JP3248777B2 - clutch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clutch suitable for, for example, an electric antenna for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement in a clutch element for transmitting the rotational force of a driven rotating body to a driven rotating body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a clutch of this type is arranged in a disk-shaped main driving side rotating base which is rotated by power from a driving source such as a motor, and concentrically opposed to the main driving side rotating base. A disk-shaped driven-side rotating base that rotates and receives a rotational force from the base and drives a telescopic antenna or the like as a load to expand and contract, and is interposed between the driven-side rotating base and the driven-side rotating base, In a normal state, the rotational force of the driving-side rotating base is frictionally transmitted to the driven-side rotating base, and in an overload state, the driving-side rotating base and the driven-side rotating base are slipped to connect the driving side to the load side. And a clutch element for releasing.

[0003] As the above-mentioned clutch element, concave and convex portions meshing with each other are arranged along the circumferential direction on respective opposing surfaces of the driving side rotating base and the driven side rotating base. Conventionally, a structure in which the two rotating bodies are urged by a leaf spring or another spring stored in a compressed state so that the body is brought into a pressed state has been widely used. It is also known that a ball, a roller, a cam, or the like is used as a frictional transmission element in order to enhance the frictional transmission force due to the uneven portion.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional clutch has the following problems. That is, the clutch is disengaged because the friction transmitting elements such as the balls, the rollers, and the cams are directly pressed and engaged with the opposing surface of the rotating base by the leaf springs or other springs. In the state, that is, when the driving-side rotating base and the driven-side rotating base relatively perform a slip rotation operation, the concave-convex portions made of a relatively hard material or the friction transmitter and the concave-convex portion are strongly engaged. Since the removing operation is repeated, the impulsive sound generated at that time becomes a loud noise and wear is severe. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the initial performance stably for a long period of time. In addition, a driving-side rotating base, a driven-side rotating base, a leaf spring in a compressed state, and a ball,
In order to form a clutch by integrating a friction transmitter such as a roller or a cam, many accessories are required, and many assembling steps are required. Therefore, the structure is complicated and large, and the manufacturing cost is hardly reduced.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce noise and wear when the clutch is disengaged, and to reduce the size and weight of the clutch.
An object of the present invention is to provide a clutch which can be easily manufactured.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention has taken the following measures. In a clutch configured to transmit the rotational force of the driving-side rotating base to the driven-side rotating base via a clutch element, the clutch element is configured as follows.

A circular concave portion (including a circular, oval, polygonal concave portion and the like) is formed on a surface of the driving side rotating base facing the driven side rotating base, and a circumferential wall is formed on a peripheral wall surface of the circular recessed portion. A plurality of recessed recesses formed in a V-shape (including an arc shape) are formed along the engaging recess. A sliding contact member is provided so as to be engaged and slidable with the depressed concave portion of the engagement concave portion and slidably contact the peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion. First and second link members are provided so that the sliding contact member is pivotally supported by a pivot portion provided between the one end portions. The other end of each of the first and second link members is pivotally supported at one end thereof, and the other end is rotatable concentrically with the main rotating body and the driven rotating body. The first and second turning members are mounted so as to be pivotally supported and the turning angle relatively changes according to the sliding contact position of the sliding contact member in the engagement recess. With the relative change of the rotation angle of the first and second rotating members, the energy is stored between the first and second rotating members and the driven-side rotating base, A resilient body such as a coil spring or a rubber elastic body is mounted on a surface of the driven-side rotating base opposed to the driven-side rotating base. Thus, the slide contact member is provided with a link mechanism including the first and second link members, the first and second rotating members, and the resilient body, and a predetermined amount of the link mechanism when the elastic body is restored. Is provided so as to be maintained at the balance point.

When the sliding contact member is engaged into the recessed recess, the elastic member is engaged so that the sliding contact member can be engaged in the recessed recess without contacting the inner surface of the recessed recess. It is preferable that the positional relationship between the holding position of the sliding contact member and the inner surface of the depressed recess at the time of restoration is set.

Further, the first and second rotating members are sandwiched from both surfaces by the opposing surfaces of the other ends of the first and second link members holding the sliding member between the opposing surfaces of the one ends. Thus, a structure in which the other end facing surface of one link member is pivotally supported on one side surface of one rotating member, and the other end facing surface of the other link member is pivotally supported on the other side surface of the other rotating member. It is preferable that

[0009]

The following effects are produced as a result of taking the above measures. (1) The sliding contact member is moved and held by the link motion within the displacement range between the charged state and the restored state of the elastic body. The sliding member is held at a predetermined balance point of the link mechanism when the elastic body is restored. For this reason, in the state where the clutch is disengaged, when the sliding contact member, which is sliding along the circumferential wall surface of the circular concave portion in the engaging concave portion along the circumferential direction, engages in the concave concave portion, the engaging direction Is a direction greatly inclined not in the radial direction of the rotating base but in the circumferential direction. As a result, the impact force of the sliding contact member against the inner surface of the depressed recess is greatly reduced.

(2) In particular, the positional relationship between the holding position of the sliding contact member and the inner surface of the depressed recess when restoring the elastic body is as follows.
When the sliding contact member engages in the recessed recess, when the sliding contact member is set so as to be able to engage in the recessed recess in a non-contact state with the inner surface of the recessed recess, At least at the time when the sliding member is engaged in the recess, the sliding member does not directly collide with the inner surface of the recess.

(3) Further, when the first and second rotating members are configured so as to hold the first and second rotating members from both surfaces on the opposite surfaces of the first and second link members, respectively, the first and second rotating members are provided. Compared to the case where the link member is attached to one side surface of the first and second rotating members in a superimposed manner, only the sum of “thickness of the rotating member” and “thickness of one link member” The overall thickness of the clutch can be reduced. And since the gap in the direction along the main axis between the sliding contact member and the resilient member is reduced, the torsional moment of the link member and the rotating member is reduced,
Durability and strength are greatly improved.

(4) Thus, when the clutch is disengaged, almost no collision noise is generated when the sliding contact member is disengaged from the depressed concave portion, so that noise is largely reduced and wear is reduced. Become. Further, since the sliding member is held by the link mechanism including the first and second link members, the first and second rotating members, and the resilient body, a relatively simple configuration is sufficient. It is possible to secure the clutch force. Therefore, compared to a conventional clutch in which the driving side rotating base, the driven side rotating base, a leaf spring in a compressed state, and a frictional transmission element such as a ball, a roller, a cam, and the like are integrated, a smaller and lighter weight is obtained. And can be manufactured at low cost. The present clutch can be easily applied to, for example, any gear of a reduction gear mechanism, so that the degree of freedom in design is increased.

[0013]

【Example】

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a clutch structure according to a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a clutch for an electric antenna for a vehicle. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. FIG. 1A is a view of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of the line A-A.
FIG. 2B is a view of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of the line BB, and shows the driven-side rotating base 20 and the clutch element 30 (particularly, FIG. 2B). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between the fan-shaped rotating member and a coil spring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clutch is driven by a motor (not shown) serving as a driving source, and is driven by a driving-side rotating base 10, and is separated from the driving-side rotating base 10 by a predetermined distance. A driven side rotating base 20 that is concentrically opposed to each other, rotates by receiving the rotational force from the driven side rotating base 10, and drives a telescopic antenna element (not shown) that is a load; A clutch element 3 interposed between the base 20 and the driving-side rotating base 10 for transmitting the rotational force of the driving-side rotating base 10 to the driven-side rotating base 20.
0. Reference numeral 50 denotes a wall of a drive mechanism casing of the electric antenna for a vehicle, and reference numeral 60 denotes a main shaft.

The driving-side rotating base 10 is rotatably fitted on the main shaft 60, and has a gear portion 11 on its outer peripheral surface for gear coupling with a motor (not shown). The cylindrical portion 12 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the opposing surface facing the driven-side rotating base 20.

The driven-side rotating base 20 is rotatably fitted on the main shaft 60, and has a gear on the outer peripheral surface thereof for gear-coupling with a rack portion of a rope with a rack for telescopic operation of a telescopic antenna element (not shown). A part 21 is provided. A cylindrical portion 22 is provided on an outer peripheral portion of an opposing surface facing the driving side rotating base 10.

The clutch element 30 is configured as follows. On the surface of the driving-side rotating base 10 facing the driven-side rotating base 20, an engagement recess 33 including a circular recess 31 and a recessed recess 32 is formed. The depressed concave portion 32 has a form continuously connected to the peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion 31 and is depressed in a V-shape along the circumferential direction, and a plurality (two in this embodiment) is provided. It is.

A sliding member 34 composed of a rotating roller is capable of engaging and sliding with the recess 32 in the engaging recess 33 and sliding with the peripheral wall surface of the circular recess 31. It is provided as follows. The sliding contact member 34 is pivotally supported via a pin 37 at a pivot portion provided between one ends of the first and second link members 35 and 36. The other end of each of the first and second link members 35 and 36 is a pin 3
8 and 39, the fan-shaped first and second rotating members 4
1, 42 are pivotally supported respectively. First
The other end of each of the second rotating members 41 and 42 is tightly coupled to the main shaft 60 by a coupling ring 43 so as to be rotatable concentrically with the driving-side rotating base 10 and the driven-side rotating base 20. It is freely supported.

The rotation angles of the first and second rotating members 41 and 42 can be relatively changed according to the sliding contact position of the sliding contact member 34 inside the engagement recess 33. It is installed as follows. On one side surface of the first and second rotating members 41 and 42 (that is, the surface facing the driven-side rotating base 20), each of the protrusions 4 curved so as to draw an arc along the circumferential direction.
4, 45 are provided. The respective tips of the protrusions 44 and 45 can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 22 of the driven-side rotating base 20.

The driven-side rotating base 10 of the driven-side rotating base 20
A pair of coil springs 46 and 47 as an elastic body is provided on a surface (the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 22) opposite to the stopper 48 a.
And 48b and between 49a and 49b, respectively. A pair of coil springs 46, 47
The stoppers 48a, 48b and 49a, 49b of the protrusions 44, 45 and the driven-side rotating base 20 are associated with relative changes in the rotation angles of the first and second rotating members 41, 42.
It is mounted in such a way that energy is stored by compression or expansion.

Thus, the sliding contact member 34 includes the first and second sliding members.
Link members 35 and 36 and first and second rotating members 4
When the coil springs 46 and 47 are restored, the link mechanism is provided at a predetermined balance point by a link mechanism including the coil springs 1 and 42 and the coil springs 46 and 47.

In this embodiment, when the sliding contact member 34 is engaged in the recess 32, as shown in FIG. The positional relationship between the holding position of the sliding contact member 34 and the inner surface of the concave recess 32 when the coil springs 46 and 47 are restored is set so that the inner surface can be engaged with the concave recess 32 without contact. ing.

Next, the operation and action of the clutch of the present embodiment having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to (b) as appropriate. When the motor (not shown) rotates forward during the antenna extension operation, the driving side rotating base 10 rotates forward in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2A via a reduction gear (not shown). Then, the sliding member 34 of the clutch element 30, the first and second
The link members 35, 36, etc. rotate relatively in the direction of arrow B. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the sliding contact member 34 comes into contact with the point P1 on the peripheral wall surface of the recess 32.

When the driving side rotating base 10 is still rotated in the same direction, the contact position between the sliding contact member 34 and the peripheral wall surface of the depressed concave portion 32 slightly moves from the point P1 to the point P2, and the first and the first are rotated. The link mechanism including the second link members 35 and 36, the first and second rotating members 41 and 42, and the coil springs 46 and 47 is deformed. The coil spring 46 is extended and the coil spring 47 is compressed with the relative change in the rotation angle of the first and second rotation members 41 and 42 due to this deformation operation. That is, the energy of the coil spring is stored.

The repulsive force generated by the stored energy of the coil spring acts as a locking force at point P2. For this reason, the rotational force of the driving side rotating base 10 is reduced by the depression 32 in the engagement recess 33 to the sliding contact member 34 to the first and second link members 35 and 3.
6 to first and second rotating members 41, 42 to coil springs 46, 47 to stoppers 48a, 48b and 49a, 4
The power is transmitted to the driven-side rotating base 20 via the base 9b. Therefore, the driven-side rotating base 20 rotates, and the telescopic antenna element (not shown) is extended.

When the telescopic antenna element reaches the extension limit and stops its extension operation, the driven side rotating base 20 stops rotating and exhibits a locked state. On the other hand, the driving side rotating base 10 continues to rotate as it is by the power of the motor. If the relative rotational force of the two rotating bodies 10 and 20 in such a situation exceeds the locking force at the point P2, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sliding contact member 34 separates from the point P2 of the depressed concave portion 32 in the engaging concave portion 33, moves to the point Q on the peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion 31, and then slides along the peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion 31. Start moving. That is, the clutch is disengaged.

At this time, the link mechanism further strengthens the deformation operation than the above-described state, and the coil springs 46, 47
Are forced to expand and compress further. When such a clutch is disengaged, the fact is detected by some detecting means. Immediately thereafter, a motor control circuit (not shown) operates, and the power supply to the motor is cut off to stop the rotation of the motor. Therefore, the rotation of the driving side rotating base 10 stops, and the extension operation of the telescopic antenna element ends.

The operation at the time of contraction of the telescopic antenna element is basically the same as the operation at the time of expansion of the telescopic antenna element described above in the direction of rotation and the like. Therefore, the description of the operation is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the following operation occurs. First, the sliding member 34 is connected to the coil spring 4.
The movement is maintained by the link motion within the displacement range between the energy storing state and the restoring state. When the coil springs 46 and 47 are restored, the sliding contact member 34 is held at a predetermined balance point in the link mechanism as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the state where the clutch is disengaged, the sliding contact member 34 that is sliding along the circumferential wall surface of the circular concave portion 31 in the engaging concave portion 33 along the circumferential direction.
However, when the rotating base 10 is engaged in the recess 32, the engaging direction is not the radial direction of the rotating base 10, but a direction greatly inclined in the circumferential direction. As a result, the sliding contact member 34 is
2 makes soft contact with the inner surface, and the collision force is greatly reduced.

Particularly, in the case of the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the holding position of the sliding contact member 34 and the inner surface of the recessed recess 32 when the coil springs 46 and 47 are restored is determined by the relationship between the sliding contact member 34 and the recessed recess 32. At the time of engagement, the sliding contact member 34 is set so as to be able to engage with the inside of the recessed recess 32 in a non-contact state with a gap G from the inner surface of the recessed recess 32. Therefore, at least the depressed recess 32 of the sliding member 34
At the time of engagement into the inside, the sliding contact member 34 does not directly collide with the inner surface of the recessed recess 32. As a result, the depressed concave portion 32 of the sliding member 34 in a state where the clutch is disengaged.
The collision noise when engaging and disengaging from
The noise will be greatly reduced. Of course, the sliding member 3
The wear between the inner surface of the recess 4 and the inner surface of the recess 32 is also reduced.

The sliding member 34 is held by a link mechanism including first and second link members 35 and 36, first and second rotating members 41 and 42, and coil springs 46 and 47. Therefore, it is possible to secure a sufficiently large clutch force while having a relatively simple configuration. For this reason, like a conventional clutch, the driving-side rotating base, the driven-side rotating base, a leaf spring in a compressed state, and a friction transmission element such as a ball, a roller, and a cam are integrally formed. Compared with a conventional clutch, it is possible to manufacture a small, lightweight and inexpensive clutch. The present clutch can be easily applied to any gear in the reduction gear mechanism connected to the motor, for example, a worm wheel closest to the motor side, so that the degree of freedom in design is increased.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing a clutch structure according to a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a clutch for an electric antenna for a vehicle. FIG. FIG. 5A is a view of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction of the line AA, and shows the driving side rotating base 10 and the clutch element 30 ′ (particularly, the sliding contact member, the first and second link members, the sector-shaped rotation). FIG. 5B is a view of FIG. 4 as viewed from the direction of the line BB, and shows the driven-side rotating base 20 ′ and the clutch element 3.
It is a figure which shows the relationship with 0 '(especially a fan-shaped rotating member, a coil spring, etc.).

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first and second link members 35 'and 36' and the first and second rotating members 41 'and 42' are different from each other. In the coupling structure. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, opposing surfaces of the other end portions of the first and second link members 35 ', 36' holding a sliding member 34 composed of a roller between opposing surfaces of the respective one end portions. Are mounted so as to sandwich both surfaces of the first and second rotating members 41 'and 42'. That is, the other end facing surface of one link member 35 'is pivotally supported on one side surface (the back surface of 41' in FIG. 5A). The other link member 36 ′ faces the other end of the other link member 42 ′ (FIG. 5A).
(42 'surface).

In this embodiment, one of the coil springs 46 is omitted, and instead, the arc-shaped support protrusion 23 for slidably supporting the link members 35 ', 36' is provided on the inner surface of the driven-side rotating base 20 '. Is provided. Each of the projections 4 is provided on the inner surface of the driven-side rotating base 20 'in order to reduce the impact caused by the sudden return operation of the first and second rotating members 41' and 42 'when the coil spring 47 is restored.
A pair of stoppers 24 and 25 using an elastic body such as rubber as a buffer material are provided at the rotation end positions of 4 'and 45'. Since other points are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

According to the second embodiment, the following operation occurs in addition to the operation of the first embodiment. That is,
As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second link members 35 ', 3
6 ′, the first and second rotating members 41 ′,
42, the first and second link members 35 and 36 are overlapped on one side surface of the first and second rotating members 41 and 42, as shown in FIG. As compared with the case of the first embodiment in which the first and second link members 3 'and 42' are
The thickness of the entire clutch can be reduced by the sum of "5 'thickness". Since the gap between the sliding contact member 34 and the coil spring 47 in the direction along the main shaft 60 is reduced, the link members 35 'and 36' and the rotating member 4
The torsional moment of 1 'and 42' is reduced. For this reason, the first and second link members 35 ', 3 which are particularly susceptible to damage.
The durability and strength of the portion 6 'are greatly improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a clutch for an electric antenna for a vehicle. However, the present invention can be widely applied to an actuator for a door lock of a vehicle and the like. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the sliding members are the first and second sliding members.
Are provided so as to be held at a predetermined balance point in the link mechanism when the elastic body is restored by the link mechanism including the link member, the first and second rotating members, and the elastic body. Therefore, the impact when the sliding contact member is engaged in the recessed recess in the engagement recess is greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide a clutch that is small, lightweight, and easy to manufacture, with extremely little noise and wear when the clutch is disengaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a clutch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a relationship between a main rotating body, a clutch element and a driven rotating body of the clutch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation and operation of the clutch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a clutch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a main driving side rotating base, a clutch element and a driven side rotating base of the clutch according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10. Drive-side rotating base 20, 2
0 ': driven-side rotating base 30, 30': clutch element 31: circular recess 32: depressed recess 33: engagement recess 34: sliding member 35, 36 and 35 ', 36': first and second links Members 41, 42 and 41 ', 42': First and second fan-shaped rotating members 44, 45 and 44 ', 45' ... Projections 46, 47 ... Coil springs 50: Casing wall of antenna driving mechanism 60 ...
Spindle

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A clutch configured to transmit a rotational force of a driving-side rotating base to a driven-side rotating base via a clutch element, wherein the clutch is formed on a surface of the driving-side rotating base opposed to the driven-side rotating base. An engaging concave portion formed of a circular concave portion and a plurality of concave portions recessed in a V shape along a circumferential direction on a peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion; A sliding contact member provided so as to be capable of sliding in and out of contact with the peripheral wall surface of the circular concave portion, and a pivoting support portion provided between the one end portions for pivotally supporting the sliding contact member. The first and second link members provided, and the other end portions of the first and second link members are pivotally supported at respective one end portions. The sliding contact member is supported so as to be rotatable concentrically with the driven-side rotating base. A first and a second rotating member mounted so that a rotation angle is relatively changed according to a sliding contact position in the engagement concave portion; and a rotation of the first and the second rotating member. The driven-side rotating base is opposed to the driven-side rotating base such that energy is accumulated between the first and second rotating members and the driven-side rotating base with a relative change in the angle. And a resilient member mounted on a surface. The sliding contact member is formed by a link mechanism including the first and second link members, the first and second rotating members, and the resilient member. A clutch element provided to be held at a predetermined balance point in the link mechanism when the elastic body is restored. 2. When the sliding member is engaged into the recess, the resilient member is engaged so that the sliding member can be engaged in the recess without contacting the inner surface of the recess. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein a positional relationship between a holding position of the sliding contact member and an inner surface of the depressed recess when the body is restored is set. 3. The first and second link members holding the sliding contact member between the opposing surfaces of the respective one end portions have opposing surfaces of the first and second link members.
The other end of one link member is pivotally supported on one side of one of the pivot members, and the other end of the other link member is opposed to the other surface so that the second pivot member is sandwiched from both sides. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein the clutch is pivotally supported on the other side surface of the rotating member.