywheel 24 fixed to an engine crankshaft in a cylindrical clutch housing 22 integrally connected to an engine and a transmission housing (not shown). It is provided between the flywheel 24 and a clutch shaft 26 provided concentrically and relatively rotatable. The clutch shaft 26 is also an input shaft of the transmission that passes through a partition wall 28 between the transmission and the friction clutch 12 and is rotatably supported by the partition wall 28.

  The friction clutch 12 includes a disc-shaped clutch disc 32 that is spline-fitted to the tip end of the clutch shaft 26 in a clutch cover 30 fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the flywheel 24, and the flywheel 24 of the clutch disc 32. An annular plate-shaped pressure plate 34 disposed on the opposite side of the pressure plate 34 and an annular plate-shaped diaphragm spring 36 disposed on the opposite side of the pressure plate 34 from the clutch disk 32 are provided.

  The clutch disc 32 includes annular plate-like friction materials (facing and lining) 40 and 42 fixed to both side surfaces of an annular plate-like disc plate 38 respectively facing the flywheel 24 and the pressure plate 34. Yes. The pressure plate 34 is disposed so as to be close to or away from the clutch disk 32.

  The diaphragm spring 36 is attached to the clutch cover 30 via a pair of annular pivot rings 44, and biases the pressure plate 34 toward the clutch disc 32 at the outer peripheral edge with the pivot ring 44 as a fulcrum. Yes. When the diaphragm spring 36 is pressed toward the clutch disc 32 in the direction parallel to the axis C at the center (inner peripheral end), the pivot ring 44 serves as a fulcrum and the outer peripheral edge extends from the pressure plate 34. It is designed to warp toward the distance. When the pressure on the central portion is released, the outer peripheral edge portion is returned to a state of urging the pressure plate 34 toward the clutch disk 32.

  In the friction clutch 12 configured as described above, the clutch disk 32 is pinched between the pressure plate 34 and the flywheel 24 when no external force acts on the central portion of the diaphragm spring 36. As a result, the friction clutch 12 is completely engaged, and the power transmission state is established between the flywheel 24 and the clutch disc 32. On the other hand, when the central portion of the diaphragm spring 36 is operated toward the clutch disk 32 in the direction of the axis C, the pressing force of the pressure plate 34 toward the clutch disk 32 changes according to the operating force. When this pressing force is completely eliminated, the friction clutch 12 is completely released, and the power transmission between the flywheel 24 and the clutch disc 32 is interrupted.

  The support 14 is formed with a bolt part 14b at one end of a cylindrical body part 14a and a hemispherical ball head part 14c at the other end. The support 14 is fixedly attached to the partition wall 28 by screwing the bolt part 14 b into the partition wall 28. The support 14 thus configured functions as a fulcrum when the clutch release fork 16 rotates.

  The clutch release fork 16 has one end connected to the release cylinder 20 and the other end connected to the release bearing 18 via a bearing collar 46. The clutch release fork 16 is formed with a ball head accommodating portion 16a for receiving the ball head portion 14c near the center of the main body. The ball head accommodating portion 16a has a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion 14c. The clutch release fork 16 is rotated with the ball head portion 14c as a fulcrum by the operation of the release cylinder 20, as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the clutch device 10 in which the vicinity of the ball head accommodating portion 16a in FIG. 1 is enlarged.

  The release bearing 18 is press-fitted and attached to the bearing collar 46. The bearing collar 46 is provided so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the axis C and not rotatable about the axis C. The release bearing 18 presses the central portion of the diaphragm spring 36 toward the clutch disc 32 when the clutch release fork 16 is rotated to the clutch release side indicated by the arrow A in FIG.

  The clutch device 10 further includes a resin sheet 48 that is a film-like lubricant sandwiched between the ball head portion 14c and the ball head housing portion 16a. The resin sheet 48 is provided to smoothly rotate the clutch release fork 16. The resin sheet 48 is a plastically deformable resin sheet, and is molded into a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion 14c. The resin sheet 48 may be made of, for example, a resin exclusively, or may be a resin mesh coated on a metal mesh.

  The clutch device 10 further includes a holding member 50 that holds the resin sheet 48. The holding member 50 is, for example, a rubber bellows-like member, and a holding portion 50b that holds the outer peripheral portion of the resin sheet 48 is formed at one end of the main body portion 50a. The main body portion 50a has a cylindrical shape whose inner peripheral surface matches the shape of the main body portion 14a so that the main body portion 50a comes into close contact with the columnar main body portion 14a when the support 14 is fitted from the other end. Thereby, when the support 14 is fitted in the holding member 50, the internal space surrounded by the resin sheet 48, the holding member 50, and the support 14 is blocked from contact with the external space not surrounded. . As described above, the holding member 50 has a sealing function. In order to further improve this function, for example, a spring 52 such as an O-ring is provided. The holding member 50 is configured to allow sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c in a state where the support 14 is fitted. The internal space is filled with, for example, grease so as to easily slide between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c. The sealing function of the holding member 50 described above prevents grease from flowing out to the external space and prevents foreign substances from entering the internal space from the external space. Accordingly, a decrease in the durability of the resin sheet 48 due to sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c is suppressed.

  In the clutch device 10 configured as described above, when the clutch operating oil pressure is supplied to the release cylinder 20, the thrust of the release cylinder 20 is transmitted to one end of the clutch release fork 16 connected to the release cylinder 20. . Then, the clutch release fork 16 is rotated from the clutch engagement position to the clutch release position with the ball head portion 14c as a fulcrum as shown by an arrow A in FIG. As a result, the central portion of the diaphragm spring 36 is pressed through the release bearing 18 so as to move toward the clutch disc 32, and the friction clutch 12 is switched from the engaged state to the released state.

  Here, in the clutch device 10 of the present embodiment, a recess 16a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion 16a that contacts the ball head portion 14c via the resin sheet 48. In order to clarify the effect of applying the configuration of the recess 16a1, problems in the case where this configuration is not applied will be described below. FIG. 4 is a reference diagram illustrating an example of the clutch release fork 16 to which the configuration of the recess 16a1 is not applied. 4, the clutch release fork 16 is rotated with the ball head portion 14c as a fulcrum as in the embodiment shown in FIG. At the time of this rotation, as described above, the durability of the resin sheet 48 is prevented from being lowered by sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c. The sealing function of the holding member 50 is intended to slide between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c. However, since oil or the like may enter between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a, depending on the friction balance, the resin sheet 48 slides between the ball head accommodating portion 16a. there is a possibility. The sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a is not originally aimed at, and there is a possibility that foreign matter may enter between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a. If it does so, durability of the resin sheet 48 may fall. For this reason, a method of preventing sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a is required. The holding member 50 is provided with a pin (see broken line B in FIG. 4) and inserted into a hole formed in the clutch release fork 16, and the holding member 50 is fixed to the clutch release fork 16 so that the resin sheet 48 and the ball head are accommodated. It is conceivable to prevent relative sliding with the portion 16a. However, the number of parts and the number of processing steps may increase, resulting in an increase in cost.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problems, in the clutch device 10 of the present embodiment, a recess 16a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion 16a. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball head housing portion 16 a has a multi-stage (two-stage in this embodiment) hemispherical shape in which a large-diameter hemisphere and a small-diameter hemisphere are stacked coaxially. Thus, a recess 16a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view when the resin sheet 48 is deformed. In FIG. 3, when the clutch release fork 16 is rotated, the ball head portion 14c operates as a fulcrum, so that a pressing force is generated between the ball head portion 14c and the ball head housing portion 16a. As a result, the resin sheet 48 sandwiched therebetween maintains a hemispherical shape on the surface on the ball head portion 14c side. On the other hand, the surface on the side of the ball head housing portion 16a has a protruding shape due to plastic deformation following the shape of the recess 16a1 formed in the ball head housing portion 16a. As a result, the protruding portion serves as an anti-slip effect, and when the clutch release fork 16 rotates, the resin sheet 48 and the clutch release fork 16 operate integrally. Thus, by forming the recess 16a1, the relative slip between the resin sheet 48 and the clutch release fork 16 is suppressed when the clutch release fork 16 is rotated without additional parts such as pins.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the recess 16a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion 16a that contacts the ball head portion 14c via the resin sheet 48, the ball head portion 14c A part of the surface of the resin sheet 48 in pressure contact with the ball head housing portion 16a on the side of the ball head housing portion 16a is deformed so as to enter the recess 16a1. Therefore, when the clutch release fork 16 is rotated, the protruding portion that has entered the recess 16a1 becomes a resistance that prevents sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a. Therefore, relative sliding between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head housing portion 16a can be suppressed during rotation. As a result, at the time of rotation, it is slid exclusively between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the ball head housing portion 16a is formed in multiple stages in a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion 14c. Properly formed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the support 14 is fitted in the holding member 50 so as to be slidable between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c, the resin sheet 48 is appropriate with a simple configuration. Held in position. This eliminates the need for parts and processing for fixing the holding member 50 to the clutch release fork 16 so that the resin sheet 48 cannot slide relative to the clutch release fork 16. Further, the holding member 50 seals so as to prevent foreign matter from entering between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c and to store grease or the like between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c. Therefore, at the time of rotation, the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c are more appropriately slid.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the resin sheet 48 is a plastically deformable resin sheet, and is molded into a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion 14c. A part of the surface on the 16a side is plastically deformed so as to enter the recess 16a1, and the relative slip between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head accommodating portion 16a is appropriately suppressed during rotation. Further, during the rotation, it is appropriately slid between the resin sheet 48 and the ball head portion 14c.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, this invention is applied also in another aspect.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the concave portion 16a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion 16a by forming the top of the ball head housing portion 16a in a multi-stage hemispherical shape, but this is not restrictive. . For example, the concave portion may be formed on the inner peripheral surface without forming the convex portion on the outer peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion 16a. Moreover, a recessed part may be formed in the part shifted | deviated from the top part. A plurality of recesses may be formed instead of one. Moreover, fine irregularities may be formed. In short, a concave portion into which a part of the surface of the resin sheet 48 on the ball head housing portion 16a side is deformed by the pressing force between the ball head housing portion 14c and the ball head housing portion 16a is formed in the ball head housing portion 16a. What is necessary is just to form in a surrounding surface.

  In the clutch device 10 of the above-described embodiment, the friction clutch 12 is a diaphragm spring type clutch, and the actuator that operates the clutch release fork 16 is the release cylinder 20 that is a hydraulic actuator, but is not limited thereto. For example, the friction clutch may be a coil spring type clutch, and the actuator may be another type of actuator such as an electric actuator. Alternatively, the operation of the driver may be transmitted only by mechanical connection to operate the clutch release fork 16. In short, the present invention can be applied to any clutch device that can rotate the clutch release fork 16 in which the ball head accommodating portion 14c is formed with the ball head portion 14c formed in the support 14 as a fulcrum.

  The above description is only an embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in variously modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

10: Clutch device 14: Support 14c: Ball head portion 16: Clutch release fork 16a: Ball head housing portion 16a1: Recess 48: Resin sheet (film-like lubricant)
50: Holding member

Claims (4)

A clutch device comprising: a support having a ball head portion formed therein; and a clutch release fork having a ball head housing portion for receiving the ball head portion, wherein the clutch release fork is rotated with the ball head portion as a fulcrum. Because
Furthermore, it comprises a film-like lubricant sandwiched between the ball head part and the ball head housing part,
A clutch device, wherein a concave portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the ball head housing portion that comes into contact with the ball head portion via the film lubricant.   2. The clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the ball head housing portion has a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion, and the hemispherical shape is formed in multiple stages. Furthermore, a holding member for holding the film lubricant is provided,
The clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the support is fitted into the holding member so as to be slidable between the film-like lubricant and the ball head portion.   4. The film lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the film-like lubricant is a plastically deformable resin sheet, and is molded into a hemispherical shape that matches the hemispherical shape of the ball head portion. 5. Clutch device.

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